Επαγγελματική Εξουθένωση, Συναισθηματική Νοημοσύνη και Αυτοαποτελεσματικότητα Εκπαιδευτικών Ειδικής Αγωγής της Πρωτοβάθμιας Εκπαίδευσης

H εκπαίδευση αποτελεί έναν χώρο με ιδιαίτερο ερευνητικό ενδιαφέρον, καθώς οι εκπαιδευτικοί βιώνουν καθημερινά αρκετό άγχος, δυσκολίες στη διαχείριση των μαθητών, δυσκολίες στην επικοινωνία με συναδέλφους και γονείς. Στην παρούσα έρευνα εξετάζεται η σχέση της Επαγγελματικής Εξουθένωσης, της Συναισθηματικής Νοημοσύνης και της Αυτοαποτελεσματικότητας στους εκπαιδευτικούς της Ειδικής Αγωγής, που εργάζονται στην Πρωτοβάθμια Εκπαίδευση. Ακόμη, εξετάζεται η σχέση των μεταβλητών αυτών με ορισμένα δημογραφικά στοιχεία, όπως είναι η σχέση εργασίας (μόνιμος/ αναπληρωτής), το είδος απασχόλησης (τμήμα ένταξης/ παράλληλη στήριξη/ ειδικό σχολείο) και τα χρόνια προϋπηρεσίας στην ειδική εκπαίδευση. Στην παρούσα έρευνα συμμετείχαν 199 εκπαιδευτικοί ειδικής αγωγής. Στους συμμετέχοντες χορηγήθηκαν η Κλίμακα μέτρησης της Επαγγελματικής Εξουθένωσης «Maslach Burnout Inventory» (ΜΒΙ) (Maslach, Jackson & Leiter 1996. Κόκκινος, 2006), η κλίμακα μέτρησης της Συναισθηματικής Νοημοσύνης «Wong Law Emotional Intelligence Scale» (WLEIS) (Kafetsios & Zampetakis, 2008. Wong & Law, 2002) και η κλίμακα μέτρησης της Αυτοαποτελεσματικότητας «Teachers’ Sense of Efficacy Scale» (TSES) (Tschannen-Moran & Woolfolk,2001. Τσιγγιλή, 2005). Τα αποτελέσματα έδειξαν ότι υπάρχει θετική συσχέτιση μεταξύ της Συναισθηματικής Νοημοσύνης και της Αυτοαποτελεσματικότητας και της Συναισθηματικής Νοημοσύνης και της Επαγγελματικής Εξουθένωσης, ενώ η Επαγγελματική Εξουθένωση παρουσιάζει θετική συσχέτιση με την Αυτοαποτελεσματικότητα και τη Συναισθηματική Νοημοσύνη μόνο στα προσωπικά επιτεύγματα. Τέλος, σχετικά με τις δημογραφικές μεταβλητές, φάνηκε ότι τα χρόνια προϋπηρεσίας δεν επηρεάζουν τη Συναισθηματική Νοημοσύνη και την Αυτοαποτελεσματικότητα, οι εκπαιδευτικοί που εργάζονται στα ειδικά σχολεία παρουσίασαν υψηλότερη συναισθηματική εξάντληση, οι εκπαιδευτικοί της Παράλληλης Στήριξης παρουσίασαν μικρότερη ικανότητα στην εκτίμηση των συναισθημάτων των άλλων και περισσότερη αποπροσωποποίηση και οι μόνιμοι εκπαιδευτικοί παρουσίασαν υψηλότερη συναισθηματική εξάντληση και υψηλότερη αποτελεσματικότητα στις στρατηγικές διδασκαλίας. Τα αποτελέσματα της έρευνας συζητήθηκαν με βάση τη βιβλιογραφία.Education is a domain of special research interest, as educators experience daily enough stress, difficulties in managing students, difficulties in communicating with colleagues and parents. The present study examines the relationship between Burnout, Emotional Intelligence and Self-efficacy in Special Education teachers working in Primary Education. In addition, the relationship of these variables with certain demographics is examined, such as the employment relationship (permanent / deputy), the type of employment (integration department / parallel support / special school) and the years of service in special education. In the present research participated 199 special education teachers. Participants completed a questionnaire, which consists of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) (Maslach, Jackson & Leiter,1996), the Wong Law Emotional Intelligence Scale (WLEIS) (WLEIS) Emotional Intelligence Scale (WLEIS) , 2008. Wong & Law, 2002) and the Teachers' Sense of Efficacy Scale (TSES) (Tschannen-Moran & Woolfolk, 2001). The results showed that there is a positive correlation between Emotional Intelligence and Self-efficacy, while Burnout shows a positive correlation with Self-efficacy and Emotional Intelligence only in personal accomplishments. Finally, with regard to demographic variables, it appeared that years of service did not affect Emotional Intelligence and Self-efficacy, teachers working in special schools showed higher emotional exhaustion, Parallel Support teachers showed depersonalization and less ability to assess the emotions of others while permanent teachers showed higher emotional exhaustion and higher effectiveness in teaching strategies. Results are compared to findings from international studies related to special education teachers and the associations of trait EI with burnout and self- efficacy are discussed

Bioeconomic simulation analysis of hake and red mullet fishery in the Gulf of Saronikos (Greece)

Hake (Merluccius merluccius) and red mullet (Mullus barbatus) are two of the most important species in Greek fisheries due to their high commercial interest. Both have been reported to be overexploited and in need of management to preserve the continuity of their exploitation. Hake is exploited by trawlers and red mullet by both trawlers and beach seiners in Saronikos Gulf (Greece). The MEFISTO bioeconomic simulation model is applied in order to test the interaction between trawlers and beach seiners through the age-specific fishing mortality applied by each fleet to the red mullet stock. The effects of the withdrawal of some beach seiners in 2002 and the increase in trawl mesh size that has already been implemented (from 28 mm to 40 mm stretched mesh) are tested jointly with alternative management scenarios such as the complete withdrawal of beach seiners and effort reduction in trawler activity. The analysis of the simulation results is based on the evolution of biological and economic indicators through 15-year stochastic projections. It is shown that limiting fishing effort and improving selectivity patterns of the trawl fleet would be beneficial for the recovery of the populations and for the profitability of the fishery. In addition to the increase in trawl mesh size, a further fishing effort reduction of 12% is recommended for the trawling fleet. Conversely, limiting or completely removing the beach seiner fleet would protect red mullet juveniles but would not significantly increase the profitability of the trawling fleet, and it would cause unemployment.La merluza (Merluccius merluccius) y el salmonete (Mullus barbatus), debido a su gran interés comercial, son las dos especies más importantes de las pesquerías griegas. Ambas especies se encuentran en situación de sobreexplotación y necesitadas de una gestión adecuada que proteja la continuidad de su explotación. En el Golfo de Saronikos (Grecia), la merluza es explotada por la flota de arrastre mientras que el salmonete lo pescan las flotas de arrastre y la de cerco de playa. Se utiliza el modelo de simulación MEFISTO para el análisis de la interacción de ambas flotas a través de las mortalidades pesqueras aplicadas sobre las clases de edad del salmonete. En el presente trabajo se evalúan los efectos de la retirada de algunos cerqueros que tuvo lugar en 2002 y del incremento del ancho de malla (desde 28 mm a 40 mm) que tuvo lugar en 2000, así como algunos escenarios de gestión alternativos como la completa retirada de la flota de cerco o la reducción del esfuerzo pesquero de la flota de arrastre. El análisis de las simulaciones estocásticas se presenta a través de la evolución de los indicadores bioeconómicos durante 15 años. Se muestra que la limitación del esfuerzo pesquero y la mejora en los parámetros de selectividad de la flota de arrastre serían beneficiosos tanto desde un punto de vista económico como conservacionista. Por otro lado, se recomienda una reducción de esfuerzo del 12%. Por el contrario, la limitación o retirada de la flota de cerco de playa causaría un problema de desempleo y no permitiría aumentar los beneficios de la flota de arrastre, sin llegar a ser beneficioso para las poblaciones explotadas

Bioeconomic simulation analysis of hake and red mullet fishery in the Gulf of Saronikos (Greece)

[EN] Hake (Merluccius merluccius) and red mullet (Mullus barbatus) are two of the most important species in Greek fisheries due to their high commercial interest. Both have been reported to be overexploited and in need of management to preserve the continuity of their exploitation. Hake is exploited by trawlers and red mullet by both trawlers and beach seiners in Saronikos Gulf (Greece). The MEFISTO bioeconomic simulation model is applied in order to test the interaction between trawlers and beach seiners through the age-specific fishing mortality applied by each fleet to the red mullet stock. The effects of the withdrawal of some beach seiners in 2002 and the increase in trawl mesh size that has already been implemented (from 28 mm to 40 mm stretched mesh) are tested jointly with alternative management scenarios such as the complete withdrawal of beach seiners and effort reduction in trawler activity. The analysis of the simulation results is based on the evolution of biological and economic indicators through 15-year stochastic projections. It is shown that limiting fishing effort and improving selectivity patterns of the trawl fleet would be beneficial for the recovery of the populations and for the profitability of the fishery. In addition to the increase in trawl mesh size, a further fishing effort reduction of 12% is recommended for the trawling fleet. Conversely, limiting or completely removing the beach seiner fleet would protect red mullet juveniles but would not significantly increase the profitability of the trawling fleet, and it would cause unemployment[ES] La merluza (Merluccius merluccius) y el salmonete (Mullus barbatus), debido a su gran interés comercial, son las dos especies más importantes de las pesquerías griegas. Ambas especies se encuentran en situación de sobreexplotación y necesitadas de una gestión adecuada que proteja la continuidad de su explotación. En el Golfo de Saronikos (Grecia), la merluza es explotada por la flota de arrastre mientras que el salmonete lo pescan las flotas de arrastre y la de cerco de playa. Se utiliza el modelo de simulación MEFISTO para el análisis de la interacción de ambas flotas a través de las mortalidades pesqueras aplicadas sobre las clases de edad del salmonete. En el presente trabajo se evalúan los efectos de la retirada de algunos cerqueros que tuvo lugar en 2002 y del incremento del ancho de malla (desde 28 mm a 40 mm) que tuvo lugar en 2000, así como algunos escenarios de gestión alternativos como la completa retirada de la flota de cerco o la reducción del esfuerzo pesquero de la flota de arrastre. El análisis de las simulaciones estocásticas se presenta a través de la evolución de los indicadores bioeconómicos durante 15 años. Se muestra que la limitación del esfuerzo pesquero y la mejora en los parámetros de selectividad de la flota de arrastre serían beneficiosos tanto desde un punto de vista económico como conservacionista. Por otro lado, se recomienda una reducción de esfuerzo del 12%. Por el contrario, la limitación o retirada de la flota de cerco de playa causaría un problema de desempleo y no permitiría aumentar los beneficios de la flota de arrastre, sin llegar a ser beneficioso para las poblaciones explotadasWe thank Triantafyllos Kountouris and Argyris Argyrokastritis for their help and advice in the in situ approach to the hake and red mullet fishery in the Gulf of Saronikos and all the staff in the Fisheries Laboratory of the Ministry of Rural Development and FoodPeer reviewe

Targeting of distinct signaling cascades and cancer-associated fibroblasts define the efficacy of Sorafenib against prostate cancer cells

Sorafenib, a multi-tyrosine kinase inhibitor, kills more effectively the non-metastatic prostate cancer cell line 22Rv1 than the highly metastatic prostate cancer cell line PC3. In 22Rv1 cells, constitutively active STAT3 and ERK are targeted by sorafenib, contrasting with PC3 cells, in which these kinases are not active. Notably, overexpression of a constitutively active MEK construct in 22Rv1 cells stimulates the sustained phosphorylation of Bad and protects from sorafenib-induced cell death. In PC3 cells, Src and AKT are constitutively activated and targeted by sorafenib, leading to an increase in Bim protein levels. Overexpression of constitutively active AKT or knockdown of Bim protects PC3 cells from sorafenib-induced killing. In both PC3 and 22Rv1 cells, Mcl-1 depletion is required for the induction of cell death by sorafenib as transient overexpression of Mcl-1 is protective. Interestingly, co-culturing of primary cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) with 22Rv1 or PC3 cells protected the cancer cells from sorafenib-induced cell death, and this protection was largely overcome by co-administration of the Bcl-2 antagonist, ABT737. In summary, the differential tyrosine kinase profile of prostate cancer cells defines the cytotoxic efficacy of sorafenib and this profile is modulated by CAFs to promote resistance. The combination of sorafenib with Bcl-2 antagonists, such as ABT737, may constitute a promising therapeutic strategy against prostate cancer

In silico Experimentation of Glioma Microenvironment Development and Anti-tumor Therapy

Tumor cells do not develop in isolation, but co-evolve with stromal cells and tumor-associated immune cells in a tumor microenvironment mediated by an array of soluble factors, forming a complex intercellular signaling network. Herein, we report an unbiased, generic model to integrate prior biochemical data and the constructed brain tumor microenvironment in silico as characterized by an intercellular signaling network comprising 5 types of cells, 15 cytokines, and 69 signaling pathways. The results show that glioma develops through three distinct phases: pre-tumor, rapid expansion, and saturation. We designed a microglia depletion therapy and observed significant benefit for virtual patients treated at the early stages but strikingly no therapeutic efficacy at all when therapy was given at a slightly later stage. Cytokine combination therapy exhibits more focused and enhanced therapeutic response even when microglia depletion therapy already fails. It was further revealed that the optimal combination depends on the molecular profile of individual patients, suggesting the need for patient stratification and personalized treatment. These results, obtained solely by observing the in silico dynamics of the glioma microenvironment with no fitting to experimental/clinical data, reflect many characteristics of human glioma development and imply new venues for treating tumors via selective targeting of microenvironmental components

Cellular Phenotype-Dependent and -Independent Effects of Vitamin C on the Renewal and Gene Expression of Mouse Embryonic Fibroblasts

Vitamin C has been shown to delay the cellular senescence and was considered a candidate for chemoprevention and cancer therapy. To understand the reported contrasting roles of vitamin C: growth-promoting in the primary cells and growth-inhibiting in cancer cells, primary mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF) and their isogenic spontaneously immortalized fibroblasts with unlimited cell division potential were used as the model pair. We used microarray gene expression profiling to show that the immortalized MEF possess human cancer gene expression fingerprints including a pattern of up-regulation of inflammatory response-related genes. Using the MEF model, we found that a physiological treatment level of vitamin C (10−5 M), but not other unrelated antioxidants, enhanced cell growth. The growth-promoting effect was associated with a pattern of enhanced expression of cell cycle- and cell division-related genes in both primary and immortalized cells. In the immortalized MEF, physiological treatment levels of vitamin C also enhanced the expression of immortalization-associated genes including a down-regulation of genes in the extracellular matrix functional category. In contrast, confocal immunofluorescence imaging of the primary MEF suggested an increase in collagen IV protein upon vitamin C treatment. Similar to the cancer cells, the growth-inhibitory effect of the redox-active form of vitamin C was preferentially observed in immortalized MEF. All effects of vitamin C required its intracellular presence since the transporter-deficient SVCT2−/− MEF did not respond to vitamin C. SVCT2−/− MEF divided and became immortalized readily indicating little dependence on vitamin C for the cell division. Immortalized SVCT2−/− MEF required higher concentration of vitamin C for the growth inhibition compared to the immortalized wildtype MEF suggesting an intracellular vitamin C toxicity. The relevance of our observation in aging and human cancer prevention was discussed

Turning a city of walls into a city for all: a redevelopment strategy to reunite the urban core with the metropolitan region of Grand Paris

Throughout history, Paris has always been a city of walls. The differences between the wealthy core and the poor periphery are increasing rapidly. The Boulevard Périphérique, Paris’s concrete ring road, is the spatial and symbolic manifestation of the imbalance between the city and periphery. The ring road works as a mobility bottleneck at the regional scale, while locally it strengthens the perception of urban inequality by complicating access to the resources of the city centre. Transforming this infrastructure element does not involve only spatial and functional restructuring, but also interventions at the social and governance level. This research and design project shows how the redevelopment of the Boulevard Périphérique can contribute to transform its spatial, functional, social and symbolic roles, in order to address the socio-spatial inequality challenges in the metropolitan area of Paris. A strategy for the redevelopment of the ring road is proposed, accompanied by spatial interventions and planning guidelines. The main outcomes are a strategic- and spatial framework that function as a toolbox for the redevelopment project. This toolbox consists of three important components: structural conditions, contextual needs and intervention possibilities.Architecture, Urbanism and Building Sciences | Complex Citie