Preschool teachers’ perceptions of inclusion and their setting’s inclusiveness in Greece

The perceptions of inclusive education play a significant role in the successful implementation of inclusion practices. The purpose of this study was to identify and investigate preschool teachers’ perceptions of inclusive education in mainstream education in Greece, as well as the extent of their settings’ inclusiveness. Their beliefs, actions, personal and professional factors that influence these attitudes were in the center of this study. The data were collected from a sample composed of 33 preschool teachers working in mainstream preschool settings located in urban and rural areas of Greece. This investigation utilized a mixed-method approach collecting data from interviews and questionnaires. The results indicated the preschool teachers’ positive but skeptical perspective. The interviews indicated issues on the practical implementation of inclusive education, due to the lack of expertise and support and the questionnaires confirmed these findings, highlighting the tremendous effort from the teachers’ behalf to work under adverse conditions. These results pointed out a need for continuous training on special and inclusive education and for the collaboration of all structures related to education. Only so, will the positive perceptions among mainstream preschool teachers be able to reach the successful implementation of inclusion at the educational process

Play interventions as a means to promote social engagement in preschoolers with autism. : A 2010-2020 Systematic Literature Review

Children with ASD are characterized by impairments in socialization and communication, as well as by the presence of repetitive behaviours and limited interests. Their impairment often influences their participation in everyday ac-tivities and by extension their social engagement in playful activities with their peers is affected. Researches set play as the leading activity for a child’s development, because it is identified as the means that can deliver various mental tools and teaching strategies to preschoolers. Purpose of this systematic literature review is to identify play interven-tions that describe the procedures aiming in promoting the social engagement of preschoolers with autism. This review will also examine the people that implemented these interventions, in order to provide information and guid-ance for all professionals and educators that may need them. Search in the three databases, ERIC, CINAHL and PsychINFO was performed. Seven articles were found to meet all criteria and were divided based on the similarities on the design and the procedures that were followed. The results of the study led to three play interventions that used the ASAP and JASPER intervention programs in order to examine the social communication of children with autism leading to their social engagement. The remaining findings resulted in four different kind of interventions that use play as the context for either increasing social engagement or promoting engagement of students with ASD with their peers. These interventions include auditory, dance and video modelling interventions. The Zone of Proximal Development was used as the theoretical framework to support the ideas mentioned, since it points out the role of play in the child’s development. However, this study highlights the need for further investigation regarding the pro-motion of social engagement of preschoolers with ASD. The level of the social engagement of children with ASD are rarely investigated in the natural context of schools during their everyday peer-to-peer play interactions

Play interventions as a means to promote social engagement in preschoolers with autism. : A 2010-2020 Systematic Literature Review

Children with ASD are characterized by impairments in socialization and communication, as well as by the presence of repetitive behaviours and limited interests. Their impairment often influences their participation in everyday ac-tivities and by extension their social engagement in playful activities with their peers is affected. Researches set play as the leading activity for a child’s development, because it is identified as the means that can deliver various mental tools and teaching strategies to preschoolers. Purpose of this systematic literature review is to identify play interven-tions that describe the procedures aiming in promoting the social engagement of preschoolers with autism. This review will also examine the people that implemented these interventions, in order to provide information and guid-ance for all professionals and educators that may need them. Search in the three databases, ERIC, CINAHL and PsychINFO was performed. Seven articles were found to meet all criteria and were divided based on the similarities on the design and the procedures that were followed. The results of the study led to three play interventions that used the ASAP and JASPER intervention programs in order to examine the social communication of children with autism leading to their social engagement. The remaining findings resulted in four different kind of interventions that use play as the context for either increasing social engagement or promoting engagement of students with ASD with their peers. These interventions include auditory, dance and video modelling interventions. The Zone of Proximal Development was used as the theoretical framework to support the ideas mentioned, since it points out the role of play in the child’s development. However, this study highlights the need for further investigation regarding the pro-motion of social engagement of preschoolers with ASD. The level of the social engagement of children with ASD are rarely investigated in the natural context of schools during their everyday peer-to-peer play interactions

Ποιότητα ζωής σε παιδιά που υποβάλλονται σε εξωνεφρική κάθαρση (αιμοκάθαρση, περιτοναϊκή) και σε μεταμόσχευση, καθώς και στους γονείς τους

Εισαγωγή: Η προοδευτική χρόνια νεφρική νόσος, ανεξάρτητα από την υποκείμενη αιτιολογία, επηρεάζει την ποιότητα ζωής των παιδιών λόγω της ανάγκης για τακτικές επισκέψεις παρακολούθησης, αυστηρό φαρμακευτικό πρόγραμμα και δίαιτα. Σκοπός: Η αξιολόγηση της ποιότητας ζωής των παιδιών που υποβάλλονταν σε θεραπεία με αιμοκάθαρση – περιτοναϊκή κάθαρση και σε μεταμόσχευση, καθώς και αυτή των γονέων τους. Μέθοδος: Πραγματοποιήθηκε μία συγχρονική μελέτη, τον Ιούνιο έως Ιούλιο 2022, στο νεφρολογικό τμήμα του Γενικού Νοσοκομείου Παίδων «Παναγιώτης & Αγλαΐα Κυριακού». Το δείγμα της μελέτης αποτέλεσαν 11 παιδιά με τελικού σταδίου νεφρική νόσο που υποβάλλονταν σε εξωνεφρική κάθαρση (αιμοκάθαρση και περιτοναϊκή κάθαρση) ή είχαν υποβληθεί σε μεταμόσχευση νεφρού, καθώς και 11 γονείς (ένα γονέας από κάθε παιδί). Για τη αξιολόγηση της ποιότητας ζωής των παιδιών με τελικού σταδίου νεφρική νόσο, καθώς και των γονέων τους, χρησιμοποιήθηκαν τα ερωτηματολόγια PedsQL™ End Stage Renal Disease Module, Version 3.0 και PedsQL™ 3.0 Transplant Module, Version 3.0. Η στατιστική ανάλυση πραγματοποιήθηκε με το στατιστικό πρόγραμμα SPSS version 28. Ως επίπεδο στατιστικής σημαντικότητας ορίστηκε το α=0,05. Αποτελέσματα: Η μέση συνολική βαθμολογία PedsQL των παιδιών με νεφρική νόσο τελικού σταδίου που υποβάλλονται σε αιμοκάθαρση ή περιτοναϊκή κάθαρση ήταν 60,13 (±18,18), με τη χαμηλότερη βαθμολογία να σημειώνεται στις διαστάσεις «αλληλεπίδραση με την οικογένεια και τους συνομηλίκους» [50,00 (±23,99)], «αντιληπτή φυσική εμφάνιση» [57,29 (±29,36)] και «ανησυχία» [57,81 (±30,43)]. Σύμφωνα με τους γονείς των παιδιών υπό αιμοκάθαρση ή περιτοναϊκή κάθαρση, η μέση βαθμολογία του PedsQL ήταν 57,66 (±21,95), με τη χαμηλότερη βαθμολογία να σημειώνεται στις διαστάσεις «ανησυχία» [47,81 (±30,34)], «αλληλεπίδραση με την οικογένεια και τους συνομηλίκους» [53,13 (±23,96)], και «αντιληπτή φυσική εμφάνιση» [53,13 (±30,52)]. Η βαθμολογία του PedsqL δε διέφερε στατιστικά σημαντικά μεταξύ των παιδιών που υποβάλλονταν σε αιμοκάθαρση ή περιτοναϊκή κάθαρση και των γονέων τους (p=0,784). Οι έφηβοι είχαν υψηλότερη ποιότητα ζωής [66,74 (±19,14)] σε σχέση με τα νήπια [52,68 (±10,02)] και τα παιδιά [66,74 (±19,14)], ωστόσο η συνολική βαθμολογία του ερωτηματολογίου PedsqL δε διέφερε στατιστικά σημαντικά ανάλογα με την ηλικία των παιδιών (p=0,513). Όσον αφορά στα παιδιά που είχαν υποβληθεί σε μεταμόσχευση, η μέση (±ΤΑ) βαθμολογία του PedsqL ήταν 69,69 (±20,50) με βάση τα ίδια τα παιδιά και 67,75 (±20,11), με βάση τους γονείς. Η συνολική βαθμολογία του PedsQL δε διέφερε στατιστικά σημαντικά μεταξύ των παιδιών που είχαν υποβληθεί σε μεταμόσχευση νεφρού και των γονέων τους. Συμπεράσματα: Τα παιδιά με τελικού σταδίου νεφρική νόσο αναφέρουν παρόμοια ποιότητα ζωής με εκείνη των γονέων τους. Τα παιδιά υπό αιμοκάθαρση και περιτοναϊκή κάθαρση τείνουν να έχουν χαμηλότερη ποιότητα ζωής από τα παιδιά που έχουν υποβληθεί σε μεταμόσχευση νεφρούIntroduction: Progressive chronic kidney disease (CKD), regardless of the underlying etiology, affects the quality of life (QoL) of children due to the need for regular follow-up visits, a strict medication program and diet intake. Aim: Τo evaluate the quality of life of children undergoing hemodialysis - peritoneal dialysis and transplantation, as well as that of their parents. Method: A cross-sectional study was carried out, from June to July 2022, in the nephrology department of the "Panagiotis & Aglaia Kyriakou" General Children's Hospital. The study sample consisted of 11 children with end-stage renal disease undergoing extrarenal dialysis (hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis) or undergoing kidney transplantation, as well as 11 parents (one parent from each child). The PedsQL™ End Stage Renal Disease Module, Version 3.0 and PedsQL™ 3.0 Transplant Module, Version 3.0 questionnaires were used to assess the quality of life of children with end-stage renal disease, as well as their parents. The statistical analysis was performed with the statistical program SPSS version 28. The level of statistical significance was set at α=0.05. Results: The mean total PedsQL score of children with end-stage renal disease undergoing hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis was 60.13 (±18.18), with the lowest score occurring in the dimensions “interaction with family and peers” [ 50.00 (±23.99)], “perceived physical appearance” [57.29 (±29.36)] and “worry” [57.81 (±30.43)]. According to the parents of children on hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis, the mean PedsQL score was 57.66 (±21.95), with the lowest score occurring on the dimensions of "worry" [47.81 (±30.34)], “interaction with family and peers” [53.13 (±23.96)], and “perceived physical appearance” [53.13 (±30.52)]. The PedsqL score did not differ statistically significantly between children undergoing hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis and their parents (p=0.784). Adolescents had a higher quality of life [66.74 (±19.14)] than infants [52.68 (±10.02)] and children [66.74 (±19.14)], however the total score of the Pedsql questionnaire did not differ statistically significantly according to the age of the children (p=0.513). For transplanted children, the mean (±SD) Pedsql score was 69.69 (±20.50) based on the children themselves and 67.75 (±20.11), based on the parents. The PedsQL total score was not statistically significantly different between children who had undergone kidney transplantation and their parents. Conclusion: Children with end-stage renal disease report similar quality of life to their parents. Children on hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis tend to have a lower quality of life than children who have undergone a kidney transplan

Serum neurofilament light chain levels as biomarker of paclitaxel-induced peripheral neurotoxicity

Background and Objective: There is compelling experimental evidence that neurofilament light chain (NfL) could sensitively be detected in serum as a biomarker of neuro-axonal damage induced by chemotherapy. We sought to assess the significance of measuring serum NfL (sNfL) in the clinical setting of paclitaxel-induced peripheral neurotoxicity (PIPN). Materials and methods: We longitudinally measured sNfL in breast cancer patients, scheduled to receive the 12-weekly paclitaxel-based regimen. Patients were clinically examined by means of the Total Neuropathy Score–clinical version (TNSc), while sNfL levels were quantified, using the highly-sensitive Simoa technique, before the onset of chemotherapy (baseline), after 2 (week 2) and 3 (week 3) weekly courses, and at the end of chemotherapy (week 12). Results: Among 59 included patients (mean age: 53.1 ± 11.5 years), 33 (56%) developed grade 0-1 and 26 (44%) grade 2-3 PIPN at week 12. A significant longitudinal increase of sNfL levels from baseline to week 12 was determined, whereas patients with TNSc grade 2-3 PIPN had significantly increased sNfL levels at week 12, compared to those with grade 0-1 PIPN. Receiver-operated characteristics (ROC) analysis defined a value of NfL of > 85 pg/mL at week 3 as the best discriminative determination to predict the development of grade 2-3 PIPN at week 12 (sensitivity 46.2%, specificity 84.8%). The logistic binary regression analysis revealed that age > 50 years and the cutoff of >85 pg/mL of sNfL levels at week 3 independently predicted the development of grade 2-3 PIPN at week 12 with a sensitivity of 46%, a specificity of 91%, and positive and negative predictive values of 75% and 67%, respectively. Conclusions: NfL levels seem to be a valuable biomarker of neuro-axonal injury in PIPN. An early increase of this biomarker after a 3-weekly chemotherapy course can be a predictive marker of final PIPN severity.Εισαγωγή και Σκοπός: Η νευρο-αξονική βλάβη ως αποτέλεσμα της χημειοθεραπείας αυξάνει τα επίπεδα των νευροϊνιδίων χαμηλού μοριακού βάρους σε πειραματόζωα, με αποτέλεσμα να ανιχνεύονται σε δείγματα ορού αίματος (sNfL-serum neurofilament light chain). Μέχρι σήμερα, δεν υπάρχουν διαθέσιμα επαρκή κλινικά δεδομένα. Μελετήσαμε την αξία του προσδιορισμού των επιπέδων των sNfL, ως βιοδείκτη έκβασης της περιφερικής νευροτοξικότητας (ΠΝ) σχετιζόμενης με την πακλιταξέλη. Υλικά και Μέθοδοι: Πραγματοποιήθηκε προσδιορισμός των επιπέδων sNfL σε διαδοχικά δείγματα περιφερικού αίματος ασθενών με καρκίνωμα μαστού που βρίσκονταν σε πρόγραμμα εβδομαδιαίας χημειοθεραπείας με 12 κύκλους πακλιταξέλης. Τα επίπεδα sNfL μετρήθηκαν με την υπερευαίσθητη μέθοδο SIMOA-QUANTERIX, προ της έναρξης χημειοθεραπείας (baseline), μετά τον 2o κύκλο (εβδομάδα 2), τον 3ο (εβδομάδα 3) και στο τέλος της χημειοθεραπείας (εβδομάδα 12). Η κλινική εκτίμηση της περιφερικής νευροπάθειας (ΠΝ) έγινε με την κλίμακα Τotal neuropathy score-clinical (TNSc). Αποτελέσματα: Συμπεριλήφθηκαν 59 ασθενείς (μέση ηλικία: 53.1 ± 11.5 έτη), από τους οποίους οι 33 (56%) παρουσίασαν βαθμού 0-1 και οι 26 (44%) βαθμού 2-3 περιφερική νευροπάθεια την εβδομάδα 12. Αναδείχθηκε σημαντική προοδευτική αύξηση των επιπέδων sNfL από την έναρξη της χημειοθεραπείας μέχρι την εβδομάδα 12, ενώ οι ασθενείς με βαθμού 2-3 περιφερική νευροπάθεια είχαν σημαντικά αυξημένα επίπεδα sNfL την εβδομάδα 12, συγκριτικά με αυτούς που είχαν περιφερική νευροπάθεια βαθμού 0-1. Η ανάλυση καμπύλης ROC έδειξε ότι μία τιμή sNfL > 85 pg/mL την εβδομάδα 3 αποτελεί ανεξάρτητο προγνωστικό παράγοντα ανάπτυξης βαθμού 2-3 ΠΝ την εβδομάδα 12 (ευαισθησία 46.2%, ειδικότητα 84.8%). Η ανάλυση με λογιστική παλινδρόμηση έδειξε ότι η ηλικία > 50 ετών και η τιμή sNfL > 85 pg/mL την εβδομάδα 3 αποτελούν ανεξάρτητους προγνωστικούς παράγοντες ανάπτυξης ΠΝ βαθμού 2-3 την εβδομάδα 12 με ευαισθησία 46%, ειδικότητα 91% και θετική και αρνητική προγνωστική αξία 75% και 67%, αντίστοιχα. Συμπεράσματα: Τα sNfL φαίνεται να αποτελούν ισχυρό προγνωστικό βιοδείκτη νευρο-αξονικής βλάβης, ενώ η πρώιμη αύξηση των επιπέδων τους μετά από 3 κύκλους εβδομαδιαίας χημειοθεραπείας κατέχει σημαντική προβλεπτική αξία για την τελική έκβαση της περιφερικής νευροπάθειας σχετιζόμενης με πακλιταξέλη

Frequency-Dependent Electrical Characterization of GO-SiO2 Composites in a Schottky Device

An Al/GO-SiO2/p-Si device was obtained via the spin coating technique for the GO-SiO2 interfacial composite layer, and the thermal evaporation technique was employed for Al contacts. The device was subsequently analyzed via impedance spectroscopy for on a wide range of frequency (from 10 kHz to 5 MHz) and voltage (± 1 V) at room temperature. Main electrical parameters including barrier height, series resistance, doping concentration and interface states of the device were calculated using C–V and G–V characteristics. According to the C–V and G–V characteristics, the main electrical parameters were affected by the series resistance and interface states. The device exhibited negative capacitances, and the capacitance and conductance values were found to be a strong function of the frequency and voltage. The Al/GO-SiO2/p-Si device was also characterized via dielectric characterization. The profiles of ?',?¨ tan ?, M'M¨ and ? in relation to frequency and voltage were plotted and are discussed in details. All the dielectric parameters were found to be a strong function of frequency and voltage, and the interface states were more effective at low frequencies for this device. Instead of using only a SiO2 layer in the interface, a GO-SiO2 composite structure can be used as a new material for more effective metal–oxide–semiconductor (MOS) devices. © 2018, The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society