The contribution of the "Musical Notes Challenge" game to the enhancement of situational interest

Two authors are investigating the interest of third and fourth-grade students when using the educational game "Musical Notes Challenge" in music classrooms. This game aims to familiarize students with the position of musical notes on the staff, to improve aural skills, enhance melodic instrument performance, develop social skills, collaborative learning and students\u27 interest in music lesson. The authors analyzed the interviews and questionnaires designed for students, aiming to find out their preferences and feelings about the educational game. The results show the positive impact of introducing the game in education, as it enhances students\u27 active interest, mutual interaction and teamwork, provides choices in learning, integrates elements of game and offers practical activities. This article is part of the anthology European Perspectives on Music Education, Volume 12, titled Music & Meaning, in which an international group of authors explores how music acquires meaning. (DIPF/Verlag

Heritability of seed weight in Maritime pine, a relevant trait in the transmission of environmental maternal effects

Quantitative seed provisioning is an important life-history trait with strong effects on offspring phenotype and fitness. As for any other trait, heritability estimates are vital for understanding its evolutionary dynamics. However, being a trait in between two generations, estimating additive genetic variation of seed provisioning requires complex quantitative genetic approaches for distinguishing between true genetic and environmental maternal effects. Here, using Maritime pine as a long-lived plant model, we quantified additive genetic variation of cone and seed weight (SW) mean and SW within-individual variation. We used a powerful approach combining both half-sib analysis and parent-offspring regression using several common garden tests established in contrasting environments to separate G, E and G x E effects. Both cone weight and SW mean showed significant genetic variation but were also influenced by the maternal environment. Most of the large variation in SW mean was attributable to additive genetic effects (h(2) = 0.55-0.74). SW showed no apparent G x E interaction, particularly when accounting for cone weight covariation, suggesting that the maternal genotypes actively control the SW mean irrespective of the amount of resources allocated to cones. Within-individual variation in SW was low (12%) relative to between-individual variation (88%), and showed no genetic variation but was largely affected by the maternal environment, with greater variation in the less favourable sites for pine growth. In summary, results were very consistent between the parental and the offspring common garden tests, and clearly indicated heritable genetic variation for SW mean but not for within-individual variation in SW.This study was financed by the Spanish National Research Grants RTA2007-100 and AGL2012-40151 (FENOPIN), both co-financed by EU-FEDER. The progeny trials and the clonal seed orchards are part of the experimental set up of the Maritime pine breeding programme developed by the Centro de Investigacion Forestal de Lourizan, Xunta de Galicia.Spanish National Research Grant RTA2007-100Spanish National Research Grant AGL2012-40151 (FENOPIN)EU-FEDERPeer reviewe

Impact of myocardial injury on regional left ventricular function in the course of acute myocarditis with preserved ejection fraction: insights from segmental feature tracking strain analysis using cine cardiac MRI

The aim of this study was to provide insights into myocardial adaptation over time in myocyte injury caused by acute myocarditis with preserved ejection fraction. The effect of myocardial injury, as defined by the presence of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE), on the change of left ventricular (LV) segmental strain parameters was evaluated in a longitudinal analysis. Patients with a first episode of acute myocarditis were enrolled retrospectively. Peak radial (PRS), longitudinal (PLS) and circumferential (PCS) LV segmental strain values at baseline and at follow-up were computed using feature tracking cine cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. The change of segmental strain values in LGE positive (LGE+) and LGE negative (LGE−) segments was compared over a course of 89 ± 20 days. In 24 patients, 100 LGE+ segments and 284 LGE− segments were analysed. Between LGE+ and LGE− segments, significant differences were found for the change of segmental PCS (p < 0.001) and segmental PRS (p = 0.006). LGE + segments showed an increase in contractility, indicating recovery, and LGE− segments showed a decrease in contractility, indicating normalisation after a hypercontractile state or impairment of an initially normal contracting segment. No significant difference between LGE+ and LGE− segments was found for the change in segmental PLS. In the course of acute myocarditis with preserved ejection fraction, regional myocardial function adapts inversely in segments with and without LGE. As these effects seem to counterbalance each other, global functional parameters might be of limited use in monitoring functional recovery of these patients

Stability in and Correlation between Factors Influencing Genetic Quality of Seed Lots in Seed Orchard of Pinus tabuliformis Carr. over a 12-Year Span

Coniferous seed orchards require a long period from initial seed harvest to stable seed production. Differential reproductive success and asynchrony are among the main factors for orchard crops year-to-year variation in terms of parental gametic contribution and ultimately the genetic gain. It is fundamental in both making predictions about the genetic composition of the seed crop and decisions about orchard roguing and improved seed orchard establishment. In this paper, a primary Chinese pine seed orchard with 49 clones is investigated for stability, variation and correlation analysis of factors which influence genetic quality of the seed lots from initial seed harvest to the stable seed production over a 12 years span. Results indicated that the reproductive synchrony index of pollen shedding has shown to be higher than that of the strobili receptivity, and both can be drastically influenced by the ambient climate factors. Reproductive synchrony index of the clones has certain relative stability and it could be used as an indication of the seed orchard status during maturity stage; clones in the studied orchard have shown extreme differences in terms of the gametic and genetic contribution to the seed crop at the orchard's early production phase specifically when they severe as either female or male parents. Those differences are closely related to clonal sex tendency at the time of orchard's initial reproduction. Clonal gamete contribution as male and female parent often has a negative correlation. Clone utilization as pollen, seed or both pollen and seed donors should consider the role it would play in the seed crop; due to numerous factors influencing on the mating system in seed orchards, clonal genetic contribution as male parent is uncertain, and it has major influence on the genetic composition in the seed orchard during the initial reproductive and seed production phase

Implementation of Guidelines for the Management of Arterial Hypertension. The Impulsion Study

This study assessed the effects of a pilot best practice implementation enhancement program on the control of hypertension. We enrolled 697 consecutive known hypertensive patients with other vascular risk factors but free from overt vascular disease. There was no “control” group because it was considered unethical to deprive high-risk patients from “best medical treatment”. Following a baseline visit, previously trained physicians aimed to improve adherence to lifestyle measures and drug treatment for hypertension and other vascular risk factors. Both at baseline and at study completion (after 6 months), a 1-page form was completed showing if patients achieved treatment targets. If not, the reasons why were recorded. This program enhanced compliance with lifestyle measures and increased the use of evidence-based medication. There was a substantial increase in the number of patients who achieved treatment targets for blood pressure (p<0.0001) and other vascular risk factors. In non-diabetic patients (n=585), estimated vascular risk (PROCAM risk engine) was significantly reduced by 41% (p<0.0001). There was also a 12% reduction in vascular risk according to the Framingham risk engine but this did not achieve significance (p=0.07). In conclusion, this is the first study to increase adherence to multiple interventions in hypertensive patients on an outpatient basis, both in primary care and teaching hospitals. Simple, relatively low cost measures (e.g. educating physicians and patients, distributing printed guidelines/brochures and completing a 1-page form) motivated both physicians and patients to achieve multiple treatment goals. Further work is needed to establish if the improvement observed is sustained. [ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00416611]

Genetic Variation and Realized Genetic Gain From Black Pine Tree Improvement

Summary In 1978 a 10 ha clonal seed orchard of black pine (Pinus nigra Arnold) was established in the area of Koumani in the western part of Peleponnesos, Greece. The orchard comprises 52 clones derived from intensively selected plus trees in the natural forest of black pine of Peloponnesos. In 1991 three open pollinated progeny tests were established in Peloponnesos, proximal to the villages of Raches, Vlachokerasia and Vamvakou. Seedlings from 52 families including a commercial check (CC) were planted in each one of the three locations. Assessments were made when the trees were 4, 7 and 9 years respectively, with the following results. The variation among families for growth characteristics were highly significant in all locations examined. In the combined analyses of variance over the three locations, significant differences among families were also detected, while the family x location interaction effect was not significant. This indicates that the seed produced from the seed orchard can be freely used over the environments of the three experimental plantings, which are representative of the broad area of Peloponnesos. Narrow sense heritability estimates on individual tree basis (h2) were variable depending on the characteristic, age of assessment and the location of the experimental plantings. The estimates of h2 in Vlachokerasia for height (HT) were 0.21, 0.40 and 0.43 at the ages of 4, 7 and 9 years respectively. In Raches the corresponding h2 values for HT were nearly the same in all ages (0.29, 0.28 and 0.31 at 4, 7 and 9 years respectively) and stable but little higher (0.31, 0.28 and 0.31) at the Vamvakou experimental planting. The heritability values for HT estimated over the three location, were relatively low (0.25, 0.23 and 0.19) at the ages 4, 7 and 9 years respectively. Realized genetic gains were calculated for growth characteristics at the age of 9 years, by comparing the performance of the improved (selected) materials to unimproved materials (CC). For the first stage of selection (selection made in natural stands) gain of 6.0% for HT, 8.0% for diameter breast height (DBH) and 24% for volume were estimated. When 20% of the clones, with the lower breeding values are removed from the seed orchard (genetic thinning), an additional gain of 2% for HT, 3% for DBH and 8% for volume over the unrogued seed orchard is resulted. Thus, the total genetic gain from the genetically tested, first generation seed orchard of black pine at Koumani is estimated as 8% for HT, 11% for DBH and 32% for volume. These results indicate that improvement of black pine by selection, establishment of seed orchard and progeny testing the clones, is a very promising profitable operation.</jats:p

The contribution of technologically enriched educational games to the enhancement of situational interest in the primary music education classroom: an action research

Recent research points out the important role of interest in the educational process. Interest contributes positively to attention and learning and is activated by prior knowledge and unexpected content. In addition, using games as learning tools promotes critical thinking, risk-taking, enhances students' attention, trains them to work under pressure, have fun, respect rules and better manage victory or defeat in a completely safe environment. The present action research aimed to enhance situational interest of the 3rd and 4th Primary General Education students in the field of music. For this purpose, three technologically enriched educational games were designed and implemented, i.e. games that combine the use of physical objects (such as dice, tabs and musical instruments) with the use of a virtual computing environment fully controlled by the teacher. Through a three-phase mixed research approach that includes open-ended and closed questionnaires, interviews and observation, students' situational interest was investigated before, during and after the implementation of three technologically enriched educational games. Situations and activities that increased or decreased students' interest were also investigated and were taken into account in the planning of each phase. The results of the research showed that there was an enhancement of the situational/situational interest during and after the implementation of the game, making the music lesson more attractive and enhancing the positive emotions of the students. This thesis confirms previous studies that deal with learning strategies that enhance situational interest, such as providing choices, teamwork, using innovations and variety and incorporating game elements in the learning process.Πρόσφατες έρευνες επισημαίνουν τον σημαντικό ρόλο του ενδιαφέροντος στην εκπαιδευτική διαδικασία. Το ενδιαφέρον συμβάλλει θετικά στην προσοχή και τη μάθηση και ενεργοποιείται από την προγενέστερη γνώση και το απροσδόκητο περιεχόμενο. Επιπλέον, η χρήση παιχνιδιών ως εργαλείων μάθησης προάγει την κριτική σκέψη, την ανάληψη ρίσκου, ενισχύει την προσοχή των μαθητών, τους εκπαιδεύει να εργάζονται υπό πίεση, να διασκεδάζουν, να σέβονται τους κανόνες και να διαχειρίζονται καλύτερα τη νίκη ή την ήττα σε ένα απόλυτα ασφαλές περιβάλλον. Η παρούσα έρευνα δράσης είχε ως στόχο την ενίσχυση του καταστασιακού ενδιαφέροντος των μαθητών Γ΄ και Δ΄ Δημοτικού Γενικής Παιδείας στο διδακτικό αντικείμενο της μουσικής. Για το σκοπό αυτό σχεδιάστηκαν και εφαρμόστηκαν τρία τεχνολογικά εμπλουτισμένα εκπαιδευτικά παιχνίδια, δηλαδή παιχνίδια που συνδυάζουν τη χρήση φυσικών αντικειμένων (όπως ζάρια, καρτέλες και μουσικά όργανα) με τη χρήση ενός εικονικού υπολογιστικού περιβάλλοντος πλήρως ελεγχόμενου από τον εκπαιδευτικό. Μέσα από μία μικτή ερευνητική προσέγγιση τριών φάσεων που περιλάμβανε ερωτηματολόγια ανοιχτού και κλειστού τύπου, συνεντεύξεις και παρατήρηση διερευνήθηκε το καταστασιακό ενδιαφέρον των μαθητών πριν, κατά τη διάρκεια και μετά την εφαρμογή τριών τεχνολογικά εμπλουτισμένων εκπαιδευτικών παιχνιδιών. Επίσης διερευνήθηκαν καταστάσεις και δραστηριότητες που ενίσχυσαν ή μείωσαν το ενδιαφέρον των μαθητών, στοιχεία που λήφθηκαν υπόψη στον αναστοχασμό και τον σχεδιασμό της κάθε φάσης. Τα αποτελέσματα της έρευνας έδειξαν ότι υπήρξε ενίσχυση του περιστασιακού/ καταστασιακού ενδιαφέροντος κατά τη διάρκεια και μετά την υλοποίηση του παιχνιδιού, κάνοντας το μάθημα της μουσικής ελκυστικότερο και ενισχύοντας τα θετικά συναισθήματα των μαθητών. Η παρούσα διατριβή επιβεβαιώνει προγενέστερες μελέτες οι οποίες ασχολούνται με στρατηγικές μάθησης που ενισχύουν το περιστασιακό/ καταστασιακό ενδιαφέρον, όπως η παροχή επιλογών, η ομαδική εργασία, η ενσωμάτωση στοιχείων παιχνιδιού καθώς και η χρήση καινοτομιών και ποικιλίας στη μαθησιακή διαδικασία

Characteristics of soils of Thessaloniki and their assessment as medium of urban greenery growth

Urban parks are an important part of urban landscape and they have a vital role in the development and sustainability of towns and cities. The use of trees within towns and the importance of the beneficial effects, which they and other vegetation produce in and around cities has long been recognized. The urban greenery nowadays, under the pressure of urbanization process improves the quality of urban life in many ways with social and economic benefits and environmental services. Today urban parks and plantation were incorporated in the urban extension plans. Soil is a crucial component of rural and urban environments and soil conditions influence the growth and vigor of trees and vegetation. Some soil scientists estimate that 80% of urban vegetation problems can be traced to poor soil. Consequently there is a clear need for collection of information on soil and its capabilities and limitations for landscape design and planting in the urban environment. During urban development, most natural soil would have been damaged and modified. Foreign soil of inferior quality frequently finds its way into city areas, including those designated as green space. Many activities in urban areas change the soil’s physical, chemical, or biological characteristics. Soil conditions in urban areas influence the growth and vigor of trees and vegetation. In the present research soil conditions and characteristics of five urban parks of the city of Thessaloniki was studied through field and laboratory analysis (park of N. Helvetia, park of Y.M.C.A, park of Pasha gardens, park of Pedion Areos and park of Voulgari). Soil profiles show unnatural stratification with sharp layers and property differences between layers that suggest an artificial origin due to filling process. The lack of aggregating agents, particularly organic matter and soil fauna as soil compaction limits the formation of a strong soil structure. Chemically the samples have an atypical alkaline reaction and inadequate organic matter. The heavy metal concentrations are far from the safety limits, but these should be monitored and controlled. Consequently, it is necessary to adopt rigorous preventing management measures to forestall the multiple problems associated with urban soils. Understanding the basic physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil and their interaction helps to identify and correct problems that effect vegetation growth. Much of the information can be used to develop specifications or preliminary criteria for a design application.Κάτω από τις πιέσεις της έντονης αστικοποίησης, το πράσινο αποκτά σήμερα μια σειρά από περιβαλλοντικούς, κοινωνικούς και οικονομικούς ρόλους και λειτουργίες. Τα εδάφη των αστικών περιοχών λόγω της χρήσης και της διαχείρισης τους αποκτούν ιδιαίτερα χαρακτηριστικά που τα διαφοροποιούν από τα γεωργικά και δασικά εδάφη. Τα χαρακτηριστικά αυτά επιδρούν άμεσα ή έμμεσα στην ανάπτυξη, επέκταση και βελτίωση των δένδρων και της βλάστησης γενικότερα που υπάρχει στις πόλεις. Η εργασία που έγινε στην περιοχή της Θεσσαλονίκης είχε ως σκοπό τη μελέτη των εδαφικών συνθηκών των πάρκων της πόλης και τη διαχείριση του εδάφους ως μέσου ανάπτυξης του αστικού πρασίνου. Για τις ανάγκες της έρευνας επιλέχθηκαν πέντε πάρκα του Δήμου Θεσσαλονίκης. Τα πάρκα αυτά είναι: Το πάρκο της «Χ.Α.Ν.Θ», που βρίσκεται στο κέντρο της πόλης, το πάρκο του πεδίου του Άρεως έναντι του 3ου Σώματος Στρατού, το πάρκο «κήποι του πασά», στην περιοχή της Άνω πόλης, το άλσος-πάρκο « Νέας Ελβετίας», στην ανατολική Θεσσαλονίκη και τέλος το πάρκο Βούλγαρη, που βρίσκεται στην ανατολική είσοδο της πόλης. Για τις ανάγκες της έρευνας ανοίχτηκαν και περιγράφηκαν δώδεκα εδαφοτομές από τις οποίες ελήφθησαν σαράντα επτά δείγματα από τους εδαφικούς ορίζοντες – στρώσεις που σχηματιζόταν, ενώ με εδαφοτρυπάνη έγιναν δειγματοληψίες σε είκοσι έξη σημεία απ’ όπου ελήφθησαν ενενήντα τρία δείγματα. Από τα αποτελέσματα της μελέτης προέκυψε ότι τα εδάφη μας, που είναι αποτέλεσμα τεχνητών διαδικασιών(εκχωματώσεις, επιχωματώσεις), μπορούν να χαρακτηριστούν ανώριμα αφού καμιά πεδογενετική εξέλιξη δεν παρατηρείται σ’ αυτά. Τα περισσότερα εδάφη της μελέτης μας ανήκουν στην κατηγορία των εδαφών με βαριά προς μέτρια μηχανική σύσταση. Η αντίδραση των εδαφών της περιοχής μελέτης μας είναι αλκαλική, καθώς η αντίδραση των περισσοτέρων από αυτά υπερβαίνει το 7,5. Οι συγκεντρώσεις οργανικής ουσίας που παρατηρούμε στα εδάφη της περιοχής μελέτης μας είναι σε χαμηλά επίπεδα, ενώ η ηλεκτρική αγωγιμότητα θα πρέπει να ελέγχεται στα πάρκα που βρίσκονται κοντά στην παραλιακή ζώνη. Η εδαφική συμπίεση εμφανίζεται να αποτελεί παράγοντα που μπορεί να επηρεάσει την ανάπτυξη των δασικών δένδρων και γενικότερα του φυτευτικού υλικού των πάρκων. Οι συγκεντρώσεις βαρέων μετάλλων απέχουν πολύ από τα όρια ασφάλειας, παρόλα αυτά θα πρέπει αυτές να παρακολουθούνται και να ελέγχονται. Συνολικά μπορούμε να πούμε ότι τα προβλήματα που εμφανίζονται στα εδάφη της περιοχής μελέτης εστιάζονται κυρίως στα φυσικά χαρακτηριστικά τους, όπως είναι η υφή και η δομή καθώς και οι παράγοντες που μπορούν να επιδράσουν σε αυτά τα χαρακτηριστικά όπως είναι η οργανική ουσία και η συμπίεση. Συνεπώς για την βελτίωση των εδαφικών συνθηκών των πάρκων θα πρέπει να αναπτυχθούν εκείνες οι διαχειριστικές επεμβάσεις, οι οποίες θα οδηγούν στη δημιουργία πεδογενετικών διεργασιών για την εξέλιξη και την σταδιακή ωρίμανση των εδαφών μας. Η μελέτη των εδαφικών συνθηκών είναι απαραίτητη προϋπόθεση για τον σωστό σχεδιασμό, τη δημιουργία και τη διαχείριση αστικού πρασίνου που θα ανταποκρίνεται στα ιδιαίτερα χαρακτηριστικά και τις ανάγκες των σύγχρονων αστικών κέντρων