Greek Traditional Dances Program and Self-Evaluated Effects and Changes in Life

The purpose of the present study was the evaluation of the effects of Greek traditional dancing programs on middle-aged peoplersquos life. Seventy one subjects (60 women and 11 men) 51.92+4.99 years old, members of different dance clubs, participated in the research. All the subjects participated in a group dancing program for learning and performing Greek traditional dances once a week. The effects and changes in life due to participation in the Greek traditional dancing program were measured through questions by Chewing, Yu kappaalphaiota Johnson (http://www.krapu4.com/taichi/research/Chewing Yu Johnson B. htm#emotions). For data analysis were used the descriptive analysis and Pearson chi-square test of the SPSS version 17 for windows. From the results, it was proved that almost 90% of the subjects supposed that their participation in the Greek traditional dancing program had an effect on their lives. The bigger percentage declared that the participation in Greek traditional dances offered them joy, well-being and calmness (33.30%), as well as many effects on their bodies (33.30%), while a smaller percentage claimed that their participation in the program offered them sociability-participation in a group (16.70%) and activity increase (16.70%). In addition, more than 4/5 (86.50%) believe that their participation in the Greek traditional dancing program has changed their confidence concerning their mobility or possible falls. About three-quarters of the subjects (73.70%) consider that their participation in the program of Greek traditional dances influenced in any way their everyday activities. The majority (78.90%) believe that their physical activity has changed as a result of their participation in the program of Greek traditional dances. Finally, all people think they have been benefited from their participation in the Greek traditional dancing program, which is very important. In addition, the Pearson chi-square test showed a significant effect (x2=8.15, plt0.05) of the years that the subjects participated in Greek traditional dancing programs on the feeling of people#39s confidence in their mobility or possible falls. Thus, as the years of participation in Greek traditional dances are increasing, the feeling of people#39s confidence in their mobility or even the potential falls is increasing. From the results, it was shown that all the middle-aged people suppose that they have been benefited from their participation in the Greek traditional dancing program.nbspThe benefits concern their better emotional state expressed in joy, well-being, calmness and sociability-participation in a group, but also their better physical condition, confidence in their mobility and possible falls, increase in their physical activities and the effects on everyday activities. The importance of participation in Greek traditional dances is also worth mentioning. Thus, it could be said that the participation in Greek traditional dancing programs brings about effects and changes on life. Consequently, Greek traditional dances as a regular physical activity may be extremely useful for the quality of life of middle-aged people offering many benefits.nbs

A rather unfruitful relationship? Fig wasps (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) of the alien invasive Ficus microcarpa in Cyprus

The Chinese banyan (Ficus microcarpa) is an Australasian fig tree commonly planted in urban and semi-urban sites throughout the warmer parts of the world. Assisted by its host-specific mutualist pollinator Eupristina verticillata (Agaonidae), F. microcarpa often manages to colonise urban areas outside its native range and can invade natural habitats. In Cyprus, the species is widely planted in city centres, town squares and parks, where seedlings have been observed. Increasing numbers of fig wasp species of Asian origin are being recorded from the Mediterranean and it appears that the pace of colonisation of F. microcarpa is increasing. Fig surveys in Cyprus during the last seven years have uncovered a total of 11 fig wasp species associated with F. microcarpa. The composition of the fig wasp fauna is described here. It includes two species previously unknown from the Western Palearctic: Sycophila petiolata Chen (Eurytomidae) and an undescribed species of uncertain generic affinity (Pteromalidae, Epichrysomallinae) that we refer to as “Eufroggattisca sp. indesc.”. The distribution, ecology and relationships of the Cypriot fig wasps associated with the Chinese banyan are discussed, together with their potential impacts on the spread of their host plant