The brief self-control scale: Dimensionality and psychometric properties in Greek young adults

This study aims to investigate the psychometric properties of the Greek version of Brief Self-control Scale (BSCS). This scale is used for the assessing of self-control, which is the ability to control one’s emotions and desires–especially in demanding situations-in order to have more important long-term benefits. Data were collected from a sample of Greek-speaking university students from two different universities (N = 251, M age = 19.86, SD = 2.58, 47% female). A series of CFAs were conducted to compare different potential factor structures that have been proposed in the literature. The results indicate that the revised shortened 7-items BSCS in Greek, as indicated in previous research too, displays a two-factor structure (impulse-control and self-discipline) and these factors show acceptable internal reliability. Also, item factor loadings, thresholds, and intercepts were invariant across females and males (strong measurement invariance). Means of bivariate latent correlations of the BSCS with depression, anxiety, stress, conscientiousness and satisfaction with life were investigated. This study shows that the Greek BSCS is a promising short tool for research on youth’s self-control

Evaluation of Feature Descriptors for Cancerous Tissue Recognition

Computer-Aided Diagnosis (CAD) has witnessed a rapid growth over the past decade, providing a variety of automated tools for the analysis of medical images. In surgical pathology, such tools enhance the diagnosing capabilities of pathologists by allowing them to review and diagnose a larger number of cases daily. Geared towards developing such tools, the main goal of this paper is to identify useful computer vision based feature descriptors for recognizing cancerous tissues in histopathologic images. To this end, we use images of Hematoxylin & Eosin-stained microscopic sections of breast and prostate carcinomas, and myometrial leiomyosarcomas, and provide an exhaustive evaluation of several state of the art feature representations for this task. Among the various image descriptors that we chose to compare, including representations based on convolutional neural networks, Fisher vectors, and sparse codes, we found that working with covariance based descriptors shows superior performance on all three types of cancer considered. While covariance descriptors are known to be effective for texture recognition, it is the first time that they are demonstrated to be useful for the proposed task and evaluated against deep learning models. Capitalizing on Region Covariance Descriptors (RCDs), we derive a powerful image descriptor for cancerous tissue recognition termed, Covariance Kernel Descriptor (CKD), which consistently outperformed all the considered image representations. Our experiments show that using CKD lead to 92.83%, 91.51%, and 98.10% classification accuracy for the recognition of breast carcinomas, prostate carcinomas, and myometrial leiomyosarcomas, respectivelyThis material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation through grants #IIP-0934327, #CNS-1039741, #SMA1028076, #CNS-1338042, #IIP-1439728, #OISE-1551059, and #CNS-1514626. Dr. Cherian is funded by the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Robotic Vision (project number CE140100016)

El efecto de la religiosidad en la salud mental de adultos jóvenes: investigación de factores mediadores

The aim of the present thesis was to investigate the effect of religiosity on the mental health of young people. The sample included 251 Greek-speaking students (47% women, average age: 19.9 years). A statistically significant correlation was found between young people's religiosity (organized religiosity, unorganized religiosity, internalized religiosity, belief in orthodox dogma) and their parents' perceived religiosity (organized religiosity, religious significance), as well as with mental health factors (depression, stress, high-risk behaviors) and life satisfaction. The relationship between youth's religiosity and parental attachment, forgiveness, self-control, and personality was examined. Also, the psychometric properties of the short scale of self-control (BSCS) were investigated and the shortened 7-items BSCS in Greek with a two-factor structure -control of impulses and self-discipline- emerged. The factor of self-discipline is related to better mental health as well as religiosity (only for men). The research findings highlight the significant impact of gender, as significant differences were observed in all correlations between religiosity and mental health. The most important difference between the sexes is that belief in the existence of God is associated with greater life satisfaction in women and doubt about the existence of God is associated with less life satisfaction in men.Σκοπός της παρούσας διατριβής ήταν η διερεύνηση της επίδρασης της θρησκευτικότητας στην ψυχική υγεία των νέων. Το δείγμα περιλάμβανε 251 ελληνόφωνους φοιτητές (47% γυναίκες, μέση ηλικία: 19,9 έτη). Βρέθηκε στατιστικά σημαντική συσχέτιση της θρησκευτικότητας των νέων (οργανωμένη θρησκευτικότητα, μη οργανωμένη θρησκευτικότητα, εσωτερικευμένη θρησκευτικότητα, πίστη στο ορθόδοξο δόγμα) με την αντιληπτή θρησκευτικότητα των γονέων τους (οργανωμένη θρησκευτικότητα, σημαντικότητα πίστης), καθώς και με παράγοντες ψυχικής υγείας (άγχος, στρες, κατάθλιψη, συμπεριφορές υψηλού κινδύνου) και την ικανοποίηση από τη ζωή. Ελέγχθηκε η σχέση της θρησκευτικότητας των νέων με το δεσμό με τους γονείς, τη συγχωρητικότητα, τον αυτοέλεγχο και την προσωπικότητα. Επίσης, διερευνήθηκαν οι ψυχομετρικές ιδιότητες της σύντομης κλίμακας αυτοελέγχου (BSCS) και προέκυψε η σύντομη ελληνική έκδοση 7 ερωτημάτων με δύο παράγοντες, τον έλεγχο των παρορμήσεων και την αυτοπειθαρχία. Ο παράγοντας της αυτοπειθαρχίας σχετίζεται με καλύτερη ψυχική υγεία , καθώς και με τη θρησκευτικότητα (μόνο για το ανδρικό φύλο). Τα ευρήματα της έρευνας αναδεικνύουν τη σημαντική επίδραση του φύλου, καθώς παρατηρήθηκαν σημαντικές διαφοροποιήσεις σε όλες τις συσχετίσεις μεταξύ της θρησκευτικότητας και της ψυχικής υγείας. Η σημαντικότερη διαφορά μεταξύ των δύο φύλων είναι ότι στις γυναίκες η πίστη στην ύπαρξη του Θεού συνδέεται με μεγαλύτερη ικανοποίηση από τη ζωή και στους άνδρες η αμφιβολία σχετικά με την ύπαρξη του Θεού συνδέεται με μικρότερη ικανοποίηση από τη ζωή.El objetivo de la presente tesis fue investigar el efecto de la religiosidad en la salud mental de los jóvenes. La muestra incluyó a 251 estudiantes de habla griega (47% mujeres, edad promedio: 19,9 años). Se encontró una correlación estadísticamente significativa entre la religiosidad de los jóvenes (religiosidad organizada, religiosidad no organizada, religiosidad interiorizada, creencia en el dogma ortodoxo) y la religiosidad percibida de sus padres (religiosidad organizada, trascendencia religiosa), así como con factores de salud mental (depresión, estrés , conductas de alto riesgo) y satisfacción con la vida. Se examinó la relación entre la religiosidad de los jóvenes y el apego de los padres, el perdón, el autocontrol y la personalidad. Además, se investigaron las propiedades psicométricas de la escala corta de autocontrol (BSCS) y surgió la BSCS abreviada de 7 ítems en griego con una estructura de dos factores: control de impulsos y autodisciplina. El factor de la autodisciplina se relaciona con una mejor salud mental así como con la religiosidad (solo para hombres). Los hallazgos de la investigación destacan el impacto significativo del género, ya que se observaron diferencias significativas en todas las correlaciones entre religiosidad y salud mental. La diferencia más importante entre los sexos es que la creencia en la existencia de Dios se asocia con una mayor satisfacción con la vida en las mujeres y la duda sobre la existencia de Dios se asocia con una menor satisfacción con la vida en los hombres

Total Productive Maintenance (T.P.M.) implementation study in industrial packaging department

108 σ.Εθνικό Μετσόβιο Πολυτεχνείο--Μεταπτυχιακή Εργασία. Διεπιστημονικό-Διατμηματικό Πρόγραμμα Μεταπτυχιακών Σπουδών (Δ.Π.Μ.Σ.) “Συστήματα Αυτοματισμού”Αντικείμενο της παρούσας διπλωματικής εργασίας είναι η παρουσίαση και μελέτη δραστηριοτήτων ομάδων του Πυλώνα Προγραμματισμένης Συντήρησης ενός συστήματος Ολικής Παραγωγικής Συντήρησης (Total Productive Maintenance – T.P.M.) σε συσκευαστήριο εργοστασιακής εγκατάστασης. Η ΤPM, ως σύστημα, σκοπεύει στη μεγιστοποίηση της αποδοτικότητας του εξοπλισμού προς βελτίωση της παραγωγικότητας, στην καθιέρωση ενός ολοκληρωμένου συστήματος Παραγωγικής Συντήρησης, εστιασμένου σε όλο τον κύκλο ζωής του εξοπλισμού, στο συγχρονισμό όλων των τμημάτων, από το σχεδιασμό μέχρι το χειρισμό και τη συντήρηση, που σχετίζονται με τον εξοπλισμό, στην άμεση εμπλοκή όλων, από τα ανώτατα διοικητικά στελέχη ως του εργαζόμενους στο χώρο παραγωγής, καθώς και στη διεύθυνση ομαδικών ενεργειών που αποσκοπούν στην επίτευξη στόχων της επιχείρησης. Η μελέτη της TPM εστιάστηκε στην παρουσίαση ομάδων εργασίας, βασισμένων στη μεθοδολογία της, που σχετίζονται με τον Πυλώνα Προγραμματισμένης Συντήρησης. Ο ρόλος της Προγραμματισμένης Συντήρησης έγκειται στην αύξηση της επίδοσης της εγκατάστασης και στην ελάττωση του κόστους συντήρησης, μέσω της εξάλειψης των μη προγραμματισμένων σταματημάτων και της ανάπτυξης ενός οικονομικά αποτελεσματικού συστήματος προγραμματισμένης συντήρησης. Πιο συγκεκριμένα, οι ομάδες δραστηριοποιήθηκαν στη χρήση και ανάπτυξη της μεθοδολογίας ελάττωσης βλαβών σε μηχανήματα του εξοπλισμού συσκευαστηρίου εργοστασιακής εγκατάστασης. Ο τρόπος εργασίας βασίστηκε στον κύκλο P.D.C.A. (Plan-Do-Check-Act).Objective of the diploma thesis is the presentation and study of Planned Maintenance pillar activities of a Total Productive Maintenance (T.P.M.) system in an Industrial Packaging Department. TPM aims at maximizing equipment efficiency, establishing a complete system of Productive Maintenance focused on equipment's life cycle, coordinating all the manufacturing departments related to equipment, involing everyone in the procedure from managers to operators and promoting team activities. The study focused on presenting teams related to Planned Maintenance pillar. Planned Maintenance aims at increasing equipment efficiency while reducing maintenance cost, through eliminating unplanned stops and evolving a cost-effecive system of planned maintenance. The teams worked with the methodology of breakdown reduction on machines of the equipment of an Industrial Packaging Department. P.D.C.A. (Plan-Do-Check-Act) cycle was used as a tool.Παναγιώτης Ν. Παπανικολόπουλο

The brief self-control scale: Dimensionality and psychometric properties in Greek young adults

This study aims to investigate the psychometric properties of the Greek version of Brief Self-control Scale (BSCS). This scale is used for the assessing of self-control, which is the ability to control one’s emotions and desires–especially in demanding situations-in order to have more important long-term benefits. Data were collected from a sample of Greek-speaking university students from two different universities (N = 251, M age = 19.86, SD = 2.58, 47% female). A series of CFAs were conducted to compare different potential factor structures that have been proposed in the literature. The results indicate that the revised shortened 7-items BSCS in Greek, as indicated in previous research too, displays a two-factor structure (impulse-control and self-discipline) and these factors show acceptable internal reliability. Also, item factor loadings, thresholds, and intercepts were invariant across females and males (strong measurement invariance). Means of bivariate latent correlations of the BSCS with depression, anxiety, stress, conscientiousness and satisfaction with life were investigated. This study shows that the Greek BSCS is a promising short tool for research on youth’s self-control

The Emerging Role of MicroRNAs and Autophagy Mechanism in Pancreatic Cancer Progression: Future Therapeutic Approaches

Pancreatic cancer constitutes the fourth most frequent cause of death due to malignancy in the US. Despite the new therapeutic modalities, the management of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is considered a difficult task for clinicians due to the fact that is usually diagnosed in already advanced stages and it is relatively resistant to the current chemotherapeutic agents. The molecular background analysis of pancreatic malignant tumors, which includes various epigenetic and genetic alterations, opens new horizons for the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. The interplay between miRNAs, autophagy pathway, and pancreatic carcinogenesis is in the spotlight of the current research. There is strong evidence that miRNAs take part in carcinogenesis either as tumor inhibitors that combat the oncogene expression or as promoters (oncomiRs) by acting as oncogenes by interfering with various cell functions such as proliferation, programmed cell death, and metabolic and signaling pathways. Deregulation of the expression levels of various miRNAs is closely associated with tumor growth, progression, and dissemination, as well as low sensitivity to chemotherapeutic agents. Similarly, autophagy despite constituting a pivotal homeostatic mechanism for cell survival has a binary role in PDAC, either as an inhibitor or promoter of carcinogenesis. The emerging role of miRNAs in autophagy gets a great deal of attention as it opens new opportunities for the development of novel therapeutic strategies for the management of this aggressive and chemoresistant malignancy. In this review, we will shed light on the interplay between miRNAs and the autophagy mechanism for pancreatic cancer development and progression

An Insight into the Arising Role of MicroRNAs in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Future Diagnostic and Therapeutic Approaches

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) constitutes a frequent highly malignant form of primary liver cancer and is the third cause of death attributable to malignancy. Despite the improvement in the therapeutic strategies with the exploration of novel pharmacological agents, the survival rate for HCC is still low. Shedding light on the multiplex genetic and epigenetic background of HCC, such as on the emerging role of microRNAs, is considered quite promising for the diagnosis and the prediction of this malignancy, as well as for combatting drug resistance. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) constitute small noncoding RNA sequences, which play a key role in the regulation of several signaling and metabolic pathways, as well as of pivotal cellular functions such as autophagy, apoptosis, and cell proliferation. It is also demonstrated that miRNAs are significantly implicated in carcinogenesis, either acting as tumor suppressors or oncomiRs, while aberrations in their expression levels are closely associated with tumor growth and progression, as well as with local invasion and metastatic dissemination. The arising role of miRNAs in HCC is in the spotlight of the current scientific research, aiming at the development of novel therapeutic perspectives. In this review, we will shed light on the emerging role of miRNAs in HCC

Exploiting Autophagy-Dependent Neoantigen Presentation in Tumor Microenvironment

Autophagy constitutes a well-known homeostatic and catabolic process that is responsible for degradation and recycling of cellular components. It is a key regulatory mechanism for several cellular functions, whereas its dysregulation is associated with tumorigenesis, tumor–stroma interactions and resistance to cancer therapy. A growing body of evidence has proven that autophagy affects the tumor microenvironment, while it is also considered a key factor for function of several immune cells, such as APCs, T-cells, and macrophages. Moreover, it is implicated in presentation of neo-antigens of tumor cells in both MHC-I and MHC-II in dendritic cells (DCs) in functional activity of immune cells by creating T-cell memory, as well as in cross-presentation of neo-antigens for MHC-I presentation and the internalization process. Currently, autophagy has a crucial role in immunotherapy. Emergence of cancer immunotherapy has already shown some remarkable results, having changed therapeutic strategy in clinical practice for several cancer types. Despite these promising long-term responses, several patients seem to lack the ability to respond to immune checkpoint inhibitors. Thus, autophagy through neo-antigen presentation is a potential target in order to strengthen or attenuate the effects of immunotherapy against different types of cancer. This review will shed light on the recent advances and future directions of autophagy-dependent neo-antigen presentation and consequently its role in immunotherapy for malignant tumors