Pupils' attitudes towards art teaching in primary school: an evaluation tool

Pupils’ attitudes are influencing both learning and teaching processes and are affecting the way pupils will engage with art as adults. This paper introduces an attitude scale, ASAES (Attitude Scale for Art Experienced in School), which measures factors that may influence the formation of pupils’ attitudes, from pupils’ perceived abilities in art to teachers’ art specialisation. This newly developed instrument is a Likert- scale comprising four subscales: enjoyment, confidence, usefulness, and support needed. The support needed dimension is an essential component in the learning process because it represents the pupil’s perception of teacher’s feedback on how well they are coping with the task. The ASAES was administered to 420 primary school pupils in Cyprus and its psychometric properties are evaluated by Confirmatory Factor analysis

ICT and adult literacy, numeracy and ESOL

Mellar, H., Kambouri, M., Sanderson, M., and Pavlou, V. (2004) ICT and adult literacy, numeracy and ESOL. London: NRDC. Available at: http://www.nrdc.org.uk/uploads/documents/doc_258.pdfResearch report for NRDCThis project set out to obtain a picture of present teaching practice in the use of ICT in adult literacy, numeracy and ESOL within formal provision. (http://www.nrdc.org.uk/uploads/documents/doc_258.pdf

«Ginkgo biloba: «Ένα δέντρο από την εποχή των δεινοσαύρων μέχρι σήμερα-Επιστημονικές και εννοιολογικές πτυχές του θέματος»

Τα φυτά αναμφίβολα αποτελούν θεμέλιο λίθο της ζωής σε αυτό τον πλανήτη. Μετρώντας τριακόσιες χιλιάδες τουλάχιστον είδη να υπάρχουν γύρω μας, το μόνο σίγουρο είναι πως πρόκειται για τον κόσμο αυτό που θρέφει ψυχή και σώμα μεταφορικά και κυριολεκτικά. Οι εκπληκτικές ικανότητες των φυτών είχαν φανεί με τις παραδόσεις των λαών του κόσμου να τις «ψηλαφίζουν» αιώνες πριν. Φτάνοντας στο σήμερα η πύλη του βασιλείου τους στέκει ορθάνοιχτη μπροστά μας με την σύγχρονη επιστήμη να αποθεώνει ορθώς κάθε φυτικό οργανισμό ξεχωριστά αφού εκτός του ότι σπιθοβολούν απέραντη ομορφιά στη πλάση τους είναι ο καθοριστικός παράγοντας για τη ζωή και την εξέλιξη του πλανήτη. Ως εκ τούτου θα έλεγε κανείς και θα είχε απόλυτο δίκαιο ότι είναι εύκολο να φανταστούμε έναν κόσμο αποκλειστικά φυτικό, χωρίς ανθρώπους, και ζωικούς οργανισμούς, αλλά είναι αδύνατον να διανοηθούμε το αντίθετο. Η φαντασμαγορική και πολύπλοκη χερσαία ζωή, δεν νοείται χωρίς τη φυτική. Κυριολεκτικά, τα φυτά είναι απολύτως αναγκαία για να υπάρχει τούτος εδώ ο κόσμος. Έτσι, τη στιγμή που η γη άρχισε να καλύπτεται εκατομμύρια χρόνια πριν από δάση πτεριδόφυτων και κωνοφόρων, με τα ανθοφόρα φυτά να εμφανίζονται αρκετά χρόνια αργότερα, κάνει την εμφάνιση του το σπάνιο αυτό δέντρο το οποίο στάθηκε η αφορμή να γραφτεί η συγκεκριμένη διπλωματική εργασία. Απώτερος σκοπός της εργασίας αυτής είναι να διερευνήσει την απαρχή της εύρεσης του αξιοθαύμαστου αυτού σπάνιου δέντρου «Gingko biloba», τις επιστημονικές και εννοιολογικές πτυχές του και τον τρόπο διάδοσης και εγκατάσταση των σπόρων του στα μέρη που ευδοκιμούσε ή ευδοκιμεί και επιβιώνει μέχρι και σήμερα από την εποχή των δεινοσαύρων. Στο ερευνητικό κομμάτι κύριος στόχος είναι να εξακριβωθεί σε ποιο βαθμό οι ερωτώμενοι από Ελλάδα και Κύπρο γνωρίζουν το δέντρο του Gingko biloba και τις σπάνιες ιδιότητες του, αν οι γνώσεις αυτές είναι επαρκείς για ένα τόσο σπάνιο αλλά ταυτόχρονα ωφελείς φυτό για την ανθρωπότητα και αν υπερτερεί σε γνώσεις κάποια από τις δύο χώρες.Plants are undoubtedly the cornerstone of life on this planet. Counting at least three hundred thousand species around us, the only sure thing is that this is the world that nourishes soul and body metaphorically and literally. The amazing abilities of plants were seen with the traditions of the peoples of the world to “processed” them centuries ago. Reaching today, the gate of their kingdom stands wide open in front of us with modern science correctly deifying each plant separately, since in addition to sparkling immense their beauty it is the determining factor for the life and evolution of the planet. Therefore, one would say and it would be absolutely right that it is easy to imagine a world purely with plants, without humans, and animal organisms, but it is impossible to imagine the opposite. The spectacular and complex terrestrial life is not meant without the plants. Plants are literally necessary for this world to exist. Thus, at a time when the earth began to be covered millions of years before by forests of pterophytes and conifers, with flowering plants appearing several years later, this rare tree appeared which was the occasion for the writing of this dissertation. The ultimate goal of this dissertation is to investigate the beginning of the discovery of this remarkable rare tree «Ginkgo biloba», find out the scientific and conceptual aspects of the tree, how were propagated and placed it’s seeds in the places where was grew up or thrive and how can survive from the age of the dinosaurs until today. In the research part, the main goal is to find out to what level the respondents from Greece and Cyprys know the Ginkgo biloba tree and it’s rare properties, if this knowledges is sufficient for such a rare but at the same time beneficial plant for humanity and if it surpasses in knowledge any of the two countries

Transcriptional and Chromatin Accessibility Profiling of Neural Stem Cells Differentiating into Astrocytes Reveal Dynamic Signatures Affected under Inflammatory Conditions

Astrocytes arise from multipotent neural stem cells (NSCs) and represent the most abundant cell type of the central nervous system (CNS), playing key roles in the developing and adult brain. Since the differentiation of NSCs towards a gliogenic fate is a precisely timed and regulated process, its perturbation gives rise to dysfunctional astrocytic phenotypes. Inflammation, which often underlies neurological disorders, including neurodevelopmental disorders and brain tumors, disrupts the accurate developmental process of NSCs. However, the specific consequences of an inflammatory environment on the epigenetic and transcriptional programs underlying NSCs’ differentiation into astrocytes is unexplored. Here, we address this gap by profiling in mice glial precursors from neural tissue derived from early embryonic stages along their astrocytic differentiation trajectory in the presence or absence of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), a master pro-inflammatory cytokine. By using a combination of RNA- and ATAC-sequencing approaches, together with footprint and integrated gene regulatory network analyses, we here identify key differences during the differentiation of NSCs into astrocytes under physiological and inflammatory settings. In agreement with its role to turn cells resistant to inflammatory challenges, we detect Nrf2 as a master transcription factor supporting the astrocytic differentiation under TNF exposure. Further, under these conditions, we unravel additional transcriptional regulatory hubs, including Stat3, Smad3, Cebpb, and Nfkb2, highlighting the interplay among pathways underlying physiological astrocytic developmental processes and those involved in inflammatory responses, resulting in discrete astrocytic phenotypes. Overall, our study reports key transcriptional and epigenetic changes leading to the identification of molecular regulators of astrocytic differentiation. Furthermore, our analyses provide a valuable resource for understanding inflammation-induced astrocytic phenotypes that might contribute to the development and progression of CNS disorders with an inflammatory component

COVID-19 και οι επιπτώσεις στην ψυχική υγεία

Εισαγωγή: Οι πανδημίες έχουν σημαντική επίδραση στο γενικό πληθυσμό και διαταράσσουν την σωματική υγεία και ψυχική ευημερία των ανθρώπων. Η ανθρωπότητα από το τέλος του 2019 έχει έρθει αντιμέτωπη με μια νέα πανδημία αυτή του COVID-19, η οποία έχει επηρεάσει σημαντικά τις κοινωνίες πολλών χωρών, επιφέροντας σημαντικές επιπτώσεις στη ψυχική υγεία διαφόρων πληθυσμιακών ομάδων. Σκοπός: Σκοπός της παρούσας διπλωματικής εργασίας είναι η διερεύνηση των επιπτώσεων της πανδημίας στην ψυχική υγεία διαφόρων πληθυσμιακών ομάδων και η ανάδειξη παραγόντων που επηρεάζουν την εμφάνιση συμπτωμάτων ψυχικής υγείας. Μέθοδος: Η μεθοδολογία που ακολουθήθηκε, βασίστηκε στην ανασκόπηση της σχετικής βιβλιογραφίας και ερευνητικών δεδομένων, τα οποία συλλέχθηκαν από τις ηλεκτρονικές βάσεις δεδομένων PubMed και ScienceDirect, καθώς και από σελίδες εθνικών και διεθνών οργανισμών όπως ο WHO, ο ΕΟΔΥ και ο CDC. Τα επιστημονικά άρθρα και οι δημοσιεύσεις που χρησιμοποιήθηκαν ήταν της τελευταίας 5ετίας. Αποτελέσματα: Από την αρχική αναζήτηση, 23 μελέτες κρίθηκαν κατάλληλες για εισαγωγή στη συστηματική ανασκόπηση. Οι μελέτες αυτές διεξήχθησαν σε διάφορες χώρες όπως η Αίγυπτος, η Ιταλία, ο Λίβανος, η Ιαπωνία, η Σουηδία, η Κίνα, οι Ηνωμένες Πολιτείες Αμερικής, το Μπαγκλαντές, το Πακιστάν, η Ελλάδα, η Σιγκαπούρη, η Αγγλία, η Γαλλία και η Ισπανία. Παιδιά, έφηβοι, νεαροί ενήλικες, ηλικιωμένοι, άτομα που νόσησαν απο COVID-19, επαγγελματίες υγείας, φοιτητές και μαθητές ήταν οι πληθυσμιακές ομάδες που παρακολουθήθηκαν στις μελέτες αυτές. Οι ψυχολογικές επιπτώσεις της πανδημίας στις ομάδες αυτές φάνηκε να είναι η εμφάνιση συμπτωμάτων ψυχικής υγείας όπως άγχος, στρες, φόβος, διαταραχές του ύπνου, καταθλιπτικά συμπτώματα, τάσεις αυτοκτονίας, ιδεοψυχαναγκασμός, μετατραυματικό στρες, επαγγελματική εξουθένωση και υποτροπή ψυχικών νοσημάτων. Συμπεράσματα: Σημαντική είναι η επιβάρυνση της ψυχικής υγείας σε διάφορες πληθυσμιακές ομάδες λόγω της πανδημίας του COVID-19. Αναδείχθηκαν παράγοντες που μπορούν να επηρεάσουν θετικά ή αρνητικά την ψυχική υγεία των ομάδων αυτών και μπορούν να αποτελέσουν σημαντικές πληροφορίες για το σχεδιασμό πολιτικών υγείας και κατάλληλων παρεμβάσεων και δράσεων, ώστε να προληφθεί ή να αντιμετωπιστεί η εμφάνιση συμπτωμάτων ψυχικής υγείας σε μελλοντικές προκλήσεις, όπως αυτή της πανδημίας COVID-19.Background: Pandemics have a significant impact on the general population and disrupt people's physical health and mental well-being. Humanity, since the end of 2019 has been experiencing a new pandemic, that of COVID-19, which have had a significant impact on societies of many countries, causing also significant impact on the mental health of various groups of the population. Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate the impacts of the pandemic on mental health on various groups of the population and to identify factors that influence the onset of mental health symptoms. Methods: The methodology followed was based on the review of the relevant literature and research data, which were collected from the electronic databases PubMed and ScienceDirect, as well as from the pages of national and international organizations such as WHO, NPHO and CDC. The scientific articles and publications used were from the last 5 years. Results: From the initial search, 23 studies were find suitable for this systematic review. These studies were conducted in various countries such as Egypt, Italy, Lebanon, Japan, Sweden, China, the United States of America, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Greece, Singapore, England, France and Spain. Children, adolescents, young adults, elderly, people who have had COVID-19 , health professionals and students were the population groups followed in these studies. The psychological effects of the pandemic on these groups appeared to be the onset of mental health symptoms such as anxiety, stress, fear, sleep disturbances, depressive symptoms, suicidal thoughts, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress, burnout and relapse of pre-existing mental illnesses. Conclusions: The mental health burden on various population groups due to the COVID-19 pandemic is significant. Factors that can positively or negatively affect the mental health of these groups emerged and can be used as important information for designing health policies and appropriate interventions and actions to prevent or treat the appearance of mental health symptoms in future challenges such as that of the COVID pandemic -19

Transcriptional and epigenetic mechanisms underlying astrocyte identity

Astrocytes play a significant role in coordinating neural development and provide critical support for the function of the CNS. They possess important adaptation capacities that range from their transition towards reactive astrocytes to their ability to undergo reprogramming, thereby revealing their potential to retain latent features of neural progenitor cells. We propose that the mechanisms underlying reactive astrogliosis or astrocyte reprogramming provide an opportunity for initiating neuronal regeneration, a process that is notably reduced in the mammalian nervous system throughout evolution. Conversely, this plasticity may also affect normal astrocytic functions resulting in pathologies ranging from neurodevelopmental disorders to neurodegenerative diseases and brain tumors. We postulate that epigenetic mechanisms linking extrinsic cues and intrinsic transcriptional programs are key factors to maintain astrocyte identity and function, and critically, to control the balance of regenerative and degenerative activity. Here, we will review the main evidences supporting this concept. We propose that unravelling the epigenetic and transcriptional mechanisms underlying the acquisition of astrocyte identity and plasticity, as well as understanding how these processes are modulated by the local microenvironment under specific threatening or pathological conditions, may pave the way to new therapeutic avenues for several neurological disorders including neurodegenerative diseases and brain tumors of astrocytic lineage.publishedVersio

Sodium butyrate rescues dopaminergic cells from alpha-synuclein-induced transcriptional deregulation and DNA damage

Alpha-synuclein (aSyn) is considered a major culprit in Parkinson’s disease (PD) pathophysiology. However, the precise molecular function of the protein remains elusive. Recent evidence suggests that aSyn may play a role on transcription regulation, possibly by modulating the acetylation status of histones. Our study aimed at evaluating the impact of wild-type (WT) and mutant A30P aSyn on gene expression, in a dopaminergic neuronal cell model, and decipher potential mechanisms underlying aSyn-mediated transcriptional deregulation. We performed gene expression analysis using RNA-sequencing in Lund Human Mesencephalic (LUHMES) cells expressing endogenous (control) or increased levels of WT or A30P aSyn. Compared to control cells, cells expressing both aSyn variants exhibited robust changes in the expression of several genes, including downregulation of major genes involved in DNA repair. WT aSyn, unlike A30P aSyn, promoted DNA damage and increased levels of phosphorylated p53. In dopaminergic neuronal cells, increased aSyn expression led to reduced levels of acetylated histone 3. Importantly, treatment with sodium butyrate, a histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi), rescued WT aSyn-induced DNA damage, possibly via upregulation of genes involved in DNA repair. Overall, our findings provide novel and compelling insight into the mechanisms associated with aSyn neurotoxicity in dopaminergic cells, which could be ameliorated with an HDACi. Future studies will be crucial to further validate these findings and to define novel possible targets for intervention in PD