The Covid-19 anti-vaccination movement in Cyprus: an investigation of its discourses (AMID)

This project examines the speeches articulated in COVID-19 anti-vaccination onsite protests in Cyprus, situating the topic of anti-vaccination within culture wars. Data cover a period of eight months (July 2021–February 2022) and were collected through attending protests and through selecting past speeches of anti-vaccination protests that are available online in the form of shared videos. The data were analysed in terms of the main topics, the implicit and explicit influences/resources, and the linguistic strategies contained in these speeches. Results reveal that four are the main topics included in these speeches: government/governors/politicians, vaccines/vaccination/(un)vaccinated, measures, and children/parents. In addition, the influences/resources of these speeches derive from the political, religious, social, scientific, and historical spheres/domains, while the linguistic strategies used by speakers involve representations of processes and social actors which include – and exclude thereof – certain actions and ‘doers’ in specific ways. Overall, this project bridges the gap caused by both the absence of studies on onsite anti-vaccination protests and the very limited consideration of anti-vaccination discourse in Greek-speaking contexts

Rebranding the World with SPHINX

At the conference will be presented the results of a part of the researcher's postdoctoral work, which extends the results of the doctoral dissertation by creating a digital database (SPHINX). This database will function as a website showcasing (projecting) the existing tangible and intangible networks of the landscape so that the user understands and experiences it holistically. The adopted methodology will be prepared and implemented as a pilot in the area of Boeotia. The main purpose is to reconstituting and highlighting the cultural identity of the field of application but also of any other area -various spatial/urban global scale- where the digital system SPHINX will be applied.Crystallizing the above, it becomes clear that the present adopted methodology aims to highlight the cultural identity of an area with a field of research in Boeotia. The landscape, with any cultural production that emerges from it -as an element of its definition- constitutes an anthropological structure (anthropology of space). At the same time the landscape constitutes the expression of its inner meaning through a strong symbolic system.It is worth noting that in support of the author's doctoral dissertation, the seven-member examination committee considered the sphinx system to be innovative. In this article the term innovative will be adopted based on the critique of this committee

The Expert Decision - a Necessary Requirement for Social Integration of Disabled People

The realization of the rights of disabled people in Bulgaria is directly related to the activity of Medical Committee. The Expert decision published by Medical Committee is a necessary requirement for the usage of these rights. The insufficiency of a current informa- tion from available source slows down the process of social integration. Also these legal assumptions, which underline these rights are changing dynamically too. The general practice is the point of beginning, from which the procedure for certification starts. This is the place where disabled people come back and look for the answers of their questions, which are created from the Expert decision. The continuing education of general practitioners is an opportunity for improving their competence in this area

The functioning of the Territorial Expert Medical Commission and rehabilitation of disability - the experts` opinion

Introduction: Disability is a medico-social and legal phenomenon, which provokes the researchers to investigate its multidimensional nature. The financial dimensions of the medical system expertise functioning in Bulgaria are also important, but the social significance for the society, the disabled persons and their families should be a political priority.Aim: The aim of the article is to explore and analyze the expert opinion related to the problems of disability rehabilitation and the functioning of the Territorial Expert Medical Commission (TEMC).Materials and Methods:. The opinion of the experts has been selected typologically (intentionally and in a random way) by the following institutions: the National Social Security Institute, the Agency for Social Assistance, the Regional Health Inspectorate, the Territorial Expert Medical Commission, non-governmental organizations for people with disabilities and centers for social rehabilitation on a regional and national scale. The empirical information was received from the in-depth interviews with experts. For the interview, a scenario of 19 open-ended questions (divided into 4 topics) was developed.Results: The Bulgarian practice highlights the disadvantages of the separation of medical and social assessment of disability. An integration into a complex one-step medicо-social disability expertise will be more effective, which would solve the problems of disabled individuals in our country. The opportunities for change in the TEMC system require a working model of the TEMC's methodical and methodological subordination and an assessment of the invalidity/disability that will provide a complex and one-step medical and social expertise allowing timely and adequate social integration. Conclusion: The expected results from the proposed effective model of mixed TEMC and the Agency for Social Assistance functioning will result in more effective rehabilitation of the disabled people, lowering of the degree of disability and more successfully rehabilitated people back to the labor market. This will remove the barriers during the rehabilitation procedures, will lead to the selection of the optimal technical resources and will improve the delivery of social services. The proposed cooperation will eventually enhance the sustainable social inclusion of disabled people

The European principle „rehabilitation–integration–return to the labor market“ and disability assessment

Introduction: The restoration of the working ability with a definite period of employment is enshrined in the definition of the Expert Committee of Rehabilitation at WHO (1958). In Bulgaria, the Territorial Expert Medical Committees (TEMCs) only carry out a medical assessment of disability, and the social assistance based on it is the Social Assistance Agency’s commitment. The purpose of this article is to explore the importance of the expert decision (disability assessment) for the implementation of the principle „rehabilitation-integration-return to the labor market“.Material and Methods: The opinion of 612 patients with disabilities, certified/re-certified by General TEMC (St. Marina Hospital, Varna), was examined. The extract represents 10.2% of those who passed through the Commission in 2017 and was formed in accordance with the inclusion and exclusion criteria.Research Tool: Questionnaire with 15 questions, 13 of which are closed-ended and the other 2 are open-ended. They are organized in the following areas: „organizational and methodological“, „social“, „medical“, „legal“ and „opportunities for change“.Results and Discussion: The analysis of the demographic indicators of the persons included in the given extract allows us to get an idea of the characteristics of this vulnerable group in Varna region’s society. 85.9% of them are persons of working age (16 to 65 years), 64.1% are married, 59.6% are living in a regional city and 40.5% are without employment . Only 4.4% (n = 612) of the persons with a TEMC-determined invalidity/ disability considered rehabilitation sufficient. 81.9% (n = 209) of those who were denied a disability rate during their last re-certification reported that they were not advised to rehabilitation.Conclusion: The study of the principle „rehabilitation-integration-return to the labor market“ under the current Bulgarian legislation reveals a number of problems that do not allow its implementation. In Bulgaria, the activity of TEMC is oriented towards determining the medical assessment of disability without the possibility of introduction to mandatory rehabilitation and control afterwards

A phytochemical and pharmacological study of ten Commiphora species indigenous to South Africa

Commiphora species (from which myrrh is obtained) has been a source of several novel and bio-active natural compounds. Traditionally, Commiphora (Burseraceae) is used in southern Africa for the treatment of ulcers, fevers, and as a remedy for snake and scorpion bites. In western Africa, the macerated stem is used in the treatment of rheumatic conditions. The resin of some Commiphora species is applied topically to aid in wound healing. Documented uses include antibacterial and antifungal properties, as well as cytotoxic, cytostatic and anti-oxidant activity. The botanical diversity of this genus in South Africa warrants a study of this plant group, to provide scientific evidence for the traditional use of Commiphora species in African healing rites. Ten Commiphora species were investigated. Fresh plant material of the selected species were identified and collected from natural populations in the Limpopo Province. Active compounds, viz. kaempferol and dihydrokaempferol, in C. glandulosa (stem) were isolated using bioassay-guided fractionation and identified using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The stem and leaf extracts of each species were analysed for in vitro anti-oxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer activity, as well as cytotoxicity. The anti-oxidant activity of the extracts was investigated using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay and the 2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethyl-benzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assays. Extracts generally exhibited poor anti-oxidant activity in the DPPH assay, with the exception of C. schimperi (stem), C. neglecta (stem), C. tenuipetiolata (stem and leaf), and C. edulis (stem), which possessed IC50 values ranging between 7.31 μg/ml and 10.81 μg/ml. Isolated compounds were subjected to the DPPH assay to determine the anti-oxidant potential of each compound, separately and in combination to establish possible synergistic, antagonistic or additive effects. The flavonol, kaempferol (IC50 = 3.32 μg/ml) showed exceptional radical scavenging activity, in contrast to the low activity displayed by dihydrokaempferol (IC50 = 301.57 μg/ml), their combination being antagonistic. Greater anti-oxidant activity was observed for most species in the ABTS assay when compared to the results obtained in the DPPH assay. The best activity was observed for the stem extracts of C. neglecta (IC50 = 7.28 μg/ml) and C. mollis (IC50 = 8.82 μg/ml). In vitro antimicrobial efficacy was determined against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria as well as yeasts using the MIC microtiter plate assay. A greater selectivity was exhibited by the extracts against the Gram-positive bacteria and yeast than against the Gram-negative bacteria. Using death kinetics studies (time-kill studies), the rate at which the antimicrobial agent kills pathogens over a 24-hour period was determined. The antibacterial activity of Commiphora marlothii (stem) was observed to begin at ca. 30 min of the exposure of S. aureus to the different concentrations of plant extract. All concentrations exhibited antibacterial activity, with a complete bactericidal effect achieved by all test concentrations by the 24th hour. Commiphora pyracanthoides (stem) displayed anti-inflammatory activity through good inhibition of the 5-LOX enzyme (IC50 = 27.86 μg/ml). The ability of extracts and kaempferol to inhibit the in vitro growth of three human cancer cell lines, namely the colon adenocarcinoma (HT-29), breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7), and the neuronal glioblastoma (SF-268), was evaluated using the sulforhodamine (SRB) antiproliferative assay. The most active Commiphora species against the HT-29 cells were C. glandulosa (leaf and stem) and C. marlothii (leaf). The MCF-7 cell line was the most sensitive to indigenous Commiphora species, with C. edulis (leaf and stem), C. glandulosa (leaf and stem), C. marlothii (leaf), C. pyracanthoides (leaf and stem), C. schimperi (stem), and C. viminea (stem) all possessing an inhibition greater than 80% at 100 μg/ml. Commiphora glandulosa (leaf and stem) and C. pyracanthoides (leaf and stem) were the two most active species against the SF-268 cells, with IC50 values ranging between 68.50 μg/ml and 71.45 μg/ml. The inhibition of the cancer cell proliferation by kaempferol in all three-cancer cell lines was determined, with IC50 values of 9.78 μg/ml in HT-29 cells, 20.21 μg/ml in MCF-7 cells and 43.83 μg/ml in SF-268 cells. The microculture tetrazolium cellular viability (MTT) assay was used to determine the cellular toxicity of the extracts against transformed human kidney epithelium (Graham) cells. Commiphora glandulosa (stem) proved to be most toxic (IC50 = 30.5 μg/ml). The IC50 values for all other extracts were in excess of 95 μg/ml suggesting low in vitro toxicity for the majority of the species. A phytochemical investigation of the non-volatile constituents of the leaf and stems was conducted using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The HPLC profiles and UV spectra of the stem extracts, and the representative flavonoid patterns in the leaf extracts of the species indicate that a similarity exists in their chemical fingerprint

Here I stand: a long [r]evolution. Ideology, culture and curriculum : Michael Apple and progressive critical studies

Tese doutoramento em Educação - Especialidade de Desenvolvimento Curricular[Enxerto] O trabalho que aqui se apresenta surge na sequência da dissertação de mestrado que tivemos oportunidade efectuar - As dinâmicas dos conflitos ideológicos e culturais na fundamentação do currículo 1 - e propõe uma análise em torno da contributo tanto do trabalho, como do pensamento de Michael Apple no campo da educação, em geral e do currículo, em particular. Para a consecução deste nosso objectivo estruturamos a nossa investigação em 6 capítulos, a saber: “Methodology and the Power of the Personal”; “Here I Stand”; “General Tensions in the Curriculum Field I”; “General Tensions in the Curriculum Field II”; “The Long [R]evolution”; e “A Non-Negociable Commitment to an Endless [R]evolution”. Será todavia de bom tom que ‘ganhemos’ algum tempo desnudando, não só os aspectos mais substantivos que transpiram em cada um dos referidos capítulos, como também os fundamentos que se encontram subjacentes a cada um deles, pese embora seja sempre um desiderato de difícil impetração – sobretudo, provavelmente, para alguém ‘saudavelmente’ deformado numa licenciatura de Grego, Latim e Português – a construção de actos discursivos breviários. Partimos assim para a construção deste resumo temendo não conseguir reduzir por outras e poucas palavras o que julgamos ter conseguido desenvolver ao longo da nossa investigação. (…

How Can we Replace Disability Pensions with the European Approach of Rehabilitation-integration-return to the Labor Market?

The territorial expert medical commissions (TEMC) and their preventative and occupational functions arethe main instrument providing social integration for people with disabilities in Bulgaria. The TEMC system`s SWOT analyses show that these functions are in fact not performed in way to achieve their goals. The expert decision of TEMC contributes to the socialization of handicapped people only in the aspects of disability pension, technical aids, personal assistance. The current legal framework does not provide for the individual`s capacity for work restoration and employment via the individual rehabilitation programs prescribed in the expert conclusions of TEMCs. The rehabilitation programs are designed with regard to the individual needs of the person with disabilities by the rehabilitator - an occupational therapist.The aim of the article is to present the idea of introducing the European principle „rehabilitation-integration-return to the labor market` instead of paying disability pensions in Bulgaria. Therefore TEMC`s actions should be directedtowards medical prophylaxis, requalification and return to the labor market.The territorial expert medical commissions (TEMC) and their preventative and occupational functions arethe main instrument providing social integration for people with disabilities in Bulgaria. The TEMC system`s SWOTanalyses show that these functions are in fact not performed in way to achieve their goals. The expert decision of TEMC contributes to the socialization of handicapped people only in the aspects of disability pension, technical aids, personal assistance. The current legal framework does not provide for the individual`s capacity for work restoration and employment via the individual rehabilitation programs prescribed in the expert conclusions of TEMCs. The rehabilitation programs are designed with regard to the individual needs of the person with disabilities by the rehabilitator - an occupational therapist.The aim of the article is to present the idea of introducing the European principle „rehabilitation-integration-returnto the labor market` instead of paying disability pensions in Bulgaria. Therefore TEMC`s actions should be directedtowards medical prophylaxis, requalification and return to the labor market

Una crítica de la razón blanca. Antonia Darder: el bramido valiente de una sublime voz freireana-neogramsciana

This article exfoliates Antonia Darder’s critical excavations on cultural democracy and schooling. The article unfolds her arguments in the context of our contemporary epoch, an epoch paced by an absurd. In doing so, the paper scrutinizes eugenics and the curriculum epistemicide as the real colors of such absurdity in our field. The paper situates such absurdity within the matrix of Modern Western Eurocentric reason – a Prosperous reason – and examinates its non-derivative abyssal nature. The article also unpacks Darder’s call to challenge such eugenic reason, through a commitment to decolonize our cultural forms, the very praxis of democracy as well as our educational institutions, educational policy, curriculum, and teacher preparation programs. The article flags categories such as race and language as quite dear to a Freirean scholar with a strong Neogramscian footprint such as Antonia Darder. The article ends by examining not only, how the notion of cultural democracy in schooling and pedagogies speaks volumes to what I have called itinerant educational and curriculum theories, but also how the piece is a clear call to some of the challenges we face within the critical and post critical territories.Este artículo exfolia las excavaciones críticas de Antonia Darder sobre la democracia cultural y la escolarización. El trabajo desarrolla los argumentos de Darder en el contexto de nuestra época contemporánea, época marcada por un absurdo. Al hacerlo, el trabajo analiza la eugenesia y el epistemicidio del currículum como las plasmaciones colores reales de tal absurdo en nuestro ámbito. El artículo sitúa ese absurdo en la base de la razón eurocéntrica occidental moderna – una razón opulenta – y examina su naturaleza abisal no derivativa. El trabajo también desentraña el llamamiento de Darder a desafiar esa razón eugenésica, mediante un compromiso de descolonizar nuestras formas culturales, la propia praxis de la democracia y también nuestras instituciones educativas, la política educativa, el currículum y los programas de formación del profesorado. El artículo señala que categorías como raza y lenguaje son muy apreciadas para una académica freireana con un fuerte sello neogramsciano como es Antonia Darder. Finaliza examinando no solo cómo la noción de democracia cultural en la escolarización y en las pedagogías revela mucho sobre lo que he denominado como teorías educativas y curriculares itinerantes, sino también cómo el artículo de Antonia representa un claro llamamiento a algunos de los desafíos a los que nos enfrentamos dentro de los dominios crítico y postcrítico

A crise no sistema educativo

[Resumo] É "quase impossível nao ouvir o ruído da crítica ao sistema educacional"3 que é tido como ineficiente e esbanjador. Muito naturalmente, entrou-se "num período de forte contestação em educação"4 como consequencia de um progresso social desenfreado que nao foi devidamente acompanhado por urna melhoria substantiva das políticas sociais, empurrando a escola para urna situação de ruptura, culpabilizando-a dos grandes problemas sociais que tem caracterizado a sociedade. É sobretudo com a modemidade, urna filosofia apoiada numa metanarrativa assente num conjunto de verdades5 , [orientada para a eficácia - um dos conceitos que, de acordo com Kliebard6 se começa a cristalizar nos finais do século XIX -, e determinada, segundo SirnmeF, por urna tensao entre o rápido desenvolvimento da ciencia, tecnologia e conhecimento objectivo e a erosao do subjectivo e da cultura pessoal], que as escolas entram no seu apogeu de ruptura, começando a ser interpretadas como símbolos por excelencia do paradigma da eficácia sendo conceptualizadas, no dizer de Hargreaves, como grandes fábricas com as características específicas de urna linha de produção: padrões de especialização, controlo centralizado, compartimentação e complexidade burocrática. Tal situação de ruptura, experimentada pela escola e denunciada por vários autores repousa não apenas, tal como já nos referimos em outro local, numa crise económica mas de identidade [a construção da identidade de um indivíduo passa (também) necessariamente e obrigatoriamente pelas carteiras de urna sala de aula, passa pelo currículo] e do Estado providencia, cuja necessidade de (re)legitimação passa pela redução dos seus limites, criando espaço as forças de mercado desregulação e privatizaçao - estratégia esta, algo contraditória, urna vez que, tenta um processo a partida quimicamente impossível: manutenção da acumulação de capital - conceito baluarte do capitalismo - e o reforço do padrao democrático, tudo isto vertebrado por uma gramática cultural e ideológica assente numa lógica social ferida de justiça, que através da educação persiste em reproduzir e perpetuar os padrões sociais preconizados pelos grupos socialmente mais poderoso