bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development and mechanical behaviour of ultra-high-performance seawater sea-sand concrete
Authors: Teng Jin-Guang , Xiang Yu , Yu Tao , Fang Zhi
Published: July 2019

Ultra-high-performance concrete is typically defined as an advanced cementitious material that has a compressive strength of over 150 MPa and superior durability. This article presents the development of a new type of ultra-high-performance concrete, namely, ultra-high-performance seawater sea-sand concrete. The development of ultra-high-performance seawater sea-sand concrete addresses the challenges associated with the shortage of freshwater, river-sand and coarse aggregate in producing concrete for a marine construction project. When used together with corrosion-resistant fibre-reinforced polymer composites, the durability of the resulting structures (i.e. hybrid fibre-reinforced polymer–ultra-high-performance seawater sea-sand concrete structures) in a harsh environment can be expected to be outstanding. The ultra-high strength of ultra-high-performance seawater sea-sand concrete and the unique characteristics of fibre-reinforced polymer composites also offer tremendous opportunities for optimization towards new forms of high-performance structures. An experimental study is presented in this article to demonstrate the concept and feasibility of ultra-high-performance seawater sea-sand concrete: ultra-high-performance seawater sea-sand concrete samples with a 28-day cube compressive strength of over 180 MPa were successfully produced; the samples were made of seawater and sea-sand, but without steel fibres, and were cured at room temperature. The experimental programme also examined the effects of a number of relevant variables, including the types of sand, mixing water and curing water, among other parameters. The mini-slump spread, compressive strength and stress–strain curve of the specimens were measured to clarify the effects of experimental variables. The test results show that the use of seawater and sea-sand leads to a slight decrease in workability, density and modulus of elasticity; it is also likely to slightly increase the early strength but to slightly decrease the strengths at 7 days and above. Compared with freshwater curing, the seawater curing method results in a slight decrease in elastic modulus and compressive strength.
A cross-cultural comparison of the processes underlying the associations between sharing of and exposure to alcohol references and drinking intentions
Authors: Geusens Femke , Bigman-Galimore Cabral A , Beullens Kathleen
Published: July 2019

This study is among the first to cross-culturally compare the associations between social media use and emerging adults’ drinking behavior in an accepting (Belgium) and comparatively restricted (USA) Western drinking culture. A cross-sectional survey was administered among 770 college students ( nUSA = 253, 24% male; nBelgium = 487, 34% male) aged 18–20 years. Structural equation modeling was used and demonstrated that the association between exposure to others’ alcohol-related content on social media and drinking intentions operated similarly via more positive descriptive and injunctive norms for both populations, whereas the association between self-sharing and drinking intentions operated similarly via more positive attitudes. However, only among Belgian students was sharing alcohol references also related to drinking intentions through descriptive norms. Overall, this study points to the generalizability of attitudes and social norms as mechanisms of alcohol-related social media (self-)effects among emerging adult college students across Western drinking cultures.
On becoming a hag: gender, ageing and abjection
Authors: Pickard Susan
Published: July 2019

In this article, I explore, through the novels of Elena Ferrante, the role played by the ‘abject’ in mediating ageing in women, focusing on its role in the movement from a disempowered to a more powerful subject position. The article has three sections. The first describes the role of the abject in constituting the feminine, focusing on the place of temporality and ageing in this process. Represented by the symbolic figure of the hag, the old woman is a source of primal fear which forms the foundation of a violently misogynistic gendered (self-)formation. However, following Barbara Creed, there are two representational forms of the hag, that of victim (hag) and that of monster (Hag), which I argue also suggest alternative subjectivities associated with ageing femininity. In the second section, I explore the movement from one form to the other by means of conceptual models drawn from Simone de Beauvoir and Margaret Morganroth Gullette, in which process a battle over the symbolic meaning of abjection is central. Moreover, ageing itself is significant in mediating the shift from an oppressed/fragmented to a powerful/integrated subject position. Whilst the structures of feeling involved in this subjectivity are emergent, fiction and imaginative literature may provide helpful early depictions and in the last section I illustrate the psychosocial domain with material drawn from two early novels by Elena Ferrante.
Film breakup of tilted impinging spray under various pressure conditions
Authors: Xiao Di , Yukihiko Ichikawa , Li Xuesong , Hung David , Nishida Keiya , Xu Min
Published: July 2019

Fuel film on engine walls caused by spray impingement would dramatically cause engine friction deterioration, incomplete combustion, and significant cycle-to-cycle variations. In a previous work, it has been demonstrated that fuel film would break up via wave entrainment induced by the high-speed coflow. Meanwhile, the film breakup dynamics depend on various boundary conditions, such as injection pressure, ambient pressure, and so on. However, such impact on the wall film formation was not investigated thoroughly in existing literature. This work aims to perform a parameter study to investigate possible means to enhance wave entrainment effect as to reduce the amount of impingement fuel mass. In this study, simultaneous measurements of macroscopic structure and its corresponding footprint of impinging spray are conducted using a single-hole, prototype injector in a constant volume chamber. The macroscopic spray structure was captured by high-speed backlit imaging, and the film was obtained using laser-induced fluorescence under different conditions. The laser-induced fluorescence signal is converted to film thickness following a calibration procedure where laser-induced fluorescence signals from a series of known-thickness film are captured. A mathematical processing method is used to analyze both the dynamic behavior of film thickness and amount of droplet detachment caused by high-speed coflow. It is found that at the leading edge of film waves, a remarkable amount of liquid droplets detaches from the liquid film and the quantity of film mass on the wall decreases during this process. Quantitative analysis is conducted and the mass ratio of detached droplets over residual liquid film is estimated. We hold that the film breakup percentage increases with both ambient and injection pressure due to the enhanced high-speed coflow. Then, variation laws for various boundary conditions are obtained based on the observations.
Perceived Need for Reform in Field-Wide Methods and the Teaching of Replication, Interpretation, and Transparency
Authors: Anglin Stephanie M. , Edlund John E.
Published: July 2019

Despite discussion and institution of new reforms in psychology research, little is known about how much reform psychologists believe is still needed across various research practices and whether instructors are teaching students about replication and reform in their courses. To investigate these questions, we distributed questionnaires assessing perceived need for reform in psychology research and the teaching of replication and reform to instructors of undergraduate and graduate psychology courses across multiple listservs ( n = 328). Participants reported discussing topics related to replication and reform briefly in their courses and that moderate changes are still needed in psychology research. Topics were discussed more extensively in advanced vs. introductory courses, and in methods/statistics vs. content courses. Perceived need for reform and number of student researchers supervised/year correlated with teaching these issues, suggesting that those who believe more change is needed in psychology research and are more involved in shaping the next generation of psychology researchers are more likely to discuss replication and reform in their courses. Our questionnaires provide a preliminary tool to be further refined, validated, and applied in future research on knowledge and perceptions of problems in social science research and the impact of teaching these issues in the classroom.
Damage and fractal evolution trends of sandstones under constant-amplitude and tiered cyclic loading and unloading based on acoustic emission
Authors: Liang Dongxu , Zhang Nong , Xie Lixiang , Zhao Guangming , Qian Deyu
Published: July 2019

It is of significance to study the damage and destruction of rock under cyclic loading in geotechnical engineering. We determined the trends in damage evolution of sandstone under constant-amplitude and tiered cyclic loading and unloading under uniaxial compression. The results of the study show that (1) the variation of acoustic-emission events was consistent with the stress curves and 89% of all acoustic-emission events occurred during the cycling stages. The observed Kaiser effect was more notable in tiered cycling. (2) The damage variable increased sharply in the cycling stages and its increment was 0.07 higher for tiered cycling than constant-amplitude cycling. Sandstone exhibited greater damage under tiered cyclic loading and unloading. (3) Equations for the evolution of the damage variable under the two cycle modes were obtained by fitting of experimental data. (4) The fractal dimensions of the constant-amplitude cycle were larger than those of the tiered cycle. The process of damage and destruction presents a trend of reducing fractal dimension. The damage accumulation of sandstone under tiered cycling was faster than under constant-amplitude cycling. These results provide references for damage and early warning of rock under both constant-amplitude and tiered cyclic loading and unloading.
An evaluation of force attenuation, comfort properties and density of materials for hip protective pads
Authors: Wardiningsih Wiah , Troynikov Olga
Published: July 2019

We evaluated 15 materials for their effectiveness as hip protective pads for elderly women, including several materials used in commercially available pads and novel materials. The materials’ densities were measured, and they were tested for force attenuation (relevant to protection), permeability index (relevant to thermophysiological wear comfort) and interface pressure delivery (relevant to pressure comfort). Force attenuation values were obtained in drop impact tests. Permeability data were obtained from the dry thermal resistance and evaporative resistance of the pads tested using a sweating guarded hot plate. Interface pressure delivery values were acquired using a Salzmann pressure-measuring device MST MK IV. Experimental pads were graded, rated and ranked on their overall performance using weights applied to the four parameters. Vertically lapped nonwoven fabrics and treated knitted spacer fabrics were highly ranked and could be used as material for hip protective pads.
The examination of the effect of variable cutting speeds on the surface and edge qualities of milled granite materials
Authors: Gyurika István Gábor , Szalay Tibor
Published: July 2019

Automated stone manufacturing has undergone considerable development in recent years. Thanks to international research dealing with the cutting, sawing and grinding of different natural stones, processing time shortens and tool-life lengthens. However, the process of stone milling has not been extensively examined yet, primarily because of the novelty of this technology. The aim of the research described in this article is to examine how variable cutting speed affects the quality of workpiece edges while milling granite materials. For the research, sample surfaces were formed on five granite slabs with different average grain sizes using five cutting speed values. Afterwards, changes in the average surface roughness and average edge chipping rate were examined. From the research results, it can be concluded that, due to an increase in cutting speed, the average edge chipping rate will decrease until reaching a borderline speed. In the case of a higher cutting speed, the referent tendency cannot be ascertained. A statistical analysis conducted in the scope of this research showed that if a variable cutting speed is applied, then changes in the quality of the sample surface edge can be inferred from the development trends of average surface roughness.
Time-dependent reliability analysis of wind turbines considering load-sharing using fault tree analysis and Markov chains
Authors: Li Yao , Coolen Frank PA
Published: July 2019

Due to the high failure rates and the high cost of operation and maintenance of wind turbines, not only manufacturers but also service providers try many ways to improve the reliability of some critical components and subsystems. In reality, redundancy design is commonly used to improve the reliability of critical components and subsystems. The load dependencies and failure dependencies among redundancy components and subsystems are crucial to the reliability assessment of wind turbines. However, the redundancy components are treated as a parallel system, and the load correlations among them are ignored in much literature, which may lead to the wrong system’s reliability and much higher costs. For this reason, this article explores the influences of load-sharing on system reliability. The whole system’s reliability is quantitatively evaluated using fault tree analysis and the Markov-chain method. Following this, the optimisation of the redundancy allocation problem considering the load-sharing is conducted to maximise the system reliability and reduce the total cost of the system subjecting to the available system cost and space. The results produced by this methodology can show a realistic reliability assessment of the entire wind turbine from a quantitative point of view. The realistic reliability assessment can help to design a cost-effective and more reliable system and significantly reduce the cost of wind turbines.
Chasing resources: A mixed methods study of a professional learning opportunity
Authors: Howard Nicol R
Published: July 2019

Through this mixed methods study, using a sequential exploratory approach, the application of a cyberethnography was utilized to gain insight into the experiences of new and veteran teachers involved in a Twitter chat. A quantitative survey administered through Twitter further supported the identification of teachers’ professional development preferences. Overall findings suggest there are benefits for both new and veteran teachers related to membership in an online community that shares similarities to a traditional community of practice. Advantages identified include asynchronous opportunities for teachers to communicate 24 h/seven days a week across the globe on relevant issues of practice. Disadvantages also exist and can be associated with issues of anonymity and the vetting of community members.
The association between hormones and antipsychotic use: a focus on postpartum and menopausal women
Authors: González-Rodríguez Alexandre , Seeman Mary V.
Published: July 2019

During the postpartum and menopausal periods of women’s lives, there is a well-established and significant drop of circulating estrogens. This may be the reason why both these periods are associated with an increased risk for onset or exacerbation of psychiatric disorders. Whether symptoms are mainly affective or mainly psychotic, these disorders are frequently treated with antipsychotic medications, which calls for an examination of the relationship between hormone replacement and antipsychotic agents at these time periods. The aim of this narrative review is to summarize what is known about the association of hormones and antipsychotics in the postnatal period and at menopause. In the review, we focus on estrogen and oxytocin hormones and include, for the most part, only papers published within the last 10 years. Both estradiol and oxytocin have at various times been implicated in the etiology of postpartum disorders, and estrogens, sometimes combined with progesterone, have been tested as potential treatments for these conditions. The role of estradiol as an adjunct to antipsychotics in the prevention of postpartum relapses is currently controversial. With respect to oxytocin, studies are lacking. Psychosis in menopausal and postmenopausal women has been successfully treated with estrogens and selective estrogen-receptor modulators, mainly raloxifene, in addition to antipsychotics. Some symptoms appear to respond better than others. No oxytocin study has specifically targeted postmenopausal women. Because of feedback mechanisms, there is a theoretical danger of therapy with exogenous hormones interfering with endogenous secretion and disturbing the balance among inter-related hormones. When used with antipsychotics, hormones may also affect the metabolism and, hence, the brain level of specific antipsychotics. This makes treatment with antipsychotics plus hormones complicated. Dose, timing and route of intervention may all prove critical to efficacy. While much remains unknown, this literature review indicates that, within standard dose ranges, the combination of hormones and antipsychotics for postnatal and menopausal women suffering severe mental distress can be beneficial, and is safe.
Normal basic 2D echocardiographic values to screen and follow up the athlete's heart from juniors to adults: What is known and what is missing. A critical review
Authors: Cantinotti Massimiliano , Koestenberger Martin , Santoro Giuseppe , Assanta Nadia , Franchi Eliana , Paterni Marco , Iervasi Giorgio , D'Andrea Antonello , D'Ascenzi Flavio , Giordano Raffaele , Galderisi Maurizio
Published: July 2019

In the last few years, multiple echocardiographic nomograms have been published. However, normal values calculated in the general population are not applicable to athletes, whose hearts may be enlarged and hypercontractile. Accordingly, athletes require specific nomograms. Our aim is to provide a critical review of echocardiographic nomograms on two-dimensional (2D) measures for athletes. We performed a systematic search in the National Library of Medicine for Medical Subject Headings and free text terms including echocardiography, athletes, normal values and nomograms. The search was refined by adding the keywords heart, sport, elite, master, children and young. Twenty-eight studies were selected for the final analysis. Our research revealed that currently available ranges of normality for athletes reported by different authors are quite consistent, with limited exceptions (e.g. atria, aorta). Numerical and methodological limitations, however, emerged. Numerical limitations included a limited sample size (e.g. < 450 subjects) of the population assessed and the paucity of data in women, non-Caucasian athletes, and junior and master athletes. Some data on M-mode measurements are available, while those for some specific structures (e.g. left atrial (LA) area and volumes, right ventricular diameters and aorta) are limited or rare (e.g. LA area). There was heterogeneity in data normalization (by gender, sport type and ethnicity) and their expression was limited to mean values ( Z-scores have rarely been employed), while variability analysis was often lacking or incomplete. We conclude that comprehensive nomograms using an appropriate sample size, evaluating a complete dataset of 2D (and three-dimensional) measures and built using a rigorous statistical approach are warranted.
Paying to Normalize Life: Monetary and Psychosocial Costs of Realizing a Normal Life in the Context of Free Antiretroviral Therapy Services in Uganda
Authors: Nanfuka Esther Kalule , Kyaddondo David , Ssali Sarah N. , Asingwire Narathius
Published: July 2019

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is considered the treatment that enables people living with HIV (PLHIV) to lead a “normal life”. In spite of the availability of free treatment, patients in resource-poor settings may continue to incur additional costs to realize a normal and full life. This article describes the monetary expenses and psychosocial distress people on free ART bear to live normally. We conducted in-depth interviews with 50 PLHIV on ART. We found that the demands of treatment, poverty, stigma, and health-system constraints interplay to necessitate that PLHIV bear continuous monetary and psychosocial costs to realize local values that define normal life. In the context, access to free medicines is not sufficient to enable PLHIV in resource-poor settings to normalize life. Policy makers and providers should consider proactively complementing free ART with mechanisms that empower PLHIV economically, enhance their problem-solving capacities, and provide an enabling environment if the objective of normalizing life is to be achieved.
Epigenetics of scleroderma: Integrating genetic, ethnic, age, and environmental effects
Authors: Ramos Paula S
Published: July 2019

Scleroderma or systemic sclerosis is thought to result from the interplay between environmental or non-genetic factors in a genetically susceptible individual. Epigenetic modifications are influenced by genetic variation and environmental exposures, and change with chronological age and between populations. Despite progress in identifying genetic, epigenetic, and environmental risk factors, the underlying mechanism of systemic sclerosis remains unclear. Since epigenetics provides the regulatory mechanism linking genetic and non-genetic factors to gene expression, understanding the role of epigenetic regulation in systemic sclerosis will elucidate how these factors interact to cause systemic sclerosis. Among the cell types under tight epigenetic control and susceptible to epigenetic dysregulation, immune cells are critically involved in early pathogenic events in the progression of fibrosis and systemic sclerosis. This review starts by summarizing the changes in DNA methylation, histone modification, and non-coding RNAs associated with systemic sclerosis. It then discusses the role of genetic, ethnic, age, and environmental effects on epigenetic regulation, with a focus on immune system dysregulation. Given the potential of epigenome editing technologies for cell reprogramming and as a therapeutic approach for durable gene regulation, this review concludes with a prospect on epigenetic editing. Although epigenomics in systemic sclerosis is in its infancy, future studies will help elucidate the regulatory mechanisms underpinning systemic sclerosis and inform the design of targeted epigenetic therapies to control its dysregulation.
Subclinical Foveal Vasculopathy in Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography
Authors: Shah Chirag , Gabriel Rami , Kedhar Sanjay , Kuppermann Baruch , Mehta Mitul
Published: July 2019

Purpose:

This article identifies subclinical microvascular changes in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients using vascular perfusion densities derived from optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).

Methods:

A retrospective review was performed on individuals with SLE (10 eyes of 5 patients) and age-matched controls imaged with a spectral-domain OCT system (XR Avanti, Optovue, Inc). A split-spectrum amplitude-decorrelation algorithm (SSADA) generated OCTA of the superficial retinal capillaries, deep retinal capillaries, and foveal avascular zone (FAZ). Skeletonized OCTAs were used to create capillary vessel density (VD) values for each image. VD values were compared with clinical staging, and groups were compared using Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney tests.

Results:

Both the superficial (SCP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP) had a statistically significant decrease in VD in the SLE group when compared with the control group ( P < .05). The average VD ± SD for normal individuals in the 3 mm × 3 mm scans was 26.11 ± 1.2 and 37.45 ± 1.8 for the SCP and DCP, respectively. For SLE patients the mean ± SD was 18.46 ± 0.84 and 30.22 ± 1.5 for SCP and DCP, respectively. The mean FAZ was found to be 0.207 mm ± 0.02 for healthy controls and 0.350 mm ± 0.02 for SLE patients ( P < .001).

Conclusions:

In this paper we demonstrate a significantly enlarged FAZ and decreased VD in a small sample of patients with lupus. The SCP VD demonstrated a dose-response–type negative relationship with increased systemic lupus severity. Larger-sample, prospective studies may allow us to further characterize subclinical SLE pathology with OCTA, and OCTA may further provide a means for monitoring the severity or progression of other microvascular diseases.
The Dilemmas of Design Thinking in Innovation Projects
Authors: Hölzle Katharina , Rhinow Holger
Published: July 2019

Organizations have discovered Design Thinking as a promising framework or language for innovation-focused project teamwork. The goal is to develop new products and services by being customer-centric and working iteratively and in an interdisciplinary way, using specific working principles and methods to create a common language among all stakeholders. The empirical results in this article show that Design Thinking teamwork is different from other forms of teamwork. The difference in Design Thinking team-based project work is that the teams go through a specific learning process that poses individual challenges but also provides the individual with experience-based learning. We show that teams going through this learning process repeatedly find themselves in seemingly insolvable conflicts—so called structural dilemmas—within the framework of project deadlines and under the influence of strategic guidelines of the organization. We explore these structural dilemmas and develop ways to overcome them.
The Organizational Design of the Project-Based Organization
Authors: Turner Rodney , Miterev Maxim
Published: July 2019

This article investigates organizational design choices and their antecedents for the design of project-based organizations. Extant literature acknowledges the diversity of project-based organizational forms, but neither the particular configurations of organizational design dimensions nor the reasons behind their differences are widely addressed. Based on interviews in 12 project-based organizations in various sectors, this study identifies three common organizational design configurations of project-based organizations. It further discusses a range of internal and external factors, which can influence the choice of configuration. The findings are summarized in five overriding conclusions.
Subcutaneous delivery of daratumumab in relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma
Authors: Usmani Saad Z. , Nahi Hareth , Mateos Maria-Victoria , van de Donk Niels W. C. J. , Chari Ajai , Kaufman Jonathan L. , Moreau Philippe , Oriol Albert , Plesner Torben , Benboubker Lotfi , Hellemans Peter , Masterson Tara , Clemens Pamela L. , Luo Man , Liu Kevin , San-Miguel Jesus
Published: July 2019

Daratumumab, a human monoclonal antibody targeting CD38, is approved as monotherapy and in combination regimens for patients with multiple myeloma (MM). Currently, daratumumab is administered IV. The phase 1b PAVO (MMY1004) study evaluated subcutaneously administered daratumumab in combination with the recombinant human hyaluronidase PH20 enzyme (rHuPH20) in patients with relapsed or refractory MM. Part 1 of the study, reported here, evaluated a mix-and-deliver (MD) formulation of daratumumab and rHuPH20 (DARA-MD) administered by subcutaneous infusion. Patients received subcutaneous daratumumab according to the approved IV monotherapy dosing schedule at 1200 mg (n = 8) or 1800 mg (n = 45). Primary end points were safety and pharmacokinetic (PK) variables. The most common treatment-emergent adverse events with DARA-MD 1200 mg were thrombocytopenia, upper respiratory tract infection, insomnia, and decreased appetite (37.5% each). Anemia (33.3%), upper respiratory tract infection, pyrexia, and diarrhea (26.7% each) were the most common treatment-emergent adverse events with DARA-MD 1800 mg. One patient in the 1200-mg dose group (12.5%) and 11 patients in the 1800-mg dose group (24.4%) experienced infusion-related reactions, which were generally grade 1/2 and typically occurred at the first infusion. The 1800 mg dose achieved similar or greater serum concentrations compared with the 16 mg/kg IV dose. Overall response rates of 25.0% and 42.2% were achieved with 1200-mg and 1800-mg DARA-MD, respectively. Subcutaneous administration of DARA-MD was well tolerated in patients with relapsed or refractory MM, with the 1800-mg dose exhibiting PK concentrations and responses consistent with IV daratumumab in a similar patient population. This study was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT02519452.
Icariin-conditioned serum engineered with hyaluronic acid promote repair of articular cartilage defects in rabbit knees
Authors: Zhang Juntao , Zhang Donglin , Wu Chaochao , Liu Aifeng , Zhang Chao , Jiao Jianjie , Shang Man
Published: July 2019

Background

Osteochondral defects mostly occur as a result of trauma or articular degeneration. The poor regenerative ability of articular cartilage remains osteochondral defects are a tricky problem to deal with. The modern treatment strategies mainly focus on cartilage tissue engineering with bioactive materials. In this study, we aimed to develop icariin conditioned serum (ICS) together with hyaluronic acid (HA) and determine their ability in reparing osteochondral tissue in a critical-sized defect in rabbit knees.

Methods

Primary chondrocytes were incubated with serum conditioned with icariin at different concentrations, then cell proliferation rates and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) secretion were detected. Rabbits were treated with intra-articular injection of 0.5 mL normal saline (NS), ICS, HA and ICS + HA in the right knee joint, respectively. ICRS scores were used to assess the macroscopic cartilage regeneration. Histological and immunohistochemical analysis including H&E, Safranin O, toluidine blue and collagen II staining were used to determine the repair of cartilage and the regeneration of chondrocytes.

Results

Icariin at a low dose of 0.94 g/kg was identified to have significantly promoted the proliferation of chondrocytes and enhance the secretion of GAG. Femoral condyle from rabbits treated by ICS together with HA was observed to be integrated with native cartilage and more subchondral bone regeneration. ICS together with HA could promote repair of the cartilage defect and increase the neoformation of cartilage.

Conclusions

These results demonstrated the potential of ICS combined with HA to promote reparative response in cartilage defects and the possible application in bioactive material based cartilage regeneration therapies.
The impact of multimorbidity on foot health outcomes in podiatry patients with musculoskeletal foot pain: a prospective observational study
Authors: Hendry Gordon J. , Fenocchi Linda , Mason Helen , Steultjens Martijn
Published: July 2019

Background

Multimorbidity is prevalent and adversely affects health outcomes. Foot pain is common and one of the primary reasons for utilisation of podiatry services. At present, little is known about the impact of multimorbidity on foot health and related outcomes following podiatric intervention. The aims of this study were to evaluate whether there is a difference in foot health outcomes following exposure to podiatric foot care for people with and without multimorbidity; and ii) to evaluate whether the presence or absence of multimorbidity affects patients' perceptions of change in foot pain.

Methods

The PROMFoot study is a prospective cohort study of adults with a new episode of foot pain attending the podiatry service within the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde health board. Baseline medical comorbidity status (no condition, single condition, multiple conditions), longitudinal data on foot health measured using the Foot Health Status Questionnaire (FHSQ), and patient rating of change scores for foot pain were obtained from the PROMFoot study at baseline, and 3 and 6 months after podiatric intervention. Foot health scores (pain, function, footwear and general foot health) and perceptions of change for foot pain were compared between comorbidity groups.

Results

A total of 115 participants (59% female) with a mean age of 55 years were included. Multimorbidity was common, affecting 61 participants (53%); while 28 (24.3%) and 26 (22.6%) reported single or no medical comorbidities respectively. Significantly worse foot health scores for all FHSQ domains were observed for the multimorbidity group at baseline, 3 and 6 months. Change scores for foot pain were similar between groups and demonstrate modest improvements, however multimorbidity group membership was strongly associated with a perceptions of change in foot pain. Multimorbidity was independently associated with poorer foot function outcomes at 3 months, and poorer foot pain and foot function outcomes at 6 months.

Conclusions

Multimorbidity was associated with poor foot health outcomes and lower rates of self‐perceived improvement in foot pain over 6 months following podiatric intervention in a sample of patients attending podiatric biomechanics clinics for a new episode of foot pain.
Incidence and Management of Olaratumab Infusion-Related Reactions
Authors: Van Tine Brian A. , Govindarajan Rangaswamy , Attia Steven , Somaiah Neeta , Barker Scott S. , Shahir Ashwin , Barrett Emily , Lee Pablo , Wacheck Volker , Ramage Samuel C. , Tap William D.
Published: July 2019

PURPOSE:

Olaratumab is a human monoclonal immunoglobulin G1 antibody against platelet-derived growth factor receptor-α. We report the nature and frequency of infusion-related reactions (IRRs) with olaratumab in clinical trials and postmarketing reports.

METHODS:

Data from patients exposed to olaratumab across nine clinical trials were reviewed for IRRs. Blood samples were also analyzed for pre-existing immunoglobulin E anti–galactose-α-1,3-galactose (anti–α-Gal) antibodies.

RESULTS:

In the clinical trials, IRRs were identified in 70 of 485 patients (14.4%). The most frequent symptoms included flushing, fever or chills, and dyspnea. For 68 of 70 patients (97.1%), the first IRR occurred during the first two cycles of treatment. Grade 3 or worse IRRs were reported in 11 patients (2.3%), all during the first infusion and usually within 15 minutes of the start of the infusion. One IRR-related fatality (0.2%) occurred in a nonpremedicated patient with grade 3 or worse cardiac comorbidities. There was an association between grade 3 or worse IRRs and pre-existing anti–α-Gal antibodies, with a trend toward higher IRR rates in US geographies known to have a higher prevalence of anti–α-Gal antibodies. IRRs in postmarketing reports were consistent in nature and severity with those in the clinical trials.

CONCLUSION:

Premedication with corticosteroids and antihistamines should occur in all patients before olaratumab infusion, as indicated in labels in the United States and the European Union. Patients receiving olaratumab should be monitored for IRRs in a setting where resuscitation equipment is available for the treatment of IRRs.
Professional capacity building of Health Science Journal Editors
Authors: Jawaid Shaukat Ali , Jawaid Masood
Published: July 2019

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.35.4.1299

How to cite this:Jawaid SA, Jawaid M. Professional capacity building of Health Science Journal Editors. Pak J Med Sci. 2019;35(4):879-881. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.35.4.1299

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
«ETRA PROJECT - EDUCATION THROUGH REHABILITATIVE OUTSIDER ART- PHOTO»: ΕΝΑ ΕΚΠΑΙΔΕΥΤΙΚΟ ΠΡΟΓΡΑΜΜΑ ΓΙΑ ΤΗΝ ΤΕΧΝΗ ΤΗΣ ΦΩΤΟΓΡΑΦΙΑΣ ΚΑΙ ΤΗΝ ΕΙΚΑΣΤΙΚΗ ΕΠΕΞΕΡΓΑΣΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΨΗΦΙΑΚΗΣ ΕΙΚΟΝΑΣ
Authors: Βάος (Antonis Vaos) Αντώνης , Καραλής (Athanasios Karalis) Αθανάσιος , Στελλάκης (Nektarios Stellakis) Νεκτάριος , Αποστόλου (Zoe Apostolou) Ζωή
Published: July 2019

Σκοπός της παρούσας ανακοίνωσης είναι η παρουσίαση ενός ευρωπαϊκού εκπαιδευτικού προγράμματος (ETRA project - Education Through Rehabilitative Outsider Art- Photo) για την τέχνη της φωτογραφίας και την εικαστική επεξεργασία της ψηφιακής εικόνας. Στο πρόγραμμα αυτό συμμετέχουν οργανισμοί και φορείς από 6 ευρωπαϊκές χώρες (Δανία, Ελλάδα, Εσθονία, Ισπανία, Ιταλία, Πορτογαλία). Για την Ελλάδα στο πρόγραμμα συμμετέχει το ΤΕΕΑΠΗ (Τμήμα Επιστημών της Εκπαίδευσης και της Αγωγής στην Προσχολική Ηλικία) του Πανεπιστημίου Πατρών εφαρμόζοντας εκπαιδευτικές δράσεις σε ομάδες φοιτητών/ιών του αλλά και σε μαθητές νηπιαγωγείων της περιοχής. Η εφαρμογή των θεωρητικών αρχών και μεθοδολογικών προσεγγίσεων που υιοθετούνται από το πρόγραμμα αφορά εμπλεκόμενες και αλληλοτροφοδοτούμενες διαδικασίες με σκοπό τη σύνθεση μιας συνολικής και συνεκτικής εικόνας και τη συγκρότηση μιας πρότασης καινοτόμου, αλλά, κυρίως, αξιοποιήσιμης στο χώρο της προσχολικής αγωγής. Για το λόγο αυτό δε συγκροτήσαμε ένα σώμα θεωρητικών και πρακτικών γνώσεων που έπρεπε να διδαχθούν, αλλά ακολουθήθηκε μια έμμεση μορφή διδασκαλίας με εκπαιδευτικές δράσεις που βασίστηκαν στο δίπολο: προσέγγιση της τέχνης της φωτογραφίας και παραγωγή έργων βασισμένων στη φωτογραφία. Ως διαδικασία ακολουθήθηκαν τα στάδια: επιθυμία για καλλιτεχνική έκφραση – σύλληψη μιας γενικής ιδέας – διανοητική επεξεργασία και οπτικοποίηση, που αντιστοιχούν και στην κλιμάκωση μιας ερευνητικής μεθόδου διδασκαλίας: προετοιμασία – διερεύνηση και εμπλουτισμός – δημιουργία οπτικών μορφών (Epstein & Τρίμη, 2005: 178). Συγκεκριμένα, οι 3 ομάδες φοιτητών/ιών (μελλοντικοί εκπαιδευτικοί στην προσχολική εκπαίδευση) σε μια προσπάθεια σύνδεσης της προετοιμασίας τους στην περιοχή της διδακτικής της τέχνης με τη σχολική πράξη ενεπλάκησαν σε περιοχές έρευνας, αφού παρακολούθησαν εθελοντικά σεμινάρια και εργάστηκαν από κοινού με καλλιτέχνες. Παρόμοια διαδικασία ακολουθήθηκε στις δράσεις που εφαρμόστηκαν σε νηπιαγωγεία της περιοχής σε μια προσπάθεια να αναδειχθούν αναλογίες και να επιχειρηθούν συνδέσεις. Μαζί με τα παιδιά εργάστηκαν επαγγελματίες καλλιτέχνες, ενώ οι φοιτητές παρακολουθούσαν τη δράση εκ περιτροπής και, κυρίως μέσα από μια ψηφιακή πλατφόρμα που δημιουργήθηκε στο facebook για την ενημέρωση και οριζόντια επικοινωνία μεταξύ των μελών όλων των ομάδων, την ανατροφοδότηση και διάχυση της διαδικασίας και των προϊόντων του προγράμματος. Η διαδικασία όπως σχεδιάστηκε αλλά και εφαρμόστηκε αφορούσε κυρίως την ενίσχυση ενός κλίματος αυθεντικής καλλιτεχνικής στάσης και διακριτικής καθοδήγησης φοιτητών/ιών και παιδιών προσχολικής ηλικίας, μέσω της εκφραστικής προσπάθειάς, σε μια συνεκτική εικόνα για την τέχνη. Κατά αυτόν τον τρόπο συνειδητοποιήθηκαν «εκ των έσω» βασικά ζητήματα και έννοιες της τέχνης και κατακτήθηκαν βασικές δεξιότητες.
ΤΑ ΣΥΝΑΙΣΘΗΜΑΤΑ ΣΤΟ ΕΙΚΟΝΟΓΡΑΦΗΜΕΝΟ ΒΙΒΛΙΟ ΚΑΙ Η ΑΝΑΓΝΩΣΗ ΤΟΥΣ ΣΤΟ ΝΗΠΙΑΓΩΓΕΙΟ
Authors: Γιαννικοπούλου (Angeliki Gianikopoulou) Αγγελική , Πασχαλίδου Ελένη
Published: July 2019

Η λογοτεχνία και η τέχνη μοιάζουν να είναι ο φυσικός χώρος έκφρασης των πιο δυνατών, των πιο ιδιαίτερων συναισθημάτων. Στην παιδική λογοτεχνία για μικρότερα παιδιά, έτσι όπως αποτυπώνεται με λέξεις και εικόνες στο εικονογραφημένο παιδικό βιβλίο, η παρουσία των συναισθημάτων σημαδεύεται από δύο τάσεις: α) Ιστορίες όπου η έκφραση και η διαχείρισή τους αποτελεί το κεντρικό θέμα μιας σειράς βιβλίων τα οποία διακρίνονται για την παιδαγωγική τους θεώρηση και β) Διηγήσεις στις οποίες τα συναισθήματα ενυπάρχουν παρεμπιπτόντως, αφού ανέκαθεν αποτελούσαν το υλικό των λογοτεχνικών αφηγήσεων. Στην παρούσα εργασία θα μελετηθούν τρόποι έκφρασης και αποτύπωσης των πιο εύληπτων συναισθημάτων ανεξάρτητα από ειδολογικά (π.χ. παραμύθι, παροιμία) ή ιδεολογικά κριτήρια (π.χ. παιδαγωγικές σκοπιμότητες). Θα παρουσιαστεί μια σειρά από διδακτικές παρεμβάσεις όπου τα παιδιά του νηπιαγωγείου έρχονται σε επαφή με την έκφραση συναισθημάτων στο εικονογραφημένο παιδικό βιβλίο, αποκωδικοποιούν τους κώδικες με τους οποίους εκείνο εκφράζεται και δημιουργούν τα δικά τους πρωτότυπα κείμενα/ βιβλία προκειμένου να αποτυπώσουν προσωπικές τους συναισθηματικές καταστάσεις. Τοποθετώντας την έμφαση όχι στη διαχείριση αντίστοιχων συναισθημάτων στη δική τους ζωή, αλλά στον τρόπο έκφρασή τους σε ένα πολυτροπικό είδος, όπως το εικονογραφημένο βιβλίο, τα παιδιά μαθαίνουν να διαβάζουν τα βιβλία τους, τον κόσμο γύρω τους, αλλά και μέσα τους σε μια λογοτεχνία που λειτουργεί πότε ως παράθυρο (πώς αισθάνονται οι άλλοι) και πότε ως καθρέφτης (πώς νιώθουμε εμείς οι ίδιοι).
ΒΕΛΤΙΩΝΟΝΤΑΣ ΤΟ ΚΛΙΜΑ ΤΗΣ ΤΑΞΗΣ: ΜΙΑ ΕΚΠΑΙΔΕΥΤΙΚΗ ΕΡΕΥΝΑ ΔΡΑΣΗΣ ΟΠΟΥ ΑΝΑΔΕΙΚΝΥΟΝΤΑΙ ΣΥΓΧΡΟΝΕΣ ΕΚΠΑΙΔΕΥΤΙΚΕΣ ΣΤΡΑΤΗΓΙΚΕΣ
Authors: Ευαγγέλου (Ioanna Evaggelou) Ιωάννα , Κακανά (Domna-Mika Kakana) Δόμνα-Μίκα
Published: July 2019

Η δημιουργία ενός θετικού κλίματος μέσα στην τάξη μπορεί να επηρεάσει θετικά τα μαθησιακά επιτεύγματα των παιδιών, τη συμπεριφορά τους αλλά και την ατομική τους ανάπτυξη γενικότερα. Πώς διαμορφώνεται ένα ιδανικό περιβάλλον μάθησης; Ποιοι παράγοντες το καθορίζουν; Είναι δυνατή η μετατροπή ενός προβληματικού περιβάλλοντος μάθησης σε ιδανικό; Στόχος της παρούσας εργασίας ήταν η υλοποίηση μιας Έρευνας Δράσης με σκοπό την αξιολόγηση του κλίματος της τάξης στην οποία δίδασκε η εκπαιδευτικός-ερευνήτρια και κατόπιν η εφαρμογή μιας παρέμβασης με σκοπό να το βελτιώσει.
«ΒΛΕΠΟΝΤΑΣ ΤΗΛΕΟΡΑΣΗ» ΣΧΕΣΕΙΣ ΕΞΟΥΣΙΑΣ ΣΤΟΝ ΟΙΚΙΑΚΟ ΚΑΙ ΕΞΩ-ΟΙΚΙΑΚΟ ΧΩΡΟ
Authors: Κωνσταντίνου (Iosif Konstantinou) Ιωσήφ
Published: July 2019

Τα μέλη κάθε οικογένειας, ανεξαρτήτως ηλικίας, καταναλώνουν τηλεοπτικά προγράμματα καθόλη τη διάρκεια της ημέρας σε διαφορετικά χωροχρονικά περιβάλλοντα. Η κατανάλωση των προϊόντων αυτών αποτελεί καθημερινή οικιακή πρακτική που, όχι μόνο «δεν μπορεί να διαφοροποιηθεί από οτιδήποτε άλλο βρίσκεται γύρω από αυτήν» (Ang 1996: 68), αλλά «σχετίζεται με τα συμφραζόμενα του σπιτιού, της γειτονιάς και του έθνους» (Gauntlett και Hill 1999: 10). Σε αυτό το «κοινωνικό γεγονός» της κατανάλωσης (Radway 1984) εμπλέκονται όλα τα μέλη της οικογένειας μέσα από μια ιδιαίτερα περίπλοκη σχέση. Στην περιπλοκότητα αυτή συντελούν τόσο η διαφορετική σύσταση και δομή της οικογένειας, όσο και τα σύνθετα χωροχρονικά πλαίσια στα οποία επιτελείται η κατανάλωση των προϊόντων επικοινωνίας. Έχοντας ως βάση τις θεωρίες των σπουδών επικοινωνίας, αλλά και προσεγγίσεις της ανθρωπολογίας των μέσων, η παρούσα ανακοίνωση βασίζεται σε μια εθνογραφία κοινού για την παιδική ηλικία και τη χρήση των μέσων επικοινωνίας και εστιάζει τόσο στις σχέσεις εξουσίας που διαμορφώνονται στον οικιακό χώρο, όσο και στις κοινωνικές και φιλικές επαφές των αλβανών μαθητών και μαθητριών προσχολικής και πρώτης σχολικής ηλικίας με τους συμμαθητές τους, έλληνες και αλβανούς.
Η ΕΠΙΔΡΑΣΗ ΤΗΣ ΜΟΥΣΙΚΗΣ ΚΑΙ ΤΟΥ ΡΥΘΜΟΥ ΣΤΗ ΔΙΔΑΣΚΑΛΙΑ ΕΝΟΣ ΤΥΠΙΚΟΥ ΠΡΟΓΡΑΜΜΑΤΟΣ ΚΥΚΛΟΦΟΡΙΑΚΗΣ ΑΓΩΓΗΣ ΜΑΘΗΤΩΝ ΗΛΙΚΙΑΣ 5-9 ΕΤΩΝ
Authors: Μπελέτη (Zisoula Mpeleti) Ζησούλα , Πολλάτου (Elizana Pollatou) Ελιζάνα , Ζήση (Vasiliki Zisi) Βασιλική , Αγδινιώτης (Ilias Agdiniotis) Ηλίας
Published: July 2019

Σκοπός της παρούσας έρευνας ήταν η μελέτη της επίδρασης της μουσικής και του ρυθμού, στην αποτελεσματικότερη διδασκαλία προγραμμάτων κυκλοφοριακής αγωγής σε παιδιά νηπιακής και πρώτης σχολικής ηλικίας. Στη μελέτη συμμετείχαν 100 παιδιά ηλικίας 5 - 9 ετών των σχολείων της πρωτοβάθμιας εκπαίδευσης του Δήμου Βόλου. Τα 50 παιδιά (25 αγόρια και 25 κορίτσια) παρακολούθησαν ένα παρεμβατικό μουσικοκινητικό πρόγραμμα 6 εβδομάδων, με δυο 45 λεπτά μαθήματα ανά εβδομάδα, και αποτέλεσαν την πειραματική ομάδα. Τα υπόλοιπα 50 ακολούθησαν το τυπικό πρόγραμμα κυκλοφοριακής αγωγής χωρίς τη συνοδεία μουσικοκινητικής αγωγής για το ίδιο χρονικό διάστημα. Για την αξιολόγηση των μαθητών πάνω στις γνώσεις που έλαβαν από τα μαθήματα κυκλοφοριακής αγωγής χρησιμοποιήθηκαν τρία έντυπα με ασκήσεις βασισμένα στον οδηγό - πλαίσιο από το Αριστοτέλειο Πανεπιστήμιο Θεσσαλονίκης σε συνεργασία με το Υπουργείο Μεταφορών και Συγκοινωνιών. Χρησιμοποιήθηκαν μέθοδοι περιγραφικής στατιστικής και ανάλυση διακύμανσης με επαναλαμβανόμενες μετρήσεις ενώ το επίπεδο σημαντικότητας ορίστηκε το p < 0,5. Στην ηλικιακή κατηγορία 5 - 6 ετών η πειραματική ομάδα είχε μεγαλύτερη βελτίωση (f1,24=311.29, p<.001, η2=9.28) ενώ τα παιδιά ηλικίας 7 - 9 ετών δε διέφεραν μεταξύ τους κατά την αρχική μέτρηση (f1,46=0.03, p>.05, η2=0.01), αλλά στην τελική μέτρηση η πειραματική ομάδα είχε στατιστικά σημαντικά καλύτερα σκορ από την ομάδα έλεγχου. Συμπερασματικά η συνοδεία μουσικής μπορεί να συμβάλει σημαντικά στη διδασκαλία προγραμμάτων κυκλοφοριακής αγωγής με αποτέλεσμα το μάθημα να γίνεται καταλληλότερο και αποτελεσματικότερο ως προς το περιεχόμενο και την απόδοση.
Η ΣΗΜΑΣΙΑ ΤΩΝ ΚΟΙΝΩΝΙΚΩΝ ΔΕΞΙΟΤΗΤΩΝ ΓΙΑ ΤΗΝ ΟΜΑΛΗ ΜΕΤΑΒΑΣΗ ΤΩΝ ΠΑΙΔΙΩΝ ΑΠΟ ΤΟ ΝΗΠΙΑΓΩΓΕΙΟ ΣΤΟ ΔΗΜΟΤΙΚΟ ΣΧΟΛΕΙΟ: ΜΙΑ ΕΡΕΥΝΗΤΙΚΗ ΠΡΟΣΕΓΓΙΣΗ
Authors: Σακελλαρίου (Maria Sakellariou) Μαρία , Μπέση (Marina Mpesi) Μαρίνα
Published: July 2019

Η μετάβαση των παιδιών από το Νηπιαγωγείο στο Δημοτικό Σχολείο θεωρείται μία από τις κρισιμότερες περιόδους της παιδικής ηλικίας και αποτελεί μια δυναμική και εξελισσόμενη διαδικασία, η οποία θέτει τις βάσεις για τη μετέπειτα σχολική πορεία. Ωστόσο, η ομαλή μετάβαση δεν αποβλέπει μόνο στην ακαδημαϊκή επιτυχία των παιδιών/μαθητών, αλλά κυρίως στην κοινωνικοσυναισθηματική τους ανάπτυξη, η οποία είναι μέρος της πολυσύνθετης πορείας της μάθησης και συμβάλλει καθοριστικά στη διαδικασία εκπαιδευτικής και προσωπικής εξέλιξης (Σακελλαρίου, 2009). Με την παρούσα εργασία διερευνήσαμε τις απόψεις 286 δασκάλων και νηπιαγωγών για τη σημασία της ανάπτυξης των κοινωνικών δεξιοτήτων των παιδιών, για την ομαλή μετάβασή τους από το Νηπιαγωγείο στο Δημοτικό Σχολείο. Οι εκπαιδευτικοί ιεραρχούν ως σημαντικότερο την ανάπτυξη των κοινωνικών δεξιοτήτων που αφορούν την συμπεριφορά και την καλή επικοινωνία, στη συνέχεια ιεραρχικά τοποθετούν τη γενικότερη στάση των παιδιών και τις αντιλήψεις τους για το Δημοτικό σχολείο, ενώ ως τρίτο σημαντικό σημείο αναφοράς αξιολογούν την απόκτηση από τα παιδιά ακαδημαϊκών γνώσεων.
ΕΤΗΣΙΑ ΕΝΔΟ-ΔΙΑΣΧΟΛΙΚΗ ΕΠΙΜΟΡΦΩΣΗ ΣΤΟ ΠΛΑΙΣΙΟ ΤΗΣ ΕΦΑΡΜΟΓΗΣ ΤΟΥ ΠΡΟΓΡΑΜΜΑΤΟΣ ΑΝΑΠΤΥΞΗΣ ΑΤΟΜΙΚΩΝ ΚΑΙ ΚΟΙΝΩΝΙΚΩΝ ΔΕΞΙΟΤΗΤΩΝ «ΒΗΜΑΤΑ ΓΙΑ ΤΗ ΖΩΗ» ΓΙΑ ΜΑΘΗΤΕΣ ΝΗΠΙΑΓΩΓΕΙΟΥ
Authors: Σαλαγιάννη (Maria Salagianni) Μαρία
Published: July 2019

Στόχος της παρούσας εργασίας είναι να παρουσιασθεί η ενδοδιασχολική επιμόρφωση για την υλοποίηση του προγράμματος ατομικών και κοινωνικών δεξιοτήτων για μαθητές προσχολικής ηλικίας «Βήματα για τη ζωή». Η επιμόρφωση πραγματοποιήθηκε το σχολικό έτος 2012-2013, στην 55η Περιφέρεια Π.Α Αττικής, μετά από διερεύνηση επιμορφωτικών αναγκών των εκπαιδευτικών. Η διάρκεια της επιμόρφωσης ήταν ετήσια και περιελάμβανε εισαγωγική ημερίδα, τρία διήμερα βιωματικά σεμινάρια, ανατροφοδοτικές συναντήσεις, εξ αποστάσεως υποστήριξη μέσω δημιουργίας ηλεκτρονικής ομάδας και ημερίδα λήξης για τη δημοσιοποίηση και τη διάχυση των αποτελεσμάτων. Η αξιολόγηση της επιμόρφωσης ήταν α) διαμορφωτική (formative), ώστε να ελέγχεται η πορεία της επίτευξης των στόχων και β) αθροιστική (summative) για τον προσδιορισμό του βαθμού επίτευξης του σκοπού και των επιμέρους στόχων με σκοπό την ανατροφοδότηση του αρχικού σχεδιασμού. Σε όλα τα στάδια της επιμόρφωσης αξιοποιήθηκαν βασικές αρχές της εκπαίδευσης ενηλίκων και της έρευνας δράσης. Η πλαισίωση με τα συγκεκριμένα επιμορφωτικά χαρακτηριστικά βελτίωσε τις ικανότητες των εκπαιδευτικών για διδασκαλία μαθημάτων ανάπτυξης ατομικών και κοινωνικών δεξιοτήτων ενώ παράλληλα η εφαρμογή του προγράμματος «Βήματα για τη ζωή» είχε θετικά αποτελέσματα σε όλα τα επίπεδα σχέσεων που αλληλεπιδρούν και διαμορφώνουν το κλίμα της σχολικής μονάδας.