Search

• The paper engages with the devastating consequences that the belated neoliberal reformation of the Greek welfare state – initiated after the 2009 economic crisis – had on income inequality and poverty. • It is argued that these reformations rely on the manner with which Greece has developed its relations within the global – mostly European – capitalist division of labor as a peripheral economy. Greece's economic affairs are approached as intimately conditioned by a multifaceted institutional structure of dependencies that outstrips its ability to exercise economic policy for its own interest. • Essentially built upon premises of a core-periphery dependency paradigm, the paper takes the view that since the onset of the 2008 global crisis, the EU anti-labor agenda is extended to country-members – such as Greece – which were long regarded as being poorly integrated or "lagged behind". The large-scale reformation of the Greek welfare state is exemplified and a novel interpretation of estimating the country's poverty level with attention paid to the ineffectiveness of the implemented reforms, is offered. • New estimation methods show the failure of neoliberal welfare policy in assisting even the most vulnerable members of the population, a process known as "targeting". This last part is further supported by genuine evidence drawn from several waves of microdata surveys (see Section 6) illustrating the uneven relation between Greece and the EU. • Three different measures of poverty and efficiency are presented based on original analyses of the official datasets, showing the extent of the overall income loss and the widening gap between Greece and the EU. The paper holds a critical view on EU austerity policies, with particular emphasis given to Greece. It is maintained that the main causes for the implementation of neoliberal reforms should be examined in the manner with which the Greek economy has developed in relation with the European capitalist division of labor as a peripheral economy. Greece is approached as intimately conditioned by a multifaceted institutional structure of dependencies that outstrips the country's ability to exercise economic policy for its own social interests. Essentially built upon the premises of a core-periphery dependency paradigm, the periodic post-war reconfigurations of the EU architectural design offered enough room to the formation of a stricter policy framework along these lines. By developing a set of differentiated indices on European poverty, the devastating consequences of the belated neoliberal reformation of the country's welfare state are highlighted. All calculations are based on microdata sets of EUSILC surveys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper investigates the effect of a (semi-) deposit run during a debt crisis on crime rates. The study focuses on Greece's protracted debt crisis (2009–2018) and analyzes the response of crime to deposit outflows. It shows that deposit outflows corresponded to a significant increase in property crimes (thefts and burglaries), but not other types of offenses. The study provides useful policy insights for regulatory authorities tasked with monitoring and decreasing the criminogenic effects of financial destabilization [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Designing self-sufficient renewable energy systems is becoming a key issue in the energy sector due to modern energy goals. Due to the variability of renewable energy sources, very often it is necessary to adopt hybrid configurations of renewable energy systems and advanced energy storage to achieve self-sufficiency. However, the adoption of complex and novel systems, including technologies as photovoltaic, wind turbines, biomass gasifiers, hydrogen energy storage, must to be founded on a comprehensive analysis of the system operation under different conditions and its energy and economic performance in the investigated case study. Therefore, the aim of the present paper is carry out a comprehensive feasibility analysis of a novel hybrid renewable energy system achieving a high self-sufficiency level. The system integrates a wind turbine and photovoltaic panels to match the energy load of a tourist resort in Agkistro, Greece. Energy exceeding the load is directed to the energy storage system based on the battery and hydrogen tank. As backup energy source, a wood gasifier is used. The investigation is performed by means of a numerical model developed in TRNSYS software allowing one to simulate dynamically the system and to assess its energy and economic performance. The goal achieved during the simulation of the system was to ensure at least 97% of energy demand from renewable sources. Moreover, a parametric analysis of the storage system is presented. It is found that payback period of the installation varies in the range between 11 and 15 years, for systems configurations allowing to satisfy 90–98% of the users energy yearly demand from renewables. The achieved results allows one to evaluate the feasibility of the proposed system from both an energy and economic point of view. • Island energy systems in Greece. • Hybrid energy system with both battery and hydrogen energy storage. • 97% reduction of energy produced from fossil fuels with 30% of energy curtailed. • Parametric study concerning sizes of the energy storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The advantages of using elements of games in educational contexts have been reported in literature since the times of Plato in ancient Greece. Modern studies credited games with some advantages in education from different angles (behavioural, motivational or cognitive). In this paper, the application of games that have an explicit and carefully thought-out educational purpose (serious games) in different chemical engineering subjects at the bachelor and master level is discussed. Firstly, some topic definitions are provided along with a historical perspective of the use of games in education and the theoretical foundations supporting it. In section 2, four different applications of games are presented in three different subjects. In particular, the use of board games for the subjects Process Control and Particle Technology is illustrated, and how the combination of simple games (e.g. crosswords) and escape room activities can help to develop both low level and high level skills (following the Bloom's taxonomy classification) in Optimisation of Chemical Processes is also presented. Their analysis and discussion of the impacts achieved with the different game-based activities are later presented in section 3 along with the main conclussions drawn. • Serious games can help to promote active learning, engagement, and motivation of chemical engineering students. • Different game-based activities were implemented to foster both low level and high level skills. • A comprehensive design to adapt the type and level of the games to the classroom is key to promote positive impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This "white paper" is a concise perspective of the potential of machine learning in the process systems engineering (PSE) domain, based on a session during FIPSE 5, held in Crete, Greece, June 27–29, 2022. The session included two invited talks and three short contributed presentations followed by extensive discussions. This paper does not intend to provide a comprehensive review on the subject or a detailed exposition of the discussions; instead its aim is to distill the main points of the discussions and talks, and in doing so, highlight open problems and directions for future research. The general conclusion from the session was that machine learning can have a transformational impact on the PSE domain enabling new discoveries and innovations, but research is needed to develop domain-specific techniques for problems in molecular/material design, data analytics, optimization, and control. • A concise perspective is provided on the potential of machine learning in the process systems engineering (PSE) domain. • Machine learning was thought to have a transformational potential enabling new discoveries and innovations. • The need to further develop domain-specific techniques was pointed out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impacts of wildfires on tourism are growing, with concomitant detrimental consequences for tourists and destinations. However, only a few studies have assessed wildfires in tourism-dependent regions, and none have systematically explored fire risks. This paper summarizes the academic literature on tourism and wildfires that serves as a background for developing a tourism fire exposure index. The index identifies regions in the European Union at the NUTS2 level with high wildfire risks and high tourism dependency. Results show that exposure is exceptionally high in regions of Portugal and Mediterranean islands belonging to Greece and Spain. As vulnerabilities can be strategically reduced through adaptation, findings serve as a basis for the development of an integrated wildfire management framework for exposed destinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2022 energy crisis augmented the European ambition for RES capacity expansion. However, beyond the issue of "how many" renewables, the research question that remains, is which capacity mixes achieve the emissions reduction, renewable integration, and energy autarky targets in a cost-effective way. This paper tries to answer this inquiry supported by two energy models and one decision support model. The analysis focuses on Greece, as an example country which opted for lignite phase out, turning to temporary heavy reliance on natural gas for power generation. The results indicate that even though from the energy and environmental targets' perspective, more wind turbines in the RES capacity mix yield better results, when incorporating the economic point of view, balanced wind and solar mixes enable the achievement of targets in a cost-effective way. The most cost-efficient mixes consist of 50–55% wind and 45–50% solar capacity, with cost per additional percentage of RES share in the generation mix, equal to 40 million €. Nevertheless, in order to materialize them in a timely manner, and limit the short-term dependency on imported gas, permitting simplification, tenders for large-scale projects and incentives for small-scale projects are needed to facilitate accelerated RES deployment. • A modelling framework allowing exploratory RES capacity expansion is presented. • Renewable energy sources and storage capacity mixes are explored. • Balanced wind and solar mixes achieve energy targets economically efficiently. • RES deployment pathways to 2030 based on different perspectives are analyzed. • Further policy action is needed to enable accelerated RES deployment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Greek DRLs were revised for 7 adult CT exams and established for 5 additional ones. • Revised DRLs exhibited lower reduction compared to other national studies. • Incorporation of advanced technologies showcased potential for further optimisation. • The study underscores the importance of ongoing optimisation efforts. The escalating use of Computed Tomography (CT) imaging necessitates establishment and periodic revision of Diagnostic Reference Levels (DRLs) to ensure patient protection optimization. This paper presents the outcomes of a national survey conducted from 2019 to 2022, focusing on revising DRLs for adult CT examinations. Dosimetric data from 127 scanners in 120 medical facilities, representing 25% of the country's CT scanners, were collected, emphasizing geographic distribution and technology representation. Τhe parameters used for DRLs were the CTDI vol and the DLP of a typical acquisition of the region of interest (scan DLP). In addition to the 7 CT examination for which the DRL values were revised, establishment of DRLs for neck, cervical spine, pelvic bones-hips, coronary artery calcium (Ca) score and cardiac computed tomography angiography (CCTA) examinations was performed. Revised DRLs exhibited a 15 % average decrease in CTDI vol and a 7 % average decrease in scan DLP from the initial DRLs. This reduction of dosimetric values is relatively low compared to other national studies. The findings revealed wide variations in dosimetric values and scan lengths among scanners, emphasizing the need for standardization and optimization. Incorporation of advanced technologies like Iterative Reconstruction (IR) showcased potential for further dose reduction, yet challenges in uniform implementation persist. The study underscores the importance of ongoing optimisation efforts, particularly in the context of increased CT utilization and evolving technology. The revised DRLs have been officially adopted in Greece, emphasizing the commitment to safe and effective CT practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the planet moves further into the human-induced Anthropocene there is an urgent need to reconsider the values, practices, and politics leading to widespread ecological degradation. The prioritisation of economic growth by the most dominant political institutions encourages limitless expansion while minimizing awareness of the ecological vulnerability of the planet. Commoning presents an alternative political structure based on transformative practices of collective care or caring with. In this paper, we investigate how communities in Skouries of Halkidiki, Greece, are responding to the imposition of large-scale mining through three different commons initiatives. The women's collective, the chamomile commons, and the ten-day festival. These commons provide insights into how instances of caring with performed by human and nonhuman others are the foundations of local place-based politics. We argue that already existing examples of commoning and caring with can make visible a more fitting politics for the Anthropocene that can benefit decision-making at national and international levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the present study is to investigate the mechanical properties, mainly wave velocity, strength, deformability and degradation characteristics of carbonate fault rocks in the laboratory. The investigated materials present a complex behavior, mainly controlled by their tectonic disturbance, which has not been thoroughly studied due to practical limitations in sampling preparation and execution of laboratory tests. A novel procedure to prepare samples from the studied rocks was successfully performed. Two (2) intact, parent rock types (i.e., intact limestone, intact limestone-dolomite breccia) and five (5) fault rock types (i.e., two types of limestone fault breccias, two types of fractured marly limestones and one type of tectono-diagenetic dolomite breccia) were retrieved from five locations in Lefkada Island, Greece. The mechanical properties of the intact, parent rocks were determined to define the degree of strength reduction due to the tectonic disturbance of the fault rocks. The mechanical properties of the fault rocks significantly vary, a fact that is attributed to their structural and textural properties. These properties were quantified using a novel image processing technique and two (2) discrete algorithms. The durability characteristics of the studied rocks were also assessed through freeze-thaw and slake durability tests. The specimens with a higher tectonic disturbance yielded increased degradation characteristics, in repeated freeze-thaw and slaking cycles proving that the behavior of the material can drastically change over time due to weathering and erosion processes.. The findings of this paper suggest that the behavior of fault rocks cannot be approximated by the existing rock mechanics principles and therefore, a more focused methodology to derive their mechanical properties is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wind power serves as a clean and sustainable form of energy. However, its generation is fraught with variability and uncertainty, owing to the stochastic and dynamic characteristics of wind. Accurate forecasting of wind power is indispensable for the efficient planning, operation, and grid integration of wind energy systems. In this paper, we introduce a novel forecasting method termed Temporal Collaborative Attention (TCOAT). This data-driven approach is designed to capture both temporal and spatial dependencies in wind power generation data, as well as discern long-term and short-term patterns. Utilizing attention mechanisms, TCOAT dynamically adjusts the weights of each input variable and time step based on their contextual relevance for forecasting. Furthermore, the method employs collaborative attention units to assimilate directional and global information from the input data. It also explicitly models the interactions and correlations among different variables or time steps through the use of self-attention and cross-attention mechanisms. To integrate long-term and short-term information effectively, TCOAT incorporates a temporal fusion layer that employs concatenation and mapping operations, along with hierarchical feature extraction and aggregation. We validate the efficacy of TCOAT through extensive experiments on a real-world wind power generation dataset from Greece and compare its performance against twenty-two state-of-the-art methods. Experimental results demonstrate that TCOAT outperforms existing methods in terms of both accuracy and robustness in wind power forecasting. Moreover, we conduct a generality study on an additional real-world dataset from a different climate condition and wind power characteristics. The results show that TCOAT can achieve comparable or better performance than the state-of-the-art methods, confirming the generalization ability of TCOAT. • Novel deep learning model for wind power forecasting • Temporal collaborative attention and fusion for wind data • Superior performance on real-world wind power dataset • Attention maps for interpretability and end-to-end training [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Snail mucus had medical applications for wound healing as early as ancient Greece and the late Han Dynasty (China). A literature search found 165 modern research papers discussing the extraction methods, chemical compositions, pharmacological activities, and applications of snail mucus. Thus, this review summarized the research progress on the extraction, structure, pharmacological activities, and applications of polysaccharides and proteins isolated from snail mucus. The extraction methods of snail mucus include natural secretion and stimulation with blunt force, spray, electricity, un-shelling, ultrasonic-assisted, and ozone-assisted. As a natural product, snail mucus mainly comprises two polysaccharides (glycosaminoglycan, dextran), seven glycoproteins (mucin, lectin), various antibacterial peptides, allantoin, glycolic acid, etc. It has pharmacological activities that encourage cell migration and proliferation, and promote angiogenesis and have antibacterial, anti-oxidative and anticancer properties. The mechanism of snail mucus' chemicals performing antibacterial and wound-healing was proposed. Snail mucus is a promising bioactive product with multiple medical applications and has great potential in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries. Therefore, this review provides a valuable reference for researching and developing snail mucus. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PHPS is a mature energy storage technology, leading to more efficient energy management and further integration of Renewable Energy Sources (RES). This paper investigates the implementation of such a system at Kastraki, Greece, combined with a second upstream reservoir with a total capacity of 10 hm3 and evaluates its efficiency. The position and the geometric characteristics of the second reservoir are determined with ArcGIS. When excess of energy exists, water is pumped from Kastraki reservoir and stored in the upper one. Otherwise, the stored water is used for energy production. The simulation is performed for 40 years with a monthly time step. Furthermore, another simulation for a typical day in July is conducted, when water and energy needs are increased. The system is evaluated in terms of covering the water supply and energy needs, as well as in terms of efficient energy management. Several results can be obtained, as follows: i) the reliability of the PHPS system for the coverage of monthly water supply and irrigation needs is 82.84 %. ii) The coverage of water supply needs for a typical day in July is 99.99 %. iii) The average monthly coverage of energy needs amounts to 83.86 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A new energy balance model of outdoor swimming pools assesses their heating demand. • The proposed model was validated using the experimental outdoor data set. • Lowing the operating water temperature by 1 °C cuts energy consumption by about 11 % • Anti-evaporative cover usage reduces energy demand, with up to 30% savings. • Local wind conditions play a key role in outdoor pool energy consumption. In the Mediterranean region, outdoor swimming pools, despite having lower energy consumption compared to indoor pools, are nonetheless highly energy-intensive structures, offering significant opportunities for energy efficiency improvements. Although there are numerous studies in the literature, few of these works have been dedicated to estimating the energy consumption of outdoor pools while considering typical local meteorological conditions and their occupancy rates. This paper presents a novel energy balance model for outdoor pools that incorporates the latest correlations for calculating evaporation due to forced convection and sky temperature, a new phenomenological model for assessing the enhancement of evaporation as a function of occupancy rate, and an approach that takes into account atmospheric stability conditions in defining wind-related heat losses. The model successfully predicts the annual energy consumption data for outdoor Olympic swimming pools in Greece with a mean absolute percentage error of less than 12 %. Simulations of an outdoor swimming pool operating with water at 26.5 °C and in which the cover is not used present indicate a specific thermal energy consumption of about 2300 kWh/m2. A decrease in water temperature by 1 °C and the use of a cover result in approximately 11 % and 30 % reduction in consumption, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wind energy presents a high growth potential in the EU as an emission reduction strategy and to achieve the climate neutrality goal by 2050. Wind farms suitability analysis is one of the primary goals in the spatial planning of wind energy developments. This research paper introduces a hybrid spatial multicriteria GIS-based framework that combines Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), PROMETHEE II and Machine Learning algorithms to determine and predict the most efficient onshore wind farm locations by generating suitability index mappings. The methodology allows to overcome PROMETHEE II limitations in raster driven suitability analysis, utilizing machine learning regression methods as the k Nearest Neighbor and Support Vector Machines to predict a graduating mapping of suitability index for wind farm locations in northeastern Greece. The best configured models presented a RMSE of 0.0344 and 0.0154 respectively, indicating a quite high predictive performance. Suitability results indicate that 56.10 % of the feasible locations in the Thrace area present a positive outranking character for the kNN model and 56.79 % for the SVR model. The proposed framework, enriched by PROMETHEE II capabilities, assists energy and spatial planners in identifying suitable sites for wind farm siting and enables rational decision making that enhances efficient wind energy investments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We provide the first detailed Relative Mean Sea-Level curve for the Northern Aegean. • We detected for the first time in this coastal area the Neolithic drowned landscapes. • Palaeogeographic reconstruction shows coastal progradation due to anthropic forcing. • Historical events appear to dominate the fate of the city over environmental factors. • We detected the impact of a tsunami in 544 AD in this part of the Thracian coast. This paper presents an integrated Geoarchaeological approach to Holocene landscape change and socio-environmental interaction around ancient Abdera, a Greek colony in Aegean Thrace. A combination of remote sensing, geomorphological mapping, sedimentary coring, and radiocarbon dating was used to build the first detailed Holocene sea-level curve in the Northern Aegean, and to reconstruct the palaeogeographic evolution around Abdera from the Neolithic onwards. The discussion of these results, alongside the available archaeo-historical data, sheds new light on the role of historical and environmental factors in the rise and eventual decline of Abdera, thereby challenging previous narratives. This study is the first to detect evidence of the Neolithic landscapes in this coastal area being submerged by marine transgression c. 5000 cal. BC. A lagoonal landscape developed from the Neolithic until Greek colonists settled in the area c. 654 BC. The results presented here suggest that the relocation of the city in the 4th century BC was not caused by the silting up of the bay but was due to historical events. The coastal progradation only became significant after 300 cal. BC and accelerated in the following centuries. Based on the data acquired, it is hypothesized that this was due to anthropogenic forcing of the sedimentary systems both at local and regional levels, caused by the development of the productive activities of the colony. The evidence presented here demonstrates that while Abdera retained good access to the sea, its decline in the 4th c. AD was certainly due to the gradual shift of the economic axis inland. By 400 cal. AD the coastline was very close to its current position. The results of this study also add to the catalogue of known tsunamis in the Northern Aegean, by providing new evidence of a tsunami on this section of the Thracian coast in 544 AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with the repeated infrastructural breakdowns in Greek refugee camps. It introduces the concept of "infrastructural clashes" to highlight the apparent clash between, on the one hand, high-tech control systems and, on the other, the failures and scarcity of basic infrastructures in camps - such as electricity, running water and food. It argues that infrastructural clashes are not side-effects but, rather, constitutive components of modes of governing by debilitating refugees. The article starts by developing the concept of infrastructural clashes, grounding it in the literature on camp geographies and migration infrastructures. It moves on by exploring the nexus between infrastructural clashes and politics of induced scarcity in Greece, illustrating how this depletes refugees and extracts value from their vitality. It contends that they enhance carcerality beyond detention. The last section engages with refugees' mobilisations against induced scarcity: their claims foreground that infrastructural clashes enhance protracted dependency. The depletion strengthened through infrastructural clashes shows that refugees are not only obstructed in their mobility but also in their attempt to re-build their lives and to engage in autonomous social reproduction activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morphological studies of fish assemblages are a crucial aspect of ecology, as they can provide insight into functional roles and changes beyond taxonomically oriented approaches. In addition, depth is an important factor that impacts the structure of fish assemblages. In the present study, samples of 115 demersal actinopterygian species were collected during a bottom-trawl survey conducted in the northern Aegean Sea, in the summer of 2020. The samples were collected by 65 hauls across depths ranging from 0 to 650 m. The samples were photographed, and the images were analyzed through geometric morphometric methods, by defining 27 landmarks and semilandmarks on each photo. Principal Components were estimated to construct morphospaces and between group Principal Component Analysis was used to distribute the mean body shape of each assemblage along morphological axes. Ecological, taxonomic and morphological diversity indices were then computed for each haul, and the potential effects of depth on these indices were tested with Generalized Additive models. All indices were significantly affected by depth, except for species richness, on which the effect was marginally insignificant. Concerning the morphological diversity indices, morphological disparity indices, estimated with 2 different methods, as well as the ecomorphological diversity found to increase with depth, whereas morphological richness fluctuated. Next, Generalized Linear Models were employed to examine the variations in the morphological traits of the mean shape of each formed assemblage. The results indicated that assemblages distinguished into two groups, one inhabiting the continental shelf (<200 m), and the other the upper-medium slope (>200 m). Specifically, with increasing depth, fish converge towards an elongated body, with larger mouth and eyes, but smaller pectoral fin. The findings of this study, contribute to better understanding of the impact of depth on the ecological and morphological structure of demersal assemblages, and highlight the importance of morphological diversity indices as a complement to conventional approaches. • Depth is an important driver structuring fish assemblages. • Demersal fish assemblages: continental shelf (<200 m) vs. upper-medium slope (>200 m). • Deeper fish: longer body, bigger mouth and eyes; smaller pectoral fin. • Assemblages in <200 m less diverse than in >200 m, due to morphological redundancy. • Morphological diversity indices enhance conventional methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biomass of aquatic organisms largely determines the mass and energy flow within an ecosystem, but the long-term impact of environmental change on biomass is not well constrained for a number of clades. Here, we test the hypothesis that bivalve biomass is negatively impacted by warming climate over time. This study is based on a fossil marine bivalve fauna recovered from hemipelagic sediments deposited in the eastern Mediterranean during climate cycles (marine isotope stages (MIS) 22–18; 900–712 kyr B.P.) of the Early–Middle Pleistocene Transition. We reconstruct individual shell biomasses from fossils and discuss the various biotic and abiotic factors that controlled long-term shell biomass patterns across this important interval in the Earth climate system. The results are contrary to the original hypothesis, suggesting that the response to temperature is not universal. Nevertheless, a decrease in median biomass is observed during the MIS 19 warm period and can be possibly attributed to the combined effect of multiple drivers that cooperated at that critical time in the past, including higher temperature and primary productivity, reduced ventilation of the sea floor, biodiversity changes due to geographic range shifts, and considering species- and age-specific thermal tolerances. Generally, bivalve biomass at the community level is determined by relative abundance and shell biomass-frequency distribution. In our study, the relative abundance and median biomass of small species do not increase or decrease, respectively, in warmer periods. However, larger species are negatively affected by warming both in terms of relative abundance and biomass. • We reconstruct deep-water bivalve biomass for Pleistocene eastern Mediterranean from fossil shells. • Compare median biomasses at species and community level in warm versus cold period within MIS 22–18. • Bivalve shell biomass response to temperature is not universal. • Decrease in median biomass is observed during the MIS 19 warm period. • Larger species are negatively affected by warming both in terms of relative abundance and biomass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]