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Migration is considered a meaningful strategy whereby both migrants and nonmigrants can improve their well‐being and their livelihoods. The paper emphasizes the migrants' own perspective and sheds light on movers' noneconomic drivers. The concept of aspirations is treated as a 'missing link' that allows research into migration at its intersection with social inequalities, hierarchies and diversity. The paper's main aim is therefore to elucidate Romanian migrants' aspirations and to illustrate how these aspirations are informed by their agency and reflect their well‐being both during and after the economic recession in Greece. Romanian migration provides sufficient grounds to invoke a more nuanced approach to migrants' well‐being, which takes their 'dreams of fantasy' into account, along with their subjective experiences of inequalities and multiple belonging. This paper frames migrants' well‐being theoretically as a relational process, but also in terms of the socio‐spatial arrangements of migrant mobility/immobility acts. Romanians' narratives are analysed in relation to their social trajectories, spatial movement(s) and settlement patterns during their international and internal journey(s). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper comments upon certain (mis)understandings concerning science and religion in Greece’s public discourse during 2020 and 2021. The first half consists of a theoretical commentary on what transpired in Greece, focusing on ‘science’ and ‘religion’ morphing into one another in the public square apropos the pandemic—with religion presenting itself as science, science presenting itself as religion, and an unwelcome ‘Reformation’ in science emerging out of dissent. The second half of the paper provides a report on Greece’s public square during the pandemic, on the basis of which the theoretical part was formed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: As clinicians and patients await consensus on intraovarian platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment, this project evaluated contemporary research trends in the literature. Methods: A PubMed/NLM search aggregated all ovarian PRP-related publications (n=54) to evaluate their scope, abstract utility, submission-to-publication interval,journal selected, article processing charge (APC),free reader access to full-text manuscripts, numberand nationality of authors, and inclusion of international collaborators. The NIH Clinical Trials database was also audited. Results: Published output on intraovarian PRP has increased consistently since 2016, especially among investigators in Greece, Iran, USA, and Turkey. Between 2013 and 2021,42 articles met the relevancy criteria, of which 40.5% reported clinical studies, small series, orease reports, 33% described experimental animal models, and 23.8% were opinion/review papers. Only two works included a placebo control group. The submission-to-publication interval (mean±standard deviation) was 130±96 days, there were 5.9±3.2 authors per project, and journals invoiced US $1,613±1,466 (range, $0-$3,860) for APCs. Conclusion: There was no correlation between APC and time to publish (Pearson's r=-0.01). Abstract content was inconsistent; sample size and patient age were often missing, yet free full-text "open access" was available for most publications (59.5%). The NIH Clinical Trials portal lists eight registered studies on "ovarian rejuvenation,"of which two are actively recruiting patients, while four have been terminated or have an uncertain status. Two studies have concluded, with results from one posted to the NIH website. PRP and its derivatives for ovarian treatment show early promise, but require further investigation. Research is accelerating and should be encouraged, particularly placebo-controlled randomized clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper sets out to examine the military spending-public debt nexus in the case of Greece. Unlike previous studies that exclusively focus their analyses in the post-WWII period, the empirical investigation conducted herein covers almost the entire two hundred years of the modern Greek state. The estimations using an ARDL framework cover the period 1848–2018 as well as sub-periods therein. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first paper to approach this issue in the case of Greece with such a long-term perspective. In broad terms, the findings do not unearth a statistically traceable effect of defence expenditures on public debt accumulation. The results indicate that this was very much driven by debt dynamics and the need to draw funds to service existing loans. This finding is consistent across both the entire period under scrutiny here as well as the various sub-periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This paper attempts to evaluate the primary health care system by evaluating health centres in Greece. Methods: Malmquist Index Data Envelopment Analysis is applied to study the total productivity of 155 health centres in Greece during 2016–2018. The data were collected from the Ministry of Health and submitted to quality tests to ensure validity and avoid bias. Results: This paper measures the productivity of each of the 155 health centres in Greece and how it shifted during 2016–2018. In addition, the overall productivity change of the 155 health centres over time is calculated and analysed as being due to technical efficiency or technological efficiency. The analysis of the mean values showed a decrease of 0.9% in the overall productivity factor from 2016 to 2017 and a decrease of 5.2% from 2017 to 2018. The overall decrease in the productivity of the 155 health centres was 3.1%. From 2016 to 2018, 59 health centres changed their productivity mainly due to technological change and 91 changed mainly due to technical efficiency change. One health centre showed regression to its total productivity due to equal regression of its technical efficiency and technology. Conclusions: The method used is nonparametric data envelopment analysis along with the Malmquist index to include panel data in the analysis. Meaningful results were extracted by indicating the number of health centres that improved their productivity, regressed in productivity, or remained constant through the period 2016–2018. This paper may contribute to improving health centres' efficiency and productivity. Furthermore, valuable results can be extracted for the National Health Care System to match available resources that correspond to each health centre's needs, as well as for manager planners and stakeholders in primary health care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a method for assessing the cost of friction between North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) allies and highlights internal threats. This is applied to the Greek-Turkish conflict within the NATO context and concerns the functioning of defence expenditure in Greece, modified in such a way as to focus on the causes of friction between these allies. The analysis concentrates mainly on the issue of internal threats to the long-run equilibrium of NATO. The ARDL methodology used modifies the typical error correction model by introducing a mechanism that accelerates the process that leads back to the long-run equilibrium. Along with assessing the cost to an ally in relation to an internal threat, the method proposed allows the time required for the long-run equilibrium of NATO to be restored. The paper concludes that dynamic incidents of friction between allies expressed as an internal threat disturb NATO's static equilibrium, destabilise an individual ally's defence policy and contribute to cost being incurred. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the 1990s, sustainability agenda has dominated cities' efforts to improve their environment; has been elaborated in European Commission documents, has been disseminated and funded through different mechanisms. The paper examines the way urban sustainability has been framed in Thessaloniki's EU funded urban regeneration projects, focusing on projects that have been materialized or planned, since the outbreak of the financial crisis in Greece in 2010. It places emphasis on conceptual shifts in EU policies regarding sustainability and their reflection on specific urban projects. A critical light is shed on imaginaries pursued, and processes employed in these projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents updates on upcoming international congresses in the systems research and behavioral science sector happening in 2003. 47th Annual Conference of the International Society for the Systems Sciences in Crete, Greece; Informing Science+IT Education Conference in Pori, Finland.

The article offers information on the 8th Organization Studies Summer Workshop to be held in Mykonos, Greece on May 23-25, 2013.

Background: Lifestyle has become a major and well‐recognized aspect of modern healthcare, but there is little awareness of the origins of lifestyle medicine. Results: This paper shows that a major contribution to lifestyle medicine was made by Greco‐Roman physicians. Ancient Greek and Roman doctors placed considerable emphasis on the role lifestyle played in determining the state of their patients' health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to review the Gender, Migration and Equality stream of the Industrial Relations in Europe 2007 (UREC) Conference, which took place in Athens, Greece. Design/methodology/approach - This paper summarizes a paper delivered at the first plenary session and also papers presented at the stream. Findings - The paper finds that all papers within the stream highlighted the fact that discrimination and prejudice still exist throughout Europe and these are endemic and institutionalised. Some progress has been made in some areas and industries but for the situation to really alter, people in power should acknowledge their role in reproducing discrimination. Originality/value - The research papers selected show that equality discussions and debates took a prominent position in the IREC Conference, which is beneficial in terms of pushing forward an equality agenda to the mainstream. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we explore the difficulties undergraduates from Greek Higher Educational Institutions faced during the transition to online learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic. By analyzing qualitative data from an online survey (N = 2093), we were able to identify the barriers undergraduates encountered during this transition and make inferences about the quality of the way online learning was implemented. The most frequently reported barriers include problems that undergraduates perceived as being caused by their lecturers, internet connection issues during an online lecture and the perceived limited social interactions that synchronous environments can afford. The paper argues that the way online learning was implemented by Greek Higher Educational Institutions did not result a meaningful learning experience for undergraduates. Our results are relevant to universities that are either forced in implementing emergency online protocols or wish to support their undergraduates' learning experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is generally accepted that countryside in Greece reveals significant problems concerning land use definition, resulting in socioeconomic and environmental pressure mostly in peri-urban and coastal rural areas. The basic question is whether and up to which degree the countryside in Greece constituted a central object of regulatory planning. In particular, this paper investigates the institutional tools of regulation and their development until the completion of the application of L. 2508/97. At first, it refers to the outside-of-city plan development tool which consists of the oldest and at the same time diachronic tool for the development of the countryside, resulting in incompatible land uses and low quality of countryside. Then, it briefly refers to the tool of the Urban Control Zones –peri-urban and protection– which set limitations to the permissible land uses and building, aiming at the prevention of countryside ’s worsening because of residential and other developmental pressure. Finally, the paper focuses on the General Urban Plans of L. 2508/97. These consist of the first integrated land use plans which aim at the comprehensive planning of urban, peri-urban and rural areas of the whole Municipality. These determine the environmental and residential zones as well as the zones which host a combination of activities, beyond the rural, and define the land uses. In order to examine whether and up to what extent there was an integrated planning approach of countryside aiming at sustainable development, empirical research is accomplished for the regulation of countryside, in its two basic categories, the Areas of Specific Protection and the Areas of Control and Restriction of Development in the approved General Urban Plans of L. 2508/97, during the time period 1997-2018. The findings of the research demonstrate that the target of sustainable development was not fully achieved, and the regulation of the countryside was limited. However, the countryside’s planning based on L. 2508/97 was a significant experience that can contribute to a more integrated and effective planning leveraging the new Land Use Plans of L. 4759/20. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The void ab initio theory is traditionally associated with the retroactive effect of the unconstitutionality of a statute, in diffused systems of judicial review; as opposed to the prospective effect of unconstitutionality, in Austria, the archetype of centralized judicial review. The paper argues that the void ab initio theory goes far beyond the time-factor of judicial review, having two complementary aspects: 1) The void ab initio theory is tied to a robust theory of negative liberty; and substantive criminal law is its privileged field of application. The void ab initio theory goes back to Marbury v Madison (1803). 2) The void ab initio theory was strongly criticized by Kelsen, whose criticism is accurate, when the theory is unduly extended to the unconstitutionality of laws curtailing positive rights of the welfare state, eg, salaries and pensions, as happened recently in Greece. The act which abolishes the unconstitutional statute retroactively, has 'the character of a legislative act.' Indeed, the void ab initio theory in the field of positive social rights encroaches on legislative competence. The paper cocludes that the void ab initio theory is a strong expression of the ethos of legality; The void ab initio is most adequate for (cases involving) legal sanctions, on legal grounds, over adjudicative facts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper examines the restructuring of local-level spatial planning in Greece during and after the crisis period. It analyses the reform paths that were developed and assesses the directions of change concerning the scope of planning, the actors and the practices. The paper concludes that the orientation has turned towards special-purpose planning, the privatisation of planning powers, and the transfer of planning power to the central state. However, despite these shifts, the domestic local-level planning maintains its long trends, such as clientelism and conformative approach, making the trajectory of planning unpredictable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oil refineries are among industrial installations that are vulnerable to climate extreme events, whose frequency and intensity have been increasing over the last decades. Building resilience in resources to withstand climate-related hazards and to recover fast at low human and material cost, for changing climate conditions, is required. In this paper, we present an action research effort for the design of a viable decentralized climate-resilience-providing virtual organization in an oil refinery in Greece using the Viable System Model. The VIPLAN method was employed for the methodological design of a distributed Climate Resilience Providing Organisation for the case of a refinery facility in Greece. The paper presents the process and the results of this effort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prefecture of Piraeus in Greece is dotted with prior industrial sites that are currently abandoned. This paper addresses the ability of these sites to contribute to sustainable infrastructure and urban development through regeneration, by understanding the history of Piraeus, the environmental and social opportunities that may come from revitalization, and the communities' needs within their municipalities. Additionally, the paper analyzes the European Union's prior policies that have outlined the sustainable development of cities, and the role that the regeneration of brownfields in Greece may play in achieving these policy directives. To do this, the paper addresses the historical emergence of urban sustainability efforts and the funding mechanisms in place today that may be applicable to the case of Piraeus. Additionally, this research takes into account citizens' perspectives on desired future land uses at currently abandoned land in the municipality of Piraeus through public surveys. The paper aims to contextualize future opportunities for the local environments and communities in Piraeus that may come from sustainable regeneration of brownfield sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital assistants—such as chatbots—facilitate the interaction between persons and machines and are increasingly used in web pages of enterprises and organizations. This paper presents a methodology for the creation of chatbots that offer access to museum information. The paper introduces an information model that is offered through the chatbot, which subsequently maps the museum's modeled information to structures of DialogFlow, Google's chatbot engine. Means for automating the chatbot generation process are also presented. The evaluation of the methodology is illustrated through the application of a real case, wherein we developed a chatbot for the Archaeological Museum of Tripolis, Greece. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Primary education (PE) forms the foundation of high-quality education systems, but it is often underestimated. This paper aims to develop and empirically validate a measurement instrument to study the current stage of total quality management (TQM) implementation in PE. Design/methodology/approach: This study developed a seven-dimensional and a 37-item instrument administered to education professionals at public PE institutions in Greece to determine the current stage of TQM implementation at their institution; 2,088 responses were received in total. Principal component analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling were adopted to test the research instrument. Findings: The findings supported the validity and reliability of the instrument and demonstrated that the proposed measures represent actual dimensions that can be used to explore the implementation of TQM in PE. Results also showed that the respondents rated highly the positive impact that TQM can have on their schools, although nonhuman resources have been found inadequate and problematic. Practical implications: The field of TQM in PE lacks empirical evidence; this paper provides deep insight into the elements that demonstrate the perception and status of TQM implementation and can support quality implementation plans. Originality/value: This study adds value to the TQM literature by developing an instrument for use in PE educational institutions and validating it in a real environment. Practitioners and researchers are thus supplied with the means to facilitate TQM practices, identify weaknesses and opportunities and contribute to social empowerment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The history of mathematics plays a significant role in mathematics education. The paper draws attention to the ancient calculating tool - abacus - in the context of analyzing the role of mathematics history in mathematics education. The abacus is the oldest known manual calculating instrument in history, used in ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece and Rome, whereas an advanced model of the abacus is still in use. The paper presents different versions of the abacus that emerged throughout history (Salamis, Roman, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, and Indian abacus (mechanical and digital)), with a special emphasis on exploring the importance of the Japanese abacus (Soroban) which is considered the most efficient version, given it is adapted solely to the decimal numeral system. The paper aims at exploring the role, values and possibilities of applying the Soroban in mathematics education of children through the method of theoretical analysis. We particularly focused on the application of the abacus on the following aspects of mathematics education: learning mental arithmetic, understanding the local value of a digit, mental development of children, treatment of children with developmental disabilities, primarily the children with visual and hearing impairments, and its contribution as a means that stimulates problem-solving skills. Authors argue that a methodological approach which should lead to the conceptual understanding of the concept of number must be based on concrete, actual, and obvious factors that result in the formation of a clear concept of number and value of each digit in that number, and that the abacus provide a good basis for that. Using the abacus, students are introduced to the local value of each digit in a number, thus gaining a deeper understanding of the number structure with the help of beads, where a physical and non-symbolic representation of a number on the abacus helps them visualize the position of the local value of a digit, which contributes to the overall understanding of the structure of numbers. Students are trained to use the abacus for calculus, primarily through concrete activities of moving the beads, an activity that creates mental representations, thus stimulating the development of mental strategies which allow the transition from concrete activities to the mental plane of calculus. This way, children gain a deeper understanding of mathematics and are able to solve problems, apply mathematics, and acquire flexibility and the ability of adaption in problem solving, all of which are the advantages of mental calculation. Through the application of the abacus in calculation, all learning activities are transferred from the level of practical-perceptual thinking to the level of conceptual-logical thinking, because these activities create a concrete visual and manipulative basis for learning from the very beginning, which directly reflects on mental development. The fast communication occurring between one's hands and brain helps a faster and balanced overall development of the brain. Mental calculation alone stimulates mental activity, concentration, memory, analytical skills and patience that develop through practice and work on the abacus, whereas visualization contributes to the development of neurons in the brain. In addition, the remarkable usefulness of this tool is reflected in its application in teaching mathematics to children with visual and hearing impairments because, in these situations, it helps the visualization of mental calculation through a kinesthetic action. Through the manipulation of the beads on the abacus, these children are able to visualize specific activities with numbers, transfer them to the mental plane and develop the skills of mental calculus which compensate for their language deficiencies, whether spoken or written. Based on numerous studies and views, authors can conclude that the Japanese abacus can provide various benefits in mathematics education of children, the most important of which are certainly conceptual understanding of mental arithmetic, developing the skills of mental calculation and problem solving, acquiring a clear mental image of the structure of numbers, their value and relations, understanding the local value of a digit, and finally, developing motivation and positive attitude toward mathematics. The paper underlines only some aspects of the application of the Japanese abacus in teaching children, all of which are aimed at drawing attention to this ancient calculating tool, and its exceptional usefulness in mathematics education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports that on October 25, 2005, outgoing Institution of Civil Engineers' president Colin Clinton presented awards to papers published in Bridge Engineering in 2004. The Overseas Prize, presented for the best paper on an overseas project, was awarded to K. Ahmadi-Kashani for his paper "Seismic design of Egnatia Motorway bridges, Greece. The John Henry Garrood King Medal, presented for the best paper on bridges, was awarded to D.A. Smith and C. R. Hendy for their paper "Design of the New Medway Bridge, England."

Copyright of Restaurator is the property of De Gruyter and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Privatisation is a strategic policy restructuring the relationship between the state and the market, the public and the private, and hence, the political and the economic. It opens non-capitalist spaces to capital accumulation and creates new markets for international competition. Privatisation alters a society's relationship to public goods, services and rights by commodification practices, and turns into a highly controversial reform in economic restructuring. This paper discusses how privatisation gained priority in Greece with the economic crisis. It incorporates the concept of depoliticisation to offer a new perspective on the analysis of the economic plans, programmes and documents that Greece signed with international creditors for the sake of its economic recovery. It claims that depoliticisation functioned as a strategy for putting privatisation policies onto the agenda by simply reproducing the elusive separation between the political and the economic. The paper argues that introducing extensive privatisation policies through internationally agreed-upon documents confirms the attempt to erode the political character of the process in order to (i) present such policies as a technical, economic imperative, (ii) externalise political decisions, and (iii) limit public discontent. The depoliticisation and privatisation processes reinforce each other in widening the state-market divide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Paget's disease of bone (PDB) is a relatively uncommon medical condition. Objective This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence and describe the clinical characteristics of PDB in Cyprus. Methodology A questionnaire was mailed, in two phases, to all orthopedics and rheumatologists at hospitals and private practices in Cyprus. Phase 1 determined the number of PDB patients followed at each hospital or practice, while Phase 2 gathered information on the clinical presentation of current patients. Results A total of 11 patients were located among the 45 physicians surveyed. The response rate of Phase 1 was 68.5%. All physicians who reported a PDB patient in Phase 1 also participated in Phase 2. Prevalence of PDB was estimated at 2.04 per 100.000 people. Male patients were seen more frequently compared to females (72.7% vs. 27.3%). The majority of patients (82.8%) reported the presence of at least one symptom. The most frequently reported complication was fracture, while no sarcomas were reported. The most frequent location of bone fracture was the spinal column, followed by the femur (45.5% vs. 36.7%). Rarity of the disease and lack of physician's information about the disease were the two most frequently reported difficulties by physicians for the diagnosis of PDB (20.8% vs. 22.9%). Conclusions This is the first study estimating prevalence and describing clinical characteristics of PDB in Cyprus. PDB is a very rare disease in this country affecting primarily the male population. Bone involvement is present in most cases and fractures are the most prevalent complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the past years a lot of questions have arisen about Emotional Intelligence (EI) and is seen with great interest and concern by the scientific community but also by the wider public. Aim: The aim of the present study is the research into the association between emotional intelligence and educational achievement through the study of demographic and psychological characteristics of the pupils. Methodology: The present is a quantitative cross-sectional study. In total 480 questionnaires were distributed to the pupils of the Second and Third classes of the Senior High Schools of Sparta and of those 79.4% responded. The tool used to measure Emotional Intelligence was Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire- Adolescent Short Form by Petrides and his associates as well as the pupils' demographic particulars which included their Graduation Average achieved during the previous school year. The data collection was done in October 2013. The statistical methods used were testing t, test x2 , bi-variable analysis and multiple linear regressions. The bilateral level of statistical significance was set as equal to 0.05 while the data analysis was conducted with SPSS 19.0. Results: The results revealed a significant statistical relationship between sociability indicator and the adolescents' assessment of performance (p=0.02). Gender was statistically significantly related to Emotional Intelligence as a Personality Trait (p=0.03) as well as in two out of its four individual factors: well-being (p=0.007) and self-control (p=0.005). Conclusions: The results of the study showed that the overall Emotional Intelligence as a trait is not strongly related statistically to the grades achieved by the pupils. However, it was found that the increase in the sociability indicator is strongly related to better grades in Senior High School. Furthermore, it was found that girls when compared to boys, had a higher overall score in Emotional Intelligence as a Personality Trait but also in well-being and self-control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents an introduction to the contents in the issue of the journal, "International Journal of Information Technology and Decision Making," Volume 5, No. 1 (2006). The issue has ten papers, in which four of them have theoretical topics. The rest of the papers cover the various applications in the areas of information technology and decision making. There are 22 authors and co-authors who contributed in the issue. Some of them are from China, Greece, and Italy.

This paper sets a bibliometric analysis of Greek biotechnology publications in the context of national policy for biotechnology, and the characteristics of the economy so as to identify how far policy intentions are being achieved. Agro-food biotechnology research receives a high proportion of research funds and is relevant to the national economy, but the majority of publications are in the medical area. Policy to stimulate public– private research results in few publications co-authored by Greek firms. Some explanations for the gap between intentions and outcomes are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to conduct an empirical investigation of the theoretical and literature-based constructs related to the adoption of precision agriculture (PA) practices by young farmers. For this research, primary and secondary data are used. The sample includes 220 young farmers. Among the results of this research, farmers are aware of the positive effects of technology systems in agriculture. Also, young farmers seem to be familiar with precision agriculture and have already adopted some of its methods, but the high cost of investment prevents farmers from adopting such technology. Innovative technologies and production methods can help young farmers to be competitive in the worldwide market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apart from immigrants in Greece who have papers, and perhaps can enjoy greater stability in their lives, there is a very large number of informal immigrants who are faced with the fear of deportation from the country daily. With this in mind, qualitative research was carried out by conducting in-depth interviews with farmers (head of the farm) and quantitative, online research was undertaken using students studying agronomy and/or people who lived in rural areas; the research material was distributed through agricultural/agronomic forums in order to better understand perceptions of agricultural work and find out the main reasons as to why the integration of immigrants and farm workers in Greece is considered to be so difficult. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, the agricultural sector is poised to undergo significant transformations towards sustainability. Small-scale farmers' restricted accessibility to resources hinders their ability to effectively adapt to such advancements. This research paper investigates the potential role of agricultural cooperatives as deus ex machina, offering an idea for solving the challenges faced by small-scale farmers. Additionally, it examines the potential benefits agricultural cooperatives could provide to large-scale farmers while simultaneously advocating sustainable agricultural practices. To gather accurate data, individuals who were members of cooperatives in the Larissa region of Greece were interviewed using questionnaires. The sixty qualitative interviews conducted shed light on the fact that cooperatives play a significant role in promoting sustainable agriculture and offer numerous benefits to their members, particularly small-scale farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the relationship between the gross value added (GVA) of Greece's agricultural sector and the GVAs of the other sectors. The research considers both the relationship between value levels and the cycles of GVAs. Dynamic analysis using ARDL modeling shows that there is no cointegration between agricultural GVA and the other GVAs. However, there is an estimated cointegrating relationship between business cycles of agriculture and those of the rest of the economic sectors, with the cycles of services being the significant variable. Moreover, econometric analysis using NARDL modeling shows that there is a cointegrating relationship between the levels of GVAs as well, when asymmetricity—with respect to GVA changes of the services sector—is introduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Farm Advisory constitutes one of the most important tools to support rural development in the European Union and is also an integral part of Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System (AKIS). The purpose of this paper is to present the results of the evaluation of the two calls for certification of Farm Advisors in Greece, which were addressed to individuals. The evaluation was based on a questionnaire survey of candidates who participated to the online certification procedure. The analysis is based on descriptive statistics methods and shows that overall most respondents were satisfied with most Modules, although they suggest to provide better links between scientific evidence and practical applications. Although there are serious limitations that do not permit to draw generalized conclusions, the evaluation procedure pointed out specific domains that require improvements and, especially, that a more robust evaluation system is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to answer the question of whether the Greek AKIS system can contribute to the different requirements of the new trends in agriculture according to its main functions. A SWOT analysis has been applied to examine the internal and external environment. Data were collected from 61 experts/representatives of organizations (policy, education, research, consulting, agricultural cooperatives, credit, private companies, and farmers). The data were analysed using Excel spreadsheets and the Statical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS V.28). Based on this method, dominant strengths and weaknesses as well as opportunities and threats of AKIS were identified as a starting point, as well as useful guidance for decision makers, local authorities, and the other actors in Greece. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the implementation of innovation and the advisory needs of farmers in agricultural holdings in Western Macedonia. The research carried out was divided into two parts. Initially, we investigated how the programs under analysis related to innovation in the agricultural sector, specifically with respect to the improvement plans that were implemented in the region. Specifically, parameters such as age, gender, place of residence, and the types and number of investments were examined. The analysis revealed farmers' characteristics and the types of their investments, in addition to their degrees of adoption of innovation and their attitudes towards innovation. We also tried to clarify the reasons leading farmers toward innovation and the importance of consulting services in their orientation towards innovative ideas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through a literature review and secondary research on the internet, the aim of this paper is to investigate the dynamics of the internet presence of the producers, packers, traders, and online sellers of PDO dried figs in the Kymi and Taxiarchi regions of the Evia Regional Unit, Greece. With the use of big data, an attempt is made to identify internet users' preferences concerning the dried figs. Suggestions for improved internet presence that will match demand with supply can be subsidised from EU regional development funds and contribute to the increase in internet sales of PDO Evia dried figs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the European Energy Efficiency Directive for Buildings, member states are required to develop long-term strategies to adopt more sustainable, secure, and decarbonized energy systems in buildings by 2050. In this line of approach, an optional common regime has been established to define and calculate the smart readiness of buildings and assess their ability to adapt their operation to the needs of the occupants and the network. Thus, the smart readiness indicator (SRI) emerged, which assesses technological readiness by examining the presence and evaluation of the functionality level of various smart services, aiming at energy savings, the ability of the building to respond to users' needs, and energy flexibility. This paper focuses on examining the SRI calculation methodology's application to an office building, which is currently being deeply renovated. Initially, there is an analysis of the SRI, its calculation methodology, and its goals. This is followed by the practical calculation part of the SRI for a typical office building located in Greece and belonging to the climate zone of southern Europe. The results indicate that the SRIs application is not a straightforward issue since parameters that need to be considered are not regulated to the same degree. On the other hand, SRI can provide a stimulus for exploiting the renovation potential of buildings, precisely by integrating the various aspects and linking those to the use of innovative technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The assessment of cropland carbon and nitrogen (C and N) balances plays a key role in identifying cost-effective mitigation measures to combat climate change and reduce environmental pollution. In this paper, a biogeochemical modelling approach is adopted to assess all C and N fluxes in a regional cropland ecosystem of Thessaly, Greece. Additionally, the estimation and quantification of the modelling uncertainty in the regional inventory are realized through the propagation of parameter distributions through the model, leading to result distributions for modelling estimations. The model was applied to a regional dataset of approximately 1000 polygons, deploying model initializations and crop rotations for the five major crop cultivations and for a time span of 8 years. The full statistical analysis on modelling results (including the uncertainty ranges given as ± values) yields for the C balance carbon input fluxes into the soil of 12.4 ± 1.4 t C ha -1 yr -1 and output fluxes of 11.9 ± 1.3 t C ha -1 yr -1 , with a resulting average carbon sequestration of 0.5 ± 0.3 t C ha -1 yr -1. The averaged N influx was 212.3 ± 9.1 kg N ha -1 yr -1 , while outfluxes of 198.3 ± 11.2 kg N ha -1 yr -1 were estimated on average. The net N accumulation into the soil nitrogen pools was estimated to be 14.0 ± 2.1 kg N ha -1 yr -1. The N outflux consists of gaseous N fluxes composed of N 2 O emissions of 2.6 ± 0.8 kg N 2 O–N ha -1 yr -1 , NO emissions of 3.2 ± 1.5 kg NO–N ha -1 yr -1 , N 2 emissions of 15.5 ± 7.0 kg N 2 –N ha -1 yr -1 and NH 3 emissions of 34.0 ± 6.7 kg NH 3 –N ha -1 yr -1 , as well as aquatic N fluxes (only nitrate leaching into surface waters) of 14.1 ± 4.5 kg NO 3 –N ha -1 yr -1 and N fluxes of N removed from the fields in yields, straw and feed of 128.8 ± 8.5 kg N ha -1 yr -1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a recent paper, we extended a previous study on the solar solar influence to the generation of the March 2012 heatwave in the northeastern USA. In the present study we check the possible relationship of solar activity with the early March 2012 bad weather in northeast Thrace, Greece. To this end, we examined data from various remote sensing instrumentation monitoring the Sun (SDO satellite), Interplanetary space (ACE satellite), the Earth's magnetosphere (Earth-based measurements, NOAA-19 satellite), the top of the clouds (Terra and Aqua satellites), and the near ground atmosphere. Our comparative data analysis suggests that: (i) the winter-like weather (rainfall, fast winds, decreased temperature) in Thrace started on 6 March 2012, the same day as the heatwave started in USA, (ii) during the March 2012 winter-like event in Thrace (6–15 March), the ACE satellite recorded enhanced fluxes of solar energetic particles (SEPs), while SOHO and PAMELA recorded solar protons at very high energies (>500 MeV), (iii) Between 3–31 March, the temperature in Alexandoupoli and the ACE/EPAM solar high energy (1.88–4.70 MeV) proton flux were strongly anticorelated (r = −0.75, p = 0.5). (iv) Thrace experienced particularly intense cyclonic circulation, during periods of magnetic storms on 8–10 and 12–13 March, which occurred after the arrival at ACE of two interplanetary shock waves, on March 8 and March 11, respectively, (v) at the beginning of the two above mentioned periods large atmospheric electric fields were recorded, with values ranging between ~−2000 V/m and ~1800 V/m on 8 March, (vi) the winter-like weather on 8–10 March 2012 occurred after the detection of the main SEP event related with a coronal mass ejection released in interplanetary space as a result of intense solar flare activity observed by SDO on 7 March 2012, (vi) the 8–10 March weather was related with a deep drop of ~63 °C in the cloud top temperature measured by MODIS/Terra, which favors strong precipitation. Finally, we analyzed data from the electric power network in Thrace (~41°N) and we found, for the first time sudden voltage changes of ~3.5 kV in the electric grid in Greece, during the decay phase of the March 2012 storm series. We discuss the winter-like March 2012 event in Thrace regarding the influence of solar cosmic rays on the low troposphere mediated by positive North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). Finally, we infer that the novel finding of the geomagnetic effects on the electric power grid in Thrace may open a new window into space weather applications research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Greek economic crisis produced severe economic and social outcomes. A massive rescue package was conditional on implementing a Memorandum of Economic and Financial Policies agreed upon between the Greek government and the EU, European Central Bank, and the International Monetary Fund. The extremely austere fiscal consolidation and the structural reforms accompanying the Greek Economic Adjustment Programmes reduced the country's GDP. Implementing the austerity policies on the Greek National Health System, which was already facing structural problems, reduced the quality and availability of public health care services. This paper investigates the impact of the GDP change on public healthcare expenditures (HCE) from 2000 to 2018. The empirical analysis reveals a statistically significant positive correlation between the GDP per capita and public healthcare expenditure (HCE) from 2000 to 2014 while the effect of GDP on HCE after the 2015 remains unchanged. This paper contributes to the field's literature since it determines the impact of GDP on public HCE, specifically matched with empirical results to derive conclusive answers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The island of Lesvos serves as a symbol of migration in the Mediterranean. From 2015 onwards, a steady stream of volunteer tourists began working on the island. Between 2019 and 2022 various 'crises' such as the Covid-19 pandemic, the fire at the Moria camp, and the rise of the far right in Greece significantly altered living conditions for both refugees and volunteer workers on the island. The authors employ a comparative patchwork autoethnography to rethink participant observation to fit the pandemic era. Through a situated, relational, and more-than-representational analysis of autoethnographic material and the confrontation between the authors' experiences, the aim of this paper is to investigate how migrant support volunteer tourism interacts with various simultaneous 'crises' ongoing on Lesvos. This led to a reimagining of the way we understand volunteer tourism over its 'pro vulnerable' approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present a comprehensive methodology to support the multifaceted process involved in the digitization, curation, and virtual exhibition of cultural heritage artifacts. The proposed methodology is applied in the context of a unique collection of contemporary dresses inspired by antiquity. Leveraging advanced 3D technologies, including lidar scanning and photogrammetry, we meticulously captured and transformed physical garments into highly detailed digital models. The postprocessing phase refined these models, ensuring an accurate representation of the intricate details and nuances inherent in each dress. Our collaborative efforts extended to the dissemination of this digital cultural heritage, as we partnered with the national aggregator in Greece, SearchCulture, to facilitate widespread access. The aggregation process streamlined the integration of our digitized content into a centralized repository, fostering cultural preservation and accessibility. Furthermore, we harnessed the power of these 3D models to transcend traditional exhibition boundaries, crafting a virtual experience that transcends geographical constraints. This virtual exhibition not only enables online exploration but also invites participants to immerse themselves in a captivating virtual reality environment. The synthesis of cutting-edge digitization techniques, cultural aggregation, and immersive exhibition design not only contributes to the preservation of contemporary cultural artifacts but also redefines the ways in which audiences engage with and experience cultural heritage in the digital age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper aims to identify how economic evolutions related to health conditions during the Covid-19 pandemic. The research includes an analysis on the evolutions of the health and economic conditions during the Covid-19 health crisis and also on they way they are linked to each other. The investigation is conducted at country level and is exemplified on two European countries, namely Italy and Greece. The methodology employed was based on three types of analyses: descriptive, correlation and comparative analyses that used secondary data from international organizations. Results illustrate that the economic life was affected by the Covid-19 conditions (Covid-19 incidence and the associated restrictions), with inflation being the most affected in both countries. At the same time, international trade was affected differently in the two countries, with Italy being negatively and more intensively affected than Greece, for which the association was positive and rather weak. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examined through ideological discourse analysis (IDA) 38 widely spread disinformation-laced news stories (or "fake news") regarding the Macedonian Name Dispute (MND) and the "Prespes Agreement" in the years 2018 and 2019. The paper explores the ideological narratives and constructions disseminated through the disinformation-laced news stories during these 2 years. Therefore, the study expands the relevant literature regarding democracy, disinformation, and hate campaigns by examining the ideological narratives and constructions disseminated through the disinformation-laced news stories during that two-years-period. The findings showed that those news stories were successfully weaponized and resulted in empowering identity characteristics and ideological narratives through the distancing method (us vs them), the alienation with elements of dramatization (e.g. territorial loss of the Greek Macedonia due to the "Prespes Agreement"), and the sense of victimization and dehumanization that demanded emergency actions to protect the ingroup (Greece) from the outgroup (North Macedonia and its Greek assistants). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Depopulation is caused by low fertility rates and out-migration, and it applies to countries, regions and smaller areas. Rural depopulation is defined as a sharp population decline that falls well below an adequate population size and indicates that an area has lost its demographic reproductive capacity. This paper discusses the socioeconomic and territorial aspects of rural depopulation, attempting to do justice to the spatial dimensions of the phenomenon. Greece exhibits all the symptoms of demographic transition, leading to labour shortages, declining economic productivity, and increasing demands on the health and welfare system. The study on rural depopulation in Greece focuses on the changes and dynamics observed at the municipal and regional levels. A typology has been developed to identify rural communities in Greece. The main source of demographic data for our study is the Greek censuses (1991, 2001, 2011, and 2021). Demographic and socioeconomic trends in Greece are interlinked and show different regional and local dynamics. Rural depopulation is closely related to the study of (international and internal) migration, even though the latter does not provide a permanent solution to depopulation. An empirical analysis has shown that there is a need to revitalise rural areas through socioeconomic improvements, infrastructure investments, and policies that directly impact rural communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper fills a gap in the literature of platform economy in relation to consumers' perceptions and actions regarding labour justice. It coins the term 'platformised consumer activism' and explores #cancel_efood to appraise how consumer activism is expressed through and against platforms. In September 2021, one of the most popular delivery service apps in Greece suddenly requested its workers who were on short-term expiring contracts to switch to freelance contracts. The instant uproar that followed included nation-wide mass mobilisations, as well as a trending topic on Greek Twitter #cancel_efood inviting consumers to uninstall the app and give it the lowest possible rating. Drawing on nascent literature regarding worker resistance in the platform economy, as well as digital consumer activism, we locate a gap in consumers' perceptions and solidarities. We question power and resistance in the platform economy and argue that the tendency to celebrate digital media and consumer activism persists, despite evidence of growing awareness of the limitations of both in the platform economy. We showcase how the success of #cancel_efood cannot suggest that consumers are the new warriors of labour justice in the platform economy, but that their practices, enabled by connectivity and solidarity, can increase the visibility of workers' struggles, and put pressure on specific platform players when they are about to violate workers' rights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]