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Simple Summary: The article studies the research output on sheep and goats from Greece; a country where small ruminant farming is the most important terrestrial animal farming business. Milk production from sheep and goats exceeds that from cattle and over 90% of total milk produced from sheep and goats is used for dairy products. Research output on sheep and goats have increased significantly from 1997 to 2022. The bulk of publications, 87.5% of relevant papers, has originated from four establishments: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki; University of Thessaly; Agricultural University of Athens and Hellenic Agricultural Organization—Dimitra. Papers were published most frequently in the journals Small Ruminant Research and Journal of the Hellenic Veterinary Medical Society. The most frequent general topics of study were animal health-welfare and animal products. The findings have indicated that research has focused on milk production and diseases of the udder of small ruminants; moreover, there was accumulation of relevant research in Greece in some establishments only. The findings of the study can be used by researchers; stakeholders and Government entities to improve relevant research and to better allocate resources in the country. The study is a scientometrics evaluation of published articles performed in Greece on sheep and goats during the last 25 years, a period coinciding with implementation of reforms to shape and consolidate tertiary education and research establishments in the country. Objectives were: evaluation of the relevant publications and presentation of quantitative characteristics regarding scientific content and bibliometric details. The Web of Science platform was used (search terms: [[sheep OR goat*] OR [Ovis aries OR Capra hircus]] (1997–2022)) and 1080 papers were considered in detail. Throughout the study period, there was a clear progressive increase in numbers of papers published. The papers originated from 39 different entities, most from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (34.0%), University of Thessaly (28.0%), Agricultural University of Athens (21.2%) and Hellenic Agricultural Organization—Dimitra (13.6%). Papers were published in 318 different journals. Journals with more published papers were Small Ruminant Research and Journal of the Hellenic Veterinary Medical Society. The most frequent general topic of study in the papers was health and welfare (46.7% of papers); second most frequent topic was animal products (18.6%). The papers have received 16,558 citations, i.e., οn average 15.4 citations per paper; the h-index was 56, the i10-index was 518 and the yearly citations per paper were 1.71. Papers on goats had higher impact than papers on sheep. There were 1711 individual authors, of which 728 were first or last authors. In total, 24 authors have each co-authored ≥2.5% of all papers; five authors were each first or last in that proportion of all papers. The findings have indicated that relevant research has focused on milk production and diseases of the udder of small ruminants; moreover, there was accumulation of relevant research in Greece in some establishments only. The findings of the study can be employed to initiate improved relevant research approaches in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The separately stored type herbarium of the Herbarium Greuter in Palermo is comprised of 339 sheets, corresponding to 336 specimens pertaining to 328 different names. Material from the Mediterranean area, especially Greece, predominates, followed by that from the Caribbean (Cuba) and Australia. The list includes transcribed label data and links to the digital specimen images and to the protologue texts. A new type of terminology is introduced, with the terms "first-step holotype" and "second-step holotype" designating type categories parallel to the similar terms already in use for lectotypes, and the phrase "detailed here" is used as an equivalent to "designated here" in second-step typification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In light of the accumulating evidence for survival benefit coming from the use of macrolides for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), a group of experts from the field of internal medicine and infectious diseases frame a position statement on the use of macrolides for the management of bacterial CAP and for infection by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The statement is framed taking into consideration existing publications and own research experience. The main content of this statement is that the combination of one β-lactam and a macrolide should be the first treatment of choice for patients with severe bacterial CAP. Severity is assessed as scoring 2 or more points on the CURB65 scoring system of severity or as pneumonia severity index III to V or C-reactive protein more than 150 mg/l; the suggested macrolide is either azithromycin or clarithromycin. The experts also suggest that in COVID-19 pneumonia, the combination of one β-lactam and a macrolide should be reserved only when there is strong suspicion of bacterial co-infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study is a scientometrics evaluation of refereed publications on bacterial mastitis in sheep; the objectives were the evaluation of the relevant papers and the presentation of quantitative characteristics regarding their scientific content and bibliometric details. The Web of Science platform was used with search terms: [mastitis OR *mammary infection*] AND [sheep OR ewe* OR ovine] for papers from 1970 tο 2019; only 'articles', 'reviews', 'proceedings papers', or 'data papers' were evaluated, whilst documents related solely to contagious agalactia, mammary aspects of lentiviral infections, or infections of the teats and the udder skin were excluded. Finally, 580 papers were considered in detail. The number of published papers increased from 8 during the 1970s to 273 during the 2010s. These papers originated from 43 countries (most from Greece or Spain, n = 87 from each) and 240 institutions (145 universities and 95 other establishments), of which 35 produced ≥ 5 papers each. Most papers present original studies (n = 539) with a few reviews (n = 41). The original papers refer to dairy (n = 428), meat (n = 113), or wool (n = 1) production systems and present field (n = 329), laboratory (n = 163), or experimental (n = 67) work; the papers report aetiology (n = 146), risk factors (n = 100), pathogenesis (n = 92), diagnosis (n = 88), effects (n = 66), treatment (n = 50), control (n = 36), or descriptive epidemiology (n = 32) of the disease. Papers related to dairy production present more field and fewer experimental work than papers related to meat production; also, in papers describing work performed in dairy sheep, studies about aetiology, risk factors, and diagnosis of the disease predominate, whilst in papers performed in meat sheep, studies about aetiology, pathogenesis, and effects/diagnosis are reported more often. The papers were published in 175 scientific journals (most in Small Ruminant Research, n = 90, or Journal of Dairy Science, n = 54). On average, the papers received 16.8 total citations and 1.6 yearly citations (h-index = 47). Most papers were published in Scimago classification Q1 (n = 240) or Q2 (n = 230) journals and received 23.4 or 15.4 total citations, respectively. Reviews received more citations than original papers; among the latter, papers with work referring to dairy production received more yearly citations than papers referring to meat production; no differences in citations were seen according to type of work or mastitis aspect covered. Most citations were received by papers from France. Papers published in Journal of Dairy Science or Small Ruminant Research received the most citations. In total, there were 1558 individual authors of the papers, with 24 authors having co-authored > 10 papers each (max: 73 papers); on average, there were 5.2 co-authors per paper (min–max: 1–25). Average number of co-authors progressively increased from 2.1 in the 1970s to 6.3 in the 2010s, with original papers having a higher number of co-authors than reviews: 5.3 and 3.7, respectively. Papers from France had highers number of co-authors (7.9). The findings of this first ever scientometrics study into ovine mastitis indicate that the disease has not been studied as other sheep diseases and that future studies in it should be directed to its control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paper documents in archives, libraries, and museums often undergo biodeterioration by microorganisms. Fungi and less often bacteria have been described to advance paper staining, so called "foxing" and degradation of paper substrates. In this study, for the first time, the fungal and bacterial diversity in biodeteriorated paper documents of Hellenic General State Archives dating back to the 19th and 20th century has been assessed by culture-dependent and independent methods. The internally transcribed spacer (ITS) region and 16S rRNA gene were amplified by PCR from fungal and bacterial isolates and amplicons were sequenced. Sequence analysis and phylogeny revealed fungal phylotypes like Penicillium sp., Cladosporium sp., Penicillium citrinum, Alternaria infectoria, Alternaria alternata, Epicoccum nigrum, and Penicillium chrysogenum which are often implicated in paper deterioration. Bacterial phylotypes closely related to known biodeteriogenic bacteria such as Bacillus spp., Micrococcus spp., Kocuria sp. in accordance with previous studies were characterized. Among the fungal phylotypes described in this study are included well-known allergens such as Penicillium spp., Alternaria spp., and Cladosporium spp. that impose a serious health threat on staff members and scholars. Furthermore, fungal isolates such as Chalastospora gossypii and Trametes ochracea have been identified and implicated in biodeterioration of historical paper manuscripts in this study for the first time. Certain new or less known fungi and bacteria implicated in paper degradation were retrieved, indicating that particular ambient conditions, substrate chemistry, or even location might influence the composition of colonizing microbiota., (© 2018 The Authors. MicrobiologyOpen published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Drawn upon ELF awareness, this paper showcases instructional interventions performed by two practitioners working in two multilingual state schools in Greece. More specifically, guided by the lead author throughout the process, the two practitioners were initially initiated into the principles and processes of ELF awareness and relevant practices for inclusive multilingual classrooms. Subsequently, based on the criteria of authenticity and relevance, and taking into consideration their multilingual learners' background, they designed and conducted two original ELF-aware lessons focusing on the teaching of speaking and listening. The lessons exposed learners to real, spontaneous and authentically produced discourse of non-native English language speakers and engaged them into follow-up tasks and class discussions. These tasks and subsequent discussions focused on: a) an appreciation of the newly designed and taught lessons, b) the use of English as the shared of medium communication among speakers of diverse lingua-cultural backgrounds, c) issues of intelligibility and comprehensibility, and d) socio-cultural differences and similarities among different cultural groups. Through these ELF-aware lessons, practitioners aimed at assisting learners to: a) raise their awareness of language and language use, including languaging and translanguaging, and b) to bring their world knowledge and intercultural experiences into the classroom. In this paper, we describe the ELF-aware lessons and report findings which were received through practitioners' interviews and learners' reflective writing. We conclude with pedagogical implications connected with teacher education-programmes and materials development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This conference paper submitted on the occasion of the 8th International Conference on Information Law and Ethics (University of Antwerp, December 13-14, 2018) that focused on modern intellectual property governance and openness in Europe elaborates upon the Text and Data Mining (TDM) issue in the field of scientific research, which is still-by the time of composition of this paper-in the process of discussion and forthcoming voting before the European Parliament in the form of provision(s) included in a new Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market. TDM is included in the proposal for a Directive of the European parliament and of the Council on copyright in the Digital Single Market-Proposal COM(2016)593 final 2016/0280(COD) that was submitted to the European Parliament. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Istraživanja: Journal of Historical Researches is the property of Faculty of Philosophy, University of Novi Sad 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.)

The paper aimed to analyze the dynamics of livestock and milk and meat production in the top five EU countries growing sheep and goats: Spain, Romania, Greece, France and Italy. The empirical data from Eurostat and Faostat for the period 2012-2021 were processed using usual methods and procedures like fixed basis and structural indices, trend regression equation, determination coefficient and points method. The comparison between these five countries pointed out the decline of sheep number in four countries, except Romania and the decrease in goats number in Greece and Spain, but an increase in Romania, France and Italy. Ewe milk production increased in three countries, except Spain where it remained relatively constant and Romania where it declined. Goat milk production raised in three countries, except Greece and Romania. Sheep meat output increased in France and Spain, but in the other countries went down, while goat meat output increased only in Spain, the other four states recording a decline. In the year 2021, these five countries all together counted 46.1 million sheep, representing 76.% of the EU sheep livestock, and also they had 9.4 million goats, meaning 82.1% of the EU goats livestock. In 2020, all these countries produced 2.73 million tonnes sheep milk and 1.87 million tonnes goat milk, accounting for 1.7% and respectively 1.16% in the EU milk output. These counties also contributed by 85% to the EU sheep and goat meat production. This reflects the importance of small ruminants in the EU animal livestock and production. These species have to help the EU for greening agriculture, as they could valorize natural resources from the mountains and less favored areas and also could be grown in organic farming system, assuring jobs and income to the local population, food security and at the same time contributing to the biodiversity preservation and production of renewable energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technology-facilitated abuse (TFA), a consequence of structured gendered disadvantage, poses increasing harm to women survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) and their children. This paper presents a small explorative transdisciplinary (social work and geography) study which aims to assess the knowledge of women professionals from four European countries (Estonia, Finland, Greece, and Northern Ireland) working in the area of IPV about TFA in general and in particular safety planning. The focus on safety planning is what distinguishes this research. The research findings indicate that the risk assessment of TFA is not always included in safety planning. Barriers, such as lack of professional knowledge, are reported. The paper ends with feminist insights about the risks of engaging in a reductionist approach when the focus becomes just the lack of knowledge per se, without accounting for the wider structural inequalities that exist within the context of patriarchal surveillance capitalism and which are primarily responsible for TFA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the washback effect of the Greek language test component, of the annual national university entrance examination in Greece. In order to explain the reasons behind student underachievement on the aforementioned language exam, we adopted a mixed methods approach combining (a) sample document analysis of national curricula and past examination papers from 2000 to date and (b) a quantitative and qualitative analysis of practice test papers by 4 focal students, produced during their final year at school. The results suggest that the assessment criteria produced by the Ministry of Education are rather vague and generic. They seem to target the 'correct' production of pseudo-genres with specific content and ideological agenda; implicitly, a single, 'formal' register is expected (indexed by the use of archaic morphology, subordination in the syntax, formal fixed expressions and vocabulary) and emphasis is placed on the 'correct' production of paragraph structure. Despite "teaching to the test", progress in the students' language skills examined in this study was only random. We suggest that this is ultimately an aspect of the washback effect as the criteria covertly implemented for exam preparation target a very narrowly defined subset of linguistic skills, presented out of context and taught through repetition, without honing (critical) metalinguistic awareness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the formation of nestedness and species co-occurrence patterns at the local (sampling station), the intermediate (island group), and the archipelago scale. The study used data on the distribution of terrestrial isopods on 20 islands of the central Aegean (Greece). These islands are assigned to two distinct subgroups (Kyklades and Eastern islands). The Nestedness Temperature Calculator was used to obtain nestedness values and maximally nested matrices, the EcoSim7 software and a modified version of ) method were used for the analysis of species co-occurrences. Idiosyncratic temperatures of species and the order of species placement in the maximally nested matrices were used for further comparisons among spatial scales. The relationships of nestedness values with beta-diversity, habitat diversity and a number of ecological factors recorded for each sampling station were also investigated. Significant nestedness was found at all spatial scales. Levels of nestedness were not related to beta-diversity or habitat diversity. Nestedness values were similar among spatial scales, but they were affected by matrix size. The species that contributed most to the nested patterns within single islands were not the same as those that produce nestedness at the archipelago scale. There was significant variation in the frequency of species occurrence among islands and among spatial scales. There was no direct effect of ecological factors on the shaping of patterns of nestedness within individual islands, but habitat heterogeneity was crucial for the existence of such patterns. Positive associations among species prevailed at all scales when species per station were considered, while negative associations prevailed in the species per island matrices. All associations resulted from the habitat structure of sampling stations and from particularities of geographical distributions. There was no clear-cut distinction between nestedness patterns among spatial scales, even though different species, and partially different factors, contributed to the formation of these patterns in each case. There was a core of species that contributed to the formation of nested patterns at all spatial scales, while the patterns of species associations suggested that biotic interactions are not an important causal factor. The results of this study suggest that locally rare species cannot be widespread at a higher spatial scale, while locally common species can have a restricted distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates China's regional role in Southeastern Europe by examining the economic strategy of neo-mercantilism using Greece as a case study. In doing so, this paper will make use of the strategy of neo-mercantilism as part of the broader theory of regional powers pursuing broader geostrategic goals. How has the strategic partnership between China and Greece evolved in recent years, and what are China's primary objectives in Greece under the neo-mercantilism? China has intentionally sought to expand its influence in Southeastern Europe by cultivating a strategic partnership with Greece, while avoiding challenging the influence of other powers in the area. The economic turmoil in Greece over the past decade created a favorable environment for attracting Chinese FDI. China's principal focus in developing its strategic partnership with Greece is to increase FDI as a means of achieving its economic goals and other political goals with tangible results related to China's support in issues mainly concerning the country's applied foreign policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the European agri-food sector, operators with substantial bargaining power often engage in unfair trading practices (UTPs). Our paper aims to empirically examine the occurrence of UTPs and their influence on the performance of cooperatives. To fulfill the goal of our paper, we collected responses from 109 cooperatives in Greece after the transposition of a specialized EU Directive (i.e., Directive (EU) 2019/633). We found that, on average, the sampled cooperatives encountered three prohibited ("black") UTPs, while all reported at least one prohibited UTP. Moreover, the two most commonly reported practices (i.e., "unduly late payments" and "buyers' demand that suppliers pay for the deterioration or loss of products that occurred after ownership transfer") exerted a significant negative influence on cooperative performance, even in the presence of a proficient Board of Directors. Consequently, policymakers may need to pay more attention to UTPs and ensure that the national enforcement authorities are well-equipped to act rapidly and effectively against offenders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on papers related to the first trip of George A. Macmillan, founding member of the Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies, to Greece and the organization's support for archaeological exploration in Asia Minor, Cyprus and Crete. The letters and papers illustrate the difficulties of organizing an expedition in Greece from 1877 to 1904. The cultural and social customs of Greece are highlighted in Macmillan's correspondence relating to his first journey to Greece.

This paper explores the experiences of the main character in Michalis Malandrakis' short novel, Patriot (2018). The protagonist, an Albanian migrant in Greece, is compelled to change his name and (re) invent his identity to achieve his goals in the new country. Agim becomes Yiannis (John) and ultimately dies as Yiannis. The novel engages in an open dialogue with theoretical questions about the self and the Other, subjectivity and objectivity, as well as the feeling of "belongingness." This paper addresses several questions: What role does the self-narrator play in constructing an identity? To what extent is the protagonist welcomed into this new world after his name change? What must he sacrifice to become accepted? And to what extent can a person (re)invent their identity? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Virtual Archaeology Review is the property of Virtual Archaeology Review 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.)

The significance of Regional Innovation Systems (RIS) as a strategic tool for enhancing a region's competitiveness has been increasingly recognized. This paper presents a model of RIS that was developed using the system dynamics (SD) methodology. The goal of this model is to amalgamate the systemic approach with computer modeling and simulation disciplines into a comprehensive dynamic framework for analyzing RIS. Within this framework, the paper explores the impact of smart technologies on regional development through the RIS. Specifically, the SD model serves as an 'experimental tool' for conducting extensive what-if scenario analyses concerning smart technologies. The efficacy of these technologies is examined in terms of their dynamic influence on regional development, with insights derived from simulation outcomes. Data from two Greek regions provides a strategic analysis over a designated time horizon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the investigation of groundwater vulnerability to seawater intrusion of the aquifer system in the coastal area of Laspias River, NE Greece, for the year 2023, by applying the GALDIT, SITE and SIVI methods, in the context of the groundwater management of the area. The relevant research works include the collection and analysis of data and information regarding the geological and geomorphological environment, as well as the hydrogeological system of the area. The calculation of the GALDIT, SITE and SIVI indices values is described, and the results from the application of the methods are presented, as well as the design of relevant groundwater vulnerability maps of the study area. This paper concludes with findings and proposals useful for the reliable assessment of the hydrogeological regime of the wider study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Migration has almost always been accompanied by language-related processes and concerns. Integration dimensions interact with numerous language-related issues, such as language requirements and learning opportunities, and the purpose of our paper is situated in the broader field of linguistic integration of adult refugees and migrants in Greece and Italy. Greece and Italy share a double role both as host and transition countries, as two of the main EU entry points for refugees and migrants since the 2015 refugee crisis, and therefore they have been selected as two suitable cases to be further explored. This paper aims to give an overview of the language requirements and language-learning opportunities in the migration context in Greece and Italy. Through our comprehensive review of language requirements and language-learning opportunities in Greece and Italy, we have undertaken an examination of the two contexts employing a comparative approach to scrutinize the processes of linguistic integration. The information presented has shown that similar linguistic requirements are set in both countries although the use and implementation of the Knowledge of Society (KoS) tests seem to discriminate between the two contexts. The results agree with similar findings through indexes such as the Language Policy Index for Migrants (LAPIM) and the Migrant Integration Policy Index (MIPEX). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amid growing academic discourse on teenagers' political rights, this paper argues that the inclusion of teenagers in the decision-making process at the municipal level has positive effects. Based on qualitative and quantitative research on three municipalities in Greece and Sweden, this paper concludes that a level of awareness of the critical issue of climate change leads to a greater propensity for action from municipal councils aimed at restoring the environment. The findings demonstrate that including teenagers in the decision-making process at the local and regional level could lead to a greater focus on forward-thinking policies, particularly in areas concerning young people, such as environmental preservation efforts and democratic rights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to put forward some ideas on what factors significantly affect entrepreneurship in the agricultural sector, in order to help strengthen them as well as outline practical strategies that can be used by future researchers. The paper is a viewpoint contribution based on the author's research on "entrepreneurship" and "entrepreneurship education" engagement with the development of management in the agricultural field. The research carried out in Western Greece among farmers entrepreneurs. A number of ideas are outlined under the following headings: creating mutually interesting content; demonstrating practical implications; motivating academics. The viewpoint summarizes the key challenges of agricultural entrepreneurship stakeholders and will be of interest to policy makers for the creation of well-targeted development programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the interactions between speakers, audience and chairman in a medical meeting in Athens, Greece. Failure of most chairmen to comply with simple medical procedures; Effect of the performance of speakers and chairmen on the interest of the audience; Need for organizing committees to provide instructions to speakers ans chairmen.

This paper is about identifying seismograms in archive collections associated with significant earthquakes in the Greek region prior to the World-Wide Standardized Seismograph Network (WWSSN) for digitization and further analysis. The analysis of analog records of significant earthquakes in Greece is important because such analysis has not been fully undertaken and will open new opportunities for exciting research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because of the possibilities that it opens for a variety of fields and practices, gamification has increasingly garnered significant attention. This has put it at the forefront of many significant debates around its applicability and implications. In the case of its application to cultural heritage, although there is much trailblazing to do, the body of work has been growing and the field is gaining its maturity. As such, this paper aims to take stock of the directions the field has been moving towards—to provide orientation for future work and projects that are yet to be developed. To do this, the paper aims to map out the publications in the field of gamified cultural heritage, by conducting a broader and systematic literature review. The study has found that, with regards to who the main actors with publications in the field are, a prominence of European institutions and networks, namely from Italy, Greece and the United Kingdom, can be observed. Regarding what heritage is being gamified and for what purpose, the study found a prominence of focus on historical, architectural and archeological heritage values and a very significant focus on gamification being used for motivation/engagement and for creativity enhancement. When looking at the gamification design dimensions that are given prevalence, intrinsic motivation seems to be prioritized, and, with regards to the observed target publics, tourists and visitors and seem to prevail in gamified heritage projects, with children as a specific group coming in second. Regarding technologies and tools being used, Mobile Applications, Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) are particularly prevalent. Regarding mentioned future orientations, the study found that a vast majority of papers are self-contained, both in scope of work and discussion, with most of those that do mention future directions indicating continuation and/or expansion of their specific project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyber-bullying is a recently emerging type of violence, which has gained significant media and research attention. Although research across Europe and the USA has been extensive, in Greece it is sparse and at an elementary level. This paper aimed at reviewing existing research literature on cyber-bullying experiences with Greek subjects. The bibliographical research carried out for this purpose yielded studies conducted between 2005 and 2012. Findings illustrate that to date, most evidence regarding cyber-bullying in Greece is drawn from European-level research projects which mainly provide statistics regarding the prevalence of the phenomenon, but give little information regarding its correlates, while most of the few national studies are conducted with small, non-nationwide samples or have not been published in scholarly papers. In conclusion, cyber-bullying research seems to be at a premature level in Greece, but it is a global issue that sooner or later should be systematically addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Novel monitoring architecture approaches are required to detect viticulture diseases early. Existing micro-climate decision support systems can only cope with late detection from empirical and semi-empirical models that provide less accurate results. Such models cannot alleviate precision viticulture planning and pesticide control actions, providing early reconnaissances that may trigger interventions. This paper presents a new plant-level monitoring architecture called thingsAI. The proposed system utilizes low-cost, autonomous, easy-to-install IoT sensors for vine-level monitoring, utilizing the low-power LoRaWAN protocol for sensory measurement acquisition. Facilitated by a distributed cloud architecture and open-source user interfaces, it provides state-of-the-art deep learning inference services and decision support interfaces. This paper also presents a new deep learning detection algorithm based on supervised fuzzy annotation processes, targeting downy mildew disease detection and, therefore, planning early interventions. The authors tested their proposed system and deep learning model on the grape variety of protected designation of origin called debina, cultivated in Zitsa, Greece. From their experimental results, the authors show that their proposed model can detect vine locations and timely breakpoints of mildew occurrences, which farmers can use as input for targeted intervention efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the Bronze Age, the inhabitants of regions of Crete, mainland Greece, and Cyprus inscribed their languages using, among other scripts, a writing system called Linear A. These symbols, mainly characterized by combinations of lines, have, since their discovery, remained a mystery. Not only is the corpus very small, but it is challenging to link Minoan, the language behind Linear A, to any known language. Most decipherment attempts involve using the phonetic values of Linear B, a grammatological offspring of Linear A, to 'read' Linear A. However, this yields meaningless words. Recently, novel approaches to deciphering the script have emerged which involve a computational component. In this paper, two such approaches are combined to account for the biases involved in provisionally assigning Linear B phonetic values to Linear A and to shed more light on the possible connections of Linear A with other scripts and languages from the region. Additionally, the limitations inherent in such approaches are discussed. Firstly, a feature-based similarity measure is used to compare Linear A with the Carian Alphabet and the Cypriot Syllabary. A few Linear A symbols are matched with symbols from the Carian Alphabet and the Cypriot Syllabary. Finally, using the derived phonetic values, Linear A is compared with Ancient Egyptian, Luwian, Hittite, Proto-Celtic, and Uralic using a consonantal approach. Some possible word matches are identified from each language. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the issue of accumulation dynamics of the Greek Public Debt between 1981 and Greece's entry into the Eurozone on 1 January 2001. The author argues that the recent research on the Greek Sovereign Debt Crisis (May 2010) did not take this matter into consideration. The paper uncovers the causes of the Public debt accumulation in the 1980s but also points out that its service costs were minimal since the Greek government sold domestically its non-indexed drachma obligations. The costs of refinancing rose since the end of the 1980s when Greece started to sell internationally debt denominated in other currencies. This move was in effect a result of the process of financial liberalisation of Greek markets and the abolishment of capital controls. The rising costs of debt servicing and public expenditures along with insufficient tax revenues troubled the government of the Nea Demokratia (1990-1993). As the case was, the bright prospects of Greece joining the Economic and Monetary Union reflected upon the diminishing interest rates of new debt issued in the second half of the 1990s. This allowed the Greek government to keep the debt-to-GDP ratio, so far reached, at a lesser expense. However, the financial liberalisation, which allowed foreign and local buyers to purchase government securities denominated in foreign currency, exposed Greece to the first speculative attack on its exchange rate in 1994 since the foreign speculators were attracted by the high debt-to-GDP ratio. Although the Greek government and the Bank of Greece repelled the attack, a more prudent policy decision would have been to decrease the debt-to-GDP ratio in the years to follow, but myopic policy constraints did not allow its execution although it has been strongly argued in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Europe and the Mediterranean are considered climate change hot spots. This is the reason why this paper focuses on the analysis of the trends of essential climate variables in a Mediterranean country, Greece. The analyzed period is 1991–2020, and the dataset used is ERA5-Land (produced by the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts), which has global coverage and an improved resolution of ~9 × 9 km compared to other datasets. Significant climatic changes across Greece have been put in evidence during the analyzed period. More specifically, the country averaged a 30-year trend of temperature of +1.5 °C, locally exceeding +2 °C, and this increasing trend is positively correlated with the distance of the areas from the coasts. Accordingly, the number of frost days has decreased throughout the country. In terms of rainfall, a major part of Greece has experienced increasing annual rainfall amounts, while 86% of the Greek area has experienced a positive trend of days with heavy rainfall (>20 mm). Finally, a multiple signal of the trend of consecutive dry days was found (statistically non-significant in the major part of Greece). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following the required adjustments made by the European Union (EU) to adequately absorb the negative social and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the EU is once again confronting a crisis. The extended fiscal instability and environmental imbalance resulting from the energy crisis, primarily caused by rising energy prices owing to geopolitical upheavals (the Russian invasion in Ukraine), have been compounded by rising inflation. The main research objective of this paper is the analysis and evaluation of the effects of the current energy crisis on the Greek economy through the perspective of energy poverty, energy dependence, and climate change. Greece has been negatively impacted by the significant rise in energy costs. In 2022, the percentage of the general population that faced difficulties in paying energy bills exceeded the European average, reaching the level of 34.1%, while almost 19% of the population could not keep their homes sufficiently warm. Additionally, in 2022, Greece was one of the countries most energy-dependent on Russia. Greece achieved most of its targets regarding climate change, with the most representative example being the reduction of GHG emissions by 42% from 2000 to 2022. However, this reduction did not come from the successful green transformation of the Greek economy, but instead was due to the reduction in overall energy consumption that came from the prolonged economic crisis, combined with the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, the majority of Greek buildings are still not considered to be energy efficient, while the transportation industry continues to rely heavily on oil, coal, and natural gas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dianthus cruentus Griseb. (Caryophyllaceae) is an herbaceous perennial native to Greece with a strong ornamental potential when used as a pollinator-friendly component of xeric gardens and green roofs, where it is valued for its tolerance of poor, dry soils, and its showy colorful inflorescences. Aiming to develop an efficient mass propagation protocol appropriate for the introduction of the species as a novel floricultural crop, the in vitro seed and clonal propagation of a Greek native xeric ecotype were investigated in this paper for the first time. A total of 90–100% of the seeds, after being stored in the dark at room temperature for 12 months, germinated when incubated at 10 to 25 °C after their surface sterilization and transfer in vitro. Sixty-day-old seedlings grown in vitro were then used as a source of nodal explants for the initial establishment of micropropagation cultures, more efficiently on MS medium with 0.1 mg L−1 6-benzylaminopurine (BA). In the multiplication stage, either normal or hyperhydric micro-shoots were used as explant sources, assessing the possibility of incorporating usually discarded material in the propagation procedure. Different solid media were tested, with the highest multiplication indices (5.1) recorded in an MS medium containing 0.1 mg L−1 BA and 0.05 mg L−1 NAA, regardless of explants' hyperhydricity, while an MS medium containing 0.1 mg L−1 BA and 12 g L−1 agar proved optimal for the effective reversal of hyperhydric explants (MI: 5.2). Despite higher hyperhydricity and reaction rates being observed when hyperhydric explants were used, modifications in the multiplication medium proved to be highly effective in controlling hyperhydricity, with the highest number of normal shoots (2.4–2.6) produced in BA-containing media. Micro-shoots rooted readily in ½ MS medium (60–100%), with rooting rates and quality positively affected by the presence of 0.5 mg L−1 IBA in the rooting medium and the absence of cytokinins in the multiplication one. Rooted micro-shoots were successfully acclimatized ex vitro at high rates (65–100%), their origin influencing their acclimatization and morphology. Thus, the concurrent use of normal and hyperhydric shoots in the proposed micropropagation protocol is proven to be both feasible and desirable, as it is able to significantly increase efficiency and facilitate the sustainable exploitation and dissemination of D. cruentus as a promising multivalent horticultural crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assesses the homogenous approach and policy measures towards small and medium sized enterprises (SME), adopted by the `White Paper on Growth, Competitiveness and Employment' and by national policies in Greece. Role of SME in the Greek economy; Structural characteristics of SME; European Union policy measures in favor of SME.

The paper investigates board characteristics and committees' structure in the Athens Stock Exchange (ATHEX) using unique data culled from the database of the Hellenic Observatory of Corporate Governance. The current corporate governance framework applying in Greece is also analysed while comparisons with the international experience are offered. In Greece, while the Law calls for the need to have a Committee comprising of non-executive Board of Directors (BoD) members, it permits the participation of non-BoD members that collectively fulfill the independence criteria as laid out by Law 4706. L.4449 introduced the current Audit Committee composition and operation framework and the accompanying tighter monitoring role on the part of the Hellenic Capital Market Commission (HCMC) and the Hellenic Accounting and Auditing Oversight Board (HAASOB), has undoubtedly overhauled all the audit framework. The average number of committees per listed firm in the Greek stock exchange almost reached the two-committee threshold only in 2018. Average board size is 7.85 members slightly smaller than the average size for major markets around the globe. This shows the potential for an increase in Board size given also recent regulatory changes necessitating the gender representation of at least 25% in the Board of public firms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]