http://repository.afs.edu.gr/handle/6000/124 2026-03-24T06:13:31Z http://repository.afs.edu.gr/handle/6000/745 Title: Creating a profile of the deposit refund system use in Greece and enhancing the system's efficiency Authors: Konstantoglou, Aggeliki; Fotiadis, Thomas; Folinas, Dimitris; Falaras, Athanasios; Rotsios, Konstantinos Abstract: The aim of this study is to create a profile of the Greek Deposit Refund System (DRS) users based on an examination and empirical analysis of their engagement at selected recycling points. Findings on the profile of the sustainable consumer in previous studies have been rather inconsistent. In this study, demographic characteristics and behaviors were examined. Furthermore, data was analyzed with the use of the Ascending Hierarchy Clustering (AHC) method, and five distinctive clusters of customers with common demographic characteristics and recycling behaviors were formed. The findings have practical implications for planning new business initiatives, optimizing existing ones, and enlarging the DRS user population. It considers the socio-economic backgrounds of DRS users, to increase the DRS user population, to increase recycle rates, and the overall community support for the system. Description: This article was published as Open Access with some rights reserved, in Vol. 21, issue 1 of the International Journal of Social Sustainability in Economic, Social, and Cultural Context. 2024-07-30T00:00:00Z http://repository.afs.edu.gr/handle/6000/697 Title: Growing lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) in floating disk systems under variable and high salinity ranges in water enriched with nanobubbles Authors: Zoukidis, Konstantinos; Giannakoula, Anastasia; Kosheleva, Ramonna; Gertsis, Athanasios; Apostolidis, Antonios; Strouthopoulos, Georgios; Varoutoglou, Athanasios Abstract: Hydroponic systems, which use commercial hydroponics technologies, are cheaper and easier to maintain than traditional farming methods in soil. The objective of this study was to evaluate various salinity ranges (E.C.i from 1 dS/m to 14 dS/m) in water enriched with nanobubbles (NBs) for the growth and productivity of lettuce plants in a floating disk hydroponic system. This research study investigated how using floating disks in a greenhouse with a nanobubble (NB) generator may affect lettuce’s (Lactuca sativa L.) morphological and physiological responses to salt stress. The goal of this experiment was to examine the results of the influence of NB and non-NB treatments on agronomic traits and yield. The results indicated that the NB device is an innovative and very effective technology for sustainable lettuce production under a high-salinity nutrient solution. This device presents a valuable solution to the global issue of the increased salinity of irrigation water. Description: This article belongs to the Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies in Agriculture, Food and Environment (HAICTA 2024), volume II. It is an open access proceedings paper. 2025-06-16T00:00:00Z http://repository.afs.edu.gr/handle/6000/694 Title: Unveiling agricultural aversion: understanding the reluctance towards farming in modern Greek society Authors: Tziolas, Emmanouil; Falaras, Athanasios; Fytianos, Georgios; Psathas, Dimitrios Abstract: The European agricultural sector grapples with rural decline, policy complexities, and socio-economic disparities. This study focuses on the challenges facing Greek agriculture, such as lack of state support and societal complexities. It aims to understand why interest in farming is declining in Greece by integrating insights from European legislation, socio-economic measures, and immigration dynamics. Through a survey of 1,009 respondents, factors such as unstable weather, challenging work conditions, and limited career prospects were identified as deterrents. The study highlights disparities among different groups and emphasizes the need for nuanced policy interventions to revitalize the sector and address worker grievances. Description: This article was published as CC BY NC/ND and it is freely accessible through the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia's website. Published in the Economia Agraria y Recursos Naturales - Agricultural and Resource Economics, vol. 25, no.1. 2025-06-16T00:00:00Z http://repository.afs.edu.gr/handle/6000/683 Title: Characterizations of protein extracted from Moso bamboo shoot Authors: Pan, Weichun; Li, Zhe; Tu, Weiwei; Hu, Xinyu; Yang, Jinlai; Ying, Gao; Yang, Huimin; Ritzoulis, Christos; Niu, Fuge; Wu, Liangru Abstract: Low economic returns limit the widespread cultivation of bamboo, which could otherwise offer solutions to several global needs. This study aims to explore the physicochemical properties of nanoparticles (NPs) in protein solutions extracted from Moso bamboo shoots to enhance bamboo shoot applications. A 10 kDa molecular weight cutoff filter is used for protein purification, while amino acid composition analysis, SDS-PAGE, three independent spectroscopic techniques, and light scattering are employed for characterization. The purified protein was found to consist of 18 amino acids with molecular weights spreading from 30 kDa to 50 kDa. The corresponding secondary structure was also evaluated: Coiled, poly-dispersed NPs exhibited negative surface charges with sizes of ca 100 nm. ρ-Ratio decreases upon dilution operation, indicating the NPs' topology variation. Stability studies reveal that the NPs were temperature-sensitive, and electrostatic interactions between protein molecules play a key role in regulating the size and shape of the NPs. Description: Journal article published in Volume 304, part 1 of the 2025 "International Journal of Biological Macromolecules" journal of Elsevier ScienceDirect. 2025-04-01T00:00:00Z