Search Results (90)

This paper analyzes the concept of packaging redesign, with the primary objective of improving material utilization. It further examines the potential environmental and economic benefits that may result from effective packaging redesign for both industry and society. The research is based on a specific case study comparing two alternative bottle designs with identical capacity, focusing on shape, material usage, and space efficiency. A detailed numerical comparison highlights the advantages and disadvantages of each option. The analysis demonstrates that an optimized bottle design can lead to substantial material savings and waste reduction. For example, an 8% reduction in bottle weight could eliminate approximately 1.6 million tons of material annually, potentially translating into economic savings exceeding 3 billion U.S. dollars per year. The study underscores how strategic packaging redesign can yield significant benefits in terms of material efficiency and cost savings for companies. It also contributes to the field of Life Cycle Analysis by linking packaging design innovation to key environmental and economic outcomes, while ensuring that packaging continues to protect products and meet the needs of the end consumer. Full article

A 62-year-old female presented to the Emergency Department of the General Hospital of Katerini, Greece, complaining of abdominal pain, fever, and general discomfort. Laboratory tests indicated an elevated white blood cell count and an elevated C-reactive protein level. A computed tomography (CT) scan revealed dilated small bowel loops and free intraperitoneal fluid. During laparotomy, extensive ischemia and necrosis of both the small and large bowel were discovered, and a resection of the small bowel and the right colon was performed, leaving the patient with only 90 cm of small intestine and a jejunocolic anastomosis. Postoperative management was particularly challenging, requiring a multidisciplinary approach, an intensive care unit stay, reoperations due to anastomotic leaks, continuous parenteral nutrition and electrolyte management, and aggressive antibiotic treatment for persistent bacterial infections. This case report highlights the importance of appropriate management of this life-threatening complication following extensive bowel resection. Full article

Background/Objectives: Aortic stiffness is a strong independent factor in cardiovascular outcomes. The method of choice for evaluating aortic stiffness is the measurement of aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV). Endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) increases aortic rigidity and thus aortic stiffness. The aim of this study is to investigate the correlation between endograft length and post-operative increases in PWV in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) subjected to EVAR. Methods: A prospective observational study enrolling 107 patients from February to December 2025 was conducted. Patient demographics and comorbidities were recorded. The length of the endografts was calculated by studying computed tomography angiograms (CTAs) and digital subtraction angiographies (DSAs) of the patients. PWV was measured pre-operatively and post-operatively during the first 24 h after EVAR, and the difference in PWV (dPWV) was calculated. Results: The mean age of the patients was 72 ± 7.5 years, and 93.5% of them were males. The mean transverse AAA diameter was 5.7 ± 1.1 mm, and the mean endograft length was 169.7 ± 26.9 mm. An extension to the external iliac artery was deployed in 10 patients (9.3%). A strong positive correlation was observed between dPWV and endograft length, indicating that each additional 1 mm in graft length corresponded to a 0.541% increase in dPWV. Patients with an extension to external iliac arteries exhibited a significantly higher mean dPWV (9.95 ± 2.08% vs. 27.12% ± 12.15%, t = −4.463, p = 0.002). No statistically significant differences in dPWV between the different endograft types were found (p = 0.74). Conclusions: Endograft length is strongly related to PWV elevation during the immediate post-operative time after EVAR, especially when the endograft is extended to the external iliac arteries. Full article

Functional foods are products that have clinically evidenced health benefits for consumers due to one or more of their ingredients. While research indicates that consumers are highly interested in these products and are often willing to pay premium prices to buy them, stories of market failure are frequent for the specific category. Hence, a critical question is what determines consumers’ willingness to purchase functional food products. A hypothesis confirmed by many studies is that health concerns are positively associated with purchasing intentions. Nevertheless, other factors may also positively or negatively affect consumers’ willingness to buy functional foods. Our work examines this contention by focusing on a novel functional food product: yogurt enriched with sea buckthorn. The product, which is developing in the framework of an ongoing project, is expected to combine the health benefits of yogurt with the medicinal properties of sea buckthorn. Full article

The sustainable management of heritage tourism sites requires an integrated approach that balances cultural preservation with socio-economic development. Modern methods of documentation include laser scanning, LiDAR sensors, and aerial photogrammetry. This study explores the application of advanced geospatial and digital technologies to the archaeological park of Dion, located in the Olympus region of Pieria, Greece—a site characterized by monuments from various historical periods. Using high-precision methods and high-end software, we produced detailed 3D models and developed a comprehensive digital platform incorporating Web-GIS applications. These outputs extend beyond conventional documentation, offering tools for education, community engagement, and participatory decision making. The originality of this work lies in its interdisciplinary synthesis of digital heritage technologies and land-use planning, contributing to both academic discourse and practical strategies for sustainable tourism development. The platform not only safeguards cultural assets but also promotes inclusive innovation, job creation, and long-term planning models aligned with the sustainable development goals (SDGs). This case study contributes not only to the safeguarding of cultural heritage for future generations but also to reshaping tourism models that prioritize long-term sustainability over rapid economic gain. Full article

Research has shown that a whole-school approach (WSA) is needed to increase student physical activity. There is a lack of empirical data on teachers’ opinions and needs regarding the implementation of a WSA approach to encourage physical activity. Our study aims to address this gap by identifying teachers’ and academics’ beliefs about the usefulness, content, and delivery mode of a WSA in fostering physical activity. To address the research aim, an exploratory mixed methods design was employed. Initially, a qualitative study with academics and stakeholders was conducted, followed by a quantitative investigation with teachers and school employees. In the first study, seven participants working in education took part in one-to-one interviews concerning their views on the usefulness, content, and delivery of whole-school education. The participants stressed the importance of the WSA and urged that educational authorities should consider the needs of children and the school community, promote teacher collaboration, pursue longevity, and engage with stakeholders and institutions throughout the process. In the second study, 160 school teachers and staff answered a survey about the content and delivery mode of an educational material for the promotion of WSA to fostering physical activity. The analyses indicated that participants preferred a three to six hours course, a hybrid mode of delivery, inclusion of best practices, and knowledge on how to implement a WSA. The study’s findings reveal several implications and recommendations for educators creating comprehensive school-based physical activity programs. Full article

Hippophae (sea buckthorn) is a plant valued for its berries in food manufacturing and medicinal properties. Despite growing research on its benefits, consumer perceptions of sea buckthorn-based products remain underexplored. This study examines Greek consumers’ attitudes toward cereal bars enriched with sea buckthorn, developed within a project focused on high-nutritional-value foods. Key factors include awareness, taste, safety, health benefits, trust, convenience, price, appearance, quality certification, environmental friendliness, and support for small-scale farmers. Results show moderate willingness to buy due to perceived health benefits and sustainability, but marketing should address sensory profile and trust to build a robust market. Full article

This article presents the first part of an empirical study on the implementation of Management by Objectives (MBO) in Greek local governance. Focusing on the 38 municipalities of the Region of Central Macedonia, the study investigated the degree of MBO implementation, its main characteristics, and its specific features. This research is considered original in its scope and type. Data were collected via an online questionnaire with closed-ended questions from a sample of 222 participants, primarily municipal employees. Results indicate that only 3.6% of the municipalities fully implement MBO, while 29.3% implement it partially or use an alternative process. Beyond identifying the necessary conditions and initiatives for successful MBO implementation, the research also explores MBO’s contributions and key obstacles hindering its full implementation in Greek local governance. Full article

The advent of Industry 4.0 and the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming supply chain management (SCM), improving efficiency, resilience and strategic decision-making capabilities. This research study provides a comprehensive overview of AI applications in key SCM processes, including customer relationship management, inventory management, transportation networks, procurement, demand forecasting and risk management. AI technologies such as Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing and Generative AI offer transformative solutions to streamline logistics, reduce operational risk and improve demand forecasting. In addition, this study identifies barriers to AI adoption, such as implementation challenges, organizational readiness and ethical concerns, and highlights the critical role of AI in promoting supply chain visibility and resilience in the midst of global crises. Future trends emphasize human-centric AI, increasing digital maturity, and addressing ethical and security concerns. This review concludes by confirming the critical role of AI in shaping sustainable, flexible and resilient supply chains while providing a roadmap for future research and application in SCM. Full article

Gender equality is a fundamental principle that forms the basis of modern society. In the context of the Greek Public Administration, the promotion of gender equality is highlighted as a priority. However, despite efforts, incidents of violation of this principle continue to occur. In this context, the Integrity Advisor is emerging as an important tool for addressing incidents of gender equality violations, being the guardian of coherence and transparency in the public sector. The Integrity Advisor represents the ‘guardian’ of values and ethical principles within the public administration. His/her role focuses on ensuring that public organizations comply with the principles of transparency, accountability, and ethics. In this context, the violation of the principle of gender equality emerges as a specific area of intervention for the Integrity Advisor. The institutionalization of the Integrity Advisor is an innovative attempt to create an institution capable of helping any public body to ‘confide’ problems that have been identified in its environment and to mediate their management, the possible finding of a solution, or their referral to the appropriate authorities. The Integrity Advisor is required to develop a strong channel of communication with public sector employees and executives to establish a sense of security and trust among all. Full article

Primary cutaneous adenoid cystic carcinoma (PCACC) isa rare skin malignancy first reported in the 1970s with limited number of cases found in the literature. These neoplasms are typically identified in middle-to-older-age individuals and are mostly located in the scalp and neck region but can identified throughout the body. We describe the case of a 67-year-old male patient that presented to our department with a slow-growing nodule in the left gluteal region that turned out to be a PCACC and analyze the differential diagnosis, radiology, histopathological findings and successful treatment with a wide local excision. Current literature on the subject is also presented and discussed. Full article

This study explores the transformative role of IoT in enhancing efficiency across the food value chain. It combines secondary and primary research to identify factors that influence IoT adoption in the food sector. A thematic–bibliometric analysis (2010–2024) highlights key themes related to IoT use in the industry, particularly in food packaging and supply chain optimization. The primary research, based on 162 questionnaires, examines factors influencing IoT adoption, such as perceived usefulness, ease of use, self-efficacy, and personal innovativeness. Results show that IoT awareness strengthens the impact of personal innovativeness on attitudes toward IoT. Additionally, a positive attitude significantly influences the intention to use IoT. These findings underline IoT’s potential to enhance efficiency, reduce waste, and positively impact the food industry, emphasizing the importance of increasing awareness to foster its adoption. Full article

This Special Issue on integrated waste management explores innovative approaches and multifaceted strategies aimed at addressing the critical challenges facing modern waste management systems. The featured eight original research articles cover diverse topics, including sewage sludge valorization, municipal waste biodrying, recyclables collection optimization, biomass-to-energy policies, and the management of compostable packaging waste. Technological advancements, such as AI-driven waste sorting and route optimization algorithms, are highlighted alongside policy frameworks supporting circular economy principles. The studies also address barriers to implementation, including public awareness gaps, technological disparities, and financial constraints, while emphasizing the importance of stakeholder collaboration across governments, industries, and communities. Additionally, environmental risks associated with waste management practices, such as nanoparticle contamination and leachate emissions from ashes, are critically analyzed. This Special Issue provides a holistic perspective on waste management, combining technical innovations, environmental stewardship, and policy integration. The insights of the works published in this Special Issue aim to guide researchers, policy-makers, and practitioners toward building resilient, sustainable, and resource-efficient waste management systems in alignment with global sustainability goals. Full article

Electric vehicles can substantially lower the overall carbon footprint of the transportation sector, and their batteries become key enablers of widespread electrification. Although high capacity and efficiency are essential for providing sufficient range and performance in electric vehicles, they can be compromised by the need to lower costs and environmental impacts and retain valuable materials. In the present work, multi-criteria decision analysis was adopted to assess the sustainability of different lithium-ion batteries. Life cycle carbon emissions and toxicity, material criticality, life cycle costs, specific energy, safety, and durability were considered in the analysis as key parameters of the transition to electric mobility. A subjective approach was chosen for the weight attribution of the criteria. Although certain alternatives, like lithium nickel cobalt manganese oxide (NCM) and lithium nickel cobalt aluminum oxide (NCA), outweigh others in specific energy, they lack in terms of safety, material preservation, and environmental impact. Addressing cost-related challenges is also important for making certain solutions competitive and largely accessible. Overall, while technical parameters are crucial for the development of lithium-ion batteries, it is equally important to consider the environmental burden, resource availability, and economic factors in the design process, alongside social aspects such as the ethical sourcing of materials to ensure their sustainability. Full article

The aim of the current study was to investigate the relationship between the prevailing and desirable organizational cultures and the job satisfaction of employees in primary health care structures as a development strategy. To evaluate organizational culture we used the Culture Assessment Instrument (OCAI) questionnaire, whose authors are Cameron and Quinn (1999). The measurement of job satisfaction was carried out with Spector’s Job Satisfaction Survey (JSP) (1985). The tool used to analyze results was the statistical analysis program SPSS V.22.0. Internal affinity audits, regularity checks, non-parametric controls, ANOVA and Kruskal–Wallis variance controls were performed. The significance level was set at 0.05 for all statistical analyses. This study showed that bureaucracy was predominant, and for the future, there is a desire for change in the direction of human resources. Job satisfaction was at a moderate level, while there was a positive average for working conditions and a negative average for promotion opportunities. Full article