Search Results (36)

In this research, we explore the use of Large Language Models (LLMs) and clustering techniques to automate the structuring and labeling of disaster-related social media content. With a gathered dataset comprising millions of tweets related to various disasters, our approach aims to transform unstructured and unlabeled data into a structured and labeled format that can be readily used for training machine learning algorithms and enhancing disaster response efforts. We leverage LLMs to preprocess and understand the semantic content of the tweets, applying several semantic properties to the data. Subsequently, we apply clustering techniques to identify emerging themes and patterns that may not be captured by predefined categories, with these patterns surfaced through topic extraction of the clusters. We proceed with manual labeling and evaluation of 10,000 examples to evaluate the LLMs’ ability to understand tweet features. Our methodology is applied to real-world data for disaster events, with results directly applicable to actual crisis situations. Full article

The purpose of this study is to investigate the quality of educational work in primary education, the degree of leadership competence of the principal, and the relationship between the quality of educational work and the leadership competence of the principal. The study aims to investigate the effect of demographic factors on the quality of educational work and the leadership competence of the principal. A quantitative survey was carried out and a structured questionnaire was used. In addition, convenience sampling was applied to collect opinions from 109 secondary school teachers. The findings suggest that the educational work produced in primary education is not of high quality and the leadership ability of principals was measured to be moderate. Gender does not affect the three dimensions of the quality of educational work but affects the dimension of the social and cultural agenda. Gender and educational level do not determine teachers’ views of leadership competence. Also, there is a statistically significant, high and positive relationship between quality educational work and leadership competence. Leadership competence is more strongly related to learning outcomes and less strongly to the remaining dimensions of quality educational work. Finally, leadership competence is a factor that predicts at a statistical level the quality of educational work. 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

This paper explores the application of parallel algorithms and high-performance computing (HPC) in the processing and forecasting of large-scale water demand data. Building upon prior work, which identified the need for more robust and scalable forecasting models, this study integrates parallel computing frameworks such as Apache Spark for distributed data processing, Message Passing Interface (MPI) for fine-grained parallel execution, and CUDA-enabled GPUs for deep learning acceleration. These advancements significantly improve model training and deployment speed, enabling near-real-time data processing. Apache Spark’s in-memory computing and distributed data handling optimize data preprocessing and model execution, while MPI provides enhanced control over custom parallel algorithms, ensuring high performance in complex simulations. By leveraging these techniques, urban water utilities can implement scalable, efficient, and reliable forecasting solutions critical for sustainable water resource management in increasingly complex environments. Additionally, expanding these models to larger datasets and diverse regional contexts will be essential for validating their robustness and applicability in different urban settings. Addressing these challenges will help bridge the gap between theoretical advancements and practical implementation, ensuring that HPC-driven forecasting models provide actionable insights for real-world water management decision-making. Full article

The European educational policy contributes to the teachers’ professional development through their participation in European educational programmes. The present research investigates the motives for the participation of Primary Education teachers in European educational programmes, and for their better promotion and implementation by the educational management services. The sample consists of Primary Public School Education teachers from the prefecture of Imathia and two Greek urban centres. Differences are observed in the push–pull factors that motivate the teachers to participate in European educational programmes, whereas a lot of similarities are found as far as the personal motivation and hygiene factors according to Herzberg are concerned. 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

Education is an activity that involves great cognitive load for learning, understanding, concentrating, and other high-level cognitive tasks. The use of the electroencephalogram (EEG) and other brain imaging techniques in education has opened the scientific field of neuroeducation. Insights about the brain mechanisms involved in learning and assistance in the evaluation and optimization of education methodologies according to student brain responses is the main target of this field. Being a multidisciplinary field, neuroeducation requires expertise in various fields such as education, neuroinformatics, psychology, cognitive science, and neuroscience. The need for a comprehensive guide where various important issues are presented and examples of their application in neuroeducation research projects are given is apparent. This paper presents an overview of the current hardware and software options, discusses methodological issues, and gives examples of best practices as found in the recent literature. These were selected by applying the PRISMA statement to results returned by searching PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar with the keywords “EEG and neuroeducation” for projects published in the last six years (2018–2024). Apart from the basic background knowledge, two research questions regarding methodological aspects (experimental settings and hardware and software used) and the subject of the research and type of information used from the EEG signals are addressed and discussed. Full article

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture represents a common sports injury that is mostly managed operatively. However, non-operative treatment can also play a role, despite the limited high-quality published data on ACL tear management. Both methods have shown favorable outcomes, but clear guidelines based on high-quality research are lacking. Several factors should be considered and discussed with the patient before deciding on the best treatment method. These include patient characteristics and expectations, concomitant injuries, and clinical evaluation, with laxity or/and instability being one of the most essential parameters examined. This should eventually lead to an individualized approach for each patient to ensure the best possible outcome. This review aims to delve into all parameters that are related to ACL rupture and guide physicians in choosing the most appropriate treatment method for each patient. Full article

Background and Objectives: Emerging evidence is placing the Mediterranean diet (MD) in the spotlight as a potential dietary model that could benefit inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients in terms of prevention and progress of the disease. The main aim of the present study is to shed some light on the relationship between the adherence to the MD and the degree of disease activity, as well as the quality of life in patients with Crohn’s disease (CD). Materials and Methods: An administered questionnaire was used to assess and record a number of parameters, including recent medical and weight history, anthropometric characteristics, disease activity (in remission or active disease), and quality of life of both male and female CD patients. Moreover, the level of compliance of the participants to the Mediterranean diet model was evaluated and its relationship with disease activity and quality of life was investigated. Results: Adherence to the MD was significantly higher in patients with inactive disease than in those with active disease (p = 0.019). According to the correlation analysis conducted, adherence to the MD was negatively correlated with disease activity (p = 0.039) and positively correlated with quality of life (QoL) (p = 0.046) of the participants. Intake of fruits, vegetables, and dairy products was significantly higher in remission patients (p = 0.046, p = 0.001, p = 0.041, respectively). Conclusions: We conclude, according to the findings of the study, that adherence to the MD is associated with disease activity and QoL in patients with CD. Future research should focus on MD intervention studies on IBD patients in order to assess its effect on modulating disease activity/course and related inflammatory biomarkers. Full article

With the environmental and societal changes, the achievement of sustainable development goals (SDGs) and the realization of sustainability in general is now more important than ever. Through a bibliometric analysis and scientific mapping analysis, this study aims to explore and provide a review regarding the role of artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and artificial intelligence of things (AIoT) in realizing sustainable development and achieving SDGs. AIoT can be defined as the combination of AI with IoT to create more efficient and data-driven interconnected, intelligent, and autonomous IoT systems and infrastructure that use AI methods and algorithms. The analysis involved 9182 documents from Scopus and Web of Science (WoS) from 1989 to 2022. Descriptive statistics of the related documents and the annual scientific production were explored. The most relevant and impactful authors, articles, outlets, affiliations, countries, and keywords were identified. The most popular topics and research directions throughout the years and the advancement of the field and the research focus were also examined. The study examines the results, discusses the main findings, presents open issues, and suggests new research directions. Based on the results of this study, AIoT emerged as an important contributor in ensuring sustainability and in achieving SDGs. Full article

Groundwater nitrate contamination caused by the excessive use of nitrogen-based fertilizers has been widely recognized as an issue of significant concern in numerous rural areas worldwide. To mitigate nitrate contamination, corrective management practices, such as regulations on fertilizer usage, should be implemented. However, these measures often entail economic consequences that impact farmers’ income, and thus should be properly assessed. Within this context, an integrated framework combining the environmental and economic assessment of fertilization restrictions through multi-criteria decision analysis is presented in an effort to efficiently manage groundwater nitrate contamination in rural areas. For this task, various scenarios involving reductions (10%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50%) in fertilizer application were investigated, evaluated and ranked in order to determine the most suitable option. The environmental assessment considered occurrences of nitrates in groundwater, with a specific emphasis on nitrate concentrations in water-supply wells, as obtained by a nitrate fate and transport model, while the economic analysis focused on the losses experienced by farmers due to the reduced fertilizer usage. Our case-study implementation showed that a 30% reduction in fertilization is the most appropriate option for the area being studied, highlighting the importance of adopting such an approach when confronted with conflicting outcomes among alternatives. Full article

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. Cardiovascular diseases are common complications after chemotherapy due to the effect of the drug on lipid levels. This study aimed to explore the changes in lipid profiles in patients with breast cancer under chemotherapy. Methods: In this prospective study, 50 patients with breast cancer participated. Three biochemical–lipid hematological tests were performed: total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TGs), High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL-C), and Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL-C) before initiation (pre-chemotherapy), at the start (first follow-up), and at the completion (second follow-up) of the first cycle of chemotherapy. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Analyses were conducted using SPSS Statistical Software (version 22.0). Results: Mean TC values increased significantly at second follow-up. TGs values decreased significantly from first to second follow-up. HDL-C was significantly lower at first follow-up compared with pre-chemotherapy and was similar to the pre-chemotherapy levels at second follow-up. LDL-C values were significantly higher at second follow-up compared with pre-chemotherapy measurement. Significantly positive correlations of BMI with pre-chemotherapy LDL-C, first follow-up TC, first follow-up LDL-C, second follow-up TC, and second follow-up LDL-C were found. Conclusions: There is a statistically significant increase in the levels of TC and LDL-C in breast cancer patients during chemotherapy. This study was not registered. Full article

In this study, we investigated the effect of queen caging on honey bee colonies’ post-treatment development and the optimal timing of method application on honey production during the main summer nectar flow. We conducted the study in nine apiaries (N = 9) across six Mediterranean countries, with a total of 178 colonies. The colonies were divided into three test groups: QC1, QC2, and C. The QC1 group involved queens caged for a total of 28 days before the expected harvesting day. In the QC2 group, queens were caged for 28 days, but only 14 days before the expected harvesting day. The C group consisted of queens that were not caged, and the colonies received common local treatments. In both the QC1 and QC2 groups, the colonies were treated with a 4.2% oxalic acid (OA) solution by trickling after the queen release. Our findings revealed no significant adverse effects (p > 0.05) on colony strength at the end of the study resulting from queen caging. However, significantly lower amounts of honey were extracted from the QC1 group compared to both the QC2 group (p = 0.001) and the C group (p = 0.009). Although there were no initial differences in Varroa destructor infestation between the groups, ten weeks later, a significantly higher infestation was detected in the C group compared to both the QC1 group (p < 0.01) and the QC2 group (p = 0.003). Overall, our study demonstrates that queen caging, in combination with the use of OA, is an effective treatment for controlling V. destructor. However, the timing of caging plays a crucial role in honey production outcomes. Full article

Groundwater vulnerability assessment is of pivotal importance for the sustainable management of groundwater resources, particularly in regions with intense agricultural activity. This research primarily aims to assess and delineate groundwater vulnerability zones using a comparative approach of three different GIS-based modified models, namely Pesticide DRASTIC-LU, Nitrate SINTACS-LU and Nitrate NV index. For this reason, eight hydrogeological parameters were employed to analyze the spatial distribution of groundwater vulnerability in the Nea Moudania aquifer, Chalkidiki, Greece. This multi-model methodology was implemented to ascertain the most reliable method for the study area. Results indicated that the southern and southwestern parts of the study area exhibited the highest vulnerability potential, whilst the northern part displayed the lowest. Moreover, single-parameter sensitivity analysis has revealed that land use and topography were the most critical parameters of the vulnerability indexes, whereas hydraulic conductivity was the least influential. Finally, the three vulnerability models were validated with nitrate concentrations of groundwater samples. Results revealed that the Nitrate NV index was the most accurate method, trailed by the Pesticide DRASTIC-LU and the Nitrate SINTACS-LU. Full article

The honey bee is one of the most important pollinators with a close relationship to humans. The questionnaire from the non-governmental association “COLOSS”, answered by beekeepers around the world, is a valuable tool for monitoring and analyzing factors involved in overwintering losses, as well as for understanding the evolution of the beekeeping sector over the years. Between 2018–2021, Greece’s participation in this survey involved collecting data from 752 beekeepers and 81,903 hives, from almost the whole country, with a stable balance between professional/non-professional participants and hives, providing a solid representation of the beekeeping practices and winter losses during this period. The results of this study identify a transition towards more natural beekeeping practices concomitant with a significant decrease in winter losses (average losses in 2018: 22.3% and 2019: 24%, dropped in 2020: 14.4% and 2021: 15.3%). Indeed, some factors, such as the increased use of natural landscapes for honey production (from 66.7% usage in 2018 to 76.3% in 2021) and the reduction in the exclusive use of synthetic acaricides (from 24.7% usage in 2018 to 6.7% in 2021) seem to have a significant impact on hive survival. Although these correlations remain to be confirmed experimentally, our study shows that Greek beekeepers follow recommendations and policies toward more sustainable practices. In the future, these trends could be further analyzed and integrated into training programs to strengthen the cooperation and information exchange between citizens and science. Full article