Search Results (91)

Although marine caves are among the most species-diverse habitats in the Mediterranean Sea, most available studies have focused on their sessile fauna. This study provides the first quantitative assessment of motile fauna in 27 marine caves across four geographical subareas of the Aegean and Ionian Seas, using a rapid assessment visual census protocol, applied through 3 min time transects in each ecological cave zone. Multivariate analysis revealed that the motile community structure of the cave entrance was differentiated from that of the semidark and dark zones. Deeper caves were distinct from shallower ones while caves of the east Aegean differed from those around Crete Island. A total of 163 taxa were recorded, 27 of which are reported herein for the first time in marine caves of the eastern Mediterranean Sea, while three species (two native and one introduced) are recorded in Greek waters for the first time, enriching our knowledge on the permanent and occasional cave residents. Seventeen species were introduced, comprising more than half of the total fish abundance in the southeasternmost cave. Our limited knowledge of the motile fauna of Mediterranean marine caves coupled with the continued spread of introduced species highlights the urgent need for monitoring and conservation actions, especially within marine protected areas. Full article

Cultural heritage in insular regions faces increasing challenges due to overtourism, seasonal economies, and insufficient protection frameworks. This study investigates the adaptive reuse of Sarakina Mansion, a deteriorated 18th-century estate on the island of Zakynthos, as a model for integrating cultural heritage preservation with sustainable tourism. The research addresses the gap in localized strategies for heritage-led development in the context of islands with overtourism. Through a qualitative case study methodology—including site analysis, archival research, and stakeholder interviews—this paper explores how abandoned cultural assets can be reactivated to foster community engagement and diversify tourism models. Two distinct SWOT analyses were conducted as follows: one at the territorial level (Zakynthos Island) and another focused on the island’s cultural heritage. The findings highlight key obstacles such as environmental degradation and policy fragmentation, but they also reveal opportunities for adaptive reuse grounded in local identity and sustainable practices. The proposed reuse scenario for Sarakina promotes partial structural stabilization and community-driven cultural programming, aiming to create a hybrid open-air cultural hub. This study contributes a replicable framework for reimagining neglected heritage assets in overtourism-affected areas, aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Full article

Background: Breast cancer significantly impacts the social relationships and self-efficacy of affected patients. Purpose: To investigate the role of self-efficacy and the ability to maintain social relationships in breast cancer patients during the postoperative period. Method: This study is a brief intervention study in the same population group (within-subjects intervention study), in two measurements (pre-test and post-test), conducted in 58 breast cancer patients hospitalized in oncology hospitals in Athens (February 2021–November 2021). The following validated scales were used: the Social Relationship Coping Efficacy Scale (SRCE), the Family Support Scale (FS-12), and the Family Problem Solving Communication Scale (FPSC). Results: The mean age of the participants was 52 years. No statistically significant differences were observed in the scales after the intervention. The degree of change in the scales had minimal differences across all types of treatment. However, there was a statistically significant correlation between the change in the SRCE and the FPSC (p = 0.043), which suggests that the improvement in the ability to maintain social relationships is related to the strengthening of family communication. Conclusions: The intervention had a positive effect on maintaining social relationships and improving communication for problemsolving ability, although the overall changes in the scales were not statistically significant. Full article

Folk art includes objects that are items for everyday use and, at the same time, gracefully reflect the Greek artistic point of view, drawing its inspiration from life itself, the environment and its beauties, and local tradition. An 18th c. wood-carved and painted chest coming from the famous wood-carved centers of Epirus in Greece is presented in this study. As the number of studies and the general bibliographical references are limited for these kinds of items, prior to interventive conservation, a protocol of analysis was followed to identify the damages, the construction materials, and previous alterations. The main goal of this study is to identify the component materials using non-destructive techniques. The methodology followed for the documentation of the artifact includes the following: a. digital microscopy to identify damage from insects, different cracks and losses on the gesso and paint surface, corrosion products, etc.; b. 3D imaging using a polycam, with special attention given to the inside decoration of the cap; c. IR and UV photography to identify any previous alterations or signs of alterations in the varnish layers; d. and XRF analysis to identify the three (3) main colors of the chest, such as the blue used extensively as a background, red, and white. Nevertheless, the Greek folklore painting palette is limited, and for this reason, this study can be a foundation for research on similar artifacts. Full article

In this work, the structural and optical properties of calcium monochalcogenide nanoparticles were numerically examined by using Density Functional Theory and Time Dependent Density Functional Theory. The composition of the examined nanoparticles was obtained from an initial cubic-like building block of the form Ca₄Y₄, where Y could be one of the chalcogen elements sulfur, selenium, and tellurium, after its proper numerical examination to check their structural stability. The examined nanoparticles were then created from these initial cubic-like building blocks after their elongation along one, two, and three perpendicular directions. Τhe Absorption Spectrum, the Binding Energy, together with the highest occupied-lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (HOMO-LUMO) gap, were included in the calculations of the studied calcium monochalcogenides. The calculations provided numerical evidence regarding the existence of stable structures for a wide range of morphologies. In addition, the examination of the properties of such nanostructures after placing different kinds of defects was also included in the calculations, thus leading to new groups of nanoparticles with several potential uses in technological applications, such as hydrogen storage, CO₂ capture, and ultraviolet-responsive devices. Full article

The rich history of the olive tree is deeply connected to the heritage of the Mediterranean region. There are olive trees that are still productive and their age has been calculated by the use of methods of increment core sampling, radiocarbon dating (C14) and luminescence dating (OSL) to be over two thousand years old. However, the age of these trees is not usually known and it is not easy to calculate. As a result, deciding whether an olive tree is monumental is a rather complicated task. The goal of this paper is to present the design and implementation of an intelligent system that uses multi-criteria decision-making to evaluate olive trees and make the decision of whether they are monumental. This information is further used by a system to decide whether an olive grove is monumental or not. The methodology is implemented in a cross-platform application called “Olea App”. The system evaluates different olive trees and evaluates trees and olive groves to select the one that is considered the best to be promoted. The system uses and combines three different multi-criteria decision-making theories, namely, analytical hierarchy process (AHP), simple additive weighting (SAW), and multicriteria optimization and compromise solution (VIKOR) and evaluates olive trees based on tangible and intangible criteria. The method proposed was used to evaluate trees in the Ionian Islands and has proven very effective. The cross-platform application could be used by other researchers to evaluate their olive trees and groves if they cannot apply methods for the estimation of the tree’s age such as the methods of OSL. This work introduces a novel, technology-driven solution for the identification, evaluation, and preservation of monumental olive trees. By integrating scientific, cultural, and technological perspectives, the study provides a sustainable and accessible methodology to ensure these ancient natural landmarks are protected for future generations. The Olea app represents a significant advancement in heritage tree conservation, offering a structured, transparent, and scalable approach to preserving olive tree ecosystems while supporting sustainable tourism and economic incentives for their protection. Full article

The present study discusses the design and development of a digital repository for the preservation and dissemination of the cultural and natural heritage of Zakynthos Island (Greece). Following a crowdsourcing approach, the platform allows users to actively contribute to its content while aiming to integrate scattered information from other relative initiatives. The platform is based on a popular Content Management System (CMS) to provide the core functionality, extended with the use of the CMS’s API to provide additional, personalized functionality for end-users, such as organizing content into thematic routes. The system also features a web application, mainly targeting users visiting the island of Zakynthos, and is developed exclusively with open web technologies and JavaScript frameworks. The web application is an alternative, map-centered, mobile-optimized front-end for the platform’s content featured in the CMS. A RESTful API is also provided, allowing integration with third-party systems and web applications, thereby expanding the repository’s reach and capabilities. Content delivery is personalized, based on users’ profiles, location, and preferences, enhancing engagement and usability. By integrating these features, the repository effectively preserves and makes accessible the unique cultural and natural heritage of Zakynthos to both local and global audiences. Full article

Acoustic metamaterials and phononic crystals are progressively consolidating as an important technology that is expected to significantly impact the science and industry of acoustics in the coming years. In this work, the impact of unit cell multiplicity on the spectral features of the acoustic response of phononic crystals is systematically studied using the recently demonstrated laser-plasma sound source characterization method. Specifically, by exploiting the advantages of this method, the impact of the number of repeated unit cells on the depth of the phononic band gaps and the passband spectral features across the entire audible range is demonstrated. These experimental findings are supported by specially developed computational simulations accounting for the precise structural characteristics of the studied phononic crystals and are analysed to provide a phenomenological understanding of the underlying physical mechanism. It is shown that by increasing the unit cell multiplicity, the bandgaps deepen and the number of resonant peaks in the crystal transmission zones increases. The resonant mode shapes are computationally investigated and interpreted in terms of spherical harmonics. This study highlights the tunability and design flexibility of acoustic components using phononic crystals, opening new paths towards applications in the fields of sound control and noise insulation. Full article

The observed scaling properties in the three aftershock sequences of the recent strong earthquakes of magnitudes M_w 6.1, M_w 6.4 and M_w 6.7, which occurred in the Ionian island region on the 26 January 2014 (onshore Cephalonia Island), 17 November 2015 (Lefkada Island) and 25 October 2018 (offshore Zakynthos Island), respectively, are presented. In the analysis, the frequency–magnitude distributions in terms of the Gutenberg–Richter scaling relationship are studied, along with the temporal evolution of the aftershock sequences, as described by the Omori–Utsu formula. The processing of interevent times distribution, based on non-extensive statistical physics, indicates a system in an anomalous equilibrium with long-range interactions and a cross over behavior from anomalous to normal statistical mechanics for greater interevent times. A discussion of this cross over behavior is given for all aftershock sequences in terms of superstatistics. Moreover, the common value of the Tsallis entropic parameter that was obtained suggests that aftershock sequences are systems with very low degrees of freedom. Finally, a scaling of the migration of the aftershock zones as a function of the logarithm of time is discussed regarding the rate strengthening rheology that governs the evolution of the afterslip process. Our results contribute to the understanding of the spatiotemporal evolution of aftershocks using a first principles approach based on non extensive statistical physics suggesting that this view could describe the process within a universal view. Full article

From August 2021 to December 2023, one adult male Mediterranean monk seal was repeatedly registered, through a systematic monitoring camera system, frequenting a marine cave in southern Kefalonia Island, central Ionian Sea, Greece. The presence of the same adult seal in a series of caves and overhangs in a bay in northwestern Zakynthos, southern Ionian Sea, in September 2023 and May 2024 was verified through opportunistic surveys and citizen science. The two locations are ca. 15 km apart and each is located in a different marine NATURA 2000 site. Appropriate conservation measures need to take into consideration the fact that seals do move between Kefalonia and Zakynthos (and possibly also other Ionian islands) and that the entire area has to be considered as a single “conservation unit” rather than elaborating protection measures on a small scale around a couple of resting and pupping caves alone. A full network of marine caves under strict protection surrounded by a buffer zone, taking into account at least the species’ home range, is needed in order to substantially cover the monk seal’s critical terrestrial habitats throughout the Ionian Sea. Full article

This work examines the solar photocatalytic degradation of the antibiotic sulfamethoxazole (SMX) using molybdenum telluride (MoTe₂)-promoted bismuth oxychloride (BiOCl). Different loadings of molybdenum telluride in the 0–1% range on BiOCl were synthesized and evaluated. Although the presence of MoTe₂ did not alter either the adsorption capacity or the energy gap of BiOCl, the synthesized photocatalyst demonstrated higher photocatalytic activity due to the enhanced separation of photogenerated pairs. The 0.5MoTe₂/BiOCl photocatalyst achieved a kinetic constant nearly 2.8 times higher than that of pure BiOCl, leading to the elimination of 500 μg/L SMX within 90 min. The system’s performance was enhanced under neutral to acidic conditions and lower SMX concentrations. Based on experiments with radical scavengers, photogenerated holes appeared to be the dominant species, with the contribution of reactive species following the order ${\mathrm{h}}^{+}>{\mathrm{O}}_2^{•-}/{\mathrm{e}}^{-}>$¹${\mathrm{O}}_2{>\mathrm{H}\mathrm{O}}^{•}$. Interestingly, in different water matrices, photocatalytic activity was not diminished and even increased by 20%, likely because of the action of photogenerated holes and the selectivity of secondary generated radicals. The photocatalyst retained > 90% of its activity after three sequential experiments. Finally, four transformation products from SMX photodegradation were identified via UHPLC-TOF-MS, and a degradation pathway is proposed. Full article

This study aims to address the challenges associated with rockfall assessment and monitoring, focusing on the coastal cliffs of “Navagio Shipwreck Beach” in Zakynthos. A complete time-series analysis was conducted using state-of-the-art methodologies including a 2020 survey using unmanned aerial systems (UASs) and two subsequent surveys, incorporating terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) and UAS survey techniques in 2023. Achieving high precision and accuracy in georeferencing involving direct georeferencing, the utilization of pseudo ground control points (pGCPs), and integrating post-processing kinematics (PPK) with global navigation satellite system (GNSS) permanent stations’ RINEX data is necessary for co-registering the multitemporal models effectively. For the change detection analysis, UAS surveys were utilized, employing the multiscale model-to-model cloud comparison (M3C2) algorithm, while TLS data were used in a validation methodology due to their very high-resolution model. The synergy of these advanced technologies and methodologies offers a comprehensive understanding of rockfall dynamics, aiding in effective assessment and monitoring strategies for coastal cliffs prone to rockfall risk. Full article

In recent decades, climate change has significantly influenced the frequency and intensity of wildfires across Mediterranean pine forests. The loss of forest cover can bring long-term ecological changes that impact the overall biodiversity and alter species composition. Understanding the long-term impact of wildfires requires effective and cost-efficient methods for monitoring the postfire ecosystem dynamics. Passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) has been increasingly used to monitor the biodiversity of vocal species at large spatial and temporal scales. Using acoustic indices, where the biodiversity of an area is inferred from the overall structure of the soundscape, rather than the more labor-intensive identification of individual species, has yielded mixed results, emphasizing the importance of testing their efficacy at the regional level. In this study, we examined whether widely used acoustic indicators were effective at capturing changes in the avifauna diversity in Pinus halepensis forest stands with different fire burning histories (burnt in 2001, 2009, and 2018 and unburnt for >20 years) on the Sithonia Peninsula, Greece. We recorded the soundscape of each stand using two–three sensors across 11 days of each season from March 2022 to January 2023. We calculated for each site and season the following five acoustic indices: the Acoustic Complexity Index (ACI), Acoustic Diversity Index (ADI), Acoustic Evenness Index (AEI), Normalized Difference Soundscape Index (NDSI), and Bioacoustic Index (BI). Each acoustic index was then assessed in terms of its efficacy at predicting the local avifauna diversity, as estimated via two proxies—the species richness (SR) and the Shannon Diversity Index (SDI) of vocal bird calls. Both the SR and SDI were calculated by having an expert review the species identification of calls detected within the same acoustic dataset by the BirdNET convolutional neural network algorithm. A total of 53 bird species were identified. Our analysis shows that the BI and NDSI have the highest potential for monitoring the postfire biodiversity dynamics in Mediterranean pine forests. We propose the development of regional-scale acoustic observatories at pine and other fire-prone Mediterranean habitats, which will further improve our understanding of how to make the best use of acoustic indices as a tool for rapid biodiversity assessments. Full article

In this work, the vibrational spectra of magnesium monochalcogenide nanoparticles were examined numerically. The calculations were performed with Density Functional Theory and the examined magnesium monochalcogenide nanoparticles were formed from an initial cubic-like unit with type ${\mathrm{M}\mathrm{g}}_4{\mathrm{Y}}_4$, where $\mathrm{Y}=\mathrm{S},\mathrm{S}\mathrm{e},\mathrm{T}\mathrm{e}$, after elongating this unit along one, two, and three vertical directions. Therefore, beyond the initial building block, different groups of magnesium monochalcogenide nanoparticles were examined in the form ${\mathrm{M}\mathrm{g}}_{\mathrm{x}}{\mathrm{Y}}_{\mathrm{x}}$, where $\mathrm{x}=8,16,24$. Especially for the case where the chalcogen part of the nanoparticle was sulfur, another group of nanoparticles was examined where $\mathrm{x}=32$. For this group of the examined nanostructures, an exotic case was also included in the calculations. Among the findings of this research was the existence of stable structures, of the examined morphologies. The calculations of this research led to the identification of both common characteristics and differences among these nanostructures. These characteristics regarding their vibrational modes could be a very useful tool, especially for experimentalists. The relevant phonon spectrum that was extracted from the calculations also provided very useful information regarding the examined nanoparticles and their potential uses in several technological applications. Full article

In this work, the decomposition of bisphenol S (BPS) by biochar derived from banana peel (BPB) promoted by copper phosphide (Cu₃P) was examined. Different materials with Cu₃P loadings from 0.25 to 4.00 wt.% on biochar were synthesized, characterized using the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) method, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and a scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with an energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS), and evaluated. Nearly all of the synthesized materials exhibited low to moderate adsorption capacity, attributable to their limited surface area (<3.1 m²/g). However, in the presence of sodium persulfate (SPS), the 2%Cu₃P/ΒPB/SPS system was capable of removing 90% of 500 μg/L BPS in less than 10 min. The system’s performance was enhanced under inherent pH, and the reaction rate followed pseudo-first-order kinetics with respect to BPS and persulfate concentrations. Interestingly, the presence of 250 mg/L of sodium chloride had a negligible effect, while low to moderate inhibition was observed in the presence of bicarbonates and humic acid. In contrast, significant retardation was observed in experiments performed in real matrices, such as secondary effluent (WW) and bottled water (BW). According to scavenging experiments, both radical and non-radical mechanisms participated in the BPS degradation. Four transformation products were identified using the UHPLC/TOF-MS system in negative ionization mode, with two of them having higher molecular weights than BPS, while the other two TBPs involved the ring-opening reaction, and a BPS decomposition pathway was proposed. Full article