The emergence / development of social and working class movement in the city of Thessaloniki (working associations and labor unions)

The multiethnic city of the world’s desire, by the late 19th and early 20thcentury will be the cradle for many of the innovations appeared and appealed in the social field of the Ottoman society. Crossroads of the axis west-east andsouth-north, a melting pot of the liberal ideology of Europe, Orthodox identityof the Balkan people and the Asiatic despotism of the declining Ottoman state,will be the city where free-masons, along with “Jauressian” aspects’ socialists,moderate nationalists and young anarchists will create the first socialistformations. The paper is a quick view of the emancipation process of theworking class movement, from the last decades of 19th century, when the firstclubs, societies and “cemiyef’s were emerged, towards the last Ottoman yearsand the aftermath of the 1st Balkan War

Protein hydrolysates supplement in the nutrient solution of soilless grown fresh peppermint and spearmint as a tool for improving product quality

7openInternationalInternational coauthor/editorThe present study investigated the potential of fresh peppermint (Mentha × piperita L.) and spearmint (Mentha spicata L.) production on a floating raft system combined with a commercial protein hydrolysate supplement (Amino16®) in a nutrient solution aiming to improve plant product quality. Three levels of the protein hydrolysate solution (0, 0.25 and 0.50%) were added in the nutrient solution, and the plants were harvested after twenty-four days. Plant growth characteristics were recorded, and nutritional, essential oil and polyphenolic composition were determined in fresh tissue. The addition of protein hydrolysates did not affect the fresh or dry weight but reduced plant height. Nitrate content significantly decreased, while total chlorophyll and essential oil content increased in both species. Moreover, the protein hydrolysate solution further increased total antioxidant capacity, total soluble phenol and carotenoid contents in spearmint plants, while it did not affect the essential oil and polyphenolic composition in both species. In conclusion, protein hydrolysates solution may be added in the nutrient solution, to improve the quality of peppermint and spearmint grown in a floating system, without adverse effects on crop yield or the essential oil and polyphenolic profile.openAktsoglou, D.; Kasampalis, D.; Sarrou, E.; Tsouvaltzis, P.; Chatzopoulou, P.; Martens, S.; Siomos, A.Aktsoglou, D.; Kasampalis, D.; Sarrou, E.; Tsouvaltzis, P.; Chatzopoulou, P.; Martens, S.; Siomos, A

A Case Study on Environmental Sustainability Assessment of Spatial Entities with Anthropogenic Activities: The National Park of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Greece

The current paper presents a methodological framework that is able to evaluate the carrying capacity of protected areas where various human activities, apart from recreation and tourism, take place. The proposed framework converts the energy and product consumption into land required to satisfy those needs (Ecological Footprint) and compares them with the current land uses and available land (Biocapacity), in order to calculate carrying capacity. To facilitate the evaluation, an algorithm that calculates the Ecological Footprint, the Biocapacity, and the Carrying Capacity of the protected area under study by introducing 48 inputs was developed. The inputs were related to the evaluation of individual indicators assessing energy and product consumption of human activities such as households, tertiary sector, municipal buildings, public lighting, private and public transportation, and tourism. A new unit is introduced, the “equivalent person,” since the anthropogenic activities within the boundaries of the protected area contribute in a dissimilar way to the total land requirements. The framework is applied, as case study, in the National Park of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace (NPEMT), Greece, with a view to validate and improve its applicability. Within the NPEMT, habitats of significant biodiversity and ecological value are in coexistence with extensive human activities (urban, rural, tourist, light industrial). The study area covers up to approximately 73,000 ha and its population is estimated at about 29,000 people. The Carrying Capacity of the NPEMT according to the current consumption patterns was estimated at 39,193 equivalent residents, which was higher than the current equivalent residents (36,960), indicating a potential for tourism development at the NPEMT. The Ecological Footprint of the NPEMT was estimated at 181,324 Gha or 4.9 Gha/perseq, slightly higher than the European mean (4.69 Gha/perseq). Among activities, households and private transportation (with approximately 79% and 10%, respectively), among land use, agriculture, livestock, and CO2 emissions (with approximately 36%, 30%, and 30%, respectively), and among products, beef, fruits/vegetables, and beverages (with approximately 22%, 15%, and 14%, respectively) were the main contributors of the total Ecological Footprint of the NPEMT. The area of the NPEMT is able to meet the needs of its population provided that the consumption patterns will be stable. The results encourage the expansion of tourism development, as the tourism activity within the NPEMT is limited compared to other adjacent domestic destinations

Environmental Sustainability Assessment of Spatial Entities with Anthropogenic Activities-Evaluation of Existing Methods

The aim of this study is to evaluate the existing available methods that can potentially be applied to anthropogenic spatial entities to access their environmental sustainability. The paper offers an overview of existing sustainability assessment methods, discusses their adequacy, and evaluates their efficiency to assess the environmental sustainability of anthropogenic spatial entities. From a list of sixty-one (61) sustainability assessment methods for spatial entities with anthropogenic activities that had been identified and examined, thirteen (13) methods were selected to be assessed based on specific exclusion criteria set. The thirteen methods were further classified into four categories, namely, (1) Indicators/Indices, (2) Resource Availability Assessment, (3) Material and Energy Flow Analysis, and (4) Life-Cycle Assessment, and then these methods were evaluated using specific evaluation criteria. The “Resource Availability Assessment” category, and particularly the “Ecological Footprint” method, was indicated as the most appropriate method to assess the environmental sustainability of anthropogenic spatial entities

A Case Study on Environmental Sustainability Assessment of Spatial Entities with Anthropogenic Activities: The National Park of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Greece

The current paper presents a methodological framework that is able to evaluate the carrying capacity of protected areas where various human activities, apart from recreation and tourism, take place. The proposed framework converts the energy and product consumption into land required to satisfy those needs (Ecological Footprint) and compares them with the current land uses and available land (Biocapacity), in order to calculate carrying capacity. To facilitate the evaluation, an algorithm that calculates the Ecological Footprint, the Biocapacity, and the Carrying Capacity of the protected area under study by introducing 48 inputs was developed. The inputs were related to the evaluation of individual indicators assessing energy and product consumption of human activities such as households, tertiary sector, municipal buildings, public lighting, private and public transportation, and tourism. A new unit is introduced, the “equivalent person,” since the anthropogenic activities within the boundaries of the protected area contribute in a dissimilar way to the total land requirements. The framework is applied, as case study, in the National Park of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace (NPEMT), Greece, with a view to validate and improve its applicability. Within the NPEMT, habitats of significant biodiversity and ecological value are in coexistence with extensive human activities (urban, rural, tourist, light industrial). The study area covers up to approximately 73,000 ha and its population is estimated at about 29,000 people. The Carrying Capacity of the NPEMT according to the current consumption patterns was estimated at 39,193 equivalent residents, which was higher than the current equivalent residents (36,960), indicating a potential for tourism development at the NPEMT. The Ecological Footprint of the NPEMT was estimated at 181,324 Gha or 4.9 Gha/perseq, slightly higher than the European mean (4.69 Gha/perseq). Among activities, households and private transportation (with approximately 79% and 10%, respectively), among land use, agriculture, livestock, and CO2 emissions (with approximately 36%, 30%, and 30%, respectively), and among products, beef, fruits/vegetables, and beverages (with approximately 22%, 15%, and 14%, respectively) were the main contributors of the total Ecological Footprint of the NPEMT. The area of the NPEMT is able to meet the needs of its population provided that the consumption patterns will be stable. The results encourage the expansion of tourism development, as the tourism activity within the NPEMT is limited compared to other adjacent domestic destinations.</jats:p

Development of a methodological framework for assessing the environmental sustainability of spatial entities with anthropogenic activities

The primary objective of this PhD thesis is to improve the way in which local/ regional authorities assess the environmental sustainability of their area under responsibility, through the development of an innovative methodological framework. The proposed framework is build upon the method Ecological Footprint that received the highest score in the review, while the Life Cycle thinking is incorporated in order to ensure that the most significant issues in terms of environmental sustainability are assessed. The PhD thesis is structured in six (6) interrelated chapters, each of which answers to specific key queries. In Chapter 1, the objectives of the thesis are defined. Additionally, the characteristics of sustainable development are summarized and analyzed in order to enhance the understanding of the theoretical background. Key questions answered in this chapter are: •What is the purpose and objectives of the thesis? •What is the definition, the principles and the criticality of sustainability? •How is the science of engineering related to sustainability? •How is it related and why is it important for local authorities? •How is the environment associated with sustainability? In Chapter 2, the special characteristics and challenges regarding the assessment of local/ regional environmental sustainability are highlighted. Furthermore, an original and comprehensive literature review of the available assessment methods is performed. The aim of this review is to document the research gap to be covered by this thesis, and highlight the general characteristics that should be involved in an efficient assessment method. Key questions answered in this chapter are: •What is the assessment of sustainability and why is it important? •What assessment methods are available and how they are categorized? •What are the advantages / disadvantages of the available methods? •Is the development of a new methodological framework justified? In Chapter 3, the concept of the Ecological Footprint and the linkage between this method and the notions of sustainability and carrying capacity are analyzed. The basic characteristics of the method, its advantages and disadvantages and its calculation method are presented. It also highlights the way in which some of the drawbacks of the Ecological Footprint are improved by incorporating the Life Cycle thinking into its calculation method. Key questions answered in this chapter are: •How the sustainability is associated with the Carrying Capacity and the Ecological Footprint? •What is the Carrying Capacity and how is it applied into the local/regional environmental sustainability assessment? •What is the Ecological Footprint? •How the Ecological Footprint is calculated? •How the incorporation of Life Cycle thinking in the calculations of Ecological Footprint can improve the method? In Chapter 4, the final methodological framework for assessing the local/ regional environmental sustainability is presented in detail. Key questions answered in this chapter are: •What are the specific features of the methodological framework? •What are the final implementation steps of the methodological framework? •How are the problems identified during the literature review of relevant available methods resolved? •What innovative aspects are contained in the methodological framework? The framework consists of nine (9) well defined actions that include specific guidelines and tips that allow its gradual implementation. The actions are selected with a view to address major shortcomings identified during the analysis of thirteen (13) relevant methods available in current literature such as their ability to help decision making, the adequacy of environmental aspects examined, the applicability by non-experts and the integration of spatial and temporal characteristics in the assessment.Seven (7) anthropogenic activities are selected namely: a) Households, b) Tertiary sector, c) Municipal Buildings, d) Public Lighting, e) Private Transportation, f) Public Transportation, and h) Tourism. The activities are assessed with the application of thirty five (35) indicators carefully selected and related to the consumption of products and energy. The indicators are separated into five (5) categories, as determined by the Ecological Footprint method: a) Agricultural products, b) Livestock products, c) Fishery and aquaculture products, d) Forest products, and e) CO2 emissions. The Life Cycle thinking is incorporated into the calculation of Ecological Footprint in order to enhance transparency of the assessment and ensure that all relevant information has been taken into account. A new unit of the population, namely equivalent person, is defined so that the aggregation of different activities is feasible. The local/ regional Carrying Capacity is calculated by dividing the Biocapacity of the area under study with the Ecological Footprint per equivalent person. In Chapter 5, the methodological framework is applied to a case study in order to evaluate the usefulness and identify additional ways of improving its usability. Key questions answered in this chapter are: •What is the outcome from the application of the methodological framework in a case study? •How is the usefulness and usability of the methodological framework evaluated? •How can the usability be further improved? In Chapter 6, the main conclusions of the thesis are summarized. Additionally, further research areas for improving the assessment of the local/ regional environmental sustainability, are proposed.Βασικός σκοπός της παρούσας διδακτορικής διατριβής είναι η βελτίωση του τρόπου με τον οποίο οι αρχές διαχείρισης των γεωγραφικών περιοχών με ανθρωπογενείς δραστηριότητες αποτιμούν την περιβαλλοντική βιωσιμότητα τους, μέσω της ανάπτυξης ενός καινοτόμου μεθοδολογικού πλαισίου. Το μεθοδολογικό πλαίσιο αναπτύχθηκε για την ενίσχυση της περιβαλλοντικής βιωσιμότητας των γεωγραφικών περιοχών με ανθρωπογενείς δραστηριότητες και με γνώμονα την αντιμετώπιση των κυριότερων αδυναμιών των διαθέσιμων μεθόδων αποτίμησης. Το αντικείμενο της διδακτορικής διατριβής δομείται σε έξι (6) αλληλένδετα Κεφάλαια, καθένα από τα οποία απαντάει σε συγκεκριμένα ερωτήματα. Στο 1ο Κεφάλαιο, ορίζεται το πρόβλημα το οποίο καλείται να επιλύσει η παρούσα διατριβή, ενώ συνοψίζονται και αναλύονται τα ιδιαίτερα χαρακτηριστικά της βιώσιμης ανάπτυξης ώστε να ενισχυθεί η κατανόηση του θεωρητικού υποβάθρου της. Τα βασικά ερωτήματα που απαντώνται στο συγκεκριμένο Κεφάλαιο είναι τα εξής: •Ποιος είναι ο σκοπός και οι στόχοι της διδακτορικής διατριβής; •Τι είναι η βιωσιμότητα, ποιες οι αρχές της και ποια η κρισιμότητά της; •Πως σχετίζεται η επιστήμη του μηχανικού με τη βιωσιμότητα; •Πως σχετίζεται και γιατί είναι σημαντική για τις γεωγραφικές περιοχές με ανθρωπογενείς δραστηριότητες; •Πως συνδέεται το περιβάλλον με την βιωσιμότητα; Στο 2ο Κεφάλαιο, εκπονείται μια αναλυτική βιβλιογραφική ανασκόπηση των διαθέσιμων μεθόδων αποτίμησης, με στόχο την τεκμηρίωση του ερευνητικού κενού το οποίο καλύπτει η παρούσα διατριβή και την ανάδειξη των γενικών χαρακτηριστικών τα οποία θα πρέπει να εμπεριέχει μια μέθοδος αποτίμησης. Τα βασικά ερωτήματα που απαντώνται στο συγκεκριμένο Κεφάλαιο είναι τα εξής: •Τι είναι η αποτίμηση της βιωσιμότητας και γιατί είναι σημαντική; •Ποιες μέθοδοι αποτίμησης της βιωσιμότητας είναι διαθέσιμες και πώς κατηγοριοποιούνται; •Ποια είναι τα πλεονεκτήματα και τα μειονεκτήματα των διαθέσιμων μεθόδων; •Δικαιολογείται η ανάπτυξη ενός νέου μεθοδολογικού πλαισίου; Στο 3ο Κεφάλαιο, αναλύονται οι έννοιες της Φέρουσας Ικανότητας και του Οικολογικού Αποτυπώματος, η σύνδεση μεταξύ τους αλλά και με τη βιωσιμότητα, τα βασικά χαρακτηριστικά τους, τα πλεονεκτήματα και τα μειονεκτήματα τους. Επίσης, επισημαίνεται ο τρόπος με τον οποίο ορισμένα από τα μειονεκτήματα του Οικολογικού Αποτυπώματος επιλύονται με την ενσωμάτωση στη μέθοδο υπολογισμού του της λογικής της Ανάλυσης Κύκλου Ζωής. Τα βασικά ερωτήματα που απαντώνται στο συγκεκριμένο Κεφάλαιο είναι τα εξής: •Πως συνδέονται η Βιωσιμότητα με την Φέρουσα Ικανότητα και το Οικολογικό Αποτύπωμα; •Τι είναι η Φέρουσα Ικανότητα και πως εφαρμόζεται στις γεωγραφικές περιοχές με ανθρωπογενείς δραστηριότητες; •Τι είναι το Οικολογικό Αποτύπωμα; •Πως υπολογίζεται το Οικολογικό Αποτύπωμα μιας γεωγραφικής περιοχής με ανθρωπογενείς δραστηριότητες; •Πως η εφαρμογή της λογικής της Ανάλυσης Κύκλου Ζωής στους υπολογισμούς του Οικολογικού Αποτυπώματος μπορεί να βελτιώσει την εν λόγω μέθοδο; Στο 4ο Κεφάλαιο, παρουσιάζεται αναλυτικά το προτεινόμενο μεθοδολογικό πλαίσιο αποτίμησης της περιβαλλοντικής βιωσιμότητας γεωγραφικών περιοχών με ανθρωπογενείς δραστηριότητες. Η ανάπτυξη του πλαισίου πραγματοποιείται με γνώμονα την επίλυση των αδυναμιών των υφιστάμενων μεθοδολογιών αποτίμησης της περιβαλλοντικής βιωσιμότητας γεωγραφικών περιοχών με ανθρωπογενείς δραστηριότητες, τις αρχές της μεθόδου με την υψηλότερη βαθμολογία, και την ανάγκη ενίσχυσης της διαδικασίας λήψης αποφάσεων. Το εν λόγω πλαίσιο μπορεί να εφαρμοστεί από όλες τις γεωγραφικές περιοχές με ανθρωπογενείς δραστηριότητες και αποτιμά με αξιόπιστο και αποτελεσματικό τρόπο την περιβαλλοντική τους βιωσιμότητα. Τα βασικά ερωτήματα που απαντώνται στο συγκεκριμένο Κεφάλαιο είναι τα εξής: •Ποια είναι τα ιδιαίτερα χαρακτηριστικά του μεθοδολογικού πλαισίου; •Ποια είναι τα τελικά βήματα εφαρμογής του μεθοδολογικού πλαισίου; •Πως αντιμετωπίζονται τα προβλήματα των διαθέσιμων σχετικών μεθόδων; •Ποια είναι η καινοτομία στον τρόπο υπολογισμού της περιβαλλοντικής βιωσιμότητας μιας γεωγραφικής περιοχής με ανθρωπογενείς δραστηριότητες; Στο 5ο Κεφάλαιο, το μεθοδολογικό πλαίσιο εφαρμόζεται σε μια μελέτη περίπτωσης ώστε να αξιολογηθεί η χρησιμότητά του και να ανευρεθούν επιπλέον τρόποι βελτίωσης της χρηστικότητάς του. Τα βασικά ερωτήματα που απαντώνται στο συγκεκριμένο κεφάλαιο είναι τα εξής: •Τι αποτελέσματα προέκυψαν από την εφαρμογή του μεθοδολογικού πλαισίου σε μελέτη περίπτωσης; •Πώς αξιολογείται η χρησιμότητα και η χρηστικότητα του μεθοδολογικού πλαισίου; •Πώς μπορεί να βελτιωθεί περαιτέρω η χρηστικότητά του; Στο 6ο Κεφάλαιο συνοψίζονται τα βασικά συμπεράσματα της διδακτορικής διατριβής και προτείνονται πεδία μελλοντικής έρευνας για την περαιτέρω βελτίωση του τρόπου αποτίμησης της περιβαλλοντικής βιωσιμότητας γεωγραφικών περιοχών με ανθρωπογενείς δραστηριότητες

Environmental Sustainability Assessment of Spatial Entities with Anthropogenic Activities-Evaluation of Existing Methods

The aim of this study is to evaluate the existing available methods that can potentially be applied to anthropogenic spatial entities to access their environmental sustainability. The paper offers an overview of existing sustainability assessment methods, discusses their adequacy, and evaluates their efficiency to assess the environmental sustainability of anthropogenic spatial entities. From a list of sixty-one (61) sustainability assessment methods for spatial entities with anthropogenic activities that had been identified and examined, thirteen (13) methods were selected to be assessed based on specific exclusion criteria set. The thirteen methods were further classified into four categories, namely, (1) Indicators/Indices, (2) Resource Availability Assessment, (3) Material and Energy Flow Analysis, and (4) Life-Cycle Assessment, and then these methods were evaluated using specific evaluation criteria. The “Resource Availability Assessment” category, and particularly the “Ecological Footprint” method, was indicated as the most appropriate method to assess the environmental sustainability of anthropogenic spatial entities.</jats:p