University of Patras

About: University of Patras is a education organization based out in Pátrai, Greece. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Catalysis. The organization has 13372 authors who have published 31263 publications receiving 677159 citations. The organization is also known as: Panepistímio Patrón.

Consumer evaluations of product certification, geographic association and traceability in Greece

Abstract: Certification, geographic association and traceability of food and drink products are quality cues that have not been extensively researched by the current academic literature. These quality cues are highly valued by consumers possessing certain socio‐economic and demographic characteristics that form distinct and clearly‐defined market segments. A sample of 744 Greek wine consumers is used to assess the factors influencing consumer evaluations towards quality cues. An ordered probit model with sample selectivity reveals that these attributes are valued as highly important by consumers possessing certain socioeconomic and demographic characteristics. The type and source of information received by consumers, their place of origin, income, age, sex, education and marital status all exert an independent effect on the evaluation process. The use of such quality cues may be potentially useful in creating niche markets and advancing rural localities through the support of small producers utilizing local raw materials and production techniques.

Chimera states in networks of nonlocally coupled Hindmarsh-Rose neuron models

Abstract: We have identified the occurrence of chimera states for various coupling schemes in networks of two-dimensional and three-dimensional Hindmarsh-Rose oscillators, which represent realistic models of neuronal ensembles. This result, together with recent studies on multiple chimera states in nonlocally coupled FitzHugh-Nagumo oscillators, provide strong evidence that the phenomenon of chimeras may indeed be relevant in neuroscience applications. Moreover, our work verifies the existence of chimera states in coupled bistable elements, whereas to date chimeras were known to arise in models possessing a single stable limit cycle. Finally, we have identified an interesting class of mixed oscillatory states, in which desynchronized neurons are uniformly interspersed among the remaining ones that are either stationary or oscillate in synchronized motion.

Heat transfer and natural convection of nanofluids in porous media

Abstract: Natural convection of a nanofluid in a square cavity filled with a porous matrix is numerically investigated using a meshless technique. The Darcy–Brinkman and the energy transport equations are used to describe the nanofluid flow and the heat transfer process in the porous medium as these are generated by heating one of the cavity walls. The role of the nanofluid properties in the cooling performance of the medium and in the relevant heat process is thoroughly investigated. Numerical results are obtained for the stream function, the temperature profile, and the Nusselt number over a wide range of dimensionless quantities (Rayleigh number between 105 and 107, Darcy number between 10−5 and 10−3). The effect of the porous medium in the cooling efficiency of the nanofluidic system is also discussed. Alternative expressions are suggested for the estimation of the effective conductivity and the thermal expansion coefficient of the nanofluid and their effects on the heat transfer problem are investigated. Excellent agreement with experimental data and trends as well as with previously published numerical results for less complicated systems was found.