University of the Aegean

About: University of the Aegean is a education organization based out in Mytilene, Greece. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Tourism. The organization has 2818 authors who have published 8100 publications receiving 179275 citations. The organization is also known as: UAEG.

Managing the introduction of information security awareness programmes in organisations

Abstract: Several studies explore information security awareness focusing on individual and/or organisational aspects. This paper argues that security awareness processes are associated with interrelated cha...

Analytical problems and the need for sample preparation in the determination of pharmaceuticals and their metabolites in aqueous environmental matrices

Abstract: The occurrence of pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment is of increasing research interest, as modern sensitive techniques are used worldwide for their determination. Pharmaceuticals and their metabolites are among the most important classes of chemicals currently being investigated in environmental matrices at trace levels with techniques such as gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). We discuss analytical developments in the past 10 years, with particular emphasis on sample-preparation procedures and related analytical problems and needs.

COI barcodes for identification of Merodon hoverflies (Diptera, Syrphidae) of Lesvos Island, Greece.

Abstract: DNA barcoding has become a useful system for linking different biological life stages, and for identification of species within a known taxonomic framework. In this study, we generated mitochondrial DNA COI barcodes using adult specimens of all 22 species of the hoverfly genus Merodon (Diptera, Syrphidae) occurring on Lesvos island (Greece). The generated COI barcodes could well discriminate between all Merodon taxa of Lesvos, except for M. loewi and M. papillus that shared the same haplotype, despite their clear morphological differences. In addition, the barcodes revealed two cases of hitherto unknown morphologically cryptic species close to M. avidus and M. nigritarsis, respectively. Because only few successful rearings of immature stages of Merodon hoverflies are available, the larval host plant remains unknown for these phytophagous taxa. The obtained COI barcode library for the Merodon spp. of Lesvos will constitute a tool to link any unknown immature stages with already known species, and thus provide important life-history information and promise for ecological studies.

The Impact of COVID-19 on the Management of European Protected Areas and Policy Implications

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic led to many European countries imposing lockdown measures and limiting people’s movement during spring 2020. During the summer 2020, these strict lockdown measures were gradually lifted while in autumn 2020, local restrictions started to be re-introduced as a second wave emerged. After initial restrictions on visitors accessing many Nature Protected Areas (PAs) in Europe, management authorities have had to introduce measures so that all users can safely visit these protected landscapes. In this paper, we examine the challenges that emerged due to COVID-19 for PAs and their deeper causes. By considering the impact on and response of 14 popular European National and Nature Parks, we propose tentative longer-term solutions going beyond the current short-term measures that have been implemented. The most important challenges identified in our study were overcrowding, a new profile of visitors, problematic behavior, and conflicts between different user groups. A number of new measures have been introduced to tackle these challenges including information campaigns, traffic management, and establishing one-way systems on trail paths. However, measures to safeguard public health are often in conflict with other PA management measures aiming to minimize disturbance of wildlife and ecosystems. We highlight three areas in which management of PAs can learn from the experience of this pandemic: managing visitor numbers in order to avoid overcrowding through careful spatial planning, introducing educational campaigns, particularly targeting a new profile of visitors, and promoting sustainable tourism models, which do not rely on large visitor numbers.

Properties of high sensitivity ZnO surface acoustic wave sensors on SiO2/(100) Si substrates

Abstract: The properties of ZnO/SiO2/Si surface acoustic wave (SAW) Love mode sensors were examined and optimized to achieve high mass sensitivity. SAW devices A and B, were designed and fabricated to operate at resonant frequencies around 0.7 and 1.5 GHz. The ZnO films grown by pulsed laser deposition on SiO2/Si demonstrated c-axis growth and the fabricated devices showed guided shear horizontal surface acoustic wave (or Love mode) propagation. Acoustic phase velocity in the ZnO layer was measured in both devices A and B and theoretical and experimental evaluation of the mass sensitivity showed that the maximum sensitivity is obtained for devices with ZnO guiding layer thicknesses of 340 nm and 160 nm for devices A and B, respectively. The performance of the SAW sensors was validated by measuring the mass of a well-characterized polystyrene–polyacrylic acid diblock copolymer film. For the optimized sensors, maximum mass sensitivity values were as high as 4.309 μm2/pg for device A operating at 0.7477 GHz, and 8.643 μm2/pg for device B operating at 1.5860 GHz. The sensors demonstrated large frequency shifts per applied mass (0.1–4 MHz), excellent linearity, and extended range in the femto-gram region. The large frequency shifts indicated that these sensors have the potential to measure mass two to three orders of magnitude lower in the atto-gram range.