Technological Educational Institute of Peloponnese

The successful application of 3D and 4D food printing is fundamentally governed by the rheology and microstructure of edible inks. These factors control every step, from extrusion and nozzle deposition to the final product functionality. This review systematically examines how formulation variables, including starch/protein composition, water content, and hydrocolloids, determine the network architecture and critical rheological properties, such as yield stress and viscoelasticity. These properties determine printing outcomes such as filament formation, stacking accuracy, and the stability of sensitive components. This review explores 4D printing as a “3D + 1D function,” where printed structures provide additional features over time, such as a controlled color change or bioactive release, while post-printing treatment often activates these features. Through case studies of novel inks, we show how interfacial chemistry and process parameters influence texture and stability. Finally, we discuss the application of rheological metrics for predicting printability and outline the critical need for developing multi-parameter, process-relevant printability indices to advance the field of digital food manufacturing.

Myzus persicae (Sulzer), is a major global pest whose control is challenged by widespread insecticide resistance. This study assessed the resistance status of M. persicae populations collected in Greece (2021-2025), using diagnostic bioassays with insecticides (acetamiprid, flupyradifurone, flonicamid, sulfoxaflor and FliPPER) and a newly developed, highly sensitive droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) panel targeting seven key resistance mutations (vgsc: super-kdr M918T/L and kdr L1014F - pyrethroid resistance; acetyl-CoA carboxylase: A2666V - keto-enol resistance; AChE: MACE S431F - dimethyl carbamates resistance; nAChR: R81T and T74I linked to CYP6CY3 overexpression - resistance to nAChR competitive modulators). Bioassays revealed frequent cross-resistance cases. Notably, we report the first case of resistance to flonicamid. FliPPER (fatty acids potassium salts) showed the highest resistance frequency (50.0%) and sulfoxaflor the lowest (1.7%). The ddPCR analysis (on 634 aphids) confirmed the presence of six resistance mutations. The mutation T74I was almost fixed across all populations (mean resistant allele frequency of 99.9%). Other key mutations (MACE, kdr/super-kdr and R81T) were present at moderate-to-high frequencies, with the M918L super-kdr variant showing a notable increase. Myzus persicae in Greece exhibits a high level of genetic variability, leading to severe and dynamic resistance problems. The widespread metabolic resistance (CYP6CY3 overexpression) which has been found to compromise neonicotinoids and fluryradifurone and the emergence of flonicamid resistance complicate the implementation of integrated pest management. The ddPCR panel provides a valid, evidence-based tool for large-scale monitoring of resistance and decision-making, essential for managing this difficult to control pest. However, bioassays are also useful when molecular markers are not available. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

Spent coffee grounds (SCG) contain value-added compounds explored for industrial applications. Natural sustainable biopreservatives need to replace synthetic antioxidants. This study aimed to evaluate lyo-philized aqueous SCG extract (SCGE) for extending the shelf life of minced beef. The objective was to assess its antioxidant capacity, antibacterial activity, and preservation efficacy. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis illustrates the primacy of caffeoylquinic acid and its derivatives. SCGE was applied to minced beef across three concentrations (0.125%, 0.25%, and 0.5% [SCGE3]), compared to 0.01% butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and an untreated control over a 14–day refrigeration period (4°C). SCGE demonstrated a potent preservative effect. The SCGE3 treatment exhibited the strongest reducing power for lipid oxidation, achieving a significant 52.76% inhibition by day 14. This was quantified by a reduction in the value of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances to 1.80 mg MDA/kg, compared to the control value of 3.81 mg MDA/kg. SCGE effectively delayed the growth of microbial population and maintained beneficial instrumental color and sensory properties (P < 0.05). SCGE3 provided an early and sustained preservation until the end of storage. Chemometric analysis validated robust correlations among all spoilage parameters. These results established SCGE as a promising, naturally sourced compound to maintain and improve meat quality.

The cheese microbiome is a complex ecosystem strongly influenced by both technological practices and the processing environment. Moving beyond traditional cultured-based methods, the integration of shotgun metagenomics into cheese microbiology has enabled in-depth resolution of microbial communities at the species and strain levels. The aim of the present study was to review recent applications of shotgun metagenomics in cheese research, underscoring its role in tracking microbial dynamics during production and in discovering genes of technological importance. In addition, the review highlights how shotgun metagenomics enables the identification of key metabolic pathways, including amino acid catabolism, lipid metabolism, and citrate degradation, among others, which are central to flavor formation and ripening. Results of the discussed literature demonstrate how microbial composition, functional traits, and overall quality of cheese are determined by factors such as raw materials, the cheesemaking environment, and artisanal practices. Moreover, it highlights the analytical potentials of shotgun metagenomics, including metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) reconstruction, characterization of various genes contributing to flavor-related biosynthetic pathways, bacteriocin production, antimicrobial resistance, and virulence, as well as the identification of phages and CRISPR-Cas systems. These insights obtained are crucial for ensuring product’s authenticity, enabling traceability, and improving the assessment of safety and quality. Despite shotgun metagenomics’ advantages, there are still analytical restrictions concerning data handling and interpretation, which need to be addressed by importing standardization steps and moving towards integrating multi-omics approaches. Such strategies will lead to more accurate and reproducible results across studies and improved resolution of active ecosystems. Ultimately, shotgun metagenomics has shifted the field from descriptive surveys to a more detailed understanding of the underlying mechanisms shaping the overall quality and safety of cheese, thus bringing innovation in modern dairy microbiology.

Air pollution poses significant risks to built heritage, yet traditional methods for diagnosing degradation patterns remain largely fragmented, often relying on isolated data streams and/or subjective comparative interpretations. This study proposes a novel modular workflow that integrates Raman spectroscopy and micro-XRF spectrometry data with user-defined contextual metadata to automate the characterisation of pollution-induced degradation layers on monuments. This method utilises algorithms for peak detection, dimensionality reduction, unsupervised machine learning clustering, variance analysis across centroids, and correlation analysis, as well as steps for data re-encoding and visualisation of the results, allowing for scalable and reproducible analyses on heterogeneous multidimensional datasets. Applied to case studies from Athens, Piraeus, and Eleusis, Greece, the workflow successfully identified pollution sources and degradation patterns, while also quantifying the contribution of features, including contextual variables such as surface orientation and sampling height. The results validate the method’s capacity to combine molecular and elemental data streams, to enhance interpretive clarity, and to minimise manual effort and subjectivity. This work showcases the potential of algorithmic approaches in cultural heritage diagnostics to adapt dynamically and incorporate additional datasets and informs future applications of automated methods in the broader field of heritage science.

This study investigates the relationship between corporate governance mechanisms and tax avoidance in Greek service-sector firms over the period 2014–2023. Using panel data, the analysis evaluates the influence of board characteristics, audit committees, auditor quality, and ownership structures on firms’ tax behavior. The results reveal that traditional governance mechanisms—such as board size, independence, audit committee composition, and gender diversity—do not significantly constrain tax avoidance, reflecting the formalistic rather than substantive adoption of governance practices in Greece. In contrast, external audit quality and ownership structure emerge as critical determinants. Engagement with high-quality auditors, particularly Big 4 firms, is associated with reduced tax aggressiveness, while state ownership similarly curbs avoidance, consistent with reputational and political accountability incentives. Conversely, managerial and foreign ownership are positively related to aggressive tax planning. The findings underscore the contextual nature of governance effectiveness: in weak enforcement environments, formal mechanisms serve largely symbolic roles, whereas external oversight and ownership incentives carry greater weight. This study contributes to agency and institutional theory by highlighting the limits of formal governance reforms absent substantive independence and enforcement.

The use of flowers in daily human life has a long history and substantiates our appreciation for their delicacy and wide variation in possible shapes and colors. The cultivation and trade of cut flowers and potted ornamental plants have been on the rise in recent years, and these are driven by the growing interest of society for nature and environment. Consequently, it is in the best interest for floriculture specialists and scientists to tap upcoming trends and opportunities for new ornamental crops. Two major areas with global interest in biodiversity are Australia and South Africa. Both serve as global hot spots of endemic flora, and throughout the years, many new species from these continents have been utilized by the floriculture sector. Many ornamental plant species from Australia and South Africa are cultivated in different parts of the world and have established great commercial reputation. In the present review, we highlight the trade potential and the postharvest attributes of some of the most well-known species with international recognition.

This paper explores the pivotal role of accounting information as a cornerstone of effective economic governance in both public and private domains. Accounting data—comprising financial statements, budget reports, internal controls, and audit trails—serves not only as a tool for tracking transactions, but as an essential mechanism for ensuring transparency, enforcing accountability, and enabling evidence-based decision-making. In the public sector, the integration of accrual accounting, international reporting standards (such as IPSAS), and fiscal transparency frameworks enhances the legitimacy and efficiency of government operations. Similarly, in the private sector, financial reporting aligned with IFRS underpins corporate governance, investor confidence, and market stability. This study analyzes the theoretical foundations that link accounting with governance, including principal-agent relationships and institutional economics, while providing empirical case studies—from the Greek debt crisis to post-SOX corporate reforms and COVID-19 fiscal responses—that illustrate the practical consequences of robust or deficient accounting systems. Ultimately, the paper argues that timely, accurate, and standardized accounting information is not merely a technical function, but a strategic instrument of governance that strengthens trust in institutions, improves resource allocation, and safeguards economic resilience in times of uncertainty.

Pleurotus eryngii is an edible mushroom with previously characterized β-glucans. Its potential to ameliorate postprandial glycemia and regulate appetite at the postprandial state has been previously shown. However, its effect on protein digestion remains unexplored. We aimed to investigate the effect of baked P. eryngii with a known β-glucan content (4.5 g) on plasma free amino acids of patients with central obesity and metabolic abnormalities at a postprandial state. In this acute, randomized controlled cross-over study, thirteen healthy male volunteers consumed one meal that was prepared with P. eryngii and one control meal; each meal was separated by one month. Blood was collected, and plasma was isolated at different timepoints before and after the consumption. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry was used to quantify 24 free amino acids in the plasma samples. The area under the curve with respect to increase (AUCi) was computed, and the AUCi for aromatic amino acids was found to be higher after the consumption of the control meal compared to the P. eryngii meal (p = 0.027 for phenylalanine, p = 0.008 for tyrosine, and p = 0.003 for tryptophan). The above novel findings suggest that the β-glucans present in P. eryngii mushrooms are potential modulators of AA release into the bloodstream.

Effective 2015, the new Hellenic Accounting Standards (HAS) introduced a principle-based financial reporting environment to the Greek business setting. The scope of this study is to examine the impact of new HAS on the accounting quality (earnings management and income smoothing behaviors) of private hospitality firms in Greece, and the subsequent effect on the granting of government subsidies. The empirical analysis used accounting data from 3928 unique hotel firms operating in Greece, over the period 2003–2018. Panel fixed effects and logit regression analysis indicated that the introduction of the new principle-based HAS contributed to an increase in earnings management and income smoothing behaviors of private hotel firms. Furthermore, the deterioration of accounting quality under the new HAS was more severe for medium and small hotel firms, relative to their larger counterparts. Furthermore, the subsequent increase of earnings management by small and medium sized firms was accompanied by an increase of government subsidies, suggesting that SMEs with reduced accounting quality were rewarded with higher government financing under the new accounting regime.