44 research outputs found
Photodegradation of Retsina Wine: Does Pine Resin Protect Against Light-Induced Changes?
No full textRetsina is a wine deeply rooted in Greek tradition, often misunderstood, and exclusively produced in Greece by adding pine resin to the must. Typically, it is bottled in flint glass bottles, although it is known that light can damage wine aroma compounds. However, the effect of light exposure in Retsina wines has never been studied. It remains unknown whether the enrichment with resin-derived compounds can protect Retsina from photodegradation. The main aim of this work was to study the behavior of Retsina’s volatile components when stored in flint glass bottles, and so 12 Retsina wines, prepared with three levels of resin addition, were stored for four weeks under light exposure in flint (clear) glass bottles or protected by light in a box, and then they were analyzed by a GC-MS/MS method. Some compounds were influenced by resin addition, others by light exposure and a few by both conditions. Several terpenes increased with resin addition but decreased due to light exposure, while norisoprenoids decreased under light exposure. Some esters were reduced due to resin addition, and 2-aminoacetophenone was increased by light exposure. The study demonstrated that flint glass bottles should be avoided, as resin does not provide sufficient protection against photodegradation
Traceability information carriers. The technology backgrounds and consumers' perceptions of the technological solutions
No full textThe implementation of traceability in the food supply chain has reinforced adoption of technologies with the ability to track forward and trace back product-related information. Based on the premise that these technologies can be used as a means to provide product-related information to consumers, this paper explores the perceived benefits and drawbacks of such technologies. The aim is to identify factors that influence consumers’ perceptions of such technologies, and furthermore to advise the agri-food business on issues that they should consider prior to the implementation of such technologies in their production lines. For the purposes of the study, a focus group study was conducted across 12 European countries, while a set of four different technologies used as a means to provide traceability information to consumers was the focal point of the discussions in each focus group. Results show that the amount of and confidence in the information provided, perceived levels of convenience, impact on product quality and safety, impact on consumers’ health and the environment, and potential consequences on ethical and privacy liberties constitute important factors influencing consumers’ perceptions of technologies that provide traceability. Copyright 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Development of new methods for collecting, processing and optimizing experimental data for Mössbauer spectroscopy
No full textThe dissertation deals with 1. A new experimental collection technique which can be applied directly to existing experimental devices used in Mössbauer Spectroscopy without requiring any modification of them. The data collected from this new method are suitable for further manipulation with standard statistical techniques in order new interpretations to be extracted from them. 2. Emission spectra collected from transmition geometries (using standard collection methods) is presented, as well as the technique by which this was made possible. The phenomenon remains unknown to this day or at least there are no clear references for its existence in the entire Mössbauer bibliography known to the author of the present work. 3. The presentation of new computer programs that can calculate theoretical spectra for any Mössbauer transition. The complete documentation of all the parameters concerning the theoretical part of the problem is explained in detail. 4. Validation of the computational methods described in the present thesis, by application on a number of nuclei (other than 57Fe) and comparing the calculated spectra with existing experimental spectra available in Mössbauer literature.Η διατριβή αφορά: 1. Μια νέα τεχνική πειραματικής συλλογής η οποία μπορεί να εφαρμοστεί άμεσα σε υπάρχουσες πειραματικές διατάξεις χωρίς να απαιτείται κανενός είδους μετατροπή ή υλική επέμβαση σε αυτές και η οποία αξιοποιεί στατιστικές πληροφορίες κατά την διάρκεια της συλλογής. 2. Τεχνική συλλογής φασμάτων Mossbauer εκπομπής σε γεωμετρίες διέλευσης, χωρίς καμία φυσική μετατροπή της πειραματικής διάταξης. Το φαινόμενο παραμένει έως και σήμερα άγνωστο ή τουλάχιστον δεν υπάρχουν σαφείς αναφορές για την ύπαρξή του, στο σύνολο της βιβλιογραφίας Mössbauer που γνωρίζει ο συγγραφέας της παρούσης εργασίας. 3. Παρουσίαση νέων προγραμμάτων Η/Υ τα οποία μπορούν και υπολογίζουν θεωρητικά φάσματα για οποιοδήποτε πυρήνα Mössbauer. Γίνεται με λεπτομέρεια πλήρης τεκμηρίωση όλων των παραμέτρων που αφορούν το θεωρητικό σκέλος του προβλήματος. 4. Τεκμηρίωση της υπολογιστικής υλοποίησης, μέσω σύγκρισης με βιβλιογραφικά δεδομένα σε πυρήνες πέραν του σιδήρου
Traceability: European consumers' perceptions regarding its definition, expectations and differences by product types and importance of label schemes
No full textGiven the heterogeneity of European consumers it is not unsurprising that they have different perceptions and expectations regarding (but also understanding thereof) 'traceability'. A large number of individuals may not even have a memory anchor for the concept. Consumers may also perceive traceability differently among different product types. The present study is based upon focus groups analysis of 12 countries across Europe. It presents an explanation of traceability's understanding by European consumers. It also presents consumer's expectations towards traceability and its differences according to different product types.Focus groups, Traceability, Cross-national, Perceptions, Food products, Labels, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,
On the non-linear viscoelastic behaviour of polymer-matrix composites
No full textThe non-linear viscoelastic response of a unidirectional carbon-fibre-reinforced polymer composite has been studied. For the needs of the present study, creep and recovery tests in tension for different stress levels were executed while measurements were made of the creep and recovery strain response of the composite system. For the description of the viscoelastic behaviour of the material, Schapery's non-linear viscoelastic model was used. For the description of the non-linear viscoelastic response of the material and the determination of the non-linear parameters, an analytical method, based on a modified version of Schapery's constitutive relationship where a viscoplastic term was added, has been developed. The method has successfully been applied to the current tests and an estimation of the non-linear parameters was successful. Useful results and conclusions for the applicability of the new method were also extracted.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe
Traceability information carriers. The technology backgrounds and consumers’ perceptions of the technological solutions
No full textThe implementation of traceability in the food supply chain has reinforced adoption of technologies with the ability to track forward and trace back product-related information. Based on the premise that these technologies can be used as a means to provide product-related information to consumers, this paper explores the perceived benefits and drawbacks of such technologies. The aim is to identify factors that influence consumers’ perceptions of such technologies, and furthermore to advise the agri-food business on issues that they should consider prior to the implementation of such technologies in their production lines. For the purposes of the study, a focus group study was conducted across 12 European countries, while a set of four different technologies used as a means to provide traceabilityinformation to consumers was the focal point of the discussions in each focus group. Results show that the amount of and confidence in the information provided, perceived levels of convenience, impact on product quality and safety, impact on consumers’ health and the environment, and potential consequences on ethical and privacy liberties constitute important factors influencing consumers’ perceptions of technologies that provide traceability
European Consumers' Perceptions, Definitions and Expectations of Traceability and the Importance of Labels, and the Differences in These Perceptions by Product Type
No full textTraceability: European consumers' perceptions regarding its definition, expectations and differences by product types and importance of label schemes
No full textGiven the heterogeneity of European consumers it is not unsurprising that they have different perceptions and expectations regarding (but also understanding thereof) 'traceability'. A large number of individuals may not even have a memory anchor for the concept. Consumers may also perceive traceability differently among different product types. The present study is based upon focus groups analysis of 12 countries across Europe. It presents an explanation of traceability's understanding by European consumers. It also presents consumer's expectations towards traceability and its differences according to different product types
