Asymmetry in price transmission between the producer and the consumer prices in the wood sector and the role of imports: The case of Greece

The present paper studies the existence of asymmetry in the price transmission mechanism between the producer and the consumer prices in the sector of forest products. In particular, the research is focused οn the round wood of long length (> 2 m). For the study of the asymmetry, the Johansen cointegration analysis was used while at the same time two dynamic models were estimated: The Error Correction Model (ECM Model), and the LSE?Henry general to specific model (GETS model). With the assistance of the cointegration technique, we surveyed the existence of a long-run relationship between the producers and the consumers in the Greek round wood market, while the application of the Granger causality test has shown that the consumer price Granger causes the producer price whereas the reverse is not valid. Furthermore, the application of the GETS model confirmed the existence of asymmetry in the price transmission mechanism within the round wood market. Finally, the role of imports in the determination of the producer prices is vital and is confirmed by the findings of the cointegration technique and the Granger causality test.     

Digestive Enzyme Activity during Initial Ontogeny and after Feeding Diets with Different Protein Sources in Zebra Cichlid,Archocentrus nigrofasciatus

This study aims to describe changes in the activity of digestive enzymes of the zebra cichlid, Archocentrus nigrofasciatus, from hatching until 30 d after hatch (d.a.h.), and to evaluate the effects of feeding diets with different levels of fishmeal (FM) substitution with alternative nonanimal protein sources from 30 d.a.h. up to the age of 60 d.a.h. Results indicated that the developmental patterns of digestive enzymes from the exocrine pancreas and intestine are similar to those of other phylogenetically close cichlids, although they seemed to develop faster than other species as indicated by the peaks in enzyme activity, which were detected at younger stages of development. The 100% FM replacement with different alternative nonanimal protein sources had a negative impact on the growth performance of A. nigrofasciatus juveniles, whereas fish fed the diet with a 50% FM replacement showed similar results to those fed the 100% FM diet. Fish showing the lowest growth rate had also the lowest enzyme activity, especially in relation to the intestinal brush border enzymes. This study assesses the digestive capabilities and nutritional condition of the zebra cichlid fish and provides knowledge on the potential for FM substitution in their feeds.     

Postharvest Biological Control of Botrytis cinerea on Kiwifruit by Volatiles of [Isabella] Grapes

ABSTRACT The potential of volatile substances emitted by 'Isabella' grapes (Vitis labrusca) to control gray mold (Botrytis cinerea) on 'Hayward' kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) was studied. The closed Mariotte system was used as a bioassay method to analyze quantitatively the biological action of these volatiles on B. cinerea growth. In vivo experiments compared the effects of volatiles from 'Isabella' grapes versus volatiles from 'Roditis' grapes (V. vinifera) and a B. cinerea control on the growth and disease development of B. cinerea on kiwifruit. The effect of the volatiles on the growth of B. cinerea was tested at various temperatures and times of inoculation after the wounding of kiwifruit, as well as using various weights and developmental stages of the grapes. The 'Isabella' volatiles limited the incidence of infection by reducing both the inoculum density and the activity of the pathogen. The weight and developmental stage of the grapes were important in the degree of inhibitory action of the 'Isabella' volatiles. The inhibitory action was more pronounced at 21 degrees C irrespective of the inoculation time after wounding. The study shows the potential for successful biological control of B. cinerea on kiwifruit by volatiles from 'Isabella' grapes.     

Exploration of the antiplatelet activity profile of betulinic acid on human platelets

Betulinic acid, a natural pentacyclic triterpene acid, presents a diverse mode of biological actions including antiretroviral, antibacterial, antimalarial, and anti-inflammatory activities. The potency of betulinic acid as an inhibitor of human platelet activation was evaluated, and its antiplatelet profile against in vitro platelet aggregation, induced by several platelet agonists (adenosine diphosphate, thrombin receptor activator peptide-14, and arachidonic acid), was explored. Flow cytometric analysis was performed to examine the effect of betulinic acid on P-selectin membrane expression and PAC-1 binding to activated platelets. Betulinic acid potently inhibits platelet aggregation and also reduced PAC-1 binding and the membrane expression of P-selectin. Principal component analysis was used to screen, on the chemical property space, for potential common pharmacophores of betulinic acid with approved antithrombotic drugs. A common pharmacophore was defined between the NMR-derived structure of betulinic acid and prostacyclin agonists (PGI2), and the importance of its carboxylate group in its antiplatelet activity was determined. The present results indicate that betulinic acid has potential use as an antithrombotic compound and suggest that the mechanism underlying the antiplatelet effects of betulinic acid is similar to that of the PGI2 receptor agonists, a hypothesis that deserves further investigation.     

Isolation of Polar Lipid Classes from Wheat Flour Extracts by Preparative High‐Performance Liquid Chromatography

A preparative high‐performance liquid chromatographic method was developed for the isolation of polar lipid classes of mono‐ and digalactosyldiacylglycerols (MGDG and DGDG), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), and phosphatidylcholine (PC) from wheat flour lipid extracts in relatively large quantities. The method allowed the separation of ≤100 mg/injection of lipid mixture. MGDG, DGDG, and PC were isolated as pure lipid classes, whereas PE was isolated in a mixture with PG, PC, and lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC). The availability of this methodology will facilitate research aimed at investigating the functional role of such lipids in foods.     

Effect of Small and Large Wheat Starch Granules on Thermomechanical Behavior of Starch

The physicochemical properties of small‐ and large‐granule wheat starches were investigated to reveal whether gelatinization properties and rheological behavior differ between size classes of wheat starch. All samples contained 60% water (w/w, wb). The starch granule size and shape were examined by scanning electron microscopy in the separated A‐ and B‐type granule populations and in the whole wheat starch granule population. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and electron spin resonance (ESR) analyses were performed in parallel with rheological measurements using dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) to relate the viscoelastic changes to modifications in dynamic properties of aqueous solutions and structural disorganization of starch. The small (B‐type) granules had slightly higher gelatinization temperature and lower gelatinization enthalpy than did the large (A‐type) granules. Also, B‐type granules had higher enthalpy for the amylose‐lipid complex transition. Moreover, our results suggested that small granules have higher affinity for water at room temperature. It seems that there is a less ordered arrangement of the polysaccharide chains in the smaller granules when compared with the larger ones. These differences in functional properties of small and large granules suggested that the granule size distribution is an important parameter in the baking process.