After austerity: Measuring the impact of a job guarantee policy for Greece

To mobilize Greece's severely underemployed labor potential and confront the social and economic dangers of persistent unemployment, we propose the immediate implementation of a direct public benefit job creation program - a Greek "New Deal." The Job Guarantee (JG) program would offer the unemployed jobs, at a minimum wage, on work projects providing public goods and services. This policy would have substantial positive economic impacts in terms of output and employment, and when newly accrued tax revenue is taken into account, which substantially reduces the net cost of the program, it makes for a comparatively modest fiscal stimulus. At a net cost of roughly 1 percent to 1.2 percent of GDP (depending on the wage level offered), a midrange JG program featuring the direct creation of 300,000 jobs has the potential to reduce the unemployed population by a third or more, once indirect employment effects are taken into account. And our research indicates that the policy would do all this while reducing Greece's debt-to-GDP ratio - which leaves little room for excuses

Effect of methyl jasmonate and sucrose on endogenous non-structural carbohydrates in petals and leaves of cut ‘First Red’ roses (Rosa hybrida L.)

Effects of exogenously applied methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and sucrose on vase life and non-structural carbohydrate concentration in petals and leaves of cut ‘First Red’ roses were investigated. Roses were placed in sealed plastic containers and received MeJA vapour treatment (0.1 μL MeJA L-1) for 24 h at 20°C. Flowers were then placed in individual bottles containing 0 or 2% (v/v) sucrose solution. Flower petals and the two uppermost five-leaflet leaves were detached on days 0, d 5 and d 10 of vase life. Samples were individually snap-frozen in liquid nitrogen and freeze-dried. Non-structural carbohydrates were extracted and quantified using standard HPLC coupled to evaporative light scattering detection. The MeJA vapour treatment enhanced vase life of flower and foliage of ‘First Red’ roses. Significant differences were observed between foliage life of cut ‘First Red’ roses that were treated with MeJA and sucrose, but not for flower life. Rose stems treated with MeJA in the absence of sucrose had an extended vase life compared to roses treated with 2% sucrose alone (14.0 vs. 12.8 days of vase life). Sucrose and myo-inositol, and to a lesser extent glucose concentrations in petals of cut roses decreased during vase life, even when flowers were supplied with 2% sucrose. Concomitant to this, fructose levels in petals increased during vase life. Neither sucrose nor MeJA had a significant effect on any of the sugars measured in petals of cut roses. In contrast, significant differences were apparent for all sugars measured in leaves that were treated with MeJA and sucrose solutions. The combination of MeJA and 2% sucrose solution sharply increased endogenous sucrose concentration in leaves, but the opposite was shown in the absence of 2% sucrose. Sucrose treatment alone did not consistently alter endogenous sucrose concentration. Interactions between MeJA and sucrose on sugar metabolism are discussed

Virulence Gene Sequencing Highlights Similarities and Differences in Sequences in Listeria monocytogenes Serotype 1/2a and 4b Strains of Clinical and Food Origin From 3 Different Geographic Locations

peer-reviewedThe Supplementary Material for this article can be found online at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2018.01103/full#supplementary-materialThe prfA-virulence gene cluster (pVGC) is the main pathogenicity island in Listeria monocytogenes, comprising the prfA, plcA, hly, mpl, actA, and plcB genes. In this study, the pVGC of 36 L. monocytogenes isolates with respect to different serotypes (1/2a or 4b), geographical origin (Australia, Greece or Ireland) and isolation source (food-associated or clinical) was characterized. The most conserved genes were prfA and hly, with the lowest nucleotide diversity (π) among all genes (P < 0.05), and the lowest number of alleles, substitutions and non-synonymous substitutions for prfA. Conversely, the most diverse gene was actA, which presented the highest number of alleles (n = 20) and showed the highest nucleotide diversity. Grouping by serotype had a significantly lower π value (P < 0.0001) compared to isolation source or geographical origin, suggesting a distinct and well-defined unit compared to other groupings. Among all tested genes, only hly and mpl were those with lower nucleotide diversity in 1/2a serotype than 4b serotype, reflecting a high within-1/2a serotype divergence compared to 4b serotype. Geographical divergence was noted with respect to the hly gene, where serotype 4b Irish strains were distinct from Greek and Australian strains. Australian strains showed less diversity in plcB and mpl relative to Irish or Greek strains. Notable differences regarding sequence mutations were identified between food-associated and clinical isolates in prfA, actA, and plcB sequences. Overall, these results indicate that virulence genes follow different evolutionary pathways, which are affected by a strain's origin and serotype and may influence virulence and/or epidemiological dominance of certain subgroups.This study was supported by the 7th Framework Programme projects PROMISE, contract number 265877

Interview with Alan Tait (in english)

Interview with Alan Tai

Identification of peptides in traditional and probiotic sheep milk yoghurt with angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitory activity

Two sets of traditional Greek sheep milk yoghurt were produced: the first one (YC) using normal yoghurt culture (Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus !10.13 and Streptococcus thermophilus !10.7) and the second (PR) with the same normal culture mixed with Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei DC412. YC and PR had similar physicochemical properties and proteolysis patterns throughout storage. Both products showed similar peptide profiles by RP-HPLC but quantitative differences were observed in respect to storage time. Single-strain cultures of the microorganisms used showed similar peptide profiles for both lactobacilli, yet L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus was the most proteolytic of all three microorganisms. The peptide content and the ACE-inhibitory activity of the water-soluble extracts of yoghurts, YC and PR, increased throughout storage. Major peptides were identified from yoghurt PR and from the separate cultures of L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus and L. paracasei subsp. paracasei. Most of these peptides were derived from b-casein. A peptide, b-CN f114-121, with well-established ACE-inhibitory and opiate-like activity was identified in yoghurt PR. Further identified peptides were regarded as potential ACE-inhibitors according to their sequence