How Small Firms in the High Quality Food Sector Can Improve Their Business Performance: The Ligurian Oil Case Study

This paper proposes a methodology to create market value in the high quality food sector. The research starts from the consumer’s opinion about the attributes characterizing a high quality food, then a market research shows which are the attributes able to increase the good value in the different distribution channels. The paper shows how attributes are market and channel dependent, therefore attribute able to create value in certain markets and channels are uninflected in others. The methodology proposed is concretely applied on a case study: the Italian Extra virgin olive oil sector with a particular focus on the Ligurian olive oil, one of the most appreciated Italian oil. Likewise the methodology can be implemented form many other high quality food

Saccharomyces boulardii Improves Intestinal Cell Restitution through Activation of the α2β1 Integrin Collagen Receptor

Intestinal epithelial cell damage is frequently seen in the mucosal lesions of inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease. Complete remission of these diseases requires both the cessation of inflammation and the migration of enterocytes to repair the damaged epithelium. Lyophilized Saccharomyces boulardii (Sb, Biocodex) is a nonpathogenic yeast widely used as a therapeutic agent for the treatment and prevention of diarrhea and other gastrointestinal disorders. In this study, we determined whether Sb could accelerate enterocyte migration. Cell migration was determined in Sb force-fed C57BL6J mice and in an in vitro wound model. The impact on α2β1 integrin activity was assessed using adhesion assays and the analysis of α2β1 mediated signaling pathways both in vitro and in vivo. We demonstrated that Sb secretes compounds that enhance the migration of enterocytes independently of cell proliferation. This enhanced migration was associated with the ability of Sb to favor cell-extracellular matrix interaction. Indeed, the yeast activates α2β1 integrin collagen receptors. This leads to an increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of cytoplasmic molecules, including focal adhesion kinase and paxillin, involved in the integrin signaling pathway. These changes are associated with the reorganization of focal adhesion structures. In conclusion Sb secretes motogenic factors that enhance cell restitution through the dynamic regulation of α2β1 integrin activity. This could be of major importance in the development of novel therapies targeting diseases characterized by severe mucosal injury, such as inflammatory and infectious bowel diseases

APCcdh1 Mediates Degradation of the Oncogenic Rho-GEF Ect2 after Mitosis

Background: Besides regulation of actin cytoskeleton-dependent functions, Rho GTPase pathways are essential to cell cycle progression and cell division. Rho, Rac and Cdc42 regulate G1 to S phase progression and are involved in cytokinesis. RhoA GDP/GTP cycling is required for normal cytokinesis and recent reports have shown that the exchange factor Ect2 and the GTPase activating protein MgcRacGAP regulate RhoA activity during mitosis. We previously showed that the transcription factors E2F1 and CUX1 regulate expression of MgcRacGAP and Ect2 as cells enter S-phase. Methodology/Principal Findings: We now report that Ect2 is subject to proteasomal degradation after mitosis, following ubiquitination by the APC/C complex and its co-activator Cdh1. A proper nuclear localization of Ect2 is necessary for its degradation. APC-Cdh1 assembles K11-linked poly-ubiquitin chains on Ect2, depending upon a stretch of,25 amino acid residues that contain a bi-partite NLS, a conventional D-box and two TEK-like boxes. Site-directed mutagenesis of target sequences generated stabilized Ect2 proteins. Furthermore, such degradation-resistant mutants of Ect2 were found to activate RhoA and subsequent signalling pathways and are able to transform NIH3T3 cells. Conclusions/Significance: Our results identify Ect2 as a bona fide cell cycle-regulated protein and suggest that its ubiquitination-dependent degradation may play an important role in RhoA regulation at the time of mitosis. Our findings raise the possibility that the overexpression of Ect2 that has been reported in some human tumors might result not only from deregulated transcription, but also from impaired degradation

Complexity and dynamics of the winemaking bacterial communities in berries, musts, and wines from apulian grape cultivars through time and space

Currently, there is very little information available regarding the microbiome associated with the wine production chain. Here, we used an amplicon sequencing approach based on high-throughput sequencing (HTS) to obtain a comprehensive assessment of the bacterial community associated with the production of three Apulian red wines, from grape to final product. The relationships among grape variety, the microbial community, and fermentation was investigated. Moreover, the winery microbiota was evaluated compared to the autochthonous species in vineyards that persist until the end of the winemaking process. The analysis highlighted the remarkable dynamics within the microbial communities during fermentation. A common microbial core shared among the examined wine varieties was observed, and the unique taxonomic signature of each wine appellation was revealed. New species belonging to the genus Halomonas were also reported. This study demonstrates the potential of this metagenomic approach, supported by optimized protocols, for identifying the biodiversity of the wine supply chain. The developed experimental pipeline offers new prospects for other research fields in which a comprehensive view of microbial community complexity and dynamics is desirable.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

The development of a resource-efficient photovoltaic system

This paper presents the measures taken in the demonstration of the photovoltaic case study developed within the European project ‘Towards zero waste in industrial networks’ (Zerowin), integrating the D4R (Design for recycling, repair, refurbishment and reuse) criteria at both system and industrial network level. The demonstration is divided into three phases. The first phase concerns the development of a D4R photovoltaic concept, the second phase focused on the development of a specific component of photovoltaic systems and the third phase was the demonstration of the D4R design in two complete photovoltaic systems (grid-connected and stand-alone). This paper includes a description of the installed photovoltaic systems, including a brief summary at component level of the lithium ion battery system and the D4R power conditioning system developed for the pilot installations. Additionally, industrial symbioses within the network associated with the photovoltaic systems and the production model for the network are described

Procedencia de las puntas de jabalina del “Dolmen de la Pastora” (Valencina de la Concepción, Sevilla)

In this article, along with an updated bibliographical revision, a new archaeometric approach to La Pastora javelin tip type is presented. New results of XRF and Lead Isotopes analyses of metal objects of this type from the “Dolmen de la Pastora” (Valencina de la Concepción, Sevilla, Spain) and the site of La Pijotilla (Badajoz, Spain) are included, incorporating data from Outeiro de São Bernardo (Moura, Portugal). The evidence related with the interpretation of the archaeological context of these three sites allow to propose a date for these javelins that would stand in the centuries of transition between the 3rd and 2nd millennium BC. The confrontation of compositional and isotopic data from the javelin tips with other metallic elements of the region and with the isotopically characterized mineralization in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula, in addition to mineralizations and metals of the eastern Mediterranean, support their ‘local’ production in the peninsular southwest, although with regional typological variations and from diversified mineral sources.<br><br>Este artículo combina una revisión bibliográfica actualizada y una nueva aproximación arqueométrica a las puntas de jabalina tipo La Pastora. Se incluyen recientes resultados del análisis por FRX e isótopos de plomo de ejemplares de este tipo metálico procedentes del “Dolmen de La Pastora” (Valencina de la Concepción, Sevilla) y del yacimiento de La Pijotilla (Badajoz), incorporando los datos de Outeiro de São Bernardo (Moura, Portugal). Las evidencias relacionadas con la interpretación arqueológica contextual de estos tres yacimientos permiten sugerir una fecha para las jabalinas tipo La Pastora en los siglos de transición entre el III y el II milenio a.C. Se confrontan los datos compositivos e isotópicos de las puntas de jabalina con otros elementos metálicos del ámbito regional y con las mineralizaciones caracterizadas isotópicamente en el suroeste de la Península Ibérica, además de con mineralizaciones y elementos metálicos del Mediterráneo oriental. Ello permite defender la producción ‘local’ de estas jabalinas en el suroeste peninsular, aunque con variaciones tipológicas regionales y a partir de fuentes minerales diversificadas

À propos du mythe de Pélops

Siret Eugène A. À propos du mythe de Pélops. In: Bulletin de l'Association Guillaume Budé : Lettres d'humanité, n°28, décembre 1969. pp. 443-450

L'Éolide, la chimère, l'amazone et les dieux (mythe de Bellérophon), récit des temps légendaires / Eugène A. Siret

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TOMOGRAPHIE PAR COHERENCE OPTIQUE CONFOCALE « LIGNE » POUR LE DIAGNOSTIC DERMATOLOGIQUE

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