Electron and ion spectroscopy of azobenzene in the valence and core shells.

Azobenzene is a prototype and a building block of a class of molecules of extreme technological interest as molecular photo-switches. We present a joint experimental and theoretical study of its response to irradiation with light across the UV to x-ray spectrum. The study of valence and inner shell photo-ionization and excitation processes combined with measurement of valence photoelectron-photoion coincidence and mass spectra across the core thresholds provides a detailed insight into the site- and state-selected photo-induced processes. Photo-ionization and excitation measurements are interpreted via the multi-configurational restricted active space self-consistent field method corrected by second order perturbation theory. Using static modeling, we demonstrate that the carbon and nitrogen K edges of azobenzene are suitable candidates for exploring its photoinduced dynamics thanks to the transient signals appearing in background-free regions of the NEXAFS and XPS.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of the anatomical variants of the left colic artery.

AIM: To provide a comprehensive evidence-based assessment of the anatomical variations of the left colic artery (LCA). METHOD: A thorough systematic search of the literature up until 1 April 2019 was conducted on the electronic databases PubMed, SCOPUS and Web of Science (WOS) to identify studies eligible for inclusion. Data were extracted and pooled into a meta-analysis using the Metafor package in R. The primary outcomes of interest were the absence of the LCA and the anatomical variants of its origin. The secondary outcomes were the distance (mean ± SD) between the origin of the inferior mesenteric artery (OIMA) and the origin of the left colic artery (OLCA). RESULTS: A total of 19 studies (n = 2040 patients) were included. The pooled prevalence estimate (PPE) of LCA absence was 1.2% (95% CI 0.0-3.6%). Across participants with either a Type I or Type II LCA, the PPE of a Type I LCA was 49.0% (95% CI 40.2-57.8%). The PPE of a Type II LCA was therefore 51.0%. The pooled mean distance from the OIMA to the OLCA was 40.41 mm (95 CI% 38.69-42.12 mm). The pooled mean length of a Type I LCA was 39.12 mm (95% CI 36.70-41.53 mm) while the pooled mean length of a Type IIa and Type IIb LCA was 41.43 mm (95% CI 36.90-43.27 mm) and 39.64 mm (95% CI 37.68-41.59 mm), respectively. CONCLUSION: Although the absence of the LCA is a rare occurrence (PPE 1.2%), it may be associated with an important risk of anastomotic leakage as a result of insufficient vascularization of the proximal colonic conduit. It is also necessary to distinguish variants I and II of Latarjet, the frequency of which is identical, with division of the LCA being technically more straightforward in variant I of Latarjet. Surgeons should be aware that technical difficulties are likely to be more common with variant II of Latarjet, as LCA ligation may be more difficult due to its close proximity to the inferior mesenteric vein (IMV).

Retained sponges in abdomen: an analysis of the judgments of the Italian Supreme Court.

The administration of justice in Italy includes first, second and third instance. The first and second instances are represented by the Court of First Instance and the Court of Appeal: these are judgment of Romamerit. The court of last appeal for both the civil and the criminal jurisdiction is the Court of Cassation, the Italian Supreme Court. It is a court of legitimacy that should provide for a consistent and uniform interpretation of the law and that only on points of law, not on factual evidence. The Court of Cassation can confirm the sentence of second instance, can dismiss it without referral, can deciding and closing the trial definitively, or dismiss it referring the case to the judge of merit that must decide according to the principles set out in the legitimacy. The aim of this study is to analyze the Supreme Cassation Court's judgments on the legal proceedings about retained sponges in abdomen.

Laparoscopic versus open colectomy for obstructing right colon cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Hemicolectomy is the treatment of choice for intestinal obstruction from right colon cancer. This review compares the laparoscopic vs open access in hemicolectomy for patients with right colon cancer. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical studies published after January 2017 was performed according to the Prisma guidelines. The study has been recorded on the Prospero register (CRD42016044108). RESULTS: Five studies were included for review. Only one anastomotic leak was reported in conventional open anastomosis group (1.9%) and none of the studies included in the meta-analysis reported re-operations during the first 30 postoperative days. The 30-day postoperative mortality did not differ between the two groups. The length of incision, blood loss, early mobilization after surgery, the 30-day postoperative overall complication rate and hospital length of stay were significantly shorter in the laparoscopic group. The difference in the duration of procedure was statistically significant in favor of the open group. The number of dissected lymph nodes, the overall survival at 5 years and time to flatus were described only in one study, without any significant difference. Finally, none of the trials reported any information concerning differences in the costs between the two techniques. CONCLUSIONS: The better outcomes described in this study achieved with laparoscopy, must be interpreted with caution because of the small number of patients involved, the selection and publication bias and the low level of evidence of the analysed trials. Indeed, the advantages of a minimally invasive approach, which have been demonstrated by the present meta-analysis, should encourage the use of laparoscopy also in emergency setting.

The maize EmBP-1 orthologue differentially regulates opaque2-dependent gene expression in yeast and cultured maize endosperm cells.

In addition to the bZIP protein Opaque2 (O2), there are other maize endosperm nuclear proteins that recognize the O2 box in 22 kDa zein gene promoters. In an effort to understand the effect of these factors on 22 kDa zein expression, we have cloned one of these and identified it as the putative maize (Zea mays L.) orthologue of the wheat bZIP protein EmBP-1 (mEmBP-1). The mEmBP-1 protein exhibits 52% sequence identity and 68% similarity with the wheat protein and recognizes a similar spectrum of DNA sequences, albeit with slightly altered specificity. The mEmBP-1 gene exists as duplicate loci in maize on chromosomes 7S (mEmBP-1a) and 2L (mEmBP-1b). The mEmBP-1 genes are expressed in endosperm, embryo, immature ears, tassel, roots, and seedling shoots at low levels. Although mEmBP-1 binds to the O2 box from the 22 kDa zein gene promoter as a homodimer, it is unable to heterodimerize with O2. The mEmBP-1 protein can activate transcription from a truncated promoter containing a pentamer of the O2 site in yeast cells; however, it inhibited regulated transcription of a 22 kDa zein promoter in a transient expression assay using cultured maize endosperm cells.

Identification of amino acids stabilizing the tetramerization of the single stranded DNA binding protein from Escherichia coli.

Mutating the histidine at position 55 present at the subunit interface of the tetrameric E. coli single stranded DNA binding (SSB) protein to tyrosine or lysine leads to cells which are UV- and temperature-sensitive. The defects of both ssbH55Y (ssb-1) and ssbH55K can be overcome by increasing protein concentration, with the ssbH55K mutation producing a less stable, readily dissociating protein whose more severe replication and repair phenotypes were less easily ameliorated by protein amplification. In this study we selected and analyzed E. coli strains where the temperature sensitivity caused by the ssbH55K mutation was suppressed by spontaneous mutations that changed the glutamine at position 76 or 110 to leucine. Using guanidinium chloride denaturation monitored by sedimentation diffusion equilibrium experiments in the analytical ultracentrifuge, we demonstrate that the double mutant SSBH55KQ76L and SSBH55KQ110L proteins form more stable homotetramers as compared to the SSBH55K single mutant protein although they are less stable than wild-type SSB. Additionally, the single mutant proteins SSBQ76L and SSBQ110L form tetramers which are more resistant to guanidinium denaturation than wild-type SSB protein.

Analysis of ssb mutations in vivo implicates SSB protein in two distinct pathways of SOS induction and in recombinational DNA repair.

Site-directed mutations in the Escherichia coli ssb gene were tested for the ability to complement a chromosomal ssb deletion for viability, and only the ssb W54-->G mutation failed to do so at the pSC101 copy level. Non-aromatic amino acid substitutions for SSB Trp-54 (ssb W54-->L and ssb W54-->S) produced the greatest effects on in vivo protein function including altered marker linkage subsequent to generalized transduction, extreme UV sensitivity, and a lack of ability to support SOS induction. Additionally, the ssb-113 (ssb P176-->S) mutation demonstrated the existence of both uvrA-dependent and uvrA-independent components of SOS induction. Although nucleotide excision repair appeared unaffected by alterations in the SSB protein, the mutational analysis suggests a direct role for SSB in recombinational repair.

ABO, Rh and Kell frequency distribution in a sample population of Terni province, Italy.

We have typed ABO, Rh and Kell blood group systems in 1,267 voluntary blood donors native to the three districts into which Terni province is subdivided. By using the method of principal components, the Terni population was compared with those of other provinces of central Italy to disclose that (1) the Terni sample clustered with the Tyrrhenian rather than the Adriatic populations, and (2) there seems to be a positive relation with both the distribution of the languages spoken during the prehistoric period and the location of pre-Roman civilizations.

Viability and preliminary in vivo characterization of site-directed mutants of Escherichia coli single-stranded DNA-binding protein.

Site-directed mutations involving selected amino acids of Escherichia coli single-stranded DNA-binding protein (SSB) were tested for their in vivo functionality when introduced into a chromosomal ssb deletion strain on a plasmid. All mutants complemented the ssb deletion for viability when present on a pSC101 derivative. The generation time with ssbW54S doubled in comparison to the ssb+ control, and both the ssbW54S- and ssbH55K-containing strains exhibited temperature sensitivity. ssbH55K, ssbW54S, ssbW88T, and ssbH55Y (ssb-1) strains displayed reduced survival to ultraviolet irradiation, while ssbW40T and ssbF60L strains were comparable to the ssb+ control strain. This study represents the first investigation of the in vivo properties of ssb mutations constructed for in vitro analysis of DNA binding by SSB.