A cold-atom Ramsey clock with a low volume physics package

We demonstrate a Ramsey-type microwave clock interrogating the 6.835 GHz ground-state transition in cold 87Rb atoms loaded from a grating magneto-optical trap (GMOT) enclosed in an additively manufactured loop-gap resonator microwave cavity. A short-term stability of 1.5×10−11 τ−1/2 is demonstrated, in reasonable agreement with predictions from the signal-to-noise ratio of the measured Ramsey fringes. The cavity-grating package has a volume of ≈67 cm3, ensuring an inherently compact system while the use of a GMOT drastically simplifies the optical requirements for laser cooled atoms. This work is another step towards the realisation of highly compact portable cold-atom frequency standards

Characterizing Complex Polysera Produced by Antigen-Specific Immunization through the Use of Affinity-Selected Mimotopes

BACKGROUND: Antigen-based (as opposed to whole organism) vaccines are actively being pursued for numerous indications. Even though different formulations may produce similar levels of total antigen-specific antibody, the composition of the antibody response can be quite distinct resulting in different levels of therapeutic activity. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Using plasmid-based immunization against the proto-oncogene HER-2 as a model, we have demonstrated that affinity-selected epitope mimetics (mimotopes) can provide a defined signature of a polyclonal antibody response. Further, using novel computer algorithms that we have developed, these mimotopes can be used to predict epitope targets. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: By combining our novel strategy with existing methods of epitope prediction based on physical properties of an individual protein, we believe that this method offers a robust method for characterizing the breadth of epitope-specificity within a specific polyserum. This strategy is useful as a tool for monitoring immunity following vaccination and can also be used to define relevant epitopes for the creation of novel vaccines

Anchored Design of Protein-Protein Interfaces

Few existing protein-protein interface design methods allow for extensive backbone rearrangements during the design process. There is also a dichotomy between redesign methods, which take advantage of the native interface, and de novo methods, which produce novel binders.Here, we propose a new method for designing novel protein reagents that combines advantages of redesign and de novo methods and allows for extensive backbone motion. This method requires a bound structure of a target and one of its natural binding partners. A key interaction in this interface, the anchor, is computationally grafted out of the partner and into a surface loop on the design scaffold. The design scaffold's surface is then redesigned with backbone flexibility to create a new binding partner for the target. Careful choice of a scaffold will bring experimentally desirable characteristics into the new complex. The use of an anchor both expedites the design process and ensures that binding proceeds against a known location on the target. The use of surface loops on the scaffold allows for flexible-backbone redesign to properly search conformational space.This protocol was implemented within the Rosetta3 software suite. To demonstrate and evaluate this protocol, we have developed a benchmarking set of structures from the PDB with loop-mediated interfaces. This protocol can recover the correct loop-mediated interface in 15 out of 16 tested structures, using only a single residue as an anchor

Stapled hemorrhoidopexy in the treatment of hemorrhoid disease. Our eight-year experience

Aim. Stapled hemorrohoidopexy using Longo technique (PM) is accompanied by good postoperative outcomes. The aim of this study was to report the data regarding our experience with stapled hemorrhoidopexy, the results of the operations and the complications rate in comparison with those published in the literature. Methods. In our Department 127 patients with symptomatic hemorrhoids have been selected between November 2000 and December 2008 for PPH. This retrospective study included patients with a rectal prolapse from second to fourth degree. Results. Two patients had an anal bleeding on the day of surgery. All of them were returned to the operating theatre. A third patient had an anal bleeding that did not require a second surgical intervention. In one case a postoperative stenosis occurred that required a reoperation three days after the dismission from hospital. In one case an urgency occurred, with transitional fecal incontinence, spontaneously regressed two weeks after the intervention. No urinary retention occurred in our caseload. Pain was referred by 37 patients and was controlled by standard analgesia in all cases. No cases of chronic pain were detected. There were no cases of anal stenosis, permanent incontinence or deaths in this series. Conclusion. Among the cases examined important complications occurred in five (3.9%), but reintervention was necessary only for three patients (2.4%). This study confirms that PPH, used on patients with a rectal prolapse from second to fourth degree, is feasible and safe

Giant mesenteric fibromatosis.

Mesenteric fibromatosis is a proliferative fibroblastic neoplasia of the small intestine mesentery which may occur as a unique or multiple formation. Mesenteric fibromatosis represents the 8% of all desmoid neoplasm. Giant mesenteric fibromatosis is uncommon by itself (2-4 case/milion/year). Since the rarity of this tumor and the difficulties in diagnostic and therapeutic ambit, we believe it justified to describe a case of giant mesenteric fibromatosis which came to our observation

The minimally invasive surgical approach in thyroid diseases

Aim. The targets of minimally invasive thyroidectomy could be summarised by: achievement of the same results as those obtained with traditional surgery, better postoperative course and improved cosmetic results. In minimally invasive surgical approach the skin incision should not exceed 30 mm in length. In our experience this limit may be extended of 5 mm for thyroid between 25 and 50 mL in volume. This way allows more patients, excluded before, to take the advantages of minimally invasive approach. The aim of this work has been to demostrate that the central neck minimally invasive approach is safe, less painful, better for cosmetic results and easily reproducible in surgical practice. Methods. From January 2003 to June 2007, 75 patients have been selected for minimally invasive thyroidectomy. The procedure was carried out through a central skin incision performed "high" between the cricoid and jugular notch. Our "modified Miccoli-procedure" consists in five-easily repeatable steps. In the post-operative stay, all patients were asked to evaluate the pain that feel and the cosmetic result by means of a numeric scale. Results. The skin incision performed was from 25 to 30 mm (mean 27.39 ± 2.6 mm). We obtained in all cases excellent results about patients cure rate and comfort, few postoperative pain and attractive cosmetic results. Conclusion. In this study we demonstrate that the central neck minimally invasive approach is safe, less painful, better for cosmetic results, with less paresthetic consequences and easily reproducible in surgical practice. In our opinion a longer incision (up to 35 mm), does not affect negatively the advantages of minimally invasive procedure. This way allows more patients to take the advantages of minimally invasive approach