State Ownership and the Evolution of Italian Corporate Governance

State ownership pyramidal groups, family trust and a minor rolefor banks and other financial institutions in the corporategovernance of both large and small enterprises are the structuralfeatures of Italian capitalism today. This paper offers a criticalanalysis of state ownership by analysing the evolution of Italiancorporate governance since the Second World War. It concludesthat full or majority state ownership of corporations can beeffective in separating ownership and control during stagesof powerfully accelerating growth and when shifts in the sectoralbalance are needed; that state-owned enterprises must not beburdened with ‘special social objectives’; and thatthe system is bound to degenerate without a functioning politicalmarket to guarantee democratic changes of parties and powerand if the ‘mission’ culture of public managersis eroded.     

Crosslinking-mediated activation of the FcεRI: Does it need antigen for success?

Mast cells (MCs), hematopoietic cells of the myeloid lineage, are well-known for their pro-inflammatory nature contributing to the development of various allergic and autoimmune diseases. One of the characteristic receptors on MCs, the high-affinity receptor for IgE (FcεRI), is activated in its IgE-bound state via binding and crosslinking by polyvalent antigen. This results in its phosphorylation by the SRC family kinase LYN, initiating differential signaling pathways, eventually triggering immunological effector functions, such as degranulation and cytokine production. Few publications have reported on FcεRI-dependent but antigen-independent MC activation by antibody-mediated crosslinking of membrane molecules (e.g., transmembrane proteins and glycosphingolipids) that are both localized in membrane rafts and in close vicinity to the FcεRI. In this Viewpoint we will briefly introduce FcεRI-mediated MC stimulation, cite examples of FcεRI-proximal molecules, the crosslinking of which can cause FcεRI-dependent MC activation, and discuss the potential of certain viruses as well as auto-antibodies to act as indirect FcεRI-crosslinking agents. In latter cases, antigen-independent FcεRI-mediated pro-inflammatory MC activation could contribute to the development of detrimental cytokine storms.     

Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR): A critical overview on the most promising applications of molecular scissors in oral medicine

The scientific community is continuously working to translate the novel biomedical techniques into effective medical treatments. CRISPR-Cas 9 system (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats-9), commonly known as the “molecular scissor”, represents a recently developed biotechnology able to improve the quality and the efficacy of traditional treatments, related to several human diseases, such as chronic diseases, neurodegenerative pathologies and, interestingly, oral diseases. Of course, dental medicine has notably increased the use of biotechnologies to ensure modern and conservative approaches: in this landscape, the use of CRISPR-Cas-9 system may speed and personalize the traditional therapies, ensuring a good predictability of clinical results. The aim of this critical overview is to provide evidence on CRISPR efficacy, taking into specific account its applications in oral medicine.     

Electron spin resonance technique identification and dosimetry of irradiated chicken eggs

The electron spin resonance (ESR) technique was tested for the identification and dosimetry of irradiated chicken eggs by ESR measurements of the shell. the spectrum of powdered egg shells was interpreted as the superposition of three signals due to long-lived CO₃, ^- CO₃^3- and CO₂^- ions of the calcium carbonate matrix. Taking the amplitude of the central peak as the dose-dependent parameter, a linear dose-effect relationship was obtained up to 10kGy. the results obtained suggest the use of EPR for qualitative and quantitative analysis of irradiated fresh eggs.     

Modelling of multiple-effect falling-film evaporators

The classic mathematical model of multi-effect evaporators operating in forward flow was combined with an accurate estimation of the overall heat transfer coefficient (HTC) in falling-film evaporators. For this correlation developed by Narayanamurthy & Sarma (1977) has been used. It was possible also to estimate the order of magnitude of the fouling factor (Rd). Finally, the design of an orange-juice double-effect falling-film evaporator (DEFFE) system was carried out according to two different strategies.     

Purification and Properties of Lipoxygenase in Germinating Sunflower Seeds

An outline for isolating sunflower lipoxygenase (SLO) from germinating seeds is described. With linoleic acid as substrate, SLO optimum pH was 6.2, the temperature of maximum activity was 35°C and the activation energy was 3.4 Kcal/mole. Nordihydroguaiaretic acid was the most effective inhibitor of SLO, while α-tocopherol and diethyldithiocarbamic acid were less effective. Km values for linoleic acid, linolenic acid and methyl linoleate were 6.7, 5.0, and 40.0 μM, respectively. The activity of SLO was lost rapidly at temperatures higher than 50°C. The enzyme was stable when stored at ?20°C or freeze-dried, but not at 4°C in dilute solution. Experiments in micellar solution showed that SLO catalytic power was also maintained in hydrocarbon media with a Km for linoleic acid of 9 mM and a maximum velocity of 36.6 U/mg.