Device-independent certification of high-dimensional quantum systems

An important problem in quantum information processing is the certification of the dimension of quantum systems without making assumptions about the devices used to prepare and measure them, that is, in a device-independent manner. A crucial question is whether such certification is experimentally feasible for high-dimensional quantum systems. Here we experimentally witness in a device-independent manner the generation of six-dimensional quantum systems encoded in the orbital angular momentum of single photons and show that the same method can be scaled, at least, up to dimension 13.Comment: REVTeX4, 5 pages, 2 figure

Preoperative Hormonal Treatment Before Laparoscopic Approach for Uterine Fibroids: Do We Need It?

We recently have read the narrative review by Marin-Buck et al. [1], describing the most recent advances in minimally invasive approaches for performing myomectomy. Overall, asymptomatic women affe..

Current understanding on pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy and safety of progestins for treating pain associated to endometriosis

Introduction: Endometriosis is a chronic estrogen and progestogen responsive inflammatory disease associated with pain symptoms and infertility. The medical therapy of endometriosis aims to induce decidualization within the hormonally dependent ectopic endometrium, and it is often administered to ameliorate women\u2019 pain symptoms or to prevent post-surgical disease recurrence. A variety of progestins have been used in monotherapy for the medical management of women with endometriosis. Areas covered: This review aims to offer the reader a complete overview of pharmacokinetic (PK) and clinical efficacy of progestins for the treatment of endometriosis. Expert opinion: Each progestin has a distinct PK parameters and pharmacodynamics affinity not only for progesterone receptor, but also for other steroid receptors, such as estrogen, androgen, and glucocorticoid. Moreover, progestins can also be delivered in different formulations. All these characteristics influence their final biological effect. Randomized, controlled, non-blinded studies support the use of oral progestin-only treatment for pelvic pain associated with endometriosis. Currently, the only two progestins approved by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of endometriosis are norethindrone acetate (NETA) and depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA)

EVALUATION BY TEST OF TIGHTENING TORQUE FOR PRELOADED STAIN-LESS STEEL BOLTING ASSEMBLIES

Preloaded stain-less steel bolting assemblies are currently used in minor and secondary structures such as ventilated facades, but the national and international regulations condition their use on the execution of specific tests to determine the sliding resistance. This approach is justified by the dif-ferent viscoplastic behaviour compared to carbon steel, which can lead to a greater loss of preload over time and by the galling, that is a formation of streaks during tightening with damage of the bolt. This study investigates the use of bolted joints in stainless steel and hypothesizes, based on labora-tory tests, valid formulations in the project for the definition of the preload and the consequent sliding resistance of the joint. Using non-lubricated stainless-steel bolts with geometries according to UNI EN ISO 4014, 4017 standards, tests were carried out on the suitability for preloading, on the possible presence of galling and on the sliding resistance of joints. The preload suitability tests were carried out following the current regulations for preloaded carbon steel bolting, UNI EN 14399 2 and 3, and the achievable preloads were found to be lower than those defined for common steel. The most important conclusion is that it is possible to use these preloaded bolts, with a design preload equal to 50% of that defined in the case of carbon steel. On the other hand, for the factor k, laboratory tests have shown that the values for these bolts are included in a range between 0.25-0.40, higher than carbon steel preloaded bolting. Since the interval is quite wide, further laboratory tests are therefore necessary to define the k factor of these joints made by stainless steel, to avoid over-tightening or in the other hand, having a too low preload. The study constitutes further investigation with laboratory tests on the application of the correct tightening torque without damaging the bolt, compared to the previous publication dealt with in 2019 Bologna’s conference, which was limited to sliding tests of the joint

Perylene-diimide molecules with cyano functionalization for electron-transporting transistors

Core-cyanated perylene diimide (PDI_CY) derivatives are molecular compounds exhibiting an uncommon combination of appealing properties, including remarkable oxidative stability, high electron affinities, and excellent self-assembling properties. Such features made these compounds the subject of study for several research groups aimed at developing electron-transporting (n-type) devices with superior charge transport performances. After about fifteen years since the first report, field-effect transistors based on PDI_CY thin films are still intensely investigated by the scientific community for the attainment of n-type devices that are able to balance the performances of the best p-type ones. In this review, we summarize the main results achieved by our group in the fabrication and characterization of transistors based on PDI8-CN2 and PDIF-CN2 molecules, undoubtedly the most renowned compounds of the PDI_CY family. Our attention was mainly focused on the electrical properties, both at the micro and nanoscale, of PDI8-CN2 and PDIF-CN2 films deposited using different evaporation techniques. Specific topics, such as the contact resistance phenomenon, the bias stress effect, and the operation in liquid environment, have been also analyzed

Investigational drugs for the treatment of endometriosis, an update on recent developments

Introduction: Endometriosis is a hormone-dependent benign chronic disease that requires a chronic medical therapy. Although currently available drugs are efficacious in treating endometriosis-related pain, some women experience partial or no improvement. Moreover, the recurrence of symptoms is expected after discontinuation of the therapies. Currently, new drugs are under intense clinical investigation for the treatment of endometriosis. Areas covered: This review aims to offer the reader a complete and updated overview on new investigational drugs and early molecular targets for the treatment of endometriosis. The authors describe the pre-clinical and clinical development of these agents. Expert opinion: Among the drugs under investigation, late clinical trials on gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonists (GnRH-ant) showed the most promising results for the treatment of endometriosis. Aromatase inhibitors (AIs) are efficacious in treating endometriosis related pain symptoms but they cause significant adverse effects that limit their long-term use. New targets have been identified to produce drugs for the treatment of endometriosis, but the majority of these new compounds have only been investigated in laboratory studies or early clinical trials. Thus, further clinical research is required in order to elucidate their efficacy and safety in human