Nonlocal compensation of pure phase objects with entangled photons

We suggest and demonstrate a scheme for coherent nonlocal compensation of pure phase objects based on two-photon polarization and momentum entangled states. The insertion of a single phase object on one of the beams reduces the purity of the state and the amount of shared entanglement, whereas the original entanglement can be retrieved by adding a suitable phase object on the other beam. In our setup polarization and momentum entangled states are generated by spontaneous parametric downconversion and then purified using a programmable spatial light modulator, which may be also used to impose arbitrary space dependent phase functions to the beams. As a possible application, we suggest and demonstrate a quantum key distribution protocol based on nonlocal phase compensation.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figure

Including thermal network operation in the optimization of a Multi Energy System

The combined production of different energy vectors with Multi Energy Systems is a very attractive opportunity to increase the generation efficiency, compensate the oscillations of renewable sources, and improve the flexi-bility in power generation. Optimizing their operation is a complex task, since the problem can easily reach high dimensions, representing a challenge for commercial solvers. The inclusion in the optimization of a thermal network whose simulation is based on temperatures and flowrates allows to significantly improve the applica-bility of the obtained results. In addition, the effect of the operating temperatures on the performances of thermal components should be included as well. With these purposes, the present study proposes a strategy for the operation optimization of a MES and its internal thermal network. The model relies on a decomposition approach, where the original problem is divided in two subproblems. In the first one, the MES operating costs are minimized without considering the effects of the thermal network, while in the second one, the thermal network operation is optimized in order to find the operating conditions that are more favourable to the ones found for the MES. These subproblems are iteratively solved until the process converges to a stable solution. Some efforts are taken to keep the mathematical formulation as simple as possible (the MES is a Mixed Integer Linear Pro-gramming, while the heating network is a Quadratically Constrained Programming). The developed model al-lows to find near-optimal solutions which satisfy the numerous physical and technical constraints addressed. The results provide an optimized schedule for the thermal storage in terms of mass flowrates and temperature. One of the strengths of the model is the relatively low computational time required to reach the convergence and, despite not being the global optimum, the high quality of the solution obtained

Integration of ThermoChemical Energy Storage in Concentrated Solar Power. Part 2: comprehensive optimization of supercritical CO2 power block

Abstract Among the various options of Thermo-Chemical Energy Storage, Calcium-Looping represents a promising alternative for Concentrated Solar Power plants, thanks to high operating temperatures, high energy density and absence of thermal losses. Finding the most suitable power cycle for this system is a task that has still to be solved and is not trivial because it consists in a complex process synthesis problem. From a preliminary analysis (Part 1), supercritical CO2 cycles results to be the most promising option. In the present work, the integration of this power block (pilot plant size, 2 MWe) is deeply investigated through a comprehensive analysis. Numerous thermal cycle layouts are considered and two options for the power block thermal feeding are assumed. The HEATSEP methodology (comprising genetic algorithm, pinch analysis and bisection) is adopted to optimize both components operating conditions and heat transfer processes in the discharging phase. The plant section devoted to the charging process is optimized and dimensioned taking into account the transient operation. Thanks to the complex problem structure developed, the algorithm is free to find the most suitable configuration between a huge set of feasible combinations. Both energy and economic optimizations are performed for the complete plant and, being in contrast between them, a multi-objective optimization is executed. The independent variables influence on the resulting configuration is assessed and intermediate layouts obtained from the Pareto curve are commented. Carbonator inlet temperature of reactants are observed to increase with plant efficiency. The maximum efficiency (21%) is obtained with the most complex power block (recompression, intercooling and reheating) exchanging heat directly on the carbonator wall. Less performing discharging processes are cheaper but determine higher costs of charging sections; the resulting effect is positive and the integration of simpler power blocks results economically convenient. A power cycle with single intercooling and thermal feeding performed on the carbonator outflows is the result of economic optimization (efficiency equal to 16.3%). The algorithm gives precedence to power block thermal feeding and then to reactants preheating. Novel plant layouts are designed for these configurations and data useful for further investigations are provided in the last part of this work

Integration of ThermoChemical Energy Storage in Concentrated Solar Power. Part 1: energy and economic analysis/optimization

Coupling of Concentrated Solar Power and Thermo-Chemical Energy Storage is a very interesting option because of the high efficiencies attainable with a renewable source and the large variation of solar radiation. Thermo-Chemical Energy Storage based on Calcium-Looping represents a promising opportunity thanks to high operating temperature, high energy density, null thermal losses and cheap calcium oxide precursor exploitable. The large variety of suitable power blocks and the importance of their integration in the discharging process makes it necessary to perform a coherent analysis of the selected alternatives, in order to compare them and establish the most convenient integration. Many aspects must be taken into account, such as system efficiency, investment costs and layout complexity. The purposes of the present work are: the development of a methodology to simulate the entire plant operations; the synthesis of heat recovery systems for both the charging and discharging processes; the execution of an economic analysis and the development of economic optimizations for the design/dimensioning of solar side and calciner side. Between the options investigated, power blocks based on supercritical CO2 are the most convenient both in terms of global efficiency (higher than 19%) and capital investment, keeping this advantage also for higher plant sizes. The methodology here developed and the results obtained are useful information for a deeper analysis of the most promising integration alternative, which is performed in the second part of this study

Attachment style and parental bonding: Relationships with fibromyalgia and alexithymia

OBJECTIVES:Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic pain syndrome, and alexithymia, which is a condition that is characterised by deficits in emotional self-awareness, is highly prevalent among individuals with FM. Insecure attachment styles and inadequate parental care appear to play an important role in the onset and maintenance of both alexithymia and chronic pain. Therefore, the present study aimed to examine the associations between attachment styles, parental bonding, and alexithymia among patients with FM and healthy controls (HC). METHODS:All participants completed a battery of tests that assessed alexithymia, attachment styles, and parental bonding. Two logistic regression models were tested to examine whether these variables predict (a) group membership (i.e. patients with FM vs. HC) and (b) the likelihood of having alexithymia (i.e. among patients with FM and HC). RESULTS:Alexithymia (i.e. difficulty identifying and describing feelings subscales of the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale) significantly predicted group membership (i.e. the likelihood of having FM). On the other hand, educational level and dismissive attachment (i.e. the discomfort with closeness and relationships as secondary subscales of the Attachment Style Questionnaire) were the only significant predictors of the likelihood of having alexithymia. CONCLUSIONS:These findings highlight both the relevance of alexithymic traits to the definition of FM and centrality of an insecure attachment style to the manifestation of alexithymia

Quantum threshold for optomechanical self-structuring in a Bose-Einstein condensate

Theoretical analysis of the optomechanics of degenerate bosonic atoms with a single feedback mirror shows that self-structuring occurs only above an input threshold that is quantum mechanical in origin. This threshold also implies a lower limit to the size (period) of patterns that can be produced in a condensate for a given pump intensity. These thresholds are interpreted as due to the quantum rigidity of Bose-Einstein condensates, which has no classical counterpart. Above the threshold, the condensate self-organizes into an ordered supersolid state with a spatial period self-selected by optical diffraction

Alexithymia in Fibromyalgia Syndrome: is it a discriminant factor?

9nonemixedGHIGGIA, ADA; TESIO, VALENTINA; ROMEO, ANNUNZIATA; Monoli, F; COLONNA, FABRIZIO; LEOMBRUNI, Paolo; Fusaro, E; TORTA, Riccardo; CASTELLI, LorysGhiggia, Ada; Tesio, Valentina; Romeo, Annunziata; Monoli, F; Colonna, Fabrizio; Leombruni, Paolo; Fusaro, E; Torta, Riccardo; Castelli, Lory

Opto-Mechanical Pattern Formation in Cold Atoms

Transverse pattern formation in an optical cavity containing a cloud of cold two-level atoms is discussed. We show that density modulation becomes the dominant mechanism as the atomic temperature is reduced. Indeed, for low but achievable temperatures the internal degrees of freedom of the atoms can be neglected, and the system is well described by treating them as mobile dielectric particles. A linear stability analysis predicts the instability threshold and the spatial scale of the emergent pattern. Numerical simulations in one and two transverse dimensions confirm the instability and predict honeycomb and hexagonal density structures, respectively, for the blue and red detuned cases.Comment: submitted to Physical Review Letter

Community-based rehabilitation program for cerebral PALSY (CP) children in North Uganda

Background: CP is a common neurologic disease in children, with a worldwide estimated prevalence of 93 million. Data on the African context are limited. Purpose: This study was aimed at evaluating the efficacy of a mixed outpatient/home physiotherapy program in children with CP admitted to St. Mary's Lacor Hospital (Gulu), the reference center of north Uganda. Methods: This is an observational, uncontrolled, prospective study. All children with CP (aged from 0.5 to 12 years) admitted in the Physiotherapy Unit from January to December 2017 were enrolled. A written consent form (English or Acholi language) was obtained from the mother/ caregiver. Each patient was evaluated at baseline and every two weeks for three months. CP sub-types were defined according to Surveillance of Cerebral Palsy in Europe classification. The child\ub4s abilities were staged through the Gross Motor Function Classification System Expanded and Revised (GMFCS-E&R; scale from I to V, the higher the worse). Changes in motor function were measured through the 66-item version (GMFM-66; scores ranging from 0 to 100, the higher the better). At baseline and subsequent visits, Bobath treatment was applied for 30 minutes by an experienced physiotherapist, who trained the caregiver on customized home exercises following a diary prescription. The functional status reported by the caregiver and the overall compliance were assessed. Changes in GMFCS-E&R and GMFM-66 at 6 and 12 weeks were recorded. The normality of score distributions was tested (Shapiro-Wilks). If confirmed, repeated ANOVA modeling was applied to scores across time points. Results: Fifty-two consecutive children were enrolled (mean age 2.2 years, range 0.5-9.9). Spastic bilateral (19 patients, 36%) and dystonic (16, 31%) were the most common CP sub-types. The main cause of CP were asphyxia during the delivery (26 cases, 50%) and cerebral malaria (10, 19%). Thirty-three/52 cases (67%) presented level V GMFCS-E&R. GMFM-66 mean score at baseline was 19.86 range: 0-52.9. Seventeen/52 (33%) children were assessed at 6 and/or 12 weeks, while 35 (67%) missed at least three study visits (reasons: 28 transportation cost, 2 remote home, 4 other). In 16/17 (94%) patients home exercises were performed correctly. The GMFM-66 mean score increased from 14.8 at baseline to 20.4 and to 24.9 at 6 weeks (p=0.02) and 12 weeks (p=0.00), respectively. The improvement was observed irrespectively from CP sub-type or cause of disability. Conclusion(s): Although on a small number of patients, this study suggests that a mixed outpatient/home physiotherapy program can improve CP disability in compliant children treated in a developing country, like north Uganda. The high drop-out rate and its causes point towards the need for implementing local community programs and/or transport facilities. Implications: These results suggest that a mixed outpatient/home physiotherapy program can benefit children with CP living in developing countries and strengthen the need of a policy aimed at improving the access to the physiotherapy service. In addition, they confirm that neurological damage during the assisted delivery is the major cause of CP in this conte