The Upper Extremity Functional Index (UEFI). Cross-cultural adaptation, reliability, and validity of the italian version

SUMMARY Introduction. The Italian version of the Upper Extremity Functional Index (UEFI) may help assess shoulder function in patients with shoulder problems, especially athletes. Objective. Translate and cross-culturally adapt UEFI into Italian; verify UEFI validity and reliability in professional and amateur athletes with upper limb musculoskeletal disorders, shoulder, in particular. Methods. This study was conducted with 150 participants with musculoskeletal disorders of the upper limb. UEFI, the short version of the Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand scale (Quick DASH), the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index, and the Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36) were administered. Acceptability was assessed in terms of refusal rate, rates of missing responses, and administration time; test-retest reliability was assessed with intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC); internal consistency was assessed with Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, and validity was assessed by Pearson’s correlation coefficients. Results. Cronbach’s alpha coefficients for the UEFI on test and retest were α = 0.979 and α = 0.985, respectively. The average measure ICC was 0.917. The UEFI score demonstrated strong negative correlations with SPADI total score (-0.636), Quick DASH score (-0.685), and SF-36 score (-0.327). Conclusions. The Italian version of UEFI is acceptable, valid, and reliable

Experimental GHZ Entanglement beyond Qubits

The Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger (GHZ) argument provides an all-or-nothing contradiction between quantum mechanics and local-realistic theories. In its original formulation, GHZ investigated three and four particles entangled in two dimensions only. Very recently, higher dimensional contradictions especially in three dimensions and three particles have been discovered but it has remained unclear how to produce such states. In this article we experimentally show how to generate a three-dimensional GHZ state from two-photon orbital-angular-momentum entanglement. The first suggestion for a setup which generates three-dimensional GHZ entanglement from these entangled pairs came from using the computer algorithm Melvin. The procedure employs novel concepts significantly beyond the qubit case. Our experiment opens up the possibility of a truly high-dimensional test of the GHZ-contradiction which, interestingly, employs non-Hermitian operators.Comment: 6+6 pages, 8 figure

Self-consistent fully dynamic electro-thermal simulation of power HBTS

A new self-consistent dynamic electro-thermal model for power HBTs is presented coupling a circuit-oriented electricalmodel, fitted on experimental data, with a full frequency domain thermal model. The thermal model provides the exact frequency behaviour of the device thermal impedance through a quasi-3D approach. The electro-thermal self-consistent solution is achieved, in large-signal periodic operation, through Harmonic Balance analysis. The model has been applied to the simulation of some HBT layouts from Alenia Marconi Systems

Selex ES GaN technology: Improvements, results and R&D approach for 0.5μm and 0.25μm process

The capability to build systems entirely based on European technologies is an essential condition for all the companies working in the Defense and Space industry, in order to overcome possible problems related with the restrictions on export licenses (ITAR). For this reason from the last 40 years Selex ES Foundry has been committed to provide state-of-the-art solid state components, establishing a high level of technical capability in the design, processing and assembly of said components. In particular Selex ES Foundry is involved in a range of technological developments to consolidate and qualify half micron and quarter micron GaN technology

GaAs pixel detectors with integrated electronics: experimental basis and feasibility study

This work aims to study the feasibility of the integration, on the same chip, of GaAs pixel detectors and front-end electronics employing GaAs MESFETs or HEMTs. Interest of a full GaAs integrated systems are in X and y-ray spectroscopy and imaging for scientific, industrial and medical applications. The current status and recent experimental results regarding radiation detectors on semi-insulating GaAs are presented. Measurements of the relevant parameters of GaAs FETs suitable for the stringent requirements of a spectroscopy-graded front-end amplifier are analysed. Some still open problems regarding the detector-electronics integration are highlighted