Robust generation of entanglement in Bose-Einstein condensates by collective atomic recoil

We address the dynamics induced by collective atomic recoil in a Bose-Einstein condensate in presence of radiation losses and atomic decoherence. In particular, we focus on the linear regime of the lasing mechanism, and analyze the effects of losses and decoherence on the generation of entanglement. The dynamics is that of three bosons, two atomic modes interacting with a single-mode radiation field, coupled with a bath of oscillators. The resulting three-mode dissipative Master equation is solved analytically in terms of the Wigner function. We examine in details the two complementary limits of {\em high-Q cavity} and {\em bad-cavity}, the latter corresponding to the so-called superradiant regime, both in the quasi-classical and quantum regimes. We found that three-mode entanglement as well as two-mode atom-atom and atom-radiation entanglement is generally robust against losses and decoherence,thus making the present system a good candidate for the experimental observation of entanglement in condensate systems. In particular, steady-state entanglement may be obtained both between atoms with opposite momenta and between atoms and photons

Sub-shot-noise photon-number correlation in mesoscopic twin-beam of light

We demonstrate sub-shot-noise photon-number correlations in a (temporal) multimode mesoscopic ($\sim 10^3$ detected photons) twin-beam produced by ps-pulsed spontaneous non-degenerate parametric downconversion. We have separately detected the signal and idler distributions of photons collected in twin coherence areas and found that the variance of the photon-count difference goes below the shot-noise limit by 3.25 dB. The number of temporal modes contained in the twin-beam, as well as the size of the twin coherence areas, depends on the pump intensity. Our scheme is based on spontaneous downconversion and thus does not suffer from limitations due to the finite gain of the parametric process. Twin-beams are also used to demonstrate the conditional preparation of a nonclassical (sub-Poissonian) state.Comment: 5 pages, 5 (low-res) figures, to appear on PR

State reconstruction by on/off measurements

We demonstrate a state reconstruction technique which provides either the Wigner function or the density matrix of a field mode and requires only avalanche photodetectors, without any phase or amplitude discrimination power. It represents an alternative, of simpler implementation, to quantum homodyne tomography.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, revised and enlarged versio

Orbital medial wall fractures: Purely endoscopic endonasal repair with polyethylene implants

Our technique couples the stronger support granted by non-resorbable materials and the minimal invasiveness of the endoscopic approach without the need for long-term nasal packing

A simple synthesis of N-perfluoroacylated and N-acylated glycals of neuraminic acid with a cyclic aminic substituent at the 4\u3b1 position as possible inhibitors of sialidases

A simple protocol for the synthesis of N-perfluoroacylated and N-acylated glycals of neuraminic acid, having a secondary cyclic amines (morpholine or piperidine) at the 4\u3b1 position, has been set-up, starting from peracetylated N-acetylneuraminic acid methyl ester that undergoes, sequencially to its direct N-transacylation followed by a C-4 amination, a \u3b2-elimination, and a selective hydrolysis of the ester functions, without affecting the sensitive perfluorinated amid

Robustness of raw quantum tomography

We scrutinize the effects of non-ideal data acquisition on the homodyne tomograms of photon quantum states. The presence of a weight function, schematizing the effects of the finite thickness of the probing beam or equivalently noise, only affects the state reconstruction procedure by a normalization constant. The results are extended to a discrete mesh and show that quantum tomography is robust under incomplete and approximate knowledge of tomograms.Comment: 7 pages, 1 figure, published versio

Simultaneous identification and quantitative determination in urine of the more significant metabolites of synthetic cannabinoids JWH-018, JWH-073, JWH-122 and JWH-250 using authentic references and deuterated isotopologues as internal standards

Introduction Synthetic cannabinoids (SC) are substances displaying a high affinity for cannabinoid receptor CB1 and represent the psychoactive agents in herbal mixtures called \u201cSpice\u201d or \u201cK2\u201d which are sold as an incense or smoking material mainly through the Internet. Because of its great abusive potential, several SC are banned in many countries, but despite this, the widespread use of herbal smoking mixtures containing SC may be partially explained by the fact that post-ingestion urines are known to produce negative results in standard toxicological screening methods for cannabis. As a consequence, an increasing number of analytical methods have been developed in forensic and doping control laboratories to enable the detection of illegal intake of these psychoactive substances in human fluids originating from psychiatric patients, emergency units or assessment of fitness to drive. Due to rapid metabolic transformation, the native SC are not usually detectable in urine samples and then the analytical methods must be based on the identification and quantization of their metabolites. Aims The aim of our study is to set-up, using synthesized reference standards, a LC-MS/MS method for routine screening procedures to assess the assumption of JWH-018, JWH-073, JWH 122 and JWH-250, the SC included in Table 1 of narcotic and psychotropic substances banned in Italy. The method gives the simultaneous identification of the three more significant metabolites of each cannabinoid and adequate sensitivity, precision and accuracy are assured by the use of deuterated internal standards. Methods For each of the four cannabinoids were synthesized the three more significant metabolites, the \u3c9- and (\u3c9-1)-hydroxyl and the \u3c9-carboxyl derivatives (\u3c9 position represent the terminal carbon of the N-alkyl side chain) while as internal standards were synthesized the (\u3c9-1)-hydroxyl metabolites trideuterated on the terminal methyl of the side chain. Urine samples were subjected to deconjugation using 30% hydrochloric acid at 90-95\ub0C for 60 min, followed by a solvent extraction procedure with n-hexane-ethyl acetate (9/1 v/v). The LC-MS/MS analysis was performed in positive mode on an API 4000 Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer (AB Sciex) equipped with a 1,8\ub5m Acquity C-18 HSS T3 100 x 2 mm HPLC column (Waters) with isocratic elution (55 % of 10 mM HCOONH4 in water containing 0.1% HCOOH and 45 % of acetonitrile) at 45 \ub0C and at flow rate of 0.4 mL/min. Two transitions in \u2018multiple reaction monitoring\u2019 mode and the retention time have permitted the unambiguous identification of each metabolite which, through the presence of a suitable internal standard, was quantified. Result and discussion All the synthesized compounds were fully characterized with regard to the structure and purity, by 1H,13C NMR and GC-MS (after esterification with CH2N2 for the \u3c9-carboxylic metabolites). For sample treatment, the recovery of the metabolites was evaluated at different pH (1, 3, 5, 9 and 10). The validation of the method was performed testing linearity (0.5-100 ng/mL), reproducibility and accuracy (ranged between -15% and + 15%) at three levels. The method developed was applied to the analysis of urine samples from individuals who have taken SC. This LC-MS/MS method can be used for routine screening of urine specimens from subjects suspected of using \u201cherbal incense\u201d or \u201cSpice\u201d products spiked with the synthetic cannabinoids JWH-018, JWH-073, JWH 122 or JWH-250

Linearized texture of three-dimensional extracellular matrix is mandatory for bladder cancer cell invasion

In the fields of biomaterials and tissue engineering simulating the native microenvironment is of utmost importance. As a major component of the microenvironment, the extracellular matrix (ECM) contributes to tissue homeostasis, whereas modifications of native features are associated with pathological conditions. Furthermore, three-dimensional (3D) geometry is an important feature of synthetic scaffolds favoring cell stemness, maintenance and differentiation. We analyzed the 3D structure, geometrical measurements and anisotropy of the ECM isolated from (i) human bladder mucosa (basal lamina and lamina propria) and muscularis propria; and, (ii) bladder carcinoma (BC). Next, binding and invasion of bladder metastatic cell line was observed on synthetic scaffold recapitulating anisotropy of tumoral ECM, but not on scaffold with disorganized texture typical of non-neoplastic lamina propria. This study provided information regarding the ultrastructure and geometry of healthy human bladder and BC ECMs. Likewise, using synthetic scaffolds we identified linearization of the texture as a mandatory feature for BC cell invasion. Integrating microstructure and geometry with biochemical and mechanical factors could support the development of an innovative synthetic bladder substitute or a tumoral scaffold predictive of chemotherapy outcomes

Relationship between tumour shrinkage and reduction in Ki67 expression after primary chemotherapy in human breast cancer

The association between tumour shrinkage and reduction in kinetic cell activity after primary chemotherapy in human breast cancer is still a matter of investigation. 157 patients with T2-4, N0-1, M0 breast cancer received primary chemotherapy consisting of either the CMF regimen + tamoxifen (the first consecutive 76 cases) or the single agent epirubicin (the subsequent 81). Ki67, p53, bcl2, c-erbB2 and steroid hormone receptors were evaluated immunohistochemically in tumour specimens obtained before chemotherapy and at surgery. Tumour shrinkage of >50% occurred in 72.4% of patients. Ki67 expression significantly decreased after chemotherapy; the reduction correlated with tumour response in both univariate (P < 0.005) and multivariate analysis (P = 0.02). p53, bcl-2, steroid hormone receptor and c-erbB2 immunostaining were scarcely affected. Baseline bcl2 (P = 0.04) and c-erbB2 (P = 0.02) were directly and inversely associated with the reduction in Ki67 immunostaining, respectively. Baseline p53 expression (P < 0.01) was directly related with Ki67 expression at residual tumour, whereas oestrogen receptor expression (P < 0.001) was inversely related. Ki67 at residual tumour was a better predictor for relapse-free survival (RFS) than baseline Ki67. Clinical response (P < 0.03), but not reduction in Ki67, was a significant independent predictor for disease recurrence. Chemotherapy was found to induce tumour shrinkage and to reduce the number of cells in the cell cycle, but its effect on tumour biology/aggressiveness was minimal. Reduction in Ki67 immunostaining correlated with clinical response but failed to be related to RFS. Ki67 expression at surgery rather than at baseline appears to be a better predictor for disease relapse. © 2001 Cancer Research Campaign  http://www.bjcancer.co

Co-administration of H-ferritin-doxorubicin and Trastuzumab in neoadjuvant setting improves efficacy and prevents cardiotoxicity in HER2 + murine breast cancer model

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy has been established as the standard of care for HER2-positive breast cancer since it allows cancer down-staging, up to pathological complete response. The standard of care in the neoadjuvant setting for HER2-positive breast cancer is a combination of highly cytotoxic drugs such as anthracyclines and the anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody. Despite this cocktail allows a pathological complete response in up to 50%, their co-administration is strongly limited by intrinsic cardiotoxicity. Therefore, only a sequential administration of anthracyclines and the anti-HER2 treatment is allowed. Here, we propose the anthracycline formulation in H-Ferritin nanocages as promising candidate to solve this unmet clinical need, thanks to its capability to increase anthracyclines efficacy while reducing their cardiotoxicity. Treating a murine model of HER2-positive breast cancer with co-administration of Trastuzumab and H-Ferritin anthracycline nanoformulation, we demonstrate an improved tumor penetration of drugs, leading to increased anticancer efficacy and reduced of cardiotoxicity