Quantum entanglement and the Bell Matrix

We present a class of maximally entangled states generated by a high-dimensional generalisation of the \textsc{cnot} gate. The advantage of our approach is the simple algebraic structure of both entangling operator and resulting entangled states. In order to show that the method can be applied to any dimension, we introduce new sufficient conditions for global and maximal entanglement with respect to Meyer and Wallach's measure.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figure

PLOS ONE 2017 Reviewer and Editorial Board Thank You.

PLOS and the PLOS ONE team would like to express our appreciation for our academic editors, guest editors, and reviewers who contributed to the peer-review process this past year. We are indebted to volunteers who generously give their time and expertise to thoroughly review research and advance Open Access. In 2017, PLOS ONE received the help of over 4,400 Editorial Board members and 500 guest editors to curate nearly 45,000 submissions. Along with the participation of 63,000 reviewers, we were able to publish more than 20,000 articles with meaningful and impactful results. The names of our 2017 editors that handled submitted manuscripts appear in the Supporting Information as S1 Editor List and as S1 Guest Editor List. Our reviewers appear in the Supporting Information as S1–S5 Reviewer List. With genuine gratitude, we thank you all for your dedicated support of PLOS ONE and our efforts to promote Open Science, thereby contributing to the scientific community as a whole. Thank you all

Total Parathyroidectomy with Subcutaneous Parathyroid Forearm Autotransplantation in the Treatment of Secondary Hyperparathyroidism: A Single-Center Experience.

Abstract Introduction Secondary hyperparathyroidism is common in chronic kidney disease. Parathyroidectomy is indicated in refractory hyperparathyroidism when medical treatments and so the parathyroid hormone levels cannot be lowered to acceptable values without causing significant hyperphosphatemia or hypercalcemia. The aim of this study is to compare the efficacy and safety of total parathyroidectomy with subcutaneous forearm autotransplantation with total parathyroidectomy with intramuscular forearm autotransplantation. Materials and Methods A single-center retrospective cohort study of total parathyroidectomy with forearm autotransplantation from January 2002 to February 2013 was performed. According to the surgical technique, patients were divided into an intramuscular group (Group 1) and a subcutaneous group (Group 2). 38 patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism were enrolled; 23 patients were subjected to total parathyroidectomy with parathyroid tissue replanting in the subcutaneous forearm of the upper nondominant limb, while 15 patients were subjected to replanting in the intramuscular seat. Results A total of 38 patients (56 ± 13 years) were enrolled. In both groups, the preoperative iPTH value was markedly high, 1750 ± 619 pg/ml in the intramuscular autotransplantation group and 1527 ± 451 pg/ml in the subcutaneous autotransplantation group (p = 0.079). Transient hypoparathyroidism was shown in 7 patients, and 1 patient showed persistent hypoparathyroidism (p = 0.387). 2 patients showed persistent hyperparathyroidism (p = 0.816), and in 2 others was found recurrent hyperparathyroidism (p = 0.816); 3 of them underwent autograftectomy. The anterior compartment of the forearm nondominant limb was sacrificed in 1 case of intramuscular autotransplantation with functional arm deficit. Conclusions The efficacy and safety of parathyroid tissue autotransplantation in the subcutaneous forearm of the upper nondominant limb is confirmed with a good rate of tissue engraftment and with a comparable number of postsurgical transient and persistent hypoparathyroidism and hyperparathyroidism incidence in both techniques. Furthermore, this technique preserves arm functionality in the case of autograftectomy. Consequently, it is our opinion that total parathyroidectomy with subcutaneous forearm autotransplantation is currently the best choice

Equivalence of Effective Medium and Random Resistor Network models for disorder-induced unsaturating linear magnetoresistance

A linear unsaturating magnetoresistance at high perpendicular magnetic fields, together with a quadratic positive magnetoresistance at low fields, has been seen in many different experimental materials, ranging from silver chalcogenides and thin films of InSb to topological materials like graphene and Dirac semimetals. In the literature, two very different theoretical approaches have been used to explain this classical magnetoresistance as a consequence of sample disorder. The phenomenological Random Resistor Network model constructs a grid of four-terminal resistors, each with a varying random resistance. The Effective Medium Theory model imagines a smoothly varying disorder potential that causes a continuous variation of the local conductivity. Here, we demonstrate numerically that both models belong to the same universality class and that a restricted class of the Random Resistor Network is actually equivalent to the Effective Medium Theory. Both models are also in good agreement with experiments on a diverse range of materials. Moreover, we show that in both cases, a single parameter, i.e. the ratio of the fluctuations in the carrier density to the average carrier density, completely determines the magnetoresistance profile.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figure

Psychological, emotional and social impairments are associated with adherence and healthcare spending in type 2 diabetic patients: an observational study

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to assess the association among anxiety, depression, stress, social support and emotional abilities with adherence and healthcare spending in type 2 diabetic patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty-four patients were enrolled and completed: Interpersonal Processes of Care (IPC), 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), Rapid Stress Assessment Scale (RSAS), Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-4), International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)-Short Form and a socio-anamnestic questionnaire regarding also the healthcare spending. RESULTS: Mathematical linear regressions models were performed showing the predictive effects of: anxiety and social support scores (RSAS) on adherence levels (respectively p =. 019; p =. 016); adherence levels on anxiolytic use (p =.04); aggressiveness scores (RSAS) on the number of general check-ups (p =.031); TAS-20 and physician-patient communication (IPC) on the number of hospitalization days (respectively p=.001; p=.008); physician patient decision making (IPC) scores on physical activity (IPAQ) levels (p=.025); physical activity (IPAQ) on the number of medical examinations (p=.039). CONCLUSIONS: An association among psychosocial impairment, adherence and health- care spending was found. Future studies should investigate the effect of a brief psychological intervention in increasing adherence levels and reducing the healthcare spending in this clinical population

Emotional management and biological markers of dietetic regimen in chronic kidney disease patients

The aim of the study was to investigate the association between psychological characteristics and biological markers of adherence in chronic kidney disease patients receiving conservative therapy, hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis (PD), or kidney transplantation. Seventy-nine adult patients were asked to complete the following questionnaires: Toronto Alexithymia scale, Snaith–Hamilton Pleasure Scale, and Short Form Health Survey. Biological markers of adherence to treatment were measured. Peritoneal dialysis patients showed a lower capacity to feel pleasure from sensorial experience (p = .011) and a higher values of phosphorus compared to the other patients’ groups (p = .0001). The inability to communicate emotions was negatively correlated with hemoglobin levels (r = −(0).69; p = .001) and positively correlated with phosphorus values in the PD patients (r = .45; p = .050). Findings showed higher psychological impairments and a lower adherence to the treatment in PD patients and suggest the implication of emotional competence in adherence to treatment.The aim of the study was to investigate the association between psychological characteristics and biological markers of adherence in chronic kidney disease patients receiving conservative therapy, hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis (PD), or kidney transplantation. Seventy-nine adult patients were asked to complete the following questionnaires: Toronto Alexithymia scale, Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale, and Short Form Health Survey. Biological markers of adherence to treatment were measured. Peritoneal dialysis patients showed a lower capacity to feel pleasure from sensorial experience (p = .011) and a higher values of phosphorus compared to the other patients' groups (p = .0001). The inability to communicate emotions was negatively correlated with hemoglobin levels (r = -(0).69; p = .001) and positively correlated with phosphorus values in the PD patients (r = .45; p = .050). Findings showed higher psychological impairments and a lower adherence to the treatment in PD patients and suggest the implication of emotional competence in adherence to treatment

Family firms and innovation: the role of ventured-start-ups

Technological innovation can be defined as the set of activities through which a firm conceives, designs, manufactures, and introduces a new product, technology, system or technique (Freeman, 1976). It can take place according to different strategies: through internal R&D and by mean of external knowledge acquisition (Cassiman and Veugelers, 2006). Extant studies are predominantly focused on the analysis of the \u201cinternal perspective\u201d, while there is a research gap on how firms can reach technological innovation by mean of venture capital initiatives (Dushnitsky and Lenox, 2005). The present paper aims to fill this gap by focusing on how family small and medium entities (SMEs) may develop technological innovations by creating ventured start-ups. In particular, considering the previous studies which identified the family firms\u2019 peculiar characteristics in terms of processes like corporate governance (Randoy and Goel, 2003), internationalization (Zahra, 2003), entrepreneurship (Naldi et al., 2007) and financing (Romano et al., 2001), the research investigates how the family firm\u2019s ownership structure affects its technological innovation activities and outcomes (Hoskisson et al., 2002)

The governmentality of corporate (un)sustainability: the case of the ILVA steel plant in Taranto (Italy)

The present research aims to investigate the role of states in governing the sustain- ability trajectories and decisions of companies and their local communities. Draw- ing on Dean’s (Governmentality: power and rule in modern society, SAGE, London, 2009) “analytics of government” as the theoretical framework, the paper focuses on detecting how the Italian Government “problematised” the sustainability-related risks associated with the ILVA steel plant in Taranto, whose levels of pollution have worried both the Italian authorities and the European Union Commission. The anal- ysis also considers the “regimes of governance” under which the risks have been addressed and then explains the “utopian ideal” that the Italian Government tried to achieve by allowing the company to continue its activity, contrary to the Italian Judiciary’s provision to halt the hot working area of the steel plant in July 2012. Patterns related to Dean’s framework were identi ed through an iterative process of manual elaborative coding of the o cial documents ascribable to the main actors involved in governing the sustainability-related risks at ILVA. The ndings show that the Italian Government took its decisions on ILVA in the name of relevant risks of unemployment, economic development and territorial competitiveness. The Ital- ian Government adopted several practices of governance to make these risks more “visible” and to silence the environmental and health risks that, otherwise, would have emphasised the unsustainability of the business activities. The paper extends the growing body of research that investigates corporate (un)sustainability practices by showing how states may directly in uence sustainability-related corporate risks in the name of a higher public interest

Substrati artificiali per gli interventi di ripristino ambientale in aree contaminate da metalli pesanti

Mining activities can have a large local impact on the environment, in particular for the soils the problems are toxicity, high concentrations of heavy metals and low concentrations of nutrients and they are the cause of the difficulty in the development of plant species in these areas. In order to perform an environmental restoration, in these areas it is necessary to intervene on the ground by means of the substrates that are able to support the development of the vegetation (Tordoff et al., 2000). In mining areas it is necessary to intervene with the substrates to enhance growth of vegetation (Tordoff et al., 2000). In Sardinia, the mining activity has caused big changes of the territory with consequent problems of degradation and environmental impact. The problem of management of industrial structures and of the enormous amount of deposits of potentially polluting materials are created by the cessation of mining activities (Bacchetta et al., 2007). The purpose of this work is to study the development of methodologies, using a technical-scientific approach to use man-made substrates in environmental restoration in areas contaminated by heavy metals. This objective was pursued through the study of different man-made substrates, obtained by mixing different percentages of contaminated soil with dedicated substrates. The dedicated substrates were obtained by mixing different raw materials according to specific proportions. The considered disused mining area is that of Montevecchio, western Sardinia, in the area of Sulcis-Iglesias-Guspinese, identified as the site of reclamation of national interest (DM 468/01) and bounded by Decree of the Ministry of Environment and Protection of Land and Sea of 12 March 2003 (Plan Reclamation of disused mining areas of Sulcis-Iglesias-Guspinese, 2008). The contaminated soil was collected from the tailings pond in the mine of Montevecchio. After an analysis of previous studies and a careful bibliographic search, it was decided to use like plant species: Artemisia arborescens L. (Fam. Asteraceae), a native plant and colonizing plant; the Nerium oleander, a perennial plant that can be sampled throughout the year and the Populus Nigra L. Italica, a fast-growing species with a percentage of rooting for vegetative reproduction of 65%. All individuals of the populations used in the experiment were obtained through the taking of clones from mother plants growned in the wild. Subsequently the selected plants were propagated by agamic reproduction, through cuttings. The cuttings were grown in the greenhouse in plateaux and after rooting, were transplanted into pots, previously filled with the man-made substrate. The clones were placed in the greenhouse, in conditions of controlled temperature and humidity and regularly irrigated by drip. Weekly have been verified the plant health condition and the growth of the aerial part by detecting heights of plants by measuring the distance between the plane of the edge of the pot and the apical part of the plant. For each man-made substrate it was determined the content of C, H and N, pH, CSC, EC, the content of heavy metals and nutrients. The efficiency of the substrates were determined by the development of the growth curves, obtained by the mean value of the parameter biometric height. By the comparison between the curves it was possible to measure the influence of the genetic variability on the growth of different clonal populations planted in the same substrate and the influence of different substrate on the same clonal population

Emotional management and quality of life in mother living versus multi-organ donor renal transplant recipients

The aim of this study was to evaluate psychological differences and quality of life between kidney recipients from living (mother) and multi-organ donor. Overall, 40 patients who had undergone both living (mother) and multi-organ kidney transplantation 3–6months before were asked to complete four self-report instruments: Toronto Alexithymia Scale, Short Form Health Survey, Regulatory Emotional Self-efficacy, and Attachment Style Questionnaire. A greater difficulty in emotional, social, and mental health functioning was found in recipients receiving kidney from mother living donor. Moreover, in these patients, higher levels of avoidant attachment dimensions were associated with a worse quality of lif