Upper bound on singlet fraction of two-qubit mixed entangled states

We demonstrate a new method to achieve the maximum singlet fraction using an entangled mixed two-qubit state as a resource. For this, we establish a tight upper bound on singlet fraction and show that the maximal singlet fraction obtained in Verstraete and Verschelde (Phys Rev Lett 90:097901(1)–097901(4), 2003) does not attain the upper bound on the singlet fraction derived here. Interestingly, we found that the required upper bound can, in fact, be achieved using local filtering operations.     

Generalized form of optimal teleportation witnesses

We propose a generalized form of optimal teleportation witness to demonstrate their importance in experimental detection of the larger set of entangled states useful for teleportation in higher dimensional systems. The interesting properties of our witness reveal that teleportation witness can be used to characterize mixed state entanglement using Schmidt numbers. Our results show that while every teleportation witness is also a entanglement witness, the converse is not true. Also, we show that a hermitian operator is a teleportation witness iff it is a decomposable entanglement witness. In addition, we analyze the practical significance of our study by decomposing our teleportation witness in terms of Pauli and Gell-Mann matrices, which are experimentally measurable quantities.     

Solar drying vs. open sun drying: A framework for financial evaluation

Initiatives towards large-scale dissemination of solar dryers for drying of agri-produce face severe competition from the largely prevalent practice of open sun drying in most of the developing countries. Therefore, solar drying systems must offer exceptionally attractive financial gains to enhance their acceptance among the potential users. A modest attempt to develop a simple framework to facilitate a comparison of the financial feasibility of solar drying as against open sun drying has been made in the present work. Results of some exemplifying calculations are presented and briefly discussed.     

An evaluation of the optical fiber beam as a force sensor

The present study reports the use of an intensity based plastic optical fiber (POF) as a force sensor. Different materials for beam, such as spring steel and mild steel, are used to evaluate the performance of the force sensor during macro-bending. The POF is surface bonded to a beam and subjected to force. The system relies on monitoring the light intensity, as the POF is subjected to transversal loading conditions. Experimentally obtained output of POF which could be measured with negligible hysteresis is compared with finite element analysis in the range between 0.0098 N to 19.613 N. The reproducibility of the sensor is observed in the limit of ±1%. The finding of this study highlights the potential use of POF sensors for various force sensing applications.     

Light Amplification and Efficient Electroluminescence from a Solution-Processable Diketopyrrolopyrrole Derivative via Triplet-to-Singlet Upconversion

Over the years, achieving efficient electroluminescence (EL) while simultaneously having low light amplification thresholds under optical excitation has been the key to progression toward the long-thought objective of electrically pumped organic lasers. While significant progress in this regard has been made for organic semiconductors emitting in the blue–green region of the visible spectrum, organic laser dyes with low-energy emission (>600 nm) still suffer from high amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) thresholds and low external quantum efficiencies (EQEs) in devices. Herein, low ASE thresholds and efficient EL are reported from a solution-processable organic laser dye dithiophenyl diketopyrrolopyrrole (DT-DPP). The ASE threshold of 4 µJ cm⁻² at the wavelength of 620 nm is obtained while making constructive use of triplet excitons by doping DT-DPP in a green-emitting host matrix, which exhibits thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF). The organic light-emitting diode fabricated from this system gives a high EQE of 7.9% due to the efficient utilization of triplet excitons. Transient EL studies further show that a high reverse intersystem crossing rate is crucial in achieving lasing under electrical pumping from such TADF-assisted fluorescent systems.     

Growth,characterizations, and the structural elucidation of diethyl-2-(3-oxoiso-1,3-dihydrobenzofuran-1-ylidene)malonate crystalline specimen for dielectric and electronic filters,thermal, optical,mechanical, and biomedical applications using conventional experimental and theoretical practices

Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics - The single crystals of diethyl-2-(3-oxoiso-1,3-dihydrobenzofuran-1-ylidene) malonate (D23DYM) were grown successfully and efficiently by the...     

A meta-analytic review of the relationship between absence and turnover.

A meta-analysis that combined 33 correlations from 17 studies found a corrected average correlation of .330 between absence and turnover. The type of absence measure did not moderate the covariation between absence and turnover, but industry type and study duration did act as moderators. The results are discussed in the context of the "withdrawal" approach to understanding employee behaviors. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Influence of grain boundary sliding on diffusion in yttria doped zirconia

Grain boundary sliding during high temperature deformation can lead to stress concentrations and an enhancement of diffusion in mobile boundaries. Experiments were conducted on a fine grained 3 mol% yttria stabilized tetragonal zirconia, under conditions associated with superplastic flow involving grain boundary sliding. Tracer diffusion studies under creep conditions and without load indicate that there is no enhancement in either the lattice or grain boundary diffusivities. The experimental creep data are consistent with an interface controlled diffusion creep mechanism.     

Aromatase and dual aromatase-steroid sulfatase inhibitors from the letrozole and vorozole templates

Concurrent inhibition of aromatase and steroid sulfatase (STS) may provide a more effective treatment for hormone‐dependent breast cancer than monotherapy against individual enzymes, and several dual aromatase–sulfatase inhibitors (DASIs) have been reported. Three aromatase inhibitors with sub‐nanomolar potency, better than the benchmark agent letrozole, were designed. To further explore the DASI concept, a new series of letrozole‐derived sulfamates and a vorozole‐based sulfamate were designed and biologically evaluated in JEG‐3 cells to reveal structure–activity relationships. Amongst achiral and racemic compounds, 2‐bromo‐4‐(2‐(4‐cyanophenyl)‐2‐(1H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐1‐yl)ethyl)phenyl sulfamate is the most potent DASI (aromatase: IC₅₀=0.87 nM ; STS: IC₅₀=593 nM ). The enantiomers of the phenolic precursor to this compound were separated by chiral HPLC and their absolute configuration determined by X‐ray crystallography. Following conversion to their corresponding sulfamates, the S‐(+)‐enantiomer was found to inhibit aromatase and sulfatase most potently (aromatase: IC₅₀=0.52 nM ; STS: IC₅₀=280 nM ). The docking of each enantiomer and other ligands into the aromatase and sulfatase active sites was also investigated.     

Structure-activity relationship for the first-in-class clinical steroid sulfatase inhibitor Irosustat (STX64, BN83495)

Structure–activity relationship studies were conducted on Irosustat (STX64, BN83495), the first steroid sulfatase (STS) inhibitor to enter diverse clinical trials for patients with advanced hormone‐dependent cancer. The size of its aliphatic ring was expanded; its sulfamate group was N,N‐dimethylated, relocated to another position and flanked by an adjacent methoxy group; and series of quinolin‐2(1H)‐one and quinoline derivatives of Irosustat were explored. The STS inhibitory activities of the synthesised compounds were assessed in a preparation of JEG‐3 cells. Stepwise enlargement of the aliphatic ring from 7 to 11 members increases potency, although a further increase in ring size is detrimental. The best STS inhibitors in vitro had IC₅₀ values between 0.015 and 0.025 nM . Other modifications made to Irosustat were found to either abolish or significantly weaken its activity. An azomethine adduct of Irosustat with N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF) was isolated, and crystal structures of Irosustat and this adduct were determined. Docking studies were conducted to explore the potential interactions between compounds and the active site of STS, and suggest a sulfamoyl group transfer to formylglycine 75 during the inactivation mechanism.