A cross-sectional study on prevalence and predictors of burnout among a sample of pharmacists employed in pharmacies in Central Italy

Burnout is defined as an occupational phenomenon linked to chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed and included among the factors influencing health status or contact with health services. Although several studies were performed for assessing this phenomenon, there is a lack of data on the prevalence of burnout and associated predictors, due to different definitions of the syndrome and heterogeneity of assessment methods. One of the well-known evidences on burnout is related to the highest risk professions, which include policemen, firemen, teachers, psychologists, medical students, nurses, physicians, and other health professionals, such as pharmacists. Objective. The aims of the present study were to (1) assess the occurrence of burnout syndrome among a sample of pharmacists employed in public and private pharmacies located in Rome province (Latium Region; central Italy); (2) evaluate the role of some potential predictors for the development of the syndrome. Materials and Methods. A questionnaire elaborated ad hoc was administered online to 2,000 members of the Association of Professional Pharmacists of Rome and its province and employed in public or private pharmacies. The questionnaire included the 14-item Shirom-Melamed Burnout Measure (SMBM) tool and questions on demographic characteristics and working conditions. Results. Physical exhaustion was the burnout dimension with the highest score; besides, approximately 11% of the studied pharmacists were categorized as having clinically relevant burnout levels (≥4.40). Several of the investigated variables significantly influenced the single burnout dimensions at the univariate analyses; multivariate analyses demonstrated that alcohol consumption and workplace location have a significant independent role on the overall SMBM index, while working time significantly influences clinically relevant burnout level. Conclusions. The results revealed that pharmacists are at risk of burnout, and thus, it is necessary to perform specific preventive intervention for managing this occupational threat

Nuclear Physics from lattice QCD at strong coupling

We study numerically the strong coupling limit of lattice QCD with one flavor of massless staggered quarks. We determine the complete phase diagram as a function of temperature and chemical potential, including a tricritical point. We clarify the nature of the low temperature dense phase, which is strongly bound nuclear matter. This strong binding is explained by the nuclear potential, which we measure. Finally, we determine, from this first-principle limiting case of QCD, the masses of atomic nuclei up to A=12 "carbon".Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures; v2: references added, minor changes, published versio

Two-nucleon emission in the longitudinal response

The contribution of the two-nucleon emission in the longitudinal response for inclusive electron scattering reactions is studied. The model adopted to perform the calculations is based upon Correlated Basis Function theory but it considers only first order terms in the correlation function. The proper normalization of the wave function is ensured by considering, in addition to the usually evaluated two-point diagrams, also the three-point diagrams. Results for the 12C nucleus in the quasi-elastic region are presented.Comment: 7 pages, 4 Postscript figure

First measurements of the ^16O(e,e'pn)^14N reaction

This paper reports on the first measurement of the ^16O(e,e'pn)^14N reaction. Data were measured in kinematics centred on a super-parallel geometry at energy and momentum transfers of 215 MeV and 316 MeV/c. The experimental resolution was sufficient to distinguish groups of states in the residual nucleus but not good enough to separate individual states. The data show a strong dependence on missing momentum and this dependence appears to be different for two groups of states in the residual nucleus. Theoretical calculations of the reaction using the Pavia code do not reproduce the shape or the magnitude of the data.Comment: 10 pages, 11 figures, 2 tables, Accepted for publication in EPJ

A model for two-proton emission induced by electron scattering

A model to study two-proton emission processes induced by electron scattering is developed. The process is induced by one-body electromagnetic operators acting together with short-range correlations, and by two-body $\Delta$ currents. The model includes all the diagrams containing a single correlation function. A test of the sensitivity of the model to the various theoretical inputs is done. An investigation of the relevance of the $\Delta$ currents is done by changing the final state angular momentum, excitation energy and momentum transfer. The sensitivity of the cross section to the details of the correlation function is studied by using realistic and schematic correlations. Results for $^{12}$C, $^{16}$O and $^{40}$Ca nuclei are presented.Comment: 30 pages, 18 figures, 3 table

Convergence of Ginzburg-Landau functionals in 3-d superconductivity

In this paper we consider the asymptotic behavior of the Ginzburg- Landau model for superconductivity in 3-d, in various energy regimes. We rigorously derive, through an analysis via {\Gamma}-convergence, a reduced model for the vortex density, and we deduce a curvature equation for the vortex lines. In a companion paper, we describe further applications to superconductivity and superfluidity, such as general expressions for the first critical magnetic field H_{c1}, and the critical angular velocity of rotating Bose-Einstein condensates.Comment: 45 page

Jastrow-type calculations of one-nucleon removal reactions on open ss-dd shell nuclei

Single-particle overlap functions and spectroscopic factors are calculated on the basis of Jastrow-type one-body density matrices of open-shell nuclei constructed by using a factor cluster expansion. The calculations use the relationship between the overlap functions corresponding to bound states of the $(A-1)$-particle system and the one-body density matrix for the ground state of the $A$-particle system. In this work we extend our previous analyses of reactions on closed-shell nuclei by using the resulting overlap functions for the description of the cross sections of $(p,d)$ reactions on the open $s$-$d$ shell nuclei $^{24}$Mg, $^{28}$Si and $^{32}$S and of $^{32}$S$(e,e^{\prime}p)$ reaction. The relative role of both shell structure and short-range correlations incorporated in the correlation approach on the spectroscopic factors and the reaction cross sections is pointed out.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figures, to be published in Phys. Rev.

Differential diagnosis between Marfan syndrome and Loeys–Dietz syndrome type 4: A novel chromosomal deletion covering tgfb2

Marfan syndrome (MFS) and Loeys–Dietz syndrome type 4 (LDS4) are two hereditary connective tissue disorders. MFS displays ectopia lentis as a distinguishing, characterising feature, and thoracic aortic ectasia, aneurysm, dissection, and systemic features as manifestations overlapping with LDS4. LDS4 is characterised by the presence of hypertelorism, cleft palate and/or bifid uvula, with possible ectasia or aneurysms in other arteries. The variable age of onset of clinical manifestations makes clinical diagnosis more difficult. In this study, we report the case of a patient with Marfan syndrome diagnosed at our centre at the age of 33 on the basis of typical clinical manifestations of this syndrome. At the age of 38, the appearance of ectasia of the left common iliac artery and tortuosity of the iliac arteries suggested the presence of LDS4. Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) analysis, followed by Array-CGH, allowed the detection of a novel chromosomal deletion including the entire TGFB2 gene, confirming not only the clinical suspicion of LDS4, but also the clinical phenotype associated with the haploinsufficiency mechanism, which is, in turn, associated with the deletion of the entire gene. The same mutation was detected in the two young sons. This emblematic case confirms that we must be very careful in the differential diagnosis of these two pathologies, especially before the age of 40, and that, in young subjects suspected to be affected by MFS in particular, we must verify the diagnosis, extending genetic analysis, when necessary, to the search for chromosomal alterations. Recently, ectopia lentis has been reported in a patient with LDS4, confirming the tight overlap between the two syndromes. An accurate revision of the clinical parameters both characterising and overlapping the two pathologies is highly desirable