Optimal Pooling in Claims Resolution Facilities

A class of nonlinear stochastic processes satysfying a "Lipschitz-type strip condition" and supplied by a linear output equation, is considered. Robust asymptotic (high-gain) state estimation for nonlinear stochastic processes via differential neural networks is discussed. A new type learning law for the weight dynamics is suggested. By a stochastic Lyapunov-like analysis (with Ito formula implementation), the stability conditions for the state estimation error as well as for the neural network weights are established. The upper bound for this error is derived. The numerical example, dealing with "module"-type nonlinearities, illustrates the effectiveness of the suggested approach

Baryon-Baryon Interactions from Lattice QCD

We report on new attempt to investigate baryon-baryon interactions in lattice QCD. From the Bethe-Salpeter (BS) wave function, we have successfully extracted the nucleon-nucleon ($NN$) potentials in quenched QCD simulations, which reproduce qualitative features of modern $NN$ potentials. The method has been extended to obtain the tensor potential as well as the central potential and also applied to the hyperon-nucleon ($YN$) interactions, in both quenched and full QCD.Comment: 6 pages, 10 figures, A plenary talk given at the 5-th International Conference on Quark and Nuclear Physics, Beijing, September 21-26, 200

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

Spin-Orbit Force from Lattice QCD

We present a first attempt to determine nucleon-nucleon potentials in the parity-odd sector, which appear in 1P1, 3P0, 3P1, 3P2-3F2 channels, in Nf=2 lattice QCD simulations. These potentials are constructed from the Nambu-Bethe-Salpeter wave functions for J^P=0^-, 1^- and 2^-, which correspond to A1^-, T1^- and T2^- + E^- representation of the cubic group, respectively. We have found a large and attractive spin-orbit potential VLS(r) in the isospin-triplet channel, which is qualitatively consistent with the phenomenological determination from the experimental scattering phase shifts. The potentials obtained from lattice QCD are used to calculate the scattering phase shifts in 1P1, 3P0, 3P1 and 3P2-3F2 channels. The strong attractive spin-orbit force and a weak repulsive central force in spin-triplet P-wave channels lead to an attraction in the 3P2 channel, which is related to the P-wave neutron paring in neutron stars.Comment: 14 pages, 5 figures, Physics Letters B published versio

Kaon-Nucleon potential from lattice QCD

We study the KN interactions in the I(J^{\pi})=0(1/2^-) and 1(1/2^-) channels and associated exotic state \Theta^+ from 2+1 flavor full lattice QCD simulation for relatively heavy quark mass corresponding to m_{\pi}=871 MeV. The s-wave KN potentials are obtained from the Bethe-Salpeter wave function by using the method recently developed by HAL QCD (Hadrons to Atomic nuclei from Lattice QCD) Collaboration. Potentials in both channels reveal short range repulsions: Strength of the repulsion is stronger in the I=1 potential, which is consistent with the prediction of the Tomozawa-Weinberg term. The I=0 potential is found to have attractive well at mid range. From these potentials, the $KN$ scattering phase shifts are calculated and compared with the experimental data.Comment: Talk given at 19th International IUPAP Conference on Few-Body Problems in Physics (fb19), Bonn, Germany, 30 Aug - 5 Sep 200

Colossal electroresistance and colossal magnetoresistive step in paramagnetic insulating phase of single crystalline bilayered manganite(La0.4_{0.4}Pr0.6_{0.6})1.2_{1.2}Sr1.8_{1.8}Mn2_{2}O7_{7}

We report a significant decrease in the low-temperature resistance induced by the application of an electric current on the $ab$-plane in the paramagnetic insulating (PMI) state of (La$_{0.4}$Pr$_{0.6}$)$_{1.2}$Sr$_{1.8}$Mn$_{2}$O$_{7}$. A colossal electroresistance effect attaining -95% is observed at lower temperatures. A colossal magnetoresistive step appears near 5T at low temperatures below 10K, accompanied by an ultrasharp width of the insulator-metal transition. Injection of higher currents to the crystal causes a disappearance of the steplike transition. These findings have a close relationship with the presence of the short-range charge-ordered clusters pinned within the PMI matrix of the crystal studied.Comment: 4 pages 3 figure

Mirage in Temporal Correlation functions for Baryon-Baryon Interactions in Lattice QCD

Single state saturation of the temporal correlation function is a key condition to extract physical observables such as energies and matrix elements of hadrons from lattice QCD simulations. A method commonly employed to check the saturation is to seek for a plateau of the observables for large Euclidean time. Identifying the plateau in the cases having nearby states, however, is non-trivial and one may even be misled by a fake plateau. Such a situation takes place typically for the system with two or more baryons. In this study, we demonstrate explicitly the danger from a possible fake plateau in the temporal correlation functions mainly for two baryons ($\Xi\Xi$ and $NN$), and three and four baryons ($^3{\rm He}$ and $^4{\rm He})$ as well, employing (2+1)-flavor lattice QCD at $m_{\pi}=0.51$ GeV on four lattice volumes with $L=$ 2.9, 3.6, 4.3 and 5.8 fm. Caution is given for drawing conclusion on the bound $NN$, $3N$ and $4N$ systems only based on the temporal correlation functions.Comment: 32 pages, 13 figures, minor corrections, published version, typos correcte

Nucleon-nucleon interactions via Lattice QCD: Methodology --HAL QCD approach to extract hadronic interactions in lattice QCD--

We review the potential method in lattice QCD, which has recently been proposed to extract nucleon-nucleon interactions via numerical simulations. We focus on the methodology of this approach by emphasizing the strategy of the potential method, the theoretical foundation behind it, and special numerical techniques. We compare the potential method with the standard finite volume method in lattice QCD, in order to make pros and cons of the approach clear. We also present several numerical results for the nucleon-nucleon potentials.Comment: 12 pages, 10 figure