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Abstract Continuity of care for patients, that is ensuring patients are treated by a single physician, is one of the most important concerns for hospital management in regards to general medicine (inpatient) departments. Discontinuous care occurs when the number of patients various physicians are caring for becomes imbalanced and patients are transferred between physicians to correct this. This issue can be addressed by constructing rosters for the physicians which aim to balance their patient workloads and thereby improve the continuity of care that patients receive. A mixed integer programme, which uses admission information coupled with a model of the patient pathways, is formulated to generate cyclic rosters for general medicine physicians. The capabilities of the model are demonstrated by applying it to a New Zealand hospital. A solution technique is also proposed and numerical experiments performed on the demonstration instance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract African Americans report greater contamination aversion than European Americans. Few studies have attempted to identify potential causes for this elevated contamination aversion, though existing research and theory suggests this may be partly due to concomitant heightened disgust sensitivity. The present study examined the relations between race, disgust sensitivity, and contamination aversion among African and European Americans. A convenience sample of four-hundred and twenty-nine participants completed the Disgust Scale – Revised (DS-R) and the Padua Inventory – Revised (PI-R). African Americans endorsed greater disgust sensitivity (DS- R total) – particularly on the core and contamination subscales of the DS-R – and scored higher on the contamination subscale of the PI-R (but not on other subscales) than European Americans. Mediational analyses revealed a significant total effect of race on contamination aversion and a significant indirect effect of race on contamination aversion through disgust sensitivity; the direct effect of race on contamination aversion remained significant even after controlling for race. These findings suggest that elevated contamination aversions among African Americans may be partly due to elevated disgust sensitivity. If confirmed with larger and clinical samples, and more robust experimental methods, this relationship may prove to have implications for the treatment of contamination-based obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) among African Americans. Highlights • African Americans (N = 30) reported greater disgust sensitivity. • African Americans (N = 30) reported greater contamination aversion than European Americans (N = 399). • Disgust sensitivity mediated the effect of race on contamination aversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Albian Glen Rose Formation in central and west Texas records carbonate sedimentation in a broad epicontinental sea partly contemporaneous with Oceanic Anoxic Event 1b. The paleogeographic setting of the Comanche Platform facilitated the deposition of carbonate sediments that resulted in carbonate matrix-rich facies, with various amounts of allochems, which permitted the interpretation of shallow lagoon depositional settings. Geochemical proxies for environmental conditions (nutrient supply, detrital input, redox conditions) were calculated from the elemental geochemical analysis of samples, while their carbon and oxygen isotope composition was used to evaluate the impact of diagenesis. The statistical analysis of this dataset helps identify three intervals within the Glen Rose Formation where the matrix-rich carbonate sedimentation was modulated by environmental parameters. First, the strong correlation between MgO concentration and δ18O vectors on a Principal Component Analysis for the whole dataset confirms the deposition of dolomitic series with stromatolites in a restricted environment. Second, moderately high nutrient input and low detrital flux suggest that part of the sedimentation in west Texas was affected by upwelling. Third, mesotrophic conditions associated with a patch reef made of rudist bivalves support their suspension feeder ecological behavior. Conclusions drawn for this research may apply to other shallow-marine series deposited in broad epicontinental seas affected by greenhouse conditions. • Principal component analysis is applied to geochemical data. • Local and regional environmental conditions influenced Glen Rose deposition. • Upwelling impacted Albian carbonate production in West Texas. • In central Texas, salinity and nutrient supply shaped carbonate production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although cross-sectional research highlights similarities between symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among individuals exposed to sexual trauma, little is known about how these disorders relate over time. The goal of the present study was to examine whether 1) OCD symptoms prospectively predicted daily symptoms of PTSD, and 2) OCD and PTSD symptoms prospectively predicted daily experiences of sexual trauma-related mental contamination (i.e., dirtiness in the absence of a physical pollutant). Forty-one women with a sexual trauma history completed baseline measures of OCD and PTSD, as well as twice-daily assessments of PTSD symptoms and mental contamination over a two-week period. Total OCD symptoms and the unacceptable thoughts dimension significantly predicted daily PTSD symptoms after accounting for other OCD dimensions. Only total OCD symptoms significantly predicted daily mental contamination when examined together with total PTSD symptoms. No individual PTSD or OCD clusters/dimensions significantly predicted daily mental contamination when examined simultaneously. Findings from this study highlight the nuanced associations among OCD symptoms, PTSD symptoms, and experiences of mental contamination. Future research is needed to further understand the development of PTSD, OCD, and mental contamination over time to inform targets for intervention. • OCD total and unacceptable thoughts prospectively predicted daily PTSD symptoms. • OCD, but not PTSD, symptoms prospectively predicted daily mental contamination. • No individual symptom dimension/cluster predicted mental contamination above others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research advances in the rapidly growing field of polygeneration are highlighted. Although ‘polygeneration’ has had many meanings, the chemical engineering community has overwhelmingly settled on a meaning which describes a process that co-produces at least two products: electricity, and at least one chemical or fuel via a thermochemical route that does not rely on petroleum. The production of syngas is almost always the primary intermediate for energy conversion, but the feeds, products, technologies, and pathways vary widely. However, the choice of the most optimal polygeneration system is highly dependent on circumstance, and often results in systems with only one fuel or chemical co-produced with electricity. Conversely, the synergistic use of multiple types of feedstocks can have important profitability benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple emotional processes are implicated in the pathogenesis of obsessions and compulsions and individuals diagnosed with obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) have reliably shown deficits in response inhibition. Little research has tested how emotional processes might interact with cognitive control in the context of OCD. High contamination obsessive–compulsive (OC) and low contamination-OC participants completed an emotional go/no-go task to measure the interfering effects contamination-threat images relative to neutral images on action restraint (errors of commission). Results revealed that high contamination-OC participants committed marginally more commission errors (11.04%) than low contamination-OC participants (10.30%) on neutral no-go trials, but this effect was not significant ( p >.05). All participants committed significantly more errors of commission on contamination-threat trails relative to neutral no-go trials, p <.01, but the interfering effects of contamination-threat images was significantly larger ( p =.05) for high-contamination - OC participants. Errors of commission almost doubled for high contamination-OC participants on contamination-threat no-go trials (20.78%), compared to a more modest increase for low contamination-OC participants (14.80%). These findings suggest that individuals with elevated symptoms of OCD may have significantly more difficulty inhibiting their actions when processing disorder relevant or emotionally arousing information. This observation has implications for the pathogenesis of obsessions and compulsions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study sought to extend previous research by examining associations between physical activity levels, PTSD, and PTSD symptom clusters in a large, independent, nationally representative sample of U.S. military veterans. Using data from the 2019–2020 National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study (NHRVS), we examined relations between a comprehensive self-report measure of physical activity that reflects public health guidelines and a self-report measure of DSM-5-defined PTSD and a 7-factor model of PTSD symptom dimensions. A total of 3,875 participants completed all study measures. Post-stratification weights were applied to all analyses (weighted n = 3,732). Quadratic logistic regression revealed a significant (p <.05) U-shaped association between physical activity levels (insufficient, moderate, and active) and a positive PTSD screen. A moderate activity level was associated with the lowest likelihood of PTSD (3.8% adjusted probability) while an active level was associated with the highest likelihood of PTSD (7.8% adjusted probability). Multinomial logistic regression suggested that more severe posttraumatic intrusive symptoms, particularly nightmares, and anhedonic symptoms were associated with a significantly decreased probability of a moderate activity level (ps ≤.05, false discovery rate corrected). Findings suggest that a moderate physical activity level is associated with a lower likelihood of PTSD but that specific PTSD symptoms may be differentially associated with exercise behaviors. Candidate mechanisms and clinical implications of these findings are discussed. • A U-shaped association between physical activity levels and a PTSD screen was found. • Moderate activity level was associated with the lowest probability of PTSD. • PTSD symptom clusters were differentially associated with physical activity levels. • Intrusions, anhedonia, and externalizing behaviors were associated with activity levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: An unnamed nonmarine sedimentary package of rocks in southeastern Alaska in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve has provided the first evidence of dinosaurs for this vast region. The rock unit is contained within the Wrangellia Terrane and exposures are of limited geographic extent. The rock unit is considered to be latest Cretaceous age. Sections are overwhelmingly dominated by extraformational conglomerates. Fine- to medium-grained light coloured sandstones are common and medium grey shales occur as minor components of the sections. Megafloral specimens indicate an abundance of horsetails, ferns and gymnosperm wood. Rather than two-dimensional impressions, most ferns are preserved in three dimensions, suggesting rapid burial. The abundance of charcoal in these rocks suggests that this area during deposition was also prone to ecological disturbance. Field parties found evidence of a small theropod and ornithopods. A single theropod pes impression is approximately 9 cm long and 7 cm wide. Attribution to the Theropoda was based on the sinusoidal shape of the impression of the middle digit. An ornithopod impression, identified by clearly blunt and rounded digit impressions, is approximately 22 cm long and 26 cm wide. All impressions are under tracks. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Previous research has consistently shown that skin picking severity is related to levels of impulsivity, thus justifying the classification of Skin Picking Disorder (SPD) as an Impulsive Control Disorder. However, the American Psychiatric Association has proposed that SPD be categorized as an obsessive–compulsive and related disorder (OCRD). This decision is supported by a mixed body of data, which shows that SPD might be related to symptoms of negative affectivity (e.g., anxiety and depression) and compulsivity. To date, no study has simultaneously tested the relations between impulsivity, negative affectivity, and skin picking; therefore the unique associations between these constructs in still unknown. The present study tested the degree to which skin picking severity is related to specific components of impulsivity and negative affectivity. Results indicated that skin picking severity was significantly related to cognitive impulsivity and was not uniquely related to any other components of impulsivity or any components of negative affectivity. Moreover, this effect was restricted to participants who endorsed self-injurious skin picking. These results support the categorization of SPD as an Impulsive Control Disorder, but fail to support the categorization of SPD as an OCRD. Limitation and future directions are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Plantation transformation is a goal of increasing interest to silviculturalists. The target forest state is characterised by high variance in age and size, and an irregular spatial structure, which leads to inhomogeneous interactions between, and consequent development of, trees in the stand. This presents a difficulty for traditional methods such as yield tables, and demands a more careful consideration of stand dynamics. On the other hand, while forestry has a great heritage of simulation, the level of complexity implemented at an individual level generally precludes direct understanding of stand scale behaviours, and leads to difficulties in verification with appropriate data. A promising approach is the application of relatively simple models developed by ecologists. These can be adapted to yield accurate representations of forest stands, while being highly amenable to analysis. Motivated by data from Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stands, we here apply a simple spatial birth-death-growth model to the comparison and analysis of transformation strategies for plantation stands. The model captures the effects of neighbours in a way which retains the conceptual simplicity of a generic, analytically solvable model, while allowing insights into the driving factors of population dynamics. Timing and intensity of management interventions, as opposed to their specific criteria, are of primary importance: thinnings of a moderate intensity performed over a long period produced the best results. Variation in the strategy applied leads to more subtle effects which transformation strategies must also take into account, such as the development of variation in size of the remaining trees (increased using spatially correlated thinnings), the survival chances of regeneration and “underplanted” trees, and the overall productivity of the stand (increased using spatially homogeneous crown thinning). Finally, we demonstrate the robustness of model predictions to fundamental choices of model formulation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Lagrangian analysis is a powerful way to analyse the output of ocean circulation models and other ocean velocity data such as from altimetry. In the Lagrangian approach, large sets of virtual particles are integrated within the three-dimensional, time-evolving velocity fields. Over several decades, a variety of tools and methods for this purpose have emerged. Here, we review the state of the art in the field of Lagrangian analysis of ocean velocity data, starting from a fundamental kinematic framework and with a focus on large-scale open ocean applications. Beyond the use of explicit velocity fields, we consider the influence of unresolved physics and dynamics on particle trajectories. We comprehensively list and discuss the tools currently available for tracking virtual particles. We then showcase some of the innovative applications of trajectory data, and conclude with some open questions and an outlook. The overall goal of this review paper is to reconcile some of the different techniques and methods in Lagrangian ocean analysis, while recognising the rich diversity of codes that have and continue to emerge, and the challenges of the coming age of petascale computing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]