Mass-Transport Models with Multiple-Chipping Processes

We study mass-transport models with multiple-chipping processes. The rates of these processes are dependent on the chip size and mass of the fragmenting site. In this context, we consider k-chip moves (where k = 1, 2, 3, ....); and combinations of 1-chip, 2-chip and 3-chip moves. The corresponding mean-field (MF) equations are solved to obtain the steady-state probability distributions, P (m) vs. m. We also undertake Monte Carlo (MC) simulations of these models. The MC results are in excellent agreement with the corresponding MF results, demonstrating that MF theory is exact for these models.Comment: 18 pages, 4 figures, To appear in European Physical Journal

Increased atherosclerosis in a mouse model of glycogen storage disease type 1a

Glycogen storage disease type 1a (GSD Ia) is an inborn error of carbohydrate metabolism. Despite severe hyperlipidemia, GSD Ia patients show limited atherogenesis compared to age-and-gender matched controls. Employing a GSD Ia mouse model that resembles the severe hyperlipidemia in patients, we here found increased atherogenesis in GSD Ia. These data provide a rationale for investigating atherogenesis in GSD Ia in a larger patient cohort.</p

Pretreatment unresolved-disorganized attachment status in eating disorder patients associated with stronger reduction of comorbid symptoms after psychotherapy

Research shows that the Unresolved-disorganized attachment representation (U), resulting from experiences of loss or abuse, is associated with a range of psychiatric conditions. However, clinical implications of U are yet unclear.Objective: To investigate how U is related to symptoms and recovery of eating disorder (ED) patients.Method: First, 38 ED patients starting psychotherapeutic treatment were compared to 20 controls without ED on the prevalence of U, assessed with the Adult Attachment Interview. Second, in the patient group relations between U and ED symptoms, depression, anxiety and subjective experience of symptoms were investigated. Third, we compared, 1 year afterwards, recovery of patients with and without U.Results: The prevalence of U was higher in ED patients than in controls. Symptom severity was not related to U. ED patients with U at the start of treatment improved significantly more regarding anxiety, depression and subjective experience of symptoms than did patients without U.Discussion: The differential recovery of ED patients with or without U confirms the trauma-related heterogeneity of patients found in other diagnostic groups and calls for further investigation into the treatment needs of patients with different attachment representations

Why turnover matters in self-managing work teams: Learning, social integration, and task flexibility

This study considers how turnover in self-managing work teams influences the team interaction processes that promote effective task accomplishment. Drawing from research on self-managing work teams and group process, the authors propose that team turnover affects performance in self-managing teams by affecting social integration, team learning behavior, and task flexibility. Hypotheses were tested in a sample of 47 self-managing work teams using longitudinal panel data and an objective measure of team performance. Results suggest that team turnover indeed decreases social integration, team learning behavior, and task flexibility in self-managing teams but that only task flexibility and team learning behavior mediate the negative relationship between team turnover and team effectiveness