The Eating Disorders Diagnostic Inventory (EDDI): The Development of a New Assessment Instrument.

The area of eating disorders have been intensively by both the psychological and medical researchers over the last two decades. Differential diagnosis of the four most prevalent eating disorders (anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, compulsive overeating, and the non-binging obese) continues to be a problem for both researchers and clinicians. Diagnosis of these disorders has been complicated by the many changes in diagnostic criteria for each of the disorders. One consequence of these frequent changes is that there is no single self-report inventory for differential diagnosis which is based on currently accepted diagnostic criteria. The purpose of this study was the construction of an assessment instrument, the Eating Disorders Diagnostic Inventory (EDDI), which could reliably differentiate anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, compulsive overeating, non-binging obese, and normals. The EDDI was developed from a group of test items which included items from the Eating Attitudes Test, the Bulimia Test, and the Eating Questionnaire-Revised, totalling 91 items. In the initial test construction phase of the study, there were 397 subjects. Discriminant analysis identified 35 items, which formed the EDDI, which differentiated the five diagnostic groups included in the study (anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, compulsive overeating, obese, and normals) with a correct classification rate of 85.5%. Factor analysis identified three scales of the EDDI: a Binge Eat scale, a Drive for Thinness scale, and a Purgative Behavior scale. A second phase of the study, the Validation Phase, included four groups: bulimia nervosa, compulsive overeaters, obese, and normals. There were 15 subjects per group. A group of anorexics could not be obtained, so this group was dropped from the study. Measures of temporal stability indicated that the EDDI had satisfactory test-retest reliability over a two-week period. However, discriminant validity of the instrument was found to be unsatisfactory in that only 75% of the subjects were correctly classified using the discriminant function established in the first phase. The concurrent validity of the three factors of the EDDI was supported, however. Discussion focused upon additional research steps which may better establish the discriminant validity of the EDDI

Relationship of Polymorphisms in The FSH Beta Subunit Gene With Reproduction in Bos Taurus and Bos Indicus Cattle

Two experiments were conducted to characterize polymorphisms (SNP) in the bovine FSHβ gene promoter region to examine breed differences in SNP, and to determine effects of SNP on reproduction in beef cattle. Experiment 1 - DNA samples were collected from 5 Angus (ANG), 13 Balancer (BAL), & 16 Brahman influenced (BI) bulls. Polymorphisms were identified by sequencing of 3 sequential PCR products from the promoter region revealed 17 SNP & 4 insertion/deletions (INDEL). Semen samples were collected and sperm quality variables determined via computer assisted sperm analysis (CASA) or stained smears. The MIXED procedure for ANG & BAL indicated interactions of week and SNP 485for LIN, AREA, & MINAB (P ≤ 0.05), effects of SNP 169 & 170 on MINAB & TOTAB (P ≤ 0.07), SNP 485 on MOT, PROG, RAP, VAP, VSL, VCL, ALH, BCF, AREA, & LIVE (P ≤ 0.05),and SNP 1130 on VCL, ALH, LIN (P ≤ 0.05), & STR (P = 0.06). For BI bulls effects of SNP 171, 225, 353, 410, 411, 412, & INDEL 413-414 on MINAB & TOTAB (P ≤ 0.09), SNP 783 on MINAB & TOTAB (P ≤ 0.03), BCF & MAJAB (P ≤ 0.09), SNP 1130 on VCL (P = 0.05), VAP, & VSL (P ≤ 0.09), and SNP 1702 on MINAB & TOTAB (P ≤ 0.04). Experiment 2 - DNA samples were collected from early & late pubertal Brahman heifers and SNP were identified by sequencing 2 upstream segments of FSHâ promoter region. Chi square revealed effects upon puberty for SNP 783 (P = 0.02) and 171 (P = 0.08), breed differences in frequency of occurrence for 10 SNP (171, 225, 321, 353, 410, 411, 412, 783, 887, 1702), and 2 INDEL (411-412 INDEL & 413-414 INDEL). Results indicate breed differences in frequency of occurrence of SNP in FSHâ promoter region, and that SNP may be useful as markers related to semen quality in bulls and puberty in Brahman heifers

Prenatal growth markers in schizophrenia: a monozygotic co-twin control study.

OBJECTIVE: This co-twin study investigated monozygotic twins who were discordant for schizophrenia for evidence of prenatal growth differences between the affected and well co-twins. METHOD: Four dermatoglyphic markers of prenatal growth were obtained by established procedures from 26 monozygotic twin pairs discordant for schizophrenia, 13 monozygotic twin pairs concordant for schizophrenia, and several normal monozygotic twin samples. RESULTS: The a-b ridge count differences between the affected and well co-twins were greater than those found for concordant and normal monozygotic pairs. In comparison with their well co-twins, the affected twins, in discordant pairs, had developed fewer epidermal ridges in the a-b interdigital area of their right palms. In contrast, no significant differences were found between the affected twins and their well co-twins on markers associated with fetal development before 13 or after 15 weeks estimated gestational age. CONCLUSIONS: Because the a-b ridges are known to complete development between 13 and 15 weeks estimated gestational age, the results provide physical evidence suggesting that the schizophrenia-affected monozygotic twins alone experienced a time-specific and time-limited dysgenesis during this time. Commonalities in the ontogeny of epidermal and neurological structures are discussed

Creating cultural change in education: A proposal for a continuum for evaluating the effectiveness of sustainable schools implementation strategies in Australia

Networks are increasingly recognised as advantageous when creating and embedding cultural change within organisations. This paper explores andproblematises ideas around networks for education for sustainability (EfS), Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative (AuSSI), a national, whole-school approach to EfS. In three Australian states - New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland – AuSSI has been implemented in different ways. In examining the use of products, facilitators and networks to embed initiatives such as AuSSI in Australian schools, we propose a “continuum of cultural change strategies” as a framework for thinking about each of these approaches to creating organisational and cultural change for sustainability. We anticipate that such a framework may assist where choices need to be made in relation to the kinds of capacity building processes that might best achieve “deep and wide” change within schools hoping to engender significant cultural change

Rethinking One Health : emergent human, animal and environmental assemblages

The authors would like to thank colleagues on the Social, Economic and Environmental Drivers of Zoonoses in Tanzania (SEEDZ) project, One Health focused research funded by the UK Department for International Development and the UK Research Councils (project code: BB/L018926/1).One Health perspectives are growing in influence in global health. One Health is presented as being inherently interdisciplinary and integrative, drawing together human, animal and environmental health into a single gaze. Closer inspection, however, reveals that this presentation of entanglement is dependent upon an apolitical understanding of three pre-existing separate conceptual spaces that are brought to a point of connection. Drawing on research with livestock keepers in northern Tanzania, in the context of the history of livestock policy in colonial and postcolonial East Africa, this demonstrates what an extended model of One Health - one that moves from bounded human, animal and environmental sectors to co-constitutive assemblages - can do to create a flexible space that is inclusive of the multiplicity of health.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Overview of NASA's Propulsion 21 Effort

Propulsion 21 technologies contribute to reducing CO2 and NO(x) emissions and noise. Integrated Government/Industry/University research efforts have produced promising initial technical results. Graduate students from 5 partnering universities will benefit from this collaborative research--> educating the future engineering workforce. Phase 2 Efforts scheduled to be completed 3QFY06

Mechanical Testing Methods for Evaluating Thermoplastic Permanent Pavement Markings

The durability of permanent pavement markings (PPMs) on roadways is important for drivers’ safety. There are two primary mechanical failure modes: cohesive failure that occurs internally in PPMs through small defects, such as internal pores, and adhesive failure that occurs along the interface between PPMs and road surfaces. Thus, it is critical to characterize the intrinsic mechanical properties of PPMs as well as the adhesion of PPMs on road surfaces to understand their mechanical performance and, ultimately, the durability of PPMs. In this study, the flexural modulus and strength of PPMs were characterized via three-point bend testing, while fracture toughness was determined with single edge notch bend testing. To analyze the adhesive performance of PPMs on asphalt, a shear adhesion testing approach was developed to measure the apparent debonding energy of PPM specimens on asphalt. The shear adhesion test was performed on asphalt road surfaces and cut surfaces to investigate the chemical and mechanical interfacial effects on adhesion. Two commercial thermoplastic PPMs with different mechanical properties were investigated to study how various factors directly affect the adhesion of PPMs on asphalt surfaces. Through mechanical tests, the relationships between the intrinsic materials properties and the mechanical performance of PPMs on asphalt were studied. A PPM material that had lower modulus and higher deformation energy exhibited greater adhesion performance on asphalt, especially when the PPM material was applied at higher asphalt surface temperatures on rough asphalt surfaces

Improving Production Efficiency of Beef Cow-Calf Operations

Three studies were conducted to improve and incorporate reproductive management practices into beef cow-calf production. First study evaluated serial use of Estrotect estrous detection patches as a simple, cost-effective reproductive management tool to identify cyclic animals before breeding, distinguish between females conceiving to AI versus natural service, and determine seasonal pregnancy rate after bull removal. Also determined, was effectiveness of altered timing of GnRH treatment (1 d ± CIDR removal) in a modified 14-d CIDR-Select Synch protocol. When evaluated over a 4-wk period, estrous detection patches correctly (P \u3c 0.01) identified 79% of cyclic and 86% of non-cyclic heifers. Patches were 96 and 98% accurate in identifying heifers and cows pregnant by AI, respectively, and were 76 and 87% accurate in identifying pregnant heifers and cows at the end of the breeding season (P \u3c 0.01). Treatment with GnRH at CIDR removal reduced labor costs and animal handling without compromising estrous response (both ~63.0%) and AI pregnancy rates (~76 and 77%; P \u3e 0.1). Second study determined if addition of PGF2alpha treatment on d 7 of a modified 14-d progesterone protocol improved estrous response in beef cows and effect of insemination timing on conception rate when using X-sorted semen. Cows were inseminated with X-sorted semen either 9 to 15, or 16 to 24 h after detected estrus. Percentage of cows exhibiting estrus was similar (76.5 and 71.2%; P = 0.33) regardless of treatment. Pregnancy rates after AI were similar (P = 0.64) at 63.3 and 66.7% for cows inseminated 9 to 15, or 16 to 24 h after estrus, respectively. Third study compared estrous response and synchrony resulting from administration of PGF2alpha on D 6 of CIDR protocol, with CIDR removal occurring concurrently (D 6) or 1 d later (D 7). Percentage of cows detected in estrus after synchronization was similar between treatments (74.0 and 71.4%, respectively; P = 0.83). However, 7 d CIDR treatment resulted in 100% of cows exhibiting estrus within a 12-h period versus 75% of 6 d treatment cows. Similar AI pregnancy rates were also observed regardless of treatment (65.0 and 60.0%, respectively; P = 0.74)