Clonal Differences between Non-Typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) Recovered from Children and Animals Living in Close Contact in The Gambia

Salmonellosis is a neglected tropical disease causing serious dysentery and septicaemia particularly in young infants, elderly and immunocompromised individuals such as HIV patients and associated with substantial mortality in developing countries. Salmonellosis also constitutes a major public health problem as it is considered the most widespread bacterial zoonosis of food origin throughout the world. Many epidemiological data exist from developed countries concerning transmission of Non-Typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) but few are available from developing countries. In addition few studies in sub-Saharan Africa have considered the interface between humans and their environment in relation to animals present in the household and food hygiene. This study describes the prevalence of NTS among fourteen Gambian children and 210 domestic animals living in close proximity (household) to the children in a rural setting in The Gambia. We found that the domestic animals living in the same household as patients carried different NTS serovar and genotypes; indicating that zoonotic transmission does not occur in our setting. This study provides baseline data for future studies of transmission of NTS in rural Africa

A comparison of student evaluations of teaching with online and paper-based administration

When institutions administer student evaluations of teaching (SET) online, response rates are lower relative to paper-based administration. Researchers analyzed average SET scores from 364 courses taught during the fall term in 3 consecutive years to determine whether administering SET forms online for all courses in the third year changed the response rate or the average SET score. To control for instructor characteristics, the data analysis was based on courses for which the same instructor taught the course in each of three successive fall terms. Response rates for face-to-face classes declined when SET administration occurred only online. Although average SET scores were reliably lower in Year 3 than in the previous two years, the magnitude of this change was minimal (.11 on a five-item Likert-like scale). The authors discuss practical implications of these findings for interpretation of SETs and the role of SETs for the evaluation of teaching quality.Pre-printJournal Articl

The effects of EEG data transformations on the solution accuracy of principal component analysis

Principal component analysis (PCA) is a commonly used multivariate procedure that reduces the dimensionality of a data set. When applied to quantitative electroencephalogram (qEEG) data, PCA produces components that may represent functional systems within the brain. Unfortunately, qEEG, like many other physiological measures, produce distributions that are positively skewed. In response, researchers often transform qEEG data prior to conducting a PCA, which does not require univariate or multivariate normality. Despite this, researchers continue to transform qEEG data with limited knowledge of how such transformations will affect the accuracy (precision) of their component solutions. The purpose of the present investigation was to examine the effects of several commonly used data transformation procedures on PCA solution accuracy. © 2010 Society for Psychophysiological Research

Exploring the relationship between appetitive behaviours, executive function, and weight status among preschool children.

ObjectiveThe goal was to conduct exploratory analysis to determine if executive functions (EFs) and food responsiveness/satiety responsiveness (appetitive behaviours that describe one's tendency to eat in the presence of food or food cues) interact to influence weight status among preschool children participating in a trial promoting self-regulation around energy-dense foods.MethodsAt baseline, parents completed the Behaviour Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Preschool and the Child Eating Behaviour Questionnaire. Children completed anthropometric measurements at the preschool. Spearman's correlation, linear regression, and tests of interaction were conducted. The relationship between weight status and EFs among those who were high vs low in food responsiveness and satiety responsiveness was examined.ResultsChildren (n = 92) had a mean age of 5.1 years and body mass index (BMI) percentile of 57.6; half (54%) were male. There were significant correlations between food responsiveness and several EFs (emotional control, inhibitory control, working memory, and plan/organize). In the stratified analysis, children with high food responsiveness or low satiety responsiveness had higher BMI percentiles as emotional control skills worsened. BMI percentiles were not elevated among children with low food responsiveness and poor emotional control.ConclusionThese results suggest that EFs may be more relevant to weight status if preschool children had high levels of food responsiveness or low levels of satiety responsiveness (ie, increased tendency to be influenced by environmental food cues). This analysis should be replicated with direct measures of executive function and appetitive behaviours in larger samples of young children to examine longitudinal impact on weight status

The effects of EEG data transformations on the solution accuracy of principal component analysis

Principal component analysis (PCA) is a commonly used multivariate procedure that reduces the dimensionality of a data set. When applied to quantitative electroencephalogram (qEEG) data, PCA produces components that may represent functional systems within the brain. Unfortunately, qEEG, like many other physiological measures, produce distributions that are positively skewed. In response, researchers often transform qEEG data prior to conducting a PCA, which does not require univariate or multivariate normality. Despite this, researchers continue to transform qEEG data with limited knowledge of how such transformations will affect the accuracy (precision) of their component solutions. The purpose of the present investigation was to examine the effects of several commonly used data transformation procedures on PCA solution accuracy. © 2010 Society for Psychophysiological Research

Development and initial psychometric evaluation of the transgender adaptation and integration measure (TG AIM)

Transgender individuals have a gender identity or expression that is not congruent with their anatomy (Bullough, 2000). Limited empirical data are available regarding the mental health and general well -being of the transgender population. In addition, few standardized measures have been developed specifically for transgender individuals. The main purpose or this study was item and scale development or a measure or adjustment for transgender adults, as well as the assessment of the internal consistency and validity or the measure. Responses to the Transgender Adaptation and Integration Measure (TG AIM ) were collected from a sample of 108 self-identified male-to-female transsexual adults. Standardized measures or quality or life and self-esteem were also administered to participants in order to assess construct-related validity. Factor analysis of the measure identified four factors: Gender-Related Fears, Psychosocial Impact of Gender Status, Coping and Gender Reorientation Efforts, and Gender Locus or Control. Internal consistency for each of the four factors ranged from r = .59 to r = .81. Psychosocial Impact of Gender Status and Gender-Related Fears were positively correlated with self-esteem and quality or life. Coping and Gender Reorientation Efforts were significantly correlated to both Psychosocial Impact of Gender Status and Gender-Related Fears. Preliminary psychometric analysis resulted in a 15 item. multidimensional measure with three reliable and valid subscales for use with male to female (MtF) transsexual adults. Further psychometric evaluation or the measure for use with other segments of the transgender population is needed.PublishedJournal Articl