Psychometric Evaluation of SAFA P Test for Eating Disorders in Adolescents: Comparative Validation with EDI-2

Objective: This study evaluates the psychometric properties of self-administered psychiatric scale for children and adolescents with psychogenic eating disorders (SAFA P)-a brief self-report designed to screen and assess eating disorders (ED) in children and adolescents. Although SAFA P belongs to a broad battery of tests (SAFA) that explores different psychiatric conditions, it has not undergone appropriate validation until now. Method: We administered SAFA P and Eating Disorder Inventory 2 (EDI-2) to 87 ED patients, with an average age of 15.4 \ub1 1.6 years. Results: The internal reliability of SAFA P is good (Cronbach α = .776). Convergent validity with EDI-2 was assessed: both SAFA P subscale P1 (p&#8201

Use of colloidal silica to obtain a new inert from municipal solid waste incinerator (MSWI) fly ash: first results about reuse

The MSWI (Municipal Solid Waste Incinerator) fly ash may represent a potential health and environmental hazard for its high heavy metal content. Fly ash is commonly disposed in specific landfills to prevent the leaching of pollutants into underground aquifers. Several technologies (for example, thermal treatment, physical/chemical separation, and stabilization/solidification techniques) have been developed for treatment of fly ash to obtain second-hand inert materials. Moreover, reuse of these materials is strictly dependent on their physical and mechanical features. Possible applications of these materials are clinkering, road pave, and construction works where, specific performances are required. Recently, at the University of Brescia (Italy) a new process has been developed to inertize fly ash, by means of colloidal silica. The new inertization process involves low temperature reactions and produces a final material named COSMOS (Colloidal Silica Medium to Obtain Safe inert) that can be employed as a filler substituting natural materials such as carbon black, sand, etc. The project is supported by LIFE program of the European Community (LIFE + 2008 project ENV/IT/000434). In this study we present results about the reuse of COSMOS in different high quality controlled plaster materials. An appropriate waste management, based on the principles of sustainable development, is based on the principle that waste cannot be considered as something to eliminate but rather a potential resource

Neuropsychological profile in Italian children with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) and their relationships with neuroradiological data: Preliminary results.

Background: Neurofibromatosis type 1 is a genetic disorder associated with cognitive deficits, learning disabilities and behavioral problems. These domains appear to have a still controversial debated association with local areas of T2-hyperintensities on MRI images, called unidentified bright objects (UBOs). Methods: A cohort of 36 children (aged 7e11 years) included consecutively, underwent neuropsychological and behavioral assessment to determine their cognitive and neuropsychological profile, and the frequency of specific learning disabilities. MRI examination was used to determine the impact of UBOs' presence, number, and location on the cognitive, neuropsychological and behavioral profile, and also the presence of optic glioma. Results: The mean full intelligence quotient was 104.6; only one child had mild intellectual disability. Forty one percent of children had a diagnosis of specific learning disabilities and reading was mainly involved. Twenty per cent had attention problems. All children had normal scores in visuo-motor and visuo-perceptual tests. UBOs were present in 94.0% of the MRI examinations. Two children had optic glioma. Children with UBOs in a specific location and children with UBOs elsewhere were statistically compared, no one of the location seemed to have an impact on general cognition measured with full intelligence quotient. The thalamus was associated with problems in calculation and striatum with behavioral problems. An inverse relationship between the number of UBOs and the full intelligence quotient was present, but without a statistical significance. Conclusions: In this study, the specific location of UBOs did not seem to influence the general cognitive profile and also the relationship between their number and the full intelligence quotient was not significant; these results are still controversial in literature. Finally, the presence of UBOs in the thalamus and striatum may represent a neuroradiological pattern that influences performances in calculation and behavior respectively in children with Neurofibromatosis type 1