Internal Consistency and Convergent Validity of the Klontz Money Behavior Inventory (KMBI)

The Klontz Money Behavior Inventory (KMBI) is a standalone, multi-scale measure than can screen for the presence of eight distinct money disorders. Given the well-established relationship between mental health and financial behaviors, results from the KMBI can be used to inform both mental health care professionals and financial planners. The present study examined the internal consistency and convergent validity of the KMBI, through comparison with similar measures, among a sample of college students (n = 232). Results indicate that the KMBI demonstrates acceptable internal consistency reliability and some convergence for most subscales when compared to other analogous measures. These findings highlight a need for literature and assessments to identify and describe disordered money behaviors

Reliability and Convergent Validity of the Klontz Money Script Inventory-Revised (KMSI-R)

Few contemporary, empirically-based instruments exist to assess attitudes and beliefs about money despite a large research base linking mental health outcomes to financial beliefs. An abbreviated form of the Klontz Money Script Inventory (KMSI), the Klontz Money Script Inventory-Revised (KMSI-R), has been developed to inform mental health practitioners and financial advisors about the money attitudes and beliefs of their clients using an empirically-based instrument. This study examined the technical adequacy of the KMSI-R among a sample of college students (n = 326). Results indicate high reliability for the KMSI-R as well as weak-to-moderate positive correlations when compared to the Money Attitude Scales

Genetic analysis of drug resistance in Trypanosoma brucei

Genetic mapping, positional cloning and reverse genetics provide an alternative to the biochemical and molecular approaches used to date, to determine the basis of arsenical resistance in Trypanosoma brucei. Genetic mapping of loci determining phenotypes of relevance to diseases has proved to be a powerful approach in a number of organisms including humans and Plasmodium falciparum, particularly when coupled with a full genome sequence. In this thesis, this approach has been established in T. brucei by determining the genetic basis of naturally occurring arsenical resistance and undertaking linkage analysis using our recently developed genetic map. I adapted a simple, verified screening assay for assessing drug sensitivity based on the use of AlamarBlue. Three stocks used as parents in genetic crosses differed in drug sensitivity; STIB 247-Sensitive, STIB 386-Resistant and TREU 927-Resistant. Genetic linkage analysis using 101 polymorphic markers Identified from the extensive sequence available from the genome project was then used to examine inheritance of the drug resistance phenotype in T. brucei. From this, the co-segregation (into F1 progeny) of markers and the resistance phenotype was determined using crosses, 247 x 386 and 247 x 927. Inheritance of resistance in both crosses was compatible with a simple single locus genetic model with one dominant allele determining resistance. Linkage analysis showed that the locus conferring resistance lay within an ~25 kilobase region on Chromosome II, which contains 6 open reading frames (ORFs). A reverse genetic approach was then used to disrupt alleles for each of the six ORFs in turn. An allele of one gene, Tb927.2.2380, was shown to determine resistance and this was confirmed by transfecting the resistance allele into a drug sensitive stock to generate an arsenical resistant line. This gene also determines cross-resistance to the major veterinary trypanocide, diminazene aceturate and has been named the arsenical and diamidine (ard) resistance gene

Classification of Health Risk Factors to Predict the Risk of Falling in Older Adults

Cognitive decline and frailty is apparent in older adults leading to an increased likelihood of the risk of falling. Currently health care professionals have to make professional decisions regarding such risks, and hence make difficult decisions regarding the future welfare of the ageing population. This study uses health data from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA), focusing on adults over the age of 50 years, in order to analyse health risk factors and predict the likelihood of falls. This prediction is based on the use of machine learning algorithms whereby health risk factors are used as inputs to predict the likelihood of falling. Initial results show that health risk factors such as long-term health issues contribute to the number of falls. The identification of such health risk factors has the potential to inform health and social care professionals, older people and their family members in order to mitigate daily living risks

Host Range and Emerging and Reemerging Pathogens

Emerging and reemerging species of human pathogens are associated with a broad range of nonhuman hosts

School playgrounds and physical activity policies as predictors of school and home time activity

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Previous work has suggested that the number of permanent play facilities in school playgrounds and school-based policies on physical activity can influence physical activity in children. However, few comparable studies have used objective measures of physical activity or have had little adjustment for multiple confounders.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Physical activity was measured by accelerometry over 5 recess periods and 3 full school days in 441 children from 16 primary schools in Dunedin, New Zealand. The number of permanent play facilities (swing, fort, slide, obstacle course, climbing wall etc) in each school playground was counted on three occasions by three researchers following a standardized protocol. Information on school policies pertaining to physical activity and participation in organized sport was collected by questionnaire.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Measurement of school playgrounds proved to be reliable (ICC 0.89) and consistent over time. Boys were significantly more active than girls (P < 0.001), but little time overall was spent in moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Boys engaged in MVPA for 32 (SD 17) minutes each day of which 17 (10) took place at school compared with 23 (14) and 11 (7) minutes respectively in girls. Each additional 10-unit increase in play facilities was associated with 3.2% (95% CI 0.0-6.4%) more total activity and 8.3% (0.8-16.3%) more MVPA during recess. By contrast, school policy score was not associated with physical activity in children.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The number of permanent play facilities in school playgrounds is associated with higher physical activity in children, whereas no relationship was observed for school policies relating to physical activity. Increasing the number of permanent play facilities may offer a cost-effective long-term approach to increasing activity levels in children.</p

Effect of kafirin protein coating on sensory quality and shelf-life of 'Packham's Triumph' pears during ripening

BACKGROUND: Pears are exported in large quantities from South Africa resulting in large revenues. Minimisation of quality losses once the fruit has reached the export destination is as important as following strict export and distribution protocols. Kafirin can form edible films. An edible coating, made from a 2 % (w/w) kafirin coating solution was applied as a post-havest treatment to retard quality deterioration of ‘Packham’s Triumph’ pears during storage at the typical ripening temperature (20° C). The changes in physic-chemical and sensory quality were studied over a period of 24 days. RESULTS: The kafirin coating was unable to retard the onset of ripening but decreased the respiration rate and retarded the progression of senescence. However, moisture loss was exacerbated in the kafirin-coated fruit during ripening at 20° C especially towards the end of the shelf-life. CONCLUSION: The coating extended the eat-ripe quality of the pears between one and two weeks. However, appearance of the fruit was unacceptable after 14 days of storage in terms of wrinkled skin. Further work is needed to improve the water barrier properties of the kafirin coating by incorporating a wax or triglyceride into the coating formulation or more simply by applying a kafirin coating to waxed fruit.The European Commission (Enviropak project, INCO2: ICA4-CT-2001-10062) and CSIR Biosciences.http://www.soci.or