Adolescent body image and psychosocial functioning

Researchers have highlighted the significance of a poor body image in the development of dysfunctional eating but have systematically investigated few other outcomes. The authors examined the relationships between different aspects of body image and psychosocial functioning. Participants were 245 boys and 173 girls from Grades 8 and 9 (M age = 13.92 years, SD = 0.69 years). Respondents completed measures of physical attractiveness, body satisfaction, body image importance, body image behaviors, appearance comparison, social physique anxiety, self-esteem, depression, anxiety, and same-sex and opposite-sex relations. Whereas girls tended to report a more negative body image than did boys, the relevance of body image to self-esteem was similar for boys and girls. Concern about others' evaluation of their bodies was especially important in understanding low female self-esteem, whereas for boys, ratings of general attractiveness most strongly predicted self-esteem. The authors found a negative body image to be unrelated to symptoms of negative affect but to be strongly associated with poor opposite-sex peer relationships, especially among boys. A negative body image also affected same-sex relations among girls.

Existence and design of reduced-order scalar functional observers

In the existing literature, the existence conditions and design procedures for scalar functional observers are available for the cases where the observers&rsquo; order p is either p=1 or p=(v-1), where v is the observability index of the matrix pair (C,A). Therefore, if an observer with an order p=1 does not exist, the other option is to use a high-order observer with p=(v-1). This paper provides the existence conditions and a design procedure for scalar functional observers of order 0&le;p&le;2, and demonstrates the presented results with a numerical example. where K, M, E, H and G are constant matrices to be designed. The problem of observing a scalar functional or multi functionals (z(t)&isin;Rk , k>1) of the state vector has been the subject of numerous papers, and different algorithms have been proposed (see, [1]-[13] and references therein). There are also papers that deal with the order reduction of multi-dimensional functional observers [9,10,12,13]. For scalar functional observers, a well-known Luenberger&rsquo;s classic result [1] provides an upper bound on the order with p=(v-1). It is interesting to note here that, except for a recent result of Darouach [12,13], little results have been reported on the order reduction for scalar functional observers.<br /><br /><br />

Rural smokers : a prevention opportunity

<b>Backgroundb>: Smoking is the largest single cause of preventable death and disease in Australia. This study describes smoking prevalence and the characteristics of rural smokers to guide general practitioners in targeting particular groups.<br /><br /><b>Methodsb>: Cross sectional surveys in the Greater Green Triangle region of southeast Australia using a random population sample (n=1563, participation rate 48.7%) aged 25&ndash;74 years. Smoking information was assessed by a self administered questionnaire.<br /><br /><b>Resultsb>: Complete smoking data were available for 1494 participants. Overall age adjusted current smoking prevalence was 14.9% (95% CI: 13.1&ndash;16.7). In both genders, current smoking prevalence decreased with age. Those aged 25&ndash;44 years were more likely to want to stop smoking and to have attempted cessation, but less likely to have received cessation advice than older smokers.<br /><b><br />Discussionb>: This study provides baseline smoking data for rural health monitoring and identifies intervention opportunities. General practice is suited to implement interventions for smoking prevention and cessation at every patient encounter, particularly in younger individuals.<br />

Variation in the whiteness and brightness of white Australian cashmere associated with farm of origin and fibre attributes

While white cashmere is preferred by processors, its whiteness and brightness is affected by country of origin, amino acid composition, nutrition and cashmere production of goats. This work aimed to quantify the factors which affect the whiteness and brightness of 36 batches of processed Australian white cashmere sourced from nine different farms. The cashmere was tested for tristimulus values brightness (Y) and whiteness, as measured by yellowness (Y-Z). Linear models, relating Y and Y-Z were fitted to farm of origin and other objective measurements. Mean attributes (range) were: mean fibre diameter, 16.9 &micro;m (13.9&ndash;20.4 &mu;m); fibre curvature, 45&deg;/mm (31&ndash;59&deg;/mm); clean washing yield, 91.3% (79.5&ndash;97.3%); Y, 78.7 (74.7&ndash;82.2); Y-Z, 11.9 (10.3&ndash;13.6). Farm alone accounted for 72% of the variation in Y and 65% of the variation in Y-Z (<i>Pi> &lt; 0.001). Once farm had been taken into account only fibre curvature (<i>Pi> = 0.003) was significant in predicting Y and only clean washing yield (<i>Pi> = 0.047) affected Y-Z. Neither the proportion of the fleece present as guard hair (clean cashmere yield) nor cashmere staple length was a significant determinant of Y or Y-Z. For each 10&deg;/mm increase in fibre curvature Y increased 1.3 units. For each 10% increase in clean washing yield Y-Z declined 0.9 units. Variations in Y and Y-Z among farms were probably related to differences in geographic and climatic conditions and were significantly correlated to cashmere production. The effect of clean washing yield was probably related to a reduction in suint content.<br /><br /><br />

Understanding of mental states in later childhood: an investigation of theory of mind in autism spectrum disorder and typical development with a novel task

The developmental trajectories of Theory of Mind (ToM) in later childhood and into adolescence have not been thoroughly investigated, partly due to a lack of sensitive paradigms that can chart development in typical populations or in individuals with a core deficit in ToM, such as those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The present study assessed understanding of emotions, beliefs, and intentions using both an established ToM task (Baron‐Cohen et al., 2001) and the more recently developed Comic Strip Task (CST; Cornish et al., 2010). Participants comprised 12 typically-developing (TD) children (mean age: 12&middot;0 years, range: 9&middot;9‐14&middot;8 years) and 12 high-functioning children with ASD (mean age: 11&middot;0 years, range: 9&middot;1‐13&middot;6 years). Results indicated that the ASD group were not impaired on any of the ToM tasks relative to TD children. It was concluded that although children with high-functioning ASD appear to develop basic ToM skills, they do not generalize these to naturalistic situations. The comic-strip paradigm is suggested as a promising way to approach the measurement of ToM across childhood in typical children and those with ASD.

Hydroxyoctadecadienoic acids regulate apoptosis in human THP-1 cells in a PPARγ-dependent manner

Macrophage apoptosis, a key process in atherogenesis, is regulated by oxidation products, including hydroxyoctadecadienoic acids (HODEs). These stable oxidation products of linoleic acid (LA) are abundant in atherosclerotic plaque and activate PPAR&gamma; and GPR132. We investigated the mechanisms through which HODEs regulate apoptosis. The effect of HODEs on THP-1 monocytes and adherent THP-1 cells were compared with other C18 fatty acids, LA and &alpha;-linolenic acid (ALA). The number of cells was reduced within 24 hours following treatment with 9-HODE (p &lt; 0.01, 30 &mu;M) and 13 HODE (p &lt; 0.01, 30 &mu;M), and the equivalent cell viability was also decreased (p &lt; 0.001). Both 9-HODE and 13-HODE (but not LA or ALA) markedly increased caspase-3/7 activity (p &lt; 0.001) in both monocytes and adherent THP-1 cells, with 9-HODE the more potent. In addition, 9-HODE and 13-HODE both increased Annexin-V labelling of cells (p &lt; 0.001). There was no effect of LA, ALA, or the PPAR&gamma; agonist rosiglitazone (1&mu;M), but the effect of HODEs was replicated with apoptosis-inducer camptothecin (10&mu;M). Only 9-HODE increased DNA fragmentation. The pro-apoptotic effect of HODEs was blocked by the caspase inhibitor DEVD-CHO. The PPAR&gamma; antagonist T0070907 further increased apoptosis, suggestive of the PPAR&gamma;-regulated apoptotic effects induced by 9-HODE. The use of siRNA for GPR132 showed no evidence that the effect of HODEs was mediated through this receptor. 9-HODE and 13-HODE are potent&mdash;and specific&mdash;regulators of apoptosis in THP-1 cells. Their action is PPAR&gamma;-dependent and independent of GPR132. Further studies to identify the signalling pathways through which HODEs increase apoptosis in macrophages may reveal novel therapeutic targets for atherosclerosis.

Systematic review and quality appraisal of economic evaluation publications in dentistry

Economic evaluation (EE) studies have been undertaken in dentistry since the late 20th century because economic data provide additional information to policy makers to develop guidelines and set future direction for oral health services. The objectives of this study were to assess the methodological quality of EEs in oral health. Electronic searching of Ovid MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, and the NHS Economic Evaluation Database from 1975 to 2013 were undertaken to identify publications that include costs and outcomes in dentistry. Relevant reference lists were also searched for additional studies. Studies were retrieved and reviewed independently for inclusion by 3 authors. Furthermore, to appraise the EE methods, 1 author applied the Drummond 10-item (13-criteria) checklist tool to each study. Of the 114 publications identified, 79 studies were considered full EE and 35 partial. Twenty-eight studies (30%) were published between the years 2011 and 2013. Sixty-four (53%) studies focused on dental caries prevention or treatment. Median appraisal scores calculated for full and partial EE studies were 11 and 9 out of 13, respectively. Quality assessment scores showed that the quality of partial EE studies published after 2000 significantly improved (P = 0.02) compared to those published before 2000. Significant quality improvement was not found in full EE studies. Common methodological limitations were identified: absence of sensitivity analysis, discounting, and insufficient information on how costs and outcomes were measured and valued. EE studies in dentistry increased over the last 40 y in both quantity and quality, but a number of publications failed to satisfy some components of standard EE research methods, such as sensitivity analysis and discounting.

Vitamins D and A can be successfully measured by LC-MS/MS in cord blood diluted plasma

OBJECTIVES: In widely used protocols for the collection and isolation of cord blood mononuclear cells, investigators are left with substantial volumes of diluted plasma which could be used for other measurements. The aim of this study was to ascertain the validity of umbilical cord blood (UCB) diluted plasma samples for vitamin D, A and E analysis compared to UCB serum samples. DESIGN &amp; METHODS: Twenty UCB matched samples of diluted plasma and serum were collected. The samples were analysed by two liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) methods on two separate occasions. RESULTS: The results of 25(OH)D3 obtained by the two laboratories demonstrated close agreement with a mean difference of 0.14nmol/L [95% confidence interval (95% CI), -6.8 to 7.1]. Both methods demonstrate close agreement for 25(OH)D3 in UCB serum versus diluted UCB plasma; mean difference 2.2nmol/L [95% CI, -9.5 to 13.9] and 4.1nmol/L [95% CI, -14.5 to 6.1] for the results from Lab A and Lab B, respectively. Vitamin A was quantified by Lab A in UCB serum and diluted UCB plasma; mean difference 0.07&mu;mol/L [95% CI, -0.41 to 0.28]. Results of 25(OH)D3 epimer and vitamin E in the diluted UCB plasma were below the limit of quantification, and could not be compared with UCB serum. CONCLUSIONS: Diluted UCB plasma can be used for the quantification of retinol and 25(OH)D3 by LC-MS/MS. By contrast, quantification of 25(OH)D3 epimer and vitamin E in diluted UCB plasma is not supported by this study due to limitations in analytical sensitivity.

Criterion validity of the activPAL™ and ActiGraph for assessing children's sitting and standing time in a school classroom setting

BACKGROUND: Few studies have investigated the accuracy of the ActiGraph (AG) GTX3 accelerometer for assessing children's sitting and standing time. The activPAL (aP) has an inclinometer function that enables it to distinguish between sitting/lying and standing; however, its accuracy for assessing sitting and standing in older children is unknown. This study validated the accuracy of these devices for estimating sitting and standing time in a school classroom against a criterion measure of direct observation (DO). <br /><br />FINDINGS: Forty children in grades 5-7 wore both devices while being video recorded during two school lessons. AG and aP data were simultaneously collected in 15-s epochs. Individual participant DO and aP data were recorded as total time spent sitting/lying, standing and stepping. AG data were converted into time spent sitting and standing using previously established cut-points. Compared with DO, the aP underestimated sitting time (mean bias&thinsp;=&thinsp;-1.9 min, 95 % LoA&thinsp;=&thinsp;-8.9 to 5.2 min) and overestimated standing time (mean bias&thinsp;=&thinsp;1.8 min, 95% LoA&thinsp;=&thinsp;-9.6 to 13.3 min). The best-performing AG cut-point across both sitting and standing (&lt;75 counts/15 s) was more accurate than the aP, underestimating sitting time (mean bias&thinsp;=&thinsp;-0.8 min, 95 % LoA&thinsp;=&thinsp;-10.5 to 9.9 min) and standing time (mean bias&thinsp;=&thinsp;-0.4 min, 95% LoA&thinsp;=&thinsp;-9.8 to 9.1 min), but was less precise as evidenced by wider LoAs and poorer correlations with DO (sitting r&thinsp;=&thinsp;0.86 aP vs 0.80 AG; standing r&thinsp;=&thinsp;0.78 aP vs 0.60 AG). <br /><br />CONCLUSIONS: The aP demonstrated good accuracy and precision for assessing free-living sitting and standing time in classroom settings. The AG was most accurate using a cut-point of&thinsp;&lt;&thinsp;75 counts/15 s. Further studies should validate the monitors in settings with greater inter- and intra-individual variation in movement patterns.