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Gender and/or sex differences in the prevalence of hoarding disorder have been well documented, yet there remains a striking lack of understanding as to potential reasons. Critically no study to date has examined whether gender differences may stem from underlying biases in hoarding assessment instruments. The current study used item response theory to evaluate the Saving Inventory-Revised (SI-R; Frost et al., 1994), to determine if there might be differential item functioning (DIF) between men and women across the three core features of hoarding. We first examined responses in a sample of individuals with clinically significant hoarding symptoms (N = 255), and then replicated our findings in a non-selected community sample (N = 719). There was evidence of modest DIF, which affected only a handful of items in each SI-R subscale. In the clinical sample, women scored significantly higher on the clutter and acquisition latent continuum, whereas there was no gender difference for difficulties discarding. In contrast, there were no gender differences in any of the subscales for the community sample. Findings indicate that while there are likely gender differences in the manifestation and associated features of hoarding, those gender differences are not the result of measurement artifacts in the SI-R. • Gender and/or sex differences in hoarding disorder are under studied. • Item response theory was used to investigate gender-related bias in hoarding symptoms. • Modest evidence for differential item function between genders was found. • Differences emerged on the mean level of the clutter and acquiring latent continuum. • Gender differences observed are not the result of measurement artifacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The water footprint is an indicator of freshwater resources appropriation which brings valuable insight about the environmental impact of consuming a given product. The aim of this study is to quantify the water footprint of potato production in the southeast of Buenos Aires province (Argentina). In this area, potatoes are irrigated using groundwater while, at the same time, both fertilizers and agrochemicals are applied. In order to assess the virtual water content of potato production, the green, blue and grey components of the water footprint were calculated by considering the different volumes of water involved in the crop production arising from evaporation, rainfall, irrigation, and fertilizers pollution. Crop evaporation and irrigation requirements were calculated. Data from application of irrigation were obtained from farmers. Nitrogen fertilization was considered as an indicator to estimate the grey component. The water footprint of potato in this region was 323.99 m 3 /t. The evaporative water use (blue and green components) was 56.4%. The relative importance of blue water (24.15%), compared with global estimations, showed the significant role of irrigation on this crop. Groundwater reserves can be affected as a consequence of its intensive exploitation for irrigation. The fraction of grey water (43.6%) was the greatest, indicating the importance of nitrogen fertilizers and the consequent risk of groundwater pollution. This study allowed to evaluate the groundwater appropriation by potato production and emphasized the relevance of agriculture practices, such as irrigation and fertilizers, as well as the groundwater exploitation conditions and legal aspects, on the water footprint of the crop. The lack of sustainability of potato production in the studied region and its possible effects on the hydrological system were demonstrated. Several strategies and recommendations emerged from this study aimed at reducing the water footprint and achieving the sustainability of potato production, such as improvements on the irrigation and fertilization efficiencies, technical advice for farmers, and legal and tax regulation on groundwater use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]