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Implications of Australian proposals to restructure the remuneration system for higher education general staff are examined. Problems anticipated in waiting for, implementing, living with, and building on the final national agreement are discussed. The agreement is seen not as a solution but as enabling improved personnel practices and employee relations. (MSE)

We used phylogenomic and risk factor data on isolates of Salmonella enterica serovars Mississippi and Typhimurium definitive type 160 (DT160) collected from human, animal, and environmental sources to elucidate their epidemiology and disease reservoirs in Australia and New Zealand. Sequence data suggested wild birds as a likely reservoir for DT160; animal and environmental sources varied more for Salmonella Mississippi than for Salmonella Typhimurium. Australia and New Zealand isolates sat in distinct clades for both serovars; the median single-nucleotide polymorphism distance for DT160 was 29 (range 8-66) and for Salmonella Mississippi, 619 (range 565-737). Phylogenomic data identified plausible sources of human infection from wildlife and environmental reservoirs and provided evidence supporting New Zealand-acquired DT160 in a group of travelers returning to Australia. Wider use of real-time whole-genome sequencing in new locations and for other serovars may identify sources and routes of transmission, thereby aiding prevention and control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This case study examined interpersonal communication in sport in the form of verbal aggression among elite athletes in the Australian Football League (AFL). It focused on the experience and motivation of athletes who use athlete-to-athlete verbal aggression and the responses of athletes who have been the targets of verbal aggression during games. In addition, the reasons athletes have for not engaging in verbal aggression were also examined. Purposive sampling procedures produced a select sample of elite male athletes known for their aggressive approach to playing Australian football. Qualitative methods and deductive analysis procedures, informed by J.H. Kerr's categories of sport aggression, were used to interpret the interview data. Meaningful insights into verbal aggression in the AFL were obtained. Based on the underlying motivation, interview transcript descriptions of incidents were identified as examples of power, thrill, and anger verbal aggression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The evolution toward more stringent conceptualizations of remission in family therapy for adolescent anorexia nervosa (AN) has, with time, introduced variability in outcomes across randomized controlled trials (RCTs). An examination of remission across the history of research on family therapy for AN shows that earlier studies adopted lenient definitions and generally yielded higher rates of remission than studies of the past decade that have used stricter definitions of remission. In this study, we investigate the reactivity of remission rates to the application of different definitions of remission used within the family therapy for AN literature, within a single RCT data set. Method: We conducted a secondary analysis of data from a single‐site RCT which compared the relative efficacy of two formats of family therapy in a sample of 106 Australian adolescents with AN. Using end‐of‐treatment data, we compared remission rates using 11 definitions of remission that have been used in studies of family therapy for AN spanning more than three decades. Results: We found wide variability in remission rates (21.7–87.7%; Cochran's Q χ2(10, N = 106) = 303.55, p =.000], depending on which definition of remission was applied. As expected, more lenient criteria produced higher remission rates than more stringent definitions. Discussion: Applying different criteria of remission to a single data set illustrates the impact of changing how remission is defined. Failure to consider the greater stringency of remission criteria in recent studies could result in false inferences concerning the efficacy of family therapy for AN over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Despite known associations between eating disorders and obesity, little is known about the current prevalence of symptoms of eating disorders across the weight spectrum. This study therefore aimed to estimate the population prevalence of eating disorder symptoms in relation to weight status in adolescents. Method: The sample comprised 3,270 participants (14–15 years; 52% boys) drawn from Wave 6 of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children. Symptoms of anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) were assessed using self‐report on the Branched Eating Disorder Test. This measure identifies clinically significant symptoms in the past 3 months according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition. Using study‐derived cross‐sectional population weights, the prevalence of each symptom was estimated for the total population and by sex and weight status. Results: The estimated population prevalence was high (14.3–25.7%) for body image symptoms such as fear of weight gain and overvaluation of body weight but lower (0.5–3.7%) for behavioral symptoms such as binge eating and compensatory behaviors. Symptoms were more prevalent among adolescents with overweight or obesity. Although most symptoms tended to have higher prevalence among girls than boys, boys with obesity had higher prevalence of binge eating and excessive exercise than girls with obesity. The overall estimated population prevalence for AN and BN was 0.20% and 0.10%, respectively. Discussion: The study highlights a need for clinicians to be cognizant of disordered eating behaviors regardless of weight status and has implications for both eating disorder and obesity prevention and intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective This study aimed to examine the trajectory of symptom remission and affective functioning throughout the course of two family-based treatments for adolescent anorexia nervosa (AN): conjoint family-based treatment (FBT) and parent-focused treatment (PFT). Method Participants were 107 adolescents ( Mage = 15.5 years, SD = 1.5) with a primary diagnosis of AN who participated in a randomized clinical trial comparing FBT ( N = 55) and PFT ( N = 51). Patient weight and self-reported assessments of dietary restraint and positive and negative affect were recorded at regular intervals throughout treatment. Results Multilevel models revealed increases in weight (β = 0.33, p < .001) and positive affect (β = 0.03, p < .001), and decreases in dietary restraint (β = -0.03, p < .001) and negative affect (β = −0.04, p < .001) over the course of treatment. No significant effects emerged by treatment type. Discussion These findings suggest that PFT may bring about comparable trajectories of weight gain and reduced dietary restraint as conjoint FBT, despite adolescents not being directly involved in treatment. These findings also highlight that the exclusively behavioral focus throughout both PFT and FBT is associated with significant increments in positive affect and significant reductions in negative affect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Anorexia nervosa (AN) is often first diagnosed in the adolescent years. The treatment with the greatest evidence during this time is family-based treatment (FBT). In FBT, siblings are expected to attend treatment sessions; however, sibling well-being during this time has not been well researched. This study aimed to explore sibling well-being when the ill child was initially diagnosed with AN and after FBT had been completed. Method Eighty-five parents and 55 siblings of adolescents with AN completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire at diagnosis. In addition, 88 parents and 46 siblings completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire after finishing treatment. Results Mothers and fathers reported siblings to have lower levels of conduct problems in comparison with population norms. Mothers also reported lower levels of prosocial behaviours. Siblings reported higher levels of emotional difficulties and hyperactivity in comparison with their peers. There were no differences in reported psychosocial well-being of siblings between diagnosis and following FBT. Conclusions Siblings of adolescents with AN have poorer psychosocial adjustment than their peers, both before and after FBT. Clinicians and parents are encouraged to be aware of sibling difficulties and seek additional support if required. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Objective This study capitalizes on developmental data from an Australian population-based birth cohort to identify developmental markers of abnormal eating attitudes and behaviors in adolescence. The aims were twofold: (1) to develop a comprehensive path model identifying infant and childhood developmental correlates of Abnormal Eating Attitudes and Behaviors in adolescence, and (2) to explore potential gender differences. Method Data were drawn from a 30-year longitudinal study that has followed the health and development of a population based cohort across 15 waves of data collection from infancy since 1983: The Australian Temperament Project. Participants in this analysis were the 1,300 youth who completed the 11th survey at 15-16 years (1998) and who completed the eating disorder inventory at this time point. Results Developmental correlates of Abnormal Eating Attitudes and Behaviors in mid-adolescence were temperamental persistence, early gestational age, persistent high weight, teen depression, stronger peer relationships, maternal dieting behavior, and pubertal timing. Overall, these factors accounted for 28% of the variance in Abnormal Eating Attitudes and Behaviors at 15-16 years of age. Depressive symptoms, maternal dieting behavior, and early puberty were more important factors for girls. Late puberty was a more important factor for boys. Discussion Findings address an important gap in our understanding of the etiology of Abnormal Eating Attitudes and Behaviors in adolescence and suggest multiple targets for preventive intervention. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2014; 47:813-824) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundThere are no evidence-based treatments for severe and enduring anorexia nervosa (SE-AN). This study evaluated the relative efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT-AN) and specialist supportive clinical management (SSCM) for adults with SE-AN.MethodSixty-three participants with a diagnosis of AN, who had at least a 7-year illness history, were treated in a multi-site randomized controlled trial (RCT). During 30 out-patient visits spread over 8 months, they received either CBT-AN or SSCM, both modified for SE-AN. Participants were assessed at baseline, end of treatment (EOT), and at 6- and 12-month post-treatment follow-ups. The main outcome measures were quality of life, mood disorder symptoms and social adjustment. Weight, eating disorder (ED) psychopathology, motivation for change and health-care burden were secondary outcomes.ResultsThirty-one participants were randomized to CBT-AN and 32 to SSCM with a retention rate of 85% achieved at the end of the study. At EOT and follow-up, both groups showed significant improvement. There were no differences between treatment groups at EOT. At the 6-month follow-up, CBT-AN participants had higher scores on the Weissman Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS; p = 0.038) and at 12 months they had lower Eating Disorder Examination (EDE) global scores (p = 0.004) and higher readiness for recovery (p = 0.013) compared to SSCM.ConclusionsPatients with SE-AN can make meaningful improvements with both therapies. Both treatments were acceptable and high retention rates at follow-up were achieved. Between-group differences at follow-up were consistent with the nature of the treatments given. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objective: To develop and evaluate an instrument to assess severity in anorexia nervosa (AN), the Clinician Administered Staging Instrument for Anorexia Nervosa (CASIAN). Method: Candidate items for the CASIAN were developed in three phases (domain, content, and item generation) followed by a pilot study. The psychometric properties of the resultant 34-item questionnaire were investigated in cross-sectional and longitudinal samples ( N = 171) with DSM-IV AN and subthreshold AN. Results: Item and factor analysis procedures resulted in a refined 23-item CASIAN comprising of six factors ('Motivation,' 'Weight,' 'Illness Duration,' 'Obsessionality,' 'Bulimic Behaviors,' and 'Acute Issues'). The CASIAN had high internal consistency (.811), test-retest (.957), and interrater reliability (.973). Preliminary support for the convergent, discriminant, concurrent, and predictive validity of the CASIAN was found. Discussion: The CASIAN is a psychometrically sound instrument. Further studies are needed to confirm the factor structure and assess its clinical and research utility. © 2011 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2012) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This exploratory qualitative study concerned elite-level male Australian footballers' attitudes to and experience of off-the-field aggression and violence. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with athletes selected for their highly aggressive play on the field. Data was analyzed, according to established principles for qualitative data. Reversal theory was used to interpret findings related to: (a) athletes' perception and experience of violent incidents in off-the-field social settings; (b) the possible role of alcohol; (c) athletes' responses and means of coping; and (d) athletes' perception of the different physical risks in on- and off-the-field violence. The results indicated, for example, that athletes sometimes found themselves the target of violence, but generally did not report instigating it. Provocation caused angry verbal and physical aggressive responses from some athletes, but others had developed coping and avoidance strategies. Athletes perceived the physical risk involved in on- and off-the-field aggression differently and distinguished the boundary that exists between the two. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine prospectively the relationship between diabetes, glycemic control, and spirometric measures.Research Design and Methods: From a community-based cohort, 495 Europid (i.e., of European descent) patients with type 2 diabetes who had no history of pulmonary disease underwent baseline spirometry between 1993 and 1994. A subset of 125 patients was restudied a mean of 7.0 years later. The main outcome measures included forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), vital capacity (VC), and peak expiratory flow (PEF) corrected for body temperature, air pressure, and water saturation and were expressed either in absolute terms or as percentage-predicted value for age, sex, and height.Results: Mean percentage-predicted values of each spirometric measure were decreased >10% in the whole cohort at baseline and absolute measures continued to decline at an annual rate of 68, 71, and 84 ml/year and 17 l/min for FVC, FEV1, VC, and PEF, respectively, in the 125 prospectively studied patients. Declining lung function measures were consistently predicted by poor glycemic control in the form of a higher updated mean HbA1c, follow-up HbA1c, or follow-up fasting plasma glucose. In a Cox proportional hazards model, decreased FEV1 percentage-predicted value was an independent predictor of all-cause mortality.Conclusions: Reduced lung volumes and airflow limitation are likely to be chronic complications of type 2 diabetes, the severity of which relates to glycemic exposure. Airflow limitation is a predictor of death in type 2 diabetes after adjusting for other recognized risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article studies the structure and stereochemistry of the anticancer agent, EBC-23, from the Australian rainforest. According to the authors, the deduced structure of the prostate anticancer agent 2 has been completely matched in terms of bond connectivity and relative and absolute stereochemistry. The authors add that total synthesis further demonstrated the value of linchpin technology.

Objective: To investigate the interactions between low parental warmth and monitoring at age 13-14 years and disordered eating attitudes and behaviours at age 15-16 years.Method: Data on 1300 (667 females) adolescents and their parents were drawn from The Australian Temperament Project (ATP), a 30 year (15 wave) population based longitudinal study of social-emotional development. Parent participants completed surveys on parenting practices in late childhood, and adolescent participants reported disordered eating using the drive for thinness and bulimia subscales of the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI) and an additional body dissatisfaction scale. Interaction was examined on the additive scale by estimating super-additive risk; i.e., risk in excess of the sum of individual risks.Results: For boys, neither parental warmth or monitoring, nor their interaction, was related to disordered eating. For girls, low parental warmth (alone) was associated with bulimic behaviours. In contrast, exposure to both low monitoring and warmth was associated with ∼3½-fold, ∼4-fold and ∼5-fold increases in the odds of reporting body dissatisfaction, drive for thinness and bulimia, respectively. For body dissatisfaction and drive for thinness, risk associated with joint exposure exceeded the sum of individual risks, suggesting an additive interaction between parenting styles.Conclusion: Further investment in family-level interventions that focus on promoting parental monitoring behaviour and a warm parent-child relationship remain important strategies for preventing a range of disordered eating behaviours in adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]