A number of methods have been developed to assist subjects in providing an estimate of portion size but their application in improving portion size estimation by children has not been investigated systematically. The aim was to develop portion size assessment tools for use with children and to assess the accuracy of children's estimates of portion size using the tools. The tools were food photographs, food models and an interactive portion size assessment system (IPSAS). Children (n 201), aged 4-16 years, were supplied with known quantities of food to eat, in school. Food leftovers were weighed. Children estimated the amount of each food using each tool, 24 h after consuming the food. The age-specific portion sizes represented were based on portion sizes consumed by children in a national survey. Significant differences were found between the accuracy of estimates using the three tools. Children of all ages performed well using the IPSAS and food photographs. The accuracy and precision of estimates made using the food models were poor. For all tools, estimates of the amount of food served were more accurate than estimates of the amount consumed. Issues relating to reporting of foods left over which impact on estimates of the amounts of foods actually consumed require further study. The IPSAS has shown potential for assessment of dietary intake with children. Before practical application in assessment of dietary intake of children the tool would need to be expanded to cover a wider range of foods and to be validated in a 'real-life' situation.Portion size estimation: Food photographs: Interactive portion size assessment system: ChildrenTo monitor the diet of populations there is a need for methods that are accurate, easy for the subject to complete and appropriate to the target population.Assessing habitual food intake of any population group is challenging. Common problems encountered include underreporting 1,2 , subject selection bias and recording bias 3 . Additional limitations must be considered when children are the subjects. The skills and limitations of the population to be studied must be considered. When children are the subjects these may include issues of literacy and writing skills, limited food recognition skills, memory constraints and concentration span.In order that intakes of food can be converted into intakes of nutrients or other food constituents, a measure or estimate of the portion size of each food item consumed is required. Weighing and recording all foods eaten requires a highly motivated and committed subject population that is unlikely to be representative of the general population. Berg et al. discuss that when participation in a project requires a great deal of subject commitment or divulging information of a sensitive nature then there is a risk that the response rate will be low 4 . Of those approached to take part, 64 % completed the recent National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) of young people aged 4-18 years in the UK, which used a 7 d weighed diary method 5 . In addition, ap...

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Identifying contribution of rehabilitation to outcomes after acquired brain injury requires quantification of rehabilitation 'dose' and 'content'. Previous approaches to 'parsing' of rehabilitation dose and content may have overemphasized one-to-one sessions with therapists. We present a novel, holistic tool for identification of ingredients of an interdisciplinary rehabilitation package. It supports interdisciplinary communication and has potential as a research tool.

The management of computer systems for an organisation depends heavily on the policies of that organisation and requires proper computer-based support. This paper presents a way of representing policies in a machine usable form based around the idea of contracts between various parties. Also described is how the Tobias system, a system administrator's workbench, uses this representation to provide a safer environment for management. ". . .Somebody, SOMEBODYHas to, you see."Then she picked out two Somebodies. Sally and me.Dr. Seuss

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