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Simple mean differences summarized in meta-analyses do not always adequately describe sex similarities and differences. We investigated sex similarities and differences in academic achievement test scores during childhood and adolescence multiple ways based on composite and subtest scores from the Kaufman Test of Educational Achievement (Third edition) norming sample. Sex differences in means were investigated across achievement domains and ability levels. Test score variance and percentages of scores at different parts of score distributions were also compared across sex. The largest and most consistent sex differences were female advantages in writing tests: Larger advantages were found in more complex writing tasks. Females also showed consistent advantages in silent reading fluency. Males demonstrated advantages in math problem solving that emerged at the average ability level. Females were more likely to be high achievers in reading fluency and written expression, whereas males were more likely to be low achievers in reading fluency and aspects of writing, and very low achievers in word recognition, word recognition fluency, and reading vocabulary. Males were more likely to be high achievers in math problem solving. Analysis that goes beyond simple mean differences reveals important sex differences regarding academic achievement, and theories should account for overall patterns of academic achievement similarities and differences.

Despite prevention efforts, young women, particularly college students, experience sexual victimization at alarming rates, and do not always receive trauma-responsive treatment to address the devastating acute and long-lasting post-assault symptoms. Grounded in theory and research on trauma and sexual violence, the authors introduce a new conceptual framework and corresponding therapeutic and psychoeducational resource -- "The Ripple Effect of Sexual Violence Wheels" -- that synthesize these common post-assault consequences and offer strategies that promote recovery and healing for victims and survivors. Instructions for how to use these tools in clinical and advocacy positions at universities and other applied settings, as well as how to use the wheels as self-guided resources are described. Limitations and future directions are discussed.

As advancing technology has improved its potential to facilitate the delivery of counseling supervision. There are many important factors to consider when promoting technology-assisted, evidence-based clinical supervision within rehabilitation counseling settings.The present article examines the potential for using technology-assisted [distance] supervision with rehabilitation counselors given current parameters for delivering rehabilitation services to people with disabilities. The authors explore the intent and structure for effective supervision to occur and the steps needed to sustain the supervisory working alliance when using a distance format. A discussion of best practices developed by a national task force and ethical challenges posed by the use of technology-assisted supervision (TAS) will also be provided. Finally, this article will review identified benefits, as well as the relevant law and ethics involved when applying TAS in rehabilitation counseling practice. Keywords: clinical supervision, technology-assisted services, working alliance, ethics, legal regulations, and counseling, Supervision is a key part of the service provision process in rehabilitation settings and the professional development of counselors (Sabella, 2017). Historically, most rehabilitation supervisors have reported relying on 'as [...]

Objective: To assess the proportion of indeterminate QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus (QFT-Plus) results in patients admitted for severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia and evaluate the factors associated with indeterminate QFT-Plus results. Patients and Methods: Data on COVID-19 admissions at Mayo Clinic in Florida were extracted between October 13, 2020, and September 20, 2021, and data from a prepandemic cohort were extracted between October 13, 2018, and September 20, 2019. A secondary analysis of the COVID-19 cohort was performed using gradient boosting modeling to generate variable importance and SHapley Additive exPlanations plots. Results: Our findings demonstrated more indeterminate QFT-Plus test results in patients hospitalized for severe COVID-19 infection than in patients without COVID-19 (139 of 495, 28.1%). The factors associated with indeterminate QFT-Plus test results included elevated levels of C-reactive protein, ferritin, lactate dehydrogenase and interleukin-6 and included lower levels of leukocyte, lymphocyte, and platelet counts. Conclusion: The patients with severe COVID-19 had a higher likelihood of indeterminate QFT-Plus results, which were associated with elevated levels of inflammatory markers consistent with severe infection. Interferon-gamma release assay screening tests are likely confounded by COVID-19 infection itself, limiting the screening ability for latent tuberculosis infection reactivation. Indeterminate QFT-Plus results may also require follow-up QFT-Plus testing after patient recovery from COVID-19, increasing the cost and complexity of medical decision making and management. Additional risk assessments may be needed in this patient population for screening for latent tuberculosis infection in patients with severe COVID-19.

Streambank erosion in agricultural landscapes contributes high amounts of sediment and total-P to surface water, resulting in the degradation of stream habitats and reduction in ecological services. Moreover, the implication of future climate change on bank erosion is also a growing concern. Streambank erosion rates from riparian forest buffers (RFo), grass filters (GFi), row-crops (RCr) and pastures, including fenced pastures (FPa), rotationally grazed pastures (RPa), intensive rotationally grazed pastures (IPa), and continuously grazed pastures (CPa), in three landform regions of Iowa, were measured over seven years. Bank erosion pins were measured seasonally (spring, summer and fall) in the first five years (2002–2006) and yearly for two more years (2007–2008). It was found that summer and spring seasons are the important ones since the relationships between erosion and precipitation were significantly "strong" in almost all the riparian practices, and precipitation was found to be the main factor driving streambank erosion. Streambank mean soil losses and soil total-P losses from RFo (23.3 tons km−1 yr−1 and 9.8 kg km−1 yr−1, respectively), GFi (31.1 and 9.9) and FPa (44.0 and 23.7) practices were all significantly lower than the grazing pasture practices, including RPa (142.3 and 58), CPa (255 and 105.1), IPa (234.6 and 122.7) and RCr fields (352.9 and 118.9). Also, RPa had significantly lower total-P loss than CPa, IPa and RCr practices (RFo, GFi, FPa < RPa < CPa, IPa, RCr). RCr practices had the highest streambank soil losses among all other riparian practices (RFo, GFi, FPa < RPa < IPa, CPa < RCr). The study showed that riparian conservation practices (RFo, GFi and FPa) showcased significant benefits in mitigating streambank soil loss and associated soil total-P load to streams. However, their effectiveness is highly sensitive to changing climatic conditions and the extent of spatiotemporal variations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Supervision plays a critical role in the development of rehabilitation counselors. Research and accreditation standards have long called for the appropriate training of rehabilitation counseling supervisors but have offered little in the way of topical suggestions for such trainings. Methods: The present study used the Delphi method. A panel of 33 subject matter experts participated in three rounds of data collection to establish supervision topics that would be both beneficial and of a high priority to site supervisors working with counselor education programs. Findings: Results were grouped according to high, moderate, and low priority with participants. Items identified by participants were grouped into one of six themes: supervision resources, supervision activities, supports provided by the institution, and aspects of supervision broken down according to the Tripartite Model of Supervision proposed by Schultz (2008). Conclusions: Findings can help educators consider the type of supervision training and delivery method most appropriate for their site supervisors.

We began the exploratory process of identifying knowledge, skills, and attitudes that are important for disability service professionals to possess in order to provide beneficial services to students with psychiatric disabilities in postsecondary education. Using a three-round Delphi survey, two groups of experts identified 54 knowledge, skill, and attitudinal items. A national sample of 402 disability service professionals then rated each item. A principal components analysis revealed five factors: (a) Ethical and Legal Considerations, (b) Accommodations and Supports, (c) Disability Aspects, (d) Community Resources, and (e) Campus Considerations. Findings are discussed in regards to implications, assumptions, limitations, and recommendations for future research.

The need for science communication programs is matched with the need for program evaluation. This case study is an evaluation of the "Decoding Science" program (DSP) [Rodgers et al. (2018). "Science Communication," 40(1), 3-32], a science communication training program, and examines key experiential-learning themes [Kolb, D. A. (1984). "Experiential learning: Experience as the source of learning and development." Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall]. Specifically, we discuss the program's emphasis on learning that science communication is a process that (a) is continual, (b) involves conflict resolution, (c) requires adaptation to the world, (d) requires environmental interaction, and leads to (e) knowledge creation. Additionally, we discuss our analysis of student feedback. Results suggest that the DSP successfully utilizes experiential learning to facilitate the learning of science communication techniques and that future evaluations can lead to the development and improvement of science communication training programs.

Newly adopted accreditation standards within rehabilitation counselor education require the assessment of knowledge, skills, and a set of characteristics known as professional dispositions (PDs). PDs may be regarded as individual characteristics like values, beliefs, attitudes, or interpersonal ways of being that influence professional behavior. Yet, this remains an abstract construct that eludes simple definition and measurement. The purpose of this article is to review existing literature related to PDs in order to assist rehabilitation counselor educators in understanding (a) the conceptualization and identification of PDs, (b) the assessment of PDs within a program evaluation process, and (c) contextual dynamics that may influence the assessment of PDs. To this end, the article explores existing PD definitions; common factors related to counseling outcomes; and the guiding philosophies, codes, and values for the field of rehabilitation counseling. Additionally, the role of PDs are discussed in relation to accreditation standards, the development of standardized instruments, student assessment, and program evaluation. Finally, the assessment of PDs are considered in relation to multicultural dynamics, students with disabilities, and distance education.

Group therapy is an effective modality to treat various mental health concerns and is proven to have significant interpersonal benefits. Despite the high prevalence of sexual violence amongst college-aged women, there are limited contemporary models for providing a trauma-specific group for this population. This article describes an innovative eight-session group for victims and survivors of sexual violence. Offered in a university setting, this semi-structured group incorporates psychoeducation about trauma, self-compassion and mindfulness techniques, coping skill development, trauma processing, expressive and creative therapeutic outlets, and peer connections in a confidential, affirming environment. The theoretical grounding and evidence-based framework underpinning this group is described, along with a detailed account of the weekly group sessions. Quantitative and qualitative data from the pilot study are reported, with preliminary results suggesting this is an effective group therapy model for improving post-traumatic stress symptoms, well-being, resilience, and self-compassion. Limitations and future directions are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is an encephalitic bunyavirus that can infect neurons in the brain. There are no approved therapeutics that can protect from RVFV encephalitis. Innate immunity, the first line of defense against infection, canonically antagonizes viruses through interferon signaling. We found that interferons did not efficiently protect primary cortical neurons from RVFV, unlike other cell types. To identify alternative neuronal antiviral pathways, we screened innate immune ligands and discovered that the TLR2 ligand Pam3CSK4 inhibited RVFV infection, and other bunyaviruses. Mechanistically, we found that Pam3CSK4 blocks viral fusion, independent of TLR2. In a mouse model of RVFV encephalitis, Pam3CSK4 treatment protected animals from infection and mortality. Overall, Pam3CSK4 is a bunyavirus fusion inhibitor active in primary neurons and the brain, representing a new approach toward the development of treatments for encephalitic bunyavirus infections. Author summary: Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is an emerging mosquito-borne pathogen, which has shown the potential to spread geographically, and which can cause severe disease in humans. One of the most serious complications of RVFV infection is invasion into the brain. There are no approved treatments for RVFV infection, or any other bunyavirus that infects the brain. We found that the classically antiviral interferon pathway was not protective in neurons. This led us to screen for new antivirals, and we identified Pam3CSK4, which inhibited RVFV and related bunyaviruses, but not vesicular stomatitis virus. We found that the antiviral activity of Pam3CSK4 was separate from its previously characterized activity as a TLR2 agonist. Instead, Pam3CSK4 blocked RVFV entry at the step of viral membrane fusion. Importantly, we found that Pam3CSK4 prevented RVFV infection in the mouse brain. This work reveals that Pam3CSK4 prevents encephalitic bunyavirus infection in neurons, a vulnerable cell type, and future research should evaluate the therapeutic potential of Pam3CSK4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]