Toward Prevention of Childhood Sexual Abuse: Preschoolers’ Knowledge of Genital Body Parts

This study examined preschool children’s knowledge of their genital and non-genital body parts. Results indicated that almost all preschool children knew the correct terms for their non-genital body parts, but few knew the correct terminology for their genitals. The importance of this skill in preventing childhood sexual abuse is discussed

The James Webb Space Telescope Mission

Twenty-six years ago a small committee report, building on earlier studies, expounded a compelling and poetic vision for the future of astronomy, calling for an infrared-optimized space telescope with an aperture of at least $4m$. With the support of their governments in the US, Europe, and Canada, 20,000 people realized that vision as the $6.5m$ James Webb Space Telescope. A generation of astronomers will celebrate their accomplishments for the life of the mission, potentially as long as 20 years, and beyond. This report and the scientific discoveries that follow are extended thank-you notes to the 20,000 team members. The telescope is working perfectly, with much better image quality than expected. In this and accompanying papers, we give a brief history, describe the observatory, outline its objectives and current observing program, and discuss the inventions and people who made it possible. We cite detailed reports on the design and the measured performance on orbit.Comment: Accepted by PASP for the special issue on The James Webb Space Telescope Overview, 29 pages, 4 figure

SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and COVID-19 disease severity are associated with genetic variants affecting gene expression in a variety of tissues

Variability in SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and COVID-19 disease severity between individuals is partly due to genetic factors. Here, we identify 4 genomic loci with suggestive associations for SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and 19 for COVID-19 disease severity. Four of these 23 loci likely have an ethnicity-specific component. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) signals in 11 loci colocalize with expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) associated with the expression of 20 genes in 62 tissues/cell types (range: 1:43 tissues/gene), including lung, brain, heart, muscle, and skin as well as the digestive system and immune system. We perform genetic fine mapping to compute 99% credible SNP sets, which identify 10 GWAS loci that have eight or fewer SNPs in the credible set, including three loci with one single likely causal SNP. Our study suggests that the diverse symptoms and disease severity of COVID-19 observed between individuals is associated with variants across the genome, affecting gene expression levels in a wide variety of tissue types

A first update on mapping the human genetic architecture of COVID-19

peer reviewe

Child sexual abuse education with ethnically diverse families: A preliminary analysis

This study assessed the effectiveness of a parent-child psychoeducational program, Kids Learning About Safety (KLAS), aimed at educating families about general safety and personal safety related to childhood sexual abuse. Following assessment of both parents and children (ages 3 to 5 years and primarily Hispanic), families participated in 16 sessions of simultaneous psychoeducational groups. Children were taught general safety and body safety (e.g., touching rules). Sessions lasted 1-hour and were held twice a week. Group facilitators employed modeling, didactic instruction, and bibliotherapy. Paired t-tests using pre-test and post-test scores from 105 children and their parents demonstrated improvements in preschoolers' knowledge of general safety concepts as well as personal safety rules. No negative side effects or increases in sexualized behaviors were reported. At the three-month follow-up, parents reported maintenance of their child's knowledge and continued satisfaction with the program. Suggestions for future prevention studies are offered.Prevention Childhood sexual abuse Psychoeducational groups Hispanics

Mother-Child Agreement on Self-Report of Anxiety in Abused Children

This study investigates the lack of agreement in maternal and child report of child anxiety with a sample of abused and nonabused clinic-referred children. Based on the literature, it was predicted that nonabused clinic-referred children would report more symptoms of anxiety than their mothers would report for them. It was also predicted that mothers of abused children would report greater anxiety symptoms for their children than the children\u27s self-report. Finally, it was predicted that maternal psychopathology, specifically anxiety, would increase the probability that mothers would overreport their children\u27s anxiety. Mother-child agreement based on anxiety symptoms assessed by the Quay Behavior Problem Checklist and the Revised-Children\u27s Manifest Anxiety Scale was obtained on 54 male and female outpatients, 5 to 16 years of age. Overall, mothers reported significantly more anxiety for their children, than the children\u27s own self-report, irrespective of abuse history. The implications of the findings are discussed with respect to the validity of maternal and child report. Directions for future research are also offered

Responses to prenatal opioid and alcohol abuse : A review of US and Australian mandatory reporting laws

Prenatal substance use, specifically opioid and excessive alcohol use, can cause significant adverse effects for the unborn foetus in both the short-and long-term. Responses by state social systems occur on a spectrum of prevention and early intervention to support mothers. Some but not all states include reporting duties, so that professionals made aware of the situation may alert agencies that can intervene to provide appropriate support. This article will review legal duties to report maternal substance use during pregnancy in the US and Australia. We identify variations in these laws regarding who is required to report, what circumstances must be reported and what indicates child abuse or neglect. Inconsistencies in laws raise questions about the nature of different approaches, and how reforms might be made to improve provision of support. Informed by the medical literature, the contemporary context and federal policy in the US, we make recommendations for reform, and for the appropriate response to such reports.</p

Family Variables Associated with the Onset and Impact of Intrafamilial Childhood Sexual Abuse

Researchers and clinicians have examined variables mediating the onset and consequences of childhood incest. Overall research has illuminated two primary clusters of variables that appear to significantly impact a child\u27s response and adjustment to incest. The purpose of this article was to help elucidate one of these clusters of variables: those family variables which both contribute to the onset of and child\u27s response to incest. Overall, it was evident that little empirically sound research exists in this area. Preliminary results of the few existing well-designed studies suggested that increased risk for onset of and poor adjustment to incest is associated with status of perpetrator, perpetrator substance abuse, nonoffending mother\u27s absence, lack of maternal support toward incested daughter, and other specific family environment characteristics. Articles were critically evaluated for methodological flaws and suggestions for improving future research were mad

Differences in Family Functioning of Sexually Abused vs. Nonabused Enuretics

The present study examined self-reported maternal depression, children\u27s somatic complaints, and perception of family functioning in sexually abused and nonabused enuretics. Forty children with primary nocturnal enuresis served as subjects. Half had documented histories of sexual abuse while the other half did not report a history of victimization. Results indicated that those children with a history of sexual abuse perceived and rated their families as significantly more conflictual and rigid than their nonabused counterparts. Variables such as type of abuse (intrafamilial vs. extrafamilial) and perpetrator did not affect the outcome. However, there were no significant differences in child somatic complaints or maternal depression between the two groups. These results suggest that primary nocturnal enuresis may manifest itself differently in families of sexually abused children than nonabused children. Implications of these findings with respect to intervention are discussed