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An important hiring criterion maintained by some school districts is that school counselors possess a teaching certificate and prior teaching experience. The present study examined the actual job performance of novice school counselor (interns) in relation to whether they had teacher certification and at least two years of teaching experience, or entered the school counseling profession as non-teachers. Results showed that standardized supervisors' evaluations of counselor interns' performance in four main skill areas (Professional Behavior, Clinical Skills, Teaching Skills, Hireability) were not associated with prior teacher training and/or experience. However, male, novice counselors were rated somewhat lower on the domain of Professional Behavior than female counselors. The methodological advantages of studying the teacher-counselor question using novice counselors and expert supervisor-evaluators are discussed. The implications for graduate program training, and hiring practices are summarized. (Contains 2 tables.)

Ferroelectrics have recently attracted attention as a candidate class of materials for use in photovoltaic devices, and for the coupling of light absorption with other functional properties (1-7). In these materials, the strong inversion symmetry breaking that is due to spontaneous electric polarization promotes the desirable separation of photo-excited carriers and allows voltages higher than the bandgap, which may enable efficiencies beyond the maximum possible in a conventional p-n junction solar cell (2,6,8-10). Ferroelectric oxides are also stable in a wide range of mechanical, chemical and thermal conditions and can be fabricated using low-cost methods such as sol-gel thin-film deposition and sputtering (3,5). Recent work (3,5,11) has shown how a decrease in ferroelectric layer thickness and judicious engineering of domain structures and ferroelectric-electrode interfaces can greatly increase the current harvested from ferroelectric absorber materials, increasing the power conversion efficiency from about [10.sup.-4] to about 0.5 per cent. Further improvements in photovoltaic efficiency have been inhibited by the wide bandgaps (2.7-4 electronvolts) of ferroelectric oxides, which allow the use of only 8-20 per cent of the solar spectrum. Here we describe a family of single-phase solid oxide solutions made from low-cost and non-toxic elements using conventional solid-state methods: [[Knb[O.sub.3]].sub.1-x][[Ba[Ni.sub.1/2][Nb.sub.1/2][O.sub.3-δ].sub.x] (KBNNO). These oxides exhibit both ferroelectricity and a wide variation ofdirect bandgaps in the range 1.1-3.8 electronvolts. In particular, the x= 0.1 composition is polar at room temperature, has a direct bandgap of 1.39 electronvolts and has a photocurrent density approximately 50 times larger than that of the classic ferroelectric (Pb,La)(Zr,Ti)[O.sub.3] material. The ability of KBNNO to absorb three to six times more solar energy than the current ferroelectric materials suggests a route to viable ferroelectric semiconductor-based cells for solar energy conversion and other applications., The wide bandgap of typical ferroelectric perovskites (with AB[O.sub.3] composition) is due to the fundamental characteristics of the metaloxygen A-Oand B-O bonds. The excitation across the bandgap is essentially a [...]

The future revision of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) will describe diagnostic criteria for two anorexia nervosa subgroups: a binge eating or bulimic subtype, and a severe food restriction subtype. The present literature review will help orient nutrition and dietetic students, educators and researchers to the empirical bases for these subtypes. Available research on these two subtypes is equivocal. However, some important trends have emerged. Compared with restricting anorexics, bulimic anorexics are described by others as being significantly more unhappy during childhood and displaying a greater range of impulsive behaviors. In addition, bulimic anorexics have a higher lifetime prevalence of formal mood disorders, tend to use more alcohol and drugs, and tend to meet the criteria for DSM III-R Cluster B Personality disorders rather than those for Cluster C. Also, the bulimic subtype tends to have a more chaotic family environment. Finally, more patients of the bulimic subtype seem to show subaverage bone density, suggesting a higher risk for chronic osteoporosis. The present review discusses the significant research and treatment implications of the differences between these anorexic subtypes.

Bulimia nervosa represents a serious, psychophysiological disorder among adolescent women. The prevalence of this eating disorder is frequently described as 'epidemic.' The present review examined 40 studies on its prevalence. Estimates of prevalence have varied dramatically, depending on the subjects sampled, diagnostic criteria used, and, especially, the researchers' method for establishing cases. Popular reports in the literature of prevalence rates greater than between 1-3% cannot be substantiated by the available, published data. Groups denoted as bulimic in studies that suggest dramatically higher prevalence rates likely include many false-positive cases. However, it is also likely that an unknown number of bulimia nervosa cases are not being included in prevalence study screening samples.

Offers an alternative interpretation of the Primary Mental Health Project's (PMHP) outcome, based on meta-analysis of the empirical data currently available. Results showed that effect sizes coincide reasonably well with those of past PMHP outcome studies. Positive outcomes for the typical PMHP-referred child are only inconsistently found. (BH)

The ternary perovskite system PbTiO3-Bi(Zn1/2Ti1/2)O3-Bi(Mg1/2Ti1/2)O3 was investigated in an attempt to capture the enhanced tetragonality of the PbTiO3-Bi(Zn1/2Ti1/2)O3 binary system at a morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) to improve piezoelectric performance. Results from the (1-x)[0.75 PbTiO3-0.25Bi(Zn1/2Ti1/2)O3]-(x)Bi(Mg1/2Ti1/2)O3 pseudo-binary solution indicate the formation of an MPB-type phase boundary with a high TC (585 °C at x = 0.55). Multiple dielectric transitions were observed in a region of the ternary diagram characterized by high occupancy of the A-site by Bi3+ (>40%) and the B-site by ferroelectrically active cations (>70%). Temperature-dependent diffraction studies revealed the persistence of a tetragonal structure in at least a subset of the crystal to the higher temperature dielectric transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Recently, Christianson syndrome (CS) has been determined to be caused by mutations in the X-linked Na(+) /H(+) exchanger 6 (NHE6). We aimed to determine the diagnostic criteria and mutational spectrum for CS.Methods: Twelve independent pedigrees (14 boys, age = 4-19 years) with mutations in NHE6 were administered standardized research assessments, and mutations were characterized.Results: The mutational spectrum was composed of 9 single nucleotide variants, 2 indels, and 1 copy number variation deletion. All mutations were protein-truncating or splicing mutations. We identified 2 recurrent mutations (c.1498 c>t, p.R500X; and c.1710 g>a, p.W570X). Otherwise, all mutations were unique. In our study, 7 of 12 mutations (58%) were de novo, in contrast to prior literature wherein mutations were largely inherited. We also report prominent neurological, medical, and behavioral symptoms. All CS participants were nonverbal and had intellectual disability, epilepsy, and ataxia. Many had prior diagnoses of autism and/or Angelman syndrome. Other neurologic symptoms included eye movement abnormalities (79%), postnatal microcephaly (92%), and magnetic resonance imaging evidence of cerebellar atrophy (33%). Regression was noted in 50%, with recurrent presentations involving loss of words and/or the ability to walk. Medical symptoms, particularly gastrointestinal symptoms, were common. Height and body mass index measures were below normal ranges in most participants. Behavioral symptoms included hyperkinetic behavior (100%), and a majority exhibited high pain threshold.Interpretation: This is the largest cohort of independent CS pedigrees reported. We propose diagnostic criteria for CS. CS represents a novel neurogenetic disorder with general relevance to autism, intellectual disability, Angelman syndrome, epilepsy, and regression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Recently, Christianson syndrome (CS) has been determined to be caused by mutations in the X-linked Na+/H+ exchanger 6 ( NHE6). We aimed to determine the diagnostic criteria and mutational spectrum for CS. Methods Twelve independent pedigrees (14 boys, age = 4-19 years) with mutations in NHE6 were administered standardized research assessments, and mutations were characterized. Results The mutational spectrum was composed of 9 single nucleotide variants, 2 indels, and 1 copy number variation deletion. All mutations were protein-truncating or splicing mutations. We identified 2 recurrent mutations (c.1498 c>t, p.R500X; and c.1710 g>a, p.W570X). Otherwise, all mutations were unique. In our study, 7 of 12 mutations (58%) were de novo, in contrast to prior literature wherein mutations were largely inherited. We also report prominent neurological, medical, and behavioral symptoms. All CS participants were nonverbal and had intellectual disability, epilepsy, and ataxia. Many had prior diagnoses of autism and/or Angelman syndrome. Other neurologic symptoms included eye movement abnormalities (79%), postnatal microcephaly (92%), and magnetic resonance imaging evidence of cerebellar atrophy (33%). Regression was noted in 50%, with recurrent presentations involving loss of words and/or the ability to walk. Medical symptoms, particularly gastrointestinal symptoms, were common. Height and body mass index measures were below normal ranges in most participants. Behavioral symptoms included hyperkinetic behavior (100%), and a majority exhibited high pain threshold. Interpretation This is the largest cohort of independent CS pedigrees reported. We propose diagnostic criteria for CS. CS represents a novel neurogenetic disorder with general relevance to autism, intellectual disability, Angelman syndrome, epilepsy, and regression. Ann Neurol 2014;76:581-593 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]