The power of words: the impact of police interviewer’s judgment error and apology on sexual violence victims in simulated interviews

This experiment examines how a police interviewer’s judgment error and apology affect a sexual violence victim’s secondary victimization, trust in the interviewer, rapport, and willingness to provide information. Ninety students from Peru were asked to imagine being sexual violence victims and were interviewed online by a mock police interviewer. Participants were randomized into three conditions: judgment error without apology, judgment error with apology, and a no-error control. The judgment error involved suggesting the victim was partly responsible for their victimhood, citing women’s clothing choices and questioning men’s masculinity. Our findings show judgment errors reduced trust, rapport, and willingness to provide information while increasing secondary victimization; apologizing improved trust and rapport but did not affect secondary victimization or willingness to provide information. These outcomes indicate that judgment errors in sexual violence victim interviews can negatively impact the interviewing process and outcomes and highlight the importance of an apology.

DRP1 depletion protects NK cells from hypoxia-induced dysfunction

The efficacy of cellular therapies has been disappointing in solid tumors. A major barrier that contributes to the low success rate, is hypoxia within the tumor microenvironment. In this study, we investigated the influence of hypoxia on natural killer (NK) cell function and to evaluated a strategy to restore their activity in hypoxia. Unarmed or CAR NK cells were placed in normoxia (21% O 2 ) or hypoxia (1% O 2 ) prior to experimental readouts. Mitochondrial content and morphology were assessed by confocal microscopy, membrane potential and reactive oxygen species (ROS) by flow cytometry, and global transcriptional changes by RNA sequencing. Cytotoxicity was evaluated against tumor cell lines and patient-derived cancer organoids, which were characterized by RNA sequencing. DRP1 function was inhibited pharmacologically or through CRISPR-Cas9-mediated knockout. Hypoxia reduced NK cell mitochondrial content and membrane potential, while increasing mitochondrial ROS and inducing broad transcriptional changes in stress response pathways. Their cytotoxic activity was drastically impaired, which could not be prevented by CD70-CAR-IL-15 engineering. Pharmacological inhibition of DRP1 restored mitochondrial content and cytotoxic function. To confirm the role of DRP1, CRISPR-Cas9-mediated DRP1 knockout (KO) NK cells preserved mitochondrial load and membrane potential under hypoxia, and DRP1 KO CAR NK cells retained cytotoxic activity under hypoxic conditions against cancer cell lines. Patient microtumor models with distinct transcriptomic profiles exhibited divergent responses to DRP1 WT and DRP1 KO CAR NK cells. These findings indicate that DRP1 inactivation supports NK cell function in hypoxia and metabolic engineering may enhance CAR-NK efficacy in solid tumors.

RETRACTED ARTICLE: From policy to practice: mainstreaming climate change strategies into local development plan of coastal communities in Ghana—evidence from Effutu Municipal Assembly

We, the Editor and the Publisher of the journal, Local Environment, have retracted the following article: Letsyo, E. (2025). From policy to practice: mainstreaming climate change strategies into local development plan of coastal communities in Ghana—evidence from Effutu Municipal Assembly. Local Environment, 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1080/13549839.2025.2502999 Since publication, we have been made aware that there are errors in the references cited in this article. The following references could not be found or verified: Adger, W. N., K. Brown, and E. L. Tompkins. 2020. “Health Implications of Climate Change Adaptation in Coastal Communities: A Systematic Review.” Climate and Development 12 (4): 318–332. Araos, M., L. Berrang-Ford, J. D. Ford, S. E. Austin, R. Biesbroek, and A. Lesnikowski. 2019. “Climate Change Adaptation Infrastructure in Coastal Municipalities: Institutional Challenges and Opportunities.” Global Environmental Change 54:265–279. Brown, C., E. Seville, and J. Vargo. 2021. “Measuring and Enhancing Resilience in Local Governance: Challenges and Opportunities.” Environmental Science & Policy 118:127–138. Chen, C., I. Noble, J. Hellmann, J. Coffee, M. Murillo, and N. Chawla. 2021. “Climate Adaptation Strategies in Coastal Regions: Best Practices, Constraints and Lessons Learned.” Sustainability Science 16 (5): 1189–1209. Cobbinah, Patrick B., and George K. Anane. 2015. “Climate Change and Urban Planning in Ghana: Towards a Sustainable future.” Journal of Urban Management 4 (2): 89–102. Kuhl, Lauren, Van Maanen Kimberly, and Steven Scyphers. 2020. “Implementing Coastal Adaptation: Lessons from UNFCCC-Funded Projects.” Global Environmental Change 63:Article 102073 Kumar, P. 2023. “Integration of Climate Change Policies in Local Governance: A Comparative Analysis of Coastal Communities.” Journal of Environmental Management 296:114821. Martinez, R. 2023. “Theoretical Frameworks for Climate Governance at Local Levels: Emerging Perspectives and Applications.” Environmental Politics 32 (3): 445–467. Ranganathan, Janet, Daniel Vennard, Richard Waite, and Brian Lipinski. 2010. “Mainstreaming Climate Change Into Development Planning: Lessons from the Field.” World Resources Institute Working Paper. Thompson, J. P., S. Hughes, and D. Reckien. 2021. “Challenges to Mainstreaming Climate Change Adaptation in Local Governments: A Multi-Case Study Analysis.” Urban Climate 36:100781. Williams, D. S., S. Rosendo, O. Sadasing, and L. Celliers. 2022. “Alternative Livelihood Strategies in Coastal Communities: Adaptation Responses to Climate Change.” Ocean & Coastal Management 215:105968. While the author cooperated with the investigation and provided information in response to our queries, our concerns remain. Adger, W. N., K. Brown, and E. L. Tompkins. 2020. “Health Implications of Climate Change Adaptation in Coastal Communities: A Systematic Review.” Climate and Development 12 (4): 318–332. Araos, M., L. Berrang-Ford, J. D. Ford, S. E. Austin, R. Biesbroek, and A. Lesnikowski. 2019. “Climate Change Adaptation Infrastructure in Coastal Municipalities: Institutional Challenges and Opportunities.” Global Environmental Change 54:265–279. Brown, C., E. Seville, and J. Vargo. 2021. “Measuring and Enhancing Resilience in Local Governance: Challenges and Opportunities.” Environmental Science & Policy 118:127–138. Chen, C., I. Noble, J. Hellmann, J. Coffee, M. Murillo, and N. Chawla. 2021. “Climate Adaptation Strategies in Coastal Regions: Best Practices, Constraints and Lessons Learned.” Sustainability Science 16 (5): 1189–1209. Cobbinah, Patrick B., and George K. Anane. 2015. “Climate Change and Urban Planning in Ghana: Towards a Sustainable future.” Journal of Urban Management 4 (2): 89–102. Kuhl, Lauren, Van Maanen Kimberly, and Steven Scyphers. 2020. “Implementing Coastal Adaptation: Lessons from UNFCCC-Funded Projects.” Global Environmental Change 63:Article 102073 Kumar, P. 2023. “Integration of Climate Change Policies in Local Governance: A Comparative Analysis of Coastal Communities.” Journal of Environmental Management 296:114821. Martinez, R. 2023. “Theoretical Frameworks for Climate Governance at Local Levels: Emerging Perspectives and Applications.” Environmental Politics 32 (3): 445–467. Ranganathan, Janet, Daniel Vennard, Richard Waite, and Brian Lipinski. 2010. “Mainstreaming Climate Change Into Development Planning: Lessons from the Field.” World Resources Institute Working Paper. Thompson, J. P., S. Hughes, and D. Reckien. 2021. “Challenges to Mainstreaming Climate Change Adaptation in Local Governments: A Multi-Case Study Analysis.” Urban Climate 36:100781. Williams, D. S., S. Rosendo, O. Sadasing, and L. Celliers. 2022. “Alternative Livelihood Strategies in Coastal Communities: Adaptation Responses to Climate Change.” Ocean & Coastal Management 215:105968. As the editorial team no longer have confidence in the reported conclusions within the article, the decision has been made to retract the article. The author does not agree with this retraction. We have been informed in our decision-making by our editorial policies and the COPE guidelines. The retracted article will remain online to maintain the scholarly record, but it will be digitally watermarked on each page as 'Retracted’.

Can we talk? A correspondence study to examine responsiveness of physical educators to requests for a phone call from parents of children with disabilities

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (2004) mandates that parental input be considered when making educational decisions for children with disabilities, including in physical education. However, parents of children with disabilities often report suboptimal communication experiences with physical educators. The purpose of the current study was to examine if the initiation of a parent–physical educator relationship is influenced by whether students have a disability or not. An online message correspondence study methodology was used to detect potential disparities in the responsiveness of a sample of 320 physical educators to electronic message requests for a phone call to discuss physical education service from hypothetical parents of a child with a visual impairment (VI), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), Down syndrome (DS), or no disability. Parents of children with ASD had reduced odds of receiving a positive response as compared to parents of children without disabilities (15.8% vs 26.9% RR = .57). Similarly, parents of children with DS had reduced odds of receiving a positive response as compared to parents of children without disabilities (15.2% vs 26.9%, RR = .59). Strategies to promote parent–physical educator relationships are urgently needed, especially for parents of children with ASD and DS.

Breaking barriers in women’s pelvic health: claims-based economic analysis and healthcare utilization of an AI care program compared to usual care

To compare healthcare utilization and spending among women enrolled in an employer-sponsored, artificial intelligence (AI) structured pelvic care program with those receiving usual in-person care for pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) in routine clinical settings. This retrospective payor-perspective economic evaluation used exact and propensity score-matched cohorts derived from a third-party U.S. nationwide claims database from July 2022 to May 2025. Eligible participants were adult females with a pelvic-related condition, at least 24 months of continuous health-insurance coverage, and a minimum of one pelvic claim in the prior year. Intervention group (IG) comprised women who participated in the AI pelvic care program (consisting of biofeedback-mediated pelvic floor muscle training asynchronously monitored by a physical therapist specialized in pelvic health). Comparator group (CG) included women who sought a medical or physical therapy evaluation visit for PFD. Self-reported clinical outcomes available for the IG were assessed using latent-basis growth analysis. The matched cohort included 602 women (301 per group). Relative to CG, IG patients had substantially lower healthcare spending over 12 months, with mean gross per-person pelvic-related savings of $3,082.4 (95% CI $1,270.2 to $4,894.7, p <.001). Savings were primarily associated with fewer surgical procedures (per-person difference of $2,534.2; 95% CI $831.2 to $4,237.2, p =.004), with differences also noted in medical office visits and imaging utilization. IG participants demonstrated significant improvements in pelvic floor symptom burden, work productivity, and mental health. Claims-based analyses cannot exclude unmeasured confounding, misclassification, or selection bias. The one-year follow-up limits assessment of long-term economic impact. Participation in this AI pelvic care program was associated with markedly lower healthcare utilization and spending compared with usual care, largely linked to fewer surgical interventions. These findings highlight the potential of accessible, guideline-concordant AI pelvic care to lessen healthcare spending associated with PFD and inform payor-oriented care delivery models.

Rebalancing the narrative on MHT – the menopause momentum continues following FDA ‘unboxing’!

A survey of the perceptions and practices of faculty in clinical neuropsychology doctoral training programs: is heterogeneity the norm?

Objective: Doctoral education is a cornerstone in the training of clinical neuropsychologists. However, we know little about perceptions, practices, and needs of the faculty who oversee doctoral training in clinical neuropsychology (CN). Method: Seventy-one faculty from 45 doctoral programs providing CN training completed at least part of a survey assessing characteristics of their programs, current training practices and views, and challenges to CN doctoral training. Results: Over half of CN faculty reported having zero or only one CN colleague. CN faculty reported that the goals of CN doctoral training are research training, clinical training, and acquisition of knowledge and skills reflected in the Houston Conference Guidelines (HCG). CN faculty reported that doctoral trainees obtain more clinical hours than faculty would like and endorsed alternative clinical metrics, including competency-based ratings. CN faculty are divided about the benefits of a required two-year postdoctoral CN fellowship. Conclusions: The HCG states that specialization in CN begins at the doctoral level. CN faculty in doctoral programs are fully immersed in the early development and education of future CN researchers and practitioners. Tensions between clinical and research training in CN at the doctoral level—and student overemphasis on accruing clinical hours—might place CN at risk for failing to make research innovations necessary for our field to evolve and thrive. More CN doctoral faculty are needed to serve as mentors to students, especially for students from backgrounds that have been historically excluded and marginalized. A greater voice from CN doctoral faculty in CN governance is needed.

Digital and analog approaches for managing daily activities in younger and older adults

Objective : Technology is increasingly critical for performing daily activities, which has multiple implications for the practice of clinical neuropsychology. This study sought to characterize use of digital and traditional analog approaches to instrumental activities of daily living (iADLs) among samples of younger and older adults and identify cognitive factors associated with self-perceived errors in using digital approaches. Method : Sixty community-dwelling adults aged 50 and older and 46 younger healthy adults aged 35 and younger completed a telephone-based research evaluation including demographics, mood, general health, and neurocognitive functioning. Participants also completed a questionnaire on frequency of usage and perceived errors in completing nine iADLs via digital and analog approaches. Results : Participants overall reported using digital more frequently than analog approaches at a very large effect size, with a digital preference most obvious for activities such as navigation and financial account management. The younger group reported using digital approaches more frequently than the older group at a large effect size. Better cognitive performance was associated with less frequent use of analog, but not digital, approaches. Furthermore, better cognition was associated with moderately less frequent self-reported digital errors in the older, but not the younger, groups. Conclusions : Younger and older adults are increasingly adopting digital approaches to performing daily tasks. This highlights both the need and opportunity for the field of clinical neuropsychology to better understand how technology impacts the ability to perform daily tasks and develop assessment tools that adequately capture how patients are functioning in a digitally enriched environment.

The business of neuropsychology: Creating professional parity and financial viability when working with psychometrists

Objective : More than half of all neuropsychologists use a psychometrist model, in which a technician administers neuropsychological measures under supervision. There are many benefits to that model, including improved clinical and financial productivity. This paper explores the ways in which a commonly used indicator of work productivity, the wRVU, fails to capture the full scope of work for the neuropsychologist using a psychometry model and offers suggestions to promote more equitable administrative processes. Methods : A review was performed of the limited literature pertaining to billing practices for neuropsychological services conducted by psychometrists. Resources detailing analogous models used by clinical psychologists and physicians are also referenced. Conclusions : Neuropsychologists with wRVU productivity targets are currently limited by existing productivity values assigned to testing with or without psychometrist support. There are opportunities to improve parity between neuropsychologists, clinical psychologists, and physicians that warrant further exploration.

The business of neuropsychology: Training in neuropsychology further widens the wRVU gap

Objective: Meaningful differences exist in billing and work productivity, as measured using wRVU, associated with psychological intervention versus assessment services. This paper focuses on billing for work completed by psychology trainees and how those services differentially impact supervisors’ productivity indicators, potentially threatening the future of psychological and neuropsychological assessment. We provide suggestions on how to address this and related issues affecting supervising neuropsychologists. Methods: A review was performed of the limited literature pertaining to billing practices for psychological services conducted by various levels of trainees. Resources pertaining to productivity associated with trainee services under supervising physicians were also reviewed. Conclusions: Psychotherapy and other psychological intervention services enable supervising psychologists to use “incident to” or supervisory billing, which can confer productivity to the supervisor. In contrast, this is not allowable for most aspects of trainee involvement in neuropsychological evaluation, except when the supervisor is physically present. No clear rationale was uncovered for this striking difference. We propose a call to action for members of our national organizations to advocate for better representation of neuropsychologists’ services, with the goal of obtaining parity with our clinical psychologist colleagues in terms of work productivity for supervising trainees.