bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
DOES MANDATORY DIVORCE EDUCATION FOR PARENTS WORK?
Authors: Arbuthnot Jack , Gordon Donald A.
Published: July 2010

In a court‐mandated, child‐focused class for divorcing parents, parental mastery of skills taught were evaluated both immediately after the class and 6 months later. Parents perceived the classes to be realistic and useful. Skills were effectively learned and were maintained over the evaluation period. Parents reported that they were successful in dramatically lowering exposure of their children to parental conflict. Relative to a comparison group of parents divorcing the year before the classes were initiated, parents completing the class were better able to work through how they would handle difficult child‐related situations with their ex‐spouses and were willing to let their children spend more time with the other parent. Few gender differences were observed—mothers perceived the class as more realistic; fathers showed greater improvement on some skills. Similarly, interest level in further training was not predictive of class benefits, suggesting that enthusiasm for parenting training is probably not essential.
BRINGING PEACE TO THE LATINO COMMUNITY
Authors: Schwartz Maria Serrano
Published: July 2010

This study addresses the need for a parent education program for divorcing and separating parents in the Latino community. It is intended to identify special needs and issues that may affect the implementation of such a program and proposes a framework as to how such issues might be addressed and met. This study is based on the implementation of the PEACE (Parent Education and Custody Effectiveness) program, an existing parent education program in New York State. This study will explore how the program may need to be adapted or modified to serve adequately and effectively the Latino community.
CHILDREN'S ALIGNMENT WITH PARENTS IN HIGHLY CONFLICTED CUSTODY CASES
Authors: Lampel Anita K.
Published: July 2010

In one of two samples discussed in this article, 41% of 24 consecutively referred latency‐age children were aligned with one parent in a divorce. In a separate sample of 20 families, both parents of aligned children were more rigid, naively defended, and less emotive than were parents of nonaligned children. Aligned children preferred the more emotive, problem solving, and outgoing of the two parents. Aligned children were less adept at conceptualizing complex problems than were nonaligned children, but they were more self‐confident.
DEPENDENCY MEDIATION
Authors: Firestone Gregory
Published: July 2010

Dependency mediation has emerged as a new field for resolving disputes involving child protection disputes. Program guidelines concerning issues of referral to mediation; compliance with time standards; confidentiality; court review of agreements; participation of the parties, participants, and counsel; and program evaluation are discussed. Training and qualification issues for dependency mediators are reviewed. Recommendations are made regarding the future of dependency mediation.
WORK, FAMILY, AND INCOME
Authors: Theobald Robert
Published: July 2010

The relation between work and families is undergoing extraordinary levels of change at the current time. Most of the policy discussions assume that it is possible to continue moving in the directions which dominate at the end of the century: commitment to long hours of work which then permits obtaining a high standard of living. The basic problem is that there is now overwhelming evidence that continuation of current trends is tearing cultures apart. Some are capable of earning larger and larger incomes. Those at the bottom are both money and knowledge poor. And the middle class is shrinking. If we are to benefit from the potential of today's world, we can only do so by moving outside our current thinking and asking how we want to define the quality of life in the twenty‐first century.
THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CHILD
Authors: Kelly Joan B.
Published: July 2010

Despite heavy use of the concept of the “best interests” of the child, there is little consensus about what criteria constitute a child's best interests or how these criteria should be applied. This article explores some of the problems of the best interest concept, from the developmental and psychological perspective, and suggests that the concept is a worthwhile one if decision makers are able to go beyond cliches and superficial definitions.
PARENTES MUNDI
Authors: McWhinney Robert L.
Published: July 2010

In this paper, the author considers the significance of “the best interests of the child,” the meaning of childhood, and the universal obligation of adults to protect the innocence of all children.
COPARENTING ARRANGEMENTS IN A JURISDICTION WITH STATUTORY GUIDELINES
Authors: Hirczy de Miño Wolfgang P.
Published: July 2010

Some states have recently moved away from the traditional winner‐loser model of child custody to one focused on coparenting. Under the old approach, divorce decrees typically “awarded” custody to one parent while relegating the other to a “visitor” with poorly defined status. The new system is premised on the child's need for a continuing relationship with both parents and promotes this goal by upgrading the noncustodial parent's status and time‐share, assigning substantive rights and responsibilities to both parents. To give effect to the shared parenting idea, Texas adopted joint custody and statutory visitation guidelines legislatively. The policy covers all major aspects of parental rights and duties with great specificity (not just child support, for which all states must have guidelines). It applies equally to divorce and paternity cases. Judges are authorized to deviate from standard visitation guidelines but must state a rationale for doing so on request. Parties may also negotiate and agree to arrangements at variance with the guidelines, subject to approval by the court. This article describes the statutory regime in Texas and its implementation in the family court system. Based on a sample of divorce and paternity cases in the state's largest jurisdiction, it documents innovative court interventions and a wide array of coparenting and support arrangements.
LAWYER'S DUTY TO DISCUSS ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CHILDREN
Authors: Pedone Nicole
Published: July 2010

Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) has been championed for its power to devise agreements that meet the parents' and the children's needs and for its ability to encourage parties to work together, eventually leading to stable agreements. The Model Rules of Professional Conduct do not create any ethical duty to advise, suggest, or encourage lawyers to discuss ADR with their domestic relations client. In the medical field, patients are given a choice of treatment under the informed consent doctrine, but there is no analogous doctrine in the legal field. The Model Rules of Professional Conduct should be revised to reflect the best interests of children, as well as client choice. Clients, specifically parents in domestic relation matters, are entitled to know their options, and lawyers should be obligated to provide them with the information that will enable them to make informed decisions–decisions that will benefit their children and ultimately our nation.
STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES FOR SUPERVISED VISITATION NETWORK PRACTICE: INTRODUCTORY DISCUSSION
Authors: Straus Robert B. , Blaschak‐Brown Nadine , Reiniger Anne
Published: July 2010

In 1996, members of the Supervised Visitation Network approved initial standards and guidelines for practice. The approach taken was to develop standards of good practice that could be both educational and advisory. It was recognized that the standards as approved were a start and also that they would need to be revised with time and experience. That review is currently in process. The standards and guidelines are published here to reach practitioners in the field, including attorneys and court personnel whose clients require supervised visitation, and to encourage comments and debate. This introduction reviews the evolution of the guidelines, outlines the contents, and identifies areas needing further development.
FAMILY MODES
Authors: Mathis Richard D. , Yingling Lynelle C.
Published: July 2010

Family Modes is an attempt to develop a standardized test for mediation assessment and research. It measures the family dimensions of interaction and organization and classifies divorcing couples as competent, discordant, disoriented, and chaotic. Each of these types calls for different mediation interventions. Preliminary norms and cutting points are given for assessing clients whose scores are below the minimum to be good candidates for mediation.
LONG‐TERM FOLLOW‐UP OF A COURT‐BASED INTERVENTION FOR DIVORCING PARENTS
Authors: Kramer Laurie , Kowal Amanda
Published: July 2010

This study investigated whether participation in an educational program for divorcing parents is associated with a lower incidence of relitigating divorce‐related decisions over time. A systematic review of court records indicated that couples who attended this program (n = 159) in central Illinois were just as likely as those in the control group (n = 43) to relitigate over a 6‐year period. Furthermore, county‐wide rates of relitigation increased from 2 years before to 3 years after the program's introduction. However, reports obtained from participating families suggest that the program may serve an important function for families in which there is a high risk of triangulating children into postdivorce conflict.
1998 NATIONWIDE SURVEY OF THE LEGAL STATUS OF PARENT EDUCATION
Authors: Clement Debra A.
Published: July 2010

This article reports the findings of a legislative survey conducted to determine the legal status of parent education in the United States. Specifically, this survey reveals that since 1994. the number of states that enacted legislation authorizing or mandating attendance at parent education programs has more than quadrupled. The article features a state‐by‐state analysis of the various legal models currently in effect, including the source of authority, attendence model, and legal circumstances giving rise to participation. A capsule summary describing specific characteristics of the governing law of each state is also provided for reference.
SUPERVISED VISITATION A Profile of Providers
Authors: Thoennes Nancy , Pearson Jessica
Published: July 2010

Surveys with 94 administrators of supervised visitation programs, 51 family court judges, and 40 administrators of child protective services agencies provide a national picture of supervised visitation services, their utility, and areas of unmet need. Although the programs are perceived to fill an important need, they struggle to survive financially, particularly those that handle family court cases. In addition, because many programs operate without adequate access to the assessment and treatment services that some families need, judges frequently want visitation supervisors to assist them in determining suitable custody and visitation arrangements, a role that supervised visitation programs do not feel is appropriate. Many different types of entities provide effective supervised visitation services; many different service formats work. Architects of new programs should fashion services that use local resources to maximum advantage.
UNDERSTANDING CONFLICT AND HUMAN CAPACITY The Role of Premises in Mediation Training
Authors: Pope Sally Ganong , Baruch Bush Robert A.
Published: July 2010

In this article, the authors points out that underlying mediator practices and techniques, there are deeper premises and values that guide and shape practice. The authors argue that mediation training should include articulation and explanation of the premises that underlie the form of practice being taught. They describe the particular premises that underlie the transformative orientation to mediation practice and give examples of how those premises can be conveyed within an overall training design, how doing so enriches the teaching of skills and techniques themselves.
SUPERVISED VISITATION
Authors: Pearson Jessica , Thoennes Nancy
Published: July 2010

Reviews of case files for 676 families who received supervised visitation services at one of four programs and interviews with 201 participating parents provide a portrait of the families receiving services, their experiences, and the outcomes. Programs successfully serve a wide variety of families and garner high ratings of user satisfaction, but half of the families exit without formal closure. Families that drop out receive fewer court hearings and evaluations for the problems that brought them into the programs in the first place, suggesting that they may feel neglected. In most cases that formally exit the program, the visitation situation improves over time, although interviewed parents give mixed reports about their visitation situations after they leave the programs.
PREVENTING JUDICIALLY MANDATED ORPHANS
Authors: Legere Theresa D.
Published: July 2010

The courts intrude into the sancity of family relationships too often, especially with respect to impoverished families. Many circumtances found in such families, including economic factors, employment, and drug and alcohol abuse, are prevalent in poor communities. Instead of stripping children from their parents, the courts should aid families by targeting common problems and helping to preserve the parent‐child relationship. This article focuses on the conflicting interests comprising the child protective system, some federal and state child welfare legislation, the idea of increasing the standard of proof in termination Not only is that proceedings, and the constitutionality of relecant legislation and its implementation. Not only is that legislation unconstitutional, but it is unfair to impovershed families, and not completely ineffective at reaching its goal.
THE USE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING IN CHILD CUSTODY EVALUATIONS
Authors: Otto Randy K. , Edens John F. , Barcus Elizabeth H.
Published: July 2010

Evaluation of families for purposes of assisting the court in making decisions about custody is perhaps the most complicated forensic evaluation. Mental health professionals conducting such evaluations must ensure that their evaluations validly assess areas of concern deemed relevant by the judiciary and legislature. Evaluators sometimes use psychological measures in the evaluation process, and in recent years, a number of tests designed specifically for use in child custody evaluation contexts have been developed. Because some published tests do not meet basic professional standards, child custody evaluators should carefully review any test and its supporting documentation before including it in their examination procedures. In this article, the authors discuss the rationale for using psychological tests in child custody evaluations, describe current testing practices, review and critique contemporary custody evaluation instruments, and offer a template for mental health professionals to use when considering use of a particular test.
ASSESSING CREDIBILITY IN ALLEGATIONS OF MARITAL VIOLENCE IN THE HIGHCONFLICT CHILD CUSTODY CASE
Authors: Austin William G.
Published: July 2010

Forensic psychology has not systematically examined the problem of evaluating the credibility of allegations of marital violence within the context of a child custody case. The importance of this issue stems from the negative effect of family violence on children, the implications for parenting effectiveness, and consideration of the feasibility of joint custody. When marital violence has not been previously disclosed or objectively documented by prosecution, there is a need to examine the credibility of the allegations because of the strategic incentive for both sides to distort historical events. A six‐factor model is presented to assist the child custody evaluator and judicial decision maker in this task. A risk assessment approach to marital violence in the custody evaluation context is presented. The need to examine the empirical basis of marital violence allegations in custody litigation should not discourage victims from raising the issue and does not diminish the seriousness of family maltreatment as a social problem.
IN SEARCH OF PERMANENCY
Authors: Gendell Stephanie Jill
Published: July 2010

President Clinton signed the Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) into law on November 19, 1997. ASFA is designed to prevent children in foster care from being returned to unsafe homes and to find safe homes for children who are not able to return to their families. Some critics say that ASFA is too extensive and intrusive; others feel it does not go far enough. The author focuses on the practical issues of what ASFA has done so far and how various communities can still use it to ameliorate some of their child welfare problems. She begins with the history of child welfare in the United States, followed by an extensive discussion of ASFA's provisions. The author then addresses criticisms of some of ASFA's key components. A discussion of the ways the states have implemented ASFA follows. The author concludes that ASFA could be a powerful and important tool in aiding the child welfare system.
MUDDLING THROUGH THE MURKY WATERS OF TROXEL
Authors: White Bryan Thomas
Published: July 2010

A critical case in the area of third‐party visitation rights was decided by the U. S. Supreme Court in July 2000 (Troxel v. Granville). A plurality in this case held that a Washington grandparent visitation statute was not facially unconstitutional but was as applied to the facts of that case. The author discusses the varying opinions of the Supreme Court justices in the Troxel decision. Next, he analyzes the plurality opinion to determine the appropriate standard of review in grandparent visitation cases. Following is a consideration of how the decision will affect other state grandparent visitation legislation. Examining these issues, the author concludes that future third‐party visitation cases will be decided on a fact‐specific, case‐by‐case basis.
FAMILY COURT ASSESSMENT:Dissolution of Marriage in Florida—Preliminary Assessment Findings
Authors: Williams Sondra , Buckingham Sharon
Published: July 2010

To obtain the empirical data necessary for the development of an effective family court case management model, staff from Florida's Office of the State Courts Administrator undertook a comprehensive assessment of (a) the movement of dissolution of marriage cases through the court system, (b) the factors affecting case flow and time frames, and (c) the system's responsiveness to the families and children it serves. Findings from this study are guiding the Florida Supreme Court's Family Court Steering Committee in its efforts to design an effective case management system that includes intake and referral, differentiated case management and tracking, case monitoring, and alternative dispute resolution.
THE PROBLEMS AND BENEFITS OF ADOPTING FAMILY GROUP CONFERENCING FOR PINS (CHINS) CHILDREN
Authors: Kogan Matthew
Published: July 2010

One of the least scrutinized and improved areas of juvenile justice is the area of Persons in Need of Supervision (PINS). These children comprise a large portion of the time and resources of the judicial system, but questions of what will help PINS kids and their families are rarely answered. New Zealand developed Family Group Conferencing to deal with family problems in the juvenile crime and abuse and neglect contexts. Such a process lends itself well to the resolution of PINS matters.
TENNESSEE'S ADOPTION LAW AND THE LIMITATIONS OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL ARGUMENTS REGARDING OPEN RECORDS
Authors: Kelley Leslie J.
Published: July 2010

In 1995, Tennessee enacted a statute allowing adult adoptees access to information contained in their adoption records. Since then, debate has arisen concerning the constitutional rights of both the adoptive parents and the adoptees. A further dichotomy arose concerning the newly‐created variation between adult and minor adoptees. While the debate continues, certain cases have begun to outline a judicial position on these matters, establishing predictors for the future application of the Tennessee law.
DISCRETE TASK REPRESENTATION, ETHICS, AND THE BIG PICTURE
Authors: Zorza Richard
Published: July 2010

This paper discusses the long term implications of the “unbundled legal services movement” with particular focus on overcoming perceived “ethical” barriers to unbundling and on the possibility of laying a foundation for the creation of a right to counsel in civil cases for those who cannot afford a lawyer.
CROSSOVER KIDS
Authors: Scrivner Katharine W.
Published: July 2010

This article considers the plight of the child found both abused and delinquent in the American legal system. Discussed in detail are the difficulties attorneys representing these children face, including ethical issues of confidentiality and attorney‐client privilege, maintaining a permanent placement for an abused child found delinquent and the paramount importance of determining appropriate jurisdiction. These difficulties are presented through interviews with three children's attorneys who represent abused children and/or delinquent children in Wisconsin, Maryland and Pennsylvania. The article finds that the needs of abused delinquents are not being adequately addressed for a number of reasons. Lack of communication between the two systems and lack of statutory guidelines are both considered and improvements for these issues suggested. Although not directly addressed, the question of whether there is a causal connection between abuse and delinquency is considered in analyzing the techniques and theories of the three interviewed attorneys.
COMMENTARY ON WARSHAK'S “BLANKET RESTRICTIONS: OVERNIGHT CONTACT BETWEEN PARENTS AND YOUNG CHILDREN”
Authors: Biringen Zeynep , Greve‐Spees Jennifer , Howard Wynette , Leigh David , Tanner Litsa , Moore Sarah , Sakoguchi Sayaka , Williams Larry
Published: July 2010

In a previous issue of this journal, Richard A. Warshak provided a summary of the developmental literature as it bears on overnight restrictions during custody arrangements. Here, the authors comment on points of agreement and disagreement with Warshak based on their reading of the theoretical and empirical literature on development. Particular reference is made to Warshak's interpretation of attachment theory and research. Points of agreement include the importance of fathers and all caregivers in the infant/young child's life as well as the overstatement in the literature of the significance of separation experiences and a “sensitive period” for attachment. Points of clear disagreement include what the author contends is an erroneous review of the empirical literature on overnights with other caregivers. Based on their review of the data on overnight visitation, the authors conclude on a more cautious note.
SETTING THE SCENE
Authors: Nicholson Alastair
Published: July 2010

This article focuses on the Family Law Act of Australia and its subsequent impact on the Australian courts. There is an analysis of the historical and social factors that led to the legislation. The article also discusses the constitutional precedent and framework surrounding the Family Law Act's inception. Finally, the article addresses the future of the Australian courts under the Family Law Act.
MAKING FAMILIES AND CHILDREN A HIGH PRIORITY IN THE COURTS
Authors: Wu Christopher N.
Published: July 2010

This article describes the California Administrative Office of the Court's (AOC's) Center for Families, Children & the Courts (CFCC). CFCC is an interdisciplinary unit that brings together all of the AOC's work on statewide policies and practices related to families and children in the court system. CFCC thus models the unified family court model within the state AOC. CFCC's projects and activities are described to show the effectiveness of its multidisciplinary and collaborative approach in addressing complex policy and practice issues. It is hoped that readers may discover aspects of CFCC's work that could be adapted to their own jurisdiction or practice.
STATE SUPREME COURT APPLICATIONS OF TROXEL v. GRANVILLE AND THE COURTS' RELUCTANCE TO DECLARE GRANDPARENT VISITATION STATUTES UNCONSTITUTIONAL
Authors: Roberts Kristine L.
Published: July 2010

In this article, the author reviews state supreme court applications of Troxel v. Granville, analyzing the impact of the decision on the courts' ongoing efforts to adjudicate visitation disputes between parents and grandparents. Set against a background of legislative recognition of grandparents' rights and judicial uncertainty regarding the appropriate role of nonparents in children's lives, Troxel reaffirmed the constitutional right of parents to direct their children's upbringing. The author argues that state supreme courts evaluating gradparent visitation statutes and seeking to enforce Troxel's presumption in favor of parents should be more willing to strike down overly broad statutes. Such an approach would be a positive step toward addressing the excessive judicial discretion that the Troxel Court found so problematic, and would signal to state legislatures the need for statutes that both provide for the needs of children and protect parental rights.
THE RIDDLE OF TROXEL
Authors: O'Connell Mary E.
Published: July 2010

This article addresses the United States Supreme Court case of Troxel v. Granville, which is unique for its attention to the changing face of the American family and the Court's willingness to venture into the troubled waters of family law. Troxel conflates standing with standards and muddies the lines between private and public, between therapeutic intervention and state coercion. The article attempts to unravel the challenge of Troxel, considering both the cases' significance and inflammatory potential, while also raising significant questions that will confound professionals for years to come.
TRANSITION OR NOT?
Authors: Yankeelov Pamela A. , Bledsoe Linda K. , Brown Joseph , Cambron Mary Lou
Published: July 2010

The article focuses on a quantitative evaluation of Families In Transition (FIT), a court‐mandated divorce education program. In this evaluation, the operationalization of the impact of FIT on its participants is guided by a social psychology theory. Findings indicate that parents view FIT as a valuable experience, and they gain in their attitude toward and likelihood to engage in child‐centered divorce adjustment behaviors from pre‐ to post‐FIT. Factors are highlighted, such as counseling and conflict status of the parents that affect the degree of influence of FIT. Implications for evaluations of these programs and for the structure of these programs are discussed.
EXTENDING COMITY TO FOREIGN DECREES IN INTERNATIONAL CUSTODY DISPUTES BETWEEN PARENTS IN THE UNITED STATES AND ISLAMIC NATIONS
Authors: Foley Thomas
Published: July 2010

International custody disputes involving parents and children from Islamic nations and the United States have yielded a spectrum of interpretation of Islamic Shari'a law and the best interests of the child. The lack of a determinative treaty between the United States and all but one Islamic nation has led to an inconsistency of criterion in determining whether to extend comity to a custody decree from a court of an Islamic nation. The domestic law statutes, which determine jurisdiction in these matters, have provisions for international application and recognition of foreign custody decrees. The recognition of custody decrees from the courts of Islamic nations is contingent upon the satisfying of procedural and substantive thresholds. Focusing on the substantive, the author opines that American courts have a responsibility to understand certain aspects of the law, culture, and religion of Islam in order to accurately determine if the threshold has been meet.
SUBSTANCE‐ABUSING FATHERS IN FAMILY COURT
Authors: McMahon Thomas J. , Giannini Francis D.
Published: July 2010

Although all forms of substance abuse disproportionately affect men during early to middle adulthood, when many are fathering children, the status of substance‐abusing men as parents is largely ignored in public policy, service delivery, and research exploring the consequences of chronic drug and alcohol abuse. In this review, the authors highlight issues of potential concern to professionals working with this poorly understood, negatively stereotyped population of fathers in family court settings. After reviewing the existing literature on substance‐abusing fathers and their children, the authors challenge family court personnel to use (a) awareness of stereotyping, (b) clinical assessment, (c) the principles of therapeutic jurisprudence, and (d) treatment resources to minimize, as much as possible, the risk for poor developmental outcomes incurred by children with a substance‐abusing father.
VIEW FROM THE BENCH
Authors: Menno James V.
Published: July 2010

Although some believe that the family courts are gender biased against fathers, Judge Menno disagrees. From his experience as a family court judge and his view from the bench, fathers are treated fairly in court determinations pertaining to access to their children. In making these determinations, courts must take into consideration the reality of divorce and out‐of‐wedlock arrangements. This article describes how Judge Menno's county family court operates, and he further subgroups various types of fathers, describing how each fares in the family court when trying to gain access to their children.
THE BOOKSHELF
Authors: Saini Michael A.
Published: July 2010

Books reviewed in this article:

A. M. Hetherington and H. Kelly, For Better or for Worse: Divorce Reconsidered.
CRITICAL ASPECTS OF PARENTING PLANS FOR YOUNG CHILDREN
Authors: Pruett Marsha Kline , Ebling Rachel , Insabella Glendessa
Published: July 2010

The debate about the benefits and drawbacks of overnight schedules for young children is hotly contested in family law. This study investigated connections between occurrence of overnights, schedule consistency, number of caregivers, and young children's adjustment to parental separation and divorce. Families (N= 161) with children aged 6 years or younger were recruited at the time of filing for divorce or child custody (if unmarried); follow‐up data were obtained from 132 families 15 to 18 months later. Results indicated that parenting plan variables are related to children's social, cognitive, and emotional behavior, with caregivers and schedule consistency more salient than overnights. Girls benefited from overnights and more caregivers, whereas boys did not. Overnighting children aged 4 to 6 years when their parents filed manifested fewer problems 1.5 years later than did younger children. Even when controlling for parental conflict and parent‐child relationship variable, the constellation of parenting plan variables contributed to young children's adaptation.
MANDATORY VISITATION
Authors: Pollack Daniel , Mason Susan
Published: July 2010

The termvisitation rightsconnotes that noncutodial parents have the discretion, not the responsibility, to visit their children. This article examines the assertion that visitation rights should instead be viewed as an obligation owed by noncustodial parents to their children. Excluding circumstances in which visitation would be injurious to a child, the expectation of visitation should be enforced by the courts.
PARENT EDUCATION AFTER SEPARATION/DIVORCE
Authors: Bacon Brenda L. , McKenzie Brad
Published: July 2010

As part of a Canadian best practices evaluation of parent education for divorcing parents, this study assessed program effects on postseparation parenting. Statistically significant changes from pretest to 4 to 6 month follow‐up were evident on all scales related to conflict between former partners, whereas changes related to positive and cooperative parenting were less conclusive. All parents experienced a reduction in conflict that places children in the middle of the conflict by the follow‐up stage. Low‐moderate‐conflict parents experienced more increases in adaptive parenting.
PARENT PSYCHOEDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND REDUCING THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF INTERPARENTAL CONFLICT FOLLOWING DIVORCE
Authors: Goodman Matthew , Bonds Darya , Sandler Irwin , Braver Sanford
Published: July 2010

This article reviews psychoeducational programs to reduce interparental conflict in divorcing families and the negative impact of conflict on children. The authors initially identify factors shown in the basic psychosocial research literature to be related to the effects of interparental conflict on children. They then review the content of programs currently being delivered and evaluate the evidence from well‐controlled studies concerning their effectiveness. Finally, the article considers directions for future program development and evaluation.
INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF MEDIATION
Authors: Mosten Forrest S.
Published: July 2010

Mediation has evolved, grown, and been accepted within our society from preschools to doctoral programs and in courts, legislatures, and private industry. The passage of the Uniform Mediation Act, the birth of the Association of Conflict of Resolution, and the involvement of government bodies in the regulation of mediators indicate the importance of the institutionalization of mediation within every aspect of our society. This article focuses on a few of the hot issues currently swirling in the field raising questions for practitioners, researchers, and others involved in shaping access to conflict resolution policy and the future of the mediation profession.
JUDICIAL DISPUTE RESOLUTION
Authors: Goss Joanne
Published: July 2010

Judicial Dispute Resolution or JDR is a pre‐trial settlement process involving judges as settlement facilitators. In October 2000 the Family and Youth Court in Edmonton, Alberta launched a yearlong JDR pilot project to determine whether JDR would help in resolving family and child welfare matters before the court. The project was very successful and has become a permanent program in Edmonton. This article explains how the Edmonton JDR polit project was set up and evaluated as well as its success as a permanent program. The article describes the JDR process in detail and discusses the current statistics from the program. The design and development of the new JDR Centre in the Edmonton courthouse is also addressed.
Simulation of dark lanes in post-flare supra-arcades – II. A contribution to the remote sensing of the coronal magnetic field
Authors: Schulz W. , Costa A. , Elaskar S. , Cid G.
Published: July 2010

We integrate the MHD ideal equations to simulate dark void sunwardly moving structures in post-flare supra-arcades. In Costa et al. we could numerically reproduce the observations described in Verwichte et al. We showed that the dark tracks are plasma vacuums generated by the bouncing and interfering of shocks and expansion waves, upstream an initial slow magnetoacoustic shock produced by a localized deposition of energy modelled as a pressure perturbation. The same pressure perturbation produces a transverse to the field or perpendicular magnetic shock giving rise to non-linear waves that compose the kink-like plasma void structures, with the same functional sunward decreasing phase speed and period's constancy with height, as those determined by the observations. In this Letter we accomplish a study of sensitivity to initial and background physical conditions of the phenomenon. With the aim of contributing to the remote sensing of the corona we describe the characteristics of different void structures in terms of physical conditions, i.e. magnetic field intensity and pressure perturbation, given a background density.
The Role of Private Equity in Life Sciences
Authors: Greene Jeff , Purcell Dennis , Edelman Brian , Giordano Doug , Ruback Richard , Mihas Dean , Opler Tim , Cahill Tom , Giovannetti Glen
Published: July 2010

In a roundtable published in this journal a year ago, there was a clear consensus that the R&D function in big pharma was inefficient and in need of major restructuring, possibly through increased investments by venture capital and private equity firms. In this discussion, an accomplished group of industry practitioners begins by looking at the prospects for both venture capital and private equity to play meaningful roles in financing early‐ and mid‐stage drug development. In so doing, they explore questions like the following:

Are there ways for big pharma and biotech to reduce “science risk” and make R&D funding more profitable and attractive to venture capital and private equity—and perhaps even hedge funds?

What roles do you see for specialty PE firms like Symphony Capital and Paul Capital, which are now bundling mid‐stage development assets and securitizing royalties?

Then the panelists turn to the broader life sciences industry and consider the outlook for leveraged private equity transactions involving marketed products, late‐stage development, and services. Here they consider issues like the following:

Will PE be attracted to less‐R&D‐intensive activities like medtech and generics?

Have the recent consolidation through mergers and reorganization of big pharma into decentralized business units created opportunities for carve‐outs of certain businesses?

For big pharma and life sciences companies in general, the answers to such questions point to greater specialization and focus achieved partly through strategic alliances with venture capital, private equity, and even hedge funds, and involving marketed products and services as well as early‐stage drug development.
Smart Growth—Creating Real Long‐term Value
Authors: Hess Edward D.
Published: July 2010

Most U.S. business leaders appear to believe that all businesses either “grow or die”—and many act as if they believed that all growth is good, and that public companies should grow in a linear, continuous manner as reflected in ever‐increasing quarterly earnings. But if these tenets of “the U.S. Growth Model” inform the short‐term business view that prevails in many C‐suites and boardrooms, there has been surprisingly little analysis of the extent to which the pursuit of continuous growth translates into longer‐run success.

In this article, the author reports finding no theoretical or empirical support in the fields of economics, finance, strategy, organizational design (or biology) for the idea that continuous growth is either a realistic possibility or a useful corporate objective. In business organizations, the pursuit of continuous growth can drive bad corporate behavior and inhibit real growth and innovation. Based on extensive research, the author suggests a new model of “smart growth”—one in which companies grow successfully by building internal comprehensive systems designed to encourage growth through specific kinds of culture, leadership, and processes. Smart‐growth companies use experimental learning processes designed to test growth ideas and build diversified “growth portfolios” while also attempting to limit the risks associated with the pursuit of growth.
Small G proteins in insulin action: Rab and Rho families at the crossroads of signal transduction and GLUT4 vesicle traffic
Authors: Ishikura S. , Koshkina A. , Klip A.
Published: July 2010

Insulin stimulates glucose uptake into muscle and adipose tissues through glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4). GLUT4 cycles between the intracellular compartments and the plasma membrane. GLUT4 traffic‐regulating insulin signals are largely within the insulin receptor‐insulin receptor substrate‐phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (IR‐IRS‐PI3K) axis. In muscle cells, insulin signal bifurcates downstream of the PI3K into one arm leading to the activation of the Ser/Thr kinases Akt and atypical protein kinase C, and another leading to the activation of Rho family protein Rac1 leading to actin remodelling. Activated Akt inactivates AS160, a GTPase‐activating protein for Rab family small G proteins. Here we review the roles of Rab and Rho proteins, particularly Rab substrates of AS160 and Rac1, in insulin‐stimulated GLUT4 traffic. We discuss: (1) how distinct steps in GLUT4 traffic may be regulated by discrete Rab proteins, and (2) the importance of Rac1 activation in insulin‐induced actin remodelling in muscle cells, a key element for the net gain in surface GLUT4.
Role of adipokines in obesity‐associated hypertension
Authors: Vlasova M. , Purhonen A. K. , Jarvelin M. R. , Rodilla E. , Pascual J. , Herzig K. H.
Published: July 2010

It has been well documented that obesity is a major risk factor for the development of the hypertensive state. The correlation between body mass index and blood pressure level is well established. Nevertheless, the exact mechanisms which contribute to obesity‐related hypertension remain poorly understood. In the last years, we have realized that the white adipose tissue is not just an inert organ for nutrient storage and isolation but rather depending on the body mass index the biggest endocrinological organ. Thus, the possible contribution of adipokines to the blood pressure elevation becomes an attractive hypothesis to explain the hypertensive state that often occurs in obesity. In this review, we consider direct and indirect effects of main adipokines on structural and functional changes in the cardiovascular system.
Molecular Gerontology: Bridging the Simple and the Complex
Authors: KIRKWOOD THOMAS B.L.
Published: July 2010

Abstract: It is clear, both empirically and theoretically, that the mechanisms of aging are multiple and complex. Nevertheless, single gene mutations and simple interventions such as calorie restriction have broad effects on the senescent phenotype. The major challenge is to unite highly reductionist analysis of molecular components with integrative model systems that can “put it all together.” Two themes are developed. In the first, biochemical models are described that show how the network concept of cellular aging can be used to integrate multiple biochemical mechanisms that contribute to cellular instability. In the second theme, the role of intrinsic developmental chance is examined as a major factor contributing, in addition to genes and environment, to the divergence of the senescent phenotype. The implications of these themes for research strategies in molecular gerontology are discussed.
Pilot Loop Tests of a Threshold Hydrate Inhibitor
Authors: PALERMO T. , GOODWIN S. P.
Published: July 2010

Abstract: The main objective of this work was to investigate the efficiency of a threshold hydrate inhibitor (THI 178) in terms of hydrate formation temperature under multiphase flow conditions. THI has been developed by BP and is commercialized by TROS (TROS trade name: Hytreat). THI is a mixture of polymers in a solvent carrier that inhibits the formation of hydrate nuclei in solution and at surfaces. A THI blend 178 was successfully tested on the Ravenspurn to Cleeton 16‐inch gas line (Ravenspurn trial). Pilot loop tests were carried out to test the performance of THI to its limits and establish the range of its applications. The construction and operating characteristics are designed to make the loop represent a production system as closely as possible in a controlled, recirculating system. Its main outlines are a diameter of 2″, a length of 140 meters and a maximum pressure of 10 Mpa (100 bara). It has been shown that THI has a marked effect on the formation conditions at concentrations of 500 ppm and above. A relationship between the subcooling temperature corresponding to hydrate appearance and THI concentration has been determined. The effect of the pressure on hydrate formation conditions was highlighted. This work has been carried out in the framework of JIP Eucharis.
West Nile Virus Surveillance using Sentinel Birds
Authors: KOMAR NICHOLAS
Published: July 2010

Abstract: Captive and free‐ranging birds have been used for decades as living sentinels in arbovirus surveillance programs. This review summarizes information relevant to selecting sentinel bird species for use in surveillance of West Nile (WN) virus. Although experience using avian sentinels for WN virus surveillance is limited, sentinels should be useful for both detecting and monitoring WN virus transmission; however, sentinel bird surveillance systems have yet to be adequately tested for use with the North American strain of WN virus. Captive chickens are typically used for arbovirus surveillance, but other captive species may be used as well. Serosurvey and experimental infection data suggest that both chickens and pigeons show promise as useful captive sentinels; both species were naturally exposed during the epizootics in New York City, 1999‐2000, and both species develop antibodies after infection without becoming highly infectious to Culex pipiens vectors. Wild bird species that should be targeted for use as free‐ranging sentinels include house sparrows and pigeons. The ideal wild bird should be determined locally on the basis of seroprevalence studies. Interpreting serological data generated from studies using free‐ranging sentinel birds is complex, however. Sentinel bird monitoring sites should be selected in enzootic transmission foci. Several years of observation may be required for selection of effective sentinel monitoring sites.
Fluorescence and Photochemistry of Recombinant Phytochrome from the CyanobacteriumSynechocystis
Authors: Sineshchekov V. , Hughes J. , Hartmann E. , Lamparter T.
Published: July 2010

Fluorescence and photochemical properties of phytochrome from the cyanobacteriumSynechocystiswere investigated in the temperature interval from 293 to 85 K. The apoprotein was obtained by overexpression inEscherichia coliand assembled to a holophytochrome with phycocyanobilin (PCB) and phytochromobilin (PφB), Syn(PCB)phy and Syn(PφB)phy, respectively. Its red‐absorbing form, Pr, is characterized at 85 K by the emission and excitation maxima at 682 and 666 nm in Syn(PCB)phy and at 690 and 674 nm in Syn(PφB)phy. At room temperature, the spectra are blue shifted by 5–10 nm. The fluorescence intensity dropped down by ˜15–20‐fold upon warming from 85 to 293 K and activation energy of the fluorescence decay was estimated to beca5.4 and 4.9 kJ mol−1in Syn(PCB)phy and Syn(PφB)phy, respectively. Phototransformation of Pr upon red illumination was observed at temperatures above 160–170 K in Syn(PCB)phy and above 140–150 K in Syn(PφB)phy with a 2–3 nm shift of the emission spectrum to the blue and increase of the intensity of its shorter wavelength part. This was interpreted as a possible formation of the photoproduct of the meta‐Ra type of the plant phytochrome. At ambient temperatures, the extent of the Pr phototransformation to the far‐red‐absorbing form, Pfr, wasca0.7–0.75 and 0.85–0.9 for Syn(PCB)phy and Syn(PφB)phy, respectively. Fluorescence of Pfr and of the photoproduct similar to lumi‐R was not observed. With respect to the photochemical parameters, Syn(PCB)phy and Syn(PφB)phy are similar to each other and also to a small fraction of phyA (phyA″) and to phyB. The latter were shown to have low photochemical activity at low temperatures in contrast to the major phyA pool (phyA″), which is distinguished by the high extent (ca50%) of Pr photoransformation at 85 K. These photochemical features are interpreted in terms of different activation barriers for the photoreaction in the Pr excited state.
Compound heterozygosity for a rare small deletion and a common point mutation in the beta‐globin gene: report of two Chinese families
Authors: SHANG X. , RAO Z. , LOU J. , LI W. , XIONG F. , ZHOU H. P. , XU X.
Published: July 2010

Introduction:  Most cases of β‐thalassemia are caused by point mutations in the β‐globin gene. Only a minority of β‐thalassemia mutations are small deletions in the exons of the β‐globin gene.

Methods:  Here, we report two cases of β‐thalassemia that were caused by compound heterozygosity for a rare small deletion and a common point mutation.

Results:  Patient A carried a rare 14‐bp deletion (CD89–93) mutation plus the common mutation −28(A>G). Patient B carried a rare 13‐bp deletion (CD54–58) plus the common mutation IVS‐2‐654(C>T).

Conclusion:  Patient B is the second report of the CD54–58(−13 bp) deletion. However, our report differs from the previous report in two ways: we performed a family study based on multiple samples; and the carriers and patient showed an elevated level of HbF, which was not observed in the previous case.