Post Separation Research Articles

The silent minority: The voice of the child in family law

Family law in Australia is an important and unique jurisdiction that directly impacts upon the well-being and future family relationships of children whose families are in dispute over post separation parenting arrangements. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child states that children have the right to participate in decisions that directly affect them. But there are many barriers and tensions to children's participation in the jurisdiction of family law in Australia. Decisions said to be in the child's ‘best interests’ are influenced by value judgments and beliefs that are informed by dominant western discourses on the needs and competencies of children. In practice under the Family Law Reform Act 1995 children remain marginalised without an effective voice. Failure to hear the voice of the child is of special concern for children who have been traumatised by exposure to family violence and ongoing conflict. It is important to develop new understandings about children and the importance of giving children a voice.

Maternal accounts of the costs and benefits of life experiences after parental separation

Recent analyses both question the assumption that parental separation only has negative effects on families and suggest that attention should be paid to the diversity of experiences post divorce. The latter may be accomplished by combining methods, examining different levels of individuals' experiences. Seventy-six mothers from separated and married families with a child aged 20 months participated in an interview and a life-events questionnaire and these are compared with a range of developmental tests conducted with the mother or child. Separated mothers reported more recent life events than married mothers and rated some more negatively and also others more positively. In regression analyses the only significant predictor of positive life experiences was marital status. Marital status and expressed difficulties in parenting predicted negative life experiences. The results suggest a subtle balance of disadvantages and gains post separation, which must be explored before longitudinal patterns of child and family adjustment are fully understood.

Child‐focused Parenting after Separation: Socio‐legal Developments and Challenges

In this article I utilise developing ideas in family law as a backdrop against which to discuss changing assumptions about parenting. In particular, I examine the gender‐neutral assumptions within family law in Australia and elsewhere in the light of seemingly contradictory evidence about the value of post‐separation fathering. That men were equally capable of providing effective parenting was by no means clear at the time that the principle of gender‐neutrality became common in family law—the 1960s and 70s. Only recently, has burgeoning research on fathering begun to more clearly affirm its value and to clarify the conditions under which pre and post separation fathering makes a positive difference. Paradoxically, it is at this very time that legally based challenges to the gender‐neutral, shared‐parenting philosophy of the 1995 Australian Family Law Reform Act have begun to emerge. The often‐perplexed interface between law, social science research and therapeutic intervention presents many challenges. I conclude the article by flagging a number of questions relevant to family therapists in this difficult field of work.

Chemiluminescence detection in capillary electrophoresis using an ultra-fast co-catalyzed peroxyoxalate chemiluminescent reaction and electrokinetic reagent delivery

Despite the impressive limits of detection and inherent selectivity afforded by peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence (POCL) detection, efficient coupling of POCL to capillary electrophoresis (CE) remains limited by the relatively slow kinetics of the reactions that drive imidazole-catalyzed chemiluminescence. Moreover, oxalate esters, used in POCL, are sparingly soluble in polar solvents and hydrolyze rapidly, presenting an additional challenge with respect to detection following aqueous phase separations. In this paper, a novel method for coupling an ultrafast POCL reaction to CE is presented. Post separation electrokinetic delivery of the POCL reagent bis(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl)oxalate (TCPO) was accomplished using a commercially available micro tee. Electrokinetic addition of TCPO allowed for precise control of the ratio of TCPO to the chemiluminescence (CL) reagents 1,2,2,6,6-pentamethylpiperidine (PMP) and 1,2,4-triazole (triazole), spiked into the running buffer. This novel method for CL reagent delivery avoided the problems and costs associated with using pressure or mechanical pumps to deliver reagents post separation. Use of this dual-component system (PMP and triazole) resulted in intense CL with half-lives of less than 2 seconds. Optimum conditions for CE-POCL detection were investigated using stopped-flow kinetics. The detection limit for 3-aminofluoranthene, following separation by CE, was<0.95 nM.

Perpetrator Personality Effects on Post-Separation Victim Reactions in Abusive Relationships

Previous research has examined the influence of the abusive personality (Dutton, 1994a,b) on relationship dynamics. Men with high scores of abusive personality (borderline personality organization, anger and MCMI8: Negativity) generate more frequent and extreme forms of physical and emotional abuse in intimate relationships. Other lines of research have examined the role of these relationship features in influencing post-separation adjustment in women. The current study combines two data sets; one bearing on the first of these issues, the other on the second issue, in order to connect characteristics of the perpetrator's personality to post separation aspects of victim reaction. Substantial associations are found between abusive personality and relationship dynamics and between the latter and persistent attachment, trauma symptoms, and lowered self esteem in battered women.

Molecular dynamics methodology for the study of the solvent effects on a concentrated Diels-Alder reaction and the separation of the post-reaction mixture

A molecular dynamics methodology for the analysis of the effect of solvents on reaction kinetics and post reaction separation is presented. A model reaction between cyclopentadiene and methylacrylate is used to illustrate key issues such as product selectivity, rate enhancement and the post reaction separation of the product using liquid-liquid extraction techniques. Using Transition State theory as a basis, NVT ensembles are used to calculate excess Gibbs free energies and activity coefficients. The advantages and disadvantages of the use of this technique for a chemical engineering design tool are discussed and preliminary results for the separation stage are given.

Combining immunoassays with chromatographic and electrophoretic separation techniques ? a review

The combination of immunoassays with separation techniques such as chromatography and electrophoresis can provide both selectivity and sensitivity that is competitive with any method currently available for molecular analysis. Immunoassays can be carried out on-line and off-line, pre and post separation. The on-line post separation mode is the most promising for routine analysis because of the high throughput that can be achieved but also provides the greatest challenge with regard to compatibility of the interfaced systems. This paper reviews the various approaches that have been researched from a practical immunochemical point of view with emphasis on the special problems incurred with matrix compatibility for on-line post separation systems.

Radial strain‐induced attenuation in plastic optical fiber

Plastic optical fiber (POF) wrapped around two steel posts is stretched by increasing the post separation. A nearly linear relationship between the strain of the POF segments between the posts and optical attenuation is reported. The primary cause of the attenuation is the radial compression of the POF in contact with the posts. The radial compression is approximated using contact stress theory. The cross-sectional area deformation caused by the radial compression is modeled as a fractional area loss. Optical power loss is shown to be nearly equal to the fractional area loss, since the POF cross-sectional irradiance is approximately uniform.

Women's tales: systemic groupwork with mothers post–separation

We describe a series of groups run for mothers who were separated and who had initially presented with concerns about their children or their parenting. We discuss our systemic approach to groupwork and examine the process of change, using transcripts from the group sessions and feedback from the women. Using a systemic framework in groupwork makes it possible to broaden the context and focus of discussion to include relationships, premises and cultural beliefs. A group provides a context in which multi‐perspectives can be elicited and affirmed, and group members can act as ‘reflecting teams’for each other. Systemic groups can offer women in the process of separation emotional support, a sense of commonality of issues to be faced, and new and more enabling perspectives on their situations.

Infant and Toddlers and Post Divorce Parental Access

The relationship between post divorce parental access to infants and toddlers and child development was explored. Children under three years of age (n = 45) from divorcing or divorced homes were evsluated for visitation/access patterns, attachment to the custodial mother and noncustodial father (based on the mother's report) and psycho-motor development. Fathers who were more involved in early child rearing activities visited more frequently after the separation. Pre-separation conflict was related to irregular post separation visits. A poor pattern of visitation was related to greater delays in language development. Because of the exploratory nature of this study, the resulrs should not be used as a guide to the courts.

Dual post cavity waveguide filters

A step-by-step design procedure is given for a direct coupled cavity waveguide filter. First, the amplitude response and group delay are analyzed based on the Chebyshev approximation and the realizable unloaded Q, for a given specification. After having obtained the optimal parameters, the two-post filter is realized by using two universal polynomials. One is used to calculate the post separation and the other is for the cavity length. The two polynomials are found from measured data. This design approach has been effectively used up to 20 GHz, and it can be extended to millimeter waves. >

Coparenting: An Alternative to Consider in Separation Counselling

SynopsisCoparenting as an alternative to traditional custody–access post separation parenting was investigated in an exploratory study with ten parents and two children. All participants were interviewed regarding the structure, influences on structure, effects of conflict, effects on children and overall evaluation of the coparenting situation they had instituted. Data revealed that there was little reason to assume that this process of parenting had any damaging effects on children, and added further support to recent claims that it is ongoing conflict rather than divorce per se which leads to behavioural and emotional problems in children who experience divorce.

Postcolumn Techniques: A Critical Perspective for Ion Chromatography

Part I. General overview and systems with suppressors. Postcolumn techniques represent a particularly fast-growing area in ion chromatography (IC). The developments since 1985 are surveyed in this paper. A general overview of reagent introduction means, including membrane devices and reaction conduit designs - especially various geometrically deformed open tubular designs - is provided. Part II. Determination of metals, various ionic and ionizable species. This review discusses the direct and indirect absorptiometric, fluorometric, and electrochemical detection of metal species, including rare earth elements, alkyltin, and alkyllead compounds. Part III. New methods on the horizon. The final part of this three-part review discusses chemiluminescence detection. Photolytic methods for derivatization before electrochemical detection is suggested as an important avenue for exploration. The use of postcolumn reactors built of metal tubes, wires and powder for selective reductions, electrochemical generation of reagents, fluorescence enhancement by inclusion complex formation by cyclodextrins, the coupling of reversed-phase liquid chromatography to electron capture detectors, and post separation zone compression to sharpen otherwise broad chromatographic peaks are critically reviewed.

Rhetorical Requests for Help

Raschke, H. J. 1977 The role of social participation in post separation and post divorce. Journal of Divorce 1:129-140. Reis, H. T., J. Nezlek, and L. Wheeler 1980 Physical attractiveness in social interactions. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 38:604-617. Ridley, C., and A. Avery 1979 The influence of social networks on dyadic interaction. Pp. 223-246 in R. L. Burgess and T. L. Huston (eds.), Social Exchange and Developing Relationships. New York: Academic Press. Rubin, Z. 1970 The measurement of romantic love. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 16:265-273. Shulman, N. 1975 Life-cycle variations in patterns of close relationships. Journal of Marriage and the Family 37:813-821. Slater, P. E. 1963 On social regression. American Sociological Review 28:339-358.

Neutron activation analysis of noble metals in vegetation

Detection limits are presented for the platinum metals in vegetation for different neutron activation analysis conditions, namely, short irradiation, cyclic and long irradiations both thermally and epithermally. These detection limits for instrumental neutron activation analysis are compared with those using preconcentration technique—dry ashing and fire assay and post irradiation separation of the platinum metals using Srafion NMRR in exchange resin. The results are evaluated for plant material and it is concluded that dry ashing followed by cyclic, epithermal irradiation for rhodium and palladium and long, thermal irradiations for osmium, platinum, iridium and ruthenium enable these elements to be detected in plants at background levels.

Determination of certain selected bulk and trace elements in the bovine liver matrix using neutron activation analysis

Effective utilisation of neutron activation analysis (NAA) for the elemental analysis of biomedical samples with or without a radiochemical separation, especially when optimal Ge(Li) well type detectors are employed for the acquisition of complex spectra, is demonstrated by determining normal values for 25 elements in bovine liver. Optimal conditions for the determination of Ag, Br, Cl, Co, Cs, Fe, I. K, Mn, Na, P, Rb, Sb, Sc, Se and Zn with the aid of instrumental thermal neutron activation analysis (INAA) by varying the irradiation and decay time are presented. Where INAA was inadequate, simple post irradiation separation based on ion-exchange has been used to determine such elements as Au, Ca, Cd, Ce, Cr, Cu, La, Mo and W.

Post Mechanical Separation in Elastically Supported Rotary Face Seals

Results are reported of an analytical study of the character and magnitude of post mechanical interface separation in elastically supported rotary face seals subjected to particular types of input excitation. The seal system is approximated by lump system parameters which permit simulation of its dynamic response. Input forcing functions assigned to the mating ring include harmonic axial shaft pulsation and wobble due to misalignment. The equations of motion governing the seal carrier are solved to determine the character (stable or unstable) and magnitude (relative displacement at seal interface) of post mechanical separation for combinations of system parameters (spring constants, damping ratios, preset, inertia, etc.) and operating conditions (speed, degree of misalignment, amplitude of end play, etc.). For combinations of parameters normally encountered no unstable behavior was observed. However, a reversal of the effects of system damping between pre and post separation behavior did occur. Presented ...

Management of conjoined twins in Kano, Nigeria: our experience and challenges in a low-resource setting

Introduction: Conjoined twins are abnormalities of twinning in which two individuals are incompletely separated. Conjoined twins can be symmetric or asymmetric and continue to raise significant ethical and legal arguments, resulting in much pressure on the managing teams and hospitals. Patients and Methods: We report 4 cases of conjoined twins, an ischiophagus dipus, pygophagus, thoracoomphalophagus tetrapus, and a parasitic twin tripus. All cases had no prenatal diagnosis and were delivered via spontaneous vaginal delivery. The pygophagus tetrapus was separated and a mortality of 50% was recorded in the immediate post separation period; the surviving twin is 8 years old and doing well. Two were lost due to severe birth trauma, and the last was lost to overwhelming from an infected gluteal congenital defect. Results and Discussion: Conjoined twins are one of the most fascinating congenital malformations not only to the medical practitioners but to communities and general public also. To our knowledge, as of 2012, only 15 cases have been reported from Nigeria. The incidence is 1:50,000–1:100,000 births. Females are affected more frequently than males by a ratio of 3:1. Separation of conjoined twins is a complicated procedure. The importance of a multidisciplinary team approach with several rehearsals of all aspects (surgical, anesthetic intensive care, transfer from the theatre to intensive care unit, and nursing) of the operative procedure cannot be overemphasized. Conclusion: Conjoined twins are one of the most fascinating congenital malformations. Early prenatal diagnosis, antenatal care, choice of mode of delivery, thorough assessment of the extent of shared organs to guide decisions on surgical separation, adequate planning, and rehearsals can reduce morbidity and mortality in these patients. In our series, all pregnancies and deliveries were unsupervised leading to poor outcome.