Predictors of Termination of Parental Rights Following Allegations of Child Maltreatment

Extant research has identified important risk factors for single and recurrent child maltreatment. Parental substance use, severe mental illness, and intimate partner violence (IPV) are among the risk factors significantly associated with child maltreatment. However, there is a paucity of research that examines whether empirically supported risk factors are significantly associated with psychologists’ assessments of parental fitness and courts’ decisions regarding reunification following allegations of child maltreatment. Thus, in an effort to elucidate the process through which reunification or termination of parental rights is achieved in cases of child maltreatment, the current study (1) examined the relative importance of different varieties of psychopathology in predicting outcomes; and history of IPV on evaluations of parental risk and fitness made by an assessing forensic psychologist, and the factors associated with courts’ decisions regarding the termination of parental rights. The sample consisted of a large sample of parents (n = 320) seeking reunification following allegations of child maltreatment. Results demonstrated that the prevalence of substance use disorders, IPV perpetration, and severe mental illness was significantly higher than in the general population. Results further indicated that drug diagnoses and severe mental illness were associated with psychologist-assessed higher parental unfitness. Finally, results indicated that parental substance use, severe mental illness, IPV, and the psychologist’s assessment of parental fitness were not significantly associated with the court’s termination of parental rights rulings. The clinical and research implications of the study’s findings are discussed

Pan-Arctic Patterns in Black Carbon Sources and Fluvial Discharges Deduced From Radiocarbon and PAH Source Apportionment Markers In Estuarine Surface Sediments

A pan-arctic geospatial picture of black carbon (BC) characteristics was obtained from the seven largest arctic rivers by combining with molecular combustion markers (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) and radiocarbon ((14)C) analysis. The results suggested that the contribution from modern biomass burning to BC ranged from low in the Yukon (8%) and Lena (5%) Rivers to high in the Yenisey River (88%). The Mackenzie River contributed almost half of the total arctic fluvial BC export of 202 kton a(-1) (kton = 10(9) g), with the five Russian-Arctic rivers contributing 10-36 kton a(-1) each. The (14)C-based source estimate of fluvially exported BC to the Arctic Ocean, weighted by the riverine BC fluxes, amount to about 20% from vegetation/biofuel burning and 80% from (14)C-extinct sources such as fossil fuel combustion and relict BC in uplifted source rocks. Combining these pan-arctic data with available estimates of BC export from other rivers gave a revised estimate of global riverine BC export flux of 26 x 10(3) kton a(-1). This is twice higher than a single previous estimate and confirms that river export of BC is a more important pathway of BC to the oceans than direct atmospheric deposition

Appropriate Inhibition of Orexigenic Hypothalamic Arcuate Nucleus Neurons Independently of Leptin Receptor/STAT3 Signaling

Leptin directly suppresses the activity of orexigenic neurons in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARC). We examined c-Fos-like immunoreactivity (CFLIR) as a marker of ARC neuronal activity in db/db mice devoid of the signaling form of the leptin receptor (LRb) and s/s mice that express LRbS1138 [which is defective for STAT3 (signal transducer and activator of transcription) signaling]. Both db/db and s/s animals are hyperphagic and obese. This analysis revealed that CFLIR in agouti related peptide-expressing orexigenic ARC neurons is basally elevated in db/db but not s/s mice. Consistent with these observations, electrophysiologic evaluation of a small number of neurons in s/s animals suggested that leptin appropriately suppresses the frequency of IPSCs on ARC proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons that are mediated by the release of GABA from orexigenic ARC neurons. CFLIR in POMC neurons of s/s mice was also increased compared with db/db animals. Thus, these data suggest that, although LRb→STAT3 signaling is crucial for the regulation of feeding, it is not required for the acute or chronic regulation of orexigenic ARC neurons, and the activation of STAT3-mediated transcription by leptin is not required for the appropriate development of leptin responsiveness in these neurons

Leptin Receptor Signaling and Action in the Central Nervous System

The increasing incidence of obesity in developed nations represents an ever‐growing challenge to health care by promoting diabetes and other diseases. The discovery of the hormone, leptin, a decade ago has facilitated the acquisition of new knowledge regarding the regulation of energy balance. A great deal remains to be discovered regarding the molecular and anatomic actions of leptin, however. Here, we discuss the mechanisms by which leptin activates intracellular signals, the roles that these signals play in leptin action in vivo, and sites of leptin action in vivo. Using “reporter” mice, in which LRb‐expressing (long form of the leptin receptor) neurons express the histological marker, β‐galactosidase, coupled with the detection of LRb‐mediated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 signaling events, we identified LRb expression in neuronal populations both within and outside the hypothalamus. Understanding the regulation and physiological function of these myriad sites of central leptin action will be a crucial next step in the quest to understand mechanisms of leptin action and energy balance.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/93692/1/oby.2006.310.pd

Measurement and source apportionment of ubiquitous soot black carbon in sediments

The pyrogenic particles formed from incomplete combustion of organic matter are often termed black carbon (BC) and they partake in many important biogeochemical processes. For instance, BC in water and sediment affects the solid-water partitioning of hydrophobic organic pollutants reducing their bioavailability. The key objective of this thesis was to test the chemothermal oxidation method (CTO) to quantify soot-BC in sediments. In the CTO method, sedimentary BC is isolated by removing non-pyrogenic organic matter through thermal combustion at 375°C under active airflow and subsequent removal of inorganic carbonates by adding hydrochloric acid. The CTO method was here shown to work well for quantifying the thermally more stable soot-BC phase. Another objective was to study sediment samples to measure the historical and spatial distribution of combustion products. First, historical fluxes of BC and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) were investigated in a Swedish lake sediment. Increasing fluxes of BC and PAH were seen in sediment dated to the industrial revolution in the 1850s, the high coal usage in the early 1900s lead to a 5 time increase in BC flux relative to the pre-industrial flux, and the switch from coal to oil usage in the 1950s lead to a 46 time increase in PAH flux relative to the pre-industrial flux. Further, lower fluxes came from stricter emission controls in the 1960s, improvements in combustion technology and the usage of catalytic filters from mid-1980s. Modern sediment measured 20% lower BC flux and 5 times higher PAH flux relative to the pre-industrial fluxes. Secondly, the spatial distribution and sources of sedimentary soot-BC were studied in rivers in the Arctic region. The estimated BC flux was highest in the McKenzie (99 kton yr-1) whereas it was lowest in Yukon (1.1 kton yr-1). Contemporary biomass-derived BC was detected for the Yenisey, whereas fossil fuel derived BC was found for the Lena, Yukon and McKenzie

Professional attitudes of high school modern language teachers in Texas

The purpose of this study was to investigate the attitudes of modern foreign language teachers in Texas high schools toward current trends in their profession. It included an examination of teacher attitudes towards stated objectives, methodology, language laboratories, textbooks, tapes, realia, teacher preparation, students, administrative practices, guidance, and other facets of modern foreign language instruction. Data for the study were obtained by means of questionnaire completed by 240 teachers of modern foreign languages. Responses were received from 141 Spanish, 54 French, 32 German, and 13 teachers of two foreign languages. Russian was taught part-time by two teachers. The results showed that all the teachers in the study held at least a baccalaureate degree. Master of Arts or Science degrees were held by 75. A total of 221 had standard certification, 197 were certified in the language they taught. While most teachers used audiolingual approaches and materials, the results showed that they accepted that they attempted to include more traditional grammar than the textbooks provided. Teachers felt that the audiolingual drills needed supplementing in order to enable the student to understand the structure of the target language better, and to generate original sentences. They were disappointed with the results yielded by language laboratories and critical of the available tapes...

A Preliminary Examination of Weight Based Psychological Aggression in Intimate Relationships

This two-part study examined a new form of intimate partner aggression termed weight based psychological aggression. Past work supports a theoretical and empirical relationship between intimate partner aggression and eating disorder symptoms. Additionally, negative events within romantic relationships are related to major risk factors of eating disorders (e.g.. body dissatisfaction, body consciousness). In the current studies, a new measure that assessed weight based psychological aggression was examined to explore its factor structure and psychometric properties. A second aim of these studies was to further examine the weight based psychological aggression construct and how it related to eating disorder symptoms. Emotion dysregulation is one important factor that may explain the relationship between weight based psychological aggression and disordered eating behaviors (e.g., eating disorder symptoms, body consciousness). Intimate partner aggression victimization was also included in the mediational model to further examine the mediating effect of emotion dysregulation on the relationship between intimate partner aggression and disordered eating behaviors. Results from the current studies supported the factor structure of the weight based psychological aggression measure and the convergent validity. The convergent validity was partially supported, and the discriminant validity was supported. Results from the mediation analyses indicated a significant effect supporting emotion regulation as a mediator of the relationship between the Guilt/Pressure subscale of the new measure and eating disorder symptoms. However, fit indices indicated poor model fit, decreasing confidence in the theoretical models. Emotion dysregulation did not mediate the relationship between the Retaliatory/Coercive subscale of the new measure and disordered eating behaviors (e.g., eating disorder symptoms, body consciousness). The mediating effect of emotion regulation on intimate partner aggression and disordered eating (e.g., eating disorder symptoms, body consciousness) was also not significant. Results from the current studies support the need for continued research, particularly among clinical samples. Implications for research and treatment are discussed

Professional attitudes of high school modern language teachers in Texas

The purpose of this study was to investigate the attitudes of modern foreign language teachers in Texas high schools toward current trends in their profession. It included an examination of teacher attitudes towards stated objectives, methodology, language laboratories, textbooks, tapes, realia, teacher preparation, students, administrative practices, guidance, and other facets of modern foreign language instruction. Data for the study were obtained by means of questionnaire completed by 240 teachers of modern foreign languages. Responses were received from 141 Spanish, 54 French, 32 German, and 13 teachers of two foreign languages. Russian was taught part-time by two teachers. The results showed that all the teachers in the study held at least a baccalaureate degree. Master of Arts or Science degrees were held by 75. A total of 221 had standard certification, 197 were certified in the language they taught. While most teachers used audiolingual approaches and materials, the results showed that they accepted that they attempted to include more traditional grammar than the textbooks provided. Teachers felt that the audiolingual drills needed supplementing in order to enable the student to understand the structure of the target language better, and to generate original sentences. They were disappointed with the results yielded by language laboratories and critical of the available tapes...