Child Support Payment and Child Visitation: Perspectives from Nonresident Fathers and Resident Mothers

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the child support and visitation perspectives of nonresidential fathers and custodial mothers. The focus of the study was to present definitions of child support from both noncustodial fathers and custodial mothers, the barriers they experience that prevent child support and visitation, and suggestions the parents have for improvements in the child support system. The data suggest that although nonresidential fathers and custodial mothers have similar definitions of what characteristicsd efine child support, they have vastly different views of what barriers prevent child support and visitation. Interparental hostility appeared to shape their perspectives about child support and visitation. Recommendations targeting the negative perceptions parents have of one another are presented

Novel Group 3/Lanthanide complexes and their application to intramolecular hydroamination and ring-opening polymerisation

This thesis describes the synthesis, characterisation and reactivity studies of a range of Group 3/Lanthanide complexes supported by bis(oxazolinyl)phenyl amide (BOPA). Chapter 1: Provides an introduction to the properties of the Lanthanides. Their application in asymmetric catalysis is reviewed, including catalysts supported by oxazoline ligands. Chapter 2 Describes density functional theory on a series of Group 3 BOPA complexes, the synthesis and characterisation of a new scandium amide-chloride precursor, thirty Group 3/lanthanide compounds supported by BOPA, six cation compounds supported by BOPA and three lithium BOPA compounds along with a discussion of the reactivity of compounds. Chapter 3: Describes the application of compounds described in Chapter 2 to the intermolecular hydroamination reaction of aminoolefins. Chapter 4: Describes a brief introduction to ring-opening polymerisation of rac-lactide and the application of compounds described in Chapter 2 to the ring-opening polymerisation of rac-lactide. Chapter 5: A brief introduction to luminescence is provided and the photophysical properties of a selection of diamagnetic complexes and all paramagnetic complexes discussed in Chapters 2 are described. Also, the synthesis, characterisation and photophysical properties of five Group 3/lanthanide compounds supported by pseudosubstrate ligands are described. Chapter 6: Details full experimental procedures and contains characterising data for all new compounds. Appendices A-B: Full tables of crystallographic data for all new crystallographically characterised compounds described herein are provided in Appendix A. Publications from this thesis are provided in Appendix B

Near-IR luminescent neodymium complexes: spectroscopic probes for hydroamination catalysis

Neodymium complexes bearing the sensitising bis(oxazolinylphenyl)amine (BOPA) ligands have been prepared, and analysed spectroscopically under both catalytic and pseudo-catalytic conditions with respect to the intramolecular hydroamination of an aminoalkene, providing a direct means of monitoring binding events and relative space around the metal centre

Discovery and characterization of artifactual mutations in deep coverage targeted capture sequencing data due to oxidative DNA damage during sample preparation

As researchers begin probing deep coverage sequencing data for increasingly rare mutations and subclonal events, the fidelity of next generation sequencing (NGS) laboratory methods will become increasingly critical. Although error rates for sequencing and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) are well documented, the effects that DNA extraction and other library preparation steps could have on downstream sequence integrity have not been thoroughly evaluated. Here, we describe the discovery of novel C > A/G > T transversion artifacts found at low allelic fractions in targeted capture data. Characteristics such as sequencer read orientation and presence in both tumor and normal samples strongly indicated a non-biological mechanism. We identified the source as oxidation of DNA during acoustic shearing in samples containing reactive contaminants from the extraction process. We show generation of 8-oxoguanine (8-oxoG) lesions during DNA shearing, present analysis tools to detect oxidation in sequencing data and suggest methods to reduce DNA oxidation through the introduction of antioxidants. Further, informatics methods are presented to confidently filter these artifacts from sequencing data sets. Though only seen in a low percentage of reads in affected samples, such artifacts could have profoundly deleterious effects on the ability to confidently call rare mutations, and eliminating other possible sources of artifacts should become a priority for the research community.National Human Genome Research Institute (U.S.) (HG03067-05

Plasmodium Strain Determines Dendritic Cell Function Essential for Survival from Malaria

The severity of malaria can range from asymptomatic to lethal infections involving severe anaemia and cerebral disease. However, the molecular and cellular factors responsible for these differences in disease severity are poorly understood. Identifying the factors that mediate virulence will contribute to developing antiparasitic immune responses. Since immunity is initiated by dendritic cells (DCs), we compared their phenotype and function following infection with either a nonlethal or lethal strain of the rodent parasite, Plasmodium yoelii, to identify their contribution to disease severity. DCs from nonlethal infections were fully functional and capable of secreting cytokines and stimulating T cells. In contrast, DCs from lethal infections were not functional. We then transferred DCs from mice with nonlethal infections to mice given lethal infections and showed that these DCs mediated control of parasitemia and survival. IL-12 was necessary for survival. To our knowledge, our studies have shown for the first time that during a malaria infection, DC function is essential for survival. More importantly, the functions of these DCs are determined by the strain of parasite. Our studies may explain, in part, why natural malaria infections may have different outcomes

“Same But Different”: The Role and Perceptions of the Simulation Clinical Educator

Simulated learning programs are an important component of allied health education. Although the role of simulation clinical educators has been highlighted as critical for student learning within simulation, their perceptions of their role have not yet been investigated. This study aimed to explore the experiences of simulation clinical educators. Participants were ten simulation clinical educators who had supported speech-language pathology students’ learning during a 5-day simulation program focussed on speech-language pathology practice with adult clients in acute hospital and rehabilitation settings. Educators participated in individual semi-structured interviews exploring their role and their perceptions of the simulation-based learning program. Data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Three inter-related themes emerged from participants’ views. The major theme of Unique teaching and learning environment incorporated five subthemes: focus on teaching; safe learning environment; authenticity and engagement; structure and intensity of learning, and; feedback opportunities. Two additional themes were identified: Clinical educator role same but different, and Simulation bridges the gap between theory and practice. This study offers new insights into simulation clinical educators’ perceptions of their role when supporting students within simulation and highlight the importance of harnessing the unique benefits of simulation as a teaching pedagogy to maximize its impacts on student learning and justify its costs