Divergent Expectations and Experience: An Empirical Study of the Use Children's Contact Services in Australia

In this article, an overview of the key findings from the Children'sContact Services Project is presented. Children's Contact Services(CCSs) assist separated parents to manage contact arrangementswith their children through the provision of supervised visitationand changeover services. The aims of this project were to investigatethe use of CCSs in Australia by referring agencies (eg. courtsand legal practitioners), and clients of contact services (parentsand children), and to consider the views and expectations ofthese key stakeholders regarding those usages. This approachwas based on the assumption that there are currently conflictingusages and expectations of contact services, and that this situationcould compromise children's well-being. The findings were derivedfrom two studies. The first study involved conducting 142 in-depthinterviews with representatives from the Australian Government,the courts and legal practitioners who referred families toCCSs, CCS staff and management, as well as parents and childrenwho used CCSs. The second study comprised a quantitative analysisof client data collected by CCS staff from 396 families whohad used a government funded CCS in August 2003. The findingsdemonstrated that in Australia, CCSs provided an invaluableservice that was viewed positively by government, referral agents,CCS staff and management, and by the parents and children whoused them. Despite this generally positive view, there wereconflicting expectations of CCSs that, under certain circumstances,compromised children's well-being and that of their parents,particularly their residence mothers.     

Candidate ideology and electoral success in congressional elections

In examining the factors that contribute to electoral success in congressional elections, legislative scholars often consider the actions of elected representatives; however, other research suggests that one must consider what challengers are (or are not) doing as well. For instance, inexperience and poor funding can significantly inhibit challenger success. We expand this list of potential shortcomings by arguing that ideological congruence with a constituency may be another factor in explaining challenger defeat. Using ideology measures derived from campaign contributions, we find that unsuccessful challengers in the U.S. House are generally more extreme than those who win, but ideological extremity is not a disadvantage to those seeking to represent an extreme constituency. More importantly, our existing political institutions may actually serve to mitigate the already high levels of partisan polarization in Congress.     

Coronary arteritis diagnosed at autopsy: three case reports and review of the literature

Coronary arteritis is rare but can be fatal either by itself or in conjunction with other diseases. The authors report cases of three men in whom coronary arteritis was an interesting finding that may have caused or contributed to death. One 45-year-old man collapsed at work, another 56-year-old man was found dead in his parked car, and one 80-year-old man had a recent cerebrovascular accident. All three men had coronary arteritis, arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, some form of myocardial disease, and fatty liver change. Two had different lung diseases. The findings suggest that coronary arteritis may be an independent cause of death, part of a systemic disease, or, as these three cases illustrate, part of a constellation of cardiac and cardiovascular pathologies with a possible relation to other medical conditions. Coronary arteritis is an important finding in forensic pathology and merits consideration in a case of unexplained death.     

Growth controls: policy analysis for the second generation

The 1970s spawned a first generation of growth controls which featured explicit (or implicit) restrictions on residential housing construction. These restrictions were typically implemented in small, affluent, and predominantly white suburban communities. Policy analysis responded by focusing almost singlemindedly on how such supply-side restrictions might increase housing prices and drive out the poor. The 1980s and 1990s have, however, given birth to a more comprehensive second generation of controls which many major cities and metropolitan areas are considering. This generation ties commercial and industrial as well as residential development to the reduction of the negative externalities and congestion costs associated with growth. To fully evaluate this second generation, policy analysis must take into account not only housing price effects and the rate of job creation but also the full range of amenity effects associated with differing rates of growth and attendant levels of traffic congestion, air pollution, and other public bads. We develop a framework for such second generation growth control analysis using San Diego as an example.     

Four deaths due to carbon monoxide poisoning in car washes.

In a period of 13 months, three separate incidents of lethal carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning in closed car wash bays resulted in the deaths of 4 white men aged 20 to 36 years. Each man appears to have been intoxicated with mind-altering substances, which may impair judgment, perception of outside conditions, and self-awareness. All four died in winter months. For three men, the deaths were ruled accidental, and for the remaining man, the previous deaths appear to have provided a model for suicide. Warning signs may not be effective to prevent future CO deaths in car washes because of the possible role of intoxication. Mechanical or electronic methods to prevent a bay door from closing completely may be preferable.     

Murder, Nonnegligent Manslaughter, and Spatial Autocorrelation in Mid-South Counties

In this paper we explore to what extent county murder and nonnegligentmanslaughter rates in the midsouth are spatially autocorrelated, usinga variety of spatial autocorrelation tests. The data are 3-year averages ofUCR murder and nonnegligent manslaughter rates from the 383 midsouthcounties. Moran's I statistics show a statistically significant amountof spatial autocorrelation in the murder and nonnegligent manslaughter ratesamong the 383 midsouth counties. G statistics, however, fail to detect aglobal pattern in this region. We also compute G _i statistics and localMoran's I statistics with these data and detect some patterns oflocalized spatial autocorrelation. We estimated and compared an MLE spatiallag model and an OLS model with constructs informed by socialdisorganization theory. The regression analysis failed to detect anysignificant spatial effects for the midsouth counties.     

Anion Identification via Complexation with meso‐octamethylcalix(4)pyrrole and Detection Using Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry*

Abstract: The routine identification of controlled substances and adulterants during forensic chemistry analysis often involves the identification of counter ions or salt forms present in an exhibit. Here, the use of the compound meso‐octamethylcalix(4)pyrrole (C4P) during salt‐form identification analysis is presented. C4P is a commercially‐available, anion‐binding agent that can be reacted with a controlled substance or adulterant, resulting in the sequestration of anionic species, usually present as counter ions to the active ingredient. Formation of noncovalent complexes between the cyclic host C4P compound and anionic guests is investigated using electrospray ionization–mass spectrometry (ESI–MS). Complexes with chloride, bromide, iodide, nitrate, and acetate are readily observed and mass spectrometry analysis provides identification via molecular weight characterization. Chloride and bromide complexes are also characterized by the isotopic distribution of their molecular ions. Formation of host–guest complexes is not observed for sulfate and phosphate salts, presumably due to steric hindrance and energetically unfavorable conditions.     

Programs for Men who Perpetrate Domestic Violence: An Examination of the Issues Underlying the Effectiveness of Intervention Programs

This review paper seeks to explore some of the reasons why rehabilitation programs for male perpetrators of domestic violence appear to be less effective in reducing recidivism than programs for other offender groups. It is argued that while the model of systems response to domestic violence has predominated at the inter-agency level, further consideration might be given to way in which men’s intervention groups are both designed and delivered. It is concluded that the program logic of men’s domestic violence programs is rarely articulated leading to low levels of program integrity, and that one way to further improve program effectiveness is to incorporate some of the approaches evident in more general violence prevention programs and from what is know about good practice in general about offender rehabilitation.