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Many neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are the result of mutations on the X chromosome. One severe NDD resulting from mutations on the X chromosome is CDKL5 deficiency disorder (CDD). CDD is an epigenetic, X-linked NDD characterized by intellectual disability (ID), pervasive seizures and severe sleep disruption, including recurring hospitalizations. CDD occurs at a 4:1 ratio, with a female bias. CDD is driven by the loss of cyclin-dependent kinase-like 5 (CDKL5), a serine/threonine kinase that is essential for typical brain development, synapse formation and signal transmission. Previous studies focused on male subjects from animal models, likely to avoid the complexity of X mosaicism. For the first time, we report translationally relevant behavioral phenotypes in young adult (8-20weeks) females and males with robust signal size, including impairments in learning and memory, substantial hyperactivity and increased susceptibility to seizures/reduced seizure thresholds, in both sexes, and in two models of CDD preclinical mice, one with a general loss-of-function mutation and one that is a patient-derived mutation.

A significant number of X-linked genes escape from X chromosome inactivation and are associated with a distinct epigenetic signature. One epigenetic modification that strongly correlates with X-escape is reduced DNA methylation in promoter regions. Here, we created an artificial escape by editing DNA methylation on the promoter of CDKL5, a gene causative for an infantile epilepsy, from the silenced X-chromosomal allele in human neuronal-like cells. We identify that a fusion of the catalytic domain of TET1 to dCas9 targeted to the CDKL5 promoter using three guide RNAs causes significant reactivation of the inactive allele in combination with removal of methyl groups from CpG dinucleotides. Strikingly, we demonstrate that co-expression of TET1 and a VP64 transactivator have a synergistic effect on the reactivation of the inactive allele to levels >60% of the active allele. We further used a multi-omics assessment to determine potential off-targets on the transcriptome and methylome. We find that synergistic delivery of dCas9 effectors is highly selective for the target site. Our findings further elucidate a causal role for reduced DNA methylation associated with escape from X chromosome inactivation. Understanding the epigenetics associated with escape from X chromosome inactivation has potential for those suffering from X-linked disorders.

This report describes congenital nuclear cataracts and posterior lenticonus in a closed purebred Holstein dairy herd in Canada. Ophthalmic examinations were completed on 30 male and 249 female cattle aged newborn to 10 years old. Nutritional, infectious, and toxic etiologies were investigated. Necropsies of 3 affected calves were performed and eyes of 2 additional affected calves were examined with light microscopy. Bilateral nuclear cataracts were identified in 53/279 (19%) animals. Additional congenital anomalies observed included posterior lenticonus, iris to lens persistent pupillary membranes (n = 7), and lenticular colobomata (n = 1). Heifers did not give birth to calves with congenital nuclear cataracts (0/105), whereas the incidence of affected calves born to multiparous cows was 31% (53/171). The animals with nuclear cataracts ranged from newborn to 8 years old. The cataracts appeared to be non- or minimally progressive. Light microscopic examination of 10 affected globes confirmed nuclear cataract with posterior lenticonus (n = 10). Pedigree analysis was inconclusive. Polymerase chain reaction and sequence analysis for the NID1 gene deletion were negative. The etiology of the congenital lenticular anomalies was not determined.

The social context around a child’s end of life (EOL) impacts on their experiences of dying as well as the experience of those around them. Children living with disability are often excluded from discussion, and not enough is known about end of life for children living with a disability. This chapter explores how person-centred approaches to health and social supports at EOL focus on the wishes of the child around managing their illness and the dying process. Also, how supports need to advocate for a child’s right to be informed using communication approaches that are developmentally appropriate and accessible to the child.

This article explores the complexity of women’s experiences of coercive control during childbearing, birthing and postpartum and investigates the importance of health practitioners’ responses to women’s experiences. Research questions were: “What cues, from women’s lived experiences, indicate that coercive control is being exerted by their partners?” and “how can health practitioners recognise coercive control during pregnancy, birthing and post-partum?” The qualitative study drew on relational empowerment to access rich data. Sixteen women in Australia participated in the research. Following the temporal sequence of pregnancy, birthing and postpartum, health workers responses are examined. Themes identified included: reproductive coercion followed by coercive control of ante-natal care, control during birthing, intersections with cultural expectations, partner’s self-obsession, grandstanding after a birth, and women’s feelings of isolation. Women’s experience of coercive control, their sense of isolation or, alternatively, support ultimately affected their ability to remove themselves and their children from the abusive situation. Health practitioners’ responses either helped women to identify their partner’s behaviors as abusive or exacerbated women’s feelings of isolation. The research suggests that health practitioners’ acknowledgement of coercive control, and the involvement of social workers conversant with feminist informed dynamics of domestic violence, can impact positively on women’s agency. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

Background If women’s use of agency to protect their children from domestic abuse is considered at all, it is usually in terms of women staying or leaving abusive partners. Elsewhere women’s mothering, when they are enduring domestic abuse, is viewed from a perspective that focuses on finding deficits by observation and categorising the relationship between them and their children. Objective The study, which informs this article, looked to the lived experiences of women who had mothered while enduring domestic abuse to better understand their thoughts, feelings and actions during that time. Participants and methods The qualitative study considers the lived experience of 16 women, residing in South Australia, who raised young children while enduring domestic abuse. Semi-structured interviews followed by focus groups, which utilised creative methodologies were employed to collect data. Results The study casts light on myriad ways that women exercise agency to protect their children. When lived experiences inform our understanding, it becomes clear that many women enduring domestic abuse exercise their agency to protect their children. Conclusion We posit that, if agency is not a focus of enquiry it is overlooked by social workers focusing on deficits when considering mothering in domestic abuse. Too often, women are perceived solely as passive victims, unable or unwilling to protect vulnerable children. Yet important strategies to enable empowerment of both women and children are uncovered if social workers acknowledge and work with women and children to focus on the ways women exercise agency to protect.

Social workers must be prepared to work with all members of society given their commitment to social justice. This article reports the findings of a study examining the preparedness of Vietnamese social work practitioners to practise with sexual minorities. The study employed a mixed-methods approach, comprising a paper-based survey (N = 292) and semi-structured interviews (N = 12). The findings indicate that most practitioners felt ill-equipped to work with clients who identified as lesbian or gay. The discussion highlights the lack of formal and in-service training in this practice area. Implications for social work education are discussed. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

This chapter interrogates how concepts of ‘good mothering’ and ‘intensive mothering’ exacerbate the messages received by women mothering in domestic violence. The chapter draws on research with women and former children who have endured domestic violence to reflect their experiences of mothering in domestic violence that shaped concepts of their mothering abilities. Ethnicity and poverty compounded some women’s distress and all women adapted their mothering behaviours and actions in response to abusive partners who targeted the relationship between them and their children. From previous research we found women’s focus is on the protection of the children but the current emphasis on ‘good mothers’ exacerbated women’s negative self-perceptions and influenced former children’s views of the perceived adequacy of how they were mothered in domestic violence.

This book presents new interdisciplinary and intersectional research about women as mothers, highlighting that alternative accounts of mothering can challenge normative societal assumptions and broaden understandings of women as mothers, mothering and motherhoods. Mothering occurs within unequal power relations associated with the disadvantages and privileges of an unjust and patriarchal society. Social inequalities associated with gender, race, class, age, ability, sexuality, violence and nationalism intersect in the lives of women as mothers, to shape their lived experiences and perspectives on mothering. Showcasing the breadth and depth of feminist research on mothering, this book gives attention to the diversity of ways in which mothering is constructed and responded to as well as how mothering is experienced. Drawing on intersectional feminist thought, the book challenges normative visions of 'good mothering' and interrogates constructs of 'bad mothering'. It brings together insights from multidisciplinary scholars who use feminist approaches in their research on mothering, to inform policy development and practice when working with women as mothers in diverse circumstances. Intersections of Mothering highlights the complexities of mothering in a contemporary world, show the benefits of considering mothering through an intersectional feminist lens, make visible lived experiences of mothers and provides challenges to dominant imaginings of and service responses to women as mothers.

Summary This article reports on a project that explored the complexities of engaging and working with men when domestic violence is noticed in a couple counselling context. There are concerns and controversy surrounding domestic violence and couple counselling; however, it has also been noted that many couples want to remain together and voluntarily approach services for couple counselling. The project reported on in this paper adopted a qualitative methodological design influenced by participatory action research ideas and memory work methods to analyse engagement of men used by nine social work family relationship counsellors. Findings Counsellors used narrative therapy ideas to maintain a stance of curiosity when working with couples when domestic violence was noticed. Curiosity was described as a way of opening up conversations to explore power differences and gender relations and as a method to balance safety with engagement. Specific engagement strategies identified included identifying ethics as a conversation point to explore the effects of power, violence and fear perpetrated by the male partners; exploring dynamics of power and control in relationships and exploring other possibilities in relationships. Applications Alongside debates about the effectiveness and success in domestic violence men’s perpetration intervention programmes, there is a need to look at engagement of men more broadly. Family relationship counselling can be viewed as an opportunity to engage with men where domestic violence is noticed. Engagement of men is an important piece of practice that can potentially set up effective and successful behaviour change when responding to domestic violence.

Social policies and social work practices are increasingly influenced by attachment theory. Women who have been subjected to domestic violence by male partners are being assessed within this discourse, which takes little account of societal perspectives, which sustain injustices and power differentials. Domestic violence is known to be a major social problem but when attachment theory is applied to women and their babies in domestic violence it negates knowledge based in lived experiences. Rather attachment theory is informed by non-gendered family violence perspectives and research instruments, which frame domestic violence within an individualised perspective. In this way, women and their babies are observed and classified without regard for the societal factors, which affect them. In view of this, there is a need for critical social workers to question attachment theory and the positivist research instruments, which are being used to inform theory and practice. Particularly with regard to domestic violence as a gendered, societal issue, a broad perspective, which promotes a social justice view and the need for social change is indispensable. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

Background The investigation of the potential impact of unintended pregnancy on maternal and child health is important to design effective interventions. This study explored the associations between unintended pregnancy and low birthweight (LBW) and pregnancy complications. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 400 randomly selected women in the postnatal wards of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify associations. Results Results of this study indicate that 30.5% of all pregnancies were unintended and 29.3% of babies were born with LBW. Additionally, 79.3% of women experienced any pregnancy complication (AC), 69.5% experienced medical complications and 44.3% experienced obstetric complications (OCs) during their last pregnancy. Unintended pregnancy was significantly associated with LBW (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 3.18, 95% CI: 1.79 to 5.54), maternal experience of OCs (AOR: 1.83, 95% CI: 1.03 to 3.28) and AC (AOR: 2.93, 95%: 1.14 to 7.58). Women with unintended pregnancies were at higher risk of developing high blood pressure and anemia during pregnancy. Conclusions Women with unintended pregnancies are at increased risk of producing LBW babies and experiencing complications during pregnancy. Therefore, maternal pregnancy intention should be addressed in interventions aimed to reduce maternal and child morbidity and mortality.

Family and domestic violence affects one in ten Australian families. It places family members(particularly women and children) at significant risk and often has lifelong impacts. Of the many services and systems that interact with women, men and children experiencing family and domestic violence is child protection. As we develop our understanding of the needs of women,men and children, we must consider how services and systems can better respond to ensure that the best outcomes can be achieved.

This study examined the question: ‘How do social work practitioners construct preparedness for practice?’ The answer to this question was explored through a research conducted in 2013 consisting of a survey based on the Australian Association of Social Workers’ Practice Standards and interviews with social work practitioners who had experience working with graduating social work students in their final field education placements. The responses of 25 survey participants suggest that social work practitioners generally expect new graduates to have ‘moderate’-level skills across the different practice areas, although a small but notable number of supervisors expect new graduates to have general work preparedness at a ‘developed’ level. In addition to having a clear understanding of and identification with professional values, purpose and ethics, the eight interview participants spoke of the importance of empathy and the ability to work within a multidisciplinary organisational environment. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

This unique book offers an innovative feminist critique of attachment theory that offers an alternative understanding of relationships between women and their babies in domestic violence. Fiona Buchanan identifies a way forward for working with women, babies and people who have grown up with domestic violence focusing on strengths not deficits. In doing so, she raises new possibilities for work with women and babies in other situations where trauma impacts on their relationships. In line with feminist traditions of listening to the voices of women, this book theorizes from research which asks women who birthed and mothered babies in domestic violence about their experiences. The research identifies that women respond with protectiveness when faced with sustained hostility from their partners and protected their babies in many ways not recognised by attachment theorists. However, sustained hostility often targets the growing relationship between women and their babies and limits space for the woman and baby to peacefully relate. This book offers deep insights and a new model for working with women, babies and those who have grown up with violence based on understanding the context of sustained hostility, appreciating women's protectiveness and expanding space where women and babies can relate. The author calls for practitioners across health and welfare settings to explore the situations in which women mother; women's protective thoughts feelings and actions and how they find space to relate. This is the ideal resource for researchers, policy makers and practitioners, as well as women and people who grew up with domestic violence.

Qualitative research into sensitive and emotionally laden topics can pose a number of challenges for researchers. This paper presents reflections from two social work researchers who have led multiple feminist-based qualitative research studies about research participation enabling positive experiences for women who have survived domestic violence. It is argued, women can identify new insights, find alternative ways of looking at their experiences, and access opportunities to debrief in a unique way in the research interview setting that differs from counselling experiences. The authors use the metaphor of ‘opening doors’ to show how women construct their research participation experience in similar ways and how researchers can draw on social workskills to enhance positive experiences for women. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

Despite email playing a central role in university business, little is known about the strategies used by staff to manage email and the factors contributing to email overload.In a mixed method study undertaken in one Australian university comparing academic(n = 193) and professional (n = 278) staff, we found that while email volume was higher in academics they used fewer email management strategies. For both groups,thematic analyses of commentary responses revealed that the unnecessary use of emails by staff and students, the expectation of a quick turnaround and an escalation in email traffic were associated with email overload and, as a consequence, increased work-related stress. In conclusion, we suggest that email overload typifies the working environment of academic and professional staff in modern universities, pointing to the importance of training staff in email management strategies for improving productivity and well-being. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

Until now, research into the effects of domestic violence on the formation of relationships between women and their babies has been from an attachment theory perspective. The research reported in this article takes a different approach. Innovative qualitative research methods are used to uncover knowledge about the formation of such relationships from the lived experiences of sixteen women who have mothered babies while enduring domestic violence. Analysis of the findings in this study identifies domestic violence constitutes an environment of sustained hostility where women respond with maternal protectiveness to maximise their babies’ physical and psychological safety whether or not they had attained a secure relationship. However, women recognize domestic violence constricts space to form close mother/ baby relationships. Supported by these findings, this research suggests policy and practice concerned with relationships between women and babies subjected to domestic violence address protectiveness and space to attach. The article concludes with suggestions for further research. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

Social work educators across the world are engaged in developing a curriculum that prepares students to be effective practitioners in a range of settings that involve working with children. This paper reflects on collaborative strategies and research that have influenced the child wellbeing content of social work courses in Australia. It presents a critical analysis of the tensions and challenges that can occur in (this) collaborative work. It then discusses an outcome of this advocacy to influence the child wellbeing content of social work education, an undergraduate module aimed at increasing students' knowledge and skills in communicating with children. This paper argues that Indigenous children (such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children) are over-represented in child protection systems and out-of-home care services, and that this needs to be acknowledged and given increased attention in the education of social work students internationally. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

In this chapter, I critique current theories that are commonly applied to child wellbeing, mothering and child protection, and I call for social workers to incorporate a radical feminist perspective to address the needs of women and their children. I argue that current applications of attach-ment and ecological theories do not provide opportunities to discuss chil-dren’s wellbeing and protection in ways that honour and support women’s mothering abilities. I make this argument by drawing on my own research into domestic violence. By taking a radical feminist perspective, I draw on knowledge from the lived experiences of women and children I have worked with in practice and interviewed as a feminist researcher. From this perspective, I propose social work responses that problematise the gendered contexts of women’s and children’s lives, and support a par-ticular strengths- based approach to work in this area. This chapter pro-motes feminist understandings of women’s knowledge regarding protectiveness and identites societal challenges to optimal conditions for child wellbeing, mothering and child protection. In doing so, I describe a radical feminist approach that counters gender- blind applied psychologi-cal theories that are based on judgements of good or bad mothering, or operate without concern for the gendered contexts of women’s and children’s lives

This article aimed to explore the complications and complexities of mothering in the contexts of domestic violence. Through interviews with nine women who had mothered in domestic violence, it was found that women do attempt to protect children from physical and emotional harm; however, the climate of fear, power, and control present in domestic violence limits protection, and women try pleasing their partners to prevent violence. This article argues the hostility of this environment needs to be acknowledged in constructions of protection and gender needs to be central in understandings of mothering in domestic violence Refereed/Peer-reviewed

Research into maternal protectiveness in domestic violence has focused either on women’s experiences of mothering or children’s experiences of growing up in domestic violence. This paper reports on a qualitative research study with both women and former children who grew up in domestic violence that sought to explore perspectives on, and experiences of,maternal protectiveness in the two groups. The study used a feminist social construction is theoretical perspective and a relational empowerment methodology, and involved interviews with 16 former children and nine women who had mothered in domestic violence. Thematic analysis revealed the different ways that mothers and children approached the question of so-called ‘failure to protect’. Analysis revealed that themes of self-blame by the mothers and mother-blame by the former children were common, with three main thematic categories capturing the ways in which blame was constructed: (1) centring feminine traits;(2) self-blame and guilt; and (3) the double bind of protection. The paper explores the gendered discourses about mothering and femininity that frame practices of self-blame and mother-blame, elaborating the double bind of protection that women face. The paper also explores the implications for practitioners who work with domestic violence in balancing the need to strengthen connections between mothers and children and, at the same time,safeguard children. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

This chapter illustrates how clay modelling was embedded in a methodology of relational empowerment to access knowledge from lived experiences of women who formed relationships with their babies while enduring domestic violence. The purpose of the research was to access deep and rich data based in emotional authenticity. From a critical perspective this approach counters popular dominant theories which base knowledge creation in clinical observation and survey. Framed in feminist principles, the research also sought to enable the empowerment of women who participated. Because clay work elicits emotional responses, its use was supported by a multilayered research design which built supportive relationships with and between participants. Within a carefully constructed design participants were asked to 'model in clay an abstract representation of forming a relationship with your baby while in domestic violence'. Following a brief exploration of the use of clay in therapy and research and an outline of the research design, the value of this approach is summarised. Examples of participants' clay work and their insightful descriptions of their clay models illustrate the efficacy of this approach. The limitations and benefits of using clay to research sensitive issues are considered and suggestions for further uses of this approach are outlined. The purpose here is to show how the thoughtful introduction of clay work to qualitative methodologies can reveal knowledge based in authentic emotions while enabling participants to access feelings of empowerment.

Sculpture represents a unique form of creative expression in that the medium canembody and make solid interpretations of emotions. It can be an outlet formemories and lead to insightful meaning. Clay moulding, in particular, can be apowerful way for people to express feelings through a tactile connection. In theprocess of working with clay, verbal communication can be facilitated and acathartic release may occur; one that cannot be accessed through words alone.The emotional work that transpires through the process of using clay acts toconnect the individual both with her/his inner-self and also with the practitionerand other participants during group work. Within this safe space, deepconnections can be made with supportive others.In this chapter, the properties of clay work in therapy, group work, andcommunity are described. The need for clay work to be positioned in a setting ofsafety is explained, and the processes of this work are described. An example ofusing clay with women who have endured domestic abuse is given to illustratehow clay modelling can uncover new knowledge while enabling participants toaccess feelings of emancipation, connection, and empowerment. Ethicalconsiderations and practicalities of working with clay are also outlined.

There is limited understanding at the current time about the nature of relationships between women and their children in contexts of domestic violence. This is particularly the case in relation to maternal protectiveness, which tends to be seen in simplistic terms of whether women stay in violence or leave to protect their children. This article reports on a qualitative research study that explores mother-child relationships in the context of domestic violence. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 14 women and two men who were raised in contexts of domestic violence. Thematic analysis revealed complexities between the former children's perceptions of their own needs and their mothers' vulnerabilities in the context of violence, as well as shifting understandings over time that involved development of deeper insights into the impact of violence on their mothers and themselves. The nuances of maternal protectiveness identified through this analysis can help social workers appreciate the multiple factors that impact on children's relationships with their mothers in contexts of violence. The findings therefore have practice implications for social work with women who mother in domestic violence as well as children and adults who grow up in these environments. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

It should come as no surprise that when women who have raised babies in domestic violence come together to discuss the formation of relationships with their babies they raise issues of fear. Yet in current attachment studies about the formation of relationships between women and their babies, knowledge of fear based in lived experiences is undervalued. This article draws on a qualitative study of such experiences to explore ways in which fear impacted on 16 women and their babies. From this study it is discerned that fear impacts in diverse ways on women, babies, and their relationships with each other. Women’s experiences show that fear is a complex emotion that cannot be understood outside of context, relations, and subjectivity. Furthermore, fear can be the motivation for protection, whereby actions by women are in the interests of safety of their babies. These insights look beyond attachment theory to the manifestations of and responses to fear identified by women who have raised babies while enduring domestic violence. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

Research with abused mothers and adults who lived with domestic violence in childhood is leading to a better understanding of the complexities of maternal protectiveness Researchers in South Australia interviewed 14 mothers, as well as 23 people who lived through violence in their childhood. The interviews explored the many tactics mothers used to protect their children from the violence. Many of the children’s understandings of their mother’s experience of domestic violence changed after they became adults.

Social work educators are teaching in an era of Western neoliberalism with an increasingly culturally diverse student group. This paper is the result of deliberations about teaching Australian students who may enter university with individualised perspectives and how these students are often challenged by community based principles held by students from other cultures. Some students also come from cultures which promote the role of students as passive recipients of education. Neoliberal individuality joined with passive approaches to education can lead to practitioners who do not stand with diverse groups in the community to challenge systems which represent the antithesis of social justice. Following the traditions of Habermas, this paper explores how the principles of Relational Empowerment (VanderPlaat, 1998) can be introduced in tutorials to establish a communicative space where educators and students explore concepts of critical thinking and embrace knowledge creation as a shared pursuit which addresses imbalances of power. Refereed/Peer-reviewed