module ActiveFedora::Associations

def association_instance_get(name)

Returns the specified association instance if it responds to :loaded?, nil otherwise. 
def association_instance_get(name)
  ivar = "@#{name}"
  if instance_variable_defined?(ivar)
    association = instance_variable_get(ivar)
    association if association.respond_to?(:loaded?)
  end
end

def association_instance_set(name, association)

Set the specified association instance. 
def association_instance_set(name, association)
  instance_variable_set("@#{name}", association)
end