Early Research Project Research Articles

Middle Childhood Feelings Toward Mothers: Predictions From Maternal Directiveness at the Age of Two and Respect for Autonomy Currently

AbstractThe goals of this study were to examine (1) stability of maternal directiveness during interactions with their children from toddlerhood to late middle childhood, (2) direct and mediated relations between mothers' directiveness when children were two years old, mothers' respect for autonomy and children's positivity and negativity toward their mothers when children were in late middle childhood, and (3) differences in these paths by ethnoracial group. Participants included 876 European‐American, 789 African‐American, and 411 Mexican‐American mothers and their children from the Early Head Start Research and Evaluation Project. Maternal respect for autonomy at Time 2 partially mediated an association between Time 1 directiveness and observed child positivity toward mothers at Time 2. There was also a direct inverse link between Time 1 maternal directiveness and children's observed positivity toward mothers at Time 2. Relations were similar across ethnoracial groups and for boys and girls. The discussion focuses on heterotypic stability in directive parenting and its implications for children's feelings toward their mothers.

Introduction of a routine quan/qual approach into research DMPK: experiences and evolving strategies.

After graduating with an Oceanography degree from Swansea University, Lloyd has spent over 20 years in the field of bioanalysis and metabolite profiling. He started his career in large pharma at Wyeth UK, where he was involved in setting up the first GC and LC-MS/MS systems for both QC and early DMPK assays, employing EI/CI, thermospray, and the then new electrospray ionization techniques. Lloyd then joined Celltech, now UCB, where he is primarily tasked with metabolite profiling by LC-MS and NMR to support both early research projects and late-stage clinical studies. The application of liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry for simultaneous quantitative and qualitative (quan/qual) analysis has gained momentum across a range of different scientific arenas in recent years. The ability to acquire highquality quantitative data, whilst also capturing qualitative data for either parallel or retrospective analysis, is a powerful resource, especially in view of ever-reducing cycle times, laboratory space and budgets. The quan/qual approach employing a Q-Exactive™ Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometer has been successfully introduced into UCB's research DMPK department. This article describes our experiences in introducing quan/qual, issues that we discovered in establishing this new working paradigm, the evolution of the strategy and its future potential.

Low-income, minority fathers' control strategies and their children's regulatory skills.

The current study explored the bidirectional association of children's individual characteristics, fathers' control strategies at 24 months, and children's regulatory skills at prekindergarten (pre-K). Using a sample of low-income, minority families with 2-year-olds from the Early Head Start Research and Evaluation Project (n = 71), we assessed the association between child gender and vocabulary skills, fathers' control strategies at 24 months (e.g., regulatory behavior and regulatory language), and children's sustained attention and emotion regulation at prekindergarten. There were three main findings. First, fathers overwhelmingly used commands (e.g., "Do that.") to promote compliance in their 24-month-old children. Second, children's vocabulary skills predicted fathers' regulatory behaviors during a father-child interaction whereas children's gender predicted fathers' regulatory language during an interaction. Third, controlling for maternal supportiveness, fathers' regulatory behaviors at 24 months predicted children's sustained attention at pre-K whereas fathers' regulatory language at 24 months predicted children's emotion regulation at pre-K. Our findings highlight the importance of examining paternal contributions to children's regulatory skills.

Implementation of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic strategies in early research phases of drug discovery and development at Novartis Institute of Biomedical Research.

Characterizing the relationship between the pharmacokinetics (PK, concentration vs. time) and pharmacodynamics (PD, effect vs. time) is an important tool in the discovery and development of new drugs in the pharmaceutical industry. The purpose of this publication is to serve as a guide for drug discovery scientists toward optimal design and conduct of PK/PD studies in the research phase. This review is a result of the collaborative efforts of DMPK scientists from various Metabolism and Pharmacokinetic (MAP) departments of the global organization Novartis Institute of Biomedical Research (NIBR). We recommend that PK/PD strategies be implemented in early research phases of drug discovery projects to enable successful transition to drug development. Effective PK/PD study design, analysis, and interpretation can help scientists elucidate the relationship between PK and PD, understand the mechanism of drug action, and identify PK properties for further improvement and optimal compound design. Additionally, PK/PD modeling can help increase the translation of in vitro compound potency to the in vivo setting, reduce the number of in vivo animal studies, and improve translation of findings from preclinical species into the clinical setting. This review focuses on three important elements of successful PK/PD studies, namely partnership among key scientists involved in the study execution; parameters that influence study designs; and data analysis and interpretation. Specific examples and case studies are highlighted to help demonstrate key points for consideration. The intent is to provide a broad PK/PD foundation for colleagues in the pharmaceutical industry and serve as a tool to promote appropriate discussions on early research project teams with key scientists involved in PK/PD studies.

Scripps looks outward

The Scripps Research Institute has formed a separate corporation called Scripps Advance that will house assets and IP related to discrete early stage research projects. Johnson & Johnson's California Innovation Center is on board as Scripps Advance's first partner.

The influence of family routines on the resilience of low-income preschoolers

Using data from the Birth to Three Phase (1996–2001) of the Early Head Start Research and Evaluation Project, we investigated whether family routines at 14, 24, and 36months play a role in the development of children's self-regulation and cognitive ability at 36months. The moderating effects of child sex and race/ethnicity were also examined. Analyses revealed that routines do matter for child outcomes; concurrent routines appear to be critical for fostering self-regulation at 36months, whereas early routines may be important for children's later cognitive ability. Second, the effects differed by child sex, with early routines having a stronger association for girls and concurrent routines having a stronger association for boys. Associations also varied by race/ethnicity such that routines appear to matter slightly more for African–American children than European–American and Hispanic children. Implications of these findings with respect to strength-based interventions for low-income preschoolers and their families are discussed.

Technical-economic cost modeling as a technology management tool

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to show how technical-economical cost modeling can help in steering research and development to target key production cost elements of new products based on emerging technologies. Design/methodology/approach – The authors demonstrate the development and use of a technical-economic cost model (TCM) of the proton exchange membrane (PEM) in fuel cells to steer research to produce more economical and reliable products. A TCM is developed to depict how the production cost per unit varies depending on the different fabrication methods, production rate limitations, material selection, labor distribution, energy consumption, financial parameters and the target production volume. By using such an approach in the design, research time and resources can be saved by prioritizing R&D and production scale-up options at an early stage. Findings – The results of this study show the importance of applying technical-economic cost model (TCM) techniques on early stage research projects to steer the development for resolving key problematic figures. As a case study, a cost analysis platform has been established to apply this technique by analyzing different manufacturing and R&D options for producing durable PEM fuel cells. The projected manufacturing cost of the PEM is found to be lower than previously estimated and the enhanced durability does not significantly impact this production cost. Originality/value – Production is an important factor in informing NPD targets and R&D direction. And yet it is difficult to estimate scaled up production cost for prototype products and components in the R&D lab. Technical-economic cost models (TCM) are a tool to assist decision-making in technology portfolio management and NPD.

Asset-management framework(s) for infrastructure facilities in adverse (post-conflict/disaster-zone/high-alert) conditions

Public works departments have responsibility to manage and operate (transportation/water/power) infrastructure assets through careful planning and adoption of appropriate (facility) management techniques. Efficient asset-management becomes all the more important for countries subject to post-conflict/post-disaster adversity, not only to reactivate essential services, but also because programs that stimulate civil-engineering industry participation contribute much to recovery rates and can make-up 10% of a (recovering) nation's Gross Domestic Product. A good asset-management model needs to address key activities, communicate respective interconnectivities, and realize best practice. Limited study has been done into asset-management model frameworks that link directly with the change-management strategies required by recovering societies; this presents an obstacle to the prompt implementation of essential asset-management systems in sectors operating in adverse conditions. Asset-management techniques able to take account of the full range of factors in less stable environments require to link contributory variables including: dynamic user-needs analyses, life-cycle analysis, national design specifications, building codes, prefabrication opportunities, procurement routes, and project management tools towards re-build/retro-fitting. This early stage research project presents progress thus far in developing an integrative asset-management framework for infrastructure facilities in adverse/high-alert conditions using a multitude of North African case-study locations. Discussion centers upon developing framework(s) as a basis for workable procedures able to be amended with regard to (changing) design specifications/standards/legislation. Secondary research is presented that addresses the need to integrate economic whole-life evaluation techniques, asset-management tools and scopes in flux, and the extent to which such examination allows future development of flexible change-management for adverse situations towards incorporation into an integrative asset-management framework for infrastructure and civil engineering assets.

Parenting Interactions with Children: Checklist of Observations Linked to Outcomes (PICCOLO) in Diverse Ethnic Groups

ABSTRACTParenting interactions are important for children's early development, but existing observational measures of parenting are often difficult for practitioners to use in their work with parents and have been developed based on primarily European American middle‐income parents. Practitioners working with parents of infants and young children need a psychometrically strong observational measure of parenting behaviors appropriate for diverse groups. We tested the reliability and validity of 89 specific parenting behavior items by having observers rate over 4,500 viderecorded observations of parent–infant interaction from the archive of the Early Head Start Research and Evaluation Project and other research. These observations at multiple age points were from over 2,000 low‐icome families, including European Americans, African Americans, and Latino Americans. Interrater agreement was tested for each item. Scale internal consistency and single‐factor structure were tested within each of four domains—affection, responsiveness, encouragement, and teaching. Validity was tested with concurrent parenting measures and child development outcome measures. The 29 most consistently reliable and valid items comprise the final version of Parenting Interactions with Children: Checklist of Observations Linked to Outcomes (PICCOLO), an evidence‐based observational measure of parenting with very young children that is psychometrically sound and useful for practitioners working with diverse groups.

Longitudinal associations among interest, persistence, supportive parenting, and achievement in early childhood

This study investigates two facets of children's school readiness: interest in new cognitive tasks (interest) and persistence in task completion (persistence). Little attention has been paid to the early development of these learning behaviors, although they might prove susceptible to intervention even before school entry. Using data from the Early Head Start Research and Evaluation Project, a sample of low-income children (N=1771) was followed to model bidirectional associations among interest and persistence and maternal supportive parenting between ages 1 and 3, and estimate associations between children's interest and persistence at age 3 and their academic skills at age 5. Results indicate that maternal supportive parenting influences children's interest and persistence more strongly and consistently than interest or persistence influences parenting, and that interest but not persistence transacts with parenting over time. Interest and persistence were equally predictive of children's early academic skills. Findings affirm that both interest and persistence during toddlerhood predict children's academic standing at school entry.

Mother–Infant Interactions in Early Head Start: A Person-Oriented Within-Ethnic Group Approach

SYNOPSIS Objective . This article identifies patterns of mothering in low-income families from three ethnic groups and explores whether those patterns yield similar associations with child outcomes. Design . A person-centered within-group approach was used to examine observed patterns of mothering among European American (n = 740), African American (n = 604), and Mexican American (n = 322) low-income mothers and their 1-year-olds who were participating in the Early Head Start Research and Evaluation Project. Cluster analytic techniques were employed using four dimensions of mothering coded from videotapes: supportiveness, directiveness/intrusiveness, negative regard, and detachment. Results . Three similar mothering patterns were seen within each ethnic group: Supportive (48%–52%), Directive (29%–30%), and Detached (14%–19%). Although the patterns of mothering were similar, mean scores on discrete mothering behaviors differed across ethnic groups. A fourth pattern—Harsh—was found among European American and African American mothers and was characterized by high levels of negativity (5%–7%). Associations between mothering patterns and three child outcomes at ages 2 and 3 years (cognitive test score, emotional regulation, and engagement of mother) validated cluster solutions and revealed some variation in prediction across ethnic groups. However, Supportive mothering was optimal in all three ethnic groups. Conclusions . Within-group analyses permitted identification of ethnically meaningful mothering patterns. Across the ethnic groups, within-group structures of mothering were similar with comparable predictive power for child outcomes despite group differences in the magnitudes of mean scores for constructs such as supportiveness and directiveness.

Mother–Child Interactions in Early Head Start: Age and Ethnic Differences in Low-Income Dyads

SYNOPSIS Objective . This article describes the videotaped mother–child interaction procedures and coding used in the Early Head Start Research and Evaluation Project, a sample of low-income families, half of whom received the Early Head Start services (treatment group) and half of whom did not (control group), based on within-site random assignment (17 sites). A total of 1,838 dyads were observed and videotaped in the home (39% European American, 36% African American, and 25% Latin American). Design . When the children were 1, 2, and 3 years of age, a “Three Bag” semi-structured play activity was conducted, and when the children were 5 years of age, a “Play Dough task” was conducted. Results . Psychometric properties of the coding scales were similar for the three groups and across the four ages. In general, mean scores were higher on positive and lower on negative mothering for European American dyads than for African American or Latin American dyads. Ethnic differences were generally greatest for positive, and smallest for negative, mothering behaviors. Ethnic differences decreased as children got older. Differences were reduced when controlling for a number of socioeconomic status and other characteristics on average by 40%. Intercorrelations across age were stronger for positive, and smaller for negative mothering; even smaller intercorrelations were found for child behaviors. Conclusions . The coding system developed for Early Head Start was reliable and valid across three ethnic groups of low-income families. Ethnic differences were partially accounted for by other family characteristics. Some stability in mothering behaviors over time was seen (especially for positive mothers), although correlations were modest.

Poverty, caregiver depression and stress as predictors of children's externalizing behaviours in a low‐income sample

AbstractPrevious research suggests a relationship between poverty, caregiver depression, caregiver stress and children's externalizing behaviour. However, little research exists to suggest the manner in which these concepts are interrelated. Latent growth curve analyses were conducted on caregiver–child dyads data from the Early Head Start Research and Evaluation Project to identify the path through which poverty, caregiver depression, caregiver stress and child externalizing behaviours were related. Analyses identified a path through which caregiver stress and depression mediated the effect of poverty on child externalizing behaviours. In addition, the influence of caregiver depression on child externalizing behaviours was mediated by caregiver stress. Implications and limitations of these findings are discussed.

Maternal Depressive Symptoms and Behavior Problems in Preschool Children from Low-Income Families: Comparison of Reports from Mothers and Teachers

This study compared behavior problems of children of mothers with elevated depressive symptoms and children of mothers with non-elevated depressive symptoms, using the same measure for mothers and teachers. Participants included 914 mother–teacher dyads of low-income children (M age of child = 62.9 months, SD = 4.0) who participated in the Early Head Start Research and Evaluation Project. Mothers completed a shortened version of CES-D to evaluate their own depressive symptoms. Teachers and mothers completed the Family and Child Experiences Survey Interviews (FACES) to assess children’s behavior problems. The results showed that children of mothers with elevated depressive symptoms-higher than the cut-off score for possible depression- showed higher aggressive and hyperactive behaviors than did children of mothers with non-elevated depressive symptoms according to the mothers’ rating; however, teachers rated the children no differently. Both mothers and teachers reported higher internalizing behaviors in children of mothers with elevated depressive symptoms than did those of mothers with non-elevated depressive symptoms. Maternal depressive symptoms moderated the relations between informants (mothers and teachers) and externalizing behaviours (aggressive and hyperactive) of children. These findings underscore the need for research in different settings such as at home and at school, to measure children’s behavior problems in order to gain a more comprehensive perspective on child functioning. Results suggest an emphasis on intervention or prevention programs targeting internalizing behavior problems, specifically for children of depressed mothers in low-income families.

Understanding Fathering among Native-American Men

This study explores fathering among self identified Native American men who have been identified as father or father figure to children involved in the Early Head Start Research and Evaluation Project. This research study highlights United States policies and their effects on Native American families particularly fathers. In addition, Native American fathers in this study reported that “being there” for their child was important and described how the manifestation of being there ranged from traditional to contemporary models of fathering. The article concludes with a discussion of specific issues that are important when working with Native fathers that may be of interest to social workers and social service practitioners.

Surviving the Early Years of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act

A system that increasingly stigmatized its recipients only became more stigmatizing with the enactment in 1996 of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) program. This program has been so successful in deterring cashneedy people from applying for assistance that the decline in participation from the start of the program continues—even in times of economic downturn. The study reported here follows 150 impoverished families during the first three years of PRWORA, when the economy was booming. The data were derived from the Early Head Start Research and Evaluation Project of 1996-2001. Through this secondary analysis a construct was developed that measured the men’s identity as fathers. In keeping with PRWORA’s use of the labor market as the source for economic well-being, the research studied the relationship between the construct for the fathers’ identity and the fathers’ long-term employment, and found the construct to positively affect the fathers’ employment.

Health disparities in low-income families with infants and toddlers: Needs and challenges related to disability

This study examines disparities in health status, health care utilization, insurance coverage and satisfaction in US low-income parents of infants and toddlers with disabilities compared to low-income parents of children without disabilities. The Early Head Start Research and Evaluation Project is a longitudinal study involving 2087 families in 17 communities across the United States. Families completed interviews at enrollment and at 7, 16, and 28 months after enrollment. Descriptive analyses were conducted to characterize children's status in terms of health, health care use, and insurance coverage. Children with disabilities were more likely to experience poor health and to use more health care services. Parents of children with disabilities were more likely to report that medical care was inadequate. Hispanic children were less likely to experience excellent health. Hispanic parents were less likely to have health insurance or to report that their medical care was adequate. Low-income parents of young children with disabilities perceived their children as less healthy, more vulnerable and needing more health services. This study demonstrates the importance of providing accessible, culturally-competent services to this vulnerable population.

Adolescent motherhood and developmental outcomes of children in early Head Start: The influence of maternal parenting behaviors, well-being, and risk factors within the family setting.

This longitudinal study examined the influence of parenting behaviors, well-being, and risk factors of low-income adolescent mothers on the cognitive and language abilities of children from infancy to age 3. Participants consisted of 1,240 mother-child dyads enrolled in the Early Head Start Research and Evaluation Project. Data were collected using structured interviews with the mothers and from videotaped mother-child interactions during play activities when children were approximately 14 months old and again at 36 months of age. Positive parenting behaviors exhibited toward the 14-month-old children predicted gains in both cognitive and language abilities more so than did maternal well-being, risk factors within the family setting, and demographic risk factors. Gains in cognitive abilities from infancy to age 3 were predicted by supportive parenting, higher family resources, and lower family conflict when children were infants. Gains in language abilities were predicted by supportive parenting, support for language and learning in the home environment, and higher family resources when children were infants. Finally, path analyses showed that maternal age had an indirect effect on child cognitive and language abilities at age 3 through effects on parenting behaviors. Older mothers were more likely to be supportive during play at age 14 months, which in turn promoted enhanced developmental outcomes at age 3. Implications for intervention and future research are discussed.

Attachment relationships in Early Head Start families

The remarkable papers in this Special Issue underscore the importance of applied research on families in poverty, the opportunities to developmental science of the Early Head Start National Research and Evaluation Project, and the mutual benefits from collaborations between research scientists and program practitioners. This commentary highlights the insights of these papers concerning the consequences of maternal attachment style and mother–child interaction, the challenges of assessing attachment in intervention research, and the program and policy implications of these findings.

Early mother–child separation, parenting, and child well-being in Early Head Start families

Drawing on theories of attachment and family instability, this study examined associations between early mother–child separation and subsequent maternal parenting behaviors and children's outcomes in a sample of 2080 families who participated in the Early Head Start Research and Evaluation Project, the vast majority of whom were poor. Multiple regression models revealed that, controlling for baseline family and maternal characteristics and indicators of family instability, the occurrence of a mother–child separation of a week or longer within the first two years of life was related to higher levels of child negativity (at age three) and aggression (at ages three and five). The effect of separation on child aggression at age five was mediated by aggression at age three, suggesting that the effects of separation on children's aggressive behavior are early and persistent.