Engagement Profiles Research Articles

Comparison of the ex vivo receptor occupancy profile of ketamine to several NMDA receptor antagonists in mouse hippocampus

NMDA receptor antagonists, particularly these targeting the GluN2B subunit are of therapeutic interest for the treatment of severe mood disorders. The receptor occupancy profiles of several NMDA receptor antagonists (30mg/kg, s.c.) were compared in mouse hippocampus by ex vivo autoradiography using [3H]MK-801, a non-selective NMDA channel blocker, and [3H]ifenprodil a selective GluN2B antagonist. Subcutaneous administration of ketamine ((RS)-2-(2-Chlorophenyl)-2-(methylamino)cyclohexanone) and memantine (3,5-dimethyladamantan-1-amine) inhibited [3H]MK-801 but not [3H]ifenprodil binding in mouse hippocampus. Ketamine reached maximal occupancy of [3H]MK-801 binding sites after 15min and rapidly cleared from the brain with no significant level of occupancy measured at the 1h time point. Memantine significantly occupied [3H]MK-801 binding sites throughout the 6h time course. The selective GluN2B antagonist CP101,606 ((1S,2S)-1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-(4-hydroxy-4-phenylpiperidino)-1-propanol) and Ro 25-6981 ((αR,βS)-α-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)-β-methyl-4-(phenylmethyl)-1-piperidinepropanol maleate) inhibited [3H]ifenprodil but not [3H]MK-801 binding and significant levels of occupancy (above 50%) were measured throughout the 6h time course. These data highlight the unique quick pulse target engagement profile of ketamine compared to other NMDA receptor antagonists.

Adolescent educational success and mental health vary across school engagement profiles.

The present study used multidimensional and person-centered approaches to identify subgroups of adolescents characterized by unique patterns of behavioral, emotional, and cognitive engagement and examined whether adolescent developmental outcomes varied as a function of different combinations of engagement components. Data were collected on 1,025 youths (57% African American, 43% European American; 53% female, 47% male). Five profiles of student engagement in school were identified: Highly Engaged, Moderately Engaged, Minimally Engaged, Emotionally Disengaged, and Cognitively Disengaged. These 5 groups differed in their educational and psychological functioning. The study not only provides empirical evidence supporting the multifaceted nature of school engagement but also demonstrates its utility relative to educational success and mental health. Considering the multiple dimensions of student engagement simultaneously from a person-centered perspective promises a useful approach for addressing sample heterogeneity and understanding different patterns of school engagement and their consequences.

Psychometric testing of a self-report measure of engagement in productive occupations

Occupational therapists working with clients in productive occupations explicitly or implicitly assess their clients' occupational engagement. To investigate the psychometric properties of the Profiles of Occupational Engagement in People with Severe Mental Illness: Productive Occupations (POES-P) in terms of internal consistency, initial construct validation, and floor and ceiling effects. Participants (n = 93) from six day centres completed the data collection. Correlations between the POES-P and instruments measuring similar and dissimilar attributes, such as satisfaction, psychosocial functioning, and unmet needs, were studied. A moderate relationship was found between the POES-P and occupational satisfaction (r(s) = 0.43) and a weak one with psychosocial functioning (r(s) = 0.22). The association with researcher-assessed participant engagement was slightly higher (r(s) = 0.37), and the relationship with unmet needs was nonsignificant (r(s) = -0.15). Internal consistency of the POES-P (alpha = 0.85) was good, but the distribution of responses indicated a ceiling effect. The POES-P seems promising for assessing engagement in work-like occupations but would benefit from further development.

Profile and Predictors of Voluntary Civic Engagement at a Private University in Egypt

This study explored the characteristics and predictors of university student voluntary civic engagement. It was conducted at a private university in Egypt, a developing country where student volunteerism has the potential to significantly impact community development efforts. A total of 518 students responded to the study. Consistent with previous literature, students who chose to participate in community service clubs were more likely to be female and religious. They moreover reported greater commitment to civic service as well as pride and commitment to the university. Results suggested that volunteers fit an “Egyptianized” profile with characteristics including: Egyptian nationality, Muslim religion, attending a high-school located in a less privileged rural governorate, graduating from an Egyptian public school system, being more religious, and speaking more Arabic than English socially. Levels of depression did not differ between volunteers and non-volunteers; however, volunteers reported higher anxiety. Suggestions for future research are offered and findings are discussed in terms of their significance for community practice nationally, regionally and globally.

Treatment engagement in adolescents with severe psychiatric problems: a latent class analysis

Motivation is considered a pivotal factor in treatment, but a better understanding of this topic is needed. Drieschner et al. (Clin Psychol Rev 23:1115-1137, 2004) proposed to distinguish treatment motivation and treatment engagement. This study aimed to discover whether it is possible to identify classes of adolescents with severe psychiatric problems having comparable profiles of treatment engagement. To this end, professionals filled out the Treatment Engagement Rating Scale 5 times for 49 adolescents (mean age 18.3 years; SD = 1.6) during the first year of case management treatment. Using a longitudinal latent class analysis, the number of profiles of treatment engagement was investigated and described. Results identified three profiles: high (19 clients, 39%), medium (20 clients, 41%) and low (10 clients, 20%). Adolescents with a high engagement profile were at first equally, and later on more engaged in treatment than clients with a medium engagement profile. Adolescents with a low engagement profile made the least effort to engage, except after 30 weeks. Adolescents with a low engagement profile were often substance-dependent males with the lowest scores on the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale after a year. Only adolescents with a high engagement profile improved on global functioning. In conclusion, it is possible to identify different treatment engagement profiles by asking one question about level of global treatment engagement. Frequent assessment of engagement of the individual client as well as including a behavioural component into assessment and treatment may help to improve case management treatment for adolescents with medium and low engagement profiles.

The effect of IPS on participants' engagement, quality of life, empowerment, and motivation: a randomized controlled trial

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of Individual Placement and Support (IPS) with regard to non-vocational outcomes among individuals with severe mental illness. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was carried out, comparing IPS with traditional vocational rehabilitation. The Empowerment Scale, the Worker Role Interview, the Profile of Occupational Engagement, and the Manchester Short Assessment of Quality of Life were administered to 120 clients, at baseline, six, and 18 months. Results: IPS participants showed higher scores in quality of life (p = 0.002), empowerment (p = 0.047), and work motivation (p = 0.033) at 18 months. Within the IPS group, a significant change in QOL was shown at six (p = 0.002) and 18 months (p = 0.000), and in occupational engagement (p = 0.003; p = 0.012). Conclusions: IPS can be part of a recovery process as individuals may increase their life satisfaction and time spent in daily occupations and community life.

The role of personality and role engagement in work-family balance

The relations between personality, role engagement, and a four-dimensional typology of work-family balance (WFB) were examined within a community-based sample (n = 213) derived from the Jyvaskyla Longitudinal Study of Personality and Social Development (JYLS). The typology was formed based on both work-family conflict (WFC) and enrichment (WFE) experiences. The profiles of personality and role engagement differentiated the four WFB types - Beneficial, Harmful, Active, and Passive types. The Beneficial type (low WFC, high WFE; 48.4%) was characterized by low neuroticism, high agreeableness and high conscientiousness. The opposite was observed for the Harmful type (high WFC, low WFE; 8.9%), which was also characterized by low family investment. In turn, high extraversion and high work and family investment characterized the Active type (high WFC, high WFE; 16.4%), whereas low extraversion and openness to experience as well as low work investment characterized the Passive type (low WFC, low WFE; 26.3%). Thus, rather than just being a unidimensional construct ranging from balance to imbalance, it is confirmed that WFB can also be seen as manifesting itself in multiple types, which are linked to meaningful differences in personality traits and role engagement.

1700-talsstudier och vetenskapsutveckling: tankar om Marie-Christine Skuncke

<p>In the first part of the essay, three profiles of scholarly engagement are discerned. In the oeuvre of Marie-Christine Skuncke two of these types of engagement are prominent, namely those that pertain to a widening of a scholarly field and an opening up of conceptually new fields of investigation and imagination. Her career encompasses studies of literary forms of expressiveness, in particular in opera and theatre, which she links to studies of rhetoric, rules of governance and of princely upbringing . She has also rendered contributions to the study of the emergence of new public spheres. This research is characterized by an understanding that includes attention to both national, cultural, and disciplinary traditions. In the second part, the focus is on the rationale of temporal demarcations in historical research and in particular in what sense eighteenth-century studies may constitute a scholarly field except in purely pragmatic terms. The relatively arbitrary nature of demarcations in the writing of national histories is highlighted. Analogously, a tradition among global historians is noted to emphasize economic and political transformations relative to cultural and conceptual ones. Marie-Christine Skuncke has however joined a growing number of scholars who transcend these limitations and who engage in the writing of global historical developments from a vantage point that recognizes the cultural and intellectual underpinnings of institutional transformations.</p>

A study on integrated design conjugation profiles application analysis of scroll profiles for automobile air conditioning

The research on scroll profiles theory at present mainly is aiming at the single profile and its amelioration or parameter optimization, not aiming at the natural characteristic of the profiles equation of scroll profiles itself. Thus, the intrinsic differential equation bearing on arc-length and tangent direction angle was studied. Using the inherent differential equation and general functional theory, the conversion ideas between the expression of intrinsic differential equation and the expression in Cartesian coordinate was studied, and the condition of involutes characteristic was presented. The detailed analysis of four typical scroll profiles was given. According to the four typical scroll profiles and based on the method of Taylor series, the unified formation of general functional integration scroll profiles was established, which perfected general theory of scroll profiles increasingly. The envelope method to seek conjugation engagement profiles was studied. The unified general functional equation of scroll profiles represented the admissible function scrolls and the conjugation engagement characteristic of which was studied. The engagement condition of conjugation scroll profiles and the expression in Cartesian coordinate of conjugation scroll profiles of general functional integration scroll profiles were educed. Therefore, the restriction of inherent characteristics of single scroll profiles model is broken through. Solid modeling and machine tool path simulation can bridge the gap between design and manufacture which is essential for the design and manufacture of scroll compressors. With this method a perfect solid model can be achieved, which leads to an optimal design in terms of quality, delivery time and cost. The presentation of unified formation of general functional integration scroll profiles represents foundation factor of instinct characteristics of scroll profiles, which widens the design method of scroll compressor for automobile air conditioning.

Children’s Classroom Engagement and School Readiness Gains in Prekindergarten

Child engagement in prekindergarten classrooms was examined using 2,751 children (mean age=4.62) enrolled in public prekindergarten programs that were part of the Multi-State Study of Pre-Kindergarten and the State-Wide Early Education Programs Study. Latent class analysis was used to classify children into 4 profiles of classroom engagement: free play, individual instruction, group instruction, and scaffolded learning. Free play children exhibited smaller gains across the prekindergarten year on indicators of language/literacy and mathematics compared to other children. Individual instruction children made greater gains than other children on the Woodcock Johnson Applied Problems. Poor children in the individual instruction profile fared better than nonpoor children in that profile; in all other snapshot profiles, poor children fared worse than nonpoor children.

Assessing Exhibits for Learning in Science Centers: A Practical Tool

ABSTRACT This paper presents an exhibit assessment tool for science centers that is based on the premise, supported by learning theories and research, that the level to which a visitor is engaged by an exhibit is a direct indicator of the learning taking place. Observable behaviors are used to distinguish three stages or levels of visitor engagement described as initiation, transition, and breakthrough. A distinctive visitor engagement profile can be constructed for an exhibit that can then be used in assessing the effectiveness of subsequent changes made to the exhibit experience. It is suggested that the visitor engagement and exhibit assessment model describes and predicts relationships between exhibits, visitors, and observable learning behaviors in science centers.

Corporate Social Responsibility and Corporate Governance in Italian SMEs: An Analysis of Excellent Stakeholders Relationship and Social Engagement Profiles

The study proposes to individuate the relationship between social engagement, social statements and governance of SMEs focusing attention on the elements of the trinomial mission-corporate governanceaccountability and on their reciprocal relations. Does a positive relationship between the adhesion to a culture of social responsibility and evolved systems of governance exist? And is such correlation more or less significant for small and medium-sized firms with respect to large-sized firms? The paper winds itself around these questions and describes the principle findings that have emerged from the qualitative investigation focused on a selected group of cohesive Italian SMEs, in which the nexus between the evolution of corporate governance and socially responsible management practices were examined. The central hypothesis is that in the presence of a solid ethical framework, which is promoted and shared by the entrepreneurs and managers who guide the business in carrying out socially responsible practices and towards adopting methods communicating them (such as a charter of values, a code of ethics, social report, etc.), the arrangement and quality of governance can mitigate tensions and dedicate more energy towards the good of the business, of its workers, and of the society and environment in which it operates. The work is articulated in four principle parts. The first section traces its theoretical and empirical context; the second provides a description of the methodology (survey research conducted in May 2008 through a semi-structured questionnaire on a sample of SMEs in the Marches Region). The third part describes and interprets the principle findings that have emerged from the qualitative investigation focused on a selected group of cohesive SMEs The last section closes the paper with final remark. The concluding reflections trace the features of a territorial model of socially responsible orientation centered on the best practices of SMEs who are excellent examples of spirited businesses.

Occupational Balance in People With Schizophrenia

The aim of this study was to illuminate the concept of occupational balance and to study its relation to occupational engagement as assessed by the Profiles of Occupational Engagement in people with Schizophrenia (POES), health related factors, and quality of life among 72 persons with schizophrenia. Three constructs: being under-occupied, being over-occupied, and having occupational balance, were developed to help assess occupational balance. The inter-reliability testing of occupational balance resulted in good agreement on average. The descriptive statistics showed that 32 participants were deemed to be under-occupied, 35 participants had occupational balance, while five participants were over-occupied. Significant statistical differences were found between the subgroups of being under-occupied and having occupational balance regarding negative symptoms, sense of coherence and quality of life. In clinical practice, the assessment of occupational balance could help occupational therapists to optimize the design of time-use interventions.

Symbolization and emotional engagement in mothers' reports of child care activities

AbstractThis study examines differences in mothers' emotional connection to their children as represented in narratives concerning a range of everyday parenting activities and interactions. First time mothers were interviewed over a period of approximately the first two years of their children's lives, using a semi‐structured Parenting Function Interview (PFI), developed for purposes of this research. The new computerized Referential Activity (RA) measure, the Weighted Referential Activity Dictionary (WRAD), was applied to the interview transcripts. Significant differences in RA, representing differences in the symbolizing process and emotional engagement in particular parent–child activities, were found between mothers, and also according to child care topic. On average, mothers' RA was highest for topics of bathing, bedtime and pleasurable events, and lowest for angry and difficult moments. Themes of feeding were relatively low in RA for three of the four mothers, and reports of frightening events showed significantly higher RA than themes of anger for all mothers. Clinical implications of profiles of the mothers' emotional engagement in different topic areas are discussed. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Relationships between occupational engagement and status of and satisfaction with sociodemographic factors in a group of people with schizophrenia

The present study is part of a larger project investigating occupational engagement and health in a group of people with schizophrenia. This study was aimed at extending this knowledge base with regard to occupational engagement and sociodemographic factors. Seventy-four outpatients participated in the study. The Profile of Occupational Engagement in People with Schizophrenia, the Lancashire Quality of Life Profile scale and a standardized questionnaire were used to gather data. Contrary to what was expected, occupational engagement was not associated with a certain type of schizophrenia, being younger or older, or gender. The results showed that a high level of occupational engagement was related to greater satisfaction with the participants' social and living situation, having a reliable alliance and a close friend, school-leaving age, living in a flat, and working or studying. Satisfaction with living independently, having had a recent experience of accomplishment, and working together explained 55% of the variance in occupational engagement. Occupational therapists should thus focus on and promote social engagement appropriate to the client's level of engagement, the client's opportunity and ability to work, his/her experience of accomplishment, and, most importantly, satisfaction with the home and living situation.

Characterization of integrin engagement during defined human embryonic stem cell culture

Human embryonic stem (hES) cells are pluripotent, capable of differentiating into any cell type of the body, and therefore have the ability to provide insights into mechanisms of human development and disease, as well as to provide a potentially unlimited supply of cells for cell-based therapy and diagnostics. Knowledge of the adhesion receptors that hES cells employ to engage extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins is of basic biological interest and can enhance the design of cell culture and implantation systems to enable these biomedical applications. Although hES cells express a variety of cell surface receptors, little is known about which integrins are involved during subculture and passage. Matrigel is broadly used as a cell adhesive matrix for hES cell culture. Here, we sought to identify which integrins hES cells exploit for adhesion to Matrigel-coated surfaces in defined medium conditions. Using RT-PCR, flow cytometry, and fluorescence immunochemistry, we found that numerous integrins were expressed by H1 hES cells; however, antibody blocking assays indicated that only alpha(v)beta(3), alpha(6), beta(1), and alpha(2)beta(1) played a significant role in the initial adhesion of the hES cells to Matrigel in defined medium conditions. We subsequently identified a cohort of synthetic peptides that, when adsorbed to the culture surface, promoted H1 hES cell attachment and proliferation, as well as maintained a pluripotent phenotype. Peptides designed to engage with alpha(v)beta(3), alpha(6), beta(1), and alpha(2)beta(1) integrins and syndecan-1 were tested both individually and in various combinations. A combination of two integrin-engaging peptides (AG-10, C-16) and one syndecan-engaging peptide (AG-73) was sufficient to promote hES cell adhesion, maintenance, and proliferation. We propose that a specific integrin "fingerprint" is necessary for maintenance of hES cell self-renewal, and synthetic culture systems must capture this engagement profile for hES cells to remain undifferentiated.-Meng, Y., Eshghi, S., Li, Y. J., Schmidt, R., Schaffer, D. V., Healy, K. E. Characterization of integrin engagement during defined human embryonic stem cell culture.

Behavioral Analysis of Children’s Response to Induction of Anesthesia

It is documented that children experience distress at anesthesia induction, but little is known about the prevalence of specific behaviors exhibited by children. Digital audiovisual recordings of 293 children undergoing outpatient elective surgery were coded using Observer XT software and the validated Revised Perioperative Child-Adult Medical Procedure Interaction Scale. Multiple pass second-by-second data recording was used to capture children's behaviors across phases of anesthesia induction. More than 40% of children aged 2-10 yr displayed some distress behavior during induction with 17% of these children displaying significant distress and more than 30% of children resisting anesthesiologists during induction. Children's distress and nondistress behaviors displayed four profiles over the course of anesthesia induction: Acute Distress, Anticipatory Distress, Early Regulating Behaviors, and Engagement with Procedure. Older children had higher scores on early regulating and engagement profiles whereas younger children had higher scores on Acute Distress. There were no differences across age in children's Anticipatory Distress. Construct validity of behavior profiles was supported via correlations of profile score (overall and on the walk to the operating room) with a validated assessment of children's anxiety at induction. Children undergoing anesthesia display a range of distress and nondistress behaviors. A group of behaviors was identified that, when displayed on the walk to the operating room, is associated with less distress at anesthesia induction. These data provide the first examination of potentially regulating behaviors of children, but more detailed sequential analysis is required to validate specific functions of these behaviors.

The Environmental Health Engagement Profile: What People Think and Do About Environmental Health

To develop and validate the Environmental Health Engagement Profile (EHEP)-an instrument for assessing the way people engage with environmental health issues, including people's experience of environmental health hazards, the assumptions concerning the risks involved, and the actions taken either individually or collectively in their communities. This instrument development study was conducted in an urban area with varying levels of health-related environmental concerns. First, qualitative interviews with 41 residents informed development of items. Next, the items were evaluated by 28 expert reviewers. Finally, validity was assessed from responses of 433 residents who completed the instrument and other measures by telephone interview. For assessing validity of EHEP, data were also collected concerning demographic characteristics, social involvements, goodness of life, and self-ratings of health. Through factor analysis, 5 subscales were identified-named Pollution Sensitivity Scale (alpha=.91), Pollution-Causes-Illness Scale (alpha=.84), Pollution Acceptance Scale (alpha=.67), Community Environment Action Scale (alpha=.79), and Personal Environmental Action Scale (alpha=.63). Patterns of correlations of these scales with age, and measures of odor sensitivity, social involvement, and goodness of life provided evidence of construct validity. These results provide beginning evidence for the reliability and validity of the EHEP. Thus, public health nurses and others may use this instrument to assess people's concerns about environmental health, and resulting actions-and to support strategies for advising people and communities on protecting their health.

Neurocognitive development of relational reasoning

Relational reasoning is an essential component of fluid intelligence, and is known to have a protracted developmental trajectory. To date, little is known about the neural changes that underlie improvements in reasoning ability over development. In this event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study, children aged 8-12 and adults aged 18-25 performed a relational reasoning task adapted from Raven's Progressive Matrices. The task included three levels of relational reasoning demands: REL-0, REL-1, and REL-2. Children exhibited disproportionately lower accuracy than adults on trials that required integration of two relations (REL-2). Like adults, children engaged lateral prefrontal cortex (PFC) and parietal cortex during task performance; however, they exhibited different time courses and activation profiles, providing insight into their approach to the problems. As in prior studies, adults exhibited increased rostrolateral PFC (RLPFC) activation when relational integration was required (REL-2 > REL-1, REL-0). Children also engaged RLPFC most strongly for REL-2 problems at early stages of processing, but this differential activation relative to REL-1 trials was not sustained throughout the trial. These results suggest that the children recruited RLPFC while processing relations, but failed to use it to integrate across two relations. Relational integration is critical for solving a variety of problems, and for appreciating analogies; the current findings suggest that developmental improvements in this function rely on changes in the profile of engagement of RLPFC, as well as dorsolateral PFC and parietal cortex.

Finnish Students' School Engagement Profiles in the Light of PISA 2003

The aim of this study is to examine Finnish students' school engagement profiles in the light of the data collected in the PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) in 2003. Even though Finnish students' cognitive achievement has proved excellent in various international assessments, their school engagement has not been flattering. The article first defines the concept of school engagement and discusses some previous findings on students' attitudes and socio‐emotional disposition towards school life. Next, on the basis of students' responses to the PISA 2003 survey questionnaire, students are grouped and the groups profiled by cluster analysis into six distinct clusters in terms of peer acceptance, student‐teacher relations and perceptions of the value of school and education for the future. This is followed by a description of the cluster profiles and their examination in relation to students' gender and socio‐economic background as well as to their performance in mathematics, reading and science and then in relation to their self‐beliefs and educational aspirations. The results indicate that when examining school engagement, average values for the whole age group are not sufficient to describe the spectrum of young people's school satisfaction and social relations. Instead, in Finnish schools there are distinct student groups with different engagement profiles, which are associated with both the cognitive and affective learning. In conclusion, some suggestions are made for further interventions as concerns the different student clusters.