Synthesis of Scandium and Gallium Metal Complexes for use in the Ring-Opening Polymerization of Lactide and Propylene Oxide

As the demand for polymers increases, it is becoming clear that the current methods used to produce polymers and the types of polymers manufactured are not sustainable. Currently, about 99% of plastics produced worldwide are made from petroleum sources. Thus the development of polymers from renewable resources such as biomass and carbon dioxide is increasingly attractive. This project investigates the efficacy of scandium and gallium complexes of tetraphenylporphyrin (TPP) and Jacobsen's ligand (salen) in the polymerization of lactide and the copolymerization of CO2 and propylene oxide. Thus far (TPP)ScCl, (TPP)GaCl, (salen)ScCl, and (salen)GaCl have been synthesized. These compounds were synthesized from the metal chlorides and protonated ligands using standard Schlenk-line and dry box techniques. Preliminary results show that these complexes are inactive in the homopolymerizations of lactide and propylene oxide. This is likely due to the low nucleophilicity of the chloride anion, which makes it a poor initiator for ring-opening polymerizations. Currently attempts to synthesize the alkoxide derivatives of these compounds are in progress.No embarg

Preparing Our Students to Read and Understand Mathematics

This article gives techniques and tips for college mathematics instructors to increase students’ ability to read and comprehend mathematics. The article also includes some relevant history of reading instruction and some motivation for incorporating these ideas into courses

Slaying the demon. The dementia challenge: Progress and achievements

There can be no doubt that the delivery of high quality care and support for patients and families living with dementia is a major challenge for health and social care services. As a nation we are living longer and we are seeing more people living with co-morbidities including dementia. Whilst our effort must remain on improving diagnostic and therapeutic interventions to treat and manage dementia, we must also be focused on supporting patients, families and carers who are living and coping with dementia on a daily basis. They need co-ordinated support and high quality services now, not the promise of improvements in the future. It was within this context that the NHS South Strategic Health Authority invested and commissioned work to advance innovation and identification of best practice across provider services in the South of England. We recognised that there was much to be proud of, but our challenge was to highlight best practice and innovation and share that with wider audiences and encourage adoption of excellence.This important report provides a valuable window on the work that is currently being developed across the South of England and in a wide range of services. The projects and programmes are extremely diverse, and are at different stages of development. We are continuing to learn about what works and what doesn’t. Many of the projects are multi-agency and all are actively engaged in partnership working across disciplines and - importantly - are working closely with patients and carers. The work is not easy, and unfortunately structural re-organisations and reform of the NHS and Social Care, and continuing funding challenges, have caused some delays in progressing the projects. However, the commissioners and authors of the report believe it is of vital importance to share the findings thus far, whilst recognising that many of the projects are still on-going and will continue to develop. Our aim is simple – we want to encourage dialogue and sharing in a field of research and practice that is engaging with one of the greatest health and social care challenges of our time. We believe that further investment and research is clearly needed but we also recognise that by adopting best practice now across all organisations we can also help those patients, families and carers who need high quality services and support today and tomorrow. We must continue to invest, research and advance our knowledge and understanding in the dementia field, but as we do we must apply our findings to our daily practice and not ignore the small interventions that can improve the lives of so many on a daily basis. This report is designed to support practitioners, commissioners, delivery agents, patients and carers by shining a light on the best practice and innovations we have found today. Please engage with it, share it, and adopt the best

RACIAL AND ETHNIC DISPARITIES IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN NEBRASKA

What are racial and ethnic disparities (RED)? RED refers to racial and ethnic differences in contacts and experiences with the criminal and juvenile justice systems.1,2 Measuring the extent to which RED exist in the justice system is a first step toward identifying the ways to improve upon how well the system upholds the principle of equal treatment under the law.3 Prior research shows that RED are prevalent across multiple points of contact with the juvenile justice system in Nebraska.1,3 There is also a large body of evidence demonstrating RED in the adult criminal justice system nationwide.4 The purpose of this brief is to describe what the data show regarding racial disparities in the state of Nebraska and what is yet to be understood. Are there racial disparities in arrests in Nebraska? Relative to the racial makeup of the state population, there is significant disparity in the racial composition of the arrests in each year from 2014 to 2019.5,6 Inequity for African Americans is the largest contributor to the overall disparity. As shown in Figure 1, from 2014 to 2019, African Americans made up approximately 5% of the state population but accounted for 17.45–20.82% of arrests. American Indians/Alaskan Natives were also overrepresented in arrests (3.23–3.59%) relative to their portion the population (approximately 1%). Whites and Asians/Pacific Islanders are underrepresented in all six years

The anti-civic effects of popular culture on American teenagers

Civic participation and civic awareness is essential to the maintenance of American democracy. Strong civic communities serve to promote prosperity, ensure the resolution of collective problems, and act as a check upon the power of the state. But in 2002, there is little doubt that, across a wide range of indicators, America’s civic culture is in decline. Voting rates have fallen rapidly over the past several decades, and so too has trust in government. Equally troubling Ec002 Massachusetts Department of Education [email protected] Massachusetts Department of Education Massachusetts Department of Education Massachusetts Department of Education [email protected] Anders Lewis Jennifer Butler Melanie Winklosky Sandra Stotsky ESE Nº002 2002 is the disconcerting dearth of civic knowledge among American youths and the drop in participation, among all Americans, in numerous civic organizations, from church-affiliated groups to voluntary and fraternal organizations as well as women’s auxiliaries and unions. There are many causes for these trends. This paper examines how popular culture affects civic participation and civic awareness among a group of particularly active teenagers in Massachusetts. We found that popular culture has a generally negative influence on civic life but that its effects are not one-sided and that it can be mitigated by strong families and quality schools committed to an academic and civic education

The MIQ-RS: A Suitable Option for Examining Movement Imagery Ability

Within rehabilitation settings, mental imagery helps to promote long-term recovery and facilitates compliance to rehabilitation exercises. Individuals who are able to effectively engage in imagery practice are likely to gain the most benefit from imagery training. Thus, a suitable imagery ability measurement tool for individuals with movement limitations is needed. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the Movement Imagery Questionnaire—Revised second version (MIQ-RS), and compare the results of this new version with Hall and Martin's (1997) MIQ-R. Three-hundred and twenty participants from a variety of sports and performance levels agreed to take part. Results showed the internal consistency and test–retest reliability of the MIQ-RS were satisfactory, the two-factor structure of the MIQ-RS was supported by confirmatory factor analysis, and Pearson correlations indicated a strong relationship between the MIQ-R and MIQ-RS. It appears the MIQ-RS is a suitable option for examining movement imagery ability primarily aimed at the upper extremity

The Movement Imagery Questionnaire-Revised, Second Edition (MIQ-RS) Is a Reliable and Valid Tool for Evaluating Motor Imagery in Stroke Populations

Mental imagery can improve motor performance in stroke populations when combined with physical therapy. Valid and reliable instruments to evaluate the imagery ability of stroke survivors are needed to maximize the benefits of mental imagery therapy. The purposes of this study were to: examine and compare the test-retest intra-rate reliability of the Movement Imagery Questionnaire-Revised, Second Edition (MIQ-RS) in stroke survivors and able-bodied controls, examine internal consistency of the visual and kinesthetic items of the MIQ-RS, determine if the MIQ-RS includes both the visual and kinesthetic dimensions of mental imagery, correlate impairment and motor imagery scores, and investigate the criterion validity of the MIQ-RS in stroke survivors by comparing the results to the KVIQ-10. Test-retest analysis indicated good levels of reliability (ICC range: .83–.99) and internal consistency (Cronbach α: .95–.98) of the visual and kinesthetic subscales in both groups. The two-factor structure of the MIQ-RS was supported by factor analysis, with the visual and kinesthetic components accounting for 88.6% and 83.4% of the total variance in the able-bodied and stroke groups, respectively. The MIQ-RS is a valid and reliable instrument in the stroke population examined and able-bodied populations and therefore useful as an outcome measure for motor imagery ability