A Closer Look at the Synthesis and Characterization of Alkaline Earth Metal Tetraarylborates and Heteroleptic Tetraarylborate Pyrazolates

Compounds containing s-block metals are highly sought after as precursor materials for the Metal Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition (MOCVD) process with applications for novel and improved electronic materials. Previous work in the Ruhlandt Group has been focused on the synthesis and characterization of novel homoleptic alkaline earth (Ae) metal pyrazolate and tetraarylborate complexes, while understanding the importance of secondary interactions such as M- in the isolation of these compounds. More recently, it was further proposed that the pyrazolate and tetraarylborate ligand systems combined with an Ae silyl amide via transamination may very well result in an improved heteroleptic MOCVD potential precursor due to the ligand systems’ capability of extended M- interactions. Herein are described efforts to further understand and successfully reproduce, with significantly improved yields from ~1 – 15% to 50% (ave.), these unprecedented Ae tetraarylborates [Ae(B((3,5-Me2)C6H3)4)2(thf)n (Ae = Ca, 1 † , n = 0; Ae = Sr, 2 † , n = 0; Ae = Ba, 3 † , n = 1) and [Ae(B((4-tBu)C6H3)4)2(thf)n (Ae = Ba, 4 † , n = 0) and heteroleptic tetraarylborate pyrazolates [Ae(thf)2(Et2O)2(tBu2pz)][B((3,5-Me2)C6H3)4] (Ae = Ca, 5 † ) and [Ae(thf)2(tBu2pz)(B((3,5-Me2)C6H3)4)] (Ae = Sr, 6 † ; Ba, 7 † ) that exhibit various ion association modes along with M- interactions. In addition, little is known about the formation of these compounds; as such, there is still a need to examine and further explore the synthesis of various Lewis bases to provide an improved understanding towards the structure-function relationships of these complexes

Habitual IS Use and Continuance

Information systems (IS) use literature and research has been extensive, and has been able to explain a significant amount of the variation in IS acceptance and adoption. The majority of this research has focused on technologies we intentionally use in a work type setting. This current proposed study extends this literature by focusing on automatic use that is non-work related. Understanding the factors that influence the continued use of an IS after initial adoption is important because continued use of a system is an appropriate measure for determining whether or not the IS is actually successful. Habitual IS use is presented and explored to contribute to the understanding of IS continuance. An habitual IS continuance (HIC) model is conceptually developed and proposed. The development of an HIC model allows system success to be measured in voluntary use information systems

Perceptions of Sunk Cost and Habitual IS Use

As technology use becomes more ubiquitous, systems that are able to bypass users’ intentional behaviors through the creationof automatized, or habitual behaviors, are tapping into a potentially powerful aspect of the human psyche. This studycontributes to both sunk cost theory and technology continuance research by examining the relationship between the driversof habit and habitual IS use, and how perceptions of sunk costs play a mediating role in this relationship. Through theconceptual development of an habitual IS use model, the technology-enabled features which contribute to stickiness andencourage the formation of habitual IS use behaviors are explored. This research in progress contributes to the IS usageliterature by focusing on automatic use that is non-work related

In search of work/life balance: trainee perspectives on part-time obstetrics and gynaecology specialist training

BACKGROUND: Part-time training (PTT) is accessed by approximately 10% of Australian obstetrics and gynaecology trainees, a small but increasing minority which reflects the growing demand for improved work/life balance amongst the Australian medical workforce. This survey reports the attitudes and experiences of both full-time and part-time trainees to PTT. METHODS: An email-based anonymous survey was sent to all Australian obstetrics and gynaecology trainees in April 2009, collecting demographic and training status data, data on personal experiences of PTT and/or trainees, and attitudes towards PTT. RESULTS: 105 responses were received (20% response rate). These indicated strong support (90%) from both full-time (FT) and part-time (PT) trainees for the availability of PTT. PT trainees were significantly more likely than FT trainees to be female with children. Improved morale was seen as a particular advantage of PTT; decreased continuity of care as a disadvantage. CONCLUSIONS: Although limited by poor response rate, both PT and FT Australian obstetric trainees were supportive of part-time training. Both groups recognised important advantages and disadvantages of this mode of training. Currently, part-time training is accessed primarily by female trainees with family responsibilities, with many more trainees considering part-time training than the number that access it

Low-Cost Air Quality Monitoring Tools: From Research to Practice (A Workshop Summary).

In May 2017, a two-day workshop was held in Los Angeles (California, U.S.A.) to gather practitioners who work with low-cost sensors used to make air quality measurements. The community of practice included individuals from academia, industry, non-profit groups, community-based organizations, and regulatory agencies. The group gathered to share knowledge developed from a variety of pilot projects in hopes of advancing the collective knowledge about how best to use low-cost air quality sensors. Panel discussion topics included: (1) best practices for deployment and calibration of low-cost sensor systems, (2) data standardization efforts and database design, (3) advances in sensor calibration, data management, and data analysis and visualization, and (4) lessons learned from research/community partnerships to encourage purposeful use of sensors and create change/action. Panel discussions summarized knowledge advances and project successes while also highlighting the questions, unresolved issues, and technological limitations that still remain within the low-cost air quality sensor arena

The Effects of Substance Use and Depressive Symptoms on High-Risk Sexual Behaviors in Sexually Active Vermont Adolescents

Background: There is a high prevalence of substance use, depressive symptoms, and high-risk sexual behaviors (HRSB) among adolescents, but the relationships between these variables is less clear. Objective: To identify associations between these behaviors and outcomes, this study aims to address how depressive symptoms paired with substance use impacts HRSB in adolescents. Methods: Adolescent self-reported depressive and suicidal symptoms, substance use, and HRSB were obtained from the 2015 Vermont Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) (n= 17,041). The associations between exposures (substance use and depressive symptoms) with HRSB were studied. Variables were calculated using prevalence ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CI) and logistic regression to determine adjusted odds ratios (OR). Results: Adolescents who attempted suicide more than once were \u3e5 times more likely to engage in 4+ HRSB (OR=5.19, P\u3c.001). Low-level drug users were 1.76 times more likely to engage in 4+ HRSB (p=\u3c0.05) and high-level users 6.69 times more likely (p\u3c.001). Reporting sexual intercourse with same sex partners was significantly associated with HRSB, while reported sexual orientation was not. Conclusions: There are associations between both self-reported depressive symptoms and substance use with high-risk sexual behavior in adolescents

The Canada-UK Deep Submillimetre Survey - VIII. Source identifications in the 3-hour field

We present optical, near-infrared (IR) and radio observations of the 3-hour field of the Canada-UK Deep Submillimetre Survey (CUDSS). Of the 27 submillimetre sources in the field, nine have secure identifications with either a radio source or a near-IR source. We show that the percentage of sources with secure identifications in the CUDSS is consistent with that found for the bright ‘8-mJy' submillimetre survey, once allowance is made for the different submillimetre and radio flux limits. Of the 14 secure identifications in the two CUDSS fields, eight are very red objects (VROs) or extremely red objects (EROs), five have colours typical of normal galaxies and one is a radio source that has not yet been detected at optical/near-IR wavelengths. 11 of the identifications have optical/near-IR structures which are either disturbed or have some peculiarity that suggests that the host galaxy is part of an interacting system. One difference between the CUDSS results and the results from the 8-mJy survey is the large number of low-redshift objects in the CUDSS. We give several arguments why these are genuine low-redshift submillimetre sources rather than being gravitational lenses that are gravitationally amplifying a high-z submillimetre source. We construct a K-z diagram for various classes of high-redshift galaxy and show that the SCUBA galaxies are on average less luminous than classical radio galaxies, but are very similar in both their optical/IR luminosities and their colours to the host galaxies of the radio sources detected in μJy radio survey

Evaluating the Impact of Interventions by a Multidisciplinary Pediatric Behavioral Health Medication Initiative Workgroup on Medication Prescribing Trends in a Medicaid Population

In 2011, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported foster and non-foster children in the MassHealth, Massachusetts Medicaid program, exhibited the highest rate of behavioral health medication (BHM) utilization, with 49.3% of all Medicaid children being prescribed a psychotropic medication, and 39.1% of children in foster care prescribed these medications. The MassHealth Pharmacy Program, which is managed by UMass Medical School, implemented a PBHMI Workgroup in November 2014 with the collaboration of the Department of Children and Families and the Department of Mental Health. The workgroup proactively requires prior authorization (PA) for specific medications or combinations of BHMs prescribed to members less than 18 years of age. Interventions include telephonic prescriber outreach by a child/adolescent psychiatrist to discuss opportunities for regimen simplification, drug interactions or toxicity, and to encourage evidence-based practices. An analysis of the workgroup suggests a peer-to-peer outreach program is associated with increased awareness and implementation of evidence based medicine in a pediatric population treated with behavioral health medications

Predictors of Lost to Follow-Up among Children with Type 2 Diabetes

Background/Aims: Youth with type 2 diabetes (T2D) have poor compliance with medical care. This study aimed to determine which demographic and clinical factors differ between youth with T2D who receive care in a pediatric diabetes center versus youth lost to follow-up for >18 months. Methods: Data were analyzed from 496 subjects in the Pe­diatric Diabetes Consortium registry. Enrollment variables were selected a priori and analyzed with univariable and multivariable logistic regression models. Results: After a median of 1.3 years from enrollment, 55% of patients were lost to follow-up. The final model included age, race/ethnicity, parent education, and estimated distance to study site. The odds ratio (99% confidence interval) of loss to follow-up was 2.87 (1.34, 6.16) for those aged 15 to <18 years versus those aged 10 to <13 years and 6.57 (2.67, 16.15) for those aged ≥18 years versus those aged 10 to <13 years. Among patients living more than 50 miles from the clinic, the odds ra tio of loss to follow-up was 3.11 (1.14, 8.49) versus those living within 5 miles of the site. Conclusion: Older adolescents with T2D are more likely to be lost to follow-up, but other socioeconomic factors were not significant predictors of clinic follow-up