The Hadronic Final State at HERA

The hadronic final state in electron-proton collisions at HERA has provided a rich testing ground for development of the theory of the strong force, QCD. In this review, over 200 publications from the H1 and ZEUS Collaborations are summarised. Short distance physics, the measurement of processes at high energy scales, has provided rigorous tests of perturbative QCD and constrained the structure of the proton as well as allowing precise measurements of the strong coupling constant to be made. Non-perturbative or low energy processes have also been investigated and results on hadronisation interpreted together with those from other experiments. Searches for exotic QCD objects, such as pentaquarks, glueballs and instantons have been performed. The subject of diffraction has been re-invigorated through its precise measurement, such that it can now be described by perturbative QCD. After discussion of HERA, the H1 and ZEUS detectors and the techniques used to reconstruct differing hadronic final states, the above subject areas are elaborated. The major achievements are then condensed further in a final section summarising what has been learned.Comment: 60 pages, 65 figures, submitted to Reviews of Modern Physics. Updated version includes comments to the text from journal referee

California's Health Care Safety Net: A Sector in Transition

The health care safety net is a patchwork of programs and providers that serve low-income Californians without private health insurance. Changes in the economy, government budgets, and health care policy can influence how the safety-net population gets medical care.This report covers a period of transition with the 2014 implementation of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), which expanded Medi-Cal eligibility to most adults with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level and established state exchanges where individuals can purchase health insurance, often with federal subsidies

California's Health Care Safety Net: A Complex Web

The health care safety net is a patchwork of programs and providers that serve low-income Californians without private health insurance. Changes in the economy, government budgets, and health care policy can influence how the safety net population obtains medical care.This report provides a snapshot of California's safety net at a critical juncture ahead of the full implementation of the Federal Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2014. Stakeholders are preparing for important ACA deadlines, such as the expansion of Medi-Cal, the state's largest safety net program, while legal and political battles wage on over the future of health care reform.This report reflects a time of economic dislocation (much of the data for this report comes from 2009, the most recent year for which data are available). California unemployment reached 12% by the end of 2009, and monthly Medi-Cal enrollment peaked at over 7 million Californians that year. At the same time, the state trimmed billions of dollars from its budget by eliminating certain Medi-Cal services for adults, freezing Healthy Families enrollment for children, and cutting funding to community clinics. One bright spot was the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009, which provided stimulus funds to hospitals, clinics, and Medi-Cal

Linking 4-H to Linksters

Advances in communication technology and associated social changes have provided opportunities as well as challenges for 4-H. Historically, the 4-H club model was predicated on a community\u27s coming together to provide youth members opportunities to gain a deeper understanding of their respective projects. The paradox is that as communities have become more connected through cell phones and social media, face-to-face, person-to-person interaction has decreased. To stay relevant for the next hundred years, 4-H must adapt to this circumstance. This article explores the importance of leveraging technology to bring young people together, foster a sense of community for them, and instill self-efficacy within them, all through the 4-H club model

Fabrication of Lithium-Ion Pouch Cells with Reversible Shutdown Membrane Separator

Batteries that power electrical vehicles, especially the safety concerns and performance limitations, are of significant interest as the thrust for sustainable transportation continues. Li-ion batteries are prevalent in these vehicles and many consumer electronics due to their advantages over other battery chemistries. Thermal runaway is a major safety concern of batteries that can result in fires or explosions, and li-ion architectures are at a higher risk. Limited charge and discharge rates contribute to electric vehicles’ inability to fully compete with internal combustion engine vehicles. The objective of this research is to transition the use of a reversible shutdown membrane separator (RSMS) in a Swagelok cell to a pouch cell, an architecture used in commercial applications, and find a cost-effective alternative to gold in RSMS fabrication. Through a redox event, a RSMS can operate as an ion source or sink, which can internally and reversibly prevent thermal runaway or provide a power boost. A novel fabrication method was developed for a three-electrode li-ion pouch cell with a RSMS as a third active electrode. The RSMS shape was tailored for a built-in current lead and melt tape parameters were optimized for effective sealing between the lead and pouch. Once fabricated, charge-discharge cycling and real time testing of the pouch cell with a RSMS was performed to examine the cell charge-discharge cycling capacities and validate the RSMS worked reversibly for preventing thermal runaway or providing a power boost. Alternatives to gold, most of which are common in li-ion batteries (aluminum, nickel, aluminum/titanium, and nickel/titanium), were explored in the fabrication of the RSMS. Cyclic voltammetry was used to examine the electrochemical function and cyclabilities compared to gold. The charge-discharge cycling capacities of the cell with a RSMS were comparable to baseline cells for a reduced state membrane and lower for an oxidized state membrane. Real time results showed the RSMS could remove anode current for ~30-60 seconds to prevent thermal runaway or provide a power boost for ~60 seconds without changing the constraints of the power source or load. Nickel was determined to be a feasible candidate to replace gold due to fabrication ease and a reasonable filling efficiency of 31.9% compared to gold’s 42.5%. This is the first technique (to our knowledge) for fabricating three electrode pouch cells with a third active electrode. This fabrication technique for three active electrode pouch cells could be used for different third active electrodes to expand the capabilities of battery cells. The use of an active membrane separator could be extended to implement other types of active membrane separators instead of standard passive separators. Li-ion pouch cells or other battery architectures with a RSMS will provide enhanced safety with thermal runaway protection and improved performance capability with power boost functionality.Ford through Ford-OSU AllianceNo embargoAcademic Major: Mechanical Engineerin

The Algebra of Strand Splitting. I. A Braided Version of Thompson's Group V

We construct a braided version of Thompson's group V.Comment: 27 page

Making Virtual Meetings Engaging: Creating Community in Virtual Settings Beyond the Pandemic

When in-person programs were suspended during the pandemic, Extension professionals quickly embraced virtual learning platforms to conduct programs. One of the more popular platforms was Zoom. In addition to the standard features that come equipped with Zoom, there are several other free or low-cost online resources that can be used to enhance virtual programs and create a greater sense of community virtually