The specific rates of solvolysis of phenyl chlorothionoformate (PhOCSCl) are remarkably similar to those previously reported for phenyl chlorothioformate (PhSCOCl). When analyzed using the extended Grunwald-Winstein equation over the usual range of solvent types, these solvolyses show essentially identical divisions into the solvents favoring the addition-elimination channel and those favoring the ionization channel. The introduction of one sulfur caused a partial shift away from the addition-elimination pathway, which was dominant over the full range of solvents for phenyl chloroformate (PhOCOCl). Consistent with these results, introduction of the second sulfur within phenyl chlorodithioformate (PhSCSCl) leads to a completion of this shift, such that an extended Grunwald-Winstein treatment of the specific rates of solvolysis now shows the ionization pathway to be dominant over the full range of solvents.Key words: Grunwald-Winstein equation, solvent nucleophilicity, solvolysis, phenyl chlorothionoformate, phenyl chlorodithioformate.

Carbamoyl chlorides are important intermediates, both in the research laboratory and in industrial scale syntheses. The most studied and used are the disubstituted derivatives, incorporating either aryl or alkyl groups (Ar₂NCOCl or R₂NCOCl). Sometimes, the groups are tied back to give a ring and piperidino- and morpholino-derivatives are commonly encountered. Some studies have been made with two different groups attached. Solvolyses tend to occur at the carbonyl carbon, with replacement of the chloride ion. Studies of both rate and products are reviewed and the solvolysis reactions are usually S_N1, although addition of an amine leads to a superimposable bimolecular component. Many of the studies under solvolytic conditions include the application of the extended Grunwald–Winstein equation. The monosubstituted derivatives (ArNHCOCl or RNHCOCl) are less studied. They are readily prepared by the addition of HCl to an isocyanate. In acetonitrile, they decompose to set up and reach equilibrium with the isocyanate (ArNCO or RNCO) and HCl. Considering that the structurally related formyl chloride (HOCOCl) is highly unstable (with formation of HCl + CO₂), the unsubstituted carbamoyl chloride (H₂NCOCl) is remarkably stable. Recommended synthetic procedures require it to survive reaction temperatures in the 300–400 °C range. There has been very little study of its reactions.

The 2010 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report indicates that 63.4% of Delaware’s adult population is overweight and 28% is obese. Here, the authors reveal analyses acquired from detailed investigations about the importance of gender, and other lifestyle factors and behaviors on the Body Mass Index (BMI) trends amongst an indiscriminate sample of the Wesley College (Wesley) undergraduate population. A 25-question paper-format survey was distributed to 307 randomly chosen Wesley undergraduates. The accrued qualitative (or categorical) data were transferred to an Excel spreadsheet to construct and observe frequency distributions. A Chi-square test of independence (χ2) was performed between BMI status (normal, overweight, obese) and the following factors: gender, diet plan, adherence to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) MyPlate nutrition guide, use of the seasonal flu shot, weekly workout schedule, supplement usage, participation on athletic teams, questioning of label nutritional facts, and the use of added salt in food. A 2-sample proportion test was performed between students who were overweight or obese for the same factors. Also performed were t-tests for mean BMI for those who followed USDA MyPlate guidelines and for those who did not. An analysis of 278 completed surveys show that 29.5% of the Wesley respondents are overweight and 19.8% are obese. The mean BMI for males was statistically higher than the mean BMI for females. The mean BMI for students living on-campus was statistically higher than the mean BMI for students living off-campus. The results also demonstrate that adhering to the USDA dietary recommendations for fruit and dairy can be important factors in reducing the risk of obesity.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, with very little preparation and within a brief span of 48 hours, the Wesley College STEM faculty and students triaged into a remote-only form of instruction. Wesley College STEM student COVID-19 impact surveys showed underlying gaps in economic equity, increased family responsibilities, struggles to stay motivated, social isolation, and higher levels of psychological stress. Yet, the crisis demonstrated new ways in which technology can be harnessed and allowed STEM students to reconsider how jobs and skills should be aligned. A STEM faculty COVID-19 check-in survey and interview responses revealed a quick realization that faculty could not rely solely on Wesley’s Jenzebar learning management system (MyWesley). To engage their students and to create a supportive learning environment, STEM faculty sought new strategies and approaches for a diverse set of STEM learners. For synchronous e-teaching, the faculty used the Microsoft-Teams and the Zoom video conferencing platforms. Faculty only adopted MyWesley to execute dedicated asynchronous tasks (laboratory assignments, reports, exams). The STEM students were overwhelmingly positive about STEM faculty availability during the crisis. Still, both faculty and students indicated a much stronger preference for the face-to-face delivery of their course content via a traditional classroom setting.

In the US, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes are in the top ten leading causes of death categories. The diseases compromise US life-expectancy and account for significant US health-care costs. This observational study investigates the US population's 1997–2017 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) WONDER ICD-10 mortality records to extract the prevalence rates for leading causes of death by diabetes, neoplasms (cancers), and diseases of the circulatory system. The variables of race and age are examined for each disease in order to evaluate demographic and age-group risks. To document the public health burden from these three chronic conditions, mortality data from CDC WONDER was analyzed using MS-Excel and Statistical Analysis System (SAS) software. The general trend of deaths by diabetes, neoplasms, and diseases of the circulatory system has been progressively decreasing nationally; however, a significantly higher trend in mortality rates is observed for the Black or African American populations. Furthermore, over the 1997–2017 observational period, the crude mortality rates for the 45–54 (middle-age) and lower age-groups are below national mortality rate averages but are troublingly increasing for diabetes and notably, for the diseases of the circulatory system, the (younger) 25–34 age-group had a crude mortality rate increase of 6.78%.

As Delaware’s adult obesity crisis continues to be a leading public health concern, we evaluated Delaware’s 1999–2014 vital records to examine the association between obesity and mortality. We used the Delaware population death records from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) WONDER database and the Delaware Health Statistics Center (DHSC). Together with the vital records, we incorporated Microsoft Excel, SAS (Statistical Analysis System) and GIS (geographic information system) tools to analyze obesity influences from county residence, economic status, education, gender, and race. Using the 15-year (1999–2014) time span with the CDC WONDER database, we observed a statistically significant 28.7% increase in the age-adjusted Delaware obesity-related mortality rates (where obesity was a contributory factor). Furthermore, obesity influenced death counts in all three Delaware counties (New Castle, Kent, and Sussex). Kent County experienced the largest increase (66.0%), followed by New Castle County (47.4%), and Sussex County (25.2%). The DHSC mortality rates for all leading causes of death from 2000 to 2011 indicated relatively stable mortality rates for Delaware. However, using CDC WONDER data, the Delaware mortality rate for obesity as a single underlying cause in 2011 was 56.9% higher than mortality rate in 2000.