With the COVID-19 pandemic necessitating the transition to remote learning, disruption to daily school routine has impacted educational experiences on a global scale. As a result, it has potentially worsened reading achievement gaps typically exacerbated by long summer months. To address literacy skill retention and pandemic-induced social isolation, the non-profit organization ByKids4Kids has created a reading program, “Kindles4Covid Virtual Reading Buddies Program,” to instill a structure for youth to read together and connect with the convenience of Amazon Kindle devices. In this article, the authors determine the efficacy of their invaluable program by assessing changes in reading frequency and self-reported connectedness among program participants.
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The Development of a Superhydrophobic Surface Using Electrolytic Deposition & Polymer Chains Precipitation
In this study, the authors were interested in developing a hydrophobic surface that will extend the lifespan of metals by reducing water exposure and other damage. The used a zinc coating on steel to pursue this effort.
Read More...Fractal dimensions of crumpled paper
Here, beginning from an interest in fractals, infinitely complex shapes. The authors investigated the fractal object that results from crumpling a sheet of paper. They determined its fractal dimension using continuous Chi-squared analysis, thereby testing and validating their model against the more conventional least squares analysis.
Read More...Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Periplasmic Proteins Interacting With the Peptidoglycan Layer of Escherichia coli
Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are a great tool to model and study complex biological systems. In this paper, the authors use MD simulations to construct and simulate a model of the periplasmic space, the peptidoglycan layer and its associated proteins, in an Escherichia coli cell.
Read More...Exploring differences in men’s marijuana consumption and cigarette smoking by race and citizenship status
This study examined the relationship between citizenship status, racial background, and the use of marijuana and cigarettes among males in California using data from the 2017–2018 California Health Interview Survey. Findings indicated that non-citizens and naturalized citizens were less likely to use marijuana compared to US-born citizens, while Asian and Latino males were less likely to consume marijuana than White males. Additionally, various racial groups were more likely to smoke cigarettes compared to White males, suggesting that targeted health interventions based on citizenship status and race could be beneficial.
Read More...Investigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the cognitive dissonance of adolescents
The authors survey adolescents about aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic to explore perspectives that may give rise to cognitive dissonance.
Read More...The effects of social media on STEM identity in adolescent girls
Social media is widely used and easily accessible for adolescents, it has the potential to increase STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) identity in girls. We aimed to investigate the effects of exposure to counter-stereotypical portrayals of women in STEM on social media on the STEM identity of adolescent girls. The study concluded that social media alone may not be an effective tool to increase STEM identity in girls. Social media can still be used as a complementary tool to support and encourage women in STEM, but it should not be relied upon solely to address the gender disparity in STEM fields.
Read More...Differences in postoperative satisfaction between orthopedic and cosmetic patients
In this study, the authors investigate differences in psychological outcomes from patients who undergo different surgical procedures.
Read More...Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) biomarker identification using a deep learning model
In this study, a deep learning model is used to classify post-traumatic stress disorder patients through novel markers to assist in finding candidate biomarkers for the disorder.
Read More...A novel approach to determine which organism best displays Gijswijt's Sequence in its genome
The sequence of nitrogenous bases that make up the DNA of organisms can contain hidden mathematical sequences. Here the authors used BioPython, a programming tool, to find an organism that displays Gijswijt’s Sequence in its genome. In this manner they found that the common carp best displays Gijswijt’s Sequence in its genome.
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