Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Skewed riskscapes and gentrified inequities: environmental exposure disparities in Seattle, Washington.

OBJECTIVES Few studies have considered the sociohistorical intersection of environmental injustice and gentrification; a gap addressed by this case study of Seattle, Washington. This study explored the advantages of integrating air toxic risk screening with gentrification research to enhance proximity and health equity analysis methodologies. It was hypothesized that Seattle's industrial air toxic exposure risk was unevenly dispersed, that gentrification stratified the city's neighborhoods, and that the inequities of both converged. METHODS Spatial characterizations of air toxic pollution risk exposures from 1990 to 2007 were combined with longitudinal cluster analysis of census block groups in Seattle, Washington, from 1990 to 2000. RESULTS A cluster of air toxic exposure inequality and socioeconomic inequity converged in 1 area of south central Seattle. Minority and working class residents were more concentrated in the same neighborhoods near Seattle's worst industrial pollution risks. CONCLUSIONS Not all pollution was distributed equally in a dynamic urban landscape. Using techniques to examine skewed riskscapes and socioeconomic urban geographies provided a foundation for future research on the connections among environmental health hazard sources, socially vulnerable neighborhoods, and health inequity.
An ethnographic exploration of the day to day texture of the school life of poor children.

1 DEDICATION . 3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 5 TABLE OF FIGURES . 11 LIST OF APPENDICES . 14 LIST OF TABLES . 15 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION . 16 1.1 GOOD HOPE SCHOOL . 16 1.1.1 FIRST IMPRESSIONS . 17 1.1.2 SCHOOL ASSEMBLY . 20 1.1.3 RHYTHMS OF SCHOOL LIFE . 21 1.2 MOTIVATION FOR THE STUDY . 25 1.2. 1 A PERSONAL REFLECTION . 25 1.2. 2 A POLITICAL REFLECTION . 26 1.3 OUTLINING THE JOURNEY . 32 CHAPTER 2: METHODOLOGY AND RESEARCH DESIGN . 34 2.
Advanced Glycation end Products: Specific Fluorescence Changes of Pentosidine-Like Compounds during Short Daily Hemodialysis

Background Advanced glycation end products (AGE) accumulate in uremia and represent an important etiopathogenetic cause of morbidity in dialyzed patients. Conventional hemodialysis treatment seems to be ineffective in lowering AGE levels. We wished to investigate whether daily hemodialysis (DHD), a treatment that seems to result in better clinical condition in end-stage renal disease patients, is effective in the reduction of these compounds. Methods We evaluated 10 non-diabetic patients on standard hemodialysis (SHD = 3 × 4h/week) for more than 6 months by a crossover study. These patients were assigned randomly to 6 months of DHD (6 × 2h/week) or 6 months of SHD. Then, they were switched to 6 months of the alternative treatment. At the end of these two periods, we studied pentosidine-like AGE compounds by measuring the total fluorescence at a wavelength characteristic for these substances: Ex: 335nm / Em:385nm; we also measured protein-linked pentosidine at the same time points. Finally, we determined the AGE-related total fluorescence in the deproteinized serum of 13 uremic patients on peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and of 10 healthy controls. Results Pre-HD AGE-related total fluorescence obtained after 6 months of DHD was significantly lower than that obtained with standard HD (DHD = 201.3 ± 36.4 AU/ml vs. SHD = 267.5 ± 141.4 AU/ml, p=0.03). The extraction rate per minute of dialysis was slightly, but not significantly higher during DHD than SHD (0.29 ± 0.11% vs. 0.23 ± 0.04, p = 0.07). AGE-related total fluorescence pre-HD values in patients treated by SHD and DHD were about 20-fold higher than in control subjects. They did not differ from CAPD patients. The pre-dialysis level of protein-linked pentosidine was significantly lower in DHD than in SHD (DHD = 16.12 ± 4.71 pmol/mg protein, SHD = 22.64 ± 6.86 pmol/mg protein, p < 0.01). Conclusions DHD showed a reduction in AGE-related total fluorescence, although the mean value remained higher than in control subjects. DHD is also accompanied by a decrease in protein-linked pentosidine.
Phase variation in tcpH modulates expression of the ToxR regulon in Vibrio cholerae

We evaluated a spontaneous mutant of Vibrio cholerae, which was avirulent in an infant mouse and had reduced expression of cholera toxin and TcpA in response to environmental signals. The toxR, toxS and toxT genes in the mutant were normal, but transcription of toxT was absent. A plasmid expressing wild‐type tcpP and tcpH complemented the mutant. The mutation resulted from a frameshift in a string of nine G residues within tcpH; similar slipped‐strand mutations in tcpH arose at a frequency of 10−4 during overnight growth and in the majority of colonies by the end of 5 days of growth in ToxR‐inducing conditions. Transcription of tcpPH was regulated by temperature and pH independently of ToxR or ToxT. These results suggest that TcpH couples environmental signals (temperature and pH) to expression of the ToxR regulon, and provide a model for phase variation in the co‐ordinate expression of cholera virulence factors.
Exploring the characteristics of the high-cost population from the family perspective: a cross-sectional study in Jiangsu Province, China

Background Across a range of healthcare settings, 5% of the population accounts for half of healthcare spending: these patients are identified as a ‘high-cost population’. Characterising high-cost users is essential for predicting potential high-cost patients and the development of appropriate interventions to improve the management and financing of these patients. Objective This cross-sectional study aimed to explore the characteristics of this high-cost population from a family perspective in China and provide suggestions for social health insurance policy development. Methods This study used data from the Fifth Health Service Investigation of Jiangsu Province (2013), and 12 600 families were enrolled for analysis. Households whose medical expenditures were among the top 5% were identified to be high-cost families. A t-test, a Χ2 test, and a binary logistic regression were used. Results High-cost families (n=631, 5%) accounted for 44.9% of the total medical expenditure of sampled families. High-cost families had 3.2 members and 1.2 chronic disease patients per household, which is significantly more than the 2.9 members and 0.7 people in the remaining families, respectively (p<0.05). Bi-weekly emergency department visits and annual hospitalisations preceding the household investigation of high-cost families were 1.19 and 0.98 per household, which is significantly more than the 0.68 and 0.17 of the remaining families, respectively (p<0.05). A binary logistic regression indicated that the number of family members (OR 1.152), the number of chronic disease patients (OR 1.508), bi-weekly emergency department visits (OR 1.218), and annual hospitalisations (OR 4.577) were associated with high costs. Conclusion The 5% high-cost families in Jiangsu Province accounted for approximately half of medical expenditures. The effectiveness of Chinese Social Health Insurance in lowering high-cost families’ risk of catastrophic health expenditure was modest. Policymakers need to ascertain the priority of lowering the burden of high-cost families’ out-of-pocket expenses through improving the reimbursement proportion and reducing avoidable medical services.
A randomized comparison of ferumoxytol and iron sucrose for treating iron deficiency anemia in patients with CKD.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Few randomized controlled trials have compared intravenous iron products head to head in CKD patients with iron deficiency anemia. This study compared the efficacy and safety of two intravenous iron products (ferumoxytol [Feraheme injection] and iron sucrose [Venofer]) in patients with CKD and iron deficiency anemia. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS In this phase II, randomized, open-label, active-controlled, multicenter clinical trial, patients were randomized 1:1 to either 1.02 g ferumoxytol (2 × 510-mg injections) or 1.0 g iron sucrose administered as either a slow injection or infusion (10 doses for dialysis patients and 5 doses for nondialysis patients). Inclusion criteria included hemoglobin<11.0 g/dl, transferrin saturation<30%, and eGFR<60 ml/min per 1.73 m(2) or a diagnosis of underlying CKD (e.g., nephropathy or nephritis). The primary end point was change in hemoglobin from baseline to week 5. RESULTS In total, 162 patients were randomized. Demographics were balanced between the treatment groups. Adverse event profiles of the two regimens were fairly similar: overall adverse events, 48% ferumoxytol versus 65% iron sucrose; related adverse events, 10% ferumoxytol versus 16% iron sucrose; and adverse events leading to study discontinuation, 1% ferumoxytol versus 5% iron sucrose. Rates of serious adverse events and related serious adverse events were similar between the ferumoxytol and iron sucrose groups: serious adverse events, 9% versus 7%, respectively and related serious adverse events, 1% versus 1%, respectively. Overall, increases in hemoglobin were similar between treatment groups. Based on an ANOVA model adjusted for baseline hemoglobin level and dialysis status, the least squares mean change from baseline to week 5 was 0.8 ± 0.1 g/dl in the ferumoxytol-treated group and 0.7 ± 0.1 g/dl in the iron sucrose group. The difference in the mean change from baseline between the two treatment groups was 0.1 g/dl (95% confidence interval, -0.2 to 0.4). CONCLUSION In this randomized, controlled trial, ferumoxytol and iron sucrose showed comparable efficacy and adverse events rates.
Nonlinear control design for the photovoltaic isolated-port architecture with submodule integrated converters

Differential power processing (DPP) isolated-port architecture with submodule integrated converters (subMICs) enables improved energy capture in photovoltaic (PV) power systems. This paper describes a control scheme for flyback subMICs operating in discontinuous conduction mode (DCM). The duty-cycle is driven in proportion to a voltage error, with no further processing, thus eliminating the need to measure or to control the current explicitly. The approach is well suited for very simple, analog PWM controller implementation, but the resulting control loops become nonlinear. The system stability is demonstrated using the Lyapunov stability theorem. Experimentally measured module-level efficiency is greater than 95% for a 72-cell PV module having 3 substrings with solar irradiation of 80%, 60% and 40%, respectively.
Including the Ultimate: A Spiritual Focus Treatment Program in an Inpatient Psychiatric Area of a Hospital in Partnership with a Pastoral Counseling Center

Describes how an American Association of Pastoral Counselor (AAPC) accredited pastoral counseling center and a community medical center developed an inpatient psychiatric treatment program which integrated the spiritual/religious resources of patients. Outlines the process of collaboration, some basic principles of the integration of faith resources, the ways that staff resistance surfaced and substantially was overcome, and the positive responses of patients. Notes the decision to base treatment on the religious/spiritual position of patients (rather than of therapists), the role of the therapist in this model, and some relevant isomorphic replications.
Segmentation of 2D and 3D images through a hierarchical clustering based on region modelling

This paper presents an unsupervised segmentation method applicable to both 2D and 3D images. The segmentation is achieved by a bottom-up hierarchical analysis to progressively agglomerate pixels/voxels in the image into non-overlapped homogeneous regions characterised by a linear signal model. A hierarchy of adjacency graphs is used to describe agglomeration results from the hierarchical analysis, and is constructed by successively performing a clustering operation which produces an optimal classification by merging each region with its nearest neighbours determined under the framework of statistical inference. The top level of the hierarchy then describes the segmentation result.
A Qualitative Study on the Pride Notion of Tourism and Hospitality Students in Turkey

Tourism, as a sociological, psychological, economic and environmental phenomenon, has various impacts on the perceptions of both visitors and residents of a destination due to the interaction between hosts and guests. Besides, tourism industry poses a challenge of attracting and retaining quality employees for an increasing number of tourism and hospitality businesses on both international and national scales. In this research, a qualitative approach is used to analyse the sense of pride and Young Turks’ willingness to work in the tourism industry as well as their job preferences. Results revealed that among 50 interviewed respondents, 48 percent have the tendency to give up working in the tourism and hospitality industry due to late working hours, tough working conditions, low wages, lack of holidays, lack of caring employees and lack of professionalism. Pride really matters for the 37 percent of respondents who mentioned that the feeling of pride had an influence on their decision of staying in the hospitality industry.
Immediate occlusal versus non-occlusal loading of single zirconia implants. A multicentre pragmatic randomised clinical trial.

PURPOSE To evaluate whether immediate non-occlusal loading of single zirconia implants could reduce early failures when compared to immediate occlusal loading. MATERIALS AND METHODS Forty partially edentulous patients who received one single zirconia implant (Z-Systems) at least 10 mm long and 3.25 mm wide inserted with a torque of at least 35 Ncm were randomised to immediate occlusal or non-occlusal loading groups. All patients received provisional acrylic crowns the same day of implant placement. Provisional crowns were replaced after 4 to 5 months by definitive full ceramic crowns. Outcome measures were implant success, any complications and peri-implant marginal bone levels. RESULTS One year after loading, no patients had dropped out. Five implants (12.5%) failed early: three occlusally loaded and two non-occlusally loaded. Three complications occurred, all after delivery of the definitive crowns: one crown fractured (occlusal loading), one had to be remade after debridement because of hyperplastic tissues (occlusal loading), and one crown decemented (nonocclusal loading). These differences were not statistically significant. Both groups gradually lost periimplant bone in a highly statistically significant way. One year after loading, patients subjected to non-occlusal loading lost an average of 0.7 mm of peri-implant bone versus 0.9 mm in the occlusal group. This difference in bone loss between groups was not statistically significant. There was an association between immediate post-extractive implants and implant failures (P=0.01). Four of the 10 immediate post-extractive implants (40%) failed versus one out of 30 delayed implants (3%). CONCLUSIONS The results of this study do not provide a conclusive answer to whether immediate non-occlusal loading may decrease implant failures. Immediately loaded zirconia implants placed in post-extractive sites had high failure rates.
Tranexamic acid and upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage--a double-blind trial.

The efficacy of antifibrinolytic therapy in the management of acute upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage has been investigated in a double-blind clinical trial. Two-hundred patients were studied using tranexamic acid, a potent antifibrinolytic agent. Of these, 103 were in the treatment group and 97 in the control group. Patients were analysed to determine severity of initial blood loss, transfusion requirements, together with the incidence of recurrent bleeding, surgical intervention, and death. Final diagnosis as to the site of bleeding was arrived at using endoscopy, barium studies, and the findings at operation and necropsy. The groups were well matched as regards severity of initial haemorrhage, age, sex, aetiological diagnosis, and precipitating factors. A significant difference was observed in the requirement for surgical intervention to control continuing or recurrent haemorrhage. Twenty-three of 97 in the control group and seven of 103 in the treatment group required surgery.There appeared to be a reduction in the transfusion rate after the first three days of hospitalization in the treatment group. There were no significant differences in mortality or in side-effects between the two groups.
From hospital to the community: The influence of deinstitutionalization on discharged long‐stay psychiatric patients

The aim of the present study is to clarify the influence of deinstitutionalization on discharged long‐stay patients based on a review of recently published literature. English‐language studies were searched from PubMed and Embase for the years 2000–2012, with the terms ‘long‐stay’ or ‘chronic mentally ill’ and ‘deinstitutionalis(z)ation’ or ‘community’ or ‘discharged’ in the title and/or abstract. The present study defined long‐stay as hospitalization >6 months. A total of 14 articles were identified. The majority of the participants suffered from schizophrenia. The most frequently assessed outcomes were social functioning, psychiatric symptoms and quality of life (QOL)/participant attitudes towards the environment. For social functioning, most of the studies found favorable changes. As regards psychiatric symptoms, stability or at least some improvements were detected. For QOL/participant attitudes towards the environment, positive changes, at least at some time‐points, were noted. Significant deterioration was rare in all of the three outcomes. The majority of the participants showed enhancements in social functioning despite the fact that functional impairment is common in persons with schizophrenia, which indicates that even long‐stay patients could achieve better functioning by deinstitutionalization. Although the stability in symptoms might be due to continuous schizophrenia course, moving to the community may also lead to improvement. The favorable changes in QOL/participants’ attitudes towards the environment are in line with other studies.
Risk factors associated with venous thromboembolic events in patients with malignancy

Malignancy is a major risk factor for venous thromboembolic events, but not all patients with malignancy develop such events. This study attempts to identify risk factors in patients with malignancy who develop venous thromboembolic events. In the current study, 566 consecutive patients without venous thromboembolic events and 416 patients with, admitted to University of Michigan with malignancy between 1992 and 2000, were identified using International Classification of Diseases-9 Clinical Modification codes. Data on potential risk factors was obtained from the University of Michigan Cancer Registry and the medical record. Univariate and multivariate analysis was used to identify factors associated with venous thromboembolic events and mortality. The mean patient age was 45.6 years with a mean survival of 7.8 years from cancer diagnosis. Venous thromboembolic events were associated with solid tumors (odds ratio 5.0; 95% confidence interval 1.7–14.9; P = 0.004), infection (4.9; 1.2–19.8; P = 0.03), and increasing age (1.05; 1.03–1.08; P < 0.001). While leukopenia (4.2; 1.2–14.6; P = 0.02) was associated with an increased incidence of venous thromboembolic events, neutropenia was not. Sex, type of therapy, and cancer stage were not independently associated with venous thromboembolic events. Survival was decreased in patients with venous thromboembolic events (5.9 versus 9.2 years, P < 0.0001). Solid tumors (3.9; 1.8–8.4; P = 0.001), infection (3.3; 1.1–9.9; P = 0.03), advanced stage (1.6; 1.2–2.1; P = 0.001), and increasing age (1.02; 1.0–1.04; P = 0.01) were associated with decreased survival. Patients with malignancy who have solid tumors, advanced age, infection, and leukopenia have a significantly increased risk of venous thromboembolic events.
Rod and Cone Contributions to Horizontal Cell Light Responses in the Mouse Retina

Mammalian B-type horizontal cells make contact with both photoreceptor types: the dendrites contact cone photoreceptors, whereas the axon terminal processes contact rods. Despite their distinct synaptic contacts, horizontal cell somata and axon terminals receive a mixture of rod and cone inputs. Interaction of the two photoreceptor systems is essential for adaptation of photoreceptor sensitivity to different levels of background illumination, and horizontal cells play a key role in this adaptation. In this study, we used transgenic mouse lines to examine the contributions of rod and cone photoreceptor inputs to horizontal cell light responses in the mouse retina: rod signals were isolated by recording intracellularly from horizontal cells in a mouse lacking the cone cyclic nucleotide-gated channel, which lacks cone function, and cone signals were assessed using the rhodopsin knock-out mouse, which is a model for pure cone function. We found that both horizontal cell compartments receive a mixture of inputs from both photoreceptor types. To determine whether these inputs arrive via the long axon connecting the compartments or by way of rod–cone gap junctional coupling, we assessed the rod and cone contributions to horizontal cell somatic and axon terminal light responses in the connexin36-deficient mouse retina, which lacks rod–cone coupling. Our results confirm that rods and cones are coupled by connexin36, and suggest that signal transmission along the axon is unidirectional: signals are passed from horizontal cell soma to axon terminal but not from axon terminal to soma.
Black/brown cooperation and conflict in the education policymaking process

Black/Brown Cooperation and Conflict in the Education Policymaking Process. (August 2006) Rene Rolando Rocha, B.A., The University of Texas – Pan American Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. Kenneth J. Meier The way race works to shape politics is changing as demographic patterns alter the traditional dynamic of race relations throughout the United States. One pattern is the increased tendency of African-Americans and Latinos to reside in the same locality. While popular opinion suggests that such contexts should result in the formation of “rainbow coalitions,” several scholars have found evidence that inter-minority relations are characterized by high levels of political competition. One of the policy areas in which competition has been observed most often is education. This dissertation examines the conditions under which African-American/Latino relations are likely to be characterized by cooperation or conflict within the education policymaking process. It utilizes a survey of 1800 school districts, containing 96% of all urban districts in the United States. The results produced by this study, therefore, are applicable to nearly the entire universe of urban educational systems. Another unique aspect of this project is that, rather than focusing on relations at one stage of the policy process, it attempts to trace this dynamic through each stage. Thus, the dissertation begins with a look at the circumstances under which Black/Brown electoral coalitions will form in school board elections. The findings suggest that coalition formation is