University of Houston

About: University of Houston is a education organization based out in Houston, Texas, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Poison control. The organization has 23074 authors who have published 53903 publications receiving 1641968 citations.

Framework for optimisation of the clinical use of colistin and polymyxin B : the Prato polymyxin consensus

Abstract: In the face of diminishing therapeutic options for the treatment of infections caused by multidrug-resistant, Gram-negative bacteria, clinicians are increasingly using colistin and polymyxin B. These antibiotics became available clinically in the 1950s, when understanding of antimicrobial pharmacology and regulatory requirements for approval of drugs was substantially less than today. At the 1st International Conference on Polymyxins in Prato, Italy, 2013, participants discussed a set of key objectives that were developed to explore the factors affecting the safe and effective use of polymyxins, identify the gaps in knowledge, and set priorities for future research. Participants identified several factors that affect the optimum use of polymyxins, including: confusion caused by several different conventions used to describe doses of colistin; an absence of appropriate pharmacopoeial standards for polymyxins; outdated and diverse product information; and uncertainties about susceptibility testing and breakpoints. High-priority areas for research included: better definition of the effectiveness of polymyxin-based combination therapy compared with monotherapy via well designed, randomised controlled trials; examination of the relative merits of colistin versus polymyxin B for various types of infection; investigation of pharmacokinetics in special patient populations; and definition of the role of nebulised polymyxins alone or in combination with intravenous polymyxins for the treatment of pneumonia. The key areas identified provide a roadmap for action regarding the continued use of polymyxins, and are intended to help with the effective and safe use of these important, last-line antibiotics.

Does choice lead to racially distinctive schools? Charter schools and household preferences

Abstract: A persistent fear regarding school choice is that it will lead to more racially distinctive schools A growing number of studies compares choosing households to non-choosing households, but few have examined the possibility that choosers sort themselves out based upon school preferences that are correlated with race and ethnicity This report addresses this issue by analyzing the responses of 1,006 charter school households in Texas It first examines the expressed preferences of choosing households, then compares expressed preferences with behavior A comparison of the characteristics of the traditional public schools that choosers leave with the characteristics of the charter schools they choose indicates that race is a good predictor of the choices that choosing households make Whites, African Americans, and Latinos transfer into charter schools where their groups comprise between 11 and 14 percentage points more of the student body than the traditional public schools they are leaving © 2002 by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management

Charge-Transfer Probes for Molecular Recognition Via Steric Hindrance in Donor-Acceptor Pairs

Abstract: Molecular association of various aromatic hydrocarbons (D, including sterically hindered donors) with a representative group of diverse acceptors (A = quinone, trinitrobenzene, tetracyanoethylene, tropylium, tetranitromethane, and nitrosonium) is visually apparent in solution by the spontaneous appearance of distinctive colors. Spectral (UV−vis) analyses of the colored solutions reveal their charge-transfer origin (λCT), and they provide quantitative information of the intermolecular association in the form of the KDA and eCT values for the formation and visualization, respectively, of different [D,A] complexes. Importantly, such measurements establish charge-transfer absorption to be a sensitive analytical tool for evaluating the steric inhibition of donor−acceptor association. For example, the steric differences among various hindered aromatic donors in their association with quinone are readily dramatized in their distinctive charge-transfer (color) absorptions and verified by X-ray crystallography of ...

Institutional Variables Affecting Female Representation in National Legislatures: The Case of Norway

Abstract: A controversy exists over whether district magnitude, the number of seats per district, has a positive effect on female representation. This study considers district magnitude's effect on female representation in Norway over a 40-year period. The data analysis finds that party magnitude, the size of a party's district delegation, is a more powerful explanatory factor than district magnitude. Party magnitude's effect appears to follow a cycle. Prior to demands for representation being raised, party magnitude has little effect. As women mobilize and representation demands are raised party magnitude plays a significant role, but once women are firmly entrenched as powerful players in party politics, party magnitude's effect decreases. This formulation is consistent with the Norwegian findings and also explains why previous cross-sectional research has produced inconsistent findings. In addition, the crucial role that candidate nomination processes play in explaining the high levels of representation found in...

High Ion Conducting Polymer Nanocomposite Electrolytes Using Hybrid Nanofillers

Abstract: There is a growing shift from liquid electrolytes toward solid polymer electrolytes, in energy storage devices, due to the many advantages of the latter such as enhanced safety, flexibility, and manufacturability. The main issue with polymer electrolytes is their lower ionic conductivity compared to that of liquid electrolytes. Nanoscale fillers such as silica and alumina nanoparticles are known to enhance the ionic conductivity of polymer electrolytes. Although carbon nanotubes have been used as fillers for polymers in various applications, they have not yet been used in polymer electrolytes as they are conductive and can pose the risk of electrical shorting. In this study, we show that nanotubes can be packaged within insulating clay layers to form effective 3D nanofillers. We show that such hybrid nanofillers increase the lithium ion conductivity of PEO electrolyte by almost 2 orders of magnitude. Furthermore, significant improvement in mechanical properties were observed where only 5 wt % addition of the filler led to 160% increase in the tensile strength of the polymer. This new approach of embedding conducting-insulating hybrid nanofillers could lead to the development of a new generation of polymer nanocomposite electrolytes with high ion conductivity and improved mechanical properties.