In Words of the Pandemic, Arbitration Jurisprudence Needs a Ventilator

The COVID-19 pandemic and arbitration share a few chronic symptoms. There are conflicting opinions about the standards for governing rulemaking, a debate on whether state policy or federal authority should control, and questions about the jurisdiction and neutrality of decisionmakers responsible for providing solutions. For those seeking review of an arbitration award today, like the current health environment, the situation is disconcerting. No herd immunity or PPE exists to protect challengers against the legal contagion spreading through the arbitration review process

Differential Use of Agricultural Fields and Rangeland Nesting Habitat by McCown’s Longspur (\u3ci\u3eCalcarius mccownii\u3c/i\u3e) and Chestnut-Collared Longspur (\u3ci\u3eCalcarius ornatus\u3c/i\u3e) in Western Nebraska

The Nebraska Natural Legacy Plan (NNLP) lists both McCown\u27s Longspur and Chestnut-collared Longspur as Tier I and Tier II species of conservation concern, respectively (Schneider et al. 2005). McCown\u27s Longspur is listed as a Tier I species (highest conservation priority) in Nebraska because of regional population declines (Schneider et al. 2005), and because it is also listed on the Partners in Flight WatchList (Fitzgerald and Pashley 2000). The breeding distribution of McCown\u27s Longspur in Nebraska is suggested to be the westernmost counties of the Panhandle (With 1994), although limited information on the breeding ecology of this species exists for Nebraska. In fact, Mollhoff (2001) recorded McCown\u27s nesting in only the westernmost Panhandle, specifically Kimball and Sioux Counties, although both geographic areas are believed to harbor sizeable breeding populations (Sharpe et al. 200 I). McCown\u27s Longspur habitat is shortgrass prairie with short-stature vegetation with areas of intermixed bare round (With 1994, Mollhoff 2001, Sharpe et al. 2001). Threats to the regional population include habitat conversion and fragmentation, and management practices that maintain taller vegetation (Schneider et al. 2005). In 2002 the Nebraska Prairie Partners (NPP), a cooperative partnership between the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory (RMBO) and Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC), initiated surveys to identify the relative abundance and extent of the breeding distribution of Mountain Plover in Nebraska. One of these surveys was aimed at gaining access to private lands across the Kimball Grasslands Biologically Unique Landscape (BUL) and locating/marking Mountain Plover nests on agricultural fields. During these surveys, we routinely encountered McCown\u27s and Chestnut-collared Longspurs displaying breeding and nesting behaviors (e.g., falling leaf display). We opportunistically recorded data on McCown\u27s and Chestnut-collared Longspur nests during Mountain Plover nest marking surveys to gain knowledge of their distribution and nesting habits within Nebraska. We couple these data with data from section-based surveys conducted across western Nebraska by RMBO during the 2006 and 2007 field seasons, where both longspur species were also recorded along with general habitat data. The purpose of this paper is to provide information on nesting locations and general habitat information for both McCown\u27s and Chestnut-collared Longspurs breeding in Nebraska

Women Religious in a Changing Urban Landscape: The Work of Catholic Sisters in Metropolitan Cleveland

In many communities, women religious play a vital role in addressing the needs of the poor, neglected, and vulnerable members of society. Catholic Sisters have long been active in the areas of education, health care, outreach, and advocacy in northeast Ohio. In high-poverty urban areas such as Cleveland, women religious continue to provide essential services, support, and spiritual guidance. The experience in Cleveland is relevant to other cities where the population has shifted from an urban center to suburban areas, leaving inner-city churches with declining membership and support. Survey data collected from 164 Catholic Sisters from fifteen religious orders in Cleveland and the surrounding area illuminate the characteristics of Sisters� ministries and suggest ways in which proactive and collaborative efforts can enhance the provision of services now and in the future

Migration Chronology, Nesting Ecology, and Breeding Distribution of Mountain Plover (\u3ci\u3eCharadrius montanus\u3c/i\u3e) in Nebraska

The Mountain Plover (Charadrius montanus) is a loosely colonial (Graul 1975) upland shorebird that breeds across the xeric tablelands of the western Great Plains and shortgrass prairie ecoregion of North America (Knopf and Wunder 2006). This is a species of conservation concern throughout its range because of apparent range-wide population declines (Knopf and Wunder 2006). The U.S. Shorebird Conservation Plan (USSCP) recently classified the species as globally highly imperiled (Brown et al. 2001; USSCP 2004). Reasons for the decline of Mountain Plovers are not fully understood. Habitat destruction and the tendency of the species to nest in agricultural fields, where nests may be susceptible to destruction from agricultural practices, have been identified as possible causes (Shackford et al. 1999, Dreitz 2005, Knopf and Wunder 2006). In 2002 the Nebraska Prairie Partners (NPP), a cooperative partnership between the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory (RMBO) and Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC), initiated a project to identify the extent of the breeding distribution and population size of Mountain Plover in Nebraska. The NPP made a concerted effort to gain access to private lands in the southwestern panhandle before initiating systematic research and monitoring activities focused on Mountain Plover ecology. Specific monitoring activities included roadside surveys, early spring visual checks in areas where plover were found in previous years, and monitoring nests in agricultural fields (nest marking) throughout May and June of most years. In addition, surveys of randomly selected 200 x 200 meter patches (patch surveys) were conducted in late April and May of the 2004–2007 field seasons. The purpose of this paper is to provide an updated, descriptive assessment of Mountain Plover in Nebraska. We base our conclusions on six years (2002–2007) of Mountain Plover monitoring data in the southwestern panhandle of Nebraska. We reviewed data collected from our monitoring activities to reassess the status of Mountain Plover in Nebraska including (1) estimated arrival dates of spring migrants and departure dates of fall migrants, (2) nesting chronology and time intervals of peak nesting activity, and (3) a general distribution of breeding Mountain Plovers in the southwest panhandle

Migration Chronology, Nesting Ecology, and Breeding Distribution of Mountain Plover (\u3ci\u3eCharadrius montanus\u3c/i\u3e) in Nebraska

The Mountain Plover (Charadrius montanus) is a loosely colonial (Graul 1975) upland shorebird that breeds across the xeric tablelands of the western Great Plains and shortgrass prairie ecoregion of North America (Knopf and Wunder 2006). This is a species of conservation concern throughout its range because of apparent range-wide population declines (Knopf and Wunder 2006). The U.S. Shorebird Conservation Plan (USSCP) recently classified the species as globally highly imperiled (Brown et al. 2001; USSCP 2004). Reasons for the decline of Mountain Plovers are not fully understood. Habitat destruction and the tendency of the species to nest in agricultural fields, where nests may be susceptible to destruction from agricultural practices, have been identified as possible causes (Shackford et al. 1999, Dreitz 2005, Knopf and Wunder 2006). In 2002 the Nebraska Prairie Partners (NPP), a cooperative partnership between the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory (RMBO) and Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC), initiated a project to identify the extent of the breeding distribution and population size of Mountain Plover in Nebraska. The NPP made a concerted effort to gain access to private lands in the southwestern panhandle before initiating systematic research and monitoring activities focused on Mountain Plover ecology. Specific monitoring activities included roadside surveys, early spring visual checks in areas where plover were found in previous years, and monitoring nests in agricultural fields (nest marking) throughout May and June of most years. In addition, surveys of randomly selected 200 x 200 meter patches (patch surveys) were conducted in late April and May of the 2004–2007 field seasons. The purpose of this paper is to provide an updated, descriptive assessment of Mountain Plover in Nebraska. We base our conclusions on six years (2002–2007) of Mountain Plover monitoring data in the southwestern panhandle of Nebraska. We reviewed data collected from our monitoring activities to reassess the status of Mountain Plover in Nebraska including (1) estimated arrival dates of spring migrants and departure dates of fall migrants, (2) nesting chronology and time intervals of peak nesting activity, and (3) a general distribution of breeding Mountain Plovers in the southwest panhandle

Clinical Impact of an HIV Specialist Pharmacist Collaborative Practice Agreement: a 1-year Retrospective Review of Interventions

Title: Clinical Impact of an HIV Specialist Pharmacist Collaborative Practice Agreement: a 1-year Retrospective Review of Interventions Purpose/Background: HIV continues to be one of the most complex disease states for patients and providers to manage. With new medications and guidelines being routinely updated, ensuring that patients are on optimal anti-retroviral therapy (ART) throughout their lives can be difficult. Previous studies on pharmacist-led HIV services have shown that utilizing a pharmacist to manage ART is beneficial. The purpose of this study is to add to that body of evidence by analyzing the clinical impact of a nascent collaborative practice agreement for an HIV specialist pharmacist to manage patients seeking care related to HIV. Methods: This study was granted exempt status by the Providence Institutional Review Board. An electronic health record was utilized to identify patients whom were seen at an HIV clinic under the management of a pharmacist. Chart reviews were conducted to collect and analyze pharmacist interventions. Data collected included the following: number of ART changes (and rationale for each change to be categorized as for efficacy, safety, or simplification reasons), number of patients seen for HIV/AIDS, PrEP, and PEP, number of patients enrolled in medication assistance programs (MAPs), HIV viral loads (VLs) and CD4+ cell counts over 1 year (each patients’ level of control to be classified as improved, worsened, or no change), number of co-morbid disease state medication modifications, and number of coordination of care interventions. The data was recorded without patient identifiers to maintain confidentiality. Data analysis consisted of quantitative analyses. Results: A total of 100 patient charts were reviewed. Of those 100, 73 patients had their ART regimens modified. Of those 73 ART regimen changes, 54 were for safety related reasons (such as to avoid drug-drug interactions or to mitigate adverse drug reactions), 20 were for simplification reasons (such as to decrease pill burden), and 6 were related to improving efficacy due to genotype resistance testing. Some patients had their ART regimens changed for more than one reason. Of the 100 patients, 75 patients were living with HIV, 18 were on PEP, and 7 were on PrEP. Nearly half (49) were enrolled in MAPs with pharmacist assistance. Most patients’ HIV VLs and CD4+ cell counts improved or stayed the same (89% VL and 79% CD4+). Few changes were made to co-morbid disease state medications (9 total modifications). Only 7 patients required coordination of care interventions. Conclusions: Because HIV medicine is so complex, there can possibly be a mentality of “don’t change what is working” when it comes to which ART regimen patients are on. Leaving patients on the same regimen for years and decades may lead to medication related problems. Pharmacists are uniquely trained to help mitigate medication related issues. This study appears to show that pharmacists are most valuable in HIV medicine in mitigating safety concerns (drug interactions and adverse drug events). Pharmacists may also be especially useful in enrolling patients in MAPs.https://digitalcommons.psjhealth.org/pharmacy_PGY1/1005/thumbnail.jp