scholarly journals Honey-Guacamole: Assessment of pollination environmental service in avocado production in Michoacan, Mexico

2021 ◽  
Vol 31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jose Alberto Lara Pulido

The effects of the pollination service provided by the natural areas adjacent to avocado crop areas in Michoacan, Mexico, were estimated. The effect is estimated by measuring the change in avocado crop productivity as the abundance of pollinators coming from neighboring natural areas changes. Pollinators’ abundance is approximated through an index estimated with the InVEST system whose parameters were adapted for the region under study. The change in productivity is extended to an economic value to provide an economic estimate of the environmental service. The results show that, in an area where the abundance of domesticated and wild pollinators is close to the mean, the harvested volume of avocado is 28% (+/- 23%) greater. Moreover, they show that this effect is only present when both wild and domesticated pollinators are available. Finally, some model limitations and public policy implications are provided.

2021 ◽  
pp. 074391562199903
Author(s):  
Praveen K. Kopalle ◽  
Donald R. Lehmann

This paper highlights some benefits to and issues with the application of big data and analytics, with emphasis on its role in health care. It considers both its effectiveness/value (i.e., how it can be used) and concerns about its use related to privacy and acceptance by individuals (i.e., how it should be used)


2021 ◽  
pp. bmjqs-2021-013015
Author(s):  
Vineet Chopra ◽  
Megan O'Malley ◽  
Jennifer Horowitz ◽  
Qisu Zhang ◽  
Elizabeth McLaughlin ◽  
...  

BackgroundThe Michigan Appropriateness Guide for Intravenous Catheters (MAGIC) provides evidence-based criteria for peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) use. Whether implementing MAGIC improves PICC appropriateness and reduces complications is unknown.MethodsA quasiexperimental study design to implement MAGIC in 52 Michigan hospitals was used. Data were collected from medical records by trained abstractors. Hospital performance on three appropriateness criteria was measured: short-term PICC use (≤5 days), use of multilumen PICCs and PICC placement in patients with chronic kidney disease. PICC appropriateness and device complications preintervention (January 2013 to December 2016) versus postintervention (January 2017 to January 2020) were compared. Change-point analysis was used to evaluate the effect of the intervention on device appropriateness. Logistic regression and Poisson models were fit to assess the association between appropriateness and complications (composite of catheter occlusion, venous thromboembolism (VTE) and central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI)).ResultsAmong 38 592 PICCs, median catheter dwell ranged from 8 to 56 days. During the preintervention period, the mean frequency of appropriate PICC use was 31.9% and the mean frequency of complications was 14.7%. Following the intervention, PICC appropriateness increased to 49.0% (absolute difference 17.1%, p<0.001) while complications decreased to 10.7% (absolute difference 4.0%, p=0.001). Compared with patients with inappropriate PICC placement, appropriate PICC use was associated with a significantly lower odds of complications (OR 0.29, 95% CI 0.25 to 0.34), including decreases in occlusion (OR 0.25, 95% CI 0.21 to 0.29), CLABSI (OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.46 to 0.81) and VTE (OR 0.40, 95% CI 0.33 to 0.47, all p<0.01). Patients with appropriate PICC placement had lower rate of complications than those with inappropriate PICC use (incidence rate ratio 0.987, 95% CI 0.98 to 0.99, p<0.001).ConclusionsImplementation of MAGIC in Michigan hospitals was associated with improved PICC appropriateness and fewer complications. These findings have important quality, safety and policy implications for hospitals, patients and payors.


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