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Ecological integrity is both real and valuable
Ecological integrity has been criticized as a “bad fit as a value” for conservation biology and restoration ecology. But work over the past four decades centered on ecological integrity—especially biological integrity—has given rise to effective methods for biological monitoring and assessment to better understand the disintegration of living systems, including under scenarios of rapid climate change. Revealing when and where living systems have been altered by human activity, such methods have been adapted and applied most comprehensively in streams and rivers, but also in other ecosystems, ranging from tropical forests to marine coral reefs and on all continents except Antarctica. Equally important, restoration and maintenance of biological integrity is already a fundamental goal in law and offers an inspiring framework for communication and engagement—among scientists, resource managers, law‐ and policymakers, and the public. This essay builds the case that ecological integrity has proved both real and valuable as a conservation paradigm. Biological monitoring and assessment founded on the concept of ecological integrity, especially biological integrity, has led to real‐world achievements under the US Clean Water Act. Between 1979 and 2017, for example, the health of Ohio's Scioto River improved so much that as many as 70 fish species, including some that had been absent for more than a century, could again be found in the mainstem river near Columbus. This example is only one of the many demonstrating that ecological integrity is both real and valuable in conservation.
Journal Article
ALLERGIC TO CHLORHEXIDINE? A TRIAL OF PURE HYPOCHLOROUS ACID FOR SKIN DECONTAMINATION IN ONCOLOGY PATIENTS
Significance & Background: Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) can significantly increase morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. Chlorhexidine (CHG) is an antiseptic commonly used for skin decontamination; however, it is contraindicated for patients with compromised skin integrity and for those with an allergy to it. Although a small population of patients, the care team decided to trial a different product with the goal of equitable alternative disinfection in the prevention of CLABSI. A collaborative decision was made to trial pure hypochlorous acid (pHa) with the patients who are allergic to CHG or have compromised skin integrity. Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of pHa for skin decontamination in reducing the incidence of CLABSI in patients with a CHG contraindication compared to standard skin decontamination protocols. Interventions: Patients identified as requiring an alternative to CHG disinfection included those with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) in addition to those with compromised skin integrity. As the addition of pHa would be a practice change, approval to trial the product needed to be obtained. An interdisciplinary team, consisting of Infection Prevention Medical Director, Oncology Medical Director, Wound & Ostomy, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Nursing quality, and Dermatology reviewed published data on pHa to determine the effectiveness as an alternative. CLABSI rates, skin irritation, and patient tolerance were monitored for eight months to ensure pHa is an acceptable substitution for CHG. Results: During the eight-month monitoring period there were no reports of CLABSIs, no skin irritation was reported by patients and the use of pHa was well tolerated. Discussion: Pure hypochlorous acid is a promising alternative for skin decontamination in an immunocompromised patient population. Next steps include reviewing the CLABSI policy to include the use of pHa for patients allergic/ sensitive to CHG or those with compromised skin integrity. The updated policy will then be shared with all campuses to ensure awareness of this enterprise-wide initiative and change. Monitoring this patient population for CLABSI, skin irritation or intolerance will be continued beyond implementation. The use of pHa in specific populations may further enhance infection control when used as directed. This product may be considered for use on a variety of patient populations, beyond what was discussed, to prevent infections, discomfort and intolerance of CHG.
Journal Article
Assessment and risk analysis of casing and cement impairment in oil and gas wells in Pennsylvania, 2000–2012
Previous research has demonstrated that proximity to unconventional gas development is associated with elevated concentrations of methane in groundwater aquifers in Pennsylvania. To date, the mechanism of this migration is poorly understood. Our study, which looks at more than 41,000 conventional and unconventional oil and gas wells, helps to explain one possible mechanism of methane migration: compromised structural integrity of casing and cement in oil and gas wells. Additionally, methane, being the primary constituent of natural gas, is a strong greenhouse gas. The identification of mechanisms through which methane may migrate to the atmosphere as fugitive emissions is important to understand the climate dimensions of oil and gas development. Casing and cement impairment in oil and gas wells can lead to methane migration into the atmosphere and/or into underground sources of drinking water. An analysis of 75,505 compliance reports for 41,381 conventional and unconventional oil and gas wells in Pennsylvania drilled from January 1, 2000–December 31, 2012, was performed with the objective of determining complete and accurate statistics of casing and cement impairment. Statewide data show a sixfold higher incidence of cement and/or casing issues for shale gas wells relative to conventional wells. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate risk of impairment based on existing data. The model identified both temporal and geographic differences in risk. For post-2009 drilled wells, risk of a cement/casing impairment is 1.57-fold [95% confidence interval (CI) (1.45, 1.67); P < 0.0001] higher in an unconventional gas well relative to a conventional well drilled within the same time period. Temporal differences between well types were also observed and may reflect more thorough inspections and greater emphasis on finding well leaks, more detailed note taking in the available inspection reports, or real changes in rates of structural integrity loss due to rushed development or other unknown factors. Unconventional gas wells in northeastern (NE) Pennsylvania are at a 2.7-fold higher risk relative to the conventional wells in the same area. The predicted cumulative risk for all wells (unconventional and conventional) in the NE region is 8.5-fold [95% CI (7.16, 10.18); P < 0.0001] greater than that of wells drilled in the rest of the state.
Journal Article
Data integrity and quality
Data integrity is the quality, reliability, trustworthiness, and completeness of a data set, providing accuracy, consistency, and context. Data quality refers to the state of qualitative or quantitative pieces of information. Over five sections, this book discusses data integrity and data quality as well as their applications in various fields.
Book
Decline of the North American avifauna
Species extinctions have defined the global biodiversity crisis, but extinction begins with loss in abundance of individuals that can result in compositional and functional changes of ecosystems. Using multiple and independent monitoring networks, we report population losses across much of the North American avifauna over 48 years, including once-common species and from most biomes. Integration of range-wide population trajectories and size estimates indicates a net loss approaching 3 billion birds, or 29% of 1970 abundance. A continent-wide weather radar network also reveals a similarly steep decline in biomass passage of migrating birds over a recent 10-year period. This loss of bird abundance signals an urgent need to address threats to avert future avifaunal collapse and associated loss of ecosystem integrity, function, and services.
Journal Article