High genetic diversity in a potentially vulnerable tropical tree species despite extreme habitat loss

10.1371/journal.pone.0082632PLoS ONE812-POLN

Safer cities for women: Global and local innovations with open data and civic technology

This chapter proposes a cyclic process for improving urban safety for women using Open Data together with civic technologies such as the unique ‘SafetiPin’ app and a purpose-built city dashboard. Safety is a difficult performance criterion to measure at the scale of the local neighbourhood and street. Much existing data is at the metropolitan scale rather than fine-grained local scales. Further, the data is often gender biased and underestimates the scale of crimes such as sexual harassment. This chapter examines the challenges involved in localising global approaches to urban safety with reference to a case study in Bogota. Statistical analysis and a city dashboard, using Open Data and open source technology, are developed to provide insights into the links between different urban metrics and gender balance in Bogota.Scott Hawken, Simone Z. Leao, Ori Gudes, Parisa Izadpanahi, Kalpana Viswanath, and Christopher Petti

Ambulatory and admitted laparoscopic cholecystectomy patients have comparable outcomes but different functional health status

Background: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is frequently an ambulatory procedure, but some patients are best admitted for a brief hospital stay. In this study, we compared the functional health status, symptoms, and outcomes of patients undergoing ambulatory elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy to those with brief hospital admission. The purpose was to assess patient satisfaction and to identify factors that might assist in selecting patients for ambulatory vs short-stay operations. Methods: A total of 140 patients scheduled for elective cholecystectomy completed the SF-36 health survey and provided additional information regarding symptoms preoperatively, at 2 months, and at 6 months after operation. Results: All patients had symptomatic gallstones; 76 were admitted to the hospital, and 64 were ambulatory. Admitted patients reported more emotional role limitations on preoperative SF-36. They also reported symptoms of depression more often. Patients in both groups were equally relieved of symptoms of pain, nausea, vomiting, and tenderness. Satisfaction with care was similar for both groups; however, at 2 and 6 months, admitted patients continued to report significantly poorer functional health status than ambulatory patients. Conclusion: A reliable, reproducible measure of functional health status, such as the SF-36, may be useful for identifying patients who are appropriate for short-stay hospital admission after laparoscopic cholecystectomy as part of a decision process that tries to optimize outcomes while utilizing resources efficiently.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/42429/1/464-16-6-921_s00464-001-8201-z.pd