Equivalence of live tree carbon stocks produced by three estimation approaches for forests of the western United States

The focus on forest carbon estimation accompanying the implementation of increased regulatory and reporting requirements is fostering the development of numerous tools and methods to facilitate carbon estimation. One such well-established mechanism is via the Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS), a growth and yield modeling system used by public and private land managers and researchers, which provides two alternate approaches to quantifying carbon in live trees on forest land – these are known as the Jenkins and Fire and Fuels Extension (FFE) equations. A necessary consideration in developing forest carbon estimates is to address alternate, potentially different, estimates that are likely available from more than one source. A key to using such information is some understanding of where alternate estimates are expected to produce equivalent results. We address this here by focusing on potential equivalence among three commonly employed approaches to estimating individual-tree carbon, which are all applicable to inventory sampling or inventory simulation applications. Specifically, the two approaches available in FVS – Jenkins and FFE – and the third, the component ratio method (CRM) used in the U.S. Forest Service’s, Forest Inventory and Analysis national DataBase (FIADB). A key finding of this study is that the Jenkins, FFE, and CRM methods are not universally equivalent, and that equivalence varies across regions, forest types, and levels of data aggregation. No consistent alignment of approaches was identified. In general, equivalence was identified in a greater proportion of cases when forests were summarized at more aggregate levels such as all softwood type groups or entire variants. Most frequently, the FIA inventory-based CRM and FFE were determined to be equivalent

Equivalence of live tree carbon stocks produced by three estimation approaches for forests of the western United States

The focus on forest carbon estimation accompanying the implementation of increased regulatory and reporting requirements is fostering the development of numerous tools and methods to facilitate carbon estimation. One such well-established mechanism is via the Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS), a growth and yield modeling system used by public and private land managers and researchers, which provides two alternate approaches to quantifying carbon in live trees on forest land – these are known as the Jenkins and Fire and Fuels Extension (FFE) equations. A necessary consideration in developing forest carbon estimates is to address alternate, potentially different, estimates that are likely available from more than one source. A key to using such information is some understanding of where alternate estimates are expected to produce equivalent results. We address this here by focusing on potential equivalence among three commonly employed approaches to estimating individual-tree carbon, which are all applicable to inventory sampling or inventory simulation applications. Specifically, the two approaches available in FVS – Jenkins and FFE – and the third, the component ratio method (CRM) used in the U.S. Forest Service’s, Forest Inventory and Analysis national DataBase (FIADB). A key finding of this study is that the Jenkins, FFE, and CRM methods are not universally equivalent, and that equivalence varies across regions, forest types, and levels of data aggregation. No consistent alignment of approaches was identified. In general, equivalence was identified in a greater proportion of cases when forests were summarized at more aggregate levels such as all softwood type groups or entire variants. Most frequently, the FIA inventory-based CRM and FFE were determined to be equivalent

The automatized workflow of a radiation oncology department: a complete integration of the oncology information system MOSAIQ with hospital information system

OBJECTIVE: To fully integrate the OIS (MOSAIQ by Elekta) and the Hospital Information System (HIS) to increase efficiency, quality, and safety of care and to streamline clinical workflows and processes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: More than 25 dedicated staff members are currently working at the Radiotherapy Unit of our Institute and treat approximately 700 patients per year with two Elekta linear accelerators. Within a radiation treatment, there is a series of clinical and organizational steps that it is indispensable to do to avoid errors or excessive resource consumption. Our experience has led to the creation of structured workflows to overcome these critical issues through the optimization and integration of HIS and OIS, respectively our hospital and our Radiotherapy Unit data management systems. RESULTS: Through the integration of the main management programs available and the creation of standardized therapeutic paths based on logistical and clinical needs, we managed to optimize both quality of care and accounting services provided. CONCLUSIONS: The integration of different operating systems and the definition of standardized steps within the workflow has led to the abolition of unnecessary operations, making it easier to manage patients’ care and prescription accounting. Furthermore, clinical records have become more readily and accessible by health care providers of our unit. All this translates into a decreased risk of misinformation, or time loss due to bureaucratic and organizational issues, therefore, allowing a significant increase in staff efficiency

Ethical issues in longitudinal studies: the case of ELSA-Brasil

Historicamente a discussão acerca da eticidade dos atos em pesquisas com seres humanos privilegiou os estudos experimentais, pelo maior potencial de danos aos sujeitos envolvidos. Todavia, os estudos observacionais também envolvem riscos e suscitam questões relevantes. Neste artigo pretende-se apresentar e discutir aspectos éticos do desenvolvimento do ELSA-Brasil, um estudo longitudinal e multicêntrico, com financiamento público, no qual os sujeitos da pesquisa e pesquisadores pertencem às mesmas instituições. São descritos os procedimentos adotados para atender às exigências e compromissos éticos e a casuística que orientou as ações segundo seus princípios norteadores (beneficência, autonomia e justiça social). São apresentados alguns problemas morais que exigiram ponderação sobre riscos e benefícios na confluência com os objetivos do estudo e comentam-se peculiaridades de um estudo longitudinal e seus potenciais benefícios.The debate about ethics in research with human beings has historically emphasized experimental studies because of their greater potential to harm the subjects involved. However, observational studies also include risks and relevant questions to be discussed. This article aims to present and discuss the ethical aspects involved in the implementation of ELSA-Brasil, a longitudinal multicenter study, with public funding, in which the research subjects and investigators are employees of the same institutions. The procedures adopted to meet the ethical requirements and commitments are described, as well as the casuistics that guided the actions according to their guiding principles (beneficence, autonomy and social justice). We present some moral problems that required consideration of risks and benefits at the confluence with the study's objectives, and we conclude with comments on the peculiarities and the potential benefits of a longitudinal study

Múltipla autoria: crescimento ou bolha inflacionária?

OBJETIVO: Analisar o aumento do número de autores por artigo em revistas científicas brasileiras de saúde coletiva. MÉTODOS: Foram pesquisados na base de dados LILACS artigos publicados em seis revistas de saúde coletiva e uma revista médica (para comparação), da coleção SciELO, com classificação Qualis, da Capes, igual ou superior a B-1, entre 1999 e 2010. Foram avaliadas a evolução da mediana de números de autores/artigo e a proporção de artigos com mais de quatro autores. Estimou-se a associação entre o triênio de publicação e a presença de quatro ou mais autores por artigo por meio de odds ratio de Mantel-Haenzel, ajustadas para o tipo de revista. RESULTADOS: Houve crescimento da mediana do número de autores e da proporção de artigos com mais de quatro autores para todas as revistas, principalmente no último triênio. As odds ratio para publicação de artigos com quatro autores ou mais, ajustadas para os tipo de revista, foram: segundo triênio: 1,3 (IC95% 1,1;1,4); terceiro triênio: 1,5 (IC95% 1,3;1,8); quarto triênio: 2,39 (IC95% 2,1;2,8). CONCLUSÕES: Periódicos científicos de saúde coletiva têm apresentado aumento no número de autores por artigo ao longo dos anos, independentemente da orientação editorial