Land in limbo: Nearly one third of Indonesia's cleared old-growth forests left idle.

Indonesia has experienced rapid primary forest loss, second only to Brazil in modern history. We examined the fates of Indonesian deforested areas, immediately after clearing and over time, to quantify deforestation drivers in Indonesia. Using time-series satellite data, we tracked degradation and clearing events in intact and degraded natural forests from 1991 to 2020, as well as land use trajectories after forest loss. While an estimated 7.8 Mha (SE = 0.4) of forest cleared during this period had been planted with oil palms by 2020, another 8.8 Mha (SE = 0.4) remained unused. Of the 28.4 Mha (SE = 0.7) deforested, over half were either initially left idle or experienced crop failure before a land use could be detected, and 44% remained unused for 5 y or more. A majority (54%) of these areas were cleared mechanically (not by escaped fires), and in cases where idle lands were eventually converted to productive uses, oil palm plantations were by far the most common outcome. The apparent deliberate creation of idle deforested land in Indonesia and subsequent conversion of idle areas to oil palm plantations indicates that speculation and land banking for palm oil substantially contribute to forest loss, although failed plantations could also contribute to this dynamic. We also found that in Sumatra, few lowland forests remained, suggesting that a lack of remaining forest appropriate for palm oil production, together with an extensive area of banked deforested land, may partially explain slowing forest loss in Indonesia in recent years.

Non-targeted hepatitis C virus screening in acute care healthcare settings in the Southern Appalachian region.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of non-targeted hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening in emergency departments (EDs) and other healthcare settings in terms of patients identified with HCV infection and linked to HCV care. Methods: In the Southern Appalachian region of the United States, we developed non-targeted HCV screening and linkage-to-care programs in 10 institutions at different healthcare settings, including EDs, outpatient clinics, and inpatient units. Serum samples were tested for HCV antibodies, and if positive, reflexed to HCV ribonucleic acid (RNA) testing as a confirmatory test for active infection. Patients with positive RNA tests were contacted to link them to HCV care. Results: Between 2017 and 2019, among 195,152 patients screened for HCV infection, 16,529 (8.5%) were positive by antibody testing, 10,139 (5.2% of screened patients and 61.3% of patients positive by antibody test) were positive by RNA testing, and 5778 (3.0% of screened patients and 57.0% of patients positive by RNA test) were successfully linked to HCV care. Among 83,645 patients screened in EDs, 9060 (10.8%) were positive by HCV antibody, and 5243 (6.3%) were positive by RNA test. Among patients positive by RNA testing, linkage to care was lower for patients screened in the ED (44.1%) compared with outpatient clinics (67.6%) (P < 0.01) and inpatient units (50.9%) (P < 0.01). Conclusions: Non-targeted HCV screening in acute care settings can identify large numbers of people with HCV infection. To optimize the utility of these screening programs, future work is needed to develop best practices that consistently link these patients to HCV care.

Rapid expansion of human impact on natural land in South America since 1985.

Across South America, the expansion of commodity land uses has underpinned substantial economic development at the expense of natural land cover and associated ecosystem services. Here, we show that such human impact on the continent's land surface, specifically land use conversion and natural land cover modification, expanded by 268 million hectares (Mha), or 60%, from 1985 to 2018. By 2018, 713 Mha, or 40%, of the South American landmass was impacted by human activity. Since 1985, the area of natural tree cover decreased by 16%, and pasture, cropland, and plantation land uses increased by 23, 160, and 288%, respectively. A substantial area of disturbed natural land cover, totaling 55 Mha, had no discernable land use, representing land that is degraded in terms of ecosystem function but not economically productive. These results illustrate the extent of ongoing human appropriation of natural ecosystems in South America, which intensifies threats to ecosystem-scale functions.

Nursing interventions to reduce the risk of catheter-associated urinary tract infection. Part 1: Catheter selection.

BACKGROUND: The urinary system is the most common site for all hospital-acquired infections, accounting for approximately 40% of all nosocomial infections. The US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has enacted 2 policies that have focused considerable attention on the optimal use of indwelling catheters in the acute and long-term care settings and the prevention of complications including catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI). OBJECTIVES: This is the first of a 2-part Evidence-Based Report Card reviewing current evidence pertaining to nursing actions for prevention of CAUTIs in patients with short- and long-term indwelling catheters. Part 1 reviews evidence for materials for catheter construction, including incorporation of antimicrobial substances into the catheter, and selection of catheter size. SEARCH STRATEGY: Nursing actions for prevention of CAUTIs were identified based on search of electronic databases and Web-based search engines for national or international clinical practice guidelines focusing on this topic. Evidence related to 2 common nursing interventions, selection of the material of construction and selection of catheter size, was identified by searching electronic databases MEDLINE, CINAHL, the Cochrane Library, and the ancestry of articles identified in these searches. RESULTS: We found robust evidence supporting insertion of a silver alloy-coated catheter to reduce the risk of CAUTIs for up to 2 weeks in adult patients managed by short-term indwelling catheterization. We also found evidence supporting the insertion of an antibiotic-impregnated catheter for reduction of CAUTI risk for up to 7 days. There was insufficient evidence to determine whether regular use of an antimicrobial catheter reduces the risk of CAUTIs in adults managed with long-term indwelling catheterization. There was insufficient evidence to determine whether selection of a latex catheter, hydrogel-coated latex catheter, silicone-coated latex catheter, or all- silicone catheter influences CAUTI risk. Expert opinion suggests that selection of a smaller French-sized catheter reduces CAUTI risk, but evidence is lacking. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Insertion of an antimicrobial catheter, either silver alloy or antimicrobial coated, is recommended for patients with short-term indwelling catheterization. There is insufficient evidence to recommend their use in patients managed by long-term indwelling catheterization. Selection of smaller French sizes for short- or long-term catheterization is thought to improve comfort and reduce CAUTI risk, but further research is needed to substantiate these best practice recommendations.

Nursing interventions to reduce the risk of catheter-associated urinary tract infection: part 2: staff education, monitoring, and care techniques.

BACKGROUND: The US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has enacted 2 policies that have focused considerable attention on the optimal use of indwelling catheters in the acute and long-term care settings and the prevention of complications including catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI). OBJECTIVES: This is the second of a 2-part Evidence-Based Report Card reviewing current evidence pertaining to nursing actions for prevention of CAUTI in patients with short- and long-term indwelling catheters. Part 2 reviews multiple interventions for CAUTI prevention including staff education, monitoring of catheter use and CAUTI incidence, insertion technique, urethral meatal care, securement, use of a closed drainage system, bladder irrigation, frequency of catheter change, and antiseptic solutions in the drainage bag. SEARCH STRATEGY: Nursing actions for prevention of CAUTI were identified based on search of electronic databases and Web-based search engines for national or international clinical practice guidelines focusing on this topic. Evidence related to the above nursing interventions was identified by searching electronic databases MEDLINE, CINAHL, the Cochrane Library, the ancestry of articles identified in these searches and Google scholar. RESULTS: Limited evidence suggests that the following interventions reduce the incidence of CAUTI in patients managed by short-term indwelling catheterization: (1) staff education about catheter management, combined with regular monitoring of CAUTI incidence, (2) a facility-wide program to ensure catheterization only when indicated and prompt removal of indwelling catheters, (3) daily cleansing of the urethral meatus using soap and water or perineal cleanser, and (4) maintenance of a closed urinary drainage system. Mixed evidence suggests that use of a preconnected system reduces inadvertent interruption of a closed urinary drainage system and may prevent CAUTI. Limited evidence suggests that routine catheter changes every 4 to 6 weeks reduce CAUTI incidence in patients managed by long-term catheterization. Existed evidence suggests that the following interventions are not effective for reducing CAUTI incidence: (1) use of sterile technique for catheter insertion, (2) use of antiseptic solutions or ointments during routine meatal care, (3) use of a 2-chambered urinary drainage bag, (4) use of antiseptic filters incorporated into a urinary drainage bag, (5) bladder or catheter irrigation, (6) frequent changes of the urinary drainage bag, and (7) placement of an antiseptic solution in the urinary drainage bag. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Evidence from parts 1 and 2 of this Evidence-Based Report Card provides a sound basis for designing an evidence-based program to prevent CAUTI. Essential elements of a CAUTI prevention program include staff education, ongoing monitoring of CAUTI incidence, monitoring catheter insertion and ensuring prompt removal, and careful attention to techniques for catheterization and catheter care.

Congo Basin forest loss dominated by increasing smallholder clearing.

A regional assessment of forest disturbance dynamics from 2000 to 2014 was performed for the Congo Basin countries using time-series satellite data. Area of forest loss was estimated and disaggregated by predisturbance forest type and direct disturbance driver. An estimated 84% of forest disturbance area in the region is due to small-scale, nonmechanized forest clearing for agriculture. Annual rates of small-scale clearing for agriculture in primary forests and woodlands doubled between 2000 and 2014, mirroring increasing population growth. Smallholder clearing in the Democratic Republic of the Congo alone accounted for nearly two-thirds of total forest loss in the basin. Selective logging is the second most significant disturbance driver, contributing roughly 10% of regional gross forest disturbance area and more than 60% of disturbance area in Gabon. Forest loss due to agro-industrial clearing along the Gulf of Guinea coast more than doubled in the last half of the study period. Maintaining natural forest cover in the Congo Basin into the future will be challenged by an expected fivefold population growth by 2100 and allocation of industrial timber harvesting and large-scale agricultural development inside remaining old-growth forests.