Characterizing spatial uncertainty when integrating social data in conservation planning.

Recent conservation planning studies have presented approaches for integrating spatially referenced social (SRS) data with a view to improving the feasibility of conservation action. We reviewed the growing conservation literature on SRS data, focusing on elicited or stated preferences derived through social survey methods such as choice experiments and public participation geographic information systems. Elicited SRS data includes the spatial distribution of willingness to sell, willingness to pay, willingness to act, and assessments of social and cultural values. We developed a typology for assessing elicited SRS data uncertainty which describes how social survey uncertainty propagates when projected spatially and the importance of accounting for spatial uncertainty such as scale effects and data quality. These uncertainties will propagate when elicited SRS data is integrated with biophysical data for conservation planning and may have important consequences for assessing the feasibility of conservation actions. To explore this issue further, we conducted a systematic review of the elicited SRS data literature. We found that social survey uncertainty was commonly tested for, but that these uncertainties were ignored when projected spatially. Based on these results we developed a framework which will help researchers and practitioners estimate social survey uncertainty and use these quantitative estimates to systematically address uncertainty within an analysis. This is important when using SRS data in conservation applications because decisions need to be made irrespective of data quality and well characterized uncertainty can be incorporated into decision theoretic approaches.

Successful treatment of pyoderma gangrenosum with topical 0.5% nicotine cream.

Pyoderma gangrenosum is potentially a devastating and destructive disorder. There is no uniformly effective or specific therapy for pyoderma gangrenosum. Previous reports of nicotine therapy for pyoderma gangrenosum have suggested it to be efficacious. Unfortunately, previous reports were restricted by the use of commercially available preparations of nicotine, either as a gum or patch formulation. We have used topical nicotine 0.5% w/w cetamacrogol formula A cream that enables direct application onto the lesion, as well as dose and concentration variation. Two patients with pyoderma gangrenosum treated with topical nicotine 0.5% w/w cetamacrogol formula A cream are described here, both of whom had dramatic clinical resolution of their pyoderma gangrenosum.

Development of an academic nurse-midwifery service program. A partnership model between medicine and midwifery.

Academic nurse-midwifery services have shown themselves to be strong collaborators with medical education. The development and functioning of an academic nurse-midwifery service program built on a partnership model between medicine and midwifery are highlighted. Organizational relationships, philosophical approach, and practice dimensions including responsibilities for clinical practice, medical student, and obstetrical resident education are explored. As the obstetrical patient pool diminishes in academic service settings, this model may prove useful.