Biodiversity Informatics
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A call for standardization in wild bee data collection and curation
Full text linkStandardizing data collection methods is essential for advancing research, monitoring, and conservation efforts on bees. Greater consistency in data practices will enable the production of higher-quality, interoperable datasets, fostering a deeper understanding of bee populations and trends over time. This special issue series of Journal of Melittology presents six articles outlining standardized protocols and data standards to support wild bee data collection efforts, together with this article, which makes a general argument for greater standardization. These protocols are applicable to a wide range of research efforts to maximize the quality and use of wild bee occurrence data and can also be integrated into formal monitoring programs. Here, we first outline the need for, and an overview of, a series of standardized protocols and data standards developed in association with the U.S. National Native Bee Monitoring Research Coordination Network. We provide guidance on how to decide among the protocols to achieve different objectives. We then summarize key features of the protocols, including (i) how they are designed to focus on collecting only essential information, while also providing additional recommendations; (ii) that they are intended to be embedded within whatever broader sampling schemes have been designed to meet individual project or program objectives; and (iii) their emphasis on data standards. Lastly, we argue for the collection of additional ecological information that can be used to contextualize wild bee occurrence data. This information supports hypothesis testing to better understand the causal drivers underlying the status and trends of wild bees
Cost Burden of Cancer Screening in Kansas by Region and Rural/Urban Designation
Full text linkIntroduction. In 2022, the U.S. healthcare expenditure totaled 595 to 2,247 for colonoscopies, 228 for mammograms.
Conclusions. These disparities call for targeted policy interventions, such as Medicaid expansion, standardized pricing regulations, and increased support for low-cost clinics. Enhanced hospital pricing transparency is critical for empowering patients and reducing financial burdens. This study highlights the urgent need for equitable access to cancer screenings in Kansas.
Diagnostic Challenges in Neurosarcoidosis: A Complex Case of an Elderly Patient with a History of B-cell Lymphoma
Full text linkEValuation of Acute and Early Phase P2Y12 Inhibitor DE-escalation After Percutaneous Intervention (EVADE PCI)
Full text linkIntroduction. Aspirin and an oral P2Y12 inhibitor are recommended for one year after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with acute coronary syndromes. While ticagrelor or prasugrel are preferred over clopidogrel, de-escalation often is based on provider judgment. This study compared cardiovascular outcomes and bleeding risks between patients who remained on ticagrelor or prasugrel (unchanged group) and those de-escalated to clopidogrel within 30 days of PCI. Methods. We analyzed data from patients admitted between June 2014 and December 2022 for acute coronary syndromes requiring PCI who received an oral P2Y12 inhibitor within 72 hours of admission. The primary outcome was a composite of all-cause mortality, urgent revascularization, stent thrombosis, stroke, and major bleeding at one year. Secondary outcomes included individual components of the composite outcome. Statistical analyses included chi-square tests, Student’s t-tests, or non-parametric equivalents.Results. A total of 210 patients met the inclusion criteria, with 149 remaining on unchanged P2Y12 therapy and 61 undergoing de-escalation. There was no statistically significant difference in the composite outcome between the unchanged and de-escalated groups (n [%]: 25 [17] vs. 6 [10]; χ² [1, N = 210] = 1.658, p = 0.198). Additionally, secondary outcomes did not differ significantly between groups. Conclusions. A composite outcome of all-cause mortality, urgent revascularization, stent thrombosis, stroke, and major bleeding at one year was similar between patients who continued ticagrelor or prasugrel and those de-escalated to clopidogrel within 30 days of PCI. Larger studies are needed to confirm these findings and assess optimal timing for therapy adjustments
