Central Pennsylvania Research Articles

Virtual field experiences in a web-based video game environment: open-ended examples of existing and fictional field sites

Abstract. We present two original, video-game-style field geology experiences designed to allow flexible, open-ended exploration for geologic mapping and structural geology. One simulation features the Whaleback anticline, a site in central Pennsylvania (USA), with a three-dimensional exposure of a 30 m high fold, based on a terrain model that was acquired through structure-from-motion photogrammetry. The second example is a fictional location with simplified geology, which was built with digital modeling software and inspired by the geology of northwestern Washington. Users move through the terrain, as if in the field, selecting where to make observations of the geologic structure. Additionally, these virtual field experiences provide novel visualization opportunities through tools like a geodetic compass that instantly plots data to a stereonet and a jetpack simulation, which allows the user to interrogate geologic surfaces in hard-to-reach locations. We designed the virtual field experiences in a widely used video-game-creation software and published the field simulations for access via the internet and common web browsers so that no special hardware or software is required to play. We implemented these field simulations to partially replace field and lab exercises in two different courses offered remotely through the University of Washington Department of Earth and Space Sciences, with assignments that address many of the learning goals of traditional in-person exercises. Because the virtual field experiences are open-ended, other instructors can design different exercises to meet different learning goals. While this game environment currently serves as an enhancement to remote education, this format can also augment traditional educational experiences, overcoming several challenges to accessing the field or particular outcrops and, thereby, broadening opportunities for participation and scientific collaboration.

Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on pharmaceuticals in wastewater treated for beneficial reuse: Two case studies in central Pennsylvania.

During the COVID‐19 pandemic, wastewater surveillance was leveraged as a powerful tool for monitoring community‐scale health. Further, the well‐known persistence of some pharmaceuticals through wastewater treatment plants spurred concerns that increased usage of pharmaceuticals during the pandemic would increase the concentrations in wastewater treatment plant effluent. We collected weekly influent and effluent samples from May 2020 through May 2021 from two wastewater treatment plants in central Pennsylvania, the Penn State Water Reclamation Facility and the University Area Joint Authority, that provide effluent for beneficial reuse, including for irrigation. Samples were analyzed for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (influent only), two over‐the‐counter medicines (acetaminophen and naproxen), five antibiotics (ampicillin, doxycycline, ofloxacin, sulfamethoxazole, and trimethoprim), two therapeutic agents (remdesivir and dexamethasone), and hydroxychloroquine. Although there were no correlations between pharmaceutical and virus concentration, remdesivir detection occurred when the number of hospitalized patients with COVID‐19 increased, and dexamethasone detection co‐occurred with the presence of patients with COVID‐19 on ventilators. Additionally, Penn State decision‐making regarding instruction modes explained the temporal variation of influent pharmaceutical concentrations, with detection occurring primarily when students were on campus. Risk quotients calculated for pharmaceuticals with known effective and lethal concentrations at which 50% of a population is affected for fish, daphnia, and algae were generally low in the effluent; however, some acute risks from sulfamethoxazole were high when students returned to campus. Remdesivir and dexamethasone persisted through the wastewater treatment plants, thereby introducing novel pharmaceuticals directly to soils and surface water. These results highlight connections between human health and water quality and further demonstrate the broad utility of wastewater surveillance.

In the shadow of the dam – Hydrology of the Little Conemaugh river and its South Fork, with insights about past and future flooding

The Little Conemaugh River watershed and its South Fork sub-basin figure prominently in historical flooding of Johnstown, Pennsylvania and nearby communities with catastrophic flooding in 1889, 1936, and 1977 (reviewed herein). Historical stream gage data and data from a new gage on the South Fork (established via a novel, portable cableway system) are used with Nexrad rainfall data to assess watershed response and provide novel analysis of flood hydrology in the Little Conemaugh basin and the sub-basin. Using unit hydrograph estimates for longer duration storms (>8 h) and different baseflow conditions, we probe possible effects of several design storms, including those stemming from a hurricane remnant scenario (Agnes in 1972) and 50-, 100-, and 500-year 12-hour precipitation depths. The unit hydrographs provided peak discharge (Qpeak) estimates for 1977 (the only flood event with available hourly rainfall data) that are in good agreement with empirical peak discharges.Significant channel improvements completed in 1943 were designed to carry the largest known natural flow on record at that time (1936 Qpeak). Preliminary results from design storm scenarios indicate the need for a careful evaluation of extreme discharges and their return periods (including snowmelt-related contributions), as future flood levels in Johnstown may occur more frequently than originally thought. The 1977 flood, which triggered 7 dam failures and eclipsed 1936 Qpeak, resulted from less than 40% the estimated probable maximum precipitation (PMP) for a 12-hour storm. Peak discharges of similar magnitude would have ensued in 1972 had remnants of Hurricane Agnes tracked slightly westward. Flooding and infrastructure problems could be compounded for storms of 24-hour or longer durations, similar to record flooding seen in central Pennsylvania and New York in 1972. Flood recurrence, emergency procedures, and dam safety (particularly, spillway capacity in the Little Conemaugh basin and surrounding region) should likely be reassessed and protective early-warning measures (ineffective in 1977) implemented for the people of Johnstown.

Implementation of Interprofessional Meetings Preparing Caregivers of Patients With Brain Injury for Discharge: A Pilot Study.

Caregivers are often unprepared to care for patients discharged with brain injury. Interprofessional team meetings with the caregiver used in some specialties improve discharge planning. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a standardized interprofessional caregiver meeting on caregiver readiness for caregiving. The study was implemented on an eight-bed brain injury unit within a 73-bed Magnet-designated surgery and rehabilitation hospital in south central Pennsylvania. This study used a pre-/post-quasi-experimental retrospective design. Caregivers of patients admitted to the brain injury unit completed the Preparedness for Caregiving Scale at admission and discharge. The intervention group received an interprofessional team meeting focused on the needs of the caregiver in preparation for caregiving within 3-4 days of admission compared with unscheduled meetings as needed. Scores improved significantly from admission to discharge in usual care and intervention groups. Sample size was insufficient to detect differences between groups. Health care providers and caregivers expressed improvement in communication and readiness for discharge. Early interprofessional meetings with the purpose of getting to know and understanding the needs of caregivers of patients with brain injury could guide us to better prepare the caregiver for caregiving at home. The Preparedness for Caregiving Scale can be useful to assess multiple domains of caregiving. This proactive approach may improve communication and discharge readiness for patients with brain injury.

Perception of Mental Health on Christian College Campuses: A Case Study

The perception of mental health directly impacts an individual’s acceptance and utilization of counseling services. Mental health challenges are increasingly common among college students. The purpose of this case study is to examine the perception of mental health and the receptiveness to receiving mental health services among Christian college students. This study surveyed both professors and students from a Christian college in Central Pennsylvania. The two key themes that emerged from this study were a perceived stigma attached to mental health challenges and receiving mental health services and a lack of support from the Christian community. The survey results inform the recommendations including expanding education surrounding mental health and mental health services, accessibility of mental health services, and destigmatizing mental health

Hesitancy and reactogenicity to mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines-Early experience with vaccine rollout in a multi-site healthcare system.

BackgroundHesitancy and incomplete vaccination against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) remains an obstacle to achieving herd immunity. Because of fear of vaccine reactions, patients with medical and allergic co-morbidities express heightened hesitancy. Limited information is available to guide these patients. We sought to identify factors associated with mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines hesitancy and reactogenicity.MethodsWe surveyed employees of a multi-site health system in central Pennsylvania who were offered the COVID-19 vaccine (N = 18,740) inquiring about their experience with the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA-based vaccines. The survey was administered online using the REDCap platform. We used multivariable regression analysis to determine whether a particular factor(s) (e.g., demographics, selected co-morbid allergic and medical conditions, vaccine brand, and prior COVID-19) were associated with vaccine reactogenicity including the occurrence and severity of local and systemic reactions. We also explored factors and reasons associated with vaccine hesitancy.ResultsOf the 5709 who completed the survey (response rate, 30.4%), 369 (6.5%) did not receive the vaccine. Black race and allergy to other vaccines were associated with vaccine hesitancy. Reaction intensity following the first vaccine dose and allergic co-morbidities were associated with incomplete vaccination. Older individuals (>60 years) experienced less reactogenicity. Females had higher odds of local and systemic reactions and reported more severe reactions. Asians reported more severe reactions. As compared to Pfizer-BioNTech, the Moderna vaccine was associated with higher odds of vaccine reactions of higher severity. Prior COVID-19 resulted in more severe reactions following the first dose, but less severe reactions following the second dose.ConclusionsTargeted campaigns to enhance vaccination acceptance should focus on Black individuals, females, and those with allergic co-morbidities. Prior COVID-19 caused more severe reactions after the first but not the second vaccine dose. Moderna vaccine caused more vaccine reactions. Lessons learned from the early rollout of COVID-19 vaccine may serve to inform future novel vaccine experiences.

Small anthropogenic landforms from past charcoal production control moisture dynamics and chemistry in northcentral Appalachian soils

Throughout the northeastern United States (U.S.) and Europe, relict charcoal hearths (RCHs) are regularly being discovered in proximity to furnaces once used for the extraction of metal from ore or quick-lime production; charcoal produced in hearths was used as a furnace fuel. Given previous research has shown that topographic and subsurface disturbance can be great when a hearth is constructed, we hypothesize that hearth construction alters surface hydrology and soil chemistry in environments in and near hearths. We used a landscape classification process to identify 6758 hearths near furnaces at Greenwood and Pine Grove Furnace State Park, central and southcentral Pennsylvania, U.S. Two types of digital elevation model wetness indexes were used to quantify surface hydrology effects in and around hearths. Modeled wetness conditions were compared to field soil volumetric water content in RCHs near Greenwood Furnace State Park. Modeled wetness indexes indicate that RCH interiors are significantly wetter than RCH rim areas; RCHs are acting as a landscape moisture sink. Results also indicate that RCHs on slopes result in downslope drier conditions below RCHs. Field measured volumetric water content indicates that as distance from the center of the hearth increases, soil moisture significantly decreases. Geomorphic position was found to not be related to RCH wetness. Soil from RCHs, compared to nearby native soils, has significantly higher total C, a lower Mehlich 3 extractable acidity, higher Ca and P. No trend was evident with RCH soil chemistry and geomorphic position. The high frequency of RCH occurrence, in proximity to the furnace's RCHs supported, suggests that RCHs today could locally be an important niche for understory flora and fauna. Further research could explore how RCHs might be affecting surrounding plant populations and how within RCH patterns, especially on hillslopes, might represent a distinctly different scale of physical and chemical variability.

Use of a Novel Electronic Auto-Notification Process to Manage Transitions of Care in Patients With Rheumatic Disease Receiving Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drug Therapy.

To integrate an auto-notification system into clinical workflow, so timely communication of sentinel events (elective surgery, hospital admission, or emergency room [ER] visit) in immunosuppressed patients with rheumatic disease happened by design. We developed an algorithm that triggered auto-notification within the electronic medical record to rheumatology when a patient experienced a sentinel event. A telephone encounter was created that included event type, baseline therapy, and event date. This was forwarded to the rheumatologist, who recorded guideline-driven recommendations and returned it to nursing. Instructions were included to communicate recommendations to the patient, inpatient rheumatology team, or other clinician. This was studied over 4 months at a multispecialty medical practice in Central Pennsylvania. Primary outcomes were percentage of total notifications, notifications by sentinel event type where a change in care plan was recommended, as well as percentage of time where rheumatologists were notified of sentinel events compared to prior to the intervention. The secondary outcome was staff work effort. Two hundred forty notifications were received (57% for elective surgeries, 39% for ER visits, and 4% for admissions). The need for change in care plan was only 17% for ER visits but was 25% for hospital admissions and 44% for elective surgeries. The percentage of time that rheumatologists were notified of events increased from 57.6% to 100%. The average number of messages received per week was 2.2, requiring a weekly average of 13 minutes of work per physician. We developed an easy, well-received process that hardwires rheumatologist notification sentinel events to facilitate timely care.

Larval Growth to Metamorphosis in the Northern Green Frog (Lithobates clamitans melanota) in a South Central Pennsylvania Pond during 2009–2016

Abstract A measure of predictability exists in geographic variation in some of the life history traits of the green frog, Lithobates clamitans. A long breeding and larval transformation season and a small transformation body size of this species in the southern United States give way to opposite patterns farther north. Overwintering of tadpoles occurs northward in its range and eventually typifies many northern populations. Our examination of larval growth and transformation in the northern green frog, L. clamitans melanota, corroborated findings of intermediacy in duration of transformation season (May–August) and mean transformation body size (30 mm) of mid-Atlantic populations. The latter finding may be obscured by metamorphoslings (32 mm) during May–June, presumed to have overwintered and therefore larger than those that transformed in August (29 mm) of the same year they hatched. It remains unknown how often two cohorts emerge within or between years in Pennsylvania. The potential for a warming climate to predispose this species to more frequent within-year transformation of smaller individuals akin to present-day southerly populations should be investigated.

Polyphosphate Accumulation Tracks Incremental P-Enrichment in a Temperate Watershed (Pennsylvania, United States) as an Indicator of Stream Ecosystem Legacy P

Legacy phosphorus concentrations resulting from historic additions of phosphorus (P) to the landscape may impede rapid remediation of P pollution and achievement of water quality management goals. Herein, we hypothesized that the capacity of stream biofilms to assimilate new polyphosphate (polyP) will vary as a function of stream legacy phosphorus. To test this hypothesis, we deployed a series of in situ enrichment experiments at five sites of varying land cover in central Pennsylvania, United States. Incremental P-loading was delivered using vials fitted with porous lids, that contained agar enriched with six levels of P (as Dissolved inorganic phosphorus, dissolved inorganic P) loading with rates ranging from 0 to 1,540 µg PO4−3/day; these loading rates mimicked natural stream P loadings. Substrata were incubated at stream sites for a relatively short incubation period (12 days), to measure uptake rates; after which, biofilms growing on the lids were removed and their tissue content was analyzed for biomass (as chlorophyll) and various forms of particulate phosphorus. Polyphosphate (polyP) accumulated by stream biofilms at all sites closely tracked the release of dissolved inorganic P from experimental enrichment assays. Comparatively, biofilms accumulated relatively small amounts of Particulate inorganic phosphorus and other forms of organic P that we assume constitute a third group of P-rich biochemicals (e.g., DNA, RNA, lipids, proteins). Viewed at the watershed scale, land use appeared to affect P accumulation, where sites dominated by forest cover had a higher capacity for P storage, while sites dominated by agriculture did not; this underscores the importance of polyP storage as an indicator of legacy P pollution.

Seasonal roost selection and activity of a remnant population of northern myotis in Pennsylvania.

The decline in northern myotis (Myotis septentrionalis) populations due to the disease white-nose syndrome (WNS) has led to the species receiving federal protection in the United States and Canada, requiring conservation of critical habitats. However, considerably more is known about summer habitat preferences of northern myotis compared to late summer through winter. Our goal was to describe the seasonal presence and habitat use of a remnant colony of northern myotis in central Pennsylvania. We radio-tagged 31 northern myotis and established 6 acoustic monitoring stations to document activity from 2017–2021. We found that roost trees used during the maternity season by reproductive females were occupied by bats during both summer (21 June–14 August) and autumn (15 August–31 October), indicating similar habitat use patterns between seasons. During this time, both males and females preferred to roost in dead and declining trees. No other variable influenced male use, but females also preferred trees located close to water and in forest stands with higher basal area than randomly located trees. Northern myotis with active transmitters never left the study area and were tracked to roosts until early November. During October and November, a female and male were tracked to an underground network of air-filled voids (the Milieu Souterrain Superficiel) we presume to be a hibernaculum. Northern myotis calls were recorded outside this roost between March and October, and bats were observed emerging from this roost during spring and autumn but not summer. Acoustic activity at this site exhibited a seasonal pattern that differed from acoustic activity near roost trees and foraging areas, with a peak of activity during late summer when northern myotis are known to swarm. These data show that northern myotis maternity roosts are used extensively outside of summer and may be vulnerable to forestry practices that occur even outside of the pup-rearing season. These data also support the growing evidence that some northern myotis hibernate outside of caves and mines.

Basement structure of the Appalachian Basin in Pennsylvania

Basement structure beneath the Pennsylvanian portion of the Appalachian basin, where some of the deepest basement in the basin is found, is investigated by constructing a map of the Precambrian unconformity using 3939 new point estimates of basement depth determined from seismic reflection profiles and P-wave receiver functions, combined with geophysical and well log data used in other published basement maps. The map shows a gradual and uniform deepening of the basement from depths of ~1500 m in the northwest to ~6000 m in the southeast, consistent with a foreland basin plate flexure model. However, basement depths in two regions, when compared to depths predicted by a plate flexure model, show basin over-deepening. One to two km of over-deepening coincides with the Neoproterozoic-early Paleozoic Rome Trough in southwestern Pennsylvania, and the Northumberland Deep Basement Zone (NDBZ) in east-central Pennsylvania shows two to two and a half km of over-deepening. Basin over-deepening in the Rome Trough does not extend into northern Pennsylvania, pointing to a termination of the trough within central Pennsylvania. The origin of basin over-deepening in the NDBZ is less certain but overlaps spatially with the southern portion of the Neoproterozoic Scranton Rift. The preservation of one or more failed Neoproterozoic-early Paleozoic rifts within the basement structure of the Appalachian Basin suggests crystalline basement was not significantly deformed by the Paleozoic orogenic events associated with basin formation. It also supports models placing the locus of Laurentian rifting from Rodinia well to the east of the Appalachian Basin.

A quantitative method for collecting water mites in lotic, riffle-run habitats for water quality biomonitoring

Previous research surrounding water mites has primarily focused on understanding taxonomy, distribution, and life history. For these purposes, qualitative sampling methods have been sufficient. However, there has been increasing interest among acarologists and aquatic entomologists in the ability of water mites to serve as bioindicators of water quality conditions. Therefore, scientists have acknowledged the need for a standardized, quantitative sampling scheme. Such a method is described herein as we provide a detailed description of how to collect water mites from lotic, riffle-run environments. In addition, we provide observations to how this method compares to regularly applied benthic macroinvertebrate collection methods in terms of physical demand and time commitment. To demonstrate its efficiency, this method was applied to 23 sites in central Pennsylvania, United States, where it successfully collected more than 8,000 individual water mites.

Associations Between Physical Activity and Alcohol Consumption in Rural Cancer Survivors.

PurposeRural adults and cancer survivors are more likely to be physically inactive and exceed recommendations for alcohol use. Physical activity and alcohol use are positively associated in adults and cancer survivors but associations between physical activity and alcohol use in rural cancer survivors is unknown. This cross-sectional study explored associations between physical activity, sitting time, and alcohol use in rural cancer survivors.MethodsCancer survivors residing in central Pennsylvania were recruited to the Partnering to Prevent and Control Cancer (PPCC) study and completed mailed questionnaires assessing physical activity (low, moderate, high), sitting time (<6 or ≥6 hours/day), and alcohol use (0 or ≥1 drinks/week). Binary logistic regression models tested associations between physical activity, sitting time, and alcohol use, adjusting for age, gender, and education.ResultsParticipants (N=219) were in their mid-60s (M age=64.5 ± 12.2 years, 60.7% female), overweight (M BMI=29.6 ± 6.9 kg/m2), and 50.5% were college graduates. Nearly half of participants were breast (22.8%) or prostate (20.5%) cancer survivors and 90.4% were >12 weeks but <5 years post-treatment. Participants self-reported meeting physical activity recommendations (79.5%), sitting <6 hours/day (53.3%), and consuming ≥1 alcoholic drinks/week (54.1%). Participants who reported being moderately (OR=5.0, 95% CI: 1.9-12.9) or highly (OR=4.5, 95% CI: 1.9-10.9) active had higher odds of reporting alcohol use, after adjusting for covariates.ConclusionResults mirror positive associations seen in adults and other subgroups (e.g., racial/ethnic minority adults). Cancer control efforts should stress being physically active while emphasizing messaging to curtail increases in alcohol use among rural cancer survivors.

Impact and Risk of Moral Injury Among Deployed Veterans: Implications for Veterans and Mental Health.

The impact of “moral injury” (MI) among deployed veterans, defined as actions in combat that violate a veteran's moral beliefs and result in psychological distress, has increasingly become a significant clinical concern separate from other trauma- and stressor-related disorders. MI involves severe distress over violations of core beliefs often followed by feelings of guilt and conflict and is common among veterans with PTSD. While the psychological impact of PTSD is well-documented among veterans, this has been done less so with respect to MI. We studied MI among 1,032 deployed veterans who were outpatients in a large non-profit multi-hospital system in central Pennsylvania. The study included active duty and Guard/Reserve members, as well as veterans who were not Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) service users. Our hypothesis was that, controlling for other risk factors, veterans with high MI would have current mental disorders. Our secondary hypothesis was that MI would be associated with other psychopathologies, including chronic pain, sleep disorders, fear of death, anomie, and use of alcohol/drugs to cope post deployment. Most veterans studied were deployed to Vietnam (64.1%), while others were deployed to post-Vietnam conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan and elsewhere. Altogether, 95.1% of the veterans were male and their mean age was 61.6 years (SD = 11.8). Among the veterans, 24.4% had high combat exposure, 10.9% had PTSD, 19.8% had major depressive disorder, and 11.7% had a history of suicidal thoughts. Based on the Moral Injury Events Scale (MIES), 25.8% had high MI post deployment, defined as a score above the 75th percentile. Results show that high MI among veterans was associated with current global mental health severity and recent mental health service use, but not suicidal thoughts. In addition, as hypothesized, MI was also associated with pain, sleep disorders, fear of death, anomie, use of alcohol/drugs to cope post-deployment, and poor unit support/morale during deployment. Deployed veterans with MI are more likely to have current mental health disorders and other psychological problems years after deployment. Further research is advised related to the screening, assessment, treatment, and prevention of MI among veterans and others after trauma exposures.

Factors associated with DCIS treatment patterns in a large cancer center network.

e18589 Background: There remains variability in management of DCIS, particularly with radiation therapy (RT) and hormone therapy (HT). Little is known about DCIS treatment patterns according to patient characteristics. We examined associations between patient characteristics, treating center location and DCIS therapy received. Methods: We performed a retrospective registry review of all patients diagnosed and treated with DCIS from 2018-2019, collected from the UPMC network, an NCI designated cancer center, serving western and central Pennsylvania. Demographics and administered treatments were compiled from cancer registry records. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used for analysis. Treatment centers throughout the network were dichotomized to academic (academic practice) or community (non-academic) sites, race was divided into two groups, Black and White/Other. Neighborhood deprivation index (NDI) was dichotomized to median level at &gt; = 59% vs. &lt; 59% and extremes &gt; = 75% vs. &lt; 75%. Results: A total of 941 patients treated for DCIS;29 patients were not eligible for surgery because of trial enrollment randomizing away from surgery. Of the remaining 912 patients, 506 patients were from academic sites and 406 patients from community sites. Median patient age was 63 years old (range: 24-90 years). There were no treatment differences noted for age, race, or NDI. For treatment, 80 patients refused recommended HT; 46 patients refused recommended RT. The likelihood of receiving RT was similar between academic and community sites (64.3% vs. 67.2%; p= 0.47). Of those having surgery, 25% had mastectomy (231 of 912), more likely at academic sites (29% vs. 21%; p= 0.0045). Among patients with lumpectomy, community patents had greater HT utilization than academic patients (82% vs. 68%; p &lt; 0.001), while ER status was not different. Conclusions: Within the UPMC network, variability in the management of DCIS did not differ based on age, race, or NDI. However, academic practice locations had higher levels of mastectomy, while greater HT utilization was observed in community sites. Further qualitative information is under examination from patients and clinicians to better understand how treatment decisions are framed and completed in the context of patient centered care for DCIS.

An Algorithm for Free Clinic Deployment: Bridging the Gap in Healthcare Access in Rural Pennsylvania

Student-run free clinics play an essential role in meeting the needs of underserved populations while providing service-learning opportunities to health professions students. While these clinics have been an asset for many institutions, the success hinges on the successful selection of clinic locations, studying resource utilization, the receptiveness of the local population, and effective strategic planning. The Student-led and Collaborative Outreach Program for Health Equity (SCOPE) Free Mobile Clinic at the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine was established in 2017 to address the needs of underserved populations in Central Pennsylvania. Starting from one clinic, SCOPE has grown to twelve different sites across the county and has addressed different needs in diverse populations from rural to urban. The clinic has reached 435 individuals, provided 95 consultations with attending physicians, and distributed more than 120 vaccinations in the three years it has been fully active. During its evolution, the organization has developed a guidance algorithm that is critical to its operations and expansion initiatives. This algorithm has enabled strategic community resource deployment, garnered interest from private nonprofit collaboration and local government investment. Based on objective data, we identified new patient populations and clinic sites. Here we describe our experience developing and utilizing our deployment algorithm and the challenges and lessons we learned in growing a novel clinic model in a rural landscape.

A dynamic systems account of parental self-regulation processes in the context of challenging child behavior.

To advance the understanding of how parental self-regulation contributes to their role in supporting children's development, this study proposes a model of the dynamic processes involved in parental self-regulation. Based on time-series data from 157 mothers and their 30- to 60-month-old children (49.7% female; 96% White; data collected June 2017-December 2019 in central Pennsylvania, U.S.) during a challenging wait task, the model was tested by examining the temporal relations among challenging child behavior, maternal physiology, and maternal responsiveness. Results were consistent with the hypothesized dynamic negative feedback processes and revealed their associations with the overall quality of parenting behaviors and experiences. Findings elucidate how parents adapt to competing external (attending to child) and internal (restoring parents' equilibrium) demands during parenting challenges.

Species Richness, Abundance, and Productivity of Birds Along a Powerline Right-of-way within a Forested Landscape, Northeastern United States

Utility rights-of-way (ROW) serve as nesting areas and maintain a high diversity of early successional birds. ROW incorporating wire zone–border zone and integrated vegetation management can be used as examples of early successional habitat management for bird conservation more generally in the Northeastern United States, given artificial disturbances not created solely for natural resource conservation comprise approximately 80% of early successional habitats. The objective of our study was to determine the effect of herbicide and mechanical vegetation management approaches on the abundance, species richness, and reproductive success of breeding bird species occupying an electric transmission line ROW in central Pennsylvania. The overall abundance of birds was significantly lower within the wire and border management zones, following initiation of a new vegetation management cycle at State Game Lands (SGL 33) than in the years prior to management. Sections of ROW with no border zones contained the lowest abundance and species richness of breeding birds compared to sections with borders prior to the initiation of a new management cycle. Sections of ROW with no border zones and mowing sections had the lowest bird abundance and species richness of all ROW sections at the onset of a new management cycle, and contained the lowest number of bird species displaying evidence of breeding, both prior to and at the beginning of management cycles. Sections of ROW managed using herbicides were comparable or more beneficial to bird communities in terms of abundance, species richness, indices of productivity, and nesting success than sections maintained via mechanical treatments (mowing and hand cutting), both at the end and beginning of management cycles within a forested landscape in the central Appalachian Mountains and surrounding forested regions in the northeastern United States.

172 Factors affecting rural residents willingness to share personal data for COVID-19 contact tracing

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: The goal of this study was to examine the attitudes of central Pennsylvania rural residents toward data sharing in the setting of the COVID-19 pandemic. We determined their willingness to provide cell phone data and personal information to public health staff investigating COVID-19 cases, as well as their concerns about sharing this information. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: We used the electronic medical records of an academic healthcare institution in central Pennsylvania to obtain names and addresses of patients who had visited an outpatient clinic or been an inpatient within the prior three years, were 18 years or older, and who resided in a community defined as rural by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The survey included four statements about contact tracing, three statements about intent to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, and validated scales for general trust and for distrust in healthcare organizations. All study variables were summarized to determine their distributions, and bivariate binomial logistic regression was conducted. A multivariable model including all of the independent variables was then fit for each outcome variable. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: The response rate was 19.5%. 95 % of respondents were white, 56% were female, and nearly two-thirds were older than 60 years. Binomial logistic regression showed that both distrust in healthcare organizations and political values influenced respondents willingness to share information with contact tracers as well as their concerns about sharing. In multivariate analysis, political values were a consistent predicator of willingness to share and concerns about sharing. Respondents who indicated that they wanted to get vaccinated as soon as possible were significantly more likely than those who did not want to be vaccinated to be willing to share their cell phone location data and personal data. Conversely, they were less likely to be concerned with these data being shared without their permission. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Understanding rural residents concerns about sharing personal information is critical if we are to develop successful strategies for lessening the impact of COVID-19 and managing future pandemics. This study is a first step in eliciting such concerns in the context of COVID-19and has implications for directing a successful pandemic response.