Philadelphia Area Research Articles

Smoke at night and sleep worse? The associations between cigarette smoking with insomnia severity and sleep duration

ObjectiveInsomnia is a clinically verified nicotine withdrawal symptom. As nicotine is a stimulant, it is plausible that smoking at night could disturb sleep more than smoking at earlier times of the day, but this remains empirically unclear. This study examined smoking status and its associations with insomnia severity and sleep duration while considering the potential role of smoking time. MethodsData were derived from the Sleep and Healthy Activity Diet Environment and Socialization study, a community-based study of 1007 adults (nnonsmokers = 818; nsmokers = 189) aged 22-60 from the Philadelphia area. Smoking status and time of smoking were self-reported. Insomnia was assessed with the Insomnia Severity Index and categorized as none, mild, and moderate-to-severe. Sleep duration was assessed with one item from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and categorized as very short, short, normal, and long. Ordinal and multinomial logistic regressions were used to determine the association of smoking status including smoking time with insomnia severity and sleep duration controlling for sociodemographic covariates. ResultsCompared to nonsmoking, smoking was associated with experiencing increased insomnia (odds ratio = 2.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.9, 3.4, P < .001) as well as very short (relative risk ratio = 1.9, 95% CI 1.1, 3.3) and short (relative risk ratio = 1.5, 95% CI 1.0, 2.3) sleep (vs normal sleep duration). Night-time smoking was significantly associated with greater insomnia and shorter sleep duration. ConclusionsFindings provide evidence that smoking is associated with increased insomnia severity and shorter sleep duration, particularly nightly smoking. Sleep health should be considered in smoking cessation efforts.

Abstract 16279: Impact of Race and Socioeconomic Status on Rates of Congestive Heart Failure Admissions, Readmissions, and Length of Stay

Introduction: Health disparities due to race and socioeconomic status persist among congestive heart failure (CHF) patients. Our hospital in the Philadelphia area is uniquely situated to study disparities as it sits on the border of a diverse inner city and suburban population. The area west of our hospital is known to have a drastically higher median income than the area to the east. We aimed to evaluate differences in rates of CHF admissions, readmissions, and length of stay (LOS) for patients based on race and socioeconomic status. Methods: From 3/1/2018 to 3/31/2020, 6,785 total patients were admitted to our hospital due to acute decompensated CHF. To compare rates of admission, readmission and a LOS &gt; 5 days based on race and socioeconomic status, we used the SlicerDicer function of the EPIC electronic record platform. For race, we compared data for white and black patients. For socioeconomic status, we included a 10-mile radius around our hospital and used public records to collect median household income for 11 zip codes to the east and 11 to the west. The average yearly median household income for the east and west zip codes were USD $27,171 and $134,390, respectively. Outcomes are expressed as percentages and compared using a Chi-square test of independence and 95% confidence interval (CI) for differences. Significance was assessed at the 0.05 level. Results: Admission rates were significantly higher among Black patients at 67% compared to White patients at 58% (95% CI 7-11%, p&lt;0.05). There was no significant difference between rates of readmission (60% for Black vs. 58% for White patients, 95% CI 0-4%, p=0.11) or LOS &gt; 5 days (56% for Black vs. 55% for White patients, 95% CI 0-3%, p=0.42). Admission rates were significantly higher among patients from low income areas at 70% compared to high income areas at 56% (95% CI 11-17%, p&lt;0.05). Readmission rates were not significantly different, 57% for low income and 56% for high income areas (95% CI 0-4%, p=0.82). Patients from low income areas were significantly more likely to have a LOS &gt; 5 days at 57% compared to patients from high income areas at 53% (95% CI 0.8-8%, p&lt;0.05). Conclusions: Race and socioeconomic status continue to impact CHF patients’ health outcomes including rates of admissions, readmissions, and length of stay.

Perceptions of the Podiatric Medicine Profession: A Survey of Medical Students in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Medical students (MSs) in allopathic and osteopathic medical programs may not be adequately exposed to the role of podiatric physicians and surgeons in health care. We explored perceptions of the specialty field of podiatric medicine from the perspective of MSs in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, area. In this cross-sectional survey study, responses regarding podiatric education and scope of practice were collected via a 16-question, self-reported, anonymous online survey distributed to MSs at one osteopathic and three allopathic medical schools in the Philadelphia area. Inferences and conclusions were drawn from the percentages of respondents. Statistical analyses for school of attendance, year of study, and physician relative subgroups were performed. The 129 survey responses obtained revealed misunderstandings regarding podiatric education and training. Only 45.7% correctly answered that podiatric medical students do not take the United States Medical Licensing Examination. The results also showed the perception of podiatry in a positive light, with approximately 80% of respondents agreeing that the term doctor is applicable when referring to a podiatrist. Respondents with a physician relative were more likely to rate podiatry's role in health care higher on a scale from 0 (inessential) to 5 (equivalent to MDs/DOs) than those without a physician relative. The results of this preliminary survey were generally positive and optimistic while also identifying some misconceptions regarding MS perceptions of podiatric medical training and scope of practice. Further studies are needed to evaluate perceptions of podiatry from the perspective of other members of the health-care team to improve interprofessional relations and understanding.

Cardiovascular Disease and Medication Adherence Among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in an Underserved Community

Optimal management of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (Type 2 DM) is impeded by widespread nonadherence to efficacious medication regimens. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the most common cause of morbidity and mortality among persons with Type 2 DM. In this work we evaluated the relationship between CVD and medication adherence to antihypertensives, oral hypoglycemic agents, and antidepressants among patients with Type 2 DM. We also sought to understand how patients perceived barriers to and facilitators of adherence to medications. Adherence to medications was measured in 72 primary care patients from the West Philadelphia area using electronic monitoring (Medication Event Monitoring System caps) over 12 weeks. Standard questions assessed the presence of CVD. Participants answered open-ended questions about barriers to and facilitators of medication adherence. Participants who had CVD were significantly less likely to achieve ≥80% adherence to an antidepressant, oral hypoglycemic agent, and antihypertensive medications at 12 weeks. Participants identified four themes related to medication adherence: Interference from Psychosocial Demands, Need for Technological Innovation, Awareness of Disease Severity, and Integrating Community Linkages. Interventions to improve medication adherence among persons with Type 2 DM in underserved communities may aim to address social determinants of health, create community linkages, emphasize disease severity and utilize apps which are integrated with existing primary care services.

Post-mastectomy breast reconstruction: reducing the disparity through educational outreach to the underserved.

Poor health literacy and awareness are thought to be some of the major contributors to existing racial/ethnic disparities in access to breast reconstruction after mastectomy. This study aimed to determine whether physician led, community-based educational symposium improves understanding of breast cancer care and breast reconstruction in underserved populations. Annual educational symposiums were held between 2017 and 2019 in underserved communities in the greater Philadelphia area. The symposium consisted of a series of short lectures on breast health, cancer screening, surgical management and reconstruction, patient testimonials, a Q&A panel, and an exhibitor fair. Attendees were given pre- and post-symposium surveys that evaluated knowledge of breast cancer care and reconstruction on a 0-100 scale based on percentage of correct answers. Of 169 individuals, 92%, 91%, and 83% completed pre-symposium, post-symposium, and both surveys, respectively. Median age was 60years, and 92% were Black. Knowledge/understanding survey scores significantly improved after the symposium (50 vs. 87, p < 0.01). Of all respondents, 92% found the symposium to be useful, 89% were introduced to resources that they were not previously aware of, 90% would recommend the symposium to others, and 91% would pass along the information they learned. This study presents an effective and reproducible strategy to increase community awareness and understanding of general breast cancer concepts and breast reconstruction options. Through community outreach and education, physicians can help underserved populations have a better understanding of their potential options for breast reconstruction and ultimately reduce this well documented but inadequately addressed disparity in cancer care.

Co-Operative Vascular Intervention Disease (COVID) Team of Greater Philadelphia

We established the Co-Operative Vascular Intervention Disease (COVID) Team of Greater Philadelphia because national guidelines may not apply to different geographic areas of the United States owing to varying penetrance of the virus. On April 10, 2020, a 10-question survey regarding issues and strategies dealing with COVID-19 was e-mailed to 58 vascular surgeons (VSs) in the Greater Philadelphia area. Fifty-four VSs in 18 surgical groups covering 28 hospitals responded. All groups accepted transfers because of continued availability of intensive care unit beds. Thirteen groups were asked to “redeploy” if the need arose to function outside of the usual duties of a VS. None imposed age restrictions regarding older VSs continuing clinical hospital work. The majority restricted noninvasive vascular laboratory studies to those studies for which findings might mandate intervention within 2 or 3 weeks, restricted dialysis access operations to urgent revisions of arteriovenous fistulas or grafts that were failing or had ulcerations, converted from in-person to telemedicine clinic interactions, and experienced moderate-severe anxiety or fear about personal COVID-19 exposure in the hospital. The majority of VSs in the Philadelphia area dramatically adjusted their clinical practices before the COVID-19 crisis reached peak levels experienced in other metropolitan areas.

Criminological Explanations, Race, and Biological Attributions of Crime as Predictors of Philadelphia Area Residents’ Support for Criminal Justice Policies

This study used telephone surveys from 350 randomly sampled Philadelphians to examine whether attributing crime to individual and environmental causes predicted support for punitive and progressive policies, respectively. This study also investigated whether Blacks and Whites differed in their preferred crime responses, and whether race interacted with crime attributions to predict preferred policies. Finally, this study explored whether biological attributions predicted support for policies. Linear regression analyses revealed: (1) individual crime attributions predicted support for punitive response policies; (2) environmental crime attributions predicted support for progressive policies; (3) Blacks more strongly supported progressive policies; (4) race significantly interacted with crime attributions to predict support for progressive policies; and (5) attributing crime to biological causes was unrelated to either policy type.

Development of an Intervention to Promote Physical Activity and Reduce Dietary Sodium Intake for Preventing Hypertension and Chronic Disease in Filipino Americans.

Hypertension is a common chronic health condition affecting Filipino Americans. This pilot study examined the feasibility of addressing high rates of hypertension among Filipino Americans through the implementation of a culturally tailored education intervention. Filipino Americans living in the Greater Philadelphia Area were recruited through community-based organizations for participation and were engaged using a community-based participatory research (CBPR) framework. The study included pre- and post-intervention blood pressure measurements, self-reported body mass index, and questionnaires about physical activity and salt intake. The intervention to promote physical activity and reduce salt intake was conducted through two educational sessions and was accompanied by follow-up at 3months and by the collection of urine samples for 24-h urinary sodium intake biomarker analysis. Following intervention, a non-statistically significant decrease in urine sodium was observed in both the intervention and the control groups. For systolic blood pressure, a reduction of 12.6mmHg and an increase in 5.3mmHg was observed in the intervention and control groups, respectively. Diastolic pressure decreased 3.8mmHg for the intervention group and increased 5.6mmHg among controls. The culturally tailored education intervention reported here represents a promising tool for blood pressure reduction in high-risk ethnic populations. The methods used were effective for the recruitment and retention of ethnic minorities in a community-based setting.

Abstract A028: Exploring Asian Indian and Pakistani views about cancer and participation in research: An evaluation of a culturally tailored educational intervention

Abstract Background: Asian Indians and Pakistanis (AIP) are a growing population in the United States (US), and cancer is a leading cause of mortality in this population. Cancer screening rates among AIP populations in the US remain low compared to other racial and ethnic groups. In addition, AIP adults have been historically under-represented in clinical research and reasons are largely unexplored. Methods: We delivered a culturally tailored educational intervention to improve knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions about cancer risk and preventive screening measures to AIP adults in the Philadelphia area. Participants of AIP descent, ages 18 and older, were recruited during an evening celebration at a local community center. The intervention, an oral presentation, was delivered by a physician of AIP descent with expertise in clinical cancer genetics. The presentation focused on screening measures and applicable genetic tests for breast, prostate, and colon cancers based on family history and individualized risk factors. Participants were assessed before (pre), immediately after (post), and 1 month following the presentation (follow-up) for changes in knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of cancer risk and risk assessments. Data were analyzed for means, frequencies, and differences in means from baseline to endpoint and baseline to follow-up using SPSS. Only those who completed all three assessments were included in analysis. Results: Twenty-three participants, 12 female and 10 male participants (1 not reported) of AIP descent, averaging 46 years of age, completed the study. All participants were born in India and had been living in the US for an average of 20 years. Most (n=13) preferred the English language when discussing medical material, while a few (n=3) preferred another language. While there was no significant improvement in overall knowledge or knowledge of screening timelines for prostate and colon cancers, participants showed a significant change in understanding of when screening for breast cancer should begin (p&amp;lt;0.05). Pre- to post-intervention knowledge regarding genetic mutations (p&amp;lt;0.05) and genetic testing (p&amp;lt;0.05) was also improved. Lastly, participants were more willing to talk to their family members about cancer (p&amp;lt;0.05), participate in a medical research study (p&amp;lt;0.01), and undergo genetic testing for cancer risk assessment (p&amp;lt;0.001) after exposure to the intervention. Discussion: The intervention increased specific aspects of knowledge, willingness to participate in cancer research and risk assessments, and willingness to talk about cancer among AIP adults. This suggests that culturally tailored educational interventions, delivered in community settings, can be influential for this population. The efficacy of this research could be tested in a future randomized controlled trial with longer-term follow-up for sustained impact along with the collection of data regarding the uptake of cancer screening services post-intervention. Citation Format: Veda N. Giri, Preethi Selvan, Salini Mohanty, Ray Lum, Samantha Serrao, Amy E. Leader. Exploring Asian Indian and Pakistani views about cancer and participation in research: An evaluation of a culturally tailored educational intervention [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eleventh AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2018 Nov 2-5; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl):Abstract nr A028.

Quantifying impact of real-world barriers to sleep: The Brief Index of Sleep Control (BRISC)

ObjectiveLack of control over sleep may contribute to population-level sleep disturbances, yet relatively little work has explored the degree to which an individual’s sense of control over their sleep may represent an important factor. MethodsData from the Sleep and Healthy Activity Diet Environment and Socialization (SHADES) study, conducted in the Philadelphia area on a population comprising 1,007 individuals aged 22-60 years, was used. The BRief Index of Sleep Control (BRISC) was developed to quantify the degree to which an individual has control over their sleep. Reliability of the BRISC was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha. Convergent validity was assessed by examining age-adjusted items and total score relationships to insomnia (ISI), sleepiness (ESS), sleep quality (PSQI), and total sleep time (NHANES). ResultsAfter adjustment for covariates, greater control over sleep was associated with a lower PSQI score (B = -2.2, 95% CI [-2.4,-2.0], P < .0001), lower ISI score (B = -3.1, 95% CI [-3.5,-2.7], P < .0001), lower ESS score (B=-1.4, 95% CI [-1.7,-1.1], P < .0001), and more hours of sleep duration (B = 0.5, 95% CI [0.4,0.6], P < .0001). Each BRISC item was separately associated with each sleep outcome (P < .0001), although the items were not collinear with each other (all R<0.7). Thus, the BRISC instrument demonstrated high reliability and good validity. ConclusionsControl over sleep may represent an important factor in sleep health. Control over time to bed, time awake, sleep duration, and sleep quality are all related to sleep outcomes and assessment of these constructs may be useful for future sleep interventions.

0464 Sleep Continuity by Neighborhood: Are There Differences?

Abstract Introduction To our knowledge, no prior work has been conducted on whether sleep continuity disturbance (e.g., SL; WASO; EMA, etc.) varies by neighborhood. While differences on these metrics have been found by, e.g., race and socioeconomic status, it may also be that sleep continuity disturbance varies relative to where one lives and works. Accordingly, an analysis was undertaken to assess whether regional differences exist with respect to sleep continuity disturbance (SCD). Methods The study utilized a cross-sectional group design in an archival/community dataset that was collected in the Philadelphia area (www.sleeplessinphilly.com). This dataset (n = 2840) was comprised of adults between 18 and 89 years of age with self-reported sleep complaints (63.4% female; 36.6% male; average age 38). Study subjects who endorsed &amp;gt;30 minutes on &amp;gt;3 days/week on SL, WASO &amp; EMA were categorized by zip code and into four regional groups: Center City (n=258); South Philadelphia (n=103); North &amp; Northeast Philadelphia (n=400) and West Philadelphia (n=345). Contingency analyses and ANOVAS were used to assess for regional group differences. Results It was found that SCD rates significantly differed by region. Differences in percent endorsement by region were as follows, SL:, 64.1% (Northeast/North), 63.5 (South), 56.3% (West Philadelphia), &amp; 48.7% (Center City); WASO: 45% (Northeast/North), 40% (South), 36.5% (West Philly), &amp; 32.4% (Center City); EMA: 46.4% (South); 43.7 (Northeast/North); 43.7 (West Philly); 43.1 (Center City). Conclusion The Northeast/North region of Philadelphia had the highest rates, and center city had the lowest rates of SCD for the early part of the night (SL &amp; WASO). Early morning SCD was most common for “South Philly and least common for Center City. Analyses are on-going in relation to other regional differences (demographic, income, crime stats, etc.) and those found to vary by region will be assessed for their predictive value. Support No support was provided for this abstract

Increasing nursing research capacity: The roles and contributions of nurse scientists within healthcare systems in the Greater Philadelphia region

PhD prepared nurse scientists within healthcare systems are uniquely positioned to advance nursing science through research and evidence-based practice (EBP) initiatives due to their ability to closely collaborate with nurses and other healthcare professionals in the clinical setting. The purpose of this paper is threefold: 1) to describe the roles and contributions of Nurse Scientists, from their perspectives, in four different health care systems in the Greater Philadelphia area, three of which are Magnet® designated hospitals; 2) to highlight organizational approaches to increase nursing research and EBP capacity; and 3) to explore strategies that Nurse Scientists used to overcome barriers to build nursing research capacity. Nurse Scientists employed in these healthcare systems share many of the same essential roles and contributions focused on developing nursing research and EBP initiatives through education and mentorship of clinical nurses, conduct and oversight of independent research, and dissemination activities. With supportive executive nurse leadership, the Nurse Scientists within each healthcare system employed different strategies to overcome barriers in building nursing research and EBP capacity. Nurse scientists within healthcare settings have potentially powerful positions to generate and apply new knowledge to guide nursing practice and improve outcomes.

Development of a scale battery for rapid assessment of risk and resilience

It is critical to understand the factors that increase risk for development of psychiatric disorders as well as promote resilience against disorders. The current study describes the development of a brief tool for risk/resilience assessment that takes a broad perspective of “risk” and “resilience” to characterize the phenomena, and assesses multiple factors that span intrapersonal, interpersonal, and wide-ranging external contexts. We administered twelve scales (212 items) to a diverse population comprising help-seeking and community participants (N = 298; 46% female) in the greater Philadelphia area. We used exploratory item-factor analysis to determine how items cluster across scales. After determining that a seven-factor solution was optimal, computerized adaptive testing (CAT) simulation was run to determine what would happen if the seven full-form factors were administered adaptively. These results were used to select items for short-form scales, producing seven final scales (items = 47). Validity was assessed by relating short-form scores to demographics, clinical diagnoses, scales, and criteria; these relationships were also compared to the relationships found with the original scales. Almost all effects detected by the twelve original scales were detected by the substantially abbreviated short-forms. The abbreviated battery shows promise for rapid assessment of multiple risk and resilience parameters, a necessity in large-scale studies.

A Generalized Automated Framework for Urban Runoff Modeling and Its Application at a Citywide Landscape

This research presents a fully automated framework for runoff estimation, applied to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a major urban area. Trends in global urbanization are exacerbating stormwater runoff, making it an increasingly critical challenge in urban areas. Understanding the fine-scale spatial distribution of local flooding is difficult due to the complexity of the urban landscape and lack of measured data, but it is critical for urban management and development. A one-meter resolution Digital Elevation Model (DEM) was used in conjunction with a model developed by using ArcGIS Pro software to create urban micro-subbasins. The DEM was manipulated to account for roof drainage and stormwater infrastructure, such as inlets. The generated micro-subbasins paired with 24-h storm data with a 10-year return period taken from the National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) for the Philadelphia area was used to estimate runoff. One-meter land-cover and land-use data were used to estimate pervious and impervious areas and the runoff coefficients for each subbasin. Peak runoff discharge and runoff depth for each subbasin were then estimated by the rational and modified rational methods and the NRCS method. The inundation depths from the NRCS method and the modified rational method models were compared and used to generate percent agreement, maximum, and average of inundation maps of Philadelphia. The outcome of this research provides a clear picture of the spatial likelihood of experiencing negative effects of excessive precipitation, useful for stormwater management agencies, city managers, and citizen.

Recent Scholarship in Quaker Studies

Recent Scholarship in Quaker Studies Jordan Landes NEW FEATURE: Digital projects using Quaker resources From the publication of Earlham School of Religion's Digital Quaker Collection in 2003 to 2009's Quakers and Slavery collaborative project by Haverford and Swarthmore Colleges to the newly available Philadelphia Congregations Early Records (philadelphiacongregations.org/records/) website, Quaker materials have provided rich primary sources for digital scholarship projects. Virtual access to Quaker materials has become even more important over the last six months, so this bibliography will start to highlight a couple of projects each issue, recognizing that a complete list would fill many pages. Please contact me at jlandes1@swarthmore.edu to let us know about other new digital projects. In Her Own Right (inherownright.org/): Marking the 100th anniversary of the Nineteenth Amendment this year, this project by members of the Philadelphia Area Consortium of Special Collections Libraries (PACSCL) and funded by the National Endowment of the Humanities examines how women in the Philadelphia area have worked to expand their rights and opportunities. A major theme of the project, as stated on its website, includes 'Philadelphia's Quaker origins and the Quaker traditions of women's equality and outspokenness'. Quakers of Color International Archives (scua.library.umass.edu/umarmot/quakers-of-color/): This online archive was launched by Professor Harold D. Weaver in 2019 as 'part of a global initiative to document the beliefs, experiences, and contributions of people of color within the Society of Friends'. The project is continuing to develop and grow, with support from New England Yearly Meeting of Friends and the archives at UMass Amherst and Haverford College. Contributors Weaver and Emma Lapsansky-Werner have helped bring together oral histories and other resources that enable visitors to the site to learn more about the faith, identity and experience of Friends in different Yearly Meetings from around the globe. [End Page 71] Jordan Landes Curator, Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College BIBLIOGRAPHY Abolition, Manumission, Enslavement Carey, Brycchan. "Abolishing Cruelty: The Concurrent Growth of Anti-Slavery and Animal Welfare Sentiment in British and Colonial Literature." Journal for Eighteenth-Century Studies 43, no. 2 (June 2020): 203-220. Google Scholar Gigantino, James J., II. "The Curious Memory of Slavery in New Jersey, 1865–1941." New Jersey Studies: An Interdisciplinary Journal 6, no. 1 (January 22, 2020): 35–55. Google Scholar Sanmann, Angela. "The Exercise of a Just Love of Humanity: Sophie von La Roche as Female Cosmopolitan." Women's Writing 27, no. 1 (December 2019): 11-28. Google Scholar Urbaniak, Jakub, and Mooketsi Motsisi. "Between Apologetics, Emancipation and Imperial Paternalism: Mapping a Proto-Liberation Theology behind the British Abolitionist Movement?" Journal of Reformed Theology 14, no. 1–2 (March 27, 2020): 100–127. Google Scholar Biography and Autobiography Comstock, Anna Botsford, and Karen Penders St. Clair. The Comstocks of Cornell—The Definitive Autobiography. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 2020. Google Scholar Gleditsch, Nils Petter. "Lewis Fry Richardson—A Pioneer Not Forgotten." In Lewis Fry Richardson: His Intellectual Legacy and Influence in the Social Sciences, edited by Nils Petter Gleditsch, 1–12. Pioneers in Arts, Humanities, Science, Engineering, Practice. Springer International Publishing, 2020. Google Scholar Longley, Max. Quaker Carpetbagger: J. Williams Thorne, Underground Railroad Host Turned North Carolina Politician. Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 2020. Google Scholar Lownes, Howard. Hugh and Jane Lowndes The Gawsworth, England Quakers. Balboa Press, 2020. Google Scholar Ramage, Magnus, and Karen Shipp. "Kenneth Boulding." In Systems Thinkers, edited by Magnus Ramage and Karen Shipp, 63–71. Springer, 2020. Google Scholar Stewart, Bruce E. Redemption from Tyranny: Herman Husband's American Revolution. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2020. Google Scholar Webb, Simon. John Lilburne: Gentleman, Leveller, Quaker. The Langley Press, 2020. Google Scholar Wert, Hal Elliott. Hoover the Fishing President: Portrait of the Private Man and His Adventurous Life Outdoors. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Little-field, 2020. Google Scholar Colonialism and Imperialism Bischoff, Eva. Benevolent Colonizers in Nineteenth-Century Australia: Quaker Lives and Ideals. 1st ed. Palgrave Macmillan, 2020. Google Scholar Daniels, C. Wess. Resisting Empire. Barclay Press, 2019. Google Scholar Creating Communities Hansen, Thorvald. "Immigrant Utopias," The Bridge 30, no. 1 (2020). Google Scholar Ecclesiology Owens, L. Roger. "Shaping a Pastoral Spirituality: Learning from the Spiritual Vision of Quaker Thomas R...

Women's Health Screening and Mapped Community Resources for Refugees Resettled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

About 22,000 refugee women are resettled in the U.S. annually. Women's health screenings for breast and cervical cancer and reproductive health should be examined within the context of the built environment where refugees are resettled. 1) Analyze the proportion of resettled refugees who had women's health screenings and 2) map the available refugee, health, and social services organizations compared with the ZIP codes where refugees were resettled. Two clinical sites in Philadelphia conducted a retrospective chart review (N = 914). Community organizations were mapped. Within age guidelines, 460 (59%) women had a cervical cancer screening, 95 (63%) had a breast cancer screening, 296 (51%) were currently using contraception, and 118 (13%) became pregnant. Most community organizations were not located within ZIP codes where refugees resettled. There is a need for increased resources-which could increase women's screening rates-within a broader area of Philadelphia.

Effect of Predictive Algorithms on Home Prices and Racial Biases in the Housing Market

In this paper, I investigate how predictive algorithms change market outcomes in the housing market. By focusing on the effect of the Zestimate home valuation on housing markets, I investigate to what extent the market participants rely on the Zillow’s estimated market value when making the transactions and how it interacts with other information sources. I collect detailed property transaction information for 120,482 properties sold between May 2017 and May 2019 in the Greater Philadelphia Area and the preliminary results suggest that sale prices tend to be higher for those properties that have a higher estimated home value on Zillow.com. Evidence shows that people use this statistic as a summary of the transactional data and rely more on it when it is harder to process the information. Moreover, the Zestimate helps improve racial disparities in the real estate market by providing all sub-populations with less biased information.

Adherence to Antidepressants in Underserved Communities: A Comparison of Electronic Monitoring and Self-report Measures.

Nonadherence to antidepressants is widespread and poses a significant barrier to optimal management and treatment of depression in community settings. The objective of this study was to compare self-reported and electronic monitoring of adherence to antidepressants and to examine the relationship of these measures with depressive symptoms in a medically underserved community. Adherence to antidepressants was measured in 38 primary care patients from the West Philadelphia area using self-report and electronic monitoring (Medication Event Monitoring System caps). Self-report and electronic monitoring of antidepressant adherence showed fair agreement at baseline, slight agreement at 6weeks, and slight agreement at 12weeks. Adherence to antidepressants as assessed by electronic monitors was significantly associated with depression remission at 12weeks [adjusted odds ratio 18.6, 95% confidence interval (1.05, 330.56)]. Compared with electronic monitoring, self-reported adherence tended to overestimate medication adherence to antidepressants. Adherence assessed by electronic monitoring was associated with depression remission.

Open Pedagogy through Community-Directed, Student-led partnerships: Establishing CURE (Community-University Research Exchange) at Temple University Libraries

This paper reports on the establishment of an open pedagogy initiative between community organisations and students, facilitated by the Temple University Libraries (TUL) and faculty in the Philadelphia area. The Community- University Research Exchange (CURE) produces community-driven social justice research. Library facilitators solicit research questions and project proposals from grassroots community organisations who experience social and economic marginalisation, limiting or even disallowing the access to information that is vital to innovating the services organisations provide. Students select from a bank of research projects, developed by community organisations, identifying issues that they wish to investigate, skillsets they hope to master, or organisations for whom they hope to contribute their intellectual labour. This project facilitates community organisations’ direction and autonomy in promoting beneficial research objectives. It also foregrounds students as the directors of their own knowledge output and learning. This project is modeled after the Quebec Public Interest Research Group’s (QPIRG) programme.

Cultural Dimensions of Diabetes Management: a Qualitative Study of Middle Eastern Immigrants in the U.S.

This study examined how aspects of culture, social support, isolation, and loneliness are perceived as influences in chronic illness management by pre-diabetic (Glycated hemoglobin A1c levels between 5.7 and 6.4) or Type 2 diabetic patients (A1c levels between 6.4 and 8). Twenty-eight Middle Eastern immigrants in the greater Philadelphia area were interviewed using a semi-structured approach. Results were consistent with other research which suggests that patients benefit from family and community support in the management of their illness. However, findings also suggest that even in the presence of strong family and social support, patients report increased feelings of isolation and loneliness because they have to manage a complex illness that requires many lifestyle changes. For immigrant suffering from chronic illnesses, social gatherings, especially those that center on the consumption of traditional ethnic food, can be highly stressful because they need to avoid such foods as part of their daily treatment regimen. The results of this study have significant implications for patients, physicians, and psychologists who can benefit from an increased sensitivity to patients' challenges in illness management by understanding how cultural factors affect compliance in diabetes treatment regimens.