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Dr. Shiriki K. Kumanyika, an authority in culturally specific weight-control and dietary change research, is taking an activist role in designing research to reduce the rates of obesity and its associated health risks in the Black community. She has convened AACORN--the African American Collaborative Obesity Research Network, all of whose members are African American female scholars, to build a critical mass of African-American researchers in the field of obesity. Expertise and interests within AACORN cover many areas, including community health, nutritional epidemiology, public health nutrition, dietetics, gender studies, exercise science, and cardiovascular disease epidemiology and prevention. The aim is to generate a set of recommendations for how research can be done differently, rather than simply studying the problem of obesity.

This paper analyzes the relationship between weather patterns and bird migration to determine the feasibility of a site-specific migration forecast. Autumn migration data from Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, Pennsylvania for ten species were correlated with individual weather variables. Stepwise multiple linear regressions revealed a positive relationship with raptor migration to northwesterly winds and wind speed and an inverse relationship to sea level pressure. Composite maps were created using data from days with the greatest migration counts for each species and categorized by synoptic situations. A relationship between bird migration and cold-front passage was revealed, with five of the species having their highest migration days after the recent passage of a cold front. Morphological differences are noted for birds in different synoptic groupings. The results suggest that a site-specific weather forecast for hawk watching sites is feasible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mixed results in the literature related to type of permanent placement and developmental outcomes of maltreated children suggest differences in postmaltreatment placement environments may be an important mechanism to consider. Objective: The goal of this study was to identify how home environment variables mediate risk in maltreated children in different types of placements. Methods: Participants included 71 maltreated and 70 non-maltreated (mean age = 7.14). Child outcomes were caregiver report of behavior problems (Child Behavior Checklist, CBCL) and cognitive assessment (Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test, PPVT, and Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test, KBIT). The home environment was examined using the Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME). Results: The maltreated and non-maltreated groups differed significantly on cognitive scores, F(6, 268) = 3.05, p < .01, behavior problems, F(18, 258) = 2.64, p < .001, and their home environments, F(14, 264) = 6.01, p < .001. Partial F tests predicting cognitive scores by group after controlling for HOME academic resources revealed mediation of cognitive scores for the bio-kin group only and mediation of CBCL Withdrawal, Social Problems, and Attention Problems by HOME emotional resources within the bio-kin group only. After controlling for SES in meditational analyses, within group differences were only found for the bio-kin group and Attention problems. Conclusions: Results suggest that maltreated children returned to biological parents or placed with relatives may have greater need for continued parenting support and academic resources; enhancing home environments so that they are both stimulating and cohesive is necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An underground mine complex overlain by extensive surface mining in north-central Pennsylvania is drained principally by one discrete discharge point at which the flow rate (median of 2,167 L/min) increased significantly (67%) above background (median of 1,317 L/min) during a 3 year period. The source of this major discharge rate increase and other unusual hydrologic characteristics were investigated. Subsequent to background monitoring, about 440 ha of surface mining and reclamation (85% of the recharge area) occurred on numerous seams overlying the underground mines, which induced greatly increased infiltration rates. A direct correlation was observed between the surface mined area and increased recharge to the underlying deep mines. Atypically, in-mine storage does not exist to any substantial degree in the basal Lower Kittanning underground mine from which the main discharge emanates. The overlying Middle Kittanning mine is the main storage unit for mine water. The Middle Kittanning mine behaves like a perched aquifer system because of the moderate vertical hydraulic conductivity (a median rate of 1.0 × 10 m/s) of the thin (mean of 11.7 m) clay-rich shale and siltstone interburden and local structural features. During periods of low recharge, pool levels decline to a point where most of the mine water flowing downward from the Middle Kittanning mine to the underlying Lower Kittanning mine is diffuse in nature. The discharge rate is consistently in a narrow range of 1,745-2,381 L/min about a median of 2,040 L/min. When surface infiltration rates are high, the mine pool levels rise, and a portion of the recharge from the Middle Kittanning mine to the lower seam mine is apparently more channelized, flowing through the backfill over the buried highwalls and into the underlying Lower Kittanning mine. During these periods, the flow ranges more broadly from 5,725 to over 11,356 L/min, about a median of 8,328 L/min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of cities potentially has a significant impact on climate. Buildings and infrastructure that replace natural vegetation often create new microclimates through changes in the energy balance associated with the built environment. The urban heat island effect, the phenomenon where air temperatures within an urban area are warmer than the surrounding rural areas, has been thoroughly examined for large urban areas. The purpose of this study is to determine the magnitude and extent of the urban heat island for a small urban area surrounded by agricultural land. Temperature data collected from several urban and rural locations over a four-month period indicate that urban areas are, on average, 0.8°C warmer than rural areas. The average difference between the most urban and most rural stations was 1.9°C. The maximum difference between these same stations was 10°C. Initial results, requiring further inquiry, suggest that the magnitude of the urban heat island is smaller during the summer season compared to the spring and fall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hydrology of a 14,672 acre (5,940 ha) coal mine complex in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, USA, was characterized. This flooded mine complex was evaluated to determine the potential of using the mine water for downstream agricultural purposes in an adjoining watershed. The hydrologic characteristics of the mine complex dictate the amounts and rates of mine water discharge that are available. The original coal extraction rate was known to be 63%, but post-mining subsidence has reduced the effective porosity to a mean of 11%. Thus, the mine stores considerably less mine water than was anticipated, a priori. The mine receives vertical recharge averaging 0.27 gallons (gal) per minute per acre (24.6 L/s per ha), which is equivalent to 11.6% of the mean precipitation. The recharge rate fluctuates about the mean by ±22%. The low storage capacity combined with the moderately low recharge rates allow the large mine complex to be rapidly drawn down when the pumping rate is raised from 4.68 to 9.36 × 106 gal (17.7–35.4 × 106 L/day). Conversely, the mine refills rapidly, up to 0.8 ft (0.24 m) or spatially 33 acres (13.4 ha) per day, once the pumping rate is reduced back to 4.68 × 106 gal/day (17.7 × 106 L/day), which is well below the total recharge rate. In addition to vertical recharge, 6.3–40.4% of the inflow into the mine pool complex occurs from coal barrier seepage from an adjacent flooded mine. The seepage rates are relatively constant and are estimated to be insensitive to changes in head up to 50 ft (15.2 m). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Describes heat-related deaths that occurred in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania during 1993 and 1994 and summarizes risk factors for heat-related illness and death. Cases; Increase of mortality from all causes during heat waves; Persons at increased risk for heat-related illness; Reduction of heatstroke risk through the use of air conditioners.

State agencies (SA) interpret federal regulations for Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) institutions and facilities (I/F). 2016 brought major changes, the first since 1968, to CACFP meal requirements. Beginning October 1, 2019, menus must comply with these updated nutrition standards to qualify for reimbursement. To increase I/Fs menu compliance, North Carolina offered a voluntary, systematic menu assessment statewide. As the USDA recommended, the SA program provided technical assistance (without financial penalty) to l/F on their menus. The SA developed a Menu Assessment Tool (MAT) to assess compliance with meal requirements. l/F were invited to submit menus, review MAT scores, and revise and resubmit. From June 2018-January 2019, 42 institutions submitted revised child menus. A Sign test was used to analyze score differences between initial and revised menus on six metrics: (1) correct milk, (2) one whole grain-rich grain per day, (3) no grain-based desserts, (4) cereal identified, (5) cereal within sugar limits, and (6) 100% juice once per day or less. Revised menus demonstrated increased compliance on five of six metrics. Initial compliance rates were (1) 14.3%, (2) 38.1%, (3) 64.3%, (4) 66.7%, (5) 59.5%, and (6) 38.1%. Revised compliance rates were (1) 88.1% (p≤0.000), (2) 78.6% (p≤0.084), (3) 92.9% (p≤0.004), (4) 90.5% (p≤0.003), (5) 83.3% (p≤0.038), and (6) 90.5% (p≤0.000). Findings suggest I/F that utilized the menu assessment program increased meal requirement compliance and improved menu documentation. Continuing the program may increase the number of reimbursable meals served and enable l/F to avoid financial impacts of noncompliance [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With funding from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Generalist Physician Initiative, the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine created a community-based primary care clerkship in general pediatrics, general internal medicine, and family and community medicine, in which third-year students spend a month in a small town, rural area, or urban underserved medical community. In addition to linking students with preceptors who would teach the clinical skills essential to primary care practice, the medical school set out to teach and to evaluate knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors unique to primary care. This paper describes the three-part teaching tool/evaluation developed to address (1) a student's recognition of the characteristics of primary care (learning objectives assignment), (2) a student's ability to appreciate the multiple nonmedical factors influencing a patient's health and experience of illness (family project), and (3) a student's ability to solve clinical problems (clinical reasoning examination). The authors describe how these evaluation methods are linked with the clerkship's goals and objectives and how they yield a richer portrait of the student's performance than the traditional preceptor's evaluation alone can provide. They also discuss the relationship between students' performances on the primary care clerkship and their performances in other clinical clerkships. Similar clinical experiences in primary care should focus on features unique to primary care medicine in both teaching and evaluation.