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Hispanic/Latino populations may experience significant neighborhood disadvantage, but limited research has explored whether these factors affect their health behaviors. Associations between perceived neighborhood factors at Visit 1 and health behaviors and related outcomes at Visit 2 in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos were evaluated. Multivariable logistic regression assessed cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between perceived neighborhood social cohesion (NSC, 5 items), and neighborhood problems (NP, 7 items), with cancer screening, current smoking, excessive/binge drinking, hypertension, obesity, physical activity, and poor diet by gender and birthplace. NSC and NP scores were converted into quartiles. Mean age of participants was 42.5 years and 62.1% were women. Perceived NP, but not perceived NSC, differed by gender (p 0.001). In unstratified models, no significant associations were observed between perceived NSC and any health behavior, whereas greater perceived NP was associated with less adherence to colon cancer screening (moderate level: aOR = 0.68, 95% CI = 0.51, 090) and more physical activity (very high level: aOR = 1.34, 95% CI = 1.06, 1.69) compared to low perceived NP. Women with moderate perceived NP, versus low NP, had a lower odds of colon cancer screening at Visit 1 (aOR = 0.62, 95% CI = 0.43, 0.91) and higher odds of mammogram adherence at Visit 2 (aOR = 2.86, 95% CI = 1.44, 5.68). Men with high perceived NP had a higher odds of excessive or binge drinking at Visit 2 (aOR = 1.99, 95% CI = 1.19, 3.31). We conclude that perceived NP were significantly related to health behaviors among HCHS/SOL individuals. Perceptions of neighborhood environment may be considered modifiable factors of structural neighborhood environment interventions.

In 1999, BC Hydro installed optical fibers in the fluid channel of 525 kV self-contained fluid-filled submarine cables originally installed in the 1980s that connect substations in the Vancouver area of British Columbia, Canada, for the purposes of monitoring temperatures. In combination with this work, a real-time monitoring was used to collect load data and measured temperatures in an effort to optimize the ratings of the cables. The dynamic thermal circuit rating system developed by the Electric Power Research Institute was applied to the 525 kV cables as part of a project to modify the system for support of the unique characteristics of the cable system installation. Specifically, the submarine cables utilize a parallel pipe water cooling system for the shore zones. This paper describes the software modifications that were implemented to enhance the dynamic rating system to model the unique characteristics of the 525 kV cable system and discusses how recorded data collected over several seasons were used to verify and refine the cable rating model. The resulting evaluation showed good agreement of the dynamic rating system calculations with measured results and helped the utility better understand the ratings on these circuits and permitted the utility to perform simulations to evaluate various loading conditions.

Background: Residential segregation has been associated with cancer incidence and mortality. Hispanic/Latinos (HL) experience moderate to high residential segregation. Purpose: This study investigates levels of racial and ethnic residential segregation and racialized economic concentrations at the extremes in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL). Methods: We used baseline data from 16,415 HL adults enrolled in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos between 2008-2011 from the Bronx, NY; Chicago, IL; Miami, FL; and San Diego, CA. Segregation measures were calculated from census tract-level (2006-2010 American Community Survey and 2010 decennial census). We measured residential segregation using the % HL Gini coefficient, to capture variability of HL residents within the census tract, and the isolation index, to capture the probability that HL residents come into contact with other members of the same minority group. We measured racialized economic (race/ethnicity + income) concentration using the Index of Concentration at the Extremes (ICE), to capture spatial social polarization at the extremes. We compared means of HCHS/SOL population characteristics using linear regression and adjusted Wald tests for continuous, binary, and categorical variables, respectively, calculated from weighted complex samples analyses. Results: On average, overall segregation was moderate to high (M±SE): Gini (0.39 ± 0.00); Isolation (0.76 ± 0.01); ICE (race: -0.64 ± 0.01; income: -0.29 ± 0.01; race + income: -0.26 ± 0.01). HL adults who were older (> 65 y: 0.80 ± 0.01; 45-65 y: 0.77 ± 0.008; 18-44 y: 0.75 ± 0.75, p = .000) and foreign/territory-born residing in US =10 years: 0.76 ± 0.01; vs. US born: 0.70 ± 0.01) and preferred Spanish (0.79 ± 0.01; p = .000 vs. English: 0.69 ± 0.007) experienced higher racial/ethnic segregation as measured by the Isolation index. HL of Cuban (0.42 ± 0.006, p = 0.049) vs. all other heritage experienced the as measured by the % HL Gini index. We found higher levels of racialized economic segregation among foreign/territory-born residing in US = 10 years (-0.26 ± .01) and US born (-0.21 ± 0.01; p = 0.000); individuals that preferred Spanish (-0.28 ± 0.01) vs. English (-0.21 ± .01; p = 0.000); and self-reported Cuban heritage (-0.42 ± 0.01; p = .000) vs all other heritage. Conclusion: Using multiple, measures of segregation, we found that HL adults who were older, foreign born, and preferred Spanish experienced moderate and high levels of segregation. It is important for future work to examine the impact of racial/ethnic and economic segregation on social determinants of cancer disparities within segregated environments among diverse HL. Citation Format: Catherine M. Pichardo, Jesse J. Plascak, Lisa A. Sanchez-Johnsen, Amber Pirzada, Amanda L. Roy, Margaret S. Pichardo, Earle C. Chambers, Sheila F. Castañeda, Ramon A. Durazo-Arvizu, Krista M. Perreira, Tanya P. Garcia, Matthew Allison, Jordan Carlson, Martha L. Daviglus, Gregory A. Talavera, Linda C. Gallo. Patterns of segregation among diverse Hispanic/Latino adults- implications for cancer prevention [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 32.

Introduction/Objectives: Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to major health complications, and significantly contributes to diabetes-related morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. Few studies have examined the relationship between unmet social needs and diabetes control among predominantly Black and Hispanic patient populations. Methods: In a large urban hospital system in the Bronx, NY, 5846 unique patients with diabetes seen at a primary care visit between April 2018 and December 2019 completed a social needs screener. Measures included diabetes control (categorized as Hemoglobin (Hb) A1c Results: Twenty-two percent (22%) of the patient sample had at least 1 unmet social need, and the most prevalent unmet social needs were housing issues (including housing quality and insecurity), food insecurity, and lack of healthcare transportation. Logistic regression analysis showed a significant relationship between social needs and uncontrolled diabetes, with more social needs indicating a greater likelihood of uncontrolled diabetes (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) for ≥3 needs: 1.59, 95% CI: 1.26, 2.00). Of the patients with most frequently occurring unmet social needs, lack of healthcare transportation (AOR: 1.54, 95% CI: 1.22, 1.95) and food insecurity (AOR: 1.50, 95% CI: 1.19, 1.89) had the greatest likelihood of having uncontrolled diabetes, after adjusting for covariates. Conclusion: Unmet social needs appear to be linked to a greater likelihood of uncontrolled diabetes. Implications for healthcare systems to screen and address social needs for patients with diabetes are discussed.

BackgroundNew York City (NYC) was the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. On April 17, 2020, the State of New York implemented an Executive Order that requires all people in New York to wear a face mask or covering in public settings where social distancing cannot be maintained. It is unclear how this Executive Order has affected the spread of COVID-19 in NYC.MethodsA dynamic compartmental model of COVID-19 transmission among NYC residents was developed to assess the effect of the Executive Order on face mask use on infections and deaths due to COVID-19 in NYC. Data on daily and cumulative COVID-19 infections and deaths were obtained from the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.ResultsThe Executive Order on face mask use is estimated to avert 99,517 (95% CIs: 72,723-126,312) COVID-19 infections and 7,978 (5,692-10,265) deaths in NYC. If the Executive Order was implemented one week earlier (on April 10), the averted infections and deaths would be 111,475 (81,593-141,356) and 9,017 (6,446-11,589), respectively. If the Executive Order was implemented two weeks earlier (on April 3 when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended face mask use), the averted infections and deaths would be 128,598 (94,373-162,824) and 10,515 (7,540-13,489), respectively.ConclusionsNew York’s Executive Order on face mask use is projected to have significantly reduced the spread of COVID-19 in NYC. Implementing the Executive Order at an earlier date would avert even more COVID-19 infections and deaths.

There is consensus that social needs influence health outcomes, but less is known about the relationships between certain needs and chronic health conditions in large, diverse populations. This study sought to understand the association between social needs and specific chronic conditions using social needs screening and clinical data from Electronic Health Records. Between April 2018-December 2019, 33,550 adult (≥18y) patients completed a 10-item social needs screener during primary care visits in Bronx and Westchester counties, NY. Generalized linear models were used to estimate prevalence ratios for eight outcomes by number and type of needs with analyses completed in Summer 2020. There was a positive, cumulative association between social needs and each of the outcomes. The relationship was strongest for elevated PHQ-2, depression, alcohol/drug use disorder, and smoking. Those with ≥3 social needs were 3.90 times more likely to have an elevated PHQ-2 than those without needs (95% CI: 3.66, 4.16). Challenges with healthcare transportation was associated with each condition and was the most strongly associated need with half of conditions in the fully-adjusted models. For example, those with transportation needs were 84% more likely to have an alcohol/drug use disorder diagnosis (95% CI: 1.59, 2.13) and 41% more likely to smoke (95% CI: 1.25, 1.58). Specific social needs may influence clinical issues in distinct ways. These findings suggest that health systems need to develop strategies that address unmet social need in order to optimize health outcomes, particularly in communities with a dual burden of poverty and chronic disease.

A North American utility has extensive pipe-type cable on their system. While reliable, utilities recognize that long-term industry trends are to use extruded dielectric cables exclusively as pipe-type manufacturing capabilities and qualified contractors are diminishing in the industry. Extensive infrastructure for pipe-type cables is already present at many utilities, which would be costly to replace, so one utility considered a project that would use extruded cable installed in a pipe to evaluate practical aspects of retrofit applications while gaining operational experience. This paper discusses and identifies the challenges encountered by the utility's design team, describes the selected cable system, and summarizes the project details.

Background: News reports and hate crime data suggest that anti-Hispanic/Latino immigrant sentiment was expressed by some sectors of the U.S. public during the 2016 Presidential campaign and election. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between this period and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors thought to be responsive to acute stress exposure among Hispanic/Latino adults in the US. Methods: Data were from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL), a prospective cohort study of Hispanic/Latino adults living in the US. The analytic sample was limited to non-pregnant adults, 35 to 74 years old, who participated in Visit 1 (2008-2011) and Visit 2 (2014-2017). The exposed were defined as participants who completed Visit 2 in 2016 and the unexposed were defined as participants who completed Visit 2 in 2014 or 2015. Cardiovascular disease risk factors included elevated depressive symptoms (CESD-10 score: 10+), current smoking, and at-risk levels of alcohol consumption (women: 7+ drinks/week; men: 14+ drinks/week). Current alcohol use (i.e., any current alcohol use) was also examined as a potential stress-related outcome. Predicted marginal risk ratio models were used to estimate incident Visit 2 outcomes as a function of exposure to the year 2016 among individuals who did not have those outcomes at Visit 1. Models were adjusted for age and insurance status at Visit 1. A priori interactions with nativity status, duration of residence in the US, and Hispanic/Latino background group were examined. Results: No statistically significant association between 2016 exposure and elevated depressive symptoms was observed in the main model, but additive interaction by Hispanic/Latino background group was observed ( p = 0.03) (Mexican and Central American background: RR adjusted : 1.28 (0.94, 1.76); Hispanics/Latinos of other background groups: RR adjusted : 0.85 (0.66, 1.09)). No association between 2016 exposure and incident smoking or incident at-risk alcohol consumption was observed and tests for interaction were not statistically significant. For incident current alcohol use, borderline trends in the main model suggested an association with the exposure (RR adjusted : 1.11 (0.99, 1.26)). Further, statistically significant additive interaction by nativity status was observed (Foreign-born: RR adjusted : 1.20 (1.06, 1.37); US/Puerto Rico-born: RR adjusted : 0.78 (0.55, 1.09)). Conclusions: Trends from study findings suggest an association between exposure to anti-Hispanic/Latino immigrant sentiment in 2016 and current alcohol use among foreign-born Hispanic/Latino adults. Given limitations of using time as a proxy for exposure to anti-Hispanic/Latino immigrant sentiment, future studies should explore more specific measurements of sentiment during this time and explore short and long-term effects of this sentiment.

OBJECTIVE: Equations for predicting Body Surface Area (BSA) produce flawed estimates, especially for individuals with obesity. We aimed to compare BSA measured by a 3-dimensional photonic scanner (BSA(3DPS)) to BSA predicted by six commonly cited prediction equations, and to develop new prediction equations if warranted. METHODS: We validated the 3DPS against manual measurements by breadth caliper for body thicknesses measured at three anatomical sites on a mannequin. BSA was derived from 3DPS whole body scans of 67 males and 201 females, ages 18-83; BMIs 17.8-77.8 kg/m(2), and varied race/ethnicities. RESULTS: Width and depth measurements by 3DPS and caliper were within 1%, except for hip, error 1.8%. BSA(3DPS) differed from BSA predicted by each equation (p

Highlights • Associations between acculturation and physical activity varied across measurements. • Higher social acculturation was positively associated with self-reported physical activity. • Language acculturation, but not language preference, was positively associated with leisure-time physical activity. • Language acculturation, but not language preference, was negatively associated with occupational physical activity. • Among workers, greater acculturation was associated with lower occupational physical activity. • Longer residency in the US was associated with higher accelerometer-assessed moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. • Most acculturation measures were positively associated with self-report, but not accelerometer-assessed sedentary behavior., The adoption of US culture among immigrants has been associated with higher leisure-time physical activity and sedentary behavior. However, most research to date assesses this association using single measures of acculturation and physical activity. Our objective was to describe the cross-sectional association between acculturation and both physical activity and sedentary behavior among US Hispanic/Latino adults. Participants included Hispanic/Latinos 18–74 years living in four US locations enrolled in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos from 2008 to 2011. Acculturation was measured using acculturation scales (language and social), years in the US, language preference, and age at immigration. Physical activity and sedentary behavior were measured using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (N = 15,355) and Actical accelerometer (N = 11,954). Poisson, logistic, and linear regression were used, accounting for complex design and sampling weights. English-language preference was positively associated with self-reported leisure-time and transportation physical activity and accelerometer-assessed moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Social acculturation was positively associated with self-reported leisure-time and transportation physical activity and MVPA. Years in the US and age at immigration were positively associated with accelerometer-assessed MVPA. Language acculturation, years in the US, and age at immigration were associated with occupational physical activity among those who reported employment. Most acculturation measures were associated with self-reported sitting but not with accelerometer-assessed sedentary behavior. Different measures of acculturation, capturing various domains acculturation, were associated with physical activity and sedentary behavior. However, the direction of the association was dependent on the measures of acculturation physical activity/sedentary behavior, highlighting the complexity of these relationships.