A commentary on claw deformities in the blue crab

Throughout history mankind has probably reacted to all natural phenomena by some degree of either attraction or repulsion. Certainly the same objects or phenomena are not viewed exactly alike by all. The rhythmic, as contrasted with discordant, motion, or symmetrical versus non-symmetrical patterns of structure may elicit various feelings in different people. Since natural growth generally produces structural patterns which follow some type of symmetry, this is what we usually expect. While sluggish motion and radial symmetry often are associated, usually animals which dart about or are quick in action have evolved along lines of bilateral symmetry, as have fishes and crabs. Any deviation from recognized actions and structural patterns is certain to attract one\u27s attention . In contrast to a fish and other bilaterally symmetrical animals, including most crustaceans, the crab darts sideways, not along its axis of symmetry. In this study we have been attracted to deviations from symmetry in the external structure of crab claws

Birth Justice Philly: Equitable Community Engagement in Action

This article describes how a multi-sector coalition focusing on carrying out recommendations of the Philadelphia Maternal Mortality Review Committee (MMRC) engages community participation through the development of equitable strategies that culminate in the implementation of actionable methods to improve perinatal outcomes. The U.S. maternal mortality crisis continues to impact countless families and communities. Despite having some of the finest academic medical centers in the nation and a functioning county-level maternal mortality review committee, the maternal mortality rate in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is far above the national average. Vital statistics show that Philadelphia’s rate of pregnancy-related deaths from 2012 to 2018 was 20 per 100,000 live births (Mehta et al., 2020), which is higher than the 2018 national rate of 17.4 per 100,000 live births (Lu et al., 2018). Philadelphia is the poorest of the nation’s 10 largest cities with more than a quarter of its 1.58 million people living in poverty. Racial inequities, substance use, and cardiovascular conditions have been identified as having a significant impact on higher death rates among pregnant and parenting people. To efficiently address the recommendations that come from the Philadelphia MMRC, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health formed an action team. Organizing Voices for Action (OVA) is comprised of a multidisciplinary group of local stakeholders, including lived experience experts. Centering community voices and maintaining equitable practices have been embedded in the formation of the coalition by drafting an equity plan, with an equity statement and quarterly audits for accountability. Prioritizing stakeholder and community engagement foster collaboration in addressing root causes of maternal mortality