bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Determinants of Land and Labour Market Participation Decisions in Rural Ethiopia
Authors: Shifa Muna
Published: February 2022

This paper attempts to determine the factors influencing farmers' land and labour market participation decisions in rural Ethiopia. A multivariate probit estimation technique is used to account for potential interdependencies between land and labour allocation strategies. Results suggest that households that are better endowed with farming resources such as oxen and farming skills are more likely to get access to more land and labour through factor markets, while households that are less endowed with these resources are more likely to rent out their land and participate in off-farm jobs. The complementary nature of land renting out and involvement in off-farm work suggests that policy makers should give due consideration to the development of rural off-farm jobs to reduce poverty in rural areas.
Rural-Urban Inequality in Africa: A Panel Study of the Effects of Trade Liberalization and Financial Deepening
Authors: Baliamoune-Lutz Mina , Lutz Stefan H.
Published: February 2022

Using panel data from 39 countries, this paper examines the effects of financial deepening and openness to trade and foreign capital (FDI) on rural-urban inequality in Africa. Four estimations were performed: OLS pooled cross-section, GLS pooled cross-section, fixed effects model and an adjusted fixed effects specification with regional dummy terms. We construct an alternative measure of rural-urban inequality, namely the ratio of growth in agricultural output to growth of manufacturing output. Overall, the econometric results show that openness to trade seems to help reduce rural-urban inequality. However, the empirical evidence does not unambiguously delineate the nature and significance of the impact FDI and financial deepening have on the rural-urban gap. The findings imply that there may be some support for the so-called offsetting-trend in inequality (OTI) hypothesis.
The Impact of Finance and Funding on Technology Adoption in Africa
Authors: Ahmed Allam
Published: February 2022

Although Sudan is a predominately agricultural economy, crop productivity is extremely low and does not exceed 30% of the level attained in research farms. Even though most farmers acknowledge the great benefits of technologies provided by research and academic institutions, they argue that most of these technologies are very expensive to adopt, and there is no source of funds to adopt them even if they were not expensive in the first place. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to address the impact of finance and funding on the adoption of agricultural technologies in the Sudan. This paper attempts to demonstrate how limitations of finance and funding could explain the failure of Sudanese farmers to adopt the available technology and raise productivity. Finally, a number of findings emerge regarding the government policies and strategic planning that will effectively help and support small farmers. These findings may help policy makers take appropriate and immediate measures to improve agricultural productivity in the Sudan.
Poverty and Real Exchange Rate: Evidence from Panel Data
Authors: Diallo Oumar
Published: February 2022

The paper explores the relationship between economic policies and poverty by using the dependant economy model framework. Accordingly, it focuses on two variables: the real exchange rate and the absorption, and explores the links between these two variables and poverty. This method has particularly the advantage of addressing model uncertainty. Using the System general method of moments (SY-GMM) estimator (Blundell and Bond, 1998), the paper shows that real exchange rate depreciation favours the poor, provided that income is fairly distributed and institutions are sound.
The Post–World War II Allied Occupation of Austria: What Can We Learn about It for Iraq in Successful Nation Building?
Authors: Bischof Günter
Published: February 2022

This article argues that in the run-up to the US occupation of Iraq after Saddam Hussein was toppled, there was much argument what could be learned from previous American occupations and nation building experiences (especially post–World War II Germany and Japan were seen as models). The successful Austrian occupation after World War II was ignored—“successful” in the sense that the country was politically democratized and economically stabilized. Running through the historiography of scholarship on the Austrian occupation then, the article draws four concrete lessons from the Austrian occupation case study for the US occupation of Iraq. In other words, the U.S. military tends to forget its rich previous occupation experiences for the contemporary world.
Representing Austrian, American, and Mexican Interests: Consul Charles Frederick de Loosey in Emperor Maximilian's Diplomacy, 1864–1867
Authors: Bertonha João Fábio
Published: February 2022

During the existence of the Second Mexican Empire (1864–67), Emperor Maximilian of Austria had to face the hostility of the United States and the indifference of the Austrian Empire, having to rely for its survival on the military, financial, and diplomatic support of France. This article does not question these general premises but seeks to problematize them, taking into account the activities of the Mexican Empire within the United States territory and the discreet support of Austrian diplomacy to them. To this end, the focus of the article will be the activities of Maximilian's main representative in the United States, Luís de Arroyo, and especially those of the Austrian consul general in New York, Charles Frederick de Loosey.
“It is not to think that real strangers, as you are, give us so much love”: An Austrian Pen Pal's Journey to a Safe Haven in the United States
Authors: Krick-Aigner Kirsten
Published: February 2022

This article traces Marianne Winter's unique immigration journey as an eighteen-year-old Jewish Austrian refugee. Pivotal to the family's escape was the epistolary friendship that developed in early 1935 between Marianne and her American pen pal Jane Bomberger. When Jane's father Max learned of the Winter family's persecution, he generously provided the required affidavit to ensure their safe passage to the United States. Six of the remaining letters from Marianne to Jane, additional family documents, and interviews with Marianne contextualize her upbringing in Vienna and her family's immigration story within a larger sociocultural and historical framework. The article examines how Marianne's youth, participation in competitive swimming at the Viennese sports club Hakoah, education at Eugenie Schwarzwald's Frauenoberschule, and apprenticeship as a dressmaker shaped her identity and enabled her to face the many challenges of forced immigration from her homeland. The article additionally explores how other members of the Winter family, especially her brother Stefan, experienced the Holocaust, immigration, and their new lives in the United States.
What's the Point? An Exploration of Students' Motivation to Learn in a First-Year Seminar
Authors: Jessup-Anger Jody E.
Published: February 2022

This qualitative case study explores how undergraduate students and their instructor made meaning of students' motivation to learn in a one-credit, pass/fail first-year seminar. The findings point to the importance of addressing structural motivational barriers and ensuring that instructors possess the instructional, motivational, and developmental strategies necessary to foster motivation.
A Study of Epiphytic Lichen Communities in Urban and Rural Environments in Southwestern Pennsylvania
Authors: Opdyke Matthew R. , Dolney Bryan E. , Frost Laura L. , Roy Joshua D.
Published: February 2022

Community analyses of epiphytic lichens were used to study the controlling factors of lichen abundance and diversity in urban and rural environments of Pittsburgh in southwestern Pennsylvania. Two urban sites included Schenley and Frick Parks in metropolitan Pittsburgh and two rural sites at Mingo Creek County Park in Washington County and Roaring Runs Natural Area in Westmoreland County. Community composition of lichens was measured at six intensive monitoring plots per site and site-wide species diversity surveys. The lichen diversity value, a statistical estimator of the environmental conditions at a site, was greater at the rural sites (20.8 ± 3.0) compared to the urban sites (11.3 ± 3.5) (± standard error), suggesting a less disturbed lichen community at Mingo and Roaring Runs. In the intensive monitoring plots, species richness was greater at Mingo and Roaring Runs compared to Schenley and Frick, averaging 5.2 ± 0.3, 4.7 ± 0.4, 3.7 ± 0.8 and 2.0 ± 0.4, respectively. The dominant lichens across all sites were Lepraria lobificans, an unidentified sterile crustose lichen and Cladonia ochrochlora. The dominance of nitrophilous and sulfur dioxide–tolerant lichens at all sites suggests that the lichen community within the larger geographical region is influenced by nitrogen and sulfur dioxide air pollutants. The differences between sampling sites are most likely driven by lichens responding to changes in urbanization, which include humidity and habitat fragmentation.
A Survey of the Prion Protein Gene Heterogeneity in New Jersey White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)
Authors: Keeler Shamus P. , Bernarsky Nicole L. , Huffman Jane E. , Roscoe Douglas E.
Published: February 2022

Polymorphisms within the prion protein gene (Prnp) have been associated with modified susceptibility to chronic wasting disease (CWD) in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). Studies of naturally infected white-tailed deer have determined that polymorphisms in the cervid Prnp at codons 95, 96, and 116 may provide reduced susceptibility or slowed progression of CWD. A survey was performed to determine the Prnp heterogeneity within New Jersey white-tailed deer. No CWD positive deer have been reported in New Jersey and all animals included in this study were determined to be CWD negative before the start of the project. The Prnp genes of 150 hunter-harvested deer were sequenced. All polymorphisms were identified and allelic frequencies were calculated. Seventy percent of the deer sampled in New Jersey were homozygous at codon 95 (glutamine) and codon 96 (glycine) and 94.7% had at least one copy of this allele. Only 2 % of the deer sampled had a single copy of the allele with histidine at Codon 95 and a glycine at Codon 96, which is under represented in naturally infected deer and may provide resistance to infection. These deer were found only in the southwestern portion of New Jersey. The genetic heterogeneity and distribution of the PrP gene of New Jersey white-tailed deer adds to our current understanding of the Prnp diversity within this species.
LIFE ON THE FRINGE: CHARACTERIZATION OF FRINGE VEGETATION IN ERIE BLUFFS STATE PARK (ERIE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA)
Authors: GANGER MICHAEL T. , JAMES J. MCGIVERN , BOCIAN LINDSEY , BROWN NATHALIE-ANN C. , PERENIC JOSEPH
Published: February 2022

Human activities have resulted in the fragmentation of native habitat. One ubiquitous result of landscape modifications is a narrow strip of vegetation, hereafter referred to as fringe, that occurs between forest and inhospitable habitat like agricultural fields. This study investigated the fringe habitat in the Erie Bluffs State Park in Erie County, Pennsylvania. The park has several agricultural fields that are currently in use and one abandoned field resulting in 67,680 m2 of fringe. In order to understand the species composition and vegetation structure of the fringe, 1451 m-wide quadrats were established and the number and identity of species occurring within them was determined in both June and August. One hundred sixty-four species from 55 families were observed in the fringe, 39% of which were listed as annuals or biennials, 40% were non-native to Pennsylvania, and six are listed by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources as exotic invasives or are on their watch list. Sixty-one percent of these species occurred in both the June and August censuses while the remainder were seen in only one of the two censuses. The average number of species per quadrat was greater in August than in June. Agglomerative Hierarchical Cluster Analysis was used to group quadrats in the fringe based on species similarity into three groups in June and five groups in August. Indicator Species Analysis determined 9 species associated with the groups in June and 14 species associated with the groups in August. The fringe is a spatially and temporally complex habitat with high species richness that has the potential to play a role in the stability of the forest habitat and the transition of agricultural fields to native habitat.
THE IMPACT OF WOOD TYPE, SEASON, AND REPELLENT USE ON NORTH AMERICAN PORCUPINE DAMAGE
Authors: GRAHAM ANDIE S. , KEELY TOLLEY ROEN
Published: February 2022

We evaluated the impact of wood type, season, and repellent use on North American Porcupine damage to forty installed posts along Rails-to-Trails property in Brockway, Pennsylvania, USA. Treatments were (1) pressure-treated Pine posts with Ro-Pel (a liquid repellent), (2) pressure-treated Pine posts without Ro-Pel, (3) Black Locust posts with Ro-Pel, and (4) Black Locust posts without Ro-Pel. We assessed new damage to posts 1 – 4 times per month from June 2007 – January 2009. All damage was to Pine posts (x− = 12.9 cm2, SE = 3.70 cm2) and no damage was observed to Black Locust posts. Observed damage to untreated posts (x− = 9.93 cm2, SE = 2.10 cm2) was 3.3 times greater than damage to posts treated with Ro-Pel (x− = 2.99 cm2, SE = 2.86 cm2). Total monthly damage to Pine posts was greatest in August (x− = 2.31 cm2, SE = 1.51 cm2) and there was no observed damage in February, October, and November. When examining damage by season, damage to Pine posts was 54 times greater in summer (June – August; x− = 1.62 cm2, SE = 0.567 cm2) than in fall (September – November; x− = 0.030 cm2, SE = 0.030 cm2). We suspect the seasonality observed may be related to salt loss and salt-seeking behavior. We suggest that landowners and managers who anticipate Porcupine damage consider using alternatives to pressure-treated Pine for their wooden structures. In addition, repellent applications could be timed to correspond with the peak of damage to reduce cost.
STREET TREE INVENTORY OF SELINSGROVE, PENNSYLVANIA
Authors: RESSLER DANIEL E. , KILMER JOHN A.
Published: February 2022

Street trees provide a number of social and environmental benefits to their communities. A street tree inventory was conducted in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania to quantify the number of trees, the species present, tree characteristics, and sidewalk characteristics. The field data collected was combined with historical aerial photographs to evaluate the sustainability of the street tree community over time, as well as determine diversity and ecology statistics of the community by neighborhood. The analysis determined that more than half of the 1974 community existed in 2009, and that five of the eight neighborhoods lost nearly two-thirds of their trees. The street tree community is dominated by only three species and is not appropriately diverse to withstand potential threats from invasive boring insects that threaten the region's trees. Selinsgrove needs to find ways to limit tree losses and diversify the street tree community.
WOODEN VERSUS INSULATED METAL NESTBOXES: A COMPARISON OF REPRODUCTIVE SUCCESS AND USE BY SONGBIRDS
Authors: RUSHMORE MARGARET E. , UNDERWOOD TODD J. , BROWN WILLIAM P.
Published: February 2022

We compared reproductive success of Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) and House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) nests in wooden nestboxes to insulated metal nestboxes to determine if a new insulated metal nestbox design is a safe alternative to wooden nestboxes. We also examined the preference of four species of cavity-nesting birds to nest in wooden versus metal nestboxes. No significant differences were found among clutch size, hatching success, and the number of fledglings produced in Tree Swallow and House Wren nests between the two types of nestboxes. Therefore, insulated metal nestboxes appear to be a safe alternative to wooden nestboxes. Metal nestboxes were preferred by Tree Swallows to wooden nestboxes (χ2 = 6.5, n = 25, p = 0.01). However, wooden nestboxes were preferred to metal nestboxes as a first choice for nesting 77.1% of the time for all four species. House Wrens, Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia sialis), and House Sparrows (Passer domesticus) all preferred wooden to metal nestboxes (Fisher's Exact Tests, all p < 0.001). Thus, insulated metal boxes are safe, but may not attract desirable species, such as Eastern Bluebirds, when compared to traditional wooden Peterson-style boxes.
The Status of White Oak (Quercus alba) Trees at the Gordon Natural Area, Chester County, Pennsylvania
Authors: Stern Rachel , Turner Gregory D. , Hertel Gerard D.
Published: February 2022

A field study was conducted in 2007 and 2008 to assess the population, distribution, size, and health status of white oak (Quercus alba L.) trees found in a forest at the Gordon Natural Area preserve in Chester County, Pennsylvania. A sweep survey was used to locate each oak, and then geographic coordinates, diameter at breast height (DBH), and crown vigor, were determined for each tree. Twenty-three trees were encountered in all, indicating a low density of < one tree per hectare, which was much lower than that of other co-occurring late successional species. Trees exhibited both clumped and linear distributions, likely resulting from acorn caching and past use of the species as a border around now reforested farmland. Trees were spread across most DBH size classes with a mean DBH = 57.4 cm. Most trees were relatively large and none occurred below 25 cm. Most trees were also healthy, though some were unhealthy. Overall, results suggest that white oak is an uncommon but widely dispersed species at the preserve, with a relatively healthy, but aging, population. Given these results, more studies of the species at the preserve are warranted, including new and periodic assessments of its recruitment status and canopy tree health, to better manage and ensure that white oak continues to have a presence in this forest and the region.
Analysis of Ground Water Drawdowns using Field Monitoring, Computer Modeling and Theoretical Techniques at Monroe Marketplace, Hummels Wharf, PA
Authors: Lachhab Ahmed , Stoker Matthew
Published: February 2022

A newly built shopping center called Monroe Marketplace Plaza, located in Hummels Wharf, Pennsylvania, raised concern among local residents after they heard about the high rate of two pumping wells placed in the vicinity of their homes. The study herein was conducted by monitoring 4 domestic wells from March 2008 through January 2010, theoretically by using Neuman and Witherspoon equation, and lastly by groundwater modeling. The results showed that both Neuman and Witherspoon equation and groundwater modeling results are in agreement with the observed data when a hydraulic conductivity of 9.26x10−7 ft/sec (2.78x10−7 m/sec) was used. The results indicate that the initial drawdown of 19 ft (6 m) observed during the monitoring period in well 4 was caused by a nearby well that was pumping at high rate. The location of both pumping wells has arrested the cone of depression to the center of the plaza without major effect on the well 1, 2, and 3. The groundwater level gradually increased due to high specific yield of the aquifer and has since readjusted to new hydrological condition, fluctuating only to recharge effects. Overall, all 3 methods approximate similar results or complement each other and for a practical approach makes it highly unlikely that the New Marketplace's water consumption will affect residential water supply.
The Invasive New Zealand Mud Snail (Potamopyrgus antipodarum) Grows Faster When Consuming Periphyton Compared to Detritus
Authors: Bilka Rachel H. , Edward P. Levri
Published: February 2022

Diet can play an important role in invasion success. The New Zealand mud snail (Potamopyrgus antipodarum) has invaded lakes and streams on four different continents. The snail has been established in the Laurentian Great Lakes since at least 1991 and has recently been discovered in stream habitats adjacent to the lakes. The purpose of this experiment was to examine the effect of a change in diet from a benthic diet of detritus to a diet dominated by periphyton on the growth rate of this snail. Juvenile snails were placed into one of four treatments: standard lab diet of Spirulina, benthic sediment (detritus), rocks with periphyton growth, or detritus and rocks with periphyton growth. The growth rate was determined after six weeks. The results demonstrated that diet greatly influences growth rate of P. antipodarum with a diet of periphyton resulting in the highest growth rate and a detritus diet resulting in the slowest rate. These results provide evidence that the movement of the snail into lotic waters where periphyton is in greater abundance in the Great Lakes region could result in faster individual and, possibly, population growth rates.
A Survey of the Heavy Metals Present in the Soil of a Potential Urban Garden: A Service Learning Approach
Authors: Kessler Kyle , Umbenhauer Seth , Noble Alison R.
Published: February 2022

Eight soil samples were collected from a small urban land plot located at 1700 North Sixth Street Harrisburg, PA 17102 and the concentration of copper, nickel, zinc, and lead in existing soil was determined. The concentrations of these metals were compared to EPA standards to assess soil suitability for the development of a successful urban garden. Samples were prepared by acid digestion and then analyzed using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). The concentration of copper was found to be 11 ± 4 mg/kg at the low end and 46 ± 25 mg/kg at the high end, nickel concentrations ranged from 11 ± 4 mg/kg to 20 ± 3 mg/kg, lead concentrations from 26 ± 1 mg/kg to 402+ mg/kg, and the zinc concentrations ranged from 30 ± 6 mg/kg to 216 ± 166 mg/kg. All concentrations, with the exception lead, were below the EPA recommended limits for heavy metals in home and vegetable gardens. This study also discusses the benefits of service learning for developing relationships between academic institutions and community partners as well as the role of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) in urban areas.
Distribution of Arsenic in Presque Isle State Park Pond Sediments
Authors: Diz Harry R. , Murnock Jason
Published: February 2022

A study of arsenic in pond sediments on the Presque Isle peninsula, Erie, PA, was conducted in 2000 and 2001 by Murnoch (2002) due to concerns expressed by citizens and various local officials. Samples of pond and lagoon sediments were collected at thirteen primary sites and additional reference sites for analysis of arsenic content during the fall, 2000, and again in spring, 2001. The probable effect concentration (PEC) for arsenic of 33.0 mg/kg-DW, an indication of the concentration above which adverse impacts on benthic organisms are expected to occur, was exceeded in the surface sediments at all 13 primary sites during fall sampling and in all but one site during spring sampling, with concentrations as high as 393 mg/kg-DW measured. For deeper sediments, the PEC was exceeded in the fall at nine sites and in the spring at six sites. Surface sediments contained more arsenic than did deeper sediments. These differences were more pronounced in the spring samples than in the fall samples. There was a general trend, with numerous exceptions, for sites closer to Gull Point (the geologically ‘new’ end of the peninsula) to have lower arsenic levels. While the source of the arsenic in the sediments of Presque Isle is unknown, these high levels are likely due to natural processes that, over time, have resulted in an enrichment of arsenic in surface sediments. A possible mechanism for this enrichment is proposed. This study has not attempted to document the risk to the ecosystem associated with elevated arsenic concentrations, but it is reasonable to speculate that there could be an adverse impact on some organisms.
Bioaccumulation of Methylmercury in Neovison vison (Schreber, 1777) Populations of the Susquehanna River Valley
Authors: Brown Matthew R. , Iudica Carlos A.
Published: February 2022

Being the longest non-navigable river on the eastern coast of the United States, the Susquehanna River and the surrounding areas support a vast number of plants, animals, and other organisms, creating a vast and complex food web within a large and biodiverse ecosystem. One of the most prominent and essential organisms within this food web is the American mink (Neovison vison). In recent years, studies have been conducted to determine the level of biomagnification of methylmercury in terrestrial organisms that reside at higher trophic levels. This particular study has found that American mink populations residing in the Susquehanna River Valley of Pennsylvania are reliable indicators of bioaccumulation of methylmercury due to their role as piscivorous carnivores residing at a high trophic level of the terrestrial food web. Analysis of methylmercury concentrations of 166 hair samples from collected mink specimens yielded 111 samples with concentrations in excess of the toxicity threshold of 1 mg kg-1 body weight. Furthermore, our data suggest that although mercury contamination is a global concern, geographical location of mercury producers, such as coal-burning power plants, and the relationship to the location of mink populations may be a large factor in bioaccumulation of mercury. In particular, samples taken from mink specimens within habitats in the northeastern region of Pennsylvania contained higher concentrations of methylmercury as well as a larger quantity of samples containing concentrations higher than the toxicity threshold than in samples from other regions of the state.
Mussel Population and Distribution on Buffalo Creek, an American Eel Stocked Tributary to the West Branch Susquehanna River
Authors: Reese Sean P. , Huffner Michael , Feindt Jared
Published: February 2022

In 2009 the United States Fish and Wildlife Service began stocking young American eel into Buffalo Creek, a small agriculturally impacted stream that feeds into the West Branch of the Susquehanna River. The freshwater mussel Elliptio complanata is known to have higher success rates completing its life cycle using American eel as the host fish for its glochidia (Lellis et al. 2013). The objective of this study was to determine if the American eel will affect mussel populations within their first 5 years of reintroduction into Buffalo Creek and hopes to be a baseline study for future research. A total of ten sites were randomly distributed throughout Buffalo Creek with each site consisting of four 5m x 5m quadrants. In the first year of the study (2012) most mussels found were large E. complanata adults indicating that they had been present before the eel reintroduction. In 2013 we recorded almost twice as many mussels as last year and four new species (Strophitus undulates, Lampsilis cariosa, Alasmidonta marginata, and Villosa iris).
Aerobic Oral and Nasal Bacteria in New Jersey Black Bears (Ursus americanus) with a Report on Antibiotic Susceptibility of Escherichia coli
Authors: Lisowski Sasha , Chinnici Nicole , Huffman Jane E.
Published: February 2022

The microbiology of animal bite wound infections is often polymicrobial. Black bear attacks have been a rare occurrence in the past and with few published studies on their oral flora, the bacteria present in black bear bite wounds is largely unknown. This study examines the oral and nasal aerobic bacteria from research trapped bears in northwestern New Jersey during June 2014. Oral swabs from the buccal and lingual supragingival tooth surfaces and nasal swabs from 22 black bears were plated onto Tryptic Soy Agar (TSA), Eosin Methylene Blue agar (EMB), and Columbia Nalidixic Acid agar (CNA) for bacterial isolation. Twelve aerobic bacterial species were identified from the oral and nasal samples. The most frequently isolated bacteria were Bacillus sp., Klebsiella oxytoca, Micrococcus luteus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus epidermidis. The diversity in the aerobic oral and nasal flora of black bears in New Jersey suggests the importance of including these organisms in basic health risk assessment protocols and suggests a potential tool for assessment of bear/habitat interactions. To evaluate the role of black bears in the spread of antibiotic resistant Escherichia coli, oral, nasal and anal samples were collected from eight black bears (two sows and six cubs). Antibiotic resistance was measured for tetracycline and streptomycin. E.coli resistance for tetracycline and streptomycin was 7%.
A Checklist and Distributional Synthesis of Amphibian and Reptile Species in Columbia County, Pennsylvania
Authors: Hartzell Sean M.
Published: February 2022

Species inventories and distributional analyses at fine resolutions, such as at the county level, can provide a wealth of data to inform biological research and management as well as provide important baseline data for long-term biological monitoring. This work represents the first herpetological species and distributional inventory for Columbia County in northeastern Pennsylvania. A review of literature, museum records, and vouchered submissions on the Pennsylvania Amphibian and Reptile Survey (PARS) database confirmed the occurrence of 39 species of amphibians and reptiles within the county. The Eastern Musk Turtle (Sternotherus odoratus) is reported herein as a new county record. Eleven species confirmed within Columbia County are of conservation concern. Known township occurrence data, compiled from museum records, published literature, and field observations are presented for 28 non-imperiled species and (with township names omitted) for seven imperiled species. This work contributes to the understanding of Pennsylvania's herpetofauna and provides important baseline data for long-term monitoring and future research on amphibian and reptile species within Columbia County.
In a Foreign Land: Estrangement in “Rappaccini's Daughter”
Authors: Buonomo Leonardo
Published: February 2022

When Hawthorne set “Rappaccini's Daughter” in Italy, he recreated a country he had known, at that stage of his life, only through his reading and his perusal of prints. Unable to leave his native country, he had traveled to Italy imaginatively, and he had further emphasized the distance between the Italian tale and his American productions by attributing it to his French alter ego M. de l’Aubépine. Although “Rappaccini's Daughter” is one of Hawthorne's most widely discussed tales, the provenance of its male protagonist, Giovanni Guasconti, has received but scant attention. This essay will concentrate on the precise identification of Giovanni as a Neapolitan student who has left his home and has traveled a great distance to study at the University of Padua, in the north. Given the story's setting, namely, Renaissance Italy, Giovanni has traveled from what was then the Kingdom of Naples to the territory of the Republic of Venice. To all intents and purposes, Giovanni is a foreigner in a city where everything is unfamiliar and mysterious. The estrangement he experiences inevitably colors his perception of places, people, and events. Giovanni feels ill at ease in the stony urban center of Padua and longs for the sunny vistas of seaside Naples. It is precisely his longing that renders him particularly vulnerable to the lure of Dr. Rappaccini's luxuriant garden (a sort of microclimate, a southern oasis in the north), which he can see from his window. He hungers, one might say, for greenery, and that need exposes him to danger.
Wanderers of the New World: From the Jew as Other, to the Jew as (Uncanny) Double in “A Virtuoso's Collection” (1842) and “Ethan Brand” (1850)
Authors: Sommer Myriam Ackermann
Published: February 2022

The legend of the Wandering Jew began as a European folk motif and migrated to America, where it gained a popularity unmatched in the countries of the Old World. This article focuses on the adaptation of this legend in the American gothic, and specifically on the literary rendition of the Wandering Jew in Hawthorne's “A Virtuoso's Collection” (1842) and “Ethan Brand” (1850). Hawthorne first staged this archetype in his short story titled “A Virtuoso's Collection,” in which the Jew serves as a chronicler and an eerie museum guide. In “Ethan Brand,” the Wandering Jew is recast as a “German Jew,” a showman carrying a diorama and showing sketches. There, he serves as both the figure of the Other and an image of the evil double. He proves to be a source of gothic horror, hinting at the pointlessness of the quest of the main protagonist, who claims to have identified and mastered the “Unpardonable Sin.” After the departure of the Jew, Brand kills himself, which could be interpreted as a victory of the doppelgänger typical of gothic tales. However, Brand's attempt to annihilate himself is incomplete, for it is mentioned in the explicit that his heart could not be burnt down. This ambiguous ending and lack of closure are true to the spirit of the legend, whereby the Jew must wander until messianic times. However, the real Jew behind the mask remains unaccounted for, as he is reduced to a mere literary representation of pure otherness.
Ambulatório de saúde integral da mulher, cis, profissional do sexo, em um serviço de saúde da cidade de São Paulo
Authors: Martins Sheila Wudrev Ribeiro , Oliveira Tatiane Pavan Ramos , Oliveira Rute Loreto Sampaio de , Franco Vanessa Marques , Martins Fátima Portella Ribas
Published: February 2022

Introdução: Ao longo da história as profissionais do sexo sofrem pelo estigma da profissão e acabam tendo dificuldades de acesso ao serviço de saúde, com prejuízo à saúde sexual, mental e física. Dessa forma, são necessárias ações de prevenção e promoção à saúde para aproximar essas mulheres dos serviços de saúde. Objetivo: Relatar a experiência de atendimento das mulheres profissionais do sexo em um serviço de saúde da região central da cidade de São Paulo (SP). Métodos: São realizados atendimentos ambulatoriais voltados à saúde integral da mulher cis profissional do sexo em um serviço de atendimento especializado em infecções sexualmente transmissíveis/aids na região central de São Paulo. São ofertados atendimentos ginecológicos e cuidados de enfermagem, testagem rápida e exames sorológicos para vírus da imunodeficiência humana, hepatites e sífilis: exames de rotina (papanicolau, colposcopia, mamografia, ultrassonografia), tratamento de infecções sexualmente transmissíveis, colocação de dispositivo intrauterino e implante intradérmico hormonal, profilaxia pós-exposição, profilaxia pré-exposição, orientações de prevenção das infecções sexualmente transmissíveis e distribuição de insumos. A captação dessas mulheres é feita de forma ativa por uma profissional vinculadora que vai às casas de prostituição da região com orientações de prevenção as doenças sexualmente transmissíveis e oferta de atendimento na unidade. Tal profissional acolhe as mulheres no próprio local de trabalho e agenda consulta na unidade conforme a disponibilidade da paciente. Resultados: De agosto de 2018 a abril de 2021, foram matriculadas 397 mulheres, sendo 101 em uso de profilaxia pré-exposição e com queixa principal (26,20%) de infecções sexualmente transmissíveis. Conclusão: O acolhimento, a orientação e o atendimento conforme demanda viabilizam a essa população o acesso à saúde para prevenção ou tratamento. Podemos concluir que existe certa dificuldade e restrição de acesso a serviços de saúde a essa população. A concentração de diversas oportunidades de cuidado em um único lugar e a não regionalização aumenta a chance de adesão à prevenção e à indicação do serviço a outras mulheres.
Candidose oral em pacientes com coinfecção de vírus da imunodeficiência humana/tuberculose
Authors: Mugnol Tatiana , Schneider Fátima , Sestari Laura Moura , Santos Juliana Lemes dos , Garlet Angela , Moreira Paulo Ricardo , Coser Janaina
Published: February 2022

Introdução: Pessoas infectadas com o vírus da imunodeficiência humana têm maior propensão a desenvolver tuberculose, sendo essa a principal causa de morte e infecção oportunista nesses indivíduos. A Candida spp. é um fungo potencialmente patogênico em pacientes com vírus da imunodeficiência humana e doenças broncopulmonares. Objetivo: Descrever a ocorrência de candidose oral em pacientes com coinfecção de vírus da imunodeficiência humana/tuberculose. Métodos: Dados clínicos foram obtidos a partir de prontuários de 810 pessoas que vivem com vírus da imunodeficiência humana atendidas em um Serviço de Atenção Especializado em Doenças Sexualmente Transmissíveis/aids do Sul do Brasil. Dessas, 24 (3%) apresentaram coinfecção de vírus da imunodeficiência humana/ tuberculose e foram incluídas no presente estudo. Este estudo possui aprovação em comitê de ética sob parecer número 2.770.634. Resultados: A média de idade dos pacientes com coinfecção vírus da imunodeficiência humana/tuberculose foi de 45 ± 11 anos, sendo 29% (n=7) do sexo feminino e 71% (n=17) do sexo masculino; 37,5% (n=9) apresentaram registro de ocorrência de candidose oral. Desses, a maioria eram homens (67%, n=6), 78% (n=7) possuíam registro de linfócitos TCD4 < 350 células/mm3 e 55% (n=5) faziam uso regular da terapia antirretroviral, enquanto 45% (n=4) faziam uso de maneira irregular ou haviam interrompido a terapia antirretroviral. Conclusão: A ocorrência de candidose oral pode estar relacionada a diversas condições de natureza oportunista, imunossupressão, baixa adesão aterapia antirretroviral e presença de comorbidades, sendo a manifestação oral mais comum em pacientes com coinfecção de vírus da imunodeficiência humana/tuberculose.
Análise do conhecimento dos jovens universitários sobre os métodos de prevenção de infecções sexualmente transmissíveis/vírus da imunodeficiência humana na prática do sexo oral: resultados preliminares
Authors: Alexandre Carine Pacheco , Andrade Alicia Kerly da Silva , Travassos Ana Gabriela Álvares
Published: February 2022

Introdução: O sexo oral consiste na penetração dos órgãos genitais por meio da boca, dos lábios e da língua. Essa atividade sexual desprotegida gera riscos para a saúde, principalmente em razão da possibilidade de contaminação por infecções sexualmente transmissíveis. Objetivo: Estudar a relação entre o conhecimento sobre uso de métodos para a prevenção de infecções sexualmente transmissíveis e a prática de sexo oral seguro por jovens universitários. Métodos: Esse estudo tem desenho exploratório transversal com abordagem quantitativa. A coleta foi realizada no Departamento de Ciências da Vida na Universidade do Estado da Bahia. Os indivíduos foram convidados a preencher um questionário anônimo e autoexplicativo com questões sobre práticas sexuais e conhecimentos sobre infecções sexualmente transmissíveis. Resultados: Na amostra constaram 205 estudantes dos cursos de Medicina, Enfermagem, Farmácia, Fisioterapia, Fonoaudiologia e Nutrição. A maioria dos questionários respondidos (54,1%) foi de estudantes do curso de Medicina. Sobre as práticas sexuais dos participantes, 157 (69,8%) realizavam sexo oral, porém 70,6% (120) nunca haviam utilizado camisinha e apenas 7,8% (13 estudantes) a usavam regularmente. Não encontramos correlações entre conhecimento sobre transmissão de infecções sexualmente transmissíveis e uso regular de camisinha no sexo oral. Prevenir infecções sexualmente transmissíveis é a principal motivação para o uso de camisinha, porém é significativa a quantidade de jovens que nunca utilizaram preservativo no sexo oral. Essa prática sexual segura é influenciada por aspectos socioculturais, além de apenas o conhecimento sobre o perigo do ato sexual desprotegido. Conclusão: O uso de preservativos na prática oral foi reduzido entre jovens estudantes da área da saúde, sendo fator de risco importante para transmissão de infecções sexualmente transmissíveis. O conhecimento sobre as infecções sexualmente transmissíveis não é o único fator relacionado ao uso de camisinha no sexo oral, necessitando mais estudos sobre essa temática e amplo debate sobre sexo oral seguro na sociedade, com destaque na população jovem universitária.
A prevenção das infecções de transmissão sexual na concepção de jovens universitários – um estudo de representações sociais
Authors: Spindola Thelma , Fonte Vinicius , Melo Laércio , Moraes Paula , Marques Sergio , Abreu Thuany
Published: February 2022

Introdução: A população jovem é um grupo vulnerável aos agravos de saúde, como as infecções sexualmente transmissíveis, em decorrência da assunção de um comportamento sexual de risco por falta de uma orientação adequada, não uso de preservativos ou início precoce das atividades sexuais. Objetivo: Caracterizar as práticas de prevenção de infecções sexualmente transmissíveis adotadas por jovens universitários. Métodos: Pesquisa de natureza qualitativa, apoiada na Teoria das Representações Sociais em sua abordagem processual, realizada em uma universidade pública no município do Rio de Janeiro (RJ) com 160 estudantes de ambos os gêneros que responderam um questionário para caracterização de dados sociais, práticas sexuais e de prevenção de infecções sexualmente transmissíveis. Desse grupo, 30 estudantes responderam a uma entrevista semiestruturada. Os dados dos questionários foram tratados e analisados com emprego da estatística descritiva e as entrevistas com a técnica de análise de conteúdo. Todos os procedimentos éticos foram respeitados. Resultados: Os estudantes têm idades entre 18 e 23 anos (76,25%), cor da pele branca (56,25%), moram com os pais (62,50%), não possuem namorado/companheiro fixo (47,50%), declaram-se heterossexuais (71,25%) e, nos últimos 12 meses, usaram sempre preservativo com parceria fixa (34,74%) e parceria eventual (55,27%). A análise das entrevistas evidenciou que, embora os jovens reconheçam a importância da prevenção das infecções de transmissão sexual, não usam preservativos de modo contínuo, acreditam que, ao realizarem testes diagnósticos rápidos, podem dispensar o uso de preservativos nas relações sexuais e apenas alguns costumam realizar exames preventivos regularmente e a imunização. Conclusão: Os universitários reconhecem a importância da adoção de práticas de prevenção das infecções sexualmente transmissíveis, como o uso continuo de preservativos e a realização de exames preventivos de modo regular, contudo seu discurso não está necessariamente associado uma pratica de cuidado para com a saúde sexual, e muitos ficam vulneráveis às infecções sexualmente transmissíveis.
Desfechos desfavoráveis da sífilis gestacional na atenção primária: uma revisão narrativa
Authors: Silva Alice da , Araújo Daniella Carvalho , Carvalho Láisa Rebecca Sousa , Sousa Mikaela Dagles de , Silva Paula Lima da , Carvalho Matheus Sousa Marques , Silva Emanoelle Fernandes , Borges Braulio Vieira de Sousa , Magalhães Rosilane de Lima Brito
Published: February 2022

Introdução: A sífilis é uma infecção sexualmente transmissível causada pelo Treponema pallidum, atinge ambos os sexos e pode ocorrer em transmissão vertical. No cenário internacional há o registro de 1,85 milhões de casos de sífilis gestacional. No Brasil as taxas de prevalência chegaram a 0,72% em 2019, com número total de casos de 61.127. É durante o pré-natal na atenção básica que medidas devem ser tomadas para prevenção de desfechos desfavoráveis. Objetivo: Analisar na literatura os desfechos desfavoráveis da sífilis gestacional na atenção primária. Métodos: Trata-se de uma revisão da literatura do tipo narrativa. Após a definição do tema foram realizadas buscas de artigos nas bases de dados PubMed, Literatura Latino americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde (LILACS) e Base de Dados de Enfermagem (BDENF), por meio de descritores controlados e não controlados baseados no DeCS e MeSH. Após a busca foi realizada a análise dos estudos selecionados para esta revisão. Resultados: Prevaleceram 15 estudos de um total de 590 análises de artigos publicados entre os anos de 2001 e 2019, sem restrição de idioma. Os principais resultados encontrados foram a não realização do pré-natal ou sua realização tardia, a ineficácia na triagem do pré-natal e antes do parto, bem como o pouco conhecimento por parte dos profissionais, acarretando uma falha importante na assistência ao pré-natal e gerando um estigma em torno das infecções sexualmente transmissíveis, do diagnóstico e do tratamento. Conclusão: Evidenciou-se a necessidade da intervenção educacional envolvendo toda uma rede de apoio para a gestante no pré-natal. Para diminuição ou erradicação dos desfechos desfavoráveis da sífilis gestacional, são necessários triagem eficaz, diagnóstico precoce, testagem e sorologia da gestante e tratamento eficaz.
Intervenções educativas na promoção do estilo de vida saudável em pessoas vivendo com vírus da imunodeficiência humana: revisão sistemática
Authors: Ramalho Ane Kelly Lima , Cunha Gilmara Holanda da , Lima Maria Amanda Correia , Lopes Marcos Venícios de Oliveira , Fontenele Marina Soares Monteiro , Gomes Maria Elisa Curado , Siqueira Larissa Rodrigues , Moreira Lavna Albuquerque , Antunes Laura Orlando , Fechine Francisco Vagnaldo
Published: February 2022

Introdução: A terapia antirretroviral fez da infecção pelo vírus da imunodeficiência humana uma condição crônica, tornando as práticas de promoção da saúde relevantes para pessoas vivendo com vírus da imunodeficiência humana. Ademais, o estresse e estigma podem levar esses pacientes a adotarem um estilo de vida pouco saudável. Objetivo: Analisar a produção científica sobre intervenções educativas para estilo de vida mais saudável em pessoas vivendo com vírus da imunodeficiência humana. Métodos: Revisão sistemática realizada em setembro de 2020 nas bases de dados Scopus, MEDLINE, LILACS, IBECS e Web of Science. Utilizaram-se os descritores controlados Educational Technology, HIV e Clinical Trial, o descritor não controlado Educational Intervention e operadores booleanos AND e OR. A pergunta norteadora foi: “O que estudam os ensaios clínicos envolvendo intervenções educativas para o estilo de vida saudável em pessoas vivendo com vírus da imunodeficiência humana?”. Revisão registrada no International Prospective Register of Ongoing Systematic Reviews, com n. CRD42020197591. Critérios de inclusão: estudos do tipo ensaio clínico randomizado, completos, disponíveis eletronicamente em qualquer idioma. Critérios de exclusão: estudos com crianças, adolescentes e gestantes. Resultados: Foram encontrados 1.676 artigos, 1.665 excluídos e 11 selecionados. O ano de publicação variou entre 2006 e 2020. O risco de viés foi avaliado pela ferramenta Risk-of-Bias tool for randomized trials (RoB 2.0). Estudos foram agrupados em duas categorias: 1. Intervenções educativas envolvendo tecnologia como processo: quatro estudos que utilizaram técnicas de entrevista motivacional, aconselhamento cognitivo-comportamental, metodologia psicoeducativa, psicoterapia e modelo de crenças em saúde; 2. Intervenções educativas envolvendo tecnologia como produto: sete artigos que utilizaram mensagens ou chamadas telefônicas, cartilha educativa, folheto e fita de áudio. Conclusão: As intervenções melhoraram o estilo de vida das pessoas vivendo com vírus da imunodeficiência humana, sendo mais efetivas aquelas que associaram tecnologia como processo e tecnologia como produto em detrimento das intervenções que usaram somente tecnologia como produto.