Northeastern Pennsylvania Research Articles

The Legacy of Extraction

The Legacy of Extraction

Geochemical evidence for possible natural migration of Marcellus Formation brine to shallow aquifers in Pennsylvania

The debate surrounding the safety of shale gas development in the Appalachian Basin has generated increased awareness of drinking water quality in rural communities. Concerns include the potential for migration of stray gas, metal-rich formation brines, and hydraulic fracturing and/or flowback fluids to drinking water aquifers. A critical question common to these environmental risks is the hydraulic connectivity between the shale gas formations and the overlying shallow drinking water aquifers. We present geochemical evidence from northeastern Pennsylvania showing that pathways, unrelated to recent drilling activities, exist in some locations between deep underlying formations and shallow drinking water aquifers. Integration of chemical data (Br, Cl, Na, Ba, Sr, and Li) and isotopic ratios ((87)Sr/(86)Sr, (2)H/H, (18)O/(16)O, and (228)Ra/(226)Ra) from this and previous studies in 426 shallow groundwater samples and 83 northern Appalachian brine samples suggest that mixing relationships between shallow ground water and a deep formation brine causes groundwater salinization in some locations. The strong geochemical fingerprint in the salinized (Cl > 20 mg/L) groundwater sampled from the Alluvium, Catskill, and Lock Haven aquifers suggests possible migration of Marcellus brine through naturally occurring pathways. The occurrences of saline water do not correlate with the location of shale-gas wells and are consistent with reported data before rapid shale-gas development in the region; however, the presence of these fluids suggests conductive pathways and specific geostructural and/or hydrodynamic regimes in northeastern Pennsylvania that are at increased risk for contamination of shallow drinking water resources, particularly by fugitive gases, because of natural hydraulic connections to deeper formations.

Investigation of an outbreak of besnoitiosis in donkeys in northeastern Pennsylvania

To describe the clinical, endoscopic, and serologic features of an outbreak of besnoitiosis in 2 donkey operations in northeastern Pennsylvania and to report the outcome of attempted treatment of 1 naturally infected individual. Observational study. 29 donkeys (Equus asinus) in northeastern Pennsylvania. Donkeys were examined for lesions suggestive of besnoitiosis in an outbreak investigation. Information was collected regarding the history and signalment of animals on each premises. Rhinolaryngoscopy was performed to identify nasopharyngeal and laryngeal lesions. Serum samples were collected for immunofluorescent antibody testing and immunoblotting for Besnoitia spp. Skin biopsy samples were obtained from 8 animals with lesions suggestive of besnoitiosis for histologic examination. Quantitative real-time PCR assay for Besnoitia spp was performed on tissue samples from 5 animals. Besnoitiosis was confirmed in 6 of the 8 suspected cases. The most common lesion site was the nares, followed by the skin and sclera. Donkeys with clinical signs of disease had higher serum antibody titers and tested positive for a greater number of immunoblot bands than did donkeys without clinical signs of disease. All animals evaluated by PCR assay tested positive. Putative risk factors for disease included age and sex. Ponazuril was not effective at treating besnoitiosis in a naturally infected donkey. Knowledge of clinical and serologic features of besnoitiosis in donkeys will assist clinicians in the diagnosis and prevention of this disease in donkey populations. Besnoitiosis may be an emerging disease of donkeys in the United States.

Development, Land Use, and Collective Trauma: The Marcellus Shale Gas Boom in Rural Pennsylvania

AbstractThis article describes a place and people undergoing rapid transition using some of the preliminary findings from two years of ongoing ethnographic field work. Through exploring what ethnographic evidence is revealing concerning the impacts of Marcellus shale gas development in Bradford County, in Northeastern Pennsylvania, I illustrate the ways that rapid social and economic change processes are impacting daily lives and community dynamics in one traditionally agricultural and rural place. I provide a broad overview of the social history and current social dynamics in order to understand the significance of the short‐term changes agricultural landowners and other local residents have witnessed and experienced. I discuss some of the most significant short‐term changes in quality of life as seen by a small group of agricultural landowners, in relation to the cultural significance of place, home, and family, and what this tells us about the sociocultural and psychological impacts of rapid energy development. Finally, I comment on what my ethnographic data show so far with regard to the short‐ and long‐term individual and collective impacts being experienced in this one community.

Moravians in the Eighteenth-Century Atlantic World

ABSTRACT In its first sixty years, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, went from being an energetic hub of evangelical outreach to a quiet retreat in the northeastern Pennsylvania hills. During the settlement's early decades, the Moravians took advantage of Britain's broad pro-Protestant policies and of the expanding Atlantic economy. Deep engagement also brought friction, however. This article argues that Bethlehem's retreat resulted from its very engagement in the wider British Atlantic world and from the difficulties caused by the Moravians' desire to remain a distinct community in a rapidly changing political and religious environment.

Abstract P392: Utilization of Electronic Medical Records to Identify Risk Factors for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

Introduction: Electronic medical records (EMR) contain a wealth of phenotypic information with high potential to replace costly traditional epidemiological methods for purposes such as determining disease risk factors. EMRs designed for clinical and billing applications frequently do not meet the standardization and quality of data essential for biomedical research. Hypothesis: Using abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) as a model, we assessed the hypothesis that utilizing EMR in a retrospective study is comparable to traditional epidemiologic methods for risk factor assessment of a complex disease. Methods: The Geisinger Health System is the main health provider serving a highly stable population in central and northeastern Pennsylvania. Clinical and diagnostic data from January 2004 to December 2009 were extracted from the Geisinger EMR. The study population consisted of cases diagnosed with AAA ( n =964) and controls without AAA from the Geisinger MyCode ® biobanking repository ( n =14,555). The de-identified dataset was cleaned and formatted for research purposes. Data were analyzed unmatched, then cases were matched to controls on the confounders of sex, age, body mass index and smoking status. Matching was performed randomly, by propensity score and by group-frequency procedures. Bootstrap replication procedures (with and without replacement) confirmed the reproducibility of the results. Results: We replicated the direction and magnitude of several risk factors commonly noted in traditional epidemiologic AAA studies. Type 2 diabetes was associated with a decreased risk (OR=0.61, 95%CI 0.40–0.93). Peripheral artery disease (OR=2.94, 95%CI 1.81–4.78), kidney disease (OR=2.78, 95%CI 1.68–4.61), coronary occlusive disease (OR=2.64, 95%CI 1.79–3.88), cranial artery occlusive disease (OR=4.82, 95%CI 2.84–8.16), and pulmonary disease (OR=2.14, 95%CI 1.44–3.20) were all associated with an increased risk of AAA. In our population, the diagnosis of benign neoplasms was significantly inversely associated with AAA, a novel finding (OR=0.55, 95%CI 0.38–0.80). Pulse pressure was the most significant measure of hypertension associated with AAA (OR of 1.25 per 10 mmHg). Conclusions: This study demonstrated that EMR data can be feasibly used to assess risk factors and identify new associations. These findings could serve to enhance the current AAA screening guidelines to more efficiently target patients and increase screening utilization.

Geochemical and Strontium Isotope Characterization of Produced Waters from Marcellus Shale Natural Gas Extraction

Extraction of natural gas by hydraulic fracturing of the Middle Devonian Marcellus Shale, a major gas-bearing unit in the Appalachian Basin, results in significant quantities of produced water containing high total dissolved solids (TDS). We carried out a strontium (Sr) isotope investigation to determine the utility of Sr isotopes in identifying and quantifying the interaction of Marcellus Formation produced waters with other waters in the Appalachian Basin in the event of an accidental release, and to provide information about the source of the dissolved solids. Strontium isotopic ratios of Marcellus produced waters collected over a geographic range of ~375 km from southwestern to northeastern Pennsylvania define a relatively narrow set of values (ε(Sr)(SW) = +13.8 to +41.6, where ε(Sr) (SW) is the deviation of the (87)Sr/(86)Sr ratio from that of seawater in parts per 10(4)); this isotopic range falls above that of Middle Devonian seawater, and is distinct from most western Pennsylvania acid mine drainage and Upper Devonian Venango Group oil and gas brines. The uniformity of the isotope ratios suggests a basin-wide source of dissolved solids with a component that is more radiogenic than seawater. Mixing models indicate that Sr isotope ratios can be used to sensitively differentiate between Marcellus Formation produced water and other potential sources of TDS into ground or surface waters.

The borders of integration: Polish migrants in Germany and the United States, 1870-1924

The issues of immigration and integration are at the forefront of contemporary politics. Yet debates over foreign workers and the desirability of their incorporation into European and American societies too often are discussed without a sense of history. McCook’s examination questions static assumptions about race and white immigrant assimilation a hundred years ago, highlighting how the Polish immigrant experience is relevant to present-day immigration debates on both sides of the Atlantic. Further, his research shows the complexity of attitudes toward immigration in Germany and the United States, challenging historical myths surrounding German national identity and the American “melting pot.”In a comparative study of Polish migrants who settled in the Ruhr Valley and northeastern Pennsylvania, McCook shows that in both regions, Poles become active citizens within their host societies through engagement in social conflict within the public sphere to defend their ethnic, class, gender, and religious interests. While adapting to the Ruhr and northeastern Pennsylvania, Poles simultaneously retained strong bonds with Poland, through remittances, the exchange of letters, newspapers, and frequent return migration. In this analysis of migration in a globalizing world, McCook highlights the multifaceted ways in which immigrants integrate into society, focusing in particular on how Poles created and utilized transnational spaces to mobilize and attain authentic and more permanent identities grounded in newer broadly conceived notions of citizenship.

The Effect of Early Geriatric Exposure upon Career Development and Subspecialty Selection Among Physician Assistant Students

The elderly population is increasing. So too is the demand for geriatric medical care. Currently, there are too few practitioners to meet the expanding need for geriatric health services. Physician assistants (PAs) can help bridge this gap. A descriptive, quantitative study assessing PA students of five Pennsylvania programs and their level of geriatric training and subsequent career specialty selection was conducted. The study consisted of a 10-question survey regarding student exposure to geriatric patients, type of exposure, and career plans. The study concluded that although the majority indicated both geriatric coursework (61.9%) and clinical exposure (54.2%) to geriatric patients in the first year of training, Pennsylvania PA students expressed little interest in specializing in geriatric medicine. Present findings indicate current geriatric curricula and exposure of PA students to the elderly may be inadequate to influence PA students in northeastern Pennsylvania to choose to specialize in geriatric medicine. Further research and findings from this study indicate using a multifaceted approach to geriatric education including more frequent positive interactions with elderly patients, and enhancing geriatric clinical exposure may result in increased interest of PA students in geriatric medicine. Additionally, the provision of a financial incentive may influence current PA students to more strongly consider a practice in geriatrics. These changes could potentially help increase the number of PAs interested in geriatrics as a career choice and facilitate PAs filling the anticipated gap between elderly medical needs and available health care providers.

The Effects of Deer Exclosures on Voles and Shrews in Two Forest Habitats

- White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) have overbrowsed much of the hemlock-mixed northern hardwood forest in northeastern Pennsylvania. I investigated the possible deleterious effect of this overbrowsing on 4 ground-cover-dependent small-mammal species through the use of deer exclosures. From May through September 1996–2005,4 * 10 Sherman live-trap grids were placed in two 0.65-ha exclosures and their adjacent control sites in forest heavily browsed by deer. One exclosure was located beneath a primarily oak-maple canopy and the other exclosure under Tsuga canadensis (Eastern Hemlock). More Myodes gapperi (Southern Red-backed Vole) were captured in the oak-maple grids than in the hemlock grids and more M. gapperi were taken in the oak-maple exclosure than in the neighboring control. Microtus pinetorum (Woodland Vole) first appeared at the grids six years after the exclosure construction, and a large majority were taken in the oak-maple exclosure. Of Blarina brevicauda (Northern Short-tailed Shrew) captured at the grids, 80% were taken in the oak-maple grids and 58% in the oak-maple exclosure. Beginning in 2000, most of Sorex cinereus (Masked Shrew) captured were taken in the oakmaple habitat. Most of those trapped under the oak-maple canopy were taken in the control. These observations suggest that heavy deer browsing may depress populations of M. gapperi, M. pinetorum, and B. brevicauda, but not Sorex cinereus.

Voice onset time in Indian English-accented speech

The purpose of this study was to determine possible differences in voice onset time (VOT) between speakers of standard American English (AE) and Indian English (IE) in a continuous speech context. The participants were 20 AE speakers, who were native to the Northeastern Pennsylvania region, and 20 IE speakers from the Indian subcontinent who had been residing in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Each subject read a phonetically balanced passage in a comfortable and natural speaking voice, and the recordings were analysed using a combination of waveform and spectrographic analyses. Results indicate that a reduced +VOT appears to characterise IE accent in comparison to AE. In addition, a difference in VOT between genders was observed in AE speakers but not in IE speakers.

Methane contamination of drinking water caused by hydraulic fracturing remains unproven

Shale gas extraction involves the drilling of organic-rich, low-permeability shale and then stimulation of hydraulic fractures that allows gas to be produced. Methane in aquifers located above the shale strata, for instance, in Pennsylvania, United States, has been attributed by some to be the result of contamination caused by the hydraulic fracturing process. The work by Osborn et al. (1) described geochemical data from 68 drinking water wells in northeastern Pennsylvania and upstate New York and evaluated whether the aquifers that the water wells penetrated were contaminated with thermogenic methane sourced from the underlying Marcellus and Utica shale formations. The work by Osborn et al. (1) concluded that contamination had occurred and that the contamination accompanied gas well drilling and hydraulic fracturing. The inference from the text and title of the paper is clear—hydraulic fracturing had a role. However, the evidential basis for implicating this specific process is not sound and needs to be closely scrutinized.

Negotiating the Marcellus: The Role of Information in Building Trust in Extractive Deals

New technology has expanded the opportunities for energy companies within the United States, often bringing them into populated communities and requiring them to negotiate deals with landowners. This case study focuses on how one group of landowners in northeastern Pennsylvania creatively reimagined the process of negotiating in a natural gas deal. They used collective bargaining for leverage, and the Internet and social media to level the informational playing field. These techniques allowed them to develop trust within the group and ultimately with one company, as they sought to protect their environment and enhance their financial gain.

Methane contamination of drinking water accompanying gas-well drilling and hydraulic fracturing

Directional drilling and hydraulic-fracturing technologies are dramatically increasing natural-gas extraction. In aquifers overlying the Marcellus and Utica shale formations of northeastern Pennsylvania and upstate New York, we document systematic evidence for methane contamination of drinking water associated with shale-gas extraction. In active gas-extraction areas (one or more gas wells within 1 km), average and maximum methane concentrations in drinking-water wells increased with proximity to the nearest gas well and were 19.2 and 64 mg CH(4) L(-1) (n = 26), a potential explosion hazard; in contrast, dissolved methane samples in neighboring nonextraction sites (no gas wells within 1 km) within similar geologic formations and hydrogeologic regimes averaged only 1.1 mg L(-1) (P < 0.05; n = 34). Average δ(13)C-CH(4) values of dissolved methane in shallow groundwater were significantly less negative for active than for nonactive sites (-37 ± 7‰ and -54 ± 11‰, respectively; P < 0.0001). These δ(13)C-CH(4) data, coupled with the ratios of methane-to-higher-chain hydrocarbons, and δ(2)H-CH(4) values, are consistent with deeper thermogenic methane sources such as the Marcellus and Utica shales at the active sites and matched gas geochemistry from gas wells nearby. In contrast, lower-concentration samples from shallow groundwater at nonactive sites had isotopic signatures reflecting a more biogenic or mixed biogenic/thermogenic methane source. We found no evidence for contamination of drinking-water samples with deep saline brines or fracturing fluids. We conclude that greater stewardship, data, and-possibly-regulation are needed to ensure the sustainable future of shale-gas extraction and to improve public confidence in its use.

Risk of leukemia as a result of community exposure to gasoline vapors: A follow-up study

Objectives To assess the temporal and spatial relationship of risk for total leukemia and AML (acute myelogenous leukemia) among community residents of an area in northeastern (NE) Pennsylvania (PA) affected by the Tranguch Gasoline Spill which occurred in the early 1990s. Methods Standardized incidence ratios (SIR) were calculated for total leukemia and AML among 625 residents affected by the gasoline spill in relation to both PA and local county cancer incidence rates. The risk of total leukemia and AML among the gasoline exposed population was evaluated for the period prior to the spill, 1985–1989; during the time surrounding the spill, 1990–1994; and for a period subsequent to the spill, 1995–2001. Results The incidence of total leukemia and AML was significantly elevated subsequent to the spill for the entire period 1990–2001 and was highest for the period 1995–2001, whether comparison was made to PA or local county leukemia rates. Based on comparison to PA rates, the SIRs for total leukemia and AML were 7.69 (95% CI=1.58–22.46) and 11.54 (95% CI=2.38–33.69) for the 1995–2001 period, respectively. Prior to the spill, 1985–1989, and during the period of the spill, 1990–1994, no cases of leukemia were identified among the affected residents. Conclusions These results suggest a possible association between chronic low level benzene exposure and increased risk of leukemia among residents of the Tranguch Spill Site in NE PA. Our study provides additional support to the growing body of evidence implicating low level benzene exposure and cancer risk. We recommend that other communities contaminated with gasoline vapor through leaking underground storage vessels be monitored for elevated risk of leukemia.

Response of a warm temperate peatland to Holocene climate change in northeastern Pennsylvania

Studying boreal-type peatlands near the edge of their southern limit can provide insight into responses of boreal and sub-arctic peatlands to warmer climates. In this study, we investigated peatland history using multi-proxy records of sediment composition, plant macrofossil, pollen, and diatom analysis from a 14C-dated sediment core at Tannersville Bog in northeastern Pennsylvania, USA. Our results indicate that peat accumulation began with lake infilling of a glacial lake at ~ 9 ka as a rich fen dominated by brown mosses. It changed to a poor fen dominated by Cyperaceae (sedges) and Sphagnum (peat mosses) at ~ 1.4 ka and to a Sphagnum-dominated poor fen at ~ 200 cal yr BP (~ AD 1750). Apparent carbon accumulation rates increased from 13.4 to 101.2 g C m − 2 yr − 1 during the last 8000 yr, with a time-averaged mean of 27.3 g C m − 2 yr − 1 . This relatively high accumulation rate, compared to many northern peatlands, was likely caused by high primary production associated with a warmer and wetter temperate climate. This study implies that some northern peatlands can continue to serve as carbon sinks under a warmer and wetter climate, providing a negative feedback to climate warming.

An Analysis Of Women Educators In Higher Education And Their Perceptions Of The Use Of Technology In Improving Teacher Effectiveness: A Study In Instructional Technology

An understanding of the relationships among the integration of computer technology by women educators in higher education and effective teaching could have a significant impact on education. Pennsylvania Universities and Colleges have made their commitment to educational technology and provided support for the implementation of such technology. Currently, we have little empirical evidence to show that the use of computer technology by women educators actually does improve learning. Incumbent upon this commitment to educational technology, women educators have a right to ask if their investment of time and effort in learning how to use and implement the technology will produce significant benefits for their students. This research developed a survey instrument to rank statements and gain an understanding of the perceptions of women in higher education concerning the integration of computer technology and teacher effectiveness. The methods used to develop the instrument involved the analysis of relevant research, construction of appropriate items, identification of the population sample, validity and reliability, and pilot testing. The population under study was limited to two Colleges and one University in Northeastern Pennsylvania during the spring and fall semesters of 2007. The results indicated that the women surveyed felt teacher effectiveness is most strongly associated with the availability of technology tools to collect data for the purposes of instructional planning. Conversely, participants felt that teacher effectiveness was not strongly associated with lesson sequences that integrate technology resources, implementation of procedures consistent with school policies that protect the privacy of electronic student data, and demonstration of ethical behaviors regarding the use of technology.

A regional model of interprofessional education

This paper describes the innovative features of the first regional model of interprofessional education (IPE) in the US, developed by The Commonwealth Medical College, Scranton, PA, USA, as a new, independent, community-based medical school in northeastern Pennsylvania. Essential educational components include collaborative care seminars, interprofessional sessions, simulations, live web-based seminars and newly innovative virtual environment interactive exercises. All of these elements are being integrated into the curricula of 14 undergraduate and allied professional schools, and three graduate medical education programs located in the region. Activities incorporate simulation, standardized patients, student leadership, and faculty and student facilitation. As this new regional model of interprofessional education is fully implemented, its impact will be assessed using both quantitative and qualitative outcomes measurements. Appropriate ongoing modifications to the model will be made to ensure improvement and further applicability to collaborative learning.

Serum vitamin D levels among patients in a clinical oncology practice compared to primary care patients in the same community: a case–control study

ObjectivesLow serum vitamin D levels have been associated with risk for certain malignancies, but studies have not directly analysed levels between community oncology and primary care practices. The purpose of...

NURSING EDUCATION AND MENTAL HEALTH CARE IN SWEDEN: Impressions from a Faculty Exchange with the University of Växjö

Abstract A SABBATICAL LEAVE during the spring of 1999 has led to an ongoing exchange program between CEDAR CREST COLLEGE, a small women's liberal arts college located in northeastern Pennsylvania, and the UNIVERSITY OF VAXJO, a major regional university in southeastern Sweden. The author visited the University of Vaxjo to pursue her research interest in transcultural nursing and health care and to exchange information on nursing education and practice, with a focus on mental health nursing and health care. Her long-range goal was to develop further faculty and student exchanges. The first author instituted an ongoing exchange program for nursing students and faculty in a small women's liberal arts college in eastern Pennsylvania and a regional university in southeastern Sweden. A site visit to Sweden in 1999 initiated discussion of differences in educational methodologies and mental health care between Sweden and the United States. This visit served as the basis for continued interaction between the two i...