Union County Research Articles

Extreme Weather Disruptions and Emergency Preparedness Among Older Adults in Ohio: An Eight-County Assessment

The disproportionate risks and impacts of climate change and extreme weather on older adults are increasingly evident. While especially true in disaster-prone areas, human-caused climate change introduces an element of uncertainty even in previously identified “safe” regions such as the Midwestern United States. Using a cumulative disadvantage and vulnerability-informed framework and descriptive statistics from multiple data sources, this article provides an overview of climate impacts, vulnerabilities, and county-level characteristics, focusing on older adults living in Central Ohio. A comparative multiple-case study methodology was used to triangulate regionally representative primary and secondary data sources to examine state and county-level measures of vulnerability, emergency preparedness, and disruptions caused by extreme weather among older adults across eight counties in Central Ohio. Seventy-eight percent of older adults in the sample reported being prepared for emergencies per Federal Emergency Management Agency guidelines. Older adults in Union County reported the highest rates of preparedness, while those in Fayette County reported the lowest. County-level rates of disruption of life activities by extreme weather ranged widely. Among the most rural in the region, Fayette County emerged as uniquely disadvantaged, with the lowest median income, the most vulnerable across multiple social vulnerability dimensions, and the most reported disruptions to life activities from extreme weather. County profiles offer a snapshot of existing vulnerabilities, socioeconomic conditions, special needs, preparedness, and current disruptions among older adults in the region and can inform resource mobilization across community and policy contexts.

Living on the edge: nature preserves as an oasis for birds, bats, and other mammals in the urban desert and concrete jungle

Increasing urbanization threatens a variety of vital vertebrate habitats, including those of birds, and both terrestrial and aerial mammals. Nature preserves near urban centers at the rural/urban interface may harbor natural areas which can help to offset loss of habitat as cities expand. Therefore, techniques which allow managers to conduct short term surveys for vertebrates are needed. I conducted non-invasive, passive camera trapping and acoustic surveys in the vicinity of the urban area of Charlotte, North Carolina across 8 sites within Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, and Union counties during summer to fall 2023 to collect data on avian and mammalian communities. Five species of bats were documented, alongside 39 birds, and 11 terrestrial mammals. Bat activity decreased consistently along the sample period whereas terrestrial mammals were consistently sampled during the same time frame, with early summer providing effective data on avian presence. Automated identification software followed by manually vetting for bats and birds was effective in documenting diversity alongside camera trapping. The results presented here provide baseline data for future monitoring to inform urban planning management strategies and future studies on the potential presence of avian and mammalian presence in nature preserves.

DELIVERY PREFERENCES (BIRTH) IN THE EUROPEAN UNION AND TRENDS BETWEEN 2010 AND 2021: EVIDENCE OF SHIFTS BEYOND PUBLIC HEALTH RECOMMENDATIONS

Methods for neonates’ delivery have evolved over the course of the years, to match the existing evidence, the access to care and the personal preferences of clinicians and prospective mothers. While clinical evidence points towards recommendations to reduce the rates of deliveries using surgical procedures (i.e., Caesarean delivery or c-section) in favour of natural deliveries and its variations; the evidence suggest that trends points in the other direction. This paper explores the trends within European Union counties, the changes over time and explore potential explanations for the dichotomy between recommendations and actual practices

Looking Back, Looking Ahead: Lessons Learned from the Pandemic (Are we Prepared for the Next Pandemic)

The sudden closure of library buildings and physical spaces due to the pandemic spurred academic librarians to devise new ways to support students, most of whom continued their studies remotely. How did individual academic libraries respond to this health emergency, and what did the library professionals learn from the experience? This case study compares the lessons learned at three academic libraries during this unprecedented time. The three academic libraries are a medium size community college (Union College of Union County, NJ), a small private college (Mercy College, Dobbs Ferry, NY), and a large state university (Montclair State University, NJ). The initial plan was to compare each institution's pre- and post-COVID-19 periods. However, it is difficult to ascertain whether a post-COVID-19 state has been achieved. As a result, this case study will focus on the successful and not so successful strategies and the temporary measures instituted in response to the health crisis.

Variation in the shell elements of Chrysemys picta bellii (Gray 1831)

Variation in the Shell Elements of Chrysemys picta bellii (Gray 1831) Assignment of fossil turtle shell elements to a specific taxon is often difficult because the range of variation within the population is usually not well characterized. In addition, it is sometimes not clear whether the fossil forms actually differ from their extant counterparts because often the range of shell element variation in modern species has not been determined. The emydid turtles are no exception, with confusion often arising in the identification of isolated fossil elements and sometimes intact shells representing Emys, Pseudemys, Malaclemys, and Graptemys, as well as the deirochelyids Chrysemys, Clemmys, Deirochelys, and Trachemys. In order to begin providing a database with modern counterparts of the deirochelyid turtles, I have photographed and illustrated seven extant Chrysemys picta bellii shells, six of which were collected at a single pond in Nebraska and one from Ladd Marsh in Union County, Oregon . Photographs and detailed illustrations indicate a broad range in the shapes of many characters. Side by side comparisons of some key elements show that there is significant variation in several important characters (nuchal shape/sulci, entoplastron shape/sulci, and pygal shape/sulci). I also conducted a limited morphometric analysis of several sulcus/suture distance ratios, showing substantial variation between individuals in some cases. Covariance and correlation analysis of this variation suggests that allometry is not involved in most cases. In summary, this work provides a visual and morphometric dataset for aid in identifying and assigning shell elements of fossil emydid turtles.

Going Back to Grassland? Assessing the Impact of Groundwater Decline on Irrigated Agriculture Using Remote Sensing Data

Climate change has increased agricultural drought risk in arid/semi-arid regions globally. One of the common adaptation strategies is shifting to more drought-tolerant crops or switching back to grassland permanently. In many drought-prone areas, groundwater dynamics play a critical role in agricultural production and drought management. This study aims to help understand how groundwater level decline affects the propensity of cropland switching back to grassland. Taking Union County of New Mexico (US) as a case study, field-scale groundwater level projections and high-resolution remote sensing data on crop choices are integrated to explore the impact of groundwater level decline in a regression analysis framework. The results show that cropland has been slowly but permanently switching back to grassland as the groundwater level in the Ogallala Aquifer continues to decline in the area. Specifically, for a one-standard-deviation decline in groundwater level (36.95 feet or 11.26 m), the average likelihood of switching back to grassland increases by 1.85% (the 95% confidence interval is [0.07%, 3.58%]). The findings account for the fact that farmers usually explore other options (such as more drought-tolerant crops, land idling, and rotation) before switching back to grassland permanently. The paper concludes by exploring relevant policy implications for land (soil) and water conservation in the long run.

Potential Role of Intensive Bird Growing during Outbreaks of Viral Zoonosis in Ukraine, Russian Federation, Kazakhstan and Belarus (on the Model Viruses Highly Pathogenic Influenza and Newcastle Diseases): Systematic Review

The paper highlights the impact of two cross-border poultry infections with zoonotic potential (avian flu and Newcastle disease) on the functioning of industrial poultry farms in the former Soviet Union counties (Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan), where the poultry industry is fairly well-developed. Despite the permanent vaccination of poultry against Newcastle disease in industrial poultry farming, the disease still affects individual farms in Ukraine, the Russian Federation, and Kazakhstan. In case of outbreaks, the Russian Federation and Kazakhstan use inactivated influenza vaccines. In Ukraine, for almost 20 years, outbreaks of influenza have been confirmed mainly on individual farms, and one outbreak of highly pathogenic influenza was reported on an industrial poultry farm in 2020. In the Russian Federation, highly pathogenic influenza occurs on industrial poultry farms more often. In Russia, seven industrial poultry enterprises were affected by influenza in 2016-2017, and eight in 2018. Infection of poultry with influenza virus on poultry factory farms is an indication of shortcomings in compliance with biosecurity measures. Influenza and Newcastle disease are always likely to occur in the countries in question, as wild birds migrate through their territory, and they are a reservoir of pathogens, therefore outbreaks are often associated with spring and autumn migrations of wild birds. In all of said countries, a large number of poultry is kept by individual households, where basic biosecurity, sanitation and preventive vaccination measures are not applied. This component is often crucial in bringing viral infections such as influenza and Newcastle disease on large poultry farms. As a result, the virus is brought onto poultry farms by synanthropic birds, humans, transport, feed, etc.

Gill Parasites of the Cypress Minnow, Hybognathus hayi Jordan (Cypriniformes: Leuciscidae), in South Arkansas

A survey of gill parasites was conducted in July 2019 on a small sample of cypress minnow, Hybognathus hayi Jordan, from Calion Lake, Union County, Arkansas (Ouachita River drainage). Six of 9 (67%) specimens harbored parasites, including ciliates Ichthyophthirius multifiliis Fouquet, 1876, and an undetermined Trichodina sp., a myxozoan, Myxobolus sp., and a monogenean, Dactylogyrus nuchalis Wood and Mizelle, 1957, in 2 (22%). Dactylogyrus hankinsoni Hanek, Molnar, and Fernando, 1975, was found in 3 (33%) of the host specimens. All 5 taxa of these gill-inhabiting parasites are reported for the first time from H. hayi, and the monogeneans are documented as new geographic distribution records in Arkansas.

Updated Key to the North American Species of Euceratocerus LeConte, with a New State Record for Euceratocerus gibbifrons White (Coleoptera: Ptinidae) from North Carolina, USA

Euceratocerus gibbifrons White is reported as a new state record for North Carolina. Specimens were collected in Union County by operating a UV (black light) trap at an aging log pile. Photos of the dorsal habitus, lateral habitus, and antennae of males and females of all three US species (E. gibbifrons, Euceratocerus hornii LeConte, and Euceratocerus parvus White) are presented along with an illustration of the only species known from Mexico (Euceratocerus argenteus White). Photos of the dorsal habitus, lateral habitus, and anterior view of the head and antennae of the holotype of E. hornii are presented. Illustrations of the antennae of most species are also provided. These images are included in an updated key to the Euceratocerus LeConte species of North America. The confused taxonomic history of Euceratocerus and the possibility of synonyms are addressed.

GENETIC DIVERSITY OF CYSTODISCUS SPECIES IN AMPHIBIANS IN THE SOUTHERN UNITED STATES.

Myxosporean species in the genus Cystodiscus are parasites of amphibians and have been reported from several continents. Typically used for the identification of myxozoans, the spores produced by these species are similar to one another, possessing 2 polar capsules and being ovoid. The number of transverse depressions on the spore can be useful for delineating species, but these can sometimes be difficult to distinguish. In North America, Cystodiscus serotinus and Cystodiscus melleni have been described, and for C. serotinus in particular, numerous reports and a wide range of hosts have been associated with this species. Given the challenges of identifying some of these species, we questioned whether all encounters of Cystodiscus species can be attributed to these 2 described species, or if there may be additional undescribed species or cryptic species. Over 7 yr, 383 amphibians representing 13 species of toads, frogs, and salamanders were collected from sites in Oklahoma and Arkansas. Cystodiscus infections were found in 56 individuals (14.6%). Tissues from these infected individuals were preserved in alcohol for genetic analysis. The small subunit (SSU) and large subunit (LSU) ribosomal RNA genes were partially sequenced and analyzed phylogenetically. Nine distinct SSU sequence types and 7 distinct LSU sequence types were identified. Phylogenetically, sequence types were attributable to C. serotinus, C. melleni, Cystodiscus axonis, and an undescribed species. For the previously described species, there were multiple SSU sequence types: 4 for C. serotinus and 2 for both C. melleni and C. axonis. Phylogenetic patterns were similar for the LSU sequence analysis using a shorter sequence than the SSU, and we propose that the LSU is useful for initial barcoding of Cystodiscus species in any future surveys. In our qualitative assessment of sequence types compared to geography and host species, SSU types C1 and C2 (C. axonis) were only found in Union County, Arkansas, and McCurtain County, Oklahoma, respectively. Also, salamanders were only infected with SSU types B or D (C. melleni), and type B was only found in salamanders. Our finding of C. axonis in North America is notable because this species was described in Australia and is associated with host pathology. Our work reveals that there are cryptic species of Cystodiscus in the United States, one of which may be a pathogen, highlighting the importance of genetic analysis for future surveys of these species.

Bringing Health Care to Appalachia: The Long-Run Impact of a Rural Health Care System

The U.S. government has supported rural hospitals through direct subsidies and staff recruitment programs. However, little is known about the long-run impact of large-scale changes to rural health care. The authors explore the long-run trajectory of Appalachian counties where a coal mining union introduced a pioneering rural health care program in the 1950s, anchored by a chain of high-quality hospitals. Hospital beds per capita in counties where the union built its hospitals are persistently high through 2006, even when compared to similar counties and accounting for a variety of supply- and demand-side factors. In particular, union counties defied a national hospital consolidation trend starting in the 1980s. Results are consistent with a supply-side explanation where the scale and/or innovation of the union's investment allowed hospital markets to thrive and attract patients from a broad geography.

HIV Prevalence and Associated Factors Among Men Who have Sex with Men (MSM) in New Jersey, U.S., 2017

This study assessed the HIV prevalence among MSM in the greater Newark New Jersey area including Essex, Hudson, Morris and Union Counties and examined correlates of HIV infection among those men. By analyzing National HIV Behavioral Surveillance data on MSM from four counties in New Jersey (N = 175), which were collected via a venue-based sampling method in 2017, this study shows that HIV prevalence among all races/ethnicities (12.5-31.9%) and all age groups (15.1-47.8%) were high. Casual sex and unprotected sex with male partners were prevalent among these men, regardless of HIV test results. MSM who were tested HIV positive were more likely to have diagnosed any sexual transmitted diseases in the last 12months (AOR: 6.7; 95% CI 2.2, 21.3) and less likely to have had alcohol use in the past 12months (AOR: 0.3; 95% CI 0.1, 0.8). Findings from behavioral surveillance strengthens the response to the HIV epidemic by providing policy makers and care/prevention providers with peer reviewed data to base their decisions on.

County-Level Planning for Efficient Distribution of Emergency Medical Countermeasures with RealOpt Software.

Emergency preparedness systems plan for antibiotic distribution and vaccine administration to respond to public health threats. The arrival of a COVID-19 vaccine underscores the importance of organized logistics for rapid administration to populations. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Cities Readiness Initiative encourages frontline responders from 72 US cities and metropolitan statistical areas to use planning software, such as RealOpt-POD-v8.0.2, to design dispensing operations and predict staffing needs. However, planning can be difficult for local jurisdictions given uncertainty about how long it may take to complete various processes during a dispensing operation, including assessment of countermeasure needs for each person (eg, based on age or pregnancy status) and the careful dispensing of countermeasures and accompanying education. The Union County Health Department in Ohio gathered data on the timing of typical processes for an anthrax medical countermeasures distribution site through a small-scale drill and used these data to parameterize a RealOpt model capable of serving the rural county's population of just over 50,000 people within 24 hours. Results help fill a gap in parameterizing RealOpt-based planning models by highlighting the use of a small-scale drill to inform time estimates, which can be applied to RealOpt as part of county-level planning in advance of larger-scale drills to evaluate dispensing capabilities and effectiveness. The findings provide a methodological basis of future resource typing for adaptable and scalable dispensing, particularly for rural areas. Both the approach and resulting antibiotics dispensing schematic presented here could be tailored to support planning for population-based countermeasure administration to combat emerging pandemics.

Geospatial analysis, web-based mapping and determinants of prostate cancer incidence in Georgia counties: evidence from the 2012\u20132016 SEER data

BackgroundProstate cancer (CaP) cases are high in the United States. According to the American Cancer Society, there are an estimated number of 174,650 CaP new cases in 2019. The estimated number of deaths from CaP in 2019 is 31,620, making CaP the second leading cause of cancer deaths among American men with lung cancer been the first. Our goal is to estimate and map prostate cancer relative risk, with the ultimate goal of identifying counties at higher risk where interventions and further research can be targeted.MethodsThe 2012–2016 Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program data was used in this study. Analyses were conducted on 159 Georgia counties. The outcome variable is incident prostate cancer. We employed a Bayesian geospatial model to investigate both measured and unmeasured spatial risk factors for prostate cancer. We visualised the risk of prostate cancer by mapping the predicted relative risk and exceedance probabilities. We finally developed interactive web-based maps to guide optimal policy formulation and intervention strategies.ResultsNumber of persons above age 65 years and below poverty, higher median family income, number of foreign born and unemployed were risk factors independently associated with prostate cancer risk in the non-spatial model. Except for the number of foreign born, all these risk factors were also significant in the spatial model with the same direction of effects. Substantial geographical variations in prostate cancer incidence were found in the study. The predicted mean relative risk was 1.20 with a range of 0.53 to 2.92. Individuals residing in Towns, Clay, Union, Putnam, Quitman, and Greene counties were at increased risk of prostate cancer incidence while those residing in Chattahoochee were at the lowest risk of prostate cancer incidence.ConclusionOur results can be used as an effective tool in the identification of counties that require targeted interventions and further research by program managers and policy makers as part of an overall strategy in reducing the prostate cancer burden in Georgia State and the United States as a whole.

Re-Imagining Our Story: Creating a Virtual Summer Reading Program

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Union County Library System (UCLS) opted to solely offer virtual programming for our popular Summer Reading Program. This article focuses on the background, planning, and implementation in creating and executing a fun and innovative summer experience for our community and patrons, including a gamification twist to incentivize our participants.

Court rules in favor of college

Case name: Kellish v. Union County College, No. A‐1445‐18T1 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 10/09/19).

Court rules in favor of college

Case name: Kellish v. Union County College, No. A‐1445‐18T1 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 10/09/19).

New Country Record for Clambus formosanus japonicus EndröDyyounga (Coleoptera: Clambidae) from the USA, with an Updated Key to the Species of Clambus Fischer von Waldheim of North America North of Mexico

Clambus formosanus japonicus Endrödy-Younga is reported as a new country record for the USA. Specimens were collected in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina by processing decaying grass clippings with a litter reducer followed by Winkler or Berlese funnel extraction. Specimens were also collected in Union County, North Carolina using a UV light trap. These collections increase the known fauna of Clambus Fischer von Waldheim in North America north of Mexico to 11 species. Habitus photographs and illustrations of the genitalia of C. formosanus japonicus are included. An updated key to the Clambus species of North America north of Mexico is provided.

Planning for Future Solar Farm Development in North Carolina: A Geographic Food Energy-Water Approach

North Carolina (NC) is a large producer of utility-scale solar power and most of the photovoltaics are located on former agricultural lands (solar farms). In 2017 4% of NC power was generated by solar, but plans are in place for higher percentages, which could have consequences for food production and water quality. Geospatial data sets were used to characterize NC watersheds by solar farm development potential. Twenty-seven watersheds were identified as good candidates due to abundance of agricultural lands, presence of high-power transmission lines, and existence of agriculturally impaired waterbodies. These watersheds were somewhat distributed throughout the state, but especially focused in Union County, and 33% contain at least one solar farm. An energy generation model found that for the 27 targeted watersheds, only 2.6% of agricultural land would need to be converted to increase solar's energy portfolio to 5%; and 21.7% would need to be converted to increase it to 12.5%.

EXPLORING THE NEXUS BETWEEN TAX REVENUE TRENDS AND SOCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS DEVELOPMENT IN EUROPEAN UNION COUNTRIES

The purpose of the research: to analyze the main tendencies of the tax revenue and social contributions in EU countries, to study the hypothesis concerning convergence of the annual growth rates of the total tax revenue (including social contributions) to the GDP in European Union countries during the last decade and to build the predicted values for the total tax revenue (including social contributions) as GDP percentage in EU countries. The research was conducted based on the time serious analysis) and forecasting method to predict data values of the total revenue to the GDP. The analysis presented in the research has shown that tax revenues in the main tax categories displayed a corresponding pattern, with a differing fiscal lag for direct taxes, indirect taxes and social contributions. Correlation analysis has shown that many countries of EU essentially correlate ratio of the total tax revenues to the GDP. Using the presented models for the time series of the total revenue to the GDP in Eiropenean Union counties, the predicted values were obtained. The research has shown that some countries have common characters of the total revenue, and some gruop of countries has varies. Regardless of the declaration of the common economic policy in EU, as well as levy system in EU, the research has noticed some differences in the total revenues concerning the GDP trends. The impact of possible convergence in tax burden policy in EU countries explains these differences.In order to harmonize tax policy and to increase the fiscal role of taxation in the EU countries, such measures are proposed: application of unified procedures and conditions of administration of taxes and other budget revenues; differentiation of tax rates and establishment of the upper limit of their size; introduction of a unified tax base; differentiation of objects of taxation with the purpose of increase of tax revenues to the budget and avoiding increase of tax burden for population and others.