New Jersey

The host-feeding patterns of Anopheles quadrimaculatus Say and Anopheles punctipennis (Say) were examined in order to evaluate their potential contributions to the transmission of eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEv) and other arboviruses in the northeastern U.S.A. Engorged mosquitoes of the two species were collected from EEEv foci in central New York (NY) and throughout New Jersey (NJ), and their bloodmeals were identified using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assay and sequencing portions of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. Analysis of 131 An. quadrimaculatus and 107 An. punctipennis from NY revealed that 97.7% and 97.2%, respectively, had acquired blood solely from mammalian hosts. Similarly, examination of 288 An. quadrimaculatus and 127 An. punctipennis from NJ showed 100% and 96.0%, respectively, contained mammalian-derived bloodmeals. Mosquitoes containing mixed bloodmeals from both avian and mammalian hosts were detected in 1.6% of An. quadrimaculatus from NY, and 2.8% and 4.0% of An. punctipennis from NY and NJ, respectively. White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) constituted the most common vertebrate host for these anopheline mosquitoes, accounting for 85.8-97.7% of all bloodmeals identified. The predominance of white-tailed deer as a source of bloodmeals supports enzootic amplification of deer-associated arboviruses in this region, including Jamestown Canyon, Cache Valley and Potosi viruses. One horse-and two human-derived bloodmeals were also detected in An. quadrimaculatus collected in NJ. Limited avian-derived bloodmeals were detected from mourning dove (Zenaida macroura), sharp-shinned hawk (Accipiter striatus) and house finch (Carpodacus mexicanus), mostly in mixed bloodmeals. Occasional feeding on avian hosts suggests that these mosquitoes may participate as epizootic-epidemic bridge vectors of EEEv from viraemic birds to mammalian hosts of concern, including horses and humans. An isolate of EEEv was recovered from the head and thorax of an An. punctipennis mosquito collected in NY.

Deteriorative environmental conditions in environmental justice (EJ) communities not only post direct health risks such as chronic illnesses, but also cause emotional distress such as anxiety, fear, and anger among residents, which may further exacerbate health risks. This study applies a descriptive phenomenological method to explore and describe the emotional experience of residents living in Ironbound, a known EJ community located in Newark, New Jersey. Twenty-three residents participated in the study. Four essential themes regarding the residents' emotional experiences were elicited from 43 interviews: (1) being worried about the harmful effects of the surrounding pollution; (2) being distressed by the known historical pollution sources; (3) being frustrated by the unheard voices and/or lack of responses; and (4) being angered by the ongoing pollution sources. Participants not only expressed their emotions of worry, distress, frustration, and anger in detail but also described reasons or situations that provoked such negative emotions. Such detailed depictions provide insights into potential meaningful strategies to improve residents' psychological wellbeing by alleviating negative emotions and meaningfully engaging residents in developing, implementing, and enforcing environmental laws, regulations, and policies to achieve EJ goals.

The purpose of this study was to quantify the nitrogen (N) inputs to 34 estuaries on the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts of the United States. Total nitrogen (TN) inputs ranged from 1 kg N ha Ϫ1 yr Ϫ1 for Upper Laguna Madre, Texas, to 49 kg N ha Ϫ1 yr Ϫ1 for Massachusetts Bay, Massachusetts. TN inputs to 11 of the 34 estuaries were dominated by urban N sources (point sources and septic systems) and nonpoint source N runoff (5% of total); point sources accounted for 36-86% of the TN inputs to these 11 urban-dominated estuaries. TN inputs to 20 of the 34 estuaries were dominated by agricultural N sources; N fertilization was the dominant source (46% of the total), followed by manure (32% of the total) and N fixation by crops (16% of the total). Atmospheric deposition (runoff from watershed plus direct deposition to the surface of the estuary) was the dominant N source for three estuaries (

Background and Purpose A hospital-based pediatric outpatient center, wanting to weave evidence into practice, initiated an update of knowledge, skills, and documentation patterns with its staff physical therapists and occupational therapists who treat people with congenital muscular torticollis (CMT). This case report describes 2 cycles of implementation: (1) the facilitators and barriers to implementation and (2) selected quality improvement outcomes aligned with published clinical practice guidelines (CPGs). Case Description The Pediatric Therapy Services of St Joseph's Regional Medical Center in New Jersey has 4 full-time, 1 part-time, and 3 per diem staff. Chart audits in 2012 revealed variations in measurement, interventions, and documentation that led to quality improvement initiatives. An iterative process, loosely following the knowledge-to-action cycle, included a series of in-service training sessions to review the basic anatomy, pathokinesiology, and treatment strateg...

Introduction: This correlational study developed and tested theory to better understand positive health practices (PHPs) in middle adolescents. It tested theoretic relationships postulated between PHPs and (a) social support (SS), (b) optimism, and (c) loneliness, and between SS and the variables of optimism and loneliness. Optimism and loneliness were tested as possible mediators in the relationship between SS and PHPs. Method: A convenience sample of 204 middle adolescents was obtained. Participants completed a demographic sheet and four instruments. Results: There were statistically significant positive relationships between SS (r ϭ .44) and optimism (r ϭ .54) with PHPs. There was a statistically significant negative relationship between loneliness (r ϭ Ϫ.39) and PHPs. There was a statistically significant positive relationship between optimism (r ϭ .63) and SS. There was a statistically significant negative relationship between loneliness (r ϭ Ϫ.76) and SS. Optimism was found to partially mediate the relationship between SS and PHP; loneliness did not. Discussion: Findings contribute to a more comprehensive knowledge base regarding health practices in middle adolescents.

Objective: Patient satisfaction is a commonly measured indicator of quality emergency care. However, the existing empirical literature on emergency department (ED) patient satisfaction provides little guidance on how to analyze, interpret, and use data obtained in the clinical setting. Using two EDs as examples, the authors describe practical strategies designed to identify priority areas for potential improvement. Methods: The authors used a cross-sectional, observational design. All patients who presented for emergency care during the designated time periods were eligible. Patients were randomly selected, contacted by telephone, and surveyed using three measures of global satisfaction, 23 perceived quality-of-care indicators, and six perceived wait times. Descriptive statistics were calculated. Comparisons were made of each of the perceived care and wait time indicators against explicitly defined acceptability criteria to determine satisfiers/dissatisfiers. Each indicator was correlated with the three global satisfaction indices. The authors integrated results obtained from applying the acceptability criteria with those obtained from the correlations to yield priority indicators for remediation and maintenance strategies. Results: For hospitals A and B, respectively, 15 (52%) and 16 (55%) of perceived care and wait time indicators failed to meet acceptability criteria. Using the correlations with overall satisfaction, the authors further narrowed the priority areas for remediation to six indicators for hospital A and three indicators for hospital B. One maintenance indicator was revealed for hospital A and four for hospital B. Conclusions: A combination of applying explicit acceptability criteria to descriptive statistics and using correlation coefficients with overall satisfaction can help to maximize the usefulness of patient satisfaction data by uncovering priority areas. These priority areas were broken down into maintenance and remediation indicators and were found to vary considerably depending on the hospital in question. Such strategies can help to refine performance improvement efforts by targeting those domains with the greatest impact on overall satisfaction.

Objective: To examine the relationship between childhood trauma and prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) (either coronary disease or stroke) in Type 1diabetes (DM). Methods: From an original cohort of 725 African Americana with Type 1 DM, 444 (61.2%) were reexamined as part of a 6-year follow-up. In both examinations, patients underwent a structured clinical interview to determine their medical history and a detailed ocular examination. At follow-up, patients completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Hostility and Direction of Hostility Questionnaire, and Beck Depression Inventory. Diabetic patients who had CVD and those had not developed CVD at the 6-year follow-up were compared for their experience of childhood trauma at the same time controlling for the presence of known risk factors for CVD. Results: Of the 393 patients at risk, 60 (15.3%) had developed any CVD, 52 (12.9%) had coronary disease, and 16 (3.8%) had a stroke at the 6-year follow-up. On univariate analysis, childhood trauma was significantly associated with 6-year incidence of any CVD (p Ͻ .01), coronary disease (p Ͻ .05), and stroke (p Ͻ .01). Childhood trauma scores were also significantly associated with depression (p Ͻ .001) and hostility (p Ͻ .001) scores, age (p Ͻ .05), and renal disease (p Ͻ .05). In primary multivariate analyses, childhood trauma predicted CVD independent of age, body mass index, blood pressure, and proteinuria. Secondary analyses suggested that association between the 6-year incidence of CVD and childhood trauma was also independent of depression ratings. Conclusion: Childhood seems to be an independent risk factor for the incidence of CVD in Type 1 DM.

Early detection and treatment of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia is important in the prevention of bilirubin-induced encephalopathy. In this study, we evaluated the New Jersey pediatricians' practices and beliefs regarding the management of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia and their compliance with the recommendations made by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) in 1994. A survey questionnaire was mailed to a random sample of 800 pediatricians selected from a list of 1623 New Jersey Fellows of the AAP initially in October 2003 and then in February 2004 for the non-respondents. In addition to the physicians' demographic characteristics, the questionnaire addressed various aspects of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia management including the diagnosis, treatment, and follow up as well as the pediatricians' beliefs regarding the significance of risk factors in the development of severe hyperbilirubinemia. The adjusted response rate of 49.1% (n = 356) was calculated from the 725 eligib...

The potential for chemical vapor intrusion from contaminated ground water to the interior of homes was investigated at a site with a leaking underground gasoline storage tank in Stafford Township, New Jersey. This location exhibited conditions favorable to vapor intrusion, with sand soil and a water table depth of 3.3 m. Concentrations of volatile organic chemicals in the ground water were as high as 82 mg/L for total benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) and up to 590 mg/L for methyl-t-butyl ether (MTBE). Soil vapor samples at multiple depths were taken adjacent to several homes. Inside the homes, air samples were taken on the main floor, in the basement, and under the foundation slab. Despite high ground water concentrations, only one home had measurable impacts to indoor air quality attributable to some of the ground water contaminants. In this house, the BTEX chemicals were not detected in the basement, indicating a lack of indoor air impacts from the ground water for these chemicals. Oxygen measurements suggested that degradation attenuated these chemicals as they diffused through the vadose zone. However, MTBE, 2,2,4-trimethylpentane (isooctane), and cyclohexane were found in the indoor air. The first two of these chemicals served as gasoline-specific tracers and indicated that vapor intrusion was occurring. Attenuation factors (the ratio of the indoor air concentration to a source soil vapor concentration) for the BTEX chemicals between the ground water and the indoor air were <1 × 10−5, and for MTBE was 1.2 × 10−5. Attenuation factors between the deep-soil vapor and the basement air were as follows: BTEX compounds, <1 × 10−5; MTBE, 2.2 × 10−5; 2,2,4-trimethylpentane, 3.6 × 10−4; and cyclohexane, 1.2 × 10−4. Attenuation factors between the subslab vapor and the basement air were 7 to 8 × 10−3.

We consider entanglement for quantum states defined in vector spaces over the real numbers. Such real entanglement is different from entanglement in standard quantum mechanics over the complex numbers. The differences provide insight into the nature of entanglement in standard quantum theory. Wootters [Phys. Rev. Lett. 80, 2245] has given an explicit formula for the entanglement of formation of two qubits in terms of what he calls the concurrence of the joint density operator. We give a contrasting formula for the entanglement of formation of an arbitrary state of two "rebits," a rebit being a system whose Hilbert space is a 2-dimensional real vector space.

Figure 1 (facing page). Map shows the NYHOPS Coastal Wave Modeling system: Bathymetry (m below Mean Sea Level), resolution (approximately 1 km), Surface (ETA and WRF wind) and Open Ocean (WNA WaveWatch III) boundary forcing sources, and observation network stations.

Synopsis: Laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) has been the patron of refractive surgery to allow people to eliminate their dependency on corrective lenses. Techniques to perform this procedure have been enhanced in order to produce safer results. One technique implements femtosecond lasers to create a corneal flap necessary for LASIK. "Femtodynamics: A Guide to Laser Settings and Procedure Techniques to Optimize Outcomes with Femtosecond Lasers" is a reference text that provides a very thorough explanation of utilizing this technique. Target Audience: Refractive Surgeons. Review: Dr Faktorovich's vast clinical experience, both at her Pacific Vision Institute and the University of California, San Francisco VA Medical Center has given her the recognition and high respect in the Innovative Refractive Surgery field. She organized the book into eleven detailed chapters. It starts from the history and applications of this technology, the physics behind it, a step by step description of the procedure techniques, to a chapter dedicated to Abbott Medical Optics (AMO) Laser troubleshooting. It ends with ideas about the future of femtosecond laser technology. The information provided in the book is very concise. It is mostly oriented to AMO Femtosecond Laser users, but also gives us an overview of other emerging systems in the market. On the AMO troubleshooting chapters, each problem has its own designated "cause" and "solution" which is very helpful in understanding why the problem occurred and how it can be avoided. In addition, many of the information provided in the beginning of the book is repeated in the later chapters so readers do not need to flip back to reference information. In conclusion, "Femtodynamics: A Guide to Laser Settings and Procedure Techniques to Optimize Outcomes with Femtosecond Lasers" is a necessary book to read for any refractive surgeon who wants to know more about using femtosecond lasers to replace their current technique of cutting a corneal flap.

Recent chirp seismic reflection data combined with multibeam bathymetry, backscatter, and analysis of grab samples and short cores provide evidence of significant recent erosion on the outer New Jersey shelf. The timing of erosion is constrained by two factors: (1) truncation at the seafloor of what is interpreted to be the transgressive ravinement surface at the base of the surficial sand sheet, and (2) truncation of apparently moribund sand ridges along erosional swales oriented parallel to the primary direction of modern bottom flow and oblique to the strike of the sand ridges. These observations place the erosion in a marine setting, post-dating the passage of the shoreface ravinement and the evolution of sand ridges that form initially in the near shore environment. Also truncated by marine erosion are shallowly buried, fluvial channel systems, formed during the Last Glacial Maximum and filled during the transgression, and a regional reflector bRQ that is N~40 kyr. Depths of erosion range from a few meters to N 10 m. The seafloor within eroded areas is often marked by bribbonQ morphology, seen primarily in the backscatter data as areas of alternating high and low backscatter elongated in the direction of primary bottom flow. Ribbons are more occasionally observed in the bathymetry; where observed, crests exhibit low backscatter and troughs exhibit high backscatter. Sampling reveals that the high backscatter areas of the ribbons consist of a trimodal admixture of mud, sand and shell hash, with a bimodal distribution of abraded and unabraded sand grains and microfauna. The shell hash is interpreted to be an erosional lag, while the muds and unabraded grains are, in this non-depositional environment, evidence of recent erosion at the seafloor of previously undisturbed strata. The lower-backscatter areas of the ribbon morphology were found to be a wellsorted medium sand unit only a few 10's of cm thick overlying the shelly/muddy/sandy material. Concentrations of wellrounded gravels and cobbles were also found in eroded areas with very high backscatter, and at least one of these appears to be derived from the base of an eroded fluvial channel. Seafloor reworking over the transgressive evolution of the shelf appears to have switched from sand ridge evolution, which is documented to~40 m water depth, to more strictly erosional modification at greater water depths. We suggest that this change may be related to the reduction with water depth in the effectiveness of sediment resuspension by waves. Resuspension is a critical factor in the grain size sorting during transport by bottom currents 0025-3227/$ -see front matter D (J.A. Goff).

The resurgence of farmers&#39; markets in New Jersey has been welcomed by farmers, consumers and municipalities alike. This form of direct marketing has the potential to benefit all three sectors simultaneously. Farmers&#39; markets allow growers to capture a greater share of the consumer&#39;s food expenditure thus increasing their profitability. Similarly, consumers&#39; need for fresh, high quality commodities as well as for farm-based recreational experiences are met. Also, drawing customers to downtown areas can contribute to the revitalization of these areas by boosting the business of local retailers. However, despite their rapid spread throughout the state, no study has been conducted on the efficiency of the farmers&#39; markets in terms of management and organization. This study provides an overview of various characteristics of managers as well as of the factors that have an effect on the organization and well functioning of these direct marketing outlets. Besides demogra...

Casinos provide a remedy for desperately declining cities, and the case of Atlantic City, New Jersey provides one critical illustration of this. It was the only state other than Nevada to have legalized casino gambling in the late 1970s when the state looked to the casino hotel industry to invest capital, create jobs, pay taxes, and attract tourists and thus revitalise the economy as well as create a sound financial environment for urban redevelopment. It has also notably been linked with making cities vibrant places to visit and as an opportunity to become world class cities. Cities in Austria and Australia (including Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, and Sydney) have also towed a similar line and watched as their respective cities have been regenerated -thus making the supercasinos a contender for unparalleled economic engine -given the proper timing and market location. However this new wave of the entrepreneurial state, in its attempts to reimage the city through such measures as casinos, seems to have lessened the degree of public participation in the planning process. Using a survey of fifty second year international business students from two London-based Universities between September 2006 and February 2007, this paper highlights the social and economic dimensions of supercasinos -especially as the government toys with the idea of licenses for these with Manchester at the forefront -in the context of consumer welfare and concludes that unless the economic benefits of supercasinos can be demonstrated to substantially eclipse the social costs of such ventures -the replication of Vegas style supercasinos would remain a tall order.

In recent decades, many researchers have devoted themselves to the study of world cities. One of the most important contributions to world city research has come from the Globalisation and World Cities Study Group & Network (GaWC-Loughborough University). GaWC focuses on external relationships between world cities. It has analysed the world city network and the hierarchy between cities in various sectors, but primarily in advanced producer services (accountancy, advertising, banking/finance and law). Previous studies have identified London, New York, Paris and Tokyo as high-level global service centres, followed closely by Chicago, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, Milan and Singapore. Thus far, however, the maritime sector has been neglected in the identification and analysis of global cities. The main purpose of the present article is to fill this void.

This longitudinal study of child abuse and neglect cases closed after investigation examined the impact of parental substance abuse on family functioning and on subsequent referrals to child protective services. The findings support the hypothesis that parental substance abuse would have a negative impact on family functioning, which, in turn, would result in a higher rate of re-repoits. As expected, substance abuse also had a direct impact on re-reports. It is critical that the child welfare system recognize and respond to parental substance abuse problems in these families through expanded and improved voluntary, and perhaps, mandatory services.

Aim: To assess the effects of shortened door-to-intervention (DTI) time on appropriate clinical decisions regarding the four most critical and costly decisions during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI): cath-lab activation (CLA), use of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors (GPI), use of PCI, and deployment of drug-eluting stent (DES). Background: STEMI PCI patients are frequently subject to decision making based on abbreviated medical encounter and limited medical information. Methods: Clinical data were prospectively collected in a STEMI registry over 19 months. Retrospective chart reviews were conducted to determine the level of appropriateness of the above-mentioned decisions. Results: Between June 2006 and December 2007, 200 EKGs with suspected STEMI were transmitted; 88 (44%) resulted in CLA. Compared to prior year, DTI times decreased from 145.7 to 69.9 min (P=.00001). DTI was longer during nights and weekends (87.5 vs. 51.8 min, P=.001) and the initial 6 months of the registry (86.8 vs. 66.8 min, P=.07). Nineteen (21.6%) of the patients undergoing angiography did not require revascularization, 56 (63.6%) received GPIs, and 65 patients (73.8%) underwent at least one vessel PCI, and at least one DES was used in 39 patients (60% of PCI cohort). When assessed for appropriateness, CLA was appropriate in 81.8% of the time and rendered borderline or inappropriate in 5.7% and 12.5%, respectively. GPI use was appropriate in 66% of the patients but seemed borderline or inappropriate in 28.5% and 5.4%, respectively. PCI was appropriate in 90% of the lesions treated, and borderline or inappropriate in 7.1% and 2.9%, respectively. DES use was viewed appropriate in 38.4%, and borderline or inappropriate in 51% and 10.2% of the DES deployments, respectively. Conclusions: (1) In view of expedited care, certain information required for decision-making process is either not available or ignored during primary PCI. (2) Appropriate use of resources in primary PCI needs to be better defined. (3) Measures of extracting patients' previous medical records and imaging studies along with in-lab immediate blood work and echocardiography and establishing new "time-out" protocols for STEMI patients may improve resource utilization and patient care and outcome.

We investigated color preference, seasonal abundance, spatial distribution and species composition of thrips in northern highbush blueberries, Vaccinium corymbosum L., in New Jersey (USA). White sticky traps were more attractive to thrips compared with yellow or blue traps. Thrips captures using white sticky traps showed that their flight activity begins 20e30 d after the onset of flowering, with 10, 50 and 90% of trap captures observed at 383, 647 and 1231 degree-day accumulations, respectively (10 C base temperature). Two methods were used to study thrips distribution within a blueberry bush. First, white sticky traps were placed within the bush canopy at three different heights. The highest numbers of thrips were caught on traps in the middle and top one-third of the canopy while the lowest numbers were caught in the bottom one-third. A second method determined the distribution of thrips on the blueberry plant at different heights and phenological stages. The highest numbers of thrips were found on young leaves at lower parts of the canopy, whereas flowers and fruit had fewer thrips and none were found on buds; these thrips were identified as, Scirtothrips ruthveni (88% of adults) and Frankliniella tritici (12%). The distribution of thrips within a blueberry planting was investigated using an evenly-spaced grid of white sticky traps in combination with on bush beating-tray samples. Thrips counts from traps correlated with direct counts on the bush across the entire blueberry field (macro-scale level); however, within the field (micro-scale level), there was no correlation between the number of thrips on traps and on individual bushes near traps. Early in the season, trap counts were higher on bushes closer to the forest, indicative of movement of thrips from wild hosts into blueberry fields. However, this was not the case for direct on bush counts or trap counts for the later part of the season, where there was no clear forest "edge" effect. Percent fruit injury due to thrips feeding was low, and it correlated with thrips counts on bushes but not from counts on traps. Overall, our data show that thrips counts on sticky traps need to be interpreted with care because these numbers weakly correlated with the numbers of thrips on bushes at the micro-scale level and percent fruit injury; however, they can be useful predictors of thrips activity across entire blueberry fields (macro-scale).

We conducted a cleaning trial in 40 northern New Jersey homes where home renovation and remodeling (R&R) activities were undertaken. Two cleaning protocols were used in the study: a specific method recommended by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), in the 1995 ''Guidelines for the Evaluation and Control of Lead-Based Paint Hazards in Housing,'' using a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA)-filtered vacuum cleaner and a tri-sodium phosphate solution (TSP); and an alternative method using a household vacuum cleaner and a household detergent. Eligible homes were built before the 1970s with potential lead-based paint and had recent R&R activities without thorough cleaning. The two cleaning protocols were randomly assigned to the participants' homes and followed the HUD-recommended three-step procedure: vacuuming, wet washing, and repeat vacuuming. Wipe sampling was conducted on floor surfaces or windowsills before and after cleaning to evaluate the efficacy. All floor and windowsill data indicated that both methods (TSP/HEPA and non-TSP/non-HEPA) were effective in reducing lead loading on the surfaces (Po0:001). When cleaning was applied to surfaces with initial lead loading above the clearance standards, the reductions were even greater, above 95% for either cleaning method. The mixed-effect model analysis showed no significant difference between the two methods. Baseline lead loading was found to be associated with lead loading reduction significantly on floors (Po0:001) and marginally on windowsills (P ¼ 0:077). Such relations were different between the two cleaning methods significantly on floors (Po0:001) and marginally on windowsills (P ¼ 0:066), with the TSP/HEPA method being favored for higher baseline levels and the non-TSP/non-HEPA method for lower baseline levels. For the 10 homes with lead abatement, almost all post-cleaning lead loadings were below the standards using either cleaning method. Based on our results, we recommend that contractors or homeowners can use a household vacuum cleaner and a household detergent to clean lead-contaminated environments after R&R activities when HUD-recommended equipment is not available. r

Eutrophication degrades numerous estuaries worldwide and a myriad of assessment metrics have been developed. Here, we apply an example of a previously developed metric (Lee et al. 2004) designed to indicate incipient estuarine eutrophication to validate this technique in an already eutrophic estuary end-member, Barnegat Bay-Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey. The metric, termed ‘Nutrient Pollution Indicator’ (NPI) uses eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) as a bioindicator and is calculated as the ratio of leaf nitrogen content (%N) to area normalized leaf mass (mg dry weight cm-2). Eelgrass samples were collected along the entire length of the Barnegat Bay-Little Egg Harbor from June to October 2008 to determine if leaf chemistry and morphology reflect eutrophication status and a north-south gradient of nitrogen loading from the Barnegat Bay watershed. Nitrogen content, area normalized leaf mass, and NPI values all significantly (p < 0.05) varied temporally but not spatially. NPI values did not significantly correspond to the north-south gradient of nitrogen loading from the Barnegat Bay watershed. The NPI metric is therefore not deemed to reliably indicate estuarine eutrophic status. Differences between sampling effort (number of stations) and replication did not bias the overall conclusions.

Sub-basins within the New York/New Jersey (NY/NJ) Harbor host variable amounts and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Analyses of radionuclides 137Cs and 7Be were used to assign approximate dates to individual sections of sediment cores collected from four major sub-basins of the harbor complex. Sampling sites range from heavily contaminated Newark Bay and Passaic River to less contaminated Raritan Bay and Jamaica Bay. PAHs were identified with GC–MS and quantified by GC respectively. Gas chromatography–isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC/IRMS) was applied to determine δ13C values of pyrene (δ13CPy), a principal 4 ring parent PAH. Two end-member PAH source components, petroleum-related PAHs (PRPAH) and combustion-related PAHs (CRPAH), were calculated from a carbon isotopic mass balance equation based on assumptions that petroleum-related δ13CPy is −29‰, and that combustion-derived δ13CPy is −24‰. Temporal trends of PRPAH in these cores are similar to those of the petroleum-derived unresolved complex mixture (UCM), whereas CRPAH resembled trends of “Total” PAH (TPAH). Three molecular ratios, fluoranthene to fluoranthene plus pyrene (Fl/(Fl + Py)), high molecular weight 4–6 ring PAH to total PAH (Ring456/TPAH) and parent to total (Par/(Par + Alkyl)), correlate strongly with each other, and show a moderate to strong positive correlation with δ13CPy. In contrast, the ratios of anthracene to phenanthrene plus anthracene (A/(Pa + A)), benzo[a]anthracene to benzo[a]anthracene plus chrysene (BaA/(BaA+Chy)), and indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene to indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene plus benzo[ghi]perylene (IP/(IP + Bghi)) show no, weak, or even negative correlation with the four well correlated ratios (δ13CPy, Par/(Par + Alkyl), Fl/(Fl + Py), and Ring456/TPAH). Combined application of the four well correlated molecular indicators suggests that PAH contribution from combustion became more important in most areas of the NY/NJ Harbor during the last three decades of the 20th century.

Despite the deleterious mental health and health consequences experiences of perceived discrimination can have on ethnic and racial minorities in the United States, a dearth of qualitative studies exist to develop a better understanding of such experiences. As part of a larger study examining psychosocial stress events, and in an effort to fill this gap, this study sought to explore stressful life experiences of intergroup and within-group perceived discrimination among a heterogeneous sample of U.S.-born and foreign-born Latino youth (n = 170) residing in Los Angeles, California, and Trenton, New Jersey. Focus group methodology was implemented, and data were analyzed using grounded theory and constant comparison method. Findings suggest that Latino youths' experiences of intergroup and within-group discrimination vary by nativity status and region of the United States. Findings may be helpful for researchers, practitioners, and others working with Latino youth.

We examined the association between lifetime depression history and sexual function in a communitybased sample of midlife women. Specifically, 914 women aged 42-52 who were participants in the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation completed a self-report assessment of their sexual behaviors, sexual desire, sexual arousal, and sexual satisfaction over the past 6 months. On the basis of the Structured Clinical Interview for the DSM-IV, participants were categorized into 1 of 3 lifetime major depressive disorder (MDD) history groups: no MDD history, single episode MDD, and recurrent MDD. In line with previous reports, women with a history of recurrent MDD reported experiencing less frequent sexual arousal, less physical pleasure, and less emotional satisfaction within their current sexual relationships. Although the groups did not differ in their reported frequency of sexual desire or partnered sexual behaviors, lifetime depression history was associated with increased rates of self-stimulation (masturbation). Associations between lifetime depression history and lower levels of physical pleasure within partnered sexual relationships and higher rates of masturbation remained significant following control for current depressive symptoms, study site, marital status, psychotropic medication use, and lifetime history of anxiety or substance abuse/dependence disorder. Future research is needed to characterize the temporal and etiologic relationships among lifetime depressive disorder, current mood state, and sexual function in women across the lifespan.

To evaluate the within-session and intersession repeatability of a new, short-duration transient visual evoked potential (SD-tVEP) device on normal individuals, we tested 30 normal subjects (20/ 20 visual acuity, normal 24-2 SITA Standard VF) with SD-tVEP. Ten of these subjects had their tests

To describe the complications related to cataract surgery performed by phacoemulsification technique by third-year ophthalmology residents at New Jersey Medical School, who are trained to perform phacoemulsification without any prior experience with extracapsular extraction. Retrospective, observational case series. A retrospective chart review of 755 patients who underwent cataract surgery by third-year residents between July 2000 and June 2005 at the Institute of Ophthalmology and Visual Science was performed. Details of intraoperative complications (posterior capsular rupture, vitreous loss, subluxation of lens fragments into the vitreous, extracapsular cases converted to phacoemulsification, retinal detachment, vitreous haemorrhage and haemorrhagic choroidals) of the cases done by phacoemulsification technique were recorded. Results were analysed and compared with complication rates reported from other residency programmes and from experienced ophthalmologists. Of 755 cataract s...

Patient transfers from one care giver to another are an area of high safety consequence, as is evident by many studies and the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organization's Patient Safety Goals. The authors describe how one hospital made measurable improvements in a patient handoff process by using an unconventional approach to change called appreciative inquiry. Rather than identifying the root causes of ineffective handoffs, appreciative inquiry was used to engage staff in identifying and building on their most effective handoff experiences.

Synopsis: LASIK has been the patron of refractive surgery to allow people to eliminate their dependency on corrective lenses. Techniques to perform this procedure have been enhanced in order to produce safer results. One technique implements femtosecond lasers to create a corneal flap necessary for LASIK. Femtodynamics, A Guide to Laser Settings and Procedure Techniques to Optimize Outcomes with Femtosecond Lasers is a reference text that provides a very thorough explanation of utilizing this technique. This book is aimed towards any refractive surgeon interested in incorporating bladeless LASIK into their practice. Target Audience: Refractive Surgeons Review: Dr. Faktorovich's vast clinical experience, both at her Pacific Vision Institute and the UCSF VA Medical Center has given her the recognition and high respect in the Innovative Refractive Surgery Field. She has organized the book into 11 detailed chapters. It starts from the history and applications of this technology, the physics behind it, a step by step description of the procedure techniques, to a chapter dedicated to AMO Laser troubleshooting. It ends with ideas about the future of femtosecond laser technology. The information provided in the book is very concise. While it is mostly oriented towards AMO Femtosecond Laser users, it also gives us an overview of other emerging systems in the market. On the AMO troubleshooting chapters, each problem has its own designated "cause" and "solution" which is very helpful in understanding why the problem occurred and how it can be avoided. In addition, much of the information provided in the beginning of the book is repeated in the later chapters so readers do not need to flip back to reference information. In Conclusion, Femtodynamics, A Guide to Laser Settings and Procedure Techniques to Optimize Outcomes with Femtosecond Lasers is a must-read book read for any refractive surgeon who wants to know more about using femtosecond lasers to replace their current technique of cutting a corneal flap.

We wish to investigate climate change-driven effects on electricity demand and production. We model hourly loads for the electricity region and the individual electric utilities of the Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland Interconnection (PJM) from January 1 st , 1998 through April 30 th , 2001. We create a database of hourly electricity loads for PJM, by individual utilities and in aggregate. We then estimated a set of hourly forecasting models incorporating autoregressive components, heating and cooling degree temperature effects and trading day variation for holidays and weekends. We use the models' short-run elasticities to perform a simulation of a 2°F increase in daily temperature, finding a small but positive impact on electricity demand.

The linkage of the Caribbean and the United States in the international sugar economy has been long noted, specifically in connection with trade, technology and ownership. Yet the management aspect has been overlooked. This article attempts to redress this historical lacuna by analyzing the development of the Louisiana-Caribbean connection following the introduction of the central factory in that southern state and in the Hispanic and British Caribbean. As we will see, Louisiana-born and trained managerial, technical and skilled personnel, known as "sugar tramps," played key roles in the development of the Caribbean sugar industry until their substitution by locals well into the twentieth century. 1 The largest sugar factories were located in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. The South Porto Rico Sugar Company of New Jersey (SPRSCO/NJ), one of the most enterprising and innovative U.S. corporations in the region, will be used as a case study. Historical Context During the second half of the nineteenth century, sugar self-sufficiency by the United States seemed an attainable goal to government officials, sugar planters, and scientists. 2 During the Civil War, to counter the scarce cane sugar and molasses coming from the South, the Department of Agriculture started experiments with sugar beets. In 1876, a Louisiana cane planter wrote: "it is beyond a doubt that the United States could produce all the sugar needed for their consumption." 3 Dr. Harvey W. Wiley (1844-1930), appointed chief chemist of the Department of Agriculture in 1883 and a staunch believer in sugar self-sufficiency, pursued a three-pronged policy of promoting sugar production on the U.S. mainland, specifically sugar cane in Louisiana, sugar beet in the West, and 1

It provides MMH with the expert research and evidence-based practice (EBP) consultation and affiliation of a UMDNJ-SN faculty member and the resources of the New Jersey JBI Center for Evidence Based Practice. For the participating SN faculty member, it provides a clinical laboratory to pursue an individualized program of scientific research and scholarly publication. This research scholar works closely with the MMH/AH to (a) identify and evaluate existing mechanisms to support interdisciplinary health research and EBP at MMH; (b) develop and implement new mechanisms to support interdisciplinary health research and EBP; (c) implement the findings of published research using EBP strategies; (d) replicate interdisciplinary research studies; (e) conduct original interdisciplinary research studies; (f) seek intra-or extramural funding to support interdisciplinary research studies; and (g) support requirements for American Nurses' Credentialing Center accreditation for Magnet designation. The program has been successful in its first year of implementation. (Index words: Nursing; Faculty practice; Evidence-based practice; Research consultant; Interdisciplinary; Professor in residence) J Prof Nurs 24:275-80, 2008.

Collections of essays that make up a reader are always difficult to review-the editor's judgments of what to include are nearly always at odds with what a reviewer would have preferred. For this reviewer, however, nearly all of the essays in Sue Hendler's reader in planning ethics are winners. My own sense of ethics obligates me to state that this book is a must for all planners, whether practitioners or academicians. Almost every chapter in the collection directly addresses the concerns of planners with sound clear reasoning and mostly appropriate illustrative case material. No ethical dilemmas are resolved in the book-as they seldom truly are-but the approaches to reasoning about them are extremely well done.

The results of an ongoing collaborative project between the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) and SEMATECH on the temperature-dependent emissivity of silicon-related materials and structures are presented in this study. These results have been acquired using a spectral emissometer. This emissometer consists of a Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) spectrometer designed specifically to facilitate simultaneous measurements of surface spectral emittance and temperature by using optical techniques over the near- and mid-IR spectral range and temperatures ranging from 300 K to 2000 K. This noncontact, real-time technique has been used to measure radiative properties as a function of temperature and wavelength for a wide range of silicon-related materials and structures. The first results of the temperature and wavelength dependent emissivity and hence refractive index of silicon nitride, in the literature, is presented in this study

Three experiments addressed the proposition that jurors use short cuts in processing information when confronted with expert scientific testimony. The results of the first two studies demonstrated that experts who are highly paid for their testimony and who testify frequently are perceived as “hired guns.” They are neither liked nor believed. The results of the third experiment replicated the hired gun effect and showed that it is most likely to occur when the testimony is complex and cannot be easily processed. The results were discussed in terms of the theoretical differences between central and peripheral processing of persuasive messages in a legal context.