Tag Archives: SLIC

Understanding Cryptocurrency Program Recap

Thank you to Arlene Ferris-Waks from the NJ Bureau of Securities for her overview of cryptocurrency, a topic that is very confusing and always changing with new developments.  While cryptocurrencies have been around since 2009, there is still a lot of uncertainty regarding the viability, stability, and future of the digital asset.  Is it safe?  How does it work?  Should I buy or invest?  Arlene addressed all of these questions, so let’s dive in!

What Is Cryptocurrency?

The first and best known cryptocurrency Bitcoin was first released in 2009 in response to the market crash in 2008.  Cryptocurrency is a 100% digital asset that is also completely decentralized, meaning it is not regulated or managed by a central authority like government or a bank.  It uses strong cryptography through blockchains to secure transactions; those transactions are then recorded in a decentralized, online ledger which are then verified when the cryptocurrency is mined by powerful computers.

You can use cryptocurrency online to buy goods and services through the use of a cryptocurrency wallet.  A wallet is needed to provide proof of the digital currency and allows the sending and receipt of digital tokens.  These wallets can be either “cold” or “hot”, meaning that they either reside on hardware or software.  Keys, randomly generated numbers and letters, are needed to gain access to cryptocurrency wallets and can be public (used only to receive crypto from others) or private (used to provide access to a user’s crypto wallet).   While cryptocurrency is not regulated, it is considered an asset class so it is subject to capital gains taxes.

There are over 50 types of cryptocurrencies, with Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Dogecoin being some of the most well-known.  Bitcoin is the most popular and known type of cryptocurrency; there is a limit of 21 million Bitcoins that will ever be in circulation.  Stablecoins are another form of cryptocurrency, but are pegged to real world currencies and are therefore, less volatile.  A third type of cryptocurrency is Non-Fungible Tokens, better known as NFTs.  NFTs are digital files (music, artwork, images) of real world objects, encoded with digital rights.  In many instances, NFTs are meant to be a digital version of an original work that will never be reproduced, allowing a value to be placed on it and used as a form of currency.

Blockchain

Earlier we mentioned that cryptocurrencies are secured and recorded through cryptography known as blockchain.  Blockchain is a database that stores information in blocks that are connected to each other.  This data structure holds records while ensuring security, transparency, and decentralization.  In theory, different types of information can be stored in a blockchain, but as it relates to cryptocurrencies, blockchains are currently used as a ledger, storing information about each transaction in a chronological order.

These blockchains must be verified and authenticated in order for the cryptocurrency to have any value.  This is done through a process called mining.  Mining is a energy-intense process where high-powered computers are used to solve complex mathematical equations that are used to verify and authenticate the cryptocurrency, which results in the creation of a coin or token.  Some types of cryptocurrencies, such as Polkadot and Cardano, do not require mining.

Concerns and Scams

The biggest concern with cryptocurrencies are that they are unregulated; without centralized control, they cannot be backed by any guarantees from government or a bank.  Additionally, there is also the possibility of losing 100% of your investment in crypto.  The digital nature of the currency also makes it more susceptible to hackers who can gain access to your digital wallets.  Due to the anonymity of crypto, it is popular among hackers as a form of payment.

Cryptocurrencies have also created a new environment from which scammers can prey on unsuspecting or ill-informed individuals.  Fake digital wallets can be used to steal all of someone’s investment in crypto.  Pig butchering is a common type of scam associated with cryptocurrencies where someone is convinced to slowly invest more and more money into a fake crypto account because the gains are improperly inflated.  Once that person is finally willing to withdraw their money or use the cryptocurrency, it is all gone.

Another popular scam that has shifted into the crypto world is the romance scam.  With so many people using social media to meet new people and start relationships, it is very easy for people to fall for the romance scam.  In this instance, someone is constantly paying for or “investing” their money into crypto at the strong encouragement from someone they met online.  Their money is usually never actually invested into crypto or is put into a fake digital wallet.  Eventually the person is ghosted by their romantic interest and all of their money is gone, to the tune of millions sometimes.

More Information

Cryptocurrencies are  a new, revolutionary type of currency that seeks to let market forces determine its value rather than being tied to solvency of a specific country or institution.  Because of it’s novel approach to currency, there is still a lot of volatility and concern surrounding cryptocurrencies so it is of the utmost importance to stay informed if you are investing in or using it.  For up-to-date information regarding cryptocurrency prices, please visit:

You can find more information about cryptocurrencies from the NJ Bureau of Securities at https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/bos/Pages/Cryptocurrency.aspx.  You can view a recording of the webinar on our YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/z6am5cxKjMs.  If you have questions or think you may have been a victim of a scam, please contact Arlene at ferris-waksa@dca.njoag.gov or 973-997-3349.  A list of handouts from Arlene are available below:

New Jersey State Archives Van Wickle Slave Ring Free Digital Collection

On June 20th, the State Library presented our annual Juneteenth Celebration Lecture with Kristal Langford and Toni Hendrix of the Lost Souls Memorial Project.  This non-profit organization is dedicated to preserving the memory and resilience of the victims of the Van Wickle human trafficking ring, which operated out of Middlesex County, and was exposed to great public outrage in 1818.  Jacob Van Wickle, Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, signed off on the transportation of enslaved persons by his brother-in-law Charles Morgan to Louisiana.  At least 137 people were transported.  Ms. Langford detailed the events and highlighted the stories of those transported, many of them young mothers and children.

The New Jersey State Archives has created the Van Wickle Slave Ring Digital Collection, a free, online collection of historical documents related to the Van Wickle human trafficking operation.  These documents come from a variety of the State Archives’ collections and validate the existence of these tragic events in New Jersey history. The digital collection includes:  court documents, newspaper articles, petitions, and relevant laws from several different collections at the State Archives.

The original manuscripts within the digital collection are available for viewing at the New Jersey State Archives.  Please visit the State Archives website to make a research appointment.

Vivian Thiele, Archivist and curator of the digital collection, sat down with NJSL Genealogy Librarian Regina Fitzpatrick to highlight the collection items and offer advice and insights on how to further research the 1818 events.

Some useful resources mentioned in the discussion but not part of the digital collection:

  1. Digitized Historic New Jersey Newspapers Research Guide – find where select New Jersey newspapers have been digitized. Please note that the State Library does not subscribe to some of the services mentioned.
  2. New Jersey Supreme Court Case Files – researchers can select ethnicity or search by name to find court case documents related to enslaved persons.
  3. Middlesex County Manumissions Book (vol. XI in collection) – mixed in with manumissions are transportation agreements, including those “agreeing” to be transported to Louisiana by Charles Morgan and related parties. This resource is available for in person use only on microfilm at the New Jersey State Archives.  The original book is owned by Rutgers University.  (Please see the additional information at the bottom of the post for digital access.)
  4. Middlesex County Court of Common Pleas minute books (see volumes XXII and XXIII for 1818) -minute books provide a timeline of events for court cases passing through the Court, possibly including the ruling or outcome of the case. Again, this resource is available for in-person microfilm use at the State Archives, and the original records are owned by Rutgers University.  If you are not able to visit the State Archives, please contact Rutgers.
  5. Norman’s Chart of the Lower Mississippi River (1858) – shows Charles Morgan’s plantation in Louisiana named Morganzia. A portion of this map is shown during the discussion video.  This is where many of the victims of the 1818 trafficking operation were bound.  Other property owners of note include: S. Van Wickle and J.C. Van Wickle.
  6. NJ Department of Transportation’s January 2008 issue of Cultural Digest, featuring information on the Morgan Pottery. The publication includes genealogical information on the Van Wickle and Morgan families.

If you have any questions regarding the Van Wickle Slave Ring Digital Collection, or the associated documents, please contact njarchives@sos.nj.gov or (609) 292-6260.

Happy Juneteenth, everyone!

Update:

Jesse Bayker, Digital Archivist at the Scarlet and Black Research Center at Rutgers University, has kindly provided the following information regarding Rutgers’ digital collections with information on the Van Wickle Human Trafficking ring:

I wanted to let you know that our team at the Scarlet and Black Research Center has digitized the records from the Middlesex County book, and we have indexed all manumission and removal certificates for the county. All names from the book can be searched on our website now.  Here are some links that may be useful:

To browse the manumission records, patrons can go to our Events browse page and select “Manumission” from the Event Type drop-down menu.

WEBINAR – How to Manage Debt

When we think about our personal finances, one aspect we would rather pretend did not exist is debt.  According to a recent NerdWallet study, the average U.S. household owed about $222,000 in mortgages, $17,000 in credit card debt as well as $29,000 in auto loans last year.  However, there are several strategies we can use to improve our debt situation and help us to become debt free.  Please join us as Amanda Griffin from the Credit Union of New Jersey gives a crash course in debt management, including:

  • The different kinds of debt
  • The benefits and costs of credit
  • The warning signs you have too much debt
  • How to improve your credit report and score
  • How to tackle your debt and avoid pitfalls
  • How to rebuild good credit
  • How to stay out of debt

Amanda Griffith is a Financial Well-being Impact Officer and a Certified Credit Union Financial Counselor at the Credit Union of New Jersey.

Click Here to Register!

Current Trends in Resume Writing Program Recap

Thank you to Paul Cecala from Cecala Career Consultants for his presentation on resume best practices.  Writing a resume can seem like an art form, especially with trends to include more graphic or visually appealing ways of communicating information.  Yet, good resume writing comes down to some simple and basic principles that can not only help catch the eye of hiring managers or recruiters, but also help advance you through the pesky Application Tracking System many places use to filter and rank candidates.  Let’s dive in and explore the world of today’s resume.

Resume as Storytelling

While your resume may just look like a bunch of words and numbers on a computer screen, it is actually a story; your story to be precise.  There are many ways to tell a story, just like there are many ways a resume can look; the important part is that your story contains the right information.  There are different models for communicating personal stories, yet they all include Actions and Results.  It is through the use of actions and results that we want to frame our resume and use those statements to communicate our responsibilities.

Resume Basics

When writing your resume, you need to change your mindset from that of an applicant; you want to pretend you’re the hiring manager.  If you were hiring someone for that position, what would you want to see on a resume; how would you like it to be communicated?  By reframing our mindset, we can help ourselves identify the things we should be putting on our resume.

One important thing to remember when writing your resume is that there are no rules, just best practices.  Some of these best practices include:

  • Making your resume keyword rich
  • Write to the hiring manager’s needs/wants
  • Use the jargon of the industry or career you are applying to, especially if you are switching careers
  • Prove what you say in your position statement
  • Position yourself for the job
  • Prioritize the job description
  • Don’t Lie!

When determining the content to put into your resume, be sure to include things that can change someone’s mind.  Content that does this can include:

  • Position/Value statement – explain in 1 or 2 sentences why you are the best person for a specific job
  • Accomplishments and successes – focus on the positive’s you’ve achieved in your work history and education
  • Quantifiable results – include metrics/measurable information when applicable to your accomplishments and successes
  • Expertise – highlight skills and jobs that you are knowledgeable about that relate to the position
  • Action verbs – action verbs can create powerful statements that show confidence

There are 2 anagrams to remember and think back upon as you write and rewrite your resume: KISS (Keep It Short and Simple) and 3 ABLES (Readable, Understandable, Scannable).  Your resume should be tailored to each job you apply for so make sure you pay specific attention to the job descriptions and try to match your experience to the needs of that particular job.

Types of Resumes

There are 3 types of resume that are commonly used today; Chronological, Functional, and Combination/Hybrid.  As you can see in the table below, each resume has its own structure and use, dependent upon the type of job you are applying for.

Please view the recording for examples of each type of resume.

Formatting Your Resume

While there is no one-size-fits-all approach to writing a resume, there are some best practices to stick to regarding the formatting.  These include:

  • 0.5 – 1 inch margins
  • 1 consistent font type, particularly Calibri or Arial
  • 10 – 12 point font size for body; headings can be bigger
  • Left justify for readability
  • Grammar and spelling count so proofread!
  • Use bolding and underlining to highlight key information; do not exceed 10% of the resume with these
  • Use tabs to make lists appear like a time rather than inserting a table
  • Save as a MS Word or Adobe Acrobat file, with your name as the file name

Along with your traditional resume, you should also create a plaint text (.txt) version that you can use to upload to Application Tracking Systems.  This will remove any formatting issues so that the data is imported properly.  Some things to consider for this include:

  • Set key words apart
  • Use simple text, not italics
  • Use simple bullets or asterisks if needed
  • Do not use headers, footers, and shadowing/boxes
  • Separate lists by tabs, no commas

More Information

Resumes are living, breathing documents that need constant attention and updating.  You can find out more information about resume writing by visiting Cecala Career Consultants at https://sites.google.com/a/cecalacareer.com/cecalacareer-com/home.  If you want a copy of the slides or have questions for Paul, please contact him at pcecala@cecalacareer.com.  You can view a recording of the webinar at https://youtu.be/fhMvbp4cfyE.

WEBINAR – Diving Deeper into Genetic Genealogy

Genetic testing through genealogy-focused companies has become all the rage, providing people with opportunities to trace their heritage back to near prehistoric times as well as connect with close and distant relatives they never even knew existed.  Please join us as Melissa Johnson, Certified Genealogist, dives into more than the basics about DNA testing and how it can be useful to supplement the traditional paper trail for genealogical research.  You will discover more about using the testing companies’ websites to analyze and compare test results, how to use third party tools for analysis, and how to develop targeted testing plans to solve genealogical problems and brick walls.

Melissa Johnson, CG, is a professional genealogist, writer and editor. She has expertise in researching families with origins in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and England, and works on forensic cases, dual citizenship matters, and lineage society applications. She is also proficient in using DNA test results to break through ancestral brick walls. Melissa serves on the board of the Genealogical Society of New Jersey and the International Society of British Genealogy and Family History. She is Reviews Editor of the Association of Professional Genealogists Quarterly (APGQ), and editor of the GSNJ Newsletter, a publication of the Genealogical Society of New Jersey. Her work has been published in the National Genealogical Society Quarterly, New York Genealogical & Biographical Record, NGS Magazine, Association of Professional Genealogists Quarterly, and numerous other publications. She is the Program Director for Boston University’s Genealogy Studies programs, and frequently teaches in courses at genealogy institutes around the country.

Click Here to Register!

Featured eBooks (June 5, 2023)

EBSCO eBooks are available in PDF and ePub formats.  You can read them online from your computer and download them to many devices using the EBSCO mobile app.

To view these titles, and other titles in this collection, start with the New eBooks Research Guide.

Our first featured eBook is The Nurse Manager’s Guide to Budgeting & Finance, Third Edition. Nurses focus on the art and science of caregiving, but nurse managers are faced with the economic reality of patient-staffing ratios, budgets, reports, and accounting. Acronyms such as FTEs and ADCs can feel like a foreign language, but thankfully, help is available. Updated to include details about key legislation that affects budgeting, The Nurse Manager’s Guide to Budgeting and Finance, 3rd Edition, provides practical tools, tips, and strategies for running a unit that were not taught in nursing school: •Operating and capital budget development and planning for the year •Formulas and calculations for full-time employee hours, variances, and benefit costs •Explanation of financial statements, budgets, and reimbursement documents •The relationship between high reliability organizations (HROs) and finance/budgets •Differences between not-for-profit and for-profit institutions.

Our second featured eBook is The Book of Phobias and Manias: A History of Obsession. From the winner of the Edgar Award and the Samuel Johnson Prize, a cultural history of “everyday madness” The Book of Phobias and Manias is a thrilling compendium of 99 obsessions that have shaped us all, the rare and the familiar, from ablutophobia (a horror of washing) to syllogomania (a compulsion to hoard) to zoophobia (a fear of animals). Phobias and manias are deeply personal experiences, and among the most common anxiety disorders of our time, but they are also clues to our shared past. The award-winning author Kate Summerscale uses rich and riveting case studies to trace the origins of our obsessions, unearthing a history of human strangeness, from the middle ages to the present day, and a wealth of explanations for some of our most powerful aversions and desires.

Our third featured eBook is Marine Mammal Observer and Passive Acoustic Monitoring Handbook. Marine Mammal Observer and Passive Acoustic Monitoring Handbook is the ultimate instruction manual for mitigation measures to minimize man-made acoustical and physical disturbances to marine mammals from industrial and defense activities. Based on more than two decades of offshore experience, and a decade of supplying MMO and PAM services (commercial and scientific), the Handbook is a long-overdue reference guide that seeks to improve standards worldwide for marine operations such as seismic and drilling exploration, wind farm and civil engineering piling, dredging, trenching, rock-dumping, hydrographical surveys, and military/defense exercises. By popular request, this manual will also form an accompaniment to MMO and PAM courses. The Handbook consolidates all aspects of this discipline into one easily accessible resource, to educate all stakeholders (e.g. MMOs, PAM operators, suppliers, recruitment agencies, clients, contractors, regulators, NGOs, consultants, scientists, academia and media), regardless of experience. Topics include worldwide legislation, compliance, anthropogenic noise sources and potential effects, training, offshore life, visual and acoustic monitoring (theory and practice), marine mammal distribution, hearing and vocalizations, and report writing. Advice is provided on implementing sensible and practical mitigation techniques, appropriate technologies, data collection, client and regulator liaison, and project kick-off meetings.

Our fourth featured eBook is Wind Energy Handbook. Fully updated and authoritative reference to wind energy technology written by leading academic and industry professionals The newly revised Third Edition of the Wind Energy Handbook delivers a fully updated treatment of key developments in wind technology since the publication of the book’s Second Edition in 2011. The criticality of wakes within wind farms is addressed by the addition of an entirely new chapter on wake effects, including ‘engineering’ wake models and wake control. Offshore, attention is focused for the first time on the design of floating support structures, and the new ‘PISA’ method for monopile geotechnical design is introduced. The coverage of blade design has been completely rewritten, with an expanded description of laminate fatigue properties and new sections on manufacturing methods, blade testing, leading-edge erosion and bend-twist coupling. These are complemented by new sections on blade add-ons and noise in the aerodynamics chapters, which now also include a description of the Leishman-Beddoes dynamic stall model and an extended introduction to Computational Fluid Dynamics analysis. The importance of the environmental impact of wind farms both on- and offshore is recognized by expanded coverage, and the requirements of the Grid Codes to ensure wind energy plays its full role in the power system are described. The conceptual design chapter has been extended to include a number of novel concepts, including low induction rotors, multiple rotor structures, superconducting generators and magnetic gearboxes. References and further reading resources are included throughout the book and have been updated to cover the latest literature. As in previous editions, the core subjects constituting the essential background to wind turbine and wind farm design are covered. These include: •The nature of the wind resource, including geographical variation, synoptic and diurnal variations, and turbulence characteristics •The aerodynamics of horizontal axis wind turbines, including the actuator disc concept, rotor disc theory, the vortex cylinder model of the actuator disc and the Blade-Element/Momentum theory Design loads for horizontal axis wind turbines, including the prescriptions of international standards •Alternative machine architectures •The design of key components Wind turbine controller design for fixed and variable speed machines •The integration of wind farms into the electrical power system •Wind farm design, siting constraints, and the assessment of environmental impact. Perfect for engineers and scientists learning about wind turbine technology, the Wind Energy Handbook will also earn a place in the libraries of graduate students taking courses on wind turbines and wind energy, as well as industry professionals whose work requires a deep understanding of wind energy technology.

Our fifth featured eBook is A Poison Like No Other : How Microplastics Corrupted Our Planet and Our Bodies. It’s falling from the sky and in the air we breathe. It’s in our food, our clothes, and our homes. It’s microplastic and it’s everywhere—including our own bodies. Scientists are just beginning to discover how these tiny particles threaten health, but the studies are alarming. In A Poison Like No Other, Matt Simon reveals a whole new dimension to the plastic crisis, one even more disturbing than plastic bottles washing up on shores and grocery bags dumped in landfills. Dealing with discarded plastic is bad enough, but when it starts to break down, the real trouble begins. The very thing that makes plastic so useful and ubiquitous – its toughness – means it never really goes away. It just gets smaller and smaller: eventually small enough to enter your lungs or be absorbed by crops or penetrate a fish’s muscle tissue before it becomes dinner. Unlike other pollutants that are single elements or simple chemical compounds, microplastics represent a cocktail of toxicity: plastics contain at least 10,000 different chemicals. Those chemicals are linked to diseases from diabetes to hormone disruption to cancers. A Poison Like No Other is the first book to fully explore this new dimension of the plastic crisis, following the intrepid scientists who travel to the ends of the earth and the bottom of the ocean to understand the consequences of our dependence on plastic. As Simon learns from these researchers, there is no easy fix. But we will never curb our plastic addiction until we begin to recognize the invisible particles all around us.

Our sixth featured eBook is Rules : A Short History of What We Live By. A panoramic history of rules in the Western world. Rules order almost every aspect of our lives. They set our work hours, dictate how we drive and set the table, tell us whether to offer an extended hand or cheek in greeting, and organize the rites of life, from birth through death. We may chafe under the rules we have, and yearn for ones we don’t, yet no culture could do without them. In Rules, historian Lorraine Daston traces their development in the Western tradition and shows how rules have evolved from ancient to modern times. Drawing on a rich trove of examples, including legal treatises, cookbooks, military manuals, traffic regulations, and game handbooks, Daston demonstrates that while the content of rules is dazzlingly diverse, the forms that they take are surprisingly few and long-lived. Daston uncovers three enduring kinds of rules: the algorithms that calculate and measure, the laws that govern, and the models that teach. She vividly illustrates how rules can change—how supple rules stiffen, or vice versa, and how once bothersome regulations become everyday norms. Rules have been devised for almost every imaginable activity and range from meticulous regulations to the laws of nature. Daston probes beneath this variety to investigate when rules work and when they don’t, and why some philosophical problems about rules are as ancient as philosophy itself while others are as modern as calculating machines. Rules offers a wide-angle view on the history of the constraints that guide us—whether we know it or not.

Our seventh featured eBook is Wills and Trusts in a Nutshell, 6th. The sixth edition of this book updates laws affecting intestate succession, wills, guardianships, and trusts. It introduces wills and trust terminology to the lay audience and summarizes the law included in the Uniform Probate Code, Uniform Trust Code, Uniform Principal and Income Act, Uniform Guardianship and Protective Proceedings Act, Uniform Prudent Investor Act, and the Restatement of Trusts. To illustrate legal issues this book utilizes problems arising from celebrity peccadilloes and well-known deaths, such as those of Abraham Lincoln, Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, Prince, and the mother/daughter team of Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher. The book can be adopted to supplement a traditional wills and trusts class or as the sole text for a seminar. With clarified language, the book is also accessible to the general public interested in learning more about this complex topic.

Our eighth featured eBook is Climate Change Law. Climate Change Law is the first book to offer a concise, readable treatment of this entire rapidly evolving body of law. Climate law runs the gamut from state and local regulations to federal policies and international agreements and includes both public and private sector involvement. This issue is just too important to leave to specialists alone. The focus is on core concepts of climate change law rather than all of the complex details. The book begins by discussing the scientific and policy issues that frame the legal scheme, including the state of climate science, the meaning of the social cost of carbon, and the variety of tools that are available to reduce carbon emissions. It then covers in turn the international, national, and state efforts in this sphere. Finally, the book turns to the challenge of adapting to climate change, before exploring the concept of geoengineering and the potential challenges associated with using geoengineering as a tool for addressing climate change. The new edition covers major developments such as the Supreme Court’s decision in West Virginia v. EPA, Trump Administration rollbacks and their subsequent fates, climate litigation brought by state and local governments, and the implementation of the Paris Agreement. The book is designed to be accessible to a broad range of readers, not just those who have backgrounds in climate science, environmental economics, or law.

Our ninth featured eBook is Closing Death’s Door: Legal Innovations to End the Epidemic of Healthcare Harm. After heart disease and cancer, the third leading cause of death in the United States is iatrogenic injury (avoidable injury or infection caused by a healer). Research suggests that avoidable errors claim several hundred thousand lives every year. The principal economic counterforce to such errors, malpractice litigation, has never been a particularly effective deterrent for a host of reasons, with fewer than 3% of negligently injured patients (or their families) receiving any compensation from a doctor or hospital’s insurer. Closing Death’s Door brings the psychology of decision making together with the law to explore ways to improve patient safety and reduce iatrogenic injury, when neither the healthcare industry itself nor the legal system has made a substantial dent in the problem. Beginning with an unflinching introduction to the problem of patient safety, the authors go on to define iatrogenic injury and its scope, shedding light on the culture and structure of a healthcare industry that has failed to effectively address the problem-and indeed that has influenced legislation to weaken existing legal protections and impede the adoption of potentially promising reforms. Examining the weak points in existing systems with an eye to using law to more effectively bring about improvement, the authors conclude by offering a set of ideas intended to start a conversation that will lead to new legal policies that lower the risk of harm to patients. Closing Death’s Door is brought to vivid life by the stories of individuals and groups that have played leading roles in the nation’s struggle with iatrogenic injury, and is essential reading for medical and legal professionals, as well as lawmakers and laypeople with an interest in healthcare policy.

Our tenth featured eBook is The Gender Pay Gap : Understanding the Numbers. Closing the gender pay gap begins with awareness and understanding of the state of the gap. This hybrid book that serves as a resource for both the academic and corporate communities, builds the reader’s awareness of the gender pay gap, its magnitude and ramifications, and provides action plans to address the challenge. Much of the existing literature on the gender pay gap provides an excellent foundation in stating facts and inferences; yet, the reader is often left wondering ‘now what?’ This book tells the story of the state of the gap by the numbers and then offers specific actions that can be taken to achieve equity. The authors combine backgrounds in statistics and management/HR to provide a unique perspective in painting a broader overview of the issue, examining the history of the gender pay gap, its global impact, and how nations are addressing the issue. The book shines a light on the wide-ranging effects of the gap, including women’s poverty rates, student loans, economic growth, childhood poverty, and corporate profits, and offers insights to help close it with best practices of select organizations. Upper-level undergraduate, postgraduate, and executive education students will appreciate the clarity and conciseness of this guide to understanding and solving an important human resources issue. The inclusion of a brief instructor’s manual and PowerPoint slides for each chapter differentiates this book and adds to the ease of adoption in both the academic and corporate setting.

Our eleventh featured eBook is Understanding E-Carceration: Electronic Monitoring, the Surveillance State, and the Future of Mass Incarceration. A riveting primer on the growing trend of surveillance, monitoring, and control that is extending our prison system beyond physical walls and into a dark future—by the prize-winning author of Understanding Mass Incarceration “James Kilgore is one of my favorite commentators regarding the phenomenon of mass incarceration and the necessity of pursuing truly transformative change.” —Michelle Alexander, author of The New Jim Crow In the last decade, as the critique of mass incarceration has grown more powerful, many reformers have embraced changes that release people from prisons and jails. As educator, author, and activist James Kilgore brilliantly shows, these rapidly spreading reforms largely fall under the heading of “e-carceration”—a range of punitive technological interventions, from ankle monitors to facial recognition apps, that deprive people of their liberty, all in the name of ending mass incarceration. E-carceration can block people’s access to employment, housing, healthcare, and even the chance to spend time with loved ones. Many of these technologies gather data that lands in corporate and government databases and may lead to further punishment or the marketing of their data to Big Tech. This riveting primer on the world of techno-punishment comes from the author of award–winning Understanding Mass Incarceration. Himself a survivor of prison and e-carceration, Kilgore captures the breadth and complexity of these technologies and offers inspiring ideas on how to resist.

In addition to EBSCO ebooks, the New Jersey State Library also provides access to a curated collection of reference ebooks from Salem Press.  Recent titles are shown below.  Click on any cover image for additional information about that title.  A valid New Jersey State Library borrower’s card is required for full access.



eBook access is restricted to New Jersey State employees and Thomas Edison State University staff and students.

Still have questions? You can send an email to Reference Services at refdesk@njstatelib.org

See the New Books Blog page to view additional titles.

Finding Nonprofit Data with GuideStar Pro

Candid GuideStar logo. Black font reading Candid. GuideStar, set on a white and yellow background.

A NJ State Library computer showing GuideStar Pro.The New Jersey State Library now provides free on-site access to GuideStar Pro, connecting you with the nonprofit information you need.

What is GuideStar Pro?

Candid’s GuideStar Pro is a directory of over 1.8 million IRS-recognized tax-exempt organizations, and thousands of faith-based nonprofits.  Its search features allow users to find information for nonprofits based on geography, subject, population served, IRS subsection, and financial capacity.

Use GuideStar to:

  • Locate nonprofits where you can volunteer or work.
  • Evaluate a charity before you donate to them.
  • Find organizations to partner or collaborate with.
  • Better understand the social sector in your community.
  • Increase the visibility and transparency of your nonprofit.

GuideStar User Guide (PDF)

Screenshot of a search in GuideStar Pro showing search criteria and top two search results.
Search results for Animal Welfare organizations in Mercer County, NJ.

Where does the data come from?

Information found in GuideStar’s nonprofit profiles initially comes from the IRS’s Business Master File and Forms 990/990EZ/990PF.  Nonprofit’s can then claim their profile to provide updated or additional data.  Nonprofits earn seals of transparency from Candid based on the level of information they include on their profile.

Screenshot of the GuideStar profile for the National Wildlife Federation.
An example of a nonprofit’s profile. Click the image to see the full profile.

How can you access GuideStar?

You can access GuideStar Pro for free at the New Jersey State Library using our public computers.  Unable to visit us in Trenton, NJ?  There are over 400 Candid community locations nationwide that also provide access.

A limited version of GuideStar is also available remotely when you create a free account with Candid.  However, GuideStar’s free version limits the number of searches you can perform and unique profiles you can view each month.  A subscription version, like Pro, is needed to access all search criteria and view all sections of a nonprofit’s profile.

Contact the New Jersey State Library’s Reference Services to learn more.

Featured eBooks (May 24, 2023)

EBSCO eBooks are available in PDF and ePub formats.  You can read them online from your computer and download them to many devices using the EBSCO mobile app.

To view these titles, and other titles in this collection, start with the New eBooks Research Guide.

Our first featured eBook is Where Research Begins: Choosing a Research Project That Matters to You (and the World). Plenty of books tell you how to do research. This book helps you figure out WHAT to research in the first place, and why it matters. The hardest part of research isn’t answering a question. It’s knowing what to do before you know what your question is. Where Research Begins tackles the two challenges every researcher faces with every new project: How do I find a compelling problem to investigate—one that truly matters to me, deeply and personally? How do I then design my research project so that the results will matter to anyone else? This book will help you start your new research project the right way for you with a series of simple yet ingenious exercises. Written in a conversational style and packed with real-world examples, this easy-to-follow workbook offers an engaging guide to finding research inspiration within yourself, and in the broader world of ideas. Read this book if you (or your students): have difficulty choosing a research topic know your topic, but are unsure how to turn it into a research project feel intimidated by or unqualified to do research worry that you’re asking the wrong questions about your research topic have plenty of good ideas, but aren’t sure which one to commit to feel like your research topic was imposed by someone else want to learn new ways to think about how to do research. Under the expert guidance of award-winning researchers Thomas S. Mullaney and Christopher Rea, you will find yourself on the path to a compelling and meaningful research project, one that matters to you—and the world.

Our second featured eBook is Making Climate Policy Work. For decades, the world’s governments have struggled to move from talk to action on climate. Many now hope that growing public concern will lead to greater policy ambition, but the most widely promoted strategy to address the climate crisis – the use of market-based programs – hasn’t been working and isn’t ready to scale. Danny Cullenward and David Victor show how the politics of creating and maintaining market-based policies render them ineffective nearly everywhere they have been applied. Reforms can help around the margins, but markets’ problems are structural and won’t disappear with increasing demand for climate solutions. Facing that reality requires relying more heavily on smart regulation and industrial policy – government-led strategies – to catalyze the transformation that markets promise, but rarely deliver.

Our third featured eBook is Heat Exposure and Human Health in the Context of Climate Change. This book introduces the effects of heat on human health, especially in the context of climate change. The book utilizes case studies in addition to foundational knowledge and theory to demonstrate the epidemiological impact of heat, also presenting solutions for addressing this important public health issue. It is clearly organized to aid in understanding key questions such as why and how heat exposure impacts health, who are most vulnerable to heat exposure, and how to reduce the impacts of heat exposure. Providing guidance on public policy development as well as individual protection, this book is an interdisciplinary resource for researchers and policymakers in both public health and environmental science fields. Presents the most up-to-date knowledge on an important public health topic in the context of climate change Provides guidance to government, public agencies, health workers, community organizers and environmental agencies to reduce the health impacts of heat exposure Covers theory, epidemiology, environmental considerations and public health, utilizing foundational knowledge, literature reviews and case studies

Our fourth featured eBook is Money Hacks: Because Everything You Think You Know About Money Is Wrong. Larry Steinhouse’s passion for investing in profitable properties, lucrative stock options, and teaching others how to generate wealth has motivated him to share Money Hacks with anyone looking to build a more secure and financially profitable future. Steinhouse is known for his unique approach to money—an approach that, on the surface, seems to be in complete opposition of today’s popular financial counselors. And yet, his strategies have proven to be the best-kept secrets of the super-rich that have made many people wealthy and are still making people rich today. Money Hacks uncovers the mystery of money with Larry Steinhouse’s simple, profitable, and easy-to-follow strategies. Motivated individuals will learn how buy properties without investing any of their own money and how to obtain huge lines of credit while building up their credit scores and their net worth. Steinhouse explains how LLC’s and trusts can protect one’s wealth from excessive taxation and how to leverage an IRA and/or Roth IRA for huge profits, as well as how the stock market really works.

Our fifth featured eBook is The Economics of Environmental Risk: Information, Perception and Valuation. Featuring real world examples of how risk information affects public choices, The Economics of Environmental Risk expertly demonstrates that policymakers need to consider how people learn about those risks. Offering insights into examples such as hazardous waste, radon, smoking, hurricanes and terrorist threats over the past four decades, this intuitive book illustrates environmental risks and the choices made to mitigate the potential effects. Providing a deep dive into how public policies and information affect private choices, this book highlights the successes and failings of these choices, recognizing how decisions made can have an influence on the hazards that are faced. It also focuses on important lessons to be learnt by officials providing information on risk and designing policies for managing them. Further consideration is also given to how experts understand these risks and how the public interprets the information provided. Scholars and students of public policy, risk analysis and environmental and resource economics will value the useful examples found in this informative volume. Policymakers in risk and insurance, and risk management programs will also find this an instructive guide on the ever-changing environmental risks we face.

Our sixth featured eBook is First Amendment Freedoms: A Reference Handbook. This book provides a comprehensive, objective, and accessible source of critically important information on the First Amendment freedoms of religion, speech, and assembly, and the post-Civil War Fourteenth Amendment. Geared for high school and college readers, it covers relevant historical events from the adoption of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights to the array of Supreme Court cases that further defined the scope and limits of First Amendment freedoms. Composed of seven chapters, plus a glossary and index, the volume will present the background and history of the First Amendment; problems, controversies, and solutions; a perspectives chapter with nine original essay contributions; profiles of the leading actors and organizations involved in First Amendment politics; governmental data and excerpts of primary documents on the topic; and a resources chapter comprising an annotated list of the key books, scholarly journals, and nonprint sources on the topic. It closes with a detailed chronology of major events concerning First Amendment freedoms.

Our seventh featured eBook is Project Management for the Advanced Practice Nurse, Second Edition.  This book provides a unique framework for effective project management skills in nursing. This is the only resource designed to teach graduate-level nursing students the skills they need to be effective project managers. Using practical case examples and proven tips, the text presents step-by-step strategies for applying project management skills in varied settings and describes how to identify key concepts critical to project success. The second edition delivers new content to reflect the changing roles and responsibilities of today’s APRN and is consistent with project management concepts defined by the American Organization of Nurse Leaders (AONL) and the American Nurses Association (ANA). Case scenarios are included in each chapter to reinforce practical applications, along with critical thinking questions and activities. The text addresses all phases of basic project management so that nursing professionals of all levels can easily apply proven processes to clinical practice. Examples and explanations of each step in the project management process are included with the added benefit of differentiating terminology used in the business operations of nursing professionals. New to the Second Edition: Delivers new content to reflect roles and responsibilities of today’s APRN, nurse executive (NE), and other specialty roles that benefit from the organizing framework project management provides; Reflects management concepts designated by the AONL and ANA Standards of Practice; Includes case scenarios in each chapter to reinforce understanding of practical applications; Provides critical thinking questions and activities in each chapter; Covers quality improvement projects as they relate to the DNP project. Key Features: Serves as a primary text for nursing informatics programs and project management courses and as a resource for MSN Capstones and DNP projects; Presents the foundations of project management, with specific examples from a variety of roles to guide the novice project manager; Underscores the similarities and differences between the project management and nursing processes; Promotes the transition from bedside nurse to APRNs in leadership roles. Supplemental instructor’s manual and PowerPoints included.

Our eighth featured eBook is Public Health Approach to Cardiovascular Disease Prevention & Management. Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs) are the number one cause of death and disability globally, being the most important public health problem that needs to be tackled as more people die annually from CVDs than from any other cause. Over three-quarters of CVD deaths take place in low- and middle-income countries. This book on cardiovascular diseases provides an overview of the global and regional challenges associated with CVDs. Coupled with case studies and theoretical concepts, it helps the reader to contextualize CVDs in the broader public health system and the administrative aspects of practicing CVD control approaches for improved population health in their local setting. Key Features: 1. Covers existing and emerging issues in cardiovascular disease epidemiology and prevention; 2. Has a multidisciplinary approach in content and audience; 3. Connects with health systems and relevant sustainable development goals; 4. Provides case studies for enabling readers to understand and apply evidence-based solutions to key public health issues; 5. Has inputs from globally renowned public health experts.

Our ninth featured eBook is The Authority of the Court and the Peril of Politics. A sitting justice reflects upon the authority of the Supreme Court—how that authority was gained and how measures to restructure the Court could undermine both the Court and the constitutional system of checks and balances that depends on it.  A growing chorus of officials and commentators argues that the Supreme Court has become too political. On this view the confirmation process is just an exercise in partisan agenda-setting, and the jurists are no more than “politicians in robes”—their ostensibly neutral judicial philosophies mere camouflage for conservative or liberal convictions.  Stephen Breyer, drawing upon his experience as a Supreme Court justice, sounds a cautionary note.  Mindful of the Court’s history, he suggests that the judiciary’s hard-won authority could be marred by reforms premised on the assumption of ideological bias. Having, as Hamilton observed, “no influence over either the sword or the purse,” the Court earned its authority by making decisions that have, over time, increased the public’s trust. If public trust is now in decline, one part of the solution is to promote better understandings of how the judiciary actually works: how judges adhere to their oaths and how they try to avoid considerations of politics and popularity.  Breyer warns that political intervention could itself further erode public trust. Without the public’s trust, the Court would no longer be able to act as a check on the other branches of government or as a guarantor of the rule of law, risking serious harm to our constitutional system.

Our tenth featured eBook is Sustainable Plastics : Environmental Assessments of Biobased, Biodegradable, and Recycled Plastics. This book enables readers to understand the what, why, and how behind using sustainable plastics in manufacturing operations. The impact of 50 years of unbridled plastics production, use, and disposal is now becoming well known and documented. Plastics made from non-renewable petroleum and natural gas resources threaten the environment, human health, species maintenance, and the very life of the ocean. This book helps readers understand the ability of plastics to be sustainable and goes over the plastic products which have a lower carbon footprint, lower waste, and lower pollution. The well-qualified author’s unique perspective puts a special focus on comprehensive coverage of environmental impacts of plastics including Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) and sustainability strategies related to biobased plastics (e.g., corn), recycled plastics, and petroleum-based plastics. Other samples topics covered in the book include: End-of-life options for petroleum and biobased plastics including mechanical recycling, chemical recycling, and composting;  ASTM biodegradation standards for compost, marine, anaerobic digestion, and landfill environments;  Polymer processing, including injection molding, blow molding, extrusion, and compression molding;  Environmental data and coverage of petroleum plastics, sustainable composites;  New information on bio-based plastics. The book serves as an invaluable resource for plastics engineers, materials engineers, and all professionals in related disciplines looking to understand and apply the usage of sustainable plastics in many different types of manufacturing operations.

In addition to EBSCO ebooks, the New Jersey State Library also provides access to a curated collection of reference ebooks from Salem Press.  Recent titles are shown below.  Click on any cover image for additional information about that title.  A valid New Jersey State Library borrower’s card is required for full access.



eBook access is restricted to New Jersey State employees and Thomas Edison State University staff and students.

Still have questions? You can send an email to Reference Services at refdesk@njstatelib.org

See the New Books Blog page to view additional titles.

The Financial Side of College Graduation Program Recap

Thank you to Samantha Benson from the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority for her presentation on what life looks like after graduation in terms of student loans and the costs of graduate school.  The most important thing regarding you or your children’s finances after graduation is to make sure you understand all the details of any loans.  Some loans have a grace period (such as 6 months for Federal Stafford Loans) before any money needs to be paid back.  Consolidation is an option many people take to reduce their monthly payments and interest rate, but it may extend the life of the loan to 30 years and prevent you from over-paying on the loan.  It is strongly recommended to visit StudentAid.Gov with your child to learn about available repayment plans, current loan servicers, and take advantage of their Loan Simulator.

Repayment Options

Repayment options for Federal Direct Loans include:

  • Standard
    • 10 years
    • Highest payment, but lowest total amount
    • will be auto enrolled after school if no other choice is selected during Exit Interview
  • Graduated
    • 10 years
    • Payments start off low, but increase roughly every 2 years
  • Extended
    • About 25 years
    • Payments are lower, but life of the loan is greatly extended, requiring more to be paid back
    • Must have at least $30,000 in student loan debt
  • Income-Based
    • 20-25 years of qualified payments, then rest is forgiven
    • 10-15% of discretionary income
  • Income Contingent
    • 25 years, then loan is forgiven
    • 20% of discretionary income OR amount if loan was for 12 years, whichever is lesser
    • Payment is calculated each year based your AGI (and spouse’s if married), family size, and amount of loans
  • Pay as you Earn
    • 20 years, then loan is forgiven
    • capped at 10% of discretionary income
  • Revised Pay as you Earn
    • 25 years, then loan is forgiven
    • Payment is calculated each year based your AGI (and spouse’s if married)
    • Payments may be higher than Standard repayment

Some loans are also available for loan consolidation, which allows you to combine different individual student loans into one loan with one payment.  Consolidation can lower your overall monthly payment and may lower the overall interest rate between the different loans.

Loan Forgiveness

There are also federal and state loan forgiveness programs that will forgive your student loan debt if you meet certain requirements.  One popular federal student loan forgiveness program is the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program where qualified borrowers can have their loan forgiven after 10 years of payments in a qualified repayment plan if they work in a government agency or certain other non-profits.  Please visit https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service for the most up-to-date information about the PSLF program.

HESAA has some forgiveness programs for state loans, including:

  • STEAM Loan Redemption Program
  • Nursing Faculty Loan Redemption for Teachers
  • Primary Care Physician and Dentist Loan Redemption Program

Please visit https://www.hesaa.org/Pages/LoanRedemptionPrograms.aspx for more information on the different loan forgiveness programs through HESAA.

If a loan is forgiven, the remaining balance MUST BE declared as income on your federal taxes for that year!

Graduate School

Funding for graduate school is much more limited than undergraduate and many of the options that were available to undergraduate students (Subsidized Federal Direct Loan, Pell Grants, TAG).  However, you can take out more money per year.  Types of financial and state aid available for graduate students include:

  • TEACH Grant – must attend a school that participates and meet other criteria.  Current maximum award is $3,772
  • Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan – Interest rate is currently 7.05% with a 1.059% origination fee.  The current annual loan amount is $20,500.
  • Federal Work Study – part time employment
  • Education Opportunity Fund (NJ) – Needs-based grant with awards from $200 – $3,050.
  • Grad Plus Loan – Current interest rate is 8.05% with 4.228% origination fee

More Information

For more information on repaying Federal Direct/Stafford loans, please visit https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans.  For more information on managing your loans after school and preparing for the job market, please visit https://www.mappingyourfuture.org/planyourcareer/.  For a wide variety of information on repaying student loans, please visit http://www.hesaa.org/Pages/PayOnline.aspx.

You can also view a sample Repayment Plan Summary at https://www.njstatelib.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Repayment-Plan-Summary.pdf.  You can view a recording of the webinar at https://youtu.be/WhrmNOr1MFM.

WEBINAR – Before You Can Say Jackie Robinson: Black Baseball in America in the Era of the Color Line

New Jersey State Library PresentsBlack professional baseball originated in the 1880s and reached an end shortly after Hall of Fame ball-player Jackie Robinson’s entry into the Major Leagues. This moving and informative program celebrates that history, and gives back to great ballplayers, so often overlooked, some of the acclaim that they so deserved It locates this story into the larger Black and white world of which the Negro Leagues were a part. Selections from a documentary, produced by noted baseball historian Lawrence Hogan, lets players that Hogan was close to, speak about their playing days and their great love for the game. A special feature of this program has poet and playwright Kevin Kane presenting his original poem, “Breaking the Line with the Mudville Nine,” a Negro League update to that iconic American poem, “Casey at the Bat.”

Dr. Lawrence Hogan is Professor of History Emeritus from Union College in New Jersey, author of The Forgotten History of African-American Baseball, and principal author and editor of Shades of Glory, published by National Geographic, as well as several other books on the history of Blacks in America. He is Executive Director of the documentary Before You Can Say Jackie Robinson: Black Baseball in America in the Era of the Color Line. His latest work is “Harlem’s First Citizen:” John Howard Johnson at St. Martin’s, A Priest and His People in the Making of Harlem.  John Thorn, Official Historian of Major League baseball has called him a “National Treasure.”

Kevin Kane – has made the better part of his living as a writer, musician and playwright. His Negro League version of “Casey at the Bat,” called “Breaking the Line with the Mudville Nine” was written for and first performed at the Cooperstown National Baseball Hall of Fame. He served as performance representative for his good friend, the noted playwright, August Wilson. He has taught performing arts at the Paul Lawrence Dunbar Middle School in the Bronx.

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Below the Belt: Preventing and Detecting Gynecologic Cancer Program Recap

Thank you to Dr. Joyce Varughese from Capital Health Surgical Group for presenting on gynecologic cancers in honor of National Women’s Health Month.  As of 2016, cancer was the second leading cause of death among women, just behind heart disease, yet many gynecologic cancers have no testing and can be difficult to diagnose.  Therefore, knowledge is often the best weapon against these cancers and as always, the earlier cancer is diagnosed, the better the potential outcome.  While there are a few different types of gynecologic cancers, Dr. Varughese focused on three: Uterine, Ovarian, and Cervical.  Let’s take a closer look at each one!

Uterine Cancer

Uterine cancer is the 4th most commonly diagnosed cancer in women and the 6th most deadly.  2.8% of women will develop uterine cancer in their life and most of these women, roughly 75%, will be post menopausal.  While the average age of diagnosis is 62, certain risk factors may boost your chances of getting uterine cancer at an earlier age.

Risk and Protective Factors

There are number of risk factors that can increase your risk of developing uterine cancer.  These include:

  • Lynch Syndrome, genetic defect in specific genes that help repair DNA – increase risk 6-10 fold
  • Obesity between 30 and 50 pounds over Ideal Body Weight – increase risk 3 fold
  • Obesity over 50 pounds over Ideal Body Weight – increase risk 10 fold
  • Diabetes – increase risk 2.8 fold
  • Older age – increase risk 2-3 fold
  • History of infertility – increase risk 2-3 fold
  • Hypertension – increase risk 1.5 fold

As indicated above, obesity is a serious risk factor when it comes to uterine cancer.  In fact, overweight or obesity account for 20% of cancer deaths in women.  Additionally, 40% of endometrial cancers can be attributed to obesity.  This can result in more co-morbid medical conditions, more difficult surgery, increased complications, and questions regarding optimal chemotherapy dosing.

In addition to these risk factors, there are some things that can decrease your risk of ovarian cancer, including pregnancy, age of first period over 15, and oral contraceptive and progesterone use.

Diagnosis

Unlike other cancers, there is no diagnostic test or screening for uterine cancer.  Many of the symptoms of uterine cancer can seem minor or indicative of other conditions.  90% of women diagnosed with uterine cancer experienced abnormal bleeding, including:

  • vaginal bleeding/spotting after menopause
  • experiencing late menopause
  • new onset of heavy menstrual periods
  • bleeding between periods
  • abnormal uterine bleeding in women as young as 35

Outside of abnormal bleeding, other symptoms of uterine cancer can include pelvic or abdominal pain, vaginal discharge, pelvic masses, or thickened endometrial stripe on an ultrasound.  If you experience any of these symptoms, you should see your OBGYN immediately.

Prevention

It is believed that 40% of uterine (endometrial) cancers are potentially preventable just by reporting and following up with postmenopausal bleeding.  Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including exercise and proper diet, can be a great way to lower your risk of uterine cancer, especially if you have a family history of uterine cancer.  If you have Lynch Syndrome, it is recommended to get a hysterectomy when done bearing children or by your mid-40s.

Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer, including cancers of the fallopian tubes, is the 5th most deadly cancer for women.  Shockingly, 75-80% of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer are diagnosed at an advanced stage, either Stage 3 or 4.  Like uterine cancer, there are no screening tests for ovarian cancer, which contributes to the late diagnosis and is all the more reason to know your risk factors and report any symptoms right away to your doctor.

Risk and Protective Factors

Unlike uterine cancer where obesity can have a significant impact on your risk, risk factors with ovarian cancer are not preventable.  If you have a family history of ovarian cancer, your risk is 3-4 fold, but if you have BRCA 1 or 2 genetic mutations (similar to Lynch Syndrome), your risk skyrockets to between 14 and 35 fold.  Other risk factors include:

  • Older age – increase risk 3 fold
  • Infertility – increase risk 2-5 fold
  • Endometriosis – increase risk 2 fold
  • Late menopause – increase risk 1.5-2 fold

Similar to uterine cancer, the use of oral contraceptives can lower your risk by 30-50%.

Diagnosis

Unfortunately, early stages of ovarian cancer present generic or non-descript symptoms.  Additionally, there is generally a delay of 6-12 months in diagnosis after the onset of symptoms, so it is critical to report any of the following conditions to your doctor:

  • Abdominal pain
  • Urinary changes
  • Increasing abdominal distension or girth
  • Change it appetite, including early satiety and decreased appetite
  • Bowel changes, including persistent nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation

Additionally, ovarian cancer can be diagnosed if a pelvic mass is felt or a fluid wave is observed during a pelvic exam.  If ovarian cancer is suspected, it is recommend to meet with a gynecologic oncologist for confirmation and treatment options.

Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer is becoming more rare thanks to increased PAP smear and HPV testing as well as the HVP vaccine.  Only about 13,000 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer in the United States in 2019.  Yet, the incidence and mortality rates are still 50% higher in African-American women.  Cervical cancer is caused by certain strains of HPV, the human papillomavirus, that can infect the cells of the cervix and eventually turn into cancerous cells.  It takes on average 15 years for someone with HPV to develop cervical cancer.   Because of this, cervical cancer is 99% preventable with modern medicine.

Risk Factors

The risk factors for contracting HPV or stimulating the progression of an HPV infection into cancer include:

  • Early age of first sexual encounter
  • Multiple sexual partners
  • High-risk sexual partner
  • History of STI
  • History of vaginal or vulvar pre-cancers/cancers
  • Immunosuppression
  • Cigarette smoking

Diagnosis

Most women will have no symptoms as it relates to cervical cancer.  In some cases, women may experience bleeding after intercourse, excessive discharge, or abnormal bleeding between periods.

Prevention

As mentioned above, cervical cancer is 99% preventable through proper testing and the HPV vaccine.  Women should undergo age appropriate PAP smears and girls and boys should undergo HPV testing and receive the HPV vaccine.  The vaccine is non-infectious, meaning that it does not contain live or dead strands of the virus, and is non-oncogenic, meaning that you cannot develop cervical cancer from the vaccine.  Studies have shown that HPV vaccine recipients actually produce higher levels of the neutralizing antibody than someone who is naturally infected.

Gardasil 9 is the most prevalent HPV vaccine in the United States.  The vaccine is approved for ages 9-45, but it is recommended to get the vaccine starting at age 11.  If the vaccine is administered before age 15, there is only 1 follow-up dose 6-12 months after the initial dose.  If the first dose is administered between the ages of 15 and 26, there are 2 follow-up doses; the first 1-2 months after the initial and then 6 months after the initial.  For anyone between the ages of 27 and 45, it is recommended to discuss with your doctor.

More Information

If you would like more information on gynecologic cancers, including types, diagnosis, prevention, or treatments, please visit the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists at www.sgo.org/patient-resources.  If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Joyce Varughese at 609-573-6000 or check her out on Facebook as “Lady Doctor MD” where she posts all sorts of information related to women’s health.  You can view a recording of the webinar on our YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/q7bWVeTiCw0.

VIRTUAL AUTHOR TALK – I Looked Up and There Was the Sky: The 2021 Mullica Hill Tornado

Join Monmouth University Professor and oral historian Melissa Ziobro as she offers a retrospective of the devastating EF-3 tornado that swept through Mullica Hill and surrounding areas in September of 2021. How widespread was the destruction? What was it like to be in the eye of the storm? How did the community come together to rebuild? And, importantly, what lessons can we learn from this unprecedented event? This talk draws heavily from contemporary news coverage and interviews with 32 community members conducted by Ziobro for the Harrison Township Historical Society from February – June 2022.

Melissa Ziobro is the Specialist Professor of Public History in the Monmouth University Department of History and Anthropology. She is the current President of Oral History in the Mid-Atlantic Region, and served for many years as the editor for New Jersey Studies: An Interdisciplinary Journal, a joint venture of the NJ Historical Commission, Rutgers University Libraries, and Monmouth University. Melissa is also a trustee of the NJ Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Foundation, the Ocean County Historical Society, the Monmouth County Historical Association, the InfoAge Science and History Museums at the Camp Evans National Historic Landmark, and Preservation NJ.

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