Bibliographic Instruction Lessons from a New Librarian

Although I have worked in the library profession for two years, it has taken longer to understand the phenomenon of bibliographic instruction. My pre-library school background is in education, but marrying the two disciplines has not been as easy as I first assumed. I had read a lot of helpful articles about library instruction in general, but ran across very few that were geared towards best practices and advice for new librarians. In this article I will address some of the key issues that I faced when first confronted with the challenge of library instruction

Popcorn N\u27 Picture Books: Promoting Children\u27s Books in Academic Libraries

The educational value of children’s literature is supported by a numerous body of research. Helping children to read, write, develop fluency, critical thinking skills and multicultural awareness are just a few of the essential benefits children’s books provide. During the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, children’s book publishing has risen from a small publishing venture to big business. About 2,000 books were published for children in 1960. By the nineties, this number increased to 5,000 and has continued to rise. The “voluminous body of high-quality literature” published yearly makes selection by librarians difficult. As Bernice Cullinan and Lee Galda note, “Our job as teachers, librarians, and parents is to select the best from the vast array of books.” Another vital aspect of our roles as librarians is creative promotion of new children’s books. While the literature reveals a broad array of ideas and programs for celebrating children’s books in public and school libraries, little has been geared towards academic librarians

Genomic medicine in primary care: Texas physicians' adoption of an innovation

New applications of genomic medicine stemming from the Human Genome Project are predicted to become routine components of primary care. Primary care physicians (PCPs) will increasingly become responsible for screening patients for inherited diseases, recommending genetic testing, and making referrals to genetic services. Clinical applications of genomic medicine will occur at a variable pace. Characteristics of an innovation such as genomic medicine are strong indicators of its potential for adoption. The purpose of this study is to assess whether (and to what extent) physicians' perceptions of genomic medicine as an innovation influence their likelihood of adopting this innovation into primary care. The study's sample consists of 400 primary care physicians in Texas and employs a survey design. Based on Rogers' Diffusion of Innovations Theory, the perceived characteristics of genomic medicine - Relative Advantage, Compatibility, Complexity, Trialability, and Observability - are the study's independent/predictor variables. Likelihood of PCPs Adopting Genomic Medicine is the dependent variable. The nature of the social system (private or group practice) is examined as a possible moderator variable. The study suggests that Texas PCPs who are likely to adopt genomic medicine strongly perceive its clinical uses (such as genetic testing for carrier status or susceptibility to common diseases, testing an embryo for genetic disorders before it is implanted, and supplementing a family history) to be highly advantageous. For half of the PCPs, genetic services such as genetic counseling and genetic testing are not compatible with current practice. Perceived complexity of the innovation is the strongest predictor of likelihood of PCPs adopting genomic medicine. Many PCPs find it difficult to stay updated on genomic medicine and locate genetic services. Although Texas PCPs feel genomic medicine can be gradually incorporated into primary care practice, most are not presently observing their colleagues adopting genomic medicine or assisting their patients to make decisions regarding genetic services. Future efforts to advance the use of genomic medicine in primary care will require more emphasis on genetics in medical school curriculum and continuing education programs. Links with specialists trained in genetic counseling and health education will be essential to translate relevant information to patients and families

Genetic services and attitudes in primary care pediatrics

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/102660/1/ajmga36339.pd

Classroom Discussion: a Journey to Decentralizing the Classroom

Throughout history of the United States, teachers have instigated classroom discussion about text in hopes that talk enhanced understanding. More recently, Vygotsky (1978) produced evidence of the importance of social talk in learning. It is through this social interaction or discussion that students construct and negotiate meaning of text. What constitutes social interaction or discussion is what leads some teachers to disagree. The literature on discussion has classified it into two types: recitation and discussion

Towards a Dialectical Naturalism: A Response to "Critical Naturalism: A Manifesto"

The prior issue of Krisis (42:1) published Critical Naturalism: A Manifesto, with the aim to instigate a debate of the issues raised in this manifesto – the necessary re-thinking of the role (and the concept) of nature in critical theory in relation to questions of ecology, health, and inequality. Since Krisis considers itself a place for philosophical debates that take contemporary struggles as starting point, it issued an open call and solicited responses to the manifesto. This is one of the sixteen selected responses, which augment, specify, or question the assumptions and arguments of the manifesto

Genomic medicine in primary care: Texas physicians' adoption of an innovation

New applications of genomic medicine stemming from the Human Genome Project are predicted to become routine components of primary care. Primary care physicians (PCPs) will increasingly become responsible for screening patients for inherited diseases, recommending genetic testing, and making referrals to genetic services. Clinical applications of genomic medicine will occur at a variable pace. Characteristics of an innovation such as genomic medicine are strong indicators of its potential for adoption. The purpose of this study is to assess whether (and to what extent) physicians' perceptions of genomic medicine as an innovation influence their likelihood of adopting this innovation into primary care. The study's sample consists of 400 primary care physicians in Texas and employs a survey design. Based on Rogers' Diffusion of Innovations Theory, the perceived characteristics of genomic medicine - Relative Advantage, Compatibility, Complexity, Trialability, and Observability - are the study's independent/predictor variables. Likelihood of PCPs Adopting Genomic Medicine is the dependent variable. The nature of the social system (private or group practice) is examined as a possible moderator variable. The study suggests that Texas PCPs who are likely to adopt genomic medicine strongly perceive its clinical uses (such as genetic testing for carrier status or susceptibility to common diseases, testing an embryo for genetic disorders before it is implanted, and supplementing a family history) to be highly advantageous. For half of the PCPs, genetic services such as genetic counseling and genetic testing are not compatible with current practice. Perceived complexity of the innovation is the strongest predictor of likelihood of PCPs adopting genomic medicine. Many PCPs find it difficult to stay updated on genomic medicine and locate genetic services. Although Texas PCPs feel genomic medicine can be gradually incorporated into primary care practice, most are not presently observing their colleagues adopting genomic medicine or assisting their patients to make decisions regarding genetic services. Future efforts to advance the use of genomic medicine in primary care will require more emphasis on genetics in medical school curriculum and continuing education programs. Links with specialists trained in genetic counseling and health education will be essential to translate relevant information to patients and families

Legacy and Emerging Contaminants of Concern in Edible Seaweeds of the Salish Sea

Seaweed are cultivated and harvested around the world for many uses including food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and fuel. Seaweed aquaculture has been on the rise globally, and interest has been expressed in the United States in furthering the development of the industry. Because seaweed can absorb contaminants into their tissues, an understanding of the risks to consumers is important for informing those consumers and maintaining public support for the industry. Seven species of seaweed that are either wild-harvested or of interest to aquaculture were collected from the Washington State Salish Sea and analyzed for differences in contaminants by season, site, algal taxon, and year. Water samples and blades of sugar kelp, Saccharina latissima, were collected from Blue Dot Sea Farm (US) during the growing season and post-harvest for analyses of metal content, PFAS, and PCBs. Common green ulvoid seaweed was collected monthly to measure seasonal variation and from 12 distinct locations simultaneously around the Salish Sea to measure spatial variation. Concentrations of legacy (PCBs, arsenic, cadmium, and lead) and emerging (per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)) contaminants were measured in the seaweeds. Concentrations of contaminants were compared to human health-based screening levels calculated from the USEPA and reported international limits. Legacy contaminants (metals, PCBs) differed between seaweed type (rhodophytes, phaeophytes, and chlorophytes) as well as by season, year, and location. PFAS compounds were detected in all seaweed samples, dominated by short-chain PFAS 6:2 FTS. The ratio of inorganic arsenic to total arsenic within seaweed tissue varied by seaweed taxon but remained less than 1% of total arsenic content and were below screening levels or international limits. Reference dose-based screening levels (SLRfD) were exceeded for three samples of Nereocystis luetkeana for Cd, but all other samples fell below SLRfD for Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, V, Zn, and total PCBs. These measurements serve as an important baseline for directing current and future environmental monitoring, management, and aquaculture practices