Library Selection: The Role of Newbery Winning Titles in Today\u27s Libraries

The goal of this research project was to determine if the role of Newbery winning titles in today’s libraries is changing, or if those titles are still held above other titles because they won the prestigious Newbery Award. To answer this question, preliminary research was compiled and a survey was sent to librarians in the state of Illinois. The finding of the research showed that, while many librarians still considered Newbery award winning titles to be a worthwhile contribution to their libraries, there were some who were beginning to question the award and the titles that were chosen. One of the main reasons the award was questioned was because the winners were chosen by adults, rather than young adults, who were the intended audience. The more recent winning titles were also not popular with the readers, so they were not being checked out of the libraries. The results of the survey showed that, while librarians may be less likely to weed a Newbery award winning title than another title, their main desire was to fill the library with titles that the patrons would use, even if those were not the Newbery titles. The participants were split almost fifty-fifty over whether they would weed a Newbery award winning title, which shows that the award still carries the prestige for many of the librarians. In the future, it would be interesting to see if these statistics change or remain the same

Developing Support for Stalled Dissertators

Graduate students writing dissertations often confront academic or personal issues that may cause them to lose momentum and stop progress on their dissertations. This workshop helped attendees to consider reasons why graduate students writing dissertations become stalled, to conceptualize what a program designed specifically to help stalled dissertators might look like, and to experience the process of creating methods and resources for such a program. Materials include hands-on activities and handouts that can be used to walk through the process of developing a writing support program for dissertators

Filtering Out Pesky Air Pollutants with X-Ray Fluorescence

Filtering Out Pesky Air Pollutants with X-Ray Fluorescence Amanda Kennell, Hayley Adams, and Anela Camdzic February 28, 2015 Abstract Air pollutants are so small they evade most filters, but nature contains air filters that catch pollutants naturally: spider webs. As an insect flies, it may appear to fly into a spider web, when in actuality, it is pulled into the web due to an electrostatic attraction [1]. Similar to rubbing a balloon in your hair and then sticking it to a wall, an insect or air pollution particle obtains charge from air resistance and then induces a polarization in the water molecules adhered to the web. This polarization is what attracts the insect or air particle to the web and a glue-like substance then causes them to stick [2]. Webs were collected from different environments around Dahlonega and x-ray fluorescence (XRF) was used to identify different elements in the web. XRF works by exciting atoms with primary x-ray radiation that then emit secondary x-rays characteristic to the emitting elements. These characteristic x-rays are detected and the elements that emitted them are identified. Several different elements, such as iron, manganese, lead, and many more, have been detected, with webs taken from high traffic areas having higher concentrations and a greater diversity of these elements then webs collected from lower traffic areas. Using spider webs as air filters, any place in the world - as spider webs are everywhere- can have an accurate and inexpensive measurement made of the air pollutants. [1] Ortega-Jimenez, Victor Manuel, and Robert Dudley. Spider Web Deformation Induced by Electrostatically Charged Insects. NatureScientific Reports.3 (2013): 1-4. Nature.com. Web. Sept. 2014. [2] Dr. Michael Bodri. University of North Georgia. September, 2014

Smart governance for heritage tourism destinations: contextual factors and destination management organization perspectives

The sustainable development of tourism is a major concern for destination management organisations (DMOs) in heritage tourism. Smart tourism advocates claim that technologically-driven innovations can help DMOs to optimise tourism development by addressing issues such as carrying capacity, stakeholder management and community involvement. This study enhances the understanding of smart tourism governance (SG), showing how contextual factors affect DMO perspectives of SG. A mixed-methods approach was used to investigate heritage tourism destinations in the United Kingdom. The results demonstrate that well-established DMOs do not perceive SG as potentially beneficial, as they already perform well in many areas in which SG promises improvements, such as citizen engagement, decision-making, and stakeholder engagement. Despite this, this research highlights the aspects of SG that these destinations can take advantage of as social inclusion, environmental performance and the provision of citizen-centric services. All of these can help heritage tourism destinations to optimise their tourism development. This research additionally demonstrates the effect of contextual factors, such as the level of public-sector support for tourism and the growing influence of non-tourism stakeholders in destination management, on DMO perceptions of SG and makes recommendations for how developments in the use of SG by DMOs can be made, in light of these

A Comparative Analysis of Martin Luther\u27s Works

In this study we sought to analyze the inclusion of themes from Martin Luther\u27s 95 Theses (1517) in his later writings and the possible development of such themes. We sought to analyze selected works by Luther in order to answer the following question: Of the themes of the 95 Theses, which remain unchanged, which change, and which disappear in his later writings? After translating and analyzing the 95 Theses as a group, we discussed and agreed upon six themes: purgatory, the pope and the clergy, canonical law, indulgences, the gospel and salvation, and repentance. We then individually compared these themes to selected works of Luther’s writings (or his hymns in general). Due to the different natures and purposes of each work, we found varying results. Ultimately, we concluded that the 95 Theses neither summarizes nor predicts Luther’s theology. Luther in fact continues to develop his theology over time and tailors his content for the particular audiences for which he writes

Equivalent titanium dioxide nanoparticle deposition by intratracheal instillation and whole body inhalation: the effect of dose rate on acute respiratory tract inflammation

BACKGROUND: The increased production of nanomaterials has caused a corresponding increase in concern about human exposures in consumer and occupational settings. Studies in rodents have evaluated dose–response relationships following respiratory tract (RT) delivery of nanoparticles (NPs) in order to identify potential hazards. However, these studies often use bolus methods that deliver NPs at high dose rates that do not reflect real world exposures and do not measure the actual deposited dose of NPs. We hypothesize that the delivered dose rate is a key determinant of the inflammatory response in the RT when the deposited dose is constant. METHODS: F-344 rats were exposed to the same deposited doses of titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) NPs by single or repeated high dose rate intratracheal instillation or low dose rate whole body aerosol inhalation. Controls were exposed to saline or filtered air. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) neutrophils, biochemical parameters and inflammatory mediator release were quantified 4, 8, and 24 hr and 7 days after exposure. RESULTS: Although the initial lung burdens of TiO(2) were the same between the two methods, instillation resulted in greater short term retention than inhalation. There was a statistically significant increase in BALF neutrophils at 4, 8 and 24 hr after the single high dose TiO(2) instillation compared to saline controls and to TiO(2) inhalation, whereas TiO(2) inhalation resulted in a modest, yet significant, increase in BALF neutrophils 24 hr after exposure. The acute inflammatory response following instillation was driven primarily by monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and macrophage inflammatory protein-2, mainly within the lung. Increases in heme oxygenase-1 in the lung were also higher following instillation than inhalation. TiO(2) inhalation resulted in few time dependent changes in the inflammatory mediator release. The single low dose and repeated exposure scenarios had similar BALF cellular and mediator response trends, although the responses for single exposures were more robust. CONCLUSIONS: High dose rate NP delivery elicits significantly greater inflammation compared to low dose rate delivery. Although high dose rate methods can be used for quantitative ranking of NP hazards, these data caution against their use for quantitative risk assessment

SROI in the art gallery: valuing social impact

This article considers a project that used the Social Return on Investment (SROI) methodology to describe and measure the social impact of Turner Contemporary art gallery in Margate, a coastal town in the South East of England. The article details the reasons why the methodology was chosen by the gallery, setting this in the context of the wider debate around evaluation and social impact reporting. A section of the research and analysis, which was carried out by COaST, a consultancy and research centre based within Canterbury Christ Church University, is described in detail, allowing the reader to understand the processes involved in this type of project and the kinds of outcomes that can be delivered using this method. Finally, an account is given of the impact the work had on the management of the gallery, and the ways in which the final report was used