Academic library use in the Google era

Academic websites provided by academic libraries face challenges to their utility stemming from the rapid developments in information and communication technology (ICT). These developments have created diverse options and channels for information sources that can be accessed easily by users through the Internet, particularly Google search engine and its specialised variants such as Google Scholar. Hence, the number of users who take advantage of library websites is also decreasing because of the availability of other diverse options for information sources and channels on the Internet. This paper aims to explore the role and impact of search engines, particularly Google, on use of the academics’ libraries’ websites. A qualitative study has been conducted with staff and students at two universities, one in UK and one in GCC (Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf.). The findings illustrate problems with the use of library websites to search for information. In particular, these concerned the complexity of finding information, lack of resources and the organisation of the library websites. As a result, the library users relied heavily on Google to find information. These finding imply a necessity for the academic libraries’ websites to reflect the effectiveness and simplicity of Google’s search features and techniques which have become dominant and which are the de facto standard

Histopathological alterations in Senegal sole, Solea Senegalensis, from a polluted Huelva estuary (SW, Spain)

As a component of a large research project to evaluate the effects of contaminants on fish health in the field, histopathological studies have been conducted to help establish causal relationship between pollutants (heavy metals and aromatic polycyclic hydrocarbons—PAHs) and histopathological responses in Senegal sole, Solea senegalensis, from an estuary of SW Spain. Heavy metals (As, Zn, Cd, Pb, Cu and Fe) and 16 PAHs (proprietary USEPA) concentrations in water, sediment and tissues (liver and gills) and histopathological alterations in S. senegalensis from three sampling sites of Ria de Huelva estuary during 2004–2006 years have been analysed. The histopathological studies revealed seasonal and spatial differences in the lesion grade of alterations observing the highest lesion grades in fish from Odiel River and autumn season. No significant differences were observed in the alterations prevalence between sampling sites, but significant differences were observed between seasons observing the highest prevalence in autumn season. However, calculated IPAT demonstrated a low–moderate impact of pollutants on health fish. Correlations between histopathological alterations and pollutants analysed were observed being heavy metals the group that presented a major number of correlations with alterations in several organs of S. senegalensis. In evaluating the general health of fish, the use of histopathological studies in recommended for making more reliable assessment of biochemical responses in fish exposed to a variety of environmental stressors. Statistical analysis using semiquantitative data on pathological lesions can help to establish correlation between cause (stressor) and effect (biomarker)