Paired-End Mappability of Transposable Elements in the Human Genome

Though transposable elements make up around half of the human genome, the repetitive nature of their sequences makes it difficult to accurately align conventional sequencing reads. However, in light of new advances in sequencing technology, such as increased read length and paired-end libraries, these repetitive regions are now becoming easier to align to. This study investigates the mappability of transposable elements with 50 bp, 76 bp and 100 bp paired-end read libraries. With respect to those read lengths and allowing for 3 mismatches during alignment, over 68, 85, and 88% of all transposable elements in the RepeatMasker database are uniquely mappable, suggesting that accurate locus-specific mapping of older transposable elements is well within reach

Using Primo Search Logs to Improve User Services

Citation: Coleman, Jason & Greene, Mira. (2016). Using Primo Search Logs to Improve User Services. Education and Behavioral Sciences Section, Research Committee Poster Forum, American Library Association Annual Conference, Orlando, FL.Using search logs to customize Primo responses to user needs, Greene and Coleman discovered patterns of information seeking which lent itself to configurations to help with the discovery experience, make customizations that could possibly improve the user experience, and measure the impact of the customization.  In this will include discussion and conclusions drawn about the first customization which is meant to improve requests for interlibrary loan

Embracing our (non-scholarly) identities: The benefits of combining engagement with moral activism.

The characteristics and lack of boundaries in social media present clear opportunities for scholars to engage communities in analytical dialogue. Many scholars feel pressed to remain morally neutral, so it can feel risky to engage in such commentary. But Brent E. Sasley and Mira Sucharov find there may actually be intellectual and social justice benefits to exploring insider identities and connecting engagement with moral activism

Scholarly vs. Activist Identities: What standards should govern academic engagement in the public sphere?

Social media allows scholars to discuss and debate current affairs like never before, but these media can also hinder a productive and thoughtful academic exchange. Brent E. Sasley and Mira Sucharov examine and assess one academic’s tweets on the Israel-Gaza crisis and the questions raised over his style and approach. Scholars should be encouraged to express moral outrage, but given the speed at which Twitter operates, scholars may need to also pay particular attention to how messages are being received