Small But Mighty: Letters-to-the-Editor Published on the Zika Virus, 1952 - 2018

Objective: To conduct a bibliometric analysis of Letters-to-the-Editor published on the Zika Virus between 1952 and 2018. Methods: A PubMed search was conducted on the terms (Zika OR ZIKV). Results were limited to Publication Date = 1952-2018, and Publication Type = Letter. Results were exported to EndNote, and the full-text (PDF) of each Letter was examined. Non-Letters, duplicates, irrelevant results, and incorrectly indexed items were excluded. Letters discovered serendipitously were added. The total number of Letters published and their date distribution was determined. The Letters were categorized as Reader Response, Author Reply, Observation, Case Report, or Research. Additional parameters included the number of authors, number of references, use of graphics, and funding. Results: Between 1952 and 2018, 499 Letters-to-the-Editor about the Zika Virus were published, with the majority being published in 2016 or later. These were categorized as 29.9% Reader Responses, 11.2% Author Replies, 22.4% Observations, 14.0% Case Reports, and 22.4% Research. The Letters were written by 1-35 authors, and included 0-63 references. Over 38% of Letters contained graphics, and 15% reported funding support. An interesting anomaly were the 104 letters authored or co-authored by one particular individual, which constituted 20.8% of the total. Conclusion: Contrary to conventional wisdom, this study has shown that Letters-to-the-Editor are often much more than simply reader responses to a published article, and may serve as a source of clinical or research information. However, this study also demonstrates that the characteristics of this publication type may make it susceptible to various anomalies

Poster: Aligning Library Instruction with the Needs of Basic Science Graduate Students

Donna and Fran\u27s poster discusses the need to replace the library\u27s current model of library instruction with one better suited to the needs of basic science graduate students. The poster outlines the methodology, the results, and the conclusions that came from this push to redesign

Mathematics Is Biology's Next Microscope, Only Better; Biology Is Mathematics' Next Physics, Only Better

Joel Cohen offers a historical and prospective analysis of the relationship between mathematics and biolog

Reviews of Science for Science Librarians: The Challenge of the Zika Virus: An Emerging Arbovirus Disease

First identified in Uganda in 1947, the Zika virus simmered quietly for sixty years, occasionally causing a mild dengue-like illness across parts of central Africa and equatorial Asia. However, since 2007, three large outbreaks have occurred: first in Micronesia, then in French Polynesia in 2013-2014, and as an epidemic involving Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America in 2015-2016. This paper reviews the virology of the Zika virus, its modes of transmission, symptoms of Zika Virus Disease, the association of Zika infections with microcephaly and Guillain-Barre Syndrome, prevention of Zika infections, and ongoing efforts to develop a vaccine

Identifying a History of Nonfatal Strangulation: What Impacts Screening by Healthcare, Law Enforcement and Advocates?

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a pervasive social epidemic in the United States, affecting as many as one in four women in their lifetime (CDC, 2010). Nonfatal strangulation (NFS) is one type of IPV, in which the application of external pressure on the neck of the victim results in interruption of blood or oxygen flow (Shields et al., 2010). Research has indicated that a history of nonfatal strangulation for victims of IPV can indicate an increased risk for worsening violence, medical complications, or death. Despite the identification of increased vulnerability for victims with a history of nonfatal strangulation, there is a gap in practice and research regarding identification of nonfatal strangulation cases by those who may care for victims. Victims may have contact with healthcare team members, advocates, or law enforcement officials. A lack of identification of cases can contribute to continued low reporting of this problem, low help-seeking rates by victims, and failure to identify a victim’s increased vulnerability for adverse outcomes. A nonexperimental, descriptive, correlational, cross-sectional design guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior was used to identify what factors influence professionals’ intention to screen for NFS in IPV cases. Validity and reliability testing of the newly developed Delwiche Intention to screen for Nonfatal Strangulation (DINS) was completed. Two hundred professionals in law enforcement, healthcare, and domestic violence advocacy were recruited from a Midwestern state. The study included measures of professionals’ background factors, antecedents to intention, and intention to screen for NFS. The DINS demonstrated acceptable validity and reliability for this sample. Intention scores could be predicted from attitude, perceived behavioral control, and subjective norm. Attitude was the strongest predictor of intention. Healthcare team members had significantly lower intention to screen. There were non-significant differences in the influence of background factors and antecedents to intention between the professional groups. Overall, findings suggested that antecedents to intention can be used to predict intention, but additional factors affecting screening decisions for this population need to be evaluated. Confirmatory reliability and validity testing of the DINS is needed