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Fall 2013
Get PDFThe 12th issue of the library newsletter (fall, 2013)
Inside This Issue:
Page 1 Director\u27s Statement -- Hedi BenAicha, Library Director Archiving AS220 -- by Brendan Ryan
Page 2, Our Staff Sharon Giacobbi, Access Services Manager -- by Debra Thomson
Page 3, In Their Own Words... Jessica Lombardi, Student Assistant in Digital Initiatives Jessica Greenwald, Student Assistant in Acquisitions & Gifts
Page 4 Converting Content and Designing E-books -- by Brendan Ryan The Evolution of the Encyclopedia -- by Carla Weiss
Page 5 What\u27s Happening at Adams Library... Celebrating Information Literacy Awareness Month -- by Rachel Carpenter
Page 6 Relevancy, Reinvention and Raising the Bar -- by Ellen Morais
Page 7 OBOM Pym Marathon Read -- by Judith Stokes and Rachel Carpenter
Page 8, From the Archives Yearbooks, Dedication and History -- by Marlene Lopes
Page 10, Book Reviews Our Lives, Our Fortunes, and Our Sacred Honor: The Forging of American Independence, 1774-1776 by Richard R. Beekman; A review by Tony Carlino Leadership: How to Become a Leader That People Will Follow by William Wyatt; A review by Dr. Paul H. Jacques
Page 11 Announcement
Intra-Femoral Sheath Time: Does it Increase a Patient\u27s Risk for Developing a Hematoma?
Get PDFDespite advancements in technology and medication therapy, coronary artery disease continues to remain the number one cause of death. Treatment for coronary artery disease requires life style modifications, medication therapy, percutaneous coronary interventions, and sometimes coronary artery bypass surgery. Though percutaneous coronary interventions are considered safe and are commonly occurring procedures, there are still risks for complications. One of the most frequently occurring complications is hematoma of the femoral artery site. The purpose of this study was to determine if there was an increased incidence of hematomas in individuals undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention with associated sheath times of less than five hours (Group A) as compared to sheath time of greater than five hours (Group B). The study used a retrospective, two group design and was conducted at a tertiary care center that performs over 1500 PCI’s annually. Inclusion criteria included adults over the age of 18 who were hemodynamically stable, had no known bleeding disorders, and were punctured once at the femoral artery to perform the percutaneous intervention. Two hundred fifty medical records were reviewed utilizing a data collection tool designed by the researcher. Total sample size was 55, 21 in Group A and 34 in Group B. Six hematomas were documented as occurring, but were not reportable based on the ACC definition. Hematomas were documented in the medical record using the terms “small”, “medium,” and “large” versus an objective measurement. No hematomas were identified using the ACC definition, which was the measurement standard for this research hospital. Sheath times in Group A averaged 4.02 hours, and group B 7.42 hours. There was a higher incidence of descriptive hematoma that did not meet the criteria of this study in Group B. Results call for recommendations of on-going documentation of post procedure hematomas using a standardized, reliable, and valid measuring tool. APRN’s can be instrumental in implementing change in patient care , hospital policy and on the national level by assuring that hematomas are accurately and consistently documented. Further research is indicated related to sheath times and potential associated negative outcomes
Comparison of Guekensia Demissa Populations Along a Nitrogen Loading Gradient in Narragansett Bay, RI
Get PDFAnthropogenic eutrophication of coastal estuaries impacts these vital ecosystems by increasing primary production, hypoxic conditions, pathogen concentration, and greenhouse gas emissions, all of which are leading to the degradation of shorelines, disease transmission, and hypoxia-related fish kills. Narragansett Bay is a prominent feature of Rhode Island, making up over 500 km of coastline and acting as a watershed for over 2,000 square meters of land in both Massachusetts and Rhode Island. This estuary is important to both the economy of the state of Rhode Island and its fringing ecosystems are necessary for a healthy shoreline. The beaches of Narragansett Bay revenue over $5 billion a year in tourism, stimulate more than 40,000 jobs, and are a source of many economically important marine organisms such as oysters, mussels, hard shell clams, finfish, and lobsters. The numerous fringing habitats of Narragansett Bay, including rocky intertidal zones, seagrasses, and estuarine marshes all play important roles for the coastline of Rhode Island, with salt marshes accounting for more than 600 ha of the shoreline.
Salt marshes along Narragansett Bay serve many ecological roles including water quality maintenance, storm surge reduction, erosion control, and habitat and food to fish and wildlife. The ribbed mussel, Geukensia demissa is the biomass-dominant benthic invertebrate in coastal marshes and is a foundation species, providing habitats for other organisms. Ribbed mussels have also been found to be a useful indicator species of nitrogen levels within Narragansett Bay, exhibiting increases in nitrogen-loads with greater biomass, density, and growth rates, and the δ15N signatures of G. demissa tissues reflect anthropogenic-derived nitrogen. The purpose of my thesis was to compare ribbed mussel populations in some of the same salt marshes along the well-documented nitrogen-loading gradient, 14 years after the previous studies and following the installation of one phase of a two-part wastewater reduction program into the bay. In addition, my work is part of a larger effort to investigate changes in greenhouse gas emissions by plants, sediment microbiota, and gut microbiota in the ribbed mussels, in response nitrogen-loading and elevated temperatures. Characterizing the mussel populations is integral to understanding the effects of global change on the Narragansett Bay ecosystem.
The density, biomass, condition index, and growth rates of ribbed mussels were all positively correlated with the nitrogen-loading gradient in Narragansett Bay. Fecundity did not follow the same pattern but was significantly greater in June at one of the marshes and was negatively correlated with shell length and condition index. These results suggest that although mussels reproduce continuously, gametogenesis and spawning may have occurred prior to sampling. Another unexpected outcome is that with greater food availability resulting from nitrogen-loading, there are both costs and benefits. At the marsh with the highest nitrogen levels, Apponaug, the recruitment, growth, and condition index of the mussels were all significantly greater than at the other two marshes, but the high density may have limited the size of the mussels or even contributed to higher rates of mortality through intraspecific competition. At the opposite end of the nitrogen-loading gradient, mussels at Fox Hill had the greatest average shell length, but the density, biomass, condition index, recruitment, and growth rates were significantly lower than the other two marshes, suggesting that this less perturbed marsh may still be nitrogen-limited despite the historical nitrogen-loading in Narragansett Bay.
The results from this study are critical for documenting the variation among the ribbed mussel populations within differing nitrogen-loaded marshes, but will also be used as a benchmark for a longer-term study analyzing the historical responses of this species to changes in nutrient loads into Narragansett Bay
The Relationship Between The Use Of Intravenous Acetaminophen During Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy And Appendectomy Surgery And The Use Of Intravenous Opioids After Surgery
Get PDFMultimodal pain management is the use of combinations of medications from different classes or medications with different routes of delivery to optimize pain relief. The adjunctive use of multiple analgesic agents is associated with better pain relief and fewer adverse effects. Intravenous acetaminophen offers a relatively low risk, safe adjunct to multimodal therapy. A comparative retrospective chart review showed that adult patients undergoing laparoscopic appendectomy or cholecystectomy surgery who received intravenous acetaminophen in the operating room had a reduced opioid requirement directly after surgery, in the post anesthesia care unit. A total of 34 doses of opioids (Fentanyl and Dilaudid) were given to the group who received the intravenous acetaminophen as compared to 65 doses of the same opioids given to the group that did not. Since only two surgical procedures were studied, the results may not be applicable to other surgical procedures. Additionally, the small sample size (60 patient charts) was a noted limitation. Data is consistent with previous studies supporting the use of intravenous acetaminophen to help reduce the amount of opioid use postoperatively Because of its relatively safe profile, intravenous acetaminophen should be thoughtfully considered when addressing pain management in the operative setting
Along the Horseshoe
Get PDFThis thesis is a major component towards a completed short-story cycle. The author’s work uses a multi-faceted aspect of storytelling by employing its many characters and isolated chapters in a mosaic form. All stories operate independently while simultaneously linking together through familiar characters and setting. Every story involves characters who reside on the same suburban cul-de-sac, which forces them to interact with each other and influencing their lives. By having these characters return, sometimes by a brief presence only and other times by mention of their name, creates a concrete social atmosphere. The author’s work provides several glimpses into the lives of characters who struggle with their past and future decisions. As a collective text, this work echoes themes of family turmoil, grief, dependency, and forgiveness. Moments of broken friendships, teen angst, and infidelity reconcile through character introspection as witnessed from the psychic distance of a third-person limited narrator. Each story leaps to a different month in 1994, creating a non-linear time line of self-contained narratives. References from that year, such as music, film, and important events help construct the character’s fictional universe
Sixteen Students, Fourteen Weeks: Building a Digital Library Through Collaborative Learning
No full textAs featured during the Querying the Library: Digitization and Its Impact conference hosted by the James P. Adams Library at Rhode Island College on May 31, 2013. This segment includes a presentation by Kathryn Thornhill (GSLIS \u2713) with colleagues Emily Powers, Chelsea Gunn, Christina Tanguay, and Emily Toner from Simmons College. This panel will discuss the creation of a digital library highlighting alumni scrapbooks from the Simmons College Archives. Topics covered will be the history and outcome of the project and the methods of digital library training and development, including digital preservation, rights management, metadata standards, and interdisciplinary teamwork. Watch the General Discussion #2 Video for the accompanying Q&A session
Is There a Perceived Benefit For Familial Caregivers of Dementia Patients in Pre-Loss Counseling in Addressing the Feelings of Chronic Sorrow?
Get PDFThis quantitative and qualitative study explores the importance of timing in the delivery of the support services that affect the psychosocial health of primary family caregivers of dementia patients. Caregivers’ narratives and survey responses reflect their feelings about the impact the experience of caregiving has on their emotional, physical, and mental health as they struggle to manage the stressors of dealing with a patient’s physical care, as well as the additional medical, legal, financial, spiritual, and emotional tasks associated with end-of-life issues. The purpose of exploring the importance of timing in the delivery of support services is to ascertain if the caregivers feel that they experience reductions in the negative emotional response (chronic sorrow) engendered by these stressors if they are provided with services early in the caregiving process. The participants in the study indicate that they feel it is important to receive support services early and often during the course of the caregiving process. Delaying the start of support is perceived as adversely affecting their feelings of self-efficacy during the entirety of the caregiving experience. Three-fourths of this study’s participating caregivers report that the majority of their support and caregiving information is delivered through support group participation. They perceive that support group participation assists them in ameliorating some of the feelings associated with chronic sorrow
Eye on Ethics: Essential Law in Social Work Ethics
No full textMany ethical issues—although certainly not all—require some knowledge of the law. Of course, the term “the law” is remarkably broad. When I am asked to consult on complex ethics cases, I am often asked what laws may be relevant. Examples include questions about minor clients’ right to privacy and consent to treatment; disclosure of confidential information, without clients’ consent, to protect third parties; entering into friendships with former clients; retention of clinical records following termination of services; and provision of remote social work services using digital technology. Thoughtful answers regarding these issues require considerable knowledge about laws that come in different forms. Indeed, the NASW Code of Ethics requires social workers to consult laws that are relevant to ethical decisions
Addressing the go green debate: Initiatives that encourage small green behaviors and their political spillover effects
Get PDFWhile there are numerous supporters of initiatives that promote small green behaviors, there are also critics who debate the effectiveness of these actions in addressing global climate change. The critics claim that people often choose to perform easy green behaviors to rationalize their inaction in other ways, which is detrimental to garnering support for political action. The supporters emphasize the cumulative effects of small green behaviors, including the likelihood of these actions spilling over into further green behaviors as well as greater political concern about climate change. The relationship between green behaviors and political attitudes should be considered more closely, since increased political engagement and support for large-scale sustainability policies is the ultimate goal of both the critics and the supporters ... To best achieve the link between green behaviors and political support for climate-related issues, initiatives should (1) identify behaviors that are both effective at reducing emissions and present the fewest barriers to change, (2) clearly express the environmental benefits of the behavior above all other incentives, and (3) explicitly link performance of this behavior with being a “green” person
Tweeting Our Way to Success!
No full textAs featured during the Querying the Library: Digitization and Its Impact conference hosted by the James P. Adams Library at Rhode Island College on May 31, 2013. This segment includes a presentation by Mary Jordan, Assistant Professor GSLIS at Simmons College and discusses strategies to help libraries and librarians build and maintain a useful Twitter account