Digital Commons Network^™

Interference Archive: A Free Space For Social Movement Culture, Alycia Sellie, Jesse Goldstein, Molly Fair, Jennifer Hoyer

Publications and Research

This paper discusses activist archives within the context of community archives and the practices of archiving activism. Interference Archive (IA), a volunteer-run independent archive in Brooklyn, New York, is presented as one example of an activist archive. We explain the manner in which IA functions as a transmovement and prefigurative “free space” under Francis Poletta’s typology of movement spaces. Through this explanation, we illustrate how the structures of free spaces can help us understand the way activist archives forge connections between communities and the ways that they create new networks of solidarity through the archival process.

“My Brain Database Doesn’T See Skin Color” Color-Blind Racism In The Technology Industry And In Theorizing The Web, Jessie Daniels

Publications and Research

In this article, I examine three interconnected notions about color-blind racism and the Internet. The first is the fantasy that the Internet as a technology is color-blind with regard to race; the second is the reality that color-blind racism operates in the tech industry. The third notion is the way color-blind racism shapes Internet studies of race and racism, in which race is contained as a “variable” or as an “identity” that inhere exclusively in people of color, but that leaves the way race is embedded in structures, industry, and the very idea of the Internet unexamined. To explore these …

Sustaining Curiosity: Programs For Developing Lifelong Readers, Meagan Lacy, Pauline Dewan, Barbara Fister, Willie Miller, Elizabeth Brookbank

Publications and Research

The revised information literacy standards emphasize students as creators, and not just consumers, of information. Yet, so accustomed to supporting their classroom work, academic libraries have done little to help students develop an instinct for encountering information through self-directed curiosity. In this panel, learn how librarians are helping students develop this instinct through recreational reading promotion. Use and adapt these program and outreach ideas in order to better meet your academic library’s information literacy mission.

What About The Children? Assessing The Ripple Effects Of Mass Incarceration, Jeremy Travis

Publications and Research

No abstract provided.

First We Take Manhattan... Global Cities And Diasporic Networks In The Aftermath Of Syriza's Victory, Despina Lalaki

Publications and Research

No abstract provided.

The Φ6 Cystovirus Protein P7 Becomes Accessible To Antibodies In The Transcribing Nucleocapsid: A Probe For Viral Structural Elements, Alexandra Alimova, Hui Wei, Al Katz, Linda Spatz, Paul Gottlieb

Publications and Research

Protein P7 is a component of the cystovirus viral polymerase complex. In the unpackaged procapsid, the protein is situated in close proximity to the viral directed RNA polymerase, P2. Cryo-electron microscopy difference maps from the species ϕ6 procapsid have demonstrated that P7 and P2 likely interact prior to viral RNA packaging. The location of P7 in the post-packaged nucleocapsid (NC) remains unknown. P7 may translocate closer to the five-fold axis of a filled procapsid but this has not been directly visualized. We propose that monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) can be selected that serve as probe- reagents for viral assembly and structure. …

From The Field To The Lab: Best Practices For Field Preservation Of Bat Specimens For Molecular Analyses, Angelique Corthals, Alynn Martin, Omar M. Warsi, Megan Woller-Skar, Winston Lancaster, Amy Russell, Liliana M. Dávalos

Publications and Research

Studies in molecular ecology depend on field-collected samples for genetic information, and the tissue sampled and preservation conditions strongly affect the quality of the DNA obtained. DNA yields from different tissue types have seldom been compared, and the relative performance of storage media has never been directly tested, even though these media may influence DNA degradation under field conditions. We analyzed DNA yield from buccal swabs and wing punches harvested from live bats using nucleic acid quantification as well as quantitative PCR for a single-copy nuclear locus. We also compared DNA yields from wing tissue preserved in three media: ethanol, …

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation In Psychiatric Disorders, Gabriel Tortella, Roberta Casati, Luana V M Aparicio, Antonio Mantovani, Natasha Senço, Giordano D'Urso, Jerome Brunelin, Fabiana Guarienti, Priscila Mara Lorencini Selingardi, Débora Muszkat, Bernardo De Sampaio Pereira Junior, Leandro Valiengo, Adriano H. Moffa, Marcel Simis, Lucas Borrione, Andre R. Brunoni

Publications and Research

The interest in non-invasive brain stimulation techniques is increasing in recent years. Among these techniques, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been the subject of great interest among researchers because of its easiness to use, low cost, benign profile of side effects and encouraging results of research in the field. This interest has generated several studies and randomized clinical trials, particularly in psychiatry. In this review, we provide a summary of the development of the technique and its mechanism of action as well as a review of the methodological aspects of randomized clinical trials in psychiatry, including studies in affective …

Multimedia Resources Statistics: Understanding Usage Of Non-Text Resources, Jen Hoyer, Katie O'Connell, Elizabeth A. Tietjen

Publications and Research

As budget cuts are a constant threat and resource costs continue to rise, libraries rely on usage data to be sure that they are delivering the content faculty and students need. Simultaneously, patrons are increasingly accessing multimedia content in the library, and usage reporting standards, like COUNTER’s Release 4, have adapted to reflect this use. This poster explores whether usage of text and non-text resources be compared according to the same measurements, as well as what best practices have emerged, and what gaps remain in current reporting methods.

Una Reflexión Sobre La Violencia Y La Construcción De Paz Desde El Teatro Y El Arte, Patricia Tovar

Publications and Research

Este artículo es una invitación a pensar en el arte y el legado de la violencia y la injusticia en la historia de la humanidad y en los esfuerzos trabajados desde diferentes proyectos artísticos en la resolución de conflictos y en la promoción de la paz en el mundo. Se presentan y analizan algunas de esas experiencias y se examina cómo han sido aplicadas por diferentes disciplinas para resolver o avanzar sobre algunos de los problemas que aquejan a la sociedad. Es también importante pensar en el uso del arte, del teatro y de la creatividad como estrategia metodológica y …

Improved Evidence-Based Genome-Scale Metabolic Models For Maize Leaf, Embryo, And Endosperm, Samuel M. D. Seaver, Louis M. T. Bradbury, Océane Frelin, Raphy Zarecki, Eytan Ruppin, Andrew D. Hanson, Christopher S. Henry

Publications and Research

There is a growing demand for genome-scale metabolic reconstructions for plants, fueled by the need to understand the metabolic basis of crop yield and by progress in genome and transcriptome sequencing. Methods are also required to enable the interpretation of plant transcriptome data to study how cellular metabolic activity varies under different growth conditions or even within different organs, tissues, and developmental stages. Such methods depend extensively on the accuracy with which genes have been mapped to the biochemical reactions in the plant metabolic pathways. Errors in these mappings lead to metabolic reconstructions with an inflated number of reactions and …

Tnfα Transport Induced By Dynamic Loading Alters Biomechanics Of Intact Intervertebral Discs, Benjamin A. Walter, Morakot Likhitpanichkul, Svenja Illien-Junger, Peter J. Roughley, Andrew C. Hecht, James C. Iatridis

Publications and Research

Objective Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is an important contributor to the development of back pain, and a key factor relating pain and degeneration are the presence of pro-inflammatory cytokines and IVD motion. There is surprisingly limited understanding of how mechanics and inflammation interact in the IVD. This study investigated interactions between mechanical loading and pro-inflammatory cytokines in a large animal organ culture model to address fundamental questions regarding (i.) how inflammatory mediators arise within the IVD, (ii.) how long inflammatory mediators persist, and (iii.) how inflammatory mediators influence IVD biomechanics. Methods Bovine caudal IVDs were cultured for 6 or 20-days …

Visions Of Public Space: Reproducing And Resisting Social Hierarchies In A Community Garden, Sofya Aptekar

Publications and Research

Urban public spaces are sites of struggles over gentrification. In increasingly diverse cities, these public spaces also host interactions among people of different class, race, ethnicity, and immigration status. How do people share public spaces in contexts of diversity and gentrification? I analyze the conflicting ways of imagining shared spaces by drawing on an ethnographic study of a community garden in a diverse and gentrifying neighborhood in New York City, conducted between 2011 and 2013. I examine how conflicts among gardeners about the aesthetics of the garden and norms of conduct reproduce larger gentrification struggles over culture and resources. Those …

Pulp Poets And Superhero Prophets: A Case For Popular Culture In Academic Library Collection Development, William Blick

Publications and Research

For decades, popular culture was neglected and frowned upon by academics. In recent years, cultural critics, including librarians, have found popular culture materials to be didactic tools, and vital to the study of society and the zeitgeist that has prevailed at the time of their production. As a result, many academic librarians have found it useful to develop collections in their libraries that reflect a range of sociological change as demonstrated in these resources. With diligence and research, academic collection development managers may choose materials that will enhance the role of popular culture in their libraries

Library Awareness And Use Among Graduate Social Work Students: An Assessment And Action Research Project, Margaret Bausman, Sarah Laleman Ward

Publications and Research

This article details the evolution of an action research project over the fall of 2011 through the spring of 2014. The project investigates the engagement of social work students at the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College with library resources and services. In addition to a review of the literature and a contextualizing discussion around the status of information literacy instruction in social work, the article describes the development and use of an online assessment tool, the introduction of new information literacy instruction strategies and materials including online research guides, and a discussion of the descriptive and inferential …

Staying Connected: Keeping Justice-Involved Youth “Close To Home” In New York City, Jeffrey A. Butts, Laura Negredo, Evan Elkin

Publications and Research

When justice-involved youth are supervised by local agencies and placed with locally operated programs rather than being sent away to state facilities, they are better able to maintain community ties. They stay connected with their families, and they are more likely to remain in local schools. Policy reforms that localize the justice system are often called “realignment.” New York’s “Close to Home” (or C2H) initiative is a prominent example of youth justice realignment. Launched in 2012, it is the latest chapter in a decade-long commitment by New York State and New York City to improve the justice system for young …

Tape-By-Tape: Digital Practices And Cataloguing Rituals At The Lesbian Herstory Archives, Shawn(Ta) Smith-Cruz

Publications and Research

This essay will outline the digital collections of the Lesbian Herstory Archives with an emphasis on process and workflow. The paragraphs below will describe the efforts put forth by the all- volunteer collective, and their dedication toward making materials accessible through the use of digital technology to preserve, catalog, and exhibit lesbian herstory. Interviews with Archive Coordinators, called “Archivettes”, Rachel Corbman on the Online Public Access Catalog, Saskia Scheffer on Photos, and Maxine Wolfe on Audio, will provide examples of LHA digital practices in the creation and maintenance of the Photo Collection, OPAC, and Audio Tape Digitization projects. Additional mention …

Memory Distortion For Traumatic Events: The Role Of Mental Imagery, Deryn Strange, Melanie K. T. Takarangi

Publications and Research

No abstract provided.

Massachusetts Health Reform And Disparities In Joint Replacement Use: Difference In Differences Study, Amresh D. Hanchate, Alok Kapoor, Jeffrey N. Katz, Danny Mccormick, Karen E. Lasser, Chen Feng, Meredith G. Manze, Nancy R. Kressin

Publications and Research

Objective To estimate the impact of the insurance expansion in 2006 on use of knee and hip replacement procedures by race/ethnicity, area income, and the use of hospitals that predominantly serve poor people (“safety net hospitals”). Design Quasi-experimental difference in differences study examining change after reform in the share of procedures performed in safety net hospitals by race/ethnicity and area income, with adjustment for patients’ residence, demographics, and comorbidity. Setting State of Massachusetts, United States. Participants Massachusetts residents aged 40-64 as the target beneficiaries of reform and similarly aged residents of New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania as the comparison …

Saludableomaha: Improving Readiness To Address Obesity Through Healthy Lifestyle In A Midwestern Latino Community, 2011–2013, Leah Frerichs, Jeri Brittin, Regina Robbins, Sharalyn Steenson, Catherine Stewart, Christopher Fisher, Terry T-K Huang

Publications and Research

Background A community’s readiness for change is a precursor to the effective application of evidence-based practices for health promotion. Research is lacking regarding potential strategies to improve readiness to address obesity-related health issues in underserved communities.

Community Context This case study describes SaludABLEOmaha, an initiative to increase readiness of residents in a Midwestern Latino community to address obesity and adopt healthy lifestyles.

Methods SaludABLEOmaha emphasized 2 core approaches, youth activism and collaboration among public and private institutions, which we applied to planning and implementing tactics in support of 3 interconnected strategies: 1) social marketing and social media, 2) service learning …

Maternal Characteristics And Clinical Diagnoses Influence Obstetrical Outcomes In Indonesia, Asri Adisasmita, Carl V. Smith, Ayman A.E. El-Mohandes, Poppy Elvira Deviany, Judith J. Ryon, Michele Kiely, Quail Rogers-Bloch, Reginald F. Gipson

Publications and Research

This Indonesian study evaluates associations between near-miss status/death with maternal demographic, health care characteristics, and obstetrical complications, comparing results using retrospective and prospective data. The main outcome measures were obstetric conditions and socio-economic factors to predict near-miss/death. We abstracted all obstetric admissions (1,358 retrospective and 1,240 prospective) from two district hospitals in East Java, Indonesia between 4/1/2009 and 5/15/2010. Prospective data added socio-economic status, access to care and referral patterns. Reduced logistic models were constructed, and multivariate analyses used to assess association of risk variables to outcome. Using multivariate analysis, variables associated with risk of near-miss/death include postpartum hemorrhage (retrospective …

Microbial Stimulation And Succession Following A Test Well Injection Simulating Co₂ Leakage Into A Shallow Newark Basin Aquifer, Gregory O'Mullan, M. Elias Dueker, Kale Clauson, Qiang Yang, Kelsey Umemoto, Natalia Zakharova, Juerg Matter, Martin Stute, Taro Takahashi, David Goldberg

Publications and Research

In addition to efforts aimed at reducing anthropogenic production of greenhouse gases, geological storage of CO2 is being explored as a strategy to reduce atmospheric greenhouse gas emission and mitigate climate change. Previous studies of the deep subsurface in North America have not fully considered the potential negative effects of CO2 leakage into shallow drinking water aquifers, especially from a microbiological perspective. A test well in the Newark Rift Basin was utilized in two field experiments to investigate patterns of microbial succession following injection of CO2-saturated water into an isolated aquifer interval, simulating a CO2 leakage scenario. A decrease in …

A Quantitative Analysis Of The Relationship Between An Online Homework System And Student Achievement In Pre-Calculus, Parisa Babaali, Lidia Gonzalez

Publications and Research

Supporting student success in entry-level mathematics courses at the undergraduate level has and continues to be a challenge. Recently we have seen an increased reliance on technological supports including software to supplement more traditional in-class instruction. In this paper, we explore the effects on student performance of the use of a computer software program to supplement instruction in an entry-level mathematics course at the undergraduate level, specifically, a pre-calculus course. Relying on data from multiple sections of the course over various semesters, we compare student performance in those classes utilizing the software against those in which it was not used. …

Neuroinflammation And J2 Prostaglandins: Linking Impairment Of The Ubiquitin-Proteasome Pathway And Mitochondria To Neurodegeneration, Maria E. Figueiredo-Pereira, Patricia Rockwell, Thomas Schmidt-Glenewinkel, Peter Serrano

Publications and Research

The immune response of the CNS is a defense mechanism activated upon injury to initiate repair mechanisms while chronic over-activation of the CNS immune system (termed neuroinflammation) may exacerbate injury. The latter is implicated in a variety of neurological and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer and Parkinson diseases, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, HIV dementia, and prion diseases. Cyclooxygenases (COX-1 and COX-2), which are key enzymes in the conversion of arachidonic acid into bioactive prostanoids, play a central role in the inflammatory cascade. J2 prostaglandins are endogenous toxic products of cyclooxygenases, and because their levels are significantly …

Taking Care Of Digital Efforts: A Multiplanar View Of Project Afterlives, Robin Camille Davis

Publications and Research

In this presentation, given at the 2015 MLA Convention, I examine the status of online digital humanities projects 10 years after they were presented.

Just over half of the 60 projects presented at DH2005 are still online. Of all the projects, about one-third are ongoing; one-third have been clearly completed; and one-third have unknown statuses. Of the 23 projects that were considered to be complete, three-quarters are still online; one quarter is no longer accessible.

Endothelial Surface Glycocalyx Can Regulate Flow-Induced Nitric Oxide Production In Microvessels In Vivo, Wanyi Yen, Bin Cai, Jinlin Yang, Lin Zhang, Min Zeng, John M. Tarbell, Bingmei M. Fu

Publications and Research

Due to its unique location, the endothelial surface glycocalyx (ESG) at the luminal side of the microvessel wall may serve as a mechano-sensor and transducer of blood flow and thus regulate endothelial functions. To examine this role of the ESG, we used fluorescence microscopy to measure nitric oxide (NO) production in post-capillary venules and arterioles of rat mesentery under reduced (low) and normal (high) flow conditions, with and without enzyme pretreatment to remove heparan sulfate (HS) of the ESG and in the presence of an endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) inhibitor, NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA). Rats (SD, 250–300g) were anesthetized. The mesentery …

Optimizing Kbart Guidelines To Restore Perpetual Access, Kelly M. Blanchat

Publications and Research

After experiencing a 25-percent decrease in the collection budget, the Queens College Libraries (QCL) faced losing electronic journal content with cancellations to Big Deal licensing agreements. By using tools such as Serials Solutions, Ex Libris SFX and Microsoft Excel, the library was able to optimize KBART guidelines to analyze and restore journal titles under perpetual access licensing clauses. The implemented workflow mirrored the process to create “Big Deal” renewal spreadsheets at Springer Science + Business Media.

Removing The Malice From Federal "Malicious Prosecution": What Cognitive Science Can Teach Lawyers About Reform, Sofia Yakren

Publications and Research

No abstract provided.

"Seeking Social Justice In The Acrl Framework” In Communications In Information Literacy, Yasmin Sokkar Harker, Andrew Battista, Dave Ellenwood, Lua Gregory, Shana Higgins, Jeff Lilburn, Christopher Sweet

Publications and Research

No abstract provided.

Creating An Effective Model For Digital Storytelling In The Esl Writing Class, Mary Sepp, Shoba Bandi-Rao

Publications and Research

Using technology in the classroom is no longer the exception but the rule in most college classrooms. Now the question is not whether to use technology, but which technology to use. Among recent innovations is digital storytelling, a multimodal tool that can be used across disciplines. This paper reports on a pilot study designed to determine the feasibility and pedagogical value of using digital storytelling in an ESL writing course at an urban community college. The report documents a detailed plan for implementation and some of the challenges this process presents.