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Month: November 2023

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Screenshot of the Scholarly Communications Videos playlist from YouTube.

Are you interested in scholarly publishing, but aren’t sure where to start? Himmelfarb Library has a library of short video tutorials focused on a variety of scholarly publishing topics! We add new videos to this library each semester, so the library is always growing. Videos range from 3 to 10 minutes in length, so you can learn in small chunks of time that fit your schedule. Here are some of our newest videos!

Journal Impact Factors: What You Need to Know

In this video, Tom Harrod, Himmelfarb’s Associate Director of Reference, Instruction, and Access discusses journal impact factors. You’ve probably heard that journals with higher Impact Factors are more reputable, and are more desirable when the time comes to publish your research. But what is a journal Impact Factor exactly? And how is an Impact Factor calculated? This six-minute video answers both of these questions and also explores how to address Impact Factors in context and why some journals don’t have an Impact Factor.

Artificial Intelligence Tools & Citations

In this 6-minute video, Himmelfarb’s Metadata Specialist, Brittany Smith, explores generative artificial intelligence tools. This video starts off by discussing the emergence of AI and the importance of checking current guidelines and rules regarding AI, as this is a new and constantly evolving field. This video discusses how AI can help with your research, discusses GW’s AI policy, and how to create citations for AI in your research. 

Updating Your Biosketch via SciENcv

Tom Harrod discusses the differences between NIH’s ScieENcv and Biosketch and demonstrates how to use SciENcv to populate a Biosketch profile in this 5-minute video. 

UN Sustainable Development Goals: Finding Publications

In this 5-minute video, Stacy Brody explores why the United Nations' sustainable development goals were developed, and the intended achievements of these goals. This video discusses how to find publications related to these goals using Scopus.

Dimensions Analytics: An Introduction

Sara Hoover, Himmelfarb’s Metadata and Scholarly Publishing Librarian provides a brief overview of the Dimensions database and discusses how to access Dimensions from Himmelfarb. This 7-minute video also provides several examples of use cases for this great resource!

In addition to these great videos, you can find the full 37-video library on the Scholarly Communications YouTube Playlist and on the Scholarly Publishing Research Guide. Additional videos cover a wide range of topics including:

  • Project planning and development videos:
    • Research life cycle
    • Advanced literature searches using PubMed MeSH search builder
    • CREDiT taxonomy
    • Human participants' research support
  • Publishing-related videos:
    • Clarivate Manuscript Matcher
    • Including Article Processing Charges (APCs) in funding proposals
    • Changing from AMA to APA citation style
    • How to cite legal resources using APA style 
  • Project promotion and preservation videos:
    • Tracking citations with Scopus
    • Creating a Google Scholar profile
    • Archiving scholarship in an institutional repository
    • How to promote your research.

With Humanities Highlights, Himmelfarb staff aims to spotlight useful books from our Humanities collection. This week, we’re showcasing “Microcosm” by Carl Zimmer.
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With Humanities Highlights, Himmelfarb staff aims to spotlight useful books from our Humanities collection. This week, we’re showcasing “Microcosm” by Carl Zimmer.

About the Book: “Microcosm” chronicles the scientific advances – and the birth of microbiology – through the lens of E. coli (to borrow Zimmer’s phrase) [5]. Because of their relative simplicity (they’re one of the only genomes that scientists have completely mapped), E. coli has been at the vanguard of insights into DNA, metabolism, evolution, and the manipulation of life. Microcosm is a stunning love letter to finding the biggest insights in the smallest places. 

Reasons to Read: If your only knowledge of E. coli comes from a headline about Chipotle, or

if you enjoy seeing the world completely differently: a world where the majority of genes in your body aren’t your own [53], where your body is a site of chemical warfare, and where the lines between species, viruses, and hosts blur. 

Reasons to Avoid: If you’re already well versed in the history of microbiology and genetic engineering, Microcosm might be redundant for you. 

Fun Facts: 

  • E. coli, which have been bio-engineered to glow, can be trained to “draw” - including pixel art of Mario (Simon-Lewis, 2017). 
  • Human genes can be inserted into - and functional within - E. coli (Zimmer, 2008, 187).

References: 

Photo by Adrian Lange on Unsplash

Simon-Lewis, A. (05/24/2017). Scientists teach E.coli bacteria to 'draw'. Bacteria draws Mario. Wired. https://www.wired.co.uk/article/disco-bacteria-mit

Zimmer, C. (2008). Microcosm. Pantheon Books. 

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The image features a group of people sitting at a table using laptops.

While using the Himmelfarb Library, you may have come across terms like ILL and CLS. The acronyms may seem confusing at first, which is why we are happy to take the time to share more about what these two library services can offer you.

Consortium Loan Service (CLS)

Consortium Loan Service, or CLS for short, is a free service that allows our users to request books that are available within the Washington Research Library Consortium (WRLC). At Himmelfarb, we can borrow items from WRLC libraries, such as American University, or Georgetown, on behalf of our users and have them delivered to Himmelfarb. CLS books are usually delivered within 2-3 business days.

How do I place a CLS request?

  1. Search for the book you are looking for in the Himmelfarb catalog advanced search. Make sure that Articles + GW & Consortium Catalog is selected.
  2. Under “How to get it” click Sign In and use your GW Net ID & password to log in.
  3. Under “How to get it” click “Consortium Loan Service Request”
  4. Specify where you would like to pick the book up: Himmelfarb Library or the GW VSTC Library.

For additional information about CLS, please visit our CLS lib guide. 

Interlibrary Loan (ILL)

If you are looking for an article or book that is not available in our catalog or through CLS, Interlibrary Loan (ILL), is a fantastic option. Through our ILL service, we can request books and articles from libraries across the country. Articles normally take around 24-72 hours to be delivered. Books may take longer depending on how far away the lending library is from GW. For detailed information about our ILL service, check out our Interlibrary Loan and Documents2Go guide.

To make an Interlibrary Loan request, you will need to access our Documents2Go (Docs2Go) portal.

  1. Log in using your GW Net ID & password; make sure to leave out the ‘@gwu.edu/@gwmail.gwu.edu’ part of your net ID. 
  2. Selectthe “New Request” in the menu.
  3. Select the type of resource you want to request: article, book, or book chapter
  4. Provide as much detail  help us identify the exact resource you need’ Include the journal title, article title, page number, volume, or year, and author.
  5. Click ‘Submit Request’ when you are ready to place your request.

Once you’ve placed your request, we will do our best to find the resource from another library and as soon as we receive a PDF of the requested article or book chapter, you will receive an email notification informing you that you can access your article through your Documents2Go portal. Keep in mind that these articles disappear after 30 days on your account, so download them if you want permanent access to the material!

If the item you requested is a physical book, you will receive a notification informing you that the item is available for pick up at the Himmelfarb Circulation Desk or the VSTC Library depending on your requested designation. If you would like to learn more about these services, you can check out our research guide or contact mlbdoc@gwu.edu.

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The image contains text that says "Happy Thanksgiving" and "Himmelfarb Holiday Hours." The background contains leaves and acorns.

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Himmelfarb Library!

The library will be closed during the Thanksgiving Holiday. Our hours during this time are as follows:

https://go.gwu.edu/himmelfarbhours Happy Thanksgiving Himmelfarb Thanksgiving Hours: Nov. 22 (Wed)....Closing at 8pm Nov. 23 (Thurs)...CLOSED! Nov. 24 (Fri)....CLOSED! Nov. 25 (Sat)...9am - 8pm Nov. 26 (Sun)...Opening at 9am, Resume 24/7 hours

We will resume normal 24/7 hours after re-opening at 9:00 am on Sunday, November 26, 2023. 

Even though our building is closed, our electronic resources (including our databases, e-books, and e-journals) remain available from anywhere during this time.

Have a great Thanksgiving break!

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International Transgender Day of Remembrance takes place on November 20th every year. It is a solemn day that honors the transgender and gender diverse people who died due to acts of transphobic violence. The day began in 1999 when trans rights advocate, Gwendolyn Ann Smith, held a memorial to honor Rita Hester, a transgender woman who was killed in 1998. From that first memorial in the late 90s, Transgender Day of Remembrance was soon recognized both within the United States and around the world. As Gwendolyn Ann Smith said “Transgender Day of Remembrance seeks to highlight the losses we face due to anti-transgender bigotry and violence…With so many seeking to erase transgender people–sometimes in the most brutal ways possible–it is vitally important that those we lose are remembered, and that we continue to fight for justice.” (GLAAD, 2023)

Accurate statistics on the violent deaths of transgender people are difficult to find for many reasons. “Many hate crimes and murders go unreported or, crucially, misreported in the media–meaning the actual number of deaths could be far higher.”(Wareham, 2023)  Transgender Europe is a collective of different organizations that advocates for equal rights and protection for transgender and gender diverse people. Each year at the start of Transgender Awareness Week, the group releases their Trans Murder Monitoring Global Update. This report tracks news articles of murdered transgender people. Since 2008, the organization has released a global report on the deaths of transgender people as well as observations on data trends. In their 2023 update, they reported that between October 1, 2022 and September 20, 2023, “320 trans and gender diverse people were reported murdered…This total is very close to the 327 cases reported in the previous year, showing that deadly violence against trans people remains at a consistently high level.”  (Transgender Europe, 2023) Alongside their global update report, Transgender Europe also released an updated map that shows 2023’s data as well as the total data collected since 2008. This map tracks the global violence transgender and gender diverse people face.

The National Center for Transgender Equality, an organization based in the United States, recently released their Trans Remembrance 2023 report with their virtual Trans Remembrance memorial. “We crafted this digital space for both grieving and celebrating those we’ve lost. Countless precious trans lives have been extinguished, and to grieve is an arduous journey. However, in our period of grief, we persist. We pay tribute to and exalt the existence of those who have departed, and our brilliance remains unaltered.” (National Center for Transgender Equality, 2023) The memorial highlights the stories of transgender and gender diverse people who lost their lives due to bullying or overt transphobic violence. Visitors are encouraged to read the stories of the people memorialized on the website in an attempt to combat transphobia. 

Transphobic violence may be underreported or misreported, but there are news sources that accurately report these instances. Organizations such as Transgender Europe, the National Center for Transgender Equality and GLAAD are valuable sources. LGBTQ focused news organizations and reporters such as LGBTQNation, Autostraddle, Erin Reed and Washington Blade also provide comprehensive coverage of transphobic legislation and bigotry. 

International Transgender Day of Remembrance is a day to mourn the lives lost and work towards equality and safety for transgender and gender diverse people. “Any measure of society must include the value it finds in protecting its most vulnerable from harm and healing the wounds they have already suffered….Transgender Day of Remembrances has never been so important.” (National Center for Transgender Equality, 2023)

Citations:

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Over the Thanksgiving break the library will be operating on a modified schedule. On Wednesday, November 22, 2023the library will close at 8:00 pm.

We will resume normal 24/7 hours after re-opening on Sunday, November 26, 2023.

DayDateHours
WednesdayNovember 22, 2023Closing at 8:00pm
ThursdayNovember 23, 2023CLOSED
FridayNovember 24, 2023CLOSED
SaturdayNovember 25, 20239:00am - 8:00pm
SundayNovember 26, 2023Opening at 9:00am
Have A Happy Thanksgiving!

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The image is a group of leaves, showcasing fall colors with the test "2023 Fall Colors Photo Contest Results."

The results of the 2023 Fall Colors Photo Contest are in! This event, sponsored by Healthy Living @ Himmelfarb, welcomed digital photo submissions of the beautiful fall foliage. Students, faculty, and staff affiliated with the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS), School of Public Health (GWSPH), and School of Nursing (Nursing) submitted their original photos taken in 2023. Judging was based on creativity, originality, and overall artistic impact. 

So without further ado, this year's winner is Mehrshad Fahim Devin (SMHS student). Here’s Mehrshad’s photo, entitled “Fall Ride - Roof of the Kennedy Center”:

A boat on the water, with colorful fall trees lining the shore, surrounded by a city skyline in the background.

Himmelfarb Library would like to thank everyone who submitted a photo for this year’s contest! We loved seeing all of your great photos and getting to see fall through your beautiful pictures. You can view all of the photo submissions on Himmelfarb’s first floor, as well as online:

The image is a wooden bridge in a forest, surrounded by trees and foliage.
A serene lake surrounded by trees with yellow leaves, with a clear reflection of the surrounding nature.
The image depicts a dog walking on a path in a park, surrounded by fall trees.
A rocky landscape with trees and mountains in the background, capturing the beauty of nature and wilderness.
A close-up of a silver maple leaf, showcasing its intricate details and veins.
A brown horse standing in a field wearing a blanket. It is outdoors with a tree and the sky in the background.
A yellow leaf in sharp detail with a line of cars with tail lights lit up in red in the blurred background.
The image depicts a tree with yellow leaves against a cloudy sky.
A stream surrounded by trees in an outdoor natural landscape.
A scenic view of a valley with trees and mountains in the background. The landscape features fall foliage and a cloudy sky.
A group of trees with yellow leaves, set against a bright blue sky.
A road flanked by trees with yellow leaves on either side. A person is walking on the side of the road.
The Washington Monument with a scenic background of trees, grass, and a cloudy sky at sunset/sunrise.
A close-up of a leaf that transitions from vibrant green in the center to yellow and brown towards the edges.
The image is of a grey squirrel perched on a tree branch in an outdoor setting.
A tree with yellow leaves. The tree is a deciduous plant, possibly a maple, with yellow leaves on its branches.
Colorful red, yellow, and orange leaves on a rocky path. Sunlight shines on the leaves with shadows throughout.
A stream with fall leaves. A tree had fallen over in front of a waterfall.
A serene body of water surrounded by trees, with a bridge visible in the distance.
A photograph of a tree with branches and leaves, set against a backdrop of the sky.
A body of water surrounded by trees, taken in an outdoor natural landscape setting.
A tree with orange leaves framing the US Capitol Building, set against a blue sky.
The image shows a lamp post standing under a maple tree with red leaves.

A serene landscape with a group of trees standing next to a body of water.
A large rock situated on a mountain, surrounded by trees and under a cloudy sky.
The image depicts a person walking in the rain in a city setting.
A waterfall in a forest, surrounded by trees and natural landscape.
A river flowing through a forest with the Dolly Sods Wilderness in the background.
A window with potted plants, possibly with a floral design. Text mentions "Thankful for Fall" and "Beyond Blessed."
A house surrounded by trees, with a fence and grass in the foreground.
A tree with colorful red leaves in an outdoor setting during autumn.
A white car parked in front of a large building, with a tree and some clouds in the sky.
Colorful purple flowers with bright red fallen leaves laying on top.
A photo of a tree with orange leaves in an outdoor setting, possibly in a park or field during the autumn season.
A serene landscape with a body of water surrounded by trees. The water reflects the blue sky and clouds above.
A group of trees with orange leaves against a blue sky.
Two people riding bicycles and two people talking on a bike path next to a large tree with yellow and orange leaves.
The image depicts a group of autumn leaves scattered on the ground to spell "GWU MED."

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November is a special time of year when family and friends come together to celebrate gratitude and share in the joy of a bountiful feast. Preparing a memorable Thanksgiving meal can be a delightful adventure, and it's not just about the food, but the sense of togetherness it represents. We are delighted to explore some delectable ideas and inspiration for creating a heartwarming holiday spread.

For appetizers, you could always try these bite-sized Roasted Artichoke hearts. Artichokes are loaded with nutrients that help promote healthy cholesterol levels. If you are entertaining a group, this Grazing Board keeps it wholesome! Not only is it easy to put together and nutritious, but every item is packed with flavor and various nutrients. Additionally, a Leek and Onion Puff Pastry would make an excellent afternoon snack. 

If you are trying to decide on a main course, a traditional Herbed Roast Turkey will be sure to keep your dining experience savory with sage! Those who want to spice things up can always try this Red Chile-Citrus Glazed Roast Turkey and Pan Gravy. Between red chiles, fennel, and parsley, the flavor is bound to be unforgettable! Vegetarians can benefit from a salad that not only offers a colorful display, but this Citrus, Beet, and Arugula salad with Halloumi croutons has so many heart, brain, and digestive benefits!

As 2023 nears closer to 2024, we are grateful to support the GW’s health sciences educational, research, and clinical programs. We are also grateful for the faculty, staff, and students who have made this season and year such a great one! Lastly, as a sweet beverage to serve as a perfect Thanksgiving treat, a Homemade Apple Cider, with no added sugar. 

Be safe, and have a happy Thanksgiving break! 

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Photo of vets with US flags at a fundraising event.

6 million US veterans receive care at a Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facility at least once a year. There are 1,298 sites of care within the VA system including medical centers, outpatient clinics, and nursing homes. Access to VA care is available to veterans who have proven service-related disabilities. They are “poorer, older, and sicker than private sector patients” (Veterans Healthcare Policy Institute and the National VA Council of the American Federation of Government Employees, 2023).

These facilities have been chronically understaffed for decades, resulting in long wait times for service for many veterans. In 2014, Congress passed the Veterans Access Choice and Accountability Act which allowed veterans to seek care at approved community clinics. A 2022 JAMA study found that between January 2018 and June 2021, veterans waited an average of 29 days for a primary care appointment and that time varied substantially depending on where the care facility was located. The study reported wait times extended to 38.9 days for those using community-based clinics. Allowing veterans to use these resources did not result in reduced wait times. A VA Department Inspector General’s audit in 2022 found that the wait times the VA system reported misrepresented the time a patient had to wait for care, using the date of appointment creation instead of the day the service was requested. For example, a cardiology appointment was logged as a 43-day wait when it was actually 66 from the date referred (US Dept of Veterans Affairs, 2022).

A survey of Veterans Affairs personnel conducted in Spring 2022 included the following findings:

  • 96% of VHA respondents indicated their facility needs more frontline clinical staff. 75% percent said their facility needs more administrative staff. 77% said that there are vacant positions for which no recruitment is taking place. 
  • 77% of those who responded to the survey reported that their VHA facilities have closed beds, units, and/or programs due to staffing and budget shortfalls. 
  • 55% of VHA respondents said they have less time to deliver direct patient care and support services than they did four years ago.

(Veterans Healthcare Policy Institute and the National VA Council of the American Federation of Government Employees, 2023)

This study recommended a number of measures to improve staffing, burnout, and inadequate facilities to serve the needs of the 9/11 generation of veterans who are “among the most disabled in the nation’s history.” These measures include increasing funding to support hiring and retention, infrastructure improvements at existing facilities, and construction of new and expanded facilities. HR dysfunction resulting from a Trump-era human resource management project that sought to centralize HR activities has resulted in delays in hiring. “Almost 50 percent of respondents said that the HR modernization project had increased the time it takes to hire a new employee… 93 percent said they had lost candidates to competing offers because of delays in the HR hiring process.” The report recommends that HR activities come back to the local level to allow personnel managers to respond to local conditions and needs.

Last year VA employee unions lobbied Congress to pass the “VA Employee Fairness Act” which will allow clinical staff collective bargaining rights. This should result in higher salaries and improved benefits and working conditions.

The VA also recently launched an AI Tech Sprint to develop tools that will ease the paperwork burdens on clinicians. Up to $1 million will be awarded to winning teams of developers. It is part of a Reduce Employee Burnout and Optimize Organizational Thriving (REBOOT) Task Force aimed at achieving hiring and retention goals. 30 chief well-being officers at VA healthcare facilities are meeting with frontline employees to gather and communicate their feedback on desired change. One of those is more flexible scheduling, for example, allowing nurses to work a “72 for 80” schedule of three 12-hour shifts a week. The VA is optimistic that these changes will help the agency meet ambitious FY 2023 hiring and retention goals.

Sources

Feyman Y, Asfaw DA, Griffith KN. Geographic Variation in Appointment Wait Times for US Military Veterans. JAMA Network Open. 2022;5(8):e2228783. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.28783

Heckman, J. (2023). VA launches AI Tech Sprint to reduce burnout among health care employees. Federal News Network. https://federalnewsnetwork.com/artificial-intelligence/2023/10/va-launches-ai-tech-sprint-to-accelerate-work-reducing-burnout-in-health-care-workforce/

US Department of Veterans Affairs/Office of Inspector General. (2022). Concerns with Consistency and Transparency in the Calculation and Disclosure of Patient Wait Time Data. https://www.va.gov/oig/pubs/VAOIG-21-02761-125.pdf

Veterans Healthcare Policy Institute and the National VA Council of the American Federation of Government Employees. (2023). Disadvantaging the VA: How VA Staff View Agency Privatization and Other Detrimental Policies. https://www.afge.org/globalassets/documents/generalreports/2023/03/vhpireport_v2.pdf

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Native American Heritage Month occurs in November every year. The month “is a time to celebrate the traditions, languages and stories of Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and affiliated Island communities and ensure their rich histories and contributions continue to thrive with each passing generation.” (U.S. Department of the Interior, n.d.) Many governmental agencies and health organizations share resources that discuss the history of Indigenous groups within the United States. 

Native Voices: Native Peoples’ Concepts of Health and Illness is a virtual exhibition that “explores the interconnectedness of wellness, illness, and cultural life for Native Americans, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians.” (National Library of Medicine, n.d.) The exhibit is split into five sections:

Along with the five sections, a collection of interviews touches on themes such as community, healing, nature and more. 

The virtual exhibit has educational resources that are useful in a classroom setting or for personal use. Their suggested readings bibliography features works by Native Americans or works that focus exclusively on Native Americans. 

The Office of Minority Health (OMH) provides current information about the health of indigenous communities. Their Population Health Data has census reports, links to additional health websites and statistics about indigenous communities. The health data is separated across multiple categories such as asthma, cancer, immunizations and other health concerns. Finally, the OMH’s American Indian & Alaska Native Health in the United States pathfinder guides users to appropriate resources such as journals, government websites and research articles. 

This month is an excellent time to explore the concerns and needs of American indigenous communities. The readings and resources listed above provide a glimpse of the long history and unique culture of American indigenous nations. 

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