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Diversity audits reveal the extent to which library collections incorporate the topics, perspectives, authors, characters, and narratives associated with underrepresented or marginalized groups. They can help us evaluate whether the collection is aligned with the user community, pinpoint the specific areas where improvement is needed, establish goals and timelines, measure progress toward those goals, demonstrate that deficiencies in the collection are being addressed, and highlight the need for additional resources. This guide reviews the scholarly and professional literature on diversity audits of academic library book collections. It discusses how concepts such as diverse groups and diverse books can be operationalized; describes three methods of conducting the diversity audit – the catalog search method, the checklist method, and the book inspection method; considers various benchmarks or targets that may be adopted; and explains how the results of the analysis can be used to build more diverse library collections. The review concludes by presenting three fundamental questions that explore the limits of the audit methods currently in use, highlight underlying issues that librarians may want to consider, and suggest avenues for further research and discussion.

This study evaluates the accuracy of 16 publicly available AI text detectors in discriminating between AI-generated and human-generated writing. The evaluated documents include 42 undergraduate essays generated by ChatGPT-3.5, 42 generated by ChatGPT-4, and 42 written by students in a first-year composition course without the use of AI. Each detector’s performance was assessed with regard to its overall accuracy, its accuracy with each type of document, its decisiveness (the relative number of uncertain responses), the number of false positives (human-generated papers designated as AI by the detector), and the number of false negatives (AI-generated papers designated as human). Three detectors – Copyleaks, TurnItIn, and Originality.ai – have high accuracy with all three sets of documents. Although most of the other 13 detectors can distinguish between GPT-3.5 papers and human-generated papers with reasonably high accuracy, they are generally ineffective at distinguishing between GPT-4 papers and those written by undergraduate students. Overall, the detectors that require registration and payment are only slightly more accurate than the others.

Using data for 2,717 journals and more than 9,000 acquisition opportunities, this study shows how journal prices vary by level of aggregation (single-journal subscription or full-text database), resource provider type (scholarly society, university press, other nonprofit organization, commercial publisher, or library vendor), and broad subject field. The journals acquired through commercial publishers' databases cost less than half as much as those acquired through the databases of scholarly societies, university presses, and library vendors. Across all provider types, full-text databases are more cost-effective than single-journal subscriptions. These results are more realistic than those reported in earlier investigations, since (1) unlike previous studies, this one accounts for the prices of both single-journal subscriptions and full-text journal databases; (2) this assessment is based on actual prices, including consortial and negotiated prices, rather than list prices; and (3) this investigation focuses on the journals identified by faculty as important titles for their teaching and research.

This study examines the book selections of 22 Manhattan College librarians, faculty, and students who were asked to make "yes" or "no" decisions for 287 books reviewed in CHOICE. It focuses on four research questions. First, "What characteristics are associated with selected and nonselected books?" Although there is only modest agreement among selectors, "yes" decisions are associated with favorable reviews, appropriateness for lower-division undergraduates, reasonable price, publication by a university press, and the absence of caveats in the review. The results suggest that selectors are willing to relax certain selection criteria if others are exceeded, that selectors' generally favorable attitudes toward multidisciplinary works do not extend to all such books, and that titles in areas unfamiliar to the selector are less likely to be chosen. Second, "What are the key differences among the book selections of librarians, faculty, and undergraduates?" Although there are minor differences among all three groups, the main finding is that students' selections are relatively unpredictable and less closely linked to particular book and review characteristics. Third, "What are the key differences among the book selections of specialists (faculty and librarians) in the natural sciences, the social sciences, and the humanities?" Although the three subject groups are similar in their yes/no decisions and in the characteristics of the books they choose, most selectors demonstrate a strong tendency to favor books in their own subject areas. Finally, "What individual characteristics are associated with effectiveness as a book selector?" Librarians and faculty are equally effective, overall. Faculty have an advantage among selectors without book selection experience, but the positive impact of experience is greater for librarians than for faculty. In contrast, students are relatively ineffective selectors, and their choices are not closely related to those of other students, faculty, or librarians.

The information literacy (IL) assessment program at Manhattan College in Riverdale, New York, instituted in 2014-2015, evaluates students' information literacy capabilities as demonstrated in their written coursework, their test performance, and their comments on library instruction sessions. Both instruction and assessment are closely linked to five learning objectives, and five years' assessment results have led to significant changes in the IL instruction program. This paper presents key concepts in IL assessment; highlights the importance of evidence-based measures (that is, direct assessment of cognitive outcomes); describes Manhattan College's three assessment methods, with guidelines for the reporting of results; discusses sampling difficulties and related statistical issues; describes the changes in IL instruction undertaken in response to the results ("closing the loop"); and reviews additional assessment methods that can help demonstrate the impact of IL instruction on broader educational outcomes.

This study examines the influence of four predictor variables--university-wide research activity, faculty status (eligibility for sabbaticals), university control (public versus private), and enrollment--on the scholarly productivity of librarians at research universities in the United States. University-wide research activity is directly related to librarians' scholarly productivity, although the relationship weakens at institutions with more than 30 librarians. In contrast, faculty status has a direct influence that is strong and consistent across all university sizes. These results suggest that the faculty subculture, by setting university-wide expectations for research, influences librarians' scholarly productivity only when there is no strong librarian subculture with its own research norms--in other words, only when the institution employs relatively few librarians. Librarians' faculty status (or nonfaculty status) appears to have both formal aspects (such as promotion requirements), which are consistent across all university sizes, and informal aspects (such as scholarly norms and expectations), which moderate the influence of the faculty subculture at those institutions where the librarian subculture is strong.

Interest in lifetime lung function trajectories has increased in the context of emerging evidence that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can arise from multiple disadvantaged lung function pathways, including those that stem from poor lung function in childhood. To our knowledge, no previous study has investigated both obstructive and restrictive lifetime patterns concurrently, while accounting for potential overlaps between them. We aimed to investigate lifetime trajectories of the FEV 1 /forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio, FVC, and their combinations, relate these combined trajectory groups to static lung volume and gas transfer measurements, and investigate both risk factors for and consequences of these combined trajectory groups. Using z scores from spirometry measured at ages 7, 13, 18, 45, 50, and 53 years in the Tasmanian Longitudinal Health Study (n=2422), we identified six FEV 1 /FVC ratio trajectories and five FVC trajectories via group-based trajectory modelling. Based on whether trajectories of the FEV 1 /FVC ratio and FVC were low (ie, low from childhood or adulthood) or normal, four patterns of lifetime spirometry obstruction or restriction were identified and compared against static lung volumes and gas transfer. Childhood and adulthood characteristics and morbidities of these patterns were investigated. The prevalence of the four lifetime spirometry patterns was as follows: low FEV 1 /FVC ratio only, labelled as obstructive-only, 25·8%; low FVC only, labelled as restrictive-only, 10·5%; both low FEV 1 /FVC ratio and low FVC, labelled as mixed, 3·5%; and neither low FEV 1 /FVC ratio nor low FVC, labelled as reference, 60·2%. The prevalence of COPD at age 53 years was highest in the mixed pattern (31 [37%] of 84 individuals) followed by the obstructive-only pattern (135 [22%] of 626 individuals). Individuals with the mixed pattern also had the highest prevalence of parental asthma, childhood respiratory illnesses, adult asthma, and depression. Individuals with the restrictive-only pattern had lower total lung capacity and residual volume, and had the highest prevalence of childhood underweight, adult obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnoea. To our knowledge, this is the first study to characterise lifetime phenotypes of obstruction and restriction simultaneously using objective data-driven techniques and unique life course spirometry measures of FEV 1 /FVC ratio and FVC from childhood to middle age. Mixed and obstructive-only patterns indicate those who might benefit from early COPD interventions. Those with the restrictive-only pattern had evidence of true lung restriction and were at increased risk of multimorbidity by middle age. National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia, The University of Melbourne, Clifford Craig Medical Research Trust of Tasmania, The Victorian, Queensland & Tasmanian Asthma Foundations, The Royal Hobart Hospital, Helen MacPherson Smith Trust, and GlaxoSmithKline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Galactose-α-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal) is a carbohydrate that is ubiquitously expressed in all mammals except for primates and humans. Patients can become sensitized to this antigen and develop alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), or a red meat allergy. Symptoms range from generalized gastroenteritis and malaise to anaphylaxis, and in endemic areas, the prevalence can be as high as 20%. Although AGS patients commonly avoid alpha-gal by avoiding meat, patients have also developed symptoms due to animal-derived medical products and devices. With the rise in transcatheter aortic valve replacement, we investigate the immunogenicity of common cardiac materials and valves. To assess the in vitro immunoglobulin E response toward common medical products, including cardiac patch materials and bioprosthetic valves in patients with AGS. Immunoblot and immunohistochemistry techniques were applied to assess immunoglobulin E reactivity to various mammalian derived tissues and medical products for patients with AGS. AGS serum showed strong reactivity to all of the commercially available, nonhuman products tested, including various decellularized cardiac patch materials and bioprosthetic aortic valves. AGS serum did not react to tissues prepared using alpha-gal knockout pigs. Despite commercial decellularization processes, alpha-gal continues to be present in animal-derived medical products, including bioprosthetic valves. Serum from patients with AGS demonstrates a strong affinity for these products in vitro. This may have serious potential implications for sensitized patients undergoing cardiac surgery, including early valve failure and accelerated coronary artery disease. [Display omitted] Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) is a common red meat allergy. Sensitized patients develop an immunoglobulin E (IgE) response to alpha-gal, a carbohydrate that is expressed by all lesser mammals including cows and pigs. This is particularly important for patients undergoing bioprosthetic valve replacement. As shown, patients with AGS react to the bioprosthetic valve (brown alpha-gal IgE staining based on patient sera), whereas healthy control sera does not (right panel). The consequences of this may include chronic inflammation, early valve degradation, and accelerated atherosclerosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Longitudinal trajectories of asthma and allergies from childhood to adulthood might be differentially associated with lung function and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but associations with extrapulmonary comorbidities have not been well investigated. We aimed to assess these trajectories and examine their associations with lung function outcomes and profiles of comorbidities. In this prospective cohort study, data for asthma and related allergic conditions (ie, eczema, hay fever, and food allergy) were prospectively collected from the Tasmanian Longitudinal Health Study for participants aged 7–53 years originally recruited in Tasmania, Australia. All surviving individuals in the database with contact details were invited in the most recent follow-up (mean age 53 years). There were no exclusion criteria. With use of latent class analysis, we identified longitudinal trajectories of asthma and allergic conditions from 7–53 years, and profiles of self-reported extrapulmonary conditions recorded at 53 years. The associations between asthma and allergy trajectories and morbidity profiles and lung function at 53 years were investigated with regression models. Between Sept 3, 2012, and Nov 8, 2016, of 6128 individuals invited, 3609 (58·9%) individuals were enrolled. We identified five asthma and allergy trajectories: minimal and least asthma and allergies (n= 1767 [49·0%]); late-onset hay fever, no asthma (n=1065 [29·5%]); early-onset remitted asthma and allergies (n=236 [6·5%]); late-onset asthma and allergies (n=317 [8·8%]); and early-onset persistent asthma and allergies (n=224 [6·2%]); and four profiles of extrapulmonary morbidities: minimal or least disease (n=2206 [61·1%]); dominant mental health disorders (n=861 [23·9%]); dominant cardiovascular diseases or risks (n=424 [11·7%]); and multiple disorders (n=117 [3·2%]). The late-onset asthma and allergies trajectory was predominantly associated with the multiple disorders profile (relative risk ratio 3·3 [95% CI 1·9–5·9]), whereas the other asthma and allergy trajectories were associated only with the dominant mental health disorders profile. Both spirometrically defined and clinical COPD were most strongly associated with the early-onset persistent asthma and allergies trajectory (odds ratio [OR] 5·3 [95% CI 3·2–8·6]) and also with the late-onset asthma and allergies trajectory (OR 3·8 [2·4–6·1]). Distinct longitudinal trajectories of asthma and allergic disease from childhood to 53 years are associated with different profiles of extrapulmonary comorbidities and varying risk of COPD. These findings can inform a personalised approach in clinical guidelines and management focusing on treatable traits. Comorbidity profiles are a new target for early identification and intervention. National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia, EU's Horizon 2020, The University of Melbourne, Clifford Craig Medical Research Trust of Tasmania, The Victorian, Queensland & Tasmanian Asthma Foundations, The Royal Hobart Hospital, Helen MacPherson Smith Trust, and GlaxoSmithKline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study uses journal ratings in criminology and criminal justice, library and information science, public administration, and social work to investigate two research questions: (1) Are stated preference (subjective) journal ratings more closely related to size-dependent citation metrics (eigenfactor and total citations, which represent the impact of the journal as a whole) or to size-independent citation metrics (article influence and CiteScore, which represent the impact of a typical article)? (2) Are stated preference ratings more closely related to unweighted citation metrics (five-year impact factor and source normalized impact per publication, which do not account for the impact of each citing journal) or to weighted citation metrics (article influence and SCImago journal rank, which do)? Within the disciplines evaluated here, respondents’ subjective ratings of journals are more closely related to size-independent metrics and weighted metrics. The relative strength of the relationship between subjective ratings and size-independent metrics is moderated by subject area and other factors, while the relative strength of the relationship between subjective ratings and weighted metrics is consistent across all four disciplines. These results are discussed with regard to popularity and prestige, which are sometimes associated with unweighted and weighted citation metrics, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Differences in prescribing of outpatient antibiotics for UTIs exist between provider and clinic types. • Beta-lactam allergies did not influence prescribing patterns. • These data will inform our outpatient stewardship efforts. Outpatient empiric urinary tract infection (UTI) prescribing is an area of interest for antimicrobial stewardship efforts. We conducted a retrospective chart review evaluating optimal antibiotic prescribing for UTIs in our internal medicine and urology clinics and found significant differences in prescribing patterns between provider type and UTI category. These data will inform our antimicrobial stewardship efforts in these clinics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]