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The novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, has moved rapidly across the world in 2020. This article reports on the recent consequences of the pandemic for early childhood education in Sweden, Norway, and the United States. The authors illustrate the effects of the pandemic on preschools in their countries, against a backdrop of frequent changes in infection and mortality rates, epidemiological understandings, government strategies, and mitigation strategies regarding preschool closures. Teachers report their experiences and actions in specific early childhood education settings, across the three national contexts. These experiential snapshots identify program priorities, parents' and children's reactions, and the commitment and concerns of teachers. The conversations reveal culturally situated similarities of early childhood educational practices but also differences across contexts. Teachers report on the challenges of their experiences but also benefits for their practice and how they engage with children and their families. Ideas about future preparedness for such pandemics are also discussed.

Background: Global health care manufacturer Novo Nordisk commissioned research regarding awareness of drug safety department activities and potential to increase patient feedback. Objectives were to examine patients’ knowledge of pharmaceutical manufacturers’ responsibilities and efforts regarding drug safety, their perceptions and experiences related to these efforts, and how these factors influence their thoughts and behaviors. Data were collected before and after respondents read a description of a drug safety department and its practices. Methods: We conducted quantitative survey research across 608 health care consumers receiving treatment for diabetes in the United States, Germany, United Kingdom, and Italy. This research validated initial, exploratory qualitative research (across 40 comparable consumers from the same countries) which served to guide design of the larger study. Results: Before reading a drug safety department description, 55% of respondents were unaware these departments collect safety information on products and patients. After reading the description, 34% reported the department does more than they expected to ensure drug safety, and 56% reported “more confidence” in the industry as a whole. Further, 66% reported themselves more likely to report an adverse event or product complaint, and 60% reported that they were more likely to contact a drug safety department with questions. The most preferred communication methods were websites/online forums (39%), email (27%), and telephone (25%). Conclusions: Learning about drug safety departments elevates consumers’ confidence in manufacturers’ safety efforts and establishes potential for patients to engage in increased self-monitoring and reporting. Study results reveal potentially actionable insights for the industry across patient and physician programs and communications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Plastic pollution accumulates in the Laurentian Great Lakes of the United States. [•] Using SEM/EDS, misidentification of coal ash as microplastic was corrected. [•] Microplastics from the Great Lakes are suspected to be microbeads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the importance of designing learning opportunities for beginning mathematics teachers to support their growth as engaged professional practitioners in the U.S. It explains the significance of collaboration in the profession to allow such teachers to benefit from multiple networks of support. It also mentions the development of the Knowles Science Teaching Foundation (KSTF) Teaching Fellowship program that supports beginning high school science and mathematics teachers.

Some commentators believe that the Society of American Archivists (SAA) has turned a corner and in recent years has taken more of a leadership role in speaking out on matters of import to the archival profession. However, two recent controversies involving the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) suggest otherwise, indeed, suggest that SAA lacks the will to take any role whatsoever in matters involving archival ethics and professional standards of practice. In 2006, an independent researcher brought to light that NARA had entered into secret agreements with several government agencies to pull and reclassify publicly available records from its open shelves; the agreements stipulated that NARA would hide the reclassification program from the public. In 2008, another independent researcher made public his unsuccessful attempts to access NARA's own records, those of the Office of Presidential Libraries. He documented a course of improper handling of the records, unprofessional responses to his requests for information, and inappropriate withholding of these records. SAA's failure to take a leadership stance with respect to these situations was compounded and enabled by the majority of individual archivists who chose to remain uninformed, and silent, about issues raised that were of critical importance to their profession. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article provides information concerning the built environment and the study of art in the U.S. The author infers that the built environment is architecture in its broadest interpretation. Built environment education stresses the development of an awareness of surroundings, senses, feelings, and needs. Then the development of an understanding of the functions and the impact of the environment. By developing the senses and acquiring a consciousness of self within the surroundings, the author implies children learn to evaluate the environment in terms of human responses.