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This study focuses on the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on research and scholarship at a research university in the United States. Building on studies in higher education policy, we conceptualized the COVID-19 pandemic as a 'wicked problem' that is complex, nonlinear, unique, and requiring urgent solutions. Wicked problems highlight pre-existing struggles, and therefore, recent challenges in higher education inform the methods and the findings of this study. Qualitative and quantitative survey data from 408 faculty, staff, and students explicate the reasons for reduced research output and adaptations made for increased or sustained productivity, health, and wellness that influenced research activities. The analysis showed that most respondents experienced reduced productivity mostly due to increased work responsibilities, limited access to research fields, and inadequate resources. Despite self-reported reduced productivity, participants from the University we studied experienced increases in funding during the pandemic. Thus, the findings also reported on the adaptations for sustained or increased productivity. These included new research pursuits, participation in conference and learning opportunities across geographic regions, and purchase of computer equipment/accessories for home offices. A small percentage of respondents mentioned improved health and well-being; however, many linked reduced research activities to health and well-being issues such as anxiety and fear about the pandemic and being overwhelmed due to work and home-life expectations. Knowledge of the challenges and opportunities presented within the first year of the pandemic can provide a basis for solutions to wicked problems higher education may face in the future.

Overview One of the main challenges in an emerging pathogen outbreak is the availability of and access to reliable laboratory diagnostic tests for timely and accurate confirmation of the disease [...]

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic marked a breakpoint for genomic surveillance. The first severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) genetic sequences were shared on 10 January 2020, ten [...]

Librarians from Purdue University wanted to determine which social media platforms students use, which platforms they would like the library to use, and what content they would like to see [...]

Special collections and area studies librarians face similar challenges in the changing academic library environment, including the need to articulate the value of these specialized collections and to mainstream processes and practices into larger discovery, teaching, learning, and research efforts. For some institutions, these similarities have led to combining these areas of librarianship into a shared administrative structure. This article articulates the concept of "distinctive collections," identifies the shared challenges of these programs, and enumerates some essential differences, as well as outlines some observations from institutions that have taken this step. It further suggests opportunities for these areas to build strength and significantly impact teaching, learning, and research together. Future research agendas that might propel further investigation of "distinctive collections" are proposed.

Transgender individuals may experience social discrimination and unfair legal considerations as crime victims. The current purpose was to investigate the relationship between the participant/jurors' gender, the victims' gender identity, and judge's instructions to ignore the gender identity of the victim on perceptions of the victim and the crime and verdicts rendered in a sexual assault case. Overall, crime severity ratings were significantly lower for the trans male victim compared to the cisgender female victim. Male participants reported lower crime severity ratings for trials involving transgender victims compared to cisgender victims. However, victim blaming, likelihood that the defendant committed the crime, sentencing recommendations, verdict confidence, and conviction rates did not vary by the victim's gender identity, the participant's gender identity, nor the judge's instructions. Participant gender as a predictor of verdict approached significance, indicating a trend for males to render more not guilty verdicts and females to render more guilty verdicts. In summary, male jurors perceived the crimes involving transgender victims as less severe and this may have impacted the rate of not guilty verdicts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To understand the long‐term effects of comprehensive spasticity treatment, including selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR), on individuals with spastic cerebral palsy. Method: This was a pre‐registered, multicenter, retrospectively matched cohort study. Children were matched on age range and spasticity at baseline. Children at one center underwent spasticity treatment including SDR (Yes‐SDR, n=35) and antispastic injections. Children at two other centers had no SDR (No‐SDR, n=40 total) and limited antispastic injections. All underwent subsequent orthopedic treatment. Participants returned for comprehensive long‐term assessment (age ≥21y, follow‐up ≥10y). Assessment included spasticity, contracture, bony alignment, strength, gait, walking energy, function, pain, stiffness, participation, and quality of life. Results: Spasticity was effectively reduced at long‐term assessment in the Yes‐SDR group and was unchanged in the No‐SDR group. There were no meaningful differences between the groups in any measure except the Gait Deviation Index (Yes‐SDR + 11 vs No‐SDR + 5) and walking speed (Yes‐SDR unchanged, No‐SDR declined 25%). The Yes‐SDR group underwent more subsequent orthopedic surgery (11.9 vs 9.7 per individual) and antispastic injections to the lower limbs (14.4 vs <3, by design). Interpretation: Untreated spasticity does not cause meaningful impairments in young adulthood at the level of pathophysiology, function, or quality of life. This original article is commented by Chambers on page 532 of this issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rich Newberg made a passionate case for the value of historic television footage, and outlined the current state of television preservation in his article 'Beyond the Fleeting Image'. In his follow-up, the Association of moving ImageArchivist's (AMIA) Local television: A Guidebook for saving Our Heritage, he reviews the development of this interest and resources, lists additional television archiving projects, and outlines some initial steps for stations who seek a place to begin.