Teaching on-line retrieval systems at the University of California, Los Angeles

All library school students should be provided with an opportunity to obtain hands-on experience in using such bibliographic retrieval systems as ORBIT, DIALOG, OCLC, etc. Yet, such training is both costly and time consumming. Two key issues that must be resolved in order to make the training more efficient and more effective are: (1) the integration of training in the curriculum as a module in cataloging and reference courses or as a separate course; and (2) the method of training which may include the use of videotapes, demonstrations, training manuals, etc. The teaching program at UCLA provides for discussion and demonstration of on-line retrieval techniques in the basic courses and advanced search training in a separate course using a specially prepared training manual.     

Toward a theory of indexing

A theory of indexing helps explain the nature of indexing, the structure of the vocabulary, and the quality of the index. Indexing theories formulated by Jonker, Heilprin, Landry and Salton are described. Each formulation has a different focus. Jonker, by means of the Terminological and Connective Continua, provided a basis for understanding the relationships between the size of the vocabulary, the hierarchical organization, and the specificity by which concepts can be described. Heilprin introduced the idea of a search path which leads from query to document. He also added a third dimension to Jonker's model; the three variables are diffuseness, permutivity and hierarchical connectedness. Landry made an ambitious and well conceived attempt to build a comprehensive theory of indexing predicated upon sets of documents, sets of attributes, and sets of relationships between the two. It is expressed in theorems and by formal notation. Salton provided both a notational definition of indexing and procedures for improving the ability of index terms to discriminate between relevant and nonrelevant documents. These separate theories need to be tested experimentally and eventually combined into a unified comprehensive theory of indexing.     

Learning to Lead: an Approach to Mathematics Teacher Leader Development

This paper describes a partnership between a university and an urban school district, formed with a goal of preparing mathematics teacher leaders to conduct professional development (PD) at their schools. The university and district partners worked together to achieve the district’s mission of providing every student with high-quality instruction and equitable learning opportunities in mathematics by building the district’s capacity to conduct school-based PD for mathematics teachers. Given the power of school-based subject-specific PD for improving instructional quality, we worked with Teacher Leaders from participating schools to prepare and support them to lead PD workshops at their schools. In this paper, we examine how Teacher Leaders learn and adapt key elements of a PD model over three school years through the lenses of Prediger et al.’s Three-Tetrahedron-Model (2019) and the university’s Learning to Lead model. Over 3 years, we see that Teacher Leaders use the key structures of the PD model; make adaptations in response to school goals, interests, and priorities; and gain confidence in their work with colleagues. By viewing the adaptations through the lens of pedagogies of practice as well as the relationships illustrated by the 3-T model, this work offers insights into the complexities of teacher leadership development.

     

eJournals Delivery Service: an email to Internet experiment

The eJournals Delivery Service (eJDS) allows scientists based in institutions in developing countries with slow access to the Internet due to very low bandwith or extreme economic problems, to retrieve online articles from well-known journals, using offline browsing with email. This pioneering experiment, run by the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics in collaboration with Academic Press, American Physical Society, and World Scientific, started in Jan. 2002.     

In vitro inhibition of lipid peroxidation in fish by turmeric (Curcuma longa)

The beneficial effects of ∈-3 fatty acids on human health have been well documented. Fish and fish oils are the richest sources of ∈-3 fatty acids. However, due to their high degree of unsaturation, they are highly susceptible to lipid peroxidation. Regular consumption of peroxidised oils may represent a risk factor for the induction and development of atherosclerosis. In view of the above reports, it was considered necessary to study the effects of tumeric on fish lipid peroxidation during standard cooking practices and on time-dependent changes in the peroxidation of fish homogenate. The antioxidant effect of α-tocopherol was also studied to confirm the relevance of the study. The results suggest that turmeric may be considered as a safe, cheap and readily usable antioxidant for food preparations.