Some information sources on the H1N1 Flu

The Influenza A H1N1, commonly known as “the swine flu,” has been all over the news in recent weeks. We would like to take a moment to give our readers some links to good sources of information so they can have some facts separated from the hype.

• MedlinePlus is always a good place to start online when looking for medical information. “MedlinePlus brings together authoritative information from NLM, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations” (from the site’s About page). The NLM is the National Library of Medicine. Personally, MedlinePlus is a site I recommend to anyone looking for medical information. You can get some medical journal articles, good overview entries on a variety of topics, and even drug and medicine information. MedlinePlus has a page dedicated to the H1N1 here.
• By the way, the National Library of Medicine’s Specialized Information Service has some information too on H1N1 here. This page has many links indicating the federal response as well as international response and information.
• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also has a page of information on the H1N1 here. The FDA’s page includes warnings against fraudulent treatments. It is very easy for the less than scrupulous to take advantage, so be informed.
• The Centers For Disease Control (CDC) have some information on H1N1 here. They include a map where cases in the U.S. have been found and other resources updated regularly. There are also instructions on how to protect yourself and other precautions here.
• In addition, you can get some free access to H1N1 information from Dynamed, an EBSCO database product. They are providing free access to a summary of information here. More about Dynamed: “DynaMed is a point-of-care reference resource designed to provide clinicians with the best available evidence to support clinical decision-making. DynaMed is part of the suite of medical products owned and provided by EBSCO Publishing and is updated daily by monitoring medical literature sources.”
• In terms of international coverage, the source to go is the World Health Organization (WHO). You can find their page on the H1N1 here. A little more about the WHO: “WHO is the directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations system. It is responsible for providing leadership on global health matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and standards, articulating evidence-based policy options, providing technical support to countries and monitoring and assessing health trends.”
• Locally, the Texas Department of State and Health Services has a page on the H1N1.  They have a very easy to read section on what to do if you do get sick and are staying home. It is called “How to stay home safely.”

Many of these sites feature options for RSS feeds as well as tracking via online tools like Twitter. Just look for the appropriate links on the sites. If you already use a feed reader like Google Reader or Bloglines, you can add updated information to your accounts from these agencies. If you would like to learn more about RSS, you can find a nice introduction here (from the How Stuff Works website). Also, many of the sites provide the information in English and in Spanish.

You can also stop by the library, call us, or e-mail with your questions. However, do remember that your friendly librarian cannot take the place of your professional medical practitioner. We can provide information, but we do not diagnose or dispense medical advice.  If you are feeling symptoms, do take necessary steps including a visit to your physician or local clinic.

New Books About Darwin and Evolution

Last month, we celebrated Darwin Day here at the Robert R. Muntz Library. In addition to the film event (see our first link), we also created a display of books, which is still up in the library’s third floor. During the film event, our speakers mentioned some books that may be of interest to people wishing to learn more about Darwin, his work, and evolution as well as about science education. I went ahead and ordered some of those books, and I am pleased to announce that the books have arrived and are ready to be checked out. This small list includes library call numbers. For now, you can find these books in the new books shelf in the library’s reading room area in the second floor. After that, they will be moved to their regular location in the third floor general stacks. The list then:

• Francisco Ayala, Darwin’s Gift to Science and Religion (QH375 .A93 2007). Ayala is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and a biologist at UC Irvine. He writes about evolution with an eye to reconcile science and religion. For some readers, Ayala may be a bit more calm in tone than writers like Richard Dawkins. Publishers’ Weekly says that this book “provides the single best introduction to Darwin and the development of evolutionary biology now available.”
• Matthew Chapman, 40 Days and 40 Nights: Darwin, Intelligent Design, God, Oxycontin, and Other Oddities on Trial in Pennsylvania (KF228 .K589 2007). This is the book about the Dover trial written by Charles Darwin’s great-great grandson, who is also a successful screenwriter. He argues that intelligent design should be taught in schools, but not for the reasons some readers may think. His reason: “as an exercise in removing the kid gloves with which religion is treated in this country, science teachers should demolish ID before their pupils’ eyes” (from Publishers’ Weekly). The book is an excellent report on the Dover trial.
• Edward Humes, Monkey Girl: Evolution, Education, Religion, and the Battle for America’s Soul (QH362 .H86 2008). Humes is a Pulitzer prize winner who in this book takes complex scientific ideas and makes them more accessible to the general reader. The book also looks at the Dover trial and science education. The author’s novelistic style makes for compelling reading.
• Kenneth R. Miller, Finding Darwin’s God: a Scientist’s Search for Common Ground between God and Evolution (BT712 .M55 2002). This is another book that tries to reconcile religion with evolution. Miller, a biology professor at Brown University, looks at the science, but he also explains the different sides in the issue from other scientists’ aggressive reaction to religious believers to the fervent opposition of many religious believers to evolution.
• Neil Shubin, Your Inner Fish: A Journey into the 3.5 billion-year History of the Human Body (QM26 .S58 2009). Shubin is a fish paleontologist who looks at how the human body evolved to its current state. Shubin explains why he was able to write this book, “It turns out that being a paleontologist is a huge advantage in teaching human anatomy. Why? The best roadmaps to human bodies lie in the bodies of other animals. The simplest way to teach students the nerves in the human head is to show them the state of affairs in sharks. The easiest roadmap to their limbs lies in fish. Reptiles are a real help with the structure of the brain. The reason is that the bodies of these creatures are simpler versions of ours.” Read about Dr. Shubin’s fieldwork and learn more about the human body in this adventurous book.
• Carl Zimmer, Evolution: The Triumph of an Idea (QH361 .Z48 2006). Zimmer explores the history and future of the idea of evolution, showing that it is not “just a theory” as opponents tend to sneer. This book is a companion to the PBS series of the same title. By the way, the library does have the PBS Evolution series on DVD (we bought it bundled with the NOVA documentary Judgment Day, the film we presented for Darwin Day). Here is the call number for the Evolution DVD set: QH367 .E96 2008. Judgment Day call number is QH362 .J83 2008. Note that DVDs are kept in the Circulation Area and have to be requested.

Library Features Exhibit for Darwin Day

The UT Tyler Robert R. Muntz Library is featuring a month-long display on the life and works of Charles Darwin. 2009 marks the bicentennial birthday of the naturalist and the 150th anniversary of the publication of On the Origin of the Species.

The exhibit can be viewed in the library’s third floor during regular library hours. It is free and open to the public. The following books and A/V materials are currently on display. Items inside the display case are available for check-out upon request. Feel free to ask for any item of interest by visiting the Circulation Desk. Please note that books are usually shelved in the third floor, and A/V usually needs to be requested at Circulation. Items will be returned to their regular locations after the exhibit. Items are listed in no particular order:

• Marston Bates and Philip S. Humphrey, eds., The Darwin Reader. QH302 .D33.
• Charles Darwin, On the Origin of Species. QH365 .O2 1964B.
• Charles Darwin, The Voyage of the Beagle. QH11 .D2 1959.
• ABC News: Nightline, Classroom challenge: debating Darwin in the 21st century. BL263 .C53 2006 (DVD).
• George Lewis Levine, Darwin and the Novelists. PR878.S34 L4 1991.
• Ernst Mayr, One Long Argument: Charles Darwin and the Genesis of Modern Evolutionary Thought. QH371 .M336 1991.
• Eugenie Carol Scott, Evolution vs. Creationism: an Introduction. QH367 .S395 2004.
• Peter J. Bowler, Monkey Trials and Gorilla Sermons: Evolution and Christianity from Darwin to Intelligent Design. BS651 .B755 2007.
• John Angus Campbell, Darwinism, Design, and Public Education. QH362 .D37 2003.
• Robert Jastrow, ed., The Essential Darwin. QH365.D25 A25 1984.

This library exhibit is part of the Darwin Day observances. To learn more about Charles Darwin, his works and legacy, and how Darwin Day is being celebrated around the world, visit their website.

In addition, please remember that the library will feature the film Judgment Day: Intelligent Design on Trial on February 11 at 6:00pm. For details, visit this page.

Library Shows Film for Darwin Day

Promotional image for documentary Judgment Day (from PBS website, used for educational purpose.)

In honor of the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birthday and to promote public understanding of evolutionary sciences and their place in civilization, the UT Tyler Robert R. Muntz Library will feature a showing of the award winning PBS NOVA documentary Judgment Day: Intelligent Design on Trial.

The Robert R. Muntz Library will show the documentary and feature commentary and remarks from distinguished UT Tyler faculty. Our speakers for the evening will provide context for the film as well as answer questions from the audience. Our speakers are:

Dr. Wesley Hickey, Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership

and

Dr. Don Killebrew, Department Chair and Professor of Biology

The details are:

What: Darwin Day Film Presentation: Judgment Day: Intelligent Design on Trial.

Where: LIB 401

When: Wednesday February 11, 2009 starting 6:00pm.

The library will provide light refreshments.

About the film: In 2004, the Dover (Pennsylvania) school board ordered its science teachers to deliver a statement in biology classes about an alternative to Darwin’s theory of evolution known as intelligent design. The teachers refused to comply, and this led to the 2004 case of Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District where teachers and parents sued the Dover School District for violating the constitutional separation of chuch and state. The documentary explores the arguments, looks at the turmoil that tore the community, and provides an overview of the key questions.

This event is part of the international Darwin Day celebrations. To learn more about Darwin Day and Charles Darwin and his legacy, visit the Darwin Day website at http://darwinday.org.

This event is free and open to the public.