PNR Weekly Digest: March 30, 2021

Posted by Carolyn Martin on March 30th, 2021 Posted in: PNR Weekly Digest

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Items regarding COVID-19 information are indicated with an *

In the Dragonfly:

*NNLM Covid-19 Symposium. Keynote Speakers Announced. Registration is Open
The Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) is excited to announce a new, free virtual symposium focused on addressing the COVID-19 infodemic in our communities. The NNLM Virtual Symposium: Responding to the COVID-19 Infodemic is an opportunity to address misinformation and mistrust, raise awareness about the pandemic, and efforts to combat it. Symposium attendees can expect to come away from the 2-day experience with a better understanding of COVID-19 and share strategies and programs to engage with your community…read the blog post to learn how to register

Coming Soon: New Regional Medical Libraries Designations 2021-2026
Last June, the National Library of Medicine (NLM) published the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for the 2021-2026 Regional Medical Libraries (RMLs), the central component of the Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM).  Health sciences libraries submitted proposal applications in September.  An official announcement from the NLM regarding the new RMLs is forthcoming. The start date for the new Cooperative Agreement is May 1, 2021…learn more about the new RML designations on the blog

Help NNLM Improve its Funding Process
The Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) is requesting feedback regarding our funding process. Whether you have applied for funding through NNLM or not, your feedback will be valuable in helping us continuously improve our funding program…please fill out the survey by March 31, link is on the blog post

Self-Learning Source: Mammography NIH Science Topic Fact Sheet
What is a mammogram and what does it do? The National Institutes of Health (NIH) provides a Science Topic Fact Sheet on mammography that is available to download for free. In it you will find…read the blog post to learn more about NIH Science Topic Fact Sheets

Professional Development:

NNLM CE Opportunities:
NNLM offers training on a variety of topics related to health information. A complete listing of NNLM educational opportunities is available. Please note you need to create an NNLM account prior to registration if you don’t already have one. This is not the same as being a member of NNLM.  Learn how to register for classes and create a free account

From Being to Doing: Anti-Racism as Action at Work: In this session, we will focus on anti-racism as action, rather than using the word anti-racist as an identity. Can changing how we define organizational culture in library workplaces be an example of anti-racist action? We will take a critical look at how certain hallmarks of white supremacist culture inform our notions of professionalism and workplace norms. These commonly accepted norms can actually contribute to low morale, the prevalence of microaggressions, retention issues, etc. This session will present specific actions to resist these norms, which libraries can then implement to create more equitable workplaces. April 13 at 11:00 a.m. PT. (1 MLA CE) Register 

Social and Environmental Determinants of Maternal Health Disparities and a Roadmap to Effective Solutions: This Emerging Trends webinar series presentation will describe historical and contemporary pathways by which features of the physical and social environments likely contribute to maternal health disparities. Potential interventions along with priorities for future research will also be described. April 20 at 12:00 p.m. PT. (1 MLA CE) Register

*Launching and Leading the Librarian Reserve Corps: Developing an agile librarian network in response to COVID-19: Join the next PNR Rendezvous webinar to learn how Library Journal 2021 Librarians of the Year launched and lead an international network of librarian volunteers in a new role: emergency responders in the COVID-19 pandemic. April 21 at 1:00 p.m. PT. (1 MLA CE) Register 

Additional Educational Opportunities:
These learning opportunities are provided by organizations beyond NNLM. All are free unless otherwise indicated. 

Principles for Defining & Verifying the Authority of Online Providers of Health Information: In order to improve the quality of health information appearing on its platform, YouTube has asked the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) to identify 1) preliminary definitions of “authoritative” sources of health information and 2) the criteria by which these sources derive and maintain their authority. Outcomes from this project will help to inform YouTube’s policies for labeling and promoting authoritative health information. April 5 from 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. PT. Learn more and register

Recent and upcoming enhancements to NCBI BLAST and Primer-BLAST services!: Join the webinar to learn about new web BLAST and Primer-BLAST enhancements that improve your BLAST experience. You’ll also see a preview of some planned improvements to the databases that make it easier to find relevant matches. April 7 from 9:00 – 9:45 a.m. PT. Register

Diagnostics and Disease Management Tools for Use in Underserved Populations: An NHLBI (National Health, Lung and Blood Institute) Research & Implementation Workshop: The NHLBI is hosting a virtual research workshop to discuss barriers to—and opportunities for—improving heart, lung blood, and sleep (HLBS) health in underserved communities. Participants will discuss how to tailor health monitoring devices and tools that diagnose patients to underserved, low-resource, and remote communities. This workshop is free, open to the public, and available via NIH videocast. Register in advance for this Zoom event. April 14-15, 2021. Learn more

News from the National Library of Medicine & National Institutes of Health:

*“Infections with ‘U.K Variant’ B.1.1.7 Have Greater Risk of Mortality”, from the NIH Director’s blog

PlaySmart, HEAL-funded research team is using the power of play to prevent opioid misuse in youth

Texting May Help Reduce Disparities in Colorectal Cancer Screening

*Tackling the Mysteries of the Long-term Effects of SARS-CoV-2 Infection

*COVID-19 and the Heart: A Bounty of Questions

Now Available: The Science of Health Disparities Research Textbook

New National Institute on Aging booklet, Get Fit For Life: Exercise & Physical Activity for Healthy Aging

*National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases’ Statement on AstraZeneca Vaccine

*RADx diversifies COVID-19 tests w/4 new contracts, RADx now producing 1.7 million COVID-19 tests per day

Multidisciplinary teams create soothing dental environments for children with autism

*Scientists find evidence that novel coronavirus infects the mouth’s cells

Using Smartphone Apps to Reach Gay and Bisexual Men at Risk for HIV

NIH to enhance tribal engagement efforts for precision medicine research

FYI: 

*COVID-19 Resources 

• Stopping the spread of COVID-19 requires all available tools, including vaccination. View and share this video from the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board to show that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective for AI/ANs: Clinical Q&A on the Covid-19 Vaccines.
• Learn about the National Hispanic Medical Association‘s upcoming #Vaccinate4All Campaign at their Virtual Briefing Series webinar, which will be held April 28 at 7:00 pm ET.
• Explore the COVID-19 research tip sheets and other resources from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) CEAL initiative. These tip sheets address misinformation and highlight the community benefits of COVID-19 research.

Eugenics and Science Timeline 1859 – Present Day
Science history is filled with discoveries, innovations and amazing pioneers. Yet, there is also a darker side to science history that is important to understand and reflect upon. Did you know that a few notable scientists and academics applied an inaccurate and prejudicial understanding to support their racist claims? Learn about the emergence of eugenics in Britain, and scroll through a new timeline about some of the key historical events that led to the development of eugenics in the United States. A bibliography of resources is included. Share this informative, science history resource with your classroom today.

*Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA Authorizes First Machine Learning-Based Screening Device to Identify Certain Biomarkers That May Indicate COVID-19 Infection
Recently the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) for the first machine learning-based Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) non-diagnostic screening device that identifies certain biomarkers that are indicative of some types of conditions, such as hypercoagulation (a condition causing blood to clot more easily than normal). Learn more about this screening device on the FDA website

Asian American and Pacific Islander Health

• The Office of Minority Health has called on everyone in the nation to join the federal government in condemning and combating racism, including the alarming increase of attacks on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs). Use the resources below to share information and provide support to AAPI communities.
• Stop AAPI Hate provides a tool to report hate incidents in your area, as well as safety tips for those experiencing or witnessing hate. The site also includes state reports and other resources.
• The Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations has created a list of Resources to Address Anti-Asian Racism.
• As part of its Bullying Prevention Awareness Campaign, the Asian American Psychological Association published a Bullying Prevention and Intervention Guide for the parents of K-12 AAPI students. The guide is available in Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and English.

Culturally-competent Health Provider Communication: Insights from Research with Chinese, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Island Diabetes Patients
This recorded CDC webinar was designed to help health professionals learn about culturally-competent medical communication. The presenters share their experiences developing and providing culturally competent health communication that meets the need of Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander patients with diabetes. It is intended for nurses, physicians, public health professionals, and public information/media specialists.

Libraries Are Key Tools For People Getting Out Of Prison, Even During A Pandemic
A New Jersey Public Libraries program called Fresh Start provides help to the formerly incarcerated. Everything from training in how to make a FaceTime call to compiling resources for job fairs and food banks. Brothers Dennis and Lee Horton were recently released from prison. The New Jersey Public Library’s Fresh Start program has helped them navigate daily life and learn new technology that didn’t exist in 1993. View more of the NPR story 

*Migration and Health, 2020
Published since 2008 by the National Population Council of Mexico and the Health Initiative of the Americas, the Migration and Health/Migración y salud reports make current issues related to the health of the migrant population from the Mexico-United States corridor accessible to government officials, academic researchers, civil associations, and the general public. The 2020 edition includes a chapter on the impact of COVID-19 on the migrant Mexican community. The reports are available in English and Spanish.

Request for Information: Use of Clinical Algorithms That Have the Potential to Introduce Racial/Ethnic Bias Into Healthcare Delivery
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality is seeking information from the public on clinical algorithms and evidence that they may introduce bias into clinical decision making and impact access to care, quality of care, or health outcomes for racial and ethnic minorities and people who are socioeconomically disadvantaged. Deadline for comments is April 16.