Trig Or Treat: An Encyclopedia of Trigonometric Identity Proofs With Intellectually Challenging Games by Y.E.O. Adrian (World Scientific, 2007)

QA537.Y46 2007

“This encyclopedia contains trigonometric identity proofs for some three hundred identities. The book is presented in the form of mathematical games for the reader s enjoyment and includes a concordance of trigonometric identities, enabling easy reference.” —Amazon.com

On Speed: The Many Lives of Amphetamine by Nicolas Rasmussen (NYU Press 2008)

RM666.A493 R37 2008

“Rasmussen, who has taught life sciences and medicine at UCLA and other universities, examines amphetamine as a case study on the place drugs occupy in our culture and our fantasies (of miracle cures and elixirs). The story begins with chemist Gordon Alles's creation of amphetamine in 1929 and continues through its use for weight loss, attention deficit disorders and today's crystal meth craze. Smith, Kline & French (now GlaxoSmithKline) bought the rights for use of the drug and marketed it to treat depression. During WWII, British and American soldiers developed an amphetamine appetite as RAF medics distributed wakey-wakey tablets to bomber crews. At the book's core is an outstanding chapter, Bootleggers, Beatniks and Benzedrine Benders, describing how Benzedrine inhalers, available without a prescription, could be cracked open for a totally new kind of amphetamine experience, exerting a potent influence on music and literature, from Charlie Parker to Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg. Rasmussen has mined magazines, books and newspapers in addition to extensive explorations through U.K. and American archives. He concludes by calling for strong and immediate action to curb the widespread, dangerous use and abuse of amphetamines, emphasizing treatment and harm reduction (like needle exchange) rather than punishment, and better regulation of the pharmaceutical industry.”—Amazon.com

The Formation of the Solar System: Theories Old and New by Michael Woolfson ( Imperial College Press, 2007)

QB503.W665 2007

“This book traces the development of ideas about the origin of the Solar System from ancient times to the present day. A survey of more modern ideas, covering the last 200 years or so, highlights the difficulties experienced by theories and also points the way towards the development of a more successful theory. In particular, the current standard model the Solar Nebula Theory is examined and discussed in some detail. After more than thirty years of development, this theory has still not settled down into an agreed form, as it experiences both theoretical difficulties and problems with reconciling new observations. By contrast, the Capture Theory, developed over the last forty years by the author, and supported by recent observations provides a complete description of the formation of the Solar System, including an evolutionary hypothesis that explains the detailed structure of the system. Written in an informative yet accessible manner, this book will appeal to both specialist and non-specialist readers alike.” —Amazon.com

Labeling Genetically Modified Food: The Philosophical and Legal Debate by Paul Weirich (Oxford University Press, 2008)

TP 248.65.F66 L33 2007

“Food products with genetically modified (GM) ingredients are common, yet many consumers are unaware of this. When polled, consumers say that they want to know whether their food contains GM ingredients, just as many want to know whether their food is natural or organic. Informing consumers is a major motivation for labeling. But labeling need not be mandatory. Consumers who want GM-free products will pay a premium to support voluntary labeling.
This book surveys various labeling policies and the cases for them. It is the first comprehensive, interdisciplinary treatment of the debate about labeling genetically modified food. The contributors include philosophers, bioethicists, food and agricultural scientists, attorneys/legal scholars, and economists.” —Amazon.com

Jiggle: (Re)Shaping American Women by Wendy Burns-Ardolino (Lexington Books, 2007)

TT677 .B87 2007

“Jiggle spans the fields of women's studies, cultural studies, and media studies as it examines the significance of women's embodied experience with the most intimate strictures of femininity foundation garments. Feminist theory of the body, the cultural production and consumption of fashion and beauty cultures, femininity and female subjectivity are woven together to tell the story of how women are shaped physically, culturally, socially and politically by shaping garments.” —Amazon.com

Embracing Mind: The Common Ground of Science and Spirituality
by B. Alan Wallace and Brian Hodel (Shambala, 2008)

Q175. W2618 2008

“Both science and spirituality search for “ultimate truths.” God, the Big Bang, nirvana, the theory of evolution, relativity, quantum mechanics—these are some of the concepts that have been articulated as a result of that search. But the human capacity for exploring these ultimate sources of truth—the one thing that unites science and spirituality—is often overlooked. Embracing Mind argues (1) that science has hobbled itself by ignoring its unique source of inspiration—the mind—and (2) that the schism between science and spirituality is unnecessary. In language accessible to any intelligent reader, Embracing Mind first explores the veracity of major scientific “myths,” then presents a viable science of the mind emanating from contemplative spirituality, including Hindu, Christian, Sufi, and Buddhist views.” —Amazon.com

The Eastern and Central European Kitchen: Contemporary & Classic Recipes
by Silvena Rowe and Jonathan Lovekin(Interlink Books, 2007)

TX723.5.A1 R69 2007

“Silvena Rowe turns to countries such as Hungary, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Poland, Georgia, Russia, and the Ukraine for her inspiration. She cooks game with sweet-and-sour stuffing, sauces and marinades; smoked fish; wild mushrooms; fruits such as quince, figs and pomegranates; and seeds and grains such as lentils, pearl barley and poppy seeds. She plunders the traditions of the poor and wealthy alike in her quest to bring us a taste of what is put upon the tables in these countries. The food is untamed and the flavors are strong. Alongside Silvena's recipes are photographs of the food markets, farms, homes, grand cafes and restaurants of Eastern and Central Europe by renowned photographer Jonathan Lovekin.”—Amazon.com

The Politics of Healthcare in Britain by Stephen Harrison and Ruth McDonald (Sage Publications, 2008)

RA412.5.G7H3352008

“Written by leading academics in their field this book provides a clear and considered overview of the politics of health care in Britain. Bringing together a wide range of material on both past events and recent developments, the chapters cover issues such as the politics of health professionalism, clinical knowledge, and organization and management.
Each chapter offers a unique combination of theory, historical detail and analysis of contemporary events. It features case studies to illustrate how policy has evolved and developed in recent years, and the implications these changes have for practice. Written in an accessible style the chapters also include comprehensive introductions, summaries, and further reading sections. The final chapter is based on three detailed case studies that illuminate the tensions and debates discussed throughout the book.” —Amazon.com

The Vaccination Controversy: The Rise, Reign and Fall of Compulsory Vaccination for Smallpox by Stanley Williamson (Liverpool University Press, 2007)

RA644.S6 W55 2007

“Stanley Williamson’s meticulously researched history of the British government’s smallpox vaccination program begins with Edward Jenner’s development of the vaccine at the end of the eighteenth century, charts the astonishing speed at which it became compulsory for children, and documents the decades of resistance that resulted in its repeal in 1946. Along the way Williamson examines the social, political, and ethical motivations of both factions. The power to make medical choices, including those regarding vaccination, remains a hotly contested issue today, making The Vaccination Controversy a timely contribution to our knowledge of medical history.” —Amazon.com

Insomnia: A Cultural History: Focus on Contemporary Issues by Eluned Summers- Bremner (Reaktion Books, 2008)

RC548 .S86 2008

“In today’s media-saturated and hyper connected society, increasing numbers of people are finding it hard to switch off their overstimulated brains and escape the demands of daily life. We are becoming, it seems, a world of insomniacs. But this condition of perpetual unrest has plagued people for centuries. The roots and effects of insomnia are complex, Eluned Summers-Bremner reveals in this fascinating study, and humans have employed everything from art to science to understand, explain, and mitigate this problem.” —Amazon.com

Botany, Sexuality and Women's Writing 1760-1830: From Modest Shoot to Forward Plant by Samantha George (Manchester University Press, 2008)

Qk14.5.G46 2007

“In this fascinating study, Samantha George explores the cultivation of the female mind and the feminized discourse of botanical literature in 18th century Britain. In particular, she discusses British women’s engagement with the Swedish botanist, Carl Linnaeus, and his unsettling discovery of plant sexuality. Previously ignored primary texts of an extraordinary nature are rescued from obscurity and assigned a proper place in the histories of science, 18th century literature, and women’s writing. The result is groundbreaking. The author explores nationality and sexuality debates in relation to botany and charts the appearance of a new literary stereotype--the sexually precocious female botanist. She uncovers an anonymous poem on Linnaean botany and subsequently traces the development of a new genre of women’s writing--the botanical poem with scientific notes.”—Amazon.com

Join James D. Watson for a discussion of his latest book, Avoid Boring People: Lessons from a Life in Science.

Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Presentation and Q & A Session 4-5 pm
Reception 5-5:30 pm
Fales Reading Room, Bobst Library, Third Floor
70 Washington Square South

James D. Watson received the 1962 Nobel Prize with Francis Crick for describing the DNA double helix structure. He is a recipient of the National Medal of Science and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, member of many prestigious societies such as the National Academy of Science and the Royal Society, and past head of the publicly-funded Human Genome Project.

Hosted by:
Tamar Schlick: NYU Professor in Chemistry, Mathematics, and Computer Science
Carol A. Mandel: Dean of NYU’s Division of Libraries
Kara M. Whatley: Head, Coles Science Center, NYU Division of Libraries

All NYU faculty, students, staff, and community guests are welcome to attend this free event. Kindly RSVP to Liz at 212-992-7050 or rsvp@library.nyu.edu.

Funding from the Mathematical Association of America (Tensor Award for WoW) and the NYU Provost’s Office is gratefully acknowledged.

David, a PhD candidate in NYU's Department of Sociology, spoke on how cities “do” science to inform urban policy, using New York City's trans fat ban as his case study.

To read David's talking notes from his presentation entitled, CityTech: Urban Science and New York’s Trans Fat, scroll through them here:

Download file


Below are some photos from the event:

Thanks to all who attended! We look forward to seeing you at our next Science Salon in the fall.

In the meantime, please stop by the Coles Science Center on the 9th floor of Bobst to check out our display on the science, technology, and health of trans fat.

Magical Moments of Change: How Psychotherapy Turns Kids Around by Lenore Terr (W.W. Norton, 2008)

RJ504 .T47 2008

“Collecting the best 'stories of change and transformation' from her colleagues around the world, internationally acclaimed researcher on child trauma Lenore Terr explores diagnoses from PTSD to self-mutilation to tackle a fundamental question facing child therapists: Just how and when does therapy work, and what happens to make it work?” --Amazon.com

Peasants, Farmers and Scientists: A Chronicle of Tropical Agricultural Science in the Twentieth Century by J.W. Mutsaers. (Springer, 2007)

S604.37 .M88 2007

“This book is a critical account of tropical agricultural science and agricultural development in the twentieth century, in particular in Africa. It describes successes as well as fads and failures, from the perspective of a practitioner of more than 40 years. The emphasis is on the second half of the century, but the story frequently reaches deep into the first half of the century as well.
The book’s premise is that the story of tropical agricultural science and agricultural development can be told in a single volume at a more than trivial level, understandable for people of normal intelligence. It tries to uncover what real value there has been in the major areas of study (Farming Systems Research, Natural Resource Management, crop modeling, etc.) after peeling off the multiple protective layers applied by the profession. It also takes a critical look at agricultural and general development which has become inflated with hot air to the point of blowing itself apart in the early twenty-first century.” --Amazon.com

Philosophy and Design: From Engineering to Architecture edited by Pieter E. Vermaas (Springer, 2008)

TA174 .P4975 2008

“Philosophy and Design: From Engineering to Architecture is a significant contribution to the expanding field of design studies. It brings questions of design into philosophy and thereby brings diverse philosophical perspectives to bear on conceptual, methodological, epistemological, metaphysical, and ethical issues of design. It is also the first collection of philosophical papers to bridge the divide between critical reflections on design in engineering and in architecture. After the publication of this well edited collection, it will be difficult for philosophy to ignore design as a theme as worthy of attention as such phenomena as scientific theory, aesthetic creativity, or political law. Indeed, as a phenomenon design may well span theory, creativity, and law in ways that can contribute to a deeper understanding of each and to their mutual relations. In addition, this collection is to be commended for the interdisciplinary character of many of its contributions and the multinational perspectives provided by its diverse contributors from Europe, North America, and Japan.” --Amazon.com

Design for Inclusivity: A Practical Guide to Accessible, Innovative and User-centered Design by Roger Coleman (Ashgate Pub., 2007)

TS171 .D4638 2007

“Inclusive design not only ensures that products, services, interfaces and environments are easier to use for those with special needs or limitations, but in doing so also makes them better for everyone. ”Design for Inclusivity", written by a team that has pioneered inclusive design practice internationally, reviews the recent social trends and pressures that have pushed this subject to the fore, and assesses design responses to date in an international context. The authors make the business case for inclusive design and explain the formalization of the approach in standards and legislation. The text includes case studies which describe transport; product development, IT, housing and service projects, as well as industry-university collaborative projects, and highlights lessons that have been learned. This is very much a practical book. It offers tools, techniques, guidelines and signposts for the reader to key resources, as well as including advice on research methods, and working with users and industry partners.” --Amazon.co.uk

Autism Heroes: Portraits of Families Meeting the Challenge by Barbara Firestone (Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2008)

RJ506.A9 F57 2008

“Few have the combination of compassion, rigorous knowledge, passion for the field, and accomplishments in helping literally thousands of children with autism spectrum disorders as does Barbara Firestone. She is also an extraordinary listener, and a great observer of people, making her perspectives and collection of family stories coupled with Joe Buissink's photography extremely rich, inspiring, and instructive.” --Amazon.com

To access BuildingGreen Suite, go to the website, BuildingGreen.com.

For articles: http://www.buildinggreen.com/news/index.cfm
For case studies: http://www.buildinggreen.com/hpb/index.cfm
For a list of green building products: http://www.buildinggreen.com/menus/index.cfm

First, ChemDraw Ultra is a software download which lets you draw chemical and biological structures for use in research as well as education. It is a powerful tool for visualizing structures and rendering them for assignments, projects, and publication. Anyone with an NYU email address can download the software here.

Our other new resource is an electronic reference work called Science of Synthesis Houben-Weyl Methods for Molecular Transformations. It allows you to search by keyword or structure and retrieve expert-reviewed synthetic methods for all classes of compounds. NYU students and staff can access this resource, and read the fulltext of entries, from on or off-campus using this link.

We hope that these resources will help make your research and study easier and more productive.

For more information, please contact Margaret Smith, Librarian for Physical Sciences, at margaret.smith@nyu.edu.

Now in addition to calling (212.998-2500), emailing, or IMing (screen name: AskBobst) a librarian for reference help, you can also text us at 646.265.1342 weekdays from 10am-6pm.

More info on all Ask-a-Librarian services, including Text-a-Librarian, at http://www.library.nyu.edu/ask/.

PLACE: Classroom PC2, Lower Level 1 of Bobst Library
DATE/TIME: Wednesday, March 5th @ 3:00pm

The Web of Science, Google Scholar, and other bibliographic databases provide access to a unique search method: "Cited Reference Searching." Navigate forward, backward, and through the literature, searching all disciplines and time spans. Users may also navigate to electronic full-text journal articles subscribed by NYU. (45 min.)

Walk-in sessions, no is registration required.

Questions, please contact:

Susan K. Jacobs
Health Sciences Librarian
Associate Curator
New York University Libraries
70 Washington Square South
New York, NY 10012

"CityTech: Urban Science and New York’s Trans Fat"

David Schleifer, PhD candidate in NYU's Department of Sociology, will speak on how cities “do” science to inform urban policy. Using New York City as a case study, he will be discussing the scientific testing conducted prior to the authorization of the city’s recent trans fat ban, as well as how and why the ban was successfully implemented. He will also address the limited success of similar regulation in cities such as Philadelphia, which did not conduct similarly comprehensive research.

DATE: Wednesday, March 26, 2008
TIME: 3pm
PLACE: Coles Science Reference Center, 9th Floor, Bobst Library

Please join us for the talk, followed by a discussion.

Refreshments will be served.

RefWorks
RefWorks is a web-based tool, free to members of the NYU community, that helps manage and organize your research. As you search catalogs and databases, you can import references directly into your own bibliography file, then automatically format footnotes, endnotes, and works cited using standard styles (AMA, APA, etc.). (60 min.)

Meets in room PC2 on Lower Level 1 of Bobst Library.

Registration required.
* Wed., Feb. 6 -- 3:30 pm (Science focus, featuring PubMed and Web of Science)
* Thu., Feb. 14 -- 4:00 pm (Science focus, featuring PubMed and Web of Science)
* Thu., Feb. 21 -- 4:00 pm
* Fri., Feb. 29 -- 10:00 am (Science focus, featuring PubMed and Web of Science)

Citation Indexes
The Web of Science (Science Citation Index, Social Science Citation Index, and Arts and Humanities Citation Index) provides access to current and retrospective multidisciplinary information from approximately 8,700 of the most prestigious, high-impact research journals in the world. It also provides a unique search method: "cited reference searching." Navigate forward, backward, and through the literature, searching all disciplines and time spans. Users can also navigate to electronic full-text journal articles subscribed by NYU. (45 min.)

Meets in room PC2 on Lower Level 1 of Bobst Library.

Walk-in sessions, no registration required.
* Wed., Mar. 5 -- 3:00 pm
* Thu., Apr. 3 -- 3:00 pm

**For more 2008 library class offerings at Bobst, as well as registration information, go to the Libraries' website.

Here’s a tip for helping you get your hands on the books you want: click on the Call Number hyperlink in BobCat to see on which floor the book is located.

From there, you’ll get a pop-up window that looks like this:

Click on any of the hyperlinked floor numbers for a map, such as this one:

Next stop: swing by Bobst and beeline straight to your book’s location. Et voila!

Well, think twice before you do it again. Why? Because the study showed that, indeed, double dipping spreads bacteria mouth to mouth. “The way I would put it is, before you have some dip at a party, look around and ask yourself, would I be willing to kiss everyone here? Because you don’t know who might be double dipping, and those who do are sharing their saliva with you,” told the lead researcher of the study, a microbiologist, to the Times.

At that rate, I'd rather skip the party AND the dip, and watch Seinfeld re-runs at home alone...with a nice cold glass of milk and Bosco.

Links:
New York Times coverage
Journal of Food Safety articles available via interlibrary loan
video of infamous Seinfeld "double dip" episode via Gothamist

c) Have an idea about how NYU can reduce its "carbon footprint?"

Then the NYU Green Grants program may be for you! If you're an NYU student, faculty member, or employee with an idea about how NYU can reduce its adverse environmental impacts, you can apply for funding from the NYU Sustainability Task Force to make your project happen.

Project proposal submission guidelines for the 2008-2009 academic year can be found here.

A list of last year's funded projects can be found here.

More info on the NYU Sustainability Task Force here.

d) Looking for library resources in the environmental sciences?

Here's a handy research guide:

Environmental Sciences Resources at Bobst Library/Coles Science Center

Relevant Call Numbers:
* Environmental Sciences: GE1–350
* Meteorology and Climatology: QC851-999
* Ecology: QH540–549.5
* Plant Ecology: QK900-989
* Environmental Technology: TD1–1066
* Mechanical Engineering & Machinery: TJ1-1570
* Chemical Technology: TP1-1185

Dictionaries and Encyclopedias:
* Dictionary of Ecology and the Environment: QH540.4.C65 1998
* A Dictionary of Ecology: QH540.4.C66 2005 (reference)
* A Dictionary of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics: QH540.4.L56 1998 (reference)
* The VNR Dictionary of Environmental Health and Safety: RA566.D53 1994 (reference)
* Dictionary of Environmental Health: RA566.W68 2003 (reference)
* The Encyclopedia of Environmental Studies: QH540.4.A84 1991
* Encyclopedia of Environmental Biology: QH540.4.E52 1995 v.1-3
* The Water Encyclopedia: TD351.V36 1990

Electronic Books (linked in BobCat):
* The Global Warming Desk Reference: QC981.8.G56 J64 2002eb
* Pollution A to Z: TD173.P65 2004eb
* Handbook of Environmental Data on Organic Chemicals: TD196.O73 V47 2001eb
* Water Encyclopedia: TD345.L393 2005eb

Specialized Databases:
* ENVIROnetBase
* Environment Complete (EBSCO)
* Environmental Universe (LexisNexis)

Internet Links:
* Center for Biodiversity and Conservation
* Center for Environmental Research and Conservation
* Ecological Society of America
* EnviroLink
* National Council for Science and the Environment
* National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
* NatureServe
* Smithsonian Conservation and Research Center
* Tree of Life web project
* U.S. Department of Energy
* U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
* World Resources Institute
* Worldwatch Institute

Green Building Resources at NYU's Jack Brause Real Estate Library
* Research Guide (pdf)

Recycling at NYU
* Facilities and Construction Management's recycling services

Environmental Sciences Programs at NYU

Environmental Studies
(Undergraduate, College of Arts and Science)

Environmental Conservation Education
(Graduate, Steinhardt School)

Environmental Health Sciences
(Graduate, Graduate School of Arts and Science)

Environmental Medicine
(Graduate, School of Medicine)

What do you do when you need a book that's checked out at Bobst? You can recall it using the green "Recall - Hold" button in the left sidebar of BobCat. Or, now you can request it electronically using interlibrary loan (ILL). And get this: using ILL is often faster than waiting for a recall!

You log in to ILL using your university ID ("N") number. From there, you can make requests, view the status of your requests, renew, or cancel requests online.

For easy access, a link to ILL is found in the Quick Links section of the Libraries home page.

The study reports that the female lumbar curve spans three, well-connected vertebrae. The male lumbar curve, on the other hand, spans only two vertebrae, which are not as securely linked.

image source: Nature

Researchers hypothesize that the female spine has evolved to accommodate the additional abdominal load of pregnancy that women may experience in their lifetimes. With a stronger, more flexible lower spine, pregnant women are better able to lean back and balance their frontal weight.

Links:
Nature (article abstract and link to full-text)
New York Times coverage