1) ProQuest Adds Deep Indexing Content to Select Natural Science and Technology Resources Deep Indexing technology categorizes data represented in tables, maps, charts, graphs, photographs and other figures, allowing researcher to surface data not previously included in traditional article-level index records. Now, ProQuest has combined Deep Indexing with the traditional ...
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From the Announcement: Budding historians are set to benefit from a new online project which will revolutionise the way we search for historical sources on the internet, thanks to a £198,977 cash boost from JISC. The ‘Connected Histories’ project, which is a partnership between the Universities of Sheffield and Hertfordshire, the Institute ...
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From a Web Page: The National Film and Sound Archive’s australianscreen online is an interactive web-based resource that provides access to a wide variety of moving image material. It encompasses nearly 1400 Australian feature films, documentaries, advertisements and television programs from the last 110 years. The titles contained within australianscreen online ...
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From the Article: After the recent release of the University’s Library Task Force Report, some humanities professors and graduate students have expressed concern over the document’s suggestion that the Harvard University library system may need to limit future expansion. The report, which was released on November 12, suggested that the library system ...
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Here are two compilation of holiday facts that will have you wowing them (-: at Thanksgiving Dinner. The content comes from the U.S. Census and the U.S. Department of Labor. This ResourceShelf post has a few examples of what you'll find along with links to the fact-filled documents. Source: ...
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Warming increases the risk of civil war in Africa
Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Armed conflict within nations has had disastrous humanitarian consequences throughout much of the world. Here we undertake the first comprehensive examination of the potential impact of global climate change on armed conflict in sub-Saharan Africa. We find strong historical linkages between civil war and temperature in Africa, with warmer years leading to significant increases in the likelihood of war. When combined with climate model projections of future temperature trends, this historical response to temperature suggests a roughly 54% increase in armed conflict incidence by 2030, or an additional 393,000 battle deaths if future wars are as deadly as recent wars. Our results suggest an urgent need to reform African governments’ and foreign aid donors’ policies to deal with rising temperatures.

+ Full Paper (PDF; 451 KB)

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401(k) Plans and Race
Source: Center for Retirement Research at Boston College

Many data sources show a disparity among racial and ethnic groups regarding participation in and contributions to 401(k) plans. White workers participate at a higher rate and contribute a higher percentage than African American and Hispanic workers. However, few studies have explored whether these differences persist once other factors expected to impact these decisions are taken into consideration. One recent study by Ariel/Hewitt using client data found lower participation and contributions rates in 401(k) plans for African Americans and Hispanics than for Whites, even after controlling for age, tenure, and earnings. The question is whether racial and ethnic differentials remain after controlling for a broad or array of factors included in a nationally representative sample of households, the Federal Reserve’s Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF)…

+ Full Document (PDF; 552 KB)

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Open Doors 2009: The Annual Report on International Education
Source: Institute of International Education (via U.S. Department of State)

The United States continues to be the number one choice of international students seeking education outside their home countries, and the trend lines this past year remain positive.

We have seen major, double-digit increases from several countries – for example:

• The number of students coming from Vietnam increased 46%; and,
• The number of students from China, Saudi Arabia, and Nepal all increased by more than 20%.

A very substantial increase in first-time enrollments — 16% — has helped to bring the total number of international students in the United States to an all-time high. These numbers demonstrate the depth, diversity, and caliber of America’s higher education system, but we also recognize there is intense competition for these highly motivated students and scholars.

+ Open Doors Report 2009

See also: Numbers of Americans Studying Abroad Up 8.5%, China, India, Japan, South Africa, and Argentina See Strong Gains as Destinations

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A civilised society: Mental health provision for refugees and asylum-seekers in England and Wales
Source: Mind, UK
From Key findings and recommendations:

Restrictive policies on healthcare, education, accommodation, welfare support and employment are functioning to socially exclude and marginalise refugees and asylum-seekers, both exacerbating existing mental health problems and causing mental distress. Current government policy is inherently contradictory. On the one hand mental health policy recognises the increased vulnerability of asylum-seekers and refugees and the need to support them. On the other hand asylum and immigration policy creates an environment which is having a devastating impact on the mental health, wellbeing and long-term integration prospects of refugees and asylum-seekers. Mind’s latest research has found that despite experiencing high levels of mental distress, refugees and asylum-seekers face many challenges accessing mental health services in England and Wales.

+ Direct link to document (PDF; 317 KB)

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Homes With Cell Phones Nearly Double in First Half of Decade
Source: U.S. Census Bureau

The number of households with cell phones increased from 36 percent to 71 percent between 1998 and 2005, according to new data released by the U.S. Census Bureau. This corresponded with a decrease in households with telephone landlines, particularly households headed by young adults.

These figures are part of an in-depth look at the living standards of U.S. households using extended measures of well-being. The data were collected in 2005 as part of the ongoing Survey of Income and Program Participation. The survey is unique because it allows the user to track select quality of life measures over time using a variety of demographic characteristics.

“While income is generally regarded as the best single measure of one’s living standard, it doesn’t give us the whole picture,” said Tiffany Julian, an analyst in the Census Bureau’s Housing and Household Economic Statistics Division. “This survey is unique in that it includes additional measures of well-being that give us a broader look at household living conditions.”

Householders who were 29 or younger went from 35 percent with cell phones in 1998 to 81 percent in 2005. Over the same period, this same group saw a decrease in ownership of landline phones from 93 percent to 71 percent.

Landline phone ownership fell from 96 percent to 91 percent overall from 1998 to 2005. In 2005, 98 percent of householders who were 65 and over had a landline telephone.

The number of households with a personal computer increased from 42 percent to 67 percent between 1998 and 2005. Those who were least likely to own a computer in 2005 were the elderly, those in poverty and those without a high school diploma.

Among the indicators in this survey that measure quality of life are possession of appliances and electronic goods, housing conditions, neighborhood conditions, public services and the ability to meet basic needs, such as paying bills, avoiding foreclosure and having sufficient food.

+ Dynamics of Economic Well-Being

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