Reframing Self-Access: Reviewing the Literature and Updating a Mission Statement for a New Era

This paper documents part of the process of preparing to fully reopen the physical Self- Access Learning Center (SALC) in a university in Japan after being somewhat interrupted during two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. Self-access is becoming increasingly complex, multi-faceted and multi-disciplinary and it is necessary to revisit SALC mission statements periodically, particularly after major events or changes. A group of language educators working at the university examined literature and theories from a range of perspectives in order to inform the future directions of the SALC. In a series of meetings over a one-semester period, one or two team members led a guided discussion based on some key papers, talks or other resources related to eight themes. After a semester of such discussions, they returned to the mission statement and re-examined it, making it more theoretically robust and specific, acting as a guide for SALC services for a new era. © 2022 by the authors.

Youth, Social Media, and Telehealth: How COVID-19 Changed Our Interactions.

Adolescents and young adults (AYA) use social media more than any other generation, including to learn about their health. The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic further accelerated both health harming and health benefits of technology use. Also, during this time, medical professionals moved more quickly to virtual visits, changing AYA, family, and provider interactions and expectations. Remote health care, broader technology use, and improved youth engagement have the potential to address long-standing barriers to health equity. Telehealth disadvantages still exist, however, especially for those with decreased access. Recent rapid changes have not allowed for sufficient study to address optimizing the experience, effectiveness, and utilization of remote health care. Fortunately, because of their expansive engagement with social media and technology, AYA are paving the way toward a digital health future. Health professionals are encouraged to improve their virtual and social media interactions with AYA patients, while finding ways to improve health equity. [Pediatr Ann. 2022;51(4):e161-e166.].

Mitigating a COVID-19 outbreak among major league baseball players - United States, 2020

Mass gatherings have been implicated in higher rates of transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and many sporting events have been restricted or canceled to limit disease spread. Based on current CDC COVID-19 mitigation recommendations related to events and gatherings, Major League Baseball (MLB) developed new health and safety protocols before the July 24 start of the 2020 season. In addition, MLB made the decision that games would be played without spectators. Before a three-game series between teams A and B, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health was notified of a team A player with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19;the player was isolated as recommended. During the series and the week after, laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 was diagnosed among 19 additional team A players and staff members and one team B staff member. Throughout their potentially infectious periods, some asymptomatic team A players and coaches, who subsequently received positive SARS-CoV-2 test results, engaged in on-field play with teams B and C. No on-field team B or team C players or staff members subsequently received a clinical diagnosis of COVID-19. Certain MLB health and safety protocols, which include frequent diagnostic testing for rapid case identification, isolation of persons with positive test results, quarantine for close contacts, mask wearing, and social distancing, might have limited COVID-19 transmission between teams.