bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Diamondback terrapins, Malaclemys terrapin, as a sentinel species for monitoring mercury pollution of estuarine systems in South Carolina and Georgia, USA
Authors: Blanvillain Gaëlle , Schwenter Jeffrey A. , Day Rusty D. , Point David , Christopher Steven J. , Roumillat William A. , Owens David W.
Published: June 2007

Total mercury concentrations were measured in diamondback terrapin blood and scutes collected from four sites in South Carolina, USA, and at a superfund site in Brunswick, Georgia, USA. There was a strong correlation between mercury concentrations in the two terrapin body compartments (Kendall's tau = 0.79, p < 0.001). Mercury concentrations in terrapin scute and blood and in salt marsh periwinkles, Littoraria irrorata, were significantly higher in Brunswick (scute x̄ = 3810.2 ng/g, blood x̄ = 746.2 ng/g) than from all other sites (scute x̄ = 309.5 ng/g, blood x̄ = 43.2 ng/g, p < 0.001). Seasonal fluctuations of total mercury in the blood and scutes of terrapins collected in the Ashley River, South Carolina, were significantly lower in August than in April, June, or October in blood (p < 0.001); however, scute concentrations did not vary seasonally. Overall, we found higher concentrations of mercury in the scutes of females than males (n = 32, p < 0.05). Larger females may preferentially prey on larger food items, like large periwinkles, which had significantly higher mercury levels in their body tissues than smaller periwinkles (p < 0.001). Methylmercury levels in terrapin scutes were measured, revealing that 90% of the total mercury stored in this compartment was in the organic form. A methylmercury biomagnification factor of 173.5 was calculated from snails to terrapin scutes, and we found that mercury levels in scutes were representative of the mercury levels in other compartments of the ecosystem. These findings show that terrapin scutes are good predictors of mercury pollution and that this species could be used as a bioindicator for assessing mercury contamination of estuarine systems.
A survey of horse owners in Great Britain regarding horses in their care. Part 2: Risk factors for recurrent airway obstruction
Authors: HOTCHKISS J. W. , REID S. W. J. , CHRISTLEY R. M.
Published: June 2007

Reasons for performing study: Recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) is a commonly encountered respiratory condition of horses. Despite this, the epidemiology of this predominately manageable and reversible disease in Great Britain has been largely ignored.

Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of RAO in the general horse population of Great Britain and to investigate possible risk factors for RAO associated with management or early life.

Methods: Horse owners were surveyed using a self‐administered postal questionnaire that contained a risk‐screening questionnaire (RSQ) designed to identify horses with RAO. These owners were randomly selected, following geographical stratification, using 2‐stage cluster sampling of veterinary practices and their clients. Multilevel, multivariable logistic regression models were used to investigate risk factors for RAO in the selected horse population.

Results: The estimated true prevalence of RAO in the selected horse population was 14.0% (95%CI 10.7–17.4%). Risk factors for RAO identified in a general horse management logistic regression model included increasing age and exposure to an urbanised environment. Recurrent airway obstruction has long been associated with mature horses while the association with an urbanised environment could be related to different management practices in these areas or possibly air pollution could be involved. The second model associated exposure to hay and respiratory infection in early life with a horse having RAO in later life. Challenges to the respiratory system in early life may be involved in the development of this disease.

Conclusions and potential relevance: Recurrent airway obstruction is a significant health problem in the horse population of Great Britain. This form of epidemiological investigation highlights potential risk factors for the disease.
Equine idiopathic cheek teeth fractures: Part 2: A practice‐based survey of 147 affected horses in Britain and Ireland
Authors: TAYLOR L. , DIXON P. M.
Published: June 2007

Reasons for performing study: There is limited information on the prevalence of idiopathic cheek teeth (CT) fractures in the general equine population and on which CT are most commonly affected.

Objectives: To obtain information on the prevalence of fracture patterns and clinical details of idiopathic CT fractures.

Methods: Details of cases with idiopathic CT fractures encountered were obtained via a questionnaire sent to suitably experienced veterinary practitioners and equine dental technicians (EDTs).

Results: Details of 147 horses that suffered a total of 182 idiopathic CT fractures; and median 0.4% (range 0.07–5.9%) of horses examined were diagnosed with such fractures; 133 maxillary CT and 49 mandibular CT fractures were found; maxillary Triadan 09s and 10s were preferentially fractured (46% of all fractured CT); fracture patterns included maxillary CT slab fractures (through 1st and 2nd pulp chambers) in 87 teeth (48% of all fractured CT), maxillary CT midline sagittal fractures (through the infundibula) in 31 CT; and various other types of maxillary CT fractures in 15 CT. In the mandibular CT, lateral slab fractures (through the 4th and 5th pulp chambers) were found in 28 CT and a variety of other fracture patterns in the other 21 mandibular CT. Clinical signs included quidding in 33% of cases, bitting and behavioural problems (29%) and halitosis (12%), however 39% of horses with idiopathic CT fractures were asymptomatic. Treatments included oral extraction of the smaller dental fragment in 37% of cases, extraction of the entire fractured tooth (9%); removal of sharp edges on the remaining part of fractured tooth (14%); reduction of height of the opposite tooth (4%); other surgical or endodontic treatments, or referral of case for further investigation and treatment (10%); or no specific treatment (39%). Following treatment, 81% of cases were reported to be asymptomatic, 6% had ongoing clinical problems and the outcome was unclear in 13% of cases.

Conclusions: Idiopathic CT fractures are present in approximately 0.4% of horses and may variably cause none to severe clinical signs. Most idiopathic CT fractures respond well to treatment.

Potential relevance: Understanding of the prevalence, clinical findings and treatment of idiopathic CT fractures will improve management of these disorders.
Magnetic resonance imaging evaluation of 264 horses with foot pain: The podotrochlear apparatus, deep digital flexor tendon and collateral ligaments of the distal interphalangeal joint
Authors: DYSON S. , MURRAY R.
Published: June 2007

Reasons for performing study: To improve understanding of the interrelationships between injuries of the podotrochlear apparatus and deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT).

Hypotheses: There is a difference in frequency of different types of lesions at different anatomical sites of the DDFT. Lesions of the collateral sesamoidean ligament (CSL), distal sesamoidean impar ligament (DSIL), distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint and navicular bursa are seen in association with lesions of the navicular bone.

Methods: The magnetic resonance (MR) images of 264 horses with unilateral or bilateral foot pain were analysed and graded. Descriptive statistics were performed to establish the frequency of occurrence of DDFT lesion types at different anatomical levels, and lesions of the CSL, DSIL, navicular bursa, DIP joint and collateral ligaments (CLs) of the DIP joint. A Chi‐square test was used to test for a difference in the proportion of navicular bone grades between limbs with and without DDFT lesions at each level, and to compare navicular bone grades for limbs with and without each of DSIL, CSL, navicular bursa or DIP joint lesions.

Results: Lesions of the DDFT occurred in 82.6% of limbs, occurring most commonly at the level of the CSL (59.4%) and the navicular bone (59.0%). Core lesions predominated at the level of the proximal phalanx (90.3%), whereas at the level of the CSL and navicular bone core lesions, sagittal splits and dorsal abrasions were most common. There was a positive association between DDFT lesions and navicular bone pathology involving all aspects of the bone. Lesions of the DSIL (38.2% limbs) were more common than those of the CSL (10.5%), but the presence of either was associated with abnormalities of the navicular bone, especially involving the proximal or distal borders and the medulla.

Conclusions and clinical relevance: There are close interactions between injuries of the components of the podotrochlear apparatus, the DDFT, the navicular bursa and the DIP joint. Further knowledge about the biomechanical risk factors for injury may have importance for both disease prevention and management.
Hybrid modeling and dynamics of a controlled reverse flow reactor
Authors: Mancusi Erasmo , Russo Lucia , Brasiello Antonio , Crescitelli Silvestro , di Bernardo Mario
Published: June 2007

A hybrid system approach is adopted to study the dynamic behavior of a controlled reverse flow reactor, where the occurrence of flow inversions is caused by a feedback control strategy. With this approach it is analyzed, theoretically and numerically a typical behavior of hybrid systems: Zeno phenomena. Hybrid system theory is also adopted to define a suitable Poincarè map that is a composition of two switching maps. Based on the Poincaré map an efficient methodology is developed for the continuation of limit cycles, and detection of local bifurcations as the set‐point value, and inlet temperature are varied. This analysis shows that Zeno states can be coexisting with symmetric and asymmetric periodic regimes in a wide range of the parameters. The analysis of the nonlinear behavior and Zeno phenomena gives an insight on the limits of some model assumptions, and how these assumptions should be removed to avoid the unphysical response of Zeno executions. Considering a time delay due to the valves in the reactor, the unphysical Zeno state is removed, while Zeno like oscillations are shown to be still persistent. © 2007 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2007
Hydrothermal synthesis of mesoporous materials from diatomaceous earth
Authors: Jing Zhenzi , Maeda Hirotaka , Ioku Koji , Ishida Emile H.
Published: June 2007

Hydrothermal synthesis of mesoporous materials from diatomaceous earth has been carried out under saturated steam pressure (0.2–1.56 MPa) at 393–473 K for up to 72 h by slaked lime introduction. During the hydrothermal synthesis process, calcium silicate hydrate (CSH) was among the first phase formed and invariably appeared before tobermorite. The CSH formation seemed to exert a positive effect on the strength development and pore size evolution initially; whilst the tobermorite formation appeared to further enhance the strength and narrow the pore size. With curing at 473 K for 18 h, both of the strength and pore size distribution tended to reach optimal at which the pore size distribution also ranges between mesoporous area (2–50 nm in diameter). The highest strength seemed to coincide with the finest pore size distribution of the synthesized porous material during hydrothermal processing in this study. © 2007 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2007
Electronic Aptamer‐Based Sensors
Authors: Willner Itamar , Zayats Maya
Published: June 2007

The selection of aptamers—nucleic acids that specifically bind low‐molecular‐weight substrates or proteins—by the SELEX (systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment) procedure has attracted recent efforts directed to the development of new specific recognition units. In particular, extensive activities have been directed to the application of aptamers as versatile materials for the design of biosensors. The Minireview summarizes the recent accomplishments in developing electronic aptamer‐based sensors (aptasensors), which include electrochemical, field‐effect transistor, and microgravimetric quartz crystal microbalance sensors, and describes methods to develop amplified aptasensor devices and label‐free aptasensors.
Thermal degradations of chlorinated natural rubber from latex and chlorinated natural rubber from solution
Authors: Cai Ying , Li Si‐Dong , Li Cheng‐Peng , Li Pu‐Wang , Wang Chen , Lv Ming‐Zhe , Xu Kui
Published: June 2007

The thermal degradations of chlorinated natural rubbers from latex (CNR‐L) and from solution (CNR‐S) under nitrogen atmosphere were studied with thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The thermal degradations of CNR‐L and CNR‐S are one‐step reaction. The shapes of the thermogravimetric and derivative thermogravimetric curves are similar. The degradation temperatures of CNR‐L and CNR‐S increase linearly with the increment of heating rates. The heating rate hardly affects the thermal degradation rates of CNR‐L and CNR‐S at the various degradation stages. The thermal degradations of CNR‐S and CNR‐L are dehydrochlonation reactions. The reaction activation energy (E) of CNR, at the first stage, is around 100 kJ/mol. After that, E remains relatively steady (80–140 kJ/mol). At the last stage, E rises rapidly (130–270 kJ/mol). The variation tendency of frequency factor (A) is similar to that of E. As the initial degradation temperature T0 of CNR‐L is 10.9°C lower than that of CNR‐S, the thermal stability of CNR‐S is better than that of CNR‐L, which may be caused by the difference of molecular structure between CNR‐L and CNR‐S, as FTIR results indicate that there are more OH, CO and COO groups in the CNR‐L molecular chains. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007
Thermal and mechanical properties of poly(methyl methacrylate) and ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer blends
Authors: Poomalai P. , Ramaraj B. , Siddaramaiah
Published: June 2007

A series of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) blends have been prepared with different compositions viz., 5, 10, 15, and 20 wt % ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer by melt blending method in Haake Rheocord. The effect of different compositions of EVA on the physico‐mechanical and thermal properties of PMMA and EVA copolymer blends have been studied. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) has been employed to investigate the phase behavior of PMMA/EVA blends from the point of view of component specific interactions, molecular motions and morphology. The resulting morphologies of the various blends also studied by optical microscope. The DSC analysis indicates the phase separation between the PMMA matrix and EVA domains. The impact strength analysis revealed a substantial increase in impact strength from 19 to 32 J/m. The TGA analysis reveals the reduction in onset of thermal degradation temperature of PMMA with increase in EVA component of the blend. The optical microscope photographs have demonstrated the PMMA/EVA system had a microphase separated structure consisting of dispersed EVA domains within a continuous PMMA matrix. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007
Infliximab and methotrexate as induction therapy in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: van der Bijl A. E. , Goekoop‐Ruiterman Y. P. M. , de Vries‐Bouwstra J. K. , ten Wolde S. , Han K. H. , van Krugten M. V. , Allaart C. F. , Breedveld F. C. , Dijkmans B. A. C.
Published: June 2007

Objective

To evaluate the efficacy of infliximab plus methotrexate (MTX) as induction therapy in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods

Disease‐modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD)–naive patients with active, early RA who were included as group 4 of the BeSt study were initially treated with infliximab (3 mg/kg) in combination with MTX (25 mg/week). The Disease Activity Score (DAS) was measured every 3 months. In patients with persistent low disease activity (DAS ≤2.4) for at least 6 months, the infliximab dosage was tapered and finally discontinued; the MTX dosage then was tapered to 10 mg/week. In patients with a DAS of >2.4, the infliximab dosage was increased (maximum 10 mg/kg), and they were subsequently switched to another DMARD. Except for intraarticular administration, corticosteroids were not permitted. Functional ability and the modified Sharp/van der Heijde score were determined after 2 years of therapy.

Results

Of the 120 patients, 67 responders (56%) had persistent low disease activity and discontinued infliximab after a median of 9.9 months, with a median MTX dosage of 10 mg/week after 2 years. Ten other patients experienced a disease flare after discontinuation and resumed infliximab after a median of 3.7 months. Thirteen patients did not achieve persistent low disease activity and received infliximab at various dosages. Treatment was unsuccessful in 30 patients. In the 67 responders, the progression of joint damage was lower than in the 30 patients in whom treatment failed.

Conclusion

Fifty‐six percent of patients with active early RA, initially treated with infliximab plus MTX, could discontinue infliximab after achieving a DAS of ≤2.4. Low disease activity was maintained in these patients while the MTX dosage was tapered to 10 mg/week.
Relationship between change in skin score and disease outcome in diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis: Application of a latent linear trajectory model
Authors: Shand Lynne , Lunt Mark , Nihtyanova Svetlana , Hoseini Mansour , Silman Alan , Black Carol M. , Denton Christopher P.
Published: June 2007

Objective

To explore the relationship between changes in the severity of skin disease and morbidity and mortality in patients with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dcSSc).

Methods

From a large single‐center cohort, we identified 225 patients with dcSSc for whom serial clinical information was available from within 24 months of the onset of the first non–Raynaud's phenomenon manifestation of SSc. The end points analyzed included death and heart, lung, kidney, and gastrointestinal tract involvement. Latent linear trajectory modeling (LTM) was applied to identify patients with a similar trajectory of modified Rodnan skin thickness score (MRSS) changes over the first 3 years of followup. Clinical outcomes were compared between 3 different LTM subgroups.

Results

LTM permitted classification of 131 patients (58%) into 1 of 3 subgroups with different skin score trajectories. Survival was lowest in the subgroup of patients who had a high baseline skin score and experienced little improvement during followup (P = 0.003). However, the frequency of clinical end points was similar in the subgroup with the most favorable trajectory (i.e., a low initial MRSS and subsequent improvement) and the subgroup with a high baseline MRSS and no improvement. Interestingly, the end point frequency was greatest in the subgroup with a high initial MRSS and subsequent improvement, suggesting that sustained severe skin disease does not necessarily predict the number of visceral complications, and that the relationship between the skin score and internal organ involvement in dcSSc is more complex than previously thought.

Conclusion

Although mortality was highest among patients with the worst skin‐related outcomes, no simple relationship between burden of disease and change in skin score was observed.
Angiopoietin 1 directly induces destruction of the rheumatoid joint by cooperative, but independent, signaling via ERK/MAPK and phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase/Akt
Authors: Hashiramoto Akira , Sakai China , Yoshida Kohsuke , Tsumiyama Ken , Miura Yasushi , Shiozawa Kazuko , Nose Masato , Komai Koichiro , Shiozawa Shunichi
Published: June 2007

Objective

To determine whether angiopoietin 1 (Ang‐1) potentiates overgrowth of the synovium and joint degradation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to clarify the cell‐signaling mechanisms of Ang‐1 in the rheumatoid joint.

Methods

Expression of Ang‐1, TIE‐2 (a receptor for Ang‐1), and matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP‐3) was studied by immunohistochemistry. Activation of the ERK/MAPK and phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3‐kinase/Akt pathways and of NF‐κB was determined by Western blotting and an NF‐κB p65 DNA binding activity assay, respectively. Induction of apoptosis was evaluated by nuclear staining, cell viability assay, and Western blotting of caspases. Synovial cell migration was evaluated by actin polymerization, Western blotting of Rho family proteins, and affinity purification with Rhotekin‐Rho and p21‐activated kinase 1. Matrix degradation was examined by induction of proMMP‐3 secretion from synovial cells followed by in vitro cartilaginous matrix degradation assay.

Results

Ang‐1 stimulated the ERK/MAPK and PI 3‐kinase/Akt pathways in a cooperative but independent manner, which enhanced rheumatoid synovium overgrowth and joint destruction. In addition, Ang‐1 activated NF‐κB via Akt to promote cell growth, but also inhibited cell apoptosis via ERK and Akt. Ang‐1 directly potentiated the extension of synovial cells in an ERK‐ and Akt‐dependent manner by up‐regulating Rho family proteins, which attenuated Rac signaling and led to membrane ruffling. Ang‐1 induced proMMP‐3 secretion from synovial cells, which resulted in direct degradation of the cartilaginous matrix.

Conclusion

Ang‐1 stimulates the ERK/MAPK and PI 3‐kinase/Akt pathways cooperatively, but in a manner independent of each other, to directly potentiate synovium overgrowth and joint destruction in RA. In addition to inflammatory cytokines, Ang‐1/TIE‐2 signaling appears to be an independent factor that contributes to the destruction of the rheumatoid joint.
Glucosamine for pain in osteoarthritis: Why do trial results differ?
Authors: Vlad Steven C. , LaValley Michael P. , McAlindon Timothy E. , Felson David T.
Published: June 2007

Objective

Investigators in trials of glucosamine report a range of estimates for efficacy, making conclusions difficult. We undertook this study to identify factors that explain heterogeneity in trials of glucosamine.

Methods

We searched for reports of trial results in Ovid Medline, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and proceedings of scientific conferences. We selected reports of randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trials of glucosamine for pain from osteoarthritis of the knee or hip. We extracted data regarding features of design, subjects, and markers of industry involvement, including industry funding, whether a drug was supplied by industry, industry participation, and industry‐affiliated authorship. We examined which factors best accounted for differences in the effect sizes of studies grouped by these characteristics, and we examined changes in I2, a measure of heterogeneity.

Results

Fifteen trials met our inclusion criteria. The summary effect size was 0.35 (95% confidence interval 0.14, 0.56). I2 was 0.80. Except for allocation concealment, no feature of study design explained this substantial heterogeneity. Summary effect sizes ranged from 0.05 to 0.16 in trials without industry involvement, but the range was 0.47–0.55 in trials with industry involvement. The effect size was 0.06 for trials using glucosamine hydrochloride and 0.44 for trials using glucosamine sulfate. Trials using Rottapharm products had an effect size of 0.55, compared with 0.11 for the rest.

Conclusion

Heterogeneity among trials of glucosamine is larger than would be expected by chance. Glucosamine hydrochloride is not effective. Among trials with industry involvement, effect sizes were consistently higher. Potential explanations include different glucosamine preparations, inadequate allocation concealment, and industry bias.
Proteomic study of salivary peptides and proteins in patients with Sjögren's syndrome before and after pilocarpine treatment
Authors: Peluso G. , De Santis M. , Inzitari R. , Fanali C. , Cabras T. , Messana I. , Castagnola M. , Ferraccioli G. F.
Published: June 2007

Objective

To investigate the effect of pilocarpine on the salivary peptide and protein profile in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS) and to study the differences between patients with primary SS, patients with SS associated with other rheumatic diseases, and healthy control subjects.

Methods

Saliva specimens were obtained from 9 primary SS patients, 9 secondary SS patients, and 10 healthy controls. Samples were analyzed for levels of 62 different salivary proteins using high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry using a spectrometer equipped with an electrospray ionization source. In 6 of the primary SS patients, saliva was collected at 30 minutes, 60 minutes, and 24 hours after taking 5 mg of pilocarpine.

Results

Before pilocarpine, ∼60% of salivary proteins in samples from primary SS patients were not identifiable or showed lower levels than those in healthy controls. After 30–60 minutes following pilocarpine treatment, approximately one‐third of the less represented proteins was found in a similar percentage of primary SS patients and controls. Almost all of the proteins that were detectable at lower levels in primary SS patients compared with controls reached levels similar to those in controls at 30–60 minutes after pilocarpine. The parotid gland proteins had the best response to pilocarpine. Primary SS patients were characterized by higher α‐defensin 1 levels and by the presence of β‐defensin 2. Secondary SS patients showed an intermediate protein profile between that of the primary SS patients and the controls.

Conclusion

Pilocarpine partially restored the levels and numbers of identifiable proteins in saliva from patients with primary SS. Higher levels of α‐defensin 1 and the presence of β‐defensin 2 in the saliva of patients with primary SS could be markers of oral inflammation in this patient group.
Representation of concept relations using the TOSAR system of the IDC: Treatise III on information retrieval theory
Authors: Fugmann Robert , Nickelsen Herbert , Nickelsen Ingeborg , Winter Jakob H.
Published: June 2007

Successful information retrieval from a mechanized file is heavily dependent on the fidelity of the representation of concepts in the particular language of the system and on the predictability of this representation.

If an index language is employed, predictability is guaranteed and the quality of the retrieval is predominantly governed by the fidelity of the representation, i.e., by the extent to which conceptual distortion of the concepts to be represented can be avoided. The various index languages vary widely with respect to their fidelity. Differences in their performance are correspondingly great.

The lack of fidelity in most of the present day indexing languages is due mainly to insufficient representation of the relationships among concepts. We describe a new graphical method of storing and retrieving concept relations of various kinds. The points of such a graph are occupied by concepts, and the connecting lines between these points represent concept relations. In a special field of chemistry, these graphs also serve as a kind of presentation of the essentials of a document to the reader that is much more lucid than a natural language text.
Patent office classification: Its whats and whys
Authors: Glickert Peter
Published: June 2007

To meet statutory requirements for searches, which are unique in their intellectual complexity and in their recall, precision and speed demands, the U.S. Patent Office has developed and maintains a manually‐accessed classification system for its 20 million patent documents. This ever‐expanding system has operated successfully for more than 75 years, and also performs administrative and awareness functions.
Cold type composition: Its impact on library and information science
Authors: Law Gordon T.
Published: June 2007

Cold type composition is a method of producing typescript and/or graphic information by means of inputting coded text into core memory and retrieving via programs written to highlight or extract specific elements of text. Such technology represents a significant advancement in information transfer because of 1. the incredible speed with which “printed” matter may be produced, and 2. the variety of publications made possible by massaging data bases already converted to machine readable form. This paper examines the two fundamentally different technologies of “CRT” and “Photon” composition in order to analyze their impact on library and information science. The author concludes we are on the verge of an information revolution which will allow for integration of knowledge to an unprecedented degree…provided the information community becomes aware of these implications, and rigorously questions present means of bibliographic control.
A general statistical model for increasing efficiency and confidence in manual data collection systems through sampling
Authors: Lied Terry R. , Tolliver Don L.
Published: June 2007

Through utilization of effective sampling procedures, libraries may obtain substantial savings in terms of data collection costs. A theoretical statistical sampling model is presented, and two types of random sampling techniques are empirically compared as to their effectiveness, in estimating a library usage parameter. Implications are drawn for the possible use of these techniques in a library setting.
Optimal storage of books by size: An operations research approach
Authors: Gupta Surendra Mohan , Ravindran Arunachalam
Published: June 2007

This paper considers the optimal storage of books by size in libraries. A network model is developed to determine the optimum number of shelf heights to use which will minimize the shelving cost for a given collection of books. The model is analyzed and solved by a well known operations research technique of finding the shortest path in a directed network. Results of an experimental study to apply this model to a sample collection of books from the Purdue University Library are discussed.
Title versus title/abstract text searching in SDI systems
Authors: Maloney Ruth Kay
Published: June 2007

The terms from 228 individual SDI profiles of 104 research chemists were matched against the citations retrieved by these profiles in eight consecutive runs of Basic Journal Abstracts to determine the number of citations that would have been retrieved for each individual user if titles only had been searched. Computing the data as a ratio of title hits to total hits, the mean percentage of retrieval of citations if only titles are searched when compared with searching of titles and abstract text was 27.0%. This represents an average loss of 73% of the potential output to the individual SDI user. One can expect a higher level of retrieval by titles alone if only a single term is required for a match than in searches requiring more than one term to be present to constitute a match (39% compared with 16.8% in this study).
A theory of term importance in automatic text analysis
Authors: Salton G. , Yang C. S. , Yu C. T.
Published: June 2007

A good deal of work has been done over the years in an attempt to use statistical or probabilistic techniques as a basis for automatic indexing and content analysis. (1–10) Unfortunately, many of these methods are lacking in effectiveness, and the more refined procedures are computationally unattractive.

A new technique, known as discrimination value analysis, ranks the text words in accordance with how well they are able to discriminate the documents of a collection from each other; that is, the value of a term depends on how much the average separation between individual documents changes when the given term is assigned for content identification. The best words are those which achieve the greatest separation.

The discrimination value analysis is computationally simple, and it assigns a specific role in content analysis to single words, juxtaposed words and phrases, and word groups or thesaurus categories. Experimental results are given showing the effectiveness of the technique.
Symbiotic development of thesauri and information systems: A case history
Authors: Wall Eugene
Published: June 2007

With respect to information storage and retrieval, a thesaurus is a means to various ends. This paper describes these desired ends (and the utility of a thesaurus with respect thereto) and provides a case history of symbiotic development of an information system (for financial information) and its thesaurus. In this connection, the DISCLOSURE data base publication system and thesaurus are described, and the applications of the thesaurus both to the data base system and to retrieval applications are described. The history of thesaurus development, its present status, its planned future, and its costs vs. its benefits are summarized.
Performing evaluation studies in information science
Authors: Swanson Rowena Weiss , Mayer Joseph
Published: June 2007

This paper considers conceptual and methodological components of information science evaluation studies. The paper discusses the judgmental process of evaluation and the scientific nature of evaluation study in the context of purpose statements; criteria; the selection of variables and data collection and analysis techniques; and requirements of validity, reproducibility and reliability. Industrial value analysis/engineering methodology is described and related to assessments of information products and services. The state‐of‐the‐art of evaluation study in information science is analyzed with respect to 1. the scope of evaluation studies; 2. the use of laboratory‐type environments; 3. the use of surrogate judges; 4. selection of variables; 5. frequency of study; and 6. comparability of study results. Evaluation study is seen as essential to the management of information centers and systems and as having appreciable growth potential.
Speakers at the 1972 gordon research conference: Their backgrounds and literature records as selection aids for “out‐of‐specialty” scientists and others
Authors: Jackson Eugene B. , Jackson Ruth L.
Published: June 2007

The scientist and the information officer/librarian need assistance in filtering out the important authors on and sources for information in crucial current areas of scientific research. The persons selected to give papers at Gordon Research Conferences and the vehicles they choose to publish in regularly provide such filters in over 70 areas of current science. Further, the literature of the GRC conference subjects form consistent patterns within subject disciplines. Cross‐citation patterns may be used to determine whether conferences are “open” or “closed”. Important gaps still exist in biographical tools of scientists.
User training for on‐line information retrieval systems
Authors: Moghdam Dineh
Published: June 2007

The early 1970's have clearly shown a trend toward the use of on‐line systems as the ideal medium for information retrieval. The emphasis placed on direct access by the practitioners in the field, rather than delegated searches through information specialists, leads to the growing need for an efficient design in training transient user groups. Printed manuals, live help, audiovisual presentations and on‐line instruction have all been used with varying degrees of success. The author contends that the use of computer‐assisted in‐ struction in conjunction with the on‐line information retrieval system is the most promising form of instruc‐ tion in that the medium itself, as well as the message, may be used to acquaint the novice searcher with an interactive userhystem interface.
A probabilistic approach to automatic keyword indexing. Part I. On the Distribution of Specialty Words in a Technical Literature
Authors: Harter Stephen P.
Published: June 2007

The problem studied in this research is that of developing a set of formal statistical rules for the purpose of identifying the keywords of a document‐words likely to be useful as index terms for that document. The research was prompted by the observation, made by a number of writers, that non‐specialty words, words which possess little value for indexing purposes, tend to be distributed at random in a collection of documents. In contrast, specialty words are not so distributed.

In Part I of the study, a mixture of two Poisson distributions is examined in detail as a model of specialty word distribution, and formulas expressing the three parameters of the model in terms of empirical frequency statistics are derived. The fit of the model is tested on an experimental document collection and found to be acceptable for the purposes of the study. A measure intended to identify specialty words, consistent with the 2‐Poisson model, is proposed and evaluated.
Machine‐assisted indexing of scientific research summaries
Authors: Hunt Bernard L. , Snyderman Martin , Payne William
Published: June 2007

The Smithsonian Science Information Exchange operates a large interdisciplinary information storage and retrieval system covering current and recently concluded research. It annually collects and indexes more than 100,000 summaries of research projects, and then retrieves selected summaries in response to specific requests for information. With the objective of improving its manual subject indexing effort, the Exchange has developed a computer system which indexes word combinations in each summary according to a Classifying Dictionary, prior to review by its professional staff. The combination creates a man‐machine team which is believed to produce more consistent indexing, quicker and at less cost, while maintaining the scientific quality of current indexing practices. The system differs from some other machine approaches by condensing the multitude of text possibilities into restricted and ordered hierarchies. This article discusses the original aims of the system, its operation and the early experience with its implementation.
Canadian scientific journals: Part 1, coverage
Authors: Inhaber H.
Published: June 2007

Most studies of scientific journals have been discipline‐oriented, and thus transnational. Journals are here considered from the point of view of the Canadian national information system. While Canada has a proportion of journals to population higher than most countries, there are comparatively few journals in engineering and applied sciences. Canadian journals rank fairly low on an international scale based on citations, with journals of chemistry, physics and zoology leading the list.
Use of synthetic text in the evaluation of statistically based keyword‐selection strategies
Authors: Carroll John M.
Published: June 2007

Preparation of test corpora by computer simulation avoids the expense of converting real text to machine‐sensible format and forces the experimenter to explicate the basic assumptions underlying his keyword‐selection strategies. Its use permits unidimensional, quantitative, low‐variance measurement of the relative effectiveness of alternative selection criteria.
Derivation of a sample of journal issues for tests of availability and use
Authors: Piternick Anne B.
Published: June 2007

A method of preparing a sample of journal issues for testing purposes is described. A computer file was created by listing every issue of a set of journals, and random samples of the issues were selected by computer and printed out. It is suggested that the method could be applied to a variety of tests of journal availability, delivery and use.
A probabilistic approach to automatic keyword indexing. Part II. An algorithm for probabilistic indexing
Authors: Harter Stephen P.
Published: June 2007

In Part I of this study,* a mixture of two Poisson distributions was examined as a model of specialty word distribution. Formulas expressing the three parameters of the model in terms of empirical frequency statistics were derived, and a statistical measure intended to identify specialty words, consistent with the model, was proposed.

In the present paper, Part II of the study, a probabilistic model of keyword indexing is outlined, and some of the consequences of the model are examined. An algorithm defining a measure of indexability is developed‐a measure intended to reflect the relative significance of words in documents. The measure is evaluated and is found to consistently produce indexes superior to those produced by another measure which had previously been identified in the literature as producing the best results.
Applying the management‐by‐objectives technique in an industrial library
Authors: Stanton Robert O.
Published: June 2007

An experimental “management‐by‐objectives” performance system was operated by the Libraries and Information Systems Center of Bell Laboratories during 1973. It was found that, though the system was very effective for work planning and the development of people, difficulties were encountered in applying it to certain classes of employees, particularly those doing public service or routine work.
Opinion Paper. Pragmatic observations on theoretical research in information science
Authors: Slamecka Vladimir
Published: June 2007

The likelihood that the development of theoretical foundations for information science is a distant goal suggests that the near‐term objectives of the information research community should be formulated more realistically. Since the task of science is increasingly being determined by urgent, and changing, social concerns, these objectives should be formulated within a socially utilitarian framework and within a problem domain different from that which has sustained information research in the past 15 years. The imminent societal imperative, management of knowledge as a social resource, appears to be a viable new framework for defining major roles and tasks for theory‐oriented work in information science.
Selecting computer resources for inclusion within a pricing system
Authors: Zmud Robert W.
Published: June 2007

A great deal of interest has been shown in the use of prices as a means of allocating computer resources. However, little effort has been exerted toward determining which resources should be priced. As a step in this direction, a study was undertaken to uncover which resources can be validated for inclusion within a pricing structure. The resources thus found most suitable for pricing are core space and CPU time. A basis for including additional resources within the pricing structure is also provided.
Notes on the gupta‐ravindran optimal storage model
Authors: Buckland Michael K.
Published: June 2007

A recent paper by Gupta and Ravindran (1) describes a network model developed to determine the optimal number of shelf‐heights to use to minimize the shelving cost for a given collection of books if shelved by size. The following notes amplify some aspects of this work.
A comparison of the readability of abstracts with their source documents
Authors: King Rosemary
Published: June 2007

Readability levels of 30 items from Child Development Abstracts and 30 passages from their corresponding journal articles were compared by a CAL SNOBOL computer program referenced to a cloze criterion. The difference between mean predicted cloze restoration percentage scores of 26.77 for abstracts and 30.37 for articles proved to be significant beyond the .05 level. Results supported the hypothesis that abstracts were more difficult to read than their source documents, but indicated that perhaps both types of materials were too hard for undergraduates.
A multifaceted medical data information system and one product: The index‐handbook of ototoxic agents
Authors: Lunin Lois F. , Heath Miriam T.
Published: June 2007

This paper describes the creation and development of a biomedical information system that includes a machine‐readable data base containing clinical and research data and a publication entitled the Index‐Handbook of Ototoxic Agents. This system provides for compilation of tables of data and it could be used in an interactive mode. Basic to the system is the construction of a profile to facilitate extraction of data from the literature and the development of a format in which to present this data in a brief, informative surrogate. The history and plan of the project and the methods used for search of the literature and file construction are described. The paper also discusses the presentation of data in journal articles and suggests that editors of journals concerned with drug information should be encouraged to require that all articles contain a standard amount of data presented in an unambiguous form.
Toward increased quality consciousness for alcoholism literature
Authors: Chafetz Morris E.
Published: June 2007

The National Clearinghouse for Alcohol Information (NCALI) is an information resource developed by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. It provides numerous information services to professionals in a wide spectrum of alcohol‐related disciplines and to the general public. These services are designed to aid in the identification and dissemination of literature in the alcoholism field.

One such service is provision of a quality evaluation rating for the documents announced by the Clearinghouse. The Quality Evaluation of Literature System (QELS) is designed to select and discriminate among literature in the field on the basis of quality criteria developed by alcoholism field professionals and to announce the resulting comparative ratings to literature users. In this way, QELS aids literature users in determining those documents of highest potential value to them.

QELS is by no means a censorship system. The Clearinghouse makes available a wide spectrum of alcoholrelated information, including items which do not qualify for the QELS program as well as both high and low rated information items. The mechanics of the system include initial document ratings by highly regarded professionals who are peers of the authors, the conversion of these “raw” ratings into standardized scores for comparability, the announcement of these scores through the many information services of the Clearinghouse, and the encouragement of user feedback ratings which are factored into the document scores on a regular review and update cycle.

Evaluation of the techniques employed in the QELS program and of its overall effectiveness is being carried out on a continuing basis. The program holds promise for providing a valuable service to users in any disciplineor issue‐oriented information field.
Use of library materials in terms of age
Authors: Bulick Stephen , Montgomery K. Leon , Fetterman John , Kent Allen
Published: June 2007

The use of books and monographs is studied in terms of “aging.” Data on the use, over a period of five years, of materials acquired in 1969 is presented. The data is presented in such a way as to indicate the points at which negligible use can be predicted, with regard to one‐time use, two‐time use, three‐time use, etc.

This methodology will be used for successive years of acquisitions and the data will be compared. The attempt will be made to develop a predictive model on aging which may be useful both in purchasing and in collection weeding decisions.
A cataloger's authority list maintenance system
Authors: Ross Ian C.
Published: June 2007

A computer system to maintain authority lists is described. The system updates authority lists from computer terminal input of the barest essential material. All reciprocal entries and alphabetization are performed by the system. Subdivisions and examples are identified by punctuational conventions and appropriate entries inserted into the list. Replacement pages or replacement lists may be obtained. This facility permits catalogers to have up‐to‐date authority lists at their disposal. The main system and some ancillary parts, also described, perform various error checking functions. The system also generates subject headings for a printed book catalog.