bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Field crickets change mating preferences using remembered social information
Authors: Bailey Nathan W. , Zuk Marlene
Published: May 2009

Plasticity in female mate choice can fundamentally alter selection on male ornaments, but surprisingly few studies have examined the role of social learning in shaping female mating decisions in invertebrates. We used the field cricket
Teleogryllus oceanicus
to show that females retain information about the attractiveness of available males based on previous social experience, compare that information with incoming signals and then dramatically reverse their preferences to produce final, predictable, mating decisions. Male ornament evolution in the wild may depend much more on the social environment and behavioural flexibility through learning than was previously thought for non-social invertebrates. The predictive power of these results points to a pressing need for theoretical models of sexual selection that incorporate effects of social experience.
Methane emission by plant communities in an alpine meadow on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau: a new experimental study of alpine meadows and oat pasture
Authors: Wang Shiping , Yang Xiaoxia , Lin Xingwu , Hu Yigang , Luo Caiyun , Xu Guangping , Zhang Zhenhua , Su Ailing , Chang Xiaofen , Chao Zengguo , Duan Jichuang
Published: May 2009

Recently, plant-derived methane (CH
4
) emission has been questioned because limited evidence of the chemical mechanism has been identified to account for the process. We conducted an experiment with four treatments (i.e. winter-grazed, natural alpine meadow; naturally restored alpine meadow eight years after cultivation; oat pasture and bare soil without roots) during the growing seasons of 2007 and 2008 to examine the question of CH
4
emission by plant communities in the alpine meadow. Each treatment consumed CH
4
in closed, opaque chambers in the field, but two types of alpine meadow vegetation reduced CH
4
consumption compared with bare soil, whereas oat pasture increased consumption. This result could imply that meadow vegetation produces CH
4
. However, measurements of soil temperature and water content showed significant differences between vegetated and bare soil and appeared to explain differences in CH
4
production between treatments. Our study strongly suggests that the apparent CH
4
production by vegetation, when compared with bare soil in some previous studies, might represent differences in soil temperature and water-filled pore space and not the true vegetation sources of CH
4
.
Hypoxic coma as a strategy to survive inundation in a salt-marsh inhabiting spider
Authors: Pétillon Julien , Montaigne William , Renault David
Published: May 2009

Spiders constitute a major arthropod group in regularly inundated habitats. Some species survive a flooding period under water. We compared survival during both submersion and a recovery period after submersion, in three stenotopic lycosids: two salt-marsh speciesArctosa fulvolineataandPardosa purbeckensis, and a forest spiderPardosa lugubris. Both activity and survival rates were determined under controlled laboratory conditions by individually surveying 120 females kept submerged in sea water. We found significant differences between the three species, with the two salt-marsh spiders exhibiting higher survival abilities. To our knowledge, this study reports for the first time the existence of a hypoxic coma caused by submersion, which is most pronounced inA. fulvolineata, the salt-marsh spider known to overcome tidal inundation under water. Its ability to fall into that coma can therefore be considered a physiological adaptation to its regularly inundated habitat.
Postcranial skeletal pneumaticity and air-sacs in the earliest pterosaurs
Authors: Butler Richard J. , Barrett Paul M. , Gower David J.
Published: May 2009

Patterns of postcranial skeletal pneumatization (PSP) indicate that pterosaurs possessed components of a bird-like respiratory system, including a series of ventilatory air-sacs. However, the presence of PSP in the oldest known pterosaurs has not been unambiguously demonstrated by previous studies. Here we provide the first unequivocal documentation of PSP in Late Triassic and earliest Jurassic pterosaurs. This demonstrates that PSP and, by inference, air-sacs were probably present in the common ancestor of almost all known pterosaurs, and has broader implications for the evolution of respiratory systems in bird-line archosaurs, including dinosaurs.
Pre-natal stress amplifies the immediate behavioural responses to acute pain in piglets
Authors: Rutherford Kenneth M. D. , Robson Sheena K. , Donald Ramona D. , Jarvis Susan , Sandercock Dale A. , Scott E. Marian , Nolan Andrea M. , Lawrence Alistair B.
Published: May 2009

Pre-natal stress (PNS) or undernutrition can have numerous effects on an individual's biology throughout their lifetime. Some of these effects may be adaptive by allowing individuals to tailor their phenotype to environmental conditions. Here we investigated, in the domestic pig
Sus scrofa
, whether one possible consequence of a predicted adverse environment could be altered pain perception. The behavioural response of piglets to the surgical amputation (‘docking’) of their tail or a sham procedure was measured for 1 min in piglets born to mothers who either experienced mid-gestation social stress or were left undisturbed throughout pregnancy. A behavioural pain score was found to predict the docked status of piglets with high discriminant accuracy. Piglets exposed to PNS had a significantly higher pain score than controls, and for each litter of tail-docked piglets, the average pain score was correlated with mid-gestation maternal cortisol levels. The data presented here provide evidence that the experience of stress
in utero
can result in a heightened acute response to injury in early life. Speculatively, this may represent an adaptive alteration occurring as a consequence of a pre-natal ‘early warning’ of environmental adversity.
Morphology, performance, fitness: functional insight into a post-Pleistocene radiation of mosquitofish
Authors: Langerhans R. Brian
Published: May 2009

Bahamas mosquitofish (
Gambusia hubbsi
) colonized blue holes during the past approximately 15 000 years and exhibit relatively larger caudal regions in blue holes that contain piscivorous fish. It is hypothesized that larger caudal regions enhance fast-start escape performance and thus reflect an adaptation for avoiding predation. Here I test this hypothesis using a three-pronged, experimental approach. First,
G
.
hubbsi
from blue holes with predators were found to possess both greater fast-start performance and greater survivorship in the presence of predatory fish. Second, using individual-level data to investigate the morphology–performance–fitness pathway, I found that (i) fish with larger caudal regions produced higher fast-start performance and (ii) fish with higher fast-start performance enjoyed greater survivorship in the presence of fish predators—trends consistently observed across both predator regimes. Finally, I found that morphological divergence between predator regimes at least partially reflects genetic differentiation, as differences were retained in fish raised in a common laboratory environment. These results suggest that natural selection favours increased fast-start performance in the presence of piscivorous fish, consequently driving the evolution of larger caudal regions. Combined with previous work, this provides functional insight into body shape divergence and ecological speciation among Bahamian blue holes.
Hitchhiking behaviour in the obligatory upstream migration of amphidromous snails
Authors: Kano Yasunori
Published: May 2009

Migratory animals endure high stress during long-distance travel in order to benefit from spatio-temporally fluctuating resources, including food and shelter or from colonization of unoccupied habitats. Along with some fishes and shrimps, nerite snails in tropical to temperate freshwater systems are examples of amphidromous animals that migrate upstream for growth and reproduction after a marine larval phase. Here I report, to my knowledge, the first example of ‘hitchhiking’ behaviour in the obligatory migration of animals: the nerite snail
Neritina asperulata
appears to travel several kilometres as minute juveniles by firmly attaching to the shells of congeneric, subadult snails in streams of Melanesian Islands, presumably to increase the success rate of migration.
Global changes and animal phenotypic responses: melanin-based plumage redness of scops owls increased with temperature and rainfall during the last century
Authors: Galeotti Paolo , Rubolini Diego , Sacchi Roberto , Fasola Mauro
Published: May 2009

The ecological effects of global climate changes include shifts of species' distribution and changes in migration strategies and phenotype. Colour polymorphism, which can be envisaged as a species' evolutionary response to alternating conditions or to a wide range of habitats, may be affected by climate changes as well. The scops owl (Otus scops) shows two main colour morphs, dark- and pale-reddish, as well as intermediate morphs. We investigated temporal trends in an index of plumage colour of Italian scops owls from museum collections (1870–2007). We found a significant increase in plumage redness over the last century, which was correlated with an increase in temperature and rainfall of the years before specimen collection. However, the temporal increase in plumage redness persisted after controlling for climatic variables, suggesting that other environmental factors could be involved. Our study indicates that ongoing climate changes might have either shifted the selective balance between colour morphs, or differentially affected migration and movement patterns of colour morphs.
Cytokinin-Dependent Photorespiration and the Protection of Photosynthesis during Water Deficit
Authors: Rivero Rosa M. , Shulaev Vladimir , Blumwald Eduardo
Published: May 2009

We investigated the effects of PSARK∷IPT (for Senescence-Associated Receptor Kinase∷Isopentenyltransferase) expression and cytokinin production on several aspects of photosynthesis in transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum cv SR1) plants grown under optimal or restricted (30% of optimal) watering regimes. There were no significant differences in stomatal conductance between leaves from wild-type and transgenic PSARK-IPT plants grown under optimal or restricted watering. On the other hand, there was a significant reduction in the maximum rate of electron transport as well as the use of triose-phosphates only in wild-type plants during growth under restricted watering, indicating a biochemical control of photosynthesis during growth under water deficit. During water deficit conditions, the transgenic plants displayed an increase in catalase inside peroxisomes, maintained a physical association among chloroplasts, peroxisomes, and mitochondria, and increased the CO2 compensation point, indicating the cytokinin-mediated occurrence of photorespiration in the transgenic plants. The contribution of photorespiration to the tolerance of transgenic plants to water deficit was also supported by the increase in transcripts coding for enzymes involved in the conversion of glycolate to ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate. Moreover, the increase in transcripts indicated a cytokinin-induced elevation in photorespiration, suggesting the contribution of photorespiration in the protection of photosynthetic processes and its beneficial role during water stress.
The Ethylene Receptor ETR2 Delays Floral Transition and Affects Starch Accumulation in Rice
Authors: Wuriyanghan Hada , Zhang Bo , Cao Wan-Hong , Ma Biao , Lei Gang , Liu Yun-Feng , Wei Wei , Wu Hua-Jun , Chen Li-Juan , Chen Hao-Wei , Cao Yang-Rong , He Si-Jie , Zhang Wan-Ke , Wang Xiu-Jie , Chen Shou-Yi , Zhang Jin-Song
Published: May 2009

Ethylene regulates multiple aspects of plant growth and development in dicotyledonous plants; however, its roles in monocotyledonous plants are poorly known. Here, we characterized a subfamily II ethylene receptor, ETHYLENE RESPONSE2 (ETR2), in rice (Oryza sativa). The ETR2 receptor with a diverged His kinase domain is a Ser/Thr kinase, but not a His kinase, and can phosphorylate its receiver domain. Mutation of the N box of the kinase domain abolished the kinase activity of ETR2. Overexpression of ETR2 in transgenic rice plants reduced ethylene sensitivity and delayed floral transition. Conversely, RNA interference (RNAi) plants exhibited early flowering and the ETR2 T-DNA insertion mutant etr2 showed enhanced ethylene sensitivity and early flowering. The effective panicles and seed-setting rate were reduced in the ETR2-overexpressing plants, while thousand-seed weight was substantially enhanced in both the ETR2-RNAi plants and the etr2 mutant compared with controls. Starch granules accumulated in the internodes of the ETR2-overexpressing plants, but not in the etr2 mutant. The GIGANTEA and TERMINAL FLOWER1/CENTRORADIALIS homolog (RCN1) that cause delayed flowering were upregulated in ETR2-overexpressing plants but downregulated in the etr2 mutant. Conversely, the α-amylase gene RAmy3D was suppressed in ETR2-overexpressing plants but enhanced in the etr2 mutant. Thus, ETR2 may delay flowering and cause starch accumulation in stems by regulating downstream genes.
Lithium diaquanickel(II)catena-borodiphosphate(V) monohydrate
Authors: Zheng Juan , Zhang Aiyun
Published: May 2009

The title borophosphate LiNi(H2O)2[BP2O8]·H2O was synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. The crystal structure is isotypic with the Mg analogue and features helical [BP2O8]3−borophosphate ribbons, constructed by BO4(2 symmetry) and PO4tetrahedra. The borate groups share all their oxygen apices with adjacent phosphate tetrahedra. The ribbons are connectedviaNi2+cations that are located on twofold rotation axes. The cations have a slightly distorted octahedral oxygen coordination by four O atoms from the anion and by two water molecules. The voids within the helices are occupied by Li+cations, likewise located on twofold rotation axes, in an irregular environment of five O atoms. The structure is stabilized by O—H...O hydrogen bonds between coordinated or uncoordinated water molecules and O atoms that are part of the helices.
4,5,6-Tri-O-acetyl-2,3-di-S-ethyl-2,3-dithio-D-allose diethyl dithioacetal
Authors: Xi Xiao-Dong , Shi Da-Xin , Li Hui , Li Yun-Zheng , Wu Qin-Pei
Published: May 2009

The title compound, C20H36O6S4, was obtained by ethanethiolysis of 3,5,6-tri-O-acetyl-1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-D-glucofuranose. One of the ethyl groups is disordered over two sites with refined occupancies of 0.869 (6) and 0.131 (6). Compared with the precursor, the absolute configuration of the stereocenters at positions C-3 and C-2 are inverted and maintained, respectively.
Theansa-bridged cyclopentadienyl titanium complex [{η5-C5Me4CH2-C(NMe2)=N}TiCl2]
Authors: Guo Donglong , Tong Hong-Bo , Zhou Meisu
Published: May 2009

The title complex, dichlorido[N,N-dimethyl-2-(η5-tetramethylcyclopentadienyl)acetamidinido-κN′]titanium(IV), [Ti(C13H20N2)Cl2], exhibits an unusualansa-bridged conformation. The cyclopentadienyl ring and the mean plane of the Ti—N=C—C—C fragment form a dihedral angle of 88.08 (11)°.
N′-[(E)-4-Chlorobenzylidene]-2-(4-isobutylphenyl)propanohydrazide
Authors: Fun Hoong-Kun , Yeap Chin Sing , Sujith K. V. , Kalluraya B.
Published: May 2009

The asymmetric unit of title compound, C20H23ClN2O, consists of two crystallographically independent molecules (AandB) in which the orientations of the 4-isobutylphenyl units are different. The isobutyl group of moleculeBis disordered over two positions with occupancies of 0.850 (5) and 0.150 (5). The dihedral angle between the two benzene rings is 88.70 (9)° in moleculeAand 89.38 (9)° in moleculeB. The independent molecules are linked together into chains along [100] by N—H...O and C—H...O hydrogen bonds, and by C—H...π interactions. In the chain, N—H...O and C—H...O hydrogen bonds generateR21(6) ring motifs. In addition, C—H...N hydrogen bonds are observed. The presence of pseudosymmetry in the structure suggests the higher symmetry space groupPbcabut attempts to refine the structure in this space group resulted in highR(0.119) andwR(0.296) values.
Ethyl 4-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-6-methyl-2-oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrimidine-5-carboxylate
Authors: Fun Hoong-Kun , Yeap Chin Sing , Babu M. , Kalluraya B.
Published: May 2009

In the title compound, C14H14F2N2O3, the dihydropyrimidinone ring adopts a flattened boat conformation. The difluorophenyl group is disordered over two orientations with occupancies of 0.544 (3) and 0.456 (3). The methoxycarbonyl group is disordered over two positions with occupancies of 0.580 (8) and 0.420 (8). In the crystal, molecules are linked into centrosymmetric dimers by paired N—H...O hydrogen bonds and the dimers are linked into a ribbon-like structure along [100] by further N—H...O hydrogen bonds.
2,2′-(p-Phenylenedithio)diacetic acid
Authors: Yin Jian-Ling , Feng Yun-Long
Published: May 2009

The complete molecule of the title compound, C10H10O4S2, is generated by a crystallographic inversion centre. In the crystal, molecules are linked into a one-dimensional chain by intermolecular O—H...O hydrogen bonds.
1,2-Diiodo-4,5-dimethylbenzene
Authors: Hathaway Bruce A. , Kilgore Uriah J. , Bond Marcus R.
Published: May 2009

The structure of the title compound, C8H8I2, conforms closely to themm2 symmetry expected for the free molecule and is the first reported structure of a diiododimethylbenzene. Repulsion by neighboring I atoms and the neighboring methyl groups opposite to them results in a slight elongation of the molecule along the approximate twofold rotation axis that bisects the ring between the two I atoms. In the extended structure, the molecules form inversion-related pairs which are organized in approximately hexagonal close-packed layers and the layers then stacked so that molecules in neighboring layers abut head-to-tail in a manner that optimizes dipole–dipole interactions.
Diethyl (1-hydroxy-1,2-diphenylethyl)phosphonate
Authors: Acar Nurcan , Tahir M. Nawaz , Tariq Riaz H. , Yilmaz Hamza
Published: May 2009

In the title compound, C18H23O4P, the dihedral angle between the aromatic ring planes is 69.94 (14)°. Both ethyl side chains are disordered over two sets of sites, with occupancy ratios of 80:20 and 70:30. In the crystal, inversion dimers linked by pairs of O—H...O hydrogen bonds occur, leading toR21(8) loops, and C—H...O and weak C—H...π interactions are also seen.
1-[9-Ethyl-6-(2-methylbenzoyl)-9H-carbazol-3-yl]ethanone
Authors: Hang Ye-Chao , Ji Jin-Xiu , Chen Min-Dong
Published: May 2009

In the title compound, C24H21NO2, the pendant benzene ring is inclined at a dihedral angle of 86.66 (18)° with respect to the adjacent aromatic ring of the carbozole unit. In the crystal structure, symmetry-related molecules are linkedviaC—H...O and C—H...π interactions.
Redetermination of chlorido(2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine-κ3
N,N′,N′′)gold(I) dichloride trihydrate at 173 K. Corrigendum
Authors: Friedrich Holger B. , Maguire Glenn E. M. , Martincigh Bice S. , McKay Michael G. , Pietersen Lauren K.
Published: May 2009

The title of the paper by Friedrich, Maguire, Martincigh, McKay & Pietersen [Acta Cryst. (2008), E64, m1240] is corrected.
S-2-Amino-5-(dimethylammonio)phenyl sulfothioate
Authors: Pavlović Gordana , Racané Livio , Tralić-Kulenović Vesna
Published: May 2009

The title compound, C8H12N2O3S2, has been isolated as an intermediate in the synthesis of methylene blue dye, the best known phenothiazine dye, and structurally characterized as a zwitterion. The crystal structure is dominated by intermolecular N—H...O hydrogen bonds between the amine and sulfothioate groups, with graph-set motifC(9)R22(8), involving antiparallel chains and a centrosymmetric eight-membered ring. A hydrogen bond with graph-set motifR22(14) between the ammonium and sulfothioate groups completes the two-dimensional network in theabplane. Intermolecular C—H...O hydrogen bonds are also present in the crystal.
2-Carboxy-1-phenylethanaminium perchlorate
Authors: Li Xiu-Zhi , Li Hui , Qu Zhi-Rong
Published: May 2009

In the title compound, C9H12NO2+·ClO4−, an intramolecular N—H...O interaction results in the formation of a six-membered ring having a twisted chair conformation. In the crystal structure, intermolecular O—H...O, N—H...O and C—H...O interactions link the molecules into a network. A weak C—H...π interaction is also found.
3-(3-Chloroanilino)-1-(3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)propan-1-one
Authors: Saeed Aamer , Hussain Shahid , Bolte Michael
Published: May 2009

In the molecule of the title compound, C14H16ClN3O, the benzene and pyrazole rings are oriented at a dihedral angle of 3.50 (3)°. In the crystal structure, intermolecular N—H...O hydrogen bonds link the molecules into chains. A π–π contact between the benzene and pyrazole rings [centroid–centroid distance = 3.820 (3) Å] may further stabilize the structure.
{N,N′-Bis[(E)-3-phenylprop-2-en-1-ylidene]propane-1,3-diamine-κ2N,N′]dichloridocobalt(II)
Authors: Montazerozohori Morteza , Habibi Mohammad Hossein , Amirnasr Mehdi , Ariyoshi Keita , Suzuki Takayoshi
Published: May 2009

The CoIIatom in the title monomeric Schiff base complex, [CoCl2(C21H22N2)], is bonded to two Cl atoms and to two N atoms of the Schiff base ligandN,N′-bis[(E)-3-phenylprop-2-en-1-ylidene]propane-1,3-diamine in a distorted tetrahedral geometry. The molecule has an idealised mirror symmetry, but is not located on a crystallographic mirror plane.
Poly[aqua[μ2-1,2-bis(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)benzene-κ2N3:N3′](μ2-5-bromobenzene-1,3-dicarboxylato-κ3O1,O1′:O3)nickel(II)]
Authors: Zhu Kun , Chen Hong , Liu Guang-Xiang
Published: May 2009

In the two-dimensional title coordination polymer, [Ni(C8H3BrO4)(C14H14N4)(H2O)]n, the NiIIatom adopts a distorted octahedral geometry, being ligated by three O atoms from two different 5-bromobenzene-1,3-dicarboxylate ligands, two N atoms from two 1,2-bis(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)benzene ligands and one coordinated water molecule. The Ni atoms are bridged by the 5-bromobenzene-1,3-dicarboxylate ligands, forming chains, which are further linked by 1,2-bis(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)benzene, generating a layer structure parallel to (001).
catena-Poly[hemi(hexane-1,6-diammonium) [[aquadibromidomanganese(II)]-μ-pyridine-2-carboxylato]]
Authors: Kim Nam-Ho , Hwang In-Chul , Ha Kwang
Published: May 2009

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, {(C6H18N2)0.5[MnBr2(C6H4NO2)(H2O)]}n, contains the repeat unit of the complex anion and one-half of a hexane-1,6-diammonium cation that is located on a twofold rotation axis. In the anionic polymer, the Mn2+ions are bridged by the pyridinecarboxylate (pic) anion ligand, forming a chain structure along thecaxis. The Mn2+ion is six-coordinated in a distorted octahedral environment by one N atom of the pyridine ring, two O atoms of the two carboxylate groups, one O atom of the water molecule and two Br atoms. The compound displays intermolecular N—H...O, N—H...Br, O—H...Br and O—H...O hydrogen bonding. There may also be intermolecular π–π interactions between adjacent pyridine rings, with a centroid–centroid distance of 3.992 (4) Å.
(±)-Ethyl 6-(6-methoxy-2-naphthyl)-4-(4-methylphenyl)-2-oxocyclohex-3-ene-1-carboxylate
Authors: Li Hongqi , Mayekar A. N. , Narayana B. , Yathirajan H. S. , Harrison William T. A.
Published: May 2009

In the title compound, C27H26O4, the dihedral angle between the naphthalene ring system and the benzene ring is 73.10 (5)°. In the crystal, a weak C—H...O interaction occurs. Two C—H groups of the cyclohexene ring are disordered over two sets of sites in a 0.796 (5):0.204 (5) ratio, which corresponds to partial overlap of the two enantiomeric molecules.
Bis[μ-1,1′-(ferrocene-1,1′-diyl)bis(butane-1,3-dionato)]di-μ-methanol-diiron(II)
Authors: Xiao Yan-Feng , Li Hong-Feng , Yan Peng-Fei , Li Guang-Ming
Published: May 2009

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, [Fe4(C9H8O2)4(CH3OH)2], contains one half-molecule located on a twofold rotational axis. In the molecule, the two FeIIions bridged by two coordinating methanol molecules are separated by 3.1286 (7) Å. Two crystallographically independent methanol molecules are situated on a twofold rotational axis; all attached H atoms are rotationally disordered between two equal orientations.
Ethyl 4-(5-chloro-3-methyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-6-methyl-2-oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrimidine-5-carboxylate
Authors: Fun Hoong-Kun , Yeap Chin Sing , Sujith K. V. , Kalluraya B.
Published: May 2009

In the title compound, C18H19ClN4O3, the dihydropyrimidinone ring adopts a flattened boat conformation. The dihedral angle between the phenyl and pyrazole rings is 43.39 (6)°. An intramolecular C—H...O contact generates anS(8) ring motif that stabilizes the molecular conformation and precludes the carbonyl O atom of the ester group from forming intermolecular interactions. Molecules are linked into centrosymmetric dimers by pairs of N—H...O hydrogen bonds and the dimers are linked into infinite chains along [101] by N—H...N hydrogen bonds.
Bis[2-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-4-methylphenolato]palladium(II)
Authors: Tsai Chen-Yen , Lin Chia-Her , Ko Bao-Tsan
Published: May 2009

In the title complex, [Pd(C13H10N3O)2], the PdIIatom is tetracoordinated by two N atoms and two O atoms from two bidentate 2-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-4-methylphenolate ligands, forming a square-planar environment. The asymmetric unit contains one half molecule in which the Pd atom lies on a centre of symmetry.
3-[(2-Hydroxyethyl)iminomethyl]-1,1′-bi-2-naphthol
Authors: Zhang Yu , Wang Kun , Zhong Ling-Zhi , Li Rui-Xiang
Published: May 2009

In the title compound, C23H19NO3, there is an intramolecular O—H...N hydrogen bond, which forms a six-membered ring, and intermolecular O—H...O hydrogen bonds stabilize the crystal structure.
2,6-Bis(trifluoromethyl)benzoic acid
Authors: Tobin John M. , Masuda Jason D.
Published: May 2009

The title compound, C9H4F6O2, contains two molecules in the asymmetric unit, one of which exhibits disorder in both of its trifluoromethyl groups. The dihedral angles between the benzene ring and the carboxyl group are 71.5 (2) and 99.3 (2)° in the two independent molecules. The compound exhibits a catemeric structure resulting from intermolecular O—H...O hydrogen bonding between the carboxyl groups.
Dimensions of tasks: influences on information‐seeking and retrieving process
Authors: Xie Iris
Published: May 2009

Purpose

Previous research has demonstrated that task is the driving force for information retrieval (IR). However, few studies investigate how people engaged in work and search tasks define their decisions and behaviors in the IR process. The purpose of this paper is to investigate how dimensions of tasks affect the information‐seeking and retrieving process.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 40 participants are recruited for the two studies conducted in a corporate setting as well as an academic setting. Multiple methods are applied to collect data related to participants' tasks and the information‐seeking and retrieving process: web surveys, questionnaires, diaries, and telephone interviews. Both qualitative and quantitative data are analyzed.

Findings

This paper identifies nature (routine, typical, and unusual), stages (pre‐focus, formation, and post‐focus), and timeframe (extremely urgent, urgent, and non‐urgent) as dimensions of work tasks as well as origination (self‐generated and assigned), types (updating information, looking for specific information, looking for items with common characteristics, and looking for known items), and flexibility (very flexible, flexible, and inflexible) as dimensions of search tasks. Moreover, the relationships between dimensions of work and search tasks and the information‐seeking process – in particular, the extent of planning, the application of different types of information‐seeking strategies, and shifts in search‐task‐related goals – are explored.

Originality/value

This paper fills in a gap in current research – the impact of dimensions of task on the information‐seeking and ‐retrieving process.
Unanswerable questions at the IPL: user expectations of e‐mail reference
Authors: Westbrook Lynn
Published: May 2009

Purpose

In a 31‐month period, 1,184 questions addressed to the Internet Public Library's (IPL) reference service remained unanswered on the grounds that they were “out of scope”. This paper aims to analyze the questions as artifacts of users' expectations to better chart the distinction between user and librarian views of reference service.

Design/methodology/approach

Each question is examined to identify two user expectations, i.e. what kinds of information librarians could provide and what kinds of needs librarians could help meet. Emergent coding with a code‐recode rate of 97 per cent identifies 23 types of expected librarian assistance and 28 characteristics of expected applications of that assistance.

Findings

Users expect IPL librarians to provide personal advice, analysis, facts, procedures, instruction, technology guidance and evaluation. IPL librarians are expected to help users in making decisions, solving problems, completing processes and developing understanding.

Research limitations/implications

Limitations include the use of a single coder and the use of single institution's data set. Mapping these user expectations suggests a need for librarians to consider further development of reference service in terms of its judgment, form, and involvement parameters.

Practical implications

Reference service policies and training should be examined to enhance librarians' abilities to consider judgment, form, and involvement parameters primarily from the user's perspective.

Originality/value

This paper analyzes that which is rarely seen, i.e. e‐mail reference questions which are considered beyond the scope of service. Additionally, the IPL question pool provides a broader range of user mental models than would be found in any geographically bound institution.
Relationship among activities and problems causing uncertainty in information seeking and retrieval
Authors: Chowdhury Sudatta , Gibb Forbes
Published: May 2009

Purpose

This paper aims to argue that different types of uncertainty are associated with information seeking and retrieval (IS&R), and that, with the proliferation of new and different search tools, channels and sources, uncertainty, whether positive or negative, continues to be a significant factor in the search process. The paper aims to report on one part of an ongoing research that aims to study correlations among a series of information‐seeking activities and information‐seeking problems that cause uncertainty amongst users in academic environment.

Design/methodology/approach

An online questionnaire is used to collect data from users in the higher education sector. Quantitative analysis is carried out on the data collected through an online questionnaire distributed through eight online mailing lists comprising a total of 3,607 registered users. A total of 668 responses are returned from three categories of respondents: academic staff, research staff and research students. Pearson's correlation coefficient is used to study correlation among the activities and problems that cause uncertainty in IS&R.

Findings

This research shows that uncertainty may occur in course of a number of information‐seeking activities, and may also be created because of some problems associated with information seeking. Some of the activities and problems that caused uncertainty have significant correlations. There is also a correlation between information‐seeking activities and gender and disciplines, though there is little correlation between information‐seeking activities and age, information and communication technology (ICT) skills, and user categories. There is also a correlation between information‐seeking problems and ICT skills, gender and user categories, but there is less correlation between information‐seeking problems and age. Information‐seeking activities and information‐seeking problems that cause uncertainty have a significant correlation with disciplines and gender. Furthermore, it is noted that information‐seeking activities caused less uncertainty for users in the discipline of computer and information sciences compared to the other chosen disciplines such as business and management, and arts and humanities.

Originality/value

This research for the first time aimed to study which information‐seeking activities and problems cause uncertainty and how they are correlated.
Have we made any progress? Catalogues of the future revisited
Authors: Šauperl Alenka , Saye Jerry D.
Published: May 2009

Purpose

Library online public access catalogues (OPACs) are considered to be unattractive in comparison with popular internet sites. In 2000, the authors presented some suggestions on how library catalogues should change. Have librarians actually made their OPACs more user‐friendly by adopting techniques and technologies already present in other information resources? This paper aims to address these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

The characteristics of four OPACs, one online bookstore and two internet search engines are analyzed. The paper reviews some of the changes and directions suggested by researchers and adds some of authors own. All this is in the hope that library catalogues will survive “Google attack.”

Findings

Changes are identified in the information services studied over a seven‐year period. Least development is found in library catalogues. Suggestions are made for library catalogues of the future.

Research limitations/implications

A library catalogue, a web search engine and an internet bookstore cannot be compared directly because of differences in scope. But features from each could be fruitfully used in others.

Practical implications

OPACs must be both attractive and useful. They should be at least as easy to use as their competitors. With the results of research as well as the knowledge librarians have many years, the profession should be able to develop better OPACs than we have today and regain lost ground in the “competition” for those with information needs.

Originality/value

A comparison of OPAC features in 2000 and 2007, even if subjective, can provide a panoramic view of the development of the field.
Knowledge organisation systems in North American digital library collections
Authors: Shiri Ali , Chase‐Kruszewski Sarah
Published: May 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report an investigation into the types of knowledge organisation systems (KOSs) utilised in North American digital library collections.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper identifies, analyses and deep scans online North American hosted digital libraries. It reviews the literature related to the application of KOSs on the web, identifies widely used KOSs and tools and reviews the literature related to collaborative collections on the web.

Findings

A total of 269 North American digital library collections were examined. The Library of Congress Subject Headings is the most widely used subject representation tool, followed by domain‐specific thesauri, 113 digital library collections make use of locally developed taxonomies. A few collections use the Dewy Decimal Classification and alphabetical indexes.

Research limitations/implications

This research was limited to North American digital library collections.

Practical implications

The findings show the popular KOSs used in digital library collections. It also shows the organisational contexts of the examined digital library collections.

Originality/value

This research contributes to the areas of digital libraries and to the application of KOSs and services for subject representation and access.
An integrated system for managing the Andalusian Parliament's digital library
Authors: de Campos Luis M. , Fernández‐Luna Juan M. , Huete Juan F. , Martín‐Dancausa Carlos J. , Tagua‐Jiménez Antonio , Tur‐Vigil Carmen
Published: May 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present an overview of the reorganisation of the Andalusian Parliament's digital library to improve the electronic representation and access of its official corpus by taking advantage of a document's internal organisation. Video recordings of the parliamentary sessions have also been integrated with their corresponding textual transcriptions.

Design/methodology/approach

After analysing the state of the Andalusian Parliament's digital library and determining the aspects that could be improved both in the repository and access mechanisms, this paper describes each component of the developed integrated information system.

Findings

A methodology has been developed to tackle the problem and this could be applied to other similar institutions and organisations. Exploiting the internal structure of the parliament's official documents has also proved to be extremely interesting for users as they are directed towards the most relevant parts of the documents.

Originality/value

The paper presents an application of an information retrieval system for structured documents to a real framework and the integration of multimedia sources (e.g. text and video) for retrieval purposes.
Long‐term preservation of digital information in China: some problems and solutions
Authors: Liu Jiazhen , Du Peng
Published: May 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper to describe the research work on the long‐term preservation of Chinese digital information funded by National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) since 2001.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper provides an overview, in text and figures, of ways in which e‐documents originating in China, in now obsolete formats, can be made readable again. Also, results of a recent survey of electronic records management in government and corporations are given.

Findings

The lifecycle management gap with respect to electronic records is highlighted and the main factors that restrict the Chinese anti‐disaster data backup plan are analysed. It is suggested that the data backup centre which can be accepted by small medium enterprises should be the e‐government disaster recovery centre for local government.

Originality/value

All the research results are useful for those who need to understand the long‐term preservation of Chinese digital information and electronic records management.
Requirements for information professionals in a digital environment: some thoughts
Authors: Kemal Ataman Bekir
Published: May 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to point out the increasing need to provide information professionals with a sound grounding in the technological aspects of their profession.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper sets out by describing the sudden increase in volumes of information that confront our society, and then looks at how the younger generation approaches/uses this mass of information. It then analyses how the traditional functions of information professionals (presentation of material, reliable preservation of information, maintaining authenticity, and conservation) are handled in an electronic environment.

Findings

The paper discovers that considerable technical knowledge and experience are required to carry out those same functions in an electronic environment and suggests a redefinition of information sciences as information engineering.

Research limitations/implications

The paper recommends increasing the technology content in the training of information professionals such as archivists, records managers and librarians.

Originality/value

The paper concludes with a radical assertion that the proper locus for such training is a school of engineering rather than a school of librarianship, information studies and/or archives.
Values and attitudes towards women in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico
Authors: Olivas‐Luján Miguel R. , Inés Monserrat Silvia , Ruiz‐Gutierrez Jaime A. , Greenwood Regina A. , Madero Go´mez Sergio , Murphy Edward F. , Bastos F. Santos Neusa Maria
Published: May 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report results from an exploratory, empirical research study that describes personal values and attitudes toward women, two themes that strongly impact employment relations and a wide variety of management issues.

Design/methodology/approach

Well‐established measures for the major themes for this paper were used in constructing a questionnaire. Data collection instruments were vetted for content, translated and back‐translated, and applied by native researchers, who also contributed local expertise to the paper.

Findings

Female respondents across all four countries were more egalitarian in their attitudes towards women in the workforce than were men. Additionally, Colombian respondents had more egalitarian attitudes towards women scores, followed by Brazilians and Argentineans; Mexicans exhibited the least egalitarian attitudes toward women.

Originality/value

This is the first empirical study that links two well‐validated constructs (personal values and attitudes toward women) in samples from the largest Latin American countries.
HRM in Chile: the impact of organisational culture
Authors: Rodriguez Jenny K. , Gomez Carlos F.
Published: May 2009

Purpose

This paper aims to provide insight on the influence of organisational culture on human resource management (HRM) practices in Chile by exploring shared meanings (basic assumptions and beliefs) and organisational models that can be identified from activities, dynamics, social relationships and behaviours.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on research conducted in Chile where a combination of self‐completion questionnaires, semi‐structured interviews and non‐participant observation was carried out in a non‐probabilistic sample of 46 organisations.

Findings

Findings suggest that there is a shared definition of work characterised by five elements; namely, the existence of great work pressure exerted by managers; a sustained focus of upper levels on organisational efficiency as an isolated element that does not include HRM; the inexistence of worker autonomy and empowerment; the use of administrative jargon and understandings of loyalty, dedication, compliance and professionalism as desired qualities in workers. The paper argues that there are three distinct categories of cultural discourse in Chilean organisations: pessimistic/fatalistic, optimistic/maniac and pragmatic/bureaucratic.

Research limitations/implications

Owing to the type of sampling used, findings cannot be taken to represent the whole of Chilean organisations.

Practical implications

Data presented in this paper help in understanding many of the behaviours observed in Chilean organisations, which provides HR policy‐makers and practitioners with sounder foundations for designing organisational programs, policies and action plans.

Originality/value

The paper presents new evidence to increase the empirical body of work addressing the relationship between organisational culture and HRM in developing countries, particularly in Latin America.
Paternalism at a crossroads: labour relations in Chile in transition
Authors: Darío Rodríguez M. , René Ríos F.
Published: May 2009

Purpose

Paternalism in labour relationships is characteristic of Chilean and Latin American firms. Despite its empirical and practical relevance it lacks adequate conceptual elaboration so that it remains an opaque real drive that cannot be managed. This paper seeks to propose some conceptual distinctions to help clarify its meaning.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the social systems theory of Niklas Luhmann, paternalism is analysed as semantics which makes three main aspects visible: interests, autonomous decisions and responsibility that are seen as different sources of risk and danger for the workers. Paternalism is allegedly a protective device.

Findings

Paternalism is reinforced and reproduced by distrust in the workers' capacities to make decisions on their own and it becomes a justification to keep wages low, hinder delegation and becomes an ideology that justifies gaps between productivity and compensation.

Research limitations/implications

Paternalism is difficult to operationalize in order to make empirical observations, but through qualitative analysis we were able to characterize it with two examples. This will help empirical research to continue on a more appropriate conceptual basis.

Practical implications

HRM practices should consider that paternalism is present as an expectation and that management should know that it can also pervade administration despite its modernized appearance.

Originality/value

Since paternalism pervades expectations in opaque ways, it sets limits to management's capacities to administer human resources in a modern way. Awareness of this fact allows its comprehension and the ability to properly deal with it.
Towards a new employment relationship model
Authors: Bond Baker Timothy
Published: May 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine and extend Noer's theoretical model of the new employment relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

Case study methodology is used to scrutinise the model. The results of a literature‐based survey on the elements underpinning the five values in the model are analysed from dual perspectives of individual and organization using a multi‐source assessment instrument. A schema is developed to guide and inform a series of focus group discussions from an analysis of the survey data. Using content analysis, the transcripts from the focus group discussions are evaluated using the model's values and their elements. The transcripts are also reviewed for implicit themes. The case studied is Flight Centre Limited, an Australian‐based international retail travel company.

Findings

Using this approach, some elements of the five values in Noer's model are identified as characteristic of the company's psychological contract. Specifically, to some extent, the model's values of flexible deployment, customer focus, performance focus, project‐based work, and human spirit and work can be applied in this case. A further analysis of the transcripts validates three additional values in the psychological contract literature: commitment; learning and development; and open information. As a result of the findings, Noer's model is extended to eight values.

Research limitations/implications

The study offers a research‐based model of the new employment relationship. Since generalisations from the case study findings cannot be applied directly to other settings, the opportunity to test this model in a variety of contexts is open to other researchers.

Originality/value

In practice, the methodology used is a unique process for benchmarking the psychological contract. The process may be applied in other business settings. By doing so, organization development professionals have a consulting framework for comparing an organization's dominant psychological contract with the extended model presented here.