bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genome measures used for quality control are dependent on gene function and ancestry
Authors: Wang Jing , Raskin Leon , Samuels David C. , Shyr Yu , Guo Yan
Published: October 2014

Motivation: The transition/transversion (Ti/Tv) ratio and heterozygous/nonreference-homozygous (het/nonref-hom) ratio have been commonly computed in genetic studies as a quality control (QC) measurement. Additionally, these two ratios are helpful in our understanding of the patterns of DNA sequence evolution.

Results: To thoroughly understand these two genomic measures, we performed a study using 1000 Genomes Project (1000G) released genotype data ( N = 1092). An additional two datasets ( N = 581 and N = 6) were used to validate our findings from the 1000G dataset. We compared the two ratios among continental ancestry, genome regions and gene functionality. We found that the Ti/Tv ratio can be used as a quality indicator for single nucleotide polymorphisms inferred from high-throughput sequencing data. The Ti/Tv ratio varies greatly by genome region and functionality, but not by ancestry. The het/nonref-hom ratio varies greatly by ancestry, but not by genome regions and functionality. Furthermore, extreme guanine + cytosine content (either high or low) is negatively associated with the Ti/Tv ratio magnitude. Thus, when performing QC assessment using these two measures, care must be taken to apply the correct thresholds based on ancestry and genome region. Failure to take these considerations into account at the QC stage will bias any following analysis.

Contact:  yan.guo@vanderbilt.edu

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Iron-catalyzed transformations of diazo compounds
Authors: Zhu Shou-Fei , Zhou Qi-Lin
Published: October 2014

Although iron-promoted diazo transformations were only discovered during the 1990s, iron can undergo facile changes in its oxidation state and possesses distinct Lewis acid character, and these properties have afforded iron a privileged position as a catalyst in the transformations of diazo compounds. In this review, we have provided an overview of the iron-catalyzed diazo transformation reactions reported in the literature by the end of 2013 with the aim of stimulating further interest in this area of research.
Fulminant Hepatic Failure of Autoimmune Aetiology in Children
Authors: Di Giorgio A. , Bravi M. , Bonanomi E. , Alessio G. , Sonzogni A. , Zen Y. , Colledan M. , D'Antiga L.
Published: October 2014

Objective:

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is considered an underdiagnosed cause of fulminant hepatic failure (FHF). Autoimmune FHF (AI‐FHF) is believed to lead invariably to liver transplantation (LTX) or death. We aimed to describe the autoimmune features of children diagnosed as having AI‐FHF and indeterminate FHF (ID‐FHF), and describe the outcome of patients with AI‐FHF treated with immunosuppressive drugs.

Methods:

In this case–control study, the files of patients with AI‐FHF and ID‐FHF were reviewed and compared. AIH was diagnosed based on positive autoantibodies, raised immunoglobulin G, and histology when available. FHF was defined by raised transaminases, international normalised ratio ≥ 2.0, presence of encephalopathy, and no previously recognised liver disease.

Results:

A total of 46 children with FHF were managed in the last 15 years: 10/46 (22%) had AI‐FHF, 20/46 (43%) ID‐FHF, and 16 had other diagnosis. The mean follow‐up time was 4.6 years. AI‐FHF and ID‐FHF differed for the presence of autoantibodies (10/10, 6/10 liver/kidney microsome [LKM]‐type, vs 3/20, none LKM, P < 0.0001), immunoglobulin G level (1845 vs 880 mg/dL, P < 0.001), median age at diagnosis (6.4 vs 1.8 years, P = 0.017), and alanine aminotransferase level (1020 vs 2386 IU/L, P = 0.029). Liver histology did not allow to differentiate the 2 conditions. Among the patients with AI‐FHF, 4/9 who received steroids recovered; 5/9 required LTX and 1 died awaiting treatment.

Conclusions:

AIH is a much more common cause of FHF than previously suggested, and a complete autoantibody testing including LKM‐type is essential in this setting. Autoantibodies are uncommon in ID‐FHF, and histology cannot distinguish it from AI‐FHF. A cautious steroid trial may avoid LTX in some of the patients with AI‐FHF.
Selective growth-inhibitory effect of 8-hydroxyquinoline towards Clostridium difficile and Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum in co-culture analysed by flow cytometry
Authors: Novakova Jitka , Džunková Mária , Musilova Sarka , Vlkova Eva , Kokoska Ladislav , Moya Andrés , D’Auria Giuseppe
Published: October 2014

The major risk factor for Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is the use of antibiotics owing to the disruption of the equilibrium of the host gut microbiota. To preserve the beneficial resident probiotic bacteria during infection treatment, the use of molecules with selective antibacterial activity enhances the efficacy by selectively removing C. difficile. One of them is the plant alkaloid 8-hydroxyquinoline (8HQ), which has been shown to selectively inhibit clostridia without repressing bifidobacteria. Selective antimicrobial activity is generally tested by culture techniques of individual bacterial strains. However, the main limitation of these techniques is the inability to describe differential growth dynamics of more bacterial strains in co-culture within the same experiment. In the present study, we combined fluorescent in situ hybridization and flow cytometry to describe the changes in active and non-active cells of a mixed culture formed by the opportunistic pathogen C. difficile CECT 531 and the beneficial Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum CCMDMND BL1 after exposure to 8HQ. It was observed that without 8HQ, the proportion of both strains was almost equal, oscillating between 22.7 and 77.9 % during a time lapse of 12 h, whereas with 8HQ the proportion of active C. difficile decreased after 4 h, and persisted only between 8.8 and 17.5 %. In contrast, bifidobacterial growth was not disturbed by 8HQ. The results of this study showed the selective inhibitory effect of 8HQ on clostridial and bifidobacterial growth dynamics, and the potential of this compound for the development of selective agents to control CDIs.
Inference of interactions between chromatin modifiers and histone modifications: from ChIP-Seq data to chromatin-signaling
Authors: Perner Juliane , Lasserre Julia , Kinkley Sarah , Vingron Martin , Chung Ho-Ryun
Published: October 2014

Chromatin modifiers and histone modifications are components of a chromatin-signaling network involved in transcription and its regulation. The interactions between chromatin modifiers and histone modifications are often unknown, are based on the analysis of few genes, or are studiedin vitro. Here, we apply computational methods to recover interactions between chromatin modifiers and histone modifications from genome-wide ChIP-Seq data. These interactions provide a high-confidence backbone of the chromatin-signaling network. Many recovered interactions have literature support; others provide hypotheses about yet unknown interactions. We experimentally verified two of these predicted interactions, leading to a link between H4K20me1 and members of the Polycomb Repressive Complexes 1 and 2. Our results suggest that our computationally derived interactions are likely to lead to novel biological insights required to establish the connectivity of the chromatin-signaling network involved in transcription and its regulation.
An evidence assessment tool for ecosystem services and conservation studies
Authors: Mupepele Anne-Christine , Walsh Jessica C. , Sutherland William J. , Dormann Carsten F.
Published: October 2014

Reliability of scientific findings is important, especially if they directly impact decision making, such as in environmental management. In the 1990s, assessments of reliability in the medical field resulted in the development of evidence-based practice. Ten years later, evidence-based practice was translated into conservation, but so far no guidelines exist on how to assess the evidence of individual studies. Assessing the evidence of individual studies is essential to appropriately identify and summarize the confidence in research findings. We develop a tool to assess the strength of evidence of ecosystem services and conservation studies. This tool consists of (1) a hierarchy of evidence, based on the experimental design of studies and (2) a critical-appraisal checklist that identifies the quality of research implementation. The application is illustrated with 13 examples and we suggest further steps required to move towards more evidence-based environmental management.
Pollinators, pests and soil properties interactively shape oilseed rape yield
Authors: Bartomeus Ignasi , Gagic Vesna , Bommarco Riccardo
Published: October 2014

1. Pollination, pest control, and soil properties are well known to affect agricultural production. These factors might interactively shape crop yield, but most studies focus on only one of these factors at a time. 2. We used 15 winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) fields in Sweden to study how variation among fields in pollinator visitation rates, pollen beetle pest attack rates and soil properties (soil texture, pH and organic carbon) interactively determined crop yield. The fields were embedded in a landscape gradient with contrasting proportions arable and semi-natural land. 3. Pollinator, pest and soil property variables formed bundles across the sites. In general, pollinator visitation and pest levels were negatively correlated and varied independently of soil properties. Because above- and below-ground processes reacted at contrasting spatial scales, it was difficult to predict bundle composition based on the surrounding landscape structure. 4. The above-ground biotic interactions and below-ground abiotic factors interactively affected crop yield. Pollinator visitation was the strongest predictor positively associated with yield. High soil pH also benefited yield, but only at lower pest loads. Surprisingly, high pest loads increased the pollinator benefits for yield. 5. Synthesis and applications Implementing management plans at different spatial scales can create synergies among bundles of above- and below-ground ecosystem processes, but both scales are needed given that different processes react to different spatial scales.
GDP growth – energy consumption relationship: revisited
Authors: Al-mulali Usama
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between gross domestic product (GDP) growth and renewable and non-renewable energy consumption in 82 developing countries categorized by region.

Design/methodology/approach

– To achieve the goal of this study, the panel model was used taking the period 1990-2009.

Findings

– The Kao co-integration test results showed that both renewable and non-renewable energy consumption had a long-running relationship with all the economic sectors in all regions. Moreover, the FMOLS revealed that the renewable and non-renewable energy consumption had a long-run positive relationship with the economic sectors. However, the results also revealed that non-renewable energy consumption has a more significant effect on the economic sectors than the renewable energy consumption. In addition, the Granger causality showed the same results, that the causal relationship between the economic sectors and non-renewable energy consumption is more significant than the causal relationship between the economic sectors and renewable energy.

Practical implications

– The reason behind these results is that these regions still depend on fossil fuels to promote their economic growth. Fossil fuels basically contribute more than 80 per cent of their total energy consumption. Thus, the study recommends the developing countries to increase their investment on renewable energy projects to increase the share of the renewable energy of total energy consumption.

Originality/value

– This study is considered different from all the previous studies because it will investigate the disaggregate relationship between GDP and energy consumption (renewable and non-renewable) in East Asia and Pacific, Europe and Central Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, Middle East and North Africa, South Asia and the Sub-Saharan African developing countries.
Microfinance and credit to the ultra poor
Authors: Kusum Mukherjee Arghya
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to see whether Government of India is successful to make credit accessible to the poor; to examine the role of competition in microfinance sector in ensuring credit to the ultra poor borrowers; to see the role of subsidy in microfinance movement.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper is based on secondary data. This paper examines, in an analytical framework with a variety of assumptions, the role of microfinance institutes (MFIs) in bringing capital to the ultra poor.

Findings

– In an attempt to make credit accessible to the poor, Government of India took several measures, but did not succeed to a significant extent. This paper has shown that the microcredit has become accessible to the “working poor,” but not to the ultra poor. Initially the model shows that in the absence of competition MFI and moneylender are equally exploitative to the ultra poor borrowers. The model further shows that in the presence or absence of competition in the credit market, credit may be accessible to the ultra poor borrowers under certain conditions. Excessive subsidies might drive out the poor borrowers from the microfinance sector.

Originality/value

– For the poor clients served by the microfinance institution, the argument goes, the access not the cost (interest rate) that matters (Robinson, 2001). Here the implicit assumption is that the interest rate elasticity of demand for micro credit is close to zero (Emran et al., 2006). In an interesting paper Deheja et al. (2005) has shown that the interest rate elasticity of loan in the microfinance system is significantly negative. The author is of the opinion that this is the cost of credit as well as inability to pay a minimum price of credit, which denies the access to credit.
How public-private partnership projects impact infrastructure industry for economic growth
Authors: Zangoueinezhad Abouzar , Azar Adel
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– Public-private partnership (PPP) is mutually beneficial relationships that are formed between the public and private sectors. The private-sector partner typically makes a substantial equity investment, and in return the public sector gains access to new or improved services. When properly vetted and structured, PPP allocate risk to the party best suited to handle it. The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between the scale and nature of the PPP's contribution as a driver of the economic growth and gross domestic product (GDP).

Design/methodology/approach

– Using statistics causality modeling and relevant statistical techniques, the dynamic interactions and interdependencies over PPP and economic growth were addressed and quantified.

Findings

– Although PPP can free up government resources for other public priorities, three key factors enable PPP to stimulate a country's economic growth: the number of PPP projects under way, the value of PPP projects, and the ideal type of PPP contracts in use.

Originality/value

– The number, value, and type of PPP, combined with supportive policies, power economic growth. Governments with well-established and enforced policies against corruption, combined with low business transaction costs, a transparent legislative system, and exchange rate and monetary stability are far more attractive to the private sector.
Fighting African corruption when existing corruption-control levels matter in a dynamic cultural setting
Authors: Simplice Asongu
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to assess the determinants of corruption-control (CC) with freedom dynamics (economic, political, press and trade), government quality (GQ) and a plethora of socio-economic factors in 46 African countries using updated data.

Design/methodology/approach

– A quantile regression approach is employed while controlling for the unobserved heterogeneity. Principal component analysis is also used to reduce the dimensions of highly correlated variables.

Findings

– With the legal origin fundamental characteristic, the following findings have been established. First, while political freedom increases CC in a bottom quantile of English common-law countries, there is no such evidence in their French civil-law counterparts. Second, GQ consistently improves CC across all quantiles in English common-law countries but fails to exert the same effect in middle quantiles of French civil-law countries. Third, economic freedom ameliorates CC only in common-law countries with low existing CC levels (bottom quantiles). Fourth, The authors find no significant evidence of a positive “press freedom”-CC nexus and having the status of low-income English common-law (French civil law) countries decreases (increases) CC. From a religious domination scenario, the authors also find the following. First, political and trade freedoms only reduce CC in Christian-dominated countries while press freedom has a mitigation effect in both religious cultures (though more consistent across quantiles of Christian-oriented countries). Second, GQ is more pro-CC in Christian than in Muslim-dominated countries. Third, while economic freedom has a scanty negative nexus with CC in Christian-oriented countries, the effect is positive in their Muslim-dominated counterparts. Fourth, having a low-income status in countries with Christian common-law tradition improves CC.

Originality/value

– The authors complement the literature on the fight against corruption in Africa by employing recently documented additional factors that should be considered in corruption studies.
Attitudes of Turkish students against markets: does studying economics matter?
Authors: Cokgezen Murat , Mete Cilingirturk Ahmet
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– The literature shows economics students to be more market oriented than students from other disciplines. A major shortcoming of this work, however, is that it is based on research carried out in the west. The purpose of this paper is to examine the attitudes of Turkish economics students’ towards markets.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study reported here uses a survey developed by Lephard and Breeden to investigate students’ attitudes towards markets. The survey consists of 11 market-positive statements and 11 market-negative statements. Participants were asked to indicate their level of agreement with each statement, placed at between 0 and 100 per cent and classified into 11 categories. The survey was administered to economics, physics and mathematics students from different universities. Then, responses of economics students and others are compared.

Findings

– The results show that Turkish students are less market friendly than their western counterparts. Contrary to the findings of other studies, in Turkey studying economics is found to have no effect on attitudes in this respect.

Originality/value

– First, almost all of the other studies in this realm are all based on surveys carried out in the west. To the best of the knowledge, this is the first study for other parts of the world. Second, results show that Turkish economics students are less market friendly than their western counterparts, and that studying economics has no significant effect on this. These results are surprising and contrary to the consensus in the literature.
Inclusive growth through creation of human and social capital
Authors: Dinda Soumyananda
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to analyse inclusive growth that focuses on the creation of opportunities for all. Inclusive growth allows people to contribute to and benefit from economic growth, while pro-poor growth approaches focusing on welfare of the poor only to reduce inequality.

Design/methodology/approach

– Social capital forms with the development of human capital through schooling. Educated individuals are interested in dialogue and conversation. Interaction enables people to build trust, confidence and cooperation, to commit themselves to each other (i.e. reciprocity), and thereby to knit the social fabric. This study deals with the formation of social capital through development of human capital that is created through improvement of schooling and/or social inclusion. Creation of human and social capital is the basis for inclusive growth.

Findings

– Recently, economics literature incorporates social capital for explaining regional disparities. Economic development of country depends on the impact of social capital which includes social culture, norms and regulations that promote economic reforms and development activities. Social capital forms with the development of human capital through schooling.

Research limitations/implications

– More detail regional levels data are required for empirical findings.

Practical implications

– This paper definitely suggests a clear policy for inclusive growth model in less developed regions/countries. Briefly and specific few policies are suggested as: first, improve productive consumption providing nutritional intake to all the excluded people of the society; second, dismal the social blocking and create the base for bridging social capital formation; third, improve school enrollment and strengthen the feeling of togetherness; fourth, design school curriculum as per need base; and fifth, develop institutions and improve capacity building.

Social implications

– The Government expenditure policy should be focused more on productive consumption rather than unproductive consumption. The government should concentrate on the development of education and health sectors.

Originality/value

– The inclusive economic growth process overcomes low-level equilibrium trap. The predictions of the model are examined empirically for a cross-section of countries and have substantial support in the chosen sample data.
Does activism matter? The case of environmental policy in the US states
Authors: Basu Suchandra , Devaraj Nirupama
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of activism in determining the identity of the “green” median voter and the influence of the green voter on environmental regulatory stringency in the US states.

Design/methodology/approach

– Regulatory stringency is measured using output weighted abatement spending and an industry concentration adjusted index of state environmental compliance costs for the period 1989-1994. Activism measures include environmental initiatives, median support for pollution standards and voter ideology. Fixed-effects panel methodology is used in empirical estimation.

Findings

– The authors find that activism increases stringency in regulating overall as well as media-specific pollution. The results particularly highlight the nuances of different approaches to activism and their varied impact across pollution media.

Research limitations/implications

– A drawback of the empirical estimation is the lack of continuous historical abatement spending data. A longer panel with alternative stringency measure(s) would add explanatory power to activism, especially since some activism measures capture slow-changing institutional factors.

Social implications

– The study identifies the conditions under which activism can have the most impact on a society's environmental outcomes since pollution varies in damages, hence abatement costs, across pollution media.

Originality/value

– The paper adds to the existing literature by incorporating three alternative measures of environmental activism to systematically investigate its impact on environmental stringency within a fixed-effects regression design. It also promotes a deeper understanding of the efficacy of the activism process by deconstructing policy stringency across pollution media to show that activism and its impacts are more nuanced than previously studied.
Incorporating sustainability in engineering education
Authors: Shields Deborah , Verga Francesca , Andrea Blengini Gian
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to describe the ongoing shift in sustainable engineering and the approaches used by universities for engineering students. At the United Nations Earth Summit, in Rio de Janeiro, in 1992, participating nations agreed to work together to achieve the goal of sustainable development. Twenty years on, great progress has been made, but many challenges remain and overcoming them and ensuring a sustainable future will require the knowledge, skills and input of engineering professionals. Ethics and costs have long been part of engineering, but broader understanding is now needed because the skill set those engineers will need has grown dramatically.

Design/methodology/approach

– In this paper, the authors describe the ongoing shift to sustainable engineering and discuss a variety of approaches that universities are currently using to introduce engineering students and practitioners to sustainability principles and practice and how those can be utilized in mining and petroleum high education institutions.

Findings

– The authors first place sustainability in an engineering context and vice versa, and then review alternative approaches to incorporating sustainability in engineering curricula, briefly highlighting a few key concepts and documenting an example.

Research limitations/implications

– The authors first place sustainability in an engineering context and then review alternative approaches to incorporating sustainability in engineering curricula, briefly highlighting a few key concepts and documenting an example.

Originality/value

– The challenge to educators is to ensure that new concepts addressing sustainability are not only instilled in the next generation of engineers but are also being communicated to practicing engineers. Incorporating sustainability into mining and petroleum engineering education is identified as a way to engage students, encourage their enthusiasm and interest them in pursuing engineering as a career that is not only interesting but also contributes to society. Distance education is identified as a way to education practicing engineers about sustainability concepts.
Integrating sustainability into business curricula: University of New Hampshire case study
Authors: A. Barber Nelson , Wilson Fiona , Venkatachalam Venky , M. Cleaves Sara , Garnham Josina
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to demonstrate how sustainable development education can be implemented at business schools, despite institutional barriers, through innovative and collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Businesses are beginning to accept their social responsibility through proactive approaches to maximizing their net social contribution, embracing opportunities and managing risks resulting from their economic, environmental and social impacts. Yet, many business schools are lagging in integration of sustainability into their curriculum, and as a result are not adequately educating future business leaders.

Design/methodology/approach

– This case study presents the challenges in developing and implementing sustainability education, as well as analyzes the various underlying drivers of these barriers. The paper provides a detailed description of some of the ways one business school has overcome these barriers, and provides generalizable insights that can help other business schools and universities understand how they can engage in the implementation of similar sustainable development programs.

Findings

– As business educators, we should reevaluate our role and our focus. Through education, interdisciplinary collaboration, research and community and industry engagement, sustainability can become firmly established within the existing value structure of business schools.

Originality/value

– While many business schools worldwide are discussing the importance of integrating sustainability into their curricula, and while employers and students are demanding the same, few business schools have genuinely made progress in meeting these demands. This paper presents both the challenges to integrating sustainability and an in-depth study of one business school’s approach to creating unique and innovative solutions to overcome these barriers.
Relevance behaviour in TREC
Authors: Ruthven Ian
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine how various types of TREC data can be used to better understand relevance and serve as test-bed for exploring relevance. The author proposes that there are many interesting studies that can be performed on the TREC data collections that are not directly related to evaluating systems but to learning more about human judgements of information and relevance and that these studies can provide useful research questions for other types of investigation.

Design/methodology/approach

– Through several case studies the author shows how existing data from TREC can be used to learn more about the factors that may affect relevance judgements and interactive search decisions and answer new research questions for exploring relevance.

Findings

– The paper uncovers factors, such as familiarity, interest and strictness of relevance criteria, that affect the nature of relevance assessments within TREC, contrasting these against findings from user studies of relevance.

Research limitations/implications

– The research only considers certain uses of TREC data and assessment given by professional relevance assessors but motivates further exploration of the TREC data so that the research community can further exploit the effort involved in the construction of TREC test collections.

Originality/value

– The paper presents an original viewpoint on relevance investigations and TREC itself by motivating TREC as a source of inspiration on understanding relevance rather than purely as a source of evaluation material.
Genre fiction readers: a quantitative exploration of provided construct ratings
Authors: Birdi Briony
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to adapt a repertory grid technique to investigate fiction readers’ attitudes and beliefs, with a specific focus on minority ethnic fiction.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study required participants (n=36) to rate on a seven-point Likert scale a series of 16 provided constructs, using ten main elements, namely, the reader of ten fiction genres. Statistical tests investigated participant agreement across construct ratings, where on average fiction readers are rated on a construct continuum, and the extent to which public library work experience affected participants’ perceptions.

Findings

– Findings were revealed regarding the perceived characteristics of the readers of ten fiction genres, including minority ethnic fiction. The readers of Asian and Black British fiction were similarly rated, but certain exceptions were also noted which had not been reported in previous research. Although intraclass correlations indicated that ratings were consistent for the more established fiction genres, there was little agreement regarding minority fiction.

Research limitations/implications

– The research was potentially limited by the ethnic homogeneity of the sample population and the gender imbalance of same, and (in some cases) a lack of knowledge of minority fiction genres. It was felt that the repertory grid was an effective technique via which to build a rich profile of the fiction reader.

Practical implications

– This research could inform the development of fiction collections, and its detailed examination of fiction reader profiles could be adapted in three specific ways, as described in the paper.

Originality/value

– Little previous research has been conducted to differentiate between readers of different fiction genres, and less still for those of minority ethnic fiction genres.
Research and practice
Authors: Hepworth Mark , Grunewald Philipp , Walton Geoff
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to provide a critical discussion on the nature of research into people's information behaviour, and in particular the contribution of the phenomenological approach for the development of information solutions.

Design/methodology/approach

– The approach takes the form of a conceptual analysis drawing on the research literature and personal research experience.

Findings

– The paper brings to the foreground the relative value of different conceptual approaches and how these underpin and relate to the development of information solutions.

Research limitations/implications

– The paper, due to the breadth and complexity of the subject, serves to highlight key issues and bringing together ideas. Some topics deserve further explanation. However, this was beyond the scope of this paper.

Practical implications

– A conceptual framework is provided that indicates the value of the epistemic spectrum for information behaviour studies and provides support for action research and participative design.

Social implications

– Taking a phenomenological approach, and consequently either a first person approach and/or a highly participative approach to research, challenges the relationship between researcher and respondent. It also raises questions about why the authors conduct research and for whom it is intended.

Originality/value

– The paper makes explicit the underlying philosophical assumptions and how these ideas influence the way the authors conduct research; it highlights the significance of Cartesian dualism and indicates the significance of these assumptions for the development of information solutions. It supports the view that researchers and developers should be open to respondents leading the exploration of their needs.
Cognitive styles within an exploratory search system for digital libraries
Authors: Goodale Paula , David Clough Paul , Fernando Samuel , Ford Nigel , Stevenson Mark
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of cognitive style on navigating a large digital library of cultural heritage information; specifically, the paper focus on the wholist/analytic dimension as experienced in the field of educational informatics. The hypothesis is that wholist and analytic users have characteristically different approaches when they explore, search and interact with digital libraries, which may have implications for system design.

Design/methodology/approach

– A detailed interactive IR evaluation of a large cultural heritage digital library was undertaken, along with the Riding CSA test. Participants carried out a range of information tasks, and the authors analysed their task performance, interactions and attitudes.

Findings

– The hypothesis on the differences in performance and behaviour between wholist and analytic users is supported. However, the authors also find that user attitudes towards the system are opposite to expectations and that users give positive feedback for functionality that supports activities in which they are cognitively weaker.

Research limitations/implications

– There is scope for testing results in a larger scale study, and/or with different systems. In particular, the findings on user attitudes warrant further investigation.

Practical implications

– Findings on user attitudes suggest that systems which support areas of weakness in users’ cognitive abilities are valued, indicating an opportunity to offer diverse functionality to support different cognitive weaknesses.

Originality/value

– A model is proposed suggesting a converse relationship between behaviour and attitudes; to support individual users displaying search/navigation behaviour mapped onto the strengths of their cognitive style, but placing greater value on interface features that support aspects in which they are weaker.
Serendipity and its study
Authors: Edward Foster Allen , Ellis David
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the concept of serendipity and approaches to its study particularly in relation to information studies.

Design/methodology/approach

– The origins of the term serendipity are described and its elaboration as an exploratory and explanatory concept in science and the social sciences are outlined. The distinction between serendipity and serendipity pattern is explained and theoretical and empirical studies of both serendipity and the serendipity patterns are explored. The relationship between information encountering is described. Empirical studies of serendipity using Citation Classics and other research approaches in information studies are described.

Findings

– The discrepancy between occurrences of serendipity in studies using Citation Classics and reported serendipity in philosophy of science, research anecdotes, information encountering and information seeking by inter-disciplinary researchers is highlighted. A comparison between a process model of serendipity and serendipity as an emergent behavioural characteristic are indicates directions for future research.

Originality/value

– The paper provides and original synthesis of the theoretical and empirical literature on serendipity with particular reference to work in information studies and an indication of the methodological difficulties involved in its study.
Untangling search task complexity and difficulty in the context of interactive information retrieval studies
Authors: Wildemuth Barbara , Freund Luanne , G. Toms Elaine
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– One core element of interactive information retrieval (IIR) experiments is the assignment of search tasks. The purpose of this paper is to provide an analytical review of current practice in developing those search tasks to test, observe or control task complexity and difficulty.

Design/methodology/approach

– Over 100 prior studies of IIR were examined in terms of how each defined task complexity and/or difficulty (or related concepts) and subsequently interpreted those concepts in the development of the assigned search tasks.

Findings

– Search task complexity is found to include three dimensions: multiplicity of subtasks or steps, multiplicity of facets, and indeterminability. Search task difficulty is based on an interaction between the search task and the attributes of the searcher or the attributes of the search situation. The paper highlights the anomalies in our use of these two concepts, concluding with suggestions for future methodological research related to search task complexity and difficulty.

Originality/value

– By analyzing and synthesizing current practices, this paper provides guidance for future experiments in IIR that involve these two constructs.
Standing posture at work and overweight exacerbate varicose veins: Shimane CoHRE Study
Authors: Kohno Kunie , Niihara Hiroyuki , Hamano Tsuyoshi , Takeda Miwako , Yamasaki Masayuki , Mizumoto Kazuo , Nabika Toru , Morita Eishin , Shiwaku Kuninori
Published: October 2014

Varicose veins (VV) in legs are commonly observed in the general global population. However, the prevalence of and risk factors for VV in Japan are not clear. This study aimed at clarifying the risk factors for VV in traditional rural areas of Shimane prefecture. Subjects (113 men and 205 women aged ≥45 years) were recruited from health examinations in those areas in 2012. VV were defined as a reflux of blood in the great and/or small saphenous vein and incompetent perforating veins detected by ultrasonography. Risk factors for VV were analyzed using logistic regression models that included various parameters. We also investigated the possible interaction between standing at work and overweight and calculated the synergistic index. VV were found in 20.1% of the subjects (12.4% of men and 24.4% of women). The previously known risk factors of prolonged upright standing posture during work, higher body mass index (BMI), female sex, and age were also significant factors for VV. There was a significant combined effect of overweight (BMI ≥25) and prolonged upright standing posture at work [adjusted odds ratio = 3.42; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.07–10.89], although the synergistic effect was not significant [synergistic index = 1.3; 95% CI, 0.2–8.7]. The prevalence of VV in the traditional rural area of Shimane prefecture was comparable to that reported previously in European countries. Our results confirm that exposure to both prolonged standing at work and overweight exacerbate VV development. This finding is useful to develop strategies for VV prevention.
Research Note: Sparsity‐Aware Multiple Microseismic Event Localization Blind to the Source Time‐Function
Authors: Jamali‐Rad Hadi , Tang Zijian , Campman Xander , Droujinine Alexander , Leus Geert
Published: October 2014

We consider the problem of simultaneously estimating three parameters of multiple microseimic events, i.e., the hypocenter, moment tensor, and origin time. This problem is of great interest because its solution could provide a better understanding of reservoir behavior and can help to optimize the hydraulic fracturing process. The existing approaches employing spatial source sparsity have advantages over traditional full‐wave inversion‐based schemes; however, their validity and accuracy depend on the knowledge of the source time‐function, which is lacking in practical applications. This becomes even more challenging when multiple microseimic sources appear simultaneously. To cope with this shortcoming, we propose to approach the problem from a frequency‐domain perspective and develop a novel sparsity‐aware framework that is blind to the source time‐function. Through our simulation results with synthetic data, we illustrate that our proposed approach can handle multiple microseismic sources and can estimate their hypocenters with an acceptable accuracy. The results also show that our approach can estimate the normalized amplitude of the moment tensors as a by‐product, which can provide worthwhile information about the nature of the sources.
Burying receivers for improved time‐lapse seismic repeatability: CO2CRC Otway field experiment
Authors: Shulakova Valeriya , Pevzner Roman , Christian Dupuis J. , Urosevic Milovan , Tertyshnikov Konstantin , Lumley David E. , Gurevich Boris
Published: October 2014

4D seismic is widely used to remotely monitor fluid movement in subsurface reservoirs. This technique is especially effective offshore where high survey repeatability can be achieved. It comes as no surprise that the first 4D seismic that successfully monitored the CO2 sequestration process was recorded offshore in the Sleipner field, North Sea. In the case of land projects, poor repeatability of the land seismic data due to low S/N ratio often obscures the time‐lapse seismic signal. Hence for a successful on shore monitoring program improving seismic repeatability is essential.

Stage 2 of the CO2CRC Otway project involves an injection of a small amount (around 15,000 tonnes) of CO2/CH4 gas mixture into a saline aquifer at a depth of approximately 1.5 km. Previous studies at this site showed that seismic repeatability is relatively low due to variations in weather conditions, near surface geology and farming activities. In order to improve time‐lapse seismic monitoring capabilities, a permanent receiver array can be utilised to improve signal to noise ratio and hence repeatability.

A small‐scale trial of such an array was conducted at the Otway site in June 2012. A set of 25 geophones was installed in 3 m deep boreholes in parallel to the same number of surface geophones. In addition, four geophones were placed into boreholes of 1–12 m depth. In order to assess the gain in the signal‐to‐noise ratio and repeatability, both active and passive seismic surveys were carried out. The surveys were conducted in relatively poor weather conditions, with rain, strong wind and thunderstorms. With such an amplified background noise level, we found that the noise level for buried geophones is on average 20 dB lower compared to the surface geophones.

The levels of repeatability for borehole geophones estimated around direct wave, reflected wave and ground roll are twice as high as for the surface geophones. Both borehole and surface geophones produce the best repeatability in the 30–90 Hz frequency range. The influence of burying depth on S/N ratio and repeatability shows that significant improvement in repeatability can be reached at a depth of 3 m. The level of repeatability remains relatively constant between 3 and 12 m depths.
Everyday Lives in Vertical Neighbourhoods: Exploring Bangladeshi Residential Spaces in Toronto's Inner Suburbs
Authors: Ghosh Sutama
Published: October 2014

In the Toronto Census Metropolitan Area (CMA), almost a third of the total housing stock is comprised of high‐rise apartment buildings. Not only do most new immigrants reside in these structures upon arrival, they often continue living here for a prolonged period, for a variety of interrelated economic and psychological reasons. It is therefore important to ask: How do these vertical structures affect the life worlds of the residents? What functions do these spaces perform? How do immigrants develop attachments to these spaces, and how do they make them their own? By drawing upon the experiences of 30 Bangladeshi immigrant households in Toronto's inner suburbs, I demonstrate that even though these vertical stacks are not conducive to frequent social interaction by design, the residents variously transform such functional spaces into unique ‘Bengali’ neighbourhoods that are filled with ambivalent feelings of hope and despair, imaginations of the future, becoming a place they can call home away from home.
Sexual assault: a descriptive study of 2500 female victims over a 10‐year period
Authors: Larsen M‐L , Hilden M , Lidegaard Ø
Published: October 2014

Objective

To describe the victims of sexual assault and the circumstances in which the assaults occur.

Design

Descriptive case study.

Setting

Centre for Victims of Sexual Assault (CVSA), Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Population or sample

A total of 2541 women attending CVSA from 2001 to 2010.

Methods

All women attending CVSA underwent a standardised data collection procedure. Descriptive bivariate analysis and logistic regression analysis were performed.

Main outcome measures

Associations between different assault characteristics and (1) the age of the victim and (2) the relationship between victim and perpetrator.

Results

Two‐thirds of the victims were aged 15–24 years. Seventy‐five percent had met the perpetrator before the sexual assault and 70% reported the assault to the police. A physical injury was found in 53, and 27% sustained an anogenital lesion. Alcohol was involved in 60% of the cases. One‐third of the victims had experienced a previous sexual assault(s). Women were more likely to report to the police when they were assaulted by a stranger (odds ratio [OR] 1.9, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.3–2.6) and sustained a physical injury (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.4–2.2) or anogenital lesion (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.1–2.0). Women aged 45 years or older were more likely to sustain a physical injury (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.2–3.2) or an anogenital lesion (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.4–3.2).

Conclusions

Our results challenge the typical stereotype of a violent rape attack by a stranger, which is important in creating an environment where women are not reluctant to seek help after a sexual assault. Young age and drinking alcohol were risk factors for sexual assault, and we need to address this when considering preventive strategies.