bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Possible words and fixed stress in the segmentation of Slovak speech
Authors: Hanulíková Adriana , McQueen James M. , Mitterer Holger
Published: July 2009

The possible-word constraint (PWC; Norris, McQueen, Cutler, & Butterfield, 1997) has been proposed as a language-universal segmentation principle: Lexical candidates are disfavoured if the resulting segmentation of continuous speech leads to vowelless residues in the input—for example, single consonants. Three word-spotting experiments investigated segmentation in Slovak, a language with single-consonant words and fixed stress. In Experiment 1, Slovak listeners detected real words such as ruka “hand” embedded in prepositional-consonant contexts (e.g., /gruka/) faster than those in nonprepositional-consonant contexts (e.g., /truka/) and slowest in syllable contexts (e.g., /dugruka/). The second experiment controlled for effects of stress. Responses were still fastest in prepositional-consonant contexts, but were now slowest in nonprepositional-consonant contexts. In Experiment 3, the lexical and syllabic status of the contexts was manipulated. Responses were again slowest in nonprepositional-consonant contexts but equally fast in prepositional-consonant, prepositional-vowel, and nonprepositional-vowel contexts. These results suggest that Slovak listeners use fixed stress and the PWC to segment speech, but that single consonants that can be words have a special status in Slovak segmentation. Knowledge about what constitutes a phonologically acceptable word in a given language therefore determines whether vowelless stretches of speech are or are not treated as acceptable parts of the lexical parse.
Auditory negative priming endures response modality change; prime response retrieval does not
Authors: Mayr Susanne , Buchner Axel
Published: July 2009

Two auditory identification experiments were run to test a specific hypothesis about the prime response retrieval mechanism of negative priming. This mechanism operates in ignored repetition trials where the prime distractor repeats as the probe target and leads to an increase of probe errors with the former prime response (Mayr & Buchner, 2006). Participants identified target sounds while ignoring distractor sounds. They changed from verbal (prime) to manual (probe) responding. Concomitant manual prime responses were prevented right from the start in Experiment 1 ( N = 72) but not in Experiment 2 ( N = 49). Experiment 1 revealed a negative priming effect in response speed but no prime response retrieval effect—that is, there was no increase in prime errors to the probes of ignored repetition trials. This pattern of results implies that retrieval of prime responses takes place at the level of motor responses (e.g., retrieval of the motor programme of a right index finger key press) but not at the level of task-specific response codes (e.g., retrieval of the “piano” response alternative). Experiment 2 replicated the negative priming effect across response modalities and helped to clarify the importance of prime response processes for finding a negative priming effect in overall error rates.
Negative priming of unattended part primes: Implications for models of holistic and analytic processing in object recognition
Authors: Conlan Lina I. , Phillips Julian C. , Leek E. Charles
Published: July 2009

The “hybrid” model of object recognition (Hummel, 2001) proposes that unattended objects are processed holistically, while attended objects are processed both holistically and analytically. Supporting evidence for this claim was reported by Thoma, Hummel, and Davidoff (2004) who showed that, unlike whole object primes, unattended split object parts (presumed to require analytic processing) do not elicit repetition priming. Here we tested the generality of this finding by contrasting priming for whole and part prime stimuli as a function of prime informativeness and by modifying the design so that both unattended whole and part prime displays contained a single perceptual object. Unlike Thoma et al. (2004) the results showed negative (rather than an absence of) priming for unattended half object primes. These findings place new constraints on theoretical models of the role of attention in object recognition.
Rhythmic sensorimotor coordination is resistant but not immune to auditory stream segregation
Authors: Repp Bruno H.
Published: July 2009

In a recent study of musicians’ sensorimotor synchronization with auditory sequences composed either of beat and subdivision tones differing in pitch or of beat tones only, Repp (2009) found that the phase correction response (PCR) to perturbed beats was inhibited by the presence of subdivisions regardless of whether beats and subdivisions formed integrated or segregated perceptual streams. The present study used a different paradigm in which perturbed subdivisions triggered the PCR. At the slower of two sequence tempi, the PCR was equally large in integrated and segregated conditions, but at the faster tempo stream segregation reduced the PCR substantially. This new finding indicates that although the PCR is strongly resistant to auditory stream segregation, it is not totally immune to it.
A System for Information Management in BioMedical Studies—SIMBioMS
Authors: Krestyaninova Maria , Zarins Andris , Viksna Juris , Kurbatova Natalja , Rucevskis Peteris , Neogi Sudeshna Guha , Gostev Mike , Perheentupa Teemu , Knuuttila Juha , Barrett Amy , Lappalainen Ilkka , Rung Johan , Podnieks Karlis , Sarkans Ugis , McCarthy Mark I , Brazma Alvis
Published: July 2009

Summary: SIMBioMS is a web-based open source software system for managing data and information in biomedical studies. It provides a solution for the collection, storage, management and retrieval of information about research subjects and biomedical samples, as well as experimental data obtained using a range of high-throughput technologies, including gene expression, genotyping, proteomics and metabonomics. The system can easily be customized and has proven to be successful in several large-scale multi-site collaborative projects. It is compatible with emerging functional genomics data standards and provides data import and export in accepted standard formats. Protocols for transferring data to durable archives at the European Bioinformatics Institute have been implemented.

Availability: The source code, documentation and initialization scripts are available at http://simbioms.org.

Contact:  support@simbioms.org; mariak@ebi.ac.uk
Accessible methods for the dynamic time-scale decomposition of biochemical systems
Authors: Surovtsova Irina , Simus Natalia , Lorenz Thomas , König Artjom , Sahle Sven , Kummer Ursula
Published: July 2009

Motivation: The growing complexity of biochemical models asks for means to rationally dissect the networks into meaningful and rather independent subnetworks. Such foregoing should ensure an understanding of the system without any heuristics employed. Important for the success of such an approach is its accessibility and the clarity of the presentation of the results.

Results: In order to achieve this goal, we developed a method which is a modification of the classical approach of time-scale separation. This modified method as well as the more classical approach have been implemented for time-dependent application within the widely used software COPASI. The implementation includes different possibilities for the representation of the results including 3D-visualization.

Availability: The methods are included in COPASI which is free for academic use and available at www.copasi.org.

Contact:  irina.surovtsova@bioquant.uni-heidelberg.de

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
PhyloDet: a scalable visualization tool for mapping multiple traits to large evolutionary trees
Authors: Lee Bongshin , Nachmanson Lev , Robertson George , Carlson Jonathan M. , Heckerman David
Published: July 2009

Summary: Evolutionary biologists are often interested in finding correlations among biological traits across a number of species, as such correlations may lead to testable hypotheses about the underlying function. Because some species are more closely related than others, computing and visualizing these correlations must be done in the context of the evolutionary tree that relates species. In this note, we introduce PhyloDet (short for PhyloDetective), an evolutionary tree visualization tool that enables biologists to visualize multiple traits mapped to the tree.

Availability:  http://research.microsoft.com/cue/phylodet/

Contact:  bongshin@microsoft.com.
Mining gene functional networks to improve mass-spectrometry-based protein identification
Authors: Ramakrishnan Smriti R. , Vogel Christine , Kwon Taejoon , Penalva Luiz O. , Marcotte Edward M. , Miranker Daniel P.
Published: July 2009

Motivation: High-throughput protein identification experiments based on tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) often suffer from low sensitivity and low-confidence protein identifications. In a typical shotgun proteomics experiment, it is assumed that all proteins are equally likely to be present. However, there is often other evidence to suggest that a protein is present and confidence in individual protein identification can be updated accordingly.

Results: We develop a method that analyzes MS/MS experiments in the larger context of the biological processes active in a cell. Our method, MSNet, improves protein identification in shotgun proteomics experiments by considering information on functional associations from a gene functional network. MSNet substantially increases the number of proteins identified in the sample at a given error rate. We identify 8–29% more proteins than the original MS experiment when applied to yeast grown in different experimental conditions analyzed on different MS/MS instruments, and 37% more proteins in a human sample. We validate up to 94% of our identifications in yeast by presence in ground-truth reference sets.

Availability and Implementation: Software and datasets are available at http://aug.csres.utexas.edu/msnet

Contact:  miranker@cs.utexas.edu, marcotte@icmb.utexas.edu

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Relationship between gene co-expression and sharing of transcription factor binding sites in Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Marco Antonio , Konikoff Charlotte , Karr Timothy L. , Kumar Sudhir
Published: July 2009

Motivation: In functional genomics, it is frequently useful to correlate expression levels of genes to identify transcription factor binding sites (TFBS) via the presence of common sequence motifs. The underlying assumption is that co-expressed genes are more likely to contain shared TFBS and, thus, TFBS can be identified computationally. Indeed, gene pairs with a very high expression correlation show a significant excess of shared binding sites in yeast. We have tested this assumption in a more complex organism, Drosophila melanogaster, by using experimentally determined TFBS and microarray expression data. We have also examined the reverse relationship between the expression correlation and the extent of TFBS sharing.

Results: Pairs of genes with shared TFBS show, on average, a higher degree of co-expression than those with no common TFBS in Drosophila. However, the reverse does not hold true: gene pairs with high expression correlations do not share significantly larger numbers of TFBS. Exception to this observation exists when comparing expression of genes from the earliest stages of embryonic development. Interestingly, semantic similarity between gene annotations (Biological Process) is much better associated with TFBS sharing, as compared to the expression correlation. We discuss these results in light of reverse engineering approaches to computationally predict regulatory sequences by using comparative genomics.

Contact:  amarcoca@asu.edu
Keishibukuryogan Reduces Renal Injury in the Early Stage of Renal Failure in the Remnant Kidney Model
Authors: Nakagawa Takako , Tashiro Izumi , Fujimoto Makoto , Jo Michiko , Sakai Shinya , Oka Hiroshi , Goto Hirozo , Shimada Yutaka , Shibahara Naotoshi
Published: July 2009

The effects of keishibukuryogan on the early stage of progressive renal failure were examined in rats subjected to 5/6 nephrectomy. Keishibukuryogan, one of the traditional herbal formulations, was given orally at a dose of 1% (w/w) and 3% (w/w) in chow. Administration of keishibukuryogan was started at 1 week after 5/6 nephrectomy and was continued for 4 weeks. At the end of the experiment, Azan staining did not reveal any severe histological changes in the kidneys of the nephrectomized rats. On the other hand, significant increases in mRNA expressions of transforming growth factor‐β1 and fibronectin related to tissue fibrosis, as examined by Reverse Transcriptase‐Polymerase Chain Reaction, were observed in nephrectomized rats, and they were significantly suppressed by 3% keishibukuryogan treatment. Against gene expressions related to macrophage infiltration, 3% keishibukuryogan treatment significantly suppressed osteopontin mRNA levels, and monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule‐1 mRNA levels showed a tendency to decrease, but without statistical significance. It was also observed that 3% keishibukuryogan attenuated serum urea nitrogen and urinary protein excretion levels. From these results, it was suggested that keishibukuryogan exerts beneficial effects that result in slowing the progression of chronic renal failure.
Clinical Holistic Medicine: Factors Influencing The Therapeutic Decision-Making. From Academic Knowledge to Emotional Intelligence and Spiritual “Crazy” Wisdom
Authors: Ventegodt Søren , Kandel Isack , Merrick Joav
Published: July 2009

Scientific holistic medicine is built on holistic medical theory, on therapeutic and ethical principles. The rationale is that the therapist can take the patient into a state of salutogenesis, or existential healing, using his skills and knowledge. But how ever much we want to make therapy a science it remains partly an art, and the more developed the therapist becomes, the more of his/her decisions will be based on intuition, feeling and even inspiration that is more based on love and human concern and other spiritual motivations than on mental reason and rationality in a simple sense of the word. The provocative and paradoxal medieval western concept of the “truth telling clown”, or the eastern concepts of “crazy wisdom” and “holy madness” seems highly relevant here. The problem is how we can ethically justify this kind of highly “irrational” therapeutic behavior in the rational setting of a medical institution. We argue here that holistic therapy has a very high success rate and is doing no harm to the patient, and encourage therapists, psychiatrists, psychologist and other academically trained “helpers” to constantly measure their own success-rate. This paper discusses many of the important factors that influence clinical holistic decision-making. Sexuality could, as many psychoanalysts from Freud to Reich and Searles have believed, be the most healing power that exists and also the most difficult for the mind to comprehend, and thus the most “crazy-wise” tool of therapy.
Testosterone and dihydrotestosterone differentially improve cognition in aged female mice
Authors: Benice Ted S. , Raber Jacob
Published: July 2009

Compared with age-matched male mice, female mice experience a more severe age-related cognitive decline (ACD). Since androgens are less abundant in aged female mice compared with aged male mice, androgen supplementation may enhance cognition in aged female mice. To test this, we assessed behavioral performance on a variety of tasks in 22- to 24-mo-old gonadally intact female mice treated for 6 wk with silastic capsules containing either testosterone (T) or dihydrotestosterone (DHT) or empty capsules (placebo). Compared with placebo-treated mice, spatial memory retention in the water maze was enhanced by testosterone treatment, but not DHT treatment. In contrast, DHT treatment improved passive avoidance (PA) retention, while T treatment only did so marginally. These data support that androgen supplementation in old female mice improves cognitive performance differentially depending upon the type of hormone treatment and cognitive task.
Diversity in long-term synaptic plasticity at inhibitory synapses of striatal spiny neurons
Authors: Rueda-Orozco Pavel E. , Mendoza Ernesto , Hernandez Ricardo , Aceves Jose J. , Ibanez-Sandoval Osvaldo , Galarraga Elvira , Bargas Jose
Published: July 2009

Procedural memories and habits are posited to be stored in the basal ganglia, whose intrinsic circuitries possess important inhibitory connections arising from striatal spiny neurons. However, no information about long-term plasticity at these synapses is available. Therefore, this work describes a novel postsynaptically dependent long-term potentiation (LTP) at synapses among spiny neurons (intrinsic striatal circuitry); a postsynaptically dependent long-term depression (LTD) at synapses between spiny and pallidal neurons (indirect pathway); and a presynaptically dependent LTP at strionigral synapses (direct pathway). Interestingly, long-term synaptic plasticity differs at these synapses. The functional consequences of these long-term plasticity variations during learning of procedural memories are discussed.
Direct comparisons of the size and persistence of anisomycin-induced consolidation and reconsolidation deficits
Authors: Stafford James M. , Lattal K. Matthew
Published: July 2009

An issue of increasing theoretical interest in the study of learning is to compare the processes that follow an initial learning experience (such as learning an association between a context and a shock; memory consolidation processes) with those that follow retrieval of that learning experience (such as exposure to the context in the absence of shock; memory reconsolidation and extinction processes). Much of what is known about these processes comes from separate experiments examining one process or the other; there have been few attempts to compare these processes directly in a single experiment. A challenge in between-experiment comparisons of consolidation and reconsolidation deficits is that they frequently involve comparisons between groups that are not matched on factors that may influence the size and persistence of these deficits (e.g., prior learning experience, memory expression prior to deficit). The following experiments examined the size and persistence of these deficits after matching both the amount of experience with a context and the levels of performance in that context prior to delivery of the protein synthesis inhibitor anisomycin. We found that systemic or intrahippocampal administration of anisomycin caused a deficit in groups receiving context conditioning (consolidation groups) or reactivation (reconsolidation groups) immediately prior to the injections. With systemic injections, the deficit was larger and more persistent in consolidation groups; with intrahippocampal injections, the initial deficit was statistically identical, yet was more persistent in the consolidation group. These experiments showed that when experiences and performance are matched prior to anisomycin injections, consolidation deficits are generally larger and more persistent compared to reconsolidation deficits.
Reciprocal patterns of c-Fos expression in the medial prefrontal cortex and amygdala after extinction and renewal of conditioned fear
Authors: Knapska Ewelina , Maren Stephen
Published: July 2009

After extinction of conditioned fear, memory for the conditioning and extinction experiences becomes context dependent. Fear is suppressed in the extinction context, but renews in other contexts. This study characterizes the neural circuitry underlying the context-dependent retrieval of extinguished fear memories using c-Fos immunohistochemistry. After fear conditioning and extinction to an auditory conditioned stimulus (CS), rats were presented with the extinguished CS in either the extinction context or a second context, and then sacrificed. Presentation of the CS in the extinction context yielded low levels of conditioned freezing and induced c-Fos expression in the infralimbic division of the medial prefrontal cortex, the intercalated nuclei of the amygdala, and the dentate gyrus (DG). In contrast, presentation of the CS outside of the extinction context yielded high levels of conditioned freezing and induced c-Fos expression in the prelimbic division of the medial prefrontal cortex, the lateral and basolateral nuclei of the amygdala, and the medial division of the central nucleus of the amygdala. Hippocampal areas CA1 and CA3 exhibited c-Fos expression when the CS was presented in either context. These data suggest that the context specificity of extinction is mediated by prefrontal modulation of amygdala activity, and that the hippocampus has a fundamental role in contextual memory retrieval.
Auxin Stimulates Its Own Transport by Shaping Actin Filaments
Authors: Nick Peter , Han Min-Jung , An Gyeunhung
Published: July 2009

The directional transport of the plant hormone auxin has been identified as central element of axis formation and patterning in plants. This directionality of transport depends on gradients, across the cell, of auxin-efflux carriers that continuously cycle between plasma membrane and intracellular compartments. This cycling has been proposed to depend on actin filaments. However, the role of actin for the polarity of auxin transport has been disputed. The organization of actin, in turn, has been shown to be under control of auxin. By overexpression of the actin-binding protein talin, we have generated transgenic rice (Oryza sativa) lines, where actin filaments are bundled to variable extent and, in consequence, display a reduced dynamics. We show that this bundling of actin filaments correlates with impaired gravitropism and reduced longitudinal transport of auxin. We can restore a normal actin configuration by addition of exogenous auxins and restore gravitropism as well as polar auxin transport. This rescue is mediated by indole-3-acetic acid and 1-naphthyl acetic acid but not by 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. We interpret these findings in the context of a self-referring regulatory circuit between polar auxin transport and actin organization. This circuit might contribute to the self-amplification of auxin transport that is a central element in current models of auxin-dependent patterning.
A Genetic Screen for Nitrate Regulatory Mutants Captures the Nitrate Transporter Gene NRT1.1
Authors: Wang Rongchen , Xing Xiujuan , Wang Yong , Tran Amy , Crawford Nigel M.
Published: July 2009

Nitrate regulatory mutants (nrg) of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) were sought using a genetic screen that employed a nitrate-inducible promoter fused to the yellow fluorescent protein marker gene YFP. A mutation was identified that impaired nitrate induction, and it was localized to the nitrate regulatory gene NLP7, demonstrating the validity of this screen. A second, independent mutation (nrg1) mapped to a region containing the NRT1.1 (CHL1) nitrate transporter gene on chromosome 1. Sequence analysis of NRT1.1 in the mutant revealed a nonsense mutation that truncated the NRT1.1 protein at amino acid 301. The nrg1 mutation disrupted nitrate regulation of several endogenous genes as induction of three nitrate-responsive genes (NIA1, NiR, and NRT2.1) was dramatically reduced in roots of the mutant after 2-h treatment using nitrate concentrations from 0.25 to 20 mm. Another nrt1.1 mutant (deletion mutant chl1-5) showed a similar phenotype. The loss of nitrate induction in the two nrt1.1 mutants (nrg1 and chl1-5) was not explained by reduced nitrate uptake and was reversed by nitrogen deprivation. Microarray analysis showed that nitrate induction of 111 genes was reduced and of three genes increased 2-fold or more in the nrg1 mutant. Genes involved in nitrate assimilation, energy metabolism, and pentose-phosphate pathway were most affected. These results strongly support the model that NRT1.1 acts as a nitrate regulator or sensor in Arabidopsis.
Molecular and Biochemical Characterization of AtPAP15, a Purple Acid Phosphatase with Phytase Activity, in Arabidopsis
Authors: Kuang Ruibin , Chan Kam-Ho , Yeung Edward , Lim Boon Leong
Published: July 2009

Purple acid phosphatase (PAP) catalyzes the hydrolysis of phosphate monoesters and anhydrides to release phosphate within an acidic pH range. Among the 29 PAP-like proteins in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), AtPAP15 (At3g07130) displays a greater degree of amino acid identity with soybean (Glycine max; GmPHY) and tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) PAP (NtPAP) with phytase activity than the other AtPAPs. In this study, transgenic Arabidopsis that expressed an AtPAP15 promoter∷β-glucuronidase (GUS) fusion protein showed that AtPAP15 expression was developmentally and temporally regulated, with strong GUS staining at the early stages of seedling growth and pollen germination. The expression was also organ/tissue specific, with strongest GUS staining in the vasculature, pollen grains, and roots. The recombinant AtPAP purified from transgenic tobacco exhibited broad substrate specificity with moderate phytase activity. AtPAP15 T-DNA insertion lines exhibited a lower phytase and phosphatase activity in seedling and germinating pollen and lower pollen germination rate compared with the wild type and their complementation lines. Therefore, AtPAP15 likely mobilizes phosphorus reserves in plants, particularly during seed and pollen germination. Since AtPAP15 is not expressed in the root hair or in the epidermal cells, it is unlikely to play any role in external phosphorus assimilation.
The information literacy instruction assessment cycle
Authors: Oakleaf Megan
Published: July 2009

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to present the Information Literacy Instruction Assessment Cycle (ILIAC), to describe the seven stages of the ILIAC, and to offer an extended example that demonstrates how the ILIAC increases librarian instructional abilities and improves student information literacy skills.

Design/methodology/approach

Employing survey design methodology, the researcher and participants use a rubric to code artifacts of student learning into pre‐set rubric categories. These categories are assigned point values and statistically analyzed to evaluate students and examine interrater reliability and validity.

Findings

By engaging in the ILIAC, librarians gain important data about the information behavior of students and a greater understanding of student strengths and weaknesses. The ILIAC encourages librarians to articulate learning outcomes clearly, analyze them meaningfully, celebrate learning achievements, and diagnose problem areas. In short, the ILIAC results in improved student learning and increased librarian instructional skills. In this study, the ILIAC improves students' ability to evaluate web sites for authority.

Research limitations/implications

The research focuses on librarians, instructors, and students at one institution. As a result, specific findings are not necessarily generalizable to those at other universities.

Practical implications

Academic librarians throughout higher education struggle to demonstrate the impact of information literacy instruction on student learning and development. The ILIAC provides a much needed conceptual framework to guide information literacy assessment efforts.

Originality/value

The paper applies the assessment cycle and “assessment for learning” theory to information literacy instruction. The ILIAC provides a model for future information literacy assessment projects. It also enables librarians to demonstrate, document, and increase the impact of information literacy instruction on student learning and development.
The exploration of relationships between information fulfilment and organisational design
Authors: Burke Maria E.
Published: July 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between information fulfilment and organisational design.

Design/methodology/approach

The exploration is undertaken in four ways. First, the early part of the paper places information fulfilment within the literature. Second, there is an attempt to further determine the meaning of information fulfilment. Third, the factors that impact on information fulfilment are identified within the context of organisational design. Fourth, empirical findings are reported in the form of a European project which investigated the “relationship” between organisational design and information fulfilment.

Findings

Information fulfilment is shown to be about the process of taking an intuitive “feel” and delineating a number of aspects which are concerned with what might be called emotion. Fulfilment is also connected with organisational roles and wider environmental issues.

Originality/value

The contribution of this paper to the discipline of information management is that information fulfilment is found to exist and to be an important issue influenced by the design of an organisation.
Information science: communication chain and domain analysis
Authors: Robinson Lyn
Published: July 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to derive a conceptual model for information science, which is both academically sound and practically useful, particularly for curriculum design.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach takes the form of a conceptual analysis, based on an extensive literature review, going back to the earliest days of information science.

Findings

A conceptual model is derived, based on the study of components of the information chain through approaches of domain analysis, plus “fringe” topics and a meta‐level consideration of the discipline itself. Links to related subjects may be derived systematically from this model.

Originality/value

This is the first paper to suggest that a useful model for information science can be derived, based on the idea of studying the communication chain by means of domain analysis.
Examining information behavior through social networks
Authors: Schultz‐Jones Barbara
Published: July 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review the post‐1996 literature of information science and other disciplines for the application of social network theory and social network analysis to research that provides an understanding of information environments.

Design/methodology/approach

The literature review involved a content analysis of 373 articles retrieved from five electronic journal databases offering broad disciplinary coverage, and a selection of nine peer‐reviewed electronic access journals in information science. Each database was limited to academic or peer reviewed journals and searched using two query phrases: social network theory (SNT) and social network analysis (SNA).

Findings

The paper demonstrates the growth of interest by information science and other disciplines in research that applies social network theory and utilizes social network analysis, indicating what research approaches and major focus trends differentiate the disciplines.

Research limitations/implications

The search phrases overlook articles using social networks as the only key phrase for indexing. However, the intention was to examine the application of a theoretical concept and specific methodology, so the terms used were appropriate for this purpose.

Practical implications

The paper identifies opportunities to apply social network theory and social network analysis to the study of the exchange of information resources.

Originality/value

The paper demonstrates that information science could advance valuable contributions to an understanding of information behavior using social network theory and social network analysis as a vehicle to connect with a significant body of existing research in other disciplines.
Web searching by the “general public”: an individual differences perspective
Authors: Ford Nigel , Eaglestone Barry , Madden Andrew , Whittle Martin
Published: July 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of a number of human individual differences on the web searching of a sample of the general public.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 91 members of the general public performed 195 controlled searches. Search activity and ratings of search difficulty and success were recorded and statistically analysed. The study was exploratory, and sought to establish whether there is a prima facie case for further systematic investigation of the selection and combination of variables studied here.

Findings

Results revealed a number of interactions between individual differences, the use of different search strategies, and levels of perceived search difficulty and success. The findings also suggest that the open and closed nature of searches may affect these interactions. A conceptual model of these relationships is presented.

Practical implications

Better understanding of factors affecting searching may help one to develop more effective search support, whether in the form of personalised search interfaces and mechanisms, adaptive systems, training or help systems. However, the findings reveal a complexity and variability suggesting that there is little immediate prospect of developing any simple model capable of driving such systems.

Originality/value

There are several areas of this research that make it unique: the study's focus on a sample of the general public; its use of search logs linked to personal data; its development of a novel search strategy classifier; its temporal modelling of how searches are transformed over time; and its illumination of four different types of experienced searcher, linked to different search behaviours and outcomes.
What is Library 2.0?
Authors: Holmberg Kim , Huvila Isto , Kronqvist‐Berg Maria , Widén‐Wulff Gunilla
Published: July 2009

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to define both theoretically and empirically the concept of Library 2.0.

Design/methodology/approach

Written answers to the question “What is Library 2.0?” given by practitioners and researchers (n=29) interested in Library 2.0 issues were analyzed by using co‐word analysis to map the underlying elements of the concept.

Findings

The study resulted in a model of Library 2.0, containing seven building‐blocks of the phenomenon: interactivity, users, participation, libraries and library services, web and web 2.0, social aspects, and technology and tools.

Research limitations/implications

The model provides a basis for framing Library 2.0 as a research object and to map central themes of future research.

Practical implications

A comprehensive model enables both researchers and practitioners to frame the phenomenon more clearly, evaluate existing and planned services and their proximity to what is Library 2.0.

Originality/value

Unlike earlier proposals for a definition of the notion Library 2.0, the present study presents an empirical and consensual crowd‐sourcing approach of defining the concept Library 2.0 and provides basis for discussing the future evolution of the notion and its implications for library and information science research and library practices.
An empirical study of the information‐seeking behavior of practicing visual artists
Authors: Hemmig William
Published: July 2009

Purpose

Little is known about the information‐seeking behavior of practicing visual artists; what research exists has focused largely on art students, art faculty and librarians, although an untested model does emerge. The aim of this paper is to report the findings of an empirical study of a community of practicing visual artists, and to determine whether the model can be applied to such communities.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative study was administered to a sample of a community of practicing visual artists in order to determine the community's use of various information sources in the service of creative and sales activities.

Findings

The paper finds that the model may be applied to practicing visual artists. It provides a portrait of the information behavior of a specific community of practice, and suggests how information use may differ, while following the model, among different demographic groups within the community.

Research limitations/implications

The research approach and findings do not conclusively define the uses that artists make of information. The sample size prohibits definitive analysis by demographic data. The quantitative approach facilitates effective identification of community behaviors, but qualitative research might enhance these findings by illuminating the information‐seeking and use processes of individuals.

Practical implications

Information providers will have a means of gathering and analyzing data about the information behaviors of specific communities of visual artists to be used in the creation of enhanced information environments.

Originality/value

The paper presents the first published research into the information behavior of a community of practicing visual artists without regard to alternative sources of income, academic affiliation, or library use. It presents a means of focusing on these unstudied and underserved communities.
The Antaeus column: does the “open access” advantage exist? A librarian's perspective
Authors: Joint Nicholas
Published: July 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the evidence about the benefits of running open access repositories, with particular emphasis on the so‐called “open access advantage.”

Design/methodology/approach

A brief account of the evolving arguments for open access, together with a summary and analysis of some recent articles proposing arguments for and against the idea of “open access advantage.”

Findings

The paper finds that many of the original arguments for the benefits of open access have fallen by the wayside; but that, in spite of this, there is a good evidence that an “open access advantage” does exist. The application of straightforward library statistical counting measures which are traditionally used to evaluate user benefits of mainstream services is just as effective an evaluation tool as more sophisticated citation analysis methods.

Research limitations/implications

As much of the research into the impact of open access on citation counts of articles is highly complex and narrowly focussed, a continuation of such abstract research activity may obscure this topic rather than shed light.

Practical implications

The insights of practitioner librarians into repository evaluation are highly important.

Originality/value

This article attempts to refocus the discussion of open access repositories away from the more abstract and remote analysis of their benefits, and emphasise that open access repositories are straightforward information services like any other, and should be evaluated on the same terms.
Emerging challenges and opportunities for Nigerian libraries in a global information environment
Authors: Omekwu Charles O. , Echezona Ifeoma R.
Published: July 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the challenges and opportunities for librarians operating in a global information environment.

Design/methodology/approach

The exploratory research design is adopted and secondary data are also used. The method is to first examine the concept of globalization, the status of information and communication technology (ICT) in African countries and current issues in library practices with specific focus on digital technology, and internet use pattern across Africa. The next approach is to examine the challenges and opportunities for libraries and librarians in a global information environment.

Findings

The paper concludes that the critical challenge for information professionals from developing countries is to harness technological systems to globalize their information resources and services. The opportunities of doing so are boundless, borderless and beneficial in accessing the global information pool.

Practical implications

Nigeria libraries are critically situated at the crossroads of digital revolution that is creating new vistas for information service provision. But how far and how fast they move from the crossroads to the emerging digital threshold will define their quality as well as quantity of information services provision by all species of libraries.

Originality/value

The paper originality lies in its concise articulation of the boundless opportunities in a duality of a global information environment and the argument that librarians, who will manage information in the globalized environment, must acquire skills that will make global professionals rather than local champions. It is further contended that Nigerian libraries must join the march of civilization and the radical impact of the globalization process. This is because of the fact that in the garden of humanity, nothing is static; that which fails to grow will begin the process of gradual extinction and irrelevance. This paper looks at the library in a global information environment. It also examines the impact of ICT on global information network. The opportunities offered by the impact of ICT on globalization are also discussed. It articulates the challenges for librarians and libraries in global information environment.
Information literacy as professional legitimation: the quest for a new jurisdiction
Authors: O'Connor Lisa
Published: July 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the emergence of information literacy (IL) by analyzing professional discourse and demonstrating that there is much evidence to support Foster's claim that regardless of what else IL might achieve, it was in part a professional response and an attempt to rearticulate and legitimate librarians' claim to an educational jurisdiction at a time their traditional access‐oriented jurisdiction was threatened.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper employs document analysis and critical analysis.

Findings

The paper finds that IL is, in part, the result of librarians' need to protect their professional territory from the systemic disturbances caused by information technology, fiscal challenges and the educational reform movement.

Research limitations/implications

The paper should be of interest to researchers involved in the field of IL.

Practical implications

The paper discusses the place of IL in the field of modern librarianship, and as such should be wide interest in various sectors of librarianship.

Originality/value

The results of this study offer a critical analysis of the development of IL in the field of librarianship, and as such deals with an important issue facing librarians in the twenty‐first century.
On the writing, reading and publishing of digital stories
Authors: Petrelli Daniela , Wright Hazel
Published: July 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe a study set up to investigate and map the landscape of digital writing today. A holistic perspective has been adopted involving writers, readers and publishers alike.

Design/methodology/approach

The research uses a qualitative approach and combines interviews and direct observations. In in‐depth interviews 13 participants (four writers, four publishers, three readers and two on‐line readers) were questioned for their opinions on issues related to writing, publishing and reading digital fiction. The three readers were also observed while interacting, for the first time, with three digital stories.

Findings

Results show that the area is still unsettled though much excitement surrounds experimentations and freedom of publishing online. Readers seem uneasy with the role of co‐creators that writers want to assign them and prefer linear stories to more deconstructed ones. Writers like to experiment and combine multiple media and readers like to interact with multimedia stories; this seems to open interesting perspectives over interactive narrative. Publishers are not yet involved in digital writing and this is seen simultaneously as a blessing (unfiltering of innovative ideas) and a curse (lack of economical support, lack of quality selection). Despite disagreement and ambiguity all interviewees agree that digital fiction will come, likely prompted by new reading technology.

Originality/value

This paper is the first attempt to understand the phenomena of digital writing taking into consideration the perspectives of writers, readers and publishers simultaneously and comparing their different views.
Skills developed through library and information science education
Authors: Gerolimos Michalis
Published: July 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report a study designed to identify qualifications and skills that library and information science (LIS) students should have when they graduate.

Design/methodology/approach

The reported research examines the curriculum of 49 institutions in three countries which offer programs in LIS. Course descriptions are studied through the web and the module specifications presented there.

Findings

The study identifies 59 qualifications/skills that were central to graduation in the field of LIS.

Research limitations/implications

Course specifications have some limitations as they do not always include the detailed description that would be desirable.

Originality/value

The paper examines the orientation of institutions that provide LIS programs and, more importantly, the way that orientation is integrated into their programs of study.
Development of an indigenously fermented Indian bread – doli ki roti
Authors: Bhatia Anshu , Khetarpaul Neelam
Published: July 2009

Purpose

Some of the indigenous fermented foods of India seem to be very nutritious but not scientifically proved. Moreover, due to urbanisation and changing food habits and lifestyles, people are abandoning such nutritious recipes. This paper aims to collect such indigenous technical knowledge, standardise it under laboratory conditions and analyse it organoleptically and for various nutrients.

Design/methodology/approach

Doli ki roti – an indigenous nutritional fermented bread popular among Indian Punjabis migrated from Pakistan – is a wheat‐based product. Natural fermentation is carried out in an earthen pot called doli in vernacular language. The final product was a stuffed puri‐like preparation (a puri is a fried small fermented wheat bread stuffed with spice‐cooked chickpeas). Its preparation was learned from rural households and standardised under laboratory conditions. The product prepared was improved further to make it rich in micronutrients and protein. It was analysed for proximate nutrients, phytic acid and in vitro digestibility of starch and protein using standard AOAC methods.

Findings

The unfermented bread had 632.3 mg phytic acid per 100 g but this reduced significantly to an extent of 5‐18 per cent due to fermentation at 35°C and for both time periods, i.e. 18 h and 24 h. This significant reduction in the phytic acid content culminated in a marked improvement in protein (28‐50 per cent) and starch (57‐88 per cent) digestibility. The higher the temperature and the longer the period of fermentation, the more significant (p<0.05) were the changes seen in the phytic acid content, and a significant and negative correlation between the two further strengthened the findings.

Research limitations/implications

Such a product can be further improved nutritionally by making it rich in beta‐carotene. Instead of frying, it can be baked in the oven for health‐conscious people suffering from hypercholesterolemia.

Practical implications

On the basis of the findings of the present study, people should be encouraged not to abandon healthy eating practices but continue with their traditional healthy food habits. They should be motivated to prepare and eat fermented foods having the right combination of cereals, pulses and leafy vegetables.

Originality/value

This is an original paper based on an original idea. It is based on the research findings of the MSc thesis of the first author, who worked under the guidance of the second author.