bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Recent advances in the elucidation of enzymatic function in natural product biosynthesis
Authors: Tan Gao-Yi , Deng Zixin , Liu Tiangang
Published: February 2016

With the successful production of artemisinic acid in yeast, the promising potential of synthetic biology for natural product biosynthesis is now being realized. The recent total biosynthesis of opioids in microbes is considered to be another landmark in this field. The importance and significance of enzymes in natural product biosynthetic pathways have been re-emphasized by these advancements. Therefore, the characterization and elucidation of enzymatic function in natural product biosynthesis are undoubtedly fundamental for the development of new drugs and the heterologous biosynthesis of active natural products. Here, discoveries regarding enzymatic function in natural product biosynthesis over the past year are briefly reviewed.
Functions of the Supervision Proceedings in the Civil Procedure
Authors: Bykova Irina
Published: February 2016

In this article the author analyses correlation between terms tasks and aims of the civil procedure in whole and these ones of the supervision proceedings in particular. Addressing Soviet and modern Russian jurists’ opinions, the author based on contextual reading of the law rule of the Civil Procedure Code of the Russian Federation that determines aims and tasks of the civil procedure offers her own vision of correlation between the above-mentioned terms and supposes division into the main and additional tasks of the civil procedure. Named tasks of the civil procedure the author considers that determining functions of the civil procedure as means to complete these tasks is needed. Comparing other authors’ terms of the civil procedure function the author formulates her term of a function of the civil procedure. Moreover the question concerning possible synonym of terms: principles, tasks, aims and functions of the civil procedure is also considered. Concluding characterization of the civil procedure functions the author disserts about functions of each stage of the civil procedure, with a particular focus on optional stages of the civil procedure, one of which is the supervision proceedings. Based on functions of the supervision proceedings in the civil procedure the author divides such functions into check, regulatory, protecting, control and right-conferring functions. Employing in particular historic-legal and comparative methods of research, the author of this article characterizes each of the above-mentioned functions, also through determining tasks of each particular function of the supervision proceedings in the civil procedure. In conclusion the author writes that it’s necessity to determine the functions of the supervision proceedings in civil procedure for the purpose of correct understanding the role of the supervision proceedings in the civil procedure of the modern Russian State.
Russian national guidelines on insulin pump therapy and continuous glucose monitoring for diabetes mellitus patients. DRAFT
Authors: Shestakova Marina Vladimirovna , Mayorov Aleksandr Yuryevich , Philippov Yury Ivanovich , Ibragimova Lyudmila Ibragimovna , Pekareva Elena Vladimirovna , Laptev Dmitry Nikitich , Glazunova Aleksandra Mikhailovna
Published: February 2016

Insulin pump therapy (continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion, CSII) and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) are high-tech treatment and diagnostic tools for diabetes patients management which are actively used worldwide. CSII initiation and pump-users supervision became a part of routine clinical practice in Russia along with the CGM. Present project of clinical guidelines is based on international and domestic experience in CSII and CGM for diabetes treatment. Guidelines should ensure uniformity of CGM and CSII usage in Russia by health care professionals and diabetes patients and provide them an international experience to guarantee height performance of the technology. This article contains a preliminary version of the guidelines (draft) prepared for further expert’s discussion and review. The final version of the clinical guidelines will be sent to the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation for approval.
Estágio Curricular Supervisionado: o Papel do Supervisor na Formação Profissional do Discente de Engenharia de Produção
Authors: Ferreira Márcia Neves , Reis Augusto Da Cunha
Published: February 2016

O estágio visa ao aprendizado de competências próprias do curso e aproxima teoria e prática. Assim, o presente artigo tem como objetivo contribuir para a discussão em torno da importância do supervisor de estágio na formação profissional do discente. Entende-se que é fundamental para a garantia do estágio, como um ato educativo, uma articulação entre instituição de ensino, professor orientador, coordenador de estágio, estagiário e supervisor de estágio. No entanto, este estudo se desdobra em subsídios que respaldam o supervisor de estágio como um parceiro para assegurar uma formação profissional de qualidade, sendo capaz de desenvolver no estagiário valores e respostas as demandas inerentes do mercado de trabalho. A pesquisa foi realizada no Centro Federal de Educação Tecnológica Celso Suckow da Fonseca – CEFET/RJ, no segundo semestre de 2015 com uma amostra de 55 discentes matriculados na disciplina de estágio supervisionado do curso de graduação em engenharia de produção. Os dados foram coletados por meio de questionário estruturado. Os resultados revelam que os estudantes estão satisfeitos com a orientação recebida pelos seus supervisores de estágio, ainda observou-se que os supervisores estão comprometidos com o processo pedagógico envolvido na prática profissional.
Adjustments to In Vitro Culture Conditions and Associated Anomalies in Plants
Authors: Isah Tasiu
Published: February 2016

Plant tissue culture techniques have become an integral part of progress in plant science research due to the opportunity offered for close study of detailed plant development with applications in food production through crop improvement, secondary metabolites production and conservation of species. Because the techniques involve growing plants under controlled conditions different from their natural outdoor environment, the plants need adjustments in physiology, anatomy and metabolism for successfulin vitropropagation. Therefore, the protocol has to be optimized for a given species or genotype due to the variability in physiological and growth requirement. Developing the protocol is hampered by several physiological and developmental aberrations in the anatomy and physiology of the plantlets, attributed toin vitroculture conditions of high humidity, low light levels and hetero- or mixotrophic conditions. Some of the culture-induced anomalies become genetic, and the phenotype is inherited by clonal progenies while others are temporary and can be corrected at a later stage of protocol development through changes in anatomy, physiology and metabolism. The success of protocols relies on the transfer of plantlets to field conditions which has been achieved with many species through stages of acclimatization, while with others it remains a challenging task. This review discusses various adjustments in nutrition, physiology and anatomy of micro-propagated plants and field grown ones, as well as anomalies induced by thein vitroculture conditions.
Ideologizing age in an era of superdiversity: A heritage language learner practice perspective
Authors: Manosuthikit Aree , De Costa Peter I.
Published: February 2016

SLA research on age in naturalistic contexts has examined learners’ ultimate attainment, while instructed research has emphasized the rate of learning (Birdsong 2014. Dominance and age in bilingualism.Applied Linguistics35(4). 374–392; Muñoz 2008. Symmetries and asymmetries of age effects in naturalistic and instructed L2 learning.Applied Linguistics29(4). 578–596). However, both streams of research, which view age as a biological construct, have overlooked this construct through an ideological lens. To address this gap, and in keeping with Blommaert’s (2005.Discourse. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press) call to examine language ideologies and related ideologies in an era of superdiversity, our paper explores the ideology undergirding age-based research and examines it in conjunction with the practice-based approach to better understand the use of Burmese as a heritage language, a language characterized by a hierarchical and an age-determined honorific system. Drawing on data from a larger ethnographic study involving Burmese migrants in the US, analyses of the bilingual practice of address forms of generation 1.5 Burmese youth demonstrated that age was relationally constructed. While these youth strategically adopted ‘traditional’ linguistic practices ratified by Burmese adults when interacting with their parents, such practices were invoked and subverted in interactions involving their siblings and other Burmese adults less familiar to them. In focusing on the social and linguistic struggles encountered by these transnational multilingual youth, this paper also addresses the complexities surrounding heritage language learning.
MCM5 as a target of BET inhibitors in thyroid cancer cells
Authors: Mio Catia , Lavarone Elisa , Conzatti Ketty , Baldan Federica , Toffoletto Barbara , Puppin Cinzia , Filetti Sebastiano , Durante Cosimo , Russo Diego , Orlacchio Arturo , Di Cristofano Antonio , Di Loreto Carla , Damante Giuseppe
Published: February 2016

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is an extremely aggressive thyroid cancer subtype, refractory to the current medical treatment. Among various epigenetic anticancer drugs, bromodomain and extra-terminal inhibitors (BETis) are considered to be an appealing novel class of compounds. BETi target the bromodomain and extra-terminal of BET proteins that act as regulators of gene transcription, interacting with histone acetyl groups. The goal of this study is to delineate which pathway underlies the biological effects derived from BET inhibition, in order to find new potential therapeutic targets in ATC. We investigated the effects of BET inhibition on two human anaplastic thyroid cancer-derived cell lines (FRO and SW1736). The treatment with two BETis, JQ1 and I-BET762, decreased cell viability, reduced cell cycle S-phase, and determined cell death. In order to find BETi effectors, FRO and SW1736 were subjected to a global transcriptome analysis after JQ1 treatment. A significant portion of deregulated genes belongs to cell cycle regulators. Among them, MCM5 was decreased at both mRNA and protein levels in both tested cell lines. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) experiments indicate thatMCM5is directly bound by the BET protein BRD4.MCM5silencing reduced cell proliferation, thus underlining its involvement in the block of proliferation induced by BETis. Furthermore, MCM5 immunohistochemical evaluation in human thyroid tumor tissues demonstrated its overexpression in several papillary thyroid carcinomas and in all ATCs. MCM5 was also overexpressed in a murine model of ATC, and JQ1 treatment reducedMcm5mRNA expression in two murine ATC cell lines. Thus, MCM5 could represent a new target in the therapeutic approach against ATC.
Risk Profile May Affect Search Process but Not Results
Authors: Hannigan Gale G.
Published: February 2016

Objective – To compare the use, in terms of process and outcomes, of electronic information resources by primary care physicians with different risk profiles and comfort with uncertainty.

Design – Survey, and observation using “think-aloud” method.

Setting – Physicians’ offices.

Subjects – Canadian and U.S. primary care physicians who report seeing patients in clinic settings.

Methods – Volunteers were recruited from personal contacts and the list of physicians who rate current studies for the McMaster Online Rating of Evidence (MORE) project. Physicians completed the Pearson scale to measure attitude toward risk and the Gerrity scale to measure comfort with uncertainty, and those who scored at the extremes of each of these two scales were included in the study (n=25), resulting in four groups (risk-seeking, risk-avoiding, uncertainty-stressed, uncertainty-unstressed). One researcher observed each of these physicians in their offices for an hour during which they completed questionnaires about their computer skills and familiarity with resources, answered multiple-choice clinical questions, and indicated level of certainty with regard to those answers (scale of 0 to 100%). Physicians also chose two of the clinical questions to answer using their own resources. The think-aloud method was employed, and transcripts were coded and analyzed.

Main results – The study analysis included two comparisons: risk-seeking (11 subjects) versus risk-avoiding (11 subjects) physicians, and uncertainty-stressed (11 subjects) versus uncertainty-unstressed (10 subjects) physicians. Most physicians were included in both sets of analyses. The researchers found no association of risk attitude and uncertainty stress with computer skills nor with familiarity and use of specific information resources (Internet, MEDLINE, PIER, Clinical Evidence, and UpToDate). No differences were found for the following outcomes: time spent searching, answers correct before searching, answers correct after searching, and certainty of answer if answer is right, certainty of answer if answer is wrong. There was a statistically significant association of participants’ indicating certainty for answers that were correct versus those that were not correct (p
University Engineering Faculty Depend on Scholarly Journals, Web Resources, and Face-to-Face Consultations to Help Them with Research
Authors: Newton Miller Laura
Published: February 2016

Objective – To study the information-seeking behaviour of engineering faculty.

Design – Online survey; Purposive sample.

Setting – Engineering departments of 20 large public universities in various regions of the United States.

Subjects – 903 engineering faculty members (including 35% professors; 24% associate professors, 23% assistant professors, and 17% ranked as adjunct faculty, instructors, lecturers, professors emeriti and “other”).

Methods – 4905 researchers were sent an email invitation to complete a 12-item survey with open and closed questions. Email addresses were gathered from university websites.

Main Results – 96% of those surveyed find access to online scholarly journals (current and backfiles) as very important or important. 71% believe access to the physical book collection is very important or important. 56% feel that access to electronic book collections is very important or important. (Further analysis revealed a difference between newer and older faculty- 62% of newer faculty and 52% of faculty in field for 16 or more years think electronic book collections are important). Print subscriptions to journals are important to only 37% of respondents, and providing space to conduct research is important to only 36% of those surveyed. Besides attending conferences and scanning journals, face-to-face discussion with students and colleagues was a key resource for faculty for keeping current in the engineering field. 81% seek information at least weekly to prepare for lectures, about 74% at least monthly to conduct research or write publications, and 77% at least monthly to remain current in their field. 73% visited the physical library fewer than five times in the past year, but researchers were surprised that almost half (47%) rated assistance from library staff as important or very important. 70% see interlibrary loan services as important or very important.

Conclusion – Engineering faculty rely on scholarly journals, Internet, and other electronic resources for their research. They depend on face-to-face consultations with students and colleagues. The physical space of the library is less important.
A Survey of Graphic Novel Collection and Use in American Public Libraries
Authors: Schneider Edward Francis
Published: February 2016

Abstract

Objective – The objective of this study was to survey American public libraries about their collection and use of graphic novels and compare their use to similar data collected about video games.

Methods – Public libraries were identified and contacted electronically for participation through an open US government database of public library systems. The libraries contacted were asked to participate voluntarily.

Results – The results indicated that both graphic novels and video games have become a common part of library collections, and both media can have high levels of impact on circulation. Results indicated that while almost all libraries surveyed had some graphic novels in their collections, those serving larger populations were much more likely to use graphic novels in patron outreach. Similarly, video game collection was also more commonly found in libraries serving larger populations. Results also showed that young readers were the primary users of graphic novels.

Conclusion – Responses provided a clear indicator that graphic novels are a near-ubiquitous part of public libraries today. The results on readership bolster the concept of graphic novels as a gateway to adult literacy. The results also highlight differences between larger and smaller libraries in terms of resource allocations towards new media. The patron demographics associated with comics show that library cooperation could be a potential marketing tool for comic book companies.
Link Established Between LBGT-Friendly Campus Climate Index Scores and Web-Based Resources of Academic Libraries
Authors: Reed Kathleen
Published: February 2016

A Review of:

Ciszek, M. P. (2011). Out on the web: The relationship between campus climate and GLBT-related web-based resources in academic libraries. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 37(5), 430-436. doi: 10.1016/j.acalib.2011.06.007

Objective – To explore whether academic institutions that score highly on the LGBT-Friendly Campus Climate Index also have well-developed Web-based library resources to support GLBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender) students.

Design – Website analysis, percentage, and binary logistic regression analysis.

Setting – Library websites of colleges and universities in four American geographic regions: Northeast, Midwest, South, and West.

Subjects – There were 259 colleges and universities that participated in the 2010 LGBT-Friendly Campus Climate Index.

Methods – The author visited the library websites of all institutions and surveyed available GLBT-related resources. The criteria for online resources included: 1) A research guide for GLBT studies or geared toward GLBT students, 2) An individual identified within the research guide as a contact for GLBT-related resources, and 3) A subscription to EBSCO’s GLBT Life database.

Whether or not the academic libraries had the above resources was then analyzed with each institution’s score on the climate survey scale. The author controlled for geographical location, religious affiliation, and campus setting of the college or university.

Main Results – There is a positive direct relationship between whether a library makes GLBT resources available on the Web and campus climate. However, only 25% of libraries surveyed published a research guide, 18% named a contact individual, and 31% subscribed to GLBT Life.

Conclusion – While parent institutions commit to GLBT students by taking the LBGT-Friendly Campus Climate Index survey, academic libraries lag behind providing online resources for this community.

The author recommends academic libraries:

• Create a top-level GLBT research guide.

• Provide contact information for a staff person assigned to provide GLBT-related research assistance.

• Assign a resource selector for GLBT-related resources.

• Subscribe to GLBT-related databases.

• Partner with GLBT organizations on campus to improve collections.

• Promote GLBT-related collections to the campus community.

• Perform an assessment of the information and resource needs of GLBT campus community members.

• Ensure the GLBT community is included in programming and services.
Is There a Future for Evidence Based Library and Information Practice?
Authors: Booth Andrew
Published: February 2016

No abstract.
Field Experiences Provide Value for Library Students, but More Research Is Needed into Their Administration
Authors: Medaille Ann
Published: February 2016

Objective – To evaluate an eight-week practicum requirement for library and information science students.

Design – Survey questionnaire.

Setting – The University of the Punjab and participating libraries in Pakistan.

Subjects – A total of 118 graduates of the library and information science program at the University of the Punjab who had completed an eight-week-long practicum experience in a public, academic, or special library between 2002 and 2006.

Methods – Snowball sampling was used to select the subjects. Surveys were delivered and collected through personal visits, email, and postal mail, and the authors asked follow-up questions of some subjects whose surveys were collected in person. The survey contained questions about several topics, such as the type of professional tasks (e.g., acquisition, circulation, reference service, etc.) that students did during the practicum, professional skills developed, practicum length, comfort in sharing problems with supervisors, and the evaluation process. The authors used statistical analysis software (SPSS, version 12) to analyze the survey results.

Main Results – The majority of subjects reported that they had received the opportunity to train in several sections and functions of the library, and they felt that the practicum was important in improving their professional skills. Most reported being comfortable sharing problems with their supervisors and were satisfied with the evaluation process. The survey also included open-ended questions about problems and suggestions, but only 28% of the subjects responded with comments.

Conclusion – The authors concluded that the library practicum plays an important role in the professional development of future library professionals, and that the length of the practicum should be extended from its current eight-week requirement.
For Non-expert Clinical Searches, Google Scholar Results are Older with Higher Impact while PubMed Results Offer More Breadth
Authors: Perryman Carol
Published: February 2016

Objectives – To compare PubMed and Google Scholar results for content relevance and article quality

Design – Bibliometric study.

Setting – Department of Internal Medicine at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center.

Methods – Four clinical searches were conducted in both PubMed and Google Scholar. Search methods were described as “real world” (p. 216) behaviour, with the searchers familiar with content, though not expert at retrieval techniques. The first 20 results from each search were evaluated for relevance to the initial question, as well as for quality.

Relevance was determined based on one author’s subjective assessment of information in the title and abstract, when available, and then tested by two other authors, with discrepancies discussed and resolved. Items were assigned to one of three categories: relevant, possibly relevant, and not relevant to the question, with reviewer agreement measured using a weighted kappa statistic. The quality of items found to be ‘relevant’ and ‘possibly relevant’ was measured by impact factor ratings from Thomsen Reuters (ISI) Web of Knowledge, when available, as well as information obtained by SCOPUS on the number of times items were cited.

Main Results – Google Scholar results were judged to be more relevant and of higher quality than results obtained from PubMEed. Google Scholar results are also older on average, while PubMed retrieved items from a larger number of unique journals.

Conclusion – In agreement with earlier research, the authors recommended that searchers use both PubMed and Google Scholar to improve on the quality and relevance of results. Searches in the two resources identify unique items based upon the ranking algorithms involved.
Editorial Responsibilities
Authors: . .
Published: February 2016

No abstract.
Call for Studies on Quality Improvement for Inclusion in Systematic Review
Authors: Koufogiannakis Denise
Published: February 2016

No abstract.
Call For Submissions: CARL Research Grants
Authors: . .
Published: February 2016

No abstract.
Understanding the Information Research Process of Experienced Online Information Researchers to Inform Development of a Scholars Portal
Authors: Whitehead Martha , Costantino Terry
Published: February 2016

Objective - The main purpose of this study was to understand the information research process of experienced online information researchers in a variety of disciplines, gather their ideas for improvement and as part of this to validate a proposed research framework for use in future development of Ontario’s Scholars Portal.

Methods - This was a qualitative research study in which sixty experienced online information researchers participated in face-to-face workshops that included a collaborative design component. The sessions were conducted and recorded by usability specialists who subsequently analyzed the data and identified patterns and themes.

Results - Key themes included the similarities of the information research process across all disciplines, the impact of interdisciplinarity, the social aspect of research and opportunities for process improvement. There were many specific observations regarding current and ideal processes. Implications for portal development and further research included: supporting a common process while accommodating user-defined differences; supporting citation chaining practices with new opportunities for data linkage and granularity; enhancing keyword searching with various types of intervention; exploring trusted social networks; exploring new mental models for data manipulation while retaining traditional objects; improving citation and document management.

Conclusion – The majority of researchers in the study had almost no routine in their information research processes, had developed few techniques to assist themselves and had very little awareness of the tools available to help them. There are many opportunities to aid researchers in the research process that can be explored when developing scholarly research portals. That development will be well guided by the framework ‘discover, gather, synthesize, create, share.’
Citation Analysis Shows Promise as an Effective Tool for Monograph Collection Development
Authors: Marsalis Scott
Published: February 2016

A Review of:

Enger, K. B. (2009). Using citation analysis to develop core book collections in academic libraries. Library & Information Science Research, 31(2), 107-112.

Objective – To test whether acquiring books written by authors of highly cited journal articles is an effective method for building a collection in the social sciences.

Design – Comparison Study.

Setting – Academic library at a public university in the US.

Subjects – A total of 1,359 book titles, selected by traditional means (n=1,267) or based on citation analysis (n=92).

Methods – The researchers identified highly-ranked authors, defined as the most frequently cited authors publishing in journals with an impact factor greater than one, with no more than six journals in any category, using 1999 ISI data. They included authors in the categories Business, Anthropology, Criminology & Penology, Education & Education Research, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology/Anthropology, and General Social Sciences. The Books in Print bibliographic tool was searched to identify monographs published by these authors, and any titles not already owned were purchased. All books in the study were available to patrons by Fall 2005. The researchers collected circulation data in Spring 2007, and used it to compare titles acquired by this method with titles selected by traditional means.

Main Results – Overall, books selected by traditional methods circulated more than those selected by citation analysis, with differences significant at the .001 level. However, at the subject category level, there was no significant difference at the .05 level. Most books selected by the test method circulated one to two times.

Conclusion – Citation analysis can be an effective method for building a relevant book collection, and may be especially effective for identifying works relevant to a discipline beyond local context.
Call for Contributions Now Open for EBLIP8
Authors: . .
Published: February 2016

No abstract.
A Citation Analysis of the Classical Philology Literature: Implications for Collection Development
Authors: Crawford Gregory A.
Published: February 2016

Objective – This study examined the literature of classical (Greek and Latin) philology, as represented by the journal Transactions of the American Philological Association (TAPA), to determine changes over time for the types of materials cited, the languages used, the age of items cited, and the specificity of the citations. The overall goal was to provide data which could then be used by librarians in collection development decisions.

Methods – All citations included in the 1986 and 2006 volumes of the Transactions of the American Philological Association were examined and the type of material, the language, the age, and the specificity were noted. The results of analyses of these citations were then compared to the results of a study of two earlier volumes of TAPA to determine changes over time.

Results – The analyses showed that the proportion of citations to monographs continued to grow over the period of the study and accounted for almost 70% of total citations in 2006. The use of foreign language materials changed dramatically over the time of the study, declining from slightly more than half the total citations to less than a quarter. The level of specificity of citations also changed with more citations to whole books and to book chapters, rather than to specific pages, becoming more prevalent over time. Finally, the age of citations remained remarkably stable at approximately 25 years old.

Conclusion – For librarians who manage collections focused on Greek and Latin literature and language, the results can give guidance for collection development and maintenance. Of special concern is the continuing purchase of monographs to support research in classical philology, but the retention of materials is also important due to the age and languages of materials used by scholars in this discipline.
Awareness of Open Access Issues Differs among Faculty at Institutions of Different Sizes
Authors: Reed Kathleen
Published: February 2016

A Review of:
Kocken, G. J. & Wical, S. H. (2013). “I’ve never heard of it before”: Awareness of open access at a small liberal arts university. Behavioral & Social Sciences Librarian, 32(3), 140-154. http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1080/01639269.2013.817876

Abstract

Objective – This study surveyed faculty awareness of open access (OA) issues and the institutional repository (IR) at the University of Wisconsin. The authors hoped to use findings to inform future IR marketing strategies to faculty.

Design – Survey.

Setting – University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, a small, regional public university (approximately 10,000 students).

Subjects – 105 faculty members.

Methods – The authors contacted 397 faculty members inviting them to participate in an 11 question online survey. Due to anonymity issues on a small campus, respondents were not asked about rank and discipline, and were asked to not provide identifying information. A definition of OA was not provided by the authors, as survey participants were queried about their own definition.

Main Results – Approximately 30% of the faculty were aware of OA issues. Of all the definitions of OA given by survey respondents, “none . . . came close” to the definition favoured by the authors (p. 145). More than 30% of the faculty were unable to define OA at a level deemed basic by the authors.

A total of 51 (48.57%) of the survey respondents indicated that there are OA journals in their disciplines. Another 6 (5.71%) of the faculty members claimed that there are no OA journals in their disciplines, although most provided a definition of OA and several considered OA publishing to be “very important.”

The remaining 48 participants (46%) were unsure if there are OA journals in their disciplines. Of these survey respondents, 38 answered that they have not published in an OA journal, 10 were unsure, and 21 believed that their field benefits or would benefit from OA journals.

Survey respondents cited quality of the journal, prestige, and peer review as extremely important in selecting a journal in which to publish.

Conclusion – The authors conclude that the level of awareness related to OA issues must be raised before IRs can flourish. They ponder how university and college administrators regard OA publishing, and the influence this has on the tenure and promotion process.
An Introduction to Critical Appraisal
Authors: Wilson Virginia
Published: February 2016

No abstract.
Gender, Race, and Age of Librarians and Users Have an Impact on the Perceived Approachability of Librarians
Authors: Daniel Dominique
Published: February 2016

Objective – To assess how the age, gender, and race characteristics of library users affect their perceptions of the approachability of reference librarians with similar or different demographic characteristics.

Design – Image rating survey.

Setting – Large, three-campus university system in the United States.

Subjects – There were 449 students, staff, and faculty of different ages, gender, and race.

Methods – In an online survey respondents were presented with images of hypothetical librarians and asked to evaluate their approachability, using a scale from 1 to 10. The images showed librarians with neutral emotional expressions against a standardized, neutral background. The librarians’ age, gender, and race were systematically varied. Only White, African American, and Asian American librarians were shown. Afterwards respondents were asked to identify their own age, gender, race, and status.

Main Results – Respondents perceived female librarians as more approachable than male librarians, maybe due to expectations caused by the female librarian stereotype. They found librarians of their own age group more approachable. African American respondents scored African American librarians as more approachable, whereas Whites expressed no significant variation when rating the approachability of librarians of different races. Thus, African Americans demonstrated strong in-group bias but Whites manifested colour blindness – possibly a strategy to avoid the appearance of racial bias. Asian Americans rated African American librarians lower than White librarians.

Conclusion – This study demonstrates that visible demographic characteristics matter in people’s first impressions of librarians. Findings confirm that diversity initiatives are needed in academic libraries to ensure that all users feel welcome and are encouraged to approach librarians. Regarding gender, programs that deflate the female librarian stereotype may help improve the approachability image of male librarians. Academic libraries should staff the reference desk with individuals covering a wide range of ages, including college-aged interns, whom traditional age students find most approachable. Libraries should also build a racially diverse staff to meet the needs of a racially diverse user population. Since first impressions have lasting effects on the development of social relationships, structural diversity should be a priority for libraries’ diversity programs.
The 6th International Evidence Based Library and Information Practice Conference (EBLIP6): Conference Report and Reflections
Authors: Brettle Alison , Grant Maria , Fraser Katie , Dalziel Katrina , Gardois Paolo , Lewis Suzanne , Kaalvik Hilde , Eldredge Jonathan
Published: February 2016

No abstract.
Taking Stock(holm): Time to Up Our Game?
Authors: Booth Andrew
Published: February 2016

Andrew Booth, Co-Chair of the International Programme Committee for the 5th International Evidence Based Library and Information Practice Conference introduces the keynotes from the event in Stockholm.
Google Scholar Could Be Used as a Stand-Alone Resource for Systematic Reviews
Authors: Herman Saori Wendy
Published: February 2016

A Review of:

Gehanno, J. F., Rollin, L., & Darmoni, S. (2013). Is the coverage of Google Scholar enough to be used alone for systematic reviews. BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making, 13(1): 7. doi: 10.1186/1472-6947-13-7

Abstract

Objective – To determine if Google Scholar (GS) is sensitive enough to be used as the sole search tool for systematic reviews.

Design – Citation analysis.

Setting – Biomedical literature.

Subjects – Original studies included in 29 systematic reviews published in the Cochrane Library or JAMA.

Methods – The authors searched MEDLINE for any systematic reviews published in the 2008 and 2009 issues of JAMA or in the July 8, 2009 issue of the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. They chose 29 systematic reviews for the study and included these reviews in a gold standard database created specifically for this project. The authors searched GS for the title of each of the original references for the 29 reviews. They computed and noted the recall of GS for each reference.

Main Results – The authors searched GS for 738 original studies with a 100% recall rate. They also made a side discovery of a number of major errors in the bibliographic references.

Conclusion – Researchers could use GS as a stand-alone database for systematic reviews or meta-analyses. With a couple improvements to the rate of positive predictive values and advanced search features, GS could become the leading medical bibliographic database.

Conclusion – Researchers could use GS as a stand-alone database for systematic reviews or meta-analyses. With a couple improvements to the rate of positive predictive values and advanced search features, GS could become the leading medical bibliographic database.
Collaboration and Growth
Authors: Kloda Lorie
Published: February 2016

No abstract.
Systematic Reviews and Evidence Based Library and Information Practice
Authors: Brettle Alison
Published: February 2016

This commentary presents a rationale for undertaking systematic reviews in library and information practice. As library and information practitioners have the skills to undertake systematic reviews, it is questioned why there are not more in the field. The barriers and challenges to undertaking systematic reviews are discussed.
Mining the Cultural Evidence: Situating Planning and Leadership within the Academic Library Culture
Authors: Currie Lyn , Shepstone Carol
Published: February 2016

Objective – This study investigated organizational culture in two academic libraries in order to propose culturally responsive strategies for developing planning and leadership initiatives. A case study conducted at the University of Saskatchewan Library (Shepstone & Currie, 2008) was replicated at two other Canadian academic libraries to generate some comparative data on organizational culture in Canadian academic libraries.

Methods – The Competing Values Framework (Cameron & Quinn, 1999, 2006) provided the theoretical framework and the methodology for diagnosing and understanding organizational culture. The Organizational Culture Assessment Instrument (OCAI) was administered by questionnaire to all library staff at Mount Royal University and Carleton University libraries.

Results – Scores on the OCAI were used to graphically plot and describe the current and preferred culture profiles for each library. We compared the cultures at the three libraries and proposed strategies for initiating planning and developing leadership that were appropriate for the preferred cultures.

Conclusions – This research demonstrates that academic library culture can be diagnosed, understood, and changed in order to enhance organizational performance. Examining organizational culture provides evidence to guide strategy development, priority setting and planning, and the development of key leadership abilities and skills. Creating culturally appropriate support mechanisms, opportunities for learning and growth, and a clear plan of action for change and improvement are critical.
Multiple Databases are Needed to Search the Journal Literature on Computer Science
Authors: Badia Giovanna
Published: February 2016

A Review of:
Cavacini, A. (2015). What is the best database for computer science journal articles? Scientometrics 102(3): 2059-2071. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11192-014-1506-1

Objective – To compare the coverage of computer science literature in four bibliographic databases by checking the indexing of a selection of journal articles. The purpose of this comparison was to identify the most comprehensive database in computer science and determine whether more than one database is needed to search for articles on computer science topics.

Design – Comparative database evaluation using citation analysis.

Setting – Computer science journal literature found within the INSPEC, Scopus, Web of Science, and DBLP databases.

Subjects – 1,135 computer science journal articles published by an Italian university’s researchers from 1979 to 2014.

Methods – The University of Milan’s institutional repository (AIR), containing publications authored by the university’s researchers, was searched in October 2014 for journal articles that were assigned the subject heading “informatica” (the word for computer science in Italian). The author then searched the titles of these journal articles in each of the databases to check whether they were indexed. For articles indexed in all four databases, the author also examined the quality of the bibliographic records by looking for the presence of 20 elements (e.g., the “cited by” option, ranking of search results, precision of results, etc.) in each database’s record. These overlapping articles were also searched in Google Scholar to help compare the quality of the records between the databases.

Main Results – Scopus indexed 75.86% of the journal articles found in AIR, Web of Science indexed 64.49%, DBLP indexed 61.15%, and INSPEC indexed 53.39%. Web of Science and INSPEC put together covered 74.80% of the articles, which is comparable to the amount indexed by Scopus. DBLP and Scopus contained the highest number of references to articles that were not found in the other databases, about 4% each. Out of the 1,135 journal articles, 391 (34.45%) were indexed by all four databases, with Web of Science scoring the highest for providing the best quality bibliographic records for these articles.

Conclusions – According to the author, the findings showed that INSPEC, Scopus, Web of Science, and DBLP “complemented each other, in a way that neither one could replace the other” (p. 2068) when searching the computer science literature. While there was overlap between databases, they each also contained unique articles.
Evidence and Ethics
Authors: Brettle Alison
Published: February 2016

No abstract.
Acknowledgement of Editorial Advisors
Authors: Koufogiannakis Denise
Published: February 2016

No abstract.
Measuring the Value of Library Resources and Student Academic Performance through Relational Datasets
Authors: Jantti Margie , Cox Brian
Published: February 2016

Objective – This article describes a project undertaken by the University of Wollongong Library (UWL) to identify whether a correlation exists between usage of library resources and academic performance.

Methods – A multidimensional approach to systems design was implemented, requiring collaboration between among the library, university administration, Performance Indicator Project team (PIP), and information technology services. The project centers on the integration and interrogation of a series of discrete datasets containing student performance, attrition, demographic, borrowing, and electronic resources usage data. PIP built a cube for the library that links usage of library resources to student demographic data and academic performance (the “Library Cube”). Other cubes will be linked later.

Results – While initial reports are rudimentary and do not yet incorporate data on e-resource usage, results are favourable in demonstrating the value of using the library information resources in coursework. Based on the data generated to date, students who borrow library resources do outperform students who do not. Early trend data shows up to a 12-point difference in grades.

Conclusion – The Library Cube signals a new milestone in the UWL’s quality assessment journey. Well-established measures of effectiveness and efficiency will be further complemented by measures of impact and value, allowing the library to step even closer to the goal of having effective and valued partnerships with the university community to realize teaching, learning, research, and internalization goals.
Evaluating Open Access Day 2009 at Ohio State University
Authors: Gilliland Anne
Published: February 2016

No abstract.
The Impact and Effect of Learning 2.0 Programs in Australian Public Libraries
Authors: Stephens Michael , Cheetham Warren
Published: February 2016

Abstract

Objective – With adoption of the program world-wide, the Learning 2.0 model has been lauded by library professionals as a mechanism to educate library staff and transform libraries. This study, part of the 2009 CAVAL Visiting Scholar project, seeks to measure the impact and legacy of the model within Australian public libraries to understand what benefits, changes and effects occur.

Methods – A national Web-based survey for those who had participated in a learning 2.0 program.

Results – The national survey had 384 respondents, and a total of 64 respondents were identified as the public library staff data set for this article. Public library staff reported success in the program and described feelings of increased confidence, inclusivity, and a move to use emerging technologies as part of library service.

Conclusion – The analysis yields the following thematic areas of impact and effect:

personal practice is enhanced with knowledge and confidence; impact is mainly personal, but organisational changes may follow; the library is using the tools to varying degrees of success, and organizational blocks prevent use of tools. These finding offer evidence that Learning 2.0 programs can have a positive effect on library staff and subsequently on the organization itself.
School Library Media Specialist Collaboration with Special Education Personnel in Support of Student Learning
Authors: Farmer Lesley S. J.
Published: February 2016

Objective – The objective of this study was to identify factors for effective collaboration between school library media specialists and special education personnel in support of student learning.

Methods – A review method was used to examine illustrative studies of collaboration.

Results – The analysis revealed studies that represented a variety of methodologies: survey, observation, interview, action research, and participatory ethnography. The review identified cross-study factors that facilitate collaboration between school library media specialists and special educators: shared knowledge via cross-training and regular professional interaction, effective communication skills, and effective educational team planning and co-teaching of meaningful learning activities.

Conclusion – The study concluded that school library media specialists and special education personnel need to share their knowledge and expertise about the effective use of appropriate resources and services for students with special needs.