bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of glutamine supplementation on neutrophil function in male judoists
Authors: Sasaki Eiji , Umeda Takashi , Takahashi Ippei , Arata Kojima , Yamamoto Yousuke , Tanabe Masaru , Oyamada Kazuyuki , Hashizume Erika , Nakaji Shigeyuki
Published: January 2013

Glutamine is an important amino acid for immune function. Though high intensity and prolonged exercise decreases plasma glutamine concentration and causes immune suppression, the relationship between neutrophil functions and glutamine has not yet been found. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impacts of glutamine supplementation on neutrophil function. Twenty‐six male university judoists were recruited. Subjects were classified into glutamine and control groups. The glutamine group ingested 3000 mg of glutamine per day and the control group ingested placebo for 2 weeks. Examinations were performed at the start of preunified loading exercise (pre‐ULE), then 1 and 2 weeks after ULE (post‐ULE). Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, phagocytic activity, serum opsonic activity and serum myogenic enzymes were measured. Differences between the levels obtained in pre‐ULE and post‐ULE for the two groups were compared. In the glutamine group, ROS production activity increased 1 week after ULE, whereas it was not observed in the control group (P < 0.001). Though myogenic enzymes increased significantly after ULE (P < 0.001), the glutamine group remained unchanged by supplementation during ULE. Glutamine supplementation has prevented excessive muscle damage and suppression of neutrophil function, especially in ROS production activity, even during an intensive training period. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Optimisation of the operational parameters during a biological nitrification process using response surface methodology
Authors: Darvishi Cheshmeh Soltani R. , Rezaee A. , Khataee A.R. , Godini H.
Published: January 2013

The main aim of this study was to determine the optimal operational parameters for a biological nitrification process. For this reason, a batch mode biological nitrification filled with acclimated sludge was used to remove ammonium from synthetic wastewater. Increasing the initial ammonium concentration from 50 to 300 mg NH4‐N/L within 67 days led to a decrease in the removal efficiency of ammonium from 97.2% to 57.3%, which is equivalent to increasing the specific ammonium oxidation from 1.09 to 3.85 mg NH4‐N/g MLVSS/h. Response surface methodology (RSM) based on central composite design (CCD) was used to evaluate the interactive effects of the three main parameters, including the sodium bicarbonate/ammonium chloride ratio, air flow rate and the reaction time, on the removal of ammonium. For the highest ammonium removal of 98.7%, the optimum sodium bicarbonate/ammonium chloride ratio, air flow rate and reaction time were identified to be 3.48, 3.44 vvm (volume air per volume reactor per minute) and 24.65 h, respectively, based on an initial ammonium concentration of 200 mg NH4‐N/L.
Simulation of methane catalytic cracking in a bubbling fluidised bed
Authors: Amin Ashraf , Croiset Eric , Epling William
Published: January 2013

A three‐phase bubbling fluidised bed model has been developed to simulate and predict the performance of a methane catalytic cracking fluidised bed reactor, using Ni/(porous and non‐porous) Al2O3 catalysts, under relevant conditions. The model includes the chemistry and hydrodynamics occurring within the fluidised bed reactor. Methane cracking kinetics, developed in a previous work using a thermo balance, was used in the model. The model predictions were compared to the results from an experimental study carried out in a lab‐scale fluidised bed. Good fit between experimental data and the model was obtained under a wide range of reaction conditions.
Comparative analysis of mathematical models for supercritical extraction simulation from industrially valuable lamiaceae herbs
Authors: Stamenic Marko , Ivanovic Jasna , Grujic Slavica , Milovanovic Stoja , Zizovic Irena , Petrovic Slobodan
Published: January 2013

The present study was aimed to compare different mathematical models used to simulate process of supercritical extraction from commercially important Lamiaceae herbs. Supercritical extractions with carbon dioxide from rosemary, sage, thyme and lavender originated from the southern Balkan region were performed at 10 MPa and 40°C. Obtained extraction curves were simulated by the model based on the heat transfer analogy, Sovova's model and the model on the micro‐scale. The models were used to analyse mass transfer phenomena and to quantify mass transfer parameters in the fluid and/or solid phase as well as the solubility of the solute in supercritical phase.
A low‐power four‐stage amplifier for driving large capacitive loads
Authors: Mojarad Mortaza , Yavari Mohammad
Published: January 2013

A four‐stage amplifier with a new and efficient frequency compensation topology is presented in this paper. The new compensation scheme applies a Miller capacitor as the main negative feedback, a resistor and a capacitor in series as a load for one of the intermediate stages, and two feedforward paths. In order to design the amplifier and acquire circuit parameters, small signal analyses have been carried out to derive the signal transfer function and the pole‐zero locations. The proposed amplifier was designed and implemented in a standard 90 nm CMOS process with two heavy capacitive loads of 500 pF and 1 nF. The simulation results show that when driving a 500 pF load, the amplifier has a gain‐bandwidth product of 18 MHz consuming only 40.9 μW. With a 1 nF capacitive load, the proposed amplifier achieves 15.1 MHz gain‐bandwidth product and dissipates 55.2 μW from a single 0.9 V power supply. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Identification of (2‐aminopropyl)benzofuran (APB) phenyl ring positional isomers in Internet purchased products
Authors: Stanczuk Andrzej , Morris Noreen , Gardner Elizabeth A. , Kavanagh Pierce
Published: January 2013

5‐(2‐Aminopropyl)benzofuran (5‐APB), a ‘research chemical’ that was first reported by UK authorities to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) in 2010, is anecdotally reported to produce a combination of stimulant and entactogenic effects. More recently, in 2011, 6‐(2‐aminopropyl)benzofuran (6‐APB) was identified by Hungarian authorities. To confirm positional isomer identity in Internet purchased products, 4‐ 5‐ 6‐ and 7‐APBs were synthesized and found to be separable by gas chromatography (as heptafluorobutyramide derivatives) and liquid chromatography. The analyses of products purchased from online vendors of ‘research chemicals’ identified the presence of 5‐ or 6‐APBs. These findings were further confirmed by liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. In products containing 6‐APB, the 4‐ positional isomer was also identified and this may have arisen during the manufacturing process. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Anatomy of a blastocyst: Cell behaviors driving cell fate choice and morphogenesis in the early mouse embryo
Authors: Schrode Nadine , Xenopoulos Panagiotis , Piliszek Anna , Frankenberg Stephen , Plusa Berenika , Hadjantonakis Anna‐Katerina
Published: January 2013

The preimplantation period of mouse early embryonic development is devoted to the specification of two extraembryonic tissues and their spatial segregation from the pluripotent epiblast. During this period two cell fate decisions are made while cells gradually lose their totipotency. The first fate decision involves the segregation of the extraembryonic trophectoderm (TE) lineage from the inner cell mass (ICM); the second occurs within the ICM and involves the segregation of the extraembryonic primitive endoderm (PrE) lineage from the pluripotent epiblast (EPI) lineage, which eventually gives rise to the embryo proper. Multiple determinants, such as differential cellular properties, signaling cues and the activity of transcriptional regulators, influence lineage choice in the early embryo. Here, we provide an overview of our current understanding of the mechanisms governing these cell fate decisions ensuring proper lineage allocation and segregation, while at the same time providing the embryo with an inherent flexibility to adjust when perturbed. genesis 51:219–233. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Stepwise Spin Transition and Hysteresis of a Tetrameric Iron(II) Complex, fac‐[Tris(2‐methylimidazol‐4‐ylmethylidene‐n‐hexylamine)]iron(II) Chloride Hexafluorophosphate, Assembled by Imidazole···Chloride Hydrogen Bonds
Authors: Nishi Koshiro , Kondo Hiroki , Fujinami Takeshi , Matsumoto Naohide , Iijima Seiichiro , Halcrow Malcolm A. , Sunatsuki Yukinari , Kojima Masaaki
Published: January 2013

A spin‐crossover iron(II) complex, fac‐[FeII(HLn‐Hx)3]Cl·PF6 (1), that exhibits stepwise spin transition and thermal hysteresis was synthesized by using the ligand 2‐methylimidazol‐4‐ylmethylidene‐n‐hexylamine (HLn‐Hx). Four complex cations (fac‐[FeII(HLn‐Hx)3]2+) and four Cl– anions associate through twelve imidazole···Cl– H bonds to give a tetrameric cubane‐like assembly, and one PF6– anion is encapsulated within the cavity of the cubane. Magnetic susceptibility measurements showed a three‐step spin transition, and the spin‐crossover profile became less pronounced as the sweep rate increased. At a sweep rate of 0.5 K min–1, the midpoint temperatures of the three steps are Tc(↑) = 131.2, 144.2, and 154.2 K in the heating mode and Tc(↓) = 116.8, 137.8, and 151.8 K in the cooling mode. The respective thermal hystereses were evaluated to be 14.4, 6.3, and 2.4 K wide.
High‐Power Low‐Cost Tissue‐Based Biofuel Cell
Authors: Gu Yonge , Sattayasamitsathit Sirilak , Jia Wenzhao , Kaufmann Kevin , Wang Chunming , Wang Joseph
Published: January 2013

We demonstrate the first example of using plant tissues for the operation of biofuel cells (BFC). A banana tissue rich with polyphenol oxidase (PPO), an enzyme able to reduce oxygen to water, was mixed with a carbon paste (banana/CP). The resulting tissue electrode was employed as the biocathode of a glucose biofuel cell based on a glucose dehydrogenase (GDH) bioanode. On the bioanode, multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are used as supports for the glucose‐dehydrogenase (GDH) biocatalyst and the Meldola’s blue (MDB) mediator, while the phenolic constituents of the banana serve as mediator for PPO. The maximum power output and open circuit voltage (OCV) of the banana‐based tissue biofuel cell were 57 µW/cm2 and 0.46 V, respectively. Control experiments using the corresponding pure enzyme tyrosinase (Tyr) for the biocathode resulted in a substantially lower power output. Cost analysis of this tissue biofuel cell system indicates dramatic improvements in terms of the power‐output/dollar compared to the common use of isolated enzymes (166 502 µW/$ vs. 17.8 µW/$, i.e., 9354 times improvement). The banana‐based biofuel cell displayed an extended lifetime of over 2 weeks with proper storage between experiments. We also demonstrate a fuel‐free full plant‐tissue based BFC concept, combining the banana biocathode with a bioanode based on germinated tomato‐seeds that contain alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), NAD+ and ethanol. Our findings indicate the potential of using plant tissues for the successful operation of efficient and cost‐effective BFC.
Evidence for Holocene Aeolian Activity at the Close of the Middle Bronze Age in the Eastern Carpathian Basin: Geoarchaeological Results from the Mureş River Valley, Romania
Authors: Sherwood Sarah C. , Windingstad Jason D. , Barker Alex W. , O'Shea John M. , Sherwood W. Cullen
Published: January 2013

While extensive Pleistocene loess deposits have been identified across Eurasia, Holocene age loess (typically nonglaciogenic) is rarely recognized. We explore possible loess deposits in the Mureş River Valley of western Romania, providing a regional signal of increased aridity during the mid‐late Holocene. This proposed aridity may be responsible for the abandonment of Middle Bronze Age tell settlements along the major drainages of the eastern Carpathian Basin (Pannonian plain). This hypothesis centers on a proposed aeolian deposit (the “Pecica deposit”), a ca. 50–80 cm thick, relatively homogeneous, gray layer blanketing the top of the Bronze Age tell of Pecica—Şanţul Mare. Comparing the morphological, geochemical, and physical characteristics of this specific tell deposit with two representative profiles near the site containing glaciogenic calcareous loess and potential Holocene loess deposits developed in Chernozems, we find significant similarities to support this hypothesis. We then review various forms of proxy data published from elsewhere in Central and Eastern Europe suggesting a warming trend during this period. The temporal placement of the Pecica deposit is bracketed using diagnostic artifacts, radiocarbon dates, and the degree of soil development, suggesting a period of increased aridity likely occurring soon after the 17th century B.C.
Microwave‐Assisted Functionalization of Phosphinic Acids: Amidations versus Esterifications
Authors: Keglevich György , Kiss Nóra Zsuzsa , Körtvélyesi Tamás
Published: January 2013

Both the reaction enthalpies and enthalpies of activation obtained by high‐level quantum chemical calculations were against the direct amidation of phosphinic acids under traditional thermal conditions. However, the amidations, not expected to proceed on the basis of the endothermicity and the significantly high enthalpies of activation, did take place under microwave (MW) conditions in 30–36% conversions. As a comparison, the direct esterifications of phosphinic acids that are thermoneutral and have higher enthalpies of activation were quite efficient under MW conditions. The outcome of the MW‐assisted amidation is the balance of two effects. The local overheating effect could overcome the barrier meant by the enthalpy of activation, but the endothermicity works against this. Comparison of the results of the syntheses and the energetics calculated for the esterification and amidation of phosphinic acids enabled us to draw more general conclusions on the scope and limitation of the use of MW irradiation in organic syntheses. The traditional amidation of phosphinic acids via the phosphinic chloride intermediate gave the products in much better yields. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 24:91–99, 2013; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/hc.21068
Enhancement of biomechanical behavior on osseointegration of implant with SLAffinity
Authors: Chu Kuo‐Tien , Cheng Han‐Yi , Pan Yung‐Ning , Chen Shyuan‐Yow , Ou Keng‐Liang
Published: January 2013

The purpose of this study was to investigate stresses resulting from different thicknesses of hydroxyapatite‐ and titanium dioxide (TiO2)‐treated layers at the interface between temporomandibular joint (TMJ) implants and bones using three‐dimensional finite element models. For ensuring osseointegration of implant treatment, one must examine the stresses of interface between implant and bone tissue. Treated layers on TMJ implants are a very important factor in clinical application. Several studies have investigated finite element models for TMJs, but few have examined a model for TMJ implants with treated layers. In this study, TMJ models were reconstructed using computer tomography data, and the effects of treated layer thickness on the stress field during jaw movement were investigated; this index has not yet been reported with respect to TMJ implant. The maximum stresses in the bone occurred at the position of the first screw. Data analysis indicated a greater decrease in this stress in the case of using TMJ implants with TiO2‐treated layers, and the stresses decreased with increasing layer thicknesses. Results confirmed that the treated layers improve biomechanical properties of the TMJ implants and release abnormal stress concentration in them. The results of our study offer the potential clinical benefit of inducing superior biomechanical behavior in TMJ implants. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A, 2013.
Investigating the suspension culture on aggregation and function of mouse pancreatic β‐cells
Authors: Yang Kai‐Chiang , Wu Chang‐Chin , Yang Shu‐Hua , Chiu Chien‐Chang , Sumi Shoichiro , Lee Hsuan‐Shu
Published: January 2013

The integrity and hierarchical structure of islet influence β‐cells physiology dramatically. A culture substrate which can maintain or improve β‐cells aggregation shall benefit cell therapy for diabetics. In this study, nontreated, type IV collagen, Lipidure, and ultralow attachment dishes were used to culture a murine β‐cell line, MIN‐6. The formation and biological performances of pseudoislets were investigated. Results showed that β‐cells formed loose and irregular aggregates on nontreated dishes. Oppositely, pseudoislets formed on other three substrates. Most pseudoislets on Lipidure and type IV collagen dishes had a diameter between 100–150 μm with high survival rate, while large pseudoislets (>250 μm) with seriously central necrosis were found on ultralow attachment dishes. Western blot analysis revealed that pseudoislets had relatively higher connexin 36 protein productions relative to single cells. The glucose‐stimulated insulin secretion test showed pseudoislets on type IV collagen have high stimulation index. Monolayers from TCPS dishes and pseudoislets from type IV collagen or Lipidure dishes were further transplanted into diabetic mice. Animals received both single cells and pseudoislets had decreasing blood glucose level and regained body weight. Histologic examination revealed that all implants successfully engrafted with positive insulin staining. Interestingly, the area under curve for the intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test showed pseudoislets had superior glucose disappearance rate. This study reveals that isolated islets or insulin‐producing cells can be cultured on type IV collagen or Lipidure dishes to improve/maintain integrity prior to transplantation. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A, 2013.
Mechanical properties and crystallization behavior of hydroxyapatite/poly(butylenes succinate) composites
Authors: Guo Wenmin , Zhang Yihe , Zhang Wei
Published: January 2013

Biodegradable synthetic polymers have attracted much attention nowadays, and more and more researches have been done on biodegradable polymers due to their excellent mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. In this work, hydroxyapatite (HA) particles were melt‐mixing with poly (butylenes succinate) (PBS) to prepare the material, which could be used in the biomedical industry. To develop high‐performance PBS for cryogenic engineering applications, it is necessary to investigate the cryogenic mechanical properties and crystallization behavior of HA/PBS composites. Cryogenic mechanical behaviors of the composites were studied in terms of tensile and impact strength at the glass transition temperature (−30°C) and compared to their corresponding behaviors at room temperature. With the increase of HA content, the crystallization of HA/PBS composites decreased and crystallization onset temperature shifted to a lower temperature. The diameter of spherulites increased at first and decreased with a further HA content. At the same time, the crystallization rate became slow when the HA content was no more than 15wt% and increased when HA content reached 20wt%. In all, the results we obtained demonstrate that HA/PBS composites reveal a better tensile strength at −30°C in contrast to the strength at room temperature. HA particles with different amount affect the crystallization of PBS in different ways. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 101A: 2500–2506, 2013.
Identification of Novel Isoforms of Vitellogenin Expressed in Ascidian Eggs
Authors: Akasaka Mari , Kato Koichi H. , Kitajima Ken , Sawada Hitoshi
Published: January 2013

Vitellogenin is a precursor of yolk protein that is necessary for embryonic development. This protein is a large multi‐domain protein consisting of a signal peptide, a heavy‐chain lipovitellin, a phosvitin, a light‐chain lipovitellin, a von Willebrand factor type D domain (vWF‐D), and a C‐terminal coding region (CT), which are processed to respective domains after uptake into oocytes. It is currently believed that only lipovitellin and phosvitin domains are necessary for nutrient supply to oocytes. Thus, molecular species of vitellogenin lacking these domains are not known. Here, we show that two novel isoforms of vitellogenin, both of which possess vWF‐D and CT domains but not a lipovitellin or phosvitin domain, are expressed in the gonad of the ascidian Halocynthia roretzi. In situ hybridization revealed that mRNAs of these proteins are specifically expressed in oocytes and test cells, accessory cells in the perivitelline space of ascidian eggs. Immunohistochemistry showed that these proteins are localized around the surface of test cells in immature oocytes. Immunoelectron microscopy revealed that vitellogenin associates with vesicles located beneath the vitelline coat (VC) before fertilization but that it dissociates from the VC after fertilization. These results, together with our previous results showing that vWF‐D and CT domains are capable of binding to the two sperm proteases HrProacrosin and HrSpermosin, led us to propose that novel isoforms of vitellogenin, which are expressed in oocytes and test cells and released to the perivitelline space during oocyte maturation, may participate in gamete interaction upon fertilization. J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Dev. Evol.) 320B:118–128, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Chemical constituents and anti‐ulcerogenic potential of the scales of Cynara scolymus (artichoke) heads
Authors: Nassar Mahmoud I , Mohamed Tahia K , Elshamy Abdelsamed I , El‐Toumy Sayed A , Lateef Azza M Abdel , Farrag Abdel‐Razik H
Published: January 2013

BACKGROUND

Cynara scolymus L. (Asteraseae) (artichoke) is commonly eaten as a vegetable; its leaves are frequently used in folk medicine in the treatment of hepatitis, hyperlipidaemia, obesity and dyspeptic disorders. The purpose of this study is to determine the chemical composition of the volatile oil and alcoholic extract of artichoke head scales. In addition, the role of the methanol extract as an anti‐ulcer agent against ethanol‐induced gastric ulcer in rats was evaluated.

RESULTS

Six flavonoids and one phenolic acid were obtained from the methanol extract. Also, 37 compounds were identified in the volatile oil, the majority including mono‐ and sesquiterpenes. The artichoke extracts (200 and 400 mg kg−1) significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the ulcer index (55.33% and 72.14% inhibition). Histopathological examination of rat stomachs demonstrated that artichoke induced an increase in gastric mucus production, and a reduction of the depth and severity of mucosal lesions. Artichoke dose‐dependently reduced the elevated ethanol gastric malonylaldehyde, and reduced glutathione levels and catalase activity. These results suggest that the head scales of artichoke possess potential anti‐ulcer activity.

CONCLUSIONS

The present paper describes the identification of volatile oil for the first time along with the isolation and identification of the constituents of the methanol extract. Moreover, the high anti‐ulcerogenic potential of scales of C. scolymus heads was established here for the first time. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry
Effective control of non‐native American mink by strategic trapping in a river catchment in mainland Britain
Authors: Reynolds Jonathan C. , Richardson Suzanne M. , Rodgers Ben J. E. , Rodgers Owain R. K.
Published: January 2013

The introduction of American mink (Neovison vison; hereafter mink) into Europe has had severe impacts on many native wildlife species, including the water vole (Arvicola amphibius) in mainland Britain. Although trapping has been widely used to attempt to control mink, managers have little direct evidence of its effect on mink density or distribution, particularly where immigration of mink from nearby areas is inevitable. Such evidence is needed to justify the use of lethal methods in conservation policy. During 2006–2010 we removed mink from the River Monnow Catchment in western Britain, using track‐recording rafts to monitor continuously for mink presence, guiding a strategic trapping effort. The area monitored and trapped was increased in stages, from a core sub‐catchment with 109 km of water‐course in 2006, to a 421‐km2 catchment with 203 km of water‐course in 2009. In each successive sub‐catchment, mink detection and capture rates declined rapidly to near‐zero levels after trapping began. Detections and captures showed seasonal peaks in every year corresponding to known dispersal periods, but also declined steadily from year to year, with increasing periods in which we did not detect mink. These results suggested that each sub‐catchment was cleared of mink within a few months, with subsequent captures attributable to immigration. On average, we detected each mink 5.1 times before capture (daily probability of detection = 0.059 per mink and raft), and trapped them 3.4 days after deploying traps in response. On average, mink entering the area were likely to have been present for less than 13 days before capture. Water voles had been extinct in the Monnow Catchment since the 1980s. During 2006–2008 (starting 6 months after mink trapping commenced), we released 700 captive‐bred water voles into the treatment area to re‐establish a wild population. Persistence of this population through the 4 years of the project was considered indicative of effective mink control. This study demonstrates that, even in a mainland context, a systematic trapping strategy can have a substantial impact on the density and distribution of a damaging species, in this case allowing the restoration of a native prey species. © 2013 The Wildlife Society
XOR/XNOR directed logic circuit based on coupled‐resonator‐induced transparency
Authors: Tian Yonghui , Zhang Lei , Xu Qianfan , Yang Lin
Published: January 2013

The coupled‐resonator‐induced transparency (CRIT) effect in parallel‐coupled double microring resonators (MRRs) has been widely studied, and various applications based on the CRIT have been demonstrated. As an application of the CRIT, we propose and demonstrate a directed logic circuit that can implement the XOR and XNOR operations. Two electrical signals applied to the two MRRs represent the two operands of the logical operations, and the operational results are represented by the output optical signal. As a proof‐of‐concept, the thermo‐optic modulating scheme is employed with an operational speed of 10 kbps.
State of the art/science: Visual methods and information behavior research
Authors: Hartel Jenna , Lundh Anna , Sonnenwald Diane , Foster Nancy Fried
Published: January 2013

This panel reports on methodological innovation now underway as information behavior scholars begin to experiment with visual methods. The session launches with a succinct introduction to visual methods by Jenna Hartel and then showcases three exemplar visual research designs. First, Dianne Sonnenwald presents the “information horizon interview” (1999, 2005), the singular visual method native to the information behavior community. Second, Anna Lundh (2010) describes her techniques for capturing and analyzing primary school children's information activities utilizing video recordings. Third, Nancy Fried Foster (Foster & Gibbons, 2007) reports how students, staff and faculty members produce maps, drawings, and photographs as a means of contributing their specialist knowledge to the design of library technologies and spaces at the University of Rochester. Altogether, the panel will present a collage of innovative visual research designs and engage the associated epistemological, theoretical, methodological, and empirical issues. All speakers will have 15 minutes and be timed to allow a minimum of 30 minutes for audience questions, comments, and discussion. Upon the conclusion attendees will have gained: knowledge of the state of the art/science of visual methods in information behavior research; an appreciation for the richness the approach brings to the specialty; and a platform to take new visual research designs forward.
Consumer health information searching process in real life settings
Authors: Zhang Yan
Published: January 2013

Current research on consumer health information searching focuses on users' adoption of sources or their behaviors of using a specific system. Yet, few studies take a holistic perspective to examine health information searching as a process that takes place in real life settings and the cognitive activities involved. To fill this gap, we interviewed twenty‐one young consumers about their specific health information searching experiences. The results indicated that health information searching is as much social as it is private, as participants not only relied on search engines, but also consulted their close social ties and healthcare providers. When examining information from a source, participants followed a set of heuristics. When evaluating results, they initially focused on making a quick assessment of the relevance of the information, followed by an evaluation of its quality. Participants performed various cognitive activities, including building mental models, testing hypotheses, comparing and validating information, and taking mental notes, to process the information that they found. The knowledge gained from the search had an immediate impact on participants' health behaviors and health‐related decisions.
Understanding the participatory library through a grounded theory study
Authors: Nguyen Linh Cuong , Partridge Helen , Edwards Sylvia L.
Published: January 2013

Lankes and Silverstein (2006) introduced the “participatory library” and suggested that the nature and form of the library should be explored. In the last several years, some attempts have been made in order to develop contemporary library models that are often known as Library 2.0. However, little research has been based on empirical data and such models have had a strong focus on technical aspects but less focus on participation. The research presented in this paper fills this gap. A grounded theory approach was adopted for this study. Six librarians were involved in in‐depth individual interviews. As a preliminary result, five main factors of the participatory library emerged including technological, human, educational, social‐economic, and environmental. Five factors influencing the participation in libraries were also identified: finance, technology, education, awareness, and policy. The study's findings provide a fresh perspective on contemporary library and create a basis for further studies on this area.
Exploring alternative cyberbibliometrics for evaluation of scholarly performance in the social sciences and humanities in Taiwan
Authors: Tang Muh‐chyun , Wang Chun‐mei , Chen Kuang‐hua , Hsiang Jieh
Published: January 2013

Research output and impact metrics derived from commercial citation databases such as Web of Science and Scopus have become commonly used indicators of predominantly English language scholarly performance. Yet it has been pointed out that existing metrics are largely inadequate to reflect scholars' overall peer‐mediated performance, especially in the social sciences and humanities (SSH) where publication forms are more diverse. In this paper alternative metrics exploring a variety of communication sources were explored, with the aim of better reflecting SSH scholarship. Data for a group of 16 SSH scholars resident on Taiwan were collected, along with the number of grants and awards received from the chief public grantmaking body for the sciences on the island. Principle component analysis revealed four underlying dimensions represented by the 18 metrics. Multiple‐regression analyses were performed to examine how well each of the metrics and dimensions predicted the number of public grants awarded the study cohorts. Differences in the significance of the predictors were found between the social sciences and humanities. The results suggest the need to consider disciplinary differences when evaluating scholarly performance.
Transformation or continuity?: The impact of social media on information: implications for theory and practice
Authors: Haider Jutta , Huvila Isto , Cox Andrew , Francke Helena , Hall Hazel
Published: January 2013

This panel debates whether the ways in which social media are changing the nature, creation, seeking, use and sharing of information constitute a transformation or are primarily marked by continuity. Ubiquitous and everyday access to social media (for some) seems to be bringing about changes in social practice, including of information‐related activities, such that conceptualisations of information itself are potentially reshaped. Discussants draw inspiration from the pervasive impact on information activities of the everyday adoption of social media. At a theoretical level they also draw inspiration from the analytic resources of contemporary practice theory and its emphasis on materiality and embodiment, routine and change, social expectations and social identity, and knowledge as a process. All the participants of the panel have conducted new empirical research on social media use with a focus on its deep as well as broad impact. The audience members are invited to discuss with the panelists questions such as how social media relate to routinised daily practices and institutionalised practices and hierarchies, how their use refashions social relationships, how they turn information seekers and users into information managers, producers and creators and shape perceptions of information authority and trustworthiness, and how a new theorisation can help librarians, information professionals and researchers understand change and assume a proactive role in it.
Convergence and synergy: Social Q&A meets virtual reference services
Authors: Radford Marie L. , Connaway Lynn Silipigni , Shah Chirag
Published: January 2013

This paper presents a preliminary analysis of online information services that examines the intersection of two areas of research: Virtual Reference Services (VRS) and Social Q&A (SQA). This project embraces the idea of a synergic collaboration within and between VRS and SQA to provide higher quality content to information seekers and a higher level of sustainability. Preliminary findings are described that emanate from a grant‐funded project: Cyber Synergy: Seeking Sustainability through Collaboration between Virtual Reference and Social Q&A Sites, which is being supported by the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS). Early stages of the grant project activities include VRS transcript analysis and interviews with online Q&A end users (students) and experts (university librarians). Analysis reveals that VRS questions address a broad range of subjects, predominantly social sciences and technology. Largest numbers of question types are Procedural and Ready Reference. An analysis of accuracy for the subset of Ready Reference questions was found to be high, 90 percent correct, although only 75 percent were found to be correct with citation cited. Interviews with information seekers and providers in both VRS and SQA environments revealed important differences in how experts and end‐users perceive online Q&A services, leaving clues as to how it may be possible to start bridging these systems.
Using bootstrapping to identify protein locations
Authors: Blake Catherine , Zheng Wu
Published: January 2013

Automated methods that leverage both large quantities of text, and knowledge resources are increasingly being used to identify relations from the web. One of the challenges with these approaches is that quantity of relations identified makes it difficult to evaluate system performance. Our goal in this paper is to demonstrate how bootstrapping can be used to identify subcellular location relations of proteins, which is a critically important to biologists in order to understand protein function. Specifically, we use protein‐location pairs in the UniProt knowledge base and dependency paths from a collection of text, to infer new proteins, new locations and new protein‐location pairs. Our second goal is to conduct a detailed manual analysis of the first iteration of the bootstrapping process. Such an analysis reveals pitfalls of this approach and enables us to conclude with specific recommendations to improve bootstrapping performance in subsequent iterations.
Task difficulty and domain knowledge effects on information search behaviors
Authors: Liu Chang , Liu Jingjing , Cole Michael , Belkin Nicholas J. , Zhang Xiangmin
Published: January 2013

This study explores the effect of task difficulty on search behavior changes for users with high and low domain knowledge. A user experiment (n=40) was conducted using 5 search tasks. Participants rated their knowledge of MeSH terms (n=409) and were divided into two domain knowledge levels. Three of the tasks were designed to be difficult tasks with very few relevant documents returned by our search system and two tasks were easy, with many relevant documents returned. Our results showed that in Difficult tasks, users spent significantly longer dwell time on search result pages and visited significantly more content pages than in Easy tasks. In addition, there was an interaction effect of task difficulty and domain knowledge on dwell time of content pages and the percentage of dwell time on content pages to the task completion time. Our results demonstrate that the dwell time on search result pages is a better indicator of task difficulty than the dwell time on content pages if users' domain knowledge level is unknown. Our results have implications for personalization of information retrieval.
Value and context in data use: Domain analysis revisited
Authors: Weber Nicholas M. , Baker Karen S. , Thomer Andrea K. , Chao Tiffany C. , Palmer Carole L.
Published: January 2013

“Context” is an elusive concept in Information Science –often invoked, and yet rarely explained. In this paper we take a domain analytic approach to examine five sub‐disciplines within Earth Systems Science to show how the contexts of data production and use impact the value of data. We argue simply that the value of research data increases with their use. Our analysis is informed by two economic perspectives: first, that data production needs to be situated within a broader information economy; and second, that the concept of anti‐fragility helps explain how data increase in value through exposure to diverse contexts of use. We discuss the importance of these perspectives for the development of information systems capable of facilitating interdisciplinary scientific work, as well as the design of sustainable cyberinfrastructures.
Barriers to collaborative information seeking in organizations
Authors: Karunakaran Arvind , Reddy Madhu
Published: January 2013

There has been a growing interest within the information sciences and HCI communities to understand the role of collaboration in facilitating information seeking. This focus had led to the emergence of the research area of collaborative information seeking (CIS). Although researchers are starting to identify various activities and mechanisms that underlie CIS, we know very little about the barriers to CIS. In this study, we used Mechanical Turk (MTurk) to gather data from 307 participants to understand the barriers to CIS in organizations. Through our data analysis, we identified a variety of barriers that hinder CIS. These barriers fell under four broad categories – organizational, technical, individual, and team. These barriers also had a strong temporal component which we highlight in the discussion. From these findings, we discuss some design implications for information retrieval systems.
Organization or conversation in Twitter: A case study of chatterboxing
Authors: Moulaison Heather Lea , Burns C. Sean
Published: January 2013

This paper reports on a case study of Twitter posts (tweets) by chatterboxers to study whether theories of organization of information are applicable to the study of user‐supplied labels in Twitter. Chatterboxing is the act of watching a televised event such as the Super Bowl and using a second screen to engage with others, primarily in real time. Researchers have used communication theory as a framework for study of Twitter, considering both #hashtags and @mentions to be primarily communicative. To ascertain whether #hashtags may be fundamentally different and amenable to study as organizational conventions as well, we first compared differences between usage of #hashtags and @mentions during the Super Bowl by taking tweets from three locations identified as heavily invested in the event (hometowns of the teams and the location of the game: Boston, NYC, Indianapolis) and tweets from locations that were not invested (Dallas, Miami, Seattle). Non‐parametric statistical comparisons were made between tweets from the three invested and non‐invested groups to ascertain whether the uses of labeling conventions were identical. Next a qualitative analysis of a subset of non‐location specific tweets supplied information about the content of tweets, the aboutness of #hashtags, and the placement of #hashtags in the tweets. Our findings indicate that #hashtags and @mentions do have two separate functions but that location has a positive influence on their statistical dependency. We also find that #hashtags are used as organizational mechanisms and can reflect aboutness. Specifically, #hashtags are used to describe in order to categorize and to retrieve in order to follow or join a conversation, and future studies should be able to use theories of organization of information to analyze these labels as a way of complementing their otherwise communicative nature.
Library and information science in the big data era: Funding, projects, and future [a panel proposal]
Authors: Sugimoto Cassidy R. , Ding Ying , Thelwall Mike
Published: January 2013

This panel will provide insights into current funding initiatives that support Big Data projects, in the wake of the White House commitment to devote $200 million to Big Data research. Participants in Digging into Data, an international Big Data initiative, will describe their research. The panel will then trigger an audience‐discussion on the tools, techniques, and theories that LIS can bring to Big Data research and the role that the LIS discipline should play in this new era.
Analysis and automatic classification of web search queries for diversification requirements
Authors: Bhatia Sumit , Brunk Cliff , Mitra Prasenjit
Published: January 2013

Search result diversification enables the modern day search engines to construct a result list that consists of documents that are relevant to the user query and at the same time, diverse enough to meet the expectations of a diverse user population. However, all the queries received by a search engine may not benefit from diversification. Further, different types of queries may benefit from different diversification mechanisms. In this paper we present an analysis of logs of a commercial web search engine and study the web search queries for their diversification requirements. We analyze queries based on their click entropy and popularity and propose a query taxonomy based on their diversification requirements. We then carry out the task of automatically classifying web search queries into one of the classes of our proposed taxonomy. We utilize various query‐based, click‐based and reformulation‐based features for the query classification task and achieve strong classification results.
Content divide: Africa and the global knowledge footprint sponsored by: SIG/III
Authors: Assefa Shimelis , Rorissa Abebe , Alemneh Daniel Gelaw , Albright Kendra
Published: January 2013

The purpose of this panel is to discuss the global knowledge output at a macro level with a view to understand key inputs that foster scientific and research performance. Here, knowledge production is limited to scientific and technical journals and patent registrations to gauge the performance of each region and continent the world over. Greater emphasis will be placed to highlight important indicators from the input side that help spur national research and innovation systems in Africa. Defined here as “content divide,” panel members focus on key variables that help build scientific and research capabilities of Africa. Closely interrelated variables that will be discussed include (1) access to the global knowledge base, (2) the role of higher education systems (3) national, regional, and global research and education networks (RENs); and (4) gross expenditure on R&D (GERD).
Panel: Semantic metadata as linked data building blocks
Authors: Busch Joseph A , Hlava Marjorie , Zeng Marcia Lei , Hodge Gail
Published: January 2013

In the Linked Data movement, value vocabularies (such as the Linked Data version of a thesaurus or a classification scheme) and metadata element sets (which are generally made concrete through RDF Schemas or OWL ontologies) have become the building blocks of any dataset that joins the CKAN Linked Data hub of the Open Knowledge Foundation (2012). Evidence can be seen either from analyzing the datasets in the Data Hub or by browsing through the long list of the value vocabularies and metadata element sets included in one of the three deliverables of the W3C Library Linked Data Incubator Group Final Report (2011). This panel will introduce the concept of semantic metadata and the two types of vocabularies involved, discuss how value vocabularies are transformed in order for machine to process and understand, present new use cases of the conventional knowledge organization systems (KOS) in the Semantic Web environment, and report the findings regarding publishing semantic assets, describing and accessing them, and enabling their interoperability in the Semantic Web environment.
Integrating collaborative bibliography and research
Authors: Shaw Ryan , Golden Patrick , Buckland Michael
Published: January 2013

We report on the design and implementation of an innovative shared work‐environment “Editors' Notes” (http://editorsnotes.org/), especially the use of an open‐source bibliographical reference management platform (Zotero) in conjunction with a continuously updated corpus of the working notes of three leading documentary editing projects and the curatorial notes of a library special collection. The benefits, constraints, and affordances of using Zotero in a one‐way relationship with the text corpus are described and additional possibilities are noted.
What happens once you categorize files into folders?
Authors: Oh Kyong Eun
Published: January 2013

This study examined a post phase of personal information organization in an attempt to investigate the dynamics of personal information organization. To collect data, eleven participants were asked to record diary entries for a week whenever they saved or organized their information in digital forms. Then, a first interview was conducted to ask how they organized the information files. About 2‐4 weeks after the first interview, a second interview was conducted to examine what happened after files were categorized into folders. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and analyzed by using a grounded theory approach to find out what decisions were made after files were categorized into folders, and why participants made such decisions. The initial analysis of the results showed that once information files are organized into folders, people keep them in the folder, move them to other personal devices, re‐categorize them either by organizing them into different folders or splitting the existing category, or delete them. By focusing on the post phase of personal information organization which has been rarely investigated, this study deepens our understanding about personal information organization. In addition, the results of this study have practical implication for human computer interaction (HCI) studies in designing tools, devices and interfaces that are more effective in supporting individuals' personal information management (PIM).