bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Users' perception of internet characteristics in the academic environment
Authors: Almobarraz Abdullah
Published: June 2009

This paper examines the characteristics of internet that affect its adoption by faculty members of Imam Muhammad Bin Saud University (IMSU) in Saudi Arabia. The framework of the study was the attributes of innovations offered by Rogers. The result revealed that the majority of IMSU faulty members used the Internet for research and academic activities twice a month or less, indicating a low Internet adoption rate. Multiple regression analysis showed that all attributes of innovation individually predicted Internet adoption. The combination of all attributes indicated the model could predict Internet adoption among faculty.
Concept theory and the role of conceptual coherence in assessments of similarity
Authors: Spiteri Louise F.
Published: June 2009

Conceptual coherence, which refers to concepts whose contents make sense to the perceiver, has been associated traditionally with the notion of similarity, that is, objects, events, or entities form a concept because they are similar to one another. An examination of traditional similarity‐based concept theories suggests that they do not provide an adequate account for conceptual coherence. Library and Information Science needs to explore knowledge‐based approaches to concept formation, which suggest that one's knowledge of a concept includes not just a representation of its features, but also an explicit representation of the causal mechanisms that people believe link those features to form a coherent whole.
Tracing “interdisciplinarity” using time series of journal maps: The visualization and dynamic animation of journal‐journal citation relations
Authors: Leydesdorff Loet
Published: June 2009

Structural change—e.g., interdisciplinary development—is often an objective of government interventions in science and technology. However, the dynamic analysis of structural change in the organization of the sciences requires methodologically the integration of multivariate and time‐series analysis. Recent developments in multidimensional scaling (MDS) enable us to distinguish the stress originating in each time‐slice from the stress originating from the sequencing of time‐slices, and thus to locally optimize the trade‐offs between these two sources of variance in the animation. Furthermore, visualization programs like Pajek and Visone allow us to show not only the positions of the nodes, but also their relational attributes like betweenness centrality. Betweenness centrality in the vector space can be considered as an indicator of interdisciplinarity. Using this indicator, the dynamics of the citation impact environments of the journals Cognitive Science, Social Networks, and Nanotechnology are animated and assessed in terms of interdisciplinarity among the disciplines involved.
Better to organize personal information by folders or by tags?: The devil is in the details
Authors: Civan Andrea , Jones William , Klasnja Predrag , Bruce Harry
Published: June 2009

People can organize information items by placing them into folders or by tagging them with labels. Over the years there has been considerable discussion on the relative merits of folders vs. labels. But there is relatively little empirical data directly comparing people's experiences with each model of organization on comparable sets of information. We compared participants' experiences organizing information with both folders and labels over time. Results indicate that each model has its strengths and weaknesses when assessed with respect to basic activities of personal information management (PIM) such as keeping, organizing and re‐finding. Results afford a deeper, more detailed understanding of each model in practice. This understanding is achieved by engaging participants in an active, “hands‐on” comparison of models over a period of time. Study results point to syntheses in tool support for organizing information that might combine strengths of folders and labels while avoiding the inadvertent introduction of weaknesses from these models.
Design and evaluation of a key‐frame arrangement framework for video storyboard surrogates
Authors: Kim Hyun Hee , Kim Yong Ho
Published: June 2009

This study examines the design and evaluation of a key‐frame arrangement framework for video storyboard surrogates. First, we constructed an arrangement model of keyframes for a storyboard based on the Preserved Context Indexing System (PRECIS) and a narrative theory. Second, we evaluated the model using six sample videos and 26 participants, and then analyzed the results using a t‐test and repeated‐measure MANOVA. The results revealed that structurally arranged storyboards (STR) following the arrangement framework are not effective for either summarizing or indexing videos than sequentially arranged storyboards (SEQ) and that the repetition of viewing storyboards is effective for summarizing (not indexing) videos. The order of viewing two storyboards, regarding which of STR or SEQ comes first, is also crucial for improving subjects' summarizing ability. When subjects are viewing STR after SEQ, they summarize videos more effectively than viewing SEQ after STR.
Transforming information markets: Implications of the digital network economy
Authors: Bates Benjamin J.
Published: June 2009

The continuing development of digital technology and interconnected digital and global networking are radically transforming media and information markets, cost and value structures, and consumer attitudes and expectations. This is contributing to a shift from a perception of traditional media products as the focus of consumer interest to an interest in content, with the media form of interest only to the degree to which it adds value to media consumption. This suggests a need for media and libraries to shift from thinking of themselves as distributors of specific media (newspaper, radio, TV, books, etc.) to a more generalized provider of access to information. They, as well as emerging cross‐media platforms (Internet TV, Mobile TV, Cell TV, etc.) and digital media products, need to focus on not merely on providing valued content, but on identifying and taking advantage of the appropriate content added‐value that new products and services bring.
Extending sense‐making models with ideas from cognition and learning theories
Authors: Zhang Pengyi , Soergel Dagobert , Klavans Judith L. , Oard Douglas W.
Published: June 2009

In this paper we extend existing sense‐making models by adding detail on types of conceptual change and cognitive mechanisms taken from theories of cognition and learning. Our extended model aims to offer a more complete picture of the cognitive processes of sense‐making, including the underlying cognitive mechanisms and different types of conceptual changes so that we can link observations to theory. We conducted a preliminary test of the model against think‐aloud protocols of users performing intelligence analysis tasks using a multilingual, multimedia information system. Their sense‐making processes were consistent with our iterative model of search and sense‐making loops. Most of the cognitive mechanisms derived from the literature appeared, with a prevalence of data‐driven mechanisms.
Designing for knowledge worker informings: An exemplar application of sense‐making methodology
Authors: Souto Patricia , Dervin Brenda , Savolainen Reijo
Published: June 2009

Designing approaches to support knowledge intensive work has been documented to be critical and costly. Research has shown that knowledge workers frequently evaluate KM efforts as missing the mark. They are too often left without the help they need for constructing knowledge‐based solutions. Knowledge workers point to failures not so much in retrieving topically‐perfect‐information but rather to communication gaps, such as systems that do not address work demands and informing needs in complex, changing, and sometimes elusive situations. This research used an interviewing approach informed by Dervin's Sense‐Making Methodology. The aim was to allow digging deeply to understand hidden depths of informing practices that rarely have come to light in user studies. The ultimate aim is to design systems that support knowledge creation anchored to knowledge worker informing practices and to the situationality of these practices. The purpose of this paper is to present an exemplar study focusing on the challenges of doing user research in such a way that it usefully informs the design of knowledge management systems intended for use in knowledge‐intensive work in the for‐profit context. Sense‐Making Methodology is presented as an alternative and more powerful approach to studying knowledge creation work.
Sensemaking handoff: When and how?
Authors: Sharma Nikhil
Published: June 2009

Computer support helpdesks often engage in sensemaking while working on atypical problems. Handoffs are common in these sensemaking situations due to shift changes, because a different skill or perspective is needed or simply because the current sensemaker may be exhausted. Though handoff may be needed, it may not always be successful. This could be true because sensemaking involves non‐routine activities for which no structural support for handoff may exist, or because sensemakers may not be sure what to handoff if sensemaking is not complete.

This study examined the issues related to sensemaking handoff in computer support helpdesks. Existing theories of sensemaking (Russell et al, 1993 and Weick, 1996) were used as a framework. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with two different computer helpdesk personnel groups at a large mid‐western university. Successful handoffs occurred either very early or very late in the sensemaking process. This choice of handoff time as well as other aspects of handoffs are discussed using the principles of least collaborative effort [13] and mindfulness [18].
Characterizing a digital library's users: Steps towards a nuanced view of the user
Authors: Normore Lorraine F.
Published: June 2009

The importance of understanding the wants and needs of an information source's users is a key belief of user‐centered design. In digital libraries, we find two approaches to including users as factors in system design. User studies tend to provide a more abstract view and can be associated with information science research. Usability assessment tends to be associated with the practical assessment of the ease, efficiency, learnability, and flexibility of the digital library. However, usability assessment seldom deals with differences in user communities. This study of the information needs and information seeking values of three groups of digital library users illustrates how important it is to understand differences between user communities, to have a “nuanced view of the user”, to support informed decisions assessing the need for digital library content and organization.
Revisiting search task difficulty: Behavioral and individual difference measures
Authors: Gwizdka Jacek
Published: June 2009

Search task characteristics are recognized as important factors that affect search process and its outcomes. We examine the relationships among operational measures of searcher's behavior, individual cognitive differences, subjective task difficulty and mental effort assessed by dual‐task performance. A web‐based information study was conduced in a controlled experimental setting. Forty eight study participants performed six search tasks of varying type and structure. Subjective task difficulty was found to be influenced by the searcher's effort measured as the number of result pages and individual documents visited, the number of documents marked as relevant, as well as by individual cognitive differences, and mental effort assessed by performance on the secondary task. In contrast to previous studies, no strong effects of user navigation graph structure were found.
Collecting and preserving videogames and their related materials: A review of current practice, game‐related archives and research projects
Authors: Winget Megan A. , Murray Caitlin
Published: June 2009

This paper reviews the major methods and theories regarding the preservation of new media artifacts such as videogames, and argues for the importance of collecting and coming to a better understanding of videogame “artifacts of creation,” which will help build a more detailed understanding of the essential qualities of these culturally significant artifacts. We will also review the major videogame collections in the United States, Europe and Japan to give an idea of the current state of videogame archives, and argue for a fuller, more comprehensive coverage of these materials in institutional repositories.
The effect of page context on magazine image categorization
Authors: Westman Stina , Laine‐Hernandez Mari
Published: June 2009

Image categorization research has created knowledge on the types of attributes humans use in interpreting image similarity. Little effort has gone into studying the effect of any wider contextual factors on the image groupings people create. This paper reports the results of an investigation on the effect of associated text on magazine image categorization. Image journalism professionals performed a two‐phase free sorting of 100 test images and the resulting data were analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively; using grounded theory methods and hierarchical clustering. The categorization behavior of the two groups was rather similar but there was a statistically significant difference in the types of names given to the categories constructed. Results indicate that having page context available results more likely in descriptions based on overall theme or story of the image. When the context is withheld, people are more prone to describe the people, objects and scenes portrayed in the images, and to combine various categorization criteria. This has implications for the design of interfaces for image archival and retrieval.
The role of communication in collaborative information searching
Authors: Reddy Madhu C. , Jansen Bernard J. , Krishnappa Rashmi
Published: June 2009

Collaboration plays an important role in the information seeking and retrieval activities within a team setting. In this research, we examined the impact of collaborative design features in two information retrieval tools that explicitly support collaboration. We designed the two collaborative information searching prototype, MUSE (Multi‐User Search Engine) and MUST (Multi‐User Search and Talk) and evaluated both systems. Results indicate that the communication (i.e., chat) function played an important role in enhancing the information seeking process by establishing common ground among group members. We also identified unexpected challenges that arose as the prototypes were used during these activities. These challenges were both technical and social in nature. We discuss implications for system design and directions for future research.
I‐LEARN: A model for learning in the information age
Authors: Neuman Delia
Published: June 2009

One of the most important cognitive aspects of interactions with information is the act of learning itself. To be efficient and effective learners in the information age, individuals must be able to engage successfully with a wide variety of information types and formats. Living in a world in which information flows freely and defies the boundaries of traditional disciplines and subject areas, young learners in particular must develop strategies for engaging with ideas that transcend the curriculum and its usual topics and structures. The I‐LEARN Model—Identify, Locate, Evaluate, Apply, Reflect, kNow—both describes the process of learning with information and provides a learning sequence that is teachable and possibly predictive of learners' information behavior. It is grounded in research and theory from information science, instructional systems design, and learning science and based on the author's own research and writing over more than a decade. A theoretical model that awaits validation, I‐LEARN builds on the well‐known tripartite information literacy paradigm—accessing, evaluating, and using information—to operationalize an inquiry approach to learning.
Disparities in public libraries' service levels based on neighborhood income and urbanization levels : A nationwide study
Authors: Joanna SIN Sei‐Ching
Published: June 2009

Information inequity is a central concern in this information age, and many recognize the public library as a key player in bridging such inequity. Using the Public Libraries Survey and Census data at the census tract level, this study examines more than 9,000 public library systems across the United States. It evaluates disparities existing in public library systems' service levels, and the extent to which these variations are associated with neighborhood socio‐economic characteristics, such as income and urbanization levels. Descriptive statistics and Gini coefficients indicate significant variations across library systems. Results of the multiple regression analyses show that library systems in lower‐income or rural neighborhoods offer a lower level of service per capita compared to their counterparts in higher income or urban neighborhoods. Systems in lower‐income or rural neighborhoods tend to have shorter hours, less staff and programs, and smaller collection size In light of these prevalent disparities in service levels, the study suggests a need to fundamentally evaluate the current library funding mechanisms. It also suggests that public library and information behavior studies should include information environment variables to further investigate how individuals' information decisions might be affected by this structural information inequity.
Toward responsive visualization services for scatter/gather browsing
Authors: Ke Weimao , Mostafa Javed , Liu Yong
Published: June 2009

As a type of relevance feedback, Scatter/Gather demonstrates an interactive approach to relevance mapping and reinforcement. The Scatter/Gather model, proposed by Cutting, Karger, Pedersen, and Tukey (1992), is well known for its effectiveness in situations where it is difficult to precisely specify a query. However, online clustering on a large data corpus is computationally complex and extremely time consuming. This has prohibited the method's real world application for responsive services. In this paper, we proposed and evaluated a new clustering algorithm called LAIR2, which has linear worst‐case time complexity and constant running time average for Scatter/Gather browsing. Our experiment showed when running on a single processor, the LAIR2 online clustering algorithm is several hundred times faster than a classic parallel algorithm running on multiple processors. The efficiency of the LAIR2 algorithm promises real‐time Scatter/Gather browsing services. We have implemented an online visualization prototype, namely, LAIR2 Scatter/Gather browser, to demonstrate its utility and usability.
Formation process and preservation of a natural electronic archive
Authors: Esteva Maria
Published: June 2009

This paper presents a case of formation process study and preservation of the digital archive of a private organization. The archive was created in the late 1980's and maintained until 2005. The study was prompted by the archive's creators concerns about the resources involved, and the need to preserve their electronic records and systems vis‐à‐vis the presence of the signed and sealed paper documents. The approach used to study the digital archive was to consider it akin to an archaeological site. A formation process study of the archive's components was conducted using interview methods; primary and secondary sources; and metadata extraction, file viewers, and file transformation software. The study revealed information about the technical and social contexts involved in the archives' formation, and how its creators used it and valued it over time. The results informed the design of a preservation strategy aimed at maintaining the archives' integrity and authenticity and continuing documentation of its evolution. The attributes characterizing the archive led to the development of the concept of natural electronic archive.
Automatic keyword extraction for learning object repositories
Authors: Coursey Kino High , Mihalcea Rada , Moen William E.
Published: June 2009

The paper describes experiments in metadata generation for learning object repositories. Specifically, we present several methods for automatic keyword extraction and evaluate them on a collection of learning objects from an undergraduate history course. The results suggest that automatic keyword extraction is a viable solution for suggesting terms and phrases for metadata annotation.
Integrating the group within models of information processes
Authors: Toms Elaine G. , Toze Sandra , Kelley Elizabeth
Published: June 2009

While information processes in general have been systematically examined with respect to the individual, the same cannot be said for groups. This conceptual paper starts from existing models that represent the individual, and examines how research on group intertwines with the information world to identify an emerging framework for the study of groups from an information‐centric perspective.
It's all relative: Usage of relative temporal expressions in triage notes
Authors: Sullivan Tessa , Irvine Ann , Haas Stephanie W
Published: June 2009

At the beginning of a patient's visit to the Emergency Department (ED), a record is created containing the Chief Complaint and the Triage Note. The Triage Note attempts to capture the events and circumstances leading up to the decision to visit the ED. Events in the triage note are often not recorded in the order in which they occurred but rather in the order in which they are reported. In addition, patients typically do not use absolute terms to describe the timing of these events. Instead, they rely on relative phrases such as yesterday and this morning. Using a temporal information extraction system, we examine the variation in frequency of these relative temporal expressions over time of day. We then suggest interpretation rules for translating this ‘natural time’ used by people to the ‘logical time’ necessary for the automatic placement of the associated events in the proper sequence on a timeline. The research described here serves as a building block to support the automated creation of timelines with the goal of aiding clinicians and others in visualizing the patterns of events which led to the patient's visit to the Emergency Department.
Do human‐developed index terms help users? An experimental study of MeSH terms in biomedical searching
Authors: Liu Ying‐Hsang , Wacholder Nina
Published: June 2009

To what extent do MeSH terms improve search effectiveness of different kinds of users? We observed four different kinds of information seekers using an experimental information retrieval system: (1) search novices; (2) domain experts; (3) search experts and (4) medical librarians. The information needs were a subset of the relatively difficult topics originally created for the Text REtrieval Conference (TREC). Effectiveness of retrieval was based on the relevance judgments provided by TREC. Participants searched either using a version of the system in which MeSH terms were displayed or another version in which they had to formulate their own terms. The results suggest that MeSH terms are more helpful in terms of precision for domain experts than for search experts. We speculate that this is because of the highly technical nature of the topics; only the domain experts had the knowledge to understand and therefore make use of the MeSH terms. The results advance our understanding of the usefulness of controlled vocabulary in interactive information retrieval systems.
Supporting participation in communities of practice by scientists from developing countries — The case of high energy physics
Authors: Luo Airong
Published: June 2009

Over the last decade, researchers have hypothesized that a new form of scientific organization, the “collaboratory” holds promise to greatly benefit scientists from developing countries by allowing them to reach remotely located experts, instruments, and databases. However, there have been no empirical studies to prove or disprove this hypothesis. Adopting a qualitative approach, this study examines how collaboratories affect one of the factors that purportedly lead to scientific productivity—communities of practice. Results of data analysis indicate that collaboratories bring about new opportunities for scientists from developing countries to access scientists from developed countries and their practices, but barriers also exist. The full value of collaboratories can be achieved only after the technologies themselves and the social practices surrounding the use of technologies are improved.
Author bibliographic coupling: Another approach to citation‐based author knowledge network analysis
Authors: Zhao Dangzhi , Strotmann Andreas
Published: June 2009

While bibliographic coupling (BC) as a measure of relatedness between documents was proposed a full decade before co‐citation, interest in applying BC to mapping the intellectual structure of research areas has only recently resurged, perhaps because it allows researchers to circumvent problems of the so far dominant co‐citation analysis. Especially for mapping the intellectual structure of a research field as represented by its authors, author co‐citation analysis (ACA) has frequently been applied over the last two decades, but no author BC analysis has so far been attempted. In this paper, we define author BC and conduct an author BC analysis of the Information Science field using the same dataset as that used in our previous ACA study, which covers Information Science during 1996‐2005. We find that these two citation‐based author knowledge network analysis methods complement each other, with one providing a more realistic picture of the state of research within the IS field and the other revealing the structure of both internal and external influences on the IS research. In combination, the two methods provide a more comprehensive view of the intellectual structure of the IS field than either of them alone.
Improving information access to digital botanical collection by allowing users to search with domain knowledge
Authors: Tang Xiaoya , Heidorn P. Bryan
Published: June 2009

In the field of biological science, correct field identification of species is of critical importance and requires effective access to and use of specialized biological information. Field guides, floras and faunas, and other publications are written to provide critical information for identification. However, full‐text retrieval systems are ineffective at providing access to the very specific information needed for species identification. In this study, dichotomous key‐like information that is often used in species identification is automatically generated from botanical documents and used to enhance full‐text botanical document retrieval. Such information is used to describe document content and is also used to provide a form‐based search that allows users to apply their domain knowledge to define various plant characteristics in their queries. Information extraction techniques were used to generate the key‐like information from semi‐structured botanical documents. Experimental results indicate that this approach improved search performance as well as user's satisfaction.
Computer supported workflow for cataloging and management in digital libraries
Authors: Ke Weimao , Mostafa Javed , S. Athreya Gayathri
Published: June 2009

Service integration is important in digital library implementation. In this paper, we present a project called Extensible Networked Association‐based Bioinformatics Learning Environment, or ENABLE. It computerizes a cataloging workflow by integrating backend services and facilitates interleaving between automatic cataloging & human curation activities. To the user end, it provides various interaction means that support bioinformatics learning. Features of the current implementation include automatic bioinformatics resource harvesting, basic information retrieval operations, resource cataloging and management, visualization and learning tools.
Web CLIR: An exploratory study of Google's new tool
Authors: Moukdad Haidar
Published: June 2009

This poster reports on experiments conducted using Google Cross‐language information retrieval (CLIR) capabilities to explore the performance of the engine using English queries to retrieve Arabic documents. A hundred one‐term English queries, using information retrieval (IR) terms, were entered in Google, and the top 10 documents retrieved by each query were saved in a local database. The saved documents were analyzed to determine the success of Google in retrieving the correct documents (documents that fit the translated terms) and to explore causes of search failures. The poster presents the results of the analyses conducted on the documents and identifies areas of improvement. It also recommends solutions to problems that hinder successful English‐Arabic CLIR on the Web.
Anatomy of context: A framework analysis for archival knowledge organization
Authors: Abreu Amelia
Published: June 2009

This study compares production of archival descriptions with production of bibliographic records and use of user tagging systems. Archivists' descriptions indicate the subject matter of the collection in a similar manner as bibliographic records, but also indicate the collection's provenance, attribute significance to the materials, and give the history of the collection in the archive and outside it. Furthermore, I look at the structure of archival description in comparison to subject cataloging and user tagging. Adapting Tennis' 2006 framework, I look at Work Processes, Discourse, Structural Components and Descriptive Structures associated with these practices. By analyzing archival description under a common measure with concurrent descriptive practice, this work will fill a knowledge gap that will assist linking data by subject, describing materials on the web, integrating archival measures in future descriptive schemes.
Visualizing multi‐agent collaboration for classification of information
Authors: Ke Weimao , Mostafa Javed
Published: June 2009

Agent‐based simulation is a popular technology for studying social and information systems. Information visualization in such simulations is potentially useful for communicating real time information but involves several levels of challenges. It remains unclear what patterns of agent activities are useful for visualization. To motivate and investigate potentially useful patterns for visualization, we identified four factors: 1) Agent Involvement; 2) Dominant Player; 3) Learning and Adaptation; and 4) Influence of Task and Content Stream. To demonstrate the usefulness of the factors, we operationalized them to permit analysis and visualization in the context of a problem involving coordination among agents conducting document classification.
Modeling cultural acquisition in online social networks
Authors: Stutzman Frederic , Kramer‐Duffield Jacob
Published: June 2009

This research proposes to study the relationship between audience, context and disclosure in online social network sites. Studying a population of college students, the researchers will use a survey to explore how social maturity, perceived friend network size, and long‐term goals affect the identity presented in online social networks. This goal of this analysis is to document a process of identity formation in online social networks. In the model, individuals choose strategies of identity presentation based on notions of in‐group awareness, future‐selves and social context. This model will be tested with survey methods.
Peer review and secrecy in the “Information Age”
Authors: Weicher Maureen
Published: June 2009

The subject of peer review has come under increased scrutiny partially due to high profile cases of fraud and other misinformation appearing in academic journals. At the same time, new publishing technologies have made it possible to experiment with new forms of peer review, while the “Open Archives Initiative” has the potential to allow authors to bypass the traditional peer review process entirely. In this paper, I examine some rationales given for the need for secrecy in peer review, especially as it relates to the perceived need for anonymity on the part of reviewers and sometimes even authors. I will propose a basic framework for secrecy and transparency as it relates to the peer review process of academic journals.
Collaboration networks in a public service model: Dimensions of effectiveness in theory and in practice
Authors: Schultz‐Jones Barbara , Cheung Nancy
Published: June 2009

We present both researcher and practitioner responses to the results of a 2007 research study originally designed to apply social network theory to the Neighborhood Integrated Service Teams (NIST). The municipal government for the City of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada designed and implemented the model in 1995 to strengthen community partnerships by connecting city services to the neighborhoods. They defined program effectiveness in terms of reduced citizen problems, with more than a 60% decrease of complaints to City Council by citizens since inception.

Social network analysis mapped the relationships of network members and social network theory was applied to the results. Sociograms represent the interactions across and within the networks. The results and analysis demonstrated the pattern of information flows and the behavior of collaboration across the networks. These results were presented to the full NIST membership, NIST coordinator and City Manager for feedback.

The research results demonstrate that collaboration network effectiveness extends beyond the realization of one organizational goal, encompassing contextual benefits unrecognized without an examination of the information environment. The combination of researcher and practitioner perspectives provides a more complete view of the information environments within collaboration networks and informs a broader consideration of network effectiveness dimensions.
Message and messenger: The carrier effect on judgments of credibility
Authors: Aumer‐Ryan Paul , Aumer‐Ryan Katherine
Published: June 2009

When examining the ways in which individuals evaluate the credibility of information sources, it is easy to assume that these judgments are based solely on the quality of the information being presented. The study described here questions this assumption by establishing a link between the quality of the interface (rather than the content) and perceived credibility. Essentially, interface design and the “form” of information (the messenger) can negatively impact the perceived quality of the “content” of information (the message). This study tests the hypothesis that individuals searching a poorly designed digital library will perceive the contents of the collection as less authoritative and credible than a digital library with a superior interface. This focus on interface design illuminates one of the methods by which individuals evaluate new or poorly understood information: by examining the quality of its distribution mechanism. Generally speaking, this research is an indication of how individuals are prone to the carrier effect, allowing features of the messenger (the interface) to affect the perception of the message (the digital library content).
Gene's worlds: Comparing Eugene Garfield's co‐citation and tri‐citation image PFNets over time
Authors: McCain Katherine W.
Published: June 2009

The structure of Eugene Garfield's Citation Image over two time periods (1978–87 and 19982007) is explored using both “standard” Author Co‐citation Analysis and Tri‐citation Analysis‐ co‐citation with Garfield included as a third cited author. A comparison of PFNets for each decade and mapping approach shows that tri‐citation can bring out more specific and context‐relevant author relationships than co‐citation that is based on all articles citing any pair of Citation Image authors.
Advancing social science research by applying computational linguistics
Authors: Cheng An‐Shou , Fleischmann Kenneth R. , Wang Ping , Oard Douglas W.
Published: June 2009

This paper discusses the growing trend of applying computational thinking and linguistic approaches to social science research, arguing that computational linguistics is a useful but underutilized approach that may potentially be able to make significantly contributions to research in a wide range of social science domains. The paper begins with an introduction to computational thinking and argues that this approach can be applied not only in the sciences but also in the social sciences. Next, the paper discusses the linguistic turn in the social sciences and provides an overview of research on manual content analysis. The following sections describe how automatic content analysis evolved from manual content analysis, and describe how a computational approach can support content analysis. The paper then describes principles and techniques for applying automatic content analysis. Next, the paper gives examples of domains where automatic content analysis is already being applied and domains where it could be applied in the future. Finally, the paper calls attention to the need for additional work in this area.
REVENCYT and BDTV: Venezuelan initiatives on digital libraries
Authors: Rosales N. Fabiola , Bauste Marlene , Rodríguez Fernando , León Francisco
Published: June 2009

Since 2002 in Venezuela, creation of digital libraries has been discussed and promoted in order to diffuse the historical, cultural, audiovisual, and scientific‐academic heritage. Projects such as “El Zulia en el Tiempo” and “Luces de Bolívar” treat cultural and historical matters, “Artistas Populares del Estado Sucre” works on audiovisual legacy, and for the scientific‐academic areas, the index “SciELO‐Venezuela”, both, the index and the digital library of “Revistas Venezolanas de Ciencia y Tecnología (REVENCYT)”, and the Digital Library of Venezuelan Theses (BDTV). This article will focus in the last two mentioned projects of the scientific_academic area, in one hand, for being the first to be completed with the participation of research and academic institutions, and in the other hand, for offering the greater amount of contents. REVENCYT has approximately of 8.776 full text articles and the BDTV has approximately 22.240 thesis and undergraduate and graduate projects from eight (8) national universities.
A conceptual framework for improving information retrieval in folksonomy using Library of Congress subject headings
Authors: Yi Kwan
Published: June 2009

Social tagging or collaborative tagging is a new trend in the organization, management, and discovery of digital information. Folksonomy, a collection of tags assigned to online information by all participants of social tagging systems, has many advantages as an information organization tool. As an information retrieval tool, however, folksonomy lacks the capability of discerning the relevancy of information. We propose a conceptual framework of IR for folksonomy on the basis of Library of Congress Subject Headings. Algorithms for constructing the conceptual framework are described, and values of the framework are also discussed.
ASIS&T 2008 annual meeting poster FRBR and the 'known‐item' search
Authors: Carlyle Allyson , Becker Samantha R.
Published: June 2009

The purpose of this research is to study the phenomenon of the “known‐item search,” to investigate and map out its parameters. The research reported on here is the result of pretesting a survey that will be administered to public and academic library users looking for a particular book, asking them about the extent to which they would accept the substitute of a related item for the one they are looking for. The research is being framed in terms of the 1998 document model, Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records (FRBR), in which different levels, or aspects, of content have been identified. FRBR is being incorporated into international library cataloging standards, however, research is only now beginning to be conducted to test the applicability of the model to people who are actually searching for documents. The study has two purposes: first, to improve information systems, particularly online catalogs, using specific knowledge of the range of acceptable items that may be the object of a search, and second, to determine the extent to which the FRBR model is useful in describing entities of interest to library users.
The potential role of ILS schools in educating medical informationists1
Authors: Wildemuth Barbara M. , Schaeffer Peggy , Gollop Claudia , Schardt Connie , Thibodeau Patricia L.
Published: June 2009

Medical informationists can make significant contributions to the intersection of medicine and information and library science. Based on input from approximately 50 medical informationists, a checklist of needed knowledge/skills was compiled. The curricula of 19 schools of information and library science (ILS) were then evaluated, in terms of their coverage of the required knowledge/skills. Course offerings on topics related to technology and information content were abundant, while coverage of topics related to users/people, communication and interpersonal skills, and intellectual outlook/personal attributes was spotty. Based on this analysis, the potential of ILS schools to educate medical informationists is discussed.
The Educators Coop: A virtual world model for real world collaboration
Authors: Jarmon Leslie , Sanchez Joe
Published: June 2009

Research is presented examining the effectiveness of Second Life (SL), a 3‐D virtual world, as a collaborative work tool for a virtual group of 42 real educators and researchers from diverse disciplines and geographical regions. The study focuses on phase one of research being conducted in the Educators Coop, the first long term virtual residential community established in SL specifically for educators and researchers. Six primary themes emerged from the content analysis of the members' responses to the open‐ended interview question “How have you used the Educators Coop?” Primarily, the 3‐D virtual space is being used to collaborate, to learn, to do real work, to work alone, to network with neighbors, and to build. Some challenges include overloaded work schedules, time zones differences, and computer technology requirements and glitches.
Game Scholar: Do we need a reference database for video game research?
Authors: Geisler Gary , Stenis Paul , Martinez Jesse , King Allison
Published: June 2009

Given the growing influence of video games and the likelihood that video games will be the focus of an increasing amount of criticism and research, we suggest that a comprehensive information resource on the topic could be of significant value to the scholarly community. The Game Scholar prototype and research study are aimed at understanding whether there is in fact a need for such a resource and if so, what information would be most useful to include in the resource.
Dealing with spam: Some observations and recommendations
Authors: Martin Samuel P. , Lueg Christopher P.
Published: June 2009

The email communication system is threatened by unsolicited commercial email aka spam. Spam filters help reduce the amount of spam users have to cope with but often, users have difficulties understanding how these filters actually assess messages to be spam or ham. We conducted a number of user experiments using a simulated email interface providing detailed information about spam assessments. Feedback suggests that the additional information provided by the email interface was welcome.
Documenting the cultural progress of Puerto Rico in the early twentieth century: (A research project in progress)
Authors: Qayyum Asim
Published: June 2009

This research work is identifying and documenting information about the cultural events and their development in Puerto Rico. The purpose of this initiative is to increase awareness and understanding of the diversity and richness of the Puerto Rican culture. To achieve this objective, the research focuses on information contained within the catalogues published by museums and institutes in Puerto Rico in the first half of the twentieth century. Theses catalogues are being digitized and the digital objects are being placed in a repository. Guidelines for developing collaborative permissions policies will also be formulated to focus on copyright procedures and requirements for capturing, documenting, reusing, and portraying the information about cultural objects on the island. A two‐phase methodology is being followed. In the first phase, the catalogues existing in the libraries and museum of arts in the university are being examined and a sample is being digitized. This information will be used to identify the important institutes and prominent artists during the period under study, and develop profiles highlighting their works. The second phase will involve looking at catalogues that potentially exist in other institutes, libraries, and non‐profit foundations around the island. In both phases, metadata will be created for a sample of documents and they will be placed in a digital repository. All in all, this project will portray the important art, music, and literary events related to Puerto Rican culture, customs, and traditions. Any researcher, historian, or cultural enthusiast searching for information would then immensely benefit from knowing the descriptions of such heritage; information that will be provided by this project.
Dietary quercetin alleviates diabetic symptoms and reduces streptozotocin‐induced disturbance of hepatic gene expression in mice
Authors: Kobori Msauko , Masumoto Saeko , Akimoto Yukari , Takahashi Yumiko
Published: June 2009

Quercetin is a food component that may ameliorate the diabetic symptoms. We examined hepatic gene expression of BALB/c mice with streptozotocin (STZ)‐induced diabetes to elucidate the mechanism of the protective effect of dietary quercetin on diabetes‐associated liver injury. We fed normal and STZ‐induced diabetic mice with diets containing quercetin for 2 wk and compared the patterns of hepatic gene expression in these groups of mice using a DNA microarray. Diets containing 0.1 or 0.5% quercetin lowered the STZ‐induced increase in blood glucose levels and improved plasma insulin levels. A cluster analysis of the hepatic gene expressions showed that 0.5% quercetin diet suppressed STZ‐induced alteration of gene expression. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and quantitative RT‐PCR analysis showed that the quercetin diets had greatest suppressive effect on the STZ‐induced elevation of expression of cyclin‐dependent kinase inhibitor p21(WAF1/Cip1) (Cdkn1a). Quercetin also suppressed STZ‐induced expression of Cdkn1a in the pancreas. Dietary quercetin might improve liver and pancreas functions by enabling the recovery of cell proliferation through the inhibition of Cdkn1a expression. Unexpectedly, in healthy control mice the 0.5 and 1% quercetin diets reduced the expression of ubiquitin C (Ubc), which has heat‐shock element (HSE) in the promoter region, in the liver.