bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Antaeus column: does the “open access” advantage exist? A librarian's perspective
Authors: Joint Nicholas 
Published: July 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to discuss the evidence about the benefits of running open access repositories, with particular emphasis on the so‐called “open access advantage.”Design/methodology/approachA brief account of the evolving arguments for open access, together with a summary and analysis of some recent articles proposing arguments for and against the idea of “open access advantage.”FindingsThe paper finds that many of the original arguments for the benefits of open access have fallen by the wayside; but that, in spite of this, there is a good evidence that an “open access advantage” does exist. The application of straightforward library statistical counting measures which are traditionally used to evaluate user benefits of mainstream services is just as effective an evaluation tool as more sophisticated citation analysis methods.Research limitations/implicationsAs much of the research into the impact of open access on citation counts of articles is highly complex and narrowly focussed, a continuation of such abstract research activity may obscure this topic rather than shed light.Practical implicationsThe insights of practitioner librarians into repository evaluation are highly important.Originality/valueThis article attempts to refocus the discussion of open access repositories away from the more abstract and remote analysis of their benefits, and emphasise that open access repositories are straightforward information services like any other, and should be evaluated on the same terms.
Emerging challenges and opportunities for Nigerian libraries in a global information environment
Authors: Omekwu Charles O. , Echezona Ifeoma R. 
Published: July 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the challenges and opportunities for librarians operating in a global information environment.Design/methodology/approachThe exploratory research design is adopted and secondary data are also used. The method is to first examine the concept of globalization, the status of information and communication technology (ICT) in African countries and current issues in library practices with specific focus on digital technology, and internet use pattern across Africa. The next approach is to examine the challenges and opportunities for libraries and librarians in a global information environment.FindingsThe paper concludes that the critical challenge for information professionals from developing countries is to harness technological systems to globalize their information resources and services. The opportunities of doing so are boundless, borderless and beneficial in accessing the global information pool.Practical implicationsNigeria libraries are critically situated at the crossroads of digital revolution that is creating new vistas for information service provision. But how far and how fast they move from the crossroads to the emerging digital threshold will define their quality as well as quantity of information services provision by all species of libraries.Originality/valueThe paper originality lies in its concise articulation of the boundless opportunities in a duality of a global information environment and the argument that librarians, who will manage information in the globalized environment, must acquire skills that will make global professionals rather than local champions. It is further contended that Nigerian libraries must join the march of civilization and the radical impact of the globalization process. This is because of the fact that in the garden of humanity, nothing is static; that which fails to grow will begin the process of gradual extinction and irrelevance. This paper looks at the library in a global information environment. It also examines the impact of ICT on global information network. The opportunities offered by the impact of ICT on globalization are also discussed. It articulates the challenges for librarians and libraries in global information environment.
Information literacy as professional legitimation: the quest for a new jurisdiction
Authors: O'Connor Lisa 
Published: July 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the emergence of information literacy (IL) by analyzing professional discourse and demonstrating that there is much evidence to support Foster's claim that regardless of what else IL might achieve, it was in part a professional response and an attempt to rearticulate and legitimate librarians' claim to an educational jurisdiction at a time their traditional access‐oriented jurisdiction was threatened.Design/methodology/approachThe paper employs document analysis and critical analysis.FindingsThe paper finds that IL is, in part, the result of librarians' need to protect their professional territory from the systemic disturbances caused by information technology, fiscal challenges and the educational reform movement.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper should be of interest to researchers involved in the field of IL.Practical implicationsThe paper discusses the place of IL in the field of modern librarianship, and as such should be wide interest in various sectors of librarianship.Originality/valueThe results of this study offer a critical analysis of the development of IL in the field of librarianship, and as such deals with an important issue facing librarians in the twenty‐first century.
On the writing, reading and publishing of digital stories
Authors: Petrelli Daniela , Wright Hazel 
Published: July 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe a study set up to investigate and map the landscape of digital writing today. A holistic perspective has been adopted involving writers, readers and publishers alike.Design/methodology/approachThe research uses a qualitative approach and combines interviews and direct observations. In in‐depth interviews 13 participants (four writers, four publishers, three readers and two on‐line readers) were questioned for their opinions on issues related to writing, publishing and reading digital fiction. The three readers were also observed while interacting, for the first time, with three digital stories.FindingsResults show that the area is still unsettled though much excitement surrounds experimentations and freedom of publishing online. Readers seem uneasy with the role of co‐creators that writers want to assign them and prefer linear stories to more deconstructed ones. Writers like to experiment and combine multiple media and readers like to interact with multimedia stories; this seems to open interesting perspectives over interactive narrative. Publishers are not yet involved in digital writing and this is seen simultaneously as a blessing (unfiltering of innovative ideas) and a curse (lack of economical support, lack of quality selection). Despite disagreement and ambiguity all interviewees agree that digital fiction will come, likely prompted by new reading technology.Originality/valueThis paper is the first attempt to understand the phenomena of digital writing taking into consideration the perspectives of writers, readers and publishers simultaneously and comparing their different views.
Skills developed through library and information science education
Authors: Gerolimos Michalis 
Published: July 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to report a study designed to identify qualifications and skills that library and information science (LIS) students should have when they graduate.Design/methodology/approachThe reported research examines the curriculum of 49 institutions in three countries which offer programs in LIS. Course descriptions are studied through the web and the module specifications presented there.FindingsThe study identifies 59 qualifications/skills that were central to graduation in the field of LIS.Research limitations/implicationsCourse specifications have some limitations as they do not always include the detailed description that would be desirable.Originality/valueThe paper examines the orientation of institutions that provide LIS programs and, more importantly, the way that orientation is integrated into their programs of study.
Development of an indigenously fermented Indian bread – doli ki roti
Authors: Bhatia Anshu , Khetarpaul Neelam 
Published: July 2009

PurposeSome of the indigenous fermented foods of India seem to be very nutritious but not scientifically proved. Moreover, due to urbanisation and changing food habits and lifestyles, people are abandoning such nutritious recipes. This paper aims to collect such indigenous technical knowledge, standardise it under laboratory conditions and analyse it organoleptically and for various nutrients.Design/methodology/approachDoli ki roti – an indigenous nutritional fermented bread popular among Indian Punjabis migrated from Pakistan – is a wheat‐based product. Natural fermentation is carried out in an earthen pot called doli in vernacular language. The final product was a stuffed puri‐like preparation (a puri is a fried small fermented wheat bread stuffed with spice‐cooked chickpeas). Its preparation was learned from rural households and standardised under laboratory conditions. The product prepared was improved further to make it rich in micronutrients and protein. It was analysed for proximate nutrients, phytic acid and in vitro digestibility of starch and protein using standard AOAC methods.FindingsThe unfermented bread had 632.3 mg phytic acid per 100 g but this reduced significantly to an extent of 5‐18 per cent due to fermentation at 35°C and for both time periods, i.e. 18 h and 24 h. This significant reduction in the phytic acid content culminated in a marked improvement in protein (28‐50 per cent) and starch (57‐88 per cent) digestibility. The higher the temperature and the longer the period of fermentation, the more significant (p<0.05) were the changes seen in the phytic acid content, and a significant and negative correlation between the two further strengthened the findings.Research limitations/implicationsSuch a product can be further improved nutritionally by making it rich in beta‐carotene. Instead of frying, it can be baked in the oven for health‐conscious people suffering from hypercholesterolemia.Practical implicationsOn the basis of the findings of the present study, people should be encouraged not to abandon healthy eating practices but continue with their traditional healthy food habits. They should be motivated to prepare and eat fermented foods having the right combination of cereals, pulses and leafy vegetables.Originality/valueThis is an original paper based on an original idea. It is based on the research findings of the MSc thesis of the first author, who worked under the guidance of the second author.
Calcium, vitamin D, and bone health: how much do adults need?
Authors: Anderson John J.B. 
Published: July 2009

PurposeThe intent of this review is to provide a nutritional background for the hypothesis that excessive intakes of calcium and, possibly, vitamin D in adults and the elderly may contribute to an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases.Design/methodology/approachRecent scientific reports and literature reviews on the linkage between excessive dietary calcium consumption and cardiovascular calcification have been assessed. Prospective human data on this health concern is limited to one recent report from New Zealand of elderly women on calcium supplements for five years. Other supporting evidence is derived from experimental studies over the years and from observations of subjects with gastric ulcers who consumed excessive amounts of milk along with antacids and of “worried well” subjects who took excessive calcium supplements or yogurt.FindingsCalcium loading in arterial walls occurs under these conditions, even among those with healthy renal function, because atherosclerotic plaques in arterial intimal layers readily permit calcium uptake from blood and the formation of bone in inappropriate locations throughout the body, especially in coronary arteries, heart valves, and arteries of other major organs. Arteriosclerotic damage in affluent populations, such as the USA, is common. Bone health seems to benefit little from excessive calcium in late life compared to the damage to arterial function.Research limitations/implicationsFuture studies are needed to advance understanding of this diet‐disease linkage.Originality/valueThis review supports recent data that indicates an important relationship between excessive calcium intakes and arterial calcification in adults and the elderly.
POPs in breast milk: breast‐fed infants' health risk
Authors: Sarkar S. 
Published: July 2009

PurposeBreast milk is considered the optimum food for infants during infancy. Pesticide residues may get transferred to infants through breast feeding and pose various serious health hazards. This paper aims to enumerate various pesticides that are present in breast milk and pose potential health risk to breast‐fed infants.Design/methodology/approachAn attempt is been made to highlight various sources of pesticide exposure, their mechanism of transfer to breast milk and the possible health hazards to breast‐fed infants. Techniques to reduce the incidence of pesticides in foods are also outlined.FindingsThe exposure of lactating mothers to pesticides from various sources and their detection in breast milk poses various health risks to breast‐fed infants. Infants and younger children are more prone to pesticide poisoning than adults due to quantitative differences in absorption, metabolism, detoxification and excretion.Practical implicationsAdopting precautionary measures and minimising the application of persistent organic pollutants, breast milk could be prevented from pesticide exposure and thus could be recommended safe for infant feeding.Originality/valueThe paper shows that the protection of mothers from pesticide exposure would reduce the incidence of pesticides in breast milk, thus conferring health safety to breast‐fed infants.
POPs in breast milk: women's breast cancer risk
Authors: Sarkar S. 
Published: July 2009

PurposePersistent organic pollutants (POPs) have become widespread pollutants and now represent a global contamination problem. The presence of POPs in human serum and adipose tissues have raised public concern regarding their possible role as important etiologic agents in the development of human cancer. This paper aims to investigate the extent of environmental contamination with pesticides and their association with women's risk of breast cancer.Design/methodology/approachVarious stages of carcinogenesis (initiation, promotion, progression), causes and risk factors associated with breast cancer are delineated. A possible mechanism of xenoestrogen and its association with breast cancer incidences in women is included. Recommendations for reducing breast cancer risks in women are also given.FindingsEpidemiological studies have revealed that persistent pesticide residues in human serum and adipose tissues may increase women's risk of breast cancer. Women are at a greater risk than men of pesticide exposure. The association between organochlorine compounds and breast cancer is a controversial issue and there exists an exigency to execute extensive worldwide epidemiological studies under identical conditions of detected compounds, blood sampling procedures and analytical techniques to achieve conclusive results.Practical implicationsWomen's risk of breast cancer associated with pesticide residues could be subjugated by avoiding prolonged occupational exposures, adopting precautionary measures, and changing lifestyle and dietary habits.Originality/valueThe paper shows that restrictions on the application of POPs and the avoidance of prolonged occupational exposure would result in lower concentrations of POP in blood, serum and adipose tissue, thus minimising women's risk of breast cancer.
Iodine content of water and foodstuffs from different agroclimatic zones of Haryana State, India
Authors: Punia Darshan , Gupta Manju , Kala Yadav Shashi , Khetarpaul Neelam 
Published: July 2009

PurposeThis study aims to analyze iodine content in various foods and water.Design/methodology/approachFood and water samples were collected from rural and urban areas of different agroclimatic zones of Haryana State, India, and analyzed for iodine content by a standard method.FindingsA wide variation was observed in the iodine content of cereals, pulses, vegetables, fruits and milk. The iodine content in water samples varied from source to source and from zone to zone.Research limitations/implicationsThe investigators could not obtain sufficient samples of pulses and fruits for analysis from rural areas as they are not grown by farmers in their fields.Originality/valueThe study is original and innovative. The values of iodine for various foods are not available in the literature, and thus data of the present study will be useful to researchers, nutritionists, food scientists and dieticians.
Nutritive value of Libyan airline meals
Authors: Sachithananthan Vedavalli , Buzgeia Mohammad , Khalifa Emberika , Abdul Hamid Najwa 
Published: July 2009

PurposeThis paper aims to assess the nutritive value of Libyan airline meals in comparison with RDA.Design/methodology/approachThe study was carried out using food samples collected from the catering department of Benina International Airport, Benghazi, Libya, for a period of two months. Different types of meals served for breakfast, lunch (beef meal, chicken meal and lamb meal) and snacks were collected in triplicate from the catering department of the airport prior to being loaded onto the aircraft. These samples were taken immediately to the university laboratory and weighed after removing the bones and separating the different dishes from the pre‐plated meal box. Rice, different vegetables and meat were weighed separately using a digital balance. Measuring cups were used to measure liquids. Chefs were consulted regarding the amount of different ingredients that went into the preparation of the different recipes to enable nutritive value computation using food composition tables. Finally the nutrient content of each meal and snack were compared with the RDA.FindingsThe results on the nutritive value of the dishes served for breakfast, lunch and snacks revealed higher amounts of energy, carbohydrates, saturated fat and sodium in comparison with the RDA in most of the meals, whereas the micronutrient content with respect to vitamins A, E and C, most B vitamins, and iron and calcium did not meet the RDA in respect of most of the meals.Practical implicationsThe airline needs to look seriously into this issue and improve the micronutrient content of its meals, simultaneously reducing the total energy and sodium content and replacing the saturated fat present in the meals in the best interests of preventing health risks to frequent airline passengers.Originality/valueThe paper assesses the nutritional value of one airline's meals.
Vitamin C content during processing and storage of pineapple
Authors: Uckiah A. , Goburdhun D. , Ruggoo A. 
Published: July 2009

PurposeThis paper aims to determine the effects of processing pineapple fruits into different products and storage of the processed products on the ascorbic acid content.Design/methodology/approachPineapples (variety “Queen Victoria”) were processed into juice, jam and sorbet. Vitamin C was analysed by the 2‐6 dichloroindophenol titrimetric method and tests were performed during preparation and storage of the products. The pineapple juice was stored for nine days at 8°C, whilst the jam and sorbet were kept for two months at 22‐25°C and −18°C respectively.FindingsFresh peeled pineapple fruit contains an average ascorbic acid content of 24.8 mg/100 g of fruit. During the juice making process, peeling led to the highest percentage loss of vitamin C (41.8 per cent) followed by exhausting (23.7 per cent). Processing of pineapples into jam was revealed to be most destructive towards ascorbic acid (a loss of 46.8 per cent) as compared to juice making (38.5 per cent) and sorbet preparation (15.5 per cent). Storage of the three processed products in the specific conditions led to a significant decrease (p<0.05) in vitamin C content, and the highest rate of degradation was in pineapple juice (0.6 mg loss per day).Originality/valueThis paper deals with the retention of vitamin C potency in pineapple products, which is important both to consumers concerned with maintaining good health, and to pineapple processors, who are interested in quality assurance, nutrient labelling and product storage.
Assessments of lead levels and daily intakes from green leafy vegetables of southwest Nigeria
Authors: Adekunle I.M. , Olorundare O. , Nwange C. 
Published: July 2009

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to assess the safety of commonly consumed green leafy vegetables in southwest Nigeria in relation to lead (Pb) contamination.Design/methodology/approachIn total, 585 samples of five species of commonly consumed green leafy vegetable samples were procured from 15 outdoor markets and selected farms in three major cities (Abeokuta, Ibadan and Lagos) in the region. Samples were fragmented to two portions (water‐washed and unwashed) and subjected to acid digestion. The Pb in the digests was measured using a flame atomic spectrophotometer. Relevant information was elicited from traders by the administration of a structured questionnaire. Acceptable daily intakes of the metal from the vegetables were estimated using the FAO/WHO total diet study.FindingsLead concentrations in all the vegetable samples (6.35‐20.85 mg/kg) exceeded the recommended value of 0.3 mg/kg for green leafy vegetables. The estimated daily intakes of the metal (1.11×10−2 to 2.02×10−2 mg/kg bw) were also higher than the FAO/WHO safety threshold of 3.0×10−3 to 4.0×10−3 mg/kg bw for Pb. Washing the vegetables with water reduced Pb concentrations and EDIs by 11.36 to 43.52 per cent but did not bring the values below the recommended limit.Research limitations/implicationsIt was impossible to evaluate the effect of distance from highways on metal concentration because traders were not restricted to a particular location in the outdoor markets in the country.Originality/valueThe study constitutes an evaluative probe into the degree of exposure of commonly consumed vegetables to Pb contamination, contributing to the database of knowledge on toxic metal daily intake from Nigerian foods and environmental contamination.
Latest evidence on omega‐3 fatty acids and health
Authors: Ruxton C.H.S. , Derbyshire E. 
Published: July 2009

PurposeThere is strong evidence that very long chain omega‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC3PUFA) are beneficial. The aim of this paper is to review the role of LC3PUFA in health and put this in context with habitual intakes and international recommendations.Design/methodology/approachA literature review was conducted to locate and summarise relevant published studies and reports.FindingsThere is good evidence that LC3PUFA help prevent cardiovascular disease, and may ameliorate inflammatory conditions and mental health issues, as well as supporting cognitive function throughout life. UK dietary surveys show that average fish intakes are well below the recommended two portions per week. Given that the majority of consumers do not eat oily fish, it is reasonable to consider the potential contribution of dietary supplements or fortified foods, although the latter must be sufficiently high in LC3PUFA to merit consideration.Research limitations/implicationsInformation on LC3PUFA intakes in the UK is lacking. Future dietary surveys should remedy this and look at the relative contribution of different food groups, including supplements, to LC3PUFA intakes.Originality/valueThis paper gives a concise, up‐to‐date overview on LC3PUFA sources, intakes, recommendations and their impact upon health.