Digital Commons Network^™

The Evaluation Of Usage Of Library Resources And Services: An Exclusive Study On Users Of Academic College Libraries, Prayangi Vishal Matonkar, Keshav R. Dhuri Dr

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Academic libraries play crucial role in enhancing teaching and research missions of their parent institutions. This paper shares findings of the study which investigated awareness and use of library resources. The main aim of this research study is to identify the use and usage of resources and services provided by the library. A well structured questionnaire was prepared on Google Forms to collect the data from users of six colleges from Goa. Total 360 questionnaires were sent to 60 students of each college under study and 300 filled questionnaires were received from the respondents. The study has revealed that highest …

The Role Of Information Literacy On Family Life Education Curriculum Among Youths Of Ikwo Local Government Area, Ebonyi State, Chimeziem Chimdiadi Gabriela Udeze Phd, Joseph Oluchukwu Wogu Prof, Oluebube Amarauche Chukwu Phd

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The study determine the essentiality of information literacy in family life education among youths of the Ikwo local government area of Ebonyi State. The major purpose of the study was to ascertain the vital role of information literacy in upholding/transmitting family life curriculum from one generation to another among the inhabitants of the study area. Though the scholarly review, the study reviewed that family-life education is innate and therefore could be strengthened if adequate information is given and that youths of the area and beyond can also only uphold their family-life education if information literacy is properly inculcated. The study …

Augmenting Traditional Library Services: Role Of Smart Library Technologies And Big Data, Adebowale Jeremy Adetayo, Pauline Oghenekaro Adeniran, Arinola Oluwatoyin Gbotosho

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Intrusive and disruptive technologies have given rise to information explosion, which is increasingly influencing traditional libraries. The predicament of traditional libraries is evident, based on the decreasing usage. In the face of this predicament, to maintain their position, librarians answer has to be swift. Librarians cannot plan or position themselves effectively until they grasp the existence of big data and manage it. To remain relevant, traditional libraries must reshape their services using big data and smart technologies. The article explores the practical application of big data to traditional libraries. It identifies strategies to augment library services with big data and …

Impact Of Information Literacy Skills Of Librarians On Research Productivity Of Faculty Members Of University Of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Muhammad Sakhawat, Muhammad Tariq Dr., Khurram Shahzad

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This study has investigated the impact of Information Literacy Skills of Librarians to enhance the research productivity of Faculty Members of the University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan. The main goal of the study was to measure the levels of Information Literacy of faculty members and professional librarians of the university, to investigate the programs offered by library staff of the university, and to explore the role of Librarians’ Information Literacy skills for research productivity of faculty members in the university. To achieve the objectives of the study, the Sequential Explanatory design of Mix method approach was employed and questionnaire …

The Library As An Inspiring Space For Learning And Innovation, Noor Abutayeh

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Managing the modern library means seizing upon this technological and cultural shift, and transforming these challenges into positive opportunities. The success of this evolution will be contingent on the creation of inspiring and attractive services for libraries’ collections, activities, and spaces. Thus, this study seeks to investigate these new inspiring services and non-traditional activities through the web portals of libraries from different countries all around the world. The research follows the documentary approach based on subject-related studies, and navigating libraries’ web portals, to determine their activities. The study focused on many concepts related to innovative services, sustainable information development and …

Enhancing Reading Among The Runaway Children: A Field Experience, Veena Thakare, Rajendra Kumbhar Dr.

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This paper recounts the field experience of a Read-Aloud session conducted at Children’s Observation Home, Umerkhadi, Mumbai. Importance of reading for pleasure, with regards to runaway children, is enumerated. The status of runaway children in India and various initiatives to help them are discussed, with special reference to Children’s Aid Society, an organization aided by Government of Maharashtra, and Committed Communities Development Trust, the organizers of the session. Objectives were to explain the benefits of reading to the children; to provide them a hands-on experience of specially selected story-books; to engage their attention with read-aloud; and to encourage them to …

The Role Of The Academic Library In Providing Outreach Services To Prison Inmates By Means Of Mobile Tools And Technologies, Anthony Chukwuma Izuchukwu Mr., Marlene A. Holmner, Bartholomew O. Agu

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This study investigated the role of academic library in providing outreach services to prison inmates by means of mobile tools and technologies in Nsukka prison library. The research adopted qualitative inquiry approach for the processes and procedures of the research. It was guided by five objectives which includes – the outreach services provided by the academic library to the prison inmates by means of mobile tools and technologies, the mobile tools and technologies used for the provision of outreach services to the prison inmates by means of mobile tools and technologies, the benefits of outreach services as provided by prison …

A Path To An Understanding Of The Internet Use And Its Impact On The Academic Achievement Of Social Science Students, Shehzad Ahmad Dr, Sajjad Ahmad Dr, Muhammad Rafiq Dr

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The purpose of this study is to assess the use and impacts of internet on academic success of Social Science student studying in the public sector Universities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan.

Survey research method using a questionnaire was employed for data collection from a sample of 303 Social Science students spread over five public sector universities of KP. The response rate was 66% and the data was analyzed through SPSS 20.0 using descriptive and inferential statistics.

The key findings show that male respondents reported being more experienced in internet use than female and about 84% of the students agreed …

The Publication Trend Of Internal Medicine In Iran, The Middle East And The World: A 10-Year Bibliometric Analysis, Maryam Esmaeilzadeh, Abbas Doulani, Mohammad Gomar

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Abstract

Purpose: This study sought to evaluate the scientific publications of Iranian researchers in the field of internal medicine as well as to compare them with those of the countries of the Middle East and the world within 2009-2018.

Design/methodology/approach: In this bibliometric study, the Scopus database was used. All papers published in the past ten years by researchers from Iran, the Middle East and the world in the field of internal medicine were included in the study. Data analysis and drawing of scientific maps were performed using Excel and VOS viewer software.

Findings: The number of …

Impact Of Social Networking Sites On School-Going Adolescent Boys In Kashmir, India, Aadil Bashir, Sarafaraz Ahmed, Unjum Bashir, Sumeer Gul, Fayaz Ahmad Loan

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The adolescent age group is one of the most vulnerable periods of life span. It is the period that develops identity and integrity among individuals. The environmental influx to this group includes the SNS’s as one of the major components, having a direct impact on the transition of adolescents to adults. It is in this backdrop, the need is to critically study the impact of SNS’s on adolescent’s life and identifying the key consequences that are emerging out of either using or misusing of same. Ranging from initial exposure of SNS’s to disturbed social life a detailed assessment has been …

Litter Breakdown And Benthic Invertebrate Detritivores From A Hydrologically Restored Stream, Jacob Becraft

Online Theses and Dissertations

The breakdown of coarse forms of detritus into finer forms is an ecosystem function of forested headwater streams. Many factors influence the rate of litter decay, but there is a lack of research on how stream restorations, that aim to restore hydrologic functions, influence litter breakdown. This study compared litter processing rates and macroinvertebrate detritivore assemblages between a hydrologically restored stream (Slabcamp Creek) and an un-restored control stream (White Pine Branch) in the Daniel Boone National Forest in Rowan Co., KY. Red maple (Acer rubrum) leaves were placed in mesh bags and deployed in riffles and pools at the restored …

Neurocognitive Resilience In Children Born Late And Moderate Preterm (Lamp): Predictors Of Outcomes In Attention, Working Memory, And Executive Functioning, Heather C. Hennrick

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This study sought to broaden the findings of the current research on the relationship between late and moderate preterm (LAMP) birth and long-term neurocognitive outcomes—specifically those related to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The purpose of this study was to better understand the relationship between gestational age (GA) and ADHD by (a) comparing prevalence of diagnosis between term-born and LAMP children, (b) comparing ADHD behavioral symptom severity between term-born and LAMP children, (c) and by examining neurocognitive status between term-born children and LAMP children (with and without ADHD diagnoses). The study also examined other factors that contribute to the relationship between GA …

Hospital Readmission After Major Abdominal/Colorectal Surgeries: A Mixed-Methods Study, Ansu Sebastian

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Hospital readmission after major abdominal and colorectal surgeries is a complex phenomenon that impacts the quality and affordability of healthcare. A comprehensive review of the literature after implementation of the Hospital Readmission Reduction Program in 2012 revealed a paucity in studies that analyzed patients' perceptions regarding the phenomenon of readmission. In addition, there is a need for randomized trials that assess the impact of interventions on the rate of readmission among complex surgical patients. A mixed-methods study was conducted to combine descriptive factors impacting hospital readmission with patients' perceptions to produce meaningful data. The results indicated that although discharge education …

Interpretive Entrepreneurs, Melissa J. Durkee

Scholarly Works

Private actors interpret legal norms, a phenomenon I call "interpretive entrepreneurship." The phenomenon is particularly significant in the international context, where many disputes are not subject to judicial resolution and there is no official system of precedent. Interpretation can affect the meaning of laws over time. For this reason, it can be a form of "post hoc" international lawmaking, worth studying alongside other forms of international lobbying and norm entrepreneurship by private actors. The Article identifies and describes the phenomenon through a series of case studies that show how, why, and by whom it unfolds. The examples focus on entrepreneurial …

Wnt Signaling Pathway Activities May Be Altered In Primary Sjogren's Syndrome, Ahmet Karataş, Zühal Ömerci̇koğlu, Burak Öz, Adi̇le Ferda Dağli, Onur Çatak, Fazi̇let Erman, Kazim Şahi̇n, Nevzat Gözel, Süleyman Serdar Koca

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune disease and its pathogenesis is still not completely clear. The wingless (Wnt)/ß-catenin pathway has recently been shown to play an important role in inflammation. This study aims to determine the serum and saliva levels of Dickkopf (DKK)1 and sclerostin and to evaluate Wnt-1 and Wnt-3a expression in the salivary gland in patients with primary SS. Materials and methods: This study included 30 patients diagnosed with SS, 30 patients diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and 29 healthy controls. Serum and saliva levels of DKK1 and sclerostin were measured and the expressions of Wnt1 …

Maintenance Of Pulmonary Rehabilitation Benefits In Patients With Copd: Is A Structured5-Year Follow-Up Program Helpful?, İpek Candemi̇r, Pinar Ergün, Mustafa Engi̇n Şahi̇n

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) has proven useful in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but the benefits decrease over time. We evaluated the effects of a structured follow-up program after PR on patient pulmonary function, dyspnea, body composition, exercise capacity, quality of life, psychological status, i-BODE index, hospitalization status, 5-year survival rate. We explored whether this follow-up program could serve as a maintenance program. Materials and methods: COPD patients who completed PR attended follow-up visits over 5 years. We administered incremental (ISWT), endurance shuttle walk tests (ESWT), measured body (BMI), fat-free mass indices (FFMI), recorded modified Medical Research Council …

Acute Growth Inhibition & Toxicity Analysis Of Nano-Polystyrene Spheres On Raphidocelis Subcapitata, Anthony Reynolds, Michelle Giltrap, Gordon Chambers

Articles

Micro/nano-plastics (MNPs) have been found within many environments and organisms including humans, making them a significant and growing concern. Initial research into the potential detrimental effects these MNPs both from acute and chronic exposure has been ongoing but still requires substantially more data to clarify. This research presents the response of nano-polystyrene (NPS) on Raphidocelis subcapitata, a freshwater alga, under an existing acute toxicity test along with additional analytical techniques to try identifying possible sources of toxicity. R. subcapitata cells were exposed for 72 h to a concentration range of 0–100 mg/l NPS. Growth Inhibition (GI) testing showed the …

Associations Between Genetic Variants In The Vitamin D Metabolism Pathway And Severity Of Covid-19 Among Uae Residents, Fatme Al-Anouti, Mira Mousa, Spyridon N. Karras, William B. Grant, Zainab Alhalwachi, Laila Abdel-Wareth, Maimunah Uddin, Nawal Alkaabi, Guan K. Tay, Bassam Mahboub, Habiba Alsafar

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Vitamin D has many effects on cells in the immune system. Many studies have linked low vitamin D status with severity of COVID-19. Genetic variants involved in vitamin D metabolism have been implicated as potential risk factors for severe COVID-19 outcomes. This study investigated how genetic variations in humans affected the clinical presentation of COVID-19. In total, 646 patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection were divided into two groups: noncritical COVID-19 (n = 453; 70.12%) and a critical group (n = 193; 29.87%). Genotype data on the GC, NADSYN1, VDR, and CYP2R1 genes along with data on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were …

Kelp-Associated Microbes Facilitate Spatial Subsidy In A Detrital-Based Food Web In A Shoreline Ecosystem, Charu Lata Singh, Megan J. Huggett, Paul S. Lavery, Christin Säwström, Glenn A. Hyndes

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Microbes are ubiquitous but our knowledge of their effects on consumers is limited in benthic marine systems. Shorelines often form hotspots of microbial and detritivore activity due to the large amounts of detrital macrophytes that are exported from other coastal ecosystems, such as kelp forests, and accumulate in these systems. Shoreline ecosystems therefore provide a useful model system to examine microbial-detritivore interactions. We experimentally test whether bacteria in the biofilm of kelp provide a bottom-up influence on growth and reproductive output of detritivores in shorelines where detrital kelp accumulates, by manipulating the bacterial abundances on kelp (Ecklonia radiata). The growth …

Application Of Mass Spectrometry-Based Proteomics To Barley Research, Mahya Bahmani, Clare E. O'Lone, Angéla Juhász, Mitchell Nye-Wood, Hugh Dunn, Ian B. Edwards, Michelle L. Colgrave

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Barley (Hordeum vulgare) is the fourth most cultivated crop in the world in terms of production volume, and it is also the most important raw material of the malting and brewing industries. Barley belongs to the grass (Poaceae) family and plays an important role in food security and food safety for both humans and livestock. With the global population set to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, but with less available and/or suitable land for agriculture, the use of biotechnology tools in breeding programs are of considerable importance in the quest to meet the growing food gap. Proteomics as a member …

Prevalence And Patterns Of Multimorbidity In Australian Baby Boomers: The Busselton Healthy Ageing Study, Michael L. Hunter, Matthew W. Knuiman, Bill A. W. Musk, Jennie Hui, Kevin Murray, John P. Beilby, David R. Hillman, Joseph Hung, Robert U. Newton, Romola S. Bucks, Leon Straker, John P. Walsh, Kun Zhu, David G. Bruce, Robert H. Eikelboom, Timothy M. E. Davis, David A. Mackey, Alan L. James

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background and objective: Chronic medical conditions accumulate within individuals with age. However, knowledge concerning the trends, patterns and determinants of multimorbidity remains limited. This study assessed the prevalence and patterns of multimorbidity using extensive individual phenotyping in a general population of Australian middle-aged adults. Methods: Participants (n = 5029, 55% female), born between 1946 and 1964 and attending the cross-sectional phase of the Busselton Healthy Ageing Study (BHAS) between 2010 and 2015, were studied. Prevalence of 21 chronic conditions was estimated using clinical measurement, validated instrument scores and/or self-reported doctor-diagnosis. Non-random patterns of multimorbidity were explored using observed/expected (O/E) prevalence …

Association Of Genetic Variances In Adrb1 And Ppargc1a With Two-Kilometre Running Time-Trial Performance In Australian Football League Players: A Preliminary Study, Ysabel Jacob, Ryan S. Anderton, Jodie L. Cochrane Wilkie, Brent Rogalski, Simon M. Laws, Anthony Jones, Tania Spiteri, Nicolas H. Hart

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Abstract: Genetic variants in the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) (rs4343), alpha-actinin-3 (ACTN3) (rs1815739), adrenoceptor-beta-1 (ADRB1) (rs1801253), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PPARGC1A) (rs8192678) genes have previously been associated with elite athletic performance. This study assessed the influence of polymorphisms in these candidate genes towards endurance test performance in 46 players from a single Australian Football League (AFL) team. Each player provided saliva buccal swab samples for DNA analysis and genotyping and were required to perform two independent two-kilometre running time-trials, six weeks apart. Linear mixed models were created to account for repeated measures over time and to determine whether …

Using Exercise And Nutrition To Alter Fat And Lean Mass In Men With Prostate Cancer Receiving Androgen Deprivation Therapy: A Narrative Review, Rebekah L. Wilson, Dennis R. Taaffe, Robert U. Newton, Nicolas H. Hart, Philippa Lyons-Wall, Daniel A. Galvao

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Fat mass (FM) gain and lean mass (LM) loss are common side effects for patients with prostate cancer receiving androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). Excess FM has been associated with an increased risk of developing obesity-related comorbidities, exacerbating prostate cancer progression, and all-cause and cancer-specific mortality. LM is the predominant contributor to resting metabolic rate, with any loss impacting long-term weight management as well as physical function. Therefore, reducing FM and preserving LM may improve patient-reported outcomes, risk of disease progression, and ameliorate comorbidity development. In ADT-treated patients, exercise and nutrition programs can lead to improvements in quality of life and …

Flavonoid Intake And Incident Dementia In The Danish Diet, Cancer, And Health Cohort, Catherine P. Bondonno, Nicola P. Bondonno, Frederik Dalgaard, Kevin Murray, Samantha L. Gardener, Ralph N. Martins, Stephanie R. Rainey-Smith, Aedín Cassidy, Joshua R. Lewis, Kevin D. Croft, Cecilie Kyrø, Gunnar Gislason, Augustin Scalbert, Anne Tjønneland, Kim Overvad, Jonathan M. Hodgson

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

No abstract provided.

Predictors Of Poststroke Aphasia Recovery: A Systematic Review-Informed Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis, The Rehabilitation And Recovery Of People With Aphasia After Stroke (Release) Collaborators

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background and Purpose: The factors associated with recovery of language domains after stroke remain uncertain. We described recovery of overall-language-ability, auditory comprehension, naming, and functional-communication across participants’ age, sex, and aphasia chronicity in a large, multilingual, international aphasia dataset. Methods: Individual participant data meta-analysis of systematically sourced aphasia datasets described overall-language ability using the Western Aphasia Battery Aphasia-Quotient; auditory comprehension by Aachen Aphasia Test (AAT) Token Test; naming by Boston Naming Test and functional-communication by AAT Spontaneous-Speech Communication subscale. Multivariable analyses regressed absolute score-changes from baseline across language domains onto covariates identified a priori in randomized controlled trials and all …

Exercise Medicine In The Management Of Pancreatic Cancer: A Systematic Review, Hao Luo, Daniel A. Galvão, Robert U. Newton, Pedro Lopez Da Cruz, Colin Tang, Ciaran M. Fairman, Nigel Spry, Dennis R. Taaffe

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The aim of this study was to examine the health-related effects of exercise in patients with pancreatic cancer (PanCa) through a systematic review of current evidence. Studies were obtained through searching PubMed, Web of Science, PsycINFO, Embase, CINAHL Plus, and Cochrane Library databases with additional hand searches. All intervention-based studies were included if it involved (1) adult patients with PanCa, (2) exercise training, and (3) findings in quality of life, cancer-related fatigue, psychological distress, and physical function. The review protocol was registered in PROSPERO: CRD42020154684. Seven trials described in 9 publications were included consisting of 201 patients with early-stage and …

Resistance Training Load Effects On Muscle Hypertrophy And Strength Gain: Systematic Review And Network Meta-Analysis, Pedro Lopez, Régis Radaelli, Dennis R. Taaffe, Robert U. Newton, Daniel A. Galvão, Gabriel S. Trajano, Juliana L. Teodoro, William J. Kraemer, Keijo Häkkinen, Ronei S. Pinto

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Purpose This study aimed to analyze the effect of resistance training (RT) performed until volitional failure with low, moderate, and high loads on muscle hypertrophy and muscle strength in healthy adults and to assess the possible participant-, design-, and training-related covariates that may affect the adaptations. Methods Using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science databases were searched. Including only studies that performed sets to volitional failure, the effects of low- ( > 15 repetitions maximum (RM)), moderate- (9-15 RM), and high-load ( ≤ 8 RM) RTs were examined in healthy …

Dietary Fibre Intervention For Gut Microbiota, Sleep, And Mental Health In Adults With Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Scoping Review, Ran Yan, Lesley J. Andrew, Evania Marlow, Kanita Kunaratnam, Amanda Devine, Ian C. Dunican, Claus T. Christophersen

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder affecting 4–5% of the global population. This disorder is associated with gut microbiota, diet, sleep, and mental health. This scoping review therefore aims to map existing research that has administrated fibre-related dietary intervention to IBS individuals and reported outcomes on at least two of the three following themes: gut microbiota, sleep, and mental health. Five digital databases were searched to identify and select papers as per the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Five articles were included in the assessment, where none reported on all three themes or the combination of gut …

Feasibility And Efficacy Of A Multicomponent Exercise Medicine Programme In Patients With Pancreatic Cancer Undergoing Neoadjuvant Therapy (The Expan Trial): Study Protocol Of A Dual-Centre, Two-Armed Phase I Randomised Controlled Trial, Hao Luo, Daniel A. Galvao, Robert U. Newton, Colin Tang, Andrew Dean, Kevin Jasas, Mikael Johansson, Ian Yusoff, Nigel Spry, Dennis R. Taaffe

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Introduction Exercise is emerging as a therapy in oncology for its physical and psychosocial benefits and potential effects on chemotherapy tolerability and efficacy. However, evidence from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) supporting exercise in patients with borderline resectable or locally advanced pancreatic cancer (PanCa) undergoing neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) are lacking. Methods and analysis The EXPAN trial is a dual-centre, two-armed, phase I RCT. Forty patients with borderline resectable or locally advanced PanCa undergoing NAT will be randomised equally to an exercise intervention group (individualised exercise+standard NAT) or a usual care control group (standard NAT). The exercise intervention will be supervised and …

Foveal Avascular Zone And Choroidal Thickness Are Decreased In Subjects With Hard Drusen And Without High Genetic Risk Of Developing Alzheimer’S Disease, Inés López-Cuenca, Rosa De Hoz, Celia Alcantara-Rey, Elena Salobrar-García, Lorena Elvira-Hurtado, José A. Fernández-Albarral, Ana Barabash, Federico Ramírez-Toraño, Jaisalmer De Frutos-Lucas, Juan J. Salazar, Ana I. Ramírez, José M. Ramírez

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

A family history (FH+) of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and ɛ4 allele of the ApoE gene are the main genetic risk factors for developing AD, whereas ɛ4 allele plays a protective role in age-related macular degeneration. Ocular vascular changes have been reported in both pathologies. We analyzed the choroidal thickness using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) using OCT-angiography and compared the results with ApoE gene expression, AD FH+, and the presence or absence of hard drusen (HD) in 184 cognitively healthy subjects. Choroidal thickness was statistically significantly different in the (FH−, ɛ4−, HD+) group compared with …