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Yavorcik KJ, Reighard DA, Misra SP, Cotter LA, Cass SP, Wilson TD, Yates BJ. Effects of postural changes and removal of vestibular inputs on blood flow to and from the hindlimb of conscious felines. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 297: R1777-R1784, 2009. First published September 30, 2009; doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00551.2009.--Considerable data show that the vestibular system contributes to blood pressure regulation. Prior studies reported that lesions that eliminate inputs from the inner ears attenuate the vasoconstriction that ordinarily occurs in the hindlimbs of conscious cats during head-up rotations. These data led to the hypothesis that labyrinthine-deficient animals would experience considerable lower body blood pooling during head-up postural alterations. The present study tested this hypothesis by comparing blood flow though the femoral artery and vein of conscious cats during 20-60[degrees] head-up tilts from the prone position before and after removal of vestibular inputs. In vestibular-intact animals, venous return from the hindlimb dropped considerably at the onset of head-up tilts and, at 5 s after the initiation of 60[degrees] rotations, was 66% lower than when the animals were prone. However, after the animals were maintained in the head-up position for another 15 s, venous return was just 33% lower than before the tilt commenced. At the same time point, arterial inflow to the limb had decreased 32% from baseline, such that the decrease in blood flow out of the limb due to the force of gravity was precisely matched by a reduction in blood reaching the limb. After vestibular lesions, the decline in femoral artery blood flow that ordinarily occurs during head-up tlits was attenuated, such that more blood flowed into the leg. Contrary to expectations, in most animals, venous return was facilitated, such that no more blood accumulated in the hindlimb than when labyrinthine signals were present. These data show that peripheral blood pooling is unlikely to account for the fluctuations in blood pressure that can occur during postural changes of animals lacking inputs from the inner ear. Instead, alterations in total peripheral resistance following vestibular dysfunction could affect the regulation of blood pressure. blood flow patterning; venous return; cardiac output; orthostatic hypotension doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00551.2009

Despite considerable interest in the neural mechanisms that regulate muscle blood flow, the descending pathways that control sympathetic outflow to skeletal muscles are not adequately understood. The present study mapped these pathways through the transneuronal transport of two recombinant strains of pseudorabies virus (PRV) injected into the gastrocnemius muscles in the left and right hindlimbs of rats: PRV-152 and PRV-BaBlu. To prevent PRV from being transmitted to the brain stem via motor circuitry, a spinal transection was performed just below the L2 level. Infected neurons were observed bilaterally in all of the areas of the brain that have previously been shown to contribute to regulating sympathetic outflow: the medullary raphe nuclei, rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM), rostral ventromedial medulla, A5 adrenergic cell group region, locus coeruleus, nucleus subcoeruleus, and the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus. The RVLM, the brain stem region typically considered to play the largest role in regulating muscle blood flow, contained neurons infected following the shortest postinoculation survival times. Approximately half of the infected RVLM neurons were immunopositive for tyrosine hydroxylase, indicating that they were catecholaminergic. Many (47%) of the RVLM neurons were dually infected by the recombinants of PRV injected into the left and right hindlimb, suggesting that the central nervous system has a limited capacity to independently regulate blood flow to left and right hindlimb muscles. blood flow patterning; pseudorabies virus; exercise hyperemia

Karen Locke: Grounded Theory in Management Research 2001, London, Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. 148 pages. In spite of the number of books available on the subject, 'grounded theory' is a [...]

Introduction. Activity theory, developed in the USSR as a Marxist alternative to Western psychology, has been applied widely in educational studies and increasingly in human-computer interaction research. Argument. The key elements of activity theory, Motivation, Goal, Activity, Tools, Object, Outcome, Rules, Community and Division of labour are all directly applicable to the conduct of information behaviour research. An activity-theoretical approach to information behaviour research would provide a sound basis for the elaboration of contextual issues, for the discovering of organizational and other contradictions that affect information behaviour. It may be used to aid the design and analysis of investigations. Elaboration. The basic ideas of activity theory are outlined and an attempt is made to harmonize different perspectives. A contrast is made between an activity system perspective and an activity process perspective and a diagrammatic representation of the process perspective is offered. Conclusion. Activity theory is not a predictive theory but a conceptual framework within which different theoretical perspectives may be employed. Typically, it is suggested that several methods of data collection should be employed and that the time frame for investigation should be long enough for the full range of contextual issues to emerge. Activity theory offers not only a useful conceptual framework, but also a coherent terminology to be shared by researchers, and a rapidly developing body of literature in associated disciplines.

Introduction. The aim of this paper is to explore the investigation of information-seeking behaviour in the literature of psychology, with special reference to the period before 1981, when the term was introduced into information science, and compare the research of that period, with research reported in 2022-2023. Method. A search of the literature for the term 'information-seeking behaviour' was carried out in Web of Science and Scopus for the period 1900 to 1980 and from January 2022 to May 2023, producing two data sets for analysis. Analysis. Descriptive analysis of sources and geographic distribution of the papers is presented. This is followed by an analysis of the research themes and approaches. Results. In the early set of papers the main context of the research was educational and career counselling and the main research perspective social learning theory, with an emphasis on the concept of locus of control. In the later set, the main theoretical interest was in aspects of cognition, with a particular interest in curiosity. Conclusion. There is much that the information science research can learn and apply from the literature of psychology. In particular, social learning theory, cognitive theory, and the associated research instruments could be of value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction is presented in which author discusses articles on topics including focuses on Gillian Oliver and colleagues which present a review of the literature on data cultures, that is the contexts in which data are created, collected, managed, accessed, used and re-used.

Introduction. This paper reports on a study of e-books issues in academic libraries in two European countries representative of small language markets -- Sweden and Lithuania. Method. Questionnaire surveys, using the same instrument, were carried out in Swedish and Lithuanian academic libraries. Analysis. Quantitative analysis was performed using the descriptive statistics capability of SurveyMonkey. Results. The survey's results reveal some interesting similarities and differences in the two countries. Business models for e-book acquisition in both countries show similarities -- the most popular additional model is purchase for perpetual ownership. One significant difference is that some of the Lithuanian academic librarians appear to have less direct knowledge of e-book acquisition, relying upon the Lithuanian Research Library Consortium to effect licence agreements with publishers and aggregators. Another significant difference is that academic libraries in Lithuania have a higher degree of access to e-books in the national language than is the case in Sweden. Conclusion. The findings show that the factors driving adoption of e-books, is composed of somewhat different elements in the two countries. Swedish librarians regard the need to keep up with technology and access and availability as the two main forces driving adoption of e-books in academic libraries. Lithuanian librarians see economics as the mainfactor, together with technology and demand from students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose — The purpose of this paper is to respond to Bawden's review of Wilson's 1981 paper, "On user studies and information needs". Design/methodology/approach — The paper reflects on the context of the original paper, and on subsequent developments. Findings — The paper comments on a variety of issues relating to information science as a discipline, and its research programme and methods, with specific emphasis on the understanding of human information behaviour. Originality/value — The paper provides a unique perspective on the development of this aspect of the discipline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose — Apart from information retrieval there is virtually no other area of information science that has occasioned as much research effort and writing as "user studies". Within user studies the investigation of "information needs" has been the subject of much debate and no little confusion. The aim of this paper is to attempt to reduce this confusion by devoting attention to the definition of some concepts and by proposing the basis for a theory of the motivations for information-seeking behaviour. Design/methodology/approach — The paper describes the issues of user studies and information needs within the context of information science. Findings — The paper finds that the problem seems to lie, not so much with the lack of a single definition, as with a failure to use a definition appropriate to the level, and purpose of the investigation. Originality/value — The analysis may be used as a springboard to research based upon a wider, holistic view of the information user. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines information-seeking behavior in relation to information-retrieval interaction. Aspects of mediated search interaction; Interaction measures derived from search logs and tape transcripts; Categorization of information retrieval elements; Problem definition state or problem resolution stage following the search process.

Investigates the relationship between the concept of uncertainty in information seeking and mediated searching in the U.S. and Great Britain. Performance of longitudinal data collection in both countries; Recognition of the problem solving models by researchers; Independence of search characteristics and information-seeking stages from problem stage.

Investigates the processes of mediated information retrieval searching during human information-seeking processes in the U.S. and Great Britain. Involvement of observational and data collection in both countries; Use of questionnaires for pre and postsearch interviews; Presentation of findings in four parts.

Evaluates a number of hypotheses linking global/analytic cognitive styles and aspects of researchers' problem-solving and related information seeking behavior in the U.S. Assessment of several postdoctoral researchers for Witkin's field dependence/independence; Researchers' perception of aspects of problem-solving and information-seeking behavior; Behavior of field-independent researchers.

Investigates the processes of mediated information retrieval searching during human information-seeking processes. Characterization of the aspects of processes; Presentation of findings in four parts; Use of questionnaires for pre and postsearch interviews.

Defines and analyzes the phenomenon of information overload and seeks to present organizational therapies that address it. Implications of information overload for health care services; Factors related to information overload; Basic concept of information overload.

The latest evaluation of the World Health Organization (WHO) on the health situation in Africa recognizes that District Health Management Teams (DHMT) are not as efficient and effective at delivering primary healthcare as they could be. The 'weakness of information support is acknowledged by most member states as a persistent obstacle to vigorous and objective management' [1]. A shift towards decentralization in many low-income countries has meant that more skills are demanded of primary healthcare (PHC) managers including data and information handling at all levels of the healthcare system [2]. Ministries of Health (MOH) are changing from centralized reporting health information systems, to health management information systems (HMIS), with emphasis on managers utilizing information at the point of collection. The new information management strategies are intended to promote an informational approach to management at the district and operational health service level. Organizations that have an interest in training health service managers also recognize the need for more skills, and the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) initiated the development of a training package for PHC managers known as the Primary Healthcare Management Advancement Programme (PHC MAP). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an outline of models of information seeking and other aspects of information behaviour, showing the relationship between communication and information behaviour in general with information seeking and information searching in information retrieval systems. It is suggested that these models address issues at various levels of information behaviour and that they can be related by envisaging a "nesting' of models. It is also suggested that, within both information seeking research and information searching research, alternative models address similar issues in related ways and that the models are complementary rather than conflicting. Finally, an alternative, problem-solving model is presented, which, it is suggested, provides a basis for relating the models in appropriate research strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents information on a paper which highlighted the two stages of investigation into the perceived quality of online databases. Components of the EQUIP consortium; Reference to a survey involving a range of companies throughout Europe; Findings of various studies conducted on the topic.

Compares a study of journal use, based on items selected for inclusion in `Social Work Information Bulletin (SWIB). Indicators of importance derived from citation studies; Input and demand analysis; Ranked order of subject heading; Comparison of ranks by impact and use ratios.

Discusses elements of research that need to be monitored by research funding agencies and organizations carrying out information-related research. Project management; Methodological effectiveness; Financial management; Staffing; Deliverables; Research evaluation.

This paper describes the background to the estab lishment of a collaborative, distance-learning Master's pro gramme in Portugal, involving the Centre for Technical Infor mation for Industry of the Laboratório Nacional de Engen haria e Tecnologia Industrial, and the Department of Intor mation Studies at the University of Sheffield. Previous collab oration on an intensive, six-month training programme for Information Intermediaries had led to an awareness of a market readiness for a more advanced course and. following a year of preliminary work, the MSC programme was imple mented with the aid of funds from PFDIP.In this paper, after a brief overview of the training in Information in Portugal. including a short reference to the Postgraduate Course for Information Intermediaries launched by ( ITI, the experience of setting up the Master's Programme in Information Management ot the University of Sheffield, at I NETI/CITI is outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Reports on a survey of former students which aimed to collect career information, gain an impression of views on their course, compare findings with an earlier study, and assess these findings in the context of the current employment situation. The results showed, inter alia, an increasing interest in com puter-based information work, that most graduates were able to find posts that matched their interests, that they entered a wide range of jobs in 'the emerging market', and that job satisfaction was at a high level. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Business process re-engineering (or redesign) has achieved mixed results in business and industry but it offers an approach to thinking about the future of academic libraries in the digital age that is worth considering. This paper outlines the forces that are currently affecting academic libraries in the UK and proposes a strategy whereby the transformation from the handling of artefacts to the handling of electronic sources may be effected with maximum benefit to the information user. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of user studies at the Department of Information Studies, Sheffield University, is described The research work of students and staff in this area is analysed. Generalizable findings are discussed and attention is drawn to methodological, application and educational implications. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Project LOGI was funded by the British Library R&D Department to develop 'self-help' manuals for those wishmg to assess information needs in local government and to evaluate the effectiveness of current awareness services. The data obtamed in pilot tests of the research Instruments point to conclusions of relevance for the design of information systems. In particular, the data on the value of current awareness services, and on the uses to which information is put, help to define further the Idea of 'benefit' and to limit the scope of 'benefit measurement'. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper describes some of the results of two brief questionnaires sent to local authority social services departments in 1974. Given the shortcomings of the questionnaires and the fact that the data are not susceptible to tests of significance, the results reveal wide variation in the nature of information services provided within these departments, a low level of public library involvement in specific information problems of the social services, and a very "passive" service from those public service libraries which are involved. The data also reveal a relatively low level of awareness of the value of external agencies as possible providers of information. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A questionnaire listing possible research projects in the field of social welfare information work was sent to 8 1 individuals representing practitioners in the field as well as librarians and information workers. The results were used to provide background information for participants in a Forum funded by the British Library Research and Development Depart ment and revealed some significant differences between priority judgements of practitioners and those of librarians and information workers. The technique employed can be regarded as a modification of the 'Delphi' technique and it is suggested that bringing respondents to the questionnaire together for the second 'round' of the investigation may have specific advantages in increasing mutual understanding among different interest-groups. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The chief findings and recommendations of the final report on the DES Local Library Cooperation Project are presented in relation to the key concept of existing "unplanned coordination". Developments that have taken place in Sheffield since the publication of the report are noted. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article presents the discussion on diffusion of information science research into other disciplines in terms of research into information behaviour focusing on economic theory.