Information Science Research Articles

Sociotechnical governance of misinformation: An Annual Review of Information Science and Technology (ARIST) paper

Sociotechnical governance of misinformation: An Annual Review of Information Science and Technology (ARIST) paper

Octave-spanning supercontinuum coherent soft x-ray for producing a single-cycle soft x-ray pulse

This study demonstrates the potential to generate a soft x-ray single-cycle attosecond pulse using a single-cycle mid-infrared pulse from advanced dual-chirped optical parametric amplification (DC-OPA). A super continuum high harmonic (HH) spectrum was generated in argon (80–160 eV) and neon (150–270 eV). The experimental spectra reasonably agree with those calculated by the strong-field approximation model and Maxwell’s equations. In addition, simulation results indicate that the dispersion of HHs in argon can be compensated using a 207-nm Zr filter to obtain 40 as (Fourier transform limited (FTL)) pulses (1.1 cycles at 118 eV). For neon, a 278-nm Sn filter can compensate for the dispersion of HH and create 23 as FTL pulses (1.1 cycles at 206 eV). This soft x-ray single-cycle attosecond pulse is expected to be highly valuable for ultrafast science and applications in quantum information science.

Improving horizon computation algorithm with quasirandom sequences

The topographic horizon can be used to estimate shading for applications requiring an accurate solar resource estimate, including the effects of the local terrain. With high-resolution topography data, horizon estimation significantly contributes to the computation time needed for irradiance simulations. Approximate horizon algorithms have been proposed previously, sampling topography in a finite number of directions. This paper extends this idea by presenting a sampling approach based on the quasirandom sequences. The sampling strategy is optimized with 300,000 km2 of topography data from Europe and the USA. We demonstrate that our algorithm is several orders of magnitude faster than the precise horizon calculation and significantly improves the previous approximate algorithms. In particular, at the ground level with a topography resolution of 1 m/pixel, the proposed method achieved the same accuracy as the old approximate method four times faster. The horizon is one of the key methods in geographical information science and a part of many modeling tools in the built environment. Improvements in computation time benefit all applications that require irradiance modeling, e.g., the yield of vehicle- and building-integrated photovoltaic or temperature modeling of buildings.

A Paired-Ion Framework Composed of Vanadyl Porphyrin Molecular Qubits Extends Spin Coherence Times.

Molecular electron spin qubits arranged in precise arrays have great potential for use in quantum information science applications. Molecular qubits are synthetically versatile and can be placed in ordered arrangements upon incorporation into a new class of materials known as paired-ion frameworks (PIFs). A PIF composed of vanadyl porphyrin molecular qubits, VOTCPP-PIF-1, was synthesized as single crystals. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to study their spin coherence at temperatures up to 293 K. A suspension of VOTCPP-PIF-1 at 5 K in dimethylformamide (DMF) had a spin-spin relaxation time (Tm) of 270 ns. In DMF-d7 and at 5 K, the coherence time of this material increased to 370 ns. This increase in Tm is attributed to the lower gyromagnetic ratio of 2H compared to 1H, which results in weaker electron-nuclear dipolar coupling that reduces the effect of nuclear spin flips on electron spin coherence. In toluene, crystals of VOTCPP-PIF-1 had a Tm of 31 ns at 293 K, demonstrating that PIFs are a promising platform for creating materials for quantum information science applications.

Library and Information Sciences in Romanian higher education today

With 33 years of existence in Romania, higher education in the field of library and information science is today organised by four universities: University of Bucharest, Babes Bolyai University of Cluj Napoca, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu and West University of Timisoara. In 2005, the Bologna Process was implemented in this field as well, with specialized education being organized in three specific cycles: undergraduate and master's studies, postgraduate studies and doctoral studies. Starting with this moment, we are assisting the attempt to standardise the curriculum, implicitly the set of skills and competences that graduates must have after graduation. This is supervised by the Romanian Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education; the competences and skills are listed in the register drawn up by the National Agency for Qualifications, and they are correlated with the ESCO register (European Skills, Competences, Qualifications and Occupations). By analysing the most recent RAQAHE recommendations (updated in 2022), the ESCO and NAQ registers, we aim to highlight the topicality of the study programmes offered by the four universities. The discussions can be held, in essence, on how prepared graduates are for the labour market and what would be the next steps for a more frequent adaptation of the content of subjects in curriculum in order to take into account the views formulated by The European Network Of Public Employment Services in June 2023, as a contribution to the European Year of Skills. It allows us to formulate some conclusions on the current state of curriculum in Romania.

Ontologies and Research Data

This study examines the relationship between ontologies and open research data within the framework of the Semantic Web. The objective is to investigate the interconnectivity of both subjects through scholarly works that offer enhancements to the Web ecosystem and scientific research processes. The paper reviews critical theoretical frameworks related to the Semantic Web and the significance of metadata within this model. It also delves into the function that ontologies can fulfill in the Semantic Web landscape. The paper provides a historical overview of the emergence of ontologies and definitions in both Computer Science and Information Science. It chronicles how theorists in Information Science have progressively embraced the concept of ontologies since the late 20th century and assesses the current scholarly consensus on the subject. The study also addresses the importance of open research data in modern science by doing a systematic literature review; this study sources relevant publications from the Web of Science and Scopus databases, with a temporal focus from 2000 to 2023. The findings offer a comprehensive analysis of existing literature that bridges the two domains above, aiding in the theoretical and methodological systematization of the subject matter. The discussion section elaborates on the findings, offering insights into the evolutionary trajectory of the subject matter. Emphasis is placed on the utility of ontologies as tools for the sustainable and effective utilization of research data, accentuating the value of such data as a basis for future scholarly work. In conclusion, we advocate for information science to take a leading role in initiatives that leverage ontological frameworks to manage specialized knowledge in research data sets effectively, ensuring that such data remains an asset for advancing scientific understanding.

Subject Analysis, Content Analysis and Domain Analysis

From the perspective of the constant increase in data and information, consider in Library and Information Science that the correct analysis and representation of the contents of documents analyzed in specific domains is essential for the retrieval, organization, and dissemination of information. Subject Analysis categorizes topics and details, making it easier to retrieve relevant information. Domain Analysis studies specific characteristics of a field of knowledge, comprising terminologies and concepts. Content Analysis identifies and analyzes textual elements, deepening the understanding of documentary content. This study explores these analyses' approaches, techniques, and methodologies, highlighting their often confused interrelationships, differences, and similarities. To achieve the proposed objective to support the conceptual and theoretical-methodological discussion on subject analysis, content analysis, and domain analysis, focusing on their interrelations, differences, and similarities that are often confused in their concepts and methodologies, the research developed an exploratory and descriptive approach, a bibliographic survey was carried out in the BRAPCI database, using the terms "domain analysis", "content analysis" and "content analysis", recovering 134 documents. Results are efficiently defined and applied to each analysis. These analyses guarantee efficient information retrieval, which is vital to growing data volume.

ONLINE PRACTICE TEST BANK SOLUTION: A WEB-BASED REVIEW PLATFORM FOR LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE PRACTITIONERS

Test construction and test administration in most institutions still adopt the traditional pen-and-paper method of examination, which is very tedious (Kotwal et al., 2016). Its lengthy process can limit the time instructors in devoting to their proactive instruction and assessment. The general purpose of the study is to develop an Online Practice Test bank for Library and Information Science Practitioners. To actualize the Online Practice Test bank, the researcher followed the three phases of the modified rapid application model: Planning or Analyze Phase, Design and Development or Prototyping Phase, and Testing. The result of the study revealed that the developed system was able to execute its different operations. Specifically, by providing an avenue to the contributors/review masters and the reviewees to communicate and interact regarding the different reviewers provided. The reviewees can also track their progress through the learning analytics feature of the system. The contributors/review masters can monitor if the review materials they have provided has efficient test items by accessing the test item analysis. The system also has undergone functionality testing through conducting test cases, which have also gained positive remarks. Based on the results of the developed Online Practice Test bank, it is concluded that the system attained its three objectives in having integrated features that would be a great help, especially to the future licensed professional librarians as they will have a platform where they do their review and assess their knowledge on the six core subjects of library science. It is therefore recommended that mobile or android-based user modules must be developed for it to be more accessible to the users. And also an automated intervention or scaffolding for coping with the results from the performance of the review. And it must have an option or platform for contributors outside the institution who want to share their review materials relevant to the Library and Information Science profession.

Forms and Functions of Author Keywords in Theses and Dissertations at the UNESP Institutional Repository (Brazil)

This research aimed to prepare guidelines for authors by investigating forms and functions of keywords assigned by authors in theses and dissertations defended in 2023 in the Graduate Program in Information Science at Unesp. The exploratory and descriptive study utilized a sample collected in the Unesp Institutional Repository. A corpus of 31 theses and 14 dissertations submitted to the Unesp Institutional Repository comprised a total of 183 keywords in Portuguese without duplicates and an average of 4.7 keywords, considering 213 keywords with duplicates. The analysis results initially identified that the Repository has a tutorial on using the Unesp Thesaurus to control vocabulary and that the authors use natural language to assign keywords. The findings reveal that, out of the 183 keywords, 89 (48\%) are exclusive, singular and specific to the area of Information Science, candidates for descriptors in the Unesp Thesaurus. The other 94 keywords (51.3\%) have 40 (21.3\%) exact descriptors, and the other 54 (29.5\%) present forms and functions that serve as examples for inclusion in the tutorial instructions. Based on the results obtained, it is concluded that the percentage of 21\% overlap between keywords and descriptors reveals that the Unesp Thesaurus was consulted by the authors when filling out keyword metadata and that the low number of exact descriptors and exclusive keywords indicate that they need to be included as new terms. It is recommended, therefore, to define an Indexing Policy that considers the need for hybrid coexistence between natural language and vocabulary control.

Information behaviour of Deaf people in university libraries

In Brazil, there are more than 10 million Deaf people. Of these, 2,592 Deaf people are enrolled in Higher Education institutions. This pilot study aims to explore how the field of Library and Information Science (LIS) has studied Deaf people in university libraries. This research uses a mixed methods approach: the first part of the study uses a descriptive approach to present the current state of LIS literature on Deaf users of university libraries. The second part of the research is empirical and consists of a survey that has yet to be fully carried out. It also suggests how the university library can contribute to the empowerment of the deaf community.

Assessing the Value of a Fellowship Program and Community of Practice at the Intersection of Data Science and Library and Information Science

Assessing the Value of a Fellowship Program and Community of Practice at the Intersection of Data Science and Library and Information Science

Forest machine entrepreneurs’ emotional bonds and conflicts in the forestry transition in Finland

Sustainability transitions’ entanglements with the environment, the economy, and society can become manifest in challenges faced by groups with emotional attachments to place. This article examines how emotions contribute to conflict during sustainability transitions among forest machine entrepreneurs, a group of forest professionals whose livelihood is at the center of the ongoing forestry transition in Finland. The study is based on 24 interviews that reveal three ways in which emotions construct conflicts: place attachment and continuity are challenged by decreasing feelings of being appreciated and recognized; the feeling that rural lifestyles are being left behind by comparison with urban areas causes sadness and anger; and pride and traditional forestry knowledge imply distrust of scientific forest information. These results demonstrate that emotions arising from a group-specific place attachment contribute to conflict by acting as a source for diverging views, escalating and maintaining existing conflicts, and by influencing information-processing. The article draws attention to a forestry livelihood and rural, group-specific emotional challenges in the era of sustainability transitions.

Exploring and depicting information pathologies

This study addresses two information pathologies: information technology anxiety (ITA) and information overload (IO). This research aims to determine the level of both ITA and IO amongst the undergraduate students of Information Science of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities of the University of Coimbra, Portugal, and to ascertain how both phenomena correlate with students’ gender, age, number of enrolments in the degree and average frequency of use of the university’s libraries throughout the academic year. Concerning the research methodology, we opted for exploratory and descriptive research with a quantitative approach and adopted the case study and questionnaire survey methods. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used as methods of data analysis. The findings, concerning 39\% of the population under study (N = 88; n = 34), reveal a considerably low prevalence of ITA but a substantial occurrence of IO. Both ITA and IO correlate positively with the female gender. Students aged 19 and 24 years are the least likely to manifest both ITA and IO; in turn, students aged 22 years are the most likely to simultaneously show ITA and IO. Both phenomena tend to increase as students progress through the degree. Last, a higher frequency of use of the university’s libraries is associated with a higher level of ITA and IO. Our findings emphasize the high incidence of IO in university students and the need for increased skills in all dimensions of the human-information-technology relationship/system, particularly in the information filtering and management areas.

Exploring the use of Smart Mobile Devices and their applications for infocommunication and PKM in the personal lives of teachers

This article is part of a PhD research and investigates the impact of rapid technological evolution, focusing on the adoption of smart mobile devices (SMD), such as smartphones, tablets and laptops, and applications (app) in the personal lives of higher education professors in the area of Information Science. In addition, gaps are identified in existing research, emphasizing the need to understand how SMD is used in personal activities for personal knowledge management (PKM) practices and infocommunication. Specific objectives include identifying the most commonly used SMDs and apps, the frequency of such use, and how they are used for those practices. The methodology is qualitative, triangulating the integrative review with a questionnaire (N-10). The results point to interest in device ecologies for PKM and Info-communication, with communication apps (text and voice) and e-mail being the most important for teachers. It is hoped that the results of this study can contribute to the advancement of knowledge about the use of SMD by teachers and to the development of a generic descriptive model of infocommunicational behaviour and PKM that can be applied in other contexts.

Conoce Tus Opciones: The Challenges of Communicating Rip Current Information in Spanish

Abstract Rip currents are poorly understood by the public and thus a leading cause of weather-related fatalities in the United States. Individuals who speak languages other than English, such as Spanish-speaking communities, have been historically underserved by communication efforts for natural hazards and thus are at additional risk from rip currents. In response, the National Weather Service (NWS) has developed rip current outreach tools translated into Spanish in recent years, though their efficacy has not been systematically tested. We therefore surveyed members of the Spanish-speaking community in the New York City area to gain insights into how the NWS two-page rip current informational brochure is working and possible improvements to be made. The English version of the brochure was also tested, and the results from the two languages were compared. Quantitative survey results indicate that while both brochures are generally effective, several changes could be made to improve clarity, especially for Spanish speakers, who found more issues with the Spanish version. For example, the translation of the term rip current itself used by the NWS, “corrientes de resaca,” was determined to be confusing by some Spanish speakers, as were other pieces of text with complex scientific terms. Moreover, certain graphics contained in the brochure were difficult to understand for users in both languages. The results of this work can be used by the NWS and other agencies to improve their Spanish risk communication tools and can also be used as a guide when translating scientific information into other languages. Significance Statement Rip currents, narrow channels of fast-moving water that can pull swimmers away from the shore, are among the leading weather-related killers in the United States yet are poorly understood by the public. Recent efforts to reduce society’s vulnerability to rip currents include the translation of outreach materials from English to Spanish. This study evaluated a new National Weather Service Spanish rip current informational brochure and compared it to the English version. The results show that while both the English and Spanish brochures were generally effective at communicating risk, the Spanish version had more issues, primarily surrounding the translation of scientific terms and phrases. Findings from this research can help guide scientists in designing improved non-English severe weather outreach products.

Emerging signals of climate change from the equator to the poles: new insights into a warming world

The reality of human-induced climate change is unequivocal and exerts an ever-increasing global impact. Access to the latest scientific information on current climate change and projection of future trends is important for planning adaptation measures and for informing international efforts to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs). Identification of hazards and risks may be used to assess vulnerability, determine limits to adaptation, and enhance resilience to climate change. This article highlights how recent research programs are continuing to elucidate current processes and advance projections across major climate systems and identifies remaining knowledge gaps. Key findings include projected future increases in monsoon rainfall, resulting from a changing balance between the rainfall-reducing effect of aerosols and rainfall-increasing GHGs; a strengthening of the storm track in the North Atlantic; an increase in the fraction of precipitation that falls as rain at both poles; an increase in the frequency and severity of El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events, along with changes in ENSO teleconnections to North America and Europe; and an increase in the frequency of hazardous hot-humid extremes. These changes have the potential to increase risks to both human and natural systems. Nevertheless, these risks may be reduced via urgent, science-led adaptation and resilience measures and by reductions in GHGs.

Depopulation and Limitations of Demographic Statistics in the Republic of Belarus

The article considers the problems in the demographic processes of the Republic of Belarus. The fluctuations in the modern demographic "waves" of Belarus are analyzed. It is argued that the reproductive processes of the Republic are characterized by changes in the depopulation spiral. Concern about the prospects for its demographic development is substantiated. The problems of the state demographic policy in overcoming depopulation are noted. The state of the Belarusian demographic science in developing approaches to the implementation of demographic policy is highlighted. A characteristic of management decisions is given, both their positive and negative role in the implementation of demographic policy. The significance of the Concept of National Security of the Republic of Belarus and the role of ensuring demographic security in it are shown. In the light of the Concept of National Security of the country, the consequences of restrictions on statistical information for demographic science and demographic policy of Belarus are studied. The role of demographic information in ensuring the national security of the Republic is revealed. The results of the mechanism for recounting the population from the results of the 2019 population census are disclosed. Methodological approaches to calculating the indicators of the reproductive situation of Belarus in 2020-2023 are presented. in conditions of limited demographic statistics.

Understanding Barriers to STEM: Teachers' Insights on African American Underrepresentation

This study focuses on the development of a measurement instrument to identify Middle and High School mathematics and science teachers’ beliefs about the main factors of underrepresentation of African American students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields. The research method using the stages of instrument development were (1) test design which involved construction of initial item pool by conducting extensive review of literature and coding of participating teachers personal statements (2) determination of validity which involved expert review process to confirm construct and face validity of items, (3) pilot testing which involved collecting data from a second set of participants, (4) determination of reliability which involves conducting a reliability analysis based on data collected from pilot testing and (5) determination of factorial structure which involved Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) to identify underlying factors in participating teachers’ belief structures. First, to obtain trustworthy information, voluntary middle and high school mathematics and science teachers were asked to write personal statements where they explain their main reasons for choosing teaching as a career. Secondly, qualitative data obtained from participating teachers’ personal statements were coded. Coding was applied to identify and to group the phrases or sentences that convey the same or similar reasons. Then results from an extensive literature review on this topic were blended in teachers’ common expressions which were determined because of coding procedure. Then 8 content experts assessed content validity and face validity. Finally, the survey was piloted to African American middle and high school mathematics and science teachers. Fifty-three (53) surveys were completed and received back from teachers. Then, exploratory factor analysis was conducted to identify any underlying factors in the scale. Reliability analyses were also conducted for both the entire survey and for each of the factors. Results of the study suggested four underlying components: (1) Access and Resources, (2) Role Models and Representation, (3) Bias and Discrimination, (4) Curriculum and Pedagogy.

Rapid Monitoring of Aquatic Organism Biodiversity Based on Environmental DNA in a Medium-Sized Reservoir

Environmental DNA (eDNA) has emerged as a highly sensitive and efficient tool for the biomonitoring of aquatic ecosystems. In this study, we investigated fish and benthic species communities using eDNA techniques in a medium-sized reservoir (about 3 square kilometers) in Anhui, China. A total of 12 water samples and 11 sediment samples were analyzed by 12S and 18S primers, respectively. We analyzed the composition of species diversity and the effect of seven environmental factors using the Mantel test. A total of 42 fish taxa were present in the water samples, and 188 benthic taxa in the sediment samples. Species composition was different in disparate stations. We found that water temperature and salinity are pivotal factors influencing the composition of fish communities, while chlorophyll-a is a primary environmental determinant for benthic species assembly structures across different zones. Biodiversity information generated by eDNA techniques can be used to reflect the resource status of this reservoir. The relevant results will provide important scientific reference information for the development and exploitation of medium-sized reservoirs.

Design and Application of “STEM+” 6E Teaching Mode in Information Technology Teaching

The concept of “STEM+” integrates art, humanistic literacy, and social values in the traditional STEM education concept, advocates cross-disciplinary integration, and aims to cultivate compound talents equipped to tackle future challenges. In 2022, the Ministry of Education issued the “Compulsory Education Information Technology Curriculum (2022 Edition),” emphasizing the core literacy of information science and technology and the integration of interdisciplinary disciplines, and encouraging the teaching mode suitable for discipline characteristics. The 6E teaching mode is a student-centered teaching strategy characterized by active exploration and cross-disciplinary integration. This article innovatively designed the “STEM+” 6E teaching mode, which is applied to junior high school information technology teaching, which can better achieve core literacy teaching goals.