Pakistan Journal of Library and Information Science: A bibliometric analysis

Pakistan Journal of Library and Information Science (PJLIS) is an HEC recognized journal published by the Department of Library and Informat ion Science, University of the Punjab, Lahore. A total of 111 publications from 11 issues of PJLIS were pu blished during 1995 to 2010. It has outstanding contribution in the dissemination of LIS research on national and international level as it publishes both in print and electronic format. A bibliometric analysis of contributions published in the PJLIS from 1995 to 2010 has been presented in this paper. Attempt has been made to study all 11 issues of this journal on the basis of different parameters, viz., author productivity, extent of authors’ collaboration, authors’ institutional affiliation, authors’ geographic affiliation, type of publication, language of papers, number of citations used per article, length of papers, and year-wise distribution of papers

Mapping the Metadata challenges in Libraries: A systematic review

Background. In the information and knowledge world, libraries always played their important role and found as early adopters of new techniques and technologies for dissemination of information. Purpose. If we understand the metadata as a researcher’s perspective, it is exploratory in its nature which provides guidance to the further data which is explanatory. There are many metadata challenges which affect the execution and accessibility of relevant data. These challenges must be recognized at one place so that LIS professionals having interest in metadata could be able to understand these challenges and hurdles concerning with libraries. So, this this study is being conducted to find out the challenges of metadata and bring these challenges synthetically from scattered literature for the readers. Design/methodology/approach. To compete this study, a systematic literature review approach has been followed. Thirteen paper are selected to find out the challenges faced by the libraries concerning with the metadata. Findings. In this systematic review 85 challenges were found from the scholarly published literature which are categorized into 19 categories according to their nature and likeliness. Further, general challenges and project based challenges are presented separately. Practical implications. Through this study scattered challenges of metadata faced by the libraries are grouped together to strengthen the lacking information. This paper will add knowledge in the existing literature in form of comprehensiveness

Digital information security management policy in academic libraries: A systematic review (2010­2022)

La gestion de la sécurité de l’information numérique est considérée comme un outil important pour assurer la protection des renseignements personnels et des données. Le but de cette recherche est d’examiner la mise en œuvre dans les bibliothèques universitaires. Une analyse documentaire systématique a été effectuée pour atteindre les objectifs de l’étude. Les données ont été recueillies à partir de différentes bases de données bien connues, à savoir, Library Information Science and Technology Abstracts (LISTA), Library and Information Science Abstracts (LISA), IEEE Xplore, Emerald Insight, ACM Digital Library, Scopus, revues Sage, Taylor & Francis, ProQuest, Science Direct, Wiley Online Library, et Google Scholar

Incidence and etiology of omphalitis in Pakistan: a community-based cohort study

Introduction: Although omphalitis (umbilical infections) among newborns is common and a major cause of neonatal deaths in developing countries, information on its burden and etiology from community settings is lacking. This study aimed to determine the incidence and etiology of omphalitis in newborns in high neonatal mortality settings in Karachi, Pakistan. Methodology: Trained community health workers surveyed all new births in three low-income areas from September 2004 to August 2007. Pus samples from the umbilical stumps were obtained from babies with pre-defined signs of illness and subjected to culture and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Results: Among 6904 births, 1501 (21.7%) newborns were diagnosed with omphalitis. Of these, 325 (21.6%) were classified as mild, 1042 (69.4%) as moderate, and 134 (8.9%) as severe, 141 (9.3%) were associated with clinical signs of sepsis. The incidence of omphalitis was 217.4/1000 live births, moderate-severe omphalitis 170.3 per 1000 live births, and associated with sepsis 20.4 per 1000 live births. Of 853 infants with purulent umbilical discharge, 64% yielded 583 isolates. The most common pathogens were Staphylococcus aureus, of which 291 (95.7%) were methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) and 13 (4.2%) methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), Streptococcus pyogenes 105 (18%), Group B beta-hemolytic streptococci 59 (10 %), Pseudomonas spp., 52 (8.9 %), Aeromonas spp. 19 (3.2%), and Klebsiella spp. 12 (2%). Conclusions: A high burden of omphalitis can be associated with sepsis among newborns in low-income communities in Pakistan. S. aureus is the most common pathogen isolated from umbilical pus. Appropriate low-cost prevention strategies need to be implemented

LIS Professionals’ Staffing Patterns: Pakistani Public Sector Universities

Competent staff in university libraries are essential for the delivery of quality services and research productivity. This study explores the staffing patterns of LIS professionals in the university libraries (ULs). It also investigates the level of satisfaction of library directors with the available professional staff. A questionnaire survey was conducted in 20 public sector ULs of the Punjab province. The findings reveal that most libraries (79%) are understaffed (including unfilled vacancies) and library directors are not satisfied with the number of available staff. All libraries used print advertisements to publicize job vacancies

Status of Digital Novice Academic Librarians’ Continuing Professional Development: A Case of University of the Punjab

This paper aims at exploring the ways, through which the academic librarians engage themselves in continuing professional development (CPD) activities. It also identifies the sources that academic librarians feel helpful for their CPD. These librarians neither had any ICT training before nor educated during their Master in Library and Information Science (MLIS) for the use of the latest technology, and are considered as digital novice. Librarians are required to keep them up to date to survive in this competitive information marketplace. They need to get familiarized with the latest technology and its applications for the libraries to minimize the gap between the information and its users. CPD allows receding from the traditional approach and muddling t hrough the new digital arena. To get the vivid picture in the current scenario qualitative approach was used. Interviews were used as data collection technique. The population of this study was these digital immigrants librarian who got their MLIS degree b efore year 2001 and never had any formal ICT training before joining the profession and working in the University of the Punjab. Non probability purposive sampling technique was used to choose the sample of 12 respondents. The subsequent analysis will help librarian judge the present status of their CPD activities and to determine the ways to improve self - directed or organizational learning. It will be of assistance to the library schools, library management, library association and the policy makers to imp rove the existing training programs or to design the new programs to fulfill the requirements

Linked Data Technologies in Libraries: An Appraisal

This study aims to explore the information professionals’ insight about thepotential benefits of Linked Data application in libraries. It also discussed thebasic concepts of LD to create the awareness among informationprofessionals.Linked Data is an emerging set of standards and technologies that couldpotentially enable information environments such as libraries to publish andinterlink their hidden data on the web for better global accessibility. However,it is also one of the least understood phenomena, especially with respect to itsadoption and application by libraries.This work is part of a larger study that was designed to investigate perceptionand application of Linked Data technologies in Pakistani libraries. This is aquantitative study based on a questionnaire survey. To meet the objective ofthe study, a survey of academic library information professionals wasdesigned and circulated online to collect data from geographically scatteredpopulation. This paper found that information professionals perceived that LD has the potential to interlink and publish library data on the Web and it will also assist patrons to discover relevant information through links to other repositories. They were of the view that LD will be useful for library patrons to find content on web and it will supplement the library’s records from online sources. Respondents also opined that LD would improve users’ overall searchexperiences with existing library catalogs. It is the base line study on Linked Data application in libraries in Pakistani context as no literature available on it. This study provides practical suggestion for decision makers and opens the future research avenues for researchers

Integration of Open Educational Resources Through Linked Data: Challenges and Benefits Review

Purpose of the Study: This study explores that how Linked Data (LD) technology can be implemented in educational sector to use Open Educational Resources (OERs) more effectively or what kind of benefits and challenges it retains for educational sector. Because now teaching is supported and integrated with the use of different interactive resources such as videos, blackboards and virtually available platforms in formal and informal education. The objective of this research study is to highlight the nature of LD and OERs and their associated benefits and barriers for educational sector that are related to the adoption of LD technologies in OERs. Research Methodology: This paper is based on literature research methodology. It reviews national and international literature about the integration of OERs through LD technologies. Literature published after 2012 to till date was critically analysed to be included in the study. Research Findings: The integration of OERs by using the LD is getting popularity in educational sector like other fields. It retains benefits not only for students but also for teachers too. The challenges of interoperability and standardization exists but these can be overcome by adopting principles at the beginning. Locally some projects are also initiated in Pakistan though these are in their infancy stage such as elearn and elibrary Punjab

Factors Associated With Fecal Microbiota Transplant Failure in the Treatment of Recurrent Clostridioides difficile Infection: A Single-Center Retrospective Study

Background Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is a major cause of hospital-acquired diarrhea and is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Recurrences following treatment are common. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is a therapeutic intervention in which stool from a healthy donor is administered to a patient with recurrent CDI. Studies to date of predictors of FMT failure have primarily included inpatients. In this study, we aimed to describe FMT failure rates within one year of FMT and evaluate factors associated with FMT failure. Methodology We conducted an exploratory retrospective study of consecutive patients who underwent outpatient FMT at a single tertiary care center in Western Massachusetts from December 2014 through September 2018. We collected patient data including demographics, CDI-related factors, and FMT-related factors. FMT failure was defined as non-response or recurrence of diarrhea, associated with positive stool C. difficile toxin or polymerase chain reaction. Unadjusted relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence intervals for factors associated with FMT failure were estimated using log-binomial regression. Results A total of 92 patients were included with a mean age of 64 years. CDI severity was mild or moderate in 73% and severe or fulminant in 27%. The most common FMT indication was recurrent CDI in 76% of patients. FMT failure occurred in 25 of 92 (27%) patients, with half occurring within 11 days. Factors associated with FMT failure were active malignancy (RR = 2.56), prior hospitalizations (RR = 2.42), and receipt of non-CDI antibiotics within six months of FMT (RR = 2.80). We did not observe strong associations for risk of FMT failure with age ≥65, sex, use of proton pump inhibitors or H2 receptor agonists, history of colectomy, immunosuppression, history of malignancy, diabetes, appendectomy, CDI severity, or probiotic use. Conclusions Active malignancy, prior CDI hospitalizations, and non-CDI antibiotics within six months before FMT were associated with FMT failure in the outpatient setting. Knowledge of the above factors may help inform shared decision-making with patients at risk for FMT failure. Keywords: clostridioides difficile infection; fecal microbiota transplantation (fmt); fmt failure; gut biome; recurrent c diff

Mapping the Metadata challenges in Libraries: A systematic review

Background. In the information and knowledge world, libraries always played their important role and found as early adopters of new techniques and technologies for dissemination of information. Purpose. If we understand the metadata as a researcher’s perspective, it is exploratory in its nature which provides guidance to the further data which is explanatory. There are many metadata challenges which affect the execution and accessibility of relevant data. These challenges must be recognized at one place so that LIS professionals having interest in metadata could be able to understand these challenges and hurdles concerning with libraries. So, this this study is being conducted to find out the challenges of metadata and bring these challenges synthetically from scattered literature for the readers. Design/methodology/approach. To compete this study, a systematic literature review approach has been followed. Thirteen paper are selected to find out the challenges faced by the libraries concerning with the metadata. Findings. In this systematic review 85 challenges were found from the scholarly published literature which are categorized into 19 categories according to their nature and likeliness. Further, general challenges and project based challenges are presented separately. Practical implications. Through this study scattered challenges of metadata faced by the libraries are grouped together to strengthen the lacking information. This paper will add knowledge in the existing literature in form of comprehensiveness