Library usage mining in the context of alternative costs

Purpose

The behaviour of a library user is based on his ability to evaluate the consumption of library services based on alternative market services. The purpose of this paper is to study the usage behaviour in a public library building in the context of alternative costs instead of a narrow focus on book circulation data.

Design/methodology/approach

By library usage mining, using associative rules, the authors described the behaviour of library users and identified the typical behaviour during the visits. The authors analyse the results in the context of alternative costs assigned to the visits.

Findings

The results confirm that some underused services, such as digital services, deliver significantly greater benefit. The frequency of use, the duration of visit and the number of items used are associated with higher alternative costs. There were no significant differences in alternative cost within economic groups (excluding pensioners). This paper identified 41 frequent patterns with different alternative costs.

Research limitations/implications

The limitation of this study is the fact that data for library usage mining were collected using a questionnaire survey.

Practical implications

This may be particularly important for both policy makers and library management. The first beneficiaries are donors and patrons, who can learn about the benefit that libraries bring to society. The proposed system for library usage mining also enables managers to promote specific (effective) services, take steps to avoid readers leaving, and improve the adoption of library services. It can also be used to adapt the location of library services. Librarians, especially those who engage in acquisitions, may also use this information in their evidence-based decisions about the design of services.

Originality/value

So far, there has been no relevant research on the economic aspects of extracted behaviour patterns. Therefore, this study revealed users’ economic preferences using a questionnaire survey that supplemented transaction data. The ability to describe users’ behaviour can provide library management with enough information to realise evidence-based decision making.

Genetic variability and heritability of chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.)

Current knowledge of the genetic mechanisms underlying the inheritance of photosynthetic activity in forest trees is generally limited, yet it is essential both for various practical forestry purposes and for better understanding of broader evolutionary mechanisms. In this study, we investigated genetic variation underlying selected chlorophyll a fluorescence (ChlF) parameters in structured populations of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) grown on two sites under non-stress conditions. These parameters were derived from the OJIP part of the ChlF kinetics curve and characterize individual parts of primary photosynthetic processes associated, for example, with the exciton trapping by light-harvesting antennae, energy utilization in photosystem II (PSII) reaction centers (RCs) and its transfer further down the photosynthetic electron-transport chain. An additive relationship matrix was estimated based on pedigree reconstruction, utilizing a set of highly polymorphic single sequence repeat markers. Variance decomposition was conducted using the animal genetic evaluation mixed-linear model. The majority of ChlF parameters in the analyzed pine populations showed significant additive genetic variation. Statistically significant heritability estimates were obtained for most ChlF indices, with the exception of DI0/RC, φD0 and φP0 (Fv/Fm) parameters. Estimated heritabilities varied around the value of 0.15 with the maximal value of 0.23 in the ET0/RC parameter, which indicates electron-transport flux from QA to QB per PSII RC. No significant correlation was found between these indices and selected growth traits. Moreover, no genotype × environment interaction (G × E) was detected, i.e., no differences in genotypes' performance between sites. The absence of significant G × E in our study is interesting, given the relatively low heritability found for the majority of parameters analyzed. Therefore, we infer that polygenic variability of these indices is selectively neutral.

Rewinding the process of mammalian extinction

With only three living individuals left on this planet, the northern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum cottoni) could be considered doomed for extinction. It might still be possible, however, to rescue the (sub)species by combining novel stem cell and assisted reproductive technologies. To discuss the various practical options available to us, we convened a multidisciplinary meeting under the name "Conservation by Cellular Technologies." The outcome of this meeting and the proposed road map that, if successfully implemented, would ultimately lead to a self-sustaining population of an extremely endangered species are outlined here. The ideas discussed here, while centered on the northern white rhinoceros, are equally applicable, after proper adjustments, to other mammals on the brink of extinction. Through implementation of these ideas we hope to establish the foundation for reversal of some of the effects of what has been termed the sixth mass extinction event in the history of Earth, and the first anthropogenic one. Zoo Biol. 35:280-292, 2016. © 2016 The Authors. Zoo Biology published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The Economic Value of Book Loans – The Case of the Municipal Library of Prague

In recent years, the value of public library services has tended to be evaluated using the contingent valuation method. This is able to reveal readers’ hidden preferences. However, it appears that the total value of a public library as expressed by one number leads to a methodological bias related to the difficulty of assessing the value of one standard book loan. Moreover, this approach does not reflect the needs of public libraries’ management. Therefore, this study focuses on a detailed investigation of the most important public library service, book loans. For this purpose, we have employed statistical models to identify the significant determinants of willingness to pay (WTP) for book loans and WTP for purchasing books, respectively. The results suggest that loan services have the greatest perceived value for students, people who are economically active. Management who are interested in increasing the success of their institution across society must also know the perceived value of individual books so that they can adjust their library's acquisition policy. It was found that novels had the highest perceived value, followed by educational literature in the fields of economics and education as well as information science. This entirely new analytical method of measuring WTP for public services raises many new implications that could change the strategies of individual libraries – as well as the public policy strategies of donors and library ownership.

Stem cell differentiation on conducting polyaniline

Cardiomyogenesis and neurogenesis were tested on polyaniline films. Polyaniline in pristine forms without any further modification can be applied in a variety of biomedical fields.

[Patients older than 80 years with de novo acute myeloid leukemias without erythroblastic and/or megakaryocytic dysplasia achieve complete remission and longer survival after classical chemotherapy 3 + 7]

Chemotherapy in most patients with AML over 80 years of age is not recommended because their median survival is about 1 month. The aim of our study was to identify patients in this age group who might achieve complete remission with standard dose chemotherapy. We report 9 consecutive patients with de novo AML diagnosed and treated in 1992-2008. All bone marrow samples were hypercellular, classified as FAB types M2 in 2 cases, M4 in 6, and M5 in one case. Three patients opted for supportive or palliative therapy and survived 1-4 months. Six patients received standard dose chemotherapy. Two patients with a normal karyotype had resistant AML and survived 1.0 and 2.7 months; one patient with a complex karyotype died of septic shock on the 10th day of therapy. All these three patients exhibited erythroblastic and/or megakaryocytic dysplasia (EMD) at presentation (two in more than 26% erythroblasts, all three in a half or more of megakaryocytes). Three remaining patients with AML M4, a normal karyotype but without EMD, achieved complete remission in spite of co-morbidities and a poor performance status. Two of them survived 18.6 and 28 months on maintenance therapy, the third 16.5 months without it. Very elderly AML patients without EMD appear to represent a favorable prognostic biological category (single-lineage AML) that show a good response to standard dose chemotherapy.

Oxygen transfer in liquids

In the laboratory-type airlift tower reactor oxygen transfer from air in tap water and/or polyacrylamide solutions (Neuperm WF) was studied. In order to characterize the system, volumetric coefficient of oxygen transfer was determined by the gassing-out method. Two arrangements of the airlift tower reactor were compared, namely the reactor with and without motionless mixer. In addition, mean relative gas holdup and gas power output were determined for both arrangements.

Recurrence of nephrotic proteinuria in children with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis after renal transplantation treated with plasmapheresis and immunoadsorption: case reports

Idiopathic focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is believed to be caused by a circulating permeability factor. FSGS recurrence is common after transplantation. The treatment is still a matter of debate; plasmapheresis (PE) and immunoadsorption (IA) are often used. We report on PE and IA in the treatment of two children with recurrent nephrotic proteinuria. Patient 1 was a 16-year-old girl who had recurrence of nephrotic proteinuria on the first day after transplantation (proteinuria-19 g/d). Primary immunosuppressive therapy was changed to high-dose cyclosporine and cyclophosphamide; plasmapheresis was started on day 4. Altogether we performed 53 PE and 38 IA procedures. During the first month, PE procedures were performed with no more than a 2-day interval between sessions, and the girl achieved partial remission (proteinuria 3 g/d). PE was then stopped. After 2 months, a relapse of heavy proteinuria occurred. This relapse was successfully treated again with intensified PE treatment. After achieving remission, a chronic PE regimen was started (PE once a week), similar to the previous series. The child remained in partial remission. Seven months after renal transplantation, she was switched from PE to IA, because of severe hypoproteinemia. Graft biopsy performed at 4 months showed effacement of the foot processes. At the present time she has a good graft function and 3 g/d proteinuria. Patient 2 was a 13-year-old girl with FSGS since 9 years. On the second day after renal transplantation she developed nephrotic proteinuria (proteinuria-14 g/d), which was treated with 39 PE and 16 IA treatments. She went into complete remission on the intensified PE regimen, had one relapse, and was switched to chronic IA. Graft biopsy performed at 2 weeks after transplantation showed effacement of the foot processes. At the present time she has good graft function and low proteinuria (0.3 g/d). In conclusion, intensified PE or IA treatments induced remission of recurrent nephrotic range proteinuria. Chronic PE or IA can maintain patients with frequent relapses in long-term remission.

Polymerization of aniline in the solutions of strong and weak acids: the evolution of infrared spectra and their interpretation using factor analysis

The progress of the oxidative polymerization of aniline with ammonium peroxydisulfate in an aqueous medium has been monitored in situ by attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The growth of polyaniline film at the crystal surface, as well as the changes proceeding in the surrounding aqueous medium, are reflected in the spectra. The evolution of the spectra during aniline polymerization in the presence of acetic or sulfuric acid was studied with the aim of understanding the influence of acidity on the observed morphology of the final polyaniline films, granular or nanotubes. The changes occurring during polymerization are discussed with the help of differential spectra. Several processes connected with the various stages of aniline oxidation, the evolution of film morphology, or protonation, were distinguished by using factor analysis applied to a large number of spectra obtained in the course of aniline polymerizations on the crystal.

Multiple fibroepithelial polyps of the upper ureter in a 17-year-old boy--case report and review of the literature

Benign tumours and primary malignant tumours of the ureter are uncommon in adults and extremely rare in children. The clinical symptoms are flank pain, urinary tract infection, and macro/micro-haematuria. There is an incomplete ureteral obstruction and filling defect on intravenous urography (IVU). Optimum treatment of this lesion results in renal preservation. Uretero-renoscopy is currently the best method available for the identification and histological diagnosis of ureteral polyps. Recommended operative procedures are pyeloureteric junction (PUJ) resection with Anderson-Hynes pyeloplasty, ureteric resection with end-to-end anastomosis or with uretero-cysto-neoanastomosis (UCNA), ureteric resection with renal autotransplantation. Ureteronephrectomy is not indicated. A case of ureteral polyps in a 17-year-old boy with the chief complaint of left flank pain is reported here. The excretory urogram and renal scan showed left hydronephrosis. Resection of the pyeloureteral junction, partial resection of the upper ureter containing the lesions--multiple branching 30-40 mm long polyps with a common basis--and Anderson-Hynes pyeloplasty were performed. The pathological diagnosis was benign fibroepithelial polyps of the ureter. Convalescence was uneventful and after 4 years of follow-up, excretory urogram and ultrasonography showed good renal function and improvement of hydronephrosis.

[Dexrazoxane in patients with B-lymphomas or acute leukemias in the 2nd complete remission enables further therapy with cardiotoxic anthracyclines over recommended cumulative doses]

Daunorubicin (DNR) and doxorubicin (DOX) have significant antitumor activity in acute myeloid leukemias (AML) and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) but their use is limited by their life-threatening cumulative dose related cardiotoxicity. It is generally recommended not to administer DOX or DNR to patients in doses greater than 500 mg/sqm or 700 mg/sqm, respectively. the aim of the study was to follow up cardiotoxicity and efficacy of DNR or DOX above these limits in the 2nd complete remission (CR) patients pretreated with anthracyclines when they were given 30 minutes after cardioprotective agent dexrazoxane (DRZ) in the ratio 1:10 of DZR.

RESULTS

Two patients (54 and 53 years old) with mantle cell or diffuse large cell B-NHL, stage IV, who had relapsed after 6-8 cycles of classical CHOP therapy, reached their 2nd CR after 2-3 cycles of IDEA therapy (ifosfamide 1000 mg/sqm/day x 4, dexamethasone 30 mg/sqm/day x 4, etoposide 75 mg/sqm/day x 4, DOX 30 mg/sqm/day on days 1 and 3). Then they received further 3 cycles IDEA with DRZ 300 mg/sqm before every dose of DOX. After cumulative doses of DOX 600 mg/sqm and 700 mg/sqm these patients survived 12 months in their 2nd CR without significant signs of cardiotoxicity, even after their successful autologous peripheral stem cells transplantation. Their left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) remained above 60%. Six patients with AML in their 2nd CR were treated with consolidation cycles consisting of 10 high doses of cytosine arabinoside (2000 mg/sqm/12 hr) plus 2 doses of DNR 45 mg/sqm on the day 4 and 5. Two patients received cumulative doses corresponding to 1300 mg/sqm and 1000 mg/sqm of DNR, the other received DNR doses 550-850 mg/sqm. No signs of significant cardiotoxicity were observed in all 6 patients and their LVEF remained over 50%. One of two patients, transplanted with HLA-identical sibling bone marrow in her 2nd complete remission (CR), is still 8 years in her 2nd CR. Dexrazoxane enables to administer anthracyclines in doses over the recommended cumulative ones in pretreated patients with B-NHL or AML in their 2nd CR with the follow-up of their LVEF.