The impact of privatization in Japanese public libraries

The management of public libraries in Japan faced a big change in 2003. Public institutions had been privatized in the world from the 1970s, but privatization of public institutions was late in Japan. Public institutions came to be privatized in Japan in the 1980s, and the public library finally became a target of the privatization in the 2000s. The numbers of libraries which introduced the privatization increases year by year. Research in the arena of library information science had been accomplished about arguments of privatization in Japanese public libraries. However, most of studies were sets of opinions to object to privatization. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to examine opinions of various stakeholders about privatization of public libraries by content analysis. The authors succeeded in collecting opinions of stakeholders from newspapers. They clarified characteristics of privatization and present arguments in Japan

Methodological frameworks for developing a model of the public sphere in public libraries

Introduction. This paper identifies research gaps in the literature related to the public sphere and public libraries. The paper then proposes methodological frameworks and data collection techniques to extend research in this area.\ud \ud Method. A review of the literature related to the public sphere and public libraries is conducted to identify research gaps and develop promising research approaches.\ud \ud Analysis. Previous literature is analyzed according to epistemological and ontological approaches.\ud \ud Results. Existing literature related to the public sphere and public libraries exhibits epistemological and ontological shortcomings. Empirical studies are relatively few and existing studies remain tied to a limited public sphere concept.\ud \ud Conclusion. Two new methodological frameworks are proposed to guide future work in this area. One framework is the circulation of power model; the other framework is a custom-built model with multiple axes and dimensions.\u

Conceptual Modelling of the Public Sphere in Public Libraries

Public libraries have been associated with a Habermasian public sphere, but articulations between public libraries and the public sphere remain undefined. To make fuller sense of the public sphere as it relates to public libraries, we used qualitative content analysis as a research methodology to study 12 Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh annual reports from 1900 to 2010. We identified 6 dimensions of the public sphere in public libraries: Core Criteria, Internal Public Sphere, External Public Sphere, Collect and Organize Discourse, Perform Legitimation Processes, and Facilitate Discourse. Using the dimensions we found, we developed a model to explain how public libraries function as instruments of the public sphere.ye

Phase II Trial of Biweekly Paclitaxel and Gemcitabine as Second-Line Chemotherapy for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Previously Treated with Platinum-Based Chemotherapy

A phase II study was conducted to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of biweekly administration of paclitaxel and gemcitabine in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who had been treated previously with platinum-based chemotherapy. Paclitaxel (150 mg/m2) and gemcitabine (1,000 mg/m2) were administered biweekly for at least 4 cycles. Thirty-one patients with a median age of 64 years (39-75 years) were enrolled in this study(stage IIIB/IV :11/20,PS 0/1/2:13/16/2).Partial response was observed in 7 cases (23%), and stable disease was seen in 18 cases (58%).Median survival time was 8.8 months with a one-year survival rate of 41.9 %.Hematological toxicities were mild and neutropenia of grade 3 or above was observed in one patient (3%). Non-hematological toxicities were also mild, including neurotoxicity (3%). Biweekly paclitaxel and gemcitabine combination chemotherapy was effective and tolerated well as second-line therapy against NSCLC.Article信州医学雑誌 59(6): 411-418(2011)departmental bulletin pape

Diffuse Endobronchial Wall Spread of Metastatic Breast Cancer

We present here a case of diffuse tracheobronchial wall spread of metastatic breast cancer who was successfully treated with trastuzumab plus vinorelbine chemotherapy. The patient had a left radical mastectomy for breast cancer in March 2000 and developed persistent cough and dyspnea in November 2006. Pulmonary function test demonstrated an obstructive pattern. Chest computed tomography showed a wall thickening of trachea and right side bronchus, but radiographic findings including 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography failed to detect the locations of disease in the lung. The findings on bronchofiberscopy showed edematous tracheobronchial mucosa, but also failed to visually detect direct masses. Transbronchial biopsy specimens revealed involvement of metastatic breast cancer. The patient was treated with trastuzumab plus vinorelbine chemotherapy and the wall thickening of bronchial tree and clinical symptoms were improved. Although endobronchial metastasis in metastatic breast cancer is not uncommon, diffuse spread without forming intraluminal mass is extremely rare. The pattern of endobronchial metastasis should be considered in patients with malignancies even when radiographic abnormalities are undetectable

米国の図書館におけるファンドレイジング活動 [Fundraising in US Academic and Public Libraries]

This article intends to present an overview of fundraising practices in academic and public libraries in the U.S. It consists of two parts. First, Hiroyuki and Kazuyo Good discuss a variety of successful fundraising cases with a concentration in academic and public libraries. In the second part, Masanori Koizumi scrutinizes the fundraising process in the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh drawing upon the interviews with library director, managers, and librarians. This study identifies various effective fundraising strategies employed by public and academic libraries in the U.S.: specialists, often in collaboration with librarians, take the lead in fundraising; they tend to invest in innovative services; fundraising initiatives are closely linked to strategic management

Striosomal opioid receptors

The opioid peptide receptors consist of three major subclasses, namely, μ, δ, and κ (MOR, DOR, and KOR, respectively). They are involved in the regulation of striatal dopamine functions, and increased opioid transmissions are thought to play a compensatory role in altered functions of the basal ganglia in Parkinson's disease (PD). In this study, we used an immunohistochemistry with tyramide signal amplification (TSA) protocols to determine the distributional patterns of opioid receptors in the striosome-matrix systems of the rat striatum. As a most striking feature of striatal opioid anatomy, MORs are highly enriched in the striosomes and subcallosal streak. We also found that DORs are localized in a mosaic pattern in the dorsal striatum (caudate-putamen), with heightened labeling for DOR in the striosomes relative to the matrix compartment. In the 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned rat model of PD, lesions of the nigrostriatal pathways caused a significant reduction of striatal labeling for both the MOR and DOR in the striosomes, but not in the matrix compartment. Our results suggest that the activities of the striosome and matrix compartments are differentially regulated by the opioid signals involving the MORs and DORs, and that the striosomes may be more responsive to opioid peptides (e.g., enkephalin) than the matrix compartment. Based on a model in which the striosome compartment regulates the striatal activity, we propose a potent compensatory role of striosomal opioid signaling under the conditions of the striatal dopamine depletion that occurs in PD

An Assessment by In Situ Hybridization Method for Pathogens of Severe Respiratory Infection

It has been shown that the in situ hybridization (ISH)method for the detection of phagocyted bacteria in polymorphonuclear neutrophils is more sensitive than conventional blood culture in patients with sepsis.The present study was designed to further evaluate the clinical utility of the ISH method, using a commercially available kit (Hybrizep(R)), for detecting pathogens in patients with severe respiratory infections. Peripheral blood was taken from patients with severe respiratory infections for both routine blood culture and the ISH method,respectively.In addition,focal samples including sputum,bronchoalveolar lavage,central and thoracic catheter, etc. were simultaneously examined for bacterial culture. A total number of 22 specimens was examined.The positive cases by ISH were 50.0% in the respiratory infections,which were significantly higher than those in blood cultures (9.1%).However, identical pathogens in the ISH method were not isolated from blood and/or other sources in respiratory sites. These findings suggest a possibility of high frequency of bacteremia or multifactorious pathogens in severe respiratory infections.The ISH method may provide additional information on serious respiratory infections for the detection of bacteremia. However, the clinical utility by the ISH method for patients with severe respiratory infection remains undetermined. Shinshu Med J 59 : 223―228, 2011Article信州医学雑誌 59(4): 223-228(2011)departmental bulletin pape

Endobronchial Argon Plasma Coagulation for the Palliation of Recurrent Tracheobronchial Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma

This is a non-final version of an article published in final form in Journal of Bronchology, 14(4):278-280, October 2007.The standard treatment of adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the airway is surgery, if possible, because survival rate is better than other treatments including radiotherapy. Although ACC shows frequent recurrence during the long-term follow-up unless there has been a complete resection (negative surgical margin), no further treatments are recommended. This report describes how argon plasma coagulation using flexible bronchoscopy has been successfully employed in the treatment of ACC after conventional therapy in 1 case of recurrence after surgery and 2 cases of inoperable patients. All of the patients are alive and healthy more than 6 years after diagnosis.ArticleJournal of Bronchology. 14(4):278-280 (2007)journal articl