An International GIS and Data Curation Dissemination Framework Using Mobile Devices: A Purdue-Aalto University Example

The Purdue University Libraries in collaboration Aalto University Library presents a framework for an international method of bridging geospatial resources from one university campus to another. It should be noted that this is a small-scale framework based on open policy, open access and the Group of Earth Observation Systems of Systems (GEOSS) values of sharing data, resources and cyber-infrastructure capacity. This framework advocates that library services could pioneer knowledge dissemination efforts in a low cost manner utilizing mobile devices that can link international users with resources and advance international collaborative inter-librarian data support services that may incite cost reduction of operations while still broadening an international research mission of collaborating universities. Lastly, various forms of data curation may benefit from international collaboration, including such as educational data curation

Using contemporary practice-based approaches to generate data for guiding the design of information literacy learning environments - a preliminary study of engineering students

Abstract Introduction. This preliminary study examines the application of contemporary practice-based approaches to generate data for guiding the design of information literacy learning environments. Method. This preliminary study was conducted by interviewing three engineering students who were participating at the Tools for master’s thesis course arranged by Aalto University Library’s Otaniemi Campus Library. The interview’s structure was two-fold, as it first sketched out the participant’s master’s thesis practices through Schatzki’s site ontology and secondly examined the perceived value of different information literacy learning tasks on the latter. Results. The master’s thesis practices of the interviewees were networked in complex ways with e.g. economic life and the interviewees invested much in them. Two of the interviewees worked with their thesis full-time with surroundings and tools provided by their employer. The interviewees valued the lecture, which comprised of narratives of completed master’s thesis projects and the lecture of scientific writing. From the asynchronous online learning tasks, the interviewees valued the information retrieval task and the concept map exercise. Conclusion. Spatial library spaces could be provided with asynchronous content such as descriptions of the library services through the tasks of the central user groups and e.g. introductory videos to information retrieval techniques. These contents could be spatially located so that they would serve as facile entrance points to the mobile digital library. The practice-based approaches seem to provide a fertile way of examining student learning and insights gained through them may prove to be valuable in designing new information literacy learning environments

Libraries as Advocates of Citizen Science Awareness on Emerging Open Geoscience Platforms in Finnish Society - International Collaboration for Promoting Open Geoscience Content in Finnish University Libraries

In the Finnish National Spatial Strategy 2010-2015, the Finland’s Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry delineated that spatial data skills should support citizens everyday activities and facilitate decision-making and participation of citizens. The emerging of new open data infrastructures, a trend further driven by European Union’s policies, calls out for an institution to link to the new possibilities of these resources with the myriad of their possible user groups. The following framework examines open geoscience platforms and open data trends affecting Finnish libraries, and discusses the possible role of Finnish university libraries as advocates of citizen science awareness of these emerging resources. The framework also examines the benefits derived from an international collaboration on data advocacy between Aalto University Libraries and Purdue University Libraries

Working to define data curated geospatial services on a Research Campus, a Purdue University Libraries Example

As Data Curation is becoming a necessity of data science and library science, Purdue University Libraries has been a leader in data curation profiles research. Such research can be defined as a data stewardship protocol similar to a multiple use case analysis. In this this example, The Purdue University Libraries Geographical Information Systems (GIS) department has engaged in a data curation profiles assessment of the campus to baseline and qualify sustainable geospatial data services

GIS and Data Curation Librarianship: Mobile Dissemination of GIS Resources

The Purdue University Libraries’ GIS department is working to advance geospatial services campus wide. In addition to conducting data curation profiles research in an IRB approved manner, we aim to validate new ways and means to make GIS services viable for large and diverse student and faculty community of over 40,000 students, all departments and along interdisciplinary boundaries. Here is a prototype of our mobile dissemination GIS of services and development in collaboration with Aalto University Library. Here, we discuss in a 3-fold manner how the GIS Dept. has prototyped a means of mobile GIS knowledge dissemination towards the development of library-led campus wide geospatial data services for future considerations. Such may offer timely and low cost data navigation of GIS resources using one’s smartphone or tablet device

Reorganizing the relationship of digital library resources and physical learning environments

Introduction. This preliminary study examines the application of contemporary practice-based approaches to generate data for guiding the design of information literacy learning environments. Method. This study was conducted by interviewing three engineering students who were participating at the Tools for master’s thesis course arranged by Aalto University Library’s Otaniemi Campus Library. The interview’s structure was two-fold, as it first sketched out the participant’s master’s thesis practices through Schatzki’s site ontology and secondly examined the perceived value of different information literacy learning tasks on the latter. Results. The master’s thesis practices of the interviewees were networked in complex ways with e.g. economic life and the interviewees invested much in them. Two of the interviewees worked with their thesis full-time with surroundings and tools provided by their employer. The interviewees valued most the lecture, which comprised of narratives of completed master’s thesis projects and the lecture of scientific writing. From the asynchronous online learning tasks, the interviewees valued most the information retrieval task and the concept map exercise. Conclusion. Spatial library spaces could be provided with asynchronous content such as descriptions of the library services through the tasks of the central user groups and e.g. introductory videos to information retrieval techniques. These contents could be spatially located so that they would serve as facile entrance points to the mobile digital library. The practice-based approaches seem to provide a fertile way of examining student learning and insights gained through them may prove to be valuable in designing new information literacy learning environments.Peer reviewe

Ophiostoma denticiliatum sp. nov. and other Ophiostoma species associated with the birch bark beetle in southern Norway

Ophiostomatoid fungi were isolated from Scolytus ratzeburgi infesting Betula pendula and B. pubescens in Norway. Fungi were identified based on morphology, DNA sequence comparison for two gene regions and phylogenetic analyses. The most abundant fungus was Ophiostoma karelicum, suggesting a specific relationship between the fungus, the vector insect and the host tree. Our results suggest that O. karelicum occurs across the geographic range of S. ratzeburgi and its close relatedness to the Dutch elm disease fungi suggests that it could be important if introduced into other parts of the world. Other fungi, only occasionally isolated from S. ratzeburgi, were identified as O. quercus and a novel taxon, described here as O. denticiliatum sp. nov

Different expression of BRAFV600E, ALK and PD-L1 in melanoma in children and adolescents : a nationwide retrospective study in Finland in 1990-2014

Background Pediatric melanoma may have a different biological background and more favorable prognosis compared with melanoma in adults. The aim of this study was to investigate melanoma in children and adolescents in the Finnish population in terms of incidence, clinical course, treatment, prognosis and BRAFV600E-, ALK- and PD-L1-positivity of the primary tumors. Materials and Methods Primary tumor samples and clinical records of all patients aged 0-19 years diagnosed with cutaneous melanoma in Finland in 1990-2014 were collected using the Finnish Cancer Registry database, Finnish hospitals and private pathology laboratories. BRAFV600E, ALK and PD-L1 were analyzed from 54 primary tumors and BRAFV600E from six metastasis samples. Results A total of 122 patients diagnosed with cutaneous melanoma were retrieved from the Cancer Registry database. The primary tumor samples of 73 patients were obtained for the review, and 56 cases were included in the study. The incidence of pediatric melanoma increased from 0.2 to 1.0/100 000 during the period 1990-2014. Spitzoid melanoma was the most common subtype (66%). The 10-year cancer-specific survival (CSS) was 88.7% in all patients. The 10-year-CSS did not differ in SLNB-positive or -negative groups. BRAFV600E was positive in 48%, ALK in 9% and PD-L1 in 2% of the tumors. BRAFV600E mutation was associated with 83% of melanoma deaths. Conclusions Young melanoma patients had more favorable prognosis and a different staining profile for BRAFV600E, ALK, and PD-L1 in primary tumor than reported in adults. SLNB status was not an indicator for survival. BRAFV600E-positive patients have worse prognosis and could benefit from surveillance and treatment similarly to adults.Peer reviewe

Increased incidence of melanoma in children and adolescents in Finland in 1990-2014 : nationwide re-evaluation of histopathological characteristics

Background Changes in the incidence of melanoma in children and adolescents have been reported in Europe and in the USA in the recent decades. Aims The aim of this study was to examine the incidence of paediatric and adolescent melanomas in Finland in 1990-2014, and the associated clinical and histopathological characteristics to reveal temporal trends, such as changes in diagnostic sensitivity of Spitzoid melanomas. Methods Information on 122 patients diagnosed with cutaneous melanoma at 0-19 years of age in Finland in 1990-2014 were retrieved from the Finnish Cancer Registry. 73 primary melanoma archival samples were re-evaluated by two dermatopathologists to allow comparability over time. Results A 5.6% annual increase was observed in the incidence of melanoma among children and adolescents during the study period. Fifty-six tumours were confirmed as malignant melanomas in the re-evaluation. After correction for tumour misclassification in the Cancer Registry, the age-adjusted annual incidence was estimated to have increased from 1.4/1 000 000 in 1990-1994 to 5.8/1 000 000 in 2010-2014. The change in incidence was most prominent among adolescents and in Spitzoid melanoma subtype. Melanomas diagnosed 1990-2002 and 2003-2014 did not differ in terms of their clinicopathological characteristics or prognosis (hazard ratio for melanoma-related death 1.53, 95% CI 0.30 to 7.88). Spitzoid melanomas were diagnosed at a younger age, were of higher stage and had higher Clark level than other melanomas, yet the hazard ratio for death was 0.52 (95% CI 0.10 to 2.58) for Spitzoid versus other melanomas. Conclusions The incidence of cutaneous melanoma has clearly increased among the young in Finland, especially among adolescents. No evidence for overdiagnosis of Spitzoid melanomas as the underlying cause of the increased incidence was observed. Key message A nationwide retrospective re-evaluation of the cutaneous melanomas recorded in the Finnish Cancer Registry among patients aged 0-19 years in Finland in 1990-2014 revealed an approximately 4-fold increase in the incidence. The increase in the incidence was most prominent among adolescents and in the Spitzoid melanoma subtype. Our results contrast those reported in other countries, where the incidence of melanoma among adolescents has declined.Peer reviewe