Big data analysis of public library operations and services by using the Chernoff face method

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to conduct a big data analysis of public library operations and services of two cities in two countries by using the Chernoff face method. Design/methodology/approach – The study is designed to evaluate library services by analysing the Chernoff face. Big data on public libraries in London and Seoul were collected respectively from CIPFA and the Korean government’s website for drawing a Chernoff face. The association of variables and human facial features was decided by survey. Although limited in its capacity to handle a large number of variables (eight were analysed in this study) the Chernoff face method does readily allow for the comparison of a large number of instances of analysis. 58 Chernoff faces were drawn from the formatted data by using the R programming language. Findings – The study reveals that most of the local governments in London perform better than those of Seoul. This consequence is due to the fact that local governments in London operate more libraries, invest more budgets, allocate more staff and hold more collections than local governments in Seoul. This administration resulted in more use of libraries in London than Seoul. The study validates the benefit of using the Chernoff face method for big data analysis of library services. Practical implications – Chernoff face method for big data analysis offers a new evaluation technique for library services and provides insights that may not be as readily apparent and discernible using more traditional analytical methods. Originality/value – This study is the first to use the Chernoff face method for big data analysis of library services in library and information research

Adding product value through additive manufacturing

The term additive manufacturing (AM) refers to layer-based material addition technologies that have extended the approach of rapid prototyping (RP) technologies to end-use products and components. The application of AM technologies for this purpose is still rather limited at present but there are a few widely publicised examples. The authors believe that the wider use of AM is being inhibited by the inability of most designers to fully appreciate the contribution that AM can make to E3 (economic, ecological and experience) product value. Research at (removed for anonymity) has indicated that AM can contribute in each of these areas. This paper defines E3 value and then gives some examples of AM products that demonstrate different means of improving value. The conclusions drawn are that AM has an important role to play in adding E3 value to many products but that designers must be better informed as to how to integrate this added value into their designs

Degradation of adhesion molecules of G361 melanoma cells by a non-thermal atmospheric pressure microplasma

Increased expression of integrins and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is important for the survival, growth and metastasis of melanoma cells. Based on this well-established observation in oncology, we propose to use degradation of integrin and FAK proteins as a potential strategy for melanoma cancer therapy. A low-temperature radio-frequency atmospheric microplasma jet is used to study their effects on the adhesion molecules of G361 melanoma cells. Microplasma treatment is shown to (1) cause significant cell detachment from the bottom of microtiter plates coated with collagen, (2) induce the death of human melanoma cells, (3) inhibit the expression of integrin 2, integrin 4 and FAK on the cell surface and finally (4) change well-stretched actin filaments to a diffuse pattern. These results suggest that cold atmospheric pressure plasmas can strongly inhibit the adhesion of melanoma cells by reducing the activities of adhesion proteins such as integrins and FAK, key biomolecules that are known to be important in malignant transformation and acquisition of metastatic phenotypes