Abstract

With the publication of the 2014 Focused Update of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society Guidelines for the Management of Atrial Fibrillation, the Canadian Cardiovascular Society Atrial Fibrillation Guidelines Committee has introduced a new triage and management algorithm, the so-called “CCS Algorithm”. The CCS Algorithm is based upon expert opinion of the best available evidence, however, the CCS Algorithm has not yet been validated. Accordingly, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the performance of the CCS Algorithm in a cohort of real world patients. We compared the CCS Algorithm with the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Algorithm in 172 hospital inpatients who are at risk of stroke due to non-valvular atrial fibrillation in whom anticoagulant therapy was being considered. The CCS Algorithm and the ESC Algorithm were concordant in 170/172 patients (99% of the time). There were two patients (1%) with vascular disease, but no other thromboembolic risk factors, which were classified as requiring oral anticoagulant therapy using the ESC Algorithm, but for whom ASA was recommended by the CCS Algorithm. The CCS Algorithm appears to be unnecessarily complicated in so far as it does not appear to provide any additional discriminatory value above and beyond the use of the ESC Algorithm, and its use could result in under treatment of patients, specifically female patients with vascular disease, whose real risk of stroke has been understated by the Guidelines.

Abstract

The main features of the new Counter 4 guidelines for collecting, processing and disseminating statistics on electronic resources usage are analyzed. The new guidelines will be mandatory in 2014 for providers who want to keep the label "Counter compliant". With the publication of the Counter code of practice for e-resources: Release 4 (Counter 4), the current guidelines Counter 3 (for journals and databases) and Counter 1 (for books and reference works) will be merged in the new code, which also will cover multimedia e-resources and advance integration efforts with the Sushi (Standardized usage statistics harvesting initiative) protocol.

Abstract

Spanish public institutions have carried out an extraordinary task over the last two decades to recover, manage and promote their photographic patrimony. These actions have been conducted according to diverse criteria and different protocols for action have been adopted. Several of these aspects are studied and, in particular, the models for the use and reproduction of documents. In addition, a series of proposals for action are made and opened for debate.

Abstract

Thesauri and other knowledge organization systems have been adapted to the technological environment. Currently, this represents an essential aspect of knowledge organization on the semantic web. After a long period in which thesaurus guidelines and standards were not updated, some have been revised by the governing organisations within the past five years. Consensus among international experts has resulted in publication of the first part of an ISO standard for thesauri, which provides a data model and emphasizes the interoperability process. This paper compiles the most relevant guidelines for thesauri published between the ‘80s and the ISO 25964 document. We reflect on the most relevant characteristics in this evolution and explore the most recent applications of knowledge organization systems on the Web.

Abstract

Mainstream media all over the world have been regulating the behavior of their journalists in social media, fearing these new forms of communications might damage the credibility of their institutions. Those who have not yet done so face with concern this unstoppable challenge and are now outlining their own guidelines for social media policies. In an effort to inspire the design of these new policies, this paper aims to approach the recurring topics in the policies already written by leading media such as AP, American Society of News Editors (ASNE), BBC, Bloomberg, Charlotte observer, Freedom communication, Los Angeles times, NPR, Orlando sentinel, Politico, Reuters, Rockford register star,Saint Louis post-dispatch, Source media group, The Denver post, The guardian, The journal gazette, The Manhattan Mercury, The New York times, The Roanoke times, The Wall Street journaly The Washington post. A qualitative content analysis of 22 of these policies has been conducted to identify these topics.

Abstract

Since the emergence of the Internet there has been continuous evolution in interface design, with designers trying to offer a good experience to users. Website developers regularly turn to heuristic indicators that have been collected throughout years of research and praxis. Nevertheless, these indicators are diverse and it is complicated locating which ones are applicable in every case. The objective of this work is to identify and analyze the most scientifically and geographically relevant heuristic indicators through a mapping review, in order to classify them according to formal and content components. The results are two taxonomies which make it easier to identify the location, and analyze and apply the guidelines.

Abstract

Industrial companies supply products intended to satisfy customers’ needs and requirements. To be competitive and to maintain good economic performance, efficient systems are needed to communicate information and exchange knowledge. Such systems are often referred to as quality systems as they intend to support development as well as standardized work regarding the quality of the product and increase satisfaction of the company’s customers and other stakeholders (employees, owners, sub-suppliers, society). Many companies try to structure and improve their quality systems by applying the international quality standard ISO 9000, which can result in extensive documentation. The guidelines and instructions of quality management systems are traditionally documented and presented as paper documents, alternatively on an intranet (a company’s internal computer network) suitable for printouts. These however, do not correspond to some company’s requirements for usability in daily work and as support to interest and engage the personnel in development work. An assumption was that visualizing guidelines using different kinds of multimedia technologies such as hyperlinked and animated pictorial illustrations might be relevant to support quality control and design processes in industrial companies. Two objectives were set up: The first was to explore how the usability of guidelines could be improved by changing the interface design of the guidelines; The second was to explore how the visualization process of guidelines could support participative design by applying evaluations and interpretations in a dialogue form between two individuals or among a group of individuals. The methodology that has been used to generate research questions as well as methods is based on theories of action research and experiential learning. Various methods have been used and combined in order to collect information and to ensure the reliability of the findings based on it. Three industrial companies participated in a first case study. They had conventional quality systems, which they wanted to replace or improve. The companies set up design teams to establish principles for visualizations of their quality systems on their intranets. Cooperating with the author, the design teams created and evaluated computer supported prototypes. These prototypes were made available via the Internet and discussed within each design team. The teams exchanged ideas and comments to enhance their prototypes. The results showed that a quality system should be visualized by an overview of the physical production plant. Information about different processes and instructions are represented by hyperlinked symbols within or next to the plant layout. A second field study aimed to clarify how industrial companies with certified quality systems according to ISO 9001 visualized their guidelines and instructions of construction, production, and installation. The quality manager at each company evaluated the existing system and explained their needs of developing the system by means of computer supported visualization on their intranet. The information was collected through telephone interviews and on site visits. The results showed that the companies would like to improve the visualization of information by decreasing text and increasing pictorial descriptions, such as flowcharts and animations. They also experienced that a quality system on the companies’ intranets was or should be an enhancement in order to disseminate and update the information. A third case study performed in collaboration with Saab Automobile showed results that corresponded with the other studies. The company wanted to replace their conventional information system of ergonomic design guidelines for cars, and design a new system based on interactivity and multimedia. The results showed that a pictorial overview of the car with different areas hyperlinked to further information was preferred. The specific information in the ergonomic guidelines was illustrated with icons, pictures, animations, and some text. In a comparison with the conventional system, subjects performed working tasks faster and with a more positive attitude in the new system. A fourth case study was performed within the GM company group, which showed the need of a formalized working process throughout work with human simulation tools as well as possibilities to document the information generated. A human simulation system prototype was modeled in collaboration with the companies and was presented on an intranet. The results indicated a great potential to enhance the communication within and between the companies, increased accessibility to knowledge, and increased quality on performed work. To summarize, the studies in this thesis show a need among industrial companies to visualize guidelines in information and quality systems by means of multimedia and an interactive design process. Such an approach supports knowledge acquisition and communication, and has a potential to ensure high quality in a company’s processes and products. Furthermore, the users’ attitudes tend to become more positive to the information presented compared to a conventional system. För att tillverka produkter av hög kvalitet, behöver industriella företag strukturera arbetet med hjälp av instruktioner och riktlinjer som är lätta att förstå och komma åt. Dessa samlas ofta i en eller flera pärmar eller på internt datornätverk, ofta som en del av den internationella kvalitetsstandarden ISO 9000. Men detta fungerar sällan som ett välfungerande stöd för personalen. Däremot så finns det exempel på hur riktlinjer kan presenteras eller visualiseras med hjälp av olika slags tekniker inom multimedia som t.ex. hyperlänkade och animerade bilder och illustrationer, dvs ett väl anpassat gränssnitt mellan personal och den information som ska presenteras. Avhandlingen har haft två syften: Dels att utforska hur användbarhet av riktlinjer kan förbättras genom att förändra utformningen av riktlinjernas gränssnitt; dels att utforska hur visualiseringsprocessen kan stödja dialogen mellan användare som därmed görs delaktiga i utformningen av riktlinjer."br /" "br /" Resultaten från en första fältstudie visade att tre industriella företag föredrog ett system av riktlinjer som presenterar informationen utifrån en översiktsbild av den fysiska produktionslokalen. Information om processer och instruktioner representerades av hyperlänkade symboler inom eller vid sidan av lokalen. Resultaten från en andra fältstudie visade att industriella företag med kvalitetssystem certifierade enligt ISO 9000 skulle vilja visualisera informationen tydligare genom att minska omfattningen av text och istället använda mer bildmässiga beskrivningar, t.ex. flödesscheman och animeringar. Man upplevde även att ett kvalitetssystem på företagets interna datornätverk innebar eller skulle innebära en förbättring för att sprida och uppdatera informationen. I en tredje fältstudie genomförd i samarbete med Saab Automobil, ville företaget ersätta sitt konventionella informationssystem av ergonomiska designriktlinjer, och utforma ett nytt system baserat på interaktivitet och multimedia. Resultaten visade att man föredrog en översiktsbild av bilen där olika områden var länkade till vidare information. Den specifika informationen i riktlinjerna illustrerades med ikoner, bilder, animeringar och viss text. Vid jämförelse med det tidigare systemet visade det sig att arbetsuppgifter genomfördes både snabbare och med en positivare attityd i det nya systemet. En fjärde fältstudie genomfördes med en grupp företag inom GM koncernen. Studien visade på behovet av en tydlig process vid simuleringsarbete samt möjlighet att kunna dokumentera genererad kunskap. En prototyp av ett system för simuleringar och analyser av förarmiljöer, togs fram i samverkan med företagen och presenterades på ett datornätverk. Resultaten visade stora möjligheter till förbättring av kommunikationen både inom och mellan företagen, samt ökad kunskapsspridning och förbättrad kvalitet på utfört arbete."br /" "br /" Sammantaget visar studierna i avhandlingen på ett behov bland industriella företag av att visualisera riktlinjer med hjälp av multimedia och en ansats där användarna involveras i utformningen av dessa. En sådan ansats underlättar lärande och kommunikation samt har en potential att säkerställa en hög kvalitet på företagets processer och produkter. Dessutom tenderar användarnas attityd att bli mer positiv till den information som presenteras jämfört med tidigare.

Abstract

A range of different methods and tools have been proposed by both academics and professionals in recent years for evaluating the quality of websites. Some are of general application and can be used to assess any type of website, while others have been adapted to the specialized characteristics of the websites employed in a given sector. This paper undertakes an analysis of existing scientific production in this field, with the aim of identifying its most relevant publications, its principal authors and the specific sectors served by the sites under evaluation. By triangulating review methods, 716 texts, published between 2000 and 2018, were identified in Scopus, Web of Science and other databases and examined. In addition to basic bibliographic information, the number of citations received by each text was recorded using Google Scholar. The area of knowledge in which each author works was also categorized based on his or her specific affiliations. The results point to a growing interest in website quality in a scientific community that has a presence in more than 70 countries. Its authors are drawn from various disciplines, although the highest number of publications is recorded in computer science, business and medical informatics. The most frequently cited texts are in fact seminal books in the associated disciplines of usability, information architecture and user experience. However, as of 2007, the number of texts describing evaluation tools for the websites of specific sectors – most notably, education (33%), health (27%) and commerce (21%) – increased their share. In conclusion, it is evident that website quality is a field of study undergoing constant growth and increasing specialization and one that offers ample opportunities for research.