Knowledge bases in medicine: a review

Efforts to represent knowledge effectively have been central to progress in various aspects of medical informatics. These efforts range from relatively simple "electronic textbooks" to fairly sophisticated knowledge-based systems, which function as well as, or even better than, human experts faced with similar problems. Knowledge bases have been developed in many fields, but the relatively limited domains and structured language of medicine, as well as the importance of information in the provision of good medical care, have made research in medical knowledge representation an area of intense activity. This paper reviews representative knowledge bases and knowledge-based systems in medicine: electronic textbooks such as PDQ and the Hepatitis Knowledge Base (HKB), rule-based systems such as MYCIN, causal models (e.g., CASNET), and hypothesis- or frame-based systems, exemplified by PIP and INTERNIST-1. The paper describes the relationships among divergent approaches and provides a sense of current and future trends. It examines problems in knowledge-based systems, particularly in knowledge representation and acquisition, and the responses to these challenges. The latter include the use of domain-independent software shells for constructing knowledge bases, the adaptation and use of previously existing knowledge bases, and multiple uses of the same knowledge base for different purposes.     

Serials standards work: the next frontier

Serials, one of the more complicated areas of library technical endeavors, has lacked the benefit of standards for a long time. Even now, with standards beginning to be available, the majority of institutions are not working within standard serials formats. A survey to determine the use of serials standards in libraries was conducted in 1988 by the American Library Association, Resources and Technical Services Division, Serials Section, Committee to Study Serials Standards. In the spring of 1988 a survey was sent to a group encompassing the Association of Research Libraries members, CONSER participants, United States Newspaper Program participants, Microform Project libraries, and some vendors and librarians who attended the Committee meetings on a regular basis. The survey questionnaire assessed the current level of serials standards awareness of librarians and vendors. Topics included the type of serials systems used, standards relevant to serials control and union listing and whether or not they are implemented, types and levels of training staff received in the application of standards, benefits of the standards, and areas where standards are most needed.     

Medical information, health sciences librarians, and professional liability

As a gatekeeper to medical literature and a critical link in the delivery of information to physicians, the librarian's role raises the issue of the librarian's professional liability. The paper suggests several ways in which liability may attach to the librarian or the librarian's employers. Although the librarian's personal risk is negligible, the physician's exposure due to ineffective library work is substantial since the courts have held that a physician must keep abreast of progress in his field. Librarians can also become associated with professional liability actions as part of a case against a physician or hospital through the legal doctrine of vicarious liability. The paper concludes by suggesting several proactive steps for health sciences librarians to pursue to insulate themselves from professional liability and to insulate physicians and institutions from vicarious liability.     

Risk management information for HIV infection

This article discusses HIV infection in terms of the risk manager's information needs in the health care environment. The malpractice problem, increasing workman's compensation suits, the greater role of the ombudsman, implementation of the National Practitioner Data Bank, and the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations' (JCAHO) emphasis on clinical excellence are conditions which have given greater importance to the risk manager's position. Included in this article are hedges to retrieve various components of risk management and a select bibliography from AIDSLINE.     

Into the Future:The Challenge and Promise of Technology for Digital Libraries

我们长期将数字图书馆作为一个独立的世界来构建,这个独立的世界中包括数字对象的创建、管理、发现、传递以及利用等。这种相对封闭的模式与高度发达的开放网络世界背道而驰。在网络世界中,用户可以通过大型的检索系统,如Google和Amazon来发现信息,还可以在管理这些信息资源的系统之外对其进行利用。当用户都涌向网络世界时,数字图书馆就面临着打破其固有封闭状态的挑战,以便适应开放的网络世界,否则将失去其实用性。当前,许多条件都给数字图书馆提供了改变现状、提高实用性的机遇。本文将讨论数字图书馆现存的典型模式以及该模式带来的后果,讨论数字图书馆工作改革的方式,并简要探讨数字图书馆建设中的成功技术实例。     

An Analysis of Academic Library Web Pages for Faculty

Web sites are increasingly used by academic libraries to promote key services and collections to teaching faculty. This study analyzes the content, location, language, and technological features of fifty-four academic library Web pages designed especially for faculty to expose patterns in the development of these pages.     

On the problem of determining a citation index of publications by Kazakh scientists

This paper discusses the evaluation of scientific activity with the help of some scientometric indices, in particular, a citation index. The information massif of the bibliographic database of citations to domestic publications of Kazakh authors is statistically described.