Measuring Journal Linking Success from a Discovery Service

Online linking to full text via third-party link-resolution services, such as Serials Solutions 360 Link or Ex Libris’ SFX, has become a popular method of access to users in academic libraries. This article describes several attempts made over the course of the past three years at the University of Michigan to gather data on linkage failure: the method used, the limiting factors, the changes made in methods, an analysis of the data collected and a report of steps taken locally as a result of the studies. It is hoped that the experiences at one institution may be applicable more broadly and, perhaps, produce a stronger data-driven effort at improving linking services.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/110808/4/Measuring Journal Linking Success from a Discovery Service updated.pd

The Value of Authority Control in a Next Generation OPAC

This white paper, based upon the final report of the University of Michigan Library Authority Control Working Group, submitted March 30, 2011, demonstrates that, within an environment of a single, Google-like search box, results are far more accurate with controlled headings.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/110677/5/AuthorityControl2011.pd

Report of the Link Resolver Investigation Team

This report was commissioned to explore whether the University Library should improve and update its ProQuest­provided link resolver interface, 360 Link Legacy. To develop a recommendation and propose an implementation plan, an investigation team: evaluated the existing interface; researched how users encounter and interact with the existing interface; identified essential and desired requirements for interface improvements; and reviewed three link resolver tools (360 Link Legacy [current solution], 360 Link 2.0 [the updated version of current solution], and Umlaut [open­ source software]). After considering the above research, as well as the feedback of many library stakeholders, the investigation team recommends that the library should update its link resolver interface, using the Umlaut open­source software.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/117361/1/Link Resolver Investigation Team Report.pdfDescription of Link Resolver Investigation Team Report.pdf : Final Repor

Report of the Link Resolver Implementation Team

The Link Resolver Implementation Team was charged in March 2016 with carrying out the recommendations of the Link Resolver Investigation Team (http://hdl.handle.net/2027.42/117361), which were to re-launch the MGet It link resolver service as a locally-hosted application using the existing 360 Link knowledge base and the Umlaut open-source software. Specifically, the Implementation Team was asked to: 1) Design a user interface using Umlaut and the 360 Link API; 2) Select and prioritize added services in the link resolver menu interface; 3) Determine what, if anything, should be part of a report-a-problem link and implement corresponding workflows; and 4) Determine in which circumstances the link resolver menu page should appear for which kinds of users. This report outlines our decisions on these three points, details user studies to design the interface, and describes the roll-out process. The new MGet It service was released as a limited beta for library staff on September 14, 2016. After a period of review and feedback from library staff, and subsequent adjustments to the interface, the new interface replaced the native 360 Link interface on Monday, October 17, 2016.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/135723/1/link resolver implementation team final report.pdfDescription of link resolver implementation team final report.pdf : Final Repor

Communication between family carers and health professionals about end-of-life care for older people in the acute hospital setting: a qualitative study

This paper focuses on communication between hospital staff and family carers of patients dying on acute hospital wards, with an emphasis on the family carers’ perspective. The age at which people in the UK die is increasing and many continue to die in the acute hospital setting. Concerns have been expressed about poor quality end of life care in hospitals, in particular regarding communication between staff and relatives. This research aimed to understand the factors and processes which affect the quality of care provided to frail older people who are dying in hospital and their family carers

Quality end-of-life care: A global perspective

BACKGROUND: Quality end-of-life care has emerged as an important concept in industrialized countries. DISCUSSION: We argue quality end-of-life care should be seen as a global public health and health systems problem. It is a global problem because 85 % of the 56 million deaths worldwide that occur annually are in developing countries. It is a public health problem because of the number of people it affects, directly and indirectly, in terms of the well being of loved ones, and the large-scale, population based nature of some possible interventions. It is a health systems problem because one of its main features is the need for better information on quality end-of-life care. We examine the context of end-of-life care, including the epidemiology of death and cross-cultural considerations. Although there are examples of success, we could not identify systematic data on capacity for delivering quality end-of-life care in developing countries. We also address a possible objection to improving end-of-life care in developing countries; many deaths are preventable and reduction of avoidable deaths should be the focus of attention. CONCLUSIONS: We make three recommendations: (1) reinforce the recasting of quality end-of-life care as a global public health and health systems problem; (2) strengthen capacity to deliver quality end-of-life care; and (3) develop improved strategies to acquire information about the quality of end-of-life care

Amyloid in the islets of Langerhans: Thoughts and some historical aspects

Deposition of amyloid, derived from the polypeptide hormone islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP; ‘amylin’) is the single most typical islet alteration in type 2 diabetes. Islet amyloid was described as hyalinization already in 1901, but not until 1986 was it understood that it is a polymerization product of a novel β-cell regulatory product. The subject of this focused review deals with the pathogenesis and importance of the islet amyloid itself, not with the biological effect of the polypeptide. Similar to the situation in Alzheimer's disease, it has been argued that the amyloid may not be of importance since there is no strict correlation between the degree of islet amyloid infiltration and the disease. However, it is hardly discussable that the amyloid is important in subjects where islets have been destroyed by pronounced islet amyloid deposits. Even when there is less islet amyloid the deposits are widely spread, and β-cells show ultrastructural signs of cell membrane destruction. It is suggested that type 2 diabetes is heterogeneous and that in one major subtype aggregation of IAPP into amyloid fibrils is determining the progressive loss of β-cells. Interestingly, development of islet amyloid may be an important event in the loss of β-cell function after islet transplantation into type 1 diabetic subjects