Information-seeking behavior of catalog users

This study is based on the data from a survey of catalog use at three university libraries and one public library. Both "known-item" searches and "subject" searches were analyzed. The characteristics of the user population were examined and methodological problems of the survey were discussed. A relation was found between the academic rank of the catalog users and type of search that they carry out. Some of the factors influencing the success or failure of the search were analyzed, and the meaning of "success" for the two types of search was discussed. The study investigated trends in search strategies as well as degree of perseverance of catalog searchers. Implications for the design of modern information retrieval systems were pointed out.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/32647/1/0000010.pd

Pain patterns and descriptions in patients with radicular pain: Does the pain necessarily follow a specific dermatome?

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>It is commonly stated that nerve root pain should be expected to follow a specific dermatome and that this information is useful to make the diagnosis of radiculopathy. There is little evidence in the literature that confirms or denies this statement. The purpose of this study is to describe and discuss the diagnostic utility of the distribution of pain in patients with cervical and lumbar radicular pain.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Pain drawings and descriptions were assessed in consecutive patients diagnosed with cervical or lumbar nerve root pain. These findings were compared with accepted dermatome maps to determine whether they tended to follow along the involved nerve root's dermatome.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Two hundred twenty-six nerve roots in 169 patients were assessed. Overall, pain related to cervical nerve roots was non-dermatomal in over two-thirds (69.7%) of cases. In the lumbar spine, the pain was non-dermatomal in just under two-thirds (64.1%) of cases. The majority of nerve root levels involved non-dermatomal pain patterns except C4 (60.0% dermatomal) and S1 (64.9% dermatomal). The sensitivity (SE) and specificity (SP) for dermatomal pattern of pain are low for all nerve root levels with the exception of the C4 level (Se 0.60, Sp 0.72) and S1 level (Se 0.65, Sp 0.80), although in the case of the C4 level, the number of subjects was small (n = 5).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In most cases nerve root pain should not be expected to follow along a specific dermatome, and a dermatomal distribution of pain is not a useful historical factor in the diagnosis of radicular pain. The possible exception to this is the S1 nerve root, in which the pain does commonly follow the S1 dermatome.</p

Contextual Metadata in Digital Aggregations: Application of Collection-Level Subject Metadata and Its Role in User Interactions and Information Retrieval

Article discussing a study of contextual metadata in digital aggregations. Results of this study prove importance of provision of collection-level metadata in general and subject metadata in particular to enhance user experiences and information retrieval in digital libraries

Deliquescence of malonic, succinic, glutaric, and adipic acid particles.

In order to understand and predict the role of organic particles in the atmosphere their deliquescence behavior must be understood. Using an optical microscope coupled to a flow cell, we investigated the deliquescence of malonic, succinic, glutaric, and adipic acid particles with sizes ranging from 2 to 40 mm. Deliquescence relative humidities were determined for temperatures ranging from 293 to 243 K. Over this temperature range both succinic acid and adipic acid deliquesced at approximately 100% relative humidity, whereas malonic acid and glutaric acid deliquesced at significantly lower relative humidities. These results are generally in good agreement with previous studies and are within 3% of calculations based on the UNIQUAC (universal quasi-chemical) Functional Group Activity Coefficients (UNIFAC) model and recently published interaction parameters. Our studies also include measurements at temperatures below the eutectic temperatures. At these temperatures, ice did not nucleate; rather the particles underwent deliquescence to form metastable solution droplets. This indicates that solid dicarboxylic acids are not good ice nuclei above 243 K and hence will probably not play a role in ice cloud formation at these temperatures. An edited version of this paper was published by AGU. Copyright 2004 American Geophysical Union.Science, Faculty ofChemistry, Department ofReviewedFacult