In this paper we present the MIR index, a composite index of Medical Information Reliability. This percentage index is intended as a simple indicator of Information Quality of medical online resources from the perspective of their potential consumers. We exemplify its application in the domain of the Non Conventional and Complementary Medicine (NCM/CAM) for its lack of institutional professiona...

Tender and Swollen Joint Assessment, Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), Nail Psoriasis Severity Index (NAPSI), Modified Nail Psoriasis Severity Index (mNAPSI), Mander/Newcastle Enthesitis Index (MEI), Leeds Enthesitis Index (LEI), Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada (SPARCC), Maastricht Ankylosing Spondylitis Enthesis Score (MASES), Leeds Dactylitis Index (LDI), Patient Globa...

Leading and trailing indexes are characterized by their timing and their accuracy. Timing is the lead or lagging (trailing) time relative to a target time series, here industrial production (IP). Accuracy is measured here by the correspondence between the directions of changes in the indicator and the target. By plotting candidate leading and trailing time series and the target time series in p...

Serum profiles of lipids and/or liver enzymes are established markers for the estimation of insulin resistance and diabetic risk in the non-diabetic middle-aged population. To identify prediabetic markers in young subjects, 110 young male subjects (20-29 years of age) with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) were divided into two groups by median body mass index (BMI), <22.18 (n=55) and ≥22.18 (n=55...

We present a new composite of geomagnetic activity which is designed to be as homogeneous in its construction as possible. This is done by only combining data that, by virtue of the locations of the source observatories used, have similar responses to solar wind and IMF (interplanetary magnetic field) variations. This will enable us (in Part 2, Lockwood et al., 2013a) to use the new index to re...

We present a new composite of geomagnetic activity which is designed to be as homogeneous in its construction as possible. This is done by only combining data that, by virtue of the locations of the source observatories used, have similar responses to solar wind and IMF (interplanetary magnetic field) variations. This will enable us (in Part 2, Lockwood et al., 2013a) to use the new index to re...

BACKGROUND The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate surface discoloration of three microhybrid composite resins (Esthet•X HD, Clearfil AP-X, Gradia Direct) and five nanohybrid composite resins (Ceram•X, GC Kalore, G-aenial, Grandio, GrandioSO), after staining and bleaching procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS The composite resins were polymerized with a curing light (Celalux II, Voco, ...

OBJECTIVE Develop an index to evaluate the maternal and neonatal hospital care of the Brazilian Unified Health System. METHODS This descriptive cross-sectional study of national scope was based on the structure-process-outcome framework proposed by Donabedian and on comprehensive health care. Data from the Hospital Information System and the National Registry of Health Establishments were use...

Composite indicators are increasingly recognized as a useful tool in policy analysis and public communication. However, if poorly constructed, they can send misleading policy messages. Perhaps the most difficult aspect of constructing a composite indicator is choosing weights for the components. The categorization of Croatian territorial units for development policy is based on the value of the...