Objectives:The aim of this study was to examine a predictive model using features related to the diabetes type 2 risk factors.Methods:The data were obtained from a database in a diabetes control system in Tabriz, Iran. The data included all people referred for diabetes screening between 2009 and 2011. The features considered as “Inputs” were: age, sex, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, family history of diabetes, and body mass index (BMI). Moreover, we used diagnosis as “Class”. We applied the “Decision Tree” technique and “J48” algorithm in the WEKA (3.6.10 version) software to develop the model.Results:After data preprocessing and preparation, we used 22,398 records for data mining. The model precision to identify patients was 0.717. The age factor was placed in the root node of the tree as a result of higher information gain. The ROC curve indicates the model function in identification of patients and those individuals who are healthy. The curve indicates high capability of the model, especially in identification of the healthy persons.Conclusions:We developed a model using the decision tree for screening T2DM which did not require laboratory tests for T2DM diagnosis.

With regard to the potential of huge knowledge dissemination by academic library websites, their usability is considered as a matter of great interest to university administrators as well as users. In the present study, a descriptive survey was designed aimed at evaluating usability of central library websites of type-1 universities of medical sciences in Iran in order to identify their usability issues and to provide inputs for possible remediation efforts to improve the design of similar websites in the future. The research procedure involved a library study to identify the tasks typically needed on library websites, use of the identified tasks to design a checklist for measuring three dimensions of usability (effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction), and finally a usability evaluation by two specialists of medical informatics and two librarianship experts. The given websites were rated “good” (60 % - 80 %) in terms of usability and no statistically significant difference was found between evaluations by different experts. It was concluded that more attention to website usability could improve users’ interest in services and facilitate realisation of goals in parent organisations. The results of this study could provide a basic framework for website design and improvement through giving proper attention to usability dimensions.

Objective:The purpose of this study is to examine qualitative and quantitative states of stem cell research in Iran in order to extract information production patterns.Methods:The data were extracted by searching through the Science Citation Index (SCI) Expanded database related to January 2013. The number of published articles and frequency of their citation were used as indices of the quality and quantity of information production.Results:Total number of Iranian stem cell articles and proceedings indexed in Web of Science until 2012 was 709. The highest frequency belonged to the multiple institution category (45-50% of the articles during 2005-2012). The highest CPP rate (29.7) belonged to the international articles written by the authors from other countries with Iranian coauthors.Conclusion:Although cooperation between more authors from different institutions and countries can increase the quality of scientific articles, results of this research showed that international research must be distinguished in terms of author sequence.

No abstract

Objective: This research is aimed at exploring the evaluation of information credibility and its related criteria from the viewpoints and experiences of PhD students in pharmacy in Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Methods: The qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews. Using convenience sampling method, 13 PhD students in pharmacy were selected. Rigor of the study was approved by member checking and external audit. A content analysis approach (inductive and deductive) was used for the analysis of the data. Results: Three themes, including "database evaluation", "information source evaluation" and "content evaluation", were extracted as the three most important components of the evaluation from students' viewpoint. Nine primary criteria were extracted for the evaluation of information, including accessibility, coverage, learnability, relevancy, accuracy authority, currency, replicability and source validity. The desired criteria were categorized after considering subject and concept proximity. Conclusion: This study revealed the criteria considered by students for evaluating information. Challenges and limitations regarding the evaluation of information were identified. The findings of the study will help the central library and librarians realize and address the challenges and limitations of information use.