An evaluation of UK credit ratings services
Describes a novel method for evaluating UK-based credit ratings services. Using a combination of timeliness, coverage, ease of use and accuracy of information, based upon a sample of 100 records added to the databases of six commercial companies’ information databases in autumn 2005, a framework for evaluation was developed and applied. The following services were evaluated: Creditsafe UK; Dun & Bradstreet; Equifax; Experian; Graydon; and ICC. Based upon the results of the evaluations, the services were graded overall with Experian coming out best. Equifax and ICC were next best, with Credit-safe after that. Dun and Bradstreet and Graydon performed the worst. However, changing the weightings of the various criteria would have produced a different outcome. Detailed explanations of the tests that were applied and the performance of each service are provided.
The evaluation of WWW search engines
The literature of the evaluation of Internet search engines is reviewed. Although there have been many studies, there has been little consistency in the way such studies have been carried out. This problem is exacerbated by the fact that recall is virtually impossible to calculate in the fast changing Internet environment, and therefore the traditional Cranfield type of evaluation is not usually possible. A variety of alternative evaluation methods has been suggested to overcome this difficulty. The authors recommend that a standardised set of tools is developed for the evaluation of web search engines so that, in future, comparisons can be made between search engines more effectively, and that variations in performance of any given search engine over time can be tracked. The paper itself does not provide such a standard set of tools, but it investigates the issues and makes preliminary recommendations of the types of tools needed.
Enucleation of vagal nerve schwannoma using intraoperative nerve monitoring
Vagal nerve schwannomas are rare, benign, neural sheath tumors. The treatment of enlarging or symptomatic vagal nerve schwannomas is surgical resection. Transecting the vagus nerve results in significant morbidity, and attempts at nerve preservation should be made whenever possible. We introduce a nerve‐sparing technique using meticulous microsurgical dissection and intraoperative nerve monitoring for vagal schwannomas. A 61‐year old patient presented with an enlarging 2‐cm right vagal nerve schwannoma. She underwent resection via a transcervical approach. The patient was intubated with an electromyographic (EMG) endotracheal tube that allowed for monitoring of the recurrent laryngeal nerve intraoperatively. A microsurgical subcapsular dissection was performed after branches of the vagus nerve were identified using a nerve probe and preserved. At the conclusion of the resection the nerve was intact and stimulated along its entire course. Postoperatively, the patient had normal vagal nerve function. We introduced the role of intraoperative nerve monitoring using an EMG endotracheal tube for successful enucleation of vagal schwannomas. In conjunction with meticulous microsurgical dissection, nerve monitoring allows for successful preservation of the vagus nerve and decreased postoperative morbidity. Laryngoscope, 2012