Overview
From content conversion to search engines to world-wide delivery, Aries Systems provides comprehensive, state-of-the-art electronic publishing solutions for the medical publisher. For over a decade, Aries has been dedicated to developing the best and most innovative content access tools for medical electronic publishing. We focus on establishing partnerships with publishers, to create synergies that will best serve the publisher and your subscribers. Find out how you can take advantage of our technology excellence, and how Aries can help bring your publications to the 21st century.

Content Preparation
Creation of your electronic publication can begin with the full-text content from almost any existing source. In the absence of any electronic source materials, we capture content from print originals of the publication. Existing electronic files can be converted regardless of origin - typesetter, desktop publisher, ASCII text, SGML, HTML, etc. We undertake either programmatic or keyboard processing to enrich the text to make it suitable for electronic presentation.

SGML Data Formatting
Based on the ISO 12083 SGML standard for journal content, the Aries' DTD (Document Type Definition) extends the standard to support the interactive feature set of Knowledge Finder ® electronic publications. All source text content, regardless of original format, is converted to conform to the Aries DTD. The DTD supports arbitrarily complex in-line typography, offset equations, linked images, tables, references and document intra-links. The syntax of the DTD can be extended even further to accommodate future content and presentation requirements.

Image Capture/Conversion
Images and line-art are captured, stored and presented at three different resolutions - thumbnail, standard (as printed) and double resolution. Particular attention is paid to assuring accurate capture of both image features and tone subtleties. Images are ideally processed from electronic originals, but we can scan older materials directly from print originals. In-text image references are hot-linked to the corresponding standard and double size images.

Table Representation
Tabular content can be captured either as raster-scan images, or as formatted text. Raster-scan capture provides economy of data preparation. Formatted text tables allow indexing and searching of table contents, re-sizing of display fonts, and lockable row and column headings.

Access Software
Access to CD-ROM publications is provided through the Knowledge Finder access-and-presentation software. Web-based publications can be accessed through the Knowledge Finder client, or through standard Web browsers (Netscape® Navigator^TM and Microsoft® Internet Explorer®). Aries' interface designs blend richness of function with simple and intuitive use.

Content Verification
All content of Knowledge Finder full-text databases undergoes comprehensive quality control. We typically achieve content accuracy rates that are 10 times the industry standard, resulting in electronic publications that meet the quality expectations of the most demanding readers.

Content Indexing
Knowledge Finder search technology is used for indexing of full-text publications. Developed specifically for end-user medical professionals, Knowledge Finder's fuzzy logic searching, natural language queries, and relevance ranked search results have set the standard for search technology. Combined with "Fuzzy-Boolean" (relevance ranking within Boolean result sets), controlled term (author name, publication type and publication date lists), Knowledge Finder's feature set provides the access tools that are ideal for medical clinicians and researchers.

Inter-Linking
Extensive inter-linking is created within the publication text:

• Figure/table references to figure/table entity.
• Bibliography reference to bibliography entry.
• Bibliography entry to available MEDLINE abstract.
• Bibliography entry to available full-text article in same or other publication.

For Web-published content, comprehensive article/chapter outlines are created from the article's hierarchical heading structure (reflected in the document SGML).

CD-ROM Preparation
Your electronic content can be formatted for publication on CD-ROM for access with the Knowledge Finder client software. Knowledge Finder database formats are optimized for high-performance access off CD-ROM, without requiring upload of bulky index files to the user's hard drive. Aries undertakes all stages of CD-ROM pre-master preparation, and provides you with proof review copies prior to disc master manufacturing and replication. Aries will also coordinate preparation and production of CD-ROM jewel-case packaging.

Web Site Design
Since 1994, Aries has been developing complex Web site design and client/ server systems architecture implementation. Implementations include both graphic and HTML structure design, as well as integration into other Web services components. Companion site components include:

• High performance Knowledge Host® search servers, with fault tolerant and load-balancing support.
• Relational database integration for user registration and activity statistics capture.
• E-commerce integration for online and offline credit card transaction processing.

All or selected components can be integrated into the publisher's Web site, based on your feature requirements.

Web Site Hosting
All Web site preparation and maintenance is undertaken on Aries' Web development systems. Following completion of site development, the site can be physically hosted on the publisher's computer systems. Alternatively, the publication site can be hosted off Aries' Web and support servers - Aries provides full "turnkey" support for the site, including technical support to users, 24-hour facility security monitoring, and high-performance T-1 Internet access.

E-Commerce
Aries has developed and maintains all necessary technologies to undertake secure electronic commerce transactions on behalf of the publisher, including:

• Interactive online credit card verification and transaction processing.
• Merchant bank account reconciliation.
• Credit transaction processing.
• Monthly reconciliation and payment forwarding to the publisher.

Multi-Platform Delivery
All full-text publications can be delivered on CD-ROM, on closed institutional networks, and on the World Wide Web. All delivery modes use the same source database - the publisher can leverage multiple distribution channels with a single investment in content conversion:

• CD-ROM delivery with the Knowledge Finder client software for individual users provides support for Microsoft® Windows^TM and Apple® Macintosh® computers.
• Institutional subscribers can deploy your electronic publication on internal, closed intra-networks, using Aries' Knowledge Host client/ server solutions. Knowledge Host provides concurrent user metered access to the database, at usage levels determined by the publisher.
• Internet delivery through Web browsers provides instantaneous online delivery for both individual and institutional customers.

Multi-Modal Content Delivery
Users of your electronic Web publication can access content in two different modes:

• On-screen viewing is best satisfied by our well designed browser interfaces that allow convenient, interactive access between the different components of an article, and between articles, either in the same or other journals. Individual images can be opened in independent windows, multiple images can be compared side-by-side (even if not on the same printed page), and content can be selectively printed.
• Offline reading of content from printed copies of an article is provided by capturing and downloading PDF (Portable Document Format) "page-image" copies of the article as originally typeset and printed. These files can be easily distributed to the user and printed out, giving an essentially "perfect" paper image of the original article.

Copyrights Administration
The DocuRights^TM Secure Document Publishing Service is presently being developed by Aries (for delivery in early 1999). DocuRights provides an elegant solution for the protection of copyrighted material distributed in an electronic environment. The software reduces opportunities for unauthorized replication of copyrighted articles, while simultaneously encouraging redistribution through pay-per-copy electronic commerce transactions. Rights and convenience of bona fide acquirers of article copies are protected, while unauthorized transactions are deterred.

User Support
At the discretion of the publisher, technical support to users can be provided either by Aries or by the publisher. Aries encourages online users to submit problem reports and technical questions electronically. This allows us to gather consistent and in-depth problem information more efficiently, and to develop a solution and response for the user more rapidly.

Ongoing Innovation
Aries Systems Corporation was founded to develop innovative information retrieval and dissemination products, with special emphases in the fields of biomedicine and science. Since 1986, we have pioneered the use of fuzzy logic search technologies, content inter-linking, full-text journal and textbook publications on CD-ROM and on the World Wide Web. Aries Systems works cooperatively with other organizations in the information and health care industries, to identify and deliver improved knowledge access and delivery tools.