Your “Social Media Will” or What Happens to Your Flickr Pictures When You’re Dead?

DigitalDemiseIt’s important to plan ahead for end-of-life decisions. A last will and testament dictates the distribution of your assets upon your death. Advance directives, a living will, and power of attorney describe your health care wishes if you are unable to participate in your own care.

Have you ever thought about what happens to your Facebook profile, your Flickr pictures, and all of your online service accounts, not to mention your social media persona upon your demise? Continue reading

Journal Citation Reports Expands Citation Analytics

trlogoThe Journal Citation Reports (JCR)  database is now a part of Thomson Reuters’ new InCites platform. InCites provides comprehensive journal and article metrics, and includes JCR and its companion database, Essential Science Indicators.

JCR is a valuable tool that can be used to easily identify the most appropriate, influential journals in which to publish. You can also confirm the status of journals in which you have published, and track bibliometric and citation patterns. JCR is published annually (approximately June) following the year of coverage. The Science edition covers over 8,400 journals and the Social Sciences edition more than 3,000 journals.

New JCR features include:

  • Increased access to both the Science and Social Sciences editions and all years of data.
  • Network graphs include dynamic and interactive link and node visualizations that enable users to see the strength of relationships at both the category and journal levels.
  • A Compare Journals feature that enables users to select journals and view comparative data based on various indicators.
  • Ego Networks provide a depiction of a journal’s relationship to other journals in their network based on either citing or cited data by the metric of Impact Factor or Market Share.
  • Download data tables in CSV or XLS format, and other data that includes graphs as a PDF.
  • You can save comparison reports as well as journal lists that you’ve created and that can be accessed at a later time so long as you are logged in with a username and password, which you can create on the JCR Web site.

Accessing JCR

To access Journal Citation Reports, type Journal Citation Reports in the search.HSLS box on the HSLS home page or browse the Databases A-Z list. Under the database name, click on Access via Thomson Reuters for Pitt and UPMC Users.

On the “InCites Journal Citation Reports” home page, click on the Sign in button and then click on Continue without signing in (located on the right side of the screen).

Finding the impact factor information for a single journal:

  1. On the left-side menu, in the “Go to Journal Profile” search box, type the name of the journal. There is an autosuggest feature to help speed your search.
  2. Click on the blue search button to the right of the search box.
  3. At the top of the screen, you’ll see pertinent information about the journal. Next is the “Key Indicators” table and below that the “Journal Source Data” table.
  4. Click on any linked figure on the table to see how each indicator is calculated, as well as other points of information about that indicator.

JCR

Locate journals by subject category:

To view all categories:

  1. Click on the Categories by Rank tab above the Visualization box and scroll through the table.
  2. The list of categories can be changed by clicking on the headers at the top of the table (e.g., Category, Edition, #Journals, Total Cites, Median Impact Factor, and Aggregate Impact Factor).
  3. To view the list of journals within a category, click on the number in the #Journals column and not the category itself.

To learn more about the many new features Journal Citation Reports offers to help you analyze citation information, select from several short recorded training sessions, view a Glossary of Terms, or register for live online training.

For further information, contact the HSLS Main Desk at 412-648-8866 or Ask a Librarian.

*Parts of this article were reprinted from the Thomson Reuters Journal Citation Reports’ Web site.

~ Jill Foust

UpToDate Changes

UpToDate has recently made several enhancements to their product. These include a new user interface, expanded search results, redesigned topic outline, and more reading area. To learn more about these and other UpToDate changes, view the three minute video below or read about the new enhancements. Continue reading

Create It Yourself with 3D Printing

Imagine replicating a scan of a patient’s heart for tangible examination before surgery. Researchers may envision a microscopic tool that is essential to their field of research. Perhaps there’s a small adjustment to an ordinary item that would make the life of a child with disabilities that much easier. These are the types of innovations that 3D printing is making possible for the community at large.

As a Pitt affiliate, you too can see your ideas come to life with 3D printing. HSLS has partnered with the Swanson Center for Product Innovation in the School of Engineering to bring 3D printing services to you. Use of 3D printers, materials, and design consultations are available, sometimes at no cost.

The Swanson Center for Product Innovation operates two consumer-level printers, the Makerbot Replicator 2 and the Makerbot Replicator 2X, as well as two professional-grade printers, the Stratasys Dimension 1200 EX and the 3Dsystems Viper SLA.

DNA Double Helix design (left) and 3D printed object (right). Image Credit: MakerBot Thingiverse®
DNA Double Helix design (L) and 3D printed object (R). Image Credit: MakerBot Thingiverse®

So how does 3D printing work? 3D printers use a material called filament to print an object layer by layer. The hot filament cools on contact with the next layer of filament, creating a solid wall of material. On a consumer 3D printer, the objects will be printed hollow, and you will be able to see and feel the texture of the different layers of material.

To get started, you’ll need to use a 3D scanner or create a design using a program like Tinkercad. A collection of 3D object designs are also available to download at Thingiverse.

When the object is sent to the printer, you will decide the size, density, and other properties. Smaller, less-dense items can print in under an hour, and larger, denser objects can take several hours to print. Note that not all printing projects succeed the first time, and you may have to go back and change the printing preferences to get the desired object.

For details about 3D printing options at Pitt or a consultation for your project, e-mail Julia Dahm, technology services librarian.

~ Julia Dahm

Treasures from the Rare Book Room: Lettre de Figaro au comte Almaviva sur le magnétisme animal—Paris, 1784

Animal magnetism is a healing system based on the belief that the existence of a universal magnetic fluid is central to the restoration and maintenance of health. The basic principles were articulated in Franz Anton Mesmer’s Mémoire sur la découverte du magnétisme animal, published in 1779. Mesmer was not successful in gaining support from the medical establishment in Vienna, so he relocated to Paris where he operated two treatment clinics.

The medical faculty of Paris was alarmed at the popularity of Mesmer’s clinics. Two royal commissions were formed to investigate animal magnetism. Both produced unfavorable reports. These statements initiated a wave of tracts supporting or objecting to their conclusions. Some of those works participating in the heated discussion are currently on display in Falk Library. Among these books, there is an interesting and rare pamphlet, Lettre de Figaro au comte Almaviva sur le magnétisme animal (1784). The Spanish references from the title (Figaro’s letter to Count Almaviva…) are fictional. It was written by a physician from Lyon—Brack, who was known only by his last name. His Lettre was very popular and was issued several times that year.

Brack2The tract was written to serve in the campaign against animal magnetism. It was focused on a popular topic, short lived, and tossed away when the interest in animal magnetism faded. Consequently, tracts are quite scarce. There are several copies of the second edition in the United States and France, but finding a first edition copy is very rare. Two identified copies, one in the Bibliothèque nationale de France and one in the University of Oklahoma are of the same variety. A digital version is available from the Bibliothèque nationale de France. The copy in Falk Library is different. The text is the same, but the publisher was forced to make changes to the layout of the title page and the remaining text to fit the new duodecimo format. The final bound copy is only 10.5 x 16.5 cm and the main text occupied 57 pages (more than 38 pages in the BnF copy). The paper has clear watermarks easy to examine with a bare eye. Falk Library’s copy is also identified with a stamp of the previous owner. This unique version is currently on display in the Falk Library lobby.

~ Gosia Fort

HSLS Professional Activities at the Medical Library Association Annual Conference

HSLS librarians actively participated in the Medical Library Association’s (MLA) Annual Meeting held in Chicago, Ill., from May 16-21, 2014.

Contributed Papers

Linda Hartman, reference librarian, presented “Faculty Development Series: Teaching Enhancement for Instruction Librarians.” Co-authors were Reference Librarians Rebecca Abromitis and Ester Saghafi, and Reference & Information Technology Librarian Patricia M. Weiss.

Carrie Iwema, Molecular Biology information specialist, presented “Partnering w/Postdocs: A Library-hosted ‘How to’ Training Series Taught by Postdocs.” Co-author was Ansuman Chattopadhyay, head, Molecular Biology Information Service.

Melissa Ratajeski, reference librarian, presented “You Do WHAT with Your Data?! Opportunities for Librarians to Teach Data Management Best Practices.” Co-authors were Carrie Iwema, Molecular Biology information specialist, Andrea Ketchum, reference librarian, and Bedda L. Rosario, visiting assistant professor1.

1.  Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Poster Presentations

Mary Lou Klem, reference librarian, presented “Undead PubMed: Raising the Dead to Raise Class Attendance.” Co-author was Rebecca Abromitis, reference librarian.

Pat Weiss, reference and information technology librarian, presented “FlashClass is Born! How Brainstorming, Groupon, and Flash Mobs Revitalized a Library Instruction Program.” Co-authors were Reference Librarians Rebecca Abromitis and Mary Lou Klem.

Other Conference Activities

Kate Flewelling, outreach coordinator, NN/LM Middle Atlantic Region, presented “Infographics” at Top Technology Trends VII; served as official conference blogger; and was moderator of the “Accessibility and Appropriateness in Our Information Future” session.

Carrie Iwema, Molecular Biology information specialist, along with co-instructor Margaret Henderson1, taught the continuing education course,Genetics for Librarians: from Bench to Bedside.” Iwema was also a contributed paper and poster judge for the MLA Research Section.

1. Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health Sciences, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Va.

Melissa Ratajeski, reference librarian, along with Montie’ Dobbins1, co-chaired the MLA Section/Chapter Membership Task Force.

1.  LSU Health Shreveport, Shreveport, La.

~ Jill Foust

HSLS Staff News

The HSLS Staff News section includes recent HSLS presentations, publications, staff changes, staff promotions, degrees earned, etc.

News

Michelle Burda, network and advocacy coordinator, NN/LM Middle Atlantic Region, was appointed to the VALUES2 Initiative Committee of the Medical Library Association’s Hospital Section.

Kate Flewelling, outreach coordinator, NN/LM Middle Atlantic Region, was elected chair of the Medical Library Association’s Relevant Issues Section. Flewelling will serve a three year term as chair-elect, chair, and past chair.

Mary Lou Klem, reference librarian, along with co-authors J.G. Marshall1, J. Sollenberger2, S. Easterby-Gannett3, L.K. Morgan4, S.K. Cavanaugh5, K.B. Oliver6, C.A. Thompson7, N. Romanosky8, and S. Hunter9, was awarded the Ida and George Eliot Prize at the May 2014 meeting of the Medical Library Association for their paper, “The Value of Library and Information Services in Patient Care: Results of a Multisite Study,” Journal of the Medical Library Association (JMLA), 101(1): 38-46, Jan 2013.

  1. School of Information and Library Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, N.C.;
  2. Medical Center Libraries and Technologies, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, N.Y.;
  3. Lewis B. Finn Medical Library, Christiana Care Health System, Newark, Del.;
  4. Upper Montclair, N.J.;
  5. University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) Camden Campus Library, Cooper University Hospital, Camden, N.J.;
  6. Chevy Chase, Md.;
  7. Howard W. Odum Institute for Social Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, N.C.;
  8. NYU Health Sciences Libraries, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York University, New York, N.Y.;
  9. Birnbaum Library, Pace University, NYC Campus, New York, N.Y.

Melissa Ratajeski, reference librarian, was appointed to the Joint Planning Committee for the 2016 Medical Library Association/Canadian Health Library Association/International Clinical Librarian Conference.

Liping Song, metadata librarian, served as editor for Module 31: Remote Access Electronic Serial (Online Serials) and as reviewer for Module 7: Additional Authorized Access Points and Variant Access Points for the Title of the revised CONSER Cataloging Manual.

Presentations

Michelle Burda, network and advocacy coordinator, NN/LM Middle Atlantic Region, presented “Health Literacy for Children: How to Teach Your Students How to Evaluate Health Information,” at the NCEA 2014 Convention and Expo in Pittsburgh, Pa., on April 23, 2014.

Lydia Collins, consumer health coordinator, NN/LM Middle Atlantic Region, presented “The National Library of Medicine’s Free Health and Science Resources,” at the Pennsylvania School Librarians Association Annual Conference in Hershey, Pa., on May 1, 2014, and “Supporting a Healthy Community,” at the Pennsylvania Library Association: South Central Chapter Meeting in Harrisburg, Pa., on May 13, 2014.

Missy Harvey, technology & communication coordinator, NN/LM Middle Atlantic Region, presented “Geeks Bearing Gifts: Unwrapping New Technology Trends,” at the joint National Catholic Educators Association/Catholic Library Association Conference in Pittsburgh, Pa., on April 22, 2014.

Publications

Melissa Ratajeski, reference librarian, along with co-authors John LaDue, knowledge integration librarian, and Ahlam Saleh1, published “Development of a Web-Based Repository for Sharing Biomedical Terminology from Systematic Review Searches: A Case Study,” in Medical Reference Services Quarterly, 33(2): 167-78, 2014.

  1. Arizona Health Sciences Library, University of Arizona, Tucson, Ariz.

Class Schedule for June 2014

HSLS offers classes on database searching, software applications such as Prezi, bibliographic management, molecular biology and genetics, and library orientations. For more information, visit the online course descriptions.

All classes are open to faculty, staff, and students of the schools of the health sciences at the University of Pittsburgh, who will need a valid Pitt ID or e-mail account. Classes are also open to UPMC residents and fellows, who will need to show their UPMC IDs.

Classes are held on the first floor of Falk Library (200 Scaife Hall) in Classroom 1 and on the upper floor of the library in Classroom 2.

No registration is required for any of these classes. Seating for classes is first-come, first-served until the class is full.

Classes marked with an asterisk (*) qualify for American Medical Association Category 2 continuing education credit.

Class schedules are subject to change. Please consult the online class calendar for the most current information.

FlashClass

FlashClass is a “deal of the week” Groupon-like offer of timely and useful learning. Each week’s offer proposes one or two topics, and you’re invited to sign up to attend a one-hour class the following week. If at least three people sign up, we’ll hold the class. (We’ll notify you either way.)

HSLS CLASSES

Advanced PowerPoint for Presentations (Falk Library Classroom 2)

Friday, June 6 12:30-2:30 p.m.

EndNote Basics (Falk Library Classroom 2)

Wednesday, June 11 9:30-11:30 a.m.

PowerPoint for Conference Posters (Falk Library Classroom 2)

Friday, June 13 1-3 p.m.

Painless PubMed* (Falk Library Classroom 1)

Thursday, June 5 4-5 p.m.
Monday, June 9 Noon-1 p.m.
Tuesday, June 17 9-10 a.m.
Thursday, June 26 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND GENETICS RESOURCES

Cancer Informatics* (Falk Library Classroom 2)

Wednesday, June 18 1-4 p.m.

CUSTOMIZED CLASSES

Customized classes can be developed for your department, course, or other group.