PubMed Update for Dummies

Have you noticed the changes in PubMed? Below are several brief descriptions of these changes to help PubMed users optimize search results.

Full-Text Links

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A new icon, visible in the Citation, Abstract, and AbstractPlus views, appears within PubMed to navigate users quickly to the full-text of an article. Clicking on the icon labeled “Links @ Pitt-UPMC” opens a new window including a link to the online full-text when available. If an online full-text version is not available links to PittCat or Document Delivery will appear. These links will allow users to search for a print version or order a copy of the article. Remember to access PubMed from the HSLS home page for these links to be visible.

Advanced Search (beta)

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A beta Advanced Search was recently released as an option to search PubMed. According to wiktionary.org, beta is defined as “a development status given to a program or application that contains most of the major features, but is not yet complete. …”

Try this new option by clicking on the Advanced Search link next to the existing search box. Comments can be sent to NCBI via the “Write to the Help Desk” link at the bottom of the Advanced Search screen. Based on users’ comments and feedback, the effectiveness of the Advanced Search beta site will be evaluated. Read the NLM Technical Bulletin for more information.

Automatic Term Mapping

Automatic term mapping (ATM) is the “magic” that occurs behind the scenes of PubMed. Keywords typed into the search box are translated by ATM into statements designed to retrieve the most relevant citations. The way ATM translates has been enhanced so users can retrieve a known citation more easily. Read the NLM Technical Bulletin for more information.

Citation Sensor

Citation Sensor recognizes combinations of search terms that are characteristic of citation searching (volume/issue numbers, author names, journal titles, and publication dates). If search terms entered by the user invoke the Citation Sensor, a yellow box will appear at the top of the result list.

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Title Sort

Title has been added to the PubMed Sort By menu. Users may now sort citations by publication date, first or last author, journal title, or article title.

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~ Mary Jo Dorsey

Posted in the 2008 Issue