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NIH Releases Dietary Supplement Label Database

The newly released Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD) provides access to the product information listed on the labels of approximately 17,000 dietary supplements. The database is the result of collaboration between the National Institutes of Health’s Office of Dietary Supplements and the National Library of Medicine’s Office of Specialized Information Services.

DSLD is designed for researchers, health care providers, the general public, and anyone else interested in seeing the full dietary supplement label for products that are currently on the U.S. market and those that have been discontinued or are no longer on the U.S. market.

All information in the database is obtained from the manufacturers’ labels. At the bottom of each page of the database there’s a disclaimer that reads: “All information contained in the Dietary Supplement Label Database comes from dietary supplement labels. The dietary supplement label may not have met the then current nor meet current U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations. The presentation of dietary supplement label information is not an endorsement or guarantee of accuracy by the Office of Dietary Supplements or the National Library of Medicine, both part of the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.”

Database features:

  • Use the quick search feature to search any label information
  • Browse an alphabetic list of dietary ingredients and their corresponding products
  • Browse an alphabetic list of products by product name
  • Browse an alphabetic list of contacts, such as manufacturers and distributors
  • Use the advanced search feature to focus a search on any label information

Other helpful tools include a Unit Conversion table, a Daily Value table (provides information on Percent Daily Value or DV), Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI), and definitions. Also included are frequently asked questions about dietary supplements, a list of reference sources (information on Web sites related to DSLD), and a help section.

DSLD data are available for download as comma-separated value (CSV) files and may be opened in a spreadsheet program such as Microsoft Excel or by most standard statistical packages (see the Help section).

DSLD

*Parts of this article were reprinted from the National Institutes of Health’s Dietary Supplement Label Database Web site.

~ Jill Foust

This information is over 2 years old. Information was current at time of publication.

HSLS Staff News

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

Publications

Jonathon Erlen, history of medicine librarian, published, “Dissertations Recently Completed in Related Fields,” in Journal of the History of Sexuality, 22(2): 369-370, 2013; “Dissertation/Theses,” in the Canadian Bulletin of Medical History, 30(1): 239, 2013; and along with co-author Megan Conway published, “Disability Studies: Disabilities Abstracts,” in The Review of Disability Studies: An International Journal, 8(4): 74-75, 2013.

This information is over 2 years old. Information was current at time of publication.

July Classes

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

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. All classes are open to faculty, staff and students of the schools of the health sciences at the University of Pittsburgh. They are also open to UPMC residents and fellows.

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.

Faculty, staff and students of the schools of the health sciences will need a valid Pitt ID or e-mail account to attend these classes. UPMC residents/fellows will need to show their UPMC IDs.

 

HSLS ORIENTATION

Introduction to HSLS Resources and Services at Falk Library
(Meet inside entrance to Library)
Offered upon request to groups or individuals. Call 412-648-8866.

 

SEARCHING DATABASES

Painless PubMed* (Falk Library Classroom 1)

Monday, July 1 11 a.m.-noon
Tuesday, July 9 9-10 am.
Friday, July 19 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Wednesday, July 24 1-2 p.m.
Wednesday, July 31 9-10 a.m.

Focus on Behavioral Medicine: Searching in PsycINFO* (Falk Library Classroom 1)

Wednesday, July 17 9-10:30 a.m.

 

SOFTWARE TRAINING

Adobe Photoshop (Falk Library Classroom 2)

Monday, July 8 12:30-2:30 p.m.

EndNote Basics (Falk Library Classroom 2)

Tuesday, July 9 10 a.m.-noon

Prezi for Presentations (Falk Library Classroom 2)

Tuesday, July 30 12:30-2:30 p.m.

 

CUSTOMIZED CLASSES

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

 

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.)

This information is over 2 years old. Information was current at time of publication.

Micromedex Supports Targeted Searches

Micromedex, a drug information database, supports targeted searches for specific drug information. Simply type a question into the search box, such as “what drugs treat Lyme disease,” and you’ll be presented with a list of results as shown below:

Micromedex Results

The display feature across the top of the results allows you to narrow the search by disease, toxicology, alternative medicine, or reproductive risk information. Continue reading →

This information is over 2 years old. Information was current at time of publication.

Publishers Encouraged to Support Research Publication Compliance

AAHSL The Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries and the Medical Library Association have released a statement encouraging publishers to support mandated author compliance with the NIH MLAPublic Access Policy. Authors’ failure to comply could result in non-renewal or denial of grant funding. This issue is affecting thousands of research scientists across the United States.

For more information about the NIH Public Access Policy, direct your browser to the HSLS Scholarly Communication LibGuide.

This information is over 2 years old. Information was current at time of publication. This information is over 2 years old. Information was current at time of publication.

SciVerse Scopus Alerts App

The SciVerse Scopus Alerts app provides a streamlined interface to locate and share article citations, create alerts, and make notes about articles of interest.

Compatible Devices

The SciVerse Scopus Alerts app is free to download and is available for the iPhone/iPad from the iTunes App Store (iOS 3.0 or later required) and for Android devices from Google Play (Android 1.6 or later required).

Getting Started

A 30-day free trial is available without an account.

To create an account:

  1. Direct your browser to Scopus.
  2. On the Scopus home page, click on Register in the upper right corner. Note: your University of Pittsburgh e-mail should be used when registering.
  3. Once you have created your account, click on Institutional Subscriber Sign In when prompted by the app.

App Features

Use the SciVerse Scopus Alerts app to:

  • Search across thousands of scholarly journals from more than 5,000 international publishers.
  • Save important articles in one place for easy look-up.
  • Set up and review e-mail alerts for your favorite searches.
  • Set up e-mail alerts for when a particular article is cited by another author.
  • Share article links through e-mail or Twitter.

Scopus Search

Limitations

The full-text of articles is not available through this app, only links to citations. Citations can be e-mailed and the full-text retrieved later. It should also be noted that although the app and desktop version of Scopus use the same login/password, information saved in one is not accessible in the other.

For more information about the SciVerse Scopus Alerts app and other mobile friendly versions of HSLS resources, such as STAT!Ref and AccessMedicine, direct your browser to the HSLS Mobile Resources Web site.

Parts of this article were reprinted from the SciVerse Scopus Alerts iTunes Preview.

~ Melissa Ratajeski

This information is over 2 years old. Information was current at time of publication.

HealthCAS Graduates Third Cohort of Students

The third and final cohort of seven students in the Certificate of Advanced Study in the Health Sciences Librarianship (HealthCAS) program received graduation certificates at a capstone event held on May 4, 2013. The event was held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Medical Library Association and took place at the Hirsh Library of Health Sciences at Tufts University Medical Center in Boston, Mass.

L-R: Jeff Coghill, Margaret Moutseous, Mariaelena de la Rosa, Shannon Jones, Sangeeta Bhargava, Darlene Ford, Beth McGowan
L-R: Jeff Coghill, Margaret Moutseous, Mariaelena de la Rosa, Shannon Jones, Sangeeta Bhargava, Darlene Ford, Beth McGowan

The goal of the HealthCAS program was to offer specialized preparation Continue reading →

This information is over 2 years old. Information was current at time of publication.

Treasures from the Rare Book Room: Medical Adventurer of the 17th Century—Nicola de Blégny

L'art de Guerir les Hernies, 1693 edition
L’art de Guerir les Hernies, 1693 edition

The history of medicine is full of controversial and colorful figures. Nicola de Blégny (1652-1722) certainly fits that description. He was a man of many talents: essayist, historian, physician, and surgeon. His birth date is disputed, although it is known that he was born in Lyon. He started his surgical career as a designer of trusses used in the treatment of hernia, but quickly climbed the social ladder to become physician to Queen Marie Therese (1678) and later to King Louis XIV of France (1682). He was a prolific author and left a number of works. These include monographs on hernia, venereal diseases, health, remedies for fever, and the use of coffee and tea. For some, he was a genius, for others—a quack. Continue reading →

This information is over 2 years old. Information was current at time of publication.

HSLS Staff News

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

News

Melissa Ratajeski, reference librarian, has been elected Vice Chair of the Medical Library Association’s Chapter Council for a two-year term.

Publications

Nancy Tannery, senior associate director, along with co-authors Kyungjoon Lee1, Julia S. Whelan1, Steven L. Kanter2, and Antoinette S. Peters1, published “50 Years of Publication in the Field of Medical Education,” in Medical Teacher, April 22, 2013.

1. Harvard Medical School.

2. University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

Presentations

Jonathon Erlen, history of medicine librarian, presented two talks, “Applying to Medical Schools: Myths and Realities” and “Human Experimentation in 20th Century American Medicine: Myths and Realities,” at the Honors College, Indiana University, on April 26, 2013.

This information is over 2 years old. Information was current at time of publication.

June Classes

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

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. All classes are open to faculty, staff and students of the schools of the health sciences at the University of Pittsburgh. They are also open to UPMC residents and fellows.

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.

Faculty, staff and students of the schools of the health sciences will need a valid Pitt ID or e-mail account to attend these classes. UPMC residents/fellows will need to show their UPMC IDs.

 

HSLS ORIENTATION

Introduction to HSLS Resources and Services at Falk Library
(Meet inside entrance to Library)
Offered upon request to groups or individuals. Call 412-648-8866.

 

SEARCHING DATABASES

Painless PubMed* (Falk Library Classroom 1)

Friday, June 7 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Tuesday, June 11 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Monday, June 17 noon-1 p.m.
Thursday, June 27 4-5 p.m.

 

MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND GENETICS RESOURCES

Introduction to Pathway Analysis Tools* (Falk Library Classroom 2)

Wednesday, June 12 1-3 p.m.

 

SOFTWARE TRAINING

Advanced PowerPoint for Presentations  (Falk Library Classroom 2)

Tuesday, June 18 12:30-2:30 p.m.

Prezi for Presentations  (Falk Library Classroom 2)

Tuesday, June 4 12:30-2:30 p.m.

 

CUSTOMIZED CLASSES

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

 

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.)

This information is over 2 years old. Information was current at time of publication.

PechaKucha: Resuscitation for “Death by PowerPoint”

Nobody attends a presentation to read bullet points! Yet some of us are guilty of creating text-heavy, bullet-laden slides resulting in the dreaded “Death by PowerPoint.” Cognitive-load research indicates we’re unable to simultaneously read and listen well, so the audience tends to read ahead while your important verbal message is left behind. What’s the solution? Tell a story. How? PechaKucha (the Japanese word for chit chat). What’s that? A dynamic presentation method limited to twenty slides, each shown for twenty seconds. Slides advance automatically as you tell your “story” in about seven minutes. No bullet points and no text—only carefully selected images that transition as you share your enthusiasm and knowledge about a topic.

Two hallmarks of a good PechaKucha talk—speaker passion and “edutainment”—are demonstrated in Eye Writer, a “story” of artistic expression made possible through assistive technology and human resilience. Many additional PechaKucha examples are available online.

PechaKucha was devised by two architects as a novel way for young designers to network and showcase their work in public.1 In the decade since the inaugural PechaKucha Night, the phenomenon has moved outside the architects’ realm and spread to 600 cities worldwide, including Pittsburgh. Two variations on PechaKucha have developed into Ignite events “for geeks,” and Lightning Talks for conference presentations.

While PechaKucha does not lend itself to every type of presentation, consider these applications to resuscitate your PowerPoint slides:

  • Enliven a departmental meeting. Apply it as a novel way to persuade, make an argument, explore a question, or develop a concept.
  • Chunking. This instructional design strategy is used to break topics into bite-sized pieces so the brain can more easily digest new information. For example, you can introduce a chunk of new information using PechaKucha2 to break up a long lecture.
  • Capture audience attention. PechaKucha fits within the average seven to nine minute human attention span, and is likely to maintain audience engagement for that duration.
  • Student assignments. Challenge students to improve their presentation skills.3  PechaKucha compels students to arrive better prepared without reading from the screen, and to produce a concise talk, all while garnering time for valuable post-presentation class discussion.

Interested in tips for creating a PechaKucha talk and where to find copyright-free images?  Register for an upcoming PechaKucha Basics for Presentations HSLS FlashClass. You can sign up to receive all FlashClass Offers via e-mail, or view current FlashClass Offers.

1. “PechaKucha 20 x 20 Frequently Asked Questions,” Klein Dythan Architecture, accessed April 1, 2013, http://www.pechakucha.org/faq.

2. Klentzin JC, Paladino EB, Johnston B, and Devine C. “Pecha Kucha: Using ‘Lightning Talk’ in University Instruction,” Reference Services Review 38, no. 1 (2010):158-67, accessed April 1, 2013, http://www.emeraldinsight.com/journals.htm?articleid=1839183&show=abstract.

3. Beyer AM. “Improving Student Presentations: Pecha Kucha and Just Plain PowerPoint,” Teaching of Psychology 38, no. 2 (April 2011):122-6, accessed April 1, 2013, http://top.sagepub.com/content/38/2/122.

~ Rebecca Abromitis

This information is over 2 years old. Information was current at time of publication.

New Online Seminars and Research Protocols

Henry Stewart Talks: Biomedical & Life Sciences CollectionHenry Stewart Talks

HSLS provides Pitt users with access to the Henry Stewart Talks: Biomedical & Life Sciences Collection of online, audiovisual talks given by leading experts from around the world. More than 40 new talks—on topics including innate immunity, glycobiology, cytokines, and calcium signaling, among others—were recently added to this collection. Nearly 1,600 talks across 80 different series are available, and over 100 talks are approved by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education for CME credit. One key feature of the talks is a slide index, allowing you to instantly navigate to specific points in a particular talk. Continue reading →

This information is over 2 years old. Information was current at time of publication.

Data Management Planning: Storage, Backup, and Security, Part 3

Are you taking the appropriate steps to store, backup, and secure your data files? Does your research group have formal policies in place that are detailed in your data management plan? If you answered no, or maybe…read on!

The lifespan of storage media such as servers, hard drives, CD/DVDs, and flash drives varies depending on the use, location, and maintenance of the media. It is important to know the limitations, lifespan, and maintenance needs of the selected media. Don’t forget—all media, no matter how reliable, must be backed up. Creation of multiple backups and use of off-site storage provide the best protection. Consider whether to back up particular files or the entire computer system, the frequency needed, data backup location (i.e., off-site server), and persons responsible.

If you do not have the staff or expertise to implement a data management plan, consider consulting with one of these University of Pittsburgh departments: Computing Services and Systems Development (CSSD), the Center for Research on Health Care (CRHC) Data Center, Epidemiology Data Center, or the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center (fees may apply).

Are all of the members in your lab using a consistent file naming convention to increase efficiency? The contents of data files should be described in brief but meaningful ways for quick retrieval. Other tips:

  • Avoid symbols such as “  /  \  :  *  ?  ”  <  >  #  [  ]  &  $ in file names.
  • Do not use spaces to separate words.
  • Follow the date format recommended by ISO 8601: YYYY-MM-DD.
  • When using sequential numbering, make sure to use leading zeros so files stay in order when sorting by file name (i.e., RatajeskiSurvey01).

Finally, safeguard the integrity of your data by restricting access to sensitive data. Each computer in your lab should have updated anti-virus protection, firewalls, and intrusion detection in place, especially if your system is connected to the Internet. Do not store confidential data on servers or computers connected to an external network or send personal or confidential data via e-mail. Safeguard your physical space as well. Control access to rooms and computers where data is stored and log the removal of, and access to, media or hardcopy material.

More information about sensitive data, security, and backing up your data, is available at technology.pitt.edu/security.html.

Part 1 of this series appeared in the February 2013 HSLS Update and explored various aspects of data management planning; while Part 2, in the March 2013 issue, examined metadata.

~ Melissa Ratajeski