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

Note to Self: Set Up Tasks in Microsoft Outlook

Your to-do lists take many forms, from sticky notes to e-mailing reminders to yourself. If you already use Microsoft Outlook for e-mail and calendars, you can also access your to-do list in the same place.

In Outlook, items on your to-do list are called Tasks. Tasks have their own tab in Microsoft Outlook 2013 for the desktop.

TasksTab

You can also add a To-Do Bar to your e-mail tab. This helps you to see your tasks and calendar at the same time you’re reading your e-mail—a perfect way to streamline all three functions on one screen.

ToDoBar

If you want to make a note to yourself to do something, use the “Type a new task” box. It will automatically be added to the current day’s to-do list. You can edit the task to change the due date, set up an alarm, and add notes. Tasks can be repeated daily or weekly if you want to set up a reoccurring reminder. When you have finished a task, you can “Mark Complete” to cross it off your list.

Meeting window

E-mails can also become tasks. Adding a flag to an e-mail, by default, adds that e-mail to today’s to-do list. Just like other tasks, you can double-click to edit the task. If someone e-mails you to send in a report by next Friday, you can flag the e-mail and set the due date. When next Friday comes along, you will see the e-mail listed in today’s to-do list. At this point, that e-mail may be buried deep in your inbox, but you can quickly pull it up by double-clicking the task from your to-do bar.

Tasks sync to the Microsoft Exchange server, which means they are accessible from your desktop, my.pitt.edu, and compatible smartphones and tablets. Now it is easier than ever for your to-do list to travel with you!

~Julia Dahm

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

Classes September 2015

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.

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, who will need a valid Pitt ID or e-mail account. They are also open to UPMC residents and fellows, who will need to show their UPMC IDs.

No registration is required, except where noted. 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)

Tuesday, September 22 1:30-3:30 p.m.

EndNote Basics (Falk Library Classroom 2)

Wednesday, September 16 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Painless PubMed* (Falk Library Classroom 1)

Thursday, September 3 9-10 a.m.
Friday, September 11 Noon-1 p.m.
Thursday, September 17 4-5 p.m.
Monday, September 21 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Tuesday, September 29 8:30-9:30 a.m.

Prezi for Presentations (Falk Library Classroom 2)

Thursday, September 10 9:30-11:30 a.m.

MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND GENETICS RESOURCES

Delve into the World of Geners, Genomes, & Microbes with InfoBoosters (Falk Library Classroom 2)

Monday, September 21 1-3 p.m.

Literature Mining: InfoBoosters, Molecular Databases, & F1000Workspace* (Falk Library Classroom 2)

Wednesday, September 9 1-3 p.m.

Genome Navigation: UCSC Genome Browser* (Falk Library Classroom 2)

Wednesday, September 30 1-3 p.m.

CUSTOMIZED CLASSES

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

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

Inquiring Minds Want to Know: Falk Library FAQs

Questions

As the fall semester approaches, it’s time for a refresher on some of our most frequently asked questions about using the library.

1. Can I access Wi-Fi in Falk Library?

Yes, there is wireless connectivity throughout the library. In order to use the Wireless PittNet, you must have a valid University of Pittsburgh Computer Account and install the University provided wireless security software on your laptop.

2. Where can I find databases, such as PubMed and UpToDate, and other electronic resources such as e-books and e-journals?

Go to the HSLS Web site at http://www.hsls.pitt.edu. Frequently accessed databases are located in the Quick Links box on the right side of the home page. An alphabetic list of all databases is available at http://www.hsls.pitt.edu/resources/databases. E-journals are listed alphabetically and by subject at http://www.hsls.pitt.edu/resources/journals/e-journals and e-books are listed by subject at http://www.hsls.pitt.edu/resources/books/ebooks.

3. How do I access electronic resources from home?

If you have a Pitt Computer Account, use EZproxy. If you are affiliated with UPMC, use UPMC Access.

4. How can I print at Falk Library?

From any Pitt computer or Falk Library circulating laptop, select the Pitt Self-Service printer. On your personal laptop, download the Pitt Printing Client. At Falk Library, bring your Pitt ID to the upper floor to release your printouts from the print station.

5. Do you have MacBooks, headphones, or phone charging cords to check out?

Yes, the Technology Help Desk circulates all of those items, plus more! Most technology equipment can be checked out for 4 hours and renewed online. Items can leave the library but must be returned before closing.

6. How do I know if you have an e-book, e-journal, or a print book or journal?

Use PITTCat, the library’s online catalog, or the Pitt Resources Quick Search box. You can find e-books, e-journals, print books and journals, and other types of materials. You WILL NOT find articles in PITTCat or Pitt Resources Quick Search.

7. What can I do if you don’t have a journal or book that I need?

The HSLS Document Delivery Service provides copies of journal articles, book chapters, and can order other items such as books. The service is available to faculty, students, and staff of the University of Pittsburgh schools of the health sciences, as well as UPMC residents and fellows.

8. Where is there a quiet place to study?

The quietest place to study in the library is the “fishbowl.” Once you enter the library, make a right and continue to the area enclosed in glass.

9. Are there group study rooms available?

There are eight group study rooms. You can check the online Group Study Room schedule for availability. Requests for group study rooms can be made online three days in advance.

We hope that this answers some of your basic questions. If you have any other questions, please feel free to drop by or call the Main Desk at 412-648-8866 or the Technology Help Desk at 412-648-9109. The Main Desk is located inside the entrance to the library and the Technology Help Desk is located on the upper floor of the library. You can also Ask a Librarian via e-mail.

~Rose Turner

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

“From DNA to Beer: Harnessing Nature in Medicine & Industry”

From DNA To Beer-LogoMicrobes—tiny organisms too small to be seen with the naked eye—have altered human history. Life forms such as bacteria, yeasts, and molds can cause sickness or restore health, and help produce foods and beverages for our consumption. Drawing from the collections of the National Museum of American History and the National Library of Medicine, From DNA to Beer is an exhibit that promotes public understanding of the dynamic relationship between microbes, technology, science, and medicine.

From DNA to Beer will be on exhibit at Falk Library from August 31 through October 10, 2015. In conjunction with the exhibit, the following special lectures are scheduled:

“Background to the Discovery of DNA” by Adam Davis, MA
Thursday, September 17, 2015, at 6 p.m.
Lecture Room 1105, Scaife Hall
Following the lecture, attendees are invited to view the exhibit during a reception in Falk Library, 200 Scaife Hall

“Erythropoeitin: A Case History – The Promise and Perils of Harnessing Nature” by Jamie Johnston, MD
Thursday, October 8, 2015, at 6 p.m.
Lecture Room 1105, Scaife Hall

A special Molecular Biology workshop, “Delve into the World of Genes, Genomes, & Microbes with InfoBoosters,” will be held on Monday, September 21, at 1 p.m. in Falk Library, Classroom 2.

The exhibit is comprised of six panels, a video presentation, and display cases, all of which can be seen on the main floor of Falk Library. The exhibit is free and open to the public during Falk Library’s regular hours.

~Julia Dahm

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

Nazarbayev University Medical Librarians Visit HSLS

The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine has a partnership with the Nazarbayev University (NU) in Astana, Kazakhstan, to advise on the establishment of a new medical school. Barbara Epstein, HSLS director, and Nancy Tannery, HSLS senior associate director, traveled to Astana this past March.

In early May, two NU librarians, Piotr Lapo, the general manager, and Anar Dautova, one of the subject librarians who will be liaison to the school of medicine, visited HSLS. The goal of the visit was to learn firsthand how an academic health sciences library in the U.S. supports a medical school curriculum. They met with the library’s leadership team, digital library services, and reference librarians.

Discussions with librarians in Digital Library Services focused on cataloging with medical subject headings, metadata, resources in both print and electronic formats, and the use of a LinkSolver, a resource that facilitates linking from databases to full text articles. Reference librarians provided instructional sessions about resources and topics of interest to medical students and medical school faculty. The purpose of these sessions was two-fold: to teach the NU librarians about particular topics, and also to demonstrate how HSLS librarians offer instruction to students and faculty. A mock library orientation modeled the Cephalonian Method, a method of active learning, which has received very positive feedback from the medical students here at Pitt. They also had a chance to meet and talk with the six HSLS liaison librarians about issues related to supporting students and faculty in a particular discipline.

A highlight of their visit was a presentation by Dautova and Lapo about Kazakhstan’s history and information about the NU Library.

In addition to learning about a medical school library, the NU librarians visited with the leadership teams at the University Library System at Pitt and the libraries at Carnegie Mellon University. This provided a broad discussion about the changes in academic libraries and what the future might hold. They also had time during their visit for some sightseeing, including a visit to the Cathedral of Learning and the Nationality Rooms, and an incline ride on Mount Washington.

 

NUlibrarians
L-R: Anar Dautova, Nancy Tannery, and Piotr Lapo

~Nancy Tannery

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

ClinicalKey: Tips for Printing Book Chapters & PDF Access

HSLS provides access to hundreds of medical e-books through ClinicalKey. In order to print a book chapter or access the PDF version of a book chapter in ClinicalKey, you must first create a Personal Account and log in. To do this, go to the HSLS home page and click on ClinicalKey in the Quick Links box. Select the Registration link on the top right corner of the ClinicalKey home page. You will be asked to enter a Username (your e-mail address) and a Password. These will serve as your credentials to log in to ClinicalKey. Once you have logged in, you can open the PDF versions of book chapters as well as print them.

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

F1000Workspace: Collect References, Write, & Collaborate More Effectively

F1000WorkspaceCombo

F1000Workspace is an innovative suite of tools for collecting, managing, writing, sharing, collaborating, and citing scientific literature. This powerful new capability from Faculty of 1000 allows researchers to instantly save and annotate articles from the Web, write better and faster with a Word plugin, and import and share references with colleagues.

With F1000Workspace, you can:

  • Use the browser extension to import article PDFs, citation data, and full text links
  • Highlight and add notes to online articles
  • Discuss articles and share annotations with collaborators
  • Set up automatic PDF imports
  • Save unlimited numbers of references and PDFs
  • Save references for offline access
  • Search PubMed from Word
  • Find and cite references without leaving Word
  • Access from any computer, no syncing required
  • Get article recommendations from F1000
  • Receive relevant citation recommendations in Word based on your reference list
  • Collect and share references with collaborators
  • Share Word documents with editable citations and bibliographies
  • Export references in BibTex or RIS
  • Import references from EndNote, Mendeley, Zotero, etc.

Access to F1000Workspace is free upon registration with a Pitt e-mail ID. Installation of the browser extension enables you to directly save online articles with the click of a button, as well as highlight text and add notes. These annotations are saved on the journal’s Web version and the PDF, and can be shared with collaborators. Installation of the Word plugin enables you to access references instantly as you write, get suggestions for relevant references taken from your reference library and PubMed, search PubMed without leaving Word, and automatically format the bibliography to any citation style (>7,000 options).

F1000Workspace helps researchers to collaborate, share, and write all in the same virtual space. All references and PDFs are stored in a secure cloud and can be accessed from any computer.

Click here to find more information, register, and install the browser extension and Word plugin. Contact the HSLS Molecular Biology Information Service with any questions and to let us know how you have incorporated F1000Workspace into your own workflow.

~Carrie Iwema

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

Treasures from the Rare Book Room: Philip Verheyen and His Corporis Humani Anatomiae

The riveting story circulating on the Internet about Philip Verheyen dissecting his own amputated limb effectively draws attention to the Flemish surgeon and anatomist. He came from a modest family and was educated, with the help of private sponsors and communal funds, at the University of Leuven in Belgium. A brilliant student, he was on the fast track to complete his education to become a clergyman only to be halted by sudden illness which resulted in the amputation of his leg. Forced to change his career, he turned to medicine. After earning his degree in 1681, he continued his education at the University of Leyden, Holland, where he completed his doctoral dissertation and became acquainted with the greatest Dutch anatomists of his time. He returned to Leuven, where he was eventually granted the title of Royal Professor of Anatomy and was elected as Rector Magnificus in 1689.

Philip Verheyen (1648-1710) was a well-read, independent researcher, though his working conditions as a professor of anatomy in Leuven were far from perfect: the bodies were scarce and difficult to acquire, and there were no facilities to dissect them (the first theater for dissections was not built until 1744, long after his death). He was not as prolific an author as his northern colleagues. He only published five books. His most renowned work, Corporis humani anatomiae, published in 1693, was reprinted 21 times and became the textbook of choice for students at many European universities. The illustrations were of lesser quality (he most likely drew them himself) than those in contemporary atlases written for anatomists. However, Verheyen’s book was not only an atlas, but also a concise manual demonstrating to its readers that studying anatomy is an integral part of studying physiology. It was written specifically for students and by the author’s design was meant to be affordable. It remained a work of reference until the middle of 18th century.

Falk Library has a second edition of Corporis humani anatomiae, published posthumously in 1710, at the request of Verheyen’s widow.

Corporis humani anatomiae, 1710
Corporis humani anatomiae, 1710

The book can be viewed in the Rare Book Room by appointment.

~Gosia Fort

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

Nancy Tannery, HSLS senior associate director, has been appointed Chair of the Literature Selection and Technical Review Committee (LSTRC) for the coming year July 2015–June 2016. A National Library of Medicine committee, LSTRC advises on matters of policy related to the evaluation and recommendation of biomedical publications to be considered for indexing and inclusion in MEDLINE.

Publications

Author name in bold is HSLS-affiliated

I.M. Gathuru, R.E. Tarter, and Michele Klein-Fedyshin, reference librarian, published “Review of Hookah Tobacco Smoking among College Students: Policy Implications and Research Recommendations” in the American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, June 2015, 9: 1-9. 

Presentations

Presenters’ names in bold are HSLS-affiliated

Lydia Collins, consumer health coordinator, and Kate Flewelling, outreach coordinator, NN/LM Middle Atlantic Region, presented daily workshops on “Combatting Information Fatigue: Health Information Resources for Veterans” at the Veterans of Foreign Wars National Convention, in Pittsburgh, PA, from July 18-21, 2015.

Farewell

Farewell to Josh Paltrineri, main desk library assistant, who is leaving HSLS to attend the Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law.

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

Classes August 2015

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.

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, who will need a valid Pitt ID or e-mail account. They are also open to UPMC residents and fellows, who will need to show their UPMC IDs.

No registration is required, except where noted. 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

EndNote Basics (Falk Library Classroom 2)

Tuesday, August 4 2-4 p.m.

Painless PubMed* (Falk Library Classroom 1)

Thursday, August 6 4-5 p.m.
Friday, August 14 Noon-1 p.m.
Monday, August 17 9-10 a.m.
Tuesday, August 25 1-2 p.m.

Prezi for Presentations (Falk Library Classroom 2)

Thursday, August 20 1-3 p.m.

MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND GENETICS RESOURCES

SNPs & Genetic Variation* (Falk Library Classroom 2)

Wednesday, August 12 1-3 p.m.

CUSTOMIZED CLASSES

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

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

DMPTool: Create and Share Data Management Plans

Data management plans (DMPs) are now a standard part of grant proposals for most funding agencies. A DMP should describe what you will do with your data during your research and once your project is completed. The plan may include details of the types of data you will collect, how you will preserve it, and how you will share the data with others.

To help researchers easily create and share DMPs, the University of Pittsburgh has become a partner institution of the DMPTool. The DMPTool offers ready-to-use templates to guide researchers through the process of generating a comprehensive plan tailored to the specific requirements of agencies, such as the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, and Department of Energy. Links to general and institutional resources are available throughout the templates, offering researchers additional support.

By logging into the DMPTool with a University of Pittsburgh Computing Account username and password, researchers are able to create customized DMPs, add co-owners and editors to plans, and share created DMPs with those only from the University of Pittsburgh, or publicly. There are a number of publicly shared DMPs available within the tool which can be reviewed, copied, and/or edited. Upon completion, DMPs can be exported for inclusion in a funding proposal.

For more information on the DMPTool, see the promotional video, The DMPTool: A Brief Overview, or contact a member of the HSLS Data Management Group.

~Melissa Ratajeski

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

Walk a Mile in My Shoes

Strolling on the Pitt campus, have you ever encountered a blindfolded student using a white cane (and a helper), who is trying to “walk a mile in the shoes” of a person with vision impairment? This exercise, used by the School of Education Vision Studies program, is an example of experiential learning, which allows students to simulate a patient’s medical condition. Why? To heighten empathy and boost sensitivity about patient experiences.

While HSLS resources provide a solid knowledge-base for health sciences students, it is the experiential learning component which can readily facilitate the connection between book content and what patients actually confront.

Wearable technology is one method to help students “live” in a patient’s condition. This technology differs from patient simulators in which students respond to the patient’s health condition. Instead, wearables provide a pseudo-experience of what patients must endure.

Students in any field of Pitt’s health sciences are likely to encounter both geriatric patients and those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). How can a fit, agile 20 year old possibly understand geriatric infirmities? Donning the Age Simulation Suit allows the wearer to feel age-related impairments such as joint stiffness, hearing loss, and reduced coordination. To experience shortness of breath, a hallmark of COPD, students can wear the Empathy Lungs COPD Simulator, with torso constriction and airway mask.

Other wearables use augmented reality to simulate symptoms of mental disorders. Labyrinth Psychotica replicates the disturbing auditory and visual hallucinations of a psychotic episode using a headset and goggles. A simple, less immersive method combines earbuds and YouTube audio to mimic “hearing voices.”

Technology also exists to imitate pregnancy and the sensations of labor. The wearable Empathy Belly Pregnancy Simulator weighs 30 pounds, and allows wearers to undergo 20 of the typical symptoms/effects of pregnancy. Labor pain simulation consists of low-voltage electrodes attached to the abdomen that deliver shocks which mimic classic labor contraction patterns.

The formula is straightforward: library resources plus experiential learning. When students can apply textbook knowledge while walking in a patient’s shoes, who knows where their journey will take them?

~Rebecca Abromitis

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

Microsoft Office Apps for Mobile Devices

MSApp_Word
Type and edit in the Word app for iPad

Using Word, Excel, or PowerPoint from your desktop or laptop may be an everyday occurrence in your professional or scholarly work. Microsoft has now made it easier to integrate your mobile devices into your Office workflow by offering new capabilities through their mobile apps.

Office for Android and iOS are available for free download, and now allow editing access through a free Microsoft account. Your Microsoft account gives you access to OneDrive, a cloud document service which allows you to access, edit, and save documents. A valid e-mail address is required to sign up for a free Microsoft account. Subscribers to Office 365, which allows better access and features across all platforms, can use their account to access the Office apps as well.

Most mobile devices have a separate app per product:

For Android smartphones, Microsoft Office Mobile includes all three products in one app.

The app interface looks very similar to the desktop versions, with modifications that are optimized for a smaller screen. A ribbon with tabs provides icons and menus for editing features. Some features that are available in the desktop version, such as SmartArt and references, are not available in the apps. Other features have limited options, such as font color, and others are available only to Office 365 subscribers, such as changing page orientation.

MSApp_Excel
Insert formulas in spreadsheets using the Excel app for iPad

Documents can be opened from a number of places on your devices: from your e-mail, on a Web page, and from other apps. When syncing a new or edited document, you can save to your OneDrive account or Dropbox. Office 365 subscribers can also sync to iCloud. Any document can be sent via e-mail.

For assistance with Microsoft Office apps for mobile devices, contact Technology Services Librarian Julia Dahm.

~Julia Dahm

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

Where Did REPROTOX® Go in MICROMEDEX?

MICROMEDEX contains reproductive risk information in its Reproductive Effects Micromedex® Solutions modules that include:

  • REPROTEXT® Reproductive Hazard Reference: presents in-depth reviews on the full-range of health effects of industrial chemicals commonly encountered in the workplace.
  • REPROTOX® Reproductive Hazard Information: covers the impact of the physical and chemical environment on human reproduction and development.
  • Shepard’s Catalog of Teratogenic Agents: contains up-to-date information on teratogenic agents including chemicals, food additives, household products, environmental pollutants, pharmaceuticals, and viruses.
  • TERIS Teratogen Information System: provides current information on the teratogenic effects of drugs and environmental agents. Agent summaries derived from thorough literature reviews rate reproductive risk and explain data used to determine the rating. Retrieval of agent summaries can be done using domestic, international, generic, and proprietary names.

Reproductive Effects modules can be accessed from MICOMEDEX’s intermediate search results (Option 1) Continue reading →