Category Archives: Electronic Journals

Having trouble accessing an article we subscribe to?

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We have had reports of clients unable to access certain articles available in our collection when using EZproxy and VPN. The EBSCO platform has also had access issues reported. While we are in the process of updating EZproxy, and evaluating the issues reported. Here are some recommendations during this transition:

  • Use Desktop VPN (this link goes to the UTSW Information Resources internal site page) vs. browser-based Pulse Secure Connect, which you initiate when logging into MyUTSW.
  • Make sure your Desktop VPN is the current version. (Older versions have been problematic with some of our resource platforms).
  • Make sure your browser(s) are updated to their current versions. Some platform upgrades do no support earlier browser versions like Internet Explorer.

EBSCO Article Retrieval Issues

EBSCO is going through a security upgrade during the next couple months. Using the “open the page in a new window” yellow bar (see image below) is necessary for accessing these articles. If you are having trouble, look for the yellow bar link in the center at the top of your browser.

Please report any issue with article retrieval to Liberesources@utsouthwestern.edu with the citation information.

We apologize for any inconvenience and are doing our best to fix the issue.

Texas universities join forces to negotiate their future

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New coalition seeks lower costs and greater access to research.

Twenty-seven universities across Texas have joined forces as the Texas Library Coalition for United Action (TLCUA) to think creatively about access to faculty publications and the sustainability of journal subscriptions. TLCUA has organized to identify the best way to change current models and the relationships between academic institutions and publishers. The goals of the Coalition are ambitious – improved access to scholarship, greater control over faculty content, and pricing models that are sustainable for strained library budgets in higher education. 

The sustainability of providing scholarly research at ever-increasing costs is putting these academic libraries in difficult positions as they work to offer access to scholars on their campuses.  

“We are nearing a tipping point where we can no longer continue under the current business model,” said Sara Lowman, Vice Provost & University Librarian at Rice University and chair of the Coalition Steering Committee. “We want to come up with solutions that benefit everyone involved: the taxpayers and others who fund our research, the professors who conduct the research, the publishers who disseminate our research findings, and people around the world who benefit from research conducted in Texas.”  

Technology has provided greater opportunities for wider availability of resources, and the Coalition wants those opportunities to be reflected in agreements that will benefit all academic libraries whether public or private, urban or rural. 

The Coalition has begun its mission by entering into dialog with academic publisher Elsevier. They hope that through positive engagement and mutual understanding, an improved and sustainable model for the dissemination of scholarship can be achieved. 

“We value the content in Elsevier journals and look forward to working with Elsevier to come to a mutually beneficial agreement,” Lowman said. 

Elsevier is the world’s largest publisher of scholarly work, with 70 offices in 24 countries. It publishes 2,500 journals, including The Lancet and Cell, covering topics in medicine, biology, psychology, business, and more. Elsevier has been involved in a number of negotiations with US universities recently, including the University of California system, California State University, Carnegie Mellon University, Louisiana State University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Washington University in St. Louis. 

The Coalition institutions collectively have more than 397,000 students and 25,000 faculty. Their Elsevier subscriptions represent a significant investment estimated at over $20 million. By these and other measures, the Coalition represents one of the largest and most diverse U.S. collective negotiation consortia of its kind. 

The current members of the Texas Library Coalition for United Action are: 

  • Angelo State University 
  • Baylor University 
  • Lamar University 
  • Prairie View A&M University 
  • Rice University 
  • Sam Houston State University 
  • Stephen F. Austin University 
  • Sul Ross State University 
  • Tarleton State University 
  • Texas A&M International University 
  • Texas A&M University (College Station) 
  • Texas A&M University-Central Texas 
  • Texas A&M University-Commerce 
  • Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi 
  • Texas A&M University-Kingsville 
  • Texas A&M University-San Antonio 
  • Texas A&M University-Texarkana 
  • Texas State University 
  • Texas Tech University (Lubbock) 
  • Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso 
  • Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Lubbock 
  • University of Dallas 
  • University of Houston 
  • University of Houston Clear Lake 
  • University of Houston Downtown 
  • The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center 
  • West Texas A&M University 

Library launches Responsible Literature Searching Guide

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Help! Where do I start to search the biomedical literature? Is my search comprehensive and sufficiently diligent?

Performing a literature search is similar to taking a trip. Users need to understand the purpose of the trip, plan how to reach the destination, and be able to take alternate routes, as well as retrace their steps if they need to return to the original starting point.

The new Responsible Literature Searching Library Guide provides the searcher with that all-important roadmap! In addition to reviewing the roles of both the searcher and the librarian in the search process, the guide divides the search process into a series of steps and includes search worksheets, practical tips, and a glossary. This design allows the user the flexibility to either review the entire guide or focus specifically on specific steps of the literature search process. To be applicable across the diverse range of databases, the guide provides a general review of the steps. For database-specific information, the user can link to database guides.

We want to hear from you! User feedback is invaluable as we continue to refine the guide!  Please complete the six question survey. For questions or to schedule an appointment with UT Southwestern librarian, use the Ask Us form.

New: COVID-19 Resources Library Guide

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In the past few months, there has been a vast amount of biomedical information produced about COVID-19. The Health Sciences Digital Library and Learning Center has created a new COVID-19 Resources Library Guide to quickly refer the UT Southwestern community to high-quality – i.e., primarily clinical and research – information about COVID-19. The guide includes:

  • Recommendations for searching PubMed
  • Expanded resources from existing subscriptions
  • COVID-19 tracking dashboards
  • Related open access resources

The COVID-19 Resources Library Guide supplements but does not supersede the COVID-19 information provided by the UT Southwestern Emergency Operations Center. The Guide will be updated as the COVID-19 information landscape evolves. Please email the Library if you have identified other key resources that we should consider for inclusion.

Wall Street Journal online access now available

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The Library has recently acquired a Wall Street Journal academic institution subscription. One-time registration is required to access WSJ online, and you must use your utsouthwestern.edu email address.

Once registered, you may use a variety of features including:

  • WSJ app access
  • WSJ+
  • WSJ Podcast
  • WSJ Newscast

For more subscription information, contact Liberesources@utsouthwestern.edu.

New York Times web access now available

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The Library has recently acquired the New York Times. This web access subscription is only available on-campus with UT Southwestern IP ranges. No access will be available off-site or via EZProxy.  New York Times archival content is still available via a separate UT System license from ProQuest without access stipulations.

For more subscription information including temporary remote access passes, contact Liberesources@utsouthwestern.edu.

Consensus Definition for Predatory Journals

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In 2019, leading scholars and publishers crafted the following consensus definition:

“Predatory journals and publishers are entities that prioritize self-interest at the expense of scholarship and are characterized by false or misleading information, deviation from best editorial and publication practices, a lack of transparency, and/or the use of aggressive and indiscriminate solicitation practices.”1

In addition to stating the definition, the commentary in the Nature December 2019 issue describes the process taken to achieve consensus and next steps.

Efforts to fight predatory publishing require collaboration and support.  In 2019 the Library added Cabell’s Predatory Journals as an additional resource to be used in combination with a checklist to assist researchers/authors make an informed decision about where to publish. 

Questions?  Feedback?  Use the Ask Us form or call 214-648-2001 Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm.

REFERENCES

1.  Grudniewicz A, Moher D, Cobey KD, et al. Predatory journals: no definition, no defence. Nature. 2019;576(7786):210-212.

Protocols at your fingertips

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Over 30 videos filmed at UT Southwestern appear in JoVE Journal of Visualized Experiments, including a recent contribution by Michael Kalwat, PhD and Melanie H. Cobb, PhD, “Measuring Relative Insulin Secretion using a Co-Secreted Luciferase Surrogate,” filmed at UT Southwestern in May 2019.

Protocols—also known as methodologies, procedures, techniques, or experiments—are invaluable and popular resources for anyone involved in scientific research, bench work, grant writing, and/or research project planning. Protocols provide practical guidance by describing the design and implementation of a scientific experiment. The foundational information found in protocols is indispensable for fostering standardized research methods and reproducible results.

Protocols offer many benefits, such as:

  • Save time by accessing highly tested, peer-reviewed techniques and procedures from some of the most established books and journals in your field
  • Stay up-to-date with the latest cutting-edge methods
  • Accelerate scientific discovery by accessing the most reliable protocols in the various scientific disciplines
  • Ensure reproducible results, safeguarding and validating research results
  • Utilize step-by-step guidelines and troubleshooting tips from authoritative, reliable sources
  • Avoid reinventing the wheel

The Library provides online access to many popular protocols resources. Most individual protocols articles appearing in these resources are indexed in PubMed/MEDLINE and Embase. Here are a few major protocols options currently offered by the Library:

  • Cold Spring Harbor Protocols – This resource continues the renowned Cold Spring Laboratory’s long-standing practice of providing trusted, step-by-step laboratory techniques, covering cell and molecular biology, genetics, bioinformatics, protein science, and imaging.
  • Current Protocols (Wiley) – Creators of the standard protocol format over 30 years ago, this long-standing, “gold standard” offers rigorously reviewed and curated protocols in fields such as molecular biology, microbiology, and stem cell biology.
  • JoVE Journal of Visualized Experiments – This scientific methods video journal publishes protocols articles along with detailed videos of laboratory procedures for novel methods, innovative techniques of existing techniques, and gold standard protocols for the life and physical sciences.
  • Methods in Enzymology (Elsevier) – This is one of the most popular and heavily used eBook series offered by the Library, with complete full-text access back to volume 1 (1955). These critically acclaimed, individually themed volumes have served as one of the most highly regarded life sciences standards for more than 50 years, covering research methods in fields such as biochemistry, microbiology, cancer research and genetics.
  • Methods in Molecular Biology (part of the SpringerProtocols database; click on “Protocols” link) – This respected series offers step-by-step protocols, tips, tricks, shortcuts, and troubleshooting advice in the more than 2,000 MIMB volumes. MIMB is a standard resource in labs throughout the world with each volume providing focused, in-depth coverage on a specific sub-discipline. Online access to MIMB is now part of the SpringerProtocols database, which combines MIMB and other high quality laboratory protocols in biomedicine and the life sciences.
  • Springer Nature Experiments – SpringerNature developed this specialized search tool for researchers by researchers. It searches more than 60,000 references from the SpringerProtocols database, Nature Methods, Nature Protocols, and Protocol Exchange (open repository for scientific research protocols). Advanced search options allow filtering by technique, video availability, publication year, article category, etc. to identify relevant content more quickly. While this tool is freely available, UT Southwestern affiliates benefit with direct access to the Library funded full-text articles from the SpringerNature suite of resources.

For assistance with these tools or other reference inquiries, please contact us. We’re here to help.

Predatory Journal – Yes or No??

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Open access publishing continues to grow across all academic disciplines.  Increasingly, the open access publishing model, which provides immediate access to peer-reviewed research once published, has become susceptible to misuse by predatory publishers.  These predatory publishers aggressively solicit academics with requests for manuscript submissions, reviews and editorial board services, creating negative publicity for legitimate open access journals.1,2  Jeffrey Beall, formerly at the University of Colorado in Denver, first described predatory publishers in 2008, and developed the first (now defunct) list of predatory journals.3

While there is no universally accepted definition of predatory journals, recent publications review key characteristics of potential predatory journals.  These journals often use questionable business practices, lack scientific rigor with minimal or no peer review and have little or limited editorial oversight.  Predatory journals are usually not indexed in established bibliographic databases, such as MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO or Web of Science Master.  With more than 10,000 identified potential predatory journals, the dangerous implications to scholarly quality and integrity, academic standards and evidence-based practice cannot be overestimated.1,4-6

“To assist researchers/authors make an informed decision about where to publish, the Library is providing access to a pre-defined checklist that offers guidance on identifying trusted journals,” said Kelly R. Gonzalez, MSIS, MBA, Assistant Vice President for Library Services.  “Additionally, at the UT Southwestern Library’s Writing Portal, the Publication Support for Author Article Processing Charges (APC) handout summarizes a list of select UT Southwestern Library journal subscriptions which provide discounted article processing charges.”

For additional information, call 214-648-2001 or click “Live Chat” on the Library’s website to chat Monday – Friday, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm.

REFERENCES

  1. McCann TV, Polacsek M. False gold: Safely navigating open access publishing to avoid predatory publishers and journals. J Adv Nurs. 2018;74(4):809-817.
  2. Shen C, Bjork BC. ‘Predatory’ open access: a longitudinal study of article volumes and market characteristics. BMC Med. 2015;13:230.
  3. Butler D. Investigating journals: The dark side of publishing. Nature. 2013;495(7442):433-435
  4. Cobey KD, Lalu MM, Skidmore B, Ahmadzai N, Grudniewicz A, Moher D. What is a predatory journal? A scoping review. F1000Research. 2018;7:1001.
  5. Lalu MM, Shamseer L, Cobey KD, Moher D. How stakeholders can respond to the rise of predatory journals. Nature Human Behaviour. 2017;1(12):852-855.
  6. Ross-White A, Godfrey CM, Sears KA, Wilson R. Predatory publications in evidence syntheses. J Med Libr Assoc. 2019;107(1):57-61.

Looking to increase productivity and efficiency? Try the Journal of Visualized Experiments (JoVE)!

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Did you know that the Library offers a resource that can help UT Southwestern labs increase productivity and efficiency?

JoVE’s Science Education collection offers simple, easy-to-understand videos that teach and reinforce laboratory fundamentals. JoVE developed this on-demand learning approach in collaboration with experts at top institutions, ensuring high quality, trusted content. The Library-funded Basic Biology Science Education video database can reduce time spent teaching laboratory basics or providing refreshers to research assistants, students, post docs, and other researchers.

Read about a recent case study at one of UCLA’s labs, which describes how they were able to increase productivity and reduce lab expenses with the animal research training videos that are part of the Basic Biology collection.

Users can view concise lessons repeatedly at any time to help improve learning and retention. An added bonus is the accompanying translation option that allows one to watch the videos and download the accompanying text in other languages such as Chinese, German, and Spanish.

JoVE’s Basic Biology Science Education collection includes the following components:

In addition to the Basic Biology Science Education collection, the Library provides access to all JoVE video journals that focus on biological and medical research. The journals provide experimental techniques, using the same high-quality visual format, with detailed text protocols for increased scientific reproducibility and productivity. JoVE is the leading peer-reviewed, PubMed/Medline indexed methods journal with more than 8,000 published articles. JoVE journal sections include Behavior, Biochemistry, Bioengineering, Biology, Cancer Research, Developmental Biology, Genetics, Immunology and Infection, Medicine, and Neuroscience.