MLA and AAHSL are issuing the following statement encouraging publishers to support authors in complying with NIH Public Access Policy:

NIH Policy Support Statement

The Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries and the Medical Library Association urge journal publishers to fully support authors who are federally mandated to comply with the NIH Public Access Policy.  Many authors are confused by the varied approaches and policies of different journals for submitting articles to PubMed Central. This issue will become even more pressing beginning July 1, 2013, when NIH will delay processing an award if publications arising from it are not in compliance with the Policy.  Additionally, authors and their institutions need publisher support to address prior lapses in compliance, dating back to 2008, as failure to do so will adversely affect future grant funding.

On behalf of academic health centers, health sciences schools, libraries and more importantly, journal authors, we ask that:

• Publishers allow authors to submit to PubMed Central the final published versions of their articles published after April 7, 2008, related to awards that will have an anticipated start date of July 1, 2013.  We ask that this permission be communicated to authors via the journal website and other relevant communication mechanisms between now and July 1, 2013.
• Going forward, publishers consider entering into an NIH Portfolio agreement with PubMed Central, wherein the journal commits to depositing all articles funded by the NIH (as defined by the NIH Public Access Policy), starting with a specified volume/issue or publication date.   http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/about/faq/#q15.

Authors in academic health centers are increasingly aware of the importance of selecting journals that simplify compliance.  Publisher assistance with the compliance process would strengthen ties with their authors, an important market, and establish a strong pipeline for future cutting-edge research articles.   Also, it would avoid the potential problem of researchers inadvertently violating publisher agreements when attempting to bring older publications into compliance.  Finally, having a standard, easy solution for all authors would reduce publisher workload in consulting with individual authors to bring older articles into compliance.

Any delay in grant awards will have an adverse effect on major research institutions that thrive on competitive NIH funding.   Publishers have a major role in the compliance process.  We strongly encourage them to streamline the process and offer all possible assistance to authors mandated to comply with the NIH Public Access Policy.

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The Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries (AAHSL) supports academic health sciences libraries and directors in advancing the patient care, research, education and community service missions of academic health centers through visionary executive leadership and expertise in health information, scholarly communication, and knowledge management.

Founded in 1898, the Medical Library Association (MLA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, educational organization of 4,000 individual and institutional members in the health sciences information field that provides lifelong educational opportunities, supports a knowledgebase of health information research, and works with a global network of partners to promote the importance of quality information for improved health to the health care community and the public.

3. What exactly is a protocol?

SpringerProtocols can be downloaded to one’s computer for future use. Online access will be granted for the duration of the subscription.

6. Can SpringerProtocols be used off-campus/off-site?

Yes. Through SpringerLink’s and Springer Protocol’s IP enabled authentication, any user can access their institution’s protocols subscription through the campus’/corporation’s intranet. Individual users who register for an account while at an IP authenticated computer will later be able to access protocols while logged in off-campus/off-site.

7. Can pages of SpringerProtocols be printed or saved?

Yes, SpringerProtocols can be both printed and saved. Users can download the PDF onto their computer. Full text can be saved via HTML.

8. Does SpringerProtocols provide subscribers with personalization features?

All registered users can save searches, comment on and upload protocols, and save favorite protocols to the My Protocols area.

9. Where does SpringerProtocols content come from?

The protocols come from a set of tested, trusted book series in biomedicine and life sciences. Chief among these book series is Methods in Molecular Biology. Publishing since 1984, there are currently nearly 1,000 volumes of this essential resource, totaling over 20,000 protocols, which are all available in SpringerProtocols. Additional content is sourced from other book series as well.

10. How often are SpringerProtocols updated?

Protocols are updated as the science and technology discussed in the individual protocols develop, change, and progress. On average, the time between updates is 2-3 years, though some titles on rapidly advancing topics may be updated more frequently. When a new edition of an existing protocol is published, all subscribers maintain access to the older version.

11. How are SpringerProtocols developed?

The content development of SpringerProtocols is overseen by Dr. John Walker, who has been series editor of Methods in Molecular Biology for nearly 30 years. He and his prestigious editorial board select topics based on the current climate of biomedical and life science research. SpringerProtocols titles reflect not only the research currently being performed, but aims to cover traditional and time tested scientific methods, as well as emerging and anticipated areas of research. This allows SpringerProtocols to remain as comprehensive as possible. When a topic is identified by Dr. Walker and his board, an extensive search is begun for known experts in the field to compile a comprehensive cross section of the major protocols researchers need to know.

Are you using citation management software such as EndNote? Are you using something else? We want to know. Please take a minute or two to fill out this short survey:

On February 22, 2013, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy directed any federal agency spending more than $100 million per year on R&D to create open-access policies within the next six months. The policy will require all research articles funded by these agencies to be made open access (free-to-read) within 12 months of publications. In addition, digital data must be made publicly accessible. Naturally, classified research is exempted.

Read more about how you can fulfill these requirements by depositing your publications and data in our UB Institutional Repository.

Match Day 2013 saw 50% more students choosing a UB Residency program compared to 2012.  See The Reporter article.  Dr. Rosanne Berger, Senior Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education, says “This is a vote of confidence in UB’s residency programs.”   And, since residents tend to remain in areas in which they train, it’s good news for health care, and for the growth of the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus.

NIH just released an important notice (Feb. 14, 2013 NOT-OD-13-042) entitled “Changes to Public Access Policy Compliance Efforts Apply to All Awards with Anticipated Start Dates on or after July 1, 2013”.   The release updates a previous notice (Nov. 16, 2012 NOT-OD-12-160) “Upcoming Changes to Public Access Policy Reporting Requirements and Related NIH Efforts to Enhance Compliance.”

These notices specify that for non-competing continuation grant awards with a start date of July 1, 2013 or beyond:

1)       NIH will delay processing of an award if publications arising from it are not in compliance with the NIH public access policy, and

2)      Investigators will need to use MyNCBI to enter papers onto progress reports.  Papers can be associated electronically using the Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR) Module, or included in the proper PHS 2590 (Progress Report) form using the MyNCBI generated PDF report.

More background and details about the NIH Public Access Policy are located on at UB Libraries NIH Public Access Policy – Overview , including links to the full text of these notices.

The electronic resource MD Consult has been upgraded to a new product called ClinicalKey. Produced by Elsevier, ClinicalKey is a search engine and database of peer-reviwed and evidence-based clinical information resources designed to support physician patient care decisions. Content from 2004 to the present, updated daily. CME credit is provided through the Cleveland Clinic.

WHERE TO FIND IT

• Remote access requires a UBIT Name and Password.
• ClinicalKey will be listed in HSL’s Biomedical Databases and the UB Libraries Databases by Title lists.
• ClinicalKey link is also accessible via HUBNET from HSL’s website and UB’s Teaching Hospitals.
• All books and journals are integrated in “Electronic Journals.”
• All books BY TITLE are available under the “Electronic Books” list.
• All books BY TITLE are also indexed under the “Resources by Subject” listings at the bottom of the menu page.

CONTENT

• ClinicalKey offers a clinical search engine to a vast array of resources, including:
• ALL Elsevier medical and surgical journals (over 500)
• Selected third-party journals and content sources
• ALL Elsevier medical and surgical reference books (over 1000)
• ALL medical and surgical clinics of North America
• ALL First Consult point-of-care clinical monographs
• ALL Procedures Consult content and associated videos
• ALL Clinical Pharmacology drug monographs from Gold Standard
• ALL Elsevier medical and surgical videos (over 13,000+)
• Millions of medical and surgical images
• Over 2,000 Practice Guidelines
• Elsevier and third-party published patient education handouts in both English and Spanish, where available.

ClinicalKey includes First Consult content

• The First Consult content portion is now fully integrated into the ClinicalKey product so there is no longer a separate link for First Consult as there was with MD Consult.
• First Consult content may be filtered after doing a search in CK and then selecting the First Content tab under Content Type in the left column of the CK search page.
• Those with a current First Consult iPhone app can still log-in to use it. The new FC/CK app for iPhone will be available in the second quarter of 2013.

New York and Boston have both declared public health emergencies due to what is now a flu epidemic.   The New York State Department of Health Seasonal Flu page covers the latest information and news on the situation, including  Governor Cuomo’s declaration which allows pharmacies in New York State  to lower the age of children whom they can vaccinate from 18 to 6 years and older.

Reliable information on symptoms, sensible practices, vaccines, and flu activity is readily available on multiple federal web sites as well.   The Centers for Disease Control, and Health and Human Services both maintain seasonal flu information sites with the latest on the current flu season.

• If you haven’t already been vaccinated for the flu, now’s the time. Vaccine may be limited in some areas, so try contacting more than one provider (pharmacy, health department, or doctor).   It takes 2 weeks after vaccination for you to be protected – it’s not too late!  Use the HealthMap Vaccine Finder to find a flu vaccine center near you.

• There are three different types of flu vaccination and a nasal spray. Which is the right one for you?  Check out the Vaccine Safety page.

• Learn more about how to care for loved ones with the flu, including people at high risk (children, seniors, and people with chronic conditions). Start by getting vaccinated, practicing healthy habits like covering your mouth and nose with a tissue (or using your sleeve and not your hand) when you cough or sneeze, and washing hands regularly.  Visit www.flu.gov for more information.

• Educators – help keep your classrooms free of germs.    Teach healthy habits at school to prevent flu in your classroom through the School Planning page.

• Got the flu?  Don’t share it!   Stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever goes away. Visit the Caring for Someone with the Flu page for advice.

• FluView, a weekly report of flu activity in the U.S.,  shows what’s happening near you.

We have extended the OpenHelix Trial bioinformatics subscription through September 30, 2012 to provide opportunities for those returning to UB campus at the start of the Fall Semester to try out the database. To learn more about the resource and access the trial, click here.

Bioinformatics@HSL of the UB  Health Sciences Library has arranged for NCBI instructors to provide two days of hands-on computer bioinformatics workshops September 19-20, 2012 to UB graduate students, fellows, residents, staff, faculty and physicians on the UB North, South, and Buffalo Niagara Medical campuses. This includes UB-affiliated centers, institutes and hospitals.

REGISTRATION IS CLOSED.

Collectively called the Discovery Workshops, each day is divided into two different topical workshops (one in the morning and one in the afternoon), for a total of four different workshops.  In addition,  independent consultation with the NCBI instructor  is available for those who attend any of the modules.

Each topical module is 2.5 hours long and will include a short lecture and demonstration using the live NCBI website, instructor-guided exercises and independent hands-on practice.  Step-by-step detailed exercise handouts will be distributed to attendees.

You may register for any combination of modules.

The four modules of the Discovery Series are (with a short description of anticipated databases and tools covered):

1. Weds., Sept. 19, 2012 Morning Session: Sequences, Genomes and Maps
• Searching NCBI with the Entrez search engine
• Databases include  GEO (microarray), UniGene (transcriptome and gene expression), Gene,  BioSystems (pathways and interacting molecules), andHomologene (related genes/proteins in different organisms and where expressed).
• Tools will include BLINK, Sequence Viewer and E-utilities.
2. Weds. Sept. 12, 2012, Afternoon Session: Proteins, Domains and Structures
• Databases expected to be covered are NCBI Protein, Structure, PubChem (small molecules such as drugs and ligands interacting with macromolecules) andConserved Domains.
• Tools will include VAST, Conserved Domain (CD) Search, and the Cn3D molecular structure viewer.
3. Thurs. Sept. 20, 2012 Morning Session: NCBI BLAST Services
4. Thurs. Sept. 20, 2012 Afternoon  Session: HUMAN Variation and Disease Genes
1. dbSNP (single nucleotide variations), Gene and viewers related to dbSNP, variations, sequences and the NCBI MapViewer chromosome viewer.

Click here for complete registration information and to register.

Have questions?

Contact Diane Rein, Bioinformatics Liaison, Health Sciences Library, UB Libraries by email (drein@buffalo.edu) or telephone (829-5749).