MEDLARS operating experience: addendum

This brief note supplements the article which appeared in the BULLETIN in the January 1966 issue (vol. 54, p. 1-10). Data for six additional months of operation are given, representing 192 additional searches. Original personnel costs are confirmed; machine costs are considerably lower than during the earlier period. It is estimated that, under the conditions indicated, the cost of a search per year searched is about $66.00.     

The MEDLARS regional center at UCLA: a progress report

This paper supplements information given in earlier papers on the UCLA MEDLARS Search Station. Four major machine problem areas in the operation of a decentralized station are identified: adjustments required to run a large information retrieval type program in an academic computing facility serving many users; handicap in running time for COBOL programs; advent of the third generation of computers with attendant preparation; and need for constant current communication among all members of a decentralized network system. Statistics are given for the initial operating period, January-May 1966: 119 search requests received, 109 formulated, and 60 fully processed. Parallel searches with other MEDLARS installations, comparisons of MEDLARS and manual Index Medicus searches, and other search activities are reported.     

Comparative analysis of epilepsy abstracts and a MEDLARS bibliography

Bibliographic retrievals on epilepsy prepared by MEDLARS and Excerpta Medica Foundation (EMF) monthly during 1968 were comparatively analyzed. EMF retrieved 1,116 citations with an average delay of 5.41 months, compared to 1,006 citations retrieved by MEDLARS with an average delay of 6.45 months. Differences in size of retrieval and delay between the systems were not significant. A total of 365 journals were represented, but a smaller group of ninety-one journals with citations in both retrievals formed a "core" of productive journals yielding over half the output of both systems. About 300 articles were cited in both searches, leaving 800 citations retrieved by EMF but not by MEDLARS and 700 citations retrieved by MEDLARS but not by EMF. Thus neither system was felt to provide comprehensive coverage of the epilepsy literature. Discrepancies in retrieval were found to be due primarily to indexing and retrieval procedures and not to coverage of different journals by the two systems.     

The recurring bibliographies program of MEDLARS

Recurring bibliographies are by-products of the MEDLARS system which are prepared by the National Library of Medicine in collaboration with nonprofit scientific and professional societies and institutions and government agencies that represent a specialty area of biomedical research or practice. The sponsor generally assumes responsibility for the costs of publication and distribution. At present MEDLARS has a planned capacity of fifty such recurring bibliographies. The subject parameters and format are defined by the representatives of the sponsoring organization and the NLM Search, MeSH, and Index staffs. As citations are regularly put into the MEDLARS store, each one that qualifies for a recurring bibliography is identified and tagged by the computer with the number assigned to the pertinent RB. The MEDLARS store is searched for citations for a particular recurring bibliography according to the schedule specified by the sponsoring organization, and the output is printed from a GRACE tape.     

MEDLARS abbreviations for medical journal titles

The National Library of Medicine announces its adoption of the Anglo-American standard for the formulation of journal title abbreviations according to the American National Standard for the Abbreviation of Titles of Periodicals (1969), with individual words abbreviated, in turn, according to the International List of Periodical Title Word Abbreviations (1970).The history of the activity of the specific Z39 Committee of USASI (now ANSI) concerned with journal title abbreviations is reviewed, covering the period from 1962 to the present. A history of the National Clearinghouse for Periodical Title Word Abbreviations and of the International List is also given.Former NLM usage is compared with the forms of the present International List and examples show the major changes in NLM abbreviations.The NLM Rules for Abbreviation of Periodical Titles as derived from the new standard are appended.     

An evaluation of MEDLARS output: demand and recurring bibliographies

The cooperation between the National Library of Medicine and various agencies of government and professional societies is producing a number of useful tools in the recurring bibliographies. Because the MEDLARS system is still in a state of flux, the demand bibliographies are slow in reaching the patron, but the results have been satisfactory.     

The biomedical information explosion: from the index-catalogue to MEDLARS

This study demonstrates the growth of medical periodical literature by means of the increase of titles indexed in the Index-Catalogue and in Index Medicus, with reference to other biomedical-related titles not covered in these publications. Stress is laid on the fact that information outside the biomedical area is needed by the researcher. Problems of information retrieval, with the specific needs of the user in mind, are discussed, together with the particular problems of indexing which this specificity raises.     

Supplemental Training Program for MEDLARS Searchers

Increasingly, formal training courses incorporate free online time and hands-on experience. Even the most extensive training course, however, cannot provide the individualized instruction and continuous supervision needed during the first few months of real searching. It is up to the institution to see that training is completed and searching is carried out effectively. Described here is a training program designed to supplement that of the National Library of Medicine.     

End User Instructions for Searching MEDLARS

No abstract available for this article.     

Searching the MEDLARS file on NLM and BRS a comparative study.

A comparison of the MEDLARS data base as it is currently available from the National Library of Medicine and Bibliographic Retrieval Services (BRS), Inc., is presented in chart format, and some major capability differences between the two systems are highlighted. The information inlcuded justifies the dual availability of the data base in health sciences libraries. This paper is intended for searchers and others familiar with one or both systems. Administrators considering the acquisition of the BRS system may find the study useful.     

Analysis of the use of MEDLARS in Mexico

A statistical analysis of MEDLARS usage by Mexico's National Health Information and Documentation Center (CENIDS) is described. A total of 13,029 connect hours was registered during the period 1977-1986. MEDLINE was the MEDLARS database most frequently used, representing 82.83% of total use. Some 41,563 online searches, requested by 30,775 users, were performed by CENIDS' headquarters staff during this period. Findings from this study will be used to further research on information services in order to maximize the effectiveness of existing resources.     

The MEDLARS project at the UCLA Biomedical Library

The National Library of Medicine has established at the Biomedical Library, UCLA, a remote MEDLARS search station. The agreement between the libraries provided that the Biomedical Library in cooperation with the UCLA Health Sciences Computing Facility would reprogram MEDLARS for the IBM 7094 computer, provide personnel to be trained in machine searching at NLM, and engage in a pilot demonstration of search service to the medical staff of UCLA. This paper describes the place of the search section in the organization of the Biomedical Library and the training of personnel at NLM (the article by Garvis in this issue of the Bulletin relates the problems encountered in making two different computer systems compatible). Search service had not begun when this paper was written; it was scheduled to begin late in 1965. Plans for the future include the enlargement of the UCLA MEDLARS staff and extension of search service to a larger geographical area.     

The National Library of Medicine: from MEDLARS to the sesquicentennial and beyond

The two decades since the introduction of MEDLARS and the passage of the Medical Library Assistance Act have been especially eventful in the history of the National Library of Medicine. The library's collections and services have grown to keep pace with the expanding health sciences literature and the needs of health professionals. Networking has emerged as an invaluable method for disseminating biomedical information. NLM has assumed new responsibilities for information services in toxicology, pharmacology, and environmental health, and for research and development in biomedical communications. Research now being carried out by NLM has the potential for enhancing the library's archival programs and for improving information dissemination in support of health sciences research, education, and practice.     

The National Library of Medicine: from MEDLARS to the sesquicentennial and beyond.

The two decades since the introduction of MEDLARS and the passage of the Medical Library Assistance Act have been especially eventful in the history of the National Library of Medicine. The library''s collections and services have grown to keep pace with the expanding health sciences literature and the needs of health professionals. Networking has emerged as an invaluable method for disseminating biomedical information. NLM has assumed new responsibilities for information services in toxicology, pharmacology, and environmental health, and for research and development in biomedical communications. Research now being carried out by NLM has the potential for enhancing the library''s archival programs and for improving information dissemination in support of health sciences research, education, and practice.     

群审稿——一种专家主动审稿模式的探索

针对当前同行评议效率低的情况,将微信群或QQ群引入审稿中,提出—种专家主动审稿的模式——群审稿,并阐述了该模式的审稿过程.结合工作实践,指出了构建审稿群要考虑的要素:期刊建群数量、每个编辑能管好群的数量、审稿群的人数,以及群审稿专家遴选原则.详细介绍了编辑和审稿专家在群审稿过程中的主要工作.分析了群审稿模式的优势:能做到精准送审、及时审回;审稿信息的传达安全、快捷;对于防止学术不端行为有一定的效果;专家之间、专家与编辑之间能即时互动;容易附加增值服务.