Journal citation cartels?

51 journals were given "time-outs" from the Impact Factors

Last week, Thompson Reuters published the 2011 edition of Journal Citation Reports, otherwise known as the Journal Impact Factors.?á Several things are new about this newest edition of JCR such as?á increased coverage of regional journals and the addition of 526 new journals to the Impact Factor rolls.?á However, one new factor, while positive for JCR, was not very positive for journal publishers.?á JCR removed 51 journals for “anomalous citation patterns,” aka: systemic self-citation.

How do these “anomalous citations patterns” occur??á There are several ways:

1.?á Editors may require authors to cite articles in the publishing journal.

2.?á An editor may publish a short review article citing every article in the journal published within a certain time period.

3.?á An editor may publish a bibliometric study of the papers published in the?á journal and then cite each paper.

4.?á Several journals may cooperate to form a “citation cartel” whereby the journals cite each other in order to raise their impact factors.?á These cartels can be much more difficult to detect because the citations are not just self-cites, they contain cites in several journals.

Although these journals were removed from the JCR for 2011, they will have a chance to return to the impact factor rolls when their citation patterns return to a similar pattern to other journals within their field.

According to Thompson Reuters:

“Suppressed titles were found to have anomalous citation patterns resulting in a significant distortion of the Journal Impact Factor, so that the rank does not accurately reflect the journalÔÇÖs citation performance in the literature. The Journal Impact Factor provides an important and objective measure of a journalÔÇÖs contribution to scholarly communication, and its distortion by an excessive concentration of citations is a serious matter. JCR staff will monitor these journals going forward and the titles will be included in a future edition of JCR when the problem of citation concentration has been resolved.”

Whatever you may feel about the validity and usefulness of a journal’s Impact Factor, this year’s JCR demonstrates that Thompson Reuters attempts to uphold high standards in scholarly publishing.

For more information about the Citation Cartels, check out The Scholarly Kitchen.

LSUHSC affiliated patrons can access the newest Journal Citation Reports through this link.

This Month in History: Dr. Marilyn Zimny and the Great Squirrel-Stronaut

This month in 1960, the Times-Picayune ran an article entitled, ÔÇ£Ground Squirrel Called Ideal Space Traveler.ÔÇØ In the article, Dr. Marilyn Zimny, scientist at the LSU Medical School and avid squirrel-enthusiast, tells of the amazing potential for ground squirrels to travel in outer space and to serve as instruments of research on forced-hibernation scenarios and metabolism studies.

Being so adaptable to extreme conditions, the squirrels appear to be ideal candidates for researching regulated slowing of metabolism as they are able to hibernate for long periods of time without damaging their vital organs: heart, brain, and kidneys remain intact. Advancement in this area of reduced energy consummation would possibly provide some insight into the development of a drug that could force a lower metabolism and thus a decreased need for food, water, and oxygen, a state perhaps preferable for astronauts during prolonged space travel and servicemen in cold climates. ?áThis drug could also reduce blood flow during recovery periods after a heart attack or stroke.

Although I can find no evidence that ground squirrels have indeed been launched into space, a slew of animals pre-dated human travel. The list of adventuring animals includes rhesus and squirrel-monkeys as well as mice, rats, rabbits, fruit flies, a guinea pig, a cat, chimpanzees, dogs, etc. These brave animals helped determine the conditions necessary for humans to survive spaceflight.

Dr. Zimny’s fascination with squirrels penetrated her personal life as well as her professional developmentÔÇöprofessing to own over 160 at the time of this article and in search of more (an abundance can apparently be found in some Chicago golf courses). She authored ÔÇ£Metabolism of some carbohydrate and phosphate compounds during hibernation in the ground squirrel,ÔÇØ published in the Journal of Cellular and Comparative Physiology, ÔÇ£Carbohydrate metabolism in ground squirrels during the summer season,ÔÇØ published in Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, among many others. Zimny continued her study of the rodents in order to develop a field of research that would include them as test subjects.

Her career at LSU began in 1954, leading her to a full professorship approximately ten years later. According to one Faculty Vignette, her students ÔÇ£were affectionately known as her ÔÇÿground squirrels.ÔÇÖÔÇØ She went on to become the first female department head at the LSU School of Medicine in 1975, and although she passed away in January 2006, her legacy lives on in her renown. A recent article on POPSCI tells about the successful induction of hibernation in arctic ground squirrels. Dr. ZimnyÔÇÖs warm regard for the critters appears well-places as they continues to be relevant to the study of metabolism regulation.

You can further explore squirrel-related news and other intricacies of our Digital Collections by following this link.

Glimpse of the Past is an ongoing project to promote the Louisiana Digital Library. This Month in History will present for your reading pleasure a closer look into a newspaper clipping of note from our Digital Collections and articles relating to the LSU Medical School.

Friday the 13th Fun: Stuff Med Students Say

With all the new and returning medical students swarming campus, we couldn’t resist this funny video made by some members of ?áJohns Hopkins School of Medicine?áClass of 2014

How’d this turn up? Why, as a suggested youtube video on our very own School of Medicine Class of 2014’s Shining Spoof – which is appropriate enough for Friday the 13th, wouldn’t you say?

Happy Birthday William Osler

William Osler

All medical residents can thank Dr. Osler for their extended training. Today would be his 163rd birthday.

The Libraries own over 40 works by Osler if you want to read up and discover why he is considered one of the father’s of modern medicine.

Welcome back L3s & L4s! Check out these free Mobile apps

School of Medicine’s ?áfirst Senior & Junior block of the year for the began on Monday, July 9th. Before you head off on clinical rotations, download these free clinical apps ?áand feel a little more prepared.

Dynamed

Clinical summaries on over 3200 disease and conditions and over 800 drugs. Search by symptom. Email reference@lsuhsc.edu for a Serial number and installation instructions

Natural Standard

Evidence based information and comparative effectiveness for foods, herbs, supplements, health & wellness and integrative medicine. Search by brand name. Email reference@lsuhsc.edu?áfor a serial number and installation instructions

For the previous apps, download the free?áSkyScape?áapp on your phone, then insert your serial numbers from the library in Skyscape’s settings to download & access the resource.

Micromedex -?áMicromedex has 3 apps available for Android and Apple.

Micromedex?« Drug Information app?áis free for anyone and offers over 4500 drug search terms.

Micromedex?« Drug Interactions is a free-to-LSUHSC app requiring a quarterly password. You can find the password on our MicroMedex page under mobileMicromedex or email reference@lsuhsc.edu?áand we can send it to you. This app provides insight into: ?áwhy the drugs in question interact, how the results of those interactions will present in the patient and recommendations for monitoring patient outcomes.

Micromedex?« IV Compatibility?á?áis a free-to-LSUHSC app requiring a quarterly password. You can find the password on our MicroMedex page under?ámobileMicromedex?áor email?áreference@lsuhsc.edu?áand we can send it to you.?áThis app identifies?ápotentially dangerous combinations,?áassists in interpreting conflicting compatibility results by identifying contributing factors such as the physical compatibility, storage, study period, container and chemical stability, and includes drug-solution compatibility results as well as drug-drug compatibility results when creating an admixture or administering via Y-Site. (APPLE DEVICES ONLY)

To find and install Micromedex apps, search for Micromedex in your smartphone’s app store.?áYou can find the quarerly password via our MicroMedex page under?ámobileMicromedex,?áor email?áreference@lsuhsc.edu?áand we can send it to you.

Find more mobile apps on our Mobile LibGuide.

Link Resolver and Slack titles-fixed

Update: As of July 17th, this problem is now fixed but if you have any troubles please do not hesitate to contact us.

Access to articles from Slack titles through the WebBridge Link Resolver is not working correctly. The publisher changed the web address for all of their journals, and as a result if you attempt to follow the link for “Slack Incorporated” from the link resolver, you will see a 404 Page not Found error and will be unable to proceed. A note next to these links indicating the problem has been added.

The affected titles are:

• AAOHN Journal
• Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing
• Journal of Gerontological Nursing
• Journal of Nursing Education
• Journal of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
• Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services
• Ophthalmic Surgery and Lasers/Ophthalmic Surgery, Lasers and Imaging
• OTJR
• Psychiatric Annals
• Workplace Health and Safety

Access to these titles through INNOPAC, the Library’s catalog, or the Electronic Journals List is unaffected by this issue. We apologize for the inconvenience, but we are in contact with the publisher and hope the problem will be resolved soon.

Link Resolver Tips: Web of Science

For those who use Web of Knowledge or Web of Science, you have the ability to check if an article is available either electronically or in print through the Library’s subscriptions or other resources. Look for the “Check Full Text” icon that is the gateway to the Library’s WebBridge Link Resolver.

When you perform a search, you will see this icon with each citation in the search results screen:

You will also see the link resolver icon when you view the abstract or summary of a citation:

Additionally, if you have created a personal account for Web of Science/Web of Knowledge you will see the link resolver icon for all citations on your list of marked records.

When you click this “Check Full Text” icon, a new tab or window will open showing your options to retrieve that article. If it is not available, you will have the opportunity to request the article through the ILLiad Interlibrary Loan system.

If you’re looking for any more information about the WebBridge Link Resolver, you can refer to this handout or check the LibGuides link resolver page.

Paying Patients for Their Tissue: The Legacy of Henrietta Lacks

Available for checkout in the library

Do patients have rights to revenue streams should their tissue hold value for biomedical research? Science Journal’s Policy Forum discusses the ethics of tissue research as examined in Rebecca Skloot’s book?áthe Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, which was LSUHSC’s first book club selection ealier this year. Physician-investigators weigh in on property rights in human tissue and investigators’ obligations to individuals from whom they seek tissue for research.

Full citation: Science 6 July 2012:
Vol. 337 no. 6090 pp. 37-38
DOI: 10.1126/science.1216888?á(barcode & PIN?árequired?áoff campus)
POLICY FORUM -?áRESEARCH ETHICS
Paying Patients for Their Tissue: The Legacy of Henrietta Lacks
Robert D. Truog -?áChildren’s Hospital Boston, Boston, MA 02115, USA,?áAaron S. Kesselheim?áBrigham & Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02120, USA, Steven Joffe -?áDana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02115, USA.

PsychiatryOnline

PsychiatryOnline is currently experiencing a problem. Access will be restored as soon as possible.
We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience.

**Edit 1:45pm**?á?áAccess to PsychiatryOnline has been restored.

LSUHSC-NO Researchers Spotlighted in July

The Library has placed the latest round of featured faculty publications on display for the month of July. Eight recent articles authored by LSUHSC-NO researchers have been added to the display in the LibraryÔÇÖs Reference area (near the Library elevator) on the third floor of the Resource Center Building. These items are also part of the LibraryÔÇÖs Faculty Publications Database.

The Faculty Publications Database includes publications authored by at least one member of the LSUHSC-New Orleans faculty, 1998 ÔÇô present. Access to this database is available to the public. The database is linked from the Library web page?áhere. This page includes a handy link to a?áPDF?áof the monthly bibliography of display articles. To add your faculty publications, or for questions about this database, contact?áKathy Kerdolff.

LSUHSC-NO authors are shown in bold print:

1.?áAtkinson E, Miklowski M, Lopez F, Klibert D. ÔÇ£Clinical Case of the Month: A 23-Year-Old Man with Fever and Malaise.ÔÇØ Journal of the Louisiana State Medical Society. 2012; 164(3): 164-175.

2.?áCrombet O, Lastrapes K, Zieske A, Morales-Arias J. “Complete morphologic and molecular remission after introduction of dasatinib in the treatment of a pediatric patient with t-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and ABL1 amplification.” Pediatric Blood & Cancer. 2012; 59(2): 333-334.

3.?áHomer MA, Rubin SS, Horowitz TD, Richter E. “Linguistic testing during ON/OFF states of electrical stimulation in the associative portion of the subthalamic nucleus.” Neuromodulation. 2012; 15(3): 238-245.

4.?áLanson NA, Pandey UB. “FUS-related proteinopathies: Lessons from animal models.” Brain Research. 2012; 1462: 44-60.

5.?áLarzelere MM, Williams DE. “Promoting smoking cessation.” American Family Physician. 2012; 85(6): 591-598.

6.?áGoldstein BD, Osofsky HJ, Lichtveld MY. “Current concepts: The gulf oil spill.” New England Journal of Medicine. 2011; 364(14): 1334-1348.

7.?áOsofsky HJ, Osofsky JD, Hansel TC. “Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: Mental Health Effects on Residents in Heavily Affected Areas.” Disaster Medicine & Public Health Preparedness. 2011; 5(4): 280-286.

Also Featured This Month: LSUHSC-NO Participants in the 35th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Research Society on Alcoholism, June 23-27ÔÇöSan Francisco, California. Published in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research. 2012; 36(s1): 1A-398A.

Friday fun: Is ur #MD 2 square?

Is your doctor a technophobe? A recent article from the Minneapolis StarTribune asked that question while discussing physician use of social media.

There’s a stereotype that says doctors shun technology that might threaten patients’ privacy and their own pocketbooks. But a new breed of physicians is texting health messages to patients, tracking disease trends on Twitter, identifying medical problems on Facebook pages and communicating with patients through email.

Most physicians are comfortable using technology enough to communicate with their peers and manage patient care, but avoid online communication with patients. Indeed, the American Medical Association advises that when it comes to social media, “physicians must maintain appropriate boundaries of the patient-physician relationship in accordance with professional ethical guidelines just, as they would in any other context.” However, a new breed of physician might be bucking that role:

The famed Mayo Clinic holds “Tweet camps” to train its doctors how to use Twitter appropriately, said Lee Aase, director of Mayo’s Center for Social Media in Rochester, Minn.

Says Aase, “If we can trust doctors with sharp instruments and narcotics, we can trust them with Twitter and Facebook.”

Recent (brief) Interview with Rowena Spencer

Pictured: Rowena Spencer, Cruz Hernandez, infant patient – July 1964

Happy Birthday to former/retired faculty member, Rowena Spencer on her 90th birthday.

A recent brief interview with her was published on the American Medical Student Association Blog.

The Isché Library has two copies of her 2003 monograph, Conjoined twins: developmental malformations and clinical implications.

Affordable Care Act and you

The Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act (ACA) last week (full text of decision here) has major implications for the US health care system. Over 32 million newly insured individuals could conceivably enter the health care system due to ACA, expanding and affecting programs such as Medicare, Medicaid and Patient-Centered Outcomes Research. Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal joined the health care debate on MSNBC’s Meet the Press this past Sunday, suggesting Louisiana would not fully implement the changes brought about by ACA (video here). Whether you call it Obamacare or Health Care Reform, it is important to be aware of the Affordable Care Act and the potential impact on the US health care system. Here are some informational sources and reactions from health associations:

• The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) – ACA timeline, key points & amicus briefs
• American Dental Association (ADA) reaction
• American Medical Association (AMA) information and reaction
• American Nurses Association (ANA)?áinformation and reaction
• American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) reaction
• American Public Health Association (APHA) reaction
• American Physical Therapy Association Reaction (APTA) reaction

Independence Day Hours

Patriotic Quill and Inkwell - released by USPS Feb. 2011

The Isch?® and Dental Libraries will be closed on Wednesday, July 4th in honor of Indepence Day. Additionally the Isch?® Library will close at 8 pm on Tuesday, July 3rd instead of 10 pm. The Dental Library will be open until 8 pm as usual on Tuesday.

Both Libraries will re-open on Thursday, July 5th at 8 am.

Friday Fun: the first MRI of a baby being born

A recent video making the Internet rounds is the first MRI of a baby being born.

The images were shot during a normal birth at Charit?® University Hospital in Berlin, Germany, in November, 2010, researchers say in a report published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Still MRI pictures of the birth were previously published, but this is the first look at the video, made with time-lapsed images over the last 45 minutes of labor.

The MRI is of a baby boy in the final moments in utero and his mother, a 24-year-old woman with two younger children. The last moments of birth (the “money shot” if you will) are not included. Physicians shut down the MRI machine slightly before delivery because they did not want to expose the baby’s ears to the common thumping sound associated with MRIs.

Reports USA Today, “The doctors don’t say how they convinced a woman to go through the final stages of labor in an MRI machine — but do say she weathered the experience just fine.”

Citation

Bamberg C, Rademacher G, G??ttler F, Teichgr?ñber U, Cremer M, B??hrer C, Spies C, Hinkson L, Henrich W, Kalache KD, Dudenhausen JW.?áHuman birth observed in real-time open magnetic resonance imaging. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2012 Jun;206(6):505.e1-6. Epub 2012 Jan 13. PubMed PMID: 22425409.
View in PubMed