Market research and data services provider Research and Markets, Ireland, has announced the introduction of the report 'Scientific and Medical Journals on the Web'. The report, based on a 33-question survey of more than 1,900 scientific and medical professionals, analyses readers' anticipations, preferences and requirements as they relate to the use of web-based journals.
Previously, Scientific and Medical Journals on the Web addressed the question of whether or not STM publishers needed to take their journals online. In 2001, it shifted to what form that online journal should take, focusing on usability. This year's report focuses on the change in readers' expectations and new developments threatening the foundation on which conventional scholarly publishing rests.
It particularly reveals trends in the way online journals are found and accessed. It also benchmarks readers' satisfaction with five leading journals in terms of types of content, information features and searching capabilities. Among the survey conclusions is the finding that Nature, Science, Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, Journal of Biological Chemistry and New England Journal of Medicine are the online journals most frequently read by scientific and medical professionals.
Click here to view the major objectives and highlights of this report.
InforSense Ltd., UK, has announced a partnership with leading software supplier for protein identification and characterisation, Matrix Science Ltd, US. Under the deal, InforSense will integrate Matrix Science's Mascot search tool and data management product, Mascot Integra, with InforSense KDE, its workflow-based integrative analytics platform.
InforSense workflows allow life science researchers to compose and carry out scientific analyses easily without programming, sharing both methods and results with co-workers.
The partnership is projected to provide an extended environment for flexible, ad hoc querying of high volumes of proteomics data. Life science researchers can now query comprehensive proteomic data using an intuitive visual workflow interface, and also include proteomics data analysis within broader cross-discipline research programs.
Matrix Science now joins a list of 18 other members of InforSense's Open Workflow Partner Network, a program to provide proven integrated technologies to joint customers in the life science domain.
Learning and knowledge products provider Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc., US, has further intensified its attacks on scientific journal Nature. Britannica recently brought out large advertisements in the New York Times and the London Times in which it called on the journal to issue a "full and public retraction of the article." In their advertisements, Britannica has highlighted the unwillingness of the journal to hand over the documents on which the study was based.
The dispute started in December 2005 when Nature published a study which revealed that Britannica and Wikipedia had nearly the same level of accuracy. In March 2006, Britannica published a set of objections to the study and called on the journal to retract the paper. Nature however refused to retract the paper.
Data protection solutions provider Avamar Technologies, Inc., US, and WysDM Software, Inc., US, have announced an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) agreement. Under the deal, Avamar will integrate its disk-based data protection platform with WysDM's DPM software to form an add-on module called Avamar Advanced Reporter.
The Avamar Advanced Reporter is projected to help IT professionals understand and manage their diverse data protection environments better. WysDM's adaptive architecture and Cross-Domain Correlation coupled with Avamar Axion, the company's scalable solution for enterprise data protection, offers a more advanced solution for advanced data protection, proactively analyzing the data protection environment.
Axion can provide cost effective storage for multi-year archives by efficiently using disk storage. By embedding WysDM's data protection management (DPM) platform within its products, Avamar offers its customers the benefits of greater insight and better management of their backup environment.
The Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy (JNPT), the official journal of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), has announced the introduction of podcasts of article abstracts. Readers can download audio files of the article abstracts to their computers and then transfer them to an MP3 player, computer or iPod to listen to them.
Starting with the March 2006 edition, JNPT will offer podcasts of every article's abstract as well as the "Guide to the Issue" and "Editor's Note." JNPT and the New England Journal of Medicine are the first journals indexed in MEDLINE to offer this service. The March online edition of JNPT contains icons in its table of contents for each article that can be podcast.
A quarterly publication, JNPT features research articles, critical reviews, case reports and special interest papers that examine the development and effective use of neurologic physical therapy. With the new podcast service, readers can listen to the abstract of each article as well as to commentaries and discussions with the authors.
Library solutions provider Ex Libris Ltd., UK, has announced that the University of Gloucestershire will implement its ALEPH 500 Integrated Library System in place of the current SirsiDynix Unicorn system. This brings the total number of ALEPH customers to 30 in the UK and Ireland.
The new system is projected to help the university gain improved access to corporate information. ALEPH 500 will form the underlying technology of the institution's Learning & Information Services department.
The university's five Learning Centres provide access to paper-based and electronic information, computers, audio-visual resources, skills support and study facilities. The Learning Centre stock comprises over 350,000 items including books, pamphlets, bound journals together with slides, videos, etc. This includes over 90,000 slides and 1,900 current journal titles.
Publishing house Macmillan Publishers, UK, has announced the appointment of Becky Fishman as Senior Marketing Manager for the Nature Clinical Practice (NCP) series of journals. Prior to this Fishman served as Senior Marketing Manager (Electronic Products), for SAGE Publications.
In her new position, Fishman will be responsible for the planning, creation and implementation of all aspects of marketing for the NCP journals in the pharmaceutical and personal subscription markets.
Nature Clinical Practice journals deliver timely, authoritative interpretations of key research developments, translating the latest findings into clinical practice. These journals cover editorial and opinion pieces, highlights from the current literature, and commentaries on the application of recent research to practical patient care, thorough reviews, and in-depth case studies.
