FINDING INFORMATION IN FINDING INFORMATION IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERINGBIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING

Bruce SlutskyBruce SlutskyRobert Van Houten LibraryRobert Van Houten Library

The Scientific MethodThe Scientific Method

The scientific method is the The scientific method is the process by which scientists, process by which scientists, collectively and over time, collectively and over time, endeavor to construct an endeavor to construct an accurate representation of the accurate representation of the world.  There are various thought world.  There are various thought processes that are used when processes that are used when the scientific method is the scientific method is employed. employed. 

Information RetrievalInformation Retrieval

We are flooded with scientific and We are flooded with scientific and technical information.  Scientists, technical information.  Scientists, engineers and students must be engineers and students must be able to find information at all able to find information at all levels from a multitude of levels from a multitude of information resources available information resources available to them. to them.

Similarities between the Scientific Similarities between the Scientific Method and Information RetrievalMethod and Information Retrieval

Scientific MethodScientific Method Know the subject Know the subject Require new knowledge Require new knowledge Propose an experiment to find Propose an experiment to find

new knowledge new knowledge Conduct the experiment Conduct the experiment Observe and interpret the Observe and interpret the

results results Revise the experiment Revise the experiment Interpret the final outcome of Interpret the final outcome of

the experiment the experiment

Information RetrievalInformation Retrieval Know the scope of and Know the scope of and

contents of databases in contents of databases in his/her field of endeavor his/her field of endeavor

Require new knowledge Require new knowledge Devise an initial search Devise an initial search

strategy using relevant strategy using relevant terminology in subject terminology in subject databases databases

Examine the initial answer set Examine the initial answer set Revise the strategy based on Revise the strategy based on

findings from the initial findings from the initial answer set answer set

Explore alternative search Explore alternative search options options

Examine the final answer set Examine the final answer set Find the relevant documents Find the relevant documents Use the information foundUse the information found

Formats of the Scientific Formats of the Scientific and Technical Literatureand Technical Literature

Journal Journal Conference Proceeding Conference Proceeding Magazine Magazine Review Journal Review Journal Research Level Book Research Level Book

(monograph) (monograph) Encyclopedia Encyclopedia Data Compilation Data Compilation

What is a Journal?What is a Journal?

A A journaljournal is a publication issued is a publication issued periodically that reports original periodically that reports original research. Manuscripts submitted by research. Manuscripts submitted by researchers are scrutinized by an researchers are scrutinized by an editor and a referee before they are editor and a referee before they are accepted for publication.  This is accepted for publication.  This is known as the known as the peer review processpeer review process. . The articles are very detailed and The articles are very detailed and include detailed experimental include detailed experimental procedures.  It is aimed at a very procedures.  It is aimed at a very specialized audience of researchers in specialized audience of researchers in the field. the field.

Some Journals in Some Journals in Biomedical EngineeringBiomedical Engineering

BiomaterialsBiomaterials Biosensors and BioelectronicsBiosensors and Bioelectronics

Bioprocess and Bioprocess and BiosystemsBiosystems Engineering Engineering

Cell and Tissue Banking Cell and Tissue Banking IEEE Transactions on Biomedical IEEE Transactions on Biomedical

EngineeringEngineering

Conference ProceedingsConference Proceedings

Scientists and engineers regularly Scientists and engineers regularly attend conferences to report recent attend conferences to report recent research findings to their colleagues.  research findings to their colleagues.  Most conferences are organized by Most conferences are organized by professional societies such at the professional societies such at the Biomedical Engineering Society Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) (BMES) and the and the American Society of Biomechanics American Society of Biomechanics (ASB) (ASB) Conferences may be held annually, bi-Conferences may be held annually, bi-annually, or irregularly.   Some are one-annually, or irregularly.   Some are one-time events.   A time events.   A conference conference proceedingproceeding is the permanent record of is the permanent record of the papers presented at a conference.  the papers presented at a conference.  They are held as books or as CD-ROMs They are held as books or as CD-ROMs in a library. in a library.

Example of Conference Example of Conference ProceedingsProceedings

Main Author:    IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Main Author:    IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. RegionalSociety. Regional                      conference                      conference

Title:             Proceeding of the First Regional Conference, Title:             Proceeding of the First Regional Conference, IEEEIEEE                      Engineering in Medicine & Biology Society                       Engineering in Medicine & Biology Society and 14thand 14th                      Conference of the Biomedical Engineering                       Conference of the Biomedical Engineering Society ofSociety of                      India : an international meet, February 15-18,                       India : an international meet, February 15-18, 1995, New1995, New                    Delhi.                    Delhi.

Subject(s):        Biomedical engineering--Congresses.Subject(s):        Biomedical engineering--Congresses.

Location:          Stacks (lower level)Location:          Stacks (lower level)

Call number:       R856.A2 I346 1995Call number:       R856.A2 I346 1995

Review JournalReview Journal

A A Review JournalReview Journal is a condensed is a condensed version of a research journal.  It version of a research journal.  It summarizes research in a field summarizes research in a field over a short period of time.  The over a short period of time.  The articles omit the detailed articles omit the detailed experimental procedures but do experimental procedures but do provide lengthy bibliographies provide lengthy bibliographies with references to the original with references to the original research. research.

Review JournalsReview Journals

Annual Review of Biomedical Annual Review of Biomedical Engineering Engineering

Critical Reviews in Biomedical Critical Reviews in Biomedical Engineering (available in print at Engineering (available in print at NJIT) NJIT) Call Number:Call Number:R856.A1 C5R856.A1 C5

MagazinesMagazines

A A magazinemagazine is a publication issued is a publication issued periodically that has scientific and periodically that has scientific and technical articles that are translated technical articles that are translated into a language suitable for a more into a language suitable for a more general audience.  Magazine articles general audience.  Magazine articles are usually written by a journalist are usually written by a journalist rather than the scientist who has rather than the scientist who has done the research.  Some magazines done the research.  Some magazines are orientated toward the business are orientated toward the business aspects of biomedical engineering aspects of biomedical engineering while others are technical while others are technical

MagazinesMagazines

Biomedical Sciences Biomedical Sciences Instrumentation Instrumentation

IEEE Engineering in Medicine and IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Magazine Biology Magazine

MonographsMonographs

A A monographmonograph is librarians' jargon for is librarians' jargon for a book that is only published once.  a book that is only published once.  Books are obviously written at levels Books are obviously written at levels ranging from elementary  to graduate ranging from elementary  to graduate school level.  Recent research done school level.  Recent research done over a longer period of time is over a longer period of time is reported in monographs.  Now, the reported in monographs.  Now, the information is available to a much information is available to a much wider audience.  There are hundreds wider audience.  There are hundreds of monographs written for the of monographs written for the disciplines related to biomedical disciplines related to biomedical engineering. engineering.

Handbooks and Handbooks and EncyclopediasEncyclopedias

HandbooksHandbooks provide find provide find formulae, definitions and or often formulae, definitions and or often used as a starting point when used as a starting point when researching an unfamiliar field.  researching an unfamiliar field.  EncyclopediasEncyclopedias (single or multi- (single or multi-volume) introduce researchers to volume) introduce researchers to specialize fields of study.   Many specialize fields of study.   Many are now available in electronic are now available in electronic formats.formats.

HandbooksHandbooks

Title:             The biomedical engineering handbook / Title:             The biomedical engineering handbook / editor-in-chief,editor-in-chief,                      Joseph D. Bronzino.                      Joseph D. Bronzino.

Subject(s):        Biomedical engineering--Handbooks, Subject(s):        Biomedical engineering--Handbooks, manuals, etc.manuals, etc.                           

Publisher:         Boca Raton : CRC Press : IEEE Press, Publisher:         Boca Raton : CRC Press : IEEE Press, c2000.c2000.

Location:          Ready Reference (behind the Ref Location:          Ready Reference (behind the Ref Desk)Desk)

Call number:       R856.15 .B56 2000 Call number:       R856.15 .B56 2000

EncyclopediasEncyclopedias

Title:             Standard handbook of biomedical engineering Title:             Standard handbook of biomedical engineering and design /and design /                      Myer Kutz, editor in chief.                      Myer Kutz, editor in chief.

Subject(s):        Biomedical engineering--Handbooks, Subject(s):        Biomedical engineering--Handbooks, manuals, etc.manuals, etc.                         Medical instruments and apparatus--Design                          Medical instruments and apparatus--Design and constructionand construction                      --Handbooks, manuals, etc.                      --Handbooks, manuals, etc.

Publisher:         New York : McGraw-Hill, c2003.Publisher:         New York : McGraw-Hill, c2003.

Description:       1 v. (various pagings) : ill. ; 25 cm.Description:       1 v. (various pagings) : ill. ; 25 cm.

Series:            McGraw-Hill standard handbooksSeries:            McGraw-Hill standard handbooks

Location:          Stacks (lower level)Location:          Stacks (lower level)

Call number:       R856.15 .S73 2003 Call number:       R856.15 .S73 2003

Flow of Scientific Flow of Scientific InformationInformation

Scientists and engineers conceive ideas Scientists and engineers conceive ideas and perform experiments in the and perform experiments in the laboratory.  They want to make the laboratory.  They want to make the results of their research public.  They results of their research public.  They will write a manuscript documenting will write a manuscript documenting their research results and submit to the their research results and submit to the editor of an appropriate journal for editor of an appropriate journal for publication. The editor will refer the publication. The editor will refer the manuscript to an authority in the field manuscript to an authority in the field who will review it and accept or deny it who will review it and accept or deny it for publication. They may also present for publication. They may also present their findings at a professional their findings at a professional conference. conference.

Flow of Scientific Flow of Scientific InformationInformation

The published information flows from the The published information flows from the top of the chart (on the next slide) to the top of the chart (on the next slide) to the bottom.  Students needing information bottom.  Students needing information must start their research at the bottom must start their research at the bottom of the chart.  Tertiary literature such as of the chart.  Tertiary literature such as handbooks, encyclopedias, and handbooks, encyclopedias, and textbooks must be consulted first.  If the textbooks must be consulted first.  If the desired information is not found there, desired information is not found there, the researcher must try to find the researcher must try to find information in reviews, journals and information in reviews, journals and conference proceedings.  Such conference proceedings.  Such publications are indexed in subject publications are indexed in subject specific databases. specific databases.

Flow of Scientific Flow of Scientific InformationInformation

Types of DatabasesTypes of Databases

Bibliographic - includes the elements Bibliographic - includes the elements needed to identify the document needed to identify the document Author(s) Author(s) Title Title Journal, Year, Volume, Issue Number, Journal, Year, Volume, Issue Number,

Pages Pages Abstract - a one paragraph summary of Abstract - a one paragraph summary of

the article to help the researcher decide if the article to help the researcher decide if it is relevant to the research question it is relevant to the research question

Full-Text - includes the entire article in Full-Text - includes the entire article in electronic format electronic format

Numeric (Data Compilation) - includes Numeric (Data Compilation) - includes only specific data elements such as only specific data elements such as thermodynamic or spectral data thermodynamic or spectral data

Database FormatsDatabase Formats

Print Print Very cumbersome and difficult to use Very cumbersome and difficult to use

Online (1970s to the present) Online (1970s to the present) Pay as you go.  Cost is based on amount of Pay as you go.  Cost is based on amount of

information retreived information retreived CD-ROM (1980s to the present) CD-ROM (1980s to the present)

Only so much information can fit on one disk Only so much information can fit on one disk World Wide Web (1990s to the present) World Wide Web (1990s to the present)

Allows for remote access Allows for remote access Internet access using special software Internet access using special software

Scifinder Scholar (Chemical Abstracts 1907 Scifinder Scholar (Chemical Abstracts 1907 to the present) to the present)

Limitations of DatabasesLimitations of Databases

Subject coverage Subject coverage Number of Publications Number of Publications Dates of Publication Dates of Publication Types of Publication (i.e. journals Types of Publication (i.e. journals

only, patents only) only, patents only) Not all databases provide full-Not all databases provide full-

text of the retrieved documents text of the retrieved documents

Databases for Biomedical Databases for Biomedical EngineersEngineers

Site for NJIT DatabasesSite for NJIT Databases IEEE/IEE Electronic Library IEEE/IEE Electronic Library ScopusScopus Medline (PubMed)Medline (PubMed) Scifinder Scholar (Chemical Scifinder Scholar (Chemical

Abstracts) Abstracts)

ScopusScopus

Scopus is a multidisciplinary Scopus is a multidisciplinary navigational tool that contains navigational tool that contains records going back to the mid records going back to the mid 1960s, offering newly-linked 1960s, offering newly-linked citations across the widest body citations across the widest body of scientific abstracts available in of scientific abstracts available in one place.  Biomedical one place.  Biomedical engineering is one of the many engineering is one of the many subjects covered in Scopussubjects covered in Scopus

IEEE/IEE Electronic IEEE/IEE Electronic LibraryLibrary

A database of IEEE transactions, A database of IEEE transactions, journals, magazines and conference journals, magazines and conference proceedings published since 1988 plus proceedings published since 1988 plus select content back to 1950, and all select content back to 1950, and all current IEEE Standards.  Includes links current IEEE Standards.  Includes links to the to the full-textfull-text of the original of the original documents documents

A single source to almost a third of the A single source to almost a third of the world's current electrical engineering world's current electrical engineering and computer science literature.  Over and computer science literature.  Over 1 million references are included. 1 million references are included.

Some of the database is related to Some of the database is related to biomedical engineering biomedical engineering

MedlineMedline

MEDLINE is the NLM's (National Library MEDLINE is the NLM's (National Library of Medicine) premier bibliographic of Medicine) premier bibliographic database covering the fields of database covering the fields of medicine, nursing, dentistry, veterinary medicine, nursing, dentistry, veterinary medicine, the health care system, and medicine, the health care system, and the preclinical sciences. It does cover the preclinical sciences. It does cover some aspects of biomedical some aspects of biomedical engineering.  MEDLINE contains engineering.  MEDLINE contains bibliographic citations and author bibliographic citations and author abstracts from more than 4,800 abstracts from more than 4,800 biomedical journals published in the biomedical journals published in the United States and 70 other countries. United States and 70 other countries. The database contains over 12 million The database contains over 12 million citations dating back to the mid-1960's. citations dating back to the mid-1960's.

Scifinder ScholarScifinder Scholar

Electronic Version of Chemical Abstracts Electronic Version of Chemical Abstracts (1907 to the present) (1907 to the present)

It contains many links to full-text articles It contains many links to full-text articles Searchable by chemical substance, Searchable by chemical substance,

reaction, research topic, author or reaction, research topic, author or affiliation affiliation

Its coverage of biomedical engineering Its coverage of biomedical engineering is limited to "chemical aspects" such as is limited to "chemical aspects" such as biomaterials.  It would not cover topics biomaterials.  It would not cover topics such as rehabilitation, biomechanics, such as rehabilitation, biomechanics, and instrumentation.and instrumentation.

There is a web and client software There is a web and client software versionversion

Scifinder ScholarScifinder Scholar

When searching for substances, it is suggested that When searching for substances, it is suggested that the the Chemical Abstracts Service Registry NumberChemical Abstracts Service Registry Number be be used.  This is a "social security number" for chemical used.  This is a "social security number" for chemical substances.  Many print and electronic sources use substances.  Many print and electronic sources use registry numbers to avoid ambiguity. registry numbers to avoid ambiguity.

Only one person at NJIT may search Scifinder Scholar Only one person at NJIT may search Scifinder Scholar at a time.  Please minimize time you are using it by: at a time.  Please minimize time you are using it by: Evaluating your answer set while you are off line Evaluating your answer set while you are off line Using the database during off-peak hours.  It is Using the database during off-peak hours.  It is

available almost 24 hours a day/7 days a week available almost 24 hours a day/7 days a week Waiting at least 10 minutes before attempting to login Waiting at least 10 minutes before attempting to login

again. again.

A tutorial is available A tutorial is available http://www.cas.org/support/academic/sf/htg/index.htmlhttp://www.cas.org/support/academic/sf/htg/index.html

Boolean LogicBoolean Logic

Boolean logic takes its name from British mathematician George Boole who Boolean logic takes its name from British mathematician George Boole who wrote about a system of logic designed to produce better search results by wrote about a system of logic designed to produce better search results by formulating precise queries.  The Boolean Operators are: formulating precise queries.  The Boolean Operators are:

ANDAND The Boolean AND narrows your search by retrieving only documents that The Boolean AND narrows your search by retrieving only documents that

contain every one of the keywords that you enter.  The more terms you contain every one of the keywords that you enter.  The more terms you enter, the narrower your search becomes. enter, the narrower your search becomes.      EXAMPLE: biomechanics AND knee     EXAMPLE: biomechanics AND knee     EXAMPLE: biomechanics AND knee AND elbow      EXAMPLE: biomechanics AND knee AND elbow

OR OR The Boolean OR expands your search by returning documents in which The Boolean OR expands your search by returning documents in which

either or both keywords appear.  The more keywords you enter, the more either or both keywords appear.  The more keywords you enter, the more documents you retrieve. documents you retrieve.    EXAMPLE: knee OR elbow   EXAMPLE: knee OR elbow   EXAMPLE: knee OR elbow OR shoulder    EXAMPLE: knee OR elbow OR shoulder

NOT NOT The Boolean NOT limits your search by returning only the first keyword but The Boolean NOT limits your search by returning only the first keyword but

not the second, even if the first word appears in that document, too not the second, even if the first word appears in that document, too    EXAMPLE knee NOT shoulder   EXAMPLE knee NOT shoulder   EXAMPLE elbow NOT knee   EXAMPLE elbow NOT knee

To do an effective search you must choose the most relevant database(s) To do an effective search you must choose the most relevant database(s) and the appropriate Boolean Logicand the appropriate Boolean Logic

Availability of JournalsAvailability of Journals

Once you do a search, you must Once you do a search, you must locate the articles that you retrieved locate the articles that you retrieved from the search that you think are from the search that you think are relevant.  They may be available:relevant.  They may be available:

Print only Print only Electronic Only Electronic Only Print and Electronic Print and Electronic

Dates of electronic availability vary Dates of electronic availability vary Not available at NJIT - order through Not available at NJIT - order through

interlibrary loan interlibrary loan

Devising Optimal Search Devising Optimal Search StrategiesStrategies

Choose the proper database(s) Choose the proper database(s) Be aware of the scope and limitations Be aware of the scope and limitations

Use all relevant search terms and Use all relevant search terms and appropriate Boolean logic appropriate Boolean logic Think of concepts not wordsThink of concepts not words

Devise a search strategy for: Devise a search strategy for: Precise search Precise search

Expand strategy if too few are found Expand strategy if too few are found Exhaustive search Exhaustive search

Cut down if too many citations are retrieved Cut down if too many citations are retrieved

Evaluating ReferencesEvaluating References

Look at the abstract to judge if the Look at the abstract to judge if the paper is relevant to your topicpaper is relevant to your topic

If so, is the paper available from If so, is the paper available from the NJIT Library?the NJIT Library?

All papers from the IEEE Electronic All papers from the IEEE Electronic Library are available in pdfLibrary are available in pdf

Follow links in Scopus or Medline to Follow links in Scopus or Medline to check for availabiltycheck for availabilty

Citing Your Sources and Citing Your Sources and Managing ReferencesManaging References

Please See:Please See: http://library.njit.edu/http://library.njit.edu/

researchhelpdesk/howto/cite.phpresearchhelpdesk/howto/cite.php

For Further HelpFor Further Help

Contact Bruce SlutskyContact Bruce Slutsky Robert Van Houten LibraryRobert Van Houten Library Bruce.Slutsky@njit.eduBruce.Slutsky@njit.edu 973-642-4950973-642-4950 Reference desk at 973-596-3210Reference desk at 973-596-3210