June/July 2004 (Volume XI, No. 5)
Published: June 15, 2004 (Revised November 2004)
Rather than put a trademark symbol at every occurrence of trademark names, we state that we are using the names only in an editorial fashion with no intention of infringements of the trademark.
ACS offers advanced research analysis course using SAS
Academic Computing Services (ACS) now offers "Advanced SAS for Research Analysis," an advanced statistical analysis course to UT Southwestern faculty and staff. It will be taught using Statistical Analysis Software (SAS) 9.1.
The course was developed in response to client demand for a follow-up to "Introduction to SAS" and will be offered in two 3-hour sessions. Registrants must either have taken the SAS introduction course or be familiar with programming in SAS to be eligible to take the advanced course.
The "Advanced SAS for Research Analysis" class will be Sept. 14 and 16 at 9 a.m. - noon. Cost is $200. Planned topics include both data management and statistical analysis techniques, such as:
- Data cleaning and verification techniques
- Reading data through the DDE procedure
- Creating SAS data sets from procedure output
- Loops, arrays, lookup tables, branching, logic, etc.
- Combining, interleaving, stacking, and transposing data sets
- Creating HTML output using ODS
- SAS macros
- Creating bland Altman plots
- Inter-rater reliability/Kappa
- Advanced ANOVA models
- Logistic regression
- Survival analysis
- Sample-size estimation
Other classes
ACS also offers two short courses designed to assist campus researchers in gaining expertise in performing data analysis for scientific studies. These courses are basic introductions to the SAS and Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) programs and discuss various statistical techniques, including t-tests, analysis of variance, correlation, regression, graphics and non-parametrics.
- Introduction to SAS Oct. 19 and 21, 2004 9 a.m. – noon $200
This course teaches users how to enter, manage and store scientific data. Users are shown how to use the SAS PROC steps to perform statistical data analyses. Examples using both the programming approach to data analysis and the menu approach are discussed. Participants in this course gain the expertise to enter and import data into SAS and to perform commonly used statistical data analysis techniques on that data.
- Introduction to SPSS Aug. 17 and 19, 2004 9 a.m. – noon $200
SPSS, which is popular with a number of researchers, contains most of the statistical tools researchers would need to analyze results from scientific studies. The SPSS course covers data entry and manipulation and basic statistical data analysis. Participants in this course leave with the expertise to enter and import data into SPSS and to perform commonly used statistical data analysis techniques on that data.
Note: Some computing experience and basic knowledge of statistics is assumed for persons taking either course.
Other services
ACS maintains a site license for both the SAS and SPSS programs, which allows users to purchase the software at a highly discounted rate. The annual SAS license is $200, and the annual license for SPSS is $240.
ACS also offers individualized consulting on statistical data analysis. All consulting services are offered on a fee basis.
More information about classes or software licenses is available on the ACS Web site at http://www.utsouthwestern.edu/utsw/home/educ/CBSCS/. To register for classes or arrange a consultation, contact the ACS office at 214-648-3681 or in person in room E1.401.
Note: All courses are taught in room E1.403.
Information about retracted and corrected articles available in MEDLINE
Using a combination of recent additions to MEDLINE citations, the National Library of Medicine (NLM) is now able to notify users about changes in an article's status or published comments concerning the article. Users who search PubMed or Ovid MEDLINE will be informed if an article has:
- Subsequently been retracted
- Been identified as duplicating another article
- Had substantive error(s) noted
- Been corrected and then republished
- Specifically been discussed in another article, including an update of the original
NLM links the existing citations to subsequently published errata, retraction notices, comments, and similar announcements. Such articles are indexed with Publication Type headings:
- Retraction of Publication OR Retracted Publication
- Corrected and Republished Article
- Published Erratum
- Duplicate Publication
- Comment
In Ovid MEDLINE these headings may be applied to a search set by using the Limit feature and selecting terms under Publication Type. They may also be searched directly by entering the heading with the field type ".pt." appended (for example, "Comment.pt.") into the search field and pressing Enter.
Note: To search in PubMed, type “Heading[Publication Type]” (e.g., "Comment[Publication Type]") to create sets that can then be combined with subject or author searches using the “History” feature.
Information Resources training news
Information Resources (IR) currently provides classroom and e-learning training to UT Southwestern faculty and staff at no charge. However, the Client Services division has recently been evaluating how to best offer computer training and some changes in training will be implemented in September.
Web-based learning
Custom e-learning modules have been developed to assist new employees in adapting quickly to the UT Southwestern environment. “MEDNET for Windows” and “Introduction to OAS (Online Administrative System) and Forms” are offered during the IR orientation sessions and from the IR Web site. These e-learning modules have been positively received, and Client Services will continue to develop new custom modules in the future.
The online Microsoft Office training, which has been provided by IR for the past several years, will be discontinued Aug. 31, 2004. Course costs do not justify continuing this Microsoft e-learning module.
Classroom training
Computer training has been offered in a traditional classroom setting for more than 15 years, and this continues to be the most popular way to deliver training. GroupWise and OAS classes will continue to be offered at no charge. Microsoft Access and Excel training will be offered monthly for $50 and $25 per module, respectively. Manuals will continue to be sent to registered students for printing prior to class.
Phone training and support
Client Services will emphasize increased OAS training for IR Call Center analysts over the summer. Once this training is complete, the IR Call Center will be responsible for responding to the majority of OAS problem calls.
Beginning Sept. 1, 2004, all IR calls forwarded to trainers for resolution will be charged a minimum of $12.75 (database support will have a $25 minimum charge). Training staff will continue to offer one-on-one training, and database and customized support on all supported software.
Client Services continues to look for ways to make campus computing as efficient as possible.
Library survey’s data collection ends; analysis begins
The UT Southwestern library would like to thank the more than 800 faculty, staff, students, residents and fellows who completed this year’s LibQUAL+™ survey measuring the quality of our library services. Your opinions will be instrumental in not only identifying what we are doing right, but also targeting areas for improvement.
Survey results will be published later this summer. In the meantime, library staff will begin reviewing the more than 250 suggestions and comments received from survey respondents to identify trends and initial areas of potential change.
If you have any questions or comments about the LibQUAL+™ survey, contact survey coordinator Jon Crossno, library information desk manager, at 214-648-2562 or e-mail at LibraryResearch@utsouthwestern.edu.
General information about the survey can be found on the library's About LibQUAL+™ Survey page at http://www4.utsouthwestern.edu/library/about/aboutLibQUAL.cfm.
Library’s electronic resources: What’s new?
The UT Southwestern library provides access to numerous electronic resources and databases for the UT Southwestern community, and keeping track of new enhancements and developments is an ongoing process for library staff. Here are a few selected enhancements that we hope you find of interest.
Electronic journal status alert
The library has implemented a new system to notify clients about access problems to licensed electronic journals.
On the library's Ejournals page at http://www4.utsouthwestern.edu/library/ejournals/ejnls.cfm, click on the image button at the top labeled "Ejournals current access status" to view any alerts. A link to the alerts will appear on the library's home page only when there is a problem to report.
If you experience any difficulties in accessing an electronic journal, check the alert page first. If the problem you are experiencing does not appear on the list, report it to Jeff Perkins at 214-648-2004 or by e-mail at jeff.perkins@utsouthwestern.edu.
IEEE Xplore Release 1.7
IEEE Xplore introduced enhancements in its search interface in April. IEEE Xplore is an online delivery system that provides full-text access to all of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and the Institution of Electrical Engineers (IEE) transactions, journals, magazines and conference proceedings published since 1988 and all current IEEE standards.
The enhancements include a prototype for searching the full text of its documents and improved linking to content in the references of IEEE documents. For complete details, read the IEEE Release Notes at http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/ReleaseNotes.jsp.
For personal assistance in searching IEEE Xplore, contact the library at 214-648-2003 or complete the search request form at http://www4.utsouthwestern.edu/library/reference/searchForm.cfm.
Enhancements to PubMed's history feature
PubMed now offers searchers more choices in its “History” list. Users can delete individual statements from the search history, as well as more easily combine history statements in a search. For complete details, go to http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/techbull/ma04/ma04_history.html.
For personal assistance in searching PubMed, contact the library at 214-648-2003 or complete the search request form at http://www4.utsouthwestern.edu/library/reference/searchForm.cfm.
New version of PubMed on Tap (for Palm PDAs)
The National Library Medicine has just released a new version of the PubMed on Tap (PMoT) client for Palm OS devices. It is available at http://archive.nlm.nih.gov/proj/pmot/pmot.php.
Version 1.4 includes a feature that many evaluators requested — Link-out to full text. If a link to a full-text Web site exists for an article, a link-out icon will appear at the bottom of the citation screen. If you tap the icon, PubMed on Tap will launch the PDA's browser with the URL provided by PubMed.
Note: You will not be able to go "back" to PMoT from the browser so you will need to start PMoT again. An automatic "state-saver" will be provided in a future version. You should also be aware that the linking process may not work consistently for all the ejournals provided by the UT Southwestern library.
Please direct feedback to pubmedontap@lhc.nlm.nih.gov or post comments to the user forum at http://archive.nlm.nih.gov/forums/.
New on the NCBI Bookshelf
The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) Bookshelf is a growing collection of biomedical books that can be searched directly. Titles include electronic texts in biochemistry, cell biology and genetics. Recently, Historical Works: Medicine in the Americas and Sequence-Evolution-Function: Computational Approaches in Comparative Genomics were added.
Microsoft Office 2003 is now available
Microsoft Office 2003 is now available from the UT Southwestern Mednet menu. The installation package, which requires approximately 800MB of hard disk space, includes the major Microsoft Office products (e.g., Word, Excel, Access, FrontPage, etc.) as well as Microsoft Publisher. Microsoft Outlook and Info Path are not part of the installation. During standard installation, previous Office application versions will be removed.
Departments that do not have access to the Mednet Office 2003 installation option may log a request through the Information Resources (IR) Call Center at 214-648-7600 or by e-mail at IRCALLCENTER@utsouthwestern.edu. The cost is $50, payable by IDR. Media will be issued to the department for local installation.
Special Notes:
- None of the Microsoft Office 2003 applications will run on Windows Me, Windows 98, or Windows NT operating systems. A computer with one of these older versions of Windows software will need to be upgraded to Windows 2000, Windows XP or higher in order to use Office 2003.
- MetaLink users should not install Microsoft Office 2003 due to a known problem in Office 2003 that will break the functionality of MetaLink.
- There is a known issue between Microsoft Word 2003 and the Parameter Queries in Microsoft Access 2000-2003. See details on the IR Web site at http://inside.utsouthwestern.edu/irhome/software/Working_with_Word_2003.htm.
Security focus: Information Resources vs. Sasser Worm variant(s)
UT Southwestern didn’t escape the recent Sasser Worm attack which targeted Windows 2000 and XP vulnerabilities and indirectly affected other Windows systems, such as Windows 95, 98 and ME. One of the most common symptoms of the worm and its variants is frequent rebooting.
The first problem was reported May 3 and since then, the malicious software has caused the largest call volume the IR Call Center has ever had.
Ultimately, the number of calls and the pace at which they came in incapacitated our help desk. More than 1,300 calls were received at the help desk and 500 PCs had to be disabled by the end of the day.
A number of lessons were learned from this day’s events; the most important was that most service problems and interruptions could have been prevented. Several simple and preventive measures could easily have hindered spread of the Sasser Worm.
The priority now is to ensure all appropriate measures have been taken and all users focus on working together to prevent this from reoccurring.
Learn how to protect your PC
Most viruses spread to campus computers through e-mail and e-mail attachments or from files created on home PCs or laptops. IR uses Sophos antivirus software to protect computers from viruses and attacks from hackers. To verify if Sophos is running on your computer, look for the small red lightning bolt in your computer’s task bar near the time/date in the bottom right corner. If you don’t have Sophos installed, copies are available for purchase in the University Store.
Campus servers are scanned for viruses and hacker attacks each night, and Mednet is scanned every Thursday to ensure data is clean and backed up. The safest place to store documents is on your shared and personal space on Mednet.
Knowledge is the key to safeguarding personal PCs and laptops. Make sure to regularly apply critical updates to Windows operating system software. These updates not only protect personal PCs and laptops against viruses and worms, but also assist in overall protection and prevention of other security vulnerabilities that may affect campus servers.
Glossary
- Virus - A computer virus is a program that multiplies by copying itself onto disks and files with which it comes in contact. Virus programs have two distinct functions: (a) to spread from machine-to-machine using a self-producing code and (b) to implement the trouble planned by the creator. End results usually involve loss of data, inoperable computers and expensive repair.
- Worm - A worm is a subclass of a virus and generally spreads without user action and can duplicate itself across major networks. Worms can affect a computer’s memory, ultimately affecting its response to demands.
Safeguards and Defenses
- Antivirus software
- Windows patches and updates
- File and data back up if not saved on Mednet servers
How Can You Help?
- Install Windows software updates.
- Back up data on a regular basis.
- Scan everything, including new software diskettes.
- Keep antivirus software updated. IR recommends Sophos antivirus software.
- Be suspicious of unsolicited e-mail attachments
- Log into the MEDNET system weekly with your user ID to receive automatic software updates.
The Sasser Worm could have been prevented
Did you know that more than 75 percent of the PC breakdowns could have been prevented by the click of your mouse? Never ignore the Sophos updates prompts that display on your PC or laptop and report any error messages to the IR Call Center immediately.
If you don’t have access to Sophos or other automatic antivirus updates, each of the following Web address gives instructions for creating automatic Windows operating system updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
What antivirus software am I currently using?
To find out what antivirus software is on your PC or laptop, go to your Start menu and then to Programs. You will then be able to note if you are using Sophos or another antivirus protection tool.
What updates should I look for?
Go to your browser and click on Tools. Select Windows Update and then click on Scan for updates.
What if my department doesn’t follow established standards?
If your department currently uses software that is considered outdated (Windows 95, 98 & ME), you can still protect yourself by using other versions of antivirus software that are compatible with your system. Contact the IR Call Center at 214-648-7600 or by e-mail at IRCALLCENTER@utsouthwestern.edu , and someone will give you directions on what to do in this instance.
What if my machine becomes infected?
If your PC or laptop becomes infected, contact the IR Call Center at 214-648-7600 or by e-mail at IRCALLCENTER@utsouthwestern.edu, and a Client Services technician will be dispatched with a fix for your infected machine. However, please note that laptop requests are not considered a “hot call” so there may be a wait.
