December 2004/January 2005 (Volume XII, No. 2)

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.

Subscribe to Information Times

Information Times gradually has scaled back printing to compensate for rising printing costs, tighter departmental budgets and increased use of the Web version.

To promote these changes, this will be the last abstract flyer printed and distributed through campus mail. Beginning with the February/March issue, a description of available articles will be e-mailed to faculty and staff and will refer recipients directly to the Information Times Web site for more detailed information.

All faculty and staff are officially invited to subscribe to the Information Times e-mail distribution list.  To preserve the privacy of users on campus, there will be no automatic registration to the distribution list so users who wish to receive these notices by e-mail must subscribe themselves to the list.

To subscribe, follow these simple steps:

1. Go to http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/infotimes.
2. Go to "Subscribing to Infotimes".
3. Provide your GroupWise mailing address (example: Firstname.Lastname@utsouthwestern.edu).
4. Create a password and confirm it.
5. Select "No" to the question, "Would you like to receive list mail batched in a daily digest?"
6. Click the "Subscribe" button.
7. You will receive a confirmation e-mail from infotimes-request@lists.utsouthwestern.edu. To confirm that you want to be added to this mailing list, simply reply to the message, keeping the Header and Subject lines intact.
8. You will receive one final e-mail with the subject line "Welcome to the 'Infotimes' mailing list."

After months of planning and design, a revised version of the Information Times Web site is now available at http://www.utsouthwestern.edu/utsw/home/admin/infotimes.  This Web site provides the same information previously available, but it now conforms to the graphic standards used within the rest of the UT Southwestern Web site.

To use the Web site, follow these simple guidelines:

1. "Current Issue" links to the most recent published issue.  Beginning with the October/November 2004 issue, a PDF version is now available for printing.
2. "Previous Issues" links to issues published during the past three years.
3. "Editorial Staff" links to contact information for the publication’s editorial staff.

For more information about the Web site or to make comments or suggestions, contact Jon Crossno, managing editor, at 214-648-2562 or jon.crossno@utsouthwestern.edu.  Comments are always welcome.

A primary purpose for scholarly communication is the dissemination of research results to as wide an audience as possible. Much scholarly communication occurs through the publication of peer-reviewed articles in professional journals that are read by other scholars.

Scholars both create and consume research information. They provide the true value to the scholarly communications process through the creation of information and peer review before publication. However, many scholars feel they have lost control of the scholarly communication system.

The scientific, technical and medical (STM) publishing industry has become a multi-billion dollar business. Commercial publishers increasingly have taken over STM publishing, profiting handsomely from scholars’ work and the public’s support of their work. Double-digit annual price increases are common for STM journals and books.

Over the past 10 years, health sciences journal prices have risen 129 percent — more than 10 percent annually — with no apparent connection to the rest of the economy. In 2004, the UT Southwestern Library will pay $21,269 for Brain Research Online, which is enough to purchase a 2004 Toyota Camry XLE. For the $11,475 cost of an annual subscription to Science STKE Online, one could purchase a 2.86-carat Tiffany diamond band. In addition, since 1986 the number of books and serials published worldwide has increased by 50 percent each.

Needless to say, library budgets have not been able to keep up. The number of subscriptions held by North American research libraries has decreased by 6.5 percent, and the acquisition of monographs has dropped 26 percent. Yet STM publishers continue to prosper. They frequently do not allow libraries to cut individual titles from "Big Deal" packages without ultimately raising the price of the remaining collection. Recent, well-publicized announcements of library journal cancellations, including those made by Cornell and the University of California at San Francisco, are some responses to this trend.

The focus on profits has overwhelmed the core purpose of scholarly communication: the broadest possible distribution of published research. One possible result of the current trend might be a few giant publishing cartels that offer products at ever-increasing prices, with ever-increasing restrictions. Libraries — the largest subscription base — no longer could afford to subscribe, and the current model of STM journal publishing collapses.

However, another scenario is emerging: "Open Access (OA)" publishing. In its purest sense, OA literature is digital, online, free of charge and accessible anywhere in the world. Some OA publications also are free of copyright and licensing restrictions. Others may restrict open access to selected portions of a journal or embargo open access by publication date.

Unlike the traditional subscription model, OA publications are funded by resource redirection. More submission and processing costs are borne by authors and their supporting institutions or funding agencies rather than by libraries or other consumers. The UT Southwestern Library provides access to a directory of OA journals through its ejournals list. Some of the better known examples are:

• BioMed Central (http://www.biomedcentral.com/)
• Public Library of Science Biology (http://www.plosbiology.org/plosonline/?request=index-html&issn=1545-7885)
• Public Library of Science Medicine (http://medicine.plosjournals.org/)
• PubMed Central (http://www.pubmedcentral.gov/)

Another OA model is self-archiving. By self-archiving their own publications, scholars and institutions can "recapture" scholarly publishing and disseminate research results via the Web. Online resources, such as institutional repositories and metadata for describing documents, make this model achievable.

However, there is no digital equivalent of print on acid-free paper as a preservation medium. Digital materials are far from robust, and their existence over time — without continuous and expensive curation — is far from assured. This requires time, effort, resources and money on a continuing, unending basis.

One method of self-archiving is D-Space, a public domain program develop at MIT. The MIT implementation of D-Space can be seen at https://dspace.mit.edu/index.jsp. An example of another method is the UT Southwestern Library's growing archive of electronic theses and dissertations at http://www4.utsouthwestern.edu/library/ETD/etd.cfm.

Individual scholars can help with the crisis in scholarly publishing in a number of ways:

• Modify any contract you sign with a commercial publisher to ensure your rights to use your own work as you see fit, including posting it to a public archive.
• Submit papers to quality journals that have reasonable pricing practices.
• Examine the pricing, copyright and licensing agreements of any commercially published journal you contribute to as an author, reviewer or editor.
• Consider using your influence by refusing to review for unreasonably expensive journals or to serve on their editorial boards.
• Consider, if you are an editor of a too-costly journal, moving the journal to a non-profit publisher or resigning and allying yourself with a more reasonably priced competitive publication, in accordance with any applicable contractual provisions.

For more information on scholarly communications and open access, please visit these Web sites:

• "Access to the Literature: the debate continues," Nature, March 25, 2004 (http://www.nature.com/nature/focus/accessdebate/)
• Create Change (http://www.createchange.org/)
• PubMed Central (http://www.pubmedcentral.gov/about/openaccess.html)
• Association of Research Libraries: Issues in Scholarly Communication (http://www.arl.org/scomm/)

Contributed by Laurie L. Thompson, Director of Libraries (laurie.thompson@utsouthwestern.edu)

Forgot your password? No problem, just call 214-648-7600.  On one hand, this is fine.  On the other hand, Information Resources devotes more than one full-time employee just to resetting forgotten passwords.  Most of our clients may not realize more than half the Call Center call volume on Mondays is password resets.

As Information Resources continues to absorb more areas of responsibility, evaluating services like resetting passwords is essential.  The effort to reduce requests to reset passwords is part of an overall plan to enable the Call Center to deliver the most efficient service possible.

Expansion of Password Lifetimes

The first step in reducing password reset calls happened in August when the lifetime for MEDNET and OAS passwords was expanded from every 45 days to 95 days.  The result has been about a 15 percent reduction in requests for password resets.  An added benefit is that users do not have to come up with a new password as often.  Other major systems such as Epic are being evaluated, and, where possible, the password lifetimes will be set to 95 days.

The Biggest Culprits - Novell and GroupWise

Novell and GroupWise password resets continue to be the front-runners, accounting for about 1,200 calls per month.  MEDNET Administration is preparing to eliminate the need for a separate password when logging into GroupWise.  The long-term plan is to make your SouthwesternID and one password access both Mednet and GroupWise.   "SouthwesternID" is the new generic name for Novell and Mednet IDs.  Beginning on Change Sunday in January 2005, clients will be transferred to the new model one mail server at a time.  Users will be notified several weeks prior to the scheduled change for their mail server, and no action will be required on their part.  The SouthwesternID and one password for MEDNET and GroupWise provide convenience for our clients, more efficiency for the IR Call Center, and no compromise to security.

Information Resources Needs Your Help

Even with the changes both completed and planned, passwords are still a critical aspect of security and require everyone’s compliance.  Information Resources understands that many employees must juggle several passwords, so here are some tips to keep your password easy to remember, difficult to hack and unnecessary to write down.

1. Do not use names of children, pets, or friends.  They are easy to hack and you will soon run out of names.
2. Determine what your password scheme will be both for now and for the future.  It may be the words of a song or saying.
3. String 2 or more words together. For example, the following passwords will last nearly two years and make it easy to keep track of them:
   • nowisthE
   • time4all
   • goodMen
   • 2cometo
   • theaidof
   • KuntTRee
4. Change all passwords at the same time even though not prompted to do so.

Taking your passwords seriously will help make our computers more secure and reduce the number of calls to the IR Call Center for password resets.

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 updates or enhancements that we hope are of interest.

• Cochrane Library from Wiley InterScience 
• Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database 
• New Neurology Textbooks in MD Consult
• Another Way to Get That Article! 

Cochrane Library from Wiley InterScience

The evidence based medicine information provided by the Cochrane Library is now available on Wiley InterScience at http://www.thecochranelibrary.com.

The Cochrane Library consists of a regularly updated collection of evidence based medicine databases:

• Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
• Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE)
• Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials
• Cochrane Database of Methodology Reviews
• Health Technology Assessment Database (HTA)
• NHS Economic Evaluation Database (NHS EED)

The Library is examining the Wiley InterScience version as a possible alternative to Ovid's Cochrane Collection, and feedback is welcome. Please send your comments to us via the "Feedback" link at the bottom of Library pages.

Please note access to Cochrane is available only while on campus. Off-site access requires VPN.

Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database

Does garlic act to lower cholesterol?  Does St. John's wort relieve depression?

The Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database (http://www.naturaldatabase.com/member_home.asp) was created by a group of pharmacists and physicians responding to the need for up-to-date clinical data on natural medicines, herbal medicines and dietary supplements. The research and editorial staff of the Pharmacist's Letter and the Prescriber's Letter evaluate natural medicines by the same scientific criteria used to evaluate prescription and non-prescription drugs.

Search by product or brand name, by condition or disease, or by interaction. The evaluations include references to medical literature that are linked to the PubMed article abstract.

For assistance with the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, contact Katherine Alexander, Education Librarian, at 214-648-3905, or go to http://www4.utsouthwestern.edu/library/reference/referenceRequest.cfm.

New Neurology Textbooks in MD Consult

The Library recently has obtained access to the Neurology Collection as part of MD Consult. The Neurology Collection integrates eight reference books to meet the needs of neurologists, family physicians and other practitioners who treat patients with neurologic disorders. Titles include:

• Bradley: Neurology in Clinical Practice, 4th edition, 2003
• Chokroverty: Sleep Disorders Medicine: Basic Science, Technical Considerations and Clinical Aspects, 2nd edition, 1998
• Ettinger: Managing Epilepsy & Co-Existing Disorders, 2001
• Fenichel: Clinical Pediatric Neurology: A Signs and Systems Approach, 4th edition, 2001
• Katirji: Neuromuscular Disorders in Clinical Practice, 2001
• Kirshner: Behavioral Neurology: Practical Science of Mind and Brain, 2nd edition, 2001
• Mohr: Stroke: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Management, 4th edition, 2004
• Samuels: Office Practice of Neurology, 2nd edition, 2003

MD Consult passwords are available to authorized users through the Information Resources Call Center. Call 214-648-7600.

Another Way to Get That Article!

When searching in Ovid or EBSCOHost or Health Reference Center, you can access the library's "Linking Options" page using such links as "Remote Link", "Full-text at UT Southwestern" and "Click for SFX Services". This page will provide links to the full-text article, if available.

In addition, this page also offers the option to request the article through Interlibrary Loan using the Library's ILLiad system (http://illiad.library.swmed.edu/). By clicking on the available link — "ILLiad Login (request form filled out)" — and logging in, users immediately will see the request form with all information provided. Users then need only to verify the information, select a desired delivery option and submit the form.

To use ILLiad, users must first register for a Library card.

Telecommunications launches ambitious campus-wide project

Some of you may have noticed new black telephones — actually the color is called "mangan" — appearing in a few offices around campus.  These new Siemens phones are the first of a two- to three-year project that eventually will replace all the ROLM telephones we’ve used for the last 15 years.  The next major deployment of these phones will be in the new ND building on the north campus, for which initial occupancy is scheduled for the end of January 2005.

Many of you already have met with Siemens designers to begin the initial planning process for designing the telephone configurations for each of the business units on campus.  This initial design process is scheduled to continue through the first part of 2005 and includes the design for a potential replacement of the telephone systems for St. Paul and Zale Lipshy hospitals as well.

The process is not simple by any means. Every telephone instrument and line — including fax lines, analog ports, etc. — needs to be identified and prepared for its replacement.  Following the initial design process, which is projected to account for some 15,000 devices, a final system design will be completed and installation phases scheduled.

Each installation phase will be assigned a specific cutover date and will accommodate several business units - even entire buildings and sections of the campus.  These cutovers likely will occur during a weekend to limit the disruption to individual business units.

The majority of the features of the current ROLM system are retained in the new system, although some of them operate somewhat differently.  With the new system come several new features that are being welcomed by the campus community.  Some of the more noticeable features are:

• Alphanumeric displays for almost every phone type
• Inbound and outbound caller ID
  • If not blocked by the sending party, users will now see the calling number of external inbound calls
• Intelligent optiGuide® feature displays, presenting appropriate feature options to users, determined by the state of the call
  • Virtually all features are available to every user by selecting the feature from a scrolling display.  This reduces the need for the myriad of feature buttons currently required on our ROLM telephones
• Full-duplex (two-way) speakerphones for almost every phone type
• On busy conditions, call waiting indication prior to forwarding
  • If a second calls comes in while a user’s line is busy, the user is presented with a call waiting tone, flashing light and calling name display, allowing the user to answer the call, if desired, before the call forwards onto voice mail or other forwarding target

For call centers, the new Siemens system provides a state-of-the-art, robust, skills-based automatic call distribution (ACD) solution, with on-screen call answering, real-time statistics and graphical activity displays to supervisors and managers.

The new system can now serve off-campus locations as well, giving off-campus users the same access to features and services as would be available if they were on campus.  This includes the same types of instruments, campus telephone numbers, five-digit dialing to all other campus locations, long distance service from the university’s network and access to voice mail.

This new Siemens system positions us to take advantage of new technologies, including presenting application screen-pops to agents in call centers, voice mail messages delivered to email inboxes, speech recognition capabilities, wireless options, and many other capabilities that are often needed in large, multi-faceted organizations.

We’re excited about the capabilities this new system will provide and are doing everything in our power to minimize disruption of service, especially during cutovers.  We appreciate the support we’ve already received from many of you and ask for your continued support as we roll out this very large campus project.

ACP’s PIER: an alternative to UpToDate

The Library provides access to the ACP’s PIER (The Physicians' Information and Education Resource), which is produced by the American College of Physicians. PIER is similar to the popular tool UpToDate in that it addresses specific clinical issues and summarizes the latest evidence and best practices in diagnosis and treatment.

Features include:

• 245 modules, with eight to 10 modules added per month
• Topics selected by the ACP based upon prevalence in clinical settings
• Evaluated evidence for all diseases, with credibility rating displayed
• Cross-searchable drug references
• Tables, figures and references
• Browsing either alphabetically or by organ system

ACP’s PIER is now available online through STAT!Ref. (UpToDate is available only on the CD-ROM workstation at the south campus library.) Use the links under "Medical Reference" on the Library’s home page (http://www4.utsouthwestern.edu/library) to access either ACP’s PIER or STAT!Ref. Note: Off-campus access requires the use of VPN.

The Library obtains access to STAT!Ref through the TexShare consortium.

VPN users must install new client software by January 2005 "Change Sunday"

Campus users of Virtual Private Networking (VPN) should install updated client software to take advantage of new ease-of-use features and security improvements.

The new Windows client includes automatic proxy configuration, eliminating the need to change settings in your Web browser when switching between regular ISP service and the VPN tunnel to campus.

The updated software, which was made available in October 2004, may be purchased on CD from the University Store or downloaded from Mednet or your Web browser.  See http://www8.utsouthwestern.edu/utsw/cda/dept28610/files/73794.html for full details on how to obtain, authorize and use your VPN client for remote access.

The new VPN client requires no configuration by the user and installs automatically. The client contains preconfigured connection settings so users no longer will need to know IP addresses or VPN Group information.

Users are encouraged to upgrade ASAP. To download the VPN software, browse to http://inside.utsouthwestern.edu/irhome/network/vpn.htm and choose Windows or Macintosh. (New users wishing to initiate remote access also can get information at that page.)  Or, if you prefer, pick up a CD with the complete, up-to-date VPN Client (for a small duplicating fee) from the University Store, located below Gooch Auditorium on the south campus.

Remember, existing VPN clients must be upgraded by "Change Sunday" on Jan. 16, 2005.  Thereafter, use of the old VPN client will be restricted to downloading the new client.

VPN is security software used for remote and wireless access to restricted UT Southwestern systems. The software is free to all UT Southwestern faculty, staff and students and can be used to access campus services like the Library's electronic full-text journals and books, certain clinical systems, student curriculum and the Information Resources internal Web site.

VPN allows a remote computer to become a node in the UT campus network just as if it were directly connected to our MedNet system by wires. This is also true for wireless computers (e.g., laptops) both on and off campus. (Special provisions are made for wireless laptops on campus.  See http://inside.utsouthwestern.edu/irhome/network/wireless_access_points.htm for more information.)