SciFinder Scientific research for everybody!

Transkript

1 SciFinder Scientific research for everybody! SciFinder browses several scientific databases - the knowledge of a specific coding language is not needed. Browsing via a chemical structure editor allows fast access to the database. Links to full text versions of the researched articles are also available. The Introduction to SciFinder (German) contains 4 parts: The complete document is located here: (Microsoft Powerpoint) (Adobe pdf) 1

2 Sources of information of the CAS databases Articles from more than 10,000 journals: Cover to cover evaluation of about 1,500 chemical journals. CAplus Core Journal Coverage List: CAPlus contains patents from 63 patent offices. More information on the coverage of patents can be found here: Articles published in approx. 60 languages! Articles derive from a variety of media, such as books, theses, electronic journals, e-reprints, etc.. Approximately 3000 new references entered daily in CAPlus Medline updates 4x a week. An overview of all up to date CAS content can be found here: 2

3 Constant updates of SciFinder always provide new improvements. Current news and the latest development status are available on the following site: Comprehensive information is located here: 3

4 Expert information portal/ Knowledge databases within the FSU network/ How to install VPN software: If you are a member of FSU and want to access SciFinder/Web of Science or other licensed media from outside the FSU network you must use a (virtual) tunnel software (VPN = Virtual private network) to access the files through the university network. Piece of advice: Delete older versions of the VPN client software. Reboot your PC and continue to download and install the current version from the FSU page. There are distinct versions for each operating system. Common error: Error 5: No hostname exists for this connection entry. Unable to make VPN connection. There is a problem with the Cisco VPN software. Sometimes your profile gets damage if your PC turns into power saving mode while the software is still running. Check this link for more information: 4

5 SciFinder is now accessable through a web browser. This version enables the usage of SciFinder through all computers located on campus or alternatively through the VPN software from computers located outside FSU. There is no need to download additional software in order to use SciFinder. This usage is covered by license agreements of the university. As a first time user of SciFinder you have to register beforehand at CAS. The process of registration is described in greater detail on the following pages. 5

6 As a first time user of SciFinder you have to register beforehand at CAS. In order to register you have to connect through the university network respectively the VPN client. In addition you have to use your FSU address. This link leads to the registration page: The bolded information must be filled in. An address can just be used once for each user. 6

7 After submission of the registration form a verification will be sent to you. The contains a link. Clicking on that link completes your registration. The user name and password will be unlocked and from now on you can access SciFinder with this information. Password requirements: - No umlaut characters!!! - Minimum of seven characters, maximum of 15 characters, - At least two characters that are not existent in the user name. - Three of the four following conditions must be considered: - Contains alphabetical letters - Contains capital letters and lowercase letters - Contains numbers - Contains at least one special character 7

8 If you forget your user name and/or password follow the directions after clicking on Forgot Username or Password. Afterwards a page appears with your security question. You had to think of this question (and answer) during the registration process. It is necessary to remember the precise answer! After filling in and submitting the answer you will receive an from CAS. This contains a link to a form in order to change the user name/password. Quick and easy! 8

9 First step: Agree to license terms A starting page can be selected through the preference menu: - Explore References (Search for bibliographical references/ patents. You can search for keywords, authors, firms or patent numbers). - Explore Substances (Search for chemical compounds. You can search for compund names, CAS-registry numbers, molecular formulars, (sub- )structural formulars or Markush-formulars. - Explore Reactions (Search for chemical reactions through a search for structural formulars). Checking the Keep me posted options will lead to notifications of search results. Attention: You have to decide whether or not to check this option at thos point. You cannot change it while setting the options for Keep me posted. There is an option to delete duplicates permenantly. The duplicate references will be deleted from Medline exclusively. 9

10 Central questions for SciFinder Research How does the system interpret my query? How does it transform my natural language search term into an algorithm? Take a closer look at the suggested answer types: - Concept as entered - as a phrase - Concept closely associated - Words within a sentence - Concept anywhere in the reference search word is anywhere in the document Proper search terms can only be selected with clear professional perceptions. A certain foreknowledge is substantial in order to formulate a search request. Word groups should only be used if one is certain that they describe a specific phrase (as entered). AND/OR conjunctions have to appear in the same passage, it does not matter wheter or not they are associated. 10

11 There is no search option in order to search for a specific topic published in specific journals. Such a research requires several steps: 1. Search for topic A 2. Restrict matches with Analysis Journal Name 3. If necessary further limitation with Refine by Publication Years in order to search for specific periods The research topic can almost be entered in natural language english. Search words connected by prepositions like as, by, of, on, at, in will be searched as closely related. In order to search for an article on the abuse of anabolic steriods you do not use anabolic steroids AND abuse but abuse OF anabolic steroids There are no place holders (wildcards) such as *,?, #. SciFinder automatically includes the search for other possible endings of words, plurals, abbreviations, etc.. 11

12 In SciFinder - as opposed to the research with other databases (such as web of science, biological abstracts, etc.) - there is a lesser demand to mask search terms or the usage of abbreviations, synonyms, other possible spellings or a distinction between American English and British English. While chosing a general concept (not as entered ) one has to consider that sometimes completely different terms can emerge from a single root word. All the researched matches should always be checked for relevance. An example: Usage of the search term MENTION mention as entered : mention The concept mention : also leads to e.g.: -MeNQ / mental / mentioned / mensurated / Mendelian / Mendeleje -men But: men not mention- the concept men, but not the concept mention is not = zero, one finds e.g.: - Menthol / menopause / Michaelis-Menten / Meniere disease -Mentolum / Mentha haplocalyx / meningioma / meningitis - MEND-CABG - Menkes / Menthfuran / mensiscus / menu 12

13 Pre-search there are the following filter options: - publication year - document type - languages - authors name - firms name Clicking the SciFinder logo will lead you to your preset starting page in order to start a new search. Of course there is also the possibility to click on references/ substances/ reactions to start a new search. 13

14 A search will lead to scaled, alternative query outputs, so called Research Topic Candidates. This is the connection of the individual concepts of the search request in a number of different ways, Take a closer look on the list of suggested results in order to understand how your search query was interpreted by the system. If you are unsure try another concept for your query. Keep in mind: You are the intelligent and creative part of the system. It will just lead to good results if you enter adequate search requests! After the selection of a suitable entry one can choose articles from the hit list and check the details. About the concepts and research: - The search should contain up to a maximum of 7 concepts - 4 terms per concept - A maximum of 40 words per text search 14

15 SciFinder automatically uses synonyms from the CA-special thesaurus for the entered search words, e.g. preparation synthesis. If Explore References is set as the starting page it is possible to beginn the search with one of the following aspects: -keywords - authors name - firms/institutions name - document identifier - journal - patent 15