Billiar Lab: Database Searching & Referencing

K. Billiar

Finding Articles on your Topic: Getting Started

First, understand different types of periodical literature by reviewing Research Circuit: Starting Smart. From the Library Web Site, choose Databases & Electronic Resources, then Databases & Electronic Resources => Biomedical Engineering.

Start with: PubMed - premier database covering the fields of medicine, nursing, dentistry, veterinary medicine, the health care system, and the preclinical sciences. Contains bibliographic citations and author abstracts from more than 4,800 biomedical journals.

On the left, choose MeSH, the controlled vocabulary/terminology used to provide consistent indexing of materials within this database.

Run through the PubMed Tutorial to learn to search like a pro!

A few search tips:

Start with your keywords, then glean MeSH headings
Combine headings using AND and OR - using the MeSH link will help you simplify this technique

You can easily print or email you references, but if you are using citation software, such as Endnote or RefWorks, follow these steps.

Try RefWorks or EndnoteWeb, WPI subscriptions which allows you to maintain a personal database of your references.

Click the checkbox next to records you wish to export
Click SEND TO button, but choose Clipboard first (this is the best, because it will hold up to 500 items)
When finished searching/marking results, click blue "Clipboard" link under Search box
Next to DISPLAY button, choose "MEDLINE" in the dropdown menu, then click DISPLAY to reformat results in the correct format
Choose "File" from the SEND TO drop-down list, and then click on SEND TO.
Click SAVE, and rename the file with a *.txt extension

Import in EndNote (or other bibliographic citation software):

Look for the Import Filters option (under File), and choose the PubMed (NLM) filter
Use Import option to insert the data into your bibliographic management tool and make sure that the PubMed filter is selected

Where's the Full Text of the Article?

Often, you will find only an abstract or citation and no full text. To get the full text try to locate the article within:

Another library database check the Journals list search on the library site or look for our FullTextFinder link within databases
Check the library catalog - search by Journal Title or ISSN
Still not tracking down the item? How Do I Get This Journal Article?

If not available via WPI's resources, you may have to request the item through Interlibrary Loan and we will borrow it for you (could take a week or two).

Additional Databases & Electronic Resources to Explore

ScienceDirect - we subscribe to more than 1000 Elsevier journals online, including such titles as Biomaterials, also allows cross publisher searching and linking to other publishers content via CrossRef links
SCIRUS - free web search for science content, searchable through ScienceDirect
Web of Science: Perform cited reference searches to see who is citing which papers, as well as keep up with the current, journal literature in their areas of interest. TIP: Using an author's name can lead to other articles by that person. Scholars often perform research within one area of expertise.

Searching for Companies

What types of companies would you be looking for? Those who...

sell biomaterials?
sell testing devices and equipment?
any who may be interesting in offering you a job or internship?

A Few Approaches to Researching Companies:

track down industry and/or location specific directories of companies: online such as MA Biotech Directory, Sigma-Aldrich or reference books in the library such as Biotechnology Guide USA, or the Biotechnology Directory
track down vertical market web sites or portals: Such as Biocompare or Bioresearch Online
Locate trade journals that have buyers guides: Bioscience Technology
Locate research firms/publishing companies or trade shows: IDC's Bio IT World Sourcebook
Find trade associations for member lists or buyers guides: American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists or Science Advisory Board (they also do product reviews)
Word of mouth: ask your uncle, professor, or professional for product recommendations
Locate trade journals that have buyers guides: Bioscience Technology | Biosciregister

Proper Documentation and Referencing

Have questions? Send an e-mail to research-lib@wpi.edu

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Last modified: Mar 12, 2008, 09:39 EDT