BIOSIS puts methodsBASE on TheScientificWorld

NewsBreak

TheScientificWorld (http://www.thesci entificworld.com) has launched methodsBASE, a new file on its system that consists of the MethodsFinder file from BIOSIS (http://www.biosis.org) with some new content and features. On TheScientificWorld site, methodsBASE will have links to full-- text articles and documents supplied from sciBASE, the megabase covering input from several established databases (MEDLINE, CAB Abstracts, and others) as well as full-- text sources. It will also integrate with Lab Shelf, a service that allows users to purchase equipment and materials directly. As in MethodsFinder, users will have the option to add and publish protocols directly into methodsBASE.

The methodsBASE file covers studies that are relevant to laboratory work in the life sciences, including research and preparation, instrumentation, equipment specifications, measurement and analysis techniques, and experimental protocols and methods. The core of the 175,000-record methodsBASE continues to come from articles identified in the main Biological Abstracts bibliographic database. Articles that reflect substantive content on the methods used in life sciences carry pointers in the main BIOSIS file. Once identified, these records are transferred to methodsBASE. The original MethodsFinder file also added original records covering patents and links to manufacturers' and suppliers' Web sites, and these are also available in methodsBASE. The file updates weekly and allows browsing as well as searching. The methodsBASE service also offers current-awareness alerts based on user-interest profiles through the pupALERT service. Users of methodsBASE who are interested in posting their own protocols can use the i-PUBLISH feature on TheScientificWorld.