New Resources
a. Landolt-Bornstein: Numerical Data in Science and Technology (Diane Fortner, UCB)
CDL has added electronic access to Landolt-Bornstein, through Springer’s LINK book-series offering.
Landolt-Bornstein (Germany)
http://www.landolt-boernstein.com/
L-B is a unique high-quality physics, chemistry and technology data collection that brings a searcher the work of a thousand experts to his/her computer screen. The handbook’s data coverage starts with the scientific data described before 1883, the first year of publication, up to 2002.
L-B represents all fields of physics, physical chemistry, geophysics, astronomy, materials technology and engineering, and biophysics. Only evaluated data can be used as a basis for a knowledge base.
The first edition, one volume of less than 300 pages, was compiled by H. Landolt and R. Bornstein. Six editions have now been published. Compilation of the 6th edition spanned 30 years (1950-1980) and involved 12 editors and 550 authors. As the 6th edition was being completed, the editors and Springer started a new approach, publishing new volumes and supplements that extend and complement the 6th edition. Mostly the volumes in the New Series are dedicated to currently expanding fields of research and applications. Today the New Series comprises some 300 volumes. The online version of L-B represents the New Series.
Easiest access to online L-B is through its own Search system. It can also be searched through the LINK search system, which would include L-B and journals. L-B equals 10 percent of the LINK server. Searching is free to all. Full text (PDF) is for subscribers, currently accessible to all UC. Navigation of
L-B works best with Adobe Reader 5.0.
Discover the benefits of the online version:
1. Full text PDFs
2. Excellent readability of table of Contents
3. Clear and fast navigation
4. Searchable via L-B search-system in contents, titles, authors, or in text
5. Access to Index
Document, data files as well as the table of contents, are presented in PDF format. One may choose “Landolt-Bornstein Contents” from the homepage. The navigation bar features hierarchically structured bookmarks for quick orientation. One may choose “Landolt-Bornstein Search” from the homepage to access the powerful L-B Search. Ignore the LINK search sketch at the top of the screen and drop down to the L-B search box. From the Contents page, access the Index by clicking on “Landolt-Bornstein: General Scientific Information and Tools”. We have asked the Editors to make the Index a clearer, more obvious choice.
Topics covered by online L-B:
Units and Fundamental Constants (of general interest; equivalent of first 2 volumes of New Series)
Groups (materials related scientific data; 298 volumes and counting):
Elementary Particles, Nuclei and Atoms
Molecules and Free Radicals
Condensed Matter
Physical Chemistry
Geophysics
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Biophysics
Advanced Materials and Technology being added as Group 8
In Group 4 Physical Chemistry, one can choose to search “from” the Periodic Table, an ambitious offering. Links to Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Numbers are forthcoming. L-B online offers ready access to Binary Phase Diagrams. There is a new volume coming out this year on Energy Technology. And there are plans to broaden coverage in atmospheric science and climatological modeling.
To see online L-B in action, try this sample search on silver bromide. Choose “Landolt-Bornstein Search” from the homepage. http://www.landolt-boernstein.com/ In the search box, enter “agbr”. Click on Perform Search. [Result returned.] Refine search by entering “phonon”. [Result returned.] Further refine the search by entering “dispersion”.[Result returned.] Choose to get the full text of document 1. You will see the highlighted search terms in the return.
Data seekers will find that Landolt-Bornstein has an amazing wealth of information.
b. American Civil War: Letters and Diaries
The newest release of American Civil War: Letters and Diaries [www.alexanderstreet2.com/cwldlive] is now available to all campuses.
American Civil War: Letters and Diaries contains detailed firsthand descriptions of historical characters and events, glimpses of daily life in the army, anecdotes about key events and personages, and accounts of sufferings at home written for private consumption, provide an immediacy and a richness that are unmatched in public sources.
It provides access to over 1,000 sources of diaries, letters, and memoirs to provide fast access to thousands of views on almost every aspect of the war, including what was happening at home. The writings of politicians, generals, slaves, landowners, farmers, seaman, wives, and even spies are included. The letters and diaries are by the famous and the unknown, giving not only both the Northern and Southern perspectives, but those of foreign observers also. The materials originate from all regions of the country and are from people who played a variety of roles.
Using a thesaurus of Civil War terms, researchers can quickly find references to individuals, battles, theaters of war, and activities. A chronology of key events allows the user to see multiple perspectives surrounding a particular event. Questions such as “Give me all accounts of letters written about hospital conditions by Union soldiers in the Western Theater” can be answered in seconds.
The collection includes approximately 100,000 pages of published memoirs, letters and diaries from individuals plus 4,000 pages of previously unpublished materials. Drawn from more than 1,000 sources, the collection provides in-depth coverage of all aspects of the war. More than 1,000 biographies will enhance the use of the database.
The collection includes one of the most comprehensive bibliographies of Civil War letters and diaries yet published. It lists over 1,000 published and unpublished items from a variety of sources, including online resources and microform.
(Adapted from Alexander Street Press description)
c. Journal of the National Cancer Institute (JNCI)
Note: Currently access via proxy server from the following campuses is not working: UCB, UCD, UCSB, UCSF, UCSC, UCR. We are working with their technical staff to resolve this problem.
In response to intense user demand, the CDL has licensed JNCI Cancer Spectrum. Access is available via the HighWire platform; users may go directly to: http://jncicancerspectrum.oupjournals.org/. (Also included are JNCI Monographs.)
JNCI Cancer Spectrum is the new online version of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute (JNCI). Now incorporated into JNCI Cancer Spectrum, JNCI is also a U.S. government depository item, but its online version is only available through Oxford University Press, which has integrated the Journal with other sources of cancer information.
Oxford University Press (OUP) excluded JNCI Cancer Spectrum from its electronic journals package to which the CDL subscribes. The CDL has worked with Oxford for months to negotiate an arrangement that would have a consortial advantage for the UC campus libraries. Co-investments include the campuses and CDL, which is covering the costs for the small non-health sciences campuses.