The IBM Journal of Research and Development, which now includes the IBM Systems Journal, is claimed to be one of the top-cited journals in the field. The two, which have been published online since 1998, merged into one fee-based online publication in 2009. The production of future editions of the current publication, the IBM Journal of Research and Development, will be handled by IEEE. IBM will be responsible for the content acquisition and peer review, while IEEE assumes the article production, copy editing, data conversion, online hosting and maintenance.
Learn how to choose the right databases for your research, search them effectively, and even do a patent search!
Monday, September 21, 2009
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Pedro Domingos and Daniel Lowd publish in Synthesis Digital Library of Engineering & Computer Science
Markov Logic: An Interface Layer for Artificial Intelligence
Most subfields of computer science have an interface layer via which applications communicate with the infrastructure, and this is key to their success (e.g., the Internet in networking, the relational model in databases, etc.). So far this interface layer has been missing in AI. First-order logic and probabilistic graphical models each have some of the necessary features, but a viable interface layer requires combining both. Markov logic is a powerful new language that accomplishes this by attaching weights to first-order formulas and treating them as templates for features of Markov random fields. Most statistical models in wide use are special cases of Markov logic, and first-order logic is its infinite-weight limit. Artificial intelligence needs an interface layer, a language linking applications to their common infrastructure needs. AI applications involve high degrees of complexity and uncertainty. First-order logic handles complexity well and probabilistic graphical models do the same for uncertainty, but neither can cope effectively with both. Thus neither is sufficient for general AI. Markov logic is a powerful new language that seamlessly combines the two. Statements in Markov logic are simply weighted formulas in first-order logic, interpreted as templates for features of Markov random fields. Most statistical models in wide use are special cases of Markov logic, and first-order logic is its infinite-weight limit. Inference algorithms for Markov logic combine ideas from satisfiability, Markov chain Monte Carlo, belief propagation, and resolution. Learning algorithms make use of conditional likelihood, convex optimization, and inductive logic programming. Markov logic has been successfully applied to problems in information extraction and integration, natural language processing, robot mapping, social networks, computational biology, and others, and is the basis of the open-source Alchemy system.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
What: Intro to Engineering Databases Class
When: May 11th, 2009. 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
Where: The Engineering Library (computer classroom on the 3rd floor)
Why: Search better, faster, stronger.
To register go here: http://lib.washington.edu/engineering/classes/classes.html
Thursday, April 23, 2009
ISI Web of Knowledge (also referred to as Web of Science) is an extremely useful tool for researching. It's a citation database, which means you can use it to find out how many times an article or author has been cited and where.
One of the neat new things you can do with Web of Knowledge is create citation maps (currently in beta, but worth checking out). ISI has recently announced enhanced citation mapping capabilities that let you create a colorful visual representation of citing/cited relationships. Here's an example:
More ISI updates.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
A combined list of proposed titles for cancellation from all funds (including Engineering) will be posted on the web by summer 2009. Using faculty input and our principals and goals as guides, we will make final decisions in the fall.
You can find more information on the the official Serials and Electronic Resources Review 2009 page, including Frequently Asked Questions and a letter from the Dean of Libraries, Betsy Wilson.
If you have any questions or comments, please contact us.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Inspired by cartoonist Rube Goldberg, college students nationwide compete to design a machine to complete a simple task using 20 or more steps.
The 2009 task was to replace an incandescent light bulb with a more energy-efficient, light-emitting design.
Check out our favorite entry, "Scene of the Crime," from the University of Illinois team. It won second place.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Established in 1970, INIS represents the world's largest database of scientific and technical literature on a wide range of subjects from nuclear engineering, safeguards and non-proliferation to applications in agriculture, health and industry.
Currently, the INIS Database contains over 3 million bibliographic records and almost 200,000 full-text nonconventional documents, consisting of scientific and technical reports and other non copyrighted information.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Fear not, book seekers. Though WorldCat is down, you can still search for books using the trusty UW-only catalog.
There are many differences between WorldCat and our old UW-only catalog, but the major one is obvious from the titles: WorldCat searches the entire world (or almost) whereas the UW-only catalog just searches the books and journals we have here at UW.
So, while we're waiting on WorldCat to come back up, keep on searching using the old catalog. (Good thing we kept it around!)
Do you have a specific subject you love reading about, like hobbies, specific authors or formats? If you have to repeatedly craft a specific search around one of these areas to "see what's new," this new feature on WorldCat.org will save you lots of time. Just go to , do a search and refine your query as usual. Once you have the results set you want, click the "Save this Search" box in the upper right of the results screen. Now you can track the latest materials available on this topic in our library, and more than 10,000 other WorldCat libraries around the world.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Our friends at the Foster Business Library recently let us know about First Research, a new database featuring industry profiles. According to the First Research website, they cover over 700 industries and update every 90 days.
So if you are interested in researching an industry, First Research may be a good place to get started. If you'd like more information about industry research, check out the very long list of resources available via Foster's business research guides.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Happy Spring Break, everyone!
Since you don't have any classes this week, you might have time to watch a video of the panel presentation: "Open Science: Good for Research, Good for Researchers?" that took place at Columbia University on February 19, 2009.
The speakers are:
- Bora Zivkovic, Online Discussion Expert for the Public Library of Science (PLoS) and author of "A Blog Around the Clock." (The "useful knowledge" image above is from his talk.)
- Jean-Claude Bradley, Associate Professor of Chemistry and Coordinator of E-Learning for the School of Arts and Sciences at Drexel University and a practitioner of Open Notebook Science.
- Barry Canton, founder of Gingko BioWorks and the OpenWetWare wiki, an online community of life science researchers committed to open science that has over 5,300 users.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
"Barbara Liskov, the first woman in the United States to earn a Ph.D. from a computer-science department and a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has been awarded the A.M. Turing Award for 2008."
From the ACM press release:
"The award cites Liskov for her foundational innovations to designing and building the pervasive computer system designs that power daily life. Her achievements in programming language design have made software more reliable and easier to maintain. They are now the basis of every important programming language since 1975, including Ada, C++, Java, and C#. The Turing Award, widely considered the "Nobel Prize in Computing," is named for the British mathematician Alan M. Turing. The award carries a $250,000 prize..."
Monday, March 16, 2009
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Acoustical Society of America, American Geophysical Union, American Institute of Physics, American Physical Society, American Society of Civil Engineers, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Audio Engineering Society, AVS, ECS, IEEE, Institute of Physics, IUCR Crystallography Journals Online, Optical Society of America, Professional Engineering Publishing, Royal Society, Society for Industrial & Applied Mathematics, SPIE, The Society for Information Display, DTIC Science & Technology, European Patents, Information Bridge, Japanese Patents, NSF Publications Database, US Patent & Trademark Office Database
This search engine is free and on the open Internet, like Google Scholar, but with less noise. It's not full-text, so in most cases you'll still have to depend on your dear old library to provide you with the content, but this looks like a great search engine to use when you're beginning your research.
According to Library Journal, its content "...includes such significant scientific papers as Isaac Newton's invention of the reflecting telescope and the first research paper published by Stephen Hawking." (Those links will open as PDFs.)
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
What is "desktop article delivery"?
It means libraries staff will pull and scan journal articles from print volumes held by the UW Libraries and deliver them electronically to your desktop free of charge.
This is a pilot project that will only be available from March 1st through June 30th. The purpose of the pilot is to gather data about the actual demand and costs for such a service. At the end of the academic year the results will be evaluated and we'll determine if a permanent pull and scan service is feasible.
So, if you're tired of dragging yourself to the brick and mortar library to pull and copy journal articles that aren't available electronically, this pilot is for you. Take advantage while it lasts.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Wendy McCarville from IEEE will be on campus next week and will be offering a special one-hour workshop on IEEE Xplore just for UW faculty, staff, and students. She will go over new features and enhancements to IEEE Xplore and show you tips on how to get the best search results in the database. She'll also be able to answer any questions you may have about IEEE Xplore.
Thursday, March 12
10:30-11:30 am in the Engineering Library Instruction Center (3rd floor of the Engineering Library)
If you would like to attend, please send an email to lcwhang at u.wash or call 206-685-8370.
Wendy will also have some great IEEE items to give away!
Thursday, February 26, 2009
From University Week:
"This picture, and other imaginative takes on UW bioengineering research, will be on display [February 27] through April 3 at the Harborview Medical Center cafeteria.
This is the first time the Harborview Art Program -- which regularly includes local artists, musicians and performers -- will feature scientific research.
The exhibit also serves as an artistic premiere of sorts for images from the laboratory of Albert Folch, a UW associate professor of bioengineering... "
TK6570.M6 W38 2009.
12. NANO-CMOS DESIGN FOR MANUFACTURABILILTY : ROBUST CIRCUIT AND PHYSICAL DESIGN FOR SUB-65 NM TECHNOLOGY NODES
Hoboken, NJ : Wiley, c2009.
TK7871.99.M44 N362 2009.
13. ADVANCES IN MULTIPHYSICS SIMULATION AND EXPERIMENTAL TESTING OF MEMS / EDITORS ATTILIO FRANGI ... [ET AL.].
London : Imperial College Press ; Hackensack, N.J. : distributed by World Scientific Publishing, c2008.
TK7875 .A38 2008.
14. Ludwig, Duane A.
SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS FOR AIRPORTS
Washington, D.C. : Transportation Research Board, 2007.
TL553.5 .L83 2007.v.1.
15. Sun, Conroy Ghin Chee.
According the the BBC article, the "researchers' prototype measures a quarter of a millimetre wide - not much more than a couple of hairs side-by-side, and 70% smaller than the previous record holder."
If you need help accessing this (or any) article, just ask us.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
All undergraduate students enrolled at the University of Washington are eligible to compete for the UW Library Research Award. If you're a UW undergrad who knows how to do great research, you could be a winner! (Or if you know such an undergrad, encourage them to apply!)
The awards committee gives out six to ten awards each year. The prize is $750 for Non-Seniors and $1000 for Seniors.
Applying is a three step process and the first deadline is May 18, 2009.
So what are you waiting for? I did a quick scan of the past winners and didn't see any engineering students. You could be the first!
Learn more about the Library Research Award at their FAQ site.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Safari Tech Books Online offers full-text technical reference books on topics such as networking, Java, Linux/Unix, Perl, .NET, desktop productivity, web development and more from O'Reilly and other publishers of IT books.
The UW Engineering Library provides you access to Safari for books published in 2007, 2008, and 2009 (such as the brand new title Beautiful Architecture shown below).
So take advantage of this awesome resource. If you're working from off-campus and need help connecting, refer to this previous post for more info, or ask us here.
Monday, January 12, 2009
For example, University of Washington professor Babak Parviz's work on developing a bionic contact lens was recently highlighted in a CNN.com article.
So subscribe to the NewsFlash RSS feed to keep up with the latest breaking news about your colleagues at the UW College of Engineering.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Students in the College of Engineering like to stay on top of new technologies. If you're interested in the companies behind many of the innovations shaping our world, you might want to take a look at the 34 companies selected as the top Technology Pioneers for 2009 by the World Economic Forum.
The WEF recognizes companies in three areas: Biotechnology and Health, Energy and Environmental Technologies, and Information Technology. According to the nomination form: "The World Economic Forum’s Technology Pioneers programme focuses on distinguishing those innovations that will have a dramatic and sustainable impact on business and/or society."
You can also check out YouTube videos about Technology Pioneers here.
The Lemelson-MIT Invention Index is an annual survey that measures American teens’ perceptions about invention and innovation. According to their recent press release, this year's survey revealed that:
- 85% of teens expressed interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, with “curiosity about the way things work” as the driving factor for their interest.
- 56% of those interested selected “protecting the environment” or “improving our society” as their inspiration.
- 55% of teens believe scientists, engineers and mathematicians are best described as “intelligent." Only 5% of teens selected “nerdy” as the best description.
- Nearly 2/3 of teens indicated that they may be discouraged from pursuing a career in science, technology, engineering or mathematics because they do not know anyone who works in these fields.