VHL News Network

Mexico advances in developing the SciELO

Mexico ranks second in Latin America in scientific production registered at the WoS and PUBMED, and also in publishing articles in national journals. Therefore, it is essential and expected that the best journals integrate the collection SciELO Mexico, to promote the continuous enhancement of its visibility and accessibility, together with the collections of other countries in the network. With the purpose of implementing the operation of SciELO Mexico in national servers, Solange Maria dos Santos, of the SciELO Unit coordination at the BIREME/PAHO/WHO, went to Mexico City, from September 25 to 29, 2006. The development and operation of the SciELO Mexico collection is coordinated by the DGB/UNAM and CENIDS/INSP
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The VHL in the Information and Knowledge Society was the theme of an event in Uruguay

The institutions SMU, CHLCC and PAHO, through its Representative in Uruguay, held the "Seminar on the Virtual Health Library in the Information and Knowledge Society", on September 28, 2006. The objective was to analyze the evolution, current state and future perspectives of the VHL in Uruguay in the broader context of the information society, including topics related to intellectual property, network production and preservation of scientific information. The seminar was opened by Ignacio Miguel Muse, Vice-president of the CHLCC, Alarico Rodríguez, of the Telematic Commission of the SMU, José Fernando P. Dora, PAHO Representative in Uruguay, who welcomed the new members of the National Advisory Committee of the VHL, Aron Nowinski, of the FNR and to Ignacio himself, also representating the PRONACCAN. Abel L. Packer, Director, represented the BIREME/PAHO/WHO in the event and participated in meetings with national and international institutions
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PLoS Medicine discusses the role of national and international journals

The editorial of PLoS Medicine published in August 2006 stresses the importance of journals in the reduction of poverty and promotion of equity in health. The authors point out that there is a limited view on the role of scientific journals on health, restricting the publication on the so-called diseases of poverty, which are written primarily by authors of developing countries. Within this context, the CSE (Council of Science Editors) calls upon once again the scientific editors to participate in an international collaboration project called "Global Theme Issue on Poverty and Human Development", which expects to gather approximately 100 journals from all over the world. The editors who join the initiative will simultaneously publish articles on poverty and human development in October 2007
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Report gives details of analysis of use of the African Journals Online (AJOL)

The African Journals Online (AJOL) is a source of information that provides access to a collection of electronic journals, including bibliographic references and abstracts of articles. Open access to full texts is not always possible. The registration of users in the AJOL is voluntary and it provides indicators about the profile of the subscribed users, although not of all users, such as country of origin. A report of the INASP on the use of the portal AJOL informs that, from 2003 to 2005, a total of 12,255 users were registered and 58% were from African countries. The registration of users from England and other European countries, United States and Canada decreased in this period. On the other hand, the total number of users from Africa and Asia rose. However, the increase in number of users from Australia, Asia and Latin America was smaller than in other regions. The Latin American users represent less than 3% of the total number (333 users)
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Assessing Brazilian journals on Physical Education and Occupational Therapy

The Brazilian and international journals on Physical Education and Occupational Therapy integrate the field of Health Sciences, sub-area of Physical Education in the QUALIS evaluation system of the CAPES/MEC. The situation of these journals was discussed in some events held in September 2006, which were focused on establishing evaluation criteria. Since there are few journals of this area indexed in the main bibliographic databases, classifying the scientific production of researchers has some disadvantages when compared with other sub-areas. Together with representatives of the sub-area of Physical Education of Qualis, the SciELO is promoting an assessment of the main journals on Physical Education, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech and Language Pathology and Audiology, according to the SciELO methodology, which will contribute to classify the Brazilian journals of these areas in the Qualis. Regina Castro, Coordinator of Scientific Communication on Health of the BIREME/PAHO/WHO participated in the meetings
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BIREME participates in an international conference on knowledge management

The second edition of "The Knowledge Forum" was held in Sao Paulo, on September 18 and 19, 2006, and had 250 participants. It is an international conference promoted by TerraForum Consultores, together with the Japanese Society of Knowledge Management (KMSJ) and the FEA/USP. The objective was to share and discuss consolidated experiences in the area, with a focus on cultural factors. Japan sent a large delegation including leaders, executives, lecturers and consultants with practical experience in this area. Public and Private organizations of reference in KM in Brazil, Canada, United States, France, Japan, Mexico and Peru and Brazil were represented in the conference. Silvia de Valentin, GA Manager of the BIREME/PAHO/WHO, presented the theme "Knowledge management in health, a Latin American perspective: promoting equitable access to scientific and technical information". Rogério da Costa, MTI manager, participated in the discussions
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