Training session for AMU PhD students : setting up academicx feeds and alerts.

1. Documentary watch on the web
February 2017
caroline.peron@univ-amu.fr
Source: Mike Lee. Newspaper RSS Feed Icon, 2009, http://bit.ly/2jxiCGJ

2. Why doing a documentary watch online ?
1. Stay informed of your research interests
2. Call information to you instead of looking for it
3. And save time!
Alerting services keep you up-to-date without having to check each
and every site yourself.
Both RSS feeds and email alerts contain details of the latest items
available within a website or library database.
Alerting services automatically “push” out the latest information you
have subscribed to as a series of links to relevant journal articles etc.
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3. The 5 steps of documentary watch on the web
1. Identify watching themes,
specify information types,
identify keywords
2. Select sources
(do a selection
more extended
than the identified
themes)
3. Collect results
4. Analyse results
5. Diffuse results
Isabelle Rey, INRIA, Documentary watch on the web, November 2011 :
http://www.slideshare.net/riverieux/documentary-watch-on-the-net

4. How to do a documentary watch ?
Each database/website is different !
• Depending on the database/website you’re using, you
will be able to set up different kinds of alerts :
- Journal Table of Contents (TOC) Alerts: Receive
the latest TOC in your inbox each time a new issue of a
journal is published.
- Search Alerts: Database will automatically run your
saved search and deliver the latest results to your email
on a daily, weekly or monthly basis.
- Citation Alerts: Receive an email when your saved
citations are cited by another article.
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5. How to do a documentary watch ?
• Some databse/website will provide you email
alerts AND RSS feeds.
• Some will only provide you email alerts.
• On some databases, you will have to create a
profile to get RSS feeds (Web of Science)
whereas you won’t have to do so on other
databases (ScienceDirect).
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6. How to do a documentary watch ?
• You may need to create profiles on publisher websites or
databases :
It will enable you to create saved searches and receive
automatic alerts by email or RSS feeds on a database.

7. Email alerts
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• Definition : Email alerts send you emails of new contents that match
your research.
• To create an Email Alert:
- Log in and conduct a search.
- On the results page, you can narrow your results using the
filters on the left.
- When you're satisfied with the results you see, click the "Save
this search" button.
- Name your search and click "Save."
- You will only receive an Email Alert when new listings
matching your saved criteria are posted.

8. Email alerts
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The Advantages of Email
alerts
The Disadvantages of Email
alerts
• Easy to use
• Notifications are dropped right
into your email (can’t be
forgotten !)
• You specify the alert frequency
• If your research is too wide :
you will receive too many
notifications.
• It is only a personal notification
(= no sharing)

9. Example :email alerts on Google Scholar
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10. RSS feeds
• It uses a family of standard web feed formats (RSS 1.0, RSS
2.0, Atom…), to publish frequently updated works such as
blog entries, news headlines, journals table of contents…
• RSS = « Rich Site Summary” or ”Really Simple Syndication”,
depending the formats.
• It is a standardized XML (= Extensible Markup Language) file
format which allows the information to be published once
and viewed by many different programs.
• An RSS document (which is called a "feed") includes full or
summarized text, plus metadata such as publishing dates
and authorship.

11. RSS feeds
• RSS feeds can be read using software called an « RSS
reader » or aggregator. which can be web-based, desktop-
based, or mobile-device-based.
• The advantages of using an RSS feed:
- your email doesn’t get cluttered up with notifications
- if you use an RSS reader, all your “subscriptions” are
available in one place and can be organised and searched
whenever you’re connected to the internet.
- some RSS feeds can be pushed into Facebook and other
social media.
Short introduction of RSS feed : https://www.commoncraft.com/video/rss
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12. The power of RSS feeds

13. 2 ways to suscribe to RSS feed
- Direct click the RSS subscription button displayed on the website,
and select your prefered reader.
- Click the RSS feed icon displayed in the address bar.

14. Where will my RSS feed appear ?
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• Mozilla Firefox : you have to download a plugin « RSS Icon in url
bar » to find the RSS feed icon in url bar.
To subscribe to an RSS feed, just click the RSS feed icon displayed in
the address bar.

15. Where will my RSS feed appear ?
• If you want to read your RSS feeds using Firefox, the RSS feeds will
appear in the Live Bookmarks.
(Preferences/Options > Applications> Content type = Web feed > Rss
Feeds > Add Live Bookmarks in Firefox.)
Using Mozilla Firefox is more suitable if you only have a
few feeds.
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16. Where will my RSS feed appear ?
• Internet Explorer 11 : RSS feed will appear in Favourites (more
suitable if you only have a few feeds).
Microsoft Edge does not support RSS feeds yet !

17. Where will my RSS feed appear ?
• Google Chrome : install the RSS subscription Extension.

18. Where will my RSS feed appear ?
- In the Options of the RSS subscription Extension
- Select Add (Ajouter),
- Write NetVibes as the description
and http://www.netvibes.com/subscribe.php?url=%s as the URL.
- Or Feedly and http://www.feedly.com/home#subscription/feed/%s

19. Where will my RSS feed appear ?
• Safari : Open up a Safari window and click on the sidebar button at
the top.
- Click on the “@” icon at the top of the page. This is your “Shared
Links” page, which enables you to keep up with your RSS feeds.
- To add new feeds, go to the sidebar under the “@” tab and click
on “Subscriptions” at the bottom. Now click “Add Feed.” This will open
up a box of possible selections, including the current page if it has an
RSS feed. Click “Add Feed” and “Done” at the bottom of the sidebar
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20. RSS aggregators/feed readers
• If you subscribe to multiple feeds from websites
and library databases, the better option for
viewing RSS feeds is to use an RSS aggregator or
a feed reader.
• These online reader services gather all your RSS
feeds into one location.
• Most feed readers are free but some may charge
a small fee.
• There are hundreds of feed readers available,
with all kinds of interfaces and features.
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21. How to choose a feed reader ?
You can choose among many alternatives,
depending your needs.
What do you want out of a RSS subscriptions
service ?
Something easy to use ?
You will need to find one which suits you : its
design, its functionality and whether it suits the
type of information you have subscribed to.
Check out this online comparison :
http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-rss-
reader-aggregator.htm

22. Netvibes
• Netvibes has been created in 2005 and is a personalized
dashboard publishing platform for the Web. It is organized
into app or widget (= windows + gadget), each app
containing user-defined modules.
It gathers all essential updates, news, and tools.
• Positives of Netvibes :
- Personalized dashboard
- Free and easy to use
- A"read later" button
- Choice between widget or « reader view »
http://www.netvibes.com/en
http://documentation.netvibes.com/
Netvibes tutorial : http://www.slideshare.net/wondersteen/introduction-netvibes-
presentation

23. Netvibes on mobile devices
As well as via the standard desktop environment, Netvibes can be
accessed via dedicated mobile interface which is optimised for the
mobile screen size and User Interface.
http://faq.netvibes.com/knowledgebase/articles/370163-does-netvibes-provide-
dedicated-mobile-interface

24. How does a Netvibes dashboard look like ?
Plant Science Research Laboratory - Toulouse III University :
http://www.netvibes.com/docetoile#Accueil

25. How does a Netvibes dashboard look like ?
Apps are organized in tabs and boxes :
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26. How do I get started ?
• Sign up too create a free individual dashboard :
• Enter the topic you want to track :
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27. Dashboard
• When you choose a topic to track, (organic chemistry for example),
Netvibes uses these keywords to create a dashboard with topical
widgets (news, blogs, social networks, online videos) listed in a
« News » tab.

28. Add RSS feeds to Netvibes
• Copy the feed URL (right click--copy) from the news site or blog
you are interested in.
• Select "+ Add content" button in the upper left corner of the
dashboard
• Select "Reading App," which should be the top left box. You can
also import or export your feeds as an OPML file to use them in
another reader.
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29. Add RSS feeds to Netvibes
• Paste the feed URL into the box (right click--paste) or import a
feed.
• Hit Enter or click the plus sign, then select the feed you want.
• Select which tab you want the feed to appear in, and then click
"Add to your dashboard."
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30. Importer du contenu sur Netvibes
• Create a multifeed app:

31. How to add content on Netvibes
• Add > Essentials apps > Link module / WebNotes …
• Then preview your widget and add it to your dashboard:

32. How to customize your Netvibes dashboard
• Drag and drop your widgets to arrange your dashboard :
• Use the « Settings » icon and « Themes » to customize the
look of your dashboard

33. « Reader view » on Netvibes
It allows you to have a quick overview of all your feeds. It uses a
display similar to that used in most aggregators.

34. « Reader view » on Netvibes
Thanks to the « reader view », you will be able to save your most
important feeds , to share them…
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35. Manage your public and private dashboards
A Public Dashboard is viewable to the world at large. Once you
have finished your registration, you will first land on your Private
Dashboard. There is only one Public Dashboard per account.

36. Manage your dashboard
Don’t forget the « spring cleaning » and change your RSS feeds if
needed (Dasboards > Manage) !
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37. Netvibes « potions »
A potion is a formula containing ingredients that have a
“magic effect.” It manages interactions between apps,
devices and events, automatically.
"When I get a new thing in A, do those other things in B;
otherwise do this in C." The first part of the sentence is the
trigger, the second and third parts are actions.
A potion is defined by one or more ingredients, one formula
and one or more actions, e.g. "When new articles in the feed
"NYTime" are received with "apple" in the title outside week-
end, send them to my email address and save them in Pocket"
is a potion.
http://www.netvibes.com/en/dashboardofthings
https://vimeo.com/119738189
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38. Example of Public Dashboard
Institut des Sciences Moléculaires de Marseille (ISM2), Stereo
team : http://www.netvibes.com/gaellechou#Accueil

39. RSS feeds on Table of Contents from journals
JournalTOCs
- TOC from more than 24000 scholarly journals (including
7000 selected Open Acess journals)
- RSS feed on new issues of your followed journals
- Export references to Zotero
http://www.journaltocs.hw.ac.uk/

40. Social bookmarking and documentary watch
Social bookmarking is a method for Internet users to
organize, store, manage and search for bookmarks of
resources online.
It can be used to develop the sharing of scientific
references among researchers.
Many social bookmarking services provide RSS feeds for
their lists of bookmarks, including lists organized by tags.
This allows subscribers to become aware of new bookmarks
as they are saved, shared, and tagged by other users.
1 main social bookmarking tool for researchers : Citeulike.

41. Citeulike
Created in 2004, it is aimed to promote and to develop the
sharing of information on academic papers.
8 million articles (2017).
RSS feed on a search

42. Science blogs
A blog (a contraction of the term “Web log”) is a Web site
used mostly as online equivalent of diaries, journals, or
logged entries on specific topics.
Entries are commonly displayed in reverse chronological
order.
Blogs are used as content management systems, to create
RSS feeds, and they are inexpensive ways to design small
web sites.
Dr. Katherine J. Haxton, Can science blogging enhance your research life, talk at Keele University in
February 2009 : http://www.slideshare.net/kjhaxton/can-science-blogging-enhance-your-research-
life

43. Science blogs
Positives
- Collaboration tool
- Community building between
similar researchers / career
stages
- Full acces to data (open
science)
- Many ways to get involved
(read, write, comment)
Negatives
- Privacy issues (sensitive
research)
- What goes on the internet
stays on the internet
- Another thing to watch !

44. Science blogs
Research Blogging identifies and aggregates academic blog posts
about peer-reviewed research.
http://researchblogging.org
RSS feed
by language
or topic

45. Science blogs
Browse Google to find science blogs by searching :
« inblogtitle:topic »

46. Pocket
The next time you find an
article, video or link you
want to read or watch
later, just save it to
Pocket.
It’ll sync across your
phone, tablet, and
computer so you can
come back to it whenever
and wherever you’d like,
even when you’re offline.
A desktop browser extension for Safari, Chrome, and Firefox.

47. Documentary watch on databases and open
access repositories
Multidisciplinary databases
Summon
Web of Science
Science Direct
Wiley
Springer
Proquest
ArXiv
HAL
Specialized databases
SciFinder
ACS
PubMed
APS
OpticsInfobase/OSA publishing
Ebsco Database
Cairn

48. Summon
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Summon is the library search engine that includes records for books,
articles, conference proceedings, theses and dissertations.
Search alert by RSS feed.

49. WOS
You need to sign in if you want to use email alerts and RSS feeds :
Sign in > Register

50. WOS
Alert notifications only work with the Web of Science Core Collection
(it won’t work on All databases), by saving the search history.

51. WOS
Just click on an article title to
Create citation alert by email or RSS
feed.
The RSS feed is in
My Tools > Saved searches and alerts.

52. WOS
Manage your alerts in « My tools » :
Web of science online tutorial : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdgRwA3TQw4

53. Science Direct
You may create email alerts and RSS feeds on :
- Search alert
- Topic alert
- On Volume/issue alert

54. Science Direct

55. Science Direct - Search alert
Search alert

56. Science Direct – Topic alert

57. Science Direct – Volume/issue alert

58. Science Direct
Create an account
3 alerts (email or RSS feed) : Search alerts/ Topic alerts/ Volume-Issue
alerts

59. Wiley Online Library
Content Alerts - receive the table of contents (e-TOC) for selected journals whenever a
new issue is published. This also includes receipt of Early View and Accepted Article
alerts as soon as the articles appear online (for journals which have these features)
Select this feature from the homepage for the Journals you want to receive alerts for.
RSS Feeds - receive automated messages of the latest table of contents for your favorite
journals.
You can also select this from the homepage for the Journals you want to receive RSS
feeds for.
Saved Search Alerts - receive notification whenever content is published online that
matches one of your saved searches

60. Wiley Online Library
Online tutorial : http://olabout.wiley.com/WileyCDA/Section/id-397512.html

61. Springer
• RSS feed on subject/topic :
• RSS feed on search :
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62. Proquest dissertations & theses
• « Save search/alert » : search alert by email or RSS feed.
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63. The French open access repository HAL
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Rss feed on a search : Tools > Syndication > RSS

64. The open access repository arXiv
Email alerting service :
- Determine which archive is of interest to you, and obtain its e-mail address from the
list of available archives.
- For archives divided into subject classes:
If the archive to which you are subscribing requires distinct subject classes (such as
the math, physics, cs, q-bio and q-fin archives; but not astro-ph, cond-mat or nlin,
see handling subscriptions to all physics archives through physics below), then you
(un)subscribe to a specific category, indicating the categories in the body of the
message. Here is an example
To: physics@arxiv.org
Subject: subscribe John Smith
add Biophysics
del Plasma Physics
- You may alternatively use the short subject class codes, for example to subscribe to the
Risk Management category (q-fin.RM) in Quantitative Finance:
To: q-fin@arxiv.org
Subject: subscribe John Smith
add RM
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65. The open access repository arXiv
RSS feeds :
Daily updated RSS news feed pages are available for all active subject areas
within arXiv.
The URL for each category (whole archive or subject class) is constructed by
appending the category name to http://arxiv.org/rss/.
For example, the URL for the RSS page for the Computer Science archive is
http://arxiv.org/rss/cs.
News feeds are also available for individual subject classes of archives that
have subject classes. A specific subject class is selected by appending a
period (.) and the subject class letters to the URL. For example, the URL for
the RSS page for Mathematics -- Quantum Algebra is
http://arxiv.org/rss/math.QA.
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66. SciFinder
« Add Keep me Posted Alert » = search alert by email :

67. ACS
Search alert by RSS feed (or by email if you’re registered)

68. ACS
RSS feeds of TOC from journals or CAS sections :

69. RSC
• Search alert by email.
• RSS feed on Journal TOCs.

70. PubMed
Search Alert by RSS feed or by emails

71. PubMed
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You can adapt your RSS settings (number of items displayed).

72. OSA Publishing - OpticsInfobase
RSS feed on journals (About tab), and on search alert (but after
signing in and search saving) :

73. APS
• RSS feed on journals or topics.
• You may create personalized RSS feeds and email alerts directly
after doing a search on our journal search page. Please note you
need an APS Journal account to save your searches.

74. Ebsco databases (Business Source Complete,
EconLit…)
You can create « Search alerts » by email or RSS feed (you need
to sign if you subscribe to email alerts).

75. Emerald
Email alert on saved search.
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76. Cairn
Email alerts (newsletter and journals TOC) by signing in.
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77. Useful links
Branwen Hide, RSS feeds what are they and how can they help
my research?, March 2010 :
http://www.slideshare.net/sarahgentleman/rssfeeds-v02-bh
Isabelle Rey, INRIA, Documentary watch on the net, November
2011 : http://www.slideshare.net/riverieux/documentary-watch-
on-the-net
Dr. Katherine J. Haxton, Can science blogging enhance your
research life, talk at Keele University in February 2009 :
http://www.slideshare.net/kjhaxton/can-science-blogging-
enhance-your-research-life
If you have any further questions, please feeel free to contact me
at :
caroline.peron@univ-amu.fr