The BITS data model takes the approach of wrapping each component of a reference in an element describing its meaning.
There are two different flavours of this model.
The <element-citation> model contains only elements. Punctuation of
the components to style a reference in any of the standard formats is a task
left to rendering engines.
The <mixed-citation> model consists of mixed content. Punctuation must
be included among the content of a reference.
Example 14. BITS data model for a book reference
With <element-citation>:
<element-citation>
<name>
<surname>Lalloo</surname>
<given-names>F</given-names>
</name>
<name>
<surname>Kerr</surname>
<given-names>B</given-names>
</name>
<name>
<surname>Friedman</surname>
<given-names>J</given-names>
</name>
<name>
<surname>Evans</surname>
<given-names>G</given-names>
</name>
<year>2005</year>
<source>Risk assessment and management in cancer genetics</source>
<publisher-loc>Oxford</publisher-loc>
<publisher-name>Oxford University Press</publisher-name>
</element-citation>With <mixed-citation> (Vancouver style):
<mixed-citation> <string-name><surname>Lalloo</surname> <given-names>F</given-names></string-name>, <string-name><surname>Kerr</surname> <given-names>B</given-names></string-name>, <string-name><surname>Friedman</surname> <given-names>J</given-names></string-name>, <string-name><surname>Evans</surname> <given-names>G</given-names></string-name>. <source>Risk assessment and management in cancer genetics</source>. <publisher-loc>Oxford</publisher-loc>: <publisher-name>Oxford University Press</publisher-name>; <year>2005</year> </mixed-citation>
Example 15. BITS data model for a journal article reference
With <element-citation>:
<element-citation>
<name>
<surname>Salomone</surname>
<given-names>A</given-names>
</name>
<name>
<surname>Bozzo</surname>
<given-names>A</given-names>
</name>
<name>
<surname>Di Corcia</surname>
<given-names>D</given-names>
</name>
<name>
<surname>Gerace</surname>
<given-names>E</given-names>
</name>
<name>
<surname>Vincenti</surname>
<given-names>M</given-names>
</name>
<article-title>Occupational exposure to alcohol-based hand sanitizers:
the diagnostic role of alcohol biomarkers in hair</article-title>
<source>J Anal Toxicol</source>
<year>2018</year>
<volume>42</volume>
<issue>3</issue>
<fpage>157</fpage>
<lpage>162</lpage>
<pub-id pub-id-type="doi">10.1093/jat/bkx094</pub-id>
</element-citation>With <mixed-citation> (Vancouver style):
<mixed-citation>
<string-name><surname>Salomone</surname> <given-names>A</given-names></string-name>,
<string-name><surname>Bozzo</surname> <given-names>A</given-names></string-name>,
<string-name><surname>Di Corcia</surname> <given-names>D</given-names></string-name>,
<string-name><surname>Gerace</surname> <given-names>E</given-names></string-name>,
<string-name><surname>Vincenti</surname> <given-names>M</given-names></string-name>.
<article-title>Occupational exposure to alcohol-based hand sanitizers:
the diagnostic role of alcohol biomarkers in hair</article-title>.
<source>J Anal Toxicol</source>.
<year>2018</year> <month>Apr</month> <day>1</day>;
<volume>42</volume>(<issue>3</issue>):<fpage>157</fpage>–<lpage>162</lpage>,
doi:<pub-id pub-id-type="doi">10.1093/jat/bkx094</pub-id>
</mixed-citation>