USERS MANUAL
FOR THE APTIC TERMINAL
SEARCHING SYSTEM
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
-------
USERS MANUAL
FOR THE
APTIC TERMINAL SEARCHING SYSTEM
Air Pollution Technical Information Center
Control Programs Development Division
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECT I Oil AGENCY
Libra-oy, Resion V
1 North Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60606
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711
December 1972
-------
PEOTECTIOS AGEUCI
-------
CONTENTS
Page
INTRODUCTION 1
SEARCH PROCEDURE 2
EXPLANATION OF THE COMPUTER SEARCH PROCESS 2
OUTLINE OF THE USER'S SEARCH PROCEDURE 3
SEARCH CRITERIA DESCRIPTION (Step 14) 5
SEARCH PROCEDURE EXAMPLES 5
USE OF MICROTHESAURUS TERMS 11
FIELDS 05, 16 & 17, AND 18 11
Method of Support 11
Category Assignment 12
Document Attributes 13
REMAINING MICROTHESAURUS TERMS 15
REQUEST LANGUAGE DESCRIPTION 16
SUPPLEMENT A. APTIC MICROTHESAURUS
SUPPLEMENT B. CROSS-REFERENCE LIST OF APTIC vs NAB NUMBERS
SUPPLEMENT C. ALPHABETICAL DICTIONARY OF TERMS AND FILE STATISTICS
ii
-------
USERS MANUAL
FOR THE
APTIC TERMINAL SEARCHING SYSTEM
INTRODUCTION
This manual is a users guide for the searching system of the Air Pollution
Technical Information Center (APTIC) of the Environmental Protection Agency,
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. It is intended primarily for use by
the EPA Regional Offices, as well as other qualified users, as an aid in re-
trieving technical air pollution information from APTIC. The procedure for
forming and implementing a search strategy for the system is fully described
in this manual, in step-by-step, straightforward language. A complete
explanation of the terms and operation symbols to be used is also included.
Because this is intended to serve as an interim manual, APTIC welcomes
any suggestions that the users may have to improve the document. More-
over, the terminal searching system described herein is more limited than
the regular system used by APTIC in the Research Triangle Park; therefore,
if any questions or problems arise in the implementation of search stra-
tegies, do not hesitate to contact APTIC: phone 919-549-8411, extension
2141; Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711.
-------
SEARCH PROCEDURE
EXPLANATION OF THE COMPUTER SEARCH PROCESS
The APTIC terminal searching system is designed to perform an extraction
process using a single program. When a searcher submits a request for
information from the files, the search program will first validate that
request to ensure that the request terms are, in fact, valid ones. This
is done by checking each term against the dictionary of terms stored in
the computer.
Then, if the request contains no errors, the actual searching process begins.
The descriptors (terms) of the request are first found in the computer
file, a process directly analogous to the searching of a printed index. Next,
a list of document numbers identifying those documents which are potential
responses to the request is constructed. After this list is formed, the
computer determines which of these documents fully satisfy the user's request
(that is, which ones are "hits"), and the numbers designating these documents
are printed out.
As is evident from the explanation above, the program processes each request
as an entity, completing all action on one request before beginning work on
another.
It is most important that the user read carefully the search procedure outline
below, as well as the explanations of the use of the microthesaurus and the
specific request language that follow the outline. Without a complete under-
standing of these explanations, a user will have difficulty forming a success-
ful search strategy.
-------
OUTLINE OF THE USER'S SEARCH PROCEDURE
Step 1. Read everything in this manual before doing anything.
Step 2. Write out a concise description of your request (e.g., "What efforts
have been made to reduce air pollutant emissions from jet aircraft?").
Step 3. Go to the APTIC microthesaurus (Supplement A). (Please note that
a complete explanation of the use of the terms in the APTIC micro-
thesaurus immediately follows this section. Read it carefully;
you will have to understand how to use the terms of the microthesaurus
to be able to write a successful search strategy.)
Step 4. Look at the first block of keywords ("Fields 05, 16 & 17, and 18").
Step 5. Decide whether a "Method of Support" keyword is needed; if so, choose
the most accurate term in the block.*
Step 6. Choose a "Category Assignment," and try to list secondary categories;
if you choose carefully, your strategy will be more successful. This
entry is not mandatory, but it is strongly recommended that the user
choose a category assignment if at all possible in order to limit the
number of hits and avoid irrelevant information.
Step 7. Decide whether a "Document Attribute" keyword is needed; if so, in-
clude the most descriptive term in the block.*
Step 8. Search the remainder of the APTIC microthesaurus carefully, looking
for the keywords that most closely describe your specific needs.
Step 9. Using the necessary search criteria (p.5) and request language (p. 16),
write out the terms you have chosen in steps 3 through 8 above.
Step 10. Double-check your actual search request to be sure that (1) you have
included all the inf' 'rmation that the computer will need, (2) your
keywords are as accurate as possible, and (3) you have used the
correct forms of request language in forming your request.
Step 11. Call the EPA Research Triangle Park Data Systems Network.
Step 12. Logon the terminal with the search procedure:
"logon userid proc(search)
Type your designated userid** here.
* In these steps, it is not necessary to include the key terms mentioned if
they do not suit your needs. However, you must read pages 11 through 16 in
order to make such a decision.
** You will have to obtain the RTP user identification code that has been
assigned to your Regional Office.
-------
Step 13. Wait for the computer to return a READY; then enter:
search
Hit the return key. The following message will be printed by your
terminal:
EPA INTERACTIVE DOCUMENT SEARCH.
PLEASE ENTER SEARCH CRITERIA.
Step 14. Enter the search request as you wrote it in step 9. Check to be
sure that your request contains not more than seven lines, and
that each line consists of 67 characters or less. Remember that
multiword descriptors such as "fuel additives" cannot be broken
and continued on the next line. Your last dictionary term must
be followed by one space, then a question mark. The question mark
tells the computer that you have completed your request. After
you have checked your request to be sure that it meets the above
criteria, hit the return key. After you return the carriage, you
must wait for the computer to respond.
If your request was written correctly in every way, the computer
will respond with a list of numbers designating those documents
which satisfy the terms of your request. The computer lists these
document numbers chronologically; generally, the oldest sources are
listed first, the latest ones last.
If there was an error in your request, the computer will respond
with an explanation of the error. Go back to the search position,
correct the error, and begin again.
Step 15. After the request is completed, take the list of document numbers
given by the computer and, to find the abstracts of the documents,
use the attached cross-reference list of APTIC numbers (Supplement B)
versus Air Pollution Abstracts bulletin numbers (NAB and volume and
issue numbers). These NAB numbers will direct you to the correct
abstract in the bulletin.
Example: If the computer gives you the APTIC number 43200 , then,
using the cross-reference list attached, you will find
that the corresponding NAB number is 23097 (with volume
and issue number V3N10 ). As you can see from the Abstracts
bulletin, the NAB numbers appear sequentially, opposite
the APTIC numbers and to the left of the beginning of the
abstract itself. Thus, the abstract you wanted was of
"Cupola Gas Scrubbers," p. 30.
If you have any trouble completing your inquiry via the terminal, please call
APTIC, 919-549-8411, extension 2141.
-------
SEARCH CRITERIA DESCRIPTION (Step 14)
When the user writes his search request on the computer terminal, he must not
type more than seven lines, and each line must not exceed 67 characters. More-
over, he must not break multiword descriptors such as 'fuel additives' and
continue them on the next line. He must remember to terminate his request with
a space followed by a question mark; if he forgets, the computer will
then remind him. When the user returns the carriage after typing his terminal
question mark, he must wait for the computer to respond. The computer responds
whenever the carriage is returned.
SEARCH PROCEDURE EXAMPLES
On the following pages are five examples of user searches. Example 1 illustrates
a correctly executed document search request, complete with logon procedure. In
Example 2, a search request with a specific category assignment was made, but no
document numbers were generated by the computer; therefore, in Example 3, the
category assignment was omitted. This latter example illustrates that, in some
cases, it is better to omit a category assignment; however, it is still recom-
mended that the user try a specific category first, then omit it if he wishes
to gain more general information. Examples 4 and 5 illustrate possible user
errors. Note that, in a request containing more than one line such as Example 5,
the computer responds after each line (except the last) with the statement:
CONTINUATION ASSUMED. SEARCH CRITERIA MUST END WITH ?.
-------
UI UI
C3 13
edure Yielding Three Document Nam
u
s
ex,
f*
«J^
y
fc4
S
"*
CXj
s
JK
IM
u
^^
<3J
"a,
C
rt
X
w
^^
J=
CM
cn
rH
*
in
ce.
UI
CO
jr
UI
o
UI
c.
^£
o
o
m
in
rH
iH
t-
<
-T"
O
C£
<
LJ
tO
u to
«- to i
re
u
V)
^^
u
0
I.
Q.
C.
4J
o
0)
-»
c
c
Ik"
o
=
UI
C£
C3
C
fl_
z
«»
z
C3
c
_l
a.
^
r-
O
UI
-3
z.
UI
Z
O
CJ
O
c
UI
>
r-
<
cr
u:
H
>- 0
c: i-
< fO <
UI U CL
c: in ui
c>-
01
m 3
< -c
- c
cr is
UI r
t-
c:
o /^
^ ~a
c: at
< i
ui m
o
c:
IU
h-
2 w
«« to
0!
UI
O 1
< (0
UI ^
_J U
f^ ^^
C
UI
(-
UI
_l
a.
6
o
UI
to
cJ
n
UI
>
-
O
<
oc
UI
H
rH
0
to
EPA SEARCH REQUEST 1
;*"
<
a.
UI
r-l
o
to
001
ERACTIVE DOCUMENT SEARCH
VERTED;
O h- IZ
C£ M
U.1 UJ
c; < J
n G.
13 UJ UL
H* "
(/; uJ cr H*
UJ -I C. ^
C' tu cr
LJ H CO CL
CC i* l*4^ -3"
O O 0
< ^ ^
rt< «
rH
O*
0
CM
rH
(0
O
to
c*-
UI
to
c
z.
_l
XN
<»
Q
h-
1
^N.
O
Vf
UI
_J
1
<
*^
c_-
c c
1 UI UI
10 H- r-
UI UI U)
o 1 1
C' Q- O-
ui ~~ *~
a c o
h*. O (J
O
< UJ UI
S 5
<£ 51
H r~
o:
o
UI
rOJ-
OO
to to
CM
r-
Ul
c:
o
Cf
UI
CL
UI
a
UI
UI
c in n
C C1 O
o tn o
1- rH
CO 0
UI O
^3
uj o
Cf rH
C1
a: CM
C rH
U.
C!
Z
^
C^ CT
h- 0
t/3 IO
CM
C: rH
5
3
z
o
p
z
UI
§
o
o
o
c
a:
U.'
CD
y
Z
h-
to
UI
^
C? CM
uj r>
c: ^-
in
o
K> CM
f\ rH
O>
0
CM
1-1
03
0
CO **
CM
O
o
o
ce.
U!
C£
Z
ii
K
(- O
to o
uic;
cf
UI =
D: u
c:
UI
rA CO
K"*
U.
0> C
0
C
CM Z
rH U!
CO CM
O O
to to
-------
LU
o
.0
-> LJ _l LJ
rt OCCC:
O ~ c:
Q= o < =
«j e o o
D: < c:
O < LU Z <
^ LU CO I LU
f-t v} a ic
tofi < = = <
£ a. LU ft.
2 l_- CO LU
O C c H
«- c: c oo LU
>Vj CM _J
^ LJ h- . r-t O.
^ C- > «. LU iH O :£
b ra t- u: ~~ e cj
3 c ej H -i CM
~ _ tH < K O tH I tH CM
4J t o c: u: c: n (,-j c: o
U «O O LJ! > I LU LU O O
O ~ *- C. C f = = = S ° °
C o IB u.1 r- c c?
n. c: u H- f- n c: ^ LU ci cs
'^ <
K
<
LJ
h-
^ U
O »-
LU OJ Q.
c; ui u
. . jj
O 01
cr "~
L,'
t °
LJ 4J
C
LU C
0 U
< 1
-1 -^
C. 0
UJ
>
t-
{_«
<
LJ
^_
~"
rt
o
(/>
tn
~* o
c: CM
«^ r-i
i *
to
<
c.
LU
,_,
0
CO "
OOOO C^H I'*
< < < <
< < <<
O
rH
rH
C
Cv!
rH
ID
O
It
; LJ LU u tr o
< C < if CM CM
1^ CT Z^ r ' -^ *H
C. LJ O- ^ |
"3 (/! tH
1- H h- 0
^ c£ 12 C
C =» > LJ ^ CM
LU O ~ i->
#\ \L J" 0 C CO
O LU O O D O
CO CO O CO "
C±
<
LJ
CM CO
.J
u_
rH C
O
CZ
c*j rr
rH LJ
U3 CN
O O
to to
W
-------
JS
><
FH ui f"> i-» o ui
O K» r^ CM O
Co. CL
H
<
C£
UJ
H
>- 0
C i.
<. 10 <
Ul CJ CL
a in ui
CRITERIA.
T~
O
< c^
Ul
CO <0
Ul
t- 0
z. \-
Ul 10
u
UI
V. JS.
Ul U
-I O
CL C
SE COMPLETEO
<
CL
Ul
>
K
«^
a:
Ul
t-
z
*
IH
o
to
<
cs
o
CL
O
c:
<
Ul
10
CL
Ul
1-1
o
CO
EPA SEARCH REQUES'
CM
~N
in
o
>.
CM
>
EST WJMRER 0001
LE EPA INTERACTIVE OOCUMENT SEARCH
RCH FILE=INVF.RTF.n;
NT
UEST NORTH CAROLINA ?
LETED.
LETEO
-^. ^~
c-
Ul (-
tX IH
O
^
cn
CM
co
in
rl
rH
CO
O
CO
cj i . ^^ ft
co a. c: c
000
« < U!
« < CO
CL
c
LU
< <
CL ~
(-
C
UJ
m
0
to
C.
1-
>
»
J1
o
CO
OO fH O CO
C) OO Ol IO
en .* 12 f».
-i in r^ CT
r~ oo j- o
h» J* J- CM
CM IA OO ^
rH J- O3 Ol
C
Ul
1-
Ul
_J
rH K> CM OS r~ CL
o in et 12 KI x;
c en co m m c
0 K> CO C= C_-
i-l K>
1- rH
CO O
Ul 0
3 O
tX CI J- CM C3 LJ
C± Kl rH in 2
C rHK>3
u- 2:
O r-
n co
c^ r*» co o o 12
or*SS°uj'
ro o r--s c:
or IH f>
UJ
C--
1C 05
LO t-l
T~
o CTJ K> r*»
1 cr in o u^
ui Ki en CM rH
X» K\ r-l
3
O CO
C 0
o to
EPA SEARCH REQUES
CM
»».
tn
O
>x.
CM
H
CM
O
O
C
c:
LJ
C2
3
c:
t- O
CO C
UJ C£
3 CL
U! ~
t£ C-
e:
Ul
CO CO
rH
CL
r^ c
in
H i:
iH LJ
CO CM
0 0
CO CO
-------
o
<
Q.
0,
(X)
O
4-1
-
CO - Q. ui a.
CC ui s /v ui
O VI- Q
I U C UJ
C I- \-
U C CO UI
«-l I -I
3 u.1 < j- a.
13 > » -» co £
,. C C! UI C
ft I- ui 3 e;
X o»- cf
O C- IH < CC UI fH CM
o o: ui «.- a o o
CU (Si o ui > o o o
"^^ . ^ !«! *^ ^^l-^j^j h O O
r* V 13 P UJ ii -1
f* OJ.^-^H a nine: c:
w < a
x o <<« ui o: o <
o » < <« I- 01 ui ^» ui
CZ CM O C < CM CM CM CO
. .- *^ *~ -w«ii-l O ZXh-O r-l O
~ «t I «t UI « C. o "U.
'CO O W»-s. UHO O O
o t: co h- - Z O. CM C sic C CM CM Z
-' UI l-l 'UI O |H l-l UI
U3 C
O O LL) < O o O OO
CO CO CO -J CO CO CO
-------
O
<
a.
o
<
a.
67 Characters
IH
It
>
O
3
-o
/
O
Ul
OH
J3
Ul
Sj
C/D
tt
W
{4
U*
0
u
C
iTv
ty
"a,
a
*
o
«t
LU
to
H-
Z
LU
^
1-
o
a:
LU
^->
jr Z
>- y
O u
< 10 <
LU 01 0.
K OT LU
in
V.
«
*j
bt
C
o
o
u
cB
in
0
4-1
0)
E
0
c
o
u
ID
**^
u
J=
*J
V
E
4J
C
Ol
E
r^.
ID
;.
<^
1-
to
to
LU
_l
LU
m
1-
g
^
C£
LU
1-
c:
o
-^
c;
o:
LU
CO
"^
0
B
«I
..
o:
LU
f
o:
0
z
CJ
a:
^
LU
to
rf
LU
H-
LU
UJ
V.
LU
_J
D.
cr
LU
cr
z
o
cc
LU
CO
o
a:
E
I- c-
z
LU tO
LU LU
o: 2
3 O
COH
LU (9
T
t/s
cr
u
oc
c
4)
u
C
01
01
1_
3
in
ID
0)
I
ID
in
0)
u
V.
o
in
C
O
in
in
0!
I
ID
U
V
< in
v.
a: 01
LU 5
ll °
en
t; b?
OC O
< O
LU U
CO
3
LU V)
S "O
3 O
d .c
to *->
< ai
c
H.2
3 C
2 O
o
I- I
z. 10
c.
LU
o
o
z o
a. c:
a.
LU
o
h- ce.
LU
CO
O
c
Oh-
tH < C£
o c: LU
o LU >
o H =
2
or H
LU IU
ec < -i
E o.
3 LU U.
V G
LU XV.
C CO
a: c
30
C Z
W I-
LU
O
U! O
i o
< I
LU
_i
IH a.
O 2
o o
o u
CO
LU
<-- -
V CJ
LU
K
e:
C
a;
LU
CO
O
O
a:
LU
ca
C C. LL Z
|_ LU LU
Z tO I- (- O t-
I LU C_' ( LU LULUZ CO
C
CM
c* LU
tut-tio-c: OCCOOLU
c: IH r^ j- r^ oa o o z c:
oooop .crn
a:
LU
z a.
LU
0 O
o
CO
o
to
< « LU Z CM
i-t LU n r-t
3 O
ID K> J- CJ O">
O O O O D O
(/> CO CO O CO
O
^^
«M
(-0
CO O
LU DC
LUX
a o
a:
r« co
in
u.
U3 O
O CM
O O
CO CO
10
-------
USE OF MICROTHESAURUS TERMS
i
The most important steps in forming a search strategy are those which involve
the use of the APTIC microthesaurus. If the user chooses his request terms
carefully, he will receive a listing of documents which are useful and rele-
vant to his specific request; however, if he errs in his choice of terms, he
may receive quite undesirable results.
Thus, a good understanding of the use of the APTIC microthesaurus is essential.
The following explanation is divided into two parts: the first deals with the
section of the microthesaurus entitled "Fields 05, 16 & 17, and 18"; the
second deals with the remaining sections.
FIELDS 05, 16 & 17, AND 18
This block of the microthesaurus is divided into three sections: "Method of
Support," "Category Assignment," and "Document Attributes." Although it is
not absolutely necessary to include these three designations in your search
request, it is often best to determine which of the terms given most closely
relate to your needs and include them; their inclusion necessarily limits and
more clearly defines the areas that the computer will search to locate the
document numbers you require.
Method of Support (m/s)
Inhouse - Work performed in EPA laboratories and offices.
Contract - Work done under contract issued by EPA.
Federal - Work done inhouse by another Federal agency with EPA funds.
Program Grant - (EPA)
Training Grant - (EPA)
11
-------
Fellowship Grant - (EPA)
Research Grant - (EPA)
None - All other methods of support not otherwise identified.
Category Assignment (c/a)
Each document is assigned one or more general categories characterizing its
major themes. The following categories, with their indicated scopes, are to
be used. A given document may be assigned to more than one category if its
content justifies multiple assignment.
General - Reviews of general problems, trends and background; documents
not assignable to other categories. This category is. t£ be_ used infrequently.
Emission Sources - Information pertaining to an industry, process, or
material associated with air pollution. Documents in this category should be
concerned primarily with characteristics of a specific class of emission sources
including types, rates, and industries. Secondary coverage may include effects,
control methods, etc.
Atmospheric Interaction - All chemical and physical phenomena occurring
in the atmosphere. Included is material on dispersion, air pollution forecasts,
meteorological effects, topographical effects, photochemical reactions in the
atmosphere, etc. Laboratory studies of photochemical reactions are assigned
to Basic Science and Technology.
Measurement Methods - Equipment as well as methods. Material is confined
to development, testing, and evaluation of pollutant determination methods
(sampling, analyzing, monitoring) and equipment as such. Data obtained by use
of methods in specific applications are placed in the applicable subject
categories.
Control Methods - Equipment and both specific source control and general
abatement efforts. Included are documents describing the operating principles,
design, operation, efficiency, etc., of equipment and methods of removing pol-
lutants from the air. The scope of the document can vary from a description
of a device for a specific source to an approach applicable to an entire industry,
such as automobiles.
Effects - Human Health - Covers medical and epidemiological studies; bio-
logical human health effects produced by air pollutants; laboratory animal
experiments.
Effects - Plants, Livestock - Effects on vegetationcrops, trees, other
plantsand on livestock as distinguished from laboratory experimental animals.
12
-------
Effects - Materials - Deterioration, corrosion, etc., of physical materials,
buildings, and structures.
Effects - Economic - Economic implications of air pollution and its control,
e.g., economic losses from pollution damage, and costs of control programs or
equipment in general.
Air Quality Measurements - Pollution measurements in the ambient air, gen-
erally related to specific geographical locations such as area surveys. Material
also includes general reviews of area situations and emission source inventories.
Legal and Administrative - Legal aspects including legislation, ordinances,
rules,'litigation, hearings, decisions, etc. Administration covers administra-
tive and miscellaneous information concerning control agencies and control and
research programs. Typical topics are personnel, budgets, contractual activi-
ties, and program descriptors.
Standards and Criteria - Recommended or adopted guides, criteria and
standards for allowable emission limits or pollutant concentrations, air quality,
equipment characteristics, and fuels.
Basic Science and Technology - General discussions or data compilations
for the basic physical and chemical properties of pollutants. Also included
are theoretical and laboratory studies on related chemical reactions and mecha-
isms, as well as mass transfer and other basic knowledge related to process
engineering applications in emission control or abatement (excluding atmospheric
photochemical studies and biochemical studies related to effects of air pollution)
Social Aspects - Sociological and psychological aspects such as social
attitudes, public opinion studies, public relations and public information.
Document Attributes
These terms characterize the type and source of information presented by the
document, in contrast to subject content, which is identified by descriptor
terms. The document attributes differentiate various types of original work,
reviews, bibliographies, etc. Thus they permit greater selectivity in searching
in relation to the needs of a particular user. Document attributes of this
type, with their scopes, are as follows:
Original Work (Theoretical) - Theoretical analysis, including economic
analyses, as distinguished from experimental work and field measurements.
Original Work (Laboratory) - Original results of investigations carried
out by the author in the laboratory, or under otherwise controlled conditions.
13
-------
Original Work (Field) - Original results of investigations carried out
by the author under natural conditions.
Reviews (Technical) - Summarization and/or evaluation of technical infor-
mation or other material, as in literature reviews, state-of-the-art reviews,
monographs, etc. If the source material is familiar (see Reviews - General,
below) the summation or evaluation should be sufficiently significant to
constitute new information.
Reviews (General) - Information generally known and accepted in the air
pollution field. Documents under General in the Category Assignment section
would normally be assigned this attribute.
Compilations - Facts or data, e. g., state laws, air network results.
Directories - Membership, agencies, associations, manufacturers, etc.
Bibliographies - Annotated bibliographies (reference plus abstract or
characterization, but without summarizing comment or evaluation).
Patents - Published patents; other documents relating to patents.
Proceedings - Published papers and discussions of symposia, specialized
meetings, etc.
Collection - Several articles by various authors, with no definite relation-
ship to each other, appearing under a single cover.
Manuals - Operating, maintenance or planning guides, i.e., "how-to-do-it"
documents.
Glossary - Dictionary-type listing of terms and definitions.
Books - Hardback textbooks and references for shelf use.
14
-------
REMAINING MICROTHESAURUS TERMS
The remaining terms in the APTIC microthesaurus constitute a highly specialized
listing of approximately 1,400 terms arranged alphabetically and hierarchically
to describe specific scientific or related subjects in the field of air pollution.
The hierarchical groups are arranged in logical sections for two reasons:
1. Logical section divisions bring together narrower terms under a
broad term which can serve as a key choice if the searcher needs
a general coverage of similar concepts.
2. Such divisions assist the searcher in locating the most specific
term available.
Because the terms indexed for a given report are chosen as specifically as pos-
sible, APTIC urges that the user choose the most specific terms possible when
writing a search request. The search program automatically indexes the docu-
ment accession number to broader terms within the hierarchy. Therefore, if
the user chooses a broad term such as "analytical methods," he is thereby asking
the computer to search the term "analytical methods" and all its subterms.
Because of the very high number of document numbers that are related to some
broad terms in the APTIC system, the user should always keep in mind that the
most specific term possible should be searched.
15
-------
REQUEST LANGUAGE DESCRIPTION
The basic standard in the APTIC search system is the PL/1 character set, and
so the following are acceptable in descriptors and subdescriptors:
A through Z; 0 through 9; )(.,*/-%# @ '"_-+;
therefore, the following characters are used in the search language as separa-
tors and operators:
Logic Symbol
logical AND &
logical NOT
logical OR I
for truncation of descriptors $
right parenthesis >
left parenthesis <
end of request ?
The fundamental abilities of the language permit the usual three Boolean
operators, 'AND,1 'OR,' and'NOT.1 The symbols &, |, and" respectively,
will be used to represent these operators. A descriptor,* as interpreted
by the search language, is that which appears between two operators. In
the following example,
A & B & C
may represent a simple inquiry such as,
(A) (B) (c)
FUELS & FUEL ADDITIVES & AUTOMOBILES
* A DESCRIPTOR may be single word descriptor such as 'fuels' or a multiword
descriptor such as 'fuel additives.'
16
-------
Descriptors may be combined in a large number of ways. The simplest
of these ways, a simple 'ANDing,' has already been illustrated, as
A & B & C. The "OR1 is used in a similar manner, A I B | C.
The former states that all three descriptors, A, B, and C, must
appear on a document in order for that document to satisfy the re-
quest (be a 'hit'). The latter states that if any one of the three
descriptors appears in a document, the document is a 'hit.'
Parentheses (leas than and greater than signs) may be used freely
to alter the meaning, but must be used with care. Parentheses cause
the entire expression enclosed within them to be evaluated as an
entity, the result of that evaluation then being considered as a
sort of 'super-descriptor,' which is then analyzed with the remainder
of the request. For example, consider the following:
1. A | B & C
2. < A | B > & C
3. A | < B & C >
The first statement defines a 'hit1 as any document which contains
either A alone or both B and C.
The second defines a 'hit' as one which contains either A or B, and
C, i.e., A + C or B + C. The third defines a 'hit' as one which
contains either A alone or both B and C, which is the same as (1).
This is an example of redundant parentheses, which will not affect
the search logic.
Nested parentheses are permissible, as in the following:
A&|E>
This decomposes into A & B & D or C, or A & E. However, if the paren-
theses are modified the same expression decomposes to different meanings.
Removing the outer parentheses gives A & B & |E,
which decomposes into A &B &CorA & B & D or E.
Removing the inner parentheses instead gives A&,
which decomposes into A & B &CorA & D or A & E.
Removing both sets gives A & B & C | D | E , which decomposes
into A &B &CorDorE.
Logically, there is no limit to the number of nested parentheses
which are possible, since the logical system deals with them one
at a time. However, other limitations impose a maximum of eight
nested sets. This does not imply that only eight sets may be used
in an inquiry, only that a maximum of eight nested sets are permitted.
17
-------
The 'NOT' operator (-») should be treated with special care since
its function is different from either & or |. AND (&) and OR (|)
are binary operators which imply a relationship between two descriptors.
'NOT' is unary. It affects only the descriptor following the ~".
'NOT1 implies 'AND,' i.e., A -' B means A and not B. A& < B | -' C >
is not permitted and must be written as A & B I A "^ C.
Truncation
It is possible to make inquiries of the system using only partial
descriptors by use of the truncation feature. In the normal, or un-
truncated, mode a descriptor in the inquiry must match exactly with
a descriptor in the record in order for the record to be a 'hit.'
Using the truncation feature, it is possible to ignore terminal char-
acters of descriptors in the record. In the following hypothetical
inquiry, for example,
ROADS & ACCIDENTS
the descriptor 'ROADS' and the descriptor 'ACCIDENTS' must appear
exactly as written in the document in order to be a 'hit.' In,
ROAD$ & ACCIDENT$
however, any descriptor such as ROAD, ROADS, ROADWAY, and the like,
would match ROAD$. Similarly, ACCIDENT, ACCIDENTS, and ACCIDENTAL
would match ACCIDENT$. Truncation is thus a useful feature for avoid-
ing the necessity of ^Ring1 together singular, plural, adjectival
forms of the same word or words. The program will ignore any char-
acters appearing in the document descriptors beyond those given in
the inquiry. The truncation symbol (the $) acts to block further
comparison.
Truncation should be used with care, however, as unexpected retrieval
might result from its injudicious use. For instance, in the above
example, ROAD$ will match successfully against not only the terms
given above, but also against ROAD SIGNS, ROAD BUILDING, and any other
descriptor, regardless of length which begins with the four characters
ROAD. Similarly, ACCIDENT PREVENTION, ACCIDENTAL LOSS, and any other
descriptor whose first eight characters are ACCIDENT will match suc-
cessfully against ACCIDENT$. Because it gives an alphabetical listing of all
the terms in the computer, Supplement C is a convenient tool to be used in
truncating. The statistics also included in this supplement are valuable
because they give an indication of the likely number of 'hits' per term.
The only constraint of the truncation feature is that there must be a
minimum of one character preceding the $. An inquiry such as:
ROADS & $
is invalid and will be rejected by the system.
18
-------
The exact position of the truncation symbol has an effect on the
retrieval. ACCIDENT$ does not have the same meaning as ACCIDENT $.
In the former case (no blank between the word and the $), the eight
characters ACCIDENT are compared against the document records as
described above. In the latter case, the nine characters A-C-C-
I-D-E-N-T-blank are compared against the record. In this case,
only such descriptors as ACCIDENT PREVENTION, and other multiple
word descriptors beginning with the word ACCIDENT would be retrieved.
Neither ACCIDENTS nor ACCIDENTAL would be retrieved. Furthermore,
not even the simple descriptor ACCIDENT would be retrieved, because
descriptors are assumed to end with the last significant character.
That is, they do not have trailing blanks. Therefore, there would
be ho match between the eight character ACCIDENT in the record,
and the nine character ACCIDENT $ in the inquiry.
19
-------
ZX
Ul H-
I I
ZZ
"O
.. Vt O
Si I
3 S p
^^ ^M W
< o S
CO H- Bri
i 3 !j
O O fc
u o. s
<-»-,§
QC 7
Z
u
SQ
>
^
u
0
t/J
««
MINISTRATIVE
0
<
;
i
_J
rf
VIINfSTRATIVE AND SOCI.
0
<
i
0
o
tt
a
1-
z
5
CEMENT
Jl IN 1ST RAT ION
UDGETS
ONTRACTING
RANTS
LANS AND PROGRAMS
AIR QUALITV MEASUREi
AREA SURVEYS
;
Z
v>
<
* Z
* 2
'1
Ul
z 5
O 0
Z j_
NATIONAL AIR SAMPL
SURVEY METHODS
CONTROL PROGRAMS
ROPOSALS
< 4
«
UJ
1 i< <
< Si
S22 E"
510 uE< 2
U.IZ J-OI >
°-"S t H"| 0
Jo< <^ is
-SSi £°1" IS
< < O O O U UJ Ul
P
» sl=2i£ gS P
uj 2 ^ K ^ *^Z |_ O
il -IfSISi Sl-2 II « i ..
ie s 3iii ii PP ajU dg§ i
o- ^zS^O"1 !£s|3|5{2
w
S
w
OH
P
iyj
Q
^ in
|i
UJ I
2
H
OC
LU O
u. Z
i i
tn w wt in
^^
o <
u £
s s
Q O
O CD a. a-
-------
<
u
O
u
UJ
l
<
S2B58
*""00
i:P>''Hs'«»S3o5
111
Z
y
a
OSCIENC
.1 I
JjJIZOI
.
si
Hi
Sh
S
z
HUMAN
-------
shli
»" H 59
«o-J *;
S : «| s
Sz -z*
< Z |_ m Ml
=!in
«/»
Ul
U
oc
3
O
S
u
c
8
° t £ i
i § S 5
i - o H 2
1-I "So0
u. IL O₯S.H.£coBlDUIuOO O a) U OuOOOQui IL«L
s
?!
-------
u
z
o
u
«j
<
u
2
ut
X
a
^
<
u
5<
uiZ
MOSPH
ENOME
S£
i
in
DSPHERIC PH
HI
- E 5
1 « S a«l 1 ili o «G |°1
i Jli is IS JH - ! I I Pi j| i! i
O^n*^luffl*' u*5o<3OOlCzy5SE Oo*OZOO>5l*9 JO^5fft><2 l5ft
-------
-------
LIlv
1 Nu.au
------- |