Instructions
for updating strategies used in searching thematic areas of the VHL
In
view of the annual update carried out in the MeSH vocabulary which is
then incorporated into DeCS, as well as changes in other DeCS categories,
the need for the revision and update of the search strategies of the
thematic areas of the VHL have become crucial. This revision applies
both to the strategies that use descriptors as well as to those using
hierarchic codes.
To
achieve the update of the strategies, the addresses for the two versions
of DeCS are available, where consultations using the alphabetical, hierarchic
and kwic (keyword in context) indices can be made:
-
version 2012 from which the strategies were based: DeCS 2012 Search
-
version 2013 from which the strategies must now be based: DeCS 2013 Search
Besides
the information available under "DeCS news" regarding the
changes occurred in 2013
(DeCS 2013 edition), the link under DeCS
previous editions, for the DeCS 2006 edition, contains
more detailed information with respect to the important revision of the Public Health category concluded that
year, of the descriptors that were modified and eliminated.
In
order to update search strategies containing hierarchic codes (or tree
numbers), see the MeSH and DeCS Tree number changes taken place between
the years 2012 and 2013.
Methodology
for updating search strategies
In
the DeCS
2013 Search,
look for the descriptor in the existing strategy using the "exact
descriptor" field, or search the hierarchical code in the existing
strategy using the tree index to see if it still exists.
-
If it exists, fine;
-
If the descriptor is not found, check in the list of changed descriptors
and in the list of deleted descriptors on the DeCS 2013 edition
news page and update its strategy with the descriptor that replaced
(or absorbed) it;
-
If the hierarchical code is not found, search for it in the tree index
of the DeCS
2012 Search and
find out the descriptor to which it used to belong; then search for
this descriptor using the option "exact term" at DeCS
2013 Search,
to find out if it still exists and, if so, what its valid hierarchical
code is.
-
Example of the addition of a new tree number: the descriptor Water
Resources, until 2012 existent only in SP category, Public Health,
was included in G category, Phenomena and Processes. Thus, in 2013,
its hierarchical codes are
G01.311.910
SP4.016
This
update should happen in all strategies where these hierarchical codes
are used.
-
Example of repositioning a descriptor:
The descriptors Economic Cooperation and
Regional Development have new tree numbers:
DeCS 2012
PUBLIC
HEALTH [SP]
Environmental Health [SP4]
Science [SP4.011]
Social Sciences [SP4.011.127]
Technical
Cooperation [SP4.011.127.423]
Economic
Cooperation [SP4.011.127.423.739]
PUBLIC HEALTH [SP]
Disasters [SP8]
Disaster Management [SP8.946]
Disaster
Planning [SP8.946.702]
Regional
Development [SP8.946.702.685]
DeCS 2013
PUBLIC HEALTH [SP]
Disasters [SP8]
Disaster
Management [SP8.946]
Disaster Planning [SP8.946.702]
Regional Development [SP8.946.702.685]
PUBLIC HEALTH [SP]
Health Law [SP9]
International
Law [SP9.050]
International Cooperation [SP9.050.030]
Economic Cooperation [SP9.050.030.010]
Regional Development [SP9.050.030.010.010]
See
below an example of a strategy for Pesticides, valid until 2004 and
its updated strategy for 2006:
Before
updating:
(ex
SP4.405.350.364$ or ex SP8.473.654.412.052.080.115.020.020$ or ex
D05.723$ or ex D27.720.723$) or (ti Pesticide$ or ti Plaguicida$
or ti Praguicida$) [Subject descriptor]
Updating
that was made:
SP4.405.350.364
This
hierarchic code which in 2004 corresponded to the Pesticides
descriptor in SP4 (Environmental Health) was modified. The new
2006 hierarchic code for the descriptor in the SP4 (Environmental
Health) category is: SP4.001.022.238.
Explode,
truncation
The
"ex" (from explode) that precedes the hierarchic code
and the “$" sign (truncation), indicate that the Pesticides
descriptor and all its more specific descriptors will be included
in the recovery of literature.
SP8.473.654.412.052.080.115.020.020
This
hierarchic code, that continues to exist, also belongs to the
Pesticides descriptor since, being DeCS polyhierarchical,
a descriptor can be located in more than one of its categories/subcategories.
It is not necessary to again include in the strategy this descriptor
or the other hierarchic branch where the descriptor is found,
because it is already also duly contemplated in SP4.001.022.238.
Unnecessary
truncation
Another
detail for the elaboration of the strategies is that when a hierarchic
code of a descriptor is used under which there is no other more
specific descriptor, it is unnecessary to follow it with the “$”
sign
D05.723
This
hierarchic code does no longer appear in version 2004 of DeCS,
since the D05 subcategory of MeSH was eliminated in 2004. Its
content was transferred to the D27.888 subcategory. In 2005 the
D05 subcategory was recreated by MeSH but with other content:
Macromolecular Substances.
Title
words
The
words of the title continue in the search strategy expression
without alterations.
Pesticides [D27.720.723] and
Pesticides [D27.888.723]
These
hierarchic branches are almost identical, except for the descriptor
Pesticide Residues, present in the D27.888.723 branch
and absent in the D27.720.723 branch
One
should remember that the same descriptor can be inserted in different
hierarchies in the DeCS tree, with variations in the specific
descriptors. If it is necessary to consider different specific
descriptors, the different hierarchic branches can be included
in the strategy
Final
recommendation
Thus,
contemplating all the existing specific descriptors in the various
hierarchic branches where the descriptor Pesticides is inserted,
the new search strategy must be as follows:
(ex
SP4.001.022.238$ or ex D27.888.723$) [Subject descriptor] or (ti
Pesticide$ or ti Plaguicida$ or ti Praguicida$) [Title words]
Cited
hierarchic branches in the example in the two versions of DeCS:
DeCS
2004:
Pesticides [D27.720.723]
Chemosterilants
[D27.720.723.141]
Fungicides,
Industrial [D27.720.723.288]
Herbicides
[D27.720.723.366]
Defoliants,
Chemical [D27.720.723.366.181]
Herbicides,
Carbamate [D27.720.723.366.448]
Herbicides,
Triazine [D27.720.723.366.477]
Herbicides,
Urea [D27.720.723.366.506]
Insect
Repellents [D27.720.723.441]
Insecticides
[D27.720.723.491]
Insecticides,
Botanical [D27.720.723.491.324]
Insecticides,
Carbamate [D27.720.723.491.408]
Insecticides,
Organochlorine [D27.720.723.491.491]
Insecticides,
Organophosphate [D27.720.723.491.574]
Insecticides,
Organothiophosphate [D27.720.723.491.657]
Molluscacides
[D27.720.723.596]
Pesticide
Synergists [D27.720.723.748]
Rodenticides
[D27.720.723.853]
Pesticides [D27.888.723]
Chemosterilants [D27.888.723.141]
Fungicides, Industrial [D27.888.723.288]
Herbicides [D27.888.723.366]
Defoliants, Chemical [D27.888.723.366.181]
Herbicides, Carbamate [D27.888.723.366.448]
Herbicides, Triazine [D27.888.723.366.477]
Herbicides, Urea [D27.888.723.366.506]
Insect Repellents [D27.888.723.441]
Insecticides [D27.720.723.491]
Insecticides, Botanical [D27.720.723.491.324]
Insecticides, Carbamate [D27.720.723.491.408]
Insecticides, Organochlorine [D27.720.723.491.491]
Insecticides, Organophosphate [D27.720.723.491.574]
Insecticides, Organothiophosphate [D27.720.723.491.657]
Molluscacides [D27.888.723.596]
Pesticide Residues [D27.888.723.697]
Pesticide Synergists [D27.888.723.748]
Rodenticides [D27.888.723.853]
Pesticides [SP4.405.350.364]
Algicides [SP4.405.350.364.204]
Bactericides [SP4.405.350.364.205]
Bacteriophages [SP4.405.350.364.205.410]
Fungicides, Industrial [SP4.405.350.364.206]
Herbicides [SP4.405.350.364.207]
Pesticide Utilization [SP4.405.350.364.309]
Pesticides [SP8.473.654.412.052.080.115.020.020]
DeCS 2006:
Pesticides [D27.720.723]
Chemosterilants [D27.720.723.141]
Fungicides, Industrial [D27.720.723.288]
Herbicides [D27.720.723.366]
Defoliants, Chemical [D27.720.723.366.181]
Insect Repellents [D27.720.723.441]
Insecticides [D27.720.723.491]
Molluscacides [D27.720.723.596]
Pesticide Synergists [D27.720.723.748]
Rodenticides [D27.720.723.853]
Pesticides [D27.888.723]
Chemosterilants [D27.888.723.141]
Fungicides, Industrial [D27.888.723.288]
Herbicides [D27.888.723.366]
Defoliants, Chemical [D27.888.723.366.181]
Insect Repellents [D27.888.723.441]
Insecticides [D27.888.723.491]
Molluscacides [D27.888.723.596]
Pesticide Residues [D27.888.723.697]
Pesticide Synergists [D27.888.723.748]
Rodenticides [D27.888.723.853]
Pesticides [SP4.001.022.238]
Creosote [SP4.001.022.238.349]
Algicides [SP4.001.022.238.354]
Bactericides [SP4.001.022.238.359]
Fungicides, Industrial [SP4.001.022.238.364]
Herbicides [SP4.001.022.238.369]
Insect Repellents [SP4.001.022.238.374]
Rodenticides [SP4.001.022.238.379]
Larvicides [SP4.001.022.238.384]
Insecticides [SP4.001.022.238.389]
Carbaryl [SP4.001.022.238.389.215]
Carbamates [SP4.001.022.238.389.220]
Carbofuran [SP4.001.022.238.389.225]
Insecticides, Organochlorine [SP4.001.022.238.389.230]
Aldrin [SP4.001.022.238.389.230.036]
Chlordan [SP4.001.022.238.389.230.041]
Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane [SP4.001.022.238.389.230.046]
DDT [SP4.001.022.238.389.230.051]
Dieldrin [SP4.001.022.238.389.230.056]
Endrin
[SP4.001.022.238.389.230.061]
Heptachlor [SP4.001.022.238.389.230.066]
Toxaphene [SP4.001.022.238.389.230.071]
Insecticides, Organophosphate [SP4.001.022.238.389.235]
Diazinon [SP4.001.022.238.389.235.076]
Malathion [SP4.001.022.238.389.235.081]
Parathion [SP4.001.022.238.389.235.086]
Methyl Parathion [SP4.001.022.238.389.235.086.022]
Pesticides
[SP8.473.654.412.052.080.115.020.020]
Updated:
March, 2013
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