Searching Chemical Abstracts - STN Bret A. Heim Thomas Byrne Memorial Library

Introduction The CAS program

Topics to Be Covered Specific techniques and strategies for efficient searching in Chemical Abstracts databases Forming effective search arguments

Record Structure Structured records facilitate precise retrieval of information

Field Name “Switches” Search Titles /TI =>s titanium/TI Search the Basic Index /BI Searches single words from Titles /TI Index terms /IT Supplemental terms /ST Abstracts /AB CAS registry numbers /RN =>s xenon/BI Search Abstracts /AB s xenon/AB Search Chemical Name /CN s 1-bromo-1-fluoro-2-butanone/CN Search Molecular Formula /MF s C14H18N4O3/MF

Basic Search Commands The Search Command s or search At the => prompt type s or search followed by your search argument =>s gas chromatography =>search ibuprofen The Expand Command e or expand Best used to browse terms =>e fentanyl/CN =>expand Doring/AU Then use the search command =>s e1-e3 OR =>search e1 or e2

Displaying Results The Browse Command bro use browse to determine whether or not your search is returning the information you need order of elements [display] [browse command] [List #] =>d bro l3 indicate which record number you wish to view :5 end browse and return to search :end The Display Command d order of elements [display] [List #] [output format] [record numbers] =>d l3 bib 1-10 displays numbers 1-10 of result list #3 in bibliographic format

Special Features Truncation ? or ! Right , left-hand and internal truncation are available Right Hand Truncation =>s citronel? retrieves citronellal, citronellene, citronellic acid, citronellol use also for singulars, plurals, etc. Left Hand Truncation =>s ?benzene retrieves bromobenzene, chlorobenzene, fluorobenzene, nitrobenzene, etc. Internal Truncation =>s fluor!metric retrieves fluorometric, fluorimetric

More Special Features Proximity Use for “nearness” and word order =>s genetic engineering (adjacent, specified order) =>s genetic(A)engineering (adjacent, either order) =>s genetic?(5W)engineer? (within 5 words, specified order) Question Why use truncation in the above example? =>s genetic?(5A)engineer? (within 5 words, either order) Language /LA Use to limit items in a List # to a particular language =>s l5 and english/LA

Still More Special Features Publication Year PY =>s palytoxin and PY>1978 =>s palytoxin and PY<1978 =>s palytoxin and PY1978-1997 =>s palytoxin and PY=<1978 Document Types /DT You may wish to restrict your results to a particular type of publication =>s opiate receptors and journal/DT (retrieves journal articles) =>s ibuprofen and patent/DT (retrieves patents)

Forming Search Strategies Write a single search argument to find journal articles in English published after 1992 on oxidation-resistant coatings used for carbon-carbon composites in a high-temperature atmospheric environment

Analyze the Components Terms oxidation-resistant coatings Other terms? Use truncation? Proximity and word order? Omit the hyphen? carbon-carbon composites Use truncation? What about the hyphen? high-temperature Synonyms for high temperature? Omit hyphen? Use truncation? atmospheric enviroment Is the term “environment” necessary? Use truncation? Other Restrictions Document Type /DT Language /LA Publication Year /PY

Putting It All Together [first component] and [second component] and [third component] and [fourth component] and journal/DT and english/LA and PY>1992

Going Online CAS program is available only after 5p.m. Arrange appointment with Bret Heim 380-3875 heim@shc.edu Presearch exercises must be completed or you will not be allowed to search Bring a 3.5” floppy disc to capture your session Connecting to CAS from STN Telnet session Login and Password Time Zone Code Select a File to Search (LCA and eventually CA) Perform Search, then Logoff

Questions