1. IAEA International Atomic Energy Agency International Nuclear Information System (INIS) INIS SUBJECT ANALYSIS: Subject Indexing INIS Training Seminar 14-16 Novemner 2011 Neviana Rashkova Subject Specialist

2. IAEA THESAURUS The basic tools for subject indexing are the controlled vocabulary maintained in the Thesaurus and the rules for its application Thesaurus "A thesaurus is a terminological control device used in translating from the natural language of documents, indexers or users into a more constrained system language. It is a controlled and dynamic vocabulary of semantically and generically related terms which covers a specific domain of knowledge". The descriptor is placed in its correct semantic context by its wordblock - forbidden, broader, narrower and related terms For a few descriptors where there could still exist a possibility of ambiguity - scope note INIS Training Seminar 14-16 Novemner 20112

3. IAEA EXAMPLES Solutions in Chemistry mathematical solutions Poisons toxic substance HAZARDOUS MATERIALS in nuclear reactor NUCLEAR POISONS INIS Training Seminar 14-16 Novemner 20113

4. IAEA EXAMPLES Flux Descriptor exists for different cases: RADIATION FLUX NEUTRON FLUX MAGNETIC FLUX ……………………. INIS Training Seminar 14-16 Novemner 20114

5. IAEA INDEXING RULES Document Interpretation Rule Rule: Choose such information items for indexing as you would yourself expect to find in the piece of literature if you were the user searching for that information. Identify the main concepts and represent with descriptors First scan the title and abstract. If necessary go to the full text Avoid overindexing Do not assign a descriptor and one of its broader terms to the same item Example: "This effect was discovered by a team of the ORNL." "These irradiation experiments were conducted in the Materials Testing Reactor.“ Do not index ORNL, Materials testing reactors, or capture INIS Training Seminar 14-16 Novemner 20115

6. IAEA INDEXING RULES Example: "The resonance capture was not examined.“ If it is not examined – do not index "no resonance capture was observed" In case it was examined, but not found – do indexing "The reaction is enhanced by the presence of platinum" - CATALYSIS "The long-half-life carbon isotope" - CARBON 14 "A computer code was developed" – PROGRAMMING Find implicit information INIS Training Seminar 14-16 Novemner 20116

7. IAEA INDEXING RULES Specificity Rule Rule: Always use the most specific appropriate descriptor. Check the worldblock to find the most specific descriptor Example: KINETICS NT1 radionuclide kinetics NT1 reaction kinetics NT2 biochemical reaction kinetics NT3 cpb NT2 chemical reaction kinetics NT3 combustion kinetics NT2 nuclear reaction kinetics NT1 reactor kinetics RT collisions… INIS Training Seminar 14-16 Novemner 20117

8. IAEA INDEXING RULES Rule: Do not assign a descriptor and one of its broader terms to the same item. Example: SLOWPOKE TYPE REACTORS INIS: 1979-12-20; ETDE: 1980-01-24 UF safe low power critical experiment *BT1 enriched uranium reactors *BT1 isotope production reactors *BT1 pool type reactors *BT1 research reactors NT1 slowpoke-ottawa reactor NT1 slowpoke-toronto reactor NT1 slowpoke-alberta reactor NT1 slowpoke-dalhousie reactor NT1 slowpoke-montreal reactor NT1 slowpoke-wnre reactor INIS Training Seminar 14-16 Novemner 20118

9. IAEA INDEXING PROCEDURES Carefully read the title and abstract and scan the full text Identify the concept(s) about which the document contains useful information "Translate" the concepts into descriptors. Check each descriptor to make sure that: - the descriptors represent as precisely as possible the major concept(s); - the definition matches the use; - the selected descriptor is the most specific appropriate choice If part of a document is out of INIS scope, index the latter portion generally Avoid overindexing. Cross check whether additional indexing is needed in relation to literary indicators Special emphasis should be placed on the indexing of DATA INIS Training Seminar 14-16 Novemner 20119

10. IAEA DATA FLAGGING DATA (For data flagging always use a more specific term.) BT1 information NT1 numerical data NT2 compiled data NT2 evaluated data NT2 experimental data NT2 financial data NT2 statistical data NT2 theoretical data RT cinda INIS Training Seminar 14-16 Novemner 201110

11. IAEA INDEXING EZAMPLE Title: Radio-carbon dating. Abstract: A brief and general discussion on the principle of radiocarbon dating is given. This is meant to stimulate the appreciation of radiocarbon and other dating techniques in Indonesia which is rich in fossil and other interesting rock sediments for dating studies. NBS calibration standards for decay are available for dating studies on various samples. Descriptors: CALIBRATION STANDARDS; CARBON 14; FOSSILS; ISOTOPE DATING; SEDIMENTARY ROCKS Explanation of descriptors assigned: CALIBRATION STANDARDS is useful but one cannot tell from the abstract how significant it is for this document. CARBON 14 is implied because it is the radioactive carbon isotope used in carbon dating. FOSSILS and SEDIMENTARY ROCKS describe the objects being dated. ISOTOPE DATING is the closest term to carbon dating in the Thesaurus: it is an NT to AGE ESTIMATION and describes the main concept. Explanation of why certain descriptors are not assigned: INDONESIA is not relevant to the subject discussed. CARBON 12 is the stable isotope to which carbon 14 is compared, but persons interested in carbon 12 itself would not want DECAY is much too broad; BETA-MINUS DECAY might be considered. SAMPLE PREPARATION does not appear to be useful and should not be used as a descriptor unless a substantial portion of the full text document is devoted to preparing a sample for dating. US NBS does not appear to be useful and should not be used as a descriptor unless a substantial portion of the document is devoted to a discussion of the US NBS. INIS Training Seminar 14-16 Novemner 201111

12. IAEA INIS Training Seminar 14-16 Novemner 201112 Thank you!