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On-line searching: costly or cost effective? A marketing perspective
Literature Review
outlook for renewed development of controlled vocabularies with more effective online display techniques is mentioned, although such development must be based on firm research of user behaviour and needs.
9. Evaluation of bibliographic data base operation in an SDI system. Kazimierz Kowalski and Aleksander Zgrzywa (Main Library and Scientific Information Centre, Technical University of Wroclaw, Poland). J. Inf. Sci., 1984, Vol. 8, pp. 57-61. This paper presents the results of an investigation of the operation of bibliographic databases. The investigations were concerned with the length of information queries and the number of answers as well as the relationship between them, depending on the data base. The results obtained can affect the assumptions and strategy Of operating the databases in SDI systems. 10. Central Patents Index chemical code: a user's viewpoint. Edlyn S. Simmons (Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals Inc., Cincinnati, OH, U.S.A.). J. Chem. Inf. Comput. Sci., 1984, No. 24, pp. 10-15. Subscribers to Derwent Publications Ltd.'s Central Patents Index can use the Chemical Fragmentation Code to identify patents describing a chemical compound whether its structure is expressed generically or specifically and whether the compound is claimed or merely described as novel. Compounds are encoded via molecular fragments - - elements, carbon chains, rings, and functional groups - - which are overcoded on a single record to define a Markush group and are retrieved by encoding chemical structures with the same fragment codes, expressing Markush groups by the Boolean OR and combining fragments with the ORBIT LINK operator. Examples are presented in which retrieval with the Chemical Fragmentation Code is compared with the retrieval of patent references by alternative search techniques. 11. Semiautomatic indexing of structured information of text. Fujio Nishida, Shinobu Takamatsu and Yoneharu Fujita (Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Osaka Prefecture, Mozu-Umemachi, Sakai, Osaka, Japan). J. Chem. Inf. Comput Sci., 1984, No. 24, pp. 15-20. This paper presents a method of semiautomatic information extraction from text such as patent claim sentences or summaries of technical papers written in English as well as in Japanese. The input sentences are parsed, reduced, and normalized into almost the same form of the internal expressions for both the languages except terms. Subsequently, specified information is extracted in a specified language of English or Japanese. 12. On-line searching: costly or cost effective? A marketing perspective. Ronald G. Dunn and Harry F. Boyle (Chemical Abstracts Service, Columbus, OH, U.S.A.). J. Chem. Inf. Comput. Sci., 1984, No. 24, pp. 51-54. The value of acquiring and using information is not well understood. Decisions to purchase information are made on the basis of the perceived need for the information, the anticipated benefit of using it, and the price. The current pricing of on-line information services, which emphasizes the connect hours as the unit of
price, does not relate the price of a search to the value of a search, and the education programs of on-line vendors and database suppliers concentrate on the mechanics of information retrieval rather than on the application of information to the customer's problem. The on-line information industry needs to adopt a strong marketing orientation that focuses on the needs of customers rather than the needs of suppliers or vendors.
13. Computer storage and retrieval of generic chemical structures in patents. Algorithmic generation of fragment descriptors for generic structure screening. Stephen M. Welford, Michael F. Lynch and John M. Barnard (Department of Information Studies, University of Sheffield, U.K.) J. Chem. Inf. Comput. Sci., 1984, No. 24, pp. 57-66. Considerations for the use of limited-environment screens for screening generic chemical structures are discussed. The general strategy and detailed procedures for the automatic generation of screens from the extended connection table representation (ECTR) of generic chemical structures are described. A bitscreen record for generic database structures and specific, generic, and substructure queries is described, and a number of screening algorithms are proposed. 14. Computer storage and retrieval of general chemical structures in patents. An interpreter program for the generic structure description language GENSAL. John M. Barnard, Michael F. Lynch and Stephen M. Welford (Department of Information Studies, University of Sheffield, U.K.) J. Chem. Inf. Comput. Sci., 1984, No. 24, pp. 66-71. A computer program is described that carries out syntactic and semantic analysis of generic structures encoded in GENSAL, a formal language for the description of such structures, simultaneously generating an extended connection table representation of the structure. Desirable enhancements to the program in the areas of structure diagram input, nomenclature translation, and linear formula analysis are discussed. 15. Chemical inference. Formalization of the language of organic chemistry: generic systematic nomenclature. John E. Gordon (Chemical Abstracts Service, Columbus, OH and Department of Chemistry, Kent State University, OH, U.S.A.) J. Chem. Inf. Comput. Sci., 1984, No. 24, pp. 81-92. The role and importance of generical nomenclature in the definition and manipulation of structural formula and compound classes in chemistry, chemical information science, and chemical education are discussed. Traditional generic organic nomenclature is surveyed, and a formalization of one traditional language of generic names is presented. Principles of naming generic structural formulas that involve structural variables such as 'R', "X', etc. are discussed. A formal description of a language for naming and indexing connectivity-variable generic structural formulas of both fixed and variable composition is provided. 16. Mass information storage systems and records management: competing technologies and systems concepts. Klaus W. Otten. J. Inf. Image Mgmt, October 1984, pp. 33-35
169
The dominant position of paper- and micrographics-based technologies for records management is challenged by emerging new storage systems. The need to document on paper and store on microform is reduced in applications where information is now communicated and administered in interactive computerbased systems. Properties of challenging technologies (magnetic mass memories, optical data disks) and associated systems concepts are compared with those of paper- and micrographics-based systems. Trends in shifting application advantages for the different records management alternatives are analyzed and guidelines presented on how to plan to avoid premature obsolencence of micrographics systems. 17. Applications of technology to CAS database production. David W. Weisgerber (Chemical Abstracts Service, Columbus, OH, U.S.A.). Inf. Serv. Use 1984, Vol. 4, pp. 317-325. The economic importance of applying computer technology to Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) database production is reviewed for the period 1973-1983. The growth in professional and total production staff is compared with the growth in the number of abstracts and subject index entries. The impact on timeliness is discussed. Two different and specific applications of technology to CAS editorial processing - - online editing capability for abstracts and subject index entries, and the computer-based Author Index Manufacturing System - - are discussed in detail. The introduction of online editing capability, coupled with continuing enhancements to the total system, has led to improvements in the productivity of the editing process of about 47 percent compared to the earlier manual process. Reductions in clerical support staff requirements are also discussed. Implementation of the Author Index Manufacturing System improved the timeliness of the CA Author Index and reduced production costs by eliminating much of the labor-intensive and repetitious work associated with manual editing of author names. CAS and users of its services have benefited from the application of technology to database production through increased staff productivity, reduced rate of increase of cost of services, improved timeliness, and improved quality of the services. 18. A unique method of computerizing chemical process information. J. M.Hushon, E. Clarence-Smith, J. Scopel, J. A. King, J. Powell and W. G. Town (Research Systems Division, Bolt Beranek and Newman, Inc., Arlington, VA, U.S.A.). J, Chem. Inf. Comput. Sci., 1984, No. 24, pp. 148-152. Traditionally, organic chemical process data have been organized on a chemicalby-chemical basis. The unit process/ product process approach to organizing chemical process data that has been developed for the European Commission's ECDIN data base has advantages in that it permits a linking of functionally similar reactions, it facilitates a hierarchical organization of data, and it simplifies the query procedure. Unit processes can be defined as single-step chemical reactions. With application of this method to ECDIN, the processes for making the
outlook for renewed development of controlled vocabularies with more effective online display techniques is mentioned, although such development must be based on firm research of user behaviour and needs.
9. Evaluation of bibliographic data base operation in an SDI system. Kazimierz Kowalski and Aleksander Zgrzywa (Main Library and Scientific Information Centre, Technical University of Wroclaw, Poland). J. Inf. Sci., 1984, Vol. 8, pp. 57-61. This paper presents the results of an investigation of the operation of bibliographic databases. The investigations were concerned with the length of information queries and the number of answers as well as the relationship between them, depending on the data base. The results obtained can affect the assumptions and strategy Of operating the databases in SDI systems. 10. Central Patents Index chemical code: a user's viewpoint. Edlyn S. Simmons (Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals Inc., Cincinnati, OH, U.S.A.). J. Chem. Inf. Comput. Sci., 1984, No. 24, pp. 10-15. Subscribers to Derwent Publications Ltd.'s Central Patents Index can use the Chemical Fragmentation Code to identify patents describing a chemical compound whether its structure is expressed generically or specifically and whether the compound is claimed or merely described as novel. Compounds are encoded via molecular fragments - - elements, carbon chains, rings, and functional groups - - which are overcoded on a single record to define a Markush group and are retrieved by encoding chemical structures with the same fragment codes, expressing Markush groups by the Boolean OR and combining fragments with the ORBIT LINK operator. Examples are presented in which retrieval with the Chemical Fragmentation Code is compared with the retrieval of patent references by alternative search techniques. 11. Semiautomatic indexing of structured information of text. Fujio Nishida, Shinobu Takamatsu and Yoneharu Fujita (Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Osaka Prefecture, Mozu-Umemachi, Sakai, Osaka, Japan). J. Chem. Inf. Comput Sci., 1984, No. 24, pp. 15-20. This paper presents a method of semiautomatic information extraction from text such as patent claim sentences or summaries of technical papers written in English as well as in Japanese. The input sentences are parsed, reduced, and normalized into almost the same form of the internal expressions for both the languages except terms. Subsequently, specified information is extracted in a specified language of English or Japanese. 12. On-line searching: costly or cost effective? A marketing perspective. Ronald G. Dunn and Harry F. Boyle (Chemical Abstracts Service, Columbus, OH, U.S.A.). J. Chem. Inf. Comput. Sci., 1984, No. 24, pp. 51-54. The value of acquiring and using information is not well understood. Decisions to purchase information are made on the basis of the perceived need for the information, the anticipated benefit of using it, and the price. The current pricing of on-line information services, which emphasizes the connect hours as the unit of
price, does not relate the price of a search to the value of a search, and the education programs of on-line vendors and database suppliers concentrate on the mechanics of information retrieval rather than on the application of information to the customer's problem. The on-line information industry needs to adopt a strong marketing orientation that focuses on the needs of customers rather than the needs of suppliers or vendors.
13. Computer storage and retrieval of generic chemical structures in patents. Algorithmic generation of fragment descriptors for generic structure screening. Stephen M. Welford, Michael F. Lynch and John M. Barnard (Department of Information Studies, University of Sheffield, U.K.) J. Chem. Inf. Comput. Sci., 1984, No. 24, pp. 57-66. Considerations for the use of limited-environment screens for screening generic chemical structures are discussed. The general strategy and detailed procedures for the automatic generation of screens from the extended connection table representation (ECTR) of generic chemical structures are described. A bitscreen record for generic database structures and specific, generic, and substructure queries is described, and a number of screening algorithms are proposed. 14. Computer storage and retrieval of general chemical structures in patents. An interpreter program for the generic structure description language GENSAL. John M. Barnard, Michael F. Lynch and Stephen M. Welford (Department of Information Studies, University of Sheffield, U.K.) J. Chem. Inf. Comput. Sci., 1984, No. 24, pp. 66-71. A computer program is described that carries out syntactic and semantic analysis of generic structures encoded in GENSAL, a formal language for the description of such structures, simultaneously generating an extended connection table representation of the structure. Desirable enhancements to the program in the areas of structure diagram input, nomenclature translation, and linear formula analysis are discussed. 15. Chemical inference. Formalization of the language of organic chemistry: generic systematic nomenclature. John E. Gordon (Chemical Abstracts Service, Columbus, OH and Department of Chemistry, Kent State University, OH, U.S.A.) J. Chem. Inf. Comput. Sci., 1984, No. 24, pp. 81-92. The role and importance of generical nomenclature in the definition and manipulation of structural formula and compound classes in chemistry, chemical information science, and chemical education are discussed. Traditional generic organic nomenclature is surveyed, and a formalization of one traditional language of generic names is presented. Principles of naming generic structural formulas that involve structural variables such as 'R', "X', etc. are discussed. A formal description of a language for naming and indexing connectivity-variable generic structural formulas of both fixed and variable composition is provided. 16. Mass information storage systems and records management: competing technologies and systems concepts. Klaus W. Otten. J. Inf. Image Mgmt, October 1984, pp. 33-35
169
The dominant position of paper- and micrographics-based technologies for records management is challenged by emerging new storage systems. The need to document on paper and store on microform is reduced in applications where information is now communicated and administered in interactive computerbased systems. Properties of challenging technologies (magnetic mass memories, optical data disks) and associated systems concepts are compared with those of paper- and micrographics-based systems. Trends in shifting application advantages for the different records management alternatives are analyzed and guidelines presented on how to plan to avoid premature obsolencence of micrographics systems. 17. Applications of technology to CAS database production. David W. Weisgerber (Chemical Abstracts Service, Columbus, OH, U.S.A.). Inf. Serv. Use 1984, Vol. 4, pp. 317-325. The economic importance of applying computer technology to Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) database production is reviewed for the period 1973-1983. The growth in professional and total production staff is compared with the growth in the number of abstracts and subject index entries. The impact on timeliness is discussed. Two different and specific applications of technology to CAS editorial processing - - online editing capability for abstracts and subject index entries, and the computer-based Author Index Manufacturing System - - are discussed in detail. The introduction of online editing capability, coupled with continuing enhancements to the total system, has led to improvements in the productivity of the editing process of about 47 percent compared to the earlier manual process. Reductions in clerical support staff requirements are also discussed. Implementation of the Author Index Manufacturing System improved the timeliness of the CA Author Index and reduced production costs by eliminating much of the labor-intensive and repetitious work associated with manual editing of author names. CAS and users of its services have benefited from the application of technology to database production through increased staff productivity, reduced rate of increase of cost of services, improved timeliness, and improved quality of the services. 18. A unique method of computerizing chemical process information. J. M.Hushon, E. Clarence-Smith, J. Scopel, J. A. King, J. Powell and W. G. Town (Research Systems Division, Bolt Beranek and Newman, Inc., Arlington, VA, U.S.A.). J, Chem. Inf. Comput. Sci., 1984, No. 24, pp. 148-152. Traditionally, organic chemical process data have been organized on a chemicalby-chemical basis. The unit process/ product process approach to organizing chemical process data that has been developed for the European Commission's ECDIN data base has advantages in that it permits a linking of functionally similar reactions, it facilitates a hierarchical organization of data, and it simplifies the query procedure. Unit processes can be defined as single-step chemical reactions. With application of this method to ECDIN, the processes for making the