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STN Basics - Online Practice Problems and Solutions

The following practice problems are designed to be answered in the Learning Files of the CA and MEDLINE databases on STN (LCA and LMEDLINE respectively). The Learning Files are static files containing a sample portion of the records that are available in the complete databases. They were created to be used as training databases for learning how to search the complete files.

Online Practice 1

Question 1: Find information in the LCA File on insulation for electric wires.

Try it on STN
Suggested Solution

Question 2: Locate references in the LCA File to studies concerned with making cotton fabric flame retardant.

Try it on STN

Online Practice 2

It is suggested that you do not attempt questions 3 and 4 until after you have completed Training Module - Part 4: Additional Search Tools

Question 3: Look in LMEDLINE for studies on the control of diabetic complications.

Try it on STN Suggested Solution

Question 4: Find references to papers in LCA on the dopamine receptors of brain. Arrange the answers in relevance order.

Try it on STN

Suggested Solutions

The solutions presented here are not necessarily the ultimate answers to the search questions. Instead, they are to be viewed as possible solutions that can be attained using techniques and search tools presented in the accompanying training module.

Throughout the solutions, red is used within the STN record to draw attention to words or phrases that play a key role in developing the search strategy.

In the interest of making the answer set helpful, yet not too unwieldy, only selected answers have been displayed. In reality, it might have been necessary to view significantly more answers to come up with similar conclusions regarding the search strategy.

Question 1 and Suggested Solution
Question 2 and Suggested Solution
Question 3 and Suggested Solution
Question 4 and Suggested Solution

Question 1:

Find information in the LCA File on insulation for electric wires.

Suggested Solution:

Use the terms INSULATION, ELECTRIC, and WIRE to build the initial search query.
Build the search query by adding any alternate search terms you can think of and by applying "Wild Card" (truncation) symbols and logic operators.
Enter the file and EXPAND on potential terms to verify that they are in the database and to look for alternate word endings. Modify the way youve applied truncation symbols, if necessary.
Run an exploratory search.
Use a no cost display option (SCAN in the LCA File) to preview several answers. Use what you've learned from the D SCAN results to modify your search query.
Display the bibliographic information for all the answers.

Enter LCA, the CA Learning File.

=> FILE LCA

EXPAND on search terms to verify that they are in the LCA File and to help you decide how to apply truncation symbols.

=> E INSULATION
E1          37     INSULATED/BI
E2         164     INSULATING/BI
E3         124 --> INSULATION/BI
E4           1     INSULATIONS/BI
E5           6     INSULATIVE/BI
E6         179     INSULATOR/BI
E7         302     INSULATORS/BI
E8         258     INSULIN/BI
E9           1     INSULINLIKE/BI
E10          1     INSULINOGENIC/BI
E11          1     INSULINOMA/BI
E12          1     INSULINOPENIC/BI

=> E ELECTRIC
E1           7     ELECTRET/BI
E2           9     ELECTRETS/BI
E3        2354 --> ELECTRIC/BI
E4         307     ELECTRICAL/BI
E5          40     ELECTRICALLY/BI
E6          32     ELECTRICITY/BI
E7           4     ELECTRICUS/BI
E8           7     ELECTRIFICATION/BI
E9         250     ELECTRO/BI
E10          3     ELECTROABSORPTION/BI
E11          8     ELECTROACTIVE/BI
E12          5     ELECTROACUPUNCTURE/BI

=> E WIRE
E1           5     WIPING/BI
E2           2     WIPP/BI
E3         197 --> WIRE/BI
E4           1     WIREBAR/BI
E5          52     WIRES/BI
E6           2     WIREWORM/BI
E7           2     WIREWORMS/BI
E8          17     WIRING/BI
E9          13     WIRINGS/BI
E10          7     WISCONSIN/BI
E11         10     WISE/BI
E12          1     WISEANA/BI

It is usually more cost-effective and convenient to search concepts in separate queries and to then combine the queries using the resultant L-numbers. With this method it is easy, at a later point in the search, to add a newly identified synonym to the query by simply searching the appropriate concept L-number and newly identified synonym (e.g., => S L-NUMBER OR SYNONYM).

=> S INSULAT?
L1         484 INSULAT?

=> S ELECTRIC?
L2        2483 ELECTRIC?

=> S WIRE#
L3         218 WIRE#

Combine the L-numbers for the different concepts with the AND operator.

=> S L1 AND L2 AND L3
L4          25 L1 AND L2 AND L3

Use D SCAN to preview answers.

=> D SCAN
L1   25 ANSWERS   LCA  COPYRIGHT 1997 ACS
IC   H01B003-30; H01B007-28; H02G003-04
CC   37-6 (Plastics Manufacture and Processing)
     Section cross-reference(s): 39
TI   Fireproofing of cable jacketing
ST   fireproofing cable insulation; polyethylene
     cable insulation fireproofing; aluminum hydroxide
     fireproofing; antimony pentoxide fireproofing; coupler 
     fireproofing agent; lactic acid coupler
IT   Fireproofing agents
	(aluminum hydroxide-antimony pentoxide, for cable
	insulation, couplers for)
IT   Coupling agents
	(lactic acid, for fireproofing agents incable insulation)
IT   Electric insulators and Dielectrics
	(plastics, for cables, couplers for fireproofing of)
IT   Rubber, synthetic
	(polyester, cable insulation, fireproofing of)
IT   9002-88-4   24937-78-8   87003-94-9
	(cable insulation, fireproofing of)
IT   50-21-5, uses and miscellaneous	
        (coupler, for fireproofing agents for cable
	insulation)
IT   1314-60-9   21645-51-2, uses and miscellaneous
	(fireproofing by, of cable insulation,	
        couplers for)

HOW MANY MORE ANSWERS DO YOU WISH TO SCAN? (1):1

L1   25 ANSWERS   LCA  COPYRIGHT 1997 ACS
IC   C08G018-67ICA  C08F299-06
CC   42-10 (Coatings, Inks, and Related Products)
     Section cross-reference(s): 38
TI   Photocurable urethane acrylate prepolymers
ST   polyurethane acrylate photocurable; wire
     insulation photocurable
IT   Electric insulators and Dielectrics
	(coatings, polyurethane acrylates, photocurable, for
	wires)
IT   Crosslinking
	(photochem., of polyurethane acrylate insulation for
	wires)
IT   91490-42-5   91491-20-2
	(coating, UV-cured, with high strength, as elec.
	insulators for wires, decomposable at soldering temp.)

HOW MANY MORE ANSWERS DO YOU WISH TO SCAN? (1):END

Type END to quit D SCAN. Typing END at a colon prompt will always work to return you to an arrow prompt.

Add alternate terms identified in the D SCAN displays to the search query. Display the session history (D HIS) to recall the L-number definitions.

=> D HIS		
                E INSULATION
		E ELECTRIC		
                E WIRE
L1          484 S INSULAT?
L2         2483 S ELECTRIC?
L3          218 S WIRE#

Use the OR operator and parentheses to combine synonyms.

=> S (L1 OR JACKET? OR COAT?)
	    24 JACKET?
	  2115 COAT?
L5        2513 (L1 OR JACKET? OR COAT?)

=> S (L2 OR ELEC)
	  2267 ELEC
L6        3285 (L2 OR ELEC)

=> S (L3 OR CABLE#)
	    43 CABLE#
L7         254 (L3 OR CABLE#)

=> S L5 AND L6 AND L7
L8          45 L5 AND L6 AND L7

Adding alternate terms identified in the D SCAN displays has increased the size of the answer set from 25 to 45.

Evaluate results with D SCAN.

=> D SCAN
L8   45 ANSWERS   LCA  COPYRIGHT 1997 ACS
IC   C09D005-25; C08G018-32; C09D003-72
CC   37-3 (Plastics Fabrication and Uses)
TI   Urethane polymer electrically insulating
     coating materials
ST   urethane polymer coating; elec insulator
     coating
IT   Urethane polymers, uses and miscellaneous
	(coatings, elec.-insulating)
IT   Electric insulators and Dielectrics
	(coatings, urethane polymers as)
IT   71137-80-9
	(coatings, elec.-insulating)

HOW MANY MORE ANSWERS DO YOU WISH TO SCAN? (1):1

L8   45 ANSWERS   LCA  COPYRIGHT 1997 ACS
IC   H01B007-00; C08K005-34; C08K005-46; H01B003-00
ICA  C08L023-02
CC   38-3 (Plastics Fabrication and Uses)
TI   Fire-resistant electric insulators for
     wire
ST   elec insulator wire coating
     polyethylene; benzotriazole fireproofing polyethylene elec
     insulator; chlorinated paraffin polyethylene elec
     insulator
IT   Electric insulators and Dielectrics
	(ethylene polymers, contg. halogenated org. compds. and
	nitrogen-contg. org. compds., fire- and heat-resistant, for
	wire)
IT   Heat-resistant materials
	(ethylene polymers, contg. nitrogen-contg. org. compds.,
	crosslinked, as elec. insulators for wire)
IT   Fireproofing
	(of ethylene polymer elec. insulating
	coatings for wire, by nitrogen-contg. org. compds.)
IT   Perchlorocarbons
	(pentacyclodecanes, ethylene polymers contg. benzotriazole and,
	fire- and heat-resistant, as elec. insulators
	for wire)
IT   Paraffin waxes and Hydrocarbon waxes, uses and miscellaneous
	(chloro, ethylene polymers contg. benzotriazole and, fire- and
	heat-resistant, as elec. insulators for wire)
IT   9002-88-4   9010-79-1
	(crosslinked, contg. chlorinated org. compds. and benzotriazole,
	fire- and heat-resistant, as elec. insulators)
IT   24937-78-8	(crosslinked, contg. decabromodiphenyl ether and 
        nitrogen-contg. org. compds., fire- and heat-resistant, as elec.
	insulators for wire)
IT   9010-86-0
	(crosslinked, contg. halogenated and nitrogen-contg. compds.,
	fire- and heat-resistant, as elec. insulators
	for wire)
IT   95-14-7   149-30-4   618-94-0   7270-75-9   24854-71-5
	(ethylene polymers contg. halogenated org. compds. and, fire- and
	heat-resistant, as elec. insulators for wire)
IT   1163-19-5
	(ethylene polymers contg. nitrogen-contg. org. compds. and, 
        fire- and heat-resistant, as elec. insulators for wire)
                .
                .
                .

Display more details when you are satisfied with the search results.

=> D BIB 1-45
L8   ANSWER 1 OF 45  LCA  COPYRIGHT 1997 ACS
AN   101:102516  LCA
TI   Partially conductive insulator for cables
PA   Tatsuta Electric Wire and Cable Co., Ltd., Japan
SO   Jpn. Tokkyo Koho, 4 pp.     
     CODEN: JAXXAD
PI   JP 59007170 B4  840216  Showa
AI   JP 77-118418  770930
DT   Patent
LA   Japanese

L8   ANSWER 2 OF 45  LCA  COPYRIGHT 1997 ACS
AN   101:102483  LCA
TI   Photocell circuit
PA   Mitsubishi Electric Corp., Japan
SO   Jpn. Kokai Tokkyo Koho, 3 pp.
     CODEN: JKXXAF
PI   JP 59051566 A2  840326  Showa
AI   JP 82-162619  820917
DT   Patent
LA   Japanese

L8   ANSWER 3 OF 45  LCA  COPYRIGHT 1997 ACS
AN   101:102355  LCA
TI   The influence of "poloidal" magnetic field on the glow discharge
AU   Musa, G.; Popescu, A.; Niculescu, N.; Cormos, A.
CS   Inst. Phys. Technol. Radiat. Dev., Bucharest-Magurele, Rom.
SO   Rev. Roum. Phys. (1984), 29(4), 361-3
     CODEN: RRPQAN; ISSN: 0035-4090
DT   Journal
LA   English

L8   ANSWER 4 OF 45  LCA  COPYRIGHT 1997 ACS
AN   101:96244  LCATI   Composite electrode wire for electric discharge
     machining
PA   Hitachi Cable, Ltd., Japan
SO   Jpn. Kokai Tokkyo Koho, 4 pp.
     CODEN: JKXXAFPI   JP 59041462 A2  840307  Showa
AI   JP 82-151041  820831
DT   Patent
LA   Japanese             
             .
             .
             .

Question 2:

Locate references in the LCA File to studies concerned with making cotton fabric flame retardant.

Suggested Solution:

Identify the main concepts.
Build the search query. Add any alternate search terms you can think of and apply truncation symbols and logic operators. Combine concepts with the AND operator and synonyms with the OR operator (and parentheses).
Enter the LCA File.
EXPAND on potential terms and modify your initial search query as necessary.
Run an exploratory search.
Use D SCAN to preview several answers. Use what you learn in the D SCAN results to modify your search query.
Display the BIB and ABS information for all answers.

Enter the LCA File.

=> FILE LCA

EXPAND on search terms to verify that they are in the LCA File and to help you decide how to apply truncation symbols.

=> E COTTON
E1           2     COTRIMOXAZOLE/BI
E2           3     COTTAGE/BI
E3         250 --> COTTON/BI
E4           3     COTTONS/BI
E5          40     COTTONSEED/BI
E6           2     COTTONSEEDS/BI
E7           1     COTTRELL/BI
E8          12     COTURNIX/BI
E9          13     COTYLEDON/BI
E10          1     COTYLEDONAL/BI
E11          2     COTYLEDONARY/BI
E12          1     COTYLEDONLESS/BI

=> E FLAME
E1           1     FLAMABILITY/BI
E2           1     FLAMABLE/BI
E3         298 --> FLAME/BI
E4           1     FLAMEHOLDER/BI
E5           1     FLAMEKIST/BI
E6          24     FLAMELESS/BI
E7           6     FLAMEPROOF/BI
E8           2     FLAMEPROOFED/BI
E9           6     FLAMEPROOFING/BI
E10         52     FLAMES/BI
E11          1     FLAMING/BI
E12          1     FLAMINGO/BI

=> E RETARDANT
E1           5     RETARDANCE/BI
E2           5     RETARDANCY/BI
E3          66 --> RETARDANT/BI
E4          41     RETARDANTS/BI
E5          69     RETARDATION/BI
E6          86     RETARDED/BI
E7           6     RETARDER/BI
E8           5     RETARDERS/BI
E9          26     RETARDING/BI
E10         10     RETARDS/BI
E11          1     RETARTANT/BI
E12          1     RETE/BI

=> S COTTON#
L1         250 COTTON#

=> S (FLAME# OR FLAMEPROOF?)
	   310 FLAME#
	    12 FLAMEPROOF?
L2         320 (FLAME# OR FLAMEPROOF?)

=> S RETARD?
L3         267 RETARD?

Combine the L-numbers for the different concepts with the AND operator.

=> S L1 AND L2 AND L3
L4          10 L1 AND L2 AND L3

Use D SCAN to preview answers.

=> D SCAN
L4   10 ANSWERS   LCA  COPYRIGHT 1997 ACS
CC   40-9 (Textiles)
     Section cross-reference(s): 55, 56
TI   Fire resistance of protective clothing
ST   fire resistance protective clothing; heat resistance protective
     clothing; protective clothing fire heat; aluminized fabric fire
     resistance; spark ignition resistance fabric; clothing fabric fire
     resistance; metal molten resistance fabric; safety protective
     clothing fire
IT   Rayon, uses and miscellaneous
	(blends, fabric, for protective clothing, heat and fire	
        resistance of)
IT   Heat
	(convective, clothing for protection from, evaluation of fabrics	for)
IT   Heat-resistant materials
     Thermal insulators
	(fabrics, for protective clothing, evaluation of)
IT   Vinyon fibers
     Acrylic fibers, uses and miscellaneous
     Polyamide fibers, uses and miscellaneous
     Polyester fibers, uses and miscellaneous
     Polypropene fibers, uses and miscellaneous
	(fabrics, for protective clothing, heat and fire resistance of)
IT   Asbestos
	(fiber, aluminized fabrics from, for protective clothing, heat
	and fire resistance of)
IT   Sparks
	(from thermal cutting and welding, clothing for protection
	against, evaluation of fabrics for)
IT   Metals, uses and miscellaneous
	(molten, clothing for protection from splashed, evaluation of
	fabric for)
IT   Flammability
	(of fabrics for protective clothing, evaluation of)
IT   Welding
	(sparks from, clothing for protection against, evaluation of
	fabric for)
IT   Polyamide fibers, uses and miscellaneous
	(aramid, fabrics, for protective clothing, heat and fire
	resistance of)
IT   Fire-resistant materials
	(fabrics, for protective clothing, evaluation of)
IT   Wearing apparel
	(protective, fabrics for, heat and fire resistance of)
IT   Heat
	(radiant, clothing for protection from, evaluation of fabric for)
IT   Cutting
	(thermal, sparks from, clothing for protection against,
	evaluation of fabrics for)
IT   7429-90-5, uses and miscellaneous
	(molten, clothing for protection from splashed, evaluation of
	fabric for)

HOW MANY MORE ANSWERS DO YOU WISH TO SCAN? (1):1

L4   10 ANSWERS   LCA  COPYRIGHT 1997 ACS
IC   C09K; D06M
CC   39-10 (Textiles)
TI   Flameproofing and/or otherwise modifying the properties of materials
     made of or impregnated with a hydroxylated polymer
ST   fire resistance textile; cotton fire resistance; sulfamate
     fire retardant; crosslinking textile fireproofing; soil
     repellent textile
IT   Oils
	(-proofing, of textiles, by sulfamates and crosslinking agents)
IT   Textiles
	(cotton, fire- and soilproofing of)
IT   Paper
     Polyester fibers
	(fire- and soilproofing of, by sulfamates and crosslinking agents)
IT   Crosslinking agents
	(methylolurea derivs., for fireproofing of textiles and paper)
IT   Fireproofing
	(of textiles and paper, by sulfamates and crosslinking agents)
IT   1854-26-8   7388-44-5
	(crosslinking agents, for fireproofing of textiles and paper)
IT   7773-06-0
	(fire retardants, for textiles and paper)
IT   9002-89-5
	(in fireproofing of polyester fibers)

HOW MANY MORE ANSWERS DO YOU WISH TO SCAN? (1):END

Add alternate terms, identified in the D SCAN displays, to the search query. First use D HIS to recall the session history.

=> D HIS
L1          250 S COTTON#
L2          320 S (FLAME# OR FLAMEPROOF?)
L3          267 S RETARD?
L4           10 S L1 AND L2 AND L3

Use the OR operator and parentheses to combine synonyms.

=> S (FLAME# OR FIRE#)
	   310 FLAME#
	   305 FIRE#
L5         543 (FLAME# OR FIRE#)

=> S (L3 OR RESIST? OR PROTECT? OR PROOF?)
	   267 RETARD?
	  2866 RESIST?
	   842 PROTECT?
	    58 PROOF?
L6        3853 (L3 OR RESIST? OR PROTECT? OR PROOF?)

=> S L5 AND L6 OR (FLAMEPROOF? OR FIREPROOF? OR NONFLAMMAB?)
	    12 FLAMEPROOF?
	   119 FIREPROOF?
	    19 NONFLAMMAB?
L7         225 L5 AND L6 OR (FLAMEPROOF? OR FIREPROOF? OR NONFLAMMAB?)

=> S L7 AND L1
L8          18 L7 AND L1

Adding alternate terms made the search more comprehensive: the answer set increased from 10 to 18 answers.

Display the BIB and AB portion of the answers. All answers in the set can be requested by typing "1-" in the command line.

=> D BIB ABS 1-
L8   ANSWER 1 OF 18  LCA  COPYRIGHT 1997 ACS
AN   101:92682  LCA
TI   Fundamental parameters of foam finishing methods for textiles
AU   Rosenberg, Clas
CS   Textillab., Finland
SO   Tutkimuksia - Valt. Tek. Tutkimuskeskus (1984), 262, 82 pp.
     CODEN: TUTUDX; ISSN: 0358-5077
DT   Journal
LA   Swedish
AB   For a more practical understanding of foam rheol. behavior in aq.
     systems, viscosity measurements were made with a Epprecht-Rheomat
     viscometer.  Some comparative measurements were made by the Ostwald
     flowing viscometer.  The viscosity of anionic and nonionic
     surfactants normally used as wetting and washing agents were
     studied.  Because even distribution of the applied chem. is
     necessary in textile foam processes, quick drainage of the foam on
     the textile material is of great importance.  The applied chem. must
     first have a foam stability that is suitable for the process and
     must drain rapidly after application.  Foam stability and drainage
     rates were studied for many surfactants alone and in combination
     with normally used finishing chems. in the textile industry.  Addnl.
     the influence of pH, electrolytes, and temp. on the foam stability
     were investigated.  The effects achieved by the foaming process were
     compared with those of normal padding in application of
     wash-and-wear, hydrophobic, and flame-retarding
     finishes.  Attempts to dye cotton, polyester, and
     polyamide fabrics with foam were also made.

L8   ANSWER 2 OF 18  LCA  COPYRIGHT 1997 ACS
AN   101:92681  LCA
TI   Fire resistance of protective clothing
AU   Pakkala, Liisa; Irjala, Brita Lisa
CS   Palotekniikan Lab., Finland
SO   Tutkimuksia - Valt. Tek. Tutkimuskeskus (1984), 256, 133 pp.
     CODEN: TUTUDX; ISSN: 0358-5077
DT   Journal
LA   Finnish
AB   The fire-resistant (FR) properties were
     evaluated of different fabrics or fabric assemblies used in clothing
     for protection against heat and fire.
     Altogether 32 outerwear fabrics and 27 innerwear textile materials
     were tested.  The outerwear fabrics included untreated and FR
     treated cotton fabrics, wool or wool blend fabrics, FR
     viscose blend fabrics, several cotton-polyester or
     cotton-polyamide fabrics, and some 100% synthetic fiber
     materials (e.g. polyester, polyamide, aramid).  The innerwear
     fabrics included some pile fabrics (polyester, acrylic, modacrylic)
     used as intermediate layers or garments, and several knitted
     underwear fabrics of different fiber content (e.g. wool,
     cotton, FR cotton, polypropylene, modacrylic,
     chlorofiber, and several blends).  Many textile materials used in
     protective clothing were ignited by rather small energy
     sources.  Therefore the main fire safety requirements
     should concern flammability.  A preliminary proposal to classify the
     protective clothing according to their flammability was
     worked out.  Of the materials tested, aluminized asbestos, aramid
     fibers and their blend with FR viscose as well as FR wool and FR
     cotton showed good flame retardancy.
     Aluminized fabric gave the best protection against radiant
     heat.  For protection against convective heat a high-d.
     wool fabric was best, and synthetic materials which melted were the
     poorest.  The thickness of underwear was more important than its raw
     material.  For protection against molten Al splashes wool
     fabrics, untreated cotton satin, and some polyester blend
     materials were satisfactory, whereas aramid fabrics and FR
     cottons were very poor.  FR cotton satin proved to
     be satisfactory when molten iron was applied in a practical
     situation test.  Ordinary welding sparks caused only mild damage,
     but thermal cutting sparks and metal splashes ignited many
     materials.  The combination using FR cotton or aramid as
     the outer fabric and the pile fabric together with cotton
     underwear as the inner fabrics proved to give the best
     protection against sparks and splashes generated by thermal
     cutting.
                .
                .
                .

Question 3:

Look in LMEDLINE for studies on the control of diabetic complications.

Question 4:

Find references to papers in LCA on the dopamine receptors of the brain. Arrange the answers in relevance order.