025.431: The Dewey blog

Oil Prices

High prices for crude oil have been in the news recently, e.g., “Supply Fears Push Oil beyond $126” and “Oil Price Resumes Its Record Run.” 

Among the Relative Index entries for prices are:
Prices   338.52   
Prices—economics   338.52 
Prices—mineral industries   338.23 

The comprehensive economics number (also the interdisciplinary number) for prices is 338.52 Prices.  The class-elsewhere note under 338.5 General production economics, “Class production economics of specific kinds of industries in 338.1-338.4,” has hierarchical force; consequently, the price of crude oil is classed in the appropriate subdivision of 338.1-338.4 Specific kinds of industries, specifically under 338.2 Extraction of minerals.  The scatter note under 338.52 Prices, “For a specific aspect of prices not provided for here, see the aspect, e.g., effects of prices on the whole economy 339.42,” also indicates that oil prices will not be classed in 338.52 Prices. 

Among the Relative Index entries for oil are:
Oil (Petroleum)       553.282
Oil (Petroleum)—economic geology       553.282
Oil (Petroleum)—extractive economics       338.27282

At 338.27 Products is the add note that explains how to build 338.27282 Extractive economics of oil (338.27 Products plus 282 from 553.282 Oil). There are also two class-elsewhere notes that should be considered: “Class supply in storage, shortages, surpluses, demand, and projections of these in 333.8; class specific elements of production applied to specific products in 338.23-338.26.”  The first class-elsewhere note would be relevant for a work about the effect of oil prices on supply in storage, shortages, surpluses, and demand; by the rule of application, works about the influence of the price of crude oil on something else are classed with the thing influenced.  The first note is not, however, relevant for comprehensive works on oil prices.  The second class-elsewhere note leads to 338.23 Financial aspects of extraction of minerals, which has the note, “Class here . . .  prices.”

Comprehensive works on prices of crude oil are classed in 338.23282 Financial aspects of extraction of oil (built with 338.23 Financial aspects of extraction of minerals plus 282 from 553.282 Oil, following instructions at 338.23), e.g., Oil Markets and Prices:  The Brent Market and the Formation of World Oil Prices. 

Food Crisis

“The World Food Programme (WFP) has said that high food prices are creating the biggest challenge that WFP has faced in its 45-year history, a silent tsunami threatening to plunge  more than 100 million people on every continent into hunger” (April 22 press release). The Washington Post has recently run a five-part series entitled “Global Food Crisis: The New World of Soaring Food Prices” “exploring causes and effects of the world's worst food crisis since the 1970s.  A complex combination of poor harvests, competition with biofuels, higher energy prices, surging demand in China and India, and a blockage in global trade is driving food prices up worldwide. Some countries, especially in Africa, are facing an increasingly dire situation while even consumers in wealthy nations are being forced to adjust.”

The comprehensive number for economics of food supply is 338.19 Food supply, which has the note: “Class here economic causes and effects of, economic remedies for maladjustments in food supply; measures for attaining and maintaining adequate amounts of food; food requirements (demand); reserves (stocks, supply) of food; prices of food to the consumer; comprehensive works on the economics of production, storage, distribution of food.”  An example of a work classed in 338.19 Food supply is The World Food Economy.

Regular standard subdivisions for geographic treatment are bracketed under 338.19 Food supply, with do-not-use notes pointing to the special notation (displaced standard subdivision) that is to be used instead; for example, 338[.19091] Treatment by areas, regions, places in general has the note “Do not use; class in 338.191.”  Food Security: Indicators, Measurement, and the Impact of Trade Openness, which has “Food supply—Developing countries” as the first subject heading, is classed in 338.191724 Food supply in developing countries (built with 338.191 Food supply in areas, regions, places in general plus 724 from T2—1724 Developing regions, following instructions at 338.191). 

The interdisciplinary number for food supply is also the number for works that emphasize social causes and solutions for food supply problems, 363.8 *Food supply, which has the note: “Class here famine, hunger; interdisciplinary works on food supply, on nutrition.” World Hunger is an example of a work classed in 363.8.  Starvation in Africa is classed in 363.8096 Food supply in Africa (built with 363.8 *Food supply plus T1—09 Historical, geographic, persons treatment plus T2—6 Africa, following instructions at T1—093-T1—099 Treatment by specific continents, countries, localities; extraterrestrial worlds.  To be sure of building the number correctly, one must follow the footnote at 363.8 *Food supply, “*Add as instructed under 362-363,” to the add table under 362-363 Specific social problems and services, where 09 Historical, geographic, persons treatment indicates that T1—09 Historical, geographic, persons treatment is applied as a regular standard subdivision.)

The Manual note 363.5, 363.6, 363.8 vs. 338 Housing, public utilities, and food supply vs. Production offers guidance in choosing between 363.8 and 338.19.

FrogWatch in North America

FrogWatch USA invites Americans to celebrate “FrogWatch 2008: Record the Ribbit” Saturday, May 3rd.  FrogWatch USA and FrogWatch Canada are volunteer citizen programs monitoring frogs and toads.  They are intended to increase awareness of amphibian decline and to gather information needed by scientists who are trying to determine causes of the decline and develop practical ways to stop it. 

Although the programs are called FrogWatch, they cover both frogs and toads.  In the Dewey biology schedule, 597.86-597.89 Anura (Salentia) has the note, “Class here frogs and toads” and “Class comprehensive works in 597.8.”  At 597.8 Amphibians is the note “Class here Anura (Salentia)”; because of that note, comprehensive works on frogs and toads approximate the whole of 597.8 Amphibians.   The work Frogs and Toads is classed in 597.8 Amphibians, and the work Frogs and Toads of Big Bend National Park is classed in 597.809764932 Amphibians of Brewster County, Texas (built with 597.8 plus T1—09 Geographic treatment plus T2—764932 Brewster County, which has the note “Including Big Bend National Park,” following instructions at T1—093-099 Treatment by specific continents, countries, localities; extraterrestrial worlds). 

Programs to monitor amphibian populations with an eye toward conserving biological resources are classed in 333.957811 Supply (Quantity) of amphibians (built with 333.957 Reptiles and amphibians plus 8 from 597.8 Amphibians plus 11 Reserves from the add table under 333.7-333.9 Natural resources and energy, following instructions at 333.7-333.9 and at 333.9578-333.9579 Amphibians, specific reptiles). 

The LCSH “Amphibian declines” has been mapped to 333.957811 Supply (Quantity) of amphibians (described above) and to 597.81788 Amphibians—population biology (built with 597.8 Amphibians plus 1 General topics of natural history of animals from add table under 592-599 Specific taxonomic groups of animals, following instructions at 592-599,  plus 7 from 591.7 Animal ecology, animals characteristic of specific environments, following instructions at 1 General topics of natural history of animals in add table under  592-599, plus 88 from 577.88 Population biology, following instructions at 591.71-591.78 Specific topics in animal ecology; specific environments).  The Manual entry 333.7-333.9 vs. 363.1, 363.73, 577 Social aspects of ecology offers guidance in choosing between numbers that emphasize public programs with an eye toward conserving biological resources (like 333.957811 Supply of amphibians) and numbers that are limited strictly to biology (like 597.81788 Amphibians—population biology).

Dewey Crossword Puzzle #1—Answers

A blog entry posted last week gave clues for a crossword puzzle composed of DDC numbers (but minus decimal points).  Did anyone actually do the puzzle? Too hard? Too easy? Want more? Let us hear from you.

The clues are repeated below, with the intended DDC notation for each clue given in square brackets; the relationship between the clue and the notation is also given. Built numbers are explained further below.

ACROSS
1 Superconductivity [621.35; caption]
2 General classification schemes [025.43; caption: General classification systems]
3 Sami [494.55; Relative Index: Sami language; built number]
4 Initiation of business enterprises devoted to literature [806.81; built number]
5 Crossword puzzles (abridged) [793.73; Including . . . crossword puzzles . . .]

DOWN
1 People with physical disabilities in technology [604.87; built number]
2 Geography, history, chronology, persons in the Apocrypha [229.09; built number]
3 Dreams [154.63; caption]
4 Criminal law of  Venezuela [345.87; built number]
5 Mechanical wave theory [535.13; caption]

494.55 Sami is built from 494 Uralic languages plus 55 from T6—9455 Sami, following the instructions at 494. 

806.81 Initiation of business enterprises devoted to literature is built from 8 Literature (i.e., 800, minus its final placeholder zeros, which disappear when further notation is added) plus T1—0681 Organization and financial management (“including . . . initiation of business enterprises”).

604.87 People with physical disabilities in technology is built from 604.8 History and description with respect to kinds of persons, a displaced standard subdivision T1—08 (displaced from 608, as indicated by the note “Do not use for history and description of technology with respect to kinds of persons; class in 604.8”), plus 7 from T1—087 Persons with disabilities and illnesses (“Class here persons with physical disabilities”), following the instructions at 604.8.

229.09 Geography, history, chronology, persons in the Apocrypha is built from 229 Apocrypha, pseudepigrapha, intertestamental works plus 09 Geography, history, chronology, persons from the add table under 221-229 Specific parts of Bible, Apocrypha, pseudepigrapha, intertestamental works, as instructed at 229, where the instruction is given that subdivisions can be added for Apocrypha alone.    

345.87 Criminal law of Venezuela  is built from 345 Criminal law plus T2—87 Venezuela, following the instructions at 345.3–345.9 Specific jurisdictions and areas.

 

What would Freud think?, or, For the puzzle junkies among you

The night life of a Dewey editor has its moments. From time to time I have awakened to the realization that I had been dreaming a blog, or Weekly List (LCSH-to-DDC) mappings, or an expansion.  (In my first week or two here, I dreamed I had been asked to work on developing a standard subdivision for things! Joan’s comment, after a pause that perhaps masked concern that I might actually think that possible, was simply, “Massive dual provision.”  Duh.) A few days ago I awakened and realized I had been dreaming Dewey in the context of doing a crossword puzzle. After a few seconds’ amusement, I thought, “Why not?” So, draw yourself a five-by-five grid, and have fun!    Answers and explanations will be posted next week.

Unless indicated otherwise, numbers come from DDC 22. Decimal points are omitted from all numbers; all numbers are five digits. And just to keep things a little more interesting, one number is drawn from each of the main classes, except one (since 1 down and 1 across necessarily come from the same main class).

ACROSS
1 Superconductivity
2 General classification schemes
3 Sami
4 Initiation of business enterprises devoted to literature
5 Crossword puzzles (abridged)

DOWN
1 People with physical disabilities in technology
2 Geography, history, chronology, persons in the Apocrypha
3 Dreams
4 Criminal law of Venezuela
5 Mechanical wave theory

Camellias and Azaleas

Camellias and azaleas in southern United States were featured in a recent news story from Associated Press:

CHARLESTON, S.C. — A group of gardeners across the South is on a hunt for century-old strains of camellias and azaleas that are vanishing as modern cultivators breed daintier hybrids with bigger, more vibrant blooms.

"What you have is a beautiful bloom and a plant where you have to have a $30,000 greenhouse and a Ph.D. to grow," said Tom Johnson, chief horticulturist at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens. "You lose the beauty of the common ones in the wild or in people's backyards."

He is part of a group of individuals and 11 gardens across the South that have formed the Great Gardens of America Preservation Alliance to identify and preserve the so-called ancient or historic plants. Ancient plants are ones propagated before 1900; a historic designation is for plants from 1900 to 1960.

Works on camellias in gardens are classed in 635.933624 Floriculture of Theales (built with 635.93 Flowers and ornamental plants—Groupings by life duration; taxonomic groupings plus 3624 from 583.624 Theales, following instructions at 635.933-635.938 Taxonomic groupings). 583.624 Theales has the note “Including camellias . . . .” The Relative Index entry is Camellias—floriculture. An example of a work classed in 635.933624 is Camellias: The Gardener's Encyclopedia.

Works on azaleas in gardens are classed in 635.93366 Floriculture of Ericales (built with 635.93 Flowers and ornamental plants—Groupings by life duration; taxonomic groupings plus 366 from 583.66 Ericales, following instructions at 635.933-635.938 Taxonomic groupings). 583.66 Ericales has the note “Including azaleas . . . .” The Relative Index entry is Azaleas—floriculture. An example of a work classed in 635.93366 is American Azaleas, which has the LCSH Azaleas—United States.

Because camellias and azaleas are named in Including notes, they are in standing room, and no standard subdivisions may be added for works that focus on them alone.

Incidentally, azaleas are blooming in the Washington, DC, area, and they are gorgeous, even after being beaten by heavy (and much needed) rains last weekend.

Travel in Antarctica

“Cruising to Otherworldly Antarctica” and “Antarctica's March of the Tourists” are stories that ran last month on National Public Radio’s Morning Edition.  They spoke about a voyage of the MS Fram, “an ice-breaking Norwegian pleasure ship” that brought tourists to Antarctica.

Works on travel in Antarctica are classed in 919.8904 Travel in Antarctica (built with base number 91 plus T2—989 Antarctica plus notation 04 Travel from the add table under 913-919 Geography of and travel in ancient world and specific continents, countries, localities in modern world; extraterrestrial worlds, as instructed at 913-919).  Notation 04 Travel has the note: “Class here discovery, exploration; guidebooks.”  Examples of works classed in 919.8904 are Antarctica (a Lonely Planet guidebook) and Antarctic Odyssey: In the Footsteps of the South Polar Explorers. 

Accounts of early exploratory trips in Antarctica are also classed in 919.8904, e.g., The South Pole: An Account of the Norwegian Antarctic Expedition in the “Fram,” 1910-1912, by Roald Amundsen, and Journals: Captain Scott's Last Expedition, by Robert Falcon Scott.  There is no way to express historical period.  At 041-049 Historical periods in the add table under 913-919, the instruction is to “add to 04 the historical period numbers following 0 that appear in subdivisions of 930-990.”  There are, however, no historical period numbers in 930-990 for Antarctica.  In the schedule at 998 Arctic islands and Antarctica, there is a footnote: “Add as instructed under 930-990; however, do not add historical periods.”

Planets and other objects

Virgin and Google may have been planning a permanent settlement on Mars with their Project Virgle, but we on planet Dewey moved further out in the solar system on April 1.

But (unlike Project Virgle) this is not an April Fool's Day joke.  We told you in January that we were proposing a new development for Trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs),  including a relocation of Pluto from 523.482 to 523.4922, and new numbers for Kuiper Belt objects, Scattered Disc objects and the Oort Cloud.  This development has now been published as the new and changed entries for April 2008.

Seasons

To everything there is a season. The spring season officially commenced in the northern hemisphere this past week, the fall season in the southern hemisphere. Parts of the world experience fewer than four seasons a year and may speak instead of a rainy season (or monsoon season), a dry season, a hot season, a cool season. Other kinds of seasons exist in nature: breeding season, mating season, lambing season. There are also human-made seasons: hunting season, basketball season, holiday season, tourist season, an orchestra’s season, and so forth.

Works on seasons (e.g., The changing seasons) are classed in 508.2 Seasons, a subdivision of natural history. There we find a note, “For a specific aspect of seasons, see the aspect.” Thus we find works on Seasons—influence on crime (e.g., The seasonality of crime victimization) classed in 364.22 Influence of physical environment on crime and delinquency, while works on Seasonal affective disorder (e.g., Winter blues: Seasonal affective disorder: What it is and how to overcome it) are classed in 616.8527 Depressive disorder.

While the explicit intent of the note at 508.2 is limited to meteorological seasons, other kinds of seasons function similarly.  For example, works on breeding seasons of specific animals are classed with the animals; thus, works on breeding seasons of owls, e.g., The breeding season of the American barn owl (Strix pratincola) in South Carolina, class in 598.97 Owls (because the American barn owl does not approximate the whole of 598.97, we do not add for South Carolina). Works on hunting seasons are classed in 799.2 Hunting, e.g., All-season hunting: A guide to early season, late season and winter hunting in America 799.2973 (built with 799.29 Geographic treatment plus T2—73 United States, following instruction at 799.29). And works on holiday seasons are classed in 394.26 Holidays—indeed, a note here explicitly instructs us, “Class a season associated with a holiday with the holiday, e.g., the Christmas season 394.2663.” For example, Christmas in America: A photographic celebration of the holiday season is classed in 394.26630973 (built with 394.2663 Christmas plus T1—09 Geographic treatment plus T2—73).

On a musical note, Antonio Vivaldi’s The four seasons (Le quattro stagioni), a set of four violin concertos (for solo violin, string quartet, and basso continuo) that capture the character of spring, summer, autumn, and winter, are classed in 787.2186 Violin concertos (built from 787.2 Violin music plus 186 Concerto form from 784.186 as instructed under 784-788). There are other plausible numbers that need to be rejected: The four seasons are not classed in 784.272 Music for solo violin with orchestra (built with 784.2 Full orchestra plus 72 from 787.2 Violin music, as instructed under 784.26–784.28), because the accompanying instruments do not constitute a full orchestra; the work is not classed under 785 Ensembles with only one instrument per part, because of the class-elsewhere note there that reads, “Class works for solo melody instrument with keyboard or other accompaniment in 786–788.”

 

 

Water and Sanitation

Sanitation was the theme for World Water Day 2008, celebrated March 22.  “Today some 1.2 billion people lack access to safe drinking water and 2.6 billion lack proper sanitation (adequate sewage disposal)” (Christian Science Monitor).

Works that focus on water supply technology are classed in 628.1 Water supply, a subdivision of 628 Sanitary and municipal engineering    Environmental protection engineering.  Works that emphasize processing water to make it safe for drinking are classed in 628.162 Treatment, which has the notes: “Class here treatment of sewage effluent for reuse; comprehensive engineering works on treatment of water supply and sewage” and “For sewage treatment, see 628.3.”  Examples of works classed in 628.162 are Advances in Water and Wastewater Treatment and Introduction to Potable Water Treatment Processes.

Works that focus on technology of sewage treatment are classed in 628.3 Sewage treatment and disposal. For example, Acclimation of Nitrifiers for Activated Sludge Treatment: A Bench-scale Evaluation is classed in 628.354 Activated sludge process.

Interdisciplinary works on supply of safe drinking water, including public utility aspects, are classed in 363.61 Water supply, a subdivision of 363.6 Public utilities and related services.  An example of a work classed in 363.61 is Social policies and Private Sector Participation in Water Supply: Beyond Regulation.

Does pediatrics include adolescent medicine?

The Decimal Classification Editorial Policy Committee (EPC) and the Dewey editorial team seek advice.  The scope of 618.92 Pediatrics is defined by the first three notes in the entry:

Medicine for infants and children up to puberty

Class here comprehensive works on child and adolescent medicine

For medicine for young people who have reached puberty, see 616.00835

The problem is that many other definitions of the scope of pediatrics include young people past puberty.  For example:

Welcome to the official public Web site of the American Academy of Pediatrics - an organization of 60,000 pediatricians committed to the attainment of optimal physical, mental, and social health and well-being for all infants, children, adolescents, and young adults.

The Indian Academy of Pediatrics in India makes a similar statement (stopping with adolescents, not including young adults).  Is the broader definition of pediatrics that includes adolescents widespread in the world?  We have received indications that it is, but we would like to hear from more countries.

If we broaden the scope of 618.92 Pediatrics, there will be no change in the treatment of comprehensive works on child and adolescent medicine in general; they are already in 618.92.  There will also be no change in the treatment of comprehensive works on child and adolescent medicine of a specific disease; those works are already classed in subdivisions of 618.92.

What will change is the placement of adolescent medicine in general; it will be moved from 616.00835 Adolescent medicine (built with 616 Diseases plus an extra zero as shown at 616.001-616.009 Standard subdivisions plus T1—0835 Young people twelve to twenty) to a subdivision of 618.92 Pediatrics.   

What will also change is the placement of adolescent medicine with respect to a specific disease.  For example, If Your Adolescent Has an Eating Disorder: An Essential Resource for Parents is currently classed in 616.852600835 Eating disorders in adolescents (built with 616.8526 Eating disorders plus an extra zero as indicated in the add table under 616.1-616.9 Specific diseases plus T1—0835 Young people twelve to twenty).  Meanwhile, Eating Disorders in Childhood and Adolescence is classed in 618.928526 Eating disorders in children and adolescents (built with 618.92 Pediatrics plus 8526 from 616.8526 Eating disorders, following instructions at 618.921-618.929 Specific diseases).  If we broaden the scope of 618.92 Pediatrics, works treating only adolescents will also be classed in 618.928526, plus an extra zero and T1—0835 Young people twelve to twenty.

Is the broader definition of pediatrics that includes adolescents widespread in the world? Should we broaden the scope of 618.92 Pediatrics to match?  Please reply directly to this blog entry.  If you prefer, you may also send comments and suggestions directly to dewey@loc.gov.

Dewey at PLA

The Dewey Breakfast/Update at the 12th PLA National Conference in Minneapolis is scheduled for this Friday (March 28), 7:00 - 8:20 a.m., in Lake Superior A Room, Hyatt Regency Minneapolis.  We’ll be demonstrating a number of classification and discovery tools based on the DDC and looking for your feedback and ideas.  If you just think of a number on a spine label when you hear "Dewey," then this will be an opportunity to explore the variety of ways in which the language-independent representation of the DDC can be put to work in your library.  If you haven't already done so, please register for the Dewey Breakfast/Update here. See you in Minneapolis!

Allergies and Autoimmune Diseases

“Immune Systems Increasingly On Attack” was the title of a recent Washington Post article about increased incidence of diseases caused by “misfiring immune systems,” specifically allergies and autoimmune diseases.  The article also discussed theories about what causes these diseases, experimental methods of treating them, and specific allergies and autoimmune diseases, e.g., hay fever, asthma, food allergies, lupus, and multiple sclerosis.

The comprehensive number in medicine for allergies is 616.97 Diseases of immune system, which has the note: “Class here comprehensive works on allergies” (example of a work:  Allergy in Practice).  There is also a scatter note: “For a specific allergy not provided for here, see the allergy, e.g., hay fever 616.202.”  Allergies can affect different systems of the body, and some allergies are classed not under diseases of the immune system, but with diseases of the other system that they most affect.  Hay fever is classed in a subdivision of 616.2 Diseases of respiratory system: 616.202 Respiratory allergies. The entry for 616.202  has the notes: “Class here hay fever” and “Class asthma in 616.238.”  An example of a work classed in 616.202 is Coping Successfully with Hay Fever.  Asthma is classed with diseases of the respiratory system in 616.238 Asthma, e.g., The Asthma Sourcebook.  Food allergies, however, are classed under diseases of the immune system in 616.975 Food and drug allergies.  The entry for 616.975 has the note: “Subdivisions are added for food and drug allergies together, for food allergies alone.”  An example of a work classed in 616.975 is Peanut Butter, Milk, and Other Deadly Threats:  What You Should Know about Food Allergies.

The comprehensive number in medicine for autoimmune diseases is a subdivision of 616.97 Diseases of immune system: 616.978 Autoimmune diseases (example of a work: Autoimmune Diseases).  Like allergies, autoimmune diseases can affect different systems of the body.  The entry for 616.978 has a scatter note: “For a specific autoimmune disease, see the disease, e.g., systemic lupus erythematosus 616.772.”  Systemic lupus erythematosus is classed in a subdivision of 616.77 Diseases of connective tissues:  616.772 Systemic lupus erythematosus,  e.g., Lupus.  Multiple sclerosis is classed in a subdivision of 616.801-616.84 Diseases of nervous system: 616.834 Multiple sclerosis, e.g., Handbook of Multiple Sclerosis.

New Provisions for Wine

In the March 2008 New and Changed Entries (PDF, Word), new provisions for rosé wine and fortified wine appear under the number for wine in home and family management, which is also the interdisciplinary number (641.22 Wine), and under the number for commercial processing of wine (663.2 Wine).  The new provisions have been under discussion for some time (see previous blog). 

In another blog, we asked “How important is the geographic aspect of wine?”  The answer: very important.  Thanks to all who gave feedback!  At both the old and the new numbers for wine, we have added class-here notes to allow addition of standard subdivisions—especially geographic subdivisions—for any specific named wine, e.g., at 641.2223 Red wine: “Class here specific red wines (specific brands, estate wines, varietals).” Consequently, a work on North American Pinot Noir is classed in 641.2223097 Red wines of North America (built with 641.2223 Red wine plus T1—09 Geographic treatment plus T2—7 North America).

Here are examples of topics that belong in the new numbers.  Rosé wines of France are classed in 641.222320944 (built with 641.22232 Rosé wine plus T1—09 Geographic treatment plus T2—44 France).  Sherry is classed in 641.2226094688 Fortified wine of Cádiz province, Spain (built with 641.2226 Fortified wine plus T1—09 Geographic treatment plus T2—4688 Cádiz province).  Port wine is classed in 641.22260946915 Fortified wine of the Douro region, Portugal (built with 641.2226 plus T1—09 plus T2—46915 Porto District, which has the note “Class here Douro region”).  Madeira is classed in 641.2226094698 Fortified wine of Madeira, Portugal (built with 641.2226 plus T1—09 plus T2—4698 Madeira).

Color in Animals

“Conspicuousness, Not Eye Mimicry, Makes ‘Eyespots’ Effective Antipredator Signals” is the title of an article in Behavioral Ecology, reported in National Geographic News:

The eyespots on the wings of butterflies and moths are intended to be conspicuous to predators, not to resemble the eyes of larger animals, a new study found. . . .

The authors concluded that the visual “loudness” of the markings startle or frighten the predator into avoiding spotted prey.

A study by the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies is described in an article entitled “The Secret Language of Fish” in Telegraph.co.uk:

The vivid colours of coral reef fishes represent a ‘language’ that dates back at least 50 million years but is still baffling to humans in many respects, a leading fish expert concedes today. . . .

Fossil specimens of reef fish from Monte Bolca, Italy, studied by Prof. Bellwood reveal that even as far back as 50 million years ago fish were spotted, striped and probably highly coloured also.

Fish colour appears to communicate both information - useful for finding mates and advertising status in the pecking order - and disinformation, intended to mislead predators and competitors.  But there is no easy explanation for the rainbow displays of the most spectacularly brilliant reef fish, he says.

Comprehensive works on color in animals are classed in 591.472 Camouflage and color, e.g., Amazing Animal Colors and Animal Dazzlers: The Role of Brilliant Colors in Nature.

Works on color in moths are classed in 595.781472 Camouflage and color in Lepidoptera (built with 595.78 Lepidoptera, which has the note “Class here moths,” plus 1 General topics of natural history of animals from the add table under 592-599 Specific taxonomic groups of animals, following the add footnote at 595.78: “Add as instructed under 592-599,” plus 472 from 591.472 Camouflage and color, as instructed at 1 in the add table under 592-599).  Works on color in butterflies are classed in 595.7891472 Camouflage and color in Papilionoidea (Butterflies) (built with 595.789 Butterflies plus 1 from the add table under 592-599 plus 472 from 591.472 Camouflage and color).    

The ARC Centre study appears not to focus on one taxonomic group of fishes.  If that is correct,  we can begin with 597 Cold-blooded vertebrates    Pisces (Fishes), which has the footnote to add as instructed under 592-599.  Since 597 has a dual heading, we can focus henceforth on the second and narrower part of the heading:  Pisces (Fishes).  WebDewey has a built number 597.17789 Coral fishes (built with 597 plus 1 from the add table under 592-599 plus 7 from  591.7 Animal ecology, animals characteristic of specific environments plus 789 from 577.789 Reef ecology, which has the note: “Class here coral reef ecology”).  In the table of preference under 591 Specific topics in natural history of animals, however, 591.4 Physical adaptation appears above 591.7 Animal ecology, animals characteristic of specific environments.  Consequently, for color in coral reef fishes we must begin with 597.1472 Camouflage and color in Pisces (Fishes) (built with 597 plus 1 from the add table under 592-599 plus 472 from 591.472 Camouflage and color). The 591.472 entry has the note “Subdivisions are added for either or both topics in heading” and the footnote “Add standard subdivisions as instructed under 591.”  The add table under 591 Specific topics in natural history of animals indicates that Table 1 notation 09 Historical, geographic, persons treatment is regular, with one zero.  The final number is 597.147209142 Camouflage and color in coral reef fishes (built with 597.1472 plus T1—09 Geographic treatment plus T2—142 Islands, which has the note: “Including atolls, coral reefs”).

A work about color in one of the specific coral reef fishes mentioned in the ARC Centre study would be classed with the specific fish, e.g., gobies or parrotfishes in 597.7 Perciformes, where they are mentioned in the including note, and marine butterfly fishes or damselfishes in 597.72 Percoidea, where they are mentioned in the including note. Because these specific kinds of fishes are mentioned in including notes, no further addition is possible.

Marine Biodiversity and the Phoenix Islands Protected Area

In 2006 the Republic of Kiribati, a Pacific island nation located near the intersection of the equator and the international date line,

announced the establishment of the Phoenix Islands Protected Area at the 8th Conference of the Parties (COP8) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), being held in Curitiba, Brazil. . . . In creating the protected area, the Republic of Kiribati took a significant step toward meeting protected area commitments for 2010/12 under the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Island Biodiversity Program of Work. From Underwatertimes.com.

Recently Kiribati announced that it is greatly enlarging the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA), creating “the world's largest protected marine reserve, a California-sized wilderness brimming with reefs, fish and birds” (Reuters).  Three research expeditions to PIPA “found great marine biodiversity, including more than 120 species of coral and 520 species of fish, some new to science. . . . Protecting the Phoenix Islands means restricting commercial fishing in the area, resulting in a loss of revenue that the Kiribati government would normally receive from issuing foreign commercial fishing licenses” (Science Daily).

Browsing the Relative Index for “biodiversity” in WebDewey yields these results:

Biodiversity   333.95
Biodiversity
      see Manual at  333.7-333.9 vs. 363.1, 363.73, 577         
Biodiversity--biology   578.7
Biodiversity--conservation   333.9516
Biodiversity--conservation--awards   333.9516079
Biodiversity--conservation--United States   333.95160973
Biodiversity--ecology   577
Biodiversity--resource economics   333.95

In the Manual note at 333.7-333.9 vs. 363.1, 363.73, 577 Social aspects of ecology, we find:

Use numbers in 300 rather than 577 for works on ecology and specific natural environments that discuss public policy and resource economics rather than biology. Class . . . as follows:
. . . .

6. Biodiversity: Use 333.95 (especially for works emphasizing its value or importance).

If in doubt, prefer in the following order: 333.7-333.9, 363.1, 363.73, 577.

In the schedule at 333.95 Biological resources is the note: “Class here biodiversity.” Since class-here notes have hierarchical force, biodiversity is also classed in the subdivision 333.956 Fishes, which has the notes: “Class here marine biological resources, comprehensive works on finfish and shellfish. For shellfish, see 333.955.  For a specific kind of marine biological resource not provided for below, see the kind, e.g., marine algae 333.9538, marine mammals 333.9595.”

Works on conservation and protection of marine biodiversity are classed in 333.95616 Conservation and protection of marine biological resources (built with 333.956 Fishes plus 16 Conservation and protection from the add table at 333.7-333.9 Natural resources and energy, following the footnote at 333.956: “Add as instructed under 333.7-333.9”).  Examples are Marine Reserves: A Guide to Science, Design, and Use and Marine Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation: The Application and Future Development of the IMO’s [International Marine Organization’s] Particularly Sensitive Sea Area Concept.  A work on conservation and protection of marine biodiversity in Kiribati’s Phoenix Islands would be classed in 333.95616099681 (333.95616 plus T1—09 Geographic treatment plus T2—9681 Kiribati).

Works on conservation and protection of specific kinds of marine resources are classed with the kind, e.g., works on conservation and protection of coral reefs 333.955316 (built with  333.9553 Coral reefs plus 16 Conservation and protection from the add table at 333.7-333.9 Natural resources and energy), e.g., Coral Reef Conservation.

eLearning and Dewey training modules

We would like to say that the new Dewey training modules, available online, are a brand‑new, cutting-edge idea. But the truth of the matter is that eLearning—electronic learning—has been around in some form for at least two decades. Many aspects of the learning process can be electronically enhanced. Two properties that qualify the Dewey training modules as eLearning are: (1) the availability of the teaching materials on the web and (2) the use of WebDewey as part of the training program.

As a general educational activity, eLearning is classed in 371.334 Computer science methods of instruction and study, a displacement of standard subdivision T1—0285 Computer applications under 371.3 Methods of instruction and study. Web-based instruction is classed more specifically in 371.3344678 Internet-based methods of instruction (built with 371.334, plus 4678 from 004.678 Internet, following the add instruction under 371.334). 

But 371.3344678  is not the correct number for classing the Dewey training modules, given the instruction under 371.3 to “class methods of instruction in a specific subject at secondary and higher levels with the subject in 001–999, plus notation 071 from Table 1.”   This note leads to the question, Which subdivision of T1—071 Education should be used, T1—0711 Higher education or T1—0715 Adult education and on-the-job training? Based on advice received at ALA Midwinter 2007, the Dewey training modules are specifically oriented toward library professionals, rather than being specifically oriented toward students in library and information studies. The Dewey training modules provide continuing education, a class-here concept under T1—0715. Thus, the correct number for the Dewey training modules is 025.4310715 Adult education in the Dewey Decimal Classification (built with 025.431 Dewey Decimal Classification, plus notation T1—0715 Adult education).

Heart Disease and Women

February is American Heart Month. “Although heart disease is sometimes thought of as a ‘man’s disease,’ it is the leading cause of death for both women and men in the United States.”  American Heart Month begins with National Wear Red Day, part of a movement sponsored by the American Heart Association to emphasize what women must do to improve their heart health.

Comprehensive medical works on cardiovascular disease are classed in 616.1 Diseases of cardiovascular system, on heart disease in 616.12 Diseases of heart.  Comprehensive medical works focusing on women are classed in 616.10082 Cardiovascular disease in women (built with 616.1 plus extra 0, following pattern at 008 History and description with respect to kinds of persons in add table at 616.1-616.9 Specific diseases, plus T1—082 Women) and 616.120082 Heart disease in women (built with 616.12 plus extra 0, following pattern at 008 in add table at 616.1-616.9, plus T1—082).  Examples are Cardiovascular Disease in Women and Women & Heart Disease.

Mardi Gras

Today is the last day before Lent starts in the Western Church.  (The Orthodox Church waits a few weeks to start Lent in most years, including this one).  So it's Mardi Gras, Carnival, Fat Tuesday, Shrove Tuesday or Pancake Tuesday, depending on where you live.

My first experience of Carnival was back on February 14th, 1961, in Florence (Firenze in Italian), where my family was on holiday for a couple of days.  For an Australian teenager, it was an amazing experience to be surrounded by those crazy-for-one-day Italians.  And the next day we saw TV cameras being set up on the Ponte Vecchio, and wondered why, until we found out that there was a total solar eclipse in that part of Italy on that day  The two events made our visit to Italy even more memorable than we had expected.

Mardi Gras is classed at 394.25 Carnival in Dewey; Lent is classed at 263.92 Lent; pancakes (for Pancake Tuesday) are classed at 641.815 Bread and bread-like foods; Florence is classed at T2--45511 Florence; and total solar eclipses are classed at 523.78 [Solar] Eclipses.

Slow Cookers

“Slow Cookers Yield Rich Flavors in No Time” was the title of a recent NPR Kitchen Window story that began, “There's something incredibly satisfying about coming home hungry on a snowy winter’s day and breathing in the savory scent of pork braised in wine — especially when it’s ready to eat when you walk in the door.”  The story includes recipes for “Lemon-Caraway BBQ Pork,”  “Cinnamon-Orange Brisket,” and “Lamb Shanks with Dried Apricots.”

Comprehensive works about cooking with a slow cooker are classed in 641.5884 Electric slow cooking, e.g., America's Best Slow Cooker Recipes and Slow Cooker Magic: A Seasonal Selection of Family Favorite Recipes.

For specialized works about cooking with a slow cooker, you need to consult the table of preference and the see references at 641.5 Cooking. For example, in the table of preference, 641.56 Cooking for special situations, reasons, ages appears above 641.58 Cooking with specific fuels, appliances, utensils; consequently, works on vegetarian cooking with a slow cooker are classed in 641.5636 Vegetarian cooking (e.g., 125 Best Vegetarian Slow Cooker Recipes), and works on low-carbohydrate cooking with a slow cooker are classed in 641.56383 Low-carbohydrate cooking (e.g., The Everyday Low-Carb Slow Cooker Cookbook: Over 120 Delicious Low-Carb Recipes that Cook Themselves).  At 641.5 Cooking is the reference “For cooking specific materials, see 641.6”; consequently, works on cooking game with a slow cooker are classed in 641.691 Game (e.g., Slow Cookers Go Wild!).