025.431: The Dewey blog

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).