COVERAGE OF RUSSIAN CHEMICAL LITERATURE IN CHEMICAL ABSTRACTS* By JOSEPH J . GWIRTSMAN Chemical Abstracts Service, Ohio State University, Columbus 10, Ohio
U n i v e r s i t i e s and R e s e a r c h I n s t i t u t e s , In o r d e r t o s e l e c t f r o m t h i s voluminous l i t e r a t u r e m a t e r i a l of i n t e r e s t t o c h e m i s t r y and c h e m i c a l e n g i n e e r i n g ] CA h a s to conduct a l a r g e - s c a l e o p e r a t i o n involving c a r e f u l examination of the l i t e r a t u r e of p u r e l y c h e m i c a l and of many o t h e r r e l a t e d f i e l d s as well. Basically t h r e e t y p e s of s c i e n t i f i c p e r i o d i c a l s a r e published in the USSR: ( 1 ) j o u r n a l s which a r e equivalent to o u r s c i e n t i f i c a n d t e c h n i c a l j o u r n a l s , ( 2 ) compilations o r c o l l e c t i o n s of p a p e r s which we would c a l l " p r o ceedings" o r " t r a n s a c t i o n s and ( 3 ) bulletins s i m i l a r to the s c i e n c e news bulletins published h e r e . The t e r m "book" a s u s e d in the USSR a p p l i e s t o any one - t i m e publication and i n c l u d e s p r e p r i n t s ] r e p r i n t s and pamphlets a s well as conventional books as they a r e known h e r e . According to B. I . Gorokhoff of the Slavic and C e n t r a l E u r o p e a n Division of the L i b r a r y of C o n g r e s s , 59,000 books and pamphlets and 3000 s e r i a l publications w e r e produced i n t h e USSR i n 1957. The c o r r e s p o n d i n g d a t a f o r 1958 showed a n i n c r e a s e up t o 64,000 f o r book publ i s h i n g and 3800 f o r the n u m b e r of s e r i a l s . E v e n if one c o n s i d e r s the f a c t that t h e s e o v e r all f i g u r e s include pamphlets i n s t r u c t i o n s , booklets and political propaganda m a n u a l s , 4 these data still project an impressive figure. The s c o p e of the Soviet s c i e n t i f i c and t e c h n i c a l l i t e r a t u r e b e c o m e s evident f r o m a few e x a m p l e s : the Bulletins ( I z v e s t i y a ) of the USSR Academy of S c i e n c e s a r e published i n 9 s e r i e s ; in addition] t h e r e a r e 12 Republic A c a d e m i e s of S c i e n c e s with t h e i r P r o c e e d i n g s Bulletins and R e p o r t s (Doklady, I z v e s t i y a , and Soobshcheniya) in v a r i ous s e r i e s and d i v i s i o n s . T h i s t o t a l is augm e n t e d by 130 Academy r e s e a r c h i n s t i t u t e s a n d d i v i s i o n s , 39 u n i v e r s i t i e s , 7 67 i n s t i t u t e s of h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n ] and 2756 o t h e r r e s e a r c h i n s t i t u t e s with t h e i r s c i e n t i f i c and t e c h n i c a l publications . 6 Since 1958, the Bulletins of Higher Educational I n s t i t u t e s ( I z v e s t i y a Vysshikh Uchebnykh Z a v e d e n i i ) published by the USSR M i n i s t r y of Higher Education have been a p p e a r i n g i n 22 s e r i e s . T h e new s c i e n t i f i c c e n t e r i n S i b e r i a with 12 new s c i e n t i f i c and t e c h n i c a l i n s t i t u t e s h a s a n annual publication p r o g r a m of 6000-8000 p r i n t e d A l l t h i s e n o r m o u s m a s s of Soviet pages. s c i e n t i f i c and technical l i t e r a t a r e c r e a t e s cons i d e r able p r o b l e m s of a c q u i s i t i o n and r e q u i r e s g r e a t e f f o r t s a s s o c i a t e d with the examination and s e l e c t i o n of l i t e r a t u r e , The scope of the R u s s i a n c h e m i c a l l i t e r a t u r e is i l l u s t r a t e d i n a s e r i e s of Tables(1-VII) r e p r e s e n t i n g i t s g e n e r a l subdivision with r e s p e c t t o the publishing network and giving s o m e typical
INTRODUCTION The p u r p o s e of C h e m i c a l A b s t r a c t s is t o c r e a t e a c o m p l e t e and t i m e l y r e c o r d of all new c h e m i c a l w o r k published anywhere i n the a b s t r a c t s and w o r l d . To a c c o m p l i s h t h i s , i n d e x e s c h e m i c a l i n f o r m a t i o n found i n o v e r 9000 s c i e n t i f i c ] t e c h n i c a l ] and t r a d e p e r i o d i c a l s coming f r o m about 100 c o u n t r i e s and a p p e a r i n g in 5 2 l a n g u a g e s . The R u s s i a n language h a s bec o m e the second language in c h e m i s t r y in r e c e n t years. Counts of a b s t r a c t s a c c o r d i n g t o n a tional s o u r c e s of the p a p e r s c o v e r e d i n % h a v e shown t h a t R u s s i a had advanced in r e p o r t e d r e s e a r c h activity f r o m the fifth position in 1951 (following U.S., B r i t a i n , J a p a n , and G e r m a n y ) t o the second position i n 1956 (following only t h e 2 U.S.). T h e s e and m o r e r e c e n t d a t a r e v e a l e d t h a t the p e r c e n t a g e of USSR a b s t r a c t s published in i n c r e a s e d r a p i d l y f r o m 6% in 1951 t o 1470 i n 1956, 17% i n 1958, and a p p r o x i m a t e l y 19% at t h e p r e s e n t t i m e . An e x a m i n a t i o n of t h e last t h r e e S u p p l e m e n t s t o the L i s t of P e r i o d i c a l s A b s t r a c t e d by = f o r 1957-1959 showed a cons t a n t i n c r e a s e i n the n u m b e r of R u s s i a n e n t r i e s , r e f l e c t i n g both t h e growth of the R u s s i a n c h e m i c a l l i t e r a t u r e in r e c e n t y e a r s and i t s i n c r e a s e d c o v e r a g e in % The p e r c e n t a g e of newly added R u s s i a n p e r i o d i c a l s i n c r e a s e d f r o m 11.1% i n 1957 t o 15.970 in 1958 and to 20,970 in 1959. It is i n t e r e s t i n g to note t h a t the t o t a l n u m b e r of R u s s i a n e n t r i e s added t o the L i s t of P e r i o d i c a l s d u r i n g 1957- 1959 a p p r o x i m a t e l y e q u a l s the n u m b e r of R u s s i a n e n t r i e s contained in the 1956 edition of t h e = l i s t , c o m p r i s i n g the s e r i a l s and n o n - s e r i a l s a b s t r a c t e d by CA p r i o r t o 1957. The i n c r e a s e i n r a t e i s expected t o continue. In view of the r a p i d a d v a n c e m e n t s of the R u s s i a n s i n s c i e n c e and technology i n r e c e n t y e a r s , i t is i m p o r t a n t f o r c h e m i s t s and c h e m i c a l e n g i n e e r s of t h e w o r l d t o l e a r n p r o m p t l y about the r e s u l t s of new c h e m i c a l r e s e a r c h published in R u s s i a . C A is making e f f o r t s t o a c h i e v e c o v e r a g e of t h e R u s s i a n c h e m i c a l l i t e r a t u r e a s nearly complete a s possible.
CA
]
THE SCOPE O F THE RUSSIAN CHEMICAL LITERATURE The R u s s i a n s c i e n t i f i c and t e c h n i c a l l i t e r a t u r e c o n s i s t s of a n e n o r m o u s n u m b e r of j o u r n a l s published by the USSR A c a d e m y of S c i e n c e s , the Republic A c a d e m i e s of S c i e n c e s , the USSR M i n i s t r y of Higher Education, the USSR S t a t e Scientific and T e c h n i c a l C o m m i t t e e , t h e v a r i o u s M i n i s t r i e s , the All-Union Institute of Scientific and T e c h n i c a l I n f o r m a t i o n , and n u m e r n u s
'Presented before the Division of Chemical Literature, ACS Meeting, New York, N. Y . , September 1 3 , 1960.
38
RUSSIAN CHEMICAL LITERATURE IN CHEMICAL ABSTRACTS
39
TABLE IIL EXAMPLES OF JOURVALS PUBLISHED BY THE U.S.S.R MINlSTRY OF HIGHER EDUCATION COVERED BY CA
TABLE I. GENERAL SUBDIVISION OF THE RUSSIAN SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL LITERATURE COVERING CHEMISTRY, CHEM ENGINEERING, AND RELATED FIELDS
Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Z a v e d e n d
Nauchnye D o k l a d y Vysshe? Shkoly
S e r i d Publications -
SERIES
Journals of the U.S.S.R. Academy of Sciences Chernaya Metallurgiya
Biologicheskie Nauki
Journals of t h e Ministry of Higher Education
Geologiya i Razvedka
Energetika
Journals of t h e Various Other :Ministries (Agriculture, Public Health, etc.) -
Khim. i Khim. Tekhnologiya
Geologo- Geog. Nauki
Journals of the U.S.S.R State Scientific and Technical C o m m i t t e e
Neft i Gaz
Gornoe Del0
Journals of the All-Union Inst of Sci. and Tech. Inform.
Pishchevaya Tekhnologiya
Khim. i Khim. Tekhnologiya
Tekhnologiya L e g k d Prom.
Mashinostr. i Priborostroenie
Tsvetnaya Metallurgiya
Metallurgiya
Journals of the Republic Academies of Sciences
Journals of the Various Universities and Research Institutes Irregular Publications Transactions of Research and .3ducational Institutes and Scientific Societies, known as Trudy, [Jchenye Zapiski. Izvestiya, Sborniki or Soobshcheniya
'Some of these series h a v e been discontinued,
TABLE IL SONlE TYPICAL EXAMPLES OF JOURNALS PUBLISHED BY THE U.S.S.R REPUBLIC ACADEMIES COVERED BY CA U.S.S. R Academy of Sc:iences
--
Republic Academies of Sciences
-
ACADEMY OF SCIENCES AND
Languages other than Russian
Doklady Akad. Nauk S.S.S.R
Doklady and Izvest. Akad. Nauk Armyan. S.S.R
Armenian
Izvest. Akad. Nauk S.S.S.R (various series)
Doklady and Izvest. Akad. Nauk Azerbaldzhan. S.S.R
Azerbaidzhani
Zhur. AnaL Khim.
Izvest. Akad. Nauk Belorus. S.S.R
White Russian
Zhur. Eksptl. i Teoret. Fiz.
Izvest. Akad. Nauk Eston. S.S.R
Estonian
Zhur. Fiz. Khim.
Izvest. Akad. Nauk K a z a k h S.S.R
Kazakh
Zhur. Neorg. Khim.
Izvesr Akad. Nauk Kirgiz. S.S.R
Kirgiz
Zhur. Obshchey Khim.
Izvest. Akad. Nauk Latv. S.S.R
Latvian
Zhur. Priklad. Khim.
Doklady Akad. Nauk Tadzhik. S.S.R
Tadzhik
Zhur. Tekh. Fiz.
Izvest. Akad. Nauk Turkmen. S.S.R
Turkmenian
Biokhimiya
Doklady and Izvest. Akad. Nauk U z b e k S.S.R
Uzbek
TABLE IV. EXAMPLES OF JOURNALS PUBLISHED B Y VARIOUS MINISTRIES (AGR, PUBLIC HEALTH, GEOLOGY, ETC.) COVERED BY L A Ministry of Agriculture
Ministry of Public Health
Other Ministries
Agrobiologiya
Antibiotiki
Razvedka i Okhrana Nedr
Khlopkovodstvo
Aptechnoe Delo
Sovet. Geol.
Lesnoe Khoz.
FarmakoL i Toksikol.
Voenno-Med. Zhur.
Udobrenie i Urozha:
Labor. Delo
Sudostroenie
Vestnik Sel'skokhoz. Nauki
Me& Prom. S.S.S.R
Morskoi Flot
Veterinariya
Voprosy Med. Khim.
Prom. StroiteL
Zashchita Rasteniy ot V r e d i t i Boleznei
Voprosy Vlrusologii
Mukomo1.-Elevator. Prom.
J O S E P H J. GWIRTSMAN
40
TABLE V. EXAMPLES OF JOURNALS OF THE U.S.S.R. STATE SCI. AND TECH. COMMITTEE COVERED IN C Q Geologiya Nefti i Gaza
TABLE VI. PUBLICATIONS OF THE INST. OF SCL AND TECH. INFORM. CHECKED AGAINST % FOR COVERAGE OF RUSSIAN CHEM. LIT, AND OTHER PUBLICATIONS OF THE INST. COVERED IN 2
Khimiya i Technologiya Topliva i Masel
Referat. Zhurnal Series
Itogi Nauki Series
Kislorod
Astronomiya i Geodeziya
Biologicheskie Nauki
Koks i Khimiya
Biologiya
Khirnicheskie Nauki
Metallovedenie i Obrabotka Metallov
Fizika
Tekhnicheskie Nauki
Ogneupory
Geofizika
Sakharnaya Prom.
Geologiya
Spirtovaya Prom.
Khimiya
Tsvetnye Metally
Biologicheskaya Khimiya
Zavodskaya Laboratoriya
Metallurgiya
TABLE VII. EXAMPLES OF SERIAL AND IRREGULAR PUBLICATIONS OF EDUCATIONAL AND RESEARCH INSTITUTES COVERED IN & A Vestnik Leningrad Univ.
Trudy Radiev. I n s t im. V. G. Khlopina
Vestnik Moskov. Univ.
Uchen. Zapiski Gor'kov. Univ. im. N.I. Lobachevskogo
Trudy Belorus. Sel'skokhoz. A k a d im. Gor'koso
Izvest. Energ, I n s t im. G. M. Krzhizhanovskogo
Trudy Inst. Fiz. Khim. Akad. Nauk S.S.S.R
Sbornik N a u c h Trudov Leningrad. Khim. -Farm. Inst.
Trudy Inst. Kristallografii
Soobshcheniya Gosud. Asuonom. Inst. im. P.K. Sternberga
Trudy Vsesoyuz. Nauch.-Issled. I n s t Antibiotikov
Trudy Kazan. Khim.-Tekhnol Insf im. S. M. Kirova
Trudy Moskov. Khim. -Tekhnol. Inst. im. D. I. Mendeleeva
Sbornik State1 PO Khromatografii Leningrad. Gosud. Univ. itn. A. A. Zhdanova
Trudy Leningrad. Politekh. Inst. im. M. I. Kalinina Nauch. Zapiski L'vov. Politekh. I n s t
TABLE VIII. COMPARISON OF THE LAST THREE SUPPLEMENTS TO THE LIST OF PERIODICALS ABSTRACTED BY FOR THE YEARS 1957-1959 Year of Supplement
Total Entries
2
Checking of Russian Accessions ar the Library
% of T o t a l
1957 Supplement
1,113
130
11.1
1958 Supplement
1,718
283
15.9
1959 Supplement
1,315
216
20.9
4,266
689
Total
TABLE IX.
Russian Enuies
SCREENING PROGRAM OF THE RUSSIAN LITERATURE COVERING CHEM., CHEM. ENGINEERING, AND RELATED FIELDS WITH THE PURPOSE O F ACHIEVING MAXIMUM COVERAGE Periodic Checking of all new Soviet announcements (Knizhnaya Leropis, Novye Knigi, erc.) for New Publications and Book T i t l e s
Patent L i b from Byull. Izobretenii, replaced recently by Original Patent Specifications
F
Material Abstracted in S;a
-
i
Screening of the Referat. Zhurnal Series and Abstrs.
RUSSIAN CHEMICAL LITERATURE IN CHEMICAL ABSTRACTS
e x a m p l e s of =-covered j o u r n a l s published by the A c a d e m i e s of S c i e n c e s (with c o n s i d e r a t i o n of l a n g u a g e s o t h e r t h a n R u s s i a n ) , the v a r i o u s M i n i s t r i e s , the S t a t e Scientific and T e c h n i c a l C o m m i t t e e , t h e All-Union I n s t i t u t e of Scientific and T e c h n i c a l I n f o r m a t i o n , and t h e v a r i o u s e d u c a t i o n a l and r e s e a r c h i n s t i t u t e s . T a b l e VI11 t h e n i l l u s t r a t e s t h e g r o w t h of the R u s s i a n c h e m i c a l l i t e r a t u r e and i t s i n c r e a s e d c o v e r a g e i n CA a s r e f l e c t e d i n the count of newly added R u s s i a n p e r i o d i c a l s t o the L i s t of P e r i o d i c a l s A b s t r a c t e d by CA f o r the p e r i o d 1957-1959. An e x t e n s i v e r e v i e w on the s c i e n t i f i c and t e c h n i c a l l i t e r a t u r e 8 of the USSR h a s been. published e a r l i e r .
-
THE CHEMICAL ABSTRACTS CHECKING AND SCREENING PROGRAM FOR THE RUSSIAN CHEMICAL LITERATURE In o r d e r t o c o v e r a l l t h i s e n o r m o u s m a t e r i a l , CA i s conducting a w e l l - o r g a n i z e d exchange a n d a c q u i s i t i o n p r o g r a m r e s u l t i n g i n the p r o c u r e m e n t of m o s t of the needed p e r i o d i c a l s , which t h e n a r e a s s i g n e d f o r a b s t r a c t i n g . In addition, c a r e f u l c o n s i d e r a t i o n is given to e v e r y t h i n g new o r t o i t e m s o m i t t e d f o r one o r a n o t h e r r e a s o n f r o m the " L i s t of Periodic:als A b s t r a c t e d by C h e m i c a l A b s t r a c t s " and thus not c o v e r e d i n CA. S p e c i a l a t t e n t i o n is c o n c e n t r a t e d on the i r r e g a r l y published c o l l e c t i o n s s u c h a s t r a n s a c t i o n s of r e s e a r c h and educational i n s t i t u t e s and s c i e n t i f i c s o c i e t i e s , r e p o r t s of c o n f e r e n c e s and s y m p o s i a , r e p o r t s of s c i e n t i f i c e x p e d i t i o n s , G. T h e s e a r e being published not m o r e than once or twice a y e a r . With the expansion in the n u m b e r of r e s e a r c h i n s t i t u t e s , the n u m b e r of t i t l e s of t h e s e publications is i n c r e a s i n g . It is not p o s s i b l e to place annual s u b s c r i p t i o n s to s u c h c o l l e c t i o n s s i n c e they a p p e a r a t i r r e g u l a r i n t e r v a l s : t h e r e f o r e i t is difficult to a c q u i r e t h i s i m p o r t a n t type of m a t e r i a l . C o v e r a g e of the R u s s i a n l i t e r a t u r e in i s b a s e d on a l a r g e - s c a l e checking and s c r e e n i n g p r o g r a m , a s c h e m e of which is shown in Table IX. The m a t e r i a l a b s t r a c t e d by CA d e r i v e s f r o m : ( l k a l l chemic:al and r e l a t e d s e r i a l and i r r e g u l a r pu bli c a t i o n s obtainable by s u b s c r iption or exchange; ( 2 ) m a t e r i a l r e s u l t i n g f r o m checking of R u s s i a n a c c e s s i o n s a t the L i b r a r y of C o n g r e s s ; ( 3 ) old and new publications picked up by the p e r i o d i c checking p r o g r a m of all new Soviet a n n o u n c e m e n t s contained i n the weekly c a t a l o g s , s u c h as Novye Knigi (New B o o k s ) , Knizhnaya L e t o p i s ( i m n i c l e ) , L e t o p i s Z h u r n a l ' n y k h State: ( C h r o n i c l e of P e r i o d i c a l A r t i c l e s ) , and o t h e r s p o r a d i c l i s t s ; (4)the R u s s i a n P a t e n t A b s t r a c t J o u r n a l , known a s Byulleten Izobretenii. ( B u l l e t i n of I n v e n t i o n s ) , r e c e n t l y being replat-ed by o r i g i n a l patent s p e c i f i c a t i o n s ; ( 5 ) checking of the Referativny: Z h u r n a l S e r i e s and A b s t r a c t s of Soviet Medicine and ( 6 ) a s i m i l a r f o r i t e m s not c o v e r e d i n checking a n d screen:.ng o p e r a t i o n of the
CA
g;
41
C h e m i s c h e s Z e n t r a l b l a t t . The R u s s i a n and G e r m a n a b s t r a c t j o u r n a l s a r e s u b j e c t e d to two c o n s e c u t i v e checking a n d s c r e e n i n g o p e r a t i o n s , the f i r s t involving c o m p a r i s o n of the c o v e r a g e of R u s s i a n c h e m i c a l l i t e r a t u r e in t h e s e j o u r n a l s with t h a t in = a n d thus detecting possible o m i s s i o n s in t h e l a t t e r , a n d , s e c o n d , evaluating the o m i t t e d m a t e r i a l with r e s p e c t to i t s suitability f o r a b s t r a c t i n g and u s e in CA. T h e s e R e f e r ativny; Z h u r n a l S e r i e s a r e constantly being checked: A s t r o n o m y and G e o d e s y , Biology, P h y s i c s , G e o p h y s i c s , Geology, C h e m i s t r y , Biol o g i c a l C h e m i s t r y , and M e t a l l u r g y . I t e m s t h a t a r e picked up t h r o u g h t h e s e s c r e e n i n g o p e r a t i o n s a r e c o v e r e d in = e i t h e r by p r o c u r e m e n t of the p h o t o s t a t i c copy of the o r i g i n a l p a p e r f r o m the R u s s i a n s ( m o s t l y on exchange b a s i s ) or f r o m the L i b r a r y of C o n g r e s s or by t r a n s l a t i o n of the R u s s i a n a b s t r a c t if the l a t t e r a p p e a r s t o be s a t i s f a c t o r y and the a c q u i s i t i o n of the o r i g i n a l p a p e r is too involved. T a b l e X shows t y p i c a l s c r e e n i n g r e s u l t s of t h e v a r i o u s R e f e r a t i v n y i Z h u r n a l S e r i e s , using as a n e x a m p l e i s s u e No. 3 of e a c h s e r i e s f o r 1958. Obviously the m o s t i m p o r t a n t c o n t r i b u t o r s a r e the S e r i e s on C h e m i s t r y , B i o c h e m i s t r y , M e t a l l u r g y , P h y s i c s , and Geology. It should be noted t h a t all of the Referativny'; Z h u r n a l S e r i e s l i s t e d i n the Table a r e checked c o m p l e t e l y e x c e p t the S e r i e s on Biology and Geology which a r e only p a r t i a l l y checked, n a m e l y , i n t h o s e s e c t i o n s t h a t a r e i n s o m e way r e l a t e d to c h e m i s t r y and w h e r e s o m e c h e m i c a l m a t e r i a l is e x p e c t e d to be found. C o m p a r i s o n of the n u m b e r s of a b s t r a c t s f o r which = n e e d e d t o r e l y upon R e f e r a t i v n y i Z h u r n a l Khimiya f o r c o m p a r a b l e p e r i o d s of the l a s t t h r e e y e a r s shows a d e c r e a s i n g tendency due t o i m p r o v e d c o v e r a g e of the R u s s i a n l i t e r a t u r e f r o m o r i g i n a l publications. The s c r e e n i n g p r o g r a m of t h e C h e m i s c h e s Z e n t r a l b l a t t is by f a r l e s s i m p o r t a n t ; n e v e r t h e l e s s i t also contributes to better coverage r e s u l t i n g i n d e t e c t i o n of s e v e r a l R u s s i a n a b s t r a c t s p e r checked i s s u e . On the b a s i s of t h e CA s c r e e n i n g p r o g r a m and owing t o p e r i o d i c c h z k i n g of all a v a i l a b l e R u s s i a n a n d L i b r a r y of C o n g r e s s c a t a l o g s , the c o v e r a g e of t h e R u s s i a n c h e m i c a l l i t e r a t u r e by CA is intended t o be as n e a r l y c o m p l e t e a s p o s s i b l e . H o w e v e r , t i m e l i n e s s of publishing the a b s t r a c t s is equally i m p o r t a n t ; and the l a t t e r could be i m p r o v e d . It should be e m p h a s i z e d t h a t the c o m p l e x i t y of the a c q u i s i t i o n p r o g r a m and the l i m i t a t i o n s in m a n p o w e r c a p a b l e of r e a d i n g and a b s t r a c t i n g R u s s i a n p a p e r s i n s u c h a d i v e r s i t y of f i e l d s of s p e c i a l i z a t i o n a r e i m p o r t a n t f a c t o r s c o m p l i c a t i n g the p r o b l e m of t i m e l i n e s s i n a b s t r a c t i n g . It a l s o should be s t r e s s e d t h a t e f f o r t s a r e constantly being m a d e t o c o o r d i n a t e the p r o g r a m of m a x i m u m by c o v e r a g e of the R u s s i a n c h e m i c a l l i t e r a t u r e with the r e q u i r e m e n t of t i m e l i n e s s , and good quality of a b s t r a c t s , s u i t a b l e f o r s u c c e s s f u l
-
JOSEPH J. GWIRTSMAN
42
indexing. N e e d l e s s t o s a y , c o m p l e t e n e s s of c o v e r a g e and t i m e l i n e s s r e q u i r e the c o o p e r a t i o n , a s s i s t a n c e , and good will of all c h e m i s t s p r o f i c i e n t i n r e a d i n g of R u s s i a n s c i e n t i f i c l i t e r a t u r e and capable of p r e p a r i n g a b s t r a c t s f o r
m.
CERTAIN ASPECTS OF THE CA COVERAGE O F RUSSIAN CHEMICAL LITERATURE To evaluate the c o v e r a g e of the R u s s i a n c h e m i c a l l i t e r a t u r e i n L A , the official Soviet list of Russ!an p e r i o d i c a l s a b s t r a c t e d by the R e f e r a t i v n y i Z h u r n a l S e r i e s and the L i s t of P e r i o d i c a l s A b s t r a c t e d by a w e r e c o m p a r e d . T h e m o s t c o m p r e h e n s i v e R u s s i a n list, published by t h e Institute of Scientific Information of the USSR Academy of S c i e n c e s i n 1957 under t h e t i t l e "Ukazatel s o k r a s h c h e n n y k h i polnykh nazvani; nauchnoi i tekhnicheskoi l i t e r a t u r y " (Index of A b b r e v i a t e d a n d Complete T i t l e s of t h e Scientific and T e c h n i c a l J o u r n a l s ) : w a s u s e d f o r t h i s c o m p a r i s o n . In c o n t r a s t to l i s t containing m o s t l y c h e m i c a l and r e l a t e d p e r i o d i c a l s , the R u s s i a n list contains t i t l e s of p e r i o d i c a l s c o v e r e d i n all the Referativny: Z h u r n a l S e r i e s (including s u c h f i e l d s as A s t r o n o m y and G e o d e s y , E l e c t r i c a l E n g i n e e r i n g , Geography, Machine Building, M a t h e m a t i c s , Mechanics, a c o n s i d e r a b l e n u m b e r of n o n - c h e m i c a l t i t l e s . The R u s s i a n l i s t is b r o k e n down into s e c t i o n s a c c o r d i n g to l a n g u a g e s of publication. The s e c t i o n of l a n g u a g e s using t h e R u s s i a n alphabet contains o v e r 1 8 0 0 e n t r i e s , including o v e r 570 e n t r i e s of j o u r n a l s published i n Czechoslovakia, B u l g a r i a , J u g o s l a v i a and e l s e w h e r e , The R u s s i a n j o u r n a l s include both c h e m i c a l and n o n - c h e m i c a l o n e s ( e v e n e c o n o m i c a l , political, e&.), and t h i s g r e a t l y c o m p l i c a t e s t h e c o m p a r i s o n with thel i s t . The 1956 CA l i s t t o g e t h e r with the s u p p l e m e n t s contains o v e r 1350 R u s s i a n e n t r i e s . The p u r e l y c h e m i c a l j o u r n a l s as well as t h o s e c l o s e l y r e l a t e d t o c h e m i s t r y and c h e m i c a l e n g i n e e r i n g included i n the R u s s i a n l i s t c a n all be found i n the L i s t of P e r i o d i c a l s A b s t r a c t e d by CA. C e r t a i n t i t l e s of publications of h i g h e r educational i n s t i t u t i o n s o r r e s e a r c h i n s t i t u t e s a r e not found i n the CA l i s t owing t o t h e o c c u r r e n c e of a r e l a t i v e l y s m a l l n u m b e r of c h e m i c a l p a p e r s i n t h e s e j o u r n a l s . ( T h e a b s t r a c t s of t h e s e p a p e r s , h o w e v e r , a r e included i n &vas a r e s u l t of t h e s c r e e n i n g of t h e R e f e r a t i v n y i Z h u r n a l S e r i e s . It h a s been CA's policy not t o include t h e t i t l e s of t h e s e p e r i o d i c a l s in CA's list.) On the o t h e r hand, one c a n find a n u m b e r of e n t r i e s i n t h e =list which cannot be found i n the R u s s i a n l i s t . The l a t t e r a r e m o s t l y o n e - t i m e publications s u c h as r e p o r t s of c o n f e r e n c e s , s y m p o s i a , s p e c i a l collections of p a p e r s , It a p p e a r s f r o m t h i s c o m p a r i s o n t h a t the c o v e r a g e of R u s s i a n c h e m i c a l j o u r n a l s i n g a p p r o a c h e s t h a t of the R e f e r ativnyr Z h u r n a l S e r i e s .
s), e.,
a.
The f i e l d of CA i s c h e m i c a l e n g i n e e r i n g a s well as c h e m i s t r y . " T h e r e f o r e , & t r i e s to maint a i n i n e a c h i s s u e a fair balance between the c o v e r e d R u s s i a n m a t e r i a l i n t h e f i e l d s of c h e m i s t r y and c h e m i c a l e n g i n e e r i n g . T h e r e i s a l s o a r e a s o n a b l e p r o p o r t i o n m a i n t a i n e d between the b a s i c r e s e a r c h l i t e r a t u r e and the l i t e r a t u r e of applied c h e m i c a l f i e l d s . Table XI r e p r e s e n t s s o m e typical e x a m p l e s of predominantly b a s i c r e s e a r c h j o u r n a l s and applied R u s s i a n j o u r n a l s c o v e r e d in &. The l o w e r p a r t of the table p r o v i d e s s o m e e x a m p l e s of R u s s i a n j o u r n a l s of Of the 50 c h e m i c a l e n g i n e e r i n g c o v e r e d by s e c t i o n s and s u b s e c t i o n s of Section 1 entitled " A p p a r a t u s , P l a n t Equipment and Unit Operations" is a l m o s t e n t i r e l y devoted to c h e m i c a l e n g i n e e r i n g . However, m a t e r i a l of i n t e r e s t to the c h e m i c a l e n g i n e e r c a n be found s c a t t e r e d through m o s t of the o t h e r s e c t i o n s , e s p e c i a l l y in those c o n c e r n e d with applied c h e m i c a l f i e l d s . In t h i s connection the c o v e r a g e of t h e R u s s i a n patent l i t e r a t u r e should be mentioned. It h a s been s a i d above t h a t t h i s c o v e r a g e w a s b a s e d i n the p a s t o n t h e only a v a i l a b l e published s o u r c e , n a m e l y , the Byulleten Izobreteni:, containing s h o r t d e s c r i p t i v e a b s t r a c t s of R u s s i a n p a t e n t s . R e cently % h a s been the f i r s t non-governmental agency t o r e c e i v e o r i g i n a l R u s s i a n patent s p e c i f i c a t i o n s i n t h i s c o u n t r y , It is hoped t h a t u s e of t h e l a t t e r f o r the p r e p a r a t i o n of a b s t r a c t s will i m p r o v e the quality of c o v e r a g e of the R u s s i a n patent l i t e r a t u r e c o n s i d e r a b l y . CA h a s been c o v e r i n g a p p r o x i m a t e l y 25-3070 of t h e t o t a l a v a i l a b l e Soviet p a t e n t s , t h i s being the p e r 11 centage of c h e m i c a l p a t e n t s . A s t o t h e p r o b l e m of t h e p r o p o r t i o n between the published and a c c e s s i b l e b a s i c R u s s i a n s c i e n t i f i c i n f o r m a t i o n and the applied t e c h n i c a l l i t e r a t u r e , i t i s g e n e r a l l y v e r y difficult t o d r a w a b o r d e r l i n e between t h e m . In s p i t e of indic a t i o n s of the official e m p h a s i s on applied s c i e n c e s , t h e r e is evidence of t h e e x i s t e n c e of Ef m a n y f i e l d s of t h e o r e t i c a l investigation!2 f o r t s a r e m a d e t o r e f l e c t the l a t t e r as well as the R u s s i a n technological a d v a n c e s i n the CA a b s t r a c t s of R u s s i a n m a t e r i a l . Table XI1 i l l u s t r a t e s the c o v e r a g e i n CA of R u s s i a n c h e m i c a l a n d c h e m i c a l e n g i n e e r i n g p a p e r s and b a s i c and applied p a p e r s evaluated on t h e b a s i s of a r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s a m p l e ( C A Y53, no. 22). It a p p e a r s f r o m t h i s s a m p l e t h a t the p r o p o r t i o n of R u s s i a n b a s i c and applied p a p e r s follows a p p r o x i m a t e l y the g e n e r a l p a t t e r n f o r all the a b s t r a c t s , The o v e r -all r a t i o of predominantly b a s i c t o predominantly applied p a p e r s , b a s e d on t h i s s a m p l e s t u d y , is 70:30, w h e r e a s f o r the R u s s i a n p a p e r s , the s a m e r a t i o i s 75:25. T h i s d i f f e r e n c e s e e m s t o be due t o a c o n s i d e r a b l y l o w e r r e p r e s e n t a t i o n of the R u s s i a n patent a b s t r a c t s as c o m p a r e d to the patent l i t e r a t u r e of t h e W e s t e r n c o u n t r i e s and J a p a n . It h a s been shown t h a t =is well on its way t o achieving c o m p l e t e n e s s i n c o v e r a g e
z. c,
-
RLTSSIAN CHEMICAL LITERATURE IN CHEMICAL ABSTRACTS TABLE X. TYPICAL RESULTS OF SCREENING OF THE REFERAT. ZHURNAL SERIES
Date and No. of issue
Name of Series
No. of abstracts selected for from the Referat Zhurnal
T o t a l number of abstracts in t h e issue
Astronomiya i G e& eziy a
No. 3, 1!358
IO0
2
Biologiya
No. 3, 1958
4,867
5
Fizika
No. 3, 1'358
2,450
18
Geofizlka
No, 3, 1958
800
1
Geologiya
No. 3, 1558
1,958
16
Khimiya
No. 3, 1958
3,408
85
Biol. Khimiya
No. 3, 1958
1,315
23
Metallurgiya
No. 3, 1958
1,846 -
43 -
11,004
193
Total
TABLE X I . EXAMPLES OF PREDOMINANTLY BASIC RESEARCH JOURNALS AND TYPICAL APPLIED JOURNALS COVERED IN CA Basic Journals Applied JournaEAtomnaya Energfya Kauchuk i Rezina Doklady Akad. Nauk S.S.S.R
Koks i Khimiya
Fizika Metallov i Metalloved.
Masloboyno- Zhirov. Prom.
Izvest. Akad. Nauk S.S.S.R.
Metallurg
Kolloid. Zhur.
Stal'
Kristallografiya
Steklo i Keramika
Zhur. Fiz. Khirn.
Zhur. Priklad. Khim.
Nauch. Doklady Vysshey Shkoly Khim. i Khim. Tekhnol.
Inzhener. -Fiz. Zhur. Akac. Nauk Belorus. S. S. R
Pribory i Tekhnika Eksperim.
Izvesf Vysshikh Ucheb. Zaved. ( a ) Khim. i Khim. Tekhnol.
Teploenergetika
(b) Mashinostroenie
Vestnik Mashinostroeniya
( c ) Priborostroenie Khim. Mashfnostroenie
Vsesoyuz. Nauch.-Issled. i Konstr. I n s t Khim. Mashinostroeniya, Sborniki
Khirn. Nauka i Prom.
Zavodskaya Laboratoriya
TABLE XII. COVERAGE OF RUSSIAN CHEM. AND CHEM. ENG. PAPERS AND BASlC AND APPLIED PAPERS IN CA EVALUATED ON THE BASIS OF A REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE C A 53, NO. 22 (1959) T y p e of papers T o t a l no. of No. of Russian CA Section included abstracts abstracts 70
-
I
Predominantly Chem. Eng.
277
50
18.1
2-11
Predominantly Basic
7,991
1,434
17.9
12-31
Predominantly Applied
427
13.3
Total
CA
CA
Doklady L'vov. Politekh l n s t
3,216
of t h e vast m a s s of Soviet c h e m i c a l l i t e r a t u r e . Other important objectives have always b e e n t i m e l i n e s s of a b s t r a c t i n g a n d good q u a l i t y of a b s t r a c t s . An i m p a r t i a l s u r v e y p r e p a r e d r e c e n t l y i n t h e =office l 3 t o d e t e r m i n e the c o m p a r a t i v e l e n g t h s of t i m e r e q y i r e d f o r a b s t r a c t i n g by L A a n d R e f e r a t i v n v i Z h u r n a l K h i m i y a of p a p e r s selectecl at r a n d o m f r o m s e v e n i s s u e s of l e a d i n g R u s s i a n j o u r n a l s showed t h a t C A a b s t r a c t e d these- j o u r n a l s 33 d a y s f a s t e r t h a n the R e f e r a t i v n y i Z h u r n a l K h i m i y a (the m e a n = t i m e l a g in this case w a s s l i g h t l y o v e r s i x m o n t h s ) . Another s u r v e y 14 i n d i c a t e d t h a t the t i m e l a g between o r i g i n a l publication and a b s t r a c t i n g i n the U. S. u s u a l l y r a n g e s f r o m six to n i n e m o n t h s and t h a t t h e Soviet s e r v i c e c o m p a r e s f a v o r a b l y with US. a b s t r a c t i n g s e r v i c e s . The comPlexity of t h e p r o b l e m of t i m e l i n e s s i n a b s t r a c t i n g R u s s i a n m a t e r i a l h a s b e e n d e a l t with above. It a p p e a r s that unless acquisition problems a r e elimin a t e d e n t i r e l y and a b s t r a c t i n g m a n p o w e r i s f u l l y a v a i l a b l e , i t is difficult t o e x p e c t d r a s t i c improvements in the n e a r future. As t o t h e q u a l i t y of a b s t r a c t s , t h e r e a l w a y s h a s b e e n a tendency i n to abstract Russian p a p e r s i n m o r e d e t a i l owing t o the p r o b l e m of unavailability of o r i g i n a l j o u r n a l s , l a c k of t r a n s l a t i o n s , a n d t h e language b a r r i e r . In g e n e r a l , it c a n be s a i d t h a t the R u s s i a n a b s t r a c t s i n a r e of good quality and they contain the e s s e n t i a l and i m p o r t a n t indexable i t e m s . T h e r e is u s u a l l y enough g e n e r a l a n d s p e c i f i c i n f o r m a t i o n given i n the a b s t r a c t s f o r the c h e m i s t , c h e m i c a l e n g i n e e r o r o t h e r CA u s e r t o judge about t h e u s e f u l n e s s of t h e b r i g i n a l a r t i c l e and i t s a p p l i c a bility t o t h e i r f i e l d of i n t e r e s t .
CA
EXAMPLES OF JOURNALS OF CHEM. ENGINEERING COVERED BY 26
1
43
-
-
11,484
1,511
CERTAIN PRIORITY TOPICS IN THE RUSSIAN CHEMICAL LITERATURE T h e 21st C o m m u n i s t P a r t y C o n g r e s s , e a r l y i n 1959, r e s u l t e d i n a c a l l to a c t i o n f o r v a r i o u s s e g m e n t s of t h e Soviet s o c i e t y , e s p e c i a l l y t h r o u g h i t s r e s o l u t i o n s t o f u r t h e r t h e developm e n t of e d u c a t i o n , s c i e n c e , and c u l t u r e . The 7 y e a r p l a n p r o c l a i m e d at t h i s C o n g r e s s f o r t h e p e r i o d 1959-1965 w a s g r e a t l y c o n c e r n e d with t h e p r o g r e s s of t h e c h e m i c a l i n d u s t r y . I 5 Part i c u l a r a t t e n t i o n h a s b e e n given t o the p r o d u c t i o n of s y n t h e t i c r e s i n s and p l a s t i c s , s y n t h e t i c r u b b e r , chemical f i b e r s , the f e r t i l i z e r industry, t h e m i n i n g i n d u s t r y , t h e dye i n d u s t r y and e s p e c i a l l y the p e t r o l e u m i n d u s t r y and its byp r o d u c t s . The R u s s i a n s e x p e c t t o i n c r e a s e 3-fold t h e t o t a l v o l u m e of c h e m i c a l production d u r i n g t h e 7 - y e a r plan, w h e r e a s the production of s y n t h e t i c f i b e r s is e x p e c t e d t o g r o w 12-13 fold and the production of p l a s t i c s and s y n t h e t i c r e s i n s 7-fold (all t h i s b a s e d o n t h e s t a t e of p r o duction of 1958). Independent of t h e s e p r a c t i c a l g o a l s , t h e r e is e v i d e n c e of c o n s i d e r a b l e e x p l o r a t o r y w o r k o n t h e o r i g i n of c o s m i c bodies
JOSEPH J . GWIRTSMAN
44
and, i n p a r t i c u l a r , of the e a r t h . T h i s w o r k is linked with e f f o r t s t o g a i n b e t t e r u n d e r standing of c o s m i c r a d i a t i o n and to s e a r c h f o r new s o u r c e s of r a d i o a c t i v i t y and power. In t h i s connection t h e e m p h a s i s is on a t o m i c studies. Extensive r e s e a r c h in nuclear. physics a n d r e l a t e d f i e l d s is a m a j o r c o n c e r n of s o m e of the l e a d i n g Soviet s c i e n t i s t s . C o n s i d e r a b l e s c i e n t i f i c activity is m a r k e d i n t h e f i e l d s of a s t r o n o m y , g e o p h y s i c s , g e o c h e m i s t r y , and geology. The e m p h a s i s on the p r o b l e m of the o r i g i n of l i f e e x p l a i n s the growing i n t e r e s t f o r r e s e a r c h i n p r o t e i n s y n t h e s i s and p h o t o s y n t h e s i s . B i o c h e m i s t r y , r a d i o a c t i v e c h e m i s t r y , bioastronomy, chemical physics, biophysics, c r y s t a l l o c h e m i s t r y , and r a d i o a s t r o n o m y a r e s o m e of the new d i s c i p l i n e s t h a t a r e given s p e c i a l attention i n a c a d e m i c i n s t i t u t i o n s . I’ Othei f i e l d s of e m p h a s i z e d i n v e s t i g a t i o n a r e : u l t r a sound, a c o u s t i c s , m o l e c u l a r p h y s i c s , s e m i c o n d u c t o r s , l u m i n e s c e n c e , combustion, and e x t e n s i v e m e t a l l u r g i c a l s t u d i e s . The b a s i c t a s k of the Soviet s c i e n c e as f o r m u l a t e d by the USSR A c a d e m y P r e s i d e n t A . N. Nesmeyanov i s “ t o f a c i l i t a t e the u n i v e r s a l development of the p r o ductive f o r c e s of t h e country.’’ T h i s definition applied to the p r o g r a m of t h e c u r r e n t 7 - y e a r plan of “ c h e m i z a t i o n ” of the USSR c a l l s f o r c o n s i d e r a b l e e x p a n s i o n of r e s e a r c h w o r k i n t h e f i e l d of t h e o r e t i c a l c h e m i s t r y , i n d u s t r i a l t e c h nology, p r o c e s s e s and a p p a r a t u s , d e s i g n of equipment a n d a u t o m a t i o n of the c o n t r o l and o p e r a t i o n of c h e m i c a l p r o c e s s e s . T h e r e f o r e , e x t e n s i v e i n v e s t i g a t i o n s a r e being u n d e r t a k e n
‘‘
on t h e r e l a t i o n between the composition, s t r u c t u r e and p r o p e r t i e s of c h e m i c a l compounds, and e s t a b l i s h m e n t of p r i n c i p l e s and m e t h o d s of m a n u f a c t u r i n g c h e m i c a l p r o d u c t s with c e r t a i n a p r i o r i specified properties. l5 R u s s i a n s c i e n t i f i c p r o g r e s s is bound to m a k e t r e m e n d o u s s t r i d e s i n coming y e a r s . We have witnessed already their recent achievem e n t s i n s p a c e . It is i m p e r a t i v e to follow c l o s e l y the R u s s i a n s c i e n t i f i c and t e c h n i c a l l i t e r a t u r e , which quantitatively e x c e e d s t h a t of all o t h e r E u r o p e a n c o u n t r i e s and is s e c o n d only t o t h e U.S.A., and t o m a k e i t a v a i l a b l e t o s c i e n t i s t s and i n d u s t r y through the W e s t e r n i n f o r m a t i o n s y s t e m s . In r e c e n t y e a r s , the Soviets have a l s o developed t h e i r s c i e n c e i n f o r m a t i o n w o r k t o a high l e v e l . They have u n d e r t a k e n a n all-out e f f o r t t o develop f u r t h e r the d i s s e m i n a t i o n of s c i e n t i f i c and t e c h n i c a l information. Owing to the s e r i o u s language p r o b l e m , the s t i l l - e x i s t i n g a c q u i s i t i o n p r o b l e m s , and the unavailability of m a n y m a t e r i a l s i n t r a n s l a t e d f o r m , CA is making a n e f f o r t t o f i l l t h e g a p and a c h i e v e m a x i m u m c o v e r a g e of t h e R u s s i a n s c i e n t i f i c and t e c h n i c a l j o u r n a l s i n the f o r m of good i n f o r m a t i v e a b s t r a c t s backed by thorough and effective i n d e x e s . The s u c c e s s of t h i s e f f o r t will depend t o a g r e a t extent on the u n d e r s t a n d i n g and c o o p e r a t i o n of o u r c o n t r i b u t o r s , of the l a r g e s t e a m of o v e r 2200 c h e m i s t s who do the w o r k of providing t h e CA s e r v i c e , and e s p e c i a l l y of t h o s e who combine t h e i r c h e m i c a l s p e c i a l t y with a thorough knowledge of t h e R u s s i a n l a n g u a g e ,
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”K.F. Heumann and P. M. Bernays, “Fifty Foreign Languages at Chemical Abstracts,” J . of Chem. Educ., 478 (1959). 2E. J. Crane and K. F. Heumann, “g Measures a Nation’s Research,” Chem. and Eng. News, 36, 64 (1958). 3B. I. Gorokhoff, “Publishing i n t h e USSR. Slavic and East European Series,” Vol. 19, Indiana Univ. Publ., 1959. 4T. W. Marton, “Publishing in the USSR,” Science, 131, 657 (1960). 5G. Reichardt, “Sowjetische Literacur zur Naturwissenschaft und Technik,” Franz Steiner Verlag G.M.B.H., Wiesbaden, 1959. ‘The most recent statistics on educational, scientific, and research institutions of the USSR show even higher figures, amounting to a total of 3963 establishments of all types. N. DeWitt, “Soviet Science: T h e Institutional Debate,” Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, 9, no. 6, 208 (1960). 71CNeuesWissenschaftszentrum in Sibirien,” in Osteuropa-Naturwissenschaft, ,! p. 161. (1957/1958). 8M. Hoseh, “Scientific and Technical Literature of the USSR,” J. of Chem. Educ., 2, 397 (i956); 182 (1957); 235 (1950. 9P. 1. Nikitin, Editor, “Ukazatel sokrashchennykh i polnykh nazvani: nauchdii tekhnicheskoi literatury,” Izdatel. Akad. Nauk SSSR, MOSCOW, 1957. ‘‘E. J . Crane, “g Today,” Published by ACS, 1958. I‘M. Hoseh, “The USSR Patent System,” paper presented at the “Institute on Patents a s Sources of Information” at Columbia University, School of Library Service, New York, N. Y., 1960. ‘’A. Vicinich, “The Soviet Academy of Sciences,” Hoover Institute Studies, Stanford University P r e s s , Stanford, Calif., 1956. (unpublished). 13Private communication from J. Wilson, ‘*G. M. Bedford and C. T. Van Meter, “Evaluation of the Soviet Abstracting Journal,” N.S.F. Final Report, Inst. for Coop. Res., University of Pennsylvania, 1958. 15A. Ya. Ryabenko, “Khimicheskaya Promyshlennost SSSR,” Gosudarst. Nauch.-Tekh. Izdatel. Khim. Lit., Moscow, 1959. 16A. N. Nesmeyanov, Vestnik Akad. Nauk S. S. S . R.: No. 1 (1952); NO. 5 (1954). I’D. 8. Baker, “Developments in Soviet Science Information Services,” paper presented a t the ACS Meeting in Cleveland, Ohio, 1960.
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