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The database consists of reports, articles, books, and book chapters relevant
to research and development of irradiated food from 1947 to 1997. The
material was given to National Agricultural Library in the years 1986 to 1997
from the private libraries of
Dr. Edward S. Josephson, Dr. Eugene Wierbicki, Dr. Walter M. Urbain, and Dr.
Ari Brynjolfsson.
The overall focus was to record all factual information and results of
experiments sponsored by the US Government, with special emphasis on
unpublished or difficult to obtain research reports. Much of the research
work was done under specific project numbers, and contract numbers listed in
the field called "Sponsors". These numbers are used to group the material
into subgroups. For example, all progress and final reports under a specific
contract are listed under that contract number together with all related
scientific journal articles based on the specific contract studies. This
facilitates thorough evaluation of each of the studies. This sub-grouping is
useful for perusing the findings, and for discovering hidden parameters often
not explicitly mentioned in the scientific journal articles.
For example, a search under:
DA-49-007-MD-543 (or simply MD-543) will give a listing of all progress and
final reports under this contract as well as scientific journal articles based
on studies under this contract. These listings will often point to related
articles. The comments at the end of each wholesomeness report will
facilitate evaluation of the work and the research findings.
The material is grouped into four main groups.
- Database Record Numbers 1 to 2999 are used for reports and articles on
food technology, radiation chemistry, microbiology, entomology, parasites,
packaging, radiation sources, dosimetry, irradiation technology, and
economics.
- Record Numbers 3000 to 3999 are for reports sponsored by Atomic Energy
Commission's (AEC now Department of Energy). These include both wholesomeness
studies and food technology contracts.
- Record numbers 5000 to 6999 are for wholesomeness studies (such as all
animal feeding studies contracts sponsored by the National Food Irradiation
Program and the US Army Surgeon General).
- Record Numbers 7000 to 8999 are for proceedings of important national and
international meetings, symposia, and conferences on food irradiation.
In some cases there may be an overlap. For example, nutrition and radiation
chemistry reports are often relevant to both wholesomeness and to food technology.
Nine fields are used to characterize each record.
Field 1. Number: Each record has a number which is unique.
Field 2. Format: R stands for report; B for book or book chapter; P for
proceedings; J for scientific journal; M for magazine; Oa for pre-publication;
Ob for correspondence about research results; Oc for research plan; and O for
miscellaneous. In the notation Rn.m, the number n after R gives the report
number, m the number of copies that exist at NAL. For example, R6.2 means
that the record is a 6th progress report and that it exists in two copies.
Rf.1 means that it is a final report in one copy, which usually gives a
authors' summary of the findings. The records of proceedings are usually
numbered P1.1, P2.1, P3.1 etc. meaning the first, second, third, etc. report
presented at the meeting.
Field 3. Subjects: Subjects field lists the main objects of the studies.
For example, food technology, microbiology, packaging, entomology etc.; and
when possible the specific food (beef, pork, fish, wheat, corn, etc.),
microbes (clostridia, salm
onella, viruses, etc.) and specific insects studied are listed. If the study
is about vitamins the field will list the vitamins studied. In animal feeding
studies it will list the foods and animals used
Field 4. Sponsors: This field lists the institution, the country, or the
contract number. When the contract number is given, usually a US Government
contract number, the institution performing the study is listed under field
"Publisher".
Field 5. Authors: This field lists the principal authors on the report or on
the article.
Field 6. Year: This field lists the year of publication.
Field 7. Title: This field lists the title of the report or the article.
Field 8. Publisher: This field lists the name of the institution issuing the
report; and in case of an article the name of the scientific journal or
magazine with volume and page number. In case of a book or book chapter the
field lists the name
of the book and its publisher. In case of a proceeding of a meeting, it gives
the name of the corresponding conference and/or publisher of the proceedings.
Field 9. Comments: This field is used for any comments. It is usually
completed only in case of wholesomeness studies. It lists the main results
and conclusions by authors, by Dr. Ari Brynjolfsson, or by Prof. Elwood Reber
who has published an
annotated bibliography on many of the studies.