Difference between mappedTo and preferredMappedTo predicates?

[dhimmel]

The mappedTo and preferredMappedTo predicates provide the link between Supplemental Concept Records (SCRs) and Descriptors. I am wondering about what "preferred" means here.

From https://hhs.github.io/meshrdf/predicates.html

meshv:mappedTo is described as

Relates SupplementaryConceptRecords to Descriptors or DescriptorQualifierPairs. A Descriptor or DescriptorQualifierPair that is a parent (not the main parent; lacks an asterisk designation in the Source XML) for the SupplementaryConceptRecord and that is automatically added to the journal citation for which the SupplementaryConceptRecord is indexed. See also meshv:preferredMappedTo. CUI C025735 (Aeron) example: D004338

meshv:preferredMappedTo is described as:

Relates SupplementaryConceptRecords to Descriptors or DescriptorQualifierPairs. Designates a Descriptor or DescriptorQualifierPair that is a main parent (includes an asterisk designation in the Source XML) for the SupplementaryConceptRecord and that is automatically added to the journal citation for which the SupplementaryConceptRecord is indexed. meshv:preferredMappedTo is a subproperty of meshv:mappedTo. CUI C025735 (Aeron) example: D002164Q000031

It looks like the key part is "not the main parent; lacks an asterisk designation in the Source XML" and "includes an asterisk designation in the Source XML". What exactly is a main parent / asterisk parent?

For the Aeron example, it has multiple preferredMappedTo descriptors:

mappedTo (MeSH TopicalDescriptor)

• Drug Combinations

preferredMappedTo (MeSH TopicalDescriptor, MeSH AllowedDescriptorQualifierPair)

• Atropine Derivatives
• Scopolamine Derivatives
• Camphor/analogs & derivatives

In what situations would someone want to differentiate between mappedTo and preferredMappedTo?

[bushmanb]

I referred your question to the head of the MeSH Unit at NLM and here is the response. I hope this helps answer your questions.

This all dates back to the printed Index Medicus(IM). To save on ink we would limit the number citations listed under a MeSH term to those where the Heading was both important and highly specific for the particular article. More general topics like “drug combinations” and/or ones that have very high indexing rates were left out Since we don’t publish IM anymore these designations morphed into “meshv:preferredMappedTo” (important and highly specific for the particular article) and just plain “meshv:mappedTo” which is usually categorical data like “drug combinations”. For example if you wanted to limit your search about some drug treatment to those drugs that include two or more compounds in the same pill. Finally we move the “*” to the qualifier in a descriptor/qualifier combination if the HM includes a qualifier. I guess this is to lend importance to the qualifier part of the combined HM.

[dhimmel]

Thanks @bushmanb and head of the MeSH Unit! What does "HM" stand for?

So in conclusion, the preferredMappedTo is for "important and highly specific" relations between the SCR and descriptor. Good to know.

Here are some examples below of both predicates:

preferredMappedTo examples

SPARQL Query (online):

PREFIX rdfs: <http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#>
PREFIX meshv: <http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/vocab#>
SELECT *
WHERE {
  ?child_uri meshv:preferredMappedTo ?parent_uri.
  ?child_uri rdfs:label ?child_label.
  ?parent_uri rdfs:label ?parent_label.
}
LIMIT 10

child_uri	parent_uri	child_label	parent_label
mesh:C000611386	mesh:D000069447	tiotropium-olodaterol	Tiotropium Bromide
mesh:C000611331	mesh:D000069474	sofosbuvir-velpatasvir drug combination	Sofosbuvir
mesh:C000611657	mesh:D000075722	zbtb16a protein, zebrafish	Promyelocytic Leukemia Zinc Finger Protein
mesh:C000611332	mesh:D000080662	glutathione peroxidase 4, mouse	Phospholipid Hydroperoxide Glutathione Peroxidase
mesh:C000611681	mesh:D000607Q000031	2-(((8-hydroxy-5-nitroquinoline-7-yl)methyl)amino)acetonitrile	Aminoacetonitrile/analogs & derivatives
mesh:C000610691	mesh:D001708Q000031	microcystbiopterin D	Biopterin/analogs & derivatives
mesh:C000611373	mesh:D002126	Calcimol LC	Calcium Hydroxide
mesh:C000610640	mesh:D002790	CYP-33E2 protein, C elegans	Cholesterol 7-alpha-Hydroxylase
mesh:C000611422	mesh:D004061Q000031	2',4'-difluoro-4-hydroxy-N'-(2-pyridylmethylidene)biphenyl-3-carbohydrazide	Diflunisal/analogs & derivatives
mesh:C000610654	mesh:D004076Q000031	14-anhydrodigoxigenin	Digoxigenin/analogs & derivatives

mappedTo examples

Replace meshv:preferredMappedTo with meshv:mappedTo in query. Output:

child_uri	parent_uri	child_label	parent_label
mesh2016:C011728	mesh2016:D000190	chromotrienine	Actinomyces
mesh2016:C030015	mesh2016:D000190	corallomycin	Actinomyces
mesh2016:C020038	mesh2016:D002040	dihydrobunolol dehydrogenase	Levobunolol
mesh2016:C013602	mesh2016:D002483	methoxypropylcellulose	Cellulose, Oxidized
mesh2016:C016828	mesh2016:D003023	Viccillin S (combination)	Cloxacillin
mesh2016:C029443	mesh2016:D003450	cold agglutinins	Cryoglobulins
mesh2016:C012604	mesh2016:D004009	versaclox	Dicloxacillin
mesh2016:C023634	mesh2016:D004009	ampicillin-dicloxacillin mixture	Dicloxacillin
mesh2016:C011744	mesh2016:D005486	5-deaza-FMN	Flavin Mononucleotide
mesh2016:C023404	mesh2016:D005486	7-bromo-FMN	Flavin Mononucleotide

[bushmanb]

HM stands for Heading mapped to.