The search query is used in a database to retrieve records that answer the query. Each database contains records that are potential answers to a search query in that database. Terms in an STN record become access points to that record. You enter a search query that instructs the STN computer to retrieve all records that contain the search terms and meet conditions specified in the search query. Choose a term that is appropriate for the search field Apply wildcard characters to the term to retrieve various forms of a word.
Additional operators are available.
Example Below is an example of a search query designed to find records citing documents authored by 'Petersohn' and having 'hydroponics' in the title. The CO2 is produced by a naturally-occurring population of algae found in algal mats on water surfaces. CO2 assimilation and dissimilation occurs in a close loop reaction system , in which biomass prodn. is induced by manipulation of light, aeration, and nutrient availability, and release of CO2 is stimulated by decreased light and nutrient limitation. Terms in the search query that appear in an answer are called hit terms. They will appear highlighted in the record most of the time.