The NIST Materials Data Curation System (MDCS) provides a means for capturing, sharing, and transforming materials data into a structured format that is XML based amenable to transformation to other formats. The data are organized using user-selected templates encoded in XML Schema. These templates are used to create data entry forms. The documents are saved in a non-relational (NoSQL) database, namely MongoDB. The data can be searched and retrieved via several means: by a template-driven web-based form, by a SPARQL endpoint query, and by a RESTful API call. The system also enables the interconnection of MDCS repositories for federated searches.
The software was developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
To install and run the MDCS on your machine: - Pick the instruction notes for your operating system, inside the docs folder, - Follow the installation instructions, - Make sure that the python packages and software that you are installing, match the versions listed in the document Required Python Packages and Required Software, - Recommended Internet Browser: Mozilla Firefox. To deploy the MDCS, please refer to the following documents: - https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/1.7/howto/deployment/ - https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/1.7/howto/deployment/checklist/The XML-based schemas provided with the Materials Data Curator are examples of schemas that may be written to represent different aspects of materials data and to demonstrate some of the features that may be used within an XML schema (i.e. including tabular data or composition selection using the periodic table). The schemas do not represent “standard” metadata representations and are specifically release as “as is,” and as such NIST makes no warrant of any kind on the correctness or accuracy of the content of the schemas, nor the fitness of the schemas for any purpose and accepts any liability or responsibility for the consequences of the schemas use or misuse by anyone.
Note the Demo-Diffusion data schema is not meant as a metadata standard for diffusion data. It is just an example of how one might specify some of the metadata associated with typical tracer, intrinsic and chemical (interdiffusion) diffusivity experiments. This schema can be customized to fit the users’ needs. It should also be noted that while the Demo-Diffusion schema contains some instruments types (e.g Electron Probe Micro Analyzer or a microtome) not all the appropriate metadata for each instrument has been defined nor have all of the appropriate instrument types been defined.
Also note that not all XML-schemas will load properly within the Materials Data Curator.
The MDCS allows integration of modules to provide better user interfaces for entering data. The integration of modules is done by giving a tag name from the XML schema. The tag is then replaced by the module when the form to enter data is rendered. For more convenience, the file mod.demo.diffusion.xsd provide a version of the Demo-Diffusion schema pre-configured with modules. The XML tags with the following names will be automatically replaced by the corresponding module: - ConstituentsType - ChemicalElement - TableA developer guide for the module system is available on request.
Data editing and data deleting of data already curated are only available for the superuser in the current version. All users can upload partial or complete data to edit and curate them. Automatic installers for Windows and Mac OS are available on request.