We are pleased to announce that a new version of the dataset description guidelines has just been published. The latest version, dated 12 September 2013, is available from http://www.openphacts.org/specs/datadesc/.

The key goal of this revision was to simplify the description of datasets to make it is easier for providers to publish descriptions of their datasets. The guidelines now include clearer checklists of what is expected at must/should/may levels as well as guidance notes on the expected values of each of the predicates.

With regard to linksets, we have created a BridgeDb vocabulary for capturing the context of the linksets: the interpretation of the equivalence being claimed, the semantic types being linked, species where relevant and the assertion method (automatic or manual).