Table 1.

Four example topics from Round 1 of the TREC-COVID challenge. A category is assigned (for this paper, not TREC-COVID) to each topic based on both the topic’s research field and function, which allows us to classify the performance of the systems on certain kinds of topics.

Topic 10	Query: coronavirus social distancing impact Question: has social distancing had an impact on slowing the spread of COVID-19? Narrative: seeking specific information on studies that have measured COVID-19’s transmission in one or more social distancing (or non-social distancing) approaches. Categories:Research Field - Public Health Function - Prevention
Topic 13	Query: how does coronavirus spread Question: what are the transmission routes of coronavirus? Narrative: looking for information on all possible ways to contract coronavirus from people, animals and objects. Categories:Research Field - Biological Function - Transmission
Topic 22	Query: coronavirus heart impacts Question: are cardiac complications likely in patients with COVID-19? Narrative: seeking information on the types, frequency and mechanisms of cardiac complications caused by coronavirus. Categories:Research Field - Clinical Function - Effect
Topic 30	Query: coronavirus remdesivir Question: is remdesivir an effective treatment for COVID-19? Narrative: seeking specific information on clinical outcomes in COVID-19 patients treated with remdesivir. Categories:Research Field - Clinical Function - Treatment