INCLUDING SOFT INFORMATION IN EISs

Although much of executive decision making is based on soft information—opinions, predictions, news, and even rumors—executive information systems (EISs) have only recently begun to augment factual data with such information. A study of current use of soft information in EISs yields 15 propositions designed to help EIS developers determine what kinds of soft information are most valuable and how best to capture and deliver this information.     

Glycine conjugation of para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA): a quantitative test of liver function

N-Acetyl aspartate (NAA) is the second most abundant amino acid in the human brain. NAA is synthesized by L-aspartate N-acetyl transferase or by cleavage from N-acetyl aspartyl glutamate by N-acylated alpha-linked L-amino dipeptidase (NAALADase); and it is catabolized to acetate and aspartate by N-acetyl aspartate amino hydrolase (amino acylase II). NAA is localized primarily to neurons, where it is concentrated in the cytosol. Although NAA is devoid of neurophysiological effects, it serves as an acetyl donor, an initiator of protein synthesis or a carbon transfer source across the mitochondrial membrane. The concentration of NAA in human brain increases 3-fold between midgestation and adulthood. In Canavan's Disease, an autosomal recessive disorder due to a null mutation in amino acylase II, NAA levels in brain are markedly increased and disrupt myelination. NAA levels have been found to be reduced in neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's Disease and Huntington's Disease. Since endogenous NAA can be readily detected in human brain by magnetic resonance spectroscopy, it is increasingly being exploited as a marker for functional and structural integrity of neurons in an expanding number of disorders.     

Effects of plant growth regulators on locusts and cotton stainer bugs

Gibberellic acid is a necessary dietary constituent for normal fast maturation in the desert locust. Diets short of gibberellins, such as senescent vegetation, produce a state of adult diapause. The synthetic plant growth retardant (2-chloroethyl)-trimethylammonium chloride (CCC), either injected into locusts or fed to them as a separate dietary constituent, inhibits meiosis and so retards or prevents sexual maturation. Once this stage of gametogenesis has passed (late in nymphal life) CCC appears to have no further effect, but a single injection just before the onset of meiosis will sterilise locusts completely. Cotton stainers provided with a solution of CCC in their drinking water during the same period of larval life show impaired reproductive function and produce deformed offspring. CCC acts directly upon the insects, quite apart from any secondary effect produced by the altered physiology of the food plant.     

Salmonid Spawning Runs and Estimated Ova Production in Normandale Creek of Lake Erie

The Normandale Creek study area (2,531 m²)provides spawning and nursery grounds for lake-run coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch), rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri), and brown trout (Salmo trutta), In 1973–74, 59 adult salmonids (58% rainbow trout, 39% coho salmon, and 3% brown trout) ascended the stream between 31 October and 12 May. Upstream movements were significantly related to peak stream discharge (r = 0.21) and highly significantly related to discharge occurring on the day following the peak freshet (r = 0.34). Despite a highly significant correlation (r = 0.29) between flow and water temperature, the latter factor is not significantly related with upstream movement of adult fish. Coho salmon spawned at water temperatures of 1 to 10° C between 2 November and 19 December, rainbow trout at 1 to 15° C between 9 November and 14 May, and brown trout at 7° C between 4 and 5 November. Of 86 nests constructed, 60% were disturbed by re-use or sand deposition. From a calculated deposition of 90,403 ova, it is estimated that some 22% survived to emergence.     

Low-Frequency Piezoelectric Energy Conversion for an Intrathoracic Artificial Heart

The present paper is concerned with an evaluation of a piezoelectric energy conversion system in which two columns of piezoelectric ceramic disks are excited axially by means of thin metallic shims stacked alternately with the disks. Mechanical energy output is extracted through the expansion and contraction of the Columns. The treatment is based upon the equivalent circuit approach first suggested by Mason. A lever system is used in making the mechanical impedance transformation between the very high force and small displacement of the piezoelectric columns and the low force and relatively large displacement required for an artificial heart. The role of mass loading in improving the power capability and efficiency of the energy converter is clearly indicated. It is concluded that the theoretical energy output per unit mass of material per cycle and the efficiency of conversion are such as to justify a continued developmental effort.     

Solvent Decontamination of PCB Electrical Equipment

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's) which are used as dielectric fluids in transformers and capacitors, are toxic relatively inert materials which are persistent and widespread in the environment and biomagnified in the food chain. Disposal of contaminated electrical equipment requires removal of the majority of PCB's. Various solvent cleaning techniques have been investigated for decontamination of intact transformers and shredded capacitors. The PCB content of transformers which originally contained 180-270 kg PCB was reduced by 99.72-99.96 percent. The relatively small amount of retained PCB resides primarily in the interstices and absorbent material of the core and coil assembly. Shredded power factor correction capacitors were decontaminated using trichlorethylene in a multistage concurrent batch extraction process. The PCB content was reduced by 99.9 percent, leaving a residual PCB content of 0.01 kg per capacitor.