Decision making,computer attitudes and expert systems: What is our direction?

Expert systems have been concerned with applications dealing with medical diagnosis, mineral exploration, and computer configuration, with some efforts relatively successful in achieving results at least as good as human experts. Today, much is being written about these systems and managerial decision-making activities in organizations and the positive impact that they can have in these situations. However, it appears that expert systems could become somewhat of a panacea for some organizational ailments as research, development, and marketing of them continues at a fast pace. What may be forgotten in this technological thrust is the individual decision maker and his/her unique style of decision making which could affect acceptance and use of these systems. Another important consideration is the attitude people have toward computers and computer systems, which along with decision-making styles could certainly affect expert system effectiveness and ultimate success in organizations. This paper provides a discussion of potential problems that could occur regarding individual decision making and attitudes and their relationships to these systems.     

A linear, time-varying system framework for noniterativediscrete-time band-limited signal extrapolation

A technique for the analysis and design of noniterative algorithms for discrete-time, band-limited signal extrapolation is described. The approach involves modeling the extrapolation process as a linear, time-varying (LTV) system, or filter. Together with a previously developed Fourier theory for LTV systems, this model provides a frequency-domain transfer function representation for the extrapolation system. This representation serves as a powerful tool for characterizing and comparing the reconstruction properties of several well-known least squares optimal algorithms for band-limited extrapolation. Moreover, the frequency-domain setting provides a conceptually attractive means for understanding the process of extrapolation itself. Additionally, a least squares approximation methodology for designing LTV filters for band-limited extrapolation is developed. The design technique is shown to unify a broad class of algorithms for extrapolating discrete-time data and, further, to provide a means for designing new and improved extrapolation algorithms     

Long-term testing and applications of high-stress MV EPR cables

High-stress design 35-kV ethylene propylene rubber (EPR)-insulated cables with 1.14-mm (45-mil) wall reduction have been in service for more than ten years. In the mid 1990s, an extensive cable testing program was initiated to demonstrate that high-stress designs up to 4 kV/mm (101.6 V/mil) exhibit a significant electrical and mechanical safety margin to operate on typical utility network systems. Investigations were also undertaken to demonstrate the suitability of accessories for high-stress designs. This paper will present the results of six-year, long-term wet electrical testing conducted to demonstrate that with proper design, the aging performance of standard wall and high-stress design cables provide satisfactory results and suitable performance for the intended application. Additionally, utility field experience is presented on 35- and 15-kV cables operating at high stress. The experience for these 15-kV medium-voltage EPR cable designs employ the highest recommended stress for cables of this class, as well as taking into account the complete system performance.     

The humanist and computer-assisted library research

Conclusion Because of the success of this project as measured by the favorable comments of the participants as well as the increased search activity, the Council on the Humanities awarded an additional $1000 to continue the project in the spring of 1985. As an added feature of the new proposal, a workshop is planned for chairs of the various humanities departments as well as other interested humanists. The aim will be to encourage them and their colleagues to increase their involvement in automated literature searching, as well as to encourage their graduate students to use the service. With continued support, greater awareness of the service, and more extensive coverage of existing and future databases,³ a steady increase in computer-assisted bibliographic searching among humanists is definitely possible.     

A comparison of two correlation schemes

Processes involving the cross-correlation of two noisy data streams are frequently encountered in signal processing. The performances of two commonly used correlators, the simple and complex correlators, are examined. The conventional view is that the complex correlator is superior to the simple correlator by a factor of the square root of two in output signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). However, by modifying the simple correlator to utilize all the available information, its performance is improved. The development of the modified correlator is explained, and a computer simulation shows that this modified correlator is approximately equivalent to the complex correlator in noise performance     

Physical attractiveness and self-perception of mental disorder.

Prior research has reported a relation between physical attractiveness and severity of mental disorder, with less attractive people being more maladjusted. However, because these two variables have been measured simultaneously, it has not been possible to separate cause from effect. To clarify this question, in this study we first measured physical attractiveness, social competence, and perceived risk of developing a mental disorder in 280 college women. Seven months later, we measured the subjects' self-perception of having a mental disorder. Women who were more attractive were higher in social competence and lower in perceived risk of mental disorder. More attractive women were also lower in self-perception of mental disorder 7 months later. This relation between attractiveness and self-perception of mental disorder remained significant even after controlling for the Time 1 measures (social competence, perceived risk of mental disorder, and age). The implications of these findings for the hypothesized role of attractiveness in the determination of adjustment are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Toward customer-usable all-optical networks

Although all-optical networks were being thought about almost ten years ago, until recently it would have been premature to talk about such networks as being truly usable. Now, ways of removing most of the roadblocks to practicality have come clearly into view. It is generally agreed that time-division packet switching in the form of asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) is likely to constitute the next generation of networking, both local and wide area; but what about the generation after that? While people are evolving SONET/ATM, the present Internet, and such emerging ambitions as the National Information Infrastructure (NII), in order to serve the needs anticipated for the next decade, optical fiber is being steadily installed at a rate of 700 miles per day in the United States alone. Furthermore, this resource is being extended steadily outward from the telco or cable provider backbone into customer premises, so that within the lifetime of the ATM generation, we may expect extremely rich fiber connectivity of a large number of homes and offices