Radio continuum and far-infrared emission of spiral galaxies: Implications of correlations

Researchers present a study extending the correlation seen between radio continuum and far-infrared emissions from spiral galaxies to a lower frequency of 408 MHz and also as a function of radio spectral index. The tight correlation seen between the two luminosities is then used to constrain several parameters governing the emissions such as the changes in star formation rate and mass function, frequency of supernovae that are parents of the interstellar electrons and factors governing synchrotron radio emission

The influence of DSS types, decision style, and environment on individual decision making

Cognitive style, measured by Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, was used to categorize decision makers. Information source in the form of different DSS types was provided to help the decision makers make more effective decisions. The research attempted to investigate systematically the effects of cognitive style and DSS usage on the decision maker\u27s perception of risk in the context of capital expansion projects. The research encompassed analysis of behavior under conditions of uncertainty for two values of the cognitive dimension, sensing-intuition (S-N), and use of two types of information sources, data-bases DSS (DBDSS) and model based DSS (MBDSS). The behavior was studied within the boundaries of four decision scenarios (2 information sources x 2 cognitive styles). The research attempted to establish the interaction of decision support systems and cognitive style on perceived risk, in a decision-making situation under uncertainty. The decision maker\u27s choice in a risky situation is influenced by the risk perceived by the decision maker. The perception of risk is a result of an interaction between a decision maker\u27s personal characteristics and the environment in which he/she faces the problem. Each type of individual needs the kind of information to which he/she is psychologically attuned in order to use it most effectively. The information needed by the decision maker can come from different types of DSS. DSS supports the decision-making activity and enhances the decision maker\u27s effectiveness. From the literature review, previous researchers have indicated that considering the human variable of cognitive style is very necessary for the successful design of decision support systems. The objective of this research was to study the level of risk perceived by people of different cognitive styles, using different types of decision support systems, when they face problems under uncertainty/. The following research hypothesis was supported in Experiment 2, when decision environment was introduced as a control variable. Perceived risk will be influenced by the compatibility of the information source and the cognitive style of the decision maker

Application of geographical information systems

Natural resources and environmental management of military lands is becoming increasingly complex and diverse. As military missions change and new equipment is fielded out training lands become increasingly more restricted due to environmental, logistical, and financial constraints. We must become better stewards of the land if we are going to continue to train troops to meet the next mission. GIS is a powerful tool for military trainers, environmentalists, and natural resource planners. This paper will discuss the applications of GIS in military training and environmental/ natural resources management. It will also discuss the use of map layers in the analysis of Endangered Species Habitats, Cultural Resource Surveys, Soils, cover types, wetlands, and others

A contingency framework—The influence of computerized information systems on organizational performance

Evaluation is a task most designers, builders, and supporters of information systems agree is significant. However, most information systems evaluations are performance evaluations focusing on the efficiency of the computer system. There is another dimension to the evaluation of the information system that must be considered if computerized information systems (CIS) are to be designed to fit an organization: impact evaluations. Impact evaluations are concerned with those effects on an organization which result from the development and use of an information system. The actual task of performing an impact evaluation is hindered by the complexity of the task and by the apparent lack of methods. The complexity is characterized by the difficulties in choosing measures, by the multiplicity and interactions of factors influencing impacts, by the inability to control some of those factors, and by the varying criteria for judging impacts. The lack of methods is characterized by inexperience and insufficient documentation

Reliable and robust molecular sexing of the hen harrier (Circus cyaneus) using PCR-RFLP of the CHD1 gene

The hen harrier (Circus cyaneus) is a bird of prey that is persecuted in the United Kingdom, and there is a need for a DNA-based individual identification and sexing system for the use in forensic investigations. This study reports a new set of PCR primers for the chromo-helicase-DNA-binding protein 1 gene, which allows sexing using PCR-RFLP. Instead of exonic primers that amplify across a large intron, this set consists of a primer within the intron, enabling reduction in amplicon sizes from 356 to 212 bp and 565 to 219 bp in W and Z chromosomes. DNA degradation and dilution experiments demonstrate that this set is significantly more robust than one that amplifies across the intron, and sequencing of the intronic primer-binding region across several individuals shows that it is highly conserved. While our objective is to incorporate this primer set into an STR-based individualization kit, it may in the meantime prove useful in forensic or conservation studies

Learned navigation in unknown terrains: A retraction method

The problem of learned navigation of a circular robot R, of radius delta (is greater than or equal to 0), through a terrain whose model is not a-priori known is considered. Two-dimensional finite-sized terrains populated by an unknown (but, finite) number of simple polygonal obstacles are also considered. The number and locations of the vertices of each obstacle are unknown to R. R is equipped with a sensor system that detects all vertices and edges that are visible from its present location. In this context two problems are covered. In the visit problem, the robot is required to visit a sequence of destination points, and in the terrain model acquisition problem, the robot is required to acquire the complete model of the terrain. An algorithmic framework is presented for solving these two problems using a retraction of the freespace onto the Voronoi diagram of the terrain. Algorithms are then presented to solve the visit problem and the terrain model acquisition problem

On autonomous terrain model acquistion by a mobile robot

The following problem is considered: A point robot is placed in a terrain populated by an unknown number of polyhedral obstacles of varied sizes and locations in two/three dimensions. The robot is equipped with a sensor capable of detecting all the obstacle vertices and edges that are visible from the present location of the robot. The robot is required to autonomously navigate and build the complete terrain model using the sensor information. It is established that the necessary number of scanning operations needed for complete terrain model acquisition by any algorithm that is based on scan from vertices strategy is given by the summation of i = 1 (sup n) N(O sub i)-n and summation of i = 1 (sup n) N(O sub i)-2n in two- and three-dimensional terrains respectively, where O = (O sub 1, O sub 2,....O sub n) set of the obstacles in the terrain, and N(O sub i) is the number of vertices of the obstacle O sub i