Solver: A productivity tool used in the context of spreadsheet analysis

Computers can enhance the decision-making capability of a manager. This may involve software programs readily available for the personal computer or programs especially customized for a particular company\u27s purposes. This article reviews examples of both and focuses on Solver, an add-on for Excel or 1-2-3 97. Solver enables a manager to manipulate available resources to meet productivity needs. This may involve a specific goal such as maximization of profit or minimization of cost. But it might also involve several goals that can be prioritized. Three models are presented and results from the program are illustrated. With this tool and a basic knowledge of modeling, a manager can observe the effects of making changes within his company or prioritizing goals before decisions are made

The effects of expertise and information relevance on information search strategy.

Differences between experts and novices have been the focus of a variety of studies throughout the psychological literature. In general, task outcome differences have been found between experts and novices, but further study is needed to understand the mechanism for explaining these outcome differences. This study investigated taskprocessing differences between experts and novices, specifically, the use of relevant and irrelevant information. Forty human resource professionals served as experts and 40 undergraduate students served as novices in this study. Participants made two hiring decisions. Using an information board format, participants examined eight attributes across six candidates for the job of museum curator and chose the applicant they believed would perform the best. It was hypothesized that experts would be better able to ignore irrelevant information than novices. An interaction between expertise and information relevance was found such that experts searched less information than novices during a decision task in which both irrelevant and relevant information is present (low relevance condition). Novices did not differ in the quantity of information searched as a function of information relevance. To test an exploratory hypothesis, chi-square analyses were used to examine the use of compensatory versus noncompensatory .search strategy by experts and novices. Experts adjusted their use of search strategy based on the relevance of information presented, while novices tended to use a noncompensatory search strategy regardless of information relevance condition

Bridging the electronic gap : use of the internet by community newspapers

Title from PDF of title page (University of Missouri--Columbia, viewed on June 3, 2011).The entire thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file; a non-technical public abstract appears in the public.pdf file.Thesis advisor: Dr. Clyde Bentley.Includes bibliographical references.M.A. University of Missouri--Columbia 2011.As increasing technology adds new avenues to the field of journalism, it is important to consider the ways journalism can be enhanced by adopting such technologies. Journalism is a field where the adoption of new technologies is becoming an expected, rather than merely beneficial, way of life, and the multitude of new technologies means there are many ways publications can adopt expertise and tools to better their products. This study compares the amounts and types of content presented in eight newspapers' print and online editions. This study conducted a quantitative content analysis of eight newspapers over a course of four weeks. The findings show that there are significant differences between the print and online editions in certain content types and topics, but there are also a comparable number of non-significant differences. Overall, this research found few overarching trends or patterns in the amount or type of content offered, and the researcher finds that further research must be conducted

Solver and Backsolver New additions to the manager\u27s computerized tool kit

This article describes and illustrates the use of two spreadsheet problem-solving tools— Solver and Backsolver. These tools are available in high-end software spreadsheet packages such as Lotus 1-2-3 for Windows and Excel for Windows. The illustrations and examples provided in this article use 1-2-3 for Windows and Windows 3.1 as the operating platform. Any business owner using a DOS based operating system and the Windows Graphical User Interface has access to the Solver and Backsolver. Both tools utilize a form of what-if analysis. Traditional what-if analysis requires that the business owner manually alter the contents of a spreadsheet cell and observe the effects on other dependent cells. This is a trial and error approach, whereas Solver and Backsolver work from the other direction by asking the business owner to specify a goal. The Solver and Backsolver will automatically adjust one or more input cells in order to reach the goal

Elasticity-based vibrations of hollow anisotropic beams and an evaluation of the shape factor for hollow anisotropic sections

2012 Summer.Includes bibliographical references.This study considers the transverse vibrations and natural frequencies of hollow anisotropic beams free from end restraints using full three-dimensional elasticity solutions and common one-dimensional beam theory approximations. Calculations of the natural frequencies are made for a number of hollow beam dimensions using the one-dimensional Euler-Bernoulli, Rayleigh, and Timoshenko beam theories. Complete derivations of the elasticity solutions and beam theories are presented. The accuracy of the approximate methods is determined by comparison to elasticity solutions. Subsequent discussion on the limitations of each approximate beam theory in calculating natural frequencies is made. Mode shapes and cross-section deformations for the first five modes of vibration are presented. Additionally, the shape factor for the Timoshenko beam theory is analyzed for hollow-anisotropic sections

Springs of the Flint Hills

Jack Spring is a prairie oasis. Tucked away in southwestern Chase County, it\u27s only a few miles from the Kansas Turnpike, but a world away in terms of the setting. The spring spills out of dark openings in a limestone bluff, then drops down into a creek choked with bright green watercress. Minnows dart in the water. Leaves rustle in the cottonwoods

Springs of the Flint Hills

Introduction: Jack Spring is a prairie oasis. Tucked away in southwestern Chase County, it’s only a few miles from the Kansas Turnpike, but a world away in terms of the setting. The spring spills out of dark openings in a limestone bluff, then drops down into a creek choked with bright green watercress. Minnows dart in the water. Leaves rustle in the cottonwoods. Jack Spring is just one of many places in the Flint Hills where, for centuries, water has brought together people, plants, and animals. (Originally published in the 2009 Symphony in the Flint Hills Field Journal.

Stereocontrolled enantioselective total synthesis of the [2+2] quadrigemine alkaloids

Abstract A unified strategy for enantioselective total synthesis of all stereoisomers of the [2+2] family of quadrigemine alkaloids is reported. In this approach, two enantioselective intramolecular Heck reactions are carried out at the same time on precursors fashioned in four steps from either meso- or (+)-chimonanthine to form the two critical quaternary carbons of the peripheral cyclotryptamine rings of these products. Useful levels of catalyst control are realized in either desymmetrizing a meso precursor or controlling diastereoselectivity in elaborating C2-symmetric intermediates. None of the synthetic quadrigemines are identical with alkaloids isolated previously and referred to as quadrigemines A and E. In addition, we report improvements in our previous total syntheses of (+)- or (-)-quadrigemine C that shortened the synthetic sequence to 10 steps and provided these products in 2.2% overall yield from tryptamine