Some Experiences with the Teaching of Decision Support Systems to Management Students

There are essentially two schools of thought regarding the function of decision support systems. One is that the main purpose is to support the decision-maker in whatever style of decision-making he or she wishes. The other is that the support, while suiting the decision-maker's individual style, must also be based on an appropriate theoretical paradigm. The work with students of decision support systems reported here suggests that the latter, normative, view is not one which comes naturally to many of the students, even when working on an example where it seemed relatively easy to incorporate. Other conclusions are also presented, relating to the choice of software for decision support system development, the process of teaching about decision support systems, and group formation.     

Asymptotic Distribution of Nodes for Near-Optimal Polynomial Interpolation on Certain Curves in R 2

Let E\subset \Bbb R ^s be compact and let d _n ^E denote the dimension of the space of polynomials of degree at most n in s variables restricted to E . We introduce the notion of an asymptotic interpolation measure (AIM). Such a measure, if it exists , describes the asymptotic behavior of any scheme τ _n ={ \bf x _k,n } _k=1 ^dnE , n=1,2,\ldots , of nodes for multivariate polynomial interpolation for which the norms of the corresponding interpolation operators do not grow geometrically large with n . We demonstrate the existence of AIMs for the finite union of compact subsets of certain algebraic curves in R ² . It turns out that the theory of logarithmic potentials with external fields plays a useful role in the investigation. Furthermore, for the sets mentioned above, we give a computationally simple construction for ``good' interpolation schemes. November 9, 2000. Date revised: August 4, 2001. Date accepted: September 14, 2001.     

Size exclusion chromatographic determination of hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose and polyethylene glycol 400 in an ophthalmic solution

Summary Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) and polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG 400) content in HypoTears™ Daily Dose ophthalmic solution are determined simultaneously by size exclusion chromatography. The retention times of HPMC and PEG 400 are 10.6 and 15.4 minutes, respectively. The method requires minimal sample pretreatment and is accurate and reproducible. The peak area response from a refractive index detector versus HPMC and PEG 400 concentration is linear over the range of 50–150 % of their label claims of 2.5 mg/mL and 10 mg/mL, respectively. The mean absolute recoveries of HPMC and PEG 400 at their label claim using the described method are 98.9±1.3 % and 100.4±1.2 % (mean±SD, n=12), respectively.     

Fast atom bombardment mass spectra of keto acid and keto ester phosphoranes

Positive-ion fast atom bombardment mass spectra of 13 keto acid and keto ester phosphoranes were examined. All compounds gave a protonated molecular ion and characteristic peaks at m/z 303, 279, 262 and 201.     

Even denominator filling factors in the thermoelectric power of a 2DEG

We have investigated the interaction of phonons with a 2DEG in the FQH regime with phonon drag thermoelectric power (TEP). We find that the TEP at filling factors with the same even denominator is identical and at other even denominator filling factors they differ only by a constant. Assuming these states to be Composite Fermions (CF), we can explain our observations by extending a zero magnetic field theory for phonon drag to the CF-phonon interaction. This analysis is further corroborated by the observed T⁴ dependence of the CF TEP.     

Structure of thin block copolymer films studied by X-ray reflectivity

Summary X-ray reflectivity may be used to determine the internal structure of thin polymer films. An electron density difference of 10% for polystyrene and polyisoprene is sufficient to distinguish between a random distribution of lamellae, complete orientation parallel to the substrate surface and a surface induced formation of lamellae. The disappearance of the lamellar Bragg-peaks, with heating of the film, shows the transition into the disordered state.