I
SOFTWARE/DATABASE UPDATE Software I Database Update provides readers with information about new chemistry-related computer programs. Vendors may submit relevant press releases to Software I Database Update, C&EN, 1155—16th St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036. • ChemQuest (Molecular Design Ltd.)/ a database that provides on-line information on 91,000 commercially available chemicals from 58 suppliers, is now available on Pergamon's Orbit search service (Circle 301). Orbit users can locate compounds by chemical name (or name fragment), CAS Registry number, molecular formula, Wisswesser Line Notation, or supplier name and address. • Process Industry Planning System (Control Data Corp., $80,000 to $300,000, Circle 302) is an IBM mainframe-based program that supports multidepartment decision making in the process industries. The system integrates information on product demand, distribution, transportation management, and production planning, and is compatible with other in-house systems, such as those that process orders and that inventory finished goods. • The Toxlist database, produced by the American Petroleum Institute and now available on STN International (Circle 303), contains information about chemical substances regulated by the Toxic Substances Control Act. The file contains citations to regulatory activity such as premanufacture notices, EPA proposed and final rules, and actions on rule violations and citizen petitions. • IDAC-Chrome (International Data Acquisition & Control Inc., $2495, Circle 304) is a system for the Apple Macintosh that includes an RS232C data acquisition peripheral, data acquisition software, and chromatography software. The software provides five methods of analyzing integrated data and three calibration
methods. The Macintosh screen can be split into windows to enable the user to manipulate several different displays.
Practical Statistics tor the Physical Sciences
• Reference Manager (Beckman Instruments Inc., $630, Circle 305) is an IBM PC-based database management program for storage and retrieval of bibliographic references. Users can add selected references to the database or can download references from commercial database services such as Medline, BRS Colleague, Biosis, and Dialog. • Matlab (MathWorks Inc., $895, $395 to universities, Circle 306) is a Macintosh-based program that specializes in matrix computation, numerical analysis, signal processing, and graphics. Functions include eigenvalues, curve fitting, differential equations, multivariate statistics, fast Fourier transforms, convolution, correlation, spectral analysis, and digital filtering. • The IBM PC-compatible version of the DIPPR Pure Component Data Compilation (Technical Database Services, $850, Circle 307), which contains information on 26 constant and 13 temperaturedependent properties for 766 compounds, is a project of the Design Institute for Physical Property Data of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers.
Literature • Brochure on Perkin-Elmer's PC-based Omega-2 analytical workstation for chromatography data handling (Circle 308) describes parallel processing and multitasking features of system.
S
tatistical procedures can make an important contribution to evaluating scientific research. Now you can get a better understanding of how to use and apply these procedures to obtain the maximum amount of information from your data. With this dynamic new "how-to" book, you'll learn the concepts underlying the use of statistics through understandable, easy-to-follow steps. You'll cover the basic principles and assumptions required for using statistical analyses. Then you'll learn how to select and apply statistical techniques—and to properjy interpret your results. A comprehensive reference, this book includes worked-out examples illustrating each procedure. Plus, commonly used formulas have been printed on the inside covers and a separate colored section of statistical tables has been included for easy reference. Practical Statistics for the Physical Sciences offers a useful and practical approach to working with and understanding statistical procedures. No prior knowledge of statistics is necessary, and only a basic knowledge of mathematics and algebra is required. Larry L. Havlicek, University of Kansas Ronald D. Grain, MicroAge Computer Store
• Technical publication from Asyst Software Technologies Inc. (Circle 309) describes Asyst scientific software, an IBM PC-based data acquisition and analysis package.
ACS Professional Reference Book 512 pages (1988) Clothbound ISBN 0-8412-1453-0 LC 88-10573 US & Canada $59.95 Export $71.95 Order from: American Chemical Society Distribution Office Dept 99 1155 Sixteenth St, N.W. Washington, DC 20036 or CALL TOLL FREE
For information on these items or numbered ads, see Reader Service Card
800-227-5558 and use your credit card! August 1,1988 C&EN
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