844
TAMPLIN AND MINKLER
1, Literature retrieval. This implies simply that the system will
be
able
to supply a bibliography of the literature pertinent to any
particular aspect of the overall problem. To alarge extent this purpose
will be fulfilled as a natural consequence of meeting the other two
Objectives of the system. However, literature retrieval will be the sole
objective for theoretical or conceptual discussions of the various facets
of the overall problem, e.g., mathematical models of atmospheric
transport of radionuclides.
2, Data retrieval. This necessarily implies literature retrieval,
i.e., retrieval of literature that contains data pertinent to some aspect
of the problem. The requirement for data retrieval is twofold: for data
against which to test predictive or theoretical models and for data to
be used to develop critical values or relations that are parts of pre-
dictive or theoretical models,
3. Critical-value determination. This is the prime function of the
Information Integration Project. The other two are simply means to
this end. This function implies both literature and data retrieval. A
critical value is meant to imply a value that has been accepted ona
critical basis. For example, it could represent the mean and variance
for a group of determinations, each of which has been carefully
analyzed and accepted,
One could consider the overall mission objective tobe the development of a series of equations that trace the fate of radionuclides from
the source to the burden in humans. Within this concept the critical
values would then represent the combination of the various equations
and the coefficients and exponents of the equations. In other words, the
object here is to develop and maintain a handbook of critical constants
and relations pertinent to all aspects of the mission problem, ranging
from the nuclear-explosive source to the radionuclide burden in man.
Figure 3 presents a flow chart for the overall project operation.
The literature-retrieval aspect of the system is essentially a normal
library function. However, one step has been added, namely, a check
against the author’s other publications. Its purpose is to prevent
multiple entries of identical data into the data file. Multiple entries
could occur for two major reasons. First, although reference citations
of articles published in journals have become relatively well stan-
dardized, the citation of government or company reportsis in a state
of chaos. Second, the same data appear frequently in several publications; quite commonly an author’s work appears in both a company
report and a journal. Many times the same article has been found in
several journals.
The data-retrieval aspect, i.e., the mechanism for coding data
and concepts, is discussed later. The details of the determination of
critical values will be discussed in subsequent reports in connection
with specific areas of the problem. The first of these reports will