CONTENTS General Information Sources

Within a given sensory modality, it is easy to understand that different stimuU place different demands or loads on information-processing systems. Thus, in order to properly interpret results of performance tests, it is necessary to describe the stimulus. While this remains a topic of ongoing research with inherent controversies, some useful working constructs are available. At issue is not simply a qualitative description, but the measurement of stimulus content (or complexity). Shannon s information theory [1948], which teaches how to measure the amount of information associated with a generalized information source, has been the primary tool used in these efforts. Thus, a stimulus can be characterized in terms of the amount of information present in it Simple stimuli (e.g., a light that is on or off ) possess less information... 

In solid sources of fossil fuel - coal, oil shale, oil sands and tar sands - the mineral content is higher and the hydrocarbon molecules usually are heavier. In China and South Africa, a significant amount of coal is converted into synthesis gas, which is used to make chemicals and/or synthetic petroleum. In Canada, oil sands are converted into more than 700,000 barrels-per-day of S5uithetic petroleum, which is sent to conventional oil refineries in Canada and the United States. A well-written book by Berger and Anderson provides additional general information about the formation, production, and refining of petroleum. 

Before a species is analyzed with respect to its flavonoid content, knowledge about earlier reports on the chemistry and flavonoid distribution within the genus and related species may be of value. The most exhaustive source for such information is Chemical Abstracts, and excellent reviews on structures and distribution of flavanoids have been compiled regularly.Several reviews have recently addressed the general field of flavonoid analysis.Among the earlier reviews in the field, we will particularly recommend consulting Techniques of Flavonoid Identification by Markham and Plant Phenolics by Harborne. References to review articles on specific spectroscopic techniques applied on flavonoids will be cited under the various spectroscopic methods covered in this chapter. Spectroscopic information of importance is also presented in several other chapters in this book. 

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