bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stockholders and Stakeholders: A New Perspective on Corporate Governance
Authors: Freeman R. Edward , Reed David L.
Published: September 2012

The purpose of this article is to show how the concept of stakeholders in an organization can be used to understand the tasks of the board of directors. The authors argue that a volunteeristic approach to questions of corporate governance which focuses on effective director behavior is preferable to structural change via legislation.
Intensive Growth Opportunities: An Extended Classification
Authors: Varadarajan Poondi
Published: September 2012

Market penetration, market development, and product development constitute the major intensive growth opportunities open to a firm. The author describes a matrix framework designed to help identify the various distinct growth possibilities latent in each of the above opportunity classes and proposes an extended product-market growth matrix incorporating external opportunity factors such as user focus, use focus, market growth rate, and a wide range of internal strategy response options as subdimensions.
Regulatory Reform: A Report Card for the Reagan Administration
Authors: Weidenbaum Murray L.
Published: September 2012

Reforms of federal regulation since 1981 have been modest. At the statutory level, the major accomplishment has been the avoidance of new regulatory requirements. A program of reviewing proposed regulations has been put in motion. The inclusion of benefit-cost analysis in these reviews has been especially noteworthy. Yet in the main, the current array of regulatory activities is very similar to that which characterized January 1981.
Environmental Regulation: Some Lessons from British Policy
Authors: Morse C. Wesley
Published: September 2012

The adversarial relationship between business and government in the United States is nowhere more evident than in environmental regulation. Most western governments have avoided much of such conflict through some system of business-government consultation. The most extensively developed of these systems is that of Great Britain. This article examines British environmental control procedures with emphasis on the extensive process of consultation which has developed over a period of more than 200 years. The British experience detailed here suggests some important principles which may guide business and government in considering consultative measures to improve the climate of environmental affairs.
Evaluating Quality Circles: The American Application
Authors: Wood Robert , Hull Frank , Azumi Koya
Published: September 2012

In what represents a reversal in the flow of knowledge between the two countries, managers in U.S. organizations have begun to study and imitate the practices of their Japanese counterparts. The qualify circles programs that exist in many Japanese organizations are being widely adopted in U.S. organizations. However, the high expectations and lack of planned evaluation for the quality circle programs in many U.S. organizations suggests that quality circles are already in the adoption-disappointment-discontinuation cycle that has been characteristic of many other managerial fads. The authors present several reasons why quality circles can lead to increases in the morale, motivation, productivity, and work quality of workers and suggest that the conventional wisdom, which sees them as either a form of job enrichment or a human relations technique, is ill-focused. The types of organizational settings in which quality circles are most likely to be effective are discussed and suggestions are made regarding the proper evaluation of quality circle programs.
Just-in-Time Purchasing: A Challenge for U.S. Industry
Authors: Schonberger Richard J. , Gilbert James P.
Published: September 2012

Traditional U.S. purchasing is under assault. Japanese purchasing practices, featuring frequent “just-in-time” deliveries in small quantities, have made inroads among Japanese subsidiaries in the United States and more recently in the U.S. auto industry. Just-in-time (JIT) buying tends to be accompanied by a host of structural changes: Long-term, stable buyer-supplier relationships; avoidance of annual rebidding; sole-source contracts; improved containerization; and localized buying, to name just a few. The benefits of JIT purchasing, to both buyer and supplier, include lower material costs, higher productivity, and improved qualify. The strategic advantages—growth of market share and stable relationships—can be significant. Geographical vastness is one of several obstacles in the way of widespread use of JIT buying practices in the United States. The companies that have pioneered in the development of JIT purchasing in this country have demonstrated that most of the obstacles are not insurmountable.
Assessing OPEC's Pricing Policies
Authors: Teece David J.
Published: September 2012

The failure of analysts to understand OPEC behavior is traced in part to the use of naive textbook models of cartels. This paper compares and contrasts several paradigms of OPEC, which have been adopted explicitly or implicitly by the community of professional and academic analysts. A behavioral view of OPEC that highlights internal budgetary considerations and satisficing-type behavior by several OPEC producers is advanced. The implications for future prices and government policy are assessed. The return of competitive prices is predicted if consuming nations would stimulate further conservation and domestic production through an oil tariff.
Revolution and War in the Persian Gulf: The Effect on MNCs
Authors: Kassicieh Suleiman K. , Nassar Jamal R.
Published: September 2012

This article analyzes the effects of the recent developments in Iran—namely, the Iranian Revolution and the Iran-Iraq War—on the activities of multinational corporations (MNCs) in the Arab oil-producing countries of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates. The level of sales, contracts, and investments by MNCs reflect the perceived spill-over effect of revolution and war and therefore the perceived increase in the risk of losses due to political instability.
The Concerns of the Rich/Poor Consumer
Authors: Preston Lee E. , Bloom Paul N.
Published: September 2012

After two decades of the pursuit of consumer rights through regulation, a new agenda of consumer concerns is taking shape. This new agenda recognizes that the contemporary consumer is both rich and poor at the same time, and is confronted with new and complex problems involving both scarcity and abundance. The mutual interest of business and government—as well as consumer groups—in identifying and responding to consumer concerns should provide a basis for increasing use of participative and conciliatory, rather than adversary, policy processes.
A Keynesian View of the Budget Deficit
Authors: Tobin James
Published: September 2012

The two instruments of macroeconomic management available to the government are fiscal policy and monetary policy. Together they determine the total dose of demand stimulus or restraint administered to the economy. In principle there are numerous mixtures of the two medicines which yield the same net stimulus or restraint of aggregate demand for goods and services. These various policy mixtures can differ significantly in their side effects. A tight budget, whose effects on aggregate demand are offset by an appropriately easy monetary policy, will bring lower interest rates than the opposite combination. Consequently, it will channel more of the nation's resources into domestic and foreign investment and relatively less into private and public consumption. The two issues—direction and size of total dose, and mix of the dose—are separable. Both are important issues today.
California Transportation: Inventory and Prospects
Authors: Fielding Gordon J.
Published: September 2012

California has a superb transportation system. The 171,000 miles of public access highways provide both feeder and arterial systems throughout the state and allow rail, air, and port facilities to operate more efficiently. Approximately 97 percent of the passenger miles and more than 80 percent of the ton-miles of freight are transported by autos, trucks, and buses using this highway system. But the system is aging. Many of the most heavily traveled routes have exceeded their 25 year “design life.” Surfaces are cracking and buckling, on ramps are too short for the larger trucks and buses, and use of off ramps is so far in excess of designed capacity that congestion backs up onto freewavs and arterial streets. Major renovations are required which will be costly and require the closing of facilities.
Management Problems and Practices of Real Estate Firms
Authors: Case Fred E. , Mittelbach Frank G.
Published: September 2012

What role does management play in real estate firms? What role can it play?
The Japanese Worker
Authors: Whitehill Arthur M.
Published: September 2012

Firms planning branch operations in the Orient should know that the skilled Japanese worker's motivations and job expectations are not the same as those of American labor. This study points out why and suggests that workers of all nations are apt to react to management and job situations in terms of their own particular cultural values.
International Intelligence for the International Enterprise
Authors: Beauvois John J.
Published: September 2012

Today international intelligence is as essential to international businesses as it is to governments, and its collection and evaluation have given rise to a new type corporate officer, the Executive Diplomat. How this ambassador in a grey flannel suit should think and operate and the legitimate scope of his inquiries are outlined here by a specialist in the field.
The Population Explosion—Its Implications for Business
Authors: Gillies James
Published: September 2012

Don't let the bumper baby crop fool you. There are undercurrents in the population boom which are not so good for business. Among them are the prospect of a smaller labor force, an imbalance of youngsters and old folks to self-supporting adults, skyrocketing land values, permanent traffic jams, and continual migrations of a restless people still going west or leaving farms to try their luck in the big cities.
Management Ideology: Myth and Reality
Authors: Petit Thomas A.
Published: September 2012

When there is strain on the management role, ideology serves as a “reduction gear” enabling executives to integrate into business life changes in social goals to which they become sensitive by participation in other spheres of life.
An Approach to Computer-Based Management Control Systems
Authors: Malcolm D. G. , Rowe A. J.
Published: September 2012

Will the computer ever replace management men in making top business decisions? Hardly, but military experience with SAGE and SACCS proves that when the machines go to work on the line, changes must be made in the command structure. The first step is research which the machine, using simulation models, does to develop a set of management principles. To learn what happens next and what may happen in the very near future, read this article.
Rhochrematics and Organizational Adjustments
Authors: Brewer Stanley H. , Rosenzweig James
Published: September 2012

This new approach, which cuts across the organization chart and realigns duties and functions in terms of the flow process, can bring about far-reaching changes in the handling of men, money, and materials. Firms which have tried it, among them Purex Corporation, find that it cuts costs and inventories and improves operations in many other ways.
A Simplified Capital Budgeting Approach to Merchandise Management
Authors: Holton Richard H.
Published: September 2012

Perhaps the traditional Controllers Congress measures of a good merchandising operation need re-examining. For, after all, profits are more precious than markup and a stock turn based on loss leaders puts no black ink on anybody's books. Capital budgeting based on contribution-return on inventory investment provides a new approach which could maximize profits.
The Politics of a Changing Corporate Society
Authors: Votaw Dow
Published: September 2012

As society grows more complex, the big corporation thrives and amasses political as well as economic powers which rival those of the state. Who exercises these vast powers? To date, it has been the managerial élite. Tomorrow, as union pension funds and bank-administered trusts buy controlling blocks of stock in the big, blue chip firms, our corporate giants may have new masters.
Combating Discrimination in Employment
Authors: Bullock Paul
Published: September 2012

Merit employment is not only the law of the land, but good business and good sense, employers who have tried it state, and tell how they broke the ice to let economics work with ethics to right old wrongs and vanquish discrimination on the job.
Industrial Challenge in Southern Italy—The Case of the R-T Factory
Authors: Bozzola G. B.
Published: September 2012

What happens when a simple, farming community suddenly becomes the site of a highly mechanized factory with an imported managerial force and the last word in employee comforts and production schedules is described here by the Professor of Commerce called in by a distraught management to help pick up the pieces after a bitter total strike. His observations dramatize not only the clash between two economies but ways and means by which management can make the difficult and delicate transition less painful for all concerned.
Forecasting Metropolitan Growth
Authors: Wendt Paul F.
Published: September 2012

There is a pattern to urban growth which makes it possible to forecast booms in industrial areas and spot high rent residential areas in the making. Underlying principles are topography, transportation, and the uneasy dynamics of the high income class seeking better, more exclusive residential sites. Time maps, sector analyses, input-output forecasts are tools used to predict change in the megalopolis.
Some Implications of the Newer Analytic Approaches to Management
Authors: Cooper W.W.
Published: September 2012

The liaison between science and management, which has made terms such as linear programming and statistical decision theory part of the business vocabulary, is now being extended in this country and abroad to open new horizons for business and the scientist. Here is a quick roundup of developments to date and a look into the future.
Framework for Marketing Strategy
Authors: Allison Harry
Published: September 2012

It's up to the marketing staff to maximize a firm's total revenue net of selling costs, and this often calls for statistical as well as sales know-how, for many factors must be equated and others, such as fixed and variable costs, juggled to produce the most advantageous net possible. Outlined here is a framework within which to view marketing situations and some strategies to help keep the percentages in your favor.
The Management Side of PERT
Authors: Avots Ivars
Published: September 2012

Brain child of management consultants called in to integrate the Polaris program, PERT, now a fixture in defense contracts, is invading civilian management fields and introducing new concepts such as critical path analysis to replace standard bar charts and old-line production techniques. Will it live up to its initial promise? This article outlines some of the advantages and limitations of this new technique.
Legal Reserve Requirements for Deposit Institutions
Authors: Alhadeff David A.
Published: September 2012

Would uniform reserve requirements for all deposit institutions significantly increase the effectiveness of the Federal Reserve policy and end adverse discrimination against commercial bank deposits? This article says it's not likely and shows why.
The Anatomy of Retail Price Competition a Study of Advertised Food Prices
Authors: Preston Lee E. , Hertford Reed
Published: September 2012

Price competition among supermarkets does not lead to price uniformity, but to a flexibility and diversity of prices aimed at enterprise differentiation, this study of weekly advertising of fourteen competing food stores shows.
A Healthy Organization
Authors: Clark James V.
Published: September 2012

Human behavior, which is invariably a mixture of reactionary and forward-moving tendencies, is a complex thing and organizations function best when management works with instead of against human attributes. At all levels, the healthy organization must satisfy not only individual but group, inter-group, and the whole organization's needs for both growth and maintenance of the status quo.
Estimating Environmental Liability: Quantifying the Unknown
Authors: Schoemaker Paul J. H. , Schoemaker Joyce A.
Published: September 2012

In 1990, a Missouri jury awarded $16.2 million in damages to a family that sued Georgia-Pacific and Temple Industries for health effects suffered from particleboard in their home.

In 1992, Boeing agreed to pay more than $500,000 to settle a suit filed by a former employee who claimed that his leukemia was caused by exposure to electromagnetic radiation.

There are now about 500.000 known hazardous waste sites in the United States. which will cost at least $1.7 trillion to remediate (according to the EPA).

In September 1994, an Alaskan jury imposed the largest punitive five in history on Exxon—$5 billion in damages to be shared by over 34,000 Alaskans—for its 1989 tanker spill of 11 million gallons of crude oil off the coast of Alaska. This extraordinary sum is on top of the more than $3.5 billion in fines, damages, and cleanup costs already paid by Exxon.
Designing Corporate Ventures in the Shadow of Private Venture Capital
Authors: Chesbrough Henry
Published: September 2012

“The search for innovation needs to be organizationally separate and outside of the ongoing managerial business. Innovative organizations realize that one cannot simultaneously create the new and take care of what one already has. They realize that maintenance of the present business is far too big a task for the people in it to have much time for creating the new, the different business for tomorrow. They also realize that taking care of tomorrow is far too big and difficult a task to be diluted with concern for today. Both tasks have to be done. But they are different. Innovative organizations, therefore, put the new into separate organizational components concerned with the creation of the new.“—Peter Drucker
E-Retail: Gold Rush or Fool's Gold?
Authors: Rosen Kenneth T. , Howard Amanda L.
Published: September 2012

“Electronic commerce is the carrying out of business activities that lead to an exchange of value across telecommunications networks.”
Enfranchisement of Service Workers
Authors: Schlesinger Leonard A. , Heskett James L.
Published: September 2012

The customer pointed out to the Nordstrom salesperson that she had bought a pair of shoes at Bloomingdales (a competitor) that were too small for her. She liked the style, but Bloomingdales didn't have her size. After being fitted with the same shoe of the proper size, the customer started to pay for the shoes. The salesperson instead suggested that she merely take the too-small shoes in exchange for the new purchase. When the customer reminded the salesperson that she hadn't bought the first pair at Nordstrom, the salesperson said to her, “If I take these shoes for you, you won't have any reason to return to Bloomingdales.”
Interaction Between the Central and Peripheral Effects of Insulin in Controlling Hepatic Glucose Metabolism in the Conscious Dog
Authors: Ramnanan Christopher J. , Kraft Guillaume , Smith Marta S. , Farmer Ben , Neal Doss , Williams Phillip E. , Lautz Margaret , Farmer Tiffany , Donahue E. Patrick , Cherrington Alan D. , Edgerton Dale S.
Published: September 2012

The importance of hypothalamic insulin action to the regulation of hepatic glucose metabolism in the presence of a normal liver/brain insulin ratio (3:1) is unknown. Thus, we assessed the role of central insulin action in the response of the liver to normal physiologic hyperinsulinemia over 4 h. Using a pancreatic clamp, hepatic portal vein insulin delivery was increased three- or eightfold in the conscious dog. Insulin action was studied in the presence or absence of intracerebroventricularly mediated blockade of hypothalamic insulin action. Euglycemia was maintained, and glucagon was clamped at basal. Both the molecular and metabolic aspects of insulin action were assessed. Blockade of hypothalamic insulin signaling did not alter the insulin-mediated suppression of hepatic gluconeogenic gene transcription but blunted the induction of glucokinase gene transcription and completely blocked the inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase-3β gene transcription. Thus, central and peripheral insulin action combined to control some, but not other, hepatic enzyme programs. Nevertheless, inhibition of hypothalamic insulin action did not alter the effects of the hormone on hepatic glucose flux (production or uptake). These data indicate that brain insulin action is not a determinant of the rapid (<4 h) inhibition of hepatic glucose metabolism caused by normal physiologic hyperinsulinemia in this large animal model.
Use of propofol for induction of anesthesia in dogs undergoing definitive radiation therapy: 31 cases (2006–2009)
Authors: Erfourth Todd M. , McNiel Elizabeth A. , Scott Michael A. , Wilson Deborah V.
Published: September 2012

Objective—To evaluate changes in serial hemograms and serum biochemical profiles in tumor-bearing dogs undergoing daily anesthesia with propofol as an induction agent for radiation therapy.

Design—Retrospective case series.

Animals—31 dogs with cutaneous or subcutaneous malignancies over the trunk or limbs.

Procedures—Radiation therapy consisted of 18 daily treatments administered Monday through Friday over a period of 24 days. Propofol was administered IV to effect for induction of anesthesia. Complete blood count and serum biochemical data were generated at the beginning, middle, and end of radiation therapy and compared to identify changes over time via either a repeated-measures ANOVA or Friedman test.

Results—Leukocyte and platelet parameters did not differ significantly over time. Calculated Hct, erythrocyte count, hemoglobin concentration, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration decreased overtime, whereas mean corpuscular volume increased overtime.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Dogs receiving propofol for induction of anesthesia and radiation therapy had a decrease in RBC count, although these changes were not determined to be of clinical importance in this patient population. The cause of these alterations was not immediately apparent. Propofol appeared to be a safe choice for induction of anesthesia in dogs during daily radiation therapy.
Evaluation of circulating eosinophil count and adrenal gland function in California sea lions naturally exposed to domoic acid
Authors: Gulland Frances M. D. , Hall Ailsa J. , Greig Denise J. , Frame Elizabeth R. , Colegrove Kathleen M. , Booth Rebecca K. N. , Wasser Sam K. , Scott-Moncrieff J. Catharine R.
Published: September 2012

Objective—To determine the effect of natural exposure to domoic acid (DA) on eosinophil counts and adrenal gland function in California sea lions (Zalophus californianus).

Design—Cross-sectional prospective study.

Animals—39 California sea lions.

Procedures—Adult female sea lions admitted to a rehabilitation hospital during 2009 were classified into 1 of 3 groups (acute DA toxicosis, chronic DA toxicosis, or no DA exposure) on the basis of clinical signs, DA concentration in urine or feces, and hippocampal morphology. Endoparasite burden, eosinophil count, and serum cortisol and plasma ACTH concentrations were determined for each sea lion. For a subset of 8 sea lions, fecal glucocorticoid concentration after IM administration of cosyntropin was determined.

Results—Sea lions exposed to DA (acute DA toxicosis, n = 11; chronic DA toxicosis, 19) had higher eosinophil counts and lower serum cortisol concentrations, compared with values for sea lions with no DA exposure (9). Eosinophil count was not associated with endoparasite burden. Serum cortisol concentration was associated with plasma ACTH concentrations in sea lions from the no DA exposure group but not in sea lions in the acute or chronic DA toxicosis groups. Following cosyntropin injection, fecal glucocorticoid concentrations increased in all sea lions evaluated except 1.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—In adult sea lions, eosinophilia may be a cost-effective biomarker for DA exposure and may reflect alterations in hypothalamic, pituitary gland, or adrenal gland function. Domoic acid exposure may have subtle health effects on marine animals in addition to induction of neurologic signs.
Maternal prenatal state anxiety symptoms and birth weight: A pilot study
Authors: Azar Rima , Singer Samahra
Published: September 2012

Many women suffer from new or worsening anxiety during pregnancy. In this pilot study, we investigated the effect of timing and severity of prenatal state anxiety symptoms on reduced birth weight. We hypothesized that: (1) Women with state anxiety symptoms during mid-gestation would deliver newborns with lower birth weight in comparison to participants with symptoms in early gestation and (2) compared to women with lower anxiety symptoms (< 50th percentile), women with medium-to-high state anxiety symptoms (> 50th percentile) would have lower birth weight offspring. The sample consisted of the first 30 pregnant women who agreed to participate in this pilot study. We assessed anxiety symptoms, using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory during early and mid-gestation. We obtained birth weight from clinical charts. A hierarchical multiple regression showed that, after controlling for covariates, state anxiety symptoms in mid-gestation were associated with lower infant birth weight [F(9, 7) = 20.30, p<.001]. However, birth weight did not differ as a function of the severity of maternal state anxiety [F(1, 23)=.14, p=.71 and F(1, 24)=1.76, p=.20., respectively]. Clearly, our pilot data need replication. Once statistical significance is established with larger samples, it will be informative to examine the clinical significance of those findings.
Experimental and numerical analysis of stress wave propagation in polymers and the role of interfaces in armour systems
Authors: Gorwade Chandragupt , Ashcroft Ian , Silberschmidt Vadim , Hughes Foz , Swallowe Gerry
Published: September 2012

Advanced polymeric materials are finding an increasing range of industrial and defence applications. These materials have the potential to improve combat survivability, whilst reducing the cost and weight of armour systems. In this paper the results from a split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) test of a high density polyethylene (HDPE) sample involving multiple stress waves is discussed with aid of a finite element model of the test. It is seen that the phenomenon of impedance mismatch at interfaces plays an important role in the levels of stress and deformation seen in the sample. A multi-layer armour system is then investigated using the finite element model. This case study illustrates the role of impedance mismatch and interface engineering in the design and optimisation of armour solutions.
Turf Track for Light Rail Systems
Authors: Novales Margarita , Conles Emilio
Published: September 2012

Light rail systems are experiencing a revival in several countries. In many new and refurbished networks, turf—or grass—tracks are being used as a means to get a reserved right-of-way that entails enhancements in the city landscape. These tracks can facilitate acceptance of the system by citizens and politicians. The visual impact of turf tracks is only one of their many advantages, which are discussed in this paper. Among the advantages are a reduction in noise and suspended fine particles, the “green lung” effect, improvements in rainwater management and heat island mitigation, and a decrease in the operational and construction costs of the system. This solution has some inconveniences, such as the need for maintenance of vegetation and for rail–environment separation, and additional precautions must be taken to ensure good performance in the long term. There are also limitations, such as the inability of buses and emergency vehicles to travel on turf tracks; additional problems in case of derailment; and possible operational incidents due to irrigation, mowing, and the combination of vegetation waste and sand. This paper focuses on explaining the advantages, inconveniences, and limitations. The intent is to provide a better understanding of the solution and to simplify the decision of whether to use turf tracks in a new light rail system.
Preliminary Analysis of Light Rail Crashes in Denver, Colorado
Authors: Fischhaber Pamela M. , Janson Bruce N.
Published: September 2012

This paper presents a preliminary analysis of light rail crashes at at-grade crossings in Denver, Colorado, based on Regional Transportation District data for 1999 through 2009. Differences in design and operation of at-grade crossings are discussed for light rail versus common carrier railroad (railroad). The differences appear to warrant the development of separate crash prediction and hazard index models because models developed for railroad at-grade crossing operations may not accurately predict the number and severity of crashes at light rail at-grade crossings. In addition, the models developed for railroads do not predict crashes at crossings for some traffic control device types such as traffic signals. The lack of information for crossings controlled by traffic signals in the railroad crash prediction equations is one reason why equations specific to light rail may need to be developed. This study identifies patterns in light rail crossing crash data that warrant further investigation and support the development of crash prediction models and hazard index equations specific to light rail at-grade crossing configurations and operations.
Checklist for Successful Application of Tram–Train Systems in Europe
Authors: Naegeli Lorenzo , Weidmann Ulrich , Nash Andrew
Published: September 2012

Tram–train systems combine the best features of streetcars with regional rail. These systems make direct connections between town centers and surrounding regions possible by physically linking existing regional heavy rail networks with urban tram networks. The tram–train approach offers many advantages by using existing infrastructure to improve regional transit. However, the use of two dissimilar networks and the mixing of heavy rail and tram operations increase complexity and often require compromise solutions. The research surveyed existing systems to identify requirements for successfully introducing tram–train systems. The requirements include network design, city layout, population density, and physical factors (e.g., platform heights). One of the most important factors is cooperation between many actors, including transit operators, railways, and cities. Tram–train systems are complex but can provide significant benefits in the right situations. The paper describes tram–train systems, the key requirements for successful systems, and conclusions.
Rail Transit Travel Time Reliability and Estimation of Passenger Route Choice Behavior
Authors: Sun Yanshuo , Xu Ruihua
Published: September 2012

Applications of automatic fare collection data were investigated, with a focus on analysis of travel time reliability and estimation of passenger route choice behavior. Beijing Metro was used as a case study. A rail journey was decomposed, and each component was studied with regard to the uncertainties involved. Methods were then designed and validated to infer platform elapsed time (PET) for through stations and platform elapsed time–transfer (PET-Trans) for transfer stations by using smart card transactional data, train schedules, and complementary manual surveys. With this information, the journey time distribution of any path can be established, and methods were proposed for inferring route choice proportions. After data preparation, the methods were applied to two typical origins and destinations from the Beijing Metro. Key values concerning travel time reliability, such as PET, PET-Trans, travelers left behind (unable to board), and path coefficients, were obtained and interpreted in detail. The outcome of this research could facilitate analysis of transit service reliability and passenger flow assignment in daily operations.
Proactive Recovery from Rail Disruptions through Provision of Track Crossovers and Bus Bridging
Authors: Pender Brendan , Currie Graham , Delbosc Alexa , Wang Yibing
Published: September 2012

This paper explores the importance of providing track crossovers in addressing the issue of replacement bus services in response to unplanned rail service disruptions by using a case study in Melbourne, Australia. Crossovers determine the point from which rail replacement bus services can operate and thus are critical in determining the scale, costs, and benefits of rail disruption management. Despite research evidence that provision for crossovers is important in managing rail disruption, the research literature gives little guidance concerning how it can be achieved and what the relative costs and benefits of providing crossovers are. Theoretical modeling evaluated passenger and operator impacts of alternative crossover plans for a case study of unplanned service disruptions on a suburban rail line in Melbourne. Results showed that an additional crossover reduced user rail disruption costs by 78% to 96%, while bus hire costs were reduced by 63% to 93%. Results suggested that only a few rail disruptions annually would make the provision of track crossovers financially viable on the basis of savings in rail replacement bus service costs. Research found that locating crossovers as close as possible to areas of major disruption provided the most benefits for users and operators. Sensitivity tests showed that even with significantly lower ridership and a lower frequency of disruption, the addition of crossovers was financially positive and generated substantial user benefits. All highlighted results are with respect to the one suburban rail line under analysis. Provision of additional track crossovers appears to be a highly positive means of reducing costs and improving services. However, research indicates that crossovers can cause disruption on some rail systems, and this factor needs to be considered in rail planning.
Optimization of Rail Transit Alignments considering Vehicle Dynamics
Authors: Lai Xiaorong , Schonfeld Paul
Published: September 2012

Urban rail transit systems are being extended throughout the world because of their large capacities, avoidance of traffic congestion, and environmental advantages. Various optimization models can help design rail transit alignments satisfying various track geometry constraints, but none of these models can account for the impacts of vehicle dynamics on operational and user costs. This paper presents a practical rail transit alignment optimization method for designing track alignments that accounts for vehicle dynamics. The method can generate alignments that improve the balance between the initial cost and the operation and user costs recurring throughout the system's life cycle. A heuristic based on a genetic algorithm is developed to search for solutions efficiently while interacting with the supporting geographic information system. A hypothetical topography scenario is created to illustrate the impact of vehicle dynamics on the trade-offs among system costs. The Baltimore, Maryland, Red Line is used as a case study to demonstrate that the model can find good solutions in regions with complex topographies.
Personal Rapid Transit as Feeder–Distributor to Rail
Authors: Andréasson Ingmar J.
Published: September 2012

Efficient feeder–distributor systems around train stations are important in attracting train passengers. Such systems would be a suitable application for personal rapid transit (PRT). This paper suggests layouts and operations strategies for transfer stations between PRT and heavy rail. Ticket handling can be avoided by having the train fare include PRT trips. Ridesharing can be encouraged by destination signs. The catchment area that can be efficiently served is related to the interval between trains. The capacity of the station and guideway can be improved by coupling PRT vehicles in the station and decoupling them as necessary en route. Applications in Sweden are illustrated with the PRTsim software. In one case, outgoing PRT vehicles were loaded to 78%.
Sketch-Level Feasibility Analysis of Commuter Rail Service between Kannapolis and Charlotte, North Carolina
Authors: Holleran Philip , Duncan Michael
Published: September 2012

This paper presents a sketch-level feasibility study for a proposed 28-mi commuter rail line connecting downtown Charlotte, North Carolina, to its fast-growing suburbs. Full-scale feasibility studies can be expensive, especially for cash-strapped local government agencies. A sketch analysis, such as the one presented here, is a low-cost means of determining whether a project merits further study. Ridership for the line is conservatively estimated at 2,010 in 2015 and 2,574 in 2035. Higher-speed service and a greater frequency of midday trains are shown to significantly increase these numbers. Cost-effectiveness depends largely on the actual cost per mile, but conservative estimates place the proposed route in the middle of the pack of new-start commuter rail lines: more cost-effective than the routes of Minneapolis, Minnesota, or Austin, Texas, but slightly less cost-effective than those of Albuquerque, New Mexico, or Nashville, Tennessee. In view of these results, a more comprehensive study appears to be merited.
Change in snow strength caused by rain
Authors: Ito Yoichi , Matsushita Hiroki , Hirashima Hiroyuki , Ito Yasuhiko , Noro Tomoyuki
Published: September 2012

Rain-on-snow events can cause wet snow avalanches. Laboratory experiments were carried out to investigate the change in snow strength with increasing water content through rainwater percolation. Snowpack was artificially prepared consisting of a thin ice layer and fine compacted snow, and rainfall (2mmh–1) was artificially applied 22–25.5 and 49–52 hours after the snowpack was formed. Snow hardness was measured with a push–pull force gauge to indicate the snow strength before and after each rain-on-snow event. After the first rainfall, the upper half of the snowpack became wet and a rapid decrease in snow hardness was observed. After the second rainfall the rainwater penetrated the ice layer, high water content was observed above the ice layer but the hardness exceeded that estimated from an empirical relationship between hardness and water content. Micrographs of the snow particles suggest that the delay in grain coarsening observed near the wetting front induces the harder than estimated snow condition.
The Myc Road to Hearing Restoration
Authors: Kopecky Benjamin , Fritzsch Bernd
Published: September 2012

Current treatments for hearing loss, the most common neurosensory disorder, do not restore perfect hearing. Regeneration of lost organ of Corti hair cells through forced cell cycle re-entry of supporting cells or through manipulation of stem cells, both avenues towards a permanent cure, require a more complete understanding of normal inner ear development, specifically the balance of proliferation and differentiation required to form and to maintain hair cells. Direct successful alterations to the cell cycle result in cell death whereas regulation of upstream genes is insufficient to permanently alter cell cycle dynamics. The Myc gene family is uniquely situated to synergize upstream pathways into downstream cell cycle control. There are three Mycs that are embedded within the Myc/Max/Mad network to regulate proliferation. The function of the two ear expressed Mycs, N-Myc and L-Myc were unknown less than two years ago and their therapeutic potentials remain speculative. In this review, we discuss the roles the Mycs play in the body and what led us to choose them to be our candidate gene for inner ear therapies. We will summarize the recently published work describing the early and late effects of N-Myc and L-Myc on hair cell formation and maintenance. Lastly, we detail the translational significance of our findings and what future work must be performed to make the ultimate hearing aid: the regeneration of the organ of Corti.
Prognostic and Predictive Roles of KRAS Mutation in Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Arrington Amanda K. , Heinrich Eileen L. , Lee Wendy , Duldulao Marjun , Patel Supriya , Sanchez Julian , Garcia-Aguilar Julio , Kim Joseph
Published: September 2012

The RAS gene family is among the most studied and best characterized of the known cancer-related genes. Of the three human ras isoforms, KRAS is the most frequently altered gene, with mutations occurring in 17%–25% of all cancers. In particular, approximately 30%–40% of colon cancers harbor a KRAS mutation. KRAS mutations in colon cancers have been associated with poorer survival and increased tumor aggressiveness. Additionally, KRAS mutations in colorectal cancer lead to resistance to select treatment strategies. In this review we examine the history of KRAS, its prognostic value in patients with colorectal cancer, and evidence supporting its predictive value in determining appropriate therapies for patients with colorectal cancer.
Superparasitism in the Fruit Fly Parasitoid Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and the Implications for Mass Rearing and Augmentative Release
Authors: Montoya Pablo , Pérez-Lachaud Gabriela , Liedo Pablo
Published: September 2012

Superparasitism, a strategy in which a female lays eggs in/on a previously parasitized host, was attributed in the past to the inability of females to discriminate between parasitized and non-parasitized hosts. However, superparasitism is now accepted as an adaptive strategy under specific conditions. In fruit fly parasitoids, superparasitism has mainly been studied as concerns the new association between Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and the Mexican fruit fly Anastrepha ludens (Loew) (Diptera: Tephritidae), wherein this phenomenon is a common occurrence in both mass rearing and field conditions. Studies of this species have shown that moderate levels of superparasitism result in a female-biased sex ratio and that both massreared and wild females superparasitize their hosts without detrimental effects on offspring demographic parameters, including longevity and fecundity. These studies suggest that superparasitism in this species is advantageous. In this paper, we review superparasitism in D. longicaudata, discuss these findings in the context of mass rearing and field releases and address the possible implications of superparasitism in programs employing augmentative releases of parasitoids for the control of fruit fly pests.
Synthesis and Cytotoxicity Evaluation of 13-n-Alkyl Berberine and Palmatine Analogues as Anticancer Agents
Authors: Zhang Lei , Li Jingjing , Ma Fei , Yao Shining , Li Naisan , Wang Jing , Wang Yongbin , Wang Xiuzhen , Yao Qizheng
Published: September 2012

By introducing long carbon-chain alkyl groups at the C-13 position of berberine and palmatine, 13-n-hexyl/13-n-octyl berberine and palmatine chloride analogues 4a–d were synthesized and examined by MTT assays for cytotoxic activity in seven human cancer cell lines (7701QGY, SMMC7721, HepG2, CEM, CEM/VCR, KIII, Lewis), yielding IC50 values of 0.02 ± 0.01–13.58 ± 2.84 μM. 13-n-Octyl palmatine (compound 4d) gave the most potent inhibitor activity, with an IC50 of 0.02 ± 0.01 μM for SMMC7721. In all cases, the 13-n-alkyl berberine and palmatine analogues 4a–d were more cytotoxic than berberine and palmatine. In addition, compounds 4a–d also exhibited more potent cytotoxicity than berberine and palmatine in mice with S180 sarcoma xenografted in vivo. The primary screening results indicated that the 13-n-hexyl/13-n-octyl berberine and palmatine analogues might be valuable source for new potent anticancer drug candidates.
Chemical Composition and Biological Activity of Extracts from Salvia bicolor Desf. Growing in Egypt
Authors: Ibrahim Taghreed A.
Published: September 2012

A petroleum ether extract (PEE) and a methanolic extract (ME) of aerial parts of Salvia bicolor Desf were prepared, and their chemical compositions and antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antimicrobial activities were evaluated. GC/MS analysis of the PEE revealed the presence of 20 compounds in the unsaponifiable matter, among which β-sitosterol and β-amyrin (constituting 24.75% and 15.62%, respectively) were the main constituents, and 21 fatty acids, with linolenic acid and erucic acid being the main fatty acid constituents (21.65% and 16.65%, respectively). HPLC/MS analysis of the methanol extract for individual phenolics revealed the presence of 14 phenolic acids; protocatchuic acid was predominant (75.22 mg/g dry sample), followed by p-coumaric, gallic and synergic acids (70.27, 68.26 and 54.38 mg/g dry weight, respectively). HPLC/MS analysis of flavonoid contents revealed the presence of five flavonoid compounds, among which luteolin 7-O-glucoside and apigenin were the major constituents (120.25 mg/100g dry sample and 88.48 mg/100g dry sample, respectively). The antioxidant activities of both extracts were evaluated using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, and the total antioxidant capacity was determined in terms of GAE (gallic acid equivalents). Anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities were evaluated using the rat paw edema and hot plate testing methods, respectively. The antimicrobial activities of both the PEE and ME were examined by means of the disk-diffusion method. The Salvia bicolor PEE and ME exhibited significant antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic properties, in addition to antimicrobial effects against the selected microorganisms.
Effects of Yeast Polysaccharide on Growth and Flavonoid Accumulation in Fagopyrum tataricum Sprout Cultures
Authors: Zhao Gang , Zhao Jianglin , Peng Lianxin , Zou Liang , Wang Jingbo , Zhong Lingyun , Xiang Dabing
Published: September 2012

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of yeast polysaccharide (YPS) on growth and flavonoid accumulation in sprout cultures of Fagopyrum tataricum (tartary buckwheat). Without obvious change in the appearance of the sprouts, the exogenous YPS notably stimulated the production of functional metabolites in F. tataricum sprouts, and the stimulation effect was concentration-dependent. With 400 mg/L of YPS applied to the sprout cultures on day 6, the total rutin and quercentin content was effectively increased to 42.8 mg/gdw, or about 1.4-fold in comparison with the control of 31.2 mg/gdw. Feeding with 800 mg/L of YPS on day 9, the sprouts biomass was increased by about 8% compared to the control culture (0.99 gdw/100 sprouts versus 0.92 gdw/100 sprouts). Moreover, the present study revealed that the accumulation of these bioactive metabolites resulted from the stimulation of the phenylpropanoid pathway by YPS treatment. It could be an effective strategy for improving the functional quality of the F. tataricum sprouts provided with YPS.