bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Future of Investment in Real Estate
Authors: Wendt Paul F.
Published: September 2012

Real estate is an established investment medium for pension funds and for individual investors seeking to maximize after-tax income. Successful real estate investment requires analytical and management skills, for which most nonprofessional investors rely upon real estate investment trusts (REITs) or limited partnership syndicates. Many REITs have achieved a creditable yield performance over the past decade and are highly suitable for the investor not requiring tax shelter. Analysis of the limited partnership presents greater difficulties, although track records for offerings in the 1970s can be a useful guide. Front-end loads, management cash-flow participation, and back-end loads are major considerations for the purchaser of limited partnership interests.
Women on Fortune 500 Boards
Authors: Elgart Lloyd D.
Published: September 2012

Over the past decade, the ranks of female directors in Fortune 500 companies have increased by only 2.3 percent. Recent studies show a relationship between the number of female directors and a variety of corporate characteristics, such as size, type of industry, and length of a boardmember's term. The author analyzes the reasons given by 126 survey respondents of the Fortune 500 for not recruiting more female directors and discusses the perceptions of female boardmembers about their own futures on their boards.
How to Conduct a Successful Media Interview
Authors: Munter Mary
Published: September 2012

Few issues have caused as much concern among managers over the last decade as business-press relations. The quality of a company's relationship with the media can have a decisive impact on its profitability. This article offers a number of practical suggestions for managers to assist them in improving the effectiveness of their own communications with the media.
The Corporate Role in the Not-So-Great Society
Authors: Rivlin Catherine A.
Published: September 2012

Direct federal support and corporate philanthropy are two of the many mechanisms of social service delivery in the U.S. The ongoing federal retrenchment reflects both a public decision to reduce the overall level of spending and a pressure to reallocate responsibility for providing some social services from one source to another. The success of this reallocation depends on the match between provider abilities and incentives and the characteristics of the social programs demanded from that provider. The author draws from theory and recent history a partial list of criteria for policymakers to consider in deciding who should be responsible for providing various public services.
The Public Affairs Function
Authors: Post James E. , Murray Edwin A. , Dickie Robert B. , Mahon John F.
Published: September 2012

Corporate public affairs is a relatively young staff function. As such, its management is a challenge to both staff specialists and the general managers who oversee its role within the organization. This article examines the management dimensions of the public affairs field and discusses the responsibilities and alternatives to senior general managers in shaping the public affairs function.
Venture Capital & the Growth of Silicon Valley
Authors: Hambrecht William R.
Published: September 2012

Today, new business formation and venture capital have been enjoying an unprecedented popularity. Even the popular news magazines have discovered venture capital and the industry has probably received more public coverage in the last three years than in all of its previous history. This is pretty heady stuff to a group of people who for many years had trouble explaining what they did for a living to their wives. What's happened? Is it a fad or has something really fundamental happened?
Setting Sales Quotas
Authors: Herzog Donald R.
Published: September 2012

Sales quotas need not be set intuitively or by hit or miss “we've got to beat last year's figures” systems. There is a whole arsenal of proved statistical procedures which the businessman can use as weapons in his war against sales resistance.
Labor Relations in Britain
Authors: Meyers Frederic
Published: September 2012

Why does Great Britain have only 25 percent as many strikes as the United States? Possibly, this article suggests, because the government pursues a hands-off policy in regard to labor contracts, and restraint and responsibility characterize negotiations between unions and employers.
Is the Supply of Urban Land Running Out?
Authors: Lessinger Jack
Published: September 2012

No cities made their own land, and, assisted by freeways and canny relocation of factories, draw nearby towns into the urban enclave. Here is how crowded, constricted San Francisco is doing it. Here, also, is a prescription to insure long run land supplies in many urban areas.
Managing a Publicly Owned Corporation is a Public Trust
Authors: Weiss Leo A.
Published: September 2012

When a corporation “goes public” and seeks capital through sales of stock, management acquires not only a whole new set of bosses, but vastly increased responsibilities and must fulfill its duties as if administering a public trust.
The Mythical Personnel Manager
Authors: Henning Dale , French Wendell
Published: September 2012

Everyone thinks of him as a staff man who serves management in an advisory capacity, but he is, in truth, an executive with very real and far-reaching powers. Though he may manipulate men and policies with the velvet glove of persuasion, the iron hand of authority is there as this article, which analyzes his complex role in the factual terms of job performance, reveals.
De Centralization: In a Wider Context
Authors: Hund James M.
Published: September 2012

What happens when the Organization Man meets decentralization? Experiences of firms that have decentralized reveal that, while it is no cure-all, it may accelerate the rise of bold, gifted men to the top. Further success may well depend on increased attention to the organization's social and political environment.
Is Inflation Inevitable?
Authors: Crum W. L.
Published: September 2012

There is no such thing as a little or “controlled” inflation and those who advocate it, often for selfish reasons, are playing with fire, this observer of the economic scene warns, and offers a plan to debunk the inflation Santa Claus myth and enlist the aid of honest citizens to halt the mounting price and wage spiral before it is too late.
Local Taxes—Business Burden or Subsidy?
Authors: Stockfisch J. A.
Published: September 2012

Can the business community afford lower taxes, particularly state and local taxes? The answer is yes only if it and the public at large are willing to give up many free services and forego the often hefty subsidies they now enjoy in the form of below-cost charges for the use of many public facilities. While consumption of local and state government services has doubled in the past decade, tax revenues have not. Where is the money coming from? Federal subsidies, also derived from taxes, are one answer. Another, outlined here, is to make the public, including business, pay for services it gets from government.
Research & Economic Growth—The Role of Public Policy
Authors: Massell Benton F. , Nelson Richard R.
Published: September 2012

One cardinal way to speed up America's economic growth is for government to underwrite scientific research and education, particularly in the realm of pure science where corporation-supported R & D often cannot afford to venture resources because of time lag and the chancy nature of a payoff. Government support, this article claims, could free science and many scientists from the bread and butter demands of technology so that they can make the big discoveries upon which tomorrow's productivity must inevitably be based.
Labor's Power in American Society
Authors: Bernstein Irving
Published: September 2012

Just how powerful is the American labor movement politically and economically? Is it really possible for Jimmy Hoffa to blow the strike whistle and tie up commodity deliveries all over the country? How effective is the AFL-CIO lobby? Can a political candidate ever count on the labor vote? Here are the surprising facts and figures presented by an informed observer.
Managerial Power
Authors: Rabe W. F.
Published: September 2012

While authority may be delegated, power is a personal thing derived from the individual's own special skills, integrity, and contacts. It is achieved and kept through the user's recognition that he possesses power and his continuing and well-timed use of it, not for purposes of domination, but to get things done. But, this writer observes, it is a two-way street with its own checks and balances, the greatest of which is the possession by one or many members of a corporation of the means essential to the realization of the goals of others, including the objectives of the organization itself.
Forecasting Sales of Consumers' Durable Goods
Authors: Spencer Milton H. , Mattheiss Theodore
Published: September 2012

Can demand and consequently the market for consumers' durable goods be reduced to a mathematical model? Yes, these business economists contend, provided the right framework is chosen and proper statistical correlations are made to compensate for those eternal marketing variables—price, credit, income, and use-facilities. They illustrate their point by constructing an econometric model, applicable to any durable good, and demonstrate its use and accuracy by analyzing sales of washing machines.
Impacts of Scientific Change upon Business Management
Authors: Jacoby Neil H.
Published: September 2012

Is science producing a revolution in the functions of the business executive? No, but evolutionary changes are taking place at a rapid rate to keep pace with automated technology—changes which are bound to upgrade marketing and research and development at the probable expense of those traditional masters of the organization chart, production and finance.
Dynamic Control of an Operational Complex
Authors: Girouard W. F.
Published: September 2012

Only machines with built-in memories and automatic computing talents can hope to cope with the mountain of paperwork and complex needs for continuously up-to-date information which face today's military suppliers and tomorrow's big business. Here is a case history of how one firm designed such an operational control system and the way in which it works in practice.
Planned Innovation as a Marketing Tool
Authors: Howell Leland L.
Published: September 2012

In a new industry technology and invention are in the driver's seat, and marketing, which must conform to their often erratic timing, relies heavily upon product innovation and segmentation of its buying public for success. But, this writer observes, as an industry matures and settles down, marketing assumes command, and, by integrating research with the sales function, harnesses R & D to make it serve marketing considerations instead of its own technological drives.
Competition as a Dynamic Process
Authors: Grether E. T.
Published: September 2012

What is effective competition? Is it an abstract ideal concept, or an actual dynamic process which grows or wanes as a result of marketing and policy decisions made by businessmen and their firms? Here, in a penetrating review of a significant new book, J. M. Clark's “Competition as a Dynamic Process,” the thought is advanced that business practice, not antitrust laws or court decisions, is the real force which defines genuine competition and its—and the public interest's—old enemy, monopoly.
White-Collar Robotics: Levering Managerial Decision Making
Authors: Ashton Alison Hubbard , Ashton Robert H. , Davis Mary N.
Published: September 2012

The first industrial revolution showed us how to do most of the world's heavy work with the energy of machines instead of human muscle. The new industrial revolution is showing us how much of the work of human thinking can be done by and in cooperation with intelligent machines.
Standard or Smokescreen? Implementation of a Voluntary Environmental Code
Authors: Howard Jennifer , Nash Jennifer , Ehrenfeld John
Published: September 2012

According to classical free market doctrine, no more should be expected of a business, even a large business, than that it operate within the law, and the law should protect the autonomy and rationality of the enterprise. After all, it is argued, a firm is the very model of instrumental rationality. However, the social costs of moral indifference—distorted priorities, defrauded consumers, degraded environments, deformed babies—have created an irrepressible demand for enhanced accountability, more external regulation, and a stronger sense of social responsibility.
How to Manage Radical Innovation
Authors: Stringer Robert
Published: September 2012

Three of the people attending the meeting in a Chicago suburb were going broke. They had spent most of their money and all of their time for the past two years trying to commercialize a radical innovation called “Liquid Life,” an all-natural beverage made 100% from pureed fruit. They had developed an attractive plastic package, six good tasting flavors, and eye catching point-of-sale promotional materials. Grocery stores had told them they loved the idea and would gladly carry the product. However, consumers knew nothing about “Liquid Life” and it would take millions of dollars to commercialize the innovation the way the three entrepreneurs wanted to do it. Now, they had run out of money and time.

Four other people were at the meeting. Two were investment bankers, one a venture capitalist, and one a vice-president from Big Food, Inc., a Fortune 100 food and beverage company. Three of these four tried, once again, to convince the “Liquid Life” entrepreneurs to sell their ideas and technology to the food company. Once again, this advice was met with an emotional refusal.

The argument was always the same: the food company loved the breakthrough technology and was desperate for a radical new idea that might pump life into one of its existing product categories, but they could not pay much for an unproved innovation. The “Liquid Lifers” loved the idea of having a big company's resources behind them, but they knew the food company would strangle their commercialization dreams and control the way they developed future products. None of them wanted to join a large—though very successful—public company. The investment bankers had brought the food company to the meeting and advised the “Liquid Lifers” to sell. The venture capitalist wasn't so sure.
Aortic thrombosis in dogs: 31 cases (2000–2010)
Authors: Lake-Bakaar Geri A. , Johnson Eric G. , Griffiths Leigh G.
Published: September 2012

Objective—To describe clinical signs, treatment, and outcome of aortic thrombosis in dogs.

Design—Retrospective case series.

Animals—31 dogs with aortic thrombosis.

Procedures—Records were retrospectively reviewed and data collected regarding signalment, historical signs, physical examination findings, laboratory testing, definitive diagnosis, and presence of concurrent disease.

Results—The records of 31 dogs with clinical or postmortem diagnosis of aortic thrombosis were reviewed. Onset of clinical signs was acute in 14 (45%) dogs, chronic in 15 (48%), and not documented in 2 (6%). Femoral pulses were subjectively weak in 6 (19%) dogs and absent in 17 (55%). Frequent laboratory abnormalities included high BUN concentration (n = 13), creatinine concentration (6), creatine kinase activity (10), and D-dimer concentration (10) and proteinuria with a urine protein–to–creatinine concentration ratio > 0.5 (12). Concurrent conditions included neoplasia (n = 6), recent administration of corticosteroids (6), and renal (8) or cardiac (6) disease. Median survival time was significantly longer for dogs with chronic onset of disease (30 days; range, 0 to 959 days) than for those with acute onset of clinical signs (1.5 days; range, 0 to 120 days).

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results suggested that aortic thrombosis is a rare condition in dogs and accounted for only 0.0005% of hospital admissions during the study period. The clinical signs for dogs with aortic thrombosis differed from those seen in feline patients with aortic thromboembolism. Median survival time was significantly longer for dogs with chronic disease than for dogs with acute disease. Despite treatment, outcomes were typically poor, although protracted periods of survival were achieved in some dogs.
Effect of antimicrobial-containing semen extender on risk of dissemination of contagious equine metritis
Authors: Klein Claudia , Donahue James M. , Sells Steve F. , Squires Edward L. , Timoney Peter J. , Troedsson Mats H. T.
Published: September 2012

Objective—To determine the impact of antimicrobial-containing semen extender on the growth of Taylorella equigenitalis in semen culture-positive for contagious equine metritis (CEM) and the development of CEM after artificial insemination with CEM-positive semen extended with antimicrobial-containing semen extender.

Design—Prospective study.

Animals—21 mature mares free of CEM, 1 mature stallion experimentally infected with CEM, and semen from a stallion naturally infected with CEM.

Procedures—CEM-positive semen was incubated in semen extender with and without antimicrobials (amikacin [final concentration, 1 g/L] and penicillin G potassium [0.63 g/L]) followed by determination of the number of colony-forming units of T equigenitalis. Mares were inseminated with raw, extended, or cryopreserved semen culture-positive for T equigenitalis and observed for clinical signs of CEM. Samples for bacterial culture were obtained from the uterus, clitoral sinuses, and clitoral fossa of mares 7, 14, and 21 days after artificial insemination.

Results—Antimicrobial-containing semen extender significantly reduced the number of colony-forming units of T equigenitalis in CEM-positive semen. Artificial insemination with raw CEM-positive semen resulted in clinical signs of CEM, whereas artificial insemination with extended or cryopreserved CEM-positive semen did not result in clinical signs of CEM.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Antimicrobial-containing semen extender significantly reduced the risk of dissemination of CEM. The inclusion of amikacin (1 g/L) and penicillin G potassium (0.63 g/L) in extended semen reduced the transmission of CEM from stallions to mares during artificial insemination, which may result in altered dissemination of the disease.
Survival rates of mares and foals and postoperative complications and fertility of mares after cesarean section: 95 cases (1986–2000)
Authors: Abernathy-Young Kimberly K. , LeBlanc Michelle M. , Embertson Rolf M. , Pierce Scott W. , Stromberg Arnold J.
Published: September 2012

Objective—To assess survival-to-discharge rates of mares and foals and postoperative complications and fertility in mares following cesarean section (C-section).

Design—Retrospective case series.

Animals—95 mares.

Procedures—Medical and breeding records of mares that underwent C-section were reviewed; signalment, surgical technique, complications, survival-to-discharge rate, and pregnancy and foaling rates were recorded and evaluated. Foaling rates in the 3 years after C-section were compared with the cumulative foaling rate before C-section.

Results—C-section was performed because of dystocia (n = 71) or concurrent maternal disease (20) or was elective (4). Overall survival-to-discharge rate was 84% (80/95) for mares and 35% (28/80) for foals. Six of 15 mares that had partial fetotomies prior to C-section did not survive. Mares that had dystocia for < 90 minutes had the fewest complications. Cumulative foaling rate before C-section was 77% (394/509). Overall foaling rate for the 3 years after C-section was 52% (30/58) and 68% (13/19) when duration of dystocia was ≥ 90 minutes and < 90 minutes, respectively, and was 31 % (9/29) for mares ≥ 16 years old. Foaling rate was significantly lower for mares bred in the same year as C-section than for mares bred in later years.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Breeding in the same year as C-section, dystocia for ≥ 90 minutes before C-section, and mare age ≥ 16 years were associated with poor foaling rates. Prognosis for delivery of a live foal in years following C-section was good if duration of dystocia was < 90 minutes and the mare was < 16 years old at the time of surgery.
Fatal musculoskeletal injuries of Quarter Horse racehorses: 314 cases (1990–2007)
Authors: Sarrafian Tiffany L. , Case James T. , Kinde Hailu , Daft Barbara M. , Read Deryck H. , Moore Janet D. , Uzal Francisco A. , Stover Susan M.
Published: September 2012

Objective—To determine major causes of death and the anatomic location of musculoskeletal injuries in Quarter Horse racehorses in California.

Design—Retrospective case series.

Animals—314 Quarter Horse racehorses with musculoskeletal injuries that were necropsied through the California Horse Racing Board Postmortem Program from 1990 to 2007.

Procedures—Postmortem pathology reports were retrospectively reviewed. Musculoskeletal injuries were categorized by anatomic region and described. The number of Quarter Horse starts and starters for the same period of time were obtained from a commercial database for determination of fatal injury incidence.

Results—Musculoskeletal injuries accounted for 314 of the 443 (71 %) Quarter Horse racehorses that died during the 18-year study period. Fatal musculoskeletal injuries occurred at a rate of 2.0 deaths/1,000 race starts and 18.6 deaths/1,000 horses that started a race. Musculoskeletal injuries occurred predominantly during racing (84%) and in the forelimbs (81%). The most common fatal musculoskeletal injuries were metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joint (fetlock) support injuries (40%) and carpal (24%), vertebral (10%), and scapular (8%) fractures. Proximal interphalangeal (pastern) joint luxations resulted in death of 3% of horses. Fracture configurations of some bones were consistent with those of Thoroughbred racehorses. Evidence of preexisting stress remodeling of bone was reported for some fractures.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Knowledge of common locations and types of fatal musculoskeletal injuries in racing Quarter Horses may enhance practitioners' ability to detect mild injuries early, rest horses, and help prevent catastrophic injuries.
Excitation spectrum of TTF-TCNQ: a finite temperature calculation
Authors: Lošić Željana
Published: September 2012

In this paper we study the excitation spectrum of the organic conductor tetrathiafulvalene-tetracyanoquinodimethane (TTF-TCNQ) using finite temperature calculations. The effect of electronelectron interaction is considered within the random phase approximation (RPA). Our results show the temperature dependent plasmon and dipolar mode corresponding qualitatively to the modes obtained previously using zero temperature formalism assigned to the observed excitations at 10 meV and 0.75 eV. These modes have an essential influence on the energy-loss function. The obtained results are in good qualitative agreement with the optical and EELS data of TTF-TCNQ.
Laparoscopically assisted resection of jejunal diverticula. A case report and review of the literature
Authors: Toquero Lawrence , Fernandes Roland , Kyi Nang , Bains Sonia , Sagias Filipos , Baillie Samantha , Doughan Samer
Published: September 2012

We present the first documented case of laparoscopically assisted resection of a jejunal diverticulum. A 53 year old gentleman presented with right sided abdominal pain along with raised inflammatory markers. Computed tomography revealed multiple diverticula in the proximal jejunum, one of which was inflamed. The patient was managed conservatively, and subsequently underwent an elective laparoscopically assisted resection of a jejunal diverticulum with no complications.
Calorimetric determination of the effect of additives on cement hydration process
Authors: Šiler Pavel , Krátký Josef , Kolářová Iva , Havlica Jaromír , Brandštetr Jiří
Published: September 2012

Possibilities of a multicell isoperibolic-semiadiabatic calorimeter application for the measurement of hydration heat and maximum temperature reached in mixtures of various compositions during their setting and early stages of hardening are presented. Measurements were aimed to determine the impact of selected components’ content on the course of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) hydration. The following components were selected for the determination of the hydration behaviour in mixtures: very finely ground granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS), silica fume (microsilica, SF), finely ground quartz sand (FGQ), and calcined bauxite (CB). A commercial polycarboxylate type superplasticizer was also added to the selected mixtures. All maximum temperatures measured for selected mineral components were lower than that reached for cement. The maximum temperature increased with the decreasing amount of components in the mixture for all components except for silica fume. For all components, except for CB, the values of total released heat were higher than those for pure Portland cement samples.
Modelling and analysis of vehicle crash system integrated with different VDCS under high speed impacts
Authors: Elkady Mustafa , Elmarakbi Ahmed
Published: September 2012

The behaviour of a vehicle at high-speed crashes is enhanced by using active vehicle dynamics control systems. A 6-Degree-of-Freedom (6-DOF) mathematical model is developed to carry out this study. In this model, vehicle dynamics is studied together with vehicle crash structural dynamics. Validation of the vehicle crash structure of the proposed model is achieved to ensure that the modelling of the crumble zone and the dynamic responses are reliable. Five different speeds are selected to investigate the robustness of control system and its effect on the vehicle crash characteristics at low and high speeds with full and offset collision scenarios. A great improvement of vehicle pitch and yaw angels and accelerations at high speed collision are obtained from this analysis.
Modeling Dwell Time for Streetcars in Melbourne, Australia, and Toronto, Canada
Authors: Currie Graham , Delbosc Alexa , Reynolds James
Published: September 2012

Previous research indicates that dwell time is a major factor influencing transit competitiveness. Streetcars have particularly uncompetitive running times, but no research has explored influences on streetcar dwell time. There is also no analytical research on dwell time effects of stop design despite anecdotal evidence showing that platform stops have reduced streetcar dwell time. This paper presents an empirical study of factors affecting dwell time on streetcars in Melbourne, Australia, and Toronto, Canada. It focuses on tram stop design. Results show that payment of fares to drivers on entry in Toronto increases dwell time compared with onboard self-ticket validation in Melbourne (β = .26). For a typical case of 10 passengers boarding and five alighting, the Melbourne approach saves 9.4 s (48%) of dwell time compared with Toronto. Tram stop design, notably platform stops, was the next most significant factor affecting streetcar dwell time (β = -.18). For a typical case of 10 passengers boarding and five alighting, platform stops reduce dwell time by 6.6 s or 25%. A positive link between the number of doors on trams and dwell time was found; however, this is thought to result from insufficient examples of high boarding numbers on four-door trams. The results suggest that off-vehicle or postboarding ticket purchase and validation are significant strategies for reducing dwell time. Providing platform stops is also a potential strategy for reducing dwell time. Areas for future research are suggested.
Identifying the Determinants of Light Rail Mode Choice for Medium- and Long-Distance Trips
Authors: Creemers Lieve , Cools Mario , Tormans Hans , Lateur Pieter-Jan , Janssens Davy , Wets Geert
Published: September 2012

The introduction of new public transport systems can influence society in a multitude of ways ranging from modal choices and the environment to economic growth. This paper examines the determinants of light rail mode choice for medium- and long-distance trips (10 to 40 km) for a new light rail system in Flanders, Belgium. To investigate these choices, the effects of various transport system–specific factors (i.e., travel cost, in-vehicle travel time, transit punctuality, waiting time, access and egress time, transfers, and availability of seats) as well as the travelers' personal traits were analyzed by using an alternating logistic regression model, which explicitly takes into account the correlated responses for binary data. The data used for the analysis stem from a stated preference survey conducted in Flanders. The modeling results are in line with literature: most transport system–specific factors as well as socioeconomic variables, attitudinal factors, perceptions, and the frequency of using public transport contribute significantly to the preference for light rail transit. In particular, the results indicate that the use of light rail is strongly influenced by travel cost and in-vehicle travel time and to a lesser extent by waiting and access–egress time. Seat availability appeared to play a more important role than did transfers in deciding to choose light rail transit. The findings of this paper can be used by policy makers as a frame of reference to make light rail transit more successful.
Urban Rail Development in China
Authors: Salzberg Andrew , Mehndiratta Shomik , Liu Zhi
Published: September 2012

This paper provides an overview of the recent development of urban rail systems in Chinese cites and the challenges ahead. China is set to become the world leader in length of metro lines in operation in the near to medium term. In view of the large scale of this investment, a focus on the overall economic and financial viability of these systems is needed. On the basis of analytical work supporting a project investment in the city of Kunming and a study tour of urban rail systems in China, this paper highlights four areas believed to be crucial in meeting these objectives: integration of new metro systems with existing systems of public transport, a supportive overall urban transport policy, transit-oriented development, and long-term financial sustainability. The conclusion is that in all of these areas, China possesses tools that may enable the program to succeed if they are used effectively and in concert. Any issues appear to result from a lack of attention to these four areas and from a managerial focus on ensuring the completion of the construction program above all other concerns. The RMB 1 trillion investment in urban rail construction under way in China needs to be a catalyst for joint action on the issues identified in this paper (RMB 1 is approximately US$0.15). Otherwise, Chinese cities may be left with an investment that carries large long-term costs and does not deliver the crucial economic benefits expected.
Former Electrified Commuter Railroads
Authors: Allen John G. , Levinson Herbert S.
Published: September 2012

During the first third of the 20th century, 16 commuter rail operations in major North American metropolitan areas adopted electric traction. Ten of these electrifications survive. The other six were discontinued between 1929 and 1949, although parts of the alignments of some properties have been returned to regional transit use. With a comparison of the histories of the former electric railroads with those of operations that survived, the reasons for their discontinuance are investigated. Perhaps unexpectedly, the Great Depression does not solely account for the demise of most of these lines. Instead, major geographic barriers precluding direct downtown service and the construction of new highway links appear to have been at least as important. Furthermore, all surviving electrifications addressed practical operating needs. However, no installations undertaken as technological test beds or in response to competing lines have survived.
Competences Gap in European Railways Education
Authors: Reis Vasco , Macário Rosário
Published: September 2012

This paper addresses the gap between the competences offered by educational institutions and those required by railway firms. The competences gap has long been recognized as contributing to low job satisfaction and productivity. The term refers to the mismatch between the competences required for accomplishing a task and the actual competences of the employee. The research had two purposes: to develop a framework for analysis of the competences gap between firms and educational institutions and to assess the gap between competences required by the European Union railway market and those offered by higher education. The key competences of a railway employee were identified as the following: rolling stock and traction; systems engineering; civil engineering; control systems; operations; economics, business, and regulation; and environment. Railway firms were surveyed to identify the current demand for competences. The curricula of railway courses were reviewed to assess the competences being offered by educational institutions. Comparison of the competences demanded with those being offered indicated the existence of gaps with regard to several competences.
Recrystallization of snowpack at sites with different degrees of humidity
Authors: Lobkina Valentina A.
Published: September 2012

The results of monitoring the rate of recrystallization of snow cover at sites with different degrees of humidity are presented. Observations were carried out at two sites within the same stratigraphic complex of snow cover in the south of Sakhalin island, Sea of Okhotsk. The basic structural changes in snowpack were traced. We determined the rate of growth of the diameter of the crystals in the snow layer. The structure of the snowpack was studied using E.G. Kolomyts’s technique. On the basis of stratigraphic observations, diagrams of the stratification of the snow cover were created, to determine the rate of evolution of ice crystals in a separate layer from its inception.
Biofuel and Food-Commodity Prices
Authors: Hochman Gal , Kaplan Scott , Rajagopal Deepak , Zilberman David
Published: September 2012

The paper summarizes key findings of alternative lines of research on the relationship between food and fuel markets, and identifies gaps between two bodies of literature: one that investigates the relationship between food and fuel prices, and another that investigates the impact of the introduction of biofuels on commodity-food prices. The former body of literature suggests that biofuel prices do not affect food-commodity prices, but the latter suggests it does. We try to explain this gap, and then show that although biofuel was an important contributor to the recent food-price inflation of 2001–2008, its effect on food-commodity prices declined after the recession of 2008/09. We also show that the introduction of cross-price elasticity is important when explaining soybean price, but less so when explaining corn prices.
Antioxidants to Supplement or Not to Supplement That Is the Question
Authors: Omaye Stanley , Elsayed Nabil
Published: September 2012

Antioxidants, whether from diet or pharmacological supplementation, gained significant popularity among scientists and lay public in recent years, and was claimed to protect or treat numerous ailments. [...]
Estrogen Signaling in Lung Cancer: An Opportunity for Novel Therapy
Authors: Baik Christina S. , Eaton Keith D.
Published: September 2012

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in U.S. and represents a major public health burden. Epidemiologic data have suggested that lung cancer in women may possess different biological characteristics compared to men, as evidenced by a higher proportion of never-smokers among women with lung cancer. Emerging data indicate that female hormones such as estrogen and progesterone play a significant role in lung carcinogenesis. It has been reported that estrogen and progesterone receptors are expressed in lung cancer cell lines as well as in patient-derived tumors. Hormone related risk factors such as hormone replacement therapy have been implicated in lung carcinogenesis and several preclinical studies show activity of anti-estrogen therapy in lung cancer. In this review, we summarize the emerging evidence for the role of reproductive hormones in lung cancer and implications for lung cancer therapy.
Gelam Honey Scavenges Peroxynitrite During the Immune Response
Authors: Kassim Mustafa , Mansor Marzida , Suhaimi Anwar , Ong Gracie , Yusoff Kamaruddin Mohd
Published: September 2012

Monocytes and macrophages are part of the first-line defense against bacterial, fungal, and viral infections during host immune responses; they express high levels of proinflammatory cytokines and cytotoxic molecules, including nitric oxide, reactive oxygen species, and their reaction product peroxynitrite. Peroxynitrite is a short-lived oxidant and a potent inducer of cell death. Honey, in addition to its well-known sweetening properties, is a natural antioxidant that has been used since ancient times in traditional medicine. We examined the ability of Gelam honey, derived from the Gelam tree (Melaleuca spp.), to scavenge peroxynitrite during immune responses mounted in the murine macrophage cell line RAW 264.7 when stimulated with lipopolysaccharide/interferon-γ (LPS/IFN-γ) and in LPS-treated rats. Gelam honey significantly improved the viability of LPS/IFN-γ-treated RAW 264.7 cells and inhibited nitric oxide production—similar to the effects observed with an inhibitor of inducible nitric oxide synthase (1400W). Furthermore, honey, but not 1400W, inhibited peroxynitrite production from the synthetic substrate 3-morpholinosydnonimine (SIN-1) and prevented the peroxynitrite-mediated conversion of dihydrorhodamine 123 to its fluorescent oxidation product rhodamine 123. Honey inhibited peroxynitrite synthesis in LPS-treated rats. Thus, honey may attenuate inflammatory responses that lead to cell damage and death, suggesting its therapeutic uses for several inflammatory disorders.
Purification and Characterization of a Ginsenoside Rb1-Hydrolyzing β-Glucosidase from Aspergillus niger KCCM 11239
Authors: Chang Kyung Hoon , Jo Mi Na , Kim Kee-Tae , Paik Hyun-Dong
Published: September 2012

Rb1-hydrolyzing β-glucosidase from Aspergillus niger KCCM 11239 was studied to develop a bioconversion process for minor ginsenosides. The specific activity of the purified enzyme was 46.5 times greater than that of the crude enzyme. The molecular weight of the native enzyme was estimated to be approximately 123 kDa. The optimal pH of the purified enzyme was pH 4.0, and the enzyme proved highly stable over a pH range of 5.0–10.0. The optimal temperature was 70 °C, and the enzyme became unstable at temperatures above 60 °C. The enzyme was inhibited by Cu2+, Mg2+, Co2+, and acetic acid (10 mM). In the specificity tests, the enzyme was found to be active against ginsenoside Rb1, but showed very low levels of activity against Rb2, Rc, Rd, Re, and Rg1. The enzyme hydrolyzed the 20-C,β-(1→6)-glucoside of ginsenoside Rb1 to generate ginsenoside Rd and Rg3, and hydrolyzed 3-C,β-(1→2)-glucoside to generate F2. The properties of the enzyme indicate that it could be a useful tool in biotransformation applications in the ginseng industry, as well as in the development of novel drug compounds.
Effects of Intramolecular Distance between Amyloidogenic Domains on Amyloid Aggregation
Authors: Ko Ahra , Kim Jin Ryoun
Published: September 2012

Peptide/protein aggregation is implicated in many amyloid diseases. Some amyloidogenic peptides/proteins, such as those implicated in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, contain multiple amyloidogenic domains connected by “linker” sequences displaying high propensities to form turn structures. Recent studies have demonstrated the importance of physicochemical properties of each amino acid contained in the polypeptide sequences in amyloid aggregation. However, effects on aggregation related to the intramolecular distance between amyloidogenic domains, which may be determined by a linker length, have yet to be examined. In the study presented here, we created peptides containing two copies of KFFE, a simple four-residue amyloidogenic domain, connected by GS-rich linker sequences with different lengths yet similar physicochemical properties. Our experimental results indicate that aggregation occurred most rapidly when KFFE domains were connected by a linker of an intermediate length. Our experimental findings were consistent with estimated entropic contribution of a linker length toward formation of (partially) structured intermediates on the aggregation pathway. Moreover, inclusion of a relatively short linker was found to inhibit formation of aggregates with mature fibril morphology. When the results are assimilated, our study demonstrates that intramolecular distance between amyloidogenic domains is an important yet overlooked factor affecting amyloid aggregation.
SIG1, a Sigma Factor for the Chloroplast RNA Polymerase, Differently Associates with Multiple DNA Regions in the Chloroplast Chromosomes in Vivo
Authors: Hanaoka Mitsumasa , Kato Maiko , Anma Misato , Tanaka Kan
Published: September 2012

Chloroplasts have their own DNA and gene expression systems. Transcription in chloroplasts is regulated by two types of RNA polymerase, nuclear-encoded plastid RNA polymerase (NEP) and plastid-encoded plastid RNA polymerase (PEP), and multiple sigma factors for PEP. To study transcriptional regulation in chloroplasts, a molecular genetic approach has extensively been used. However, this method may include indirect effects, and it cannot be applied to the analysis of factors essential to survival. These limitations make understanding specific regulation by transcription factors difficult. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) is a powerful and useful tool for obtaining information on transcription-factor binding sites; it can directly detect dynamic changes in their interaction patterns in vivo. To further understand transcriptional regulation in chloroplasts, we here established a ChIP-based method in Arabidopsis thaliana and analyzed the binding pattern of a chloroplast sigma factor, SIG1. We found that SIG1 specifically binds to newly identified target promoters as well as to a set of promoters of genes whose mRNA expression is dependent on OsSIG1 in rice and that this binding changed in response to high-light stress. These results suggested that the ChIP-based approach is very useful in understanding transcriptional regulation of chloroplast genes and can overcome several problems posed by conventional methods.
Interferon-β1b Increases Th2 Response in Neuromyelitis Optica
Authors: Nakajima Hideto , Hosokawa Takafumi , Doi Yoshimitu , Ikemoto Toshiyuki , Ishida Shimon , Kimura Fumiharu , Hanafusa Toshiaki
Published: September 2012

A Japanese randomized controlled study showed that Interferon â (IFN-â1b) therapy is clinically effective in decreasing the frequency of attacks in multiple sclerosis (MS), even in optico-spinal MS (OSMS). However, recent studies have shown that IFN-â (IFN-â1a/IFN-â1b) treatment was not effective in neuromyelitis optica (NMO) patients and that the diminished benefit of IFN-â treatment in NMO may be due to different immune responses to IFN-â. We determined longitudinally the expression of CCR5, CXCR3 and CCR4 on CD4+ T and CD8+ T cells in the blood from patients with NMO and MS treated with IFN-â1b. During a 12-month period of IFN-â1b therapy, the annualized relapse rate decreased in MS patients but not in NMO patients. There was no significant difference in the expression of the chemokine receptors between NMO and MS at baseline. The percentages of CD4+CCR5+ and CD4+CXCR3+ T cells, representative of the Th1 response, were decreased in both NMO and MS after treatment. The percentage of CD4+CCR4+ T cells, representative of the Th2 response, was decreased in MS, but those for NMO was significantly increased compared with the pretreatment levels. Our results indicate that IFN-â1b-induced up-modulation of the Th2 response in NMO patients may be the source of differences in the therapeutic response to IFN-â1b therapy. In the present study, Th2 predominance is involved in the pathogenesis of NMO.
The Causal-Compositional Concept of Information—Part II: Information through Fairness: How Does the Relationship between Information, Fairness and Language Evolve, Stimulate the Development of (New) Computing Devices and Help to Move towards the Information Society
Authors: Luhn Gerhard
Published: September 2012

We are moving towards the information society, and we need to overcome the discouraging perspective, which is caused by the false belief that our thoughts (and thereby also our acting) represent a somehow externally existing world. Indeed, it is already a step forward to proclaim that there exists a somehow common world for all people. But if those internal forms of representation are primarily bound to the subject itself, then, consequently, anybody can argue for his or her view of the world as being the “right” one. Well, what is the exit strategy out of this dilemma? It is information; information as understood in its actual and potential dimension, in its identity of structure and meaning. Such an approach requires a deeper elaborated conceptual approach. The goal of this study is to show that such a concept is glued by the strong relationship between seemingly unrelated disciplines: physics, semantics (semiotics/cognition) and computer science, and even poetry. But the terminus of information is nowadays discussed and elaborated in all those disciplines. Hence, there is no shortcut, no way around. The aim of this study is not even to show that those strong relationships exist. We will see within the same horizon that, based on such a concept, new kinds of computing systems are becoming possible. Nowadays energy consumption is becoming a major issue regarding computing systems. We will work towards an approach, which enables new devices consuming a minimum amount of energy and maximizing the performance at the same time. And within the same horizon it becomes possible to release the saved energy towards a new ethical spirit—towards the information society.
Developmental Biology — Expanding the Horizon
Authors: Wessels Andy
Published: September 2012

Developmental biology is arguably the most exciting field of study within the biological sciences. To elucidate how complex organisms develop from a single cell into a complex organism is a quest that has captured the minds of many great scientists. [...]
2-(4-Fluoro-3-nitrophenyl)-6-(4-methoxyphenyl)imidazo[2,1-b]-1,3,4-thiadiazole
Authors: Kundapur Umesha , Sarojini Balladka Kunhanna , Narayana Badiadka
Published: September 2012

The title compound, 2-(4-fluoro-3-nitrophenyl)-6-(4-methoxyphenyl)­imidazo[2,1-b]-1,3,4-thiadiazole (3) was obtained by the condensation of 5-(4-fluoro-3-nitrophenyl)-[1,3,4]thiadiazol-2-ylamine (1) with 4-methoxyphenacyl bromide (2). The newly prepared imidazo[2,1-b]-1,3,4-thiadiazole derivative (3) was characterized by IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and LCMS spectral data.
A Concise Synthesis of Glycolipids Based on Aspartic Acid Building Blocks
Authors: Velasco-Torrijos Trinidad , Abbey Lorna , O’Flaherty Roisin
Published: September 2012

L-Aspartic acid building blocks bearing galactosyl moieties were used to synthesise glycolipid mimetics of variable hydrocarbon chain length. The glycolipids were readily prepared through amide bond formation using the TBTU/HOBt coupling methodology. It was observed that, under these conditions, activation of the α-carboxylic acid of the intermediates led to near complete racemisation of the chiral centre if the reaction was carried out in the presence of a base such as triethylamine. The enantiomerically pure glycolipids were obtained after careful consideration of the synthetic sequence and by performing the coupling reactions in the absence of base.