Recent Articles
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San Jose turns the corner to report consecutive growth
Matt Falcus Transportation Technology & AutomotiveSan Jose International Airport has reported over a year of consecutive growth in passenger numbers, and has been named the second-fastest-growing medium hub in the country by an industry publication.
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Interior designers making employment gains
Michael J. Berens Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesAfter declining slightly in 2012, interior design employment is once again on the rise. According to the most recent figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of employed interior designers nationwide increased by 2,960 (7.3 percent) between May 2012 and May 2013, from 40,750 to 43,710.
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Ceramic coatings for cooking equipment prove durable, save money
Richard Stratton Construction & Building MaterialsMaterials in food processing plants must meet high standards for sanitation and durability. Even periodic wash downs on noncontact food-cooking equipment like rotary sterilizers will cause traditional insulation to fail from water contact.
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New applied automotive weight-saving process technologies
Don Rosato ManufacturingThe average car contains 400 pounds of plastics or approximately 14 percent of its total weight, and it is accelerating in car manufacturing. Experts predict that these uses will more than double over the next five years. For example, Mazda has shaved 220 pounds from the curb weight of its Mazda2 over the previous model through material replacement and engineering, plastic process technology refinement, redesigning features and shrinking parts dimensions.
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It’s time to pay your employees to quit — Will you do it?
Robin Throckmorton Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementFollowing in the footsteps of Zappos, Amazon recently implemented its own "pay to quit" program to find out just how happy its employees are. In a nutshell, Amazon is offering up to $5,000 to employees to quit, with hopes that they won't take it. Amazon has realized the value of having employees who want to work for the company and gives those who don't a way out.
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Reactions mixed to CMS decision to release payment data
Pamela Lewis Dolan Healthcare AdministrationFor the first time since Jimmy Carter was president, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has posted physician fee-for-service payment data to its website for public review and analysis. While researchers and number crunchers applaud the move, some in organized medicine are issuing warnings that the data should be used with caution as it can be misleading when taken out of context.
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Advocacy and mission: Are you telling the story?
Bob Fitch Association ManagementThere are five important areas that an association board is responsible for: (1) mission, vision and planning; (2) structure and policy; (3) delegation; (4) accountability; and (5) advocacy. Let's take a look at No. 5, advocacy, which is oftentimes the most overlooked responsibility of board members.
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A changing market demands new approaches to drug development
Dr. Paul Nelles ManufacturingPharmaceuticalDue to a variety of factors, including shrinking product pipelines of many pharma companies, increasing costs associated with drug development, a blockbuster model which is giving way to more specialized, advanced treatments, and growing regulatory oversight, biopharmaceutical companies are under enormous pressure to compete in new ways if they are going to survive.
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Cultured red blood cells: There’s nothing artificial about it
Rosemary Sparacio Medical & Allied HealthcareBlood transfusions play a critical role in clinical practice. Over 90 million transfusions take place each year. In the U.S., through donations from individuals, blood donor programs, blood banks and the American Red Cross, transfusions are made possible. However, in order to get the supplies they need, all venues must participate.
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A tier pricing strategy for hotel Wi-Fi
Linchi Kwok Travel, Hospitality & Event ManagementWhen was the last time you made a hotel reservation? Did you look at how much a hotel charged for WiFi? I did. In fact, it turned out a hotel’s pricing strategy on WiFi had become the determining factor for my decision on a future hotel stay.