Recent Articles
-
Events for downtown resurgence
Bambi Majumdar Civil & GovernmentDowntown resurgence projects are key programs for every local and municipal government in the country today. A bright and prosperous central business district has become synonymous with a healthy and improving economy, which in turn will reflect well on the local government, so their concern is understandable.
-
The growing need for psychiatric EDs
Dorothy L. TenglerIn 2010, there were 129.8 million emergency department visits. However, not all of these visits were injury-related. A January 2012 American Hospital Association TrendWatch reported that there were more than 5 million visits to EDs by patients with a primary diagnosis of mental illness (or a substance abuse disorder). Even more alarming, the rate of mental health visits has increased seven times more than overall ED visits. So what happens when a person with a psychiatric emergency goes to the ED?
-
Computers vs. people: The next step in airport security
Ryan Clark Transportation Technology & AutomotiveOn the morning of Nov. 1, Paul Ciancia was driven to Los Angeles International Airport where he allegedly shot and killed a Transportation Security Association officer and wounded two others before he was wounded and arrested. The incident underscores the continued anxiety and worry surrounding airport security.
-
Give your holiday customers the service they deserve
Harry J. Friedman RetailWith the holiday selling season just around the corner, many of you may be waiting with bated breath for the shoppers to start converging upon your stores — and for good reason. Shoppers are in a buying mode during the holidays. Unfortunately, in the hustle and bustle of the season, salespeople sometimes forget or overlook some very basic customer service points — points that can increase sales today and throughout the year.
-
High Point Fall 2013: Trend watch
Christina Mogk Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesRefined. Textural. Simple. Crafted. Strong. If asked to describe High Point's Fall Market trends for 2013, those are some of the first words that come to mind. They may seem to fight with or contradict one another, and there were certainly divergent styles and messages shared, but two or more of those words can essentially be applied across the board.
-
Are book royalties fair?
Glenn Yeffeth CommunicationsE-book royalty rates have been an ongoing topic of ferocious debate. The industry standard has coalesced around 25 percent of net revenues, but this is far from a settled issue, with the Authors Guild and others challenging the fairness of this rate. Royalties on physical books, on the other hand, have been standardized for a longer period of time and are rarely challenged. But maybe they should be.
-
Which reference electrode for which environment?
Sasha Viasasha ManufacturingUnderstanding the role of various reference electrodes is fundamental to performing electrochemical testing for corrosion. The reference electrode carries a fixed potential against which the working electrode in the surface being tested is measured. There are many choices in reference electrodes, though, and the environmental stressors are key in deciding which one to use.
-
Healthy brains impacting organ donation — but why?
Dr. Denise A. Valenti Medical & Allied HealthcareBrain death occurs when there is a total and irreversible loss of all the brain's functions. Organ donation most commonly occurs when there is a brain death. Dr. Andreas Kramer and colleagues at the University of Calgary, Alberta, recently published a study investigating changes in the availability of donated organ tissue over the last decade. The rate of organ donation is in decline despite significant efforts to educate the public.
-
Membership can benefit you and your home
Adam FalkoffSelecting a contractor for your home can be a challenge. Prices can be competitive, similar services and delivery schedules can also be comparable. However, one way to choose the winning contractor from the pack can be assessed with one simple question: To what organizations do you belong?
-
Using the ‘Six Value Medals’ to identify and assess risk
Dr. David Hillson Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementEdward de Bono is famous for promoting creative thinking, and he has written many books to explain his radical ideas. Perhaps his best-known technique is "Six Thinking Hats," encouraging people to adopt a range of different perspectives when thinking about an issue. One of de Bono’s other thinking tools is the "Six Value Medals." The Six Value Medals have many potential uses, as we seek to create and protect value. But they may also help us to think about risk in a new way.