Comment on the preparation of the ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethanoate: a unique monomeric, homoleptic pentacoordinate lead ethanoate complex

Atomic absorption spectroscopy of the ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethanoate ([emim](2)[O2CMe]), prepared according to International Patent WO 96/18459, showed it to contain large amounts of lead impurity: (ca. 0.5 M): [emim](2)[Pb(O2CMe)(4)] was isolated and shown crystallographically to contain the first known example of a monomeric, homoleptic pentacoordinate lead(ii) carboxylate complex, with a stereochemically active lone-pair.

The efficacy of lead shielding in megavoltage radiotherapy.

The dose received by anatomical structures which are apparently shielded by lead blocks during a course of megavoltage radiotherapy may not be negligible. The dose has three main components; there is that due to radiation transmitted through the shielding block, that due to radiation scattered within the patient and that due to radiation scattered prior to reaching the patient and so circumventing the shield. A calculation method which separates the three components has been investigated and the results have been compared with measurements in a wide range of test situations for both cobalt-60 and 6 MV photon beams. The method of calculation predicts the dose behind the shielding block with acceptable accuracy in all the conditions investigated.

Developing a conceptual model of lead performance measurement and benchmarking: A multiple case analysis

Purpose: Environmental turbulence including rapid changes in technology and markets has resulted in the need for new approaches to performance measurement and benchmarking. There is a need for studies that attempt to measure and benchmark upstream, leading or developmental aspects of organizations. Therefore, the aim of this paper is twofold. The first is to conduct an in-depth case analysis of lead performance measurement and benchmarking leading to the further development of a conceptual model derived from the extant literature and initial survey data. The second is to outline future research agendas that could further develop the framework and the subject area.

Design/methodology/approach: A multiple case analysis involving repeated in-depth interviews with managers in organisational areas of upstream influence in the case organisations.

Findings: It was found that the effect of external drivers for lead performance measurement and benchmarking was mediated by organisational context factors such as level of progression in business improvement methods. Moreover, the legitimation of the business improvement methods used for this purpose, although typical, had been extended beyond their original purpose with the development of bespoke sets of lead measures.

Practical implications: Examples of methods and lead measures are given that can be used by organizations in developing a programme of lead performance measurement and benchmarking.

Originality/value: There is a paucity of in-depth studies relating to the theory and practice of lead performance measurement and benchmarking in organisations.

Assessing the Transaction Costs of Firms in the EU ETS: Lessons form Ireland

Until now, there has been little empirical evidence that EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) transaction costs are incurred at firm level. The transaction costs (internal costs, capital costs, consultancy and trading costs) incurred by Irish firms under the EU ETS during its pilot phase (2005-2007) were measured and analysed. Evidence for the sources of transaction costs, their magnitude and the distribution of costs shows that these were mainly administrative in nature. Considerable variation in costs was found due to economies of scale, as the costs per tonne of CO2 were lower for participants with larger allocations. For the largest firms - accounting for over half the emissions - average transaction costs were €0.05 per tonne. However, for small firms, average transaction costs were €2.02 - over 18% of the current allowance price. This supports the concerns that transaction costs are excessive for smaller participants. The immediate policy implication is that additional attention will be needed to address different sizes of firms, number of installations per firm, and the size of the initial allocations.

Helokinestatins: A novel family of bioactive peptides with drug-lead potential fromthe venomof the Gila Monster (Heloderma suspectum)

Venom of the Gila Monster (Heloderma suspectum) has proven to be an unlikely source of lead compounds (exendins) for the development of new injectable peptide therapeutics for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes. However, no systematic searches for new classes of bioactive peptides in lizard venom have appeared until recently. Here we describe the discovery of a new class of peptides – the helokinestatins – from H. suspectum venom, their structural characterisation and that of their biosynthetic precursors from cloned cDNA. In addition, we have subjected members of the family to preliminary pharmacological characterisation. Helokinestatins 1–6 are a family of proline-rich peptides containing 10–15 amino acid residues terminating in a common -Pro-Arg.OH motif. They are encoded in tandem within two virtually identical biosynthetic precursors of 177 and 178 amino acid residues, differing by only a single Pro residue. Each precursor also encodes a single copy of a C-type natriuretic peptide located at the C-terminus. Synthetic replicates of all helokinestatins were shown to be devoid of any direct action on the smooth muscle of rat tail artery but were found to be potent inhibitors of bradykinin-induced relaxation in this preparation in a manner that is suggestive of a non-competitive mechanism. Helokinestatin-3 (VPPPPLQMPLIPR) and helokinestatin-5 (VPPPLQMPLIPR) were found to be most potent in this respect causing almost complete inhibition of bradykinin-induced relaxation. Helokinestatins and BPPs may have a shared evolutionary history but the former do not inhibit ACE. The bradykinin inhibitory potential of helokinestatins may be exploited in the local control of chronic inflammation.

Strategic Complexity and Success - Small Firms Strategies in a Mature Market

his paper develops a typology of strategic options for small firms in the furniture industry and examines the extent to which firms are re-engineering their strategies in response to profit performance. Empirical analysis is based on data from 39 firms with between 10 and 100 employees in the Irish furniture industry. Three main results emerge from the analysis. First, firms in the Irish furniture industry predominantly adopt “simple” business development strategies. Secondly, in terms of profit performance, we find no evidence that simple strategies unambiguously outperform more complex approaches. Instead, the success of both simple and complex business strategies is directly related to the strength of firms’ resource base. Finally, systematic differences were found in firms’ ability or willingness to re-engineer their strategies in the light of their profit performance.