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This article provides an analysis of the relationship between inflation and the returns on a potentially more reliable real estate series, equity real estate investment trusts (REITs). Although some evidence is discovered of a significant negative relationship between the returns on equity REITs and both unexpected and expected inflation for short holding periods, the negative association declines as the holding period increases. The overall results, then, indicate that REITs do not represent effective inflation hedges, and instead, may magnify purchasing power losses over short holding periods. (Reprinted by permission of the publisher.), The Inflation-Hedging Characteristics of Equity REITs: An Empirical Study In order to minimize the erosion of real wealth, investors often seek assets whose values rise with inflation to offset losses [...]

Aim We investigated whether moxifloxacin-induced QTc prolongations in Japanese and Caucasian healthy male volunteers were significantly different. Methods A two period, randomized, crossover, ICH-E14-compliant thorough QT (TQT) study compared placebo-corrected changes in QTc interval from baseline (ΔΔQTcF) and concentration-effect relationships following administration of placebo and 400 mg moxifloxacin to 40 healthy male volunteers from each ethnic population. The point estimates of ΔΔQTcF for each population, and the difference between the two, were calculated at a geometric mean Cmax of moxifloxacin using a linear mixed effects model. The concentration-effect slopes of the two populations were also compared. Equivalence was concluded if the two-sided 90% confidence interval of the difference in ΔΔQTcF was contained within −5 ms to +5 ms limits and the ratio of the slopes was between 0.5 and 2. Results There were no statistically significant differences between the two populations studied, Japanese vs. Caucasians, respectively, for moxifloxacin Cmax (3.27 ± 0.6 vs. 2.98 ± 0.7 µg ml-1), ΔΔQTcF (9.63 ± 1.15 vs. 11.46 ± 1.19 ms at Cmax of 3.07 µg ml-1) and concentration-response slopes (2.58 ± 0.62 vs. 2.34 ± 0.64 ms per µg ml-1). The difference in the two ΔΔQTcF of −1.8 (90% CI −4.6, 0.9) and the ratio of the two slopes (1.1; 90% CI 0.63, 1.82) were within pre-specified equivalence limits. Conclusions Moxifloxacin-induced QTc prolongations did not differ significantly between the Japanese and Caucasian subjects. However, before our findings are more widely generalized, further studies in other populations and with other QT-prolonging drugs are needed to clarify whether inter-ethnic differences in QT sensitivity exist and whether ethnicity of the study population may affect the outcome of a TQT study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of a mail survey of the capital investment practices of the U.S.-based companies in the Standard & Poor's Industrial Index. Unlike earlier studies, which focus on the use of project evaluation and risk analysis tools, this study considers the entire investment decision-making process, from strategic analysis through post-auditing operating performance. Analysis of the responses suggests that most responding companies use a fairly sophisticated capital investment process. They make strategic analysis a cornerstone of their capital investment process, develop quantitative minimum required rate of return and maximum acceptable risk goals, forecast investment returns on a cash basis, use discounted cash flow evaluation measures, control the implementation process, and conduct post-audits of operating performance regularly. The respondents appear less sophisticated in their treatment of risk. Only half use quantitative risk analysis and risk-adjustment techniques., CURRENT CAPITAL INVESTMENT PRACTICES Effective allocation of a company's capital resources is a key to corporate success. Most theorists hold that effective allocation can best be achieved with a sophisticated [...]

This white paper, prepared by members of the Cardiac Safety Research Consortium, discusses several important issues regarding the evaluation of ventricular arrhythmias in early clinical pharmacology trials and their potential consequences for later clinical drug development. Ventricular arrhythmias are infrequent but potentially important medical events whose occurrence in early clinical pharmacology trials can dramatically increase safety concerns. Given the increasing concern with all potential safety signals and the resultant more extensive electrocardiographic monitoring of subjects participating in early phase trials, an important question must be addressed: Are relatively more frequent observations of ventricular arrhythmias related simply to more extensive monitoring, or are they genuinely related to the drug under development? The discussions in this paper provide current thinking and suggestions for addressing this question. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study performs tests of the random walk hypothesis for international commercial real estate markets utilizing stock market indices of real estate share prices for three geographical regions: Europe, Asia and North America. The augmented Dickey-Fuller and Phillips-Perron unit root tests and Cochrane variance ratio test find that each of these markets (as well as associated broader stock markets) exhibits random walk behavior. Moreover, a non-parametric runs test provides support for weak-form market efficiency in the real estate markets. In addition, Johansen-Juselius co-integration analysis reveals that all three markets appear co-integrated and share a common longrun stochastic trend. Results of co-integration analyses and vector error correction models suggest that diversification benefits through international real estate securities can only be achieved in the short run. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Provides information on a study which aimed to measure the relationship between capital budgeting sophistication and business performance. Methodology used in the study; Results and conclusions.

Examines the risk-adjusted investment performance of a sample of 41 investment advisory firms. Higher rates of return achieved by investment advisors with experienced high levels of systematic and total risk; Failure of investment advisers to outperform a passive investment strategy.

Thirty percent of the fatty acids from Heliophila amplexicaulis seed oil are hydroxy acids, primarily lesquerolic acid (14-hydroxy- cis-11-eicosenoic acid) with a trace of a new fatty acid, 16-hydroxy- cis-13-docosenoic acid. The hydroxy acids in the oil are found exclusively in the 1 and/or 3 positions of the triglycerides and are completely acylated with C or C saturated or monoenoic acids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]