Commercial Sales Research Articles

The Case for a Regulatory Cannabis Enclave in the Resort City of Eilat

This commentary advocates a city-based regulation, in which the private growing, commercial sale and personal use of cannabis will be legalized in the resort city of Eilat. Specifically, we argue that due to unique geo-cultural characteristics, this resort city is a suitable place to extend the decriminalization process started in Israel in 2017. Based on the Colorado experience, this commentary highlights the rationale and some guiding principles that can serve as the pivot around which the discussion on Eilat as the first cannabis enclave in Israel should revolve.

Implications of coral harvest and transplantation on reefs in northwestern Dominica

In June, 2002, the government of Dominica requested assistance in evaluating the coral culture and transplantation activities being undertaken by Oceanographic Institute of Dominica (OID), a coral farm culturing both western Atlantic and Indo-Pacific corals for restoration and commercial sales. We assessed the culture facilities of OID, the condition of reefs, potential impacts of coral collection and benefits of coral transplantation. Coral reefs (9 reefs, 3-20m depth) were characterized by 35 species of scleractinian corals and a live coral cover of 8-35%. Early colonizing, brooders such as Porites astreoides (14.8% of all corals), P. porites (14.8%), Meandrina meandrites (14.7%) and Agaricia agaricites (9.1%) were the most abundant corals, but colonies were mostly small (mean=25cm diameter). Montastraea annularis (complex) was the other dominant taxa (20.8% of all corals) and colonies were larger (mean=70cm). Corals (pooled species) were missing an average of 20% of their tissue, with a mean of 1.4% recent mortality. Coral diseases affected 6.4% of all colonies, with the highest prevalence at Cabrits West (11.0%), Douglas Bay (12.2%) and Coconut Outer reef (20.7%). White plague and yellow band disease were causing the greatest loss of tissue, especially among M. annularis (complex), with localized impacts from corallivores, overgrowth by macroalgae, storm damage and sedimentation. While the reefs appeared to be undergoing substantial decline, restoration efforts by OID were unlikely to promote recovery. No Pacific species were identified at OID restoration sites, yet species chosen for transplantation with highest survival included short-lived brooders (Agaricia and Porites) that were abundant in restoration sites, as well as non-reef builders (Palythoa and Erythropodium) that monopolize substrates and overgrow corals. The species of highest value for restoration (massive broadcast spawners) showed low survivorship and unrestored populations of these species were most affected by biotic stressors and human impacts, all of which need to be addressed to enhance survival of outplants. Problems with culture practices at OID, such as high water temperature, adequate light levels and persistent overgrowth by macroalgae could be addressed through simple modifications. Nevertheless, coral disease and other stressors are of major concern to the most important reef builders, as these species are less amenable to restoration, collection could threaten their survival and losses require decades to centuries to replace.

Broadband Acoustic Resonance Dissolution Spectroscopy (BARDS): A rapid test for enteric coating thickness and integrity of controlled release pellet formulations

There are no rapid dissolution based tests for determining coating thickness, integrity and drug concentration in controlled release pellets either during production or post-production. The manufacture of pellets requires several coating steps depending on the formulation. The sub-coating and enteric coating steps typically take up to six hours each followed by additional drying steps. Post production regulatory dissolution testing also takes up to six hours to determine if the batch can be released for commercial sale. The thickness of the enteric coating is a key factor that determines the release rate of the drug in the gastro-intestinal tract. Also, the amount of drug per unit mass decreases with increasing thickness of the enteric coating. In this study, the coating process is tracked from start to finish on an hourly basis by taking samples of pellets during production and testing those using BARDS (Broadband Acoustic Resonance Dissolution Spectroscopy). BARDS offers a rapid approach to characterising enteric coatings with measurements based on reproducible changes in the compressibility of a solvent due to the evolution of air during dissolution. This is monitored acoustically via associated changes in the frequency of induced acoustic resonances. A steady state acoustic lag time is associated with the disintegration of the enteric coatings in basic solution. This lag time is pH dependent and is indicative of the rate at which the coating layer dissolves. BARDS represents a possible future surrogate test for conventional USP dissolution testing as its data correlates directly with the thickness of the enteric coating, its integrity and also with the drug loading as validated by HPLC.

Predictions of Industrial and Commercial Electricity Sales in Taiwan Using ARIMA and Artificial Neural Networks Techniques

Predictions of Industrial and Commercial Electricity Sales in Taiwan Using ARIMA and Artificial Neural Networks Techniques

Approach and Future Development for the Realization of Hydrogen Society

Hydrogen stations, which are being developed for fuel cell vehicles, and examples of hydrogen use other than fuel cell vehicles, from the current state of hydrogen use in industrial fields are introduced. Use of hydrogen has been spreading from industrial use to energy applications including fuel cell vehicles. Commercial sales of fuel cell vehicles have started, and construction of a hydrogen refueling stations that supplies hydrogen to fuel cell vehicles is also proceeding. Efforts to manufacture and utilize hydrogen by using renewable energy have also begun. Region and demand will be expanded more than ever so it is required to construct a stable and efficient hydrogen supply system accordingly.

Traditional Rearing Practices Of Indigenous Pigs In Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu covers an area of 130,058 km2 (50,216 sq mi), and is the eleventh largest state in India. Indigenous pigs got domesticated and well adapted to its ecosystem. A study was conducted on pig rearing system among the people who rear pigs as their main source of income for their livelihood. The study revealed that the indigenous pigs were reared under traditional system by the particular community people and the pigs were evenly distributed among all parts of Tamil Nadu and is the main source of income. The phenotypic characters showed that these pigs were indigenous to this state and their existence was noted since many centuries. People use various indigenously made materials/utensils for housing and feeding. Pigs were fed mainly with locally available feed resources and in addition, pigs feed through scavenging and rooting. Commercial sale of animal and meat was also practiced. The meat of indigenous pigs is highly delicious than the exotic pigs. Certain tribe/community practices century old established indigenous technical knowledge in pig rearing and they are passed through many generations. Indigenous traditional knowledge would significantly contribute to the generation and pave the way for exploitation of technology to benefit tribal/rural populations.

Smart Wellness City - New Healthy Community Movements in Japan ( breakout presentation )

Background Japan is now heading toward a population decrease and a highly aging society. The elderly population over 65 years old will exceed 40% by 2055. Medical and social welfare cost is skyrocketing. The nationwide automobile dependency established over the past half a century resulted in the low-density sprawl to wide suburban areas and hollowing out of the downtown area. Now, Japan is facing serious mobility problems, especially among the elderly who cannot continue to drive. Although the fatal traffic accidents in Japan decreased to less than a quarter of the peak in 1970, the elderly casualties are increasing to more than half of the total traffic death. Description of Program A new community revitalization program called Smart Wellness City (SWC) was started by a group of mayors and academics in 2009. The main purpose of the program is to build a city where walkability is the central theme in order to enable citizens live healthier and happier. Factors to realize SWC are: Provision of public traffic infrastructures including walkways, natural trails, bikeways and public transit to reduce car dependency; Restructuring of urban form toward compact cities where people can interact to create social capital; Increasing health literacy of all citizens through community fitness programs involving outdoor activities (population approach); and objective evaluation scheme to assess the result based on the data analysis with comprehensive health/medical evidence. Outcomes Now the member municipalities have increased to 62. Many of these municipalities proved the effectiveness of SWC program especially among elderly citizens. They are enjoying the benefits of delaying frailty in both physical and mental level, and enhancing the restored community spirits. Other important benefits of SWC are the cost savings in health care sectors, and revitalization of downtown activities including commercial sales increase. Implications The success of SWC influences the formation of a new program called Smart Wellness Community in 2015 including national and local governments, private industries and academia to further expand the movement to nationwide level. It will become a model for many countries to cope with problems caused by the increase of aging population.

Monitoring Energy Expenditure Using a Multi-Sensor Device-Applications and Limitations of the SenseWear Armband in Athletic Populations.

In order to monitor their energy requirements, athletes may desire to assess energy expenditure (EE) during training and competition. Recent technological advances and increased customer interest have created a market for wearable devices that measure physiological variables and bodily movement over prolonged time periods and convert this information into EE data. This mini-review provides an overview of the applicability of the SenseWear armband (SWA), which combines accelerometry with measurements of heat production and skin conductivity, to measure total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) and its components such as exercise energy expenditure (ExEE) in athletic populations. While the SWA has been shown to provide valid estimates of EE in the general population, validation studies in athletic populations indicate a tendency toward underestimation of ExEE particularly during high-intensity exercise (>10 METs) with an increasing underestimation as exercise intensity increases. Although limited information is available on the accuracy of the SWA during resistance exercise, high-intensity interval exercise, or mixed exercise forms, there seems to be a similar trend of underestimating high levels of ExEE. The SWA, however, is capable of detecting movement patterns and metabolic measurements even at high exercise intensities, suggesting that underestimation may result from limitations in the proprietary algorithms. In addition, the SWA has been used in the assessment of sleep quantity and quality as well as non-exercise activity thermogenesis. Overall, the SWA provides viable information and remains to be used in various clinical and athletic settings, despite the termination of its commercial sale.

From Pot to Prescription: The Long, Strange Trip of Medical Marijuana

From Pot to Prescription: The Long, Strange Trip of Medical Marijuana

Bagged Commercial Soils are an Avenue for Regional Dispersal of Weedy Plant Species

Abstract The spread of weedy plant species is a constant and increasing problem in the United States. A number of weed seed dispersal mechanisms are recognized, but one that may not have received attention is the potential for movement via the production and distribution of bagged soils for commercial sale. Our objective was to test the most common and inexpensive soils available at gardening supply stores in South Carolina for the presence of weeds. We identified 80 species or genera from 20 families in 19 different soil products. Most of the species were ubiquitous and many are restricted to the southern states, but some species are locally uncommon. We suggest the movement of different genotypes, even of common weeds, may create new evolutionary potential that could have long-term consequences for local adaptation of these species. The constant influx of weed seeds also creates propagule pressure and could contribute to further spread. We recommend commercial soil producers and distributors take steps ...

259 Emergency Medicine Political Action Committee Contributions in 2016 and Candidate Voting History on Firearm Background Checks

Firearm injuries are a leading cause of injurious death and traumatic ED visits in the U.S. The American College of Emergency Physicians’ (ACEP) Firearm Safety and Injury Prevention policy supports universal background checks for firearm transactions, encourages legislation that prevents high risk and prohibited individuals from obtaining firearms by any means, and calls for increased funding for research into firearm safety and injury prevention. We sought to determine the relationship between federal campaign contributions from the National Emergency Medicine Political Action Committee (NEMPAC), the largest emergency medicine political action committee, and candidates’ support of background check legislation. We analyzed NEMPAC’s contributions to House and Senate races in the 2016 election cycle to determine if the candidates they funded supported legislation favoring background checks. We obtained data on campaign contributions from OpenSecrets and legislative records from Project Vote Smart. Candidate support of background check legislation was measured by: 1) voting history on Senate Amendment 4750 (SA 4750) which called for universal background checks, and 2) co-sponsorship of H.R. 1217 which aimed to extend background checks to all commercial firearm sales, strengthen state cooperation with the national criminal background check system, and authorize a commission to study mass violence. We analyzed contributions in the 2016 election cycle compared to support for background checks. We limited the analysis to incumbents up for re-election as they had a record on these two bills. We report total contributions, average contribution per candidate, compared with t-tests, and proportion of candidates supported compared with chi-square tests. The Senate voted 44 for and 56 against SA 4750. In 2016 NEMPAC contributed $182,000 to 37 Senate candidates. Of this, $127,500 went to 21 of 29 incumbents up for re-election; $44,500 to 6 of 8 candidates who supported SA 4750 and $83,000 to 15 of 21 candidates who opposed SA 4750 ($5,563 vs. $3,952 per candidate, Dif $1,610, P = 0.25). NEMPAC supported 75% of incumbents who voted for SA 4750 compared to 71% of those against (P = .85). 189 House representatives co-sponsored H.R. 1217. In 2016, NEMPAC contributed $942,900 to 212 House candidates overall. Of this, $853,340 went to 187 of 394 incumbents up for re-election; $227,955 to 68 of 167 candidates who co-sponsored H.R. 1217 and $625,385 to 119 of 227 candidates who did not ($1,365 vs. $2,755 per candidate, Dif -$1,390, P < 0.01). NEMPAC supported 40.7% of candidates who co-sponsored H.R. 1217 compared to 52.4% of those who did not (P =.02). Analysis of contributions from NEMPAC to 2016 congressional candidates show that organized emergency medicine provided more total funding to incumbent candidates who did not support firearm background check legislation than to candidates in support of background check legislation. This analysis is limited as candidates’ positions on other issues of importance to ACEP and NEMPAC, such as tort reform, may be correlated with their positions on firearm legislation. Organized emergency medicine’s political contributions to 2016 congressional races were not aligned with ACEP’s policy on background checks.

Big‐Box Stores and Urban Land Prices: Friend or Foe?

AbstractThis study examined the effect of a new Walmart store on nearby U.S. urban land prices and found that, within one quarter mile of a new Walmart store locale, land prices increased by almost 39% over the four‐year development time period. Supercenters and commercial land sales were instrumental in driving the positive price effects. Robustness tests found a positive land price effect with other big‐box stores, suggesting that the land price effect was not limited to Walmart stores, but in fact, was a big‐box store effect.

562 Effect of select TCâ„¢ on performance and health status of newly received feedlot cattle

A two-part experiment was conducted to determine the effects of Select TC™, a hydrolyzed-yeast based solution for receiving calves, on the health status and performance of steers during the first two months of the feedlot period. Eighty crossbred steers were acquired from commercial sale barns in Mississippi and Georgia, and transported to Purdue University. All animals were fed a corn silage based receiving diet, and were checked and treated daily for respiratory disease as needed following established treatment protocols. In Exp. 1, 64 steers (246.5 ± 4.7 kg initial BW) were blocked by weight and randomly allocated to 2 treatments to determine the impact of Select TCtm supplementation on health, intake and daily gain: Control (CON); and Select TCtm (TC) fed at 13 g/hd/d. Steers in Exp. 1 were housed in bedded pens with 2 animals/pen. Daily DMI was recorded, and steers were weighed every 14 d to determine performance. In Exp. 2, 16 steers (247.1 ± 5.4 kg initial BW) were similarly allotted to 2 treatments (CON and TC), individually penned, and subjected to a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) endotoxin challenge on d 62 or 63 to determine the animalâ€tms response to an inflammatory agent. Serum samples and rectal temperatures were taken every half an hour from -2 to 8 h relative to LPS injection from steers in Exp. 2. Data were analyzed as a complete randomized block design using the MIXED procedure of SAS. Performance characteristics from Exp. 1, including weight, ADG, DMI and gain:feed, did not differ among treatments (P 0.32). Morbidity and number of animals treated once or twice did not differ in either experiment (P 0.16). During the LPS infusion in Exp. 2, there was a treatment × time effect for rectal temperatures (P= 0.05) and non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentrations (P= 0.0002), where temperature and NEFA were lower pre-LPS, but greater post-LPS in CON compared to TC steers. Decreased NEFA post-LPS in TC steers suggests less break down of the adipose tissue as a source of energy for immune defenses. There were no treatment × time effects in Exp. 2 for blood urea nitrogen (P= 0.18), cortisol (P= 0.96), or insulin (P= 0.67). Results from this experiment indicate that Select TCtm improves health and metabolic status of immune challenged cattle, but this may not result in quantifiable improvements in performance.

The Cyclotron Institute at Texas A&M University

Since the first cyclotron beam fifty years ago, the Texas A&M Cyclotron Institute has functioned as a university-based laboratory. Over the past two decades it has been funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, the State of Texas, the Welch Foundation, and commercial sale of beam-time. The first accelerator is a conventional isochronous cyclotron modeled after the 88″ cyclotron at the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory. It arose from a proposal funded by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, the R. A. Welch Foundation (a private foundation headquartered in Houston), and the State of Texas and continued to operate from 1967 to 1987. After recommissioning in 2007 as a higher-field K150 machine, it is still in operation. The K500 cyclotron, funded in 1980 by the Welch Foundation and Texas A&M University and modeled after the Michigan State NSCL K500 cyclotron, is a superconducting isochronous cyclotron whose first beam was extracted in 1988.

Kozmetik Ürünlerin Fototoksik Etkileri: Mekanizması ve Alternatif Test Metotları

Abnormal skin reactions may be observed in the skin subject to sunlight and photoreactive xenobiotics. Phototoxicity can be defined as the response to the combined exposure of the skin to photoreactive xenobiotics and light. Phototoxicity occurs with symptoms like erythema, edema, skin irritation and itching. The UV-absorbing properties of various organic chemicals, can lead to induction of phototoxicity by this substances. Number of drugs and cosmetics, which have such properties, are increasing from day to day. Several test methods were developed to determine the phototoxic potential of chemical substances. Particularly after the acceptance of 3R principle, many alternative methods were developed, validated and accepted by the regulatory authorities, for the evaluation of the potential toxic effects of the chemicals. On March 11, 2013, the commercial sale of all cosmetics and personal care products, which were tested on animals, was banned in the European Union and since then the safety evaluation of the cosmetics is being conducted by alternative In vitro toxicity tests. These tests, including tests for phototoxicity, are suitable for many toxicity studies. This review will focus the mechanisms of phototoxicity and the alternative test methods used for the detection of this particular toxic effect.

Screening food-borne and zoonotic pathogens associated with livestock practices in the Sumapaz region, Cundinamarca, Colombia

Hazardous practices regarding antibiotics misuse, unsanitary milking procedures, and the commercial sales of raw milk and unpasteurized dairy products are currently being practiced by livestock farmers in the Sumapaz region (Colombia). The purpose of this study was to screen for food-borne and zoonotic pathogens associated with local livestock practices. We evaluated 1098 cows from 46 livestock farms in the Sumapaz region that were selected by random. Of the total population of cattle, 962 animals (88%) were tested for bovine TB using a caudal-fold tuberculin test and 546 (50%) for brucellosis by a competitive ELISA. In the population tested, 23 cows were positive for Brucella sp. representing a 4.2% seroprevalence and no cases of bovine tuberculosis were found. In addition, food-borne contamination with Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus was assessed together with antibiotic susceptibility for ten different antibiotics in milk samples from 16 livestock farms. We found that 12 of the farms (75%) were contaminated with these food-borne pathogens. Noteworthy, all of the isolated pathogenic strains were resistant to multiple antibiotics, primarily to oxytetracycline and erythromycin. Our findings suggest that livestock products could be a source of exposure to Brucella and multidrug-resistant E. coli and S. aureus strains as a result of unhygienic livestock practices in the Sumapaz region. Training in good farming practices is the key to improving safety in food production.

Taking the First Bite: Who Should Tax Applees $187 Billion in Ireland?

On December 19, 2016, the European Commission (hereinafter “Commission”) published its final decision in the Apple State aid case. The Commission concluded that two tax rulings granted in 1991 and 2007 on the allocation of profits to the Irish branches of Apple Sales International (ASI) and Apple Operations Europe (AOE) amounted to illegal state aid, and ordered Ireland to immediately recover this aid from Apple. The key issue in the Apple decision is where Apple’s foreign income ($187 billion, as of 2016) should be regarded as being generated. In the authors’ opinion, there is almost no basis for any argument that two-thirds of the profits of Apple Inc. were generated by functions performed, assets used and risks assumed in Ireland, where only 4 percent of its global workforce and approximately 1 percent of its customers are located. Indeed, under traditional principles, profits originate and taxes are due where value is created – that is, where the research and development is conducted. Accordingly, since almost all of Apple’s research activity takes place in the United States, Apple should remit most of its taxes there. Such view that was recently upheld by Jacob Lew, Neelie Kroes and Pascal Saint-Amans, does not take into account that 60 percent of Apple’s total net sales occurs overseas and the significance of customer market in value creation. In addition, it is also inconsistent with the position taken by the Internal Revenue Service in the Glaxo case, i.e., intangibles derive their value primarily in the country where marketing activities are carried out and not where research and development activity is performed. This paper discusses how the arguments presented by the IRS in Glaxo can be used by high-tax EU countries to justify locating extra profits to sales and marketing support operations performed by Apple Europe retail subsidiaries. While ordering Ireland to recover €13 billion in illegal tax benefits, the Commission left the door open for other tax authorities to claim for Apple’s commercial risks, sales and other activities that might have taken place in their countries.

Assessment of stun quality after gunshot used on cattle: a pilot study on effects of diverse ammunition on physical signs displayed after the shot, brain tissue damage and brain haemorrhages

AbstractMoving the slaughter process from the abattoir to the animals’ familiar environment has the potential to reduce pre-mortal stressors to a minimum and contribute considerably to improved animal welfare at slaughter. On-farm stunning and killing of free-range cattle via gunshot became legal in Germany in November 2011, including for commercial sale of the meat. As an effective stun is essential for maintaining animal welfare until the animal dies, the goal of this study was to assess the feasibility of delivering an instantaneous and deep stun by an accurate frontal gunshot at cattle. Thirty free-range cattle (Galloway, German Angus) were shot with five different combinations of rifles and bullets. A stun-quality protocol was developed to assess musculoskeletal, optical and respiratory signs displayed after the shot. Key signs, such as failure to collapse, corneal reflex, spontaneous blinking, eyeball rotation or eyeball movement, distinct vocalisation and rhythmic breathing were not evident in 29 of the 30 cattle. Dissections of the heads were used to detect penetration depth of the projectile as well as evaluate brain tissue damage and brain haemorrhage caused by the shot. Tissue damage was marginal and not related to the ascertained level of stun quality. Brain haemorrhages assumed to be sufficient for causing a deep stun were detected in 25 out of 30 cattle. Accurate shot placement turned out to be more important than the application of a certain calibre. However, it was considered crucial for safety reasons that the projectile should remain within the cranial cavity. As long as there are high levels of accuracy, gunshot was considered to be an effective stunning method with the potential of maintaining high standards of animal welfare until death occurs.

Illegal Trade of Marine Mammal Bone Exposed: Simple Test Identifies Bones of “Mermaid Ivory” or Steller's Sea Cow (Hydrodamalis gigas)

In the US, marine mammals in the US are protected by the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). Most of these species are listed by CITES and thus international trade in their products is restricted. Therefore, commercial sale of unfossilized marine mammal bone is largely prohibited. Sale of Steller’s sea cow (Hydrodamalis gigas) bone is legal, however, since the animals have been extinct since 1768. The current study outlines a simple test that can identify bone which is bona fide Steller’s sea cow – and thus legal to sell. The test uses a segment of the D-loop of the mitochondrion, which has the power to exclude samples which are not specifically H. gigas or a Sirenian relative. The test also includes a reliable method to extract DNA from bone and amplify it using PCR. Extracted DNA was sequenced to verify that only manatees, dugongs, elephants and their relatives produced a positive result. Using this test, products being sold commercially as legal “mermaid ivory” (Steller sea cow bone) were found to actually come from gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus), pantropical spotted dolphin (Stenella attenuata) and white-beaked dolphin (Lagenorhynchus albirostris) bone. This finding indicates that government agencies should monitor bones being sold as “mermaid ivory” because protected species are being illegally traded under the guise of being legal Steller’s sea cow bone.

Norfolk Southern Corporation—Century Bonds

Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC), a railway operator, was issuing a $250 million bond with a coupon of 6% and a maturity in 2105. The bonds were added to an existing $300 million 6% debt issue due 2105, which the company first sold in 2005. A bond analyst at Tidal Insurance (Tidal), has heard that the original issue of this century bond was to be $100 million, and it seemed that strong investor demand pushed NSC, to increase the total amount to $250 million. He has to decide whether Tidal should include the NSC bond in its bond portfolio. Excerpt UVA-F-1733 Rev. Aug. 13, 2015 Norfolk Southern Corporation—Century Bonds On Tuesday, August 24, 2010, Fred Vera was drinking a cup of coffee when he picked up the Financial Times and saw the news. Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC), a railway operator headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, was issuing a $ 250 million bond with coupon of 6% and a maturity in 2105. The bonds were added to an existing $ 300 million 6% debt issue due 2105 that the company first sold in 2005. He immediately saw a potential investment opportunity and started thinking of the advantages of this century bond for his firm. Vera, a bond analyst at Tidal Insurance (Tidal), had heard that the original issue of this century bond was to be $ 100million, and it seemed that strong investor demand pushed NSC, to increase the total amount to $ 250 million. He had to decide whether Tidal, a regional life insurance company, should include the NSC bond in its bond portfolio. Norfolk Southern Corporation One of the leaders in the transportation industry, NSC controlled a major freight railroad, Norfolk Southern Railway, which operated approximately 21,000 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia. It ran the most extensive intermodal network (freight transportation by a combination of train and truck) in the eastern half of the United States. It transported coal and industrial products through its Triple Crown Services unit. Exhibit 1 shows Norfolk Southern Railway's system network. Other businesses in which NSC participated included commercial real estate development, sales and leasing of rail property and equipment, and leasing and management of coal, oil, gas, and other minerals. . . .