Whitepaper from PIERS and InformEx Provides New Insight into U.S. Chemical Export Trends

NEWARK, N.存倉J. and HAMILTON, N.J., Oct. 28, 2013 /CNW/ - PIERS, which maintains the most comprehensive portfolio of data intelligence resources for U.S. waterborne trade activity in the world, has partnered with InformEx, the premier global chemical marketplace, to launch a new report that examines top markets for U.S. chemical exports based on the volume of waterborne shipments between 2007 and 2012. (Download the report here: content.piers.com/piers-us-chemical-exports-report-2012.)(Logo: photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131028/NY05330LOGO-a)(Logo: photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131028/NY05330LOGO-b)"Market Opportunities for U.S. Chemical Exports: An Examination of Growth Across Major Markets," looks at the top geographic markets for exports classified under the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule's chapters 28 and 29, which include various organic and inorganic chemicals, as well as certain precious and rare-earth metals. The report provides a macro-assessment of selected commodities that have shown significant growth in the five years leading to 2012 and are traded in relatively high volume. Findings provide valuable high-level market data to chemical manufacturers, distributors, end users, and those servicing the chemical supply chain."The global chemical market is in a constant state of change, and companies who are involved in the chemical supply chain need to be acutely aware of the issues affecting demand for their materials," said Nancy Largay, InformEx brand director. "By combining the InformEx platform with the unrivaled U.S. trade intelligence of PIERS, we're providing business knowledge that can drive decision-making for the top players in the chemical industry."Here are some of the report's key findings for U.S. exports during the period between 2007 and 2012:-- Nucleic acids (HS Code 2934) to Brazil grew 405 percent. -- Halogenated derivatives of hydrocarbons (HS Code 2903) to China grew 246 percent. -- Titanium oxides (HS Code 2823) to India grew 513.9 percent. -- Amine-function compounds (HS Code 2921) to South Korea grew 368 percent. -- Cyclic hydrocarbons (HS Code 2902) to Belgium grew 114.6 percent. -- Carboxylic acids (HS Code 2918) to the Netherlands grew 334.6 percent."For over 35 years, PIERS has been a trusted provider of valuable intelligence to the chemical industry," said Wael Jarous, senior vice president of PIERS - JOC Group Inc. "Many of the biggest names in this sector are investing in our solutions based on our commitment to deliver reliable, decision-ready intelligence. We accomplish this by marrying our client's business knowledge with our expertise in data processing and optimization; the end result is a powerful customized solution that empowers and supports strategic decision making. InformEx provides us with a great forum to develop these partnerships even further, and for that reason I'm pleased to continue our close relationship."Downl儲存ad your complimentary copy of "Market Opportunities for U.S. Chemical Exports: An Examination of Growth Across Major Markets," for intelligence on what markets and commodities are growing fastest for U.S. chemical exports.About PIERS PIERS is the most comprehensive database of U.S. waterborne trade activity in the world, providing information services to thousands of subscribers globally. Launched more than 35 years ago, PIERS was the first venture in digital global trade intelligence and quickly became the industry standard for accuracy, reliability and insight. Its unique infrastructure and proprietary technology allow PIERS to not only publish import data, but also complete coverage of U.S. export transactional data. PIERS is a division of JOC Group Inc., and a sister company of The Journal of Commerce. For more information, visit .piers.com.About JOC Group Inc.The JOC Group Inc. is the authoritative provider of business intelligence, data and events for trade, transportation and logistics professionals worldwide. Through its PIERS database and leading JOC coverage of transportation online, print and events, the JOC Group Inc. provides customers with critical insights, data-rich intelligence and tools to compete effectively in the global marketplace. For further information, please visit .joc.com/group.The JOC Group Inc. is part of the AXIO Data Group, owned by Electra Partners, an independent private equity fund manager with more than 30 years' experience in the mid-market. As of September 2012, the firm had funds under management valued at over $2 billion. The firm's flexible investment approach allows it to invest across a broad range of sectors and financial instruments including equity, senior equity, convertibles and mezzanine debt. For further information please visit .axiogroup.net or .electrapartners.com.About InformExProduced by UBM Live, InformEx fosters the continuous advancement of the fine, specialty, and custom chemicals industry by providing networking tools, educational opportunities and community collaboration forums -- all designed to accelerate growth in the changing chemical enterprise landscape. The annual InformEx event is the premier must-attend exposition for the chemical industry for the past 30 years, providing a platform for in-person networking and business development. Each year the event brings together an international mix of more than 3,500 fine and specialty chemicals professionals and hundreds of exhibitors. To learn more, visit .informex.com. Registration is now open for InformEx 2014, being held Jan. 21-24 in Miami Beach, Florida.PIERSCONTACT: PIERS - JOC Group Inc., Jesse Case, 1-973-776-8541,jcase@joc.com; orInformEx, Lauren Belmont, 1-609-759-4721, lauren.belmont@ubm.com, orKelly Quigley (Chempetitive Group), 1-858-997-9462,kquigley@chempetitive.com.piers.com.informex.comphotos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131028/NY05330LOGO-aphotos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131028/NY05330LOGO-bPRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com迷你倉

免手機「煲粥」減少吸輻射

流動電話已成為生活的一部分，儲存甚至是大部分，手機除是對外溝通的重要工具，亦是消磨時間的最佳拍檔，在車廂內總有大批「低頭」族，盯�手機屏幕，唯恐錯過了重大事情一樣。然而與手機接觸愈頻繁，愈可能影響健康，過度玩手機除了會損害視力，更有可能令自己暴露在輻射中而不自覺。流動電話有沒有輻射？對人體有沒有害？相信是近十多年來，做得最多的研究，每年用在這課題的研究費用，估計超過三千萬美元。惟至今仍沒有確切實據，證明用手機會對人體產生甚麼傷害。不過，全球已有最少六個國家，向消費者發出警告，提醒減少暴露在手機輻射之下。研究發現，特別是發育中的年輕人或兒童，腦部吸收手機輻射的分量，足足是成年人的兩倍，為了下一代�想，當然要格外留神。使用有�耳機都市人相信難以擺脫手機的癡纏，唯有考慮減少吸收輻射之法。美國EWG（Environmental Working Group），就向機不離手的人作出多項建議，如要用手機通話。最好開啟手機喇叭，這樣就不會令手機與腦部「跳貼身舞」；若選用藍芽免提耳機，則應只在通話時才戴上。藍芽耳機發出的輻射雖遠低於手迷你倉，但佩戴藍芽耳機，等同用微低輻射「煲腦」，可免則免。筆者見過用藍芽耳機最誇張的是的士司機，可能太多生意、太多來電，除車上放了四五部手機外，左右耳各掛上一隻藍芽耳機。　　EWG又建議在通話時，要讓手機與腦部、身體保持距離。但這幾乎是不可能，要麼聽電話，要麼不接，隔空聽電話，一來聽得不清楚，二來又怕聲響騷擾他人，最重要是怕悄悄話被三唔識七的人聽到，唯一方法是使用有�耳機。　　另外，若所處之地方接收訊號較差，最好去一些訊號爆格的地方才用手機通話，因為訊號愈差，手機便會加大輸出功率，閣下的大腦便照單全收。而且，最好企定定通話，一路行一路講電話，手機收訊或過機站時，都會加大接收力。更重要的是，睡覺時，千萬別把手機放在枕頭下，因為手機會不斷向發射站發出訊號，通知機站身在何方，待有來電時機站才知應把電話轉駁去哪個發射站。而這些訊號會刺激腦部，令腦部不停運作，據悉特別容易發夢，自然影響睡眠質素。EWG與很多研究流動電話對人體傷害的機構一樣，都是建議長話短說，盡量用文字通訊（sms或即時通訊軟件），手機「煲粥」，可免則免。逢星期二見報self storage

Per diem drop could cost SF millions in lost revenue

Source: Albuquerque Journal, N.迷你倉最平M.Oct. 28--SANTA FE -- A recent drop in the per diem rate federal government workers get when they travel to Santa Fe could cost the city millions of dollars in revenue, local officials say.The city wants the U.S. General Services Administration to increase Santa Fe's per diem, recently set at $88, to last year's peak season rate of $105."If the hotels in Santa Fe have to absorb such a substantial loss of revenue, it will result in loss of jobs, and increased demand for social services in a city and state that are already struggling," says a city letter sent this month to Daniel Tangherlini, administrator for the federal General Services Administration.The GSA sets the per diem rates for federal government employees' domestic travel.Tourism officials say local hotel revenue could be reduced by more than $2.8 million this year if the new rate remains in effect.The city letter was jointly signed by Mayor David Coss, Santa Fe Convention and Visitors Bureau chief Jim Luttjohann, New Mexico Lodgers Association President Charlie Grey and Santa Fe Lodgers Association President Ben Tutt, who manages La Posada de Santa Fe Resort and Spa.On Oct. 1, the GSA's per diem for trips to Santa Fe dropped to the flat rate of $88 for the entire 2013-14 federal fiscal year -- a 16 percent decline from the "peak season" Santa Fe per diem of $105 from the previous year. Last year's off-season per diem was $83.The city letter said that information on the GSA website and from communications with industry group US Travel indicate that fe迷你倉eral per diem rates were to be rolled back to 2010 levels and that seasonality was removed from the equation, with no bumps upward for peak season travel.Data from Smith Travel Star, a private research group, were also used to set the rates, according to Santa Fe officials.The change has left some in the local tourism community wondering if the new per diem rates for Santa Fe were incorrectly calculated.The city's letter questions how the Smith Travel Star reports and 2010 rates "were factored and whether Santa Fe had inadvertently been lowered in rate by too great an amount," the letter to the General Services Administration said.Santa Fe's rates in 2010 were $109 for peak times and $88 for off-peak, the latter being the rate now set for the current year.The letter said it's puzzling comparing Santa Fe's per diem to other New Mexico cities.Las Cruces, for instance, has a current rate of $88 for this fiscal year compared to an off-peak rate of $70 in 2010. Taos was $77 in 2010 and is $90 now. Carlsbad's current per diem rate is $105.Luttjohann told the Journal he doesn't have precise numbers on how much of the city's tourism business is due to federal government business travel. But he's calculated that around 34 percent of convention center bookings over the past two years included blocks of hotel rooms that were used for state or federal government purposes.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 the Albuquerque Journal (Albuquerque, N.M.) Visit the Albuquerque Journal (Albuquerque, N.M.) at .abqjournal.com Distributed by MCT Information Services儲存

迪士尼擬增設夜間巡遊

self storage 　　有議員昨日在立法會一委員會關注上海迪士尼建成後帶來競爭，香港迪士尼樂園行政總裁金民豪說，港迪士尼會設計特色景點如鐵甲奇俠新園區帑以突顯不同。金又指未來會與政府商討研究興建主題酒店、考慮增設夜間巡遊；又會比較區內其他樂園票價及旅客需求來調整票價。對於員工福利，金指每年均考慮調整，一旦政府就飯鐘錢立例就會跟隨。　　而旅遊事務專員容偉雄則說樂園開幕至今，已接待約4,300萬旅客，去年首次獲得盈利。迷你倉

臺灣

大尺寸螢幕手機蔚為風潮，迷你倉NPD DisplaySearch預估，2013年全球5吋FHD智慧手機面板出貨量將超過1億片，占整體智慧手機面板5%。有助提升F-TPK宸鴻（3637）及勝華等業者積極推展5至6吋手機觸控市場。NPD DisplaySearch說，目前生產5吋FHD智慧手機面板的技術包括，傳統的非晶矽（a-Si）技術、金屬氧化物技術（Oxide TFT）、低溫多晶矽（LTPS）技術，各種技術有其優缺點，自存倉看自家面板廠自己選擇適合的技術。其中a-Si技術生產的螢幕，較Oxide的螢幕成本低約3個百分點，而Oxide的技術，較LTPS的成本又降低11%。可以看出，a-Si的成本最低，再來是Oxide，LTPS的成本最貴。不過，Oxide的技術有希望可以做到既降低成本，又提高性能。Oxide螢幕的成本可與a-Si相媲美，而其性能接近LTPS。但是，Oxide技術的不穩定性、低收益率和其他技術方面的障礙，也阻礙其普及的步伐。迷你倉

央行個人信用報告9省份可上網查詢 明年有望全國開通

據人民日報報道 10月28日起，儲存繼江蘇、四川、重慶3省市試點之後，央行個人信用報告網上查詢服務試點擴至9省份，增加北京、山東、遼寧、湖南、廣西、廣東6個試點省份。27日，記者試著登錄中國人民銀行徵信中心個人信用信息服務平台(以下簡稱平台，網址https://ipcrs.pbccrc.org.cn/)，已經可以看到標有"驗證試用版"的頁面開通。頁面中部有兩個藍色按鈕：用戶登錄和用戶註冊，右下方附有詳細的用戶指南。個人信用記錄如何查詢？信用記錄包括哪些內容？記者進行了體驗和採訪。身份驗證才能查詢70余家銀行U盾可用于驗證 記者根據網站提示開始註冊，發現除正確填寫姓名、證件類型和證件號碼等基本信息外，還需要通過私密性問題驗證或數字證書驗證的方式確認身份的真實性。提交註冊申請24小時後，可獲知是否通過審核。據瞭解，"私密性問題驗證"是根據用戶的身份信息和信貸交易信息設計的，比如，系統可能要求用戶回答所持有信用卡的額度、個人貸款業務類型等。若未通過"私密性問題驗證"，可轉為"數字證書驗證"確認身份的真實性，也可以到人民銀行分支機構現場查詢本人信用信息。數字證書驗證指個人使用由第三方認證機構發行的電子文檔，來證明自己的身份。數字證書通常存儲在銀行發放的密鑰，即通常所說的U盾中。當前平台採用與中國金融認證中心(CFCA)合作的銀行或機構發放的證書來驗證身份，支持70多家銀行發放的U盾。中國人民銀行徵信中心一位工作人員解釋，有些銀行發放的U盾採用了自行認證的方式，暫時不能用于平台登錄，其中也包括一些用戶量比較大的商業銀行。徵信中心還在研究下一步方案，力爭在確保安全性的前提下，與更多銀行合作，盡可能方便公�。次日反饋查詢結果可查到近5年逾期還款記錄 其實，從2013年3月起，徵信中心已經面向江蘇、四川、重慶3省市試點網上查詢信用記錄，此次又增加了北京、山東、遼寧、湖南、廣西、廣東6個試點省份。需要提醒的是，身份證號碼前兩位須為32、51、50、11、37、21、43、45、44。如果身份證號碼所屬地不在上述9省份之列，即便現在戶籍已經遷移到9省份區域內mini storage也暫時無法查詢。據徵信中心工作人員透露，徵信中心正在做各方面的準備，如果順利的話，明年網上查詢平台有望在全國範圍內開通。通過平台可查到三方面的信用記錄：個人信用信息提示、個人信用信息概要以及個人信用報告。個人信用信息提示是註冊用戶在個人徵信系統中是否有逾期記錄的提示性信息，比如是否有最近5年內的貸款、貸記卡逾期記錄，以及准貸記卡透支超過60天的記錄。個人信用信息概要為註冊用戶提供其在個人徵信系統中信貸記錄、公共記錄和查詢記錄的匯總信息，個人信用報告則涵蓋明細信息。公共記錄包括欠稅記錄、強制執行記錄、民事判決記錄、行政處罰記錄及電信欠費記錄等。當日查詢，次日反饋查詢結果。中國人民銀行徵信中心工作人員還表示，信用報告的信息將及時更新，信息的保存嚴格按照《徵信業管理條例》的要求進行處理。如果個人有不良貸款記錄，自該不良行為或事件結束之日起在信用報告上保留不超過5年的時間。如果對查詢到的信用記錄有異議，可撥打客服電話申請處理，或者直接到當地人民銀行分支機構，現場辦理異議申請。防止個人信息泄露嚴格身份驗證，內外網物理隔離信用信息查詢平台在帶來方便快捷的同時，也引發對公民信息泄露的擔憂。如何才能確保公民個人信用信息的安全，讓其不被不法分子盜用呢？中國人民銀行徵信中心工作人員介紹，平台在設計的時候就非常注重安全性：一是只有經過了嚴格的真實身份驗證後才能成為平台的註冊用戶，查詢自己的信用記錄；二是採用了多種技術手段來確保信息安全。據介紹，平台採用物理隔離的方式確保信息的安全。基於互聯網運行的個人信用信息服務平台與基於人民銀行內聯網(專網)運行的個人徵信系統實行物理隔離，平台用于驗證個人身份的信息和信用報告信息存儲在個人徵信系統中，系統每日會對平台的註冊和查詢申請集中處理，並需要在兩網間進行數據交換。查詢結果只在網站上保留7天。"也就是說，我們每天都在做一個搜索引擎的工作，根據用戶提交的查詢請求，把信息從內網里調出來，再傳輸到平台上。"一位工作人員說。也正是出于這樣的原因，個人信用信息服務平台無法實現實時反饋，一般會在個人提交查詢申請的第二日反饋查詢結果。self storage

Daily Mail, London, Alex Brummer column

Source: Daily Mail, LondonOct.self storage 26--It is the easiest thing in the world to pick holes in Britain's robust upturn. The jump in output has taken a long time to arrive, above target inflation has eroded living standards, output is still below where it was in 2008 and it is unbalanced.But all of these points can be challenged.The fact that the UK's recovery took longer than expected is hardly surprising.Mark Carney, new broom at the Bank of England, explained it on Thursday night when he pointed out that the assets of the UK banking system are four times the size of gross domestic product.So until the financial sector was restored to health recovery was bound to be delayed. The clean-up was far from complete when the Coalition arrived in office.Labour insists that the real issue of the moment is not growth but the cost of living. It is doubtless right that people have been hurting. But it was inevitable, after the boom and bust of the Blair-Brown years, when people became artificially wealthy on credit, that there would have to be a severe downward adjustment in living standards.The remarkable thing about the change that has taken place is that it has been relatively painless, in terms of unemployment, when compared to most of our neighbours on the Continent.Britain has actually created 1.69m new private sector jobs since the last quarter of 2009. It has a largely disciplined workforce ? Honda workers at Swindon provide a shining example ? that modified work patterns and accepted lower rewards to make sure that factories were not mothballed.The unbalanced economy is also something of a myth. Yes, the services sector that accounts for 75pc of output is the driving force behind this upturn, and it has climbed beyond its 2008 peak by 0.4pc. The tendency is to regard this sector as unproductive ? people buying haircuts and dining out.That is ill-informed. Business services, legal, consultancy, engineering and architecture, are an enormous part of this and contribute to exports and job creation. It includes successful companies such as the international recruiters Robert Walters and Harvey Nash.Moreover, no one is quite sure the output of all business services, such as the creative industries, is currently being fully captured by the Office for National Statistics.Which brings us to charges of an unbalanced recovery. Anyone tuning into Radio 4 early yesterday will have heard business people from the North-East, the Midlands and th迷你倉 North-West confirming an upturn in the industrial heartland.Indeed, manufacturing output was up sharply in the third quarter by 0.9pc and exports are responding well, given the slump in the eurozone. The overall growth numbers also have been distorted by energy issues. Output from energy supply slipped by 6.8pc in the third quarter, almost certainly as a result of the warm summer.If we also take into account the secular decline in North Sea oil and gas then the overall shortfall would have been far smaller.Economist Simon Ward of Henderson says that non-oil output was 1.6pc below peak in the third quarter ? not the 2.5pc that is screamed from the rooftops ? and this figure could fall to 1pc by the end of the year.The lost ground is being rapidly made up. Construction, both housebuilding and commercial, is picking up momentum and that is before the much criticised Help to Buy scheme comes on stream.The supply side effect may not be as rapid as the government wanted as planning restrictions and capacity constraints can make the market inelastic. However, you only have to look at the new home numbers from the residential builders to recognise not all the additional finance is heading into the London bubble.It is only too easy for Labour to see the glass as half empty. But as output and productivity pick-up so will pay and living standards.Patience, dear reader, patience.___I am being reassured by the global book builders for the Royal Mail offer that 90pc of the shares were allocated to 'long only' UK investors, not to the hedge funds and other clients. This despite the fact that several trusted City houses saw the allocation differently.The message from the book builders is that the likes of activist shareholder TCI, with 5.8pc of the stock, only put their chips on the gaming table after the offer.But even if this is the case then UBS, Goldman Sachs et al were hopelessly wrong on pricing.The shares offered at 330p were trading at 555p on Friday. Broker Panmure Gordon, in a 37-page note, has placed a target price of 570p on the stock.If honourable the global book runners would apologise to Business Secretary Vince Cable for an embarrassment. They should also consider returning their advisory and commission fees to the taxpayer as recompense for making a pig's ear.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 Daily Mail (London, ) Visit the Daily Mail (London, ) at .dailymail.co.uk/home/index.html Distributed by MCT Information Servicesmini storage