Selected Reference Questions

 Choose any three of the following questions and answer thoroughly.

In general, your answers should be a combination of summaries and citations that answer the various parts of the question. Be sure to tell me your search strategies for each question (or parts of the question).

 1. I am interested in knowing more about who makes the Taxus stent, used in angioplasty: who makes it, how old is it, what have sales been like in the last couple of years, what percentage of the overall market for stents does the company have, and, very important, what is known about the effectiveness and safety of the product?

 2. USC is busily gearing up for an expected robust future in hydrogen fuel cell research and related technologies. What does the literature say about the future of hydrogen fuel cell research and application, particularly as used as an alternative fuel for automobiles? Is USC leading or lagging in R&D in this area? A brief historical review of alternative (i.e., not petroleum based) automotive fuels to accompany this would also be helpful.

 3. Someone told me there was a South Korean company (other than Samsung) operating in SC but I am having trouble finding it. I would like to know the name of the company, what it does/makes and where it has offices in SC.  And, any information about how much business it is doing in SC.  

 4. I have been doing some reading about the “fair trade” movement around the world and would like to know more about the argument for and against it. As far as I can tell it is most frequently associated with coffee grown in lesser developed countries but I see an occasional article where it also applies to other products (lumber, t-shirts, etc.). What I really want to have is a few good articles that summarize the arguments (economic, social, environmental, etc.) for and against the movement. Just to need to see articles in the last two years, please. And, of course, you could always give me your own opinion of the movement!

 5. I heard on TV recently that the US spends far more on military costs than most other developed countries in the world. In terms of GNP (gross national product) or GNI (gross national income) just how much do we expend on military costs vs. such things as health care, education, etc. in the last few years (say 2000 to date) and how does these compare to such countries as France, German, United Kingdom, etc.? Be sure to indicate your sources and include some outside of US government published sources.  

 6. I heard a tidbit of news on the Jim Lehrer Newshour the other night about Arvind Kejriwal and his fight for the “right to information.” Could you tell me more about what this fight is all about, where it is taking place, and where it stands now (in 2007). I also heard he was a winner of an award from the Ashoka group, led by, Bill Drayton. What is this group and what does it do?

Due date: March 26