Tapping this steam would be expensive, since it would require not only extra building materials, but also more durable ones, to cope with the higher pressures and temperatures.

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On the other hand, Lampard isn't only one of the club's most popular players but also one of the most durable over the past 12 years.

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The research could help develop new materials that are durable enough for everyday use, but also easy to dissolve from existence.

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But brands and reputation, if managed properly, can also prove remarkably durable.

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Japan's exports also moved swiftly up the value chain, but whereas this was not enough to support durable gains in its market share, China has the advantage of capital controls that will prevent its exchange rate rising as abruptly as Japan's did in the 1980s.

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