The "Zero Motorcycles" app is the world's first mobile application with the ability to control the performance characteristics of a production motorcycle.

ENGADGET: Zero Motorcycle releases app for iOS and Android with customizable dashboard

One analyst also noted there were statistically significant and meaningful imbalances favoring patients in the control group in several characteristics that are known to be important risk factors for acute pancreatitis, particularly alcohol and gallstones.

FORBES: The Confusion Over A Pair Of Diabetes Drugs And Pancreatitis

Currency fluctuation, a lack of financial transparency, currency control regulation, and other characteristics of many emerging markets keep the less informed investor away from these markets.

FORBES: How Investors Are Gaining in Emerging Markets

Some characteristics are beyond their control: When the interest rates tick downward, loan applications flood through the door.

FORBES: When Too Much Success Is A Curse

Many characteristics that are under genetic control (height in people, for example, or flavour and texture in chickens) vary over a range of values.

ECONOMIST: A genetic game of chicken

We contrasted it with administrative characteristics: focused on predictability and stability, control of resources and risk, process is important, results are secondary.

FORBES: Who is The Entrepreneur: Catalina Gorla (on figuring it out later)

Administrators can use "nerd knobs" in the product's management system to control what may be searched, and shape results around characteristics such as when or literally where, geographically speaking, a document was created.

FORBES: Google Digs Deeper Into Business

One of the most troubling characteristics of those who make a living doing arms control and other feats of diplomatic derring-do is their tendency to dissemble about the true nature of things.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Arms controllers return