Emerging Markets for GM Foods: A Study of Consumer's Willingness to Pay in India

A random utility approach is used to estimate logit equations which indicate what factors affect the likelihood of consumption of non-GM and GM foods, and, whether or not consumers are willing to pay a premium for non-GM/GM foods. Ceteris paribus as the price difference between non-GM and GM food rose, people were more likely to consume GM foods. Likelihood of GM food consumption was higher in the middle income brackets. Consumers were willing to pay an expected premium of 19.5% and 16.12% for golden rice and GM edible oil respectively. In case of chicken, consumers seemed to pay a very negligible premium for non-GM fed chicken. Overall, it appears that GM foods may be acceptable in the Indian market. However, basic awareness about the GM foods may have to be created among the consumers through government ministries, consumer interest groups, and biotech food-crop companies.GM Foods, Golden Rice, Bt cottonseed oil, GM fed chicken, Willingness to Pay, Random utility approach, Logit, India., Demand and Price Analysis, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Q13, D12,

Emerging Markets for GM Foods: An Indian Perspective on Consumer Understanding and Willingness to Pay

This paper addresses the issues of consumer awareness, opinion, acceptance and willingness to pay for GM foods in the Indian market. A random utility approach is used to estimate a logit equation which indicates what factors affect the likelihood of consumption of non-GM and GM foods and whether or not consumers are willing to pay a premium for non-GM/GM foods. Data was generated through questionnaire survey which was administered to 602 respondents in the city of Ahmedabad and 110 respondents on internet. More than 90% of the respondents from the city survey did not know about GM foods. However, after informing them about the pros and cons of GM foods, more than 70% were willing to consume even if GM and non-GM foods were available for the same price. Ceteris paribus as the price difference between non-GM and GM food rose, people were more likely to consume GM foods. Likelihood of GM food consumption seemed to increase as one moved from very poor and not-so-poor income brackets to higher income brackets. Being a female or a joint family member increased the likelihood of choosing non-GM rice and edible oil. On an average, consumers were willing to pay 19.5% and 16.12% premiums for golden rice and GM edible oil, respectively. Overall, it appears that GM foods will be acceptable in the Indian market. However, consumer education societies, government ministries, and food companies may have to create awareness about the GM foods among Indian consumers.

Influence of PWM on the proximity loss in permanent magnet brushless AC machines

The winding copper loss can be significantly increased due to skin and proximity eddy current effects. The skin and proximity losses due to fundamental frequency current has been investigated in literature, but the influence of PWM on the skin and proximity losses has not been reported. In this paper, 2-D finite element method is employed to analyze the skin and proximity losses in a permanent magnet brushless AC machine, in which significant proximity loss exists due to high frequency current ripples induced by the PWM, as confirmed by both theoretical calculation and experiment. The analyses should be generally applicable to other machines

LC and LC–MS study for simultaneous determination of tramadol hydrochloride and ketorolac tromethamine in bulk and formulation with their major degradation products

AbstractThe present work was aimed to separate, identify and characterize the major degradation products of tramadol hydrochloride and ketorolac tromethamine. A rapid, specific and accurate stability indicating reversed phase liquid chromatographic method has been developed for simultaneous determination of tramadol hydrochloride and ketorolac tromethamine in bulk and formulation. The drugs were subjected to hydrolysis (acidic, alkaline and neutral), oxidation, photolytic and thermal stress, as per ICH guidelines. The separation, identification and characterization of major stressed degradation products were performed using high performance liquid chromatography combined with quadrupole electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy (LC/ESI-MS) on a C-18 column. Tramadol hydrochloride was found to degrade in acidic and oxidative conditions while ketorolac tromethamine undergoes extensive degradation under oxidative, UV and acid hydrolysis stress.From the mass spectral data, probable structures were assigned to the degradation products. The identified major degradation product for tramadol under acid stress may be 1-(3′-methoxy-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-[1,1′-biphenyl]-2-yl)-N,N-dimethylmethanamine. Ketorolac tromethamine was also found to convert in to numerous degradation products under oxidative stress

A new method of measuring shoulder hand behind back movement: Reliability, values in symptomatic and asymptomatic people, effect of hand dominance, and side-to-side variability

Shoulder hand behind back (HBB) range of motion (ROM) is a useful measure of impairment and treatment outcome. The purpose of this repeated measures study was to identify inter- and intra-rater reliability, of a new simplified method of measuring HBB ROM. Two experienced raters measured HBB ROM with a bubble inclinometer on 25 people (aged 42–75 years, 14 female) with unilateral shoulder dysfunction and 25 age- and gender-matched asymptomatic subjects on two different occasions. Statistical analysis included calculation of intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs), minimal detectable change (MDC), standard error of measurement (SEM), Pearson correlation coefficient (r), coefficient of determination (R2), and the lower bound score. Mean HBB ROM was 108.6° (SD = 16.3) and 23.9° (SD = 10.5) on the pain-free and symptomatic side, respectively. Both intra-rater and inter-rater reliability were high (ICC > 0.80). For asymptomatic people the SEM was at most 3° and MDC was 8° with a strong correlation between the dominant and nondominant sides (r > 0.72). The mean absolute values and lower bound scores were at most 10.2° and 26.0°, respectively. These results indicate that this new and novel method of measuring HBB ROM is accurate, has good inter- and intra-rater reliability, and provides normal values for between-limb ROM variability

Mid Day Meal Scheme: Understanding Critical Issues with Reference to Ahmedabad City

Problems of illiteracy, malnutrition, anaemia, vitamin-A and iodine deficiency are very common among children in India. In 2001 Supreme Court of India ruled that state governments must provide mid-day meal (MDM) to children of government assisted primary schools. The 2007-2008 budget of the central government has allocated about Rs. 73 billion for the MDM scheme. Therefore, it becomes imperative that a comprehensive evaluation of the programme be undertaken to judge its efficacy. We studied the implementation of the scheme, made field visits to schools to document food preparation and delivery, and collected meal samples to test them in laboratory for nutritional contents and food safety. Study seems to indicate that the implementation of the scheme may be wanting on the grounds of nutrition and food safety. For example, protein and iodine content is not sufficiently provided by the meals. Raw food samples contained uric acid levels higher than stipulated by food laws. Traces of aflatoxins were also found. Food safety may be improved by employing food safety systems such as HACCP, contracting out meal preparation and distribution to reputed private parties, and offering packaged foods which also provide variety. Offering nutrition bars and fruits such as banana not only will ensure delivery of hygienic food but it will enhance the nutrition delivery of the MDM scheme.

Synovial hemangioma: a pictorial essay of two cases

Synovial hemangiomas are uncommon benign tumours of vascular origin arising in relation to the synovium of joints or bursae. Usually, a long-standing history of pain and joint swelling is present affecting children and adolescents especially in the knee or elbow joint. We present two cases of knee swelling diagnosed as synovial hemangioma

The nil Hecke ring and singularity of Schubert varieties

We give a criterion for smoothness of a point in any Schubert variety in any G/B in terms of the nil Hecke ring.Comment: AMSTE

Coloured peak algebras and Hopf algebras

For $G$ a finite abelian group, we study the properties of general equivalence relations on G_n=G^n\rtimes \SG_n, the wreath product of $G$ with the symmetric group \SG_n, also known as the $G$-coloured symmetric group. We show that under certain conditions, some equivalence relations give rise to subalgebras of \k G_n as well as graded connected Hopf subalgebras of \bigoplus_{n\ge o} \k G_n. In particular we construct a $G$-coloured peak subalgebra of the Mantaci-Reutenauer algebra (or $G$-coloured descent algebra). We show that the direct sum of the $G$-coloured peak algebras is a Hopf algebra. We also have similar results for a $G$-colouring of the Loday-Ronco Hopf algebras of planar binary trees. For many of the equivalence relations under study, we obtain a functor from the category of finite abelian groups to the category of graded connected Hopf algebras. We end our investigation by describing a Hopf endomorphism of the $G$-coloured descent Hopf algebra whose image is the $G$-coloured peak Hopf algebra. We outline a theory of combinatorial $G$-coloured Hopf algebra for which the $G$-coloured quasi-symmetric Hopf algebra and the graded dual to the $G$-coloured peak Hopf algebra are central objects.Comment: 26 pages latex2

Assessing Physical Activity and Sleep in Axial Spondyloarthritis: Measuring the Gap.

Patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) frequently report pain, stiffness, fatigue, and sleep problems, which may lead to impaired physical activity. The majority of reported-on measures evaluating physical activity and sleep disturbance in axSpA are self-reported questionnaires, which can be impacted by patient recall (reporting bias). One objective measure, polysomnography, has been employed to evaluate sleep in patients with axSpA; however, it is an intrusive measure and cannot be used over the long term. More convenient objective measures are therefore needed to allow for the long-term assessment of both sleep and physical activity in patients\u27 daily lives. Wearable technology that utilizes actigraphy is increasingly being used for the objective measurement of physical activity and sleep in various therapy areas, as it is unintrusive and suitable for continuous tracking to allow longitudinal assessment. Actigraphy characterizes sleep disruption as restless movement while sleeping, which is particularly useful when studying conditions such as axSpA in which chronic pain and discomfort due to stiffness may be evident. Studies have also shown that actigraphy can effectively assess the impact of disease on physical activity. More research is needed to establish the usefulness of objective monitoring of sleep and physical activity specifically in axSpA patients over time. This review summarizes the current perspectives on physical activity and sleep quality in patients with axSpA, and the possible role of actigraphy in the future to more accurately evaluate the impact of treatment interventions on sleep and physical activity in axSpA.Funding: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.Plain Language Summary: Plain language summary available for this article