The IPO Crisis: Title I of the JOBS Act and Why It Does Not Go Far Enough

This Comment explores the brewing controversy over Title I and assesses the actual impact that it is having (and will have) on investor protection and the IPO market. This Comment argues that Title I has the ability to affect both, but, due to factors outside of Congress\u27s control, will likely have only a minimal effect on either. Part II discusses the objectives of investor protection legislation and how previous legislation regulated the financial markets. Part III explains how these regulations have been changed for emerging growth companies under Title I. Part IV examines what impact Title I will have on investor protection and how this impact may be overstated. Part V discusses Title I\u27s effect on the IPO market and suggests what could be done to improve the JOBS Act and the IPO market. Parts VI and VII conclude this Comment by discussing the changing impact of the JOBS Act from the time this Comment was originally completed in early 2014 to the time it was published in 2015

Utilization of energy crops and sewage sludge in the process of co-gasification for sustainable hydrogen production

The increasing world energy demand driven by economic growth and technical development contributes to the severe depletion of conventional energy resources and various environmental issues. The need for the employment of low-emission, highly efficient technologies of thermochemical conversion, flexible in terms of both raw resources and product applications is declared, when the utilization of solid, alternative fuels is considered. Gasification is the proven technology of lower unit emission of contaminants and higher efficiency than combustion systems, as well as versatile applicability of the synthesis gas, as its main product. While the conversion of fossil fuels in gasification systems is technically mature, the co-utilization of biomass and waste still requires research and optimization in various technical and economic aspects. In this paper, the results of experimental work on co-gasification of energy crops biomass and sewage sludge with steam to produce hydrogen-rich gas are presented. The process is performed at 700, 800 and 900°C under atmospheric pressure. The experimental results are analyzed with the application of the Hierarchical Clustering Analysis. The optimal results in terms of hydrogen production in co-gasification of selected biomass and sewage sludge are observed for Helianthus tuberosus L. blends of 10% w/w of sewage sludge content at 900°C

Changes in the Distribution of Temperature in a Coal Deposit and the Composition of Gases Emitted during Its Heating and Cooling

This article presents the results of tests conducted on a measuring system for monitoring changes in the distribution of temperature in a coal deposit during the heating and cooling phases, and their correlation with the analysis of the concentration of gases. The tests were conducted on five samples of hard coal collected in deposits mined in Poland. Measurements of the changes in temperature and changes in gas concentration were conducted from the temperature of 35 to 300 C, for the heating phase, and from 300 to 35 C, for the cooling phase. The percentage share of coal of given temperatures was calculated. When comparing the percentage share for the same temperature in the hot spot, for the heating and cooling phase, significant differences in the distribution of the given percentages were observed. Changes in gas concentrations during heating and cooling were analyzed and the dynamics of changes in gas concentrations were determined for the coals tested. Changes in the values of fire hazard indices were analyzed. There were significant differences in the concentration of gases and the values of fire hazard indices between the heating and the coolin

Electrochemical corrosion monitoring in low conductive fluid : pilot-scale study on sulfolane corrosion potential

Solvents are a group of chemical compounds that are widely used in organic synthesis. Taking into account the chemical nature, solvents are divided into protic and aprotic ones. An attractive alternative to commonly used industrial extractive liquids is an anthropogenic, organosulfur medium—sulfolane. Sulfolane is a five-membered heterocyclic sulfur–organic compound from the group of sulfones (R-SO2-R’, where R/R’ is alkyl, alkenyl, or aryl), which contains an apolar hydrocarbon backbone and a polar functional group. It is a selective solvent in the liquid–liquid and liquid–vapor extraction processes used for the removal of close-boiling alkanes from cycloalkanes or for the separation of compounds with different degrees of saturation and polarity in the extractive rectification of arenes from non-aromatic saturated hydrocarbon mixtures. In standard conditions sulfolane is not an aggressive solvent for steel, but at higher temperature (170–180 °C) and oxygen availability, it may be decomposed and subsequently some corrosive (by-)products can be formed. The primary purpose of the presented pilot-case examination was to verify applicability of the industrial, multi-electrochemical technique for reliable detection of the corrosion processes in low conductive fluids

Competency gaps of employees in the construction sector in terms of the requirements of a low-carbon economy. Polish and Czech case

Environmental policy obliges modern society to transition to a low-carbon economy. After entering to life, the Paris Agreement obligated the signatories to prepare the first nationally determined contributions (NDCs). The NDCs aim first to reduce greenhouse gas emission targets under the UNFCCC and they apply equally to both developed and developing countries. Countries voluntarily indicate what actions will be taken to achieve the declared goals. The construction sector is an industry that is under scrutiny due to its negative impact on the environment, but it also has the potential to reduce it. Activities that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions can be carried out at various levels in the construction industry. One of them is the appropriate preparation of the staff, including equipping them with the so-called green skills. This research aimed to determine the competency gaps of people employed in the construction industry, including competencies in the field of low-emission economy. For the purposes of the study, a questionnaire survey was carried out in Poland and the Czech Republic and based on the results obtained the appropriate competencies were determined that should be possessed by people employed in the construction sector, including competencies related to a low-emission economy. Competency profiles for people employed in the construction sector were built and competency gaps of these people were determined. In both countries, no competencies have been identified in any of checked areas that meet or exceed the requirements of managers according to specific competency profiles.Web of Science1423art. no. 786

Real-time corrosion monitoring of AISI 1010 carbon steel with metal surface mapping in sulfolane

Solvents are widely used in organic synthesis. Sulfolane is a five-membered heterocyclic organosulfur sulfone (R-SO2-R’, where R/R’ is alkyl, alkenyl, or aryl) and an anthropogenic medium commonly used as industrial extractive solvent in the liquid-liquid and liquid-vapor extraction processes. Under standard conditions sulfolane is not aggressive towards steel, but at higher temperatures and in oxygen, water, or chlorides presence, it can be decomposed into some corrosive (by-)products with generation of SO2 and subsequent formation of corrosive H2SO3. This pilot-case study provides data from laboratory measurements performed in low conductivity sulfolane-based fluids using an industrial multi-electrochemical technique for reliable detection of corrosion processes. In particular, a comprehensive evaluation of the aqueous phase impact on general and localized corrosion of AISI 1010 carbon steel in sulfolane is presented. Assessment of corrosive damage was carried out using an open circuit potential method, potentiodynamic polarization curves, SEM/EDS and scanning Kelvin probe technique. It was found that an increase in the water content (1–3 vol.%) in sulfolane causes a decrease in the corrosion resistance of AISI 1010 carbon steel on both uniform and pitting corrosion due to higher conductance of the sulfolane-based fluids

CFD numerical modelling of a PV–TEG hybrid system cooled by air heat sink coupled with a single-phase inverter

This study presents full transient, three-dimensional numerical models of a PV–TEG hybrid module coupled with single-phase inverter by co-simulation. The influence of factors, such as wind speed, solar radiation intensity, or ambient temperature on the PV–TEG system, was also examined. The numerical model was implemented using Ansys software which accounted the phenomena of Thomson, Seebeck, and Joule’s heat place on the TEG system. Furthermore, its impact on total electrical efficiency was studied. The heat transfer surface of the passive heat sink and forced air circulation positively affected the total heat transfer, and therefore helped to maintain the electrical efficiency at a higher level. Simulation of the single-phase inverter with a PV–TEG system allows the determination of the power characteristics of the system in real time. The results of the study presented may provide a basis for performance optimization of a practical PV–TEG-inverter hybrid system co-design

Hydrogen rich gas production through co-gasification of low rank coal, flotation concentrates and municipal refuse derived fuel

In the paper a novel approach to thermochemical utilization of low rank coal, flotation concentrates and municipal refuse derived fuels was presented. The economic attractiveness of low rank coals and flotation concentrates is limited and that is why they are commonly stored at excavation heaps causing additional costs and the risk of endogenous fires occurrence. One of the crucial parameters determining the attractiveness and usability of a fuel in the gasification process is its reactivity. In the study several low rank coals, flotation concentrates and municipal refuse derived fuels were tested in terms of their reactivity in the process of steam gasification. The reactivity of low rank coal and flotation concentrates at 50% of carbon conversion, R50, varied between 1.46$10 4 and 2.39$10 4 s 1, whereas the maximum reactivity, Rmax, from 3.28$10 4 to 4.62$10 4 s 1. Advanced mathematical models were developed to investigate the similarities and dissimilarities between the studied fuels as well as the relationships between the physical and chemical parameters and the reactivities of fuel chars in steam gasification. On this basis, a low rank coal was selected and blended with 20%w/w of municipal refuse derived fuel in cogasification experiments. The aim of the research was to utilize the low rank coal characterized by the lowest reactivities (R50 and Rmax of 1.46$10 4 and 3.28$10 4 s 1, respectively) in steam co-gasification to hydrogen-rich gas with an alternative fuel in a fixed bed reactor at the temperature of 800 C. The selected low rank coal was blended with 20%w/w of municipal refuse derived and the resulting fuel yielded the average concentration of hydrogen in the produced gas of 58.99%vol

Increasing work efficiency in a manufacturing setting using Gemba Walk

PURPOSE: This paper deals with the increasing work efficiency in the selected company. The literature review contains process improvement approaches in the field of increasing work efficiency. Implementation of lean production has brought continual improvement for manufacturers to remain competitive in the markets.DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: There is a case study and an analysis of the current state of the company that is operating internationally in industrial and professional electronics. Based on a practical application of a lean management method which is called Gemba Walk and the consultation with the employees, the result is the Ishikawa diagram and a priority matrix and evaluation results of these methods.FINDINGS: These results in the work served to suggest improving awareness and the importance of lean management in work environments. The case study is focused on the presentation of the proposed measures, the aim of which is to increase work efficiency and to motivate the employees to work more efficiently.PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The individual proposed measures will make it possible to reduce the time spent by the worker in carrying out his work. The work efficiency before and after the implementation of the proposed solutions is also calculated.ORIGINALITY/VALUE: The values for the company are the economic assessment of the proposed solutions, their time assessment, comparison of work efficiency, and the benefits of results. Benefits for the selected company are for example increasing the efficiency of work in the cutting room department in the company, minimization of the use of storage means, improving cooperation between picking and shearing, acceleration of the production process and reducing the risk of accidents at work and health problems.peer-reviewe

Giant urothelial carcinoma of unknown origin invading the sigmoid mesocolon – a case report

BackgroundTransitional cell carcinoma, also called urothelial carcinoma, is the most common malignancy of the urinary bladder. Additionally, it can develop in the lining of the renal pelvis, ureter, prostate and urethra. Exceptionally, cancer can arise from the urachus. Also primary transitional cell carcinoma of the endometrium or ovary is a rare entity.AimThe aim of this article was to present a case of giant urothelial carcinoma of unknown origin invading the sigmoid mesocolon.Case ReportWe report a rare case of urothelial carcinoma invading the sigmoid mesocolon in a 60-year-old female admitted to our department. The patient presented with a 25-cm intra-abdominal mass and 6-cm ulcerated lesion at the top of the umbilicus. Laparotomy was performed which demonstrated a huge polycystic and solid tumour of the sigmoid mesentery infiltrating the sigmoid colon and appendix. Appendectomy and resection of the tumour with an infi ltrated sigmoid loop were performed. A right ovarian cyst – not contiguous to the aforementioned tumour – was found at the time of the operation and excised. We also removed the 6-cm skin lesion in the umbilical area.Histopathological examination revealed urothelial carcinoma with squamous cell metaplasia of the sigmoid mesocolon with bowel and umbilical invasion.Concurrent desmoid cyst (mature teratoma) of the right ovary was found.ConclusionsIn conclusion, this patient with a sigmoid mesocolon invasion from urothelial carcinoma of unknown origin posed a diagnostic dilemma