Binary Central Stars of Planetary Nebulae Discovered Through Photometric Variability. III. The Central Star of Abell 65

A growing number of close binary stars are being discovered among central stars of planetary nebulae. Recent and ongoing surveys are finding new systems and contributing to our knowledge of the evolution of close binary systems. The push to find more systems was largely based on early discoveries which suggested that 10%–15% of all central stars are close binaries. One goal of this series of papers is confirmation and classification of these systems as close binaries and determination of binary system parameters. Here we provide time-resolved multi-wavelength photometry of the central star of Abell 65 as well as further analysis of the nebula and discussion of possible binary–nebula connections. Our results for Abell 65 confirm recent work showing that it has a close, cool binary companion, though several of our model parameters disagree with the recently published values. With our longer time baseline of photometric observations from 1989 to 2009 we also provide a more precise orbital period of 1.0037577 days

Biopharmaceutical Process – Contract Development Organization: Startup

Due to their high specificity and the wide range of treatments they can provide, monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) from mammalian cell cultures have gained increasing popularity in therapeutics. As a result, treatments have become cheaper and easier to manufacture while maintaining their natural effectiveness, further increasing their appeal. Building MAb manufacturing facilities can be costly for biopharmaceutical companies, especially smaller biotech firms, and current production capacities are limited. As a result, there is an everincreasing demand for contract development organizations (CDOs). The CDO being proposed targets demand within this regime specific to MAbs entering clinical trials. It has the capability to screen clones, grow MAb-producing cells up to a 2500 L culture, and purify the MAb to clinical standards. By employing the newest technology available, the facilities will provide flexibility necessary for producing a myriad of different MAb therapeutics in Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells. Microbioreactors can screen dozens of clones at the millileter scale, saving time and money. Disposable bioreactors in the upstream process allow for variance in the production capacity due to the range of sizes they are available in. Finally, the purification process has been designed to allow for flexibility depending on the size and needs of every client’s product to maximize value to the costumer as well as the company. The current market for MAb production has an astounding worldwide value of approximately $27.5 billion and continues to expand as the number of MAbs entering clinical trials increases (Cowen 2006). It is estimated that within the next four years that the worldwide market value will reach$50 billion (“Preclinical Development”, 2010). The profitability of this proposal is based on running 39 batches a year at 4.326 kg MAb/batch or 168.71 kg MAb/year. By charging a reasonable average of $1,125,000/kg MAb, a profitability profile can be created. Assuming a 70$111,907,800 and 52.96% respectively. However, using a 70% production capacity also leaves room for even higher profit margins. The plant design also has space allotted for future expansion within the mammalian suite as well as room for a future microbial suite

Binary Central Stars of Planetary Nebulae Discovered Through Photometric Variability III: The Central Star of Abell 65

A growing number of close binary stars are being discovered among central stars of planetary nebulae. Recent and ongoing surveys are finding new systems and contributing to our knowledge of the evolution of close binary systems. The push to find more systems was largely based on early discoveries which suggested that 10 to 15% of all central stars are close binaries. One goal of this series of papers is confirmation and classification of these systems as close binaries and determination of binary system parameters. Here we provide time-resolved multi-wavelength photometry of the central star of Abell 65 as well as further analysis of the nebula and discussion of possible binary--nebula connections. Our results for Abell 65 confirm recent work showing that it has a close, cool binary companion, though several of our model parameters disagree with the recently published values. With our longer time baseline of photometric observations from 1989--2009 we also provide a more precise orbital period of 1.0037577 days.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astronomical Journa

PHOTOMETRY OF TWO POORLY STUDIED PLANETARY NEBULAE WITH BINARY CENTRAL STARS

ABSTRACT We have observed the central stars of two planetary nebulae, Abell 65 and Hubble 12, both of which are claimed to be close binary systems. We looked at the differential photometry from these systems in hopes of confirming previous reports of variability caused by close binaries. Binary interaction in a planetary nebula is a possible source of the structure of bi-polar or butterfly PN. We determined that one of the two systems, Abell 65, most likely exhibits variability due to irradiation of a cool companion or deformation of one companion caused by it filing a significant fraction of its Roche Lobe. We cannot confirm the binary classification until a complete light curve is obtained. With Hubble 12, which was claimed to be an eclipsing binary system with an irradiation effect, we found no clear variability indicative of a binary system and recommend that it be removed from the list of known binary central stars

Factors Affecting the Choice of Credit Sources of Cavendish Banana Farmers in Davao del Norte, Philippines

In the Philippine Cavendish banana industry, farmers incur almost PhP 500,000 per hectare for production cost. On top of standard inputs necessary for production, the spread of diseases and occurrence of climate extremes such as drought and typhoons would mean more costs for the farmers. To sustain production, agricultural credit becomes the fastest solution. Credit sources can be classified as formal and informal. Formal credit sources may include banks and cooperatives while informal sources include moneylenders and traders. The choice of credit source would have implications to the farmers. Informal credit, for example, could be exploitative due to high interest rates while formal institutions may have strict requirements. Because of this, it becomes relevant to understand the factors affecting the choice of credit source by farmers. Using a multinomial regression model, data from 187 Cavendish banana farmers in Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte, were analyzed to determine what influences farmers to choose a credit source over the other. The results show that factors such as education, contract arrangement, and infrastructure level significantly affect the choice of credit source. Key findings also show that majority of the farmers loan money for capital, with the majority sourcing this from formal institutions. Results also indicate relatively higher interest rate for informal credit than formal credit. The results of this study can potentially aid the government in crafting policies and interventions relating to agricultural credit. Consequently, this study may enable reliable credit sources to be more accessible to farmers

Credit Access and Technical Efficiency of Cavendish Banana Growers in Santo Tomas, Davao del Norte, Southern Philippines

Cavendish banana substantially boosts the economy of the Philippines, which is one of the leading suppliers worldwide. However, production problems and constraints, such as the spread of diseases and challenging cost of production due to expensive inputs, hinder farmers to generate higher incomes. As such, access to credit becomes an important tool to afford better inputs, invest in equipment, and eventually improve production. Therefore, credit access could potentially increase farm efficiency. Employing data envelopment analysis, along with Tobit regression, this study aims to investigate the effect of credit access on technical efficiency level. Using 187 production data from Cavendish banana farmers in Santo Tomas in Davao del Norte, findings showed that growers with access to credit attained higher technical efficiency. Furthermore, farmers who borrowed from formal financial institutions reaped higher technical efficiency compared to farmers who sourced from informal financiers. The study concludes that farmers in a developing country like the Philippines lack capital and need available and accessible credit sources to purchase adequate volume of inputs necessary to maximize technical efficiency. Additionally, borrowing from banks and/or cooperative could give better efficiency. These results could guide government and other industry actors in designing future agricultural credit programs to aid farmers

Factors Affecting the Logistical Costs of Cavendish Banana Farmers in the Philippines and Its Implications to Profitability

Currently back in the second spot of the world’s top exporters of Cavendish banana, the Philippines has been giving this industry much regard since its rapid growth has been a significant source of national income and employment for the agricultural sector. Vis-à-vis its potential to improve the welfare of farmers, the industry also received a lot of contention due to issues on equity of returns gained by actors along its value chain, which is presumably dominated by multinational companies. For the farmers to enhance competitiveness, there is a need to increase farmers’ welfare by increasing their take-home pay. This can be done by improving access to markets with better prices, lowering costs, and enabling farmers to achieve efficiency, among others. This research would posit to look at the logistics aspect of the value chain in order to explore how this affects the profitability. More importantly, understanding the factors that significantly affect the logistical costs would also help farmers to strategize by minimizing costs incurred and consequentially increasing the level of profitability. Employing linear regression, factors such as banana farming experience, membership to cooperatives, choosing an ex-patio marketing arrangement, and access to gravel-type roads were seen to significantly decrease the logistical costs. Therefore, it is critical for the farmers to do their marketing through a cooperative and/ or allow buyers to assume transportation cost to transfer risk of losses. The need to improve road and infrastructure conditions is also recognized as one way to potentially increase farmers’ welfare

Rapid Influenza Antigen Test for Diagnosis of Pandemic (H1N1) 2009

We compared the QuickVue Influenza test with PCR for diagnosing pandemic (H1N1) 2009 in 404 persons with influenza-like illness. Overall sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were 66%, 84%, 84%, and 64%, respectively. Rapid test results should be interpreted cautiously when pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus is suspected