Renewable Energy Certificate Trading through Power Exchanges in India

Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) trading through power exchanges commenced in March 2011 in India. The enactment of Indian Electricity Act 2003 along with mandatory obligation of purchasing renewable power for distribution companies imposed by Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) and State Electricity Regulatory Commissions (SERC's) has propelled REC trading in Indian Electricity market. In this study we review REC trading in India, role played by power exchanges in facilitating REC trading, policy framework promoting Renewable energy, Renewable Purchase Obligation imposed and suggests the possible policy considerations for the regulators in future. Keywords: Renewable Energy Certificate (REC), Trading, Power Exchanges, India, Renewable Purchase Obligation, Solar REC, Non-Solar REC JEL Classifications: C01; C22; C53

Baroreceptor reflex stimulation does not induce cytomegalovirus promoter-driven transgene expression in the ventrolateral medulla in vivo

Abstract Adenoviruses are being employed to induce transgene expression in the central nervous system in vivo. In these studies, the cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter is commonly employed to drive expression of the transgene because of its strong, constitutive activity in a wide range of cell types. However, using this promoter, expression in neurons is variable, with strongest expression being observed in nonneuronal cells. Indeed, even in vitro, CMV driven expression in neurons is variable. In cultured sympathetic ganglion cells it has been demonstrated that CMV-driven expression requires activation of cAMP-response element-binding protein (CREB) and that this can be induced by depolarization. In this study we tested whether depolarization might induce CMV-driven transgene expression, delivered by microinjection of an adenovirus, in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) of rats. Prior to stimulation, transgene expression occurs in nonneuronal cells in the RVLM. Some neuronal expression was observed in neighbouring regions, in the nucleus ambiguus and in facial motor neurons. Within the RVLM, depolarization, induced by intraperitoneal administration of the ganglion blocking drug, pentolinium, did not lead to induction of transgene expression. This stimulus is known to induce expression of the immediate early gene c-fos. We conclude that either this experimental paradigm was not sufficient for activation of the CREB pathway or that possibly the virus does not gain access to the neurons of the RVLM. The adoption of specific promoters or viruses with higher neuronal transduction efficiency appears to be essential for the genetic modification of RVLM presympathetic neurons in vivo

A Study on Knowledge Level and Attitude of Farmers towards Organic Farming in Ananthapuramu District, Andhra Pradesh, India

Organic farming is practicing in 187 countries, and 72.3 million hectares of agricultural land were managed organically by at least 3.1 million farmers. India is home to 30% of total organic producers in the world having 2.30 million ha (NCOF, 2021). A study was conducted in ten mandals of Ananthapuramu district with sample size of 100 and farmers were selected randomly. Pearson correlation, frequency, percentage, mean were calculated. From the results it was noticed that farmers have more knowledge related to statements viz., organic farming is a type of farming system in which crops are grown without the use of chemical inputs (85%) and knowledge gap percentage was 15. Farmers have positive attitude on statement I can obtain optimum production level in organic farming if we rear livestock at our farm with score of 244 and attitude gap percentage of 20 followed by organic farming will decrease the production cost by reducing the input purchases score of 243 and attitude gap percentage of 19. Education, extension contact, information seeking behaviour and awareness about organic farming variables were positively significant and highly correlated with attitude of farmers towards organic cultivation. Major constraints faced by the farmers were lack of skill regarding the preparation and usage of organic inputs (80%) followed by complicated methods for production of organic inputs and absence of premium price for organic produce in the local market (71%). Major suggestion were direct procurement of organic produce by government and supply to Midday Meals Scheme and Public Distribution System