Production of both esters and biogas from Mexican poppy

This paper details a dynamic evaluation of a procedure for extracting both, ester and biogas from seeds and waste of Mexican poppy (Argemone mexicana) using simple and inexpensive technique. Results showed that A. mexicana seed contains 30% oil. Through the process of transestrification, oil extracted from seed, has been converted to its ester. Methanol gives good separation of ester with A. mexicana compared to ethanol and A. mexicana methyl ester showed closer physical property to diesel. Calorific value of seed waste was 4621 Kcal/Kg and C/N ratio was 11. The experiment for biogas production was accomplished in two conditions viz sunlight (22- 30°C) and at room temperature (16-20°C) for 33 days. Sunlight increase ten times biogas production compared to room temperature. Biogas produced through anaerobic digestion of seed waste contained 52% methane. This process is suitable for smallscale industries and agricultural farms.Key words: Transestrification, energy conservation, anaerobic digestion, methane, biogas, methyl ester

That's Not Fair: Tariff Structures for Electric Utilities with Rooftop Solar

(1) Problem definition: Utility regulators are grappling to devise compensation schemes for customers who sell rooftop solar generation back to the grid, balancing environmental interests and the financial interests of utilities, solar system installers, and retail customers. This is difficult: Regulatory changes made in Nevada in 2015 to protect Nevada's utility induced SolarCity, the market leader in solar systems, to suspend local operations. We show that the choice of tariff structure is crucial to achieving socially desirable objectives. (2) Academic/Practical Relevance: It is important for regulators to understand how tariff structure interacts with social objectives. This has implications for consumers, regulators and industry. (3) Methodology: We use a sequential game to analyze the regulator's social welfare maximization problem in a market with a regulated utility, an unregulated, price-setting, profit-maximizing solar system installer, and customers who endogenously determine whether to adopt solar or not, based on utility tariffs, solar prices and their heterogeneous usage profiles and generation potentials. (4) Results: We illustrate that the effectiveness of tariff structures is not governed simply by the number of free tariff parameters, but by the functions these parameters serve. In particular, an effective tariff must discriminate among customer usage tiers between customers with and without rooftop solar to achieve socially desirable outcomes. We present a tariff structure with these two characteristics and show how it can be implemented as a simple buy-all, sell-all tariff while retaining its favorable properties. We illustrate our findings numerically using data from Nevada and New Mexico, two states grappling with this issue. (5) Managerial Implications: Many utilities in the U.S. operate tariff structures that are missing at least one of the two identified features. Regulators must overhaul these tariff structures to adequately safeguard all stake-holders

IT usage for enhancing trade show performance: evidence from the aviation services

Purpose While trade shows remain an important customer relationship management (CRM) tool, recent advancements in information technology (IT) have raised concerns about the future of trade shows. This study aims to examine the antecedents and consequences of IT integration into trade shows. Design/methodology/approach The study uses a questionnaire-based survey with senior and middle managers in the aviation services, resulting in 135 valid responses from industry professionals. The data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modelling. Findings The findings demonstrate differential but significant impact of perceptions toward website design and firm motivations toward the integration IT in the three stages of trade shows marketing. The results also show significant impact of IT usage on the perceptions toward the accomplishment of trade show objectives. Further, the results vary according to the levels of experience of the professionals. Research limitations/implications This study did not account for the differences in perceptions toward IT implementation across personnel from different departments, such as IT, finance and operations management. In addition, it did not examine situational factors and individual characteristics as additional antecedents of IT usage in trade shows, including pricing, return on investment, convenience and the social media. Practical implications Exhibitors are advised to integrate IT in supporting pre-trade show activities to approach potential customers. Exhibitors should integrate electronic interactions and personal communications during the show to reduce the amount of unanswered customer queries, focusing on timeliness and accuracy of information content, ease of navigation and graphic attractiveness of corporate websites, as effective CRM tools. Originality/value This paper offers novel insights into hitherto unknown aspects of trade show performance. The results have managerial implications for adopting IT as a CRM tool for effective trade show management

A Systematic Study on Processing Problems and In vitro Release of Saraca indica Caesalpiniaceae Bark Powder Tablets

Purpose: To examine the original flowability, compressibility and compactibility of Saraca indica bark powder and its tablet formulations.Methods: Saraca indica bark powder was subjected to various quantitative tests including acid insoluble ash, total ash, foreign organic matter, alcohol soluble extractive and water soluble extractive. Its flowability and compressibility were determined using Kawakita, Heckel and Leuenberger relationships. Tablets were prepared from the powder by direct compression and wet granulation techniques and characterized. Results: Kawakita analysis revealed lower cohesiveness of granules (3.877 ± 0.890) compared to the powder (6.176 ± 1.030), and hence improved flowability. From Heckel analysis, the higher value of intercept (A) for granules (4.38 ± 0.45) implies higher degree of fragmentation than direct compression DC formulation (2.90 ± 0.33) and powders (2.44 ± 0.12). The compression susceptibility parameter obtained from Leuenberger equation for compacts formed by wet granulation technique (0.183 ± 0.045 1/kg/cm2) indicate that maximum crushing strength is reached faster at lower pressures of compression than for Saraca indica bark powder (0.073 ± 0.025 1/kg/cm2) and DC formulation (0.105 ± 0.033 1/kg/cm2). In-vitro dissolution study showed that more than a 90% of tannin was released within 30 and 60 min from tablets prepared by wet granulation and DC, respectively. Brittle fracture index data indicate that tablets prepared from granules showed less fracture, capping and lamination tendencies.Conclusion: It is concluded that the desired flowability, compressibility and compactibility of Saraca indica bark powder can be obtained by direct compression and wet granulation techniques

Membrane-bound β-catenin degradation is enhanced by ETS2-mediated Siah1 induction in Helicobacter pylori-infected gastric cancer cells.

β-catenin has two different cellular functions: intercellular adhesion and transcriptional activity. The E3 ubiquitin ligase Siah1 causes ubiquitin-mediated degradation of the cytosolic β-catenin and therefore, impairs nuclear translocation and oncogenic function of β-catenin. However, the effect of Siah1 on the cell membrane bound β-catenin has not been studied. In this study, we identified that the carcinogenic bacterium H. pylori increased ETS2 transcription factor-mediated Siah1 protein expression in gastric cancer cells (GCCs) MKN45, AGS and Kato III. Siah1 protein level was also noticeably higher in gastric adenocarcinoma biopsy samples as compared to non-cancerous gastric epithelia. Siah1 knockdown significantly decreased invasiveness and migration of H. pylori-infected GCCs. Although, Siah1 could not increase degradation of the cytosolic β-catenin and its nuclear translocation, it enhanced degradation of the membrane-bound β-catenin in the infected GCCs. This loss of membrane-bound pool of β-catenin was not associated with the proteasomal degradation of E-cadherin. Thus, this work delineated the role of Siah1 in increasing invasiveness of H. pylori-infected GCCs

HIV Patient with Mucous Membrane Pemphigoid: A Case Report

Background: Mucous Membrane Pemphigoid, a new denomination of cicatricial pemphigoid, encompasses a group of chronic subepithelial autoimmune blistering diseases that predominantly affect the oral cavity and the eyes (conjunctivitis and symblepharon).Case Details: A rare case of Mucous Membrane Pemphigoid (MMP) in a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive patient is discussed with clinicohistopathological presentation.Conclusion: Since our patient was HIV-positive and had lesions restricted to the oral mucosa with ocular involvement, only topical and intralesional steroids were preferred as the first line of treatment. Systemic corticosteroid therapy raises a concern regarding immunosuppression.Keywords: HIV, MMP, Cicatricial pemphigoid

Real-time delay announcement under competition

Internet-based technology enables firms to disseminate real-time delay information to delay-sensitive customers. We study how such delay announcements impact service providers in a competitive environment with two service providers who compete for market share. We model the service providers' strategies based on an endogenous timing game, investigating strategies that emerge in equilibrium. We determine the service providers' market shares under the various game outcomes by analyzing continuous-time Markov chains, which capture customers' joining decisions, and by developing a novel computational technique to analyze the intractable asymmetric Join-the-Shortest Queue system, providing bounds on the market shares. We find that only the lower capacity service provider announces its real-time delay under intermediate system loads and highly imbalanced capacities. However, for most parameter settings, the mere presence of a competitor induces both providers to announce delays in equilibrium, leaving customers better off on average. We relate our findings to the single-provider delay announcement literature by discussing the impact of competition on service providers, delay announcement technology firms, and customers

School mobility and prospective pathways to psychotic-like symptoms in early adolescence: a prospective birth cohort study

OBJECTIVE: Social adversity and urban upbringing increase the risk of psychosis. We tested the hypothesis that these risks may be partly attributable to school mobility and examined the potential pathways linking school mobility to psychotic-like symptoms. METHOD: A community sample of 6,448 mothers and their children born between 1991 and 1992 were assessed for psychosocial adversities (i.e., ethnicity, urbanicity, family adversity) from birth to 2 years, school and residential mobility up to 9 years, and peer difficulties (i.e., bullying involvement and friendship difficulties) at 10 years. Psychotic-like symptoms were assessed at age 12 years using the Psychosis-like Symptoms Interview (PLIKSi). RESULTS: In regression analyses, school mobility was significantly associated with definite psychotic-like symptoms (odds ratio [OR] =1.60; 95% CI =1.07-2.38) after controlling for all confounders. Within path analyses, school mobility (probit coefficient [β] = 0.108; p = .039), involvement in bullying (β = 0.241; p < .001), urbanicity (β = 0.342; p = .016), and family adversity (β = 0.034; p < .001) were all independently associated with definite psychotic-like symptoms. School mobility was indirectly associated with definite psychotic-like symptoms via involvement in bullying (β = 0.018; p = .034). CONCLUSIONS: School mobility is associated with increased risk of psychotic-like symptoms, both directly and indirectly. The findings highlight the potential benefit of strategies to help mobile students to establish themselves within new school environments to reduce peer difficulties and to diminish the risk of psychotic-like symptoms. Awareness of mobile students as a possible high-risk population, and routine inquiry regarding school changes and bullying experiences, may be advisable in mental health care settings