Increase In Net Profit Research Articles

Efficient production of ε-poly-l-lysine from agro-industrial by-products by Streptomyces sp. M-Z18

e-Poly-l-lysine (e-PL)—a natural food preservative with wide antimicrobial activity and high food safety—is increasingly attracting widespread attention. However, the high cost of raw materials severely impairs its economy and utilization. In this study, agro-industrial by-products, i.e., fish meal coupled with corn steep liquor, were employed as alternative organic nitrogen sources for industrial e-PL production by Streptomyces sp. M-Z18. An economical medium was then developed by using an artificial neural network. Amino acids analyses showed that the improved medium was rich in glutamate, arginine, lysine and aspartate, which not only elevated the acid tolerance capability of the mycelia but also enhanced cell growth and e-PL production. Subsequently, a cost-effective and efficient strategy for e-PL production was established on fermenter scale, based on the improved medium and two-stage pH control. Notably, e-PL production and productivity reached 35.24 g/L and 4.85 g/L day in fed-batch fermentation. Further profit assessment at the 10 m3 scale indicated that application of this strategy resulted in a net profit increase of 9,057 USD. Therefore, the proposed strategy has great potential for industrial production of e-PL.

How Chinese Banks Reduce Lending While Expanding Credit and the Hidden 2 Trillion RMB in Liquidity: A Case Study on the Bank of Chongqing and Huishang Bank

Chinese banks have sought ways to rapidly expand lending in light of strict regulatory mandates to reduce official lending and maintain high capital adequacy ratios. Through arbitraging capital risk weights, total lending has expanded while capital adequacy ratios have remained unchanged. Off-balance sheet transactions using lower credit quality assets to collateralize repurchases remain a channel for banks to increase their balance sheet and reduce official lending. Many banks even classify repurchase lending underneath the heading of lending to banks. As back door lending funds roll-overs and commodity speculation, banks’ inherent liquidity risk exposure causes investors to significantly underestimate systematic risk. Huishang Bank’s expansion of arbitraged credit lines into high risk areas has forced the bank to increase Treasury assets 100 billion rmb in 18 months for a net profit increase of 16 million rmb or a marginal return on net assets of 0.015% — in essence — zero.

Joint Optimization of the Wind-Pumped Storage System

To improve the connected-grid wind power quality as well as profit, the pumped storage station is used to configure the wind farm. The economical benefit and deviation models are built as objective functions, the united operation is based on fuzzy multi-objective evolutionary algorithm (FMOEA). In order to outstand method advantages, the results are compared with the consequences from each objective function that are optimized respectively. The analysis shows that a wind farm with a pumped storage station is as a combined system and uses FMOEA, not only improving profit, but also paying attention to reduce deviation so that can achieve the total net profit increase.

Effect of partial substitution of soybean meal with lupine seeds in feeding laying hens on production and economic performance

800x600 Research has aimed to establish the effect of partial substitution of soybean meal protein with lupine flour free of alkaloids in feeding laying hens on egg quantity and quality of consumption, and the economic efficiency of application of this new feeding solutions. The experiment was conducted as a completely randomized experimental design consisted of four treatments randomly assigned to four groups of hens in the shed for 34 weeks. Lot Lc (control) was fed a diet of corn and soy srot. The experimental diets were used with different levels of substitution of soy protein meals lupine beans (-40% low, medium and high -60% -80% for groups E1, E2 and E3 respectively). We have used white lupine beans, variety Energy (coming from France), grown in specific climatic conditions of the western part of Romania. All diets were formulated to contain similar levels of metabolizable energy, crude protein and amino acids boundaries. The results show that substituting soy protein lupine meals in proportion of 40%, 60% and 80% (corresponding batches E1, E2 and E3) in feed for laying hens for egg consumption had negative effects on quantitative indicators egg production, egg size except that significantly (p <0.05) when soy protein meals were substitued to 80% of protein from lupine beans (for E3). Lupin negatively affected feed intake, the effects being more evident in the experimental group E3. Decreased food intake was accompanied by a corresponding reduction in the size of eggs, so that the degree of recovery of the food did not register differences between groups. Introducing lupin hens feeding and reduce the loss caused soybean cakes cost price of fodder by 20%, leading to an increase in net profit in the experimental groups, with up to 36.11% compared with controls (LC). Normal 0 21 false false false RO X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4

전사적 Risk Management System의 개념적 모형에 관한 연구

The important elements and conditions to improve corporate competitiveness are customer development, new product development, sales increase, net profit increase, and other factors. Even if those competitiveness elements are well prepared, obstacles may exist. In this paper, we examined the risk, the deadliest obstacle that can affect corporate. We selected the risk factors that exist in functional categories in the system connected complicatedly and variously by organizational value chain of corporate, and examined the conceptual model of Enterprise Risk Management System based on the precedent studies.

Bt-Cotton in India: The Technology Wins as the Controversy Wanes India Approves Bt-Cotton – The First Agribiotech Product

Bt-cotton developed by Mahyco (Maharashtra Hybrid Seed Company) containing the Bollgard Bt gene, cry 1Ac, licensed from Monsanto, was approved by Government of India for commercial cultivation in March 2002. This approval was preceded by a large number of laboratory studies and about 500 field trials carried out during 1996-2001 to demonstrate the safety and benefits of Bt-cotton as per regulatory requirements. The area planted with Bt-cotton in 2002, the first year of introduction, was 29,415 ha (72,685 acres). It increased to 86,240 ha in 2003 and to 530,800 ha in 2004. A nationwide survey carried out in 2003 indicated that the Bt-cotton growers in India were able to obtain , on an average, a yield increase by about 29% due to effective control of bollworms, a reduction in chemical sprays by 60% and an increase in net profit by 78% as compared to their non-Bt counterparts. The indications are that the demand for Bt-cotton will grow significantly in the coming years. Realizing its potential, 19 other seed companies have already joined Mahyco-Monsanto as their sub-licensees for Bt-cotton. The details of the development of Bt-cotton, safety studies, field performance, opposition it faced, problem of illegal Bt-cotton and the prospects of this technology in India are outlined in this article.

GLASS RECYCLING IN SRI LANKA: A FINANCIAL ANALYSIS

Glass recycling is the use of secondary raw materials or post consumer glass waste for the manufacturing of new or similar products. Glass Company of Sri Lanka is manufacturing glass containers and also involved in glass container recycling in Sri Lanka. The main purpose of the study is to carry out a financial analysis of glass recycling from company point of view along with an analysis on possible best practices that could enhance the recycling behaviours of individuals. The primary data was gathered from a household questionnaire survey which was conducted in Western Province of Sri Lanka. Sample of 150 households were selected from 8 GN divisions in Colombo, Gampaha and Kaluthara districts representing two Municipal councils, three urban councils, and three Pradeshiya Sabha. Six different scenarios were proposed for the respondents in order to generate information on practices that are most preferred by them and on their willing levels of recycling under each scenario. Results revealed that the best scenario was the introduction of door to door collectors which yielded highest net present value of Rs. Mn 1,517.39 at 10% discount rate and resulted 7.98% of net profit increase from the current glass recycling process of Glass Company.

Price Reduction Strategy for a Multi-Category Retailer

Multi-category businesses often reduce the price of one category to generate purchases for other categories. The extra profit from related purchases will hopefully justify the sacrificed margin in the promoted category, and eventually lead to overall profit increase. The author develops a model incorporating three critical factors that determine the magnitude of the price promotion effect: the profit margins, the sales volumes, and the own- and cross-category price elasticities. The model shows that only in certain conditions can a price cut lead to net profit increase. Retailers reduce the prices of the target category as well as the complementary categories to create the maximal price-cut image. This strategy often results in the loss of total store margin, though the sales increases. The reason for the profit loss is because the retailer has given away the margins of the target category as well as that of the complementary categories. The author suggests a managerial procedure for a storewide pricing decision. The first step is to identify categories into complementary groups according to the cross-category elasticity estimates. The second step then selects carefully a target category for each complementary group. This implementation can maximize the profit increase, increase the sales and still maintain a storewide price reduction image.

The Success of Orthodontic Satellite Practices

To evaluate the financial success and personal satisfaction of orthodontists operating satellite practices. A questionnaire was e-mailed to 4426 members of the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO), and 817 completed surveys were returned, yielding an 18% response rate. Only replies from solo practitioner orthodontists were analyzed to limit variability among respondents. Solo practitioner orthodontists with satellite practices reported an increase in net profit and started significantly more cases than orthodontists with one office. Yet, only 27% of respondents with one satellite and 48% of practitioners operating multiple satellites recommend opening a satellite practice. Ninety-two percent of orthodontists stated they were satisfied with the clinical aspects of their practice, and 99% of orthodontists described themselves as happy and satisfied individuals. Despite the ability of a satellite office to expand a patient base and increase net income, most practitioners would not encourage young orthodontists to establish a satellite office.

Production Performance and Carcass Traits of Broilers Fed with Sunflower Acid Oil

The influence of sunflower acid oil (SFAO) usage on production performance, carcass traits and economics of broilers were studied. SFAO was analyzed for its ME value by conducting metabolic trial and result revealed that the AME and TME value of SFAO were 4.398 and 4.453 kcal/g, respectively. The feeding trial was conducted by using two hundred commercial, straight run day-old broiler chicks. These chicks were randomly grouped into five treatments with four replicates of ten chicks each and fed basal diet (T ), basal 1 diet with 1 (T ), 2 (T ), 3 (T ) and 4 (T ) percent of SFAO for a period of six weeks. The results revealed that 2 3 4 5 there was no significant difference in body weight gain, cumulative feed consumption, cumulative feed conversion ratio and livability between treatment groups from first week till the end of the experiment. The carcass yield, abdominal fat pad weight and thickness also did not differ significantly between treatments. Inclusion of SFAO at 1, 2 and 3 percent in broiler diet increased the net profit per kg live weight by 2.8, 1.8 and 3.7 percent, respectively as compared to control group. It was concluded that 3 percent SFAO can be safely included in broiler diet without affecting production performance with increase in net profit per kg live weight.

Information Technology and the Organization of Firms

This paper seeks to understand why improved information technology (IT) might strengthen the case for decentralization, as recent empirical work suggests. We study a firm with a headquarters and two managers, each of whom gathers information about her changing local environment. The firm earns a gross profit that depends on actions taken as well as the current local environments. More information permits better actions, and information‐gathering costs drop as IT improves. When the firm is centralized, information‐gathering expenditures are first best, but after the firm decentralizes, each manager becomes a self‐interested player of a “sharing game” in which she collects a share of gross profit and bears the cost of her chosen information‐gathering activities. The firm's actions are determined by the information gathered at the equilibria of the game. As a result, the firm experiences a decentralization penalty, namely the change in net profit (gross profit minus informational costs) after decentralizing. If the penalty is small, then it is outweighed by the advantages of decentralizing—the vanishing of monitoring costs and perhaps the improved motivation of a decentralized manager's staff. To gather information a manager chooses (once and for all) a partitioning of her possible local environments and then searches to find the set in which her current environment lies. Our main measure of a manager's information cost is a technology parameter, θ, times the number of sets in her chosen partitioning. A second measure is θ times the partitioning's “Shannon content,” which may be interpreted as average search time when search is efficient. We ask whether improved IT, i.e., a drop in θ, indeed lowers the decentralization penalty. We obtain a strongly affirmative answer to this question for both cost measures in a class of examples and a mixed answer when we generalize so as to preserve some of the key properties of those examples. In a parallel manner we explore another conjecture suggested in the empirical literature, namely that better IT raises the coordination benefit, which we define as the increase in net profit when the firm bases its actions on pooled information, rather than letting each action variable depend on the information gathered by just one manager.

Net Profits in the Domestic Electronics Industry from 1991 to 2001: A Comparative Analysis of the New and the Old Companies

Generally the net profit of newly incorporated companies are observed to be higher than that of their older counterparts. This is explained in terms of the edge the newer companies have vis-a-vis the older ones in terms of recurrent expenditures. So even a small increase in the gross profits of a new firm in absolute terms translates into a significant increase in net profits in relative terms. We examine this phenomenon in the electronics sector in context of India. Our data includes net sales, advertisement and total borrowing over an 11-year period from 1991 to 2001 to explain net profits. We conclude that while these variables significantly affect net profits, their effect is more pronounced for newly established companies.

Novozymes A/S corporate financial statement for 1H 2002; half-year results show continued business growth and the outlook for increase in net profit remains unchanged

Novozymes A/S corporate financial statement for 1H 2002; half-year results show continued business growth and the outlook for increase in net profit remains unchanged

Effect of different combinations of organic materials and biofertilizers on productivity, grain quality and economics in organic farming of basmati rice (Oryza sativa)

A field experiment was conducted at Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi during crop year of 2006 and 2007 to find out a suitable combination of organic materials and biofertilizers for organic farming of basmati rice. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with six replications. Treatments consisted of seven combinations of different organic materials and biofertilizers [control, farmyard manure (FYM), vermicompost (VC), FYM + wheat residue (WR), VC + WR, FYM + WR + biofertilizers (B) and VC + WR + B. FYM and VC were applied on nitrogen basis @ 60 kg/ha, whereas WR was applied at 6 t/ha. For biofertilizers, blue green algae, cellulolytic culture and phosphorus solubilising bacteria were used. Application of FYM or VC signifi- cantly increased growth parameters and yield attributes of rice over control which led to 23-34% increase in grain yield and 14-18 % increase in net profit but had no significant effect on grain quality of basmati rice. Combination of FYM + WR or VC + WR resulted in higher increase in growth and yield attributing characters of rice than FYM or VC alone and increased grain yield over control by 38-49% and net profit by 25-31%. The combinations of FYM + WR + B and VC + WR + B resulted in highest increase growth and yield attributing characters of rice and in- creased grain yield of basmati rice over control by 51-58%, and net return by 37-47%. These combinations were significantly superior to all other combinations in all the growth and yield parameters, yield, net profit and grain quality of basmati rice and thus hold a great promise in organic farming of basmati rice.

A novel design for vapor recovery units

This paper describes a novel design for vapor recovery units (VRU). This design, compared to the widely used prevailing process — ‘double column’ process, can obtain the total profit increase of 1 326 160 USD per year with the same feed and product specifications based on the FCCU capacity of 1 200 000 tons/yr. The net profit increase caused by the utility savings and the product recovery rate enhancements are 478 080 and 848 080 USD year, respectively. It has the following features: the two recycle streams in the existing VRU are eliminated; a complex distillation column — the oil adsorption deethanizer is used to replace the original absorber and stripper; the heat exchanger network is rearranged and optimized; the configuration of the novel VRU is quite simple compared with the existing VRU; the capital cost for the novel design is lower than that for the existing VRU.

On-line optimization of the Tennessee Eastman challenge problem

Abstract On-line, optimal steady state operating conditions were determined for the six modes of operation (with and without disturbances) for the industrial recycle reactor problem proposed by Downs and Vogel (J.J. Downs, E.F. Vogel, A plant-wide industrial process control problem, Computers and Chemical Engineering 17 (1993) 245–255.). The optimization and modeling problem was formulated as a sequential solution of steady state material balances through the process. Optimal operating setpoints were obtained using NPSOL (P.E. Gill et al., User's Guide for NPSOL: A FORTRAN Package for Nonlinear Programming, Technical Report SOL86-2, Stanford University, CA, 1986.) and reactor feed material balances as equality, non-linear constraints. On-line optimization results, without disturbances, compared favorably with the results obtained by Ricker (N.L. Ricker, Optimal steady-state operation of the Tennessee Eastman challenge process, Computers and Chemical Engineering 19 (1995) 949–959.). The optimization objective function tended to be broad and flat around the optimal operating conditions for all six modes of operation. The on-line, steady state, optimization algorithm compared favorably with the more complicated optimization structure designed by Yan (M. Yan, N. L. Ricker, On-line optimization of the Tennessee Eastman challenge process, in: Proceedings of the 1997 American Control Conference.). However, the algorithm presented here required less computational effort and exhibited greater convergence reliability than the work of Yan. On-line optimization was performed every 8 h and required less than 5 min calculation time. Updated model parameters were calculated every minute and filtered using a first order filter with 15 min time constant. Net profit was introduced as a tool to compare economic performance of the plant operating under a knowledgeable operator and operating under an off-line/on-line optimization algorithm for all six modes of operation. For modes 1–3, operating at the setpoints generated by the optimization algorithm provided significant increases in production rate and net profit that amounted to a 16–45% decrease in product operating costs when compared to operation of the plant at the setpoints specified by an operator. By decreasing operating costs and increasing production rate while maintaining a specified G/H ratio, the optimization algorithm increased net profit by 9.3–0.5% for modes 4–6, respectively, when compared to knowledgeable operator optimization of the plant. Also for sustained disturbances, the optimization algorithm decreased the error in the desired G/H ratio and increased process stability when compared to knowledgeable operator optimization of the plant. On-line optimization provided a maximum 1% relative increase in production rate and 1.5% relative increase in net profit compared to off-line optimization for modes 4–6 only when certain sustained, disturbances occurred. The economic justification of on-line optimization over off-line optimization depends upon the type, magnitude, and frequency of the disturbances.

Winter Wheat Yield and Profitability from Dividend and Vitavax Seed Treatments

Fungicide seed treatment is required to protect winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) from infection by smut fungi in the Pacific Northwest(PNW). Vitavax (carboxin-2,3-dihydro-5-carboxanilido-6-methyl-1,4-oxathiin) dominated this market for 25 yr before Dividend phenoxy)-2-chlorophenyl]-4-methyl-1,3-dioxolan-2-yl-methyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazole) was registered as a smut-control treatment in 1994. Relative effects of these fungicides on productivity and profitability of winter wheat are not known; therefore, the objectives of this study were to collect data relative to those factors under commercial conditions. Twenty four experiments that included these fungicides were performed over 5 yr at 12 locations, using seven cultivars. Up to 44 comparisons of cultivar x location x year were possible for some fungicide treatments and application rates. Grain yields were equivalent for Vitavax-treated and untreated seed. Dividend increased yield 5% (2.7 bu/acre) over the Vitavax treatment, for an $8.25 increase in net profit per acre. Profitability of Dividend was increased by reducing the application rate from the standard rate of 0.5 fl oz/cwt to 0.25 fl oz/cwt. Profitability of Dividend was higher in regions where wheat production is less than 40 bu/acre than in areas of higher productivity. Five winter wheat cultivars differed in yield response to Dividend. Neither fungicide affected test weight or kernel weight. This research demonstrated that, by using Dividend, producers can maintain profitability while reducing fungicide application rates by a factor of 10.

Comparison of stochastic approaches to the transportation problem: a case study

The objective of this case study is to provide insight to practitioners about the methodology of using the space-time autoregressive integrated moving average (STARIMA) class of models to formulate stochastic demand of the transportation problem. While providing insight, two other methods-expected value (EV) and stochastic approximation (SA)-are also employed to formulate demand. A comparative evaluation of the methods using brewery data for the distribution of four products from five production plants to 64 distribution centers is presented. It is shown that the demand characterized by the STARIMA approach results in a lower total cost of transportation. This occurs because the STARIMA approach results in better forecasts. Based upon the case study, the cost analysis indicated that the STARIMA method when used without (with) updating resulted in a 9.49% (10.5%) increase in the Company's net profit as compared with the SA method. Similarly, the STARIMA approach when used without (with) updating resulted in an 11.36% (12.37%) increase in the net profit as compared with the EV method. For the STARIMA approach, computations for a large size problem are shown to be identical to those of the deterministic transportation problem given the demand forecasts. Extra computation effort for producing STARIMA forecasts are easily justified in terms of the increased profit margin.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

Plugging Thief Zones in Water Injection Wells

Abstract Standard Oil Co. of California is improving performance of its California water floods by improving vertical coverage and reducing water cycling. This program is being achieved by selectively plugging thief zones in water injection wells with a mixture of silicic acid gel and either gilsonite or silica flour. Previous field trials over a period of 10 years with many other materials and techniques had not achieved the desired results. This article discusses the theory and placement techniques of silicic acid gel and presents the results of successful plugging operations in unsegregated, multilayered reservoirs consisting of interbedded soft shales and unconsolidated sands. The operations have been successfully conducted in slotted liner completions, gravel-packed liner completions and cemented gun- or jet-perforated liner completions. The silicic acid gel is prepared in the field, and the entire operation can be conducted with a production hoist and cement truck. Results of this program show conclusively that silicic acid gel in conjunction with proper placement techniques can be utilized to effectively plug thief intervals in water injection wells. This is expected to become a major factor in improving waterflooding efficiency with a resultant decrease in operating costs and increase in net profit. Introduction The economic success of a waterflood in thick, multilayered sands is dependent upon the efficiency of the displacement process. Control of vertical injection coverage is necessary for the maximum oil recovery and the reduction of excessive water cycling. Effective vertical coverage can be achieved by plugging thief intervals or with subsurface controls. The Vickers zone, Inglewood oil field, Calif., is an Unsegregated, 1,500-ft thick, multilayered reservoir consisting of unconsolidated sands interbedded with soft shales (Fig. 1). The average net sand thickness in this interval is 520 ft. The porosity and permeability values range from 28 to 36 percent and 500 to 2,500 md, respectively. Most injection wells are completed with either gravel-packed or slotted liners. In unsegregated zones this type of completion precludes the use of packers and subsurface beans to control or exclude injection into thief intervals. Within this zone, thief intervals are not confined to particular stratigraphic intervals; therefore, they cannot be excluded upon completion. General Theory: Selective Plugging Selective plugging in injection wells is not new to the petroleum industry. Cement, colloidal clays, inert solids, paraffins, waxes, organic resins and gels have long been utilized. Opinions differ as to the benefits obtained from using a selective plugging technique since apparently only the area adjacent to the wellbore is affected.

An Operations-Research Study of the Collection of Defaulted Loans

Statistical decision techniques are developed for loan screening that provide a guide as to how long nonpaying defaulted loans of various types should be pursued by adjusters or collectors before they are completely dropped as uncollectible. A mathematical model yields the optimum pursuit duration and maximum expected net profit for each type of delinquent loan considered and which, if followed, will maximize the over-all net profit of a loan adjustment or collection department. The application of these rules by simulation to a random sample of defaulted loans indicates a potential increase in net profit of approximately 33 per cent.