Low Market Prices Research Articles

Development of a wireless data transmission system for a uniaxial dynamometer

Wireless dynamometers are an adequate solution to measure mechanical loads where the use of cables is not practicable. Proprietary solutions are applied in most of the cases found out in the literature on wireless dynamometers. However, these solutions have a high market price, and they are black-box systems, which limit their application in customized conditions. In this context, this study presents the development of a wireless dynamometer based on low market price components and with an open-source technology for real-time monitoring with a suitable sampling rate of 400 Hz (or 32.8 kbps). The proposed dynamometer used a complete Wheatstone bridge configuration and an amplifier circuit with a static gain of 99.8 V/V. Calibration tests and analysis of the performance were carried out according to ISO 376 standard. The proposed wireless dynamometer presented performance indicators of 0.76% for hysteresis, 1.34% for linearity, 4.83 mV/N for sensitivity, and 5.22% for repeatability. These results show that the low market price components and open-source technology can be used to build reliable wireless dynamometers able to comply with customized industrial demands.

Evaluation of district heating with regard to individual systems – Importance of carbon and cost allocation in cogeneration units

Although, district heating has high share in the heating sector of Northern Europe, Central-Eastern European countries often do not utilize full potential for further thermal network expansion. The main reasons for this are relatively low energy market prices, such as natural gas for households, which diminish economic feasibility of the proposed projects. Even though there are numerous optimization methods which can optimize district heating system, they rarely provide cost comparison with individual heating solutions. This paper presents a novel method of evaluating district heating with respect to individual systems by using multi-objective optimization approach coupled with cost and carbon allocations in cogeneration units. Objective functions are defined as minimization of total discounted cost, including environmental impact, and maximization of exergy efficiency. To deal with multi-objective optimization, epsilon-constraint method has been used. The main outcome of this research are energy market prices for which district heating systems have lower environmental impact and exergy destruction than individual natural gas-based heating solutions, while at the same time being economically feasible. Finally, the paper demonstrates that cogeneration-based district heating systems are superior to individual heating, even for low households’ natural gas prices.

PRODUCTION ECONOMICS AND MARKETING OF LARGE CARDAMOM (AMOMUM SUBULATUM ROXB.) IN CHAINPUR, SANKHUWASABHA, NEPAL

A study on production economics and marketing of Large cardamom in Chainpur, Sankhuwasabha was conducted from December 2018 to June 2019. Altogether 60 farmers were selected randomly from the PMAMP Cardamom command area of Chainpur municipality of Sankhuwasabha. Besides, 12 traders were also selected. A focus group discussion, key informants interview (KII) and direct observations were carried out to generate primary data along with Household survey with the use of semi-structured pre-tested interview schedule for the study. The secondary data were collected from literature like reports and publications of different institutions. The yield of cardamom in the study area has fallen now by more than 50% than the maximum realized yield to 220 kg ha-1. Cardamom was found to be labor intensive in the study area. Coupled with low market price and low productivity, many farmers felt a loss. However, economic analysis of the area indicated the cardamom farming is profitable. The sensitivity analysis with 20% decrease in price also found the farming to be profitable and viable. The farming is labor intensive and the average annual production cost per hectare was NRs 50,124 considering hired labors only and NRs 74,358 considering both hired and family labor cost per hectare. Among many causes of decline in productivity, many farmers ranked disease as the most devastating. The monopoly of Indian marketers at Birtamod was considered as the topmost reason for price fluctuation. The study evolved the immediate need of crop management by disease control to increase production and marketing intervention for consistent price of the Large cardamom.

Viability of Medium Scale Layer Farming in Gazipur District of Bangladesh

The viability of medium chicken layer farming in the Gazipur district of Bangladesh is measured in this study. A total of 40 medium-scale layer farmers were selected for primary data collection through a face-to-face interview during the period of October to December 2018. Cost analysis revealed that the production of the chicken layer was profitable and the average total costs and average net return for 100 layers per year for medium farms were estimated at Tk.66,913 and Tk. 23,632 respectively. The average benefit-cost ratio was estimated at 1.35. The researchers also investigate that most of the farmers in the study area used almost the same types of antibiotics. Among the farms surveyed, 98% of the farms practiced proper vaccination, and the average antibiotics and vaccine costs for 100 layers in a year for all medium farms was estimated at Tk. 498 and Tk. 2,347 respectively. The estimated multiple linear regression model reveals that the key variables included in the model were individually or jointly responsible for variation in the profitability of chicken layer farming. In linear regression analysis, among the nine explanatory variables, most of the variables had a positive impact on chicken layer farming and the main influencing factor was the feed cost. In the study area, the major problem faced by the medium scale layer farmers were price fluctuation in different markets, lack of adequate storage facilities, inadequate capital, low market price, etc. To control the price fluctuation and ensure fair price to the farm owners, it is necessary to have government intervention in layer marketing.

Enzimska sinteza frukto-oligosaharida upotrebom Pectinex® Ultra SP-L - ispitivanje uticaja eksperimentalnih uslova

The obvious benefits of employing prebiotics as functional components in many foods and feed products have resulted in higher demand for their industrial production, necessitating the development of more efficient and cost-effective manufacturing procedures. As a result, the goal of this study was to synthesize confirmed prebiotics, namely fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS), using sucrose as a substrate, since it allows the synthesis of oligosaccharides with lower polymerization degree, and consequently, a more pronounced prebiotic effect. Due to its availability, low market price, and high stability under industrial conditions, a commercial enzymatic mixture, Pectinex® Ultra SP-L, is used as a source of enzyme - fructosyltransferase (FTase). By varying key experimental conditions such as pH, temperature, enzyme and substrate concentrations, as well as the duration of the process, the composition of the FOS mixture can be adjusted to fit the potential applications. It was found that by performing the reaction in an aqueous medium (pH 7), at a temperature of 50 °C using an enzyme concentration of 1% (v/v) and any sucrose concentration in the range of 200-700 g/L, it was possible to achieve maximum FOS yield of 60% of total carbohydrates within a 24 h. The produced syrup with a high content of FOS can be further used as an adequate food additive, or else, developed processes should be used for the transformation of various food products (such as juices, jams, fillings, candies, cakes, etc.) in which sucrose dominates, creating products with lower caloric and higher functional value.

Coat pigmentation effects in West African Dwarf goats: live weights and body dimensions

The effect of coat pigmentation on live weight and various body measurements (body length, shoulder width, head width, leg length, neck girth, heart girth, abdominal girth, heart depth and height at withers) of the West African Dwarf (WAD) goats were studied. Coat pigmentation significantly (P<0.05) affected live weight with the white and or tan (Awt) goats weighing the most (26.30 kg on the average). Body weight at maturity increased with decrease in pigmentation intensity. Although coat pigmentation had no significant effect on all the body dimensions studied except leg length, it was observed that the white and or tan goats had the largest frame size on the average followed by the brown (Bbl) goats. They however, had shorter legs when compared with either the brown or black goats. Frame size also increased with decrease in coat pigmentation intensity. Selection for large frame size and heavy weight at maturity on the basis of coat colour would therefore favour the white goats and those with low pigmentation intensity, where size and market price are the determinant factors. 

Assessing the Effects of Household Wood Burning on Particulate Matter in Rwanda

Considerable efforts have been made to protect people from indoor air pollutant exposure as approximately 80% of people spend time indoors where pollution is often worse than outside. Further, vulnerable populations, including elderly, children, and pregnant women, spend an excessively of time indoors, exposing them to pollutants that are responsible for both short-term and long-term negative health effects, resulting an estimated 4 million premature deaths annually. Aim of this research was to assess impressions of domestic use of solid fuels (firewood and charcoals) burning on Particulate Matter PM2.5 and PM10, which are particles that are less than or equal to 2.5 and 10 micrograms (μm) in diameter respectively within Kigali the capital city of Rwanda. A sample of 31 households using only charcoals and woods for cooking were selected for targeted 72 hours of monitoring. Portable air quality sensors AirVisual Nodes were used to measure concentration levels of PM2.5 and PM10 in microgram per cubic meter (μg/m3). Results showed that homes using wood for cooking experience moderately high concentrations level of PM2.5 and PM10, over 1000 μg/m3 and 1200 μg/m3 respectively, whereas homes using charcoals for cooking had lower concentrations. This later direct to that: Outstanding to low market prices of these solid fuels, poorer households are highly exposed to indoor air pollution. So, an alternative reasonably priced domestic energy to be used for cooking are indorsed and pollution levels survey in households using combination or different types of fuels for cooking are recommended for future research.

Determinants of market prices for drugs under Japan’s national health insurance

Aims The Japanese government reimburses patients for drugs at prices specified in the Drug Price Standard (DPS) published by the National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme. It revises reimbursements for most drugs on the basis of their market prices. This study thereby identifies factors related to drugs or disease that impact market prices for drugs using the DPS list. Materials and methods This study first examined the 2018 DPS list to identify all listed drugs, their prices, and their stipulated reimbursements. We then excluded from this study all the drugs for which prices are set per alternate rules. We calculated the percentage divergence between market prices and DPS prices and designated it our dependent variable. We performed descriptive and a univariate analysis on each variable and constructed multivariate regression models featuring independent variables for drug characteristics that might affect market prices. Results We identified 1,775 drugs with prices revised only by the market. We observed higher percentage divergences between DPS and market prices for drugs with generic alternatives (p < 0.001), drugs listed in the Japanese Pharmacopoeia (p < 0.001), and drugs for which at least two new drugs entered the same therapeutic category (p < 0.001). Injectable drugs exhibited a more significant and negative correlation with percentage divergences (p = 0.009) than ingestible drugs. Drugs that treat specific organs (p < 0.001), affect metabolism (p = 0.001), and those prescribed for non-therapeutic purposes (p < 0.001) display significantly higher percentage divergence than drugs affecting the nervous system and sensory organs. Divergences are less for narcotics (p < 0.001) and drugs that counter pathologic microorganisms and parasites (p = 0.004). Conclusions Factors that elevate competition among pharmaceutical companies likely lower market prices for drugs, and the direction of prices under NHI in Japan is affected by the category of diseases a drug treats.

Factors Influencing Performance of Capsicum under Protected Cultivation: A Review

Vegetables as the succulent pot herb are the most vulnerable to vagaries of climate change i.e. extreme weather events, such as elevated temperature, lengthy droughts, untimely rains, heavy rainfalls, violent storms, sea rising and resurgence of biotic stresses such as weeds, pathogens and their vectors, and insect pests. Adjoining to this, shrinking of cultivable land, limited natural resources, lower productivity, higher inputs cost, shortage of man power, low market price, hesitation among youth to choose farming as career etc. endorse the adoption of protected cultivation as the ultimatum to all these troublesome. In recent days, protected or greenhouse cultivation of high value vegetables like capsicum especially during offseason has been witnessed in increasing trends among small and marginal farmers as it is high value and low volume crop and produce higher yield in manifolds with superior quality. Protected structure not only delimits the abiotic and biotic stresses in capsicum cultivation but also accounts for higher economic remuneration to growers and provide a boost to their socio-economic development through adoption of improved package of practice such as mulching, drip irrigation, fertigation, training and pruning, better plant protection management, etc. Though, protected cultivation is remunerative but high initial investment, lack of technical guidance, non-availability of genuine building material for protected structure, torrential flood, cyclone etc. are major constraints and setbacks prevailed in developing counties like India for its adoption and commercialization. Therefore, this review covers all the aspects of protected cultivation in Capsicum to find an amicable solution through improved technologies.

COVID-19 and Central European Tourism: The Competitiveness of Slovak Tourist Guides

When the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in the Central European region in March 2020, one of the hardest-hit economic sectors was the tourism industry which virtually came to a complete standstill. The present paper uses licensed tourist guides from Slovakia as a case study of how significant the financial impact of the crisis was and what effect it might have on the future competitiveness of the industry, as perceived by the tourist guides themselves. The research is based on a questionnaire which was distributed among licensed tourist guides in Slovakia in July 2020. It is shown that the guiding income of more than four-fifths of the respondents decreased by at least 80% between March and June 2020, and the profession's outlook for the future is pessimistic. The main concerns are a decline in the number of visitors, a decline in demand for guided tours and lower market prices for guiding services. The lower share of group travel, faster development of proximity tourism, partial de-professionalisation of the tourist guide profession and higher emphasis on tour hygiene are the expected impacts of the pandemic. A wave of consolidation is almost guaranteed to influence the tourism industry, though its extent is hard to predict. Implications for Central European audience: The article deals with tourism, which represents an important part of Central European countries' economies. Its results constitute the first preview of impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the sector in the region and as such are valuable for stakeholders in the Central European tourism industry. Even though the research is based on data obtained only from one tourism-related profession, tourist guides, given their unique position between travel agencies and travellers, their insights are applicable and interpretable much more broadly.

Optimal scheduling for solar wind and pumped storage systems considering imbalance penalty

ABSTRACT The safe and stable operation of the traditional power system has been tremendously affected by the large-scale integration of various renewable energy sources, which has tendency to deliver variable power. The coordinated operation of renewable energy sources has become a hot topic of research nowadays. Utilizing complementary characteristics of solar, wind, and pumped hydro, this paper presents a mixed-integer problem to find optimal scheduling of hydro plants to enhance the market profit. Considering the market schedule for the day ahead, a mathematical formulation has been developed for the operation of a hybrid system. For this problem, the pumping operation of the pumped storage plant has been done by using grid supply during low market price hours. The overall profit can be increased by using the stored energy when the market price is high. The mismatch in the demand and generation has been curtailed by including a penalty factor in the objective function. The results obtained depict reasonable improvement in terms of economic benefits when the coordinated operation suggested is utilized. The results show that the penalty cost has been reduced by a factor of , and profit earned during solar-wind alone was negative and whereas using the Solar-Wind-PSP system (SWPS) the profit has increased and was found to be approximately of total revenue generated. The overall revenue saw an increase of nearly .

Farmers’ Problems Associated with Cultivation of Sunflower: A Case Study of Barguna District, Bangladesh

Sunflower cultivation is a profitable enterprise to the farmers, but in the coastal part of Bangladesh sunflower is a new crop for the Rabi season. The present study was conducted to determine the socio-economic characteristics of the sunflower growers and to identify the problems facing from production to marketing in Barguna district. The study was conducted in coastal belt of Barguna district from where 100 samples were randomly collected. Descriptive statistical method was used for the analysis. The results revealed that seed, labor, irrigation and marketing of sunflower oil were top of the problems faced by the sunflower growers. Ranking of the specific problems showed that high charge of labor ranked first, salinity problem ranked second, stem rot ranked third, low market price than production cost ranked forth, training ranked fifth, high price of seed ranked sixth. Irrigation machinery, proper marketing facilities, reducing price of seed, appropriate training programs, setting up oil processing mill are the necessary solutions to overcome sunflower cultivation problems.

Strategic Operation of Hydroelectric Power Plants in Energy Markets: A Model and a Study on the Hydro-Wind Balance

The European Union defined ambitious targets for the production of energy from renewable energy sources. Most European markets trade now high levels of variable renewable energy (VRE). Renewable generation increases the variability and uncertainty of the net-load (i.e., demand minus VRE). To a large extent, this variability and uncertainty can be compensated by hydroelectric power plants. Typically, hydro power producers (HPPs) consider the periods of time with low market prices (and normally low demand and/or high VRE production) to pump, and the periods with high market prices (and normally high demand and/or low VRE production) to produce energy. This article presents a model for hydro power plants and a study to analyse the hydro-wind balance in a real-world setting, namely a simplified version of the Portuguese power system, involving a significant penetration of hydro and wind power (more than 50%). The study is conducted with the help of the multi-agent system MATREM. The results confirm (and rebut) the typical behavior of hydroelectric power plants (to produce energy, to pump water or to stay idle).

Performance Study of a Hybrid Heat Pump Dryer based on Numerical Analysis and Experimental Set-up

Seafood, especially sea cucumbers and oysters are an expensive delicacy in several Asian countries. Traditional sun-drying of these products takes 3 to 4 days and fetches a lower market price. Modern industrial drying machines used for seafood drying are unable to dry sea cucumbers and oysters without texture and color degradation as they are delicate, temperature-sensitive and have longer drying time. An economical drying system that does not cause texture or color degradation is the heat pump drying system and is commonly applied for agriculture and fabric drying. In this study, the heat pump technology is applied to develop two hybrid dryer models (bottom discharge and front discharge) to dry shellfish and sea cucumbers in large scale for storage and transportation. Each model is tested in a laboratory-scale with wet sponges as input material for its dehumidification capacity and the power consumed to attain the target dryness. The front discharge model is found to have rapid drying capability and economy. Computational fluid dynamic tools are used to study the hot air flow behavior and flow uniformity inside the drying chamber. The front discharge model showed smooth uniform flow over the trays with fewer losses in the flow velocity. The front discharge model with higher drying rate, lower power consumption and uniform airflow distribution over the trays is chosen for the industrial-scale design.

Factors affecting the performance of Tshiombo Irrigation Scheme in Limpopo Province, South Africa

Smallholder irrigation farming is valuable for improving the welfare of rural communities in South Africa. Irrigation schemes in South Africa perform below average as some collapsed. Boosting performance of irrigation schemes will ensure economic sustainability for low-income earners. There is little scholarly literature on factors affecting performance of smallholder irrigation schemes in South Africa. Therefore, this study assessed factors affecting yield and gross margin of sweet potato in Tshiombo Irrigation Scheme. Data was collected using structured questionnaires, Focus Group Discussions and in-depth interviews. Performance of the irrigation scheme was analysed using Ordinary Least Square. Yield or gross margin of sweet potatoes were used as proxies for scheme performance. Six estimators, namely age of farmers (-0.022), labour availability (-0.185), cultivated area (-0.130), pesticide subsidy (0.138), market price (6.090), and distance of the plot from the main canal (0.191) significantly impacted performance of the scheme. Minimum participation of farmers in value chain exposed then to lower market prices. Gross margin was generally low due to limited participation of aging farmers in the value chain. Performance of the scheme can be improved through providing and ensuring competitive prices and encouraging youth to participate in scheme farming by providing lucrative market prices.

Problems and Constraints Perceived by Poultry Farms in Punjab

Livestock sector assumes an important place in the Indian economy, especially for the welfare of the rural population by giving money pay, business, resource esteem and keeping up wellbeing status of individuals through the supply of animal protein even during crop failure due to adverse climatic conditions. The study on poultry enterprise was based on primary data gathered from 100 each a layer and broiler farmers distributed across all regions of Punjab by proportional probability sampling technique. The meeting plan containing a rundown limitation and the farmers were approached to rank them as per the seriousness of the requirements looked by them. The information so gathered was classified and examined by utilizing Henry Garrett Ranking technique. Constraints faced by the poultry farmers in production and market of eggs and broiler meat includes lack of technical skill labour, higher cost of feed, higher fluctuation in the price of eggs, the low market price of eggs, low premium on bulk quantity, non-available service of poultry doctors, fluctuation in chicks price, seasonal fluctuation in the price of broiler, lack of regular demand, delay in payment, lack of horizontal integration and outbreak of disease and pest attack. The study recommended that poultry concerned institutions should tackle the major constraints affecting the production and market issues of poultry farmers. From an economics angle, poultry farming seems a profitable venture and has a bright future.

Modeling oligopsony market for end-of-life vehicle recycling

Abstract End-of-life vehicle (ELV) recycling markets in emerging economies are characterized by the existence of plenty of informal dismantlers and a few formal dismantlers. The nature of these markets can be characterized as oligopsony markets, where few buyers (dismantlers) compete to purchase ELVs from a large number of sellers (ELV owners). High initial investment creates a barrier to entry and exit for formal dismantlers, whereas the perfectly competitive nature of the informal dismantling market enables free entry and exit of informal dismantlers. In this paper, we consider a market with one formal dismantler and few homogeneous informal dismantlers, and the dismantlers compete by offering a higher price for ELVs. We develop a system dynamics model to capture the feedback effects of competition in the ELV recycling market where the increase in the price of ELV reduces the profitability of dismantlers, which affects the future price increase of ELV and leads to the exit of informal dismantlers. This, in turn, creates fluctuations in dismantling quantities and scrap supplies leading to fluctuations in scrap prices. Using Indian data, the simulation results show that the competition leads to the higher market price for ELV, but a lower profit for dismantlers and reduced aggregate dismantling capacity due to the exit of informal dismantlers. The market price of ELV will rise by more than 200% in 10 years, whereas the existing informal dismantling capacity reduces to less than 50% during the same period. The higher capacities of the formal dismantler lead to the rapid exit of informal dismantlers thereby diminishing the effects of competition resulting in the lower market price for ELV. From our analysis, we recommend that establishing formal dismantling units with high capacities and vertical integration of vehicle manufacturers and end-of-life management systems aligned with suitable policy instruments will ensure more environmentally sound recycling.

Present Status of Shrimp Farming in Satkhira, a Southwestern District of Bangladesh

Shrimp has become one of the most important export products in recent decades due toincreasing international demand. Shrimp farming is performing significant role in thelivelihoods of rural people of southwestern part of Bangladesh which is considered thecore areas for shrimp farming. To continue the trend of exporting shrimp worldwide it isvery much needed to be familiar with the current culture practices with the precautionstaken by the shrimp farmers. A total of 30 shrimp farmers in Shyamnagarupazilla ofSatkhira district were interviewed to understand the present status of shrimp farming alongwith to identify the problems faced by the farmers, and to formulate somerecommendations for better shrimp production development. Study showed thatpolyculture was the only culture technique followed by the shrimp farmers using naturalwater sources like rain and tide. Bagda (Penaeusmondon) was the dominant culturedspecies followed by Harina (Metapenaeusmonoceros) because of their economicsignificance. Although wild post-larvae (PL) are better in quality than hatchery producedPL, farmers collected PL from both sources. Farmers usually used inorganic fertilizers likeUrea and TSP instead of organic one, but they preferred natural feeds for cost efficiencyand management purposes. The study also identified that shrimp diseases (white spot, gillrot and fin rot), lower market price, flood, high mortality and lack of scientific knowledgewere the major constraints in shrimp farming. Government, donor agencies, planners,researchers and NGOs, therefore, should come forward to assist farmers for mitigatingproblems and achieve sustainable shrimp export earnings of Bangladesh.&#x0D; Res. Agric., Livest. Fish.7(2): 311-320, August 2020

Effects of variety, storage container, and duration on the physical properties, oil content, germination capacity, and seed loss due to Plodia interpunctella infestation of Ethiopian sesame.

Owing to fluctuations of international market prices and excess supply during peak harvesting seasons, farmers and traders often suffer from a low market price of sesame. Such a negative impact can be ameliorated by taking advantage of times with a better market price during the off season. This study aimed to investigate the impact of different storage containers on gravimetric properties and germination capacities of five different sesame varieties as well as their impact on Indian meal moth (Plodia interpunctella). There were differences among the types of storage containers in terms of moisture content, oil content, thousand seed weight, and germination capacity with the storage duration. However, in terms of bulk density, true density, and porosity, the results were consistent. On average, a few losses in thousand seed weight for varieties stored in Purdue Improved Crop Storage bags (1.7%), metal silos (2.4%), and GrainPro bags (3.4%) were observed during 12 months' storage compared with polypropylene bags (17%). The difference among sesame varieties in terms of weight loss and loss of webbing due to P. interpunctella varied with storage duration. On average, about 9.4% weight loss and 5.7% loss due to webbing was measured for seed stored in polypropylene bags due to the natural infestation of P. interpunctella. No pest was found in hermetic containers. In general, to fetch better market prices, the use of hermetic storage is more efficient to maintain the desired gravimetric properties and to prevent losses due to P. interpunctella infestation compared with the commonly used woven polypropylene bags. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Signalling, Information and Consumer Fraud

In a two-sided asymmetric information market, the role of the accuracy of consumers’ imperfect and private information on the level of fraud, incidence of fraud and trade under price rigidity is examined. Consumers receive a costless but noisy private signal of quality. The product offered in the market can be of two exogenously given qualities and it is common knowledge that the consumer is not willing to pay a high price for a low quality product. A low quality seller chooses to be either honest (by charging the lower market price) or dishonest (by charging the higher price). We show that equilibria involving fraud exist for all parameter values. Furthermore, for some parameter values, we find that -in equilibrium- a higher precision of consumers’ private information leads to higher levels of fraud and incidence of fraud, reducing consumers’ welfare. We provide conditions for the public revelation of consumers’ private information to be a Pareto improvement.