Neoliberal Cricketing Subjects in Contemporary India: The State-Market Dichotomy in Two Cricket Movies

This essay examines the ways in which two popular cricket movies from India — the Hindi movie Iqbal (2005) and the Tamil movie Jeeva (2014) — validate the tenets of “roll-back neoliberalism” (Peck and Tickell 2002), an ideology that calls for the withdrawal of State-regulatedwelfare mechanisms in favour of free market capitalism. The protagonists of these movies are talented cricketers from underprivileged backgrounds, and they are excluded from regional and national teams by corrupt cricket board officials. This essay critiques a common story arc that these narratives share: the protagonists are quintessentially neoliberal entrepreneurial subjects who overcome the marginalization through adept exploitation of commercial potential of the sport. The argument is that the discursive delegitimization of State intervention in cricket, and the concomitant framing of the free market as a progressive and inclusive entity, are disempowering for the cricketing public. While a State-regulated sporting culture does have its exclusionary aspects, this essay contends, contrapuntally, that the neoliberal validation of the free-market rationale can be problematic in that it absolves the State of the responsibility of fostering an inclusive cricketing culture. This study thus offers a contingent and strategic endorsement of the Indian State’s intervention in the nation‘s cricketing cultures.

Mitigating Ruminant Methane: Exploring the Commercialisation of Technologies for Reducing Livestock Methane Emissions

<p>Climate change is a global issue requiring unified action. Methane gas is a major component of greenhouse gas emissions contributing to global warming. This project is exploring the commercial potential of Pastoral Greenhouse Gas Research Consortium (PGgRc) developed technologies designed to mitigate the largest source of agricultural methane emissions. These technologies are methane vaccines and inhibitors targeting emissions from enteric fermentation in ruminant livestock. The two technologies share functional aspects but require different administration and upkeep. As novel technologies designed for a developing market the commercial potential of PGgRc’s methane vaccines and inhibitors is uncertain. To validate the potential methane mitigation products this project focuses on farmer adoption and interaction with the technologies. Interviews with farmers around New Zealand have been used to identify the strengths and weaknesses of methane vaccines and inhibitors from the perspective of the end user. A thematic analysis of the transcribed data highlighted various concerns among the participating farmers and provides a map of areas needing further investigation when moving forward with developing the technologies. Of key importance was the value methane vaccines and inhibitors offered the participants. Currently, methane mitigation offers no financial benefits to participants and good feelings about acting against climate change are not substantial enough to mitigate purchase and administration costs. There is potential that using PGgRc’s methane vaccines and inhibitors could improve livestock productivity, but it is yet to be verified based on current testing and development. Establishing that using the technologies leads to increased live weight gain or milk and wool production could provide profitability benefits that farmers would value. This hinges on any benefits providing substantial enough gains to the farmer to offset the purchase and administration costs. If no productivity benefits are identified government regulations creating a methane cost or subsidising the technologies could be necessary for methane vaccines and inhibitors to have value within the agricultural sector. Alternatively, if consumer purchasing behaviour shifts in favour of low emissions products the agricultural sector will need to shift production methods to remain competitive in the new market environment. PGgRc aims to employ a licensing business model using the methane vaccine and inhibitor IP they possess. Partnering with an experienced company would provide PGgRc with the market knowledge and manufacturing capabilities producing their technologies requires. As part of their development strategy they aim to develop their technology to a proof of concept stage before forming any production partnerships. This project highlights the critical factors for successfully commercialising PGgRc’s technologies. It is designed to guide the continued development of the methane mitigation technologies and help shape PGgRc’s market approach.</p>

Mitigating Ruminant Methane: Exploring the Commercialisation of Technologies for Reducing Livestock Methane Emissions

<p>Climate change is a global issue requiring unified action. Methane gas is a major component of greenhouse gas emissions contributing to global warming. This project is exploring the commercial potential of Pastoral Greenhouse Gas Research Consortium (PGgRc) developed technologies designed to mitigate the largest source of agricultural methane emissions. These technologies are methane vaccines and inhibitors targeting emissions from enteric fermentation in ruminant livestock. The two technologies share functional aspects but require different administration and upkeep. As novel technologies designed for a developing market the commercial potential of PGgRc’s methane vaccines and inhibitors is uncertain. To validate the potential methane mitigation products this project focuses on farmer adoption and interaction with the technologies. Interviews with farmers around New Zealand have been used to identify the strengths and weaknesses of methane vaccines and inhibitors from the perspective of the end user. A thematic analysis of the transcribed data highlighted various concerns among the participating farmers and provides a map of areas needing further investigation when moving forward with developing the technologies. Of key importance was the value methane vaccines and inhibitors offered the participants. Currently, methane mitigation offers no financial benefits to participants and good feelings about acting against climate change are not substantial enough to mitigate purchase and administration costs. There is potential that using PGgRc’s methane vaccines and inhibitors could improve livestock productivity, but it is yet to be verified based on current testing and development. Establishing that using the technologies leads to increased live weight gain or milk and wool production could provide profitability benefits that farmers would value. This hinges on any benefits providing substantial enough gains to the farmer to offset the purchase and administration costs. If no productivity benefits are identified government regulations creating a methane cost or subsidising the technologies could be necessary for methane vaccines and inhibitors to have value within the agricultural sector. Alternatively, if consumer purchasing behaviour shifts in favour of low emissions products the agricultural sector will need to shift production methods to remain competitive in the new market environment. PGgRc aims to employ a licensing business model using the methane vaccine and inhibitor IP they possess. Partnering with an experienced company would provide PGgRc with the market knowledge and manufacturing capabilities producing their technologies requires. As part of their development strategy they aim to develop their technology to a proof of concept stage before forming any production partnerships. This project highlights the critical factors for successfully commercialising PGgRc’s technologies. It is designed to guide the continued development of the methane mitigation technologies and help shape PGgRc’s market approach.</p>

The Renaissance of Plant Mucilage in Health Promotion and Industrial Applications: A Review

Plant mucilage is a renewable and cost-effective source of plant-based compounds that are biologically active, biodegradable, biocompatible, nontoxic, and environmentally friendly. Until recently, plant mucilage has been of interest mostly for technological purposes. This review examined both its traditional uses and potential modern applications in a new generation of health-promoting foods, as well as in cosmetics and biomaterials. We explored the nutritional, phytochemical, and pharmacological richness of plant mucilage, with a particular focus on its biological activity. We also highlighted areas where more research is needed in order to understand the full commercial potential of plant mucilage.

Chemical, physical, microbiological and sensory analyzes of fillets of hybrid sorubins

Sorubim fillets are products with great commercial potential that meet the current preferences for fish consumption. Hybrids of these species have gaining popularity for industrial fish farming. The aim of this work was to characterize fillets obtained from the crosses between Pseudoplatystoma corruscans and Pseudoplatystoma reticulatum (dot and comma hybrid sorubim) and the crosses between Pseudoplatystoma spp. x Leiarius marmoratus (real hybrid sorubim) in terms of physical, chemical, microbiological, and sensory analyzes. The fillets of real hybrid sorubim presented high moisture (77.90%) and protein (17.20%) and low lipid (3.20%) contents compared to the dot and comma hybrid sorubim (75.66, 21.36, and 1.90%, respectively). The variation in the constitution of the real hybrid sorubim had affected other parameters, e.g. it increased the texture evaluated in terms of shear strength (0.58 kgf, against 0.46 kgf for the dot and comma hybrid sorubim fillet), and the reduced sensory acceptation / purchase intention, which are related to the reduced fat content. Purchase intention analysis indicated that the filets of dot and comma hybrid sorubim would be purchased by 95% of the population, while the fillets of the real hybrid sorubim would be purchased for less than 80% of the population.

A Conceptual Model for Assessing the Technological Readiness of a R&D Project and its Potential at the Early Stages of Development

The article proposes a conceptual model for assessing the technological readiness and the potential of a R&D project at the early stages of its development (TPRA – Technology Project Readiness Assessment). The proposed model will allow to assess the technological readiness of the scientific and technological projects, the commercial potential of their results, the possibility of participation of the results of projects in the transfer of technologies, the possibility of using the results obtained as a scientific and technical groundwork, as well as the risks of nonfulfillment of projects within the framework of a single tool. The results that can be obtained in the assessment process can be used to improve the efficiency of planning and implementation of R&D in the institutions for innovative development, as well as in corporations and organizations that invest in R&D processes.

Generation of advanced Escher-like spiral tessellations

In this paper, using both hand-drawn and computer-drawn graphics, we establish a method to generate advanced Escher-like spiral tessellations. We first give a way to achieve simple spiral tilings of cyclic symmetry. Then, we introduce several conformal mappings to generate three derived spiral tilings. To obtain Escher-like tessellations on the generated tilings, given pre-designed wallpaper motifs, we specify the tessellations’ implementation details. Finally, we exhibit a rich gallery of the generated Escher-like tessellations. According to the proposed method, one can produce a great variety of exotic Escher-like tessellations that have both good aesthetic value and commercial potential.

The commercial potential of forest trees as medicinal and health ingredients

Hidayat S, Zuhud EAM, Widyatmoko D, Bahruni, Batubara I. 2021. The commercial potential of forest trees as medicinal and health ingredients. Biodiversitas 22: 2795-2804. Indonesian forests contain many trees that belong to medicinal plants classified as non-timber forest products (NTFP). Although these plants have been used from generation to generation by several ethnic groups and even some of them have become commercial goods, many species have not received special attention in terms of their cultivation. This study aimed to explore the commercial value of forest trees as medicinal ingredients and obtain a recommended ranking for their cultivation. The method used was market surveys to herbal stores and questionnaires to experts related to medicinal plants. The results showed that there are 59 species of forest trees used as medicinal ingredients and health supplements. Cinnamomum burmanni, Morinda citrifolia, and Moringa oleifera have the most diverse commercial products in drugs and health stores. These three species also have active ingredients that potentially substitute for chemical drugs. Following the advice of medicinal plant experts, these three species are also included in the ten species recommended for immediate cultivation.