Strategic Outsourcing with Technology Transfer

We analyze the outsourcing decision of a firm for a key input of a final good production to an independent input supplier even though the firm has an option of producing that key input in-house at a lower cost with a better technology. We find that for smaller technology gap with the independent input supplier the firm would outsource and for larger technology gap it would produce the input in-house for itself and for its rivals. The outsourcing occurs in order to take advantage of its sale of superior technology to the independent input supplier at a high payment although it involves a high price for the input to be acquired from the monopoly input supplier. Though the firm gains from strategic outsourcing, consumers’ welfare as well as social welfare goes down.outsourcing; technology transfer; vertical structure; competition; welfare

Observation of Metastable and Stable Energy Levels of EL2 in Semi-insulating GaAs

By using combination of detailed experimental studies, we identify the metastable and stable energy levels of EL2 in semi-insulating GaAs. These results are discussed in the light of the recently proposed models for stable and metastable configurations of EL2 in GaAs

Strategic Under-utilization of Patents and Entry Deterrence: The Case of Pharmaceutical Industry

This paper seeks to explain why some pharmaceutical companies are observed to withdraw their products before patents are expired and simultaneously introduce new patented (competing) products. Given the specific nature of drug markets, the companies in fact increase the entry cost of the potential generic drug manufacturers and thereby lessen competition for new drugs. The paper determines the optimal date of withdrawing the product and studies comparative static effects of the change of parameters underlying the model.Patent protection; patent expiry; pharmaceutical industries; generic drugs; entry cost.

Calcium Alginate Bead Based Scaffold For Drug Delivery And Tissue Engineering

Implants are medical devices that are fabricated in order to substitute, support or improve the biological structures. Generally, such implants are composed of biocompatible materials (synthetic polymers and natural biopolymers, metals, metal alloys) depending upon their applications. In this regard, we fabricated a novel three dimensional calcium alginate bead based scaffold implant for drug delivery and tissue engineering applications. The scaffold was designed by placing the alginate beads in layer by layer arrangement allowing hexagonal closed packing. The designed scaffold was analyzed for its physico-chemical characteristics using SEM, FTIR, swelling behavior and drug release kinetics. Further, biological characterizations such as biocompatibility and antibacterial activity of the scaffolds were also carried out. The fabricated scaffold had dense and compact packing of the calcium alginate beads resulting in better mechanical strength. Analysis of release kinetics of model drug (Rhodamine) showed that the release rate of the drug was dependent on the number of layers stacked over each other. The scaffold implant was found to be biocompatible. Thus, we decipher that the scaffold implant could be used for drug delivery and tissue engineering applications

Radially Interrupted Viscous Fingers in a Lifting Hele-Shaw Cell

Viscous fingers have been produced in the lifting Hele-Shaw cell, with concentric circular grooves etched onto the lower plate. The invading fluid (air) enters the defending newtonian fluid - olive oil as fingers proceeding radially inwards towards the centre. The fingers are interrupted at the circular groove, and reform as secondary fingers. The effect of the grooves is to speed up the fingering process considerably and the fingers now reach the centre much faster. We explain this by comparing the variation in velocity of the fingers in the normal HS cell and the grooved cells with time. In the normal HS cell the fingers move fastest on initial formation and slow down later. Since in case of the grooved plate, the fingers reform and receive a boost in their speed each time they encounter a groove, the fingers proceed to the centre faster. PACS nos. 47.20.Gv, 47.54.+r, 68.03.-gComment: 4 pg. 2 fi

Going Green: A Holistic Approach to Transform Business

In recent years environmental and energy conservation issues have taken the central theme in the global business arena. The reality of rising energy cost and their impact on international affairs coupled with the different kinds of environmental issues has shifted the social and economic consciousness of the business community. Hence, the business community is now in search of an eco-friendly business model. This paper highlights the concept of green business and their needs in the current global scenario.Comment: 10 page