The Role of Family Networks and Gender on Borrowing Behavior in Indonesia

In this paper, we use the nationally representative Indonesian Family Life Survey dataset (IFLS-3), to examine if access to loans from informal networks such as family and friends influences borrowing behavior in formal credit markets. Our empirical results show that there is a gender dimension to borrowing behavior, with females being more likely to receive loans from family members. However, access to loans from family does not lower their propensity to seek out formal credit. For males, access to family loans does not affect borrowing propensity but it increases the size of borrowing from the formal sector. From a policy perspective, our results indicate that education plays an important role in improving an individual's access to financial credit markets and reducing their dependence on internal networks

IMPACT OF OBESITY ON PULMONARY FUNCTIONS AMONG YOUNG NON-SMOKER HEALTHY FEMALE OF SHAH ALAM, MALAYSIA

Objectives: The sedentary lifestyle, physical inactivity, and unhealthy diet of Malaysian female have become important contributing factors to the rise of obesity. Studies on pulmonary function in relation to obesity are very few in Malaysia. Therefore, the study was aimed to evaluate the effect of obesity on pulmonary functions among young adult healthy female students of Shah Alam, Malaysia.Methods: A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted in a total of 100 (50 obese and 50 non-obese) adult non-smoker healthy female students aged 18–25 years. Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1), FEV1 as a percentage of FVC (FEV1/FVC%), maximum midexpiratory flow rate (FEF 25–75%), and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) were measured using a computerized spirometer. Body weight, height, waist circumference (WC), and hip circumference (HC) were measured.Results: The mean FVC (L), FEV1 (L), FEV1/FVC ratio, FEF 25–75% (L/s), and PEFR (L/s) of obese group were marginally lower than non-obese control group, but the differences were not statistically significant. WC and waist–hip ratio exhibited significant (p<0.05) inverse correlation with all pulmonary function measurements except FEV1/FVC%. However, body mass index had no significant correlation with any spirometric variables in studied obese females.Conclusion: There was no significant effect of obesity on pulmonary functions in the studied Malaysian females. However, abdominal obesity had more impact on the impairment of pulmonary functions than overall relative obesity

A Lagrangian Description of Flows in Stirred Tanks Via Computer-Automated Radioactive Particle Tracking (CARPT)

In This Study, Computer-Automated Radioactive Particle Tracking (CARPT) is Implemented for the First Time in the Characterization of Flows in Stirred Tanks. Both the Experimental Set-Up Are Discussed. the CARPT Technique is Seen to Capture Qualitatively Most of the Important Flow Phenomena Observed in Stirred Tank Flows, Like the Two Recirculating Loops above and Below the Impeller and the Dead Zones at the Bottom of the Tank. the CARPT Data is Also Used to Extract \u27\u27Sojourn\u27\u27 Time Distributions in Different Zones of the Reactor. These Distributions Are Used to Partially Quantify the Observed Dead and Active Zones in the Tank. © 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All Rights Reserved

Optical Studies of InGaAs/GaAs Multiple Quantum Wells (MQW\u27s) and GaAs/Si Using Novel Scanning Electron Microscopy Based Techniques

The influence of defects on electron-hole plasma transport in nipi-doped in 0.2Ga0.8As/GaAs multiple quantum wells (MQWs) has been studied using a novel technique called electron beam induced absorption modulation (EBIA) imaging. Modulation doped MQW structures exhibit large optical nonlinearities and are important for the development of all-optical spatial light modulators used in optical computing and communication. The electron-hole plasma is generated by a high-energy electron beam in a scanning electron microscope and is used as a probe to study the MQW absorption modulation induced locally by the electron beam. The influence of structural defects on the diffusive transport of carriers is imaged with a μm-scale resolution. A strong spatial correlation between dark line defects observed in cathodoluminescence (CL) and absorption modulation steps in EBIA reveals the existence of strain-induced band edge fluctuations that are caused by misfit dislocations. The spatial variation of stress in metalorganic chemical vapor deposition grown GaAs/Si has been studied with linearly polarized cathodoluminescence (LPCL). GaAs grown on Si wafers in selective areas (10 to 1000 μm mesas) were studied. The large difference in thermal expansion coefficient between GaAs and Si results in thermal stress-induced microcracks and dislocations which can occur upon cooling from growth temperatures. Using LPCL, we have determined the spatial distribution of the stress tensor from the polarized CL strain-split peak positions and solutions to the orbital-strain Hamiltonian

CarD stabilizes mycobacterial open complexes via a two-tiered kinetic mechanism

CarD is an essential and global transcriptional regulator in mycobacteria. While its biological role is unclear, CarD functions by interacting directly with RNA polymerase (RNAP) holoenzyme promoter complexes. Here, using a fluorescent reporter of open complex, we quantitate RP(o) formation in real time and show that Mycobacterium tuberculosis CarD has a dramatic effect on the energetics of RNAP bound complexes on the M. tuberculosis rrnAP3 ribosomal RNA promoter. The data reveal that Mycobacterium bovis RNAP exhibits an unstable RP(o) that is stabilized by CarD and suggest that CarD uses a two-tiered, concentration-dependent mechanism by associating with open and closed complexes with different affinities. Specifically, the kinetics of open-complex formation can be explained by a model where, at saturating concentrations of CarD, the rate of bubble collapse is slowed and the rate of opening is accelerated. The kinetics and open-complex stabilities of CarD mutants further clarify the roles played by the key residues W85, K90 and R25 previously shown to affect CarD-dependent gene regulation in vivo. In contrast to M. bovis RNAP, Escherichia coli RNAP efficiently forms RP(o) on rrnAP3, suggesting an important difference between the polymerases themselves and highlighting how transcriptional machinery can vary across bacterial genera

A retrospective analysis of acute organophosphorus poisoning cases admitted to the tertiary care teaching hospital in South India

Objectives: We have herein reported our experience with the pattern of presentation of cases of acute organophosphorus (OP) poisoning cases in a tertiary care hospital.Materials and Methods: This retrospective study evaluated the hospital records of patients with acute OP poisoning. In a pre-structured proforma, data regarding age, sex, time elapsed after intake, circumstances of poisoning, duration of hospitalization, severity, complications, and outcome of the patients were recorded. The data were presented as mean ± standard deviation, entered in the open office datasheet, and analyzed with PSPP software.Results: A total 101 patients were included in the study. Young adult males were more commonly involved than females (M:F 2.5:1). The mean age of the patients was 28 years (range 2-72 years, SD ± 14.3 years). Mean time to receive treatment was 5.2 ± 7.4 (range 1-48 h). About 45.5% patients received first aid before coming to the hospital. The reason was suicide in 88.1% cases and accident in 12 (11.9%, all children). Seventy-nine  patients received pralidoxime (PAM) and the mean duration was 1.7 ± 1.1 (range 1-4 days). Atropine was given in all patients. Mean duration was 5.1 ± 3.1 (range 1-19 days). Mean hospital stay was 7.5 ± 4.7 days (range 1-26 days). Mortality was 9.9% in the present series.Conclusion: Although the present study contribute substantial information regarding the epidemiology and outcome of acute OP poisoning in a tertiary care teaching hospital at a district level, its relatively small sample size and the retrospective record-based nature are the major limitations of the present study. There is a further need for prospective studies to understand the underlying socio-economic factors responsible for acute OP poisoning in our population, and, accordingly, address the problems to reduce the incidence of acute OP poisoning cases.Keywords: Acute poisoning, organophosphate poisoning pattern, outcome, tertiary care hospita