Determinants of Women's Participation in Self-Help Group (SHG)-Led Microfinance Programme in Tamil Nadu

Factors determining participation of women in microfinance programme in Tamil Nadu have been identified following the multi-stage purposive and random sampling technique and selecting Coimbatore and Ramanathapuram districts for the study. It has been observed that socially backward, landless and marginal farm households participate more in this programme. Possession of livestock and consumer goods by the member households has been found to deter the joining of group. However, the number of households having informal borrowings, especially from moneylenders has been recorded to be higher among the members before joining the group. Analysis of determinants of women’s participation in microfinance programme using probit model has revealed that the age of women and value of productive assets other than land have a significant negative influence on their participation. However, social backwardness, indebtedness and presence of other microcredit programmes in the same or nearby villages have a significant positive influence on women’s participation in this programme.Agricultural Finance,

MORIN PREVENTS ULTRAVIOLET-B RADIATION-INDUCED PHOTOCARCINOGENESIS THROUGH ACTIVATING THROMBOSPONDIN-1 IN THE MOUSE SKIN

 Objective: In this study, we investigated whether morin, a natural flavonoid, could able to inhibit ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced carcinogenesis in the skin of Swiss albino mice.Methods: The mice were exposed to UVB radiation (180 mJ/cm2) on weekly thrice for 30 weeks, and morin was administered intraperitoneal and topical application 1 h before UVB exposure. UVB radiation induces the overexpression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), and Bcl-2 genes.Results: Morin significantly prevented UVB-induced activation of COX-2, iNOS, VEGF, TGF-β, and Bcl-2 expression in mouse skin. Thrombospondin-1 (TSP), a novel endogenous factor, inhibits angiogenesis and inflammation.Conclusion: The present study illustrates that the protective effect of morin against UVB-induced carcinogenesis may be modulated through activation of TSP-1 in UVB-exposed Swiss albino mice

Immune indices and identical functions of two prophenoloxidases from the haemolymph of green tiger shrimp Penaeus semisulcatus and its antibiofilm activity

In the present study, we purified two prophenoloxidases (proPO) from haemolymph of green tigershrimp,Penaeus semisulcatusby gel fermentation chromatography using blue Sepharose matrix. The twopurified prophenoloxidase macromolecules are of about 76 and 75 kDa determined through SDS-PAGEand named asPenaeus semisulcatusprophenoloxidase I (PSproPO I) andPenaeus semisulcatusproph-enoloxidase II (PSproPO II). It was further characterized by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier TransformInfrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Circular Dichroism (CD) and High Performance Liquid Chromatography(HPLC) analysis. The purified PSproPO I and PSproPO II showed the strongest agglutination titre againsthuman erythrocytes compared to goat RBC. The PSproPO I and PSproPO II showed phagocytic activityagainst yeastSaccharomyces cerevisiaeand encapsulation activity against Sepharose CL 6B beadscompared to CM Sepharose and Sodium alginate beads. The functional analysis of purified PSproPO I andPSproPO II showed enhanced PO activity when added with the triggering molecules such as pathogenassociated molecular patterns (PAMPs), metals and chemicals. In addition, eluted fraction containingPSproPO I and PSproPO II showed antibiofilm activity against Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria.The above results concluded that no significant differences were found between the purified PSproPO Iand PSproPO II immune indices and functions. This study might provide a sensitive platform to under-stand more about the critical roles of PSproPO I and PSproPO II in crustacean immune syste

Determinants of Women's Participation in Self-Help Group (SHG)-Led Microfinance Programme in Tamil Nadu

Factors determining participation of women in microfinance programme in Tamil Nadu have been identified following the multi-stage purposive and random sampling technique and selecting Coimbatore and Ramanathapuram districts for the study. It has been observed that socially backward, landless and marginal farm households participate more in this programme. Possession of livestock and consumer goods by the member households has been found to deter the joining of group. However, the number of households having informal borrowings, especially from moneylenders has been recorded to be higher among the members before joining the group. Analysis of determinants of women’s participation in microfinance programme using probit model has revealed that the age of women and value of productive assets other than land have a significant negative influence on their participation. However, social backwardness, indebtedness and presence of other microcredit programmes in the same or nearby villages have a significant positive influence on women’s participation in this programme

STRUCTURE-BASED DOCKING STUDIES TOWARD EXPLORING THE POTENTIAL ANTICANCER ACTIVITY OF MORIN AGAINST NON-MELANOMA SKIN CANCER THERAPEUTIC DRUG TARGETS

 Objective: The purpose of this study is to explore the anticancer activity of morin compound against human cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) isotypes (PPARα and PPARγ) through in silico molecular docking studies.Methods: The 3D structures of human COX-2 complexed with ibuprofen (PDB ID: 4PH9), PPARα complexed with a synthetic agonist (2S)-2-(4- methoxy-3-{[(pyren-1-yl carbonyl) amino] methyl} benzyl) butanoic acid (PDB ID: 3VI8) and PPARγ complexed indomethacin (PDB ID: 3ADX) were retrieved from protein databank. The cocrystallized sites were considered as binding sites, and the docking with morin compound was performed along with their respective cocrystals for each target and compared their interactions and binding affinities.Results: It is observed that the morin compound exhibited better binding energy of -32.9528 kJ/mol against PPARα followed by COX-2 (binding energy: −18.4311 kJ/mol) and PPARγ (binding energy: −17.4228 kJ/mol) when compared to their cocrystallized ligands.Conclusion: The present study suggests that morin compound might serve as potential alternatives in the prevention of skin cancers by showing better activity against PPARα