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

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

Chromogenic polyaniline picrate- A novel sorbent for selectivity of anions in potassium and sodium salts

104-113<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family: " times="" new="" roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"times="" roman";mso-bidi-font-family:="" mangal;mso-ansi-language:en-gb;mso-fareast-language:en-us;mso-bidi-language:="" hi"="" lang="EN-GB">A novel chromogenic, polymeric sorbent material Polyaniline picrate (PANIPI) has been synthesized by chemical oxidative polymerization and characterized using various spectral techniques. Cyclic voltammetry and four probe conductivity measurements have revealed that the polymer is highly electroactive. Surface morphology is analyzed using SEM and TEM micrographs. Potassium halides, potassium sulphate and potassium thiocyanate are used as sorbate materials for ion exchange on PANIPI. Five types of sorption isotherms namely Langmuir, Freundlich, Dubinin-Radushkevich, Temkin and Redlich-Peterson are applied to the sorption process. Among these isotherms Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin models fitted well for the sorption of potassium salts on PANIPI. The maximum adsorption capacity (qm) follows the size order of anions. The intensity of FT-IR stretching vibration for SCN- at 2066 cm-1 varies linearly with concentration, making PANIPI an effective sensor material for the quantitative determination of SCN-. The potassium to sodium selectivity of 2:1 is observed at both low and high sorbate concentrations.</span