The role of formal and informal remittances as the determinants of formal and informal financial services

Research background: The choice of financial services and remittances are important as they influence the livelihood of remittance recipients, who are mostly poor and financially excluded. In literature, extensive evidence suggests a positive impact of the size of remittances on access to financial inclusion and financial development of remittance-recipient countries. However, a concern of such studies is that they might provide a biased outcome as the available data of remittances tend to be formal, whereas informal remittances are difficult to observe. Hence, their evidence might not be applicable in developing countries where remittance transfer via informal channels is very popular.Purpose of the article: The main objective of this study is to examine the effect of the remittance channel (formal and informal) on the choice of formal, informal financial services of credit and savings of remittance recipients.Methods: As our dependent variable is a financial service which is a categorical variable (formal and informal), the paper will employ a multinomial logistic regression model to estimate the impact. The data employed in this analysis is from the Finscope survey conducted in Myanmar in 2013 and 2018. Myanmar is the best context for our study, as it is one of a big migrant-sending countries and a developing country whose financial sector is significantly underdeveloped.Findings & value added: Our findings show that formal remittances promote the use of formal financial services such as credit and savings. However, there is no evidence regarding women recipients` informal channels and formal financial services. Our evidence also suggests there is a need for the government to encourage migrant workers to transform informal remittances into formal ones by removing the barriers of formal remittance channels to promote the use of formal credit and saving among remittance-recipients who are poor and financially excluded.IGA/FaME/2021/005Internal Grant Agency of Tomas Bata University in Zlin; [IGA/FaME/2021/005

Critical Review of Theoretical Models for Anomalous Effects (Cold Fusion) in Deuterated Metals

We briefly summarize the reported anomalous effects in deuterated metals at ambient temperature, commonly known as "Cold Fusion" (CF), with an emphasis on important experiments as well as the theoretical basis for the opposition to interpreting them as cold fusion. Then we critically examine more than 25 theoretical models for CF, including unusual nuclear and exotic chemical hypotheses. We conclude that they do not explain the data.Comment: 51 pages, 4 Figure

Emerging Nano-Formulations and Nanomedicines Applications for Ocular Drug Delivery

Ocular diseases can deteriorate vision to the point of blindness and thus can have a major impact on the daily life of an individual. Conventional therapies are unable to provide absolute therapy for all ocular diseases due to the several limitations during drug delivery across the blood-retinal barrier, making it a major clinical challenge. With recent developments, the vast number of publications undergird the need for nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems in treating ocular diseases. The tool of nanotechnology provides several essential advantages, including sustained drug release and specific tissue targeting. Additionally, comprehensive in vitro and in vivo studies have suggested a better uptake of nanoparticles across ocular barriers. Nanoparticles can overcome the blood-retinal barrier and consequently increase ocular penetration and improve the bioavailability of the drug. In this review, we aim to summarize the development of organic and inorganic nanoparticles for ophthalmic applications. We highlight the potential nanoformulations in clinical trials as well as the products that have become a commercial reality

Evaluating Daily Systemic Betaine Delivery in Alleviating Dry-AMD Pathophysiology

MnSod (Sod2) deletion in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) of Sod2flox/floxVMD2-cre mice leads to oxidative stress-induced apoptosis of the RPE and photoreceptor cells that show salient features of dry-AMD. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential antioxidant effect of betaine in protecting retinal health in Sod2flox/floxVMD2-cre mice. Betaine low dose (50mg/Kg Body Weight) and high dose (500mg/kg Body Weight, n=9) were administered intraperitoneally to 8-weeks old male and female Sod2flox/floxVMD2-cre mice daily for four months, while the control group (Sod2flox/floxVMD2-cre mice; n=9) received saline. We used spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), retinal outer nuclear layer (ONL) thickness measurement, and electroretinography (ERG) to assess retinal function and structure. Furthermore, we determined angiogenic effects by using fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) and performed hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining to analyze retina morphology changes. Our preliminary data showed significant restoration of ERG a-wave and b-wave in the low-dose group compared to the control group following five months of systemic delivery. At the same time, there was no improvement in ERG function in the high-dose group. These results suggest protection of RPE function in betaine the low dose group. OCT measurement in the group treated with betaine low dose demonstrated no significant difference in ONL thickness compared to the control groups before and after 5 months. FFA indicated no presence angiogenic of effect and no significant changes in retina morphology in H&E staining. Future studies are required to evaluate antioxidant gene changes and retinal structural changes in response to betaine treatment. We conclude that daily betaine administration could have a beneficial effect in protecting RPE oxidative stress-induced changes and might provide a therapeutic effect in alleviating Dry-AMD pathophysiology

Evaluating Daily Systemic Betaine Delivery in Alleviating Dry-AMD Pathophysiology

MnSod (Sod2) deletion in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) of Sod2flox/floxVMD2-cre mice leads to oxidative stress-induced apoptosis of the RPE and photoreceptor cells that show salient features of dry-AMD. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential antioxidant effect of betaine in protecting retinal health in Sod2flox/floxVMD2-cre mice. Betaine low dose (50mg/Kg Body Weight) and high dose (500mg/kg Body Weight, n=9) were administered intraperitoneally to 8-weeks old male and female Sod2flox/floxVMD2-cre mice daily for four months, while the control group (Sod2flox/floxVMD2-cre mice; n=9) received saline. We used spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), retinal outer nuclear layer (ONL) thickness measurement, and electroretinography (ERG) to assess retinal function and structure. Furthermore, we determined angiogenic effects by using fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) and performed hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining to analyze retina morphology changes. Our preliminary data showed significant restoration of ERG a-wave and b-wave in the low-dose group compared to the control group following five months of systemic delivery. At the same time, there was no improvement in ERG function in the high-dose group. These results suggest protection of RPE function in betaine the low dose group. OCT measurement in the group treated with betaine low dose demonstrated no significant difference in ONL thickness compared to the control groups before and after 5 months. FFA indicated no presence angiogenic of effect and no significant changes in retina morphology in H&E staining. Future studies are required to evaluate antioxidant gene changes and retinal structural changes in response to betaine treatment. We conclude that daily betaine administration could have a beneficial effect in protecting RPE oxidative stress-induced changes and might provide a therapeutic effect in alleviating Dry-AMD pathophysiology

Prevention and Treatment of Nursing Burnout Through Policy

Research poster created as part of Nursing 320 class. The poster looks To research the causes of burnout, to then construct policies to combat the onset and treat those in need