The Impact of Microfinance on Gender Equality in India

This paper explores the impacts of microfinance on gender equality in India by examining its effects through the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. It begins with an overview of the history of microfinance globally and is followed by an in-depth explanation of the current microfinance landscape in India. This paper then uses a case study approach to collect qualitative data that contributes to this discussion on microfinance and gender equality. By studying the stories of four women and their experiences using the services provided by microfinance institutions, the paper illustrates how microfinance contributes to the advancement of the specific targets outlined under several UN Sustainable Development Goals

Mammalian mismatch repair: hotspots and protein complexes

Thesis (Ph.D.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2000Deficiencies in DNA mismatch repair have been found in hereditary cancers as well as in sporadic cancers, illustrating the importance of mismatch repair in maintaining genomic integrity. To determine if inefficient mismatch repair can contribute to hotspots of mutation, repair rates were determined 'in vivo' in mammalian cells for mismatched nucleotides located at H-ras codon 10 and compared to previously determined repair rates at a nearby activating hotspot of mutation, H-ras codon 12. Repair rates for H-ras codon 10 are significantly improved over repair rates at codon 12. This indicates that inefficiencies in mismatch repair are responsible, at least in part, for the well-documented hotspot of mutation at codon 12 and that surrounding sequence context can effect repair of mismatches. Gel-shift analysis demonstrates that the degree of binding by the initial mismatch recognition factor hMutS[alpha] (heterodimer of hMSH6 and hMSH2) correlates with 'in vivo' repair rates for each mismatch tested at the codon 12 location. UV cross-linking of nuclear proteins to G:A and G:T mismatches at codon 10 or codon 12 generally confirm these results. Overall this suggests that there is lowered efficiency in the kinetics of mismatch repair at codon 12, perhaps in the initiation step, rather than innaccurate repair leading to mutation. The interactions of specific mismatch repair proteins in human nuclear extracts were then examined to determine the proteins binding to mismatched DNA. Immunoprecipitation followed by Western blotting indicates two novel complexes that exist in the absence of ATP: one consisting of hMSH2, hMSH6, hMLH1 and hPMS2 and the other consisting of hMSH2, hMSH6, hMLH1 and hPMS1. Furthermore, the protein complexes specifically bind to mismatched DNA and not to a similar homoduplex oligonucleotide. The protein complex-DNA interactions occur primarily through hMSH6, although hMSH2 can also become cross-linked to the mismatched substrate. In the presence of ATP, the binding of hMSH6 to mismatched DNA is decreased. In addition, hMLH1, hPMS2 and hPMS1 no longer interact with each other or with the hMutS[alpha] complex. However, the ability of hMLH1 to co-immunoprecipitate mismatched DNA 'increases' in the presence of ATP, suggesting a role for hMLH1 in subsequent ATP-dependent repair processes

Pilomatricoma in Children: Common but often Misdiagnosed

A

External validity of individual differences in multiple cue probability learning : the case of pilot training

International audienceIndividuals differ in their ability to deal with unpredictable environments. Could impaired performances on learning an unpredictable cue-criteria relationship in a laboratory task be associated with impaired learning of complex skills in a natural setting? We focused on a multiple-cue probability learning (MCPL) laboratory task and on the natural setting of pilot training. We used data from three selection sessions and from the three corresponding selected pilot student classes of a national airline pilot selection and training system. First, applicants took an MCPL task at the selection stage (N = 556; N = 701; N = 412). Then, pilot trainees selected from the applicant pools (N = 44; N = 60; N = 28) followed the training for 2.5 to 3 yrs. Differences in final MCPL performance were associated with pilot training difficulties. Indeed, poor MCPL performers experienced almost twice as many pilot training difficulties as better MCPL performers (44.0% and 25.0%, respectively)

Cognition and piloting performance: offline and online measurements

In aeronautics, the notion that cognitive performance is correlated with accident rates raises the importance of implementing more efficient cognitive selection procedures for pilot candidates. The Cambridge Neuropsychological Testing Automated Battery (CANTAB) has established sensitivity to a range of cognitive functions and their neurobiological substrates. The ability of CANTAB to predict success during pilot training courses (notably based on the evaluation of flight performance) will be examined and compared to that of tests currently in use by one of the leading French civil aviation schools (ENAC) for their pilot candidate selection procedures. Ultimately, the goal is to inform the development of an optimized pilot selection tool that taps into the cognitive functions and underlying neural circuitries required for successful piloting activities. Moreover, through the implementation of a dual-task paradigm, this study aims to provide guidelines for future cockpit instrumentation designs better adapted to the human brain, in a further attempt to reduce accident rates

Dietary factors associated with obesity indicators and level of sports participation in Flemish adults : a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Obesity develops when energy intake continuously exceeds energy expenditure, causing a fundamental chronic energy imbalance. Societal and behavioural changes over the last decades are held responsible for the considerable increase in sedentary lifestyles and inappropriate dietary patterns. The role of dietary fat and other dietary factors in the aetiology and maintenance of excess weight is controversial. The purposes of the present study were to investigate the dietary factors associated with body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC), and to analyse whether dietary intake varies between subjects with different levels of sports participation. METHODS: Data for this cross-sectional study, including anthropometric measurements, 3-day diet diary and physical activity questionnaire, were collected by the Flemish Policy Research Centre Sport, Physical Activity and Health (SPAH) between October 2002 and April 2004. Results of 485 adult men and 362 women with plausible dietary records were analysed. Analyses of covariance were performed to determine the differences in dietary intake between normal weight, overweight and obese subjects, and between subjects with different levels of sports participation. RESULTS: Total energy intake, protein and fat intake (kcal/day) were significantly higher in obese subjects compared to their lean counterparts in both genders. Percentage of energy intake from fat was significantly higher in obese men compared to men with normal weight or WC. Energy percentages from carbohydrates and fibres were negatively related to BMI and WC in men, whereas in women a higher carbohydrate and fibre intake was positively associated with obesity. Alcohol intake was positively associated with WC in men. Subjects participating in health related sports reported higher intake of carbohydrates, but lower intake of fat compared to subjects not participating in sports. CONCLUSION: This study supports the evidence that carbohydrate, fat, protein and fibre intake are closely related to BMI and WC. The sex differences for dietary intake between obese men and women might reflect the generally higher health consciousness of women. Alcohol intake was only associated with WC, emphasizing the importance of WC as an additional indicator in epidemiological studies. Besides enhancing sports and physical activity, it is necessary to improve the knowledge about nutrition and to promote the well-balanced consumption of wholesome food