A Gendered Analysis of a Movement for Microloans: Problematizing the Micro-Craze in the Developing World

Microcredit lending is a practice that has become increasingly common, as people and economic institutions hail its ability to offer economic opportunities to people in the developing world. The practice of lending small amounts to individuals or groups began with the creation of the Grameen Bank, and has since become considered one of the best tools for the economic empowerment of women in the so-called Global South. To best understand the potential, or lack thereof, of microlending practices to enable the further empowerment of women in terms of their economic and social status, I hope to break down the terminology surrounding this topic as it has progressed since its initial use within the Grameen Bank. As microfinance institutions have been created across the globe, their variations and uses of interest have led to problematic circumstances for the people who get these microcredit loans. In order to understand the benefits and consequences of the practice of targeting women as ideal recipients of microloans, it is necessary to perform a critical analysis of the variations of microlending techniques and their potential for true economic change in the lives of the loan recipients. To do this, I will explore the history of microcredit lending, as well as the terminology that surrounds it. Utilizing my personal experience from working with a company aimed at helping microbusinesses in Santiago, Chile, I criticize the potential of organizations such as Kiva and TechnoServe, which facilitate these types of loans, to understand their true potential for furthering the economic successes of individuals’ and their communities. Furthermore, to understand the variety of microlending institutions formed, far from the original model of the Grameen Bank, I examine the case study of Peru to understand how models of lending practices vary in their strategies and successes within a specific region

On the characteristics of natural hydraulic dampers: An image-based approach to study the fluid flow behaviour inside the human meniscal tissue

The meniscal tissue is a layered material with varying properties influenced by collagen content and arrangement. Understanding the relationship between structure and properties is crucial for disease management, treatment development, and biomaterial design. The internal layer of the meniscus is softer and more deformable than the outer layers, thanks to interconnected collagen channels that guide fluid flow. To investigate these relationships, we propose a novel approach that combines Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) with Image Analysis (CFD-IA). We analyze fluid flow in the internal architecture of the human meniscus across a range of inlet velocities (0.1mm/s to 1.6m/s) using high-resolution 3D micro-computed tomography scans. Statistical correlations are observed between architectural parameters (tortuosity, connectivity, porosity, pore size) and fluid flow parameters (Re number distribution, permeability). Some channels exhibit Re values of 1400 at an inlet velocity of 1.6m/s, and a transition from Darcy's regime to a non-Darcian regime occurs around an inlet velocity of 0.02m/s. Location-dependent permeability ranges from 20-32 Darcy. Regression modelling reveals a strong correlation between fluid velocity and tortuosity at high inlet velocities, as well as with channel diameter at low inlet velocities. At higher inlet velocities, flow paths deviate more from the preferential direction, resulting in a decrease in the concentration parameter by an average of 0.4. This research provides valuable insights into the fluid flow behaviour within the meniscus and its structural influences.Comment: 20 Pages, 5 Figure

On the characteristics of natural hydraulic dampers : an image-based approach to study the fluid flow behaviour inside the human meniscal tissue

The meniscal tissue is a layered material with varying properties influenced by collagen content and arrangement. Understanding the relationship between structure and properties is crucial for disease management, treatment development, and biomaterial design. The internal layer of the meniscus is softer and more deformable than the outer layers, thanks to interconnected collagen channels that guide fluid flow. To investigate these relationships, we propose an integrated approach that combines Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) with Image Analysis (CFD-IA). We analyze fluid flow in the internal architecture of the human meniscus across a range of inlet velocities (0.1 mm/s to 1.6 m/s) using high-resolution 3D micro-computed tomography scans. Statistical correlations are observed between architectural parameters (tortuosity, connectivity, porosity, pore size) and fluid flow parameters (number distribution, permeability). Some channels exhibit values of 1400 at an inlet velocity of 1.6 m/s, and a transition from Darcy’s regime to a non-Darcian regime occurs around an inlet velocity of 0.02 m/s. Location-dependent permeability ranges from 20-32 Darcy. Regression modelling reveals a strong correlation between fluid velocity and tortuosity at high inlet velocities, as well as with channel diameter at low inlet velocities. At higher inlet velocities, flow paths deviate more from the preferential direction, resulting in a decrease in the concentration parameter by an average of 0.4. This research provides valuable insights into the fluid flow behaviour within the meniscus and its structural influences. 3D models and image stack are available to download at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10401592

The impact of gender, socioeconomic status and locality on the development of student patterns of alcohol consumption and harm

Purpose. The consequences of problematic alcohol consumption fall heavily on Australian adolescents, with this population at increased risk of death, serious injury and other harm. Research regarding whether gender, socioeconomic status (SES) or locality play a role in young people’s alcohol consumption and related harm is limited in Australia. This study aimed to determine whether Victorian students’ patterns of alcohol uptake, consumption, and related harm differed between gender, SES and locality. Design/methodology/approach. The study involved secondary analysis of student data from the Drug Education in Victorian Schools (DEVS) harm minimization drug education program, undertaken in 21 Victorian government schools over three years The initial cohort of 1752 students was followed during years eight, nine and ten, when their average age would have respectively been 13, 14 and 15 years. Findings. There were no gender differences in drinking uptake, consumption or harm. Students with low SES were more likely to have consumed a full drink of alcohol and also experienced more alcohol related harm. Students living in a Regional/Rural area were more likely to have engaged in high alcohol consumption. Originality/value. The findings of this study highlighted that different student demographics have an impact on patterns of alcohol consumption, vulnerability and harm. Students with low SES, living in a Regional/Rural area, are more at risk than students with higher SES living in a Fringe Metro/Major Regional or Metro area. Future harm minimization drug education programs delivered in schools need toshould consider the needs of students with demographics that make them more susceptible to higher consumption and harm