Micro-finance in the India: the changing face of micro-credit Schemes

Micro-Finance is emerging as a powerful instrument for poverty alleviation in the new economy. In India, micro-Finance scene is dominated by Self Help Groups (SHGs) - Banks linkage Programme, aimed at providing a cost effective mechanism for providing financial services to the 'unreached poor'. In the Indian context terms like "small and marginal farmers", " rural artisans" and "economically weaker sections" have been used to broadly define micro-finance customers. Research across the globe has shown that, over time, microfinance clients increase their income and assets, increase the number of years of schooling their children receive, and improve the health and nutrition of their families A more refined model of micro-credit delivery has evolved lately, which emphasizes the combined delivery of financial services along with technical assistance, and agricultural business development services. When compared to the wider SHG bank linkage movement in India, private MFIs have had limited outreach. However, we have seen a recent trend of larger microfinance institutions transforming into Non-Bank Financial Institutions (NBFCs). This changing face of microfinance in India appears to be positive in terms of the ability of microfinance to attract more funds and therefore increase outreach. In overall terms an organizational structure will help them achieve more transparence and efficiencyMicrofinance; Microcredit; India;

Intelligent computational argumentation for evaluating performance scores in multi-criteria decision making

Multi Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) is a discipline aimed at assisting multiple stakeholders in contemplating a decision paradigm in an uncertain environment. The decision analysis to be performed involves numerous alternative positions assessed under varied criterion. A performance score is assigned for each alternative in terms of every criterion and it represents satisfaction of the criteria by that alternative. In a collaborative decision making environment, performance scores are either obtained when a consensus can be reached among stakeholders on a particular score or in some cases or controversial when stakeholders do not agree with each other about them. In the previous research an intelligent argumentation system for collaborative decision making was developed. In this thesis; its use is being extended for evaluating performance scores in MCDM. A framework is laid out for using the Intelligent Argumentation approach for resolving controversial performance scores. An application case study of Selection of a Mine Detection Simulation tool is used to illustrate the method. To validate it empirically, a case study to determine division of effort between software quality assurance and software testing, which has a group of 24 stakeholders, is conducted in a hypothetical setup. Its empirical data is collected and analyzed. The analysis serves two basic purposes: 1) to validate capability of the argumentation process in determining the controversial performance scores in MCDM using our intelligent computational argumentation system and to show its effectiveness in capturing rationales of stakeholders and assisting rapid collaborative decision making --Abstract, page iii

Logistics Outsourcing: Change from a service-provider to a business partner and Leveraging partnership models to create sustainable bottomline

A New model for „Partnership’ based Outsourcing: The growing emphasis on efficiency and integration between customers (shippers) and third-party outsourcing firms, has given rise to a unique collaborative model of Logistics outsourcing. Principle: “The focus on end-to-end supply chain effectiveness and optimization will lead to lower unit costs, which in turn will lead to lowest total costs”. Instead of an inward-looking focus on ownership of hard assets and „do-myself‟ approach; we need to focus on total supply chain effectiveness and process optimization by utilizing the extended value-proposition of the „logistics partner‟.Rajat Wanchoo Logistic Outsourcing ISB Business Model

Developing Data Citations from Digital Object Identifier Metadata

NASA's Earth Science Data and Information System (ESDIS) Project has been processing information for the registration of Digital Object Identifiers (DOI) for the last five years of which an automated system has been in operation for the last two years. The ESDIS DOI registration system has registered over 2000 DOIs with over 1000 DOIs held in reserve until all required information has been collected. By working towards the goal of assigning DOIs to the 8000+ data collections under its management, ESDIS has taken the first step towards facilitating the use of data citations with those products. Jeanne Behnke, ESDIS Deputy Project Manager has reviewed and approved the poster

Quantitative Metrics from 20 Years of Terra Data Usage

NASA's Terra flagship satellite carries five Earth-observing instruments that have collected data for almost 20 years. NASA's Earth Science Data and Information System (ESDIS) Project makes these data, along with derived products, available to worldwide data users. Since the launch of Terra on December 18, 1999, more than 10,000 data products have been archived and distributed by NASA-funded Distributed Active Archive Centers (DAACs) that are part of NASA's Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS). At the end of the 2018 Fiscal Year, about 1,000 Terra data products constituted almost 22% of the entire EOSDIS data archive volume (6 PB out of approximately 27.5 PB), and 6 PB of Terra data were distributed to over half-a-million public users worldwide.By categorizing the Terra data products and their distribution, we can get a quantitative assessment of Terra data usage. NASA's ESDIS Project has collected archive, distribution, and user information from EOSDIS data users since February 2000. These metrics are available through the ESDIS Metrics System (EMS). EMS information is stored in a relational database from which quantitative metrics of Terra data use can be retrieved and analyzed.The purposes of this study are to: 1) perform a comprehensive investigation of the 20-year trend in the archive and distribution of Terra data products; 2) identify and characterize data product usage over the last 20 years; and 3) identify and characterize the global user community for these data. In addition to revealing how Terra data use has evolved over time, the results of this study provide insights on identifying the various user communities for different kinds of Earth science data products. Also, because of the enormous quantity of data handled by EOSDIS DAACs, the study provides guidance of the requirements for future data systems that will be needed to effectively and efficiently handle the ever-increasing amounts of Earth science data produced by future (and ongoing) Earth science missions

Evolution of NASA's Earth Science Digital Object Identifier Registration System

NASA's Earth Science Data and Information System (ESDIS) Project has implemented a fully automated system for assigning Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) to Earth Science data products being managed by its network of 12 distributed active archive centers (DAACs). A key factor in the successful evolution of the DOI registration system over last 7 years has been the incorporation of community input from three focus groups under the NASA's Earth Science Data System Working Group (ESDSWG). These groups were largely composed of DOI submitters and data curators from the 12 data centers serving the user communities of various science disciplines. The suggestions from these groups were formulated into recommendations for ESDIS consideration and implementation. The ESDIS DOI registration system has evolved to be fully functional with over 5,000 publicly accessible DOIs and over 200 DOIs being held in reserve status until the information required for registration is obtained. The goal is to assign DOIs to the entire 8000+ data collections under ESDIS management via its network of discipline-oriented data centers. DOIs make it easier for researchers to discover and use earth science data and they enable users to provide valid citations for the data they use in research. Also for the researcher wishing to reproduce the results presented in science publications, the DOI can be used to locate the exact data or data products being cited

Structural Parameters and Swelling Behavior of pH Sensitive Poly(acrylamide-co-acrylic acid) Hydrogels

In the present work, hydrogels based on acrylamide (AAm) and acrylic acid (AAc), crosslinked with N,N’-methylenebisacrylamide (MBAAm) were prepared by free radical polymerization in solution. The effect of initial AAm/AAc mole ratio and nominal crosslinking ratio (moles of crosslinking agent/moles of polymer repeat unit) on the dynamic and equilibrium swelling behaviour of hydrogels was investigated. Hydrogels were characterized by the polymer volume fraction in the swollen state (ν2,s ), the number average molecular mass between crosslinks (Mc ) and the mesh size (ξ). The swelling capacity of hydrogels was found to decrease with increasing nominal crosslinking ratio. The results show a significant influence of AAc monomer concentration on swelling behavior of poly(acrylamide-co-acrylic acid) hydrogels. Hydrogels containing higher acrylic acid content had a higher equilibrium mass swelling at pH 7.4 and in distilled water than at pH 3.0 where the acrylic acid is present in nonionized state. Further, swelling data was fitted to various models and model parameters were evaluated using regression technique. Model analysis indicated that the swelling transport followed non-Fickian mechanism. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed the macroporous surface morphology of the matrix with pore size varying between 2–64 microns depending on the amounts of AAc in the hydrogel

Sorption and Drug Release Studies from Semi-interpenetrating Polymer Networks of Chitosan and Xanthan Gum

Hydrogel films of Chitosan (CS) and Xanthan gum (XA) of compositions 100/0, 90/10, 80/20, 70/30, 60/40 and 50/50 (w/w) % were prepared and swollen in simulated gastric fluid (SGF) of pH 1.2 and simulated intestinal fluid (SIF) of pH 7.4. To impart stability in acidic environment, semi-interpenetrating polymer network (semi-IPNs) films were formed using glutaraldehyde (GA) as the crosslinking agent. With increase in XA concentration, equilibrium degree of swelling reduced in SGF as well as SIF indicating maximum intermolecular interactions for 50/50 CS/XA semi-IPN. The swelling data was observed to follow second order kinetics. Spectroscopic and thermal analyses of these semi-IPN films also suggest maximum intermolecular interactions for 50/50 CS/XA semi-IPN. The potential of using 50/50 semi-IPN in drug delivery was studied using amoxicillin. In-vitro drug release studies indicated higher drug release in SGF than in SIF suggesting dependence of amoxicillin release kinetics and diffusion coefficient on pH of the environment and drug loading. The results suggest that CS-based semi-IPNs with different crosslinker and XA concentration could be promising candidates for formulation in oral gastrointestinal delivery systems

Logistics Outsourcing: Change from a service-provider to a business partner and Leveraging partnership models to create sustainable bottomline

A New model for „Partnership’ based Outsourcing: The growing emphasis on efficiency and integration between customers (shippers) and third-party outsourcing firms, has given rise to a unique collaborative model of Logistics outsourcing. Principle: “The focus on end-to-end supply chain effectiveness and optimization will lead to lower unit costs, which in turn will lead to lowest total costs”. Instead of an inward-looking focus on ownership of hard assets and „do-myself‟ approach; we need to focus on total supply chain effectiveness and process optimization by utilizing the extended value-proposition of the „logistics partner‟