Search results for "MFIS"
showing 4 items of 4 documents
The effects of religion on development efforts : evidence from the microfinance industry and a research agenda
2012
Author's version of an article in the journal: World Development. Also avaliable from the publisher at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2012.05.030 This study responds to the need for more empirical knowledge pertaining to the effect of religion on development efforts. We use data from the microfinance industry to study performance differences between Christian and secular Microfinance Institutions (MFIs). We find that Christian MFIs have significantly lower funding costs and consistently underperform in terms of financial profit indicators. Contrary to our hypotheses Christian MFIs are as efficient in assuring loan repayment and their average loan sizes are on par with those of their …
Application of tRNS to improve multiple sclerosis fatigue: a pilot, single-blind, sham-controlled study
2019
We evaluated the effects of transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) on fatigue in 17 subjects with relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis with low physical disability. Two different patient groups underwent real or sham stimulation for 10 days, targeting the primary motor cortex of the dominant side or contralateral to the most compromised limb. In the ‘real group’, beneficial effects were observed using the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (p = 0.04; physical subscale: p = 0.03), the subscales ‘change in health’ (p = 0.006) and ‘role limitations due to physical problems’ (p = 0.001) of the Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life-54, and by assessing the patient impression of perceived fatigue…
Telomerase and Telomere Length in Pulmonary Fibrosis
2013
In addition to its expression in stem cells and many cancers, telomerase activity is transiently induced in murine bleomycin (BLM)-induced pulmonary fibrosis with increased levels of telomerase transcriptase (TERT) expression, which is essential for fibrosis. To extend these observations to human chronic fibrotic lung disease, we investigated the expression of telomerase activity in lung fibroblasts from patients with interstitial lung diseases (ILDs), including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The results showed that telomerase activity was induced in more than 66% of IPF lung fibroblast samples, in comparison with less than 29% from control samples, some of which were obtained from lu…
Microcredit for Self-Employed Disabled Persons in Developing Countries
2005
Microcredit has become a popular instrument to promote economic empowerment among poor entrepreneurs, and is increasingly being recommended to improve economic rehabilitation among persons with disabilities. However, the majority of the advocates of microcredit for persons with disabilities seem not to be informed on the involved “rules of the game”. At the same time the microfinance community lacks information on disability issues. In this report we aim on closing the gap in knowledge and culture between the disability- and the microfinance communities. We apply resource based theory to analyze when microcredit for disabled persons is an appropriate tool and when it is not. We argue that a…