The Past, Present and Future of Community Reinvestment Act (CRA): A Historical Perspective

This paper takes a historical approach to understand the evolution of one of the most controversial banking regulations in recent history, the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) of 1978 and its effects on access to credit and banking services to community borrowers. The paper lays out the historical milieu of credit markets in the late seventies and describes the early justification of this legislation. The paper explores the implementation of the act through regulations on lending institutions and the effects of the regulations on depository lenders and community borrowers. Detailed description of the reactions to CRA regulations by different parties involved in the act is provided. This reaction and consequent revisions to the regulations have contributed to keep the act effective and relevant. In addition to the reactions, the act has responded to the structural reorganization and regulatory changes in the banking sector and mortgage markets in particular. The paper illustrates this dynamic nature of implementation, reactions and revisions that has shaped CRA regulations over last quarter century. The paper argues that historical understanding and justification is important to formulate future changes to the regulation. This understanding is important to keep the act objective, measurable and enforceable. While inclusion of all possible requirements that may enhance community lending is not the correct approach to future changes in CRA, keeping the act static to its initial requirements is also not appropriate from public policy standpoint. A balance between the two should guide the future changes to the act. Finally, the paper points out the trends in community lending and suggests some of the future changes to the regulation

Development of a Simulation Model for Fluidized Bed Mild Gasifier

A mild gasification method has been developed to provide an innovative clean coal technology. The objective of this study is to developed a numerical model to investigate the thermal-flow and gasification process inside a specially designed fluidized-bed mild gasifier using the commercial CFD solver ANSYS/FLUENT. Eulerain-Eulerian method is employed to calculate both the primary phase (air) and secondary phase (coal particles). The Navier-Stokes equations and seven species transport equations are solved with three heterogeneous (gas-solid), two homogeneous (gas-gas) global gasification reactions. Development of the model starts from simulating single-phase turbulent flow and heat transfer to understand the thermal-flow behavior followed by five global gasification reactions, progressively with adding one equation at a time. Finally, the particles are introduced with heterogeneous reactions. The simulation model has been successfully developed. The results are reasonable but require future experimental data for verification

Study on Biofortification of Rice by Targeted Genetic Engineering

Micronutrient malnutrition is a major health problem in Bangladesh and also in many other developing countries, where a diversified diet is not affordable for the majority. In the present world- one, out of seven people suffers from hunger. Yet, there is a stealthier form of hunger than lack of food: micronutrient malnutrition or hidden hunger. While often providing enough calories, monotonous diets (of rural poor) frequently fail to deliver sufficient quantities of essential minerals and vitamins. Due to micronutrient deficiencies different characteristic features have been observed to the victims. Various estimates indicate that over two-thirds of the world population, for the most part women and children specially, pre-school children are deficient in at least one micronutrient. This can have devastating consequences for the life, health and well being of the individuals concerned (like premature death, blindness, weakened immune systems etc). Genetic engineering approach is the upcoming strategy to solve this problem. Genetically engineered biofortified staple crops specially, rice that are high in essential micronutrients (Fe, Zn, vitamin A) and adapted to local growing environments have the potential to significantly reduce the prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies specially to the rural poor. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/ijarit.v2i2.14011 Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. & Tech. 2 (2): 25-35, December, 201

Gendering cross-border networks in the Greater Mekong Subregion: drawing invisible routes to Thailand

"This article discusses human trafficking within the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) in relation to the strengthened inter-state economic and infrastructural co-operation and connectivity, taking the life history of sex workers in Thailand into account. Over the last decades, Thailand became known as a hub of entertainment sectors. Traffickers often use socio-economic integration in the GMS to their advantage. A large number of trafficked women ends up in the Thai entertainment industry doing sex work in confined conditions similar to slavery. Poor women are often lured by false promises of well-paid jobs abroad and pay exorbitant fees to agents for such an opportunity. Intermediaries introduce family members to agents who promise to make arrangements for the relevant documentation and transportation across borders. Traffickers use their own marked routes to transport their prey which are more invisible than generally could be imagined." (author's abstract)"Der vorliegende Beitrag betrachtet den Menschenhandel in der Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) unter Berücksichtigung der Stärkung zwischenstaatlicher wirtschaftlicher und infrastruktureller Kooperation und Vernetzung. Dabei nimmt er Lebensgeschichten Prostituierter in Thailand genauer unter die Lupe. Im Laufe der Jahre wurde Thailand als Drehscheibe des Unterhaltungssektors berühmt. Es ist jedoch weitgehend unbekannt, dass eine Großzahl der Opfer des Menschenhandels in der Sexarbeit und in der Sklaverei ähnlichen Arbeitsverhältnissen landet. Menschenhändler nützen die sozioökonomische Integration in der GMS zu ihrem Vorteil. Diese Studie zeigt, dass von Armut betroffene Frauen in der Regel durch falsche Versprechungen gut bezahlter Arbeitsplätze ins Ausland gelockt werden und für solche Gelegenheiten exorbitante Gebühren an ihre Agenten bezahlen. Vermittler bringen Familienmitglieder und Agenten zusammen, welche die entsprechenden Unterlagen vorbereiten um den Transport über den Grenzübertritt möglich zu machen. Menschenhändler nutzen eigene markierte Routen, um ihre Beute zu transportieren - Wege die unsichtbarer sind, als man sich allgemein vorstellt." (Autorenreferat

Roux-en-Y longitudinal Pancreatico Jejunostomy for Pancreatic Calculi in Children

Background: Pancreatic calculi is distinctly uncommon in children and usually present wit recurrent abdominal pain. Objective: To assess the effectiveness of longitudinal pancreatico-jejunostomy in relieving intractable abdominal pain in children with pancreatic calculi. Methods: this prospective study was conducted from 2003-2009 at Paediatric Surgery Department of BSMMU. Ductal decompression by longitudinal pancreatic jejunostomy (LPJ) was done in 14 children (10 male, 4 female) suffering from intractable abdominal pain due to pancreatic calculi. The operative outcomes were divided in to satisfactory and unsatisfactory according to whether the patients were completely or almost completely relieved of pain or continued to be troubled by pain. The main outcome measures were pain relief, postoperative morbidity and mortality. Results: There was no mortality and no significant postoperative morbidity. 14 patients were followed up till 2009. The mean follow-up period were 22 (range 8-72) months. Operative results was satisfactory (no pain) in 12 patients and unsatisfactory (moderate pain) in 2 patients. Complete pain relief was seen 12 patients. Conclusion: Longitudianal pancreatico-jejunostomy is a good operative procedure to relieve intractable abdominal pain in patients with pancreatic calculi. Key words: Pancreatic calculi; Pancreatico-jejunostomy; abdominal pain  DOI: 10.3329/bsmmuj.v3i2.7055BSMMU J 2010; 3(2): 72-7

Roux-en-Y longitudinal Pancreatico Jejunostomy for Pancreatic Calculi in Children

Background: Pancreatic calculi is distinctly uncommon in children and usually present wit recurrent abdominal pain. Objective: To assess the effectiveness of longitudinal pancreatico-jejunostomy in relieving intractable abdominal pain in children with pancreatic calculi. Methods: this prospective study was conducted from 2003-2009 at Paediatric Surgery Department of BSMMU. Ductal decompression by longitudinal pancreatic jejunostomy (LPJ) was done in 14 children (10 male, 4 female) suffering from intractable abdominal pain due to pancreatic calculi. The operative outcomes were divided in to satisfactory and unsatisfactory according to whether the patients were completely or almost completely relieved of pain or continued to be troubled by pain. The main outcome measures were pain relief, postoperative morbidity and mortality. Results: There was no mortality and no significant postoperative morbidity. 14 patients were followed up till 2009. The mean follow-up period were 22 (range 8-72) months. Operative results was satisfactory (no pain) in 12 patients and unsatisfactory (moderate pain) in 2 patients. Complete pain relief was seen 12 patients. Conclusion: Longitudianal pancreatico-jejunostomy is a good operative procedure to relieve intractable abdominal pain in patients with pancreatic calculi. Key words: Pancreatic calculi; Pancreatico-jejunostomy; abdominal pain  DOI: 10.3329/bsmmuj.v3i2.7055BSMMU J 2010; 3(2): 72-7

Isolation and selection of Bradyrhizobium from the root nodules of indigo plants (Indigofera tinctoria L.)

This research was conducted from 2004 to 2005 to isolate and select Bradyrhizobium from the root nodules of indigo plants (Indigofera tinctoria L.). For isolation of Bradyrhizobium, root nodules were collected from indigo plants. Fourteen Bradyrhizobium isolates were identified depending on colony, morphological and biochemical characteristics. Out of fourteen isolates, six (HSTU-IR2, HSTU-IR3, HSTU-IR4, HSTU-IR9, HSTU-IR10 and HSTU-IR14) were found promising with respect to nodulation, shoots and roots weights and N fixation by the indigo plants grown inside the Leonard Bottle Jar Assembly (LBJA).Key words: Bradyrhizobium, isolation, selection, root nodules, indigo plants

Synergistic Effects of Processing and Nanofiber Reinforcement on the mechanical and Ferroelectric Performance of Geopolymer Matrix Composites

tThis study involved the evaluation of mechanical and ferroelectric properties of a new classof nanofiller infused inorganic polymer (geopolymer, GP). To evaluate the mechanical per-formance, compressive strength and fracture resistance of neat and nanofillers infused GPwere studied at various treatment temperatures. It was found that, addition of 5 vol% alu-mina nanofiber (ANF), increased compressive strength and modulus by over 30% and 60%,respectively, while it increased fracture toughness (KIC) by over 60% compared to the baselinespecimens. Simultaneously, ferroelectric properties were investigated at various treatmenttemperatures (250◦C, 650◦C and 870◦C). Remarkably, higher ferroelectric hysteresis wasobserved with the GP treated at 870◦C and remnant polarization increased with the addi-tion of alumina nanofiber. Scanning Electron Microscopy confirmed that neat materials arecomposed of particles embedded into the poly-condensed matrix, where particle natureexisted until the treatment temperature reached above 870◦C. X-ray diffraction analysissuggests that, baseline geopolymer started becoming crystalline while the particle naturegradually disappeared with heating at or beyond 870◦C. The bonding between the polymerand alumina nanofiber tends to be stronger with increasing treatment temperature. Theincrease in KICwith the addition of 2 vol% and 5 vol% alumina nanofibers (ANF) is due tohomogeneous dispersion of high interfacial strength nanofillers, which essentially createstrong crack bridging and crack deflection effect. The increase in ferroelectric hysteresisis potentially due to the formation of hierarchical order and domain reorientation of thematerials

Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer: A Review of Epidemiology, Pathogenesis, and Treatment

Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is an uncommon malignancy of the thyroid. Only 1-2% of thyroid cancers are anaplastic, but the disease contributes to 14–50% of the mortality with a median survival of 3 to 5 months. Most patients diagnosed with this disease are 65 years of age or older. The incidence of anaplastic thyroid cancer is decreasing worldwide. Most patients present with a rapidly growing neck mass, dysphagia, or voice change. We performed a comprehensive literature search using PubMed focusing on the treatment of anaplastic thyroid cancer including historical review of treatment and outcomes and investigations of new agents and approaches. A total of sixteen chart review and retrospective studies and eleven prospective studies and/or clinical trials were reviewed. The current standard therapeutic approach is to consider the disease as systemic at time of diagnosis and pursue combined modality therapy incorporating cytoreductive surgical resection where feasible and/or chemoradiation either concurrently or sequentially. Doxorubicin is the most commonly used agent, with a response rate of 22%. Several new agents are currently under investigation. Referral of patients for participation in clinical trials is needed