Mission Drift of large MFIs?

Since the Mexican Microfinance Institution (MFI) Compartamos went public in 2007 – whereby promoting NGOs and private investors earned about USD 425 million – leading journals and magazines have repeatedly run rather sceptical articles about microfinance. They are mostly inspired by antagonists of MFIs growing into market driven enterprises. This antagonism has been blended with contemplation about assumed “subprime issues” of microfinance. However, the sector showed a steady performance, different from most other segments of the financial sector. The unholy blend of these two lines of thought risks to create an unwarranted image of microfinance.Microfinance; Mission Drift; Subprime; Sustainability

ZRELI EMBRIJ KAO POLAZNI MATERIJAL ZA UČINKOVIT POTICAJ REGENERACIJE KOD SIRKA (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench.)

Efficient plant regeneration is a prerequisite for a complete genetic transformation protocol in cereals. Aiming this, in the present study, we have accomplished efficient plant regeneration using mature embryos as a source material in Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench. Although immature inflorescence and immature embryos are best explant sources for in vitro culture in Sorghum, however they are available only for a limited period in a year. Mature embryos have always been ideal for in vitro studies for the reason that they can be handled easily over other explants and available throughout the year. Mature embryo explants of Sorghum bicolor genotypes viz. IS 3566, SPV 475, CSV13, CSV15, CSV112, IS 348 were cultured on MS medium for efficient callus induction and subsequent plant regeneration. The response of different combination and concentrations of plant growth regulators were compared, and factors affecting the mature embryo tissue culture response were studied in this manuscript. Significant genotypic differentiation was detected in embryogenic callus induction and plantlet regeneration. Genotype IS 3566 showed better tissue culture response than the other genotypes. Efficient embryogenic callus induction was achieved with 2mg l-1 2, 4,5- Trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T) and multiple shoot induction was achieved by manipulation of 6-benzyl adenine (BAP), Thidiazuron (TDZ), and Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) in the culture medium.Učinkovita regeneracija kod biljaka preduvjet je za potpun transformacijski protokol kod žitarica. Ovim istraživanjem izvedena je uspješna regeneracija biljaka korištenjem zrelih embrija sirka Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench. kao polaznog materijala. Cvjetovi i nezreli embriji najbolji su za eksplantaciju in vitro kulture sirka, ali poteškoće se javljaju jer su oni dostupni samo u određenom dijelu godine. Zreli embriji su oduvijek bili idealni za in vitro istraživanja iz razloga što se njima puno lakše rukuje u odnosu na druge eksplatante, a dostupni su tijekom cijele godine. Zreli eksplatanti sirka genotipova IS 3566, SPV 475, CSV13, CSV15, CSV112 i IS 348 kultivirani su na MS mediju za stvaranje učinkovitog kalusa i naknadnu regeneraciju. U istraživanjima su testirane razne kombinacije i koncentracije regulatora rasta te faktori koji utječu na tkivo zrelog embrija. Uočene su značajne genotipske razlike kod indukcije embrionalnog kalusa i regeneracije biljaka. Genotip IS 3566 pokazao je bolje rezultate u kulturi tkiva od ostalih genotipa. Učinkovita indukcije embrionalnog kalusa postignuta je s 2mg l-1 2, 4,5- Triklorfenoksioctenom kiselinom (2,4,5-T) i višestrukim dozama indukcije koje su postignute korištenjem 6-benzyl adenina (BAP), Thidiazurona (TDZ) i Indol-3-octenom kiselinom (IAA) u mediju kulture

Mass Transfer Effects on Unsteady Free Convective Flow Past an Infinite, Vertical Porous Plate with Variable Suction

A two-dimensional unsteady flow of a viscous incompressible dissipative fluid past an infinite, vertical porous plate with variable suction, is studied. Approximate solutions to the coupled non linear equations governing the flow are derived and expressions for the fluctuating parts of the velocity, the transient velocity, temperature and concentration, the amplitude and the phase of the skin-friction, and the rate of heat transfer, are derived. The effects of w(Omega)(frequency), Gr (Grashof number), Gc (modified Grashof number), Sc (Schmidt number), P (Prandtl number) and A (variable suction parameter), on the above physical quantities are calculated numerically and presented in figures and table. Problems of this nature find place in ablative cooling, transpiration and film cooling of rocket and jet engines

Secondary Flow and Heat Transfer of Two Incompressible Immiscible Fluids Between Two Parallel Plates in a Rotating System

When a straight channel formed by two parallel plates, through which two immiscible fluids are flowing under constant pressure gradients is rotated about an axis perpendicular to the plates, secondary motion is set up. The secondary motion is analysed in detail for constant angular velocity ohm', lambda the ratio of their viscosities. The associated heat transfer problems, when the plate temperatures are equal and different, have also been studied

'Fair' Partitions of Polygons - an Introduction

We address the question: Given a positive integer $N$, can any 2D convex polygonal region be partitioned into $N$ convex pieces such that all pieces have the same area and same perimeter? The answer to this question is easily `yes' for $N$=2. We prove the answer to be `yes' for $N$=4 and also discuss higher powers of 2.Comment: 7 pages. 1 figure. This version (v6) is mostly a formal reworking of the main proof in v2 which was uploaded in December 200

Couette Flow of a Dusty Incompressible Fluid with One of the Horizontal Moving Boundaries Suddenly Stopped

The unsteady flow of an incompressible viscous fluid with a uniform distribution of dust particles between two parallel plates when one of which is impulsively stopped from the state of uniform motion is studied. Analytical expressions for velocities of the fluid and dust particles have been obtained. It is found that the dust particles slip on the wall which is brought to rest impulsively instead of sticking to it; on the other hand, they stick to the stationary plate. The slip-velocity of the dust is noticed to be decreasing as the physical time increases and the relaxation time of the dust particles decrease

SIMULTANEOUS DETERMINATION OF TIGECYCLINE AND ITS POTENTIAL IMPURITIES BY A STABILITY-INDICATING RP-HPLC-UV DETECTION TECHNIQUE

Objective: Stability representing the RP-HPLC method was established for synchronized quantification of Tigecycline and its impurities. This method was confirmed for its applicability to both tablet dosage and bulk drug forms. Methods: Intended for an isocratic elution, a mobile phase containing methanol: 10 mmol Triethylamine Buffer mixture (75:25 v/v, pH 6.1) was used at 1 ml/min flow rate and Agilent ZORBAX Eclipse XDB C18 (250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 μm) column. Results: At 231 nm as wavelength, high-pitched peaks of Tigecycline (Tig) and its impurities (1and2) were detected at 6.55, 8.73 and 4.87 min correspondingly. The linearity of tigecycline and its impurities (impurity-1 and 2 and) were estimated with ranging from 75–450 µg/ml for Tigecycline and 1–6 µg/ml for both impurity 1 and 2. The corresponding recognition limits (LOD and LOQ) of the tigecycline and its impurities were originated to be (1.37,0.047 and 0.071 µg/ml) and (4.15, 0.143 and 0.126 µg/ml). Conclusion: The technique was effectively stretched for stability signifying studies under different stress conditions. Justification of the method was done as per the current ICH guidelines

Production of Inulinase by Fusarium sp. and its Application for Fructo-oligosaccharide Production for use as Prebiotics

Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) are useful due to their applications in food and pharmaceutical industry. Fusarium spp., isolated from dahlia rhizosphere, produced endoinulinases in a medium containing inulin or sucrose as carbon substrate. In this study, characterization of exo-inulinase and production of FOS were investigated. Temperature and pH optimum of the enzyme was found to be 60°C and pH 6.0, respectively. The optimization of fermentation conditions for inulinase production was carried out using one at a time approach. The optimized medium with sucrose as a carbon source and yeast extract as a nitrogen source were found to be optimal for inulinase production at an initial pH 5.0 and incubation temperature 30 °C for 120 h. Under these conditions, the maximum inulinase concentration of 131.6 U/ml was achieved. SDS PAGE revealed that the molecular weight of the enzyme was around 90 kDa. Further study revealed that Fusarium sp. could produce inulinase as well as invertase. Thin layer chromatography was carried out to analyze the FOS production and their oligomeric properties. Inulin as well FOS can be used as prebiotics as they are selectively fermented by Bifidobacteria and Lactic acid bacteria and thus imparting health benefits

Hall Current Effects on Free Convection Casson Fluid Flow in a Rotating System with Convective Boundary Conditions and Constant Heat Source

In this paper we investigated an unsteady free convection flow of casson fluid bounded by a moving vertical flat plate in a rotating system with convective boundary conditions. The governing equations are solved analytically by using perturbation technique. Finally the effects of various dimensionless parameters like inclined angle, Casson parameter, Heat source and Suction parameter on velocity, temperature, friction factor and local Nusselt number are discussed with the help of graphs and tables. Through this study, it is found that increasing values of casson parameter reduces the velocity and increase in inclined magnetic field or hall current parameter enhances the velocity profiles. Keywords: Casson fluid, Rotation, inclined magnetic field, MHD, Heat source

Serum alkaline phosphatase and high sensitivity C-reactive protein in type II diabetes mellitus: a risk of cardio vascular disease in South Indian population

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a clinical syndrome characterized by abnormal metabolism of carbohydrate, protein and fat resulting in hyperglycemia due to absolute or relative deficiency of insulin ending up in vascular complications leading to retinopathy, neuropathy and nephropathy. The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and high sensitive C reactive protein (hsCRP), in type 2 diabetic patients. We assessed the association of ALP and hsCRP levels with CVD complication and determined its utility for CVD risk prediction in type 2 DM subjects with good and poor glycemic control. Further, we investigated correlation between serum ALP and hsCRP level with glycemic control (FBS, PP2BS, HbA1c) in subjects.Methods: A cross sectional study consists of 390 patients out of which 100 normal healthy control (Group I) , 120 patients having type 2 DM with good control (Group II), 170 patients with type 2 DM with poor control (Group III) were selected. Serum ALP, serum hsCRP, FBS, PP2BS, HbA1c, and other biochemical investigations including serum liver enzymes and lipid profile were measured.Results: In Study I Mean serum ALP(145.17±23.91) and hsCRP (2.53±0.76) concentration in group II patients when compared to group I serum ALP(142.17±16.48) and Hscrp (1.51±0.15) shows a significance of ALP (p<0.05) and Hscrp (p<0.001).Study II Mean serum ALP(145.17±23.91) and hsCRP (2.53±0.76) concentration in group II patients when compared to group III serum ALP (147.79±28.95) and Hscrp (3.848±0.47) group shows a significance of ALP (p<0.001) and Hscrp (p<0.05). Study III Mean serum ALP (147.79±28.95) and hsCRP (3.848± 0.47) concentration in group III patients when compared to group I serum ALP (142.17±16.48) and Hscrp (1.51±0.15) shows a high significance of both ALP and Hscrp (p<0.001). Further significant positive correlation was observed between ALP and hsCRP concentration as well as with HbA1c, FBS, and PP2BS.Conclusions: Inflammation along with the poor glycemic control in diabetes play a role in diabetic macrovascular complication like CVD. All these finding are showing a link between CVD, inflammation and glycemic control in patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus