Cooperative Banking: A Viable Approach To Microfinance - A Case Study in the Philippines

A leading cooperative bank in the Philippines has demonstrated that cooperative banking can be a viable approach to microfinance. Established in May 1975, the Cooperative Rural Bank of Bulacan, Inc. (CRBBI) integrates the components of rural banking and cooperativism: it is a rural bank owned and controlled by 180 primary organizations in Bulacan. CRBBI was registered with the central bank, Bangko Sentral ng Pililipinas (BSP) as a stockholding company in April 20, 1978. It has an authorized capital stock of P10 million ($263,158 at December 1998 exchange rate), of which P7.689M ($202,342) or 77% have been subscribed and fully paid. Its Head Office is located in the municipality of Plaridel at the heart of Bulacan province, while its seven (7) branches are spread in other municipalities of the same province. CRBBI?s Board is composed of 11 members elected by the general assembly constituted by the Chairmen of primary organizations. The Board meets once a month together with some permanent invitees such as the Treasurer, the Secretary, the legal adviser, and the ex-Chairman who is retained as consultant to the bank. --

Pathways of genetic adaptation: multistep origin of mutants under selection without induced mutagenesis in Salmonella enterica.

In several bacterial systems, mutant cell populations plated on growth-restricting medium give rise to revertant colonies that accumulate over several days. One model suggests that nongrowing parent cells mutagenize their own genome and thereby create beneficial mutations (stress-induced mutagenesis). By this model, the first-order induction of new mutations in a nongrowing parent cell population leads to the delayed accumulation of visible colonies. In an alternative model (selection only), selective conditions allow preexisting small-effect mutants to initiate clones that grow and give rise to faster-growing mutants. By the selection-only model, the delay in appearance of revertant colonies reflects (1) the time required for initial clones to reach a size sufficient to allow the second mutation plus (2) the time required for growth of the improved subclone. We previously characterized a system in which revertant colonies accumulate slowly and contain cells with two mutations, one formed before plating and one after. This left open the question of whether mutation rates increase under selection. Here we measure the unselected formation rate and the growth contribution of each mutant type. When these parameters are used in a graphic model of revertant colony development, they demonstrate that no increase in mutation rate is required to explain the number and delayed appearance of two of the revertant types

Plasmid copy number underlies adaptive mutability in bacteria.

The origin of mutations under selection has been intensively studied using the Cairns-Foster system, in which cells of an Escherichia coli lac mutant are plated on lactose and give rise to 100 Lac+ revertants over several days. These revertants have been attributed variously to stress-induced mutagenesis of nongrowing cells or to selective improvement of preexisting weakly Lac+ cells with no mutagenesis. Most revertant colonies (90%) contain stably Lac+ cells, while others (10%) contain cells with an unstable amplification of the leaky mutant lac allele. Evidence is presented that both stable and unstable Lac+ revertant colonies are initiated by preexisting cells with multiple copies of the F'lac plasmid, which carries the mutant lac allele. The tetracycline analog anhydrotetracycline (AnTc) inhibits growth of cells with multiple copies of the tetA gene. Populations with tetA on their F'lac plasmid include rare cells with an elevated plasmid copy number and multiple copies of both the tetA and lac genes. Pregrowth of such populations with AnTc reduces the number of cells with multiple F'lac copies and consequently the number of Lac+ colonies appearing under selection. Revertant yield is restored rapidly by a few generations of growth without AnTc. We suggest that preexisting cells with multiple F'lac copies divide very little under selection but have enough energy to replicate their F'lac plasmids repeatedly until reversion initiates a stable Lac+ colony. Preexisting cells whose high-copy plasmid includes an internal lac duplication grow under selection and produce an unstable Lac+ colony. In this model, all revertant colonies are initiated by preexisting cells and cannot be stress induced

Differential gene expression signatures for cell wall integrity found in chitin synthase II (chs2Δ) and myosin II (myo1Δ) deficient cytokinesis mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Myosin II-dependent contraction of the cytokinetic ring and primary septum formation by chitin synthase II are interdependent processes during cytokinesis in <it>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</it>. Hence, null mutants of myosin II <it>(myo1</it>Δ<it>) </it>and chitin synthase II <it>(chs2</it>Δ<it>) </it>share multiple morphological and molecular phenotypes. To understand the nature of their interdependent functions, we will seek to identify genes undergoing transcriptional regulation in <it>chs2</it>Δ strains and to establish a transcription signature profile for comparison with <it>myo1</it>Δ strains.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 467 genes were commonly regulated between <it>myo1Δ </it>and <it>chs2Δ </it>mutant strains (p ≤ 0.01). Common regulated biological process categories identified by Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) in both gene expression profiles were: protein biosynthesis, RNA processing, and stress response. Expression of 17/20 genes in the main transcriptional fingerprint for cell wall stress was confirmed in the <it>chs2Δ </it>strain versus 5/20 for the <it>myo1Δ </it>strain. One of these genes, <it>SLT2/MPK1</it>, was up-regulated in both strains and both strains accumulated the hyperphosphorylated form of Slt2p thereby confirming that the <it>PKC1 </it>cell wall integrity pathway (CWIP) was activated by both mutations. The <it>SLT2/MPK1 </it>gene, essential for <it>myo1Δ </it>strains, was not required in the <it>chs2Δ </it>strain.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Comparison of the <it>chs2Δ </it>and <it>myo1</it>Δ gene expression profiles revealed similarities in the biological process categories that respond to the <it>chs2Δ </it>and <it>myo1</it>Δ gene mutations. This supports the view that these mutations affect a common function in cytokinesis. Despite their similarities, these mutants exhibited significant differences in expression of the main transcriptional fingerprint for cell wall stress and their requirement of the CWIP for survival.</p

High-temperature performance of mortars and concretes based on alkali-activated slag/metakaolin blends

This paper assesses the performance of mortars and concretes based on alkali activated granulated blastfurnace slag (GBFS)/metakaolin (MK) blends when exposed to high temperatures. High stability of mortars with contents of MK up to 60 wt.% when exposed to 600 °C is identified, with residual strengths of 20 MPa following exposure to this temperature. On the other hand, exposure to higher temperatures leads to cracking of the concretes, as a consequence of the high shrinkage of the binder matrix and the restraining effects of the aggregate, especially in those specimens with binders containing high MK content. A significant difference is identified between the water absorption properties of mortars and concretes, and this is able to be correlated with divergences in their performance after exposure to high temperatures. This indicates that the performance at high temperatures of alkali-activated mortars is not completely transferable to concrete, because the systems differ in permeability. The differences in the thermal expansion coefficients between the binder matrix and the coarse aggregates contribute to the macrocracking of the material, and the consequent reduction of mechanical properties

Educating Pharmacy Students to Improve Quality (EPIQ) in Colleges and Schools of Pharmacy

Objective. To assess course instructors’ and students’ perceptions of the Educating Pharmacy Students and Pharmacists to Improve Quality (EPIQ) curriculum. Methods. Seven colleges and schools of pharmacy that were using the EPIQ program in their curricula agreed to participate in the study. Five of the 7 collected student retrospective pre- and post-intervention questionnaires. Changes in students’ perceptions were evaluated to assess their relationships with demographics and course variables. Instructors who implemented the EPIQ program at each of the 7 colleges and schools were also asked to complete a questionnaire. Results. Scores on all questionnaire items indicated improvement in students’ perceived knowledge of quality improvement. The university the students attended, completion of a class project, and length of coverage of material were significantly related to improvement in the students’ scores. Instructors at all colleges and schools felt the EPIQ curriculum was a strong program that fulfilled the criteria for quality improvement and medication error reduction education. Conclusion. The EPIQ program is a viable, turnkey option for colleges and schools of pharmacy to use in teaching students about quality improvement