"A Path to Community Development, The Community Reinvestment Act, Lending Discrimination, and the Role of Community Development Banks"

The establishment of a system of federally regulated, for-profit, community development banks (CDBs) would help to fill the financial gap in areas inadequately served by traditional banks, requirements of the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) notwithstanding. These organizations would be charged with delivering credit, payment, and savings opportunities and providing basic financing to households and small businesses in underserved areas. Such a system would not substitute for the CRA, but rather act as a supplement to current regulation. Proposed exemptions from CRA compliance for depository institutions that invest in the equity of a CDB would weaken the existing law by diluting the investment of the depository institution in its own particular community. Such proposals (under which "investment" has been defined to be as little as one-quarter of one percent of total assets) are not consistent with the spirit of the CRA and would negate the beneficial dialogue that takes place between the institution and the community in which it operates.

"An Alternative in Small Business Finance, Community-Based Factoring Companies and Small Business Lending"

According to Papadimitriou, Phillips, and Wray, at a time when small businesses are suffering from a credit crunch, "niche" financial institutions are filling the void left by more traditional sources of financing, such as commercial banks. The authors argue that the most important of these niche players are community-based factor companies, which are rapidly expanding from their client base in apparel and textiles to finance a range of firms in everything from electronics to health care. The purchase of accounts receivable by factors enhances the balance sheets of their clients, making it easier for the clients to obtain bank financing. Also, because factors are more interested in the creditworthiness of a client's customers than of the client itself, they are willing to extend loans in excess of collateral to rapidly growing businesses. Because factors are becoming an increasingly important source of financing for small and start-up businesses, the authors propose that factors be encouraged to play a broader role in financing firms in distressed communities by (1) making some factors eligible for funding and assistance under legislation regulating community development financial institutions and (2) by allowing investments by banks in factors to count toward compliance under the Community Reinvestment Act.

"The Community Reinvestment Act, Lending Discrimination, and the Role of Community Development Banks"

The Community Development Banks (CDBs) should not be seen as a substitute for the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) or for other programs designed to revitalize lower income areas. Rather, they should be seen as a complement for existing programs and for other programs that will be proposed by the Clinton administration. As discussed above, the CRA process ensures that a dialogue takes place among regulators, financial institutions, and served communities: it ensures that banks identify their communities and that they satisfy some of the needs of these communities. Moreover, it helps to expand the awareness of bankers such that their expectations about presently undeserved areas are revised. It is unrealistic to expect that any financial institution can meet all the needs of any community; this, there is a role for a CDB to play in some communities that supplements the role played by traditional financial institutions. Similarly, while we believe that CDBs have an important role to play in revitalizing low income communities, we certainly do not see these as a substitute for the wide range of programs (both public and private) that will be needed to reverse long trends of deterioration experienced by some distressed communities. Finally, the CDBs are not intended to be welfare programs but to provide services to the community's residents, and consequently, they must meet the long-run market tests of profitability. Aside from the service aspect, community development banks will: (i)improve the well-being of our citizens not now served because of unresponsive, yet traditional loan qualification norms, and (ii) directly increase the opportunities for potential entrepreneurs and potential employees. The basic assumption underlying the community development bank is that all areas of the country need banks that are clearly oriented toward the small customer: households that have a small net worth, a small IRA account, and a small transactions account, and businesses that need financing measured in thousands rather then millions or billions of dollars.

"Community Development Banking, A Proposal to Establish a Nationwide System of Community Development Banks"

This brief proposes that the establishment of a nationwide system of community development banks (CDBs) would advance the capital development of the economy. The proposal is based on the notion that a critical function of the financial system is not being adequately performed by existing institutions for low-income citizens, inner-city minorities, and entrepreneurs who seek modest financing for small businesses. The primary goals of the CDBs are to deliver credit, payment, and savings opportunities to communities not well served by banks and to provide financing throughout a designated area for businesses too small to attract the interest of the investment banking and normal commercial banking communities.

Spectral Study of Water Tracks as an Analog for Recurring Slope Lineae

Liquid water is a key requirement for life on Earth, and serves as an important constraint on present day habitability on Mars. Recurring Slope Lineae (RSL) are a unique phenomenon on Mars that may be formed by brine seeps. Their morphological, seasonal and temporal characteristics support this hypothesis; however, spectral evidence has been lacking. Ojha et al., 2013 recently analyzed CRISM images from all confirmed RSL in the southern mid-latitudes and equatorial regions and found no spectro-scopic evidence for water. Instead, enhanced abun-dances or distinct grain sizes of both ferric and ferrous minerals are observed at most sites. The strength of these spectral signatures changes as a function of sea-son, possibly indicating removal of a fine-grained sur-face component during RSL flow, precipitation of fer-ric oxides, and/or wetting of the substrate. Water tracks (WT) have been suggested as a terrestrial analog for RSL by Levy et al., 2011. WT are defined as dark surface features that extend downslope in a linear or branching fashion, usually oriented along the steepest local gradient, in the Dry Valleys of Antarctica. They can be 1-3 m in width and can have lengths up to 2 km. They share many morphological and seasonal characteristics with RSL including active growth during summer seasons and fading during winter. Snowmelt, ground ice melt and deliquescence by hygroscopic salts have been suggested as possible formation mechanisms for water tracks. No spectral work to date has been reported for water tracks

Challenges in implementing cultural adaptations of digital health interventions

Differences in the access and use of digital health interventions are driven by culture, in addition to economic and physical factors. To avoid the systematic exclusion of traditionally underserved cultural groups, creating inclusive digital health interventions is essential. One way to achieve this is through cultural adaptations, defined as the systematic modification of an existing intervention that aligns with a target audience's cultural norms, beliefs, and values. In theory, cultural adaptations can potentially increase the reach and engagement of digital health interventions. However, the evidence of whether and how that is achieved is limited. Justifying, planning, and implementing an adaptation comes with various challenges and takes time and money. This perspective provides a critical overview of the field's current state and emphasizes the need for technology-specific frameworks that address when and how to culturally adapt digital health interventions

Multiparameter digitized video microscopy of toxic and hypoxic injury in single cells.

There is no clear picture of the critical events that lead to the transition from reversible to irreversible injury. Many studies have suggested that a rise in cytosolic free Ca2+ initiates plasma membrane bleb formation and a sequence of events that lead ultimately to cell death. In recent studies, we have measured changes in cytosolic free Ca2+, mitochondrial membrane potential, cytosolic pH, and cell surface blebbing in relation to the onset of irreversible injury and cell death following anoxic and toxic injury to single hepatocytes by using multiparameter digitized video microscopy (MDVM). MDVM is an emerging new technology that permits single living cells to be labeled with multiple probes whose fluorescence is responsive to specific cellular parameters of interest. Fluorescence images specific for each probe are collected over time, digitized, and stored. Image analysis and processing then permits quantitation of the spatial distribution of the various parameters with the single living cells. Our results indicate the following: The formation of plasma membrane blebs accompanies all types of injury in hepatocytes. Cell death is a rapid event initiated by rupture of a plasma membrane bleb, and it is coincident with the onset of irreversible injury. An increase of cytosolic free Ca2+ is not the stimulus for bleb formation or the final common pathway leading to cell death. A decrease of mitochondrial membrane potential precedes the loss of cell viability. Cytosolic pH falls by more than 1 pH unit during chemical hypoxia. This acidosis protects against the onset of cell death

The Manchester and Salford Sure Start Plus pilot programme: A baseline evaluation. SCNMCR Report: 12

This evaluation considers the implementation of the Sure Start Plus Pilot (SSPP) programme at the two pilot sites of Manchester and Salford and was commissioned by the teenage pregnancy teams in these cities. It is a local evaluation considering how the programme has been implemented in the context of the national objectives and targets for the two cities. The principal investigators were Julie Wray and Barbara Hastings-Asatourian, supported by an expert project team. The team recognised that the impact of such an evaluation would not be absolutely evident in the short term and the impact of a service aimed at tackling the effects of poverty and levelling out inequality would only be successfully monitored over the longer term. However, short term objectives were set and the evaluation aimed to collect, examine and analyse data that reflected the extent to which SSPP had been implemented and monitored. This was achieved by both quantitative and qualitative methods - examining statistics and capturing the experiences and opinions of the SSPP team. Findings identified marked diversity between Manchester and Salford in the way that SSPP was structured, organised and services provided. Variations existed in the staffing arrangements, partnerships, monitoring approaches and leadership styles. Findings show that where quantitative data required nationally were rigorously collected by the teenage pregnancy teams at the sites, there was clear evidence of movement towards the targets and several examples of unique services and innovative practice. For example the uptake of support packages did increase over the 3 years, new roles with partnership agencies were established and the introduction of posts like the young father’s worker began to have an impact. There were some areas of incomplete data, and some areas where progress towards targets appeared to be less successful. Following thematic analysis, focus group and face to face interview data have suggested why this is the case