Perceptions of Nursing Students Regarding Evidence-Based Practice

The purpose of this descriptive quantitative study was to explore the nursing students\u27 perceptions of their attitude and knowledge regarding evidence-based practice (EBP). The Research Awareness Questionnaire (RAQ), previously used only with healthcare professionals was slightly modified and piloted with senior nursing students (N=22). Eighty-two percent (n=18) of the participants believe that EBP is part of their role. Only 41% (n=9) were confident to undertake research. On the actual knowledge measures, 96% (n=21) could define qualitative research, and 86 % (n=19) correctly defined quantitative research. Suggestions for revising the RAQ are discussed. With modifications, this instrument could be utilized by other schools to measure nursing students\u27 perceptions of their attitude and knowledge towards EBP

Thirty-Three Facts About Philippine Agricultural Credit

This paper is an edited and expanded version of PIDS Staff Paper 87-02. It provides a number of facts and observations regarding agricultural credit, the main source of which is the ongoing program to rehabilitate the rural banks, to re-orient the concept of supervised credit and the creation of the Comprehensive Agricultural Loan Fund. This article also includes the 20-year experience of the Philippines and other selected countries in rural banking and agricultural credit.agriculture sector, banking system, rural sector, credit market

The Globalization of Food Security: Rice Policy Reforms in the Philippines

This paper describes the forces that have come to bear on the shaping of food security policy in the Philippines in recent years, and the government's responses to the emerging challenges. It attempts a political economy and public administration insight into the effectiveness and efficiency of the government's efforts to boost rice production. Public goods and policy has greater significance in rice productivity and growth than in most other commodities and services. Research and analysis that intensifies attention to public sector governance as a crucial factor in the attainment of sustainable food security is thus appropriate.rice policy reforms, Grains Sector Development Program, rice sector governance

Thirty-Three Facts About Philippine Agricultural Credit

This paper is an edited and expanded version of PIDS Staff Paper 87-02. It provides a number of facts and observations regarding agricultural credit, the main source of which is the ongoing program to rehabilitate the rural banks, to re-orient the concept of supervised credit and the creation of the Comprehensive Agricultural Loan Fund. This article also includes the 20-year experience of the Philippines and other selected countries in rural banking and agricultural credit.agriculture sector, banking system, rural sector, credit market

Credit Policy and Rent-Seeking Among Small Banks in Developing Countries

This article models the small LDC bankers’ profit maximizing and decisionmaking processes in addressing policy actions. Its implications are useful for future policy reforms.banking system, econometric modeling, profitability and feasibility, Less Developed Countries

Credit Policy and Rent-Seeking Among Small Banks in Developing Countries

This article models the small LDC bankers’ profit maximizing and decisionmaking processes in addressing policy actions. Its implications are useful for future policy reforms.banking system, econometric modeling, profitability and feasibility, Less Developed Countries

Rice Policy Reforms in the Philippines: A Political Economy Perspective

Changing leaders, changing styles, changing programs--this in a way sums up why policy reforms somehow get delayed and, at times, derailed often at the expense of sustainable, long-term effectiveness. This is the situation of the rice sector policy reforms in the Philippines. Dr. Bruce Tolentino succinctly shows how in this Policy Notes.rice policy reforms, rice sector, Grains Sector Development Program

The Globalization of Food Security: Rice Policy Reforms in the Philippines

This paper describes the forces that have come to bear on the shaping of food security policy in the Philippines in recent years, and the government's responses to the emerging challenges. It attempts a political economy and public administration insight into the effectiveness and efficiency of the government's efforts to boost rice production. Public goods and policy has greater significance in rice productivity and growth than in most other commodities and services. Research and analysis that intensifies attention to public sector governance as a crucial factor in the attainment of sustainable food security is thus appropriate.rice policy reforms, Grains Sector Development Program, rice sector governance

The Roles of Membrane Rafts in CD32A-Mediated Phagocytosis

Membrane rafts are highly dynamic heterogeneous sterol- and sphingolipid-rich micro-domains on cell surfaces. They are generally believed to provide residency for cell surface molecules (e.g., adhesion and signaling molecules) and scaffolding to facilitate the functions of these molecules such as membrane trafficking, receptor transport, cell signaling, and endocytosis.
The governing, or overall hypothesis, for this project is that membrane rafts provide residency for Fc[gamma]RIIA (CD32A) on K562 cells, and that by doing so they provide a platform from which Fc[gamma]RIIA initiate or carry out their functions, which include migration, signaling, phagocytic synapse formation, and internalization of IgG opsonized targets.
Using immuno-fluorescent laser scanning confocal microscopy and reflection interference microscopy (RIM), we studied the spatial and temporal distributions of membrane rafts and surface receptors, signaling molecules, and cell organelles during the formation of phagocytic contact areas. K562 cells, which naturally express CD32A, a cell surface receptor for the Fc portion of Immuno-globulin G(IgG), was chosen as a model for neutrophils. An opsonized target was modeled using a glass supported lipid bilayer reconstituted with IgG. CD32A was found to cluster and co-localize with membrane rafts. Placing the K562 cells on the lipid bilayer triggered a process of contact area formation that includes binding between receptors and ligands, their recruitment to the contact area, a concurrent membrane raft movement to and concentration in the contact area, and transport of CD32A, IgG, and membrane rafts to the Golgi complex. Characterization of these processes was performed using agents known to disrupt detergent resistant membranes (DRMs), dissolve actin microfilaments, and inhibit myosin motor activity, which abolished the CD32A clusters and prevented the contact area formation. 
The relevance to phagocytosis of contact area formation between K562 cells and lipid bilayers was demonstrated using micro-beads coated with a lipid bilayer reconstituted with IgG as the opsonized target instead of the glass supported planar lipid bilayer. Disruption of membrane rafts, salvation of the actin cytoskeleton, and inhibition of myosin II activity were found to inhibit phagocytosis.
These data suggest membrane rafts play several important roles in CD32A mediated phagocytosis including pre-clustering CD32A, transport of CD32A to the phagocytic cup, and transport of the opsonized target towards the Golgi complex. Here we have provided evidence that membrane rafts serve as platforms which are used to cluster CD32A and transport CD32A along the actin cytoskeleton to the site of phagocytic synapse formation thus allowing for the quick assembly of a phagocytic synapse.
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