Regulatory Capture : Sources and Solutions

Regulatory capture is a pervasive problem in the public arena. The problem oftentimes leaves a policymaker with the paradoxical fear that if he exerts his power, he will eventually lose his power. While attempts at regulatory capture are inevitable, but that does not mean that actual capture must be as well. By crafting a more formalized definition; regulatory capture will be more easily anticipated, detected, and resisted. Identifying the sources and warning signs of regulatory capture can help in both defining the problem and finding solution. Ultimately, regulatory agencies should seek to combat regulatory capture with professional excellence

U(1)' Symmetry Breaking in Supersymmetric E6 Models

We study the electroweak and $U(1)^{'}$ symmetry breaking patterns in models with the particle content of supersymmetric $E_{6}$, including standard model singlets $S$ and exotic quarks $D,~\bar{D}$. Motivated by free fermionic string models, we do not require $E_{6}$-type relations between Yukawa couplings. In particular, we assume that baryon and lepton numbers are conserved, so that the exotic quarks can be light. Gauge invariance allows Yukawa interactions between $S$ and Higgs doublets, and between $S$ and the exotic quarks, allowing radiative $U(1)^{'}$ symmetry breaking and the generation of an effective $\mu$ parameter at the electroweak scale. For both the $E_{6}$ $\psi$ and $\eta$ models, universal soft supersymmetry breaking parameters and Yukawa universality at the high (string) scale do not yield acceptable low energy phenomenology. Relaxing universality, we find solutions with phenomenologically acceptable values of $M_{Z^{'}}$ and the $Z-Z^{'}$ mixing angle. In addition, by varying the $U(1)^{'}$ charge assignments due to the mixing of $U(1)_{\chi}$ and $U(1)_{\psi}$ of $E_{6}$, it is possible to have acceptable low energy phenomenology with universal boundary conditions.Comment: 24 pages, 6 figures, 4 tables, LaTex; minor revision of the numerical results, typos corrected, reference adde

Using small molecules to facilitate exchange of bicarbonate and chloride anions across liposomal membranes

Bicarbonate is involved in a wide range of biological processes, which include respiration, regulation of intracellular pH and fertilization. In this study we use a combination of NMR spectroscopy and ion-selective electrode techniques to show that the natural product prodigiosin, a tripyrrolic molecule produced by microorganisms such as Streptomyces and Serratia, facilitates chloride/bicarbonate exchange (antiport) across liposomal membranes. Higher concentrations of simple synthetic molecules based on a 4,6-dihydroxyisophthalamide core are also shown to facilitate this antiport process. Although it is well known that proteins regulate Cl-/HCO3- exchange in cells, these results suggest that small molecules may also be able to regulate the concentration of these anions in biological systems

Renewable Energy Prices in State-Level Feed-in Tariffs: Federal Law Constraints and Possible Solutions

State legislatures and state utility commissions trying to attract renewable energy projects are considering feed-in tariffs, which obligate retail utilities to purchase electricity from renewable producers under standard arrangements specifying prices, terms, and conditions. The use of feed-in tariffs simplifies the purchase process, provides revenue certainty to generators, and reduces the cost of financing generating projects. However, some argue that federal law--including the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA) and the Federal Power Act of 1935 (FPA)--constrain state-level feed-in tariffs. This report seeks to reduce the legal uncertainties for states contemplating feed-in tariffs by explaining the constraints imposed by federal statutes. It describes the federal constraints, identifies transaction categories that are free of those constraints, and offers ways for state and federal policymakers to interpret or modify existing law to remove or reduce these constraints. This report proposes ways to revise these federal statutes. It creates a broad working definition of a state-level feed-in tariff. Given this definition, this report concludes there are paths to non-preempted, state-level feed-in tariffs under current federal law

On the nature of the "non-saturable" migration of amino acids into Ehrlich cells and into rat jejunum

The so-called non-saturable uptake of [alpha]-amino acids by the Ehrlich cell, even though it occurs at a characteristically slow rate for various neutral amino acids (whether they are in the - or the -form) is nevertheless structurally specific, since the uptake of [beta]-alanine, taurine and betaine occurs only about one-third as rapidly as that of the [alpha]-amino acids. Furthermore the uptake shows a considerable sensitivity to pH, and a temperature sensitivity so high as to exclude simple diffusion as the rate-limiting step. The structural specificity is compatible with a reaction of the amino acid with a membrane site, either an abundant one or a relatively unreactive one, the reaction of the amino acid with which presumably need involve at most only its amino and carboxyl groups.Uptake of amino acids at high levels by rat-intestinal segments also showed high temperature sensitivities.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/33468/1/0000872.pd

Hormone replacement therapy and risk of epithelial ovarian cancer

It has been suggested that oestrogen replacement therapy is associated with risk of epithelial ovarian cancer of the endometrioid type. Using data from an Australian population-based case–control study, the relation between unopposed oestrogen replacement therapy and epithelial ovarian cancer, both overall and according to histological type, was examined. A total of 793 eligible incident cases of epithelial ovarian cancer diagnosed from 1990 to 1993 among women living in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria were identified. These were compared with 855 eligible female controls selected at random from the electoral roll, stratified by age and geographic region. Trained interviewers administered standard questionnaires to obtain detailed reproductive and contraceptive histories, as well as details about hormone replacement therapy and pelvic operations. No clear associations were observed between use of hormone replacement therapy overall and risk of ovarian cancer. Unopposed oestrogen replacement therapy was, however, associated with a significant increase in risk of endometrioid or clear cell epithelial ovarian tumours (odds ratio (OR) 2.56; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.32–4.94). In addition, the risk associated with oestrogen replacement therapy was much larger in women with an intact genital tract (OR 3.00; 95% Cl 1.54–5.85) than in those with a history of either hysterectomy or tubal ligation. Post-menopausal oestrogen replacement therapy may, therefore, be a risk factor associated with endometrioid and clear cell tumours in particular. Additionally, the risk may be increased predominantly in women with an intact genital tract. These associations could reflect a possible role of endometriosis in the development of endometrioid or clear cell ovarian tumours. © 1999 Cancer Research Campaig

Study of R-parity Violation at a mu-p Collider

To explore the discovery possibilities of a high-energy muon-proton collider, we examine signals that could arise from direct-channel formation of supersymmetric-particle resonances through operators that do not respect R-parity.Comment: 20 pages, 8 figures, uses RevTe