A comparative study of funding mechanisms for community colleges in the state of Nevada and selected states

The purpose of this dissertation was to compare the mechanism utilized by the State of Nevada to fund its community colleges with the models used by other selected states to fund their two-year institutions. The comparison states that were chosen represented peer institutions of Nevada community colleges or systems held in high regard by the American Association of Community Colleges; These selected states, as well as Nevada, face difficult fiscal challenges funding their two-year colleges. Not only is there increasing competition for limited state resources, but virtually all of the states are projecting budget shortfalls due to the slowing economy; Nevada is among the majority of states that continues to use a funding formula to determine the amount of funds appropriated to community colleges. Currently, Nevada funds approximately 80% of the formula. This ranks below most of the comparison states involved in this study. Community college leaders in Nevada agree that the formula is not adequately funded; The guidelines used by the comparison states to fund their two-year colleges were analyzed with the goal of improving the funding mechanism for community colleges in Nevada. The results of the study indicated that two key areas in which Nevada fell below the other states were access to local tax revenues and tuition rates. Unlike most of the selected states, Nevada did not use local taxes as a funding source. In addition, Nevada\u27s tuition was lower than the average cost for the other community college systems. Both of these revenue sources offer alternatives for improvement of Nevada\u27s funding mechanism; Aside from the two areas identified above, Nevada community college officials interviewed asked for changes in the current funding formula. Included in the recommended revisions were to increase the full-time/part-time faculty funding ratio, provide enhancements to the instruction formula, and increase funding for technology and equipment needs; Community colleges in Nevada are expected to experience continued enrollment growth and play a prominent role in the economic development of their local communities. Without increased funding support, the chances for success will be limited

Interview with Pat Crow

Pat Crow talks about being the director of the Dan Emmett Music and Arts Festival.https://digital.kenyon.edu/ps_interviews/1030/thumbnail.jp

Arceuthobium campylopodum Engelm.

https://thekeep.eiu.edu/herbarium_specimens_byname/20777/thumbnail.jp

Arceuthobium campylopodum Engelm.

https://thekeep.eiu.edu/herbarium_specimens_byname/20777/thumbnail.jp

Amino acids in the uterine luminal fluid reflects the temporal changes in transporter expression in the endometrium and conceptus during early pregnancy in cattle

In cattle, conceptus-maternal interactions are critical for the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. A major component of this early interaction involves the transport of nutrients and secretion of key molecules by uterine epithelial cells to help support conceptus development during the peri-implantation period of pregnancy. Objectives were to: 1) analyze temporal changes in the amino acid (AA) content of uterine luminal fluid (ULF) during the bovine estrous cycle; 2) understand conceptus-induced alterations in AA content; 3) determine expression of AA transporters in the endometrium and conceptus; and 4) determine how these transporters are modulated by (Progesterone) P4. Concentrations of aspartic acid, arginine, glutamine, histidine, lysine, isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine and tyrosine decreased on Day 16 of the estrous cycle but increased on Day 19 in pregnant heifers (P < 0.05). Glutamic acid only increased in pregnant heifers on Day 19 (P,0.001). Asparagine concentrations were greater in ULF of cyclic compared to pregnant heifers on Day 7 (P < 0.05) while valine concentrations were higher in pregnant heifers on Day 16 (P < 0.05). Temporal changes in expression of the cationic AA transporters SLC7A1 SLC7A4 and SLC7A6 occurred in the endometrium during the estrous cycle/early pregnancy coordinate with changes in conceptus expression of SLC7A4, SLC7A2 and SLC7A1 (P < 0.05). Only one acidic AA transporter (SLC1A5) increased in the endometrium while conceptus expression of SLC1A4 increased (P < 0.05). The neutral AA transporters SLC38A2 and SLC7A5 increased in the endometrium in a temporal manner while conceptus expression of SLC38A7, SLC43A2, SLC38A11 and SLC7A8 also increased (P < 0.05). P4 modified the expression of SLC1A1, -1A4, -1A5, -38A2 , -38A4, -38A7, -43A2, -6A14, -7A1, -7A5 and -7A7 in the endometrium. Results demonstrate that temporal changes in AA in the ULF reflect changes in transporter expression in the endometrium and conceptus during early pregnancy in cattle, some of which are modified by P4. © 2014 Forde et al

Acute and long-term effects of a single dose of MDMA on aggression in Dark Agouti rats

MDMA causes selective depletion of serotonergic terminals in experimental animals and the consequent decrease in synaptic 5-HT may, inter alia, increase impulsivity. To study the effects of MDMA upon brain function, the behaviour of male Dark Agouti rats exposed to MDMA (15 mg/kg i.p.), two 5-HT1B agonists (CGS-12066A and CP-94,253, both 5 mg/kg i.p.) or saline were investigated in the resident-intruder test. Studies were performed in drug-naive rats and also in rats exposed to MDMA (15 mg/kg i.p.) 21 d earlier. In parallel experiments the functional neuroanatomy of MDMA effects were assessed using 2-deoxyglucose imaging of local cerebral metabolic rate of glucose utilization (LCMRGlu) and neurotoxicity was assessed by measuring [H-3]paroxetine binding. There was no significant difference in aggressive behaviour (biting, boxing, wrestling and their latencies) between drug-naive rats and rats previously exposed to MDMA 21 d earlier, despite reduced social behaviour, decreased LCMRGlu in several brain areas involved in aggression, and reductions in paroxetine binding by 30-60'% in the forebrain. CGS12066A, CP-94,253 and acute MDMA produced marked decreases in aggressive behaviours, especially in biting, boxing and kicking found in drug-naive rats. In animals previously exposed to the drug, acute antiaggressive effects of MDMA were, in general, preserved as were MDMA-induced increases in LCMRGlu. Our studies provide evidence that in the resident-intruder test, where social isolation is a requirement, aggressive behaviour and acute anti-aggressive effects of MDMA and 5-HT,I, receptor agonists remain intact 3 wk after a single dose of the drug despite significant damage to the serotonergic system