Redefining Utilities: Regulatory Change for Electric and Telephone Companies in Maine since 1980

The regulation of public utilities in Maine continues to evolve in response to changing economic, political and social forces. Not only has the structure of regulation of the electrical and telecommunications industry seen dramatic changes in the past 20 years, but it also is certain the next decade will see equally fundamental changes. Maine Policy Review invited three key participants in Maine\u27s regulatory arena to interpret the changes of the past two decades and what future changes we can expect. This article provides the perspectives of Public Advocate Steve Ward

Assessing Textbook Costs at a Small College

In recent years, the cost of textbooks has risen drastically, making it an important issue for everyone involved in higher education. Accurate and specific information on the cost of textbooks is needed to effectively address the situation. Over the summer of 2018, a librarian and an undergraduate student at a small liberal arts college assessed the textbook costs at their institution, using methodology developed by community colleges doing similar research. Based on course catalogs, bookstore records, and other resources, they calculated the costs for students in different disciplines over four years of study. These costs were impacted by major, courses chosen, and where materials were purchased. Patterns included higher prices in the sciences than in the humanities, as well as more expensive textbooks at the college bookstore than at other sources. Estimated total textbook costs varied widely (from under $100 to over$7,000 for four years of study), leading the researchers to conclude that no single average was representative of any one student’s experience

Immunolocalization of Kinetodesmal Fibers with an Anti-Laminin Antibody in Tetrahymena thermophila

Netrin, a protein in the laminin family, is a pleiotropic signal that guides axonal development as well as angiogenesis in animals. Axonal guidance via netrins is dependent upon the ability of netrin to act both as a chemorepellent and a chemoattractant, depending upon the cell type and the netrin concentration. Tetrahymena thermophila are unicellular eukaryotic protists that can sometimes be used as a model system for neurons, due to the fact that both are excitable cells. Our previous studies have shown that netrin-1-peptide, netrin-3-peptides, and netrin-4 are all chemorepellents in Tetrahymena, and that netrin-like proteins may be isolated from Tetrahymena by Western blotting. Because netrins are part of the laminin family, we used immunofluorescence to investigate whether an anti-laminin antibody would bind to proteins in Tetrahymena. We hypothesized that an anti-laminin antibody should colocalize with an anti-netrin-1 antibody. Instead, we found that our anti-laminin antibody preferentially stained kinetodesmal fibers on the cell membrane, suggesting a structural role for a laminin-like protein in Tetrahymena

Evolution of Migrating Planets Undergoing Gas Accretion

We analyze the orbital and mass evolution of planets that undergo run-away gas accretion by means of 2D and 3D hydrodynamic simulations. The disk torque distribution per unit disk mass as a function of radius provides an important diagnostic for the nature of the disk-planet interactions. We first consider torque distributions for nonmigrating planets of fixed mass and show that there is general agreement with the expectations of resonance theory. We then present results of simulations for mass-gaining, migrating planets. For planets with an initial mass of 5 Earth masses, which are embedded in disks with standard parameters and which undergo run-away gas accretion to one Jupiter mass (Mjup), the torque distributions per unit disk mass are largely unaffected by migration and accretion for a given planet mass. The migration rates for these planets are in agreement with the predictions of the standard theory for planet migration (Type I and Type II migration). The planet mass growth occurs through gas capture within the planet's Bondi radius at lower planet masses, the Hill radius at intermediate planet masses, and through reduced accretion at higher planet masses due to gap formation. During run-away mass growth, a planet migrates inwards by only about 20% in radius before achieving a mass of ~1 Mjup. For the above models, we find no evidence of fast migration driven by coorbital torques, known as Type III migration. We do find evidence of Type III migration for a fixed mass planet of Saturn's mass that is immersed in a cold and massive disk. In this case the planet migration is assumed to begin before gap formation completes. The migration is understood through a model in which the torque is due to an asymmetry in density between trapped gas on the leading side of the planet and ambient gas on the trailing side of the planet.Comment: 26 pages, 29 figures. To appear in The Astrophysical Journal vol.684 (September 20, 2008 issue

Commentary: Energy Deregulation in Maine

Recent stories from California of power blackouts, utility bankruptcies, and skyrocketing rates have left many wondering whether Maine is going to suffer a similar fate. Like California, Maine has deregulated its electricity supply—an idea that sounded good to many, but which now has some questioning whether consumers will be made better off or worse. To address these issues, MPR asked six analysts to comment on electricity deregulation in Maine. Some address whether Maine is destined to follow in California’s footsteps. Others question whether regional decision making entities, such as the New England Power Pool and the Independent System Operator of New England, sufficiently represent the public interest. Still others address whether there is a future role for public conservation programs. Together, they suggest Maine will not befall the fate of California, but they also suggest that electricity deregulation in Maine may bring its own troubles if we’re not attentive and forward-thinking today