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Objective We analyzed application and match rates for pain medicine training in the United States and hypothesized that there would be (1) greater growth in the number of training positions than applicants, (2) higher match rates among US allopathic graduates relative to non-US allopathic graduates, and (3) greater number of unfilled training positions over time. Design Retrospective, cross-sectional study of all applicants for pain medicine training in the United States. Method National Resident Matching Program data were obtained over a ten-year period (2014-2023). Match rates and applicant-to-position ratios were calculated and compared over time with linear regression. Comparisons were made with chi-square tests. Results Growth in the number of annual training positions (261-377, 44% increase) exceeded growth in the number of interested applicants (398-415, 4% increase) (P  < .001). Annual applicant-to-training position ratios decreased (1.5-1.1, P  < .001). The representation of US allopathic graduates among incoming pain medicine fellows decreased over the study period (73%-58%, P  < .001) while US osteopathic graduates increased (9%-28%, P  < .001). Match rates increased for both US allopathic graduates (71%-91%, P  < .001) and non-US allopathic graduates (51%-81%, P  < .001). From 2018 to 2023, US allopathic graduates (79%) had higher match rates than US osteopathic graduates (60%, P  < .001) and international medical graduates (57%, P  < .001). More available annual training positions went unfilled over the study period (2%-5%, P  = .006). Conclusions Stagnant annual applicant volume and increasing number of available training positions have led to increasing match rates for pain medicine fellowship training. Fewer US allopathic graduates are pursuing pain medicine training. The increasing percentage of unfilled training positions warrants ongoing surveillance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Recent studies have suggested that Kaposi sarcoma (KS) rates might be increasing in some racial/ethnic groups, age groups, and US regions. We estimated recent US trends in KS incidence among people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV; PLWH). Methods Incident KS patients aged 20–59 years were obtained from 36 cancer registries and assumed to be living with HIV. The number of PLWH was obtained from national HIV surveillance data from 2008 to 2016. Age-standardized KS rates and annual percent changes (APCs) in rates were estimated by age, sex, race/ethnicity, state, and region. Results Between 2008 and 2016, the age-adjusted KS rate among PLWH was 116/100 000. Rates were higher among males, in younger age groups, and among white PLWH. Washington, Maine, and California had the highest KS rates among PLWH. KS rates among PLWH decreased significantly (average APC = −3.2% per year, P  < .001) from 136/100 000 to 97/100 000 between 2008 and 2016. There were no statistically significant increases in KS rates in any age, sex, or racial/ethnic group or in any geographic region or state. However, there were nondecreasing trends in some states and in younger age groups, primarily among black PLWH. Conclusions KS incidence rates among PLWH have decreased nationally between 2008 and 2016. Though there were no statistically significant increases in KS rates in any demographic or geographic group, nondecreasing/stagnant KS trends in some states and among younger and black PLWH highlight the need for early diagnosis and treatment of HIV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The current U.S. orthopaedic residency application process is becoming increasingly impersonal in the wake of an increasing number of applications. Through an analysis of orthopaedic surgery residency application statistics, we have highlighted the effect that the number of orthopaedic applications has on match rate, and we have suggested methods for a more personalized application process.Methods: Data from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) for United States orthopaedic residency applicants from 2008 to 2018 were collected. These data included the average number of applications submitted per applicant, the average number of applications received per program, the total number of residency positions offered in the U.S., the total number of U.S. applicants, and the total number of U.S. applicants who matched to a U.S. orthopaedic surgery residency program. U.S. applicant match rates and the average number of applications received per residency position offered were calculated. Linear regression models were used to determine the rate at which these variables changed over time.Results: The average number of applications submitted by an applicant increased from 46.5 in 2008 to 74.9 in 2018. The average number of applications received per residency position offered increased from 54.1 in 2008 to 85.7 in 2018. The number of U.S. applicants was 740 in 2008 and 849 in 2018. The number of U.S. orthopaedic residency programs only slightly increased from 160 in 2008 to 171 in 2018. The match rate for U.S. medical school applicants has remained stable from 2008 to 2018 at a mean of 76.9% and a standard deviation of 2.3%.Conclusions: The match rate has remained stable from 2008 to 2018 despite an increase in the number of applications per position. This discrepancy suggests that increasing the number of submitted applications may not correlate with applicant success. We address this discrepancy and suggest methods that can potentially allow for a more targeted orthopaedic application experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends screening populations at increased risk for tuberculosis (TB), including persons born in countries with high TB rates. This approach assumes that TB risk for expatriates living in the United States is representative of TB risk in their countries of birth. We compared US TB rates by country of birth with corresponding country rates by calculating incidence rate ratios (IRRs) (World Health Organization rate/US rate). The median IRR was 5.4. The median IRR was 0.5 for persons who received a TB diagnosis <1 year after US entry, 4.9 at 1 to <10 years, and 10.0 at >10 years. Our analysis suggests that World Health Organization TB rates are not representative of TB risk among expatriates in the United States and that TB testing prioritization in the United States might better be based on US rates by country of birth and years in the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gray seals were historically distributed along the northeastern coast of the United States, but bounties and lack of protection reduced numbers and they were rarely observed for most of the 20th century. Once protections were enacted, the population started to rebound. Here, we describe the recolonization and recovery of gray seals in the United States, focusing on the re-establishment of pupping sites. We fit individual generalized linear models to various time series (1988–2019) to estimate rates of increase in observed pup counts at four of the more data-rich sites. Annual rate of increase at individual sites ranged from −0.2% (95% CI : −2.3–1.9%) to 26.3% (95% CI : 21.6–31.4%). The increase in sites and number of pups born in the United States is driven by population growth and immigration from Canadian colonies and is part of a larger recovery of the Northwest Atlantic population. Wildlife protection, a healthy source population, habitat availability, and species traits that allow for dispersal and high productivity were all important factors in this recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Firearm-related death rates and years of potential life lost (YPLL) vary widely between population subgroups and states. However, changes or inflections in temporal trends within subgroups and states are not fully documented. We assessed temporal patterns and inflections in the rates of firearm deaths and %YPLL due to firearms for overall and by sex, age, race/ethnicity, intent, and states in the United States between 1999 and 2016. Methods: We extracted age-adjusted firearm mortality and YPLL rates per 100,000, and %YPLL from 1999 to 2016 by using the WONDER (Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research) database. We used Joinpoint Regression to assess temporal trends, the inflection points, and annual percentage change (APC) from 1999 to 2016. Results: National firearm mortality rates were 10.3 and 11.8 per 100,000 in 1999 and 2016, with two distinct segments; a plateau until 2014 followed by an increase of APC = 7.2% (95% CI 3.1, 11.4). YPLL rates were from 304.7 and 338.2 in 1999 and 2016 with a steady APC increase in %YPLL of 0.65% (95% CI 0.43, 0.87) from 1999 to an inflection point in 2014, followed by a larger APC in %YPLL of 5.1% (95% CI 0.1, 10.4). The upward trend in firearm mortality and YPLL rates starting in 2014 was observed in subgroups of male, non-Hispanic blacks, Hispanic whites and for firearm assaults. The inflection points for firearm mortality and YPLL rates also varied across states. Conclusions: Within the United States, firearm mortality rates and YPLL remained constant between 1999 and 2014 and has been increasing subsequently. There was, however, an increase in firearm mortality rates in several subgroups and individual states earlier than 2014. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Despite advances in biologic therapy, approximately 10–15% of ulcerative colitis (UC) patients require surgery. We aimed to (1) examine the rates of emergent colectomy and elective ileal pouch anal anastomosis (IPAA) over time among UC patients in the USA and (2) investigate disparities in surgery rates by patient demographics. Methods: Data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) from 2000 to 2014 were analyzed. Inclusion criteria were admissions with a primary UC ICD-9-CM diagnosis code and age > 18. Emergent cases were defined as those admitted through the emergency room with an outcome ICD-9-CM code for subtotal colectomy. Elective IPAA cases were defined with an outcome ICD-9-CM code for IPAA, used as a surrogate measure of colectomy. Patient and hospital-level demographics were analyzed. Temporal trends of colectomy were analyzed utilizing joinpoint-regression analysis with calculation of annual percentage change (APC). Results: A total of 470,708 admissions were included over the 14-year period. Emergent colectomy rate significantly declined (APC − 7.35%, p = 0.0002), while the rate of elective IPAA remained stable (APC − 0.21%, p = 0.8). Emergent colectomy rates declined similarly across all demographics, though not as marked among patients age 50 and older and Medicare patients. Elective IPAA rates were significantly lower among blacks and patients with public insurance. Conclusions: There has been a significant decline in emergent UC colectomy rates in the USA; however, the overall need for surgery appears unchanged given stable IPAA rates. This suggests a limited impact on overall surgery rates with a shift from emergent to elective procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We investigated the association between county-level trends in opioid prescribing rates, a proxy for opioid misuse, and rates of reported gonorrhea (GC) among males in the United States.Methods: We used linear mixed-model regression analyses to evaluate the association between county-level trends in opioid prescribing rates and rates of reported GC among males during 2010-2015.Results: There was a positive association between trends in county-level opioid prescribing rates and rates of GC among males (β = 0.068, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.030, 0.105) during 2010-2015. However, the magnitude of this association decreased significantly over time in counties where opioid prescribing rates decreased (β = -0.018, 95% CI = -0.030, -0.006) and remained stable (β = -0.020, 95% CI = -0.038, -0.002) but was unchanged in counties where opioid prescribing rates increased (β = -0.029, 95% CI = -0.058, 0.001).Conclusions: During 2010-2015, we found a positive association between increases in county-level opioid prescribing rates, a proxy for opioid misuse, and rates of reported GC among males especially in counties most affected by the opioid crisis. Integrating sexual health with opioid misuse interventions might be beneficial in addressing the GC burden in the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifies and discusses some of the outcomes of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 in its three years of implementation in the United States. Purpose of the Telecom Act; Impact on cable television rates and in-state long distance-rates; Effect on schools and libraries.

Testosterone supplementation has been widely used in those infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) for hypogonadism, and wasting. But with effective antiretroviral therapy and increasing recognition of atherosclerotic disease and adults infected with HIV, the risks of inappropriate testosterone use in HIV-infected patients are far better recognized than previously. Testosterone use has expanded among U.S. males, but few studies have examined prescribing in those infected with HIV. In a national cohort of males with at least one outpatient prescription in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), we examined 9475 HIV-infected males, including 2484 who had received testosterone and a randomly selected 6991 who had not. For comparison, we identified 1,387,241 uninfected males (189,369 had received testosterone and a randomly selected 1,197,872 had not). We determined rates of new and prevalent testosterone use, and also examined the adequacy of the diagnostic evaluation that had preceded testosterone initiation among our HIV-infected and uninfected testosterone groups. Our main results were as follows. HIV-infected men had higher rates of initiation (0.8% vs. 0.4% in FY09; p < 0.001) and prevalence of testosterone use (2.2% vs. 0.8% in FY08; p < 0.001) compared to the uninfected men across the entire period. Trends of prescribing for both groups followed a similar pattern, rising from FY08, reaching a peak in FY13, and then dipping in FY 14. Only 1.1% of HIV-infected patients had a fully guideline-concordant workup before starting testosterone therapy, compared to 3.5% of uninfected patients (p < 0.001). In conclusion, testosterone use among HIV-infected patients in the VHA system rose to a peak in FY13 and has decreased somewhat since. Only a small minority of HIV-infected patients who receive testosterone therapy from VHA have undergone an appropriate workup before starting therapy, suggesting an opportunity for improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to compare military suicide rates with civilian suicide rates, adjusting for age and sex differences that exist between the two populations. The number of active component (AC) service members whose manner of death was certified as suicide was determined for specific age and sex groups for each year from 2005 to 2014. Indirect standardization was then used to determine the expected number of suicides for each age/sex group, based on the U.S. suicide rates for the corresponding age/sex groups obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System. Although suicide rates among U.S. active duty Service Members were found to increase between 2005 and 2009, overall age- and sex-adjusted AC suicide rates were lower than or comparable to civilian rates every year of the study period. When suicide numbers were analyzed within specific age and sex categories, there was a significant association between higher suicide incidence and AC military status for 17-29-yr-old females in 2010, 2012, and 2014, and a significant association between lower suicide incidence and AC military status for 25-49 -yr-old males in some years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Treatments for pulmonary embolism are numerous and often complex. Current data on surgical thrombectomy are important but are not readily available. We studied the National Inpatient Sample to evaluate trends in the performance rates and outcomes of surgical thrombectomy in the United States from 2003 through 2014. We think that our findings have meaningful application to the triage and risk stratification of patients who have hemodynamically significant pulmonary embolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To inform public health efforts to prevent epilepsy-related deaths, we used the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (WONDER; Wonder.cdc.gov ) to examine any-listed epilepsy deaths for the period 2005–2014 by age groups (≤ 24, 25–44, 45–64, 65–84, ≥ 85 years), sex, and race/ethnicity (non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic African American, Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander, or American Indian/Alaska Native). Epilepsy deaths were defined by the International Classification of Diseases , Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes G40.0–G40.9. The total number of deaths per year with epilepsy as any listed cause ranged from 1760 in 2005 to 2962 in 2014. Epilepsy was listed as the underlying cause of death for about 54% of all deaths with any mention of epilepsy in 2005 and for 43% of such deaths in 2014. Age-adjusted epilepsy mortality rates (as any-listed cause of death) per 100,000 significantly increased from 0.58 in 2005 to 0.85 in 2014 (47% increase). In 2014, deaths among the non-Hispanic Black population (1.42 deaths per 100,000) were higher than among non-Hispanic White (0.86 deaths per 100,000) and Hispanic populations (0.70 deaths per 100,000). Males had a higher mortality rate than females (1.01 per 100,000 versus 0.74 per 100,000 in 2014), and those aged 85 years or older had the highest mortality among age groups. Results highlight the need for heightened action to prevent and monitor epilepsy-associated mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Many health care facilities have developed electronic reporting systems for identifying and reporting adverse events (AEs), so that measures can be taken to improve patient safety. Although several studies have examined AEs in surgical settings, there has not previously been a systematic assessment of the variations in adverse event rates among different types of surgery, nor an identification of the particular types of AEs that are most common within each surgical category. Additionally, this study will identify the AE severity level associated with each of the AE category types. Methods This retrospective observational study was conducted at three Midwestern hospitals that are part of a large integrated healthcare system. Data from 2006 through 2009 were analyzed to determine the rates of reported adverse events (per 1,000 hospitalizations involving a surgical procedure) for 96 categories of surgery as classified according to the ICD-9-CM procedural coding system. Univariate and bivariate summary statistics were compiled for AEs by type, severity, and patient age. Results During the four-year study period, there was a total of 82,784 distinct hospitalizations involving at least one surgical procedure at these three hospitals. At least one adverse event was reported at 5,368 (6.5%) of those hospitalizations. The mean rate of AEs among all surgical procedure groups was 82.8 AEs per 1,000 hospitalizations. Adverse event rates varied widely among surgical categories with a high of 556.7 AEs per 1,000 hospitalizations for operations on the heart and pericardium. The most common type of adverse event involved care management, followed by medication events and events related to invasive procedures. Conclusions Detecting variations in AEs among surgical categories can be useful for surgeons and for hospital quality assurance personnel. Documenting the specific AE incidence rates among the most common types of surgical categories, and determining AE severity and age distributions within surgical categories will enable officials to better identify specific patient safety needs and develop appropriately targeted interventions for improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. Where population subgroups have distinctly 'young' or 'old' adult age distributions, their observed overall rates of political participation may differ for this demographic reason. Age standardization can quantify the proportion of an observed difference in registration rates attributable to age structural differences between two populations, thereby facilitating comparison of political participation across subgroups. Methods. I illustrate the derivation and interpretation of an age-standardized registration rate. This rate weights a set of observed age-specific registration rates with a standard age distribution to create a hypothetical total (all-ages) registration rate, to afford an undistorted comparison of Hispanic and non-Hispanic white voter registration. Results. For seven communities studied here, differences in adult age structure account for as much as one-third of the observed difference in the voter registration rates of adult Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites in a community. The effect of age structure is most apparent in those communities registering substantial influxes of young-adult Hispanics. Conclusion. Age standardization is a useful technique to control for differences in population structure that may obscure a comparison of political participation across subgroups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The objective of this study was to describe trends in the diagnostic rates for anxiety disorders (ADs) types in the U.S. military from 2000 to 2009. Data for the numbers of diagnosed cases for the first documented occurrence of ADs during ambulatory visits while serving in the military were obtained from the Defense Medical Epidemiology Database for all active duty service members and examined across branch of service and by gender. Results indicate that Anxiety Not Otherwise Specified (ANOS) was the most frequently diagnosed AD type in each of the 10 years between 2000 and 2009, with an average rate of 0.8 per 100 service members for first service occurrence, followed by PTSD at a rate of 0.5 out of every 100. Starting in 2002, the yearly first occurrence rates of ANOS and PTSD were significantly higher (p <0.001) compared to each proceeding year, with the same pattern present among males and females separately. The majority of first occurrence AD diagnoses were diagnosed in the Army (47% of Anxiety NOS and 60% of PTSD cases) compared to the other service branches (i.e., Navy, Air Force, and Marines). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article highlights the results of a sequential cross-sectional analysis to document vertebroplasty rates and costs in the U.S. It shows that nationwide vertebroplasty volumes and inflation-adjusted charges doubled from 2001 to 2005 in this Medicare population. The article further shows that almost all cases involved fluoroscopic guidance and that procedures treating multiple vertebral levels were not uncommon.

Objective: To determine the association between a tobacco control index (TCI) for 1992-93 for each US state and lung and bronchus cancer mortality and incidence rates by state for younger adults, as the best indicator of the effects of recent progress in tobacco control on lung cancer control. Design: For all 51 US areas (50 states and the District of Columbia), correlation coefficients between the state's TCI and lung cancer rate were analysed. Multiple linear regression models (MLR) predicting cancer rates included sociodemographic variables by state (from the 2000 census). In addition, the 51 areas also were divided into tertiles, from highest to lowest TCI, and means for lung cancer rates were compared. Subjects and settings: All areas with available data on lung cancer mortality and incidence rates. Main outcome measures: Age-standardised mortality rates were available for all 51 areas (50 states and the District of Columbia) for 1989-93, 1994-98 and 1999- 2003 for lung cancer at age 15-44 years. Lung cancer incidence rates for 1999-2002 were available for age 20- 44 years for 44 states. Results: The correlation between the TCI and lung cancer mortality rate increased in magnitude from 1989-93 to 1999-2003, and the association was statistically significant in MLR models for 1994-98 and 1999-2003 (but not 1989- 93). The TCI was statistically significantly correlated with the lung cancer incidence rate in 1999-2002 by state, and the association persisted in an MLR model. Conclusions: Within the limitations of ecologic analyses, findings are consistent with effects of state tobacco control efforts on reducing state-wide lung cancer rates in younger adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the deregulation of wholesale electricity prices in the United States. Purpose of the deregulation; Implications for the avoidance of the upward price hike of electricity supplies; Feasibility of decentralizing the demand side of the electricity market.

Explores the relationship between newspaper competition and advertising rates in the United States. Markets served by newspapers; Factor that may contribute in the setting of advertising rates; Impact of competition on advertising rates; Comparison between metropolitan and non-metropolitan dailies.

Presents charts on finance and banking in the United States, as of May 2001. Terms of lending at commercial banks; Data on assets and liabilities of United States branches and agencies of foreign banks.

Focuses on the efforts of the American Physical Society (APS) to provide offerings to library customers in the United States. Development of subscription libraries offering full text-SGML; Collaboration with the US Naval Research Laboratory in the TORPEDO Ultra project; Services offered by APS; Changes made by APS in their library operations and information processing.

The wave of electricity market restructuring both within the United States and abroad has brought the issue of horizontal market power to the forefront of energy policy. Traditionally, estimation and prediction of market power has relied heavily on concentration measures. In this paper, we discuss the weaknesses of concentration measures as a viable measure of market power in the electricity industry, and we propose an alternative method based on market simulations that take advantage of existing plant level data. We discuss results from previous studies the authors have performed, and present new results that allow for the detection of threshold demand levels where market power is likely to be a problem. In addition, we analyze the impact of that recent divestitures in the California electricity market will have on estimated market power. We close with a discussion of the policy implications of the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Addresses the issues surrounding the pricing of local phone services to long distance rivals in the United States. Issue underlying law and economic theory; Formula for compensation; Timing of the compensation inquiry; Stranded costs in local telephony; Conclusion.

Discusses why the United States Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) needs to start using or modifying current precedents in ratemaking. Ratemaking method of FERC; Principles of the FERC Transmission Pricing Policy Statement; Why FERC should apply incentives only to transmission companies; Conclusion.

The article analyzes the behavior of oil pipeline rates in the U.S. between 1978 and 1994. Oil pipelines are the last major segment of the domestic transportation industry to remain under extensive economic regulation by the federal government. For much of the past twenty years, regulatory reform of oil pipeline transport was extensively debated. Reform was anticipated, but uncertainty about its character remained. Moreover, the actions of the industry's regulator, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), served to increase the uncertainty. FERC assumed jurisdiction over the industry from the Interstate Commerce Commission in 1977; and between that time and 1992 when Congress finally mandated guidelines for reform, FERC proposed three very different sets of rate-making standards. By the end of 1994 FERC had complied with the congressional mandate and issued a series of rule-making orders which made important changes to standards and procedures for regulating oil pipeline rates.

Describes the analysis of Medicaid dental reimbursements and eligibility records from July 1995 through June 1996 for children aged 1-5 years in Louisiana. Demographic data collection; Types of services received by the children; Calculation for the average caries-related cost per Medicaid-eligible child; Difference in treatment costs per Medicaid-eligible child residing in fluoridated parishes from those in nonfluoridated.

Describes an error-correction model of the long-term bond rate in the United States. Long-run economic determinant of the bond rate; Monetary policy actions; Behavior of the bond rate from 1971 to 1993; Unpredictability of the rates.

Background: Vital statistics data were used to describe the burden of cancer in Texas.Methods: Average annual age-adjusted mortality data in Texas (1986 to 1990) for 17 cancer types were compared with the US data for whites and blacks and with California data for Hispanics. Trends were examined from 1980 to 1990 for the entire state and from 1976 to 1989 for 24 geographic regions within the state.Results: Mortality excesses were detected for lung and liver cancer, and deficits for colorectal, breast, and prostate cancers. Rates were generally stable from 1980 to 1990 with several exceptions (lung, liver, colon). Six areas of Texas, including four areas along the Gulf Coast, had relatively more excesses of various cancers, without a discernible pattern by cancer type.Conclusions: Overall, Texas has fared favorably in cancer mortality when compared with the United States. Enhanced evaluation of the frequency of cancer, as well as the conduct of etiologic research, must await the availability of statewide long-term cancer incidence data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Describes the foreign exchange operations of the US Treasury and System for the period from October through December 1997. Average intraday trading range of dollars against yen; Development of currency market in Asia; Recovery of the dollar against the German mark; Where did US monetary authorities invested their foreign currency balances.

Describes the quarterly report of the Treasury and System foreign exchange operations from January through March, 1997. Data on market volatility; Movement of dollar in market volatility; Influence of Japanese capital repatriations.

Focuses on a study which revealed the advantages of electricity competitive pricing in the United States. Rate failures of a system based on the principles of a regulated monopoly; Information on stranded costs; Arguments of the proponents of stranded-cost recovery.

Examines the impacts of increased entrance fees on the National Park Service. Arguments for and against entrance fee increases; Policy formulation authorizing entrance fee increase; Impact of increased revenue generation; National Forest Grazing Fees (1906-1926); National Rangeland Grazing Fees (1934-1946); Congressional intervention in agency behavior.

Introduces a model-based measure of the equilibrium United States federal funds rate and examines the indicator properties of the spread between observed and equilibrium rates. Rationale for using term-structure spreads as monetary policy indicators; Differences between the funds-rate spread and term spread; Structure of the model; Proposed computational approach.

Estimates a monetary policy reaction function in United States that explains the behavior of the federal funds rate during the period of 1979 to 1992. Discussion of the determinants of the federal funds rate; Results of the short-run funds rate equation; Predictive ability of the federal funds-rate equation; Concluding observations of the study.

Discusses the effect of pragmatic transportation costs on the purchase lot order decision. Anomalous weight breaks in less-than-truckload (LTL) pricing; Demographic patterns of anomalous weight breaks; Implications for logistics management.

Discusses the operation of capital market in the United States during the late nineteenth century. Argument on the persistence of a substantial regional differentials in farm and home mortgage rates throughout the postbellum period; Reason for favoring a more substantial market imperfections in the analysis of farm mortgage interest rates; Relationship between land values and mortgage interest rates.

Discusses two cases arising out of the attempt of the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture under the Packers and Stockyards Act to regulate the rates of marketing agencies in the Kansas City Stockyards. Decision of the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse and remand the judgment of the lower court to deny injunction; Statutory requirement of a hearing; Administrative duties of a Secretary and an assistant secretary.

This article analyses the power of a public utility to fix its rates and charges in the absence of regulatory legislation. According to the author, during the last half-century, courts have become so accustomed to legislative exercise of the power to regulate rates and charges of public utilities that when they are confronted with a legal failure of the legislative plan, because of unconstitutionality or other reason, there is some danger that fundamentals will be forgotten. An examination of the position at common law as that term is here used is deemed important, for in the absence of applicable legislative regulation it is submitted that the common law applies.

Discusses the establishment of the legislative power to restrict rates charged for services of public utilities in the U.S. Result of a constitutional guaranty of a fair return upon a value based upon present earnings; Variation in the market quotations of railroad stocks from day to day; Fluctuation of actual value.