Pension Reform and Retirement in Alaska

A truism in Alaska regarding nearly everything, but especially politics and economics, is that Alaska is about two years behind the rest of the nation. When one looks at pension reform in the public sector, it would appear that Alaska is even farther behind its sister states in attempting to ‘fix the pension problem.’ Prior to 2006, Alaska was recognized as having one of the better public employee pension systems, a defined-benefit program that included a lifetime monthly pension payment as well as an excellent medical program

Regional lymph node response to homologons and heterologous transplants of tumor and normal tissues in the cheek pouch of the hamster

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Boston UniversityThe golden hamster, Mesocricetus auratus, is unique in that it frequently accepts not only homografts but even heterografts of normal and malignant tissues. One of the many theories a tterpting an explanation of this phenomenon, namely that lymphatic tissues that drain the sites of imphntation do not respond in a t;rpicol fashion, motivated this study. Thus, the weight changes ,and the c;'tolof'ical variations of the superficial cervical nodes in response to homologous and heterologous normal and malignant tissue transplants in the cheek pouch of the hamster were studied. The major objectives were: (1) to determine if there be any "defect" in the hamster's lymphatic tissue response to the various transplants; (2) to investigate the effects of the grafts on the large lymphoid cells of the cortex and on the plasma cells of the medulla; and ( 3) to investigate the feasibility of employing the histological picture of a regional node draining the site of a tumor heterotransplant as a base line for anti-tumor studies during the cortisone conditioning. [TRUNCATED

Rapid vascularization of starchâ poly(caprolactone) in vivo by outgrowth endothelial cells in co-culture with primary osteoblasts

The successful integration of in vitro-generated tissues is dependent on adequate vascularization in vivo. Human outgrowth endothelial cells (OECs) isolated from the mononuclear cell fraction of peripheral blood represent a potent population of circulating endothelial progenitors that could provide a cell source for rapid anastomosis and scaffold vascularization. Our previous work with these cells in co-culture with primary human osteoblasts has demonstrated their potential to form perfused vascular structures within a starch–poly(caprolactone) biomaterial in vivo. In the present study, we demonstrate the ability of OECs to form perfused vascular structures as early as 48 h following subcutaneous implantation of the biomaterial in vivo. The number of OECderived vessels increased throughout the study, an effect that was independent of the OEC donor. This finding of rapid and thorough OEC-mediated scaffold vascularization demonstrates the great potential for OEC-based strategies to promote vascularization in tissue engineering. OECs have the potential to contribute to host-derived scaffold vascularization, and formed vascular structures at a similar density as those arising from the host. Additionally, immunohistochemical evidence demonstrated the close interaction between OECs and the co-cultured osteoblasts. In addition to the known paracrine activity osteoblasts have in modulating angiogenesis of co-cultured OECs, we demonstrate the potential of osteoblasts to provide additional structural support for OEC-derived vessels, perhaps acting in a pericyte-like role.The authors would like to thank Mrs B Pavic and Mrs U. Hilbig for their excellent technical assistance. This work was financially supported by grants from the European Commission (EXPERTISSUES Contract No. 500283-2) and the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, BMBF (German-Chinese Cooperation in Regenerative Medicine; Contract No. 0315033)

An Intact Kidney Slice Model to Investigate Vasa Recta Properties and Function in situ

Background: Medullary blood flow is via vasa recta capillaries, which possess contractile pericytes. In vitro studies using isolated descending vasa recta show that pericytes can constrict/dilate descending vasa recta when vasoactive substances are present. We describe a live kidney slice model in which pericyte-mediated vasa recta constriction/dilation can be visualized in situ. Methods: Confocal microscopy was used to image calcein, propidium iodide and Hoechst labelling in ‘live’ kidney slices, to determine tubular and vascular cell viability and morphology. DIC video-imaging of live kidney slices was employed to investigate pericyte-mediated real-time changes in vasa recta diameter. Results: Pericytes were identified on vasa recta and their morphology and density were characterized in the medulla. Pericyte-mediated changes in vasa recta diameter (10–30%) were evoked in response to bath application of vasoactive agents (norepinephrine, endothelin-1, angiotensin-II and prostaglandin E2) or by manipulating endogenous vasoactive signalling pathways (using tyramine, L-NAME, a cyclo-oxygenase (COX-1) inhibitor indomethacin, and ATP release). Conclusions: The live kidney slice model is a valid complementary technique for investigating vasa recta function in situ and the role of pericytes as regulators of vasa recta diameter. This technique may also be useful in exploring the role of tubulovascular crosstalk in regulation of medullary blood flow

The Structure And Function Of Local Party Organization

The primary purpose of this thesis was to analyze those variables which effect the way in which a political party organizes at the local level. The research was structured in such a way as to ascertain what the structure and function of local party organization was perceived to be by local party officials and candidates for public office. Separate, open-end interview schedules were constructed for all precinct and county, Democratic and Republican party officials as well as for candidates for county and legislative office from Bernalillo County, New Mexico. Completed interviews based on the 1966 election campaign and election with 74 per cent of the county\u27s local party officials and 71 per cent of the candidates provided the raw data for this research. Analysis of the data indicated that the primary function of local party organization is the election of its candidates to public office. The activities of the party officials during campaigns and between elections centered around electioneering. Other functions such as promulgating party ideology, formulating party policy, acting as a brokerage between the voters and the officials were not perceived as primary and were subordinated with deference to the \u27\u27office goal.” Local party organization in Bernalillo County was characterized by a structure which necessarily allowed for the existence of open recruitment and access to party leadership and membership. The precinct and county leaders 0f both parties were representative of the social milieu in Bernalillo County. The data for Bernalillo County also demonstrated that the socio-economic backgrounds of its precinct leaders was congruent with those of their constituencies. As opposed to findings in other areas, data for Bernalillo County indicated that the motivation for party activity and running for party office was purposive rather than material or solidary. The structure of local party organization was characterized by decentralized control and the presence of multi-party elites. In conclusion, the data gathered on local party organization in Bernalillo County, New Mexico supported current pluralistic theories of local party organization and structure

Effects of PI and PIII Snake Venom Haemorrhagic Metalloproteinases on the Microvasculature: A Confocal Microscopy Study on the Mouse Cremaster Muscle

The precise mechanisms by which Snake Venom Metalloproteinases (SVMPs) disrupt the microvasculature and cause haemorrhage have not been completely elucidated, and novel in vivo models are needed. In the present study, we compared the effects induced by BaP1, a PI SVMP isolated from Bothrops asper venom, and CsH1, a PIII SVMP from Crotalus simus venom, on cremaster muscle microvasculature by topical application of the toxins on isolated tissue (i.e., ex vivo model), and by intra-scrotal administration of the toxins (i.e., in vivo model). The whole tissue was fixed and immunostained to visualize the three components of blood vessels by confocal microscopy. In the ex vivo model, BaP1 was able to degrade type IV collagen and laminin from the BM of microvessels. Moreover, both SVMPs degraded type IV collagen from the BM in capillaries to a higher extent than in PCV and arterioles. CsH1 had a stronger effect on type IV collagen than BaP1. In the in vivo model, the effect of BaP1 on type IV collagen was widespread to the BM of arterioles and PCV. On the other hand, BaP1 was able to disrupt the endothelial barrier in PCV and to increase vascular permeability. Moreover, this toxin increased the size of gaps between pericytes in PCV and created new gaps between smooth muscle cells in arterioles in ex vivo conditions. These effects were not observed in the case of CsH1. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that both SVMPs degrade type IV collagen from the BM in capillaries in vivo. Moreover, while the action of CsH1 is more directed to the BM of microvessels, the effects of BaP1 are widespread to other microvascular components. This study provides new insights in the mechanism of haemorrhage and other pathological effects induced by these toxins