Capacity Cost Allocation in the Provision of Urban Public Services: The Case of Gas Distribution

ABSTRACT This paper analyzes the pattern of price discrimination and cross-subsidization that result from traditional gas distribution cost allocation procedures. A gas distribution capital cost function is developed, using the Box-Cox transformation and estimation procedure applied to a cross-section of 65 communities, and is used to assess the deviations between distribution marginal costs and actual cost allocations. The major conclusions are that current pricing practices produce an aggregate net subsidy to all combined customer classes, that both intra- and inter-class cross-subsidizations are occurring, with the commercial and small industrial markets as the major losers, and that the smaller communities tend to subsidize the larger ones. These results support a move away from current, company-level pricing practices towards locally differentiated pricing.     

Use of Computed Tomography in Standing Position to Identify Guidelines for Screw Insertion in the Distal Phalanx of Horses: An Ex Vivo Study

Objectives— To compare the precision of radiography and computed tomography (CT) preoperatively in the standing position for identification of guidelines for screw insertion in the distal phalanx, and to identify whether standing CT might improve operative time compared with preoperative radiographic planning.
Study Design— Experimental ex vivo study.
Animals— Cadaveric equine thoracic limb pairs (n=10).
Methods— Insertion of a 4.5 mm cortex screw in lag fashion into an intact distal phalanx was evaluated in 2 groups (n=10) of cadaveric equine thoracic limbs. In 1 group, the site, direction, and length of the implant were determined by radiography, and in the other group, by CT. Accuracy of screw placement was verified by specimen dissection. Outcomes were (1) absence of penetration of the articular surface, the solar surface, or the semilunar canal (2) appropriate length and direction of the screw. Surgical time was also measured.
Results— No screw penetrated the articular surface, the solar surface, or the semilunar canal in either group. CT was more accurate to identify guidelines for screw insertion (U=23.50, P =.049). With CT, surgical time (mean, 7.7 minutes) was significantly shorter (U=0.000, P =.000) than with radiography (mean, 12.7 minutes).
Conclusion— Standing CT can be used to accurately determine anatomic landmarks for screw insertion in lag fashion in sagittal fractures of the distal phalanx.
Clinical Relevance— This study has a clear clinical relevance for improved internal fixation of sagittal fractures of the distal phalanx.     

Field Efficacy of a Mechanical Pump Spray Formulation Containing 0.25% Fipronil in the Treatment and Control of Flea Infestation and Associated Dermatological Signs in Dogs and Cats

Abstract— Fipronil is a new insecticide and acaricide belonging to the phenylpyrazole family. Experimental studies have demonstrated the efficacy of a 0.25% fipronil mechanical pump spray formulation against fleas and ticks in both dogs and cats. Two multicentric clinical trials were set up to confirm the efficacy of this product under field conditions. The dog study was a positive control study. Flea infestation was qualitatively assessed at the initial visit (treatment date) and at the final visit (when reinfestation was observed or at the latest by 2 months after treatment). Sixty-one per cent and 21.5 per cent of dogs were free of fleas (“zero-flea stage”) at the end of the second month post-treatment in the experimental and reference groups, respectively. The incidence of pruritus and dermatological lesions was reduced in the two groups but with significantly better results in the fipronil group. Sixty-one per cent of the cats treated with fipronil were also free of fleas at the end of the second month post-treatment. Pruritus was also significantly reduced. Résumé— Le fipronil est un nouvel insecticide appartenant à la famille des phénylpyrazolés. Des études expérimentales ont démontré l'efficacité d'une solution à 0,25% de fipronil en pulvérisation manuelle contre les puces et les tiques chez le chien et le chat. Deux études cliniques multicentriques ont été conduites pour confirmer l'efficacité de ce produit sur le terrain. L'étude chez le chien est une étude contrôlée positive. L'infestation par les puces a été déterminée qualitativement lors de la visite initiale (date du traitement), et lors de la visite finale (quand une réinfestation a été observée ou au moins 2 mois après le traitement). 61% et 21,5% des chiens étaient indemnes de puces (stade 0 puce) à la fin du second mois consécutif au traitement respectivement dans le groupe traité et dans le groupe de référence. Le prurit et les lésions dermatologiques étaient réduits dans les deux groupes, mais avec des résultats meilleurs dans le groupe fipronil. 61% des chats traités avec le fipronil étaient aussi indemnes de puces 2 mois après le traitement. Le prurit était également significativement réduit. [Postal, J.-M. R., Jeannin, P. C, Consalui, P.-J. Field efficiency of a mechanical pump spray formulation containing 0.25% fipronil in the treatment and control of flea infestation and associated dermatological signs in cats and dogs (Efficacité d'une solution à 0,25% de fipronil en pulvérisation manuelle dans le traitement et le contrôle d'une pullicose et des symptômes dermatologiques associés chez les chiens et les chats). Resumen— El fipronil es un nuevo insecticida y acaricida de la familia de los fenilpirazoles. Estudios expérimentales han demostrado la efectividad de une fórmula de fipronil al 0,25% en un pulverizador con sistema mecànico de bombeo contra pulgas y piojos en el perro y en el gato. Se diseñaron dos pruebas clinicas multicéntricas para confirmar la afectividad de este producto en condiciones de campo. El estudio en el perro fue la prueba control. Se realizó un examen cualtitativo sobre el grado de infestación por pulgas en la primera visita (fecha de tratamiento) y en la última visita (en caso de reinfestación o como máximo dos meses después del tratamiento). El sesenta y uno por ciento y el 21,5% de los perros estaba libre de pulgas (“estadio pulga-cero”) al final del segundo mes después del tratamiento en los grupos experimental y de referencia, respectivamente. La incidencia de prurito y de lesiones dermatológicas se vieron reducidos en los dos grupos pero con resultados significativamente mejores en el grupo del fipronil. El sesenta y uno por ciento de los gatos tratados con fipronil estaban también fibres de pulgas al final del segundo mes después del tratamiento. El prurito se vió también significativamente disminuido. [Postal, J.-M. R., Jeannin, P. C, Consalui, P.-J. Field efficiency of a mechanical pump spray formulation containing 0.25% fipronil in the treatment and control of flea infestation and associated dermatological signs in cats and dogs (Efectividad en un estudio de campo de una fórmula para pulverizador con sistema mecànico de bombeo con un 0,25% de fipronil en el tratamiento y control de infestaciones por pulgas y problemas dermatológicos asociados en el perro y el gato).     

Predicting skipjack tuna forage distributions in the equatorial Pacific using a coupled dynamical bio-geochemical model

Skipjack tuna ( Katsuwonus pelamis ) contributes ≈70% of the total tuna catch in the Pacific Ocean. This species occurs in the upper mixed-layer throughout the equatorial region, but the largest catches are taken from the warmpool in the western equatorial Pacific. Analysis of catch and effort data for US purse seine fisheries in the western Pacific has demonstrated that one of the most successful fishing grounds is located in the vicinity of a convergence zone between the warm (>28–29°C) low-salinity water of the warmpool and the cold saline water of equatorial upwelling in the central Pacific (Lehodey et al ., 1997). This zone of convergence, identified by a well-marked salinity front and approximated by the 28.5°C isotherm, oscillates zonally over several thousands of km in correlation with the El Niño–Southern Oscillation. The present study focuses on the prediction of skipjack tuna forage that is expected to be a major factor in explaining the basin-scale distribution of the stock. It could also explain the close relation between displacements of skipjack tuna and the convergence zone on the eastern edge of the warmpool. A simple bio-geochemical model was coupled with a general circulation model, allowing reasonable predictions of new primary production in the equatorial Pacific from mid-1992 to mid-1995. The biological transfer of this production toward tuna forage was simply parameterized according to the food chain length and redistributed by the currents using the circulation model. Tuna forage accumulated in the convergence zone of the horizontal currents, which corresponds to the warmpool/equatorial upwelling boundary. Predicted forage maxima corresponded well with high catch rates.     

Accessibility,Diversity, Environmental Quality and the Dynamics of Intra‐Urban Population and Employment Location

This paper investigates intra‐urban population and employment shifts over 1980–2000, using the Cincinnati Metropolitan Area as a case study. Population and employment are disaggregated by ethnicity (White, Black, Others) and industry (10 sectors) to better capture different location behaviors. Inter‐industry relationships are considered when constructing accessibility variables. Additional diversity, locational and socio‐economic variables are included. A location‐specific index of air quality is also considered, as a proxy for environmental quality. A structural equation model is specified to account for the dynamic interactions between populations, activities, and air quality. The results reveal strong interactions between ethnic groups, confirm the existence of agglomeration effects, and suggest that diversity has positive effects on both firms and households in both periods (1980–1990 and 1990–2000). For firms, better access to their potential customers and employees is more important than better access to their input–output sectors. Better air quality attracts population, which in turn worsens it. The results reveal changing dynamics, from 1980–1990 to 1990–2000, for different population and activity groups, and suggest that overall, firm location behaviors are more stable than household behaviors.