The histopathologic pattern provides the most important prognostic marker for idiopathic interstitial pneumonia; however, studies have suggested that short-term changes in lung function may be more important. We investigated the prognostic factors for fibrotic interstitial pneumonia. The clinical features and follow-up course of 179 patients (131 with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and 48 with nonspecific interstitial pneumonia; 41 fibrotic types and 7 cellular) were analyzed retrospectively. The lung function indices improved or stabilized in most patients with fibrotic nonspecific interstitial pneumonia in contrast to the deterioration or stable condition of most patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. The 5-year survival of patients with fibrotic nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (76.2%) was better than for those with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (43.8%) (p = 0.007). Multivariate analysis at the time of presentation revealed that pathologic pattern, age, and diffusion capacity had important prognostic implications. However, after 6 months of follow-up, changes in FVC, initial diffusion capacity, and sex were the only independent prognostic factors, with no additional prognostic information conferred by the histologic diagnosis. Our data confirmed the importance of physiological parameters including short-term change in FVC. However, at the time of diagnosis, histopathology was important for the prediction of prognosis and future change in lung function.

Keywords: fibrotic nonspecific interstitial pneumonia; idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis; prognostic factor; pulmonary function; surgical lung biopsyIn 1994, Katzenstein and Fiorelli proposed the term "nonspecific interstitial pneumonia" (NSIP) to describe a subset of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP) that could not be classified into any of the other types of interstitial pneumonia. They subcategorized the disease into three subgroups depending on the relative amounts of interstitial fibrosis and inflammation (1). Subsequently a number of other studies showed that an NSIP pattern in a surgical lung biopsy provided important prognostic information compared with other IIPs (2-7). However, there was considerable overlap in outcome, especially between patients with fibrotic NSIP and those with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) (2, 3, 8). Nicholson and coworkers showed that the prognosis of patients with fibrotic NSIP was less favorable than previously thought (3). They reported that the 5-year survival rate of patients with fibrotic NSIP was about 45%, which was worse than that reported by Travis and coworkers (2), although it was better than IPF (3). Therefore, Latsi and coworkers combined the fibrotic type NSIP and usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) into fibrotic IIP (8). Several reports, including that of Latsi and co-workers, suggested that physiological parameters, especially short-term changes, were important in determining the prognosis for patients with IIP (8-12). These data may raise questions about the necessity for a pathologic diagnosis by surgical lung biopsy in the case of fibrotic IIP. However, accurate clinico-radiologic-pathologic diagnosis is crucial, especially at the time of diagnosis for initial management of patients with IIP. We therefore compared the importance of pathologic patterns in the prognosis for patients with fibrotic IIP (fibrotic NSIP pattern and UIP pattern) with physiological parameters including short-term change of lung function. We also compared the prognosis for those patients with IIP, especially fibrotic NSIP, with those for patients with IPF. Some of the results of this study have been previously reported in the form of an abstract (13).

METHODS

Subjects

Subjects included 179 patients with idiopathic NSIP or IPF diagnosed by surgical lung biopsy from January 1990 to September 2002 at Asan Medical Center, a 2,000-bed university-affiliated tertiary referral center in Seoul, South Korea. Two lung pathologists (M.K. and T.V.C.) reviewed the specimens independently. If the opinions of the two pathologists were different (coefficient of agreement k = 0.59), a third opinion was sought and the final diagnosis was made in the context of clinicoradiologic findings. There were 207 patients with IIP who had had surgical lung biopsies. Twenty-eight cases were excluded because of a failure to obtain consensus between the pathologists (9 cases) or because the patients were diagnosed as having other diseases (19 cases). NSIP was subclassified into cellular and fibrotic types, according to the level of fibrosis and inflammation (1).

Methods Used

Clinical data were obtained from medical records and survival status was obtained from telephone interviews and/or medical records. The minimal amount of smoking for a smoker was 1 pack-year, and an exsmoker was defined as a subject who had not smoked for at least 3 months (3). Patients were excluded if they had taken drugs, experienced occupational or other environmental exposures, or presented evidence of collagen vascular diseases on the basis of a thorough history, physical examination, and serologic tests.

Although government regulation of the Internet has been decried as undercutting free speech, the control of Internet content through capitalist gateways--namely, profit-driven software companies--has gone largely uncriticized. The author argues that this discursive trend manufactures consent through a hegemonic force neglecting to confront the invasion of online advertising or marketing strategies directed at children. This study suggests that "inappropriate content" (that is, nudity, pornography, obscenities) constitutes a cultural currency through which concerns and responses to the Internet have been articulated within the mainstream. By examining the rhetorical and financial investments of the telecommunications business sector, the author contends that the rhetorical elements creating "cyber-safety" concerns within the mainstream attempt to reach the consent of parents and educators by asking them to see some Internet content as value laden (sexuality, trigger words, or adult content), while disguising the interests and authority of profitable computer software and hardware industries (advertising and marketing). Although most online "safety measures" neglect to confront the emerging invasion of advertising/marketing directed at children and youth, the author argues that media literacy in cyberspace demands such scrutiny. Unlike measures to block or filter online information, students need an empowerment approach that will enable them to analyze, evaluate, and judge the information they receive.

**********

According to figures provided by the U.S. Census Bureau (2001), more than half of school-age children (6 to 17 years) had access to computers both in school and at home in the year 2000 (57 percent). With some 17 million children using the Internet in some capacity, including email, the Web, chat rooms, and instant messaging (Silver and Garland, 2004, p. 158), the Census Bureau estimates that 21 percent use the Internet to perform school-related tasks, such as research for assignments or taking courses online.

While these statistics underscore the growth and popularity of the Internet, particularly in schools and educational institutions, concerns have grown about the "safety" of using computer-mediated communication technology. Since the Internet became a mass medium in 1995, parents and schools have approached online content with reservation. As such, politicians, educators, child advocacy groups, and, most importantly, the computer industry, have been vocal advocates for patrolling the Internet and censoring certain kinds of illicit or objectionable content. Beginning in the late 1990s, Federal Trade Commission member Christine Varney summarized the emerging concerns about online safety:

All of us agree that children's online safety concerns are real and
pressing and that we must support the involvement of parents
raising children in this new, digital age. We understand that we
must all work together--industry, law enforcement, educators,
advocates--if American families are to realize the potential of this
new medium for enriching the lives of our children and fostering
their future success. (Rubin and Lamb, 1997)

Starting in 1997, an Internet/Online Summit was held in Washington, D.C., to enhance the safety and benefits of cyberspace for children and families. Key political figures, such as former vice president Al Gore and former attorney general Janet Reno, joined parents, as well as politicians, law enforcement officials, and educational administrators, to launch a national public education campaign, "America Links Up: An Internet Teach-In," designed to help Americans understand how to guide kids online (Rubin & Lamb, 1997).

On October 21, 1998, former president Bill Clinton signed into law the "Children's Online Privacy Protection Act" (COPPA). This measure was enacted by Congress on April 21, 2000, to "prohibit unfair or deceptive acts or practices in connection with the collection, use, or disclosure of personally identifiable information from and about children on the Internet" under the age of thirteen (Grossman, 2000). Along this trajectory, Congress passed the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) and the Neighborhood Internet Protection Act (NCIPA) in December 2000, which required schools and libraries that receive federal money for Internet connections to adopt Internet safety policies in 2001. The proposed safety measures include usage agreements for proper student use of this medium, audit-tracking devices to supervise student Internet perusal, and software filtration devices designed to block inappropriate sites in schools (Trotter, 2001).

In 2002 the Bush administration proposed a "National Strategy to Secure Cyber Space," offering security recommendations for U.S. citizens, businesses, and organizations using computers (Carlson, 2002). Since then the Federal Trade Commission has offered testimony before special committees and the House of Representatives about online pornography through a series of "law enforcement actions against fraud artists whose deceptive or unfair practices involve exposing consumers, including children, to unwanted pornography on the Internet" (Federal Trade Commission, 2004, p. 1).

Beware: reauthorization approaches. Institutions have heard this repeatedly for the past couple of years, but major systemic changes have yet to take place in higher education. What exactly is the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act? When will it really take place? And what will this mean for the financial aid programs that help your institution's students attend college?

Federal Law requires that the act be renewed--or "reauthorized"--every six years. The most recent reauthorization cycle was supposed to culminate in 2004, but Congress failed to pass legislation before it adjourned.

"Since we did not pass a bill last year, we had to start all over again. That means everything has to be " reintroduced and re-passed," said National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators President Dallas Martin in March at NASFAA's annual Leadership Conference. House Education and the Workforce Committee Chairman John Boehner (R-Ohio) has promised completion by the end of the current 109th Congress in 2006. The Republican majority of the House education committee introduced in February the College Access and Opportunity Act (H.R. 609), a reauthorization bill intended to expand college access for low- and middle-income students. A similar bill was introduced last year; hearings were held, but it never came to a vote in the House.

This time around, Congress is focusing on several issues, including college costs and prices, access and affordability, and accountability. Changes proposed by Republicans include expanding Federal Pelt Grants for high-achieving, low-income first- and second-year students; providing year-round Pell Grant aid; and removing an incentive for colleges to raise tuition by repeating a federal rule that limits the amount of Pelt Grant aid low-cost institutions can receive.

However, Chairman Boehner has stated repeatedly that the committee intends to pass "revenue-neutral" legislation, with strategic, if small, program increases that are paid for through cuts to other programs, restructuring, and reforms. "Essentially there is no flexibility, and they will pay for any increases by cannibalizing good programs," Martin said.

The bill would also ease several restrictions currently placed on for-profit institutions. Specifically, it would eliminate both the 90/10 rule (which requires that institutions derive at least 10 percent of their revenue from funds other than Title IV aid), and the 50 percent rule (which mandates that schools deliver 50 percent of their instruction through non-distance learning methods). It also would allow for-profit institutions to compete with traditional institutions for campus-based aid, and specify that transfer-of-credit not be denied solely based on a school's accreditation.

The proposed GOP measure would permanently end a statutory provision under which nonprofit lenders that finance their loans using tax-exempt bonds receive a guaranteed return rate of 9.5 percent, although the bill does not totally close that loophole.

Moreover, it would also expand student loan relief for K-12 teachers of key subjects such as math, science, and special education, and expand opportunities for graduate study in these subjects.

NASFAA's Martin noted that this bill is essentially the same as the GOP-backed measure introduced in the House last year. "Looking at this bill, the same concerns we had last year are stilt there," Martin commented. "We in higher education are not looking for a Christmas tree to hang things on, but we do need legislation that meets the educational needs of students and the long-term needs of our country."

PRESIDENT'S BUDGET WOULD INCREASE PELL, SCUTTLE PERKINS

President Bush unveiled in February his discretionary budget request for fiscal year 2006, which would cut several longstanding aid programs in order to reallocate funds elsewhere in higher education.

The most controversial is a proposal to help pay for an increase to the need-based Federal Pelt Grant program by recalling the revolving loan funds used to finance the Federal Perkins loan program, essentially terminating the program.

The President's proposed fiscal year 2006 budget would also:

* Retire the $4.3 billion Pell shortfall, increase the Pell maximum by $100 annually over five years to $4,550, and add funding for minority-serving institutions.

* Create a $50 million Presidential Math and Science Scholars program, a $33 million enhanced Pell Grants for State Scholars program, and a $125 million Community College Access Grants program to foster dual enrollment for low-income and minority high schoolers who wish to take college courses.

* Provide funding at the current levels for Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG), and Federal Work-Study.

* Terminate funding for Byrd Honors Scholarships, the Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (LEAP) program, GEAR UP early awareness programs, and portions of TRIO.

The problem:

'I am frightened by how much I owe'

Although she is now 29, Ailsa Macfarlane still carries a hefty financial burden from her long-gone student days: debts of nearly pounds 30,000.

On top of undergraduate debts of around pounds 9,000, Ailsa, who lives in south London, ran up pounds 7,000 on a credit card, pounds 1,500 on an overdraft and took out a pounds 10,000 bank loan.

'I'm deeply in debt: as a student in London, the capital was very expensive to live in.'

But Ailsa, who earns pounds 25,000 a year as a business account manager, is trying to get a grip on her finances. Three months, ago, she consolidated her credit card debt, overdraft and bank loan into one larger pounds 19,500 loan with Lloyds TSB " repayable over eight years with an annual percentage rate (APR) of 7.5.

Ailsa pays back pounds 250 a month on her bank loan. Add to this the pounds 180 a month for her student loans, and she spends pounds 430 a month servicing her debt. 'I am frightened by how much money I owe to Lloyds TSB,' she says. 'Over eight years, I know I have to pay pounds 7,000 in interest alone " but this loan seems to be the only way I can manage my debts and still be able to afford to live and pay my bills each month.'

Her debt mountain has made it impossible for Ailsa to build up any savings or make any investments. She has no pension savings either, and her employer, a small firm, doesn't offer an occupational scheme.

Since moving to London as a student nine years ago, Ailsa has rented accommodation. For the past nine months, she has been living with her boyfriend, Alistair. They rent a flat, each paying pounds 475 a month plus bills.

'We've discussed buying together in the next couple of years, but I'm not sure how feasible this is,' says Ailsa.

She has no protection policies.

The cure:

Try to shorten the life of your loan

Ailsa's finances are ruled by her debt, says Philippa Gee of independent financial adviser (IFA) Torquil Clark. 'All [her] spare resources need to be ploughed into repaying this, especially as she has so many plans such as buying a house and starting a pension.'

Despite her position, Ailsa should try to find cash to fund a personal pension, says Ben Yearsley from IFA Hargreaves Lansdown. 'Even if it's only pounds 50 a month, the sooner she starts this, the sooner she can get tax relief and build a pension pot.'

DEBTS

Eight years is too long, and expensive, a repayment plan on the consolidation loan, says Ms Gee. She suggests that Ailsa think about repaying these debts more quickly.

To do this would involve trying to renegotiate her loan " shortening its life and paying higher premiums " either with Lloyds TSB or another lender.

But there are caveats, warns Simon Webster from IFA Facts & Figures.

Ailsa could make enquiries at other lenders and find a better APR " some internet deals offer rates as low as 5.6 " and cheaper monthly repayments, he explains. But before transferring the debt, she would need to check the size of the penalty at Lloyds TSB for repaying her loan ahead of schedule.

Mr Webster also warns her to watch out for offers of payment- protection insurance from the lender. This can add thousands of pounds to the cost of a new loan " as well as carrying exclusions that may leave Ailsa unprotected.

Since her pounds 9,000 student loans are not too expensive " with interest charged at 3.2 per cent - she doesn't need to worry much about these for now, he adds.

PROPERTY

Ailsa should forget about buying a home for the moment, says Mr Yearsley. 'As she has large debts and no savings, I think it would be a struggle.'

Ms Gee feels the same, although she suggests one option could be to go for a cheaper property outside London.

However, Mr Webster is more upbeat about the couple buying their own home " especially if family members can help with cash, a loan or a guarantee.

If they could afford pounds 1,000 a month " roughly what Ailsa and Alistair are paying in rent today " that would cover the interest on a loan of more than pounds 200,000, explains Mr Webster.

Several factors need to be considered first, though, he adds. 'Whether Ailsa would be allowed to borrow that much " and whether it would be a good idea " would depend on their joint credit rating, how stable she feels her relationship is, her boyfriend's earnings and her own attitude to risk.'

SAVINGS

Mr Webster says that while Ailsa needs to concentrate on getting rid of her debts, a small 'emergency fund' in a mini cash individual savings account (ISA) would be a 'wise move'.

He recommends she pay pounds 50 a month into a Halifax ISA paying 5 per cent.

RETIREMENT

Pension provision should be one of Ailsa's priorities, urges Mr Yearsley. 'As a rule of thumb, you should put half your age in as a percentage of your salary.'

He continues: 'At the present time I don't think she could afford this, as that would be almost pounds 300 a month. But she should look at putting something in " even if it is only pounds 50 or pounds 100 a month.'

The AOA can ease your transition from student to practicing O.D. Be sure to get your member rewards.

Graduation is Just arour|d tne corner for the class of 2005. No more lectures, tests or late nights in preclinic labs preparing for practical examinations. But it's also time to start taking control of your finances for this next stage of your life, which may include repaying student loans. How could you possibly have enough money left to join the American Optometric Association (AOA)? My answer is: You can't afford not to.

MONEY WELL SPENT

When you join the AOA, you're contributing to the advancement of optometry in a tangible way. The dollars you invest support optometric advocacy at the federal and state levels. Legislators willingly listen to - and act on the recommendations of - the practicing O.D.s who make up the majority of the AOA. Whether it's lobbying for expanded prescribing authority in a single state or promoting the optometrist as the primary eyecare provider to consumers, industry and the media, the AOA is your voice to the government and the public.You may be thinking, "What can AOA membership do for me?"

When you join the AOA1 you'll have access to Optometrys Career Center, an online matching service with detailed information about practice opportunities. You'll also be eligible for the AOAAdvantage student debt consolidation program, which allows you, your spouse and employees to lock in fixed interest rates and take advantage of attractive borrower benefit programs.

As a member, you'll receive free registration to Optometry's Meeting, the joint AOA Congress and American Optometric Student Association (AOSA) Conference. While there, you'll have the opportunity to attend continuing education courses, visit the expansive exhibit hall and network with O.D.s from around the country.

MAKE YOUR MOVE

How do you join the AOA? As an AOSA member, you receive complimentary AOA membership until the end of the calendar year in which you're licensed, not to exceed 18 months after graduation. As soon as you're licensed, contact the AOA at (800) 365-2219, ext. 238, or MemberServices@aoa.org. Include your home and business addresses and indicate the state in which you're practicing. The AOA will notify your state association, which will send you a membership packet. As a recent graduate, you qualify for reduced dues, but submit your information quickly to change your status from new graduate member to licensed O.D.

SAFE INVESTMENT

Becoming an AOA member is like starting an investment plan. The most difficult part is getting started. However, once you begin, you'll realize the true value of an AOA membership. You're not only helping advance the profession - you're also gaining access to a wealth of resources that can help your career grow and prosper. Good luck in your career... and join the AOA today!

As small schools across the Northern Plains consolidate, a town fights to preserve its rural, two-room schoolhouse.

The spelling and grammar lesson in Steven Podoll's classroom is a little like the changing of the guard. "Fifth-graders, please come up," Podoll calls. Two students push back their chairs and rise to meet him at a table in the front of the room, passing two fourth-graders on their way back to their seats with their assignment. Half an hour later, two sixthgraders replace the fifth-graders. Finally, the seventh-grader is called up. And so it goes for math, science, reading, and the rest of the subjects the fourth- through eighth-graders in Podoll's class study at this two-classroom rural school in Baldwin, North Dakota.

The Baldwin School sits on a small hill in the center of "town"-just behind the hand-printed "Welcome to Baldwin" sign and across the railroad tracks from a white clapboard post office the size of a toolshed. It overlooks the wide northern plains that roll on for miles before meeting the sky

The town itself lies on a country road east of Highway 83, about 15 miles into the sloping grasslands of the open prairie north of Bismarck. The population hovers around 54 or 55, according to the local postmaster. A community of farmers and ranchers, the people of Baldwin have for generations worked the land through storms, drought, grassfires, and blizzards. Like fluctuating crops of grain, the town has grown and flourished, withered and shrunk. But it's always endured, thanks in large part to the town school that first opened its doors in 1908.

For those who live in Baldwin and other small towns across the country's Great Plains, the prairie isn't just a place, it's a way of life-and one that may be drawing to a close as farmers sell off land and livestock, urban areas sprawl, and small towns dwindle. With them go the country schoolhouses that once dotted the landscape. North Dakota alone had more than 4,700 one-room schools in the early 1900s. Now only a handful remain, and as is the case elsewhere in the Midwest, state laws and declining populations are prompting many small schools to either consolidate or close.

Often, a town's school is its last foothold. When the school closes, the town dies. And that's exactly what the people of Baldwin hope to prevent. "If the school closed, it would be as if Baldwin suffered a stroke," says Podoll. "It might survive, but barely."

THIS YEAR, THERE ARE NO EIGHTH-GRADERS IN Podoll's class, which has just seven students-two each in the fourth, fifth, and sixth grades, and one seventh-grader, a tall, blonde girl named Tori, who often helps the younger students, including her sixth-grade brother, Travis. Next door in the K-3 classroom, fellow teacher Beth Duey has eight students-a few of them with siblings in Podoll's class.

Over the years, the population of the school has reflected the prosperity of the town. When it first opened in 1908, eight years after Baldwin was founded, teacher W.E. Yeater (gender not recorded) had 26 students and earned $50 a month. The population held steady through the teens and twenties, growing to 37 students in 1934-a class that, according to the records, included six "farm boys," six "farm girls," 12 "town boys," and 13 "town girls." Then the Dust Bowl spread northward and depression gripped the country. By 1937, just 11 students were enrolled in the Baldwin School.

Slowly, the town population rebounded. By the 1950s school enrollment was back in the 30s and 40s, but Baldwin was never the same. In its heyday, the town boomed with banks, hotels, grain elevators, a lumber yard, newspaper, train depot-even a dance hall. A series of fires razed many businesses, others simply closed their doors. Today, the center of town consists of a post office, a railroad track crossing, a handful of houses, and the Baldwin School.

That list might get shorter if North Dakota's state legislature passes a bill that would retire elementary schools with fewer than 100 students to consolidate with a district that has a high school. After the eighth grade, Baldwin students currently have a choice between high schools in Bismarck to the south or the "bigger small town" of Wilton to the north.

Although the Baldwin school wouldn't immediately close-the town must vote whether to keep it open-residents feel the passage of S.B. 2333 would make it inevitable. "It's taxation without representation," says Podoll. "It would take local control of the school away from Baldwin, and it would divert property taxes to the [consolidated] district. Nobody in Baldwin wants this to happen. Everyone realizes that when you stop funding schools, towns suffer."

The ratings are based on the quality of Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) student loan portfolio, the quality of the servicing provided by Sallie Mae Inc., rated 'ABPS/S1' by Fitch, the transaction's legal structure and level of credit enhancement. The ratings reflect the ability of the trust estate to pay note principal at the legal final maturity and timely interest. The ratings do not address the ability of the indenture trustee to auction the collateral pool prior to the stated maturity of the notes.

Credit enhancement for the trust consists of the excess spread, a reserve account, sized at 25 basis points (bps) of the current student loan pool balance with a floor of approximately $6 million; and the $160,000,000 capitalized interest account. In addition, the class A notes benefit from 3.0% subordination provided by the class B notes.

The transaction has a senior subordinate structure with eight classes of notes. Interest on the classes A-1, A-2, A-3, A-4, A-5A, A-6 and B notes is indexed to the three-month London interbank offered rate (LIBOR) plus a spread, and interest on the class A-4 notes is indexed to the three-month Euro interbank offered rate (EURIBOR) plus a spread. All of the notes pay quarterly commencing Jan. 25, 2007.

The collateral securing the notes are consolidation loans originated under the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP). The loans are guaranteed to at least 97% of principal and accrued interest by an eligible guarantor(s), depending on loan origination date, and are reinsured by the U.S. Department of Education up to the same amounts. Sallie Mae, Inc. will act as servicer for the loan portfolio.

Flawed government policies and negative stereotyping of minority men have limited their economic opportunities, a new study says. It urges improved health care and education for minorities and less media consolidation.

The study by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, a research and policy group that focuses on issues that affect minorities, examined the impact of U.S. policies on men of Black, Hispanic, Asian and Native American descent.

It said the media and entertainment industries overrepresent minorities as criminals and Whites as victims and law enforcers. Blacks are twice as likely as White defendants to be subject to negative pretrial publicity, it said. For Hispanics, three times as likely.

Meanwhile, federal laws such as the No Child Left Behind Act have hurt minorities by driving good teachers away from high-poverty schools to better-funded ones where Whites are more highly represented, the report contends.

The findings come as Democrats seek to plot a legislative agenda after the party regained control of Congress in last week's elections for the first time since 1994.

Democratic congressional leaders have pledged to raise the minimum wage and step up oversight of government agencies.

The report calls on the government to increase the minimum wage and the availability of student loans, and to reexamine sentencing requirements that imprison nonviolent offenders for long periods.

On another subject the report addresses, the Federal Communications Commission is reviewing the hotly disputed issue of whether to ease government rules to allow for more media consolidation.

Major Findings Of Study:

* Minorities generally receive inferior health care because they can't afford medical insurance and health facilities are either below standard or nonexistent in their communities.

* White families are more than twice as likely as Black families to be upwardly mobile; Black families are more than twice as likely to be downwardly mobile.

* Minority youth, who make up 23 percent of all Americans aged 10-17, comprise 52 percent of the prison youth population.

he relative benefit of one particular grade configuration over another has been the subject of debate for years. Which configuration for a school is most cost effective? Which yields higher student achievement? How does grade configuration affect the community?

There are no easy answers to these questions nor is there any conclusive evidence that one grade configuration is better than another. School districts poised on the brink of making these decisions must take into account factors beyond simply what is best for the students. They also must consider projected enrollments, transportation costs, number of transitions to be made by students, size of the school and overall school goals.

These discussions and their ultimate outcomes are not without controversy, especially in rural areas where reconfiguration is often the first step toward closing small schools. This can have farreaching effects on not only the staff and students but on the community itself. Every home is different. Every family is unique. That's why our home mortgage consultants and personal bankers will recommend a home mortgage or equity loan that's particularly right for you.

We have a variety of loans with features and benefits that range from simple to sophisticated financial plans.

But whichever home financing plan you choose, trust that all of our loans have competitive rates, flexible terms and affordable payment options.

Wells Fargo can help you turn home ownership into a foundation for wealth building. And if you already have a home that has built up equity, then we can construct a plan to turn your home into a working asset. And your home is your financial base. So, let's talk. Please join us at a Wells Fargo Wealth Building Strategies Seminar near you. Together, we can determine the home financial plan that's right for you. When Tracy Allen contacted Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, the nation's leading retail mortgage lender, she had no idea she could purchase a home with no money down. Like most renters, she thought she was years away from owning a home. But, that didn't stop her from researching her options. She explained her financial situation to Ken Beckles, a Boston Wells Fargo Home Mortgage branch manager, and together they embarked on the road to home ownership." Ken educated me about the home-buying process. He was wonderful."

Educating the home buyer is key to helping consumers understand the various mortgage options available to them. Ken explained the products and services within Wells Fargo's National Homeownership Program[SM] such as the Wells Fargo no-money-down loan program that allows customers to finance 100% of the cost of the home. Individuals with credit concerns or who have not accumulated savings for a down payment can learn more about Wells Fargo's flexible programs and loans. All first-time home buyers are encouraged to read our Homeownership Guides, speak with a mortgage consultant and attend our home buyer's seminar.

The no-money-down mortgage feature was the right strategy to help Tracy purchase a late-1800s, two-unit home for $192,000. She was only required to pay closing costs, which were approximately $1,000. Ken helped Tracy go from renting to owning rental property. Now, she uses her rental income to supplement her mortgage.

Helping Homeowners Renovate Homes

When Michelle Jones Boxley first saw her three-bedroom, 1940s row house, she realized she found a diamond in the rough. Like many older homes in the Washington, D.C. area, the row house needed renovations. Michelle wasn't deterred. She knew that improving her new home would positively impact her community.

But Michelle had to figure out how to pay for the $25,000 in home improvements. After unsuccessfully reaching out to several lenders, a friend recommended Wells Fargo, the nation's leading home mortgage lender. Michelle contacted Yvonne Gipson, a home mortgage consultant/renovation specialist, and together they created a financial plan that fit Michelle's particular needs.

Yvonne recommended that Michelle refinance her existing mortgage with a renovation loan. A renovation loan is a mortgage product that allows a customer to get everything they need with one loan, making it easier for people to purchase the home of their dreams as well as make repairs. And, the buyer can borrow an amount based on the improved value of the home.

"Yvonne asked me what I wanted to do and I created a list--new hardwood floors, a Jacuzzi, a new bathroom and vanity, a new roof and a new AC system." Now, Michelle's 1940s row house reflects her contemporary lifestyle and her commitment to the community.

Homeowners Build Wealth

When Hans and Lisa Kappel bought their home, they knew they were taking the first step to wealth building. "The biggest advantage of home ownership is equity."

After their second child arrived, the Kappels wanted to make home improvements and have a readily available source of cash to meet any unexpected family needs. They contacted Wells Fargo, the nation's leading home mortgage and home equity lender. They worked with Vincent Samson, a branch manager in Atlanta and were able to access the equity in their home with a home equity loan from Wells Fargo, Now the Kappels have a nest egg they can access for home repairs, improvements or simply to meet the needs of their growing family.

And for homeowners who have built up equity and want to diversify their portfolios with real estate, purchasing a second home is a smart investment opportunity. Since it's an investment, the objective is for the value of the property to increase.

The California Market Center continues to fiddle with its gift and home leasing.

Jamison Properties Inc., the fashion showroom building's owner, has brought on Jon Weiglin, former president and chief operating officer of the L.A. Mart, as its director of leasing in the segment. Weiglin replaces Robert Sotomayor, who served in the position for only a few months.

"We are committed to aggressively growing the gift and home sector of the building, and we believe that Jon's expertise will help us get one step closer to achieving our goals," John Kim, general manager of the CMC, told trade publication Home Accents Today.

With Weiglin at the helm of gift and home leasing, the hope is that CMC tenants will not free the building for rival L.A. Mart. Last year, the building lost key tenant Firestone Marketing Group to the Mart.

Weiglin said the CMC can attract retail buyers by producing special events. "Quality product drives retail traffic for whatever venue," he said. "In the short term, creating smaller events that bring in quality product will drive retail traffic."

BOSTON -- With the cost of higher education continuing to skyrocket and student loan interest rates at a record high, making education affordable has taken center stage in the 110th Congress.

Combine the rising costs with increased pressure on schools to offer the most accurate and complete loan option information to families and/or students, and it is no surprise that Senator Ted Kennedy's Student Loan Sunshine Act, a bill that - if passed - will require all higher education institutions that accept federal funds to publicly report rates on all loans made to students through arrangements with preferred lenders, is creating buzz in Washington. With so much attention being given to the student loan industry, it is clear that parents, students and financial aid officers need a transparent and more objective way to research and review student loan options.

a company dedicated to helping students and parents make sense of education financing choices, is the leading, online objective comparison resource available for student loans and student loan consolidation options. SimpleTuition helps parents, students and financial aid administrators accurately compare, analyze, and apply for education financing. Since its launch in May 2006, SimpleTuition has helped thousands of families determine the best loans for their needs. The company offers over 50 loan products from more than 25 lenders and is working with dozens of leading U.S. colleges to bring objective loan information on dozens of additional loan products to students and parents.

"Parents and students need to feel confident that they're comparing all of their options when searching for college loans," said Kevin Walker, co-founder and CEO of SimpleTuition. "That's where SimpleTuition can help. We are an objective resource that provides lender and loan information in a simple format that parents and students can easily understand in order to make informed loan choices that are best for their unique financial situation."

With the cost of higher education continuing to rise, students are choosing not to attend their first choice school, or even worse, not attending college at all as they fear the high costs keep the dream of going to college out of reach. A recent survey conducted by UCLA shows that one-third of college-bound students did not attend their first choice school because of affordability. This year alone, an estimated 10.1 million students will require federal student loans, according to the Department of Education, and each student brings his/her own unique - and sometimes complex - family financial situation.

The borrowing process does not have to be a burdensome one. SimpleTuition currently offers research and comparison information for many student loan types including Private, PLUS, Stafford, GradPLUS, Federal Consolidation loans and Private consolidation from 20 lenders. Results can be sorted by monthly payment, total cost of the loan, number of payments, first payment due date and APR - and are shown in random order, ensuring no lender 'preferential' treatment. With direct links to the financial institution's online application, the entire process can be completed online or via a toll free call. To ensure the objectivity and accuracy SimpleTuition is not a lender.

About SimpleTuition, Inc.

Founded in 2005, SimpleTuition is dedicated to helping students and parents make sense of education financing options. Recently featured as one of Fast Company's Top 12 Web 2.0 sites, SimpleTuition is the leading company to offer an independent and objective solution for researching and comparing private, PLUS, Stafford, GradPLUS, federal consolidation and private consolidation loans. SimpleTuition is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts and is funded by Atlas Venture, IDG Ventures Boston and North Hill Ventures.

Stratasoft Inc. ("Stratasoft"), a wholly owned subsidiary of I-Sector Corporation (AMEX:ISR)("I-Sector"), and a worldwide provider of contact center solutions, with it's award winning StrataDial(R) VC2 -- Virtual Contact Center software and StrataVoice(R) Notification System suite continues to improve productivity in the financial industry with two new implementations, according to Jason Pace, vice president of Stratasoft Sales and Marketing.

Two recognized leaders in the student loan and debt consolidation industry recently turned to Stratasoft, a company with a proven track record of improving call center productivity in financial services companies. Both companies selected and implemented StrataDial VC2(R) in order to leverage its vast capabilities across multiple customer channels.

"VC2 provides a configurable solution with an open architecture that is easy to use for both administrators and agents," said Jason Pace, vice president of Sales, Stratasoft. "These two financial institutions chose Stratasoft contact center software applications in order to improve productivity. To increase productivity, both call centers implemented Stratasoft call blending and Web callback features."

Call Blending allows contact center agents to make inbound calls and make outbound predictive calls. The StrataDial(R) VC2 advanced DTMF capture and intelligent call routing (ICR) ensures inbound callers are routed to their designated ACD Groups and/or specified agents. The award winning lead generation powerhouse, DynaCall(R), maximizes dialing efficiencies and insures ideal calling volume.

Each company will be taking full advantage of Stratasoft's unique web-callback application, StrataCall(R), enabling prospective clients on their Web site to choose to be called back instantly by a live operator.

The two projects had a total combined value of approximately $245,000 in Stratasoft software licenses.

About Stratasoft and I-Sector:

Stratasoft Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Houston-based I-Sector Corporation (AMEX:ISR) and is an acknowledged technology leader in computer-telephony software applications for professional contact centers. Stratasoft has a comprehensive patent portfolio-protected software suite that includes predictive dialing, predictive dialing algorithms, contact center database management, contact center campaign scripting and contact center management systems. Its product line consists of StrataDial(R).VC2 -- Virtual Contact Center, a 2002 Product of the Year award winner from both Customer Inter@ction Solutions(R) and Communications Solutions(R) magazines, and StrataVoice(R), an Unattended Message Notification System. All of Stratasoft's products incorporate functionality that is 100% customer-driven and are designed to maximize productivity in any contact center application. Learn more about Stratasoft Inc.

Safe Harbor Statement

The statements contained in this document that are not statements of historical fact, including but not limited to, statements identified by the use of terms such as "anticipate," "appear," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "hope," "indicate," "intend," "likely," "may," "might," "plan," "potential," "project," "seek," "should," "will," "would," and other variations or negative expressions of these terms, are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. The actual results of the future events described in the forward-looking statements in this document could differ materially from those stated in the forward-looking statements due to numerous factors including:

-- Ability to retain key management, sales and technical staff.

Federal student loan interest rates will fall to record low levels on July 1, 2004. Rates for federal consolidation loans will continue to be well below 1% through incentives offered by Southwest Student Services Corp. (Southwest), one of the nation's leading education loan providers.

When annually adjusted interest rates on student loans drop again on July 1, Southwest will offer borrowers the lowest possible rates on federal consolidation loans, allowing them to save thousands of dollars and significantly lower their monthly payments.

Arizona or Florida borrowers who consolidate their student loans will receive an additional 2.25% discount after 24 months of on-time payments and for using auto-debit, resulting in a possible interest rate of 0.625%. All other borrowers are eligible to receive a 1.25% interest rate consolidation loan discount by using auto-debit after their first 24 on-time payments.

"This is great news for students who financed their education through federal student loans," said Southwest Chairman and CEO Vince Roig. "With our added discounts and benefits, we are offering some of the best rates in the country, which means that borrowers can make lower monthly payments and save large amounts of money on their student loans. For example, a borrower with a $25,000 consolidation loan could save nearly $6,000 over the life of the loan with these new rates.

College graduates can lock in very low rates by consolidating their loans during the grace period, when interest continues to accumulate even though at a lower rate than during the regular loan period. Parents who have secured federal PLUS loans to pay for their children's education will also benefit from lower interest rates, and they can also realize significant savings through PLUS loan consolidation. Loan consolidation applications sent in now will be processed to take advantage of the new, low-interest rates that take effect for 2004-2005.

The application process can be completed in just minutes online at www.sssc.com or by calling Southwest customer service at 800-367-2369. There are no fees, no service charges, no credit checks, and no prepayment penalties for consolidation loans.

About Southwest Student Services Corp.

Southwest Student Services Corp. (Southwest) serves schools and borrowers at the undergraduate, graduate, continuing education and professional school levels who seek financial aid counseling, student loan funding, loan origination, loan consolidation, and life-of-the-loan servicing. Southwest also creates turnkey School-as-Lender programs and partners with other lenders to facilitate loan and portfolio purchases, and customized referral programs.

Southwest is known nationally for providing innovative, money-saving benefits and exceeding customer expectations. For more than 22 years, Southwest and its affiliates have helped more than 1 million people reach their educational goals. Southwest has firmly established itself on the national stage, helping to shape the student loan industry through direct involvement in state, regional, and national financial aid and student loan organizations, and through affiliations and alliances with other leading corporations in the higher education finance industry.

Keep in mind that every dollar you borrow must be repaid, with interest, which can really add up over a 10-year (or longer) repayment term.

"It's easy to think a $200-a-month payment is not a big deal, says Hilmer "but those payments can take a big chunk out of your monthly income, and you're going to need to pay your bills."

To get some idea of how much is too much, you need to estimate how much you'll be able to pay back once you graduate. That involves estimating your future salary and expenses.

The best way to do this is to use a budgeting calculator available on the Web site of a major lender, such as Bank of America (www.bankof america.com/studentbanking) or Chela (www.loans4students.org). Calculators let you estimate monthly expenses--rent, utilities, food, clothes, car payments, insurance, etc. Then you compare those expenses to your estimated salary. Some calculators provide salary info, or you can find Bureau of Labor Statistics salary averages at www.bls.gov/oco/home.htm. By subtracting your estimated expenses from your estimated salary, you can predict how much you can afford in monthly loan payments.

AVOID DEFAULT AT ALL COSTS

If you do wind up borrowing more than you can afford, you run the risk of defaulting, or failing to pay back your loan according to agreed-upon terms. These terms are specified in a promissory note, a legal document that binds you to make regular payments.

Default usually results after you miss payments for 180 days. Many defaulted loans are sent to collection agencies that may charge costly late fees and take money from your wages. Worst of all, a defaulted loan can haunt you later because it will be recorded as part of your credit history for seven years. Lenders refer to your credit history when you apply for any major loan.

"Credit bureaus keep close tabs on delinquencies," says Tom Lustig, vice president and director of marketing at PNC Bank. If lenders see you have a defaulted loan, they may deny you a mortgage, car loan, credit card, or personal loan, or charge a higher interest rate.

Most lenders provide students with charts to help track repayments. Keep in mind: If you can't make a monthly installment, immediately contact your lender or servicer (the company that owns your loan) to discuss the problem. Plus paying on time has further advantages--many lenders will give about a 1 percent discount to students who make

UNDERSTANDING THE TERMS

Knowing the terms of your loan--the conditions by which you have borrowed and are obligated to repay the money--can help you avoid default. But first you should start by understanding some basic loan terms:

Grace period. A period of time--usually lasting six months after you leave college--when many student loans don't require repayment. After the grace period, a deferment or forbearance can temporarily suspend repayment.

Deferment. A period when a borrower who meets certain criteria may temporarily stop loan payments. Depending on your type of loan, the federal government may pay the interest on it during your deferment period. New borrowers might be eligible for a deferment if they are still enrolled in school half-time or full-time; unemployed; studying in an approved graduate fellowship or rehabilitation program for the disabled; or experiencing economic hardship.

Forbearance. The temporary suspension of repayment in cases of hardship. Anyone with student loans may claim forbearance for six months at a time, for up to a total of three years, but interest still accrues.

Outsourcing student transportation can be successful when the relationship between the school district and contractor is given sufficient attention and understanding.

The shortage of qualified school bus drivers has strained contractual relationships, and has forced school administrators to spend more time actively involved in the transportation system. In addition, consolidation in the student transportation industry has fueled the perception that school districts have fewer contracting options.

The terms and conditions of a contract determine the level, style and quality of service. Transportation contracts should be based on thorough specifications, detailing expectations and needs.

When a school district becomes frustrated by the level of service, often the contractor is simply providing the services spelled out contractually. If necessary, contract terms can be modified through negotiation or rebidding. Any changes must be documented as an addendum to the agreement and consistently enforced.

No one likes surprises in a contract. School districts should require ongoing communication through a combination of monthly written reports and periodic meetings between school district staff and company representatives.

Written reports should not substitute for personal contact. Periodic meetings should be used to discuss performance issues, future requirements and contract issues. The contractor should be required to make an annual presentation to the school board to provide an update on transportation issues, identify planned changes in operations and answer questions.

Fixing Problems

Although multiyear contracts between bus contractors and school systems are preferable for several reasons, both parties should look at the contract as being only one year in duration. This elevates the level of service and keeps all parties focused on ensuring that contract performance warrants a recommitment.

Ever-changing program demands, fluid demographics, modified regulations and cost pressures make transportation a dynamic function. Both parties must communicate their needs and interests and work cooperatively.

When relationships deteriorate to a point of bitter frustration, it typically results from unrealistic and unexplained expectations or insufficient or nonexistent communications.

Administrators have many other demands, meaning student transportation typically is out of sight and out of mind. The bus terminal is probably located elsewhere in the district, the employees work for someone else, and an existing contract is supposed to cover all events. The district's transportation operation may be the largest in the community, and the yellow buses are rolling billboards for the educational system. When problems arise, the administrator assumes the contractor can and will fix the problem.

Unfortunately, not all problems are easily solved. Nationally, a shortage of qualified bus drivers challenges almost every transportation system. Contractors have tried creative approaches to find and train drivers, but the supply of drivers does not meet the demand. As in any basic economic model, the equilibrium point between supply and demand is determined by price--or, in this case, the cost of labor.

As contractors run short of drivers, districts continue to demand a consistent level of service. However, unless the wage and benefit levels can increase to the point of bringing the supply and demand into balance, the contractor will not be able to continue to meet the district's expectations. To provide required services, contractors will incur labor cost increases that may exceed the amount of the contract with the district.

These issues do not develop overnight, but the effects can be surprising if the level of service is not discussed between the parties and if both parties do not attempt to understand the other's requirements.

The first day of school should not start with the contractor missing runs due to a "surprise" driver shortage, while service interruptions should not occur due to a labor stoppage that was unforeseen by the district.

Situated on the Montebello Country Club Golf Course, the three-story Hilton Garden Inn[R] Montebello offers 121 guestrooms. Features include a signature glass-walled pavilion housing the reception desk; a Pavilion Pantry with a selection of refrigerated, frozen and microwaveable packaged items and sundries; a breakfast cafe; room service during dinner hours; a comfortable lounge area with a television and fireplace; an outside patio overlooking the golf course; a boardroom with 240 square feet of meeting space; a 24-hour, complimentary business center; and an on-site guest laundry facility.

Guestroom accommodations and features include a hospitality center with a microwave oven, coffee maker and mini-refrigerator; a sitting area with an easy chair and ottoman; a hairdryer; and an iron and ironing board. In-room entertainment and information services include video-on-demand movies, video games and interactive Hilton guest services.

Business-oriented features of the guest rooms include complimentary high-speed Internet access; a spacious work desk with a pull-out shelf for a laptop computer; adjustable lighting; an ergonomic chair; electrical outlets at desk height; and two telephones equipped with two lines, data ports and voice mail.

Recreational facilities consist of a fitness room and an outdoor heated swimming pool and whirlpool. The hotel offers many specialty packages including:

* Small-meeting packages offering an ideal executive boardroom setting

* Romance packages featuring a King Spa room and breakfast for two people

* Golf packages that include discounted greens fees for hotel guests

Members of the Hilton HHonors guest reward program can also Double Dip[R]--earn hotel points and airline miles for every qualifying stay at the Hilton Garden Inn Montebello.

"The hotel's residential feel has great appeal for corporate travelers conducting business in the Los Angeles area as well as for leisure travelers visiting friends and relatives," said Amy Alberts, hotel general manager.

"Hilton Garden Inn Montebello is within driving distance to many local attractions, including the Staples Center, Getty Center, Los Angeles Convention Center and Universal Studios."

Hilton Garden Inn, the upscale mid-priced brand targeted to today's growing segment of mid-market travelers, was the recipient of the distinguished "Highest Guest Satisfaction Among Mid-Price Hotel Chains with Full Service" award in the J.D. Power and Associates 2002 and 2003 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Study[SM] and last year was named "Best Mid-Priced Hotel" by Entrepreneur magazine in its 10th Annual Business Travel Awards. The 2003 recognition was recently presented to the Hilton Garden Inn brand for the second consecutive year.

UK-based student accommodation web site Accommodation for Students has conducted research on the best places to be a student in the UK.

The survey of 1,720 students revealed that Cardiff was deemed the best place to study, followed by Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Cambridge and Newcastle upon Tyne. Bottom of the survey were Salford, Bradford and Middlesbrough.

Abstract: It has been shown in the accompanying paper that the Sub-Andean foreland can be subdivided longitudinally into a number of tectonostratigraphic domains. To test the hypothesis that changes in palaeo-depositional setting rely on the presence of a series of transverse zones of structural accommodation, data have been digitally compiled from across the South American continent. Spatial and temporal geological relationships have been analysed and evaluated as a means of identifying the position of tectonostratigraphic domain boundaries (structural accommodation zones), and patterns of subsidence and intraplate deformation. The results suggest that individually these structural accommodation zones represent a composite of deep crustal fractures which, on a regional scale, interlink to form a transcontinental belt or zone that can accommodate intraplate deformation during episodes of plate reorganization. Their strong spatial relationship with Mesozoic, intraplate, alkaline igneous activity suggests that they exerted an important control on lithospheric melt siting during Gondwana breakup. These localized zones of high heat flow have important implications for source rock maturity in the interior, Phanerozoic intracratonic basins of South America. On the South Atlantic margin, the majority of these crustal lineaments correlate with failed arms of triple-junction rifts and define the boundaries to tectonostratigraphic domains recognized along the South Atlantic Rift System.

Based on spatial and temporal changes in palaeo-depositional setting, the Sub-Andean region can be subdivided longitudinally into a number of tectonostratigraphic domains (Jacques 2003). The differential amount of subsidence between two adjacent tectonostratigraphic provinces or sub-provinces relies on the presence of a transverse zone of structural accommodation. Two predominant sets of basement lineaments arc recognized: ENE-WSW and NW-SE (Fig. 1). The relative dominance of one set of crustal lineaments over the other changes approximately halfway down the length of the Andes, across a broad transition zone structurally expressed by the Arica Deflection-Bolivian Orocline, with ENE-trending crustal lineaments dominating in the north and NW-trending crustal lineaments dominating in the south. Both sets of lineaments occur as major structural anisotropies throughout the basement rocks of South America, providing zones of weakness, which were repeatedly reactivated and, at least in part, controlled: (1) the geometry of inter- and intracratonic rifting; (2) rates of subsidence and uplift along the Andean depositional axis; (3) the position of basin-bounding and intra-basinal highs or arches; (4) the structural geometry of the Andean Deformation Zone, correlating with changes in deformational style and major deflections; (5) the location of magmatism.

Twelve transverse structural lineaments (accommodation zones) are recognized (see Fig. 2) and, from north to south, are referred to as: the ENE Tumbes-Guayaquil-Tacutu Tectonic Lineament; the ENE Solimoes-Amazonas Megashear (diffuse zone of deformation); the ENE Pisco-Abancay-Fitzcarrald Tectonic Lineament; the ENE Arica-Paraguai-Araguaia Tectonic Lineament; the ENE Michicola Tectonic Lineament; the ENE La Serena-Ribeira Tectonic Lineament; the NW Martin Garcia Tectonic Lineament; the NW Valle Fertil Tectonic Lineament; the NW San Rafael Tectonic Lineament; the NW Gastre-Agulhas Megashear; the NW South Malvinas Tectonic Lineament; the east-west North Scotia Tectonic Lineament.