51.   The expansion follows a year of remarkable growth.

52.   The decree, which follows years of failed efforts at reform, has placed a federal monitor over the department.

53.   The increase follows years of failed efforts by managed health-care companies to stem growing costs.

54.   The increase follows years of failed efforts by managed health care companies to stem growing costs.

55.   The new committee of investigation set up by Juppe follows years of pressure by the French Jewish community.

56.   The payment followed years of criticism of the original deal in which the government gave the company rights to Taxol without seeking any direct payback.

57.   The re-evaluation follows a couple years of tumultuous software debate at the Patent and Trademark Office.

58.   The quarter was the fourth straight in which Kmart showed a profit, following several years of quarterly losses.

59.   The removal in January of U.S. District Judge David Edelstein followed years of complaints by IBM that he was biased against it.

60.   The rarely-used legal maneuver by the Northeast states follows years of frustration over air-borne smog flowing east and north from industrial centers in the Midwest.