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The Power to Destroy: How the Antitax Movement Hijacked America By Michael J. Graetz Princeton University Press When Ronald Reagan accepted the Republican presidential nomination in 1980, he presented himself [...]

When I was Dean of Western Law about 40 years ago, I'd deliver a welcoming address to each new crop of students. I'd open my remarks with a question: 'Is [...]

The article discusses the looming crisis for Social Security in the United States. The system currently pays out more in benefits than it collects in payroll taxes, and if Congress does not take action, benefit checks will have to be cut by 27% in 2034. The article explores various proposals to address the issue, including ending Social Security, privatizing it, raising the retirement age, raising the tax rate, and lifting the cap on wages subject to the Social Security tax. The author suggests that applying the Medicare policy of taxing 100% of compensation to Social Security could be the best solution. [Extracted from the article]

Fuel ethanol produced from corn requires proper yeast nutrition. Corn without supplementation provides inadequate nitrogen at high solids levels. Inorganic nitrogen is typically added; however, organic nitrogen could also be added. To evaluate the impact of supplemental nitrogen and compare it with protease addition, we developed a solids‐free corn media to study and compare fermentations. Amino acid concentrations showed uptake occurred rapidly as fermentation started and reached near zero levels for most amino acids. After sugar utilization was complete, amino acids were released by the yeast into the media. Protease addition without supplemental nitrogen reached rates and yields equivalent to supplemented media. Free amino acids decrease significantly at the beginning of fermentation but, under some conditions, are released again. Protease addition increased certain amino acids and reached equivalent ethanol yields without the addition of urea. Urea allowed the yeast to produce significantly more amino acids during fermentation that were released into the media after all the available sugar was consumed. Amino acid uptake and release in corn fermentations has not been previously reported with this detail, and the improved understanding could lead to performance benefits.

A geologically rapid Neoproterozoic oxygenation event is commonly linked to the appearance of marine animal groups in the fossil record. However, there is still debate about what evidence from the sedimentary geochemical record—if any—provides strong support for a persistent shift in surface oxygen immediately preceding the rise of animals. We present statistical learning analyses of a large dataset of geochemical data and associated geological context from the Neoproterozoic and Palaeozoic sedimentary record and then use Earth system modelling to link trends in redox-sensitive trace metal and organic carbon concentrations to the oxygenation of Earth’s oceans and atmosphere. We do not find evidence for the wholesale oxygenation of Earth’s oceans in the late Neoproterozoic era. We do, however, reconstruct a moderate long-term increase in atmospheric oxygen and marine productivity. These changes to the Earth system would have increased dissolved oxygen and food supply in shallow-water habitats during the broad interval of geologic time in which the major animal groups first radiated. This approach provides some of the most direct evidence for potential physiological drivers of the Cambrian radiation, while highlighting the importance of later Palaeozoic oxygenation in the evolution of the modern Earth system.

The Asian community — the second largest non-European ethnic community in New Zealand — plays an important role in combatting the COVID-19 pandemic, evidenced by their active advocation for border control and mass masking. Despite the long history of racial discrimination against the Asian population, the Asian community has experienced certain degrees of racial discrimination associated with the stigmatisation as the cause of the COVID-19 outbreak in New Zealand. Based on data from a quantitative online survey with 402 valid responses within the Asian communities across New Zealand and the in-depth interviews with 19 Asian people in Auckland, New Zealand, this paper will illustrate Asian people’s experience of racial discrimination and stigmatisation during the pandemic in the country. The survey shows that since the outbreak of COVID-19, under a quarter of the participants reported experiencing discrimination, and a third reported knowing an immediate contact who had experienced discrimination. However, when looking beyond their immediate social circle, an even higher proportion reported noticing racism and stigmatisation through the traditional or social media due to COVID-19. Major variations of the degree of racial discrimination experienced are determined by three demographic variables: ethnicity, age, and region. The in-depth interviews largely echoed the survey findings and highlighted a strong correlation between the perceived racial discrimination among the local Asian community and the stigmatisation associated with COVID-19. These findings are important for improving the way we manage future pandemics and other disasters within the context of the UN Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.

For decades, Republicans have pounded the Internal Revenue Service, initially on the advice of pollster Frank Luntz, whose focus group interviews revealed that exploiting popular resentment of taxes and widespread [...]

In late August 2017, Donald Trump flew to Phoenix, Arizona, to hold a rally for the 2020 election. To those who heard his entire speech and understood the context, his [...]

Corporate America will cheer the Michigan senator's retirement. His investigations have flagged hundreds of billions in offshore tax evasion. For 15 years, Senator Carl Levin has taught Americans how our [...]

Aim: Asians are the second largest and fastest growing non-European population in New Zealand but are under-researched in terms of their COVID-19 pandemic response. The paper aims to illustrates Asians’ risk perceptions and knowledge of COVID-19, and self-protection practices to avoid infection and prevent community transmission. Subject and methods: An online survey was used to collect data and received 402 valid responses. Data analyses included: 1) a descriptive analysis by using Chi-square tests and a Kruskal-Wallis rank sum tests to explore associations between responses and the four demographic variables (i.e. age, gender, country of origin/ethnicity, and region); and 2) a correlation analysis between different survey objectives. Results: The descriptive analysis of the survey found that while ethnicity (within the Asian category) was the most influential variable that resulted in varying responses to many questions, gender and age were other two important variables in influencing the answering patterns. The correlation analysis found a positive correlation between the perceived ‘dangerousness’ of COVID-19 and respondents’ overall compliance behaviour to New Zealand authorities’ recommendations to prevent spread of COVID-19. Conclusion: The majority of the respondents provided correct answers to the questions about the vulnerable populations, symptoms, asymptomatic transmission and potential sequelae of COVID-19; however, their understanding of the availability of a cure for, and the incubation period of COVID-19 was not consistent with the official information. The research also found that the higher perceived dangerousness of COVID-19, the better compliance to self-protection practices among the surveyed population.

Purpose: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) early pathology needs better understanding and models. Here, we describe a human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)-derived 3D neural culture model to study certain aspects of AD biochemistry and pathology. Method: iPSCs derived from controls and AD patients with Presenilin1 mutations were cultured in a 3D platform with a similar microenvironment to the brain, to differentiate into neurons and astrocytes and self-organise into 3D structures by 3 weeks of differentiation in vitro. Results: Cells express astrocytic (GFAP), neuronal (β3-Tubulin, MAP2), glutamatergic (VGLUT1), GABAergic (GAD65/67), pre-synaptic (Synapsin1) markers and a low level of neural progenitor cell (Nestin) marker after 6 and 12 weeks of differentiation in 3D. The foetal 3R Tau isoforms and adult 4R Tau isoforms were detected at 6 weeks post differentiation, showing advanced neuronal maturity. In the 3D AD cells, total and insoluble Tau levels were higher than in 3D control cells. Conclusion: Our data indicates that this model may recapitulate the early biochemical and pathological disease features and can be a relevant platform for studying early cellular and biochemical changes and the identification of drug targets.

Post-earthquake cordons have been used after seismic events around the world. However, there is limited understanding of cordons and how contextual information such as geography, sociocultural characteristics, economy, and institutional and governance structures affects decisions and operational procedures, including aspects related to spatial and temporal attributes of cordon establishment. This research aims to fill the gap in cordon knowledge through a qualitative comparative case study of two cities: Christchurch, New Zealand (Mw6.2 earthquake, February 2011) and L’Aquila, Italy (Mw6.3 earthquake, 2009). Both cities suffered comprehensive damage to their city centers and had cordons established for extended periods of time. Data collection was done through purposive and snowball sampling whereby 23 key informants were interviewed in total. Research participants held expert knowledge in their roles and responsibilities, that is, council members, emergency managers, politicians, business/insurance representatives, academics, and police. Results illustrate that cordons were primarily established to ensure safety of people and to maintain security. The extent and duration of the cordons were affected by the recovery approaches taken in respective cities, that is, in Christchurch demolition was widely undertaken which supported recovery and allowed for faster removal of cordons. In contrast, authorities in L’Aquila placed high value on heritage buildings which led to recovery strategy based on preserving and restoring most of the buildings which extended the duration of cordon. Extended cordons have many similarities but evolve overtime. This evolution of cordons is affected by site-specific needs; thus, cordons should be understood and planned based on contextual realities.

Extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness is fundamental in cell division, movement and differentiation. The stiffness that cells sense is determined not only by the elastic modulus of the ECM material but also by ECM geometry and cell density. We hypothesized that these factors would influence cell traction-induced matrix deformations and cellular differentiation in bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs). To achieve this, we cultivated BMSCs on polyacrylamide hydrogels that varied in elastic modulus and geometry and measured cell spreading, cell-imparted matrix deformations and differentiation. At low cell density BMSCs spread to a greater extent on stiff compared with soft hydrogels, or on thin compared with thick hydrogels. Cell-imparted matrix deformations were greater on soft compared with stiff hydrogels or thick compared with thin hydrogels. There were no significant differences in osteogenic differentiation relative to hydrogel elastic modulus and thickness. However, increased cell density and/or prolonged culture significantly reduced matrix deformations on soft hydrogels to levels similar to those on stiff substrates. This suggests that at high cell densities cell traction-induced matrix displacements are reduced by both neighbouring cells and the constraint imposed by an underlying stiff support. This may explain observations of the lack of difference in osteogenic differentiation as a function of stiffness.

Matrix stiffening by lysyl oxidase-like 2 (LOXL2)-mediated collagen cross-linking is proposed as a core feedforward mechanism that promotes fibrogenesis. Failure in clinical trials of simtuzumab (the humanized version of AB0023, a monoclonal antibody against human LOXL2) suggested that targeting LOXL2 may not have disease relevance; however, target engagement was not directly evaluated. We compare the spatial transcriptome of active human lung fibrogenesis sites with different human cell culture models to identify a disease-relevant model. Within the selected model, we then evaluate AB0023, identifying that it does not inhibit collagen cross-linking or reduce tissue stiffness, nor does it inhibit LOXL2 catalytic activity. In contrast, it does potently inhibit angiogenesis consistent with an alternative, non-enzymatic mechanism of action. Thus, AB0023 is anti-angiogenic but does not inhibit LOXL2 catalytic activity, collagen cross-linking, or tissue stiffening. These findings have implications for the interpretation of the lack of efficacy of simtuzumab in clinical trials of fibrotic diseases.

ABSTRACTChinese classical opera is caught in a stranglehold, promoted as a key art form in China’s assertion of its global presence but declared untranslatable by gatekeepers distrustful of Western appropriative translation practices, and concerned to safeguard the form as the unique expression of Chinese identity. There is a parallel here with Spanish Golden Age theatre, which has struggled against the tag of an untranslatability rooted in the inviolability of its polymetric form and obsession with a seemingly arcane honour code. By acknowledging the tensions that exist between practitioners and gatekeepers of these two theatrical forms, this article examines translation as an ecology of affordance spaces that extends Chinese classical opera and Spanish Golden Age theatre into new performance practices.

Initiatives such as the ShakeOut earthquake drill (run nationally in Aotearoa New Zealand since 2012) are effective at teaching the protective actions “drop, cover, and hold” which can reduce the likelihood of injury during earthquakes. However, our understanding of human behavior during actual shaking is limited. Previous work has used retrospective self-reports to explore what actions people take during and immediately after an earthquake. While informative, such data is exposed to biases common in these types of methods. It is therefore important to complement the previous research with more objective data. This research builds on previously-developed methods of analyzing Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) footage to examine actions taken during the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake at Wellington International Airport, Aotearoa New Zealand. Only one of the 68 codable individuals was observed to undertake “drop, cover, and hold” as recommended in New Zealand, although a quarter took some kind of protective action (e.g. dropping or covering). The majority responded by standing, walking, looking around, or helping those near them. Because this earthquake had distinct P-wave and S-waves, we were able to examine changes in behavior caused by increases in shaking intensity. Among the 36 individuals who could be observed during the strong S-wave jolt, 27 changed their behavior; 11 changed from not protecting themselves to taking at least one protective action, and another 8 who were already undertaking at least one protective action took a further one or more steps to protect themselves. Among the 10 people observed to have an uncontrolled response to the sudden increase in shaking intensity, nine were taking no actions to protect themselves demonstrating the importance of taking protective actions before the arrival of strong shaking. This article presents key considerations for CCTV analysis and useful observations of behavior during earthquake shaking which can help to reduce injuries and fatalities.