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The Spatial Distribution of Skills and Local Labor Market Resilience
Get PDFThis paper examines the impact that occupational skill endowments had on employment resilience to the COVID-19 shock. U.S. rural counties with more employment in industries requiring high cognitive skills were less vulnerable to the COVID shock, while those with higher endowments of employment requiring people skills had stronger recoveries. Importantly, since these results were primarily driven by rural counties, we document heterogeneous impacts of skill endowments on resilience across the rural-urban continuum. Descriptive analysis also suggests that migration to high people skill intensive counties may have contributed to these stronger recoveries
Synthetic Elaboration of β-Carbonyl Alkylboronic Esters
Get PDFOrganoboron compounds are some of the most synthetically versatile compounds in organic chemistry due to the many valuable transformations of the C-B bond. This synthetic versatility combined with the pharmacophoric nature of carboxylic acids has led to an increased interest in the one-pot difunctionalization of vinyl arenes using CO2 and pinacol boranes. Recently, much progress has been made to improve the scope and versatility of boracarboxylation reactions to now include electron-deficient and α-methyl substituted vinyl arenes. However, the potential transformations of boracarboxylated products have remained unexplored. Here, methodologies to transform the β-aryl alkylboronic ester into new C-C, C-N, and C-X bonds will be described.
Medically relevant 2,3-diarylpropionic acids can now be accessed via a two-step protocol consisting of boracarboxylation of a vinyl arene followed by a palladium(0)-catalyzed Suzuki cross-coupling. This methodology provides access to both the α- and β-regioisomers independently whereas traditional strategies to access these compounds afford only one regioisomer, and in most cases, a mixture of regioisomers. Interesting biaryl and heterocyclic products can be accessed and to demonstrate the synthetic utility of this protocol, a glucagon receptor antagonist was synthesized in 4 less steps than the previously reported method while maintaining similar yields.
The transformative capability of boracarboxylated products is further demonstrated through a base- and external oxidant-free copper(II)-catalyzed amination to generate β2-amino acid derivatives. While the β-carboxylic acid was intolerable to the conditions, protection via esterification or amidation allowed for successful amination of the alkylboronic ester to occur. Amination of two bora-NSAIDs, bora-ibuprofen and bora-naproxen, was successful and a number of cyclic and acyclic amines are suitable for the transformation. Preliminary mechanistic work suggests that this amination does not proceed through a free-radical intermediate but rather a two-electron pathway.
Finally, a novel halogenation of boracarboxylated products is achieved to generate the corresponding β-aryl alkyl halides. This methodology is performed in a base, metal, and additive free manner that utilizes cheap and readily available sources of electrophilic halide. Both bromination and iodination are demonstrated and can be achieved on a variety of electron-rich and electron-poor boracarboxylated products and can subsequently undergo amination to provide an alternative route to β2-amino acid derivatives. Mechanistic experiments suggest that the β-carboxylic acid is required to achieve the activation of the C-B bond. Radical trapping experiments also indicate that this transformation may occur through the formation of an alkyl radical although this is unlikely
Implementation of Bayesian Statistics to Answer Diverse Engineering Questions: Applications in Cancer Immunology and Engineering Education
No full textQuantitative Systems Pharmacology (QSP) refers to a mechanistic modeling approach used for assessing potential therapeutics by linking the molecular and cellular level mechanisms of the disease and therapeutic to the system-wide dynamics and clinical endpoints relevant to the disease. Although the field of QSP is still in its relative infancy, the mathematical methodology employed to predict the kinetics of these systems are not new and can be applied to a wide variety of systems. For instance, similar to QSP’s goal of guiding the development of novel therapeutics for various disease states, there exists a need to develop novel interventions in the engineering education space that can be guided using similar methodologies.
This body of work aims to apply Bayesian statistics, a cornerstone methodology within QSP, in both cancer immunology and first-year engineering education. The first study focuses on four secreted factors identified in a previous study that potentially mediate immunosuppression and could become targets for novel immunotherapies. We tested for clinical correlates in existing human data and verified in vivo whether knocking out tumor cell production of these factors improved immune-mediated control of tumor growth. A kinetic analysis leveraging III a Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) approach quantified the various knockouts’ effect on cells’ intrinsic growth rate. Key results suggest that CCN4 is a mediator of immunosuppression in the melanoma tumor microenvironment and a potential collateral immunotherapy target.
The remaining two studies focus on improving the performance and retention of non-calculus ready first-year engineering students. As college readiness continues to decline, the proportion of students entering engineering programs with low mathematics proficiency is increasing. These students have lower retention rates than their calculus-ready peers. We created two first-year engineering courses, one college algebra-based course focused on improving critical thinking skills and one trigonometry-based course focused on improving metacognition skills and used Bayesian methods to analyze the impact of the intervention on various student success metrics. Students in both courses saw higher pass rates in their math course compared to the control group. Those participating in the college algebra-based intervention course saw improved critical thinking skills and increased cumulative GPA and retention in engineering. Improvement of skills in the trigonometry-based course was dependent on additional factors such as the difficulty level of the problem analyzed. Preliminary data indicates that combining these courses into a two-semester long intervention could provide improved benefit to the population of non-calculus ready engineering students and improve their success in engineering
Comparative Analysis of Chemical Compounds and Metal Contaminants in Medical Grade versus Over-the-Counter Sodium Hypochlorite Solutions
Get PDFIntroduction:
Abstract
Endodontic treatment aims to prevent or address apical periodontitis by reducing intracanal bacterial populations to promote tissue healing, requiring thorough debridement and disinfection of the canal space. This study aims to examine the presence of trace metal elements and chemical compounds in over-the-counter (OTC) and medical-grade sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) solutions.
Method
Over-the-counter NaOCl brands (Clorox® and Great Value®) and medical grade 6% NaOCl solutions (CanalPro® and Chlor-Xtra®) were purchased, stored in amber glass bottles, and tested in triplicate. Each was analyzed using mass spectrometry, identifying 7881 chemical compounds with statistical comparisons via adjusted p-values, fold-change, and heat maps. The sample size was determined using G Power Software, and metal element analysis was conducted with Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectrometry, following standard calibration procedures.
Results:
Trace amounts of Lauroylsarcosine, Sodium [dodecanoyl(methyl)amino]acetate, C10E3, PEG n5, and Lauryl glucoside were detected in all samples, with no significant differences among the four groups (CanalPro®, Chlor-Xtra®, Clorox®, and Great Value®) for any of these chemicals. The Great Value® brand had the highest concentrations of arsenic (As), lithium (Li), lead (Pb), and sulfur (S), with all brands exceeding method detection limits. Significant differences in As and Li concentrations were found between Great Value® and the other brands (Chlor-Xtra®, CanalPro®, and Clorox®), with Great Value® having the highest levels. No significant differences in Pb concentrations were observed across the brands. For S, Chlor-Xtra® had the highest concentration, followed by Clorox® and Great Value®, with CanalPro® having the lowest.
Conclusion:
Trace levels of Lauroylsarcosine, Sodium [dodecanoyl(methyl)amino]acetate, C10E3, and PEG n6 were found in all tested brands with no significant differences in their intensities. Chlor-Xtra® had the highest levels, suggesting intentional additives. Metal ion concentrations (As, Li, Pb, S) exceeded detection limits in all brands. Great Value® had the highest arsenic levels, surpassing EPA drinking water standards, while Clorox® had the lowest lead levels, just below the EPA action level. Clorox® also had the lowest lithium concentration, and CanalPro® had the lowest sulfur concentration
Low Power Remote Sensing System for Ceramic Thermocouples
Get PDFThe ceramic thermocouple sensor is a promising alternative to traditional thermocouple due to their corrosion resistance and cost-effective manufacturing. Currently, no electronic Interface or Integrated Circuit solution is commercially available which can be used to interface these thermocouples at low-cost and low power for accurate temperature measurement. An electronic system is needed to use these ceramic sensors which consumes less amount of power for an extensive period of time with remote monitoring option.
This thesis proposes a low-power electronic remote sensing system that works for ceramic thermocouples. The system consists of three parts. They are battery-operated sensor node electronic circuit, low-power wireless system and a real-time visualization tool at operators end. The key features of the sensor node electronic circuit are low-power operation with long batterylifetime, accurate high temperature measurements (500℃-1800℃), and reconfigurable settings. Also, a sleep mode for sensor node is created to save power consumption when no monitoring is required. Operational Amplifiers with proper gain setting and filtering elements have been used to design the sensor node which performs the amplification, noise removal and minimizing loading effect. Following that, a low-power microcontroller is configured to perform linearization, error correction, and temperature measurement from sensor data. The wireless system is designed using LoRa technology for long range coverage at low power and it does not require any internet or cellular connection to establish the network. The visualization tool at the operator’s end provides the sensor behavior and change in pattern so that operators can make prompt decisions. So, this low-power electronic system along with long range wireless network for interfacing the ceramics thermocouple will bring great advantage for the industries who need resilient and easy-to-install electronic temperature monitoring solutions at their existing vulnerable sites to ensure safe operation. By implementing mass deployment of these sensors along with the remote sensing system, industries will be able to capture the spatial temperature variation of any hot environment and identify any probable future risk which can be prevented by taking advanced actions
Positive Responses of Solanum lycopersicum Growth to Additions of Gibberellin in the Presence of Wounding Stress
Get PDFHerbivory is a consistent and prevalent stressor that threatens plants. Gibberellin, a naturally occurring plant growth hormone, has been known to increase plant growth when under a physical stress such as herbivory. To investigate, we set up a two-factorial design with 60 Solanum lycopersicum plants and subjected 15 plants each to four treatment groups: reference/control, 65 mg gibberellin, wounding, and 65 mg gibberellin+wounding. We found that S. lycopersicum root-to-shoot ratio decreases with the addition of gibberellin under mechanical wounding stress. Additionally, chlorophyll fluorescence increases under any mechanical wounding, with and without gibberellin present. Our experiment allows us to conclude that the use of gibberellin under wounding stress will significantly affect the height, root-to-shoot ratio, and chlorophyll fluorescence in S. lycopersicum. This conclusion highlights the importance of considering further investigation and study of additional natural growth hormones as a defense against herbivory, rather than using a potentially toxic herbicide, and the impact that gibberellin could have in the agricultural industry
Immunity Through Bankruptcy for the Sackler Family
Get PDFIn August 2023, the Supreme Court of the United States temporarily blocked one of the largest public health settlements in history: that of Purdue Pharma, L.P., reached in bankruptcy court. The negotiated bankruptcy settlement approved by the court would give a golden parachute, in the form of immunity from liability, to the very people thought to have ignited the opioid crisis: the Sackler family. As the Supreme Court considers the propriety of immunity through bankruptcy, the case has raised fundamental questions about whether bankruptcy is a proper refuge from tort liability and whether law checks power or law serves power. Of course, bankruptcy courts often limit liability against a distressed company, but here, the Sacklers did not themselves declare bankruptcy. Instead, they added about 600 billion in annual costs from the opioid crisis, by some estimates—and were allowed to keep any remaining profits. The bankruptcy court justified immunity on the grounds that the Sacklers’ money was protected in offshore accounts and trusts and, therefore, could not be reached through tort liability—all the better to have them participate voluntarily. In other words, the Sacklers laid the groundwork for their own immunity by sheltering the money they withdrew from Purdue. This article explores the public health ramifications of the bankruptcy plan. We have doubts that a single court should have the enormous power of shielding the Sackler family from all future civil liability for the opioid crisis, simply to enlarge a settlement. Public health litigation has the power to address root causes of public health crises by disincentivizing unscrupulous actors. Granting these actors immunity may insulate them from public criticism while undermining the important role of courts as an avenue of recourse. Upholding immunity for the Sackler family would lay the groundwork for future executives to ride a company into the ground at the expense of public health, golden parachute ready and waiting
Site, Seasonality, and Satisfaction: A Tourism Marketing Study in Pocahontas County, West Virginia
Get PDFTourism in the United States has become a key player in the economy as supported by the National Travel and Tourism Office. Specifically, West Virginia has proven to play its part, with Pocahontas county sitting as one of the top contributors. This rural area, which provides tourism opportunities year-round could fall victim to seasonality, preventing development and growth for the region. The Pocahontas County Convention and Visitors Bureau works to stay on top of this, however, even creating the basis for this study by partnering with researchers at West Virginia University to perform a visitor profile and economic impact analysis. The data used in this paper were pulled from this initial study. The main purpose of this research is to determine if any relationships exist between satisfaction levels of visitors to the county, the season they visited in, and the primary destination they visited. Most significantly, this research forms a new basis for future research by including site as a comparison variable, which previous literature has not yet done. Limitations to this research include unique sampling locations, a specific timeframe for data collection, budgetary and staff restrictions, and potential error in manual data coding.
The current literature finds that quality acts as an antecedent to satisfaction, with destination attributes being a significant factor of this, and loyalty acts as a consequence of satisfaction. Researchers have also found that seasonality is a complex subject that comes with various causes and effects. Causes are generally categorized as natural, institutional, and sometimes economic, while effects are broken down into employment, economic, ecological, and sociocultural. Additionally, it has been widely proven that season is an influential factor on satisfaction levels, with many studies showing that visitors are often more satisfied when visiting a destination in the off-season. Again, literature including multiple locations as a comparison factor is non-existent, allowing this research to open a new path for future studies.
Pocahontas County is located in the south-eastern portion of West Virginia and is considered a haven for nature lovers due to its vast public lands and plethora of recreational opportunities. The three main locations included in this study include Snowshoe Mountain Resort, Cass Scenic Railroad State Park, and Green Bank Observatory, which are all generally in the north-central portion of the county and each provide unique experiences for visitors. The questionnaire used for this survey was developed collaboratively between the Pocahontas County CVB and researchers at WVU. Data collection took place between January 14th, 2023, and October 27th, 2023, in person at each of the three locations. A total of 994 surveys were collected, and 737 were deemed viable for analysis. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 29.0 and included a set of ANOVA and MANCOVA analyses.
The results were divided into three sections, with appropriate subsections to follow. The first defined socio-demographic characteristics of the participants of the study. The second displayed the results of the ANOVA analyses which compared the satisfaction items against both season and site independently to determine significant differences. The third showed the results of the MANCOVA analyses which aimed to determine significant influences on an aggregate satisfaction variable and price by season, location, and/or gender, while controlling for education as a covariate. The results of this research found that season and location were influential on certain satisfaction items in the county. In addition to this, it also supported that a more complex relationship exists between season, location, and satisfaction levels of tourists in Pocahontas county. Relevant recommendations were also provided to the county as means to improve their already high satisfaction scores amongst tourists to this area
Developing the 21st Century Piano Studio
Get PDFThis study explores the needs of the contemporary piano studio, including business policies, the use of technologies, mental health and neurodivergence in students, and the influence and use of social media. Focused on the needs of both the private-studio piano teacher and traveling piano teacher, the paper offers insight into studio ownership and management with an emphasis on providing experiences that meet the needs of contemporary students. The paper includes a brief history of private piano instruction as well as information for developing studio policies, business issues related to current tax requirements and forms, and resources for financial and general studio business management