Innovating in the music industry : Blockchain, Streaming & Revenue Capture

Music industry revenues experienced a boom when digital music became available and the music business reinvented itself. Even with the existence of piracy, the business has been growing since 2015. A lot of the credit goes to streaming platforms that introduced the notion of access instead of ownership as the dominant business model (BM). However, the main financial beneficiaries are the platforms, labels, and publishers (the middlemen), whereas musicians receive little from streaming their creations. This is due to an outdated royalty distribution system that was applied to the new BM. This study aims to propose an updated BM by innovating the industry’s payment framework with the use of blockchain technology (BT). It would create a fair and transparent accounting system as well as promoting trust for all professionals in the system. Secondary data on strategic innovation, the music industry, and business model innovation were analyzed in this study. Qualitative and quantitative primary data was collected through a survey and semi-structured interviews conducted with industry professionals. Results revealed that BT could be a game-changer in the way the industry accounts for and pay royalties. However, there is little knowledge about the use of BT so no immediacy to bring about its implementation. Also, the industry lacks incentives to change the BM as big players run the show leaving musicians without little agency to bring about change. Finally, the study concludes that even though BT is a possible solution, the industry might not yet be accepting of this kind of change.As receitas da indústria da música passaram por um boom quando a música digital ficou disponível. O negócio se reinventou. Mesmo com pirataria, o mercado vem crescendo desde 2015. Grande parte se deve às plataformas de streaming que introduziram um modelo de negócios (MN) de acesso, em vez de propriedade que dominava o mercado. No entanto, os principais beneficiários financeiros são as plataformas, gravadoras e editoras (os intermediários), enquanto os músicos recebem pouco de streaming. Isso se deve ao sistema de distribuição de royalties desatualizado que foi aplicado ao novo MN. Este estudo tem como objetivo propor um MN atualizado, através da inovação do sistema de pagamento com o uso de tecnologia blockchain (TB). Esta criaria um sistema contábil justo e transparente, além de melhorar a confiança dos profissionais no sistema. Dados secundários sobre inovação estratégica, indústria da música e inovação em MN foram analisados . Os dados primários qualitativos e quantitativos foram coletados por meio de pesquisa e entrevistas semiestruturadas realizadas com profissionais do setor. Os resultados revelam que a TB pode mudar o jogo em relação a contabilização e pagamento de royalties. No entanto, há pouco conhecimento sobre o uso, portanto não há imediatismo por parte da indústria para implementa-la. Além disso, a indústria carece de incentivos para mudar o MN, já que grandes players conduzem o show, deixando músicos sem alternativas para promover mudanças. Por fim, o estudo conclui que, embora seja uma possível solução para o problema, o setor ainda não aceita esse tipo de mudança

Addressing Racial Disparities in Maternal Health: The Case for an Equity Birth Plan

Birth equity can be defined as “The assurance of the conditions of optimal births for all people with a willingness to address racial and social inequities in a sustained effort.” (Birth Equity |California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative, n.d.). Complex explanations exist for adverse maternal outcomes, but unequal health care, socioeconomic and racial inequalities pose risks to women and their babies (“Unequal Treatment: Confronting Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care,” 2003). The data is clear: Maternal death rates have increased and are 3 to 4 times higher for black women than white women (Zaharatos et al., 2018). These disparities exist even for black women of higher socioeconomic status where issue of access and resources would presumably be eliminated. Current data are inadequate in addressing issues of access, fragmentation of care, systemic racism, and the differential treatment of women of color. Birth plans were developed in the 1980s and were aimed at addressing patient autonomy in male dominated health care systems; birth plans provided a vehicle for patients to communicate their birthing preferences (Penny Simkin, 2007) (Kaufman, 2007). A recent Google search for “birth plan template” resulted in over 9 million results- most of which were simply provided checklists. Most identified plans fail to explain birthing options and fail to address individualized risks

Relationship between teacher checklist, parent rating scale, and California Test of Personality in grades I, II, and III

Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston Universit

Fractalkine-CX3CR1 signaling is critical for progesterone-mediated neuroprotection in the retina

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) encompasses a group of retinal diseases resulting in photoreceptor loss and blindness. We have previously shown in the rd10 mouse model of RP, that rd10 microglia drive degeneration of viable neurons. Norgestrel, a progesterone analogue, primes viable neurons against potential microglial damage. In the current study we wished to investigate this neuroprotective effect further. We were particularly interested in the role of fractalkine-CX3CR1 signaling, previously shown to mediate photoreceptor-microglia crosstalk and promote survival in the rd10 retina. Norgestrel upregulates fractalkine-CX3CR1 signaling in the rd10 retina, coinciding with photoreceptor survival. We show that Norgestrel-treated photoreceptor-like cells, 661Ws, and C57 explants modulate rd10 microglial activity in co-culture, resulting in increased photoreceptor survival. Assessment of Norgestrel’s neuroprotective effects when fractalkine was knocked-down in 661 W cells and release of fractalkine was reduced in rd10 explants confirms a crucial role for fractalkine-CX3CR1 signaling in Norgestrel-mediated neuroprotection. To further understand the role of fractalkine in neuroprotection, we assessed the release of 40 cytokines in fractalkine-treated rd10 microglia and explants. In both cases, treatment with fractalkine reduced a variety of pro-inflammatory cytokines. These findings further our understanding of Norgestrel’s neuroprotective properties, capable of modulating harmful microglial activity indirectly through photoreceptors, leading to increased neuroprotection

Pro-survival redox signalling in progesterone-mediated retinal neuroprotection

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a group of hereditary retinal diseases, characterised by photoreceptor cell loss. Despite a substantial understanding of the mechanisms leading to cell death, an effective therapeutic strategy is sought. Our laboratory has previously demonstrated the neuroprotective properties of Norgestrel, a progesterone analogue, in the degenerating retina, mediated in part by the neurotrophic factor basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). In other retinal studies, we have also presented a pro-survival role for reactive oxygen species (ROS), downstream of bFGF. Thus, we hypothesized that Norgestrel utilises bFGF-driven ROS production to promote photoreceptor survival. Using the 661W photoreceptor-like cell line, we now show that Norgestrel, working through progesterone receptor membrane complex 1 (PGRMC1); generates an early burst of pro-survival bFGF-induced ROS. Using the rd10 mouse model of RP, we confirm that Norgestrel induces a similar early pro-survival increase in retinal ROS. Norgestrel-driven protection in the rd10 retina was attenuated in the presence of antioxidants. This study therefore presents an essential role for ROS signalling in Norgestrel-mediated neuroprotection in vitro and demonstrates that Norgestrel employs a similar pro-survival mechanism in the degenerating retina

Progesterone analogue protects stressed photoreceptors via bFGF-mediated calcium influx.

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a degenerative retinal disease leading to photoreceptor cell loss. In 2011, our group identified the synthetic progesterone ‘Norgestrel’ as a potential treatment for RP. Subsequent research showed Norgestrel to work through progesterone receptor membrane component 1 (PGRMC1) activation and upregulation of neuroprotective basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). Using trophic factor deprivation of 661W photoreceptor-like cells, we aimed to further elucidate the mechanism leading to Norgestrel-induced neuroprotection. In the present manuscript, we show by flow cytometry and live-cell immunofluorescence that Norgestrel induces an increase in cytosolic calcium in both healthy and stressed 661Ws over 24h. Specific PGRMC1 inhibition by AG205 (1 μM) showed this rise to be PGRMC1-dependent, primarily utilising calcium from extracellular sources, for blockade of L-type calcium channels by verapamil (50 μM) prevented a Norgestrel-induced calcium influx in stressed cells. Calcium influx was also shown to be bFGF-dependent, for siRNA knock down of bFGF prevented Norgestrel-PGRMC1 induced changes in cytosolic calcium. Notably, we demonstrate PGRMC1-activation is necessary for Norgestrel-induced bFGF upregulation. We propose that Norgestrel protects through the following pathway: binding to and activating PGRMC1 expressed on the surface of photoreceptor cells, PGRMC1 activation drives bFGF upregulation and subsequent calcium influx. Importantly, raised intracellular calcium is critical to Norgestrel's protective efficacy, for extracellular calcium chelation by EGTA abrogates the protective effects of Norgestrel on stressed 661W cells in vitro

Predicting odor profile of food from its chemical composition: Towards an approach based on artificial intelligence and flavorists expertise

Odor is central to food quality. Still, a major challenge is to understand how the odorants present in a given food contribute to its specific odor profile, and how to predict this olfactory outcome from the chemical composition. In this proof-of-concept study, we seek to develop an integrative model that combines expert knowledge, fuzzy logic, and machine learning to predict the quantitative odor description of complex mixtures of odorants. The model output is the intensity of relevant odor sensory attributes calculated on the basis of the content in odor-active comounds. The core of the model is the mathematically formalized knowledge of four senior flavorists, which provided a set of optimized rules describing the sensory-relevant combinations of odor qualities the experts have in mind to elaborate the target odor sensory attributes. The model first queries analytical and sensory databases in order to standardize, homogenize, and quantitatively code the odor descriptors of the odorants. Then the standardized odor descriptors are translated into a limited number of odor qualities used by the experts thanks to an ontology. A third step consists of aggregating all the information in terms of odor qualities across all the odorants found in a given product. The final step is a set of knowledge-based fuzzy membership functions representing the flavorist expertise and ensuring the prediction of the intensity of the target odor sensory descriptors on the basis of the products' aggregated odor qualities; several methods of optimization of the fuzzy membership functions have been tested. Finally, the model was applied to predict the odor profile of 16 red wines from two grape varieties for which the content in odorants was available. The results showed that the model can predict the perceptual outcome of food odor with a certain level of accuracy, and may also provide insights into combinations of odorants not mentioned by the experts

Nurses Alumni Association Bulletin, Fall 1985

Alumni Calendar Officers and Committee Chairmen The President\u27s Message Treasurer\u27s Report Nurses\u27 Relief Fund Scholarship Fund International Travel as a Nurse Spruce Street Nurses Residence Rules Tempus Fidgets Jefferson Projects Grow Fiftieth Anniversary Happy Birthday Believe It or Not?? Grant Program for Nursing Students in 1984 Bequests Nursing Alumni Association Hosted by Alumni Office and Department of Nursing Resume of Minutes of Alumni Association Meetings Alumni Office News Committee Reports Scholarship Social Satellite Finance In Memoriam, Names of Deceased Graduates A Prayer for the Mature Luncheon Pictures Class Notes Caps, Pins, Transcripts, Class Address Lists Change of Address Form Relief Fund Application Scholarship Fund Application Membership Application Notice, Alumni Luncheo