Driving Disruption: Assessing Uber\u27s Corporate Identity in the Battle over Driver Classification

This research analyzes the ongoing effort by Uber’s executives to prevent the reclassification of the company’s drivers from independent contractors to employees. Through rhetorical appeals made to customers, regulatory bodies, and drivers themselves, Uber’s executives are attempting to cultivate a corporate identity that portrays the company’s labor practices in a way that adheres to California’s labor laws, namely the “ABC” test for worker classification codified in Assembly Bill 5, while maintaining the company’s ill-gotten reputation as a bastion of Silicon Valley innovation. The success of this posturing hinges on attempts to conflate Uber’s labor practices with equitable social outcomes, publicize narratives that overemphasize and mischaracterize the benefits of flexible work schedules, and co-opt consumerist terminology in its description of drivers’ relation to the company. This piece embarks upon a critical analysis of these strategies, comparing the claims made in public-facing corporate rhetoric with the actual power dynamics that exist between the company and its drivers. If these strategies ultimately prove successful, they may provide a blueprint for future anti-reclassification campaigns waged by Uber throughout the United States. Regardless of whether AB5’s ABC test finds Uber’s drivers to be employees or independent contractors, the decision will be reached with incomplete knowledge of the algorithms that govern driver workflows, which are shielded from the public and regulators alike by intellectual property law. To remedy this uncertainty, I argue for the empowerment of municipal governments to regulate Uber’s operations within their jurisdictions and for regulatory oversight over algorithms that administer systems of labor

Brominated Carbon Materials As Positive Electrodes for Nonaqueous Secondary Lithium-Bromine Batteries

Secondary lithium-bromine (Li-Br2) batteries have theoretical potentials near 4.1 V vs Li/Li+ and capacities more than 2 times greater than conventional Li-ion batteries. Herein, secondary, non-aqueous Li-Br2 half-cell batteries are reported using a Li metal anode, carbon-coated glass fiber separator, non-aqueous Li-based electrolytes with and without the addition of lithium bromine (LiBr) salt, and positive electrodes consisting of either chemically brominated non-graphitic carbon or carbon derived from the carbonization of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with LiBr embedded into the micro- and mesopores of the carbon matrix. The separator is effective in mitigating the transport of Br2 to the negative electrode. “Pre-bromination” of the positive electrode with a LiBr electrolyte results in chemisorption of Br2 and facilitates improved coulombic efficiencies and capacity retention. Charging and discharging profiles at a 1C charge rate over 100 cycles at 3.8 V show that cells with brominated carbon positive electrodes exhibit a capacity retention two times greater than untreated electrodes. Likewise, Coulombic efficiencies increase to approximately 94% for brominated positive electrodes. While charge-transfer resistances decreased with “pre-bromination” due to the improved electron transfer with C-Br bonds, open circuit self-discharge and increased ohmic resistances result in lower overall capacities of 137 mAh/g-LiBr. Carbonization of MOFs produces carbon with structured pore sizes that confines Br-species into the micro- and mesopores of the carbon matrix. Material and electrochemical performance comparisons were completed using brominated carbonized ZIF-8, MIL-53(Al), and HKUST-1. Between these materials, the brominated carbonized ZIF-8 positive electrodes showed superior electrochemical performance with specific capacities of 273 mAh/g-LiBr, 98% Coulombic efficiency, and 88% capacity retention over 100 cycles at a 1C charge rate, corresponding to a practical energy density of 219 Wh/kg based on the mass of carbonized MOF and LiBr. Coupled with XPS, BET, and SEM-EDS analysis, it is theorized that the improved electrochemical performances is caused by greater confinement of Br-species into micropores of the carbon matrix and the added synergistic benefits of heteroatom doping from carbon-nitrogen bonding. These initial results show promise for Li-Br2 batteries as future Li-ion battery alternatives

Economic and Demographic Information for the Evaluation of Business and Economic Development Opportunities

https://digitalcommons.morris.umn.edu/cst/1015/thumbnail.jp

Optimization and Structural Characterization of Dimethyl Trisulfide (DMTS) Oxidation Product

Cyanide poisoning is a public concern, and there are many shortfalls in current cyanide treatments. Dimethyl trisulfide (DMTS) is a cyanide antidote candidate that overcomes these shortfalls. Currently, there are limited published reports related to the analysis of DMTS. Therefore, an analytical method to detect and analyze DMTS from a biological matrix is vital for it to become available as a therapeutic agent against cyanide poisoning. The motivation of this project is to develop an HPLC-MS/MS method for analysis of DMTS and its degradation products; however, DMTS is difficult to ionize, a requirement for MS analysis, due to its nonpolar nature. In this study, DMTS was oxidized to a more polar compound that should enable its MS-MS analysis. The oxidation reaction was optimized to maximize product yield and, therefore, improve the accuracy of the analytical technique. The optimized oxidation reaction increased the yield of oxidized DMTS by 17.4% and decreased the amount of un-oxidized DMTS by 88.5%. In addition, initial characterization of the reaction product was preformed, using GC-MS. The preliminary results indicated the DMTS was fully oxidized

Direct interactions promote eviction of the Sir3 heterochromatin protein by the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling enzyme

Heterochromatin is a specialized chromatin structure that is central to eukaryotic transcriptional regulation and genome stability. Despite its globally repressive role, heterochromatin must also be dynamic, allowing for its repair and replication. In budding yeast, heterochromatin formation requires silent information regulators (Sirs) Sir2p, Sir3p, and Sir4p, and these Sir proteins create specialized chromatin structures at telomeres and silent mating-type loci. Previously, we found that the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling enzyme can catalyze the ATP-dependent eviction of Sir3p from recombinant nucleosomal arrays, and this activity enhances early steps of recombinational repair in vitro. Here, we show that the ATPase subunit of SWI/SNF, Swi2p/Snf2p, interacts with the heterochromatin structural protein Sir3p. Two interaction surfaces are defined, including an interaction between the ATPase domain of Swi2p and the nucleosome binding, Bromo-Adjacent-Homology domain of Sir3p. A SWI/SNF complex harboring a Swi2p subunit that lacks this Sir3p interaction surface is unable to evict Sir3p from nucleosomes, even though its ATPase and remodeling activities are intact. In addition, we find that the interaction between Swi2p and Sir3p is key for SWI/SNF to promote resistance to replication stress in vivo and for establishment of heterochromatin at telomeres

The Effect of Coconut Shell Powder as Functional Filler in Polypropylene during Compounding and Subsequent Molding

Fine powder produced from coconut shells (CSP) has been found to be excellent functional filler in polypropylene, significantly increasing flexural and tensile moduli, slightly increasing tensile strength, and good retention of Izod impact strength at weight percentages less than 20 %. The research presented in this paper explores the temperature processing window for coconut shell powder filled polypropylene and the change in the rheological behavior of the polypropylene due to the addition of CSP as functional filler in this processing temperature window. The reason for the simultaneous increase in flexural modulus, tensile strength, and good retention of Izod impact behavior is also investigate

English Priories and the Reign of Edward III

This paper examines the seizing and treatment of the alien priories in England during the first phase of the Hundred Year's War (1337-1360). Using English contemporary government finance records called the Calendar of Fine Rolls, I argue that the Crown's interference with the priories during this time was necessitated by the needs of the war. The argument has three main points. The first looks at changes in priory tax rates, calledfarms, and the second examines the custodianship arrangements imposed on the priories by the crown. The third point takes the information from the previous points and places it in the greater context of what was happening at that time during the Hundred Year's War, demonstrating that the changes in payment and custodianship imposed by the crown were dictated by the needs of the war. This demonstrates that the eventual demise of the priories in the next century was in no way intended when the Hundred Year's War began, making them another casualty of the conflict. The accompanying map depicts some of the changes referenced in the Calendar of Fine Rolls, including ownership changes and which priories were affected during the greatest single instance of priory farm changes in 1342.B.S. (Bachelor of Science