Gov. Cuomo is down with Robert De Niro portraying him in a movie about the coronavirus pandemic, should there be one, and he also took a moment to play the role of the Manhattan-born actor.

Gov. Cuomo is down with Robert De Niro portraying him in a movie about the coronavirus pandemic, should there be one, and he also took a moment to play the role of the Manhattan-born actor.

Gov. Cuomo is down with Robert De Niro portraying him in a movie about the coronavirus pandemic, should there be one, and he also took a moment to play the role of the Manhattan-born actor.

Elon Musk is in a bind — perhaps the tightest bind of his business career.

Less than two months after touting a plan to put driverless taxis on the road, Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk on Tuesday walked back the ambitious timetable.

Waymo wants to deploy a robotaxi service for the general public in parts of California as soon as possible.

A union representing taxi drivers estimates 80,000 "are in danger of becoming destitute" in lockdown.

The SeaBubble is a new form of urban transportation that could offer Parisians a watery alternative to hailing a taxi, driving a car or hopping on an electric scooter.

Researcher: Hamsa Balakrishnan, MIT. Hamsa Balakrishnan talks about her work to shorten airport runway queues.

Matt Egan takes us where no other pod has dared gone before (September 2000) and asks Digital Arts Editor Neil Bennett if anyone cares that Nokia is rereleasing the famous 3310. Is it cool to rock one now? Then Techworld Audience Development Editor Christina Mercer lets us know that the future is already here with self driving drone taxis. Would you hitch a lift round Dubai on a massive quadcopter? Finally Deputy Editor at Macworld David Price ruminates on Apple's forecast foray into the world of snackable media content - will it challenge Netflix or try to buy it?  

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Lipid droplets (LDs) are frequently increased when excessive lipid accumulation leads to cellular dysfunction. Distinct from mouse beta cells, LDs are prominent in human beta cells, however, the regulation of LD mobilization (lipolysis) in human beta cells remains unclear. We found that glucose increases lipolysis in non-diabetic human islets, but not in type 2 diabetic (T2D) islets, indicating dysregulation of lipolysis in T2D islets. Silencing adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) in human pseudoislets (shATGL) increased triglycerides, and the number and size of LDs indicating that ATGL is the principal lipase in human beta cells. In shATGL pseudoislets, biphasic glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) and insulin secretion to IBMX and KCl were all reduced without altering oxygen consumption rate compared with scramble control. Like human islets, INS1 cells showed visible LDs, glucose responsive lipolysis, and impairment of GSIS after ATGL silencing. ATGL deficient INS1 cells and human pseudoislets showed reduced Stx1a, a key SNARE component. Proteasomal degradation of Stx1a was accelerated likely through reduced palmitoylation in ATGL deficient INS1 cells. Therefore, ATGL is responsible for LD mobilization in human beta cells and supports insulin secretion by stabilizing Stx1a. The dysregulated lipolysis may contribute to LD accumulation and beta cell dysfunction in T2D islets.

Lipid droplets (LDs) are frequently increased when excessive lipid accumulation leads to cellular dysfunction. Distinct from mouse beta cells, LDs are prominent in human beta cells, however, the regulation of LD mobilization (lipolysis) in human beta cells remains unclear. We found that glucose increases lipolysis in non-diabetic human islets, but not in type 2 diabetic (T2D) islets, indicating dysregulation of lipolysis in T2D islets. Silencing adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) in human pseudoislets (shATGL) increased triglycerides, and the number and size of LDs indicating that ATGL is the principal lipase in human beta cells. In shATGL pseudoislets, biphasic glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) and insulin secretion to IBMX and KCl were all reduced without altering oxygen consumption rate compared with scramble control. Like human islets, INS1 cells showed visible LDs, glucose responsive lipolysis, and impairment of GSIS after ATGL silencing. ATGL deficient INS1 cells and human pseudoislets showed reduced Stx1a, a key SNARE component. Proteasomal degradation of Stx1a was accelerated likely through reduced palmitoylation in ATGL deficient INS1 cells. Therefore, ATGL is responsible for LD mobilization in human beta cells and supports insulin secretion by stabilizing Stx1a. The dysregulated lipolysis may contribute to LD accumulation and beta cell dysfunction in T2D islets.

Many taxi and bus operators in sections of Kingston and St Andrew are seemingly adhering to social-distancing guidelines outlined by the Government for the sector, in terms of the number of passengers they are allowed to transport at a time. These...

A report release and presentation of first-ever U.S. estimates on the actual economic costs of skill underutilization for immigrants, their families, and the U.S. economy, in terms of forgone earnings and unrealized federal, state, and local taxes.

Microglial cells are considered as sensors of brain pathology by detecting any sign of brain lesions, infections, or dysfunction and can influence the onset and progression of neurological diseases. They are capable of sensing their neuronal environment via many different signaling molecules, such as neurotransmitters, neurohormones and neuropeptides. The neuropeptide VGF has been associated with many metabolic and neurological disorders. TLQP21 is a VGF-derived peptide and has been shown to signal via C3aR1 and C1qBP receptors. The effect of TLQP21 on microglial functions in health or disease is not known. Studying microglial cells in acute brain slices, we found that TLQP21 impaired metabotropic purinergic signaling. Specifically, it attenuated the ATP-induced activation of a K⁺ conductance, the UDP-stimulated phagocytic activity, and the ATP-dependent laser lesion-induced process outgrowth. These impairments were reversed by blocking C1qBP, but not C3aR1 receptors. While microglia in brain slices from male mice lack C3aR1 receptors, both receptors are expressed in primary cultured microglia. In addition to the negative impact on purinergic signaling, we found stimulating effects of TLQP21 in cultured microglia, which were mediated by C3aR1 receptors: it directly evoked membrane currents, stimulated basal phagocytic activity, evoked intracellular Ca²⁺ transient elevations, and served as a chemotactic signal. We conclude that TLQP21 has differential effects on microglia depending on C3aR1 activation or C1qBP-dependent attenuation of purinergic signaling. Thus, TLQP21 can modulate the functional phenotype of microglia, which may have an impact on their function in health and disease.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The neuropeptide VGF and its peptides have been associated with many metabolic and neurological disorders. TLQP21 is a VGF-derived peptide that activates C1qBP receptors, which are expressed by microglia. We show here, for the first time, that TLQP21 impairs P2Y-mediated purinergic signaling and related functions. These include modulation of phagocytic activity and responses to injury. As purinergic signaling is central for microglial actions in the brain, this TLQP21-mediated mechanism might regulate microglial activity in health and disease. We furthermore show that, in addition to C1qBP, functional C3aR1 responses contribute to TLQP21 action on microglia. However, C3aR1 responses were only present in primary cultures but not in situ, suggesting that the expression of these receptors might vary between different microglial activation states.

Blade Urban Air Mobility Program in India: The air-taxi has begun operations in Mumbai, Pune, and Shirdi, today

[SAPS] A 35-year-old taxi driver is facing attempted murder charges (read with DMA Regulation 14(3) and in a quarantine site in Cape Town after he was stopped in a vehicle checkpoint (VCP) on the R61 in Beaufort West yesterday ferrying about seven passengers. The driver, who had apparently tested positive for the virus after taking a test on 30 April 2020 on the N2 Tsitsikamma roadblock in the Eastern Cape, was duly informed two days ago by the testing authority of the outcome of the test. Yet, he allegedly proce

[Daily Maverick] The Eastern Cape Department of Health has confirmed that 80 of a group of 188 seasonal farmworkers who returned to the province from the Western Cape over the past two weeks have tested positive for coronavirus. The taxis were 'intercepted' on the province's back roads near Elliotdale. Some drivers were allegedly in possession of fake permits. The positive test results come as nearly 10,000 people returned home during the window period allowed for interprovincial travel.

Introduction On 31 January 2020, the OECD issued a further update on its work on the taxation of the digital economy. The catchily titled “Statement by the OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework on BEPS on the Two-Pillar Approach to Address the Tax Chal...

Prague Daily Monitor

According to a story run in Deník N, a blind woman going out for a morning walk ran into a nightmare scenario on Monday in Prague's trendy Žižkov area.

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Singapore’s carbon tax is designed to maximize green investments while minimizing negative effects on the overall economy.

Objective

To investigate the pattern of progression of neurologic impairment in Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) and identify patients with fast disease progression as detected by clinical rating scales.

Objective

To describe the clinical and molecular genetic findings in a family segregating a novel mutation in the AIFM1 gene on the X chromosome.

Objective

To investigate the pathogenicity of the TGM6 variant for spinocerebellar ataxia 35 (SCA35), which was previously reported to be caused by pathogenic mutations in the gene TGM6.

Objective

To specifically report on ataxic-hypotonic cerebral palsy (CP) using registry data and to directly compare its features with other CP subtypes.

No major Hollywood film since has attempted anything quite like Cast Away.

HOBART taxi driver Mikahil Ahmed is reeling from a brutal racial attack that left him hospitalised and badly damaged his cab.

Enrique Gomez De Molina, 48, of Miami Beach, Fla., was sentenced in federal court in Miami today to 20 months in prison for illegal trafficking in endangered and protected wildlife.

Abstract Taxation on mobile phone-based transactions and on airtime has been introduced in Kenya and is spreading to other African countries. Some countries in sub-Saharan Africa view mobile phones as a booming subsector easy to tax due to the increasing turnover of transactions and the formal nature of such transactions by both formal and informal…

This week, the Africa Growth Initiative at Brookings published a new policy brief, “Taxing mobile phone transactions in Africa: Lessons from Kenya.” The brief discusses the limited ability of increased tax rates on mobile money transactions and mobile phone airtime to raise a significant amount of new tax revenue. According to the brief, these taxes…

Given increased income and wealth inequality, much recent attention has been devoted to proposals to increase taxes on the wealthy (such as imposing a tax on accumulated wealth). Since capital income is highly skewed toward the ultra-wealthy, methods of increasing taxes on capital income provide alternative approaches for addressing inequality through the tax system. Marking…

It's like Uber for 'flying' water cars, with an über-cute name: SeaBubbles.

In Ottawa, Canada, self-driving cars are being touted as a reason to delay transit investment.

More self-driving cabs are being launched in China at a time when people are worried about public transport.

Rajesh Hudiyar, a resident of Mahul, was forced to stay at home because of the BEST strike in the city today. The youngster's board exams are hardly two months away but as he could not afford to take an autorickshaw or a taxi, he had to skip going to school.

Not just him, but many other residents of Mahul, most of whom are Tansa pipeline project affected people, are skipping work and school because since buses are not operational.

Meanwhile, the BEST strike in Mumbai has entered its ninth day today.

While Hudiyar says that he is missing important classes, he simply can't afford to spend Rs 100 on an autorickshaw ride.

Vikas Logade, who is a student of a Wadala college, says that he missed a project submission already which he fears will cost him marks in the final assessment but he can't spend Rs 150 on a taxi every day.

Firdaus Sheikh is a Std. 10 student whose preliminary examinations are underway and two of her siblings are skipping school as well.

Mangal Thakur is sending only her elder son, a Std 10 student, to school while her younger son has to sit at home.

She told Mumbai Mirror, “Unscrupulous autorickshaw drivers have jacked up fares. We can’t afford to send both our children to school in such a scenario."

Vivek Gambre who works in a factory in Andheri east says that he has missed seven days of work which has cost him Rs 9000, which is about 25% of his income.

Amita Pawar, a tester in a factory in Sakinaka, says that her daily wage comes to Rs 250 but an autorickshaw will cost her Rs 200 alone. “Then there’s the additional hassle of getting a vehicle in the first place.”

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Members of the European Parliament have preliminarily agreed to continue with the aviation industry's current treatment under the EU's emissions trading scheme to allow for the development of a new industry-specific carbon tax arrangement.

This country note explains how Sweden taxes energy use. The note shows the distribution of effective energy tax rates across all domestic energy use. It also details the country-specific assumptions made when calculating effective energy tax rates and matching tax rates to the corresponding energy base.

The tax wedge for the average single worker in Sweden decreased by 0.3 percentage points from 43.0 in 2018 to 42.7 in 2019. The OECD average tax wedge in 2019 was 36.0 (2018, 36.1). In 2019 Sweden had the 9th highest tax wedge among the 36 OECD member countries, occupying the same position in 2018.

This country note explains how Spain taxes energy use. The note shows the distribution of effective energy tax rates across all domestic energy use. It also details the country-specific assumptions made when calculating effective energy tax rates and matching tax rates to the corresponding energy base.

The tax wedge for the average single worker in Spain increased by 0.1 percentage points from 39.4 in 2018 to 39.5 in 2019. The OECD average tax wedge in 2019 was 36.0 (2018, 36.1). In 2019 Spain had the 15th highest tax wedge among the 36 OECD member countries, compared with the 16th in 2018.

This country note explains how Switzerland taxes energy use. The note shows the distribution of effective energy tax rates across all domestic energy use. It also details the country-specific assumptions made when calculating effective energy tax rates and matching tax rates to the corresponding energy base.

The tax wedge for the average single worker in Switzerland increased by 0.1 percentage points from 22.2 in 2018 to 22.3 in 2019. The OECD average tax wedge in 2019 was 36.0 (2018, 36.1). In 2019 Switzerland had the 33rd lowest tax wedge among the 36 OECD member countries, occupying the same position in 2018.

This note describes the taxation of energy use in South Africa. It contains the country’s energy tax profiles, followed by country-specific information to complement the general discussion in Taxing Energy Use 2018 (OECD, 2018).

This country note explains how South Africa taxes energy use. The note shows the distribution of effective energy tax rates across all domestic energy use. It also details the country-specific assumptions made when calculating effective energy tax rates and matching tax rates to the corresponding energy base.

This country note explains how Slovenia taxes energy use. The note shows the distribution of effective energy tax rates across all domestic energy use. It also details the country-specific assumptions made when calculating effective energy tax rates and matching tax rates to the corresponding energy base.

The tax wedge for the average single worker in Slovenia increased by 0.4 percentage points from 43.2 in 2018 to 43.6 in 2019. The OECD average tax wedge in 2019 was 36.0 (2018, 36.1). In 2019 Slovenia had the 8th highest tax wedge among the 36 OECD member countries, occupying the same position in 2018.