22 research outputs found
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DATA-DRIVEN DECISION MAKING IN ONLINE AND BRICK-AND-MORTAR RETAILING
No full textThis dissertation focuses on the general theme of data-driven decision making in online and brick-and-mortar retail.Chapter One proposes a dynamic shelf allocation-relocation scheme for rearranging storewide product allocations over time to maximize impulse buying behavior. The proposed method rearranges items based on customer behavior with the current arrangement. The method applies insights from association rule mining to group highly affine and profitable product pairs, optimize the assignment of departments to store aisles, and determine the optimal within-aisle space allocations for the products of each department. This strategic rearrangement technique consistently outperforms random shelf-space rearrangement and, in many instances, exceeds the profit potential of a more traditional static shelf space arrangement.In Chapter Two, we conduct a data-driven analysis of the profitability and customer effects of three free shipping policies commonly adopted by online retailers at present. Using a Python-based web crawler, we obtained a unique dataset containing data from more than 80,000 products listed on Amazon.com. We then analyzed the data using non-linear mixed integer programs under different free shipping policies to compare their profitability and effects on customers. We find that membership free shipping policies are more profitable than the other policies considered. We also present insights on setting optimal membership fee levels and free shipping thresholds under different conditions.Chapter Three develops a methodology that creates structural equations using regression techniques based on known optimal results. The procedure is useful during situations such as initial decision-making on network-wide safety stock levels where quick, robust answers are sufficient.In Chapter Four, we present workable strategies for rural colleges and instructors operating on limited budgets to hold highly interactive question and answer (Q&A) sessions with accomplished guest speakers from industry. We introduce an approach for the selection of high-quality guest speakers, which utilizes the detailed résumés of tens of thousands of college alumni listed on LinkedIn. We also illustrate an innovative Q&A format that uses free cloud-based services such as Google Forms and Google Sheets. These successfully implemented strategies can address many challenges faced by rural schools in attracting and accommodating quality guest speakers for engaging exchanges with students
Nrf2 deficiency influences susceptibility to steroid resistance via HDAC2 reduction
No full textAbnormal lung inflammation and oxidant burden are associated with a significant reduction in histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) abundance and steroid resistance. We hypothesized that Nrf2 regulates steroid sensitivity via HDAC2 in response to inflammation in mouse lung. Furthermore, HDAC2 deficiency leads to steroid resistance in attenuating lung inflammatory response, which may be due to oxidant/antioxidant imbalance. Loss of antioxidant transcription factor Nrf2 resulted in decreased HDAC2 level in lung, and increased inflammatory lung response which was not reversed by steroid. Thus, steroid resistance or inability of steroids to control lung inflammatory response is dependent on Nrf2-HDAC2 axis. These findings have implications in steroid resistance, particularly during the conditions of oxidative stress when the lungs are more susceptible to inflammatory response, which is seen in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease
Experimental and theoretical investigation of the fluid behavior during polymeric fiber formation with and without pressure
No full textThe fabrication of polymeric micro/nanofibers is gaining attention due to their use in an array of applications including tissue engineering scaffolds, nanosensors, and fiber-reinforced composites. Despite their versatile nature, polymeric fibers are widely underutilized due to the lack of reliable, large-scale production techniques. Upon the discovery of centrifugal spinning and, recently, pressurized gyration techniques, new research directions have emerged. Here, we report a comprehensive study detailing the optimal conditions to significantly improve the morphology, homogeneity, and yield of fibers of varying diameters. A series of polymeric fibers was created using a 21 wt.% solution of polyethylene oxide in distilled water and the fluid behavior was monitored inside a transparent reservoir using a high-speed camera. Fabrication of the fibers took less than 1 s. Using centrifugal spinning, we studied the formation of the fibers at three different rotational speeds, and for pressurized gyration, one rotational speed was studied with three different nitrogen gas pressures. Using the pressurized gyration technique at a gas pressure of 0.3 MPa, there was significant improvement in the production yield of the fibers. We found a strong correlation between the variation of pressure and the rate of the solution leaving the reservoir with the improved morphology of the fibers. The use of reduced power techniques, like centrifugal spinning and pressured gyration, to yield high-quality nonwoven nanofibers and microfibers in large quantities is important due to their use in rapidly expanding markets. (C) 2019 Author(s)
What are the perceptions and attributes that influence pupils and students in Sri Lanka regarding their selection between public and private higher education opportunities?
No full textThesis (Ed.D.)--Boston UniversityPLEASE NOTE: Boston University Libraries did not receive an Authorization To Manage form for this thesis or dissertation. It is therefore not openly accessible, though it may be available by request. If you are the author or principal advisor of this work and would like to request open access for it, please contact us at [email protected]. Thank you.Today, the demand for higher education is growing at a rapid rate in many developing countries throughout the world. Unfortunately, many governments have realized that their public higher education systems are unable to satisfy this demand. Under this condition and strong encouragement from international donors, private higher education has begun to emerge. Sri Lanka is an example where private higher education surfaced in response to a need from its society. However, private higher education remains a foreign and elusive concept for many Sri Lankans. This study seeks to determine what are the perceptions and attributes that influence pupils and students in Sri Lanka regarding their selection between public and private higher education opportunities.
This study, using traditional push-pull theory, utilized a research design that combined both quantitative and qualitative research methods. The design focused on the pupil, student, teacher, and administrator populations in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Questionnaire surveys and interviews were administered. The data produced consisted of quantitative data from the questionnaire surveys and qualitative data from the interviews, all of which were analyzed for common themes.
The study concluded that the major themes of the responses included the cost of higher education, quality of higher education, recognition of higher education, and the environment within higher education institutions. Further, the study also discovered several minor themes that played a role for some pupils and students. These included the medium of instruction and the issue of social class in higher education. The recommendations proposed include a need to provide pupils with loans to pursue higher education, to increase awareness of private higher education, to establish smaller private community colleges in rural areas of Sri Lanka and to provide more interaction between public and private higher education.2999-01-0
DeepMatch: A BERT-powered talent matchmaking approach
No full textConsultancy companies aim to match their employees to customer projects based on their employee’s talents. Traditional matchmaking methodologies are founded on manual processes that rely on rules of thumb or algorithms that are based on handcrafted heuristics, which cause the matchings to be not only sub-optimal, but also time-consuming, subjective, and prone to human errors. In this paper, we propose a novel consultancy matching algorithm that utilizes BERT to semantically find the most optimal consultant-project matchings for a given set of consultants and projects, pairing relevant project specifications with consultant specifications using the JVSAP algorithm. In doing so, our proposed talent matchmaking system may be utilized to improve the accuracy and efficiency of consultancy matching, thereby facilitating more effective consultancy engagements. Our findings suggest that the pairings demonstrate a discernible alignment with human intuition, as evidenced by the consistent correlation between consultants possessing domain-specific expertise and projects characterized by corresponding thematic descriptions. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2025
Microfluidic Engineered Polymer Nanovehicles for Drug Delivery
No full textA key challenge in the production of polymer nanovehicles for drug delivery is obtaining reproducible monodisperse nanovehicles with a minimum number of preparation steps. This research investigates the preparation of polymer nanovehicles using a microfluidic engineering device (the V-shaped microfluidic junction - VMJ) as a one-step processing method to produce polymeric drug carriers in various geometrical configurations (sphere and capsule) along with unique surface features. Firstly, solid polymer nanospheres with contrasting size and surface roughness were prepared using a VMJ device, by dissolving polymethysilsesquioxane (PMSQ) polymer in a range of solvents (methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol), separately and then subsequently collecting the nanospheres in distilled water at two different temperatures (23°C and 100°C). The study established that size and surface features are directly influenced by the solvent used and temperature of collection. Interestingly, Evans blue coated nanospheres with a rough surface morphology exhibited superior release kinetics when compared to those with a smooth configuration. Secondly, high-speed camera imaging along with advanced microscopy was used to elucidate the method of nanosphere generation in relation to the uniquely tailored surface properties that are conferred through manipulation of concentration and flow rate. Thirdly, monodisperse PMSQ nanospheres with surface adsorbed itraconazole were prepared using the VMJ device. The highest drug encapsulation efficiency of 88% was attained with 120 nm sized itraconazole coated PMSQ nanospheres when compared to 320 nm (74%) and 800 nm (62%) sized nanosphere formulations. Finally, the author intended to prepare amoxicillin-carrying poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanostructures. The PLGA nanostructures were prepared in several geometries including solid nanospheres, porous nanocapsules and hollow shell capsules. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) photomicrographs showed that the bare and amoxicillin encapsulated PLGA nanostructures had a mean diameter that ranged from 150 – 1200 nm. The nanostructures were also determined to be nearly spherical in shape. The in-vitro release studies of amoxicillin from the PLGA nanostructures point to a drug release behaviour that is unique to geometry of the nanostructure. Over a 7 day testing period, the highest release of amoxicillin from the PLGA nanospheres was recorded to be 96 % on day 1. Consequently, it was determined that the release rate diminished but was sustained at 85% for the remaining days. All these findings offer great potential for drug delivery applications and provide new generic insights into the development of advanced drug release systems
Current concepts on oxidative/carbonyl stress, inflammation and epigenetics in pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
No full textChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a global health problem. The current therapies for COPD are poorly effective and the mainstays of pharmacotherapy are bronchodilators. A better understanding of the pathobiology of COPD is critical for the development of novel therapies. In the present review, we have discussed the roles of oxidative/aldehyde stress, inflammation/immunity, and chromatin remodeling in the pathogenesis of COPD. An imbalance of oxidants/antioxidants caused by cigarette smoke and other pollutants/biomass fuels plays an important role in the pathogenesis of COPD by regulating redox-sensitive transcription factors (e.g., NF-κB), autophagy and unfolded protein response leading to chronic lung inflammatory response. Cigarette smoke also activates canonical/alternative NF-κB pathways and their upstream kinases leading to sustained inflammatory response in lungs. Recently, epigenetic regulation has been shown to be critical for the development of COPD because the expression/activity of enzymes that regulate these epigenetic modifications have been reported to be abnormal in airways of COPD patients. Hence, the significant advances made in understanding the pathophysiology of COPD as described herein will identify novel therapeutic targets for intervention in COPD
VANGUARD: A Blockchain-Based Solution to Digital Piracy
No full textOnline pirates and Intellectual Property (IP) holders have been in perpetual war over various products like music, movies, software, etc. since the popularity of the Internet. It is estimated that the US entertainment industry loses approximately 29 billion USD every year for pirates. Online piracy has since gone from bad to worse as growing internet users and better broadband connections enable people to share large files freely over the internet. The objective of this research is to investigate the causes and enablers for online piracy in movie industry and to come up with an anti-pirating solution. The primary outcome of the study will consist of a dedicated blockchain based anti-piracy system, 2018;Vanguard2019;. This system will provide all-round piracy protection from a built-in streaming service to a component to actively look through the internet for pirated movies and torrents. This system will greatly deter the piracy of movies since the IP holders can ensure their IP rights through this system and quickly act against illegitimate distribution of their media
Boron nitride nanoscrolls: structure, synthesis, and applications
No full textThis is the author accepted manuscriptBoron nitride nanoscrolls (BNS) are open-ended, one-dimensional (1D) nanostructures made by the process of rolling boron nitride nanosheets (BNNS) into a scroll-like morphology. BNS offer a high surface area to volume ratio and possess many unique properties (similar to carbon nanotubes (CNT), carbon nanoscrolls (CNS) and boron nitride nanotubes (BNT)) such as high resistance to oxidation, chemical stability, increased lubrication, high-temperature resistance, electrical insulation, the ability to cap molecules inside and at the ends,and a wide band gap regardless of chirality. Despite these attractive featuresand properties well suited for applications in biotechnology, energy storage, and electronics, the true potential of boron nitride, and BNS as the next ‘miracle material’ is yet to be fully explored. In this critical review, we assess, for the first time, various studies published on the formation, structural and dynamic characteristics of BNS, potential routes for BNS synthesis, and the toxicology of BNS. Finally, the future perspectives of BNS are discussed in view of its unique and exceptional candidacy for many (real-world) applications
