bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Correlation Between SNOT-22, Nasal Cytology, and Mood Disorders in Patients With Allergic Rhinitis Treated With a Liposomal Nasal Spray
Authors: Lauriello Maria , Di Rubbo Vittoria , Sinatti Gaia , Pasqua Marina , Tucci Cinzia , di Marco Gian-Piero , Necozione Stefano , Eibenstein Alberto
Published: August 2019

Patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) can suffer from mood disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical effect of a liposomal nasal spray (LN) containing vitamins A and E on the nasal mucosa in patients suffering from AR who had refused any type of anti-allergic treatment. For this purpose, the results of nasal cytology, Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-22 (SNOT-22), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) test were analyzed. Moreover, we evaluated the relationship between SNOT-22 and nasal cytology and between nasal symptoms and HADS scores. Statistical analysis revealed a significant decrease of scores at T1 in the LN treatment group as concerns VAS, SNOT-22, HADS-Anxiety test and a remarkable reduction of inflammatory cells detected with nasal cytology. Our study showed that higher levels of SNOT-22 corresponded to a higher level of HADS-Anxiety. The mechanisms underlying this relationship in AR patients are currently unknown, but we can suppose that improving mucosal trophism may contribute to the decrease of nasal symptoms and anxiety scores. The improvement of nasal symptoms, as measured by SNOT-22, was significantly correlated with the objective results of nasal cytology. These relationships between SNOT-22 and nasal cytology and between anxiety and cytology were investigated for the first time in our research.
Running the Bases Backward: Journalists Mark the Death of Jimmy Piersall
Authors: Fedorocsko Maggie , Bishop Ronald
Published: August 2019

A narrative analysis was performed on obituaries and tributes written to commemorate the career of longtime Major League player and broadcaster Jimmy Piersall, who died in June 2017. Six primary narrative themes were identified: the impact on Piersall of pressure from his father to excel, his role as mentor to other players, celebration of his decision to come forward about his experience with mental illness, the “antics” for which he was so well known, his tendency to speak his mind while on the air, and his embrace of the notoriety that attached to sharing his experiences and to the colorful behavior he exhibited throughout his various careers. The narratives affirm a limited depiction of what the experience of mental illness is actually like. Piersall did not push back against that depiction, even as he paved the way for the more robust conversation about mental illness engaged in by professional athletes and encouraged by journalists. Piersall’s impact is diminished by the fact he was so willing to poke fun at himself, to use language that would, in today’s national dialogue about mental illness, be dismissed as inappropriate. Journalism has moved on to a more serious, more scripted treatment of an athlete coming forward to discuss the experience with mental illness.
Effect of extensive tenosynovectomy on diffuse flexor hallucis longus tenosynovitis combined with effusion
Authors: Qu Wenqing , Liu Tong , Chen Wentao , Sun Zhenzhong , Dong Shengjie , Chen Mingxia
Published: August 2019

Objective:

The objective of this study was to examine the clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) outcomes of extensive tenosynovectomy on patients with diffuse flexor hallucis longus tenosynovitis combined with effusion (DFHLT-E).

Methods:

Consecutive patients undergoing extensive tenosynovectomy for DFHLT-E in the same foot and ankle center from January 2013 to December 2016 were selected; a total of 14 patients were included in the final analysis. Patients with a minimum 1-year follow-up were evaluated with physical examination, MRI, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) clinical midfoot scale, and visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores.

Results:

The 14 patients were followed up for an average of 15.0 ± 2.3 months (12–18 months). There were no recurrences in all clinical examinations at the final follow-up. The AOFAS score was improved from 61.57 ± 10.70 before surgery to 90.28 ± 9.41 at the final follow-up. The difference was statistically significant ( p = 0.001). The VAS score was improved from 4.00 ± 0.82 before surgery to 0.43 ± 0.53 at the final follow-up ( p < 0.001). MRI examination revealed two patients with small residual and limited effusion with no clinical symptoms. Superficial pin infection was observed in one patient, and two patients had transient neurostimulation.

Conclusions:

Extensive tenosynovectomy is an effective alternative for the treatment of DFHLT-E with less complications or recurrence.
The Impact of Teachers Unions on Teachers’ Well-Being Under Various Legal Institutions: Evidence From District–Teacher Matched Data
Authors: Han Eunice S.
Published: August 2019

This article examines how teachers unions affect teachers’ well-being under various legal institutions. Using a district–teacher matched data set, this study identifies the union effects by three approaches. First, I contrast teacher outcomes across different state laws toward unions. Second, I compare the union–nonunion differentials within the same legal environment, using multilevel models and propensity score matching. Finally, unexpected legal changes restricting the collective bargaining of teachers in four states form a natural experiment, allowing me to use the difference-in-difference estimation to identify the causal effect of weakening unionism on teacher outcomes. I find that (a) many teachers join unions even when bargaining is rarely or never available, and meet-and-confer or union membership rate affects teachers’ lives in the absence of a bargaining contract; (b) how unions influence teacher outcomes vary greatly by different legal environment; and (c) the changes in public policy limiting teachers’ bargaining rights significantly decrease teacher compensation.
Obtaining Patient Priorities in a Multiple Sclerosis Comprehensive Care Center: Beyond Patient-Reported Outcomes
Authors: Miller Deborah M , Moss Brandon , Rose Susannah , Li Hong , Schindler David , Weber Malory , Planchon Sarah M , Alberts Jay , Boissy Adrienne , Bermel Robert
Published: August 2019

Background:

In order to provide patient center care, our multiple sclerosis (MS) clinic assesses patient concerns before clinical encounters, first by asking the optional qualitative question “What is the most important thing you what your health-care provider to know today” (most important concern of the patient [MIPC]) and then completing quantitative patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) including Quality of Life in Neurological Disorders (Neuro-QoL). Both sets of questions are designed to facilitate encounters that address patients’ values and preferences.

Objective:

Determine whether the qualitative MIPC responses provided unique information not included in PROMs or clinical assessments.

Methods:

We randomly selected 400 first-time MIPC responders and 400 first-time MIPC nonresponders from 2788 participants in our database. We categorized MIPC responses by content and number of unique concerns and appended them to the Neuro-QoL framework. Nonresponders were compared to those who provided 1 and 2 or more responses.

Results:

Several MIPCs MS symptoms categories were added to the Neuro-QoL Physical domain. Most important concern of the patients work and cost-of-care categories were added to the Social Domain. Domains regarding treatment satisfaction and disease management were added. Two hundred thirty (58%) MIPC respondents reported 1 concern, 140 (35%) expressed 2 to 6 concerns, and 30 (7%) reported MS-unrelated concerns and not analyzed. Physical symptoms were the most common MIPC (69.9%). Respondents with more concerns were more likely African American, lacked private insurance, and worse disability.

Conclusions:

Importantly, MIPC responders described idiosyncratic symptoms, disease management, and social concerns not included in the PROMS, suggesting the MIPC question offered patients a unique opportunity to share specific concerns with their providers.
Therapeutic vaccination immunomodulation: forming the basis of all cancer immunotherapy
Authors: Coventry Brendon J.
Published: August 2019

Recent immunotherapy advances have convincingly demonstrated complete tumour removal with long-term survival. These impressive clinical responses have rekindled enthusiasm towards immunotherapy and tumour antigen vaccination providing ‘cures’ for melanoma and other cancers. However, many patients still do not benefit; sometimes harmed by severe autoimmune toxicity. Checkpoint inhibitors (anti-CTLA4; anti-PD-1) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) are ‘pure immune drivers’ of pre-existing immune responses and can induce either desirable effector-stimulatory or undesirable inhibitory-regulatory responses. Why some patients respond well, while others do not, is presently unknown, but might be related to the cellular populations being ‘driven’ at the time of dosing, dictating the resulting immune response. Vaccination is in-vivo immunotherapy requiring an active host response. Vaccination for cancer treatment has been skeptically viewed, arising partially from difficulty demonstrating clear, consistent clinical responses. However, this article puts forward accumulating evidence that ‘vaccination’ immunomodulation constitutes the fundamental, central, intrinsic property associated with antigen exposure not only from exogenous antigen (allogeneic or autologous) administration, but also from endogenous release of tumour antigen (autologous) from in-vivo tumour-cell damage and lysis. Many ‘standard’ cancer therapies (chemotherapy, radiotherapy etc.) create waves of tumour-cell damage, lysis and antigen release, thus constituting ‘in-vivo vaccination’ events. In essence, whenever tumour cells are killed, antigen release can provide in-vivo repeated vaccination events. Effective anti-tumour immune responses require antigen release/supply; immune recognition, and immune responsiveness. With better appreciation of endogenous vaccination and immunomodulation, more refined approaches can be engineered with prospect of higher success rates from cancer therapy, including complete responses and better survival rates.
Vanishing Themes of Indian Victim Compensation Law: An Exploration
Authors: Gulzar Unanza
Published: August 2019

Reorganization towards a restorative criminal justice scheme in India was undertaken based on an amendment made to the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) of 1973 in 2008. The said amendments were conceded by the Government of India in order to advance the country’s antiquated criminal laws. However, the main problem was keeping the definition of victim stagnant when, in fact, changes relating to victim and, further, reorganizing obsolete laws which have connection with the laws relating to compensation to victims continue. Unfortunately, another difficulty was that the existing laws on determination of victim compensation leave it to the sole discretion of authorities provided under the CrPC. This article highlights that the provisions in the CrPC after the new changes are more general in their attitude of addressing predicament of victims. Yet the irregularity with which the sections are appealed by the judiciary in an effort to accomplish victim fairness and lessen the griefs of the victim would reduce these laws as futile and be the dwindling theme of victim compensation laws in India. Moreover, this article emphasises that some minor developments which occurred in the field of compensation to victims have no doubt reduced an accused-oriented approach, but at the same time there were still numerous lacunae left in this field. Last but not the least, the article focuses on the interface between victim compensation laws and evaluation of victim compensation–amended laws.
Facile immobilization of lipase based on Pickering emulsion via a synergistic stabilization by palygorskite–enzyme
Authors: Li Dong , Shen Min , Sun Guofan , Jin Huiran , Cai Peng , Wang Zhihui , Jin Yeling , Chen Jing , Ding Shijie
Published: August 2019

A Pickering emulsion was prepared via synergistic stabilization of a lipase and palygorskite particles. The optimum conditions for the stabilization of the Pickering emulsion, such as the concentrations of the palygorskite particles and lipase, were explored. The morphology of emulsion droplets was examined using digital optical microscopy and polarizing optical microscopy. The palygorskite–lipase co-stabilized Pickering emulsions were investigated by determination of the adsorption rate, pH and zeta potential of the aqueous dispersion, as well as by determining the contact angle values of the lipase solution on a palygorskite disc that was immersed in toluene. The catalytic performance of the immobilized lipase in the Pickering emulsion was studied via the investigation of its thermal stability, storage stability and reusability. The immobilized lipase showed greater stability than the free lipase. The lipase immobilized by Pickering emulsion retained a high level of activity even after seven periods of recycling.
CIoT-Net: a scalable cognitive IoT based smart city network architecture
Authors: Park Jin-ho , Salim Mikail Mohammed , Jo Jeong Hoon , Sicato Jose Costa Sapalo , Rathore Shailendra , Park Jong Hyuk
Published: August 2019

In the recent era, artificial intelligence (AI) is being used to support numerous solutions for human beings, such as healthcare, autonomous transportation, and so on. Cognitive computing is represented as a next-generation application AI-based solutions which provide human–machine interaction with personalized interactions and services that imitate human behavior. On the other hand, a large volume of data is generated from smart city applications such as healthcare, smart transportation, retail industry, and firefighting. There is always a concern on how to efficiently manage the large volume of generated data. Recently many existing researches discussed the analysis of the large quantity of data using cognitive computing; however, these researches are failed to handle the certain problems, namely scalability, and flexibility of data gathered in a smart city environment. Data captured from millions of sensors can be cross implemented across various cognitive computing applications to ensure real-time responses. In this paper, we study the cognitive internet of things (CIoT) and propose a CIoT-based smart city network (CIoT-Net) architecture which describes how data gathered from smart city applications can be analyzed using cognitive computing and handle the scalability and flexibility problems. We discuss various technologies such as AI and big data analysis to implement the proposed architecture. Finally, we describe the possible research challenges and opportunities while implementing the proposed architecture.
Twentieth century Iranian carpets: investigation of red dye molecules and study of traditional madder dyeing techniques
Authors: Chahardoli Zohreh , Vanden Berghe Ina , Mazzeo Rocco
Published: August 2019

Red is undoubtedly one of the principal colors in Iranian carpets. During the twentieth century, a golden era for Iranian carpet production and export industry, madder was still one of the primary constituents of the red dyestuff, used according to various dyeing methods which is specific for Iran. Compared to the earlier periods, the said period witnessed a clear increase in the hues of the color red and in the alternation of physical and visual properties. We, therefore, aim to get a better insight into the chemical and physical properties of the component which made it all possible—dyes. To this effect, eighteen red wool samples with various hues were collected from seven Iranian carpets belonging to the aforementioned period (from Ali Mirzaei’s private collection) and analyzed using three techniques: reversed-phase-high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC-DAD), scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM–EDX) and colorimetry. We also studied traditional dying recipes to underpin the scientific process involved. We focused on recipes based on madder, which are mordanted with organic additives such as qarehqurut (a kind of Iranian dairy product; also known as Gharehghorut). These substances, additionally, helped control the acidity of the dyebath; a common technique from the period. The effect of these substances on the hue, the associated red dye chemistry, various visual and physical properties, including color fastness, are reported. Our study revealed, among other facts, that the additive qarehqurut is highly efficient at improving color absorption and at increasing lightfastness. Another salient finding was that, besides madder, various synthetic dye sources were used by the twentieth century “traditional” Iranian red dyeing industry.
Dehydroepiandrosterone: a potential therapeutic agent in the treatment and rehabilitation of the traumatically injured patient
Authors: Bentley Conor , Hazeldine Jon , Greig Carolyn , Lord Janet , Foster Mark
Published: August 2019

Severe injuries are the major cause of death in those aged under 40, mainly due to road traffic collisions. Endocrine, metabolic and immune pathways respond to limit the tissue damage sustained and initiate wound healing, repair and regeneration mechanisms. However, depending on age and sex, the response to injury and patient prognosis differ significantly. Glucocorticoids are catabolic and immunosuppressive and are produced as part of the stress response to injury leading to an intra-adrenal shift in steroid biosynthesis at the expense of the anabolic and immune enhancing steroid hormone dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulphated metabolite dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS). The balance of these steroids after injury appears to influence outcomes in injured humans, with high cortisol: DHEAS ratio associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Animal models of trauma, sepsis, wound healing, neuroprotection and burns have all shown a reduction in pro-inflammatory cytokines, improved survival and increased resistance to pathological challenges with DHEA supplementation. Human supplementation studies, which have focused on post-menopausal females, older adults, or adrenal insufficiency have shown that restoring the cortisol: DHEAS ratio improves wound healing, mood, bone remodelling and psychological well-being. Currently, there are no DHEA or DHEAS supplementation studies in trauma patients, but we review here the evidence for this potential therapeutic agent in the treatment and rehabilitation of the severely injured patient.
Medications Affecting the Biochemical Conversion to Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Domecq Juan Pablo , Prutsky Gabriela , Elraiyah Tarig , Wang Zhen , Mauck Karen F , Brito Juan Pablo , Undavalli Chaitanya , Sundaresh Vishnu , Prokop Larry J , Montori Victor M , Murad M Hassan
Published: August 2019

Context

The extent to which some pharmacological interventions reduce or increase the risk of biochemical conversion to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in at-risk individuals is unclear.

Methods

We searched MEDLINE, Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Scopus through 24 August 2017 for randomized controlled trials evaluating the effect of drugs suspected to modify the risk of biochemical conversion to T2DM.

Results

We included 43 trials with 192,156 subjects (mean age, 60 years; 56% men; mean body mass index, 30.4 kg/m2). α-Glucosidase inhibitors, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers, metformin, orlistat, phentermine/topiramate, and pioglitazone significantly reduced the risk of biochemical conversion to T2DM, whereas statins and nateglinide increased the risk. There was insufficient direct evidence regarding the effects of sulfonylureas, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors, and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors. Most trials were brief and evaluated this outcome during treatment without a withdrawal or washout period.

Conclusions

Several drugs modify the risk of biochemical conversation to T2DM, although whether this effect is persistent and clinically relevant is unclear. Future studies need to focus on cardiovascular disease prevention, mortality, and patient-important outcomes instead of biochemical conversion to T2DM.
Dynamic MAPK signaling activity underlies a transition from growth arrest to proliferation in Drosophila scribble mutant tumors
Authors: Ji Tiantian , Zhang Lina , Deng Mingxi , Huang Shengshuo , Wang Ying , Pham Tri Thanh , Smith Andrew Alan , Sridhar Varun , Cabernard Clemens , Wang Jiguang , Yan Yan
Published: August 2019

Human tumors exhibit plasticity and evolving capacity over time. It is difficult to study the mechanisms of how tumors change over time in human patients, in particular during the early stages when a few oncogenic cells are barely detectable. Here, we used a Drosophila tumor model caused by loss of scribble (scrib), a highly conserved apicobasal cell polarity gene, to investigate the spatial-temporal dynamics of early tumorigenesis events. The fly scrib mutant tumors have been successfully used to model many aspects of tumorigenesis processes. However, it is still unknown whether Drosophila scrib mutant tumors exhibit plasticity and evolvability along the temporal axis. We found that scrib mutant tumors displayed different growth rates and cell cycle profiles over time, indicative of a growth arrest-to-proliferation transition as the scrib mutant tumors progress. Longitudinal bulk and single-cell transcriptomic analysis of scrib mutant tumors revealed that the MAPK pathway, including JNK and ERK signaling activities, showed quantitative changes over time. We found that high JNK signaling activity caused G2/M cell cycle arrest in early scrib mutant tumors. In addition, JNK signaling activity displayed a radial polarity with the JNKhigh cells located at the periphery of scrib mutant tumors, providing an inherent mechanism that leads to an overall decrease in JNK signaling activity over time. We also found that ERK signaling activity, in contrast to JNK activity, increased over time and promoted growth in late-stage scrib mutant tumors. Furthermore, high JNK signaling activity repressed ERK signaling activity in early scrib mutant tumors. Together, these data demonstrate that dynamic MAPK signaling activity, fueled by intratumor heterogeneity derived from tissue topological differences, drives a growth arrest-to-proliferation transition in scrib mutant tumors.

This article has an associated First Person interview with the joint first authors of the paper.
PPE39 of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain Beijing/K induces Th1-cell polarization through dendritic cell maturation
Authors: Choi Hong-Hee , Kwon Kee Woong , Han Seung Jung , Kang Soon Myung , Choi Eunsol , Kim Ahreum , Cho Sang-Nae , Shin Sung Jae
Published: August 2019

In a previous study, we have identified MTBK_24820, the complete protein form of PPE39 in the hypervirulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) strain Beijing/K by using comparative genomic analysis. PPE39 exhibited vaccine potential against Mtb challenge in a murine model. Thus, in this present study, we characterize PPE39-induced immunological features by investigating the interaction of PPE39 with dendritic cells (DCs). PPE39-treated DCs display reduced dextran uptake and enhanced MHC-I, MHC-II, CD80 and CD86 expression, indicating that this PPE protein induces phenotypic DC maturation. In addition, PPE39-treated DCs produce TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-12p70 to a similar and/or greater extent than lipopolysaccharide-treated DCs in a dose-dependent manner. The activating effect of PPE39 on DCs was mediated by TLR4 through downstream MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways. Moreover, PPE39-treated DCs promoted naïve CD4+ T-cell proliferation accompanied by remarkable increases of IFN-γ and IL-2 secretion levels, and an increase in the Th1-related transcription factor T-bet but not in Th2-associated expression of GATA-3, suggesting that PPE39 induces Th1-type T-cell responses through DC activation. Collectively, the results indicate that the complete form of PPE39 is a so-far-unknown TLR4 agonist that induces Th1-cell biased immune responses by interacting with DCs.

This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
Myosin V regulates synaptopodin clustering and localization in the dendrites of hippocampal neurons
Authors: Konietzny Anja , González-Gallego Judit , Bär Julia , Perez-Alvarez Alberto , Drakew Alexander , Demmers Jeroen A. A. , Dekkers Dick H. W. , Hammer John A. , Frotscher Michael , Oertner Thomas G. , Wagner Wolfgang , Kneussel Matthias , Mikhaylova Marina
Published: August 2019

The spine apparatus (SA) is an endoplasmic reticulum-related organelle that is present in a subset of dendritic spines in cortical and pyramidal neurons, and plays an important role in Ca2+ homeostasis and dendritic spine plasticity. The protein synaptopodin is essential for the formation of the SA and is widely used as a maker for this organelle. However, it is still unclear which factors contribute to its localization at selected synapses, and how it triggers local SA formation. In this study, we characterized development, localization and mobility of synaptopodin clusters in hippocampal primary neurons, as well as the molecular dynamics within these clusters. Interestingly, synaptopodin at the shaft-associated clusters is less dynamic than at spinous clusters. We identify the actin-based motor proteins myosin V (herein referring to both the myosin Va and Vb forms) and VI as novel interaction partners of synaptopodin, and demonstrate that myosin V is important for the formation and/or maintenance of the SA. We found no evidence of active microtubule-based transport of synaptopodin. Instead, new clusters emerge inside spines, which we interpret as the SA being assembled on-site.
The cytoplasmic C-terminal region of the ATP11C variant determines its localization at the polarized plasma membrane
Authors: Takayama Masahiro , Takatsu Hiroyuki , Hamamoto Asuka , Inoue Hiroki , Naito Tomoki , Nakayama Kazuhisa , Shin Hye-Won
Published: August 2019

ATP11C, a member of the P4-ATPase family, is a major phosphatidylserine (PS)-flippase located at the plasma membrane. ATP11C deficiency causes a defect in B-cell maturation, anemia and hyperbilirubinemia. Although there are several alternatively spliced variants derived from the ATP11C gene, the functional differences between them have not been considered. Here, we compared and characterized three C-terminal spliced forms (we designated as ATP11C-a, ATP11C-b and ATP11C-c), with respect to their expression patterns in cell types and tissues, and their subcellular localizations. We had previously shown that the C-terminus of ATP11C-a is critical for endocytosis upon PKC activation. Here, we found that ATP11C-b and ATP11C-c did not undergo endocytosis upon PKC activation. Importantly, we also found that ATP11C-b localized to a limited region of the plasma membrane in polarized cells, whereas ATP11C-a was distributed on the entire plasma membrane in both polarized and non-polarized cells. Moreover, we successfully identified LLXY residues within the ATP11C-b C-terminus as a critical motif for the polarized localization. These results suggest that the ATP11C-b regulates PS distribution in distinct regions of the plasma membrane in polarized cells.
Macroeconomics and Market Power: Context, Implications, and Open Questions
Authors: Syverson Chad
Published: August 2019

This article assesses several aspects of recent macroeconomic market power research. These include the ways market power is defined and measured; the use of accounting data to estimate markups; the quantitative implications of theoretical connections among markups, prices, costs, scale elasticities, and profits; and conflicting evidence on whether greater market power has led to lower investment rates and a lower labor share of income. Throughout this discussion, I characterize the congruencies and incongruencies between macro evidence and micro views of market power and, when they do not perfectly overlap, explain the open questions that need to be answered to make the connection complete.
Some Journal of Economic Perspectives Articles Recommended for Classroom Use
Authors: Taylor Timothy
Published: August 2019

In 2018, the editors of the Journal of Economic Perspectives invited faculty to send us examples of JEP articles that they had found useful for teaching. We received 250 responses. On the JEP website, we have created a landing page ( https://www.aeaweb.org/journals/jep/classroom ) that organizes the recommended articles into 33 categories. If you click on any of the categories at that link, you will see a list of JEP papers that were recommended by faculty members for classroom use for that category, presented in reverse date order. Each paper is listed with a hyperlink to its article page on the JEP website. In this article, I offer some thoughts about how this exercise was carried out, along with its strengths and weaknesses. Although we make no pretense of presenting a complete syllabus for any specific course, we offer the milder hope that these recommendations from peers might suggest some additional readings for your students.
Are Price-Cost Markups Rising in the United States? A Discussion of the Evidence
Authors: Basu Susanto
Published: August 2019

A number of recent papers have argued that US firms exert increasing market power, as measured by their markups of price over marginal cost. I review three of the main approaches to estimating economy-wide markups and show that all are based on the hypothesis of firm cost minimization. Yet different assumptions and methods of implementation lead to quite different conclusions regarding the levels and trends of markups. I survey the literature critically and argue that some of the startling findings of steeply rising markups are difficult to reconcile with other evidence and with aggregate data. Existing methods cannot determine whether markups have been stable or whether they have risen modestly over the past several decades. Even relatively small increases in markups are consistent with significant changes in aggregate outcomes, such as the observed decline in labor’s share of national income.
Scientific style of speech: theory, practice, competencies: textbook. allowance
Authors: Найденова Наталья , Naydenova Natal'ya , Сапрыкина Ольга , Saprykina Olga
Published: August 2019

The purpose of the textbook is to analyze academic speech, to show the patterns of formation of the academic style.
The academic style of speech is considered not in a purely philological aspect, but as an object that is equally important for general academic subjects that have an applied character.
The main stages of the formation of knowledge and science are outlined, the stages of their understanding are highlighted in a historical context. Academic speech is analyzed as a way to describe an object of science using the means of the metalanguage. Special attention is paid to the development of issues of teaching academic speech, formulated in the framework of the competence approach.
The textbook can be used at all the levels of training in the fields of philology, linguistics, translation and translation studies, teaching methods.
A Practical Price Optimization Approach for Omnichannel Retailing
Authors: Harsha Pavithra , Subramanian Shivaram , Ettl Markus
Published: August 2019

Consumers are increasingly navigating across sales channels to maximize the value of their purchase. The existing retail practices of pricing channels either independently or matching competitor prices are unable to achieve the desired profitable coordination between channels. We engaged with three major retailers over two years and developed omnichannel pricing (OCP) solutions in partnership with IBM Commerce to overcome these challenges. We implement an integrated data processing and machine learning framework that enables estimation of location-specific, cross-channel price elasticities and competitive effects. We develop an integrated OCP optimization formulation to profitably coordinate prices for nonperishable products offered across channels and store locations while satisfying practical constraints on volume and price. The resultant optimization formulations for discrete choice demand models are nonconvex and NP-hard, and we prescribe practically efficient mixed-integer programs that can be used to recover (near) optimal solutions. An OCP implementation in two categories for a major retail chain projected a 7% profit lift while preserving the sales volume. This benefit was achieved by lowering online prices and optimally raising and lowering location-specific store prices. This integrated pricing approach allows the retailer to be competitive and preserve market share without aggressively matching the low price of e-tail giants.
Crowd-Driven Competitive Intelligence: Understanding the Relationship Between Local Market Competition and Online Rating Distributions
Authors: Gutt Dominik , Herrmann Philipp , Rahman Mohammad S.
Published: August 2019

Crowdsourced online mean ratings of local businesses are increasingly being used to infer the market power of a business. An important consideration in making this inference is whether two identically rated businesses (e.g., 4 stars) encounter the same local competitive dynamics if they face contrasting local market competition. To analyze this, the authors combine demographic, socioeconomic, and Yelp restaurant reviews for 372 isolated markets in the United States. The empirical estimates demonstrate that an increase in overall competition—measured as total number of businesses in a market—leads to a broader range and to a decrease in the average of a market’s mean rating distribution. This implies that two restaurants with equal mean ratings differ substantially in the way they are affected by local competition depending on whether they are located in a large or in a small market. For example, a larger market has proportionately more lower rated restaurants, whereas higher rated restaurants have relatively fewer comparable substitutes and face less competition in such a market. Therefore, restaurants with identical mean ratings should ideally be assessed differently if they operate across markets with dissimilar numbers of competitors.
Price Improvement and Execution Risk in Lit and Dark Markets
Authors: Brolley Michael
Published: August 2019

Dark pools offer price improvement over displayed quotes, but nondisplayed liquidity implies execution uncertainty. Because investor limit orders also provide price improvement with execution risk, dark pools offer a natural substitute. In a model of informed trading in a market with a displayed limit order book and a dark pool that offers price improvement, higher valuation investors sort into order types with lower execution risk, generating an “immediacy hierarchy.” Dark pool price improvement predicts the order in the hierarchy: a price improvement closer to (farther from) the midquote positions dark orders below (above) limit orders, which improves (worsens) market quality and welfare. A dark pool that is operated by the limit order book is welfare improving, and welfare reduces with an independently operated pool. Because active and passive order flow migrate to the dark pool where price impact occurs only post-trade, price efficiency worsens with any positive level of dark trading.

This paper was accepted by Gustavo Manso, finance.
Judgment Error in Lottery Play: When the Hot Hand Meets the Gambler’s Fallacy
Authors: Kong Qingxia , Granic Georg D. , Lambert Nicolas S. , Teo Chung Piaw
Published: August 2019

We demonstrate that lottery markets can exhibit the “hot-hand” phenomenon, in which past winning numbers tend to have a greater share of the betting proportion in future draws even though past and future events are independent. This is surprising as previous works have instead documented the presence of an opposite effect, the “gambler’s fallacy” in the U.S. lottery market. The current literature also suggests that the gambler’s fallacy prevails when random numbers are generated by mechanical devices, such as in lottery games. We use two sets of naturally occurring data to show that both the gambler’s fallacy and the hot-hand fallacy can exist in different types of lottery games. We then run online experimental studies that mimic lottery games with one, two, or three winning numbers. Our experimental results show that the number of winning prizes impacts behavior. In particular, whereas a single-prize game leads to a strong presence of the gambler’s fallacy, we observe a significant increase in hot-hand behavior in multiple-prize games with two or three winning numbers.

This paper was accepted by David Simchi-Levi, behavioral economics.
Jumping the Line, Charitably: Analysis and Remedy of Donor-Priority Rule
Authors: Dai Tinglong , Zheng Ronghuo , Sycara Katia
Published: August 2019

The ongoing shortage of organs for transplantation has generated an expanding literature on efficient and equitable allocation of the donated cadaveric organs. By contrast, organ donation has been little explored. In this paper, we develop a parsimonious model of organ donation to analyze the welfare consequences of introducing the donor-priority rule, which grants registered organ donors priority in receiving organs should they need transplants in the future. We model an individual’s decision to join the donor registry, which entails a trade-off between abundance of supply, exclusivity of priority, and cost of donating (e.g., psychological burden). Assuming heterogeneity in the cost of donating only, we find the introduction of the donor-priority rule leads to improved social welfare. By incorporating heterogeneity in the likelihood of requiring an organ transplant and in organ quality, we show that, in contrast to the literature, introducing the donor-priority rule can lower social welfare because of unbalanced incentives across different types of individuals. In view of the potentially undesirable social-welfare consequences, we consider a freeze-period remedy, under which an individual is not entitled to a higher queueing priority until after having been on the organ-donor registry for a specified period of time. We show this additional market friction helps rebalance the incentive structure, and in conjunction with the donor-priority rule, can guarantee an increase in social welfare by boosting organ supply without compromising organ quality or inducing excessively high costs of donating.

This paper was accepted by Gad Allon, operations management.
Mixed-Integer Linear Representability, Disjunctions, and Chvátal Functions—Modeling Implications
Authors: Basu Amitabh , Martin Kipp , Ryan Christopher Thomas , Wang Guanyi
Published: August 2019

Jeroslow and Lowe gave an exact geometric characterization of subsets of [Formula: see text] that are projections of mixed-integer linear sets, also known as MILP-representable or MILP-R sets. We give an alternate algebraic characterization by showing that a set is MILP-R if and only if the set can be described as the intersection of finitely many affine Chvátal inequalities in continuous variables (termed AC sets). These inequalities are a modification of a concept introduced by Blair and Jeroslow. Unlike the case for linear inequalities, allowing for integer variables in Chvátal inequalities and projection does not enhance modeling power. We show that the MILP-R sets are still precisely those sets that are modeled as affine Chvátal inequalites with integer variables. Furthermore, the projection of a set defined by affine Chvátal inequalites with integer variables is still a MILP-R set. We give a sequential variable elimination scheme that, when applied to a MILP-R set, yields the AC set characterization. This is related to the elimination scheme of Williams and Williams–Hooker, who describe projections of integer sets using disjunctions of affine Chvátal systems. We show that disjunctions are unnecessary by showing how to find the affine Chvátal inequalities that cannot be discovered by the Williams–Hooker scheme. This allows us to answer a long-standing open question due to Jennifer Ryan on designing an elimination scheme to represent finitely-generated integral monoids as a system of Chvátal inequalities without disjunctions. Finally, our work can be seen as a generalization of the approach of Blair and Jeroslow and of Schrijver for constructing consistency testers for integer programs to general AC sets.
Extended Producer Responsibility for Durable Products
Authors: Alev Işıl , Agrawal Vishal V. , Atasu Atalay
Published: August 2019

Problem definition: We study how extended producer responsibility (EPR) legislation implementations for durable products should differ from those for nondurable products. Academic/practical relevance: Certain unique characteristics of markets for durable products, which make designing EPR implementations more challenging, have not been explored to date in academia and practice. We fill this void by investigating the effect of EPR on durable-goods markets. Methodology: We develop a game-theoretic model to analyze durable-goods producers’ secondary market strategy under EPR and analytically explore its environmental implications. Results: The implications of EPR are not straightforward for durable products. On one hand, despite being focused on recycling, EPR may lead to an unintended benefit in the form of higher reuse levels by reducing producers’ secondary market interference. On the other hand, EPR can also induce or increase secondary market interference by producers. This diminishes environmental goals, such as reducing new production and increasing reuse levels—two key environmental goals with higher priority than increasing recycling. Policy implications: We offer insights for how the environmental effectiveness of EPR for durable products can be improved by appropriately choosing its implementation parameters. We show that implementation approaches that may be considered successful for nondurable products (e.g., packaging or end-of-life batteries) may not be suitable for durable products, such as electronics. For example, more stringent collection targets and infrastructure requirements can backfire in EPR implementations for durable products.
Is Diversity (Un-)Biased? Project Selection Decisions in Executive Committees
Authors: Oraiopoulos Nektarios , Kavadias Stylianos
Published: August 2019

Problem definition: Is a committee composed of more or less cognitively diverse members better at approving the “good” projects and rejecting the “bad” ones? Academic/practical relevance: We contribute to the operations management literature by accounting for the fact that critical selection decisions are often made by a committee rather than a single decision maker. Understanding how the magnitude of diversity affects the decision quality of such a committee is an important consideration for practitioners. Methodology: We utilize a game-theoretic model to show that diverse perspectives are rarely “averaged out.” Results: Diversity leads to systematic biases in project selection. To mitigate the effect of diverse perspectives, managers need to uncover the sources of diversity: do they originate from different individual valuations and preferences, or do they express different assimilations of the information that arises during the project execution? We show that this distinction is crucial. Higher preference diversity always leads to higher likelihood of making the wrong decision. Higher interpretive diversity may be beneficial for the organization. Managerial implications: A clear managerial action is the need to identify and reduce such preference diversity. Senior management can achieve this by highlighting the need for more transparency in the pipeline of the business units. Moreover, our analysis shows that interpretive diversity can be a powerful managerial lever to influence the propensity for Type I and II errors. The latter might be easier to manage than the organizational structure.
How delivery suite co-ordinators create situational awareness in the multidisciplinary team
Authors: Bunford Debra , Hamilton Sharon
Published: August 2019

Background

The role played by the delivery suite co-ordinator in providing safe care has often been overlooked, especially in major maternity policies. There is a paucity of research into this role, how it operates and what is expected by hospitals.

Aim

To analyse job descriptions to gain an understanding of organisations' expectations of the delivery suite co-ordinator role.

Method

The study authors undertook qualitative documentary analysis followed by logic modelling.

Findings

Delivery suite co-ordinators play a vital role in creating a safe clinical environment by fostering situational awareness on the delivery suite. This is achieved through strong leadership skills, which enable the gathering, management and communication of information to and from the multidisciplinary team, and facilitate joint decision-making and planning.

Conclusions

The delivery suite co-ordinator role requires a different skill set to the clinical midwife. Clinical midwives need support to develop the leadership skills required for this role.
Short Communication: Sensory evaluation and nutritional value of Acehnese bhoi cake with pumpkin flour substitution
Authors: SURYATI SUFIATI  , SAFRIDA SAFRIDA  , YULI HEIRINA HAMID  , RAHMI KAMAL  , Partasasmita Ruhyat
Published: August 2019

Abstract. Sufiati S, Safrida S, Hamid YH, Kamal R, Partasasmita R. 2019. Short Communication: Sensory evaluation and nutritional value of Acehnese bhoi cake with pumpkin flour substitution. Nusantara Bioscience 11: 142-145. Bhoi cake is one of the traditional Acehnese dry snacks with basic ingredients of rice flour or wheat flour, castor sugar, eggs and vanilla. This study aims to evaluate nutritional value and consumer acceptance by organoleptic tests on bhoi cake substituted with pumpkin flour. Design of the study was a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with 4 treatments and three replications. The treatments was the various level of pumpkin flour substitution (0%, 20%, 30%, and 40%). Consumer acceptability with the organoleptic test was carried out by 20 panelists, namely students of the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education Syiah Kuala University using a 5 points hedonic scale. The results showed that the nutritional value of bhoi cake with pumpkin flour substitution was good and have appropriate nutritional value. Sensory evaluation by organoleptic test showed that 30% pumpkin flour substitution was the best formula preferred by the panelist. Taste, aroma, color, texture and overall acceptability of formula C (30% substitution of pumpkin flour) of bhoi cake had the highest score (likes), with the characteristics of the bhoi cake were golden yellow, fragrant aroma, sweet taste, and soft texture.
Method of formalizing the layout of the internal compartments of aircraft
Authors: KUPRIKOV Mikhail Yu. , MARKIN Leonid V.
Published: August 2019

The mathematical formulation of the aircraft’s internal layout problem is described as an optimization problem, with an indication of its objective function, constraints, and performance criteria. The approach (receptor methods and apparatus of normal equations) is justified, which makes it possible to move from enumeration method of placing added objects to intelligent algorithms of automated placement when creating geometric models of automated layout. It was shown that preparing the aircraft for layout automation complicates the mathematical description of geometric models of added objects, increases the complexity of their visualization in modern computer graphics systems and makes the need to create an additional interface between new geometric models and common CAD systems (SolidWorks, AutoCAD, COMPAS, etc.).