Assessing Economic Value of Reducing Perceived Risk in the Sharing Economy: The Case of Ride-sharing Services

This study examines what types of perceived risks influence consumers’ and non-consumers’ willingness to pay for ride-sharing services as a representative of the sharing economy. Choice experiment models are constructed to capture consumers’ and non-consumers’ perceptions of the relative importance of each service attribute reducing perceived risk. Results show individuals’ utility significantly increases when the service does not require private information from consumers, provides a driver-tracking system, requires a commercial driver’s license from drivers, offers a driver-review system, comprehensively compensates for negative incidents, and guarantees a minimum wage and benefit plan for drivers. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of the role of perceived risk in the sharing economy, and suggests theoretical and practical implications that can assist companies and policy makers

Sp1 up-regulates cAMP-response-element-binding protein expression during retinoic acid-induced mucous differentiation of normal human bronchial epithelial cells.

CREB [CRE (cAMP-response element)-binding protein] is an important transcription factor that is differentially regulated in cells of various types. We recently reported that RA (retinoic acid) rapidly activates CREB without using RARs (RA receptors) or RXRs (retinoid X receptors) in NHTBE cells (normal human tracheobronchial epithelial cells). However, little is known about the role of RA in the physiological regulation of CREB expression in the early mucous differentiation of NHTBE cells. In the present study, we report that RA up-regulates CREB gene expression and that, using 5\u27-serial deletion promoter analysis and mutagenesis analyses, two Sp1 (specificity protein 1)-binding sites located at nt -217 and -150, which flank the transcription initiation site, are essential for RA induction of CREB gene transcription. Furthermore, we found that CREs located at nt -119 and -98 contributed to basal promoter activity. Interestingly, RA also up-regulated Sp1 in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Knockdown of endogenous Sp1 using siRNA (small interfering RNA) decreased RA-induced CREB gene expression. However, the converse was not true: knockdown of CREB using CREB siRNA did not affect RA-induced Sp1 gene expression. We conclude that RA up-regulates CREB gene expression during the early stage of NHTBE cell differentiation and that RA-inducible Sp1 plays a major role in up-regulating human CREB gene expression. This result implies that co-operation of these two transcription factors plays a crucial role in mediating early events of normal mucous cell differentiation of bronchial epithelial cells

The Impact of Distance on the Accuracy of Luminance Measurement

AbstractMany researchers want to reduce the severe luminance difference caused by artificial lights or natural lighting and when luminance is highly uniform. This paper focused on the correlation between measured luminance and the distance of measurement from the light source. For this task, two types of luminance measuring methods were adopted. Namely, High Dynamic Range (HDR) image processing and CS-100 instrument for measuring surface luminance and point luminance respectively. The results indicate that there was a 3% decrease in measured luminance as the distance from the light source was increased by 1m

Effects of Flexibility, Security, and Information Features on Supplier Participation in the Sharing Economy: An Empirical Study

Firms in the sharing economy typically offer higher flexibility but lower security of working conditions. In response to challenges from suppliers and policy makers, several platform companies are reconsidering their approach. This study examines the effects of offering sharing economy suppliers a menu of contract options, differentiated by varying levels of flexibility, security, and information transparency on their willingness to work for a platform. We focus on ridesharing, one of the largest sectors in the sharing economy, but the insights translate to other segments of this emerging sector. Using a discrete choice experiment, we find drivers’ willingness to work for ridesharing generally increases when the platform offers diversified combinations of flexibility, security, and transparency. We also find evidence that suppliers’ preferences to participate in the sharing economy are influenced by the working conditions in their alternative employment options

A Cost Effective Block Framing Scheme for Underwater Communication

In this paper, the Selective Multiple Acknowledgement (SMA) method, based on Multiple Acknowledgement (MA), is proposed to efficiently reduce the amount of data transmission by redesigning the transmission frame structure and taking into consideration underwater transmission characteristics. The method is suited to integrated underwater system models, as the proposed method can handle the same amount of data in a much more compact frame structure without any appreciable loss of reliability. Herein, the performance of the proposed SMA method was analyzed and compared to those of the conventional Automatic Repeat-reQuest (ARQ), Block Acknowledgement (BA), block response, and MA methods. The efficiency of the underwater sensor network, which forms a large cluster and mostly contains uplink data, is expected to be improved by the proposed method

(Mis)Communicating with Geographic Information System Mapping: Part 1--Choosing Units of Representation

Extension professionals are increasingly using geographic information system (GIS) technology to develop and inform programs and services. In this article, we use a mapping exercise to demonstrate how the unit of data can be applied and inadvertently misrepresented in GIS mapping. We contrast the use of counts, percentages, and location quotients with the same data and the resulting divergence in maps. The discussion addresses ideal circumstances for using each unit of data. Overall, the article illustrates the need for Extension professionals to be cognizant of the benefits and limitations of various units of data to avoid miscommunication when using GIS mapping