Fast algorithms for large scale generalized distance weighted discrimination

High dimension low sample size statistical analysis is important in a wide range of applications. In such situations, the highly appealing discrimination method, support vector machine, can be improved to alleviate data piling at the margin. This leads naturally to the development of distance weighted discrimination (DWD), which can be modeled as a second-order cone programming problem and solved by interior-point methods when the scale (in sample size and feature dimension) of the data is moderate. Here, we design a scalable and robust algorithm for solving large scale generalized DWD problems. Numerical experiments on real data sets from the UCI repository demonstrate that our algorithm is highly efficient in solving large scale problems, and sometimes even more efficient than the highly optimized LIBLINEAR and LIBSVM for solving the corresponding SVM problems

Data Subject Rights as a Tool for Platform Worker Resistance:Lessons from the <i>Uber/Ola</i> Judgments

Data subject rights have been increasingly used to challenge power asymmetries in different contexts, including work. This chapter looks at how platform workers have harnessed their data subject rights in the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the wider context of platform worker resistance. The strategic litigation cases against Uber and Ola, brought forth by App Drivers Workers Union (ADCU) and Worker Info Exchange (WIE) before the Amsterdam District Court (ADC), represent a prime example of data subject rights being leveraged by workers in an unconventional and potentially complicated manner. While this is not the first time that data subject rights have been interpreted before courts, these judgments have implications that merit attention from both labour protection and data protection communities. These rulings showcase how data subject rights are operationalised and envisioned as a tool of resistance, contrasting with how these rights are designed by legislators. These rulings also reveal barriers to the effective exercise of these rights in practice, which should be urgently addressed via an update on the guidelines or via more radical reform. This chapter evaluates the ADC’s rulings through the lens of data protection and shows glitches, mismatches and erroneous views in need of revision in the appeal. It is argued that courts are in a distinctive and critical position vis-a-vis data protection authorities to make these rights work. While there are inherent limitations on these rights (the right of access in particular), courts play an indispensable role in removing procedural barriers and establishing avenues for balancing competing values. At the juncture where the regulatory landscape for platform work is being radically re-configured, data subject rights still, we argue, offer potential for platform workers as a tool of resistance

A multiple-cut analytic center cutting plane method for semidefinite feasibility problems

10.1137/S1052623400370503SIAM Journal on Optimization1241126-114

Bubble transport by electro-magnetophoretic forces at anode bottom of aluminium cells

Electrically conducting and nonconducting particles and bubbles experience additional forcing in a liquid which carries electric current. These so called electro-magnetophoretic forces are well known in metallurgical applications, like metal purification in vacuum-arc remelting, electro-slag processes, impurity removal or concentration change in special castings. However, the effect of electro-magnetophoretic forces has never been considered for aluminium cells where the gas bubbles evolving in the liquid electrolyte are surrounded by an electric current and significant magnetic fields. We present models to estimate the effect of electric current flow in the vicinity of the bubbles and the additional pressure distribution resulting from the magnetic forces in the surrounding liquid electrolyte. According to the estimates, this force becomes important for bubbles exceeding 2 mm in size, and could be sufficient to overcome the typical drag force associated with electrolyte flow thereby opposing motion of the bubble along the base of the anode when it is inclined at a slight angle. The effect could explain certain features of the anode effect onset. Mathematical models and numerical results are presented and a further implementation in the general MHD code for the aluminium cell design is discussed

Role of Interleukin 17 in arthritis chronicity through survival of synoviocytes via regulation of synoviolin expression

Background: The use of TNF inhibitors has been a major progress in the treatment of chronic inflammation. However, not all patients respond. In addition, response will be often lost when treatment is stopped. These clinical aspects indicate that other cytokines might be involved and we focus here on the role of IL-17. In addition, the chronic nature of joint inflammation may contribute to reduced response and enhanced chronicity. Therefore we studied the capacity of IL-17 to regulate synoviolin, an E3 ubiquitin ligase implicated in synovial hyperplasia in human rheumatoid arthritis (RA) FLS and in chronic reactivated streptococcal cell wall (SCW)-induced arthritis.&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt; Methodology/Principal Findings: Chronic reactivated SCW-induced arthritis was examined in IL-17R deficient and wild-type mice. Synoviolin expression was analysed by real-time RT-PCR, Western Blot or immunostaining in RA FLS and tissue, and p53 assessed by Western Blot. Apoptosis was detected by annexin V/propidium iodide staining, SS DNA apoptosis ELISA kit or TUNEL staining and proliferation by PCNA staining. IL-17 receptor A (IL-17RA), IL-17 receptor C (IL-17-RC) or synoviolin inhibition were achieved by small interfering RNA (siRNA) or neutralizing antibodies. IL-17 induced sustained synoviolin expression in RA FLS. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP)-induced RA FLS apoptosis was associated with reduced synoviolin expression and was rescued by IL-17 treatment with a corresponding increase in synoviolin expression. IL-17RC or IL-17RA RNA interference increased SNP-induced apoptosis, and decreased IL-17-induced synoviolin. IL-17 rescued RA FLS from apoptosis induced by synoviolin knockdown. IL-17 and TNF had additive effects on synoviolin expression and protection against apoptosis induced by synoviolin knowndown. In IL-17R deficient mice, a decrease in arthritis severity was characterized by increased synovial apoptosis, reduced proliferation and a marked reduction in synoviolin expression. A distinct absence of synoviolin expressing germinal centres in IL-17R deficient mice contrasted with synoviolin positive B cells and Th17 cells in synovial germinal centre-like structures.&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt; Conclusion/Significance: IL-17 induction of synoviolin may contribute at least in part to RA chronicity by prolonging the survival of RA FLS and immune cells in germinal centre reactions. These results extend the role of IL-17 to synovial hyperplasia.&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt