Mathematical model explains why metastasis can occur even when cancer is caught early

In a new study, researchers have crafted a mathematical model to understand the dynamics at play as cancerous tumors grow and spread. Setting their model into action, Jimmy Qian and Erol Akçay were able to explain that mutations that lead to metastasis often arise early in a tumor history.

• Biology

Alejandro Ribeiro: Expanding Applications of Network Science

As an associate professor in the Department of Electrical and Systems Engineering, Alejandro Ribeiro uses complex mathematical frameworks to understand how networks behave. Instead of looking at individual points in that network, he examines what’s going on between those points.

• Electrical and Systems Engineering

The American Law Institute Approves Restatement of the Law, Liability Insurance

Tom Baker has been a project Reporter on the Restatement of the Law of Liability Insurance for the American Law Institute since 2010. This week, members at the 2018 Annual Meeting voted to approve Restatement of the Law Liability Insurance.

• Law

G.D.P.R., a New Privacy Law, Makes Europe World’s Leading Tech Watchdog

“The E.U. is more advanced than the U.S. in protecting consumer privacy, and what happens there could be a harbinger of the future,” said Warren Center Director Michael Kearns in a New York Times article.

• Computer and Information Science

Curious Minds: from building knowledge networks to inciting political resistance

What is curiosity? How does it work? And where does its seemingly limitless power to shape the mind and reshape society come from? Drawing on emerging work in cognitive neuroscience and network theory, Dani Bassett discusses enacting a practice of curiosity with a flexible brain.

• Bioengineering

Why Capping Congestion Pricing is a Slow Road to Nowhere

"You can see that if the role of congestion tax revenue is also to raise money for new roads and better public transportation (which should really be the main use), capping the tolls just means that someone else has to pay these taxes, based on another criteria which is not related to road usage or value of time," writes Gad Allon.

• Operations Information and Decisions

Separating Better Data from Big Data: Where Analytics Is Headed

The Wharton Customer Analytics Initiative (WCAI) is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year and has seen every step of that evolution. Knowledge@Wharton sat down with Eric Bradlow, Peter Fader and Raghuram Iyengar to discuss how the field has developed over time, and what they expect to be the key trends over the next decade.

• Marketing

Engineering dean elected to the American Philosophical Society

Vijay Kumar, the Nemirovsky Family Dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Science, has been elected a member of the American Philosophical Society. Founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1743 for the purpose of “promoting useful knowledge,” the society is the oldest learned society in the United States.

Penn Engineering Announces Four New Scholarly Chairs

Warren Center faculty affiliate Zachary Ives has been named the Adani President’s Distinguished Professor. The Adani President’s Distinguished Professorship was established in 2015 by a grant from the Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited.

• Computer and Information Science

Shivani Agarwal: Looking at Machine Learning from All Angles

It is now an everyday occurrence to see customized recommendations while shopping online, and uncannily personalized sidebar ads while browsing a website. Both of these marketing tools are powered by machine learning, a field of study that extends to many other parts of society as well.

• Computer and Information Science