Information Filtering on Coupled Social Networks

In this paper, based on the coupled social networks (CSN), we propose a hybrid algorithm to nonlinearly integrate both social and behavior information of online users. Filtering algorithm based on the coupled social networks, which considers the effects of both social influence and personalized preference. Experimental results on two real datasets, \emph{Epinions} and \emph{Friendfeed}, show that hybrid pattern can not only provide more accurate recommendations, but also can enlarge the recommendation coverage while adopting global metric. Further empirical analyses demonstrate that the mutual reinforcement and rich-club phenomenon can also be found in coupled social networks where the identical individuals occupy the core position of the online system. This work may shed some light on the in-depth understanding structure and function of coupled social networks

Recommender systems in industrial contexts

This thesis consists of four parts: - An analysis of the core functions and the prerequisites for recommender systems in an industrial context: we identify four core functions for recommendation systems: Help do Decide, Help to Compare, Help to Explore, Help to Discover. The implementation of these functions has implications for the choices at the heart of algorithmic recommender systems. - A state of the art, which deals with the main techniques used in automated recommendation system: the two most commonly used algorithmic methods, the K-Nearest-Neighbor methods (KNN) and the fast factorization methods are detailed. The state of the art presents also purely content-based methods, hybridization techniques, and the classical performance metrics used to evaluate the recommender systems. This state of the art then gives an overview of several systems, both from academia and industry (Amazon, Google ...). - An analysis of the performances and implications of a recommendation system developed during this thesis: this system, Reperio, is a hybrid recommender engine using KNN methods. We study the performance of the KNN methods, including the impact of similarity functions used. Then we study the performance of the KNN method in critical uses cases in cold start situation. - A methodology for analyzing the performance of recommender systems in industrial context: this methodology assesses the added value of algorithmic strategies and recommendation systems according to its core functions.Comment: version 3.30, May 201

Female Sergeants, Lieutenants, and Captains obtaining leadership roles in Law Enforcement

The field of law enforcement is one of the most sought-after careers. People have various reasons why they choose to embark on this field of work. There are many levels of law enforcement from correctional officers to particular agents, such as patrol officers, federal officers (FBI, DEA, IRS etc). There is a lack of females that represent the field of law enforcement in numerous police divisions nationwide. Previous studies explored these deficiencies, yet they failed to examine the perspectives of high-ranking female officers. There is a gap in the literature that analyzes female officers\u27 academy experiences, struggles, and barriers as women in law enforcement. The purpose of this qualitative narrative was to explore the perspectives of female law enforcement officers\u27 experiences in obtaining high-ranking positions. In this study, I interviewed 12 high-ranking women in law enforcement and revealed their skills in this traditionally male-dominated field. Theories associated with this research are advocacy coalition and sex discrimination. NVivo software was used to organize the findings. Results indicated that there is an invisible barrier that women face when they are trying to promote to leadership positions. Participants offered insights into their journey, including balancing family life, facing adversity in the training academy, in the workplace, and conrinued success as supervisors. The current study suggests that lines of discourse are causing organizations to change their traditional masculine styles of leadership

Female Sergeants, Lieutenants, and Captains obtaining leadership roles in Law Enforcement

The field of law enforcement is one of the most sought-after careers. People have various reasons why they choose to embark on this field of work. There are many levels of law enforcement from correctional officers to particular agents, such as patrol officers, federal officers (FBI, DEA, IRS etc). There is a lack of females that represent the field of law enforcement in numerous police divisions nationwide. Previous studies explored these deficiencies, yet they failed to examine the perspectives of high-ranking female officers. There is a gap in the literature that analyzes female officers\u27 academy experiences, struggles, and barriers as women in law enforcement. The purpose of this qualitative narrative was to explore the perspectives of female law enforcement officers\u27 experiences in obtaining high-ranking positions. In this study, I interviewed 12 high-ranking women in law enforcement and revealed their skills in this traditionally male-dominated field. Theories associated with this research are advocacy coalition and sex discrimination. NVivo software was used to organize the findings. Results indicated that there is an invisible barrier that women face when they are trying to promote to leadership positions. Participants offered insights into their journey, including balancing family life, facing adversity in the training academy, in the workplace, and conrinued success as supervisors. The current study suggests that lines of discourse are causing organizations to change their traditional masculine styles of leadership

Trinity Restoration Inc.: Southside Cultural Center Economic Impact Study

Economic development has shifted from location-oriented business models towards a more all-encompassing model that recognizes the advancement of human capital or intellectual property as continuously increasing in value. This microcosmic characteristic of development extends to aid in the growth of society as a whole. The Arts and Culture attract a demographic of inspired and motivated people to the area. It results in the development of the society surrounding art venues. The general population will always seek out entertainment, by installing a venue of artistic expression in South Providence that will motivate the community and propel development. This phenomena has been proven, as denoted through the historical evaluation of artistic venues across America that have generated economic growth in their respective communities

Enhancing Mobile App User Understanding and Marketing with Heterogeneous Crowdsourced Data: A Review

© 2013 IEEE. The mobile app market has been surging in recent years. It has some key differentiating characteristics which make it different from traditional markets. To enhance mobile app development and marketing, it is important to study the key research challenges such as app user profiling, usage pattern understanding, popularity prediction, requirement and feedback mining, and so on. This paper reviews CrowdApp, a research field that leverages heterogeneous crowdsourced data for mobile app user understanding and marketing. We first characterize the opportunities of the CrowdApp, and then present the key research challenges and state-of-the-art techniques to deal with these challenges. We further discuss the open issues and future trends of the CrowdApp. Finally, an evolvable app ecosystem architecture based on heterogeneous crowdsourced data is presented

Marketing the Beatiful Black Sheep: Studying the Image Creation Process of Destinations with Social Problems through a Dialectical Approach of Myth Makers using Photo Elicitation and Story Telling

Thesis purpose: With this study we aim to understand how the interrelationship of DMOs and consumers working as myth makers, create the overall image of a destination with social problems where especially negative imagery is avoided by DMOs. Methodology: In order to understand the dialectical image creation process of destinations with social problems a grounded theory approach, which is characteristic for CCT studies, is implemented. Even though prior research might be considered as a deductive element, theory will be developed through an inductive study. This iterative strategy is characterized by a sense-making and skeptical analysis where the gathered data is interpreted in the light of existing theories in order to go further than mere interesting empirical generalizations; also generating findings with theoretical significance to the field of CCT. Since the dialectical image creation process of destinations with social problems is a complex social process that has to deal with myths and stereotypes, qualitative data generated through a case study methodology is needed in order to get an insight into the social constructs and solve the research problem. The methodology applied in this case study is intended to a theoretical abstraction rather than statistical probability. Additionally, the complexity of the research problem will be analyzed by choosing a small number of people for in-depth interviews instead of a large number randomly selected. Nevertheless, the focus of this research is on qualitative data and hence in line with the object of the study, the inductive research orientation, as well as the taken ontological and epistemological positions. Thus, a deep understanding of consumer behavior is the main driver of the research. Theoretical perspective: By using a dialectical approach we contribute to the research tradition of CCT by offering a thick understanding of the image creation process of destinations with social problems. In the same way we contribute to the traditional marketing domain of destination marketing by taking the departure in mythologizing literature, belonging to the research tradition of CCT. We establish ourselves in the mythologizing literature in order to understand the image building process of destinations, since studies have proved that myths play a significant role in this process. Empirical data: Data Collection from Destination Marketing Organizations and Tour Operators / Travel Agencies. In order to fulfil the purpose of this study, semi-structured interviews with DMOs, travel agencies, and tour operators from Colombia and Mexico are conducted to get a picture of their strategies used to reach the target customers. These interviews are carried out during the ITB Berlin. Furthermore, we participated in the “Latin America Forum: Chances in the Crisis - Specialization and Quality: Key issues for tourism in Mexico and Latin America?” which gives an overview of the currently important issues of this topic. Additionally, photographs, brochures and information material handed out to customers are analyzed. Observations of advertising activities and customer interaction at the Colombian and Mexican encounters add to the overall picture of the marketing strategies of the DMOs of these two countries. Finally, documentation provided by one of the DMOs regarding a strategic plan implemented to market Colombia under its new country brand “Colombia is passion” is studied. Data Collection from Consumers: Since this study aims at understanding the deviant case of Colombia, twelve existential-phenomenological interviews have been conducted from which the eight most relevant ones have been taken into the analysis of this research. The eight interviewees can be said to be in line with the most potential travellers to Colombia according to the DMOs. Two interviewees are senior professionals around 50 years old, three interviewees are middle-age professionals and further three are s

USER CONTROLLABILITY IN A HYBRID RECOMMENDER SYSTEM

Since the introduction of Tapestry in 1990, research on recommender systems has traditionally focused on the development of algorithms whose goal is to increase the accuracy of predicting users’ taste based on historical data. In the last decade, this research has diversified, with human factors being one area that has received increased attention. Users’ characteristics, such as trusting propensity and interest in a domain, or systems’ characteristics, such as explainability and transparency, have been shown to have an effect on improving the user experience with a recommender. This dissertation investigates on the role of controllability and user characteristics upon the engagement and experience of users of a hybrid recommender system. A hybrid recommender is a system that integrates the results of different algorithms to produce a single set of recommendations. This research examines whether allowing the user to control the process of fusing or integrating different algorithms (i.e., different sources of relevance) results in increased engagement and a better user experience. The essential contribution of this dissertation is an extensive study of controllability in a hybrid fusion scenario. In particular, the introduction of an interactive Venn diagram visualization, combined with sliders explored in a previous work, can provide an efficient visual paradigm for information filtering with a hybrid recommender that fuses different prospects of relevance with overlapping recommended items. This dissertation also provides a three-fold evaluation of the user experience: objective metrics, subjective user perception, and behavioral measures

Improving nutrition and food safety knowledge of small-scale fish processors in Delta State, Nigeria

Introduction: Fish is an affordable animal source food that provides nutrition and serves as a source of income for many people especially women in Nigeria. Smoking and sun drying are the processing methods in practice that expose the fish products to possible contaminants which may consequentially negate their nutritive value. Aim: To improve the knowledge of fish processors on nutrition and safe fish handling. Methodology: A 3-day participatory training was organized to train 122 fish processors, 95 women, and 25 men. The training was conducted in the three senatorial districts in Delta State, Nigeria. Knowledge was assessed using the pre and post quizzes and assessed self-evaluated knowledge using a 5 points-Likert scale survey. The training material was validated using the content validity index (CVI) and modified kappa index (k*). Comprehensibility was determined using the cloze procedure. Minimum dietary diversity survey (MDDW) was used to determine the dietary diversity of women at baseline and 12 weeks after the training. Low literacy tools and the overall training were evaluated on Likert scales. Results: The developed seven-module nutrition and food safety flipbook were validated at a content validity index value of 0.983 and kappa index value ≥ 0.67., and the cloze score of 72.1%. There was a significant improvement in knowledge (p ≤.05) in the 7 modules taught. Wristbands and hand fans were rated useful and served as a reminder of nutrition values. There was no significant difference (p \u3e .05) between the dietary diversity at the baseline; 5.8 ±.22 and end-line; 6.4 ±.20 at 95% CI. However, the number of women that consumed ≥ 6 of 10 food groups increased by 9.8% after 12 weeks of training intervention. Conclusion: The developed and validated training material was considered culturally suitable and appropriate. There was an increase in knowledge acquired in all modules taught on nutrition and food safety. Consumption of animal source food increased post-training. However, there is a need for additional training to address food contamination and dietary diversification