Emission Line Profiles from Self-Gravitating Thin Disks

We have constructed general relativistic models of a stationary, axially symmnetric, Keplerian thin disk around a rotating black hole. We computed profiles of a spectral line, emitted in the inner region of the disk. In our models we have taken into account also the self-gravity of the disk. The aim of this work is to study gravitational effects on the line profiles in connection with the X-ray features observed in spectra of active galactic nuclei. In some cases, the calculated profiles are clearly affected by the disk gravity but relativistic dragging effects are found to be negligible.Comment: 26 pages, 8 figures, uuencoded postscript file, to appear in The Astrophysical Journal, Part I. Printed version available upon request from the author

Quality Assessment Signals

Systems and methods described herein allow for monitoring and adjustment of the quality of conversations between users and a virtual personal assistant. A data processing system hosting the virtual personal assistant can include a feedback monitoring component configured to determine parameters related to (or characteristics of) communication links between the data processing system and the client device, speech recognition and natural language processing of received audio signals, and/or user online activities responsive to content from the data processing system presented to the user. The data processing system can determine one or more quality metrics based on the collected parameters or characteristics, and adjust one or more content selection process parameters based on the determined quality signals

Cost Per Second (CPS) Ads On Webpages

Systems and methods described herein allow for optimization of selection and monetization of ads for presenting during two-way conversations between users and a virtual personal assistant. A data processing system can receive an audio query from a client device and identify a user request based on the received audio query. The data processing system can determine a thread of tasks associated with the identified user request, and determine predicted segment durations for the identified tasks. The data processing system can identify candidate ads for presenting during a given segment, and determine a revenue value for each candidate ads. The data processing system can then select an ad among the candidate ads based on the determined revenues and the predicted segment durations. The data processing system can then transmit the selected ad to the client device for presentation to a corresponding user

Direct Actions

Systems and methods described herein allow for monetization of a virtual personal assistant by offering sponsored content to users responsive to input audio signals triggering online actions. A data processing system can identify a user request based on a received input audio signal. The data processing system can execute an online action responsive to the identified user request. The data processing system can generate a response to the input audio signal based on the executed online action, and select a sponsored content item based on a context of the identified user request. The data processing system can then transmit the generated response and/or the selected sponsored content item for presentation to the user. The user may respond with an instruction for selecting or confirming a service described in the generated response or the sponsored content item, and the data processing system can inform the respective service provider of such confirmation

A System For Automatically Enhancing Advertiser Provided Sitelinks With Relevant Creative Text

Systems and methods described herein allow for providing enhanced sitelinks in the voice activated computer environment. A data processing system can determine a primary search result and a URL responsive to the identified user request. The data processing system can determine a primary search result and a URL responsive to the identified user request. The data processing system can identify a plurality of candidate digital components associated with the URL, and calculate a respective score for each of the identified candidate digital components. The data processing system can select a digital component of the plurality of candidate digital components based on the computed scores. The data processing system can transmit an output audio signal corresponding to primary search result and a secondary output signal corresponding to the selected digital component for presenting to the user

Dynamic Context-Based Voice Modulation

When audio sponsored content is presented with non-sponsored audio content in a two-way conversation between a user and a respective client computing device, it may be challenging for the user to distinguish the sponsored audio content from the non-sponsored audio content. The client computing device can receive an input audio signal indicative of a respective uttered speech. A data processing system communicatively coupled to the client computing device can process the received audio signal to identify a request corresponding to the uttered speech. The data processing system can generate a response to the identified request, and select an ad based on a context of the identified request. The data processing system can apply one or more sound/audio effects to audio content of the selected ad. The applied sound/audio effects can help audibly discern the ad content from the generated response content. The client computing device can play the audio content of the generated response and the audio content of the ad with the applied sound/audio effects

Long-term radial-velocity variations of the Sun as a star: The HARPS view

Stellar radial velocities play a fundamental role in the discovery of extrasolar planets and the measurement of their physical parameters as well as in the study of stellar physical properties. We investigate the impact of the solar activity on the radial velocity of the Sun using the HARPS spectrograph to obtain measurements that can be directly compared with those acquired in the extrasolar planet search programs. We use the Moon, the Galilean satellites, and several asteroids as reflectors to measure the radial velocity of the Sun as a star and correlate it with disc-integrated chromospheric and magnetic indexes of solar activity that are similar to stellar activity indexes. We discuss in detail the systematic effects that affect our measurements and the methods to account for them. We find that the radial velocity of the Sun as a star is positively correlated with the level of its chromospheric activity at about 95 percent significance level. The amplitude of the long-term variation measured in the 2006-2014 period is 4.98 \pm 1.44 m/s, in good agreement with model predictions. The standard deviation of the residuals obtained by subtracting a linear best fit is 2.82 m/s and is due to the rotation of the reflecting bodies and the intrinsic variability of the Sun on timescales shorter than the activity cycle. A correlation with a lower significance is detected between the radial velocity and the mean absolute value of the line-of-sight photospheric magnetic field flux density. Our results confirm similar correlations found in other late-type main-sequence stars and provide support to the predictions of radial velocity variations induced by stellar activity based on current models.Comment: 11 pages, 7 figures, 2 tables, 1 Appendix; accepted by Astronomy and Astrophysic

Using User Location and User Interest To Determine Content In Voice Activated Computing Systems

This document describes a technique for processing voice commands in a voice activated computing system. In particular, the system processes the voice commands and generates responses that take into consideration a user location as well as user interests. The system processes the voice commands to identify requests and trigger keywords. Based on the request and the trigger keywords, the system can communicate with one or more service providers to determine a list of candidate content items. The system then selects one or a list of content items from the list of candidate content items based on the user location and the user interest. The system can also use the user location and the user interests as factors in a bidding process in which content providers compete to provide their content items in response to user requests. The system may also modify a sequence of tasks based on the user’s current location or the user interests