Personalized Recommendation for Balancing Content Generation and Usage on Two-Sided Entertainment Platforms

Online entertainment platforms such as Youtube host a vast amount of user-generated content (UGC). The unique feature of two-sided UGC entertainment platforms is that creators’ content generation and users’ content usage can influence each other. However, traditional recommender systems often emphasize content usage but ignore content generation, leading to a misalignment between these two goals. To address the challenge, this paper proposes a prescriptive uplift framework to balance content generation and usage through personalized recommendations. Specifically, we first predict the heterogeneous treatment effects (HTEs) of recommended contents on creators’ content generation and users’ content usage, then consider these two predicted HTEs simultaneously in an optimization model to determine the recommended contents for each user. Using a large-scale real-world dataset, we demonstrate that the proposed recommendation method better balances content generation and usage and brings a 42% increase in participants’ activity compared to existing benchmark methods

General-relativistic treatment of tidal gg-mode resonances in coalescing binaries of neutron stars. II. As triggers for precursor flares of short gamma-ray bursts

In some short gamma-ray bursts, precursor flares occurring $\sim$ seconds prior to the main episode have been observed. These flares may then be associated with the last few cycles of the inspiral when the orbital frequency is a few hundred Hz. During these final cycles, tidal forces can resonantly excite quasi-normal modes in the inspiralling stars, leading to a rapid increase in their amplitude. It has been shown that these modes can exert sufficiently strong strains onto the neutron star crust to instigate yieldings. Due to the typical frequencies of $g$-modes being $\sim 100\text{ Hz}$, their resonances with the orbital frequency match the precursor timings and warrant further investigation. Adopting realistic equations of state and solving the general-relativistic pulsation equations, we study $g$-mode resonances in coalescing quasi-circular binaries, where we consider various stellar rotation rates, degrees of stratification, and magnetic field structures. We show that for some combination of stellar parameters, the resonantly excited $g_1$- and $g_2$-modes may lead to crustal failure and trigger precursor flares.Comment: 14 pages, 8 figures, 2 tables, submitted to MNRA

Measuring spin in coalescing binaries of neutron stars showing double precursors

Gamma-ray bursts resulting from binary neutron-star mergers are sometimes preceded by precursor flares. These harbingers may be ignited by quasi-normal modes, excited by orbital resonances, shattering the stellar crust of one of the inspiralling stars up to $\gtrsim10$ seconds before coalescence. In the rare case that a system displays two precursors, successive overtones of either interface- or $g$-modes may be responsible for the overstrainings. Since the free-mode frequencies of these overtones have an almost constant ratio, and the inertial-frame frequencies for rotating stars are shifted relative to static ones, the spin frequency of the flaring component can be constrained as a function of the equation of state, the binary mass ratio, the mode quantum numbers, and the spin-orbit misalignment angle. As a demonstration of the method, we find that the precursors of GRB090510 hint at a spin frequency range of $2 \lesssim \nu_{\star}/\text{Hz} \lesssim 20$ for the shattering star if we allow for an arbitrary misalignment angle, assuming $\ell=2$ $g$-modes account for the events.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figures, 2 tables, with an appendix containing 1 figur

Generation and Characterization of a genetic zebrafish model of SMA carrying the human SMN2 gene

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Animal models of human diseases are essential as they allow analysis of the disease process at the cellular level and can advance therapeutics by serving as a tool for drug screening and target validation. Here we report the development of a complete genetic model of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) in the vertebrate zebrafish to complement existing zebrafish, mouse, and invertebrate models and show its utility for testing compounds that alter <it>SMN2 </it>splicing.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The human motoneuron disease SMA is caused by low levels, as opposed to a complete absence, of the survival motor neuron protein (SMN). To generate a true model of SMA in zebrafish, we have generated a transgenic zebrafish expressing the human <it>SMN2 </it>gene (<it>hSMN2</it>), which produces only a low amount of full-length SMN, and crossed this onto the <it>smn</it>^-/-background. We show that human <it>SMN2 </it>is spliced in zebrafish as it is in humans and makes low levels of SMN protein. Moreover, we show that an antisense oligonucleotide that enhances correct <it>hSMN2 </it>splicing increases full-length <it>hSMN </it>RNA in this model. When we placed this transgene on the <it>smn </it>mutant background it rescued the neuromuscular presynaptic SV2 defect that occurs in <it>smn </it>mutants and increased their survival.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We have generated a transgenic fish carrying the human <it>hSMN2 </it>gene. This gene is spliced in fish as it is in humans and mice suggesting a conserved splicing mechanism in these vertebrates. Moreover, antisense targeting of an intronic splicing silencer site increased the amount of full length SMN generated from this transgene. Having this transgene on the <it>smn </it>mutant fish rescued the presynaptic defect and increased survival. This model of zebrafish SMA has all of the components of human SMA and can thus be used to understand motoneuron dysfunction in SMA, can be used as an vivo test for drugs or antisense approaches that increase full-length SMN, and can be developed for drug screening.</p

SUSTAINABLE IT-SPECIFIC HUMAN CAPITAL: COPING WITH THE THREAT OF PROFESSIONAL OBSOLESCENCE

This study contributes to research examining how IT professionals cope with the threat of professional obsolescence. In answering this question, this study draws on theories of occupational stress, specifically the theory of conservation of resources (Hobfoll 2002; Hobfoll and Freedy 1993), to relate the threat of professional obsolescence with IT professionals’ coping behaviors. This study extends the theory of conservation of resources in several directions such as theorizing and testing the job mobility intentions of turnover and turnaway as consequences; and by proposing organizational updating climate as a proximal contextual moderating factor. The results obtained from a large sample of IT professionals are both consistent with and contrary to theorized relationships. We also uncover several new findings pertaining to the role played by organization updating climate and its potential limit in supporting updating activities of IT professionals. We conclude this study with a discussion of the results and propose future research directions

Potential Utilization of Unavoidable Food Supply Chain Wastes – Valorisation of Pea Vine Wastes

Combating food waste is a vital 21st century global challenge befitting of green and sustainable chemistry. Prevention is the first and foremost route for reduction of food waste, but inevitably, there are unavoidable food losses as a result of primary and secondary processing that represents an interesting green and sustainable chemistry valorization opportunity. Herein, pea vine waste (Pisum sativum) as an unavoidable food supply chain waste is explored as the source for (bio)­renewable chemicals and materials and as a potential bioenergy source. Through a cascade approach simulating a potential biorefinery, pea vine waste was subjected to pseudosubcritical water extraction as a green extraction methodology technique to extract potential platform molecules: 5-hydroxy furfural (HMF); ethanoic acid; sugars (levoglucosenone, rhamnose, xylose, fructose, glucose and sucrose); and a precipitated biopolymer showing pectinaceous and starch-like characteristics as evidenced by infrared spectroscopy, solid-state ¹³C NMR, and thermogravimetric analysis. The postextraction residues of pea vine waste were further subjected to microwave pyrolysis to produce a bio-oil and a biochar. The bio-oil is rich in phenolic compounds while the biochar has a gross calorific value of 26.6 MJ kg^–1 and thus may be used as a potential source of bioenergy. While peas alone have been explored previously, the work within represents the first study of valorization of pea vine wastes, a real as-received industrial problematic waste source, using a cascade approach of pseudo-sub-critical water and microwave pyrolysis simulating a potential biorefinery

Evaluation of a Bundling Technique for Parallel Coordinates

We describe a technique for bundled curve representations in parallel-coordinates plots and present a controlled user study evaluating their effectiveness. Replacing the traditional C^0 polygonal lines by C^1 continuous piecewise Bezier curves makes it easier to visually trace data points through each coordinate axis. The resulting Bezier curves can then be bundled to visualize data with given cluster structures. Curve bundles are efficient to compute, provide visual separation between data clusters, reduce visual clutter, and present a clearer overview of the dataset. A controlled user study with 14 participants confirmed the effectiveness of curve bundling for parallel-coordinates visualization: 1) compared to polygonal lines, it is equally capable of revealing correlations between neighboring data attributes; 2) its geometric cues can be effective in displaying cluster information. For some datasets curve bundling allows the color perceptual channel to be applied to other data attributes, while for complex cluster patterns, bundling and color can represent clustering far more clearly than either alone

A Market Analysis for PVD Coating System of Aurora North America

Aurora North America, a venture founded by Dr. Da-Yung Wang, endeavours to offer its coating products while providing low-cost, quality solutions to North American manufacturers who apply thin-films to their goods. The objective of this proposed research is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the market opportunities for Aurora. This paper seeks to identify markets that have yet to fully adopt Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) technology, as well as their potential customers. Market trend of past years will be analyzed, and future market values will be estimated based on these numbers. In addition, this analysis identifies suitable target areas in which Aurora is likely to achieve competitive advantage. Detailed analysis of market opportunity ofmodern PVD technology application and entrance strategies will be highlighted. This report is preliminary research of the large-scale PVD application market – further research should be conducted for more in-depth information

Root Hair Single Cell Type Specific Profiles of Gene Expression and Alternative Polyadenylation Under Cadmium Stress

Transcriptional networks are tightly controlled in plant development and stress responses. Alternative polyadenylation (APA) has been found to regulate gene expression under abiotic stress by increasing the heterogeneity at mRNA 3′-ends. Heavy metals like cadmium pollute water and soil due to mining and industry applications. Understanding how plants cope with heavy metal stress remains an interesting question. The Arabidopsis root hair was chosen as a single cell model to investigate the functional role of APA in cadmium stress response. Primary root growth inhibition and defective root hair morphotypes were observed. Poly(A) tag (PAT) libraries from single cell types, i.e., root hair cells, non-hair epidermal cells, and whole root tip under cadmium stress were prepared and sequenced. Interestingly, a root hair cell type-specific gene expression under short term cadmium exposure, but not related to the prolonged treatment, was detected. Differentially expressed poly(A) sites were identified, which largely contributed to altered gene expression, and enriched in pentose and glucuronate interconversion pathways as well as phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathways. Numerous genes with poly(A) site switching were found, particularly for functions in cell wall modification, root epidermal differentiation, and root hair tip growth. Our findings suggest that APA plays a functional role as a potential stress modulator in root hair cells under cadmium treatment

A van der Waals antiferromagnetic topological insulator with weak interlayer magnetic coupling.

Magnetic topological insulators (TI) provide an important material platform to explore quantum phenomena such as quantized anomalous Hall effect and Majorana modes, etc. Their successful material realization is thus essential for our fundamental understanding and potential technical revolutions. By realizing a bulk van der Waals material MnBi4Te7 with alternating septuple [MnBi2Te4] and quintuple [Bi2Te3] layers, we show that it is ferromagnetic in plane but antiferromagnetic along the c axis with an out-of-plane saturation field of ~0.22 T at 2 K. Our angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy measurements and first-principles calculations further demonstrate that MnBi4Te7 is a Z2 antiferromagnetic TI with two types of surface states associated with the [MnBi2Te4] or [Bi2Te3] termination, respectively. Additionally, its superlattice nature may make various heterostructures of [MnBi2Te4] and [Bi2Te3] layers possible by exfoliation. Therefore, the low saturation field and the superlattice nature of MnBi4Te7 make it an ideal system to investigate rich emergent phenomena