Dynamic generation and attribution of revenues in a video platform

The consumption of online videos on the Internet grows every year, making it a market that increasingly generates a greater volume of income. This paper deals with a problem of great interest in this context: the allocation of the generated revenues in a video website between the website and the video creators. For this, we consider a dynamic model of the revenues generation. We will consider that revenue can come from two sources: through the pay-per-view system and through the insertion of advertisements in the videos. Then to study how to divide the revenues in a reasonable and fair way between the two parties, we consider a dynamic cooperative game that reflects the importance of each part in generating revenue. From this game, we determine how its Shapley value is and introduce other allocation rules derived from it. We provide a structure of algorithm to calculate the Shapley value and its derived rules. We show that the computational complexity of the algorithms is polynomial. Finally, we provide some illustrative examples and simulations to illustrate how the proposed allocation rules perform.Comment: 31 pages, 6 figure

Enhanced water demand analysis via symbolic approximation within an epidemiology-based forecasting framework

Epidemiology-based models have shown to have successful adaptations to deal with challenges coming from various areas of Engineering, such as those related to energy use or asset management. This paper deals with urban water demand, and data analysis is based on an Epidemiology tool-set herein developed. This combination represents a novel framework in urban hydraulics. Specifically, various reduction tools for time series analyses based on a symbolic approximate (SAX) coding technique able to deal with simple versions of data sets are presented. Then, a neural-network-based model that uses SAX-based knowledge-generation from various time series is shown to improve forecasting abilities. This knowledge is produced by identifying water distribution district metered areas of high similarity to a given target area and sharing demand patterns with the latter. The proposal has been tested with databases from a Brazilian water utility, providing key knowledge for improving water management and hydraulic operation of the distribution system. This novel analysis framework shows several benefits in terms of accuracy and performance of neural network models for water demand112sem informaçãosem informaçã

Quantum coherent control of highly multipartite continuous-variable entangled states by tailoring parametric interactions

The generation of continuous-variable multipartite entangled states is important for several protocols of quantum information processing and communication, such as one-way quantum computation or controlled dense coding. In this article we theoretically show that multimode optical parametric oscillators can produce a great variety of such states by an appropriate control of the parametric interaction, what we accomplish by tailoring either the spatio-temporal shape of the pump, or the geometry of the nonlinear medium. Specific examples involving currently available optical parametric oscillators are given, hence showing that our ideas are within reach of present technology.Comment: 14 pages, 5 figure

Metal concentrations in sediments from tourist beaches of Miri City, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo Island)

Forty-three sediment samples were collected from the beaches of Miri City, Sarawak, Malaysia to identify the enrichment of partially leached trace metals (PLTMs) from six different tourist beaches. The samples were analyzed for PLTMs Fe, Mn, Cr, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb, Sr and Zn. The concentration pattern suggest that the southern side of the study area is enriched with Fe (1821–6097 μg g−1), Mn (11.57–90.22 μg g−1), Cr (51.50–311 μg g−1), Ni (18–51 μg g−1), Pb (8.81–84.05 μg g−1), Sr (25.95–140.49 μg g−1) and Zn (12.46–35.04 μg g−1). Compared to the eco-toxicological values, Cr > Effects range low (ERL), Lowest effect level (LEL), Severe effect level (SEL); Cu > Unpolluted sediments, ERL, LEL; Pb > Unpolluted sediments and Ni > ERL and LEL. Comparative results with other regions indicate that Co, Cr, Cu, Ni and Zn are higher, indicating an external input rather than natural process

Microwave-assisted functionalization of carbon nanohorns with oligothiophene units with SERS activity

[EN] Carbon nanohorns have been functionalized with oligothiophene unitsviathe 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction under microwave irradiation and solvent-free conditions. A dramatic Raman enhancement was found for one of the synthesized derivatives. Experimental andin silicostudies helped to understand the enhancement, attributed to the modification of electromagnetic fields upon functionalization at the tip of the nanostructures.This work was supported by the Iberdrola Foundation (CONV120313), the Spanish Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (CTQ2017-88158-R), the Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha (SBPLY/17/180501/000204) and FEDER-JCCM (UNCM13-1E-1663). The work at the University of Malaga was funded by the MICINN (PID2019-110305GB-I00) and Junta de Andalucia (P09FQM-4708) projects. M. I. L. acknowledges MINECO for her Juan de la Cierva-formacion grant (FJCI-2016-29593). The authors acknowledge the computer resources, technical expertise, and assistance provided by the Supercomputing and Bioinformatics centre of the University of Malaga.Iglesias, D.; Guerra, J.; Lucío, MI.; González-Cano, RC.; Lopez Navarrete, JT.; Ruiz Delgado, MC.; Vázquez, E.... (2020). Microwave-assisted functionalization of carbon nanohorns with oligothiophene units with SERS activity. Chemical Communications. 56(63):8948-8951. https://doi.org/10.1039/D0CC03496G89488951566

Intestinal Inflammation Induced by Soybean Meal Ingestion Increases Intestinal Permeability and Neutrophil Turnover Independently of Microbiota in Zebrafish

Indexación: Scopus.Intestinal inflammation is a condition shared by several intestinal chronic diseases, such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, with severely detrimental consequences in the long run. Current mammalian models have considerably increased understanding of this pathological condition, highlighting the fact that, in most of the cases, it is a highly complex and multifactorial problem and difficult to deal with. Thus, there is an increasingly evident need for alternative animal models that could offer complementary approaches that have not been exploited in rodents, thereby contributing to a different view on the disease. Here, we report the effects of a soybean meal–induced intestinal inflammation model on intestinal integrity and function as well as on neutrophil recruitment and microbiota composition in zebrafish. We find that the induced intestinal inflammation process is accompanied by an increase in epithelial permeability in addition to changes in the mRNA levels of different tight junction proteins. Conversely, there was no evidence of damage of epithelial cells nor an increase in their proliferation. Of note, our results show that this intestinal inflammatory model is induced independently of the presence of microbiota. On the other hand, this inflammatory process affects intestinal physiology by decreasing protein absorption, increasing neutrophil replacement, and altering microbiota composition with a decrease in the diversity of cultivable bacteria. © Copyright © 2020 Solis, Hamilton, Caruffo, Garcia-Lopez, Navarrete, Guillemin and Feijoo.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2020.01330/ful

First month prednisone dose predicts prednisone burden during the following 11 months: An observational study from the RELES cohort

Aim: To study the influence of prednisone dose during the first month after systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) diagnosis (prednisone-1) on glucocorticoid burden during the subsequent 11 months (prednisone-2–12). Methods: 223 patients from the Registro Español de Lupus Eritematoso Sistémico inception cohort were studied. The cumulative dose of prednisone-1 and prednisone-2–12 were calculated and recoded into a four-level categorical variable: no prednisone, low dose (up to 7.5 mg/day), medium dose (up to 30 mg/day) and high dose (over 30 mg/day). The association between the cumulative prednisone-1 and prednisone-2–12 doses was tested. We analysed whether the four-level prednisone-1 categorical variable was an independent predictor of an average dose >7.5 mg/day of prednisone-2–12. Adjusting variables included age, immunosuppressives, antimalarials, methyl-prednisolone pulses, lupus nephritis and baseline SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI). Results: Within the first month, 113 patients (51%) did not receive any prednisone, 24 patients (11%) received average low doses, 46 patients (21%) received medium doses and 40 patients (18%) received high doses. There was a strong association between prednisone-1 and prednisone-2–12 dose categories (p7.5 mg/day, while patients receiving low-dose prednisone-1 were not (adjusted OR 1.4, 95% CI 0. 0.38 to 5.2). If the analysis was restricted to the 158 patients with a baseline SLEDAI of =6, the model did not change. Conclusion: The dose of prednisone during the first month after the diagnosis of SLE is an independent predictor of prednisone burden during the following 11 months

CD32 Expression is not Associated to HIV-DNA content in CD4 cell subsets of individuals with Different Levels of HIV Control

A recent study has pointed out to CD32a as a potential biomarker of HIV-persistent CD4 cells. We have characterized the level and phenotype of CD32+ cells contained in different subsets of CD4 T-cells and its potential correlation with level of total HIV-DNA in thirty HIV patients (10 typical progressors naive for cART, 10 cART-suppressed patients, and 10 elite controllers). Total HIV-DNA was quantified in different subsets of CD4 T-cells: Trm and pTfh cells. Level and immunephenotype of CD32+ cells were analyzed in these same subsets by flow cytometry. CD32 expression in Trm and pTfh subsets was similar in the different groups, and there was no significant correlation between the level of total HIV-DNA and the level of CD32 expression in these subsets. However, total HIV-DNA level was correlated with expression of CD127 (rho = -0.46, p = 0.043) and of CCR6 (rho = -0.418, p = 0.027) on CD32+ cells. Our results do not support CD32 as a biomarker of total HIV-DNA content. However, analyzing the expression of certain markers by CD32+ cells could improve the utility of this marker in the clinical setting, prompting the necessity of further studies to both validate our results and to explore the potential utility of certain markers expressed by CD32+ cells.We would like to thank all patients and healthy donors who participated in the study. This study has been funded by projects CP14/00198, PI16/01769, and RD16/0025/0013 integrated in the State Plan for Scientific and Technical Research and Innovation and co-funded by ISCIII-Sub-Directorate General for Research Assessment and Promotion and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). N Rallon is a Miguel Servet investigator from the Spanish Carlos III Institute of Health (ISCIII), grant CP14/00198, Madrid, Spain. Maria Angeles Navarrete-Munoz was funded by RD16/0025/0013 and the Intramural Research Scholarship from IIS-FJD. Clara Restrepo was funded by project RD16/0025/0013. M Garcia is a predoctoral student co-funded by CP14/00198 project and the Intramural Research Scholarship from IIS-FJD.S

Dietary intake of trans fatty acids in children aged 4–5 in Spain: The INMA cohort study

Trans fatty acid (TFA) intake has been identified as a health hazard in adults, but data on preschool children are scarce. We analyzed the data from the Spanish INMA Project to determine the intake of total, industrial and natural TFA, their main sources and the associated socio-demographic and lifestyle factors in children aged 4–5 (n = 1793). TFA intake was estimated using a validated Food Frequency Questionnaire, and multiple linear regression was used to explore associated factors. The mean daily intakes of total, industrial and natural TFA were 1.36, 0.60, and 0.71 g/day, respectively. Ten percent of the children obtained >1% of their energy intake from TFA. The main sources of industrial TFA were fast food, white bread and processed baked goods. Milk, red and processed meat and processed baked goods were the main sources of natural TFA. Having parents from countries other than Spain was significantly associated with higher natural TFA (in mg/day) intake (β 45.5) and television viewing was significantly associated with higher industrial TFA intake (β 18.3). Higher fruits and vegetables intake was significantly associated with lower intakes of all TFAs, whereas higher sweetened beverages intake was significantly associated with lower total and natural TFA intake. Thus, total and industrial TFA intake was associated with less healthy food patterns and lifestyles in Spanish preschool children