Robustness-enhanced Uplift Modeling with Adversarial Feature Desensitization

Uplift modeling has shown very promising results in online marketing. However, most existing works are prone to the robustness challenge in some practical applications. In this paper, we first present a possible explanation for the above phenomenon. We verify that there is a feature sensitivity problem in online marketing using different real-world datasets, where the perturbation of some key features will seriously affect the performance of the uplift model and even cause the opposite trend. To solve the above problem, we propose a novel robustness-enhanced uplift modeling framework with adversarial feature desensitization (RUAD). Specifically, our RUAD can more effectively alleviate the feature sensitivity of the uplift model through two customized modules, including a feature selection module with joint multi-label modeling to identify a key subset from the input features and an adversarial feature desensitization module using adversarial training and soft interpolation operations to enhance the robustness of the model against this selected subset of features. Finally, we conduct extensive experiments on a public dataset and a real product dataset to verify the effectiveness of our RUAD in online marketing. In addition, we also demonstrate the robustness of our RUAD to the feature sensitivity, as well as the compatibility with different uplift models

A Review of the Engineering Role of Burrowing Animals: Implication of Chinese Pangolin as an Ecosystem Engineer

Ecosystem engineers are organisms that alter the distribution of resources in the environment by creating, modifying, maintaining and/or destroying the habitat. They can affect the structure and function of the whole ecosystem furthermore. Burrowing engineers are an important group in ecosystem engineers as they play a critical role in soil translocation and habitat creation in various types of environment.However, few researchers have systematically summarized and analyzed the studies of burrowing engineers. We reviewing the existing ecological studies of burrowing engineer about their interaction with habitat through five directions: (1) soil turnover; (2)changing soil physicochemical properties; (3) changing plant community structure; (4) providing limited resources for commensal animals;and/or (5) affecting animal communities. The Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) is a typical example of burrowing mammals, in part (5), we focus on the interspecific relationships among burrow commensal species of Chinese pangolin. The engineering effects vary with environmental gradient, literature indicates that burrowing engineer play a stronger role in habitat transformation in the tropical and subtropical areas.The most common experiment method is comparative measurements (include different spatial and temporal scale),manipulative experiment is relatively few. We found that most of the engineering effects had positive feedback to the local ecosystem, increased plant abundance and resilience, increased biodiversity and consequently improved ecosystem functioning. With the global background of dramatic climate change and biodiversity loss in recent decades, we recommend future studies should improving knowledge of long-term engineering effects on population scale and landscape scale, exploring ecological cascades through trophic and engineering pathways, to better understand the attribute of the burrowing behavior of engineers to restore ecosystems and habitat creation. The review is presented as an aid to systematically expound the engineering effect of burrowing animals in the ecosystem, and provided new ideas and advice for planning and implementing conservation management

Ten issues of NetGPT

With the rapid development and application of foundation models (FMs), it is foreseeable that FMs will play an important role in future wireless communications. As current Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms applied in wireless networks are dedicated models that aim for different neural network architectures and objectives, drawbacks in aspects of generality, performance gain, management, collaboration, etc. need to be conquered. In this paper, we define NetGPT (Network Generative Pre-trained Transformer) -- the foundation models for wireless communications, and summarize ten issues regarding design and application of NetGPT

Simultaneously enhancing adsorbed hydrogen and dinitrogen to enable efficient electrochemical NH3 synthesis on Sm(OH)3

The electrochemical N2 reduction reaction (ENRR), driven by renewable electricity and run under ambient conditions, offers a promising sustainable avenue for carbon-neutral NH3 production. Yet, to efficiently bind and activate the inert N2 remains challenge. Herein, effective and stable electrochemical NH3 synthesis on Sm(OH)3 via enhanced adsorption of hydrogen and dinitrogen by dual integration of sulfur dopants and oxygen vacancies (VO) is reported. The resulting S-doped lanthanide electrocatalyst attains both a good NH3 yield rate, exceeding 21 μgNH3 h−1 mgcat.−1, and an NH3 faradaic efficiency of over 29% at −0.3 V (vs reversible hydrogen electrode) in an H-type cell using a neutral electrolyte, figures of merit that are largely maintained after 2 days of consecutive polarization. Density functional theory calculations show that the adsorption energy barrier of N2 on S-Sm(OH)3(VO) is greatly lowered by the introduction of VO. In addition, the S sites improve the adsorption of hydrogen produced via the Volmer reaction, which is conducive to the formation of the *N–NH intermediate (i.e., the potential determining step, PDS) on adjacent Sm sites, and thereby significantly promotes the reaction kinetics of ENRR. The PDS free energy for the catalyst is comparable with the values at the peak of the ENRR volcano plots of leading transition metal catalyst surfaces

Effect of TiO2@SiO2 nanoparticles on the mechanical and UV-resistance properties of polyphenylene sulfide fibers

In order to avoid the inherent photo-catalysis and aggregation of TiO2 in PPS, TiO2 nanoparticles were coated with SiO2 layers, which were chosen as the UV absorbent to improve the UV stability of polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) fiber. The PPS–TiO2@SiO2 nanocomposites fibers were prepared via melt spinning, and the nanocomposites fibers displayed different crystallization behaviors on variation of the diameters of TiO2@SiO2 nanoparticles, as confirmed by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). The spinnability, breaking strength and UV-resistance properties of PPS nanocomposites fibers, as measured by homemade melt spinning machine, Xenon-lamp Weather Resistance Test Chamber and Yarn Tensile Tester, manifested the dependence on the diameters. The addition of nanoparticles with the diameter of 25 nm improved the spinnability and the mechanical performance of PPS most, which is attributed to the heterogeneous nucleation effect of nanoparticles. The UV-resistance properties of the PPS nanocomposites were improved by the addition of TiO2@SiO2 nanoparticles. After aging for 180 h, PPS nanocomposites fiber still maintained a high strength

Mapping the habitat for the moose population in Northeast China by combining remote sensing products and random forests

Many wildlife species face the risks of habitat loss, habitat fragmentation or local extinction in response to climate change and anthropogenic disturbance. Moose (Alces alces) in Northeast China is on the southernmost edge of the geographical range of Eurasian moose, the distribution of this population is retreating, and population number has been declining for the last several decades. However, little is known about its habitat suitability over a large spatial scale, which hinders further effective conservation of the moose in China. It is critical to explore the moose-habitat relationships and habitat suitability to understand moose habitat requirements, potential land use impacts, and effective management. In this paper, we combined remote sensing-derived predictors and machine learning methods (down-sampling random forests) to explore the moose-habitat associations and map moose habitat suitability. Results showed that our model performed well to excellently in terms of three evaluation metrics (AUCROC, AUCPR, CBI), which indicates the advantages of the combination of remote sensing and machine learning methods in predicting moose habitat. We identified the main factors driving moose distribution in Northeast China are the human footprint index, the mean monthly maximum temperature of the late spring, the percentage of coniferous forest, the minimum dynamic habitat index, the minimum temperature of the coldest month, and the distance from town. Moose responds to these variables nonlinearly. Generally, variables related to human disturbance and heat stress are the main drivers of moose occurrence and are negatively associated with moose occurrence probability. High suitability areas are mainly distributed in eastern and northern Greater Khingan Mountains. Highly suitable habitat covers only a small proportion of the study area. We identified 67,400 km2 of suitable habitat covering 13.6% of the study area. Our study can provide critical information for decision-makers when designing conservation and management strategies for the moose in China and other regions of the world with similar conditions

Degradation of desphenyl chloridazon in a novel synergetic electrocatalytic system with Ni–Sb–SnO2/Ti anode and PEDOT/PSS-CNTs modified air diffusion cathode

This study explored the depth treatment of desphenly chloridazon (DPC) wastewater by a novel synergetic dual-electrodes electrocatalytic (SDEs) system which consisted of Ni–Sb–SnO2/Ti anode (NSSTA) and PEDOT/PSS-CNTs modified activated carbon air diffusion cathode (PP-CNTs AC ADC). NSSTA exhibited an enhanced capability to produce reactive oxygen species (·OH and O3), its O3 production increased to 6.54 mg/L. PP-CNTs AC ADC was observed to have improved activity of catalyzing oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) with 648.23 mg/L H2O2 generated. Owing to the synergetic effect of O3 and H2O2, additional ·OH was obtained in SDEs system through the electro-peroxone reaction. Compared with the single-electrode electrocatalytic (SE) systems, the SDEs system showed superior pesticide degradation performance, higher mineralization current efficiency (MCE) and lower energy consumption (EC). In the SDEs system, the optimal 91.7% of DPC removal efficiency and 90.7% of DPC mineralization efficiency were obtained within 150 min by electrocatalytic oxidation of 17.5 ppm and 25 ppm pesticide wastewater at the current density of 11.94 mA/cm2, respectively. The treated water showed reduced acute toxicity than that of the raw wastewater, which suggested that the SDEs system is a promising technology for depth treatment of the pesticide industry effluent with simultaneous decontamination and detoxification realized

Extraction methods and sedative–hypnotic effects of polysaccharide and total flavonoids of Cordyceps militaris

Sedatives and hypnotics made from Chinese herbal medicine show great market prospects for minor side effects and zero potential addiction. In this study, the extraction conditions of Cordyceps militaris polysaccharide (CMP) and flavonoids (CMF) were, respectively, optimized by orthogonal experiments as follows: 30:1 ratio of water to plant material, three rounds of extraction at 90 °C and 3 h for each extraction; 40:1 ratio of 70% ethanol to plant material, reflux extraction at 90 °C for 4 h. Then, 200, 100 and 50 mg/kg of CMP and CMF were given intragastrically to mice for 30 days. The locomotor activity times of the mice were recorded on the 14th and 30th days. The effects of CMP and CMF on the sleep induced by pentobarbital sodium were observed on the 30th day. 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), acetylcholine (ACh), glutamate (Glu) and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels in the mouse brains were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay on the 30th day. The results showed that different doses of CMP and CMF could reduce the number of locomotor activities in mice and lower the Glu level (p < 0.05 in the 50 mg/kg CMP group and p < 0.01 in the other groups), elevate the 5-HT level and reduce the ACh level (p < 0.01 only in the 200 mg/kg CMP and CMF groups) in the mouse brains. Therefore, the elevated 5-HT levels and decreased ACh and Glu levels in the brains may be the main mechanisms through which CMP and CMF exert their sedative and hypnotic effects

Computational fluid dynamics simulation of changes in the morphology and airflow dynamics of the upper airways in OSAHS patients after treatment with oral appliances.

OBJECTIVES:To explore the changes of morphology and internal airflow in upper airways (UA) after the use of oral appliances (OAs) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS), and investigate the mechanisms by which OAs function as a therapy for OSAHS. METHODS:Eight OSAHS patients (all male, aged 37-58, mean age 46.25) underwent CT scans before and after OA use. Then, computational fluid dynamics(CFD) models were built on the base of the CT scans using Mimics and ANSYS ICEM CFD software. The internal airflow of the upper airways was simulated using ANSYS-FLUENT and the results were analyzed using ANSYS-CFD-Post. The data were analyzed to identify the most important changes of biomechanical properties between patients with and without OA intervention. Upper airway morphology and the internal airflow changes were compared using t-tests and Spearman correlation coefficient analysis. RESULTS:The narrowest area of upper airways was found to be located in the lower bound of velopharynx, where the volume and pressure were statistically significantly increased (P<0.05) and the air velocity was statistically significantly decreased (P<0.05) in the presence of the OA(P<0.05). After wearing OA, pharyngeal resistance was significantly decreased (P<0.05), from 290.63 to 186.25Pa/L, and the airflow resistance of the pharynx has reduced by 35.9%. CONCLUSION:The enlargement of the upper airway after wearing the OA changed its airflow dynamics, which decreased the negative pressure and resistance in narrow areas of the upper airways. Thus, the collapsibility of the upper airways was reduced and patency was sustained

A Novel Low-Power-Consumption All-Fiber-Optic Anemometer with Simple System Design

A compact and low-power consuming fiber-optic anemometer based on single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) coated tilted fiber Bragg grating (TFBG) is presented. TFBG as a near infrared in-fiber sensing element is able to excite a number of cladding modes and radiation modes in the fiber and effectively couple light in the core to interact with the fiber surrounding mediums. It is an ideal in-fiber device used in a fiber hot-wire anemometer (HWA) as both coupling and sensing elements to simplify the sensing head structure. The fabricated TFBG was immobilized with an SWCNT film on the fiber surface. SWCNTs, a kind of innovative nanomaterial, were utilized as light-heat conversion medium instead of traditional metallic materials, due to its excellent infrared light absorption ability and competitive thermal conductivity. When the SWCNT film strongly absorbs the light in the fiber, the sensor head can be heated and form a “hot wire”. As the sensor is put into wind field, the wind will take away the heat on the sensor resulting in a temperature variation that is then accurately measured by the TFBG. Benefited from the high coupling and absorption efficiency, the heating and sensing light source was shared with only one broadband light source (BBS) without any extra pumping laser complicating the system. This not only significantly reduces power consumption, but also simplifies the whole sensing system with lower cost. In experiments, the key parameters of the sensor, such as the film thickness and the inherent angle of the TFBG, were fully investigated. It was demonstrated that, under a very low BBS input power of 9.87 mW, a 0.100 nm wavelength response can still be detected as the wind speed changed from 0 to 2 m/s. In addition, the sensitivity was found to be −0.0346 nm/(m/s) under the wind speed of 1 m/s. The proposed simple and low-power-consumption wind speed sensing system exhibits promising potential for future long-term remote monitoring and on-chip sensing in practical applications