Improving Advertisement Delivery in Video Streaming

Generally, the present disclosure is directed to improving advertisement delivery based on the content of a video. In particular, in some implementations, the systems and methods of the present disclosure can include or otherwise leverage one or more machine-learned models to predict a non-intrusive location for an advertisement based on the content of a video

Intelligent Advertisement Selection

A mechanism for intelligently selecting advertisements to present to users in conjunction with videos. The mechanism identifies and analyzes past user interactions with advertisements, and uses this analysis to intelligently inform advertisement selection. Past user interactions may include watching an ad all the way through without skipping it; sharing an ad; “liking” or up-voting an ad; returning to a website associated with the content sharing platform to re-watch an ad; re-watching an ad by “rewinding” to the beginning of the ad; visiting or subscribing to a “channel” associated with the advertised product or with the advertiser; commenting on the ad; and so forth. The mechanism can be employed in conjunction with other advertisement selection techniques, or can be employed independently

Using machine learning to improve image storage and recall

Photographs taken using mobile devices are uploaded to image storage and sharing services at a resolution, server location, and upload priority that is blind to the importance of the photo to the user. This is sub-optimal, as there are images of great importance to a user (e.g., wedding photos) that are better uploaded at high priority and resolution. Similarly, there are images (e.g., screenshots, photos of receipts, etc.) that are not very important and can be uploaded at lower priority and resolution. With user permission, the techniques of this disclosure use machine learning to predict the importance of an image captured by a user. The predicted importance is used to select a resolution, server location, and upload priority for the image in an online image-sharing service

A Strategy for Origins of Life Research

Aworkshop was held August 26–28, 2015, by the Earth- Life Science Institute (ELSI) Origins Network (EON, see Appendix I) at the Tokyo Institute of Technology. This meeting gathered a diverse group of around 40 scholars researching the origins of life (OoL) from various perspectives with the intent to find common ground, identify key questions and investigations for progress, and guide EON by suggesting a roadmap of activities. Specific challenges that the attendees were encouraged to address included the following: What key questions, ideas, and investigations should the OoL research community address in the near and long term? How can this community better organize itself and prioritize its efforts? What roles can particular subfields play, and what can ELSI and EON do to facilitate research progress? (See also Appendix II.) The present document is a product of that workshop; a white paper that serves as a record of the discussion that took place and a guide and stimulus to the solution of the most urgent and important issues in the study of the OoL. This paper is not intended to be comprehensive or a balanced representation of the opinions of the entire OoL research community. It is intended to present a number of important position statements that contain many aspirational goals and suggestions as to how progress can be made in understanding the OoL. The key role played in the field by current societies and recurring meetings over the past many decades is fully acknowledged, including the International Society for the Study of the Origin of Life (ISSOL) and its official journal Origins of Life and Evolution of Biospheres, as well as the International Society for Artificial Life (ISAL)

Mechanisms of Resistance to Noncovalent Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors

BackgroundCovalent (irreversible) Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors have transformed the treatment of multiple B-cell cancers, especially chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). However, resistance can arise through multiple mechanisms, including acquired mutations in BTK at residue C481, the binding site of covalent BTK inhibitors. Noncovalent (reversible) BTK inhibitors overcome this mechanism and other sources of resistance, but the mechanisms of resistance to these therapies are currently not well understood.MethodsWe performed genomic analyses of pretreatment specimens as well as specimens obtained at the time of disease progression from patients with CLL who had been treated with the noncovalent BTK inhibitor pirtobrutinib. Structural modeling, BTK-binding assays, and cell-based assays were conducted to study mutations that confer resistance to noncovalent BTK inhibitors.ResultsAmong 55 treated patients, we identified 9 patients with relapsed or refractory CLL and acquired mechanisms of genetic resistance to pirtobrutinib. We found mutations (V416L, A428D, M437R, T474I, and L528W) that were clustered in the kinase domain of BTK and that conferred resistance to both noncovalent BTK inhibitors and certain covalent BTK inhibitors. Mutations in BTK or phospholipase C gamma 2 (PLCγ2), a signaling molecule and downstream substrate of BTK, were found in all 9 patients. Transcriptional activation reflecting B-cell-receptor signaling persisted despite continued therapy with noncovalent BTK inhibitors.ConclusionsResistance to noncovalent BTK inhibitors arose through on-target BTK mutations and downstream PLCγ2 mutations that allowed escape from BTK inhibition. A proportion of these mutations also conferred resistance across clinically approved covalent BTK inhibitors. These data suggested new mechanisms of genomic escape from established covalent and novel noncovalent BTK inhibitors. (Funded by the American Society of Hematology and others.)

The Femme Fatale in Vogue:Femininity Ideologies in Fin-de-siècle America

This article explores how marketing influences ideologies of femininity. Tracing the evolution of femme fatale images in Vogue magazine in 1890s America, we develop a typology around four archetypal forms of the femme fatale that prevailed during this period. In doing so we respond to calls for more critical historical analyses on femininity. While studies on masculinity ideologies proliferate, there is a paucity of research on dissonant representations of femininity in popular culture media. The femme fatale, often a self-determined seductress who causes anguish to the men who become involved with her, is an intriguing and enduring challenge to traditional notions of femininity. Thus, in studying the femme fatale in her historical context and revealing the multiplicity of feminine ideologies contained within this trope, we contribute to a deeper understanding of marketing’s role in both reflecting and reinforcing societal assumptions, attitudes and problematics around gender norms.</p

Identification of genetic variants associated with Huntington's disease progression: a genome-wide association study

Background Huntington's disease is caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the huntingtin gene, HTT. Age at onset has been used as a quantitative phenotype in genetic analysis looking for Huntington's disease modifiers, but is hard to define and not always available. Therefore, we aimed to generate a novel measure of disease progression and to identify genetic markers associated with this progression measure. Methods We generated a progression score on the basis of principal component analysis of prospectively acquired longitudinal changes in motor, cognitive, and imaging measures in the 218 indivduals in the TRACK-HD cohort of Huntington's disease gene mutation carriers (data collected 2008–11). We generated a parallel progression score using data from 1773 previously genotyped participants from the European Huntington's Disease Network REGISTRY study of Huntington's disease mutation carriers (data collected 2003–13). We did a genome-wide association analyses in terms of progression for 216 TRACK-HD participants and 1773 REGISTRY participants, then a meta-analysis of these results was undertaken. Findings Longitudinal motor, cognitive, and imaging scores were correlated with each other in TRACK-HD participants, justifying use of a single, cross-domain measure of disease progression in both studies. The TRACK-HD and REGISTRY progression measures were correlated with each other (r=0·674), and with age at onset (TRACK-HD, r=0·315; REGISTRY, r=0·234). The meta-analysis of progression in TRACK-HD and REGISTRY gave a genome-wide significant signal (p=1·12 × 10−10) on chromosome 5 spanning three genes: MSH3, DHFR, and MTRNR2L2. The genes in this locus were associated with progression in TRACK-HD (MSH3 p=2·94 × 10−8 DHFR p=8·37 × 10−7 MTRNR2L2 p=2·15 × 10−9) and to a lesser extent in REGISTRY (MSH3 p=9·36 × 10−4 DHFR p=8·45 × 10−4 MTRNR2L2 p=1·20 × 10−3). The lead single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in TRACK-HD (rs557874766) was genome-wide significant in the meta-analysis (p=1·58 × 10−8), and encodes an aminoacid change (Pro67Ala) in MSH3. In TRACK-HD, each copy of the minor allele at this SNP was associated with a 0·4 units per year (95% CI 0·16–0·66) reduction in the rate of change of the Unified Huntington's Disease Rating Scale (UHDRS) Total Motor Score, and a reduction of 0·12 units per year (95% CI 0·06–0·18) in the rate of change of UHDRS Total Functional Capacity score. These associations remained significant after adjusting for age of onset. Interpretation The multidomain progression measure in TRACK-HD was associated with a functional variant that was genome-wide significant in our meta-analysis. The association in only 216 participants implies that the progression measure is a sensitive reflection of disease burden, that the effect size at this locus is large, or both. Knockout of Msh3 reduces somatic expansion in Huntington's disease mouse models, suggesting this mechanism as an area for future therapeutic investigation

Trash or Recycle: The Influence of Product Characteristics on Recycling Plastic Bottles

Trudel & Argo (2013) found that more college students recycled aluminum cans that were larger in size and intact (i.e., not dented) and fewer college students recycled smaller, intact cans and larger dented cans. Their findings suggest the characteristics of an item might influence whether or not it is recycled and has important implications for increasing recycling behaviors. The current study was a replication and extension of Trudel and Argo (2013) in which regular sized plastic bottles were used. University students (N = 13) engaged in a creative writing task involving either a dented plastic bottle or a non-dented plastic bottle as a distraction from the actual purpose of the study. After the activity, participants were asked to dispose of their bottles before leaving the room. Recycling and trash cans were placed near the door for disposal purposes. Researchers recorded whether the bottle was placed in the recycling can or the trash can. Results indicated that 67% of participants assigned dented bottles recycled, 86% assigned non-dented bottles recycled, and no one in either group disposed of their bottles in the trash can. Furthermore, two participants with dented bottles and one participant with a non-dented bottle left the room without disposing of their bottles in either can, although one of the dented bottles was later found in a nearby recycling bin. These results are not consistent with those of Trudel & Argo (2013), but are consistent with other findings from our lab (e.g., Campbell, 2016), which suggest university students, at least on this campus, recycle paper and plastic regardless of condition (e.g., crumpled or dented)

Trash or Recycle: The Influence of Product Characteristics on Recycling Plastic Bottles

Trudel & Argo (2013) found that more college students recycled aluminum cans that were larger in size and intact (i.e., not dented) and fewer college students recycled smaller, intact cans and larger dented cans. Their findings suggest the characteristics of an item might influence whether or not it is recycled and has important implications for increasing recycling behaviors. The current study was a replication and extension of Trudel and Argo (2013) in which regular sized plastic bottles were used. University students (N = 13) engaged in a creative writing task involving either a dented plastic bottle or a non-dented plastic bottle as a distraction from the actual purpose of the study. After the activity, participants were asked to dispose of their bottles before leaving the room. Recycling and trash cans were placed near the door for disposal purposes. Researchers recorded whether the bottle was placed in the recycling can or the trash can. Results indicated that 67% of participants assigned dented bottles recycled, 86% assigned non-dented bottles recycled, and no one in either group disposed of their bottles in the trash can. Furthermore, two participants with dented bottles and one participant with a non-dented bottle left the room without disposing of their bottles in either can, although one of the dented bottles was later found in a nearby recycling bin. These results are not consistent with those of Trudel & Argo (2013), but are consistent with other findings from our lab (e.g., Campbell, 2016), which suggest university students, at least on this campus, recycle paper and plastic regardless of condition (e.g., crumpled or dented)