Abstract: A method of improving quality of web content. The method includes analyzing search logs associated with a plurality of web pages by a processor. The search logs are stored in an electronic storage device. A plurality of queries from the search logs are assembled into one or more query profiles. Concepts for the one or more query profiles are generated and classified into one or more concept profiles. Further, the one or more concept profiles are ranked based on one or more parameters. The one or more concept profiles are then transmitted to one or more mediums.

Abstract: Method, system, and programs for providing one or more explanations. An inquiry is received via a communication platform where the inquiry is about how a set of entities are related. Information is retrieved from a knowledge storage in accordance with the set of entities and such information describes a plurality of entities and relationships existing among the plurality of entities. Based on such retrieved information, one or more explanations with respect to each relationship by which the set of entities are connected are generated. The one or more explanations are then transmitted as a response to the inquiry.

Abstract: An improved method for information retrieval in web query and recommendation systems, where items that are likely unfamiliar to the users of the system, but potentially relevant, are recommended. In a recommendation system having ratings by a plurality of users for a plurality of items, items are assigned to one or more data regions based on item attributes or user activity. Source regions are identified for each of the data regions. For a given user, data regions with which both the user and the user's social network are unfamiliar are identified. Within a given data region, the relevance of items to the user within such regions is evaluated using ratings provided by other users who have entered ratings similar to the user in source regions for the data region. Items receiving the highest relevance score are recommended to the user.

Abstract: Method, system, and programs for detecting dynamic relationship and discovering dynamic events. Data from a first data source is first received. At least one dynamic relation candidate is identified and each dynamic relation candidate involves multiple entities. The at least one dynamic relation candidate is identified based on temporal properties with respect to the entities exhibited in the data from the first data source. Dynamic relations are then extracted by corroborating the temporal properties of the entities involved in the at least one dynamic relation candidate with that of the same entities exhibited in data from a second data source. Then, a dynamic event that gives rise to the dynamic relations among different entities is detected.

Abstract: A method for hierarchically controlling an access multicast group is disclosed, which divides the access authority control hierarchies of the multicast group and configures control rules for each authority control hierarchy. The method includes: performing authority control on an accessing user in a present authority control hierarchy according to the configured control rules, and if the user does not pass the authority control, then rejecting the user accessing the multicast group requested by the user; if the user passes the authority control, then going into the next authority control hierarchy to perform the authority control on the accessing user until accessing all the configured authority control hierarchies. Accordingly, a device for hierarchically controlling an access multicast group is provided, which includes: a division module, a control module, and a triggering module. Thus, the method and the device can hierarchically and flexibly control the on-demand multicast group of a user.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining items or people of potential interest to recommend to users in a computer-based network. Implied social networks may be determined based at least in part on obtained social behavior information. Items or people of potential interest to users may be determined based at least in part on implied social network information. Vocabulary taxonomies may be associated with, or used in determining, implied social networks.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition for detecting and/or characterizing a multiple-charged biomolecule comprising a charged d8 or d10 metal complex, wherein the metal complex electrostatically binds to the multiple-charged biomolecule to induce aggregation and self-assembly of the metal complex through metal . . . metal interactions, ? . . . ? interactions, or a combination of both interactions. The present invention further provides assay methods and kits for label-free optical detection and/or characterization of biomolecules carrying multiple charges, e.g., single-stranded nucleic acids, polyaspartate, polyglutamate, using a composition comprising a charged d8 or d10 metal complex.

Abstract: A system and method is described for large scale entity-specific classification of each entity-specific set of candidates in a collection of candidates for each specific entity in a collection of entities. The collection of entities may comprise a specific category or domain of entities (e.g. schools, restaurants, manufacturers, products, events, people). Candidates may comprise webpages or other resources with resource identifiers. Entity specific sets of candidates may be found by leveraging search engine query results and user interaction therewith for queries based on entity-specific attributes. The relationship(s) or class(es) for which candidate resources are being classified relative to a specific entity may comprise an authoritative, official home page (OHP), or other class (e.g. fan page, review, aggregator) relative to a specific entity. A feature generator generates entity-specific features for candidates.

Abstract: One embodiment accesses two or more photos taken by one or more travelers at one or more destinations and one or more points-of-interest located within the destinations; constructs one or more photo streams for each unique traveler-destination combination, wherein each one of the photo streams comprises two or more of the photos taken by the corresponding traveler at the corresponding destination; maps each one of the photos to one of the points-of-interest; constructs one or more timed paths for each unique traveler-destination combination based on the photo streams and the mapping between the photos and the points-of-interest, wherein each one of the timed paths comprises one or more of the points-of-interest located within the corresponding destination and visited by the corresponding travel; and constructs an itinerary based on a start point-of-interest, an end point-of-interest, a time constraint, and the timed paths.

Abstract: An improved method for information retrieval in web query and recommendation systems, where items that are likely unfamiliar to the users of the system, but potentially relevant, are recommended. In a recommendation system having ratings by a plurality of users for a plurality of items, items are assigned to one or more data regions based on item attributes or user activity. Source regions are identified for each of the data regions. For a given user, data regions with which both the user and the user's social network are unfamiliar are identified. Within a given data region, the relevance of items to the user within such regions is evaluated using ratings provided by other users who have entered ratings similar to the user in source regions for the data region. Items receiving the highest relevance score are recommended to the user.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for making recommendations of content items to users of computer systems include compiling a database relating a list of items and corresponding explanations; receiving from a user, through a computer user interface, a request for a recommendation; extracting from the database a preliminary list of items related to the request; identifying distances between the extracted items based on the explanation corresponding to each item; and identifying a subset of the preliminary list to form a recommendation list having a limited number of recommendation results with a desired balance of both high relevancy and high diversity relative to each other.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatus for extracting information from one or more documents. A training and execution plan is received, and such plan specifies invocation of a trainer operator for initiating training of a trainee operator based on a set of training documents so as to generate a new trained operator that is to then be invoked so as to extract information from one or more unknown documents. The trainee operator is configured to extract information from one or more unknown documents, and each training document is associated with classified information. After receipt of the training and execution plan, the trainer operator is automatically executed to train the trainee operator based on the specified training documents so as to generate a new trained operator for extracting information from documents. The new trained operator is a new version of the trainee operator.

Abstract: A method for generating a schema mapping. A provided mapping M12 relates schema S1 to schema S2. A provided mapping M23 relates schema S2 to schema S3. A mapping M13 is generated from schema S1 to schema S3 as a composition of mappings M12 and M23. Mappings M12, M23, and M13 are each expressed in terms of at least one second-order nested tuple-generating dependency (SO nested tgd). Mapping M13 does not expressly recite any element of schema S2. At least one schema of the schemas S1 and S2 may comprise at least one complex type expression nested inside another complex type expression. Mapping M13 may define the composition of the mappings M12 and M23 with respect to a relationship semantics or a transformation semantics.

Abstract: A system for providing a probability output and receiving an input includes a processor and a memory unit in communication with the processor. The memory has processor-executable instructions that configure the processor to provide a user interface having the probability output, wherein the probability output is in a graphical form and receives an input from the user via the user interface, wherein the user provides the input by marking portions of the graphical form of the probability output.

Abstract: A system and method for data integration by querying multiple extensible markup language (XML) source schemas through a common XML target schema, wherein the system comprises XML mapping connections between the XML source schemas and the XML target schema, wherein the XML mapping connections accommodate XML mappings, the XML source schemas comprise data, and the XML target schema comprise a set of constraints, which comprise data merging rules for integrating the data from multiple source schemas comprising overlapping information; a target query associated with the target schema; and a query rewriter adapted to reformulate the target query in terms of the source schemas based on the mappings, and to integrate the data based on the set of constraints. The query rewriter is adapted to rewrite the target query into a set of source queries comprising the source schemas. A processor evaluates a union of the set of source queries.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for providing recommendations to users of a computer-based network of items of potential interest to the users. Items and people of potential interest to users may be determined using obtained word-based social behavior information, semantically-sensitive vocabulary taxonomies, and determined implied topic-specific social networks. The user may be presented with a graphical user interface including the recommendation, an explanation of the rationale relating to the recommendation, and an opportunity for the user to provide feedback relating to the recommendation or the rationale. The feedback may be used to improve future recommendations.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining items or people of potential interest to recommend to users in a computer-based network. Implied social networks may be determined based at least in part on obtained social behavior information. Items or people of potential interest to users may be determined based at least in part on implied social network information. Vocabulary taxonomies may be associated with, or used in determining, implied social networks.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition for detecting and/or characterizing a multiple-charged biomolecule comprising a charged d8 or d10 metal complex, wherein the metal complex electrostatically binds to the multiple-charged biomolecule to induce aggregation and self-assembly of the metal complex through metal-metal interactions, ? . . . ? interactions, or a combination of both interactions. The present invention further provides assay methods and kits for label-free optical detection and/or characterization of biomolecules carrying multiple charges, e.g., single-stranded nucleic acids, using a composition comprising a charged d8 or d10 metal complex.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition for detecting and/or characterizing a multiple-charged biomolecule comprising a charged d8 or d10 metal complex, wherein the metal complex electrostatically binds to the multiple-charged biomolecule to induce aggregation and self-assembly of the metal complex through metal . . . metal interactions, ? . . . ? interactions, or a combination of both interactions. The present invention further provides assay methods and kits for label-free optical detection and/or characterization of biomolecules carrying multiple charges, e.g., single-stranded nucleic acids, polyaspartate, polyglutamate, using a composition comprising a charged d8 or d10 metal complex.

Abstract: A method for generating a schema mapping. A provided mapping M12 relates schema S1 to schema S2. A provided mapping M23 relates schema S2 to schema S3. A mapping M13 is generated from schema S1 to schema S3 as a composition of mappings M12 and M23. Mappings M12, M23, and M13 are each expressed in terms of at least one second-order nested tuple-generating dependency (SO nested tgd). Mapping M13 does not expressly recite any element of schema S2. At least one schema of the schemas S1 and S2 may comprise at least one complex type expression nested inside another complex type expression. Mapping M13 may define the composition of the mappings M12 and M23 with respect to a relationship semantics or a transformation semantics.