Abstract: A query processing system is described herein for personalizing results for a particular user. The query processing system operates by receiving a query from a particular user u who intends to find results that satisfy the query with respect to a topic Tu, the user being characterized by user information ?u. In one implementation, the query processing system then produces a generic topic distribution Prr(T|q) associated with the query that is germane to a population of generic users, as well as a user-specific query-dependent topic distribution Pr(Tu|q,?u) for the particular user. The query processing system then produces personalized results for the particular user based on Prr(T|q) and Pr(Tu|q,?u). The query processing system can use multiple techniques to produce Pr(Tu|q,?u), such as, in one approach, a discriminative learning approach.

Abstract: The claimed subject matter provides a method for navigating to dynamic destinations. The method includes associating a leader mobile device with a follower mobile device. The method also includes displaying, on the follower mobile device, a first path from a follower vehicle to a first location of a leader vehicle. The follower vehicle is associated with the follower mobile device. The leader vehicle is associated with the leader mobile device. The method further includes displaying, on the follower mobile device, a second path from the follower vehicle to a second location of the leader vehicle.

Abstract: Technologies are described herein that pertain to optimizing a ranker component for a risk-oriented objective. Various definitions of risk are described herein, wherein risk is based upon variance in performance scores assigned to the ranker component for respective queries in a data store. Additionally, risk is optionally based upon variance in relative performance of the ranker component versus a baseline ranker component.

Abstract: To determine if a set of items belongs to a class of interest, the set of items is binned into sub-populations based on a score, ranking, or trait associated with each item. The sub-populations may be created based on the score associated with each item, such as an equal score interval, or with the distribution of the items within the overall population, such as a proportion interval. A determination is made of how may samples are needed from each sub-population in order to make an estimation regarding the entire set of items. Then a calculation of the precision and variance for each sub-population is completed and are combined to provide an overall precision and variance value for the overall population.

Abstract: A request can be received and a request reading level representation for the request can be inferred. In response to the request, the request reading level representation can be compared with one or more reading difficulty level representations for one or more response items. Also in response to the request, one or more indications of results of comparing the request reading level representation with one or more reading difficulty level representations for the one or more response items can be returned. The indication(s) may include a ranking of the response items. The ranking can be based at least in part on a request reading level representation for the query and reading difficulty level representations for the response items. The response item(s) may also be returned.

Abstract: A query processing system is described herein for personalizing results for a particular user. The query processing system operates by receiving a query from a particular user u who intends to find results that satisfy the query with respect to a topic Tu, the user being characterized by user information ?u. In one implementation, the query processing system then produces a generic topic distribution Prr(T|q) associated with the query that is germane to a population of generic users, as well as a user-specific query-dependent topic distribution Pr(Tu|q,?u) for the particular user. The query processing system then produces personalized results for the particular user based on Prr(T|q) and Pr(Tu|q,?u). The query processing system can use multiple techniques to produce Pr(Tu|q,?u), such as, in one approach, a discriminative learning approach.

Abstract: Functionality is described herein which generates a plurality of item models based on the aggregate behavior of users, such as the aggregate behavior of the users in selecting network-accessible sites and/or issuing particular queries. In one implementation, each item model estimates a probabilistic distribution of locations for an individual, given that the individual selects a particular item (e.g., a particular site or query). The functionality can use the item models to provide a personalized service to an end user. For example, in one scenario, the functionality can generate a plurality of location-based features based on the item models. The functionality can then learn a ranking model based on the location-based features. In a real-time phase of operation, a query processing system uses the ranking model to personalize search results for an end user.

Abstract: To determine if a set of items belongs to a class of interest, the set of items is binned into sub-populations based on a score, ranking, or trait associated with each item. The sub-populations may be created based on the score associated with each item, such as an equal score interval, or with the distribution of the items within the overall population, such as a proportion interval. A determination is made of how may samples are needed from each sub-population in order to make an estimation regarding the entire set of items. Then a calculation of the precision and variance for each sub-population is completed and are combined to provide an overall precision and variance value for the overall population.

Abstract: The claimed subject matter provides a system that trains or evaluates ranking techniques by employing or obtaining relative preference judgments. The system can include mechanisms that retrieve a set of documents from a storage device, combine the set of documents with a query or judgment task received via an interface to form a comparative selection panel, and present the comparative selection panel for evaluation by an assessor. The system further requests the assessor to make a selection as to which document included in the set of documents and presented in the comparative selection panel most satisfies the query or judgment task, and thereafter produces a comparative assessment of the set of documents based on the selections elicited from the assessor and associated with the set of documents.

Abstract: Techniques and systems are disclosed that provide for constructing a query classification index that can be used to classify a query into relevant categories. Where documents in an index are classified into one or more category predictions for a category hierarchy, classification metadata is generated for categories to which a document in the index has been classified. Further, the classification metadata is associated to the corresponding documents in the index. Additionally, a query of the index can be classified using the metadata associated to the documents in the index, and query results can be provided that are classified by the one or more categories identified by the classification of the query.

Abstract: The claimed subject matter provides a system that trains or evaluates ranking techniques by employing or obtaining relative preference judgments. The system can include mechanisms that retrieve a set of documents from a storage device, combine the set of documents with a query orjudgment task received via an interface to form a comparative selection panel, and present the comparative selection panel for evaluation by an assessor. The system further requests the assessor to make a selection as to which document included in the set of documents and presented in the comparative selection panel most satisfies the query or judgment task, and thereafter produces a comparative assessment of the set of documents based on the selections elicited from the assessor and associated with the set of documents.

Abstract: Systems and methods allow an on-line game to extract information relevant to a specific need of a game platform or service platform. The specific need relates to management and use of digital content, and is addressed by designing and playing an on-line collaborative game. The rules of the game intend to solve a specific task dictated by the specific need. Players' responses to the game generate a wealth of information related to a specific task objective, such as ranking, sorting, and evaluating a set of digital content items. To compel participation in a game, players can be rewarded with monetary value rewards. As a game illustration, an image selection game (ISG) that exploits human contextual inference is described in detail. The information extracted from ISG is a list of key-image associations, relevant for the task of image sorting and ranking.

Abstract: A gas turbine aerofoil with at least one internal cavity for conveying cooling fluid through the aerofoil has at least one internal cavity adjacent the aerofoil leading edge, at least one impingement cooling passage extending from, and in flow communication with the cavity, and at least one film cooling hole extending from, and in flow communication with, the cooling passage. The impingement passage extends into the aerofoil wall in the region of the leading edge and opens into the film cooling hole. The cooling hole extends through the aerofoil wall to an external surface of the aerofoil at a position downstream of the leading edge such that, in use, cooling fluid from the cavity exits the cooling passage into the cooling hole as an impingement jet against the internal surface of the cooling hole in the region of the leading edge.

Abstract: A method and device for monitoring the condition of an electrode in an electro-discharge machine are disclosed. The device includes an electrode detector operable to produce a position signal indicative of the position of an end region of the electrode in the nose-guide, and a signal processing unit connected to receive a position signal from the electrode detector and operable to determine from the position signal when retraction of the electrode into the nose-guide has occurred. The method monitors the position of the end region of the electrode and determines when retraction of the electrode has occurred.

Abstract: A gas turbine aerofoil with at least one internal cavity for conveying cooling fluid through the aerofoil has at least one internal cavity adjacent the aerofoil leading edge, at least one impingement cooling passage extending from, and in flow communication with the cavity, and at least one film cooling hole extending from, and in flow communication with, the cooling passage. The impingement passage extends into the aerofoil wall in the region of the leading edge and opens into the film cooling hole. The cooling hole extends through the aerofoil wall to an external surface of the aerofoil at a position downstream of the leading edge such that, in use, cooling fluid from the cavity exits the cooling passage into the cooling hole as an impingement jet against the internal surface of the cooling hole in the region of the leading edge.