Yahoo!

About: Yahoo! is a company organization based out in London, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Web search query. The organization has 26749 authors who have published 29915 publications receiving 732583 citations. The organization is also known as: Yahoo! Inc. & Maudwen-Yahoo! Inc.

Stateful bulk processing for incremental analytics

Abstract: This work addresses the need for stateful dataflow programs that can rapidly sift through huge, evolving data sets. These data-intensive applications perform complex multi-step computations over successive generations of data inflows, such as weekly web crawls, daily image/video uploads, log files, and growing social networks. While programmers may simply re-run the entire dataflow when new data arrives, this is grossly inefficient, increasing result latency and squandering hardware resources and energy. Alternatively, programmers may use prior results to incrementally incorporate the changes. However, current large-scale data processing tools, such as Map-Reduce or Dryad, limit how programmers incorporate and use state in data-parallel programs. Straightforward approaches to incorporating state can result in custom, fragile code and disappointing performance.This work presents a generalized architecture for continuous bulk processing (CBP) that raises the level of abstraction for building incremental applications. At its core is a flexible, groupwise processing operator that takes state as an explicit input. Unifying stateful programming with a data-parallel operator affords several fundamental opportunities for minimizing the movement of data in the underlying processing system. As case studies, we show how one can use a small set of flexible dataflow primitives to perform web analytics and mine large-scale, evolving graphs in an incremental fashion. Experiments with our prototype using real-world data indicate significant data movement and running time reductions relative to current practice. For example, incrementally computing PageRank using CBP can reduce data movement by 46% and cut running time in half.

Who to follow and why: link prediction with explanations

Abstract: User recommender systems are a key component in any on-line social networking platform: they help the users growing their network faster, thus driving engagement and loyalty.In this paper we study link prediction with explanations for user recommendation in social networks. For this problem we propose WTFW ("Who to Follow and Why"), a stochastic topic model for link prediction over directed and nodes-attributed graphs. Our model not only predicts links, but for each predicted link it decides whether it is a "topical" or a "social" link, and depending on this decision it produces a different type of explanation.A topical link is recommended between a user interested in a topic and a user authoritative in that topic: the explanation in this case is a set of binary features describing the topic responsible of the link creation. A social link is recommended between users which share a large social neighborhood: in this case the explanation is the set of neighbors which are more likely to be responsible for the link creation.Our experimental assessment on real-world data confirms the accuracy of WTFW in the link prediction and the quality of the associated explanations.

Design and implementation of a health management information system in Malawi: issues, innovations and results

Abstract: As in many developing countries, lack of reliable data and grossly inadequate appreciation and use of available information in planning and management of health services were two main weaknesses of the health information systems in Malawi. Malawi began strengthening its health management information system with an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of existing information systems, sharing findings with all stakeholders. All were agreed on the need for reformation of various, vertical programme-specific information systems into a comprehensive, integrated, decentralized and action-oriented simple system. As a first step towards conceptualization and design of the system, a minimum set of indicators was identified and a strategy was formulated for establishing a system in the country. The design focused only on the use of information in planning, management and the improvement of quality and coverage of services. All health and support personnel were trained, employing a training of trainers cascade approach. Information management and use was incorporated into the pre-service training curriculum and the job description of all health workers and support personnel. Quarterly feedback, supportive supervision visits and annual reviews were institutionalized. Civil society organizations were involved in monitoring coverage of health services at local levels. A mid-term review of the achievements of the health information system judged it to be one of the best in Africa. For the first time in Malawi, the health sector has information by facility by month. Yet very little improvement has been noted in use of information in rationalizing decisions. The conclusion is that, no matter how good the design of an information system, it will not be effective unless there is internal desire, dedication and commitment of leadership to have an effective and efficient health service management system.

Mortality associated with emergency abdominal surgery in the elderly.

Abstract: One notable characteristic of people living in countries of the developed world is the increase in life span seen in recent decades. In 1981, about 7.4% of the Spanish population was aged 70 years or older. This rate increased to 9.2% in 1991, and the projection for 2000 is 11.5%. In the last 13 years, the number of people over 80 years of age in Spain has increased by 56%. In spite of persisting taboos about surgery in elderly people, the numbers of elderly patients with abdominal disease who undergo surgical treatment has increased during this time. Compared with elective surgery, emergency abdominal surgery is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, especially in old people.1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25 We now treat, in life-threatening conditions, some elderly patients who have been rejected for elective surgery on the basis of overestimated risk. The aim of this study is to report our experience of emergency abdominal surgery in elderly patients and to analyze the factors that contribute to their death.

User-defined private maps

Abstract: A method, device, and system for presenting one or more user-defined private maps with a public map for sharing among a group of users are disclosed. The device includes a processor for executing computer programs, a memory for storing data, an input module for entering user commands, a communication module for transmitting and receiving data, and a display for showing information on a screen. The device further includes logic for importing a public map representing a publicly available mapping of an area or a location, logic for creating one or more user-defined private maps, logic for linking the one or more user-defined private maps to the public map through a set of corresponding map icons, and logic for displaying the public map and the one or more user-defined private maps.