Matrix Factorization Techniques for Recommendation Systems (Netflix Research Paper

Matrix Factorization Techniques for Recommendation Systems (Netflix Prize) - Research Paper Example We will also describe an incremental variant of the MF that effectively undertakes new users and rating that is fundamental within the real life recommender system. A hybrid MF-neighbor based method is further discussed in regard to advancing the prevailing performance of the MF. The proposed methods are mainly examined on the Netflix Prize dataset and mainly depict that they can be accomplish very favorable Quiz RMSE, which is the best sole method :0.8904, combination: 0.8841 and corresponding running time. The Netflix Prize competition of 2006 showed that the Matrix Factorization techniques are greater to archetypal closest-neighbour techniques in the production of product recommendations and lets the inclusion of extra material like inherent feedbacks, self-assurance levels and chronological effects. There are floods of choices for contemporary consumers. Electronic dealers and content suppliers offer a vast choice of products with exceptional openings to meet a range of distinct needs and preferences. As a trend observed of late, more retailers have had an exponential positive change in interest to many purchasers with the most fitting products which is vital in the enhancement of user content and loyalty. In so doing, it evaluates trends of customer interests to offer rather custom-made recommendations which are in accordance to customer preference (Ricci, 124-198). Netflix, an e-commerce leader has recommender structures as prominent fragments of its website that are observantly b eneficial for music, movies and TV shows. Quite a huge number of users will check a similar movie while each and every one of the users views various dissimilar movies. These users have shown the will to indicate their satisfaction levels with specific movies and thus a massive volume of data is available about what particular movies charm which users. Various known corporations analyze the available information to provide a recommendation on movies particular to

Development of the Five Islamic Schools of Law Essay

Development of the Five Islamic Schools of Law - Essay Example Medina was the location that Muhammad and his followers settled in after traveling to it in 622. (Kahn 2001). Other Arab tribes as well as Jews were already living there, so Muhammad made a series of agreements with them in order to maintain an organized, peaceful relationship, as well as lawful order. These formal agreements have come to be known as the Constitution of Medina; it involved the rights, duties and methods of solving disputes among members of various classes. (Al-Muhajabah, 2003). The agreements also gave the prophet Muhammad jurisdiction over all of the people living there. His actions, including his jurisdiction, were based on his interpretation of and strict adherence to the Qu'ran. (Kahn, 2001). "In simple terms, the first Islamic state established in Medina was based on a social contract, was constitutional in character and the ruler ruled with the explicit written consent of all the citizens of the state." (Kahn, 2001). The constitution of Medina established a pluralistic state -- a community of communities. It promised equal security to all and all were equal in the eyes of the law. (Kahn, 2001). Each tribe had its own laws, and they all had to agree on them for them to be held as laws. "To the tribe as a whole belonged the power to determine the standards by which its members should live." (Coulson, 1994). The pluralism set forth by the community of Medina set the stage for the pluralism found of the separation of Islamic law into five distinct schools. The first school of law to be discussed is the Maliki school. The school of Islamic law referred to as Maliki was founded by Anas ibn Malik. This is the school that was formerly the ancient school of Medina. Thus it continued to accentuate the practices that were encompassed by the Medinese community. While the three other schools or jurisprudence adhered to using the Qu'ran as their primary source for law formulation, the Maliki school was the only one to use the practice of the people of Medina as not only a source but often the primary source (rather than the Qu'ran). Malik felt that utilizing the practices of the people of Medina was a good source because both Muhammad and his companions lived their for most of their lives. Malik considered the people of Medina to be "living Sunnah." (Wikipedia 2008). Although some reliance on "Hadith (traditions concerning the Prophet's life and utterances)" was still evident, the Malikites preferred traditional opinions and analogical reasoning. (Encyclopedia Britannica 2008). The Maliki school believed that their laws did not need to be based on the Qu'ran and could instead be based on Muhammad's companions, for he gave them a "distinction and knowledge" that God had given to him. There were no records of God's words save those in the knowledge shared by Muhammad. (Brockopp from Weiss 2002). "The Great Shaykh theory makes explicit what is implied in these texts: that individuals, such as Imams and teachers, are invested with such religious authority that their words can generate law. Ascribing religious authority to great individuals quickly became endemic in Islamic culture great men and women, while no longer prophets, were still thought to embody certain ideals of truth and justice which emanated from the divine realm." (Brockopp from W

The Molecular Detection Methods For Plasmodium Falciparum Essay

The Molecular Detection Methods For Plasmodium Falciparum - Essay Example This travels through the blood into the liver where it attacks the liver cells. Here, it matures into a mother cell which also produces other daughter cells within a period of six days. This daughter cells the releases themselves from the mother and attacks the red blood cells (Guerra, Snow and Hay, 2006). Plasmodium Falciparum sometimes prevents the destruction of these red blood cells which have been affected by the virus causing more trouble to the body. This is achieved by sending proteins to the cell membrane of the red blood cell which causes the red blood cells to stick to the walls of the small blood vessels. The cluster of red blood cells may cause blockage in the circulation system The symptoms of malaria usually begin to show after about 10 to 30 days after a mosquito bite. These can either be severe or a little complicated to the person. Small children and expectant mothers are the most vulnerable to the disease. Diagnosis of malaria is, therefore, an important factor in the determination of the presence of the disease. This should be then followed by a correct treatment of the disease. However, the causative virus is still a problem due to its ability to be resistance making malaria a threat to medicine. Several molecular detection methods can be applied to establish the existence of plasmodium falciparum in the body. ... The parasite can also be observed from the smear. A drop of blood is usually placed on a slide and then spread uniformly throughout the slide length to make sure that the cells are spaced up properly in the slide. A definite layer where the cells are spaced far enough to be counted and differentiated is always the best to examine. This layer is referred to as monolayer. It is usually found on the slide’s edge. The slide is then left to air dry and then fixed into the slide by immersing into methanol. It is the stained. Staining helps to differentiate the cells from each other. Romanowsky Wright`s, or Giemsa, is usually the stain that is used to stain the cells. The slide is then viewed under a microscope under a high magnification e.g. x1000. The abnormalities in these cells which in the case of plasmodium falciparum are usually red blood cells are observed and recorded. The parasites appearance can also be observed from the film. Each of the plasmodium species portrays distin guishing characteristics hence can, therefore, be differentiated from each other. The parasites’ appearance is usually preserved in a thin film; this is unlike in thick films, which are mostly used when large volumes of blood are to be observed. They have been found to be more sensitive than the thin films of blood, but separating the parasites here is usually hard. However, it poses its own limitation especially in the diagnosis of malaria in early stages. This is because, in these stages all the parasites appear in a ring like shape hence distinguishing them becomes a problem. This is the trophozoites stage which is a ring shape. Another problem also arises when the amount of time between the blood collection

Competitors Analysis Critical Review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Competitors Analysis Critical Review - Essay Example A way in which this can be done is through competitor analysis. This review attempts to find the common ground or differences in approach between the authors and checks them against the background of the strategic needs of organisations for sustaining competitive advantage. maintaining and improving profitability targets. In the face of fierce competition, the market place is merciless in changing the fortunes of companies. If firms ignore or neglect strategic moves by competitors, they can find their market share and profitability disappear in quick time. Competition can be in many forms such as new entrants, new products / services, more economical processes that offer cheaper alternatives to customers, new marketing or distribution channels, newer strategic associations or markets, etc. While the challenge of keeping track of so many variables may be daunting, it is comforting to remember that generally each business has its own limited set of rivals. Largely, this depends upon its own profile of size & operations. It is this universe of potential rivals that is important to a firm’s competitive position. According to Porter, â€Å"Strategy is an internally consistent configuration of activities that distinguishes a firm from its rivals† (Porter, M E. 2004, p.vi). Porter’s theory identifies a firm as one based on activities and points out that it is these activities that create opportunities for a firm to offer value to a customer (Porter, M E. 2004). To this extent, analysis of a firm’s own or its rival’s activities can be considered as essential as strategic to a firm’s competitive advantage. The question then is ‘when or how often should one conduct such an analysis?’ and the answer should be that it must be an on-going process in view of the constantly emerging competitors’ challenges. Competitor analysis is the management

How do I write a report Essay Example for Free

How do I write a report Essay Report writing differs from essay writing because it has a different purpose. Reports are common communication tools as they assist in the decision-making process. Written for a particular purpose, they usually outline a problem, provide the relevant facts and ideas related to the situation, and then recommend a course of action. Reports are highly structured so that information they contain can be easily understood. Headings within the report allow the reader to select the parts they wish to read. Headings also enable each section of the report to stand-alone. The structure of a report is enhanced through the use of subheadings, diagrams, tables, graphs, illustrations etc. Reports are highly structured so that information they contain can be easily understood. Headings within the report allow the reader to select the parts they wish to read. Headings also enable each section of the report to stand-alone. The structure of a report is enhanced through the use of subheadings, diagrams, tables, graphs, illustrations etc. As a student, you will be asked to write reports to show that you have investigated or researched a particular problem. Although each subject coordinator may have slightly different requirements and/or ways to structure reports, the following is an example of a basic report format. Remember to always check each Subject Outline for individual subject requirements. A 10-step plan of how to write a report (Sanders 2000, p. 200). 1. Consider the aim of the report and who will read it. 2. Plan your investigational approach. 3. Gather information. 4. Organise the information you have gathered. 5. Analyse the material. 6. Decide your conclusions. 7. Decide your recommendations. 8. Plan your writing. 9. Write your draft. 10. Edit and prepare the final copy. As presentation of your report is very important, you should: follow the guidelines recommended in your Subject Outline; check the accuracy of the support data and facts; check that your argument is logical and that the conclusion and recommendations flow logically from the data you have presented; explain terms which the reader may not know, or where clarity requires it; explain symbols, abbreviations, diagrams and statistics if necessary; label and number all diagrams; tables; graphs; illustrations etc. be consistent in the use of a numbering system; headings; font size and type; use a clear and concise style of writing; layout the report in a clear and uncluttered format; be meticulous with your use of references; check that your argument is logical and that the conclusion and recommendations flow logically from the data you have presented. Basic report format: Title Page Table of Contents Synopsis/Executive Summary This is tells your reader what the report is about as it describes the topics or issues discussed; indicates the depth of the discussion; as well as  providing a summary of the recommendations and reasons for them. It is usually one paragraph of approximately 120 words. Usually this is not included in your word count. If in doubt, check with your Subject Coordinator. 1. Introduction This tells your reader what you’re going to tell them in the body of your report. Your introduction gives the background to the report; why it is useful; what other objectives are; the purpose of the report; the limitations of the report 2. Heading This is where you begin the discussion, outlining relevant facts and events. This is the main body of the report, and is divided into sections (headings) and subheadings. 2.1 Subheading 2.2 Subheading 2.3 Subheading 3. Heading 3.1 Subheading 3.2 Subheading 3.3 Subheading 4. Conclusion This is where you give an overview of the material presented in the discussion and an interpretation of the relevant facts and events. 5. Recommendations These are drawn from your conclusions. Your recommendations outline the specific actions that are required. When detailing your recommendations you may also need to consider who will action them; how they will be measured; and the timeframe for the recommendations. The priority that you place on each recommendation may also be required. References A listing of all resources referred to in the report; assembled in author alphabetical order. These are not included in the word count. Refer to Topic 9 of this guide for more detail. Appendices The appendices include related materials, if appropriate. These are not included in the word count. These are optional for the reader, that is, the reader can choose whether they refer to them or not.

Motivational Letter Example Essay Example for Free

Motivational Letter Example Essay This letter is to express my interest in bringing my diverse professional background and experience to your organization.   I possess excellent interpersonal skills and am effective in motivating, mentoring, and coaching others demonstrating solid leadership skills. As you can gather from my attached resume, I am currently working as a Realtor for a major real estate firm.   My professional background includes working in both the public and private sector and it demonstrates my flexibility and adaptability to work in a variety of work environments. In addition to the skills noted on my attached resume, I can also offer your organization: Excellent customer service skills and a proven ability to increase customer satisfaction. An ability to work in a fast-paced environment utilizing my multi-tasking skills. Self-motivated and goal-oriented professional dedicated to achieving personal and professional growth. It is my hope that my education and professional experience will convey to you that I have the qualifications to make a valuable contribution as a School Counselor at any institution.   Should you have any questions, I can be reached at the number listed above.

Marketing Analysis of Dexit Inc

Marketing Analysis of Dexit Inc Case Analysis Report: Dexit Introduction to Dexit Inc. In 2001 a privately held firm known as Dexit Inc. (the â€Å"Debit Express† company) was formed by Renah Persofsky, a former member of the Bank of Montreal’s e-commerce subsidiary had left to pursue opportunities more aggressively. The company’s goal was to provide customers with a new convenient and easy to use electronic payment system that would provide an alternative option to cash for low-value transactions. Dexit Inc. had expected that this electronic payment service to be used for a small transaction averaging a cost of approximately of $4, however in addition there was a belief that this service could possibly be used for purchases potentially as large as $25. The design of Dexit’s service would allow customers to pay for goods and services by waving an electronic tag near a specialized reader that would be placed at a retail counter that would communicate in a secure manner with Dexit’s central payment clearing system. This process would on average be completed in less than three seconds which would generate fast no- hassle payments that could also be tracked enabling users to monitor their low-value purchases. This system which has been extensively tested and deemed to be highly reliable would be based on Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology. With this technology a secure personal identification number in the customer’s tag would be read wirelessly by the merchant’s terminal. Problem Identification Flashing forward to today, Renah Persofsky (CEO) is facing critical decisions regarding the launch of Dexit Inc.’s electronic payment system. Currently Dexit has attracted two of Canada’s largest banks as early stage investors and as well Telus Mobility, the wireless subsidiary of the country’s second largest telecommunications firm. All three entities have expressed significant enthusiasm for Dexit’s wireless payment service however each wanted to see a firm marketing plan before commitment of further resources to Dexit. The key decisions that CEO Renah Persofsky faced in order to push ahead with the project had included: Deciding which merchants and consumers Dexit’s service would target which would  shape the other aspects of the marketing plan. Determining whether any additions or changes needed to be made to the product itself. Establishing the pricing strategy that Dexit would implement which would take into  account the value of the service to merchants and consumers and their willingness to pay. Create a promotional plan to reach each target audience and decide between a Toronto-only launch, regional launch, or national launch in major Canadian cities. SWOT Analysis Strengths: Dexit has major companies like two of Canada’s largest banks and Telus Mobility supporting them which gives them huge area to explore. The new system is much more effective than the previous ones launched in the market because it provides an efficient way to settle retail transactions. The transactions are very secure and takes just three seconds for transactions to work due to Radio Frequency Identification (RDIF) technology.The company is targeting retail businesses characterized by high-frequency and low-value transactions by providing them with system which provides ease, speed and security. They are also targeting consumers who make lots of small transactions. They are providing customers with username and password so they can access their own account and keep track of their transactions. As for merchants they will be able to register for an account by providing basic information about financial institution to settle payments which will be executed on a daily basis by tra nsferring funds electronically to the merchants bank. And for retailers they offered faster payment than cash, credits or debit. Weakness: The history of the product outside the firm has been unsuccessful due to merchants finding the payment process costly and inconvenient since they had to operate two separate terminals: a traditional swipe reader for customer who used debit transaction and second to read the card’s computer chip for stored value transactions. Also, with major company backing the company it is crucial for Dexit to provide them with positive result. Opportunities: Dexit has opportunity to establish itself in the largest market for digital transactions. It also has a chance to explore the global market as their long term plan which will help them to expand their market and develop sustained competitive advantages. It will also help Dexit to bring in new ideas, expand their horizons and strengthen their market value. Threats: Since it is not easy to replicate the domestic market success globally it might not have to same positive results. Other companies can also easily attain the technology which could increase the risk of losing customers to the rivals. There are many other companies that allow customers to make electronic payments. Those companies give cards instead of key tags which means that customers will most likely stick to using cards since they are used to it. Also Dexit has just entered the market so it will take a while for the company to get customers. The company will have a hard time dealing with its competitors. Segmentation, Targeting and Positioning Dexit Inc. are providing consumers an easier and faster methods of making their everyday transactions. The target for Dexit Inc. can be divided into the consumers and the merchants. Merchants can save a lot of time servicing a customer at a busy store and consumers could save a great amount of time avoiding line-up on their way to something important. Places like gas stations and fast food restaurants usually with a heavy customer traffic are potential merchant groups. Key tags will not only reduce the time it takes to processed with a transaction but will also reduce the amount of theft from the cash register since everything would be done by electronic money. This will enable them to take more customer by avoiding walkaways. Merchants such as Esso, Tim Hortons, Mcdonalds are possible businesses that would benefit having Dexit receives at their locations. Dexit’s consumer market can be segmented by their work and lifestyle and attitudes. A consumer’s perception towards a fast food restaurants is to attain a quick service, even when it comes to making the payment for their purchase. Customers that usually rush to Tim Horton’s are eager to either get to work or to an educational institute. The target market would vary from young adult to early 50s would are either employed or enrolled at an educational institute. According to Employment and Social Development Canada about 81.6 percent canadian from ages 25 to 44 are employed and about 71.3 percent canadians from ages 45 to 65 are employed. These employed canadian are always in a hurry to get to work on time and rushing back home to avoid traffic. OCUL on their website states about 458,251 student across Ontario alone on their updated statistics August 2014. Dixits main focus should be towards targeting Canadian student and employed customers who use electronic payment methods to make their everyday purchases smoother and quicker. Imagine not requiring to take out your wallet and being able t o make a payment through a key holder that is attached to you car keys, or being able to tell how much of you money was spend on everyday small expenses such as gas, coffee or morning breakfast. In Canada, the market size has been estimated to be about 536 billion dollars in the payment industry, with about 4.1 billion transactions made through debit and credit cards. These cards often get lost or stolen without consumer’s attention and are also misused by frauds that can cost consumes a great amount of money. Key tags on the other hand are quite secure since their have less chances of getting lost and consumers can easily notice if key tag is lost. Consumers would be feel more safe and secured to make smaller everyday transaction. Product Strategy The core benefit in using Dexit’s payment system is to make is easier for consumers and merchant to make small amount purchases more efficiently. Small Purchases ranging from a dollar to about 25 dollars. This for everyday consumer would speed-up their ordering time and for merchants would speed-up the selling process. The product would also help consumer keep track of their small purchases with security. Key chain fob with the RFID technology is a very good payment system. Consumers would find it easier and more convenient to use keychain to make their small purchases. Consumers and merchants save time and also the risk of losing money. Consumer will no longer need to worry about giving exact change or worry about losing pocket change on their way to a nearby store. Place Strategy Since Dexit’s key tag is a brand new idea in the market, it would be better if the product is first tested out in a smaller market. Having Dexit Inc. promote their product nationally would be costly and very risk. If product not successful it could cost Dexit a huge amount on loses. To ensure the product is successful it would be beneficial is the company decided to introduce the product only in Ontario first. Dexit should focus on attracting market share in Ontario, since it already has a bigger population than other provinces. In 2001, the amount of interac direct payments equaled to about 755 million traction only in Ontario. There are about 6,551,298 interac direct users with about 116,241 merchants that also use interac. Currently in ontario the unemployment rate is about 6.9 percent, which is quite low. Student in Ontario have a quite large population. Price Strategy Dexit Inc. requires to strategize the price they would charge the consumers and their merchants. Effectively balancing payments between consumers and merchants will lead to adoption by both and prevent them from seeking alternatives. To do this it is important to not charge either side in a way that they will perceive as detrimental. Consumers will not be charged upfront for registering or to acquire the RFID tag. This avoids creating an initial investment barrier between consumers and their service. Consumers won’t need to invest to try out Dexit. Instead they will be charged a small fee for each transaction. They will be attracted to use Dexit because of it’s convenience and time-saving capabilities. They won’t mind paying the small transaction based fee. Instead they will focus on the opportunity to use a new, innovative, time saving technology. Merchants won’t be charged a transaction based fee. This will encourage them to promote Dexit to customers using payment methods that do charge a transaction fee like debit or credit. This is one of the ways Dexit will use a push strategy. Instead they will be charged an upfront cost to have the reader installed in their store. Merchants are more likely to be ok with an upfront cost, seeing it as an investment to attract customers that use Dexit and a competitive advantage in terms of convenience. Customers who value their time and prefer convenience will choose locations that have Dexit readers installed. This is one of the ways Dexit will employ a pull Strategy. By balancing the costs between merchants and consumers Dexit can encourage adoption among both groups. By receiving short term payments from merchants and long term payments from consumers Dexit can smooth out their revenue, allowing them to better plan for future expansions and investments. Promotion Strategy The main goal of Persofsky’s promotional strategy was to reach her chosen target markets. This could be determined by either a Pull or Push strategy. With a Push strategy, merchants are given incentives to promote the Dexit service. With a Pull strategy, a buzz is created around the product and helps increase the demand from consumers. A Pull strategy would work well for Dexit, based on the fact it is a product of major convenience, one that could catch on in the marketplace when promoted properly. When â€Å"buzz† is created around a product that can offer consumers something quick and tangible, it has a habit of catching on and allowing other consumers to see the benefits for themselves. With minimal cash flow, Dexit is forced to get creative with the promotional aspect of the product and company. Traditional advertising can be considered, along with sales promotions and direct marketing. Traditional advertising is effective because it can be used on so many different channels, such as radio, newspapers, magazines and television. By using traditional advertising, Dexit can reach a large number of consumers through the wide variety of channels. Final recommendation With Dexit being a new product, and this type of technology being new to consumers, it will be important to generate a high volume of sales in the early stages. This will require Dexit to penetrate the marketplace with low initial prices to gain as much traction as possible. The most plausible revenue model it to charge consumers a small percentage to use Dexit services. The consumers will most likely use Dexit due to it’s convenience and time-saving capabilities. Consumers will sacrifice the small percentage they will be paying for each transaction to save time at the checkout. In addition merchants can be charged when they purchase the Dexit POS terminals, this will create extra revenue for the company. Merchants will be likely to purchase the terminals because they want to attract consumers who are using Dexit, in hopes of having them enter their store instead of going to a competitors location. It will be important to try and sell the terminals to chain stores, who will place the Dexit terminal in all of their stores, and also receive a discounted price for bulk orders. Consumers should be able to receive the RFID tags for free, this will give the consumer a sense of nostalgia with the product and be more likely to keep it and attach it to a key-chain or store it in their wallet. If the consumers have to pay for the tag and then pay a charge each time they use it, they may feel like they are being taken advantage of and decide to use traditional forms of paying. Many consumers are very price sensitive and the additional tag charge may be ll it takes for them to stay away from Dexit. Contingencies With any type of business plan it is important to plan for unexpected events or sudden changes in the marketplace. These contingencies can stem from any part of the company or product that is being launched into the market and how they will change the original marketing plan that was developed before the launch.In the case of Dexit, there are many different contingencies that should be thought out and planned before launch. Firstly, a contingency should be developed in the case that the equipment or software that is used in the Dexit tag is faulty or has some issues. This is a common type of problem with any product that involves technology as there is no way to guarantee with 100% certainty that the product will not falter. Secondly, a contingency should be developed in case the consumers do not catch on to the Dexit product and sales are lagging form initial estimates. This may include switching up the promotional strategy or targeting a different consumer group than originally thought. It will only take a short time period to see whether or not consumers are beginning to use Dexit or not and at that point a decision will be made to stay the course or switch up the marketing plan.