Jennifer Chu

Due to the challenge of balancing exploration and exploitation in Multi-Armed Bandits (MAB) problems, it is rather challenging to determine the optimal exploration length for diverse datasets. This paper presents an in-depth investigation of the hyperparameter setting for the Explore-Then-Commit (ETC) algorithm, emphasizing an enforced exploration strategy to guarantee adequate exploration of each arm. This investigation will be realized in the context of movie recommendation systems, specifically utilizing the MovieLens 1M dataset. Two key hyperparameters are scrutinized: the horizon, which sets the overall timeframe of the algorithm's execution, and the number of times each arm is explored. The study systematically varies these parameters to study their influence on cumulative regret, a measure of the opportunity cost each time a non-optimal arm is sampled. The empirical examination of the ETC algorithm, conducted employing the MovieLens 1M dataset, has yielded significant discernments pertaining to the dynamic configuration of exploration lengths tailored to particular datasets. The empirical findings underscore that judicious fine-tuning of the ETC algorithm's hyperparameters, under a defined horizon of 50,000 and an exploration length of 500, engenders commendable competitive performance. This optimized configuration notably excels in the domain of genre recommendations, particularly manifesting enhanced proficiency in suggesting genres characterized by the most elevated average ratings. This research accentuates and reinforces the comprehension of hyperparameters under the exploration and exploitation dilemma, thereby providing a structured pathway for the forthcoming applicability of MAB in the wider realm of recommendation systems.

A measurement of the Higgs boson Yukawa coupling to the top quark is presented using proton-proton collision data at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 137 fb$^{-1}$, recorded with the CMS detector. The coupling strength with respect to the standard model value, $Y_\mathrm{t}$, is determined from kinematic distributions in $\mathrm{t\bar{t}}$ final states containing ee, $μμ$, or e$μ$ pairs. Variations of the Yukawa coupling strength lead to modified distributions for $\mathrm{t\bar{t}}$ production. In particular, the distributions of the mass of the $\mathrm{t\bar{t}}$ system and the rapidity difference of the top quark and antiquark are sensitive to the value of $Y_\mathrm{t}$. The measurement yields a best fit value of $Y_\mathrm{t} =$ 1.16 $^{+0.24}_{-0.35}$, bounding $Y_\mathrm{t}$ $\lt$ 1.54 at a 95% confidence level.

A search for exclusive two-photon production via photon exchange in proton-proton collisions, pp $\to$ p$γγ$p with intact protons, is presented. The data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 9.4 fb$^{-1}$ collected in 2016 using the CMS and TOTEM detectors at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV at the LHC. Events are selected with a diphoton invariant mass above 350 GeV and with both protons intact in the final state, to reduce backgrounds from strong interactions. The events of interest are those where the invariant mass and rapidity calculated from the momentum losses of the forward-moving protons matches the mass and rapidity of the central, two-photon system. No events are found that satisfy this condition. Interpreting this result in an effective dimension-8 extension of the standard model, the first limits are set on the two anomalous four-photon coupling parameters. If the other parameter is constrained to its standard model value, the limits at 95% CL are $\lvertζ_1\rvert$ $\lt$ 2.9 $\times$ 10$^{-13}$ GeV$^{-4}$ and $\lvertζ_2\rvert$ $\lt$ 6.0 $\times$ 10$^{-13}$ GeV$^{-4}$.

As SARS-CoV-2 continues to mutate into Variants of Concern (VOC), there is growing and urgent need to develop effective antivirals to combat COVID-19. Monoclonal antibodies developed earlier are no longer capable of effectively neutralizing currently active VOCs. This report describes the design of variant-agnostic chimeric molecules consisting of an Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE-2) domain mutated to retain ultrahigh affinity binding to a wide variety of SARS-CoV-2 variants, coupled to an Fc-silent immunoglobulin domain that eliminates antibody-dependent enhancement and extends biological half-life.Molecular modeling, Surrogate Viral Neutralization tests (sVNTs) and infection studies of human airway organoid cultures were performed with synthetic chimeras, SARS-CoV-2 spike protein mimics and SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants B.1.1.214, BA.1, BA.2 and BA.5.ACE-2 mutations L27, V34 and E90 resulted in ultrahigh affinity binding of the LVE-ACE-2 domain to the widest variety of VOCs, with KDs of 93 pM and 73 pM for binding to the Alpha B1.1.7 and Omicron B.1.1.529 variants, and notably, 78fM, 133fM and 1.81pM affinities to the Omicron BA.2, BA2.75 and BQ.1.1 subvariants, respectively. sVNT assays revealed titers of ≥4.9 ng/ml, for neutralization of recombinant viral proteins corresponding to the Alpha, Delta and Omicron variants. The values above were obtained with LVE-ACE-2/mAB chimeras containing the FcRn-binding Y-T-E sequence which extends biological half-life 3-4-fold.The ACE-2-mutant/Fc silent fusion proteins described have ultrahigh affinity to a wide variety of SARS-CoV-2 variants including Omicron. It is proposed that these chimeric ACE-2/mABs will constitute variant-agnostic and cost-effective prophylactics against SARS-CoV-2, particularly when administered nasally.

Charge-dependent anisotropy Fourier coefficients ($v_n$) of particle azimuthal distributions are measured in pPb and PbPb collisions at $ \sqrt{\smash[b]{s_{_{\mathrm{NN}}}}} = $ 5.02 TeV with the CMS detector at the LHC. The normalized difference in the second-order anisotropy coefficients ($v_2$) between positively and negatively charged particles is found to depend linearly on the observed event charge asymmetry with comparable slopes for both pPb and PbPb collisions over a wide range of charged particle multiplicity. In PbPb, the third-order anisotropy coefficient, $v_3$, shows a similar linear dependence with the same slope as seen for $v_2$. The observed similarities between the $v_2$ slopes for pPb and PbPb, as well as the similar slopes for $v_2$ and $v_3$ in PbPb, are compatible with expectations based on local charge conservation in the decay of clusters or resonances, and constitute a challenge to the hypothesis that the observed charge asymmetry dependence of $v_2$ in heavy ion collisions arises from a chiral magnetic wave.

Abstract As the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 continues to mutate into Variants of Concern (VOC), there is a growing and urgent need to develop effective antivirals to combat the newly emerged infectious disease COVID-19. Recent data indicate that monoclonal antibodies developed early in the pandemic are no longer capable of effectively neutralizing currently active VOCs. This report describes the design of a class of variant-agnostic chimeric molecules consisting of an Angiotensin Converting Enzyme-2 (ACE-2) domain mutated to retain ultrahigh affinity binding to a wide variety of SARS-CoV-2 variants, coupled to an Fc-silent immunoglobulin domain that eliminates antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) and simultaneously extends biological half-life compared to existing mABs. Molecular modeling revealed that ACE-2 mutations L27, V34 and E90 resulted in ultrahigh affinity binding of the LVE-ACE-2 domain to the widest variety of VOCs, with KDs of 93 pM, 507 pM and 73 pM for binding to the Alpha B1.1.7, Delta B.1.617.2 and Omicron B.1.1.529 variants, and notably, 78fM affinity to the Omicron BA.2 variant, respectively. Surrogate viral neutralization assays (sVNT) revealed titers of ≥4.9ng/ml , for neutralization of recombinant viral proteins corresponding to the Alpha, Delta and Omicron variants. The values above were obtained with LVE-ACE-2/mAB chimeras containing the Y-T-E sequence that enhances binding to the FcRn receptor, which in turn is expected to extend biological half-life 3-4-fold. It is proposed that this new class of chimeric ACE-2/mABs will constitute variant-agnostic and cost-effective prophylactics against SARS-CoV-2, particularly when administered by nasal delivery systems.

The strong Coulomb field created in ultrarelativistic heavy ion collisions is expected to produce a rapidity-dependent difference ($\Delta v_2$) in the second Fourier coefficient of the azimuthal distribution (elliptic flow, $v_2$) between $\mathrm{D}^0$ ($\mathrm{\bar{u}c}$) and $\overline{\mathrm{D}}^0$ ($\mathrm{u\bar{c}}$) mesons. Motivated by the search for evidence of this field, the CMS detector at the LHC is used to perform the first measurement of $\Delta v_2$. The rapidity-averaged value is found to be $\langle\Delta v_2 \rangle =$ 0.001 $\pm$ 0.001 (stat) $\pm$ 0.003 (syst) in PbPb collisions at $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}} =$ 5.02 TeV. In addition, the influence of the collision geometry is explored by measuring the $\mathrm{D}^0$ and $\overline{\mathrm{D}}^0$ mesons $v_2$ and triangular flow coefficient ($v_3$) as functions of rapidity, transverse momentum ($p_\mathrm{T}$), and event centrality (a measure of the overlap of the two Pb nuclei). A clear centrality dependence of prompt $\mathrm{D}^0$ meson $v_2$ values is observed, while the $v_3$ is largely independent of centrality. These trends are consistent with expectations of flow driven by the initial-state geometry.

This paper looks into recent developments in the EU regulation of geographical indications: the repeal of Regulation 2081/92 on geographical indications and the passage of Regulation 510/2006, following the WTO Panel Report on the United Statesi?½ complaint against the European Union and Regulation 2081/92. The Panel Report and its consequences on EU GI legislation demonstrate some of the fundamental tensions between the EU and U.S. perspectives on whether and how geographical indications should be protected, at both the national and international level.

Polynomial multiplication with big integer coefficients over finite field is frequently used in some digital signature algorithms, in which this kind of calculation is the most time consuming part realized by software. This paper presents a new method (FFT/IFFT) and tries to solve it using FPGA. With the reduced calculation amount compared with normal algorithm and realized in hardware, it will greatly raise not only the performance of this calculation procedure but also the level of security. At the end of this paper, some intermediate results are given.

The CMS experiment at the LHC has measured the differential cross sections of Z bosons decaying to pairs of leptons, as functions of transverse momentum and rapidity, in lead-lead collisions at a nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energy of 5.02 TeV. The measured Z boson elliptic azimuthal anisotropy coefficient is compatible with zero, showing that Z bosons do not experience significant final-state interactions in the medium produced in the collision. Yields of Z bosons are compared to Glauber model predictions and are found to deviate from these expectations in peripheral collisions, indicating the presence of initial collision geometry and centrality selection effects. The precision of the measurement allows, for the first time, for a data-driven determination of the nucleon-nucleon integrated luminosity as a function of lead-lead centrality, thereby eliminating the need for its estimation based on a Glauber model.