371 research outputs found
New Technology-Based Firms' Persuit of SBIR Funds
This paper presents the results of a study that investigated the relationship between characteristics of firms and their experience with applying for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) funding. The basic issues investigated are (1) the relationship between firm characteristics and the decision to apply for SBIR funding, and (2) the relationship between firm characteristics and whether the SBIR application was successful. The results of the study demonstrate that local efforts to promote the SBJR program by encouraging firms to apply and by increasing the visibility of workshops can lead to a greater number of firms to apply for SBIR funding. Efforts directed at firms in small communities may be even more effective than efforts directed towards firms in large communities. The results also suggest that organizations that provide SBIR assistance may consider screening potential clients according to the business goals of firm’s owners. Owners of "life-style" firms may need extra encouragement and, perhaps, assistance to apply for SBJR funding. Finally, the results also imply that firms that are smaller (as compared to larger firms), have more limited experience raising capital, and serve a smaller market may need greater assistance in pursuing SBIR funding
Increasing the resolution and the signal-to-noise ratio of magnetic resonance sounding data using a central loop configuration
Surface nuclear magnetic resonance technique, also called magnetic resonance sounding (MRS), is an emerging geophysical method that can detect the presence and spatial variations of the subsurface water content directly. In this paper, we introduce the MRS central loop geometry, in which the receiver loop is smaller than the transmitter loop and placed in its centre. In addition, using a shielded receiver coil we show how this configuration greatly increases signal-to-noise ratio and improves the resolution of the subsurface layers compared to the typically used coincident loop configuration. We compare sensitivity kernels for different loop configurations and describe advantages of the MRS central loop geometry in terms of superior behaviour of the sensitivity function, increased sensitivity values, reduced noise level of the shielded receiver coil, improved resolution matrix and reduced instrument dead time. With no extra time and effort in the field, central-loop MRS makes it possible to reduce measurement time and to measure data in areas with high anthropogenic noise. The results of our field example agree well with the complementary data, namely airborne electromagnetics, borehole data, and the hydrologic model of the area
Large-scale 3-D modeling by integration of resistivity models and borehole data through inversion
We present an automatic method for parameterization of a 3-D model of the
subsurface, integrating lithological information from boreholes with
resistivity models through an inverse optimization, with the objective of
further detailing of geological models, or as direct input into groundwater
models. The parameter of interest is the clay fraction, expressed as the
relative length of clay units in a depth interval. The clay fraction is
obtained from lithological logs and the clay fraction from the resistivity
is obtained by establishing a simple petrophysical relationship, a
translator function, between resistivity and the clay fraction. Through
inversion we use the lithological data and the resistivity data to determine
the optimum spatially distributed translator function. Applying the
translator function we get a 3-D clay fraction model, which holds information
from the resistivity data set and the borehole data set in one variable.
Finally, we use k-means clustering to generate a 3-D model of the subsurface
structures. We apply the procedure to the Norsminde survey in Denmark,
integrating approximately 700 boreholes and more than 100 000 resistivity
models from an airborne survey in the parameterization of the 3-D model
covering 156 km2. The final five-cluster 3-D model differentiates between
clay materials and different high-resistivity materials from information held
in the resistivity model and borehole observations, respectively
Expansion of the Gene Ontology knowledgebase and resources
The Gene Ontology (GO) is a comprehensive resource of computable knowledge regarding the functions of genes and gene products. As such, it is extensively used by the biomedical research community for the analysis of -omics and related data. Our continued focus is on improving the quality and utility of the GO resources, and we welcome and encourage input from researchers in all areas of biology. In this update, we summarize the current contents of the GO knowledgebase, and present several new features and improvements that have been made to the ontology, the annotations and the tools. Among the highlights are 1) developments that facilitate access to, and application of, the GO knowledgebase, and 2) extensions to the resource as well as increasing support for descriptions of causal models of biological systems and network biology. To learn more, visit http://geneontology.org/
Transboundary geophysical mapping of geological elements and salinity distribution critical for the assessment of future sea water intrusion in response to sea level rise
Geophysical techniques are increasingly being used as tools for characterising the subsurface, and they are generally required to develop subsurface models that properly delineate the distribution of aquifers and aquitards, salt/freshwater interfaces, and geological structures that affect groundwater flow. In a study area covering 730 km2 across the border between Germany and Denmark, a combination of an airborne electromagnetic survey (performed with the SkyTEM system), a high-resolution seismic survey and borehole logging has been used in an integrated mapping of important geological, physical and chemical features of the subsurface. The spacing between flight lines is 200–250 m which gives a total of about 3200 line km. About 38 km of seismic lines have been collected. Faults bordering a graben structure, buried tunnel valleys, glaciotectonic thrust complexes, marine clay units, and sand aquifers are all examples of geological structures mapped by the geophysical data that control groundwater flow and to some extent hydrochemistry. Additionally, the data provide an excellent picture of the salinity distribution in the area and thus provide important information on the salt/freshwater boundary and the chemical status of groundwater. Although the westernmost part of the study area along the North Sea coast is saturated with saline water and the TEM data therefore are strongly influenced by the increased electrical conductivity there, buried valleys and other geological elements are still revealed. The mapped salinity distribution indicates preferential flow paths through and along specific geological structures within the area. The effects of a future sea level rise on the groundwater system and groundwater chemistry are discussed with special emphasis on the importance of knowing the existence, distribution and geometry of the mapped geological elements, and their control on the groundwater salinity distribution is assessed
Deep groundwater and potential subsurface habitats beneath an Antarctic dry valley
The occurrence of groundwater in Antarctica, particularly in the ice-free regions and along the coastal margins is poorly understood. Here we use an airborne transient electromagnetic (AEM) sensor to produce extensive imagery of resistivity beneath Taylor Valley. Regional-scale zones of low subsurface resistivity were detected that are inconsistent with the high resistivity of glacier ice or dry permafrost in this region. We interpret these results as an indication that liquid, with sufficiently high solute content, exists at temperatures well below freezing and considered within the range suitable for microbial life. These inferred brines are widespread within permafrost and extend below glaciers and lakes. One system emanates from below Taylor Glacier into Lake Bonney and a second system connects the ocean with the eastern 18 km of the valley. A connection between these two basins was not detected to the depth limitation of the AEM survey (∼350 m)
Deep Groundwater and Potential Subsurface Habitats Beneath an Antarctic Dry Valley
The occurrence of groundwater in Antarctica, particularly in the ice-free regions and along the coastal margins is poorly understood. Here we use an airborne transient electromagnetic (AEM) sensor to produce extensive imagery of resistivity beneath Taylor Valley. Regional- scale zones of low subsurface resistivity were detected that are inconsistent with the high resistivity of glacier ice or dry permafrost in this region. We interpret these results as an indication that liquid, with sufficiently high solute content, exists at temperatures well below freezing and considered within the range suitable for microbial life. These inferred brines are widespread within permafrost and extend below glaciers and lakes. One system emanates from below Taylor Glacier into Lake Bonney and a second system connects the ocean with the eastern 18 km of the valley. A connection between these two basins was not detected to the depth limitation of the AEM survey (~350 m)
English summaries/danske resuméer
English summaries of Danish- and German-language articles /danske resuméer af engelsk- og tysksprogede artikle
The BioGRID Interaction Database: 2011 update
The Biological General Repository for Interaction Datasets (BioGRID) is a public database that archives and disseminates genetic and protein
interaction data from model organisms and humans
(http://www.thebiogrid.org). BioGRID currently holds 347 966
interactions (170 162 genetic, 177 804 protein) curated from both
high-throughput data sets and individual focused studies, as derived
from over 23 000 publications in the primary literature. Complete
coverage of the entire literature is maintained for budding yeast
(Saccharomyces cerevisiae), fission yeast (Schizosaccharomyces pombe)
and thale cress (Arabidopsis thaliana), and efforts to expand curation
across multiple metazoan species are underway. The BioGRID houses 48
831 human protein interactions that have been curated from 10 247
publications. Current curation drives are focused on particular areas
of biology to enable insights into conserved networks and pathways that
are relevant to human health. The BioGRID 3.0 web interface contains
new search and display features that enable rapid queries across
multiple data types and sources. An automated Interaction Management
System (IMS) is used to prioritize, coordinate and track curation
across international sites and projects. BioGRID provides interaction
data to several model organism databases, resources such as Entrez-Gene
and other interaction meta-databases. The entire BioGRID 3.0 data
collection may be downloaded in multiple file formats, including PSI MI
XML. Source code for BioGRID 3.0 is freely available without any
restrictions
The Gene Ontology Resource: 20 years and still GOing strong
The Gene Ontology resource (GO; http://geneontology.org) provides structured, computable knowledge regarding the functions of genes and gene products. Founded in 1998, GO has become widely adopted in the life sciences, and its contents are under continual improvement, both in quantity and in quality. Here, we report the major developments of the GO resource during the past two years. Each monthly release of the GO resource is now packaged and given a unique identifier (DOI), enabling GO-based analyses on a specific release to be reproduced in the future. The molecular function ontology has been refactored to better represent the overall activities of gene products, with a focus on transcription regulator activities. Quality assurance efforts have been ramped up to address potentially out-of-date or inaccurate annotations. New evidence codes for high-throughput experiments now enable users to filter out annotations obtained from these sources. GO-CAM, a new framework for representing gene function that is more expressive than standard GO annotations, has been released, and users can now explore the growing repository of these models. We also provide the ‘GO ribbon’ widget for visualizing GO annotations to a gene; the widget can be easily embedded in any web page
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