Angel Investment Criteria

Start-up businesses often need external financing to grow. These new ventures frequently turn to business angel investors for capital. Angels, who are often wealthy individuals, provide early stage financing, called seed capital, for these start-up ventures. This study examines what a group of angel investors in Southern California consider when reviewing an investment opportunity, and how they prioritize their investment criteria. The study utilizes a two-phase approach consisting of a qualitative first phase and a quantitative second phase. The results of this study show that trustworthiness of the entrepreneur, quality of the management team, enthusiasm of the lead entrepreneur, and exit opportunities for the angel are the angels' top criteria

High Tech Entrepreneurial Careers: A Model of Stages, Phases, and Ages

The meteoric rise, dramatic fall, and spectacular comeback associated with Steve Jobs’ career path is an evocative example of the risks and rewards associated with following a high-tech entrepreneurial career. While research on entrepreneurs has primarily focused on their characteristics, there is limited research on the career paths of entrepreneurs in either the careers or the entrepreneurship literature. The purpose of this paper is to propose a new model of entrepreneurial careers that better reflects the realities of pursuing a career in the high-tech computer industry. The proposed model considers the role that stages, phases, and ages play in the careers of hightech entrepreneurs

Ovarian antral follicle number and the amount of gonadotropin used in ovarian stimulation in polycystic ovarian patients.

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome is the most common cause of anovulation, and the number of antral follicles is of great importance in determining ovarian reserve, so identification of patients with diminished ovarian reserve help in choosing individualized and well managed ovulation induction protocol. The aim of the study is to find out if the number of ovarian antral follicles could affect the amount of gonadotropins used in ovarian stimulation in polycystic ovarian patients. Patients and methods: Ninty four infertile polycystic ovaries women, attending the infertility clinic at Baghdad teaching hospital, during the period of November 2005 to October 2006, were compared to 62 control group women who have unexplained infertility. After exact history and examination, ultrasound was done to both groups at cycle day 3 for antral follicle counting. Then ovarian stimulation was started with gonadotropins, and another ultrasound was done on cycle day 13 for mature follicles confirmation. Results: Antral follicle number was found to be significantly higher in patients than control groups (9.98 ± 2.09 vs 5.40±2.02). Age was found to be negatively correlated with antral follicle size and number in patient and control groups. After measuring the number of mature follicles at cycle day 13 it was observed that the antral follicle number was correlating positively and significantly with the number of follicles at cycle day 13, but negatively with the amount of gonadotropin used for ovarian stimulation in patients and control groups. Conclusion: Antral follicles number is significantly higher in polycystic ovary patients and they correlate negatively with age. Antral follicle number is a good predictor of the number of gonadotropin ampouls used for ovarian stimulation

The Effect of Thyroxine Treatment in Infertile Subclinical Hypothyroid Patients

Background: Sub-clinical hypothyroidism (SCTD) is most commonly an early stage of hypothyroidism. Although the condition may resolve or remain unchanged, within a few years in some patients, overt hypothyroidism may develop, with low free T4 levels as well as a raised thyroid stimulating hormone(TSH) level. In general thyroid dysfunction is a condition known to reduce the likelihood of pregnancy and to adversely affect pregnancy outcome. As screening for thyroid disease becomes more common, SCTD is being diagnosed more frequently in clinical practice. The aim of the study is to find out the effect of treating SCTD with thyroxin on the fertility status of the female patient. Patients and methods: Forty three infertile patients attending the infertility clinic at Baghdad teaching hospital were compared to 32 control un explained infertility women. After exact history and examination, hormonal analysis (T3 and T4, TSH, Prolactin and Progesterone) and ultrasound were done for patients and control, then the patients were randomly divided into 2 groups one group was given thyroxine treatment, the other group was given parlodel, and after 3 months the hormonal analysis and ultrasound were repeated and compared to the previous results. Results: Comparing the patient group to the control showed a significant increase in the TSH and prolactin level in patients group but the progesterone concentration was not significantly different between the groups. After giving thyroxine the group who received it showed significant reduction in prolactin and improvement in the dominant follicle size and progesterone level while the group who was given parlodel showed only significant reduction in prolactin with no significant increase in the other 2 parameters. Conclusion: TSH in subclinical hypothyroidisim is correlated positively with age and with the prolactin concentration. Treatment with thyroxine induces a significant improvement in the fertility statues including the significant decrease in prolacttin concentration and increase in the dominant follicle size and increase in the progesterone level compared to those given parlodel only. This makes it obvious that treating patients with SCTD have a significant reflection on their fertility and ability for future pregnancy

The Sensitivity of the Redshift Distribution to Galaxy Demographics

Photometric redshifts are commonly used to measure the distribution of galaxies in large surveys. However, the demands of ongoing and future large-scale cosmology surveys place very stringent limits on the redshift performance that are difficult to meet. A new approach to meet this precision need is forward modelling, which is underpinned by realistic simulations. In the work presented here, we use simulations to study the sensitivity of redshift distributions to the underlying galaxy population demographics. We do this by varying the redshift evolving parameters of the Schechter function for two galaxy populations, star-forming and quenched galaxies. Each population is characterised by eight parameters. We find that the redshift distribution of shallow surveys, such as SDSS, is mainly sensitive to the parameters for quenched galaxies. However, for deeper surveys such as DES and HSC, the star-forming parameters have a stronger impact on the redshift distribution. Specifically, the slope of the characteristic magnitude, $a_\mathrm{M}$, for star-forming galaxies has overall the strongest impact on the redshift distribution. Decreasing $a_\mathrm{M}$ by 148 per cent (its given uncertainty) shifts the mean redshift by ${\sim} 45$ per cent. We explore which combination of colour and magnitude measurements are most sensitive to $a_\mathrm{M}$ and we find that each colour-magnitude pair studied is similarly affected by a modification of $a_\mathrm{M}$

Multiple genome comparison based on overlap regions of pairwise local alignments

Jahn K, Sudek H, Stoye J. Multiple genome comparison based on overlap regions of pairwise local alignments. BMC Bioinformatics. 2012;13(Suppl. 19: Proc. of RECOMB-CG 2012): S7.Background Mancheron, Uricaru and Rivals (Nucleic Acids Res. 39:e101, 2011) recently introduced a new approach in the context of multiple genome comparison that allows to detect regions of strong overlaps in a set of pairwise local alignments between several reference genomes and one target genome. Such overlap regions are an important source of information in genome annotation. Results In this paper we introduce a series of algorithms that improve over the approach of Mancheron et al., both in terms of computational complexity and in practical runtime. We also extend the problem definition such that overlaps to different reference genomes can be rated differently and regions overlapping only a subset of the reference genomes are detected

The effect of blood lead level on packed cell volume in a sample of Iraqi population.

Background: Low hemoglobin levels and lead exposure remain significant health issues in many parts of the world, often occurring together, however most of the researches concentrate on the effect of high levels of lead .This study aimed to demonstrate the effect of blood lead level on hemoglobin and packed cell volume (PCV). Patients and Methods: Fifty eight adult volunteers were enrolled in this study with age range between 23 and 55 years, working in the different departments in medical college of Baghdad University. Whole blood was withdrawn in EDTA tubes. Hemoglobin and PCV were measured and blood lead level was estimated using blood lead testing system including lead care kit and lead care analyzer. Results: After measuring blood lead level and correlate it to PCV in all volunteers results revealed a significant negative correlation between them which is obvious in both smokers and non-smokers groups. Age was found to correlate positively and significantly with blood lead level in non smokers group. Comparing the blood levels of lead and PCV in both smokers and non-smokers shows non-significant difference between them although blood lead level was higher in smokers group. Conclusion: Blood lead levels is increased with age. There is a significant decrease in PCV with the increase in blood lead level which is noticed in both smokers and non smokers. There is a significant increase of blood lead levels in smokers group

Die Bibliothek der Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz im Urteil der Studierenden

Im Wintersemester 2009/2010 und im Sommersemester 2010 wurde am Institut für Soziologie der Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz unter unserer Leitung eine mündliche standardisierte Befragung durchgeführt, das sich mit der Nutzung und Bewertung des bibliothekarischen Angebotes dieser Universität durch die Studierenden beschäftigte. Aus der Grundgesamtheit der Studierenden im Wintersemester 2009/2010 wurde anhand einer Quotenauswahl eine Stichprobe im Umfang von n = 453 bestimmt.Folgende Untersuchungsergebnisse sind hervorzuheben: Zu Studienzwecken arbeiten die Studierenden bevorzugt zu Hause und nicht in einer Bibliothek oder in einem anderen Arbeitsraum der Universität.Die unterschiedlichen elektronischen Angebote der Bibliothek, die allen Studierenden zur Verfügung stehen, werden von fast 90% der Studierenden zumindest teilweise wahrgenommen. Die Arbeit am Rechner zu Hause wird technisch durch die elektronischen Angebote der Bibliothek ermöglicht und unterstützt, ebenso die ortsunabhängige Benutzung eines Laptops. Lob für die Bibliothek gibt es besonders für den Sachverstand der Bibliotheksmitarbeiter, die langen Öffnungszeiten und das reibungslose Funktionieren des Ausleihprozesses. Gleichfalls hervorgehoben wird die Qualität elektronischer Dienstleistungen (Reader-Plus, E-Mail-Erinnerungsservice, Verlängerungs- und Vormerkungsservice). Kritik äußern viele Studierende an der mangelnden Aktualität der Buchbestände und an der zu geringen Anzahl an Buchexemplaren bei Werken, die zur Standardliteratur ihres Faches gehören. Häufig wird gefordert, dass der Anteil der ausleihbaren Bücher zu Lasten des Präsenzbestandes vergrößert werden sollte. Gewünscht werden ebenfalls eine ‚Modernisierung‘ von Arbeitsräumen und eine Erweiterung der Arbeitsplätze insbesondere für Arbeitsgruppen. Zusätzlich sollten nach Auffassung vieler Studierender innerhalb der Bibliothek Aufenthaltsräume für die Erholung und Kommunikation in Pausen geschaffen werden. Allgemein zeigt sich, dass beim Aufenthalt in den Bibliotheken nicht nur auf Funktionalität Wert gelegt wird

Phytoplankton surveys in the Arctic Fram Strait demonstrate the tiny eukaryotic alga Micromonas and other picoprasinophytes contribute to deep sea export

© The Author(s), 2022. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. The definitive version was published in Bachy, C., Sudek, L., Choi, C. J., Eckmann, C. A., Nöthig, E.-M., Metfies, K., & Worden, A. Z. Phytoplankton surveys in the Arctic Fram Strait demonstrate the tiny eukaryotic alga Micromonas and other picoprasinophytes contribute to deep sea export. Microorganisms, 10(5), (2022): 961, https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10050961.Critical questions exist regarding the abundance and, especially, the export of picophytoplankton (≤2 µm diameter) in the Arctic. These organisms can dominate chlorophyll concentrations in Arctic regions, which are subject to rapid change. The picoeukaryotic prasinophyte Micromonas grows in polar environments and appears to constitute a large, but variable, proportion of the phytoplankton in these waters. Here, we analyze 81 samples from the upper 100 m of the water column from the Fram Strait collected over multiple years (2009–2015). We also analyze sediment trap samples to examine picophytoplankton contributions to export, using both 18S rRNA gene qPCR and V1-V2 16S rRNA Illumina amplicon sequencing to assess the Micromonas abundance within the broader diversity of photosynthetic eukaryotes based on the phylogenetic placement of plastid-derived 16S amplicons. The material sequenced from the sediment traps in July and September 2010 showed that 11.2 ± 12.4% of plastid-derived amplicons are from picoplanktonic prasinophyte algae and other green lineage (Viridiplantae) members. In the traps, Micromonas dominated (83.6 ± 21.3%) in terms of the overall relative abundance of Viridiplantae amplicons, specifically the species Micromonas polaris. Temporal variations in Micromonas abundances quantified by qPCR were also observed, with higher abundances in the late-July traps and deeper traps. In the photic zone samples, four prasinophyte classes were detected in the amplicon data, with Micromonas again being the dominant prasinophyte, based on the relative abundance (89.4 ± 8.0%), but with two species (M. polaris and M. commoda-like) present. The quantitative PCR assessments showed that the photic zone samples with higher Micromonas abundances (>1000 gene copies per mL) had significantly lower standing stocks of phosphate and nitrate, and a shallower average depth (20 m) than those with fewer Micromonas. This study shows that despite their size, prasinophyte picophytoplankton are exported to the deep sea, and that Micromonas is particularly important within this size fraction in Arctic marine ecosystems.This research was supported by funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) DEB-1639033, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation Marine Investigator Award grant 3788, and fellowships from the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Research at Harvard University and the Hanse-Wissenschaftskolleg for Marine and Climate Science, awarded to A.Z.W. Contribution to HGF POF-IV 6.1, 6.3, and 6.4