Geophysical study of the structure and processes of the continental convergence zones: Alpine-Himalayan belt

Studies of the structure of the continental collision zones using seismic and body waves, theoretical modelling of the thermal regime of the convergence processes, and studies of earthquake mechanisms and deformation aspects of the model are covered

Geophysical study of the structure and processes of the continental convergence zones: Alpine-Himalayan Belt

Intracontinental deformation occurrence and the processes and physical parameters that control the rates and styles of deformation were examined. Studies addressing specific mechanical aspects of deformation were reviewed and the studies of deformation and of the structure of specific areas were studied considering the strength of the material and the gravitational effect

The interpretation of crustal dynamics data in terms of plate interactions and active tectonics of the Anatolian plate and surrounding regions in the Middle East

A detailed study was made of the consequences of the Arabian plate convergence against Eurasia and its effects on the tectonics of Anatolia and surrounding regions of the eastern Mediterranean. A primary source of information is time rates of change of baseline lengths and relative heights determined by repeated SLR measurements. These SLR observations are augmented by a network of GPS stations in Anatolia, Aegea, and Greece, established and twice surveyed since 1988. The existing SLR and GPS networks provide the spatial resolution necessary to reveal the details of ongoing tectonic processes in this area of continental collision. The effort has involved examining the state of stress in the lithosphere and relative plate motions as revealed by these space based geodetic measurements, seismicity, and earthquake mechanisms as well as the aseismic deformations of the plates from conventional geodetic data and geological evidence. These observations are used to constrain theoretical calculations of the relative effects of: (1) the push of the Arabian plate; (2) high topography of Eastern Anatolia; (3) the geometry and properties of African-Eurasian plate boundary; (4) subduction under the Hellenic Arc and southwestern Turkey; and (5) internal deformation and rotation of the Anatolian plate

The Interpretation of Crustal Dynamics Data in Terms of Plate Interactions and Active Tectonics of the Anatolian Plate and Surrounding Regions in the Middle East

During the past 6 months, efforts were concentrated on the following areas: (1) Continued development of realistic, finite element modeling of plate interactions and associated deformation in the Eastern Mediterranean; (2) Neotectonic field investigations of seismic faulting along the active fault systems in Turkey with emphasis on identifying seismic gaps along the North Anatolian fault; and (3) Establishment of a GPS regional monitoring network in the zone of ongoing continental collision in eastern Turkey (supported in part by NSF)

Distinctive growth requirements and gene expression patterns distinguish progenitor B cells from pre-B cells.

Long-term bone marrow cultures have been useful in determining gene expression patterns in pre-B cells and in the identification of cytokines such as interleukin 7 (IL-7). We have developed a culture system to selectively grow populations of B lineage restricted progenitors (pro-B cells) from murine bone marrow. Pro-B cells do not grow in response to IL-7, Steel locus factor (SLF), or a combination of the two. c-kit, the SLF receptor, and the IL-7 receptor are both expressed by pro-B cells, indicating that the lack of response is not simply due to the absence of receptors. Furthermore, SLF is not necessary for the growth of pro-B cells since they could be expanded on a stromal line derived from Steel mice that produces no SLF. IL-7 responsiveness in pre-B cells is associated with an increase in n-myc expression and is correlated with immunoglobulin (Ig) gene rearrangements. Although members of the ets family of transcription factors and the Pim-1 kinase are expressed by pro-B cells, n-myc is not expressed. Pro-B cells maintain Ig genes in the germline configuration, which is correlated with a low level of recombination activating genes 1 and 2 (Rag-1 and 2) mRNA expression, but high expression of sterile mu and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase. Pro-B cells are unable to grow separated from the stromal layer by a porous membrane, indicating that stromal contact is required for growth. These results suggest that pro-B cells are dependent on alternative growth signals derived from bone marrow stroma and can be distinguished from pre-B cells by specific patterns of gene expression

Enabling poll surveys via in-app advertisements

Pollsters often seek to cost-effectively obtain data on issues of immediate relevance. App developers have available ad inventory that can allow pollsters to reach users of their apps. Advertising networks benefit from being able to uniquely identify users to serve more relevant ads. The techniques of this disclosure expand the scope of typical ad experience to include polls. A pollster creates a poll, e.g., using automated template tools provided by an ad network. The poll is served to app users in formats such as banner, native, interstitial, rewarded ads, etc. Users are provided with rewards for responding to the poll

Automated online product ads

Online advertisements for products are typically created manually and integrated by the product seller into the ad network. The initiative for ad creation and integration generally rests with the product seller. There is some opacity in the pricing of such ads, resulting in periods when ads are mispriced. This disclosure provides techniques that enable a third-party ad affiliate, e.g., not necessarily a product seller, to automatically generate product ads and price them based on the revenue they generate. For example, an auto-generated ad is priced based on a comparison between the cost of placing the ad and the referral fee received from product seller upon conversion of ad to sale

Payment Card Offers And Selection Based On Benefits Offered If Applied To Present Transactions

By examining a user’s current payment card transaction and payment card transaction history, the present technology examines the benefits of using each of a plurality of payment cards and determines, based on rules, 1) which existing user payment card to recommend/use in the current transaction, and/or 2) which new user payment card to recommend/offer to the user

Ad network speed comparison tool

Online ads that take too long to serve lead to users not paying attention to the ad, or even leaving the app. App developers, who want to maximize ad revenue and user engagement, thus have an interest in measuring and optimizing ad-serving times. This disclosure presents real-time tools to compare latencies of one or more ad networks on a side-by-side basis. App developers can use the tools provided herein to compare ad-network latencies and to optimize the selection of ad networks

Audio ads endorsed socially

With the advent of conversational smart assistants, users are increasingly spending time with screen-free devices and audio media. Advertisers want to effectively reach these users and engage with them. However, at present they lack ad formats beyond television and radio style commercials, which are generic broadcast ads not personalized to the user. This disclosure describes audio ads that are endorsed by individuals within a user’s social network. An advertiser collates comments about a product through social media. The social network of commentators who favorably view the product is determined. With the permission of such commentators, their comments about the product are played back to individuals within their social network. Such comments are played during ad slots within, e.g., a podcast, a streaming audio session, etc