Discovering Credit Cardholders’ Behavior by Multiple Criteria Linear Programming

In credit card portfolio management, predicting the cardholder’s spending behavior is a key to reduce the risk of bankruptcy. Given a set of attributes for major aspects of credit cardholders and predefined classes for spending behaviors, this paper proposes a classification model by using multiple criteria linear programming to discover behavior patterns of credit cardholders. It shows a general classification model that can theoretically handle any class-size. Then, it focuses on a typical case where the cardholders’ behaviors are predefined as four classes. A dataset from a major US bank is used to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed method.     

Production and decay of xi(c)(0) at BABAR

Using 116.1 fb(-1) of data collected by the BABAR detector, we present an analysis of xi(c)(0) production in B decays and from the cc continuum, with the xi(c)(0) decaying into omega- K+ and xi- pi+ final states. We measure the ratio of branching fractions B(xi(c)(0) --> omega- K+)/B(xi(c)(0) --> xi- pi+) spectrum is measured on and 40 MeV below the upsilon(4S) resonance. From these spectra the branching fraction product B(B --> xi(c)(0)X) x B(xi(c)(0) --> xi- pi+) is measured to be (2.11 +/- 0.19 +/- 0.25) x 10(-4), and the cross-section product sigma(e+ e- --> xi(c)(0)X) x B(xi(c)(0) --> xi- pi+) from the continuum is measured to be (388 +/- 39 +/- 41) fb at a center-of-mass energy of 10.58 GeV.     

Measurement of time-dependent CP asymmetries and the CP-odd fraction in the decay B0-->D*+D*-

We present an updated measurement of time-dependent CP asymmetries and the CP-odd fraction in the decay B0-->D*+D*- using 232x10(6)BB pairs collected by the BABAR detector at the SLAC PEP-II B factory. We determine the CP-odd fraction to be 0.125+/-0.044(stat)+/-0.007(syst). The time-dependent CP asymmetry parameters C+ and S+ are determined to be 0.06+/-0.17(stat)+/-0.03(syst) and -0.75+/-0.25(stat)+/-0.03(syst), respectively. The standard model predicts these parameters to be 0 and -sin2beta, respectively, in the absence of penguin amplitude contributions.     

Measurement of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa angle gamma in B+/--->D*K+/- decays with a Dalitz analysis of D-->K0(S)pi-pi+

We report on a measurement of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa CP-violating phase gamma through a Dalitz analysis of neutral D decays to K0(S)pi-pi+ in the processes B+/- -->D*K+/-, D*-->Dpi0, Dgamma. Using a sample of 227 x 10(6) BB pairs collected by the BABAR detector, we measure the amplitude ratios r(B)=0.12+/-0.03+/-0.04 and r*(B)=0.17+/-0.10+/-0.03+/-0.03, the relative strong phases delta(B)=(104+/-45(+17+16)(-21-24))degrees and delta*(B)=(-64+/-41(+14)(-12)+/-15) degrees between the amplitudes A(B- -->D*0K-) and A(B- -->D*0)K-), and gamma=(70+/-31(+12+14)(-10-11))degrees. The first error is statistical, the second is the experimental systematic uncertainty, and the third reflects the Dalitz model uncertainty. The results for the strong and weak phases have a twofold ambiguity.     

Cyanovirin-N binding to Manalpha1-2Man functionalized dendrimers

Manalpha1-2Man functionalized G(3) and G(4)-PAMAM dendrimers have been synthesized and characterized by MALDI-TOF MS and NMR spectroscopy. Precipitation assays to assess the binding of the dimannose-functionalized dendrimers to Cyanovirin-N, a HIV-inactivating protein that blocks virus-to-cell fusion through high mannose mediated interactions, are presented.     

Instabilities of cylindrical bubble clusters

Small bubbles in an experimental two-dimensional foam between glass plates regularly undergo a three-dimensional instability as the small bubbles shrink under diffusion or equivalently as the plate separation increases, and end up on one of the plates. The most recent experiments of Cox, Weaire, and Vaz are accompanied by Surface Evolver computer simulations and rough theoretical calculations. We show how a recent second variation formula may be used to perform exact theoretical calculations for infinitesimal perturbations for such a system, and verify results with Surface Evolver simulations.     

Stabilization of Aliphatic Phosphines by Auxiliary Phosphine Sulfides Offers Zeptomolar Affinity and Unprecedented Selectivity for Probing Biological CuI

Full elucidation of the functions and homeostatic pathways of biological copper requires tools that can selectively recognize and manipulate this trace nutrient within living cells and tissues, where it exists primarily as Cu^I. Buffered at attomolar concentrations, intracellular Cu^I is, however, not readily accessible to commonly employed amine and thioether‐based chelators. Herein, we reveal a chelator design strategy in which phosphine sulfides aid in Cu^I coordination while simultaneously stabilizing aliphatic phosphine donors, producing a charge‐neutral ligand with low‐zeptomolar dissociation constant and 10¹⁷‐fold selectivity for Cu^I over Zn^II, Fe^II, and Mn^II. As illustrated by reversing ATP7A trafficking in cells and blocking long‐term potentiation of neurons in mouse hippocampal brain tissue, the ligand is capable of intercepting copper‐dependent processes. The phosphine sulfide‐stabilized phosphine (PSP) design approach, which confers resistance towards protonation, dioxygen, and disulfides, could be readily expanded towards ligands and probes with tailored properties for exploring Cu^I in a broad range of biological systems.