High-Resolution Automotive Imaging Using MIMO Radar and Doppler Beam Sharpening

A highly detailed sensing of a vehicle's surrounding environment is a key requirement for the advancement of autonomous driving technology. While conventional automotive radar sensors remain robust under challenging weather conditions, poor cross-range resolution and high sidelobe levels present significant challenges. In this article, we propose an approach that combines multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) beamforming with Doppler beam sharpening. We demonstrate a significant improvement in terms of cross-range resolution and, importantly, nearly 20-dB sidelobe suppression compared to conventional MIMO processing. This approach is investigated in detail and validated through theoretical analysis, simulation, and experiment using data recorded on a moving vehicle. We demonstrate performance that is comparable to a high-resolution mechanically scanned radar using a commercially available MIMO sensor.</p

When teachers have autonomy to create SEL initiatives : conceptualizations and iterations

Teachers may be encouraged to follow a prescribed curriculum when teaching social and emotional learning (SEL), and varied research findings attest to the efficacy of this approach in fostering students’ social and emotional competencies. An alternative approach might see teachers create SEL initiatives and infuse, embed, or integrate SEL into core teaching content. This case study explored how, when asked to foster social and emotional learning within their schools, 16 SEL teachers created learning opportunities for students to bolster their social and emotional skills. Teachers were asked to first define SEL and then to create portfolios showcasing three of their SEL lessons or initiatives. Content analysis of definitions revealed that teachers largely defined SEL as fostering students’ self-awareness and self-management. Content analysis of each of the teachers’ lessons indicated that the learning opportunities or initiatives that teachers introduced were predominantly social in nature and oftentimes focused on having students practice emotion regulation strategies. Findings inform our understanding of the perceptions and actualizations of SEL in applied contexts.peer-reviewe

Education Level and Stability As It Relates to Early Childhood Classroom Quality: A Survey of Early Childhood Program Directors and Teachers

The field of early care and education is continually seeking to determine factors that contribute to the overall quality of the education for young children. Individual characteristics of teachers, including education level, have been associated with classroom quality. Program demographics, including turnover rate for teachers, also have had varying associations with levels of quality. The current study used data from teachers and directors participating in the North Carolina Rated License process to explore relationships between education levels for teachers and directors with levels of classroom quality, and between stability of position for teachers and classroom quality scores. Teacher education level and stability (i.e., consistently working with the same age group) were positively related to classroom quality scores. Higher education levels for center directors and center director enrollment in a college course also were associated with higher quality scores for their programs. Results suggest that, in addition to teacher education, other factors within child care centers are critical to the quality of care that teachers provide

Team Teaching in an Early Childhood Interdisciplinary Program: A Decade of Lessons Learned

Preparing students in the early childhood field to work with children both with and without disabilities and to collaborate with different professionals is an important endeavor for colleges and universities. The purpose of this paper is to articulate a unique model of program collaboration between early childhood special education and early childhood regular education that demonstrates a cohesive preservice teacher education program across two departments within one university. This unique 10-year history of interdisciplinary collaboration and team teaching provides insights into many of the benefits and challenges of this type of program. This paper presents an historical overview of the development of this collaborative program and describes the logistics of operating an interdisciplinary program at the administrative level. Information collected from faculty and students illustrates the benefits and challenges of team teaching. Finally, strategies for developing a successful program are discussed

A high frame rate, 340 GHz 3D imaging radar for security

Funding: European Union Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under grant agreement no. 312745.The need for improved security at airports with high detection performance, high throughput rates and an improved passenger experience is motivating research into new sensing technologies. The European Union funded CONSORTIS project is addressing these aims by demonstrating a system which combines a submillimeter wave radar, a dual-band passive submillimeter wave camera and automatic anomaly detection software for reliable detection while ensuring passenger privacy. In this paper we describe the 340 GHz 16-channel FMCW radar which produces 3D maps of the subject with ∼1 cm3 voxel resolution over a 1 m3 sense volume at multi-hertz frame rates. The radar combines advanced transceiver electronics with high speed mechanical beam steering and parallelized processing to achieve this level of performance.Postprin

Identification of lung cancer with high sensitivity and specificity by blood testing

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Lung cancer is a very frequent and lethal tumor with an identifiable risk population. Cytological analysis and chest X-ray failed to reduce mortality, and CT screenings are still controversially discussed. Recent studies provided first evidence for the potential usefulness of autoantigens as markers for lung cancer.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We used extended panels of arrayed antigens and determined autoantibody signatures of sera from patients with different kinds of lung cancer, different common non-tumor lung pathologies, and controls without any lung disease by a newly developed computer aided image analysis procedure. The resulting signatures were classified using linear kernel Support Vector Machines and 10-fold cross-validation.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The novel approach allowed for discriminating lung cancer patients from controls without any lung disease with a specificity of 97.0%, a sensitivity of 97.9%, and an accuracy of 97.6%. The classification of stage IA/IB tumors and controls yielded a specificity of 97.6%, a sensitivity of 75.9%, and an accuracy of 92.9%. The discrimination of lung cancer patients from patients with non-tumor lung pathologies reached an accuracy of 88.5%.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We were able to separate lung cancer patients from subjects without any lung disease with high accuracy. Furthermore, lung cancer patients could be seprated from patients with other non-tumor lung diseases. These results provide clear evidence that blood-based tests open new avenues for the early diagnosis of lung cancer.</p

The use of composite pulses for improving DEER signal at 94 GHz

C.L.M. acknowledges funding from EPSRC as part of the iMRCDT. The W-band instrument was developed under the U.K. Research Councils Basic Technology Program (grant EP/F039034/1). S.V.D. acknowledges the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO) for financial support (grant G.0687.13). J.E.L. thanks the Royal Society for a University Research Fellowship. Sylvia Dewilde (Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp) is thanked for the purification of the Cys46Ser/ Cys55Ser mutant of human neuroglobin (NGB) used in this work. Adelheid Godt’s group is thanked for the synthesis of MSA236. We also thank the Wellcome Trust (grant 099149/Z/12/Z). The research data (and/or materials) supporting this publication can be accessed at http://dx.doi.org/10.17630/b65d05e6-6efa-48b9-a741-5a6322159a4a.The sensitivity of pulsed electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) measurements on broad-line paramagnetic centers is often limited by the available excitation bandwidth. One way to increase excitation bandwidth is through the use of chirp or composite pulses. However, performance can be limited by cavity or detection bandwidth, which in commercial systems is typically 100-200 MHz. Here we demonstrate in a 94 GHz spectrometer, with > 800 MHz system bandwidth, an increase in signal and modulation depth in a 4-pulse DEER experiment through use of composite rather than rectangular π pulses. We show that this leads to an increase in sensitivity by a factor of 3, in line with theoretical predictions, although gains are more limited in nitroxide-nitroxide DEER measurements.PostprintPeer reviewe

Activity theory, complexity and sports coaching: An epistemology for a discipline

The aim of this article is two-fold. Firstly, it is to advance the case for Activity Theory (AT) as a credible and alternative lens to view and research sports coaching. Secondly, it is to position this assertion within the wider debate about the epistemology of coaching. Following a framing introduction, a more comprehensive review of the development and current conceptualisation of AT is given. Here, AT’s evolution through three distinct phases and related theorists, namely Vygotsky, Leont’ev and Engeström, is initially traced. This gives way to a more detailed explanation of AT’s principal conceptual components, including ‘object’, ‘subject’, ‘tools’ (mediating artefacts), ‘rules’, a ‘community’ and a ‘division of labour’. An example is then presented from empirical work illustrating how AT can be used as a means to research sports coaching. The penultimate section locates such thinking within coaching’s current ‘epistemological debate; arguing that the coaching ‘self’ is not an autonomous individual, but a relative part of social and cultural arrangements. Finally, a conclusion summarises the main points made, particularly in terms in presenting the grounding constructivist epistemology of AT as a potential way forward for sports coaching

Mycobacterial infections in a large Virginia hospital, 2001-2009

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In areas where both tuberculosis (TB) and nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are prevalent, descriptive studies of the clinical features of individual mycobacteria are needed to inform clinical triage.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We queried the University of Virginia Clinical Data Repository for all mycobacterial infections from 2001-2009.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of 494 mycobacterial infections in 467 patients there were 22 species. Patients with pulmonary Tb were more likely to be reported as immigrants (p < 0.001) and less likely to have a predisposing risk factor for NTM (pre-existing lung disease or host predisposition; p = 0.002). Review of chest CT scans revealed that TB infection was more likely to exhibit cavities and pleural effusion than NTM infection (p < 0.05). Among NTM infections <it>M. kansasii</it>, <it>M. xenopi</it>, and <it>M. fortuitum </it>were more likely than MAC to have cavities. There were at least 83 patients that met criteria for NTM lung disease and these were caused by 9 species. <it>M. abscessus </it>infection was associated with cystic fibrosis and <it>M. xenopi </it>infection was associated with male gender.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In our center mycobacterial infections were common and of diverse species. Immigrant status, cavities, and effusion were associated with TB vs. NTM.</p

Discovery of underground argon with low level of radioactive 39Ar and possible applications to WIMP dark matter detectors

We report on the first measurement of 39Ar in argon from underground natural gas reservoirs. The gas stored in the US National Helium Reserve was found to contain a low level of 39Ar. The ratio of 39Ar to stable argon was found to be <=4x10-17 (84% C.L.), less than 5% the value in atmospheric argon (39Ar/Ar=8x10-16). The total quantity of argon currently stored in the National Helium Reserve is estimated at 1000 tons. 39Ar represents one of the most important backgrounds in argon detectors for WIMP dark matter searches. The findings reported demonstrate the possibility of constructing large multi-ton argon detectors with low radioactivity suitable for WIMP dark matter searches.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures, 2 table