Processing and initial comparison of PSR data from CAMEX-3 to SSM/I and TMI data

A multiband Polarimetric Scanning Radiometer (PSR) was integrated on a NASA DC-8 aircraft and flown from August through September of 1998 during the third Convection and Moisture Experiment (CAMEX-3). The PSR is a new conically-scanning imaging radiometer with channels at 10.7, 18.7, 21.5, 37.0 and 89.0 GHz, including both vertical and horizontal polarizations at each of these frequencies. These channels correspond to several key sensing bands of the DMSP (Defense Meteorological Satellite Program) SSM/I (Special Sensor Microwave Imager) and the NASA TRMM (Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission) TMI (TRMM Microwave Imager). The PSR was developed by Georgia Institute of Technology and the NOAA Environmental Technology Laboratory and is the first airborne imaging radiometer to provide a research quality dataset of high spatial resolution multiband polarimetric microwave imagery within and around a hurricane. The authors describe the processing and calibration of the PSR CAMEX-3 dataset. They also provide a qualitative analysis and comparison of the PSR imagery to the SSM/I and TMI with specific regard to the spatial structure of a hurricane eyewall and surrounding rainbands.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

A new narrow-beam, multi-frequency, scanning radiometer and its application to in-flight icing detection

AbstractA one degree beamwidth, multi-frequency (20 to 30 and 89GHz), dual-polarization radiometer with full azimuth and elevation scanning capabilities was built with the purpose of improving the detection of in-flight icing hazards to aircraft in the near airport environment. This goal was achieved by collocating the radiometer with Colorado State University's CHILL polarized Doppler radar and leveraging the similar beamwidth and volume scan regiments of the two instruments. The collocated instruments allowed for the liquid water path and water vapor measurements derived from the radiometer to be merged with the radar moment fields to determine microphysical and water phase characteristics aloft. The radiometer was field tested at Colorado State University's CHILL radar site near Greeley, Colorado during the summer of 2009. Instrument design, calibration, and initial field testing results are discussed in this paper

Comparison of In-Situ, Model and Ground Based In-Flight Icing Severity

As an aircraft flies through supercooled liquid water, the liquid freezes instantaneously to the airframe thus altering its lift, drag, and weight characteristics. In-flight icing is a contributing factor to many aviation accidents, and the reliable detection of this hazard is a fundamental concern to aviation safety. The scientific community has recently developed products to provide in-flight icing warnings. NASA's Icing Remote Sensing System (NIRSS) deploys a vertically--pointing Ka--band radar, a laser ceilometer, and a profiling multi-channel microwave radiometer for the diagnosis of terminal area in-flight icing hazards with high spatial and temporal resolution. NCAR s Current Icing Product (CIP) combines several meteorological inputs to produce a gridded, three-dimensional depiction of icing severity on an hourly basis. Pilot reports are the best and only source of information on in-situ icing conditions encountered by an aircraft. The goal of this analysis was to ascertain how the testbed NIRSS icing severity product and the operational CIP severity product compare to pilot reports of icing severity, and how NIRSS and CIP compare to each other. This study revealed that the icing severity product from the ground-based NASA testbed system compared very favorably with the operational model-based product and pilot reported in-situ icing

Randomised phase II study of ASA404 combined with carboplatin and paclitaxel in previously untreated advanced non-small cell lung cancer

ASA404 (5,6-dimethylxanthenone-4-acetic acid or DMXAA) is a small-molecule tumour-vascular disrupting agent (Tumour-VDA). This randomised phase II study evaluated ASA404 plus standard therapy of carboplatin and paclitaxel in patients with histologically confirmed stage IIIb or IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) not previously treated with chemotherapy. Patients were randomised to receive ⩽6 cycles of carboplatin area under the plasma concentration–time curve 6 mg ml−1 min and paclitaxel 175 mg m−2 (CP, n=36) or standard therapy plus ASA404 1200 mg m−2 (ASA404-CP, n=37). There was little change in the systemic exposure of either total or free carboplatin or paclitaxel on addition of ASA404. Safety profiles were similar and manageable in both groups, with most adverse effects attributed to standard therapy. Tumour response rate (31 vs 22%), median time to tumour progression (5.4 vs 4.4 months) and median survival (14.0 vs 8.8 months, hazard ratio 0.73, 95% CI 0.39, 1.38) were improved in the ASA404 combination group compared with the standard therapy group. In conclusion, this study establishes the feasibility of combining ASA404 with carboplatin and paclitaxel in patients with previously untreated, advanced NSCLC, demonstrating a manageable safety profile and lack of adverse pharmacokinetic interactions. The results indicate that there may be a benefit associated with ASA404, but this needs to be evaluated in a larger trial

COMP-Angiopoietin-1 Recovers Molecular Biomarkers of Neuropathy and Improves Vascularisation in Sciatic Nerve of ob/ob Mice

mice. mice displayed regeneration of small-diameter endoneural microvessels. Effects of COMP-Ang-1 corresponded to increased phosphorylation of Akt and p38 MAPK upon Tie-2 receptor. mice suggesting COMP-Ang-1 as novel treatment option to improve morphologic and protein expression changes associated with diabetic neuropathy

Induction of antigen-specific tolerance through hematopoietic stem cell-mediated gene therapy: the future for therapy of autoimmune disease?

Based on the principle that immune ablation followed by HSC-mediated recovery purges disease-causing leukocytes to interrupt autoimmune disease progression, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has been increasingly used as a treatment for severe autoimmune diseases. Despite clinically-relevant outcomes, HSCT is associated with serious iatrogenic risks and is suitable only for the most serious and intractable diseases. A further limitation of autologous HSCT is that relapse rates can be high, suggesting disease-causing leukocytes are incompletely purged or the environmental and genetic determinants that drive disease remain active. Incorporation of antigen-specific tolerance approaches that synergise with autologous HSCT could reduce or prevent relapse. Further, by reducing the requirement for highly toxic immune-ablation and instead relying on antigen-specific tolerance, the clinical utility of HSCT could be significantly diversified. Substantial progress has been made exploring HSCT-mediated induction of antigen-specific tolerance in animal models but studies have focussed on primarily on prevention of autoimmune diseases. However, as diagnosis of autoimmune disease is often not made until autoimmune disease is well developed and populations of autoantigen-specific pathogenic effector and memory T cells have become well established, immunotherapies must be developed to address effector and memory T-cell responses which have traditionally been considered the key impediment to immunotherapy. Here, focusing on T-cell mediated autoimmune diseases we review progress made in antigen-specific immunotherapy using HSCT-mediated approaches, induction of tolerance in effector and memory T cells and the challenges for progression and clinical application of antigen-specific ‘tolerogenic’ HSCT therapy

Система управления персоналом в Управлении железнодорожного транспорта Алмалыкского Горно-Металлургического комбината

Целью выпускной квалификационной работы является разработка направлений по совершенствованию системы управления персоналом в управлении железнодорожного транспорта АО "АГМК". В результате исследования были разработаны мероприятия по повышению уровня управления персоналом в управлении железнодорожного транспорта АО "АГМК" Степень внедрения: одно из разработанных предложений планируется на внедрение в управлении персоналом железнодорожного транспорта АО "АГМК". Область применения: разработанные мероприятия по управлению персоналом предприятия, может быть использован на предприятии, в организации, фирме любой отрасли.Научная новизна работы заключается в обосновании необходимости формирования новой концепции управления персоналом на предприятии, в обобщении основных методов управления персонThe goal of the final qualifying work is to develop directions for improving the personnel management system in the management of the railway transport of JSC "AGMK". As a result of the research, measures were developed to improve the level of personnel management in the management of the railway transport of JSC "AGMK" Degree of implementation: one of the developed proposals is planned for implementation in the management of railway transport personnel of JSC "AGMK". Scope: developed measures for the management of the company's personnel, can be used at the enterprise, in the organization, the firm of any industry. The scientific novelty of the work is to justify the need to formulate a new concept of personnel management at the enterprise, to generalize the basic methods of personnel ma