Unattended processing of shipborne hyperspectral reflectance measurements

AbstractHyperspectral remote-sensing reflectance (Rrs) from above-surface (ir)radiance measurements is derived using a new, automated method that is suitable for use on moving platforms. The sensors are mounted on a rotating platform that compensates for changing solar and ship azimuth angles, optimizing the sensor azimuth for minimal contribution of sky radiance to measured water-leaving radiance. This sea-surface reflectance (ρs) lies in the order of 2.5–8% of sky radiance, and is determined through spectral optimization, minimizing the propagation of atmospheric absorption features to Rrs. Up to 15 of these gas absorption features are frequently recognized in (ir)radiance spectra under clear and overcast skies. Rrs was satisfactorily reproduced for a wide range of simulated Case 2 waters and clear sky conditions. A set of 13,784 in situ measurements collected with optimized viewing angles on the high-absorption, low-scattering Baltic Sea was collected in April and July 2010–2011. The processing procedure yielded a 22% retrieval rate of ρs for the field data. The shape of the subsurface irradiance reflectance measurements (R(0−)) measured at anchor stations was well reproduced in above-surface Rrs in those cases where the algorithm converged on a solution for ρs, except under unstable or weak illumination conditions. Clear-sky conditions resulted in the best correspondence of Rrs and R(0−) and gave the highest (>50%) retrieval rates of ρs. Two indices, derived from the available sensor data, are given to describe illumination conditions, and are shown to predict the ability of the algorithm to retrieve Rrs

Cytokine-induced killer cells are type II natural killer T cells

Background: Until now, cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells were assumed to be part of the type I natural killer T (NKT) cell population, but it was not yet investigated if this is correct

Note on a sigma model connection with instanton dynamics

It is well known that the instanton approach to QCD generates an effective term which looks like a three flavor determinant of quark bilinears. This has the right behavior to explain the unusual mass and mixing of the $\eta(958)$ meson, as is often simply illustrated with the aid of a linear SU(3) sigma model. It is less well known that the instanton analysis generates another term which has the same transformation property but does not have a simple interpretation in terms of this usual linear sigma model. Here we point out that this term has an interpretation in a generalized linear sigma model containing two chiral nonets. The second chiral nonet is taken to correspond to mesons having two quarks and two antiquarks in their makeup. The generalized model seems to be useful for learning about the spectrum of low lying scalar mesons which have been emerging in the last few years. The physics of the new term is shown to be related to the properties of an "excited" $\eta'$ state present in the generalized model and for which there are some experimental candidates.Comment: reference added, minor typos correcte

Two-divisibility of the coefficients of certain weakly holomorphic modular forms

We study a canonical basis for spaces of weakly holomorphic modular forms of weights 12, 16, 18, 20, 22, and 26 on the full modular group. We prove a relation between the Fourier coefficients of modular forms in this canonical basis and a generalized Ramanujan tau-function, and use this to prove that these Fourier coefficients are often highly divisible by 2.Comment: Corrected typos. To appear in the Ramanujan Journa

Six-minute walk distance after coronary artery bypass grafting compared with medical therapy in ischaemic cardiomyopathy

Background: In patients with ischaemic left ventricular dysfunction, coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) may decrease mortality, but it is not known whether CABG improves functional capacity. Objective: To determine whether CABG compared with medical therapy alone (MED) increases 6 min walk distance in patients with ischaemic left ventricular dysfunction and coronary artery disease amenable to revascularisation. Methods: The Surgical Treatment in Ischemic Heart disease trial randomised 1212 patients with ischaemic left ventricular dysfunction to CABG or MED. A 6 min walk distance test was performed both at baseline and at least one follow-up assessment at 4, 12, 24 and/or 36 months in 409 patients randomised to CABG and 466 to MED. Change in 6 min walk distance between baseline and follow-up were compared by treatment allocation. Results: 6 min walk distance at baseline for CABG was mean 340±117 m and for MED 339±118 m. Change in walk distance from baseline was similar for CABG and MED groups at 4 months (mean +38 vs +28 m), 12 months (+47 vs +36 m), 24 months (+31 vs +34 m) and 36 months (−7 vs +7 m), P>0.10 for all. Change in walk distance between CABG and MED groups over all assessments was also similar after adjusting for covariates and imputation for missing values (+8 m, 95% CI −7 to 23 m, P=0.29). Results were consistent for subgroups defined by angina, New York Heart Association class ≥3, left ventricular ejection fraction, baseline walk distance and geographic region. Conclusion: In patients with ischaemic left ventricular dysfunction CABG compared with MED alone is known to reduce mortality but is unlikely to result in a clinically significant improvement in functional capacity

Treatment of breast cancer with different antiprogestins: Preclinical and clinical studies

Abstract Treatment with antiprogestins in a new treatment modality for breast cancer. Previously, in rats with DMBA-induced mammary tumors we observed significant growth inhibitory effects of chronic treatment with the antiprogestin mifepristone (RU486). In addition, in 11 postmenopausal breast cancer patients, we observed one objective response, six instances of short-term stable disease, and four instances of progressive disease. Side-effects appeared mainly due to antiglucocorticoid properties of the drug. Increased plasma estradiol levels were observed which probably resulted from ovarian (rat) and adrenal (patients) steroidogenesis. Combined treatment with an antiestrogen in the rat model caused additive growth inhibitory effects. Tumor inhibition after single treatment with mifepristone or tamoxifen was 90 and 75%, respectively. In contrast, when combined, tumor remission similar to that caused by LHRH-agonist treatment (50%) was observed. Even higher tumor remission was found after combined treatment with mifepristone plus LHRH-agonist (75%). In first studies in the rat model we observed significant tumor growth inhibitory effects with two new antiprogestins of seemingly greater potency which cause less unfavorable endocrine side-effects. In conclusion: combined treatment (antiprogestin plus antiestrogen or LHRH-agonist) may be of value in endocrine therapy of breast cancer

The landscape ecological impact of afforestation on the British uplands and some initiatives to restore native woodland cover

The majority of forest cover in the British Uplands had been lost by the beginning of the Nineteenth Century, because of felling followed by overgrazing by sheep and deer. The situation remained unchanged until a government policy of afforestation, mainly by exotic conifers, after the First World War up to the present day. This paper analyses the distribution of these predominantly coniferous plantations, and shows how they occupy specific parts of upland landscapes in different zones throughout Britain. Whilst some landscapes are dominated by these new forests, elsewhere the blocks of trees are more localised. Although these forests virtually eliminate native ground vegetation, except in rides and unplanted land, the major negative impacts are at the landscape level. For example, drainage systems are altered and ancient cultural landscape patterns are destroyed. These impacts are summarised and possible ways of amelioration are discussed. By contrast, in recent years, a series of projects have been set up to restore native forest cover, as opposed to the extensive plantations of exotic species. Accordingly, the paper then provides three examples of such initiatives designed to restore native forests to otherwise bare landscapes, as well as setting them into a policy context. Whilst such projects cover a limited proportion of the British Uplands they nevertheless restore forest to landscapes at a local level

Making Them Normal

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/68059/2/10.1177_000276427001400206.pd

The UK risk assessment scheme for all non-native species

1. A pest risk assessment scheme, adapted from the EPPO (European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organisation) scheme, was developed to assess the risks posed to UK species, habitats and ecosystems by non-native taxa. 2. The scheme provides a structured framework for evaluating the potential for non-native organisms, whether intentional or unintentional introductions, to enter, establish, spread and cause significant impacts in all or part of the UK. Specialist modules permit the relative importance of entry pathways, the vulnerability of receptors and the consequences of policies to be assessed and appropriate risk management options to be selected. Spreadsheets for summarising the level of risk and uncertainty, invasive attributes and economic impact were created. In addition, new methods for quantifying economic impact and summarising risk and uncertainty were explored. 3. Although designed for the UK, the scheme can readily be applied elsewhere

Wave functions and properties of massive states in three-dimensional supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory

We apply supersymmetric discrete light-cone quantization (SDLCQ) to the study of supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory on R x S^1 x S^1. One of the compact directions is chosen to be light-like and the other to be space-like. Since the SDLCQ regularization explicitly preserves supersymmetry, this theory is totally finite, and thus we can solve for bound-state wave functions and masses numerically without renormalizing. We present an overview of all the massive states of this theory, and we see that the spectrum divides into two distinct and disjoint sectors. In one sector the SDLCQ approximation is only valid up to intermediate coupling. There we find a well defined and well behaved set of states, and we present a detailed analysis of these states and their properties. In the other sector, which contains a completely different set of states, we present a much more limited analysis for strong coupling only. We find that, while these state have a well defined spectrum, their masses grow with the transverse momentum cutoff. We present an overview of these states and their properties.Comment: RevTeX, 25 pages, 16 figure