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Students are not exposed to enough real-life data. This paper describes how a community of scholars seeks to remedy this deficiency and gives the pedagogical details of an ongoing project that commenced in the Fall 2004 semester. Fostering deep learning, this multiyear project offers a new active-learning, hands-on interdisciplinary laboratory program in which engineering, geoscience, and meteorology students are encouraged to participate actively. Storms, tornadoes, and hazardous weather cause damage and loss that could be minimized through enhanced radar technologies and longer warning lead times. To study these topics, the program has generated a unique, interdisciplinary research-oriented learning environment that will train future engineers and meteorologists in the full set of competencies needed to take raw radar data and transform them into meaningful interpretations of weather phenomena. (Contains 10 figures.)

This paper introduces the Spectrum-Time Estimation and Processing (STEP) algorithm developed in the Atmospheric Radar Research Center (ARRC) at the University of Oklahoma (OU). The STEP processing framework integrates three novel algorithms recently developed in ARRC: spectrum clutter identification, bi-Gaussian clutter filtering, and multi-lag moment estimation. The three modules of STEP algorithm fulfill three functions: clutter identification, clutter filtering and noise reduction, respectively. The performance of STEP has been evaluated using simulated data as well as real data collected by the C-band polarimetric research radar OU-Polarimetric Radar for Innovations in Meteorology and Engineering. Results show that STEP algorithm can effectively improve quality of polarimetric weather data in the presence of ground clutter and noise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When the National Weather Radar Testbed (NWRT) was installed in 2004, a single-channel digital receiver was implemented so that the radar could mimic typical Weather Surveillance Radar (WSR) version 1988 Doppler (WSR-88D) capability. This, however, left unused eight other channels, built into the antenna. This paper describes the hardware instrumentation of a recently completed project that digitizes the radar signals produced by these channels. The NWRT is the nation's first phased array devoted to weather observations, and this testbed serves as an evaluation platform to test new hardware and signal processing concepts. The multichannel digital data will foster a new generation of adaptive/fast scanning techniques and space-antenna/interferometry measurements, which will then be used for improved weather forecasting via data assimilation. The multichannel receiver collects signals from the sum, azimuth-difference, elevation-difference, and five broad-beamed auxiliary channels. One of the major advantages of the NWRT is the capability to adaptively scan weather phenomena at a higher temporal resolution than is possible with the WSR-88D. Access to the auxiliary channels will enable clutter mitigation and advanced array processing for higher data quality with shorter dwell times. Potential benefits of higher quality and higher resolution data include: better understanding of storm dynamics and convective initiation; better detection of small-scale phenomena, including tornadoes and microbursts; and crossbeam wind, shear, and turbulence estimates. These items have the distinct possibility to ultimately render increased lead time for warnings and improved weather prediction. Finally, samples of recently collected data are presented in the results section of this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study presents a new identification and mitigation scheme of second trip contamination for pulsed Doppler polarimetric weather radars with the ability of random phase coding. This scheme can be easily implemented in a magnetron radar without any hardware changes. For relatively weak contamination, identification and mitigation are based on a multilag processing method, which uses multiple lags of both the auto- and cross-correlation functions to estimate radar moments. For relatively strong contamination, instantaneous phase variations of horizontal and vertical polarization channels are combined into a simple fuzzy-logic scheme to complete the identification. Data from the C-band OU-PRIME radar are used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme for identification and mitigation of second-trip echoes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A computationally simple cross-correlation model for multiple backscattering from a continuous wave (CW) noise radar is developed and verified with theoretical analysis and brute-force time-domain simulations. Based on this cross-correlation model, a modification of an existing numerical method originally developed by Holdsworth and Reid for spaced antenna (SA) pulsed radar is used to simulate the estimated cross correlation corresponding to atmospheric backscattering using a coherent CW noise radar. Subsequently, coherent radar imaging (CRI) processing comparisons between the CW noise radar and a conventional pulsed radar are presented that verify the potential of CW noise radar for atmospheric imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malignant germ cell tumours (MGCTs) of childhood are a rare group of neoplasms that comprise many histological subtypes and arise at numerous different sites. Genomic imbalances have been described in these tumours but, largely because of the paucity of cases reported in the literature, it is unclear how they relate to abnormalities in adult MGCTs and impact on potential systems for classifying GCTs. We have used metaphase-based comparative genomic hybridisation to analyse the largest series of paediatric MGCTs reported to date, representing 34 primary tumours (22 yolk sac tumours (YSTs), 11 germinomatous tumours and one metastatic embryonal carcinoma) occurring in children from birth to age 16, including 17 ovarian MGCTs. The large dataset enabled us to undertake statistical analysis, with the aim of identifying associations worthy of further investigation between patterns of genomic imbalance and clinicopathological parameters. The YSTs showed an increased frequency of 1p- (P=0.003), 3p+ (P=0.02), 4q− (P=0.07) and 6q− (P=0.004) compared to germinomatous tumours. Gain of 12p, which is invariably seen in adult MGCTs, was present in 53% of primary MGCTs of children aged 5–16 and was also observed in four of 14 YSTs affecting children less than 5. Two of these cases (14% of MGCTs in children less than 5) showed gain of the 12p11 locus considered to be particularly relevant in adult MGCTs. Gain of 12p showed a significant association with gain of 12q. Conversely, MGCTs without 12p gain displayed a significantly increased frequency of loss on 16p (P=0.04), suggesting that this imbalance may contribute to tumour development in such cases. This data provides new insight into the biology of this under-investigated tumour group and will direct future studies on the significance of specific genetic abnormalities.British Journal of Cancer (2007) 96, 667–676. doi:10.1038/sj.bjc.6603602 www.bjcancer.com Published online 6 February 2007 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycobacterial preparations have been used with limited success against cancer apart from superficial bladder cancer. Recently, a therapeutic vaccine derived from Mycobacterium vaccae has been given to patients with prostate cancer and melanoma indicating a possible beneficial effect on disease activity in such patients. We have recently initiated a series of randomized studies to test the feasibility and toxicity of combining a preparation of heat-killed Mycobacterium vaccae (designated SRL172) with a multidrug chemotherapy regimen to treat patients with inoperable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and mesothelioma. 28 evaluable patients with previously untreated symptomatic NSCLC and mesothelioma were randomized to receive either 3 weekly intravenous combination chemotherapy alone, or chemotherapy given with monthly intra-dermal injections of SRL172. Safety and tolerability were scored by common toxicity criteria and efficacy was evaluated by survival of patients and by tumour response assessed by CT scanning. The toxicity of chemotherapy was similar in the two groups. SRL172 caused mild inflammation at the injection site. In the group of patients randomized to receive chemotherapy combined with SRL172, there was a trend towards improved response rate (54% vs. 33%) with more patients in the combined arm receiving radical surgery and radiotherapy, improved median survival (9.7 months vs. 7.5 months) and improved 1 year survival (42% vs. 18%). SRL172 appeared to improve sleep (P = 0.08) and improved appetite (P = 0.01). There was no detectable change in serum cytokine levels for gamma-interferon and TNF-α before and after treatment. In patients with NSCLC and mesothelioma, there may be a beneficial interaction when chemotherapy is administered in combination with SRL172. Confirmation of this effect and further investigation is underway in a randomized phase III trial and in laboratory models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article concerns with several implications of the unstable identity formation presumed to be associated with psychopathological states. Hypothesis I predicts that psychiatric inpatients, because of a tenuous or poorly developed sense of personal identity, would demonstrate greater externality on J.B. Rotter's measure of internal-external control, as compared with patients hospitalized for nonpsychiatric reasons. Hypothesis II predicts less acceptance of parental norms and values (less "identification" with parents in this sense) by the psychiatric patients, as measured by P.E. Slater's Parental Role Perceptions (PRP) test. A third hypothesis predicted a perception of greater parental warmth and support among the nonpsychiatric than among the psychiatric patients. The study also explores the relationship of locus of control to individuals' perceptions of their parents, though no formal predictions were made in this area. The expectation that degree of identification with parents would be related to individuals' perceptions of parental warmth could not be directly evaluated in the present study because of the nonindependence of these two PRP measures. Measures of social competence and psychiatric diagnosis are also included in the present study, on an exploratory basis.

The article focuses on the common patterns of neurotic reaction, as automatization and hypochondriasis, in individuals. People who demonstrate an abnormal, psychoneurotic concern over bodily health constitute a psychiatric and social problem of no small proportions. Among the aged, for example, hypochondnasis is reported to be the most common pattern of neurotic reaction. A review of a wide range of hypochondriacal phenomena seems to implicate both constitutional and environmental determinants of hypochondriacal experience. Automatization behaviors are behaviors so well practiced and overlearned that a minimum of physical or mental effort is required for their successful efficient execution. Such behaviors include the bulk of everyday, routine, repetitive activities, such as maintaining one's balance, walking, reading, talking. Not only the motor apparatus but also perception and thinking show automatization-that exercise of cognitive functions automatizes methods of problem-solving just as it does walking, speaking, or writing.