Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Interferometric Processing of Sentinel-1 TOPS Data

Sentinel-1 (S-1) has an unparalleled mapping capacity. In interferometric wide swath (IW) mode, three subswaths imaged in the novel Terrain Observation by Progressive Scans (TOPS) SAR mode result in a total swath width of 250 km. S-1 has become the European workhorse for large area mapping and interferometric monitoring at medium resolution. The interferometric processing of TOPS data however requires special consideration of the signal properties, resulting from the ScanSAR-type burst imaging and the antenna beam steering in azimuth. The high Doppler rate in azimuth sets very stringent coregistration requirements, making the use of enhanced spectral diversity (ESD) necessary to obtain the required fine azimuth coregistration accuracy. Other unique aspects of processing IW data, such as azimuth spectral filtering, image resampling, and data deramping and reramping, are reviewed, giving a recipe-like description that enables the user community to use S-1 IW mode repeat-pass SAR data. Interferometric results from S-1A are provided, demonstrating the mapping capacity of the S-1 system and its interferometric suitability for geophysical applications. An interferometric evaluation of a coherent interferometric pair over Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia, is provided, where several aspects related to coregistration, deramping, and synchronization are analyzed. Additionally, a spatiotemporal evaluation of the along-track shifts, which are directly related to the orbital/instrument timing error, measured from the SAR data is shown, which justifies the necessity to refine the azimuth shifts with ESD. The spatial evaluation indicates high stability of the azimuth shifts for several slices of a datatake.
Phosphatidylinositide 3-Kinase Is Important in Late-Stage Fibroblast Growth Factor-1-Mediated Angiogenesis in vivo

We previously reported that overexpression of a secreted version of fibroblast growth factor-1 (sp-FGF-1) has the ability to induce angiogenesis in the chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM). In our current study, we examine the effects of sp-FGF-1 through a time course analysis of angiogenesis in the chicken CAM on days 3, 4, and 5 after gene transfection. Significant angiogenesis was observed on days 4 and 5 after gene transfection in the CAM assay. To evaluate the role of phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling in sp-FGF-1-induced angiogenesis, we analyzed mRNA expression levels of PI3K and protein activity through its immediate downstream target, AKT-1. We found upregulation of both PI3K and AKT mRNA expression levels in day 5 sp-FGF-1 versus day 5 vector control-transfected CAMs. Furthermore, by blocking PI3K phosphorylation using the specific inhibitor, LY294002, we found that downstream phosphorylation of AKT-1 was inhibited. More importantly, the blockade of the PI3K pathway via LY294002 in sp-FGF-1-transfected CAMs significantly inhibited angiogenesis. These results further elucidate the molecular mechanisms of the sp-FGF-1 signaling pathway and it underscores the importance of PI3K signaling in FGF-1-stimulated angiogenesis in vivo. It also provides a basis for the role of sp-FGF-1 in the development of therapeutic treatments to combat vascular insufficiencies and angiogenesis-dependent cancers.
Brain Oxytocin Correlates with Maternal Aggression: Link to Anxiety

The oxytocinergic system is critically involved in the regulation of maternal behavior, which includes maternal aggression. Because aggression has been linked to anxiety, we investigated the maternal aggression and the role of brain oxytocin in lactating Wistar rats selectively bred for high anxiety-related behavior (HAB) or low anxiety-related behavior (LAB) during the 10 min maternal defense test. HAB dams displayed more maternal aggression against a virgin intruder compared with LAB dams, resulting in more defensive behavior and higher anxiety of HAB-defeated virgins. The different levels of aggression were accompanied by opposite oxytocin release patterns within the paraventricular nucleus (PVN; HAB, increase; LAB, decrease). Furthermore, oxytocin release was higher within the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) of HAB dams compared with LABs. A direct correlation between the offensive behavior displayed during the maternal defense test and local oxytocin release was found in both the PVN and CeA. Using retrodialysis, blockade of endogenous oxytocin action by infusion of an oxytocin receptor antagonist (des-Gly-NH2,d(CH2)5[Tyr(Me)2,Thr4]OVT) into the PVN or CeA reduced maternal aggression of HAB dams, whereas infusion of synthetic oxytocin into the PVN tended to increase aggression toward the intruder in LAB dams. There were no significant differences in oxytocin receptor mRNA expression or oxytocin receptor binding between lactating HAB and LAB dams. Therefore, differences in intracerebral release patterns of oxytocin, rather than differences at the level of oxytocin receptors, are critical for the regulation of maternal aggressive behavior.
The European stroke prevention study (ESPS): Results by arterial distribution

The European Stroke Prevention Study was a multicenter study comparing the effect of the combination of dipyridamole, 75 mg, and acetylsalicylic acid, 330 mg, three times a day, to that of placebo in 2,500 patients in the secondary prevention of stroke or death after one or more transient ischemic attacks, reversible ischemic neurological deficits, or strokes of antherothrombotic origin. The patients with vertebrobasilar events at entry comprised one‐third of the whole patient population. The overall total incidene of stroke or death (the end points) during the 2‐year follow‐up in the placebo group was lower in the vertebrobasilar group compared to the carotid group (14% versus 24%, respectively). The combination therapy of dipyridamole and acetylsalicylic acid caused a marked reduction in the incidence of stroke or death in patients with vertebrobasilar (51%) and carotid (30%) events. When only stroke was considered as the end point, dipyridamole and acetylsalicylic acid seemed to be more effective in reducing the risk of transient ischemic attacks than stroke, and more effective in men than in women.
Cut-Off Value for Self-Reported Abnormal Cold Sensitivity and Predictors for Abnormality and Severity in Hand Injuries

Our aim was to identify a cut-off value for self-reported, abnormal cold sensitivity and to identify cold sensitivity predictors after hand injuries. The Cold Intolerance Symptom Severity (CISS) questionnaire and a VAS question concerning discomfort on exposure to cold were investigated in 94 normal people and 88 patients. A CISS score>50 was defined as abnormal cold sensitivity. Multiple injured digits, an increased number of injured vessels, complete nerve injury and replantation were variables associated with high VAS scores. Factors linked to both abnormality and worse CISS or VAS scores were: the presence of bone injury; a larger number of repaired vessels; the use of vascular grafts and a high Hand Injury Severity Score (HISS). The causes of abnormality and severity suggest a multifactorial aetiology with bony, vascular and neural components. A cut-off for abnormality is useful for descriptive, comparative and assessment purposes.
Effectiveness of dydrogesterone, 17-OH progesterone and micronized progesterone in prevention of preterm birth in women with a short cervix

Abstract Objective: To compare the efficacy of dydrogesterone, 17-OH progesterone (17OHP) and oral or vaginal micronized progesterone with cerclage for the prevention of preterm birth in women with a short cervix. Methods: The study included 95 women with singleton gestation and cervical length (CL) ≤ 25 mm. Among these, 35 women were asymptomatic at 15–24 weeks and 60 had symptoms of threatened late miscarriage (LM) or preterm delivery (PD) at 15–32 weeks. Patients were randomized to receive dydrogesterone, 17OHP or oral/vaginal micronized progesterone; after one week of therapy 15 women underwent cerclage. Results: Efficacy of vaginal progesterone (VP) for the prevention of preterm birth reached 94.1%. In asymptomatic women pregnancy outcomes were comparable to cerclage. In women with threatened LM/PD, combination therapy with VP, indomethacin and treatment of bacterial vaginosis (BV) with the subsequent use VP until 36 weeks together with CL monitoring significantly decreased the rate of preterm birth (RR 0.01; 0.0001–0.24) and low birth weight (LBW) (RR 0.04; 0.01–0.96). CL increase during the first week of treatment with a subsequent plateau phase indicated treatment efficacy. Dydrogesterone, 17OHP, and micronized oral progesterone (OP) were associated with PD in 91.7% of women. Conclusions: Combination management strategy including VP significantly benefits pregnancy outcomes in women with a short cervix compared with cerclage. Dydrogesterone, 17OHP, and OP were not found to be efficacious.
Artificial buzzing lips and brass instruments: experimental results.

Experimental results of a special artificial trombone player are presented: A mechanical device is a substitute for the musician. Wind instruments, and particularly the brass, are self-sustained oscillators. The oscillations are induced by a mechanical oscillator (the lips of the player) acting as a valve which modulates the flow. Measured mechanical parameters of the artificial buzzing lips for different "embouchures of the player" are presented, and analyzed in connection with the played frequencies obtained for the same "embouchures. " The results are obtained with two resonator systems (a mouthpiece alone and a trombone with its mouthpiece).
Thermospermine modulates expression of auxin-related genes in Arabidopsis

Thermospermine, a structural isomer of spermine, is widely distributed in the plant kingdom and has been shown to play a role in repressing xylem differentiation by studies of its deficient mutant, acaulis5 (acl5), in Arabidopsis. Our results of microarray and real-time PCR analyses revealed that, in addition to a number of genes involved in xylem differentiation, genes related to auxin signaling were up-regulated in acl5 seedlings. These genes include MONOPTEROS, an auxin response factor gene, which acts as a master switch for auxin-dependent procambium formation, and its target genes. Their expression was reduced by exogenous treatment with thermospermine or by transgenic induction of the ACL5 gene. We examined the effect of synthetic polyamines on the expression of these auxin-related genes and on the vascular phenotype of acl5, and found that tetramines containing the NC3NC3N chain could mimic the effect of thermospermine but longer polyamines containing the same chain had little or no such effect. We also found that thermospermine had an inhibitory effect on lateral root formation in wild-type seedlings and it was mimicked by synthetic tetramines with the NC3NC3N chain. These results suggest the importance of the NC3NC3N chain of thermospermine in its action in modulating auxin signaling.
Structural bases of interpersonal influence in groups: a longitudinal case study

The A. examines the relationship between interpersonal power and influence during the resolution of an issue in an organization. Controlling for elementary bases of power (rewards, coercion, authority, identification, and expertise), he investigates three bases of power that arise from the structure of social networks (cohesion, similarity, and centrality). The analysis of the data on actor's bases of social power, frequency of interpersonal communications, and interpersonal influences indicates that cohesion, similarity, and centrality have significant effects on issue-related influence net of the elementary power bases. The effects of the structural bases are mediated by the frequency of issue-related communication, which primary structural determinant is network cohesion.
Mood and memory changes in asthmatic children receiving corticosteroids.

Abstract Each of 27 severely asthmatic 8− to 16-year-old children was evaluated at high (61.5 mg/day) and low (3.33 mg/day) steroid levels. At the high steroid level, patients reported increased depressive and anxious symptoms and performed less proficiently on a test of long-term verbal memory. No high-low steroid differences were found on measures of attention, impulsivity, hyperactivity, or motor control. The mood and memory differences were not associated with order of high and low dose, theophylline levels, or pulmonary function. Changes were generally subtle, and no evidence of steroid-induced psychiatric disturbance was documented.
Real-time Hand Tracking With Variable-Length Markov Models of Behaviour

We present a novel approach for visual tracking of structured behaviour as observed in human-computer interaction. An automatically acquired variable-length Markov model is used to represent the high-level structure and temporal ordering of gestures. Continuous estimation of hand posture is handled by combining the model with annealed particle filtering. The stochastic simulation updates, and automatically switches between, different model representations of hand posture that correspond to distinct gestures. The implementation executes in real time and demonstrates significant improvement in robustness over comparable methods. We provide a measurement of user performance when our method is applied to a Fitts’ law drag-anddrop task, and an analysis of the effects of latency that it introduces.
PCV chemotherapy for recurrent glioblastoma multiforme

The authors evaluated response, time to progression (TTP), survival, prognostic factors, and toxicity in 63 patients with a recurrent glioblastoma multiforme treated with procarbazine, lomustine, and vincristine (PCV) chemotherapy. Complete and partial response was observed in two (3%) and five patients (8%). In 16 patients (25%), stable disease was observed. Median TTP and survival were 13 and 33 weeks. Age < 40 years and Karnofsky Performance Status ≥ 90 were associated with longer TTP and survival. PCV treatment was generally well tolerated.
Consumption of milk and calcium in midlife and the future risk of Parkinson disease

Objective: To examine the relation between milk and calcium intake in midlife and the risk of Parkinson disease (PD). Methods: Findings are based on dietary intake observed from 1965 to 1968 in 7,504 men ages 45 to 68 in the Honolulu Heart Program. Men were followed for 30 years for incident PD. Results: In the course of follow-up, 128 developed PD (7.1/10,000 person-years). Age-adjusted incidence of PD increased with milk intake from 6.9/10,000 person-years in men who consumed no milk to 14.9/10,000 person-years in men who consumed >16 oz/day (p = 0.017). After further adjustment for dietary and other factors, there was a 2.3-fold excess of PD (95% CI 1.3 to 4.1) in the highest intake group (>16 oz/day) vs those who consumed no milk. The effect of milk consumption on PD was also independent of the intake of calcium. Calcium from dairy and nondairy sources had no apparent relation with the risk of PD. Conclusions: Findings suggest that milk intake is associated with an increased risk of Parkinson disease. Whether observed effects are mediated through nutrients other than calcium or through neurotoxic contaminants warrants further study.
Germany Transformed: Political Culture and the New Politics

* Foreword by Max Kaase * Introduction One: The Changing Political Culture * Legitimizing a System * The Involved Electorate * Sources of Political Information Two: The Changing Political Agenda * Politics and the Economic Environment * Politics and the International Environment * Old Politics and New Politics Three: Changing Partisan Politics * Transition in the Social Bases of German Politics * Partisanship and Political Behavior * Partisan Images and Electoral Change * A Causal Analysis of the Components of the Vote Four: Epilogue * The 1976 Election * West German Politics in Transition * Appendix A: The Database * Appendix B: Constructed Measures * Notes * Index
When surveys lie and people tell the truth : How surveys oversample church attenders : Church attendance in the United States

cal Report #35. Chicago, IL: National Opinion Research Center. 1992. "Discrepancies between Men and Women in Reporting Number of Sexual Partners: A Summary from Four Countries. " Social Biology 39:203-1 1. Stolzenberg, Ross M. , Mary Blair-Loy, and Linda Waite. 1995. "Religious Participation in Early Adulthood: Age and Family Life Cycle Effects on Church Membership. " American Sociological Review 60:84-103.
THE ECONOMICS OF SHOE SHINING IN NAIROBI

SHOE-SHINERS HAVE FIGURED in the development literature out of all proportion to the numbers who follow this occupation. In the 1950s and 1960s they were invariably cited as proof of the existence of disguised unemployment. In the 1970s they came to be an example of the newly discovered 'informal sector'. But no-one ever actually talked to them or attempted a systematic study. The present paper is the result of three separate attempts--all in Nairobi-to do just that. The paper begins by placing shoe-shiners into the context of past debates, then goes on to report the findings of a survey undertaken by Ryan with the help of some of his students and, finally, examines these findings in the light of official attempts to regulate and control shoe-shiners' activities. The study incidentally represents an interesting and unusual example of the economics of monopolistic competition.
Blending our practice: using online and face-to-face methods to sustain community among faculty in an extended length professional development program

Abstract This paper outlines the design and implementation of a nine-month faculty development programme delivered using a combination of face-to-face and online methods. Participants from a range of disciplines met at regular intervals throughout the year. Between the face-to-face meetings, participants engaged in online activities such as discussions, collaborative writing and peer review activities. Using the theoretical framework of a community of inquiry, data were analysed both quantitatively and qualitatively. Participant feedback on the programme offers some insight into how faculty developers can plan extended length professional development programmes offered in a blended format.
Neuropathogenesis in cytomegalovirus infection: indication of the mechanisms using mouse models

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most frequent infectious cause of developmental brain disorders and also causes brain damage in immunocompromised individuals. Although the brain is one of the main targets of CMV infection, little is known about the neuropathogenesis of the brain disorders caused by CMV in humans because of the limitations in studying human subjects. Murine CMV (MCMV) is similar to human CMV (HCMV) in terms of genome structure, pattern of gene expressions, cell tropism and infectious dynamics. In mouse models, it has been shown that neural stem/progenitor cells are the most susceptible to CMV infection in developing brains. During brain development, lytic infection tends to occur in immature glial cells, presumably causing structural disorders of the brain. In the prolonged phase of infection, CMV preferentially infects neuronal cells. Infection of neurons may tend to become persistent by evasion of immune reactions, anti‐apoptotic effects and neuron‐specific activation of the e1‐promoter, presumably causing functional neuronal disorders. It has also been shown that CMV infection in developing brains may become latent in neural immature cells. Brain disorders may occur long after infection by reactivation of the latent infection. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Social Status of Adolescents With an Early Onset of Externalizing Behavior: The SNARE Study

This study investigated the social status (i.e., popularity, likeability, and friendships) of adolescents with an early onset of externalizing behavior (i.e., alcohol use, tobacco use, and antisocial behavior). Building on Moffitt’s dual-taxonomy model, it was hypothesized that early onset adolescents were more popular, but not necessarily more liked or with more friends. Hypotheses were tested using data from the Social Network Analysis of Risk Behaviors in Early Adolescence (SNARE) study (N = 1,100, 50% boys, X ¯ age = 12.7, SD = 0.47 years). Findings indicated that adolescents with an early onset of one or more externalizing behaviors were more popular, less liked, and had as many friends as their peers. These findings suggest that early onset adolescents potentially function as role models.
MILNACIPRAN FOR NEUROPATHIC PAIN AND FIBROMYALGIA IN ADULTS

BACKGROUND Milnacipran is a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) that is sometimes used to treat chronic neuropathic pain and fibromyalgia. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the analgesic efficacy and adverse effects of milnacipran in the management of chronic neuropathic pain or fibromyalgia. SEARCH METHODS We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, and EMBASE to 4th of January 2012, together with reference lists of retrieved papers and reviews. SELECTION CRITERIA We included randomised, double-blind studies of eight weeks duration or longer, comparing milnacipran with placebo or another active treatment in chronic neuropathic pain or fibromyalgia. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS We extracted efficacy and adverse event data, and two study authors examined issues of study quality independently. MAIN RESULTS Five studies (4138 participants) were included, all of which were placebo-controlled, involved participants with fibromyalgia, and used titration to a target dose of 100 mg or 200 mg milnacipran. There were no other active comparators or studies in other neuropathic pain conditions. Study quality was generally good, although the imputation method used in analyses of the primary outcomes could overestimate treatment effect.Both doses of milnacipran provided moderate levels of pain relief to about 40% of those treated, compared to 30% with placebo, giving a number needed to treat of 8 to 10. Adverse events were common in both milnacipran (87%) and placebo (78%) groups, but serious adverse events (< 2%) did not differ between groups. Nausea and constipation were the most common events showing the greatest difference between groups (number needed to treat for an additional harmful outcome of 7 and 13 respectively, compared with placebo). Withdrawals for any reason were more common with milnacipran than placebo, and more common with 200 mg than 100 mg (NNH of 23 and 8.8 respectively, compared with placebo). This was largely driven by adverse event withdrawals, where the NNH compared with placebo was 14 for 100 mg, and 7.0 for 200 mg). Withdrawals due to lack of efficacy were more common with milnacipran than placebo but did not differ between doses (number needed to treat to prevent an additional unwanted outcome of 45 and 41 respectively). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS The evidence available indicates that milnacipran 100 mg or 200 mg is effective for a minority in the treatment of pain due to fibromyalgia, providing moderate levels of pain relief (at least 30%) to about 40% of participants, compared with about 30% with placebo. There were insufficient data to assess substantial levels of pain relief (at least 50%), and the use of last observation carried forward imputation may overestimate drug efficacy. Milnacipran is associated with increased adverse events and adverse event withdrawals, which were significantly greater for the higher dose. There were no data for the use of milnacipran for other chronic neuropathic pain conditions.