A New Method for a Side-Scattering Lidar to Retrieve the Aerosol Backscattering Coefficient

The side-scattering lidar based on the CCD camera is a powerful tool to measure the near- ground aerosol, which is most interesting for the environmental and meteorological departments. The inversion method for the side-scattering lidar is different from the conventional Fernald method due to the differences in two lidar equations. A new inversion method for the side-scattering lidar to retrieve the aerosol backscattering coefficient is proposed for the first time, which is based on the aerosol backscattering coefficient at the ground as a restriction condition. Numerical simulation is used to analyze the convergence of this new method. Case studies indicate that this new method is reasonable and feasible.REFERENCE

A New Method for a Side-Scattering Lidar to Retrieve the Aerosol Backscattering Coefficient

The side-scattering lidar based on the CCD camera is a powerful tool to measure the near- ground aerosol, which is most interesting for the environmental and meteorological departments. The inversion method for the side-scattering lidar is different from the conventional Fernald method due to the differences in two lidar equations. A new inversion method for the side-scattering lidar to retrieve the aerosol backscattering coefficient is proposed for the first time, which is based on the aerosol backscattering coefficient at the ground as a restriction condition. Numerical simulation is used to analyze the convergence of this new method. Case studies indicate that this new method is reasonable and feasible.REFERENCE

Experimental Determination of Dual-Wavelength Mie Lidar Geometric form Factor Combining Side-Scatter and Back-Scatter Signals

In theory, lidar overlap factor can be derived from the difference between the particle backscatter coefficient retrieved from lidar elastic signal without overlap correction and the actual particle backscatter coefficient, which can be obtained by other measured techniques. The side-scatter signal using a CCD camera is testified to be a powerful tool to detect the particle backscatter coefficient in near ground layer during night time. In experiment, by combining side-scatter and backscatter signals the geometric form factor for vertically-pointing Mie lidar in 532 nm channel is determined successfully, which is corrected by an iteration algorithm combining the retrieved particle backscatter coefficient using CCD sidescatter method and Fernald method. In this study, the method will be expanded to 1064 nm channel in dual-wavelength Mie lidar during routine campaigns. The experimental results in different atmosphere conditions demonstrated that the method present in this study is available in practice

Experimental Determination of Dual-Wavelength Mie Lidar Geometric form Factor Combining Side-Scatter and Back-Scatter Signals

In theory, lidar overlap factor can be derived from the difference between the particle backscatter coefficient retrieved from lidar elastic signal without overlap correction and the actual particle backscatter coefficient, which can be obtained by other measured techniques. The side-scatter signal using a CCD camera is testified to be a powerful tool to detect the particle backscatter coefficient in near ground layer during night time. In experiment, by combining side-scatter and backscatter signals the geometric form factor for vertically-pointing Mie lidar in 532 nm channel is determined successfully, which is corrected by an iteration algorithm combining the retrieved particle backscatter coefficient using CCD sidescatter method and Fernald method. In this study, the method will be expanded to 1064 nm channel in dual-wavelength Mie lidar during routine campaigns. The experimental results in different atmosphere conditions demonstrated that the method present in this study is available in practice

Development of Multi-Wavelength Raman Lidar and its Application on Aerosol and Cloud Research

A movable multi-wavelength Raman lidar (TMPRL) was built in Hefei, China. Emitting with three wavelengths at 1064, 532, and 355nm, receiving three above Mie scattering signals and two nitrogen Raman signals at 386 and 607nm, and depolarization signal at 532nm, TMPRL has the capacity to investigate the height resolved optical and microphysical properties of aerosol and cloud. The retrieval algorithms of optical parameters base on Mie-Raman technique and the microphysical parameters based on Bayesian optimization method were also developed and applied to observed lidar data. Designing to make unattended operation and 24/7 continuous working, TMPRL has joined several field campaigns to study on the aerosol, cloud and their interaction researches. Some observed results of aerosol and cloud optical properties and the first attempt to validate the vertical aerosol size distribution retrieved by TMPRL and in-situ measurement by airplane are presented and discussed

Intravitreous delivery of melatonin affects the retinal neuron survival and visual signal transmission: in vivo and ex vivo study

Intravitreal delivery can maximize the intensity of therapeutic agents and extend their residence time within ocular tissue. Melatonin is a lipophilic molecule that crosses freely biological barriers and cell membranes. This study intends to investigate the effects of intravitreally delivered melatonin on mouse retina. The visual function of administered mice is assessed by electrophysiological and behavior examinations three weeks after intravitreal delivery. Moreover, multi-electrode array (MEA) was used to assess the electrical activities of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). We found that intravitreal delivery of high dosage melatonin (400–500 µg/kg) destroyed the retinal architecture and impaired the visual function of mice. Conversely, the melatonin administration at low dose (100–300 µg/kg) did not have any significant effects on the photoreceptor survival or visual function. As shown in the MEA recording, the photoreceptors activity of the central region was more severely disturbed by the high dose melatonin. A pronounced augment of the spontaneous firing frequency was recorded in these mice received high dosage melatonin, indicating that intravitreal delivery of high dosage melatonin would affect the electrical activity of RGCs. Immunostaining assay showed that the vitality of cone photoreceptor was impaired by high dose melatonin. These findings suggest that intravitreal melatonin is not always beneficial for ocular tissues, especially when it is administered at high dosage. These data add new perspectives to current knowledge about melatonin delivery at the ocular level. Further therapeutic strategies should take into consideration of these risks that caused by delivery approach

Encapsulated cell technology: Delivering cytokines to treat posterior ocular diseases

Encapsulated cell technology (ECT) is a targeted delivery method that uses the genetically engineered cells in semipermeable polymer capsules to deliver cytokines. Thus far, ECT has been extensively utilized in pharmacologic research, and shows enormous potentials in the treatment of posterior segment diseases. Due to the biological barriers within the eyeball, it is difficult to attain effective therapeutic concentration in the posterior segment through topical administration of drug molecules. Encouragingly, therapeutic cytokines provided by ECT can cross these biological barriers and achieve sustained release at the desired location. The encapsulation system uses permeable materials that allow growth factors and cytokines to diffuse efficiently into retinal tissue. Moreover, the ECT based treatment can be terminated timely when we need to retrieve the implant, which makes the therapy reversible and provides a safer alternative for intraocular gene therapy. Meanwhile, we also place special emphasis on optimizing encapsulation materials and enhancing preservation techniques to achieve the stable release of growth factors and cytokines in the eyeball. This technology holds great promise for the treatment of patients with dry AMD, RP, glaucoma and MacTel. These findings would enrich our understandings of ECT and promote its future applications in treatment of degenerative retinopathy. This review comprises articles evaluating the exactness of artificial intelligence-based formulas published from 2000 to March 2024. The papers were identified by a literature search of various databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library and Web of Science)

Impact of an altered PROX1 expression on clinicopathology, prognosis and progression in renal cell carcinoma.

The transcription factor PROX1 (prospero homeobox 1) has a critical role in the development of various organs, and has been implicated in both oncogenic and tumor-suppressive functions in human cancers. However, the role of PROX1 in the development of renal cell carcinomas (RCCs) has not yet been studied. Here, we reported that PROX1 expression was decreased in human RCC tissues compared with adjacent normal tissues. In RCC tissues, however, poorly differentiated RCC expressed higher PROX1 levels compared with well-differentiated RCC. In addition, the PROX1 immunostaining levels were positively correlated with tumor nuclear grade and lymph node metastasis. Further, high PROX1 expression indicated poor survival for patients. These findings imply that in the different developmental stages of RCC, PROX1 may exert distinct functions according to the specific microenvironment of tumor. Moreover, in vitro experiments revealed that PROX1 overexpression enhanced the proliferation and migration of RCC cells; conversely, PROX1 depletion by siRNA attenuated the proliferation and migration of RCC cells. Collectively, these observations suggest that PROX1 plays an important role in RCC development and progression, and PROX1 may be a novel target for prevention and treatment of RCC