bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
LncRNA AFAP1-AS1 is a prognostic biomarker and serves as oncogenic role in retinoblastoma
Authors: Hao Fengqin , Mou Yanan , Zhang Laixia , Wang Shuna , Yang Yang
Published: April 2018

The actin filament-associated protein 1 antisense RNA 1 (AFAP1-AS1) has been found to serve as an oncogenic long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) in most types of human cancer. The role of AFAP1-AS1 in retinoblastoma remains unknown. The purpose of the present study is to explore the clinical significance and biological function of AFAP1-AS1 in retinoblastoma. Levels of AFAP1-AS1 expression were measured in retinoblastoma tissues and cell lines. Loss-of-function study was performed to observe the effects of AFAP1-AS1 on retinoblastoma cell proliferation, cell cycle, migration, and invasion. In our results, AFAP1-AS1 expression was elevated in retinoblastoma tissues and cell lines, and associated with tumor size, choroidal invasion, and optic nerve invasion. Moreover, high expression of AFAP1-AS1 was an independent unfavorable prognostic factor in retinoblastoma patients. The experiment in vitro suggested down-regulation of AFAP1-AS1 inhibited retinoblastoma cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and blocked cell cycle. In conclusion, AFAP1-AS1 functions as an oncogenic lncRNA in retinoblastoma.
Increasing metabolic potential: C-fixation
Authors: Andralojc P. John , Carmo-Silva Elizabete , Degen Gustaf E. , Parry Martin A.J.
Published: April 2018

Due to the growing world population, crop yields must increase to meet the rising demand. Crop plants also require adaptation to optimize performance in the changing environments caused by climate change. Improving photosynthetic carbon fixation is a promising, albeit technically challenging, strategy whose potential has only just begun to be considered in breeding programmes. Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco), a fundamental enzyme of carbon fixation, is extremely inefficient and many strategies to improve photosynthesis focus on overcoming the limitations of this enzyme, either by improving Rubisco activity and regulation or by improving the supply of substrates. Although progress is being made, the need to tailor solutions for each crop and their respective environments has been highlighted. Even so, continuing research will be required to achieve these objectives and to grow crops more sustainably in the future.
10 GHz inverter‐type‐time‐amplifier based phase noise filter with −133 dBc/Hz phase noise sensitivity
Authors: Hao S. , Hu T. , Gu Q.
Published: April 2018

This Letter presents an inverter‐type time amplifier (TA)‐based phase noise filter (TAPNF) with 8 dB phase noise suppression and −133 dBc/Hz phase noise sensitivity at 1 MHz offset. The phase noise improvement strategy, low noise TA design and power consumption reduction techniques are presented. The TAPNF is fabricated in a 65 nm CMOS process with 1.4 mm × 1.6 mm chip area and consumes 50 mW power. To authors’ best knowledge, the TAPNF achieves the best phase noise and figure‐of‐merit compared with state‐of‐the‐arts with similar technologies and carrier frequencies.
Embedded application of convolutional neural networks on Raspberry Pi for SHM
Authors: Monteiro A. , de Oliveira M. , de Oliveira R. , da Silva T.
Published: April 2018

To date, the authors are not aware of an in‐depth investigation about embedded applications of the convolutional neural network (CNN) algorithm on small, lightweight, and low‐cost hardware (e.g. microcontroller, FPGA, DSP, and Raspberry Pi) applied to detect faults in structural health monitoring (SHM) systems. In this Letter, the authors implement and evaluate both feasibility and performance of an embedded application of the CNN algorithm on the Raspberry Pi 3. The CNN‐embedded algorithm quantifies and classifies dissimilarities between the frames representing healthy and damaged structural conditions. In a case study, the CNN‐embedded application was experimentally evaluated using three piezoelectric patches glued onto an aluminium plate. The results reveal an impressively effective 100% hit rate. This performance may significantly impact the design and analysis of CNN‐based SHM systems where embedded applications are required for identifying structural damage such as those encountered by aerospace structures, rotating machineries, and wind turbines.
Cooperative multi‐agent sweep coverage control for unknown areas of irregular shape
Authors: Shi Mengji , Qin Kaiyu , Liu Jun
Published: April 2018

The study solves multi‐agent cooperative control problems of covering irregularly‐shaped unknown areas. A sweep coverage motion scheme is proposed: the agents are arranged in a row across the area and sweep through. The formation is flexible thus the agents can be scattered across the widest part and can queue up to pass through the narrowest portion. This allows the agents to cover the region by collectively passing through it only once, which may help to improve the survivability of reconnaissance vehicles. A distributed second‐order control law is designed by modelling the agents as point masses in planar space. The approach is inspired by the motion of a string of balls connected by springs, thus virtual elastic force and potential field are applied to the agents, which introduces non‐linearity to the system. Complete coverage as well as collision avoidance among agents and borders are guaranteed by parameter constraints that provided and validated via theoretical deduction and numerical simulations. Compared with the existing unknown‐area coverage methods by randomly exploring the area, the proposed one yields more regular motion paths. Limitations of the work and future research directions are finally concluded.
Fabrication of seamless roller mould with smooth surface microstructures by rotation lithography and reflow process
Authors: Ji Chao , Li Mujun , Qiu Jinfeng , Zhu Junjie , Ye Huichun
Published: April 2018

In this work, the authors conducted a versatile approach for an innovative fabrication of a seamless micro‐stripes array on the roller which is as a mould for roller imprinting lithography. The major steps in the proposed fabrication method include an uniform speed PR‐coating process, followed by a digital micromirrors device based maskless lithography projection and an incremental step‐and‐rotate exposure process. In addition to above‐mentioned steps, a following thermal reflow process was performed to transform the micro‐stripes into smooth surface microstructures. The study also analysed the mechanism of the reflow process by numerical simulations and experiments. The mechanism includes the gravitational effect and the definition of the four stages of the reflow process. Study results show that the reflow process on the roller is feasible and the proposed method is a promising approach for fabricating three‐dimensional smooth surface microstructures on the roller with different requirements.
Spin rates and spin evolution of O components in WR+O binaries
Authors: Vanbeveren D. , Mennekens N. , Shara M. M. , Moffat A. F. J.
Published: April 2018

Context.Despite 50 yr of extensive binary research, we must conclude that the Roche lobe overflow/mass transfer process that governs close binary evolution is still poorly understood.

Aims.It is the scope of the present paper to lift the edge of the veil by studying the spin-up and spin-down processes of the O-type components of WR+O binaries.

Methods.We critically analyzed the available observational data of rotation speeds of the O-type components in WR+O binaries. By combining a binary evolutionary code and a formalism that describes the effects of tides in massive stars with an envelope in radiative equilibrium, we computed the corresponding rotational velocities during the Roche lobe overflow of the progenitor binaries.

Results.In all the WR+O binaries studied, we find that the O-type stars were affected by accretion of matter during Roche lobe overflow (RLOF) of the progenitor. This means that common envelope evolution, which excludes any accretion onto the secondary O star, has not played an important role in explaining WR+O binaries. Moreover, although it is very likely that the O-type star progenitors were spun up by mass transfer, many ended the RLOF (and mass transfer) phase with a rotational velocity that is significantly smaller than the critical rotation speed. This may indicate that during the mass transfer phase there is a spin-down process that is of the same order, although significantly less, than that of the spin-up process. We propose a Spruit–Tayler type dynamo spin-down suggested in the past to explain the rotation speeds of the mass gainers in long-period Algols.
Assessment of capabilities of lidar systems in day-and night-time under different atmospheric and internal-noise conditions
Authors: Agishev Ravil , Comerón Adolfo
Published: April 2018

As an application of the dimensionless parameterization concept proposed earlier for the characterization of lidar systems, the universal assessment of lidar capabilities in day and night conditions is considered. The dimensionless parameters encapsulate the atmospheric conditions, the lidar optical and optoelectronic characteristics, including the photodetector internal noise, and the sky background radiation. Approaches to ensure immunity of the lidar system to external background radiation are discussed.
Hydrogen gas concentration measurement in small area using raman lidar measurement technnology
Authors: Sugimoto Sachiyo , Asahi Ippei , Shiina Tatuso
Published: April 2018

When change of hydrogen(H2) gas concentration in a certain point is measured, non-contact measurement technology with high temporal and spatial resolution is necessary. In this study, H2 concentration in the small area of <1cm2 under the gas flow was measured by using a Raman lidar. Raman scattering light at the measurement point of 750mm ahead was detected by the Raman lidar. As a result, it was proved that the H2 concentration of more than 100ppm could be successfully measured.
Compact high-power shipborne doppler lidar based on high spectral resolution techniques
Authors: Wu Songhua , Liu Bingyi , Dai Guangyao , Qin Shenguang , Liu Jintao , Zhang Kailin , Feng Changzhong , Zhai Xiaochun , Song Xiaoquan
Published: April 2018

The Compact High-Power Shipborne Doppler Wind Lidar (CHiPSDWiL) based on highspectral-resolution technique has been built up at the Ocean University of China for the measurement of the wind field and the properties of the aerosol and clouds in the troposphere. The design of the CHiPSDWiL including the transceiver, the injection seeding, the locking and the frequency measurement will be presented. Preliminary results measured by the CHiPSDWiL are provided.
Polarisation effects in lidar signals: determination, correction, and uncertainty calculation
Authors: Freudenthaler Volker
Published: April 2018

An analytical framework, based on the Müller-Stokes formalism, is presented, which enables us to determine the impact of polarisation effects of the lidar optics on the lidar signals and on the measured atmospheric linear depolarisation. Furthermore, the equations enable us to investigate the accuracy of the gain ratio calibration of depolarisation channels with different calibration setups, to correct some of the polarisation effects, and to perform uncertainty analyses.
CoMet: an airborne mission to simultaneously measure CO2 and CH4 using lidar, passive remote sensing, and in-situ techniques
Authors: Fix Andreas , Amediek Axel , Bovensmann Heinrich , Ehret Gerhard , Gerbig Christoph , Gerilowski Konstantin , Pfeilsticker Klaus , Roiger Anke , Zöger Martin
Published: April 2018

TIn order to improve our current knowledge on the budgets of the two most important anthropogenic greenhouse gases, CO2 and CH4, an airborne mission on board the German research aircraft HALO in coordination with two smaller Cessna aircraft is going to be conducted in April/May 2017. The goal of CoMet is to combine a suite of the best currently available active (lidar) and passive remote sensors as well as in-situ instruments to provide regional-scale data of greenhouse gases which are urgently required.
Earthcare atlid extinction and backscatter retrieval algorithms
Authors: Donovan David , Zadelhoff Gerd-Jan van , Daou David , Wandinger Ulla
Published: April 2018

ATLID stands for “ATmospheric LIDar” and is the lidar to be flown on the Earth Clouds and Radiation Explorer (EarthCARE) platform in early 2019. ATLID is a High-Spectral Resolution (HSRL) system operating at 355nm. This presentation will introduce the ATLID level-2
retrieval algorithms being implemented in order to derive cloud and aerosol optical properties
Validation of optimal estimation method retrievals of middle atmospheric temperature
Authors: Jalali Ali , Sica R. J. , Haefele Alexander
Published: April 2018

OEM (Optimal Estimation Method) retrievals of temperature from lidar measurements are robust and practical (Sica and Haefele, 2015). They offer significant improvements over traditional methods. We will show a climatology of +360 nights of measurements from the Purple Crow Lidar and the improvements offered using an OEM, including the quantitative determination of the top altitude of the retrieval and the evaluation of the various systematic and random uncertainties due to measurement noise.
Comparison of rayleigh-scatter and sodium resonance lidar temperatures
Authors: Sox Leda , Wickwar Vincent B. , Yuan Tao , Criddle Neal R.
Published: April 2018

We present an unprecedented comparison of temperature measurements from the Rayleigh-scatter (RS) and sodium (Na) lidar techniques. The extension of the RS technique into the lower thermosphere that has been achieved by the group at Utah State University (USU), enables simultaneous, common-volume measurements by the two lidar systems hosted in the Atmospheric Lidar Observatory at USU. The two lidars’ nightly averaged temperatures from 80-105 km, based on 19 nights of observations, are explored.
Estimate of rain evaporation rates from dual-wavelength lidar measurements: comparison against a model analytical solution
Authors: Lolli Simone , Di Girolamo Paolo , Demoz Belay , Li Xiaowen , Welton Ellsworth J.
Published: April 2018

Rain evaporation significantly contributes to moisture and heat cloud budgets. In this paper, we illustrate an approach to estimate the median volume raindrop diameter and the rain evaporation rate profiles from dual-wavelength lidar measurements. These observational results are compared with those provided by a model analytical solution. We made use of measurements from the multi-wavelength Raman lidar BASIL.
Boundary layer pollution profiles from a rural site in South Korea
Authors: Sullivan John , McGee Thomas , Thompson Anne , Twigg Laurence , Sumnicht Grant , Stauffer Ryan
Published: April 2018

During the NASA 2016 KORUS-AQ campaign, the ground based NASA GSFC ozone lidar and balloon borne instrumentation were deployed to the remote Taehwa Forest site (37.3 N, 127.3 E, 151 m AGL) to characterize the transport of pollution downwind of the Seoul metropolitan region. On most days from 02 May to 10 June 2016, continuous hours of lidar profiles of ozone were measured. Select days are shown to represent key ozone events that occurred at the rural site.
ESA’s spaceborne lidar mission ADM-Aeolus; project status and preparations for launch
Authors: Straume Anne Grete , Elfving Anders , Wernham Denny , de Bruin Frank , Kanitz Thomas , Schuettemeyer Dirk , Bismarck Jonas von , Buscaglione Fabio , Lecrenier O. , McGoldrick Phil
Published: April 2018

ESA’s Doppler Wind lidar mission, the Atmospheric Dynamics Mission (ADM-Aeolus, hereafter abbreviated to Aeolus), was chosen as an Earth Explorer Core mission within the Living Planet Programme in 1999. It shall demonstrate the potential of space-based Doppler Wind lidars for operational measurements of wind profiles and their use in Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) and climate research. Spin-off products are profiles of cloud and aerosol optical properties. Aeolus carries the novel Doppler Wind lidar instrument ALADIN. The mission prime is Airbus Defence & Space UK (ADS-UK), and the instrument prime is Airbus Defence & Space France (ADS-F).
Mineral dust in Central Asia: Combining lidar and other measurements during the Central Asian dust experiment (CADEX)
Authors: Althausen Dietrich , Hofer Julian , Abdullaev Sabur , Makhmudov Abduvosit , Baars Holger , Engelmann Ronny , Wadinga Fomba Khanneh , Müller Konrad , Schettler Georg , Klüser Lars , Kandler Konrad
Published: April 2018

Mineral dust needs to be characterized comprehensively since it contributes to the climate change in Tajikistan / Central Asia. Lidar results from the measurements of mineral dust during CADEX are compared with results of sun photometer measurements, satellite-based measurements, and chemical analysis of ground samples. Although the dust is often advected from far-range sources, it impacts on the local conditions considerably.
Modelling of pollen dispersion in the atmosphere: evaluation with a continuous 1β+1δ lidar
Authors: Sicard Michaël , Izquierdo Rebeca , Jorba Oriol , Alarcón Marta , Belmonte Jordina , Comerón Adolfo , De Linares Concepción , Baldasano José Maria
Published: April 2018

Pollen allergenicity plays an important role on human health and wellness. It is thus of large public interest to increase our knowledge of pollen grain behavior in the atmosphere (source, emission, processes involved during their transport, etc.) at fine temporal and spatial scales. First simulations with the Barcelona Supercomputing Center NMMB/BSC-CTM model of Platanus and Pinus dispersion in the atmosphere were performed during a 5-day pollination event observed in Barcelona, Spain, between 27 – 31 March, 2015. The simulations are compared to vertical profiles measured with the continuous Barcelona Micro Pulse Lidar system. First results show that the vertical distribution is well reproduced by the model in shape, but not in intensity, the model largely underestimating in the afternoon. Guidelines are proposed to improve the dispersion of airborne pollen by numerical prediction models.
Triple-wavelength lidar observations of the linear depolarization ratio of dried marine particles
Authors: Haarig Moritz , Ansmann Albert , Baars Holger , Engelmann Ronny , Althausen Dietrich , Bohlmann Stephanie , Gasteiger Josef , Farrell David
Published: April 2018

For aerosol typing with lidar, sea salt particles are usually assumed to be spherical with a consequently low depolarization ratio. Evidence of dried marine particles at the top of the humid marine aerosol layer with a depolarization ratio up to 0.1 has been found at predominately maritime locations on Barbados and in the Southern Atlantic. The depolarization ratio for these probably cubic sea salt particles has been measured at three wavelengths (355, 532 and 1064 nm) simultaneously for the first time and compared to model simulations.
Opo lidar sounding of trace atmospheric gases in the 3 – 4 μm spectral range
Authors: Romanovskii Oleg A. , Sadovnikov Sergey A. , Kharchenko Olga V. , Yakovlev Semen V.
Published: April 2018

The applicability of a KTA crystal-based laser system with optical parametric oscillators (OPO) generation to lidar sounding of the atmosphere in the spectral range 3–4 μm is studied in this work. A technique developed for lidar sounding of trace atmospheric gases (TAG) is based on differential absorption lidar (DIAL) method and differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS). The DIAL-DOAS technique is tested to estimate its efficiency for lidar sounding of atmospheric trace gases. The numerical simulation performed shows that a KTA-based OPO laser is a promising source of radiation for remote DIAL-DOAS sounding of the TAGs under study along surface tropospheric paths. A possibility of using a PD38-03-PR photodiode for the DIAL gas analysis of the atmosphere is shown.
Seventeen-year systematic measurements of dust aerosol optical properties using the eole ntua lidar system (2000-2016)
Authors: Soupiona Ourania , Mylonaki Maria , Papayannis Alexandros , Argyrouli Athina , Kokkalis Panayotis , Tsaknakis Georgios
Published: April 2018

A comprehensive analysis of the seasonal variability of the optical properties of Saharan dust aerosols over Athens, Greece, is presented for a 17-year time period (2000-2016), as derived from multi-wavelength Raman lidar measurements (57 dust events with more than 80 hours of measurements). The profiles of the derived aerosol optical properties (aerosol backscatter and extinction coefficients, lidar ratio and aerosol Ångström exponent) at 355 nm are presented. For these dust events we found a mean value of the lidar ratio of ~52±13 sr at 355 nm and of ~58±8 sr (not shown) at 532 nm (2-4 km a.s.l. height). For our statistical analysis, presented here, we used monthly-mean values and time periods under cloud-free conditions. The number of dust events was greatest in late spring, summer, and early autumn periods. In this paper we also present a selected case study (04 April 2016) of desert dust long-range transport from the Saharan desert.
Development of wavelength locking circuit for 1.53 micron water vapor monitoring coherent differential absorption LIDAR
Authors: Imaki Masaharu , Kojima Ryota , Kameyama Shumpei
Published: April 2018

We have studied a ground based coherent differential absorption LIDAR (DIAL) for vertical profiling of water vapor density using a 1.5μm laser wavelength. A coherent LIDAR has an advantage in daytime measurement compared with incoherent LIDAR because the influence of background light is greatly suppressed. In addition, the LIDAR can simultaneously measure wind speed and water vapor density.

We had developed a wavelength locking circuit using the phase modulation technique and offset locking technique, and wavelength stabilities of 0.123 pm which corresponds to 16 MHz are realized. In this paper, we report the wavelength locking circuits for the 1.5 um wavelength.
A Lidar at Clermont-Ferrand—France to describe the boundary layer dynamics, aerosols, cirrus and tropospheric water vapor
Authors: Baray J.L. , Fréville P. , Montoux N. , Chauvigné A. , Hadad D. , Sellegri K.
Published: April 2018

A Rayleigh-Mie-Raman LIDAR provides vertical profiles of tropospheric variables at Clermont-Ferrand (France) since 2008, in order to describe the boundary layer dynamics, tropospheric aerosols, cirrus and water vapor. It is included in the EARLINET network. We performed hardware/software developments in order to upgrade the quality, calibration and improve automation. We present an overview of the system and some examples of measurements and a preliminary geophysical analysis of the data.
A methodology for cloud masking uncalibrated lidar signals
Authors: Binietoglou Ioannis , D’Amico Giuseppe , Baars Holger , Belegante Livio , Marinou Eleni
Published: April 2018

Most lidar processing algorithms, such as those included in EARLINET’s Single Calculus Chain, can be applied only to cloud-free atmospheric scenes. In this paper, we present a methodology for masking clouds in uncalibrated lidar signals. First, we construct a reference dataset based on manual inspection and then train a classifier to separate clouds and cloud-free regions. Here we present details of this approach together with an example cloud masks from an EARLINET station.
Wild fire aerosol optical properties measured by lidar at Haifa, Israel
Authors: Heese Birgit , Hofer Julian , Baars Holger , Engelmann Ronny , Althausen Dietrich , Schechner Yoav Y.
Published: April 2018

Optical properties of fresh biomass burning aerosol were measured by lidar during the wild fires in Israel in November 2016. A single-wavelength lidar Polly was operated at the Technion Campus at Haifa. The detector with originally two channels at 532 and 607 nm was recently upgraded with a cross- and a co-polarised channel at 532 nm, and a rotational Raman channel at 530.2 nm. Preliminary results show high particle depolarisation ratios probably caused by soil dust and large fly-ash particles.
Characterization of aircraft dynamic wake vortices and atmospheric turbulence by coherent doppler lidar
Authors: Wu Songhua , Zhai Xiaochun , Liu Bingyi , Liu Jintao
Published: April 2018

Field observations for the wake vortices by Coherent Doppler Lidar (CDL) have been carried out at the Beijing Capital International Airport (BCIA) and Tianjin Binhai International Airport (TBIA) to investigate the wake vortices evolution characteristics and the near-ground effect. This paper introduces the dynamic wake vortices and atmospheric turbulence monitoring technique, successfully demonstrating that the CDL can capture the key characteristics of wake vortices in real-time, including wake vortices intensity, spatial-temporal evolution and so forth.
Studying turbulence by remote sensing systems during slope-2016 campaign
Authors: Moreira Gregori de A. , Guerrero-Rascado Juan L. , Benavent-Oltra Jose A. , Ortiz-Amezcua Pablo , Róman Roberto , Landulfo Eduardo , Alados-Arboledas Lucas
Published: April 2018

The Planetary Boundary Layer (PBL) is the lowermost part of the troposphere. In this work, we analysed some high order moments and PBL height detected continuously by three remote sensing systems: an elastic lidar, a Doppler lidar and a passive Microwave Radiometer, during the SLOPE-2016 campaign, which was held in Granada from May to August 2016. This study confirms the feasibility of these systems for the characterization of the PBL, helping us to justify and understand its behaviour along the day.
Retrieving microphysics of cirrus clouds from data measured with raman lidar ramses and a tilted ceilometer
Authors: Borovoi Anatoli , Reichardt Jens , Görsdorf Ulrich , Wolf Veronika , Konoshonkin Alexander , Shishko Victor , Kustova Natalia
Published: April 2018

To develop a microphysical model of cirrus clouds, data obtained by Raman lidar RAMSES and a tilted ceilometer are studied synergistically. The measurements are interpreted by use of a data archive containing the backscattering matrixes as well as the depolarization, color and lidar ratios of ice crystals of different shapes, sizes and spatial orientations calculated within the physical-optics approximation.
Rehearsal for Assessment of atmospheric optical Properties during biomass burning Events and Long-range transportation episodes at Metropolitan Area of São Paulo-Brazil (RAPEL)
Authors: Lopes Fábio J. S. , Luis Guerrero-Rascado Juan , Benavent-Oltra Jose A. , Román Roberto , Moreira Gregori A. , Marques Marcia T. A. , da Silva Jonatan J. , Alados-Arboledas Lucas , Artaxo Paulo , Landulfo Eduardo
Published: April 2018

During the period of August-September 2016 an intensive campaign was carried out to assess aerosol properties in São Paulo-Brazil aiming to detect long-range aerosol transport events and to characterize the instrument regarding data quality. Aerosol optical properties retrieved by the GALION - LALINET SPU lidar station and collocated AERONET sunphotometer system are presented as extinction/ backscatter vertical profiles with microphysical products retrieved with GRASP inversion algorithm.
Biomass burning aerosols characterization from ground based and profiling measurements
Authors: Marin Cristina , Vasilescu Jeni , Marmureanu Luminita , Ene Dragos , Preda Liliana , Mihailescu Mona
Published: April 2018

The study goal is to assess the chemical and optical properties of aerosols present in the lofted layers and at the ground. The biomass burning aerosols were evaluated in low level layers from multi-wavelength lidar measurements, while chemical composition at ground was assessed using an Aerosol Chemical Speciation Monitor (ACSM) and an Aethalometer. Classification of aerosol type and specific organic markers were used to explore the potential to sense the particles from the same origin at ground base and on profiles.
Constraining lidar stand-alone retrievals with lunar photometry measurements
Authors: Ortiz-Amezcua Pablo , Luis Guerrero-Rascado Juan , Antonio Benavent-Oltra Jose , Román Roberto , Böckmann Christine , Alados-Arboledas Lucas
Published: April 2018

This study combines atmospheric optical information measured with lidar and nocturnal photometers in order to find configurations that allow for the retrieval of particle microphysical properties without “3+2” lidar setups. It has been carried out using data measured at the EARLINET Granada station during the experimental campaign SLOPE in the framework of ACTRIS-2 project.
Recent developments with the asian dust and aerosol lidar observation network (AD-NET)
Authors: Sugimoto Nobuo , Shimizu Atsushi , Nishizawa Tomoaki , Jin Yoshitaka
Published: April 2018

Recent developments of lidars and data analysis methods for AD-Net, and the studies using ADNet are presented. Continuous observation was started in 2001 at three stations using polarizationsensitive Mie-scattering lidars. Currently, lidars, including three multi-wavelength Raman lidars and one high-spectral-resolution lidar, are operated at 20 stations. Recent studies on validation/assimilation of chemical transport models, climatology, and epidemiology of Asian dust are also described.
Aerosol observation using multi-wavelength Mie-Raman lidars of the Ad-Net and aerosol component analysis
Authors: Nishizawa Tomoaki , Sugimoto Nobuo , Shimizu Atsushi , Uno Itsushi , Hara Yukari , Kudo Rei
Published: April 2018

We deployed multi-wavelength Mie-Raman lidars (MMRL) at three sites of the AD-Net and have conducted continuous measurements using them since 2013. To analyze the MMRL data and better understand the externally mixing state of main aerosol components (e.g., dust, sea-salt, and black carbon) in the atmosphere, we developed an integrated package of aerosol component retrieval algorithms, which have already been developed or are being developed, to estimate vertical profiles of the aerosol components. This package applies to the other ground-based lidar network data (e.g., EARLINET) and satellite-borne lidar data (e.g., CALIOP/CALIPSO and ATLID/EarthCARE) as well as the other lidar data of the AD-Net.
ATHLI16: the ATHens Lidar Intercomparison campaign
Authors: Amodeo Aldo , D’Amico Giuseppe , Giunta Aldo , Papagiannopoulos Nikolaos , Papayannis Alex , Argyrouli Athina , Mylonaki Maria , Tsaknakis Georgios , Kokkalis Panos , Soupiona Ourania , Tzanis Chris
Published: April 2018

The results of the ATHLI16 (ATHens Lidar Intercomparison) campaign, held in Athens from 26/09 to 07/10 2016 are presented. The campaign was performed within the Lidar Calibration Centre activities (EU H2020 ACTRIS-2 project) to assess the performance of the EOLE lidar system (NTUA, Athens, Greece), operating within EARLINET, by comparing against the EARLINET reference lidar system MUSA (CNR-IMAA, Potenza, Italy). For both lidars only products retrieved by the EARLINET Single Calculus Chain have been compared.
Validation and deployment of the first Lidar based weather observation network in New York State: The NYS MesoNet Project
Authors: Thobois L. , Freedman J. , Royer P. , Brotzge J. , Joseph E.
Published: April 2018

The number and quality of atmospheric observations used by meteorologists and operational forecasters are increasing year after year, and yet, consistent improvements in forecast skill remains a challenge. While contributing factors involving these challenges have been identified, including the difficulty in accurately establishing initial conditions, improving the observations at regional and local scales is necessary for accurate depiction of the atmospheric boundary layer (below 2km), particularly the wind profile, in high resolution numerical models. Above the uncertainty of weather forecasts, the goal is also to improve the detection of severe and extreme weather events (severe thunderstorms, tornadoes and other mesoscale phenomena) that can adversely affect life, property and commerce, primarily in densely populated urban centers.

This paper will describe the New York State Mesonet that is being deployed in the state of New York, USA. It is composed of 126 stations including 17 profiler sites. These sites will acquire continuous upper air observations through the combination of WINDCUBE Lidars and microwave radiometers. These stations will provide temperature, relative humidity & “3D” wind profile measurements through and above the planetary boundary layer (PBL) and will retrieve derived atmospheric quantities such as the PBL height, cloud base, momentum fluxes, and aerosol & cloud optical properties. The different modes and configurations that will be used for the Lidars are discussed. The performances in terms of data availability and wind accuracy and precision are evaluated. Several profiles with specific wind and aerosol features are presented to illustrate the benefits of the use of Coherent Doppler Lidars to monitor accurately the PBL.
Optical Measurement of Asian Dust over Daejeon City in 2016 by Depolarization Lidar in AD-Network
Authors: Bong Park Chan , Shimizu Atsushi , Sugimoto Nobuo
Published: April 2018

Long-term sustained heavy Asian Dust below 3 km was measured in the period of April 22-26 by 2-wavelengths depolarization lidar system. As the comparison results of Daejeon station with other stations in the AD-Net, similarly formed Asian dust had been measured at Nigata, Toyama, Matsue, and Sendai. The route of the dust was examined by HYSPLIT. More than 80 μg / m3 mass concentrations derived from the lidar measurements were compared with Air-Korea PM10 data.
Research and development of commercial lidar systems in romania: critical review of the ESYRO lidar systems developed by sc enviroscopy SRL (ESYRO)
Authors: Mihai Cazacu Marius , Tudose Ovidiu , Balanici Dragos , Balin Ioan
Published: April 2018

This paper is shortly presenting the two basic lidar system configurations respectively a micro-lidar and a multi-wavelength lidar systems developed by SC EnviroScopY SRL (ESYRO) from Iasi – Romania in the last decade. Furthermore in addition to the comparative analysis of the two technical configurations the examples of various tests and the capability of the two systems to perform are here presented. Measurements samples of aerosols, clouds, PBL, depolarization and Saharan dust are also illustrated.
Difficulties in Differentiating Natural from Synthetic Alkaloids by Isotope Ratio Monitoring using 13C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectrometry
Authors: Robins Richard , Romek Katarzyna , Grand Mathilde , Nun Pierrick , Diomande Didier , Julien Maxime , Remaud Gérald
Published: April 2018

Within the food and pharmaceutical industries, there is an increasing legislative requirement for the accurate labeling of the productʼs origin. A key feature of this is to indicate whether the product is of natural or synthetic origin. With reference to this context, we have investigated three alkaloids commonly exploited for human use: nicotine, atropine, and caffeine. We have measured by 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry the position-specific distribution of 13C at natural abundance within several samples of each of these target molecules. This technique is well suited to distinguishing between origins, as the distribution of the 13C isotope reflects the primary source of the carbon atoms and the process by which the molecule was (bio)synthesized. Our findings indicate that labeling can be misleading, especially in relation to a supplied compound being labeled as “synthetic” even though its 13C profile indicates a natural origin.
Upfront Nephrectomy for the Treatment of Wilms Tumor: Outcomes and Predictors of Complications
Authors: Krauel Lucas , de Haro Irene , Carrasco Rosalia , Vancells Margarita , Mora Jaume
Published: April 2018

Wilms tumor (WT) is the most common kidney tumor in children. Upfront nephrectomy and preoperative chemotherapy, the two different treatment strategies, have not shown considerable differences in the outcomes. Research focus has turned into decreasing the incidences of posttreatment morbidity. The aim of this study is to determine the existence of prognostic factors and the predictors of surgical complications with upfront surgery following COG protocol. Medical records of patients with WT treated with upfront surgery between 2003 and 2013 were retrospectively reviewed focusing on surgical aspects and complications. Forty-five patients were identified. The mean age at diagnosis was 3.8 years (2–154 months). Thirteen of them had stage I disease (28.9%), 12 stage II (26.7%), 15 stage III (33.3%), and 5 stage IV (11.1%). Mean follow-up was 4.5 years (2–132 months). The 4-year overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS) was 100 and 91.1%, respectively. There were 4 cases of disease progression (3 lung disease and 1 locoregional relapse). We had two cases of intraoperative tumor rupture (4.4%), one partial colectomy, and a distal pancreatectomy. The most common complication was associated with blood transfusion (44.4%). The existence of anaplasia was a risk factor for progression (p = 0.01). Clinical stage and tumor size positively correlated with transfusion (p = 0.001); this relationship was not observed for other complications. Clinical stage and tumor size are predictors of surgical complications and anaplasia for progression. Standardized surgical complications scales such as Clavien–Dindo should be used to properly compare surgical outcomes between different treatment approaches.
Examination under Anesthesia in Patients with Recurrent Patellar Dislocation: Prognostic Study
Authors: Fathalla Ismail , Holton James , Ashraf Tanweer
Published: April 2018

Surgical management of patellar instability is a matter of wide debate. While some authors believe that isolated medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) reconstruction is sufficient, others advocate procedures to treat the underlying pathology, namely, patella alta and trochlear dysplasia. Radiological studies have been traditionally used as a determinant of these pathologies and to determine the need for an additional procedure. The value of examination under anesthesia (EUA) in formulating a treatment plan remains unknown. Our aim is to assess the prognostic value of EUA in assessing patients presenting for surgical treatment of recurrent patellar dislocations. We retrospectively reviewed the outcome after surgical treatment of 23 patients who had undergone isolated MPFL reconstruction for recurrent patella dislocation by a single surgeon in our tertiary center. All data were completed at the time of index surgery. Primary outcome was recurrent instability requiring revision surgery. The mean age of the 23 patients undergoing MPFL reconstruction was 17.4 years of age. The median trochlea tuberosity–trochlear groove (TT-TG) distance was 15 mm with a median Caton–Deschamps ratio of 1.3. Of the 23 patients who underwent MPFL reconstruction, 9 failed (39%). Median time to failure was 10.5 months. All patients who failed MPFL reconstruction had a dislocating patella on EUA at >30 degrees of flexion. Radiological assessment of the knee to assess its morphology is essential for preoperative surgical planning for patients with recurrent patellar instability. Cutoff values to determine the need for surgical procedures require a consistent method of imaging and are prone to flaws in measurement. However, we demonstrated that EUA provides valuable additional information toward an appropriate surgical approach.

Based on our small cohort, we suggest that patients in whom patella remains dislocated past 30 degrees of knee flexion on EUA are unlikely to benefit from isolated MPFL reconstruction.
Betreuung und rehabilitative Behandlung neurologisch schwerstbetroffener Patienten in Phase-F-Einrichtungen
Authors: Bucka Christoph , Eigenbrod Martina
Published: April 2018

Reha-Konzept Deutschland verfügt mit dem dargestellten Phasenmodell für die umfassende, auch langfristige Versorgung schwerstbetroffener neurologischer
Patienten über eines der besten Behandlungs- und Rehabilitationskonzepte weltweit. Ein wesentlicher Bestandteil der langfristigen Versorgung sind die in diesem
Artikel als Schwerpunkt dargestellten Phase-F-Einrichtungen.
Fear of crime: the impact of different distributions of victimisation
Authors: Prieto Curiel Rafael , Bishop Steven Richard
Published: April 2018

There is often a mismatch between levels of crime and the fear of becoming a victim of crime. It is not uncommon to find individuals who suffer little or no crime but yet who are still fearful of some future crime. Alternatively, a place or region might see an increase in crime over time while the fear of crime remains unchanged. Building on a model that previously considered the fear of crime as an opinion shared by simulated individuals, here the impact that different distributions of crime have on the fear experienced by the population is analysed. Simulating the dynamics of the fear of individuals, along with changes of the distribution of crime, leads to results which show that fear is sensitive to the distribution of crime and that there is a phase transition for high levels of concentration of crime. A policy may be oriented to reduce crime, so that the population effectively suffers less crime, but if the victimisation is displaced to other individuals, then the perception of insecurity may not decrease, with fear becoming more widespread.
New evaluation parameter for wearable thermoelectric generators
Authors: Wijethunge Dimuthu , Kim Woochul
Published: April 2018

Wearable devices constitute a key application area for thermoelectric devices. However, owing to new constraints in wearable applications, a few conventional device optimization techniques are not appropriate and material evaluation parameters, such as figure of merit (zT) and power factor (PF), tend to be inadequate. We illustrated the incompleteness of zT and PF by performing simulations and considering different thermoelectric materials. The results indicate a weak correlation between device performance and zT and PF. In this study, we propose a new evaluation parameter, zTwearable, which is better suited for wearable applications compared to conventional zT. Owing to size restrictions, gap filler based device optimization is extremely critical in wearable devices. With respect to the occasions in which gap fillers are used, expressions for power, effective thermal conductivity (keff), and optimum load electrical ratio (mopt) are derived. According to the new parameters, the thermal conductivity of the material has become much more critical now. The proposed new evaluation parameter, namely, zTwearable, is extremely useful in the selection of an appropriate thermoelectric material among various candidates prior to the commencement of the actual design process.
A novel compact low impedance Marx generator with quasi-rectangular pulse output
Authors: Liu Hongwei , Jiang Ping , Yuan Jianqiang , Wang Lingyun , Ma Xun , Xie Weiping
Published: April 2018

In this paper, a novel low impedance compact Marx generator with near-square pulse output based on the Fourier theory is developed. Compared with the traditional Marx generator, capacitors with different capacity have been used. It can generate a high-voltage quasi-rectangular pulse with a width of 100 ns at low impedance load, and it also has high energy density and power density. The generator consists of 16 modules. Each module comprises an integrative single-ended plastic case capacitor with a nominal value of 54 nF, four ceramic capacitors with a nominal value of 1.5 nF, a gas switch, a charging inductor, a grounding inductor, and insulators which provide mechanical support for all elements. In the module, different discharge periods from different capacitors add to the main circuit to form a quasi-rectangular pulse. The design process of the generator is analyzed, and the test results are provided here. The generator achieved pulse output with a rise time of 32 ns, pulse width of 120 ns, flat-topped width (95%-95%) of 50 ns, voltage of 550 kV, and power of 20 GW.
On the phase space structure of IP3 induced Ca2+ signalling and concepts for predictive modeling
Authors: Falcke Martin , Moein Mahsa , Tilūnaitė Agne , Thul Rüdiger , Skupin Alexander
Published: April 2018

The correspondence between mathematical structures and experimental systems is the basis of the generalizability of results found with specific systems and is the basis of the predictive power of theoretical physics. While physicists have confidence in this correspondence, it is less recognized in cellular biophysics. On the one hand, the complex organization of cellular dynamics involving a plethora of interacting molecules and the basic observation of cell variability seem to question its possibility. The practical difficulties of deriving the equations describing cellular behaviour from first principles support these doubts. On the other hand, ignoring such a correspondence would severely limit the possibility of predictive quantitative theory in biophysics. Additionally, the existence of functional modules (like pathways) across cell types suggests also the existence of mathematical structures with comparable universality. Only a few cellular systems have been sufficiently investigated in a variety of cell types to follow up these basic questions. IP3 induced Ca2+signalling is one of them, and the mathematical structure corresponding to it is subject of ongoing discussion. We review the system's general properties observed in a variety of cell types. They are captured by a reaction diffusion system. We discuss the phase space structure of its local dynamics. The spiking regime corresponds to noisy excitability. Models focussing on different aspects can be derived starting from this phase space structure. We discuss how the initial assumptions on the set of stochastic variables and phase space structure shape the predictions of parameter dependencies of the mathematical models resulting from the derivation.
Investigations of the valence-shell excitations of molecular ethane by high-energy electron scattering
Authors: Xu Wei-Qing , Xu Long-Quan , Qi De-Guang , Chen Tao , Liu Ya-Wei , Zhu Lin-Fan
Published: April 2018

The differential cross sections and generalized oscillator strengths for the low-lying excitations of the valence-shell 1eg orbital electron in ethane have been measured for the first time at a high incident electron energy of 1500 eV and a scattering angular range of 1.5°–10°. A weak feature, termed X here, with a band center of about 7.5 eV has been observed, which was also announced by the previous experimental and theoretical studies. The dynamic behaviors of the generalized oscillator strengths for the 3s (8.7 eV), 3s+3p (9.31 eV, 9.41 eV), and X (∼7.5 eV) transitions on the momentum transfer squared have been obtained. The integral cross sections of these transitions from their thresholds to 5000 eV have been obtained with the aid of the BE-scaling (B is the binding energy and E is the excitation energy) method. The optical oscillator strengths of the above transitions determined by extrapolating their generalized oscillator strengths to the limit of the squared momentum transfer K2 → 0 are in good agreement with the ones from the photoabsorption spectrum [J. W. Au et al., Chem. Phys. 173, 209 (1993)], which indicates that the present differential cross sections, generalized oscillator strengths, and integral cross sections can serve as benchmark data.
Mechanical nonlinearity elimination with a micromechanical clamped-free semicircular beams resonator
Authors: Chen Dongyang , Chen Xuying , Wang Yong , Liu Xinxin , Guan Yangyang , Xie Jin
Published: April 2018

This paper reports a micro-machined clamped-free semicircular beam resonator aiming to eliminate the nonlinearity that widely exists in traditional mechanical resonators. Cubic coefficients over vibration displacement due to axial extension of the beams are analyzed through theoretical modelling, and the corresponding frequency effect is demonstrated. With the device working in the elastic vibration mode, the cubic coefficients are eliminated by using a free end to release the nonlinear extension of beams and thus the inside axial stress. The amplitude-frequency (A-f) effect is overcome in a large region of source power, and the coefficient of frequency softening is linearized in a large region of polarization voltage. As a result, the resonator can be driven at larger vibration amplitude to achieve a high signal to noise ratio and power handling performance.