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Transmembrane delivery of biologically active nucleic acids is an important process in cells and has inspired one to develop advanced drug delivery techniques. In this contribution, molecular‐level single‐stranded nucleic acid transmembrane carriers are reported based on 3.2 nm long Huc's foldamers (AOrnQ3Q3)8 and (mQ3Q2)8 with linearly and helically aligned positive charges, respectively. These two foldamers not only show very strong DNA affinity via electrostatic interactions but also discriminatively bind single‐stranded DNA (ss‐DNA) and double‐stranded DNA (ds‐DNA), corroborating the importance of precise charge arrangement in the electrostatic interactions. More importantly, these two foldamers are capable of efficiently transporting ss‐DNA across the lipid membranes, and the ss‐DNA transport activity of (AOrnQ3Q3)8 with linearly aligned charges is higher than that of (mQ3Q2)8 with helically aligned charges. Thus a type of novel single‐stranded nucleic acid transmembrane molecular carriers based on positively charged helical foldamers are introduced. Further, effective and enhanced expression in EGFP‐mRNA transfection experiments strongly demonstrates the potential of positively charged foldamers for RNA transmembrane transport and therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atmospheric water vapor is a crucial factor in the Earth's water cycle. As an important greenhouse gas, changes in the spatio‐temporal distribution of atmospheric water vapor can contribute to the occurrence of various extreme weather phenomena. Lidar, with its high spatial and temporal resolutions, has great potential for applications in water vapor profile detection. Raman lidar and differential absorption lidar (DIAL) have been successfully used to detect atmospheric water vapor. System calibration is crucial to ensure that the measured profile accurately represents the concentration profile of atmospheric water vapor. Choosing an effective system calibration method can ensure the accuracy of long‐term lidar measurements. This paper reviews the latest progress and applications of atmospheric water vapor lidar calibration in recent years. The basic principles of Raman lidar and DIAL calibration are introduced. Various methods and benefits of system calibration are discussed. Raman lidar has three commonly used calibration methods: external calibration, internal calibration, and hybrid calibration methods. The most commonly used method is external calibration based on radiosondes. DIAL is usually implemented with an advantageous self‐calibration method. Finally, potential development directions for atmospheric water vapor lidar and calibration technology are discussed. This article is categorized under:Science of Water > MethodsEngineering Water > MethodsHuman Water > Value of Water [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During 14–16 March 2021, a large-scale dust storm event occurred in the northern region of China, and it was considered the most intense event in the past decade. This study employs observation data for PM2.5 and PM10 from the air quality monitoring station, the HYSPLIT model, ground-based polarized Lidar networks, AGRI payload data from Fengyun satellites and CALIPSO satellite Lidar data to jointly explore and scrutinize the three-dimensional spatial and temporal characteristics of aerosol transport. Firstly, by integrating meteorological data for PM2.5 and PM10, the air quality is assessed across six stations within the Lidar network during the dust storm. Secondly, employing a backward trajectory tracking model, the study elucidates sources of dust at the Lidar network sites. Thirdly, deploying a newly devised portable infrared 1064 nm Lidar and a pulsed 532 nm Lidar, a ground-based Lidar observation network is established for vertical probing of transboundary dust transport within the observed region. Finally, by incorporating cloud imagery from Fengyun satellites and CALIPSO satellite Lidar data, this study revealed the classification of dust and the height distribution of dust layers at pertinent sites within the Lidar observation network. The findings affirm that the eastward movement and southward compression of the intensifying Mongolian cyclone led to severe dust storm weather in western and southern Mongolia, as well as Inner Mongolia, further transporting dust into northern, northwestern, and northeastern parts of China. This dust event wielded a substantial impact on a broad expanse in northern China, manifesting in localized dust storms in Inner Mongolia, Beijing, Gansu, and surrounding areas. In essence, the dust emanated from the deserts in Mongolia and northwest China, encompassing both deserts and the Gobi region. The amalgamation of ground-based and spaceborne Lidar observations conclusively establishes that the distribution height of dust in the source region ranged from 3 to 5 km. Influenced by high-pressure systems, the protracted transport of dust over extensive distances prompted a gradual reduction in its distribution height owing to sedimentation. The comprehensive analysis of pertinent research data and information collectively affirms the precision and efficacy of the three-dimensional aerosol monitoring conducted by the ground-based Lidar network within the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the applications of lidars for remote sensing of the environment have been expanding and deepening. Among them, continuous-wave (CW) range-resolved (RR) S-lidars (S comes from Scheimpflug) have proven to be a new and promising class of non-contact and non-perturbing laser sensors. They use low-power CW diode lasers, an unconventional depth-of-field extension technique and the latest advances in nanophotonic technologies to realize compact and cost-effective remote sensors. The purpose of this paper is to propose a generalized methodology to justify the selection of a set of non-energetic S-lidar parameters for a wide range of applications and distance scales, from a bench-top test bed to a 10-km path. To set the desired far and near borders of operating range by adjusting the optical transceiver, it was shown how to properly select the lens plane and image plane tilt angles, as well as the focal length, the lidar base, etc. For a generalized analysis of characteristic relations between S-lidar parameters, we introduced several dimensionless factors and criteria applicable to different range scales, including an S-lidar-specific magnification factor, angular function, dynamic range, "one and a half" condition, range-domain quality factor, etc. It made possible to show how to reasonably select named and dependent non-energetic parameters, adapting them to specific applications. Finally, we turned to the synthesis task by demonstrating ways to achieve a compromise between a wide dynamic range and high range resolution requirements. The results of the conducted analysis and synthesis allow increasing the validity of design solutions for further promotion of S-lidars for environmental remote sensing and their better adaptation to a broad spectrum of specific applications and range scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ozone near the surface of the atmosphere directly stimulates the human respiratory tract and affects human health. In recent years, ozone pollution in China has become a serious problem, so controlling ozone pollution is an urgent task. Differential absorption lidar is a useful tool for detecting ozone concentration, but it cannot receive complete signals in the lower hundreds of meters because of the overlap factor. CCD imaging lidar technology can effectively solve this problem. A fitting method of inverting the ozone concentration profile using ultraviolet differential CCD imaging lidar is proposed in this paper. The effect of three different types of aerosol extinction coefficient, three different types of ozone concentration, and five different types of aerosol wavelength index on retrieving ozone concentrations was analyzed using simulation. For clean aerosol, the relative error of the retrieved ozone concentration is less than 5%. As to polluted aerosol, the relative error of the retrieved ozone concentration is less than 10%. As to heavily polluted aerosol, the relative error of the retrieved ozone concentration is less than 25%. The results show that the larger the value of the aerosol extinction coefficient, the larger the relative error of the retrieved ozone concentration; meanwhile, the lower the ozone concentration, the larger the relative error of the retrieved ozone concentration; at the same time, the further the aerosol wavelength index deviates from 1, the larger the relative error of the retrieved ozone concentration. The relative error of the retrieved ozone concentration in this case was about 4%. It is shown that this fitting method of retrieving ozone concentrations is reasonable and feasible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]