Numerous single image deraining algorithms have been recently proposed. However, these algorithms are mainly evaluated using certain type of synthetic images, assuming a specific rain model, plus a few real images. It is thus unclear how these algorithms would perform on rainy images acquired "in the wild" and how we could gauge the progress in the field. This paper aims to bridge this gap. We present a comprehensive study and evaluation of existing single image deraining algorithms, using a new largescale benchmark consisting of both synthetic and realworld rainy images of various rain types. This dataset highlights diverse rain models (rain streak, rain drop, rain and mist), as well as a rich variety of evaluation criteria (fulland no-reference objective, subjective, and task-specific) Our evaluation and analysis indicate the performance gap between synthetic rainy images and real-world images and allow us to better identify the strengths and limitations of each method as well as future research directions.

Mammalian embryos experience not only hormonal but also mechanical stimuli, such as shear stress, compression, and friction force, in the fallopian tube before nidation. In order to apply mechanical stimuli to embryos in a conventional IVF culture system, we developed the Tilting Embryo Culture System (TECS). The observed embryo images from the TECS suggest that the velocities and shear stresses of TECS embryos are similar to those experienced in the oviduct. Use of TECS enhanced the development rate to the blastocyst stage and significantly increased the cell number of mouse blastocysts (P<0.05). Although not significant, human thawed embryos showed slight improvement in development to the blastocyst stage following culture in TECS compared to static controls. Rates of blastocyst formation following culture in TECS were significantly improved in low quality embryos and those embryos cultured under suboptimal conditions (P<0.05). Here, we propose that the TECS could be a promising approach to improve embryo development and blastocyst formation by exposing embryos to mechanical stimuli similar to in the fallopian tube.

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