• Atmosphere
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.105-112
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• 2019

Measurements of vertical air motion and microphysics are essential for improving our understanding of convective clouds. In this paper, the author reviews the current research on the retrieval of vertical air motions using the cloud radar. At radar wavelengths of 3 mm (W-band radar; 94-GHz radar; cloud radar), the raindrop backscattering cross-section (${\sigma}b$) varies between successive maxima and minima as a function of the raindrop diameter (D) that are well described by Mie theory. The first Mie minimum in the backscattering cross-section occurs at D~1.68 mm, which translates to a raindrop terminal fall velocity of ${\sim}5.85m\;s^{-1}$ based on the Gunn and Kinzer relationship. Since raindrop diameters often exceed this size, the signal is captured in the radar Doppler spectrum, and thus, the location of the first Mie minimum can be used as a reference for retrieving the vertical air motion. The Mie technique is applied to radar Doppler spectra from the surface-based and airborne, upward pointing W-band radars. The contributions of aircraft motion to the vertical air motion are also described and further the first-order aircraft motion corrected equation is presented. The review also shows that the separate spectral peaks due to the cloud droplets can provide independent validation of the Mie technique retrieved vertical air motion using the cloud droplets as a tracer of vertical air motion.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.330-336
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• 2014

Thymosin beta4 (TB4) has multiple functions in cellular response in processes as diverse as embryonic organ development and the pathogeneses of disease, especially those associated with cardiac coronary vessels. However, the specific roles played by TB4 during heart valve development in vertebrates are largely unknown. Here, we identified a novel function of TB4 in endothelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT) in cardiac valve endocardial cushions in zebrafish. The expressions of thymosin family members in developing zebrafish embryos were determined by whole mount in situ hybridization. Of the thymosin family members only zTB4 was expressed in the developing heart region. Cardiac valve development at 48 h post fertilization was defected in zebrafish TB4 (zTB4) morpholino-injected embryos (morphants). In zTB4 morphants, abnormal linear heart tube development was observed. The expressions of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) 4, notch1b, and hyaluronic acid synthase (HAS) 2 genes were also markedly reduced in atrio-ventricular canal (AVC). Endocardial cells in the AVC region were stained with anti-Zn5 antibody reactive against Dm-grasp (an EMT marker) to observe EMT in developing cardiac valves in zTB4 morphants. EMT marker expression in valve endothelial cells was confirmed after transfection with TB4 siRNA in the presence of transforming growth factor ${\beta}$ ($TGF{\beta}$) by RT-PCR and immunofluorescent assay. Zn5-positive endocardial AVC cells were not observed in zTB4 morphants, and knockdown of TB4 suppressed TGF-${\beta}$-induced EMT in ovine valve endothelial cells. Taken together, our results demonstrate that TB4 plays a pivotal role in cardiac valve formation by increasing EMT.