RNA-binding proteins are emerging as key regulators of transitions in cell morphology. The RNA-binding motif protein 3 (RBM3) is a cold-inducible RNA-binding protein with broadly relevant roles in ...cellular protection, and putative functions in cancer and development. Several findings suggest that RBM3 has morphoregulatory functions germane to its roles in these contexts. For example, RBM3 helps maintain the morphological integrity of cell protrusions during cell stress and disease. Moreover, it is highly expressed in migrating neurons of the developing brain and in cancer invadopodia, suggesting roles in migration. We here show that RBM3 regulates cell polarity, spreading and migration. RBM3 was present in spreading initiation centers, filopodia and blebs that formed during cell spreading in cell lines and primary myoblasts. Reducing RBM3 triggered exaggerated spreading, increased RhoA expression, and a loss of polarity that was rescued by Rho kinase inhibition and overexpression of CRMP2. High RBM3 expression enhanced the motility of cells migrating by a mesenchymal mode involving extension of long protrusions, whereas RBM3 knockdown slowed migration, greatly reducing the ability of cells to extend protrusions and impairing multiple processes that require directional migration. These data establish novel functions of RBM3 of potential significance to tissue repair, metastasis and development.
ABSTRACT
Severe wind shear (headwind change of 30 kn or more) at Hong Kong International Airport is documented in this study. Its climatology, including the number of reports from pilots each year, ...captured by the wind shear alerting service, its cause and its magnitude are presented. The purpose of the study is to document the characteristics of severe wind shear at an operating airport. Some typical cases of severe wind shear are also examined, such as observation by remote‐sensing instruments and flight data analysis. It is found that the shear magnitudes in pilot reports of severe wind shear, as with pilot reports of wind shear in general, are subjective in nature. They may not be consistent with headwind changes as determined from the flight data. Sometimes, the pilot reports of wind shear may be based on wind trend information available onboard for certain fleets of aircraft. The wind shear can be transient in nature, for which an alert beforehand is difficult.
AbstractBecause of the growing vulnerability of coastal regions to tropical cyclone (TC), or typhoon and hurricane, hazards under climate variability, a thorough knowledge of TC wind characteristics ...and wind effects on high-rise buildings is highly desired for efficient TC risk mitigation in coastal cities. This paper presents a city-scale typhoon hazard assessment and field monitoring study of wind effects on skyscrapers in a coastal metropolis (Shenzhen, China) during the record-breaking Super Typhoon Mangkhut. Spatiotemporal variation of wind fields over the metropolis was investigated using synchronous wind observations from a network of weather stations and a 356-m-high meteorological tower. Typhoon hazard in the coastal city was assessed through the typhoon hazard map obtained by numerical simulations and validated by wind observations. Wind-induced vibrations and time-varying structural dynamic properties of two representative skyscrapers with heights of 600 and 392 m in Shenzhen were analyzed to determine the dynamic performance and serviceability of the monitored high-rise buildings under violent wind excitations. This integrated city-scale field monitoring and numerical study furthers the understanding of TC wind characteristics in the urban environment, and facilitates the wind-resistant design of future skyscrapers in TC-prone regions.
Background
Hemoglobin (Hb) Hammersmith is a rare form of unstable β‐chain hemoglobinopathy causing hemolytic anemia. This rare event led to a more serious transfusion‐dependent phenotype in a ...patient. It was successfully cured by haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).
Methods and Results
A 9‐year‐old mainland Chinese male with a history of neonatal unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia was diagnosed to have hemoglobin (Hb) Hammersmith. He required regular blood transfusion but was unable to be transfused to desired parameters for 8 years prior to transplant due to social and geographical reasons. He subsequently developed marrow hyperplasia and progressive splenomegaly (down to umbilicus level), suggestive of extramedullary hematopoiesis. Eventually, the family came to Hong Kong and complied to a more intensive transfusion regimen and preconditioning chemotherapy 3 months prior to transplant. He underwent haploidentical HSCT using paternal TCRαβ/CD45RA‐depleted graft but suffered from graft rejection, despite splenic irradiation for massive splenomegaly. It was successfully salvaged with second HSCT with unmanipulated graft from the same donor with additional serotherapy and donor lymphocyte infusions.
Conclusion
Allogenic haploidentical HSCT for hemoglobin Hammersmith is feasible but adequate immunosuppression during conditioning is crucial. Precise adoptive cell therapy can promote durable engraftment.
Whereas high-flow nasal cannula use is gaining prevalence, its high gas flow raises concerns about aerosolization of infectious particles and spread of infection. This randomized controlled crossover ...non-inferiority trial (N = 20) evaluated the degree of environmental contamination by viable bacteria associated with the use of high-flow nasal cannula compared with conventional oxygen mask for critically ill patients with Gram-negative pneumonia. The results show that high-flow nasal cannula use was not associated with increased air or contact surface contamination by either Gram-negative bacteria or total bacteria, suggesting that additional infection control measures are not required.
Aerosols contribute the largest uncertainty to the total radiative forcing estimate, and black carbon (BC) that absorbs solar radiation plays an important role in the Earth's energy budget. This ...study analysed the aerosol optical properties from 22 February to 18 March 2014 at the China Meteorological Administration Atmospheric Watch Network (CAWNET) station in the Pearl River Delta (PRD), China. The representative values of dry-state particle scattering coefficient (σsp), hemispheric backscattering coefficient (σhbsp), absorption coefficient (σabsp), extinction coefficient (σep), hemispheric backscattering fraction (HBF), single scattering albedo (SSA), as well as scattering Ångström exponent (α) were presented. A comparison between a polluted day and a clean day shows that the aerosol optical properties depend on particle number size distribution, weather conditions and evolution of the mixing layer. To investigate the mixing state of BC at the surface, an optical closure study of HBF between measurements and calculations based on a modified Mie model was employed for dry particles. The result shows that the mixing state of BC might be between the external mixture and the core-shell mixture. The average retrieved ratio of the externally mixed BC to the total BC mass concentration (rext-BC) was 0.58 ± 0.12, and the diurnal pattern of rext-BC can be found. Furthermore, considering that non-light-absorbing particles measured by a Volatility-Tandem Differential Mobility Analyser (V-TDMA) exist independently with core-shell and homogenously internally mixed BC particles, the calculated optical properties were just slightly different from those based on the assumption that BC exist in each particle. This would help understand the influence of the BC mixing state on aerosol optical properties and radiation budget in the PRD.
•Aerosol optical properties were analysed using in-situ aerosol data.•The external mixture will lead to high σsp and SSA.•Non-carbon-containing particles make a slight difference in calculation of σsp,hbsp.•The mixing state of BC may be between the external mixture and core-shell mixture.
Hong Kong is one of the most high‐rise and highly compact cities in the world. The urban land surface is highly heterogeneous, which creates low‐level convergence zones in urban areas, particularly ...the Kowloon Peninsula. The low‐level convergence zone is due to the combined effect of urban heat island circulation (UHIC) and sea‐land breeze circulation (SLBC) under weak northeasterly synoptic flow. To study the impacts of anthropogenic fluxes and built‐up areas on the local circulation, the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) mesoscale model is combined with the multilayer urban canopy building effect parameterization/building energy model (BEP/BEM) parameterization to produce a 3 day simulation of an air pollution episode in Hong Kong in September 2012. To better represent the city land surface features, building information is assimilated in the central part of the Kowloon Peninsula. The WRF‐BEP‐BEM model captures the 2 m temperature distribution and local wind rotation reasonably well but overestimates the 10 m wind speed with a mean bias error of 0.70 m/s. A dome‐shaped feature with a high level of moisture is captured in the convergence zones due to intensified UHIC and inflowing SLBC. The anthropogenic heat increases the air temperature by around 0.3°C up to 250 m, which in turn modifies the SLBC. A new drag coefficient based on λP, plan area per unit ground area, is tested. Besides the basic physical characteristics captured by the WRF‐BEP‐BEM model, the stagnation of wind in the lower level convergence zone is better captured by this approach than by the traditional constant value coefficient.
Key Points
High‐resolution numerical simulations coupled with multilayer urban canopy model in the high‐rise and highly compact city of Hong Kong
Lower level convergence zone is due to combined effect of urban heat island circulation and sea‐land breeze circulation
A dome‐shaped feature and wind stagnation phenomenon in the lower level convergence zone in the urban center in the Kowloon Peninsula
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