Simulating Impacts of Precipitation on Ice Cover and Surface Water Temperature Across Large Lakes

Precipitation impacts on ice cover and water temperature in the Laurentian Great Lakes were examined using state‐of‐the‐art coupled ice‐hydrodynamic models. Numerical experiments were conducted for the recent anomalously cold (2014–2015) and warm (2015–2016) winters that were accompanied by high and low ice coverage over the lakes, respectively. The results of numerical experiments showed that snow cover on the ice, which is the manifestation of winter precipitation, reduced the total ice volume (or mean ice thickness) in all of the Great Lakes, shortened the ice duration, and allowed earlier warming of water surface. The reduced ice volume was due to the thermal insulation of snow cover. The surface albedo was also increased by snow cover, but its impact on the delay the melting of ice was overcome by the thermal insulation effect. During major snowstorms, snowfall over the open lake caused notable cooling of the water surface due to latent heat absorption. Overall, the sensible heat flux from rain in spring and summer was found to have negligible impacts on the water surface temperature. Although uncertainties remain in overlake precipitation estimates and model’s representation of snow on the ice, this study demonstrated that winter precipitation, particularly snowfall on the ice and water surfaces, is an important contributing factor in Great Lakes ice production and thermal conditions from late fall to spring.Plain Language SummarySnow and rain impact on ice cover and water temperature in large lakes were studied using a computational model for an example of the Laurentian Great Lakes. It was found that snow cover increased the reflection of solar radiation but at the same time prevented lake ice from the growing, resulting in less formation of ice and slightly earlier melting. The earlier ice melting also allowed earlier warming of the water surface in spring. Major snowstorms caused slight cooling in the water surface temperature because snowflakes absorbed heat when it touched the water surface to melt. On the other hand, warmer rain barely changed the water surface temperature during summer.Key PointsPrecipitation impacts on Great Lakes ice cover and water temperature were evaluated using a coupled ice‐hydrodynamic modelThe model results showed that snow cover on the ice reduced the net production of ice, which resulted in earlier decay of ice coverThe model results showed that snowfall cooled the water surface notably through latent heat absorption during stormsPeer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/155461/1/jgrc23973.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/155461/2/jgrc23973_am.pd

Ultrasound-Mediated DNA Transformation in Thermophilic Gram-Positive Anaerobes

Thermophilic, Gram-positive, anaerobic bacteria (TGPAs) are generally recalcitrant to chemical and electrotransformation due to their special cell-wall structure and the low intrinsic permeability of plasma membranes. transformants/µg of methylated DNA. Delivery into X514 cells was confirmed via detecting the kanamycin-resistance gene for pIKM2, while confirmation of pHL015 was detected by visualization of fluorescence signals of secondary host-cells following a plasmid-rescue experiment. Furthermore, the foreign β-1,4-glucanase gene was functionally expressed in X514, converting the host into a prototypic thermophilic consolidated bioprocessing organism that is not only ethanologenic but cellulolytic.In this study, we developed an ultrasound-based sonoporation method in TGPAs. This new DNA-delivery method could significantly improve the throughput in developing genetic systems for TGPAs, many of which are of industrial interest yet remain difficult to manipulate genetically

Clinical emergence of neurometastatic merkel cell carcinoma: a surgical case series and literature review

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare cutaneous neuroendocrine neoplasm of possible viral origin and is known for its aggressive behavior. The incidence of MCC has increased in the last 15 years. Merkel cell carcinoma has the potential to metastasize, but rarely involves the central nervous system. Herein, we report three consecutive surgical cases of MCC presenting at a single institution within 1 year. We used intracavitary BCNU wafers (Gliadel®) in two cases. Pathological features, including CK20 positivity, consistent with MCC, were present in all cases. We found 33 published cases of MCC with CNS involvement. We suggest that the incidence of neurometastatic MCC may be increasing, parallel to the increasing incidence of primary MCC. We propose a role for intracavitary BCNU wafers in the treatment of intra-axial neurometastatic MCC

DNA Methylation-Independent Reversion of Gemcitabine Resistance by Hydralazine in Cervical Cancer Cells

BACKGROUND: Down regulation of genes coding for nucleoside transporters and drug metabolism responsible for uptake and metabolic activation of the nucleoside gemcitabine is related with acquired tumor resistance against this agent. Hydralazine has been shown to reverse doxorubicin resistance in a model of breast cancer. Here we wanted to investigate whether epigenetic mechanisms are responsible for acquiring resistance to gemcitabine and if hydralazine could restore gemcitabine sensitivity in cervical cancer cells. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: The cervical cancer cell line CaLo cell line was cultured in the presence of increasing concentrations of gemcitabine. Down-regulation of hENT1 & dCK genes was observed in the resistant cells (CaLoGR) which was not associated with promoter methylation. Treatment with hydralazine reversed gemcitabine resistance and led to hENT1 and dCK gene reactivation in a DNA promoter methylation-independent manner. No changes in HDAC total activity nor in H3 and H4 acetylation at these promoters were observed. ChIP analysis showed H3K9m2 at hENT1 and dCK gene promoters which correlated with hyper-expression of G9A histone methyltransferase at RNA and protein level in the resistant cells. Hydralazine inhibited G9A methyltransferase activity in vitro and depletion of the G9A gene by iRNA restored gemcitabine sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our results demonstrate that acquired gemcitabine resistance is associated with DNA promoter methylation-independent hENT1 and dCK gene down-regulation and hyper-expression of G9A methyltransferase. Hydralazine reverts gemcitabine resistance in cervical cancer cells via inhibition of G9A histone methyltransferase

Systemic therapy for cervical cancer with potentially regulatable oncolytic adenoviruses

Peer reviewe

Global lake responses to climate change

Climate change is one of the most severe threats to global lake ecosystems. Lake surface conditions, such as ice cover, surface temperature, evaporation and water level, respond dramatically to this threat, as observed in recent decades. In this Review, we discuss physical lake variables and their responses to climate change. Decreases in winter ice cover and increases in lake surface temperature modify lake mixing regimes and accelerate lake evaporation. Where not balanced by increased mean precipitation or inflow, higher evaporation rates will favour a decrease in lake level and surface water extent. Together with increases in extreme-precipitation events, these lake responses will impact lake ecosystems, changing water quantity and quality, food provisioning, recreational opportunities and transportation. Future research opportunities, including enhanced observation of lake variables from space (particularly for small water bodies), improved in situ lake monitoring and the development of advanced modelling techniques to predict lake processes, will improve our global understanding of lake responses to a changing climate

Attachment of Osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 Cells on Diamond-Like Carbon-Coated Silicon Plates

Data were collected by experiments in which DLC was coated on the silicon plate surface, then mouse osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 or fibroblastic NIH3T3 cells were cultured with the coated plates. Cell proliferation by a colorimetric assay and morphological observations using a field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) were examined. Data include an advantage of the proliferation of osteoblastic cells on DLC-coated plate and visualized images of osteoblastic cell on noncoated or DLC-coated silicon plate. Figure 1. Proliferation of NIH3T3 cells (a) or MC3T3-E1 cells (b) on noncoated or DLC-coated silicon plate. After attachment of the cells on each plate, the proliferation of the cells was assessed on days 3 and 7 post-inoculation. Figure 2. Raw Data Set of FE-SEM pictures of MC3T3-E1 cell. Attached cell on noncoated (a) or DLC-coated (b) silicon plates were observed by FE-SEM. Figure 3. Data Set of flat cross section of MC3T3-E1 on noncoated silicon plate. Figure 4. Data Set of flat cross section of MC3T3-E1 on DLC-coated silicon plate. All the separated pictures and condition of each picture taken are included in the data set. A detailed description of data could be found in the “Data in Brief” article “Manome Y., Tachibana T., Hiratsuka M., Sato K., Ohgoe Y., Hirakuri K. Osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 Cells on the Surface of Diamond-Like Carbon-Coated Silicon Plates: Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy Data", in 2021, submitted

Attachment of Osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 Cells on Diamond-Like Carbon-Coated Silicon Plates

Data were collected by experiments in which DLC was coated on the silicon plate surface, then mouse osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 or fibroblastic NIH3T3 cells were cultured with the coated plates. Cell proliferation by a colorimetric assay and morphological observations using a field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) were examined. Data include an advantage of the proliferation of osteoblastic cells on DLC-coated plate and visualized images of osteoblastic cell on noncoated or DLC-coated silicon plate. Figure 1. Proliferation of NIH3T3 cells (a) or MC3T3-E1 cells (b) on noncoated or DLC-coated silicon plate. After attachment of the cells on each plate, the proliferation of the cells was assessed on days 3 and 7 post-inoculation. Figure 2. Raw Data Set of FE-SEM pictures of MC3T3-E1 cell. Attached cell on noncoated (a) or DLC-coated (b) silicon plates were observed by FE-SEM. Figure 3. Data Set of flat cross section of MC3T3-E1 on noncoated silicon plate. Figure 4. Data Set of flat cross section of MC3T3-E1 on DLC-coated silicon plate. All the separated pictures and condition of each picture taken are included in the data set. A detailed description of data could be found in the “Data in Brief” article “Manome Y., Tachibana T., Hiratsuka M., Sato K., Ohgoe Y., Hirakuri K. Osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 Cells on the Surface of Diamond-Like Carbon-Coated Silicon Plates: Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy Data", in 2021, submitted