Isotopic fractionation of water during snow formation: Experimental evidence of kinetic effect

Deuterium excess(d-excess=δD-8・δ^(18)O), which is calculated using two water isotope ratios(δD and δ^(18)O), is an indicator of kinetic isotope fractionation. The d-excess value reflects the evaporation process from the ocean or ice-crystal growth. Consequently, d-excess records preserved in ice cores may provide a climatic history of ocean surface conditions at the vapor source area. J. Jouzel and L. Merlivat(J. Geophys. Res., 89, 11749, 1984) proposed an isotope model to analyze information from ice cores. That model includes kinetic fractionation during snow formation, depending on the degree of the supersaturation ratio of vapor. However, no experiment was conducted under the controlled supersaturation ratio. Experiments described herein measured the isotopic ratios of the vapor and artificial snow produced under a controlled supersaturation ratio to confirm the kinetic isotope effect experimentally. Results indicate a higher d-excess value for ice crystals at a higher vapor supersaturation ratio and provide experimental evidence for the kinetic effect during snow formation

Blowing snow experiments for modeling of sublimation process using a large cold wind-tunnel

第3回極域科学シンポジウム/第35回極域気水圏シンポジウム 11月29日（木） 国立国語研究所 ２階ロビ

Expression of centromere protein F (CENP-F) associated with higher FDG uptake on PET/CT, detected by cDNA microarray, predicts high-risk patients with primary breast cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Higher standardized uptake value (SUV) detected by 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG PET/CT) correlates with proliferation of primary breast cancer. The purpose of this study is to identify specific molecules upregulated in primary breast cancers with a high SUV and to examine their clinical significance.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We compared mRNA expression profiles between 14 tumors with low SUVs and 24 tumors with high SUVs by cDNA microarray. We identified centromere protein F (CENP-F) and CDC6 were upregulated in tumors with high SUVs. RT-PCR and immunohistochemical analyses were performed to validate these data. Clinical implication of CENP-F and CDC6 was examined for 253 archival breast cancers by the tissue microarray.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The relative ratios of CENP-F and CDC6 expression levels to β-actin were confirmed to be significantly higher in high SUV tumors than in low SUV tumors (<it>p </it>= 0.027 and 0.025, respectively) by RT-PCR. In immunohistochemical analysis of 47 node-negative tumors, the CENP-F expression was significantly higher in the high SUV tumors (74%) than the low SUV tumors (45%) (<it>p </it>= 0.04), but membranous and cytoplasmic CDC6 expressions did not significantly differ between both groups (<it>p </it>= 0.9 each). By the tissue microarray, CENP-F (HR = 2.94) as well as tumor size (HR = 4.49), nodal positivity (HR = 4.1), and Ki67 (HR = 2.05) showed independent impact on the patients' prognosis.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>High CENP-F expression, correlated with high SUV, was the prognostic indicators of primary breast cancer. Tumoral SUV levels may serve as a pretherapeutic indicator of aggressiveness of breast cancer.</p

Experimental validation of icing rate using rotational load

Icing load and icing rate are necessary feedback variables for an intelligent anti/de-icing systemtowork effectively in harsh cold environment of high north. These parametersmay be measured by axial loadings or by rotational loadings, as a function of current demand. However the former may not necessarily be dynamic, whereas the later necessarily be rotational. Sufficiently at a fixed rpm, a mathematical model between additional polar moment of inertia vs electrical demand of the sensor can be established to analytically shape the icing load and icing rate adequately as hypothesized in Cost 727. This paper aims to develop such model and is validated using experimental data from a case study conducted by Atmospheric Icing Research Team of Narvik University College at Cryospheric Environmental Simulator, Snow and Ice Research Center, (NIED) Japan

Role of hyaluronic acid glycosaminoglycans in shear-induced endothelium-derived nitric oxide release

Endothelium-derived nitric oxide (NO) is synthesized in response to chemical and physical stimuli. Here, we investigated a possible role of the endothelial cell glycocalyx as a biomechanical sensor that triggers endothelial NO production by transmitting flow-related shear forces to the endothelial membrane. Isolated canine femoral arteries were perfused with a Krebs-Henseleit solution at a wide range of perfusion rates with and without pretreatment with hyaluronidase to degrade hyaluronic acid glycosaminoglycans within the glycocalyx layer. NO production rate was evaluated as the product of nitrite concentration in the perfusate and steady-state perfusion rate. The slope that correlates the linear relation between perfusion rate and NO production rate was taken as a measure for flow-induced NO production. Hyaluronidase treatment significantly decreased flow-induced NO production to 19 +/- 9% of control (mean +/- SD; P <0.0001 vs. control; n = 11), whereas it did not affect acetyl-choline-induced NO production (88 &PLUSMN; 17% of pretreatment level, P = not significant; n = 10). We conclude that hyaluronic acid glycosaminoglycans within the glycocalyx play a pivotal role in detecting and amplifying the shear force of flowing blood that triggers endothelium-derived NO production in isolated canine femoral arterie