Neutral Tracer Research Articles

Characterization of liquid flow and electricity generation in a glass channel based evaporation-driven electrokinetic energy conversion device

Evaporation-driven spontaneous capillary flow presents a promising approach for driving electrolytes through electrically charged channels and pores in electrokinetic energy conversion devices. However, there are no literature reports of detailed flow visualization in these systems and/or experimental observations relating the liquid velocity and evaporation rate to the generated voltage and current. In this manuscript, we describe such a visualization study for a glass channel based electrokinetic energy conversion device with one of its channel terminals left open to ambient air for facilitating the evaporation process. Fluorescence microscopy was used to measure the liquid velocity in the electrokinetic energy conversion channel by observing the advancement of an electrolyte solution dyed with a neutral tracer. The accumulation of the same dye tracer was also imaged at the open terminal of this glass conduit to estimate the rate of solvent evaporation, which was found to be consistent with the flow velocity measurements. Additionally, an electrochemical analyzer was employed to record the electrical voltage and current produced by the device under different operating conditions. The highest electrical power output was derived in our experiments upon flowing de-ionized water through a 1 μm deep channel, which also produced the fastest liquid velocity in it. Moreover, the energy conversion efficiency of our device was observed to increase for shallower channels and lower ionic strength electrolytes, consistent with previous literature reports on electrokinetic energy conversion platforms.

Band broadening in mobility shift affinity capillary electrophoresis due to pressure-driven flow

Mobility Shift Affinity Capillary Electrophoresis (msACE) presents a simple and powerful approach to determining the equilibrium and kinetic parameters governing the interaction between a variety of analyte and ligand molecules. These determinations often rely on measuring the elution peak profile for the analyte zone when migrated with a steady electric field. However, pressure-gradients applied intentionally or generated due to unwanted differences in the hydrostatic heads at the capillary/channel ends and/or a variation in the electroosmotic flow rate along the analysis column can significantly alter this peak profile introducing error in the estimated parameter values. To account for these alterations, this article describes a mathematical formulation for quantitating band broadening in msACE systems due to a steady pressure-driven flow in the Taylor–Aris dispersion limit with fast analyte-ligand binding kinetics. The current analysis shows that the additional zone dispersion under such conditions can be quantitated using four terms that scale with the square of the Péclet number calculated based on the pressure-driven flow velocity. While the first term among these quantitates the Taylor–Aris dispersion experienced by a neutral tracer advected by the pressure-gradient, the other three terms are proportional to the square of the difference in the diffusion coefficients for the analyte and analyte-ligand complex. Moreover, these latter terms also vary inversely with the Damköhler number computed as the ratio of the rate of reaction over that of diffusive mass transfer with the coefficient for each of the four terms shown to be dependent on the cross-sectional shape of the analysis column.

Electrically controlled nicotine delivery through Carbon nanotube membranes via electrochemical oxidation and nanofluidically enhanced electroosmotic flow.

A promising tool for nicotine addiction treatment is a programmable nicotine delivery device coupled to smart phone-assisted behavioral therapies. Key metrics for such a device are delivery of adjustable nicotine doses tailored to individual needs, compact size and power efficiency. Reported here is a detailed optimization of carbon nanotube (CNT) membrane fabrication based on electrochemical oxidation, to improve its electrically driven performance for nicotine fluxes and switching ON (-1.5V)-OFF (0V) flux ratio. ON- state nicotine flux of ~ 6 µmoles/cm2/h at -1.5V applied bias was achieved allowing ~ 6-folds decrease in the size of device (4 cm2) to attain flux equivalent to high dose nicotine gum (1.1 µmoles/cm2/h). Application of + 1.5V bias in OFF state reduced diffusional background flux, giving an ON (-1.5V)/OFF (+ 1.5V) flux ratio of 68 that enabled device to deliver between the highest nicotine gum (1.1 µmoles/cm2/h) and lowest nicotine patch (0.08 µmoles/cm2/h) doses, as well as taper off nicotine doses for long term addiction treatment. The nicotine transport mechanism was studied as a function of pH and applied bias, using neutral tracer molecule, showing a mechanism of both electroosmosis and electrophoresis in the atomically smooth nanofluidic pores of CNTs. Optimal power consumption/flux efficiency of 111(µW/cm2)/µmoles/cm2/h was achieved allowing watch-battery lifetimes of 7-62days for conventional treatment dosing regimens. Bluetooth-enabled, remotely controlled CNT membrane system has potential for treatments of nicotine, opioid and alcohol addictions that needs dose adjustment with precise temporal control.

Charge exchange radiation diagnostic with gas jet target for measurement of plasma flow velocity in the linear magnetic trap

The ambipolar electrostatic potential rising along the magnetic field line from the grounded wall to the centre in the linear gas dynamic trap, rules the available suppression of axial heat and particle losses. In this paper, the visible range optical diagnostic is described using the Doppler shift of plasma emission lines for measurements of this accelerating potential drop. We used the room temperature hydrogen jet puffed directly on the line of sight as the charge exchange target for plasma ions moving in the expanding flux from the mirror towards the wall. Both bulk plasma protons and He2+ ions velocity distribution functions can be spectroscopically studied; the latter population is produced via the neutral He tracer puff into the central cell plasma. This way, potential in the centre and in the mirror area can be measured simultaneously along with the ion temperature. A reasonable accuracy of 4 ÷ 8% was achieved in observations with the frame rate of ≈1 kHz. Active acquisitions on the gas jet also provide the spatial resolution better than 5 mm in the middle plane radial coordinate because of the strong compression of the object size when projected to the centre along the magnetic flux surface. The charge exchange radiation diagnostic operates with three emission lines: H-α 656.3 nm, He-I 667.8 nm and He-I 587.6 nm. Recorded spectra are shown in the paper and examples for physical dependences are presented. The considered experimental technique can be scaled to the upgraded multi-point diagnostic for the next generation linear traps and other magnetic confinement systems.

The Influence of Submesoscales and Vertical Mixing on the Export of Sinking Tracers in Large-Eddy Simulations

AbstractWe use idealized large-eddy simulations (LES) and a simple analytical theory to study the influence of submesoscales on the concentration and export of sinking particles from the mixed layer. We find that restratification of the mixed layer following the development of submesoscales reduces the rate of vertical mixing which, in turn, enhances the export rate associated with gravitational settling. For a neutral tracer initially confined to the mixed layer, subinertial (submesoscale) motions enhance the downward tracer flux, consistent with previous studies. However, the sign of the advective flux associated with the concentration of sinking particles reverses, indicating reentrainment into the mixed layer. A new theory is developed to model the gravitational settling flux when the particle concentration is nonuniform. The theory broadly agrees with the LES results and allows us to extend the analysis to a wider range of parameters.

Stokes Drift in Topographic Waves over an Enclosed Basin Shelf

AbstractThe effect of the continental shelf wave on the flow field over the southern shelf of the Caspian Sea (CS) as the largest enclosed basin of the world, is investigated. Considerable currents with subinertial time scales are observed over the continental shelf in the southern CS. For variations in the surface layer with typical periods of 1 day, local episodic wind events appear to be the driving force. For longer time scales, it is suggested that the observed currents are due to passing continental shelf waves. Measurements over the continental shelf and shelf slope, showing periods of 2–6 days, indicate the presence of such waves. Combined with theory and numerical modeling, the amplitude of the continental shelf wave modes at the coast is assessed from current meter observations. It is demonstrated that the mean drift velocity (the Stokes drift) for long continental shelf waves is determined entirely by the shelf geometry. For the actual shelf mode, it is shown that the associated Stokes drift constitute a nonnegligible mean current along the shelf. This current should be taken into account when assessing the transport of biological material and neutral tracers along the southern coast of the CS.

Outflows in star-forming galaxies: Stacking analyses of resolved winds and the relation to their hosts’ properties

ABSTRACT Outflows form an integral component in regulating the gas cycling in and out of galaxies, although their impact on the galaxy hosts is still poorly understood. Here we present an analysis of 405 high mass (log M*/M⊙ ≥ 10), star-forming galaxies (excluding AGN) with low inclinations at z ∼ 0, using stacking techniques of the Na D λλ5889, 5895 Å neutral gas tracer in IFU observations from the MaNGA DR15 survey. We detect outflows in the central regions of 78/405 galaxies and determine their extent and power through the construction of stacked annuli. We find outflows are most powerful in central regions and extend out to ∼1Re, with declining mass outflow rates and loading factors as a function of radius. The stacking of spaxels over key galaxy quantities reveals outflow detections in regions of high ΣSFR (≳0.01 M⊙ yr−1 kpc−2) and $\Sigma _{M_{*}}$ (≳107 M⊙ kpc−2) along the resolved main sequence. Clear correlations with ΣSFR suggest it is the main regulator of outflows, with a critical threshold of ∼0.01 M⊙ yr−1 kpc−2 needed to escape the weight of the disc and launch them. Furthermore, measurements of the Hδ and Dn4000 indices reveal virtually identical star formation histories between galaxies with outflows and those without. Finally, through stacking of H i 21 cm observations for a subset of our sample, we find outflow galaxies show reduced H i gas fractions at central velocities compared to their non-detection control counterparts, suggestive of some removal of H i gas, likely in the central regions of the galaxies, but not enough to completely quench the host.

VENM: An Algorithm to Accurately Calculate Neutral Slopes and Gradients.

Mesoscale eddies stir along the neutral plane, and the resulting neutral diffusion is a fundamental aspect of subgrid‐scale tracer transport in ocean models. Calculating neutral diffusion traditionally involves calculating neutral slopes and three‐dimensional tracer gradients. The calculation of the neutral slope traditionally occurs by computing the ratio of the horizontal to vertical locally referenced potential density derivative. However, this approach is problematic in regions of weak vertical stratification, prompting the use of a variety of ad hoc regularization methods that can lead to rather nonphysical dependencies for the resulting neutral tracer gradients. Here we use a VErtical Non‐local Method “VENM,” a search algorithm that requires no ad hoc regularization and significantly improves the numerical accuracy of calculating neutral slopes, neutral tracer gradients, and associated neutral diffusive fluxes. We compare and contrast VENM against a more traditional method, using an independent objective neutrality condition combined with estimates of spurious diffusion, heat transport, and water mass transformation rates. VENM is more accurate, both physically and numerically, and should form the basis for future efforts involving neutral diffusion calculations from observations and possibly numerical model simulations.

Effect of the pore water composition on the diffusive anion transport in argillaceous, low permeability sedimentary rocks

The effect of the pore water composition on the diffusive anion transport was studied for two different argillaceous, low permeability sedimentary rocks, Opalinus Clay (OPA) and Helvetic Marl (HM). The samples were saturated with different solutions with varying molar concentration and different main cations in the solution: NaCl based pore solutions and CaCl2 based pore solutions. The total porosity was measured by through-diffusion experiments with the neutral tracer HTO. Experiments performed in NaCl solutions resulted in a porosity of 0.12 for OPA and 0.03 for HM, and are consistent with results of the experiments in CaCl2 solutions. The total porosity was independent of the molar concentration, in contrast to the measured anion porosity, which increased with increasing molar concentration. It could further be observed that the pore solution based on the bivalent cation calcium shielded the negative surface charge stronger than the monovalent cation sodium, resulting in a larger measureable anion-accessible porosity in the case of CaCl2 solutions.The data was modelled based on an adapted Donnan approach of Birgersson and Karnland (2009). The model had to be adjusted with a permanent free, uncharged porosity, as well as with structural information on the permanent anion exclusion because of so-called bottleneck pores. Both parameters can only be evaluated from experiments. Nevertheless, taking these two adaptions into account, the effect of varying pore water compositions on the anion-accessible porosity of the investigated argillaceous rocks could be satisfactorily described.

Moment propagation method for the dynamics of charged adsorbing/desorbing species at solid-liquid interfaces

ABSTRACTWe extend the moment propagation method to capture the combined effects of adsorption/desorption of charged tracers, their migration under local and applied electric fields, as well as their advection by the local velocity of the fluid. This is achieved by combining previous developments for the separate description of these phenomena, in particular taking advantage of the Lattice Boltzmann Electrokinetics method to capture electrokinetic effects in the underlying fluid. We validate the method on the case of dispersion by an electro-osmotic flow in a slit-pore with charged walls and counter-ions in the absence of added salt. We compute the velocity auto-correlation function of charged and neutral tracers, from which we extract their average mobility and dispersion coefficient. Analytical results for the former allow to validate the algorithm, while the latter illustrates an example of property which can be provided by the moment propagation method when no analytical results are available. For both properties, we discuss the combined effects of the surface charge, of the tracer valency and of the adsorption/desorption rates.

Kinematics and properties of the central molecular zone as probed with [C ii

The Galactic Central Molecular Zone (CMZ) is a region containing massive and dense molecular clouds, with dynamics driven by a variety of energy sources including a massive black hole. It is thus the nearest template for understanding physical processes in extragalactic nuclei. The CMZ's neutral interstellar gas has been mapped spectrally in many neutral atomic and molecular gas tracers, but the ionized and CO-dark H2 regions are less well traced spectroscopically. We mapped the fine structure line of C+ at 158 microns, [C II], to identify and characterize features of the ionized gas in the CMZ, including UV irradiated neutral gas, photon dominated regions (PDRs), CO-dark H2 gas, and highly ionized gas. We observed the [C II] 158-micron fine structure line with high spectral resolution using Herschel HIFI with two perpendicular On-the-Fly strip scans, along l = -0.8 to +0.8 and b = -0.8 to +0.8, both centered on (l,b) = (0,0). We analyzed the spatial-velocity distribution of the [C II] data and compared them to those of [C I] and CO, and to dust continuum maps, in order to determine the properties and distribution of the UV irradiated gas and its dynamics within the CMZ. The longitude- and latitude-velocity maps of [C II] trace portions of the orbiting open gas streams of dense molecular clouds, the cloud G0.253+0.016, also known as the Brick, the Arched Filaments, and the ionized gas near Sgr A and Sgr B2. We use the [C II] and auxiliary data to determine the physical and dynamical properties of these CMZ features. The [C II] emission arises primarily from dense PDRs and highly ionized gas, and is an important tracer of the kinematics and physical conditions of this gas.

Entropically induced asymmetric passage times of charged tracers across corrugated channels.

We analyze the diffusion of charged and neutral tracers suspended in an electrolyte embedded in a channel of varying cross section. Making use of systematic approximations, the diffusion equation governing the motion of tracers is mapped into an effective 1D equation describing the dynamics along the longitudinal axis of the channel where its varying-section is encoded as an effective entropic potential. This simplified approach allows us to characterize tracer diffusion under generic confinement by measuring their mean first passage time (MFPT). In particular, we show that the interplay between geometrical confinement and electrostatic interactions strongly affect the MFTP of tracers across corrugated channels hence leading to alternative means to control tracers translocation across charged pores. Finally, our results show that the MFPTs of a charged tracer in opposite directions along an asymmetric channel may differ We expect our results to be relevant for biological as well synthetic devices whose dynamics is controlled by the detection of diluted tracers.

Geometrically Tuned Channel Permeability

SummaryWe characterize the motion of charged as well as neutral tracers, in an electrolyte embedded in a varying section channel. We exploit a set of systematic approximations that allows us to simplify the problem, yet capturing the essential of the interplay between the geometrical confinement provided by the corrugated channel walls and the electrolyte properties. Our simplified approach allows us to characterize the transport properties of corrugated channels when a net flux of tracers is obtained by keeping the extrema of the channel at different chemical potentials. For highly diluted tracer suspensions, we have characterized tracers currents and we have estimated the net electric current which occurs when both positively and negatively charged tracers are considered.

Investigating formation of isolated intermediate/massive YSOs in the LMC

AbstractHigh-mass stars usually form in giant molecular clouds (GMCs) as part of a young stellar cluster, but some isolated O/B stars are observed. What are the initial conditions that lead to the formation of these objects? The aim of this study is to measure the distribution and basic physical properties of the neutral gas associated with isolated intermediate- and high-mass young stellar objects (YSOs) in the Large Magellanic Cloud.As part of the SAGE Spitzer Legacy program for the LMC, we have identified and confirmed YSOs using Spitzer IRAC photometry and IRS spectroscopy. By examining the spatial coincidence between the YSOs and 12CO(1–0) emission detected by the NANTEN mapping survey, we identified more than one hundred intermediate/massive YSOs in the LMC that appear to be isolated, i.e. not associated with CO emission. Deeper follow-up CO observations by our team with the higher resolution by Mopra Telescope (beam=30”) detected CO emission at the YSO positions for ~80% of the isolated LMC YSOs. We obtained ALMA data of some of the targets during Cycle 2. We targeted a small but representative (in terms of their association with neutral gas tracers) sample of the isolated high-mass YSOs that we have been studying in the LMC. All of our 12 targets are separated by more than 200 pc from known CO clouds. Our analysis of the ALMA data shows that a compact molecular cloud whose mass is a few thousand solar masses or smaller is associated with most of the YSOs.

How Is Diffusion of Neutral and Charged Tracers Related to the Structure and Dynamics of a Room-Temperature Ionic Liquid? Large Deviations from Stokes-Einstein Behavior Explained.

The deviations from Stokes-Einstein hydrodynamics of small solutes are more pronounced in ionic liquids than in conventional solvents (J. Phys. Chem. B 2013 117 (39), 11697). Small neutral solutes diffuse much faster than expected, whereas small charged solutes diffuse much slower. This article attempts to establish a link between the local friction experienced by tracer solutes and the polar/apolar structure of ionic liquids. We find that small neutral solutes probe locally "stiff" (mostly charged, high electrostriction) regions and locally "soft" (mostly apolar, low electrostriction) regions. These regions of high and low friction are associated with cage and jump regimes. Enhanced neutral tracer mobility in the low friction regions associated with the cationic apolar component has an important bearing on the large positive deviations from Stokes-Einstein behavior. In contrast, diminished charged tracer mobility involves long caging dynamics separated by jump events often triggered by the loss and recovery of counterions.

Anisotropic diffusion at the field scale in a 4-year multi-tracer diffusion and retention experiment – I: Insights from the experimental data

Claystones are considered worldwide as barrier materials for nuclear waste repositories. In the Mont Terri underground research laboratory (URL), a nearly 4-year diffusion and retention (DR) experiment has been performed in Opalinus Clay. It aimed at (1) obtaining data at larger space and time scales than in laboratory experiments and (2) under relevant in situ conditions with respect to pore water chemistry and mechanical stress, (3) quantifying the anisotropy of in situ diffusion, and (4) exploring possible effects of a borehole-disturbed zone. The experiment included two tracer injection intervals in a borehole perpendicular to bedding, through which traced artificial pore water (APW) was circulated, and a pressure monitoring interval. The APW was spiked with neutral tracers (HTO, HDO, H2O-18), anions (Br, I, SeO4), and cations (Na-22, Ba-133, Sr-85, Cs-137, Co-60, Eu-152, stable Cs, and stable Eu). Most tracers were added at the beginning, some were added at a later stage. The hydraulic pressure in the injection intervals was adjusted according to the measured value in the pressure monitoring interval to ensure transport by diffusion only. Concentration time-series in the APW within the borehole intervals were obtained, as well as 2D concentration distributions in the rock at the end of the experiment after overcoring and subsampling which resulted in ∼250 samples and ∼1300 analyses. As expected, HTO diffused the furthest into the rock, followed by the anions (Br, I, SeO4) and by the cationic sorbing tracers (Na-22, Ba-133, Cs, Cs-137, Co-60, Eu-152). The diffusion of SeO4 was slower than that of Br or I, approximately proportional to the ratio of their diffusion coefficients in water. Ba-133 diffused only into ∼0.1m during the ∼4a. Stable Cs, added at a higher concentration than Cs-137, diffused further into the rock than Cs-137, consistent with a non-linear sorption behavior. The rock properties (e.g., water contents) were rather homogeneous at the centimeter scale, with no evidence of a borehole-disturbed zone. In situ anisotropy ratios for diffusion, derived for the first time directly from field data, are larger for HTO and Na-22 (∼5) than for anions (∼3–4 for Br and I). The lower ionic strength of the pore water at this location (∼0.22M) as compared to locations of earlier experiments in the Mont Terri URL (∼0.39M) had no notable effect on the anion accessible pore fraction for Cl, Br, and I: the value of 0.55 is within the range of earlier data. Detailed transport simulations involving different codes will be presented in a companion paper.

발달 단계의 축대칭 열대저기압의 각운동량에 관한 연구

The angular momentum transport of an idealized axisymmetric vortex in the developing stage was investigated using the Weather Research and Forecast (WRF) model. The balanced axisymmetric vortex was constructed based on an empirical function for tangential wind, and the temperature, geopotential, and surface pressure were obtained from the balanced equation. The numerical simulation was carried out for 6 days on the f-plane with the Sea Surface Temperature (SST) set as constant. The weak vortex at initial time was intensified with time, and reached the strength of tropical cyclone in a couple of days. The Absolute Angular Momentum (AAM) was transported along with the secondary circulation of the vortex. Total AAM integrated over a cylinder of radius of 2000 km decreased with simulation time, but total kinetic energy increased rapidly. From the budget analysis, it was found that the surface friction is mainly responsible for the decrease of total AAM. Also, contribution of the surface friction to the AAM loss was about 90% while that of horizontal advection was as small as 8%. The trajectory of neutral numerical tracers following the secondary circulation was presented for the Lagrangian viewpoint of the transports of absolute angular momentum. From the analysis using the trajectory of tracers it was found that the air parcel was under the influence of the surface friction continuously until it leaves the boundary layer near the core. Then the air parcel with reduced amount of angular momentum compared to its original amount was transported from boundary layer to upper level of the vortex and contributed to form the anti-cyclone. These results suggest that the tropical cyclone loses angular momentum as it develops, which is due to the dissipation of angular momentum by the surface friction.

Effect of wastewater discharge on Jiangsu coastal environment, China

ABSTRACT Ji, H., Pan, S. and Han, X., 2012. Effect of wastewater discharge on Jiangsu coastal environment, China To meet the needs of the rapid economic development in the coastal area of Qidong City in Jiangsu Province of China, a new wastewater treatment plant and a reclaimed water plant have been planned. The preliminarily treated wastewater will be discharged to the coastal area in the Yellow Sea near Dayang Port. Due to the complex tidal regime in the area, the impacts of the outfall from the treatment plant can be important for the surrounding marine environment. The present study aims to investigate the impacts of the discharge of the treated wastewater into the Yellow Sea under three operational conditions using the TELEMAC software. The computational domain covers a large coastal area (~2800 km2). TELEMAC2D is used to compute the depth-averaged currents, and the convection and diffusion of the pollutants, namely CODMn and Inorganic Nitrogen, which are treated as the neutral buoyancy tracers, but ...

Identifiability of diffusion and retention parameters of anionic tracers from the diffusion and retention (DR) experiment

Summary In situ diffusion experiments in low-permeability rocks are performed to study radionuclide diffusion and sorption and investigate scale effects. They are carried out in a packed-off interval of a borehole having a circulation system in which tracers are injected and allowed to diffuse into the rock. Tracer concentrations are monitored at the tracer interval during the experiment (dilution data) and measured at the end of the experiment in rock cores (overcoring data). The interpretation of in situ diffusion experiments in clay formations is challenging due to the influence of the filter, the gap between the filter and the borehole wall and the borehole disturbed zone (BDZ). The impact of the filter, the gap and the BDZ on the estimates of the accessible porosity and the effective diffusion, D e , of the rock in the presence of random noise has been evaluated for the anionic tracers with synthetic experiments having the geometry and parameters of the in situ diffusion and retention (DR) experiment performed on Opalinus clay. The component of D e of the clay parallel to the bedding can be estimated properly from dilution data when the standard deviation of the noise of the data is smaller than 0.05, but the component of D e normal to the bedding cannot be estimated from dilution data. On the other hand, both components of D e can be estimated properly from noisy overcoring data. Although the parameters of the BDZ and the undisturbed clay cannot be estimated simultaneously from noisy dilution data, they can be estimated from noisy overcoring data when the standard deviation of the noise is smaller than 0.05. Parameter estimation errors are large when the assumption about the BDZ is incorrect. The uncertainties in the D e of the filter and in the volume of the circulation system have a noticeable impact on the estimates of the diffusion and porosity of the clay derived from dilution data. On the other hand, acceptable parameter estimates are obtained from overcoring data. The estimation errors of the parameters of the anionic tracers are generally larger than those of the neutral and weakly-sorbing tracers.

TCF/Lef1-Mediated Control of Lipid Metabolism Regulates Skin Barrier Function

Defects in the function of the skin barrier are associated with a wide variety of skin diseases, many of which are not well characterized at the molecular level. Using Lef1 (lymphoid enhancer-binding factor 1) dominant-negative mutant mice, we demonstrate here that altered epidermal TCF (T cell factor)/Lef1 signaling results in severe impairment of the stratum corneum skin barrier and early postnatal death. Barrier defects were accompanied by major changes in lipid composition and ultrastructural abnormalities in assembly and extrusion of lipid lamellae of the interfollicular epidermis, as well as abnormal processing of profilaggrin. In contrast, tight-junction formation and stratified organization of the interfollicular epidermis was not obviously disturbed in Lef1 mutant mice. Molecular analysis revealed that TCF/Lef1 signaling regulates expression of lipid-modifying enzymes, such as Elovl3 and stearoyl coenzyme A desaturase 1 (SCD1), which are key regulators of barrier function. Promoter analysis and chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments indeed showed that SCD1 is a direct target of Lef1. Together, our data demonstrate that functional TCF/Lef1 signaling governs important aspects of epidermal differentiation and lipid metabolism, thereby regulating skin barrier function.