The impact of T-PARC 2008 dropsonde observations on typhoon track forecasting

The THORPEX-Pacific Asian Regional Campaign 2008 (T-PARC 2008) was performed during the period of August 1 through October 4, 2008, and mainly focused on the genesis, intensification, recurvature, and extra-tropical transition over the western North Pacific in collaboration with TCS-08 and DOTSTAR. This study investigates the impact of dropsonde observations on the improvement of predictive skills for Typhoon Sinlaku (0813) and Jangmi (0815) during T-PARC 2008. Twelve and six cases were selected for Sinlaku and Jangmi, respectively. The dropsonde data were assimilated by the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF)-Three-Dimensional Variational system (3DVAR), and then the typhoon track was obtained by running a WRF model for up to 72 hours. Consequently, the assimilation of the dropsonde data had positive impacts on the typhoon track forecast and lead to mean track error reductions of 22.5% and 17.0% for Typhoon Sinlaku and Jangmi, respectively. Subsequent experiments were also conducted to determine the sensitivities of storm activity in the horizontal and vertical distributions and the dynamic and thermodynamic variables using the dropsonde data. The results show that sondes released south of storms around the middle troposphere (500～850 hPa) are more effective in improving the track forecast. The dynamic variables mainly affect the storm tracks, while the thermodynamic variables mainly affect the central pressure of the storm.     

Potential for heavy metal (copper and zinc) removal from contaminated marine sediments using microalgae and light emitting diodes

The effects of monochromatic (blue, yellow and red LED) and mixed wavelengths (fluorescent lamp) on the adsorption and absorption of Cu and Zn by Phaeodactylum tricornutum, Nitzschia sp., Skeletonema sp., and Chlorella vulgaris were investigated. In addition, we confirmed the potential of microalgae for phytoremediation of these heavy metals from contaminated marine sediment by using microcosm experiments that incorporated LEDs and semipermeable membrane (SPM) tube containing microalgae. Among the four microalgae, C. vulgaris grown under red LED exhibited the highest Cu and Zn removal with values of 17.5 × 10^-15 g Cu/cell and 38.3 × 10^-15 g Zn/cell, respectively. Thus, C. vulgaris could be a useful species for phytoremediation. In the microcosm experiments with SPM containing C. vulgaris, the highest Cu and Zn removal from sediment and interstitial water showed under red LED. Therefore, phytoremediation using LED and SPM tube containing microalgae could be utilized as an eco-friendly technique for remediating contaminated marine sediment.     

全球化背景下在华跨国移民社区的空间生产——广州远景路韩国人聚居区的案例研究

运用问卷和半结构化访谈的方法,梳理了远景路从城中村到跨国移民社区的空间生产过程。研究显示,广州远景路已形成以韩商为主的贸易产业链和韩国人与本地村民、外来人口混居的跨国移民社区,其中白云区政府、投资开发商和韩商三者共同参与,推动了远景路韩国人聚居区的空间形成。     

Anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of ultrasonic-assistant extracted polyphenol-rich compounds from Sargassum muticum

Polypehnol is an important, potentially bioactive component of Sargassum muticum. In this study, ultrasonic assisted extraction of polyphenol-rich substances was performed using a 38% ethanol solution at a solid:liquid ratio of 1:30 at 68℃ for 32 min, determined by single-factor and response surface methodology(RSM) optimization. The content of polyphenol was 5.66 mg/g in the crude extract. Further extraction showed that the polyphenol mainly distributed in ethyl acetate(SKEE) and water phases(SKEW).The anti-oxidation test by electron spin resonance(ESR) spectrum showed that the SKEE had the strongest scavenging activity on DPPH(1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) and alkyl radicals. SKEE was shown noncytotoxic but could inhibit the generation of cellular ROS, showing protective effects in H_2O_2 and AAPHinduced Vero cells and UV-B irradiated HaCaT cells. SKEE also significantly inhibited the release of NO of LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Therefore, the polyphenol-rich extracts in ethanol and ethyl acetate showed excellent anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, which is beneficial to the development of high-value bio-substances.     

Experimental investigation of water slamming loads on panels

Rigid-body slamming has become increasingly important as ships travel at higher speeds experiencing larger loads during hull impacts against surface water which can result in structural damage and crew injury. It is necessary to characterise the hydrodynamic loading during water impacts.We present a series of experiments conducted in order to study slamming force events seen by flat plates during free surface impacts. The experiments focus on the characterisation of the loads experienced by flat plates during the first phase of the slamming event, the water entry. They have been conducted in an especially designed test apparatus, the Slingshot Impact Testing System (SITS), which allows us launching objects against the free surface of an open channel, with the possibility of setting up different speeds and deadrise angles. We can study slamming with trapped air between the plate and the water free surface, at high impact speeds and small deadrise angles, allowing us to quantify the resulting cushioning effect. High velocity impacts up to 5 m/s were conducted at angles between 0.3° and 25°. It was found that the trapped air phenomenon significantly cushions flat plate impacts with angles less than 5° and impacts with larger angles adhere to Von Kármán's equations.     

Veterinary antibiotics contamination in water, sediment, and soil near a swine manure composting facility

Antibiotics have been commonly used to prevent animal diseases and promote livestock productivity. However, its release into the surrounding environments leads to ecological disturbance and risks to human health. This study was conducted to monitor the occurrence and seasonal variations of antibiotics in water, sediment, and soil close to a swine manure composting facility, Korea. Various types of antibiotics such as tetracyclines (TCs) including tetracycline, chlortetracycline, and oxytetracycline, and sulfonamides (SAs) including sulfamethazine, sulfamethoxazole, and sulfathiazole were measured by the high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry via a solid-phase extraction. In the results it was identified that the variations of measured antibiotics’ concentrations in water, sediment, and soil are depending on the season. The observed concentration levels of TCs were higher in winter than in summer season, indicating that the low temperature is a parameter attributing to interruption of its degradation in water, sediment, and soil. The concentration levels of SAs were significantly higher than those of TCs and in general, all measured antibiotics’ concentrations were also in general higher in Korea when compared to those in other countries. The long-term monitoring of antibiotics’ residues in aquatic and terrestrial environments is necessary.     

Causality analysis of the groundwater response in a delta plain of the lower Nakdong River,Republic of Korea

The salinity of groundwater in an estuarine delta plain is sometimes related to the presence of an estuarine dam. To understand groundwater processes and salinity variation, time series data on the river water level, groundwater level, and groundwater electrical conductivity were collected for the Nakdong River in southeastern Republic of Korea. Sampling was undertaken upstream of the estuarine barrage system, which is opened and closed depending on upstream flow and seawater level. Comprehensive correlation analysis was performed between the groundwater and river water levels using bubble plots between groundwater electrical conductivity and the hydrological variables. Comparative analysis between the correlations and the field measurements of the hydrological variables indicated a negligible flux connection between the river and groundwater. Oscillatory pressure wave propagation from the river boundary explains the response patterns of the groundwater level. There were different response times for the rising and falling of the river water. Electrical conductivity in groundwater is not directly associated with that of the river except in one well close to the river boundary. The response patterns of groundwater electrical conductivity were explained by potential anthropogenic activity. Further transfer modeling results also indicate a spatial explanatory response pattern for the groundwater level. No spatial patterns in the models of electrical conductivity indicate that the hydrological processes are different with respect to the groundwater level and electrical conductivity.

     

A Critical Evaluation of U–Pb Calibration Schemes Used in SIMS Zircon Geochronology

Precision and accuracy in SIMS zircon geochronology strongly depend on the method of determination of the interelement ion ratios (e.g., ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U) from the measured secondary ion ratios (²⁰⁶Pb⁺/²³⁸U⁺). Six possible U–Pb calibrations (Pb/U–UO₂/U, Pb/U–UO/U, Pb/U–UO₂/UO, Pb/UO–UO₂/U, Pb/UO–UO/U, Pb/UO–UO₂/UO) based on simple power law relationships, and Pb/UO₂‐related one‐ and two‐ (a power law) dimensional ones were compared using data acquired on the 91500 zircon reference material from one hundred measurement sessions, to determine the most statistically reliable scheme. Taking advantage of U oxide species (UO and UO₂) over atomic U, due to their similar energy distribution to Pb and higher intensities, the data calibrated with Pb/UO–UO₂/UO showed the smallest mean uncertainties and dispersions, and provided the best‐fit calibration curve consistently. Although it was demonstrated with Temora 2 that the unknown zircon age was not changed significantly by different calibrations, its precision could be improved using the Pb/UO–UO₂/UO calibration in zircon geochronology.     

Long-Term Consolidation and Strength Behavior of Marine Clay Improved with Fly Ash

This paper presents an investigation of the long-term consolidation and strength behavior with fly ash as an additive in improving soft marine clay in Wando, Korea. 0%, 5%, 10%, 20% and 25% of the soil was replaced with fly ash. Consolidation tests were performed as incremental loaded tests. In addition, unconfined compressive strength were determined after 1, 14, 28 and 90 days. A series of forty-two long-term consolidation tests that lasted for 60 days under the constant loading were also conducted. Creep settlements of the blends decreased significantly with an increase in fly ash content. The shear strength properties increased with an increase in fly ash content. Statistical evaluation reveals an excellent correlation between the measured and predicted undrained shear strengths.