Global parameter estimation of the Cochlodinium polykrikoides model using bioassay data

Cochlodinium polykrikoides is a notoriously harmful algal species that inflicts severe damage on the aquacultures of the coastal seas of Korea and Japan. Information on their expected movement tracks and boundaries of influence is very useful and important for the effective establishment of a reduction plan. In general, the information is supported by a red-tide(a.k.a algal bloom) model. The performance of the model is highly dependent on the accuracy of parameters, which are the coefficients of functions approximating the biological growth and loss patterns of the C. polykrikoides. These parameters have been estimated using the bioassay data composed of growth-limiting factor and net growth rate value pairs. In the case of the C. polykrikoides, the parameters are different from each other in accordance with the used data because the bioassay data are sufficient compared to the other algal species. The parameters estimated by one specific dataset can be viewed as locally-optimized because they are adjusted only by that dataset. In cases where the other one data set is used, the estimation error might be considerable. In this study, the parameters are estimated by all available data sets without the use of only one specific data set and thus can be considered globally optimized. The cost function for the optimization is defined as the integrated mean squared estimation error, i.e., the difference between the values of the experimental and estimated rates. Based on quantitative error analysis, the root-mean squared errors of the global parameters show smaller values, approximately 25%–50%, than the values of the local parameters. In addition, bias is removed completely in the case of the globally estimated parameters. The parameter sets can be used as the reference default values of a red-tide model because they are optimal and representative. However, additional tuning of the parameters using the in-situ monitoring data is highly required.As opposed to the bioassay data, it is necessary because the bioassay data have limitations in terms of the in-situ coastal conditions.     

Tsunami research in Korea

The tsunamis that have occurred in many places around the world over the past decades have taken a heavy toll on human lives and property. The eastern coast of the Korean Peninsula is not safe from tsunamis and has sustained tsunami damage in the past. The aim of this study is to review the past, present, and future of some aspects of tsunami research in Korea. A composite numerical model comprising propagation and inundation models is described. The paper also covers tsunami mitigation efforts in Korea, and a tsunami hazard map is developed and introduced.     

The variation of solar proton energy spectra and size distribution with heliolongitude

A statistical study of the initial phases of 185 solar particle events has been carried out using the data from the Goddard cosmic ray experiments on IMPs IV and V. Special emphasis is placed on the identification of the associated solar flare. The parent flare can be determined for 68 % of the events. It appears probable that most of the unidentified increases occur on the non-visible disc of the Sun. The existence of a preferred-connection longitude between 20°W and 80° W is established by examining the heliolongitude of all the flare associated events. While power law in differential kinetic energy appears to give the best representation it cannot be distinguished from exponential in rigidity over the limited range of 20–80 MeV. It is argued that for heliolongitudes = 20–80°W, _p ,the spectral index determined at the time of maximum particle intensity is representative of the source spectra. For these heliolongitudes _p displays a surprisingly small range with magnitudes varying mainly between 2.0 and 3.1. At lower energies _p is smaller. Previous electron measurements provide almost identical average values of the source spectra over similar energy ranges. These results are discussed briefly in terms of Fermi acceleration models.For flare events located further away from the nominal field line connecting the Earth and the Sun, _p becomes progressively steeper. The lower energies (4–20 MeV) do not exhibit this behavior. It is argued that this spectral steepening at the higher energies is the result of energy-dependent escape during the coronal diffusion process. The size distribution can be represented by a power law of the form dN/dI=I ^- where N is the number of events per unit intensity and I is the maximum particle intensity at a given energy (usually taken at 40 MeV) with 1.15 ±0.1. The same value of a applies to both eastern and western hemisphere events. The event size, on the average, appears to decrease approximately two orders of magnitude for each 60° away from the preferred connection region.Also: Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, University of Maryland, College Park, Md., U.S.A.     

Genomic cloning and expression of vitellogenin gene from the self-fertilizing fish Rivulus marmoratus (Cyprinodontiformes, Rivulidae)

We cloned the vitellogenin gene from the self-fertilizing fish Rivulus marmoratus, and sequenced 12,326 bp. The number of exons of R. marmoratus and rainbow trout vitellogenin genes were different, and also the splicing junctions are different throughout most of the exons and introns but the amino acid similarity of R. marmoratus vitellogenin gene to other species was rather high. In promoter region of R. marmoratus vitellogenin gene, there were several E2 binding sites and the estrogen response element (ERE). We discuss here the gene structure and expression of R. marmoratus vitellogenin gene.     

Internal generation of waves on an arc in a rectangular grid system

This paper presents a technique to generate waves at oblique angles in finite difference numerical models in a rectangular grid system by using internal generation technique [Lee, C., Suh, K.D., 1998. Internal generation of waves for time-dependent mild-slope equations. Coast. Eng. 34, 35–57.] along an arc-shaped line source. Tests were made for four different types of wave generation layouts. Quantitative experiments were conducted under the following conditions: the propagation of waves on a flat bottom, the refraction and shoaling of waves on a planar slope, and the diffraction of waves to a semi-infinite breakwater. Numerical experiments were conducted using the extended mild-slope equations of Suh et al. [Suh, K.D., Lee, C., Park, W.S., 1997. Time-dependent equations for wave propagation on rapidly varying topography. Coast. Eng. 32, 91–117.]. The fourth layout type consisting of two parallel lines connected to a semicircle showed the best solutions, especially for a small grid size. This technique is useful for the numerical simulation of irregular waves with broad-banded directional spectrum using conventional spectral wave models for the reasonable estimation of bottom friction and wave-breaking.     

Hydroelastic response of a very large floating structure over a variable bottom topography

An influence of sea-bottom topography on the hydroelastic response of a Very Large Floating Structure (VLFS) is considered. When the floating structure is constructed near the shore, the sea-bottom topographical effect should be considered. In this study, the effect of sea-bottom topography is investigated for four different bottom cases. To calculate the sea-bottom effects rigorously, the finite-element method based on the variational formulation is used in the fluid domain. The pontoon-type floating structure is modeled as the Kirchhoff plate. The mode superposition method is adopted for the hydroelastic behavior of the floating structure.     

Developmental duration and morphology of the sea star asterias amurensis, in tongyeong, Korea

The process of embryogenesis and larval development of the asteroid sea star Asterias amurensis (Lütken) was observed, with special attention paid to morphological change and larval duration. In reproductive season, mature sea stars were collected under floating net cages, located in Tongyeong, southern Korea. The mature eggs are 138 μm in average diameter, semi-translucent and orange in color, sperms in good condition appear light cream to white-gray in color. Embryos develop through the holoblastic equal cleavage stage and a wrinkled blastula stage that lasts about 9 hours after fertilization. Gastrulae bearing an expanded archenteron hatch from the fertilization envelope 22 hours after fertilization. At the end of gastrulation, rudiments of the left and right coelom are formed. By day 2, larvae possess complete alimentary canal and begin to feed. At this stage, the larva is called early bipinnaria. In 6day-old larvae, the pre- and post- oral ciliated bands form complete circuits and the bipinnarial processes start to develop. By day 12, the lateral and anterior projection of the larval wall processes along the ciliated bands begins to thicken and curl, and the ciliated bands become more prominent. By day 32, early brachiolaria are presented with three pairs of brachiolar arms. Advanced brachiolaria with a well-developed brachiolar complex (three pairs of brachia and central adhesive disc) occur 6 weeks after fertilization. In the field, spawning of the sea star was observed in April to May, settlement form larvae and just settlements seem to occur from June to July, and early juveniles occur from August to September. Although we had not described the end of brachiolaria stage, it can be tentatively estimated that the duration of the pelagic stage of A. amurensis is 40 to 50 days.