The Bar and Spiral Structure Legacy (BeSSeL) survey: Mapping the Milky Way with VLBI astrometry

Astrometric Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) observations of maser sources in the Milky Way are used to map the spiral structure of our galaxy and to determine fundamental parameters such as the rotation velocity (Θ₀) and curve and the distance to the Galactic center (R₀). Here, we present an update on our first results, implementing a recent change in the knowledge about the Solar motion. It seems unavoidable that the IAU recommended values for R₀ and Θ₀ need a substantial revision. In particular the combination of 8.5 kpc and 220 km s^–1 can be ruled out with high confidence. Combining the maser data with the distance to the Galactic center from stellar orbits and the proper motion of Sgr A* gives best values of R₀ = 8.3 ± 0.23 kpc and Θ₀ = 239 or 246±7 km s^–1, for Solar motions of V_⊙ = 12.23 and 5.25 km s^–1, respectively. Finally, we give an outlook to future observations in the Bar and Spiral Structure Legacy (BeSSeL) survey (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

U–Pb SHRIMP zircon geochronology,petrogenesis, and tectonic setting of the Neoproterozoic Baekdong ultramafic rocks in the Hongseong Collision Belt,South Korea

The Hongseong area, located in the western Gyeonggi Massif, South Korea, can be correlated with the northern margin of the South China block (Yangtze Craton). This area experienced Neoproterozoic igneous activity related to subduction before the amalgamation of Rodinia. Several isolated, lenticular, and serpentinized ultramafic–mafic bodies occur in the Hongseong area. The Baekdong body, one of the largest ultramafic bodies, has been highly deformed and metamorphosed to eclogite- and granulite-facies. The petrogenesis and tectonic environment of the Baekdong rocks are assessed using the composition of unaltered cores of spinel and olivine grains, and show that these rocks represent the mantle section of a suprasubduction ophiolite. The rocks originated from oceanic lithosphere that formed during the transition from nascent back-arc to mature island arc, related to subduction roll-back. During the back-arc stage, Al-rich spinel harzburgite formed through melt–rock interaction caused by the intrusion of magma. This magma was produced in small amounts, by less than 10% of partial melting of the wedge mantle. Subsequently, during the mature island arc stage, Cr-rich spinel dunite formed through melt–rock interaction caused by the intrusion of relatively evolved magma that formed by 30–35% partial melting due to a high input of volatiles from the subducted slab and sediments. The Baekdong ultramafic rocks, together with the Bibong ultramafic rocks, indicate that a suprasubduction tectonic setting prevailed before the amalgamation of Rodinia (at 860–890 Ma) in the Hongseong area, which may be an extension of the northern margin of the Yangtze Craton.     

Tintinnid species as biological indicators for monitoring intrusion of the warm oceanic waters into Korean coastal waters

This study examined seasonal and annual occurrences of warm oceanic tintinnid species in southern Korea coastal waters. The indicative species of tintinnids was monitored using three approaches: monitoring from cruises traveling from the warm pool in the western North Pacific to the Korea Strait; biweekly or monthly monitoring in the Korea Strait; and daily monitoring in the nearshore water. Annual pulses of warm oceanic indicator species were regularly observed in the Korea Strait. In September 2008 recorded a maximum species number of warm water indicators, a representative species for warm oceanic waters, Climacocylis scalaroides was simultaneously detected in the nearshore water as well as the Korea Strait. The result indicates that the greater warm water extension into Korean coastal areas was in September 2008. Sharp declines in species diversity were observed in the transitional area between neritic and Kuroshio zone in East China Sea (ECS). Epiplocyloides reticulata, reported previously as a Kuroshio indicator, was considered an ECS indicator species, as it was undetected in the western North Pacific central zone but was found abundantly in the ECS. Tintinnid species can be used as biological indicators to detect the inflow of warm oceanic waters into Korean coastal waters.     

Assessment of immune parameters of manila clam <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ruditapes philippinarum</Emphasis> in different physiological conditions using flow cytometry

Cellular and humoral immune parameters are often used as biomarkers to trace environmental and physiological stresses in marine bivalves. In this study, we compared various immune parameters of Manila clams (Ruditapes philippinarum) under normal conditions and under a high level of desiccation, using flow cytometry. The immune parameters analyzed included, total hemocyte count, hemocyte mortality, hemocyte DNA damage, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and phagocytosis activity. Total hemocyte count, hemocyte DNA damage, and hemocyte mortality were significantly elevated among clams under high desiccation stress, while phagocytosis activity and spontaneous ROS production were significantly lower compared to those parameters of the control clams (p<0.05). These data suggest that the immune parameters analyzed in this study well reflect the physiological status of clams.     

Spatial and seasonal variations in the water quality of Jinhae Bay,Korea

The chemical and biological characteristics of surface waters in Jinhae Bay were investigated over four seasons to understand water quality in light of the growing industrialisation occurring within this area. Jinhae Bay includes four smaller bays: Masan; Hangam; Jindong; and Gohyun. The water quality in Jinhae Bay varied spatially and seasonally. The water quality of both Hangam Bay and Masan Bay was highly degraded, demonstrating high concentrations of ammonia, nitrate, chlorophyll a and particulate organic carbon. Contamination from sewage was the dominant cause of the water quality deterioration in these bays. Conversely, the water quality in Jindong Bay and Gohyun Bay was not as severely affected as that of the above two bays. Water quality in Jinhae Bay was particularly poor in summer when nutrient loading was highest due to the run-off associated with high precipitation. Principal component analysis indicated that nitrogen contamination was a major factor influencing the water quality of Jinhae Bay. The effective reduction in high-nitrogen discharges is essential to improve water quality in Jinghae Bay.     

Wave-tide-surge coupled simulation for typhoon Maemi

The main task of this study focuses on studying the effect of wave-current interaction on currents, storm surge and wind wave as well as effects of current induced wave refraction and current on waves by using numerical models which consider the bottom boundary layer and sea surface roughness parameter for shallow and smooth bed area around Korean Peninsula. The coupled system (unstructured-mesh SWAN wave and ADCIRC) run on the same unstructured mesh. This identical and homogeneous mesh allows the physics of wave-circulation interactions to be correctly resolved in both models. The unstructured mesh can be applied to a large domain allowing all energy from deep to shallow waters to be seamlessly followed. There is no nesting or overlapping of structured wave meshes, and no interpolation is required. In response to typhoon Maemi (2003), all model components were validated independently, and shown to provide a faithful representation of the system’s response to this storm. The waves and storm surge were allowed to develop on the continental shelf and interact with the complex nearshore environment. The resulting modeling system can be used extensively for prediction of the typhoon surge. The result show that it is important to incorporate the wave-current interaction effect into coastal area in the wave-tide-surge coupled model. At the same time, it should consider effects of depth-induced wave breaking, wind field, currents and sea surface elevation in prediction of waves. Specially, we found that: (1) wave radiation stress enhanced the current and surge elevation otherwise wave enhanced nonlinear bottom boundary layer decreased that, (2) wind wave was significantly controlled by sea surface roughness thus we cautiously took the experimental expression. The resulting modeling system can be used for hindcasting (prediction) the wave-tide-surge coupled environments at complex coastline, shallow water and fine sediment area like areas around Korean Peninsula.     

Induction of apoptosis by the tropical seaweed Pylaiella littoralis in HT-29 cells via the mitochondrial and MAPK pathways

We demonstrated that an extract from Pylaiella littoralis, collected from the Federate States of Micronesia (FSM), could inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells. P. littoralis extract (PLE) showed anti-proliferative activities in the tumorigenic cells tested, ranging from 20.2% to 67.9%. The highest inhibitory activity, in HT-29 cells, was selected for further experiments. PLE showed no cytotoxic effect in normal cells and inhibited the growth of HT-29 cells depending on concentration and incubation time. PLE-treated HT-29 cells showed the typical morphological characteristics of apoptosis, such as apoptotic body formation and DNA fragmentation. PLE also induced mitochondrial membrane potential depolarization and resulted in increased mitochondrial membrane permeability, compared with untreated cells. PLE decreased Bcl-2 protein and increased Bax protein expression, activating caspase-3 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) expression via the caspase pathway. PLE also increased the phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), p38, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and it reduced cell viability in treatment cells with specific inhibitors such as PD98059 (a specific inhibitor of ERK), SP600125 (a specific inbibitor of JNK), and SB 203580 (a specific inbibitor of p38 MAPK). via the the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) pathway. These results suggest that PLE inhibits the proliferation of HT-29 cells by affecting the caspase and MAPK pathways involved in the induction of apoptosis. Thus, we suggest that P. littoralis extract might be potential candidate agents for the treatment of human colorectal cancer.     

An approach to analyses of periphytic ciliate colonization for monitoring water quality using a modified artificial substrate in Korean coastal waters

Structural and functional parameters of periphytic ciliate communities were studied for monitoring water quality in Korean coastal waters during April 2007. The PFES (polyurethane foam enveloped slide) system, a modified glass slide method, was used to analyze periphytic ciliate colonization in marine ecosystems. A total of 27 ciliate species were identified using living observation and silver impregnation method with this system. Although the ciliate colonizations had similar species composition, they represented considerable differences in both structural and functional parameters between the PFES system and the conventional slide system. The species diversity, evenness and the colonization rate (G) were distinctly higher, but the time for reaching 90% equilibrium species number (T_90%) was shorter in the PFES system than those on the naked slides. Results suggest that the PFES system is more effective than the conventional slide method for periphytic ciliate colonization with high species diversity, evenness, and colonization rate in marine ecosystems.     

Methane-derived authigenic carbonates from the Ulleung basin sediments,East Sea of Korea

Authigenic carbonates were sampled in methane-enriched piston core sediments collected from gas venting sites on the western continental slope of the Ulleung Basin, East Sea of Korea. Multidisciplinary investigations on these carbonates, including the scanning electronic microscope (SEM) observations and mineralogical-geochemical compositions, were carried out to identify the carbon and oxygen sources and the forming mechanism of these carbonates. The authigenic carbonates from the study area correspond to semi-consolidated, compact concretions or nodules ranging from 2 to 9 cm in size. X-ray diffraction and electron microprobe analyses showed that most of the sampled carbonate concretions were composed of almost purely authigenic high-Mg calcite (10.7–14.3 mol% MgCO₃). Characteristically, microbial structures such as filaments and rods, which were probably associated with the authigenic minerals, were abundantly observed within the carbonate matrix. The carbonates were strongly depleted in δ¹³C (−33.85‰ to −39.53‰ Peedee Belemnite (PDB)) and were enriched in δ¹⁸O (5.16–5.60‰ PDB), indicating that the primary source of carbon is mainly derived from the anaerobic oxidation of methane. Such methane probably originated from the destabilization of the underlying gas hydrates as strongly supporting from the enriched ¹⁸O levels. Furthermore, the strongly depleted δ¹³C values (−60.7‰ to −61.6‰ PDB) of the sediment void gases demonstrate that the majority of the gas venting at the Ulleung Basin is microbial methane by CO₂ reduction. This study provides another example for the formation mechanism of methane-derived authigenic carbonates associated with gas-hydrate decomposition in gas-seeping pockmark environments.