This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of rumen origin lactate-utilizing bacteria (LUB) as one of the potential treatments on subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) during in vitro challenge compared to buffering agents (NaHCO3, sea minerals, MgO) and direct-fed microorganism (yeast). We hypothesized that rumen LUB (RLUB) could be a potential treatment to treat ruminal acidosis. The supplementation level of other treatments was determined by referring to previous studies in the literature. The 108 CFU/g freeze-dried RLUB isolated from Hanwoo cattle were compared with 0.1% NaHCO3, 0.8% of MgO, 0.5% sea mineral and 0.4% yeast during in vitro SARA challenge. Rumen fluid collected from one cannulated Holstein and one Hanwoo steer fed by maize silage was mixed with 0.5g feed consisted of 0.05g forage and 0.45g concentrate. These mixtures were incubated in triplication for 3, 6, 12 and 24h. After 6h of incubation, along with MgO and sea minerals, RLUB treatment showed higher (p<0.05) ㏗ values than control with no significant differences in total volatile fatty acid concentration. However, in the same period, the propionate concentration and A:P ratio were higher in RLUB than in the other treatment (p<0.05), which might alter the fermentation pattern. On the other hand, the RLUB treatment produced a higher (p<0.05) ammonia-N concentration. Based on these results, we can conclude that RLUB might have the potential to alleviate SARA. Nonetheless, further study on its mechanism in SARA is required, especially with live animals.

This study was conducted to investigate the antibacterial, antioxidant, and in vitro greenhouse gas mitigation activities of fermented Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi extract. Seven starter cultures were used, comprising four of lactic acid bacteria and three of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Ten grams of S. baicalensis Georgi powder was diluted in 90 mL autoclaved MRS broth. Each seed culture was inoculated with 3-10% (v/v) S. baicalensis Georgi MRS broth and incubated at 30℃ for 48 h. Among the starter cultures used, only Lactobacillus plantarum EJ43 could withstand the fermentation conditions. This fermentation broth was dried and extracted with ethanol to assess its antibacterial, antioxidant, and in vitro methane mitigation activities. The extract of S. baicalensis Georgi fermented by L. plantarum EJ43 (SBLp) showed higher antibacterial activity (bigger clear zone) compared to the unfermented S. baicalensis Georgi extract (SB0). SBLp also presented 1.2 folds higher antioxidant activity than SB0. During in vitro rumen fermentation, SBLp showed reduction in methane production compared to SB0 or the control. In conclusion, fermentation by L. plantarum EJ43 may enhance antibacterial and antioxidant activities of S. baicalensis Georgi and decrease enteric methane production.

The formation mechanism of the snow cells of the Yellow Sea associated with snowfall over the southwestern part of Korea on 4 February, 2004 has been investigated using special upper-air sounding and radar data obtained for the KEOP (Korea Enhanced Observing Period) Intensive Observing Period (IOP). Results show that the types of snow cells for the selected period are classified into L(Longitudinal)-mode, Low-level convergence, and T(Transverse)-mode with their evolution from L-mode to T-mode. In particular, the existence of low-level warm and humid layer associated with temporally southwesterly inflow for about 4 hours provides a favorable condition in forming the T-mode snow cells. The vertical depth of the T-mode snow cells is deeper than that of L-mode ones due to the southeastward penetration of cold and dry air into relatively warm and humid air. In addition, it is found that wind shear vector between 1000 hPa and 600 hPa is one of the factors which control the orientation of snow cells in formation embedded into the snowbands for the both modes.

The impact of midlatitude synoptic system (upper-level trough) on typhoon intensity change was investigated by analyzing the spatial and temporal characteristics of vertical wind shear (VWS), relative eddy momentum flux convergence (REFC), and potential vorticity (PV). These variables were computed over the radial mean 300~1,000 km from the typhoon center by using GDAPS (Global Data Assimilation and Prediction System) data provided by the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA). The selected cases in this study are typhoons Rusa (0215) and Maemi (0314), causing much damage in life and property in Korea. Results show that the threshold value of VWS indicating typhoon intensity change (typhoon to severe tropical storm) is approximately 15 m/s and of REFC ranges 6 to 6.5 ms-1day-1 in both cases, respectively. During the period with the intensity of typhoon class, PVs with 3 to 3.5 PVU are present in 360K surface-PV field in the cases. In addition, there is a time-lag of 24 hours between central pressure of typhoon and minimum value of VWS, meaning that the midlatitude upper-level trough interacts with the edge of typhoon with a horizontal distance less than 2,000 km between trough and typhoon. That is, strong midlatitude upper-level divergence above the edge of the typhoon provides a good condition for strengthening the vertical circulation associated with the typhoons. In particular, when the distance between typhoon and midlatitude upper-level trough is less than 1,000 km, the typhoons tend to weaken to STS (Severe Tropical Storm). It might be mentioned that midlatitude synoptic system affects the intensity change of typhoons Rusa (0215) and Maemi (0314) while they moves northward. Thus, these variables are useful for diagnosing the intensity change of typhoon approaching to the Korean peninsula.

The cluster analysis of diurnal precipitation patterns is performed by using daily precipitation of 59 stations in South Korea from 1973 to 1996 in four seasons of each year. Four seasons are shifted forward by 15 days compared to the general ones. Number of clusters are 15 in winter, 16 in spring and autumn, and 26 in summer, respectively. One of the classes is the totally dry day in each season, indicating that precipitation is never observed at any station. This is treated separately in this study. Distribution of the days among the clusters is rather uneven with rather low area-mean precipitation occurring most frequently. These 4 (seasons) × 2 (wet and dry days) classes represent more than the half (59 %) of all days of the year. On the other hand, even the smallest seasonal clusters show at least 5∼9 members in the 24 years (1973-1996) period of classification. The cluster analysis is directly performed for the major 5∼8 non-correlated coefficients of the diurnal precipitation patterns obtained by factor analysis In order to consider the spatial correlation. More specifically, hierarchical clustering based on Euclidean distance and Ward's method of agglomeration is applied. The relative variance explained by the clustering is as high as average (63%) with better capability in spring (66%) and winter (69 %), but lower than average in autumn (60%) and summer (59%). Through applying weighted relative variances, i.e. dividing the squared deviations by the cluster averages, we obtain even better values, i.e 78 % in average, compared to the same index without clustering. This means that the highest variance remains in the clusters with more precipitation. Besides all statistics necessary for the validation of the final classification, 4 cluster centers are mapped for each season to illustrate the range of typical extremities, paired according to their area mean precipitation or negative pattern correlation. Possible alternatives of the performed classification and reasons for their rejection are also discussed with inclusion of a wide spectrum of recommended applications.