In the tanker industry, there are a lot of uncertain conditions that tanker companies have to deal with.For example, the global financial crisis and economic recession, the increase of bunker fuel prices and global climate change. Such conditions have forced tanker companies to change tankers speed from full speed to slow speed, extra slow speed and super slow speed. Due to such conditions, the objective of this paper is to present a methodology for determining vessel speeds of tankers that minimize the cost of the vessels under such conditions. The four levels of vessel speed in the tanker industry will be investigated and will incorporate a number of uncertain conditions. This will be done by developing a scientific model using a rule-based Bayesian reasoning method. The proposed model has produced 96 rules that can be used as guidance in the decision making process. Such results help tanker companies to determine the appropriate vessel speed to be used in a dynamic operational environmental.

We report results of the performance evaluation of a new hardware correlator in Korea, the Daejeon correlator, developed by the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI) and the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ). We conduct Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) observations at 22 GHz with the Korean VLBI Network (KVN) in Korea and the VLBI Exploration of Radio Astrometry (VERA) in Japan, and correlated the aquired data with the Daejeon correlator. For evaluating the performance of the new hardware correlator, we compare the correlation outputs from the Daejeon correlator for KVN observations with those from a software correlator, the Distributed FX (DiFX). We investigate the correlated flux densities and brightness distributions of extragalactic compact radio sources. The comparison of the two correlator outputs shows that they are consistent with each other within < 8%, which is comparable with the amplitude calibration uncertainties of KVN observations at 22 GHz. We also find that the 8% difference in flux density is caused mainly by (a) the difference in the way of fringe phase tracking between the DiFX software correlator and the Daejeon hardware correlator, and (b) an unusual pattern (a double-layer pattern) of the amplitude correlation output from the Daejeon correlator. The visibility amplitude loss by the double-layer pattern is as small as 3%. We conclude that the new hardware correlator produces reasonable correlation outputs for continuum observations, which are consistent with the outputs from the DiFX software correlator.

Riptortus pedestris (F.) (Hemiptera: Alydidae) is an important pest of soybeans in Korea and Japan. A synthetic aggregation pheromone trap has been commercialized and used in soybean fields in Korea for both monitoring and mass-capture of this bug. As the trap’s efficacy in reducing the pest population or crop damage is unknown, in this study we evaluated the aggregation pheromone trap in experimental soybean fields located in Andong National University. Two treatments, one with traps deployed for the entire cultivation period and one with no traps, were tested in six small experimental fields. The total numbers of R. pedestris (in all life stages) in soybean field were not significantly different between the treatments until August. But, in presence of pheromone, the pest’s abundance increased significantly in September and October. Relative to the size of the bug population in the field, trap catch rate was low during the fall (when bug density was highest) and high in early summer when the field population was very low. Placement of aggregation traps in plots caused pod and seed damage from R. pedestris to increase 2.7 and 2.2 times compared to the control. In conclusion, R. pedestris populations increased significantly during the fall in the presence of the aggregation pheromone trap, which should therefore be used with great caution whether as a control measure or as a monitoring tool.

The western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), has been considered as a major thrips species after its invasion in 1993 in Korea although recently F. intonsa (Trybom) was found as a dominant species locally. To explain their asymmetrical abundance in the field, we hypothesized differential insecticide susceptibility of both thrips species as an underlying mechanism. Laboratory assays were conducted to know their susceptibility to different pesticides including chlorfenapyr, chlorpyrifos, thiamethoxam, spinosad, s-metolachlor, and metalaxyl by direct spray, residue, and oral ingestion. Results showed that both thrips species were highly susceptible to chlorfenapyr and mortality reached 100% within 12 hours in F. occidentalis in all the assays while 9 hours in F. intonsa in direct spray and residual assays. The LT50[h] values of tested insecticides were significantly lower than that of herbicide or fungicide regardless of exposure methods except metalaxyl from direct spray. The insecticides tested here differed considerably in species specific toxicity, and F. intonsa is generally more susceptible to the insecticides irrespective of exposure methods.

The movement, survival, and weight gain of Helicoverpa armigera Hübner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) first instar larvae were studied on CB9, CB10 and SR05 cotton varieties under field conditions. The neonate H. armigera were released on the cotton varieties at the squaring stage of the plants and, after a period of 72 hours, the survival, weight gain, and final location of the larvae were observed. While the different cotton varieties had no effect on the survival and weight gain of the larvae, the release locations on the cotton varieties had a significant influence on the larval survival and weight gain. The larvae fed small squares of the cotton varieties were significantly heavier and showed a higher mortality than the larvae fed leaflets and mature leaves. For the cotton varieties in this study, the larvae released on leaflets showed a significantly higher rate of recovery compared to the larvae released on mature leaves and squares. This study also found that that the larvae on leaflets did not move up or downward unlike the larvae on mature leaves and squares. This information on the foraging behavior of larvae on cotton varieties will assist researchers to interpret field data and thereby help with the development of pest management decisions.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of bacterial inoculation (Lactobacillus plantarum) and cutting height on the chemical composition, fermentation characteristics and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) in whole crop barley silage. Barley forage (Youngyang hybrid) was harvested at about 27% of dry matter (DM) level at two different cutting height (5 vs. 15 cm). And it was chopped to 5 cm length and treated with or without L. plantarum. Four replicates of each treatment were ensiled into 10 L mini silo (3 kg) for 100 days. After 100 days, bacterial inoculation decreased (p=0.001) DM content, while increased cutting height increased (p=0.002) DM in uninoculated silage. Crude protein (CP) concentration was decreased by increasing height in uninoculated silage (8.84 vs. 8.16) but increased in inoculated silage (8.19 vs. 8.99). Both neutral detergent fiber (NDF) (p<0.011) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) (p<0.004) were decreased by increasing cutting height of forage at harvest. The IVDMD and ammonia-N was increased (p=0.001) by increasing cutting height and inoculation, respectively. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) was increased (p=0.002) in inoculated silage, but yeast count was decreased (p=0.026) in uninoculated silages. It is concluded that increased cutting height of forage at harvest could be useful to make a fibrous portion with increase of dry matter digestibility of silages.

Amorphous agglomerates of carbon nanospheres (CNS) with a diameter range of 10-50 nm were synthesized using the solution combustion method. High-resolution transmission elec-tron microscopy (HRTEM) revealed a densely packed high surface area of SP2-hybridized carbon; however, there were no crystalline structural components, as can be seen from the scanning electron microscopy, HRTEM, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and ther-mal gravimetric analyses. Electrochemical and thermo catalytic decomposition study results show that the material can be used as a potential electrode candidate for the fabrication of energy storage devices and also for the production of free hydrogen if such devices are used in a fluidized bed reactor loaded with the as-prepared CNS as the catalyst bed.

The effects of a newly developed flower thinning formulation (FTF) on the vitality of the honey bee Apis mellifera were examined by measuring the activities of various digestive enzymes in adult worker bees. First, direct spraying of the FTF solution did not cause any behavioral changes or lethal effects for the honey bees based on 24 h observation. Second, oral ingestion of a sugar solution containing the FTF did not produce any significant change in the activities of amylase, proteinases, lipase, or acetylcholine esterase (AChE) in the worker bees 6 h or 24 h after treatment. Meanwhile, a commercial formulation containing sulfur compounds showed slightly reduced activities for several digestive enzymes and AChE, although no behavioral disturbance. Thus, the results of the present study suggest that the FTF is not toxic for honey bees, in terms of contact and ingestion. Therefore, this newly developed FTF can be used for flower thinning without any detrimental effects on pollinating insects.

Riptortus pedestris is an important soybean pest in Korea and Japan. Aggregation pheromone traps were evaluated in 12 soybean fields in Andong using three treatments of trap installation, i.e., installation for whole cultivation period, installation up to September, and no installation. The number of R. pedestris (in all life stages) were not significantly different among the treatments until October, but its abundance significantly increased at mid October in the fields where traps were installed. Trap catch of R. pedestris was relatively higher in August while bug population was low in the fields. However, in fall, R. pedestris populations become abundant in the fields while trap catch was low. There was no significant difference in parasitism as well as seed and pod damage among the treatments. In conclusion, aggregation pheromone trap should’nt be used as control measure, but can be used as a monitoring tool of R. pedestris population up to August in soybean field.

Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) and F. intonsa (Trybom) have been shown asymmetrical occurrence pattern in pepper and strawberry fields. To explain this phenomenon, interactive influence of temperatures (20, 25, and 30ºC) and relative humidities [Low (50-55%), Medium (70-75%), and High (90-95%)] were assessed on pupal and adult stage of the two thrips species. In pupal stage, mortality of both species decreased as the humidity increased without significant difference between the species. Also, pupal duration of the two thrips decreased as RH increased from low to high in all the temperatures tested, but significantly shorter duration was found in F. intonsa. In adult stage, F. intonsa survived better than F. occidentalis only in high humidity at both 20 and 25ºC. Frankliniella intonsa survived 2.5 and 2.4 times longer as RH increased from low to high at 20 and 25ºC, respectively, whereas F. occidentalis survived 1.8 and 1.6 times longer, respectively. In conclusion, both pupae and adults of F. intonsa performed better at higher RH condition compared to F. occidentalis. Thus, difference in relative susceptibility to changing environmental condition can be one of the underlying mechanisms for the differential occurrence pattern in the fields.

[6]-Gingerol, a major polyphenol of ginger(Zingiber officinale), exhibits a variety ofbiological properties including anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activity. However,the radioprotective effect of [6]-gingerol is still unknown. The aim of this study was to investigatethe radioprotective effect of [6]-gingerol against radiation-induced cell cytotoxicity and oxidativestress in HepG2 cells. [6]-Gingerol pretreatment attenuated radiation-induced cell cytotoxicitycaused by 5Gy(half lethal dose, LD50of HepG2 cells). The measurements of superoxide dismutase(SOD) and catalase(CAT) activity were also performed. The results showed that [6]-gingerol pre-treatment reduced increasing SOD and CAT activity after exposure of IR, indicating that [6]-gin-gerol protected oxidative stress by regulating cellular antioxidant enzyme(SOD and CAT) activity.These findings suggest that [6]-gingerol acts as a radioprotector by attenuating cell cytotoxicityand oxidative stress.