Simultaneous inhibition and redistribution of spontaneous light emission in photonic crystals

Inhibiting spontaneous light emission and redistributing the energy into useful forms are desirable objectives for advances in various fields, including photonics, illuminations, displays, solar cells, and even quantum-information systems. We demonstrate both the "inhibition" and "redistribution" of spontaneous light emission by using two-dimensional (2D) photonic crystals, in which the refractive index is changed two-dimensionally. The overall spontaneous emission rate is found to be reduced by a factor of 5 as a result of the 2D photonic bandgap effect. Simultaneously, the light energy is redistributed from the 2D plane to the direction normal to the photonic crystal.     

Long-term evaluation of the groundwater recharge function of paddy fields accompanying urbanization in the Nobi Plain, Japan

The groundwater recharge function, one example of the multifunctionality of agriculture, is closely related to hydrogeological phenomena and socioeconomic factors such as pumpage and land use. A long-term evaluation of the groundwater recharge function is necessary to understand its role among the multiple functions of agriculture. The Nobi Plain, one of the largest coastal plains in Japan, was selected as the study area because it has experienced typical socioeconomic changes. We conducted a long-term evaluation of the groundwater recharge function based on simple water-balance equations using long-term data on groundwater levels and river flows. Leakage recharge from paddy fields in 1975 was about 2.8×10⁸ m³/year, decreased to 0.6×10⁸ m³/year in 1984, and ceased in 1985. Its monetary value of the function in 1975 was estimated by the replacement cost method, was about $56 million for 20 ha×10³ ha of paddy fields. The value per unit area of paddy fields was calculated as $2820/ha and that in Japan was calculated as $400/ha. Paddy fields in suburbs of big cities have a higher value than the average paddy field in Japan. However, this recharge value is no longer produced because no leakage recharge occurs at present owing to socioeconomic changes.     

Integrated field- and model-based study of hydro-environmental aspects of a small, endangered wetland in eastern Hokkaido, Japan

The hydro-environmental aspects of a small, endangered wetland (Totsuru wetland), located in eastern Hokkaido, Japan, are investigated, and the efficacy of a proposed engineering strategy for restoring the wetland is examined. Taking ²²²Rn as a target tracer and building a static ²²²Rn mass balance equation, the share of groundwater-genetic surface water in yielding the entire surface water in the wetland is appraised. The share is also appraised by using a different approach based on a non-static, site-specific water balance model. Both approaches yielded nearly the same percentage share, and therefore, it is concluded that 70% or more of the surface water entering the Totsuru swamp through the natural rivers is groundwater genetic. Using the water balance model, it is deduced that the reverse flow from the Uenbetsu drainage river is not less than 30% of the entire surface water flow entering the swamp, and therefore contributes considerably to mitigating the shrinkage of the swamp. Finally, through numerical experiments, it is shown that raising the water level of the Uenbetsu drainage river with a constructed weir to enhance the reverse flow is efficacious for restoring the wetland.     

Fluctuation of NO3-N in groundwater of the reservoir of the Sunagawa Subsurface Dam, Miyako Island, Japan

The Japanese government started to construct two subsurface dams on Miyako Island in 1988, and the project was completed in 2001. Before the construction of the dams, the NO₃-N concentration of groundwater on the island was about 10 mg/l, the upper limit for drinking water in Japan, owing to the application of fertilizer to sugarcane fields. Predicting the effect of these subsurface dams on the groundwater environment was difficult because they were probably the first mega-subsurface dams in the world. We measured the NO₃-N concentration in the groundwater at observation wells before and after construction of the Sunagawa Dam and after the groundwater began to be used. We also measured the NO₃-N concentration monthly at a typical observation well in the catchment over a period 14 years to evaluate the environmental impact of construction of the dam. The highest NO₃-N concentrations were downstream before completion of the subsurface dam, and a high NO₃-N concentration zone remained around the cut-off wall after its completion, but this high-concentration zone disappeared and the distribution of NO₃-N became uniform after pumping of the groundwater began. Overall, the NO₃-N concentration decreased gradually. These results show that the groundwater quality did not deteriorate as a result of the construction of the Sunagawa Subsurface Dam.     

Optimization of a multiple reservoir system operation using a combination of genetic algorithm and discrete differential dynamic programming: a case study in Mae Klong system, Thailand

A combination of genetic algorithm and discrete differential dynamic programming approach (called GA-DDDP) is proposed and developed to optimize the operation of the multiple reservoir system. The demonstration is carried out through application to the Mae Klong system in Thailand. The objective of optimization is to obtain the optimal operating policies by minimizing the total irrigation deficits during a critical drought year. The performance of the proposed algorithm is compared with the modified genetic algorithm. The results show that the proposed GA-DDDP provides optimal solutions, converging into the same fitness values within a short time. The GA is able to produce satisfactory results that are very close to those obtained from GA-DDDP but required alot more computation time to obtain the precise results. The difficulties in selecting optimal parameters of GA as well as finding a feasible initial trial trajectory of DDDP are significant problems and time-consuming. The significant advantage obtained from GA-DDDP is saving of computational resource as GA-DDDP requires no need for optimizing parameters and deriving feasible initial trial trajectories. Because DDDP is a part of GA-DDDP, the good performance of GA-DDDP is obtained when applied to a small system where numbers of discretizations and variables have no influence to the dimensionality problem of DDDP.     

Novel reovirus isolation from an Ostrich (Struthio camelus) in Japan

An orthoreovirus was isolated from an Ostrich (Struthio camelus) and rapidly identified as orthoreovirus by the rapid determination of viral RNA sequences (RDV) system and electron microscopy. Phylogenetic analysis of the sigma A protein indicated that the isolate belonged to avian species and was closely related to chicken orthoreovirus strain 138. The results of the present study indicated that an ostrich orthoreovirus is slight different from other chicken orthoreoviruses and provided evidence of diversity among avian orthoreoviruses. To our knowledge, this is the first genetic report of an orthoreovirus isolated from an ostrich.