Seismic analysis of base-isolated liquid storage tanks using the BE–FE–BE coupling technique

A three-dimensional soil–structure–liquid interaction problem is numerically simulated in order to analyze the dynamic behavior of a base-isolated liquid storage tank subjected to seismic ground motion. A dynamic analysis of a liquid storage tank is carried out using a hybrid formulation, which combines the finite shell elements for structures and the boundary elements for liquid and soil. The system is composed of three parts: the liquid–structure interaction part, the soil–foundation interaction part, and the base-isolation part. In the liquid–structure interaction part, the tank structure is modeled using the finite elements and the liquid is modeled using the internal boundary elements, which satisfy the free surface boundary condition. In the soil–foundation interaction part, the foundation is modeled using the finite elements and the half-space soil media are modeled using the external boundary elements, which satisfy the radiation condition in the infinite domain. Finally, above two parts are connected with the base-isolation system to solve the system's behavior. Numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the accuracy of the developed method, and an earthquake response analysis is carried out to demonstrate the applicability of the developed technique. The properties of a real LNG tank located in the west coast of Korea are used. The effects of the ground and the base-isolation system on the behavior of the tank are analyzed.     

Thermal effects on the growth and fatty acid composition of four harmful algal bloom species: Possible implications for ichthyotoxicity

Little is known regarding how harmful algal bloom species respond to different temperatures in terms of fatty acid production. This study examined the effects of temperature on the growth rates, cell volumes, and fatty acid concentrations and compositions of four harmful algal bloom species (HABs), Akashiwo sanguinea, Alexandrium tamarense, Chattonella ovata, and Prorocentrum minimum. The HABs species were cultured at 15, 20, 25, and 30°C in a nutrient-enriched medium. Three of the species maintained optimal growth rates over a wide range of temperatures, but A. tamarense did not. The cell volumes of each species showed little change over the temperature range. The total fatty acid concentrations in A. sanguinea, A. tamarense and C. ovata decreased as the temperature increased, but P. minimum showed no trend in this respect. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), the key biochemical components that maintain cell membrane fluidity and which are associated with toxicity, decreased in both concentration and proportion of total fatty acids as temperature increased, except in A. sanguinea, in which the proportion of PUFAs to the total fatty acids increased. These reductions in PUFA concentration and proportion could reduce cell membrane fluidity and toxicity in HABs; however, enhanced growth and/or ruptured cells, which are considered more toxic than intact cells, could compensate for the reduced per-cell toxicity. This phenomenon might impact on the marine ecosystem and aquaculture industry.     

An object-oriented knowledge representation structure for exploration data integration

Knowledge representation structure and reasoning processes are very important issues in the knowledge-based approach of integrating multiple spatial data sets for resource exploration. An object-oriented knowledge representation structure and corresponding reasoning processes are formulated and tested in this research on the knowledge-based approach of integrating spatial exploration data. The map-based prototype expert system developed in this study has self-contained knowledge representation structure and inference mechanisms. It is important to distinguish between lack of information and information providing negative evidence for a map-based system because the spatial distribution of data sets are uneven in most cases. Error and uncertainty estimation is also an important component of any production expert system. The uncertainty propagation mechanisms developed here work well for this type of integrated exploration problem. Evidential bellef function theory provides a natural theoretical basis for representing and integrating spatially uneven geophysical and geological information. The prototype system is tested using real mineral exploration data sets from the Snow Lake area, northern Manitoba, Canada. The test results outline the favorable exploration areas successfully and show the effectiveness of the knowledge representation structure and inference mechanisms for the knowledge-based approach.     

用超速CT机检测99例无症状香港中国人降低钙指数

回顾分析Ｍａｔｉｌｄａ医院超速ＣＴ室筛选首批病人中９９例中国人资料，很明显从通常采用１３０－１００Ｈｏｕｎｓｆｉｅｌｄ单位作为检出冠状血管钙化的基数应用至中国人身上其阈值数目需要降低，同时，我们也发现如果病人年龄按每１０年范围分组（２１－３０，３０－４０，４１－５０，５１－６０）而计算其超速ＣＴ的钙化指数会较随机男女一起按平均计算更易区分其差异．进一步分析显示，男性中年时候超速ＣＴ指数已达最高值，而女性则晚１０年方达最高值，因此，为了更易探测冠脉循环内钙化倾向应作出超速ＣＴ检出钙化的指数数目．这些实践经验对动脉粥样硬化过程的预测或预防有实际意义．     

The natural enrichment of ferruginous weathering products and its implication for water quality in the Hunchun Basin, China

In order to evaluate the extent of a natural enrichment of Fe and Mn over the whole of the Hunchun Basin, the stability of Fe-Mn mineral phases, their status, the weathering rate of source materials, and soil characteristics were determined. A variety of samples were collected from sediments, soil profiles, and surface soils. In the solutions after a sequentially selective dissolution using sodium pyrophosphate (p), acid oxalate (o), and dithionite-citrate-bicarbonate (d), Si, Al and Fe were dominant in the d and p fractions, and Mn in the o and p fractions. The results showed that the existing phases and status of Fe and Mn were distinctly different, and that the abundance of amorphous Mn phases made thermodynamic calculation difficult. An application of these ferruginous weathering products was therefore made to understand basin development. The first terrace of the Hunchun River is more active than the second terrace, which can be inferred from it having a higher value in Fe_d/Fe_t. Amorphous Fe phases such as Fe(OH)₃ and Fe₃(OH)₈ were controlling factors of Fe in the thermodynamic calculations. The transformation of the amorphous Fe phases to more stable phases was hindered by high contents of smectite and gibbsite, amorphous opaline produced from rice roots, and organic phosphate pesticides or fertilizers in soils. Source-rock deduction using water samples suggested granitic weathering. Precipitation around the Hunchun Basin is gradually becoming more acidic. Therefore, in the future it is inevitable that ecological and environmental problems related to the Fe phases mentioned above will occur in the drinking water supply for this area, especially in that of the first terrace.     

Secondary dispersion from gold deposits in west Turkey

Orientation studies over the Sarpda? prospect in the Biga peninsula and the Arapdagi deposit near Izmir have provided elear evidence for elemental dispersion around west Turkish gold prospects. Although these deposits are of different types, silicification associated with the deposits results in the main part of both deposits forming topographic highs.At Sarpda? gold mineralisation is relatively weak compared with nearby prospects and associated with a silicified cap on the main hill. Comparison of coarse and fine fractions, based on a 190 μm size split of 8 kg of -2 mm material, suggests that gold disperses clastically on the steep slopes, probably within silica, but coarse grains break down giving Au concentrations in the finer fractions at the base of the main slope. Discrete gold grains, that can be panned, only occur 1–2 km downstream within the streams and heavy mineral concentrations are very limited. This interpretation of Au dispersion is consistent with the data from 1 kg samples collected at the higher primary grade, but more contaminated, Arapda?i prospect.Antimony is the most consistent pathfinder both for the silicified cap at Sarpda? and for gold-rich veins at Arpada?i. It gives high contrast anomalies. Arsenic is useful being more mobile than Sb, although contrast may be low. High resolution Ag data can be useful but base metal enrichments are also often associated with Ag anomalies. Most prospects have some base metal enrichments although they can be displaced from the main gold-rich parts of the deposit and anomalies may be weak. Lead and Cu are the more consistently useful elements.The use of large (> 8 kg of -2 mm material) samples produces consistent stream sediment data that can be used to reliably interpret single samples and quantify Au anomalies. A survey around the Halíköy Hg and Emirli Sb mines, using these large samples, confirmed the extension of the known gold-bearing Emirli structure. In contrast the major Hg-bearing Halíköy Fault is gold poor although a structure parallel to it is auriferous.     

A new method of computing geopotential fields

Summary. A new method is proposed for the geopotential field computation and gravitational attraction modelling. The usual method is to use a uniform density discrete numerical integration to represent either the gravitational potential or the gravitational attraction from a given density configuration. In this paper, an interpolation scheme is explained, using a piecewise continuous basis function to represent the arbitrarily varying density configuration in one, two and three dimensions. This new approach greatly simplifies the potential integrations and, in certain cases where symmetry exists, analytical evaluation of the integrals is also possible. Numerical tests and examples are given for a hypothetical salt dome, a vertical dyke with varying density structure and the hydrostatic ellipticity of earth model 1066B. The numerical error in this method is limited to the analytical approximation and interpolation errors in each case. This new approach can also be used as efficiently for other potential field studies.