Latitudinal and local variations of the life history characteristics of the thalassinidean decapod, Upogebia yokoyai: A hypothesis based on trophic conditions

Mean total length of the eldest cohort (MTLe) of the thalassinidean decapod, Upogebia yokoyai sampled at 16 sites showed a latitudinal variation from south-west islands of the Ryukyu Archipelago (24° N) to the Seto-Inland Sea of Japan (34° N). Local variations were however also found from sites in the same latitudes. The level of the organic content in each habitat showed a positive correlation with MTLe. We hypothesized that MTLe is strongly affected by the trophic condition, resulting in the local variations. To test this hypothesis, two estuaries with different organic content were compared; Kodono River (Kochi Prefecture, 33° N) which was relatively oligotrophic and Sakata River (Hiroshima Prefecture, 34° N) which was highly eutrophicated. The Kodono River population showed slow growth after settlement, and growth stopped in May to June. This population survived for only one or two years, resulting in small MTLe. On the other hand, the Sakata River population showed fast growth from August to December. This population survived for three years, resulting in large MTLe. Maturation was estimated to occur two years after settlement in both populations. Low salinities may partially affect MTLe. Habitats in the Seto-Inland Sea (33.5–34.8° N) were eutrophicated, but many habitats in the subtropical islands (24–31° N) were relatively oligotrophic. Latitudinal variation of MTLe was reflected by the geographical difference in trophic condition. A negative relationship between population density and growth was found, which was explained in terms of reduced survival of recruits in the eutrophicated habitats.     

Thermal consequences of the formation of a slab window beneath the Mid-Cretaceous southwest Japan arc: A 2-D numerical analysis

Abstract   The development of voluminous granitic magmatism and widespread high-grade metamorphism in Mid-Cretaceous southwest Japan have been explained by the subduction of a spreading ridge (Kula–Pacific or Farallon–Izanagi plate boundaries) beneath the Eurasian continent and the formation of a slab window. In the present study, the thermal consequences of the formation of a slab window beneath a continental margin are evaluated through a 2-D numerical simulation. The model results are evaluated by comparison with the Mid-Cretaceous geology of southwest Japan. Of particular interest are the absence of an amphibolite- to granulite-facies metamorphic belt near the Wadati–Benioff plane, and significant melting of the lower crustal-mafic rocks sufficient to form a large amount of granitic magma. Because none of the model results simultaneously satisfied these two geological interpretations, it is suggested that subduction of plate boundaries in Mid-Cretaceous southwest Japan was not associated with the opening of a slab window. According to previous studies, and the results of the present study, two different tectonic scenarios could reasonably explain the geological interpretations for Mid-Cretaceous southwest Japan: (i) The spreading ridge did not subduct beneath the Eurasian continent, but was located off the continental margin, implying the continuous subduction of very young oceanic lithosphere; (ii) ridge subduction beneath the continental margin occurred after active spreading had ceased. Consequently, in both tectonic scenarios, the subduction of plate boundaries at the Mid-Cretaceous southwest Japan was not associated with a slab window, but very young (hot) oceanic lithosphere.     

Vegetation development and carbon storage on a glacier foreland in the High Arctic, Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard

The distribution of organic carbon and its relationship to vegetation development were examined on a glacier foreland near Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard (79°N). In a 0.72-km² area, we established 43 study plots on three line transects along primary succession from recently deglaciated area to old well-vegetated area. At each plot, we measured the type and percent coverage of vegetation types. The organic carbon content of vegetation, organic soil, and mineral soil samples was determined based on their organic carbon concentration and bulk density. Cluster analysis based on vegetation coverage revealed five types of ground surfaces representing variations in the amounts and allocation patterns of organic carbon. In the later stages of succession, 7%–24% and 31%–40% of organic carbon was contained in the organic and deeper soil layers, respectively. Organic carbon storage in the later stages of succession ranged from 1.1 – 7.9 kg C m⁻². A larger amount of organic carbon, including ancient carbon in a raised beach deposit, was expected to be contained in much deeper soil layers. These results suggest that both vegetation development and geological history affect ecosystem carbon storage and that a non-negligible amount of organic carbon is distributed in this High Arctic glacier foreland.     

Collapse simulation of a four‐story steel moment frame by a distributed online hybrid test

The collapse of a one‐bay, four‐story steel moment frame is simulated in this study by the proposed peer‐to‐peer (P2P) Internet online hybrid test system. The typical beam hinging mechanism, which is ensured by a strong‐column, weak‐beam design, is reproduced. The plastic hinges at the column bases are taken as the experimental portions, while the superstructure is analyzed numerically by a general‐purpose finite element program. The implicit plastic rotations of the two column bases are treated as boundary displacements. In order to account for the complex behavior of the column bases, the P2P system is modified to use the secant stiffness during iterations, and the physical specimens are designed such that the plastic hinge behavior can be obtained. For this study, the three substructures are distributed to different locations. A large ground motion is repeatedly imposed until the column bases lose their capacity to sustain the gravity load. As a result, significant deterioration is observed at both column bases. The proposed P2P system is thus demonstrated to be able to accommodate multiple‐tested substructures involving unstable behavior. The results suggest that the P2P Internet online hybrid test system provides a reliable means of studying structures up to collapse. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Correlations between oxygen-isotopic composition and petrologic setting in a coarse-grained Ca, Al-rich inclusion

Oxygen-isotopic compositions in conjunction with petrologic investigation have been determined for a coarse-grained type B2 Ca, Al-rich inclusion (CAI) from the reduced CV3 Vigarano using secondary ion mass spectrometry. The oxygen-isotopic compositions of minerals are distributed along the carbonaceous chondrite anhydrous mineral line indicating mixing between ¹⁶O-rich and ¹⁶O-poor nebular components. The O-isotopic heterogeneities among and within minerals in the CAI interior indicate that CAI formation started in an ¹⁶O-rich nebula and subsequently continued in an ¹⁶O-poor nebula. ¹⁶O-rich signatures of melilite and fassaite in the Wark-Lovering rim and of olivine of the accretionary rim indicate that the nebular environment during formation of the CAI returned to an ¹⁶O-rich composition after processing in an ¹⁶O-poor nebula. These O-isotopic variations in the CAI support multiple heating events in the solar nebula and indicate that the nebular environments fluctuated from ¹⁶O-rich to ¹⁶O-poor and back to ¹⁶O-rich compositions during the formation of a single CAI.     

Oxygen isotopic compositions of chondrules: Implications for evolution of oxygen isotopic reservoirs in the inner solar nebula

We review the oxygen isotopic compositions of minerals in chondrules and compound objects composed of a chondrule and a refractory inclusion, and bulk oxygen isotopic compositions of chondrules in unequilibrated ordinary, carbonaceous, enstatite, and Kakangari-like chondrites, focusing on data acquired using secondary ion mass-spectrometry and laser fluorination coupled with mass-spectrometry over the last decade. Most ferromagnesian chondrules from primitive (unmetamorphosed) chondrites are isotopically uniform (within 3–4‰ in Δ¹⁷O) and depleted in ¹⁶O (Δ¹⁷O>−7‰) relative to amoeboid olivine aggregates (AOAs) and most calcium–aluminum-rich inclusions (CAIs) (Δ¹⁷O<−20‰), suggesting that these classes of objects formed in isotopically distinct gaseous reservoirs, ¹⁶O-poor and ¹⁶O-rich, respectively. Chondrules uniformly enriched in ¹⁶O (Δ¹⁷O<−15‰) are exceptionally rare and have been reported only in CH chondrites. Oxygen isotopic heterogeneity in chondrules is mainly due to the presence of relict grains. These appear to consist of chondrules of earlier generations and rare refractory inclusions; with rare exceptions, the relict grains are ¹⁶O-enriched relative to chondrule phenocrysts and mesostasis. Within a chondrite group, the magnesium-rich (Type I) chondrules tend to be ¹⁶O-enriched relative to the ferrous (Type II) chondrules. Aluminum-rich chondrules in ordinary, enstatite, CR, and CV chondrites are generally ¹⁶O-enriched relative to ferromagnesian chondrules. No systematic differences in oxygen isotopic compositions have been found among these chondrule types in CB chondrites. Aluminum-rich chondrules in carbonaceous chondrites often contain relict refractory inclusions. Aluminum-rich chondrules with relict CAIs have heterogeneous oxygen isotopic compositions (Δ¹⁷O ranges from −20‰ to 0‰). Aluminum-rich chondrules without relict CAIs are isotopically uniform and have oxygen isotopic compositions similar to, or approaching, those of ferromagnesian chondrules. Phenocrysts and mesostases of the CAI-bearing chondrules show no clear evidence for ¹⁶O-enrichment compared to the CAI-free chondrules. Spinel, hibonite, and forsterite of the relict refractory inclusions largely retained their original oxygen isotopic compositions. In contrast, plagioclase and melilite of the relict CAIs experienced melting and ¹⁶O-depletion to various degrees, probably due to isotopic exchange with an ¹⁶O-poor nebular gas. Several igneous CAIs experienced isotopic exchange with an ¹⁶O-poor nebular gas during late-stage remelting in the chondrule-forming region. On a three-isotope diagram, bulk oxygen isotopic compositions of most chondrules in ordinary, enstatite, and carbonaceous chondrites plot above, along, and below the terrestrial fractionation line, respectively. Bulk oxygen isotopic compositions of chondrules in altered and/or metamorphosed chondrites show evidence for mass-dependent fractionation, reflecting either interaction with a gaseous/fluid reservoir on parent asteroids or open-system thermal metamorphism. Bulk oxygen isotopic compositions of chondrules and oxygen isotopic compositions of individual minerals in chondrules and refractory inclusions from primitive chondrites plot along a common line of slope of 1, suggesting that only two major reservoirs (gas and solids) are needed to explain the observed variations. However, there is no requirement that each had a permanently fixed isotopic composition. The absolute (²⁰⁷Pb–²⁰⁶Pb) and relative (²⁷Al–²⁶Mg) chronologies of CAIs and chondrules and the differences in oxygen isotopic compositions of most chondrules (¹⁶O-poor) and most refractory inclusions (¹⁶O-rich) can be interpreted in terms of isotopic self-shielding during UV photolysis of CO in the initially ¹⁶O-rich (Δ¹⁷O−25‰) parent molecular cloud or protoplanetary disk. According to these models, the UV photolysis preferentially dissociates C¹⁷O and C¹⁸O in the parent molecular cloud and in the peripheral zones of the protoplanetary disk. If this process occurs in the stability field of water ice, the released atomic ¹⁷O and ¹⁸O are incorporated into water ice, while the residual CO gas becomes enriched in ¹⁶O. During the earliest stages of evolution of the protoplanetary disk, the inner solar nebula had a solar H₂O/CO ratio and was ¹⁶O-rich. During this time, AOAs and the ¹⁶O-rich CAIs and chondrules formed. Subsequently, the inner solar nebula became H₂O- and ¹⁶O-depleted, because ice-rich dust particles, which were depleted in ¹⁶O, agglomerated outside the snowline (5 AU), drifted rapidly towards the Sun and evaporated. During this time, which may have lasted for 3 Myr, most chondrules and the ¹⁶O-depleted igneous CAIs formed. We infer that most chondrules formed from isotopically heterogeneous, but ¹⁶O-depleted precursors, and experienced isotopic exchange with an ¹⁶O-poor nebular gas during melting. Although the relative roles of the chondrule precursor materials and gas–melt isotopic exchange in establishing oxygen isotopic compositions of chondrules have not been quantified yet, mineralogical, chemical, and isotopic evidence indicate that Type I chondrules may have formed in chemical and isotopic equilibrium with nebular gas of variable isotopic composition. Whether these variations were spatial or temporal are not known yet.     

Numerical characteristics of peer‐to‐peer (P2P) internet online hybrid test system and its application to seismic simulation of SRC structure

The peer‐to‐peer (P2P) Internet online hybrid test system has been developed for the seismic simulation of a structure. In this study, the stability and accuracy of the system are investigated analytically by studying the spectral radius of the recursive matrix of the test scheme featuring a two‐round quasi‐Newton test scheme. The applicability of the system is further examined by exploring the seismic responses of a complex structure, a steel‐encased reinforced concrete (SRC) structure with a steel tower on the top. The structure is divided into two numerical substructures and one tested part for hybrid test. The numerical substructures are simulated by sophisticated finite element method (FEM) models with material nonlinearities to capture local plastifications. Two types of FEM programs, namely OpenSEES and ABAQUS, which are suitable for the SRC part and the steel tower, respectively, are employed. The results demonstrate that the P2P system is able to simulate complex structures with significant nonlinearities. As compared with the previous study in which two elastic numerical substructures were considered, increase in the number of iterations in this study is not significant, because the associated nonlinearities are limited due to the small time interval adopted in the test. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.