Organohalogen contaminants in striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) from Japan: Present contamination status, body distribution and temporal trends (1978-2003)

Organohalogen contaminants including PCBs, DDTs, CHLs, HCHs, HCB, PBDEs and HBCDs were determined in striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) found stranded at Gogo-shima (n = 6, 2003) and collected from Taiji (n = 15, 1978-1992) in Japan. All target compounds were significantly detected in all the specimens, indicating ubiquitous contamination of oceanic cetaceans in northwest Pacific Ocean. Examination of body distribution of organohalogens in the six specimens from Gogo-shima showed no significant difference in concentrations among the analyzed tissues, except for brain, which had lower levels possibly due to the existence of blood-brain barrier. For evaluating temporal trends, archived blubber samples of adult male stripped dolphins collected in 1978, 1979, 1986 and 1992 were analyzed. Concentrations of PCBs, DDTs and HCHs did not change significantly during 1978-2003. In contrast, remarkable increasing trends of PBDEs and HBCDs were observed, suggesting growing consumption in Japan and surrounding countries in recent years.     

Petrological and Geochemical Characteristics of the Cerro Colorado Plutonic Complex in the Precordillera of Northern Chile

Abstract. The Cerro Colorado intrusive stock in the northeastern Chilean Precordillera is a plutonic complex formed during Late Cretaceous (64–72 Ma), and consists predominantly of pyroxene-bearing biotite monzogabbro (Colorado Unit), with lesser amounts of pyroxene-bearing hornblende biotite diorite (Pucaquisca Unit) and biotite hornblende monzonite (Pabellón Unit). Compositional variations of major and trace elements suggest that the Cerro Colorado complex is composed of shoshonitic alkali granitoids generated at the active continental margin. The basic to intermediate rocks of the Colorado Unit are characterized by high contents of A1₂O₃ (>20 wt%), CaO and LIL elements (K, Sr, Ba), high Fe/Mg ratio and fairly low contents of Cr, Ni and Y. These characteristics suggest that the Colorado Unit was formed by plagioclase-free source magma originated from asthenospheric mantle or mafic lower crust. All the Cerro Colorado rocks generally display linear compositional trends, and the latest Pabellón Unit rocks are richer in SiO₂ than the Colorado Unit and Pucaquisca Unit rocks. These indicate that the Pabellón Unit rocks were produced by assimilation-fractional crystallization process of the basic to intermediate magma genetically related to the voluminous Colorado Unit.     

Shinkansen high-speed train induced ground vibrations in view of viaduct–ground interaction

Train viaduct behavior and nearby ground motion under the high-speed train passage have been studied in this paper. First, the findings from the field measurement alongside the high-speed Shinkansen railway in Japan are interpreted. Then, the computer simulation is made based on the soil-foundation-viaduct interaction analysis under moving axle loads. The solution method is to apply the dynamic substructure method in the frequency domain. The viaduct girders including track structure and pier supports are modeled by the three-dimensional beam-column elements. The supporting pile foundation and nearby field are discretized by the axisymmetric three-dimensional finite elements and analyzed in a semi-analytical way, with a transmitting boundary replacing the far field based on the thin layer element method. Nearby ground motion during train passage on a viaduct have been calculated by superimposing the effects from neighboring pile foundations.The main parameters affecting viaduct vibrations are discussed by taking environmental vibration into consideration. The nearby ground motion along the viaduct is recomputed by applying the above determined forces to the foundation tops. The results from numerical studies are compared with the field test data, thus proving the present simulation to be effective and reliable.     

Ambient vibration test of an anchorage of South Bisan-seto suspension bridge

Dynamical properties of an anchorage of South Bisan-seto Suspension Bridge are determined by means of in situ measurement of the ambient vibrations. This anchorage, being located in the sea, is tall and slender; its natural frequencies are expected to be low. On the other hand, the elasticity of the ground estimated from the conventional geological data is highly dispersed. It even suggests the possibility of resonance between the towers and this anchorage. It is therefore necessary to know its natural frequencies precisely. Seismic motions and microtremors are acquired and used properly. The observation is repeated every year during the period of construction of the anchorage so that its inertial properties change significantly. First modes of the longitudinal and the transversal vibrations of the anchorage are identified and their frequencies determined. The elasticity modulus estimated from these natural frequencies is about five times as large as that of the geological survey while it is consistent with that obtained from the velocity of the elastic waves of the ground.     

Effect of variation of normal force on seismic performance of resilient sliding isolation systems in highway bridges

In this study, a series of shaking table tests are carried out on scaled models of two seismically isolated highway bridges to investigate the effect of rocking motion and vertical acceleration on seismic performance of resilient sliding isolators. In addition, performance of RSI is compared with system having solely natural rubber bearings. Test results show that variation of normal force on sliders due to rocking effect and vertical acceleration makes no significant difference in response of RSI systems. In addition, analytical response of prototype isolated bridge and the model used in experiments is obtained analytically by using non‐linear model for isolation systems. It is observed that for seismically isolated bridges, dynamic response of full‐scale complex structures can be predicted with acceptable accuracy by experiments using a simple model of the structure. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Estimation of indirect economic loss caused by house destruction in a natural disaster

Designing appropriate post-disaster emergency and recovery housing policies requires accurate estimation of the indirect or “flow” loss generated by the involuntary displacement of households to housing other than their own destroyed homes. We employed the stated choice method to measure residence choice following a hypothetical disaster in a procedure developed to estimate flow loss due to house destruction. This method was applied to households in the city of Nagaoka in Niigata Prefecture to estimate flow loss for a range of residence types and residence attributes following relocation. The results revealed that the relocation residence type itself (such as a shelter, temporary dwelling, rental housing, or one’s own home) had a substantial effect on residence choice. Regarding residence attributes, residential expenses such as rent, housing loans, and spaciousness had a significant effect on residence choice. Moreover, we found that respondents placed a very high value on living in their own home compared with other residence types, indicating that subsidizing the prompt repair and rebuilding of private homes is likely to be an effective recovery support policy. In addition, a cost–benefit analysis of our results revealed that rent subsidies are more efficient than the construction of public housing as a means of financially assisting economically constrained households after a disaster.     

Forced reconnection by nonlinear magnetohydrodynamic waves

Forced magnetic reconnection induced by magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) waves may account for the triggering of explosive solar activities such as flares. Reconnection in a neutral sheet plasma can be driven by the ponderomotive force associated with nonlinear MHD waves accompanying plasma vortex motion. The nonlinear stage of forced reconnection by MHD waves is simulated with a MHD particle-code: Some conditions for fast reconnection are discussed with applications to solar flares.     

The time-delayed solar cycle luminosity modulation by sub-surface magnetic flux tubes

In order to explore the mechanism of the solar cycle luminosity change observed by the Active Cavity Radiometer Irradiance Monitor (ACRIM) I experiment on board of the spacecraft Solar Maximum Mission, we examined running mean time profiles of the daily ACRIM data from the declining phase of solar cycle 21 to the rising phase of solar cycle 22. By comparing them with those of the daily sunspot number, integrated surface magnetic field flux, integrated He I 10830 Å line equivalent width data, and two kinds of data sets of the daily integrated Ca II K line index as indices of the surface magnetic activities, we found (i) that the running mean time profiles of the six independent data sets have several peaks and valleys in common in one solar cycle with time intervals on the order of a few hundreds of days, and (ii) that the peaks and valleys of the ACRIM data profiles followed the peaks and valleys of all the other five indices of the surface activities by 40 to 60 days. This time delay phenomenon suggests (i) that the luminosity modulation was not directly caused by dark and bright features of the surface magnetic activities that the other five indices represent, and (ii) that the missing sunspot radiative flux which was blocked by sub-surface magnetic flux tubes of sunspots and sunspot groups should be re-radiated 40 to 60 days after the surface emergence of the magnetic flux tubes. The concept of the time delay resolves the enigma of the missing sunspot radiative flux and the enigma of the ACRIM experiment that the luminosity dropped when a sunspot or a sunspot group appeared on the surface while the yearly mean of the luminosity decreased and increased along with the decrease and increase of the yearly sunspot number of the 11-year solar cycle. A model of the mechanism to understand these phenomena is presented and its application to other stars is suggested.