SEISMIC MONITORING OF A BRIDGE: ASSESSING DYNAMIC CHARACTERISTICS FROM BOTH WEAK AND STRONG GROUND EXCITATIONS

An array of 24 strong-motion accelerometers produced records for the New-Lian River Bridge, a five-span continuous bridge, during 25 February 1995 earthquake (weak motion) and 25 June 1995 earthquake (strong motion). This paper describes the application of linear discrete-time system identification methodology to the array of strong-motion measurements, in order to assess seismic response characteristics of the bridge. The structural system identification will concentrate not only on the global identification but also on the local structural system identification. Results of this application show that: (1) weak and strong ground excitation will induce significant differences on the dynamic response of the bridge; (2) linear models provide an excellent fit to the measured motions of the bridge from the records of these two seismic events; (3) the rigid-body rocking of the bridge pier during strong shaking is significant and cannot be ignored during identification; (4) the transverse motion at mid-span of the bridge is controlled by the quasi-static response from the boundary system and this phenomenon is quite significant during strong ground excitation. Also, systematic estimates of modal damping ratio and equivalent assessments of pier stiffness developed in the bridge during earthquake are discussed. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Application of the geographical information systems approach to watershed mass balance studies

This study was undertaken to test the utility of a geographical information systems (GIS) approach to problems of watershed mass balance. This approach proved most useful in exploring the effects that watershed scale, lithology and land use have on chemical weathering rates, and in assessing whether mass balance calculations could be applied to large multilithological watersheds. Water quality data from 52 stations were retrieved from STORET and a complete GIS database consisting of the watershed divide, lithology and land use was compiled for each station. Water quality data were also obtained from 7 experimental watersheds to develop a methodology to estimate annual fluxes from incomplete data sets. The methodology consists of preparing a composite of daily flux data, calculating a best fit sinusoid and integrating the equation to obtain an annual flux. Comparison with annual fluxes calculated from high resolution data sets suggests that this method predicts fluxes within about 10% of the true annual flux. Annual magnesium fluxes (moles km⁻² yr⁻¹) were calculated for all stations and adjusted for fluxes from atmospheric deposition. Magnesium flux was found to be a strong function of the amount of carbonate in the watershed, and silica fluxes were found to increase with the fraction of sandstone present in the watershed. All fluxes were strongly influenced by mining practices, with magnesium fluxes from affected watersheds being 6–10 times higher than fluxes from comparable pristine watersheds. Mining practices enhance chemical weathering by increasing the surface area of unweathered rock to which water has access and by increasing acidity and rate of mineral weathering. Fluxes were also found to increase with watershed size. This scale dependence is most likely caused by the sensitivity of weathering fluxes to even minor quantities of carbonates, which are likely to be found in all lithologies at larger scales. Mass balances were carried out in watersheds where gauged sub-watersheds made up more than 95% of the area. The calculations show large magnesium flux and water balance discrepancies. These errors may be a result of significant groundwater inputs to streams between gauges. The results suggest that improvements in how we measure discharge and estimate fluxes may be required before we can apply mass balance techniques to larger scales. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Prevalence and risk assessment of antibiotics in riverine estuarine waters of Larut and Sangga Besar River,Perak

Antibiotics released into the environment through anthropogenic activities exert selective pressure,driving bacteria towards increasing antimicrobial resistance.The prevalence of antibiotics and the ecological risks posed in the riverine estuarine of Larut River and Sangga Besar River,which included wastewater effl uents from hospital,zoo,and poultry slaughterhouse sources were investigated.Solid phase extraction(SPE)followed by high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass chromatography(HPLC-MS/MS)were used to extract and quantify the antibiotic residues from 22 antibiotics belonging to six major antibiotic classes(sulfonamide,macrolide,fl uoroquinolone,phenicol,trimethoprim,and tetracycline).Sixteen antibiotic residues were detected with concentrations ranging from limit of detection(LOD)to 1262.3 ng/L.Fluoroquinolones and macrolides were the most frequently detected compounds.Erythromycin,clarithromycin,and ofl oxacin detected in hospital and zoo effl uents posed a high risk to algae while tetracycline had low to medium ecological risks toward all the relevant organisms from aquatic environments(algae,invertebrate Daphnia magna,and fi sh).     

凯氏蒸馏法和元素分析仪法测定沉积物中全氮含量的异同及其意义

氮循环是生物地球化学研究领域中最重要的课题之一,全氮含量的测定是农业、生物和环境等多领域研究中的常规测试项目。凯氏蒸馏法和元素分析仪法作为常规方法通用于上述领域的全氮含量测定,但两种方法在实际应用中的差异却常被忽视。通过对中国北方某盐湖沉积物序列近百个样品的全氮含量分析,对两种方法测定结果的异同进行了对比研究。凯氏蒸馏法的分析精密度高于元素分析仪法(前者标准偏差为0.007,后者为0.024),但在样品硝态和亚硝态氮的含量较高时,凯氏蒸馏法所测结果显著低于元素分析仪法的测定结果,此时选择元素分析仪法进行全氮含量的测定更为可靠和准确;对硝态和亚硝态氮含量极低的样品,两种方法的测定结果无显著差异。研究表明,选择全氮含量的测定方法,必须对所测样品的无机氮含量有初步的了解。对于中国北方的多数盐湖和地表环境样品,由于其无机氮的含量较高,选择凯氏蒸馏法进行全氮含量的测定是不适当的。尽管如此,对所研究的湖泊沉积物剖面而言,两种方法的对比却可以提供有价值的气候和环境演变信息。随着沉积物剖面的由深到浅,两种方法的测定结果由一致变化到存在显著差异,表明了湖泊水体从早期的淡水向今天的盐湖演化的过程。因此,凯氏蒸馏法和元素分析仪法测定结果的差异可以作为一种独立的地球化学气候代用指标。     

Antiproliferative and apoptosis-inducing potential of 3β-hydroxy-△5-steroidal congeners purified from the soft coral Dendronephthya putteri

The exploration and identification of antiproliferative phytochemicals have received increased attention in medicinal chemistry.In particular,research focused on the toxicology of marine natural products has increased in recent years.Terpenoids,among many secondary metabolites,have been demonstrated to act as effective anticancer agents.Soft corals,a group of marine invertebrates,produce a variety of terpenoids with biofunctional properties.The current study presents the extraction,purification,and identification of sterol congeners from the soft coral Dendronephthya putteri.The method involves 50%chloro form-methanol extraction,polar column fractionation,and analy sis through GC-MS~n.Do se-dependent antiproliferative activity was observed within the sterol-rich fraction(DPCMH 2-4),which consisted of3β-hydroxy-A5-steroidal congeners.This fraction inhibited the growth of HL-60 and MCF-7 cells with IC_(50) values of 25.27±1.43 and 22.81±0.15 μg/mL,respectively.Apoptotic body formation,DNA damage,cell cycle arrest,and apoptotic cell signaling pathway activation were also observed,reinforcing the dosedependent antiproliferative and apoptosis-inducing activity of 3β-hydroxy-A5-steroidal congeners.To our knowledge,this is the first report of anticancer agent identification from the soft coral D.putteri.Based on the observations,these steroidal congeners are promising candidates for the development of anticancer drugs.     

Integration of the nuclease protection assay with sandwich hybridization (NPA-SH) for sensitive detection of Heterocapsa triquetra

Microalgae are photosynthetic microorganisms that function as primary producers in aquatic ecosystems. Some species of microalgae undergo rapid growth and cause harmful blooms in marine ecosystems. Heterocapsa triquetra is one of the most common bloom-forming species in estuarine and coastal waters worldwide. Although this species does not produce toxins, unlike some other Heterocapsa species, the high density of its blooms can cause significant ecological damage. We developed a H. triquetra species-specific nuclease protection assay sandwich hybridization(NPA-SH) probe that targets the large subunit of ribosomal RNA(LSU r RNA). We tested probe specificity and sensitivity with five other dinoflagellates that also cause red tides. Our assay detected H.triquetra at a concentration of 1.5×104 cells/m L, more sensitive than required for a red-tide guidance warning by the Korea Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries in 2015(3.0×104 cells/m L). We also used the NPA-SH assay to monitor H. triquetra in the Tongyeong region of the southern sea area of Korea during 2014. This method could detect H.triquetra cells within 3 h. Our assay is useful for monitoring H. triquetra under field conditions.     

台湾土石流灾害与防治工法

由于近年来人类的活动空间渐往山区发展,使得原本植生条件良好的山坡地,在不当的开发情形下,变成土石流发生的敏感地区,导致灾害不断的传出。拟就土石流之定义,及导致土石流发生机制的各项因子进行探讨,其中包括自然成因：地质、地形和水文等条件,以及人类活动对土石流形成所造成的影响,并依据土石流之各项特性整理,提出有关土石流之防治及预警系统之工法。     

Preliminary Examinations of the Ore-forming Process by Fluid Mixing – a Test of MIX99

Abstract: Possible ore deposition by fluid mixing was preliminarily examined using MIX 99, a FORTRAN program developed for simulating water-rock interactions. We consider mixing of two fluids, the low f_O2 and high temperature source fluid and the high f_O2 and low temperature seawater. Oxygen fugacity of a mixed fluid formed by titration of seawater into the source fluid gradually decreases with decreasing temperature (model A). Sequential precipitation of ore-forming minerals was examined in this model. On the other hand, simultaneous precipitation of the minerals could be followed by simulation of instantaneous overall mixing of the two fluids (model B). Results of simulation of the both models revealed that a temporal sequence of mineralization observed in the Karuizawa mine, NE Japan, can be formed by model A, while model B is suitable for the mineralization of an active chimney found in the Rainbow hydrothermal area of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.