澳大利亚地震危险性和灾害风险评估中的场地分类

尽管场地响应现象已是全球都公认的,然而对澳大利亚的许多地区,之前并没有研究过风化层属性对地震动的影响。为了描述风化层能改变地震动的特性,本文通过验证研究评估了为一级地震危害性和灾害风险评估的应用而编制的澳大利亚全国场地分类图。在缺乏风化层厚度和基本周期数据的情况下,场地类别根据在加利福尼亚研制的利用地质材料与地层上部30m的剪切波速度（VS30）的关系的方法进行归类。随后将这一分类方案调整到适合澳大利亚的地质环境,包括对这一稳定地质构造中通常碰到的原地风化表层土存在的校正。本文所得结果用纽卡斯尔、悉尼和珀斯市区各种第四纪沉积环境和横跨澳大利亚各种场地基岩优势环境的地球物理数据和岩土数据进行了验证。这些分析的结果说明了在地震危险性评估的场地类别中应用限定深度的剪切波速度方法的有效性,但同时也突出了局限性。     

2011年5月11日西班牙东南洛尔卡Mw5．1地震诱发的大范围滑坡

2011年5月11日,一个中等震级地震（Mw5．1）袭击了西班牙东南部洛尔卡城和邻近地区,造成了显著的破坏和人员伤亡。通过地震影响区的野外考察对250多处主要是碎裂型（岩／土崩塌、碎裂的土质滑坡和岩崩）诱发滑坡进行了定点和特征描述。与以前该区域相似震级（Mw4．7～5．0）的地震事件,以及以前预测地震期间斜坡表现的模型结果相比,本次地震诱发滑坡的数量相当大。提出了几个原因来解释这种差异：（1）地震序列中相对高震级（Mw4．5）的前震可能弱化了区域内的斜坡强度;（2）这些事件产生了高的地震动峰值;（3）发生了地形场地效应。本研究的结果指出了在改进区域斜坡特征研究模型时考虑这些影响的重要性。     

Accuracy of the half-power bandwidth method with a third-order correction for estimating damping in multi-DOF systems

A third-order correction was recently suggested to improve the accuracy of the half-power bandwidth method in estimating the damping of single DOF systems.This paper analyzes the accuracy of the half-power bandwidth method with the third-order correction in damping estimation for multi-DOF linear systems.Damping ratios in a two-DOF linear system are estimated using its displacement and acceleration frequency response curves,respectively.A wide range of important parameters that characterize the shape of these response curves are taken into account.Results show that the third-order correction may greatly improve the accuracy of the half-power bandwidth method in estimating damping in a two-DOF system.In spite of this,the half-power bandwidth method may significantly overestimate the damping ratios of two-DOF systems in some cases.     

Statistical moment-based structural damage detection method in time domain

A novel structural damage detection method with a new damage index,i.e.,the statistical moment-based damage detection(SMBDD) method in the frequency domain,has been recently proposed.The aim of this study is to extend the SMBDD method in the frequency domain to the time domain for building structures subjected to non-Gaussian and non-stationary excitations.The applicability and effectiveness of the SMBDD method in the time domainis verified both numerically and experimentally.Shear buildings with various damage scenarios are first numerically investigated in the time domain taking into account the effect of measurement noise.The applicability of the proposed method in the time domain to building structures subjected to non-Gaussian and non-stationary excitations is then experimentally investigated through a series of shaking table tests,in which two three-story shear building models with four damage scenarios aretested.The identified damage locations and severities are then compared with the preset values.The comparative results are found to be satisfactory,and the SMBDD method is shown to be feasible and effective for building structures subjected to non-Gaussian and non-stationary excitations.     

菲律宾海西北部岩芯记录的125 ka以来的地磁场强度及其影响因素

沉积物记录的地磁场强度首先提供了模拟地磁场演化的数据约束,其次提供了沉积物的年龄信息. 本文报道了菲律宾海西北部岩芯记录的地磁场相对强度,并结合岩石磁学和沉积学性质探讨了影响强度的各个因素. 除底部红粘土层的局部磁偏角偏转可能揭示了沉积后改造以外,磁化率各向异性和地磁场方向特征表明沉积物为原状沉积. 岩石磁学性质表明沉积物符合磁性均一性,可以记录可靠的地磁场强度. 由于红粘土层及其下部的磁偏角异常,本文讨论其上部约125 ka的结果. 常规归一方法获得的两个地磁场强度参数NRM/ARM(特征剩磁和非磁滞剩磁比值)和NRM/κ(特征剩磁和磁化率比值)与其它记录对比得到时间-深度对比点,对比点之间的年龄为线性内推或者外推. 地磁场强度时间模型上的岩芯氧同位素与全球氧同位素综合曲线一致证明强度结果的有效性和对比的正确性. 磁化率为归一参数的强度大多低于以非磁滞剩磁为归一参数的强度,频谱和相关分析证明NRM/ARM不与ARM和磁性矿物粒度(ARM/κ)相关,也没有轨道周期性,而NRM/κ却与κ和ARM/κ相关,而且有13~12 ka的周期. 由此我们认为NRM/ARM记录的地磁场强度比NRM/κ更好地消除了气候印记. 进一步探讨了超顺磁含量、碳酸钙含量、磁性矿物组成以及磁性矿物粒度变化与地磁场强度差值的关系,发现末次间冰期较高的超顺磁含量和磁性矿物粒度的较大范围变化造成了地磁场强度差值,后者至少造成了90%差异. 中等含量的碳酸钙和较小的磁性矿物组成变化不是磁场强度差值产生的原因. 如何校正磁性矿物粒度变化的影响将是下一步工作的重点.     

Evaluation of heavy metals and arsenic speciation discharged by the industrial activity on the Tinto-Odiel estuary, SW Spain

This study reports the annual amount of heavy metals discharged by industrial activity into the estuary of the Ría of Huelva (SW Spain). The findings showed that the discharged metals found in highest amounts were Fe (11 t y⁻¹), Zn (3.4 t y⁻¹) and Mo (0.88 t y⁻¹). There were other metals with high pollutant charge, such as Ti (232 kg y⁻¹), As (228 kg y⁻¹), Ni (195 kg y⁻¹), Pb (100 kg y⁻¹), Cr (39 kg y⁻¹) and Cd (33 kg y⁻¹). These results were compared with pollutants transported via the Tinto and Odiel rivers from abandoned mining activities in the Iberian Pyrite Belt (IPB), and it was deduced that the amounts spilled exclusively by industries were less than 1% in relation to the total discharge. Hence, the treatment of residues from the IPB should be the priority goal to improve water quality in the estuary.     

In vitro effects of nonylphenol on functional responses of haemocytes of the colonial ascidian Botryllus schlosseri

The effects of nonylphenol (NP) on functional responses of haemocytes of the colonial ascidian Botryllus schlosseri were evaluated. Haemocytes were exposed to 0.1, 1 and 10 μM NP and the effects on haemocyte viability, adhesion, morphology, lysosomal membrane stability, phagocytic activity and early apoptosis were evaluated. Haemocyte viability and adhesion were not affected by NP. Phagocytic activity and the amoebocytic index decreased significantly at all the concentrations tested, while exposure of haemocytes to 1 and 10 μM NP caused a significant increase in the diffusion of Neutral Red into the cytosol. The percentage of cells positive to Annexin-V (indicative of early apoptosis) increased significantly at 1 and 10 μM NP. Results obtained suggested a relationship between NP and alterations in functional responses of haemocytes in B. schlosseri. Biomarkers measured resulted sensitive, rapid and reproducible, even if their responsiveness will be evaluated after in vivo exposure of animals to NP.     

Ostreopsis cf. ovata bloom in the northern Adriatic Sea during summer 2009: ecology, molecular characterization and toxin profile

Intense blooms of the benthic dinoflagellate Ostreopsis cf. ovata have occurred in the northern Adriatic Sea since 2006. These blooms are associated with noxious effects on human health and with the mortality of benthic organisms because of the production of palytoxin-like compounds. The O. cf. ovata bloom and its relationships with nutrient concentrations at two stations on the Conero Riviera (northern Adriatic Sea) were investigated in the summer of 2009. O. cf. ovata developed from August to November, with the highest abundances in September (1.3 × 10⁶ cells g⁻¹ fw corresponding to 63.8 × 10³ cells cm⁻²). The presence of the single O. cf. ovata genotype was confirmed by a PCR assay. Bloom developed when the seawater temperature was decreasing. Nutrient concentrations did not seem to affect bloom dynamics. Toxin analysis performed by high resolution liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry revealed a high total toxin content (up to 75 pg cell⁻¹), including putative palytoxin and all the ovatoxins known so far.     

The impact of the herbicide atrazine on growth and photosynthesis of seagrass, Zostera marina (L.), seedlings

The impact of the widely used herbicide atrazine on seedling growth and photosynthesis of eelgrass was determined. The long-term impact of the herbicide atrazine (1, 10 and 100 μg/L) on growth of eelgrass Zostera marina (L.) seedlings, maintained in outdoor aquaria, was monitored over 4 weeks. Exposure to 10 μg/L atrazine resulted in significantly lower plant fresh weight and total chlorophyll concentration and up to 86.67% mortality at the 100 μg/L concentration. Short-term photosynthetic stress on eelgrass seedlings was determined and compared with adult eelgrass using chlorophyll fluorescence. The effective quantum yield in eelgrass seedlings was significantly depressed at all atrazine concentrations (2, 4, 8, 16, 32 and 64 μg/L) even within 2 h and remained at a lower level than for adult plants for each concentration. These results indicate that atrazine presents a potential threat to seagrass seedling functioning and that the impact is much higher than for adult plants.