The photoionization effect of the ultraviolet background on the colour–magnitude relation of elliptical galaxies

We have examined the effects of the ultraviolet background radiation (UVB) on the colour–magnitude relation (CMR) of elliptical galaxies in clusters of galaxies in the hierarchical clustering scenario by using a semi-analytic model of galaxy formation. In our model the UVB photoionizes gas in dark haloes and suppresses the cooling of the diffuse hot gas on to galaxy discs. By using a semi-analytic model without the effect of the UVB, Kauffmann & Charlot found that the CMR can be reproduced by strong supernova heating because such supernova feedback suppresses the chemical enrichment in galaxies, especially for small galaxies. We find that the CMR also becomes bluer because of the UVB, in a different way from the effect of supernova feedback. While supernova feedback suppresses the chemical enrichment by a similar mechanism to galactic winds, the UVB suppresses the cooling of the hot gas. This induces suppression of the metallicity of the intracluster medium (ICM). In our model we find that the existence of the UVB can plausibly account for an observed ICM metallicity that is equal to nearly 0.3 times the solar value, and that in this case we can reproduce the CMR and the metallicity of the ICM simultaneously.     

Secular change in lifetime of granitic crust and the continental growth: A new view from detrital zircon ages of sandstones

U-Pb ages of detrital zircons were newly dated for 4 Archean sandstones from the Pilbara craton in Australia, Wyoming craton in North America, and Kaapvaal craton in Africa. By using the present results with previously published data, we compiled the age spectra of detrital zircons for 2.9, 2.6, 2.3,1.0, and0.6 Ga sandstones and modern river sands in order to document the secular change in age structure of continental crusts through time. The results demonstrated the following episodes in the history of continental crust:(1) low growth rate of the continents due to the short cycle in production/destruction of granitic crust during the Neoarchean to Paleoproterozoic(2.9-23 Ga),(2) net increase in volume of the continents during Paleo-to Mesoproterozoic(2.3-1.0 Ga), and(3) net decrease in volume of the continents during the Neoproterozoic and Phanerozoic(after 1.0 Ga). In the Archean and Paleoproterozoic, the embryonic continents were smaller than the modern continents, probably owing to the relatively rapid production and destruction of continental crust. This is indeed reflected in the heterogeneous crustal age structure of modern continents that usually have relatively small amount of Archean crusts with respect to the post-Archean ones. During the Mesoproterozoic, plural continents amalgamated into larger ones comparable to modern continental blocks in size. Relatively older crusts were preserved in continental interiors, whereas younger crusts were accreted along continental peripheries.In addition to continental arc magmatism, the direct accretion of intra-oceanic island arc around continental peripheries also became important for net continental growth. Since 1.0 Ga, total volume of continents has decreased, and this appears consistent with on-going phenomena along modern active arc-trench system with dominant tectonic erosion and/or arc subduction. Subduction of a huge amount of granitic crusts into the mantle through time is suggested, and this requires re-consideration of the mantle composition and heterogeneity.     

Morphological changes in branchial mitochondria-rich cells of the teleost Paralichthys olivaceus as a potential indicator of CO2 impacts

We studied the morphological and biochemical changes of mitochondria-rich cells (MRCs) of a demersal teleost, Paralichthys olivaceus, during exposure to 0.98, 2.97 and 4.95 kPa pCO₂. The apical opening area of MRCs increased 2.2 and 4.1 times by 24 h exposure to 2.97 and 4.95 kPa pCO₂, respectively, while the cross-sectional area or density of MRCs did not change. Gill Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase activity more than doubled at 72 h and then returned to the pre-exposure level at 168 h in 0.98 kPa pCO₂, while it increased 1.7 times at 24 h at 4.95 kPa. These results indicate that the apical opening area of MRCs and the gill Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase activity may be used as an indicator of acute (up to 72 h), but not chronic, impacts of high (>1 kPa) seawater CO₂ conditions in P. olivacues. Limitations of those parameters as indices of CO₂ impacts are discussed.     

Depth dependence and exponential models of permeability in alluvial-fan gravel deposits

To determine depth dependence of permeability in various geologic deposits, exponential models have often been proposed. However, spatial variability in hydraulic conductivity, K, rarely fits this trend in coarse alluvial aquifers, where complex stratigraphic sequences follow unique trends due to depositional and post-depositional processes. This paper analyzes K of alluvial-fan gravel deposits in several boreholes, and finds exponential decay in K with depth. Relatively undisturbed gravel cores obtained in the Toyohira River alluvial fan, Sapporo, Japan, are categorized by four levels of fine-sediment packing between gravel grains. Grain size is also analyzed in cores from two boreholes in the mid-fan and one in the fan-toe. Profiles of estimated conductivity, $ \overline{K} $ , are constructed from profiles of core properties through a well-defined relation between slug-test results and core properties. Errors in $ \overline{K} $ are eliminated by a moving-average method, and regression analysis provides the decay exponents of $ \overline{K} $ with depth. Moving-average results show a similar decreasing trend in only the mid-fan above ～30-m depth, and the decay exponent is estimated as ≈0.11 m^?1, which is 10- to 1,000-fold that in consolidated rocks. A longitudinal cross section is also generated by using the profiles to establish hydrogeologic boundaries in the fan.     

Pin‐supported walls for enhancing the seismic performance of building structures

An application of a pin‐supported wall‐frame system in retrofitting an eleven‐story steel reinforced concrete frame is introduced. The retrofit aims at enhancing integrity and avoiding weak story failure in an existing moment‐resisting frame. Seismic performance of the building before and after the retrofit is assessed through nonlinear dynamic analysis. The results show that the pin‐supported walls are effective in controlling the deformation pattern of the ductile frame and hence in avoiding weak story failure. With the well‐controlled deformation pattern, carefully arranged energy dissipating devices are able to concentrate energy dissipations so that damage to the rest of the structure can be significantly reduced. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Disorder and damage of base‐isolated medical facilities when subjected to near‐fault and long‐period ground motions

A series of full‐scale shaking table tests were conducted at E‐Defense for a four‐story base‐isolated hospital. The operation room in the specimen was chosen for detailed examination of its disorder and damage during large ground motions. It was arranged with various medical appliances in as a realistic manner as possible, and the appliances were characterized by casters installed at the bottom to ensure mobility. Two types of ground motion, the near‐fault ground motion and long‐period ground motion, were adopted, and the responses of the appliances were recorded using the motion capture technique. Thanks to the base isolation, the floor response was greatly reduced, and no disorder or damage was observed in the operation room except for the case when subjected to a long‐period ground motion. In this case, the unlocked appliances moved seriously (by more than 3 m), and collisions occurred between the appliances and between appliances and the surrounding wall. The force of collision reached 36 kN, which is sufficient to injure a person. The acceleration due to collision was as high as 10 g, which is far beyond what can be tolerated by acceleration‐sensitive appliances. It is notable that such large motion was not observed once the appliances were locked. The test was also carried out for the corresponding fixed‐base structure. Among all cases in the experiment, by far the most serious damage occurred in the fixed‐base structure when subjected to the near‐fault ground motion, clearly because the floor response was significantly amplified from the ground motion. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Regional landslide susceptibility following the Mid NIIGATA prefecture earthquake in 2004 with NEWMARK’S sliding block analysis

This study proposes a calculation method for regional earthquake-induced landslide susceptibility that applies the permanent seismic displacement calculated using Newmark’s sliding block analysis with estimated vertical and horizontal seismic motions. The proposed method takes into account the direction of slope failure based on the specified slope azimuth. The study results reveal the importance of predominant slope failure direction using a simple infinite slope model subjected to earthquakes. The target area for the earthquake-induced landslide susceptibility analysis constituted a region of more than 2000 km² surrounding the epicenter of the Mid Niigata prefecture earthquake in 2004. An earthquake-induced landslide susceptibility map was created based on the proposed method with a specific combination of friction angle and cohesion, and the resulting data were compared to the landslide inventory map produced from aerial photographs following the Mid Niigata prefecture earthquake in 2004. To create the susceptibility map, geomaterial cohesion values for the slope were back-calculated to satisfy the minimum safety factor in the static state. This study also proposes a calculation method for the prediction rate and determines the back-calculated strength parameters of geomaterials. The proposed regional landslide susceptibility map will be useful for understanding potential slope failure locations and magnitude of damage, as well as for planning field investigation and preventing secondary disasters immediately after earthquakes.     

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gsf.2016.06.013

The Archean continental crusts account for ca.20% of the present volume,but the thermal history of the Earths' mantle suggests much more continental crusts were formed in the early Archean.Because the Archean continental crust underwent severe metamorphism,it is important to avoid influence by the later thermal events.We carried out a comprehensive geochronological work of Cathodoluminescence(CL) observation and U-Pb dating of zircons from orthogneisses and supracrustal rocks over the Saglek Block to obtain their protolith ages.The zircons were classified into three domains of core,mantle and rims,and the cores were further classified into three groups of inherited,altered and zoned cores based on the zonation on the CL images.We estimated the protolith ages from Pb-Pb ages of the zoned-cores of zircons with low U contents.We made a detailed sketch of a small outcrop in St.John's Harbour South(SJHS) area,and classified the orthogneisses and mafic enclaves into seven generations based on the geologic occurrence.The first and second generations comprise mafic rocks and lack magmatic zircons.We conducted CL imaging and U-Pb dating of zircons from the third,sixth and seventh generation of the orthogneisses to estimate the protolith ages at 3902 L 25,3892 ± 33 and 3897 ± 33 Ma for each,supporting the presence of the over 3.9 Ca Iqaluk Gneiss.The geological occurrence that the mafic rocks occur as enclaves within the 3.9 Ga Iqaluk Gneiss indicates that they are the oldest supracrustal rocks in the world.Our geochronological and geological studies show the Uivak Gneiss is quite varied in lithology and age from 3.6 to 3.9 Ga,and tentatively classified into six groups based on their ages.The oldest Uivak Gneiss components including the Iqaluk Gneiss are present around the SJHS area,and the orthogneisses become young as it is away.The lines of evidence of overprinting of younger granitoid on older granitoid in small outcrops and geological-map scale as well as presence of inherited zircons even in the oldest suite suggests that crustal reworking played an important role on erasing the ancient crusts.     

Simultaneous measurements of compressional wave and shear wave velocities, Poisson's ratio, and Vp/Vs under deep crustal pressure and temperature conditions: Example of silicified pelitic schist from Ryoke Belt, Southwest Japan

The ultrasonic technique for measuring travel times of compressional and shear waves using dual-mode transducers was adapted to a piston cylinder apparatus, allowing simultaneous measurements of travel times of compressional and shear waves of island arc samples under the high pressure and temperature conditions of island arcs. This method enables us to determine elastic properties and their pressure and temperature derivatives simultaneously. Furthermore, Vp/Vs can be directly determined from travel times of compressional and shear waves independently of length change due to compression or thermal expansion of rock samples under deep crustal conditions, providing more accurate Vp/Vs values than those determined from individual measurements of travel times of both elastic wave types using single-mode transducers. Experimental techniques and results are demonstrated using data on silicified pelitic schist from the Ryoke Belt to 0.6 GPa. The simultaneous measurement gives Vp  = 5.60 km/s, ∂ Vp /∂ P  = 0.090 (km/s)/GPa, Vs  = 3.37 km/s, ∂ Vs /∂ P  = 0.05 (km/s)/GPa, σ  = 0.216, and Vp / Vs  = 1.66 at ambient conditions. The temperature derivatives were constrained from fitting using linear functions of temperature, yielding ∂ Vp /∂ T  = −0.518 × 10⁻³ (km/s)/K and ∂ Vs /∂ T  = −0.182 × 10⁻³ (km/s)/K. Performing simultaneous measurements of travel times of compressional and shear waves using dual-mode transducers, it is possible to accurately determine Vp / Vs and Poisson's ratio of crustal minerals and rocks at deep crustal conditions to study the composition of the crustal interior, e.g. rock types and fluids below the hypocentral region of earthquakes or around bright spots.     

Subhorizontal tectonic framework of the Horoman peridotite complex and enveloping crustal rocks,south‐central Hokkaido,Japan

Geological observations in the Horoman area, south‐central Hokkaido, show that the Horoman peridotite complex of the Hidaka metamorphic belt is a tectonic slice about 1200 m thick. The peridotite slab is intercalated into a gently east‐dipping structure. The underlying unit is a Cretaceous–Paleogene accretionary complex. Riedel shear planes in the sedimentary layers of the accretionary complex near the structural bottom of the peridotite slab indicate top‐to‐the‐west (thrust) displacement. The overlying unit is composed of felsic–pelitic gneisses and mafic–felsic intrusive rocks (the Hidaka metamorphic rocks). The boundary surface between the peridotite complex and metamorphic rocks forms a domal structure. Microstructures of sheared metamorphic rocks near the structural top of the peridotite slab indicate top‐to‐the‐east (normal) displacement. The results combined with previous studies suggest that the Horoman peridotite complex was emplaced onto the Asian margin (Northeast Japan) during the collision between the Asian margin and the Hidaka crustal block.