Performance of the improved Abel transform to estimate electron density profiles from GPS occultation data

The Abel inversion is a straightforward tool to retrieve high-resolution vertical profiles of electron density from GPS radio occultations gathered by low earth orbiters (LEO). Nevertheless, the classical approach of this technique is limited by the assumption that the electron density in the vicinity of the occultation depends only on height (i.e., spherical symmetry), which is not realistic particularly in low-latitude regions or during ionospheric storms. Moreover, with the advent of recent satellite missions with orbits placed around 400 km (such as CHAMP satellite), an additional issue has to be dealt with: the treatment of the electron content above the satellite orbits. This paper extends the performance study of a method, proposed by the authors in previous works, which tackles both problems using an assumption of electron-density separability between the vertical total electron content and a shape function. This allows introducing horizontal information into the classic Abel inversion. Moreover, using both positive and negative elevation data makes it feasible to take into account the electron content above the LEO as well. Different data sets involving different periods of the solar cycle, periods of the day and satellites are studied in this work, confirming the benefits of this improved Abel transform approach.     

Daily Meteorological Observations in Cádiz – San Fernando. Analysis of the Documentary Sources and the Instrumental Data Content (1786–1996)

Meteorological observations in the city of Cádiz are acknowledged as having been made from the middle of the 18th century onwards although they were only recorded and preserved in documentary form from 1789 onwards. Data readings were taken at the new Naval Observatory in San Fernando, ten kilometres from Cádiz, from 1797 onwards. Continuous series for temperature and atmospheric pressure at a daily resolution have been compiled and constructed from 1817 until 1996. The data series is composed of thrice daily observations made at Cádiz (1821–1880) by local observers and hourly data from Naval Observatory at San Fernando (1870–1996).     

Understanding Perturbation on the Simplex: A Simple Method to Better Visualize and Interpret Compositional Data in Ternary Diagrams

Perturbation is an operation defined on the simplex and can be used for centering compositional data in a ternary diagram, applying objective criteria. Because a straight line in the original diagram is still astraight line in the perturbed diagram, gridlines or compositional fields defined by straight lines can easily be included in the operation. Simultaneous perturbation of data, gridlines, and/or compositional fields is shown to improve both visualization and graphical interpretation of compositions in ternary diagrams. This is illustrated by some examples using simulated as well as real data.     

三原井水位固体潮加卸载响应比的地震异常

讨论了三原井水位在泾阳4．8级地震前的变化特征，重点是泾阳地震前水位对固体潮响应的变化，即固体潮加卸载响应率与加卸载响应比的变化，对水位观测资料的计算分析表明，震前加卸载响应率及响应比有“平稳－升高－恢复”的特征，说明水位固体潮加卸载响应比方法有可能捕捉5级左右近震的前兆信息。     

CT图像存档与管理解决方案

本文针对数字影像设备（如CT、MRI等）日益突出的图像存储和管理问题，进行深入的分析和研究。鉴于不同厂家和时期设备配置不同，提出了4种切实可行的解决方案：胶片扫描，视频采集，光盘或MOD输入，DICOM接口连接，完全解决了图像长期大量存储的问题。同时具有网络联机查询，图文报告，电子病历管理，激光相机接口等丰富的增值功能，是数字化医院的理想选择。     

Habitat, occurrence and conservation of Saharo-Arabian-Turanian element Forsskaolea tenacissima L. in the Iberian Peninsula

The aim of this study is to assess the Iberian populations of Forsskaolea tenacissima L. according to its biogeographical interest, habitat, geographical range and conservation status. Results point out that they are restricted to gravel wadis of Tabernas Desert (SE Spain), are scarcely included in protected areas and represent historically isolated populations with relict behaviour. We also describe a new association, Senecioni-Forsskaoleetum tenacissimae. Conservation status of species is cause for concern and two conservation actions must be carried out. Firstly, protected areas should house Forsskaolea populations and secondly, phytosociological characterization of a community allows inventorying its habitat and directing conservation efforts to community level.     

吉林省土壤中有效锰、铜、钼和锌含量的时空变化

选择吉林省的五个大豆种植区(敦化、桦甸、榆树、农安、白城)、四个水稻种植区(白城、九台、延吉、梅河口)及3个草场分布区(镇赉、洮南、大安)，对其土壤中有效锰、铜、钼和锌的含量在过去20年的变化作了比较和分析。经研究表明：吉林省土壤中有效锰和有效铜含量较20年前有所增高，有效钼含量总体呈降低趋势，中部部分地区和东部地区土壤有效锌含量降低，其余地区含量增高。空间分布东部高于中西部。     

天然含钒金红石加热、淬火及电子辐射改性实验研究

天然含钒金红石样品经过1273K加热、淬火和高能电子辐照处理后性质发生不同程度的变化。XRD谱峰显示处理前后样品没有发生物相变化，显微IR图谱证明原样、加热、淬火样品的表面有少量吸附水存在，而辐射样品的显微IR图谱上没有检测到吸附水的吸收峰。用XPS分析比较了处理前后样品表面主要元素Ti、O和V的价态及含量，结果表明，原样经过处理后表面钒和氧的原子百分含量增加，其中淬火样品表面吸附水和钒的含量相对于原样增加最为明显，光催化活性相应较高；加热样品表面的吸附水和钒的含量比原样稍有增加，光催化活性与原样相当；电子辐射样品表面钒的原子百分含量相对原样增加不明显，而对水的吸附能力相对原样较低，光催化效率也略低。     

An experimental study of nominally symmetric and asymmetric structures isolated with the FPS

This experimental investigation deals with the earthquake behaviour of a nominally symmetric and a mass‐asymmetric three‐storey structural model isolated with the frictional pendulum system (FPS). Both accidental and natural torsion are evaluated in the structure by using recorded accelerations in all building floors and measured deformations at the isolation level. A 3D‐shaking table was used to subject the model to five different ground motions, including impulsive as well as far‐field subduction‐zone type earthquakes. Results show that the analytical predictions of the earthquake behaviour of the isolated structure, as obtained from a physical model of the FPS, are in close agreement with the true complex inelastic measured behaviour of the FPS. Besides, experimental results also validate previous observations about the importance of accounting for the variability of the normal loads in modelling the earthquake behaviour of FPS isolators. Measured torsional deformation amplifications at the base of the building vary, in the mean, from 2.5% to 6% for the symmetric and asymmetric structural configurations, respectively. In relation to the fixed base structure, the reduction factors for the base shear of the isolated structure are, in the mean, about 3.9 for both configurations. Finally, it is concluded that the FPS is capable of controlling the lateral–torsional motions of mass‐asymmetric structures quite effectively by aligning the centre of mass of the superstructure with the centre of pendular and frictional resistance of the isolation system. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Physical model for dynamic analysis of structures with FPS isolators

This article presents a physical model for frictional pendulum isolators (FPS) that is ready to be implemented in most commercial software. The model is capable of accounting for effects such as large deformations, sticking, and uplift and impact by sensing the normal loads in the isolators through a gap element. Sticking has been incorporated into the model by extending the Park–Wen hysteretic model to the case of large deformations. The proposed model has been tested against a theoretically ‘exact’ formulation leading to essentially identical results. To facilitate its use, the physical FPS model has been cast into a typical non‐linear structural element format, i.e. with deformation as input and restoring force as output. Examples of a building and a bridge have been chosen to show the potential of the element and to provide further insight into the earthquake response of structures with FPS isolators; in particular, in aspects such as the orientation in placement of the isolator, sticking, P? Δ, and other large deformation effects. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.