Knowledge engineering application in the problem of supporting a large mirror

We propose an application of knowledge engineering in the problem of active supporting for a large mirror. To reduce calculating load and to shorten cycle time, we divide the system hierarchically into a managing central controller and many autonomous local controllers, and use reasoning instead of dynamical analysis. The reasoning is based upon pattern matchings between observed error pattern and test patterns in the knowledge base.Paper presented at the Symposium on the JNLT and Related Engineering Developments, Tokyo, November 29–December 2, 1988.     

Two Se-bearing Ag–Bi Sulphosalts, Benjaminite and Matildite from the Ikuno Deposits, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan –Au–Ag Mineralization in Polymetallic Zone

Abstract: Se-bearing benjaminite and matildite are described from the polymetallic zone of the Ikuno deposits, Japan. The former is the first occurrence in Japan, and is from two separate veins, the Nanten and Daimaru, while the locality of the latter could not be specified. The empirical formulae of two benjaminites based on 22 atoms are (Ag_{2. 74}Cu_{0. 24})_{Σ2. 98}(Bi_{7. 00}Sb_{0. 01})_{Σ7. 01}(S_{10. 89}Se_{1. 12})_{Σ12. 01} (Nanten) and (Ag_{2. 90}Cu_{0. 10})_{Σ3. 00}(Bi_{6. 74}Pb_{0. 18}Sb_{0. 07})_{Σ6. 99}(S_{11. 68}Se_{0.33)Σ12. 01} (Daimaru), leading to the validation of the formula Ag₃Bi₇S₁₂ as the ideal one for benjaminite, and that of matildite based on 4 atoms is Ag_{1. 00}Bi_{1. 00}(S_{1. 78}Se_{0. 22})Σ_{2. 00}. These designate the substitution of Se for S in all of them, where Se is preferentially incorporated into these Ag-Bi sulphosalts. The unit-cell parameters of them and matildite are: a 13. 272, b 4. 037, c 20. 185 Å, and β 103. 16° (Daimaru), a 13. 270, b 4. 040, c 20. 273 Å, and β103. 17° (Nanten); and a 4. 0670, c 18. 996 Å, respectively. The products of Au-Ag mineralization in the Ikuno polymetallic vein-type deposits also occur as such Ag-Bi sulfosalts as benjaminite and matildite, in addition to pavonite, “treasurite derivative” and “electrum” with cassiterite in the polymetallic zone, and also do as “electrum”, acanthite, and pyrargyrite-proustite in the Au-Ag zone. The significant quantity of the Ag-Bi sulfosalts does not violate the zoning occupying the outermost part of the zonal distribution of ores in the deposits.     

Generalized optimization of polarimetric contrast enhancement

A generalized optimization of polarimetric contrast enhancement (GOPCE) is proposed in this letter. For this problem, it is not only necessary to find the optimal polarization states such that the received power ratio of a desired target and clutter is maximal, but also necessary to find three optimal coefficients such that the ratio of two factors associated with the desired target and clutter is maximal, where both the factors consist of three parameters, i.e., the Cloude entropy and two special similarity parameters. The optimal coefficients of the GOPCE are obtained by solving an eigenvalue problem. Using an example, we demonstrate that the GOPCE can be employed for detecting roads in a forest area by using polarimetric synthetic aperture radar data.     

Back-arc rifting in the Okinawa Trough

Geological and geophysical data reveal that the Okinawa Trough shows incipient continental rifting, and crustal separation started from about 2 Ma. The early extensional movements in the trough are probably of Miocene age. In addition to the Miocene phase, two main periods of extension are recognized: a Pleistocene phase between 1.9 and 0.5 Ma and the present day phase. During the stage short central rifts (Central Grabens) were formed. The opening however, may have occurred only in the southern part of the trough basin having an average half spreading rate of 2 cm yr^?1 since Early Pleistocene time, producing its present width of several tens of kilometres. These activities were well represented by igneous intrusions, sedimentary facies and sedimentary structures in and around the Okinawa Trough. The width of the zone affected by back-arc extension (defined as Greater Okinawa Trough) is larger than the present Okinawa Trough, whose width is 200–250 km. The present form of the Greater Okinawa Trough started to form at the same time as that of the Okinawa Trough.     

Spatial variations in throughfall in a Moso bamboo forest: sampling design for the estimates of stand‐scale throughfall

We investigated the spatial and seasonal variations in throughfall (Tf) in relation to spatial and seasonal variations in canopy structure and gross rainfall (Rf) and assessed the impacts of the variations in Tf on stand‐scale Tf estimates. We observed the canopy structure expressed as the leaf area index (LAI) once a month and Tf once a week in 25 grids placed in a Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens) forest for 1 year. The mean LAI and spatial variation in LAI did have some seasonal variations. The spatial variations in Tf reduced with increasing Rf, and the relationship between the spatial variation and the Rf held throughout the year. These results indicate that the seasonal change in LAI had little impact on spatial variations in Tf, and that Rf is a critical factor determining the spatial variations in Tf at the study site. We evaluated potential errors in stand‐scale Tf estimates on the basis of measured Tf data using Monte Carlo sampling. The results showed that the error decreases greatly with increasing sample size when the sample size was less than ～8, whereas it was near stable when the sample size was 8 or more, regardless of Rf. A sample size of eight results in less than 10% error for Tf estimates based on Student's t‐value analysis and would be satisfactory for interception loss estimates when considering errors included in Rf data. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Optimisation of seismic network design: Application to a geophysical international lunar network

Fundamental scientific questions concerning the internal structure and dynamics of the Moon, and their implications on the Earth-Moon System, are driving the deployment of a new broadband seismological network on the surface of the Moon. Informations about lunar seismicity and seismic subsurface models from the Apollo missions are used as a priori information in this study to optimise the geometry of future lunar seismic networks in order to best resolve the seismic interior structure of the Moon. Deep moonquake events and simulated meteoroid impacts are the assumed seismic sources. Synthetic P and S wave arrivals computed in a radial seismic model of the Moon are the assumed seismic data. The linearised estimates of resolution and covariance of radial seismic velocity perturbations can be computed for a particular seismic network geometry. The non-linear inverse problem relating the seismic station positions to the linearised estimates of covariance and resolution of radial seismic velocity perturbations is written and solved by the Neighbourhood Algorithm. This optimisation study favours near side seismic station positions at southern latitudes in order to constrain the deep mantle structure from deep moonquake data at large epicentral distances. The addition of a far side station allows to divide by two the size of the error bar on the seismic velocity model. The monitoring of lunar impact flashes from the Earth allows to improve the radial seismic model in the top of the mantle by adding much more meteor impact data at short epicentral distances due to the high accuracy of the space/time location of these seismic sources. Such meteor impact detections may be necessary to investigate the 3D structure of the lunar crust.     

Estimation of methane emission from whole waste landfill site using correlation between flux and ground temperature

A methodology to estimate a methane emission in a waste landfill site was developed. The methane flux at a waste landfill site in summer, autumn, and winter was within the following ranges: from −1.3×10⁻² to 16, from −6.4×10⁻² to 7.5, and from −1.6×10⁻³ to 1.5×10⁻² g-CH₄ m⁻² h⁻¹, respectively. In those seasons, the mean methane emission rate and coefficient of variation were 1.1 g-CH₄ m⁻² h⁻¹ ±290%, 0.57 g-CH₄ m⁻² h⁻¹ ±347%, and 5.4×10⁻² g-CH₄ m⁻² h⁻¹ ±370%, respectively. These results simultaneously showed that fluctuations of methane emission from the landfill surface were both of spatial and temporal variability. In each season, an exponential relationship was observed between the methane flux density and the ground temperature. Total methane emissions were estimated to be 5.7×10⁻², 7.1×10⁻³, and 1.7×10⁻³ g-CH₄ m⁻² h⁻¹ in the summer, autumn, and winter surveys, respectively, using a temperature surrogated-kriging method. The results of this study would improve upon the labor-intensive closed-chamber method, and could be a more practical way to estimate methane emissions from waste landfills.     

Relationships between Kuroko volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposits, felsic volcanism, and island arc development in the northeast Honshu arc, Japan

The northeast (NE) Honshu arc was formed by three major volcano-tectonic events resulting from Late Cenozoic orogenic movement: continental margin volcanism (before 21?Ma), seafloor basaltic lava flows and subsequent bimodal volcanism accompanied by back-arc rifting (21 to 14?Ma), and felsic volcanism related to island arc uplift (12 to 2?Ma). Eight petrotectonic domains, parallel to the NE Honshu arc, were formed as a result of the eastward migration of volcanic activity with time. Major Kuroko volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposits are located within the eastern marginal rift zone (Kuroko rift) that formed in the final period of back-arc rifting (16 to 14?Ma). Volcanic activity in the NE Honshu arc is divided into six volcanic stages. The eruption volumes of volcanic rocks have gradually decreased from 4,600?km³ (per 1?my for a 200-km-long section along the arc) of basaltic lava flows in the back-arc spreading stage to 1,000?C2,000?km³ of bimodal hyaloclastites in the back-arc rift stage, and about 200?km³ of felsic pumice eruptions in the island arc stage. The Kuroko VMS deposits were formed at the time of abrupt decrease in the eruption volume and change in the mode of occurrence of the volcanic rocks during the final period of back-arc rifting. In the area of the Kuroko rift, felsic volcanism changed from aphyric or weakly plagioclase phyric (before 14?Ma), to quartz and plagioclase phyric with minor clinopyroxene (12 to 8?Ma), to hornblende phyric (after 8?Ma), and hornblende and biotite phyric (after 4?Ma). The Kuroko VMS deposits are closely related to the aphyric rhyolitic activity before 14?Ma. The rhyolite was generated at a relatively high temperature from a highly differentiated part of felsic magma seated at a relatively great depth and contains higher Nb, Ce, and Y contents than the post-Kuroko felsic volcanism. The Kuroko VMS deposits were formed within a specific tectonic setting, at a specific period, and associated with a particular volcanism of the arc evolution process. Therefore, detailed study of the evolutional process from rift opening to island arc tectonics is very important for the exploration of Kuroko-type VMS deposits.     

New compact ocean bottom cabled seismometer system deployed in the Japan Sea

The Japanese islands are positioned near the subduction zones, and large earthquakes have repeatedly occurred in marine areas around Japan. However, the number of permanent earthquake observatories in the oceans is quite limited. It is important for understanding generation of large earthquakes to observe seismic activities on the seafloor just above these seismogenic zones. An ocean bottom cabled seismometer (OBCS) is the best solution because data can be collected in real-time. We have developed a new compact OBCS system. A developed system is controlled by a microprocessor, and signals from accelerometers are 24-bit digitized. Clock is delivered from the global positioning system receiver on a landing station using a simple dedicated line. Data collected at each cabled seismometer (CS) are transmitted using standard Internet Protocol to landing stations. The network configuration of the system adopts two dual methods. We installed the first practical OBCS system in the Japan Sea, where large earthquakes occurred in past. The first OBCS system has a total length of 25 km and 4 stations with 5 km interval. Installation was carried out in August 2010. The CSs and single armored optical submarine cable were buried 1 m below the seafloor to avoid a conflict with fishing activity. The data are stored on a landing station and sent to Earthquake Research Institute, University of Tokyo by using the Internet. After the installation, data are being collected continuously. According to burial of the CSs, seismic ambient noises are smaller than those observed on seafloor.