A simple model of electron beam initiated dielectric breakdown

A steady state model that describes the internal charge distribution of a planar dielectric sample exposed to a uniform electron beam was developed. The model includes the effects of charge deposition and ionization of the beam, separate trap-modulated mobilities for electrons and holes, electron-hole recombination, and pair production by drifting thermal electrons. If the incident beam current is greater than a certain critical value (which depends on sample thickness as well as other sample properties), the steady state solution is non-physical

Losses Associated with Secondary Effects in Earthquakes

The number of earthquakes with high damage and high losses has been limited to around 100 events since 1900. Looking at historical losses from 1900 onward, we see that around 100 key earthquakes (or around 1% of damaging earthquakes) have caused around 93% of fatalities globally. What is indeed interesting about this statistic is that within these events, secondary effects have played a major role, causing around 40% of economic losses and fatalities as compared to shaking effects. Disaggregation of secondary effect economic losses and fatalities demonstrating the relative influence of historical losses from direct earthquake shaking in comparison to tsunami, fire, landslides, liquefaction, fault rupture, and other type losses is important if we are to understand the key causes post-earthquake. The trends and major event impacts of secondary effects are explored in terms of their historic impact as well as looking to improved ways to disaggregate them through two case studies of the Tohoku 2011 event for earthquake, tsunami, liquefaction, fire, and the nuclear impact; as well as the Chilean 1960 earthquake and tsunami event

Open source procedure for assessment of loss using global earthquake modelling software (OPAL)

This paper provides a comparison between Earthquake Loss Estimation (ELE) software packages and their application using an “Open Source Procedure for Assessment of Loss using Global Earthquake Modelling software” (OPAL). The OPAL procedure was created to provide a framework for optimisation of a Global Earthquake Modelling process through: 1. overview of current and new components of earthquake loss assessment (vulnerability, hazard, exposure, specific cost, and technology); 2. preliminary research, acquisition, and familiarisation for available ELE software packages; 3. assessment of these software packages in order to identify the advantages and disadvantages of the ELE methods used; and 4. loss analysis for a deterministic earthquake (Mw = 7.2) for the Zeytinburnu district, Istanbul, Turkey, by applying 3 software packages (2 new and 1 existing): a modified displacement-based method based on DBELA (Displacement Based Earthquake Loss Assessment, Crowley et al., 2006), a capacity spectrum based method HAZUS (HAZards United States, FEMA, USA, 2003) and the Norwegian HAZUS-based SELENA (SEismic Loss EstimatioN using a logic tree Approach, Lindholm et al., 2007)software which was adapted for use in order to compare the different processes needed for the production of damage, economic, and social loss estimates. The modified DBELA procedure was found to be more computationally expensive, yet had less variability, indicating the need for multi-tier approaches to global earthquake loss estimation. Similar systems planning and ELE software produced through the OPAL procedure can be applied to worldwide applications, given exposure data

CEDIM Forensic Disaster Analysis Group (FDA) "Volcano & Tsunami Hunga Tonga" Report No. 1

Der Vulkanausbruch im Südpazifik (Tongainseln) Mitte Januar 2022 war der weltweit stärkste seit dem Ausbruch des Pinatubo. Hunga Tonga ist ein großer unterseeischer Vulkan etwa 70 km nordwestlich von Tongatapu (Südwestpazifik). Der Vulkan besteht aus zwei kleinen Inseln, Hunga Tonga und Hunga Ha\u27apai, die durch die jüngsten Ausbrüche in den Jahren 1988, 2009 und 2014/2015 miteinander verbunden wurden. Die Eruptionssequenz begann am 20. Dezember 2021 mit einer einzelnen Eruption. Es folgten ein größeres Ereignis am 14. Januar und der Hauptausbruch am 15. Januar gegen 17:15 Uhr Ortszeit (04:15 Uhr UTC). Alle Eruptionen waren mit einem starken Überschallknall verbunden. Die Explosion der Haupteruption war über Tausende von Kilometern zu hören. Die Haupteruption löste eine große Massenbewegung aus, die als Quelle für den anschließenden Tsunami vermutet wird. Der Tsunami wurde innerhalb von 15 Minuten auf Tongatapu beobachtet und unterbrach die Energieversorgung. Der Tsunami wurde im gesamten Pazifik, im Korallenmeer und im Tasmanischen Meer mit einer Ausbreitung von bis zu 3 m gesichtet. Es kam zu schweren lokalen Überschwemmungen auf Tonga (Run-up von 2 bis 5 m) und lokal zu leichten bis mäßigen Überschwemmungen entlang des Korallenmeers (< 0,5 – 3 m) und entlang des Pazifiks (0,5 – 1,5 m). Verschiedene Inseln von Tonga wurden teilweise überflutet. Die kleinen, unbewohnten Inseln Nuku und Tau wurden vollständig erodiert. Die Überschwemmungen auf Tongatapu und Nomuka zerstörten mehrere Gebäude. Korallenriffe und Barriere-Inseln spielten eine wichtige Rolle bei der Abmilderung der Auswirkungen des Tsunami. Die größten Schäden sind auf den Bruch des Unterseekabels von Fidschi nach Tonga zurückzuführen. Die wirtschaftlichen Verluste, die mit einem solchen Ausfall verbunden sind, werden angesichts der Kosten und der Knappheit von Satellitentelefonen groß sein. Ein großes Problem stellt derzeit die Asche auf der Landebahn von Tongatapu dar, so dass Hilfsflugzeuge meist nicht landen können, um Hilfsgüter zu liefern. Zusätzliche Kosten im Zusammenhang mit den Aufräumarbeiten und der Beseitigung der Asche werden auch in der Landwirtschaft anfallen, ebenso wie mögliche Infrastrukturprobleme durch die Verunreinigung der Wasserversorgung

Blood Lead Levels and Risk Factors for Lead Exposure in a Pediatric Population in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Although lead recycling activities are a known risk factor for elevated blood levels in South East Asia, little is known regarding the prevalence of and risk factors for elevated blood lead levels (BLL) among the general pediatric population in Vietnam. This study is a cross-sectional evaluation of 311 children from Children's Hospital #2 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Capillary blood lead testing was performed using the LeadCare II. Mean BLLs were 4.97 μg/dL (Standard Deviation (SD) 5.50), with 7% of the participants having levels greater than 10 μg/dL. Living in Bing Duong province (OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.4-5.6.1) or the Dong Nai province (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.0-5.1) and having an age greater than 12 months (OR 6.0, 95% CI 3.1-11.8) were associated with higher BLLs. The prevalence of elevated BLLs in Vietnam is consistent with other SE Asian countries. Mean BLLs in Ho Chi Minh City are markedly less than those seen in a separate study of children living near lead recycling activities. Additional evaluation is necessary to better detail potential risk factors if screening is to be implemented within Vietnam

CEDIM Forensic Disaster Analysis Group (FDA): Noto Earthquake Japan (Jan. 2024)

The 2024 Noto earthquake in Japan, with a magnitude of 7.5 Mw, occurred on 1 January 2024 at 16:10 local time - seven kilometers north-northwest of the coast of Suzu. The strongest intensity was observed on the Noto Peninsula near the epicenter and towards the Sea of Japan; the quake was felt throughout Japan, including the Tokyo area. A USGS landslide model shows a maximum slip of about 3.7 meters along the fault plane with a total length of almost 200 km. A tsunami warning was issued shortly after the earthquake, with a maximum wave height of 5 meters predicted for the Noto peninsula. The waves that eventually were mostly just under 1 meter, except in the town of Suzu, located in a small bay, where several boats were damaged and houses along the coast were destroyed. Eyewitnesses reported waves as high as 3 meters. Low wave heights were reported from the other coasts of the Sea of Okhotsk. CEDIM damage estimates (based on JMA/RL intensity data and Shakemap) average $4.9 bn (with a range of$2.3 bn to $11.1 bn). This estimate excludes significant indirect losses, but includes direct damage to buildings, infrastructure, and production. Most of the significant economic damage is concentrated on the Noto Peninsula, particularly in the cities of Wajima, Suzu, and Nanao

Chloroplast-Derived Enzyme Cocktails Hydrolyse Lignocellulosic Biomass and Release Fermentable Sugars

It is widely recognized that biofuel production from lignocellulosic materials is limited by inadequate technology to efficiently and economically release fermentable sugars from the complex multi-polymeric raw materials. Therefore, endoglucanases, exoglucanase, pectate lyases, cutinase, swollenin, xylanase, acetyl xylan esterase, beta glucosidase and lipase genes from bacteria or fungi were expressed in E. coli or tobacco chloroplasts. A PCR based method was used to clone genes without introns from Trichoderma reesei genomic DNA. Homoplasmic transplastomic lines showed normal phenotype and were fertile. Based on observed expression levels, up to 49, 64 and 10,751 million units of pectate lyases or endoglucanase can be produced annually, per acre of tobacco. Plant production cost of endoglucanase is 3,100-fold and pectate lyase is 1,057 or 1,480 fold lower than the same recombinant enzymes sold commercially, produced via fermentation. Chloroplast-derived enzymes had higher temperature stability and wider pH optima than enzymes expressed in E. coli. Plant crude-extracts showed higher enzyme activity than E. coli with increasing protein concentration, demonstrating their direct utility without purification. Addition of E. coliextracts to the chloroplast-derived enzymes significantly decreased their activity. Chloroplast-derived crude-extract enzyme cocktails yielded more (up to 3,625%) glucose from filter paper, pine wood or citrus peel than commercial cocktails. Furthermore, pectate lyase transplastomic plants showed enhanced resistance to Erwina soft rot. This is the first report of using plant-derived enzyme cocktails for production of fermentable sugars from lignocellulosic biomass. Limitations of higher cost and lower production capacity of fermentation systems are addressed by chloroplast-derived enzyme cocktails

Chloroplast-Derived Enzyme Cocktails Hydrolyse Lignocellulosic Biomass and Release Fermentable Sugars

It is widely recognized that biofuel production from lignocellulosic materials is limited by inadequate technology to efficiently and economically release fermentable sugars from the complex multi-polymeric raw materials. Therefore, endoglucanases, exoglucanase, pectate lyases, cutinase, swollenin, xylanase, acetyl xylan esterase, beta glucosidase and lipase genes from bacteria or fungi were expressed in E. coli or tobacco chloroplasts. A PCR based method was used to clone genes without introns from Trichoderma reesei genomic DNA. Homoplasmic transplastomic lines showed normal phenotype and were fertile. Based on observed expression levels, up to 49, 64 and 10,751 million units of pectate lyases or endoglucanase can be produced annually, per acre of tobacco. Plant production cost of endoglucanase is 3,100-fold and pectate lyase is 1,057 or 1,480 fold lower than the same recombinant enzymes sold commercially, produced via fermentation. Chloroplast-derived enzymes had higher temperature stability and wider pH optima than enzymes expressed in E. coli. Plant crude-extracts showed higher enzyme activity than E. coli with increasing protein concentration, demonstrating their direct utility without purification. Addition of E. coliextracts to the chloroplast-derived enzymes significantly decreased their activity. Chloroplast-derived crude-extract enzyme cocktails yielded more (up to 3,625%) glucose from filter paper, pine wood or citrus peel than commercial cocktails. Furthermore, pectate lyase transplastomic plants showed enhanced resistance to Erwina soft rot. This is the first report of using plant-derived enzyme cocktails for production of fermentable sugars from lignocellulosic biomass. Limitations of higher cost and lower production capacity of fermentation systems are addressed by chloroplast-derived enzyme cocktails