Influence of reservoir water level variation on slope in lab. flume test

The Tenth International Symposium on Mitigation of Geo-disasters in Asia. Kyoto Symposium. Place: Uji Campus, Kyoto University. Date: 7 October 201

Experimental study to identify premonitory factors of landslide dam failures

Identifying premonitory factors before final failure for long-existing landslide dams is of high importance in disaster prevention and risk reduction. In this study, a series of large-scale (outdoor) experiments were designed and conducted to identify premonitory factors that may be used in failure prediction for actual landslide dams. Surface deformation, especially dam-crest settlement, dam seepage-water turbidity and self-potential across the dam crest were selected as the target parameters. Changes in these parameters showed apparent correlations between each other. Based on the monitoring data obtained and the observation performed during the tests, the deformation and failure sequence of the dam model can be separated into four time-sequential periods: 1) Emergence of seepage water and front wetting. In this period, the monitoring parameters did not show any obvious changes. However, wetting was observed in the downstream face. 2) Hyperconcentrated flow discharge. In this period, water flowed out of the drainage channel, and the vertical deformation of the dam body became obvious, while the turbidity of the seepage water increased. 3) Emergence and development of cracks on the dam crest. In this period, the dam-crest settlement also increased. 4) Sudden collapse and final failure. In this period, self-potential across the dam crest decreased rapidly, and the dam-crest settlement reached a peak value. Therefore, dam-crest settlement, seepage-water turbidity and self-potential changes can be regarded as premonitory factors of landslide dam failur

Investigation of shallow landslides triggered by heavy rainfall during typhoon Wipha (2013), Izu Oshima Island, Japan

金沢大学理工研究域地球社会基盤学系BackgroundTyphoon Wipha struck Izu Oshima Island on 16 October 2013, bringing heavy rainfall. It triggered widespread landslides on the western slopes of Izu Oshima Island, and caused significant loss of life and serious property damage. Authors have conducted both field investigations and laboratory experiments in an effort to understand the initiation mechanism of the shallow landslides triggered by heavy rainfall.ResultsPyroclastic-fall deposits on the slopes are well-graded fine sand with silt, and with high specific gravity and void ratio. These soil properties will affect the mechanical and hydraulic characteristics of soil. The results of consolidated-undrained triaxial tests show that the effective internal friction angle of soil is 38.7 degrees. The results of triaxial tests using pore-water pressure control show that static liquefaction can occur in porous pyroclastic-fall deposit layers due to rainfall infiltration.ConclusionsThe effective strength of pyroclastic-fall deposits on the upper slope is quite high. Even though the slope is very steep (over 30 degrees), it can remain stable while in an unsaturated condition. Due to heavy rainfall and the porosity of the pyroclastic-fall deposits, rainfall can quickly infiltrate into soil layer. Moreover, the interface above the underlying basalt will stop groundwater infiltration, acting as an impervious boundary. With increase of groundwater level, the effective strength of the porous soil will decrease. Finally, static liquefaction can be triggered, leading to the generation of shallow landslides on the upper slopes

Determination of bupropion and hydroxybupropion by LC-MS/MS in rat and its application to assessment of CYP2B6 activity

A selective and sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and validated for quantitation of bupropion (BUP) and its metabolite hydroxybupropion (HBUP) in rat plasma and urine using carbamazepine as an internal standard. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a SB-C18 column at 30 °C, using the gradient elution of 0.1 % formic acid in water and acetonitrile. Calibration plots were linear over range of 10-2000 ng/mL for BUP and 5-1000 ng/mL for HBUP in rat plasma. The intra- and inter-run relative standard deviations of the assay were less than 10 % for both BUP and HBUP. The effects of tolbutamide on cytochrome P450-mediated metabolism of BUP were studied by the validated method above. The results revealed that tolbutamide had signigicantly decreased the rate of BUP hydroxylation.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Efficacy and Safety of Wei Bi Mei, a Chinese Herb Compound, as an Alternative to Bismuth for Eradication of Helicobacter pylori

Bismuth-containing quadruple therapy has been recommended as the first line of treatment in areas of high clarithromycin or metronidazole resistance. However, safety concerns of bismuth agents have long been raised. We first assessed the efficacy and safety of Wei Bi Mei granules, which are bismuth compounds consisting of three synthetic drugs and five medicinal herbs, compared to bismuth aluminate and colloidal bismuth subcitrate (CBS) in H. pylori-infected mouse model. We then used atomic fluorescence spectroscopy and autometallography to measure the accumulation of three bismuth agents in the brain, heart, liver, and kidneys in adult Sprague-Dawley rats. We also evaluated the safety of bismuth agents by conducting clinical biochemistry tests in blood samples of experimental animals. Wei Bi Mei granules exhibited the highest efficacy of anti-H. pylori activity and yielded the lowest bismuth accumulation when compared to CBS and bismuth aluminate. Our findings show that Wei Bi Mei granules are a safe Chinese medicinal herb with potent anti-H. pylori activity and can be considered as an alternative to current bismuth compounds. Thus, Wei Bi Mei granules merit further evaluation, particularly with regard to efficacy and safety when they are combined with other H. pylori eradication medications in the clinical setting

Patterns of public participation: opportunity structures and mobilization from a cross-national perspective

Purpose: The paper summarizes data from twelve countries, chosen to exhibit wide variation, on the role and place of public participation in the setting of priorities. It seeks to exhibit cross-national patterns in respect of public participation, linking those differences to institutional features of the countries concerned. Design/methodology/approach: The approach is an example of case-orientated qualitative assessment of participation practices. It derives its data from the presentation of country case studies by experts on each system. The country cases are located within the historical development of democracy in each country. Findings: Patterns of participation are widely variable. Participation that is effective through routinized institutional processes appears to be inversely related to contestatory participation that uses political mobilization to challenge the legitimacy of the priority setting process. No system has resolved the conceptual ambiguities that are implicit in the idea of public participation. Originality/value: The paper draws on a unique collection of country case studies in participatory practice in prioritization, supplementing existing published sources. In showing that contestatory participation plays an important role in a sub-set of these countries it makes an important contribution to the field because it broadens the debate about public participation in priority setting beyond the use of minipublics and the observation of public representatives on decision-making bodies

A dilemma of Chinese healthcare reform: How to re-define government roles?

This paper discusses the government's roles in the healthcare sector in China. The paper begins with an introduction to the Chinese healthcare sector (supply and demand side) and to the current government's roles. It then reviews the recent transformation of the healthcare sector, with an emphasis on the change in the government's roles and the problems resulting from this transformation. The following is an examination of the latest healthcare reform policies and an exploration of pending government roles. Contrary to the opinion that problems existing in Chinese healthcare are primarily caused by market failure, this paper argues that the historically ambiguous and inappropriate roles of government in the provision of health care should be reexamined. This paper concludes that the most important issue facing the Chinese healthcare sector is finding the optimal balance between market and government.Health Health care markets Government policy China Reform

An evaluation of the policy on community health organizations in China: Will the priority of new healthcare reform in China be a success?

Objectives The objective of this paper is to assess historical and recent health reform efforts in China. We provide a brief history of the Chinese healthcare system since 1949 as context for the current healthcare; examine the factors that led to recent efforts to reestablish community-based care in China; and identify the challenges associated with attaining a sustainable and quality community healthcare system.Methods Based on literature review and publicly available data in China, the paper will present a historical case study analysis of health policy change of CHOs in China and provide policy evaluation, and the paper provided policy suggestions.Results We find that the government's recent efforts to emphasize the significance of community healthcare services in China have started to change patterns of healthcare use, but many problems still inhibit the development of CHOs, including unsustainable governmental roles, issues of human resource inadequacy and laggard GP practice, poorly designed payment schemes, patient's trust crisis and continue to inhibit the development of community-based primary care.Conclusions Additional policy efforts to help CHOs' development are needed. Recent government investments in public health and primary care alone are not sufficient and could not be sustainable. It will not until long-term self-sustaining mechanisms to relieve an omnipotent government are established, including competent community doctors (GP) system, supportive social insurance reimbursement, appropriate financial incentives to providers, better transparency and accountability, as well as a more regulated referral system, a legitimate, sustainable and quality community health system could be attained.Community healthcare China Healthcare reform

City Green Economy Evaluation: Empirical Evidence from 15 Sub-Provincial Cities in China

City green economy plays an important role in the development of low-carbon economy and the achievement of sustainable development of economy, society and ecological environment. From the perspective of economy, society, environment and resources, the evaluation of the green economy in urban areas tends to offer us a new insight into the green economy of cities. This paper is about the creation of a novel urban green economy evaluation model and its application. First of all, we established a city green economy evaluation index system based on R cluster analysis and coefficient of variation. Secondly, based on the nonlinear weighted utilizing entropy weight method, a city green economy evaluation model is established based on inferior constraints. Thirdly, by comparing the differences between evaluation rankings under inferior constraints and non-inferior constraints, the advantageous factors and the disadvantageous ones in urban green economy development are obtained. The proposed model has been verified with the data on 15 sub-provincial cities in China. Empirical analysis results show that: (1) The proposed approach can accurately find out the advantageous and disadvantageous factors for each sub-provincial city; (2) In the evaluation of green economy development, the order of importance of the three criterion layers is X1 Economy development > X2 Social livelihood of the people > X3 Resources and environment; (3) Local governments should implement differential, reasonable policies in order to improve their green economy development. Moreover, our research is not only significant for developing green economy in China’s sub-provincial cities, but also serves as a reference for the development of green economy in other cities in the world