Application of the Modified PLUM Method to a Dense Seismic Intensity Network of a Local Government in Japan: A Case Study on Tottori Prefecture

An application of the PLUM (Propagation of Local Undamped Motion) method to real-time seismic intensity distribution from a dense seismic intensity network maintained by a local government in Japan is demonstrated. The JMA (Japan Meteorological Agency) has employed the PLUM method from March 2018 as a supplement to the traditional EEW (Earthquake Early Warning) which requires hypocenter determination. A dense observation network is desirable for upgrading accuracy and immediateness of EEW including the PLUM method. Seismic intensity meters in Tottori Prefecture, Japan, are suitable for the purpose because they have been improved to broadcast packets with peak ground acceleration and JMA seismic intensity at every 1 s. Also, 34 seismic intensity meters are installed in the target area while only six observation sites are used for the EEW by the JMA. The packet data are received at Tottori University, and the modified PLUM method considers wave propagation with damping from not only the observation points but also all evaluating grid points at a 1 km mesh. Additionally, P-wave amplitudes in preliminary tremors are also introduced to estimate seismic intensities from an empirical relationship. Applying the methodology to past earthquake data, more detailed and rapid evaluations of seismic intensity distribution are achieved. We expect the system will be utilized for earthquake disaster mitigation measures of local governments

A Basic Study on Nonlinear Sound Propagation by Finite Element Simulation

A finite element approach to the calculation of nonlinear sound propagation is proposed. Under the assumption of a weak nonlinearity, a linearized one-dimensional equation is considered. The equation is discretized in space, and is then solved for time by using Newmark-β integration scheme, in which a numerical damping is devised. Some numerical demonstrations are made for the nonlinear sound propagation of a single-shot pulse in air. It is shown that the shock wave propagation is stably and accurately simulated by the introduction of the numerical damping

Issues related to velocity structure estimation in small coastal sedimentary plains: case of Tottori plain facing the Sea of Japan

Issues of predominant period of ground motion and derived underground velocity structure model are investigated in the coastal plains affected by the shallow soft sedimentary layer after the last ice age. It is found that two predominant periods due to the shallow soft layer and deeper drastic sedimentary boundaries are close in a small plain such as the Tottori plain, Japan as an example. This study analyzes the underground velocity structure derived from EHVSR (H/V spectrum ratio of earthquake ground motions) with the diffuse field theory. It is considered that the interaction of close predominant periods due to the different layer boundaries with high contrast may amplify the seismic ground motion in the period range that affects building structures in small plains in coastal area

Finite element simulation of piezoelectric vibrator gyroscopes

A finite element approach to the simulation of piezoelectric vibrator gyroscopes is presented for characteristic prediction. The formulation is given including the effect of Coriolis force due to rotation for a piezoelectric thin plate, which is considered to be two-dimensional in plane vibration. For numerical examples, the gyroscopes of a thin square plate, and a cross-bar and a ring built in the plate are considered, which pave the way for the development of the gyroscopes of monolithic configuration. The effect of the rotation on the modal shapes, the resonant frequencies, and the transmission characteristics are discussed demonstrating the sensing capability against the rotation </p

Effect of the surface geology on strong ground motions due to the 2016 Central Tottori Earthquake, Japan

On October 21, 2016, an earthquake with Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) magnitude 6.6 hit the central part of Tottori Prefecture, Japan. This paper demonstrates two notable effects of the surface geology on strong ground motions due to the earthquake. One is a predominant period issue observed over a large area. A seismic intensity of 6 lower on the JMA scale was registered at three sites in the disaster area. However, the peak ground acceleration ranged from 0.3 to 1.4 G at the three sites because of the varying peak periods of observed strong ground motions. The spectral properties of the observations also reflect the damage around the sites. Three-component microtremors were observed in the area; the predominant ground period distributions based on horizontal to vertical spectral ratios were provided by the authors. The peak periods of the strong motion records agree well with predominant periods estimated from microtremor observations at a rather hard site; however, the predominant periods of the microtremors are slightly shorter than those of the main shock at the other two soft sites. We checked the nonlinear effect at the sites by comparing the site responses to small events and the main shock. The peak periods of the main shock were longer than those of the weak motions at the sites. This phenomenon indicates a nonlinear site effect due to large ground motions caused by the main shock. A horizontal component of the accelerogram showed rather pulsating swings that indicate cyclic mobility behavior, especially at a site close to a pond shore; ground subsidence of ~20 cm was observed around the site. The peak periods of weak motions agree well with those of the microtremor observations. This implies an important issue that the predominant periods estimated by microtremors are not sufficient to estimate the effect of surface geology for disaster mitigation. We have to estimate the predominant periods under large ground motions considering the nonlinear site response of soft sediment sites

Clostridium perfringens foodborne outbreak due to braised chop suey supplied by chafing dish.

On February 13, 2002, a public health center in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan, was notified that many individuals living at the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force base had symptoms resembling those of food poisoning. Self-administered questionnaires requesting information regarding meal consumption and symptoms were distributed to all 281 members at the base. A case of the illness was defined as a member who had had watery or mucousy stool, or loose stool with abdominal cramps, more than twice a day after consuming dinner on February 12. Control of the illness was defined as a member with no symptoms. The dinner on February 12 was significantly associated with the illness (Mantel-Haenszel odds ratio: 3.59, 95% confidence interval: 1.06-12.20). A case-control study showed that, among the food supplied at dinner on February 12, the braised chop suey was significantly associated with the illness (odds ratio: 12.30, 95% confidence interval: 1.90-521.00). The braised chop suey had been stored in a chafing dish. An environmental investigation indicated that Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens) in the chafing dish proliferated under an inappropriate heat-retention temperature, and the contaminated braised chop suey could have caused the food poisoning. This study demonstrated that the recommended heat-retention temperature (over 65 degrees C) should be confirmed thoroughly.</p

Electrodeposition of ZnTe Compound Semiconductors from Aqueous Solution

ZnTe compound semiconductors were synthesized in acidic aqueous solution using a pulsed current electrodeposition technique. The optimum condition to obtain ZnTe deposits was determined by the cathodic polarization curves measured at a wide potential range. During the co-deposition of Zn and Te, under potential deposition (UPD) of Zn was observed. Increasing the solution temperature up to 353 K, UPD of Zn was promoted by the formation of Zn(OH)2. Crystal phase, structure and chemical composition of electrodeposited ZnTe was controlled by the solution composition and electrolysis condition. The band gap energy of ZnTe films annealed at 573 K was close to 2.26 eV

Electrodeposition of Ferromagnetic Metal Nanowires

Ni-Fe alloy films and nanowires were fabricated using electrodeposition technique. The cylindrical shape of nanowires was precisely transferred from the nanochannels of membrane filters and the aspect ratio reached to around 60. Coercive force in in-plan direction of Ni-Fe alloy films decreased to ca. 1 Oe with increasing Fe content in deposits while, in perpendicular direction, the films were hardly magnetized. Magnetic hysteresis loops revealed that the nanowires were spontaneously magnetized to the long axis direction and the coercive force reached to ca. 200 Oe.6th International Conference on Processing and Manufacturing of Advanced Materials - THERMEC\u272009; Berlin; 25 August 2009 through 29 August 2009; Code 7924

Soft Magnetic Property of Electrodeposited Nickel-Tungsten Alloys

Nickel-tungsten alloy (Ni_W_) containing up to 15% tungsten has been electrochemically synthesized. Crystal grain size decreased and the lattice constant increased with increasing in tungsten content in deposit. The Nickel-tungsten alloy contains nano-size crystals. Magnetic coercive force of the alloy decreased down to around 20 Oe with increase in tungsten content and the soft magnetic property was improved.Nagasaki Symposium on Nano-Dynamics 2008 (NSND2008) 平成20年1月29日(火)於長崎大学 Poster Presentatio