Soil Amplification Based on Array Observation in Chiba, Japan

The amplification characteristics of earthquake ground motion were investigated based on the Chiba Array observation records. The amplification of peak acceleration occurred mostly at the top soft layer and is similar for the three ground motion components. The ensemble Fourier spectrum ratio and coherence function were calculated and the amplification can be clearly seen in them. The drop of the coherence function at natural frequencies was discussed. The Fourier spectrum ratio and coherence function were also obtained using the smoothing procedure and were compared with those of the ensemble. Microtremor was measured at 11 points corresponding to the location of the surface accelerometers. The power spectrum of microtremor was compared with that of the earthquake ground motion for different points and for different events. Emphasis has been placed on knowing the property of the peaks appearing in the power spectra

Use of Microtremors for the Estimation of Ground Vibration Characteristics

Short-period micro tremor array observation is conducted at five sites in the Tokyo Metropolitan area of Japan. The Fourier spectra of horizontal and vertical components show variations in time, but their ratio is stable for different time instants. The characteristics of the amplitude ratio are similar to that of Rayleigh wave and the period correspond to the peak ratio correspond to the predominant period of the sites for shear wave propagation. A parametric study for two-layered models reveals that the peaks for Rayleigh wave and shear wave are close for the ground having large impedance ratio. The F-K spectrum analysis using vertical components obtained the phase velocity close to the dispersion curve for the Rayleigh wave

Morphological and Biochemical Studies on Cultured Intervertebral Disc Cells with Special Reference to the Effect of Chymopapain

To determine the mechanism of nucleus pulposus regeneration after chemonucleolysis with chymopapain, cultured annulus fibrosus (AF) cells and nucleus pulposus (NP) cells derived from the rabbit intervertebral disc were compared morphologically and biochemically. There was a difference in the characteristics of the two cells. The AF cells consisted chiefly of chondrocyte with high cell growth and matrix production activity, while most of the NP cells were notochordal cells. Chymopapain had cell toxity for AF and NP cells which inhibited sulfated glycosaminoglycans synthesis. But this inhibition was reversible and cell function recovered with the passage of time in AF cells. It may be concluded from this study that AF cells play a main role in nucleus pulposus regeneration after chemonucleolysis.キモパパイン椎間板内注入後の髄核再構築現象において椎間板細胞の果たす役割を検討するため,幼若家兎椎間板細胞の培養を行い形態的観察を行なうと同時にキモパパインの培養椎間板細胞に及ぼす影響を生化学的に分析した。線維輪由来細胞は軟骨細胞としての機能を維持し旺盛な基質合性能および増殖能を示したのに対し,髄核細胞は分裂能を有しない脊索細胞が中心であった。キモパパインを種々の濃度で培養椎間板細胞に作用させ^Sの硫酸化ムコ多糖への取り込みを指標に細胞障害性を検討したところ,濃度依存的にムコ多糖合成を抑制した。又,キキモパパインの培養線維輪細胞に対する障害性は一定濃度以下では可逆的であり,ムコ多糖合合成能は経時的に回復傾向を示した。以上のことよりキモパパイン椎間板内注入後の髄核再構築過程においては,線椎輪由来の軟骨細胞がその中心的役割を果たすと推察された

Degradation of trichloroethylene using highly adsorptive allophane–TiO2 nanocomposite

A highly adsorptive allophane-TiO(2) nanocomposite photocatalyst was prepared by dispersing nanopartides of the natural clay mineral allophane into a titanium alkoxide solution by the sol-gel method. During the photocatalytic degradation of trichloroethylene using the allophane-TiO(2) nanocomposite, emission of the intermediate product, phosgene, was drastically inhibited. Trichloroethylene was transformed into the intermediate products, phosgene and dichloroacetyl chloride, on the TiO(2) during the UV irradiation. These compounds are rapidly adsorbed on the allophane. The compounds then gradually degraded after diffusing to the TiO(2).ArticleAPPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENTAL. 102(3-4):470-474 (2011)journal articl

Nuclear energy in the public sphere: Anti-nuclear movements vs. industrial lobbies in Spain (1962-1979)

The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11024-014-9263-0This article examines the role of the Spanish Atomic Forum as the representative of the nuclear sector in the public arena during the golden years of the nuclear power industry from the 1960s to 1970s. It focuses on the public image concerns of the Spanish nuclear lobby and the subsequent information campaigns launched during the late 1970s to counteract demonstrations by the growing and heterogeneous anti-nuclear movement. The role of advocacy of nuclear energy by the Atomic Forum was similar to that in other countries, but the situation in Spain had some distinguishing features. Anti-nuclear protest in Spain peaked in 1978 paralleling the debates of a new National Energy Plan in Congress, whose first draft had envisaged a massive nuclearization of the country. We show how the approval of the Plan in July 1979, with a significant reduction in the nuclear energy component, was influenced by the anti-nuclear protest movements in Spain. Despite the efforts of the Spanish Atomic Forum to counter its message, the anti-nuclear movement was strengthened by reactions to the Three Mile Island accident in March 1979