Conditional Spectrum Computation Incorporating Multiple Causal Earthquakes and Ground‐Motion Prediction Models

The Conditional Spectrum (CS) is a target spectrum (with conditional mean and conditional standard deviation) that links seismic hazard information with ground motion selection for nonlinear dynamic analysis. Probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (PSHA) estimates the ground motion hazard by incorporating the aleatory uncertainties in all earthquake scenarios and resulting ground motions as well as the epistemic uncertainties in ground motion prediction models (GMPMs) and seismic source models. Typical CS calculations to date are produced for a single earthquake scenario using a single GMPM, but more precise use requires consideration of at least multiple causal earthquakes and multiple GMPMs that are often considered in a PSHA computation. This paper presents the mathematics underlying these more precise CS calculations. Despite requiring more effort to compute than approximate calculations using a single causal earthquake and GMPM, the proposed approach produces an exact output that has a theoretical basis. To demonstrate the results of this approach and compare the exact and approximate calculations, several example calculations are performed for real sites in the western U.S. (WUS). The results also provide some insights regarding the circumstances under which approximate results are likely to closely match more exact results. To facilitate these more precise calculations for real applications, the exact CS calculations can now be performed for real sites in the U.S. using new deaggregation features in the U.S. Geological Survey hazard mapping tools. Details regarding this implementation are discussed in this paper

Evaluation of two compact near-infrared spectrometers for the detection of microplastics in soil samples

Treballs Finals de Grau de Química, Facultat de Química, Universitat de Barcelona, Any: 2019, Tutors: Ana Maria De Juan Capdevila, Michael Maiwald, Lukas Wander, Andrea PaulIn the last years, the Process Analytical Technology (PAT) research field has become of great importance due to its connection with the industrial world. This industry related research, along with the evolutionary progress that technology has seen lately, has allowed that key analytical techniques in an industrial environment have undergone a radical development. One of these techniques has been the near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). This technique, currently common in “online” industrial analysis, has seen a remarkable revolution, especially since the introduction of the microelectromechanical systems technology (MEMS) in the spectroscopy field. Nowadays it is possible to find compact spectrometers no bigger than a wristwatch in the market. Although there is an unavoidable question: can these compact spectrometers actually compete against the traditional spectrometers? In this project different calibration parameters of two compact NIR spectrometers (“Spectral Engines Oy NIR-One Sensor NM2.0”, with 1550 to 1950 nm range; and “NeoSpectra Si-ware”, with 1300 to 2550 nm range) were evaluated, and the obtained results were compared with a reference spectrometer (“Bruker Optik GmbH Matrix-F”, with 15000 to 4000 cm–1 range). In order to obtain the different calibration parameters, a sequence of quality performance tests were conducted. The results obtained after the different experiments carried out with both compact spectrometers prove that their performance is more than acceptable for routine analysis. Afterward, model samples of different microplastics in soil at different known concentration were analyzed with all three spectrometers. Chemometric models capable to identify and classify microplastics in soil were established. For this analysis five of the most used plastics worldwide were used: polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). After the Principal component analysis (PCA), it can be seen that only the NIR-One NM2.0 is capable to differentiate all types of microplastics in soil at concentrations of 1–2 %, while the NeoSpectra Si-ware is unable to identify the PET sampl

De betekenis van Johan Buitendags stellingname in theologie der natuur

This article presents the importance of Buitendag’s stance in the so-called ‘theology of nature’. His theological statements endeavour to understand reality in conversation with other academic disciplines to see things in a wider and holistic perspective. Following a suggestion of Moltmann, theology must not restrict itself to internal ecclesiastical and personal faith topics but search for ‘the truth of the whole’. It is argued that Buitendag’s concept of holism is different from Moltmann’s ‘the truth of the whole’. Moltmann’s holism is eschatologically directed after history, but is meaningless in a contemporary debate. His concept of history seems to be problematic too. Buitendag’s holism is more Quinean as a comprehensive relative approach, bottom-up from contemporary insights within different academic disciplines. His theological approach looks like an ellipsis, involving both an ontological and epistemological focus. He defends (Trinitarian) communion as the primary concept, ontologically, which biologists may recognise in their observations of animal communities too. His theology shows a panentheistic perspective for the discourse on divine immanent agency by using as analogy the mind-body relationship in a sophisticated way. Buitendag shows the importance of this perspective for theological hermeneutics. This article presents some logical and theological problems in a panentheistic view which some prominent supporters defend as ‘reality depicting’. Buitendag avoids this because of a relational ontology

Recommendations of a Workshop for a Soil-Structure Interaction Experiment

A workshop held in 1992 (Celebi et al., 1992) brought together a panel of experts (a) to reach a consensus on the benefits and feasibility of instrumenting a building in a seismically active region of the United States to study specifically the effect of soil-structure interaction (SSI), and (b) to define the parameters of a SSI experiment. The recommendations of the workshop and the current status of the SSI experiment are described herein

Arquitectura naval: de la teoría a la práctica

The complexity of projecting and designing a ship requires a work sequence that covers at least three main areas: (1) Concept engineering; (2) Basic engineering; (3) Detail engineering. This paper explains the design transition that exists (or should exist) between concept engineering and the final product, emphasizing the existing contractual relationship with the shipbuilder, especially in the initial definition of the project and the influence on construction aspects.La complejidad del proyecto y diseño de una embarcación obliga a plantear una secuencia de trabajo que abarca al menos tres grandes áreas: (1) Ingeniería de concepto; (2) Ingeniería básica; (3) Ingeniería de detalle. El presente trabajo explica la transición de diseño que existe (o debería existir) entre la ingeniería de concepto y el producto final, poniendo énfasis en la relación contractual existente con el armador, especialmente en la definición inicial del proyecto y la influencia sobre los aspectos constructivos