Large-scale parallel finite-difference method (FDM) simulations of seismic wave propagation have been conducted using the Earth Simulator in order to clarify the complex seismic wavefield resulting from heterogeneities in structures and the source rupture process during the Hyogo-ken Nanbu (Kobe) earthquake (Mj 7.2; Mw 6.9) in 1995. High-resolution simulation using 240 nodes (1920 processing el...

An investigation of the chemical environment and growth of Legionella pneumophila in plumbing systems was conducted to gain a better understanding of its ecology in this habitat. Water samples were collected from hospital and institutional hot-water tanks known to have supported L. pneumophila and were analyzed for 23 chemical parameters. The chemical environment of these tanks was found to var...

The Department of Energy’s River Protection Project (RPP) is tasked with retrieving highly radioactive waste from Hanford double-shell and single-shell tanks to provide feed for vitrification for long-term storage. Approximately 330,000 metric tons of sodium-rich radioactive waste originating from separation of plutonium from irradiated uranium fuel is stored in 177 underground tanks at Hanford...

 In order to investigate the effects of artificial substrates (vertical surface of polypropylene fabrics) on cultured shrimp, we reared 28-day old Litopenaeus vannamei post-larvae (PL28) intensively for 90 days at a density of 510 shrimp/m2 in each of 8 tanks. Two tanks containing no artificial substrate were a control group, and 1, 3 and 5 artificial substrates were present in other 6 tanks. T...

1 Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry, 1646,Abiko, Abiko, Chiba, Japan 2 Professor, Disaster Prevention Research Institute ,Kyoto University, Gokasho, Uji, Kyoto, Japan 3 Idemitsu Engineering Co. , Ltd, Mihama, Chiba, Japan Email: [email protected],[email protected], [email protected], [email protected] ABSTRACT : Man...

Although advanced fluid handling using elastomeric valves is useful for a variety of lab-on-a-chip procedures, their operation has traditionally relied on external laboratory infrastructure (such as gas tanks, computers, and ground electricity). This dependence has held back the use of elastomeric microvalves for point-of-care settings. Here, we demonstrate that microfabricated microvalves, via...