Amplification Ratios Research Articles

Site effect microzonation of Babol, Iran

Extensive researches on distribution of earthquake induced damages in different regions have shown that geological and geotechnical conditions of the local soils significantly influence behavior of alluvial areas under seismic loading. In this article, the site of Babol city which is formed up of saturated fine alluvial soils is considered as a case study. In order to reduce the uncertainties associated with earthquake resistant design of structures in this area (Babol city), the required design parameters have been evaluated with consideration of site\'s dynamic effects. The utilized methodology combines experimental ground ambient noise analysis, expressed in terms of horizontal to vertical (H/V) spectral ratio, with numerical one-dimensional response analysis of soil columns using DEEPSOIL software. The H/V spectral analysis was performed at 60 points, experimentally, for the region in order to estimate both the fundamental period and its corresponding amplification for the ground vibration. The investigation resulted in amplification ratios that were greater than one in all areas. A good agreement between the proposed ranges of natural periods and alluvial amplification ratios obtained through the analytical model and the experimental microtremor studies verifies the analytical model to provide a good engineering reflection of the subterraneous alluviums.

Characterizing the Kathmandu Valley sediment response through strong motion recordings of the 2015 Gorkha earthquake sequence

We analyze strong motion records and high-rate GPS measurements of the M 7.8 Gorkha mainshock, M 7.3 Dolakha, and two moderate aftershock events recorded at four stations on the Kathmandu basin sediments, and one on rock-outcrop. Recordings on soil from all four events show systematic amplification relative to the rock site at multiple frequencies in the 0.1–2.5Hz frequency range, and de-amplification of higher frequencies (>2.5–10Hz). The soil-to-rock amplification ratios for the M 7.8 and M 7.3 events have lower amplitude and frequency peaks relative to the ratios of the two moderate events, effects that could be suggestive of nonlinear site response. Further, comparisons to ground motion prediction equations show that 1) both soil and rock mainshock recordings were severely depleted of high frequencies, and 2) the depletion at high frequencies is not present in the aftershocks. These observations indicate that the high frequency deamplification is additionally related to characteristics of the source that are not captured by simplified ground motion prediction equations, and allude to seismic hazard analysis models being revised – possibly by treating isolated high frequency radiation sources separately from long period components to capture large magnitude near-source events such as the 2015 Gorkha mainshock.

Numerical modelling of the seismic response of a tunnel–soil–aboveground building system in Catania (Italy)

Seismic design of structures is commonly performed by using design spectra by national technical codes or, in some “advanced” designs, by using design acceleration time-histories given by 1D free-field soil response analyses. These procedures can lead to erroneous evaluations of the “real” inputs, which hit aboveground and underground structures due to complex interactions involving the soil and the structures. Great attention has recently been devoted to separated tunnel–soil interaction analyses and soil-aboveground structure interaction analyses. Analyses involving tunnel–soil–aboveground structures (full-coupled systems) are still very rare. The present paper deals with the dynamic interaction that occurs between a tunnel, the soil and an aboveground building, it also investigates the effects of the tunnel on the response of the soil and/or of the building and vice versa. The study has been performed using full-coupled FEM modelling. A case-history of the Catania (Italy) underground network has been analysed. A cross-section of the underground network in Catania including an aboveground building has been modelled, by studying its behaviour during the expected scenario earthquake (M S = 7.0–7.4). The authors have investigated the seismic behaviour of the system in terms of acceleration time-histories, amplification ratios, Fourier amplitude spectra, as well as seismic bending moments and axial forces of the tunnel lining.

HER2/CEP17 Ratios and Clinical Outcome in HER2-Positive Early Breast Cancer Undergoing Trastuzumab-Containing Therapy.

BackgroundAdjuvant therapy comprising the HER2 receptor antagonist trastuzumab is associated with a significant improvement in disease-free and overall survival as compared to chemotherapy alone in localized HER2-positive breast cancer (BC). However, a subset of HER2-positive tumors seems to respond less favorably to trastuzumab. Various mechanisms have been proposed for trastuzumab resistance, such as high HER2 to Chromosome 17 FISH (HER2/CEP17) ratios and the possibility that single agent trastuzumab may not suffice to efficiently block HER2 downstream signaling thresholds. In a retrospective analysis we evaluated whether HER2/CEP17 ratios might have an impact on disease-free survival (DFS).MethodsClinical records of Stage I-III BC patients with HER2-positive tumors were reviewed at our institution from 2007–2013. We analyzed demographics, tumor characteristics including tumor size and grade, lymph node involvement and estrogen receptor expression as well as treatment with respect to chemotherapeutic regimens from the clinical charts. HER2/CEP17 ratios were determined by routine pathology analysis using in situ fluorescent hybridization (FISH). Upon statistical preview we defined three groups of HER2 amplification based on FISH ratio (2.2 to 4, >4 to 8, >8), in order to evaluate an association between HER2 gene amplification and DFS with trastuzumab containing therapies. DFS was analyzed using Cox-regression.ResultsA total of 332 patients with HER2-positive BC were reviewed. Median age was 54 (range 23–89) years. The majority of tumors were classified T1 (50%) or T2 (39%), node negative (52%) and of high grade G3 histology (70%). We identified 312 (94%) tumors as immunohistochemistry (IHC) score 3+ and HER2/CEP17 ratios were available from 278 patients (84%). 30% (N = 84) had tumors with high HER2/CEP17 ratios (>8). Univariate analysis found no correlation between outcome, age, histological grade, sequence as well as anthracycline content of chemotherapy. However, a prognostic impact was detected for tumor size (p = 0.02), nodal status (p<0.01), proliferation index (p<0.01), level (≥20%) of estrogen receptor expression (p = 0.03) and neoadjuvant therapeutic setting (p = 0.03), respectively. Importantly, univariate and multivariable analysis revealed that standard trastuzumab containing chemotherapy resulted in impaired disease free survival among tumors with FISH ratio >8 (p<0.01). Although less pronounced, a similar association was found also with respect to high HER2 gene copy numbers (>12) and DFS (p = 0.01).ConclusionsIn early BC patients, tumors with high HER2 amplification ratios (>8), may less likely respond to standard trastuzumab-containing therapies. Although, we obtained a similar effect for high HER2 gene copy numbers, this provides only an indirect speculation and not a proof that high HER2/CEP17 ratios may induce HER2 resistance.

Certified DNA Reference Materials to Compare HER2 Gene Amplification Measurements Using Next-Generation Sequencing Methods

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Standard Reference Materials 2373 is a set of genomic DNA samples prepared from five breast cancer cell lines with certified values for the ratio of the HER2 gene copy number to the copy numbers of reference genes determined by real-time quantitative PCR and digital PCR. Targeted-amplicon, whole-exome, and whole-genome sequencing measurements were used with the reference material to compare the performance of both the laboratory steps and the bioinformatic approaches of the different methods using a range of amplification ratios. Although good reproducibility was observed in each next-generation sequencing method, slightly different HER2 copy numbers associated with platform-specific biases were obtained. This study clearly demonstrates the value of Standard Reference Materials 2373 as reference material and as a calibrator for evaluating assay performance as well as for increasing confidence in reporting HER2 amplification for clinical applications.

Seismic microzoning from synthetic ground motion earthquake scenarios parameters: The case study of the city of Catania (Italy)

The city of Catania (Italy) in the South-Eastern Sicily has been affected in past times by several destroying earthquakes with high values of estimated magnitude. The seismogenic area to the south of Volcano Etna, known as Iblean Area, is placed between the African and the Euro-Asiatic plates on the west of the Ibleo-Maltese escarpment, to the south of the Graben of the Sicilian channel and on the east of the overlapping front of Gela. Basing on the seismic history of Catania, the following earthquake scenarios have been considered: the “Val di Noto” earthquake of January 11, 1693 (with intensity X-XI on MCS scale, magnitude MW=7.41 and epicentral distance of about 13km); the “Etna” earthquake of February 20, 1818 (with intensity IX on MCS scale, magnitude MW=6.23 and epicentral distance of about 10km). The soil response analysis at the surface, in terms of time history and response spectra, has been obtained by 1-D equivalent linear models for about 1200 borings location available in the data-bank of the central area of Catania of about 50km2, using deterministic design scenario earthquakes as input at the conventional bedrock.Seismic microzoning maps of the city of Catania have been obtained in terms of different peak ground acceleration at the surface and in terms of amplification ratios for given values of frequency.

Ground‐Motion Prediction Equations for Subduction Slab Earthquakes in Japan Using Site Class and Simple Geometric Attenuation Functions

The frequency content of strong ground motions from subduction slab earthquakes differs significantly from that of ground motions produced by other categories (tectonic locations: shallow crustal, upper mantle, and subduction interface) of earthquakes in subduction zones. In the last two decades, a large number of records from subduction slab events have been obtained in Japan. We present a ground‐motion prediction equation (GMPE) for this category of earthquakes. We used a large dataset from reliably identified slab events up to the end of 2012. The GMPEs were based on a set of simple geometric attenuation functions, site classes were used as site terms, and nonlinear site amplification ratios were adopted. A bilinear magnitude‐scaling function was adopted for large earthquakes with moment magnitude M w≥7.1, with the scaling rates for large events being much smaller than for the smaller events. A magnitude‐squared term was used for events with M w<7.1 as well as the bilinear magnitude‐scaling function. We also modeled the effect of volcanic zones using an anelastic attenuation coefficient applied to a horizontal portion of the seismic‐wave travel distance within possible volcanic zones. We found that excluding the records from sites with inferred site classes improved the model goodness of fit. The within‐event residuals were approximately separated into within‐site and between‐site residuals, and the corresponding standard deviations were calculated using a random effects model. The separation of within‐event residuals into within‐site and between‐site components allows for the possibility of adopting different standard deviations for different site classes in a probabilistic seismic‐hazard analysis if desired. Online Material: Figures showing the distribution of between‐event residuals with respect to magnitude and fault‐top depth and the distribution of within‐event residuals with respect to magnitude and source distance.

Ground‐Motion Prediction Equations for Subduction Interface Earthquakes in Japan Using Site Class and Simple Geometric Attenuation Functions

The frequency content of strong ground motions from subduction slab earthquakes differs significantly from that of ground motions produced by other categories (tectonic locations: shallow crustal, upper mantle, and subduction interface) of earthquakes in subduction zones. In the last two decades, a large number of records from subduction slab events have been obtained in Japan. We present a ground‐motion prediction equation (GMPE) for this category of earthquakes. We used a large dataset from reliably identified slab events up to the end of 2012. The GMPEs were based on a set of simple geometric attenuation functions, site classes were used as site terms, and nonlinear site amplification ratios were adopted. A bilinear magnitude‐scaling function was adopted for large earthquakes with moment magnitude M w≥7.1, with the scaling rates for large events being much smaller than for the smaller events. A magnitude‐squared term was used for events with M w<7.1 as well as the bilinear magnitude‐scaling function. We also modeled the effect of volcanic zones using an anelastic attenuation coefficient applied to a horizontal portion of the seismic‐wave travel distance within possible volcanic zones. We found that excluding the records from sites with inferred site classes improved the model goodness of fit. The within‐event residuals were approximately separated into within‐site and between‐site residuals, and the corresponding standard deviations were calculated using a random effects model. The separation of within‐event residuals into within‐site and between‐site components allows for the possibility of adopting different standard deviations for different site classes in a probabilistic seismic‐hazard analysis if desired. Online Material: Figures showing the distribution of between‐event residuals with respect to magnitude and fault‐top depth and the distribution of within‐event residuals with respect to magnitude and source distance.

Design, modeling and test of a novel compliant orthogonal displacement amplification mechanism for the compact micro-grasping system

In the compact micro-grasping system, the combination of precisely orthogonal movement transformation, displacement amplification and simple structure is important. The typical solution of the combination issue requires bidirectional symmetric input forces/displacements. However, under a certain driving condition, numerous actuators used in micro-manipulation only supply unidirectional input froce/displacement for the driven mechanism, which makes the typical solution infeasible. In this study, a novel compliant orthogonal displacement amplification mechanism (DAM) is proposed to solve the combination issue for numerous actuators used in micro-grasping. The proposed mechanism is a triangulation amplification-based mechanism with undetermined structural parameters. The number of the undetermined parameters and the solution principle are analyzed. The design process is presented. Finite element analysis (FEA) is used to verify the design method. The FEA results show that, for the design examples, the errors evaluating the orthogonal movement transformation are smaller than 0.56ź% and 0.15 % respectively, and the displacement amplification ratios are larger than 4.6. The orthogonal displacement amplification is realized. A precise model of the displacement amplification ratio is derived. The dynamic performances of the proposed orthogonal DAM are modeled and FEA verified. Furthermore, a microgripper utilizing the proposed mechanism is presented. The performances of the gripper, including the displacement amplification and the parallel movement of the jaws, are verified by FEA and experiments.

Development of NIST standard reference material 2373: Genomic DNA standards for HER2 measurements

NIST standard reference material (SRM) 2373 was developed to improve the measurements of the HER2 gene amplification in DNA samples. SRM 2373 consists of genomic DNA extracted from five breast cancer cell lines with different amounts of amplification of the HER2 gene. The five components are derived from the human cell lines SK-BR-3, MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-361, MDA-MB-453, and BT-474. The certified values are the ratios of the HER2 gene copy numbers to the copy numbers of selected reference genes DCK, EIF5B, RPS27A, and PMM1. The ratios were measured using quantitative polymerase chain reaction and digital PCR, methods that gave similar ratios. The five components of SRM 2373 have certified HER2 amplification ratios that range from 1.3 to 17.7. The stability and homogeneity of the reference materials were shown by repeated measurements over a period of several years. SRM 2373 is a well characterized genomic DNA reference material that can be used to improve the confidence of the measurements of HER2 gene copy number.

Abstract B43: A preponderance of post-menopausal HER2+ breast cancer in the Vietnamese population

Abstract Background: Though breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer death in women worldwide, relatively little is understood about the differences in prevalence and biology between various populations. For example, breast cancer is far less common in Asia than in North America, and the biology of breast cancer is likely different between these groups as well. There is some limited data to suggest that Asian breast cancer patients may have 35-40% rate of HER2+ breast cancer [1,2], as compared to 15-23% within the general American population [3,4]. Methods: To further examine this possibility, we reviewed our data at the Harris Health Systems' Smith Clinic in Houston, Texas from September 2010 through September 2014 to further characterize the Vietnamese breast cancer patients seen during that time. Using Fisher's Exact Test, we compared our subset of Vietnamese breast cancer patients with the publicly available SEER data from 2010[4]. Results: Among the Vietnamese patients from the Smith Clinic, we found that out of 33 patients with invasive breast cancer, 15 (45%) had HER2+ breast cancer. Interestingly, 64% of the HER2+ cohort was post-menopausal, and 50% of the post-menopausal women had HER2+ breast cancer. Compared with the 2010 SEER data that encompasses 28% of all US breast cancer patients diagnosed that year, regardless of race, the Smith Clinic Vietnamese cohort had a statistically significant higher rate of HER2+ breast cancer, with an odds ratio of 4.7 (45% vs. 15%, p &amp;lt;0.001). Among the women greater than 50 years old in both groups, the Vietnamese women had a higher rate of HER2+ breast cancer than the same age group in the SEER data group (odds ratio 7.0, p &amp;lt;0.001). Conclusion: The patterns observed in this small Vietnamese cohort, and others, do not mirror those seen in the general, multi-racial American breast cancer population. The rate of HER2+ breast cancer in the Smith Clinic Vietnamese group is twice that of the general American population. Other, larger studies have supported the findings of this small group, including a 242-patient study in Vietnam which demonstrated a 41% rate of HER2+ breast cancer; 55% of post-menopausal women had HER2 mutated tumors in this group [1]. Generally, other studies have associated older age and post-menopausal status with a lower rate of HER2+ breast cancer [5,6], but the opposite is true in these Vietnamese women. This unique pattern of breast cancer in Vietnamese women may suggest an underlying genetic or environmental driver, similar to the higher rate of triple negative breast cancer in BRCA1 carriers, or HER2+ breast cancer in women with p53 mutations. We plan to conduct further epidemiologic and genetic research in a larger cohort of Vietnamese breast cancer patients to determine whether an underlying germline genetic mutation or environmental exposure may explain this unusual pattern of breast cancer.

Empirical Compliance Equations for Constant Rectangular Cross Section Flexure Hinges and Their Applications

This paper presents the derivation of empirical compliance equations of the constant rectangular cross section flexure hinge. The stress concentration caused by changes in cross section is analyzed based on finite element analysis results for the purpose of overcoming compliance calculation errors. It shows that the stress concentration has great influence on axial compliance calculation, while it has little influence on shear and bending compliance calculation. Then empirical compliance equations with a relative wide range ofh/Landt/Lare derived based on the exponential model in conjunction with consideration of all geometrical parameters of flexure hinges and the influence of the stress concentration on axial compliance calculation. Finally, in order to verify the validity of the empirical equations, the input/output compliance and displacement amplification ratios of bridge-type microdisplacement amplification mechanisms are analyzed. Meanwhile, an experimental platform of displacement amplification mechanisms is set up. The experimental results and finite element method (FEM) values are in good agreement with the theoretical arithmetic, which demonstrates the accuracy of the empirical compliance equations. It provides a reference point for further studies on the design and optimization of flexure hinges and compliant mechanisms.

FEM Modelling of the Seismic Behavior of a Tunnel-soil-Aboveground Building System: A Case History in Catania (Italy)

In the design of tunnels it is extremely important to assess the possible damage to the tunnel and to the aboveground structures in order to provide adequate mitigation measures, above all in high seismic hazard areas. Great attention has been devoted to separated tunnel-soil interaction analysis and soil-aboveground structure interaction analysis. Unfortunately, studies involving tunnel plus soil plus aboveground structures (full-coupled analysis) are still very rare. The present paper deals with the seismic response of a tunnel-soil-aboveground building system. The effects of the tunnel on the response of the soil and/or of the building and vice versa have been analysed by means of a full-coupled FEM modelling. A cross-section of the recently-built underground underground in Catania (Italy), including an aboveground building has been analysed and considering the expected scenario earthquake. Results are reported in terms of amplification ratios, frequency ratios, as well as dynamic bending moments in the tunnel. The main goal of the paper is to highlight the combined effect of tunnel and aboveground structure.

Nonlinear Site Models Derived from 1D Analyses for Ground‐Motion Prediction Equations Using Site Class as the Site Parameter

Nonlinear site models are an important part of ground‐motion prediction equations (GMPEs) and can be constructed in a number of ways. If numerous soil‐site strong‐motion records contain the effect of strong nonlinear soil response, the parameters for the nonlinear model can be a part of the regression parameters for GMPEs. It is also possible to derive nonlinear site models by numerical simulation. However, the number of strong‐motion records from Japan that contain the effect of strong nonlinear soil response is still too small to derive nonlinear site terms. We present a model of nonlinear site terms using site class as the site parameter in GMPEs based on a 1D equivalent linear model. The 1D model was constructed based on the shear‐wave velocity profiles from the KiK‐net strong‐motion stations with a wide range of site periods, soil depth, and impedance ratios. The rock‐site strong‐motion records were from different earthquake categories in Japan and the Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center dataset. Those records had a wide range of earthquake magnitudes, source distances, and peak ground accelerations. A random effects regression model was fitted to the calculated spectral amplification ratios, accounting for the effect of site impedance ratios, earthquake magnitudes, and source distances of the rock‐site records. We also designed a method to adjust the 1D model so it can be used in a GMPE, accounting for the fact that a 1D model is an overly simplistic assumption for many real strong‐motion recording stations in many parts of the world. Online Material: Tables of nonlinear site model parameters.

Abstract P5-10-18: The chromosomal genomic landscape and targetable co-amplified genes in HER2 positive breast cancer patients who relapsed on an adjuvant trastuzumab chemotherapy trial

Abstract Background Early stage HER2 amplified breast cancer has a generally favorable prognosis with over 95% of patients showing 2-year disease free survival (DFS) when treated with adjuvant trastuzumab. However, a subset of these tumors are refractory to treatment and present a challenge for the oncologist, particularly when clinical and histologic parameters, including the patient’s nodal and hormonal status, are indicative of lower-risk HER2 positive disease. In this study we describe the genomic landscape of three clinically lower-risk patients with HER2 amplified tumors who relapsed on adjuvant docetaxel and cyclophosphamide plus 1 year of trastuzumab in a phase 2 study (Jones et al, Lancet Oncology 14: 1121, 2013). All patients’ tumors showed high-level HER2 amplification ratios by FISH (8.51-14.46) and were analyzed in parallel with a fourth clinically matched 2-year DFS patient’s tumor from the same trial with high HER2 gene amplification (FISH ratio 11.38). Methods Primary tumor genomic DNA analysis was performed from archival tissue by next generation sequencing (NGS) on the Illumina HiSeq 2500 platform in a CLIA certified laboratory. Tumors were screened for point mutations and copy number alterations (CNAs) by NGS using a targeted-whole exome 613 gene panel. CNAs detected by NGS were confirmed on a DNA microarray featuring high-density probe coverage of the same 613 genes on the targeted panel. CGH chromosome ratio plots were overlaid with algorithmically derived NGS copy number data to generate a map of the chromosomal genomic landscape for each patient’s tumor. Results High-level HER2 gene amplification status was confirmed, and co-amplified chromosome 17 genomic regions were detected in all three relapsed patients’ tumors. High-level HER2 amplification was also confirmed in the non-relapsed patient’s tumor but co-amplified regions were not detected on chromosome 17 or elsewhere in this patient’s tumor genome. Two of the relapsed ER negative tumors shared focal high-level CCNE1 gene amplifications on chromosome 19. High-level MAP3K3 gene amplification on chromosome 17 was detected in the one ER positive tumor from a relapsed patient. Focal PIK3CA gene amplifications were not identified in any of these tumors, but two tumors (one from the relapse group and one non-relapse) were positive for activating H1047R mutations. Conclusions Combined NGS and CGH analysis of HER2 positive early stage breast cancer can be performed in the clinical laboratory to reveal the tumor’s chromosomal genomic landscape. Combined with other test results, this tumor map can help identify patients at high-risk for relapse and reveal alternative predictive biomarkers of therapeutic response. Citation Format: Shelly Gunn, Chris McCaskill, Linda Daley, Agnes Puskas, Lina Asmar, Yunfei Wang, Stephen Jones. The chromosomal genomic landscape and targetable co-amplified genes in HER2 positive breast cancer patients who relapsed on an adjuvant trastuzumab chemotherapy trial [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Seventh Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2014 Dec 9-13; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(9 Suppl):Abstract nr P5-10-18.

RB-Explorer: An Accurate and Practical Approach to Write Amplification Measurement for SSDs

A large write amplification ratio degrades the program/erase cycles (P/Es) of NAND Flashes and reduces the endurance and performance of solid state disks (SSDs). The lack of a practical way to measure write amplification for SSDs motivates us to propose a novel measuring method called RB-Explorer at the SSD level rather than the NAND Flash level. The goal of RB-Explorer is two-fold: (1) to accurately measure the write amplification of SSDs to quantify SSD endurance and (2) to study the impacts of I/O techniques on write amplification of SSDs. RB-Explorer incorporates a Ready/Busy (R/B) signal of one of the NAND Flashes in an SSD in a proposed write amplification model for SSDs with four full-parallelism levels (i.e., the channel, chip, die, and plane levels). RB-Explorer takes two steps toward measuring write amplification. First, RB-Explorer quantifies the number of page programs using the low R/B signal level, the duration of which varies with the different operation (i.e., read, program, and erase) in NAND Flash. Second, RB-Explorer measures data volume written to NAND Flashes by considering parallelisms at four levels. Data volume written to a die in a NAND Flash is obtained as a product of the number <formula formulatype="inline" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><tex Notation="TeX"> ${\rm N_{p}}$</tex><mathgraphic fileref="sun-ieq1-2308207.gif" graphicformat="GIF"/></formula> of programs and page size <formula formulatype="inline" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><tex Notation="TeX">${\rm P_{a}}$</tex> <mathgraphic fileref="sun-ieq2-2308207.gif" graphicformat="GIF"/></formula> . Given the number <formula formulatype="inline" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><tex Notation="TeX">${\rm N_{channel}}$</tex> <mathgraphic fileref="sun-ieq3-2308207.gif" graphicformat="GIF"/></formula> of channels, the number <formula formulatype="inline" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><tex Notation="TeX">${\rm N_{chip}}$</tex> <mathgraphic fileref="sun-ieq4-2308207.gif" graphicformat="GIF"/></formula> of chips per channel, and the number <formula formulatype="inline" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><tex Notation="TeX">${\rm N_{die}}$</tex> <mathgraphic fileref="sun-ieq5-2308207.gif" graphicformat="GIF"/></formula> of dies per chip, one can obtain the data volume written to NAND Flashes as a product of <formula formulatype="inline" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><tex Notation="TeX">${\rm N_{p}}, {\rm P_{a}}, {\rm N_{die}}, {\rm N_{chip}}$</tex><mathgraphic fileref="sun-ieq6-2308207.gif" graphicformat="GIF"/></formula> , and <formula formulatype="inline" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><tex Notation="TeX">${\rm N_{channel}}$</tex> <mathgraphic fileref="sun-ieq7-2308207.gif" graphicformat="GIF"/></formula> . RB-Explorer is applied to analyzing write amplification ratios of SSDs to track SSD endurance. Furthermore, we implement a real-world SSD (i.e., SSD-v) and employ a fine-tuned SSD simulator (i.e., SSDsim) to validate the accuracy of RB-Explorer. Our experimental results show that RB-Explorer improves on the accuracy of SSDsim—the state-of-the-art SSD simulator—in most tested cases. We conduct a series of measurements using micro-benchmarks and I/O traces to demonstrate how RB-Explorer may be applied to investigate SSDs.

Investigation of the soil amplification factor in the Adapazari region

Turkey is located on the highly active Eurasian plate. A very active strike slip fault, the North Anatolian Fault Zone (NAFZ), crosses Turkey from east to west; earthquakes occurred on this fault on August 17, 1999 (Kocaeli) and November 12, 1999 (Duzce). Regional geology and subsoil conditions can significantly change the characteristics of ground motion. For this reason, determining soil amplification during an earthquake, especially for soft soils, is a very important topic for researchers. In this study, one dimensional ground response analyses were performed for selected Adapazari sites using the August 17, 1999 Kocaeli earthquake strong ground motion record with SHAKE2000 software. Soil characteristics and depth to engineering bedrock at the selected sites are different and the observed level of structural damage at these sites during the Kocaeli earthquake was also different. Calculated soil surface response spectrums at these sites were compared with the recommended design spectra of the Turkish Earthquake Code and the Eurocode 8. According to one dimensional ground response analyses, the calculated response spectra of the selected sites exceed the recommended design spectra of the Turkish Earthquake Code and the Eurocode 8. Calculations show that higher amplification ratios occur at higher periods due to soil behaviour. Results of this study indicate that local geological conditions may amplify ground motion at some periods and, due to this amplification, the calculated response spectra may exceed the recommended design spectra. Therefore, it is clear that local site conditions must be considered for earthquake-resistant engineering designs on soft alluvial soil deposits.

Real-time PCR-mediated diagnosis of hemizygosity at the Tamyb10-D1 locus controlling grain color in wheat

Grain color of wheat is one of the most important economic traits, affecting both flour quality and grain dormancy. As grain color reflects the phenotype of the seed coat, which is a maternal tissue, genotyping of this trait in segregating F2 plants requires an F3 progeny test. Consequently, the development of co-dominant molecular markers for grain color enables genotyping on a single grain basis and would expedite wheat breeding. R-1 genes control grain color and have been identified as MYB-type transcription factors, denoted as Tamyb10, which reside on the 3A, 3B, and 3D chromosomes, respectively. In an earlier study we developed co-dominant markers for R-A1 and R-B1 on chromosomes 3A and 3B, but could only develop one dominant marker for R-D1 because the mutant allele deleted the entire Tamyb10-D1 fragment with an unknown deletion size. DNA of individuals of the F2 population derived from crossing the white-grained line, 1–117, and the red-grained line, OW104, was isolated and used for real-time PCR. Relative amplification ratios of Tamyb10-D1 to Tamyb10-B1 in each of 96 individuals showed a bimodal distribution without overlapping, which allowed unequivocal classification of the F2 plants into a 1.0 (dominant homozygous) or a 0.5 (heterozygous) class, in accordance with a 1:2 expected ratio. Genotypes with the R-D1 grain color (4 plants per each class) were tested by an F3 progeny test. The results perfectly coincided with the genotypes deduced by the real-time PCR diagnosis. Consequently, the hemizygous status at the Tamyb10-D1 locus controlling grain color in wheat can now be diagnosed with the real-time PCR.

A European digital accelerometric database: statistical analysis of engineering parameters of small to moderate magnitude events

During the NERIES Project, an accelerometric database containing European digital information was developed. Besides event and station metadata, ground motion parameters, computed in a homogeneous manner, were assembled: PGA, PGV, AI, TD, CAV, HI and PSV(f,5%) (19,961 components, 2629 events, 547 stations). Merging small and moderate magnitude events produced a unique database capable of providing important information such as: (i) Correlations between several ground motion parameters follow analogous trends as in previous worldwide datasets, with slight corrections. (ii) Although PGA attenuations with distance show great uncertainties, four recent GMPEs recommended for Europe fit quite well the central 50% data interval for the distance range 10 < R < 200 km; outside these distances, they do not fit. (iii) Soil amplification ratios indicate that weak motion (low magnitudes and larger distances) shows larger amplification than strong motion (short distances and large magnitudes) as represented in UBC97 for the USA, but not in EC8 for Europe. (iv) Average spectral shapes are smaller than in the EC8. (v) Differences in amplification factors for PGA, PGV and HI for EC8 soil classes B and C, and differences in spectral shapes for these soil classes, indicate that EC8, Type 2 S-coefficient should be frequency dependent, as in UBC97.

Torsional response of seismically isolated structures revisited

The torsional response of seismically isolated structures is revisited. Experimental results on the torsional response of seismic isolated structures in the past have been conducted with unrealistically torsionally stiff seismic isolation systems. It is shown in this paper that the measured torsional amplification ratios correspond to accidental eccentricities of about half of the code-described value of 5-percent of largest plan dimension. Current practice to calculate the amplification factor for the displacement demand due to torsion is discussed and a rational and simple improvement for predicting these amplification factors is presented. The revised equations are useful in predicting the torsional response of torsionally stiff seismic isolation systems and in assessing the utility of shake table experimental results on the basis of scaling principles.