Revision of the Early Devonian tabulate coral Pleurodictyum bifidum from New South Wales

Plusquellec, Y. &; Wright, A.J., October 2017. Revision of the Early Devonian tabulate coral Pleurodictyum bifidum from New South Wales. Alcheringa 41, xxx–xxx. ISSN 0311-5518.

The tabulate coral Pleurodictyum bifidum Jones, 1944 Jones, O.A., 1944. Tabulata and Heliolitida from the Wellington district, N.S.W. Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales 77, 33–39. [Google Scholar], from the Early Devonian (Pragian or lower Emsian) Garra Formation of central New South Wales, Australia is revised on the basis of the holotype and three other specimens. It is selected as the type species of the new monotypic genus Bifidomeria (Family Roemeriidae), which differs from Roemeria in its strictly cerioid corallum, its bifid septal spines and aspects of its microstructure. Study of the detailed microstructure of two other tabulate corals from the Devonian of New South Wales has led to the following revised generic assignments: Michelinia progenitor Chapman, 1921 Chapman, F., 1921. New or little known fossils in the National Museum. Part XXV—some Silurian tabulate corals. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria 33, 212–225. [Google Scholar], previously assigned to Roemeripora, is assigned to Roemeria, and Holacanthopora clarkei Wright &; Flory, 1980 Wright, A.J. &; Flory, R.A., 1980. A new Early Devonian tabulate coral from the Mount Frome Limestone, near Mudgee, New South Wales. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 104, 211–219. [Google Scholar] is assigned to Michelinia.

Yves Plusquellec [yves.plusquellec@univ-brest.fr], Université de Bretagne Occidentale, CNRS-UMR 6538 ‘Domaines océaniques’, Laboratoire de Paléontologie, UFR Sciences et Techniques, 6 avenue Le Gorgeu, CS 98837, F-29283 Brest, France; Anthony Wright [tony.wright@optusnet.com.au], GeoQuEST Research Centre, School of Earth &; Environmental Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong NSW 2522, Australia.     

Devonian operculate corals (Calceolidae,Cnidaria) from the Massif Armoricain,France

Wright, A.J., Plusquellec, Y. &; Gourvennec, R., February 2016. Devonian operculate corals (Calceolidae, Cnidaria) from the Massif Armoricain, France. Alcheringa 40, xxx–xxx. ISSN 0311-5518

The operculate coral Calceola gervillei Bayle, 1878 Bayle, E., 1878. Fossiles principaux des terrains de la France. Explication de la Carte Géologique de France 4(1), 1–158. [Google Scholar] is described for the first time on the basis of the type material from the Cotentin region of Normandy (North Armorican Domain), from Early Devonian (likely upper Lochkovian to lower Pragian) strata, and is chosen as the type species of the monotypic new genus Gerviphyllum. The new genus is also present in the l’Armorique Formation (lower Pragian) of the Plougastel Peninsula (Central Armorican Domain) as Gerviphyllum sp. cf. G. gervillei. One locality in the upper Emsian (Polygnathus serotinus Conodont Zone) Le Fret Formation, on the northern coast of the Crozon Peninsula, has yielded operculate coral specimens described here as ?Chakeola sp., the first (tentative) record of the genus outside eastern Australia, south China and Vietnam. The operculate coral Calceola collini sp. nov. is described from six localities in the early Middle Devonian (Eifelian: Polygnathus costatus Conodont Zone) Saint-Fiacre Formation of the Plougastel and Crozon Peninsulas (Central Armorican Domain), despite the fact that knowledge of the internal characters, especially of the operculum, of the type species Calceola sandalina is very limited. From an extensive review of published references to Calceola from France, we conclude that only the record of Collin (1929 Collin, L., 1929. Un nouveau gisement à calcéoles dans le Dévonien de la Presqu’île de Crozon (Finistère). Bulletin de la Société Géologique et Minéralogique de Bretagne 7(3/4), 201–208. [Google Scholar]) is valid.

Anthony Wright (tony.wright@optusnet.com.au), GeoQuEST Research Centre, School of Earth &; Environmental Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia; Yves Plusquellec (yves.plusquellec@univ-brest.fr) and Rémy Gourvennec (remy.gourvennec@univ-brest.fr), Université de Bretagne Occidentale, CNRS-UMR 6538 ‘Domaines océaniques’, Laboratoire de Paléontologie, UFR Sciences et Techniques, 6 avenue Le Gorgeu, CS 98837, F-29283, Brest, France. Received 1.10.2015; revised 8.12.2015; accepted 14.12.2015.     

Effects of Vertical Load,Strain Rate and Cycling on the Response of Lead-Rubber Seismic Isolators

Lead-rubber isolators represent a valid and economic solution for the seismic isolation of bridge structures and modern manufacturing techniques make available large devices. Velocity effects on small to medium-scale isolators have been discussed by several authors (e.g., Clark et al., 1997 Clark, P. W., Aiken, I. D. and Kelly, J. M. 1997. Experimental studies of the ultimate behavior of seismically isolated structures, Berkeley, CA: Earthquake Engineering Research Center, University of California. Report No. UCB/EERC-97/18 [Google Scholar]; Thompson et al., 2000 Thomson, A. C., Whittaker, A. S., Fenves, G. L. and Mahin, S. A. 2000. “Property modification factors for elastomeric seismic isolation bearings”. In Proceedings of the 12th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering, New Zealand: Auckand. January [Google Scholar]) as well as included in reports of experimental programs (e.g., CERF, 1999 CERF. Civil Engineering Research Foundation, Summary of evaluation findings for the testing of seismic isolation and energy dissipation devices. CERF Report No. 40404. 1999.  [Google Scholar]). Only recently, however, the behavior of large devices was validated under full-scale displacements, loads, and velocities.

In this article, results obtained from an experimental investigation on the effects of axial load and strain rate on the performance of a full-scale lead-core elastomeric bearing for bridge applications, are reported. The bearing response was analyzed with particular attention to the variation of critical performance characteristics in order to produce a set of information that could be implemented in a physically motivated numerical model.

The results, in line with additional tests performed on similar full-scale bearings at the Caltrans SRMD Testing Facility at the University of California San Diego, indicate a moderate effect of the applied vertical load but a significant effect of the strain rate and cycling on all the significant response parameters. This information should be taken into account by designers, particularly when high component of velocities are associated with the expected seismic motion. A simplified numerical model is proposed for the assessment of lead-rubber bearing performance.     

Study on Response Spectral Acceleration from the Great Wenchuan,China Earthquake of May 12, 2008

The M _w7.9 Wenchuan earthquake produced a rich set of over 1,400 accelerograms, which helped us to better understand strong ground motions from such a large event. Using the abundant data, we investigated the characteristics of response spectral accelerations from this event. This study includes: the spatial distribution of spectral amplitudes at three periods selected to represent ground motions at short, short-middle, and middle-long period ranges; attenuations of response spectral accelerations at periods between 0.05 and 10 s; comparison between the observed ground motions and predicted motions from empirically based equations [Abrahamson and Silva,1997 Abrahamson, N. N. and Silva, W. J. 1997. Empirical response spectral attenuation relations for shallow crustal earthquakes. Seismological Ressearch Letters, 68: 9–23. [Crossref] , [Google Scholar]; Boore et al., 1997 Boore, D. M., Joyner, W. B. and Fumal, T. E. 1997. Equations for estimating horizontal response spectra and peak acceleration from Western North America earthquakes: a summary of recent work. Seismological Ressearch Letters, 68: 128–153. [Crossref] , [Google Scholar]; Campbell, 1997 Campbell, K. W. 1997. Empirical near-source attenuation relationships for horizontal and vertical components of peak ground acceleration, peak ground velocity, and pseudo-absolute acceleration response spectra. Seismological Ressearch Letters, 68: 154–179. [Crossref] , [Google Scholar]; Huo, 1989 Huo, J. R. Ph.D. 1989. Study on the attenuation laws of strong earthquake ground motion near the source, Dissertation, Institute of Engineering Mechanics, China Earthquake Administration. (In Chinese) [Google Scholar]] commonly used in America and China; comparison between the average response spectra at three distance bins and the Chinese seismic design spectra under major earthquake (with the recurrent interval of over 2,000 years);, the vertical-to-horizontal ratio of response spectra and its dependence on the rupture distance, period, and local site condition; and comparison between the fault-normal and fault-parallel component spectral accelerations within the rupture distance of 60 km. Based on these analyses, we finally drew some conclusions regarding the engineering characteristics of spectral accelerations from large earthquakes, such as Wenchuan of M _w 7.9.     

Permian (Kungurian) Foraminifera from Western Australia described by Walter Parr in 1942: reassessment and additions

Haig, D.W., October 2017. Permian (Kungurian) Foraminifera from Western Australia described by Walter Parr in 1942: reassessment and additions. Alcheringa 42, 37–66. ISSN 0311-5518.

Exceptionally well-preserved siliceous agglutinated Foraminifera originally recorded by Walter Parr in 1942 are redescribed and illustrated by rendered multifocal reflected-light images. Significant new observations are made on wall texture and apertural morphology. The specimens are from the Quinnanie Shale and lower Wandagee Formation in the Merlinleigh Sub-basin of the Southern Carnarvon Basin, a marginal rift that splayed from the East Gondwana interior rift. During the Early Permian, a restricted shallow sea inundated the rift. The formations are part of sequence III of the Byro Group and belong within the Kungurian Stage (Cisuralian, Lower Permian). Of the 14 agglutinated species described by Parr, six are retained under their original names, viz., Hyperammina coleyi Parr, 1942 Parr, W.J., 1942. Foraminifera and a tubicolous worm from the Permian of the North-West Division of Western Australia. Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia 27, 97–115. [Google Scholar], H. rudis Parr, 1942 Parr, W.J., 1942. Foraminifera and a tubicolous worm from the Permian of the North-West Division of Western Australia. Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia 27, 97–115. [Google Scholar], Ammodiscus nitidus Parr, 1942 Parr, W.J., 1942. Foraminifera and a tubicolous worm from the Permian of the North-West Division of Western Australia. Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia 27, 97–115. [Google Scholar], A. wandageeensis Parr, 1942 Parr, W.J., 1942. Foraminifera and a tubicolous worm from the Permian of the North-West Division of Western Australia. Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia 27, 97–115. [Google Scholar], Tolypammina undulata Parr, 1942 Parr, W.J., 1942. Foraminifera and a tubicolous worm from the Permian of the North-West Division of Western Australia. Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia 27, 97–115. [Google Scholar] and Reophax tricameratus Parr, 1942 Parr, W.J., 1942. Foraminifera and a tubicolous worm from the Permian of the North-West Division of Western Australia. Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia 27, 97–115. [Google Scholar]; one is transferred to a different species, viz., Thurammina texana Cushman &; Waters, 1928a Cushman, J.A. &; Waters, J.A., 1928a. Some Foraminifera from the Pennsylvanian and Permian of Texas. Contributions from the Cushman Laboratory for Foraminiferal Research 4, 31–55. [Google Scholar]; six are placed with other genera, viz., Thuramminoides pusilla (Parr, 1942 Parr, W.J., 1942. Foraminifera and a tubicolous worm from the Permian of the North-West Division of Western Australia. Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia 27, 97–115. [Google Scholar]), Teichertina teicherti (Parr, 1942 Parr, W.J., 1942. Foraminifera and a tubicolous worm from the Permian of the North-West Division of Western Australia. Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia 27, 97–115. [Google Scholar]), Sansabaina acicula (Parr, 1942 Parr, W.J., 1942. Foraminifera and a tubicolous worm from the Permian of the North-West Division of Western Australia. Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia 27, 97–115. [Google Scholar]), Tolypammina? adhaerens (Parr, 1942 Parr, W.J., 1942. Foraminifera and a tubicolous worm from the Permian of the North-West Division of Western Australia. Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia 27, 97–115. [Google Scholar]), Kunklerina subasper (Parr, 1942 Parr, W.J., 1942. Foraminifera and a tubicolous worm from the Permian of the North-West Division of Western Australia. Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia 27, 97–115. [Google Scholar]), Trochamminopsis subobtusa (Parr, 1942 Parr, W.J., 1942. Foraminifera and a tubicolous worm from the Permian of the North-West Division of Western Australia. Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia 27, 97–115. [Google Scholar]); and a species of Ammobaculites Cushman, 1910 Cushman, J.A., 1910. A monograph of the Foraminifera of the North Pacific Ocean. Part 1. Astrorhizidae and Lituolidae. United States National Museum, Bulletin 71(1), 134 pp. [Google Scholar] identified by Parr is now left in open nomenclature. From Parr's material, eight additional species are described: two new species, viz., Hyperammina parri sp. nov. and Gaudryinopsis raggatti sp. nov.; rare representatives of Aaptotoichus quinnaniensis Haig, 2003 Haig, D.W., 2003. Palaeobathymetric zonation of foraminifera from lower Permian shale deposits of a high-latitude southern interior sea. Marine Micropaleontology 49, 317–334. 10.1016/S0377-8398(03)00051-3[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]; and very rare species of Lagenammina Rhumbler, 1911 Rhumbler, L., 1911. Die Foraminiferen (Thalamophoren) der Plankton-Expedition, Erster Teil, Die allgemeinen Organizationsverhaltnisse der Foraminiferen. Ergebnisse der Plankton-Expedition der Humboldt-Stiftung, Kiel u. Leipzig, 3L.c. (1909), 1–331. [Google Scholar], Giraliarella Crespin, 1958 Crespin, I., 1958. Permian foraminifera of Australia. Bureau Mineral Resources, Geology and Geophysics, Bulletin 48, 1–207. [Google Scholar], Glomospira Rzehak, 1885 Rzehak, A., 1885. Bemerkungen über einige Foraminiferen der Oligocän Formation. Verhandlungen des Naturforschenden Vereins in Brünn 1884(23), 123–129. [Google Scholar], Hormosinella Shchedrina, 1969 Shchedrina, Z.G., 1969. O nekotorykh izmeneniyakh v sisteme semeystv Astrorhizidae i Reophacidae (Foraminifera). Voprosy Mikropaleontologii 11, 157–170. [Google Scholar], and Reophax Denys de Montfort, 1808 Denys de Montfort, P., 1808. Conchyliologie Systématique et Classification Méthodique des Coquilles, Volume 1. F. Schoell, Paris, 409. 10.5962/bhl.title.10571[Crossref] , [Google Scholar], all of which are left in open nomenclature. Hyperammina rudis is the type species of Hyperamminita Crespin, 1958 Crespin, I., 1958. Permian foraminifera of Australia. Bureau Mineral Resources, Geology and Geophysics, Bulletin 48, 1–207. [Google Scholar], a genus now considered a junior subjective synonym of Hyperammina Brady, 1878 Brady, H.B., 1878. On the reticularian and radiolarian Rhizopoda (Foraminifera and Polycystina) of the North Polar Expedition of 1875–76. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, ser. 1(6), 425–440. 10.1080/00222937808682361[Taylor &; Francis Online] , [Google Scholar]. 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United States National Museum, Bulletin 71(1), 134 pp. [Google Scholar], type species of Oryctoderma Loeblich &; Tappan, 1961 Loeblich, A.R. &; Tappan, H., 1961. Remarks on the systematics of the Sarkodina (Protozoa), renamed homonyms and new and validated genera. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 74, 213–234. [Google Scholar]. The collection contains some of the earliest representatives of the revised family Verneuilinoididae Suleymanov, 1973 Suleymanov, I.S., 1973. Nekotorye voprosy sistematiki semeystva Verneuilinidae Cushman 1927 v svyazi s usloviyami obitaniya. Dokladari Uzbekiston SSR. Fanlar Akademiyasining, Tashkent 1973, 35–36. [Google Scholar], herein elevated from subfamily rank, and considered to include Pennsylvanian–Cisuralian representatives of Mooreinella Cushman &; Waters, 1928a Cushman, J.A. &; Waters, J.A., 1928a. Some Foraminifera from the Pennsylvanian and Permian of Texas. Contributions from the Cushman Laboratory for Foraminiferal Research 4, 31–55. [Google Scholar], Aaptotoichus Loeblich &; Tappan, 1982 Loeblich, A.R. &; Tappan, H., 1982. A revision of mid-Cretaceous textularian foraminifers from Texas. Journal of Micropalaeontology 1, 55–69. 10.1144/jm.1.1.55[Crossref] , [Google Scholar], Digitina Crespin &; Parr, 1941 Crespin, I. &; Parr, W.J., 1941. Arenaceous Foraminifera from the Permian rocks of New South Wales. Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales 74, 300–311. [Google Scholar], Gaudryinopsis Podobina, 1975 Podobina, V.M., 1975. Foraminifery Verkhnego Mela i Paleogena zapadno-Sibirskoy nizmennosti, ikh znachenie dlya stratigrafii. Tomsk University Press, Tomsk, 264. [Google Scholar], Caronia Brönnimann, Whittaker &; Zaninetti, 1992 Brönnimann, P., Whittaker, J.E. &; Zaninetti, L., 1992. Brackish water foraminifera from mangrove sediments of southwestern Viti Levu, Fiji Island, Southwest Pacific. 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David W. Haig [david.haig@uwa.edu.au] Centre for Energy Geoscience, School of Earth Sciences, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley WA 6009, Australia.     

Fixation of the type species of the genus Protoretepora de Koninck, 1878 (Bryozoa,Fenestrata)

Wyse Jackson, P.N., Reid, C.M. & McKinney, F.K., iFirst article, 2011. Fixation of the type species of the genus Protoretepora de Koninck, 1878 (Bryozoa, Fenestrata). Alcheringa, 1–2. ISSN 0311-5518.

The type species of the Palaeozoic bryozoan genus Protoretepora de Koninck, 1878 was originally fixed as Fenestella ampla Lonsdale in Darwin, 1844, but this taxon has been shown to belong to the bryozoan genus Parapolypora Morozova & Lisitsyn, 1996 Morozova, I. P. and Lisitsyn, D. V. 1996. Revision of the genus Polypora. Paleontologicheskii Zhurnal, 1996(4): 38–47. [English translation: Paleontological Journal30(5), 530–541] [Google Scholar]. The original type species designation for Protoretepora de Koninck, 1878 is set aside, and in accordance with Article 70.3 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (4th edition, 1999) the nominal species Protoretepora crockfordae Wyse Jackson, Reid & McKinney, 2011 from the Permian of Tasmania, Australia is herein fixed as the type species.     

Seismic Hazard Assessment of the NW Himalayan Fold-and-Thrust Belt,Pakistan, Using Probabilistic Approach

The Seismic Hazard Assessment (SHA) based on probabilistic approach has been carried out for the entire seismically active NW Himalayan Fold and Thrust Belt in Pakistan. Additional information in the form of earthquake catalog, delineation of 41 active faults in a structural map, their relationship to the seismicity, and establishment of seismotectonic zones has also been undertaken.

From the distribution of the 813 events within the study area, it appears that seismicity (≥4.0 M_w) is associated with both surface and blind faults. The clustering of events in specific parts along the surface faults shows that some fault segments, especially in the hinterland zone, are more active. In parts of the active deformational front, like the Salt Range, southern Potwar and Bannu, lesser seismic activity (≥4.0 M_w) could be due to damping effect of the thick Precambrian salt.

A majority of the earthquakes (86%) range in magnitude from 4.0 to 4.9 M_w, followed by 107 events (13%) ranging from 5.0 to 5.9 M_w. The remaining 1% range from 6.0 to 6.7 M_w. There is a predominance of shallow seismicity (<50 km focal depth). Larger magnitudes events are more in the hinterland zone. In contrast, based on distribution of 683 (≥4.0 M_w) events, a deeper level of seismicity (50 to 200 km) prevails especially in the adjoining Hindukush Range of Afghanistan.

Four seismotectonic zones have been established in the area. The b value is highest for the Peshawar-Hazara Seismic Zone (PHSZ) at 1.27, followed by 1.12 for the Surghar-Kurram Seismic Zone (SKSZ). The Swat-Astor Seismic Zone (SASZ) and Kohat-Potwar-Salt Range Seismic Zone (KPSZ) have b values of 0.99 and 1.03, respectively, thereby indicating the occurrence of more events of relatively higher magnitude as compared to the other two zones. The mean activity rate of the earthquakes (λ) ranges from 4.26 to 1.73. In decreasing order, the values are 4.26, 2.62, 2.07, and 1.73 for PHSZ, SASZ, KPSZ, and SKSZ, respectively. Using four regression relationships, the maximum potential magnitude (m₁) has been determined for the 4 Quaternary faults. The highest value within each seismic zone represents its m₁. Our calculations show that m₁ is 7.8 in the hinterland (SASZ and PHSZ) and 7.4 in the foreland part (KPSZ and SKSZ).

SHA, incorporating probabilistic approach, has been undertaken at 10 sites, along with disaggregation at the assigned amplitude of 0.2g. Pakistan does not have an attenuation equation of its own. The two equations of Ambraseys et al. (1996) Ambraseys, N. N., Simpson, K. A. and Bommer, J. J. 1996. Prediction of horizontal response spectra in Europe. Earthquake Engineering and Structural Dynamics, 25: 371–400. [Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar] and Boore et al. (1997) Boore, D. M., Joyner, W. B. and Fumal, T. E. 1997. Equations from estimating horizontal response spectra and peak acceleration from western North American earthquakes: a summary of recent work. Seismological Research Letters, 68: 128–153. [Crossref] , [Google Scholar] have been used and the results obtained using the equation of Boore et al. (1997) Boore, D. M., Joyner, W. B. and Fumal, T. E. 1997. Equations from estimating horizontal response spectra and peak acceleration from western North American earthquakes: a summary of recent work. Seismological Research Letters, 68: 128–153. [Crossref] , [Google Scholar] have been preferred. In the Probabilistic seismic hazard assessment (PSHA), the PGA values with 10% probability of exceedance in the 50 years, i.e., the return period of 475, have been determined using the EZ-FRISK (6.2 beta version) software. Best-estimated seismic hazard parameters (λ, m₁, m₀, and the β value) of the four seismic zones were used as the input. Results were generated in the form of total hazard curves. Values obtained range from 0.08g (for Bannu) to 0.21g (for Malakand and Kohat). For the other seven sites they are: Astore (0.082g), Kaghan (0.12g), Muzaffarabad (0.13g), Islamabad and Peshawar (0.15g), Talagang (0.16g), and Mangla (0.18g). High population density and more poorly constructed structures in Rawalpindi (twin city of Islamabad) and Peshawar make them more hazardous.     

The first European representative of the South American family Xenopteraidae (Insecta: Megasecoptera) discovered in the Guadalupian of Lodève (France)

NEL, A., LAPEYRIE, J. & GARROUSTE, R. May 6 2019. The first European representative of the South American family Xenopteraidae (Insecta: Megasecoptera) discovered in the Guadalupian of Lodève (France). Alcheringa 43, 436–440. ISSN 0311-5518.

A new genus, Sinitshenkovae gen. nov., is described, comprising the Carboniferous species Sinitshenkovae hueneckeni (Pinto & Pinto de Ornellas, 1978 Pinto, I.D. & Pinto de Ornellas, L., 1978. Upper Carboniferous insects from Argentina. 1. Familia Diaphanopteridae (Megasecopteroidea). Pesquisas (Zoologiat) 10, 87–95. [Google Scholar]) comb. nov. from South America and new Guadalupian species S. gallica sp. nov. from France. These two species are attributed to the Paleozoic South American family Xenopteraidae, a previously monospecific family only containing Xenoptera riojaensis Pinto, 1986 Pinto, I.D., 1986. Carboniferous insects from Argentina. 3. Family Xenopteridae Pinto nov. fam. (Megasecoptera). Pesquisas (Zoologia) 18, 23–29. [Google Scholar]. Sinitshenkovae gallica sp. nov. is therefore the youngest representative of this family and the only record outside South America, which suggests that our current knowledge of the palaeobiogeography of Permian and Carboniferous insects remains incomplete.

André Nel [anel@mnhn.fr] and Romain Garrouste [garroust@mnhn.fr], Institut Systématique Evolution Biodiversité (ISYEB), Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, EPHE, 57 rue Cuvier, CP 50, 75005 Paris, France; Jean Lapeyrie [jean.lapeyrie@orange.fr], Corniche de Fontbonne, F-34700 Lodève, France.     

A Test of the Applicability of NGA Models to the Strong Ground-Motion Data in the Iranian Plateau

The Next Generation Attenuation (NGA) project has now published several new sets of empirical ground-motion prediction equations (GMPEs) for PGA, PGV, and response spectral ordinates. These models significantly advance the state-of-the-art empirical ground-motion modeling and account for many effects that have not been directly accounted for in the existing Iranian GMPEs. Assuming that the present strong-motion database in Iran is unlikely to drastically change in the near future, the question we ask in this study is: Can the NGA models be applied in Iran? In order to answer this question, the NGA models of Boore and Atkinson [2008] Boore, D. M. and Atkinson, G. M. 2008. Ground-motion prediction equations for the average horizontal 99 component of PGA, PGV, and 5%-damped PSA at spectral periods between 0.01 s and 10.0 s. Earthquake Spectra, Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, 24(1): 99–138. [Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar], Campbell and Bozorgnia, [2008] Campbell, K. W. and Bozorgnia, Y. 2008. NGA ground motion model for the geometric mean horizontal 139 component of PGA, PGV, PGD and 5% damped linear elastic response spectra for periods ranging from 0.01 to 10 s. Earthquake Spectra, Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, 24(1): 139–172. [Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar], and Chiou and Youngs [2008] Chiou, B. and Youngs, R. R. 2008. An NGA model for the average horizontal component of peak 173 ground motion and response spectra. Earthquake Spectra, Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, 24(1): 173–216. [Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar], which are shown to be representative of all NGA models, are compared with the Iranian strong-motion database. The database used in this study comprises 863 two-component horizontal acceleration time series recorded within 100 km of epicentral distances for 166 earthquakes in Iran with magnitudes ranging from 4.0–7.4. The comparisons are made using analyses of residuals. The analysis indicates that the NGA models may confidently be applied within the Iranian plateau. To provide more reliable constraint on finite-fault effects and nonlinear site response in the Iranian equations, it would be useful to drive new GMPEs based on a merger of the NGA and Iranian databases.     

Performing the global through the local—globalisation and individualisation in the spatial practices of young East Germans

This paper aims to show how young people in former East Germany respond to the globalising processes that are part of the transformation of their society from a state-socialist to a capitalist one. It focuses particularly on the differential ways in which young people perform their identities as global/local subjects through the uses that they make of urban space. While emphasising the agency of young people, the paper seeks to examine the dialectic between globalising forces that are largely beyond their control and the negotiation of these forces in everyday practices of identity-formation. Conceptually, the paper draws particularly on the work of Beck (2000) Beck, U. 2000. “What is Globalization?”. Cambridge and Oxford: Polity Press.  [Google Scholar], Beck and Gernsheim (2002) Beck, U. and Beck-Gernsheim, E. 2002. Individualization. Institutionalized Individualism and its Social and Political Consequences, London: Sage.  [Google Scholar] and Giddens (1994) Giddens, A. 1994. Modernity and Self-Identity. Self and Society in the Late Modern Age, Cambridge: Polity Press.  [Google Scholar] in order to conceptualise the connections between globalisation and individualisation, as well as on feminist and recent geographical work on performativity (Butler, 1990 Butler, J. 1990. Gender Trouble. Feminism and the Subversion of Identity, London and New York: Routledge.  [Google Scholar], 1993 Butler, J. 1993. Bodies that Matter. On the Discursive Limits of ‘Sex’, London and New York: Routledge.  [Google Scholar]; Rose, 1996 Rose, G. 1996. “As if the mirrors had bled: masculine dwelling, masculine theory and feminist masquerades”. In BodySpace: Destabilising Geographies of Gender and Sexuality, Edited by: Duncan, N. 56–74. London and New York: Routledge.  [Google Scholar]; Gregson and Rose, 2000 Gregson, N. and Rose, G. 2000. ‘Taking Butler elsewhere: performativities, spatialities and subjectivities’. Environment and Planning D: Society and Space, 18(4): 433–452. [Crossref], [Web of Science ®] [Google Scholar]; Thrift, 1996 Thrift, N. 1996. Spatial Formations, London: Sage.  [Google Scholar]; Dewsbury, 2000 Dewsbury, J.-D. 2000. ‘Performativity and the event: enacting a philosophy of difference’. Environment and Planning D: Society and Space, 18(4): 473–496. [Crossref], [Web of Science ®] [Google Scholar]; Dewsbury and Naylor, 2002 Dewsbury, J.-D. and Naylor, S. 2002. Practicing geographical knowledge: fields, bodies and dissemination. Area, 34(3): 253–260.  [Google Scholar]) in order to gain an embodied understanding of the ways in which individuals construct themselves as global/local subjects.     

Two new species of Nevania (Hymenoptera: Evanioidea: Praeaulacidae: Nevaniinae) from the Middle Jurassic of China

Two new species of Nevania Zhang & Rasnitsyn 2007 Zhang, H.C. & Rasnitsyn, A.P., 2007. Nevaniinae subfam. n., a new fossil taxon (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Evanioidea: Praeaulacidae) from the Middle Jurassic of Daohugou in Inner Mongolia, China. Insect Systematics & Evolution 38, 149–166.[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar], Nevania perbella sp. nov. and Nevania aspectabilis sp. nov., are described and illustrated. They are assigned to Nevania based on their unique morphological characters: forewing venation complete; 2A complete; metasoma with first and second segments long and tube-like. A key to the known species of Nevania is provided. These fossils, collected from the Jiulongshan Formation (Middle Jurassic) of Daohugou in Inner Mongolia, China, broaden the known diversity of this genus in mid-Mesozoic ecosystems.     

Systematics and palaeobiology of some Cambrian hyoliths from Guizhou,China, and Nevada,USA

Sun, H., Babcock, L.E., Peng, J. &; Kastigar, J.M., July 2016. Systematics and palaeobiology of some Cambrian hyoliths from Guizhou, China, and Nevada, USA. Alcheringa 41, xxx–xxx. ISSN 0311-5518.

Hyoliths constitute one of the most important groups of early biomineralized metazoans. Abundant hyolith specimens, comprising both hyolithides and orthothecides, from the Balang Formation (Cambrian Stage 4), Guizhou, China, and the Poleta Formation (Cambrian Stages 3–4), Pioche Formation (Stages 4–5) and Emigrant Formation (Stages 4–5) Nevada, USA, add to the early Palaeozoic record of hyoliths from South China and Laurentia, and provide new taxonomic, taphonomic and palaeoecologic information about this group. Hyoliths from the Balang Formation include the hyolithides ‘Ambrolinevitus’ maximus Jiang, 1982, Galicornus seeneus? Val’kov, 1975 Val’kov, A.K., 1975. Biostratigrafiya i khiolity kembriya severovostoka Sibirskoe platformy [Cambrian biostratigraphy and hyoliths of the northeastern Siberian Platform]. Akademiya Nauka SSSR, Moscow, 139 pp. (in Russian) [Google Scholar], Haplophrentis reesei Babcock &; Robison, 1988 Babcock, L.E. &; Robison, R.A., 1988. Taxonomy and paleobiology of some Middle Cambrian Scenella (Cnidaria) and hyolithids (Mollusca) from western North America. University of Kansas Paleontological Contributions, Paper 121, 1–22. [Google Scholar], ‘Linevitus’ guizhouensis sp. nov., Meitanovitus guanyindongensis Qian, 1978 Qian, Y., 1978. The Early Cambrian hyolithids in central and southwest China and their stratigraphical significance. Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Academia Sinica Memoir 11, 1–38. (in Chinese with English abstract) [Google Scholar], undetermined forms, and undetermined orthothecides. Hyoliths from Nevada include the hyolithides Haplophrentis carinatus (Matthew, 1899 Matthew, G.F., 1899. Studies on Cambrian faunas, No. 3—Upper Cambrian fauna of Mount Stephen, British Columbia—the trilobites and worms. Transactions of the Royal Society of Canada, Series 2, 5, 39–66. [Google Scholar]), Nevadotheca whitei (Resser, 1938 Resser, C.E., 1938. Fourth contribution to the study of Cambrian fossils. Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections 97(10), 1–43. [Google Scholar]), an undetermined form, and undetermined orthothecides. In the Balang Formation, eocrinoids have been found attached to hyolithide conchs, which supports the view that hyolithides were benthic animals.

Haijing Sun* [hjsun1987@163.com], Resources and Environmental Engineering College, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, PR China; Loren E. Babcock? corresponding author [babcockloren@gmail.com], School of Earth Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; Jin Peng corresponding author [gzpengjin@126.com], Resources and Environmental Engineering College, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, PR China; Jessica M. Kastigar [kastigar.2@osu.edu], School of Earth Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA. *Also affiliated with Key Laboratory of Economic Stratigraphy and Palaeogeography, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, PR China. ?Also affiliated with Department of Geology, Lund University, Sölvegatan 12, SE-223 62 Lund, Sweden.     

Direct Displacement-Based Design of Buildings with Different Seismic Isolation Systems

A displacement-based design (DBD) procedure for buildings equipped with different seismic isolation systems is proposed. It has been derived from the Direct Dispaced-Based Design (DDBD) method recently developed by Priestley et al. [2007] Priestley, M. J. N., Calvi, G. M. and Kowalsky, M. J. 2007. Displacement-Based Seismic Design of Structures, Pavia, , Italy: IUSS Press.  [Google Scholar]. The key aspect of the proposed procedure is the definition of a target displacement profile for the structure. It is assigned by the designer to achieve given performance levels, expressed in terms of maximum displacement of the isolation system and maximum interstory drift. The proposed design procedure has been developed for four different idealized force-displacement relationships, which can describe the cyclic response of a wide variety of isolation systems, including: (i) Lead-Rubber Bearings (LRB); (ii) High-Damping Rubber Bearings (HDRB); (iii) Friction Pendulum Systems (FPS); and (iv) Combinations of lubricated Flat Sliding Bearings (FSB) with different re-centering and/or energy dissipating auxiliary devices. In this article, the background and implementation of the design procedure is presented first. It is followed by the results of validation studies based on nonlinear time-history analyses on different design configurations of base isolated buildings.     

Responding to Farm Poverty in Australia

In May 2005, the Commonwealth announced changes to the eligibility criteria for a number of farm welfare payments which have resulted in farmers receiving such payments on more generous terms than other disadvantaged groups in the community. The changes passed largely unremarked by the media or political commentators. Farm welfare programs are developed independently of the general welfare safety net and are based on assumptions about the nature, extent and causes of farm poverty. No comprehensive empirical research has been conducted into farm poverty since the Henderson Inquiry of the 1970 Henderson, R. F., Harcourt, A. and Harper, R. J.A. 1970. People in Poverty: A Melbourne Survey, Melbourne: University of Melbourne.  [Google Scholar]s. This paper discusses the issue of farm poverty in Australia and how it fits into the broader welfare debate, and proposes a way forward to develop more effective and equitable farm welfare programs.     

The lower jaw and dentition of the traversodontid Exaeretodon riograndensis Abdala,Barberena & Dornelles,from the Brazilian Triassic (Santa Maria 2 Sequence,Hyperodapedon Assemblage Zone)

Exaeretodon riograndensis Abdala, Barberena, & Dornelles, 2002 Abdala, F., Barberena, M.C. and Dornelles, J.E.F. 2002. A new species of the traversodontid cynodont Exaeretodon from the Santa Maria Formation (Middle/Late Triassic) of Southern Brazil. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 22: 313–325. [Taylor & Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar] is the most abundant traversodontid preserved in the basal Santa Maria 2 Sequence (Hyperodapedon Assemblage Zone), southern Brazil and is closely related to Exaeretodon argentinus Cabrera, 1943 Cabrera, A. 1943. El primer hallazgo de terápsidos en la Argentina. Notas del Museo de La Plata, Paleontología, 8: 317–331.  [Google Scholar] from the Ischigualasto Formation, Argentina. Previous anatomical studies of E. riograndensis have focused mainly on cranial material and little is known about the morphology of its lower dentition or postdentary bones. We describe the first fairly complete postdentary series of the mandible of E. riograndensis and provide additional information on its lower dentition. The postdentary bones of E. riograndensis include a complex coronoid, an angular with a delicate reflected lamina and a stout retroarticular process of the articular, contrasting with the morphology reconstructed for Argentinean specimens, which possess a small retroarticular process. Apart from that, the postdentary bones do not differ significantly from those known for E. argentinus, a fact expected due to the great similarity between other skeletal features of these species. Furthermore, the lower postcanines of E. riograndensis have virtually the same structure as those of E. argentinus, with an approximate quadrangular shape in occlusal view. Moreover, the transverse cusp row is placed anteriorly and comprises a lingual and a buccal cusp, and the occlusal basin delimited by the four main cusps is relatively deep. The new material does not add any taxonomically diagnostic features to E. riograndensis. However, the fossils greatly improve our understanding of the anatomy of the Brazilian species.     

Let Them Eat Macarons? Dissonant heritage of Marie Antoinette at Petit Trianon

ABSTRACT

Through an analysis of the Petit Trianon, the historic house museum at the Château de Versailles associated with Marie Antoinette, the present article invites reflection over the topic of dissonant heritage (Tunbridge and Ashworth 1996 Tunbridge, J. E., and G. J. Ashworth. 1996. Dissonant Heritage: The Management of the past as a Resource in Conflict. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons. [Google Scholar]) in connection with heritage commodification. The aim of this study is to heighten awareness of the difficulties which historic house legacies face in postmodern society through heritage analyses placed in the context of museology, art history and popular culture. This is achieved by building upon curatorial approaches and their reception by visitors, within an assessment of the 2008 restoration ethos of the Estate of Marie-Antoinette, and in parallel with a process of heritage commodification indirectly related to a twenty-first century Hollywood biopic of the last Queen of France - Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette (2006). Competition surges between official and popular discourses of heritage (Groote and Haartsen 2008 Alderman, D. H. 2008. “Place, Naming and the Interpretation of Cultural Landscapes.” 195–213; Groote, P. and T. Haartsen “The Communication of Heritage: Creating Place Identities.” 181–194; Harvey, D. C. “The History of Heritage.” 19–36; McLean, F. “Museums and the Representation of Identity.” 283–297; Smith, L. “Heritage, Gender and Identity.” 159–178. In The Ashgate Research Companion to Heritage & Identity, edited by B. Graham and P. J. Howard. Aldershot: Ashgate. [Google Scholar]), all dealing, however, with the power of the same clichés engraved onto the French ‘collective memory’ (Halbwachs [1950]1980 Halbwachs, M. (1950) 1980. The Collective Memory. New York: Harper & Row. [Google Scholar]). This article highlights issues that arise when curatorial interpretation and visitor perceptions find themselves under the auspices of postmodern visual culture, thereby setting traps for heritage authenticity (Ashworth and Howard 1999 Ashworth, G. J., and P. J. Howard. 1999. European Heritage Planning and Management. Exeter: Intellect. [Google Scholar]).     

Are Methodologies for Children keeping them in their Place?

As participatory methodologies gain popularity and are increasingly adapted to carry out research with ‘children’, I return to the methodological question: is doing research with children different from doing research with adults? (Punch, 2000 Punch, S. 2000. Research with children the same or different from research with adults?. Childhood, 9(3): 321–341. [Web of Science ®] [Google Scholar]). As a participatory researcher, I raise concerns around methods designed for ‘children’ that stamp a ‘how-to-research’ label upon a diverse group of individuals prior to entering the research space. Rather than continue the well-worn debate around the incompetent/competent/powerless child versus the competent all-powerful adult, I attempt a different approach that aims to dissolve this dichotomy. I draw on hybrid theories of identities (Benhabib, 1992 Benhabib, S. 1992. Situating the Self, New York: Routledge.  [Google Scholar]; Butler, 1990 Butler, J. 1990. Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity, London: Routledge.  [Google Scholar]; Adams, 2006 Adams, M. 2006. Hybridising habitus and reflexivity: towards an understanding of contemporary identity?. Sociology, 40(3): 511–528. [Crossref] [Google Scholar]), that recognise identities as multiple and fluid, and present social identities as unhelpful guides in designing participatory methods, principally the mythical notion of the competent all-powerful adult (Lee, 2001 Lee, N. 2001. Childhood and Society: Growing Up in an Age of Uncertainty, Milton Keynes: OUP.  [Google Scholar]). I present the case that pre-labelling participants contradicts the bottom-up approach of participatory methodologies, particularly when Participation is understood as spatial practice (Kesby, 1999 Kesby, M. 1999. Beyond the Representational Impasse? Retheorising Power, Empowerment and Spatiality, mimeo [Google Scholar]; Cornwall, 2000), and participants are invited into a research space, where identities are performed (Thrift, 2000) and are, therefore, something we ‘do’ not ‘have’ (Butler, 1990 Butler, J. 1990. Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity, London: Routledge.  [Google Scholar]).     

Firefighters in the UK and the US: Risk perception of local and organic foods

Abstract

Recent health scares such as BSE have contributed to the growth of local farmers' markets and consumption of organics sourced globally (Morgan et al., 2006 Morgan, K., Marsden, T. and Murdoch, J. 2006. Worlds of Food: Place, Power and Provenance in the Food Chain, Oxford: Oxford University Press.  [Google Scholar]). Yet a central question about alternative agro-food networks (AAFNs) is whether they supply undemocratic diets chiefly for elites (Goodman, 2004 Goodman, D. 2004. Rural Europe redux? Reflections on alternative agro-food networks and paradigm change. Sociologia Ruralis, 44(1): 3–16. [Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]). This is relevant to government campaigns such as ‘Generation Scotland’ and ‘5 A Day’ in the UK, and ‘Food Pyramids’ in the US, which promote better diets for their entire populations. Firefighting is risky work and because firefighters inhabit middle rungs on the socioeconomic ladder, and food is seen as key to morale and fitness, they are suitable consumers to query on food and risk. This firefighter survey presents evidence that alternative foods are gaining value in the UK and US study areas used here. Though Newcastle, UK, lags behind Seattle, US, on a continuum from conventional to alternative food systems, consumption of alternative foods by Newcastle firefighters is greater than that of workers surveyed in Edinburgh a decade before (Tregear, 1994 Tregear, A., Dent, J. B. and McGregor, M. J. 1994. The demand for organically-grown produce. British Food Journal, 96(4): 21–25. [Crossref] , [Google Scholar]), implying that northern UK diets could turn greener if availability and prices improve. Reasons why organic preference seems stronger among firefighters in northwestern US, than in northern UK where local preference appears stronger, are discussed, as well as theorisation of consumer response to a variety of risks over time.     

Post-war changes in the influence of social structure on Australian voting: The ‘decline of social cleavages’ revisited

Franklin, Mackie and Valen's 1992 Franklin, M., Mackie, T. and Valen, H. 1992. Electoral Change: Responses to Evolving Social and Attitudinal Structures in Western Countries, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.  [Google Scholar] book on Electoral Change drew on evidence taken from a small number of surveys in each included country (including Australia) during the mid-1960s to 1990 to derive some general conclusions about the historical decline of cleavage politics. In this article, I make some methodological improvements and also considerably chronologically extend the analyses for Australia, to cover the whole of the post-war period. The results show that some of the previous conclusions are incorrect and that although there has been a decline in the strength of association between social structural variables and voting for the ALP over the post-war period, the decline has not been a smooth one and predominantly occurred in the earlier part of the period. I also discuss the results in the context of broader international debates about the impact of social changes on voting.     

Seismic Hazard Analysis for Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia

In the past, probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (PSHA) has been performed by researchers to assess the level of seismic hazard in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and its vicinity. However, the peak ground acceleration (PGA) values obtained are high due to unsuitable ground motion prediction equation (GMPE). This article is divided into two parts: development of a suitable GMPE and the PSHA for this region. Two main sources have been identified as the contributors to earthquake hazard in Peninsular Malaysia, namely the Sumatra strike-slip fault and Sumatra subduction zone. For the subduction zone, nine recorded large earthquake events are analyzed and regression analysis is performed to obtain a new GMPE for this region. In performing PSHA, the strike-slip fault is divided into 14 zones based on the individual fault segments, while the subduction is divided into 4 zones. Historical earthquakes of this region are collected, processed, and segregated according to the zones. PSHA has been conducted by modeling the source seismicity using Gutenberg-Richter and characteristic earthquake models. The developed GMPE has been used along with other attenuation models: Megawati and Pan [2010] Megawati, K. and Pan, T. C. 2010. Ground-motion attenuation relationship for the Sumatran megathrust earthquakes. Earthquake Engineering and Structural Dynamics, 39: 827–845. [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar] and component attenuation model (CAM) by Balendra et al. [2002] Balendra, T., Lam, N. T. K., Wilson, J. L. and Kong, K. H. 2002. Analysis of long-distance earthquake tremors and base shear demand for buildings in Singapore. Engineering Structures, 24: 99–108. [Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar] for subduction; and Sadigh et al. [1997] Sadigh, K., Chang, C. Y., Egan, J. A., Makdisi, J. and Youngs, R. R. 1997. Attenuation relationships for shallow crustal earthquakes based on California strong motion data. Seismological Research Letters, 68: 180–189. [Crossref] , [Google Scholar] and CAM for strike-slip fault. The peak ground accelerations in Kuala Lumpur for 10% and 2% probability of exceedances in 50 years are found to be 16.5 gal and 23.4 gal, respectively. From deaggregation analysis, the main contributor for the 10% probability of exceedance in 50 years is found to be a 7.5 M_w earthquake at 300 km, originating from the strike slip fault. Finally, the design response spectrum for Kuala Lumpur is developed for rock sites, which would be amplified further by local soil profile.