Existing reinforced concrete building structures have seismically-deficient details on columns and beam–column joints; therefore, accurate modeling of structural behavior is required for reliable seismic performance assessment. This study aims to investigate the differences in dynamic responses resulting from modeling variations through developing four distinct numerical models. Separate models were established to simulate flexural and shear failures of columns and beam–column joints. Using these component-level models, a structural analysis model of the target building was constructed, and nonlinear time-history analyses were performed to evaluate seismic performance. Based on the simulated dynamic behavior of the target building, soft-story mechanisms were identified, and it was identified and confirmed that column behavior plays a dominant role in governing the overall structural response.

Several studies investigating the behavior and environmental distribution of rare earth elements (REEs) have been reviewed to determine the geochemical processes that may affect their concentrations and fractionation patterns in groundwater and whether these elements can be used as tracers for groundwater-rock interactions and groundwater flow paths in small catchments. Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), equipped with an ultrasonic nebulizer and active-film multiplier detector, is routinely used as an analytical technique to measure REEs in groundwater, facilitating the analysis of dissolved REE geochemistry. This review focuses on the distribution of REEs in groundwater and their application as tracers for groundwater geochemistry. Our review of existing literature suggests that REEs in ice cores can be used as effective tracers for atmospheric particles, aiding the identification of source regions.