Comparison between seismic vulnerability models and experimental dynamic properties of existing buildings in France

Elastic fundamental frequency is a key-parameter of simplified seismic design and vulnerability assessment methods. Empirical relationships exist in codes to estimate this frequency but they miss experimental data to validate them accounting for national feature of building design and, above all, corresponding uncertainties. Even if resonance frequency extracted from ambient vibrations may be larger than the elastic frequency (at yield) generally used in earthquake engineering, ambient vibration recordings may provide a large set of data for statistical analysis of periods versus building characteristics relationships. We recorded ambient vibrations and estimated the fundamental frequency of about 60 buildings of various types (RC and masonry) in Grenoble City (France). These data complete the set existing yet, made of 26 RC-buildings of Grenoble (Farsi and Bard 2004) and 28 buildings in Nice (France) (Dunand 2005). Statistical analysis of these experimental data was performed for fundamental frequencies of RC shear wall structures and the results are compared with existing relationships. Only building height or number of stories has a statistical relevancy to estimate the resonance frequency but the variability associated to the proposed relationships is large. Moreover, we compared the elastic part of capacity curves of RC and masonry buildings used in the European Risk-UE method for vulnerability assessment with the experimental frequencies. The variability is also large and the curves may not be consistent with French existing building

Establishment of a marine fire fighting school in Algeria

Establishing a modern Fire Fighting School to train the necessary personnel in the field of Marine Safety is imperative for any Maritime Nation. Throughout history and still nowadays fire is the worst enemy of the crew, cargo, vessels and the industry as a whole. The primary objective of this Paper is to provide a comprehensive study and a guideline to the Maritime Academy in Algeria for the day it undertakes to establish a Fire Fighting Centre. In this work I shall mainly attempt to define and outline the detailed Syllabuses and Training Schemes for the Theoretical and Practical Training dealing with fire prevention, fire fighting and fire safety, for which purpose I’ve developed different Training Courses, including their objectives, main content and their duration. Furthermore I have also provided recommendations and descriptions of the training facilities together with the necessary equipment and materials to carry out the various fire fighting exercises. However, the financial aspect and cost involved for the I establishment of such a Centre is outside the scope of this study

The neglected war: intervention and extra-state war duration, 1816-2007

Extra-state war, a conflict between a state and non-state actor outside of the state’s borders, is an understudied phenomenon. In order to begin a discussion on this topic, this paper seeks to understand the factors that affect extra-state war duration. Using literature on interstate and intrastate wars, I hypothesize that military intervention in support of the non-state actor, an equitable distribution of third-party military interventions, and economic intervention in the form of support will increase war duration. I also hypothesize that military intervention on behalf of the state and diplomatic intervention by a third party will decrease duration. I test my hypotheses using a multi-method resource design. First, using quantitative data drawn from extra-systemic wars between 1816 and 2007, I find support for the hypothesis that military intervention on behalf of the non-state actor increases duration. In addition, I find that military intervention on behalf of the state also increases war duration. I supplement my regression analysis with a series of case studies on the Western Saharan War, Cisplatine War, and Mozambican War of Independence. I find that an equitable distribution of military interventions as well as economic support increase duration. Diplomatic intervention, on the other hand, decreases war duration. Taken together, my findings suggest that the various forms of intervention play a crucial role in explaining extra-state war duration

The superpowers and the Maghreb: political, economic and strategic relations

The study focuses on superpower relations with the Maghreb from independence until 1985. It contains eight chapters and conclusion together with a bibliography. The introduction defines the scope and objectives of the study, as well as discussing the methodology and techniques employed in the research. Chapter two gives a historical background to European relations with the Maghreb states and explains how the Maghreb became part of European political, economic and strategic objectives in the European multipolar system. Chapter three presents a theoretical basis for superpower relations with the Third World. Chapter four examines the historical relations between the Maghreb and the superpowers until the independence, and the role of the superpowers in Maghreb independence. Chapter five deals with political relations between the Maghreb and the superpowers and chapter six examines the economic relations between the superpowers and the Maghreb states. Chapter seven deals with superpower strategic relations with the Maghreb focusing on Mediterranean security, arms transfers, military bases and intelligence cooperation. Chapter eight examines superpower behaviour toward regional conflict and stability in the Maghreb. The final chapter contains a summary and conclusion and future prospects for superpowers relations with the Maghreb and the role of the EC in future relations

A theory of revolution and a case study of the Haitian Revolution.

During the course of the study, an adequate method of theory construction was both identified and clarified. Moreover, the Systems' mode of theory construction was selected for use in this study, mainly because of its close approximation to social movement phenomena through the use of functional, feedback and feedback loop relationships. The Systems' mode of theory construction was seen as having the most potential for producing the desired result, which was the flexibility and comprehensiveness to allow the construction of a theory which can explain anti-colonial revolutions in particular and "all" revolutions in general.The basic point of view taken in this study is that before an investigator can adequately confront such complex theoretical issues as the explanation of the causal origins of revolution, it is imperative that systematic procedures be developed for doing so. Thus the major goal of this study is theory construction; it is not the verification or testing of theory in any rigorous, experimental, or statistical sense.The major concerns in this study are (1) the development of a general theory about the causal origins of anti-colonial revolution; and (2) the development of this theory from an intensive case study of the Haitian Revolution, perhaps the first "successful, " slave revolution in modern history if not all of history.In the course of accomplishing these tasks, the following minor purposes or exploratory attempts to answer the following questions are accomplished, as well. (1) Why is it that a "successful" slave revolution occurred in Haiti and did not occur among slaves in other French, colonial possessions in the Caribbean? More specifically, why is it that a "successful" slave and anti-colonial revolution occurred in Haiti at this time (1791-1820) and not in such comparable places as the Caribbean islands of Martinique and Guadaloupe? (2) Can the theory once derived be validly generalized to other cases of anti-colonial revolution in another place and another time. For example, can the theory be generalized to the case of the Algerian Revolution of the twentieth century in North Africa? It, too, was an anti-colonial revolution in the French Colonial Empire but it occurred in North Africa in the second half of the 20th century, 1954-1978. (3) How will the theory have to be modified to better fit the cases examined above--Martinique, Guadaloupe, and Algeria--to serve as a general theory of all anti-colonial revolutions? And finally (4) to what degree can this theory be generalized to fit all types of revolutions? In addition, this study also presented some special insight on the ability of the theory to be generalized to all social movements

The Consett iron company limited: a case study in Victorian business history

This thesis describes and analyses the progress and development of ironmaking at Consett between 1840-1940. The main body of the thesis is however devoted to the period 1864-1914, and examines the hypothesis that there was a failure in entrepreneurial ability in the late Victorian economy. Chapter I provides the background to the foundation of large scale iron-making at Consett, and also illustrates the risks involved in creating large enterprises in an age of unlimited liability. Chapter II deals with the capitalisation of the Consett Iron Company, Limited, between 1864-1914. The financial performance of the Company can then be examined with regard to the structure of ownership and the extent of the Company's capitalisation. As Consett was an integrated concern from the outset, its development has been treated through the examination of inputs, culminating in the final output of iron and steel. Chapter III therefore describes the Company's search for iron ore supplies through the period, examining the reasons for shifts in location from which ore was supplied, and also highlighting the comparative failure of the Company's management to secure a new source during the Edwardian decade. Chapters IV and V deal with the firm's coal-mining activities. The former traces the growth of demand and the Company's foresight in acquiring large new coal tracts. Chapter V then examines the problems on the supply side created by the conflict between the industry's naturally diminishing returns and the quality of management and labour effort. Chapter VI, VII and VIII look at the iron and steel producing activities. The first simply traces the changing technology, from a qualitative viewpoint. The impact of this Chapter is heightened by the quantitative evidence on the changing real costs of iron and steel manufacture, which are presented in Appendix G.l. Chapter VII examines the demand for the Company's iron and steel products, and the methods for marketing them. Chapter VIII concludes the main body of the thesis by enquiring into the Company's labour relations, and also the structure, training and personalities of the management. Finally Chapter IX examines the fortunes of the Company during the Great War and the difficult inter-war years. This exercise helps to emphasise the decline in managerial vigour which took place during the Edwardian era

Plant Essential Oil with Biological Activity

Plant essential oils (PEOs) are hydrophobic liquids that contain volatile chemical components that are derived from various plant parts. They are among the most important plant natural products because of their diverse biological features as well as their therapeutic and nutritional applications. In addition, several aromatic PEOs are used to flavor food and add aromas to incense in the culinary sector. Recently, many PEOs have demonstrated promising antimicrobial activity against different post-harvest diseases and have been considered as possible natural alternatives for chemical treatments. This Special Issue titled “Plant Essential Oil with Biological Activity” provided an overview of several elements of PEOs, including their biological applications, antimicrobial activities, bio-pharmaceutical properties, principal single constituents, and mechanisms of action. This Special Issues fills in knowledge gaps and aids in the advancement of EO applications around the world. This issue contains thirteen research articles and two review papers that address a wide range of topics and applications relevant to the bioactivity of PEOs

Comparative systematics and phylogeography of Quercus Section Cerris in western Eurasia: inferences from plastid and nuclear DNA variation

Oaks (Quercus) comprise more than 400 species worldwide and centres of diversity for most sections lie in the Americas and East/Southeast Asia. The only exception is the Eurasian sect. Cerris that comprises about 15 species, most of which are confined to western Eurasia. This section has not been comprehensively studied using molecular tools. Here, we assess species diversity and provide a first comprehensive taxonomic and phylogeographic scheme of western Eurasian members of sect. Cerris using plastid (trnH-psbA) and nuclear (5S-IGS) DNA variation with a dense intra-specific and geographic sampling. Chloroplast haplotypes primarily reflected phylogeographic patterns originating from interspecific cytoplasmic gene flow within sect. Cerris and its sister section Ilex. We identified two widespread and ancestral haplotypes, and locally restricted derived variants. Signatures shared with Mediterranean species of sect. Ilex, but not with the East Asian Cerris oaks, suggest that the western Eurasian lineage came into contact with Ilex only after the first (early Oligocene) members of sect. Cerris in Northeast Asia had begun to radiate and move westwards. Nuclear 5S-IGS diversification patterns were more useful for establishing a molecular-taxonomic framework and to reveal hybridization and reticulation. Four main evolutionary lineages were identified. The first lineage is comprised of Q. libani, Q. trojana and Q. afares and appears to be closest to the root of sect. Cerris. These taxa are morphologically most similar to the East Asian species of Cerris, and to both Oligocene and Miocene fossils of East Asia and Miocene fossils of western Eurasia. The second lineage is mainly composed of the widespread Q. cerris and the narrow endemic species Q. castaneifolia, Q. look, and Q. euboica. The third lineage comprises three Near East species (Q. brantii, Q. ithaburensis and Q. macrolepis), well adapted to continental climates with cold winters. The forth lineage appears to be the most derived and comprises Q. suber and Q. crenata. Q. cerris and Q.  trojana displayed high levels of variation; Q. macrolepis and Q. euboica, previously treated as subspecies of Q. ithaburensis and Q. trojana, likely deserve independent species status. A trend towards inter-specific crosses was detected in several taxa; however, we found no clear evidence of a hybrid origin of Q. afares and Q. crenata, as currently assumed