Methodology for the seismic risk assessment of low-rise school buildings in British Columbia

This thesis presents a methodology for the seismic risk assessment and risk reduction of schools in British Columbia. The methodology permits school buildings to be ranked by risk levels, and includes information that allows designers to establish the seismic capacity of school buildings and to select appropriate retrofit options. This research includes the treatment of seismic hazard in the province by reference to different types of earthquakes that affect the region, and the development of an extensive database of structural performance of typical school buildings for different types of earthquakes and levels of shaking. The seismic hazard in the province is due to crustal, subcrustal and subduction earthquakes. The ground motion characteristics and the rates of occurrences of these different types of earthquakes are sufficiently different that it justifies assessing their effects separately in the risk calculations. The results of probabilistic seismic hazard analyzes have been combined with incremental nonlinear dynamic analyzes of a variety of structural systems subjected to the three earthquake types. A suite of thirty ground motions representative of these earthquakes has been used for the calculation of seismic risk. This process resulted in a large database of response of structural systems on different types of soils. The database was developed first for systems on firm soils (Site Class C). To account for soft soils (Site Class D) a simplified procedure was developed to convert structural performance on Class C sites to that on Class D sites. This thesis presents information that contributes to the state of knowledge in seismic risk in two forms: research and engineering practice. It provides a better understanding of how the risk in a region can be deaggregated according to the earthquake types, how representative ground motions for each earthquake type can be selected, and how the site conditions can be incorporated in probabilistic risk assessment. The contribution to engineering practice is the development of a ready-to-use methodology for risk assessment and for determining whether or not a retrofit is required for a giving type of structure on a certain type of soil and in a given seismic region.Applied Science, Faculty ofCivil Engineering, Department ofGraduat

Diversidad florística en playas de la región Archipiélagos del Sur de Cuba

Based on the implementation results of the Monitoring Program of the sandy coastal vegetation complex in the archipelagoes of South Cuba region as part of the GEF-UNDP project "Implementation of a regional approach to coastal and marine management in protected areas in the region of the archipelagoes of south Cuba", during the years 2011 to 2013, an analysis is presented particularized on floristic diversity found in the three national parks included in the program (Guanahacabibes, Cayos de San Felipe and Jardines de la Reina). In total were measured by the 14 permanent plots established, 0.14 hectares of seven beaches. The results show that all the beaches have their differentiation in terms of biodiversity, basically due to the heterogeneity observed, being Guanahacabibes the most diverse park; this variable is attenuated in an eastern direction, with lower registers is Jardines de la Reina. The affinities analysis enabled confirm greater similarities between the beaches of each one of the protected areas, differentiating in terms of the presence - absence of species to each one of the National Parks evaluated.A partir de los resultados de la aplicación del Programa de Monitoreo del complejo de vegetación de costa arenosa en la región de los archipiélagos del sur de Cuba como parte del proyecto GEF-PNUD “Aplicación de un enfoque regional al manejo de áreas costeras y marinas protegidas en la región de los archipiélagos del sur de Cuba”, durante los años 2011 a 2013, se presenta un análisis particularizado sobre la diversidad florística encontrada en los tres Parques Nacionales incluidos en el programa (Guanahacabibes, Cayos de San Felipe y Jardines de la Reina). En total se midieron mediante las 14 parcelas permanentes establecidas, 0.14 hectáreas de siete playas. Los resultados muestran que todas las playas poseen su diferenciación en cuanto a diversidad, básicamente por la heterogeneidad observada, siendo Guanahacabibes la más diversa; esta variable se atenúa en dirección hacia el este, con registros inferiores es Jardines de la Reina. El análisis de afinidades realizado posibilitó confirmar mayores similitudes entre las playas de cada una de las áreas protegidas, diferenciando en cuanto a la presencia-ausencia de especies a cada uno de los Parques Nacionales evaluados

Debates Ciencias Sociales

Depósito Legal:lf04120123003072El libro está estructurado en cinco secciones a saber: Ambiente, Cultura, Económica,Política y Socia

European Autism GEnomics Registry (EAGER): protocol for a multicentre cohort study and registry.

Peer reviewed: TrueINTRODUCTION: Autism is a common neurodevelopmental condition with a complex genetic aetiology that includes contributions from monogenic and polygenic factors. Many autistic people have unmet healthcare needs that could be served by genomics-informed research and clinical trials. The primary aim of the European Autism GEnomics Registry (EAGER) is to establish a registry of participants with a diagnosis of autism or an associated rare genetic condition who have undergone whole-genome sequencing. The registry can facilitate recruitment for future clinical trials and research studies, based on genetic, clinical and phenotypic profiles, as well as participant preferences. The secondary aim of EAGER is to investigate the association between mental and physical health characteristics and participants' genetic profiles. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: EAGER is a European multisite cohort study and registry and is part of the AIMS-2-TRIALS consortium. EAGER was developed with input from the AIMS-2-TRIALS Autism Representatives and representatives from the rare genetic conditions community. 1500 participants with a diagnosis of autism or an associated rare genetic condition will be recruited at 13 sites across 8 countries. Participants will be given a blood or saliva sample for whole-genome sequencing and answer a series of online questionnaires. Participants may also consent to the study to access pre-existing clinical data. Participants will be added to the EAGER registry and data will be shared externally through established AIMS-2-TRIALS mechanisms. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: To date, EAGER has received full ethical approval for 11 out of the 13 sites in the UK (REC 23/SC/0022), Germany (S-375/2023), Portugal (CE-085/2023), Spain (HCB/2023/0038, PIC-164-22), Sweden (Dnr 2023-06737-01), Ireland (230907) and Italy (CET_62/2023, CEL-IRCCS OASI/24-01-2024/EM01, EM 2024-13/1032 EAGER). Findings will be disseminated via scientific publications and conferences but also beyond to participants and the wider community (eg, the AIMS-2-TRIALS website, stakeholder meetings, newsletters)