Simple Seismic Assessment of Traditional Unreinforced Masonry Buildings

A framework for quick seismic assessment and retrofit of traditional unreinforced masonry (URM) structures is presented. The proposed methods build on simple principles of structural dynamics and are used as an alternative to detailed time-history analysis, in recognition of the prevailing need for simple and practical methods, compatible with the low-budget and the limited level of knowledge regarding materials, internal force paths, connectivity and condition of older URM structures. An objective is to identify areas in the building that are particularly susceptible to damage and for guiding the types of the required global interventions to improve seismic response. Demand and supply are expressed in terms of relative drift ratios that quantify the intensity of out-of-plane differential translation and in-plane shear distortion of masonry walls. A characteristic traditional building type of timber-laced masonry is used as a model structure for illustration of concepts. The morphology and geometry of the building correspond to a statistical sample of the actual traditional unreinforced masonry buildings (TURM) found in historical centers of many towns in the greater region of Northern Greece. The methodology is particularly useful for setting retrofit priorities and management of the collective seismic risk of historical entities.     

Gendered responses to the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires in Victoria,Australia

This paper presents findings from a gendered analysis of resident responses to the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires (wildfires) in Victoria, Australia. One hundred and seventy‐three people lost their lives in the bushfires and more than 2000 houses were destroyed. Previous research on Black Saturday has largely focused on issues of resident preparedness and response, with limited consideration of the role of gender in household decisions and actions. This paper examines the gendered dimensions of risk awareness, preparedness and response among households affected by the bushfires. Data were collected through in‐depth interviews with over 600 survivors and a questionnaire of 1314 households in fire‐affected areas. Analysis revealed that women more often wanted to leave than men, who more often wanted to stay and defend property against the bushfires. Nevertheless, findings suggest that broad‐brush characterisations of staying to defend as a masculine response and leaving as a feminine response are misguided. Although some women expressed a strong desire to leave, others were resolute on staying to defend. Equally, while some men were determined to stay and defend, others had never considered it an option. Despite this, the research identified numerous instances where disagreement had arisen as a result of differing intentions. Conflict most often stemmed from men's reluctance to leave, and was most apparent where households had not adequately planned or discussed their intended responses. The paper concludes by considering the degree to which the findings are consistent with other research on gender and bushfire, and the implications for bushfire safety policy and practice.     

20世纪初天津的金融风潮及其应对机制

20世纪最初的十年 ,天津金融市场接连发生六七次金融风潮。这些金融风潮有着各自不同的原因和背景 ,但其深层次原因在于 ,在天津对外贸易发展的过程中金融业自身发展的不足。主要表现在金融业基础的脆弱 ,金融制度的混乱及制度变迁的滞后。面对一次次金融风潮 ,天津官商共同寻求应对策略 ,但更多的是针对性的对策 ,而较少具有根本意义的制度性建设。这一切都表明天津金融市场面临这样的变局所显现出的明显的不适应     

依法治国基本方略实施考察

近年来,中共中央在确立了依法治国基本方略之后,采取了加强和完善立法工作、全面推进依法行政、着重提高领导干部的法律素质以及在全民中深入开展普法教育等有力举措,在以下几个方面取得了显著成效:以宪法为核心的中国特色社会主义法律体系已初步形成;法制队伍素质不断增强;法律服务工作发展迅速;广大干部群众的法律素质显著提高。当前,依法治国基本方略在实施过程中存在的问题主要有:立法质量有待于进一步提高;执法方式有待于进一步改进;司法体制有待于进一步改革;法律意识有待于进一步增强等。     

响应社会需求的旅游动态课程体系构建研究——以云南民族大学旅游管理专业为例

20多年来,旅游管理课程体系建设取得很大成绩,但依然存在课程老化固化、缺乏对社会需求响应能力等问题。通过往届毕业生、网络、新业态和旅游组织机构等多端口的职业需求信息的监测与评估,在理论和技术上可以构建一个既能响应社会需求,又能满足学生个人兴趣,还能符合国家专业要求的“三位一体”的响应社会需求的旅游动态课程体系。通过该课程体系的建设可以加强现有专业对社会需求的响应能力,减少一些短周期新专业的应急性增设,从而节约教育资源、积累教育资本、避免学生同业竞争、缓解就业压力。基于以上理论和实证研究,云南民族大学旅游管理专业未来至少可以增设美食与营养、旅游技术与工程两门课程以响应社会需求,并形成其核心竞争能力.     

战后日本对中国的直接投资

战后日本对华直接投资开始于1979年,呈现出沿海地区集中、投资目的单一、由制造加工转变为注重销售等特点,同时在其发展中也存在着一些问题。为此,中国应在充分认识日本海外直接投资规律的基础上,进一步开放市场,优化投资环境,增强包括日本投资者在内的外国投资者的投资信心,以便吸引更多的投资满足国有企业改革和西部开发对资金、技术和管理的迫切需要。     

Attitudes to Drought in Outback Communities in South Australia

This paper explores the perceptions of drought by residents in outback South Australia and their associated responses to the drought. Behavioural Geography methodology is used with data drawn from interviews with pastoralists, business owners, and residents of small outback towns and Aboriginal communities. Although they were not resident in the region, the perceptions of tourists were also garnered. The results show that perceptions varied between the groups of people interviewed. Outback residents contrasted their own frugal water use with reports of wasteful behaviour by foreign tourists. Local inhabitants were largely ‘accepting’ of the drought, having survived worse droughts in the past and over many years. They were therefore of the sentiment that they would cope with future droughts. Despite the sentiments of acceptance, the dropping groundwater levels and continued lack of rainfall were leading to growing concerns for the future. The concerns point to a boundary to community resilience to drought in outback South Australia.     

河南省城市化与产业结构演变互动研究

文章在分析河南省城市化发展阶段性特征的基础上,对城市化和产业结构之间的变动关系进行了对比分析、相关分析和回归分析,并用Arcgis9.3以"产业结构演变城市化响应系数"为指标绘制地图,反映了河南省城市化与产业结构之间作用强弱的空间差异,分析表明,河南省城市化与产业结构存在严重偏差,原因在于城市化与产业结构的非协调发展和产业结构与就业结构的不合理发展;河南省的产业结构演变城市化响应呈现"西高东低"、"北高南低"的地理分布特征。最后针对问题提出了对策。     

发达国家城市收缩现象及其对中国的启示

城市收缩是发达国家在工业化与城市化过程中普遍存在的现象,城市收缩对发达国家经济社会转型、城市空间结构转变产生了深刻影响,在对城市收缩有效治理过程中形成的精明收缩与弹性城市理论对快速发展的工业化国家具有积极的借鉴意义。本文对发达国家城市收缩的现象与事实进行了系统梳理与分析,分析了城市收缩的特征与空间模式,探讨了城市收缩的形成机制和城市收缩的应对措施,并对西方发达国家城市收缩现象对我国的启示形成了几点认识。