Extensive research has been focused on the progressive collapse analysis of buildings and most of them are based on the alternative path method (APM) with sudden removal of one or several columns. However, in this method the damage of adjacent elements of removed columns under blast conditions was ignored and this issue can lead to an incorrect prediction of progressive collapse. Therefore, in ...

The evolutions of practices of seismic slope stability analysis of earth embankment/dam are discussed in this paper. The basic concepts of various methods, salient features, advantages and limitations of each of them are elucidate. Methods for both stability analysis and deformation calculation are presented. Methods for calculation of deformation of post liquefaction stage are also briefed.

Cascading failures have become major threats to network robustness due to their potential catastrophic consequences, where local perturbations can induce global propagation of failures. Unlike failures spreading via direct contacts due to structural interdependencies, overload failures usually propagate through collective interactions among system components. Despite the critical need in develo...

The determination of |Vcb| and |Vub| from semileptonic B decay is reviewed with a critical discussion of the theoretical uncertainties. Future prospects and limitations are also discussed.

Considering the vulnerability of double-layer grid space structures to progressive collapse phenomenon, it is necessary to pay special attention to this phenomenon in the design process. Alternate path method is one of the most appropriate and accepted methods for progressive collapse resistant design of structures. Alternate Path Method permits local failure to occur but provides alternate pat...

The inshore reefs of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) have undergone significant declines in water quality following European settlement (approx. 1870 AD). However, direct evidence of impacts on coral assemblages is limited by a lack of historical baselines prior to the onset of modern monitoring programmes in the early 1980s. Through palaeoecological reconstructions, we report a previously undocum...

We analyze the continuous monitoring of a qudit coupled to cavity using both phase-preserving and phase-sensitive amplification. The quantum trajectories system are described by stochastic master equation, for which we derive appropriate Lindblad operators. measurement back-action causes spiraling in state coordinates during collapse, increases as levels become less distinguishable. discuss two...

Habitat fragmentation is the primary cause of the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services, but its underlying processes and mechanisms remain poorly understood. Studies of islands and insular terrestrial habitats are essential for improving our understanding of habitat fragmentation. We argue that the Three-Gorges Dam, the largest that humans have ever created, presents a unique grand-scale...