Catastrophic earthquake and tsunami events that resulted in significant loss of life and property over the past two decades have raised the global awareness regarding the need to understand the response of communities and their built environment to multi-hazard extreme events. In recognition to this impending threat to the coastal...
A physical model study was performed to examine the forces and response of 1:6 scale wood-frame coastal residential structures subjected to storm surge and waves. An on-grade and an elevated specimen were tested and exposed to regular waves with varying water depths and wave heights to simulate Hurricane Sandy’s conditions....
Clean technologies can address multiple challenges associated with climate change, environmental protection, and human health. However, the impact desired by introduction of such technologies is achievable only if new options effectively replace inefficient, conventional practices. This ‘design for adoption’ requires understanding of user motivations, associated beliefs, context of use, and...
One of the major sectors of Bangladesh agriculture is represented by the fisheries sector. Being a deltaic land
with numerous rivers and inland haors and beels (lakes and lowland areas of considerable size), and also ponds
that are dug in populated areas for the purpose of bathing, washing and often...
The idea that climatically modulated erosion may impact orogenic processes has challenged geoscientists for decades. Although modeling studies and physical calculations have provided a solid theoretical basis supporting this interaction, to date, field-based work has produced inconclusive results. The central-western Alborz Mountains in the northern sectors of the Arabia-Eurasia collision...
BackgroundEpidemiological evidence suggests that arsenic (As) exposure during pregnancy may reduce infant birth weight. One significant source of As exposure is diet; thus, As may indirectly affect infant growth by mediating the effect of maternal diet on birth weight (BW). This study evaluated the potential mediating effect of As in...
Soils in household environments in low- and middle-income countries may play an important role in the persistence, proliferation, and transmission of Escherichia coli. Our goal was to investigate the risk factors for detection, survival, and growth of E. coli in soils collected from household plots. E. coli was enumerated in...
A significant number of Unreinforced Masonry (URM) buildings exist in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States of America that is a region of high seismicity, which could be subjected to both crustal and subduction zone earthquakes. The catastrophic and brittle failures associated with URM buildings in the past...
According to the United Nations, Iran has one of the highest percentages of drug addicts in the world, with anywhere between three and four million addicts addicted to heroin or crystal meth in a population of 80 million. At least 700,000 of these addicts are women, whom make up ten...
This study addresses the questions: 1) What kind of transboundary water management institution is needed for Afghanistan; and 2) what expertise is required for the institution and which stakeholders should be involved?
The establishment of a transboundary water resources management institution/unit is an essential step for Afghanistan in order to...