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This paper presents a new framework for the seismic loss prediction of residential buildings in Ōtautahi / Christchurch, New Zealand. It employs data science techniques, geospatial tools, and machine learning (ML) trained on insurance claims data from the Earthquake Commission (EQC) collected following the 2010–2011 Canterbury earthquake sequence (CES). The seismic loss prediction obtained from the ML model is shown to outperform the output from existing risk analysis tools for New Zealand for each of the main earthquakes of the CES. In addition to the prediction capabilities, the ML model delivered useful insights into the most important features contributing to losses during the CES. ML correctly highlighted that liquefaction significantly influenced building losses for the 22 February 2011 earthquake. The results are consistent with observations, engineering knowledge, and previous studies, confirming the potential of data science and ML in the analysis of insurance claims data and the development of seismic loss prediction models using empirical loss data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of College of Sharia & Islamic Studies is the property of Qatar University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The aim of this paper is to outline the impact Coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 has had on health research in New Zealand. We used data from the University of Otago, Christchurch, a research intensive satellite campus of the University of Otago with a large number of research only grant funded staff to highlight challenges and opportunities. All non-COVID-19 related laboratory and clinical research was suspended under New Zealand COVID-19 alert level 4 and the majority under level 3. To date, researchers predict that 95% of research projects have been affected. During the periods of lockdown research salaries continued to be paid from grants resulting in a 'salary gap' to support research staff (both academic and technical). Most funders have indicated there will be no additional funding to support researchers affected by the delays. Early and mid-career researchers have been particularly affected and are currently unable to travel for post-doctoral training and networking. A more robust career structure with adequate funding, particularly for early and mid-career researchers is required to ensure that New Zealand has a stable research work force to address the next health crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In February 2017, a wildfire occurred in the Port Hills on the southern boundary of Christchurch city in New Zealand. It was one of the country's most severe fires of the last decade in terms of the scale of evacuation, infrastructure damage, and property loss. On the third day of the fire, fire behavior was unexpectedly active, and two rapid downhill fire-spread events took place, creating a dangerous situation for firefighters. The aim of this paper is to explore the atmospheric processes that influenced the fire behavior at a range of meteorological scales, from the synoptic to meso- and microscales. Meteorological and fire data analyzed include observed data together with model simulations of weather conditions at different scales: 1) the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) numerical weather prediction model, which provided the regional context of the fire; and 2) the California Meteorological (CALMET) diagnostic model, which was used to undertake a higher-resolution investigation of atmospheric processes near the fire. Results indicate that the fire was not strongly seasonally influenced. Instead, it appears the fire conditions were the effect of a specific combination of synoptic weather conditions and local meteorological conditions. The first rapid downhill fire-spread event was the result of airflow interaction with the intricate terrain of the Port Hills under stable nocturnal conditions. The second downhill fire-spread event bears similarities to vorticity-driven lateral spread, because the downhill component of the spread happened on a broad fire flank perpendicular to the surface wind direction and characteristic pyrocumulus convection occurred. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a new framework for the seismic loss prediction of residential buildings in Christchurch, New Zealand. It employs data science techniques, geospatial tools, and machine learning (ML) trained on insurance claims data from the Earthquake Commission (EQC) collected following the 2010-2011 Canterbury Earthquake Sequence (CES). The seismic loss prediction obtained from the ML model is shown to outperform the output from existing risk analysis tools for New Zealand for each of the main earthquakes of the CES. In addition to the prediction capabilities, the ML model delivered useful insights into the most important features contributing to losses during the CES. ML correctly highlighted that liquefaction significantly influenced buildings losses for the 22 February 2011 earthquake. The results are consistent with observations, engineering knowledge, and previous studies, confirming the potential of data science and ML in the analysis of insurance claims data and the development of seismic loss prediction models using empirical loss data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Due to the remarkable growth in online retail sales in New Zealand, a large number of parcels are needed to be delivered to consumers' doorsteps. Home deliveries in major New Zealand cities (e.g., Christchurch) typically occur between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. on weekdays, when many home delivery attempts fail. This leads to adverse effects, such as vehicular traffic in residential areas and greater air pollution per parcel delivered. However, home deliveries outside of typical business hours (i.e., before 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m.) might be worthwhile to help subside the above issues. Therefore, this study investigated consumers' preferences for receiving home deliveries during various times, such as early morning, morning, afternoon, late afternoon, and evening. Methods: The data used in this study were obtained via an online survey of 355 residents of Christchurch city. Non-parametric tests, namely the Friedman test, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and ordinal logistic regression, were carried out to examine consumer preferences for the above time slots. Results: The results showed that consumers preferred the late afternoon (3 p.m. to 6 p.m.) time slot the most for receiving home deliveries. Conclusion: It appeared that the off-peak delivery option is less likely to draw the desired consumer patronage and is thus less likely to assist in lowering the number of unsuccessful home deliveries, the transportation costs incurred by service providers, traffic congestion, and pollution in urban areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of seismically low-damage structures was introduced by researchers to decrease the likelihood of irreparable damage as well improving the response of the structure. The need to shift from conventional ductile design to a less ductility (damage) oriented design was emphasised by different researchers in New Zealand and across the world back in the 1990s and 2000s. Damage Avoidance Design (DAD) philosophy introduced in the early 2000s took the idea of low-damage design to another level. Self-centring is the main aspect of a DAD designed. However, the need to change the seismic design philosophy was mostly felt by the community and decisions makers after the considerable financial and social loss resulted from the 2011 Christchurch earthquake. Several damage-avoidance concepts and solutions have been introduced and developed in the past. However, most of these solutions haven't been widely implemented in practice because of the complexity and extra construction costs. This research aims to overcome this gap by introducing a new solution that can be easily adopted by the construction industry without imposing extra complexity and construction costs. This paper presents the development of a new innovative seismic device named as Self-Centring Structural Connector (SSC) as a new self-centring friction damping device. The main purpose of this device is to provide a cost-efficient yet flexible solution to achieve a range of efficient DAD structures in practice. In this paper, the principles of the force-deflection relationship for the SSC is analytically developed and validated through experimental investigation. In addition, the influence of various parameters affecting joint performance are studied through an analytical model. Finally, some possible applications of this device are introduced. As per the findings based on the analytical modelling and experimental investigation, it can be observed that the joint performs well to achieve the design and construction objectives making it a suitable solution for DAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Machine learning algorithms are used successfully in this paper to forecast reliably upcoming short-term high concentration episodes, or peaks (<60-min) of fine particulate air pollution (PM 2.5) 1 h in advance. Results are from a network around Christchurch, New Zealand, with an objective to forecast the occurrence of short-term peaks using a gradient boosted machine with a binary classifier as the response (1 = peak, 0 = no peak). Results are successful, with 80–90% accurate forecasting of whether a peak in PM 2.5 would occur within the next 60-min period. Elevated and variable nitrogen monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and lower temperatures and wind gusts are found to be important precursors to the occurrence of PM 2.5 peaks. The use of meteorological data from a network of personal weather stations across the monitored area and from the measurement instruments was able to identify local-scale peak differences in the network. Boosted models using hourly-averaged and daily-averaged peaks as the response are developed separately to showcase differences in precursors between short-term and long-term peaks, with recent wind gusts and nitrogen oxides linked to hourly-averaged peaks and aloft air temperatures and atmospheric pressure linked to daily-averaged peaks. Results could prove useful in exposure mitigation strategies (e.g. as a short-term warning system). • High short-term (<60 min) PM2.5 concentrations were forecast, 1 h in advance. • Significant precursors were nitrogen monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, temperature and wind. • Personal weather stations helped identify local-scale processes affecting PM2.5 • Short-term results were different to daily-averaged forecasts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The applicability of four existing empirical cone penetration test to shear wave velocity (CPT- V s) correlations to Holocene soils in the Christchurch region of New Zealand was assessed using over 1400 CPT- V s data pairs. While most existing correlations used seismic CPT (sCPT) or other downhole-based methods in their development, this paper uses a database based on the direct push crosshole (DPCH) method. This database allowed for an assessment of the influence of the V s measurement method on correlation performance, with sCPT and downhole methods based on vertically propagating, horizontally polarized shear waves, compared to the horizontally propagating, vertically polarized shear waves used for the DPCH. Across the CPT- V s correlations considered, different ranges of over- or under-predicted V s were presented. In general, the correlations tend to underestimate the measurements for low cone tip resistance and sleeve friction values, while at higher values, they provide more reasonable estimates or slight overestimates. The correlation developed based on a sCPT database from Christchurch significantly underestimates V s at depths less than 4 m, likely due to a combination of factors including issues with the assumed wave propagation path used in sCPT processing, variability in soil characteristics within mapped geologic units and extrapolation of the correlation beyond the original database characteristics. Underestimation at greater depths was generally within 10% which likely reflects the influence of soil anisotropy on the measured V s from each method. The performance of these correlations demonstrates that investigation methods and the characteristics of the databases used in correlation development should be considered when they are applied in practice. • An assessment of CPT- V s correlations using a DPCH database in Holocene soils. • Soil types and database characteristics influence the correlation applicability. • Differences in seismic methods strongly influence the correlation performance. • Caution is recommended when using V s from correlations in engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unexpected failure modes were observed in RC walls in the 2010 Chile and 2011 New Zealand earthquakes. A peculiar failure mode, not previously reported in the structural engineering literature, was the brittle collapse of one of the structural walls of the 28-story Grand Chancellor Hotel in Christchurch, New Zealand. As one of the first steps toward the understanding of this failure mode, three rectangular RC walls were tested under bidirectional quasi-static cyclic loading. The only parameter varied among the three specimens was the structural detailing associated to various level of ductility design of the wall cross section. It was found that whereas the wall with nominal ductility section detailing (μ=1.25) experienced an out-of-plane shear-axial failure, those with higher ductility section detailing (1.25<μ<3 and μ>3) performed reasonably well. However, a relatively abrupt axial crushing failure was observed in the ductile walls at higher drift levels that needs further investigation. The bidirectional loading, rarely adopted in experimental tests or in numerical simulation due to its inherent complexity, was found to be one of the key factors in the development of out-of-plane shear-axial failure. Moreover, it was observed that walls with 0.3Agfc′ axial load, which is the maximum limit of the current New Zealand standard for concrete structures, and designed according to nominal ductile detailing might be prone to out-of-plane shear-axial failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arsenic contamination in groundwater affects tens of millions of people worldwide and is regarded as a major groundwater issue in New Zealand. This study was conducted to evaluate the connection between elevated groundwater arsenic concentrations and inferred redox state of aquifers across the Canterbury region. In total, 2,428 samples from 1,172 wells were analysed for arsenic concentrations, and groundwater redox state was inferred using geochemical indicators for each well. Most groundwater (~88% of wells; N = 1,031) had arsenic concentrations below laboratory detection limits, ~9.5% (N = 111 wells) had detectable arsenic concentrations below the New Zealand drinking-water Maximum Acceptable Value of 0.01 mg/L, and ~2.6% (N = 30 wells) had concentrations exceeding 0.01 mg/L. Arsenic concentrations were strongly associated with reducing groundwater; 47 (~43%) of 109 wells with reducing groundwater had detectable concentrations of arsenic, including 19 wells (~17%) with arsenic greater than 0.01 mg/L. Conversely, 840 wells had water classified as oxic, and only one of those wells exceeded the 0.01 mg/L Maximum Acceptable Value for arsenic in drinking-water. Arsenic concentrations were higher in coastal areas north of Christchurch, where confined aquifers are overlain and underlain by layers of peat and low-permeability sediment. Biogeochemical processes driving release are the same as those that cause arsenic contamination in groundwater elsewhere in the world. However, differences in regional geology and a relatively lesser availability of labile organic carbon appear to constrain the concentrations and spatial prevalence of groundwater arsenic in Canterbury compared to other arsenic-impacted regions (e.g., Southeast Asia). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Individuals with mood disorders frequently experience cognitive impairment, which impacts on the long-term trajectory of the disorders, including being associated with persisting difficulties in occupational and psychosocial functioning, residual mood symptoms, and relapse. Current first-line treatments for mood disorders do little to improve cognitive function. Targeting cognition in clinical research is thus considered a priority. This protocol outlines a prospectively-registered randomised controlled trial (RCT) which examines the impact of adding group-based Cognitive Remediation (CR) to Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy (IPSRT-CR) for individuals with mood disorders. Methods: This is a pragmatic, two-arm, single-blinded RCT comparing IPSRT-CR with IPSRT alone for adults (n = 100) with mood disorders (Major Depressive Disorder or Bipolar Disorder) with subjective cognitive difficulties, on discharge from Specialist Mental Health Services in Christchurch, New Zealand. Both treatment arms will receive a 12-month course of individual IPSRT (full dose = 24 sessions). At 6 months, randomisation to receive, or not, an 8-week group-based CR programme (Action-based Cognitive Remediation – New Zealand) will occur. The primary outcome will be change in Global Cognition between 6 and 12 months (treatment-end) in IPSRT-CR versus IPSRT alone. Secondary outcomes will be change in cognitive, functional, and mood outcomes at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months from baseline and exploratory outcomes include change in quality of life, medication adherence, rumination, and inflammatory markers between treatment arms. Outcome analyses will use an intention-to-treat approach. Sub-group analyses will assess the impact of baseline features on CR treatment response. Participants' experiences of their mood disorder, including treatment, will be examined using qualitative analysis. Discussion: This will be the first RCT to combine group-based CR with an evidence-based psychotherapy for adults with mood disorders. The trial may provide valuable information regarding how we can help promote long-term recovery from mood disorders. Many issues have been considered in developing this protocol, including: recruitment of the spectrum of mood disorders, screening for cognitive impairment, dose and timing of the CR intervention, choice of comparator treatment, and choice of outcome measures. Trial registration: Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, ACTRN12619001080112. Registered on 6 August 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Christchurch mosque shootings on March 15th, 2019 was the deadliest incident of mass violence in New Zealand for over a century. The present study investigated the psychological impact of these terrorist attacks targeting a specific minority community on the psychological functioning of the wider New Zealand population by examining changes in terrorism anxiety, sense of community, psychological distress, and wellbeing. Data from the New Zealand Attitudes and Values Survey (N = 47,951; age range 18–99 years, M = 48.59, SD = 13.86; 62% female) collected across a year, including approximately 6 months following the terrorist attack, was used. Regression discontinuity analyses found a statistically significant increase in terrorism anxiety and sense of community following the attacks, yet counterintuitively, no significant change in psychological distress or wellbeing. These findings provide unique insight into the psychological implications of politically motivated violence for the wider population when terrorism is directed toward a specific minority group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-resolution displacement observations of lateral spreading from optical image correlation are available for the 2011 Christchurch (Mw=6.2), New Zealand, earthquake, and these data were used to provide insights into the detailed displacement patterns during the earthquake and to quantitatively evaluate the performance of existing empirical models for lateral spread displacements. The observed displacements revealed important characteristics influencing the displacement patterns, including topographic terraces enhancing displacements in large regions between the terrace and the river, the combined effects of a free face and sloping ground on displacements near the river, and the effect of multiple free faces. These site characteristics can enhance displacements and should be considered when evaluating lateral spread movements. For the displacement models, on average, the Youd model underpredicts the observed displacements by more than a factor of 2, likely due to the strong magnitude scaling incorporated in the model. On average, the Zhang model is unbiased relative to the observed displacements but systematically overpredicts displacements for slopes greater than 1%. These results indicate the limitations of the existing lateral spread models and point toward the need for improvements in our understanding of lateral spread displacements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In March 2019, a mass shooting at two Christchurch mosques, livestreamed to Facebook, resulted in the deaths of 51 people. Psychologically, this served as a focusing event with high threat salience, shocking a country unused to gun violence despite its comparatively lax firearm legislation. The unprecedented reluctance by the New Zealand media to feature the shooter as a protagonist or even publish his name, concentrating instead on victims and societal issues, helped promote a sense of collective responsibility for change. This was strongly modeled by political leaders. Within weeks, new gun control laws were introduced with bipartisan support. We present this as a national case study, considering psychological and societal enablers for legislative reform in response to extreme gun violence. The shooting also raised the intractable problem of the internet allowing terrorists to promulgate violent content and extremist ideology with regulation in this area harder to achieve than gun control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A city's planted trees, the great majority of which are in private gardens, play a fundamental role in shaping a city's wild ecology, ecosystem functioning, and ecosystem services. However, studying tree diversity across a city's many thousands of separate private gardens is logistically challenging. After the disastrous 2010-2011 earthquakes in Christchurch, New Zealand, over 7,000 homes were abandoned and a botanical survey of these gardens was contracted by the Government's Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) prior to buildings being demolished. This unprecedented access to private gardens across the 443.9 hectares 'Residential Red Zone' area of eastern Christchurch is a unique opportunity to explore the composition of trees in private gardens across a large area of a New Zealand city. We analysed these survey data to describe the effects of housing age, socio-economics, human population density, and general soil quality, on tree abundance, species richness, and the proportion of indigenous and exotic species. We found that while most of the tree species were exotic, about half of the individual trees were local native species. There is an increasing realisation of the native tree species values among Christchurch citizens and gardens in more recent areas of housing had a higher proportion of smaller/younger native trees. However, the same sites had proportionately more exotic trees, by species and individuals, amongst their larger planted trees than older areas of housing. The majority of the species, and individuals, of the larger (=10 cm DBH) trees planted in gardens still tend to be exotic species. In newer suburbs, gardens in wealthy areas had more native trees than gardens from poorer areas, while in older suburbs, poorer areas had more native big trees than wealthy areas. In combination, these describe, in detail unparalleled for at least in New Zealand, how the tree infrastructure of the city varies in space and time. This lays the groundwork for better understanding of how wildlife distribution and abundance, wild plant regeneration, and ecosystem services, are affected by the city's trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Earth science information (data, knowledge, advice) can enhance the evidence base for land-use decision-making. The utility of this information depends on factors including the context and objectives of land-use decisions, the timeliness and efficiency with which earth science information is delivered, and the strength, relevance, uncertainties, and risks assigned to earth science information relative to other inputs. We investigate land-use decision-making practices in Christchurch, New Zealand, and the surrounding region in response to mass movement (e.g., rockfall, cliff collapses) and ground-surface fault rupture hazards incurred during the 2010–2011 Canterbury earthquake sequence (CES). Rockfall fatality risk models combining hazard, exposure, and vulnerability data were co-produced by earth scientists and decision makers and formed primary evidence for risk-based land-use decision-making with adaptive capacity. A public consultation and submission process enabled consideration of additional earth science information primarily via stakeholder requests. For fault rupture hazards, pre-disaster geotechnical guidelines and collaboration networks enhanced the ability of earth scientists to rapidly acquire relevant observational data to meet the demands of decision makers. Expeditious decision-making granted permissive consent for rebuilding in the fault rupture zone based on preliminary scientific advice that was subsequently supported by more comprehensive geological investigations. Rapidly fluctuating and diverse demands for post-disaster earth science information may be best met through the prior establishment of (i) land-use policies and technical guidelines tailored for a variety of diverse disaster scenarios, (ii) hazard and risk analyses in land-use plans, including acquisition of geospatial and other earth science data, and (iii) coordinated scientific networks that may comprise subgroups with diverse goals, operational perspectives, and protocols which allow the many facets of scientific information acquisition and delivery to be successfully addressed. Despite the collective knowledge shared here, some recent land-use practices in New Zealand continue to prioritize other (e.g., socioeconomic) factors above earth science information, even in areas of extreme disaster risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data from 58 high-quality liquefaction case histories from the Darfield and Christchurch earthquakes are utilized to investigate the efficacy of current liquefaction aging correction procedures. Toward this end, liquefaction case histories are analyzed in which aging corrections are and are not applied, and the resulting predictions are compared to the actual liquefaction response of the deposits. An error-index is calculated to quantify the efficacy of aging corrections. While all the sites located in the Christchurch area are classified as Holocene, based on their geological age, their liquefaction response is influenced more by the geotechnical age of the soil deposits. Aging correction was determined to be beneficial for the liquefaction assessment of soils that experienced recurrent liquefaction (i.e., geotechnical young deposits). However, aging corrections were determined to exacerbate the liquefaction assessment of relatively old (greater than ∼62–580 years) soil deposits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prediction equations for non-dimensional flood frequency as a function of average annual number of floods at a site are derived for return periods of 10 to 500 years. These equations may be used to provide a reasonably reliable and rapid check on extreme flood peak estimates derived using other methods. Separate equations apply to the North Island and South Island, each treated as a single region, and require knowledge of the mean annual flood value at a site. Envelope curves for recorded extreme flood peaks as a function of catchment area are presented based on five significant flood peaks. World maxima are about 1.25 times greater than New Zealand values for areas exceeding 90 km² and from 1.25 to 12 times greater for smaller basins. It is likely that New Zealand maxima will be exceeded in the future. Problems with employing estimates of probable maximum flood are reviewed. Probable maximum flood use in design is not recommended as the estimates are subjective and not free from risk of exceedance. A probable maximum flood estimate for the Waimakariri River near Christchurch is likely to have a return period of the order of 104 years. Allowance for the effects of human-induced climate change should be made when using the prediction equations and envelope curves derived in this study. Further work is needed employing a much larger sample of catchments to provide more accurate prediction equations for non-dimensional flood frequency for return periods exceeding 500 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sabulopteryx botanica Hoare & Patrick, sp. nov. (Lepidoptera, Gracillariidae, Gracillariinae) is described as a new species from New Zealand. It is regarded as endemic, and represents the first record of its genus from the southern hemisphere. Though diverging in some morphological features from previously described species, it is placed in genus Sabulopteryx Triberti, based on wing venation, abdominal characters, male and female genitalia and hostplant choice; this placement is supported by phylogenetic analysis based on the COI mitochondrial gene. The life history is described: the larva is an underside leaf-miner on the endemic divaricating shrub Teucrium parvifolium (Lamiaceae), and exits the mine to pupate in a cocoon in a folded leaf of the host plant. The remarkable history of the discovery and rediscovery of this moth is discussed: for many years it was only known from a single sap-feeding larva found in a leafmine in a pressed herbarium specimen of the host. The adult was discovered by BHP in Christchurch Botanic Gardens in 2013. Most distribution records of the moth come from a recent search for mines and cocoons on herbarium specimens of T. parvifolium. Sabulopteryx botanica has high conservation status, and is regarded as 'Nationally Vulnerable' according to the New Zealand Department of Conservation threat classification system, based on the rarity and declining status of its host plant. However, the presence of apparently thriving populations of S. botanica on cultivated plants of T. parvifolium, especially at the type locality, Christchurch Botanic Gardens, suggests that encouraging cultivation of the plant could greatly improve the conservation status of the moth. A revised checklist of New Zealand Gracillariidae is presented, assigning all species to the currently recognised subfamilies. The Australian Macarostola ida (Meyrick, 1880) is newly recorded from New Zealand (Auckland), where it is established on Eucalyptus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rockfall modelling is an important tool for hazard analysis in steep terrain. Calibrating terrain parameters ensures that the model results more accurately represent the site-specific hazard. Parameterizing rockfall models is challenging because rockfall runout is highly sensitive to initial conditions, rock shape, size and material properties, terrain morphology, and terrain material properties. This contribution examines the mechanics of terrain impact scarring due to rockfall on the Port Hills of Christchurch, New Zealand. We use field-scale testing and laboratory direct shear testing to quantify how the changing moisture content of the loessial soils can influence its strength from soft to hard, and vice versa. We calibrate the three-dimensional rockfall model RAMMS by back-analysing several well-documented rockfall events that occurred at a site with dry loessial soil conditions. We then test the calibrated "dry" model at a site where the loessial soil conditions were assessed to be wet. The calibrated dry model over-predicts the runout distance when wet loessial soil conditions are assumed. We hypothesize that this is because both the shear strength and stiffness of wet loess are reduced relative to the dry loess, resulting in a higher damping effect on boulder dynamics. For both realistic and conservative rockfall modelling, the maximum credible hazard is usually assumed; for rockfall on loess slopes, the maximum credible hazard occurs during dry soil conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Electronic Turkish Studies is the property of Electronic Turkish Studies and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Christchurch schools had the opportunity to participate in disseminating a low-intensity intervention for children in Years 1-4 aimed at helping children to better manage anxiety and stress following the long term environmental disturbances related to earthquakes. A story book constructed as an intervention tool for use in classrooms and another for homes were both distributed. The intervention is reviewed, a focused description of one school's use of the intervention is given, and qualitative feedback from this school's staff is reported. Additional information regarding other area schools' experience is also given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The earthquake on February 22, 2011, in Christchurch, New Zealand, resulted in the first documented field fractures of links in eccentrically braced frames (EBFs). A comprehensive forensic analysis of these fractures, which occurred in the parking garage of the Christchurch Hospital, is presented. The analysis is based on mechanical and spectrochemical testing and three-dimensional (3D) scanning of procured physical samples of the fractured links. The analysis features nonlinear time history simulations to characterize deformation demands and continuum finite-element simulations to determine the capacities based on a sophisticated fracture mechanics model. The exercise represents a multiscale end-to-end simulation of the system and provides insight regarding the observed fractures. The analysis reveals the inherent challenges in determining the proximate cause of the fractures because the fractures occurred because of a confluence of several interacting factors, primarily the intensity of shaking (several times the intensity that was expected during a design-level event) and the frame geometry, which severely amplified the imposed demands. In addition, the fractured links also suffered from an erection (fit-up) error, in which the link stiffener was not located (as specified) directly above the brace flange, producing a severe strain concentration. This flaw significantly reduced the deformation capacity; however, the simulation of hypothetical scenarios indicates that, even with this flaw, the links would (with high likelihood) have survived a design-level event. Strategies for mitigation include stricter tolerances for stiffener location, consideration of frame geometry to reduce amplification of rotation, and enhancement of the seismic hazard used for design. The limitations of the study are outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Panic buying and hoarding behavior is a significant component of crisis- and disaster-related consumption displacement that has received considerable attention during the COVID-19 pandemic. Understanding such purchasing and stockpiling behavior provides critical information for government, disaster managers and the retail sector, as well as policy makers to adjust crisis response strategies and to better understand disaster management, including preparedness and response strategies. This study examines consumer purchasing behavior, retail spending and transactional data for different retail sectors between January 2017 and December 2020 using data for the greater Christchurch region in New Zealand. Once COVID-19-related panic buying began, overall spending increased sharply in anticipation of lockdowns. Transactional spending increased and subsided only slowly to a level higher than pre lockdown. The magnitude of the panic buying event far exceeded historical seasonal patterns of consumer spending outside of Christmas, Easter and Black Friday, although daily spending levels were comparable to such consumption events. The results of the study highlight the importance of comparing panic buying to other events in terms of purchasing motivations and also considering that so-called panic buying may contribute to greater individual and household resilience. The volume of sales alone is not adequate to define panic buying. Instead, the extent of divergence from the normal daily spending value per retail transaction of a given population provides a much more accurate characteristic of panic buying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]