Existing unreinforced masonry buildings in seismically active regions are in urgent need of consolidation and preservation against seismic action to prevent damage and loss of financial resources. In this research, an experimental study of externally confined brick masonry piers, which are frequently …

The current procedure for assessing nervous activity in the spinal cord is needle ElectroSpinography (needle EMG). This is an invasive and painful approach during which a needle is inserted into the subarachnoid space. It is hypothesised that High-Density surface ElectroMyography (HD-sEMG) is a non-invasive …

This dissertation explores whether the German news media framework that is constructed around the issue of trafficking in human beings (THB) is biased or framed in terms of gender. The past decade has seen major developments in efforts towards the eradication of THB on an international and national …

This dissertation focuses on the re-interpretation of Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution, which has forbidden Japan from participating in war since 1946. However, it has now been re-interpreted to allow Japan minimum involvement in international conflicts and peacekeeping operations. It analyses …

The European Union (EU) and the United States of America (US) are currently negotiating the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). TTIP was launched in 2013. TTIP aims at developing trade rules under investment protection that encompasses arbitration as the method to resolve disputes …

As one of the most attractive Western European countries for refugees, Germany has experienced a large influx of migrants since the beginning of the Syrian Civil War in 2011. It has the highest influx number of migrants in 2014 since 1992. Since Germany is not prepared to deal with this unexpected …

From the fast-food industry to the sharing economy, precarious work has become the norm in contemporary capitalism, like the anti-globalization movement predicted it would. This book describes how the precariat came into being under neoliberalism and how it has radicalized in response to crisis and austerity. …

Smart city-policy makers and technology vendors are increasingly stating they want to bring about citizen-centered smart cities. Yet, it often remains unclear what exactly that means, and how citizens are envisaged as actors in smart cities. This article wants to contribute to this discussion by exploring …

A symbiotic relationship between human factors and safety scientists is needed to ensure the provision of holistic solutions for problems emerging in modern socio-technical systems. System Theoretic Accident Model and Processes (STAMP) tackles both interactions and individual failures of human and technological …

The remarkable and continuous growth of the unmanned aircraft market has brought new safety related challenges, as those are recorded in various accident and incident reports. Although drones with an operating weight higher than 20-25Kgs are technologically advanced and often subject to standards (e.g., …