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Financial and Legal Aspects of Online Gambling Games Abstract I chose the topic of online gambling and its financial and legal aspects as the subject of this thesis. This work focuses on issues of old and new gambling legislation and provides comparison and evaluation of its changes. This work aims to study and evaluate in detail selected aspects of gambling with prevailing focus on the financial aspects of online gambling and its transformation as a result of the new legal regulation. Particular aspects were chosen in the perspective of latest development in gambling on the Czech market and in the perspective of the latest changes and other development associated with the new legal regulation. Purpous of this work is to introduce this subject to readers and help them understand selected topics. The text of the thesis is divided into three parts. The first part defines gambling and introduces gambling issues in such a way that the reader familiarizes himself with the basics and main concepts that are essential for other parts of this work. In addition to the grounds of this subject, it also focuses on gambling operators, licensing and supervision of gambling operatos. The end of the first part deals with offenses, gambling related crimes and relationship between them. The second part deals with online...

Large lahars threaten communities living near volcanoes all over the world. Evacuations are a critical strategy for reducing vulnerability and mitigating a disaster. Hazard perceptions, transportation infrastructure, and transportation mode choice are all important factors in determining the effectiveness of an evacuation. This research explores the effects of population, whether individuals drive or walk, response time, and exit closures on an evacuation in a community threatened by a large lahar originating on Mount Rainier, Washington. An agent-based model employing a co-evolutionary learning algorithm is used to simulate a vehicular evacuation. Clearance times increase when the population is larger and when exits are blocked. Clearance times are reduced when a larger proportion of agents opt out of driving, and as the model learns. Results indicate evacuation times vary greatly due to spatial differences in the transportation network, the initial population distribution, and individual behaviors during the evacuation.

Tailings storage facilities (TSFs) and conventional water retaining dams are the largest manmade structures on Earth. Statistics show that TSFs are more likely to fail than water retaining dams.Recent catastrophic failures of TSFs have led to the loss of lives (Germano mine, Brazil), environmental damage (Mount Polley, Canada), contamination of drinking water (Baia Mare, Romania), and the destruction of property (Kingston Fossil Plant, USA). As the scale of mining increases, TSFs increase in height and volume, therefore increasing the consequence of failure. To help mitigate risk associated with large TSFs mining companies empanel expert groups to review operations of TSFs and conduct regular visual inspections. In the US the Mine Safety and Health Administration has regulatory responsibility for the safety of TSFs. As population centers expand nearer to existing and proposed TSFs, the public requires assurance of the integrity of these structures. A pro-active approach to public safety is more desirable than a post-mortem analysis after a major failure. We have examined both the regulatory practices, the industry practices, and public data on TSFs in Arizona. In this thesis paper we address inadequacies of the official government records on TSFs in the two largest publicly accessible databases of dams inthe US – the National Inventory of Dams (NID), and the National Performance of Dams Program (NPDP). Both databases contain numerous errors and omissions, including descriptions and geographic coordinates of TSFs that are inaccurate by many kilometers. Several large TSFs in Arizona are not included in either database.We address these shortcomings with a pilot project for Arizona that demonstrates recording accurate information in a database is neither expensive nor onerous, communicating best practices for operation can help alleviate community concerns, and continuous monitoring technology can resolve shortcomings with visual inspections.

Performance-based earthquake engineering is an emerging field of study that complements the prescriptive methods that the design codes provide to ensure adequate seismic performance of structures. Accounting for uncertainties in the performance assessments forms an important component in this area. In this context, the present study focuses on two broad themes; first, treatment of uncertainties and the application of the first-order reliability method (FORM) in finite-element reliability analysis, and second, the seismic risk assessment of reinforced concrete structures for performance states such as, collapse and monetary loss. In the first area, the uncertainties arising from inherent randomness (“aleatory uncertainty”) and due to the lack of knowledge (“epistemic uncertainty”) are identified. A framework for the separation of these uncertainties is proposed. Following this, the applicability of FORM to the linear and nonlinear finite-element structural models under static and dynamic loading is investigated. The case studies indicate that FORM is applicable for linear and nonlinear static problems. Strategies are proposed to circumvent and remedy potential challenges to FORM. In the case of dynamic problems, the application of FORM is studied with an emphasis on cumulative response measures. The limit-state surface is shown to have a closed and nonlinear geometric shape. Solution methods are proposed to obtain probability bounds based on the FORM results. In the application-oriented second area of research, at first, the probability of collapse of a reinforced concrete frame is assessed with nonlinear static analysis. By modelling the post-failure behaviour of individual structural members, the global response of the structure is estimated beyond the component failures. The final application is the probabilistic assessment of monetary loss for a high-rise shear wall building due to the seismic hazard in the Cascadia subduction zone. A 3-dimensional finite-element model of the structure with nonlinear material models is subjected to stochastic ground motions in the reliability analysis. The parameters for the stochastic ground motion model are developed for Vancouver, Canada. Monetary losses due to the damage of structural and non-structural components are included. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Civil Engineering, Department of / Graduate

La estabilidad de las pendientes rocosas se considera crucial para la seguridad pública en las carreteras, así como también para la seguridad del personal y los equipos que trabajan en los cortes de roca. La inestabilidad y fallas en taludes rocosos se producen debido a muchos factores, como la geometría, las discontinuidades geológicas, el material del talud, y las condiciones climáticas severas. Así también como las cargas externas, las fuertes precipitaciones y la sismicidad que podrían jugar un papel importante en la falla. En esta tesis se desarrolla el método cinemático y el método empírico de “Índice de Riesgo” (tomado del inglés “Hazard Índex”) para la evaluación de la estabilidad del talud en la carretera Tarapoto- Yurimaguas, donde el talud corresponde a una roca residual tipo arenisca de baja resistencia, con alta precipitación por ser zona tropical y ubicada dentro de una zona sísmica. Se identifican los posibles tipos de falla mediante el análisis cinemático basado en la dirección del rumbo y buzamiento de las discontinuidades, se analiza las fallas encontradas con respecto al factor sísmico, y la condición de la estabilidad con el método empírico “Hazard Index” con respecto al factor de precipitación para así identificar la condición de estabilidad y mostrar el resultado. La tesis destaca algunas limitaciones de los métodos utilizados. / The stability of rocky slopes is considered crucial for public safety on the roads, as well as for the safety of personnel and teams working on rock cuts. Rock slope instability and failure occur due to many factors such as geometry, geological discontinuities, slope material, and severe weather conditions. As well as external loads, heavy precipitation, and seismicity that could play an important role in the failure. In this thesis we develop the kinematic method and the empirical method of "hazard Index" for evaluating the stability of the slope on the Tarapoto-Yurimaguas road, where the slope corresponds to a residual rock Low resistance sandstone type, with high precipitation as it is a tropical zone and located within a seismic zone. Possible types of failure are identified through kinematic analysis based on the direction of heading and dip of the discontinuities, the failures found are analyzed with respect to the seismic factor, and the condition of stability with the empirical method "Hazard Index" with respect to to the precipitation factor to identify the stability condition and show the result. The thesis highlights some limitations of the methods used. / Tesis

This research expands the theoretical concept of human adjustment to floods established by Gilbert F. White and incorporates his adjustment concept to examine the range of adjustments in business operations adopted by Texas' natural and/or cultural resources sites during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. This mixed-methods study consisted of an online survey with a follow-up semi-structured phone interview. The survey data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and the interview data was inductively coded for thematic analysis as well as quantitative and qualitative content analyses. Specifically, this study identifies the adjustment measures undertaken by these entities to maintain business operations while reducing the virus spread; analyses the direct and indirect factors influencing adjustment measures; examines new business opportunities that emerged from these adjustments; and evaluates whether the impact of COVID-19 on these entities varied in terms of entity characteristics. Findings indicate that cultural and/or natural resource sites implemented adjustments to maintain their fiscal stability and/or to protect human health; these serve as direct underlying motivating factors for these entities. To support these direct measures, indirect factors influenced the operations thus required adjustments such as staffing, volunteers, technology, funding, and donations. Additionally, new opportunities in business practices emerged while implementing these adjustments such as networking, maintenance, and virtual options. Across all entity types, virtual programs was a key adjustment addressing both fiscal and health concerns. From these adjustments, this study provides recommendations for cultural and/or natural resource sites to implement to improve resilience to future extreme events.

This study comprised of a survey of 807 students in geosciences classes at Mississippi State University to determine the perceived level of threat from eight natural hazards: hurricanes, hail, lightning, tornadoes, earthquakes, ice storms, floods, and wildfires. Responses were analyzed to detect spatial differences in perceptions of threats across the state of Mississippi for comparison. Actual occurrences of the natural hazards and preparations for dealing with these hazards were recorded by county and MEMA districts. Threat perceptions for hurricanes, ice storms, floods, and lightning showed spatial differences, whereas threats from hail, tornadoes, earthquakes, and wildfire showed no spatial differences. All perceived threats except ice storms paralleled the actual recorded occurrences of the respective hazards spatially. Preparations for each hazard included the adoption of MEMA’s Basic Plan for the entire state.

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