• Land and Housing Review
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.43-50
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• 2010

In this study, the influences of steel dampers on the behavior of RC frames were investigated using the experimental approach to suggest the installation methods of steel dampers using K-barces. The performances of RC frames with dampers can be evaluated by superposition the load-displacement curves of RC frames and steel dampers with regard to the influences of K-braces. Three specimens are tested to investigate the cyclic behavior of RC frames with dampers. The performances of RC frames with dampers with respect to strength, rigidity, and hysteretic performance are examined. It was found that test results demonstrates the effect of seismic retrofit on RC frames with steel dampers(D-RCF-KBSF, D-RCF-KBSP) compared with RC frames(N-RCF). An approximate design curves may not be good agreement with those of the tests, it is conservative enough so that you can design of RC frames with steel damper with regard to the influences of K-braces.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.81-91
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• 2004

The ultimate purpose of this study is to provide the basic data for effective intervention of the patients complaining of their aspects and themselves and to help dental hygienists of keep them remaining healthy effectively. The data was collected by questions from 269 people including the outpatients requiring regular care from dental clinic from December 10, 2003 to January 10, 2004. Secord & Jourard's apparatus which measures the degree of self-satisfaction to the body image and Rosenberg's equipment measuring the degree of self-respect were used for this study. The data were analysed using a computerized program named statistical package for social science including t-test, ANOVA and Pearson-correlation coefficient. The result's of this study were summarized as follows: 1. The body image and the sense of self-respect were decided by the various characters of the inquired person. Comparing the inquired person's body image in terms of general background, they showed a big difference in sociability(p=0.004), age(p=0.003), sex(p=0.043). However the experience accident any and the frequency of visiting dental clinic had little effect on deciding their body image. Comparing the self-respect. in terms of the general background, they showed a significant. difference in sociability(p=0.002), age(p=0.041), experience of any accident(p=0.012), whereas age, sex, religion, the frequency of having treatment didn't show any difference with them. 2. The relationship between the score of their body image and the sense of self-respect was positively correlated(r=0.391, p=0.000).

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.149-157
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• 2019

Purpose : This study aims to check the relationship between the size of curvature in scoliosis patients and the reduction rate of curvature after wearing a brace and the relationships of the size of curvature and correction angle with Body Mass Index (BMI). Methods : With 30 adolescent girls who had never worn a brace, their Cobb angle and BMI were measured before manufacturing braces, and their corrected Cobb angle was measured after wearing the manufactured scoliosis braces. Results : The size of the major curvature before wearing the brace and the reduction rate of the curvature after putting it on had a negative correlation in both the major curvature (r=-.465, p<.01) and the minor curvature (r=-.516, p<.01). The size of the minor curvature and the reduction rate of the minor curvature before and after putting it on also had a negative correlation (r=-.429, p<.05). As for the relationship between the size of curvature and BMI, they had a negative correlation in both the major curvature (r=-.141) and the minor curvature (r=-.123), and as for the relationship between the reduction rate of curvature and BMI after wearing the brace, they had a positive correlation in both the major curvature (r=.251) and the minor curvature (r=.136); however, it was not statistically significant (p>.05). Conclusion : In conclusion, the larger the size of curvature, the lower the reduction rate of curvature after wearing the brace became. The larger the size of curvature, the lower the BMI became. The higher the BMI, the higher the correction ratio of the brace became. Therefore, it is judged that it is necessary to provide early treatment and manage body composition before scoliosis progresses.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.31-38
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• 2021

Purpose: Traumatic vertebral injuries have a prevalence of 4-5% at level I centers. Studies have demonstrated that isolated thoracolumbar transverse process fractures (iTPF) rarely require brace or surgical interventions. We hypothesized that similarly isolated thoracolumbar spinous process fractures (iSPF) would have less need for bracing and operative interventions than SPFs with associated vertebral body (VB) fractures (SPF+VB). We performed a similar analysis for iTPF compared to transverse process fractures associated with VB injury (TPF+VB). Methods: In this single-center, retrospective study from 2012 to 2016, patients were classified into iSPF, SPF+VB, iTPF, and TPF+VB groups. Data including the fracture pattern, neurologic deficits, and operative intervention were obtained. The primary outcome studied was the need for bracing and/or surgery. A statistical analysis was conducted. Results: Of 98 patients with spinous process fractures, 21 had iSPF and 77 had SPF+VB. No iSPF patients underwent surgery, whereas 24 (31.17%) SPF+VB patients did undergo surgery (p=0.012). In the iSPF group, three patients (15%) received braces only for comfort, whereas 37 (48.68%) of the SPF+VB group required bracing (p=0.058). Of 474 patients with transverse process fractures, 335 had iTPF and 139 had TPF+VB. No iTPF patients underwent surgery, whereas 28 (20.14%) TPF+VB patients did (p≤0.001). Of the iTPF patients, six (1.86%) were recommended to receive braces only for comfort, while 68 (50.75%) of the TPF+VB patients required bracing (p<0.001). Conclusions: No patients with iSPF or iTPF required surgical intervention, and bracing was recommended to patients in these groups for comfort only. It appears that these injures may be safely managed without interventions, calling into question the need for spine consultation.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.82 no.1
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• pp.107-120
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• 2022

The bracing members capable of active control against seismic loads to reduce earthquake damage have been widely utilized in construction projects. Effectively reducing the structural damage caused by earthquake events, bracing systems equipped with retrofitting damper devices, which take advantage of the energy dissipation and impact absorption, have been widely used in practical construction sites. Shape Memory Alloys (SMAs) are a new generation of smart materials with the capability of recovering their predefined shape after experiencing a large strain. This is mainly due to the shape memory effects and the superelasticity of SMA. These properties make SMA an excellent alternative to be used in passive, semi-active, and active control systems in civil engineering applications. In this research, a new system in diagonal braces with slit damper combined with SMA is investigated. The diagonal element under the effect of tensile and compressive force turns to shear force in the slit damper and creates tension in the SMA. Therefore, by creating shear forces in the damper, it leads to yield and increases the energy absorption capacity of the system. The purpose of using SMA, in addition to increasing the stiffness and strength of the system, is to create reversibility for the system. According to the results, the highest capacity is related to the case where the ratio of the width of the middle section to the width of the end section (b₁/b) is 1.0 and the ratio of the height of the middle part to the total height of the damper (h₁/h) is 0.1. This is mainly because in this case, the damper section has the highest cross-section. In contrast, the lowest capacity is related to the case where b₁/b=0.1 and the ratio h₁/h=0.8.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.93-107
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• 2023

This study aimed to design a knee brace with dry electrode EMS (Electrical Muscle Stimulation) for elite badminton players suffering from knee pain and assess its effectiveness in relieving pain and improving mobility. The assessment measured knee joint range of motion (ROM), Sargent jump height, and pain perception using a visual analog scale (VAS). Four experimental groups were established: stability, pain induction after 100 squats, muscle soreness induction with a regular knee brace, and muscle soreness induction with the EMS knee brace. The most suitable knee brace was selected from four samples to design the EMS knee brace. The conductive fabric was integrated into the inner surface of the knee brace to enhance EMS conductivity for the quadriceps muscles. Tensile strength tests showed that the dry electrode did not significantly affect the physical functionality of the knee brace.Regarding knee joint ROM and Sargent jump height, the EMS knee brace outperformed muscle soreness induction with a regular knee brace and wearing a standard knee brace. VAS measurements demonstrated that the EMS braces effectively alleviated pain perception in most cases. The results indicate the potential for developing EMS braces to alleviate pain and prevent injuries for athletes across various sports.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.90 no.3
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• pp.313-323
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• 2024

Most of existing buildings in Mexico City are made of reinforced concrete (RC), however, it has been shown that they are very susceptible to narrow-band long duration ground motions. In recent years, the use of dual systems composed by Buckling Restrained Braces (BRB) has increased due to its high energy dissipation capacity under reversible cyclical loads. Therefore, in this work the behavior of RC buildings with BRB is studied in order to know their performance, specifically, the energy distribution through height and response transformation factors between the RC and simplified systems are estimated. For this propose, seven RC buildings with different heights were designed according to the Mexico City Seismic Design Provisions (MCSDP), in addition, equivalent single degree of freedom (SDOF) systems were obtained. Incremental dynamic analyses on the buildings under 30 narrow-band ground motions in order to compute the relationship between normalized hysteretic energy, maximum inter-story drift and roof displacement demands were performed. The results shown that the entire structural frames participate in energy dissipation and their distribution is independent of the global ductility. The results let propose energy distribution equations through height. Finally, response transformation factors between the SDOF and multi degree of freedom (MDOF) systems were developed aimed to propose a new energy-based approach of BRB reinforced concrete buildings.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.131-138
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• 2006

Structural bracing concept equipped with a new and efficient friction based energy dissipation device is referred to Friction SliP Brace (FSB) where the behavior of the brace components is elastic until the axial resistant force in the brace exceeds the friction force developed at the frictional interface of the device. In this study, the FSB concept is modified and new type of hybrid energy dissipation device, the Active Friction SliP Braces (AFSB), is described. The FSB is by far improved in the AFSB by inclusion of an active clamping mechanism on the friction interface. The clamping action regulated by the developed algorithm is altered during the response of the building. The results indicate that the action of dissipating vibrational energy in the AFSB impacts on the response at later cycles by keeping the drift amplitudes at much lower levels, revealing overshooting problem due to its early slippage. Providing predetermined constant incremental strengths to the building by AFSB medium improves response by reducing drift amplitudes and base shear under small and medium amplitude ground accelerations.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2005.04a
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• pp.97-104
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• 2005

The seismic behavior of framed structure with Chevron-type bucking restrained braces were investigated and their behavior factors were evaluated following the procedure proposed in ATC-19 & ATC-34. Two types of structures, building frame systems and dual systems, with 4, 8, 12, and 16 stories were designed per the IBC 2000, the AISC LRFD and the AISC/SEAOC Recommended Provisions for BRBF. Nonlinear static pushover analyses were carried out to observe the plastic hinge formation and to identify the loads and the displacements at the yield and the ultimate states. Time history analyses were also carried out to compute the permanent displacement md the dissipated hysteretic energy. According to the analysis results, the response modification factors of model structures fumed out to be larger than what is proposed in the provision in low story structures, and a little smaller in medium-story structures. The dual systems, even though designed with smaller seismic load, showed superior static and dynamic performances.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2008.04a
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• pp.319-324
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• 2008

In this study the progressive collapse potential of special concentrically braced frames were investigated using the nonlinear static. All of seven different brace types were considered. According to the pushdown analysis results, most braced frames designed according to current design codes satisfied the design guidelines for progressive collapse initiated by loss of a first story mid-column; however most model structures showed brittle failure mode. This was caused by buckling of columns after compressive braces buckled. Among the braced frames considered, the inverted-V type braced frames showed superior ductile behavior during progressive collapse.