• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.439-459
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• 2013

Main objective of the present study is to determine the statistical properties and suitable probability distribution functions of spectral displacements from nonlinear static and nonlinear dynamic analysis within the frame work of Monte Carlo simulation for typical low rise and high rise RC framed buildings located in zone III and zone V and designed as per Indian seismic codes. Probabilistic analysis of spectral displacement is useful for strength assessment and loss estimation. To the author's knowledge, no study is reported in literature on comparison of spectral displacement including the uncertainties in capacity and demand in Indian context. In the present study, uncertainties in capacity of the building is modeled by choosing cross sectional dimensions of beams and columns, density and compressive strength of concrete, yield strength and elastic modulus of steel and, live load as random variables. Uncertainty in demand is modeled by choosing peak ground acceleration (PGA) as a random variable. Nonlinear static analysis (NSA) and nonlinear dynamic analysis (NDA) are carried out for typical low rise and high rise reinforced concrete framed buildings using IDARC 2D computer program with the random sample input parameters. Statistical properties are obtained for spectral displacements corresponding to performance point from NSA and maximum absolute roof displacement from NDA and suitable probability distribution functions viz., normal, Weibull, lognormal are examined for goodness-of-fit. From the hypothesis test for goodness-of-fit, lognormal function is found to be suitable to represent the statistical variation of spectral displacement obtained from NSA and NDA.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers
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• v.18 no.8
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• pp.1952-1966
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• 1994

The body segment parameters of twelve young male Korean were measured to compare with the results of foreign cadaver studies. A human body was assumed to have fourteen body segments. The mass of each segment was measured with a water immersion test and the mass center of a segment was determined on the balance platform by changing postures. In the case of Korean, because of the difference in body proportion, the mass center of whole-body is located further from the distal end of head(Korean : 44.9% vs. Caucasian : 41.2%), and the mass center of each segment also located in different proportional locations. The existing regression equations, which can estimate segment mass based upon the anthropometric dimensions, estimates segment mass (the mass of shank) for Korean with 13% error. Therefore, it is not recommended to estimate the mass, and the moment of inertia of body segment of Korean based on the existing equations. However, the density information of body constituents was similar enough to apply it to Korean density. It was validated by the comparison between the results of the direct immersion method and 3-dimensional volume reconstruction of segment form the cross sectional images of CT-scan. The average body density measured form twelve subjects was $1.035{\;}kg/m^3$ and showed deceasing trendency.

• Journal of KSNVE
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.959-966
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• 1997

In general, the booming noise intensity at tunnel exit is strongly related to the gradient of the compression wave front created by high speed train entering the tunnel. This paper presents some results in relation with the compression wave front produced when the high speed train enters a tunnel. Four kinds of tunnel entrance shape with real dimensions were studied to investigate the formation of compression wave front inside tunnel by train entering tunnel. Computations were carried out using three-dimensional compressible Euler equation with vanishing viscosity and conductivity of fluid. According to the results, the flow disturbances occured at tunnel entrance were eliminated by tunnel hood with same cross sectional area. The compression wave front is formed completely at 30-40m from tunnel entrance. The maximum pressure gradient of compression wave front is reduced by 29.8% for the inclined tunnel hood and reduced by 21.5% for the tunnel hood with holes at the top face with tunnel without hood. The length of the inclined hood is 15m and the length of the hood with holes is 20m.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.98-114
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• 2002

Purpose: This review examined literature relevant to adolescent's health behavior in order to identify key behaviors and factors related to health behaviors for targeting health promotion interventions. Method: A critical review of 29 research articles was carried out using the guidelines suggested by Cooper. Result: The majority of the studies were descriptive and cross-sectional. Generally. the study includes sub-dimensions such as general hygiene and daily life habit, safety and accident prevention, nutrition and eating (tobacco, drinking), exercise, mental health and stress management, health duty (drug, health examination, disease prevention). Factors highly related to health behaviors were age, living areas, economic status, parent health behaviors, parent health concern, social support, friends influence, self-efficacy, self-esteem, locus of control, and the perceived health status. Sex, parent education and health knowledge were not related to health behaviors of adolescents. Conclusion: Several conceptual and methodological problems were identified in the studies review, such as restricted conceptualization of health behaviors and sampling issues which limit the generalizability of the study outcomes. Further research is needed to enhance the concept clarification and generalizablity of the study results.

• The Journal of Industrial Distribution & Business
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• v.11 no.10
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• pp.49-58
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the differential effect of workforce diversity on employee productivity and its subsequent impact on customer experience. Research design, data and methodology: A once-off cross-sectional research design was used in this study where the Zimbabwean civil service was targeted. Randomization was used to collect 324 validated responses. The study focused on both primary (age and gender) and secondary (education and political affiliation) dimensions of workforce diversity. Results: The results were confirmatory that workforce diversity is a significant predictor of employee productivity (β = 0.668, P < 0.05), at the same time employee productivity holds explanation to customer experience by 37%. Results also revealed that gender diversity, educational diversity and political diversity were significant determinants of workforce diversity (P < 0.05). However, the study established that age diversity was not a significant factor in enhancing employee productivity (P > 0.05). Conclusions: The study concluded that workforce diversity is a powerful tool in enhancing both customer experience and employee productivity. As such, the latter can be augmented through shrewd workforce diversity practices as championed by management. To that end, the study recommends the development of a workforce diversity framework which promotes inclusivity.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.135-140
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• 2013

We have developed an ultra wide-field of view Optical Coherence Tomography(OCT) which has capability to 2D and 3D views of cross-sectional structure of in vivo human retina. Conventional OCT has a limitation in visualizing the entire retina due to a reduced field of view. We designed an optical setup to significantly improve the lateral scanning range to be more than 20 mm. The entire human retinal structure in 2D and 3D was reported in this paper with the developed OCT system. Also, we empirically searched an optimized image size for real time visualization by analyzing variation of the frame rate with different lateral scan points. The size was concluded to be $1024{\times}2000{\times}300$ pixels which took 9 seconds for visualization.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.225-230
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• 2016

Background: This study seeks to examine the relationship and impact of occupational health and safety on employees' organizational commitment in Ghana's mining industry. The study explores occupational health and safety and the different dimensions of organizational commitment. Methods: A cross-sectional survey design was used for this study. The respondents were selected based on simple random sampling. Out of 400 questionnaires administered, 370 were returned (77.3% male and 22.7% female) and used for the study. Correlation and multiple regression analysis were used to determine the relationship and impact between the variables. Results: The findings of this study revealed positive and significant relationship between occupational health and safety management, and affective, normative, and continuance commitment. Additionally, the results revealed the significant impact of occupational health and safety on affective, normative, and continuance commitment. Conclusion: Management within the mining sector of Ghana must recognize the fact that workers who feel healthy and safe in the performance of their duties, develop emotional attachment and have a sense of obligation to their organization and are most likely committed to the organization. Employees do not just become committed to the organization; rather, they expect management to first think about their health and safety needs by instituting good and sound policy measures. Thus, management should invest in the protection of employees' health and safety in organizations.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.119-125
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• 2018

The tropical forests in developing countries are faced with the problem of illegal exploitation of trees. However, dearth of empirical means of expressing the dimensions, structure, quality and quantity of a removed tree has imped conviction of offenders. This study aimed at developing a model that can effectively estimate individual tree basal area (BA) from stump diameter (Ds) for Tectona grandis stands in Omo Forest Reserve, Nigeria, for timber valuation in case of illegal felling. Thirty-six $25m{\times}25m$ temporary sample plots (TSPs) were laid randomly in six age strata; 26, 23, 22, 16, 14, and 12 years specifically. BA, Ds and diameter at breast height were measured in all living T. grandis trees within the 36 TSPs. Least square method was used to convert the counted stumps into harvested stem cross-sectional areas. Six basal area models were fitted and evaluated. The BA-Ds relationship was best described by power model which gave least values of Root mean square error (0.0048), prediction error sum of squares (0.0325) and Akaike information criterion (-15391) with a high adjusted coefficient of determination (0.921). This study revealed that basal area estimation was realistic even when the only information available was stump diameter. The power model was validated using independent data obtained from additional plots and was found to be appropriate for estimating the basal area of Tectona grandis stands in Omo Forest Reserve, Nigeria.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.380-387
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the mediating and moderating effects of fall-related efficacy and social support on the relationship between frailty and health-related quality of life among rural community-dwelling elderly. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with a convenient sampling method, and data of 438 elderly residents living in a rural community was used. The structured questionnaire included items from the Euro Quality of life-5 Dimensions (mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, anxiety/ depression), fall-related efficacy and social support. Results: Analysis of the mediating effect of fall-related efficacy and social support showed that there was significant mediating influence of fall-related efficacy on the relationship between frailty and health-related quality of life. There were no moderating effects of fall-related efficacy and social support. Conclusion: The findings suggest that fall-related efficacy may play a role in reducing the effect of frailty on health-related quality of life and underscore the need to consider ways of enhancing fall-related efficacy in interventions for rural community-dwelling frail elderly.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.244-254
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• 2011

Purpose: The objective of this study was to evaluate adherence to self-care and identify associated factors in outpatients with Heart Failure (HF). Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, a convenience sample of 249 outpatient clinic patients were recruited at S university hospital. Between October 2009 and December 2009, data were collected through questionnaires and medical record review. Results: The total mean score of adherence to self-care was $18.07{\pm}3.56$ out of a possible 45 points. Among self-care dimensions, adherence to medication and low salt diet was high, while lower adherence was reported in contact with health professionals if symptoms such as weight gain, edema and fatigue were presented. Multivariate analysis adjusted for other socio-demographic and clinical factors showed that disease knowledge related to heart failure (p<.001) and left ventricular ejection fraction (p=.027) were independent predictors of adherence to self-care. These factors explained 23% of total variance in the adherence to self-care. Conclusion: Heart failure patients with higher disease knowledge and those who have good systolic function may be more likely to engage in adherence to self-care than those with lack of disease knowledge and low contractility. Further research is needed to confirm these results and identify other predictors of adherence to self-care.