• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.349-365
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• 2020

Since the peak seismic response of a base-isolated building strongly depends on the characteristics of the imposed seismic ground motion, the behavior of a base-isolated building under different seismic ground motions is studied, in order to better assess their effects on its peak seismic response. Specifically, the behavior of a typical steel building is examined as base-isolated with elastomeric bearings, while the effect of near-fault ground motions is studied by imposing 7 pairs of near- and 7 pairs of far-fault seismic records, from the same 7 earthquake events, to the building, under 3 different loading combinations, through three-dimensional (3D) nonlinear dynamic analyses, conducted with SAP2000. The results indicate that near-fault seismic components are more likely to increase the building's peak seismic response than the corresponding far-fault components. Furthermore, the direction of the imposed earthquake excitations is also varied by rotating the imposed pairs of seismic records from 0◦ to 360◦, with respect to the major construction axes. It is observed that the peak seismic responses along the critical incident angles, which in general differ from the major horizontal construction axes of the building, are significantly higher. Moreover, the influence of 5% and 10% accidental mass eccentricities is also studied, revealing that when considering accidental mass eccentricities the peak relative displacements of the base isolated building at the isolation level are substantially increased, while the peak floor accelerations and interstory drifts of its superstructure are only slightly affected.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.66-73
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• 2021

Background: The objective was to assess the knowledge level, attitude, and practice of health care workers towards standard precautions, and to identify the related factors. Furthermore, it was attempted to identify the proportion of having the experience of needle stick injuries (NSIs) and associated factors among participants. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a teaching hospital among 233 health workers using a self-administrated questionnaire. The questionnaire included eight knowledge items, seven practice items, and five attitude items. Based on the mean score of each category, responses were grouped into "satisfactory" and "unsatisfactory". Univariate, bivariate, and multivariable logistic regression analyses were done. Results: The mean age of the participants 32.95 (SD ± 9.70) and 62.2% of them were women. 57.5% of the staff had a satisfactory level of correct knowledge (>5 correct answers), 37.3% had a satisfactory positive attitude (>3 correct answers), and 30.9% had a satisfactory practice (>3 correct answers) towards standard precautions. The occupation was one of the predictors as doctors were less likely to have satisfactory knowledge and practice compared to nurses (OR = 0.269, 95% CI: 0.10-0.70 and OR = 0.248, 95% CI: 0.08-0.77, respectively). Out of 174 participants, 31.6% of them reported experiencing NSIs and support staff were 71% less likely to experience NSIs compared to nurses & paramedics. Conclusion: The findings revealed a substandard adherence of standard precautions among participants, which highlighted the necessity of the provision of a periodic, tailored training program based on the occupation and risk exposure.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.164-177
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• 2024

Background: Neck and jaw pain is common and is associated with jaw functional limitations, postural stability, muscular endurance, and proprioception. This study aimed to investigate the effect of jaw and neck pain on cranio-cervico-mandibular functions and postural stability in patients with temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJDs). Methods: Fifty-two patients with TMJDs were included and assessed using Fonseca's Questionnaire and the Helkimo Clinical Dysfunction Index. An isometric strength test was performed for the TMJ depressor and cervical muscles. The TMJ position sense (TMJPS) test and cervical joint position error test (CJPET) were employed for proprioception. Total sway degree was obtained for the assessment of postural stability. Deep neck flexor endurance (DNFE) was assessed using the craniocervical flexion test. The mandibular function impairment questionnaire (MFIQ) was employed to assess mandibular function, and the craniovertebral angle (CVA) was measured for forward head posture. Results: Jaw and neck pain negatively affected CVA (R² = 0.130), TMJPS (R² = 0.286), DNFE (R² = 0.355), TMJ depressor (R² = 0.145), cervical flexor (R² = 0.144), and extensor (R² = 0.148) muscle strength. Jaw and neck pain also positively affected CJPET for flexion (R² = 0.116) and extension (R² = 0.146), as well as total sway degree (R² = 0.128) and MFIQ (R² = 0.230). Conclusions: Patients with painful TMJDs, could have impaired muscle strength and proprioception of the TMJ and cervical region. The jaw and neck pain could also affect postural stability, and the endurance of deep neck flexors as well as mandibular functions in TMJDs.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.165-173
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• 2003

m-Phenylene-linked biscarbenes, bisnitrenes and carbenonitrenes can be formed photochemically from appropriate nitrogenous precursors. Generation of such reactive intermediates under matrix-isolation conditions allows for their characterization by spectroscopic techniques such as ESR, UV /vis and IR. The latter method is also useful in characterizing secondary products derived from these reactive intermediates. Computational chemistry methods complement experimental IR data, aiding, thus, in identification of such compounds. In addition electronic structure calculations help in developing qualitative and semi-quantitative models, which can be useful in predicting ground-state multiplicities. The parent systems of m-phenylene-linked carbenes and nitrenes have high-spin ground states, but a switching to lower multiplicity can be achieved by chemical substitution. The ground state and various low-lying excited states of m-phenylenecarbenonitrenes can be reasonably approximated by simple valence-bond depictions. Finally, m-phenylenecarbenonitrenes are photoreactive in the inert matrix isomerizing to cyclopropene derivatives.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.45-59
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• 2011

Scaled centrifuge modelling techniques were used to study the soil-structure interactions and performance of a jointed rollable aluminium roadway (or trackway) system on soft clay under light truck tyre loads. The measured performance and subsequent analyses highlighted that the articulated connections significantly reduced the overall longitudinal flexural stiffness of the roadway leading to stress concentrations in the soil below the joints under tyred vehicle loadings. This resulted in rapid localised failure of the supporting soil that in turn led to excessive transverse flexure of the roadway and ultimately plastic deformations. It is shown that the performance of rollable roadway systems under tyred vehicle trafficking will be improved by eliminating joint rotation to increase longitudinal stiffness.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.6 no.6
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• pp.665-687
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• 2014

This paper presents a framework for analytical seismic vulnerability assessment of substandard reinforced concrete (RC) structures in developing countries. Amodified capacity-demand diagram method is used to predict the response of RC structures with degrading behaviour. A damage index based on period change is used to quantify the evolution of damage. To demonstrate the framework, a class of substandard RC buildings is examined. Abrupt accumulation of damage is observed due to the brittle failure modes and this is reflected in the developed vulnerability curves, which differ substantially from the curves of ductile structures.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.67 no.1
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• pp.69-78
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• 2018

The study presented herein focused on the change in hysteretic force-deformation behavior of lead rubber bearings (LRBs). The material model used to idealize response of LRBs under cyclic motion is capable of representing the gradual attrition in strength of isolator unit on account of lead core heating. To identify the effect of loading history on the hysteretic response of LRBs, a typical isolator unit is subjected to cyclic motions with different velocity, amplitude and number of cycles. Furthermore, performance of an LRB isolated single degree of freedom system is studied under different seismic input levels. Finally, the significance of lead core heating effect on LRBs is discussed by considering the current design approach for base isolated structures. Results of this study show that the response of an LRB is governed strongly by the amplitude and number of cycles of the motion and the considered seismicity level.

• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.97-102
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• 2012

To predict accurately the breakdown voltage in air at atmospheric pressure, a fully coupled finite element analysis combining the hydrodynamic diffusion-drift equations with Poisson's equation is proposed in the current paper. As three kinds of charged transport particles are nonlinearly coupled with spatial electric fields, the equations should be solved by an iterative numerical scheme, in which secondary effects, such as photoemission and photoionization, are considered. The proposed method has been successfully applied to evaluate the breakdown voltage in circular parallel-plane electrodes. Its validity has been proved through the comparison of the predicted and experimental results. The effects of numerical conditions of the initial charge, photoemission, and background ionization on the discharge phenomena are quantitatively assessed through Taguchi's design of experiment method.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.538-541
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• 2009

Humans have a long history of asbestos use. There are reports from the Roman era, of asbestos victims among the slaves who worked in asbestos mines. The fact that asbestos can induce lung cancer and mesothelioma was verified epidemiologically in the 1960s. Asbestos related diseases are predominantly occupational in nature but can be caused by environmental exposure. Environmental mesothelioma is mainly associated with tremolite asbestos and this information comes from many countries including Turkey, Greece, Corsica, New Caledonia and Cyprus. In 1993, the first case of mesothelioma in Korea was reported in an asbestos textile worker. Recently, some asbestos disease victims who lived near an asbestos factory have their cases before the courts. A series of recent asbestos-related events in Korea, for example, the shocking revelation of asbestos containing talc in baby powders have caused the general public to become aware of the health risks of asbestos exposure. Asbestos related diseases are characterized by a long latency period, especially, mesothelioma which has no threshold of safety. Hence the best strategy for preventing asbestos related diseases is to decrease asbestos exposure levels to as low as possible.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.72 no.1
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• pp.19-30
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• 2019

The mechanical behavior of Fiber Reinforced Cementitious Composites (FRCC) under direct shear is studied through experiment and analytical simulation. The cementitious composite considered contains 55% replacement of cement with fly ash and 2% (volume ratio) of short discontinuous synthetic fibers (in the form of mass reinforcement, comprising PVA - Polyvinyl Alcohol fibers). This class of cementitious materials exhibits ductility under tension with the formation of multiple fine cracks and significant delay of crack stabilization (i.e., localization of cracking at a single location). One of the behavioral parameters that concern structural design is the shear strength of this new type of fiber reinforced composites. This aspect was studied in the present work with the use of Push-off tests. The shear strength is then compared to the materials' tensile and splitting strength values.