• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.86 no.1
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• pp.29-48
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• 2023

Pounding happens when contiguous structures with differing heights vibrate out of line caused by a seismic activity. The situation is aggravated due to the insufficient separation gap between the structures which can lead to the crashing of the buildings or total collapse of an edifice. Countries around the world have compiled building standards to address the pounding issue. One of the strategies recommended is the introduction of the separation gap between structures. AS1170.4-2007 is an Australian standard that requires 1% of the building height as a minimum separation gap between buildings to preclude pounding. This article presents experimental and numerical tests to determine the adequacy of this specification to prevent the occurrence of seismic pounding between steel frame structures under near-field and far-field earthquakes. The results indicated that the recommended minimum separation gap based on the Australian Standard is inaccurate if low-rise structure in a coupled case is utilised under both near and far field earthquakes. The standard is adequate if a tall building is involved but only when a far-field earthquake happens. The research likewise presents results derived by using the ABS and SRSS methods.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.81 no.2
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• pp.147-161
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• 2022

The Brace-Type Shear Fuse (BSF) device is a newly proposed steel damper with excellent cumulative ductility and stable energy dissipation. In consideration of the current situation where there are not many alternatives for transversal seismic devices used in long-span three-tower self-anchored bridges (TSSBs), this paper implements improved BSFs into the world's longest TSSB, named Jinan Fenghuang Yellow River Bridge. The new details of the BSF are developed for the TSSB, and the force-displacement hysteretic curves of the BSFs are obtained using finite element (FE) simulations. A three-dimensional refined finite element model for the research TSSB was established in SAP2000, and the effects of BSFs on dynamic characteristics and seismic response of the TSSB under different site conditions were investigated by the numerical simulation method. The results show that remarkable controlling effects of BSFs on seismic response of TSSBs under different site conditions were obtained. Compared with the case without BSFs, the TSSB installed with BSFs has mitigation ratios of the tower top displacement, lateral girder displacement, tower bending moment and tower shear force exceeding 95%, 78%, 330% and 346%, respectively. Meanwhile, BSFs have a sufficient restoring force mechanism with a minor post-earthquake residual displacement. The proposed BSFs exhibit good application prospects in long-span TSSBs.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2022.09a
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• pp.108-108
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• 2022

Pine (Pinaceae family such as Pinus densiflora, P. rigida, and P.taeda) has been used as traditional medicine, its various parts (pine needle, bark, sap) have been used for hemostasis, bruises, and burns. These species were reported that have phenolics and flavonoids. We evaluated the anti-inflammation effects of PRT in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced macrophages. These results showed that the ethyl acetate fraction of cone from Pinus rigida x P.taeda (ECRT) stabilized free radicals by reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) and decreasing the production of nitric oxide (NO). ECRT decreased the expressions of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX-2). In addition, ECRT significantly suppressed mRNA levels of inflammation-related factors such as cytokines, iNOS, and COX-2. As a result, ECRT was related to alleviating various pro-inflammatory mediators through IκB/NF-κB signaling pathways, including p65 translocation to the nucleus.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.257-270
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• 2023

In this study, the feasibility and applicability of a friction damper with a vertical installation scheme are investigated. This device is composed of a steel section and two friction hinges at both ends which dissipate seismic energy. Due to its small width and vertical installation scheme, the proposed damper can minimize the interference with architectural functions. To evaluate the performance of the proposed damper, its mechanical behavior is theoretically evaluated and the required formulas for the yield strength and elastic stiffness are derived. The theoretical formulas are verified by establishing the analytical model of the damper in the SAP2000 software and comparing their results. To further investigate the performance of the developed damper, the provided analytical model is applied to a 4-story reinforced concrete (RC) structure and its performance is evaluated before and after retrofit under the Maximum Considered Earthquake (MCE) hazard level. The seismic performance is thoroughly evaluated in terms of maximum interstory drift ratio, displacement time history, residual displacement, and energy dissipation. The results show that the proposed damper can be efficiently used to protect the structure against seismic loads.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.90 no.1
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• pp.51-70
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• 2024

Poorly designed reinforced concrete (RC) columns of actual moment-resisting frame (MRF) buildings can undergo Axial Compression Ratios (ACR) so high as their demand exceeds their capacity, even for serviceability gravity load combinations, this lack commonly leads to insufficient seismic strength. Nonetheless, many seismic design codes do not specify limits for ACR. The main contribution of this research is to investigate the need to limit the ACR in seismic design. For this purpose, three prototype 6 and 11-story RC MRF buildings are analyzed in this paper, these buildings have columns undergoing excessive ACR, according to the limits prescribed by standards. To better that situation, three types of alterations are performed: retrofitting the abovementioned overloaded columns by steel jacketing, increasing the concrete strength, and reducing the number of stories. Several finite element analyses are conducted using the well-known software SAP2000 and the results are used for further calculations. Code-type and pushover analyses are performed on the original and retrofitted buildings, the suitability of the other modified buildings is checked by code-type analyses only. The obtained results suggest that ACR is a rather reliable indicator of the final building strength, hence, apparently, limiting the ACR in the standards (for early stages of design) might avoid unnecessary verifications.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.45-54
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• 1986

These studies were carried out to obtain the basic information about transformation of ginseng plant by potential vector system, utilization of opine compound by Agrobacterium sap. , and initiation of crown gall tumor callus. Crown gall tumors were induced from stem of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer by infection of Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Therefore, it was clarified that transformation of ginseng by Ti plasmid was possible. The crown gall tumors induced by Agrobacterium tumefaciens isolated. from the soil were different in a shape, size, and growth rate. Especially, infection of ginseng by Agrobacterium tumefaciens Y104 led to the amorphic tumor, Tumor tissue derived from stem crown gall could not be continuously cultured on the medium which did not contain phytohormone, and did not form the callus even on the medium supplemented with 2,4-D. On the other hand, the root crown gall tumors formed the calli but the formation rate of callus was quite low. As for the utilization of octopine and nopaline, it was found that 3 strains of Agrobacterium app., Y104, Y110 and C58, utilized nopaline only, Y109 utilized octopine, and Y101 failed to utilize either compound.

• Mycobiology
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.35-41
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• 2012

A repeated batch fermentation system was used to produce ethanol using $Saccharomyces$ $cerevisiae$ strain (NCIM 3640) immobilized on sugarcane ($Saccharum$ $officinarum$ L.) pieces. For comparison free cells were also used to produce ethanol by repeated batch fermentation. Scanning electron microscopy evidently showed that cell immobilization resulted in firm adsorption of the yeast cells within subsurface cavities, capillary flow through the vessels of the vascular bundle structure, and attachment of the yeast to the surface of the sugarcane pieces. Repeated batch fermentations using sugarcane supported biocatalyst were successfully carried out for at least ten times without any significant loss in ethanol production from sugarcane juice and molasses. The number of cells attached to the support increased during the fermentation process, and fewer yeast cells leaked into fermentation broth. Ethanol concentrations (about 72.65-76.28 g/L in an average value) and ethanol productivities (about 2.27-2.36 g/L/hr in an average value) were high and stable, and residual sugar concentrations were low in all fermentations (0.9-3.25 g/L) with conversions ranging from 98.03-99.43%, showing efficiency 91.57-95.43 and operational stability of biocatalyst for ethanol fermentation. The results of the work pertaining to the use of sugarcane as immobilized yeast support could be promising for industrial fermentations.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.15-20
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• 2014

A rapid, user-friendly and simple immune-chromatographic dipstick kit named 'rapid immune-gold strip' (RIGS) kit was developed in a novel single strip format to detect on-site detection of Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV). Immunoglobulin G (IgG) from polyclonal antisera raised in rabbits against TSWV was purified through protein-A affinity chromatography and then the purified TSWV-IgG was conjugated to colloidal gold nano-particles which served as a test line on nitrocellulose membrane. Protein A that non-specifically binds to TSWV antibody was used as a control line on the same strip. The diagnosis process with the TSWV-RIGS involves simply grinding the suspect plant sample in a bag that contains the extraction buffer and inserting the strip the bag. Results can be seen in 2-5 minutes. The flow of the complexes of gold particles coated with TSWV-IgG and a crude sap from TSWV-infected pepper, tobacco and tomato plants resulted in intensive color formed on the test lines proportional to the concentrations of TSWV. The RIGS-TSWV kit did not show any cross-reactions against other tomato-infecting viruses unrelated to TSWV. These results indicate that the TSWV-RIGS kit is highly sensitive and is not required for laboratory training and experience prior to testing. The TSWV-RIGS kit is suitable for on-site detection of suspect TSWV-infected plants as well as for laboratory diagnosis.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.7 no.12
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• pp.131-138
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• 2020

In accordance with huge demand for capital to meet the expansion of steel production, there are more and more steel companies who have officially listed their stocks in HOSE and HNX. One of the key issues in successful initial public offerings and seasonal offerings for these companies is how to make stocks of steel companies become more attractive in the eyes of investors. The purpose of this research is to analyze the determinants of share prices of listed steel companies in Vietnam. This study utilized macro-economic variables, ratios and indicators representing characteristics of steel industry collected from Quarter 1/2006 to Quarter 4/2019 in association with the panel data and the feasible generalized least square (FGLS) model to evaluate the degree of these factors on the share prices. The results of the research show that ROE, Cons_rate, and CO2_rate are three main factors affecting the share prices of listed steel companies. Among which, ROE and Cons_rate have a positive effect, while CO2_rate has a negative effect on the share prices of listed steel companies. It also confirms the relationship between the environmental factor, construction industry factor and the stock prices. This lays foundations for recommendations for the future policies towards environmental protection and sustainable development.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.7 no.12
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• pp.53-62
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• 2020

The COVID 19 pandemic has led to a new global recession and is still causing a lot of issues because of the delays in the employment of people. This scenario has severe consequences for many countries' labor markets in the world. This problem's complexity and importance requires an integrated method of subjective and objective evaluation rather than intuitive decisions. This research aims to investigate sustainable indexes for assessing the unemployment problem by using a Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Model (MCDM). Grey theory and Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (GDEMATEL) are deployed to transform the experts' opinions into quantitative data. The analysis based on 20 crucial criteria is employed to determine the weights of sustainability of unemployment problems. The results revealed that the top ten of determinants are Economic growth, Industrialization, Foreign direct investment, Real GDP per capita, Education level, Trade Openness, Capacity Utilization Rate, Urbanization, Employability skills, Education system expansion, which have the most significant effects on the unemployment rate under COVID 19 impacts. Furthermore, GDEMATEL could effectively assess the sustainable indicators for unemployment problems in "deep and wide" aspects. The study proposes the Grey MCDM model, contributes to the literature, provides future research directions, and helps policymakers and researchers achieve the best solutions to the unemployment problems under "economic shocks."