• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.283-291
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• 2018

This study intends to develop an analytical model of unreinforced masonry(URM) walls for the nonlinear static analysis which has been generally used to evaluate the seismic performance of a building employing URM walls as seismic force-resisting members. The developed model consists of fiber elements used to capture the flexural behavior of an URM wall and a shear spring element implemented to predict its shear response. This paper first explains the configuration of the proposed model and describes how to determine the modeling parameters of fiber and shear spring elements based on the stress-strain curves obtained from existing experimental results of masonry prisms. The proposed model is then verified throughout the comparison of its nonlinear static analysis results with the experimental results of URM walls carried out by other researchers. The proposed model well captures the maximum strength, the initial stiffness, and their resulting load - displacement curves of the URM walls with reasonable resolution. Also, it is demonstrated that the analysis model is capable of predicting the failure modes of the URM walls.

• Healthcare Informatics Research
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.346-358
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• 2018

Objectives: The association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and mortality or serious cardiovascular events over a long period of time is not clearly understood. The aim of this observational study was to estimate the clinical effectiveness of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment on an outcome variable combining mortality, acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and cerebrovascular insult (CVI) during a follow-up period of 15.5 years ($186{\pm}58$ months). Methods: The data set consisted of 978 patients with an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) ${\geq}5.0$. One-third had used CPAP treatment. For the first time, a data-driven causal Bayesian network (DDBN) and a hypothesis-driven causal Bayesian network (HDBN) were used to investigate the effectiveness of CPAP. Results: In the DDBN, coronary heart disease (CHD), congestive heart failure (CHF), and diuretic use were directly associated with the outcome variable. Sleep apnea parameters and CPAP treatment had no direct association with the outcome variable. In the HDBN, CPAP treatment showed an average improvement of 5.3 percentage points in the outcome. The greatest improvement was seen in patients aged ${\leq}55$ years. The effect of CPAP treatment was weaker in older patients (>55 years) and in patients with CHD. In CHF patients, CPAP treatment was associated with an increased risk of mortality, AMI, or CVI. Conclusions: The effectiveness of CPAP is modest in younger patients. Long-term effectiveness is limited in older patients and in patients with heart disease (CHD or CHF).

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.687-699
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• 2018

This paper investigates the pseudo-static analysis of reinforced slopes with geosynthetics under the influence of the uniform surcharge to evaluate the maximum tensile force of reinforcements. The analytical approach has basically been used to develop the new practical procedure to estimate both tensile force and its distribution in the height of the slope. The base of developed relationships has been adapted from the conventional horizontal slice method. The limit equilibrium framework and the assumptions of log-spiral failure surface have directly been used for proposed analytical approach. A new analytical approach considering a single layer of non-cohesion soil and the influence of uniform surcharge has been extracted from the 5n equation and 5n unknown parameters. Results of the proposed method illustrated that the location of the surcharge, amount of internal friction and the seismic coefficient have the remarkable effect on the tensile force of reinforcement and might be 2 times increasing on it. Furthermore, outcomes show that the amount of tensile force has directly until 2 times related to the amount of slope angle and its height range. Likewise, it is observed that the highest value of the tensile force in case of slope degree more than 60-degree is observed on the lower layers. While in case of less degree the highest amount of tensile force has been reported on the middle layers and extremely depended to the seismic coefficient. Hence, it has been shown that the tensile force has increased more than 6 times compared with the static condition. The obtained results of the developed procedure were compared with the outcomes of the previous research. A good agreement has been illustrated between the amount results of developed relationships and outcomes of previous research. Maximum 20 and 25 percent difference have been reported in cases of static and seismic condition respectively.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.223-231
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• 2019

PURPOSE. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the shear bond strength (SBS) of an indirect resin composite (IRC) to the various resin matrix ceramic (RMC) blocks using different surface treatments. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Ninety-nine cubic RMC specimens consisting of a resin nanoceramic (RNC), a polymer-infiltrated hybrid ceramic (PIHC), and a flexible hybrid ceramic (FHC) were divided randomly into three surface treatment subgroups (n = 11). In the experimental groups, untreated (Cnt), tribochemical silica coating (Tbc), and Neodymium-Doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (Nd:YAG) laser irradiation (Lsr) with 3 W (150 mJ/pulse, 20 Hz for 20 sec.) were used as surface treatments. An indirect composite resin (IRC) was layered with a disc-shape mold ($2{\times}3mm$) onto the treated-ceramic surfaces and the specimens submitted to thermal cycling (6000 cycles, $5-55^{\circ}C$). The SBS test of specimens was performed using a universal testing machine and the specimens were examined with a scanning electron microscope to determine the failure mode. Data were statistically analyzed with two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey HSD test (${\alpha}=.05$). RESULTS. According to the two-way ANOVA, only the surface treatment parameter was statistically significant (P<.05) on the SBS of IRC to RMC. The SBS values of Lsr-applied RMC groups were significantly higher than Cnt groups for each RMC material, (P<.05). Significant differences were also determined between Tbc surface treatment applied and untreated (Cnt) PIHC materials (P=.039). CONCLUSION. For promoting a reliable bond strength during characterization of RMC with IRC, Nd:YAG laser or Tbc surface treatment technique should be used, putting in consideration the microstructure and composition of RMC materials and appropriate parameters for each material.

• Composites Research
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.270-278
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• 2019

In this study, the transverse mechanical properties of the unidirectional fiber reinforced composite modeled with fiber, matrix, and interphase is predicted with the representative volume elements and is calibrated by adjusting the properties and thickness of the interphase by referring to the test results. While the conventional representative volume elements modeled with fiber and matrix shows high predictive accuracy for the longitudinal mechanical properties, but it shows some deviations in the transverse mechanical properties. In order to compensate such gaps, the interphase region is employed, and its mechanical properties are adjusted to improve the prediction accuracy according to various elastic modulus, thickness, and strength parameters. As a result, the deviation of the transverse elastic modulus and strength is reduced significantly similar to the test results of the unidirectional composites with the accuracy of the longitudinal mechanical properties preserved.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.157-160
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• 2018

Chronic silica nephropathy has been associated with tubulointerstitial disease, immune-mediated multisystem disease, chronic kidney disease, and end-stage renal disease. On the other hand, acute intentional exposure is extremely rare. The authors' experienced a 44-year-old man who took rapid cement hardener (sodium silicate) in a suicide attempt whilst in a drunken state. He visited the emergency department approximately 1 hour after ingestion. Information on the material was obtained after 3 L gastric lavage. The patient complained of a sore throat, epigastric pain, and swollen to blood tinged vomitus. Proton pump inhibitors, hemostats, steroid, and fluids were administered. Nine hours after ingestion, he was administered 200 mL hematochezia. Immediately after, a gas-troenterologist performed an endoscopic procedure that revealed diffuse hyperemic mucosa with a color change and variable sized ulceration in the esophagus, whole stomach, and duodenal $2^{nd}$ portion. Approximately 35 hours later, persistent oligouria and progressive worsening of the renal function parameters (BUN/Cr from 12.2/1.2 to 67.5/6.6 mg/dL) occurred requiring hemodialysis. The patient underwent 8 sessions of hemodialysis for 1 month and the BUN/Cr level increased to 143.2/11.2 mg/dL and decreased to 7.6/1.5 mg/dL. He was discharged safely from the hospital. Follow up endoscopy revealed a severe esophageal stricture and he underwent endoscopic bougie dilatation. Acute cement hardener (sodium silicate) intoxication can cause renal failure and strong caustic mucosal injury. Therefore, it is important to consider early hemodialysis and treatment to prevent gastrointestinal injury and remote esophageal stricture.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.583-598
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• 2021

The composite steel reinforced concrete (SRC) columns have been widely used in Structural Engineering due to their good performances. Many studies have been done on the SRC columns' performances, but they focused on the ordinary types with conventional configurations and materials. In this study, nine new types of steel reinforced lightweight aggregate concrete (SRLAC) short columns with cross-shaped (+shaped and X-shaped) steel section were tested under monotonically axial compressive load; the studied parameters included steel section ratio, steel section configuration, ties spacing, lightweight aggregate concrete (LWAC) strength, and longitudinal bars ratio. From the results, it could be found that the specimens with larger ties ratio, concrete strength, longitudinal bars ratio, and steel section ratio achieved great strength and stiffness due to the excellent interaction between the concrete and steel. The well-confined concrete core could strengthen the steel section. The ductility and toughness of the specimens were influenced by the LWAC strength, steel section ratio, and longitudinal bars ratio; in addition, larger ties ratio with smaller LWAC strength led to better ductility and toughness. The load transfer between concrete and steel section largely depends on the LWAC strength, and the ultimate strength of the new types of SRLAC short columns could be approximately predicted, referring to the codes' formulas of ordinary types of steel reinforced concrete (SRC) columns. Among the used codes, the BS-5400-05 led to the most conservative results.

• Journal of the Institute of Convergence Signal Processing
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.51-56
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• 2021

The brachial systolic blood pressure and pulse pressure are the predictors of cardiovascular disease in individuals over 50 years of age. As the stiffness increases, the reflex amplitude and pressure in the late systole increase, resulting in an increase in left ventricular load and myocardial oxygen demand. Therefore, it is necessary to study how stiffness affects blood pressure. In this study, the blood pressure pulse waves were measured before and after taking the drug, and the blood pressure pulse wave was measured before and after myocardial heart transplantation in patients with heart failure. The correlation between R, L, and C components of the Windkessel model was estimated by increasing blood pressure. As a result of modeling the parameters of the Windkessel model using the curve fitting method, the increase in blood pressure and decrease in systolic rise time were due to the increase in the L component in the RLC Windkessel model. Among the various mechanical characteristics of blood vessels, the most important parameter affecting high BP waveform is the inertance.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.563-582
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• 2021

The present study experimentally and analytically investigated the push-out behaviour of H-shaped steel section embedded in ultrahigh-performance fibre-reinforced concrete (UHPFRC). The effect of significant parameters such as the concrete types, fibre content, embedded steel length, transverse reinforcement ratio and concrete cover on the bond stress, development of bond stress along the embedded length and failure mechanism has been reported. The test results show that the bond slip behaviour of steel-UHPFRC is different from the bond slip behaviour of steel-normal concrete and steel-high strength concrete. The bond-slip curves of steel-normal concrete and steel-high strength concrete exhibit brittle behaviour, and the bond strength decreases rapidly after reaching the peak load, with a residual bond strength of approximately one-half of the peak bond strength. The bond-slip curves of steel-UHPFRC show an obvious ductility, which exhibits a unique displacement pseudoplastic effect. The residual bond strength can still reach from 80% to 90% of the peak bond strength. Compared to steel-normal concrete, the transverse confinement of stirrups has a limited effect on the bond strength in the steel-UHPFRC substrate, but a higher stirrup ratio can improve cracking resistance. The experimental campaign quantifies the local bond stress development and finds that the strain distribution in steel follows an exponential rule along the steel embedded length. Based on the theory of mean bond and local bond stress, the present study proposes empirical approaches to predict the ultimate and residual bond resistance with satisfactory precision. The research findings serve to explain the interface bond mechanism between UHPFRC and steel, which is significant for the design of steel-UHPFRC composite structures and verify the feasibility of eliminating longitudinal rebars and stirrups by using UHPFRC in composite columns.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.749-756
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• 2021

Thanks to PLC and IoT Sensor, huge amounts of data has been accumulated onto the companies' databases. Machine Learning Algorithms for the predictive model with good performance have been widely utilized in the manufacturing process. We present how to improve the performance of machine learning predictive models. To improve the performance of the predictive model, typical techniques such as increasing the sample size, optimizing the hyper parameters for the algorithm, and selecting a proper machine learning algorithm for the predictive model would be shown. We suggest some new ways to make the model performance much better. With the proposed methods, we can build a better predictive model for predicting and controlling product qualities and save incredibly large amount of quality failure cost.