• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.313-324
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• 2022

Rock properties are important in the design of mines and civil engineering excavations to prevent the imminent failure of slopes and collapse of underground excavations. However, the time, cost, and expertise required to perform experiments to determine those properties are high. Therefore, empirical models have been developed for estimating the mechanical properties of rock that are difficult to determine experimentally from properties that are less difficult to measure. However, the inherent variability in rock properties makes the accurate performance of the empirical models unrealistic and therefore necessitate the use of soft computing models. In this study, Gaussian process regression (GPR), artificial neural network (ANN) and response surface method (RSM) have been proposed to predict the static and dynamic rock properties from the P-wave and rock density. The outcome of the study showed that GPR produced more accurate results than the ANN and RSM models. GPR gave the correlation coefficient of above 99% for all the three properties predicted and RMSE of less than 5. The detailed sensitivity analysis is also conducted using the RSM and the P-wave velocity is found to be the most influencing parameter in the rock mechanical properties predictions. The proposed models can give reasonable predictions of important mechanical properties of sedimentary rock.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.82 no.2
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• pp.233-244
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• 2022

Following a loss of control, the impact against a road barrier in a turn predominates among the most severe motorcyclist accidents. These road restraint devices can be equipped with a motorcycle screen, the function of which is to restrain the rider and minimize the consequences of the impact in terms of the severity of injuries. The performance of these screens is evaluated by the European normative procedure EN1317-8, which specifies the test conditions, based on one or two configurations. In practice, however, these impact conditions are very diverse, difficult to extrapolate from accident analysis and therefore poorly investigated. This study is interested in improving knowledge of these impact conditions in terms of impact speed, impact angle and particularly position of the rider. A finite element model has been developed to simulate the dynamic behavior of the rider from loss of control to impact on the screen. Statistical analysis of the results shows a high variability of the impact conditions, in particular with regard to the direction of turn (to the right or to the left). Some improvements are suggested in order to overcome the limitations inherent in standard procedures.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.34.1-34.12
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• 2023

This systematic review aimed to investigate whether minimally invasive root canal preparation ensures higher fracture resistance compared to conventional root canal preparation in endodontically treated teeth (ETT). A comprehensive search strategy was conducted on the "PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus" databases, alongside reference and hand searches, with language restrictions applied. Two independent reviews selected pertinent laboratory studies that explored the effect of minimally invasive root canal preparation on fracture resistance, in comparison to larger preparation counterparts. The quality of the studies was assessed, and the risk of bias was categorized as low, moderate, or high. The electronic search yielded a total of 1,767 articles. After applying eligibility criteria, 8 studies were included. Given the low methodological quality of these studies and the large variability of fracture resistance values, the impact of reduced apical size and/or taper on the fracture resistance of the ETT can be considered uncertain. This systematic review could not reveal sufficient evidence regarding the effect of minimally invasive preparation on increasing fracture resistance of ETT, primarily due to the inherent limitations of the studies and the moderate risk of bias.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.309-323
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• 2024

The gust factor and turbulence intensity are two crucial parameters that characterize the properties of turbulence. In tropical cyclones (TCs), these parameters exhibit significant variability, yet there is a lack of established formulas to account for their probabilistic characteristics with consideration of their inherent connection. On this condition, a probabilistic analysis of gust factors and turbulence intensities of TCs is conducted based on fourteen sets of wind data collected at the Sutong Cable-stayed Bridge site. Initially, the turbulence intensities and gust factors of recorded data are computed, followed by an analysis of their probability densities across different ranges categorized by mean wind speed. The Gaussian, lognormal, and generalized extreme value (GEV) distributions are employed to fit the measured probability densities, with subsequent evaluation of their effectiveness. The Gumbel distribution, which is a specific instance of the GEV distribution, has been identified as an optimal choice for probabilistic characterizations of turbulence intensity and gust factor in TCs. The corresponding empirical models are then established through curve fitting. By utilizing the Gumbel distribution as a template, the nexus between the probability density functions of turbulence intensity and gust factor is built, leading to the development of a generalized probabilistic model that statistically describe turbulence intensity and gust factor in TCs. Finally, these empirical models are validated using measured data and compared with suggestions recommended by specifications.

• Proceedings of the National Institute of Ecology of the Republic of Korea
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.43-49
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• 2024

Ecological monitoring provides indispensable data for biodiversity conservation and sustainable resource management. However, the complexity and variability inherent in ecological monitoring data necessitate robust verification processes to ensure data integrity. This study employed Benford's Law, a statistical principle traditionally used in fields such as finance and health sciences, to evaluate the authenticity of ecological monitoring data related to the abundance of migratory bird species across various locations in South Korea. Benford's Law anticipates a specific logarithmic distribution of leading digits in naturally occurring numerical datasets. Our investigation involved two stages of analysis: a first-order analysis considering the leading digit and a second-order analysis examining the first two digits of bird population counts. While the first-order analysis displayed moderate conformity to Benford's Law that suggested overall data integrity, the second-order analysis revealed more pronounced deviations, indicating potential inconsistencies or inaccuracies in certain subsets of the data. Although our data did not perfectly align with Benford's Law, these deviations underscore the complex nature of ecological research, which is influenced by a multitude of environmental, methodological, and human factors.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.789-796
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• 2009

The randomness in the strength of a RC member is caused mainly by the variability of the mechanical properties of concrete and steel, the dimensions of concrete cross sections, and the placement of reinforcing bars and so on . Among those variations, the randomness and uncertainty of mechanical properties of concrete, such as compressive strength, tensile strength, and elastic modulus give the most significant influences and show relatively large statistical variations. In Korea, there has been little effort for the construction of its own statistical models for mechanical properties of concrete and steel, thus the foreign data have been utilized till now. In this paper, variability of compressive strength, tensile strength and elastic modulus of normal-weight structural concrete with various specified design compressive strength levels are examined based on the data obtained from a number of published and unpublished sources in this country and additional laboratory tests done by the authors. The inherent probabilistic models for compressive and tensile strength of normal-weight concrete are proposed as Gaussian distribution. Also, the relationships between compressive and splitting tensile strength and between compressive strength and elastic modulus in current KCI Code are verified and new ones are suggested based on local data.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.91-103
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• 2024

In this study, we propose an outlier detection method that considers the spatial distribution of intelligent compaction measurement values (ICMVs) to address the high variability of ICMVs measured continuously across an entire construction area. The proposed method initially identified cases where the CMV at a specific location decreased despite an increase in the number of compaction passes. Among these, values that significantly differed from those measured within a 1.5-m radius were classified as outliers. Applying this method to CMV data obtained from field tests, we found that it effectively excluded the influence of changes in roller operating conditions unrelated to compaction quality while considering the inherent heterogeneity of the soil. However, after removing the outliers, the coefficient of variation of CMV (21.4%-26.3%) remained higher than the 20% suggested by relevant standards. Further field tests are needed to modify the proposed outlier detection method and to establish reasonable criteria for the variability of ICMV.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.867-878
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• 2020

A significant proportion of the African continent is conducive for animal agricultural production, due to its historical experience and available resources to accommodate and nurture various indigenous and exotic animal species and breeds. With food security being a global challenge, animal products can play an important role as nutrient dense food sources in human diets, particularly in Africa. However, this does not seem to reach its full potential in practice, due to numerous reasons that have not been adequately addressed. Animal welfare reservations can be highlighted as one of the major contributing factors to the curbed progress. The consequences have been scientifically proven to affect product quality and market access. However, in the African community, the concept of animal welfare has not been fully embraced. While there are international animal welfare standards in the developed world, there are inherent factors that hinder adoption of such initiatives in most developing regions, particularly among communal farmers. These include cultural norms and practices, social ranking, socio-economic status, available resources, information dissemination and monitoring tools. Therefore, there is need to harmonize what is internationally required and what is feasible to accommodate global variability. The protocols followed to ensure and evaluate farm animal welfare require regular investigation, innovation and a sustainable approach to enhance animal productivity, efficiency and product quality. Additionally, investing in animal wellbeing and health, as well as empowering communities with significant knowledge, has a potential to improve African livelihoods and contribute to food security. This review seeks to highlight the concept of animal welfare in relation to livestock and food production in African conditions.

• Weed & Turfgrass Science
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.22-34
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• 2018

Miscanthus has been considered as the most promising bioenergy crop for lignocellulosic biomass production. In Korea, M. sacchariflorus and M. sinensis can be found easily in all regions. It is a great advantage to utilize as important species with respect to genetic and cross-breeding programs materials for creation of novel hybrids. For successful breeding programs, it is important to precisely understand the variability of morphological and growth characteristics among Miscanthus species as breeding parent materials. In this study, morphological and growth characteristics were observed in 960 germplasms of two Miscanthus species (M. sacchariflorus and M. sinensis) for growing seasons over three years. Due to the inherent characteristics of these species, the germplasm of M. sacchariflorus among the collected germplasm were reduced in plant height than in the collection area. In M. sinensis, the plant height of germplasm collected mainly from Jeju-do increased more than those collected from collection area. Sixty-one of the collected 960 germplasms were selected and investigated to the morphological characteristics. Based on the investigated morphological data, the phylogenic tree was developed. As the results, it was confirmed that there exist germplasm in which the characteristics of M. sacchariflorus and M. sinensis are mixed. This study of Miscanthus may provide an important information in order to expedite the introduction as breeding materials for creation of new hybrid.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.138-144
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• 2018

Background: Subacromial erosion remains a major concern after surgical fixation of acromioclavicular (AC) joint using a clavicular hook plate. To minimize postoperative subacromial erosion, we investigated the structural relationship between distal clavicle and acromion around the AC joint by considering the surgical fixation of the joint using the hook plate technique. Methods: Computed tomography scans of 101 AC joints without any inherent pathology were analyzed. The angle between the distal clavicle and acromion around the AC joint (AC angle), depth of the acromion, differences in height between distal clavicle and acromion (AC height difference), and thickness of distal clavicle and acromion at the AC joint were measured. Descriptive statistics were calculated for each anatomical parameter, and all results were compared between gender groups. Results: The mean AC angle was $17.1^{\circ}$(range, $-8.0^{\circ}$ to $39.0^{\circ}$), and the mean AC height difference was 3.5 mm (range, -0.7 to 8.7 mm). Both factors showed very high variability (coefficients of variation=62.6% and 46.6%, respectively). The mean AC angle was significantly higher in the female gender than in the male gender ($19.8^{\circ}$ vs. $13.8^{\circ}$, p=0.048). The mean acromion thickness and distal clavicular thickness were both significantly thinner in the female group than in the male group (p<0.001). Conclusions: Taken together, we believe our results might be helpful in minimizing postoperative subacromial erosion when performing surgical fixation of the AC joint using the hook plate, and be valuable in improving future design of the hook plate.