• Computers and Concrete
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.411-440
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• 2013

Large fluctuations in surface strain at the level of steel are expected in reinforced concrete flexural members at a given stage of loading due to the emergent structure (emergence of new crack patterns). This has been identified in developing deterministic constitutive models for finite element applications in Ibrahimbegovic et al. (2010). The aim of this paper is to identify a suitable probability distribution for describing the large deviations at far from equilibrium points due to emergent structures, based on phenomenological, thermodynamic and statistical considerations. Motivated by the investigations reported by Prigogine (1978) and Rubi (2008), distributions with heavy tails (namely, alpha-stable distributions) are proposed for modeling the variations in strain in reinforced concrete flexural members to account for the large fluctuations. The applicability of alpha-stable distributions at or in the neighborhood of far from equilibrium points is examined based on the results obtained from carefully planned experimental investigations, on seven reinforced concrete flexural members. It is found that alpha-stable distribution performs better than normal distribution for modeling the observed surface strains in reinforced concrete flexural members at these points.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.269-274
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• 2018

Objectives: The incidence and patterns of mandibular fractures vary by country and population age. This retrospective study evaluated the etiologies and patterns of mandibular fractures in children. Materials and Methods: The clinical records of 89 children (45 males and 44 females) aged 0 to 12 years who presented with mandibular fractures from July 2012 to June 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. The sex, patient age, site of fracture, etiology of trauma, and monthly variations of the fractures were recorded. Descriptive statistics, the z-test and chi-square test were used for statistical analysis and the P-value was set at <0.05. Results: Eighty-nine children (male-to-female ratio 1.02:1) sustained 131 mandibular fractures. Within the study sample, the 6 to 9 year age group most frequently experienced fractures (47.3%). Falls and road traffic accidents (RTA) were the two most common etiological factors that accounted for 44.9% and 24.7% of cases. The condylar fracture was the most common anatomical location (38.9%) followed by the angle (20.6%), parasymphysis (18.3%), body (15.3%), and symphysis (5.3%). A single fracture (51.7%) was more common than multiple fractures (48.3%). The month-wise distribution of mandibular fractures was fairly constant. Conclusion: The condylar region was the most common anatomic site for fractures; in addition, a fall and RTA were the major etiological factors for mandibular fractures. A single fracture was observed in 51.7% of patients while multiple fracture lines accounted for 48.3% of cases.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.69 no.1
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• pp.21-31
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• 2019

Optimizing composite structures to exploit their maximum potential is a realistic application with promising returns. In this research, simultaneous maximization of the fundamental frequency and frequency separation between the first two modes by optimizing the fiber angles is considered. A high-fidelity design optimization methodology is developed by combining the high-accuracy of finite element method with iterative improvement capability of metaheuristic algorithms. Three powerful nature-inspired optimization algorithms viz. a genetic algorithm (GA), a particle swarm optimization (PSO) variant and a cuckoo search (CS) variant are used. Advanced memetic features are incorporated in the PSO and CS to form their respective variants-RPSOLC (repulsive particle swarm optimization with local search and chaotic perturbation) and CHP (co-evolutionary host-parasite). A comprehensive set of benchmark solutions on several new problems are reported. Statistical tests and comprehensive assessment of the predicted results show CHP comprehensively outperforms RPSOLC and GA, while RPSOLC has a little superiority over GA. Extensive simulations show that the on repeated trials of the same experiment, CHP has very low variability. About 50% fewer variations are seen in RPSOLC as compared to GA on repeated trials.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.153-158
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate variations in velar shape according to age, sex, and race using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Materials and Methods: The study sample consisted of 170 participants (85 children, 85 adults) between 4 and 34 years of age. Velar morphology was visually classified using midsagittal MRI scans for each participant by 2 independent raters. Inter- and intra-rater reliability was assessed. Statistical analyses were performed to identify correlations of velar shape with sex, age, and race. Results: The most frequent velar shape was "butt" for both adults(41%) and children (58%) in this study. The least common shapes for adults were "leaf" and "S." The children did not exhibit any "leaf" or "straight" velar shapes. A statistically significant difference was noted for age with respect to velar shape (P=0.014). Sex and race were found to have no significant impact on velar shape in this study. Conclusion: When using MRI to evaluate velar morphology, the "butt" shape was most common in both children and adults. Velar shape varied significantly with age, while race and sex did not have a significant impact.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.72 no.2
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• pp.203-216
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• 2019

Reliability analysis of composite structures considering random variation of involved parameters is quite important as composite materials revealed large statistical variations in their mechanical properties. The reliability analysis of such structures by the first order reliability method (FORM) and Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) based approach involves repetitive evaluations of performance function. The response surface method (RSM) based metamodeling technique has emerged as an effective solution to such problems. In the application of metamodeling for uncertainty quantification and reliability analysis of composite structures; the finite element model is usually formulated by either classical laminate theory or first order shear deformation theory. But such theories show significant error in calculating the structural responses of composite structures. The present study attempted to apply the RSM based MCS for reliability analysis of composite shell structures where the surrogate model is constructed using higher order shear deformation theory (HSDT) of composite structures considering the uncertainties in the material properties, load, ply thickness and radius of curvature of the shell structure. The sensitivity of responses of the shell is also obtained by RSM and finite element method based direct approach to elucidate the advantages of RSM for response sensitivity analysis. The reliability results obtained by the proposed RSM based MCS and FORM are compared with the accurate reliability analysis results obtained by the direct MCS by considering two numerical examples.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.190-202
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• 2021

Background: Landscape metrics have been widely applied to quantifying the relationship between land surface temperature and urban spatial patterns and have received acceptable verification from landscape ecologists but some studies have shown their inaccurate results. The objective of the study is to compare landscape metrics and texture-based measures as alternative indices in measuring urban heterogeneity effects on LST at multiple scales. Results: The statistical results showed that the correlation between urban landscape heterogeneity and LST increased as the spatial extent (scale) of under-study landscapes increased. Overall, landscape metrics showed that the less fragmented, the more complex, larger, and the higher number of patches, the lower LST. The most significant relationship was seen between edge density (ED) and LST (r = - 0.47) at the sub-region scale. Texture measures showed a stronger relationship (R² = 34.84% on average) with LST than landscape metrics (R² = 15.33% on average) at all spatial scales, meaning that these measures had a greater ability to describe landscape heterogeneity than the landscape metrics. Conclusion: This study suggests alternative measures for overcoming landscape metrics shortcomings in estimating the effects of landscape heterogeneity on LST variations and gives land managers and urban planners new insights into urban design.

• Asian Journal of Business Environment
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.23-30
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• 2024

Purpose: The purpose of this research is to explore the macroeconomic model through both static and dynamic equations. The primary objective of this study is to investigate the variations in the elasticity of substitution across changing economic variables within the framework of the Allen-Uzawa production functions. Research, design, data and methodology: The data were drawn from the World Bank's annual central statistical office database from 2010 to 2021 in the United States of America. The level of expenditures and of the public finance sector, macroeconomic data like output, inflation rates, and labor are examined. Results: This study demonstrates the interaction of two equations, clarifying that the macroeconomic model is practical to determining the stability of both static and dynamic equation systems analytically. The Allen-Uzawa equations allow for the verification of macroeconomic model properties, and study results demonstrate an increase in the range of capital uses as a form of mechanization. A constant elasticity of substitution function is derived from the macroeconomic variables. Conclusion: The macroeconomic model, though the analysis of the static and dynamic Allen - Uzawa model, not only facilitates the examination of long-term trends in crucial endogenous variables but also overcomes challenges commonly associated with other mathematical methods. Overall, the analysis promotes economic growth, investment, and employment. The levels of expenditures and the public finance sector, along with macroeconomic data such as output, inflation rates, and labor, are examined.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.223-233
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• 2010

Spatio-temporal variations of long-term water qualities (COD, SS, $Chl-{\alpha}$, N-related nutrients (TN, TDN, $NO_3^-$, $NH_4^+$), P-related nutrients (TP, TDP, $PO_4^{3-}$)) at two stations (St. SD, St. GG) in the Geumgang Reservoir were investigated from August 2001 to July 2008. Statistical methods such as t-test, factor analysis, and multi-regression analysis were applied to the water quality data in the reservoir as well as mass balances on TP. From the temporal comparisons of the water qualities between 2002 and 2007, average concentrations of $NH_4^+$, $PO_4^{3-}$, and TDP gradually decreased down by 60%, 24%, 52% in 2007. However, those of TP and $Chl-{\alpha}$ increased to 99% and 423% during the period. From the spatial comparisons between the two stations, St. GG showed higher concentrations for all of the N- and P-related nutrients than in St. SD, while opposite result for the $Chl-{\alpha}$. The factor analysis showed that "the seasonal variations of N- and P-related nutrients" were the two dominant factors occupying 49% of total variances of water qualities. Based on this result, multi-regression analysis executed for the two most influential parameters (TP and $Chl-{\alpha}$) focusing on the seasonal variations of these parameters: SS and $Chl-{\alpha}$ has contributed decisively to the concentrations of TP during the wet and dry season, respectively. On the other hand, COD and TP has been important for the $Chl-{\alpha}$ during the wet and dry season, respectively. From the established mass balances of TP loadings in the Geumgang Reservoir, Other Sources (60%) occupied the greatest contribution and Fluvial Input (38%) and Sediment (1%) during the wet season. However, both Fluvial Water (48%) and Other Sources (47%) supplied comparable amount of inputs and Sediment (5%) showed significantly increased input during the dry seasons. Recently especially during the dry winter seasons, migrating bird's excretion was estimated to contribute up to 8% of total TP input and 21% of Other Sources.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.478-490
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• 2007

With groundwater data of seawater intrusion monitoring network in coastal areas of Korea's main land, we analyzed types of seawater intrusion through the coastal aquifer. The data including groundwater level, temperature and electrical conductivity obtained from 45 monitoring wells at 25 watershed regions were evaluated. Based on statistical analysis, correlation analysis and variation type analysis, groundwater levels were mainly affected by rainfall and artificial pumping. About 78% of the monitoring wells showed average temperature higher than $15^{\circ}C$ and about 58% of them showed minimum variations less than $0.2^{\circ}C$. Electrical conductivities showed a large magnitude of variation and irregular characteristics compared with groundwater levels and temperatures. Average electrical conductivities lower than $2,000\;{\mu}S/cm$ were observed at 28 monitoring wells while those of higher than $10,000\;{\mu}S/cm$ were done at 9 monitoring wells. From the cross-correlation analysis, groundwater levels were mostly affected by precipitation while temperature and electrical conductivity showed very low correlation. Meanwhile tidal variations strongly affected the groundwater levels comparing to precipitation. We classified the long-term monitoring data according to variation types such as constant process, linear trend, cyclic variation, impulse, step function and ramp. Impulse type was dominant for variations of groundwater level, which was largely affected by rainfall or artificial pumping, the constant process was dominant for temperature. Compared with groundwater level and temperature, electrical conductivities showed various types like linear trend, step function and ramp. According to the discrepancy of variation characteristics for monitoring data at each well in the same region, periodical analysis of monitoring data is essentially required.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.303-312
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• 2007

In order to investigate the dynamics of phytoplankton standing crops affecting by environmental factors, biological and environmental factors, this study was examined in the marine ranching ground of Tongyeong coastal waters from 2000 to 2007. During the study, mean water temperature and salinity were 16.7$^{\circ}C$ and 32.9 psu, respectively. pH, DO and SS varied from 7.81$\sim$8.09, 3.02$\sim$8.97 mg $L^{-1}$ and 2.7$\sim$32.2 mg $L^{-1}$, respectively. Mean concentrations of dissolved inorganic nitrogen, phosphate and silicate were 21.75 ${\mu}M$, 0.90 ${\mu}M$ and 14.38 ${\mu}M$, respectively. Chlorophyll a concentrations varied from 0.02 ${\mu}g$ $L^{-1}$ to 25.29 ${\mu}g$ $L^{-1}$ with mean a value of 2.0 ${\mu}g$ $L^{-1}$. These factors did show significant differences on each layer and season, while did not show on the sampling stations. Phytoplankton standing crops varied from $4.21\times10^3$ cells $L^{-1}$ to $1.44\times10^6$ cells $L^{-1}$ with a mean value of $1.92\times10^5$ cells $L^{-1}$. Especially, variations of phytoplankton standing crops had an unimodal pattern as only bloomed in autumn rather than a bimodal pattern as generally bloomed in spring and autumn. In results of stepwise multiple regression analysis, the coefficient of determination $(R^2)$ for total standing crops was 0.35 and the standing crops were affected by water temperature, salinity, phosphate and silicate. The factors affected were different seasonally; water temperature in spring, salinity in summer, water temperature, salinity and silicate in autumn and water temperature, salinity and suspended solids in winter. Therefore, the results from the statistical analysis showed that the environmental factors influencing on the variations of the phytoplankton standing crops were predominantly water temperature and salinity.