• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.6955-6959
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• 2013

The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is relatively high in Southeast Asia. Globally, HCC has a high fatality rate and short survival. The objectives of this retrospective cohort study were to review the epidemiology and survival of HCC patients at a tertiary centre in north-east of Peninsular Malaysia. Subjects were adult HCC patients diagnosed by histopathology or radio-imaging. Secondary liver carcinoma was excluded. Kaplan Meier and multiple Cox proportional hazard survival analyses were used. Only 210 HCC cases from years 1987-2008, were included in the final analysis. The number of cases was increasing annually. The mean age was 55.0 (SD 13.9) years with male:female ratio of 3.7:1. Approximately 57.6% had positive hepatitis B virus, 2.4% hepatitis C virus, 20% liver cirrhosis and 8.1% chronic liver disease. Only 2.9% had family history and 9.0% had frequently consumed alcohol. Most patients presented with abdominal pain or discomfort and had hepatomegaly, 47.9% had an elevated ${\alpha}$-fetoprotein level of 800 IU/ml or more, 51.9% had multiple tumors and 44.8% involved multiple liver lobes. Approximately 63.3% were in stage 3 and 23.4% in stage 4, and 82.9% did not receive any treatment. The overall median survival time was 1.9 months (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.5, 2.3). The 1-month, 6-month, 1-year and 2-year survival rates were 71.8%, 23.3%, 13.0% and 7.3% respectively. Significant prognostic factors were Malay ethnicity [Adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) 1.6; 95%CI: 1.0, 2.5; p=0.030], no chemotherapy [AHR 1.7; 95%CI: 1.1, 2.5; p=0.017] and Child-Pugh class C [AHR 2.6; 95%CI: 1.4, 4.9; p=0.002]. HCC in our study affected a wide age range, mostly male, in advanced stage of disease, with no treatment and very low survival rates. Primary prevention should be advocated in view of late presentation and difficulty of treatment. Vaccination of hepatitis virus and avoidance of liver toxins are to be encouraged.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.365-374
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• 2017

With the continuous evolution of the numerical methods and the availability of advanced constitutive models, it became a common practice to use complex physical and geometrical nonlinear numerical analyses to estimate the structural behavior of reinforced concrete elements. Such simulations may yield the complete time history of the structural behavior, from the first moment the load is applied until the total collapse of the structure. However, the evolution of the cracking pattern in geometrical discontinuous zones of reinforced concrete elements and the associated failure modes are relatively complex phenomena and their numerical simulation is considerably challenging. The objective of the present paper is to assess the applicability of the Applied Element Method in simulating the development of distinct failure modes in reinforced concrete walls subjected to monotonic loading obtained in experimental tests. A pushover test was simulated numerically on three distinct RC shear walls, all presenting an opening that guarantee a geometrical discontinuity zone and, consequently, a relatively complex cracking pattern. The presence of different reinforcement solutions in each wall enables the assessment of the reliability of the computational model for distinct failure modes. Comparison with available experimental tests allows concluding on the advantages and the limitations of the Applied Element Method when used to estimate the behavior of reinforced concrete elements subjected to monotonic loading.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.495-504
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• 2018

The possibility of earthquakes in vulnerable regions indicates that efficient technique is required for seismic protection of buildings. During the recent decades, the concept is moving towards the insertion of base isolation on seismic prone buildings. So, investigation of structural behavior is a burning topic for buildings to be isolated in base level by bearing device. This study deals with the incorporation of base isolation system and focuses the changes of structural responses for different types of Lead Rubber Bearing (LRB) isolators. A number of sixteen model buildings have been simulated selecting twelve types of bearing systems as well as conventional fixed-base (FB) scheme. The superstructures of the high-rise buildings are represented by finite element assemblage adopting multi-degree of freedoms. Static and dynamic analyses are carried out for FB and base isolated (BI) buildings. The dynamic analysis in finite element package has been performed by the nonlinear time history analysis (THA) based on the site-specific seismic excitation and compared employing eminent earthquakes. The influence of the model type and the alteration in superstructure behavior of the isolated buildings have been duly assessed. The results of the 3D multistory structures show that the lateral forces, displacement, inertia and story accelerations of the superstructure of the seismic prone buildings are significantly reduced due to bearing insertion. The nonlinear dynamic analysis shows 12 to 40% lessening in base shear when LRB is incorporated leading to substantial allowance of horizontal displacement. It is revealed that the LRB isolators might be potential options to diminish the respective floor accelerations, inertia, displacements and base shear whatever the condition coincides. The isolators with lower force intercept but higher isolation period is found to be better for decreasing base shear, floor acceleration and inertia force leading to reduction of structural and non-structural damage. However, LRB with lower isolator period seems to be more effective in dropping displacement at bearing interface aimed at reducing horizontal shift of building structure.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.96-104
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• 2020

As consumers' consumption activities become more active due to the activation of online shopping malls, companies are conducting item trend analyses to boost sales. The existing item trend analysis methods are analyzed by considering only the activities of users in online shopping mall services, making it difficult to identify trends for new items without purchasing history. In this paper, we propose a trend analysis method that combines data in online shopping mall services and social network data to analyze item trends in users and potential customers in shopping malls. The proposed method uses the user's activity logs for in-service data and utilizes hot topics through word set extraction from social network data set to reflect potential users' interests. Finally, the item trend change is detected over time by utilizing the item index and the number of mentions in the social network. We show the superiority of the proposed method through performance evaluations using social network data.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.3068-3073
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• 2013

Recently, studies of vibration control performance improvement of tall buildings connected by a sky-bridge have been conducted. In this study, the effect of difference of natural vibration periods of two buildings and install location of a sky-bridge on vibration control performance has been investigated. To this end, 40-story and 50-story building structures were selected as example structures. Analytical models were developed by varying the natural period difference ratio from 1.0 to 1.5. Artificial earthquake load based on KBC2009 was used as an excitation for time history analyses. Based on numerical simulation results, it has been shown that control performance for displacement and velocity of tall buildings connected by a sky-bridge is improved as the difference of natural periods of two buildings increases and the linked story becomes higher. However, in the case of acceleration response, it shows a counter trend compared to displacement and velocity responses.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.9 no.4 s.33
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• pp.625-635
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• 1997

The base isolation technique and its benefits in reducing the transmitted earthquake energy into a structure have gained increasing recognition during the last two decades. Unfortunately, the current available design procedures, especially for base-isolated bridges, seem inadequate and too restrictive. As a result, practical design procedure still relies upon a series of deterministic time history analyses. In this study, the evaluation of the possibility of the normal mode method to predict the nonlinear seismic responses of base isolated bridges has been performed. The applicability has been examined through the numerical approach with isolator's elastic or plastic states of the base isolated bridges. Numerical results show that the 1st. mode period and the various responses are varied with the state but are conversed. And, the result show that the normal mode method is applicable to predict the seismic responses and to design the babe isolated bridge. Various analysis method to bridges with bilinearized hysteresis isolator and various pier heights are evalulated.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.147-162
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• 2020

This paper presents a novel precast energy dissipation shear wall (PEDSW) structure system that using mild steel dampers as dry connectors at the vertical joints to connect adjacent wall panels. Analytical studies are systematically conducted to investigate the seismic performance of the proposed PEDSW under sequence-type ground motions. During earthquake events, earthquake sequences have the potential to cause severe damage to structures and threaten life safety. To date, the damage probability of engineering structures under earthquake sequence has not been included in structural design codes. In this study, numerical simulations on single-story PEDSW are carried out to validate the feasibility and reliability of using mild steel dampers to connect the precast shear walls. The seismic responses of the PEDSW and cast-in-place shear wall (CIPSW) are comparatively studied based on nonlinear time-history analyses, and the effectiveness of the proposed high-rise PEDSW is demonstrated. Next, the foreshock-mainshock-aftershock type earthquake sequences are constructed, and the seismic response and fragility curves of the PEDSW under single mainshock and earthquake sequences are analyzed and compared. Finally, the fragility analysis of PEDSW structure under earthquake sequences is performed. The influences of scaling factor of the aftershocks (foreshocks) to the mainshocks on the fragility of the PEDSW structure under different damage states are investigated. The numerical results reveal that neglecting the effect of earthquake sequence can lead to underestimated seismic responses and fragilities, which may result in unsafe design schemes of PEDSW structures.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.487-497
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• 2020

During the last few decades, fluid viscous dampers have been significantly improved in terms of performance and reliability. Viscous dampers dissipate the input energy into heat and the increased temperature may damage internal seals of the damper. As a result, thermal compensation is crucial for almost all fluid viscous dampers. In this study, while referring to the main working principles of the recently developed bypass viscous damper in Iran, a comprehensive case study is conducted on a RC building having diagonal braces equipped with such viscous dampers. Experimental results of a small-scale bypass viscous damper is presented and it is shown that the currently available simplified Maxwell models can simulate behavior of the bypass viscous damper with good accuracy. Using a case study, contribution of bypass viscous dampers to seismic behavior of structural and non-structural elements are investigated. A designed procedure is adopted to increase damping ratio of the building from 3% to 15%. In this way, reductions of 25% and 13% in the required concrete and steel rebar materials have been achieved. From nonlinear time history analyses, it is observed that bypass viscous dampers can greatly improve seismic behavior of structural elements and non-structural elements.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.1-12
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• 2018

This study presents the seismic response characteristics of domestic cable-supported bridges due to 3 earthquakes with magnitudes of 5.1, 5.8, and 4.5 in Richter scale, which occurred around Gyeongju region in 2016. The seismic acceleration response signals, recorded by the seismic acceleration sensors at the free field near bridge and designated positions on bridge, are utilized to characterize the seismic responses of structural elements of cable-supported bridges. The dynamic behaviors of bridges are presented through Fourier transform of acceleration time history. Using the peak accelerations normalized by those at the free fields, amplification effects on the tops of the pylons are analyzed comparatively bridge by bridge. Using aforementioned analyses, the necessity of development on the creteria of alert levels is discussed for the earthquake disaster response of cable-supported bridges.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.346-355
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• 2004

The flame quenching process has been employed to modify the surfaces of commercial marine propeller material, aluminum bronze alloy (Cu-8.8Al-5Ni-5Fe), and the microstructure, hardness and wear properties of the flame-quenched layers have been studied. The thermal history was accurately monitored during the process with respect to both the designed maximum surface temperature and holding time. The XRD and EDX analyses have shown that at temperatures above $T_{\beta}$, the microstructure consisting of ${\alpha}+{\kappa}$ phases changed into the ${\alpha}+{\beta}^{\prime}$ martensite due to an eutectoid reaction of ${\alpha}+{\kappa}{\rightarrow}{\beta}$ and a martensitic transformation of ${\beta}{\rightarrow}{\beta}^{\prime}$. The ${\beta}^{\prime}$ martensite phase formed showed a face-centered cubic (FCC) crystal structure with the typical twinned structure. The hardness of the flame-quenched layer having the ${\alpha}+{\beta}^{\prime}$ structure was similar to that of the ${\alpha}+{\kappa}$ structure and depended sensitively on the size and distribution of hard ${\kappa}$ and ${\beta}^{\prime}$ phases with depth from the surface. As a result of the sliding wear test, the wear resistance of the flame-quenched layer was markedly enhanced with the formation of the ${\beta}^{\prime}$ martensite.