• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.295-312
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• 2017

Cast in situ and grouted concrete helical piles with 150-200 mm diameter half cylindrical ribs have become an economical and effective choice in Shanghai, China for uplift piles in deep soft soils. Though this type of pile has been successful used in practice, the reinforcing mechanism and the contribution of the ribs to the total resistance is not clear, and there is no clear guideline for the design of such piles. To study the inclusion of ribs to the contribution of shear resistance, the shear behaviour between silty sand and concrete slabs with parallel ribs at different spacing and angles were tested in a large direct shear box ($600mm{\times}400mm{\times}200mm$). The front panels of the shear box are detachable to observe the soil deformation after the test. The tests were modelled with three-dimensional finite element method in ABAQUS. It was found that, passive zones can be developed ahead of the ribs to form undulated failure surfaces. The shear resistance and failure mode are affected by the ratio of rib spacing to rib diameter. Based on the shape and continuity of the failure zones at the interface, the failure modes at the interface can be classified as "punching", "local" or "general" shear failure respectively. With the inclusion of the ribs, the pull out resistance can increase up to 17%. The optimum rib spacing to rib diameter ratio was found to be around 7 based on the observed experimental results and the numerical modelling.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.397-406
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• 2010

Resistivity method is a practical and effective geophysical technique to detect leakage zones in embankment dams. Generally, resistivity survey conducted along the crest assumes that the embankment dam has a 2D structure. However, the 3D topography of the embankment distorts significantly resistivity data measured on anywhere of the dam. This study evaluates the influence from 3D effects created by specific dam geometry and effects of water level fluctuations through the 3D finite element modeling technique. Also, a comparison between different locations of survey line are carried out, and topographic correction technique is developed for the resistivity data obtained along the embankment dam. Furthermore, using synthetic resistivity data for an embankment dam model with leakage zone, detectability of leakage zones is estimated through 2.5D inversion.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.149-160
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• 2021

Buildings made using the locally available clay materials are amongst the least expensive forms of construction in many developing countries, and therefore, widely popular in remote areas. It is despite the fact that these low-strength masonry structures are vulnerable to seismic forces. Since transporting imported materials like cement and steel in areas inaccessible by motorable roads is challenging and financially unviable. This paper presents, and experimentally investigates, adobe masonry structures that utilize the abundantly available local clay materials with moderate use of imported materials like cement, aggregates, and steel. Shake-table tests were performed on two 1:3 reduce-scaled adobe masonry models for experimental seismic testing and verification. The model AM1 was confined with vertical lightly reinforced concrete columns provided at all corners and reinforced concrete horizontal bands (i.e., tie beams) provided at sill, lintel, and eave levels. The model AM2 was confined only with the horizontal bands provided at sill, lintel, and eave levels. The models were subjected to sinusoidal base motions for studying the damage evolution and response of the model under dynamic lateral loading. The lateral forcedeformation capacity curves for both models were developed and bi-linearized to compute the seismic response parameters: stiffness, strength, ductility, and response modification factor R. Seismic performance levels, story-drift, base shear coefficient, and the expected structural damages, were defined for both the models. Seismic performance assessment of the selected models was carried out using the lateral seismic force procedure to evaluate their safety in different seismic zones. The use of vertical columns in AM1 has shown a considerable increase in the lateral strength of the model in comparison to AM2. Although an R factor equal to 2.0 is recommended for both the models, AM1 has exhibited better seismic performance in all seismic zones due to its relatively high lateral strength in comparison to AM2.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.1-18
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• 2021

England's green belt policy as it delivered its framework to designating the development restriction zones(DRZ) in Korea is the key to address issues which try to change green belt boundary or/and housing development. Therefore it should necessarily be reviewed on the understanding of how England has been formulating a national policy to deal with the issues focusing on opportunities for housing development and recreation. This study explored the discourse and framework of England's green belt policy as well as driver changes of housing development and recreation. Results show several characteristics of England's green belt policy which are civil society consensus on conservation and management, limited small-scale housing development through management of release rates, a systematic procedure for application and approval, open-recreation space expansion and utilisation under the premise of conservation of natural green areas, and management structure by the involvement of NGO organisations. Therefore, five suggestions can be delivered to developing Korea's DRZ frameworks: first, preceding social consensus on the preservation value of development-restricted zones, second, addressing housing shortages in different alternatives e.g.) environmental-friendly small-scale housing, third, institutionalising the total proportion of release, fourth, establishing an open-recreation space, fifth, introducing expanded public-private partnerships. Ultimately securing the legitimacy of the nation's development-restricted zone system can contribute positively to the environment preservation and human health by promoting public leisure activities in terms of the recent increase in external activities caused by the Covid-19 crisis. Concluding remarks are here that the understanding of England's green belt policy can be delivered to and help formulate domestic policy addressing current issues.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.497-506
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• 2020

This study surveyed the altitudinal diversity and distribution of butterflies inhabiting Mt. Jirisan. Field surveys were conducted thrice (May, June, and July) using a line transect method along four routes in 2015. During the survey, a total of five families, 58 species, and 769 individuals were collected. Of the species collected, the majority belonged to the family Nymphalidae (28 species), followed by Hesperiidae (nine species), Pieridae (eight species), Lycaenidae (seven species), and Papilionidae (six species). As for the individuals, Pieridae accounted for the largest number (333 individuals), followed by Nymphalidae (309 individuals), Lycaenidae (63 individuals), Hesperiidae (33 individuals), and Papilionidae (31 individuals). A cluster analysis performed on the butterfly species distinguished three altitude zones. The butterflies showed different ecological traits in each of the altitude zones. Analysis of the altitudes of the habitats of eight dominant species revealed that each species inhabited a particular altitude. This study confirmed the hypothesis that continuous monitoring will identify changes in the altitudinal distribution and diversity of butterflies on Mt. Jirisan in response to climate change.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.223-239
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• 2021

This paper presents the analytical modeling and finite element (FE) analysis, using ABAQUS software, of the new types of steel reinforced lightweight aggregate concrete (SRLAC) columns with cross-shaped (+shaped and X-shaped) steel section, using proposed three analytical and two FE models in total. The stress-strain material models for different components in the columns, including the confined zones of the lightweight aggregate concrete (LWAC) using three and four concrete zones divisions approaches and with and without taking into account the stirrups reaction effect, are established first. The analytical models for determining the axial load-deformation behavior of the SRLAC columns are drawn based on the materials models. The analytical and FE models' results are compared with previously reported test results of the axially loaded SRLAC columns. The proposed analytical and FE models accurately predict the axial behavior and capacities of the new types of SRLAC columns with acceptable agreements for the load-displacement curves. The LWAC strength, steel section ratio, and steel section configuration affect the contact stress between the concrete and steel sections. The average ratios of the ultimate test load to the three analytical models and FEA model loads, Put /Pa1, Put /Pa2, Put /Pa3, and Put /PFE1, for the tested specimens are 0.96, 1.004, 1.016, and 1.019, respectively. Finally, the analytical parametric studies are also studied, in terms of the effects of confinement, LWAC strength, steel section ratio, and the reinforcement ratio on the axial capacity of the SRLAC column. When concrete strength, confinements, area of steel sections, or reinforcement bars ratio increased, the axial capacities increased.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.25-38
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• 2022

The RC private constructions represent a large part of the housing stock in the north part of Algeria. For various reasons, they are mostly built without any seismic considerations and their seismic vulnerability remains unknown for different levels of seismic intensity possible in the region. To support future seismic risk mitigation efforts in northern Algeria, this document assesses the seismic vulnerability of typical private RC constructions built after the Boumerdes earthquake (May 21, 2003) without considering existing seismic regulation, through the development of analytical fragility curves. The fragility curves are developed for four representative RC frames in terms of slight, moderate, extensive, and complete damage states suggested in HAZUS-MH 2.1, using nonlinear time history analyses. The numerical simulation of the nonlinear seismic response of the structures is performed using the SeismoStruct software. An original intensity measure (IM) is proposed and used in this study. It is the zone acceleration coefficient "A", through which the seismic hazard level is represented in the Algerian Seismic Regulations. The efficiency, practicality, and proficiency of the choice of IM are demonstrated. Incremental dynamic analyses are conducted under fifteen ground motion accelerograms compatible with the elastic target spectrum of the Algerian Seismic Regulations. In order to cover all the seismic zones of northern Algeria, the accelerograms are scaled from 0.1 to 2.5 in increments of 0.1. The results mainly indicate that private constructions built after the Boumerdes earthquake in the moderate and high seismic zones with four (04) or more storeys are highly vulnerable.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.117-133
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• 2022

Determination of the mechanical behaviour of jointed rock masses has been a challenge for rock engineers for decades. This problem is more pronounced for non-persistent jointed rock masses due to complicated interaction of rock bridges on the overall behaviour. This paper aims to study the effect of a non-persistent joint set configuration on the mechanical behaviour of rock materials under both uniaxial and biaxial compression tests using a discrete element code. The numerical simulation of biaxial compressive strength of rock masses has been challenging in the past due to shortcomings of bonded particle models in reproducing the failure envelope of rock materials. This problem was resolved in this study by employing the flat-joint contact model. The validity of the numerical model was investigated through a comprehensive comparative study against physical uniaxial and biaxial compression experiments. Good agreement was found between numerical and experimental tests in terms of the recorded peak strength and the failure mode in both loading conditions. Studies on the effect of joint orientation on the failure mode showed that four zones of intact, transition to block rotation, block rotation and transition to intact failure occurs when the joint dip angle varies from 0° to 90°. It was found that the applied confining stress can significantly alter the range of these zones. It was observed that the minimum strength occurs at the joint dip angle of around 45 degrees under different confining stresses. It was also found that the joint orientation can alter the post peak behaviour and the lowest brittleness was observed at the block rotation zone.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.22 no.8
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• pp.1332-1340
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• 2021

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of a new three-dimensional (3D) MR fingerprinting (MRF) technique for the prostate gland by conducting phantom and clinical studies. Materials and Methods: The new 3D MRF technique used in this study enables quick data acquisition and has a high resolution. For the phantom study, the MRF T1 and T2 values in an in-house phantom were compared with those of goldstandard mapping methods using linear regression analysis. For the clinical study, we evaluated 90 patients who underwent prostate imaging with MRF for suspected prostate cancer between September 2019 and February 2020. The mean T1 and T2 values were compared in the peripheral zone, transition zone, and focal lesions using paired t tests. The differences in the T1 and T2 values according to cancer aggressiveness were evaluated using one-way analysis of variance. Results: In the phantom study, the MRF T1 and T2 values showed a perfect correlation with the gold-standard T1 and T2 values (R > 0.99). In the clinical study, the T1 and T2 values in the peripheral zone were significantly higher than those in the transitional zone (p < 0.001, both). The T1 and T2 values in prostate cancer were significantly lower than those in the peripheral and transitional zones. The higher the grade of cancer, the lower the T2 values. Conclusion: The T1 and T2 values obtained from the 3D MRF showed a perfect correlation with the gold standard values in the phantom study. Differences in the T1 and T2 values among the different zones of the prostate gland were identified using 3D MRF in patients.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.256-262
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• 2017

Essential oil from herb is known to exert pharmacological effects on the human body. In this study we investigated the antibacterial activity of 4 essential oils (teetree, rosemary, melisa, and lavender), as well as the blended mixture oil of teetree, rosemary, and melisa (TRM) on three bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Antibacterial analysis was performed using the standard disk diffusion method, and minimum inhibition concentration was determined by the broth microdilution method with different concentrations of essential oils (0.5, 1, 2 and 3 mg/mL). After incubation at $37^{\circ}C$ for 24 h, the antibacterial activity was assessed by measuring the zone of growth inhibition surrounding the disks. Herb oil with the inhibition zones showed varied values ranging from6 to 25 mm. However, the components of herb oil of TRM are as highly active as the teetree oil against pathogens, generating large inhibition zones for both gram negative and positive bacteria (13~22 mm and 8 mm inhibition zones). In the analysis for MIC, TRM showed growth-inhibitory effects at 0.0625% for S. aureus and E. coli, and 1.25% for P. aeruginosa. This result demonstrated that the anti-microbial activity of TRM was greater than a single herb oil, including oxacillin, rosemary, and teetrea. As a single herb oil, both rosemary and teetrea also had an anti-microbial effect by itself, and we can expect that the blended oil mixture may exert a synergistic effect against multidrug resistant bacteria, suggesting its future application in natural preservative agents for health food and cosmetics.