• Smart Structures and Systems
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• 제7권5호
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• pp.329-348
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• 2011

Large-scale earthquakes pose serious threats to infrastructure causing substantial damage and large residual deformations. Superelastic (SE) Shape-Memory-Alloys (SMAs) are unique alloys with the ability to undergo large deformations, but can recover its original shape upon stress removal. The purpose of this research is to exploit this characteristic of SMAs such that concrete Beam-Column Joints (BCJs) reinforced with SMA bars at the plastic hinge region experience reduced residual deformation at the end of earthquakes. Another objective is to evaluate the seismic performance of SMA Reinforced Concrete BCJs repaired with flowable Structural-Repair-Concrete (SRC). A $\frac{3}{4}$-scale BCJ reinforced with SMA rebars in the plastic-hinge zone was tested under reversed cyclic loading, and subsequently repaired and retested. The joint was selected from an RC building located in the seismic region of western Canada. It was designed and detailed according to the NBCC 2005 and CSA A23.3-04 recommendations. The behaviour under reversed cyclic loading of the original and repaired joints, their load-storey drift, and energy dissipation ability were compared. The results demonstrate that SMA-RC BCJs are able to recover nearly all of their post-yield deformation, requiring a minimum amount of repair, even after a large earthquake, proving to be smart structural elements. It was also shown that the use of SRC to repair damaged BCJs can restore its full capacity.

• 대한화학회지
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• 제65권2호
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• pp.93-105
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• 2021

Mononuclear Cu(II), Ni(II), Co(II), Mn(II), Zn(II), Fe(III), Ru(III), and UO2(II) complexes of 2-hydroxy-4-(p-tolyldiazenyl)benzylidene)-2-(p-tolylamino)acetohydrazide (H2L) were prepared by direct method. The ligand and its complexes were isolated in solid state and characterized by analytical techniques such as elemental and thermal analyses, molar conductance, magnetic susceptibility measurements and spectroscopic techniques such as UV-Visible, IR, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR. The spectral data indicated that the ligand acted as neutral/monobasic bidentate or monobasic/dibasic tridentate ligand bonded to the metal ions through the oxygen atom of ketonic or enolic carbonyl group, azomethine nitrogen atom and deprotonated/protonated phenolic oxygen atom forming either tetragonally distorted octahedral or octahedral. Antimicrobial activities of the ligand and its complexes were evaluated against Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis and Aspergillus niger by well diffusion method. The results of antifungal activity showed that the Fe(III) complex (10) exhibited higher antifungal against Aspergillus niger than the other complexes. However, the results of antibacterial activity revealed that Cu(II) complex (4) is the most active against Escherichia coli while the Cu(II) complex (5) and Fe(III) complex (10) exhibited higher antibacterial effect on Bacillus subtilis than the other complexes.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제45권4호
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• pp.177-182
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• 2018

Objective: To investigate the effects of in vitro myo-inositol (Myo-Ins) supplementation of cryopreserved human semen on the cryo-survival rate (CSR). Methods: Semen samples were obtained from 41 infertile men. Following routine semen analysis, each sample was divided into two equal aliquots (0.5 mL each). One aliquot was treated with 1 mg of Myo-Ins dissolved in $10{\mu}L$ of sperm preparation medium. The second aliquot was treated with $10{\mu}L$ of the same medium (control). Both aliquots were incubated for 20 minutes prior to freezing to slow the freezing process. The frozen samples were examined for post-thaw percentages of total motility (TM), progressive motility (PM), and the CSR, defined as the percentage of post-thaw TM divided by the percentage of pre-freeze TM and multiplied in 100. The results were expressed as median and interquartile range (25th and 75th percentiles). Results: The pre-freeze TM (50% [30%-50%]) and PM (35% [20%-35%]) were significantly higher than the post-thaw TM and PM in the MyoIns group (15% [10%-35%] and 10% [5%-20%]; p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively) and the control group (10% [6%-30%] and 5% [3%-15%]; p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). The CSR of the 41 semen aliquots supplemented with Myo-Ins (40% [25%-70%]) was significantly higher than that of the control samples (30% [13%-58%], p=0.041). The CSR of the 26 abnormal semen samples that were supplemented with Myo-Ins (38% [20%-50%]) was significantly higher than that of the control samples (23% [12%-30%], p=0.031). Conclusion: In vitro Myo-Ins supplementation of ejaculated human sperm from infertile men resulted in a significant increase in the CSR in samples with abnormal pre-freeze sperm parameters.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제17권2호
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• pp.655-660
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• 2016

Smoking is accountable for the fatality of a substantial number of persons and increases the likelihood of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Although data have shown high prevalence rates of cigarette smoking in Saudi Arabia, relatively little is known about the broader scope. The objectives of this study were to investigate socio-demographic factors, patterns of use and cessation behavior associated with smoking in Saudi Arabia (KSA). The study utilized a cross-sectional, multi-step design of sampling. Residents (N=1,497; aged 15 years and older) were recruited from seven administrative areas in Southwest Saudi Arabia. A pretested questionnaire was utilized to obtain data on participant cigarette smoking, including their daily use, age, education, income, marital status and employment status. The current study is the first of its kind to gather data cessation behavior of Saudi subjects. With the exception of 1.5% females, all the respondents were male. The majority of the respondents were married, had a university level of education, were employed, and were younger than 34 years old. The same trends were also observed among smokers' samples. The current prevalence of cigarette smoking was 49.2% and 65.7% of smokers had smoking at less than 18 years of age. The mean daily use amongst smokers was 7.98 cigarettes (SD=4.587). More than 50% of the study sample had tried at least once to quit smoking. However, 42% of the smokers participating had never. On the other hand, about 25% of the respondents were willing to consider quitting smoking in the future. Modeling of cigarette smoking suggested that the most significant independent predictors of smoking behavior were geographic area, gender, marital status, education, job and age. Considerable variation in smoking prevalence was noted related with participant sociodemographics. Findings recommend the necessity for control and intervention programs in Saudi community.