• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.131-152
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• 2015

Easy detection and evaluation of defect in the tube structure is a continuous problem and remains a significant demand in tube inspection technologies. This study is aimed to automate defect detection using the pattern recognition approach based on the classification of high frequency stress wave signals. The stress wave signals from vibrational impact excitation on several tube conditions were captured to identify the defect in ASTM A179 seamless steel tubes. The variation in stress wave propagation was captured by a high frequency sensor. Stress wave signals from four tubes with artificial defects of different depths and one reference tube were classified using the autoregressive (AR) algorithm. The results were demonstrated using a dendrogram. The preliminary research revealed the natural arrangement of stress wave signals were grouped into two clusters. The stress wave signals from the healthy tube were grouped together in one cluster and the signals from the defective tubes were classified in another cluster. This approach was effective in separating different stress wave signals and allowed quicker and easier defect identification and interpretation in steel tubes.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.225-230
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• 2016

Phytochemical investigation from the stem bark of Beilschmiedia pulverulenta resulted in the isolation of five lignans, (+)-yangambin (1), (+)-sesartemin (2), (+)-excelsin (3), (+)-sesamin (4), and (+)-syringaresinol (5), together with lupeol (6), lupenone (7), ${\beta}-sitosterol$ (8), and ${\beta}-sitostenone$ (9). Their structures were established by the analysis of their spectroscopic (1D and 2D NMR) and spectrometric (MS) data, as well as by comparison with those reported in the literature. The isolated lignans were tested for their anticholinesterase (AChE: acetylcholine esterase and BChE: butyryl cholineesterase) and anti-inflammatory (COX-2: cyclooxygenase-2 and LOX: lipoxygenase) activities. All the isolated lignans (1 - 5) exhibited significant inhibition activities in AChE/BChE and COX-2/LOX assays with $IC_{50}$ values ranging from $168.8-504.2{\mu}M$ and $21.0-59.4{\mu}M$, respectively.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.583-598
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• 2009

From the engineering standpoint, this study puts a special emphasis on application of adaptive management. To do this, we analyze the recent issue about water scarcity of the Gwangdong dam. Using the system dynamics model, we defined the system including water balance in the dam, dam manager's operation rules, regional water supply and local water distribution, and customer damage. It was expected that the model is useful to explain the real case, and also water scarcity of Gwangdong led to total damage of about 2.56 billion won, mainly to customers in the Taebaeck city. Two adaptive management options (i.e., optimal allocation of limited water resources, and early control of dam storage) were applied to the model in order to examine whether adaptive management is effective to mitigate the damage, it is concluded that the case study could largely reduce or entirely avoid the damage with adaptive engineering options.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.10
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• pp.4261-4264
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• 2014

Objective: To examine the prescription rates in cancer patients of three common psychotropic drugs: anxiolytic/hypnotic, antidepressant and antipsychotic. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, data were extracted from the pharmacy database of University Malaya Medical Center (UMMC) responsible for dispensing records of patients stored in the pharmacy's Medication Management and Use System (Ascribe). We analyzed the use of psychotropics in patients from the oncology ward and cardiology from 2008 to 2012. Odds ratios (ORs) were adjusted for age, gender and ethnicity. Results: A total of 3,345 oncology patients and 8,980 cardiology patients were included. Oncology patients were significantly more often prescribed psychotropic drugs (adjusted OR: anxiolytic/hypnotic=5.55 (CI: 4.64-6.63); antidepressants=6.08 (CI: 4.83-7.64) and antipsychotics=5.41 (CI: 4.17-7.02). Non-Malay female cancer patients were at significantly higher risk of anxiolytic/hypnotic use. Conclusions: Psychotropic drugs prescription is common in cancer patients. Anxiolytic/hypnotic prescription rates are significantly higher in non-Malay female patients in Malaysia.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.65-87
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• 2016

The wind velocity profile over the height of a structure in high intensity wind (HIW) events, such as downbursts, differs from that associated with atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) winds. Current design codes for lattice transmission structures contain only limited advice on the treatment of HIW effects, and structural design is carried out using wind load profiles and response factors derived for ABL winds. The present study assesses the load-deformation curve (capacity curve) of a transmission tower under modeled downburst wind loading, and compares it with that obtained for an ABL wind loading profile. The analysis considers nonlinear inelastic response under simulated downburst wind fields. The capacity curve is represented using the relationship between the base shear and the maximum tip displacement. The results indicate that the capacity curve remains relatively consistent between different downburst scenarios and an ABL loading profile. The use of the capacity curve avoids the difficulty associated with defining a reference wind speed and corresponding wind profile that are adequate and applicable for downburst and ABL winds, thereby allowing a direct comparison of response under synoptic and downburst events. Uncertainty propagation analysis is carried out to evaluate the tower capacity by considering the uncertainty in material properties and geometric variables. The results indicated the coefficient of variation of the tower capacity is small compared to those associated with extreme wind speeds.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.141-155
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• 1999

Korea Ocean Research & Development Institute(KORDI) conducted an offshore geotechnical investigation for the Eardo Ocean Research Station with the help of the Fugro International Limited at a site location approximately 152 km away from Mara Island, Korea. The primary purpose of the geotechnical investigation was to obtain information on soil and foundation conditions, and to develop foundation design data for a fixed offshore observation platform. This paper discussed the details of the geotechnical investigation and the foundation design recommendations for the Ocean Research Station. Clear recommendations were proposed for the foundation type of driven pile considering the existing soil conditions.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.17
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• pp.7287-7290
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• 2014

Background: Brief physician counselling has been shown to be effective in improving smokers' behaviour. If the counselling sessions can be given at the workplace, this would benefit a larger number of smokers. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of a ten-minute physician counseling session at the workplace in improving smoking behaviour. Materials and Methods: This prospective randomised control trial was conducted on smokers in a factory. A total of 163 participants were recruited and randomised into control and intervention groups using a table of random numbers. The intervention group received a ten-minute brief physician counselling session to quit smoking. Stages of smoking behaviour were measured in both groups using a translated and validated questionnaire at baseline, one month and three months post intervention. Results: There was a significant improvement in smoking behaviour at one-month post intervention (p=0.024, intention to treat analysis; OR=2.525; CI=1.109-5.747). This was not significant at three-month post intervention (p=0.946, intention to treat analysis; OR=1.026; 95% CI=0.486-2.168). Conclusions: A session of brief physician counselling was effective in improving smokers' behaviour at workplace, but the effect was not sustained.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.483-503
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• 2017

Uncertainty is a fact belonging to engineering practice. An important uncertainty that sets geotechnical engineering is the variability associated with the properties of soils or, more precisely, the characterization of soil profiles. The reason is due largely to the complex and varied natural processes associated with the formation of soil. Spatial variability analysis for the study of the stability of natural slopes, complementing conventional analyses, is able to incorporate these uncertainties. In this paper the characterization is performed in back-analysis for a case of landslide occurred to verify afterwards the presence of the conditions of shear strength at failure. This approach may support designers to make more accurate estimates regarding slope failure responding, more consciously, to the legislation dispositions about slope stability evaluation and future design. By applying different kriging techniques used for spatial analysis it has been possible to perform a 3D-slope reconstruction. The predictive analysis and the areal mapping of the soil mechanical characteristics would support the definition of priority interventions in the zones characterized by more critical values as well as slope potential instability. This tool of analysis aims to support decision-making by directing project planning through the efficient allocation of available resources.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.1097-1103
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• 2015

Background: Few studies have explored the knowledge and attitudes of adolescents toward cancer prevention and treatment. This lack of research and its potential utility in the development of new educational initiatives and screening methods, or the reconstruction of existing ones, provided the impetus for this study. The primary research aim was to assess secondary school student knowledge of cancer and determine whether or not they possessed basic knowledge of cancer symptoms, risk factors, and treatments and to determine the relationship between cancer knowledge and key demographic factors. Materials and Methods: The Management and Science University conducted a cross-sectional study analyzing responses through cross-tabulation with the socio-demographic data collected. Results: The findings of our quantitative analysis suggest that Malaysian youth generally possess a moderate knowledge about cancer. Quantitative analyses found that socioeconomic inequalities and bias in education present as important factors contributing to cancer awareness, prevention, and treatment among Malaysian adolescents. Conclusions: The findings indicate that Malaysian youth generally possess a moderate knowledge about cancer but the current deficiencies in initiatives directed to cancer awareness continue to hinder the improvement in prevention of cancer among Malaysian adolescents.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.2279-2283
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• 2012

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections and oncogenic HPV is the main cause of cervical cancer. However, HPV vaccination is already available as the primary preventive method against cervical cancer. The objective of this study was to determine the level of knowledge, attitude and practice of HPV vaccination among Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and Universiti Malaya (UM) students. This study was conducted from March until August 2009. Pre-tested and validated questionnaires were filled by the third year UKM (n=156) and UM (n=149) students from medical, dentistry and pharmacy faculties. The results showed that the overall level of knowledge on HPV infection, cervical cancer and its prevention among respondents was high and the majority of them had positive attitude towards HPV vaccination. Medical students had the highest level of knowledge (p<0.05). Very few students (3.6%) had already taken the vaccine with no significant difference between the two Universities (p=0.399). In conclusion, the knowledge and attitude of the respondents were high and positive, respectively. Only few students took HPV vaccination. Thus, more awareness campaigns and HPV vaccination services should be provided at universities' campuses with the price of the HPV vaccine reduced for the students.