• Title/Summary/Keyword: Mimics

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Optimum design of steel frames with semi-rigid connections and composite beams

  • Artar, Musa;Daloglu, Ayse T.
    • Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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    • v.55 no.2
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    • pp.299-313
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    • 2015
  • In this paper, an optimization process using Genetic Algorithm (GA) that mimics biological processes is presented for optimum design of planar frames with semi-rigid connections by selecting suitable standard sections from a specified list taken from American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC). The stress constraints as indicated in AISC-LRFD (American Institute of Steel Construction - Load and Resistance Factor Design), maximum lateral displacement constraints and geometric constraints are considered for optimum design. Two different planar frames with semi-rigid connections taken from the literature are carried out first without considering concrete slab effects in finite element analyses and the results are compared with the ones available in literature. The same optimization procedures are then repeated for full and semi rigid planar frames with composite (steel and concrete) beams. A program is developed in MATLAB for all optimization procedures. Results obtained from this study proved that consideration of the contribution of the concrete on the behavior of the floor beams provides lighter planar frames.

Bio-inspired self powered nervous system for civil structures

  • Shoureshi, Rahmat A.;Lim, Sun W.
    • Smart Structures and Systems
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    • v.5 no.2
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    • pp.139-152
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    • 2009
  • Globally, civil infrastructures are deteriorating at an alarming rate caused by overuse, overloading, aging, damage or failure due to natural or man-made hazards. With such a vast network of deteriorating infrastructure, there is a growing interest in continuous monitoring technologies. In order to provide a true distributed sensor and control system for civil structures, we are developing a Structural Nervous System that mimics key attributes of a human nervous system. This nervous system is made up of building blocks that are designed based on mechanoreceptors as a fundamentally new approach for the development of a structural health monitoring and diagnostic system that utilizes the recently developed piezo-fibers capable of sensing and actuation. In particular, our research has been focused on producing a sensory nervous system for civil structures by using piezo-fibers as sensory receptors, nerve fibers, neuronal pools, and spinocervical tract to the nodal and central processing units. This paper presents up to date results of our research, including the design and analysis of the structural nervous system.

A Novel Oxidation Model with Photolysis for Degradation of Trichlorobenzenes (TCBs)

  • Kim, Jae-Hyoun
    • Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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    • v.12 no.3_4
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    • pp.1-13
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    • 1997
  • First- and second-order kinetic oxidation rates of trichlorobenzenes (TCBs) were obtained and compared by a chemical activation system (CAS) which mimics mixed functional oxidase activity. The system consists of EDTA, ferrous sulfate, ascorbic acid, and $H_2O_2$ in potassium phosphdte buffer (monobasic at pH 7.4). The rate of transformation in CAS was enhanced in the presence and absence of catalase in the sequence 1, 2, 3-TCB < 1, 2, 4-TCB < 1, 3, 5-TCB. In general, the rates of degradation were greater in the test media with catalase. The effect of photolysis on the degradation of the TCBs with the CAS were examined. Sensitized photolysis with nitrite, Fenton's reagent, TiO$_2$ and triethylamine (TEA) studied in concert with the CAS demonstrated significant enhancement of the degradation rate of TCBs. Disappearance rates of TCBs in CAS with prior photolysis or prior photosensitization were at least 10-fold higher than the sum of the rate for each single experiment. This study proves that the combination of the CAS and photolysis can be used as a suitable technique for enhancing degradation of TCBs in aqueous systems.

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Perspectives of AIDS Vaccine Development: T Cell-based Vaccine

  • Sung, Young Chul
    • IMMUNE NETWORK
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    • v.2 no.1
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    • pp.1-5
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    • 2002
  • Estimated number of adults and children newly infected with HIV-1 during 2001 alone is 5 million in total. An effective vaccine, in addition to education & public health approaches, has been believed to be the best option to stop the HIV-1 transmission, especially for developing countries. Among AIDS vaccine candidates, DNA vaccine is relatively safe and, in a certain extent, mimics some attributes of live attenuated vaccine, with regard to in vivo gene expression & the type of immunity induced. We recently demonstrated that DNA vaccines expressing SIVmac239 structural and regulatory genes, augmented with coadministration of IL-12 mutant induced the strongest T cell responses, resulting in low to undetectable setpoint viral loads, stable $CD4^+$ T cell counts, and no evidence of clinical diseases or mortality by day 420 after challenge. This finding is the second demonstration, following the protective result of live attenuated SIV vaccine in SIVmac-rhesus monkey model, which was known to have safety problem. So, our DNA vaccines could give a significant impact on HIV-1 epidemic by slowing or stopping the spread of HIV-1, leading to eventual eradication of HIV-1 and AIDS in the population.

Biphasic Pulmonary Blastoma detected by Pneumothorax (기흉에 의해 발견된 이상성 폐 모세포종)

  • Kim, Yong Hwan;Lee, Sun Hee
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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    • v.55 no.4
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    • pp.408-412
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    • 2003
  • Pulmonary blastoma is a rare primary lung neoplasm composed of a mixture of immature mesenchyme and epithelium that morphologically mimics embryonal pulmonary structure. Microscopically, tumors could be divided into two classes; those composed solely of malignant glands of epithelial components (well-differentiated fetal adenocarcinoma) and those with biphasic appearance. A 51-year-old man was admitted with left sided pneumothorax. After closed thoracostomy, chest X-ray showed a circular mass in the left lower zone. The tumor was diagnosed as adenocarcinoma as a result of percutaneous needle aspiration biopsy, and left lower lobectomy was performed. The patient was diagnosed as having biphasic pulmonary blastoma on postoperative histological assessment. This case is the first reported patient with biphasic pulmonary blastoma detected by pneumothorax.

An introduction to the MMI system of strip casting Process (박판주조공정의 MMI 시스템 소개)

  • Joo, Moon-G.;Lee, D.S.;Kim, Y.H.;Kang, T.
    • Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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    • 2000.07d
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    • pp.2778-2780
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    • 2000
  • MMI system for strip caster 2 is described. It has been developed as a PC-based MMI system whose data is collected from the VME-based control system by ETHERNET. MMI elements that mimic the caster and its utilities are designed by using commercial program. In order to implement the UDP/IP communication in MMI, UDP/IP manager program with DDE that is a intercommunication protocol in MS-window is developed and connected with MMI mimics. Operator commands in MMI system are carried out immediately in VME system and the responses are displayed on MMI system. The developed MMI system has been proven to be convenient and stable through the operation of the past 5 years.

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Understanding Enzyme Structure and Function in Terms of the Shifting Specificity Model

  • Britt, Billy Mark
    • BMB Reports
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    • v.37 no.4
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    • pp.394-401
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    • 2004
  • The purpose of this paper is to suggest that the prominence of Haldane's explanation for enzyme catalysis significantly hinders investigations in understanding enzyme structure and function. This occurs despite the existence of much evidence that the Haldane model cannot embrace. Some of the evidence, in fact, disproves the model. A brief history of the explanation of enzyme catalysis is presented. The currently accepted view of enzyme catalysis -- the Haldane model -- is examined in terms of its strengths and weaknesses. An alternate model for general enzyme catalysis (the Shifting Specificity model) is reintroduced and an assessment of why it may be superior to the Haldane model is presented. Finally, it is proposed that a re-examination of many current aspects in enzyme structure and function (specifically, protein folding, x-ray and NMR structure analyses, enzyme stability curves, enzyme mimics, catalytic antibodies, and the loose packing of enzyme folded forms) in terms of the new model may offer crucial insights.

Development of Robot Fish, ROFI 1.1

  • Kwack, Sang-Hyun;Kim, Yong-Hwan
    • Journal of Ship and Ocean Technology
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    • v.11 no.1
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    • pp.1-10
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    • 2007
  • This study introduces the development of robot fish ROFI 1.1. Today, robot fish is one of strong candidates for next-generation UUV. The present paper describes the design, manufacturing, and operation tests of the robot fish developed at Seoul National University. The very first robot fish in Korea, ROFI 1.1 is operated by a wireless remote controller. Its overall length is 680mm, and weight is 8.8kg. The fore body contains main mechanical and electrical systems and is covered by a FRP skin. The aft body has a mechanical bone system that mimics fish bones, and its skin is made of flexible silicon sponge to allow elastic motion for propulsion. It is found that this mechanical system creates effective and realistic fish-like swimming mode. It is observed that the normal and maximum advancing speeds of ROFI 1.1 are about 1 and 2 m/sec, and the turning radius is between $0.7{\sim}2.5m$, depending on the turning mechanism.

Improved thermal exchange optimization algorithm for optimal design of skeletal structures

  • Kaveh, A.;Dadras, A.;Bakhshpoori, T.
    • Smart Structures and Systems
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    • v.21 no.3
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    • pp.263-278
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    • 2018
  • Thermal Exchange Optimization (TEO) is a newly developed algorithm which mimics the thermal exchange between a solid object and its surrounding fluid. In this paper, an improved version of the TEO is developed to fix the shortcomings of the standard version. To demonstrate the viability of the new algorithm, the CEC 2016's single objective problems are considered along with the discrete size optimization of benchmark skeletal structures. Problem specific constraints are handled using a fly-back mechanism. The results show the validity of the improved TEO method compared to its standard version and a number of well-known algorithms.