• Computers and Concrete
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.175-193
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• 2024

Researchers have embarked on an active investigation into the feasibility of adopting alternative materials as a solution to the mounting environmental and economic challenges associated with traditional concrete-based construction materials, such as reinforced concrete. The examination of concrete's mechanical properties using laboratory methods is a complex, time-consuming, and costly endeavor. Consequently, the need for models that can overcome these drawbacks is urgent. Fortunately, the ever-increasing availability of data has paved the way for the utilization of machine learning methods, which can provide powerful, efficient, and cost-effective models. This study aims to explore the potential of twelve machine learning algorithms in predicting the tensile strength of geopolymer concrete (GPC) under various curing conditions. To fulfill this objective, 221 datasets, comprising tensile strength test results of GPC with diverse mix ratios and curing conditions, were employed. Additionally, a number of unseen datasets were used to assess the overall performance of the machine learning models. Through a comprehensive analysis of statistical indices and a comparison of the models' behavior with laboratory tests, it was determined that nearly all the models exhibited satisfactory potential in estimating the tensile strength of GPC. Nevertheless, the artificial neural networks and support vector regression models demonstrated the highest robustness. Both the laboratory tests and machine learning outcomes revealed that GPC composed of 30% fly ash and 70% ground granulated blast slag, mixed with 14 mol of NaOH, and cured in an oven at 300°F for 28 days exhibited superior tensile strength.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.11-19
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• 2015

The important properties of EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) redispersible polymer was waterproof, densification of internal pore space of concrete and ball bearing and micro filler. Also, the significant role of polypropylene(PP) fiber was crack control and blockade of movement for deterioration factors. The most studies for EVA were limited in the field of mortar and PP fiber reinforced concrete had been studied in the state of being restricted unit water content, rich mix and mixing much of the fiber without considering construction site. Therefore, the control mix design were applied in ready mixed concrete using 10 % fly ash of total cement weight used in batch plant. On the basis of control mix design, EVA contents ranging from 0 % to 10 % of total cement weight and PP fiber contents ranging from 0 % to 0.5 % of EVA concrete volume were used in the mix designs. The results showed the maximum compressive strength value was measured at EVA 5.0 % and PP fiber 0.1 %, the minimum water absorption ratio was at EVA 10 % and PP fiber 0 %, the durability factor for freezing and thawing resistance was at EVA 5.0 % and PP fiber 0.3 % and the minimum weight reduction ratio of resistance to sulfuric acid attack was at EVA 10 % and PP fiber 0.5 % after curing age 42days. Meanwhile, From these results, PP fiber reinforced EVA concrete would be very benefit, if each optimal mix types were used in hydraulic structures, underground utilities and agricultural structures.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.321-327
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• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Fruit and vegetable consumption of children in the United States falls below recommendations. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) is a national free-fruit and vegetable school distribution program designed to address this problem. This permanent, legislated program provides funding to qualified elementary schools for provision of additional fruit and vegetables outside of school meals. The objective of this study was to understand children's perceptions of FFVP after the intervention and formulate recommendations that may improve success of the intervention. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Secondary data were obtained from 5,265 $4^{th}-6^{th}$ graders at 51 randomly-selected FFVP intervention schools in Indiana. Anonymous questionnaires were completed late in the 2011-2012 academic year. Multilevel logistic regressions were used to determine associations between students' perceptions of program effects (4 close-ended items) and their preference toward the program. Content analysis was applied to a single open-ended item for program comments. RESULTS: Over 47% of students reported greater intake of fruit and vegetables due to FFVP, and over 66% reported liking the program. Student-reported program effects were positively associated with preference for the program (P < 0.01). Themes that emerged during analysis of 3,811 comments, included, students liked: the opportunity to try different kinds of fruit and vegetables, types and flavors of fruits served, and benefits of eating fruit. Fewer students liked the types of vegetables and their benefits. A small group disliked the program citing poor flavor of vegetables and quality of fruits. Important suggestions for the program include serving more dipping sauces for vegetables, cooking vegetables, and providing a greater variety of produce. CONCLUSIONS: The degree that students liked FFVP may predict the program's effects on fruit and vegetable intake. FFVP may become more acceptable to students by incorporating their suggestions. Program planners should consider these options for achieving program goals.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.147-153
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• 2010

The recycling of demolished concrete as an alternative source of coarse aggregates for the production of new concrete can help to solve the growing waste disposal crisis and the problem of the depletion of natural aggregates. The purpose of this study is to investigate the chloride migration of recycled aggregate concrete containing pozzolanic materials by the chloride migration coefficient. The specimens were made with recycled coarse aggregate at various replacement ratios (10, 30, 50%) and metakaolin, blast furnace slag, and fly ash is replaced for recycled concrete with a mixing ratio of 20%. The major results are as follows. 1) The compressive strength of recycled aggregate concrete containing pozzolanic materials increases as the curing age and chloride diffusivity decreases. 2) When the replacement ratio of recycled coarse aggregate is 30%, the chloride migration coefficient of recycled concrete containing blast furnace slag or metakaolin that shows a value similar to or lower than that of plain concrete at all ages.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.465-472
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• 2021

Prior to the actual flight test of the separation-reintegration situation of fixed-wing mother and child UAVs in the air, it is necessary to verify the flight control system of child UAV through simulations. In this paper, we build a simulation environment for the development of a child UAV flight control system in a lab environment based on the wake turbulence of X-Plane. To this end, the aerodynamics analysis of child UAV was performed, and Simulink was used to simulate aircraft, and X-Plane was utilized to implement visualization, wind, gusts, and mother UAV movements. The simulation environment built by performing simulated proximity flights was verified by applying the guidance and control algorithm to the child UAV model within Simulink. Furthermore, the flight results confirm the area in which the child UAV can safely fly from the rear of the mother UAV.

• Journal of Ceramic Processing Research
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.378-382
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• 2018

It is a known fact that the cement production is responsible for almost 5% of total worldwide $CO_2$ emission, the primary factor affecting global warming. Geopolymers are valuable as ordinary Portland cement (OPC) substitutes because geopolymers release 80% less $CO_2$ than OPC and have mechanical properties sufficiently similar to those of OPC. Therefore, geopolymers have proven attractive to eco-friendly construction industries. Geopolymers can be fabricated from aluminum silicate materials with alkali activators such as fly ash, blast furnace slag, and so on. Integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) slag has been used for fabricating geopolymers. In general, IGCC slag geopolymers are fabricated with finely ground and sieved (<128 mesh) IGCC slag. The grinding process of as-received IGCC slag is one of the main costs in geopolymer production. Therefore, the idea of using as-received IGCC slag (before grinding the IGCC slag) as aggregates in the geopolymer matrix was introduced to reduce production cost as well as to enhance compressive strength. As-received IGCC slag (0, 10, 20, 30, 40 wt%) was added in the geopolymer mixing process and the mixtures were compared. The compressive strength of geopolymers with an addition of 10 wt% as-received IGCC slag increased by 19.84% compared to that with no additional as-received IGCC slag and reached up to 41.20 MPa. The enhancement of compressive strength is caused by as-received IGCC slag acting as aggregates in the geopolymer matrix like aggregates in concrete. The density of geopolymers slightly increased to $2.1-2.2g/cm^3$ with increasing slag addition. Therefore, it is concluded that a small addition of as-received IGCC slag into the geopolymer can increase compressive strength and decrease the total cost of the product. Moreover, the direct use of as-received IGCC slag may contribute to environment protection by reducing process time and $CO_2$ emission.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.533-540
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• 2022

We evaluated a worm-based extruded pellet diet with black soldier fly Hermetia illucens larvae (BSF) meal and BSF oil for olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus through field feeding experiments at a commercial aquafarm. We prepared two experimental diets by replacing fish meal and fish oil with BSF meal and BSF oil (BEP-1, BSF meal 7%, BSF oil 1%) and (BEP-2, BSF oil 2%), respectively. We prepared raw-fish based moist pellets (MP) for comparison between the two experimental diets. We distributed the olive flounder (220±6.29 g) in square (10 m×10 m×1 m) concrete, 100 ton tanks at a density of 1,600 fish per tank (n=3) in triplicate for each dietary treatment. We fed the diets to the fish to apparent satiation for 7 months. At the end of the feeding trial, we found no substantial differences between the groups in terms of growth performance, survival, or feed utilization. None of the diet groups showed any changes in either hematological or non-specific immune responses. The histological observation of the intestine showed that the goblet cell number and cholecystokinin-producing cell activity increased in the fish fed the BEP diet compared with the those of the fish fed the MP diet. These results indicated that dietary BSF meal and oil can be used for olive flounder without compromising growth or, hematological and histological parameters.

• Land and Housing Review
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.137-145
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• 2023

In this study, the characteristics such as flowability, bleeding rate, and strength of the CLSM (Controlled Low Strength Material) according to physical properties such as particle size distribution and particulate content of the pond ash were investigated as part of the practical development of technology for CLSM using pond ash. As a result of analyzing the properties of the collected pond ash, it was found that the density and particle size distribution characteristics were different. And that the bleeding ratio did not satisfy the standard in the case of the specimen with a large amount of fly ash and a lot of addition of mixing water. As a result of the compressive strength test, the strength development of 0.5 MPa or more for four hours was found to be satisfactory for the specimens using hemihydrate gypsum with a unit binder amount of 200 or more, and the remaining gypsum showed poor strength development. Although it was determined that landfill coal ash can be used as a CLSM material, it is necessary to identify and apply the physical and chemical characteristics of coal ash buried in the ash treatment plant of each power generation company.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.135-145
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• 2016

MgO recently has been regarded as the alternative material for replacement of cement. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of accelerated carbonation on the strength development of MgO-based binder which is binary mixtures of magnesium oxide (MgO) with portland cement (PC) or ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) or fly ash (FA). The compressive strengths of all binders were higher in the 20% $CO_2$ condition and for longer curing time. The strength were generally higher as the following order: MgO/PC > MgO/GGBS > MgO/FA system. The binder composed of 20% MgO and 80% PC showed highest compressive strength (38.0MPa) which was higher than PC. The correlation analysis of the porosity and compressive strength showed that compressive strength was higher when porosity was lower. The hydration and carbonation products of MgO including brucite ($Ca(OH)_2$), magnesite ($MgCO_3$) and nesquehonite ($MgCO_3{\cdot}3H_2O$) presumably filled the pores and contributed to strength development. Thermogravimetric analyses elucidated that 0.34 kg of $CO_2$ could be stored the 50% MgO/50% PC binder which performed the maximum $CO_2$ uptake at 20% $CO_2$ condition.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.25-30
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• 2018

The larvae of Hermetia. illucens have a high probability of coming into contact with microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi. Therefore, the survival of H. illucens is primarily the protection of their own against microbial infection. This effect depends on the development of the innate immune system. Antimicrobial Peptides (AMPs) exhibit antimicrobial activity against other bacterial strains and can provide important data to understand the basis of the innate immunity of H. illucens. In this study, we injected larvae with Enterococcus. faecalis (gram-positive bacteria) and Serratia. marcescens as (gram-negative bacteria) to test the hypothesis that H. illucens is protected from infection by its immune-related gene expression repertoire. To identify the inducible immune-related genes, we performed and cataloged the transcriptomes by RNA-Seq analysis. We compared the transcriptomes of whole larvae and obtained a DNA fragment of 465 bp including the poly (A) tail by RACE as a novel H. illucens immune-related gene against bacteria. A novel target mRNA expression was higher in immunized larvae with E. faecalis and S. marcescens groups than non-immunized group. We expect our study to provide evidence that the global RNA-Seq approach allowed for the identification of a gene of interest which was further analyzed by quantitative RT-PCR, together with genes chosen from the available literature.