• Computers and Concrete
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.49-60
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• 2019

In recent years, multiple experimental studies have been performed on using fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) bars in reinforced concrete (RC) structural members. FRP bars provide a new type of reinforcement that avoids the corrosion of traditional steel reinforcement. In this study, predicting the shear strength of RC beams with FRP longitudinal bars using artificial neural networks (ANNs) is investigated as a different approach from the current specific codes. An ANN model was developed using the experimental data of 104 FRP-RC specimens from an existing database in the literature. Seven different input parameters affecting the shear strength of FRP bar reinforced RC beams were selected to create the ANN structure. The most convenient ANN algorithm was determined as traingdx. The results from current codes (ACI440.1R-15 and JSCE) and existing literature in predicting the shear strength of FRP-RC beams were investigated using the identical test data. The study shows that the ANN model produces acceptable predictions for the ultimate shear strength of FRP-RC beams (maximum $R^2{\approx}0.97$). Additionally, the ANN model provides more accurate predictions for the shear capacity than the other computed methods in the ACI440.1R-15, JSCE codes and existing literature for considering different performance parameters.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.85 no.3
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• pp.315-335
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• 2023

Limited studies are available on the mathematical estimates of the compressive strength (CS) of glass fiber-embedded polymer (glass-FRP) compressive elements. The present study has endeavored to estimate the CS of glass-FRP normal strength concrete (NSTC) compression elements (glass-FRP-NSTC) employing two various methodologies; mathematical modeling and artificial neural networks (ANNs). The dataset of 288 glass-FRP-NSTC compression elements was constructed from the various testing investigations available in the literature. Diverse equations for CS of glass-FRP-NSTC compression elements suggested in the previous research studies were evaluated employing the constructed dataset to examine their correctness. A new mathematical equation for the CS of glass-FRP-NSTC compression elements was put forwarded employing the procedures of curve-fitting and general regression in MATLAB. The newly suggested ANN equation was calibrated for various hidden layers and neurons to secure the optimized estimates. The suggested equations reported a good correlation among themselves and presented precise estimates compared with the estimates of the equations available in the literature with R²= 0.769, and R² =0.9702 for the mathematical and ANN equations, respectively. The statistical comparison of diverse factors for the estimates of the projected equations also authenticated their high correctness for apprehending the CS of glass-FRP-NSTC compression elements. A broad parametric examination employing the projected ANN equation was also performed to examine the effect of diverse factors of the glass-FRP-NSTC compression elements.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.41-50
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• 2004

A new hydroxypropyl chitosan capable of forming a thermotropic liquid crystalline phase and two kinds of derivatives based on the hydroxypropyl chitosan (6-cholesteryloxycarbonylpentoxypropyl) chitosans (CHPCTs) and acrylic acid esters of CHPCT (CHPCTEs) were synthesized. The crosslinked films with liquid crystalline order were also prepared by photocrosslinking CHPCTE in mesophase. The liquid crystalline properties for all the samples and the swelling behavior of the crosslinked samples in acetone were investigated. In contrast with the hydroxypropyl chitosan, all the uncrosslinked cholesteryl-bearing samples farmed monotropic cholesteric phases with left-handed helicoidal structures and exhibited reflection colors over the full cholesteric range. This is the first report of a thermotropic cholesteric liquid crystalline chitosan derivative with reflection bands in the visible region. Both the optical pitches (λ$\_$m/'S) of CHPCT and CHPCTE decrease with temperature or with cholesteryl content at a given temperature. However, the λ$\_$m/ of CHPCT was larger than that of CHPCTE at the same temperature and at the same cholesteryl content. All the crosslinked samples did not display reflection colors, indicating that the cholesteric structure of CHPCTE significantly changes upon crosslinking. The two-dimentional anisotropic swelling characteristic of liquid crystalline networks was observed for all the crosslinked samples.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.275-279
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• 2015

Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) : poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT : PSS) has attracted a great deal of attention as a transparent conductive material for organic solar cells or organic light-emitting diodes due to its high electrical conductivity, optical transparency, and excellent mechanical flexibility. It is well known that a solvent doping for PEDOT : PSS thin-films significantly increases the conductivity of films. In this paper, the effect of various kinds of solvent doping and post-treatment on the electrical and structural properties of PEDOT : PSS thin-films is investigated. The solvent doping greatly increases the conductivity of PEDOT : PSS thin-films up to 884 S/cm. A further enhancement of the conductivity of PEDOT : PSS thin-films is achieved by the solvent post-treatment which raises the conductivity up to 1131 S/cm. The enhancement is mainly caused by the depletion of insulating PSS and forming conducting PEDOT-rich granular networks. Strong optical absorption peaks at the wavelength of 225 nm of PEDOT : PSS thin-films indicate the depletion of insulating PSS by post-treatment. We believe that the solvent post-treatment is a promising method to achieve highly conductive transparent PEDOT : PSS thin-films for applications in efficient, low-cost and flexible organic devices.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.285-291
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• 2015

Purpose: The hydrogel lenses have been functionalized with HA(Hyaluronic Acid) using two different methods: construction of an IPN(Interpenetrating Polymer Networks) and formation of CCB(Chemical Covalent Bonding). The lysozyme adsorption and physical properties such as optical transmittance and water content of the hydrogel lenses have been investigated in order to determine whether method is suitable for the application potentials in contact lens industry. Methods: HA have been added to the hydrogel lenses prepared in the Lab using the two different method, e.g. IPN and CCB. The optical transmittance was measured in the wavelength range of 300~800 nm. The water content was measured by the gravimetric method using 0.9% NaCl saline solution. The amounts of adsorbed lysozyme on the contact lenses was analyzed by HPLC after incubation for 12h in artificial tears. Results: The water content of the HA added hydrogel contact lenses was increased, and the lens made by IPN method showed higher water content than the lens made by CCB method. The optical transmittance was over 90% both before and after addition of HA. Comparing the lysozyme adsorption reduction ratio, contact lens manufactured by IPN method was 60.0%, and the lens made by CCB method was 40.4%. Conclusions: CCB method is appropriate to distribute the functional material evenly throughout the lens, whereas IPN method is effective for the case of giving the functionality on the lens surface without phase separation.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.523-534
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• 2002

A new hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC) capable of exhibiting reflection colours in the temperature ranges of about 60-$130^{\circ}C$ and acrylic acid esters of HPC (ESs) with degree of esterification (DE) ranging from 1 to 3 were synthesized. The crosslinked ES films with the optical pitch ($\lambda_m$) ranging throughout the visible region were also prepared by exposing thermotropic cholesteric phases of ESs with a DE of more than 2 to UV light at $50^{\circ}C$. The thermal and optical properties for both the uncrosslinked and crosslinked samples and the swelling behavior of the crosslinked films in acetone were investigated. The $\lambda_m$'s of ESs, as well as HPC itself, increased with temperature. However, the $\lambda_m$'s of ESs were larger than of HPC at the same temperature and decreased with increasing DE. The temperature dependence of $\lambda_m$of the crosslinked samples was much weaker than that of ESs. Moreover, in contrast with ESs that exhibit a decrease of the isotropization temperature with increase in the DE, the networks were found to decompose at about $210^{\circ}C$, giving no transition to an isotropic state. The crosslinked samples exhibited an anisotropic swelling, suggesting that the two-dimensional crosslinking preferentially performs between ES molecules.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.71-75
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• 2012

In this study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been prepared by using aqueous $AgNO_3$ solution in the poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogels. PVA powders were dissolved in deionized water, and then irradiated by gamma-ray with a radiation dose of 50 kGy to make hydrogels. PVA hydrogels were dipped into 0.01 and 0.05 M $AgNO_3$ solution for 1 h respectively. After that, the swollen hydrogels were irradiated by gamma-ray at various doses to form AgNPs. UV-vis analysis indicated that the concentration of Ag NPs was enhanced by increasing absorbed dose and the concentration of $AgNO_3$. FE-SEM measurements provided further evidence for the successful formation of Ag NPs in PVA hydrogels. Also, the antibacterial effect of PVA hydrogels stabilized AgNPs against Gram-negative bacteria (S.aureus and E.coli) in liquid as well as on solid growth media has been investigated. The AgNPs consolidated in PVA hydrogel networks have an excellent antibacterial effect.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.9
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• pp.2917-2924
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• 2012

Four novel metal-organic complexes $[Cd_2(IP)_2(TBZ)_2(H_2O)_2]{\cdot}(H_2O)$ (1), $[Zn_4(IP)_4(TBZ)_4]{\cdot}2(H_2O)$ (2), $[Zn_2(BTC)(TBZ)_2(CO_2H)]$ (3), [Co(PDC)(TBZ)] (4) (where IP = isophthalate; TBZ = thiabendazole; BTC = 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate; PDC = pyridine-3,4-dicarboxylate) have been prepared and characterized by IR spectrum, elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. X-ray structure analysis reveals that 1, 2, and 3 are one-dimensional chain polymers, while 4 is a two-dimensional network polymer. The TBZ acts as a typical chelating ligand coordinated to the metal center in all complexes. The 1D chain architecture of 1 is constructed from isophthalates and cadmium atoms. A simultaneous presence of chelating, monodentate and bidentate coordination modes of IP ligands is observed in complex 2. In complex 3, the 16-membered rings are alternately arranged forming an infinite 1D double-chain structure. The 2D skeleton of 4 is formed by cobalt ions as nodes and PDC dianions as spacers, through coordination bonds. The hydrogen bonds and ${\pi}-{\pi}$ stacking play important roles in affecting the final structure where complexes 1 and 3 have 2D supramolecular networks, while complexes 2 and 4 have 3D supramolecular architectures.

• Composites Research
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.282-287
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• 2020

In the present study, a high-strength polyethylene terephthalate (PET) sheet was fabricated through a densification process of low melting PET fiber (LMF) combined PET sheet. During the thermal heat treatment process of the combined LMF, individual PET fiber was connected, which in turn leads to the improvement of the interfacial bonding force between the fibers. Also, the densification of the PET sheet leads to reduce macrospore density and in return could enhance the binding force between the overlapped PET networks. Consequently, the asprepared LMF-PET sheet showed about 410% improved tensile strength and the same elongation compared to before compression. Besides, the enhanced bonding force can prevent the shrinkage of the PET fiber network and exhibited excellent dimensional stability.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.96-100
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• 2017

Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) has been extensively studied as the active material in ammonia gas sensor because of its fast response time, high conductivity and environmental stability. It is well known that a post annealing process for organic devices based on PEDOT:PSS significantly increases the device performance. In this study, we propose the solvent annealing of PEDOT:PSS and investigated its effects. As a results, post solvent annealing on PEDOT:PSS lead to the surface chemical and physical properties change. These changes result in improved conductivity of the PEDOT:PSS. In additional, ammonia sensitivity of solvent annealed PEDOT:PSS become higher than pristine polymer film. The enhancement is mainly caused by the depletion of gas barrier PSS and structural re-forming PEDOT networks. We believe that the post solvent annealing is a promising method to achieve highly sensitivity PEDOT:PSS films for applications in efficient, low-cost and flexible ammonia gas sensor.