• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.701-721
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• 2016

Base isolation is a well-established passive strategy for seismic response control of buildings. In this paper, an efficient framework is proposed for reliability-based design optimization (RBDO) of isolated buildings subjected to uncertain earthquakes. The framework uses reduced function evaluations method, as an efficient tool for structural reliability analysis, and an efficient optimization algorithm for optimal structural design. The probability of failure is calculated considering excessive base displacement, superstructure inter-storey drifts, member stress ratios and absolute accelerations of floors of the isolated building as failure events. The behavior of rubber bearing isolators is modeled using nonlinear hysteretic model and the variability of future earthquakes is modeled by applying a probabilistic approach. The effects of pulse component of stochastic near-fault ground motions, fixity-factor of semi-rigid beam-to-column connections, values of isolator parameters, earthquake magnitude and epicentral distance on the performance and safety of semi-rigidly connected base-isolated steel framed buildings are studied. Suitable RBDO examples are solved to illustrate the results of investigations.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.133-152
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• 2011

System identification is a fundamental step towards the application of structural health monitoring and damage detection techniques. On this respect, the development of evolved identification strategies is a priority for obtaining reliable and repeatable baseline modal parameters of an undamaged structure to be adopted as references for future structural health assessments. The paper presents the identification of the modal parameters of the Guangzhou New Television Tower, China, using a data-driven stochastic subspace identification (SSI-data) approach complemented with an appropriate automatic mode selection strategy which proved to be successful in previous literature studies. This well-known approach is based on a clustering technique which is adopted to discriminate structural modes from spurious noise ones. The method is applied to the acceleration measurements made available within the task I of the ANCRiSST benchmark problem, which cover 24 hours of continuous monitoring of the structural response under ambient excitation. These records are then subdivided into a convenient number of data sets and the variability of modal parameter estimates with ambient temperature and mean wind velocity are pointed out. Both 10 minutes and 1 hour long records are considered for this purpose. A comparison with finite element model predictions is finally carried out, using the structural matrices provided within the benchmark, in order to check that all the structural modes contained in the considered frequency interval are effectively identified via SSI-data.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.27-39
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to approve the capability of human sensibility evaluation based on physiological responses and real-time subjective assessments. Three well-trained healthy human subjects were participated in the experiments. We measured physiological responses such as Heart Rate Variability(HRV), Galvanic Skin Response(GSR) and skin temperature under rest and visual stimulation conditions, respectively. Off-time subjective assessments were recorded before and after visual stimulations. Real-time subjective assessments were recorded during visual stimulations. The results of physiological responses and off-time and real-time subjective assessments were quantified and compared. The results showed that the correlation between physiological responses and real-time subjective assessments was high (83%) for both the positive and negative visual stimulation. The correlation between the physiological responses and off-time subjective assessments was high (83%) for the negative visual stimulation but was low (15%) for the positive visual stimulation. Although the current observation is preliminary and requires more careful experimental study, it appears that the correlation between real-time subjective assessment and physiological responses is higher than that of the off-time subjective assessment and physiological responses.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.103-113
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• 1984

This work was undertaken to evaluate the integumental response in lower face to hard tissue changes, and to grope the prediction equation for expected integumental profile changes. Cephalometric headplates of 25 persons consisted of 8 Angle's class 1 maxillary protrusive and 17 Angle's class II division 1 patients whose mean age was 15.2 years were traced, diagramatized, and statistically analyzed. The results were as follows; 1. Upper incisor and lips were retracted and convexity of integumental profile decreased concurrently with decrease of hard tissue procumbency, however soft tissue point A', B', and Pog' did not undergo significant changes after orthodontic treatment. 2. Remarkable increment of upper lip thickness and upper lip height was shown and this was related to upper incisor retraction. The ratio between the amount of upper incisor retraction and the increment o f upper lip thickness was approximately 1.16:1. 3. Moderate correlation of upper lip retraction to upper incisor retraction, and of lower lip retraction to lower incisor movement were arranged, and yet comparatively wide variability from subject to subject was shown. 4. It was possible to predict statistically for horizontal alteration of lip position and change of upper lip angulation ground in orthodontic treatment.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 1999.07b
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• pp.991-993
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• 1999

This study proposed a new algorithm to assess autonomic function activity using Time-Frequency Representation(TFR). TFR is a way of describing the time-valiant energy of a signal. A discrete Wigner representation that is capable of filtering out any cross terms occuring in the Wigner-Ville Distribution(WVD) is used for time-variant energy distribution of heart rate variability(HRV) signals. And the marginal condition are evaluated to estimate power spectrum of HRV signals. The proposed algorithm showed that estimated power spectrum of HRV signals well describe the autonomic nerve system function and also showed the dynamics of autonomic nervous system response.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.29-37
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• 1993

The extension of the weighted integral method in the area of stochastic finite element analysis is presented. The use of weighted integral method in numerical analysis was extended to CST(constant strain triangle) element by Deodatis to calculate the response variability of 2D stochastic systems. In this paper, the extension of the weighted integral method for general plane-elements is represented. It has been shown that the same mesh used in the deterministic FE analysis can be used in the stochastic FE analysis. Furthermore, because the CST element is a special case which has constant strain-displacement matrix the mingling of CST elements with the other quadrilateral elements in the analysis may also be possible.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.8
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• pp.3359-3362
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• 2014

Increasing attention is being devoted to the mechanisms by which cells receive signals and then translate these into decisions for growth, death, or migration. Recent findings have presented significant breakthroughs in developing a deeper understanding of the activation or repression of target genes and proteins in response to various stimuli and of how they are assembled during signal transduction in cancer cells. Detailed mechanistic insights have unveiled new maps of linear and integrated signal transduction cascades, but the multifaceted nature of the pathways remains unclear. Although new layers of information are being added regarding mechanisms underlying ovarian cancer and how polymorphisms in VDR gene influence its development, the findings of this research must be sequentially collected and re-interpreted. We divide this multi-component review into different segments: how vitamin D modulates molecular network in ovarian cancer cells, how ovarian cancer is controlled by tumor suppressors and oncogenic miRNAs and finally how vitamin D signaling regulates miRNA expression. Intra/inter-population variability is insufficiently studied and a better understanding of genetics of population will be helpful in getting a step closer to personalized medicine.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2000

Inhibition of cyclooxygenase(COX), and thus prevention of the formation of prostaglandins, provided a unifying explanation of the therapeutic and toxic actions of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Recently, the discovery of the two isoforms of COX was made by molecular biologists studying neoplastic transformation in chick embryo cells. The constitutive enzyme, COX-1, is obviously responsible for the production of prostaglandins involved in housekeeping functions such as maintenance of integrity of the gastric mucosa, renal blood flow and platelet aggregation. The inducible form of COX (COX-2) is responsible for the formation of prostaglandins that pathologically affects inflammation, pain and fever. Clearly, all the experimental and clinical data support the hypothesis that the beneficial effects of NSAIDs are due to inhibition of the COX-2 enzyme, whereas the gastrotoxicity is due to inhibition of COX-1. The cox-2/COX-1 ratios of the NSAIDs in common use have been measured and compared with epidemiological data on their side effects. There is little evidence to suggest that one NSAID is clearly more effective than another, But substantial individual variability is present with respect to the pharmacology and pharmacokinetics of these drugs: therefore it is essential to adjust the dosage and choose specific drug to the patient's response.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
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• v.1997 no.11
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• pp.455-458
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• 1997

We are exposed to the various external stimuli input from the environment, which cause emotional changes based on the characteristics of the stimuli. Unfortunately, there are no quantitative results on relationship between human sensibility and the characteristics of physiological signals. The objective of this study was to quantify EEG signals evoked by visual stimulation based on the assumption that the analysis of the variability on the characteristics of the EEG waveform may provide the significant information regarding changes in psychological states of the subject. Seven university students were participated in this study. The experiment was devised with eleven experimental conditions, which are control and ten different types of visual stimulation based on IAPS (International Affective Picture Systems). Wavelet transformation was employed to analyze the EEG signals. Most positive and negative emotional response were compared in pairs. The results showed that the reconstructed signals at the decomposition level revealed the different energy value on the EEG signals. Also, general patterns of EEG signals in rest state compare with positive and negative stimulus were found. This study could be extended to establish an algorithm which distinguishes psychophysiological states of the subjects exposed to the visual stimulation.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.1079-1087
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• 1995

The quality of human life is directly related to the quality of the environment. To assess environmental quality we must first determine the MCLG(Maximum Contaminant Level Goal), MCL(Maximum Contaminant Level), environmental impact and so on. The MCLG is the concentration at which no known adverse health effects occur. The MCLG is determined by risk assessment identifying which process is hazardous assessing, dose-response, human exposure, and characteristics of risk. With consideration of analytical methods, treatment technology, cost and regulatory impact, the MCL is set as close to the MCLG as possible. In this way, determination of the concentration and national distribution of contaminants is important for assessment of environmental quality The analytical sciences pose potential problems in assessing environmental quality. Continuing improvement in the performance of analytical instruments and operating technique has been lowering the limits of detectability. Contaminant concentration below the detection limit has usually been reported as ND(Not-Detected) and this has often been misunderstood as equivalent to zero. Because of this, more the contaminant concentration in the past was below the detection limit, whereas contaminants can be quantified now even though the contaminant concentration might remain the same or may even have decreased. In addition, environmental sampling has various components due to heterogeneous matrices. These samples are used to overestimate the concentration of the contaminant due to large variability, resulting in excess readings for MCL. In this paper, the significance of the analytical sciences is emphasized in both a conceptual and a technical approach to environmental assessment.