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Abstract Headed cast-in specialty inserts are often developed and employed for their improved constructability and time-saving benefits over traditional cast-in and post-installed anchors. Their acceptance criteria (AC 446) were established by The International Code Council Evaluation Service. However, previous research on the behavioral characteristics of headed specialty inserts is rare. This study investigates the performance of a newly developed insert anchor for use as an earthquake-resistant anchor for fire protection systems and suspended lightweight piping. Firstly, three cyclic tension tests of the specialty insert with a threaded rod were conducted in accordance with AC 446. These tests resulted in all experimental subjects achieving the target strength without defects. Subsequently, monotonic tension and shear tests of the insert anchor in cracked concrete were performed five times each to assess the tensile and shear capacities of the new insert anchor. The results were compared with the nominal strength determined by the anchor design equation provided by the ACI 318 for cast-in headed anchors, finding that the latter adequately approximates the concrete breakout strength of the new insert anchor in tension but underestimates the concrete pryout strength in shear. Based on the measured breakout failure surface angles, a projected area of the failure cone of the corresponding anchor with a relatively large head size is proposed.

A variety of social dilemma scenarios are studied within the context of the prisoner’s dilemma, one of the most well-known concepts in modern game theory, and its variants. In the prisoner’s dilemma, studies typically emphasize the priority of maximizing the gain of each individual. In this paper, however, we focus on maximizing the benefit of the larger group, not each individual. It is worth noting that regardless of individual strategies in the prisoner’s dilemma, there is always a certain level of defection. These individual defections can be analyzed in a collective group setting from the perspective of game theory. We look into how much defection is required, if necessary, in order to optimize a group’s advantages, and analytically identify the specific effects of defection for the purpose of maximizing group benefit.

A seven-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of vegetable and fruit juice processing by-product feed additives on juvenile black rockfish (Sebastes schlegelii) growth, feed utilization, non-specific immune responses, and resistance to Vibrio harveyi. Juvenile rockfish (n = 1050) were randomly distributed into 300 L circular tanks (50 fish per tank). Seven experimental diets were prepared in triplicate. The experimental diets were supplemented with 1% garlic, ginger, blueberry, tomato, onion, or yacon juice processing by-product powders, referred to as GLJB, GGJB, BBJB, TTJB, ONJB, and YCJB diets, respectively. No additives were included in the control (Con) diet. Three groups of fish were randomly assigned to each diet and fed to apparent satiation twice daily. After the feeding trial, fish were challenged by V. harveyi infection, and cumulative survival was observed for 10 d. Weight gain, specific growth rate, feed consumption, feed efficiency, and protein efficiency ratio were significantly higher in fish fed the YCJB, GLJB, and GGJB diets than in fish fed the Con diet. Lysozyme activity was significantly higher in fish fed the GLJB, YCJB, and BBJB diets than those fed the Con diet. Superoxide dismutase and catalase activities and glutathione concentration were significantly higher in fish fed the YCJB, GGJB, and GLJB diets than fish fed the Con diet. No differences in the whole-body composition and plasma hematological parameters were observed among fish fed different diets. All the diets supplemented with plant juice processing by-products improved fish survival rate after the V. harveyi challenge compared to that of fish fed the Con diet. In conclusion, dietary inclusion of YCJB, GGJB, and GLJB contributed to improving growth performance, feed utilization, non-specific immune response, and resistance against V. harveyi in rockfish. Thus, yacon, ginger, and garlic juice processing by-products can serve as useful feed additives in formulated diets for aquaculture fish production.

The ability of enriched live food, such as Artemia, to improve the growth performance of Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus) larvae during larviculture has yet to be fully established. Thus, the effects of feeding differentially enriched Artemia to Pacific cod larvae were investigated here, specifically the effects on the survival, growth, fatty acid composition, and air exposure stress response of the larvae. Three different commercial Artemia enrichment emulsion oils were used: commercially available enrichment 1, 2, and 3, referred to as ER1, ER2, and ER3, respectively. Although ER2-treated Artemia contained the most eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and ER3-treated Artemia contained the most docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and highly unsaturated fatty acid (HUFA), the ER1 enrichment improved overall survival, growth, and survival after air stress test to the greatest extent in larval Pacific cod. Furthermore, the levels of DHA and HUFA observed in larvae fed the ER1 diet were higher than the respective concentrations of these nutrients observed in larvae fed the other diets. Thus, under the experimental conditions applied in the present study, ER1 provided Artemia with DHA and EPA ratio of 4.1 for early feeding of Pacific cod larvae.

An 8-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of various dietary levels of garlic juice processing waste (GJPW) on the growth, feed utilization, digestive and antioxidant enzyme activity, growth- and antioxidant-related gene expression, and resistance to Streptococcus iniae infection of juvenile black rockfish (Sebastes schlegelii). A total of 450 juvenile rockfish were randomly distributed into 30 L rectangular tanks (30 fish per tank). Five experimental diets were prepared in triplicate. The fish were fed experimental diets supplemented with GJPW at concentrations of 0 (GJPW0, control), 2.5 (GJPW2.5), 5 (GJPW5), 7.5 (GJPW7.5), and 10 g kg−1 (GJPW10) diet. All of the GJPW-supplemented treatments (2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 g kg−1) significantly enhanced weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), feed efficiency (FE), protein efficiency ratio (PER), and digestive enzyme activity (amylase, trypsin, and lipase). A decreasing trend was seen in plasma aspartate aminotransferase (ALT), alanine aminotransferase (AST), and glucose (GLU) content with increasing dietary levels of GJPW. In contrast, plasma lysozyme and antioxidant enzyme activities were significantly increased with increasing dietary GJPW levels. Furthermore, GJPW administration significantly upregulated the expression of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione S-transferase (GST) in the liver of rockfish. A challenge test with S. iniae showed significantly higher resistance in the GJPW-supplemented treatments than in the control. In short, dietary supplementation GJPW enhanced growth performance and antioxidant response in juvenile black rockfish, with suitable effects in fish fed with 2.5 g kg−1 GJPW for 8 weeks.

Total pion yields and π−/π+ ratios in two Sn+Sn collision systems, 132Sn+124Sn (neutron rich) and 108Sn+112Sn (neutron poor) at E=270A MeV, are significant observables in SAMURAI Pion-Reconstruction and Ion-Tracker (SπRIT) experiments. Based on a recently developed transport model, DaeJeon Boltzmann–Uehling–Uhlenbeck (DJBUU), we investigate the isospin-dependent inmedium effects by including density- and isospin-dependent cross sections for Δ baryon productions. We compare our results with the SπRIT data by considering these effects. We find that the yields as well as the ratios strongly depend on the in-medium effect, especially isospin-dependent in-medium cross sections for Δ resonances.

We study the effects of a bubble configuration in a nucleus on heavy-ion collisions at a few tens and hundreds A MeV. We first investigate the bubble structure of 206Hg using the relativistic continuum Hartree–Bogoliubov theory and then study the 206Hg + 208Pb and 206Hg+206Hg reactions using the DaeJeon–Boltzmann–Uehling–Uhlenbeck (DJBUU) transport model. To see the role of the bubble structure, we consider the maximum density of the produced nuclear matter, directed flow of neutrons and protons, and π−/π+ ratio. We observe that the maximum density is smaller with a bubble nucleus, and the directed flow of nucleons and π−/π+ ratio may depend on the bubble structure.

We evaluated effects of dietary lipid level on growth performance, feed utilization, fatty acid composition, plasma chemistry, and antioxidant responses in juvenile walleye pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus). Two-hundred forty juvenile pollock averaging 4.4 g in weight were randomly distributed between 12 400-L flow-through circular tanks (20 fish per tank). Fish were fed four isonitrogenous experimental diets with crude lipid levels of 8.1%, 12.6%, 16.7%, or 20.8% for 8 weeks. Each diet was assigned to three tanks, and the fish were hand-fed to satiation twice daily. At the end of the trial, weight gain, specific growth rate, feed efficiency, and protein efficiency ratio were increased with increasing dietary lipid up to 16.7%, and then decreased with a further increase in dietary lipid. The hepatosomatic index showed an increasing trend with increasing dietary lipid. The crude lipid content in liver increased with increasing dietary lipid. Saturated fatty acid levels in the muscle and liver decreased, whereas essential fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids in the muscle and monounsaturated fatty acids in the liver increased with increasing dietary lipid. The hematological and antioxidant parameters were not affected by the dietary lipid content. In conclusion, on the basis of a second-order polynomial regression analysis of weight gain, the optimum dietary lipid level for juvenile walleye pollock was estimated to be 15.8%.

Reinforced concrete (RC) columns of old existing buildings are vulnerable to earthquakes because the hoops comprising their transverse reinforcement are widely spaced and anchored using 90° hooks. This study extensively evaluated the seismic behavior of RC columns with such non-seismic details. Experiments were conducted by applying lateral cyclic loads to five full-scale column specimens with various transverse reinforcement details subjected to low axial loads. The experimental results demonstrated that the internal transverse crosstie had a significant confinement effect in the non-seismic detailed columns with 90° hoop anchor hooks. In addition, the lateral load–drift relationships, ductilities, and energy dissipation capabilities of the columns were not significantly affected by the hoop spacing or anchor hook angle when a low axial load was applied up to a drift ratio of 3.5% before failure. The evaluation model based on ASCE/SEI 41-17 was then shown to approximate the initial stiffness, maximum strength, and post-peak strength reduction behavior of the non-seismically reinforced column. This study was based on the experimental behavior of single column members, and it needs to be extended to research on frame structures in which columns are connected to beams and slabs.

Plant-derived feed additives provide cost effective and environmentally friendly alternatives to antibiotics for improving fish performance in aquaculture. An 8-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary ginger residue from juice extraction (GRJE) on juvenile black rockfish (Sebastes schlegelii) growth performance, antioxidant enzyme activities, and resistance to Streptococcus iniae infection. Juvenile rockfish (n = 450; initial weight = 2.2 ± 0.01 g) were randomly distributed into 30 L rectangular tanks (30 fish per tank). Five experimental diets with GRJE concentrations of 0% (control), 0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75%, and 1% were prepared in triplicate. Three groups of fish were randomly assigned to each diet and fed to apparent satiation twice daily. After the feeding trial, fish were challenged with S. iniae, and cumulative survival was observed for six days. Growth parameters, feed efficiency, and the protein efficiency ratio showed a quadratic correlation with the GRJE concentration in the fish diet. Proximate composition and plasma chemistry were not significantly affected. Plasma lysozyme, superoxide dismutase, glutathione, and catalase activities linearly increased with increasing GRJE supplementation levels. Moreover, survival in the S. iniae challenge test was significantly higher in fish fed diets supplemented with 0.75–1% GRJE. Our findings demonstrated that 0.75% GRJE dietary supplementation enhanced the growth performance, antioxidant activity, and disease resistance of juvenile black rockfish with no adverse effects.

A new type of composite voided slab, the TUBEDECK (TD), which utilizes the structural function of profiled steel decks, has recently been proposed. Previous studies have confirmed that the flexural strength of TD slabs can be calculated based on the full composite contribution of the steel deck, but for long-span flexural members, the deflection serviceability requirement is often dominant. Herein, we derived a novel deflection prediction approach using the results of flexural tests on slab specimens, focusing on TD slabs. First, deflection prediction based on modifications of the current code was proposed. Results revealed that TD slabs exhibited smaller long-term deflections and at least 10% longer maximum span lengths than solid slabs, indicating their greater efficiency. Second, a novel rational method was derived for predicting deflections without computing the effective moment of inertia. The ultimate deflections predicted by the proposed method correlated closely with the deflection under maximum bending moments. To calculate immediate deflections, variation functions for the concrete strain at the extreme compression fiber and neutral axis depth were assumed with predictions in good agreement with experiments. The proposed procedure has important implications in highlighting a new perspective on the deflection prediction of reinforced concrete and composite flexural members.

Various seismic analysis methods are being used to predict the response of structures to earthquakes. Although nonlinear dynamic analysis (NDA) is considered an ideal method to represent the most realistic behavior of a structure among these various methods, correct results can be derived only when the analysis model is carefully developed by a knowledgeable person. It is particularly important to properly implement the behavior characteristics depending on the reversed cyclic load in the NDA of a building made of reinforced concrete (RC) moment frames. This study evaluated the hysteresis model suitable for NDA of existing RC moment frames, and 45 analysis models were reviewed, in which the pivot, concrete, and Takeda hysteresis models were applied differently to beams and columns. The pivot model was evaluated as the most reliable hysteresis model for each structural member by comparing and analyzing not only the responses of the entire frame but also the responses of column and beam members focusing on energy dissipation. However, this model can have practical limitations in that the parameters associated with the reinforcement detailing and applied loads need to be defined in detail. The analysis model applying Takeda to the beam, which predicted the average response at a reliable level compared to the reference model, was identified as a practical alternative when it is difficult to apply the pivot model to all frame members.

Conventional slit dampers are widely used for the purpose of seismic retrofitting, however, the structure of these dampers is susceptible to fractures, due to stress concentration at the ends of the strips in the event of large earthquakes. To address this issue, a novel radius-cut coke-shaped strip damper featuring improved ductility is proposed herein. This damper was developed based on the moment distribution over the strip when both its ends were constrained. The height-to-width ratio of the strip was increased to induce bending rather than shear deformation, and the reduced beam section method was employed. A radius-cut section was used to intentionally focus the stress to induce the plastic hinge. This reduced the fracture fragility of the specimen, resulting in an increased inelastic deformation capacity. Cyclic loading tests were conducted to verify damping performance against earthquakes. Experiments and finite element analyses proved that the coke-shaped damper exhibits improved ductility. The final fracture occurred in the radius-cut section after sufficient energy dissipation during cyclic loading. The results also indicated further improvements in strength due to the membrane effect under cyclic loading, caused by the tensile resistance of the strip due to its constrained ends.

PurposesThe potent stem cell homing factor stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) actively recruits mesenchymal stem cells from circulation and from local bone marrow. It is well established that bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) induces ectopic and orthotopic bone formation. However, the exact synergistic effects of BMP-2 and SDF-1 in ectopic and orthotopic bone regeneration models have not been fully investigated. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential effects of simultaneous SDF-1 and BMP-2 treatment on bone formation.Materials and methodsVarious doses of SDF-1 were loaded onto collagen sponges with or without BMP-2.These sponges were implanted into subcutaneous pockets and critical-size calvarial defects in C57BL/6 mice. The specimens were harvested 4 weeks post-surgery and the degree of bone formation in specimens was evaluated by histomorphometric and radiographic density analyses. Osteogenic potential and migration capacity of mesenchymal cells and capillary tube formation of endothelial cells following dual treatment with SDF-1 and BMP-2 were evaluated with in vitro assays.ResultsSDF-1-only-treated implants did not yield significant in vivo bone formation and SDF-1 treatment did not enhance BMP-2-induced ectopic and orthotopic bone regeneration. In vitro experiments showed that concomitant use of BMP-2 and SDF-1 had no additive effect on osteoblastic differentiation, cell migration or angiogenesis compared to BMP-2 or SDF-1 treatment alone.ConclusionsThese findings imply that sequence-controlled application of SDF-1 and BMP-2 must be further investigated for the enhancement of robust osteogenesis in bone defects.

Black hole binary candidates are known to be composed of a black hole with 10Msolar and a K or M type companion. Because the companion is believed to fill the Roche lobe that is very aspherical, the light curves of black hole binaries are characterized by an ellipsoidal variation. It has been known that the ellipsoidal light curves exhibit asymmetric maximum brightness at the orbital phases 0.25 and 0.75, which has been attributed to star spots or the hot impact points of the accretion flow on to the accretion disk around the black hole. In this paper, it is pointed out that the special relativistic beaming effect contributes to the asymmetry of several percent often observed in the light curves. The typical orbital velocity 400 km s-1 observed in black hole binaries may induce the temperature difference Δ T/T~1/400 of the late type companion star in the observer's rest frame, because of the special relativistic Doppler beaming effect. This difference in temperature can result in several per cent of brightness sensitively dependent on the wavelength band, which is comparable to what has been observed in most black hole binary candidates. Considering the significant contribution of the special relativistic Doppler beaming effect, we conclude that the estimation of the sizes and temperatures of the star spots or the hot impact point needs serious revision.

This paper investigates the effectiveness of four different soft computing methods, namely radial basis neural network (RBNN), adaptive neuro fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) with subtractive clustering (ANFIS-SC), ANFIS with fuzzy c-means clustering (ANFIS-FCM) and M5 model tree (M5Tree), for predicting the ultimate strength and strain of concrete cylinders confined with fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) sheets. The models were compared according to the root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute relative error (MARE) and determination coefficient (R2) criteria. Similar accuracy was obtained by RBNN and ANFIS-FCM, and they provided better estimates in modeling ultimate strength of confined concrete. The ANFIS-SC, however, performed slightly better than the RBNN and ANFIS-FCM in estimating ultimate strain of confined concrete, and M5Tree provided the worst strength and strain estimates. Finally, the effects of strain ratio and the confinement stiffness ratio on strength and strain were investigated, and the confinement stiffness ratio was shown to be more effective.