Search

Heterotopic ossification is defined as the development of mature bone tissue outside normal bone. Osteomyelitis is an infection-related inflammatory disorder of the bones. Although pressure sores accompanied by heterotopic ossification have been reported, there have been no reports of osteomyelitis occurring in proximity to heterotopic ossification. Herein, we report a rare case of osteomyelitis in heterotopic ossification after trochanteric pressure sore reconstruction. We also emphasize the importance of proper diagnosis and surgical approach for this infected heterotopic ossification lesion.

Textile-reinforced mortar (TRM) is used to strengthen reinforced concrete (RC) structures using a textile and inorganic matrix. TRM is a part of textile-based composites; the basic structural behaviors, application methods, and methodologies for the extension of actual structures in TRM were studied. However, structural behavior and performance verification which depict the long-term service situation and fatigue is limited. Therefore, this study, verified the flexural behavior of TRM-strengthened beams and their fatigue performances using carbon- and alkali-resistant (AR) glass textiles through 200,000 load cycles. TRM-strengthened beams were applied to an optimization strengthening method which consisted of whether the textile was straightened. According to the test results, the strengthening efficiency of TRM-strengthened beams when subjected to cyclic loading was lower than that of the monotonic loading, except for the straightened carbon textile specimen. The average efficiency of the AR-glass textile (straightened and non-straightened) and carbon (non-straightened) was 0.86 compared to the TRM-strengthened beam subjected to monotonic loading in terms of flexural strength. In the case of deflection, the average efficiency of the AR-glass textile type was similar to the monotonic loading test results, while that of the non-straightened carbon textile was improved. The Ca-S specimen that was used to straighten the carbon textile showed a reliable structural performance with a strength efficiency of 0.99 and a deflection efficiency of 0.97 compared to the monotonic load test. Therefore, TRM strengthening using a straightened carbon textile is expected to be sufficient for the fatigue design of TRM-strengthened beams.

Background 20(S)-protopanaxadiol (20(S)-PPD), one of the aglycone derivatives of major ginsenosides, has been shown to have an anticancer activity toward a variety of cancers. This study was initiated with an attempt to evaluate its anti-cancer activity toward human endometrial cancer by cell and xenograft mouse models. Methods Human endometrial cancer (HEC)-1A cells were incubated with different 20(S)-PPD concentrations. 20(S)-PPD cytotoxicity was evaluated using MTT assay. Apoptosis was detected using the annexin V binding assay and cell cycle analysis. Cleaved poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and activated caspase-9 were assessed using western blotting. HEC-1A cell tumor xenografts in athymic mice were generated by inoculating HEC-1A cells into the flank of BALB/c female mice and explored to validate 20(S)-PPD anti-endometrial cancer toxicity. Results 20(S)-PPD inhibited HEC-1A cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner with an IC50 value of 3.5 μM at 24 h. HEC-1A cells morphologically changed after 20(S)-PPD treatment, bearing resemblance to Taxol-treated cells. Annexin V-positive cell percentages were 0%, 10.8%, and 58.1% in HEC-1A cells when treated with 0, 2.5, and 5 μM of 20(S)-PPD, respectively, for 24 h. 20(S)-PPD subcutaneously injected into the HEC-1A cell xenograft-bearing mice three times a week for 17 days manifested tumor growth inhibition by as much as 18% at a dose of 80 mg/kg, which sharply contrasted to controls that showed an approximately 2.4-fold tumor volume increase. These events paralleled caspase-9 activation and PARP cleavage. Conclusion 20(S)-PPD inhibits endometrial cancer cell proliferation by inducing cell death via a caspase-mediated apoptosis pathway. Therefore, the 20(S)-PPD-like ginsenosides are endowed with ample structural information that could be utilized to develop other ginsenoside-based anticancer agents.

In this study, a field bridge test was conducted to find the dynamic properties of cable supported bridges with resilient-friction base isolation systems (R-FBI). Various ambient vibration tests were performed to estimate dynamic properties of a test bridge using trucks in a non-transportation state before opening of the bridge and by ordinary traffic loadings about one year later after opening of the bridge. The dynamic properties found from the results of the tests were compared with an analysis model. From the result of the ambient vibration tests of the cable supported bridge with R-FBI, it was confirmed that the dynamic properties were sensitive to the stiffness of the R-FBI in the bridge, and the seismic analysis model of the test bridge using the effective stiffness of the R-FBI was insufficient for reflecting the dynamic behavior of the bridge. In the case of cable supported bridges, the seismic design must follow the “Korean Highway Bridge Design Code (Limit State Design) for Cable supported bridges.” Therefore, in order to reflect the actual behavior characteristics of the R-FBI installed on cable-supported bridges, an improved seismic design procedure should be proposed.

In a previous paper, ambient vibration tests were conducted on a cable stayed bridge with resilient-friction base isolation systems (R-FBI) to extract the dynamic characteristics of the bridge and compare the results with a seismic analysis model. In this paper, a nonlinear seismic analysis model was established for analysis of the bridge to compare the difference in seismic responses between nonlinear time history analysis and multi-mode spectral analysis methods in the seismic design phase of cable supported bridges. Through these studies, it was confirmed that the seismic design procedures of the “Korean Highway Bridge Design Code (Limit State Design) for Cable Supported Bridges” is not suitable for cable supported bridges installed with R-FBI. Therefore, to reflect the actual dynamic characteristics of the R-FBI installed on cable-supported bridges, an improved seismic design procedure is proposed that applies the seismic analysis method differently depending on the seismic isolation effect of the R-FBI for each seismic performance level.

The loss of skeletal muscle mass and function is a serious consequence of chronic diseases and aging. BST204 is a purified ginseng (the root of Panax ginseng) extract that has been processed using ginsenoside-[Formula: see text]-glucosidase and acid hydrolysis to enrich ginsenosides Rg3 and Rh2 from the crude ginseng. BST204 has a broad range of health benefits, but its effects and mechanism on muscle atrophy are currently unknown. In this study, we have examined the effects and underlying mechanisms of BST204 on myotube formation and myotube atrophy induced by tumor necrosis factor-[Formula: see text] (TNF-[Formula: see text]). BST204 promotes myogenic differentiation and multinucleated myotube formation through Akt activation. BST204 prevents myotube atrophy induced by TNF-[Formula: see text] through the activation of Akt/mTOR signaling and down-regulation of muscle-specific ubiquitin ligases, MuRF1, and Atrogin-1. Furthermore, BST204 treatment in atrophic myotubes suppresses mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and regulates mitochondrial transcription factors such as NRF1 and Tfam, through enhancing the activity and expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-[Formula: see text] coactivator1[Formula: see text] (PGC1[Formula: see text]). Collectively, our findings indicate that BST204 improves myotube formation and PGC1[Formula: see text]-mediated mitochondrial function, suggesting that BST204 is a potential therapeutic or neutraceutical remedy to intervene muscle weakness and atrophy.

Textile-reinforced mortar (TRM) is a strengthening material in which textiles are attached to reinforced concrete (RC) structures using an inorganic matrix. Although many studies on structural behavior, various factors that affect TRM behavior could not be determined clearly. Especially, the uncertainty in bonds due to inorganic materials was not considered. In this study, the flexural behavior of TRM-strengthened beams was determined considering intermediate crack debonding occurred. The TRM beam strengthening limit and TRM coefficients were defined considering the possibility of premature failure and experimental results of four other research on 22 specimens. Therefore, it is expected that a conservative design would be possible when the suggested strengthening limit coefficient is applied.

Park, J.; You, J.; Park, S.-K.; Ryu, S.-C., and Hong, S., 2021. Characterization of application methods for textile-based composite structures in coastal environments. In: Lee, J.L.; Suh, K.-S.; Lee, B.; Shin, S., and Lee, J. (eds.), Crisis and Integrated Management for Coastal and Marine Safety. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 114, pp. 131-135. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. Textiles exhibit many advantages including high strength/weight ratio and high corrosion resistance. Therefore, textiles can substitute steels in textile-reinforced concrete (TRC) and can strengthen existing RC structures, such as textile-reinforced mortar (TRM), in coastal environments. However, there is a difference in the structural performance of TRC and TRM so that it is important to clearly distinguish the behavior of textile-based composites. In this study, the flexural performance, serviceability, ductility, and fabrication process of TRC and TRM were analyzed and compared via two separate application. The results of the experiments were expressed as indexes, which were compared with that of the reference RC specimen. Finally, an efficient method for applying textile-based composite structures in a coastal environment was considered in terms of flexural strength, serviceability, ductility, and fabrication process. The TRM composite exhibited unstable behavior after the yield stage. The TRC composite exhibited stable behavior in all the loading stages and showed higher ductility than that of the TRM composites. The results of this study are expected to aid in the selection of an appropriate application method for conducting intensive durability verification.

Chemotherapy is a major etiology of cachexia. Ginseng products are known to have various anti-cachectic and health-promoting effects, such as inhibiting inflammation and promoting energy production. In particular, BST204, purified ginseng dry extract, contains multiple ginsenosides that can reduce chemotherapy-related fatigue and toxicity. To investigate the effects of BST204 on the alleviation of chemotherapy-induced cachexia using a multimodal approach. In a CT26 mouse syngeneic colon cancer model, cachexia was predominantly induced by chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) than by tumor growth. BST204 at a dose of 100 or 200 mg/kg was administered to 5-FU-treated mice. BST204 significantly mitigated the decrease in tumor-excluded body weight (change in 5-FU group and BST204 groups: − 13% vs. − 6% on day 7; − 30% vs. − 20% on day 11), muscle volume (− 19% vs. − 11%), and fat volume (− 91% vs. − 56%). The anti-cachectic effect of BST204 was histologically demonstrated by an improved balance between muscle regeneration and degeneration and a decrease in muscle cross-sectional area reduction. Chemotherapy-induced cachexia was biochemically and metabolically characterized by activated inflammation, enhanced oxidative stress, increased protein degradation, decreased protein stabilization, reduced glucose-mediated energy production, and deactivated glucose-mediated biosynthesis. These adverse effects were significantly improved by BST204 treatment. Overall, our multimodal study demonstrated that BST204 could effectively alleviate chemotherapy-induced cachexia.

BST204 is a purified ginseng dry extract that has an inhibitory effect on lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory responses, but its effect on muscle atrophy is yet to be investigated. In this study, C2C12 myoblasts were induced to differentiate for three days followed by the treatment of dexamethasone (DEX), a corticosteroid drug, with vehicle or BST204 for one day and subjected to immunoblotting, immunocytochemistry, qRT-PCR and biochemical analysis for mitochondrial function. BST204 alleviates the myotube atrophic effect mediated by DEX via the activation of protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin (Akt/mTOR) signaling. Through this pathway, BST204 suppresses the expression of muscle-specific E3 ubiquitin ligases contributing to the enhanced myotube formation and enlarged myotube diameter in DEX-treated myotubes. In addition, BST204 treatment significantly decreases the mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production in DEX-treated myotubes. Furthermore, BST204 improves mitochondrial function by upregulating the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α (PGC1α) in DEX-induced myotube atrophy. This study provides a mechanistic insight into the effect of BST204 on DEX-induced myotube atrophy, suggesting that BST204 has protective effects against the toxicity of a corticosteroid drug in muscle and promising potential as a nutraceutical remedy for the treatment of muscle weakness and atrophy.

We investigate the thermodynamic properties of FeSe under the in-plane magnetic fields using torque magnetometry, specific heat, magnetocaloric measurements. Below the upper critical field Hc2, we observed the field-induced anomalies at H1 ~ 15 T and H2 ~ 22 T near H//ab and below a characteristic temperature T* ~ 2 K. The transition magnetic fields H1 and H2 exhibit negligible dependence on both temperature and field orientation. This contrasts with the strong temperature and angle dependence of Hc2, suggesting that these anomalies are attributed to the field-induced phase transitions, originating from the inherent spin-density-wave instability of quasiparticles near the superconducting gap minima or possible Flude-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov state in the highly spin-polarized Fermi surfaces. Our observations imply that FeSe, an atypical multiband superconductor with extremely small Fermi energies, represents a unique model system for stabilizing unusual superconducting orders beyond the Pauli limit., 8 pages, 4 figures, submitted

In this study, nine specimens were experimentally tested to analyze the strengthening efficiency of textile-reinforced mortar (TRM) and the difference in flexural behavior between prestressed and non-prestressed TRM-strengthened reinforced concrete beam. The test results show that TRM strengthening improves the flexural strength of TRM-strengthened reinforced concrete beams with alkali-resistant-(AR-) glass textile as well as that with carbon textile. However, in the case of textile prestressing, the strengthening efficiency for flexural strength of the AR-glass textile was higher than that of the carbon textile. The flexural stiffness of AR-glass textiles increased when prestressing was introduced and the use of carbon textiles can be advantageous to reduce the decreasing ratio of flexural stiffness as the load increased. In the failure mode, textile prestressing prevents the damage of textiles effectively owing to the crack and induces the debonding of the TRM.

Sarcopenia, which refers to the muscle loss that accompanies aging, is a complex neuromuscular disorder with a clinically high prevalence and mortality. Despite many efforts to protect against muscle weakness and muscle atrophy, the incidence of sarcopenia and its related permanent disabilities continue to increase. In this study, we found that treatment with human placental hydrolysate (hPH) significantly increased the viability (approximately 15%) of H2 O2 -stimulated C2C12 cells. Additionally, while H2 O2 -stimulated cells showed irregular morphology, hPH treatment restored their morphology to that of cells cultured under normal conditions. We further showed that hPH treatment effectively inhibited H2 O2 -induced cell death. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and Mstn expression induced by oxidative stress are closely associated with muscular dysfunction followed by atrophy. Exposure of C2C12 cells to H2 O2 induced abundant production of intracellular ROS, mitochondrial superoxide, and mitochondrial dysfunction as well as myostatin expression via nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling; these effects were attenuated by hPH. Additionally, hPH decreased mitochondria fission-related gene expression (Drp1 and BNIP3) and increased mitochondria biogenesis via the Sirt1/AMPK/PGC-1α pathway and autophagy regulation. In vivo studies revealed that hPH-mediated prevention of atrophy was achieved predominantly through regulation of myostatin and PGC-1α expression and autophagy. Taken together, our findings indicate that hPH is potentially protective against muscle atrophy and oxidative cell death.

Background: The biological and pharmacological effects of BST204, a fermented ginseng extract, have been reported in various disease conditions. However, its molecular action in metabolic disease remains poorly understood. In this study, we identified the antiadipogenic activity of BST204 resulting from its inhibition of the S6 kinase 1 (S6K1) signaling pathway. Methods: The inhibitory effects of BST204 on S6K1 signaling were investigated by immunoblot, nuclear fractionation, immunoprecipitation analyses. The antiadipogenic effect of BST204 was evaluated by measuring mRNA levels of adipogenic genes and by chromatin immunoprecipitation and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis. Results: Treatment with BST204 inhibited activation and nuclear translocation of S6K1, further decreasing the interaction between S6K1 and histone H2B in 10T1/2 mesenchymal stem cells. Subsequently, phosphorylation of H2B at serine 36 (H2BS36p) by S6K1 was reduced by BST204, inducing an increase in the mRNA expression of Wnt6, Wnt10a, and Wnt10b, which disturbed adipogenic differentiation and promoted myogenic and early osteogenic gene expression. Consistently, BST204 treatment during adipogenic commitment suppressed the expression of adipogenic marker genes and lipid drop formation. Conclusion: Our results indicate that BST204 blocks adipogenesis of mesenchymal stem cells through the inhibition of S6K1-mediated histone phosphorylation. This study suggests the potential therapeutic strategy using BST204 to combat obesity and musculoskeletal diseases. Keywords: Adipogenesis, BST204, H2BS36 phosphorylation, S6K1, Wnt genes

Park, J.; Park, S.-K.; Choi, J., and Hong S., 2017. New priority ranking algorithm for the deteriorated coastal bridges considering network level. In: Lee, J.L.; Griffiths, T.; Lotan, A.; Suh, K.-S., and Lee, J. (eds.), The 2nd International Water Safety Symposium. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 79, pp. 129–133. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. Bridges are currently constructed and designed considering the structural safety required by the design code. However, coastal bridges are continuously deteriorated by many causes such as concrete spalling and exfoliation due to aging, faulty construction, and other deterioration factors. In this study, a prior ranking algorithm is investigated for performing maintenance management of coastal bridges and composed of more reasonable algorithm with studied on previous precedence priority ranking algorithm to realize bridge maintenance. With regard to a rating index of a total of 100 points, appearance defect index and load capacity de...

Lee, J.; Park, S.-K., and Hong, S., 2017. Numerical simulations of local scour at Samsan Bridge piers in Korea. In: Lee, J.L.; Griffiths, T.; Lotan, A.; Suh, K.-S., and Lee, J. (eds.), The 2nd International Water Safety Symposium. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 79, pp. 154–158. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. The Samsan Bridge connects Ganghwa Island and Incheon in the mid-western region of South Korea. The country is making an effort to improve access to the island from its major cities, and the construction of the bridge is part of that process. External factors such as wind waves, tide currents, currents, and scour depths around piers should be considered in the construction of a bridge. In order to obtain scour depth values around bridge piers, this study conducted numerical simulations on morphological changes using the SADEM (SAnd Deposit and Erosion Model). The morphological changes were calculated by solving the conservation of sediment transport equation. A field...

In this study, the proposed parameter updating reanalysis method was directly used on the measured data of the structures. Structural reanalysis generates a correlated analytical model that defines the structure on applying the initially assumed baseline analytical model and is presented through the structure’s FRF (frequency response function). Two numerical tests were previously conducted in order to demonstrate the effectiveness of the suggested reanalysis method. The suggested method generates the correlated analytical model with higher precision, as compared to the existing method, despite the application of the noise factor to the observed data. The method initially proven by the numerical experiment of an actual structure was applied to a pseudo-dynamic test on the full-scale concrete pier. The results indicate that the proposed reanalysis is useful even for application to response data of the actual structure.

The modular structure has a discontinuity owing to the joint between the modules, thus, structural behavior verification is required. In this study, the tensile behavior of a steel reinforcement at the discontinuity interface was evaluated in the joint of a modular flexural member. The modular specimen was fabricated with a 400 mm joint, and an integral specimen was fabricated with the same specifications as the modular specimen, without a joint. The largest crack width of the integral specimen was measured at the center of the beam, and that of the modular specimen was measured at the discontinuity interface. The maximum crack width of the modular specimen was greater than that of the integral specimen. The strain of the steel reinforcement was estimated using the measured crack width and six formulas for evaluating the crack width. The estimated strain of the modular specimen was higher than that of the integral specimen, and the deformation of the steel reinforcement at the discontinuity interface was accelerated with the increasing load. Therefore, the tensile load was concentrated at the discontinuity interface in the modular specimen, and the steel reinforcement at the discontinuity interface was likely to yield earlier than the integral specimen.

In this study, to compare strengthening efficiency and flexural behaviors of textile- reinforced mortar (TRM) according to various types of strengthening methods without the textile being impregnated, ten specimens were tested. The results showed that TRM was beneficial for uniform distribution of cracks and increased the strengthening efficiency and load-bearing capacity, as textile reinforcement ratio and textile lamination increased and the mesh size of the textile decreased and mechanical end anchorage applied. However, the strengthening effect was shown obviously until the yield load considering structural safety and serviceability.

The gastroprotective effects of BST-104 (a water extract of Lonicera japonica) and the mechanisms involved were investigated in murine models of gastritis and peptic ulcer. The gastroprotective effects of BST-104 and its active components were evaluated in rat models of HCl/ethanol-induced gastritis and acetic acid-induced gastric ulcer. After orally administering BST-104, chlorogenic acid, rebamipide (positive control), or vehicle to each animal model, gastric lesion sizes, gastric mucus statuses, proinflammatory cytokine levels, and oxidative stress were measured. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and oxidized/reduced glutathione (GSH) ratios in gastric mucosal tissues were measured to evaluate oxidative stress. To clarify the action mechanism of BST-104, we investigated nuclear factor (NF)-κB pathway involvement by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In the acetic acid-induced ulcer model, oral administration of BST-104 at 50, 100, or 200 mg/kg significantly reduced gastric lesions by 38%, 43%, and 55%, respectively, compared with vehicle controls. BST-104 significantly increased gastric mucus contents and this was accompanied by higher levels of hexosamine, sialic acid, and prostaglandin E

Natural stones have been typically used as a paving material in historically conserved areas due to architectural aesthetic aspect and environmental impact. However, they have been traditionally suggested in light traffic volume due to the defects caused by the increased traffic loading and volume. The failures can lead to diverse problems such as losing flatness, severe damage to both vehicles and pedestrians, high traffic congestion, maintenance cost, etc. In order to overcome these obstacles, ultra-rapid-hardening (URH) cement for rigid small element pavement (SEP) was implemented as both jointing and laying course materials. Additionally, their mechanical properties were investigated according to BS 7533-4 and National Stone Surface (NSS) in the UK. Preliminarily, the proper mix mortar design was found by comparing design parameters. The compressive and flexural strength of the joint and laying course by age was verified, and the results in early-age stage were satisfied with the requirements. The adhesive and shear strengths depending upon the width of the joint were determined, and from the test outcomes, the optimal thickness of the joint was found as 15 mm. Furthermore, by contrasting the compressive strength of the laying course with the punching shear strength, the shear strength regarding joint states was increased by up to 134.3% (fully restrained), 127.9% (semirestrained), and 107.2% (non restrained). This investigation would be possible to use as baseline data for an evaluation of the long-term performance of rigid SEP.

A study was conducted to determine the optimal mix design for polysulfide polymer concrete (PPC). Two-stage binder tests and polymer concrete mixing tests were carried out for this purpose. The optimal mixing ratio was determined from the test results. In addition, the strength and freeze–thaw resistance of specimens produced using the optimal mixing ratio were evaluated. The results of the strength tests showed that the specimens satisfied the strength requirements of the relevant design codes. Repeated freezing and thawing significantly decreased the mechanical strength of the specimens but had an insignificant effect on the specimens’ relative dynamic modulus of elasticity (RDME). It was found that more than 300 freeze–thaw cycles could cause a problem for PPC in terms of its strength.

The effects of various prestressing levels on the flexural behavior of concrete beams strengthened with prestressed near-surface-mounted (NSM) carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) bars were investigated in this study. Four-point flexural tests up to failure were performed using a total of six strengthened prestressed and nonprestressed concrete beams. The nonprestressed strengthened beam failed by premature debonding at the interface of concrete and the epoxy adhesive, but the prestressed one failed owing due to rupture of the CFRP bar. As the prestressing level of the CFRP bar increased, the cracking and yield loads of the prestressed beams increased, but its effect on their deflections was insignificant. The ultimate load was constant regardless of prestressing level, but the ultimate deflection was almost inversely proportional to the level.

In today's SoC design, the number of registers has been increased along with complexity of hardware blocks. Register validation is a time-consuming and error-pron task. Therefore, we need an efficient way to perform verification with less effort in shorter time. In this work, we suggest register test automation flow based UVM (Universal Verification Methodology). UVM provides a standard methodology, called a register model, to facilitate stimulus generation and functional checking of registers. However, it is not easy for designers to create register models for their functional blocks or integrate models in test-bench environment because it requires knowledge of SystemVerilog and UVM libraries. For the creation of register models, many commercial tools support a register model generation from register specification described in IP-XACT, but it is time-consuming to describe register specification in IP-XACT format. For easy creation of register model, we propose spreadsheet-based register template which is translated to IP-XACT description, from which register models can be easily generated using commercial tools. On the other hand, we also automate all the steps involved integrating test-bench and generating test-cases, so that designers may use register model without detailed knowledge of UVM or SystemVerilog. This automation flow involves generating and connecting test-bench components (e.g., driver, checker, bus adaptor, etc.) and writing test sequence for each type of register test-case. With the proposed flow, designers can save considerable amount of time to verify functionality of registers.

Cyclic loading tests were performed to investigate the energy dissipation capacities of reinforced concrete (RC) beams strengthened with carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) strips. Four RC beams were manufactured and three-point loaded. Responses of the strengthened beams to the cyclic loadings were measured, including deflections at the center of their span and strains of the CFRP strips and reinforcing steel rebars. Based on test results, the energy dissipation capacity of the strengthened beams were evaluated in comparison with that of an unstrengthened control beam.

The effects of prestress levels on the flexural behavior of concrete beams strengthened with near-surface-mounted (NSM) fiber-reinforced polymers (FRPs) were experimentally evaluated. Eight beams were tested. Failure of the prestressed strengthened beams occurred because of concrete cover separations at one end of the carbon FRP (CFRP) plates. With increasing prestress levels, the cracking, yield, and ultimate loads of the beams increased. The effect on the deflection corresponding to the cracking and yield loads was not significant; however, the ultimate deflections were affected by prestressing. The recommended prestress level for the concrete beams was ≤50% of the CFRP rupture strength.

The effect of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) plates, to which a peel-ply was fastened to increase their bonding area, on the behavior of strengthened concrete beams was investigated. A total of six concrete beams were tested. For the FRP plates, aramid-fiber-reinforced polymer (AFRP) ones were used. The test variables included their surface treatment (smooth and deformed), the depth of removal of concrete cover (0 and 10 mm), and the number of the plates. Each beam was tested in four-point bending under displacement control up to failure. Based on the experimental results obtained, the effect of the peel-plied AFRP plates on the flexural behavior of the concrete beams was evaluated.

Chrysanthemum zawadskiivar.latilobum(CZ) has been used for beverage or tea and also as folk medicine for the remedy of diverse inflammatory diseases. Nevertheless, the therapeutic effect of CZ on arthritis remains to be unknown. In this paper we aim to investigate the CZ’s antiarthritic effect and mechanism of action both in vitro and in vivo. To assess CZ’s antiarthritic effect, mouse models of type II collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) were used. Mice were used to gauge clinical arthritis index and histopathological changes. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), western blotting, electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), and other biological methods were adopted to measure CZ’s effect on arthritis and to understand the veiled mechanism of action. CZ greatly suppressed CIA, histopathological score, bone erosion, and osteoclast differentiation. Mechanistically, CZ inhibited the production of various inflammatory and arthritic mediators like inflammatory cytokines, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and chemokines. Of note, CZ significantly suppressed the activation of the NF-κB pathway in vivo. CZ exerted an antiarthritic effect in CIA mice by curbing the production of crucial inflammatory and arthritis mediators. This study warrants further investigation of CZ for the use in human rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

In this study, one reinforced concrete specimen and six textile reinforced concrete (TRC) specimens were produced to analyze the flexural behavior of steel-textile-reinforced concrete. The TRC specimen was manufactured using a total of four variables: textile reinforcement amount, textile reinforcement hook, textile mesh type, textile lay out form. Flexural performance increases with textile reinforcement amount, textile reinforcement hook type and textile reinforcement mesh type. The flexural performance was improved when physical hooks were used. Furthermore, textile reinforcement was verified as being effective at controlling the deflection.

Natural stone-paved roads have been generally used to preserve historical regions due to its architectural aesthetic aspect and environmental impact. However, there are limitations of travelling speed and traffic volume owing to the defects caused by the increased traffic loading and volume. To deal with these hindrances, ultra-rapid-hardening cement for both jointing and laying course materials in rigid small element pavement was considered. The objective of the present study was to continuously evaluate and compare the long-term performance of the suggested bound stone pavement throughout the various test criteria such as skid resistance and Falling Weight Deflectometer tests. The skid resistance outcome was met to the requirement and the response of deflection was measured following by related test method. To compare rut depth, the Finite Element Method (FEM) analysis was performed by modelling with material properties and by creating the loading cycle for imitating the Accelerated Pavement Testing (APT). The maximum deflections of asphalt, concrete block, stone A and stone B were calculated to 17.7, 6.1, 6.3, and 3.6 mm, respectively. Compared to the final outcomes of APT and FEM analysis, there was a difference ranging from 2.1 to 2.3 mm in bound stone pavement B and A, respectively.

Chrysanthemum zawadskii var. latilobum (CZ) has been used as a traditional medicine in Asian countries for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Recently, CZ extract was shown to inhibit differentiation of osteoclasts and provide protection against rheumatoid arthritis. The aim of this study was to investigate the molecular mechanisms of BST106, the ethanol extract of CZ, for cartilage protection in monosodium iodoacetate (MIA)-induced osteoarthritis (OA), particularly focusing on apoptosis and autophagy. BST106 (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) was orally administered once daily to MIA-induced OA rats. Swelling, limping, roentgenography, and histomorphological changes were assessed 28 d after MIA injection. Biochemical parameters for matrix metalloproteinase (MMP), apoptosis, and autophagy were also assessed. BST106 ameliorated the severity of swelling and limping after MIA injection. Roentgenographic and histomorphological examinations revealed that BST106 reduced MIA-induced cartilage damage. BST106 decreased MIA-induced increases in MMP-2 and MMP-13 mRNA levels. Increased levels of serum cartilage oligomeric matrix protein and glycosaminoglycan release were attenuated by BST106. Furthermore, BST106 suppressed the protein expression of proapoptotic molecules and increased the protein expression of autophagosome- and autolysosome-related molecules. These findings indicate that BST106 protects against OA-induced cartilage damage by inhibition of the apoptotic pathway and restoration of impaired autophagic flux.

In this study, the deterioration factors that affect the damage on the bridge deck slab wrapped with existing asphalt were estimated and analyzed to identify the final deterioration factors and a damage rate estimation equation was proposed that would predict the extent of damage on the bridge deck slab. Information on a total of 1219 bridges nationwide scale was collected through the GPR system, eight deterioration factors were derived, including number of days of de-icing chemical, de-icing chemical usage, the daily de-icing chemical usage, de-icing chemical usage compared with standard, snowfall, number of snowy days, the altitude, and the number of freeze-thaw days. In addition, through a correlation analysis between the respective deterioration factors and the damage rate of the bridge deck slab, the upper and lower lines were derived. The estimation equation of the damage rate on the bridge deck slab as suggested by this study can be used as a basic data for performing repair and reinforcement at an appropriate time by estimating the damages on the bridge deck slab, accordingly, it is expected to provide priority for repair and reinforcement work, and to carry out effective bridge maintenance as an appropriate amount of budget can be doubled.In this study, the deterioration factors that affect the damage on the bridge deck slab wrapped with existing asphalt were estimated and analyzed to identify the final deterioration factors and a damage rate estimation equation was proposed that would predict the extent of damage on the bridge deck slab. Information on a total of 1219 bridges nationwide scale was collected through the GPR system, eight deterioration factors were derived, including number of days of de-icing chemical, de-icing chemical usage, the daily de-icing chemical usage, de-icing chemical usage compared with standard, snowfall, number of snowy days, the altitude, and the number of freeze-thaw days. In addition, through a correlation analysis between the respective deterioration factors and the damage rate of the bridge deck slab, the upper and lower lines were derived. The estimation equation of the damage rate on the bridge deck slab as suggested by this study can be used as a basic data for performing repair and reinforcement at an...

Recently, the maintenance activity for aging of bridge structures was difficult because of traffic jam, environment pollution and increasing cost. And to solve these problems, modular bridge research has been studied. After static and cyclic loading test was conducted for serviceability and bending performance with one way slab, effective moment of inertia of modular specimen was analyzed to estimate the deflection by KCI(2012). To conduct the test, one integral slab and three modular slabs were made for static loading and one integral and modular slab were made for cyclic. As a result of the test, the modular slab had the similar bending performance of the integral. But the ultimate deflection showed the insufficient which was smaller than 20%. In the cyclic loading test, the modular slab has different behavior of deflection with the integral, so it was evaluated difficult for serviceability. In addition, effective moment of inertia by KCI(2012) was not estimated for modular slab with connection. The new value of m which was ratio between moments is 4.53 based on result of test for predicting deflection of modular.

This study addresses the applicability and effectiveness of prestressed unbonded carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) for strengthening concrete beams. Three- and four-point flexural tests were conducted up to failure for 10 concrete beams. The cracking, yield, and experimental nominal loads of the prestressed strengthened beams increased with the prestress levels. However, the ultimate loads were similar regardless of the prestress level because beam failure was dominated by rupture of the CFRP plates. Based on the results, the recommended appropriate prestress level for securing the ductility of a prestressed strengthened beam is ≤40% of the tensile strength of the CFRP plate. POLYM. COMPOS., 38:2459–2471, 2017. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers

Taxi fleets are suitable for the first stage of deployment of electric vehicles (EV) because EV taxis can provide chances for more people to experience EV. However, the lack of charging facilities and limited operation range are barriers to the adoption of EV taxis. As EV taxis can charge when there is no passenger in the vehicle, the conventional origin-destination (OD)-based flow-interception method for the charging station problem is not appropriate. In this study, we present a new EV taxi charging facility planning model that uses the trajectory-interception method with real taxi trajectory data and electric vehicle operation data. Global positioning system (GPS) data from 1,000 vehicles (taxis) and taxi battery performance data from three EVs are used. We developed an optimization algorithm to find optimal charger distribution considering charger installation cost and waiting delay simultaneously based on the evolution algorithm. The results show that the maintenance cost of the chargers and ...

Prefabricated bridges inevitably contain joints that should be made structurally stable. This paper focuses on the materials and methods used to connect transverse joints for prefabricated concrete bridges. A total of nine specimens were fabricated for which prestressing has been introduced after grouting high-performance mortar (HPM), and another seven specimens for which high-strength concrete (HSC) has been placed after lap splicing. Static flexural and cyclic loading tests were conducted. The HPM series specimens performed better than the integrated specimen. The HSC series specimens showed similar static flexural behavior, but lower serviceability, to that of the integrated specimen.

In this study, a series of flexural tests were performed to evaluate the energy capacity and debonding strain of reinforced concrete beams strengthened with a carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP). Seven reinforced concrete beams were fabricated and loaded up to failure in a three-point bending test. The type of CFRP laminate (plate or sheet), bonded length (1.44 or 2.16 m), and wrapping of the CFRP sheet were selected as the key test variables. The test results showed that beams strengthened with CFRP sheets were more effective than those strengthened with CFRP plates. The CFRP-strengthened beams showed an elastic energy greater than that of the control beam, but the opposite result was obtained for the plastic energy. The average debonding strains of the CFRP plates and sheets were 4309 and 11,649 μ, respectively, which corresponded to 21.5% and 77.1% of their respective ultimate tensile. POLYM. COMPOS., 2015. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers

Multi-shell structured binary transition metal oxide powders with a Ni/Co mole ratio of 1:2 are prepared by a simple spray drying process. Precursor powder particles prepared by spray drying from a spray solution of citric acid and ethylene glycol have completely spherical shape, fine size, and a narrow size distribution. The precursor powders turn into multi-shell powders after a post heat-treatment at temperatures between 250 and 800 °C. The multi-shell structured powders are formed by repeated combustion and contraction processes. The multi-shell powders have mixed crystal structures of Ni 1− x Co 2 O 4− x and NiO phases regardless of the post-treatment temperature. The reversible capacities of the powders post-treated at 250, 400, 600, and 800 °C after 100 cycles are 584, 913, 808, and 481 mA h g −1 , respectively. The low charge transfer resistance and high lithium ion diffusion rate of the multi-shell powders post-treated at 400 °C with optimum grain size result in superior electrochemical properties even at high current densities.

For safe and efficient use of the Perfobond Rib shear connector, it is essential to investigate mechanical behaviors and evaluate performance of shear resistance. When the Perforbond Rib shear connectors are to be used for a structure, they show flexural-shear behavior due to external force rather than direct shear behavior. Therefore, this study performed a direct shear test and proposed the equation for the shear resistance assessment. Also, a flexural shear test was conducted. Through the direct shear test, main factors that affect directly shear resistance were found. The flexural shear stress and the direct shear stress were calculated and it is revealed that the flexural shear stress is approximately 6% stronger than the direct shear stress.

The purpose of this study was to conduct laboratory experiments that considered the effect of vehicle-induced vibrations on fresh concrete to determine the attainable concrete strength for bridge widening. A laboratory experimental program was carried out, where 120 concrete specimens were used in total to measure the compressive and bond strengths. The experiment results showed that vehicle-induced vibration does not need to be considered a serious risk to the concrete strength if the vibration duration is 6 h or less and the peak particle velocity is 0.3 cm/s or less.