Load-Displacement Formulations of Low-rise Unbounded RC Shear Walls with or without Openings

Lou, K. Y.,Cheng, F. Y.,Sheu, M. S.,Zhang, X. Z. Computational Structural Engineering Institute of 2001 Computational structural engineering Vol.1 No.2

Investigations of low-rice unbounded reinforced concrete shear walls with or without openings are performed with comparison of analytical and experimental results. Theoretical analysis is based on nonlinear finite element algorithm, which incorporates concrete failure criterion and nonlinear constitutive relationships. Studios focus on the effects of height-to-length ratio of shear walls, opening ratio, horizontal and vertical reinforcement radios, and diagonal reinforcement. Analytical solutions conform well with experimental results. Equations for cracking, yielding and ultimate loads with corresponding lateral displacements are derived by regression using analytical results and experimental data. Also, failure modes of low-rise unbounded shear walls are theoretically investigated. An explanation of change in failure mode is ascertained by comparing analytical results and ACI code equations. Shear-flexural failure can be obtained with additional flexural reinforcement to increase a wall's capacity. This concept leads to a design method of reducing flexural reinforcement in low-rise bounded solid shear wall's. Avoidance of shear failure as well as less reinforcement congestion leer these walls is expected.

Experimental study on tuned liquid damper performance in reducing the seismic response of structures including soil-structure interaction effect

Lou, Menglin,Zong, Gang,Niu, Weixin,Chen, Genda,Cheng, Franklin Y. Techno-Press 2006 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.24 No.3

In this paper, the performance of a tuned liquid damper (TLD) in suppressing the seismic response of buildings is investigated with shake table testing of a four-story steel frame model that rests on pile foundation. The model tests were performed in three phases with the steel frame structure alone, the soil and pile foundation system, and the soil-foundation-structure system, respectively. The test results from different phases were compared to study the effect of soil-structure interaction on the efficiency of a TLD in reducing the peak response of the structure. The influence of a TLD on the dynamic response of the pile foundation was investigated as well. Three types of earthquake excitations were considered with different frequency characteristics. Test results indicated that TLD can suppress the peak response of the structure up to 20% regardless of the presence of soils. TLD is also effective in reducing the dynamic responses of pile foundation.

Intra-and Inter0specific Effects of the Brown Planthopper and White Backed Planthopper on Their Population Performance

Cheng, Jiaan,Zhao, Weichun,Lou, Yonggen,Zhu, Zhengrong Korean Society of Applied Entomology 2001 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.4 No.1

Intra- and inters-specific effects of Nilaparvata lugnes (St l) and Sogtella furcifera (Horv th)(Homoptera: Delphacidae) on their population performances on Indica Zhe 852, Japonica XiuShui 11 and Hybrid XY 9308 were studied in the laboratory. Intra-specific crowding did not influence the performance of N. lugens except for emergence rate on Z 852, but adversely affected the nymphal development duration of X. furcifera on Xiushui 11 and XY 9308, and emergence rates, adult longevity and fecundity on Xiushui 11. The inter-specific interactions between the nymphs of N. lugens and S. furcifera provided positive effects for both the species, but more benefits to S. furcifera.The nymphal development duration, emergence rate and fecundity of S. furcifera raised in mixed cultures for all the three varieties were often significantly shorter or higher than those raised in pure cultures, but only the emergence rate and fecundity of N. lugens raised in mixed cultures. on Zhe 852 and XY9308 were higher than those raised in pure culture. Both species suffered little delayed negative intra-specific effects and gained dramatic delayed positive inter-specific effects from another species previously fed on the plants. The nymphal development duration, adult emergence rate, female longevity and fecundity of each species were positively affected when reared on the plants sucked by another species before. The change of distribution pattern of S. furcifera reared on the plants fed by BPH before revealed the positive effects from inter-specific.

Effects of Free-range Farming on Carcass and Meat Qualities of Black-feathered Taiwan Native Chicken

Cheng, F.Y.,Huang, C.W.,Wan, T.C.,Liu, Y.T.,Lin, L.C.,Lou Chyr, Chu-Ying Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2008 Animal Bioscience Vol.21 No.8

The effects of free-range farming, compared to a conventional production system, on carcass and meat qualities were studied using black-feathered Taiwan native chickens. Twenty 16-week old females were purchased separately from a free-range farm and a conventional production farm and used for this study. The results showed similarities in the live weight (roughly 2.1 kg), dressing percentage (69%) and meat percentage (19%) of deboned leg quarter. Significant differences (p<0.05) found for the free-range chickens included: a higher percentage of meat for the breast, an increased crude protein content and chewiness value for the breast, but decreased crude fat content and lower hardness and fracturablility values for the leg quarter. Significantly higher L* values were found for the breast and leg meat of conventionally produced chickens, whereas no significant differences were found for WHC and purge loss between the breast and the leg, and between the two production systems as well. Results of sensory evaluation showed a significant preference for leg over breast meat (p<0.05). The scores of all the attributes including aroma, flavor, firmness, tenderness, juiciness and overall acceptability of leg meat from free-range chickens were slightly higher than for conventional chickens, while the reverse was true for breast meat, though no significant difference could be found. Free-range Taiwan native chicken appeared to yield the best of the results, with flavorful yet tender leg meat for higher sensory satisfaction, and high-protein but low-fat breast meat for healthier diet choice.

Prediction of postoperative pancreatic fistula using a nomogram based on the updated definition

Cheng-Xiang Guo,Yi-Nan Shen,Qi Zhang,Xiao-Zhen Zhang,Jun-Li Wang,Shun-Liang Gao,Jian-Ying Lou,Ri-Sheng Que,Tao Ma,Ting-Bo Liang,Xue-Li Bai 대한외과학회 2020 Annals of Surgical Treatment and Research(ASRT) Vol.98 No.2

Purpose: The International Study Group on Pancreatic Fistula’s definition of postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) has recently been updated. This study aimed to identify risk factors for POPF in patients having pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) and to generate a nomogram to predict POPF. Methods: Data on 298 patients who underwent PD from March 2012 to October 2017 was retrospectively reviewed and POPF statuses were redefined. A nomogram was constructed using data from 220 patients and validated using the remaining 78 patients. Independent risk factors for POPF were identified using univariate and multivariate analyses. A predictive nomogram was established based on the independent risk factors and was compared with existing models. Results: Texture of the pancreas, size of the main pancreatic duct, portal vein invasion, and definitive pathology were the identified risk factors. The nomogram had a C-index of 0.793 and was internally validated. The nomogram performed better (C-index of 0.816) than the other most cited models (C-indexes of 0.728 and 0.735) in the validation cohort. In addition, the nomogram can assign patients into low- (less than 10%), intermediate- (10% to 30%), and high-risk (equal or higher than 30%) groups to facilitate personalized management. Conclusion: The nomogram accurately predicted POPF in patients having PD.

Post-earthquake Assessment of Mission-Gothic Undercrossing

Lou, K.Y.,Ger, J.F.,Yang, R.J.,Cheng, F.Y. Computational Structural Engineering Institute of 2001 Computational structural engineering Vol.1 No.1

Collapse behavior of Mission-Gothic Undercrossing under Northridge earthquake is studied by performing nonlinear time-history analysis and three-dimensional nonlinear finite element method for flared columns. Bridge structural model is characterized as three-dimensional with consideration of columns, superstructures, and abutment conditions. Three components of ground motion, corresponding to bridge's longitudinal, transverse, and vertical direction and their combinations are used to investigate bridge collapse. Studies indicate that bridge collapse is dominantly caused by transverse ground motion and the consideration of three-dimensional ground motion leads to a more accurate assessment. Failure mechanism of flared columns is analyzed applying nonlinear finite element method. Reduction of column capacity is observed due to orientation of flare. Further investigation demonstrates that the effects of flare play an important role in predicting of bridge failure mechanism. Suggestions are offered to improve the performance of bridges during severe earthquake.

Effect of Surface Treatment on Properties of Carbon Fiber and Glass Fiber Hybrid Reinforced Composites

Shumei Lou,Guodong Ren,Hui Zhang,Baojia Cheng,Peng Chen 한국섬유공학회 2022 Fibers and polymers Vol.23 No.11

Carbon fiber composites have excellent properties and can be used in automobile, aircraft, rail transit and otherfields of lightweight, but Its price is very expensive. For reducing the cost and improving the comprehensive properties ofmaterials which contain carbon fiber composites and used in the fields mentioned above, carbon fiber (CF) and glass fiber(GF) were mixed to replace pure carbon fiber composites. Three different methods were used to treat the surface of carbonfiber (ultrasonic surface cleaning, liquid phase oxidation of concentrated nitric acid and ultrasonic combined concentratednitric acid oxidation) and different contents of silane coupling agent KH-550 (0 %, 0.2 %, 0.5 %, 1.0 %) were used to treatthe glass fiber, and the laminated plate was prepared by Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding (VARTM). The CF/GFhybrid composite laminates were prepared by combining the best surface treatment method and the best stacking scheme ofcarbon fiber and glass fiber. The tests of mechanical properties and the observation of SEM fracture morphology show that,the surface treatment of CF by ultrasonic combined concentrated nitric acid oxidation is the best; mechanical properties of GFreinforced composite were the best when surface treatment was carried out with 0.5 % silane coupling agent; Compared withthe untreated samples, the mechanical properties of CF/GF hybrid composite laminates after surface treatment wereimproved, the thickness and weight are reduced. Thus, the weight reduction and better performances were achieved.

DLC-1 Expression Levels in Breast Cancer Assessed by qRT-PCR are Negatively Associated with Malignancy

Guan, Cheng-Nong,Zhang, Pei-Wen,Lou, Hai-Qing,Liao, Xiang-Hui,Chen, Bao-Ying Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.4

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the expression of DLC-l in breast carcinoma and any association with tumor metastasis. Methods: 51 surgical specimens of human breast carcinoma, divided into high invasive and low invasive groups according to their clinicopathological features, 30 cases of adjacent normal tissue and 28 benign breast lesions were examined by qRT-PCR for expression of DLC-1. Results: Expression level of DLC-1 in adjacent normal tissue and benign breast lesion specimens was higher than that in breast carcinoma (P<0.0001); the values in the high invasive group with synchronous metastases were also lower than in the low invasive group (P=0.0275). The correlation between DLC-1 expression level and tumor progression and metastasis of breast cancer was negative. Conclusion: As an anti-oncogene, DLC-1 could play an important part in breast carcinoma occurrence, progression, invasiveness and metastasis. Detecting the changes of the expression of DLC-1 in the breast carcinoma may contribute to earlier auxiliary diagnosis of invasiveness, metastasis and recrudescence.

Effects of Extrusion Temperature on the Properties of a 0.5 wt.% GNP/Al Composite in Porthole Die Extrusion

Shumei Lou,Yiming Li,Baojia Cheng,Lingwei Ran,Yue Wang,Leyao Xu,Ben Ma,Chungjian Su,Qingbiao Wang 대한금속·재료학회 2023 METALS AND MATERIALS International Vol.29 No.12

A 0.5 wt% GNP/Al composite was prepared by powder metallurgy and hot pressing. The numerical simulations and experimentsof porthole die extrusion were performed at 440 °C, 460 °C, 480 °C and 500 °C. The effect of extrusion temperatureon the microstructure and mechanical properties of the composites was studied. The results showed that the composite nearthe welding zone underwent dynamic recrystallization due to the large strain to form fine grains, some of which grew tocoarse grains because of the local high temperature. The extrusion temperature influenced the properties of the 0.5 wt%GNP/Al composite along both the extrusion and transverse directions. This influence is combined with synergistic effectson the recrystallization of the grain, fluidity and plasticity of the matrix, determined by the delamination, distribution andstructure of graphene and welding behavior in the welding zone. Therefore, the comprehensive mechanical properties ofthe composite reached the highest values in the extrusion direction and the transverse direction at 460 °C; the TEM imagesshowed that the graphene and aluminum matrix were in contact with each other via a small wavy transition overlapping zoneor that interaction forces caused by welding and shearing allowed the formation of a direct interface with the Al matrix. Thedeformed graphene formed a good interface with the matrix, ensuring outstanding mechanical properties in the welding zone.

Clinical Significance of Axin and β-catenin Protein Expression in Primary Hepatocellular Carcinomas

Guan, Cheng-Nong,Chen, Xin-Ming,Lou, Hai-Qing,Liao, Xiang-Hui,Chen, Bao-Ying,Zhang, Pei-Weng Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.2

The aim of the present research was to investigate clinicopathologic correlations of immunohistochemically-demonstrated axin (axis inhibition) and ${\beta}$-catenin expression in primary hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs), in comparison with paraneoplastic, cirrhotic and normal liver tissues. Variation in Axin expression across groups were significant (P < 0.01), correlating with alpha fetoprotein (AFP), HBsAg, cancer plugs in the portal vein, and clinical stage of HCCs(P < 0.05); however, there were no links with sex, age, and tumour size (P > 0.05). Differences in cell membrane ${\beta}$-catenin expression were also statistically significant (P < 0.01), again correlated with AFP, HBsAg, cancer plugs in the portal vein, and clinical stage in HCCs (P < 0.05) but not with sex, age, and tumour size (P > 0.05). Axin expression levels in tissues with reduced membrane ${\beta}$-catenin were low (P < 0.05), also being low with nuclear ${\beta}$-catenin expression (P < 0.05). Axin and ${\beta}$-catenin may play an important role in the genesis and progression of HCC via the Wnt signal transmission pathway. Simultaneous determination of axin, ${\beta}$-catenin, AFP, and HBsAg may be useful for early diagnosis, and metastatic and clinical staging of HCCs.