Performance-Based Multiobjective Optimal Seismic Retrofit Method for a Steel Moment-Resisting Frame Considering the Life-Cycle Cost

This study proposes a performance-based multiobjective optimization seismic retrofit method for steel moment-resisting frames. The brittle joints of pre-Northridge steel moment-resisting frames are retrofitted to achieve ductility; the method involves determining the position and number of connections to be retrofitted. The optimal solution is determined by applying the nondominated sorting genetic algorithm-II (NSGA-II), which acts as a multiobjective seismic retrofit optimization technique. As objective functions, the initial cost for the connection retrofit and lifetime seismic damage cost were selected, and a seismic performance level below the 5% interstory drift ratio was employed as a constraint condition. The proposed method was applied to the SAC benchmark three- and nine-story buildings, and several Pareto solutions were obtained. The optimized retrofit solutions indicated that the lifetime seismic damage cost decreased as the initial retrofit cost increased. Although every Pareto solution existed within a seismic performance boundary set by a constraint function, the seismic performance tended to increase with the initial retrofit cost. Analysis and economic assessment of the relations among the initial retrofit cost, lifetime seismic damage cost, total cost, and seismic performance of the derived Pareto solution allow building owners to make seismic retrofit decisions more rationally

Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells Contribute to the Protective Immunity Induced by Intranasal Treatment with Fc-fused Interleukin-7 against Lethal Influenza Virus Infection

Developing a novel vaccine that can be applied against multiple strains of influenza virus is of utmost importance to human health. Previously, we demonstrated that the intranasal introduction of Fc-fused IL-7 (IL-7-mFc), a long-acting cytokine fusion protein, confers long-lasting prophylaxis against multiple strains of influenza A virus (IAV) by inducing the development of lung-resident memory-like T cells, called TRM-like cells. Here, we further investigated the mechanisms of IL-7-mFc-mediated protective immunity to IAVs. First, we found that IL-7-mFc treatment augments the accumulation of pulmonary T cells in 2 ways: recruiting blood circulating T cells into the lung and expanding T cells at the lung parenchyma. Second, the blockade of T cell migration from the lymph nodes (LNs) with FTY720 treatment was not required for mounting the protective immunity to IAV with IL-7-mFc, suggesting a more important role of IL-7 in T cells in the lungs. Third, IL-7-mFc treatment also recruited various innate immune cells into the lungs. Among these cells, plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) play an important role in IL-7-mFc-mediated protective immunity through reducing the immunopathology and increasing IAV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses. In summary, our results show that intranasal treatment with IL-7-mFc modulates pulmonary immune responses to IAV, affecting both innate and adaptive immune cells. ? 2017. The Korean Association of Immunologists.112Ysciescopuskc

A Broadband and High Gain Tapered Slot Antenna for W-Band Imaging Array Applications

A broadband and high gain tapered slot antenna (TSA) by utilizing a broadband microstrip- (MS-) to-coplanar stripline (CPS) balun has been developed for millimeter-wave imaging systems and sensors. This antenna exhibits ultrawideband performance for frequency ranges from 70 to over 110 GHz with the high antenna gain, low sidelobe levels, and narrow beamwidth. The validity of this antenna as imaging arrays is also demonstrated by analyzing mutual couplings and 4-element linear array. This antenna can be applied to mm-wave phased array, imaging array for plasma diagnostics applications

Percutaneous Endoscopic Lumbar Foraminoplasty for Resection of Synovial Cyst

Synovial cyst is an extradural mass that compresses nerve root or thecal sac. Surgical excision with partial hemilaminectomy and medial facetectomy is commonly used for synovial cyst. Remarkable advancements in endoscopic spinal surgery have led to successful outcomes comparable to conventional open surgery. Here we introduce percutaneous endoscopic lumbar foraminoplasty for resecting synovial cyst as a minimal invasive technique. A 59-year-old woman presented with radicular pain at left L5 dermatome. Magnetic resonance images demonstrated a synovial cyst at left L4-5 facet joint and degenerative spondylolisthesis on L4-5. Under endoscopy, synovial cyst was removed by piecemeal method after transforaminal endoscopic foraminoplasty that removed part of superior facet. Her symptoms were relieved and the patient was discharged the next day. Therefore, percutaneous endoscopic lumbar foraminoplasty can be used as a minimally invasive surgical option for synovial cyst. It may provide less traumatization and affect less postoperative instability

High-Accuracy AM-FM Radar with an Active Reflector

An amplitude-modulated and frequency-modulated (AM-FM) radar with an active reflector to produce high-accuracy distance measurements is proposed and demonstrated in this paper. The proposed radar consists of an AM-FM base module and an active reflector. The combination of AM and FM modulations resolves ambiguity of the absolute distance in typical AM radars, while improving range accuracy in typical FM radars with narrow bandwidth. Also, the active reflector, which translates the frequency of the received signal, resolves the problem of phase detection interference due to the direct Tx-to-Rx leakage in AM radars. In this paper, the operating principle, experimental tests, and analysis are presented. The implemented AM-FM radar operates in X-band (Tx: 10.5 GHz, Rx: 8.5 GHz) with the 620 MHz bandwidth. The measured range accuracy of less than ±10 mm at a distance of 70 m is obtained

Breakdown of the interlayer coherence in twisted bilayer graphene

Coherent motion of the electrons in the Bloch states is one of the fundamental concepts of the charge conduction in solid state physics. In layered materials, however, such a condition often breaks down for the interlayer conduction, when the interlayer coupling is significantly reduced by e.g. large interlayer separation. We report that complete suppression of coherent conduction is realized even in an atomic length scale of layer separation in twisted bilayer graphene. The interlayer resistivity of twisted bilayer graphene is much higher than the c-axis resistivity of Bernal-stacked graphite, and exhibits strong dependence on temperature as well as on external electric fields. These results suggest that the graphene layers are significantly decoupled by rotation and incoherent conduction is a main transport channel between the layers of twisted bilayer graphene.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Dual-band feedforward linear power amplifier for digital cellular and IMT-2000 base-station

This article presents the design of a novel dual-band signal cancellation circuit and its application to feedforward linear power amplifier. Intermodulation distortion cancellation loop shows 20.45 dB and 25.04 dB suppression for digital cellular band and IMT-2000 band, respectively, over a correction bandwidth of 100 MHz. From the adjacent channel leakage ratio measurement, 16.5 dB and 18.6 dB improvements are achieved for each band under simultaneous operation

Production of Transgenic Cloned Miniature Pigs with Membrane-bound Human Fas Ligand (FasL) by Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer

Cell-mediated xenograft rejection, including NK cells and CD8+ CTL, is a major obstacle in successful pig-to-human xenotransplantation. Human CD8+ CTL and NK cells display high cytotoxicity for pig cells, mediated at least in part by the Fas/FasL pathway. To prevent cell-mediated xenocytotoxicity, a membrane-bound form of human FasL (mFasL) was generated as an inhibitor for CTL and NK cell cytotoxicity that could not be cleaved by metalloproteinase to produce putative soluble FasL. We produced two healthy transgenic pigs harboring the mFasL gene via somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). In a cytotoxicity assay using transgenic clonal cell lines and transgenic pig ear cells, the rate of CD8+ CTL-mediated cytotoxicity was significantly reduced in transgenic pig's ear cells compared with that in normal minipig fetal fibroblasts. Our data indicate that grafts of transgenic pigs expressing membrane-bound human FasL control the cellular immune response to xenografts, creating a window of opportunity to facilitate xenograft survival