Rectification of Sabah Stilt House Using Shear Wall Subjected to Earthquake

A moderate earthquake with 6.0-magnitude hit Sabah in 2015 especially in Ranau, Sabah has been labelled as one of the most powerful earthquakes ever in Malaysia. Numerous buildings in Sabah have become defective with the severity level of damages as absolute (non-repairable) in the RC beam-column joints and soft-storey structures. Seismic design and construction requirements were not considered in most buildings in Sabah. Hence, this research is to investigate how to mitigate the effect of earthquake on the low-rise building using a more practical and economical method. A stilt house model is developed using ABAQUS software to determine the behaviour of the stilt, low-rise building subjected to earthquake by constructing shear wall at the short columns support. There are 4 models constructed namely, frame model without shear wall (W1), with shear wall of 100mm (W2), 300mm (W3) and 500mm (W4). The results of seismic response are evaluated and compared. Different length of shear wall affects the displacement and stress of the frame model. As shear wall length increases, the displacement, stress at columns and stress at walls decreases. Thus, adding a shear wall can be used to retrofit stilt houses and a credible way to mitigate damage due to earthquake load for new houses along hill slope

Rectification of Sabah Stilt House Using Shear Wall Subjected to Earthquake

A moderate earthquake with 6.0-magnitude hit Sabah in 2015 especially in Ranau, Sabah has been labelled as one of the most powerful earthquakes ever in Malaysia. Numerous buildings in Sabah have become defective with the severity level of damages as absolute (non-repairable) in the RC beam-column joints and soft-storey structures. Seismic design and construction requirements were not considered in most buildings in Sabah. Hence, this research is to investigate how to mitigate the effect of earthquake on the low-rise building using a more practical and economical method. A stilt house model is developed using ABAQUS software to determine the behaviour of the stilt, low-rise building subjected to earthquake by constructing shear wall at the short columns support. There are 4 models constructed namely, frame model without shear wall (W1), with shear wall of 100mm (W2), 300mm (W3) and 500mm (W4). The results of seismic response are evaluated and compared. Different length of shear wall affects the displacement and stress of the frame model. As shear wall length increases, the displacement, stress at columns and stress at walls decreases. Thus, adding a shear wall can be used to retrofit stilt houses and a credible way to mitigate damage due to earthquake load for new houses along hill slope

A conceptual framework on the role of road safety management intervention in overcoming road accident

Road accident is a critical problem faced by most countries around the world. Literature showed that human factors contribute the most with 80% of the road accidents in Malaysia. Traffic violation behaviour is one of the human factors leading to the road accident causation. To overcome the drivers' traffic violation behaviour and reduce the accident involvement statistics, the Malaysian government has implemented road safety management intervention of soft enforcement approaches (road safety campaign, education and training) and hard enforcement approaches (penalty, surveillance, fines and tickets). The objective of this paper is to investigate the effectiveness of road safety management intervention through the implementation of soft and hard enforcement approaches in overcoming the road accident involvement. Literatures demonstrated inconsistent findings on the effectiveness of the soft and hard enforcement approaches, which further suggest these variables as the moderators for this study. This study will be conducted on young drivers within the age of 18 to 25 years old who have been involved in road accident within the past 12 months. The research finding will provides the answer for accident involvement among young drivers and further confirms the effectiveness of road safety intervention in Malaysia

Classification of sedimentary and igneous rocks by laser induced breakdown spectroscopy and nanoparticle-enhanced laser induced breakdown spectroscopy combined with principal component analysis and graph theory

In this work, results are presented on the application of standard LIBS and Nanoparticle-Enhanced LIBS (NELIBS) to the classification of rocks (igneous and sedimentary). The classification of the spectra obtained with the two methods was performed using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Graph Theory method. The results obtained confirmed the advantages of the LIBS technique in geological applications, showing that excellent classification of the rocks analyzed (more than 99% of the spectra correctly classified) can be obtained using standard LIBS coupled to Graph Theory analysis, while NELIBS spectra, analyzed with the same technique, provide acceptable results, but with 10% of the spectra not classified. These findings are particularly interesting given the application of the LIBS technique in investigating natural samples having porous and/or rough surfaces

3D Numerical modelling on the thermal performance of reinforced concrete encased wide-flanged steel column

This paper presents the development and verification of a three-dimensional (3D) numerical modelling to predict the thermal performance of reinforced concrete encased wideflanged steel (RCEWFS) column. The numerical model was developed using finite element software, ABAQUS. Then, the verified model was used to determine the suitable value for heat transfer conductance, time step and mesh size that provide the most reliable prediction against the experimental results. The parametric studies were also conducted to study the effect of rising time of fire exposure, section size, and flange width of I-section on the thermal performance of the RCEWFS column. From this study, it can be concluded that the predictions by the 3D numerical model are reliable and accurate. The study on the contour of the model shows that the thermal behaviour of concrete is non-linear

Physical activity level among undergraduate students in Terengganu, Malaysia using pedometer

A cross-sectional study determine physical activity level among 95 undergraduate students at UniSZA using pedometer. Subjects consented and completed socio-demographic details, weight and height were measured. Each subject was supplied with a pedometer and wear it for a week and record steps per day from the pedometer each night before bed. Descriptive statistic and independent T-test coefficient analyze the data using IBM SPSS version 22.0. Results showed that 66.4% of the subjects were classified as sedentary according to pedometer determined physical activity. Males recorded significantly more steps than female per day. Subjects in the age group of 18-20 years old had the highest mean average steps count than the older age group of 21-24 years old and ≥ 25 years old per day. Only 5.2% were classified as active and highly active using pedometer determined physical activity level.Keywords: physical activity; pedometer; steps; body compositio

Effect of long-distance earthquake from Philippines and Sulawesi to Sabah region

Sabah is known for its active earthquake activities, especially in Ranau, Kudat and Lahad Datu areas. The effects of local earthquake can reach M W 6.0. Furthermore, Sabah was also hit by earthquakes from neighbouring countries such as Sulawesi and Philippines. These countries produce highly active earthquakes that can reach as high as M W 8.6. The increase in the frequency of earthquakes is one of the concerns of the Sabah government for the safety of its people because most people live in concentrated areas near the coast. This study shows the effects of major earthquakes from the Philippines and Sulawesi which have been recorded between 1900 to 2020 and analyzed in terms of peak ground acceleration (PGA). The eastern region of Sabah is adopted in the analysis for the effect of long-distance earthquakes, as these areas are close to both countries. The analysis uses standard seismic hazard assessment procedure with compilation magnitudes greater than M W 5.0. In the final analysis, it is shown that the effects of large earthquakes from both countries are relatively small compared to the effects of local earthquakes

Rectification of Sabah stilt house using shear wall subjected to earthquake

A moderate earthquake with 6.0-magnitude hit Sabah in 2015 especially in Ranau, Sabah has been labelled as one of the most powerful earthquakes ever in Malaysia. Numerous buildings in Sabah have become defective with the severity level of damages as absolute (non-repairable) in the RC beam-column joints and softstorey structures. Seismic design and construction requirements were not considered in most buildings in Sabah. Hence, this research is to investigate how to mitigate the effect of earthquake on the low-rise building using a more practical and economical method. A stilt house model is developed using ABAQUS software to determine the behaviour of the stilt, low-rise building subjected to earthquake by constructing shear wall at the short columns support. There are 4 models constructed namely, frame model without shear wall (W1), with shear wall of 100mm (W2), 300mm (W3) and 500mm (W4). The results of seismic response are evaluated and compared. Different length of shear wall affects the displacement and stress of the frame model. As shear wall length increases, the displacement, stress at columns and stress at walls decreases. Thus, adding a shear wall can be used to retrofit stilt houses and a credible way to mitigate damage due to earthquake load for new houses along hill slopes

TRAIL-deficiency accelerates vascular calcification in atherosclerosis via modulation of RANKL

The osteoprotegerin (OPG) and receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) cytokine system, not only controls bone homeostasis, but has been implicated in regulating vascular calcification. TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a second ligand for OPG, and although its effect in vascular calcification in vitro is controversial, its role in vivo is not yet established. This study aimed to investigate the role of TRAIL in vascular calcification in vitro using vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) isolated from TRAIL(-/-) and wild-type mice, as well as in vivo, in advanced atherosclerotic lesions of TRAIL(-/-)ApoE(-/-) mice. The involvement of OPG and RANKL in this process was also examined. TRAIL dose-dependently inhibited calcium-induced calcification of human VSMCs, while TRAIL(-/-) VSMCs demonstrated accelerated calcification induced by multiple concentrations of calcium compared to wild-type cells. Consistent with this, RANKL mRNA was significantly elevated with 24 h calcium treatment, while OPG and TRAIL expression in human VSMCs was inhibited. Brachiocephalic arteries from TRAIL(-/-)ApoE(-/-) and ApoE(-/-) mice fed a high fat diet for 12 w demonstrated increased chondrocyte-like cells in atherosclerotic plaque, as well as increased aortic collagen II mRNA expression in TRAIL(-/-)ApoE(-/-) mice, with significant increases in calcification observed at 20 w. TRAIL(-/-)ApoE(-/-) aortas also had significantly elevated RANKL, BMP-2, IL-1β, and PPAR-γ expression at 12 w. Our data provides the first evidence that TRAIL deficiency results in accelerated cartilaginous metaplasia and calcification in atherosclerosis, and that TRAIL plays an important role in the regulation of RANKL and inflammatory markers mediating bone turn over in the vasculature.Belinda A. Di Bartolo, Siân P. Cartland, Hanis H. Harith, Yuri V. Bobryshev, Michael Schoppet, Mary M. Kavurm

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, vascular inflammation and insulin resistance are exacerbated by TRAIL deletion in mice

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) incorporates steatosis, non-alcoholic steato-hepatitis (NASH) and liver cirrhosis, associating with diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD). TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is protective of CVD. We aimed to determine whether TRAIL protects against insulin resistance, NAFLD and vascular injury. Twelve-week high fat diet (HFD)-fed Trail -/- mice had increased plasma cholesterol, insulin and glucose compared to wildtype. Insulin tolerance was impaired with TRAIL-deletion, with reduced p-Akt, GLUT4 expression and glucose uptake in skeletal muscle. Hepatic triglyceride content, inflammation and fibrosis were increased with TRAIL-deletion, with elevated expression of genes regulating lipogenesis and gluconeogenesis. Moreover, Trail -/- mice exhibited reduced aortic vasorelaxation, impaired insulin signaling, and >20-fold increased mRNA expression for IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. In vitro, palmitate treatment of hepatocytes increased lipid accumulation, inflammation and fibrosis, with TRAIL mRNA significantly reduced. TRAIL administration inhibited palmitate-induced hepatocyte lipid uptake. Finally, patients with NASH had significantly reduced plasma TRAIL compared to control, simple steatosis or obese individuals. These findings suggest that TRAIL protects against insulin resistance, NAFLD and vascular inflammation. Increasing TRAIL levels may be an attractive therapeutic strategy, to reduce features of diabetes, as well as liver and vascular injury, so commonly observed in individuals with NAFLD.Siân P. Cartland, Hanis H. Harith, Scott W. Genner, Lei Dang, Victoria C. Cogger, Melissa Vellozzi, Belinda A. Di Bartolo, Shane R. Thomas, Leon A. Adams, Mary M. Kavurm