Elasto-plastic analysis of reinforced concrete slit shear walls

This paper deals with the elasto-plastic behaviour of reinforced concrete slit shear walls, a new type of earthquake-resistant wall structure. The softened truss model was used to analyse the inelastic behaviour of the connecting beams, which are the key vibration-control devices of the structure. Based on the non-linear load-deflection curves of the connecting beams obtained using the softened truss model, the elasto-plastic behaviour of the slit shear wall structure as a whole was evaluated using a non-linear finite-element method. A parametric study was then carried out to investigate the effects of different connecting-beam designs on the performance of slit shear walls. The results reveal that the depth and reinforcement of the connecting beams directly affect the failure mode and ductility of the slit shear wall structure. It is concluded that, with appropriate design, the conversion of a solid shear wall into a slit shear wall can substantially increase the ductility of the wall structure, but there will be a slight reduction in lateral strength. | This paper deals with the elasto-plastic behaviour of reinforced concrete slit shear walls, a new type of earthquake-resistant wall structure. The softened truss model was used to analyze the inelastic behaviour of the connecting beams, which are the key vibration-control devices of the structure. Based on the non-linear load-deflection curves of the connecting beams obtained using the softened truss model, the elasto-plastic behaviour of the slit shear wall structure as a whole was evaluated using a non-linear finite-element method. A parametric study was then carded out to investigate the effects of different connecting-beam designs on the performance of slit shear walls. The results reveal that the depth and reinforcement of the connecting beams directly affect the failure mode and ductility of the slit shear wall structure. It is concluded that, with appropriate design, the conversion of a solid shear wall into a slit shear wall can substantially increase the ductility of the wall structure, but there will be a slight reduction in lateral strength.published_or_final_versio

Elasto-plastic analysis of reinforced concrete slit shear walls

This paper deals with the elasto-plastic behaviour of reinforced concrete slit shear walls, a new type of earthquake-resistant wall structure. The softened truss model was used to analyse the inelastic behaviour of the connecting beams, which are the key vibration-control devices of the structure. Based on the non-linear load-deflection curves of the connecting beams obtained using the softened truss model, the elasto-plastic behaviour of the slit shear wall structure as a whole was evaluated using a non-linear finite-element method. A parametric study was then carried out to investigate the effects of different connecting-beam designs on the performance of slit shear walls. The results reveal that the depth and reinforcement of the connecting beams directly affect the failure mode and ductility of the slit shear wall structure. It is concluded that, with appropriate design, the conversion of a solid shear wall into a slit shear wall can substantially increase the ductility of the wall structure, but there will be a slight reduction in lateral strength. | This paper deals with the elasto-plastic behaviour of reinforced concrete slit shear walls, a new type of earthquake-resistant wall structure. The softened truss model was used to analyze the inelastic behaviour of the connecting beams, which are the key vibration-control devices of the structure. Based on the non-linear load-deflection curves of the connecting beams obtained using the softened truss model, the elasto-plastic behaviour of the slit shear wall structure as a whole was evaluated using a non-linear finite-element method. A parametric study was then carded out to investigate the effects of different connecting-beam designs on the performance of slit shear walls. The results reveal that the depth and reinforcement of the connecting beams directly affect the failure mode and ductility of the slit shear wall structure. It is concluded that, with appropriate design, the conversion of a solid shear wall into a slit shear wall can substantially increase the ductility of the wall structure, but there will be a slight reduction in lateral strength.published_or_final_versio

Cyclic behaviour of connecting beams in reinforced concrete slit shear walls

The connecting beams in slit shear walls are generally much shorter than those in ordinary coupled shear walls and may therefore behave quite differently. In order to investigate the shear behaviour of such short connecting beams, two series of shear tests, one on monotonic behaviour and the other on cyclic behaviour, were carried out. Altogether, 24 specimens were tested. The results of the monotonic shear tests have been reported in an earlier paper. This Paper presents some additional information on the ductility of the beams as revealed by the monotonic shear tests, and the results of the cyclic shear tests. From the cyclic shear tests, the cracking and failure characteristics, reinforcement stress distribution, stiffness and strength degradations, ductility and damping capacity, etc., of the connecting beams are studied. The results are useful for evaluating the seismic performance of reinforced concrete slit shear walls.published_or_final_versio

A cost-effective digital forensic investigation model

Computers operate at discrete points in time and hence digital traces are discrete events in temporal logic that re°ect the occurrence of computer processes. From the perspective of a digital investigation, it is the duty of digital investigators or forensic examiners to retrieve digital traces so as to prove or to refute the alleged computer acts. Given the resource constraints of most organizations and the limited time-frame available for the examination, it is not always feasible or indeed necessary for forensic examiners to retrieve all the related digital traces and to conduct a thorough digital forensic analysis. It is therefore the aim of this paper to propose a model that can o®er swift and practical digital examination in a cost-effective manner.postprin

Maintaining hard disk integrity with digital legal professional privilege (LPP) data

published_or_final_versio

The association of health literacy with adherence in older 2 adults, and its role in interventions: a systematic meta-review

Background: Low health literacy is a common problem among older adults. It is often suggested to be associated with poor adherence. This suggested association implies a need for effective adherence interventions in low health literate people. However, previous reviews show mixed results on the association between low health literacy and poor adherence. A systematic meta-review of systematic reviews was conducted to study the association between health literacy and adherence in adults above the age of 50. Evidence for the effectiveness of adherence interventions among adults in this older age group with low health literacy was also explored. Methods: Eight electronic databases (MEDLINE, ERIC, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, DARE, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Knowledge) were searched using a variety of keywords regarding health literacy and adherence. Additionally, references of identified articles were checked. Systematic reviews were included if they assessed the association between health literacy and adherence or evaluated the effectiveness of interventions to improve adherence in adults with low health literacy. The AMSTAR tool was used to assess the quality of the included reviews. The selection procedure, data-extraction, and quality assessment were performed by two independent reviewers. Seventeen reviews were selected for inclusion. Results: Reviews varied widely in quality. Both reviews of high and low quality found only weak or mixed associations between health literacy and adherence among older adults. Reviews report on seven studies that assess the effectiveness of adherence interventions among low health literate older adults. The results suggest that some adherence interventions are effective for this group. The interventions described in the reviews focused mainly on education and on lowering the health literacy demands of adherence instructions. No conclusions could be drawn about which type of intervention could be most beneficial for this population. Conclusions: Evidence on the association between health literacy and adherence in older adults is relatively weak. Adherence interventions are potentially effective for the vulnerable population of older adults with low levels of health literacy, but the evidence on this topic is limited. Further research is needed on the association between health literacy and general health behavior, and on the effectiveness of interventions

Factors determining the survival of nasopharyngeal carcinoma with lung metastasis alone: does combined modality treatment benefit?

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) with lung metastasis alone has been reported as a relatively favorable prognostic group, and combined modality treatment might be indicated for selected cases. However, the prognostic factors determining survival of this group and the indication of combined therapy have not been thoroughly studied.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We retrospectively reviewed 246 patients of NPC with lung metastasis(es) alone presented at diagnosis or as the first failure after primary treatment from 1993 to 2008 in an academic tertiary hospital. Univariate and multivariate survival analyses of post-metastasis survival (PMS) and overall survival (OS) were carried out to determine the prognostic factors.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The 3-year, 5-year, and 10-year of PMS and OS for the whole cohort were 34.3%, 17.0%, 8.6% and 67.8%, 45.4%, 18.5%, respectively. The median PMS (45.6 months <it>vs</it>. 23.7 months) and OS (73.7 months <it>vs</it>. 46.2 months) of patients treated with combined therapy was significantly longer than that of those treated with chemotherapy alone (<it>P </it>< 0.001). Age, disease-free interval (DFI) and treatment modality were evaluated as independent prognostic factors of OS, while only age and treatment modality retain their independent significance in PMS analysis. In stratified survival analysis, compared to chemotherapy alone, combined therapy could benefit the patients with DFI > 1 year, but not those with DFI ≤ 1 year.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Age ≤ 45 years, DFI > 1 year, and the combined therapy were good prognostic factors for NPC patients with lung metastasis(es) alone. The combination of local therapy and the basic chemotherapy should be considered for these patients with DFI > 1 year.</p

Epidemiology of Acute Myocarditis/Pericarditis in Hong Kong Adolescents Following Comirnaty Vaccination

BACKGROUND: Age-specific incidence of acute myocarditis/pericarditis in adolescents following Comirnaty vaccination in Asia is lacking. This study aimed to study the clinical characteristics and incidence of acute myocarditis/pericarditis among Hong Kong adolescents following Comirnaty vaccination. METHODS: This is a population cohort study in Hong Kong that monitored adverse events following immunization through a pharmacovigilance system for COVID-19 vaccines. All adolescents aged between 12 and 17 years following Comirnaty vaccination were monitored under the COVID-19 vaccine Adverse Event Response and Evaluation Programme. The clinical characteristics and overall incidence of acute myocarditis/pericarditis in adolescents following Comirnaty vaccination were analysed. RESULTS: Between 14 June 2021 and 4 September 2021, 33 Chinese adolescents who developed acute myocarditis/pericarditis following Comirnaty vaccination were identified. 29 (87.88%) were males and 4 (12.12%) were females, with a median age of 15.25 years. 27 (81.82%) and 6 (18.18%) cases developed acute myocarditis/pericarditis after receiving the second and first dose, respectively. All cases are mild and required only conservative management.The overall incidence of acute myocarditis/pericarditis was 18.52 (95% Confidence Interval [CI], 11.67-29.01) per 100,000 persons vaccinated. The incidence after the first and second doses were 3.37 (95%CI 1.12-9.51) and 21.22 (95%CI 13.78-32.28 per 100,000 persons vaccinated, respectively. Among male adolescents, the incidence after the first and second doses were 5.57 (95% CI 2.38-12.53) and 37.32 (95% CI 26.98-51.25) per 100,000 persons vaccinated. CONCLUSIONS: There is a significant increase in the risk of acute myocarditis/pericarditis following Comirnaty vaccination among Chinese male adolescents, especially after the second dose

A systematic evaluation of payback of publicly funded health and health services research in Hong Kong

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The Health and Health Services Research Fund (HHSRF) is dedicated to support research related to all aspects of health and health services in Hong Kong. We evaluated the fund's outcomes and explored factors associated with the translation of research findings to changes in health policy and provider behaviour.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A locally suitable questionnaire was developed based on the "payback" evaluation framework and was sent to principal investigators of the completed research projects supported by the fund since 1993. Research "payback" in six outcome areas was surveyed, namely knowledge production, use of research in the research system, use of research project findings in health system policy/decision making, application of the research findings through changed behaviour, factors influencing the utilization of research, and health/health service/economic benefits.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Principal investigators of 178 of 205 (87%) completed research projects returned the questionnaire. Investigators reported research publications in 86.5% (mean = 5.4 publications per project), career advancement 34.3%, acquisition of higher qualifications 38.2%, use of results in policy making 35.4%, changed behaviour in light of findings 49.4%, evidence of health service benefit 42.1% and generated subsequent research in 44.9% of the projects. Payback outcomes were positively associated with the amount of funding awarded. Multivariate analysis found participation of investigators in policy committees and liaison with potential users were significantly associated with reported health service benefit (odds ratio [OR]_{participation}= 2.86, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.28–6.40; OR_liaison= 2.03, 95% CI 1.05–3.91), policy and decision-making (OR_{participation}= 10.53, 95% CI 4.13–26.81; OR_liaison= 2.52, 95% CI 1.20–5.28), and change in behavior (OR_{participation}= 3.67, 95% CI 1.53–8.81).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The HHSRF has produced substantial outcomes and compared favourably with similar health research funds in other developed economies. Further studies are needed to better understand the factors and pathways associated with the translation of research findings into practice.</p