Kao Ping Research Articles

Emergency room visits for respiratory diseases associated with ambient fine particulate matter in Taiwan in 2012: A population-based study

This population-based study explored the effects of ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) on hospital emergency room visits (ERVs) for respiratory diseases (RDs) in Taiwan in 2012. Data on hospital ERVs for RDs and ambient PM2.5 levels in 2012 were obtained from the National Health Insurance Research database and the Environmental Protection Administration, respectively. The lag structure of relative risks (RRs) of hospital ERVs for RDs was estimated using the Quasi-Poisson generalized additive model. During the study period, the average daily number of hospital ERVs for RDs, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), acute exacerbation chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD), asthma, and pneumonia were 17, 15, 17, 17, and 17, respectively, and the mean 24-h average PM2.5 concentration was 27.8 μg/m3. Increased hospital ERVs for RDs were significantly associated with PM2.5; moreover, geographic variation in PM2.5 hospital ERVs for RDs was observed. In terms of RRs for each 10 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5, Kao–Ping air quality zone (with districts: Kaohsiung and Pingdong) had the largest RRs associated with PM2.5; the RRs were 1.23 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.05–1.45] for AECOPD (at lag 0–1 days), 1.07 (95% CI = 1.01–1.13) for asthma (at lag 0–1 days), and 1.07 (95% CI = 1.01–1.13) for pneumonia (at lag 0–1 days). On hot season, the RRs were 1.05 (95% CI = 1.01–1.08) for AECOPD (at lag 0–3 days); moreover, on cold season, the RRs were 1.15 (95% CI = 1.03–1.28) for asthma (at lag 0–1 days) and 1.15 (95% CI = 1.03–1.28) for pneumonia (at lag 0–1 days). Overall, PM2.5 exposure had lag effects on hospital ERVs for RDs; elevated RRs started at 2-day (lag 0–1 days), and larger RR estimates were observed at longer lags. In summary, this study revealed an association between PM2.5 and hospital ERVs for RDs in Taiwan.

R.randomwalk v1, a multi-functional conceptual tool for mass movement routing

Abstract. We introduce r.randomwalk, a flexible and multi-functional open-source tool for backward and forward analyses of mass movement propagation. r.randomwalk builds on GRASS GIS (Geographic Resources Analysis Support System – Geographic Information System), the R software for statistical computing and the programming languages Python and C. Using constrained random walks, mass points are routed from defined release pixels of one to many mass movements through a digital elevation model until a defined break criterion is reached. Compared to existing tools, the major innovative features of r.randomwalk are (i) multiple break criteria can be combined to compute an impact indicator score; (ii) the uncertainties of break criteria can be included by performing multiple parallel computations with randomized parameter sets, resulting in an impact indicator index in the range 0–1; (iii) built-in functions for validation and visualization of the results are provided; (iv) observed landslides can be back analysed to derive the density distribution of the observed angles of reach. This distribution can be employed to compute impact probabilities for each pixel. Further, impact indicator scores and probabilities can be combined with release indicator scores or probabilities, and with exposure indicator scores. We demonstrate the key functionalities of r.randomwalk for (i) a single event, the Acheron rock avalanche in New Zealand; (ii) landslides in a 61.5 km2 study area in the Kao Ping Watershed, Taiwan; and (iii) lake outburst floods in a 2106 km2 area in the Gunt Valley, Tajikistan.

Dynamic Characteristics of Steel Stay Cable in Civil Engineering Using Field Testing

The stay cables in civil engineering are one of the most difficult components to maintain for the safety of bridge after it is open for traffic, as the slenderness ratio is large, and they are flexible, low in damping ratio and less resistant to bending. It is possible that the cable snaps under large cyclic flexural stress due to wind-induced motion, regular traffic or even ambient vibration. The loosening seal of stay cables, damaged anchors, and tendon corrosion due to damaged protection sleeve at the root will undermine dramatically the life of cable-stayed bridge and even its safety. In this paper, the field test used to determine dynamic responses for stayed cable of the bridge in civil engineering. The practice formula is used to determine the cable forces of the Kao Ping Hsi cable-stayed bridge (the largest cable-stayed bridge in Taiwan). The results obtained herein indicate that such analysis is valid and rational, and may be used to monitor the safety of cable-stayed bridge.

Investigation on deck-stay interaction of cable-stayed bridges with appropriate initial shapes

This paper provides a variety of viewpoints to illustrate the mechanism of the deck-stay interaction with the appropriate initial shapes of cable-stayed bridges. Based on the smooth and convergent bridge shapes obtained by the initial shape analysis, the one-element cable system (OECS) and multi-element cable system (MECS) models of the Kao Ping Hsi Bridge in Taiwan are developed to verify the applicability of the analytical model and numerical formulation from the field observations in the authors' previous work. For this purpose, the modal analysis of the two finite element models are conducted to calculate the natural frequency and normalized mode shape of the individual modes of the bridge. The modal coupling assessment is also performed to obtain the generalized mass ratios among the structural components for each mode of the bridge. The findings indicate that the coupled modes are attributed to the frequency loci veering and mode localization when the "pure" deck-tower frequency and the "pure" stay cable frequency approach one another, implying that the mode shapes of such coupled modes are simply different from those of the deck-tower system or stay cables alone. The distribution of the generalized mass ratios between the deck-tower system and stay cables are useful indices for quantitatively assessing the degree of coupling for each mode. These results are demonstrated to fully understand the mechanism of the deck-stay interaction with the appropriate initial shapes of cable-stayed bridges.

Aerodynamic Analysis in Time Domain of a Cable-Stayed Bridge

To determine its actual dynamic responses under the wind loads, modal identification from the field tests was carried out for the Kao Ping Hsi cable-stayed bridge in southern Taiwan. The rational finite element model has been established for the bridge. With the refined finite element model, a nonlinear analysis in time domain is employed to determine the buffeting response of the bridge. Through validation of the results against those obtained by the frequency domain approach, it is confirmed that the time domain approach adopted herein is applicable for the buffeting analysis of cable-stayed bridges.

Application of Multi-Monitoring Information for Bridge Safety Evaluation

Due to large flexibility in cable-stayed bridges, vibrations induced by seismic, traffic and wind loads are more significant than those in other types of bridges. These vibrations may cause structural damage, such as fatigue in stay cables, large deflection in main girder, etc. The objective of this paper is to investigate long-term dynamic characteristics of the Kao Ping Hsi cable-stayed bridge subjected to different external force conditions by using a bridge health monitoring system (BHMS). The bridge has been bearing the loads of traffic for more than a decade. To ensure the safety of the Bridge, the Bureau has developed a BHMS for the long-term monitoring of the overall structural safety over the entire operation stage in terms of seismic response, wind resisting response and cable vibration, as well as travel comfort. The BHMS will provide multi-alarm information for the study of bridge safety management and maintenance in relation to seismic activities, wind vibration and traffic.

DYNAMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE KAO PING HSI BRIDGE UNDER SEISMIC LOADING WITH FOCUS ON CABLE SIMULATION

The objective of this study is to thoroughly investigate the dynamic characteristics of the Kao Ping Hsi Bridge located in southern Taiwan. A one-element cable system (OECS) and a multi-element cable system (MECS) are presented for simulating the dynamic properties of the cables of the bridge. By a finite element computation procedure, the initial shape, modal, and seismic analyses are conducted for the bridge using either the OECS or MECS model. A hybrid method combining both the two-loop iteration and the catenary function is proposed to determine the initial shapes using the MECS model. Convergent and smooth initial shapes can be obtained using such a method. The results indicate that the OECS model can yield solution in an efficient way, whereas the MECS model should be used if solutions of greater accuracy are desired.

EXPERIMENTAL MODAL TEST AND TIME-DOMAIN AERODYNAMIC ANALYSIS OF A CABLE-STAYED BRIDGE

To determine its actual dynamic responses under the wind loads, modal identification from the field tests was carried out for the Kao Ping Hsi cable-stayed bridge in southern Taiwan. The dynamic characteristics of the bridge identified by a continuous wavelet transform algorithm are compared with those obtained by the finite element analysis. The finite element model was then modified and refined based on the field test results. The results obtained from the updated finite element model were shown to agree well with the field identified results for the first few modes in the vertical, transverse, and torsional directions. This has the indication that a rational finite element model has been established for the bridge. With the refined finite element model, a nonlinear analysis in time domain is employed to determine the buffeting response of the bridge. Through validation of the results against those obtained by the frequency domain approach, it is confirmed that the time domain approach adopted herein is applicable for the buffeting analysis of cable-stayed bridges.

Geometrically nonlinear analysis of cable‐stayed bridges subject to wind excitations

The effects of geometric nonlinearities on the buffeting response of cable‐stayed bridges are investigated in this paper. To incorporate nonlinear effects into this analysis, an autoregressive (AR) approach is used to generate real‐time wind loads based on target frequency spectra. Beam‐column elements and cable elements are used to model the cable‐stayed bridge. The P‐? effects of decks and towers and the sag effects of inclined cables are considered. The Kao Ping Hsi cable‐stayed bridge is chosen as the numerical example, not only to demonstrate the validity and applicability of this time domain analysis, but also, to investigate nonlinear effects on buffeting response. Comparisons between the traditional frequency domain and the present time domain approaches are made through this analysis. It is found that the results calculated from the time domain approach agree well with those from the frequency domain as the geometric nonlinearities are ignored in the dynamic analysis. Comparisons of the results between nonlinear and linear buffeting analyses indicate that geometric nonlinearities become significant as the approaching wind velocity increases.

Chang Yüeh: First Poet of the High T’ang

Tang Studies 12 (1994) Chang Yueh: First Poet of the High Tang ZU-YANCHEN BINGHAMTON UNIVERSITY The periodization of T'ang poetry has been a recurrent critical topic since the time of Yen Yu !l3J5J (1197-1241) in the late Sung.1 It was Kao Ping ittiW3 (1350-1423) who set in his T'ang-shih p'in-hui ~~t%. (A Classified CollectionofT'ang Poetry) the "standard" demarcations between the four distinct periods: Early T'ang, from the beginning of the dynasty to K'ai-yuan (618-712);High T'ang, K'aiyuan to Ta-li (713-766);Middle T'ang, Ta-li to the end of T'ai-ho (766835 ); and Late T'ang, K'ai-ch'eng to the end of the dynasty (836907 ).2 Kao Ping went on to arrange four hundred forty-six T'ang poets accordingly, providing emperors, women, and monks with their own special categories. Most later literary historians and anthologists have adopted this fourfold periodization with little hesitation. Kao Ping's scheme places Chang Yueh ~~ (667-731)in the Early T'ang and thus he has traditionally been considered an Early T'ang poet.3 But in fact, the year 713, the first year of K'ai-yiian and the 1 Although the origin of the periodization of T'ang poetry can be traced back to the T'ang dynasty itself, Yen Yii's Ts'ang-Iang shih-hua tir~w~15contains the first serious discussion in this regard. 2 Tang-shih p'in-hui, facsimile edition of the Ming wood-block edition (2 vols., Shanghai, 1982),1:18-45.Kao Ping's original sentence delineating the Middle T'ang says "from Ta-li to the end of Yiian-ho" (1:37). Because Kao Ping says the Late T'ang began from K'ai-ch'eng, i.e., 836, the Middle T'ang should rather end with T'ai-ho, 835, not Yiian-ho, 820. 3 According to the Chinese lunar calendar, Chang Yiieh died on the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth month of the eighteenth year of K'ai-yiian, which may be converted to February 9,731 in the Gregorian calendar. Because the eighteenth year of K'ai-yiian corresponds generally with 730, almost all reference and research books date Chang Yiieh's death in 730. This inaccuracy should be corrected, as discussed in Paul W. Kroll's "On the Date of Chang Yiieh's Death," Chinese Literature: Essays, Articles, Reviews 2.2 (1980): 264-65. On Chang Yiieh generally, see also Kroll's entry on him in The Indiana Companion to Traditional Chinese Literature (Bloomington, 1986),223-24,and my "Impregnable Phalanx and 1 Chen: Chang Yueh start of the so-called High T'ang, also began what was to be for Chang Yiieh a period of two decades during which he reached the summit of his political and literary career and also made a great contribution to High T'ang poetry. By exploring him and his milieu, this study proposes a shift in this regard-to consider Chang Yiieh not so much the last poet of the Early T'ang, as the first poet of the High T'ang. The question of Chang Yiieh's chronological classification was first raised by Ch'ien Ch'ien-i ~~~ (1582-1664) in his disparaging comments on the fourfold periodization: For three hundred years, up to the present, people have followed the false and erroneous theory [of the fourfold periodization]. The so-called Early, High, Middle, and Late Tang are based on a discussion of time and of writers. If we discuss the time in terms of the writers, Chang Yiieh and Chang Chiu-ling are generally recognized masters of the Early T'ang. But because Chang Yiieh's poems became sorrowful and graceful after his Yiieh-chou period -he seemingly benefited from the rivers and mountains-Chang Yiieh should be a poet of both the Early T'ang and the High T'ang as well.4 The comments here on Chang Yiieh's poetry style allude to his political career. In 713Chang Yiieh was demoted from the premiership to be prefect of Hsiang-chou itHi'l (modem An-yang in Honan...