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Abstract: A series of undrained cyclic direct simple shear tests, which used a soil container with a membrane reinforced with stack rings to maintain the K 0 condition and integrated bender elements for shear wave velocity measurement, were performed to study the liquefaction characteristics of gap-graded gravelly soils with no fines content. The intergrain state concept was employed to categorize gap-graded sand–gravel mixtures as sand-like, gravel-like, and in-transition soils, which show different liquefaction characteristics. The testing results reveal that a linear relationship exists between the shear wave velocity and the minor fraction content for sand–gravel mixtures at a given skeleton void ratio of the major fraction particles. For gap-graded gravelly sand, the gravel content has a small effect on the liquefaction resistance, and the cyclic resistance ratio (CRR) of gap-graded gravelly sands can be evaluated using current techniques for sands with gravel content corrections. In addition, the results indicate that the current shear wave velocity (V s ) based correlation underestimates the liquefaction resistance for V s values less than 160m/s, and different correlations should be proposed for sand-like and gravel-like gravelly soils. Preliminary modifications to the correlations used in current evaluations of liquefaction resistance have thus been proposed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Gravelly soil is generally recognized to have no liquefaction potential. However, liquefaction cases were reported in central Taiwan in the 1999 Chi-Chi Taiwan earthquake and in the 1988 Armenia earthquake. Thus, further studies on the liquefaction potential of gravelly soil are warranted. Because large particles can impede the penetration of both standard penetration test and cone penetration test, shear wave velocity-based correlations and large hammer penetration tests (LPT) are employed to evaluate the liquefaction resistance of gravelly soils. A liquefied gravelly deposit site during the Chi-Chi earthquake was selected for this research. In situ physical properties of soil deposits were collected from exploratory trenches. Instrumented LPT and shear wave velocity (Vs) measurements were performed to evaluate the liquefaction resistance. In addition, large-scale cyclic triaxial tests on remolded gravelly soil samples (15 cm in diameter, 30 cm in height) were conducted to verify and improve LPT-based and Vs-based correlations. The results show that the LPT and shear wave velocity methods are reasonably suitable for liquefaction assessment of gravelly soils. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose This study aimed to translate and evaluate the psychometric properties of a Chinese version of the (DEBQ-C) among Taiwanese preadolescents. Design and Methods The DEBQ-C was translated into Mandarin Chinese (CDEBQ-C) using established translation and back-translation methods and reviewed by an expert panel for cultural equivalence. A convenience sample of 349 preadolescents was randomly split to conduct exploratory factor analysis (EFA) on the first half and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) on the second. Internal consistency estimates for subscales were evaluated using Cronbach's alpha. Construct validation with academic stress, a theoretically related construct, was also examined. Results The theoretical dimensions of the original DEBQ-C were supported with an EFA that revealed the presence of three factors with 41.23% variance explained, and model fit was confirmed by CFA. Construct validation was supported by positive correlations with academic stress. Each subscale of the CDEBQ-C demonstrated satisfactory internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.72–0.86). Overweight/obese preadolescents scored significantly higher on restrained eating compared to other weight groups. Conclusions The findings suggest that the CDEBQ-C is a psychometrically valid and reliable instrument for assessing overeating tendencies with Taiwanese preadolescents. Replication studies with greater diversity in age, ethnicity, and weight are needed to provide further evidence of construct validity for the CDEBQ-C. Practice Implications Clinicians and researchers can use the CDEBQ-C to assess or expand the knowledge of children's overeating. At-risk preadolescents can be identified at an early stage and effective and individualized intervention programs may be designed and facilitated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Orbital tumors are classified as primary and secondary. For primary entities, there are variable pathologies with benign and malignant natures. Many of the orbital tumors should be excised through neurosurgical approaches. We reported 2 cases of orbital tumors, which were clearly disclosed by magnetic resonance imaging. Case Description: Case 1 was a 70-year-old woman and case 2 was a 57-year-old woman. Both cases were presented with progressive unilateral proptosis. The pathologies were intraorbital cavernous hemangioma and lacrimal mixed adenoma, respectively. With the scalp incision all posterior to the hairline, frontotemporal orbitozygomatic approach with 1 piece of craniotomy bone flap was performed after freeing all the remaining periorbita and other soft tissue attachments. This approach assures maximum exposure for successful en bloc excisions of these tumors with minimal bone loss, so the cosmetic results are satisfactory. Conclusions: Even though most orbital tumors are diagnosed by ophthalmologists, most of them should be operated on by neurosurgeons because neurosurgical approaches offer wide and safe surgical windows. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]