• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.635-650
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• 2000

In this paper, the adaptive nodal generation procedure based on the estimated local and global error in the element-free Galerkin (EFG) method is proposed. To investigate the possibility of h-type adaptivity of EFG method, a simple nodal refinement scheme is used. By adding new node along the background cell that is used in numerical integration, both of the local and global errors can be controlled adaptively. These errors are estimated by calculating the difference between the values of the projected stresses and original EFG stresses. The ultimate goal of this study is to develop the reliable nodal generator based on the local and global errors that is estimated posteriori. To evaluate the performance of proposed adaptive procedure, the convergence behavior is investigated for several examples.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.9
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• pp.3181-3204
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• 2022

The variational nodal method for solving the neutron transport equation has evolved over 40 years. Based on a functional form of the Boltzmann neutron transport equation, the method now comprises a complete set of variants that can be employed for different problems. This paper presents an extensive review of the development of the variational nodal method. The emphasis is on summarizing the whole theoretical system rather than validating the methodologies. The paper covers the variational nodal formulation of the Boltzmann neutron transport equation, the Ritz procedure for various application purposes, the derivation of boundary conditions, the extension for adjoint and perturbation calculations, and treatments for anisotropic scattering sources. Acceleration approaches for constructing response matrices and solving the resulting system of algebraic equations are also presented.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.25 no.9
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• pp.1376-1383
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• 2001

Meshless methods, developed in various ways over the past decade, have been attractive as new computational methods in that they do not need mesh generation in analyzing procedure. But most of these methods were not truly meshless methods because background meshes were required for the spatial integration of a weak form. Accordingly, in this paper, nodal integration for truly meshless methods has been studied, and an improvement scheme is proposed. To improve stabilization and accuracy, which are the weak points in previous nodal integration methods, the integration area is transformed to circle and then numerically integrated. This method does not need any adding term for stabilization in the variational formulation and then simplifies the integration procedure. Numerical test results show that the proposed method is more accurate, stable, and reasonable than the existed nodal integration methods.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.145-154
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• 1988

This paper is a study on an accurate and computationally efficient method for reconstructing pointwise power distributions from coarse-mesh nodal calculations. The modern nodal codes can calculate global reactor power shapes and criticality very efficiently and accurately. But inherent in the nodal procedures, there is inevitable loss of information on local heterogeneous quantities. In this study, an improved form function method which reflects the exponential transition of the thermal flux near the assembly surface is developed for the reconstruction of the heterogeneous fluxes. Use of the new form function method in several pressurized water reactor (PWR) benchmark problems reduces the maximum errors in the reconstructed thermal flux to those in the reconstructed fast flux. Even for assemblies adjacent to the steel baffle in realistic PWR cores, use of this method also results in improved pointwise power reconstruction.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers A
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• v.50 no.9
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• pp.431-439
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• 2001

This Paper illustrates a new numerical analysis method using a nodal effective load model for nodal probabilistic production cost simulation of the load point in a composite power system. The new effective load model includes capacities and uncertainties of generators as well as transmission lines. The CMELDC(composite power system effective load duration curve) based on the new effective load model at HLll(Hierarchical Level H) has been developed also. The CMELDC can be obtained from convolution integral processing of the outage capacity probabilistic distribution function of the fictitious generator and the original load duration curve given at the load point. It is expected that the new model for the CMELDC proposed in this study will provide some solutions to many problems based on nodal and decentralized operation and control of an electric power systems under competition environment in future. The CMELDC based on the new model at HLll will extend the application areas of nodal probabilistic production cost simulation, outage cost assessment and reliability evaluation etc. at load points. The characteristics and effectiveness of this new model are illustrated by a case study of MRBTS(Modified Roy Billinton Test System).

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.2473-2476
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• 2012

Background: In papillary and follicular thyroid cancers (PTC, FTC), nodal and distant metastasis are generally considered important determinants of recurrence and survival, respectively. However, there is no consensus about the threshold primary tumour size (PTS) for these determinants. The aim of this study was to assess size relationships for developing nodal, pulmonary, bone and overall distant metastases. Methods: This prospective study covered 139 (93 females and 46 males) consecutive biopsy proven patients with PTC (114/139, mean age $41.0{\pm}15.7$ years, M: F, 35%:65%) and FTC (25/139, mean age $39.2{\pm}14.3$ years, M: F: 24%:76%). Results: Average primary tumor size was $23.4{\pm}11.1$ mm and $26.5{\pm}13.1$ mm for PTC and FTC respectively (p value=0.223). Nodal metastasis was found more common in PTC than FTC (49% vs 28%, p value <0.05), whereas overall distant metastasis was approximately the same (13% and 24%, p value=0.277); however, bone metastasis was significantly higher in FTC than PTC (24% vs 5%, p value <0.05). Cumulative risk for nodal and distant metastases for FTC and PTC starts at PTS <20 mm and may indicate an unusual aggressive tumor behavior in the studied population. Highest cumulative risk for nodal and pulmonary metastases in PTC and for bone metastasis in FTC was found to be ${\geq}50$ mm PTS. Conclusion: We conclude that a PTS of <20 mm may indicate an unusual aggressive tumor behavior with highest cumulative risk for nodal and pulmonary metastases in PTC and for bone metastasis in FTC with a cutoff of ${\geq}50$ mm.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.85-94
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• 2002

In this study an adaptive node generation procedure in the Element-free Galerkin (EFG) method using bubble-meshing technique is Proposed. Since we construct the initial configuration of nodes by subdivision of background cell, abrupt changes of inter-nodal distance between higher and lower error regions are unavoidable. This unpreferable nodal spacing induces additional errors. To obtain the smooth nodal configuration the nodal configurations are regenerated by bubble-meshing technique. This bubble meshing technique was originally developed to generate a set of well-shaped triangles and tetrahedra. In odder to evaluate the effect of abrupt changes of nodal spacing, one-dimensional problems with various nodal configurations mere investigated. To demonstrate the performance of proposed scheme, the sequences of making optimal nodal configuration with bubble meshing technique are investigated for several problems.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.4317-4321
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• 2015

Background: Prognostic biomarkers in breast cancer are routinely investigated in the primary tumors to guide further management. However, it is proposed that the expression may change during the disease progression, and may result in a different immune profile in the metastatic nodes. This work aimed to investigate the expression of breast prognostic biomarkers in primary tumors and in its axillary nodal metastasis, to estimate the possible discordant expression. Materials and Methods: 60 paired primary and axillary nodal metastasis samples were collected from patients with primary breast cancer with positive nodal deposits, diagnosed at the Maadi Military Hospital, Cairo, Egypt, during the year 2013. ER, PR and HER2 expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry in all samples Results: 48.3% of the included cases showed concordant results for both ER and PR receptors between the primary tumor and its nodal metastasis while 51.7% showed discordant results and the discordance level was statistically significant. On the other hand, 70% of the cases showed concordant Her2 results between the primary tumors and the nodal deposits, 30% showed discordant results and the difference was significant. Conclusions: The study indicated that the discordance in ER and PR receptor expression between the primary breast tumor and their nodal metastasis may be significant. The possible switch in the biomarker status during the disease progression is worth noting and may change the patient therapeutic planning. So, whether the treatment selection should be based on biomarkers in the lymph node is a topic for further studies and future clinical trials.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.4889-4895
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• 2012

Background and Aim: The incidence of extra nodal non Hodgkin lymphoma (ENL) is rising throughout the world. However, data regarding ENL as a group is limited. The aim was to study the epidemiological and histomorphological trends of primary ENL (pENL) in India. Material and Methods: The biopsy materials from sixty eight patients with pENL (45 male, 23 female, M:F= 1.9:1), diagnosed over a five year period (2005-2009), were analysed and pathologically reclassified according to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification, 2008 criteria. Results: Primary extra nodal non Hodgkin lymphomas constituted 22.0% (68/308) of all non Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL). The mean age at presentation for pENL and primary nodal NHL was 43 years and 58 years, respectively with a male predilection (M: F=2:1). Central nervous system (CNS) constituted the most common extranodal site (20/68, 29.5%) followed by gastrointestinal tract (17/68, 25%), and nose/nasopharynx (8/68, 11.8%). Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL, not otherwise specified), extranodal marginal lymphoma of mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) type, and B cell NHL unclassified (U) were the three most common histological types observed. T-cell phenotype was rarely noted (4%). Follicular lymphomas and anaplastic large cell lymphoma, seen among nodal NHL, were absent at extra nodal sites. Majority (41/68, 60%) of the patients with pENL were immunocompetent and 55% were in stage I-II with favorable prognosis. Conclusion: Central nervous system was the most common site of ENL, followed by gastrointestinal tract. Majority of pENL occurred in immunocompetent hosts with a favorable prognosis.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.8
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• pp.3059-3072
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• 2022

A Jacobian-Free Newton Krylov Two-Nodal Coarse Mesh Finite Difference algorithm based on Nodal Expansion Method (NEM_TNCMFD_JFNK) is successfully developed and proposed to solve the three-dimensional (3D) and multi-group reactor physics models. In the NEM_TNCMFD_JFNK method, the efficient JFNK method with the Modified Incomplete LU (MILU) preconditioner is integrated and applied into the discrete systems of the NEM-based two-node CMFD method by constructing the residual functions of only the nodal average fluxes and the eigenvalue. All the nonlinear corrective nodal coupling coefficients are updated on the basis of two-nodal NEM formulation including the discontinuity factor in every few newton steps. All the expansion coefficients and interface currents of the two-node NEM need not be chosen as the solution variables to evaluate the residual functions of the NEM_TNCMFD_JFNK method, therefore, the NEM_TNCMFD_JFNK method can greatly reduce the number of solution variables and the computational cost compared with the JFNK based on the conventional NEM. Finally the NEM_TNCMFD_JFNK code is developed and then analyzed by simulating the representative PWR MOX/UO₂ core benchmark, the popular NEACRP 3D core benchmark and the complicated full-core pin-by-pin homogenous core model. Numerical solutions show that the proposed NEM_TNCMFD_JFNK method with the MILU preconditioner has the good numerical accuracy and can obtain higher computational efficiency than the NEM-based two-node CMFD algorithm with the power method in the outer iteration and the Krylov method using the MILU preconditioner in the inner iteration, which indicates the NEM_TNCMFD_JFNK method can serve as a potential and efficient numerical tool for reactor neutron diffusion analysis module in the JFNK-based multiphysics coupling application.