• Title/Summary/Keyword: Nuclear factors

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An analysis of the effects of Japan's nuclear power plant accident on Korean consumers' response to imported food consumption

  • Gim, Uhn-Soon;Baek, Kyung-Mi
    • Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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    • v.44 no.4
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    • pp.620-635
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    • 2017
  • This study was intended to identify the main factors responsible for the decline in purchase of imported agricultural and fish products after Japan's nuclear power plant accident in 2011 and to compare the effects on imported agricultural produce and imported fish products. Logit model and multiple regression model analyses were performed using consumers' survey data. Psychological and qualitative factors reflecting consumers' food safety awareness and purchasing preferences, which were extracted by Factor analysis, were included as the models' explanatory variables, along with socio-demographic and economic factors. The Logit estimation showed aged, married, and low-income households had significantly higher probability of reducing their purchases of imported agricultural and fish products. However, the multiple regression results pointed out that the actual rate of decrease of imported agricultural and fish products purchases were more significantly affected by non-socio demographic factors such as past experience of purchasing imported agricultural and fish products, future intention to purchasing Japanese agricultural and fish products, and the ratio of imported to domestic agricultural and fish products before the nuclear accident, as well as consumers' feeling of food insecurity and their purchasing preferences. Moreover, the results showed that Korean consumers have reacted more sensitively to the decline in imported fish products than imported agricultural produce after the nuclear accident based on the marginal effects of various socio-demographic and economic factors.

The System Dynamics Model for Assessment of Organizational and Human Factor in Nuclear Power Plant (시스템 다이나믹스를 활용한 원전 조직 및 인적인자 평가)

  • 안남성;곽상만;유재국
    • Proceedings of the Korean System Dynamics Society
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    • 2002.02a
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    • pp.19-40
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    • 2002
  • The intent of this study is to develop system dynamics model for assessment of organizational and human factors in nuclear power plant which can contribute to secure the nuclear safety. Previous studies are classified into two major approaches. One is engineering approach such as ergonomics and probability safety assessment(PSA). The other is social science approach such like sociology, organization theory and psychology. Both have contributed to find organization and human factors and to present guideline to lessen human error in NPP. But, since these methodologies assume that relationship among factors is independent they don't explain the interactions among factors or variables in NPP. To overcome these limits, we have developed system dynamics model which can show cause and effect among factors and quantify organizational and human factors. The model we developed is composed of 16 functions of job process in nuclear power, and shows interactions among various factors which affects employees' productivity and job quality. Handling variables such like degree of leadership, adjustment of number of employee, and workload in each department, users can simulate various situations in nuclear power plant in the organization side. Through simulation, user can get insight to improve safety in plants and to find managerial tools in the organization and human side. Analyzing pattern of variables, users can get knowledge of their organization structure, and understand stands of other departments or employees. Ultimately they can build learning organization to secure optimal safety in nuclear power plant.

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Factors Affecting Disease-Free Status of Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma Patients

  • Thamnirat, Kanungnij;Utamakul, Chirawat;Chamroonrat, Wichana;Kositwattanarerk, Arpakorn;Anongpornjossakul, Yoch;Sritara, Chanika
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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    • v.16 no.2
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    • pp.737-740
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    • 2015
  • Purpose: The study aim was to assess factors that impact on the outcome of radioiodine therapy in patients diagnosed with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). Materials and Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study on 256 patients with DTC who underwent thyroidectomy and received radioiodine therapy during December 2003 to January 2012. All patients were followed up for at least 1 year. They were considered diseasefree by the criteria of the revised American Thyroid Association Management Guideline for Patients with Thyroid nodules and DTC (ATA guideline 2009). Results: On Cox univariate analysis, factors associated with disease-free status were age<45, stage I tumor, low risk group by histopathology, unifocal tumor involvement, stimulated serum Tg level at 1st dose of radioiodine therapy and no distant metastasis from 1st post-treatment WBS (post RxWBS). On multivariate analysis, stage I tumor and stimulated serum Tg level at 1st dose of radioiodine therapy < 30 ng/mL were the significant prognostic factors that increased disease-free rate by 1.73 times and 2.60 times, respectively (P-value <0.05). Conclusions: Factors affecting the outcome of radioiodine therapy in our study were age, stage, risk of recurrence by histopathology, unifocal tumor involvement and 1st postRxWBS findings. From these factors, stage I tumor and stimulated serum Tg level at 1st dose of radioiodine therapy were independent prognostic factors that substantial increase the disease-free rate.

A Method to Select Humane-System Interfaces for Nuclear Power Plants

  • Hugo, Jacques V.;Gertman, David I.
    • Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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    • v.48 no.1
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    • pp.87-97
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    • 2016
  • The new generation of nuclear power plants (NPPs) will likely make use of state-of-the-art technologies in many areas of the plant. The analysis, design, and selection of advanced human-system interfaces (HSIs) constitute an important part of power plant engineering. Designers need to consider the new capabilities afforded by these technologies in the context of current regulations and new operational concepts, which is why they need a more rigorous method by which to plan the introduction of advanced HSIs in NPP work areas. Much of current human factors research stops at the user interface and fails to provide a definitive process for integration of end user devices with instrumentation and control and operational concepts. The current lack of a clear definition of HSI technology, including the process for integration, makes characterization and implementation of new and advanced HSIs difficult. This paper describes how new design concepts in the nuclear industry can be analyzed and how HSI technologies associated with new industrial processes might be considered. It also describes a basis for an understanding of human as well as technology characteristics that could be incorporated into a prioritization scheme for technology selection and deployment plans.

A Brief Review on the Design Factors of Steam Generator U-Tube Assembly for CANDU Type Nuclear Power Plant

  • Park, Nam-Il;Park, June-Soo
    • Proceedings of the Korean Nuclear Society Conference
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    • 1996.05d
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    • pp.321-326
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    • 1996
  • During the plant operation, steam generator U-tube assembly will potentially be subject to adverse environmental conditions which can cause damages to them. This report addresses the major design factors of CANDU type steam generator which are intended to minimize the potential tube damages. Such factors include U-tube material, high circulation ratio, tube-to-tubesheet joint, tube support design. Also a few suggestions are presented for the design and performance improvement of CANDU type steam generators.

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Selection of Influencing Factors for Human Reliability Analysis of Accident Management Tasks in Nuclear Power Plants (원자력 발전소 사고관리 직무의 인간신뢰도분석을 위한 수행영향인자의 선정)

  • Kim, Jae-Hwan;Jeong, Won-Dae
    • Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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    • v.20 no.2
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    • pp.1-28
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    • 2001
  • This paper deals with the selection of the important Influencing Factors (IFs) under accident management situations in nuclear power plants for use in the assessment of human errors. In order to achieve this goal, we collected two types of IF taxonomies, one is the full set IF list mainly developed for human error analysis. and the other is the IFs for human reliability analysis (HRA) in probabilistic safety assessment (PSA). Five sets of IF taxonomy among the full set IF list and ten sets of IF taxonomy among HRA methodologies were collected in the study. From the review and analysis of BRA IFs, we could obtain some insights for the selection of HRA IFs. By considering the situational characteristics of the accident management domain, candidate IFs are chosen. Finally, those IFs are structured hierarchically to be appropriate for the use in the assessment of human error under accident management situation. Three nuclear accidents such as TMI. Chernobyl and JCO were analysed to validate the proposed taxonomy.

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A framework of examining the factors affecting public acceptance of nuclear power plant: Case study in Saudi Arabia

  • Salman M. Alzahrani;Anas M. Alwafi;Salman M. Alshehri
    • Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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    • v.55 no.3
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    • pp.908-918
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    • 2023
  • The Saudi National Atomic Energy project aims to adopt peaceful nuclear technologies and be part of the country's energy mix. As emerging nuclear energy, it is essential to understand public concerns and acceptability of nuclear energy, as well as the factors influencing acceptance to develop nuclear energy policy and implement nuclear energy programs. The purpose of this study is to analyze the public attitudes and acceptance of nuclear energy among Saudi Arabian citizens by utilizing protection motivation theory and theory of planned behavior. A total of 1,404 participants answered a questionnaire which was distribute by convenience sampling approach. A Structural Equation Modeling framework was constructed and analyzed to understand public behavior toward building the country's first Nuclear Power Plant (NPP). Before analyzing the data, the model was validated. The research concluded that the benefits of nuclear power plants were essential in determining people's acceptance of NPPs. Surprisingly, the effect of the perceived benefits was found higher than the effect of the perceived risks to the acceptance. Furthermore, the public's participation in this study revealed that the NPPs location has a significant impact on their acceptance. Based on the finding, several policy implementations were suggested. Finally, the study's model results would benefit scholars, government agencies, and the business sector in Saudi Arabia and worldwide.