• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.16-21
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• 2022

Background: Epidemiological observations such as mental retardation, physical deformities, etc., in children besides different types of cancer in the adult population of the Malwa region have been reported. The present study is designed to get insight into the role of naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) in causing detrimental health effects observed in the general population of this region. Materials and Methods: Deep soil samples were collected from different locations in the Malwa region. Their activity concentrations were determined using low-level background gammaray spectrometry. High efficiency and high purity germanium detector capped in a lead-shielded chamber having a resolution of 1.8 keV at 1,173 keV and 2.0 keV at the 1,332 keV line of ⁶⁰Co was used in the present work. Data were evaluated with Genie-2000 software. Results and Discussion: Mean activity concentrations of ²³⁸U, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K in deep soil were found to be 101.3 Bq/kg, 65.8 Bq/kg, and 688.6 Bq/kg, respectively. The mean activity concentration of ²³⁸U was found to be three and half times higher than the global average prescribed by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR). It was further observed that the activity concentration of ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K has a magnitude that is nearly one and half times higher than the global average prescribed by UNSCEAR. In addition, the radioisotope ¹³⁷Cs which is likely to have its origin in radiation fallout was also observed. It is postulated that the NORM present in high quantity in deep soil somehow get mobilized into the water aquifers used by the general population and thereby causing harmful health problems. Conclusion: It can be stated that the present work has been able to demonstrate the use of low background gamma-ray spectrometry to understand the role of NORM in causing health-related effects in a general population of the Malwa region of Punjab, India.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.38 no.12
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• pp.125-134
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• 2022

The Global Expansion Roadmap published by the International Space Exploration Coordination Group, which is organized by space agencies around the world, presents future lunar exploration guidance and stresses a lunar habitat program to utilize lunar resources. The Moon attracts attention as an outpost for deep space exploration. Simulating lunar surface environments is required to evaluate the performances of various equipment for future lunar surface missions. In this paper, an experimental study was conducted to simulate high vacuum pressure and cryogenic temperature of the permanent shadow regions in the lunar south pole, which is a promising candidate for landing and outpost construction. The establishment of an efficient dirty thermal vacuum chamber (DTVC) operation process has never been presented. One-dimensional ground cooling tests were conducted with various vacuum pressures with the Korean Lunar Simulant type-1 (KLS-1) in DTVC. The most advantageous vacuum pressure was found to be 30-80 mbar, considering the cooling efficiency and equipment stability. However, peripheral cooling is also required to simulate a cryogenic for not sublimating ice in a high vacuum pressure. In this study, an efficient peripheral cooling operation process was proposed by applying the frost ratio concept.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.197-202
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• 2009

The long term stability of ion current of QMS has been one of key parameters for monitoring gas process in vacuum. The time dependence of ionic current was monitored while the pressure of nitrogen gas was kept at a fixed pressure by introducing the gas into vacuum chamber. The chamber was evacuated to ${\sim}3{\times}10^{-9}\;Torr$ to reduce background signals before the measurement. Two ion sources were tested; one had brownish or black color due to gas contamination and the other one was new, i.e. cleaner. At a nitrogen pressure of $1{\times}10^{-5}\;Torr$, the ionic currents measured by the contaminated ion source decreased faster with time. The decrease rate was respectively ${\sim}46%$ for cleaner one and ${\sim}84%$ for contaminated one after ${\sim}5.5%$ hours. In order to test the effect of filament material on the ion current decrease, we fabricated a tungsten(W) filament which consisted of two parts; one half was made of W and the other was coated with yttria. The similar decrease of ionic currents were shown for the two types of filaments, indicating that slight change of temperature of filament due to material difference i.e. baking effect could not improve the origin of ionic current decrease. Overall the decreasing rate of ionic current is more closely associated with contaminated ion source of QMS rather than its filament materials.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.792-812
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• 2010

In the 18th century, Xu Lingtai (徐靈胎) and Yoshimasu Todo (吉益東洞) were famous doctors advocating ancient medicine, though they lived in different countries, China and Japan. We compared their major books, analyzed their academic thoughts and then took conclusions as below. 1. The first, for instance "Classified Prescriptions of Treatise on Cold Damage Diseases, 傷寒論類方" and "Classified Assemblage of Prescriptions, 類聚方". Based on essential thought that a prescription and a syndrome should correspond, these books arranged and classified the Zhang Zhongjing (張仲景)'s texts."Classified Prescriptions of Treatise on Cold Damage Diseases", based on the thought that principles, methods, formulas and medicinals (理法方藥) were integrated in prescriptions, tried to find out the implicit treatment rules in prescriptions and syndromes through analyzing "Treatise on Cold Damage Diseases, 傷寒論". On the other hand, because Classified Assemblage of Prescriptions focused on the syndromes of ancient prescriptions (古方), it classified and collected the related texts of Treatise on Cold Damage Diseases and "Synopsis of Prescriptions of the Golden Chamber, 금궤요략", and then suggested only simple instructions on how to prescribe medicine. So in this book, the trend of experience was clear. 2. The second, there is "100 Kinds Records from Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica, 神農本草經百種錄" and "Description work of herbal pharmacology comprised of excerpts from Shanhanlun and medical experiences, 藥徵". Though both of these books are professional oriental pharmacology publications that advocate reactionism, there were remarkable differences in writing style between them. "Description work of herbal pharmacology comprised of excerpts from Shanhanlun and medical experiences" was based on "Treat on Cold Damage Diseases" and "Synopsis of Prescriptions of the Golden Chamber", just explained the effects of medications and discussed 'matter of course (所當然)', but not discussed 'the reason why (所以然)'. In explaining style of syndromes, it confirmed through research, and emphasized the inductive method. On the other hand, "100 Kinds Records from Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica based on "Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica, 神農本草經", explained the nature of medications and discussed 'the reason why (所以然)'. In explaining style of syndromes, it annotated and explained, and emphasized the process of reasoning. 3. The third, there is "Discuss the Headwaters of Medicine, 醫學源流論" and Severance of Medical evils, 醫斷". Aiming the then medical theories fallen in confused state, these books brought order out of chaos, clarified the categories of medical research, and emphasized the scientific method that could put theories into practice and verify them. The difference is that "Severance of Medical Evils" researched only macroscopic viewable clinical phenomena, and even denied the existence of names of diseases and etiological causes. Thus, it emphasized the accumulation of experiences, laid emphasis on "watching and realizing (目認)", and "understand and taking in (解悟)". Discuss the Headwaters of Medicine extremely emphasized the research of 'something not occuring (未然)', that is to say, induced notions of a disease from observing clinical phenomena, furthermore based on these, predicted the 'something not occuring (未然)' and emphasized researching 'the reason why (所以然)'. As regards how they deal with the traditional theories and post-Zhang Zhongjing's medicines, "Severance of Medical evils" took completely denying attitudes. In case of "Discuss the Headwaters of Medicine", it could be used reasonably through specific situation and detailed analysis. Collectively speaking, there were some differences between medical theories of Xu Lingtai and Yoshimasu Todo. Actually, these differences were whether he tried to research the essence of disease, whether he tried to consider it rationally, and how he treated various opinions occurring in the theories of traditional medicine and clinical experience.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.145-149
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• 2013

Helical Tomotherapy is an innovative means of delivering intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) using a device that merges features of a linear accelerator and helical computed tomography (CT) scanner. Hereat, during helical tomotherapy process, megavoltage computed tomography (MVCT) image are usually used for guiding the precise set-up of patient before/after treatment delivery. But which would certainly increase the total dose for patients, this study was to investigate the imaging dose of MVCT using the cylindrical "Cheese" phantom on a tomotherapy machine. A set of cylindrical "Cheese" phantom was adopted for scanning with respectively pitch value (1, 2, 3 mm) with same number slice (10 slice), same length (approximately 9 cm) and phantom set-ups on the couch of tomotherapy system. The average MVCT imaging dose were measured using A1SL ion chamber inserted in the phantom with preset geometry. The MVCT scanning average dose for the cylindrical "Cheese" phantom was 2.24 cGy, 1.02 cGy, 0.81 cGy during respectively pitch value (pitch 1, 2, 3 mm) with same number slice (10 slice), and same length's average dose was 2.47 cGy, 1.28 cGy, 0.88 cGy respectively (pitch 1, 2, 3 mm). Two major parameters, the assigned pitch numbers and scanning length, where the most important impacts to the dose variation. The MVCT dose was inversely proportional to the CT pitch value. The results may provide a reliable guidance for proper planning design of the scanning region, which is valuable to help minimize the extra dose to patient. Questionnaires were distributed to Radiology departments at hospitals with 300 sickbeds throughout the Pohang region of North Gyeongsang Province concerning awareness and performance levels of infection control. The investigation included measurements of the pollution levels of imaging equipment and assistive apparatuses in order to prepare a plan for the activation of prevention and management of hospital infections. The survey was designed to question respondents in regards to personal data, infection management prevention education, and infection management guidelines.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.197-203
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• 2012

Purpose: In this study, we considerate our radiation therapy process for the breast cancer patient implanted a pacemaker applying the machine movement surgery, shielding, beam selection. Materials and Methods: We perform radiation therapy to a 54 years old, breast cancer patient implanted a pacemaker. The patient underwent a surgery to move the position of a pacemaker to right side breast after consultation with cardiology department. Prescribed dose was 5,040 cGy and daily dose 180 cGy for 28 fractions. The 10 MV photon energy, field size 0/$9.5{\times}20$ cm, half beam and opposing portal irradiation are used. To find out appropriate thickness of shielding board, we carried out an experiment using a solid water phantom ($30{\times}30{\times}7$ cm), a Farmer-type chamber (TN30013, PTW, Germany) and a shielding board (Pb $28{\times}27{\times}0.1$ cm). We calculated expected absorbed dose to te pacemaker with absorb ratio and shielding ratio. In the PTP system (Eclipse, Varian, USA), we figured out how much radiation would be absorbed to the machine with and without shielding. First day of the radiation therapy, we measured head scatter to the pacemaker with MOSFET Dose Verification System (TN-RD-70-W, Medical Canada Ltd., Canada). Results: In the phantom measurement, we found out appropriate thickness was 2 mm of shielding board. In the RTP, when using 2 mm shielding the pacemaker will be absorbed 11.5~38.2 cGy and DVH is 77.3 cGy. In the first day of the therapy, 4.3 cGy was measured so 120.4 cGy was calculated during total therapy. The patient was free from any side effects, and the machine also normally functioned. Conclusion: As the report of association which have public confidence became superannuated, there is lack of data about new machine. We believe that radiation therapy to thiese kind of patients could be done successfully with co-operation, patient-suitable planning, accurate QA, frequent in-vivo dosimetry and monitoring.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.345-352
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• 2012

As the breast cancer rate is increasing fast in Korean women, people pay more attention to mammography and number of mammography have been increasing dramatically over the last few years. Mammography is the only means to diagnose breast cancer early, but harms caused by radiation exposure shouldn't be overlooked. Therefore, it is important to calculate the radiation dose being absorbed into the breast tissue during the process of mammography for a protective measure against radiation exposure. Because it is impossible to directly measure the radiation dose being absorbed into the human body, statistical calculation methods are commonly used, and most of them are supposed to simulate the interaction between radiation and matter by describing the human body internal structure with anthropomorphic phantoms. However, a simulation using Geant4 Code of Monte Carlo Method, which is well-known as most accurate in calculating the absorbed dose inside the human body, helps calculate exact dose by recreating the anatomical human body structure as it is through the DICOM file of CT. To calculate the absorbed dose in the breast tissue, therefore, this study carried out a simulation using Geant4 Code, and by using the DICOM converted file provided by Geant4, this study changed the human body structure expressed on the CT image data into geometry needed for this simulation. Besides, this study attempted to verify if the dose calculation of Geant4 interlocking with the DICOM file is useful, by comparing the calculated dose provided by this simulation and the measured dose provided by the PTW ion chamber. As a result, under the condition of 28kVp/190mAs, the Difference(%) between the measured dose and the calculated dose was found to be 0.08 %~0.33 %, and at 28 kVp/70 mAs, the Difference(%) of dose was 0.01 %~0.16 %, both of which showed results within 2%, the effective difference range. Therefore, this study found out that calculation of the absorbed dose using Geant4 Simulation is useful in measuring the absorbed dose in the breast tissue for mammography.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SD
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• v.38 no.12
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• pp.8-13
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• 2001

Cerium oxide ($CeO_2$) thin film has been proposed as a buffer layer between the ferroelectric thin film and the Si substrate in Metal-Ferroelectric-Insulator-Silicon (MFIS) structures for ferroelectric random access memory (FRAM) applications. In this study, $CeO_2$ thin films were etched with $Cl_2$/Ar gas mixture in an inductively coupled plasma (ICP). Etch properties were measured for different gas mixing ratio of $Cl_2$($Cl_2$+Ar) while the other process conditions were fixed at RF power (600 W), dc bias voltage (-200 V), and chamber pressure (15 mTorr). The highest etch rate of $CeO_2$ thin film was 230 ${\AA}$/min and the selectivity of $CeO_2$ to $YMnO_3$ was 1.83 at $Cl_2$($Cl_2$+Ar gas mixing ratio of 0.2. The surface reaction of the etched $CeO_2$ thin films was investigated using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. There is a Ce-Cl bonding by chemical reaction between Ce and Cl. The results of secondary ion mass spectrometer (SIMS) analysis were compared with the results of XPS analysis and the Ce-Cl bonding was monitored at 176.15 (a.m.u). These results confirm that Ce atoms of $CeO_2$ thin films react with chlorine and a compound such as CeCl remains on the surface of etched $CeO_2$ thin films. These products can be removed by Ar ion bombardment.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.81-93
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• 2015

Purpose - "Showrooming" refers to the phenomenon where a shopper visits a store to see and compare products but makes the purchase online at a lower price. Surveys on showrooming activities at home and abroad indicate that a significant number of consumers pursue showrooming activities. The advent of "showroomers," who engage in buying activities, hovering both on and offline, while selectively choosing sales channels to suit their needs, is powerful enough to erode the borders between channels and bring about seismic changes in the distribution industry. However, surprisingly, there has been no in-depth discussion on showrooming. This study seeks to theoretically investigate what impact personal characteristics have on showrooming preferences and attitudes in a multi-channel environment. Specifically, assumptions have been made that price perception, perceived performance risk, and trust in online shopping not only have a direct impact on showrooming attitudes but also indirectly affect it through the means of contact motivation. Research design, data, and methodology - To test the hypotheses, this study conducted a survey of male and female shoppers, ages 20 through 40s, who live in metropolitan areas, and have actively showroomed fashion items in the last six months. A clothing item usually purchased after a careful decision-making process was chosen as the target product of the study. The survey was conducted between October and November 2014, using a professional survey service provider. A total of 200 surveys were collected, of which 198 were used for analysis. Conceptual model Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and Amos 18.0 were employed for data analysis and model verification. In addition, following the confirmatory factor analysis and measurement model analysis, the theoretical model that corresponds to the research model was analyzed. Results - Analysis results show that price perception, perceived performance risk, and trust in online shopping have a statistically significant and positive (+) impact on showrooming attitudes. In addition, in terms of the indirect influence of price perception and perceived performance risk on showrooming attitudes through means of contact motivation, price perception had a statistically significant and positive impact on means of contact motivation, whereas perceived performance risk did not have a statistically significant impact on it, with the relevant hypothesis rejected. Conclusions - These analysis results imply that the ultimate goal of consumers is to maximize their shopping benefits by selectively and strategically taking advantage of different channels in a complementary manner. This study presents many implications for distributors to encourage a deep understanding of showrooming consumers who have complicated consumption behaviors and to build channel integration strategies. This study has limitations in theoretical and practical implications. Therefore, subsequent studies need to focus on verifying that showrooming activities are based on reasonable and planned decisions by applying the theory of reasoned or planned behavior. In addition, the scope of the study should expand to include web showrooming, where consumers conduct product research online and purchase offline.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.211-220
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• 2014

This study reports the formation characteristics of tar, ash and clinker due to a wood pellet grade and the performance analysis of wood pellet boiler in terms of the moisture contents change of the wood pellet. Tar was accumulated on the heating surface according to combustion of wood pellet, the ash was yielded on the floor of combustion chamber in a wood pellet boiler and the clinker was solidified at the burner due to combustion of the 3rd grade wood pellet. Especially, the moisture contents is important factor to define the grade. Wood of logging residues has a non-uniform moisture contents after the field process, yields of tar, ash and clinker are increased in case of combustion due to the high ash contents. For these reasons, emission of harmful compounds in the exhaust gas, decrease of boiler efficiency and the system operating errors are observed. In the performance analysis of wood pellet boiler in terms of the moisture contents change of the 1st grade wood pellet, the boiler efficiency was reduced by 27.08% with 6.6% moisture contents increase. The optimum moisture contents of wood pellet is needed to improve the boiler performance and efficiency.