• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.51 no.8
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• pp.1964-1969
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• 2019

The safety and efficiency of nuclear reactors largely depend on the monitoring and control of nuclear radiation. Due to the unique nuclear-physical characteristics, Hf is one of the most promising materials for the manufacturing of the control rods and the emitters of neutron detectors. It is proposed to use the Compton neutron detector with the emitter made of Hf in the In-core Instrumentation System (ICIS) for monitoring the neutron field. The main advantages of such a detector in comparison the conventional β-emission sensors are the possibility of reaching of a higher cumulative radiation dose and the absence of signal delays. The response time of the detection is extremely important when a nuclear reactor is operating near its critical operational parameters. Taking Hf as an example, the general principles for calculating the chains of materials transformation under neutron irradiation are reported. The influence of ^179m1Hf on the Hf composition changing dynamics and the process of transmutants' (Ta, W) generation were determined. The effect of these processes on the absorbing properties of Hf, which inevitably predetermine the lifetime of the detector and its ability to generate a signal, is estimated.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.279-286
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• 2011

The aging degradation and lifetime assessment of a domestic class 1E Ethylene-Propylene-Diene-Monomer (EPDM), which is a popular insulating elastomer for electrical cables in the nuclear power plants, were studied for equipment qualification verification under the Loss of Coolant Accident (LOCA) conditions. The specimens were acceleratively aged, underwent a LOCA environment, as well as tested mechanically, thermo-gravimetrically, and spectroscopically according to the American Society of the Testing of Materials (ASTM) procedures. The tensile test results revealed that the elongation at break gradually decreased with an increasing aging temperature. The lifetime of EPDM aged isothermally at $140^{\circ}C$ was 1,316 hours and reduced to 1,120 hours after experiencing the severe accident test. The activation energies of the elongation reduction were $1.10{\pm}0.196$ eV and $0.93{\pm}0.191$ eV before and after the LOCA condition, respectively. The TGA test results also showed that the activation energy of the aging decomposition decreased from 1.35 eV to 1.02 eV after undergoing the LOCA environment. Although the mechanical property changes were discernibly observed during the aging process, along with the LOCA simulation, the FT-IR analysis showed that the spectroscopic peaks and their intensities did not alter significantly. Therefore, it can be concluded that the degradation of the domestic class 1E EPDM due to aging can be tolerable, even in severe accident conditions such as LOCA, and thus it qualifies as a suitable insulating material for electrical cables in the nuclear power plants.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.493-520
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• 2009

During the last four decades, 16 Pressurized Water Reactors (PWR) and 4 Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWR) have been constructed and operated in Korea, and nuclear fuel technology has been developed to a self-reliant state. At first, the PWR fuel design and manufacturing technology was acquired through international cooperation with a foreign partner. Then, the PWR fuel R&D by Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) has improved fuel technology to a self-reliant state in terms of fuel elements, which includes a new cladding material, a large-grained $UO_2$ pellet, a high performance spacer grid, a fuel rod performance code, and fuel assembly test facility. The MOX fuel performance analysis code was developed and validated using the in-reactor test data. MOX fuel test rods were fabricated and their irradiation test was completed by an international program. At the same time, the PWR fuel development by Korea Nuclear Fuel (KNF) has produced new fuel assemblies such as PLUS7 and ACE7. During this process, the design and test technology of fuel assemblies was developed to a self-reliant state. The PHWR fuel manufacturing technology was developed and manufacturing facility was set up by KAERI, independently from the foreign technology. Then, the advanced PHWR fuel, CANFLEX(CANDU Flexible Fuelling), was developed, and an irradiation test was completed in a PHWR. The development of the CANFLEX fuel included a new design of fuel rods and bundles.. The nuclear fuel technology in Korea has been steadily developed in many national R&D programs, and this advanced fuel technology is expected to contribute to a worldwide nuclear renaissance that can create solutions to global warming.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.847-856
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• 2014

Spent resin waste containing a high concentration of $^{14}C$ radionuclide cannot be disposed of directly. A fundamental study on selective $^{14}C$ stripping, especially from the IRN-150 mixed bed resin, was carried out. In single ion-exchange equilibrium isotherm experiments, the ion adsorption capacity of the fresh resin for non-radioactive $HCO_3{^-}$ ion, as the chemical form of $^{14}C$, was evaluated as 11mg-C/g-resin. Adsorption affinity of anions to the resin was derived in order of $NO_3{^-}$ > $HCO_3{^-}{\geq}H_2PO_4{^-}$. Thus the competitive adsorption affinity of $NO_3{^-}$ ion in binary systems appeared far higher than that of $HCO_3{^-}$ or $H_2PO_4{^-}$, and the selective desorption of $HCO_3{^-}$ from the resin was very effective. On one hand, the affinity of $Co^{2+}$ and $Cs^+$ for the resin remained relatively higher than that of other cations in the same stripping solution. Desorption of $Cs^+$ was minimized when the summation of the metal ions in the spent resin and the other cations in solution was near saturation and the pH value was maintained above 4.5. Among the various solutions tested, from the view-point of the simple second waste process, $NH_4H_2PO_4$ solution was preferable for the stripping of $^{14}C$ from the spent resin.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.837-846
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• 2014

A lead slowing down spectrometer (LSDS) is under development for analysis of isotopic fissile material contents in pyro-processed material, or spent fuel. Many current commercial fissile assay technologies have a limitation in accurate and direct assay of fissile content. However, LSDS is very sensitive in distinguishing fissile fission signals from each isotope. A neutron spectrum analysis was conducted in the spectrometer and the energy resolution was investigated from 0.1eV to 100keV. The spectrum was well shaped in the slowing down energy. The resolution was enough to obtain each fissile from 0.2eV to 1keV. The detector existence in the lead will disturb the source neutron spectrum. It causes a change in resolution and peak amplitude. The intense source neutron production was designed for ~E12 n's/sec to overcome spent fuel background. The detection sensitivity of U238 and Th232 fission chamber was investigated. The first and second layer detectors increase detection efficiency. Thorium also has a threshold property to detect the fast fission neutrons from fissile fission. However, the detection of Th232 is about 76% of that of U238. A linear detection model was set up over the slowing down neutron energy to obtain each fissile material content. The isotopic fissile assay using LSDS is applicable for the optimum design of spent fuel storage to maximize burnup credit and quality assurance of the recycled nuclear material for safety and economics. LSDS technology will contribute to the transparency and credibility of pyro-process using spent fuel, as internationally demanded.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.116-125
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• 2018

Modified 9Cr-1Mo ferritic steel is a preferred material for steam generators in nuclear power plants for their creep strength and good corrosion resistance. Austenitic stainless steels, such as type 316LN, are used in the high temperature segments such as reactor pressure vessels and primary piping systems. So, the dissimilar joints between these materials are inevitable. In this investigation, dissimilar joints were fabricated by the Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) process with Inconel 82/182 filler metals. The notch tensile properties and Charpy V-notch impact toughness properties of various regions of dissimilar metal weld joints (DMWJs) were evaluated as per the standards. The microhardness distribution across the DMWJs was recorded. Microstructural features of different regions were characterized by optical and scanning electron microscopy. Inhomogeneous notch tensile properties were observed across the DMWJs. Impact toughness values of various regions of the DMWJs were slightly higher than the prescribed value. Formation of a carbon-enriched hard zone at the interface between the ferritic steel and the buttering material enhanced the notch tensile properties of the heat-affected-zone (HAZ) of P91. The complex microstructure developed at the interfaces of the DMWJs was the reason for inhomogeneous mechanical properties.

• Journal of Service Research and Studies
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.49-60
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• 2011

Recently, with the growing of social network sites, people's choice is also getting more and more. So the notion of loyalty has become an important construct within the Social Network framework because of member is easy switching on the social networking sites. Despite the increasing importance of social network sites loyalty question, there's very little research in this area. In electronic commerce, the website loyalty development process is based on both website satisfaction and website trust toward the net-enabled business. But how to target the members with high or low loyalty in the social network sites is still a question. In this paper we propose one improved RFM model to evaluate the member loyalty to find the potential members for improving the service quality of the social network site. In addition, an empirical case study is performed to demonstrate how this procedure works. Moreover, further applications of this research are provided for improved social network sites experiences and how to use the model to practice.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.265-270
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• 1991

This study was designed to investigate the effect of dietary vitamin E on the lipid peroxidation by dietary iron-injected to male rats. Sprague-Dawely strain male rats were divided into three experimental groups, namely control, iron injected and iron-vitamin E injected groups. The control group was fed with normal diet; the iron injected group was given normal diet and while injected intraperitoneally 30mg of ferric hydroxide/100g of body weight 20 times every 3 days. The iron-vitamin E injected group was intraperitoneally administered 30mg of ferric hydroxide/100g of body weight 20 times every 3 days and vitamin E every day with the dose of 5IU(5mg)/100g body weight. All experimental groups were maintained for 60 days with feeding on the respective ratio. The results obtained from this experiment were summarized as following: 1. The net weight gain was significantly decreased by the iron injection, but much increased by the vitamin E injection. 2. The contents of unsaturated fatty acid in phospholipid in liver, kidney, muscle and serum were decreased by the iron injection, but increased by the vitamin E injection. 3. The increment of malondialdehyde contents was induced by the iron overloading, but significantly decreased by the vitamin E injection. Therefore, it is suggested that dietary iron administration to male rats facilitates the lipid peroxidation in vivo and vitamin E has the inhibiting effect on lipip peroxidation process by iron.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.39-54
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• 2017

Objectives This study aimed to search the Chinese literature on acupotomy for lumbar disc herniation and to analyze their methodologies. Methods Using 4 Chinese databases (CBM [www.sinomed.ac.cn], CNKI [www.cnki.net], WANFANG [www.wanfangdata.com], and WEIPU [www.cqvip.com]), we searched for clinical trials conducted in China over the past 10 years on acupotomy for lumbar disc herniation. The search terms used were "(腰椎椎間板脫出症 or 椎間板脫出症 or 椎間板脫出) and (针刀or 针刀松解术)" and we selected only meta-analyses that were published before December 2016. From among these meta-analyses, we excluded duplicates and selected the remaining 36 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for our final analysis. Results The largest numbers of acupotomy papers were published in 2008 and 2013 (8 papers each). The average number of subjects was 120; the most common treatment method used for the control group was standard acupuncture (in 11 papers), and the most common concurrent treatment in the treatment group was massage (in 10 papers). The most common site of needle insertion was between the spinous processes, or at less than 0.5 cm on either side of the spinous processes (in 24 papers). The most common site of adhesion lysis was at the transverse process (in 24 papers). Two studies were blinded, and the mean Jadad score was 1.17. Conclusions A large number of RCTs on the use of acupotomy for lumbar disc herniation are conducted every year in China, and the procedure has been shown to be very effective, with few adverse effects. However, the average quality of the studies was not very high. Based on our study, we expect several high-quality clinical trials on acupotomy to be conducted in Korea in the future.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.15-28
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• 1997

Longterm memory is encoded in the neuronal connectivities of the brain. The most successful models of human memory in their operations are models of distributed and self-organized associative memory, which are founded in the principle of simulaneous convergence in network formation. Memory is not perceived as the qualities inherent in physical objects or events, but as a set of relations previously established in a neural net by simultaneousy occuring experiences. When it is easy to find correlations with existing neural networks through analysis of network structures, memory is automatically encoded in cerebral cortex. However, in the emergence of informations which are complicated to classify and correlated with existing networks, and conflictual with other networks, those informations are sent to the subcortex including hippocampus. Memory is stored in the form of templates distributed across several different cortical regions. The hippocampus provides detailed maps for the conjoint binding and calling up of widely distributed informations. Knowledge about the distribution of correlated networks can transform the existing networks into new one. Then, hippocampus consolidats new formed network. Amygdala may enable the emotions to influence the information processing and memory as well as providing the visceral informations to them. Cortico-striatal-pallido-thalamo-cortical loop also play an important role in memory function with analysis of language and concept. In case of difficulty in processing in spite of parallel process of informations, frontal lobe organizes theses complicated informations of network analysis through temporal processing. With understanding of brain mechanism of memory and information processing, the brain mechanism of mental phenomena including psychopathology can be better explained in terms of neurobiology and meuropsychology.