• Title/Summary/Keyword: monte carlo methods

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Neutron dosimetry with a pair of TLDs for the Elekta Precise medical linac and the evaluation of optimum moderator thickness for the conversion of fast to thermal neutrons

  • Marziyeh Behmadi;Sara Mohammadi;Mohammad Ehsan Ravari;Aghil Mohammadi;Mahdy Ebrahimi Loushab;Mohammad Taghi Bahreyni Toossi;Mitra Ghergherehchi
    • Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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    • v.56 no.2
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    • pp.753-761
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    • 2024
  • Introduction: In this study, TLD 600 and TLD 700 pairs were used to measure the neutron dose of Elekta Precise medical linac. To this end, the optimum moderate thickness for the conversion of fast to thermal neutrons were evaluated. Materials and methods: 241Am-Be and 252Cf sources were simulated to calculate the optimum thicknesses of the moderator for the conversion of maximum fast neutrons (FN) into thermal neutrons (TN). Pair TLDs were used to measure F&TN doses for three different field sizes at four depths of the medical linac. Results: The maximum thickness of the moderator was optimized at 6 cm. The measurement results demonstrated that the TN dose increased with the expansion of field size and depth. The FN dose, which was converted TN, exhibits behaviors comparable to the TN due to its nature. Conclusion: This study presents the optimum thickness for the moderator to convert FN into TN and measure F&TN using TLDs.

Cross section generation for a conceptual horizontal, compact high temperature gas reactor

  • Junsu Kang;Volkan Seker;Andrew Ward;Daniel Jabaay;Brendan Kochunas;Thomas Downar
    • Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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    • v.56 no.3
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    • pp.933-940
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    • 2024
  • A macroscopic cross section generation model was developed for the conceptual horizontal, compact high temperature gas reactor (HC-HTGR). Because there are many sources of spectral effects in the design and analysis of the core, conventional LWR methods have limitations for accurate simulation of the HC-HTGR using a neutron diffusion core neutronics simulator. Several super-cell model configurations were investigated to consider the spectral effect of neighboring cells. A new history variable was introduced for the existing library format to more accurately account for the history effect from neighboring nodes and reactivity control drums. The macroscopic cross section library was validated through comparison with cross sections generated using full core Monte Carlo models and single cell cross section for both 3D core steady-state problems and 2D and 3D depletion problems. Core calculations were then performed with the AGREE HTR neutronics and thermal-fluid core simulator using super-cell cross sections. With the new history variable, the super-cell cross sections were in good agreement with the full core cross sections even for problems with significant spectrum change during fuel shuffling and depletion.

Feasibility study of spent fuel internal tomography (SFIT) for partial defect detection within PWR spent nuclear fuel

  • Hyung-Joo Choi;Hyojun Park;Bo-Wi Cheon;Hyun Joon Choi;Hakjae Lee;Yong Hyun Chung;Chul Hee Min
    • Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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    • v.56 no.6
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    • pp.2412-2420
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    • 2024
  • The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) mandates safeguards to ensure non-proliferation of nuclear materials. Among inspection techniques used to detect partial defects within spent nuclear fuel (SNF), gamma emission tomography (GET) has been reported to be reliable for detection of partial defects on a pin-by-pin level. Conventional GET, however, is limited by low detection efficiency due to the high density of nuclear fuel rods and self-absorption. This paper proposes a new type of GET named Spent Fuel Internal Tomography (SFIT), which can acquire sinograms at the guide tube. The proposed device consists of the housing, shielding, C-shaped collimator, reflector, and gadolinium aluminum gallium garnet (GAGG) scintillator. For accurate attenuation correction, the source-distinguishable range of the SFIT device was determined using MC simulation to the region away from the proposed device to the second layer. For enhanced inspection accuracy, a proposed specific source-discrimination algorithm was applied. With this, the SFIT device successfully distinguished all source locations. The comparison of images of the existing and proposed inspection methods showed that the proposed method, having successfully distinguished all sources, afforded a 150 % inspection accuracy improvement.

Effects of Different Methods for Determining the Number of Transferable Embryos on Genetic Gain and Inbreeding Coefficient in a Japanese Holstein MOET Breeding Population

  • Terawaki, Y.;Asada, Y.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.14 no.5
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    • pp.597-602
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    • 2001
  • This study was conducted to examine the relationships between the methods used to determine the number of transferable embryos collected per flush and the estimated cumulative genetic improvements in the Japanese Holstein MOET breeding population. Cumulative genetic improvements were predicted by Monte Carlo simulation using three different determination methods (MODEL 1, MODEL 2, and MODEL 3), for calculating the number of embryos collected per flush. Moreover EBVs were estimated including or ignoring coefficients of inbreeding in MME. Inbreeding coefficients were also predicted. The number of transferable embryos was determined using normal, gamma, and Poisson distributions in MODEL 1, gamma and Poisson distributions in MODEL 2, and only the Poisson distribution in MODEL 3. The fitness of MODEL 2 in relation to field data from Hokkaido Japan was the best, and the results for MODEL3 indicated that this model is unsuitable for determining the number of transferable embryos. The largest cumulative genetic improvement (3.11) in the 10th generation was predicted by MODEL 3 and the smallest (2.83) by MODEL 2. Mean coefficients of correlation between the true and estimated breeding values were 0.738, 0.729, and 0.773 in MODELS 1, 2, and 3, respectively. It is suggested that the smallest genetic improvement in MODEL 2 resulted from the smallest correlation coefficient between the true and estimated breeding values. The differences in milk, fat, and protein yields between MODELS 2 and 3 were 182.0, 7.0, and 5.6 kg, respectively, in real units when each trait was independently selected. The inbreeding coefficient was the highest (0.374) in MODEL 2 and the lowest (0.357) in MODEL 3. The effects of different methods for determining the number of transferable embryos per flush on genetic improvements and inbreeding coefficients of the simulated populations were remarkable. The effects of including coefficients of inbreeding in MME, however, were unclear.

Multivariate Meta-Analysis Methods of Comparing the Sensitivity and Specificity of Two Diagnostic Tests (두 진단검사의 비교에 대한 민감도와 특이도의 다변량 메타분석법)

  • Nam, Seon-Young;Song, Hae-Hiang
    • Communications for Statistical Applications and Methods
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    • v.18 no.1
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    • pp.57-69
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    • 2011
  • Researchers are continuously trying to find innovative diagnostic tests and published articles are accumulating at an enormous rate in many medical fields. Meta-analysis enables previously published study results to be reviewed and summarized; therefore, an objective assessment of diagnostic tests can be done with a meta-analysis of sensitivities and specificities. Data obtained by applying two diagnostic tests to a well-defined group of diseased patients produce a pair of sensitivity and by applying the same medical tests to a group of non-diseased subjects produce a pair of specificity. The statistical tests in the meta-analysis need to consider the correlatedness of the results from two diagnostic tests applied to the same diseased and non-diseased subjects. The associations between two diagnostic test results are often found to be unequal for the diseased and non-diseased subjects. In this paper, multivariate meta-analytic methods are studied by taking into account the different associations between correlated variables. On the basis of Monte Carlo simulations, we evaluate the performance of the multivariate meta-analysis methods proposed in this paper.

Comparison of GEE Estimators Using Imputation Methods (대체방법별 GEE추정량 비교)

  • 김동욱;노영화
    • The Korean Journal of Applied Statistics
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    • v.16 no.2
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    • pp.407-426
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    • 2003
  • We consider the missing covariates problem in generalized estimating equations(GEE) model. If the covariate is partially missing, GEE can not be calculated. In this paper, we study the performance of 7 imputation methods to handle missing covariates in GEE models, and the properties of GEE estimators are investigated after missing covariates are imputed for ordinal data of repeated measurements. The 7 imputation methods include i) Naive Deletion ii) Sample Average Imputation iii) Row Average Imputation iv) Cross-wave Regression Imputation v) Carry-over Imputation vi) Bayesian Bootstrap vii) Approximate Bayesian Bootstrap. A Monte-Carlo simulation is used to compare the performance of these methods. For the missing mechanism generating the missing data, we assume ignorable nonresponse. Furthermore, we generate missing covariates with or without considering wave nonresp onse patterns.

A Review on the Analysis of Life Data Based on Bayesian Method: 2000~2016 (베이지안 기법에 기반한 수명자료 분석에 관한 문헌 연구: 2000~2016)

  • Won, Dong-Yeon;Lim, Jun Hyoung;Sim, Hyun Su;Sung, Si-il;Lim, Heonsang;Kim, Yong Soo
    • Journal of Applied Reliability
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    • v.17 no.3
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    • pp.213-223
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    • 2017
  • Purpose: The purpose of this study is to arrange the life data analysis literatures based on the Bayesian method quantitatively and provide it as tables. Methods: The Bayesian method produces a more accurate estimates of other traditional methods in a small sample size, and it requires specific algorithm and prior information. Based on these three characteristics of the Bayesian method, the criteria for classifying the literature were taken into account. Results: In many studies, there are comparisons of estimation methods for the Bayesian method and maximum likelihood estimation (MLE), and sample size was greater than 10 and not more than 25. In probability distributions, a variety of distributions were found in addition to the distributions of Weibull commonly used in life data analysis, and MCMC and Lindley's Approximation were used evenly. Finally, Gamma, Uniform, Jeffrey and extension of Jeffrey distributions were evenly used as prior information. Conclusion: To verify the characteristics of the Bayesian method which are more superior to other methods in a smaller sample size, studies in less than 10 samples should be carried out. Also, comparative study is required by various distributions, thereby providing guidelines necessary.

A Comparative Study of Simplified Probabilistic Analysis Methods for Plane Failure of Rock Slope (암반사면의 평면파괴해석을 위한 간이 확률론적 해석 비교연구)

  • Kim, Youngmin
    • Tunnel and Underground Space
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    • v.31 no.5
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    • pp.360-373
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    • 2021
  • Many sources of uncertainty exist in geotechnical analysis ranging from the material parameters to the sampling and testing techniques. The conventional deterministic stability analysis of a plane failure in rock slope produce a safety factor but not a probability of failure or reliability index. In the conventional slope stability analysis by evaluating the ground uncertainty as an overall safety factor, it is difficult to evaluate the stability of the realistic rock slope in detail. This paper reviews some established probabilistic analysis techniques, such as the MCS, FOSM, PEM, Taylor Series as applied to plane failure of rock slopes in detail. While the Monte - Carlo methods leads to the most accurate calculation of the probability of safety, this method is too time consuming. Therefore, the simplified probability methods could be alternatives to the MCS. In this study, using these simple probability methods, the failure probability estimation of a plane failure in rock slope is presented.

Antibiotics Susceptability of Streptococcus pneumoniae Isolated from Pharynx in Healthy Korean Children and Choice of Proper Empirical Oral Antibiotics Using Pharmacokinetics/Pharmacodynamics Model (국내의 소아에서 분리된 폐구균의 항생제 감수성 양상 및 약력동학 모델을 이용한 적절한 항생제의 선택)

  • Paik, Ji Yeun;Choi, Jae Hong;Cho, Eun Young;Oh, Chi Eun;Lee, Jina;Choi, Eun Hwa;Lee, Hoan Jong
    • Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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    • v.18 no.2
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    • pp.109-116
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    • 2011
  • Purpose : Pneumococcus is one of the most important causes of invasive infection through the childhood period. In January 2008, the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) published revised penicillin breakpoints for Streptococcus pneumoniae and penicillin susceptibility rates of S. pneumoniae increased in Korea. This study was performed to determine the probability of oral amoxicillin for the empirical treatment achieving bactericidal exposure against pneumococcus using pharmacodynamics model. Methods : Twenty-three isolates of pneumococci were subjected to determine minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for ${\beta}$-lactams and macrolide. For the ${\beta}$-lactams, exposure of fT >MIC (time that free drug concentrations remain above the MIC) for 50% of the administration interval have determined the probability of target attainment (PTA), and regimens that had a PTA >90% were considered optimal. An analysis was performed by applying MIC of 23 isolates to a 5000-patient Monte Carlo simulation model. Results : Among 23 isolates from healthy children, 7 (30.4%) isolates were MIC ${\leq}$1.0 ${\mu}g$/mL and 19 (82.6%) were MIC ${\leq}$2 ${\mu}g$/mL for amoxicillin. Amoxicillin 40 mg/kg/day achieved PTA >90% at MIC ${\leq}$1.0 ${\mu}g$/mL but PTA decreased to 52% at MIC 2 ${\mu}g$/mL, whereas amoxicillin 90 mg/kg/day can predict 97% of PTA at MIC 2 ${\mu}g$/mL. Overall, oral amoxicillin 90 mg/ kg/day for the empirical treatment against pneumococcus can expect more successful response in Korean children. Conclusion : Considering the resistantce pattern of pneumococci in Korean children, we estimate that oral amoxicillin 90 mg/kg/day will provide a pharmacodynamic advantage for the empirical treatment against pneumococcus. And low dose amoxicillin or macrolide are expected to have higher chance of treatment failure than high dose oral amoxicillin.

Buffer Sizing Method of CCPM Technique Using Statistical Analysis (통계분석을 이용한 CCPM 기법에서의 버퍼 산정방법)

  • Liu, Jing-Chao;WhangBo, Taeg-Keun
    • The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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    • v.12 no.8
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    • pp.29-36
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    • 2012
  • In CCPM Technique, as the buffer size calculation method, the Cut and Paste(C&P) method and the Root Square Error (RSE) method for all tasks carried out the same treatment, without considering the actual situation and characteristics of the task, the lack of reasonable judgment, is too simple and hasty. In this paper, taking into account the limitations of existing methods, a new method of buffer sizing method based on statistical analysis was introduced. It makes statistical analysis for the relationship between each worker and a variety of tasks, and use the information to predict the next task time. In order to verify the effectiveness of the new method, according to different task difficulty and the number of tasks set up the project. Use C&P, RSE method and new methods to predict the time of the project. Through Monte Carlo Simulation to simulate the project time, a comparison of three methods of performance. The results show that the new method can achieve the managers expect the probability of completion, and for those tasks can be completed ahead of schedule, the new method can save project time.