• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.1593-1603
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• 2023

In deterministic and Monte Carlo transport codes, b-delayed emission is included using a group structure where all of the precursors are grouped together in 6 groups or families, but given the increase in computational power, nowadays there is no reason to keep this structure. Furthermore, there have been recent efforts to compile and evaluate all the available b-delayed neutron emission data and to measure new and improved data on individual precursors. In order to be able to perform a transient Monte Carlo simulation, data from individual precursors needs to be implemented in a transport code. This work is the first step towards the development of a tool to explore the effect of individual precursors in a fissile system. In concrete, individual precursor data is included by expanding the capabilities of the open source Monte Carlo code OpenMC. In the modified code - named Time Dependent OpenMC or OpenMC(TD)- time dependency related to β-delayed neutron emission was handled by using forced decay of precursors and combing of the particle population. The data for continuous energy neutron cross-sections was taken from JEFF-3.1.1 library. Regarding the data needed to include the individual precursors, cumulative yields were taken from JEFF-3.1.1 and delayed neutron emission probabilities and delayed neutron spectra were taken from ENDF-B/VIII.0. OpenMC(TD) was tested in a monoenergetic system, an energy dependent unmoderated system where the precursors were taken individually or in a group structure, and in a light-water moderated energy dependent system, using 6-groups, 50 and 40 individual precursors. Neutron flux as a function of time was obtained for each of the systems studied. These results show the potential of OpenMC(TD) as a tool to study the impact of individual precursor data on fissile systems, thus motivating further research to simulate more complex fissile systems.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.129-135
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• 2023

The diet composition of skinnycheek lanternfish, Benthosema pterotum were collected by bottom trawl net in the South Sea of Korea during 2021 (February, May, August, and November) and 2022 (February, April, August, and November). The size of the specimens ranged from 16 to 73 mm in total length. B. pterotum were mesopelagic carnivores that mainly consumed euphausiids and copepods. Its diets included small quantities of amphipods, shrimps, mysids, etc. We calculated the trophic level as 3.16 for B. pterotum. The individuals of small size class (<40 mm) fed mainly on copepods. In the next size classes (40~45 mm, 45~50 mm, 50~55 mm), copepods' proportion decreased and euphausiids increased. In the largest class (55~60 mm and ≥60 mm), the proportion of euphausiids' decreased, and shrimps increased. As the body size of B. pterotum increased the mean weight of prey per stomach (mW/ST) tended to significantly increase (One-way ANOVA, P<0.05).

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.338-348
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• 2023

Objective: Patients with a history of ischemic stroke are at risk for a second ischemic stroke. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between carotid plaque enhancement on perfluorobutane microbubble contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) and future recurrent stroke, and to determine whether plaque enhancement can contribute to risk assessment for recurrent stroke compared with the Essen Stroke Risk Score (ESRS). Materials and Methods: This prospective study screened 151 patients with recent ischemic stroke and carotid atherosclerotic plaques at our hospital between August 2020 and December 2020. A total of 149 eligible patients underwent carotid CEUS, and 130 patients who were followed up for 15-27 months or until stroke recurrence were analyzed. Plaque enhancement on CEUS was investigated as a possible risk factor for stroke recurrence and as a possible adjunct to ESRS. Results: During follow-up, 25 patients (19.2%) experienced recurrent stroke. Patients with plaque enhancement on CEUS had an increased risk of stroke recurrence events (22/73, 30.1%) compared to those without plaque enhancement (3/57, 5.3%), with an adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of 38.264 (95% confidence interval [CI]:14.975-97.767; P < 0.001) according to a multivariable Cox proportional hazards model analysis, indicating that the presence of carotid plaque enhancement was a significant independent predictor of recurrent stroke. When plaque enhancement was added to the ESRS, the HR for stroke recurrence in the high-risk group compared to that in the low-risk group (2.188; 95% CI, 0.025-3.388) was greater than that of the ESRS alone (1.706; 95% CI, 0.810-9.014). A net of 32.0% of the recurrence group was reclassified upward appropriately by the addition of plaque enhancement to the ESRS. Conclusion: Carotid plaque enhancement was a significant and independent predictor of stroke recurrence in patients with ischemic stroke. Furthermore, the addition of plaque enhancement improved the risk stratification capability of the ESRS.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.294-304
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• 2023

Objective: We aimed to investigate whether image standardization using deep learning-based computed tomography (CT) image conversion would improve the performance of deep learning-based automated hepatic segmentation across various reconstruction methods. Materials and Methods: We collected contrast-enhanced dual-energy CT of the abdomen that was obtained using various reconstruction methods, including filtered back projection, iterative reconstruction, optimum contrast, and monoenergetic images with 40, 60, and 80 keV. A deep learning based image conversion algorithm was developed to standardize the CT images using 142 CT examinations (128 for training and 14 for tuning). A separate set of 43 CT examinations from 42 patients (mean age, 10.1 years) was used as the test data. A commercial software program (MEDIP PRO v2.0.0.0, MEDICALIP Co. Ltd.) based on 2D U-NET was used to create liver segmentation masks with liver volume. The original 80 keV images were used as the ground truth. We used the paired t-test to compare the segmentation performance in the Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) and difference ratio of the liver volume relative to the ground truth volume before and after image standardization. The concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) was used to assess the agreement between the segmented liver volume and ground-truth volume. Results: The original CT images showed variable and poor segmentation performances. The standardized images achieved significantly higher DSCs for liver segmentation than the original images (DSC [original, 5.40%-91.27%] vs. [standardized, 93.16%-96.74%], all P < 0.001). The difference ratio of liver volume also decreased significantly after image conversion (original, 9.84%-91.37% vs. standardized, 1.99%-4.41%). In all protocols, CCCs improved after image conversion (original, -0.006-0.964 vs. standardized, 0.990-0.998). Conclusion: Deep learning-based CT image standardization can improve the performance of automated hepatic segmentation using CT images reconstructed using various methods. Deep learning-based CT image conversion may have the potential to improve the generalizability of the segmentation network.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.1822-1829
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• 2024

The search for materials that serve as good shields for radiation has become very important in light of the increasing exposure to ionizing radiation in various vital sectors. The aim is to search for novel materials with better radiation shielding properties that are stable, nontoxic, and abundant and environment friendly. The solidstate reaction approach has been used to synthesize a few ceramics, including BaZr_XTi_1-XO₃, Ba_1-XLa_XTiO₃ and Ba_1-XLa_XZr_XTi_1-XO₃ (with x = 0.10) i.eBaZr_0.10Ti_0.90O₃ (BZT), Ba_0.90La_0.10TiO₃ (BLT), and Ba_0.90La_0.10Zr_0.10Ti_0.90O₃ (BLZT). The density of the prepared samples varies from 6.3471 to 11.6003 g/cm³. The X-ray diffraction technique, shows strong peaks to confirm the crystalline structure of prepared ceramic samples. Using the G-P fitting approach, the advanced radiation shielding parameters (build-up factor) have been evaluated in the photon energy region of 1.5 keV-15 MeV. It is observed from the results that exposure buildup factor (EBF) and energy absorption buildup factor (EABF) are maximum for BLZT and has the minimum value for BZT in the entire photon energy regime. The results of this work should be useful in radiation shielding applications such as in industry, medicine, and nuclear engineering.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.2174-2181
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• 2024

In this work, Sr_0.5Zr₂(PO₄)₃-SmPO₄ dual-phase ceramics were prepared via in-situ synthesis process, which is a potential novel nuclear waste form for immobilizing the fission product ⁹⁰Sr and the trivalent actinide radionuclides in high-level waste (HLW). And the preparation technology, microstructure and chemical durability of Sr_0.5Zr₂(PO₄)₃-SmPO₄ dual-phase ceramics were systematically investigated. It was confirmed that the optimum microwave-sintering temperature (1050 ℃) and heat preservation time (1.5 h) is estimated by Archimedes method. Besides, the as-prepared samples that were consisted of strontium zirconium phosphate (SrZP) and monazite showed the remarkable densification, in which the two crystalline phases were intermixed well with each other. Meanwhile, the formation and evolution of microstructure was also consistent with the variational rule of Sr_0.5Zr₂(PO₄)₃/SmPO₄, indicating that there was not mutual reaction during the in-situ synthesis process. The PCT and MCC-1 experimental results demonstrated that the elemental normalized leaching rates of tested samples are all at a low level (LR_Sr ~10^-4 g·m^-2·d^-1, LR_Zr ~10^-8-10^-6 g·m^-2·d^-1, LR_Sm ~10^-7-10^-5 g·m^-2·d^-1 and LR_P ~10^-4 g·m^-2·d^-1). It is indicated that Sr_0.5Zr₂(PO₄)₃-SmPO₄ dual-phase ceramics possesses excellent chemical durability for HLW disposal.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Communications and Information Sciences
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• v.19 no.10
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• pp.2028-2042
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• 1994

Properly defining signal and noise in a self-organizing system like ART(Adaptive Resonance Theory) neural network model raises a number of subtle issues. Pattern context must enter the definition so that input features, treated as irrelevant noise when they are embedded in a given input pattern, may be treated as informative signals when they are embedded in a different input pattern. The ATR automatically self-scales their computational units to embody context and learning dependent definitions of a signal and noise and there is no problem in categorizing input pattern that have features similar in nature. However, when we have imput patterns that have features that are different in size and nature, the use of only one vigilance parameter is not enough to differentiate a signal from noise for a good categorization. For example, if the value fo vigilance parameter is large, then noise may be processed as an informative signal and unnecessary categories are generated: and if the value of vigilance parameter is small, an informative signal may be ignored and treated as noise. Hence it is no easy to achieve a good pattern categorization. To overcome such problems, a Coupled-ART neural network capable of modularized categorization of patterns is proposed. The Coupled-ART has two layer of tightly coupled modules. the upper and the lower. The lower layer processes the global features of a pattern and the structural features, separately in parallel. The upper layer combines the categorized outputs from the lower layer and categorizes the combined output, Hence, due to the modularized categorization of patterns, the Coupled-ART classifies patterns more efficiently than the ART1 model.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.189-196
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• 1998

Swage sludge cakes produced from domestic wastewater treatment plants were collected from 21 different sites throughout Korea, and chemical properties of the sludge samples were determined. Inorganic nutrient contents did not indicate great differences among swage sludges from each sites, whereas the toxic heavy metal contents differed greatly. T-N, $NH_4{^+}-N$ and $NO_3{^-}-N$ contents from 21 sites sludges ranged 2.3-6.0, 291-4284, $1.4-58.8mg\;kg^{-1}$, respectively. Heavy metal (Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn) contents ranged 2.86-58.22, 144.0-5417.3, N.D.-943.5, and $N.D.-8,083mg\;kg^{-1}$, respectively. One of the sludges was treated to soils at rates of 12.5, 25, 50. and 100, $Mg\;ha^{-1}$ and incubated for 12 weeks to determine nitrogen materialization rate. Ammoniun nitrogen content decreased sharply at higher rates of sludge treatment up to 8 weeks after treatment and did not change much, while $NO_3{^-}$ increased at all treatment levels. The net amount of mineralized N of sludge treatment rates (12.5, 25, 50, and $100Mg\;ha^{-1}$) during 12weeks incubation were 189.0, 277.2, 303.8 and $376.6mg\;kg^{-1}$.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.111-118
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• 1986

Sysnthesis and accumulation pattern or nonstructural carbohydrates in orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) cv. Potomac and Baraula, perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) cv. Reveille and Semperweide and meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis Huds.) cv. Cosmos 11 and N.F.G. were studied under different meteorological environments and cutting managements. The field experiments were conducted as a split plot design with three cutting regimes of 6-7 cuts at grzing stage, 4-5 cuts at silage stage and 3 cuts at hay stage in Korea and West Germany from 1975 to 1979. The results obtained are summarized as follows: 1. Accumlation of nonstructural carbohydrates in temperate grasses was influenced by grass species and regional climatic environments. Total nonstructural carbohydrates (TNC) of orchardgrass, perennial ryegrass and meadow fescue in Korea, taken as average of all cutting regimes, were shown a value of 4.39%, 6.08% and 8.01%, respectively, while those under cool summer climatic condition in West Germany accumulated to 10.42% (orchardgrass), 18.02% (perennial ryegrass) and 12.73% (meadow fescue). 2. Nonstructural carbohydrates in orchardgrass were accumulated mainly as mono-and disaccharose, while those in perennial ryegrass resreved as fructosan. The contents of fructosan and mono-and disaccharose were 1.34% and 3.04% for orchardgrass, 3.25% and 2.83% for perenninal ryegrass, respectively. Meadow fescue had a concentration of 3.93% fructosan and 4.08% mono-and disaccharose. 3. Synthesis and accumulation of nonstructural carbohydrates in temperate grasses were negative associated with increasing of air temperature (P$\leq$ 0.1%). Under hot stress during summer season in Korea, the contents of fructosan, mono-and disaccharose were decreased to about 0.34% nd 1.28% from a value of 1.34% and 2.69% in spring season. In Freising and Braunschweig, the concentration of reserved carbohydrates was less influenced by growing season. 4. Synthesis and accumulation pattern of nonstructural carbohydrates were shown a great respons to cutting frequency of the plants. Frequent cutting system under high temperature lowered the accumulation of reserved carbohydrates, especially fructosan and also caused to decrease the plant regrowth. However, under cool temperature, it shows a less differences of tructosan, mono-and disaccharose in the plants at all cutting systems.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.193-203
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• 2013

The social welfare service is expanding to different field as the social welfare budget is increasing. By this opportunity, it needs to make clear of the basis of argument that the necessity of development of korean government's support and aid by social policy should be worked. Welfare economics perspective, this study used by the operating expenditure in welfare facilities for the elderly old people to effect social benefits to be gained, in other words, business value analysis. Local elderly people, provide opportunities to participate in the economic activities of the family welfare services offered to attainment of the elderly welfare policy, and provide disease prevention and health promotion opportunities, to enhance the satisfaction of life, including a wide range of impact will cause. In this study, elderly people use the welfare facilities for the elderly when they get the benefits by applying the AHP analysis techniques operating value was calculated. Elderly Welfare Center operated by the result of applying P senior welfare center Case of the metropolitan area value was estimated 248.4 billion won. Contribute to the effects caused by the cost factor of the analysis was 23.1% of the total 57.3 billion won. Independence elements 57.6 billion (23.2%), the analysis of the therapeutic elements 133.4 billion (53.7%) of the net was. The result of the study anticipates the role of basic research material for the necessity of intervention, support, and aid by the Welfare facilities for the elderly field at this point in time where the welfare budget policy in terms of universal social service is reinforced, rather than the trend, until recently, of realizing the Elderly welfare budget and service as Consumption expenditure and consumable benefits and the function of performing the effect and evaluation in tentative action of social conflict.