• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.52 no.8
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• pp.1792-1797
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• 2020

The shielding characteristics of two concrete blocks, widely used in the building industry in Mexico have been determined. These characteristics include the mass interaction coefficients, the linear attenuation coefficients and the half-value layers. The energy-dispersed X-ray fluorescence shows that the percentage mass content of each atom in the sample, and the atomic volume of the constituent elements of a material, plays an important role in its shielding capabilities. The total linear attenuation coefficients and the half-value layers were analyzed for a set of photon energies related to X-rays for diagnosis and cancer treatment with linear accelerators. Our results show that the concrete blocks have similar photon attenuation coefficients than the Portland concrete and better features than gypsum.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.164-171
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• 2022

The number of facilities using radiation generators increases and related regulations are strengthened, the establishment of a shielding management and evaluation technology has become important. The characteristics of the radiation generator used in previous report differ from those of currently available high-frequency radiation generators. This study aimed to manufacture lead, iron, and concrete shielding materials for the re-verification of half-value layers, tenth-value layers, and attenuation curve. For a comparison of attenuation ratio, iron, lead, and concrete shields were manufactured in this study. The initial dose was measured without shielding materials, and doses measured under different types and thicknesses of shielding material were compared with the initial dose to calculate the transmission rate on 50-300 kVp X-ray. All the three shielding materials showed a tendency to require greater shielding thickness for higher energy. The attenuation graph showed an exponential shape as the thickness decreased and a straight line as the thickness increased. The difference between the measurement results and the previous study, except in extrapolated parts, may be due to the differences in the radiation generation characteristics between the generators used in the two studies. The attenuated graph measured in this study better reflects the characteristics of current radiation generators, which would be more effective for shield designing.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.72-78
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• 2019

Background: In the calibration and testing laboratory of Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, the old X-ray generator used for the production of reference X-ray fields was replaced with a new one. For this newly installed X-ray irradiation system, beam alignment as well as the verification of beam qualities was conducted. Materials and Methods: The existing X-ray generator, Phillips MG325, was replaced with YXLON Y.TU 320-D03 in order to generate reference X-ray fields. Theoretical calculations and Monte Carlo simulations were used to determine initial filter thickness. Beam alignment was performed in three steps to deliver a homogeneous radiation dosage to the target at different distances. Finally, the half-value layers were measured for different X-ray fields to verify beam qualities by using an ion chamber. Results and Discussion: Beam alignment was performed in three steps, and collimators and other components were arranged to maintain the uniformity of the mean air kerma rate within ${\pm}2.5%$ at the effective beam diameter of 28 cm. The beam quality was verified by using half-value layer measurement methods specified by American National Standard Institute (ANSI) N13.11-2009 and International Organization for Standardization (ISO)-4037. For each of the nine beams than can be generated by the new X-ray irradiation system, air kerma rates for X-ray fields of different beam qualifies were measured. The results showed that each air kerma rate and homogeneity coefficient of the first and second half-value layers were within ${\pm}5%$ of the recommended values in the standard documents. Conclusion: The results showed that the new X-ray irradiation system provides beam qualities that are as high as moderate beam qualities offered by National Institute of Standards and Technology in ANSI N13.11-2009 and those for narrow-spectrum series of ISO-4037.

• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.115-119
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• 2008

The authors predicted that $Co_2HfSi$, a $Co_2$-based full Heusler alloy, is being a half-metallic ferromagnet by first-principles calculations using the all electron full-potential linearized augmented plane wave method which adopts the generalized gradient approximation. The integer value of the calculated total magnetic moment of 2.00 ${\mu}_B$ per formula unit and a spin gap of 0.69 eV in spin down state confirmed the half-metallicity of bulk $Co_2HfSi$. For the $Co_2HfSi$(001) surface, we considered two possible surface terminations, namely, Co terminated and HfSi terminated surfaces. It was found that half-metallicity was retained at the HfSi-terminated surface but not at the Co-terminated surface. The magnetic moment of surface Co atoms in the Co-terminated surface was slightly lower than that of Co atoms in deep inner-layers, whereas the magnetic moments of Hf and Si atoms at the HfSi-terminated surface were almost same as those in deep inner-layers.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.701-708
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• 2022

The mass attenuation coefficients (μ_m) of polyethylene glycol (PEG) of different molecular weights (1000-200,000) were measured using single-beam photon transmission. The X-ray fluorescent (XRF) photons from Zinc (Zn), Zirconium (Zr), Molybdenum (Mo), Silver (Ag) and Cadmium (Cd) targets were used to determine the attenuation of gamma radiation of energy range between 8.67 and 23.19 keV in PEG samples. The results were compared to theoretical values using XCOM and Monte Carlo simulation using Geant4 toolkit which was developed to validate the experiment at those certain energies. The mass attenuation coefficients were then used to compute the effective atomic numbers, electron density and half value layers for the studied samples. The outcomes showed good agreement between experimental and simulated results with those calculated theoretically by XCOM within 5% deviation. The PEG 1000 sample showed slightly higher μ_m value compared with the other samples. The dependence of the photon energy and PEG composition on the values of μ_m and HVL were investigated and discussed. In addition, the values of Z_eff and N_eff for all PEG samples behaved similarly in the given photon energy range, and they decreased as the photon energy increased.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.9
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• pp.3470-3477
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• 2022

Soils are porous materials with high shielding capability to attenuate gamma and X-rays. The disposal of radionuclides throughout the soil profile can expose the living organisms to ionizing radiation. Thus, studies aiming to analyze the shielding properties of the soils are of particular interest for radiation shielding. Investigations on evaluating the shielding capabilities of highly weathered soils are still scarce, meaning that additional research is necessary to check their efficiency to attenuate radiation. In this study, the radiation shielding properties of contrasting soils were evaluated. The radiation interaction parameters assessed were attenuation coefficients, mean free path, and half- and tenth-value layers. At low photon energies, the photoelectric absorption contribution to the attenuation coefficient predominated, while at intermediate and high photon energies, the incoherent scattering and pair production were the dominant effects. Soils with the highest densities presented the best shielding properties, regardless of their chemical compositions. Increases in the attenuation coefficient and decreases in shielding parameters of the soils were associated with increases in clay, Fe₂O₃, Al₂O₃, and TiO₂ amounts. In addition, this paper provides a comprehensive description of the shielding properties of weathered soils showing the importance of their granulometric fractions and oxides to the attenuation of the radiation.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.503-508
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• 2008

In order to reduce the piezoelectric field originated from the well layer which resides in InGaN/GaN light emitting diode, InGaN/GaN superlattice buffer layers were grown at the bottom and the top of the active layer. Measuring the photoluminescence spectra with different reverse bias voltages clearly revealed the condition of the flat band under which the transition energy is maximized and the linewidth is minimized. Accordingly, the piezoelectric field of $In_{0.15}Ga_{0.85}N$ in our sample was estimated as -1.08 MV/cm. It is less than half the value reported in the previous studies, and it is evidenced that the strain has reduced due to the superlattice buffer layers.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.1049-1061
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• 2022

Neutron and gamma-ray shielding properties of Inconel 718 reinforced B₄C (0-25 wt%) were investigated using PSD software. Mean free path (MFP), linear and mass attenuation coefficients (LAC,MAC), tenth-value and half-value layers (TVL,HVL), effective atomic number (Z_eff), exposure buildup factors (EBF), and fast neutron removal cross-sections (FNRC) values were calculated for 0.015-15 MeV. It was found that MAC and LAC increased with the decrease in the content of B₄C compound by weight in Inconel 718. The EBFs were computed using G-P fitting method for 0.015-15 MeV up to the penetration depth of 40 mfp. HVL, TVL, and FNRC values were found to range between 0.018 cm and 3.6 cm, between 2.46 cm and 12.087 cm, and between 0.159 cm^-1 and 0.194 cm^-1, respectively. While Inconel 718 provides the maximum photon shielding property since it offered the highest values of MAC and Z_eff and the lowest value of HVL, Inconel 718 with B₄C(25 wt%) was observed to provide the best shielding material for neutron since it offered the highest FNRC value. The study is original in terms of several aspects; moreover, the results of the study may be used in nuclear technology, as well as other technologies including nano and space technologies.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.111-114
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• 2006

We investigated the magnetism and electronic structures for the layered structures consisting of (110) layers of zinc-blende CrAs and MnAs. We calculated the electronic structures for $(CrAs)_3(MnAs)_3(110)$ superlattice consisted of alternating three layers of CrAs(110) and MnAs(110) by the full-potential linearized augmented plane wave (FLAPW) method. The calculated magnetic moment of Cr in interface layer ($3.07\;\mu_B$) was slightly larger than that of Cr atom in center layer ($3.06\;\mu_B$), while that of interface Mn atom ($3.74\;\mu_B$) was slightly smaller than the value of Mn atom in center layer ($3.76\;\mu_B$). The electronic structure and half-metallicity in this superlattice were discussed using the calculated density of states.

• Journal of Information Science Theory and Practice
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.71-83
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• 2016

Purpose. The purpose of this paper is to analyze and evaluate discovery layer search tools for retrieval of legal information in Indian law libraries. This paper covers current practices in legal information retrieval with special reference to Indian academic law libraries, and analyses its importance in the domain of law.Design/Methodology/Approach. A web survey and observational study method are used to collect the data. Data related to the discovery tools were collected using email and further discussion held with the discovery layer/ tool /product developers and their representatives.Findings. Results show that most of the Indian law libraries are subscribing to bundles of legal information resources such as Hein Online, JSTOR, LexisNexis Academic, Manupatra, Westlaw India, SCC web, AIR Online (CDROM), and so on. International legal and academic resources are compatible with discovery tools because they support various standards related to online publishing and dissemination such as OAI/PMH, Open URL, MARC21, and Z39.50, but Indian legal resources such as Manupatra, Air, and SCC are not compatible with the discovery layers. The central index is one of the important components in a discovery search interface, and discovery layer services/tools could be useful for Indian law libraries also if they can include multiple legal and academic resources in their central index. But present practices and observations reveal that discovery layers are not providing facility to cover legal information resources. Therefore, in the present form, discovery tools are not very useful; they are an incomplete and half solution for Indian libraries because all available Indian legal resources available in the law libraries are not covered.Originality/Value. Very limited research or published literature is available in the area of discovery layers and their compatibility with legal information resources.