• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.421-433
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• 2023

The final disposal of spent nuclear fuel(SNF) from nuclear power plants takes place in a deep geological repository. The metal canister encasing the SNF is made of cast iron and copper, and is engineered to effectively isolate radioactive isotopes for a long period of time. The SNF is further shielded by a multi-barrier disposal system comprising both engineering and natural barriers. The deep disposal environment gradually changes to an anaerobic reducing environment. In this environment, sulfide is one of the most probable substances to induce corrosion of copper canister. Stress-corrosion cracking(SCC) triggered by sulfide can carry substantial implications for the integrity of the copper canister, potentially posing a significant threat to the long-term safety of the deep disposal repository. Sulfate can exist in various forms within the deep disposal environment or be introduced from the geosphere. Sulfate has the potential to be transformed into sulfide by sulfate-reducing bacteria(SRB), and this converted sulfide can contribute to the corrosion of the copper canister. Bentonite, which is considered as a potential material for buffering and backfilling, contains oxidized sulfate minerals such as gypsum(CaSO4). If there is sufficient space for microorganisms to thrive in the deep disposal environment and if electron donors such as organic carbon are adequately supplied, sulfate can be converted to sulfide through microbial activity. However, the majority of the sulfides generated in the deep disposal system or introduced from the geosphere will be intercepted by the buffer, with only a small amount reaching the metal canister. Pyrite, one of the potential sulfide minerals present in the deep disposal environment, can generate sulfates during the dissolution process, thereby contributing to the corrosion of the copper canister. However, the quantity of oxidation byproducts from pyrite is anticipated to be minimal due to its extremely low solubility. Moreover, the migration of these oxidized byproducts to the metal canister will be restricted by the low hydraulic conductivity of saturated bentonite. We have comprehensively analyzed and summarized key research cases related to the presence of sulfates, reduction processes, and the formation and behavior characteristics of sulfides and pyrite in the deep disposal environment. Our objective was to gain an understanding of the impact of sulfates and sulfides on the long-term safety of high-level radioactive waste disposal repository.

• Asia Marketing Journal
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.1-24
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• 2012

Nowadays, customer satisfaction has been one of company's major objectives, and the index to measure and communicate customer satisfaction has been generally accepted among business practices. The major issues of CSI(customer satisfaction index) are three questions, as follows: (a)what level of customer satisfaction is tolerable, (b)whether customer satisfaction and company performance has positive causality, and (c)what to do to improve customer satisfaction. Among these, the second issue is recently attracting academic research in several perspectives. On this study, the second issue will be addressed. Many researchers including Anderson have regarded customer satisfaction as core competencies, such as brand equity, customer equity. They want to verify following causality "customer satisfaction → market performance(market share, sales growth rate) → financial performance(operating margin, profitability) → corporate value performance(stock price, credit ratings)" based on the process model of marketing performance. On the other hand, Insoo Jeon and Aeju Jeong(2009) verified sequential causality based on the process model by the domestic data. According to the rejection of several hypotheses, they suggested the balance model of marketing performance as an alternative. The objective of this study, based on the existing process model, is to examine the causal relationship between customer satisfaction and corporate value performance. Anderson and Mansi(2009) proved the relationship between ACSI(American Customer Satisfaction Index) and credit ratings using 2,574 samples from 1994 to 2004 on the assumption that credit rating could be an indicator of a corporate value performance. The similar study(Sangwoon Yoon, 2010) was processed in Korean data, but it didn't confirm the relationship between KCSI(Korean CSI) and credit ratings, unlike the results of Anderson and Mansi(2009). The summary of these studies is in the Table 1. Two studies analyzing the relationship between customer satisfaction and credit ratings weren't consistent results. So, in this study we are to test the conflicting results of the relationship between customer satisfaction and credit ratings based on the research model considering Korean credit ratings. To prove the hypothesis, we suggest the research model as follows. Two important features of this model are the inclusion of important variables in the existing Korean credit rating system and government support. To control their influences on credit ratings, we included three important variables of Korean credit rating system and government support, in case of financial institutions including banks. ROA, ER, TA, these three variables are chosen among various kinds of financial indicators since they are the most frequent variables in many previous studies. The results of the research model are relatively favorable : R², F-value and p-value is .631, 233.15 and .000 respectively. Thus, the explanatory power of the research model as a whole is good and the model is statistically significant. The research model has good explanatory power, the regression coefficients of the KCSI is .096 as positive(+) and t-value and p-value is 2.220 and .0135 respectively. As a results, we can say the hypothesis is supported. Meanwhile, all other explanatory variables including ROA, ER, log(TA), GS_DV are identified as significant and each variables has a positive(+) relationship with CRS. In particular, the t-value of log(TA) is 23.557 and log(TA) as an explanatory variables of the corporate credit ratings shows very high level of statistical significance. Considering interrelationship between financial indicators such as ROA, ER which include total asset in their formula, we can expect multicollinearity problem. But indicators like VIF and tolerance limits that shows whether multicollinearity exists or not, say that there is no statistically significant multicollinearity in all the explanatory variables. KCSI, the main subject of this study, is a statistically significant level even though the standardized regression coefficients and t-value of KCSI is .055 and 2.220 respectively and a relatively low level among explanatory variables. Considering that we chose other explanatory variables based on the level of explanatory power out of many indicators in the previous studies, KCSI is validated as one of the most significant explanatory variables for credit rating score. And this result can provide new insights on the determinants of credit ratings. However, KCSI has relatively lower impact than main financial indicators like log(TA), ER. Therefore, KCSI is one of the determinants of credit ratings, but don't have an exceedingly significant influence. In addition, this study found that customer satisfaction had more meaningful impact on corporations of small asset size than those of big asset size, and on service companies than manufacturers. The findings of this study is consistent with Anderson and Mansi(2009), but different from Sangwoon Yoon(2010). Although research model of this study is a bit different from Anderson and Mansi(2009), we can conclude that customer satisfaction has a significant influence on company's credit ratings either Korea or the United State. In addition, this paper found that customer satisfaction had more meaningful impact on corporations of small asset size than those of big asset size and on service companies than manufacturers. Until now there are a few of researches about the relationship between customer satisfaction and various business performance, some of which were supported, some weren't. The contribution of this study is that credit rating is applied as a corporate value performance in addition to stock price. It is somewhat important, because credit ratings determine the cost of debt. But so far it doesn't get attention of marketing researches. Based on this study, we can say that customer satisfaction is partially related to all indicators of corporate business performances. Practical meanings for customer satisfaction department are that it needs to actively invest in the customer satisfaction, because active investment also contributes to higher credit ratings and other business performances. A suggestion for credit evaluators is that they need to design new credit rating model which reflect qualitative customer satisfaction as well as existing variables like ROA, ER, TA.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.59-66
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• 2008

This study is about manufacturing and producing girder, which is an essential component of bridge structure, in a composite of FRP + concrete. This has a higher competitive power in price than steel girder. The girder used in this study is made of glass fiber which has a lower elastic modulus than steel and thus has some technical limitations such as excessive deflection compared to steel girder and lack of production facilities in FRP production companies to make a large-section component material. Thus, this study suggested a section of a new module that will allow for applying a large section in order to solve the technical difficulties mentioned above and to secure low stiffness of FRP, developed a new FRP+concrete composite girder that is filled with the appropriate amount of concrete. To identify the structural behavior of this FRP+concrete composite girder, experiments were conducted to measure its flexural strength according to the difference in the strength of confined concrete and the existence of stud. The results of the flexural strength test confirmed the composite effect from confining concrete and the effect of increase in strength proportional to the strength of concrete. In developing FRP+concrete composite girder, NDT study was also conducted to analyze the interface characteristics of concrete and FRP.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Communications and Information Sciences
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• v.32 no.8B
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• pp.509-520
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• 2007

In this paper, we propose a real-time sensor node platform that guarantees the real-time scheduling of periodic and aperiodic tasks through a multitask-based software decomposition technique. Since existing sensor networking operation systems available in literature are not capable of supporting the real-time scheduling of periodic and aperiodic tasks, the preemption of aperiodic task with high priority can block periodic tasks, and so periodic tasks are likely to miss their deadlines. This paper presents a comprehensive evaluation of how to structure periodic or aperiodic task decomposition in real-time sensor-networking platforms as regard to guaranteeing the deadlines of all the periodic tasks and aiming to providing aperiodic tasks with average good response time. A case study based on real system experiments is conducted to illustrate the application and efficiency of the multitask-based dynamic component execution environment in the sensor node equipped with a low-power 8-bit microcontroller, an IEEE802.15.4 compliant 2.4GHz RF transceiver, and several sensors. It shows that our periodic and aperiodic task decomposition technique yields efficient performance in terms of three significant, objective goals: deadline miss ratio of periodic tasks, average response time of aperiodic tasks, and processor utilization of periodic and aperiodic tasks.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.5 no.5
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• pp.283-287
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• 2011

In this study, fine $Gd_2O_2S$:Tb powder was synthesized by using a low temperature solution-combustion method for a high-resolution digital x-ray imaging detector. From the fabricated phosphor power, the fine scintillator films was fabricated by particle sedimentation method and was investigated the luminescent property. From the experimental results of relative light output as a function of terbium concentration, the highest luminescent efficiency has at 5 wt% Tb concentration, and luminescent intensity decreased rapidly according to quenching effect about higher Tb concentration. Also, the relative light output of $270{\mu}m$-$Gd_2O_2S$:Tb film has 2945 pC/$cm^2$/mR. And light intensity was saturated at higher film thickness. Finally, to evaluate an image acquisition performance of fabricated phosphor, images were obtained by using commercial CMOS sensor and measured the MTF, NPS, and DQE. DQE(0 lp/mm) of fine phosphor film has 37%. But, DQE improvement of fine phosphor film is possible by resolving problem of film fabrication process and has a significant potential in the application of digital radiation imaging system later.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.72-77
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• 2012

Phase Contrast MR Angiography(PC MRA) is excellent MRA technique for measuring the velocity of vessels in the human body. PC MRA need to at least four images for angiogram reconstruction and it caused longer scan time. Therefore, we used keyhole imaging combined PC MRA to reduce the scan time. However, keyhole imaging can lead the erroneous effects as loss of phase information or frequency discontinuous. In this study, we applied the keyhole imaging combined 2D PC MRA for improving the temporal resolution and also measured the velocity to evaluate the accuracy of phase information. We used 0.32T MRI scanner(Magfinder II, Scimedix, Korea). Using the 2D PC MRA pulse sequence, the vascular images for a human brain targeted on the Superior Sagittal Sinus(SSS) were obtained. We applied tukey window function for keyhole images to minimize the ringing artifact and erroneous factors that are induced frequency discontinuous and phase information loss. We also applied zero-padded algorithm to peripheral missing k-space lines to compare keyhole imaging results and the artifact power(AP) value was measured on the complex difference images to validate the image quality. Consider as based on our results, heavy image distortions and artifacts were shown until using at least 50% keyhole factor. Using above the 50% keyhole factors are shown well reconstructed and matched for magnitude images and velocity information measurements. In conclusion, we confirmed the image quality and velocity information of keyhole technique combined 2D PC MRA. Especially, measured velocity information through the keyhole imaging combination was similar to the velocity information of full sampled k-space image despite of frequency discontinuous and phase information loss in the keyhole imaging reconstruction process. Consequently, the keyhole imaging combined 2D PC MRA will give some clinical usefulness and advantages as improving the temporal resolution and measuring the velocity information via selecting the appropriate keyhole factor at low tesla MRI system.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.49-58
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• 2015

This paper investigated far-infrared emission characteristics of ZrC imbedded heat storage knitted fabrics for emotional garment. For this purpose, ZrC imbedded heat storage PET was spun with high viscosity PET imbedded ZrC powder on the core part and low viscosity PET on the sheath part by conjugated spinning method. Ingredient analysis and far-infrared emission characteristics assessment of spun filament were carried out by EDS and FT-IR spectrometer. Two kinds of knitted fabrics were made using texturized ZrC imbedded PET for measuring thermal characteristics of ZrC imbedded heat storage PET. Zr peak was certified by EDS measurement and it was confirmed that content of Zr was 19.29%. Far-infrared analysis revealed that emission power at the range of wavelength, $5{\sim}20{\mu}m$ was $3.65{\times}10^2W/m^2$, and emissivity was 0.906. Heat storage analysis by KES-F7 system revealed that $Q_{max}$ of ZrC imbedded PET knitted fabric was lower than that of regular PET one and warmth keepability rate was higher than that of regular one, which means that ZrC imbedded PET knitted fabric has heat storage property. Thermal conductivity of ZrC imbedded PET knitted fabric was higher than that of regular PET one which was caused by high thermal conductivity of Zr itself. Hand property of ZrC imbedded knitted fabric was not inferior compared to regular PET knitted fabric, which preferably was found to be dependent on knit structure and surface property.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.37 no.8
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• pp.781-788
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• 2013

Predicting the engine component temperature is a basic step to conduct structural safety evaluation in medium-speed diesel engine design. Recent trends such as increasing power density and performance necessitate more effective thermal management of the engine for achieving the desired durability and reliability. In addition, the local temperatures of several engine components must be maintained in the proper range to avoid problems such as low- or high-temperature corrosion. Therefore, it is very important to predict the temperature distribution of each engine part accurately in the design stage. In this study, the temperature of an engine component is calculated by using steady-state conjugate heat transfer analysis. A proper approach to determine the thermal load distribution on the thermal boundary area is suggested by using 1D engine system analysis, 3D transient CFD results, and previous experimental data from another developed engine model. A Hyundai HiMSEN engine having 250-mm bore size was chosen to validate the analysis procedure. The predicted results showed a reasonable agreement with experimental results.

• KIPS Transactions on Computer and Communication Systems
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• v.9 no.11
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• pp.265-272
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• 2020

In the research of brain computer interface (BCI) technology, one of the big problems encountered is how to deal with some people as called the BCI-illiteracy group who could not control the BCI system. To approach this problem efficiently, we investigated a kind of spectral EEG characteristics in the prior resting state in association with BCI performance in the following BCI tasks. First, spectral powers of EEG signals in the resting state with both eyes-open and eyes-closed conditions were respectively extracted. Second, a convolution neural network (CNN) based binary classifier discriminated the binary motor imagery intention in the BCI task. Both the linear correlation and binary prediction methods confirmed that the spectral EEG characteristics in the prior resting state were highly related to the BCI performance in the following BCI task. Linear regression analysis demonstrated that the relative ratio of the 13 Hz below and above the spectral power in the resting state with only eyes-open, not eyes-closed condition, were significantly correlated with the quantified metrics of the BCI performance (r=0.544). A binary classifier based on the linear regression with L1 regularization method was able to discriminate the high-performance group and low-performance group in the following BCI task by using the spectral-based EEG features in the precedent resting state (AUC=0.817). These results strongly support that the spectral EEG characteristics in the frontal regions during the resting state with eyes-open condition should be used as a good predictor of the following BCI task performance.

• Journal of KIISE:Computer Systems and Theory
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.75-84
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• 2005

This research is to design a high performance NAND-type flash memory package with a smart buffer cache that enhances the exploitation of spatial and temporal locality. The proposed buffer structure in a NAND flash memory package, called as a smart buffer cache, consists of three parts, i.e., a fully-associative victim buffer with a small block size, a fully-associative spatial buffer with a large block size, and a dynamic fetching unit. This new NAND-type flash memory package can achieve dramatically high performance and low power consumption comparing with any conventional NAND-type flash memory. Our results show that the NAND flash memory package with a smart buffer cache can reduce the miss ratio by around 70% and the average memory access time by around 67%, over the conventional NAND flash memory configuration. Also, the average miss ratio and average memory access time of the package module with smart buffer for a given buffer space (e.g., 3KB) can achieve better performance than package modules with a conventional direct-mapped buffer with eight times(e.g., 32KB) as much space and a fully-associative configuration with twice as much space(e.g., 8KB)