• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.53-60
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• 2012

The aim of this study was to explore the spatial and energy resolutions of a PET scanner that we have recently developed. The scanner, which consists of six detector modules with 1-layer LGSO crystals, has a hexagonal configuration with a faceto- face distance of 86.4 mm between two opposite PET modules; such properties facilitate the imaging of small animals. A $^{22}Na$ point source was employed to estimate horizontal and vertical spatial resolutions. To assess the energy resolution, a uniform $^{18}F$ cylindrical phantom was scanned. A software-based spectrum analysis of list-mode data was used to assign a local energy window centered on the photopeak position for every single crystal. For the image reconstruction, an ML-EM algorithm was used. The spatial resolutions at the center of the scanner were 0.99 mm in the horizontal direction and 1.13 mm in the vertical direction. The energy resolution averaged over each PMT ranged from 13.3%-14.3%, which gave an average value of 13.8%. These results show that this simple system is promising for small animal imaging with excellent spatial and energy resolutions.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.248-257
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• 2020

This study presents an initial design for a novel system consisting in a coupled nuclear reactor and a phase change material-based thermal energy storage (TES) component, which acts as a buffer and regulator of heat transfer between the primary and secondary loops. The goal of this concept is to enhance the capacity factor of nuclear power plants (NPPs) in the case of high integration of renewable energy sources into the electric grid. Hence, this system could support in elevating the economics of NPPs in current competitive markets, especially with subsidized solar and wind energy sources, and relatively low oil and gas prices. Furthermore, utilizing a prismatic-core advanced high temperature reactor (PAHTR) cooled by a molten salt with a high melting point, have the potential in increasing the system efficiency due to its high operating temperature, and providing the baseline requirements for coupling other process heat applications. The present research studies the neutronics and thermal hydraulics (TH) of the PAHTR as well as TH calculations for the TES which consists of 300 blocks with a total heat storage capacity of 150 MWd. SERPENT Monte Carlo and MCNP5 codes carried out the neutronics analysis of the PAHTR which is sized to have a 5-year refueling cycle and rated power of 300 MW_th. The PAHTR has 10 metric tons of heavy metal with 19.75 wt% enriched UO₂ TRISO fuel, a hot clean excess reactivity and shutdown margin of $33.70 and -$115.68; respectively, negative temperature feedback coefficients, and an axial flux peaking factor of 1.68. Star-CCM + code predicted the correct convective heat transfer coefficient variations for both the reactor and the storage. TH analysis results show that the flow in the primary loop (in the reactor and TES) remains in the developing mixed convection regime while it reaches a fully developed flow in the secondary loop.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.279-286
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• 2020

In this article, we develop a reactive distillation (RD) column configuration for the production of hydrogen. This RD column is in the HI decomposition section of the sulphur - iodine (SI) thermochemical cycle, in which HI decomposition and H₂ separation take place simultaneously. The section plays a major role in high hydrogen production efficiency (that depends on reaction conversion and separation efficiency) of the SI cycle. In the column simulation, the rigorous thermodynamic phase equilibrium and reaction kinetic model are used. The tuning parameters involved in phase equilibrium model are dependent on interactive components and system temperature. For kinetic model, parameter values are adopted from the Aspen flowsheet simulator. Interestingly, there is no side reaction (e.g., solvation reaction, electrolyte decomposition and polyiodide formation) considered aiming to make the proposed model simple that leads to a challenging prediction. The process parameters are determined on the basis of optimal hydrogen production as reflux ratio = 0.87, total number of stages = 19 and feeding point at 8th stage. With this, the column operates at a reasonably low pressure (i.e., 8 bar) and produces hydrogen in the distillate with a desired composition (H₂ = 9.18 mol%, H₂O = 88.27 mol% and HI = 2.54 mol%). Finally, the results are compared with other model simulations. It is observed that the proposed scheme leads to consume a reasonably low energy requirement of 327 MJ/kmol of H₂.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.309-316
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• 2014

Objectives: This study aimed to test our hypothesis that a raise in the emergency fee implemented on March 1, 2013 has increased the proportion of patients with emergent symptoms by discouraging non-urgent emergency department visits. Methods: We conducted an analysis of 728 736 patients registered in the National Emergency Department Information System who visited level 1 and level 2 emergency medical institutes in the two-month time period from February 1, 2013, one month before the raise in the emergency fee, to March 31, 2013, one month after the raise. A difference-in-difference method was used to estimate the net effects of a raise in the emergency fee on the probability that an emergency visit is for urgent conditions. Results: The percentage of emergency department visits in urgent or equivalent patients increased by 2.4% points, from 74.2% before to 76.6% after the policy implementation. In a group of patients transferred using public transport or ambulance, who were assumed to be least conscious of cost, the change in the proportion of urgent patients was not statistically significant. On the other hand, the probability that a group of patients directly presenting to the emergency department by private transport, assumed to be most conscious of cost, showed a 2.4% point increase in urgent conditions (p<0.001). This trend appeared to be consistent across the level 1 and level 2 emergency medical institutes. Conclusions: A raise in the emergency fee implemented on March 1, 2013 increased the proportion of urgent patients in the total emergency visits by reducing emergency department visits by non-urgent patients.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.187-194
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• 1974

When rearing fish at recirculating filter systems, some pesticides are often used for controling various fish diseases. In this case, the pesticides are usually applied after stopping the filteration, from a view point of affecting the filtering ability of oxidation and decomposition by killing the decomposing bacteria in the filter system. Therefore, a great inconvenience is usually net. The authors carried out a series of experiments, and the influence of 3 kinds of treatments of pesticides, formalin 33 ppm+matachite green 0.15 ppm, dipterex 0.25 ppm, and furanace 0.1 ppm, to the filtering ability expressed as the consumption rate of dissolved oxygen and depletion of ammonia-nitrogen during the passing time through the filter layer was investigated, and it was found out that these pesticides with above mentioned concentrations which is normally used for controling several kinds of diseases and parasites during the time of eel culture, did not affect the filtering ability. Consequently, it can be said that these pesticides with above mentioned concentrations can he used without stopping filteration.

• Journal of Korean Society for Geospatial Information Science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.11-18
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• 2013

Eulsukdo located in the Nakdong Estuary plays important role in ecosystem and coastal wetland. There have been various changes in Eulsukdo up to now. Recently, we expect a great change of the western part of shoreline in Eulsukdo due to the floodgate construction but there is few databases. In this study, shorelines were digitized after we had produced the ortho-images by using aerial photos taken for 30 years(8 times). SCE, NSM and EPR were analysed by DSAS 4.2 program using vector data. In addition, the changes of shoreline were analysed in October 2011 from before Eulsukdo water gate construction to now by adding field surveying with VRS. The amount of years shoreline change is -0.34m/yr in 2009(before water gate construction) and -0.50m/yr in 2011(during the water gate construction), and the change trend shows an accumulation aspect.

• THE INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE & LAW REVIEW
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• v.14
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• pp.177-218
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• 2000

Global Electronic Trading means that trading partners trade each other via Global Electronic Trading Network, that is, global business to business electronic commerce. Recently, where the cargo arrives ahead of the B/L, the importer cannot take delivery of the cargo without the B/L. This situation is referred to as the B/L dilemma. But the BOLERO system will resolve this B/L dilemma. Bolero Project is developing a cross industry utility platform for the secure, electronic transfer of commercial trade information world wide. After the successful testing of an original pilot project, The Bolero Association was formed in 1995 by a group of interested cross industry companies. As a joint venture between SWIFT and TT Club, bolero.net is changing the way the world trades by providing a web-based, paperless mode of commerce that is designed to become a global standard. Bolero International Limited published the first edition of Bolero Rulebook in 1999. The Bolero Rulebook as amended from time to time, governing the relationship between Users and their rights and obligations arising from the Bolero system. The Bolero service will be governed by a multilateral contract called the Bolero Rule Book which specifies the rights and responsibilities of Bolero and its users. The Title Registry and Bolero Bill of Lading provide a fully functional equivalent to the paper bill of lading. The Bolero Bill of Lading can be created, transferred, amended, and surrendered by way of designating to order party, blank endorsement, refusal by the transferee etc. Thus, this study deals with the functions of Bolero Bill of Lading and the problems and solutions in the Bolero Bill of Lading in point of definitions and operation under the Bolero Rulebook.

• International Journal of Fluid Machinery and Systems
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.392-399
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• 2009

The paper concerns the description of the step by step development process of the new fixed blade runner called "Mixer" suitable for the uprating of the Francis turbines units installed at the older low head hydropower plants. In the paper the details of hydraulic and mechanical design are presented. Since the rotational speed of the new runner is significantly higher then the rotational speed of the original Francis one, the direct coupling of the turbine to the generator can be applied. The maximum efficiency at prescribed operational point was reached by the geometry optimization of two most important components. In the first step the optimization of the draft tube geometry was carried out. The condition for the draft tube geometry optimization was to design the new geometry of the draft tube within the original bad draft tube shape without any extensive civil works. The runner blade geometry optimization was carried out on the runner coupled with the draft tube domain. The blade geometry of the runner was optimized using automatic direct search optimization procedure. The method used for the objective function minimum search is a kind of the Nelder-Mead simplex method. The objective function concerns efficiency, required net head and cavitation features. After successful hydraulic design the modal and stress analysis was carried out on the prototype scale runner. The static pressure distribution from flow simulation was used as a load condition. The modal analysis in air and in water was carried out and the results were compared. The final runner was manufactured in model scale and it is going to be tested in hydraulic laboratory. Since the turbine with the fixed blade runner does not allow double regulation like in case of full Kaplan turbine, it can be profitably used mainly at power plants with smaller changes of operational conditions or in case with more units installed. The advantages are simple manufacturing, installation and therefore lower expenses and short delivery time for turbine uprating.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.450-456
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• 2017

Reaction-bonded silicon carbide (RBSC) is a SiC-based composite ceramic fabricated by the infiltration of molten silicon into a skeleton of SiC particles and carbon, in order to manufacture a ceramic body with full density. RBSC has been widely used and studied for many years in the SiC field, because of its relatively low processing temperature for fabrication, easy use in forming components with a near-net shape, and high density, compared with other sintering methods for SiC. A radiant tube is one of the most commonly employed ceramics components when using RBSC materials in industrial fields. In this study, the mechanical strengths of commercial RBSC tubes with different sizes are evaluated using 3-point flexural and C-ring tests. The size scaling law is applied to the obtained mechanical strength values for specimens with different sizes. The discrepancy between the flexural and C-ring strengths is also discussed.

• The Journal of Industrial Distribution & Business
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.87-93
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• 2017

Purpose - This paper investigates whether managerial overconfidence is associated with firm-specific crash risk. Overconfidence leads managers to overestimate the returns of their investment projects, and misperceive negative net present value projects as value creating. They even use voluntary disclosures to convey their optimistic beliefs about the firms' long-term prospects to the stock market. Thus, the overconfidence bias can lead to managerial bad news hoarding behavior. When bad news accumulates and crosses some tipping point, it will come out all at once, resulting in a stock price crash. Research design, data and methodology - 7,385 firm-years used for the main analysis are from the KIS Value database between 2006 and 2013. This database covers KOSPI-listed and KOSDAQ-listed firms in Korea. The proxy for overconfidence is based on excess investment in assets. A residual from the regression of total asset growth on sales growth run by industry-year is used as an independent variable. If a firm has at least one crash week during a year, it is referred to as a high crash risk firm. The dependant variable is a dummy variable that equals 1 if a firm is a high crash risk firm, and zero otherwise. After explaining the relationship between managerial overconfidence and crash risk, the total sample was divided into two sub-samples; chaebol firms and non-chaebol firms. The relation between how I overconfidence and crash risk varies with business group affiliation was investigated. Results - The results showed that managerial overconfidence is positively related to crash risk. Specifically, the coefficient of OVERC is significantly positive, supporting the prediction. The results are strong and robust in non-chaebol firms. Conclusions - The results show that firms with overconfident managers are likely to experience stock price crashes. This study is related to past literature that examines the impact of managerial overconfidence on the stock market. This study contributes to the literature by examining whether overconfidence can explain a firm's future crashes.