• Title/Summary/Keyword: safety margins

Search Result 93, Processing Time 0.024 seconds

Does reduction of the oncologic safety margin for facial basal cell carcinoma result in higher recurrence rates?

  • Kim, Eon Su;Yang, Chae Eun;Chung, Yoon Kyu
    • Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
    • /
    • v.22 no.3
    • /
    • pp.135-140
    • /
    • 2021
  • Background: Wide surgical excision is the gold standard for basal cell carcinoma (BCC) treatment. Typically, resection requires a safety margin ≥ 4 mm. We aimed to confirm BCC excisions' cancer recurrence rate and safety on the facial region with new safety margins. Methods: We included patients with primary BCC on the facial region who underwent wide excision with 2- or 3-mm safety margins at our institution between January 2010 and December 2018. Medical records were reviewed to confirm the epidemiology and surgical information. Recurrence was confirmed by physical examination through regular 6-month follow-up. Results: We included 184 out of 233 patients in this study after applying the exclusion criteria. The mean age and follow-up period were 71.2±10.2 years and 29.3±13.5 months, respectively. The predominantly affected area was the nose (95 cases); a V-Y advancement flap was the most commonly used surgical method. There were two cases of recurrence in the 2 mm margin group and one recurrence in the group resected with 3 mm margins. Conclusion: In this large cohort study, we found 2-3 mm excision margins can yield enough safety in facial BCCs. The recurrence rates were found to be comparable with those reported after wider margins.

POWER UPRATES IN NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS: INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCES AND APPROACHES FOR IMPLEMENTATION

  • Kang, Ki-Sig
    • Nuclear Engineering and Technology
    • /
    • v.40 no.4
    • /
    • pp.255-268
    • /
    • 2008
  • The greater demand for electricity and the available capacity within safety margins in some operating NPPs are prompting nuclear utilities to request license modification to enable operation at a higher power level, beyond their original license provisions. Such plant modifications require an in-depth safety analysis to evaluate the possible safety impact. The analysis must consider the thermo hydraulic, radiological and structural aspects, and the plant behavior, while taking into account the capability of the structures, systems and components, and the reactor protection and safeguard systems set points. The purpose of this paper is to introduce international experiences and approaches for implementation of power uprates related to the reactor thermal power of nuclear power plants. The paper is intended to give the reader a general overview of the major processes, work products, issues, challenges, events, and experiences in the power uprates program. The process of increasing the licensed power level of a nuclear power plants is called a power uprate. One way of increasing the thermal output from a reactor is to increase the amount of fissile material in use. It is also possible to increase the core power by increasing the performance of the high power bundles. Safety margins can be maintained by either using fuels with a higher performance, or through the use of improved methods of analysis to demonstrate that the required margins are retained even at the higher power levels. The paper will review all types of power uprates, from small to large, and across various reactor types, including light and heavy water, pressurized, and boiling water reactors. Generally, however, the content of the report focuses on power uprates of the stretch and extended type. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is developing a technical guideline on power uprates and side effects of power uprates in nuclear power plants.

Nonlinear finite element analysis of reinforced concrete corbels at both deterministic and probabilistic levels

  • Strauss, Alfred;Mordini, Andrea;Bergmeister, Konrad
    • Computers and Concrete
    • /
    • v.3 no.2_3
    • /
    • pp.123-144
    • /
    • 2006
  • Reinforced concrete corbels are structural elements widely used in practical engineering. The complex response of these elements is described in design codes in a simplified manner. These formulations are not sufficient to show the real behavior, which, however, is an essential prerequisite for the manufacturing of numerous elements. Therefore, a deterministic and probabilistic study has been performed, which is described in this contribution. Real complex structures have been modeled by means of the finite element method supported primarily by experimental works. The main objective of this study was the detection of uncertainties effects and safety margins not captured by traditional codes. This aim could be fulfilled by statistical considerations applied to the investigated structures. The probabilistic study is based on advanced Monte Carlo simulation techniques and sophisticated nonlinear finite element formulations.

Prediction of Local Tumor Progression after Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) of Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Assessment of Ablative Margin Using Pre-RFA MRI and Post-RFA CT Registration

  • Yoon, Jeong Hee;Lee, Jeong Min;Klotz, Ernst;Woo, Hyunsik;Yu, Mi Hye;Joo, Ijin;Lee, Eun Sun;Han, Joon Koo
    • Korean Journal of Radiology
    • /
    • v.19 no.6
    • /
    • pp.1053-1065
    • /
    • 2018
  • Objective: To evaluate the clinical impact of using registration software for ablative margin assessment on pre-radiofrequency ablation (RFA) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and post-RFA computed tomography (CT) compared with the conventional side-by-side MR-CT visual comparison. Materials and Methods: In this Institutional Review Board-approved prospective study, 68 patients with 88 hepatocellulcar carcinomas (HCCs) who had undergone pre-RFA MRI were enrolled. Informed consent was obtained from all patients. Pre-RFA MRI and post-RFA CT images were analyzed to evaluate the presence of a sufficient safety margin (${\geq}3mm$) in two separate sessions using either side-by-side visual comparison or non-rigid registration software. Patients with an insufficient ablative margin on either one or both methods underwent additional treatment depending on the technical feasibility and patient's condition. Then, ablative margins were re-assessed using both methods. Local tumor progression (LTP) rates were compared between the sufficient and insufficient margin groups in each method. Results: The two methods showed 14.8% (13/88) discordance in estimating sufficient ablative margins. On registration software-assisted inspection, patients with insufficient ablative margins showed a significantly higher 5-year LTP rate than those with sufficient ablative margins (66.7% vs. 27.0%, p = 0.004). However, classification by visual inspection alone did not reveal a significant difference in 5-year LTP between the two groups (28.6% vs. 30.5%, p = 0.79). Conclusion: Registration software provided better ablative margin assessment than did visual inspection in patients with HCCs who had undergone pre-RFA MRI and post-RFA CT for prediction of LTP after RFA and may provide more precise risk stratification of those who are treated with RFA.

Application of Aircraft Reduced Takeoff Thrust Method (항공기 이륙추력 감소법 적용)

  • Noh, Kun-Soo
    • Journal of the Korean Society for Aviation and Aeronautics
    • /
    • v.15 no.3
    • /
    • pp.70-76
    • /
    • 2007
  • The benefits for using reduced takeoff thrust are many, ranging from lower maintenance and operating costs to improved engine and dispatch reliabilities. Some pilots, however, are apprehensive about using reduced thrust. They are particularly reluctant to use the maximum permissible level of reduced thrust. Two common arguments are (1)If reduced thrust is used, then the airplane will not be able to clear the obstacles if an engine fails during takeoff, and (2)If the maximum allowable assumed temperature is used, then there will be no stopping margin left if the takeoff is aborted. There is the notion that using reduced thrust sacrifices safety. The intent of this discussion is to: (1)Show that reduced thrust performance meets all regulatory requirements (2)Show that the Assumed Temperature method includes inherent extra performance margins (3)Show how to maximize performance margins while maximizing thrust reduction.

  • PDF

eXtended Statistical Combination of Uncertainties (XSCU) Method for Digital Nuclear Power Plants

  • In, Wang-Kee;Hwang, Dae-Hyun;Kim, Joon-Sung;Auh, Geun-Sun
    • Nuclear Engineering and Technology
    • /
    • v.30 no.6
    • /
    • pp.617-627
    • /
    • 1998
  • A technically more direct Statistical Combination of Uncertainties (SCU) method, extended SCU (XSCU), was developed to statistically combine the uncertainties associated with the DNBR alarm setpoint and the DNBR trip setpoint of digital nuclear power plants. The Modified SCU (MSCU) method is currently used as the USNRC approved design method to perform the same function. In this study, the MSCU and XSCU methods were compared in terms of the total uncertainties, and the thermal margins to the DNBR alarm and trip setpoints. The MSCU method resulted in small total uncertainties due to large negative biases which are unphysical. The XSCU method gives virtually unbiased total uncertainties which are physically meaningful in order to represent the actual magnitude of the total uncertainties associated with the DNBR alarm and trip setpoints. But the thermal margins to the DNBR alarm and trip setpoints by the MSCU method agree with those by the XSCU method within allowable statistical Variations.

  • PDF

Analysis of Loss of Offsite Power Transient Using RELAP5/MOD1/NSC; II: KNU1 Design-Base Simulation (RELAP5/MOD1/NSC를 이용한 원자력 1호기 외부전원상실사고해석;II:설계기준사고)

  • Kim, Hyo-Jung;Chung, Bub-Dong;Lee, Young-Jin;Kim, Jin-Soo
    • Nuclear Engineering and Technology
    • /
    • v.18 no.3
    • /
    • pp.175-182
    • /
    • 1986
  • The KNUI (Korea Nuclear Unit 1) loss of offsite power transient as a design-base accident has been simulated using the RELAP5/MOD1/NSC computer code. The analysis is carried out using the best-estimate methodology, but the sequence and its assumptions are based on the evaluation methodology th at emphasizes conservatism. Important thermal-hydraulic parameters such as average temperature, steam generator level and pressurizer water volume are compared with the results in the KNU1 Final Safety Analysis Report (FSAR). The present analysis gives much lower RCS average temperature and pressurizer water volume, and much higher S/G water volume at the turnaround point, which may be considered to be additional improved safety margins. This is expected since the present analysis deals with the best-estimate thermal-hydraulic models as well as the initial conditions on a best-estimate basis. These additional safety margins may contribute to further validate the safety of the KNU1 in this type of accidents(Decrease in Heat Removal by the Secondary System).

  • PDF

Core Size Effects on Safety Performances of LMRs

  • Na, Byung-Chan;Dohee Hahn
    • Proceedings of the Korean Nuclear Society Conference
    • /
    • 1997.10a
    • /
    • pp.645-650
    • /
    • 1997
  • An oxide fuel small size core (1200 MWt) was analyzed in comparison with a large size core (3600 MWt) in order to evaluate the size effects on transient safety performances of liquid-metal reactors (LMRs). in the first part of the study, main static safety parameters (i.e., Doppler coefficient, sodium void effect, etc.) of the two cores were characterized, and the second part of the study was focused on the dynamic behavior of the cores in two representative transient events: the unprotected loss-of-flow(ULOF) and the unprotected transient overpower (UTOP). Margins to fuel molting and sodium boiling have been evaluated for these representative transients. Results show that the small core has a generally better or equivalent level of safety performances during these events.

  • PDF

Reliability analysis by numerical quadrature and maximum entropy method

  • Zhu, Tulong
    • Structural Engineering and Mechanics
    • /
    • v.3 no.2
    • /
    • pp.135-144
    • /
    • 1995
  • Since structural systems may fail in any one of several failure modes, computation of system reliability is always difficult. A method using numerical quadrature for computing structural system reliability with either one or more than one failure mode is presented in this paper. Statistically correlated safety margin equations are transformed into a group of uncorrelated variables and the joint density function of these uncorrelated variables can be generated by using the Maximum Entropy Method. Structural system reliability is then obtained by integrating the joint density function with the transformed safety domain enclosed within a set of linear equations. The Gaussian numerical integration method is introduced in order to improve computational accuracy. This method can be used to evaluate structural system reliability for Gaussian or non-Gaussian variables with either linear or nonlinear safety boundaries. It is also valid for implicit safety margins such as computer programs. Both the theory and the examples show that this method is simple in concept and easy to implement.

Quantification of Reactor Safety Margins for Large Break LOCA with Application of Realistic Evaluation Methodology (최적평가 방법론의 적용에 의한 대형냉각재 상실사고시의 원자로 안전여유도의 정량화)

  • B.D. Chung;Lee, Y.J.;T.S. Hwang;Lee, W.J.;Lee, S.Y.
    • Nuclear Engineering and Technology
    • /
    • v.26 no.3
    • /
    • pp.355-366
    • /
    • 1994
  • The USNRC issued a revised ECCS rule that allows the use of best estimate computer codes for safety analysis. The rule also requires an estimation of uncertainty in calculated system response when applying the best estimate computer codes. A practical realistic evaluation methodology to evaluate the ECCS performance that satisfies the requirements of the ECCS rule has been developed and this paper describes the application of new realistic evaluation methodology to large break LOCA for, the demonstration of the new methodology. The computer code RELAP5/MOD3/KAERI, which was improved from RELAP5/MOD3.1, was used as the best estimate code in the application. The uncertainty of the code was evaluated by assessing several separate and integral effect tests, and for the application to actual plant Kori 3 & 4 was selected as the reference plant. Response surfaces for blowdown and reflood PCTs were generated from the results of the sensitivity analyses and probability distribution functions were established by random sampling or Monte-Carlo method for each response surface. Final uncertainties were quantified at 95% probability level and safety margins for large break LOCA were discussed.

  • PDF