• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2008

Active polymer gels expand and contract in response to certain environmental stimuli, such as the application of an electric field or a change in the pH level of the surroundings. This ability to achieve large, reversible deformations with no external mechanical loading has generated much interest in the use of these gels as biomimetic actuators and artificial muscles. In this study, poly (vinyl alcohol)(PVA) grafted acrylic acid monomer (PVA-g-AAc) hydrogels were prepared by $^{60}Co$ ${\gamma}-ray$ irradiation and their properties such as degree of grafting and weight swelling in electrostimulation as an artificial muscle and actuator were investigated.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.88-96
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• 2019

Terpenes constitute a large class of secondary metabolites in plants. The Oryza sativa terpene synthase is a vital gene in plant defense response. In this study, the molecular and physiological functions of Oryza sativa terpene synthase 30 (OsTPS30, LOC_Os08g07080) were investigated after exposure of the seeds and plants to gamma-rays. The OsTPS30 expression was slightly induced at 200 Gray (Gy), but was significantly induced at 400 Gy. The total terpenoid was synthesized more in OsTPS30-overexpressing (OX-OsTPS30) Arabidopsisthaliana plants than in wild-type (WT) plants. The OX-OsTPS30 plants exhibited resistance to gamma-rays, as compared to WT. The OX-OsTPS30 plants had significantly increased height and weight after gamma irradiation. Additionally, the activity of antioxidant enzymes was increased more in OX OsTPS30 plants than in WT plants after gamma irradiation. Furthermore, the OsTPS30-GFP fusion protein was mostly localized in the chloroplast, suggesting that OsTPS30 is putative MEP pathway-related terpene synthase.

• KSTLE International Journal
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.21-27
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• 2005

A technique for a wear volume calculation is improved and verified in this research. The wear profile data measured by a surface roughness tester is used. The present technique uses a data flattening, the FFT and the windowing procedure, which is used for a general signal processing. The measured value of an average roughness of an unworn surfnce is used for the baseline of the integration for the volume calculation. The improvements from the previous technique are the procedures of the data flattening and the determination of a baseline. It is found that the flattening procedure efnciently manipulates the raw data when the levels of it are not horizontal, which enables us to calculate the volume reasonably well and readily. By comparing it with the weight loss method by using artificial dents, the present method reveals more volume by aroung 3~10%. It is attributed to the protruded region of the specimen and the inaccuracy and data averaging during the weght loss measurement. From a thorough investigation, it is concluded that the present technique can provide an accurate wear volume.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.198-202
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• 1997

The oxidation behavior of UO$_2$pellets was studied using a thermogravimetric analyzer and an XRD in the temperature range of 300 to 550$^{\circ}C$ in air. From XRD studies it is found that UO$_2$is converted to U$_3$O$\_$8/ and the weight gains of UO$_2$specimen are characterized by S-shape curves. After complete oxidation the specimens broke into fine powder and the average weight gain was about 3.93 wt%. The activation energy of 50% conversion of UO$_2$to U$_3$O$\_$8/ is 81.6 kJ/mol and the oxidation rate per unit time was found to be as follows dw/dt=6.54${\times}$10$\^$6/ e (equation omitted), wt%/h : at 50% conversion of UO$_2$into U$_3$O$\_$8/ where w, t and T were wt% gain, conversion time and temperature, respectively.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.17 no.8
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• pp.603-608
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• 2009

Novel ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)/zirconia composites were previously prepared by the in situ polymerization of ethylene using a Ti-based Ziegler-Natta catalyst supported on to the surface of zirconia, as a bearing material for artificial joints. Tribological tests revealed that a uniform dispersion of zirconia in UHMWPE markedly increased the wear resistance. The effects of zirconia content on the oxidation behavior of the ${\gamma}$-ray-treated UHMWPE/zirconia composite surfaces were examined. The oxidation index that estimates the oxidation degree as the content of total carbonyl compounds was monitored using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy-attenuated total reflectance. The changes in the surface composition due to the oxidation were confirmed by electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis. The extent of oxidation decreased with increasing zirconia content, which was attributed to the increased crystallinity as well as the decreased polymer portion of the UHMWPE/zirconia composites.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.257-268
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• 2005

In this paper, a prototype of the Bridge-Transported Servo Manipulator (BTSM) system is introduced, which has been developed to do operation and maintenance jobs remotely in a hot cell. The system consists of a telescopic transporter, a slave arm, a master arm, and a control system. Several tests such as a positional tracking, a weight handling, reliability, and operability have been performed and test results are presented. Based on the test results, an upgraded system which will be used during demonstrations of the advanced spent fuel conditioning process (ACP) has been designed.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.410-416
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• 2010

Studies were carried out to establish the technology for sodium-clad compatibility and to analyze the compatibility behavior of the Sodium-cooled Fast Reactor (SFR) cladding material under a flowing sodium environment. The natural circulation facility caused by the thermal convection of the liquid sodium was constructed and the 316-series stainless steels were exposed at $650{^{\circ}C}$ liquid sodium for 1458 hours. The weight change and related microstructural change were analyzed. The results showed that the quasi-dynamic facility represented by the natural convection exhibited similar results compared to the conventional dynamic facility. Selective leaching and local depletion of the chromium, re-distribution of the carbide, and the decarburization process took place in the 316-series stainless steel under a flowing sodium environment. This process decreased as the sodium flowed along the channel, which was caused by the change in the dissolved oxygen and carbon activity in the liquid sodium.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.43-49
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• 2003

Resistant cell lines to azetidine-2-carboxylic acid (AZCA) were selected through rice embryo culture after mutagenic treatment of callus irradiated with 30,50,70,90 and 120 Gy. The optimum AZCA concentration for the selection of resistant cell lines was 3 or 4 mM AZCA considering $LD_{50}$ and the fresh weight of callus. Survival rate of the AZCA resistant callus showed remarkable increase in the callus irradiated with 50 and 70 Gy. Regeneration rate of the AZCA resistant callus was much lower on the whole. Ninety and 120 Gy increased the regeneration rate for calli selected from 3 and 4 mM AZCA, respectively. Based on fresh weight, survival rate and regeneration for selection of the AZCA resistant cell line, 50-90 Gy was considered as the optimum range of gamma irradiation. Irradiated calli selected from AZCA were more tolerant to NaCl than those from non-irradiated calli. It suggests that elevated resistance to osmotic stress resulted from mutagenic treatment. The level of free proline content in the AZCA resistant cell line was increased up to 3.5 times compared with that in the control. Proline content in the regenerant derived from the AZCA resistant cell line also increased to 1.7 times that from the control plants regenerated from callus grown in AZCA free medium. Selection of proline overproducing cell lines by in vitro mutagenesis was successful and seems to be useful for improvement of stress tolerance in this crop.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.1330-1337
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• 2016

A visualization test of the fuel-coolant interaction in the Test for Real cOrium Interaction with water (TROI) test facility was carried out. To experimentally simulate the In-Vessel corium Retention (IVR)- External Reactor Vessel Cooling (ERVC) conditions, prototypic corium was released directly into the coolant water without a free fall in a gas phase before making contact with the coolant. Corium (34.39 kg) consisting of uranium oxide and zirconium oxide with a weight ratio of 8:2 was superheated, and 22.54 kg of the 34.39 kg corium was passed through water contained in a transparent interaction vessel. An image of the corium jet behavior in the coolant was taken by a high-speed camera every millisecond. Thermocouple junctions installed in the vertical direction of the coolant were cut sequentially by the falling corium jet. It was clearly observed that the visualization image of the corium jet taken during the fuel-coolant interaction corresponded with the temperature variations in the direction of the falling melt. The corium penetrated through the coolant, and the jet leading edge velocity was 2.0 m/s. Debris smaller than 1 mm was 15% of the total weight of the debris collected after a fuel-coolant interaction test, and the mass median diameter was 2.9 mm.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.184-196
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• 2023

Background: Radiation protection is crucial in various fields due to the harmful effects of radiation. Shielding is used to reduce radiation exposure, but gamma radiation poses challenges due to its high energy and penetration capabilities. Materials and Methods: This work investigates the radiation shielding properties of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) samples containing different weight fraction of tungsten carbide (WC), tungsten trioxide (WO₃), and tungsten disulfide (WS₂). Parameters such as the mass attenuation coefficient (MAC), half-value layer (HVL), mean free path (MFP), effective atomic number (Z_eff), and macroscopic effective removal cross-section for fast neutrons (Σ_R) were calculated using the Phy-X/PSD software. EpiXS simulations were conducted for MAC validation. Results and Discussion: Increasing the weight fraction of the additives resulted in higher MAC values, indicating improved radiation shielding. PVDF-xWC showed the highest percentage increase in MAC values. MFP results indicated that PVDF-0.20WC has the lowest values, suggesting superior shielding properties compared to PVDF-0.20WO₃ and PVDF-0.20WS₂. PVDF-0.20WC also exhibited the highest Z_eff values, while PVDF-0.20WS₂ showed a slightly higher increase in Z_eff at energies of 0.662 and 1.333 MeV. PVDF-0.20WC has demonstrated the highest Σ_R value, indicating effective shielding against fast neutrons, while PVDF-0.20WS₂ had the lowest Σ_R value. The Monte Carlo N-Particle Transport version 5 (MCNP5) simulations showed that PVDF-xWC attenuates gamma radiation more than pure PVDF, significantly decreasing the dose equivalent rate. Conclusion: Overall, this research provides insights into the radiation shielding properties of PVDF mixtures, with PVDF-xWC showing the most promising results.