• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.224-230
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• 2020

Stainless steel has excellent corrosion resistance. The drawback is that pitting occurs easily due to the concentration of chloride. In addition, corrosion of socket weld, which is structurally and chemically weaker than the other components of the pipe, occurs rapidly. Since these two phenomena overlap, pinhole leakage occurs frequently in the seawater pipe socket welds made of stainless steel at the power plants. To analyze this specific corrosion, a metallurgical analysis of the stainless steel socket welds, where the actual corrosion occurred during the power plant operation, was performed. The micro-structure and chemical composition of each socket weld were analyzed. In addition, selective corrosion of the specific micro-structure in a mixed dendrite structure comprising γ-austenite (gamma-phase iron) and δ-ferrite (iron at high temperature) was investigated based on the characteristic micro-morphology and chemical composition of the corroded area. Finally, the different corrosion stages and characteristics of socket weld corrosion are summarized.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.102-106
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• 2009

We exposed ICR mice to low-dose (0.2 Gy) and low-dose-rate (0.7 mGy/h) $\gamma$-radiation ($^{137}Cs$) in the Low-dose-rate Irradiation Facility at the Radiation Health Research Institute to evaluate systemic effects of low-dose radiation. We compared the body and organ weights, number of blood cells (white and red blood cells and platelets), levels of biochemical markers in serum, and frequency of micronuclei in polychromatic erythrocytes between low-dose irradiated and non-irradiated control mice. The ICR mice irradiated with total doses of 0.2 and 2 Gy showed no changes in body and organ weights, number of blood cells (white and red blood cells), or frequency of micronuclei in the polychromatic erythrocytes of peripheral blood. However, the number of platelets (P = 0.002) and the liver weight (P < 0.01) were significantly increased in mice exposed to 0.2 and 2 Gy, respectively. These results suggest that a low-dose-rate of 0.7 mGy/h does not induce systemic damage. This dose promotes hematopoiesis in the bone marrow microenvironment and the proliferation of liver cells. In the future, the molecular biological effects of lower doses and dose rates need to be evaluated.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.190-194
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• 2009

Gamma spectral results for macroalgae samples taken from the environment of Ulchin nuclear power plants in Korea (east coast), showed 766 keV peaks, which were identified as $^{95}Nb$ by several research institutes. After the enhancement of liquid radioactive waste disposal facility at Ulchin NPP site, the $^{95}Nb$ amount in the liquid radioactive waste outflow has drastically reduced, but the expected reduction in $^{95}Nb$ specific activity from environmental samples did not actually show up on gamma spectroscopy. Detailed re-investigation revealed that along with 766 keV peak, other peaks (63, 92 and 1001 keV) from $^{234}Th-^{234}mPa$ decay series were also detected on spectroscopy, and that the measured half lives of the four peaks were very close to known half life of $^{234}Th-^{234}mPa$ decay series, which is 24.1 day. The measured gamma yield ratios of 766 keV peak to 1001 peak were very close to known ratio 0.35 for $^{234}mPa$. It is concluded that 766 keV peaks on gamma spectroscopy of Ulchin NPP environmental samples were mainly from $^{234}mPa$, which is one of naturally occurring radionuclides.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.12
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• pp.2237-2240
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• 2017

In the present study, we investigated the effect of tyndallized HY7712 (tHY7712) on the expression of Th cell specific transcription factors and cytokines in whole-body ${\gamma}$-irradiated mice. Oral administration of tHY7712 strongly recovered the ${\gamma}$-irradiation-suppressed expression of helper T (Th) cell- and regulatory T cell-related transcription factors and cytokines, such as T-bet, Foxp3, IFN-${\gamma}$, TNF-${\alpha}$, and IL-10, and suppressed Th2 cell-associated transcription factor and cytokine GATA3 and IL-5, respectively. Furthermore, compared with the control, tHY7712 treatment also restored ${\gamma}$-irradiation-impaired natural killer and cytotoxic T cell activities against YAC-1 tumor cells to 97.8% and 98.6%, respectively.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.183-194
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• 2014

Recently, a CANDU digital reactivity computer system (CDRCS) to measure the worth of the liquid zone controller in a CANDU-6 was developed and successfully applied to a physics test of refurbished Wolsong Unit 1. In advance of using the CDRCS, its measureable reactivity range should be investigated and confirmed. There are two reasons for this investigation. First, the CANDU-6 has a larger reactor and smaller excore detectors than a general PWR and consequently the measured reactivity is likely to reflect the peripheral power variation only, not the whole core. The second reason is photo neutrons generated from the interaction of the moderator and gamma-rays, which are never considered in a PWR. To evaluate the limitations of the CDRCS, several tens of three-dimensional steady and transient simulations were performed. The simulated detector signals were used to obtain the dynamic reactivity. The difference between the dynamic reactivity and the static worth increases in line with the water level changes. The maximum allowable reactivity was determined to be 1.4 mk in the case of CANDU-6 by confining the difference to less than 1%.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.8
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• pp.3043-3050
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• 2022

In Korea, all nuclear power plants (NPPs) participate in annual performance tests including in vivo measurements using the FastScan, a stand type whole body counter (WBC), manufactured by Canberra. In 2018, all Korean NPPs satisfied the testing criterion, the root mean square error (RMSE) ≤ 0.25, for the whole body configuration, but three NPPs which participated in an additional lung configuration test in the fission and activation product category did not meet the criterion. Due to the low resolution of the FastScan NaI(Tl) detectors, the conventional peak analysis (PA) method of the FastScan did not show sufficient performance to meet the criterion in the presence of interfering radioisotopes (RIs), ¹³⁴Cs and ¹³⁷Cs. In this study, we developed an artificial neural network (ANN) to improve the performance of the FastScan in the lung configuration. All of the RMSE values derived by the ANN satisfied the criterion, even though the photopeaks of ¹³⁴Cs and ¹³⁷Cs interfered with those of the analytes or the analyte photopeaks were located in a low-energy region below 300 keV. Since the ANN performed better than the PA method, it would be expected to be a promising approach to improve the accuracy and precision of in vivo FastScan measurement for the lung configuration.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.271-281
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• 2023

A study was conducted on the vitrification of the rare earth oxide waste generated from the PyroGreen process. The target rare earth waste consisted of eight elements: Nd, Ce, La, Pr, Sm, Y, Gd, and Eu. The waste loading of the rare earth waste in the developed borosilicate glass system was 20wt%. The fabricated glass, processed at 1,200℃, exhibited uniform and homogeneous surface without any crystallization and precipitation. The viscosity and electrical conductivity of the melted glass at 1,200℃ were 7.2 poise and 1.1 S·cm^-1, respectively, that were suitable for the operation of the vitrification facility. The calculated leaching index of Cs, Co, and Sr were 10.4, 10.6, and 9.8, respectively. The evaluated Product Consistency Test (PCT) normalized release of the glass indicated that the glass satisfied the requirements for the disposal acceptance criteria. Furthermore, the pristine, 90 days water immersed, 30 thermal cycled, and 10 MGy gamma ray irradiated glasses exhibited good compressive strength. The results indicated that the fabricated glass containing rare earth waste from the PyroGreen process was acceptable for the disposal in the repository, in terms of chemical durability and mechanical strength.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.166-171
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• 2013

While high-dose ionizing radiation results in long term cellular cytotoxicity, chronic low-dose (<0.2 Gy) of X- or ${\gamma}$-ray irradiation can be beneficial to living organisms by inducing radiation hormesis, stimulating immune function, and adaptive responses. During chronic low-dose-rate radiation (LDR) exposure, whole body of mice is exposed to radiation, however, it remains unclear if LDR causes changes in gene expression of the whole brain. Therefore, we aim to investigate expressed genes (EGs) and signaling pathways specifically regulated by LDR-irradiation ($^{137}Cs$, a cumulative dose of 1.7 Gy for total 100 days) in the whole brain. Using microarray analysis of whole brain RNA extracts harvested from ICR and AKR/J mice after LDR-irradiation, we discovered that two mice strains displayed distinct gene regulation patterns upon LDR-irradiation. In ICR mice, genes involved in ion transport, transition metal ion transport, and developmental cell growth were turned on while, in AKR/J mice, genes involved in sensory perception, cognition, olfactory transduction, G-protein coupled receptor pathways, inflammatory response, proteolysis, and base excision repair were found to be affected by LDR. We validated LDR-sensitive EGs by qPCR and confirmed specific upregulation of S100a7a, Olfr624, and Gm4868 genes in AKR/J mice whole brain. Therefore, our data provide the first report of genetic changes regulated by LDR in the mouse whole brain, which may affect several aspects of brain function.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.237-241
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• 2013

The gamma energy distributions at the major working places during refueling outage of Korean PWR nuclear power plants were measured. In order to estimate the dose reduction effect of a lead vest, Monte Carlo calculation method was used. For the simulations, the MIRD-V phantom with a lead vest was formed and exposed to the measured radiation field. The average measured gamma energy is lower than that of standard which is generally applied to radiation protection procedures. For the efficient use of a lead vest and achievement of radiation protection purpose, it is necessary to estimate the energy distribution of radiation field at working places.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.71-79
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• 2000

Two typess of copolyesters, poly(3-hydroxybutyric acid-co-4-hydroxy-butyric acid)[P(3HB-co-4HB] and poly(3-hydroxybutyric acid-co-3-hydroxyvaleric acid)[P(3HB-co-3HV)], with various monomer ratios and different degree of microstructural heterogeneity were synthesized from Ralstonia eutropha H16 and Hydrogenophaga pseudoflava by using ${\gamma}$-butyrolactone and ${\gamma}$-valerolactone, respectively. The two bacteria showed a large difference in the utilization of ${\gamma}$-butyrolactone for cell growth and PHA synthesis. H. pseudoflava synthesized P(3HB-co-4HB) copolyesters with a wide range of 4HB content from 13 to 96 mol% depending on culture conditions, whiel R. eutropha H16 was able to synthesize the copolyesters containing less than 20 mol% of 4HB. An increase in the 4HB content in the P(3HB-co-4HB) copolyesters synthesized by H. pseud-oflava induced an lowering of their melting temperatures as well as their enthalpies of fusion. The increase in the 4HB content, however, increased the rate of degradation by an extracellular P(3HB) depolymerase. NMR spectros-copy and differential scanning calorimetry showed that the P(3HB-co-4HB) copolyesters from H. pseudoflava were generally microstructurally heterogeneous. The P(3HB-co-4HB) copolyesters) synthesized by R. eutropha H16 were rather random copolymers showing less microstructural heterogeneity than those synthesized by H. pseudoflava. The NMR D value analysis suggested that the monomer distribution of the P(3HB-co-3HV) copolymers from the two bacteria were relatively random.