• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.744-751
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• 2017

The fatigue crack propagation behaviors of Z3CN20.09M duplex stainless steel (DSS) were investigated by studying oxide films of specimens tested in $290^{\circ}C$ water and air. The results indicate that a full oxide film that consisted of oxides and hydroxides was formed in $290^{\circ}C$ water. By contrast, only a half-baked oxide film consisting of oxides was formed in $290^{\circ}C$ air. Both environments are able to deteriorate the elastic modulus and hardness of the oxide films, especially the $290^{\circ}C$ water. The fatigue lives of the specimens tested in $290^{\circ}C$ air were about twice of those tested in $290^{\circ}C$ water at all strain amplitudes. Moreover, the crack propagation rates of the specimen tested in $290^{\circ}C$ water were confirmed to be faster than those tested in $290^{\circ}C$ air, which was thought to be due to the deteriorative strength of the oxide films induced by the mutual promotion of oxidation and crack propagation at the crack tip. It is noteworthy that the crack propagation can be postponed by the ferrite phase in the DSS, especially when the specimens were tested in $290^{\circ}C$ water.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.111-133
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• 2022

The exciting advancement related to the "modeling of digital human" in terms of a computational phantom for radiation dose calculations has to do with the latest hype related to deep learning. The advent of deep learning or artificial intelligence (AI) technology involving convolutional neural networks has brought an unprecedented level of innovation to the field of organ segmentation. In addition, graphics processing units (GPUs) are utilized as boosters for both real-time Monte Carlo simulations and AI-based image segmentation applications. These advancements provide the feasibility of creating three-dimensional (3D) geometric details of the human anatomy from tomographic imaging and performing Monte Carlo radiation transport simulations using increasingly fast and inexpensive computers. This review first introduces the history of three types of computational human phantoms: stylized medical internal radiation dosimetry (MIRD) phantoms, voxelized tomographic phantoms, and boundary representation (BREP) deformable phantoms. Then, the development of a person-specific phantom is demonstrated by introducing AI-based organ autosegmentation technology. Next, a new development in GPU-based Monte Carlo radiation dose calculations is introduced. Examples of applying computational phantoms and a new Monte Carlo code named ARCHER (Accelerated Radiation-transport Computations in Heterogeneous EnviRonments) to problems in radiation protection, imaging, and radiotherapy are presented from research projects performed by students at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) and University of Science and Technology of China (USTC). Finally, this review discusses challenges and future research opportunities. We found that, owing to the latest computer hardware and AI technology, computational human body models are moving closer to real human anatomy structures for accurate radiation dose calculations.

• Proceedings of the Korea Technology Innovation Society Conference
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• 2017.11a
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• pp.49-79
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• 2017

본 연구는 2011년 "원자력안전법" 제정 사례에 있어 정책의제 설정 과정을 동태적으로 이해하기 위해 다중흐름모형을 활용하여 분석을 수행하였다. 연구범위는 이명박 정부와 제18대 국회임기가 겹치는 기간인 2009년부터 2011년 간 기간으로서, 동 기간은 UAE 원전수출과 후쿠시마 원전사고라는 정 반대의 초점사건이 발생하면서 두 차례 의제설정 여부를 결정하는 정책의 창이 개방되었다. 분석결과, 문제의 흐름 영역에서는 정부의 원자력 정책에 있어 진흥과 규제기능을 별도 법령으로 분리하고 독립된 예산 및 전담조직을 구성하는 체계를 구축해야 한다는 문제는 장기간 존재해왔다. 1990년대부터 소수의 법학자들을 중심으로 문제인식과 대안제시가 이뤄지는 정책의 흐름이 발전되어 왔는데, 이후 UAE 원전수출 이후 2010년에 이르러서야 본격적으로 표출집단인 관료와 국회의원을 통해 구체적 대안이 제시되었고, 2011년 후쿠시마 원전사고 직후인 5월 원자력안전법이 제정되었다. 분석결과, 2009년 UAE원전수출 이후, 수출 확대 목적으로 제시된 원자력 규제 독립 법안이 통과되지 못했던 것에 반해, 2011년 후쿠시마 이후 원자력안전법이 통과 된 이유는 대안의 가치정합성, 사회여론, 정치환경 등 정치의 흐름이 크게 작용한 것으로 분석되었다.

• Proceedings of the Korea Technology Innovation Society Conference
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• 2017.11a
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• pp.1473-1487
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• 2017

2017년 6월 19일 고리 원전 1호기 영구정지 기념식에서 문재인 대통령의 '탈원전' 선언을 계기로, 국내에서는 후쿠시마 원전 사고 이후 탈원전으로 복귀한 독일의 사례에 대한 관심이 고조되었다. 독일은 1986년 체르노빌 원전 사고 이후 탈원전에 대한 논의가 본격적으로 이루지면서 집권 정부의 성향과 사회 경제적 요인에 따라 "2000년 탈원전 선언 ${\rightarrow}$ 2010년 탈원전 보류 ${\rightarrow}$ 2011년 탈원전 복귀"의 결정 과정을 거쳤다. 이러한 정책 변화의 배경에는 간헐성의 재생에너지를 뒷받침(back-up)할 수 있는 자국의 풍부한 갈탄 매장량, 지리적으로 주변국과 연결된 전력망을 통해 전력을 상시 주고받을 수 있는 전력 수급 환경, 탈원전에 대한 정부 국민 산업계의 40여년에 걸친 합의형성 등 '독일 자국의 실정을 반영한 정책적 판단'이 자리하고 있다. 그럼에도 불구하고, 2011년 후쿠시마 원전 사고 직후 독일의 즉각적인 탈원전 복귀는 화석연료 사용의 증가로 인한 온실가스 배출량 증가, 재생에너지 보조금 증가 및 송전망 확대로 인한 전기요금 상승, 간헐성의 재생에너지로 인한 불안정한 전력 수급, 과잉 생산된 전력의 수출로 인한 주변국 전력계통 혼란 등의 문제를 초래하고 있다. 이에 본고에서는 독일의 탈원전 정책이 '어떤 정책결정 과정을 거쳤으며, 현실적으로 어떤 문제에 직면해 있는지'를 살펴보고 우리나라의 에너지 수급 현실을 반영한 정책적 시사점을 도출하고자 한다.

• Proceedings of the Korea Technology Innovation Society Conference
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• 2017.11a
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• pp.1489-1506
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• 2017

'신기후체제 대응' 이라는 범국가적 미션 뿐 만 아니라 현재 국내에서의 원자력계 입지를 고려할 때 원자력계의 적극적인 대처와 전략이 필요한 상황이다. 본 연구는 기후기술과 기술협력의 중요성에 주목하여 연구기관 및 관련 기업이 현재 보유 혹은 개발 중이거나 향후 개발 가능한 온실가스 감축 및 기후변화 적응에 활용 가능한 기술과 연구분야를 발굴하기 위해 추진되었다. 이를 위해 한국원자력연구원 및 연구원 Family 기업을 대상으로 총 3회의 조사를 시행하였다. 이를 통해 원자력발전을 통한 온실가스 감축 기여 외에도 원자력계 내에 온실가스 감축과 기후변화 적응 기술을 다양하게 보유하고 있음을 증명하였고, 정책적 시사점을 도출하였다. 국가 주도의 기후기술 연구 전략이 성공적으로 수립 이행되기 위해서는 연구 및 정책 분야 전문가들의 기후기술에 대한 명확한 이해와 정부의 지원이 필요하다. 마지막으로 기술 활용 혹은 개도국으로의 이관 시 국가 NDC 달성에 얼마만큼 영향을 미치는지에 대한 성과 측정 기준이 확정 된다면 향후 고도화된 연구개발 전략 수립은 물론, 연구자들의 참여도를 이끌어 낼 수 있을 것이라 판단한다.

• Journal of Technology Innovation
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.89-125
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• 2017

Complex product systems (CoPs) is a engineering-intensive products with high-ended design technology, which are closely linked with national economic growth and development of social infrastructures. Accordingly, in order to understand the technological evolution of CoPs, it is necessary to identify the macro-environmental drivers surrounding the CoPs and their impact on the technological evolution of the CoPS. Therefore, we investigate the effect of policy, economic and social drivers on the technological evolution of CoPS by implementing the longitudinal case study on nuclear power plant during the periods between 1950 and 2010s. Based on the analysis of various sources of secondary data and primary data through interviews, we found that the technological evolution of nuclear power plant is progressed as "Phase 1: Application research for peaceful utilization of nuclear energy" between 1950s and 1960s, "Phase 2: The first renaissance of nuclear energy" during 1970s, "Phase 3: Enhancement of safety and the catch-up of latecomers in nuclear energy" between 1990s and 2000s, and "Phase 4: Top prioritization of safety and the development of next generation reactors for the second renaissance of nuclear energy" since 2010s. We also found that various kinds of policy, economic and social drivers, such as energy policy, investment in technology development, economic growth and energy demand, social acceptability and environmental concern, have affected the technology evolution of nuclear power plant at each phase. We emphasize the role of macroenvironmental drivers in the technological evolution of CoPS. We also suggest that countries that endeavor to develop CoPs need to utilize those drivers for enhancing competitiveness and sustaining leadership.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.593-603
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• 2023

Background: Korean Red Ginseng is a major source of bioactive substances such as ginsenosides. Efficacy of red ginseng extract (RGE), which contains not only saponins but also various non-saponins, has long been studied. In the water-soluble component-rich fraction of RGE (WS), a byproduct generated in the process of extracting saponins from the RGE, we identified previously unidentified molecules and confirmed their efficacy. Methods: The RGE was prepared and used to produce WS, whose components were isolated sequentially according to their water affinity. The new compounds from WS were fractionized and structurally analyzed using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Physiological applicability was evaluated by verifying the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory efficacies of these compounds in vitro. Results: High-performance liquid chromatography confirmed that the obtained WS comprised 11 phenolic acid and flavonoid substances. Among four major compounds from fractions 1-4 (F1-4) of WS, two compounds from F3 and F4 were newly identified in red ginseng. The analysis results show that these compound molecules are member of the maltol-structure-based glucopyranose series, and F1 and F4 are particularly effective for decreasing oxidative stress levels and inhibiting nitric oxide secretion, interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that a few newly identified maltol derivatives, such as red ginseng-derived non-saponin in the WS, exhibit antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, making them viable candidates for application to pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and functional food materials.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.275-284
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• 2014

This study was orchestrated with the purpose of uncovering new nutraceutical resources possessing biological activities in the plant kingdom. To fulfill our objective, we analyzed several Chinese plants and selected three possessing powerful anti-oxidative activities. The anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects these three Chinese plants, Malus hupehensis, Ophiorrhiza cantonensis, and Psychotria rubra ethanol extracts were then evaluated. First of all, they possessed potent scavenging activity against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl, similar with that of ascorbic acid, used as a positive control. Moreover, they inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- and hydrogen peroxide-induced reactive oxygen species, in a dose-dependent manner, in RAW 264.7 cells. Also, they induced the expression of an anti-oxidative enzyme, heme oxygenase 1, and its upstream transcription factor, nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2. Furthermore, they suppressed LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) formation, without cytotoxicity. The inhibition of NO formation was the result of the down regulation of inducible NO synthase (iNOS). The suppression of NO and iNOS by the three extracts might be the result of modulation by the upstream transcription factors, nuclear factor ${\kappa}B$ and activator protein-1. Taken together, these results indicate that these three Chinese plants possess potent anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities. Therefore, they might be utilized as promising materials in the field of nutraceuticals.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.216-222
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• 2018

Desmodium heterocarpon is one of vines belongs to Fabaceae family, mainly distributed in Asian countries such as Korea and Japan. This study was conducted to explore new nutraceutical resources from the plant kingdom possessing biological activities. To fulfill this purpose, the anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities of D. heterocarpon ethanol extract (DHEE) were evaluated by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity assay, reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging activity assay, nitric oxide (NO) inhibitory activity assay, and the analysis of related protein expressions by Western blot hybridization. DHEE exhibited potent anti-oxidative activity as confirmed by DPPH radical scavenging capacity against DPPH similar with ascorbic acid, a well-known anti-oxidative agent, used as a positive control. DHEE also effectively suppressed hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$)-induced ROS on RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cells. Furthermore, DHEE induced the expression of the anti-oxidative enzyme heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), and its upstream transcription factor, nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) as a dose dependent manner. DHEE inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced nitric oxide (NO) formation as a consequence of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) down regulation. Taken together, these results suggest that DHEE has anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities and thus appears to be useful sources as potential anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory agents. The identification of active compounds that confer biological activities of DHEE might be needed.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.509-515
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• 2014

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The root of Vitis amurensis Ruprecht, a sort of wild-growing grape, has been used in oriental medicine for treatment of skin ailments; however, its dermatological activity is not sufficiently understood. The aim of this study was to investigate tyrosinase inhibitory and anti-melanogenic activities of V. amurensis Ruprecht root methanol extract (VARM) in B16F10 mouse melanoma cells and to attempt to isolate and identify the active compound issued from VARM. MATERIALS/METHODS: Anti-melanogenic activity of VARM was analyzed in ${\alpha}$-melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH)-stimulated B16F10 cells through evaluation of antioxidative activity as well as inhibited tyrosinase activity and melanin contents compared with those of kojic acid and arbutin. After anti-melanogenic analysis of VARM, serial fractionation, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and thin layer chromatorgraphy (TLC) were applied for identification of active compounds contained in VARM. RESULTS: VARM significantly inhibited oxidative stress and tyrosinase activity and attenuated ${\alpha}$-MSH-induced melanin production in B16F10 cells. For isolation of active compounds, VARM was fractionated using a series of organic solvents, including dichloromethane ($CH_2Cl_2$), ethyl acetate (EtOAc), and n-butanol (n-BuOH). Among fractions showing anti-melanogenic activity, the CH2Cl2 fraction induced the most potent attenuation of melanogenesis without cytotoxicity and the major compound in the $CH_2Cl_2$ fraction was identified as betulinic acid. Betulinic acid isolated from the $CH_2Cl_2$ fraction of VARM significantly attenuated ${\alpha}$-MSH-induced melanogenesis in a dose dependent manner, which was stronger than that of arbutin used as a positive control. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that VARM inhibits oxidative stress, tyrosinase activity, and ${\alpha}$-MSH-induced melanogenesis in B16F10 cells, due primarily to the active compound, betulinic acid, in the $CH_2Cl_2$ fraction.