• 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 Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2005.08a
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• pp.118-119
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• 2005

• Safe Food
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.4-10
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• 2010

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.223-229
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• 2012

In this study, we investigated the biological damage and stress responses induced by ion beam (proton beam) irradiation as a basis for the development of protective measures against space radiation. We examined the biological effects of proton beam produced by MC-50 cyclotron at KIRAMS on the cultured cells and mice. The proton beam energy used in this study was 34.9 MeV and the absorption dose rate for cells and mice were $0.509Gy\;sec^{-1}$ and $0.65Gy\;sec^{-1}$, respectively. The cell survival rates measured by plating efficiency showed the different sensitivity and dose-relationship between CHO cells and Balb/3T3 cells. HGPRT gene mutation frequency in Balb/3T3 was $15{\times}10^{-6}Gy^{-1}$, which was similar to the reported value of X-ray. When stress signaling proteins were examined in Balb/3T3 cells, $I{\kappa}B-{\alpha}$ decreased markedly whereas p53, phospho-p53, and Rb increased after proton beam irradiation, which implied that the stress signaling pathways were activated by proton beam irradiation. In addition, cellular senescence was induced in IMR-90 cells. In the experiments with C57BL/6 mouse, the immune cells (white blood cells, lymphocytes) in the peripheral blood were greatly reduced following proton beam irradiation whereas red blood cells and platelets showed relatively little change. These results can be utilized as basic data for studying the biological effects of proton beam using MC-50 cyclotron with respect to proton therapy research as well as space radiation research.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.315-320
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• 2014

This study evaluated the effects of a gamma ray (GR), electron beam (EB), and X-ray (XR) to improve the safety of black pepper powder. The black pepper powder was irradiated by GR, EB, and XR at 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 kGy. The results of the total bacterial populations in the black pepper power sample showed a similar effect on microbial decontamination for radiation sources. Radiation sensitivity ($D_{10}$ value) on the initial bacteria loads in the sample was 2.24 kGy in GR, 2.37 kGy in EB, and 2.75 kGy in XR. In addition, there were no differences among the radiation sources. The color values, such as L (lightness), a (redness), and b (yellowness), were not changed significantly. The sensory characteristics of GR, EB, and XR irradiated black pepper powder were decreased when the radiation dose increased, but there was no significant changes among the radiation sources. The results can be applied to investigate the effects of radiation sources on the microbiological and sensory characteristics of black pepper powder.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.159-164
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• 2011

A variety of natural polymers have been used as tissue engineering scaffolds, drug delivery system, and cosmetic materials due to their higher biocompatibility and water uptake. As a major component of extracellular matrix, hyaluronic acid consisting of D-glucuronic acid and N-acetylglucosamine has been popularly used as a hydrogel material. Even though it has good properties to be used in the tissue engineering and cosmetic industry, its higher viscosity has limited a potential use in a variety of applications; only low content should be applied in preparing above products. In the present study, we investigated the effect of electron beam irradiation on the properties of hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid paste containing low contents of water changed to solution after electron beam irradiation ranging from 1 to 10 kGy, which didn't exhibit any alteration of surface properties and morphological change after freeze-drying. However, its viscosity was significantly decreased as absorbed dose increased, which was approximately one by hundred in comparison with the viscosity of original hyaluronic acid solution with same concentration. In addition, it can still interact with positive charged chitosan generating polyelectrolyte complex. Therefore, only viscosity was decreased after electron beam irradiation, whereas other properties of hyaluronic acid maintained. Consequently, these hyaluronic acids with lower viscosities can be used in a variety of applications in tissue engineering, drug delivery, and cosmetic industry.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.598-602
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• 2008

In this study we prepared crosslinked separators with the improved thermal stability by irradiating a commercial polyethylene (PE) separator for lithium secondary battery with an electron beam, and the thermal and mechanical properties of the prepared separators were evaluated as a function of the absorption dose. The thermal shrinkage of electron beam irradiated separator was decreased with increasing absorption dose. As a result of the shutdown behavior using an AC impedance, it was observed that the irradiated separator had the better shutdown function than the unirradiated separator. The modulus of the irradiated separator was enhanced as the absorption dose was increased, while the tensile strength and the break elongation of the irradiated separator were decreased.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.12
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• pp.4660-4670
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• 2022

Hydroxyurea (HU) is a novel salt-free reductant used potentially for the separation of U/Pu in the advanced PUREX process. In this work, the radiation stability of HU were systematically investigated in solution by examining the effects of the type of rays (α, β, and γ irradiations), the absorbed dose (10-50 kGy), and the HNO₃ concentration (0-3 mol L^-1). The influence degree on HU radiolysis rates followed the order of the absorbed dose > the ray type > the HNO₃ concentration, but the latter two had moderate effects on HU radiolysis products where NH₄⁺ and NO₂^- were found to be the most abundant ones, suggesting that the differences of α, β, and γ rays should be considered in the study of irradiation effects. The radiolysis mechanism was explored using density functional theory (DFT) calculations, and it proposed the dominant radiolysis paths of HU, indicating that the radiolysis of HU was mainly a free radical reaction among ·H, e_aq^-, H₂O, intermediates, and the radiolytic free radical fragments of HU. The results reported here provide valuable insights into the mechanistic understanding of HU radiolysis under α, β, and γ irradiations and reliable data support for the application of HU in the reprocessing of spent fuel.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.7 no.2_3
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• pp.141-147
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• 2013

The simple and facile radiation technique of the preparation of antibacterial biodegradable polymer films containing silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) was described. The biodegradable poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) films containing silver trifluoroacetate (Ag TFA) were prepared by a solvent casting method, and then the films were irradiated by electron beams at the various doses ranging from 20 to 200 kGy to form Ag NPs in the biodegradable polymers. The results of UV-vis and FE-SEM/EDX analyses revealed that the Ag NPs were successfully formed in the PBAT matrix during the electron beam irradiation, and their amounts were dependant on the absorbed dose and Ag TFA concentrations. Furthermore, on the basis of the results of the antibacterial test through disk diffusion and colony counting test, the irradiated PBAT/Ag TFA films exhibited the antibacterial property due to the formation of Ag NPs.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.323-328
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• 2012

In this study, a facile method to fabricate superhydrophobic surfaces on perfluoroalkoxy (PFA) films using ion implantation was developed. PFA films were implanted at 100 keV with a fluence ranging from $4{\times}10^{16}$ to $7{\times}10^{16}ions\;cm^{-2}$. The surface properties of the implanted films were investigated in terms of their surface morphology, wettability, and chemical composition. As the fluence increased to $6{\times}10^{16}ions\;cm^{-2}$, the surface morphology and surface roughness of the PFA films were dramatically changed. The PFA surface implanted at a fluence of $6{\times}10^{16}ions\;cm^{-2}$ showed a maximum contact angle (CA) of $157.1^{\circ}$, while the control CA of the smooth PFA surface was $103.6^{\circ}$. Thus, the superhydrophobic surface was successfully fabricated by ion implantation.