• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• 제52권7호
• /
• pp.1367-1379
• /
• 2020

The small modular sodium-cooled fast reactor (SMSFR) is an important component of Generation-IV reactors. The objective of this work is to improve the reactivity control in SMSFR by using innovative systems, including burnable poisons and optimized control rods. SMSFR with MOX fuel usually exhibits high burnup reactivity loss that leads to high excess reactivity and potential fuel melting in control rod withdrawal (CRW) accidents, which becomes an important constraint on the safety and economic efficiency of SMSFR. This work applies two types of burnable poisons in a SMSFR to reduce the excess reactivity. The first one homogenously loads minor actinides in the fuel. The second one combines absorber and moderators in specific assemblies. The influence of burnable poisons on the core characteristics is discussed and integrated into the analysis of CRW accidents. The results show that burnable poisons improve the safety performance of the core in a significant way. Burnable poisons also lessen the demand for the number, absorption ability, and insertion depth of control rods. Two optimized control rod designs with rare earth oxides (Eu₂O₃ and Gd₂O₃) and moderators are compared to the conventional design with natural boron carbide (B₄C). The optimized designs show improved neutronic and safety performance.

• KSBB Journal
• /
• 제26권6호
• /
• pp.491-504
• /
• 2011

This review article provides an overview of the evolution of diphtheria vaccine, its value and its future. Diphtheria is an infectious illness caused by diphtheria toxin produced by pathogenic strains of Corynebacterium diphtheriae. It is characterized by a sore throat with membrane formation due to local tissue necrosis, which can lead to fatal airway obstruction; neural and cardiac damage are other common complications. Diphtheria vaccine was first brought to market in the 1920s, following the discovery that diphtheria toxin can be detoxified using formalin. However, conventional formalin-inactivated toxoid vaccines have some fundamental limitations. Innovative technologies and approaches with the potential to overcome these limitations are discussed in this paper. These include genetic inactivation of diphtheria toxoid, innovative vaccine delivery systems, new adjuvants (both TLR-independent and TLR-dependent adjuvants), and heat- and freeze-stable agents, as well as novel platforms for producing improved conventional vaccine, DNA vaccine, transcutaneous (microneedle-mediated) vaccine, oral vaccine and edible vaccine expressed in transgenic plants. These innovations target improvements in vaccine quality (efficacy, safety, stability and consistency), ease of use and/or thermal stability. Their successful development and use should help to increase global diphtheria vaccine coverage.

• International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
• /
• 제3권2호
• /
• pp.119-126
• /
• 2009

This paper provides a brief summary of the performance of an innovative slip hardening twisted steel fiber in comparison with other fibers including straight steel smooth fiber, high strength steel hooked fiber, SPECTRA (high molecular weight polyethylene) fiber and PVA fiber. First the pull-out of a single fiber is compared under static loading conditions, and slip rate-sensitivity is evaluated. The unique large slip capacity of T-fiber during pullout is based on its untwisting fiber pullout mechanism, which leads to high equivalent bond strength and composites with high ductility. Due to this large slip capacity a smaller amount of T-fibers is needed to obtain strain hardening tensile behavior of fiber reinforced cementitious composites. Second, the performance of different composites using T-fibers and other fibers subjected to tensile and flexural loadings is described and compared. Third, strain rate effect on the behavior of composites reinforced with different types and amounts of fibers is presented to clarify the potential application of HPFRCC for seismic, impact and blast loadings.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• 제25권5호
• /
• pp.572-584
• /
• 2002

Rapid development in molecular biology and recent advancement in recombinant technology increase identification and commercialization of potential protein drugs. Traditional forms of administrations for the peptide and protein drugs often rely on their parenteral injection, since the bioavailability of these therapeutic agents is poor when administered nonparenterally. Tremendous efforts by numerous investigators in the world have been put to improve protein formulations and as a result, a few successful formulations have been developed including sustained-release human growth hormone. For a promising protein delivery technology, efficacy and safety are the first requirement to meet. However, these systems still require periodic injection and increase the incidence of patient compliance. The development of an oral dosage form that improves the absorption of peptide and especially protein drugs is the most desirable formulation but one of the greatest challenges in the pharmaceutical field. The major barriers to developing oral formulations for peptides and proteins are metabolic enzymes and impermeable mucosal tissues in the intestine. Furthermore, chemical and conformational instability of protein drugs is not a small issue in protein pharmaceuticals. Conventional pharmaceutical approaches to address these barriers, which have been successful with traditional organic drug molecules, have not been effective for peptide and protein formulations. It is likely that effective oral formulations for peptides and proteins will remain highly compound specific. A number of innovative oral drug delivery approaches have been recently developed, including the drug entrapment within small vesicles or their passage through the intestinal paracellular pathway. This review provides a summary of the novel approaches currently in progress in the protein oral delivery followed by factors affecting protein oral absorption.

• Journal of Construction Engineering and Project Management
• /
• 제8권1호
• /
• pp.1-9
• /
• 2018

US transportation agencies are dealing with shrinking budgets, limited work forces, and deteriorating infrastructure. In order to cope with funding uncertainty, state highway agencies are now looking into their own organizations and identifying programs, practices, and processes that have potential for cost saving. A quality assurance (QA) program is an integral part of highway construction and ensures a project's contracted level of quality. The cost of quality (conforming and nonconforming) can constitute a sizable part of total construction cost. As the quality assurance programs evolved, various practices and processes were developed over time and later adopted by state highway agencies. These practices and processes include different QA standards and specifications, varying testing methods, central testing lab vs. on site testing, performance based vs. prescribed quality assurance practices, implementation of innovative quality assurance practices, etc. Therefore, there is an opportunity to assess different QA strategies and recommend those practices that are effective and cost efficient. A national survey was conducted by the authors, which provided a detailed mapping of various QA practices and processes used as part of QA programs and identified areas where agencies can focus on for cost savings. The survey found that QA sampling and testing plans, optimization of sampling plans, optimization of QA standards and specifications, and implementation of innovative test methods and processes are the main areas the agencies should focus to lean the current QA programs.

• KIEAE Journal
• /
• 제9권1호
• /
• pp.69-76
• /
• 2009

The use of natural light can improve the quality of indoor environment and also occupants health. In recent years, with an increasing awareness of sustainable development, various innovative methods of integrating daylight into the building have been developed. One such device is the light pipe system. The light pipes are innovative daylighting system that allow the transmission of daylight into the hard-to-reach indoor space. The system consist of mainly three parts. First, a top collector which is mounted on the outside of the roof and gathers skylight and sunlight. Second, light-reflective tube which is coated with highly reflective mirror finish material to transmit the daylight into the diffuser. Third, a diffuser which is installed on the ceiling in the room and spread the daylight into the room. Light pipes have been widely used and researched in many countries such as Australia, America, Canada and Britain. However, despite the significant daylight potential, little work have been carried out in Korea compare to the other countries. In this study, recent lighting technology and application of light pipe system in both Korea and other countries have been compared. For the results, the benefits of each light pipe system and suitable application in Korea is also discussed.

• 한국IT서비스학회지
• /
• 제14권3호
• /
• pp.147-161
• /
• 2015

The rapid changes in consumption patterns and the manufacturing industry environment are both a threat and an opportunity for small and medium-sized enterprises in Korea because it lacks innovative capacity compared to large conglomerates. In this new manufacturing environment, social manufacturing is an innovative business model that can create new business opportunities for these companies. However, there are not that many proven models of platforms where products are created jointly with consumers. Some conceptual analysis of the success factors and operation strategy of co-creation platforms have started to be released but there are almost no empirical studies conducted on this matter today. In this study, the social manufacturing platform business concept and its components were studied; various factors that affect the willingness to participate in consumer-led co-creation platforms were considered; the factors were surveyed on potential consumers; a study was carried out to analyze the relationship of these factors; a model of these factors were set up and proven.

• International journal of advanced smart convergence
• /
• 제12권4호
• /
• pp.8-19
• /
• 2023

This paper presents advancement in multi- unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) cooperative area surveillance, focusing on optimizing UAV route planning through the application of genetic algorithms. Addressing the complexities of comprehensive coverage, two real-time dynamic path planning methods are introduced, leveraging genetic algorithms to enhance surveillance efficiency while accounting for flight constraints. These methodologies adapt multi-UAV routes by encoding turning angles and employing coverage-driven fitness functions, facilitating real-time monitoring optimization. The paper introduces a novel path planning model for scenarios where UAVs navigate collaboratively without predetermined destinations during regional surveillance. Empirical evaluations confirm the effectiveness of the proposed methods, showcasing improved coverage and heightened efficiency in multi-UAV path planning. Furthermore, we introduce innovative optimization strategies, (Foresightedness and Multi-step) offering distinct trade-offs between solution quality and computational time. This research contributes innovative solutions to the intricate challenges of cooperative area surveillance, showcasing the transformative potential of genetic algorithms in multi-UAV technology. By enabling smarter route planning, these methods underscore the feasibility of more efficient, adaptable, and intelligent cooperative surveillance missions.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• 제17권1호
• /
• pp.1-11
• /
• 2009

Since the Committee for Proprietary Medicinal Products (CPMP) of the European Union issued in 1997 a "points to consider" document for the assessment of the potential for QT interval prolongation by non-cardiovascular agents to predict drug-induced torsades de pointes (TdP), the QT liability has become the critical safety issue in the development of pharmaceuticals. As TdP is usually linked to delayed cardiac repolarization, international guideline (ICH S7B) has advocated the standard repolarization assays such as in vitro IKr (hERG current) and in vivo QT interval, or in vitro APD (as a follow up) as the best biomarkers for predicting the TdP risk. However, the recent increasing evidence suggests that the currently used above biomarkers and/or assays are not fully predictive for TdP, but also does not address potential new druginduced TdP due to the selective disruption of hERG protein trafficking to the cell membrane or VT and/or VF with QT shortening. There is, therefore, an urgent need for other surrogate markers or assays that can predict the proarrhythmic potential of drug candidate. In this review, we provide an ideal pre-clinical strategy to predict the potentials of QT liability and lethal arrhythmia of the drug candidates with recent issues in this field in mind, not at the expense of discarding therapeutically innovative drugs.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• 제31권12호
• /
• pp.3760-3764
• /
• 2010

We screened 10,000 heterocyclic small molecules and identified a novel hit core skeleton of 3-(8-chloro-6-(trifluoromethyl) imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-2-yl)phenyl acetate derivatives. It has been selected as a potential glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R) activator and demonstrated its effects in increasing GLP-1 secretion, and thereby increasing the glucose responsiveness in both in vitro and pharmacology analyses. Further studies are currently underway to optimize the potency and selectivity of 3-(8-chloro-6-(trifluoromethyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-2-yl)phenyl acetate derivatives (hit compounds 2 and 8), and address their in vivo efficacy and therapeutic potential. These molecules may serve as useful evidence showing that compounds with a 3-(8-chloro-6-(trifluoromethyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-2-yl)phenyl acetate moiety are selective GLP-1R agonists, and have potential as anti-diabetic treatment agents.