• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제38권8호
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• pp.733-752
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• 2006

Severe accidents in PWRs are characterized by a continuously changing geometry of the core due to chemical reactions, melting and mechanical failure of the rods and other structures. These local variations of the porosity and other parameters lead to multi-dimensionnal flows and heat transfers. In this paper, a comprehensive set of multi-dimensionnal models describing heat transfers, thermal-hydraulics and melt relocation in a reactor vessel is presented. Those models are suitable for the core description during a severe accident transient. A series of applications at the reactor scale shows the benefits of using such models.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제55권6호
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• pp.2276-2282
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• 2023

We deploy artificial neural networks to unfold neutron spectra from measured energy-integrated quantities. These neutron spectra represent an important parameter allowing to compute the absorbed dose and the kerma to serve radiation protection in addition to nuclear safety. The built architectures are inspired from convolutional neural networks. The first architecture is made up of residual transposed convolution's blocks while the second is a modified version of the U-net architecture. A large and balanced dataset is simulated following "realistic" physical constraints to train the architectures in an efficient way. Results show a high accuracy prediction of neutron spectra ranging from thermal up to fast spectrum. The dataset processing, the attention paid to performances' metrics and the hyper-optimization are behind the architectures' robustness.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• 제26권4호
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• pp.347-356
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• 2001

Guarana, a tropical plant is found in powdered for in health food and is very popular soft drink in Brazil as an energy feaster with its high caffeine contents. We examined its radioprotection effects during organogenesis stages of ICR mice by malformations rate and cellular lead 8 the embryo by radiation and analyzed the mechanism of the radioprotection effects in the fetal of ICR mice. The results of this study showed that Guarana reduced clearly the embryonic death rate and teratogenesis rate by radiation. Its radioprotection effect inject be related with its radioprotection effect might be related with its antioxidant effect or free radical scavenger. We need to exposure the Guarana as a potential radioprotection agent. Therefore, we investigated about radiation effects by Guarana using to mice experiments in this paper.

• 대한방사선기술학회지:방사선기술과학
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• 제41권5호
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• pp.471-478
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• 2018

Oogenesis process of ovary produces a lot of undifferentiated cells. Especially, the radiation exposure of early immature cells in the process of growth to oocyte causes serious disabilities. This study examined the radiation damage mechanism of undifferentiated cells and organelles in oogenesis process, and the radioprotection after injection of alliin. The ultrastructure after 7Gy X-ray irradiation on the white rat was observed in the experiment. The results is as follows. It was observed that the nucleus membrane of an oogonium was damaged and vacuolated in the several parts after 15 days of irradiation. The damage of mitochondria membrane and flow in cytoplasm after 20 and 30 days was found in the oogonium. After 40 days observation, peroxidation of fat droplets was found and organelles were tangled each other in ovary tissue. The partial damage of nuclear membrane in oogonium past 15 days after injection of alliin was found, but decreased remarkably. Mitochondria, Golgi body, and rough endoplasmic reticulum were also clearly observed, therefore, radioprotection effects in alliin was confirmed partially.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제49권6호
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• pp.1157-1164
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• 2017

The Monte Carlo criticality simulation of decoupled systems, as for instance in large reactor cores, has been a challenging issue for a long time. In particular, due to limited computer time resources, the number of neutrons simulated per generation is still many order of magnitudes below realistic statistics, even during the start-up phases of reactors. This limited number of neutrons triggers a strong clustering effect of the neutron population that affects Monte Carlo tallies. Below a certain threshold, not only is the variance affected but also the estimation of the eigenvectors. In this paper we will build a time-dependent diffusion equation that takes into account both spatial correlations and population control (fixed number of neutrons along generations). We will show that its solution obeys a traveling wave dynamic, and we will discuss the mechanism that explains this biasing of local tallies whenever leakage boundary conditions are applied to the system.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제47권1호
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• pp.26-32
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• 2015

During the course of a severe accident in a light water nuclear reactor, large amounts of hydrogen can be generated and released into the containment during reactor core degradation. Additional burnable gases [hydrogen ($H_2$) and carbon monoxide (CO)] may be released into the containment in the corium/concrete interaction. This could subsequently raise a combustion hazard. As the Fukushima accidents revealed, hydrogen combustion can cause high pressure spikes that could challenge the reactor buildings and lead to failure of the surrounding buildings. To prevent the gas explosion hazard, most mitigation strategies adopted by European countries are based on the implementation of passive autocatalytic recombiners (PARs). Studies of representative accident sequences indicate that, despite the installation of PARs, it is difficult to prevent at all times and locations, the formation of a combustible mixture that potentially leads to local flame acceleration. Complementary research and development (R&D) projects were recently launched to understand better the phenomena associated with the combustion hazard and to address the issues highlighted after the Fukushima Daiichi events such as explosion hazard in the venting system and the potential flammable mixture migration into spaces beyond the primary containment. The expected results will be used to improve the modeling tools and methodology for hydrogen risk assessment and severe accident management guidelines. The present paper aims to present the methodology adopted by Institut de Radioprotection et de $S{\hat{u}}ret{\acute{e}}$ $Nucl{\acute{e}}aire$ to assess hydrogen risk in nuclear power plants, in particular French nuclear power plants, the open issues, and the ongoing R&D programs related to hydrogen distribution, mitigation, and combustion.

• 한국방사선학회논문지
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.119-125
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• 2024

본 연구의 목적은 방사능 테러 상황에서 경찰특공대 대테러요원의 방사선 손상을 최소화할 수 있는 방사선 방호제 개발을 위하여 셀레늄과 아르기닌 혼합물의 방사선 방호효과를 규명하는 것이다. 본 연구에서는 72 마리의 수컷 SD rat을 일반군(NC Group), 셀레늄과 아르기닌 혼합물 투여군(SeAr Group), 방사선 노출군(IR Group), 셀레늄과 아르기닌 혼합물 투여 후 방사선 노출군(SeAr+IR Group)의 4개 군으로 분류하였다. 방사선은 7 Gy 엑스선을 전신에 노출하였고, 셀레늄과 아르기닌은 각각 1일 1회 3 mg/kg, 150 mg/kg이 흡수되도록 혼합하여 14일간 경구 투여였다. 방사선 노출 후 1일, 7일, 21일차에 혈액학적 분석과 조직학적 분석을 수행하였다. 혈액학적 분석에서는 IR Group에 비하여 SeAr+IR Group에서 방사선 노출 후 1일차에 림프구(p<0.05)에서, 7일차에 혈소판(p<0.01)에서, 21일차에 적혈구(p<0.01)에서 유의한 방사선 방호가 나타났다. 조직학적 분석에는 IR Group에 비하여 SeAr+IR Group에서 방사선 노출 7일차에 소장에서 소장움 세포의 경계가 적게 무너지고 소장움의 길이가 비교적 회복된 것이 관찰되었고, 21일차에 전립선에서 세포수와 세포벽의 두께가 더 양호한 것으로 관찰되었다. 따라서 셀레늄과 아르기닌 혼합물은 방사선 노출에 따른 혈액 및 조직에 대한 방사선 방호효과가 있는 것으로 판단되며 경찰특공대 대테러요원의 방사선 손상 감소를 위한 방사선 방호제 연구에 유용하게 활용될 것으로 기대된다.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제53권7호
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• pp.2295-2303
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• 2021

To investigate wall-thinning impact on axial load resistance of Zircaloy-4 cladding rods after a LOCA transient, axial tensile samples have been machined on as-received tubes with reduced thicknesses between 370 and 580 ㎛. After high temperature oxidation under steam at 1200 ℃ with measured ECR ranging from 10 to 18% and water quenching, machined samples were axially loaded until fracture. These tests were modeled using a fracture mechanics approach developed in a previous study. Fracture stresses are rather well predicted. However, the slightly lower fracture stress observed for wall-thinned samples is not anticipated by this modeling approach. The results from this study confirm that characterizing the axial load resistance using semi-integral tests including the creep and burst phases was the best option to obtain accurate axial strengths describing accurately the influence of wall-thinning at burst region.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권6호
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• pp.2405-2425
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• 2014

Radiation exposure leads to several pathophysiological conditions, including oxidative damage, inflammation and fibrosis, thereby affecting the survival of organisms. This review explores the radiation countermeasure properties of fourteen (14) plant extracts or plant-derived compounds against these cellular manifestations. It was aimed at evaluating the possible role of plants or its constituents in radiation countermeasure strategy. All the 14 plant extracts or compounds derived from it and considered in this review have shown some radioprotection in different in vivo, ex-vivo and or in vitro models of radiological injury. However, few have demonstrated advantages over the others. C. majus possessing antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects appears to be promising in radioprotection. Its crude extracts as well as various alkaloids and flavonoids derived from it, have shown to enhance survival rate in irradiated mice. Similarly, curcumin with its antioxidant and the ability to ameliorate late effect of radiation exposure, combined with improvement in survival in experimental animal following irradiation, makes it another probable candidate against radiological injury. Furthermore, the extracts of P. hexandrum and P. kurroa in combine treatment regime, M. piperita, E. officinalis, A. sinensis, nutmeg, genistein and ginsan warrants further studies on their radioprotective potentials. However, one that has received a lot of attention is the dietary flaxseed. The scavenging ability against radiation-induced free radicals, prevention of radiation-induced lipid peroxidation, reduction in radiation cachexia, level of inflammatory cytokines and fibrosis, are some of the remarkable characteristics of flaxseed in animal models of radiation injury. While countering the harmful effects of radiation exposure, it has shown its ability to enhance survival rate in experimental animals. Further, flaxseed has been tested and found to be equally effective when administered before or after irradiation, and against low doses (${\leq}5Gy$) to the whole body or high doses (12-13.5 Gy) to the whole thorax. This is particularly relevant since apart from the possibility of using it in pre-conditioning regime in radiotherapy, it could also be used during nuclear plant leakage/accidents and radiological terrorism, which are not pre-determined scenarios. However, considering the infancy of the field of plant-based radioprotectors, all the above-mentioned plant extracts/plant-derived compounds deserves further stringent study in different models of radiation injury.

• 한국콘텐츠학회논문지
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• 제10권7호
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• pp.297-304
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• 2010

소장 흡수상피 세포는 점액 다당류가 풍부하고 림프구와 사립체가 많아 방사선에너지에 민감하다. 따라서 세포 손상은 영양분 결핍 및 전해질 대사의 불균형을 가져와 장관사의 주 원인이 된다. 본 연구는 소장 흡수상피 세포들의 방사선 손상기전과 방어기작을 밝히고자 프로폴리스를 복강에 투여한 후 초 미세구조를 관찰하였다. 관찰 결과, 5Gy 조사 후 20일된 조직에서 소장이 유착되고, 표면이 검게 변해 있었으며 탄력성이 줄어든 것을 볼 수 있었다. 광학현미경(LM) 관찰 결과, 배상세포의 크기 및 수가 줄어들었으며 파네트과립세포는 위축되고 일부에서는 공포가 관찰되었다. 전자현미경(TEM) 관찰 결과, 미세융모와 용해소체는 정상적으로 관찰되었으나 사립체 막이 손상되고 림프구 가장자리에서 요철면이 형성되었다. 회장에서는 흡수상피조직이 비후되고 공포가 관찰되었다. 하지만 프로폴리스 복강 투여 후 관찰에서는 사립체의 이중막이 정상적으로 관찰되었고, 미세융모의 당질층도 손상되지 않았으며, M세포도 많이 관찰되어 자기소화와 흡수 기능이 원활하였다. 따라서 세균 바이러스 등의 면역기능과 세포 손상에 방어효과를 확인하였다.