• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.160-164
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• 2012

Objectives: This study was aimed to investigate the methods to reduce operator's radiation dose when taking intraoral radiographs with portable dental X-ray machines. Materials and Methods: Two kinds of portable dental X-ray machines (DX3000, Dexcowin and Rextar, Posdion) were used. Operator's radiation dose was measured with an 1,800 cc ionization chamber (RadCal Corp.) at the hand level of X-ray tubehead and at the operator's chest and waist levels with and without the backscatter shield. The operator's radiation dose at the hand level was measured with and without lead gloves and with long and short cones. Results: The backscatter shield reduced operator's radiation dose at the hand level of X-ray tubehead to 23 - 32%, the lead gloves to 26 - 31%, and long cone to 48 - 52%. And the backscatter shield reduced operator's radiation dose at the operator's chest and waist levels to 0.1 - 37%. Conclusions: When portable dental X-ray systems are used, it is recommended to select X-ray machine attached with a backscatter shield and a long cone and to wear the lead gloves.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.60-67
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• 2000

Purpose :To evaluate protective mechanism of melatonin against radiation damage and its relationship with apoptosis in mouse jejunum. Materials and Methods: 168 mice were divided into 28 groups according to radiation dose and matatonin treatment. To analysis crypt survival, microcolony survival assay was done according to Withers and Elkind's method. To analysis apoptosis, TUNEL assay was done according to Labet-Moleur's method. Results : Radiation protection effect of melatonin was demonstrated by crypt survival assay and its effect was stronger in high radiation dose area. Apoptosis index with 8 Gy irradiation was 18.4$\%$ in control group and 16.5$\%$ in melatonin treated group. After 18 Gy, apoptosis index was 17.2$\%$ in control group and 15.4$\%$ in melatonin treated group. Apoptosis index did not show statistically significant difference between melatonin treated group and control group. Conclusion : Melatonin shows clear protective effect in mouse jejunum against radiation damage but its protective effect seems not to be related with apoptosis protection effect.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.158-166
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• 2022

Background: The effects of radiation on the health of radiation workers who are constantly susceptible to occupational exposure must be assessed based on an accurate and reliable reconstruction of organ-absorbed doses that can be calculated using personal dosimeter readings measured as H_p(10) and dose conversion coefficients. However, the data used in the dose reconstruction contain significant biases arising from the lack of reality and could result in an inaccurate measure of organ-absorbed doses. Therefore, this study quantified the biases involved in organ dose reconstruction and calculated the bias-corrected H_p(10)-to-organ-absorbed dose coefficients for the use in epidemiological studies of Korean radiation workers. Materials and Methods: Two major biases were considered: (a) the bias in H_p(10) arising from the difference between the dosimeter calibration geometry and the actual exposure geometry, and (b) the bias in air kerma-to-H_p(10) conversion coefficients resulting from geometric differences between the human body and slab phantom. The biases were quantified by implementing personal dosimeters on the slab and human phantoms coupled with a Monte Carlo method and considered to calculate the bias-corrected H_p(10)-to-organ-absorbed dose conversion coefficients. Results and Discussion: The bias in H_p(10) was significant for large incident angles and low energies (e.g., 0.32 for right lateral at 218 keV), whereas the bias in dose coefficients was significant for the posteroanterior (PA) geometry only (e.g., 0.79 at 218 keV). The bias-corrected H_p(10)-to-organ-absorbed dose conversion coefficients derived in this study were up to 3.09- fold greater than those from the International Commission on Radiological Protection publications without considering the biases. Conclusion: The obtained results will aid future studies in assessing the health effects of occupational exposure of Korean radiation workers. The bias-corrected dose coefficients of this study can be used to calculate organ doses for Korean radiation workers based on personal dose records.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.26-34
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• 2020

Background: We examined changes in red ginseng components after different doses of irradiation were applied. We also evaluated what housewives and teachers know about irradiated food, as well as their perceptions of and attitudes toward it. Materials and Methods: General nutrients and unique components of irradiated ginseng were then analyzed. Education on irradiated foods and red ginseng was provided to teachers and housewives on two occasions, and changes in their behaviors were evaluated via a qualitative survey. Results and Discussion: The ideal radiation dose to reduce the number of bacteria without changing the unique components of red ginseng is 7.5 kGy. Notably, after educational seminars on this topic, consumers' knowledge, attitudes toward, and perceptions of irradiated ginseng compared to non-irradiated red ginseng changed significantly. Conclusion: It is necessary to provide consumers with information on irradiated foods to promote the growth of the domestic food industry, and to improve public knowledge of the safety and effects associated with the irradiation of food.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.35-44
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• 2020

Background: Cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) is a promising material because of a high detection efficiency, good energy resolution, and operability at room temperature. However, the cost of CZT dramatically increases as its size increases. In this study, to achieve a large effective volume with relatively low cost, an array structure comprised of individual virtual Frisch-grid CZT detectors was proposed. Materials and Methods: The prototype consisted of 2 × 2 CZTs, a holder, anode and cathode printed circuit boards (PCBs), and an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). CZTs were used and the non-contacting shielding electrode method was applied for virtual Frisch-grid effect. An ASIC was used, and the holder and the PCBs were fabricated. In the current system, because the CZTs formed a common cathode, a total of 5 channels were assigned for data processing. Results and Discussion: An experiment using ¹³⁷Cs at room temperature was conducted for 10 minutes. Energy and timing information was acquired and the depth of interaction was calculated by the timing difference between the signals of both electrodes. Based on obtained three-dimensional position information, the energy correction was carried out, and as a result the energy spectra showed the improvements. In addition, a Compton image was reconstructed using the iterative method. Conclusion: The virtual Frisch-grid CZT detector based on the array structure was developed and the energy spectra and the Compton image were successfully acquired.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.321-326
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• 2001

Radionuclide X-ray fluorescence analysis is a method, which has many advantages for analysing various historic artefacts, as it is relatively cheap, sensitive and non-destructive, and it allows measurements in-situ. However, this analysis has also certain limitations especially concerning sensitivity to chemical elements only, irrespective of the compounds or chemical forms in which these elements have been bonded. In addition, light elements emitting very soft X-rays cannot be measured, and in order to detect a wide range of elements, it is necessary to carry out repeated measurements with different radiation sources. Despite these limitations, valuable information can be obtained about the composition of historic materials and data about the origin and age of these artefacts can be derived. Analyses of wall paintings, ancient metal sculptures or other objects of art provide the basis for historic considerations documented in our results for some objects belonging to the Czech cultural heritage. The results are promising. Thus it is expected that our laboratory will expand its work into more fields of the fine and applied arts.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.112-117
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• 1984

A lot of radioisotopes are applied to medical fields. It's very important to measure the activities on airborne radioiodine discharged in air from $Na^{131}I$ solutions and from patients treated with radioiodine. Also surface decontamination is another one important problem to be completly solved in the isotope laboratory where there is always the possibility of radiation contamination. The Authors measured the activities on airborne radioiodine with RI collector and scintillation counter. 1. The mean accumulative activity of airborne radioiodine discharged into air from $Na^{131}I$ solution was measured as $1.3{\times}10^{-3}/hr$ rate, and the maximum value was $1.8{\times}10^{-3}/hr$. 2. Radioactivity rate per hour of airborne iodine discharged into air from patients treated with $Na^{131}I$ was measured as $6.2{\times}10^{-5}/hr$ at 8 hour after administration of radioiodine and decreased into $2{\times}10^{-6}/hr$ after 24 hour. 3. Metalic surfaces such as stainless steel or aluminum are decontaminated 5 to 6 times more rapidly than wood and concrete surfaces. 4. Decontamination with wet wiping with detergent was 9 to 10 times more rapidly than dry wiping method, but dry wiping was useful for the first step to prevent spreading and flowing from liquid radioactive materials.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.98-105
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• 2017

Background: By examining the safety issues involved in on-site training sessions conducted at specialized vocational high schools, and by analyzing the effects of non-destructive testing (NDT) safety training, this study aims to contribute to ensuring the general safety of high school students. Materials and Methods: Students who expressed an interest in participation were surveyed regarding current NDT training practices, as well as NDT safety training. A total of 361 students from 4 schools participated in this study; 37.7% (136 students) were from the Seoul metropolitan area and 62.3% (225 students) were from other areas. Results and Discussion: Of the respondents, 2.2% (8 students) reported having engaged in NDT. As a result of safety training, statistically significant improvements were observed in most areas, except for individuals with previous NDT experience. The areas of improvement included safety awareness, acquisition of knowledge, subjective knowledge levels, objective knowledge levels, and adjustments to existing personal attitudes. Conclusion: Even at absolutely necessary observation-only training sessions, it is crucial that sufficient safety training and additional safety measures be adequately provided.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.69-76
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• 2017

Background: Time-resolved optically stimulated luminescence (TR-OSL) is a very useful method for calculating the lifetimes of crystalline quartz and feldspar. Materials and Methods: A compact TR-OSL system was developed, comprising a heater assembly manufactured using Kanthal wire, 2 powerful blue light-emitting diodes (LED, LXHL-PB02) for optical stimulation equipped with VIS liquid light guides, and a photomultiplier tube combined with an optical filter for luminescence detection. A pulse generated from the data acquisition board (NI PCI 6250) was used to initiate on/off signals in LED and TR-OSL measurements. Results and Discussion: The TR-OSL and background signals measured using this TR-OSL system using quartz samples were very similar to those reported in a previous study. Additionally, the lifetimes of the build-up and TR-OSL signals were calculated as $27.4{\pm}2.2{\mu}s$ and $30.3{\pm}0.6{\mu}s$, respectively, in good agreement with the findings of a previous study. Conclusion: It was concluded that the developed TR-OSL system was very reliable for TR-OSL signal measurements and lifetime calculations.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.20-27
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• 2023

Background: As the number of nuclear facilities nearing their pre-determined design life increases, demand is increasing for technology and infrastructure related to the decommissioning and decontamination (D&D) process. It is necessary to consider the nature of the dismantling environment constantly changing and the worker doing new tasks. A method was studied that can calculate the effect of learning and the change in work time on the work process, according to the learning-forgetting curve model (LFCM). Materials and Methods: The LFCM was analyzed, and input values and scenarios were analyzed for substitution into the D&D process of a nuclear facility. Results and Discussion: The effectiveness and efficiency of the training were analyzed. It was calculated that skilled workers can receive a 16.9% less collective radiation dose than workers with only basic training. Conclusion: Using these research methods and models, it was possible to calculate the change in the efficiency of workers performing new tasks in the D&D process and the corresponding reduction in the work time and collective dose.