• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.175-183
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• 2014

In spite of international efforts to control nuclear weapons and chemical, biological, and radiological (CBR) weapons, North Korea obtains and sells CBR weapons illegally. As a result, the worldwide threat of CBR weapons is increasing. Unfortunately, civil defense education and training for CBR weapons have not been adopted for real situations because of the long period of absence of an actual combat. In this study, virtual training scenarios that are applied to the simulation were made in 5 steps to cope with CBR situations. These scenarios are expected to have three effects. First, trainings can be improved with experience and education. Second, the problems and health hazards of CBR weapons and supplies can be solved with CBR virtual training simulation experience. Finally, corresponding effects can be recognized and predicted in real situations through roles and mission procedures of simulation scenario.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.113-121
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• 2021

A safety assessment of radioactive waste repositories is a mandatory requirement process because there are possible radiological hazards owing to radionuclide migration from radioactive waste to the biosphere. For a reliable safety assessment, it is important to establish a parameter database that reflects the site-specific characteristics of the disposal facility and repository site. From this perspective, solubility, a major geochemical parameter, has been chosen as an important parameter for modeling the migration behavior of radionuclides. The solubilities were derived for Am, Ni, Tc, and U, which were major radionuclides in this study, and on-site groundwater data reflecting the operational conditions of the Gyeongju low and intermediate level radioactive waste (LILW) repository were applied to reflect the site-specific characteristics. The radiation dose was derived by applying the solubility and radionuclide inventory data to the RESRAD-OFFSITE code, and sensitivity analysis of the dose according to the solubility variation was performed. As a result, owing to the low amount of radionuclide inventory, the dose variation was insignificant. The derived solubility can be used as the main input data for the safety assessment of the Gyeongju LILW repository in the future.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.89-100
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• 2004

The comet assay (also called the single-cell gel electrophoresis assay) has been widely used for detecting DNA damage and repair in individual cells. Since the conventional methods of evaluating comet assay data using frequency statistics are unsatisfactory we developed a new quantitative measure of DNA damage/repair that is based on all information residing in the dose/time-response curves of a comet experiment. Blood samples were taken from 25 breast cancer patients before undergoing radiotherapy. The comet assay was performed under alkaline conditions using isolated lymphocytes. Tail DNA, tail length, tail moment and tail inertia of the comet were measured for each patient at four doses of $\gamma$-rays (0, 2, 4 and 8 Gy) and at four time points after irradiation (0, 10, 20 and 30 min) using 100 cells each. The resulting three-dimensional dose-time response surface was modeled by multiple regression, and the second derivative, termed 2D, on dose and time was determined. A software module was programmed in SAS/AF to compute 2D values. We applied the new method successfully to data obtained from cancer patients to be assessed for their radiation sensitivity. We computed the 2D values for the four damage measures, i.e., tail moment, tail length, tail DNA and tail inertia, and examined the pairwise correlation coefficients of 2D both on the log scale and the unlogged scale. 2D values based on tail moment and tail DNA showed a high correlation and, therefore, these two damage measures can be used interchangeably as far as DNA repair is concerned. 2D values based on tail inertia have a correlation profile different from the other 2D values which may reflect different facets of DNA damage/repair. Using the dose-time response surface, other statistical models, e.g., the proportional hazards model, become applicable for data analysis. The 2D approach can be applied to all DNA repair measures, Le., tail moment, tail length, tail DNA and tail inertia, and appears to be superior to conventional evaluation methods as it integrates all data of the dose/time-response curves of a comet assay.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.124-131
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• 2013

Utilities have tried to ensure that radiological hazards to the environment and residents are kept as low as reasonably achievable by monitoring and controlling planned releases. However, since groundwater contamination was reported to occur due to unplanned releases mostly in the United States nuclear power plants, the interest of the stakeholders has increased to a point where it is now one of the most important issues in the United States nuclear power industry. This paper aims to help to implement an effective on-site groundwater monitoring program at domestic nuclear power plants by briefing the experiences of the United States nuclear power plants on groundwater contaminations and groundwater monitoring, and responses of the United States nuclear industry and regulator body for them.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.303-308
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• 2022

Mammography using X-rays is currently the most used for early diagnosis of breast cancer. As the frequency of use of X-ray devices increases, interest in radiation hazards caused by mammography is increasing. Therefore, in this study, in order to measure the exposure dose of the mammary gland in X-ray mammography that requires high contrast and high resolution, the international Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) stipulates the international standards presented by IEC 62220-1-2: 2015. Based on the beam quality criteria of the recommendation, we tried to present a guideline for evaluating the average mammary gland dose. As a result, the average streamline dose value of the 4.5 cm PMMA phantom was 2.3 mGy at the maximum within the 30 kV range, and was evaluated to be 1.19 mGy based on 28 kV.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.11
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• pp.4253-4264
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• 2022

Since the implementation of the phosphate project in Bled El-Hadba (BEH) deposit, western region of Tébessa, no detailed study has been conducted to assess the natural radioactivity distribution and the associated radiological risk parameter for this open-pit mine. For the sake of determining a credible premining reference database for the region of interest, 21 samples were collected from different geological layers of the above-mentioned deposit. Gamma Spectrometry was applied for measuring radioactivity using a high resolution HPGe semiconductor detector. The obtained activity results have shown a significant broad variation in the radioactive contents for the different phosphate samples. The total average concentrations (in Bq·kg^-1) for ²²⁶Ra, ²³⁸U, ²³⁵U, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K computed for the different type of phosphate layers were found to be 570 ± 169, 788 ± 280, 52 ± 18, 66 ± 6 and 81 ± 18 respectively. The mean activity concentrations of the measured radionuclides were compared to other regional and worldwide deposits. The ratios between the detected radioisotopes have been calculated for spatial distribution of natural radionuclides in the study area. Based on the aforementioned activity concentrations, the corresponding radiation hazard parameters were assessed. Correlations between the obtained parameters were drawn and a multivariate statistical analysis (Pearson Correlation, Cluster and Factor analysis) was carried out in order to identify the existing relationships.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.207-215
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• 2024

This study focuses on measuring the levels of naturally occurring radioactivity in the soil of Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, as well as the associated health hazard. Thirty (30) soil samples were collected from various locations and analyzed for ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K radioactivity levels using a High Purity Germanium detector (HPGe) gamma-ray spectrometer with a photo-peak efficiency of approximately 52.3%. The average values obtained for these radionuclides are 35.6 ± 5.7 Bqkg^-1, 47 ± 12.5 Bqkg^-1, and 877 ± 153 Bqkg^-1, respectively. The level of ²³²Th is slightly higher and ⁴⁰K is 2.2 times higher than the internationally recommended limit of 30 Bqkg^-1 and 400 Bqkg^-1, respectively. Various parameters were calculated based on the results obtained, including Radium Equivalent (Ra_eq), External Hazard (H_ex), Absorbed Dose Rate (D), Annual Gonadal Equivalent Dose (AGDE), Annual Effective Dose Rate, and Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk (ELCR), which are 170.3 ± 24 Bqkg^-1, 0.46 ± 0.06 Bqkg^-1, 81.4 ± 2.04 nGy h^-1, 582 ± 78.08 µSvy^-1, 99.8 ± 13.5 µSv Gy^-1, and 0.349 ± 0.04, respectively. These values are below the limits recommended by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) in 2002. This study highlights the potential radiation threats associated with natural radioactivity levels in the soil of Swabi and provides valuable information for public health and safety.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.11
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• pp.1263-1270
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• 2001

Objective : To analyze the radiosurgical results of intracranial meningiomas after Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKS) and to assess the possible factors related to the outcome and complications in treating meningiomas. Patients and Methods : We retrospectively reviewed the clinical and radiological data in 179 patients(194 lesions) treated with GKS for intracranial meningiomas between May 1992 and October 2000. Radiosurgical responses were categorized as shrinkage, stasis and enlargement, and we defined the shrunken and static group as a radio-logical control. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to evaluate the correlation between the radiosurgical outcomes and various factors such as location and size of tumor, age and gender of patients, relation to venous sinus, pre-GKS degree of edema, treatment modality, radiosurgical parameters, and pathologic findings. Results : Patients were grouped into skull base meningiomas(57.7%), non-skull base tumor including convexity, parasagittal, and falx meningiomas(37.1%), and others(5.2%) according to the location of tumors. The mean maximum dose and the margin dose of tumor was 30.0Gy(19-45Gy) and 15.1Gy(9.5-24.5Gy), respectively. The mean volume of the tumors was 9.4cc(0.003-45.0cc). The radiologic control rate was 97.1%. The radiation induced imaging change with or without neurologic deficit was the most common complication(23.6%). There were seen mostly in convexity, parasagittal, and falx meningiomas which were deeply embedded in cortex. Conclusion : GKS for intracranial meningioma seems to be safe and effective treatments. However, GKS should be considered very cautiously in non-skull base tumor such as convexity, parasagittal, or falx meningiomas with regards to patient's age and general condition, size and location of tumor, pattern of embedding into cortex, presenting symptoms and patient's preference.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.119-142
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• 2013

It is not easy to regulate the amount of radiation used for the medical purpose as there usually is more good than harm to the patient's health and life caused by the medical exposure to the radiation. However, the rapid increase of the use of diagnostic radiation involves a high possibility of increasing the radiation hazard exposure. Therefore, it is imperative to implement effective regulations in order to secure the safety of diagnostic radiation. The one and only rule we currently have for the diagnostic radiation is "Medicine Act" with only one clause dedicated to regulate the safety management that does not include any rules for the medical radiation. A set of inclusive rules for the whole medical radiation inclusive of diagnostic radiation and therapeutic radiation need to be based on the "Medicine Act" rather than "Nuclear Safety Act" in order to protect the medical professionals, patients and the guardians of patients from the hazards of diagnostic and/or therapeutic radiation that was not used the purpose of medical treatment. If there is an administrative measure to be imposed to secure the safety of diagnostic radiation, it is considered as exertion of governmental authority of administrative agency. There must be clear and realistic legal guidelines for in-fringe on people's interests. The administrative measures for the safety management of the diagnostic radiation must be clearly and specifically based on the law and the detailed standards for the administrative measures must be dele-gated by the presidential decree or departmental ordinance. Accordingly, the restrictions imposed by the administrative measures to the "Safety Inspection Institute of Radiation along with Radiation Exposure Measuring Institutes" should have clear legal basis as well and the detailed standards for the administrative measures should be regulated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare decree instead of the notification by the Director of Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While securing the safety of radiation on one side, careful review and up-grade on our legal system for the safety management of the diagnostic radiation is required on the other side to guarantee the legality, interest balance and reliability of the administrative measures.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.971-977
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• 2015

Malignant glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most malignant brain tumor and despite recent advances in diagnostics and treatment prognosis remains poor. In this retrospective study, we assessed the clinical and radiological parameters, as well as fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) of 1p19q deletion, in a series of cases. A total of 816 patients with GBM who received surgery and radiation between January 2010 and May 2014 were included in this study. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox regression analysis were used to find the factors independently influencing patient progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Age at diagnosis, preoperative Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) score, KPS score change at 2 weeks after operation, neurological deficit symptoms, tumor resection extent, maximal tumor diameter, involvement of eloquent cortex or deep structure, involvement of brain lobe, Ki-67 and MMP9 expression level and adjuvant chemotherapy were statistically significant factors (p<0.05) for both PFS and OS in the univariate analysis. Cox proportional hazards modeling revealed that age ${\leq}50$ years, preoperative KPS score ${\geq}80$, KPS score change after operation ${\geq}0$, involvement of single frontal lobe, deep structure involvement, low Ki-67 and MMP9 expression and adjuvant chemotherapy were independent favorable factors (p<0.05) for patient clinical outcomes.