• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.156-160
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• 2004

This study aims to investigate the changes in the lipid composition and angiotensin-converting enzyme activity in serum of rats exposed to microwave radiation, and to examine improving effects of green tea catechin to the lipid composition. The microwave-exposed rats received the normal and one of 3 diets: catechin free (MW-0C), 0.25% catechin (MW-0.25C) or 0.5% catechin (MW-0.5C). Rats were sacrificed 6th day after microwave radiation (2.45 ㎓, 15 min). The concentration of serum triglyceridein MW-0C group was increased by 85%, compared with the normal group, but that of MW-0.25C group with 0.25% catechin supplementation was to 17% lower, compared with the MW-0C group. There was no significant difference between normal group and MW-0.5C group. Total-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol concentrations were increased by 21.4% and 38.6%, respectively, by microwave irradiation. The concentration of HDL-cholesterol in MW-0C group was lower to 29.3%, but it was maintained at the normal level by catechin supplementation. There was no significant difference among four groups in HLD-cholesterol/LDL-cholesterol. Atherogenic index in MW-0C group was increased by 56%, compared with the normal group. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity in lung tissue of MW-0C group was increased by 59 %, while that of MW -0.25C and MW -0.5C group were maintained at the normal level. ACE activity of MW-0C group in serum was increased by 122.8%, compared with the normal group. Catechin supplementation group was significantly reduced, compared with the MW-0C group ACE activity. In conclusion, microwave irradiation increased the serum triglyceride and cholesterol concentrations and ACE activity which are considered as the blood pressure increasing agents. However, catechin supplementation decreased the level of triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and ACE activity, which maybe consider catechin as being agent of lowering effect for blood lipid profile for athero-genesis.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.171-179
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• 2002

The three-dimensional long-range dispersion model has been developed to understand the characteristics of the transport and diffusion of radioactive materials released into atmosphere. The model is designed to compute air concentration and ground deposition at distances up to some thousands of kilometers from the source point in horizontal direction. The vertical turbulent motion is considered separately within the mixing layer and above the mixing layer. The test simulation was performed In the area of Northeast Asia. The release point was assumed in the east part of China. The calculated concentration distributions art mainly advected toward the southeast part of release point by the wind fields. The developed model will be used to estimate the radiological consequences against a nuclear accident. The model will be supplemented by the comparative study using the data of the long-range field experiments.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.339-343
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• 2016

Background: Evaluation of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)-strand break is important to elucidate the biological effect of ionizing radiations. The conventional methods for DNA-strand break evaluation have been achieved by Agarose gel electrophoresis and others using an electrical property of DNAs. Such kinds of DNA-strand break evaluation systems can estimate DNA-strand break, according to a molecular weight of DNAs. However, the conventional method needs pretreatment of the sample and a relatively long period for analysis. They do not have enough sensitivity to detect the strand break products in the low-dose region. Materials and Methods: The sample is water, methanol and plasmid DNA solution. The plasmid DNA pUC118 was multiplied by using Escherichia coli JM109 competent cells. The resonance frequency and Q-value were measured by means of microwave dielectric absorption spectroscopy. When a sample is located at a center of the electric field, resonance curve of the frequency that existed as a standing wave is disturbed. As a result, the perturbation effect to perform a resonance with different frequency is adopted. Results and Discussion: The resonance frequency shifted to higher frequency with an increase in a concentration of methanol as the model of the biological material, and the Q-value decreased. The absorption peak in microwave power spectrum of the double-strand break plasmid DNA shifted from the non-damaged plasmid DNA. Moreover, the sharpness of absorption peak changed resulting in change in Q-value. We confirmed that a resonance frequency shifted to higher frequency with an increase in concentration of the plasmid DNA. Conclusion: We developed a new technique for an evaluation of DNA damage. In this paper, we report the evaluation method of DNA damage using microwave dielectric absorption spectroscopy.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.5-13
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• 1979

A simple method for determining the airborne concentration of radon daughter products has been developed, which is based on gross alpha counting of the air filter collections at several time intervals after completion of air sampling. The concentration of each nuclide is then obtained from an equation involving the alpha disintegrations, the sampling time, and the known numerical coefficients. The state of radioactive disequilibrium is also investigated. The atmosphere sampled in the TRIGA Mark-III reactor room was largely in disequilibrium. The extent of radioactive disequilibrium between radon daughter products seems likely depend on sampling times associated with turbulence conditions. The data obtained here will certainly provide useful information on the evaluation of internal exposure and calibration of effluent monitoring instruments.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.111-121
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• 2014

This study was aimed to select useful mutants of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) and leaf mustard (Brassica juncea L.), the seeds of three lines S-14, S-27, and S-28 were treated with gamma-ray and EMS. The optimum ranges of gamma-ray dose and EMS concentration to enlarge the characteristic morphological variations were also separately investigated. The survival rates of S-28 only linearly decreased with increasing the gamma-ray dose. The overall growth parameters decreased of gamma-ray dose in all three lines of S-14, S-27, and S-28. The reduction dosage 50 of gamma-ray was identified as 1,200 Gy for S-14 leaf mustard, while those of S-27 and S-28 rapeseed lines were appeared as same 1,000 Gy. The emergence rates of S-14 and S-27 showed no significant differences by EMS treatment, while the growth of all three lines were significantly decreased. The reduction concentration 50 in S-14 could not be determined, demonstrating that this leaf mustard line is presumably insensitive to mutagenic EMS, while those in S-27 and S-28 were identified as 3.0 and 2.5%, respectively, showing that these rapeseed lines possess higher sensitivity to EMS than S-14. Various morphological characteristics of $M_1$ generation obtained from mutagen treatment were elaborately investigated for further maintenance of $M_2$ generation. In $M_2$ generation variants showing short stem, yellow color in seed coat, chlorophyll deficiencies in leaf or pod, abnormal flower color were selected as potentially useful mutants for breeding.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.167-175
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• 2019

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate airborne radon and thoron levels and estimate the effective doses of workers who made household goods and mattresses using monazite. Methods: Airborne radon and thoron concentrations were measured using continuous monitors (Rad7, Durridge Company Inc., USA). Radon and thoron concentrations in the air were converted to radon doses using the dose conversion factor recommended by the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission in Korea. External exposure to gamma rays was measured at the chest height of a worker from the source using real-time radiation instruments, a survey meter (RadiagemTM 2000, Canberra Industries, Inc., USA), and an ion chamber (OD-01 Hx, STEP Co., Germany). Results: When using monazite, the average concentration range of radon was $13.1-97.8Bq/m^3$ and thoron was $210.1-841.4Bq/m^3$. When monazite was not used, the average concentration range of radon was $2.6-10.8Bq/m^3$ and the maximum was $1.7-66.2Bq/m^3$. Since monazite has a higher content of thorium than uranium, the effects of thoron should be considered. The effective doses of radon and thoron as calculated by the dose conversion factor based on ICRP 115 were 0.26 mSv/yr and 0.76 mSv/yr, respectively, at their maximum values. The external radiation dose rate was $6.7{\mu}Sv/hr$ at chest height and the effective dose was 4.3 mSv/yr at the maximum. Conclusions: Regardless of the use of monazite, the total annual effective doses due to internal and external exposure were 0.03-4.42 mSv/yr. Exposures to levels higher than this value are indicated if dose conversion factors based on the recently published ICRP 137 are applied.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.154-162
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• 2020

Background: Several studies have reported that wild mushrooms contain high amounts of radioactive cesium (137Cs). After the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident, a significantly high concentration of 137Cs has been detected in wild mushrooms, and their consumption may be the cause of the chronic internal exposure of local consumers to radioactivity. Therefore, an accurate evaluation of the internal radioactivity resulting from mushroom ingestion is needed. Materials and Methods: The 137Cs elution rate through the cooking and digestion stages was evaluated using in vitro experiments. The edible mushroom Pleurotus djamor was taken as a sample for the experiments. The mushrooms were cultivated onto solid media containing 137Cs. We evaluated the internal dose based on the actual conditions using the elution rate data. For various cooking methods, the results were compared with those of other wild edible mushrooms. Results and Discussion: From the elution experiment through cooking, we proved that 25%-55% of the 137Cs in the mushrooms was released during soaking, boiling, or frying. The results of a simulated digestion experiment after cooking revealed that almost all the 137Cs in the ingested mushrooms eluted in the digestive juice, regardless of the cooking method. The committed effective dose was reduced by 20%-75% when considering the dissolution through the cooking process. Conclusion: We found that cooking lowers 137Cs concentration in mushrooms, therefore reducing the amount of radioactivity intake. Besides, since there were differences between mushroom types, we demonstrated that the internal exposure dose should be evaluated in detail considering the release of 137Cs during the cooking stages.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.249-254
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• 2024

This study compared the X-ray shielding abilities of the shields using Computed Radiography(CR) System after manufacturing a lead-free boards using gypsum and BaSO₄, an eco-friendly X-ray shielding material. Total six lead-free boards were manufactured with BaSO₄ concentrations of 25 %, 50 % and thickness of 10 mm, 15 mm, 20 mm respectively, and additional thickness of 1.0 mm, 1.5 mm, 2.0 mm leads were prepared. In the experiment, Nine shields were placed on the Image Plate and placed in a Computed Tomography(CT) Room where CT scans were performed for 2 weeks. After that, the X-ray image of the shields were obtained through CR Reader, and Pixel Value(PV) were measured to evaluated the X-ray shielding abilities of the lead-free shields. The criterion for evaluating the shields was determined by comparing PV of lead-free board to that of the 1.5 mm thickness lead used in the CT rooms. As a result of the experiment, the PV of the lead-free boards within 25 % of the BaSO₄ concentration and within 10 mm of the thickness were not enough to be used as X-ray shields in the CT Room because they did not reach the PV of the 1.5 mm thickness lead. BaSO₄ concentration of 50 % at 20 mm thickness showed PV of 1.5 mm lead thickness or more indicating that it has an X-ray shielding ability to replace lead in the CT room

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.223-230
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• 2015

The objective of this study is to identify the radionuclide distribution in public water by carrying out the analysis of artificial radionuclides($^{134}Cs$, $^{137}Cs$, $^{239+240}Pu$), natural radionuclide($^{210}Pb$) and TOC in the lake Euiam sediment in Chuncheon, South Korea. The $^{134}Cs$ concentration in all lake sediments showed below MDA values, and the $^{137}Cs$ concentration in lake sediment were ranged from MDA to $8.79Bq{\cdot}kg^{-1}-dry$. The $^{137}Cs$ concentrations in surface sediment were reported to be 2.4 to $4.2Bq{\cdot}kg^{-1}-dry$. The lowest concentration of $^{137}Cs$ was reported at St. 4 and the highest concentration was reported at St. 3, respectively. The $^{239+240}Pu$ concentration in lake sediment were ranged from 0.049 to $0.47Bq{\cdot}kg^{-1}-dry$. The lowest concentration was reported at St. 2 and the highest concentration was reported at St. 3. The correlation(r) between the $^{239+240}Pu$ concentration and $^{137}Cs$ concentration in lake sediment presented higher values (0.54 to 0.97) and this suggests the behavior and origin of $^{137}Cs$ is identical to the $^{239+240}Pu$ in the sediment. The $^{134}Cs$ concentration below MDA value and the $^{239+240}Pu/^{137}Cs$ ratio(mean value of 0.041) indicated that the artificial radionuclides in the sediment were originated from global fallout by the atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons conducted by former USSR and U.S.A, but not from the Fukushima Daiichi NPP accident. The sedimentation rate derived from $^{210}Pb$ age-dating method at St. 2 is calculated to be $0.31{\pm}0.06cm{\cdot}y^{-1}$. This value is similar to the value ($0.41{\pm}0.05cm{\cdot}y^{-1}$) estimated from the $^{137}Cs$ maximum peak produced from early 1960's. The content of TOC in lake Euiam sediments varied from 0.20 to 13.01%. While the highest correlation between TOC and $^{137}Cs$ concentration in the sediment were found at St. 1, the others presented the low correlation.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.551-563
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• 2016

According to the 4th and 5th assessment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), global climate has been rapidly changing because of the human activities since Industrial Revolution. The perceived changes were appeared strongly in temperature and concentration of carbon dioxide ($CO_2$). Global average temperature has increased about $0.74^{\circ}C$ over last 100 years (IPCC, 2007) and concentration of $CO_2$ is unprecedented in at least the last 800,000 years (IPCC, 2014). These phenomena influence precipitation, evapotranspiration and soil moisture which have an important role in hydrology, and that is the reason why there is a necessity to study climate change. In this study, Asia region was selected to simulate primary energy index from 1951 to 2100. To predict future climate change effect, Common Land Model (CLM) which is used for various fields across the world was employed. The forcing data was Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) data which is the newest greenhouse gas emission scenario published in IPCC 5th assessment. Validation of net radiation ($R_n$), sensible heat flux (H), latent heat flux (LE) for historical period was performed with 5 flux tower site-data in the region of AsiaFlux and the monthly trends of simulation results were almost equaled to observation data. The simulation results for 2006-2100 showed almost stable net radiation, slightly decreasing sensible heat flux and quite increasing latent heat flux. Especially the uptrend for RCP 8.5 has been about doubled compared to RCP 4.5 and since late 2060s, variations of net radiation and sensible heat flux would be significantly risen becoming an extreme climate condition. In a follow-up study, a simulation for energy index and hydrological index under the detailed condition will be conducted with various scenario established from this study.