• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제54권8호
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• pp.2771-2782
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• 2022

When assessing the radiological consequences of postulated accident scenarios, it is of primary interest to determine the amount of radioactive fission gas accumulated in the fuel rod free volume. The state-of-the-art semi-empirical approach (ANS 5.4-2010) is reviewed and compared with a mechanistic approach to evaluate the release of radioactive fission gases. At the intra-granular level, the diffusion-decay equation is handled by a spectral diffusion algorithm. At the inter-granular level, a mechanistic description of the grain boundary is considered: bubble growth and coalescence are treated as interrelated phenomena, resulting in the grain-boundary venting as the onset for the release from the fuel pellets. The outcome is a kinetic description of the release of radioactive fission gases, of interest when assessing normal and off-normal conditions. We implement the model in SCIANTIX and reproduce the release of short-lived fission gases, during the CONTACT 1 experiments. The results show a satisfactory agreement with the measurement and with the state-of-the-art methodology, demonstrating the model soundness. A second work will follow, providing integral fuel rod analysis by coupling the code SCIANTIX with the thermo-mechanical code TRANSURANUS.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• 제22권3호
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• pp.161-174
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• 2022

Foreign body aspiration can produce a medical emergency. Obstruction of the airways can be life-threatening, and complications may develop in less-severe cases if it is left untreated. Although it is more prevalent in children by approximately three times, adults can still experience it, and it is more frequently related to healthcare in adults. Objects used in dental treatment are usually placed in the oral cavity and can be ingested or inhaled by accident. Dental treatment has been identified as an important cause of the misplacement of foreign bodies in the airway. However, few reports have been published on dentistry-related foreign body aspiration. This paper discusses the disease course, management, and clinical outcomes of foreign body aspiration, especially those associated with dentistry. The patient must be examined for respiratory distress. If the patient is unstable, urgent airway management and the maneuvers for removal should be performed. Radiographs and computed tomography can help identify and locate the object. The treatment of choice is often bronchoscopy, and both flexible and rigid endoscopes can be used depending on the situation. Preventive measures need to be implemented to avoid inhalation accidents given the potential consequences. Though the incidence is rare, healthcare levels need to be enhanced to avert morbidity and mortality. Radiological evaluation and bronchoscopy are vital for management.

• 방사성폐기물학회지
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• 제20권4호
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• pp.411-428
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• 2022

Given the domestic situation, all nuclear power plants are located at the seaside, where interim storage sites are also likely to be located and maritime transportation is considered inevitable. Currently, Korea does not have an independently developed maritime transportation risk assessment code, and no research has been conducted to evaluate the release rate of radioactive waste from a submerged transportation cask in the sea. Therefore, secure technology is necessary to assess the impact of immersion accidents and establish a regulatory framework to assess, mitigate, and prevent maritime transportation accidents causing serious radiological consequences. The flow rate through a gap in a containment boundary should be calculated to determine the accurate release rate of radionuclides. The fluid flow through the micro-scale gap can be evaluated by combining the flow inside and outside the transportation cask. In this study, detailed computational fluid dynamic and simplified models are constructed to evaluate the internal flow in a transportation cask and to capture the flow and heat transfer around the transportation cask in the sea, respectively. In the future, fluid flow through the gap will be evaluated by coupling the models developed in this study.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제65권3호
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• pp.370-379
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• 2022

Abusive head trauma (AHT) is the most severe form of physical abuse in children. Such injury involves traumatic damage to the head and/or spine of infants and young children. The term AHT was introduced to include a wider range of injury mechanisms, such as intentional direct blow, throw, and even penetrating trauma by perpetuator(s). Currently, it is recommended to replace the former term, shaken baby syndrome, which implicates shaking as the only mechanism, with AHT to include diverse clinical and radiological manifestations. The consequences of AHT cause devastating medical, social and financial burdens on families, communities, and victims. The potential harm of AHT to the developing brain and spinal cord of the victims is tremendous. Many studies have reported that the adverse effects of AHT are various and serious, such as blindness, mental retardation, physical limitation of daily activities and even psychological problems. Therefore, appropriate vigilance for the early recognition and diagnosis of AHT is highly recommended to stop and prevent further injuries. The aim of this review is to summarize the relevant evidence concerning the early recognition and diagnosis of AHT. To recognize this severe type of child abuse early, all health care providers maintain a high index of suspicion and vigilance. Such suspicion can be initiated with careful and thorough history taking and physical examinations. Previously developed clinical prediction rules can be helpful for decision-making regarding starting an investigation when considering meaningful findings. Even the combination of biochemical markers may be useful to predict AHT. For a more confirmative evaluation, neuroradiological imaging is required to find AHT-specific findings. Moreover, timely consultation with ophthalmologists is needed to find a very specific finding, retinal hemorrhage.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• 제27권2호
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• pp.111-120
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• 2002

IAEA가 제시한 중 저준위 방사성폐기물 천층처분시설 기준 안전성평가 사례에 대해 MASCOT 프로그램을 이용하여 안전성평가를 수행하였다. 이를 위해 기준시나리오에 대한 개념 모델을 개발하였다. 지질계와 생태계의 연결매체인 우물을 동한 지하수 이동경로에 대한 평가를 수행하였고 생태계 모델에서는 구획모델을 적용하여 인간활동을 통한 최종 방사선적 영향을 평가하였으며, 다른 평가 결과와의 비교를 통해 기준시나리오에 대한 개념모델의 적합성을 조사하였다. 본 연구 결과는 구획모델을 이용한 지하수 유동경로에 대한 대표적인 개념모델을 총체적인 처분시스템의 안전성평가에 만족스럽게 이용할 수 있다는 것을 보여주었다. 또한 MASCOT 프로그램을 이용하여 복잡하고 다양한 이동경로를 통한 천층처분시설의 방사선적 안전성평가가 가능함을 보였다.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제60권5호
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• pp.534-539
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• 2017

Objective : Patients with hematological malignancies frequently encounter spine-related symptoms, which are caused by disease itself or process of treatment. However, there is still lack of knowledge on their epidemiology and clinical courses. The purpose of this article is to review clinical presentations and surgical results for spinal involvement of hematologic malignancies. Methods : From January 2011 to September 2014, 195 patients (98 males and 97 females) suffering from hematological malignancies combined with spinal problems were retrospectively analyzed for clinical and radiological characteristics and their clinical results. Results : The most common diagnosis of hematological malignancy was multiple myeloma (96 patients, 49.7%), followed by chronic myeloid leukemia (30, 15.2%), acute myeloid leukemia (22, 11.2%), and lymphoma (15, 7.56%). The major presenting symptoms were mechanical axial pain (132, 67.7%) resulting from pathologic fractures, and followed by radiating pain (49, 25.1%). Progressive neurologic deficits were noted in 15 patients (7.7%), which revealed as cord compression by epidural mass or compressive myelopathy combined with pathologic fractures. Reconstructive surgery for neurologic compromise was done in 16 patients. Even though surgical intervention was useful for early paralysis (Frankel grade D or E), neurologic recovery was not satisfactory for the progressed paralysis (Frankel grade A or B). Conclusion : Hematological malignancies may cause various spinal problems related to disease progression or consequences of treatments. Conservative and palliative treatments are mainstay for these lesions. However, timely surgical interventions should be considered for the cases of pathologic fractures with progressive neurologic compromise.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제40권5호
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• pp.938-947
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• 2019

Objective: This study was performed to report the changes in symptoms and radiological consequences of a patient diagnosed with spinal neurofibroma and complaining of lower back pain. Methods: The patient was diagnosed with a spinal neurofibroma after MRI examination and was treated with traditional Korean medicine, including traditional Korean medication and acupuncture. We measured the change in symptom severity using a numerical rating scale (NRS) and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). We also used the EQ-5D (EuroQoL-5D) scale to assess the patient's quality of life. In addition, we examined the change in the size of the cyst by MRI twice after discharge: at about 3 months after discharge and at about 8 months after discharge. Results: After about 6 weeks of treatment, most pathological symptoms had decreased. The patient showed a decline in NRS and ODI scores and showed an increase in quality of life. The two MRI examinations after the discharge revealed a decrease in the size of the cyst. Conclusions: Traditional Korean medicine can be a solution for patients with spinal neurofibroma causing neurological pain.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제55권8호
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• pp.2802-2811
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• 2023

In a first-of-its-kind study, terrestrial radionuclide concentrations were measured in 35 topsoil samples from the outskirts of Dhaka using HPGe gamma-ray spectrometry to assess the radiological consequences of such a vast number of brick kilns on the plant workers, general as well as dwelling environment. The range of activity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K is found at 19 ± 3.04 to 38 ± 4.94, 39 ± 5.85 to 57 ± 7.41, and (430 ± 51.60 to 570 ± 68.40) Bq/kg, respectively. ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K concentrations were higher than the global averages. Bottom ash deposition in lowlands, fly ash buildup in soils, and the fallout of micro-particles are all probable causes of the elevated radioactivity levels. ¹³⁷Cs was found in the sample, which indicates the migration of ¹³⁷Cs from nuclear accidents or nuclear fallout, or the contamination of feed coal. Although the effective dose received by the general public was below the recommended dose limit but, most estimates of hazard parameters surpass their respective population weighted global averages, indicating that brick kiln workers and nearby residents are not safe due to prolonged exposures to terrestrial radiation. In addition, the soil around sampling sites is found to be unsuitable for agricultural purposes.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제55권10호
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• pp.3648-3658
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• 2023

The early localization of a fuel subassembly with a failed (wet rupture) fuel pin is very important in reactors to limit the associated radiological and operational consequences. This requires a fast and reliable system for failure detection and their localization in the core. In the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor, the system specially designed for this purpose is Failed Fuel Location Modules (FFLM) housed in the control plug region. It identifies a failed sub-assembly by detecting the presence of delayed neutrons in the sodium from a failed sub-assembly. During the commissioning phase of PFBR, it is mandatory to demonstrate the FFLM effectiveness. The paper highlights the engineering and physics design aspects of FFLM and the integrated simulation towards its function demonstration with a source assembly containing a perforated metallic fuel pin. This test pin mimics a MOX pin of 1 cm² of geometrical defect area. At 10% power and 20% sodium flow rate, the counts rate in the BCCs of FFLM system range from 75 cps to 145 cps depending upon the position of DN source assembly. The model developed for the counts simulation is applicable to both metal and MOX pins with proper values of k-factor and escape coefficient.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• 제18권1호
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• pp.9-24
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• 1993

원자력발전소의 사고시 방사성물질의 단기간 침적 후 오염된 음식물에 의한 영향을 평가하기 위해 한국 환경에 적용이 가능한 동적 방사능영향 평가모델이 개발되었다. KORFOOD라 불리워지는 이 모델은 오염된 음식물의 섭취에 의한 누적선량뿐만 아니라 시간에 따른 선량을 평가하며, 또한 음식물내 시간에 따른 방사능농도의 변화를 해석한다. 설식경로에 중요한3가지 핵종과 13가지 음식물이 이 모델에서 고려되었다. 방사능농도의 동적변화는 침적, 풍화와 강우, 재부유, 뿐리흡취, 전이, 토양내 이동, 식물의 노화, 동물의 토양흥취 및 배설, 동물의 사료섭취와 배설 둥과 같은 여러 효과를 고려하여 모사되었다. 평가를 위한 입력 자료로는 침적되는 방사성물질의 양, 침적시점, 평가하고자하는 핵종 및 음식물의 종류가 요구된다. 고리지역 농작물자료를 사용하여 쌀에 대해 시간에 따른 비방사능농도와 고려되는 모든 음식물의 섭취에 따른 선량이 침적시점에 따라 계산되었다. 모델결과의 타당성 검증을 위해 이 분야에서 이미 공인받고 있는 독일모델 ECOSYS-87의 결과와 비교하였다. 비교결과, KORFOOD의 예측치가 ECOSYS-87의 예측값의 10배 범위내에 있어 좋은 일치를 보여주었다.