• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.39-44
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• 2018

In 1923, Dr. Warburg had observed that tumors acidified the Ringer solution when 13 mM glucose was added, which was identified as being due to lactate. When glucose is the only source of nutrient, it can serve for both biosynthesis and energy production. However, a series of studies revealed that the cancer cell consumes glucose for biosynthesis through fermentation, not for energy supply, under physiological conditions. Recently, a new observation was made that there is a metabolic symbiosis in which glycolytic and oxidative tumor cells mutually regulate their energy metabolism. Hypoxic cancer cells use glucose for glycolytic metabolism and release lactate which is used by oxygenated cancer cells. This study challenged the Warburg effect, because Warburg claimed that fermentation by irreversible damaging of mitochondria is a fundamental cause of cancer. However, recent studies revealed that mitochondria in cancer cell show active function of oxidative phosphorylation although TCA cycle is stalled. It was also shown that blocking cytosolic NADH production by aldehyde dehydrogenase inhibition, combined with oxidative phosphorylation inhibition, resulted in up to 80% decrease of ATP production, which resulted in a significant regression of tumor growth in the NSCLC model. This suggests a new theory that NADH production in the cytosol plays a key role of ATP production through the mitochondrial electron transport chain in cancer cells, while NADH production is mostly occupied inside mitochondria in normal cells.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.581-588
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• 2013

This paper deals with the Safety Analysis for $CANDU^{(R)}$ 6 nuclear reactors as affected by main Heat Transport System (HTS) aging. Operational and aging related changes of the HTS throughout its lifetime may lead to restrictions in certain safety system settings and hence some restriction in performance under certain conditions. A step in confirming safe reactor operation is the tracking of relevant data and their corresponding interpretation by the use of appropriate thermal-hydraulic analytic models. Safety analyses ranging from the assessment of safety limits associated with the prevention of intermittent fuel sheath dryout for a slow Loss of Regulation (LOR) analysis and fission gas release after a fuel failure are summarized. Specifically for fission gas release, the thermal-hydraulic analysis for a fresh core and an 11 Effective Full Power Years (EFPY) aged core was summarized, leading to the most severe stagnation break sizes for the inlet feeder break and the channel failure time. Associated coolant conditions provide the input data for fuel analyses. Based on the thermal-hydraulic data, the fission product inventory under normal operating conditions may be calculated for both fresh and aged cores, and the fission gas release may be evaluated during the transient. This analysis plays a major role in determining possible radiation doses to the public after postulated accidents have occurred.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.154-161
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• 2024

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal motor neuron disorder that causes progressive paralysis. L-Citrulline is a nonessential neutral amino acid produced by L-arginine via nitric oxide synthase (NOS). According to previous studies, the pathogenesis of ALS entails glutamate toxicity, oxidative stress, protein misfolding, and neurofilament disruption. In addition, L-citrulline prevents neuronal cell death in brain ischemia; therefore, we investigated the change in the transport of L-citrulline under various pathological conditions in a cell line model of ALS. We examined the uptake of [¹⁴C]L-citrulline in wild-type (hSOD1wt/WT) and mutant NSC-34/ SOD1^G93A (MT) cell lines. The cell viability was determined via MTT assay. A transport study was performed to determine the uptake of [¹⁴C]L-citrulline. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis was performed to determine the expression levels of rat large neutral amino acid transported 1 (rLAT1) in ALS cell lines. Nitric oxide (NO) assay was performed using Griess reagent. L-Citrulline had a restorative effect on glutamate induced cell death, and increased [¹⁴C]L-citrulline uptake and mRNA levels of the large neutral amino acid transporter (LAT1) in the glutamate-treated ALS disease model (MT). NO levels increased significantly when MT cells were pretreated with glutamate for 24 h and restored by co-treatment with L-citrulline. Co-treatment of MT cells with L-arginine, an NO donor, increased NO levels. NSC-34 cells exposed to high glucose conditions showed a significant increase in [¹⁴C]L-citrulline uptake and LAT1 mRNA expression levels, which were restored to normal levels upon co-treatment with unlabeled L-citrulline. In contrast, exposure of the MT cell line to tumor necrosis factor alpha, lipopolysaccharides, and hypertonic condition decreased the uptake significantly which was restored to the normal level by co-treating with unlabeled L-citrulline. L-Citrulline can restore NO levels and cellular uptake in ALS-affected cells with glutamate cytotoxicity, pro-inflammatory cytokines, or other pathological states, suggesting that L-citrulline supplementation in ALS may play a key role in providing neuroprotection.

• BMB Reports
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.59-64
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• 2018

The airway epithelium is the first place, where a defense mechanism is initiated against environmental stimuli. Mucociliary transport (MCT), which is the defense mechanism of the airway and the role of airway epithelium as mechanical barriers are essential in innate immunity. To maintain normal physiologic function, normal oxygenation is critical for the production of energy for optimal cellular functions. Several pathologic conditions are associated with a decrease in oxygen tension in airway epithelium and chronic sinusitis is one of the airway diseases, which is associated with the hypoxic condition, a potent inflammatory stimulant. We have observed the overexpression of the hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1), an essential factor for oxygen homeostasis, in the epithelium of sinus mucosa in sinusitis patients. In a series of previous reports, we have found hypoxia-induced mucus hyperproduction, especially by MUC5AC hyperproduction, disruption of epithelial barrier function by the production of VEGF, and down-regulation of junctional proteins such as ZO-1 and E-cadherin. Furthermore, hypoxia-induced inflammation by HMGB1 translocation into the cytoplasm results in the release of IL-8 through a ROS-dependent mechanism in upper airway epithelium. In this mini-review, we briefly introduce and summarize current progress in the pathogenesis of sinusitis related to hypoxia. The investigation of hypoxia-related pathophysiology in airway epithelium will suggest new insights on airway inflammatory diseases, such as rhinosinusitis for clinical application and drug development.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.511-521
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• 2022

Decommissioning of nuclear power plants generates a large amount of radioactive waste in a short period. Moreover, Radioactive waste has various forms including a large volumes of metal, concrete, and solid waste. The disposal of decommissioning waste using 200 L drums is inefficient in terms of economics, work efficiency, and radiation safety. Therefore, The Korea Radioactive Waste Agency is developing large containers for the packaging, transportation, and disposal of decommissioning waste. Assessing disposability considering the characteristics of the radioactive waste and facility, convenience of operation, and safety of workers is necessary. In this study, the exposure dose rate of workers during the disposal of new containers was evaluated using Monte Carlo N-Particle Transport code. Six normal and four abnormal scenarios were derived for the assessment of the dose rate in a near surface disposal facility operation. The results showed that the calculated dose rates in all normal scenarios were lower than the direct exposure dose limitation of workers in the safety analysis report. In abnormal scenarios, the work hours with dose rates below 20 mSv·y^-1 were calculated. The results of this study will be useful in establishing the optimal radiation work conditions.

• The Journal of The Korea Institute of Intelligent Transport Systems
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.84-94
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• 2019

This paper developed the VSL control algorithms for various traffic conditions in tunnels. Various algorithms determining control speed, buffer speed, and display time were suggested in order to apply three gantry locations. The algorithms were evaluated by constructing simulation environments using python and VISSIM Com-Interface. Results show that speed difference between congested flow and normal flow was 50 km/h without algorithm application, but the difference was reduced to 20 km/h with algorithm application. In addition, the length of congested region in the exit section of the tunnel was also reduced from 800m to 300m with algorithm application. It is expected that the traffic accidents in tunnels may be reduced since the average and standard deviation of the speed are greatly reduced after applying the algorithms suggested.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.621-638
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• 2017

Meteorological characteristics related to variations in ozone ($O_3$) concentrations in the Korean peninsula before, during, and after Typhoon Talas (1112) were analyzed using both observation data and numerical modeling. This case study takes into account a high $O_3$ episode (e.g., a daily maximum of ${\geq}90ppb$) without rainfall. Before the typhoon period, high $O_3$ concentrations in the study areas (e.g., Daejeon, Daegu, and Busan) resulted from the combined effects of stable atmospheric conditions with high temperature under a migratory anticyclone (including subsiding air), and wind convergence due to a change in direction caused by the typhoon. The $O_3$ concentrations during the typhoon period decreased around the study area due to very weak photochemical activity under increased cloud cover and active vertical dispersion under a low pressure system. However, the maximum $O_3$ concentrations during this period were somewhat high (similar to those in the normal period extraneous to the typhoon), possibly because of the relatively slow photochemical loss of $O_3$ by a $H_2O+O(^1D)$ reaction resulting from the low air temperature and low relative humidity. The lowest $O_3$ concentrations during the typhoon period were relatively high compared to the period before and after the typhoon, mainly due to the transport effect resulting from the strong nocturnal winds caused by the typhoon. In addition, the $O_3$ increase observed at night in Daegu and Busan was primarily caused by local wind conditions (e.g., mountain winds) and atmospheric stagnation in the wind convergence zone around inland mountains and valleys.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.102-109
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• 1993

A PC-computer program RADAP has been developed in this study to perform a quick real-time analysis of dose assessment following an accident in a nuclear facility. RADAP uses an interactive LKagrangian puff model in simulating the transport and diffusion of radioactive plume in the atmosphere. For real-time analysis, RADAP treats one or multiple puffs of ground-level releases, simultaneously. It is assumed to maintain a Gaussian distribution within the puff and the diffusion coefficients are computed using the USNRC's normal sigma curve method. The program, however, does not consider the spatial variations but the temporal variations in wind conditions. Whole body and thyroid doses for 3$\times$31 grid are directed to output files, and they are also displayed through computer graphics on VGA or EGA color monitor. The results show that RADAP can be an excellent tool for quick estimation of accidental doses.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.558-572
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• 2018

In addition to its modular nature, a Hybrid Modular Multilevel Converter (HMMC) assembled from half-bridge and full-bridge sub-modules, is able to block DC faults with a minimum number of switching devices, which makes it attractive for high power applications. This paper introduces a control strategy based on the Root-Least Square (RLS) algorithm to estimate the capacitor voltages instead of using direct measurements. This action eliminates the need for voltage transducers in the HMMC sub-modules and the associated communication link with the central controller. In addition to capacitor voltage balancing and suppression of circulating currents, a fault tolerant control unit (FTCU) is integrated into the proposed strategy to modify the parameters of the HMMC controller. On advantage of the proposed FTCU is that it does not need extra components. Furthermore, a fault detection unit is adapted by utilizing a hybrid estimation scheme to detect sub-module faults. The behavior of the suggested technique is assessed using PSCAD offline simulations. In addition, it is validated using a real-time digital simulator connected to a real time controller under various normal and fault conditions. The proposed strategy shows robust performance in terms of accuracy and time response since it succeeds in stabilizing the HMMC under faults.

• Proceedings of the Korean Nuclear Society Conference
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• 1995.10a
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• pp.423-428
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• 1995

Simulation models have been developed to predict the overall behavior of the CANDU plant systems during normal operational transients. For real time simulation purpose, simplified thermal hydraulic models are applied with appropriate system control logics, which include primary heat transport system solver with its component models and secondary side system models. The secondary side models are mainly used to provide boundary conditions for primary system calculation and to accomodate plant power control logics. Also, for the effective use of simulation package, hardware oriented basic simulation network has been established with appropriate graphic display system. Through validation with typical plant power maneuvering cases using proven plant performance analysis computer code, the present simulation package shows reasonable capability in the prediction of the dynamic behavior of plant variables during operational transients of CANDU plant, which means that this simulation tool can be utilized as a basic framework for full scope simulation network through further improvements.