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In recent years, monitoring of spent nuclear fuel inside dry cask storage has become an important area of national security. Muon tomography is a useful method for monitoring spent nuclear fuel because it uses high energy muons that penetrate deep into the target material and provides a 3-D structure of the inner materials. We designed a muon tomography system consisting of four 2-D position sensitive detector and characterized and optimized the system parameters. Each detector, measuring 200 × 200 cm2, consists of a plastic scintillator, wavelength shifting (WLS) fibers and, SiPMs. The reconstructed image is obtained by extracting the intersection of the incoming and outgoing muon tracks using a Point-of-Closest-Approach (PoCA) algorithm. The Geant4 simulation was used to evaluate the performance of the muon tomography system and to optimize the design parameters including the pixel size of the muon detector, the field of view (FOV), and the distance between detectors. Based on the optimized design parameters, the spent fuel assemblies were modeled and the line profile was analyzed to conduct a feasibility study. Line profile analysis confirmed that muon tomography system can monitor nuclear spent fuel in dry storage container.

A rectangular-shaped PET system with an adjustable gantry (AGPET) has been developed for imaging small animals. The AGPET system employs a new depth of interaction (DOI) method using a depth dependent reflector patterns and a new digital time pickoff method based on the pulse reconstruction method. To evaluate the performance of the AGPET, timing resolution, intrinsic spatial resolution and point source images were acquired. The timing resolution and intrinsic spatial resolution were measured using two detector modules and Na-22 gamma source. The PET images were acquired in two field of view (FOV) sizes, 30 mm and 90 mm, to demonstrate the characteristic of the AGPET. As a result of in the experiment results, the timing resolution was 0.9 ns using the pulse reconstruction method based on the bi-exponential model. The intrinsic spatial resolution was an average of 1.7 mm and the spatial resolution of PET images after DOI correction was 2.08 mm and 2.25 mm at the centers of 30 mm and 90 mm FOV, respectively. The results show that the proposed AGPET system provided higher sensitivity and resolution for small animal imaging.

Radiation imaging systems consisting of a large number of channels greatly benefit from multiplexing methods to reduce the number of channels with minimizing the system complexity and development cost. In conventional pixelated radiation detector modules, such as anger logic, is used to reduce a large number of channels that transmit signals to a data acquisition system. However, these methods have limitations of electrical noise and distortion at the detector edge. To solve these problems, a multiplexing concept using a digital signal encoding technique based on a time delay method for signals from detectors was developed in this study. The digital encoding multiplexing (DEM) method was developed based on the time-over-threshold (ToT) method to provide more information including the activation time, position, and energy in one-bit line. This is the major advantage of the DEM method as compared with the traditional ToT method providing only energy information. The energy was measured and calibrated by the ToT method. The energy resolution and coincidence time resolution were observed as 16% and 2.4 ns, respectively, with DEM. The position was successfully distributed on each channel. This study demonstrated the feasibility that DEM was useful to reduce the number of detector channels.

Nuclear power is a sustainable energy source, but radiation management is required for its safe use. Radiation-detection technology has been developed for the safe management of radioactive materials in nuclear facilities but its performance may vary depending on the size and complexity of the structure of nuclear facilities. In this study, a nuclear monitoring system using a multi-sensor network was designed to monitor radioactive materials in a large nuclear facility. Additionally, an artificial-intelligence-based localization algorithm was developed to accurately locate radioactive materials. The system parameters were optimized using the Geant4 Application for Tomographic emission (GATE) toolkit, and the localization algorithm was developed based on the performance evaluation of the Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Decision Tree (D-Tree) models. In this article, we present the feasibility of the proposed monitoring system by converging the radiation detection system and artificial intelligence technology.

Aluminum oxide nanoparticles (Al2O3 NPs) are among the most widely used nanomaterials; however, relatively little information about their risk identification and assessment is available. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the potential toxicity of Al2O3 NPs following repeated inhalation exposure in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Rats were exposed to Al2O3 NPs for 28 days (5 days/week) at doses of 0, 0.2, 1, and 5 mg/m3 using a nose-only inhalation system. During the experimental period, we evaluated the clinical signs, body weight change, hematological and serum biochemical parameters, necropsy findings, organ weight, and histopathology findings. Additionally, we analyzed the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), including differential leukocyte counts, and aluminum contents in the major organs and blood. Aluminum contents were the highest in lung tissues and showed a dose-dependent relationship in the exposure group. Histopathology showed alveolar macrophage accumulation in the lungs of rats in the 5 mg/m3 group during exposure and recovery. These changes tended to increase at the end of the recovery period. In the BALF analysis, total cell and neutrophil counts and lactate dehydrogenase, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-6 levels significantly increased in the 1 and 5 mg/m3 groups during exposure. Under the present experimental conditions, we suggested that the no-observed-adverse-effect level of Al2O3 NPs in male rats was 1 mg/m3, and the target organ was the lung.

Numerical modeling was conducted to understand characteristics of nutrient distributions caused by wind currents which occur upwelling in the East sea of Korea. Averaged northeastward wind speed of 9.1m per second which occurred upwelling strongly in 2013 was applied in numerical modeling and wind-driven currents was calculated. Water moved northeastward from coastal area to open sea in surface layer, which develop clockwise or counterclockwise eddies. In bottom layer, However, water moved westward to compensate the surface water. Spatio-temporal distributions of nutrient affected by wind-dirven currents were investigated using the numerical model. As time passes, nutrient concentrations increased gradually, spreading to open sea in coastal area from Pohang to Yeongdeok. Highly accumulated nutrients in bottom layer was risen to the surface by upwelling currents. Risen nutrients spread open sea gradually.

Gamma-ray computed tomography (CT) has widely been used to inspect cracks, obstructions, and fluid flow in pipes. Previous studies have shown that the inspection accuracy is limited when materials in the pipe have a similar density. To overcome this drawback, we investigated a method to discriminate small density differences using a dual-energy gamma-ray CT. In this paper, the performance of a gamma-ray CT system was simulated using Geant4 Application for Tomographic Emission with three types of sources (Am-241, Co-57, and Cs-137). A polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe containing oil and sludge was modeled as a phantom. Sparsely acquired data were reconstructed using filtered back-projection and iterative total variation (TV) denoising algorithms. Each material discrimination procedure was performed with a postreconstruction technique. Our results clearly showed that the gamma-ray CT imaging with Am-241 and Co-57 sources and the TV denoising reconstruction algorithm can be used to inspect the internal structures based on discriminated images. The calculated areas of discriminated oil and sludge were within an error margin of 2% (oil: 78.4% and sludge: 21.6%) compared with the simulated phantom (oil: 80% and sludge: 20%). For both gamma sources, the calculated contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) values with the TV denoising algorithm were the highest values for all structures (Am-241/Co-57: 18.03/28.95 for oil versus sludge, 41.67/31.53 for oil versus PVC pipe, and 23.64/31.53 for sludge versus PVC pipe). The feasibility of our approach and results indicates it usefulness for industrial fields that require structural inspections.

A new concept of positron emission tomography detector with depth-encoding capability is proposed and developed for small-animal imaging. The detector module is based on wavelength-shifting (WLS) fibers coupled to both sides of a scintillator array having a unique pattern. The scintillator array consists of $15 \times 15$ lutetium yttrium orthosilicate crystals with three different heights: 18, 20, and 22 mm. On the every other line, crystals having 2 mm shorter height are arranged to the ${x}$ -direction on the top and the ${y}$ -direction on the bottom of the array to make grooves for WLS fiber insertion. WLS fibers are inserted into these grooves and one end of each WLS fiber is coupled to a single channel silicon photomultiplier to detect scintillating lights trapped in the fiber. Field-programmable gate array combined 64-channel data acquisition (DAQ) system is used for DAQ and data processing, such as position, energy, and time decoding. The performance parameters, including pixel identification, energy resolution, depth of interaction (DOI) resolution, and timing resolution, were evaluated for proof of concept. The results proved that the design of detector allows not only to provide reasonable DOI information, but also to reduce the number of channels for sensors and electronics dramatically.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a monomer used in a polymerization reaction in the production of polycarbonate plastics. It has been used in many consumer products, including plastics, polyvinyl chloride, food packaging, dental sealants, and thermal receipts. However, there is little information available on the inhalation toxicity of BPA. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine its inhalation toxicity and effects on the estrous cycle, spatial learning, and memory. Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to 0, 10, 30, and 90 mg/m3 BPA, 6 hr/day, 5 days/week for 8 weeks via whole-body inhalation. Mortality, clinical signs, body weight, hematology, serum chemistry, estrous cycle parameters, performance in the Morris water maze test, and organ weights, as well as gross and histopathological findings, were compared between the control and BPA exposure groups. Statistically significant changes were observed in serum chemistry and organ weights upon exposure to BPA. However, there was no BPA-related toxic effect on the body weight, food consumption, hematology, serum chemistry, organ weights, estrous cycle, performance in the Morris water maze test, or gross or histopathological lesions in any male or female rats in the BPA exposure groups. In conclusion, the results of this study suggested that the no observable adverse effect level (NOAEL) for BPA in rats is above 90 mg/m3/6 hr/day, 5 days/week upon 8-week exposure. Furthermore, BPA did not affect the estrous cycle, spatial learning, or memory in rats.

Ammonium nitrate is a chemical mostly used in agriculture and munitions to produce fertilizers and explosives, respectively. Its annual production and consumption exceed ten million tons. Despite is diverse uses, large production and consumption, and occupational risk, information on the toxicity that results from oral exposure to ammonium nitrate is limited. In this study, the safety of ammonium nitrate was therefore evaluated by observing its subchronic toxicity in rats. Ammonium nitrate (0, 100, 300 and 1000 mg/kg/day) was orally administered by gavage to rats at 5 times/week for 13 weeks. Reversibility of the effects of 1000 mg/kg/day was assessed in rats after 2 weeks. Mortality, clinical signs, body weight, and food consumption were monitored. Hematology, serum chemistry, urinalysis, organ weight, necropsy, and histopathology were performed. Salivation was intermittently observed in both sexes receiving 300 and 1000 mg/kg/day ammonium nitrate, which normalized 2 weeks post-treatment. Urine volume increased in both sexes receiving 1000 mg/kg/day ammonium nitrate. Urine pH decreased in both sexes of all dosing groups when compared with the concurrent control group. Urinary changes normalized 2 weeks post-treatment. Blood urea nitrogen levels increased in males receiving 1000 mg/kg/day, but normalized 2 weeks later. Potassium level in males and sodium and chloride levels in both sexes receiving 1000 mg/kg/day ammonium nitrate decreased, but normalized 2 weeks later. Hypertrophy of zona glomerulosa in the adrenals was observed in both sexes receiving 1000 mg/kg/day and in females receiving 300 mg/kg/day ammonium nitrate. After a 2-week recovery period, the same lesion was observed in one female receiving 1000 mg/kg/day ammonium nitrate. Our results indicate that ammonium nitrate induces reversible salivation, increases BUN levels, induces acidic diuresis with decreases in sodium, potassium, and chloride levels, and induces ZG hypertrophy. These results shed light on the toxicity profile of ammonium nitrate.

To evaluate the pulmonary toxicity of Korean chrysotile (KC), 1 or 2 mg of KC (low- and high-concentration groups, respectively) was instilled in the lungs of Sprague-Dawley rats by a single intratracheal instillation. The lungs were examined using a light microscope at several time points (5 days, 5 weeks, and 10 weeks). Up to 10 weeks after KC instillation, differences were observed in the pathological reactions and ultimately in lung recovery between the two groups. At 5 days after KC instillation, lung weight increased and severe bronchiolitis obliterans developed in proportion to the KC concentration administered. From 5 to 10 weeks after KC administration, the lung weight of the low-concentration group increased and bronchiolitis obliterans worsened. In the high-concentration group, the lung weight and the severity of bronchiolitis obliterans at 10 weeks after administration of KC declined compared to those at 5 weeks. In conclusion, the effects of KC on lung tissue were initially found to be more influenced by the amount of fiber, but over time, the effects were influenced by the residual fibrous material in the lung tissue and its biodurability.

We developed a depth of interaction (DOI) positron emission tomography (PET) detector using depth-dependent reflector patterns in a discrete crystal array. Due to the different reflector patterns at depth, light distribution was changed relative to depth. As a preliminary experiment, we measured DOI detector module crystal identification performance. The crystal consisted of a 9×9 array of 2 mmx2 mmx20 mm lutetium-yttrium oxyorthosilicate (LYSO) crystals. The crystal array was optically coupled to a 64-channel position-sensitive photomultiplier tube with a 2 mmx2 mm anode size and an 18.1 mmx18.1 mm effective area. We obtained the flood image with an Anger-type calculation. DOI layers and 9×9 pixels were well distinguished in the obtained images. Preclinical PET scanners based on this detector design offer the prospect of high and uniform spatial resolution.

It is studied the sea surface temperature(SST) variation around Korean Peninsula by using Group for High Resolution Sea Surface Temperature(GHRSST) images for 22-year data from 1993 January 1 to 2014 December 31. For the accuracy of GHRSST data, near observation station were collected to correlate GHRSST and water temperature data. Mean correlation in Yellow Sea was 0.968, mean correlation in South Sea was 0.963, and mean correlation in East Sea was 0.962. The result of harmonic analysis showed that the amplitude of SST in Yellow Sea was 10~16℃ and the amplitude of SST in East Sea and South Sea was 8~12℃. The phase of SST in Yellow Sea was 230~235°, and the phase of SST in South Sea and East Sea was 240~244. EOF analysis resulted that the first mode of coefficient was 97.59%. When it is used with various climate data, for example, sea level, wind, air temperature, it will be represented the specific variation of SST.

We designed a depth-of-interaction (DOI) positron emission tomography detector by applying a simple light-spreading method in a single-layer crystal array with a single-ended photosensor. By configuring different reflector patterns along the depth of the crystal, we were able to alter the light distribution of the gamma interaction at each depth. To evaluate the characteristics of the new DOI detector, we simulated the optical photon transport in the crystal array by using DETECT2000. Three different arrays comprising triangular-, square-, and hexagonal-shaped crystals were modeled. The 511-keV gamma-ray interactions were generated for all depths, and flood images were acquired. We confirmed that DOI layers could be distinguished in the obtained images and that the number of DOI layers depends on the number of sides of the polygonal crystals.

We designed a depth-encoding positron emission tomography (PET) detector using wavelength shifting (WLS) fibers for a low-cost and high-resolution PET. In order to characterize the theoretical performance of the newly-designed PET detector, we performed a DETECT2000 simulation of the optical photon transport in the crystal array and the WLS fibers. The detector module is made of an array of individual crystals, WLS fibers, and multi-pixel photon counters (MPPCs). The lutetium oxyorthosilicate (LSO) crystal array consists of 15 × 15 crystals with a 2 mm × 2 mm surface size and three different heights: 18, 20, and 22 mm. On every other line, scintillators 2 mm shorter in height are arranged in the y-direction on the top and the x-direction on the bottom of the array to make grooves for insertion of a WLS fiber. The total size of the detector module is 30 mm × 30 mm × 22 mm. One end of each WLS fiber is coupled to MPPCs to measure scintillating light trapped in the fiber. The depth-of-interaction (DOI) resolution and pixel identification capability are determined by using a DETECT2000 simulation. All pixels of the 15 × 15 LSO array are well decoded, and the DOI resolution ranges from 1.43 mm to 2.53 mm with an average of 2.08 mm full width at half maximum (FWHM). These results indicate that the proposed detector performs respectably for high-resolution PET scanning.

Positron emission tomography (PET) can be utilized in particle beam therapy to verify the dose distribution of the target volume as well as the accuracy of the treatment. We present an in-beam PET scanner that can be integrated into a particle beam therapy system. The proposed PET scanner consisted of 14 detector modules arranged in a C-shape to avoid blockage of the particle beam line by the detector modules. Each detector module was composed of a 9×9 array of 4.0 mm×4.0 mm×20.0 mm LYSO crystals optically coupled to four 29-mm-diameter PMTs using the photomultiplier-quadrant-sharing (PQS) technique. In this study, a Geant4 Application for Tomographic Emission (GATE) simulation study was conducted to design a C-shaped PET scanner and then experimental evaluation of the proposed design was performed. The spatial resolution and sensitivity were measured according to NEMA NU2-2007 standards and were 6.1 mm and 5.61 cps/kBq, respectively, which is in good agreement with our simulation, with an error rate of 12.0%. Taken together, our results demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed C-shaped in-beam PET system, which we expect will be useful for measuring dose distribution in particle therapy.

A decreased number of readout method is investigated here to provide precise pixel information for small-animal positron emission tomography (PET). Small-animal PET consists of eight modules, each being composed of a 3 × 3 array of 2 mm × 2 mm × 20 mm lutetium yttrium orthosilicate (LYSO) crystals optically coupled to a 2 × 2 array of 3 mm × 3 mm silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs). The number of readout channels is reduced by one-quarter that of the conventional method by applying a simplified pixel-determination algorithm. The performances of the PET system and detector module were evaluated with experimental verifications. In the results, all pixels of the 3 × 3 LYSO array were decoded well, and the performances of the PET detector module were measured.

Small-animal positron emission tomography (PET) systems are useful functional imaging systems for pathology and pharmacology research. However, conventional small-animal PET systems show degradation with regard to spatial resolution and sensitivity when small objects are image with a scanner having large diameter. In this study, to overcome this limitation, we propose a small-animal PET using an adjustable gantry and a depth-of-interaction (DOI) detector. The adjustable gantry allows the field of view (FOV) to be changed depending on object size to increase the solid-angle coverage and improve sensitivity. In addition, detector modules are arranged in a square shape to fill gaps between the detector module as well as in the corners to achieve higher sensitivity. To overcome the parallax error that occurs in the square-shaped gantry with long and thin crystal elements, a DOI detector is employed using a depth-dependent reflector pattern. The adjustable-gantry PET (AGPET) system is designed by GATE Monte Carlo simulation and evaluated by comparison with conventional small-animal PET systems, such as Inveon and PETbox, in terms of spatial resolution and sensitivity. The DOI detector blocks were composed of two 8 × 8 SiPM arrays coupled to two blocks of 12 × 12 lutetium-yttrium oxyorthosilicate (LYSO) crystals of size 2.1 × 2 . 1 × 20 mm3. The signals of the detector blocks are fed to a data acquisition system based on field-programmable gate array, and the position, energy, and time information were recorded. The detector module performance is analyzed by the peak-to-valley ratio (PVR), distance-to-width ratio (DWR), energy resolution, and timing resolution. The results demonstrate that the proposed AGPET potentially provide higher sensitivity and resolution for small animal imaging.

SUMMARY: Cyclohexanone is widely used in industry for the organic synthesis of chemicals such as adipic acid, caprolactam, polyvinyl chloride and its copolymers, and methacrylate ester polymers. Its mechanism of toxicity, especially oxidative stress, is rarely reported in cyclohexanone toxicity studies. In this study, we evaluate oxidative stress immunohistochemically in the livers of rats exposed to cyclohexanone. Rats were exposed to 0 ppm and 625 ppm cyclohexanone for 6 h/day, 5 days/week, for 13 weeks via whole-body inhalation. All rats were sacrificed at the end of exposure and livers were removed and prepared for histological examination. Histopathology indicated an increase in bile duct hyperplasia in the liver was only observed in the cyclohexanone-exposed group, compared to that in the control group in males. Immunohistochemistry showed 4-HNE immunoreactivity in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes in the liver. Immunoreactivity was significantly stronger in the cyclohexanone-exposed group compared to the control group in both sexes. However, it was significantly stronger in males compared to females. This result shows a sex-based difference in the expression of oxidative stress in response to cyclohexanone exposure.

The aim of this study is to find out major accumulation zones through field survey and moving route tracking trials on floating debris of Nakdong River. It also identified composition and accumulated amount of the floating debris by sample survey for accumulation zones. As a result, total 5 accumulation zones were selected from the midstream and downstream of the Nakdong River. There was a large amount of floating debris, including vegetation debris, in the accumulation zones. And two accumulation zones located in the downstream region, it is much more likely to flow into the ocean along river. From the sample survey on the major accumulation zones, more than of floating debris were collected including vegetation and artificial debris. As a result of composition analysis for artificial debris, plastic(49%) and styrofoam(36%) were the majority in number. The present study is expected to help to plan an efficient pre-collecting activity and to reduce floating debris flowing into the ocean from the Nakdong River.

Trichloroacetonitrile is used as an intermediate in insecticides, pesticides, and dyes. In Korea alone, over 10 tons are used annually. Its oral and dermal toxicity is classified as category 3 according to the globally harmonized system of classification and labelling of chemicals, and it is designated a toxic substance by the Ministry of Environment in Korea. There are no available inhalation toxicity data on trichloroacetonitrile. Thus, the present study performed inhalation tests to provide data for hazard and risk assessments. Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to trichloroacetonitrile at concentrations of 4, 16, or 64 ppm for 6 hour per day 5 days per week for 13 weeks in a repeated study. As a result, salivation, shortness of breath, and wheezing were observed, and their body weights decreased significantly (p < 0.05) in the 16 and 64 ppm groups. All the rats in 64 ppm group were dead or moribund within 4 weeks of the exposure. Some significant changes were observed in blood hematology and serum biochemistry (e.g., prothrombin time, ratio of albumin and globulin, blood urea nitrogen, and triglycerides), but the values were within normal physiological ranges. The major target organs of trichloroacetonitrile were the nasal cavity, trachea, and lungs. The rats exposed to 16 ppm showed moderate histopathological changes in the transitional epithelium and olfactory epithelium of the nasal cavity. Nasal-associated lymphoid tissue (NALT) and respiratory epithelium were also changed. Respiratory lesions were common in the dead rats that had been exposed to the 64 ppm concentration. The dead animals also showed loss of cilia in the trachea, pneumonitis in the lung, and epithelial hyperplasia in the bronchi and bronchioles. In conclusion, the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) was estimated to be 4 ppm. The main target organs of trichloroacetonitrile were the nasal cavity, trachea, and lungs.