Macrophages secrete various cytokines and inflammatory mediators, resulting in playing critical roles in inflammation and immunity. In this study, we investigated anti-inflammatory and immune enhancing properties of PB203, which is a water-soluble extract powder from the fruit of Actinidia polygama, in macrophages. A. polygama is a medicinal plant traditionally known to treat abdominal pain, stroke and rheumatoid arthritis. However, the molecular mechanism for the immune modulation of PB203 is still unclear. Therefore, we assessed the effects of PB203 on the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation and immune activation, and elucidated its action mechanism in mouse macrophage, RAW264.7 cells. PB203 significantly suppressed not only the levels of nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), but also the mRNA expression of inducible NO synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, TNF-α and IL-1β in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. We also found that these anti-inflammatory activities of PB203 were mediated through the inhibition of toll-like receptor 4 and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) induced by LPS. On the other hand, in normal macrophages, PB203 dose-dependently elevated the gene expression of immunomodulators including granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and TNF-α in a statistically significant manner. The expression of IL-10, IL-1β, IL-6, and interferon-γ were also remarkably upregulated by the treatment of 500 μg/mL PB203. In addition, PB203-mediated production of NO and TNF-α was attenuated by NF-κB inhibition in RAW264.7 cells. Interestingly, PB203 promoted the production of nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2, resulting in the increased level of heme oxygenase-1, which is a representative antioxidant enzyme, in both LPS-stimulated and normal RAW264.7 cells. Taken all together, these results suggest that PB203 may have great potential as the candidate of anti-inflammatory agent for improving inflammatory diseases or immune enhancing agent for preventing infectious diseases. Keywords: Actinidia polygama extract (PB203); macrophages; immunomodulator; nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB); heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1)

Polymeric carbon nitride (p-C3N4) is a promising platform as a metal-free photo-catalyst for various reactions. The p-C3N4 can be produced by thermal poly-condensation of organic precursors. Their morphological and chemical structures depend on reaction conditions during the poly-condensation. In this study, two p-C3N4 materials are produced by heat treatment of urea under different gaseous conditions with air (urea-derived carbon nitride under air, UCN-A) and N2 (UCN-N), respectively. UCN-A and UCN-N samples are mesoporous materials and show excellent photocatalytic activities for degrading rhodamine B, an organic pollutant, under the irradiation of visible light. The UCN-A shows the better photocatalytic activity than UCN-N. Various characterizations reveal that more porous structures and larger surface areas of UCN-A are reasons for the better photocatalytic performance.

During the decommissioning of a nuclear power plant, the structures must be dismantled to a disposal size. Thermal cutting methods are used to reduce metal structures to a disposal size. When metal is cut using thermal cutting methods, aerosols of 1 μm or less are generated. To protect workers from aerosols in the work environment during cutting, it is necessary to understand the characteristics of the aerosols generated during the cutting process. In this study, changes in aerosol characteristics in the working environment were observed during metal thermal cutting. The cutting was done using the plasma arc cutting method. To simulate the aerosols generated during metal cutting in the decommissioning of a nuclear power plant, a non-radioactive stainless steel plate with a thickness of 20 mm was cut. The cutting condition was set to plasma current: 80 A cutting speed: 100 mm/min. The aerosols generated during cutting were measured using a highresolution aerosol measurement device called HR-ELPI+ (Dekati®). The HR-ELPI+ is an instrument that can measure the range of aerodynamic diameter from 0.006 μm to 10 μm divided into 500 channels. Using the HR-ELPI+, the number concentration of aerosols generated during the cutting process was measured in real-time. We measured the aerosols generated during cutting at regular intervals from the beginning of cutting. The analyzed aerosol concentration increased almost 10 times, from 5.22×106 [1/cm3] at the start of cutting to 6.03×107 [1/cm3] at the end. To investigate the characteristics of the distribution, we calculated the Count Median Aerodynamic Diameter (CMAD), which showed that the overall diameter of the aerosol increased from 0.0848 μm at the start of cutting to 0.1247 μm at the end of the cutting. The calculation results were compared with the concentration by diameter over time. During the cutting process, particles with a diameter of 0.06 μm or smaller were continuously measured. In comparison, particles with a diameter of 0.2 μm or larger were found to increase in concentration after a certain time following the start of cutting. In addition, when the aerosol was measured after the cutting process had ended, particles with a diameter of 0.06 μm or less, which were measured during cutting, were hardly detected. These results show that the nucleation-sized aerosols are generated during the cutting process, which can explain the measurement of small particles at the beginning of cutting. In addition, it can be speculated that the generated aerosols undergo a process of growth by contact with the atmosphere. This study presents the results of real-time aerosol analysis during the plasma arc cutting of stainless steel. This study shows the generation of nucleation-sized particles at the beginning of the cutting process and the subsequent increase in the aerosol particle size over time at the worksite. The analysis results can characterize the size of aerosol particles that workers may inhale during the dismantling of nuclear power plants.

Recently, the spent fuel pools withdrawn from nuclear power plants in Korea have been saturated. Therefore, specific regulations on the management of spent fuel pools, such as transportation and intermediate storage are needed. The burnup history is directly related to the management of spent nuclear fuel. This is because the decision to handle nuclear fuel may vary depending on the initial concentration of nuclear fuel, the degree to which nuclear fuel is irradiated and radioisotope nuclides are decayed, and the cooling state in the spent nuclear fuel storage tank. The purpose of this study is to determine the burnup of fuel based on the value obtained by scanning the surface of spent nuclear fuel through a neutron detector. Conversely, a database of neutron signals that scan bundles of spent nuclear fuel with an instrument with an already identified combustion history needs to be completed. First of all, the correlation between burnup history and nuclides was identified in previous studies. By setting the burnup history as the input value in the ORIGEN-ARP code, it was possible to identify the radioactive isotopes remaining in the bundle of nuclear fuel. Neutrons can finally be measured based on the amount of nuclide inventory that constitutes spent nuclear fuel. Through MCNP, the neutron detector was simulated and signals were measured to confirm how it correlates with the previously acquired burnup history database. In addition, the M (sub-critical multiplication) value, which is essential for neutron measurement, was checked to confirm the degree to which additional neutrons were generated in spent nuclear fuel in a subcritical state. The target nuclear fuel assembly was CE16×16, WH14×14, and WH17×17, which confirmed the correlation (1) between burnup, enrichment, and cooling time with the previous research topic, TNSI (Total neutron source intensity). 􀜤􀜷􁈺􀜩􀜹􀝀/􀜯􀜶􀜷􁈻 = 0.83􁈺􀜵􀯇􁈻􀬴.􀬶􀬷􀬼 ∙ 􁈺􀜫􀜧􁈻􀬴.􀬸􀬺􀬶􀬻 ∙ 􀝁􀬴.􀬴􀬴􀬼􀬷∙􀯧 􁈺1􁈻 A neutron signal will be obtained from the case according to each burnup history constituting this database. In particular, PAR=SF, a function that calculates the production amount of the fission product, was used. To confirm the computational logic of SF, it was confirmed whether a reasonable calculation was made by calculating with a nuclide spectrum.

Background: A functional movement screen (FMS) can be used as an intervention method as well as a test method. Compensatory action due to a faulty functional movement result in imbalance of the body, and decrease in proprioceptive sensation and flexibility. However, the benefits of exercise using FMS on proprioceptive sensation and flexibility are unclear. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effect of exercise using FMS on the proprioceptive sensation and flexibility. Design: Pretest-posttest control group experimental design. Methods: Fifty-two young adults in their 20s were divided into an FMS exercise group (FEG, n=26) and a control group (CG, n=26). The FEG conducted FMS exercise intervention for 12 days, and CG did not implement any intervention. Each group evaluated proprioceptive sensation and flexibility before and after exercise. To measure proprioceptive sensation, the angles were measured at both shoulder joints, elbow joints, hip joints, and knee joints using the active joint sensory position test method. To measure flexibility, situp forward bending evaluation was performed. Results: In the FEG, bilateral proprioceptive sensation and flexibility improved significantly after intervention (all P<.01). There were no significant differences in the CG (all P>.05). After the intervention, there were significant differences between the groups in both proprioceptive sensation and flexibility (all P<.05). Conclusion: The findings suggest that exercise using FMS can significantly improve proprioceptive sensation and flexibility. Therefore, it is suggested to consider exercise using FMS as an intervention to increase joint proprioceptive sensation and flexibility.

Background: Core muscle weakness occurs due to trunk asymmetry and spinal malalignment after stroke. Core exercise is being implemented to improve trunk control and sitting position in stroke patients. Objectives: To investigated the effects of core muscle electrical stimulation on trunk control and dynamic balance in stroke patients. Design: Quasi-experimental study. Methods: A total of 30 stroke patients were recruited and divided into two groups: experimental group (core muscle electrical stimulation group) and control group (sham core muscle electrical stimulation group). Trunk impairment scale (TIS) was used to measure trunk control. BioRescue was used to measure sitting dynamic balance. Results: In both groups, all TIS scores and sitting dynamic balance abilities were improved increased significantly after intervention (P<.05). Changes in TIS scores and sitting dynamic balance abilities were significantly greater in the experimental group than the control group (P<.05). Conclusion: It was found that core muscle electrical stimulation can be used as an effective method for trunk control and balance recovery in stroke patients.

Repetitive or excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation causes oxidative stress-mediated skin photoaging through the overproduction of reactive oxygen species. Actinidia polygama is known as a medical plant used in oriental medicine for treating several diseases such as abdominal pain, stroke and rheumatoid arthritis. Recently, it was reported that A. polygama extract had anti-wrinkle and skin hydrating properties in ultraviolet B (UVB)-exposed hairless mice. However, the molecular biological mechanism of this extract on alleviating skin photoaging is still unknown. Therefore, we investigated the anti-photoaging effects of PB203, which is the powder of A. polygama extract, in the in vivo and in vitro photoaging models. First, PB203 showed 2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activities due to the presence of anti-oxidant components including flavonoids and polyphenols. In UVB-irradiated hairless mice, oral administration of PB203 (100 mg/ kg) significantly improved wrinkle formation, skin dehydration, elasticity and skin barrier function by decreasing the levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and increasing those of collagen I, filaggrin, involucrin and loricrin. Especially, the reduced production of p-p38, p-c-Jun and p-c-Fos by PB203 reversed the elevated levels of MMPs mediated by UVB exposure, resulting in the upregulation of collagen I expression. Consistent with these animal data, PB203 remarkably enhanced the mRNA expression of collagen I, filaggrin, involucrin and loricrin, while suppressed that of MMPs in UVB-irradiated HaCaT cells. And PB203 increased the wound recovery rate of cells by promoting their proliferation and migration. Moreover, PB203 significantly recovered the activity of superoxide dismutase inhibited by UVB in both mice and cells. In conclusion, PB203, which protects skin from UVB-induced photodamage by exerting antioxidant properties, can be considered to have sufficient potential as a functional ingredient or therapeutic agent improving skin photoaging and related skin symptoms.

This study introduces the licensing process carried out by the regulatory body for construction and operation of the 2nd phase low level radioactive waste disposal facility in Gyeongju. Also, this study presents the experience and lessons learned from this regulatory review for preparing the license review for the next 3rd phase landfill disposal facility. Korea Radioactive Waste Agency (KORAD) submitted a license application to Nuclear Safety and Security commission (NSSC) on December 24, 2015 to obtain permit for construction and operation of the national engineered shallow land disposal facility at Wolsong, Gyeongju. NSSC and Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety (KINS) started the regulatory review process with an initial docket review of the KORAD application including Safety Analysis Report, Radiological Environmental Report and Safety Administration Rules. After reflecting the results of the docket review, the safety review of revised 10 application documents began on November 29, 2016. Total 856 queries and requests for additional information were elicited by thorough technical review until November 16, 2021. As the Gyeongju and Pohang earthquakes occurred in September 2016 and November 2017, respectively, the seismic design of the disposal facility for vault and underground gallery was enhanced from 0.2 g to 0.3 g and the site safety evaluation including groundwater characteristics was re-investigated due to earthquake-induced fault. Also, post-closure safety assessments related to normal/abnormal/human intrusion scenarios were re-performed for reflecting the results of site and design characteristics. Finally, NSSC decided to grant a license of the 2nd phase low level radioactive waste disposal facility under the Nuclear Safety Laws in July 2022. This study introduces important issues and major improvements in terms of safety during the review process and presents the lessons learned from the experience of regulatory review process.