이 연구의 목적은 기금조성용 옥외광고 산업의 현재를 분석하고, 산업 의 발전을 저해하는 요인으로 평가받는 불법 도로변 야립광고에 대한 해 법을 제시하고자 하는 것이다. 이를 위하여 전문가를 대상으로 하는 심 층 인터뷰를 실시하여 그 내용을 분석하였다. 이를 통해 본 연구는 기금 조성용 옥외광고가 옥외광고 산업의 발전에 중요할 역할을 했음을 확인 하였으나, 시스템과 비즈니스 차원에서 해결해야 할 여러 문제점이 있음 을 발견하였다. 또 불법 도로변 야립광고의 난립을 방지하기 위해 법적, 기술적, 경제적, 사회적 해법에 대한 전문가들의 다양한 의견을 수집함으 로써 관련 산업 정책에 대한 의미있는 기초자료를 제공한다는데 의의가 있다.
In this review, the regulatory mechanisms of autophagy were described, and its interaction with apoptosis was identified. The role of autophagy in embryogenesis, tooth development, and cell differentiation were also investigated. Autophagy is regulated by various autophagy-related genes and those related to stress response. Highly active autophagy occurrences have been reported during cell differentiation before implantation after fertilization. Autophagy is involved in energy generation and supplies nutrients during early birth, essential to compensate for their deficient supply from the placenta. The contribution of autophagy during tooth development, such as the shape of the crown and root formation, ivory, and homeostasis in cells, was also observed. Genes control autophagy, and studying the role of autophagy in cell differentiation and development was useful for understanding human aging, illness, and health. In the future, the role of specific mechanisms in the development and differentiation of autophagy may increase the understanding of the pathological mechanisms of disease and development processes and is expected to reduce the treatment of various diseases by modulating the autophagic phenomenon.
As the demand for nuclear power increases as a means to achieve carbon neutrality, concerns about nuclear proliferation have also grown. Consequently, significant researches have conducted to enhance nuclear non-proliferation resistance. Among these research, nuclear material attractiveness is a methodology used to evaluate how appealing a particular material is for potential use in nuclear weapons, based on the characteristics of that material. Existing nuclear material attractiveness assessments focused on materials like U, Pu, and TRU, which could be directly used in the production of nuclear weapons. However, these assessments did not consider how the properties of nuclear materials change throughout the nuclear fuel cycle, with each facility process. This study assumed a scenario of the nuclear fuel cycle of graphite reduction reactors and analyzed including enrichment facilities and PUREX. This study used the FOM (Figure-Of-Merit) method developed by LANL (Los Alamos National Laboratory) for evaluating the nuclear material attractiveness. The FOM formula consists of three parameters such as critical mass, heat content, and dose The critical mass of targe materials and the dose evaluation were conducted using the Monte Carlo N-Particle code. The heat content was calculated using the ORIGEN code embedded in the Scale code. In particular, if U-238 is dominant in the facility’s materials, such as mining and refining facilities, and critical mass evaluation is unpractical. Therefore, 1SQ (Significant Quantity) of that uranium was assumed as the critical mass value for the FOM evaluation, even though 1SQ is not identical to the critical mass As a result of this study, the attractiveness of Pu produced by PUREX among all nuclear fuel cycle facilities was 2.7616, which was the most attractive to be diverted to nuclear weapons. Through this study, it was shown that the proliferation risk of the nuclear facilities in the nuclear fuel cycle and risk of diversion among those facilities.
새만금 내에서는 종종 식물플랑크톤이 증식하기에 알맞은 환경조건이 생성되며 일시에 식물플랑크톤 대증식이 발생하면서 조 류 관리기준을 초과하는 사례가 발생하고 있다. 이를 대비하기 위하여 과학적 예측기법을 토대로, 식물플랑크톤의 종별로 가장 효과적이 고 효율적인 녹조발생 억제 방안을 제안하기 위하여 식물플랑크톤 대증식 가능성을 예측하고, 제어할 수 있는 모델을 개발하였다. 즉, 하 천에서 유입하는 영양염(DIN, PO4-P)을 정책적으로 조절하고, 갑문운영을 통해 호 내 염분을 제어하는 것이다. 먼저 관측치로부터 인공신 경망 알고리즘을 이용해 식물플랑크톤 대증식 가능성을 예측 결과, 모델의 Kappa 수는 0.7889 ~ 1.0000의 범위로, good ~ excellent 수준이었 다. 다음으로 Garson 알고리즘을 이용하여 종별로 설명변수의 중요도를 평가하였고, 또한 DIN 및 염분 값의 변화에 따른 식물플랑크톤 대 량 증식 확률을 예측하였다. 그 결과, 각 종별로 식물플랑크톤의 대증식을 억제할 수 있는 DIN과 염분 농도를 정량적으로 예측할 수 있었 다. 따라서, 향후 새만금과 같은 거대한 인공 호수에서 식물플랑크톤의 대증식을 억제하기 위한 효율적이고 효과적인 대응방안을 마련할 수 있도록 녹조제어모델을 활용할 수 있을 것으로 판단된다.
When proliferation activity occurs, states and non-state actors combine various sources of information to gain a better understanding of the situation. The quality of information source, content, and presentation can significantly influence the perception of decision-makers and end users. However, a state’s nuclear or missile activities are almost always classified. Also, states might intentionally reveal information to deter their adversary, threaten their adversary, bolster their prestige in the international community, or a combination of all three. Hence, any revealed information inherently contains some degree of uncertainty regarding its credibility. Lack of credibility makes it difficult for other states or non-state actors to determine how much of the information is accurate and how much is deception. The increase of publicly available information (open-source information) and the development of tools to collect, process, and analyze this information increased the possibilities of using open-source information to cross-check the proliferation claims of states. North Korea is a hermit state that has very little outside interaction. It also has continued to develop and refine its nuclear program. How credible is information released by North Korea? How can scholars/experts compensate for this lack of credibility in information on North Korea’s nuclear activity? This paper seeks to apply a framework on information quality to answer these questions. First, it will briefly explain the factors comprising information quality (sources, content, and presentation). Then, it will apply the information quality framework to North Korean activity analysis. It will conclude with implications of using the information quality framework to analyze a state that is low in accessibility and high uncertainty.
Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common type of head and neck cancer and is associated with high recurrence, poor treatment, and low survival rates. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) is a transcription factor that regulates the response to hypoxia, a major factor in the tumor microenvironment that affects tumor development and progression in various cancer types. However, microRNA (miRNA) sequence analysis revealed that only a few miRNAs targeting HIF-1α had been discovered. In the present study, we investigated HIF-1α expression in OSCC and the effect of HIF-1α-targeting miRNAs on the progression and metastatic potential of OSCC. We analyzed public databases to explore which miRNAs target HIF-1α expression. In addition, the expression of proteins involved in the cell cycle, proliferation, and apoptosis in HSC-2 cells was analyzed after miRNA-126 mimic treatment. Furthermore, to investigate the effect of miRNA-126 on the proliferation and invasion ability of OSCC cells, 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine and Transwell assays were performed. The activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were evaluated via gelatin zymography. Our results showed that miRNA-126, which targets HIF-1α, enhances OSCC cell proliferation by regulating the cell cycle and reinforces the cell mobility of OSCC via HIF-1α expression. These findings suggest that miRNA-126 may be a novel marker for OSCC treatment and the development of new tools for patients with OSCC.
Bayesian statistics, which is an approach to analyzing data based on Bayes’ theorem, is currently widely used in all fields. However, it has been applied very limitedly to studies related to nuclear nonproliferation. Therefore, this paper provides a knowledge base and directions for using various Bayesian techniques in nuclear non-proliferation. First, the concepts and advantages of the Bayesian approach are summarized and the basic solving methods of Bayesian inference are explained. The Bayesian approach enables more precise posterior estimation using the prior probability and the likelihood functions. To solve Bayes’ theorem, it is necessary to use the conjugate prior distribution, which is analytically solvable, or to use a numerical approach with computing power. Next, for several Bayesian statistics methods, the purpose of use and the mathematical derivation process are described. Bayesian linear regression analysis aims for obtaining a function that outputs the closest value to data of variables and results. Factor analysis is mainly used to derive a smaller number of unobserved latent variables that can represent observed variables. The logit and probit model are nonlinear regression models for when the outcome is binary. The hierarchical model is to analyze by introducing hyper-parameters in an integrated manner when there are several groups of similar data. The Bayesian approach of these methods is generally based on the numerical solution of the Bayesian inference of the multivariate normal distribution. Finally, the previous researches that each introduced method have been applied to nuclear non-proliferation are investigated, and research topics that can be applied in the future are suggested. Bayesian statistics have been mainly used for precise estimation of the amount, location, and radioactivity spectrum of nuclear materials using detectors. Using Bayesian approach, it will be possible to perform various analyzes. For example, the change of activeness of nuclear program can be estimated by Bayesian inferences on the frequency and scale of nuclear tests. And it can be tried predicting the production of plutonium according to the core configuration and burnup using the Bayesian linear regression. Also, by introducing the Bayesian approach to factor analysis or logit analysis of nuclear development motives or nuclear proliferation probability, it can be expected to improve precision. With the development of computer technology, the use of Bayesian statistics increases rapidly. Based on the theory and applied topics summarized in this paper, it is expected that Bayesian statistics will be more actively used for nuclear non-proliferation in the future.
Molten salt reactor (MSR) has a unique characteristic using liquid fuel and/or coolant salt among six type of GEN IV reactors. Liquid fuels and on-site processing are fundamentally different from a solid fuel reactor where separate facilities produce the fresh solid fuel and process the Spent Nuclear Fuel. Because the choice of fuel cycle affects the safeguards and non-proliferation characteristics of the reactor system, different MSR concepts may have different proliferation resistance and physical protection characteristics. For example, MSR design variants that use solid fuel but are cooled with liquid salts such as FHR are very close to the Very High Temperature Reactor design concept. The composition of various fuel salts is a representative factor that makes it difficult to generalize the PRPP evaluation principle of MSR. In addition, the flow of molten salts containing fissile materials is also complex depending on the design of the reactor. The path through which radioactive materials travel not only inside the reactor but also to nuclear fuel cycle facilities can act as a difficult factor in measuring nuclear materials. As a further complication, some of the plants include fuel salt drain tanks intended to provide decay heat removal while others are designed to provide decay heat removal while the salt is maintained within the reactor vessel. Some lessons learned from the prior molten salt breeder reactor program are reflected in all of the new designs. Interior reflectors/shielding are frequently employed to reduce the radiation damage to the reactor vessel, and fuel salt chemistry control is employed to substantially limit oxidizing the container alloy constituents. However, even with the vessel interior shielding, the containment environment around both solid and liquid fueled MSRs during operation is likely to have substantially higher dose rates than at LWRs due to the fission process and fission products in the case of circulating liquid fueled reactors, and the shortlived activation products of fluorine (16N, 20F, and 19O) in the case of FHRs. Consequentially due to insufficient shielding from the coolant and the vessel wall, MSR containments will be remote access only for liquid fueled systems and remote access only during operation for FHRs.
Liquid-fueled Molten Salt Reactors (MSRs) do not contain their fuel in assemblies. It is then not possible to perform traditional item counting and visual accountability of the salt fuel. These facilities are closer to bulk accounting facilities, such as reprocessing plants, and require inventory determinations based on measurements of the actinide content of salts. This can be problematic due to the difficulty of sampling and the destructive analysis of actinide-containing molten salts. Some problems arise from the unique combination of high temperature and high radiation environments present in molten salt fuels. Another challenge is the continuous change in the isotopic concentration of fuel salts due to burn-up, conversion, plating out, and online chemical processing. There is a potential for fuel stocks outside the reactor containment vessel in on-site salt processing. In terms of proliferation resistance of 233U-232Th fuel cycle, the nuclide 232U is an important nuclide in thorium fuel cycle from the standpoint of proliferation resistance, because its daughter Thallium (208Tl) is a strong gamma (2.6 MeV) emitter. The hard gamma ray is not only barrier from to nuclear material theft, but also an effective means of detecting lost fissile material. However, there is a theoretical weakness in obtaining pure 233U at the core of the initial two weeks with a concentration of 232Pu less than 1,000 ppm. Therefore, Pu separation process is one of the most sensitive parts in online reprocessing facility. The decision to use a fertile blanket should also be based on proliferation risk considerations in addition to operational parameters. MSRs can be designed without a separate fertile blanket, which should be considered. In the case of the MSFR, even if fertile blankets are used, the production of 232U is large enough to make difficult the utilization of blankets for proliferation purpose. For the liquid-fueled MSRs without fissile materials separations, many of the observations from the previous section apply, except salt processing is minimized. The reactors will still need some method of estimating total actinide content. These reactor designs reduce proliferation risk for the reactor by not separating any actinides during operation.
Nuclear security event involving nuclear and other radioactive materials outside of regulatory control (MORC) has the potential to cause severe consequences for public health, the environment, the economy and society. Each state has a responsibility to develop national nuclear security measures including nuclear forensics to respond to such events. In Japan, national nuclear forensics capability building efforts mainly based on research and development (R&D) have been conducted since 2010, in accordance with national statement of Japan at the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington DC. Most of that work is undertaken at the Integrated Support Center for Nuclear Non-proliferation and Nuclear Security (ISCN) of the Japan Atmic Energy Agency (JAEA) in close cooperation with other competent authorities. The ISCN has made increased contributions to the enhancement of international nuclear security by establishing technical capabilities in nuclear forensics and sharing the achievements with the international community. The ISCN has mainly engaged in R&Ds for establishing and enhancing nuclear forensics technical capability. As for the laboratory capability, several new pieces of analytical equipment have been introduced for nuclear forensics R&D purposes. High-precise measurement techniques validated in the past nuclear forensics incidents have been established, and novel techniques that can contribute to the more timely and confident nuclear forensics signature analysis have been developed. The ISCN has been also developed a proto-type nuclear forensics library based on the data of nuclear materials possessed for past nuclear fuel cycle research in JAEA. These technical capability developments have been conducted based on the cooperation with international partners such as the U.S. Department of Energy and EC Joint Research Center, as well as participation in exercises organized by Nuclear Forensics International Technical Working Group (NF-ITWG). Recent R&D works have been mainly based on the needs of domestic competent authorities, such as first responders and investigators, and aim to develop technologies covering the entire spectrum of nuclear forensics processes from crime scene investigation to laboratory analysis and interpretation. One important key issue is the enhancement of technical capability for post-dispersion nuclear forensics. For instance, the ISCN has carried out the development of radiation measurement equipment coupled with the low-cost and mobile radiation detectors that uses machine-learning algorithms for quick and autonomous radioisotope identification to support first responders during crime scene investigations. Laboratory measurement techniques for samples collected at a post-dispersion crime scene are also among the important technical issues studied at the ISCN. The application of emerging technologies to nuclear forensics has also been studied. This includes the application of deep leaning models to nuclear forensics signature interpretation that could provide more confident results, as well as the development of contamination imaging technology that could contribute to the analytical planning on the samples in collaboration with conventional forensics. Many analytical techniques have been developed and the capability to analyze nuclear and other radioactive materials for nuclear forensics purposes has been considerably matured over the past decade. The challenges of post-dispersion samples, collaboration with conventional forensics and the development of novel signatures will be more important in the near future. Therefore, the ISCN will promote the R&Ds to further enhance the technical capabilities solving these issues. In addition, the ISCN is also promoting to expand the nuclear forensics research into universities and other research institutes in Japan. This is expected to contribute to the establishment of a domestic nuclear forensics network that enables to respond timely and flexibly to the MORC incidents, and to the maturation of nuclear forensics as a new academic field.
Alpha-linolenic acid is an important polyunsaturated fatty acid that exhibits anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidative effects. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of alpha-linolenic acid on the cell proliferation and differentiation of C2C12 cells under essential amino acid-deficient conditions. Different concentrations of alpha-linolenic acid and essential amino acids were added to the growth and differentiation media. The concentrations of 10 μM of alphalinolenic acid and 2% essential amino acid were chosen for subsequent experiments. Supplementation with alpha-linolenic acid and essential amino acids improved the proliferation and differentiation of C2C12 cells and significantly increased the mRNA levels of catalase, superoxide dismutase, B-cell lymphoma-2, and beclin-1 as well as the protein levels of PPARγ coactivator-1α compared to those in the controls. Moreover, supplementation with alpha-linolenic acid and essential amino acids reduced the levels of phosphorylated H2A.X variant histone, Bcl-2-associated X, p53, and light chain 3 during C2C12 cell proliferation, and increased the expression levels of myogenic factors 4 (myogenin) and 5 during C2C12 cell differentiation. Overall, we determined that alpha-linolenic acid and essential amino acids maintained the cell proliferation and differentiation of C2C12 cells via their anti-oxidative, anti-apoptotic, and anti-autophagic effects.