Aphis gossypii is a representative pest that transmits plant viral diseases. It is difficult to control with chemical pesticides alone due to their high pesticide resistance. Entomopathogenic fungi are biological control agents that can replace chemical pesticides and have characteristics of high host specificity and safety to humans. Therefore, we investigated the immune pathways of aphids against initial infection by entomopathogenic fungus. We treated aphids with the Beauveria bassiana JEF 544 strain and examined the immune response in early infection by qPCR. furthermore, we also studied changes the molting time of nymphs and changes in adult nymphal production caused by entomopathogenic fungi.

The complexation of silicon with carbon materials is considered an effective method for using silicon as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries. In the present study, carbon frameworks with a 3D porous structure were fabricated using metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), which have been drawing significant attention as a promising material in a wide range of applications. Subsequently, the fabricated carbon frameworks were subjected to CVD to obtain silicon-carbon complexes. These siliconcarbon complexes with a 3D porous structure exhibited excellent rate capability because they provided sufficient paths for Li-ion diffusion while facilitating contact with the electrolyte. In addition, unoccupied space within the silicon complex, combined with the stable structure of the carbon framework, allowed the volume expansion of silicon and the resultant stress to be more effectively accommodated, thereby reducing electrode expansion. The major findings of the present study demonstrate the applicability of MOF-based carbon frameworks as a material for silicon complex anodes.

The radiological characterization of SSCs (Structure, Systems and Components) plays one of the most important role for the decommissioning of KORI Unit-1 during the preparation periods. Generally, a regulatory body and laws relating to the decommissioning focus on the separation and appropriate disposal or storage of radiological waste including ILW (intermediate level waste), LLW (low level waste), VLLW (very low level waste) and CW (clearance waste), aligned with their contamination characteristics. The result of the preliminary radiological characterization of KORI Unit-1 indicated that, apart from neutron activated the RV (reactor vessel), RVI (reactor vessel internals), and BS (biological shielding concrete), the majorities of contamination were sorted to be less than LLW. Radiological contamination can be evaluated into two methods. Due to the difficulties of directly measuring contamination on the interior surfaces of the pipe, called CRUD, the assessment was implemented by modeling method, that is measuring contamination on the exterior surfaces of the pipes and calculating relative factors such as thickness and size. This indirect method may be affected by the surrounding radiation distribution, and only a few gamma nuclides can be measured. Therefore, it has limitation in terms of providing detailed nuclide information. Especially, α and β nuclides can only be estimated roughly by scaling factors, comparing their relative ratios with the existing gamma results. To overcome the limitation of indirect measurement, a destructive sampling method has been employed to assess the contamination of the systems and component. Samples are physically taken some parts of the systems or components and subsequently analyzed in the laboratory to evaluate detailed nuclides and total contamination. For the characterization of KORI Unit-1, we conducted the radiation measurement on the exterior surfaces of components using portable instruments (Eberline E-600 SPA3, Thermo G20-10, Thermo G10, Thermo FH40TG) at BR (boron recycle system) and SP (containment spray system) in primary system. Based on these results, the ProUCL program was employed to determine the destructive sample collection quantities based on statistical approach. The total of 5 and 8 destructive sample quantities were decided by program and successfully collected from the BR and SP systems, respectively. Samples were moved to laboratory and analyzed for the detail nuclide characteristics. The outcomes of this study are expected to serve as valuable information for estimating the types and quantities of radiological waste generated by decommissioning of KORI Unit-1.

High-entropy alloys (HEAs) are attracting attention because of their excellent properties and functions; however, they are relatively expensive compared with commercial alloys. Therefore, various efforts have been made to reduce the cost of raw materials. In this study, MIM is attempted using coarse equiatomic CoCrFeMnNi HEA powders. The mixing ratio (powder:binder) for HEA feedstock preparation is explored using torque rheometer. The block-shaped green parts are fabricated through a metal injection molding process using feedstock. The thermal debinding conditions are explored by thermogravimetric analysis, and solvent and thermal debinding are performed. It is densified under various sintering conditions considering the melting point of the HEA. The final product, which contains a small amount of non-FCC phase, is manufactured at a sintering temperature of 1250oC.

Prior to dismantling a nuclear facility, full site characterization should be carried out to identify basic data for various stages of decommissioning, such as deregulation of sites and structures, selection of decontamination technology, decommissioning methods, and waste management and disposal. Radiological characterization is implemented through information collection, on-site measurement, sampling and analysis, and theoretical calculations and proven codes for radioactive material at the time of decommissioning of the nuclear facility. There are issues in that it takes a lot of time and money to collect and analyze samples for characterization of contaminated sites and radioactive structures. Therefore, in the entire process of decommissioning a nuclear facility, a technology that can quickly measure the radiological characteristics of various decommissioning objects and wastes on site is required. In this project, the utilization of gamma cameras that can be analyzed in the field for quick and accurate characteristic evaluation at the dismantling site was studied. A gamma camera, iPIX from Canberra (Now it became Mirion Technology), was tested in this study. It is a unique gamma imager, which have a CdTe sensor with TIMEPIX chip and a coded aperture collimator, quickly locates and identifies low to high level radioactive sources from a distance while estimating the dose rate at the measurement point in real time. It also can be combined with CZT sensor which called iPIX-NID (nuclide Identification) provides users with clear understanding of radionuclides presence with no need of any spectroscopic knowledge. iPIX with iPIX-NID convert the gamma camera into a hot-spot detector with radionuclide information. To verify the applicability of a gamma camera in Nuclear power plant, it was implemented to Kori unit-1 which was permanently shut down from 2017. Various Systems were observed at restricted area including reactor cooling system, boron recovery system, residual heat removal system, containment spray system, and etc. The locations of hot spots were clearly revealed by iPIX and these results can be used for selecting the locations of destructive samples and help to decide the conservative decision making. Condensate water systems in turbine building were also observed by a gamma camera and showed no nuclide. Based on this preliminary gamma camera applications, further investigation and tests will be carried out to Kori Unit-1.

The effects of supplemental lighting (SL) timing on vegetative growth and the photosynthetic assimilation rate of young Cymbidium hybrids were examined. Nine month old C. ‘Yang Guifei’ and ‘Wine Shower’ were treated with four different SL timings: 22:00 – 02:00 (middle of the night, MN); 17:00 – 21:00 (end of day extension, DE); 07:00 – 09:00 plus 17:00 – 19:00 (both beginning and end of the night as split day extension, SDE), and non SL (8/16 h, short day, SD) for 4 months. All SL were provided by two types of 100% red LEDs (640 and 660 nm), with 150 μmol･m-2 ･s-1 and 800 μmol･mol-1 of CO2 supplied during the night (16 h). Pseudobulb diameters were significantly higher under SL treatments compared with the SD of both cultivars, irrespective of SL timing. Net photosynthetic assimilation rates were enhanced with increased SL, due to the additional photosynthesis and reduction of dark respiration. Thus, daily net photosynthetic amounts of SL treatments effectively increased photosynthesis compared to the SD. These results indicate that SL helps promote vegetative growth by enhancing photosynthesis. Since there were no significant differences among the SL timings when CO2 was provided uniformly during the night, we concluded that growth and photosynthesis of young Cymbidium do not depend on the timing of SL application, but are related to the daily light integrals, which is the amount of photosynthetically active photons delivered over 24 hours.