The Euonymus defoliator moth, Pryeria sinica Moore (Lepidoptera: Zygaenidae), is a pest that causes considerable damage to the Euonymus genus, especially Euonymus alatus and Euonymus japonicus. The biological characteristics of P. sinica have been studied in China, Japan, Taiwan, and the United States, but there has been no research conducted on this species in Korea. Also, P. sinica has two dormant phases in each generation, one as eggs in winter and the other as pupae in summer. Our purposes are to study the biological characteristics of Korean populations of P. sinica and to examine the effects of temperature and photoperiod on summer diapause. The biological characteristics were investigated in laboratory conditions (25 ± 1 ℃, 65 ± 1% R.H., 16L:8D) and the number of eggs in an egg mass, developmental periods and mortality rate in each larvae stage, and adults’ life span were determined. The results showed that 190.7 ± 31.64 eggs were contained in one egg mass and it took 25.57 ± 0.61 days from 1st larval stage to the pre-pupal stage. P. sinica has 4 larval stages and each stage took 4.28 ± 0.21, 6.2 ± 0.55, 6.02 ± 0.68, and 8.93 ± 0.88 days. The mortality rate of larvae peaked at 22.5% in 3rd larval stage. The adults’ life span was 4.67 ± 0.97 days in males and 4.61 ± 1.82 days in females. To study summer diapause, we divided pupae into 4 groups. Both low temperature and short daytime were effective in shortening the pupal stage. The pupal stage was the shortest in group D (122.12 ± 1.24 days), in which the initial condition was 25 ℃-16L:8D and the altered condition was 16 ℃ -12L:12D, and the longest in group A (161.92 ± 3.15 days, 25 ℃-16L:8D). These data could be utilized to propose the optimal timing for controlling the population of P. sinica.

The Korea Forest Service has designated seven alpine tree species—Abies koreana, A. nephrolepis, Juniperus chinensis, Picea jezoensis, Pinus pumila, Taxus cuspidata, and Thuja koraiensis—as threatened with extinction in Korea. In 2023, we conducted a study on the seasonal occurrence of insect pests, focusing mainly on two coleopteran taxa (Cerambycidae and Scolytinae) and two hemipteran taxa (Aphrophoridae and Cicadellidae) in subalpine forests dominated by A. koreana, A. nephrolepis, Picea jezoensis, Thuja koraiensis, and Taxus cuspidata. We utilized three types of traps—Malaise trap, Lindgren funnel trap, and window trap—in eight investigation locations in Korea. In this presentation, we present the study results and discuss the effects of insect pests on alpine coniferous trees in Korea.

The emergence of ferrous-medium entropy alloys (FeMEAs) with excellent tensile properties represents a potential direction for designing alloys based on metastable engineering. In this study, an FeMEA is successfully fabricated using laser powder bed fusion (LPBF), a metal additive manufacturing technology. Tensile tests are conducted on the LPBF-processed FeMEA at room temperature and cryogenic temperatures (77 K). At 77 K, the LPBF-processed FeMEA exhibits high yield strength and excellent ultimate tensile strength through active deformation-induced martensitic transformation. Furthermore, due to the low stability of the face-centered cubic (FCC) phase of the LPBFprocessed FeMEA based on nano-scale solute heterogeneity, stress-induced martensitic transformation occurs, accompanied by the appearance of a yield point phenomenon during cryogenic tensile deformation. This study elucidates the origin of the yield point phenomenon and deformation behavior of the FeMEA at 77 K.

Korean historical literatures offer numerous records on astronomical phenomena such as eclipses, comets, and close approaches, etc. Records of close approaches often use specific terms to describe the angular distance, which lack translation into modern numerical values. We study the usage of the five commonly used terms, namely, Entry (入, En), Invasion (犯, In), Occultation (掩, Oc), Eclipse (食, Ec), as well as the unit Chi (尺). Our analysis is based on more than 2,300 records from Goryeo (918–1392 CE) and Joseon (1392–1910 CE) Dynasties. Through statistical analysis, we determine their quantitative definitions. We convert the lunisolar calendar to the Julian and Gregorian date and utilize the modern ephemeris DE431 to calculate the angular distance between celestial bodies. We find that the angular distances of the terms En, In, Oc, and Ec correspond to respectively 1.78◦+2.36 −1.11, 0.89◦+3.54 −0.51, 0.44◦+1.15 −0.31, and 0.29◦+2.61 −0.16 for the Goryeo Dynasty and 1.36◦+1.15 −0.64, 0.51◦+1.11 −0.32, 0.25◦+0.27 −0.17, and 0.21◦+0.25 −0.11 for the Joseon Dynasty. Additionally, we determine the angular size of the unit Chi by using the records from Korean chronicles along with the drawings of comets’ tails in the Daily Log (天變謄錄). We estimate the unit Chi to be 1.11◦+0.46 −0.40 and find that the numerical definition was consistent throughout the two dynasties in Korea. Furthermore, we find that the terms were used to describe the closest approach and that there is no observational bias in the angular distances against the apparent magnitudes of the objects. We show that the terms En, In, Oc, and Ec represent decreasing angular distance in that order and this ordering was consistent in both dynasties.

Background: Kinesio taping is being applied to improve ankle dorsiflexion in stroke patients. Currently, the elasticity of kinesio taping is applied in various ways. Objectives: To investigated the effect of tibialis anterior kinesio taping elasticity level on gait speed in stroke patients. Design: A randomized cross-over pilot study. Methods: A total of 12 study subjects were allowed to experience three conditions within a single group. The three conditions are strong elastic taping condition, weak elastic taping condition, and non-elastic taping condition. Study subjects were randomly assigned to each condition sequentially. For the evaluation, gait variables (cadence, gait speed, stride length) were measured 24 hours after applying the taping appropriate for each condition. Results: The strong elastic taping condition significantly increased gait variables compared to the weak elastic taping and non-elastic taping conditions (P<.05). Weak elastic taping significantly increased gait variables compared to non-elastic taping (P<.05). Conclusion: As tibialis anterior kinesio taping elasticity increased, gait variables significantly improved in stroke patients.

Pitfall traps that use ethylene glycol as a preservative solution are commonly used in arthropod research. However, a recent surge in cases involving damage to these traps by roe deer or wild boars owing to the sweet taste of ethylene glycol has prompted the addition of quinone sulfate, a substance with a pungent taste, to deter such wildlife interference. This study aimed to assess the effects of quinone sulfate on arthropods collected from pitfall traps containing ethylene glycol. We strategically positioned 50 traps using ethylene glycol alone and 50 traps containing a small amount of quinone sulfate mixed with ethylene glycol in a grid pattern for systematic sampling at the Gwangneung Forest long-term ecological research (LTER) site. Traps were collected 10 days later. The results revealed a notable effect on ants when quinone sulfate was introduced. Specifically, it decreased the number of ants. In a species-specific analysis of ants, only Nylanderia flavipes showed a significant decline in response to quinone sulfate, whereas other ant species remained unaffected. Additionally, among the arthropod samples obtained in this survey, we identified species or morpho-species of spiders, beetles, and ants and assessed species diversity. Consequently, the utilization of quinone sulfate should be undertaken judiciously, taking into account the specific species composition and environmental characteristics of the monitoring site. Our study also highlighted the significant response of various arthropod groups to variations in leaf litter depth, underscoring the crucial role of the leaf litter layer in providing sustenance and shelter for ground-foraging arthropods. Furthermore, we have compiled comprehensive species lists of both spiders and ants in Gwangneung forest by amalgamating data from this investigation with findings from previous studies.

Chelating agents, such as EDTA, NTA, and citric acid, possess the capacity to establish complexes with radionuclides, potentially enhancing the migration of such radionuclides from the disposal sites. Hence, quantification of these chelating agents in radioactive wastes is required to ensure secure disposal protocols. The determination of chelating agents in radioactive wastes is mainly composed of two steps, e.g. extraction and detection. However, there are little information on the extraction of the chelators in various radioactive wastes. We endeavored to optimize the extraction conditions for citric acid (CA) found within concrete, a prevalent component in the context of dismantled waste materials. Given the inherent high solubility of CA in water, we applied an aliquot of deionized water to the concrete and conducted a one-hour ultrasonic leaching procedure to facilitate chelate extraction. Subsequently, following the preparation of the concrete leachate via vacuum filtration and centrifugation to yield a clarified solution, we quantified the concentration of CA within the solution using Ion Chromatography (IC). To enhance leaching efficiency, we examined the % recovery variation with respect to the pH of the leaching solution. The optimized extraction method will be applied to diverse chelating agents and radioactive waste categories.

Owing to the rapid rise of global energy demands, the operation of nuclear power plants is still indispensable. However, following the nuclear accident at Fukushima-Daiichi in 2011, the secure sequestration of radioactive waste has become critical for ensuring safe operations. Among various forms of nuclear wastes, capturing radioactive organic iodide (ROIs, e.g., methyl iodide, ethyl iodide, and propyl iodide) as one of the important species in gas phase waste has been challenged owing to the insufficient sorbent materials. The environmental release of ROIs with high volatility can give rise to adverse effects, including the accumulation of these substances in the thyroid and the development of conditions such as hypothyroidism and thyroid cancer. Compared to an iodine molecule, ROIs exhibit low affinity for conventional sorbents such as Ag@mordenite zeolite and triethylenediamine-impregnated activated carbon (TED@AC), resulting in lower sorption rates and capacities. Furthermore, in conditions resembling practical adsorption environments with high humidity, the presence of H2O significantly impedes the adsorption process, leading to a nearly complete cessation of adsorption. To address these issues, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) can be effective alternative sorbents owing to their high surface area and designable and tailorable pore properties. In addition, the wellfined crystalline structures of MOFs render in-depth study on the structure-properties relationship. However, there has been limited research on the adsorption of ROIs using MOFs, with the majority of adsorption processes relying on highly reversible physisorption. This type of ROIs adsorption not only exists in a precarious state that is susceptible to volatilization but also exhibits significantly reduced adsorption capabilities in humid environments. Thus, for the secure adsorption of the volatile ROIs, the development of sorbents capable of chemisorption is highly desirable. In this study, we focused on ROIs adsorption by electrophilic aromatic substitution with the electron-rich m-DOBDC4− (m-DOBDC4− = 4,6-dioxo-1,3-benzenedicarboxylate) present in Co2(m -DOBDC). The chemisorption of ROIs via electrophilic aromatic substitution not only leads to the formation of C-C bonds, ensuring stability but also triggers color changes in the crystal by interacting with open-metal sites and iodide ions. Leveraging these advantages, we developed an infrared radiation-based sensing method that demonstrates superior performance, exhibiting high adsorption capacities and rates, even under the challenging conditions of high-humidity practical environments.

Wasteform is the first barrier to prevent radionuclide release from repositories into the biosphere. Since leaching rates of nuclides in wasteform significantly impact on safety assessment of the repository, clarifying the leaching behavior is critical for accurate safety assessment. However, the current waste acceptance criteria (WAC) of the Gyeongju repository only evaluates leachability indexes for Cs, Sr, and Co, which are tracers for nuclear power plant waste streams. Furthermore, ANS 16.1, the current leaching test method used in WAC, applies deionized water (DI) as leachant. However, the interactions between wasteform and groundwater environment in the repository may not be reflected. Therefore, it is necessary to review the current leaching test method and nuclides that may require the extra evaluation of leachability beyond the Cs, Sr, and Co. Tc and I are key nuclides contributing to high radioactive dose in safety assessment due to their high mobility and low retardation factor. The groundwater conditions within the repository, such as pH and Eh significantly affect the chemical form of Tc and I. For example, Tc in H2O system tends to form hydroxide precipitates in neutral pH condition and TcO4 - in strong alkaline environments according to the Pourbaix diagram. In case of I, it generally exists in the form of I-, while it exists as IO3 - as Eh increases. Although the current leaching test at the Gyeongju repository applies DI as a leachant, the actual repository is expected to have a highly alkaline environment with a substantial amount of various ions in the groundwater. Consequently, the leaching behavior in the ANS 16.1 test and the actual disposal condition is different. Thus, it is necessary to analyze the leaching behavior of Tc and I with reflecting the actual disposal environment. In this study, the leaching behavior of Tc and I is investigated by following ANS 16.1 leaching test method. The solidified waste specimens containing 10 mmol of Re and I were manufactured with cement, which is widely used as a solidification material. Re was applied instead of Tc, which has similar chemical behavior to Tc, and NH4ReO4 and NaI were used as surrogates for Re and I. As a leachant, deionized water and cement-saturated groundwater were prepared and the concentration of nuclides in the leachant is analyzed by ICP-OES. As the result of this study, experimental data can be applied to improve the WAC and disposal concentration standards in the future.

Low- and intermediate level waste (LILW) repository in Gyeongju, Korea is in operation and the radioactive waste should satisfy the waste acceptance criteria (WAC) of the repository. Among the WAC of the Gyeongju LILW repository, the leachability index criterion is considered to be the criterion that is directly related to the isolation of the radionuclides from biosphere. Cesium, strontium, and cobalt should satisfy the leachability index larger than six by following the ANS 16.1 leaching test method. Several research were performed for the leachability index of Cs, Sr, and Co by following the ANS 16.1 leaching test method. However, the test condition of the previous research is expected to be different to the condition of the actual waste. Due to the radioactivity of the radionuclide such as Cs, Sr and Co, most of the research applied the surrogate of those radionuclides. The concentration of those nuclides was generally measured by the inductively coupled plasma (ICP) equipment, however, high concentration compared to the disposal limit of those nuclides due to the detection limit of the ICP was applied. From the Freundlich and Langmuir adsorption isotherms, the adsorption of the nuclides differs according to the concentration of the nuclides. As the leachability index of the nuclides is affected by the adsorption of the nuclides on the binding material, the effect of nuclide concentration is expected to be not ignorable. Therefore, the leachability index difference according to the nuclide concentration should be compared to avoid over- or underestimation of the leachability index. In this study, the difference in the leachability index according to the concentration of nuclides is aimed to be checked. Cs, Sr, and Co, which should satisfy the leachability index criterion in the WAC of the Gyeongju repository, were selected as target nuclides. Three concentrations were selected to compare the leachability index: 0.1 mol, 0.001 mol and below the regulatory exemption concentration. The concentration of non-radioactive nuclides in the leachant was measured by ICPOES and ICP-MS while the concentration of radionuclides was measured by HPGe. The result of this study can be applied as background data enhancing the WAC or disposal concentration limit of the radionuclides in Gyeongju LILW repository.

The solid-state chemistry of uranium is essential to the nuclear fuel cycle. Uranyl nitrate is a key compound that is produced at various stages of the nuclear fuel cycle, both in front-end and backend cycles. It is typically formed by dissolving spent nuclear fuel in nitric acid or through a wet conversion process for the preparation of UF6. Additionally, uranium oxides are a primary consideration in the nuclear fuel cycle because they are the most commonly used nuclear fuel in commercial nuclear reactors. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the oxidation and thermal behavior of uranium oxides and uranyl nitrates. Under the ‘2023 Nuclear Global Researcher Training Program for the Back-end Nuclear Fuel Cycle,’ supported by KONICOF, several experiments were conducted at IMRAM (Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials) at Tohoku University. First, the recovery ratio of uranium was analyzed during the synthesis of uranyl nitrate by dissolving the actual radioisotope, U3O8, in a nitric acid solution. Second, thermogravimetric-differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA) of uranyl nitrate (UO2(NO3)2) and hyper-stoichiometric uranium dioxide (UO2+X) was performed. The enthalpy change was discussed to confirm the mechanism of thermal decomposition of uranyl nitrate under heating conditions and to determine the chemical hydrate form of uranyl nitrate. In the case of UO2+X, the value of ‘x’ was determined through the calculation of weight change data, and the initial form was verified using the phase diagram for the U-O system. Finally, the formation of a few UO2+X compounds was observed with heat treatment of uranyl nitrate and uranium dioxide at different temperature intervals (450°C-600°C). As a result of these studies, a deeper understanding of the thermal and chemical behavior of uranium compounds was achieved. This knowledge is vital for improving the efficiency and safety of nuclear fuel cycle processes and contributes to advancements in nuclear science and technology.

Once discharged, spent nuclear fuel undergoes an initial cooling process within deactivation pools situated at the reactor site. This cooling step is crucial for reducing the fuel’s temperature. Once the heat has sufficiently diminished, two viable options emerge: reprocessing or interim storage. A method known as PUREX, for aqueous nuclear reprocessing, involves a chemical procedure aimed at separating uranium and plutonium from the spent nuclear fuel. This separation not only minimizes waste volume but also facilitates the reuse of the extracted materials as fuel for nuclear reactors. The transformation of uranium oxides through dissolution in nitric acid followed by drying results in uranium taking the form of UO2(NO3)2 + 6H2O, which can then be converted into various solid-state configurations through different heat treatments. This study specifically focuses on investigating the phase transitions of artificially synthesized UO2(NO3)2 + 6H2O subjected to heat treatment at various temperatures (450, 500, 550, 600°C) using X-ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis. Heat treatments were also conducted on UO2 to analyze its phase transformations. Additionally, the study utilized XRD analysis on an unidentified oxidized uranium oxide, UO2+X, and employed lattice parameters and Bragg’s law to ascertain the oxidation state of the unknown sample. To synthesize UO2(NO3)2 + 6H2O, U3O8 powder is first dissolved in a 20% HNO3 solution. The solid UO2(NO3)2 + 6H2O is obtained after drying on a hotplate and is subsequently subjected to heat treatment at temperatures of 450, 500, 550, and 600°C. As the heat treatment temperature increases, the color of the samples transitions from orange to dark green, indicating the formation of different phases at different temperatures. XRD analysis confirms that uranyl nitrate, when heattreated at 500 and 550°C, oxidizes to UO3, while the sample subjected to 600°C heat treatment transforms into U3O8 due to the higher temperature. All samples exhibit sharp crystal peaks in their XRD spectra, except for the one heat-treated at 450°C. In the second experiment, the XRD spectra of the heat-treated UO2 consistently indicate the presence of U3O8 rather than UO3, regardless of the temperature. Under an oxidizing atmosphere within a temperature range of 300 to 700°C, UO2 can be oxidized to form U3O8. In the final experiment, the oxidation state of the unknown UO2+X was determined using Bragg’s law and lattice parameters, revealing that it was a material in which UO2 had been oxidized, resulting in an oxidation state of UO2.24.

참깨는 건전 유기 종자생산을 위해서는 Corynespora cassicola 등과 같은 종자전염 병원균의 감염을 최소화해 야 하므로 비가림하우스 내에서의 종자생산이 필수적이다. 그러나 비가림하우스 재배 시 진딧물의 대발생으로 참깨의 생산량 저하 되므로 본 연구에서는 참깨 비가림하우스 내 유기 재배 시, 진딧물에 대한 효과적인 유기농업 자재를 선발하고자 한다. 등록된 유기농업자재 8종 중 4종을 기내에서 선발하였으며 선발된 유기농업자재 4종을 참깨 재배기간 중 주 1회 처리한 결과, 처리 간 유의한 차이가 나타났다. 수확기인 8월 3일 기준 무처리구 대비 데리스추출물 70%와 데리스 20%+시트로넬라 30%+계피추출물 10%은 12.3%, 9.0%만이 고사하여 우수한 방제 효과를 나타냈다. 본 연구 결과는 참깨 재배 시 농림현장에서 발생하는 복숭아혹진딧물에 대한 유기농업자재 효과를 검정함으로써 유기재배 농가의 자재 선택에 대한 정보를 제공하고자 한다

생활권 수목이란 주민들이 생활하는 지역에 식재된 수목으로, 가로수, 학교수목, 아파트 수목 등 종류가 다양 하며 도시경관과 생활환경 개선의 이점을 제공한다. 그러므로 생활권 수목의 유지와 관리에 있어서도 인근 주민 에 혐오감이나 피해가 없도록 방제를 수행하는 것이 매우 중요하다. 일반적인 경엽살포의 경우, 약액 비산에 의해 주민들의 활동 제한, 안전사고 및 재산상 피해가 발생할 수 있으므로 사용이 제한적이다. 이러한 문제를 해결하기 위해, 나무에 약제를 직접 주입하는 나무주사(trunk injection)가 보편적인 생활권 수목 방제법으로 주목 받고 있으며, 이는 주입물질의 손실이 없고, 외부환경에 크게 영향 받지 않는다는 장점이 있다. 하지만 생활권 수목 전반에 대한 나무주사 처리방법이 명확하지 않아 약효가 일부 가지에서만 나타나는 등 사후 검증 및 관리가 미흡한 실정이다. 본 연구는 생활권 수목 병해충 방제 나무주사 제품의 효과제고를 위한 기존 처리방법 개선 및 최적의 약제처리 방법을 검증하였다. 느티나무외줄면충(Colopha moriokaensis)을 대상으로 시험을 진행하였 으며, Acetamiprid을 시험약제로 사용하였다. 느티나무에 대하여 약제처리 위치, 주입량, 천공수, 주사시기에 따른 약효 및 약해를 확인하였으며, 이를 바탕으로 최적의 약제처리 방법을 제시하였다.