This work involves the development of a novel waste-derived carbon dots (CDs) conjugated with silver (Ag) nanohybrid system-based Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) sensor for the detection of melamine. CDs and Ag nanoparticles served as energy donors and energy acceptors, respectively. CDs were synthesized from orange peel waste through a combined hydrothermal and ultra-sonication route. The synthesized CDs had hydroxyl, amino, and carboxyl groups on their surface, explaining that waste-derived CDs can act as reducing and stabilizing agents and showed strong absorption and fluorescence emission at 305 and 460 nm, respectively. The bandgap, linear refractive index, conduction band, and valance band potential of CDs were observed to be 2.86, 1.849, 1.14, and 4.002 eV, respectively. No significant difference was observed in the fluorescence properties at different pH (acid and alkaline) and ionic concentrations. Given their fluorescent nature, the synthesized CDs were used for the detection of melamine. The fluorescence of CDs was found to be quenched by Ag+ due to the FRET energy transfer between CDs to Ag. Notably, the zeta potential of Ag@CDs was changed from − 28.7 mV to − 30.6 mV after the incorporation of Ag+. Ag@CDs showed excellent selectivity and sensitivity toward the sensing of melamine in the aqueous solutions with the limit of detection ~ 0.85 μM. Increasing the melamine level also raises the FL intensity of Ag@CDs. The substrate was effectively used in the detection of melamine in milk as a real application and the recovery percentage was found to be 98.03%. Moreover, other adulterants such as urea and formaldehyde can be detected selectively by Ag@CDs. Overall, the synthesized Ag@CDs can be used as an efficient material for sensing applications involving such food adulterants.

Pharmaceutical products occurring in freshwater bodies create numerous problems for the water bodies owing to their bio-toxic nature. In order to remove such pharmaceutical pollutants, a novel Er-doped Bi4O5Br2/ g-C3N5 nanocomposite was prepared by one-pot synthesis and applied for the photocatalytic removal process. The Er ions doped on the surface of Bi4O5Br2/ g-C3N5 nanocomposite exhibited 97% degradation of tetracycline in 60 min under visible light irradiation, which is higher than pure g-C3N5 and Bi4O5Br2 photocatalysts. The improved photocatalytic properties are attributed to the outstanding visible light harvesting capacity and quick charge carrier separation efficiency which greatly reduced the recombination rate in the heterojunctions. Based on radical trapping experiments, the •O2 −, h+ and •OH radicals played a prominent role in the photodegradation reactions under visible light. Finally, the ternary Er-doped Bi4O5Br2/ g-C3N5 nanocomposite is effectively recyclable with quite a stable photocatalytic removal rate. This work enables a new perspective on the rational design of rare-earth-based nanocomposites for various pharmaceutical pollutants treatment processes.

A transfer cask serves as the container for transporting and handling canisters loaded with spent nuclear fuels from light water reactors. This study focuses on a cylindrical transfer cask, standing at 5,300 mm with an external diameter of 2,170 mm, featuring impact limiters on the top and bottom sides. The base of the cask body has an openable/closable lid for loading canisters with storage modules. The transfer cask houses a canister containing spent nuclear fuels from lightweight reactors, serving as the confinement boundary while the cask itself lacks the confinement structure. The objective of this study was to conduct a structural analysis evaluation of the transfer cask, currently under development in Korea, ensuring its safety. This evaluation encompasses analyses of loads under normal, off-normal, and accident conditions, adhering to NUREG-2215. Structural integrity was assessed by comparing combined results for each load against stress limits. The results confirm that the transfer cask meets stress limits across normal, off-normal, and accident conditions, establishing its structural safety.

In this study, project information of government-funded research institute in the food field was collected and analyzed to systematically identify the factors affecting the process of transferring technological achievements of public research institute to the private sector. This study hypothesized that human resources, financial resources, and technological characteristics as input factors of R&D projects affect output factors, such as research papers or patents produced by R&D projects. Moreover, these outputs would serve as drivers of the technology transfer as one of the R&D outcomes. Linear Regression Analysis and Poisson Regression Analysis were conducted to empirically and sequentially investigate the relationship between input factors and output and outcome of R&D projects and the results are as follows: First, the principle investigator's career and participating researcher's size as human resource factors have an influence on both the number of SCI (science citation index) papers and patent registration. Second, the research duration and research expenses for the current year have an influence on the number of SCI papers and patent registrations, which are the main outputs of R&D projects. Third, the technology life cycle affects the number of SCI papers and patent registrations. Lastly, the higher the number of SCI papers and patent registrations, the more it affected the number of technology transfers and the amount of technology transfer contract.

The heat transfer characteristics of double-pipe spiral heat exchanger were investigated by various curvature sizes, experimentally. The three different sizes of heat exchanger were made and tested with water as a working fluid to analyze the heat transfer characteristics. The heat transfer rates, overall heat transfer coefficient and pressure drop were analyzed with various heat exchanger sizes (i.e., curvature ratios). As result, the heat transfer rate increased with increasing the size of the heat exchanger as the flow rate increased due to increasing the area size of heat transfer. However, the overall heat transfer coefficient and pressure drop increased with decreasing the heat exchanger size (i.e., increased curvature ratio) due to the enhanced centrifugal force and inertia.

The demand for transportation is increasing due to the continuous generation of radioactive wastes. Especially, considering the geographical characteristics of Korea and the location characteristics of nuclear facilities, the demand for maritime transportation is expected to increase. If a sinking accident happens during maritime transportation, radioactive materials can be released into the ocean from radioactive waste transportation containers. Radioactive materials can spread through the ocean currents and have radiological effects on humans. The effect on humans is proportional to the concentration of radioactive materials in the ocean compartment. In order to calculate the concentration of radioactive materials that constantly flow along the ocean current, it is necessary to divide the wide ocean into appropriate compartments and express the transfer processes of radioactive materials between the compartments. Accordingly, this study analyzed various ocean transfer evaluation methodologies of overseas maritime transportation risk codes. MARINRAD, POSEIDON, and LAMER codes were selected to analyze the maritime transfer evaluation methodology. MARINRAD divided the ocean into two types of compartments that water and sediment compartments. And it was assumed that radionuclides are transfered from water to water or from water to sediment. Advection, diffusion, and sedimentation were established as transfer process for radionuclides between compartments. MARINRAD use transfer parameters to evaluate transer processes by advection, diffusion, and sedimentation. Transfer parameters were affected by flow rate, sedimentation rate, sediment porosity, and etc. POSEIDON also divided the ocean into two types that water and sediment compartment, each compartments was detaily divided into three vertical sub-compartment. Advection, diffusion, resuspension, sedimentation, and bioturbation were established as transport processes for radionuclides between compartments. POSEIDON also used transfer parameters for evaluating advection, diffusion, resuspension, sedimentation, and bioturbation. Transfer parameters were affected by suspended sediment rates, sedimentation rates, vertical diffusion coefficients, bioturbation factors, porosity, and etc. LAMER only considered the water compartment. It divided the water compartment into vertical detailed compartments. Diffusion, advection and sedimentation were established as the nuclide transfer processes between the compartments. To evaluated the transfer processes of nuclides for diffusion and advection, LAMER calculated the probability with generating random position vectors for radionuclides’ locations rather than deterministic methods such as MARINRAD’s transfer parameters or POSEIDON’s transfer rates to evaluate transfer processes. The results of this study can be used as a basis for developing radioactive materials’ ocean transfer evaluation model.

Recently, the status of North Korea’s denuclearization has become an international issue, and there are also indications of potential nuclear proliferation among neighboring countries. So, the need for establishment of nuclear activity verification technology and strategy is growing. In terms of ensuring verification completeness, sample collection-based analysis is essential. The concepts of Chain of Custody (CoC) and Continuity of Knowledge (CoK) can be defined in the process of sample extraction as follows: CoC is interpreted as the ‘system for managing the flow of information subjected by the examinee’, and CoK is interpreted as the ‘Continuity of information collection through CoC subjected by the inspector’. In the case of sample collection process in unreported areas for nuclear activity verification, there are additional risks such as worker exposure/kidnapping or sample theft/tampering. Therefore, the introduction of additional devices might be required to maintain CoC and CoK in the unreported area. In this study, an Environmental Geometrical Data Transfer (EGDT) was developed to ensure the safety of workers and the CoC/CoK of the samples during the collection process. This device was designed for achieving both mobility and rechargeability. It is categorized into two modes based on its intended users: sample mode and worker mode. Through the sensors, which is positioned in the rear part of device, such as radiation, gyroscope, light, temperature, humidity and proximity sensors, it can be easily achievable various environmental information in real-time. Additionally, GPS information can also be received, allowing for responsiveness to various hazardous scenarios. Moreover, the OLED display positioned on the front gives us for checking device information such as the current status of the device such as the battery level, the connectivity of wifi, and etc. Finally, an alarm function was integrated to enable rapid awareness during emergency situations. These functions can be updated and modified through Arduino-based firmware, and both the device and the information collected through it can be remotely controlled via custom software. Based on the presented design conditions, a prototype was developed and field assessments were conducted, yielding results within an acceptable margin of error for various scenarios. Through the application of the EGDT developed in this study to the sample collection process for nuclear activity verification purposes, it is expected to achieve a stable maintenance of CoC/CoK through more accurate information transmission and reception.

In the contemporary digital age, the rapid pace of technological advancement has elevated concerns regarding unauthorized technology transfers. These illicit transfers not only pose economic threats but also have the potential to compromise national security, strain international relationships, and impede technological innovation. Recognizing these challenges, the United States, as a technological leader, has implemented stringent laws and regulations to counteract such activities. Unauthorized technology transfer or disclosure is treated seriously within the United States. It can be subject to various laws, including export control regulations, economic sanctions, and Nonproliferation laws. Export control measures such as the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), targeting defense items, and the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), focused on dual-use items, are enforced. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) regulations oversee U.S. trade sanctions. At the same time, the Iran, North Korea, and Syria Non-proliferation Act (INKSNA) penalizes those aiding proliferation activities in these countries. Such unauthorized transfers could undermine global security by violating international agreements like the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The United States employs a multi-faceted approach to counter these threats, including international partnerships, strengthened export controls, diplomatic efforts, and rigorous enforcement. Beyond the legal aspects, unauthorized technology transfer carries significant economic, national security, and global trade implications. Intellectual property (IP) theft can result in economic losses, national security risks, and strained trade relations. Legal protections against IP theft encompass Patents, Trade Secrets, Copyright, and Trademark Acts. In conclusion, unauthorized technology transfers and IP theft present multi-faceted challenges with far-reaching implications for global security, economic prosperity, and international relations. The comprehensive approach taken by the United States, which combines legal measures, diplomatic engagement, and collaborative efforts, serves as a valuable example that South Korea can learn from and enhance to keep technological advancements and ensure a secure digital future.

The increasing number of technology transfers from public research institutes in Korea has led to a growing demand for patent recommendation platforms for SMEs. This is because selecting the right technology for commercialization is a critical factor in business success. This study developed a patent recommendation system that uses technology transfer data from the past 10 years to recommend patents that are suitable for SMEs. The system was developed in three stages. First, an item-based collaborative filtering system was developed to recommend patents based on the similarities between the patents that SMEs have previously transferred. Next, a content-based recommendation system based on TF-IDF was developed to analyze patent names and recommend patents with high similarity. Finally, a hybrid system was developed that combines the strengths of both recommendation systems. The experimental results showed that the hybrid system was able to recommend patents that were both similar and relevant to the SMEs' interests. This suggests that the system can be a valuable tool for SMEs that are looking to acquire new technologies.