Since 1997, the Republic of Korea (ROK) has been developing pyro-processing (Pyro) technology to reduce the disposal burden of high-level radioactive waste by recycling spent nuclear fuel (SNF). Compared to plutonium and uranium extraction process, Korean Pyro technology has relatively excellent proliferation resistance that cannot separate pure plutonium owing to its intrinsic characteristics. Regarding Pyro technology development of ROK, the Bush administration considered that Pyro is not reprocessing under the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership, whereas the Obama administration considered that Pyro is subject to reprocessing. However, the Bush and Obama administrations did not allow ROK to conduct full Pyro activities using SNF, even though ROK had faithfully complied with international nonproliferation obligations. This is because the US nuclear nonproliferation policy to prevent the spread of sensitive technologies, such as enrichment and reprocessing, has a strong effect on ROK, unlike Japan, on a bilateral level beyond the NPT regime for non-proliferation of nuclear weapons.

In South Korea, the exporters of items related to nuclear power generation are diversified. Consequently, there is a risk of illegitimate export by companies failing to recognize the export control system because the awareness about this system for the strategic items among the subcontractors of nuclear power facilities is limited. To prevent illegitimate export of the strategic items, it is necessary to conduct outreach activities regarding the export control system for the related companies. Additionally, the exporters and export license examiners should consider whether an export target is on the Denial List, who may divert the strategic items to weapons of mass destruction. Therefore, the Korea Institute of Nuclear Nonproliferation and Control developed two systems for controlling illegitimate export of the Trigger List items. The first system, Nuclear Industry Information Collection and Analysis System, can gather information about the key nuclear industries in Korea and analyze the dealing of strategic items. The second system, Denied Persons Information Gathering System, can regularly gather information about the denied persons and provide the updated data to the exporters and regulatory examiners. These two systems can be used for outreach activities and export license examination to prevent illegitimate export of the strategic items.

목적 : 4차 산업혁명이 진행됨에 따라 타각적 굴절검사값, 수차 및 동공크기 등을 이용하여 최적의 안경처방값 을 도출해주는 머신러닝(machine learning)을 개발하고자 하였다. 방법: 시력에 영향을 줄 수 있는 안질환 및 전신질환이 없고 안구 수술 이력이 없는 근시안(1,000안)을 대상으로 진행하였다. I-Profilerplus(Zeiss, Berlin, Germany)를 사용하여 타각적 굴절이상도(objective-refraction) 및 안구수차(ocular wavefront-aberration), 동공 크기를 측정하였고, 자각적 굴절이상도(subjective-refraction)는 Visuphor500(Zeiss, Berlin, Germany)를 사용하여 구면 굴절력(S, Diopter), 원주 굴절력(C, Diopter), 난시 축(Ax, °)을 측정하였다. 측정 후, 파이썬(Python, version 3.10)을 이용하여 머신러닝 모델 생성 및 예측 성능을 확인하였다. 결과: 자각적 굴절이상도에서 구면 굴절력에 영향을 미치는 요인은 타각적 구면 굴절력, defocus aberration, spherical aberration, trefoil aberration 순으로 높았고, 원주 굴절력에 영향을 미치는 요인은 타각적 원주 굴 절력, defocus aberration, coma aberration, trefoil aberration 순으로 높았으며, 난시 축은 타각적 난시축만 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다. 구면 굴절력, 원주 굴절력, 난시 축의 자각적 굴절이상도와 머신러닝 예상값은 차이가 없는 것으로 나타났다(p=0.976, 0.948, and 0.349, respectively). 결론 : 자각적 굴절이상도를 예측하는 머신러닝 모델을 생성하였고, 해당 모델의 예측된 값과 자각적 굴절이상 도와 유의한 차이가 없는 것을 통해 예측 정확도를 확인하였으며 앞으로 개인 맞춤형 처방을 위한 정확한 안경처 방값을 도출하는데 기초자료가 될 수 있을 것으로 생각된다.

As various accidents have occurred in underground spaces, we aim to improve the quality validation standards and methods as specified in the Regulations on Producing Integrated Map of Underground Spaces devised by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport of the Republic of Korea for a high-quality integrated map of underground spaces. Specifically, we propose measures to improve the quality assurance of pipeline-type underground facilities, the so-called life lines given their importance for citizens’ daily activities and their highest risk of accident among the 16 types of underground facilities. After implementing quality validation software based on the developed quality validation standards, the adequacy of the validation standards was demonstrated by testing using data from two-dimensional water supply facilities in some areas of Busan, Korea. This paper has great significance in that it has laid the foundation for reducing the time and manpower required for data quality inspection and improving data quality reliability by improving current quality validation standards and developing technologies that can automatically extract errors through software.

Land monitoring involves systematically understanding changes in land use, leveraging spatial information such as satellite imagery and aerial photographs. Recently, the integration of deep learning technologies, notably object detection and semantic segmentation, into land monitoring has spurred active research. This study developed a web service to facilitate such integrations, allowing users to analyze aerial and drone images using CNN models. The web service architecture comprises AI, WEB/WAS, and DB servers and employs three primary deep learning models: DeepLab V3, YOLO, and Rotated Mask R-CNN. Specifically, YOLO offers rapid detection capabilities, Rotated Mask R-CNN excels in detecting rotated objects, while DeepLab V3 provides pixel-wise image classification. The performance of these models fluctuates depending on the quantity and quality of the training data. Anticipated to be integrated into the LX Corporation's operational network and the Land-XI system, this service is expected to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of land monitoring.

목적 : 천연 항균, 항산화 물질인 망고스틴의 크산톤 화합물로 코팅된 콘택트렌즈를 제조하여 안과적 질환 예 방을 위한 기능성 콘택트렌즈의 물리·화학적 특성을 연구하였다. 방법 : 콘택트렌즈를 제조하여 IPN기술을 통해 감마망고스틴을 코팅하였다. 제조된 렌즈를 ISO와 식약처기준 을 참고하여 광투과율, 함수율, 산소투과율(Dk/t), 항균, 항산화성 실험을 진행하였다. 결과 : 감마망고스틴 코팅 콘택트렌즈의 가시광선투과율은 93%이다. 자외선은 70% 이상 청광은 30% 이상 차 단한다. 항균 실험에서는 감마망고스틴 코팅 콘택트렌즈의 항균성이 일반렌즈에 비해 5배 이상 효과 있고, 항산화 는 시험별 17.49, 28.46, 36.99%의 항산화율을 보였다. 결론 : 감마망고스틴으로 코팅된 콘택트렌즈는 UV와 청광의 차단율이 일반렌즈에 비해 매우 뛰어나다. 또한, 일반렌즈에 없는 항균, 항산화 활성을 보여 안과적 질환을 예방할 수 있을 것으로 보인다.

In this study, we focus on the improvement of data quality transmitted from a weather buoy that guides a route of ships. The buoy has an Internet-of-Thing (IoT) including sensors to collect meteorological data and the buoy’s status, and it also has a wireless communication device to send them to the central database in a ground control center and ships nearby. The time interval of data collected by the sensor is irregular, and fault data is often detected. Therefore, this study provides a framework to improve data quality using machine learning models. The normal data pattern is trained by machine learning models, and the trained models detect the fault data from the collected data set of the sensor and adjust them. For determining fault data, interquartile range (IQR) removes the value outside the outlier, and an NGBoost algorithm removes the data above the upper bound and below the lower bound. The removed data is interpolated using NGBoost or long-short term memory (LSTM) algorithm. The performance of the suggested process is evaluated by actual weather buoy data from Korea to improve the quality of ‘AIR_TEMPERATURE’ data by using other data from the same buoy. The performance of our proposed framework has been validated through computational experiments based on real-world data, confirming its suitability for practical applications in real- world scenarios.

Silicon (Si) has the potential to improve plant growth and stress tolerance. The study aimed to explore Si-involving plant responses and molecular characterization of different Si-responsive genes in alfalfa. In this study, the exogenous supplementation of Si enhanced plant growth, and biomass yield. Si-acquisition in alfalfa root and shoot was higher in Si-supplemented compared to silicon deficient (-Si) plants, implying Si-acquisition has beneficial on alfalfa plants. As a consequence, the quantum efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) was significantly increased in silicon-sufficient (+Si) plants. The quantitative gene expression analysis exhibited a significant upregulation of the Lsi1, Lsi2, Lsi3, NIP5;1, and NIP6;1 genes in alfalfa roots, while BOR1, BOR4, NIP2, and NIP3 showed no significant variation in their expression. The MEME results further noticed the association of four motifs related to the major intrinsic protein (MIP). The interaction analysis revealed that NIP5;1 and Lsi1 showed a shared gene network with NIP2, BOR1, and BOR4, and Lsi2, Lsi3 and NIP3-1, respectively. These results suggest that members of the major intrinsic proteins (MIPs) family especially Lsi1, Lsi2, Lsi3, NIP5;1, and NIP6;1 genes helped to pass water and other neutral solutes through the cell membrane and those played significant roles in Si uptake and transport in plants. Together, these insights might be useful for alfalfa breeding and genome editing approaches for alfalfa improvement.

Background: The successful production of superior or transgenic offspring from in vitro produced embryos in cattle relies heavily on the quality of blastocyst stage embryos. In order to enhance the developmental competency of these embryos, a novel culture method was devised. Methods: This study utilized stem cell culture medium (SCM) from hESCs as a supplement within the culture medium for bovine in vitro produced embryos. To gauge the efficacy of this approach, in vitro fertilized embryos were subjected to culture in CR1aa medium enriched with one of three supplements: 0.3% BSA, 10% FBS, or 10% SCM. Results: The blastocyst development and hatching rates of one-cell zygotes cultured in CR1aa medium supplemented with SCM (23.9% and 10.2%) surpassed those cultured in CR1aa medium supplemented with BSA (9.3% and 0.0%) or FBS (3.1% and 0.0%) (p < 0.05). Furthermore, post-zygotic gene activation, cleaved embryos cultured in CR1aa medium supplemented with SCM (57.8% and 34.5%) exhibited notably higher rates (p < 0.05) compared to those cultured with BSA (12.9% and 0.0%) or FBS (45.7% and 22.5%) supplementation. Furthermore, the microinjection of SCM into the cytoplasm or pronucleus of fertilized zygotes resulted in elevated blastocyst development and hatching rates, particularly when the microinjected embryos were subsequently cultured in CR1aa medium supplemented with SCM from the 8-cell embryo stage onwards (p < 0.05), in contrast to those cultured with FBS supplementation. Conclusions: In conclusion, this study conclusively demonstrated that the incorporation of SCM into the culture medium significantly enhances the developmental progress of preimplantation embryos.

Although the proportion of coal-fired power generation is decreasing, efficient operating technology is needed to continuously invest in facilities and reduce maintenance costs until it is abolished. Boilers, one of the main facilities of power plants, operate for a long time in harsh environments of high temperature and high pressure. In addition, damage due to deterioration is likely to occur depending on the fuel and tube material used. It is very important to judge soundness because damage caused by deterioration adversely affects facility operation. Previously, replication method was used to analyze the progress of deterioration. In the replication method, pre-treatment such as chemical treatment is performed on the boiler tube in the field, the area is reproduced by attaching a film, and the replicated film is determined by an expert in the laboratory with an expensive microscope. However, this method involves substantial costs and time requirements, as well as the possibility of human errors. To address these issues, we developed a mobile health assessment system in this research. Since it is detachable and takes images in real time, this system enables swift evaluations across a broad range and facilitates the assessment of preprocessing quality. In addition, it was intended to reduce existing human mistakes by developing a degradation classification algorithm using the merger cluster method.