Emojis and avatars are widely used in online communications, but their emotional conveyance lacks research. This study aims to contribute to the field of emotional expression in computer-mediated communication (CMC) by exploring the effectiveness of emotion recognition, the intensity of perceived emotions, and the perceived preferences for emojis and avatars as emotional expression tools. The following were used as stimuli: 12 photographs from the Yonsei-Face database, 12 Memojis that reflected the photographs, and 6 iOS emojis. The results of this study indicate that emojis outperformed other forms of emotional expression in terms of conveying emotions, intensity, and preference. Indeed, the study findings confirm that emojis remain the dominant form of emotional signals in CMC. In contrast, the study revealed that Memojis were inadequate as an expressive emotional cue. Participants did not perceive Memojis to effectively convey emotions compared with other forms of expression, such as emojis or real human faces. This suggests room for improvement in the design and implementation of Memojis to enhance their effectiveness in accurately conveying intended emotions. Addressing the limitations of Memojis and exploring ways to optimize their emotional expressiveness necessitate further research and development in avatar design.

High-temperature molten salts not only demonstrate exceptional thermal and chemical stability but also offer significant advantages in catalyzing chemical reactions. Consequently, they have garnered attention as a promising medium for next-generation nuclear reactors and a wide range of electrochemical processes. Nevertheless, the challenging experimental conditions in molten salts make applying conventional analytical methods to understand reaction mechanisms a formidable task. This underscores the imperative need for more intuitive approaches to investigate molten salt chemistry. One of the simplest yet potent methods involves real-time visual monitoring of the reaction system as chemical reactions progress. In light of this, we have developed an experimental system enabling real-time visual monitoring of the internal dynamics of molten salt media. This system can capture high-resolution videos and images within molten salts, surpassing existing methodologies. We have applied this system in various electrochemical experiments using the molten LiCl-KCl eutectic salt medium. Among them, this study primarily focuses on two challenging experimental scenarios that became comprehensible through our proposed system’s application: (1) the transpassivation of Zr metal and the agglomeration of potassium hexachlorozirconate (K2ZrCl6) solid salt, and (2) the solvation of electrons during the oxidation of Li metal within the molten LiCl-KCl eutectic salt.

Decontamination is one of the important processes for dismantling nuclear power plants. The purpose of decontamination is to reduce the radiation levels of contaminated nuclear facilities, ensuring the safety of workers involved in decommissioning and minimizing the amount of radioactive waste. In this study, we investigate the reaction mechanisms and their thermodynamic energies of the HyBRID (Hydrazine-Based Reductive participated metal Ion Decontamination) process for decontamination of the primary coolant system of a nuclear power plant. We computed the thermodynamic properties of HyBRID dissolution mechanisms in which corrosion metal oxides accumulated in the primary coolant systems along with radionuclides are dissolved by HyBRID decontamination agents (H2SO4/N2H4/CuSO4). The HyBRID reaction mechanism has been studied using a commercial database (HSC Chemistry®), but Cu ions have been used instead of Cu-hydrazine complexes when calculating reactions due to the absence of thermodynamic properties for Cu-hydrazine complexes. To address this limitation, we supplemented the quantum calculations with Cu-hydrazine complexes using the density functional calculations. It is intended to simulate a more practical reactions by calculating the reactions considering Cu-hydrazine complexes, and to improve understanding of the HyBRID dissolution reactions by qualitatively and quantitatively comparing the reactions without considering the complex formation.

There is a large amount of radioactive waste in waste storage in the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute. Some of the radioactive waste was generated during the dismantling process due to Korea Research Reactor 1&2 and it accounts for 20% of the total waste. Radioactive waste must be reduced by appropriate disposal methods to secure storage space and to reduce disposal costs. Research Reactor wastes include wastes that are below the acceptable criteria for selfdisposal and non-contaminated wastes, so they can be treated as wastes subject to self-disposal through contamination analysis and reclassification. In order to deregulation radioactive waste, it is necessary to meet the self-disposal standards stipulated in the Domestic Nuclear Act and the treatment standards of the Waste Management Act. The main factors of deregulation are surface contaminant, radionuclide activity and dose assessment. To confirm the contamination of waste, surface contaminant and gamma nuclide analysis were performed. After homogenizing the waste sample, it was placed in 1 L Mariinelli beaker. When collecting waste samples, 1 kg per 200 kg of waste was collected. The concentrations of the major radionuclides Co-60, Cs-134, Cs-137, Eu-152, and Eu-154 were analyzed using HPGe detector. To evaluate radiation dose, various computational programs were used. A dose assessment was performed with the analyzed nuclide concentration. The concentrations of representative nuclides satisfied the deregulation acceptance criteria and the results of the dose assessment corresponding to self-disposal method was also satisfied. Based on this results, KAERI submitted the report on waste self-disposal plan to obtain approval. After final approval, Research Reactor waste is to be incinerated and incineration ash is to be buried in the designated place. Some metallic waste has been recycled. In this study, the suitability of deregulation for self-disposal was confirmed through the evaluation of the surface contaminant analysis, radionuclide concentration analysis and dose assessment.

This paper describes the development and operation of an autonomous robotic system designed for pyroprocess automation. The unique challenges of pyroprocess automation, such as the need for a highly dry atmosphere to handle materials like chloride, are addressed through this system. For the experiments, a specialized dehumidifier and dry mock-up facility were designed to produce dry air condition. Performances of dry air conditioning for the various simulated situations were evaluated, including assessing worker access within a mock-up to determine the system’s feasibility. To enable automation, containers used for processing materials were modified to fit the gripper system of the gantry robot. The loading and unloading of materials in each equipment were automated to connect them with the robotic system. This gantry robot primarily utilized macro motions to approach waypoints containing process materials, reducing the need for precise approach motions. Its tapered jaw design allowed it to grip target objects even with imperfect positioning. The robot’s motions were programmed initially using a robot simulator for positioning and motion planning, and real-world accuracy was tested in a dry mock-up facility using the OPC platform. Finally, the paper discusses the potential application of XR (eXtended Reality) technology in this context, which could enhance the robot’s operation and provide valuable insights into the automation process. Further analysis of XR technology’s feasibility and benefits for this specific pyroprocess automation system are presented.

As part of strengthening pyro safety measures, the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute is developing LIBS (Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy) application technology to analyze molten salt components in electrolytic recovery device in real time. LIBS performs qualitative and quantitative analysis by analyzing the spectrum of energy emitted by atomizing and ionizing elements on the surface of a salt sample with a high-focused laser. Since salt easily corrodes metal, it must be managed in an environment with a dew point of -40°C or lower. In this study, we designed and manufactured a device that places a rod-type sampling stick on a mounting base, automatically moves it to the optimal measurement position for LIBS, and retrieves the sample. Its characteristics are as follows. First, LIBS is stationary and does not move. Second, the sample stick is placed on a mounting base and can rotate 360 degrees. Third, according to the command, the sample stick automatically moves to the optimal measurement position of LIBS with three degrees of freedom (X, Y, Z). Fourth, the salt attached to the sampling stick is recovered for chemical analysis by driving the gripper mounted at the bottom of the Z axis, Z axis, and rotation axis (R). The X, Y, and Z movement distances of this device are each 100 mm, rotation is 360 degrees, grip stroke is 50 mm, and position accuracy is ±20 m. Once the performance test of the automated salt sample analysis device is completed, it will be installed in a dry room with a dew point of - 40°C or lower. Samples will be collected remotely in connection with the electrolytic recovery device and gantry robot built in the dry room. We plan to conduct experiments to seat the sample stick. Ultimately, we plan to conduct comprehensive experiments in conjunction with LIBS.

A survey of plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) was carried out in medicinal crop cultivated fields from July to August in 2023. Three-leaf ladybell, Adenophora triphylla var. japonica is a highly valued medicinal plant that is used to treat or prevent bronchitis, cough, cancer, and obesity in Korea. A. triphylla plants with small root-galls were observed in a field of Yeongju Agricultural Technology Center, which were identified as a root-knot nematode. Additional morphological and molecular analyses studies were performed and identified as Meloidogyne hapla, Northern root-knot nematode. Population densities of M. hapla ranged from 20~30 nematodes per 100 cm3 of soil. M. hapla was detected at lower densities in soil compared to other infected host crops, but there are concerns about damage to M. hapla since A. triphylla is cultivated for more than two years once planted. Our results indicate that A. triphylla roots damage by M. hapla were identifed, it is necessary to prepare control methods such as registration of applicable nematicides and crop rotation.

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.

In this study, the Extended Theory of Planned Behavior (ETPB) was applied to analyze consumers’ intention to purchase meal kits. The perception of ESG management practiced by companies was used as a moderating variable to investigate its influence and moderating effects between each variable. An online survey was conducted over 4 days in January 2023 on consumers aged 20 years or older who had purchased meal kits within 6 months. Hypotheses were tested using IBM SPSS Statistics 22.0 and AMOS 24.0 programs with an effective sample size of 324 copies (100%). Attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, perceived sustainable package, and price sensitivity of the theory of planned behavior toward meal kit products had a significant positive effect on purchase intention, and all research hypotheses were accepted. The moderating effect of consumers' perceptions of ESG management practiced by companies had a positive and significant effect on attitude and perceived behavioral control.

딥러닝(DL: Deep Learning)의 발전으로 오늘날 다양한 분야에서 AI 모델이 만들어지고 사용되고 있다. 오늘날, 컴퓨터의 발전과 DL 알고리즘의 발전에 의해, DL 기반 AI 모델은 수많은 데이터를 학습하고 스스로 규칙을 찾을 수 있다. DeepMind의 Alphago는 학습 데이터 만으로 게임의 규칙을 스스로 판단하고 고수준의 게임 플 레이를 할 수 있다는 가능성을 보여준다. 이런 다양한 DL 알고리즘이 게임 분야에 적용되고 있지만, 스포츠 게임 같이 팀의 전술과 개인 플레이가 공존하는 분야에서는 단일 AI 모델만으로 성공적인 플레이를 이끌어 내기에는 한계가 존재한다. 오늘날, 고품질의 스포츠 게임은 쉽게 접할 수 있다. 하지만, 게임 AI 연구자들이 이런 고품질의 스포츠 게임에 맞는 AI 모델을 개발하기 위해서는 게임 코드 소스를 받거나 게임 회사에서 테 스트용 시뮬레이터를 제공해줘야만 할 수 있다. 게임 AI 연구자들이 활발한 스포츠 게임 분야의 AI 모델을 개 발하기 위해서는 스포츠 게임의 규칙과 특징이 반영되고 접근하기 쉬운 테스트 환경(Test Environment)이 필요 하다. 본 논문에서는 팀의 전술과 개인 플레이가 중요한 스포츠 게임 분야에서 AI 모델을 만들고 테스트할 수 있는 규칙기반 축구 게임 프레임워크를 제안한다.

This research was conducted to analyze the cultivation performance and meteorological data of winter rye in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, and Daegu for 11 years. The objective was to compare the growth and yield of domestically cultivated Korean rye cultivar “Gogu” and identify the factors influencing them, to determine suitable cultivation areas for Korean rye cultivar in the country. The results of the study showed that both Daegu and Suwon regions possess favorable climatic conditions for winter rye cultivation, with Suwon exhibiting a superior moisture supply compared to Daegu. Furthermore, the analysis of climate suitability revealed that rainfall days and precipitation were significant factors affecting rye cultivation. Through correlation and principal component analysis, the research evaluated the interrelationship between climate, cultivation factors, and winter rye crop performance, as well as identified variations among winter rye cultivation regions. This study provides valuable insights and information for winter rye cultivation in the country, thereby assisting in the decision-making process for selecting optimal cultivation areas.

In the event of a radioactive release, it is essential to quickly detect and locate the source of the release, as well as track the movement of the plume to assess the potential impact on public health and safety. Fixed monitoring posts are limited in their ability to provide a complete picture of the radiation distribution, and the information they provide may not be available in real-time. This is why other types of monitoring systems, such as mobile monitoring, aerial monitoring, and personal dosimeters, are also used in emergency situations to complement the information provided by fixed monitoring posts. Also, the monitoring system can be improved by using the Kriging technique, which is one of the interpolation methods, to predict the radiation dose in the relevant districts. This can be achieved by utilizing both the GPS information and the radiation dose measured at a particular point. The Kriging method involves estimating the value between different measurement points by considering the distance between them. The model used GPS and radiation data that were measured around the Hanbit NPP. The data were collected using a radiation measuring detector on a bus that traveled around the NPP area at 2-second intervals for one day. From the collected data, 200 data points were randomly selected for analysis, excluding the data measured at the bus garage out of a total of 16,550 data points. The average dose of the daily measurement data was 117.94 nSv/h, and the average dose of the 200 randomly extracted data was 119.17 nSv/h. The GPS and radiation dose data were utilized to predict the radiation dose around the Yeonggwang area where the Hanbit NPP is located. In the event of an abnormal release of radioactive material, it can be difficult to accurately determine the dose unless a monitoring measurement point is present. This can delay the rapid evacuation of residents during an emergency situation. By utilizing the Kriging model to make predictions, it is anticipated that more accurate dose predictions can be generated, particularly during accident scenarios. This can aid in the development of appropriate resident protection measures.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) entails independent decision-making for the safety supervision of civil nuclear facilities. To evaluate and review the safety of nuclear facilities, the national regulatory body usually consults independent institutions or external committees. Technical Support Organizations (TSOs) include national laboratories, research institutions, and consulting organizations. Support from professional organizations in other countries may also be required occasionally. Most of the world’s major nuclear power countries adopt an independent nuclear safety supervision model. Accordingly, China has continuously improved upon the construction of such a system by establishing the National Nuclear Safety Administration (NNSA) as the decision-making department for nuclear and radiation safety supervision, six regional safety supervision stations, the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Center (NSC), a nuclear safety expert committee, and the National Nuclear and Radiation Safety Supervision Technology R&D Base, which serves as the test, verification, and R&D platform for providing consultation and technical support. An R&D system, however, remains to be formed. Future endeavors must focus on improving the technical support capacity of these systems. As an enhancement from institutional independence to capability independence is necessary for ensuring the independence of China’s nuclear safety regulatory institution, its regulatory capacity must be improved in the future.