Background: Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) is a prominent technology that can preserve superior genetic traits of animals and expand the population in a short time. Hematological characters and endocrine profiles are important elements that demonstrate the stability of the physiological state of cloned animals. To date, several studies regarding cloned camels with superior genes have been conducted. However, detailed hemato-physiological assessments to prove that cloned camels are physiologically normal are limited. In this study, We evaluated the hemato-physiological characteristics of cloned male and female dromedary camels (Camelus dromedaries). Methods: Therefore, we analyzed variations in hematological characteristics and endocrine profiles between cloned and non-cloned age-matched male and female dromedary camels (Camelus dromedaries ). Two groups each of male and female cloned and non-cloned camels were monitored to investigate the differences in hemato-physiological characteristics. Results: All the animals were evaluated by performing complete blood count (CBC), serum chemistry, and endocrinological tests. We found no significant difference between the cloned and non-cloned camels. Furthermore, the blood chemistry and endocrine profiles in male and female camels before maturity were similar. Conclusions: These results suggest that cloned and non-cloned camels have similar hematological characteristics and endocrine parameters.

The mobility of radionuclides in the subsurface environment is governed by a interaction of radioactivity characteristics and geochemical conditions with adsorption reactions playing a critical role. This study investigates the characteristics and mechanisms of radionuclides adsorption on site media in viewpoint of nuclear safety, particularly focusing on the potential effect of seawater infiltration in coastal site near nuclear power plant. Seawater intrusion alters the chemistry in groundwater, including parameters such as pH, redox potential, and ionic strength, thereby affecting the behavior of radionuclides. To assess the safety of site near nuclear power plant and the environmental implications of nuclide leakage, this research conducted various experiments to evaluate the behavior of radionuclides in the subsurface environment. High distribution coefficients (50-2,500 ml/g) were observed at 10 mg/L Co, with montmorillonite > hydrobiotite > illite > kaolinite. It decreased with competing cations (Ca2+) and was found to decrease significantly by 90% with a decrease in pH to 4. It is believed that the adsorption capacity of cationic radionuclides decreases significantly as the clay mineral surface becomes less negatively charged. For Cs, the distribution coefficient (180-560 ml/g) was higher for montmorillonite > hydrobiotite > illite > kaolinite. Compared to Co, it was found to be less influenced by pH and more influenced by competing cations. For Sr, the distribution coefficient (100-380 ml/g) was higher in the order of hydrobiotite > montmorillonite > illite > kaolinite. Compared to Cs, it was found to be less affected by pH and also less affected by the effect of competing cations compared to Cs. Seawater samples from Gampo and Uljin site near Nuclear Power Plant in Korea were analyzed to determine their chemical composition, which was subsequently used in adsorption experiments. Additionally, the seawater-infiltrated groundwater was synthesized in laboratory according to previous literature. The study focused on the adsorption and behavior of three key radionuclides such as cesium, strontium, and cobalt onto four low permeability media (clay minerals) such as kaolinite, illite, hydrobiotite, and montmorillonite known for their high adsorption capacity at a site of nuclear power plant. At concentrations of 5 and 10 mg/L, the adsorption coefficients followed the order of cobalt > cesium > strontium for each radionuclide. Notably, the distribution coefficient (Kd) values exhibited higher values in seawater-infiltrated groundwater environments compared to seawater with relatively high ionic strength. Cobalt exhibited a substantial adsorption coefficient, with a marked decrease in Kd values in seawater conditions due to elevated ionic strength. In contrast, cesium displayed less dependency on seawater compared to other radionuclides, suggesting distinct adsorption mechanisms, possibly involving fractured edge sites (FES) in clay. Strontium exhibited a significant reduction in adsorption in seawater compared to groundwater in all Kd sorption experiments. The adsorption data of cobalt, cesium, and strontium on clay minerals in contact with seawater and seawater-infiltrated solutions offer valuable insights for assessing radioactive contamination of groundwater beneath coastal site near nuclear power plant sites. This research provides a foundation for enhancing the safety assessment protocols of nuclear power plant sites, considering the potential effects of seawater infiltration on radionuclide behavior in the subsurface environment.

A 9-year-old, intact female, Pungsan dog was referred for purulent vaginal discharge and depression. Abdominal radiographs revealed gas-filled and soft tissue opacity tubular structures in the mid to caudal abdomen. On ultrasonography, fluid-filled uterus and cervix accompanied by hyperechoic foci and reverberation artifacts were identified. Multiple hyperechoic foci were found within the uterine wall, indicating gas content. Escherichia coli was isolated from aerobic and anaerobic bacterial cultures. Radiological differential diagnosis of tubular shaped, dilated gas-filled structure, and gas in the wall of the structure should consider emphysematous pyometra with endometrial pneumatosis in intact female dogs with vulvar discharge.

As the 4th industrial revolution emerges, the implementation of smart factories are essential in the manufacturing industry. However, 80% of small and medium-sized enterprises that have introduced smart factories remain at the basic level. In addition, in root industries such as injection molding, PLC and HMI software are used to implement functions that simply show operation data aggregated by facilities in real time. This has limitations for managers to make decisions related to product production other than viewing data. This study presents a method for upgrading the level of smart factories to suit the reality of small and medium-sized enterprises. By monitoring the data collected from the facility, it is possible to determine whether there is an abnormal situation by proposing an appropriate algorithm for meaningful decision-making, and an alarm sounds when the process is out of control. In this study, the function of HMI has been expanded to check the failure frequency rate, facility time operation rate, average time between failures, and average time between failures based on facility operation signals. For the injection molding industry, an HMI prototype including the extended function proposed in this study was implemented. This is expected to provide a foundation for SMEs that do not have sufficient IT capabilities to advance to the middle level of smart factories without making large investments.

Cryopreservation of porcine ovarian tissue by vitrification method is a promising approach to preserve genetic materials for future use. However, information is not enough and technology still remains in a challenge stage in pig. Therefore, the objective of present study was to determine possibility of vitrification method to cryopreserve porcine ovarian tissue and to confirm an occurrence of cryoinjuries. Briefly, cryoinjuries and apoptosis patterns in vitrified-warmed ovarian tissue were examined by histological evaluation and TUNEL assay respectively. In results, a damaged morphology of oocytes was detected among groups and the rate was significantly (p < 0.05) lower in vitrification group (25.8%) than freezing control group (67.7%), while fresh control group (6.6%) showed significantly (p < 0.05) lower than both groups. In addition, cryoinjury that form a wave pattern of tissues around follicles was found in the frozen control group, but not in the fresh control group as well as in the vitrification group. Apoptotic cells in follicle was observed only in freezing control group while no apoptotic cell was found in both fresh control and vitrification. Similarly, apoptotic patterns of tissues not in follicle were comparable between fresh control and vitrification groups while freezing control group showed increased tendency. Conclusively, it was confirmed that vitrification method has a prevention effect against cryoinjury and this method could be an alternative approach for cryopreservation of genetic material in pigs. Further study is needed to examine the viability of oocytes derived from vitrified-warmed ovarian tissue.

It is essential to provide a safe working environment for radiation workers. At a research reactor decommissioning site in Seoul (KRR1 & KRR2), radioactive waste drum disposal work is in progress. Before performing radiation work, it is necessary to determine the radioactivity of the waste drum to ensure safety. In this reason, we conducted a study to determine the detection efficiency of waste drums using the EXVol code. Determination of the full energy absorption peak efficiency (detection efficiency) is one of the important processes of the gamma-ray activation analysis. For the large voluminous gamma-ray sources like waste drum, the geometrical and attenuation effect should be considered. EXVol (Efficiency calculator for eXtended Voluminous source) code is a detection efficiency calculation code using the effective solid angle method. EXVol can calculate both coaxial and asymmetric structure. In addition, the introduction of a collimator made it possible to reduce the radiation intensity of a high radiation source. And it is possible to determine the precise detection efficiency according to the energy of a gamma ray at a specific position of the volume source. To verify the performance of the EXVol, a high resolution gamma spectroscopy system was constructed and measurement and analysis were performed. Measurements were performed on coaxial, asymmetric and collimated structures with standard point source, standard 1 L liquid volume source and HPGe detector. The measured results were compared with the calculation results of EXVol. The relative deviation of the measurement and calculation in the coaxial and asymmetric structures was 10%, and that of the collimation structure was 20%. Results can be available in analysis of waste drums’ radioactivity determination at a specific position.