Cryopreservation is used for blastocyst preservation of most mammalian embryos and is an important technique for breeding. We aimed to compare the efficiency of the cryopreservation method using the standard Cryotop device and the ReproCarrier device, a domestic product manufactured in Korea. The efficacy of the two devices was analyzed based on the survival rate, intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and apoptosis of the vitrified bovine blastocysts. The survival rates of the vitrified-warmed blastocysts were similar between the ReproCarrier group (58.4 ± 17.7%) and Cryotop group (59.9 ± 14.1%). Intracellular ROS levels and apoptotic index were determined by DCFDA staining and TUNEL assay. Changes in intracellular ROS levels, number of total nuclei, and cellular apoptosis of vitrified blastocysts after cryopreservation were not significantly different between the two groups. These results indicate that the ReproCarrier device method is as effective as the standard Cryotop method for vitrification of bovine blastocysts in vitro.

Radioisotope ADME (RI-ADME) studies are enabling visualization of the biodistribution in molecular imaging. We applied RI-ADME to investigate the tumor targeting capacity and biodistribution of trastuzumab-monomethyl auristatin F (LCB14-0110) in JIMT-1 xenograft mice and healthy marmoset. The LCB14-0110 was labelled with 125I. 125I-LCB14-0110 was intravenously administered to the animals. The gamma-count and single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) was conducted for biodistributioon and bioimaging of the biopharmaceutics. Tumor uptake in xenograft mice was highest at three-day after 125I-LCB14-0110 administration in both the biodistribution and SPECT/CT bioimaging. Alternatively, blood and organ tissues showed gradual decrease in radioactivity over time. In marmosets, radioactivity in all organ tissues rapidly reduced and no specific targeting of organs was observed in the biodistribution study and SPECT/CT imaging. Hence, 125ILCB14- 0110 demonstrated effective tumor targeting capacity and accumulated in JIMT-1 cell-bearing mice. However, accumulation did not occur in the organs of xenograft mice. Additionally, marmosets showed rapidly decrease in radioactivity throughout the entire body without accumulation in the normal organs. We also confirmed that the drug distribution was similar in normal organs between the two experimental animal species except spleen. Therefore, 125I is expected to be a useful tool in the study of RI-ADME in biopharmaceuticals through minimal antibody modification.

After the permanent shutdown of K1 in 2017, decommissioning processes have attracted great attention. According to the current decommissioning roadmap, the dismantling of the activated components of K1 may start in 2026, following the removal of its spent fuel. Since the reactor vessel (RV) and reactor vessel internal (RVI) of K1 contain massive components and are relatively highly activated, their decommissioning process should be conducted carefully in terms of radiological and industrial safety. For achieving maximum efficiency of nuclear waste management processes for K1, we present activation analysis of the segmentation process and waste classification of the RV and RVI components of K1. For RVI, the active fuel regions and some parts of the upper and lower active regions are classified as intermediate-level waste (ILW), while other components are classified as low-level waste (LLW). Due to the RVI’s complex structure and high activation, we suggest various underwater segmentation techniques which are expected to reduce radiation exposure and generate approximately nine ILW and nineteen very low level waste (VLLW)/LLW packages. For RV, the active fuel region and other components are classified as LLW, VLLW, and clearance waste (CW). In this case, we suggest in-situ remote segmentation in air, which is expected to generate approximately forty-two VLLW/LLW packages.

본 연구는 지속가능한 유기농업의 실천을 위하여 국내 작부체계와 농업환경에 적합한 한국형 현장적용 기법을 구축하고자 수행하였다. 본 연구의 기본 개념은‘Natural Enemy in First (NE가 먼저)’로 해충 발생시기의 예찰 없이 주 작물을 정식함과 동시에 천적과 선발한 보조식물을 혼합 적용해서 해충발생 이전에 천적을 포장에 먼저 정착시키는 생물적 방제기법이다. 미끌애꽃노린재 서식처로 Portulaca sp.를, 콜레마니진디벌 서식처로 옥수수를 선발하여 시설 토마토에서 방제효과를 확인하였다. 미끌애꽃노린재 단독처리와 천적 서식처(Portulaca sp.) 혼합처리구에서 관행방제 처리구(약제처리)대비, 각각 82%, 73%의 총채벌레 밀도 억제 효과를 확인할 수 있었다. 진딧물의 경우, 모든 처리구에서 3줄기 당 평균 0.5마리 이하의 낮은 밀도를 유지하였다.

The Semi-Rigid Pavement (SRP) mixture is composed of Gap Graded Asphalt (GGA) mixture (air void = 20~28%) and cement paste. By inserting cement paste into voids in GGA mixture, SRP can provide not only flexibility but also rigidity characteristics on pavement performance. SRP can mitigate pavement surface temperature increase during summer session, provide better smoothness and mitigate rutting distress due to heavy weight vehicles, successfully. In Japan, SRP is widely applied in cross section area, heavy vehicle parking lot and highway ticketing booth in highway network system. In South Korea, SRP was introduced and applied since 2005. However, still more researches and studies are needed to understand material characteristics and improve performance of SRP. Moreover, the current SRP system in South Korea merely follows and adapts the aggregate gradation information from Japan which needs to be amended and customized into original material (i.e. aggregate, binder and cement) situation of South Korea. In this paper, SRP system based on Stone Mastic Asphalt (SMA) mixture design originated from Korea Expressway Corporation (KEC) and enhanced cement paste with addition of fly-ash and slags was developed. In addition, an optimized proportion between asphalt mixture air voids and cement paste amount with consideration of economic benefit was introduced. Based on field evaluation process it can be said that the newly developed SRP system can successfully adapted not only in static site on highway: parking lots or ticketing booth, but also in dynamic site on highway: driving and wheel path.

The composition of the deicer sprayed on the highway is spreading over the highway by the scattering or snow removal activity, or car movement and consequently affecting the vegetation environment around the highway. These are the cause of the damage of fruit trees and crops, and also the cause of corrosion of highway structures. The goal of this study is to estimate the detected range of deicer components from a highway. The concentration of the deicer components in gauze and soil were investigated according to the crossing distance from the highway. The data collected were then used to estimate the concentration range of deicer components in a rage of distance up to 100 m from the highway where the deicer was spread. The sample time and weight of gauze were measured before and after installation, and the soil was collected at more than three points in parallel with the highway at the gauze installation point. The components in gauze and soil were investigated in addition to the deicer components (Ca2+, Na+, Cl-) as well as Mg2+ and K+. As Ca2+ and Cl- components of deicer were affected by agricultural use, Na+ component was selected as a tracer and further SAR (Sodium Adsorption Ratio) of soil was analyzed to examine the degree of influence on vegetation indirectly. The gauze concentration was evaluated by the concentration of the deicer ingredient at the background concentration of the blank gauze. The total amount of the deicer sprayed in the study road for 4 months (winter season) was about 93 ton/km. In the gauze test, the spread of the deicer was detected at a distance of 100 m in study area, but the concentration of the deicer in the gauze by distance decreased rapidly within 10 m from the highway. And concentration of the deicer components in gauze and soil came down after rainy season (August ~ Sep.). The results showed that the components of the deicer could be spread widely by the wind. The effective range of the deicer on vegetation based on SAR in soil was estimated to be less than 20 m from the highway. This study examines the concentration changes of the deicer components in gauze and soils and shows that deicer components sprayed on the highway are accumulated and moved over time by wind, snow removal, terrain, water system and land use around the highway.

It is noted that Dioscorea quinqueloba is a medicinal herb that is widely used to treat cardiovascular disease and is assessed as useful to treat other various medical conditions. The immunopotentiating effects of the protein extract (DQP-1) from Dioscorea quinqueloba were thus formally investigated in vivo under incident of cold stress. In this case study, the spleen and thymus weight in mice was shown to have decreased after a measured exposure to cold stress, while the adrenal gland weight in the mice was shown to have increased. The systematic oral administration of DQP-1 significantly recovered the weight loss of the spleen and suppressed the adrenal gland hypertrophy during the association with cold stress. Additionally, the DQP-1 also restored the ascorbic acid level in the adrenal gland reduced after cold stress. The cold stress exposure lowered the percentage of CD4+ and CD8+ cells in the mouse thymus as determined by the flow cytometric analysis, as well as the levels of some serum immunological cytokines(interleukin-2, interleukin-12, and interferon-γ) in the studied mice. The resulting identified weakened immunity caused by cold stress was also recovered by a treatment with DQP-1. The DQP-1 significantly suppressed the formation of serum enzymes of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and lactate dehydrogenase, which were systematically elevated during the cold stress episode. These results indicate that DQP-1 can improve immunity in mice that are characteristically weakened under stress.

The tobacco cutworm, Spodoptera litura(Fabricius) is serious pest that hurts tomato crops, actives long time of the year. Without pesticide applications, sex pheromone delta traps through experiment first and second half setting during cultural seasons in glasshouse and greenhouse. We investigated captured number of S. litura both in and out side of the two type of tomato cultivated greenhouse. As a result of investigation, captured number of S. litura showed the wave and three high peak typed graph throughout 10 months experiment. First time expression of S. litura was late April in outside installed traps and after that occurrence rate increased gradually until late August. In september, the rate decreased remarkably to middle November in both in and out side treated traps. The result also expressed that captured average number of S. litura in inside of the greenhouse were 8~10 units, and were 15~20units in outside treated traps. Simultaneous installation of internal and external sex pheromone traps succeeded in eliminating a considerable number of S. litura male moths, and the number of larvae was expected to be considerably reduced. Consequently in the experiment, captured male number of S. litura were about 220 units in outside, on the other about 80 of S. litura captured in inside installed traps.