During the operation of a nuclear power plant (NPP), the generation of radioactive waste, including dry active waste (DAW), concentrates, spent resin, and filters, mandates the implementation of appropriate disposal methods to adhere to Korea’s waste acceptance criteria (WAC). In this context, this study investigates the potential use of polymer concrete (PC) as a high-integrity container (HIC) material for solidifying and packaging these waste materials. PC is a versatile composite material comprising binding polymers, aggregates, and additives, known for its exceptional strength and chemical stability. A comprehensive analysis of PC’s long-term integrity was conducted in this study. First, its compressive strength, which is crucial for ensuring the structural stability of HICs over extended periods, was evaluated. Subsequently, the resilience of PC was tested under various stress conditions, including biological, radiological, thermal, and chemical stressors. The findings of this study indicate that PC exhibits remarkable long-term properties, demonstrating exceptional stability even when subjected to diverse stressors. The results therefore underscore the potential viability of PC as a reliable material for constructing high-integrity containers, thus contributing to the safe and sustainable management of radioactive waste in NPPs.

In this study, we investigate the effect of Al/N source ratios and growth rates on the growth and structural properties of AlN films on c-plane sapphires by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy. Both growth rates and Al/N ratios affect crystal qualities of AlN films. The full width at half maximum (FWHM) values of (1015) X-ray rocking curves (XRCs) change from 0.22 to 0.31° with changing of the Al/N ratios, but the curves of (0002) XRCs change from 0.04 to 0.45° with changing of the Al/N ratios. This means that structural deformation due to dislocations is slightly affected by the Al/N ratio in the (1015) XRCs but affected strongly for the (0002) XRCs. From the viewpoint of growth rate, the AlN films with high growth rate (HGR) show better crystal quality than the low growth rate (LGR) films overall, as shown by the FWHM values of the (0002) and (1015) XRCs. Based on cross-sectional transmission electron microscope observation, the HGR sample with an Al/N ratio of 3.1 shows more edge dislocations than there are screw and mixed dislocations in the LGR sample with Al/N ratio of 3.5.

An investigation on the habitation of Callipogon relictus Semenov was carried out in Gwangneung forest, Korea and Ussurisky nature reserve, Russia. During the investigation period (2007–2018), a total of 25 emergence holes, 10 pupal chambers, 10 adults, and two larvae of C. relictus were identified in Gwangneung forest. In this presentation, we provide biological information on habitation of C. relictus in Gwangneung forest by comparison and combination of survey results in Ussurisky nature reserve, in 2015 and 2018. In addition, the distribution range of C. relictus is also reviewed in the Korean Peninsula with a new location.

Background : Aronia melanocarpa ‘Viking’ known as black chokeberry, is a species of rosaceae family. Chokeberry is high in flavonoid/anti-oxidants as well as high in vitamins and minerals. Black chokeberry contains high amount of polyphenols, especially anthocyanins. Methods and Results : The aim of this study is to figure out the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory property of Aronia melanocarpa ‘Viking’ (AMV) for both water and ethanol extract. The extracts have been tested to assess the 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2ʹ-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and nitrite scavenging activity. We have also evaluated the reducing power activity of AMV. AMV extracts showed a good radical scavenging activity on DPPH and ABTS free radical. The DPPH radical scavenging activity ranges from 20.59% - 80.12% and 26.12% - 95.59% for water and ethanol extract, respectively. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents have also been estimated in this study. Moreover, to appraise the anti-inflammation property we examined cell viability and inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) production by using the lipopolysaccharide-treated RAW 264.7 macrophage cell line. The extracts showed no cytotoxic effects on RAW 264.7 cells. Conclusion : According to the results, we suggest AMV contains noticeable antioxidant properties and could be source of natural antioxidant substances.

Background : The interests in the consumption of red pepper (Capsicum annum L.) is, to a large extent due to its content of bioactive compounds and their importance as dietary antioxidants and Red pepper is commonly used as food material and a broad variety of medicinal applications, Therefore, we investigated the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of red pepper. Methods and Results : This present study was evaluated the effect of red pepper ethanol and distilled water extracts on antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. Antioxidant activity of the extracts were evaluated by the assay of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and reducing power, along with the determination of total phenolic and flavonoid contents. The ethanol and the water extracts showed strong antioxidant activity by the testing methods. Total phenol content was high in ethanol extract, whereas total flavonoid content was high in water extract. The red pepper extract exhibited high scavenging activity against DPPH radicals and showed high reducing power. In vitro cytotoxic assay, red pepper extract showed noncytotoxic effect in the RAW 264.7 cells with or without LPS. The level of nitric oxide (NO) production induced by LPS decreased in a dose-dependent manner (0.25 ㎍/ ㎖ – 1.0 ㎎/㎖). Proinfllamatory cytokine level including TNF-ɑ and IL-6 decresed in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells by treating red pepper extracts. Conclusion : These results indicate that the ethanol and distilled water extracts of red pepper can be used as an anti-proliferative therapeutic agent or functional food.

Background: There is an increasing surplus of chestnut that are abandoned due to their failure to meet customer awareness. Thus, we investigated the anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects of chestnut (Castanea crenata) inner shell extracts in hepatocarcinoma HepG2 cells as a potential source of anti-cancer materials. Methods and Results: Distilled water extract (CI-W) and ethanol extract (CI-E) were prepared from chestnut inner shell and evaluated their anti-proliferative effects in vitro. Each extract significantly decreased the cell viability of HepG2 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Indeed, the morphology of HepG2 cells treated with CI-W or CI-D was distorted to shrunken cell masses. Furthermore, it was revealed that their extracts induced cell death as evidenced by increased reactive oxygen species (ROS), formation of apoptotic body and condensation. In addition, Their extracts clearly modulated the down regulated of Bcl-2 (anti-apoptoic)/ Bax (pro-apoptotic) family and cleaved caspase-3 as an effector caspase in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion: These results indicate that the extracts of chestnut inner shell can be used as an anti-proliferative therapeutic agent or functional food.

Background: Hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar, is a serious problem in diabetes. Hyperglycemia induces the generation of free radicals which disrupts insulin signaling and result in insulin resistance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant and hypoglycemic potentials of LBO-1 mixture. Methods and Results: To evaluate antioxidant effect of LBO-1 mixture, DPPH, ABTS and reducing power were performed. LBO-1 mixture scavenged DPPH free radicals and ABTS radicals in a dose-dependent manner. The total phenolic contents of LBO-1 mixture was determined by a regression equation using a calibration curve by gallic acid equivalents. The obtained total phenolic contents were 65.90 ± 0.52 ㎎/g. Phenolic components of plant extracts that can scavenge free radicals. In addition, we evaluated effects of LBO-1 mixture on glucose production in high glucose-induced HepG2 hepatocytes. LBO-1 mixture decreased glucose levels in cultured medium and it down regulated Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) levels which is an enzyme used in the metabolic pathway of gluconeogenesis. Conclusion: These results indicate that the LBO-1 mixture can be used as hypoglycemic agent.

Background : Capsaicin is an active component of chili peppers, which are plants belonging to the genus Capsicum. Research reported capsaicin has antioxidant and anti-inflamatory activity and osteoclast lineages are very susceptible to oxidative stress, as osteoclasts are produced by increased-generation of intracellular ROS and osteoclasts are activated by ROS. Therefore, our study was evaluated the influence of intracellular oxidative stress such as increased ROS level on RANKL-mediated osteoclast differenciation. Methods and Results : Capsaicin showed a good free radical scavenging activity at in-vitro antioxidant activity. The inhibitory effect of osteoclast differentiation on capsaicin was confirmed. Osteoclast differentiation from murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells was induced by RANKL. The effect of capsaicin on receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclast differentiation was demonstrated using a tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) assay and TRAP staining. Capsaicin showed an inhibitory effect on TRAP activity. The TRAP staining showed that the number of TRAP positive osteoclasts was reduced in capsaicin-treated cells. Conclusion : Capsaicin revealed an inhibitory effect in osteoclast differentiation induced by RANKL. These results suggest that capsaicin may have a beneficial effect for the prevention or treatment of osteoclast caused bone diseases such as osteoporosis.