Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) has produced weapon-grade plutonium in a graphite-moderated experimental reactor at the Yongbyon nuclear facilities. The amount of plutonium produced can be estimated using the Graphite Isotope Ratio Method (GIRM), even without considering specific operational histories. However, the result depends to some degree on the operational cycle length. Moreover, an optimal cycle length can maximize the number of nuclear weapons made from the plutonium produced. For conservatism, it should be assumed that the target reactor was operated with an optimal cycle length. This study investigated the optimal cycle length using which the Calder Hall MAGNOX reactor can achieve the maximum annual production of nuclear weapons. The results show that lower enrichment fuel produced a greater number of critical plutonium spheres with a shorter optimal cycle length. Specifically, depleted uranium (0.69wt%) produced 5.561 critical plutonium spheres annually with optimal cycle lengths of 251 effective full power days. This research is crucial for understanding DPRK’s potential for nuclear weapon production and highlights the importance of reactor operational strategy in maximizing the production of weapons-grade plutonium in MAGNOX reactors.

Background: Stroke patients have multiple disorders, but most have problems with balance and gait. Post-stroke rehabilitation exercise has been shown to be very important for functional recovery. Objectives: To systematically review and meta-analyze the effects of sling exercise (SE) on patients with stroke in studies published in Korea. Design: Meta-analysis. Methods: Five databases, namely, RISS, KISS, NDSL, DBpia and Earticle, were used to collect articles on vibration. Keywords such as “Stroke,” “Hemiplegia,” “Sling,” and “Sling Exercise” were used in the search for published articles. Interventions and comparisons were SE and other exercise (OE). Outcome measures were berg balance scale (BBS) and timed up and go (TUG). Consequently, eight studies were selected in the second screening using meta-analyses. Results: Based on the results of the meta-analysis, SE was effective for BBS in the comparison of SE and OE [2.71, 95% CI (1.42, 4.01)]. It was effective for TUG in the comparison of SE and OE [-1.89, 95% CI (-3.01, -0.77)]. Conclusion: Based on eight limited studies, SE improved BBS and TUG over OE, suggesting improved stroke balance and gait. Therefore, more studies and large-scale sample randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm clinical application.

Origin of the red imported fire ant (RIFA, Solenopsis invicta) is South America, a tropical climate region. It has settled in the invasive area, causing various problems. In recent, colonies of Solenopsis invicta were discovered in Busan in 2017, and then in Busan, Pyongtaek, Incheon, Daegu and Ansan in 2018. This study aims to validate 31 microsatlite loci referred from previous study for tracing origin of Solenopsis invicta colonies. We tried to test previously developed microsatellite loci so that we establish the protocol for molecular epidemiology of RIFA. We applied 31 microsatellite loci to DNA samples from the RIFA colonies found in Texas and Florida, USA. We will present 31 markers were divided into three injections and the amplification rate for each marker was shown as follows.

아스팔트 혼합물이 운반·대기 중에 단기노화(short-term aging: STA)되는 것은 잘 알려진 사실이며 노화정도는 혼합물의 온도가 높음에 따라 그리고 시간이 길어짐에 따라 지수 함수적으로 증가되는 것으로 알려져 있다. 또한 같은 온도와 시간에 같은 바인더, 골재 및 입도를 사용한 같은 혼합물이라도 사용되는 첨가제의 종류에 따라 노화도에 차이가 난다. 그리고 혼합물의 종류에 따라서도 노화도에 차이가 큰 것으로 알려져 있다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 박리방지제(anti-stripping agent: ASA)의 종류와 혼합물의 종류에 따른 노화도의 차이를 비교분석 하였다. ASA로는 박리방지효과가 우수한 분말의 소석회와 액상 ASA를 비교하였다. 혼합물은 밀입도 아스팔트 (dense-graded asphalt: DGA) 표층용 혼합물과 쇄석 매스틱 아스팔트 (stone mastic asphalt: SMA) 혼합물을 비교하였다. 노화도는 아스팔트 노화의 척도로는 가장 많이 쓰이는 절대점도(absolute viscosity: AV)를 이용하였다. STA 온도와 시간에 따른 AV의 차이를 STA 처리된 혼합물로부터 추출·회수하여 60℃에서 측정하였다. 시험결과 같은 온도와 시간으로 STA 처리된 혼합물에서 소석회가 사용된 혼합물의 노화도가 월등히 낮았으며, 혼합물의 종류로는 SMA 혼합물의 노화도가 DGA 혼합물보다 낮게 나타났다. 이는 소석회가 박리방지효과 뿐만 아니라 노화억제 효과가 크기 때문이며, SMA는 바인더 함량이 높아 골재를 피복한 아스팔트 필름의 두께가 두꺼워 노화도가 적게 나타난 것으로 판단되었다.