Environmental issues such as global warming due to fossil fuel use are now major worldwide concerns, and interest in renewable and clean energy is growing. Of the various types of renewable energy, green hydrogen energy has recently attracted attention because of its eco-friendly and high-energy density. Electrochemical water splitting is considered a pollution-free means of producing clean hydrogen and oxygen and in large quantities. The development of non-noble electrocatalysts with low cost and high performance in water splitting has also attracted considerable attention. In this study, we successfully synthesized a NiCo2O4/NF electrode for an oxygen evolution reaction in alkaline water splitting using a hydrothermal method, which was followed by post-heat treatment. The effects of heat treatment on the electrochemical performance of the electrodes were evaluated under different heat-treatment conditions. The optimized NCO/NF-300 electrode showed an overpotential of 416 mV at a high current density of 50 mA/cm2 and a low Tafel slope (49.06 mV dec-1). It also showed excellent stability (due to the large surface area) and the lowest charge transfer resistance (12.59 Ω). The results suggested that our noble-metal free electrodes have great potential for use in developing alkaline electrolysis systems.

Hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (HOFs) are a new type of porous crystalline material that are constructed by intermolecular hydrogen bonding of organic building blocks to form twodimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) crystalline networks. High-quality HOF single crystals are easily grown for direct superstructure analysis using single crystal X-ray diffraction, which is essential for revealing the relationship between structure and properties. The unique advantages of HOF, such as high crystallinity, porosity and fast regeneration, have allowed it to be used in a variety of applications including catalysis and gas separation. Squaric acid (SQA) is a non-carboxylic, organic acid with proton donor and acceptor ability which is known to take on a variety of coordination modes with metal ions. Pyrazine is a six-membered aromatic heterocycle bearing two nitrogen atoms, which has sp2 hybridized C atoms with C-H hydrogen bonds. This work describes the synthesis and structural characteristics of HOF based on squaric acid and pyrazine. Based on single crystal X-ray diffraction data, this MOF crystallizes in the triclinic P-1 space group. Each asymmetric unit is composed of H2SQ and pyrazine. All squaric acid molecules share one H atom with the N atom of pyrazine molecules. The layer distance between nearby O atoms from squaric acid in different layers equals 5.29 Å. Also, our HOF showed high adsorption capacity the during experiments. The composition and comparative characteristics of HOF are given using SCXRD, PXRD, SEM and UV-vis.

Nuclear spent fuel (SNF) disposal in deep geological repositories is considered as one of sound options for the long-term and safe sequestration of radiotoxic SNF and the sustainable use of nuclear energy. The chemical behaviors of various radionuclides originated from SNF should be well understood to evaluate the migrational behaviors of radionuclides and their reactions and interactions with various geochemical components. Formation of secondary minerals, colloids, other insoluble precipitates is of interest since the concentrations of radionuclides in groundwaters can be limited by the solubility of those solid phases. Particularly when evaluating their solubility, the use of well-defined solid materials in terms of chemical composition and molecular structure is crucial to obtain reliable measurement results. In this study, a synthetic calcium uranyl silicate (Ca-U(VI)-silicate, or uranophane) was prepared and characterized by using various analytical methods including powder X-ray diffraction (pXRD), scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (SEM/EDX), and vibrational (FTIR and Raman) spectroscopies. Uranyl silicate minerals are significant to the disposal of nuclear wastes. Our simulation demonstrates that uranophane (Ca[UO2SiO3OH]2·5H2O), one having a U:Si ratio of 1:1, can be a mineral species limiting U(VI) solubility under groundwater conditions in Korea. For the preparation of Ca-U(VI)-silicate, we applied a two-step hydrothermal synthetic procedure reported in literature with modification. Briefly, we conclude that the obtained mineral phase is the ‘α-uranophane’; our characterization results show that the structural and spectroscopic properties of the synthetic Ca-U(VI)-silicate agree well with those of α-uranophane. For instance, the pXRD patterns obtained from the solid show nearly identical diffraction peak positions with those from the reference XRD pattern. From IR and Raman spectroscopy it is noticed that the stretching modes of UO2 2+ and SiO4 4- ions result in strong absorption bands in a region of 700 ~ 1,100 cm-1. Elemental compositions of the synthetic solids were also estimated by using EDX analysis, which results in a Ca:U:Si ratio close to 1:2:2 on average. However, we found that it is difficult to obtain good crystallinity of uranophane, which can be observable by using SEM and its image analysis. We believe that this work serves as a model study to provide synthetic routes of radionuclide-related mineral phases and applicable solid phase characterization methods. In the presentation, the potential use of the U(VI)-silicate solid phase for the upcoming groundwater solubility measurements will be discussed. Keywords: Hexavalent Uranium, Silicate

For the disposal of radioactive waste generated from nuclear power plants, characterization of radioactive waste is essential. For characterization, samples of radioactive waste are directly collected or an indirect method is used through X-ray, etc. Through indirect analysis, which is a non-destructive method, the density, filling height, homogeneity and inter structure of the waste container can be analyzed. Currently, foreign institutions are in the process of developing a technology to perform characterization of radioactive waste through indirect analysis. In particular, research on improving internal image accuracy through image analysis techniques, improving measurement methods and enhancing portability for field application is ongoing. Through the review of such technology development trends, it will be utilized in the development of domestic radioactive waste disposal technolgy.

In south Korea, most of uranium deposits are distributed in the Ogcheon belt, which is one of two late Precambrian to Paleozoic fold belts (the Imjingang and Ogcheon belts). A study site of the Ogcheon metamorphic belt (OMB) in Hoenam-myun, Boeun-gun was selected for the natural analogue study by preliminary site investigation for several candidate study sites. Three boreholes were drilled in the site and some rock cores and groundwater samples were taken from the boreholes. Various analytical studies for the samples are now being performed. Thus, in this study, various basic characteristics of the study site such as occurrence, geological, mineralogical, and chemical properties were investigated for a future study. Base rocks containing uranium in the OMB are usually black slate and coaly slate. Coaly slate usually shows a higher content of uranium and larger grain size of uranium than black slate. Uranium minerals found in the OMB are uraninite, uranothorite, brannerite, ekanite, coffinite, francevillite, uranophane, autunite, and torbernite depending on the base rock types. Uranothorite is abundant in black slate whereas uraninite is mostly abundant in coaly slate. Chemical compositions of the solid and groundwater samples from the study site were also analyzed by using ICP-MS/OES (Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry) and XRF (X-ray Fluorescence). This will contribute to determine uranium minerals in the solid samples and uranium speciation in the groundwater. The results of this study will contribute to performing future natural analogue studies in domestic uranium deposits and provide basic information and knowledge for understanding long-term geochemical behaviors of radionuclides in a high-level radioactive repository.

The fundamental characteristics of groundwater colloids, such as composition, concentration, size, and stability, were analyzed using granitic groundwater samples taken from the KAERI Underground Research Tunnel (KURT) site by such analytical methods as inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry, field emission-transmission electron microscopy, a liquid chromatography-organic carbon detector, and dynamic light scattering technique. The results show that the KURT groundwater colloids are mainly composed of clay minerals, calcite, metal (Fe) oxide, and organic matter. The size and concentration of the groundwater colloids were 10–250 nm and 33–64 μg·L−1, respectively. These values are similar to those from other studies performed in granitic groundwater. The groundwater colloids were found to be moderately stable under the groundwater conditions of the KURT site. Consequently, the groundwater colloids in the fractured granite system of the KURT site can form stable radiocolloids and increase the mobility of radionuclides if they associate with radionuclides released from a radioactive waste repository. The results provide basic data for evaluating the effects of groundwater colloids on radionuclide migration in fractured granite rock, which is necessary for the safety assessment of a high-level radioactive waste repository.

This study is intended to determine the antimicrobial resistance properties and class 1 integrons of 30 Citrobacter freundii strains isolated from pet turtles in order to determine their threat to human health. Citrobacter freundii isolates were isolated and identified by employing biochemical tests and 16SrRNA gene sequencing. Disc diffusion test and PCR amplification were employed to detect antimicrobial resistance patterns and genes, respectively. Ampicillin, amoxicillin, cephalothin and nalidixic acid resistance were observed among all isolates. Rifampicin and cefoxitin resistance was the second most prevalent and observed in 97% of the isolates, respectively. All isolates scored multiple antimicrobial resistance (MAR) indices ≥ 0.2. Aminoglycoside resistant genes were the most prevalent. aac(3')-IIa was detected in 80% of the isolates followed by aphAI-IAB and strA-strB genes in 33% and 50% of the isolates, respectively. β-lactamase encoding blaTEM, blaCTX and blaSHV genes were detected in 53%, 43% and 17% of the isolates, respectively. tetA and tetB genes were the only tetracycline resistance genes detected in 17% and 10% of the isolates, respectively. Class 1 integron integrase encoding intI1 gene (47%) and dfrA17-aadA5 gene cassette array (7%) were also detected. Pet turtle-borne multidrug-resistant C. freundii is a reservoir of antimicrobial resistance determinants in the domestic environment which poses a risk of infection.

The recycling of solid waste materials to fabricate carbon-based electrode materials is of great interest for low-cost green supercapacitors. In this study, porous carbon foam (PCF) was prepared from waste floral foam (WFF) as an electrode material for supercapacitors. WFF was directly carbonized at various temperatures of 600, 800, and 1,000 oC under an inert atmosphere. The WFF-derived PCF (C-WFF) was found to have a specific surface area of 458.99 m2/g with multi-modal pore structures. The supercapacitive behavior of the prepared C-WFF was evaluated using a three-electrode system in a 6 M KOH aqueous electrolyte. As a result, the prepared C-WFF as an active material showed a high specific capacitance of 206 F/g at 1 A/g, a rate capability of 36.4 % at 20 A/g, a specific power density of 2,500 W/kg at an energy density of 2.68 Wh/kg, and a cycle stability of 99.96 % at 20 A/g after 10,000 cycles. These results indicate that the C-WFF prepared from WFF could be a promising candidate as an electrode material for high-performance green supercapacitors.

In crustaceans, molting is regulated by interactions between ecdysteroid and juvenile hormone (JH) signaling pathway-related genes. Unlike the ecdysteroid signaling pathway, little information on the role of JH signaling pathway-related genes in molting is available in zooplanktonic crustaceans. In this study, three genes (juvenile hormone acid O-methyltransferase (JHAMT ), methoprene-tolerant (Met ), and juvenile hormone epoxide hydrolase (JHEH )) which are involved in the synthesis, receptor-binding, and degradation of JH were identified using sequence and phylogenetic analysis in the brackish water flea, Diaphanosoma celebensis. Transcriptional changes in these genes during the molting cycle in D. celebensis were analyzed. Sequence and phylogenetic analysis revealed that these putative proteins may be functionally conserved along with those of insects and other crustaceans. In addition, the expression of the three genes was correlated with the molting cycle of D. celebensis, indicating that these genes may be involved in the synthesis and degradation of JH, resulting in normal molting. This study will provide information for a better understanding of the role of JH signaling pathwayrelated genes during the molting process in Cladocera.

새롭게 육성된 낭충봉아부패병 저항성 신품종 토종벌(Apis cerana koreana) 과 기존 농가에서 관행적으로 사육되는 토종벌 사이의 형태학적 차 이를 육안으로 확연하게 구분하는 것은 어렵지만 본 연구에서는 신품종 토종벌(A. c. koreana) 을 기존 토종벌(A. c. koreana) 품종 및 계통 간 형태학적 비교를 통해 신품종 만의 특성을 결정할 수 있는 표현형 정보를 제공하였다. 신품종 토종벌(A. c. koreana)의 외부형질을 이용한 품종 특성은 22가지의 형태학적 특성을 기하학적, 형태학적 분석 방법을 적용하고 토종벌(A. c. koreana)의 로얄젤리 생산량, 일벌, 여왕벌, 수벌의 특성을 비교 분석하였다. 본 연구 결과, 신품종 토종벌(A. c. koreana)은 기존 토종벌과 앞날개의 길이에 차이를 보였으며, 중국의 동양종꿀벌(A. cerana)과 비교한 결과, 일벌은 몸무게, 혀의 길이, 앞날개의 길이 등의 값이 높았다. 또한, 신품종 토종벌(A. c. koreana)은 A. cerana indica 보다 두 가지 부위에서 형태학적인 차이를 보였다. 그리고 신품종 토종벌(A. c. koreana)은 로얄젤리를 다른 품종과 비교하여 많이 분비하여 봉군의 발육에 긍정적인 영향을 끼쳤다. 따라서 본 연구결과는 신규 육성 토종벌(A. cerana)에 대한 형태학적 분석 방법을 이용하여 품종을 분류하는데 도움이 될 것으로 기대한다.