For the deep geological repository, engineering barrier system (EBS) is installed to restrict a release of radionuclide, groundwater infiltration, and unintentional human intrusion. Bentonite, mainly used as buffer and backfill materials, is composed of smectite and accessory minerals (e.g. salts, silica). During the post-closure phase, accessory minerals of bentonite may be redistributed through dissolution and precipitation due to thermal-hydraulic gradient formed by decay heat of spent nuclear fuel and groundwater inflow. It should be considered important since this cause canister corrosion and bentonite cementation, which consequently affect a performance of EBS. Accordingly, in this study, we first reviewed the analyses for the phenomenon carried out as part of construction permit and/or operating license applications in Sweden and Finland, and then summarized the prerequisite necessary to apply to the domestic disposal facility in the future. In previous studies in Sweden (SKB) and Finland (POSIVA), the accessory mineral alteration for the post-closure period was evaluated using TOUGHREACT, a kind of thermal-hydro-geochemical code. As a result of both analyses, it was found that anhydrite and calcite were precipitated at the canister surface, but the amount of calcite precipitate was insignificant. In addition, it was observed that precipitate of silica was negligible in POSIVA and there was a change in bentonite porosity due to precipitation of salts in SKB. Under the deep disposal conditions, the alteration of accessory minerals may have a meaningful influence on performance of the canister and buffer. However, for the backfill and closure, this is expected to be insignificant in that the thermal-hydraulic gradient inducing the alteration is low. As a result, for the performance assessment of domestic disposal facility, it is confirmed that a study on the alteration of accessory minerals in buffer bentonite is first required. However, in the study, the following data should reflect the domestic-specific characteristics: (a) detailed geometry of canister and buffer, (b) thermal and physical properties of canister, bentonite and host-rock in the disposal site, (c) geochemical parameters of bentonite, (d) initial composition of minerals and porewater in bentonite, (e) groundwater composition, and (f) decay heat of spent nuclear fuel in canister. It is presumed that insights from case studies for the accessory mineral alteration could be directly applied to the design and performance assessment of EBS, provided that input data specific to the domestic disposal facility is prepared for the assessment required.

Bentonite is a potential buffer material of multi-barrier systems in high-level radioactive wastes repository. Montmorillonite, the main constituent of the bentonite, is 2:1 type aluminosilicate clay mineral with high swelling capacity and low permeability. Montmorillonite alteration under alkaline and saline conditions may affect the physico-chemical properties of the bentonite buffer. In this study, montmorillonite alteration by interaction with synthetic alkaline and saline solution and its retention capacity for cesium and iodide were investigated. The experiments were performed in three different batches (Milli-Q water, alkaline water, and saline water) doped with cesium and iodide for 7 days. Alteration characteristics and nuclide retention capacity of original- and reacted bentonite was analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) analysis. From the results, cesium retention occurred differently depending on the presence of competing ions such as K, Na, and Mg ions in synthetic solutions, while iodide was negligibly removed by bentonite. Montmorillonite alteration mainly occurred as cation exchange and zeolite minerals such as merlinoite and mordenite were new-formed during alkaline alteration of the montmorillonite. CEC value of reacted bentonite increased by formation of the zeolite minerals under alkaline conditions.

「선박안전법」은 선박의 감항성(堪航性, Seaworthiness) 유지 및 안전운항에 필요한 사항을 규정하고 있으며, 이와 관련해서 이 법 제10조에서는 선박소유자가 선박검사를 받은 후 해당 선박의 선박검사증서에 적혀 있는 내용을 일시적으로 변경하고자 하는 경우에 임시검사를 받도록 하고 있다. 이와 같은 조치는 이 법 제15조에 따른 선박검사 후 선박의 상태유지에 따른 것으로 여기에는 「항만법」 제39조제1항에 따른 “항만건설작업선”을 포함하고 있다. 그러나 항만건설작업선은 본래 부선(艀船)과 동일한 운용체계를 보이고 있음에 도 불구하고 「선박안전법」을 적용받지 아니하고 「건설기계관리법」에 따른 등록 및 검사ㆍ점검을 받아오다 2012년 12월 14일 울산항 만 내에서 작업 중 발생한 “석정36호” 침몰사고를 발단으로 2016년「항만법」이 개정되면서 「선박안전법」에 추가해서 적용받게 된 점 등을 고려할 때 항만건설작업선을 「선박안전법」에서 정하고 있는 모든 규정을 따르도록 적용하는 것은 현실적 한계가 있다 할 것이다. 이에 따라 본 논문에서는 항만건설작업선의 개념, 등록, 작업구역, 검사규정, 임시변경 적용사례 등을 통한 작업특성 및 실제 항만건설작 업선의 「선박안전법」적용범위와 관련해서 논란이 되고 있는 사항 등에 대해 살펴보고, 또한 「항만법」의 개정에 따라 항만건설작업 선을 「선박안전법」의 검사대상으로 편입하게 된 입법취지 등을 통해 「선박안전법」제10조에서 규정하고 있는 임시검사 중 “임시변 경”에 관한 사항을 적용하는데 있어서의 그 적정범위를 제시하고자 한다.

Bentonite, which mostly consists of montmorillonite, is considered as a suitable buffer material for disposal of high-level radioactive wastes in deep geological repository due to its high swelling capacity, low permeability, and strong retention capacity of radionuclide migration. Alkaline and saline solutions originated from degradation of cementitious material and seawater intrusion, respectively, may cause the changes in mineralogical and chemical properties of montmorillonite with various processes such as cation exchange within the interlayer, dissolution of montmorillonite, and precipitation of second minerals. In this study, montmorillonite alteration under alkaline and saline environments and its influences on retention of cesium and iodide by bentonite buffer were investigated. The reactions of bentonite (Bentonil-WRK) with alkaline solutions (0.1 M KOH and NaOH) and simulated saline solution were performed for 7 days in batch experiments at 25°C. After the experiments, reacted bentonite samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Short Wavelength Infrared (SWIR) spectrometry. The concentrations of cesium and iodide dissolved in the solutions were analyzed using an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP–MS). The XRD patterns showed significant decrease in the interlayer space of montmorillonite after the reaction with alkaline solution due to cation exchange and change in hydration status at the interlayer. The retention of cesium and iodide in alkaline and saline solutions were affected by montmorillonite alteration and ion competition. Therefore, the montmorillonite alteration affecting the nuclide retention capacity and long-term stability of bentonite buffer should be considered in the safety assessment of long-term geological disposal performance.

Safe storage of spent nuclear fuel in deep underground repositories necessitates an understanding of the long-term alteration of metal canisters and buffer materials. A small-scale laboratory alteration test was performed on metal (Cu or Fe) chips embedded in compacted bentonite blocks placed in anaerobic water for 1 year. Lactate, sulfate, and bacteria were separately added to the water to promote biochemical reactions in the system. The bentonite blocks immersed in the water were dismantled after 1 year, showing that their alteration was insignificant. However, the Cu chip exhibited some microscopic etch pits on its surface, wherein a slight sulfur component was detected. Overall, the Fe chip was more corroded than the Cu chip under the same conditions. The secondary phase of the Fe chip was locally found as carbonate materials, such as siderite (FeCO3) and calcite ((Ca, Fe)CO3). These secondary products can imply that the local carbonate occurrence on the Fe chip may be initiated and developed by an evolution (alteration) of bentonite and a diffusive provision of biogenic CO2 gas. These laboratory scale results suggest that the actual long-term alteration of metal canisters/bentonite blocks in the engineered barrier could be possible by microbial activities.

Several factors, including genetic and environmental insults, impede protein folding and secretion in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Accumulation of unfolded or mis-folded protein in the ER manifests as ER stress. To cope with this morbid condition of the ER, recent data has suggested that the intracellular event of an unfolded protein response plays a critical role in managing the secretory load and maintaining proteostasis in the ER. Tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) is a chemical chaperone and hydrophilic bile acid that is known to inhibit apoptosis by attenuating ER stress. Numerous studies have revealed that TUDCA affects hepatic diseases, obesity, and inflammatory illnesses. Recently, molecular regulation of ER stress in tooth development, especially during the secretory stage, has been studied. Therefore, in this study, we examined the developmental role of ER stress regulation in tooth morphogenesis using in vitro organ cultivation methods with a chemical chaperone treatment, TUDCA. Altered cellular events including proliferation, apoptosis, and dentinogenesis were examined using immunostaining and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay. In addition, altered localization patterns of the formation of hard tissue matrices related to molecules, including amelogenin and nestin, were examined to assess their morphological changes. Based on our findings, modulating the role of the chemical chaperone TUDCA in tooth morphogenesis, especially through the modulation of cellular proliferation and apoptosis, could be applied as a supporting data for tooth regeneration for future studies.

The Ryanodine Receptor in wild type Drosophila melanogaster has an amino acid substitution which is known to cause Chlorantraniliprole resistance in Pluteall xylostella. Even though we have reported that two Chlorantraniliprole resistant Drosophila strains have elevated total esterase activities, our report does not fully explain the significantly increased resistant ratios in two Chlorantraniliprole resistant Drosophila strains. Thus, we further analyzed alteration of reactive oxygen species and mitochondria activities in two Chlorantraniliprole resistant Drosophila strains. Our result suggested that Chlorantraniliprole resistance development in Drosophila requires alteration of various signal transduction pathways.

Because mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) maintain distinct capacities with respect to self-renewal, differentiation ability and immunomodulatory function, they have been highly considered as the therapeutic agents for cell-based clinical application. Of particular, differentiation condition alters characteristics of MSCs, including cellular morphology, expression of gene/protein and cell surface molecule, immunological property and apoptosis. However, the previous results for differentiation-related apoptosis in MSCs have still remained controversial due to varied outcomes. Therefore, the present study aimed to disclose periodical alterations of pro- and anti-apoptosis in MSCs under differentiation inductions. The human dental pulp-derived MSCs (DP-MSCs) were differentiated into adipocytes and osteoblasts during early (1 week), middle (2 weeks) and late (3 weeks) stages, and were investigated on their apoptosis-related changes by Annexin V assay, qRT-PCR and western blotting. The ratio of apoptotic cell population was significantly (p < 0.05) elevated during the early to middle stages of differentiations but recovered up to the similar level of undifferentiated state at the late stage of differentiation. In the expression of mRNA and protein, whereas expressions of pro-apoptosis-related makers (BAX and BAK) were not altered in any kind and duration of differentiation inductions, anti-apoptosis marker (BCL2) was significantly (p < 0.05) elevated even at the early stage of differentiations. The recovery of apoptotic cell population at the late stage of differentiation is expected to be associated with the response by elevation of anti-apoptotic molecules. The present study may contribute on understanding for cellular mechanism in differentiation of MSCs and provide background data in clinical application of MSCs in the animal biotechnology to develop effective and safe therapeutic strategy.

In this study, the possibility of biodiesel fuel and oxygenated fuel(dimethoxy methane, DMM) was investigated as an alternative fuel for a naturally aspirated direct injection diesel engine. The smoke emission of blending fuel (diesel fuel 90vol-% + DMM 10vol-%) was reduced approximately 70% at 2500rpm, full load in comparison with the diesel fuel. Engine power and brake specific energy consumption showed no significant differences. But, NOx emission of biodiesel fuel and DMM blended fuel increased compared with commercial diesel fuel due to the oxygen component in the fuel. It was needed a NOx reduction counter plan that EGR method was used as a countermeasure for NOx reduction. It was found that simultaneous reduction of smoke and NOx emission was achieved with diesel fuel (95 vol-%) and DMM (5 vol-%) blended fuel and cooled EGR method (15%).