Understanding the dispersion of xenon isotopes following a nuclear test is critical for global security and falls within the remit of both the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) and the International Noble Gas Experiment (INGE). This paper aims to show if it is possible to discriminate the source of xenon releases based on the atmospheric dispersion of xenon isotopes using HYSPLIT. Using ORIGEN and SERPENT simulations, four released scenarios are defined with four different fractionation times (i.e., 1 hour, 1 day, 10 days, and 30 days) after a 1kt TNT equivalent 235U explosion event. These time-delayed release scenarios were selected to certify the possibility of mis-determining xenon release source. We use the Lagrangian dispersion model for atmospheric dispersion to predict the concentration distribution of xenon isotopes under each scenario. The model allows us to better understand how these isotopes would distribute over time and space, offering valuable data for real-world detection efforts. To our knowledge, there have been no researches on the analysis of xenon isotopic ratios considering atmospheric dispersion. In this work, we focused on the atmospheric dispersion using HYSPLIT to characterize the xenon isotopic ratios from nuclear tests. In addition, we compared the xenon isotopic ratios obtained from the atmospheric dispersion with those from ORIGEN calculations, which would be helpful to discriminate the source of the xenon releases.

Fault activity acts as the greatest risk factor in relation to the stability of the radioactive waste disposal facilities and nuclear power plant site, and for this reason, geological studies on areas with past fault activity history must precede site evaluation studies. This study aims to trace the fault activity history of large fault zones, including the Yangsan fault in the southeastern part of the Korean Peninsula, where two major earthquakes occurred, and to obtain fault activity direction information that is the basis for stability evaluation. The 3D-Shape Preferred Orientation (SPO) of particles in the fault rock created by the earthquake was investigated to analyze the direction of fault plane activity, and the age of fault activity was estimated through Illite Age Analysis (IAA) analysis. It is expected that the large-scale fault activity information in the southeastern part of the Korean Peninsula obtained through the SPO and IAA analysis can be used as basic data for safety evaluation of existing or future nuclear power plants and radioactive waste facilities.

When proliferation activity occurs, states and non-state actors combine various sources of information to gain a better understanding of the situation. The quality of information source, content, and presentation can significantly influence the perception of decision-makers and end users. However, a state’s nuclear or missile activities are almost always classified. Also, states might intentionally reveal information to deter their adversary, threaten their adversary, bolster their prestige in the international community, or a combination of all three. Hence, any revealed information inherently contains some degree of uncertainty regarding its credibility. Lack of credibility makes it difficult for other states or non-state actors to determine how much of the information is accurate and how much is deception. The increase of publicly available information (open-source information) and the development of tools to collect, process, and analyze this information increased the possibilities of using open-source information to cross-check the proliferation claims of states. North Korea is a hermit state that has very little outside interaction. It also has continued to develop and refine its nuclear program. How credible is information released by North Korea? How can scholars/experts compensate for this lack of credibility in information on North Korea’s nuclear activity? This paper seeks to apply a framework on information quality to answer these questions. First, it will briefly explain the factors comprising information quality (sources, content, and presentation). Then, it will apply the information quality framework to North Korean activity analysis. It will conclude with implications of using the information quality framework to analyze a state that is low in accessibility and high uncertainty.

Monitoring a state that intentionally hides its nuclear activity via open-source information is akin to looking through a black box. Direct information on the state’s nuclear activity remains in the dark, leaving scholars to speculate how much nuclear material or warheads are being produced. Nevertheless, a state’s nuclear program consists of a complex network that ranges from producing weapon-grade nuclear materials by operating its nuclear facilities to securing resources to fund these activities. These indirect activities allow a narrow window of opportunity for researchers to map a state’s activity that sometimes may not be directly linked to nuclear activity per se but is significant to maintaining and operating its nuclear program. These may include malicious cyberattacks to steal or launder cryptocurrency and facilitating cooperation with fellow rogue states that do not comply with the NPT and nuclear nonproliferation regime. The problem lies in how researchers can map this network. Much of the literature that uses text analysis uses data from either (1) formal statement, reports, and documents or (2) journal articles to extract relations between topics that is otherwise difficult to surmise. This study, however, analyzes news articles containing keywords related to a states’ nuclear activity such as international sanctions, trade activities, other states’ policy etc. While news articles fail to live up to the academic rigor of journal articles and unlike formal documents may sometime contain misinformation or incorrect facts, they are a valuable medium to show the day-to-day activity of a state. Although bias may exist as particular news articles may or may not be chosen for text analysis, by using articles collected from 2021 to 2022, this study argues it is enough data to show a short-term trend in nuclear activity.

Proteasome inhibitors can improve the efficiency of cancer treatments by inhibiting nuclear factor κB(NF-κB) activation in cancer cells. Lentils are a type of beans of which consumption of such beans is increasing. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of lentils extract (LE) on the proteasomal activities, NF-κB activation, and cell cycle in HepG2 human liver cancer cells. LE treatments inhibited proteasomal activities at concentrations of 10, 50, and 100 μg/mL respectively, and repressed NF-κB activation at concentrations of 1, 10, and 100 μg/mL respectively, in HepG2 cells. LE treatments at concentrations of 1, 10, and 100 μg/mL respectively, increased sub-G1 cell population in HepG2 cells, which may be the result of apoptosis. The results suggest that LE inhibited NF-κB activation partially with its proteasome inhibitory activities, and the increase of sub-G1 cell population was induced partially, by inhibition of NF-κB activation in HepG2 cells.

According to the nuclear safety act, the enforcement regulations and the notification of the atomic energy commission, a preliminary decommissioning plan must be submitted at all domestic nuclear facilities. In accordance with this preliminary decommissioning plan, it is required to prepare eleven items from the outline of the decommissioning plan of the nuclear facility to the fire protection. Currently, the nuclear fuel cycle facility operated by the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) consists of a radioactive waste form test facility (RWFTF), a post irradiation examination facility (PIEF), a radioactive waste treatment facility (RWTF), and a radioactive waste storage facility (RWSF). The decommissioning strategies, decommissioning methods and dismantling activities of these nuclear facilities are described in this paper. The scope of decommissioning, the dismantling method, the final conditions of the site, the management of radioactive waste, and the cost of decommissioning are established in the decommissioning strategy. The decommissioning schedule, work order, basic principle and technical feasibility are determined at the method of decommissioning. The disinfection techniques and activity plans for facilities and sites contaminated with radioactive materials are described at the dismantling activity. Therefore, this paper describes the concept of decommissioning of the nuclear fuel cycle facilities and prepares a preliminary decommissioning plan to be prepared afterwards.

핵종재고량 관리는 처분시설의 안전한 관리를 위해서는 필수적이다. 본 논문에서는 원자력발전소의 잡고체폐기물에 대하 여 기존 발생된 폐기물 자료를 반영한 예측방사능량과 실제 처분시설을 운영하면서 인수되어 처분검사까지 완료된 실제방 사능량을 비교분석하였다. 극저준위방사성폐기물에서는 137CS, 90Sr, 99Tc 그리고 129I 핵종이 예측방사능량보다 실제방사능량 이 높게 평가되었으며, 저준위방사성폐기물에서는 모든 핵종에서 예측방사능량이 실제 방사능량보다 높게 평가되었다. 또 한 척도인자에 의한 예측방사능량의 민감도 분석을 통해 준위별 수량 및 총방사능량의 변화추이를 분석하였다. 향후 중저준 위방사성폐기물 처분시설의 안전한 운영과 Safety Case 구축을 위한 기초자료로 활용될 것으로 판단된다.

원자로의 해체 과정에서 발생되는 방사성 폐기물 내 존재하는 55Fe, 63Ni은 폐기물의 처리방법을 결정하는 데 있어 기초적인 지표로 활용되는 중요한 핵종이다. 하지만 두 핵종은 낮은 방사선량으로 인해 다른 핵종들과의 분리가 필수적이며 또한 시 료 매질에서 완전히 추출할 수 있는 전처리가 선행되어야 한다. 따라서 본 연구는 다양한 매질의 원자로 해체 폐기물에 대한 전처리방법의 적용성을 평가하기 위해 NIST SRM 5종 (1646a, 1944, 8704, 2709a, 1633c)에 대하여 왕수, 불산, 과염소산을 각각 이용하는 습식산화법과 alkali-fusion 전처리법에 따른 Iron와 Nickel의 회수율을 비교하였다. 실험 결과 alkali-fusion 방법은 다양한 매질의 인증표준물질에 대해 Iron 95.3~98.3%, Nickle 86.6~88.1%의 분석 정확도와 2% 이하의 정밀도를 나타냄으로서 해체폐기물 중 55Fe, 63Ni 분석에 가장 최적화된 전처리법으로 판단된다.

The technique of SCNT is now well established but still remains inefficient. The in vitro development of SCNT embryos is dependent upon numerous factors including the recipient cytoplast and karyoplast. Above all, the metaphase of the second meiotic division (MII)　oocytes have typically become the recipient of choice. Generally high level of MPF present in MII oocytes induces the transferred nucleus to enter mitotic division precociously and causes NEBD and PCC, which may be the critical role for nuclear reprogramming. In the present study we investigated the in vitro development and pregnancy of White-Hanwoo SCNT embryos treated with caffeine (a protein kinase phosphatase inhibitor). As results, the treatment of 10 mM caffeine for 6 h significantly increased MPF activity in bovine oocytes but does not affect the developmental competence to the blastocyst stage in bovine SCNT embryos. However, a significant increase in the mean cell number of blastocysts and the frequency of pregnant on 150 days of White-Hanwoo SCNT embryos produced using caffeine treated cytoplasts was observed. These results indicated that the recipient cytoplast treated with caffeine for a short period prior to reconstruction of SCNT embryos is able to increase the frequency of pregnancy in cow.

We attempted to control the maturation promoting factor (MPF) activity and investigated the subsequent reprogramming of bovine somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos. Serum‐starved adult skin fibroblasts were fused to enucleated oocytes treated with 2.5 mM caffeine or 150 μM roscovitine. The MPF activity, nuclear remodeling patterns, chromosome constitutions and development of SCNT embryos were evaluated. Methylated DNA of embryos was detected at various developmental stages. The MPF activity was increased by caffeine treatment or reduced by roscovitine treatment (p<0.05). Blastocyst development was higher in the caffeine‐treated groups (27.6%) than that of the roscovitine‐treated group (8.3%, p<0.05). There was no difference in the apoptotic cell index among the three groups. However, the mean cell number of blastocysts was increased in the caffeine‐treated group (p<0.05). Higher methylation levels were observed in the Day 3 embryos of the roscovitine‐treated group (50.8%), whereas lower methylation levels were noted at Day 5 in the caffeine‐treated group (12.5%, p<0.05). These results reveal that the increase in MPF activity via a caffeine‐treatment creates a more suitable condition for nuclear reprogramming after SCNT.

We attempted to control the maturation promoting factors (MPF) activity and nuclear remodeling of somatic cell nuclear transfer (NT) bovine embryos. Bovine ear skin fibroblasts were fused to enucleated oocytes treated with either 5 mM caffeine for 2.5 h or 0.5 mM vanadate for 0.5 h and activated. The nuclear remodeling type of the reconstituted embryos was evaluated 1.5 h after activation. MPF activity was assessed in enucleated and chemical treated oocytes before the injection of a donor cell. Effect of chemicals on the embryonic development was evaluated with parthenogenetic embryos. MPF activity increased significantly by caffeine treatment, but decreased by vanadate treatment (p<0.05). Caffeine or vanadate had no deleterious effect on the parthenogenetic embryo development. In caffeine treated group, premature chromosome condensation (PCC) was occurred in 72.2% of NT embryos (p<0.05). In contrast, vanadate induced the formation of a pronucleus-like structure (PN) in a high frequency (68.9%, p<0.05) without PCC (NPCC). Blastocyst development of NT embryos increased by treating with caffeine (30.3%), whereas decreased by treating with vanadate (11.4%) compared to control (22.1%, p<0.05). The results indicate that caffeine or vanadate can control of MPF activity and remodeling type of NT embryos, resulting in the increased or decreased in vitro development.

본 연구는 한우 난구 복합체의 체외성숙에서 OA가 미치는 영향에 대하여 조사하였다. 도축 한우암소의 난소로부터 난구 복합체를 채취하여 PVA-TCM199로 3회 이상 세정 후 PVA-TCM 199, 0.2 uM, 2 uM, 20 uM OA를 각각 첨가하여 공기, 에서 6, 12, 24시간 동안 체외성숙을 실시하였다. 또한 체외성숙시 cycloheximide(CX)와 OA와 체외성숙 효과를 확인하기 위하여 0.1M-PVA TCM199, CX 25 ug/m