To broaden the utilization of nuclear energy, uranium as a fuel should be mined indispensably. Mining accounts for the largest portion of the cost of producing the uranium assembly. Therefore, this study analyzes the trends of uranium prices, which have a significant impacts on the mining cost. Uranium production contributing to the price fluctuations is explained in five periods from 1945 to the present. Moreover, the series of events affecting uranium prices from the 1970s until the present are verified. Among them, the most recent incidents considered in this study are the following: COVID-19 pandemic, Kazakhstan unrest, and Russia-Ukraine war. European countries have started to reconsider the transition to nuclear power to reduce their dependence on Russian oil and gas, which has contributed to the surge in uranium prices. Based on the results of this study, various international issues have been closely associated with the nuclear power industry and uranium, affecting the production of uranium and its price.

In recent years, India has consistently increased its production of small fruits. India is the second-largest producer of fruits and vegetables globally, with a diverse range of small fruits grown across the country. Small fruits, such as kiwifruit and blueberries, are in high demand due to the growing popularity of healthier food options and increased awareness of their associated health benefits. However, the current status of small fruit production in India is substantially lower than that of other fruit crops. Nonetheless, there has been a growing interest in small fruit production, particularly in regions with suitable climatic conditions. Currently, only two types of small fruit are commercially produced in India: grapes and Indian jujube/ber. Three other fruit types, strawberries, blueberries, and kiwi, have production areas of less than 10,000 ha each. Despite the growing interest in small fruit production, several challenges, such as the lack of good planting materials, productivity issues, lack of packaging facilities, and marketing networks for farmers, need to be addressed to enhance the prospects for small fruit production in India. Future studies should focus on several areas to overcome these challenges. Firstly, it is crucial to understand the specific resource constraints that small fruit producers face and develop strategies to improve their access to essential resources, including planting materials, land, water, and financial support. Secondly, innovative marketing strategies tailored to the unique characteristics of small fruit production in India should be employed to expand domestic and international market opportunities. Lastly, adopting appropriate technologies and sustainable production practices is necessary to improve productivity and mitigate environmental impacts. Overall, the prospects for small fruit production in India appear promising, given the growing demand for healthier food options and the expanding domestic and international markets for small fruits.

Despite numerous advances in in-vitro embryo production (IVP), many documented factors have been shown to influence the development of mammalian preimplantation embryos and the success of IVP. In this sense, elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) correlate with poor outcomes in assisted reproductive technologies (ART) due to oxidative stress (OS), which results from an imbalance between ROS production and neutralization. Indeed, excessive production of ROS compromises the structural and functional integrity of gametes and embryos both in vivo and in vitro. In particular, OS damages proteins, lipids, and DNA and accelerates cell apoptosis. Several in-vivo and in-vitro studies report an improvement in qualityrelevant parameters after the use of various antioxidants. In this review, we focus on OS and the source of free radicals and their effects on oocytes, sperm, and the embryo during IVP. In addition, antioxidants and their important role in IVP, supplementation during oocyte in vitro maturation (IVM), in vitro culture (IVC), and semen extenders were discussed. Nevertheless, various methods for determining the level of ROS in germ cells have been briefly described. Still, it is crucial to develop standardized antioxidant supplement systems to improve overall IVP success. Further studies should explore the safety, efficacy, mechanism of action, and combination of different antioxidants to improve IVP outcomes.

White rot fungus Cerrena unicolor IUM 5400 produced ethanol from diverse sugars, including glucose, mannose, galactose, and cellobiose at 0.38, 0.28, 0.08, and 0.27 g of ethanol per g of sugar consumed, respectively. The fungus produced relatively high amounts of ethanol from xylose (0.28 g of ethanol per g of sugar consumed); however, the ethanol conversion rate of arabinose was relatively low (at 0.08 g of ethanol per g sugar consumed). When cultured in a basal medium containing 20 g/L rice straw or corn stalks, C. unicolor IUM 5400 produced 0.18 g and 0.18 g of ethanol per g of rice straw and corn stalks, respectively. The results suggest that C. unicolor IUM 5400 is a white rot fungus that can effectively hydrolyze cellulose or hemicellulose to sugars and simultaneously convert them to ethanol.

The purpose of flow analysis is to develop a simple CFD analysis model to develop a heat transfer analysis model including transient heat transfer characteristics, especially phase change, of thin film evaporators. The simple analytical model focuses on the evaporation phase change. To reduce the computational cost, the shape was simplified to two dimensions, and the simulation time was set short with a focus on simulating the phase change phenomenon. In the future, based on this analysis model, we will develop an analysis model for simulating not only vaporization but also liquefaction, that is, transient distillation phenomenon, according to the shape of the thin film distillation device.

본 연구에서는 MnSO4이 B. thuringiensis의 곤충독소 형 성에 미치는 영향을 분석하여 신속 검출배지 개발의 기초 자료를 제안하고자 하였다. 본 실험에 사용한 균주는 순 천대학교 식품위생안전실험실에 보관되어 있던 B. thuringiensis reference 1주(KCTC 1511)와 식품에서 분리 된 wild type strain 9주를 사용하였다. B. thuriengiensis의 곤충독소 생성 확인은 식품의약품안전처의 곤충독소 확인 시험법에 따라 실험하였다. 0.005%-MnSO4이 첨가된 Nutrient agar는 배양 48시간에 3개 평판 중 2개 평판 (66.6%)에서 곤충독소가 관찰되었고, 120시간에 3개 평판 (100%) 모두에서 곤충독소가 관찰되었다. AK agar는 48 시간 배양 후 3개 평판 중 1개 평판(33.3%)에서 곤충독소 가 관찰되었으며, 배양 120시간에 3개 평판(100%) 모두에 서 곤충독소가 관찰되었다. 이러한 결과는 포자형성에 사 용되는 AK agar보다 식품공전에서 제시하고 있는 포자형 성 배지인 0.005%-MnSO4 Nutrient agar가 B. thuringiensis 의 곤충독소를 신속하게 생성시키는 것으로 나타났다. B. thuringiensis 10개 균주를 24시간 배양하여 관찰한 결과, 0.000%-MnSO4 배지에서 10개 평판 중 1개 평판(10%), 0.001%-MnSO4이 첨가된 배지의 10개 평판 중 2개 평판 (20%)에서 곤충독소가 관찰되었다. 0.002%-MnSO4이 첨가 된 배지는 10개 평판 중 3개 평판(30%)에서 곤충독소가 관찰되었다. 0.003%-0.009%-MnSO4이 첨가된 배지에서는 곤충독소가 관찰되지 않았다. 이러한 결과로 보아 24시간 배양 시까지는 0.002%-MnSO4이 첨가된 Nutrient agar가 B. thuringiensis의 곤충독소를 가장 신속하게 생성시키는 것으로 나타났다. B. thuringiensis의 곤충독소는 포자형성 과 동시에 생성된다는 보고와 MnSO4이 포자형성에 기여 한다는 보고를 종합하여 보면, MnSO4이 B. thuringiensis 의 포자형성을 가속화하고 이로 인해 곤충독소도 신속하 게 생성된 것으로 판단된다. 따라서 B. thuringiensis의 곤 충독소를 신속하게 생성하기 위해 기존 식품공전에서 제 시하고 있는 Nutrient agar보다 0.002%-MnSO4이 첨가된 Nutrient agar를 사용하는 것이 효율적일 것으로 판단된다. 그러나 Nutrient agar와 0.002%-MnSO4 Nutrient agar의 24 시간 배양 후 곤충독소 생성율의 차이는 작게 나타나 다 수의 wild type B. thuringiensis를 대상으로 추가적인 연구 가 필요할 것으로 판단된다.

The entire industry is increasing the use of big data analysis using artificial intelligence technology due to the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The value of big data is increasing, and the same is true of the production technology. However, small and medium -sized manufacturers with small size are difficult to use for work due to lack of data management ability, and it is difficult to enter smart factories. Therefore, to help small and medium -sized manufacturing companies use big data, we will predict the gross production time through machine learning. In previous studies, machine learning was conducted as a time and quantity factor for production, and the excellence of the ExtraTree Algorithm was confirmed by predicting gross product time. In this study, the worker's proficiency factors were added to the time and quantity factors necessary for production, and the prediction rate of LightGBM Algorithm knowing was the highest. The results of the study will help to enhance the company's competitiveness and enhance the competitiveness of the company by identifying the possibility of data utilization of the MES system and supporting systematic production schedule management.

Cyanobacteria Pseudanabaena strains are known to produce 2-MIB (odorous material) in freshwater systems, thereby causing problems in water use. However, their physiological responses to environmental factors in relation with 2-MIB production is not well explored. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of temperature on the growth and 2-MIB production of Pseudanabaena redekei. The experimental cyanobacteria strains were separated from the Uiam Reservoir (North Han River) and cultured in the BG-11 medium. Temperature was set to 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30℃ for the experiment, in the reflection of the seasonal water temperature variation in situ. For each temperature treatment, cyanobacterial biomass (Chl-a) and 2-MIB concentration (intra-cellular and extra-cellular fractions) were measured every 2 days for 18 days. Both maximal growth and total 2-MIB production of P. redekei appeared at 30℃. While intra-cellular 2-MIB contents were similar (26~29 ng L-1) regardless of treated temperatures, extra-cellular 2-MIB concentration was higher only in high temperature conditions (25~30℃), indicating that the extents of 2-MIB biosynthesis and release by P. redekei vary with temperature. The 2-MIB productivity of P. redekei was much higher in low-temperature conditions (10~15℃) than high temperature conditions (25~30℃). This study demonstrated that temperature was a critical factor contributing to 2-MIB biosynthesis and its release in cell growth (r=0.605, p<0.01). These results are important to understand the dynamics of 2-MIB in the field and thereby provide basic information for managing odorous material in drinking water resources.

The production process of ultra-pure water (UPW) involves dozens of unit processes such as reverse osmosis (RO), pretreatments, membrane degasifier, and several ion exchange processes. Recently, continuous electrodeionization (CEDI) has replaced the 2-bed and 3-tower (2B3T) ion exchange process. As a result, the majority of wastewater in UPW production now comes from the RO concentrate. The important of RO in UPW production is to produce high-quality water with a low ion concentration (around 1 mg/L) for CEDI feed water. Minimizing RO concentrate is essential to reduce the wastewater produced in the UPW production process. This can be achieved by maximizing the recovery of the RO system. However, increasing the recovery is limited by the water quality of the RO permeate. To ensure high-quality permeate water, the RO system is designed with a two-pass configuration. The recovery of each pass in the RO system is limited (e.g., < 85%) due to the expected increase in permeate water concentration at higher RO feed water concentrations. Interestingly, tests using 4-inch RO modules with low concentration feed water (≤ 35 mg/L as NaCl) revealed that the permeate concentration remains almost constant regardless of the feed water concentration. This implies that the recovery of the first RO pass can be increased as long as the average feed/concentrate concentration of the second RO pass is less than 35 mg/L. According to this design criterion for the RO system, the recovery of the first and second RO pass, with a feed water concentration of 250 mg/L as NaCl, can be increased up to 94.8% and 96.0%, respectively. Compared to the conventional RO system design (e.g., 70% and 80% for the first and second RO pass) for UPW production, this maximum recovery design reduces the volume of RO feed and concentrate by up to 38.4% and 89.2%, respectively.

This article reports on an experimental study that investigated the effects of different conditions of listener backchannels on the fluency of L2 speakers. The participants were 15 advanced Chinese learners of Korean who performed oral tasks in three different backchannel conditions: (1) verbal + nonverbal (V+NV), (2) nonverbal-only (NV), and (3) no backchannels (NB). The verbal backchannels included “[ŋ~] (Non lexical verbal form)”, “[ne]”, “[ɑ]”, “[ɨm]” while the nonverbal backchannels involved head nodding. Fluency was assessed via three temporal measures: Rate A, Rate B and MLR. The data was statistically analyzed using SPSS 25 package. The results showed that 15 Chinese participants in the NV condition were more fluent than in the V+NV or NB conditions. However, no significant differences were found between the V+NV and NB conditions. These results suggest that nonverbal backchannels may facilitate the fluency of advanced Chinese learners of Korean during oral tasks depending on the nature of backchannel use in their L1 and sociocultural environments. The present research theoretically broadens the scope of both fluency and backchannel studies and provides valuable data and methods for empirical studies on backchannels to Korean.

본 연구는 우리나라에서 수수-수단그라스 교잡종 (sorghum bicolor L.: SSH)에 대해 극단기상과 정상기상 간 생산량을 비교할 목적으로 수행하였다. SSH 데이터 (n=1,025)는 농촌진흥청의 신품종 적응성 실험보고서(1979 ―2019)로부터 수집하였다. 기상자료는 기상청으로부터 평균기온, 최저기온, 최고기온, 최대 강수량, 누적 강수량, 최대풍속, 평균풍속 및 일조시간을 10일 기준으로 계산하 여 수집하였다. 극단기상과 정상기상 간 구별을 위해 상 자 그림을 이용하여 탐색하였다. 극단기상과 정상기상 간 생산량 차이는 5% 유의수준 하에서 t-검정 및 ANOVA를 통해 확인하였다. 그 결과, 극단기상은 극단적으로 강한 바람을 동반한 봄 가뭄, 극단적으로 높은 강우량을 기록 하는 여름장마와 가을장마가 두드러졌다. 예측 생산량 피 해(kg/ha)는 각각 1,961―6,541, 2,161―4,526 및 508― 5,582로 나타났다. 본 연구는 우리나라의 SSH에 대한 취 약성 및 피해 산정에 도움이 되는 기초자료로서 극단기상 과 정상기상 사이의 생산량 차이를 확인하는 데 의의가 있다.

돼지의 체세포 핵이식(Somatic cell nuclear transfer,SCNT)은 인간에게 약리적 효과가 있는 단백질, 이종 간 장기이식(xenotransplantation)에 사용되는 장기, 질병 연 구 목적의 모델 동물을 제공한다. 특히 형질전환 돼지를 활용한 심장 이식이 세계 최초로 성공한 후 형질전환 돼 지 생산의 안정화는 다음 연구를 위한 중요한 점으로 대 두되고 있으나, 미니돼지의 체세포 핵이식 배아의 생산 효율은 아직 낮은 실정이다. 형질전환의 성공은 양질의 SCNT 배아 생산에서 시작되어야 한다. 이러한 SCNT 배 아의 생산 효율을 향상할 수 있는 요인 중에는 공여 세포 의 형태가 있으며, 성공적인 공여 세포의 생산을 위해서 는 종축에 따른 세포의 특성을 파악하여야 하고, 혈액형 의 차이에서 발생하는 문제점 해결을 위해 OO 타입의 선 별이 필요하다. 본 연구에서는 지속적인 계대 배양을 통 하여 공여 세포로 사용되는 미니돼지의 태아섬유아세포의 계대 배양 조건을 확립하고자 한다. 또한 미니돼지의 혈 액형을 PCR 기반으로 분석하여 분류하고 OO 타입의 선 별을 통하여 이종 간 이식에 용이하게 공여 세포의 조건 을 확립하였다. 이후 sgRNA(single guide RNA)를 사용하 여 CRISPR-Cpf1로 GGTA1(α-1,3 galactosyl-transferase) 유전자를 knock-out 한 미니돼지의 생산으로, 급성면역반 응을 유발하는 Gal(1,3)Gal epitope이 제거된 미니돼지의 세포 주를 구축 및 체세포 핵이식을 통해 GGTA1 knock-out 미니돼지를 생산하였으며, 이러한 연구는 이후 체세포 핵이식 및 이종 간 장기이식에 중요한 기초자료로 사용될 것이라고 생각된다.

Screening of Bacillus subtilis strains capable of producing extracellular hydrolases, including lipolytic enzyme was carried out. Within the scope of this study, total 61 strains were isolated from various domestic specific environmental samples such as seawater, soil, Jeju ranch, hot spring, salt farm, and fermented food and identified as Bacillus subtilis based on 16S rRNA sequences. Among the isolates, 4 strains had extracellular lipase activity. The growth profile of the strains revealed that 4 strains showed well growth at 50℃, 3 strains at 55℃, and pH 7.0. All strains could tolerate salinity up to 5%(w/v), 3 strains up to 10%(w/v), and only one strain showed growth at 15%(w/v). Additionally, amylolytic and proteolytic activities were detected in these strains. The highest lipolytic, amylolytic, and proteolytic activity was detected in Bacillus subtilis YS-YR 5A. These results demonstrate the potential application of extracellular hydrolase-producing Bacillus subtilis strains, especially strain YS-YR 5A, as fermentation starter to enhance the functionality and multiplication of functional natural products in the food/medicine/cosmetics/bio industries.

Ammonia is a potential fuel for producing and storing hydrogen, but its usage is constrained by the high cost of the noble metal catalysts to decompose NH3. Utilizing non-precious catalysts to decompose ammonia increases its potential for hydrogen production. In this study, carborundum (SiC)-supported cobalt catalysts were prepared by impregnating Co3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) on SiC support. The catalysts were characterized by high-resolution transmission electron microscope, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, temperature programmed reduction, etc. The results show that the large specific surface area of SiC can introduce highly distributed Co3O4 NPs onto the surface. The amount of Co in the catalysts has a significant effect on the catalyst structure, particle size and catalytic performances. Due to the interaction of cobalt species with SiC, the 25Co/SiC catalyst provided the optimal ammonia conversion of 73.2% with a space velocity of 30,000 mL gcat −1 h− 1 at 550 °C, corresponding to the hydrogen production rate of 24.6 mmol H2 gcat −1 min− 1. This research presents an opportunity to develop highly active and cost-effective catalysts for hydrogen production via NH3 decomposition.

Molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) and, its daughter, technetium-99m (Tc-99m) are the most commonly used medical isotope covering more than 85% of the nuclear diagnostics. Currently, majority of Mo-99 supplied in the market is fission-based Mo-99 produced by the fission of U-235 in research reactors. In spite of substitutive production schemes, fission-based Mo-99 is the major source for its significant advantages of high specific activity and large production capacity. The new research reactor (KJRR) is under construction in Gijang, Busan, Korea. The project is aiming 2,000 Ci/week Mo-99 production. For the objective, KAERI has been developed Mo-99 production process using HANARO. Weekly production of 2,000 Ci (100,000 Ci/yr, 6-day calibration) Mo-99 can cover 100% domestic needs, as well as 20% of international demand. However, overall cost for the fission-based Mo-99 production is continuously increasing. Previously, the most Mo-99 producers used weapon-grade highly enriched uranium (HEU) targets. Recently, the use of HEU in private sector is limited for non-proliferation. As a result, major Mo-99 producers are forced to convert their targets from HEU to low enriched uranium (LEU, 19.75% U-235 enrichment). The conversion of Mo-99 target caused waste issue. It is not only because of the 50% less yield in production, but also increment of the radioactive waste by 200%. Therefore, designing optimal radioactive waste treatment strategy for fission-based Mo-99 production is becoming more important than ever. During the process, irradiated LEU targets are dissolved in alkaline solution in hot cells. Fission products other than Mo-99 removed from the solution via series of separation steps. Then Mo-99 is eluted and purified to meet international standard as an active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). Radioisotopes of xenon (Xe) and krypton (Kr) generated from the fission of U-235 during the irradiation of the target in the research reactor. Then, the radioactive gas released during the process. The emission of radioactive noble gas from the medical radioisotope production facility can be controlled via delayed release through large charcoal beds. KAERI developed compact xenon adsorption module with chilled carbon column to meet 5 GBq/ day of CTBTO recommendation. Small volume of chilled charcoal can satisfy the guideline, replacing massive gas tank system. Therefore, development of optimized radioactive gas treatment system for the Mo-99 production is one of the essential piece for the successful construction, licensing and operation of the KJRR project.

In order to permanently dispose of radioactive waste drums generated from nuclear power plants, disposal suitability must be demonstrated and the nuclides and radioactivity contained in the waste drums, including those in the shielding drums, must be identified. At present, reliable measurements of the nuclide concentration are performed using drum nuclide analysis devices at power plants and disposal facilities during acceptance inspection. The essential functions required to perform nuclide analysis using the non-destructive assay system are the correction for self-attenuation and the dead time correction. Until now, measurements have mainly been performed for drums containing solid waste such as DAW drums using SGS calibration drums with ordinary iron drums. However, for drums containing non-uniform radioactive waste, such as waste filters embedded in cement within shielding drums, a separate calibration drum needs to be produced. In order to produce calibration drums for shielded and embedded waste drums, the design considered the placement of calibration sources, setting of shielding thickness, correction for medium density, and cement mixing ratio. Based on these considerations, three calibration drums were produced. First, a shielding drum with an empty interior was produced. Second, a density correction drum filled with cement was produced to create apparent density on the surface of the shielding drum. Third, a physical model drum was produced containing a mock waste filter and cement filled in the shielding drum.

To conduct numerical simulation of a disposal repository of the spent nuclear fuel, it is necessary to numerically simulate the entire domain, which is composed on numerous finite elements, for at least several tens of thousands of years. This approach presents a significant computational challenge, as obtaining solutions through the numerical simulation for entire domain is not a straightforward task. To overcome this challenge, this study presents the process of producing the training data set required for developing the machine learning based hybrid solver. The hybrid solver is designed to correct results of the numerical simulation composed of coarse elements to the finer elements which derive more accurate and precise results. When the machine learning based hybrid solver is used, it is expected to have a computational efficiency more than 10 times higher than the numerical simulation composed of fine elements with similar accuracy. This study aims to investigate the usefulness of generating the training data set required for the development of the hybrid solver for disposal repository. The development of the hybrid solver will provide a more efficient and effective approach for analyzing disposal repository, which will be of great importance for ensuring the safe and effective disposal of the spent nuclear fuel.