In all geodisposal scenarios it is key to understand the interaction of radionuclides with mineral particles during their formation/recrystallisation. Studying processes at the molecular scale provides insight into long-term radionuclide behaviour. Uranium is a significant radionuclide in higher activity wastes destined for geological disposal, and iron (oxyhydr) oxides (e.g. goethite, 􀟙-FeOOH). are ubiquitous in and around these systems, formed via processes including metal corrosion and microbially induced reactions. There are numerous reports of uranium-incorporation into iron (oxyhydr) oxides, therefore it has been suggested that they may be a barrier to uranium migration in geodisposal systems. However, long-term stability of these phases during environmental perturbations are unexplored. Specifically, U-incorporated iron (oxyhydr) oxide phases may interact with Fe(II) and sulphide from biological or geological origin. Firstly, electron transfer occurs between adsorbed Fe(II) and iron oxyhydroxides, with potential for changes in the speciation of incorporated uranium e.g. oxidation state changes and/or release. Secondly, on exposure to aqueous sulfide, iron (oxyhydr) oxides undergo reductive dissolution and recrystallisation to iron sulphides. Understanding the fate of incorporated uranium during these process in key to understanding its long term behaviour in subsurface systems. A series of experimental studies were undertaken where U(VI)-goethite was synthesized then reacted with either aqueous Fe(II) or S(-II), and the system monitored over time using geochemical analysis and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) techniques e.g. U LIII-edge and MIV-edge HERFD-XANES. Reaction with aqueous Fe(II) resulted in electron transfer between Fe(II) and U(VI)-goethite, with > 50% U(VI) reduced to U(V). XAS analysis revealed that U remained within the goethite structure, and electron transfer only occurred within the outermost atomic layers of goethite. which led to U reduction. Rapid reductive dissolution of U(VI)-goethite occurred on reaction with sulfide at pH7. A transient release of aqueous U was observed during the first day, likely due to uranyl(VI)-persulfide species. However, U was retained in the solid phase in the longer term. In contrast, the sulfidation of U adsorbed to ferrihydrite at pH 12.2 led to the immediate release of U (< 10% Utotal) associated with a colloidal erdite (NaFeS2·2H2O) phase. Moreover, in the bulk phase the surface of ferrihydrite was passivated by sulfide, and U was found to have been trapped within surface associated erdite-like fibres. Overall, these studies further understanding of the long-term behaviour of U-incorporated iron (oxyhydr)oxides supporting the overarching concept of iron (oxyhydr) oxides acting as a barrier to U migration.

This study aimed to provide better understanding of the bedrock aquifer bacterial communities and their functions in deep geological repository (DGR) environment. Two study sites of uranium deposits in the Ogcheon Metamorphic Belt were selected: Boeun and Guemsan. From two study sites, six groundwater samples were obtained with different boreholes and depths: OB1 (Boeun, 25 m), OB3 (Boeun, 80 m), GS1 (Guemsan, 25 m), GS2 (Guemsan, 85-90 m), GS3-I (Guemsan, 32- 38 m), GS3-II (Guemsan, 70-74 m). The physicochemical properties of groundwater were analyzed by multi-parameter sensors, ion chromatography (IC), and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Illumina Miseq sequencing was performed to investigate bacterial community in six groundwater samples. In addition, the number of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) was quantified by a quantitative PCR (qPCR). Bacterial community composition varied in response to boreholes and depths. A total of 14 different phyla and 36 classes were detected from six groundwater samples. Overall, Proteobacteria, Actinomycetota, and Bacteroidota were dominant in the phylum level. SRB and iron-reducing bacteria (IRB) were detected in all groundwater samples even though organic carbon sources were not abundant (0.7-3.3 mg-total organic carbon/L). This result shows a potential to immobilize uranium in DGR environment. In particular, SRB, Desulfosporosinus fructosivorans and Humidesulfovibrio mexicanus were mainly detected in GS1 and GS2 groundwater samples, which attributed to higher dissimilatory sulfite reductase functional gene copy number in GS1 and GS2 groundwater samples. Statistical analysis was performed to understand the correlation between environmental factors and core bacterial species. Dissolved oxygen (DO), Fe, and Mn concentrations were positively correlated with Curvibacter fontanus while Undibacterium rivi had a negative correlation with pH. These results indicate that bacterial community could be changed in response to environmental variation. Further study with a greater number of samples is necessary to obtain statistically reliable and meaningful results for a safe DGR system.

Buffer materials are one of the engineering barrier components in high-level radioactive waste disposal facilities. Compacted bentonite has been known as the most suitable buffer material so far, and research is being conducted worldwide to determine the characteristics of suitable bentonite blocks in each country. Therefore, this study aims to compare and analyze various properties of different buffer material candidates, including thermal, hydraulic, and mechanical properties. Buffer material candidates for Korea disposal system, Kyungju Bentonite (KJ-I, KJ-II), and Bentonil- WRK were compared. The properties were compared and analyzed based on experimental and literature data. The data obtained from this report can be used to understand the behavior of buffer materials and assess whether they meet various criteria, such as temperature and saturation, and ultimately serve as an essential input variable database for safety evaluations of disposal systems.

The HADES (High-level rAdiowaste Disposal Evaluation Simulator) was developed by the Nuclear Fuel Cycle & Nonproliferation (NFC) laboratory at Seoul National University (SNU), based on the MOOSE Framework developed by the Idaho National Laboratory (INL). As an application of the MOOSE Framework, the HADES incorporates not only basic MOOSE functions, such as multi-physics analysis using Finite Element Method (FEM) and various solvers, but also additional functions for estimating the performance assessment of Deep Geological Repositories (DGR). However, since the MOOSE Framework does not have complex mesh generation and data analyzing capabilities, the HADES has been developed to incorporate these missing functions. In this study, although the Gmsh, finite element mesh generation software, and Paraview, finite element analysis software, were used, other applications can be utilized as well. The objectives of HADES are as follows: (i) assessment of the performance of a Spent Nuclear Fuel (SNF) disposal system concerning Thermal-Hydraulic-Mechanical-Chemical (THMC) aspects; (ii) Evaluation of the integrity of the Engineered Barrier System (EBS) of both general and high-efficiency design perspective; (iii) Collaboration with other researchers to evaluate the disposal system using an open-source approach. To achieve these objectives, performance assessments of the various disposal systems and BMTs (BenchMark Test), conducted as part of the DECOVALEX projects, were studied regarding TH behavior. Additionally, integrity assessments of various DGR systems based on thermal criteria were carried out. According to the results, HADES showed very reasonable results, such as evolutions and distributions of temperature and degree of saturation, when compared to validated code such as TOUGH-FLAC, ROCMAS, and OGS (OpenGeoSys). The calculated data are within the range of estimated results from existed code. Furthermore, the first version of the code, which can estimate the TH behavior, has been prepared to share the contents using Git software, a free and open-source distribution system.

To address the pressing societal concern in Korea, characterized by the imminent saturation of spent nuclear fuel storage, this study was undertaken to validate the fundamental reprocessing process capable of substantially mitigating the accumulation of spent nuclear fuel. Reprocessing is divided into dry processing (pyro-processing) and wet reprocessing (PUREX). Within this context, the primary focus of this research is to elucidate the foundational principles of PUREX (Plutonium Uranium Redox Extraction). Specifically, the central objective is to elucidate the interaction between uranium (U) and plutonium (Pu) utilizing an organic phase consisting of tributyl phosphate (TBP) and dodecane. The objective was to comprehensively understand the role of HNO3 in the PUREX (Plutonium Uranium Redox Extraction) process by subjecting organic phases mixed with TBPdodecane to various HNO3 concentrations (0.1 M, 1.0 M, 5.0 M). Subsequently, the introduction of Strontium (Sr-85) and Europium (Eu-152) stock solutions was carried out to simulate the presence of fission products typically contented in the spent nuclear fuel. When the operation proceeds, the complex structure takes the following form. 􀜷􀜱􀬶 􀬶􀬾(􀜽􀝍) + 2􀜰􀜱􀬷 􀬿(􀜽􀝍) + 2􀜶􀜤􀜲(􀝋􀝎􀝃) ↔ 􀜷􀜱􀬶(􀜰􀜱􀬷)􀬶 ∙ 2􀜶􀜤􀜲(􀝋􀝎􀝃) Subsequently, separate samples were gathered from both the organic and aqueous phases for the quantification of gamma-rays and alpha particles. Alpha particle measurements were conducted utilizing the Liquid Scintillation Counter (LSC) system, while gamma-ray measurements were carried out using the High-Purity Germanium Detector (HPGe). The distribution ratio for U, Eu (Eu-152), and Sr (Sr-84) was ascertained by quantifying their activity through LSC and HPGe. Through the experiments conducted within this program, we have gained a comprehensive understanding of the selective solvent extraction of actinides. Specifically, uranium has been effectively separated from the aqueous phase into the organic phase using a combination of tributyl phosphate (TBP) and dodecane. Subsequently, samples containing U(VI), Eu(III), and Sr(II) underwent thorough analysis utilizing LSC and HPGe detectors. Our radiation measurements have firmly established that the concentration of nitric acid enhances the selective separation of uranium within the process.

International Atomic Energy Agency defines the term “Poison” as a substance used to reduce reactivity, by virtue of its high neutron absorption cross-section, in IAEA glossary. Poison material is generally used in the reactor core, but it is also used in dry storage systems to maintain the subcriticality of spent fuel. Most neutron poison materials for dry storage systems are boron-based materials such as Al-B Carbide Cermet (e.g., Boral®), Al-B Carbide MMC (e.g., METAMIC), Borated Stainless Steel, Borated Al alloy. These materials help maintain subcriticality as a part of the basket. U.S.NRC report NUREG-2214 provides a general assessment of aging mechanisms that may impair the ability of SSCs of dry storage systems to perform their safety functions during longterm storage periods. Boron depletion is an aging mechanism of neutron poison evaluated in that report. Although that report concludes that boron depletion is not considered to be a credible aging mechanism, the report says analysis of boron depletion is needed in original design bases for providing long-term safety of DSS. Therefore, this study aimed to simulate the composition change of neutron poison material in the KORAD-21 system during cooling time considering spent fuel that can be stored. The neutron source term of spent fuel was calculated by ORIGEN-ARP. Using that source term, neutron transport calculation for counting neutrons that reach neutron poison material was carried out by MCNP®-6.2. Then, the composition change of neutron poison material by neutron-induced reaction was simulated by FISPACT-II. The boron-10 concentration change of neutron poison material was analyzed at the end. This study is expected to be the preliminary study for the aging analysis of neutron poison material about boron depletion.

Safe management of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) is a key issue to determine sustainability of current light water reactor (LWR) fleet. However, none of the countries are actually conducting permanent disposal of SNFs yet. Instead, most countries are pursuing interim storage of spent nuclear fuels in dry cask storage system (DCSS). These dry casks are usually made of stainlesssteels for resistibility against cracking and corrosion, which can be occurred over a long-term storage period. Nevertheless, some corrosion called Chloride-Induced Stress Corrosion Cracking (CISCC) can arise in certain conditions, exacerbating the lifetime of dry casks. CISCC can occur if the three conditions are satisfied simultaneously: (i) residual tensile stress, (ii) material sensitization, and (iii) chloride-rich environment. A residual tensile stress is developed by the two processes. One is the bending process of stainless-steel plates into a cylindrical shape, and the other is the welding process, which can incur solidification-induced stress. These stresses provide a driving force of pit-to-crack transition. Around the fusion weld areas, chromium is precipitated at the grain boundary as a carbide form while it depletes chromium around it, leading to material susceptible to pitting corrosion. It is called sensitization. Finally, coastal regions, where nuclear power plants usually operate, tend to have a higher relative humidity and more chloride concentration compared to inland areas. This high humidity and chloride ion concentration initiate pitting corrosion on the surface of stainless-steels. To prevent initiation of CISCC, at least one of the three conditions should be removed. For this, several surface engineering techniques are under investigation. One of the most promising approaches is surface peening method, which is the process that impacts the surface of materials with media (e.g., small pins, balls, laser pulse). By this impact, plastic deformation on the surface occurs with compressive stress that counteracts with pre-existing residual tensile stress, so this approach can prevent pit-to-crack transition of stainless-steels. Also, cold spray deposition can prevent CISCC. Cold spray deposition is a method of spraying fine metal powder to a substrate by accelerating them to supersonic velocity with propellant gas. As a result, a thin coating composed of the feedstock powders can protect the substrate from outer corrosive environments. In addition, the impact of the feedstock powder on the substrate during the process provides compressive stress, similar to the peening method.

Sulfur and nitrogen co-doped carbon dots (NSCDs) were quickly synthesized by the microwave-assisted method from triammonium citrate and thiourea. NSCDs showed a quantum yield of 11.5% with excitation and emission bands at 355 and 432 nm, respectively. Also, a fluorescence quenching was observed in the presence of Pb(II) ions, and the as-synthesized CDs were used as a sensitive probe for detecting Pb(II) in water and food samples. The results showed the optimal conditions for Pb(II) determination were CDs concentration of 0.02 mg mL− 1 at pH 6.0–7.0 and an incubation time of 20 min. The relative fluorescence intensity of NSCDs was proportional to Pb(II) concentrations in the range of 0.029–2.40 and 2.40–14.4 μmol L− 1 with a correlation coefficient (R2) of 0.998 and 0.955, respectively, and a detection limit of 9.2 × 10– 3 μmol L− 1. Responses were highly repeatable, with a standard deviation below 3.5%. The suggested method demonstrates the potential of a green, fast, and low-cost approach for Pb(II) determination in water, tea, and rice samples with satisfying results.

이 연구는 일본 규슈 북쪽 서단(西端)에 위치한 작은 도시지만, 제1,2 차 세계대전에서 구(舊)일본 해군의 군사적 요충지 역할을 맡은 군항도시 사세보(佐世保)가 관광도시로 전환되는 그 과정의 설계와 실천 과정에 기반을 두고 있다. 1983년 개장한 나가사키(長崎) ‘오란다무라(Holland Village)’는 지역경제에 많은 파급효과를 가져왔고, 1992년 개장한 ‘하우 스텐보스(Huis Ten Bosch)’는 관광도시로의 전환에 있어 ‘결정체’와 같 은 역할을 했다. 오랜 기간 군항도시의 역할이 지속된 사세보는 전전기 (戦前期)와 전후기(戦後期)를 거치며 어두운 전쟁의 체험과 역사적 흔적 을 남겼다. 하지만 사세보 시민들이 염원하던 ‘평화산업항만도시’로의 전 환에 있어 결정체 역할을 한 ‘하우스텐보스’의 개장은 마치 어두운 전쟁 의 역사의 흔적을 지우듯 나가사키의 역사와 문화라는 옷을 입혀 그 부 지위에 자리 잡았다. 하우스텐보스가 조성된 부지는 전전기에는 해군병 교 하리오(針尾)분교가, 전후기에는 인양자들의 숙소이자 인양 원호국이 자리잡고 있었던 곳이었다. 이처럼 사세보의 어두운 역사의 땅 위에 하 우스텐보스가 지어지며 군항도시에서 관광도시로 전환된 과정을 흥미롭 게 살펴보고자 한다.

Ultra-violet (UV) light is one of abiotic stress factors and causes oxidative stress in plants, but a suitable level of UV radiation can be used to enhance the phytochemical content of plants. The accumulation of antioxidant phenolic compounds in UV-exposed plants may vary depending on the conditions of plant (species, cultivar, age, etc.) and UV (wavelength, energy, irradiation period, etc.). To date, however, little research has been conducted on how leaf thickness affects the pattern of phytochemical accumulation. In this study, we conducted an experiment to find out how the antioxidant phenolic content of kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala) leaves with different thicknesses react to UV-A light. Kale seedlings were grown in a controlled growth chamber for four weeks under the following conditions: 20°C temperature, 60% relative humidity, 12-hour photoperiod, light source (fluorescent lamp), and photosynthetic photon flux density of 121±10 μmol m-2 s-1. The kale plants were then transferred to two chambers with different CO2 concentrations (382±3.2 and 1,027±11.7 μmol mol-1), and grown for 10 days. After then, each group of kale plants were subjected to UV-A LED (275+285 nm at peak wavelength) light of 25.4 W m-2 for 5 days. As a result, when kale plants with thickened leaves from treatment with high CO2 were exposed to UV-A, they had lower UV sensitivity than thinner leaves. The Fv/Fm (maximum quantum yield on photosystem II) in the leaves of kale exposed to UV-A in a low-concentration CO2 environment decreased abruptly and significantly immediately after UV treatment, but not in kale leaves exposed to UV-A in a high-concentration CO2 environment. The accumulation pattern of total phenolic content, antioxidant capacity and individual phenolic compounds varied according to leaf thickness. In conclusion, this experiment suggests that the UV intensity should vary based on the leaf thickness (age etc.) during UV treatment for phytochemical enhancement.

식물구계학적 특정종은 식물상 정보를 이용한 지역환경을 평가하는 주요 수단이며, 종의 선정과 평가는 식물구계 정보에 의거해서 이루어진다. 본 연구는 이러한 식물구계에 대해 학술적 진의를 규명하고자 하였다. 식물구계 관련 핵심문헌 7편을 검토하였으며, 식물구계 적용 근거를 비교 검증하였다. 1919년의 Nakai 울릉도 식물상 조사보고서는 식물구계에 관련한 일반적인 지리구분(지방)을 처음으로 기재했다. Oh는 1977년에 한국의 유관속식물에 대한 식물지리구계도를 처음으로 제시하였 다. 1978년에는 Lee & Yim이 중부와 남부를 가르는 구계도를 제시했고, 그 밖에 많은 연구자들에 의해 식물구계 경계는 조정되고 개정되었다. 마침내 2018년에는 Lee & Yim (1978)에서 변형된 식물구계학적 특정종의 식물구계도가 채택되었다. 그런데 이러한 식물구계들은 연구자 간에 차이가 있었고, 구계 지표 식물의 불일치성도 확인되었다. 그럼에도 그런 상이성에 대한 근거는 찾을 수 없었다. 결론적으로 도식화된 모든 식물구계도는 선험적으로 그은 임의 선에 의존하고 있었다. 본 연구는 식물구계학적 특정종이 환경영향평가 및 국가 식물상 평가를 위한 과학적 수단으로서 그 실효성과 실체성을 확보하기 위해 다음의 두 가지 생태학적 전략을 제안했다 : 종분포 고유성(nativeness) 정보를 바탕으로 하는 식물상 및 식물구계의 성취와 서식처 기반(habitat-based) 식물상 장기모니터링 시스템의 구축.

본 연구는 OECD TG No. 458, 22Rv1/MMTV_GR-KO 전사 활성화 분석법을 포함한 세포 기반 분석법을 사용하 여 식품 및 생활용품에 포함된 파라벤과 트리클로산의 인 간 안드로겐 수용체를 매개하는 내분비계 교란 가능성을 확인하는 것을 목표로 한다. 4가지 파라벤(메틸-, 에틸-, 프 로필-, 부틸-)은 OECD TG No.458에서 AR 길항제로 확 인된 반면, 파라벤의 AR 길항 효과는 S9 간 분획물이 있 는 경우 나타나지 않았다. 트리클로산 역시 AR 길항제로 분류되었으며, 트리클로산에 의해 유도된 AR 길항 효과 는 S9 간 분획물이 존재할 때 제 1상+2상 대사에서 유의 하게 감소되었다. 파라벤과 트리클로산에 의해 유도되는 AR 길항 기전은 세포질 내 AR 이량화를 차단하여, 리간 드 결합 AR이 핵으로의 전위를 억제함으로써 AR 매개 내분비 교란 효과를 나타냈다. 이러한 결과는 4가지 파라 벤과 트리클로산이 AR 이량화 저해를 통한 AR 길항 효 과를 나타내는 AR 매개 내분비 교란 가능성을 가지고 있 으나, 간 대사 효소가 존재할 경우 내분비 교란 효과는 감 소됨을 시사한다.

본 연구는 코칭 전공 대학원생들이 코칭을 전공으로 선택한 이유를 대학원생 들의 관점에서 살펴보고 유형화하여 이들이 실질적으로 코칭 전공 대학원에서 갈망하는 요구를 이해하기 위한 목적으로 진행되었다. 이를 위하여 인간의 주관 적 인식을 분석하기에 적합한 Q방법론을 통해 연구 문제를 분석하였다. 본 연구 에서는 국내 코칭 관련 학과 대학원 석·박사과정 재학 또는 졸업한 사람들 중 목적표집 방법으로 선발된 총 21명의 P표본을 대상으로 40개의 진술문을 구성 하여 연구가 진행되었다. 연구 결과 총 4개의 유형으로 분석되었고 유형Ⅰ은 ‘경 제적 수입보다 사람을 중요시하는 기여형’, 유형Ⅱ는 ‘네트워킹보다 스스로를 중 요시하는 자아 계발형’, 유형Ⅲ은 ‘스펙을 통해 코칭의 학문 발전을 중요시하는 준비형’, 유형Ⅳ은 ‘코칭 철학을 믿는 긍정적 영향력 발휘형’으로 나타났다. 본 연구 결과는 유형화된 대학원생의 코칭전공 선택에 관한 주관성 특성을 바탕으 로 이후 국내 코칭의 학문적 발전을 위해 코칭 관련 학과 대학원의 체계적인 교 육과정 방향성의 틀로 활용될 수 있으며, 나아가 국내 코칭 정착과 발전에 필요 한 기반이 될 수 있을 것이라 기대한다.

Insect cuticle is an extracellular matrix formed primarily from two different biopolymers, chitin and protein. During each molt cycle, a new cuticle is deposited simultaneously with degradation of the old cuticle by molting fluid cuticle degrading-enzymes, including epidermal chitinases (CHTs). Insect CHTs, belonging to family 18 glycosylhydrolase (GH18), have been classified into at least eleven subgroups based on phylogenetic analyses, and group I (CHT5) and group II (CHT10) epidermal CHTs present in molting fluid. In this study we report the physiological function of MaCHT5 and MaCHT10 in the Japanese pine sawyer, Monochamus alternatus. RNAi for either MaCHT5 or MaCHT10 resulted in larval-pupal and pupal-adult molting defects, in which the insects were unable to shed completely their old cuticle and died entrapped in their exuviae. Furthermore, TEM analysis revealed a failure of degradation of the old cuticle in both MaCHT5- and MaCHT10-deficient pharate adults. In the old pupal cuticle, the chitinous horizontal laminar and vertical pore canal essentially remained intact in the endocuticular layer. These results indicate that both CHTs are required for turnover of the chitinous old cuticle, which is critical for completion of insect molting. We also discuss the possible function of two spliced variants of MaCHT10, MaCHT10a and MaCHT10b.

Insect eggshell and cuticle/exoskeleton play vital roles in protecting them from natural environmental stresses. However, these chitinous cuticular extracellular matrices must be degraded at least in part during embryo hatching and molting/ecdysis periods to accommodate continuous growth all the way to the adult stage. In this study, we investigated the functional importance of groups I and II chitinases, TcCHT5 and TcCHT10, in the turnover of chitinous cuticle during both embryonic and post-embryonic development in Tribolium castaneum. RNAi and TEM analyses revealed that TcCHT10 is required for digestion of chitin in the serosal cuticle for embryo hatching as well as in the old cuticle during post-embryonic molts including larval-pupal and pupal-adult metamorphosis. TcCHT10 appears to be able to substitute for TcCHT5 in all these vital physiological events except for the pupal-adult molting in which TcCHT5 is indispensable for complete digestion of chitin in the old pupal cuticle.

The Blastobasidae is microlepidopteran, narrow-winged moth and account of more 500 species among 23genera worldwide. This family is defined by the following characteristics: i) presence of antennal pecten in head; ii) Rs and M1 separate in the hindwing; iii) valva with well-developed digitate saccular processus in male genitalia; iv) aedeagus with a band-like internal sclerite.

The development of biochemical pesticides to replace existing chemical pesticides and the search for new substances with potential insecticidal ability are continuously required. The purpose of this study is to control myzus persicae with pyrethrum biochemical pesticide containing of high concentration of pyrethrin as an active ingredient. Pyrethrum dried powder was extracted with 95% ethanol for different periods of time and it was confirmed that the pyrethrin content increased as the extraction period increased and the extraction conditions for 20 days had the highest yield with 0.2% pyrethrin. We produced a prototype containing 0.13% pyrethrin content (pyrethrin II: 0.06%, pyrethrin I: 0.06%). and in 200 fold dilute spray condition. It showed a 77.2% corrected mortality against myzus persicae which is comparable to chemical pesticide. We are continuously researching to reduce the decomposition of active ingredients and look for additives to increase the insecticidal activity.

Reticulitermes speratus (Kolbe) is economically important pest in East Asia including Korea, Japan and China where they infest wooden structures in urban areas. In this study, we report the first record of R. speratus speratus from Korea, which was verified using soldier morphology and molecular characteristics obtained from a mitochondrial gene. R. speratus speratus Kolbe, 1885 (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae) are found in several provinces, mainly southern regions in Korea, whereas R. speratus kyushuensis are distributed throughout the country. Our morphological comparison showed that R. speratus speratus can be distinguishable from R. speratus kyushuensis by the ratio of the posterior postmentum width to length. In the molecular comparison, R. speratus speratus revealed genetic differences of 3.06% (range 2.60–4.10%) from R. speratus kyushuensis using cytochrome oxidase subunit II gene sequences.

The salivary glands of hard ticks consist of three types (type I, II, and III) of acini according to their functions and location. The type II and III acini play critical roles in tick salivation, which is likely controlled by a variety of neuropeptides or neurotransmitter via interaction with their receptor, G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Orchestration of dopamine receptor (D1) and invertebrate specific D1-like dopamine receptor (InvD1L) located in type II and III acini precisely control tick salivary secretion via collection of primary saliva in the lumen and expulsion of collected saliva, respectively. The two dopamine receptors (D1 and InvD1L) in Haemaphysalis longicornis were identified as 1278 bp (426 aa) and 1362 bp (454 aa) in length, respectively. Both dopamine receptors were functionally analyzed through Ca2+ and cAMP assay using the heterologous expression system. The transcripts of D1 and InvD1L were profiled from synganglion and salivary glands of female ticks (unfed, 3/18/60/96 post blood meal and replete). D1 and InvD1L were significantly upregulated in the early phase of blood feeding from female H. longicornis. Salivary secretion induced by dopamine was significantly reduced by RNAi of D1 and InvD1L. Interestingly, RNAi of two dopamine receptors induced a significantly longer period of blood feeding in female ticks, which were significantly lighter after feeding than control. Taken together, it was suggested that D1 and InvD1L play critical roles in early and late phase of tick blood feeding for feeding capability.

Due to the concerns over their environmental and health impacts, there have been attempts for shift towards biorational pesticides from synthetic pesticides. Among them, plant essential oils have emerged as promising active ingredients. Due to the complex interactions among their constituents, the bioactivities of essential oils can vary depending on the compositions, which often undermine their stability in efficacy. Here, we present a model-based optimization approach to develop reliable rosemary oil-based biorational pesticide, against two-spotted spider mites, Tetranychus urticae Koch. The ecotoxicity against Daphnia magna and foliar phytotoxicity against Phaseolus vulgaris were also evaluated. Our quadratic models accurately predicted miticidal activity, ecotoxicity, and phytotoxicity. We aimed to maximize, minimize, and minimize these parameters, respectively. We employed seven multi-objective evolutionary algorithms in Matlab. Among them, the nondominated sorting genetic algorithm II with adaptive rotation based simulated binary crossover (NSGA-II-ARSBX) performed best. We experimentally determined the thresholds for miticidal activity and phytotoxicity, based on the current approval process for agricultural pesticide products in Korea. After applying the thresholds, we validated the obtained viable solutions. Our study offers a novel framework to enhance the reliable and responsible use of essential oils as biorational pesticides.