• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.109-117
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• 2024

In order to determine the level of awareness of nuclear power generation and Fukushima contaminated water, this study conducted an online survey targeting the general public living in the Busan area and analyzed a total of 201 questionnaires. Independent samples t-test and one-way analysis of variance were conducted to verify differences in variables according to the characteristics of the study subjects, and correlation analysis was conducted to confirm the correlation between variables. First, the results of the study showed that women had a more negative perception of nuclear power generation and Fukushima contaminated water than men. In terms of age, it was found that people in their 40s and older had a high level of negative perception. In terms of political inclination, progressive respondents showed a higher negative perception toward nuclear power generation and Fukushima contaminated water. Second, information on nuclear energy was most often collected through the Internet, broadcasting, and SNS. Third, the higher the negative perception of nuclear power generation, the more negative the results were in terms of issues of concern following the discharge of contaminated water at the Fukushima nuclear power plant. Nuclear power cannot be separated from human life. Therefore, it is believed that accurate information and a knowledge delivery system are needed to ensure correct awareness of nuclear power generation.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.272-281
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• 2023

Ecosystem observatories are burgeoning globally in an endeavour to detect national and global scale trends in the state of biodiversity and ecosystems in an era of rapid environmental change. In this paper we highlight the additional importance of regional scale outcomes of such infrastructure, through an introduction to the Great Western Woodlands TERN (Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network) SuperSite, and key findings from three gradient plot networks that are part of this infrastructure. The SuperSite was established in 2012 in the 160,000 km² Great Western Woodlands region, in a collaboration involving 12 organisations. This region is globally significant for its largely intact, diverse landscapes, including the world's largest Mediterranean-climate woodlands and highly diverse sandplain shrublands. The dominant woodland eucalypts are fire-sensitive, requiring hundreds of years to regrow after fire. Old-growth woodlands are highly valued by Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, and managing impacts of climate change and the increasing extent of intense fires are key regional management challenges. Like other TERN SuperSites, the Great Western Woodlands TERN SuperSite includes a core eddy-covariance flux tower measuring exchanges of carbon, water and energy between the vegetation and atmosphere, along with additional environmental and biodiversity monitoring around the tower. The broader SuperSite incorporates three gradient plot networks. Two of these represent aridity gradients, in sandplains and woodlands, informing regional climate adaptation and biodiversity management by characterising biodiversity turnover along spatial climate gradients and acting as sentinels for ecosystem change over time. For example, the sandplains transect has demonstrated extremely high spatial turnover rates in plant species, that challenge traditional approaches to biodiversity conservation. The third gradient plot network represents a 400-year fire-age gradient in Eucalyptus salubris woodlands. It has enabled characterisation of post-fire recovery of vegetation, birds and invertebrates over multi-century timeframes, and provided tools that are directly informing management to reduce stand-replacing fires in eucalypt woodlands. By building regional partnerships and applying globally or nationally consistent methodologies to regional scale questions, ecological observatories have the power not only to detect national and global scale trends in biodiversity and ecosystems, but to directly inform environmental decisions that are critical at regional scales.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.49-59
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• 2024

Biodegradable coating urea plays an important role in reducing the non-pollutants in agroecosystems, maximizing the plant nutrient utilization efficiency and slow-releasing nitrogen. Herein, the objective of this study was to investigate the nitrogen-releasing patterns and greenhouse gas emissions on different biodegradable coating urea. The treatments consisted of the control as an application of chemical fertilizers, NBCF as the non-biodegradable coating urea, NB60, and MDS as biodegradable coating urea. As a result of this study, the maximum accumulated total nitrogen (TN) concentration in the NBCF was higher at 33% than one in the NB60 during the precipitation periods. Its leaching period in the NCBF was prolonged for day 10 compared to the NB60. TN and NO₃-N releasing patterns in the NBCF and NB60 were fitted well on linear types(R²≥0.991), but their control and MDS were fitted well on Sigmoid curves(R²≥0.994) with high releasing concentration in the MDS compared to the control during leaching periods. For the greenhouse gas emissions, CH₄ emissions in the NBCF, NB60, and MDS were increased at 0.38%, 11.36%, and 5.91%, and N₂O emissions were also increased at 50.5%, 32.4%, 58.8% as compared to the control, respectively. Therefore, application of biodegradable polymer coating urea might mitigate the non-point pollutants in agro-ecosystem.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.17-23
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• 2024

Background: Honey bees play a crucial role in pollination and ecological balance. Apis mellifera L. colonies, especially those located in specific geographic regions, such as the palm garden in Eastern Thailand, are susceptible to potential threats from microbial contaminants. Understanding and detecting microbial organisms in these beehives is essential for the preservation of bee health, honey production, and the broader ecosystem. However, the problem of microbial infection and antibiotic-resistant bacteria is more severe and continuously increasing, resulting in a health, economic, and social crisis. The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of microorganisms in A. mellifera beehives in palm gardens in Rayong province, Eastern Thailand. Results: Ten swabs in transport media were swabbed and obtained from different parts of each beehive (1 swab per beehive), for a total of 10 hives. Traditional microbial culture-based methods, biochemical tests, and antimicrobial susceptibility (disc-diffusion) tests were used to detect microbial organisms and antibiotic resistance in bacteria. The swab tests from nine beehives resulted in the detection of Gram-positive bacteria (63.64%), Gram-negative bacteria (27.27%), and fungi/yeast (9.09%). These microorganisms are classified as a group of coagulase-negative Staphylococcus spp. and made up 40.91% of the bacteria discovered. Other bacteria found were Coryneform bacteria (13.64%), Pantoea spp. (13.64%), Bacillus spp. (9.09%), yeast (9.09%), glucose non-fermentative Gram-negative bacilli (9.09%), and Pseudomonas spp. (4.55%). However, due to the traditional culture-based and 0biochemical tests usually used to identify the microbial organisms in clinical specimens and the limitation of identifying some environmental microbial species, the results of the antimicrobial susceptibility test cannot reveal if the organism is resistant or susceptible to the drug. Nevertheless, drug-sensitive inhibition zones were formed with each antibiotic agent. Conclusions: Overall, the study supports prevention, healthcare, and public health systems. The contamination of microorganisms in the beehives may affect the quality of honey and other bee products or even the health of the beekeeper. To avoid this kind of contamination, it is therefore necessary to wear personal protective equipment while harvesting honey and other bee products.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.7
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• pp.2875-2880
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• 2024

The development of nuclear power plants is in three phases. The first phase is a consideration before the decision on the NPP construction program is approved, the second phase is the preparatory work for making contracts and preparing for the construction of NPP after the NPP construction policy is approved, and the third phase is contracting, licensing and building the first NPP. As a volcanically active country, Indonesia contains over 130 active volcanoes that are part of the Pacific Ring of Fire. The volcanic aspect is one of the safety factors considered while deciding the location of an NPP. Research on the potential of natural external risks to the determination of nuclear power plants in Indonesia, including the volcanic aspect, has been conducted based on the safety reference or safety guide of the IAEA and the Nuclear Energy Regulatory Body (BAPETEN) Regulation. Due to technological advancements, safety needs have evolved so the existing Indonesia National Standard (SNI) must be updated to comply with BAPETEN regulations. The substance in SNI 18-2034-1990 relating to volcanic features seems less relevant in actual conditions, given that more complete and exact criteria for determining a site guarantee the safety and health of residents and surrounding the environment site. The study intends to conduct a gap analysis of volcanic issues in SNI and volcanic regulations. The method used is identification requirements for volcanic aspects in SNI 18-2034-1990 about Determining Site of Nuclear Reactor Guidance with BAPETEN Chairman Regulation (BCR) number 4 of 2018 about Nuclear Installation Site Evaluation Safety Provisions and BCR number 5 of 2015 about Evaluation of Nuclear Installation Sites for Volcanic Aspects, and analysis uses a qualitative method of inductive techniques. The outcome of this research applies to suggesting a revision of SNI number 18-2034-1990, especially the volcanic aspect.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.10
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• pp.4184-4194
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• 2024

New technologies in polymer synthesis and pipe extrusion equipment have led to the commercialization of high-performance, large-diameter, thick-wall high density polyethylene (HDPE) pipes. They have been used in the field of seawater transport and cooling to replace metal pipes, due to their advantages of high corrosion resistance and extensibility. Connection of HDPE pipe is important as it determines the safety of the entire piping system. Butt fusion welding is commonly used for HDPE pipe connection but may cause the formation of weak points in the welded joints, interfering the reliability of the pipeline system in the application of nuclear power plants. At present, there is a lack of research on evaluating the performance of welded joint for large-diameter thick-wall HDPE pipes made by butt fusion-welding. The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of three different butt fusion-welding processes, i.e., single low pressure (SLP), single high pressure (SHP) and dual low pressure (DLP), by evaluating the performance of their welded joints, including characterizing tensile strength, extensibility, crystallinity and hardness. In specific, a thick-wall HDPE pipe with OD of 812.8 mm and wall thickness of 74 mm which is certified for nuclear safety class was used for study. Representative specimen from the outer, middle and inner part across the wall of the main pipe body and welded joints were taken for testing. Different test methods and specimens were designed to assess the feasibility of evaluating the welding performance from different welding process. The results showed that the mechanical properties of different locations of the welded joints were different, and the tensile strength and fracture energy of the middle part of the joint were lower than that of the inner and outer parts, which could be caused by the difference in the crystallinity and thickness of the melting zone influenced by welding processes, as can be seen from the analysis of DSC test and morphology observation. Hardness testing was conducted on the section of the welded joints, and it revealed that the micromechanical properties of the welded joints in the region of the heat-affected zone were enhanced significantly, which may be due to the annealing effect caused by welding process. In summary, The DLP process resulted in the best extensibility of the welded joints among three processes, suggesting that the joining pressure from welding process plays an important role in affecting the extensibility of the welded joints.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.95-106
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• 1998

To reduce the environmental contamination and to utilize fly ash massively produced from the coal power plant every year, we synthesized the artificial zeolite using fly ash treated with alkaline, and then analyzed the mineralogical and morphological properties by X-ray, IR, and SEM. The amount of $NH_4{^+}$, $K^+$, and $H_2PO_4{^-}$ adsorbed by the fly ash and the artificial zeolite were determined with reaction time, amount of adsorbate used, ion concentrations. The results obtained from the pot experiments packed with the top soil, amended with granulated artificial zeolite which was made by treatment of 4% polyvinylalcohol, showed that CEC of the artificial zeolite was $257.7cmol^+kg^{-1}$, that was almost 36 times greater than that of fly ash. The ratio of $SiO_2/Al_2O_3$ decreased but the amount of Na increased. The physico-chemical properties analyzed by X-ray, IT, and SEM represented that the artificial zeolite synthesized had a similar morphological structure to that of the natural zeolite. The structures of the artificial zeolite had a significantly enlarged surface having a lot of pores, while the fly ash looked like spherical smooth shape with having not pores on the surface. Thus, the artificial zeolite was successfully synthesized. The results of adsorption isotherms of fly ash and artificial zeolite showed that the amount of $NH_4{^+}$, $K^+$, and $H_2PO_4{^-}$ adsorbed increased as the equilibrium concentration increased, while $NH_4{^+}$ was strongly adsorbed on the surface of fly ash and artificial zeolite than that of $K^+$. The most distinctive growth of Chinese cabbage was found from the top soil(NPK + soils + 20% of granulated artificial zeolite + 5% of compost). Therefore, we concluded that one of the most effective methods to effectively recycle a fly ash was to make the artificial zeolite as we did in this experiment.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.111-118
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• 1986

Sysnthesis and accumulation pattern or nonstructural carbohydrates in orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) cv. Potomac and Baraula, perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) cv. Reveille and Semperweide and meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis Huds.) cv. Cosmos 11 and N.F.G. were studied under different meteorological environments and cutting managements. The field experiments were conducted as a split plot design with three cutting regimes of 6-7 cuts at grzing stage, 4-5 cuts at silage stage and 3 cuts at hay stage in Korea and West Germany from 1975 to 1979. The results obtained are summarized as follows: 1. Accumlation of nonstructural carbohydrates in temperate grasses was influenced by grass species and regional climatic environments. Total nonstructural carbohydrates (TNC) of orchardgrass, perennial ryegrass and meadow fescue in Korea, taken as average of all cutting regimes, were shown a value of 4.39%, 6.08% and 8.01%, respectively, while those under cool summer climatic condition in West Germany accumulated to 10.42% (orchardgrass), 18.02% (perennial ryegrass) and 12.73% (meadow fescue). 2. Nonstructural carbohydrates in orchardgrass were accumulated mainly as mono-and disaccharose, while those in perennial ryegrass resreved as fructosan. The contents of fructosan and mono-and disaccharose were 1.34% and 3.04% for orchardgrass, 3.25% and 2.83% for perenninal ryegrass, respectively. Meadow fescue had a concentration of 3.93% fructosan and 4.08% mono-and disaccharose. 3. Synthesis and accumulation of nonstructural carbohydrates in temperate grasses were negative associated with increasing of air temperature (P$\leq$ 0.1%). Under hot stress during summer season in Korea, the contents of fructosan, mono-and disaccharose were decreased to about 0.34% nd 1.28% from a value of 1.34% and 2.69% in spring season. In Freising and Braunschweig, the concentration of reserved carbohydrates was less influenced by growing season. 4. Synthesis and accumulation pattern of nonstructural carbohydrates were shown a great respons to cutting frequency of the plants. Frequent cutting system under high temperature lowered the accumulation of reserved carbohydrates, especially fructosan and also caused to decrease the plant regrowth. However, under cool temperature, it shows a less differences of tructosan, mono-and disaccharose in the plants at all cutting systems.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.199-212
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• 2007

If a type IP-2 transport package were to be subjected to a free drop test and a penetration test under the normal conditions of transport, it should prevent a loss or dispersal of the radioactive contents and a more than 20% increase in the maximum radiation level at any external surface of the package. In this paper, we suggested the analytic method to evaluate the structural safety of a type IP-2 transport package using a thick steel plate for a structure part and a bolt for tying a bolt. Using an analysis a loss or dispersal of the radioactive contents and a loss of shielding integrity were confirmed for two kinds of type IP-2 transport packages to transport radioactive waste drums from a waste facility to a temporary storage site in a nuclear power plant. Under the free drop condition the maximum average stress at the bolts and the maximum opening displacement of a lid were compared with the tensile stress of a bolt and the steps in a lid, which were made to avoid a streaming radiation in the shielding path, to evaluate a loss or dispersal of radioactive waste contents. Also a loss of shielding integrity was evaluated using the maximum decrease in a shielding thickness. To verify the impact dynamic analysis for free drop test condition and evaluate experimentally the safety of two kinds of type IP-2 transport packages, free drop tests were conducted with various drop directions. For the tests we examined the failure of bolts and the deformation of flange to evaluate a loss or dispersal of radioactive material and measured the shielding thickness using a ultrasonic thickness gauge to assess a loss of shielding integrity. The strains and accelerations acquired from tests were compared with those by analyses to verify the impact dynamic analysis. The analytic results were larger than the those of test so that the analysis showed the conservative results. Finally, we evaluated the safety of the type IP-2 transport package under the stacking test condition using a finite element analysis. Under the stacking test condition, the maximum Tresca stress of the shielding material was 1/3 of the yielding stress. Two kinds of a type IP-2 transport package were safe for the free drop test condition and the stacking test condition.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.181-190
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• 2008

To response climate change and Kyoto protocol and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, marine geological storage of $CO_2$ is regarded as one of the most promising option. Marine geological storage of $CO_2$ is to capture $CO_2$ from major point sources(eg. power plant), to transport to the storage sites and to store $CO_2$ into the marine geological structure such as deep sea saline aquifer. To design a reliable $CO_2$ marine geological storage system, it is necessary to perform numerical process simulation using thermodynamic equation of state. The purpose of this paper is to compare and analyse the relevant equations of state including ideal, BWRS, PR, PRBM and SRK equation of state. To evaluate the predictive accuracy of the equation of the state, we compared numerical calculation results with reference experimental data. Ideal and SRK equation of state did not predict the density behavior above $29.85^{\circ}C$, 60 bar. Especially, they showed maximum 100% error in supercritical state. BWRS equation of state did not predict the density behavior between $60{\sim}80\;bar$ and near critical temperature. On the other hand, PR and PRBM equation of state showed good predictive capability in supercritical state. Since the thermodynamic conditions of $CO_2$ reservoir sites correspond to supercritical state(above $31.1^{\circ}C$ and 73.9 bar), we conclude that it is recommended to use PR and PRBM equation of state in designing of $CO_2$ marine geological storage process.