• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.171-184
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• 2016

In order to assess the level of contamination and identify the priority contaminants in the Busan coast, intensive sediment sampling was conducted and persistent organic pollutants and heavy metals were analyzed. The Sediment Quality Index (SQI) was derived based on the contaminant data by comparing with Sediment Quality Guidelines (SQGs) established in Korea, Canada, and Australia/New Zealand. Toxic contaminants were found to be widely distributed across the coast. Among organic contaminants, PAHs showed the highest concentration, followed by butyltins, nonylphenols, PBDEs, DDTs, PCBs, HCHs and CHLs. Heavy metals were also abundantly detected with the highest concentration of Zn followed by Cu > Cr > Pb > Ni > As > Cd > Hg. Compared to organic contaminants, most heavy metals, except for Cu and Hg, were homogeneously distributed along the coast in a good relationship with total organic carbon of sediment particles. In general, the concentrations of organic compounds and heavy metals were highest at the inner part of harbor areas with a tendency to decline from inside areas to the outside, indicating the high loading of pollutants from harbors. A high exceedance for low-SQGs and high-SQGs was found for TBT, p'-DDT, p,p'-DDD, Cu and Zn. The SQI scores calculated from low-SQGs and high-SQGs were in the range of 18-100 and 54-100, respectively. The inner part of Busan Harbor, Dadaepo Harbor, and Gamcheon Harbor were observed as being regions of concern. Overall, TBT, Cu, and p,p'-DDT were the chemicals most frequently exceeding SQGs and influencing SQI scores.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.157-163
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• 2020

Calmodulin (CaM) mediates cellular Ca²⁺ signals in the defense responses of plants. We previously reported that GmCaM-4 and 5 are involved in salicylic acid-independent activation of disease resistance responses in soybean (Glycine max). Here, we generated a GmCaM-4 cDNA construct under the control of the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S promoter and transformed this construct into potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). The constitutive over-expression of GmCaM-4 in potato induced high-level expression of pathogenesis-related (PR) genes, such as PR-2, PR-3, PR-5, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), and proteinase inhibitorII (pinII). In addition, the transgenic potato plants exhibited enhanced resistance against a bacterial pathogen, Erwinia carotovora ssp. Carotovora (ECC), that causes soft rot disease and showed spontaneous lesion phenotypes on their leaves. These results strongly suggest that a CaM protein in soybean, GmCaM-4, plays an important role in the response of potato plants to pathogen defense signaling.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.151-159
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• 2012

The potential repository domains for A-KRS (Advanced Korean Reference Disposal System for High Level Wastes) in geological characteristics of KURT (KAERI Underground Research Tunnel) facility site were proposed to develop a repository system design and to perform the safety assessment. The host rock of KURT facility site is one of major Mesozoic plutonic rocks in Korean peninsula, two-mica granite, which was influenced by hydrothermal alteration. The topographical features control the flow lines of surface and groundwater toward south-easterly and all waters discharge to Geum River. Fracture zones distributed in study site are classified into order 2 magnitude and their dominant orientations are N-S and E-W strike. From the geological features and fracture zones, the potential repository domains for A-KRS were determined spatially based on the following conditions: (1) fracture zone must not cross the repository; and (2) the repository must stay away from the fracture zones greater than 50 m. The western region of the fracture zones in the N-S direction with a depth below 200 m from the surface was sufficient for A-KRS repository. Because most of the fracture zones in N-S direction were inclined toward the east, we expected to find a homogeneous rock mass in the western region rather than in the eastern region. The lower left domain of potential domains has more suitable geological and hydrogeological conditions for A-KRS repository.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.405-418
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• 2019

Based on spent fuels characteristics from domestic nuclear power plants and a disposal scenario from the current basic plan for high-level radioactive waste management, an improved disposal system has been proposed that enhances disposal efficiency and economic effectiveness compared to the existing disposal system. For this purpose, two disposal canisters concepts were derived from the length of the spent fuel generated from the nuclear power plants. In the disposal scenario, the acceptable amount of decay heat for each disposal container was determined, taking into account the discharge and disposal times of spent fuels in accordance with the current basic plan. Based on the determined decay heat of the two types of disposal canisters and the associated disposal system, thermal stability analyses were performed to confirm their suitability to the proposed disposal system design requirement and disposal efficiency assessment. The results of this study confirm 20% reduction in the disposal area and 20% increase in disposal density for the proposed disposal system compared to the existing system. These results can be used to establish a spent fuel management policy and to design a viable commercial disposal system.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.301-308
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• 2018

Anthropogenic radioactive noble gases formed by nuclear fission are significant indicators used to monitor the nuclear activity of neighboring countries. In particular, radioactive xenon, owing to its abundant generation and short half-life, can be used to detect nuclear testing, and radioactive krypton has been used as a tracer to monitor the reprocessing of nuclear fuels. Released radioactive noble gases are in the atmosphere at infinitesimal amounts due to their dilution in the air and their short half-life decay. Therefore, to obtain reliable and significant data when performing measurement of noble gases in the atmosphere, the minimum detectable activity (MDA) for noble gases should be defined as low as possible. In this study, the MDA values for radioactive xenon and krypton were theoretically obtained based on the BfS-IAR system by collecting both noble gases simultaneously. In addition, various MDA methods, confidence level and analysis conditions were suggested to reduce and optimize MDA with an assessment of the factors affecting MDA. The current investigation indicated that maximizing the pretreatment efficiency and performance maintenance of the counter were the most important aspects for Xe. In the case of Kr, since sample activities are much higher than those of Xe, it is possible to change the target MDA or to simplification of the analysis system.

• Proceedings of the Korean Radioactive Waste Society Conference
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.321-331
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• 2005

Recently. three-dimensional models have been used for aquatic dispersion of radioactive effluents in relation to nuclear power plant siting based on the Notice No. 2003-12 'Guideline for investigating and assessing hydrological and aquatic characteristics of nuclear facility site' of the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) in Korea. Several nuclear power plants have been under construction or planed. which are Shin-Korl Unit 1 and 2, Shin-Wolsong Unit 1 and 2, and Shln-Ulchin Unit 1 and 2. For assessing the aquatic dispersion of radionuclides released from the above nuclear power plants, it is necessary to know the coastal currents around sites which are affected by circulation of East Sea. In this study, a three dimensional hydrodynamic model for the circulation of the East Sea of Korea has been developed as the first Phase, which Is based on the RIAMOM. The model uses the primitive equation with hydrostatic approximation, and uses Arakawa-B grid system horizontally and Z-coordinate vertically. Model domain is $126.5^{\circ}E\;to\;142.5^{\circ}E$ of east longitude and $33^{\circ}N\;and\;52^{\circ}N$ of the north latitude. The space of the horizontal grid was $1/12^{\circ}$ to longitude and latitude direction and vortical level was divided to 20. This model uses Generalized Arakawa Scheme. Slant Advection, and Mode-Splitting Method. The input data were from JODC, KNFRDI, and ECMWF. The model ing results are in fairly good agreement with schematic patterns of the surface circulation in the East Sea The local current model and aquatic dispersion model of the coastal region will be developed as the second phase. The oceanic dispersion experiments will be also tarried out by using ARGO Drifter around a nuclear pelter plant site.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.293-301
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• 2010

Optical fiber cable, as a sensor, was installed on the wall of KAERI(Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute) Underground Research Tunnel(KURT) in order to monitor the physical stability of the tunnel, which was constructed for technical development and demonstration of radioactive waste disposal. This monitoring system has two simultaneous measurements of temperature and strain over time using Brillouin backscatter. According to the results of the monitoring from Jan. 2008 to Nov. 2009, there is no significant displacement or movement at the tunnel wall However, the cumulative volume of total strain increased slightly as time passes with the comparison of the reference observation, which was measured in Jan. 2008. The change in cumulative volume of total strain indicates that the strain level had been affected by saturation and de-saturation phenomena due to groundwater fluctuation at several points at KURT. This system is based on the distributed sensing technique concept, not point sensing. By using this system, a displacement can be detected with the range from $20{\mu}{\varepsilon}$ to $28,000{\mu}{\varepsilon}$ every 1m interval in minimum. A temperature variation can be monitored at every 0.5m interval with the resolution of 0.01 in minimum. Based on the study, this monitoring system is potentially applicable to long term monitoring systems for radioactive waste disposal project as well as other structures and underground openings.

• Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.64-74
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• 2018

Small high-resolution Earth observation satellites require precise optical alignment at the submicron level. However, misalignments can occur due to the influence of external factors during the launch and operation despite the sufficient alignment processes that take place before the launch. Thus, satellites need to realign their optical elements in orbit in what is known as a refocusing process to compensate for any misalignments. Refocusing algorithms developed for satellites have only considered de-space, which is the most sensitive factor with respect to image quality. However, the existing algorithms can cause correction error when inner and external forces generate tilt amount in an optical system. The present work suggests an improved online refocusing algorithm by considering the tilting effect for application in the case of a de-spaced and tilted optical system. In addition, the algorithm is considered to be efficient in terms of time and cost because it is designed to be used as an online method that does not require ground communication.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.76-85
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• 2012

Geochemical and ecological properties of remediated soil and gas exhausted from a low-temperature thermal desorption (LTTD) process were analyzed to assess the environmental impact of LTTD treatment. Soil characteristics were examined with regard to the chemical (EC, CEC, and organic matter) and the ecological (dehydrogenase activity, germination rate of Brassica juncea, and growth of Eisenia andrei) properties. The exhaust gases were analyzed based on the Air Quality Act in Korea as well as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and mixed odor. Level of organic Organic matter of the soil treated by LTTD process was slightly decreased compared to that of the original soil because the heating temperature ($200^{\circ}C$) and retention time (less than 15 minutes) were neither high nor long enough for the oxidation of organic matter. The LTTD process results in reducing TPH of the contaminated soil from $5,133{\pm}508$ mg/kg to $272{\pm}107$ mg/kg while preserving soil properties. Analysis results of the exhaust gases from the LTTD process satisfied discharge standard of Air Quality Law in Korea. Concentration of VOCs including acetaldehyde, propionaldehyde, butyraldehyde and valeraldehyde in circulation gas volatilized from contaminated soil were effectively reduced in the regenerative thermal oxidizer and all satisfied the legal standards. Showing ecologically improved properties of contaminated soil after LTTD process and environmentally tolerable impact of the exhaust gas, LTTD treatment of TPH-contaminated soil is an environmentally acceptable technology.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.36 no.10
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• pp.33-39
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• 2020

A geological repository has been considered as an option for the disposal of high-level radioactive waste (HLW). The HLW is disposed in a host rock at a depth of 500~1,000 meters below the ground surface based on the concept of engineered barrier system (EBS). The EBS is composed of a disposal canister, buffer material, backfill material, and gap-filling material. The compacted bentonite buffer is very important since it can restrain the release of radionuclide and protect the canister from the inflow of ground water. The saturation of the buffer decreases because high temperature in a disposal canister is released into the surrounding buffer material, but saturation of the buffer increases because of the inflow of ground water. The unsaturated properties of the buffer are critical input parameters for the entire safety assessment of the engineered barrier system. In Korea, Gyeongju bentonite can be considered as a candidate buffer material, but there are few test results of the unsaturated properties considering temperature variation. Therefore, this paper conducted experiment of soil-water characteristic curve for the Gyeongju compacted bentonite considering temperature variation under a constant water content condition. The relative error showed approximately 2% between test results and modified van-Genuchten model values.