• Journal of Radiopharmaceuticals and Molecular Probes
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.119-125
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• 2021

⁸²Sr for ⁸²Rb generator was produced through the irradiation of the proton beam on the ^nat.RbCI target at the target irradiation facility installed at the end of the Rl-dedicated beamline of the 100 MeV proton linear accelerator of KOMAC (Korea Multi-purpose Accelerator Complex). The average current of the proton beam was 1.2 µA for irradiation time of 150 min. For the separation and purification of the ⁸²Sr from ^nat.RbCI irradiated, Chelex-100 resin was used. The activities of ⁸²Sr in the irradiated ^nat.RbCI target solution and after purification were 45.29 µCi and 43.4 µCi, respectively. The separation and purification yield was 95.8%. As an adsorbent to be filled in the generator for ⁸²Sr adsorption hydrous tin oxide was selected. The adsorption yield of ⁸²Sr into the generator adsorbent was > 99 %, and the total amount of ⁸²Sr adsorbed to the generator was 21.6 µCi as of the day of the ⁸²Rb elution experiment. When the elution amount was 22 mL, the maximum⁸²Rb elution yield was 93.3%, and the elution yield increased as the flow rate increased. After the eluted ⁸²Rb was filled in the correction phantom of the small PET for animals, a PET image was taken. The image scan time was set to 5 min, and the phantom PET image was successfully obtained. As results of impurity analysis on eluted ⁸²Rb using ICP-MS, ^nat.Rb stable isotopes that compete in vivo of ⁸²Rb were identified as undetected levels and were determined to be No-Carrier-Added (NCA).

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.1-11
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• 2023

Groundwater-surface water interaction was evaluated using water quality parameters (temperature and electrical conductivity), distributions of stable water isotopes (δ²H and δ ¹⁸O), and Rn-222 in lagoon water, groundwater, and seawater at three coastal lagoons (Songji (SJ), Youngrang (YR), and Sunpo (SP) Lagoon) in South Korea. From the results of composition and distributions of δ²H and δ¹⁸O, it was found that groundwater fraction of lagoon water in YR Lagoon (76%) was slightly higher than those of SJ (42%), and SP (63%) Lagoon. Based on Rn-222 mass balance model, groundwater discharge into SJ Lagoon in summer 2020 was estimated to be (3.2±1.1)×10³ m³ day^-1, which showed a similar or an order of magnitude higher than the results of previous studies conducted in coastal lagoons. This study can provide advanced techniques to evaluate groundwater-surface water interaction in coastal lagoons, wetlands, and lakes, and help to determine the effects of groundwater on coastal ecosystems.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.59-67
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• 2023

Background: This study aims to reevaluate natural radiation exposure, following up on our previous study conducted in 2019, and to assess the associated risk of lung cancer to the public residing in the gold mining areas of Betare-Oya, east Cameroon, and its vicinity. Materials and Methods: Gamma-ray spectra collected using a 7.62 cm×7.62 cm in NaI(Tl) scintillation spectrometer during a car-borne survey, in situ measurements and laboratory measurements performed in previous studies were used to determine the outdoor absorbed dose rate in air to evaluate the annual external dose inhaled by the public. For determining internal exposure, radon gas concentrations were measured and used to estimate the inhalation dose while considering the inhalation of radon and its decay products. Results and Discussion: The mean value of the laboratory-measured outdoor gamma dose rate was 47 nGy/hr, which agrees with our previous results (44 nGy/hr) recorded through direct measurements (in situ and car-borne survey). The resulting annual external dose (0.29±0.09 mSv/yr) obtained is similar to that of the previous study (0.33±0.03 mSv/yr). The total inhalation dose resulting from radon isotopes and their decay products ranged between 1.96 and 9.63 mSv/yr with an arithmetic mean of 3.95±1.65 mSv/yr. The resulting excess lung cancer risk was estimated; it ranged from 62 to 216 excess deaths per million persons per year (MPY), 81 to 243 excess deaths per MPY, or 135 excess deaths per MPY, based on whether risk factors reported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, United Nations Scientific Committee on the effects of Atomic Radiation, or International Commission on Radiological Protection were used, respectively. These values are more than double the world average values reported by the same agencies. Conclusion: There is an elevated level of risk of lung cancer from indoor radon in locations close to the Betare-Oya gold mining region in east Cameroon. Therefore, educating the public on the harmful effects of radon exposure and considering some remedial actions for protection against radon and its progenies is necessary.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• 2021.10a
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• pp.140-142
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• 2021

Mobile communication technology after 5th generation requires high speed, hyper-connection, and low latency communication. In order to meet technical requirements for secure hyper-connectivity, low-spec IoT devices that are considered the end of IoT services must also be able to provide the same level of security as high-spec servers. For the purpose of performing these security functions, it is required for cryptographic keys to have the necessary degree of stability in cryptographic algorithms. Cryptographic keys are usually generated from cryptographic random number generators. At this time, good noise sources are needed to generate random numbers, and hardware random number generators such as TRNG are used because it is difficult for the low-spec device environment to obtain sufficient noise sources. In this paper we used the chip which is based on quantum characteristics where the decay of radioactive isotopes is unpredictable, and we presented a variety of methods (TRNG) obtaining an entropy source in the form of binary-bit series. In addition, we conducted the NIST SP 800-90B test for the entropy of output values generated by each TRNG to compare the amount of entropy with each method.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.219-226
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• 2007

Glass is frequently encountered as types of materials that are submitted to forensic science laboratories as a result of trace evidence transfers. The repeatability and the reproducibility of trace element analysis were presented. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed on laser ablation inductively coupled plasma spectrometric analyses of the fragments to identify the source. Pairwise comparisons were completed for all samples. In a pairwise comparison, each sample was compared to each other for a possible [n(n-1)/2] (n : numbers of the samples) total comparison to associate/discriminate samples using Tukey's HSD method. The aim of this study was to determine the utility of LA-ICP-MS for multi-element analysis of forensic samples. The 12 glass fragments from two manufacturers were collected and analyzed to identify the source. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed on 31 elements in NIST 612 Trace elements in Glass. Elements were classified into four categories defined by the combination of precision and variation of inter-samples. We selected 11 elements, 209Bi, 90Zr, 121Sb, 178Hf, 59Co, 238U, 208Pb, 140Ce, 118Sn, 49Ti and 137Ba. 6 pairs out of 66 possible pairs were not distinguished when compared by 137Ba (p<0.05). However, all samples were distinguished using both 49Ti and 137Ba (p<0.05). In conclusion, multi-elemental analysis with LA-ICP-MS is a potential tecnique for the discrimination of forensic samples.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.415-421
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• 2009

A study was performed to investigate the isobaric effects of impurities in isotope measurement of gadolinium by TIMS. Especially, the ratio of $^{155}Gd/^{158}Gd$ showed the higher value than that of natural gadolinium and also decreased as the measuring time increased. This phenomenon is considered to be due to the oxide form of La ($LaO^+$, m/z=155) causing to create a serious bias on the measurement of $^{155}Gd$ abundance by La as an impurity, and due to $LaO^+$ produced more than the $Gd^+$ in the early time which disappears as the time goes on because of lower melting point and ionization potential of La than Gd. Although isobaric effects from Ba($BaO^+$), Ce($CeO^+$), Sm($SmO^+$), La($LaO^+$), and $K_4{^+}$(m/z=156)-cluster were detected even when blank rhenium filaments were used, these could be avoided by preconditioning(baking out) the filament. And we found that the measurement of $GdO^+$ instead of $Gd^+$ is more suitable in avoiding the isobaric effect from impurities such as La, Ce and Ba in the measurement of Gd isotope only in case of absence or extremely low level of Yb, Sm, Dy, Er, Lu.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.218-228
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• 2023

Invasive predators are one of the most damaging species groups to biodiversity. In the Nakdong River, the lake skygazer Chanodichthys erythropterus is a dominant species that is fiercely carnivorous and a concern for commercial fish. Although it is important to understand the ecological characteristics related to the feeding habit, studies on the diets of lake skygazer in Nakdong River have been limited to studies of gut contents. In this study, the trophic position (TP) and feeding habits of C. erythropterus were studied by calculating TPs using samples collected from 13 sites throughout the Nakdong River. Compound-specific isotopic analysis of amino acids provided reliable TPs from the muscle of Lake skygazer C. erythropterus without any isotope baseline. The results were approximately 3 to 3.6 and suggesting a carnivorous but size-dependent prey variation. In particular, the TP variability of C. erythropterus observed in the Nakdong River showed that it had a selective feeding habit compared to carnivorous fish species of relatively similar trophic levels.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.312-338
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• 2023

The underground disposal facility for spent nuclear fuel demands a specialized design, distinct from conventional practices, to ensure long-term thermal, mechanical, and hydraulic integrity, preventing the release of radioactive isotopes from high-temperature spent nuclear fuel. SKB has established design criteria for such facilities and executed practical design implementations for Forsmark. Moreover, in response to subsurface uncertainty, SKB has proposed an empirical approach involving monitoring and adaptive design modifications, alongside stepwise development. SKB has further introduced a unique support system, categorizing ground types and behaviors and aligning them with corresponding support types to confirm safety through comparative analyses against existing systems. POSIVA has pursued a comparable approach, developing a support system for Onkalo while accounting for distinct geological characteristics compared to Forsmark. This demonstrates the potential for domestic implementation of spent nuclear fuel disposal facility designs and the establishment of a support system adapted to national attributes.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.770-781
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• 2021

Objective: Chemical exchange-dependent saturation transfer (CEST) MRI is sensitive for detecting solid-like proteins and may detect changes in the levels of mobile proteins and peptides in tissues. The objective of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of chemical exchange proton pools using the CEST MRI technique in patients with dementia. Materials and Methods: Our institutional review board approved this cross-sectional prospective study and informed consent was obtained from all participants. This study included 41 subjects (19 with dementia and 22 without dementia). Complete CEST data of the brain were obtained using a three-dimensional gradient and spin-echo sequence to map CEST indices, such as amide, amine, hydroxyl, and magnetization transfer ratio asymmetry (MTR_asym) values, using six-pool Lorentzian fitting. Statistical analyses of CEST indices were performed to evaluate group comparisons, their correlations with gray matter volume (GMV) and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results: Amine signals (0.029 for non-dementia, 0.046 for dementia, p = 0.011 at hippocampus) and MTR_asym values at 3 ppm (0.748 for non-dementia, 1.138 for dementia, p = 0.022 at hippocampus), and 3.5 ppm (0.463 for non-dementia, 0.875 for dementia, p = 0.029 at hippocampus) were significantly higher in the dementia group than in the non-dementia group. Most CEST indices were not significantly correlated with GMV; however, except amide, most indices were significantly correlated with the MMSE scores. The classification power of most CEST indices was lower than that of GMV but adding one of the CEST indices in GMV improved the classification between the subject groups. The largest improvement was seen in the MTR_asym values at 2 ppm in the anterior cingulate (area under the ROC curve = 0.981), with a sensitivity of 100 and a specificity of 90.91. Conclusion: CEST MRI potentially allows noninvasive image alterations in the Alzheimer's disease brain without injecting isotopes for monitoring different disease states and may provide a new imaging biomarker in the future.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.343-352
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• 2024

Composition analysis and lead isotope ratio analysis were conducted to determine the coloring machanism on lead glaze used in Gyeongbokgung Palace and the provenance of the lead used as a flux. 31 blue tiles were classified into green, blue, and yellow. The chemical analysis of lead glazes on the blue tiles revealed that Pb, Si, and Cu were the main components, and trace amounts of Fe, Ca, Mg, and Al were detected. The Cu content was high in blue lead glaze, while Cu was not detected in yellow or brown lead glaze which instead had high Fe content. Therefore, it was found that lead was used as a flux and copper oxide as a coloring agent in the production of lead glaze. In addition, the lead isotope ratios of the lead glaze used in the blue tiles of Gyeongbokgung palace were plotted in zone 3 on the distribution map of lead isotope ratios on the Korean Peninsula, which includes Chungcheong-do and Jeolla-do. It is presumed that the flux for the lead glaze was sourced from galena found in these regions. The lead isotope ratios of the green glaze from the Three Kingdoms and Unified Silla period were mostly located outside the Korean Peninsula, showing that the provenance of lead had changed. In particular, the lead isotope ratios of the green glaze from the Three Kingdoms and Unified Silla period suggest exchange with neighboring countries. Also the lead isotope ratios of the green glazes from the same temple are different, so it is believed that they were made at different times or in different workshops.