• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.545-559
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• 2023

Nanoparticle strips (NPS) are widely used as external reinforcers for two-way reinforced concrete slabs. However, the Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) of these slabs is a very important issue and was evaluated in this study. This study has been done analytically and numerically to optimize the placement of sensors. The properties of slabs and carbon nanotubes as composite sheets were considered isotopic and orthotropic, respectively. The nonlinear Finite Element Method (FEM) approach and suitable optimal placement of sensor approach were developed as a new MATLAB toolbox called DECOMAC by the authors of this paper. The Suitable multi-objective function was considered in optimized processes based on distributed ECOMAC method. Some common concrete slabs in construction with different aspect ratios were considered as case studies. The dimension and distance of nano strips in retrofitting process were selected according to building codes. The results of Optimal Sensor Placement (OSP) by DECOMAC algorithm on un-retrofitted and retrofitted slabs were compared. The statistical analysis according to the Mann-Whitney criteria shows that there is a significant difference between them (mean P-value = 0.61).

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.52 no.7
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• pp.1532-1536
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• 2020

For ensuring nuclear safeguards, we report the analytical signal-detection performance of thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) with continuous heating for the measurement of isotopic ratios in samples containing ultra-trace amounts of uranium. As methods for detecting uranium signals, peak-jumping mode using a single detector and static mode using multiple detectors were examined with U100 (10% ²³⁵U-enriched) uranium standard samples in the femtogram-to-picogram range. Uranium isotope ratios, n(²³⁵U)/n(²³⁸U), were measured down to levels of 1 fg and 3 fg in static and peak-jumping modes, respectively, while n(²³⁴U)/n(²³⁸U) and n(²³⁶U)/n(²³⁸U) values were measured down to levels of 100 fg in both modes. In addition, the dependency of the ²³⁸U signal intensity on sample quantity exhibited similar tendencies in both modes. The precisions of the isotope ratios obtained in the static mode over all sample ranges used in this study were overall slightly higher than those obtained in peak-jumping mode. These results indicate that isotope ratio measurements by TIMS with continuous heating are almost independent of the detection method, i.e., peak-jumping mode or static mode, which is characteristic of isotope-ratio measurements using the TIMS method with continuous heating. TIMS with continuous heating is advantageous as it exhibits the properties of multiple detectors within a single detector, and is expected to be used in various fields in addition to ensuring nuclear safeguards.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.685-694
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• 2018

We measured ecological niche space (ENS) using carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios of benthic macroinvertebrates to estimate its applicability for large river assessment. In particular, we compared ENSs of selected macroinvertebrates between upper and lower area of Seungchon Weir in Yeongsan River to estimate the impact of weir on biological community. We also measured basic water quality and community indices including benthic macroinvertebrates index (BMI) to estimate their correlations with calculated ENS. ENS was calculated using the Bayesian Stable Isotope in R statistics (package "SIBER"). The results showed that seasonal variations in water quality and community indices were found, but there was no apparent tendency between upper and lower area of the Seungchon Weir in June (before rainy season) and August (after rainy season). However, ENS of benthic macroinvertebrates markedly decreased across the weir in both June and August regardless of changes in water quality. This means the physical change of the stream due to the weir cause decrease of ecological isotopic niche space of benthic macroinvertebrates regardless of water quality, suggesting physical modification by the weir can affect the interaction between habitat condition and macroinvertebrates. Therefore, the ecological isotopic niche space can be a useful supplementary indicator for the river ecosystem assessment.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.439-445
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• 2022

Organic pollutants that contained in stream sediments have origins of mountain soil in natural and cattle manure in human activity. Nitrogen and carbon isotope analysis for mountain soil, cattle manure and stream sediment were performed for contribution evaluation of organic pollutants in Toil stream of Yeongju dam basin. Average carbon isotope ratio(δ¹³C) is -25.17‰, -22.34‰, and -26.39‰ for river sediments, cattle manure and mountain soil, respectively. Result of carbon isotope analysis suggests that river sediments are more affected by acid soils. Average value of the nitrogen isotope ratio (δ¹⁵N) is 9.46% for river sediment, 1.99% for mountain soil, and 19.53% for cattle manure. Result of nitrogen isotopic analysis show that contribution of cattle mature is slightly higher than that of mountain soil in Toil stream sediments.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.543-551
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• 1997

Poongjeon talc deposits is emplaced in dolomite and dolomitic limestone of the Cambro-Ordovician Samtaesan Formation. Ore in Poongjeon is low grade talc and the deposit has been known as the contact metasomatic or hydrothermal replacement type related to the intrusion of late Cretaceous granite in this area. X-ray diffraction, electron microprobe analysis, fluid inclusion and stable isotope analysis were utilized to examine the mineralogy of the ore and the origin of the ore fluid. The ore from Poongjeon mine mainly consists of talc and tremolite with minor amount of illite, vermiculite, smectite, and chlorite-vermiculite mixed layer. Occurrence of ore body indicates that the talc-tremolite ore was formed through the replacement by the $SiO_2$-rich hydrothermal fluid along the bedding and dike boundaries, or contact of amphibolite and basic dike with carbonate rocks. The temperature and pressure of the ore forming fluids at the time of the talc mineralization were estimated as $350^{\circ}C$ and 400 bar, respectively, based on the heating and freezing data of the fluid inclusions in quartz from talc-tremolite veins. During the talc-tremolite formation, fluids were divided into $CO_2$-enriched fluid and $CO_2$-poor fluid from $CO_2$ immiscibility (or effervescence). Oxygen isotope values (${\delta}^{18}O$) of the talc-tremolite fall within a range between 12.2 and 12.9‰. Hydrogen isotope values(${\delta}D$) of the ore range from -60 to -85‰ and $H_2O$ contents range from 2.0 to 3.4 wt.%. ${\delta}^{18}O$ and ${\delta}D$ values of talc ore indicate that the hydrothermal fluid involved in talc-tremolite formation was of igneous origin. Oxygen and hydrogen isotopic exchange between talc ore and the surface water was negligible after talc-tremolite ore formation.

• Mass Spectrometry Letters
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.54-57
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• 2012

Mass spectrometric analysis was carried out using multicollector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS) for the precise and accurate determination of the isotope ratios of ultratrace levels of uranium dissolved in 3% $HNO_3$. We used the certified reference material (CRM) 112-A at a trace level of 100 pg/mL for the uranium isotopic measurement. Multiple collectors were utilized for the simultaneous measurement of uranium isotopes to reduce the signal uncertainty due to variations in the ion beam intensity over time. Mass bias correction was applied to the measured U isotopes to improve the precision and accuracy. Furthermore, elemental standard solution with certified values of platinum, iridium, gold, and thallium dissolved in 3% $HNO_3$ were analyzed to investigate the formation rates of the polyatomic ions of $Ir^{40}$ $Ar^+$, $Pt^{40}$ $Ar^+$, $Tl^{40}$ $Ar^+$, $Au^{40}$ $Ar^+$ for the concentration range of 50-400 pg/mL. Those polyatomic ions have mass-to-charge ratios in the 230-245 m/z region that it would contribute to the increase of background intensity of uranium, thorium, plutonium, and americium isotopes. The effect of the polyatomic ion interference on uranium isotope measurement has been estimated.

• Mass Spectrometry Letters
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.58-61
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• 2012

A method based on flow injection-isotope dilution-cold vapor-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (FI-IDCV-ICP/MS) has been applied to determine trace level of mercury in fly ash. $^{200}Hg$ isotopic spike was added to 0.25 g of BCR176R fly ash and then decomposed by microwave digestion procedure with acid mixture A (8 mL $HNO_3$ + 2 mL HCl + 2 mL HF) and acid mixture B (8 mL $HNO_3$ + 2 mL $HClO_4$ + 2 mL HF) for applying IDMS. Mercury cold vapor was generated by using reductant solution of 0.2% (w/w) $NaBH_4$ and 0.05% (w/w) NaOH. The measurements of n($^{200}Hg$)/n($^{202}Hg$) isotope ratio was made using a quadrupole ICP/MS system. The accuracy in this method was verified by the analysis of certified reference material (CRM) of fly ash (BCR 176R). The indicative value of Hg in BCR 176R fly ash was $1.60{\pm}0.23$ mg/kg (k = 2). The determined values of Hg in BCR 176R fly ash by the method of FI-CV-ID-ICP/MS described in this paper were $1.60{\pm}0.24$ mg/kg (k = 3.18) and the analysis results were in well agreement with the indicative value within the range of uncertainty.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.165-175
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• 2017

In Japan, the primary carbonaceous particles emitted from motor vehicles and waste incinerators have been reduced due to strict regulations against exhaust gas. However, the relative contribution of carbonaceous particles derived from plants and biomass has been increasing. Accordingly, compositional analysis of carbonaceous particles has become increasingly important to determine the sources and types of particles produced. To reveal the sources of the organic particles contained in particulate matter with diameters of ${\leq}2.5{\mu}m$ ($PM_{2.5}$) and the processes involved in their generation, we analyzed molecular marker compounds (2-methyltetrols, cis-pinonic acid, and levoglucosan) derived from the plants and biomass in the $PM_{2.5}$ collected during daytime- and nighttime-sampling periods in summer (July and August) and autumn (November) in Kazo, which is in the northern area of Saitama prefecture, Japan. We also measured $^{14}C$ carbonaceous concentrations in the same $PM_{2.5}$ samples. The concentrations of 2-methyltetrols were higher in the summer than in the autumn. Because the deciduous period overlaps with this decrease in the levels of 2-methyltetrols, we considered the emission source to broad-leaved trees. In contrast, the emission source of the cis-pinonic acid precursor was considered to be conifers, because its concentration remained almost constant throughout the year. The concentration of levoglucosan was considerably increased in the autumn due to frequent biomass open burning. The ratio of plant-derived carbon to total carbon, obtained by measuring of $^{14}C$, in summer $PM_{2.5}$ sample was higher in the nighttime, and could be influenced by anthropogenic sources during the daytime.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.255-263
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• 2012

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are a group of brominated flame retardants (BFRs), which are used in a variety of consumer products. Several of those are produced in large quantities. Their chemical structure similarities to polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), as well as their toxicity, has been studied. PBDEs are persistent and lipophilic, which results in their bioaccumulation in the fatty tissues of organisms and enrichment throughout food chains. In addition, a number of studies also reported high levels of PBDEs in animals and food resulting from the use of contaminated animal feed Public concern about PBDEs levels in animals and food has been raised. Feed contamination by toxic chemicals has been the cause of the contamination of poultry products. The purpose of this study was to evaluate PBDEs in pig feed to search the origin chase of POPs in pigs. Feed samples were obtained wheat from East Europe, corn from South America and America, soybean meal from Korea, America, South America and India and tallow from Korea. The preparation of samples was based on the EPA method 1614. Instrumental analysis was based on the use of high resolution gas chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry (HRGC/HRMS). Quantification was carried out by the isotopic dilution method. The analysis of ${\Sigma}PBDEs$ involved 22 PBDE congeners, including BDE-17, 28, 47, 49, 66, 71, 77, 85, 99, 100, 119, 126, 138, 153, 154, 156, 183, 184, 190, 191, 196 and 197.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.137-143
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• 2004

The fractional synthesis rates(FSR) were measured with 2l-wk and 3l-wk-old broiler breeder pullets and hens to investigate the effect of sexual maturity on FSR. The FSR were obtained from chicken tissues and blood samples using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry(HPLC/MS). A L-l-13C, 15N -leucine saline solution was infused by bolus injection as a tracer into broiler breeder pullets in the experiment. A rapid HPLC/MS method was developed to measure the isotopic enrichments of leucine in plasma, tissue samples, and eggs. The enrichments of stable isotope leucine incorporated into protein and the enrichments of the stable isotope free leucine were measured in liver, breast muscle and blood samples. Two sets of experiments were conducted. In experiment one, 2l-wk-old, sexually immature broiler breeder pullets were divided into groups of three and blood samples were collected at 20 or 30 min intervals until 1.5 h from initial injection. The pullets were sacrificed in groups of three at varying time intervals for 7 h after injection. The liver, breast muscle and blood samples were removed for analysis. The FSR were estimated to be 8.7l%/day for liver, 4.06％/day for breast muscle, and 5.08％/day for blood samples in 30 minutes after injection from the enrichment ratios. In experiment two, sexually matured 3l-wk-old broiler breeder hens were assorted into groups of three and blood samples were obtained at 20 or 30 min intervals for 2 h. The FSR for blood samples were determined. The broiler breeder hens were sacrificed in groups of three at various time intervals until 7 h after injection and liver, breast muscle and blood samples were removed for analysis. The FSR were calculated to be 5.96％/day for liver. Eggs were collected from five chickens daily for 10 days after large bolus injection. The average of total enrichments of stable isotope in egg albumin was increased by 0.064% at 4 days after injection and was back to normal in 7 days.