• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2011.05a
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• pp.15-15
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• 2011

As you know, boron compounds, borax ($Na_2B_4O_5(OH)_4{\cdot}8H_2O$) etc. were known thousands of years ago. As for natural boron, it has two naturally occurring and stable isotopes, boron 11 ($^{11}B$) and boron 10 ($^{10}B$). The neutron absorption $^{10}B$ is included about 19~20% with 80~81% $^{11}B$. Boron is similar to carbon in its capability to form stable covalently bonded molecular networks. The mass difference results in a wide range of ${\beta}$ values between the $^{11}B$ and $^{10}B$. The $^{10}B$ isotope, stable with 5 neutrons is excellent at capturing thermal neutrons. For example, it is possible to decrease a thermal neutron required for the nuclear reaction of uranium 235 ($^{235}U$). If $^{10}B$ absorbs a neutron ($^1n$), it will change to $^7Li+^1{\alpha}$ (${\alpha}$ ray, like $^4He$) with prompt ${\gamma}$ ray from $^{11}B$ $^{11}B$ (equation 1). $$^{10}B+^1n\;{\rightarrow}\;^{11}B\;{\rightarrow}\; prompt \;{\gamma}\;ray (478 keV), \;^7Li+4{\alpha}\;(4He)\;\;\;\;{\cdots}\; (1)$$ If about 1% boron is added to stainless steel, it is known that a neutron shielding effect will be 3 times the boron free steel. Enriched boron or $^{10}B$ is used in both radiation shielding and in boron neutron capture therapy. Then, $^{10}B$ is used for reactivity control and in emergency shutdown systems in nuclear reactors. Furthermore, boron carbide, $B_4C$, is used as the charge of a nuclear fission reaction control rod material and neutron cover material for nuclear reactors. The $B_4C$ powder of natural B composition is used as a charge of a control material of a boiling water reactor (BWR) which occupies commercial power reactors in nuclear power generation. The $B_4C$ sintered body which adjusted $^{10}B$ concentration is used as a charge of a control material of the fast breeder reactor (FBR) currently developed aiming at establishment of a nuclear fuel cycle. In this study for new boron compound, silicon boride ceramics for capturing thermal neutrons, preparation and characterization of both silicon tetraboride ($SiB_4$) and silicon hexaboride ($SiB_6$) and ceramics produced by sintering were investigated in order to determine the suitability of this material for nuclear power generation. The relative density increased with increasing sintering temperature. With a sintering temperature of 1,923 K, a sintered body having a relative density of more than 99% was obtained. The Vickers hardness increased with increasing sintering temperature. The best result was a Vickers hardness of 28 GPa for the $SiB_6$ sintered at 1,923K for 1 h. The high temperature Vickers hardness of the $SiB_6$ sintered body changed from 28 to 12 GPa in the temperature range of room temperature to 1,273 K. The thermal conductivity of the SiB6 sintered body changed from 9.1 to 2.4 W/mK in the range of room temperature to 1,273 K.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.34-44
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• 2015

Fish fauna, difference of stable isotope ratio between freshwater and seawater, and trophic guilds of freshwater fishes were investigated in the lower Geum River. The study was conducted in 2011, and total study area was about 30 km of 20 km upstream and 10 km downstream from the Geum River estuary barrage. Only freshwater fishes were used for analyzing trophic guilds, and discriminant function analysis (DFA) was utilized to reclassify trophic guilds based on stable isotope ratio. Fish fauna in freshwater and seawater areas were entirely different each other, but small number of migratory species such as Coilia nasus and Chelon haematocheilus occurred both areas. Other species were not collected in the different areas because they did not have physiological ability to adapt different salinity concentrations. Stable isotope ration of two areas were different considerably due to food sources. Estuary and seawater fishes uptake food sources originated from marine, and freshwater fishes were from freshwater and terrestrial. Some migratory species showed reverse stable isotope ratio. Even though they collected in freshwater, they showed stable isotope ratio of seawater. This is because ecological characteristics of each species. Trophic guilds of freshwater fishes were reclassified by DFA, and showed slight difference with literatures. However, because this result is related with ontogenetic shift of species, more studies are needed to explain exact and correct trophic guilds. Stable isotope ratio can be changed among regions, seasons and ontogenetic stage, thus we always consider these aspects when analyzing results to get a right answer.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.10-17
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• 2017

In this study, the evolution and origin of major dissolved constituents of crystalline bedrock groundwater in a coastal area were evaluated using multivariate statistical and groundwater quality analyses. The groundwater types mostly belonged to the $Na(Ca)-HCO_3$ and $Ca-HCO_3$ types, indicating the effect of cation exchange. Stable isotopes of water showed two areas divided by first and secondary evaporative effects, indicating a pattern of rapid hydrological cycling. Saturation indices of minerals showed undersaturation states. Thus, the degree of evolution of groundwater is suggested as in the low to intermediate stage, based on field and laboratory analytical conditions. According to the principal component analysis (PCA) results, the chemical components of EC, $Ca^{2+}$, $Mg^{2+}$, $K^+$, $HCO_3{^-}$, $SO{_4}^{2-}$ (PCA 1), $F^-$ (PCA 3), $SiO_2$ (PCA 4), and $Fe^{2+}$ (PCA 5) are derived from various water-rock interactions. However, $NO_3{^-}$, $Na^+$, and $Cl^-$ (PCA 2) represented the chemical characteristics of both anthropogenic sources and natural sea spray.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.139-150
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• 1996

The Yucheon Bi deposits at Cheongha, Gyeongsangbugdo, is of a middle Paleogene (49 Ma) vein type, and is hosted in sandstone and shale of Banyawal formation in Cretaceous age. Based on mineral paragenesis, vein structure and mineral assemblages, two minera1ization stages were distinguished. The stage I consists of quartz with small amount of chlorite, pyrite, epidote, hal1oysite, vermiculite, serpentine and rutile associated with sericitization. The stage II is characterized by Bi minera1ization such as bismuthinite, Bi-Cu-Pb-S mineral, tetradymite, native gold, pyrite, pyrrhotite, arsenopyrite, wolframite, rutile, hematite, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, galena with alteration of sericite, chlorite, K-feldspar, albite and epidote. Fluid inclusion data indicate that fluid temperature and NaCl equivalent wt.% salinity range from 431 to $150^{\circ}C$ and from 19.2 to 0.18wt.% in the stage II. Evidence of boiling during the base-metal minera1ization indicates pressures 241 to 260 bars. Sulfur fugacity($-log\;f_{S2}$) deduced by mineral assemblages and compositions ranges from 5.1 to 5.7atm in early stage, from > 8.4 atm in middle stage and from 13.5 to 19.3 atm in late stage. It suggests that complex histories of progressive coo1ing, dilution and boiling were occurred by the mixing of the fluids. The ${\delta}^{34}S$, ${\delta}^{18}O$ and ${\delta}D$ data range from 2.5 to 3.9%, -0.5 to -4.1% and -29.7 to -47%, respectively. It indicated that hydrothermal fluids may be magmatic origin with boiling and mixing of meteoric water increasing paragenetic time.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.57-65
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• 2000

Partial enteral nutrition (PEN) supplemented with insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) to neonatal piglets receiving parenteral nutrition increases lactase-phlorizin hydrolase (LPH) activity, but not LPH mRNA. The goal of the current study was to investigate the mechanism by which IGF-I up-regulates LPH activity. We hypothesized that IGF-I regulates LPH synthesis post-transcriptionally. Methods: Newborn piglets (n=15) received 100% parenteral nutrition (TPN), 80% parenteral nutrition + 20% PEN (PEN), or PEN + IGF-I (1.0mg/kg/d). On day 7, two stable isotopes of leucine, [$^2 H_3$]-leucine and [$^{13}C_1$]-L-leucine were intravenously administered to measure mucosal protein and brush LPH (BB LPH) synthesis. Results: Weight gain, nutrient intake and jejunal weight and length were similar among the treatment groups. PEN increased mucosal weight, villus width and cross-sectional area, LPH activity, mRNA expression and the abundance of proLPHh compared to 100% TPN (p<0.05). IGF-I further increased mucosal weight, LPH activity and LPH activity per unit BB LPH ~2-fold over PEN alone (p<0.05), but did not affect LPH mRNA or the abundance of proLPHh or mature LPH. Isotopic enrichment of [$^2 H_3$]-leucine and [$^{13}C_1$]-L-leucine in plasma, mucosal protein and LPH precursors, and the fractional and absolute synthesis rates of mucosal protein and LPH were similar among the treatment groups. Total mucosal protein synthesis was increased 60% (p<0.05) and LPH synthesis tended (p=0.14) to be greater in the IGF-I treated animals compared to the other two groups. Conclusions: The primary mechanism by which IGF-I up-regulates LPH may be post-translational, either via reducing LPH turnover, or by specifically altering LPH activity.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.10
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• pp.1333-1339
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• 2010

The present study was conducted to determine plasma acetate, glucose and protein metabolism using dilution of isotopes [[1-$^{13}C$]Na acetate, [U-$^{13}C$]glucose and [1-$^{13}C$]leucine (Leu)] in sheep fed rice straw (Oriza japonica L.). Four sheep were assigned to either rice straw (RS-diet) or mixed hay (MH-diet) with a crossover design. Nitrogen (N) intake and N digestibility were lower (p = 0.002 and p = 0.02, respectively) for RS-diet than MH-diet, but N retention did not differ (p>0.10) between the diets. Concentrations of rumen acetate tended to be lower (p = 0.07), and propionate was higher (p = 0.02) for RS-diet than MH-diet. Concentrations of plasma lactate, non-esterified fatty acids, Leu and ${\alpha}$-ketoisocaproic acid did not differ (p>0.10) between the diets, but plasma glucose and urea concentrations were lower (p = 0.01 and p = 0.003, respectively) for RS-diet than MH-diet. Turnover rate of plasma acetate did not differ (p = 0.39) between the diets, and plasma glucose and Leu turnover rates were numerically lower (p = 0.15 and p = 0.14, respectively) for RS-diet than MH-diet. Whole body protein synthesis and degradation did not differ (p>0.10) between the diets. Thus it can be concluded that the intermediary metabolism of acetate, glucose and protein on rice straw is comparable to mixed hay in sheep.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.59-65
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• 2014

There is currently no reference for intake of lysine for Chinese people; therefore, the present study was conducted to determine the lysine requirement of Chinese young male adults on a habitual Chinese mixed diet based on the modified indicator amino acid oxidation method. Seven young men with a mean age of $23.7{\pm}2.2$ years that were healthy based on questionnaire, physical examinations and screening tests were evaluated. Subjects were evaluated over five consecutive 7 day periods, during which time they were administered decreasing amounts of lysine via the diet (65, 55, 45, 35, $25mg{\cdot}kg^{-1}{\cdot}d^{-1}$). Subjects were allowed to adapt from day 1 to 6 and the isotopes were measured on day 7 in each period. The subjects' body weights, body compositions and plasma proteins were also examined during the study. Amino acid kinetics were measured based on the indicator amino acid oxidation technique using the $^{13}CO_2$ release rate and phenylalanine oxidation rate to estimate lysine requirements. Body weights, body compositions, and plasma proteins of subjects did not change significantly relative to those at baseline. The mean and the upper 95% CI of lysine requirements of Chinese habitual diets were determined to be 58.41 and $70.09mg{\cdot}kg^{-1}{\cdot}d^{-1}$, respectively, based on the $^{13}CO_2$ release rate and 54.28 and $65.14mg{\cdot}kg^{-1}{\cdot}d^{-1}$, respectively, based on the phenylalanine oxidation rate.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.38 no.4 s.173
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• pp.421-434
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• 2005

Abstract Based onthe characteristics of Carlin-type gold deposit in Nevada district, a potential in Korea is evaluated to the Yemi area where is structurally controlled by folds and trust fault. The fault of high angles are combined with a more permeable rocks such as the Yemi breccia and laminated silty limestone. The pattern of enrichment factors for Tl, Sb, As, Ag, Pb, Zn, Cu, Mo and W of limestones in the southern area are geochemically similar with those reported from the Carlin-type Bold deposit. Moreover, the oxygen and carbon isotopes show a hydrothermal alteration is widely developed in this area. According to the result of geophysical interpretation, stable isotope, alteration mineralogy, geochemical study, and geological structure, this mineralized zone may be extended to the M direction, so a detailed systematic exploration is required to identify this alteration zone.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2023.05a
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• pp.247-247
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• 2023

Coastal lagoons play a crucial role in water exchange, water quality, and biodiversity. It is essential to monitor and understand the dynamics of hydrogeochemistry in lagoon water and its groundwater to preserve and sustainably manage the groundwater-dependent ecosystems like coastal lagoons. This study investigated the spatial and temporal hydrogeochemical characteristics of coastal lagoon (Songjiho) and groundwater on the east coast of Korea. The concentrations of major ions, water isotopes, and nutrients (nitrogen and dissolved organic carbon) in lagoon water and groundwater were periodically monitored for one year. The study revealed that major ions and total dissolved solids (TDS) concentration were higher at deeper depths of aquifers and closer to the coastal area. The hydrogeochemical characteristics of coastal lagoon and groundwater chemistry were classified into two types, Ca-Mg-HCO₃ and Na-Cl, based on their spatial location from inland to coastal area. Moreover, the hydrogeochemical characteristics of coastal lagoons and groundwater varied significantly depending on the season. During the wet season, the increased precipitation and evaporation lead to changes in water chemistry. As a result, the total organic carbon (TOC) of coastal lagoons increases during this season, likely due to increased runoff by rainfall whereas the variation of chemical compositions in the lagoon and groundwater were not significant because there is reduced precipitation, resulting in stable water levels and during the dry season. The study emphasizes the impact of spatial distribution and seasonal changes in precipitation, evaporation, and river discharge on the hydrogeochemical characteristics of the coastal aquifer and lagoon system. Understanding these impacts is crucial for managing and protecting coastal lagoons and groundwater resources.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.1476-1484
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• 2023

Laboratory experiments and point monitoring of reservoir sediments have proven that stable sulfate reduction (SSR) can lower the concentrations of toxic metals and sulfate in acidic groundwater for a long time. Here, we hypothesize that SSR occurred during in situ leaching after uranium mining, which can impact the fate of acid groundwater in an entire region. To test this, we applied a sulfur isotope fractionation method to analyze the mechanism for natural attenuation of contaminated groundwater produced by acid in situ leaching of uranium (Xinjiang, China). The results showed that δ³⁴S increased over time after the cessation of uranium mining, and natural attenuation caused considerable, area-scale immobilization of sulfur corresponding to retention levels of 5.3%-48.3% while simultaneously decreasing the concentration of uranium. Isotopic evidence for SSR in the area, together with evidence for changes of pollutant concentrations, suggest that area-scale SSR is most likely also important at other acid mining sites for uranium, where retention of acid groundwater may be strengthened through natural attenuation. To recapitulate, the sulfur isotope fractionation method constitutes a relatively accurate tool for quantification of spatiotemporal trends for groundwater during migration and transformation resulting from acid in situ leaching of uranium in northern China.