• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.47-52
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• 2013

Despite the usefulness of nitrogen isotope tracer experiments in nitrogen cycling studies, there are not such many measurement data mainly due to the difficulties in analytical methods. Although Gardner et al. (1996) developed a relatively simple and accurate method that can measure ammonium isotope using HPLC and used it widely in various N dynamics studies, the technique was not adopted to other laboratories. An HPLC-RTS system using updated HPLC pumps that can perform the same measurements as that of Gardner et al. (1996) was built. The result of standard sample showed linear increase of RTS with the $^{15}N$ proportions. Centroid retention times calculated with Matlab$^{(R)}$ program enhanced the linearity of the response. In a sea water incubation experiment spiked with $^{15}NH_4{^+}$, the uptake and regeneration of ammonium could be separately estimated using the temporal change of $^{15}N/^{14}N$.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.138-147
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• 2020

The Singil Stream, flowing into an artificial lake, Lake Shihwa (South Korea), experiences a strong anthropogenic pressure with continuous organic matter (OM) inputs from rural, urban, and industrial areas. In this study, we investigated suspended particulate matter (SPM) and streambed sediments collected along the Singil Stream in 2014 and 2016, by applying a dual element approach (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) to identify OM sources. The SPM and streambed sediment samples from the indusrial area showed higher organic carbon and nitrogen concentrations (or contents) than those from the other areas, with distinctively lower δ¹⁵N values. Accordingly, our dual element approach indicates that the industrial area was the predominant OM source influencing OM quality and thus water quality of the Singil Stream flowing into Lake Shihwa during the study periods. However, further studies are necessary to better constrain OM sources in the Singil Stream since OM sources from the industrial area appear to be complex.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.523-529
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• 2016

An isotope dilution method using $[U-^{13}C]glucose$ and $[1-^{13}C]leucine$ (Leu) was conducted to evaluate the effects of rice straw supplemented with urea and molasses (RSUM-diet) on plasma glucose and Leu turnover rates in sheep. Nitrogen (N) balance, rumen fermentation characteristics and blood metabolite concentrations were also determined. Four sheep were fed either mixed hay (MH-diet), or a RSUM-diet with a crossover design for two 21 days period. Feed allowance was computed on the basis of metabolizable energy at maintenance level. The isotope dilution method was performed as the primed-continuous infusion on day 21 of each dietary period. Nitrogen intake was lower (p = 0.01) for the RSUM-diet and N digestibility did not differ (p = 0.57) between diets. Concentrations of rumen total volatile fatty acids tended to be higher (p = 0.09) for the RSUM-diet than the MH-diet. Acetate concentration in the rumen did not differ (p = 0.38) between diets, whereas propionate concentration was higher (p = 0.01) for the RSUM-diet compared to the MH-diet. Turnover rates as well as concentrations of plasma glucose and Leu did not differ between diets. It can be concluded that kinetics of plasma glucose and Leu metabolism were comparable between the RSUM-diet and the MH-diet, and rumen fermentation characteristics were improved in sheep fed the RSUM-diet compared to the MH-diet.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.14-20
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• 2009

Classification of land uses and analysis of nitrogen isotope fractionation in groundwater nitrate were carried out to examine its contamination sources in Jeju province. ${\delta}^{15}N$ values of urea (hydrolyzed with urease), ammonium sulfate, compost, water from septic tank were -1.7, -5.8, +14.1, and +24.0‰, respectively. Urea, when it was directly distillated, showed -16.5‰. Based on these ${\delta}^{15}N$ values, sources of nitrate could be classified as originated from chemical fertilizers with ${\delta}^{15}N$ values below +5‰ and as from animal manure or municipal waste with ${\delta}^{15}N$ values over +10‰. Results of ${\delta}^{15}N$ analysis of 33 wells showed that most wells had the chemical fertilizers as their dominant contamination source. However, some wells were contaminated by other sources: animal wastes or municipal wastes. Some wells were also contaminated by the combined sources of nitrate. It was also demonstrated that ${\delta}^{15}N$ analysis could be a useful tool even in the case where no apparent contamination source is found.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.31-42
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• 2022

Dissolved organic matter (DOM), which changes according to various factors, is ubiquitously present from natural environments to engineered treatment systems. Only limited information is available regarding the environmental functions of DOM after bulk analyses are only applied for characterization. In this paper, latest DOM analytical techniques are briefly introduced, which include fluorescence excitation-emission matrix with parallel factor analysis (EEM-PARAFAC), size-exclusion chromatography with an organic carbon detector (SEC-OCD), carbon/nitrogen stable-isotope ratio, and Fourier transform-ion cyclotron resonance-mass spectroscopy (FT-ICR-MS). Recent examples of using advanced analyses to interpret the phenomena associated with DOM occurring in natural and engineered systems are presented here. Through EEM-PARAFAC, different components like protein-like, fulvic-like, and humic-like can be identified and tracked individually through the investigated systems. SEC-OCD allows researchers to quantify different size fractions. FT-ICR-MS provides thousands of molecular formulas present in bulk DOM samples. Lastly, carbon/nitrogen stable-isotope ratio offers reasonable tools for tracking the sources in environments. We also discuss the advantages and weakness of the above-mentioned characterizing tools. Specifically, they focus on single environmental factors (different sourced-DOM and interaction of sediment-pore water) or simple changes after individual treatment processes. Through collaboration with the advanced techniques later, they help the researchers to better understand environmental behaviors in aquatic systems and serve as essential tools for addressing various pending problems associated with DOM.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.453-457
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• 2010

To investigate the difference in N isotope ratio ($^{15}N/^{14}N$, expressed as ${\delta}^{15}N$) among N sources (synthetic fertilizer, livestock manure, and manure compost), eight synthetic fertilizer, four livestock manure, and thirty-seven compost samples were collected and analyzed for ${\delta}^{15}N$. The mean ${\delta}^{15}N$ values of N sources were $-1.5{\pm}0.5$‰ (range: -3.9 to +0.5‰) for synthetic fertilizer, $+6.3{\pm}0.4$‰ (+5.3 to +7.2‰) for manure, and $+16.0{\pm}0.4$‰ (+9.3 to +20.9‰) for compost. The lower ${\delta}^{15}N$ of synthetic fertilizer was attributed to its N source, atmospheric $N_2$ of which ${\delta}^{15}N$ is 0‰ Meanwhile, more $^{15}N$-enrichment of compost than manure was assumed to be resulted from N isotopic fractionation (faster loss of $^{14}N$-bearing compound than $^{15}N$) associated with N loss particularly via $NH_3$ volatilization during composting. Therefore, our study shows that ${\delta}^{15}N$ values could successfully serve in discriminating two major N sources (synthetic fertilizer and compost) in agricultural system.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.39
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• pp.39-58
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• 2006

This study reviews recent shell midden studies in Korea. With more interest in biological materials, recent shell midden studies have attempted to reconstruct palaeoenvironment, and understand subsistence economy, the formation processes and function of sites and past culture. Especially, one of the major topics in prehistoric Korean shell midden studies is the transitional process from hunter-gatherer to farmer. To solve these questions related with shell middens, new sampling strategies and excavation techniques have been adopted. Analytical methods combined with scientifical technologies also have been introduced to shell middle studies. These methods indude stable isotope analyses(Oxygen isotope and Carbon and Nitrogen isotope analyses) and growth-line analysis, etc.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.99 no.3
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• pp.353-358
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• 2010

In this study, we investigated the relationship of tree-ring growth with total nitrogen content, and stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes from the core samples of Pinus koraiensis (35-year-old). Annual ring width showed significant positive correlations with the ${\delta}^{13}C$ (P=0.003). The total nitrogen content (P=0.024), and the ${\delta}^{13}C$ content was also correlated with total nitrogen content (P=0.038), indicating that the growth of P. koraiensis was stimulated as the contents of both ${\delta}^{13}C$ and total nitrogen were increased. On the other hand, the less the ${\delta}^{15}N$ content and the C/N ratio were, the larger the annual ring width was. Moreover the families with relatively better growth performance contained the higher levels of ${\delta}^{13}C$ in the xylem compared to other families. These results suggest that the ${\delta}^{13}C$ and total nitrogen contents are the important determinants in the growth performance of P. koraiensis.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.348-353
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• 2008

Oxygen isotope has not been used actively in water mass studies because of difficulties on the analysis though it has advantages as a water mass tracer. The most popular method to analysis the oxygen isotope ratio in water samples is equilibration method: isotopic equilibrium of water with $CO_2$ at constant temperature. The precision of oxygen isotope analysis using commercial automatic $H_2O/CO_2$ equilibrator is ${\pm}0.1%o$. This value is not sufficient for studies in open ocean. The object of this study is to improve the analytical precision enough to apply open ocean studies by modification of the instrument. When sample gas is transferred by the pressure difference, the fractionation which is preferential transportation of light isotope can be occurred since the long transportation path between the equilibrator and mass spectrometer. And the The biggest source of error during the analysis is long distance and large volume of the pathway of sample gas between. Therefore, liquid nitrogen trap and high vacuum system are introduced to the system. The precisions of 14 time analysis of same seawater sample are ${\pm}0.081%o$ and ${\pm}0.021%o$ by built-in system and by modified system in this study, respectively.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.26-32
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• 2019

An analysis of groundwater quality is significant for monitoring and managing water contamination and groundwater system. For the purpose of those, the geochemical characteristics of groundwater were studied over the concern for water quality, water type and origin of nitrate nitrogen. Total colony counts were detected in 11 out of 20 samples, and the average value was 31.73 CFU/ml. Range and average of NO₃-N concentrations were 0.9~24.0 mg/L and 8.3 mg/L. All groundwater types were found to be Ca²⁺-HCO₃^-. The range and average of NO₃-N were 0.2~17.4 mg/L and 8.7 mg/L, and those of δ¹⁵N were 1.7~8.9‰, and 5.0‰. Careful consideration is required for evaluating the origin of nitrogen when NO₃-N concentration is low. In general, noticeable difference between rockbed and alluvial water was not found. The ranges of nitrate origins by chemical fertilizer, livestock manure and domestic sewage, and natural soil were 29.6~76.4%, 14.2~58.9% and 2.6~7.0%, and the average values of those were 57.4%, 37.4%, and 5.3%, respectively. Origin of nitrate was affected by more chemical fertilizer than the other parameters. Rockbed water was more affected by chemical fertilizer than alluvial water.