• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.485-495
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• 2018

Background: The geographical origin of Panax ginseng Meyer, a valuable medicinal plant, is important to both ginseng producers and consumers in the context of economic profit and human health benefits. We, therefore, aimed to discriminate between the cultivation regions of ginseng using the stable isotope ratios of C, N, O, and S, which are abundant bioelements in living organisms. Methods: Six Korean ginseng cultivars (3-yr-old roots) were collected from five different regions in Korea. The C, N, O, and S stable isotope ratios in ginseng roots were measured by isotope ratio mass spectrometry, and then these isotope ratio profiles were statistically analyzed using chemometrics. Results: The various isotope ratios found in P. ginseng roots were significantly influenced by region, cultivar, and the interactions between these two factors ($p{\leq}0.001$). The variation in ${\delta}^{15}N$ and ${\delta}^{13}C$ in ginseng roots was significant for discriminating between different ginseng cultivation regions, and ${\delta}^{18}O$ and ${\delta}^{34}S$ were also affected by both altitude and proximity to coastal areas. Chemometric model results tested in this study provided discrimination between the majority of different cultivation regions. Based on the external validation, this chemometric model also showed good model performance ($R^2=0.853$ and $Q^2=0.738$). Conclusion: Our case study elucidates the variation of C, N, O, and S stable isotope ratios in ginseng root depending on cultivation region. Hence, the analysis of stable isotope ratios is a suitable tool for discrimination between the regional origins of ginseng samples from Korea, with potential application to other countries.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.537-544
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• 2017

Stable carbon isotope ratio of carbon dioxide (${\delta}^{13}C_{CO2}$) is used as an important indicator in the researches for global climate change and carbon capture and sequestration technology. The ${\delta}^{13}C$ value has been usually analyzed with Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer (IRMS). Recently, the use of Laser Absorption Spectrometry (LAS) is increasing because of the cost efficiency and field applicability. The purpose of this study was to suggest practical procedures to prepare laboratory reference gases for ${\delta}^{13}C_{CO2}$ analysis using LAS. $CO_2$ gas was adjusted to have the concentrations within the analytical range. Then, the concentration of $CO_2$ was assessed in a lab approved by the Korea Laboratory Accreditation Scheme and the ${\delta}^{13}C_{CO2}$ value was measured by IRMS. When the instrument ran over 12 hours, the ${\delta}^{13}C$ values were drifted up to ${\pm}10$‰ if the concentration of $CO_2$ was shifted up to 1.0% of relative standard deviation. Therefore, periodical investigation of analytical suitability and correction should be conducted. Because ${\delta}^{13}C_{CO2}$ showed the dependency on $CO_2$ concentration, we suggested the equation for calibrating the concentration effect. After calibration, ${\delta}^{13}C_{CO2}$ was well matched with the result of IRMS within ${\pm}0.52$‰.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.293-297
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• 2009

The abuse of methamphetamine (MA) is one of the most serious drug abuses in Asia. And, the prevention of precursor production for abuse drug is one of the most effective drug control system. Isotope ratio analysis at natural abundance levels have been used to establish the environmental source or the geographic origin of various biological and nonbiological materials. Ephedrine, the precursor of MA, is produced by one of three methods; extraction from Ephedra plants, full chemical synthesis or via a semi-synthetic process involving the fermentation of sugar, followed by amination. We investigated the origin of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine based on the carbon and nitrogen values for nineteen pharmaceutical powder materials (PPMs) obtained from pharmaceutical company in Korea by stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry coupled to an elemental analyser (EA-IRMS). The carbon delta values for the ephedrine and pseudoephedrine were -24.21~-22.72 (mean=-23.72) $^{\cir}/_{\circ\circ}$ and -23.79~-22.71 (mean=-23.48) $^{\cir}/_{\circ\circ}$. The nitrogen delta values were 3.51~5.55 (4.43) $^{\cir}/_{\circ\circ}$ and 2.24~8.22 (5.42) $^{\cir}/_{\circ\circ}$. These results indicate that PPMs are semi-synthetic products. Therefore the origins of ephedrine(natural, semi-synthetic or synthetic) could be discriminated by using carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios. we are sure tat this stable isotope ratio analysis can discriminate the origins of precursors of methamphetamine.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.19 no.spc
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• pp.161-164
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• 2011

Nitrogen fixation by legumes can be valuable sources for organic farming. This study was to investigate the effect of different legume mixtures on nitrogen fixation and transfer to grasses on spring paddy field. Three different mixtures were used (rye+hairy vetch, Italian ryegrass+crimson clover, oat+pea) in a randomized complete block design with three replications and sowed in pots with different sowing rate (5:5 rye:hairy vetch,7:3=Italian:crimson, 6:4=oat:pea) on early March. $(^{15}NH_4)SO_4$ solution at. 99.8 atom%$^{15}N$ was applied to the each pot at the rate of 2kg N $ha^{-1}$ on $16^{th}$ April. Forage were harvested at ground level in heading stage and separated into legume and grass. Total N content and $^{15}N$ value were determined using a continuous flow stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry. DM yield of rye+vetch, Italian+crimson and oat+pea were 6,607, 3,213 and 4,312kg/ha, respectively. Proportion of N from fixation was 0.73(rye+vetch), 0.42(Italian+crimson) and 0.93(oat+pea). The percentages of N transfer from legume to grass were from 61% to 24% in different method by treatments and -35% to 21% in isotope dilution method.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.209-216
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• 2019

Lead isotope ratios in horse-shaped bronze buckles excavated from the Songjeol-dong site in Cheongju and the mid-western region of the Korean Peninsula have been determined by thermal ionization mass spectrometry. The lead isotope ratios of the samples with data provenance were plotted in zone 3 of the South Korean galena map. The results indicated that the horse-shaped bronze buckles could be made using galena located in the same area as the archaeological site. These results can be used as basic data for comparison purposes in future studies on the manufacturing technology and provenance of bronze artifacts.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.32-48
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• 2018

The mechanisms of $CH_4$ uptake into and release from the ocean are not well understood due mainly to complexity of the biogeochemical cycle and to lack of regional-scale and/or process-scale observations in the marine boundary layers. Without complete understanding of oceanic mechanisms to control the carbon balance and cycles on a various spatial and temporal scales, however, it is difficult to predict future perturbation of oceanic carbon levels and its influence on the global and regional climates. High frequency, high precision continuous measurements for carbon isotopic compositions from dissolved $CH_4$ in the surface ocean and marine atmosphere can provide additional information about the flux pathways and production/consumption processes occurring in the boundary of two large reservoirs. This paper introduces recent advances on optical instruments for real time $CH_4$ isotope analysis to diagnose potential applications for in situ, continuous measurements of carbon isotopic composition of dissolved $CH_4$. Commercially available, three laser absorption spectrometers - quantum cascade laser spectroscopy (QCLAS), off-axis integrated cavity output spectrometer (OA-ICOS), and cavity ring-down spectrometer (CRDS) are discussed in comparison with the conventional isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS). Details of functioning and performance of a CRDS isotope instrument for atmospheric ${\delta}^{13}C-CH_4$ are also given, showing its capability to detect localized methane emission sources.

• 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.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.318-324
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• 2016

In order to study the effect of barley, Italian ryegrass (IRG), and legume mixture on nitrogen fixation and transfer to grasses on spring paddy field, an experiment was carried out from Oct. 2006 to June 2007 in Naju, Korea. A split plot design with three replications was used for the experiment. One reference plot was assigned for each treatment to determine nitrogen fixation. Main plots consisted of Chinese milk vetch, crimson clover, forage pea, and hairy vetch with barley, respectively. Subplot treatment were barley or IRG with four seeding ratio of legumes (50:50, 60:40, 70:30, and 80:20). To estimate N fixation by legumes, $^{15}N$ isotope dilution technique was used. $^{15}N$ fertilizer [$(^{15}NH_4)_2SO_4$ solution at 99.8 atom N] was uniformly applied to $600cm^2$ in the middle of each plot on April 15, 2007. Plots were harvest by hand on June 8, 2007. Dried sample were ground to a fine power and analyzed for total N isotope N. $^{15}N$ was determined using elemental analyzer-isotope ratio mass spectrometry. The calculation of N transfer was determined with the isotope dilution method. The content of N was higher in legumes than that in barley or Italian ryegrass. Nitrogen level in forage pea was significantly higher than that of other legumes. There were significantly differences in N content between legumes in IRG mixture. Atom % $^{15}N$ excess was significantly different in legumes with barley. The 60:40 sub plot had higher (p<0.05) atom % $^{15}N$ than other seeding ratio treatments. The enrichment ranged from 0 to 0.58. Compared to barley, the enrichment of IRG with its accompanied legumes was higher, ranging from 0.38 to 1.0. The N derived from the atmosphere (Ndfa) ranged from 0% to 49.5% with barley-legume mixture. It ranged from 0 to 60.5% in IRG-legume plots. N transfer from legumes to neighboring grasses was 12.3 to 90.9 kg/ha for barley-legume mixture and 31.7 to 107.8 kg/ha for IRG plots. IRG plots showed higher N transfer for IRG-legume mixture in general based on difference method. Based on $^{15}N$ dilution method, the N transfer was 0 to 36.1 kg/ha for barley-legume mixture and 0 to 50.6 kg/ha for IRG plots. There was a tendency toward higher N transfer on the difference method than that of the $^{15}N$ dilution method.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.417-426
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• 2002

Inductively Coupled Plasma Dynamic Reaction Cell Quadrupole Mass Spectrometry (ICP-DRC-QMS) was characterized for the detection of the six naturally occurring calcium isotopes. The effect of the operating conditions of the DRC system was studied to get the best signal-to-noise ratio. This experiment shows that the potentially interfering ions such as $Ar^+$, ${CO_2}^+$, ${NO_2}^+$, $CNO^+$ at the calcium masses m/z 40, 42, 43, 44 and 48 were removed by flowing $NH_3$ gas at the rate of 0.7 mL/min $NH_3$ as reactive cell gas in the DRC with a RPq value (rejection parameter) of 0.6. The limits of detection for $^{40}Ca$, $^{42}Ca$, $^{43}Ca$, $^{44}Ca$, and $^{48}Ca$ were 1, 29, 169, 34, and 15 pg/mL, respectively. This method was applied to the determination of calcium in synthetic food digest samples (CCQM-P13) provided by LGC for international comparison. The isotope dilution method was used for the determination of calcium in the samples. The uncertainty evaluation was performed according to the ISO/GUM and EURACHEM guidelines. The determined mean concentration and its expanded uncertainty of calcium was ($66.4{\pm}1.2$) mg/kg. In order to assess our method, two reference samples, Riverine Water reference sample (NRCC SLRS-3) and Trace Elements in Water reference sample (NIST SRM 1643d), were analyzed.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.167-172
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• 2007

Manure recycle is an emerging issue in agriculture in Korea these days. Farmers are keeping eye on legume mixture with grasses for nitrogen fixation and transfer to companion crops by legumes. We had a trial to investigate the effect of different legume mixtures on nitrogen fixation and transfer in spring soil. The treatment was arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Three different mixtures were used(rye+hairy vetch, Italian ryegrass+crimson clover, oat+pea) and sowed in pots with paddy soil from western part of Korea(Seo Chon County). Pots with rye+vetch were transplanted from field of RDA(rural development administration) in Suwon on 2 February 2007 and other mixture treatments were sowed on early March with different sowing rate(7:3=Italian:crimson, 6:4=oat:pea). $(^{15}NH_4)_2SO_4$ solution at. $99.8\;atom%^{15}N$ was applied to the each pot at the rate of $2kg\;N\;ha^{-1}$. Application was done on 6 April at rye+vetch pots and remainder were applied on April 16. Forage were harvested from each pot at ground level in heading stage and separated into legume and grass. Total N content and $^{15}N$ value were determined using a continuous flow stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry. DM yield of rye+vetch, Italian+crimson and oat+pea were 6,607, 3,213 and 4,312 kg/ha, respectively. Proportion of N from fixation was 0.73(rye+vetch), 0.42(Italian+crimson) and 0.93(oat+pea). The percentages of N transfer from legume to grass were from 61% to 24% in different method by treatment and -35% to 21% in isotope dilution method.