• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.343-348
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• 2023

Acne is one of the most common skin diseases, mainly occurring in adolescence. The pathophysiology of acne involves not only hormonal, genetic and environmental factors, but also other factors including hyperseborrhea, inflammation, over-keratinization of follicular keratinocytes and overgrowth of Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes). Cannabidiol (CBD) is known to relieve pain, stress and inflammation. Moreover, cannabis extracts containing CBD have been reported to be effective in treating acne. However, the therapeutic effect of CBD on acne remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect and mechanism of CBD on lipogenesis in SEB-1 sebocytes. We treated sebocytes with CBD and found that it not only inhibited lipid synthesis, but also inhibited cell proliferation by inducing apoptosis. We then demonstrated that sterol response element-binding protein-1 (SREBP-1) mediates the inhibitory effect of CBD on lipogenesis. Furthermore, Akt and adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), upstream regulators of SREBP-1, were regulated by CBD treatment. Taken together, our studies demonstrate that CBD inhibits adipogenesis by regulating the Akt/AMPK-SREBP-1 signaling pathway, providing potential for use as a therapeutic agent for acne. Further research is needed to confirm the effect of CBD on inflammation caused by hyperkeratosis, which will increase the possibility of using CBD for acne treatment.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.89-100
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• 2023

We investigated the spatial distribution of heterotrophic bacteria associated with different water masses in the northern East China Sea(ECS) in summer. The surface water masses were divided into the Changjiang Diluted Water (CDW) and high salinity water (HSW). In the CDW region, the concentrations of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and chlorophyll-a (Chl-a), and micro Chl-a contribution were high; and bacterial abundance (BA) and ciliate abundance (CA) were also high. In the HSW region with relatively low DIN concentrations, Chl-a concentration and micro Chl-a contribution were low, but pico Chl-a contribution was increased compared to those in the CDW region. BA did not show any significant difference from the CDW region, but CA was decreased. BA showed a positive correlation with Chl-a concentration in the CDW region; however, it did not show a significant correlation with Chl-a concentration in the HSW region. The ratio of bacterial carbon biomass/phytoplankton carbon biomass was exponentially increased with a decrease in the Chl-a concentration. Compared to the past (1990-2000s), the surface phosphate concentrations and the size of dominant phytoplankton have recently decreased in the ECS. Considering this trend of nutrient decrease and miniaturization of the phytoplankton, our results indicate that changes in the strength of the oligotrophic water mass could alter the function of the microbial food web.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2024

The southwestern part of the East Sea is known to have a high primary productivity compared to those in the northern and eastern parts, which is attributed to nutrients supplies either by Tsushima Warm Current or by coastal upwelling. However, research on the biological pump in this area is limited. We developed machine learning models to estimate net community production (NCP), a measure of biological pump, with high spatial and time scales of 4 km and 8 days, respectively. The models were fed with the input parameters of sea surface temperature, chlorophyll-a, mixed layer depths, and photosynthetically active radiation and trained with observed NCP derived from high resolution measurements of surface O₂/Ar. The root mean square error between the predicted values by the best performing machine model and the observed NCP was 6 mmol O₂ m^-2 d^-1, corresponding to 15% of the average of observed NCP. The NCP in the central part of the Ulleung Basin was highest in March at 49 mmol O₂ m^-2 d^-1 and lowest in June and July at 18 mmol O₂ m^-2 d^-1. These seasonal variations were similar to the vertical nitrate flux based on the ³He gas exchange rate and to the particulate organic carbon flux estimated by the ²³⁴Th disequilibrium method. To expand this method, which produces NCP estimate for spring and summer, to autumn and winter, it is necessary to devise a way to correct bias in NCP by the entrainment of subsurface waters during the seasons.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.151-171
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• 2017

Most of oceanic current maps in the secondary school science and earth science textbooks have been made on the base of extensive in-situ measurements conducted by Japanese oceanographers during 1930s. According to up-to-date scientific knowledge on the currents in the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea (YES), such maps have significant errors and are likely to cause misconceptions to students, thus new schematic map of ocean currents is needed. The currents in the YES change seasonally due to relatively shallow water depths, complex terrain, winds, and tides. These factors make it difficult to construct a unified ocean current map of the YES. Sixteen major items, such as the flow of the Kuroshio Current into the East China Sea and its northward path, the origin of the Tsushima Warm Current and its path into the Korea Strait, the path of Taiwan Warm Current, the Jeju Warm Current, the runoff pattern of the Yangtze River flow, the routes of the northward Yellow Sea Warm Current, the Chinese Coastal Current, and the West Korea Coastal Current off the west coast of the Korean Peninsula, were selected to produce the schematic current map. Review of previous scientific researches, in-depth discussions through academic conferences, expert discussions, and consultations for three years since 2014 enabled us to produce the final ocean current maps for the YES after many revisions. Considering the complexity of the ocean currents, we made seven ocean current maps: two representative current patterns in summer and winter, seasonal current maps for upper layer and lower layer in summer and winter, and one representative surface current map. It is expected that the representative maps of the YES, connected to the current maps of the East Sea and the Northwest Pacific Ocean, would be widely utilized for diverse purposes in the secondary-school textbooks as well as high-level educational purposes and even for scientific scholarly experts.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.20-35
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• 2002

We studied the fishing ground of a yellowtail and oceanographic conditions around Chujado and Marado around Jeju Island from autumn to winter. Also we investigate the forming mechanism of fishing ground around Marado, which shows the best catch of yellowtail near Jeju island. The obtained results are summarized as follow ; 1. When the high temperature water about 15.0∼19.0 in depth of 50m distributed around Chujado and Marado, the fishing ground of Yellowtail is shows a good catch. On the contrary, when the low temperature water about 11.0∼14.0 is shows a poor catch. 2. Fishing grounds of yellowtail by handline fishing are formed with a school of Yellowtail migrating southward from the coastal sea of Korea and slaying around Marado to winter and spawn due to following factors. Firstly, a front of temperature and salinity is formed between inshore water and oceanic water around Marado. Secondly, small-size eddies and excellent horizontal and vortical mix which is created by strong tide and geographical features including irregular underwater ground and an isolated island. An abundant school of yellow tails stays in front of the tide where a good fishing ground was made.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.257-267
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• 2014

The distributions of trace metals in the East Sea were investigated during the R/V Lavrentyev cruise (July 2009) in which four transects from Russia shore to South were conducted to collect 25 surface water samples. The total dissolved concentrations of Cu and Ni were measured using ICP-MS, DRC-e. In the coastal area, their concentrations of Russia shore (Cu, 1.51; Ni, 1.82 nM) were 1.9 times for Cu and 2.0 times for Ni lower than Korea shore (Cu, 2.87; Ni, 3.71 nM). In the subregion, their concentrations of Warm region (Cu, 3.03; Ni, 2.28 nM) were higher for Cu than Cold region (Cu, 2.04; Ni, 2.28 nM). The distributions of Cu and Ni concentrations were divided by lowest level at $10^{\circ}C$ of water temperature. In this study period, the surface water temperatures of Russia shore and Japan basin were lower than $10^{\circ}C$ and them of Ulleung basin and Sakhalin shore were higher. Below $10^{\circ}C$, Cu and Ni concentrations increased when surface water temperatures decreased. Above $10^{\circ}C$, their concentrations increased with temperature, which showed highest concentrations in the Ulleung basin, directly influenced by flux from East Korean Warm Current. By comparing with other sea areas (Western Mediterranean, Atlantic), Cu concentrations in the East Sea were a little higher and Ni concentrations were lower. Particularly as the level of Cu in the offshore in the Ulleung basin were higher than in the coastal area, We can suggest that the atmospheric flux of Cu is relatively important in this area.

• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.105-115
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• 2002

For many rears, traffic accident statistics are the most direct measure of safety for a signalized intersection. However it takes more than 2 or 3 yearn to collect certain accident data for adequate sample sizes. And the accident data itself is unreliable because of the difference between accident data recorded and accident that is actually occurred. Therefore, it is rather difficult to evaluate safety for a intersection by using accident data. For these reasons, traffic conflict technique(TCT) was developed as a buick and accurate counter-measure of safety for a intersection. However, the collected conflict data is not always reliable because there is absence of clear criteria for conflict. This study developed objective and accurate conflict criteria, which is shown below based on traffic engineering theory. Frist, the rear-end conflict is regarded, when the following vehicle takes evasive maneuver against the first vehicle within a certain distance, according to car-following theory. Second, lane-change conflict is regarded when the following vehicle takes evasive maneuver against first vehicle which is changing its lane within the minimum stopping distance of the following vehicle. Third, cross and opposing-left turn conflicts are regarded when the vehicle which receives green sign takes evasive maneuver against the vehicle which lost its right-of-way crossing a intersection. As a result of correlation analysis between conflict and accident, it is verified that the suggested conflict criteria in this study ave applicable. And it is proven that estimating safety evaluation for a intersection with conflict data is possible, according to the regression analysis preformed between accident and conflict, EPDO accident and conflict. Adopting the conflict criteria suggested in this study would be both quick and accurate method for diagnosing safety and operational deficiencies and for evaluation improvements at intersections. Further research is required to refine the suggested conflict criteria to extend its application. In addition, it is necessary to develope other types of conflict criteria, not included in this study, in later study.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.411-429
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• 2018

Daeyoung mine (also called "Daema mine") produced gold and silver from mainly gold- and silver-bearing quartz veins. The mine tailings are a waste hazard, but most of the tailings were swept away or dispersed throughout the area around the mine long before the tailing dump areas were transformed into agricultural land. Soil liner and protection facilities, such as retaining walls, were constructed in the mine area to prevent the loss of tailings. The content of the tailings is 3,424.41~3,803.61 mg/kg, which exceeds the safety standard by a factor of 45. In addition, contamination was detected near agricultural areas and in the sediments in downstream drainage channels. A high level of As contamination was concentrated near the waste tailings yard; comparaable levels were detected in agricultural areas close to streams that ran through the waste dump yard, whereas the levels were much lower in areas far from the streams. The contamination in stream sediments showed a gradual decrease with distance from the mine waste yard. Based on these contamination patterns, we concluded that there are two main paths that affect the spread of contaminants: (1) loss of mine waste, and (2) the introduction of mine waste into agricultural areas by floods after transportation by streams. The agricultural areas contaminated by mass inflow of mine waste can act as contamination sources themselves, affecting other agricultural areas through the diffusion of contaminants. At present, although the measured effect in minimal, sediments in streams are contaminated by exposed mine waste and surface liners. It is possible for contaminants to diffuse or spread into nearby areas if heavy elements trapped in soil grains in contaminated agricultural areas leach out as soil solution or contaminant particles during diffusion into the water supply.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.581-594
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• 2004

CREAHS II carried out an intensive hydrographic survey covering almost entire East Sea in 1999. Hydrographic data from total 203 stations were released to public on the internee. This paper summarized the results of water mass analysis by OHP (Optimum Multiparameter) method that utilizes temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH, alkalinity, silicate, nitrate, phosphate and location data as an input data-matrix. A total of eight source water types are identified in the East Sea: four in surface waters(North Korea Surface Water, Tatar Surface Cold Water, East Korean Coastal Water, Modified Tsushima Surface Water), two intermediate water types (Tsushima Middle Water, Liman Cold Water), two deep water types (East Sea Intermediate Water, East Sea Proper Water). Of these NKSW, MTSW and TSCW are the newly reported as the source water type. Distribution of each water types reveals several few interesting hydrographic features. A few noteworthy are summarized as follows: The Tsushima Warm Current enter the East Sea as three branches; East Korea Coastal Water propagates north along the coast around $38^{\circ}N$ then turns to northeastward to $42^{\circ}N$ and moves eastward. Cold waters of northern origin move southward along the coast at the subsurface, which existence the existence of a circulation cell at the intermediate depth of the East Sea. The estimated volume of each water types inferred from the OMP results show that the deep waters (ESIW + ESPW) fill up ca. 90% of the East Sea basins. Consequently the formation and circulation of deep waters are the key factors controlling environmental condition of the East Sea.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.124-131
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• 2008

This study was conducted around the southwest sea areas of Jeju and coastal sea areas of China in August 2003 and September 2004 to research distribution patterns of dissolved inorganic nutrients, dissolved and particulate organic carbon. Distribution patterns of nutrients in the East China Sea in summer were shown to be influenced by water masses and phytoplankton. Water masses in the East China Sea in summer, except for coastal sea areas of china, showed less vertical mixing process, causing decline in the inflow of nutrients to surface water. Bottom water, however, showed high concentration, since nutrients made by dissolved organic matters from surface water were accumulated at the bottom. Sea areas with high concentration of chlorophyll a showed low concentration of nutrients and vice versa, indicating biological activities control dissolved inorganic nutrients. The distribution of dissolved organic carbon didn't show any correlation with salinity, temperatures, and water masses. Areas around the river mouth of the Changjiang showed high concentration of dissolved organic carbon more than $100{\mu}M$, but relatively low concentration in the southwest sea areas of Jeju, indicating that the river mouth of the Changjiang coastal water has a great influence on dissolved organic carbon in the East China Sea. Distribution patterns of particulate organic carbon in the research areas showed the highest concentration of average $9.23{\mu}M$ in coastal areas of China influenced by the river mouth of the Changjiang coastal water. By comparison, the concentration was relatively low at $3.04{\mu}M$ in the southeast sea areas of Jeju on which the Taiwan warm current has influence, and was $7.23{\mu}M$ in the central sea areas of Jeju. Thus, there is much indication that the river mouth of the Changjiang coastal water serves as a supplier of particulate organic carbon along with autogenous source. In general, if particulate organic carbon has a high correlation with the concentration of Chlorophyll a, it is thought that it is originated from autogenous source. However, the southeast sea areas of Jeju shows low salinity below 30, therefore it is proper to think that its origin is terrestrial source rather than that of autogenesis.