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A Review on Multidecadal Coastal Changes at Funafuti, Tuvalu from 1897 to 2015

  • Ahmed, Harun-Al-Rashid;Chan-Su, Yang
    • Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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    • v.39 no.1
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    • pp.23-45
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    • 2023
  • Tuvalu is a small reef islands country in the Pacific Ocean. Its coastal regions are very much dynamic due to the profound effects of tropical cyclones and sea level rise (SLR). However, research works on coastline dynamics of Tuvalu mainly cover its capital, Funafuti. Therefore, this review summarizes the extent of long-term coastal changes in different islets of Funafuti and on overall Tuvalu. In Funafuti, highly accreting areas are Te Afualiku, Fuafatu, Motugie, and Amatuku, and highly eroding areas are Fuagea and Tefala with the fully disappeared islet of Vasafua after 2005. However, in spite of different causes and supposition of scientists on disappearing these lands the accretion is more dominant than erosion which resulted in 7.3% net increase of land areas of Tuvalu over 117 years till 2015. Severe tropical cyclones mainly caused accretion of land areas by forming coral rubble rampart formation and further reworks and erosion to small sandy islands whereas frequent low-energy cyclones mainly caused erosion. Though, till now severe erosion of coastal areas are not evident by global SLR, islets of Funafuti experienced remarkable shoreline increase as formation of 30-40 m wide rubble rampart formation along 19 km in 1971 by tropical cyclone Bebe and net increase of area of 3.45 ha by tropical cyclone Pam in 2015. In spite of such overall accretion of coastal areas several scientists suspect drowning of its areas in future because of high SLR (~5.1±0.7 mm/year) at Funafuti which supposedly will not work as a breakwater anymore. Thus, protection measures should be taken to prevent coastline erosion as well as land reclamation activities should be done following the global examples.

Histological analysis of five organs in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats (Streptozotocin 유도 당뇨 흰쥐에서 주요 장부 간 조직학적 변화 비교 연구)

  • Oh, Tae Woo;Kang, Seok Yong;Park, Yong-Ki
    • The Korea Journal of Herbology
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    • v.28 no.6
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    • pp.39-45
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    • 2013
  • Objectives : This study was conduct to compare of histological changes on four target organs which related with diabetes in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Methods : Diabetes was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats by consecutive injection of streptozotocin (STZ) at different doses of 30, 40 and 50 mg/kg for 5 days. After 4 weeks, all rats were sacrificed, five different organs such as pancreas, liver, kidney, and lung were isolated and observed their histological changes by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) and Masson's trichrome staining. The changes of body weight, blood glucose, and food and water intake were also measured. Results : The multiple administration of STZ was induced diabetes in rats with hyperglycemia, decrease of body weight, increase water and food intake, and histopathological changes of target organs, compared with those of normal rats in both dose-dependent and time-dependent manner. In histological analysis, pancreas was showed decrease of the islet numbers with beta-cell loss. Kidney showed morphological damage with glomerulus hypertrophy, and also lung was showed bronchial epithelial damage with inflammatory cells infiltration. In liver, the portal vein and hepatic artery could not observed, and showed inflammatory cell infiltration with liver fibrosis. Conclusions : These results suggest that the increase of the capacity of STZ, each of the more chronic disease, it can be seen that the damage was deep. Thus, evaluate the resulting drug appropriate depending on the purpose of the model is expected to be selected.

Petrological Characteristics and Origin of Volcaniclasts within the Massive Tuff Breccia Formation from Dokdo Island, Korea (독도 괴상 응회질 각력암층에서 나타나는 화산암편의 암석학적 특성과 기원)

  • Shim, Sung-Ho;Im, Ji-Hyeon;Jang, Yun-Deuk;Choo, Chang-Oh;Park, Byeong-Jun;Kim, Jung-Hun
    • The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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    • v.19 no.2
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    • pp.141-156
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    • 2010
  • Dokdo Island, Korea, is located in the East Sea belonging to back arc basin. In this study we examined petrology and geochemistry of massive tuffaceous breccia (MTB) from Dongdo (Eastern islet) and Seodo(Western islet), the two largest islands of Dokdo. Field studies and chemical analysis distinguish the MTB in Dongdo and Seodo. The Dongdo MTB (DMTB) is exposed up to 50 m on the ocean cliff and it has dominant basalt and trachybasalt with moderate amount of trachyte and scoria. On the other hand, Seodo MTB (SMTB), which is preserved between trachyte dike and trachyandesite, is composed of roughly equal amounts of basalt, trachybasalt and trachyte. The location of the islets were related to the source vent having in contact with underlying trachyte lava and differential pyroclastic deposits made them different characteristics. According to trace element analysis of trachytic volcanic clasts, the Ba concentration ranges from 66 to 103 ppm and Sr varies from 44 to 56 ppm in DMTB. However, Br and Sr in SMTB correspondingly showed relatively wide ranges: Br 785-1259 ppm and Sr 466-1230 ppm. These differential trends between DMTB and SMTB, along with the difference in P and Ti, indicate that the crystallization of alkali feldspar, feldspathoid, biotite, apatite and titanium took place differently. Nevertheless, DMTB and SMTB are similar in REE patterns and they are correspondingly characterized by high LREE, low HREE and similar $(La/Yb)_N$ values with 23.9-40.2 in DMTB and 27.4-32.9 in SMTB. These patterns suggest that Dongdo and Seodo might be originated from coeval magma suites. Dokdo island shows high concentrations of Ba, K and Rb. These signatures mark a result attributed to the mantle upwelling because the magma derived from the asthenosphere was metasomatized with subduction-related fluids.

Studies on the Fracture Healing in the Alloxan treated Rabbits (Alloxan 투여 가토(家兎)에 대한 골절치유 실험)

  • Kim, Sung-Joon
    • The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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    • v.7 no.1
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    • pp.53-65
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    • 1971
  • It is well known that diabetes mellitus is associated with metabolic derangements, such as hyper-glycemia, ketosis, glycosuria, and also widespread alterations in the blood vessels, kidneys, eyes, peripheral nerves and heart. It is also recognized that healing of skin wound is delayed in diabetics. In bone, according to Aegerter, osteopenia develops in diabetes mellitus and it is chiefly ascribed to overutilization of protein. Shim claims that total blood flow to the entire skeletal system is approximately 4 to 8 percent of resting cardiac output and blood supply to the skeletal system would be decreased on account of secondary arteriosclerotic changes in the diabetics. An adequate blood supply is an essential factor in the healing process of fracture, and disturbed blood flow, either local or systemic, will invariably delay union of the fragments or the fragments from being fused. As the author has encountered several cases of diabetics in whom healing of fracture was delayed or incomplete, this experimental study was undertaken to elucidate the effects of hyperglycemia and diabetes mellitus on the healing process of fracture. In this experiment adult albino rabbits, weighing about 2 kg. were used and divided into 6 groups. The femur of each animal was fractured surgically, and then the healing process of fracture was periodically checked by radiography at an interval of one week for a period of 6 weeks. Thereafter, all the rabbits were killed to obtain tissue preparation of the femur. The experimental groups were as follows; 1) Control group: Six rabbits sustained a surgical fracture to the femur, without being given any other treatment or drug. 2) Alloxan-treated group: For inducing diabetes, alloxan was given intravenously to 17 rabbits in various dose as follows; to 7 of them 40 mg/kg, to 6 rabbits 80 mg/kg and to 4 rabbits 120 mg/kg of body weight, respectively. 3) Insulin-treated group: Protamine-zinc insulin was injected subcutaneously to each of 6 rabbits in a daily dose of 1 unit per kilogram of body weight. 4) Group treated with insulin after alloxan: Four rabbits were given 80 mg of alloxan once and than 1 unit of insulin per kilogram of body weight daily. Another 5 rabbits were injected 1 unit of insulin per kg of body weight daily following administration of alloxan in a dose of 120 mg/kg. 5) Homotransplantation group: Following intravenous injection of alloxan in a dose of 120 mg/kg, 10 rabbits underwent homotransplantation of a short bone segment to the femur. Five of them were subsequently given 1 unit/kg of insulin daily. 6) Sugar-treated group: six rabbits were fed $15{\sim}20$ gm of sugar daily throughout the period of experiment. The results obtained are summarized as follows; 1. Blood sugar level and damage to the pancreatic islet increased proportionately when alloxan was given to the rabbits in various doses. No appreciable change could be observed in the islets when the blood sugar level was altered by either oral administration of sugar or subcutaneous injection of insulin. 2. Comparing with the control group, healing of fracture was delayed in the alloxan-treated group, while callus formation and periosteal reaction were shown to be more prominent in this group and subsequently, the ultimate osseous tissue formed at the fracture site was significantly smaller in amount and less compact. These findings were more marked as the amount of alloxan increased. 3. Administration of insulin prevented the delay in healing process of fracture in the rabbits with alloxan-induced hyperglycemia. In this case, the course and progression of fracture healing were almost similar to those of control group. 4. Union between the host bone and the fragment transplanted from other rabbit of the same species was more delayed in the group treated with alloxan alone than in the group to which insulin was administered after development of alloxan-induced diabetes. In both groups periosteal new bone developed from the ends of the host bone, above and below the transplanted fragment, and directly fused with failure of periosteal callus to bridge the adjacent ends of the host bone and the transplanted fragment. 5. The healing process of fracture was not inhibited by alteration in blood sugar level when the blood sugar was abnormally increased by excessive sugar intake or lowered by administration of insulin alone. The healing of fracture in these groups progressed similarly as in the control group. In brief summary, it appears that the healing process of fracture would be definitely disturbed in diabetic state brought about by damage to the pancreatic islet. As such an inhibition could be overcome with insulin, it seems that insulin plays an important role in healing of fracture, but alteration in blood sugar level alone does not modify healing process of fracture to significant degree.

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Breeding status and nest site characteristics of Black-faced Spoonbills Platalea minor on Chilsando Islands, Korea (칠산도의 저어새 번식 현황과 둥지장소 특성)

  • Kwon, In-Ki;Kang, Jung-Hoon;Lee, Ki-Sup;Lee, Ji-Yeon;Kim, In-Kyu;Yoo, Jeong-Chil
    • Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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    • v.29 no.5
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    • pp.703-709
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    • 2015
  • A breeding pair of the Black-faced Spoonbill Platalea minor was firstly recorded on Chilsando Islands, Younggwang, Jeollanamdo Province in 1991. Since the mid 2000s, breeding population on the breeding sites has gradually increased. This study was conducted to identify breeding status and nest site characteristics of the species from May to August, 2013 on Chilsando Islands. We recorded number of nests, length and width of the nest base, slope around the nests, nest materials, distances from the nearest nest, presence of nest cover and nesting area. In 2013 breeding season, 25 of 49 nests produced at least one successful fledging. A total of 55 youngs were successfully fledged and number of fledging per nest was 2.20 individuals. Nesting area was $77.8m^2$ and $93.4m^2$ for Sansando and Yuksando Islet, respectively. Soil and soil mixed with tree root were preferred for substrate of nest base over rock and Brassica napus was dominantly selected as nest materials by Black-faced Spoonbills. Nest characteristics of 22 nests in Sasando and Yuksando Islet varied $49.59{\pm}6.53cm$(mean${\pm}$SD) for length of nest base, $41.00{\pm}5.82cm$ for width of nest base, $20.85{\pm}9.96^{\circ}$ for slope above the nest, $34.09{\pm}17.75^{\circ}$ for slope below the nest and $130.82{\pm}84.17cm$ for distances from the nearest nest. Fifteen pairs (68.2%) occupied where nest cover existed. Nest cover were located in front of the nest for 5 pairs, back of the nest for 9 pairs and both front and back of the nest for 1 pair.

Anti-diabetic effects of aqueous and ethanol extract of Dendropanax morbifera Leveille in streptozotocin-induced diabetes model (Streptozotocin에 의해 유도된 당뇨모델동물에서 황칠나무 (Dendropanax morbifera Leveille)의 열수추출물과 에탄올추출물의 당뇨 질환 개선 효능)

  • An, Na Young;Kim, Ji-Eun;Hwang, DaeYoun;Ryu, Ho Kyung
    • Journal of Nutrition and Health
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    • v.47 no.6
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    • pp.394-402
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    • 2014
  • Purpose: Dendropanax morifera Leveille (DML) exhibits diverse biological and pharmacological activities, including anti-oxidative effect, anti-cancer activity, hepatoprotection, immunological stimulation, and bone regeneration. As part of the identification for novel functions of DML, we investigated the therapeutic effects of DML on diabetes induced by streptozotocine (STZ) treatment. Methods: First, the four extracts including the water extract of leaf (DLW), the ethanol extract of leaf (DLE), the water extract of stem (DSW), and the ethanol extract of stem (DSE) were collected from the leaf and stem of DML using a hot water and ethanol solvent. Alterations in body weight, glucose concentration, insulin level, and pancreatic islet structure were investigated in diabetic mice after treatment with extracts of DML for 2 weeks. Results: Among four extracts, the highest level of total polyphenols and total flavonoids was detected in DLW, while the lowest level of these was measured in DSE. The radical scavenging activity was also higher in DLW than in the other three extracts at the concentration of $25-100{\mu}g/mL$, although this activity was maintained at a constant level in all groups at the concentration of $500{\mu}g/mL$. Based on the results of anti-oxidant activity, DLW and DLE were selected for examination of anti-diabetic effects in a diabetes model. Body weight was gradually decreased in all STZ treated groups compared with the No treated group. However, four STZ/DML treated groups maintained a high level of body weight during 7-14 days, while the STZ/vehicle treated group showed a gradual decrease of body weight during the same period. Also, a significant decrease or increase in the concentration of glucose and insulin in the blood of the diabetes model was detected in a subset of groups, although the highest increase was detected in the STZ/DLE-200 treated group. In addition, the histological structure of pancreatic islet was significantly recovered after treatment with DLW and DLE. Conclusion: These results suggest that DLW and DLE may contribute to attenuation of clinical symptoms of diabetes as well as prevent the destruction of pancreatic ${\beta}$-cells in STZ-induced diabetes mice.

Mitochondrial DNA Swquence Variation of the Firefly, Pyrocoelia rufa(Coleoptera: Lampyridae), in Korea (늦반딧불이 Pyrocoelis rufa(딱정벌레목: 반딧불이과)의 미토콘드리아 DNA 염기서열 변이)

  • 이상철;김익수;배진식;진병래;김삼은;김종길;윤형주;양성렬;임수호
    • Korean journal of applied entomology
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    • v.39 no.3
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    • pp.181-191
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    • 2000
  • We have sequenced a portion of mitochondrial CO! gene (403 bp) of the firefly, Pyrocoelia rufa, to investigate genetic diversity within population, geographic variation, and phylogenetic relationships among haplotypes. A total of seven mtDNA haplotypes ranging in sequence divergence from 0.2% to 1.2% were obtained from 26 fireflies collected at four localities in Korea: Namhae, Pusan, Muju, and Yongin. The samples collected at the urban area, Pusan, were all fixed with one haplotype, differently those collected at the forest and/or agricultural areas. This appears to suggest that habitat fragmentation and population bottleneck caused by urbanization might have been severe in Pusan. On the other hand, from Muju known as the largest habitat and sanctuary for the firefly, four haplotypes with the maximum sequence divergence of 1.0% were obtained, and this estimate was the highest among the areas studied. The fireflies collected at the isolated islet, Namhae, revealed relatively low haplotype diversity(H=0.25), but one haplotype (PR7) was phylogenetically differentiated from others. This phenomenon was explained in terms of biogeographic history of the island and gene flow in the recent past. Grouping of Muju- Y ongin and Pusan-Namhae, respectively, in the hierarchical genetic analysis suggests the presence of historically occurred, biogeographic barrier against gene flow between them.

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The safety, immunological benefits, and efficacy of ginseng in organ transplantation

  • Lim, Sun Woo;Luo, Kang;Quan, Yi;Cui, Sheng;Shin, Yoo Jin;Ko, Eun Jeong;Chung, Byung Ha;Yang, Chul Woo
    • Journal of Ginseng Research
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    • v.44 no.3
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    • pp.399-404
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    • 2020
  • Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng) is associated with a variety of therapeutic effects, including antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, vasorelaxative, antiallergic, antidiabetic, and anticancer effects. Accordingly, the use of ginseng has reached an all-time high among members of the general public. However, the safety and efficacy of ginseng in transplant recipients receiving immunosuppressant drugs have still not been elucidated. Transplantation is the most challenging and complex of surgical procedures and may require causation for the use of ginseng. In this regard, we have previously examined the safety, immunological benefits, and protective mechanisms of ginseng with respect to calcineurin inhibitor-based immunosuppression, which is the most widely used regimen in organ transplantation. Using an experimental model of calcineurin inhibitor-induced organ injury, we found that ginseng does not affect drug levels in the peripheral blood and tissue, favorably regulates immune response, and protects against calcineurin inhibitor-induced nephrotoxicity and pancreatic islet injury. On the basis of our experimental studies and a review of the related literature, we propose that ginseng may provide benefits in organ transplant recipients administered calcineurin inhibitors. Through the present review, we aimed to briefly discuss our current understanding of the therapeutic benefits of ginseng related to transplant patient survival.

A Research for Shorebirds on the Southernmost of Nakdong Estuary (낙동강 하구 최남단 사주의 도요.물떼새류에 관한 연구)

  • Hong, Soon-Bok
    • The Korean Journal of Ecology
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    • v.28 no.4
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    • pp.199-206
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    • 2005
  • Estuary islets should be managed systematically because they are important places for birds to rest and breed. This paper investigates the environmental properties of islets where the sand banks are located from east to west on the southernmost of Nakdong estuary during a year (September 2003 $\sim$ August 2004). The research showed that 59 species and 19,148 individuals were found in the area A (Jangja Shinja-Do) and 61 species and 28,394 individuals in the area B (Saja-Do; Beakhapdeung Doyodeung). Totally, 74 species and 47,539 individuals were observed in both of this estuary. Shorebirds are the most observed species in both areas. In area, most of individuals were especially observed in the spring when Shorebirds migrate northward for breeding. In B area, various species were also observed in the fall when they migrate southward for wintering. Therefore, many groups of birds are observed around Shinja-Do in the spring. They passed the winter in Doyodueng, associated with feeding in the main stream of Nakdong river mainly. Although the southernmost sand bar is the breeding place to access to outside without interception, invasion by human beings and predators (mice, weasels and etc.) gives a fatal blow for birds to breed or rest. The reed which is a tall herbaceous plant is flourished according to the process of ecological succession. Therefore, the sand bar becomes a land. It results in reduction of habitats and breeding grounds for birds. In conclusion, these areas where birds can use the islets as habits and breeding places must be preserved by restraining luxuriance of reeds and systematic management of human beings and predators is necessary.

Anti-diabetic Effects of Triticum aestivum L. Water Extracts in db/db Mice as an Animal Model of Diabetes Mellitus Type II (제2형 당뇨모델 db/db 마우스에서 밀순 물추출물의 항당뇨 효과)

  • Lee, Sun-Hee;Lim, Sung-Won;Lee, Young-Mi;Hur, Jung-Mu;Lee, Hoi-Seon;Kim, Dae-Ki
    • Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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    • v.41 no.4
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    • pp.282-288
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    • 2010
  • We evaluated the anti-diabetic effects of Triticum aestivum sprout water extract (TA) in diabetes mellitus type 2. For the experiments, the diabetic animal model db/db mice were divided to 3 groups: diabetic control (db/db) and two experimental groups orally treated with 25 and 100 mg/kg single dose of TA (TA-25 and TA-100, respectively). The lean mice were used as the non-diabetic normal control. All mice have free access to water and AIN-93 diet. TA was administrated to diabetic mice for 5 weeks and the diabetic clinical markers, including blood glucose level, body weight, food intake and insulin level, were measured at a time. After administration for 5 weeks, the blood glucose level was decreased 1.10 and 1.98 folds in TA-25 and TA-100 groups, respectively, compared with db/db group. The body weight and diet consumption were significantly reduced by TA treatment in dose-dependent manner. The treatments of TA-100 also significantly decreased remarkedly liver weight and slightly serum insulin levels when compared with them of the diabetic control group. However the immunohistochemical staining for insulin clearly showed high expression of insulin in the pancreatic islet cells derived from all db/db mice, even if TA was administrated. Moreover, TA-100 treatment significantly improved impaired glucose tolerance in diabetic db/db mice. The results suggest that TA has anti-hyperglycemic effect attenuating blood glucose in the animal model of type 2 diabetes and might be useful as a functional diet for human diabetic diseases.