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Geomorphology and Volcaniclastic Deposits around Dokdo: Dokdo Caldera

  • Chun, Jong-Hwa;Cheong, Dae-Kyo;Park, Chan-Hong;Huh, Sik;Han, Sang-Joon
    • Ocean and Polar Research
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    • v.24 no.4
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    • pp.483-490
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    • 2002
  • Detailed investigations on both submarine and subaerial volcaniclastic deposits around Dokdo were carried out to identify geomorphologic characteristics, stratigraphy, and associated depositional processes of Dokdo caldera. Dokdo volcano has a gently sloping summit (about 11km in diameter) and relatively steep slope (basal diameter is about 20-25 km) rising above sea level at about 2,270m. We found ragged, elliptical-form of Dokdo caldera with a diameter of about 2km estimated by Chirp (3-11 kHz) sub-bottom profile data and side scan sonar data for the central summit area of Dokdo volcano. We interpreted that the volcaniclastic deposits of Dokdo unconformably consist of the Seodo (west islet) and the Dongdo(east islet) formations based on internal structure, constituent mineral composition, and bedding morphology. The Seodo Formation mainly consisted of massive or inversely graded trachytic breccias (Unit S-I), overlain by fine-grained tuff (Unit S-II), which is probably supplied by mass-wasting processes resulting from Dokdo caldera collapse. The Dongdo Formation consists of alternated units of stratified lapilli tuff and inversely graded basaltic breccia (Unit D-I, Unit D-III, and Unit D-V), and massive to undulatory-bedded basaltic tuff breccias (Unit D-II and Unit D-IV) formed by a repetitive pyroclastic surge and reworking processes. Although, two islets of Dokdo are geographically near each other, they have different formations reflecting their different depositional processes and eruptive stages.

The antidiabetic effects of an herbal formula composed of Alnus hirsuta, Rosa davurica, Acanthopanax senticosus and Panax schinseng in the streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

  • Hu, Weicheng;Yeo, Jin-Hee;Jiang, Yunyao;Heo, Seong-Il;Wang, Myeong-Hyeon
    • Nutrition Research and Practice
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    • v.7 no.2
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    • pp.103-108
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    • 2013
  • A folk prescription consisting of Alnus hirsuta, Rosa davurica, Acanthopanax senticosus and Panax schinseng has been used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the antidiabetic effects of the herb formula extract (HFE) composed of Alnus hirsuta, Rosa davurica, Acanthopanax senticosus and Panax schinseng in the streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. The HFE was mixed in the food supply of the healthy and STZ-induced diabetic male Sprague-Dawley rats, and its effects on the body weight, water and food intake, hyperglycemia, hypolipidemic and islet structure were studied. The treatment of the rats with STZ for 6 weeks resulted in marasmus, polydipsia, polyphagia, hyperglycemia and hypoinsulinemia. In addition, the diabetic rats showed an apparent decrease in the insulin immunoreactivity and the number of ${\beta}$-cells in the pancreas. The addition of the HFE to the rats' food supply significantly lowered the serum glucose and the serum triglycerides level and preserved the normal histological appearance of the pancreatic islets. These results indicate that the HEF have a strong antidiabetic potential along with the significant hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects, which may be applicable in the pharmaceutical industry.

Return of Geopolitics and the East Asian Maritime Security (지정학의 부활과 동아시아 해양안보)

  • Lee, Choon-Kun
    • Strategy21
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    • s.36
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    • pp.5-32
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    • 2015
  • Geopolitics or Political Geography is an essential academic field that should be studied carefully for a more comprehensive analysis of international security relations. However, because of its tarnished image as an ideology that supported the NAZI German expansion and aggression, geopolitics has not been regarded as a pure academic field and was rejected and expelled from the academic communities starting from the Cold War years in 1945. During the Cold War, ideology, rather than geography, was considered more important in conducting and analyzing international relations. However, after the end of the Cold War and with the beginning of a new era in which territorial and religious confrontations are taking place among nations - including sub national tribal political organizations such as the Al Quaeda and other terrorist organizations - geopolitical analysis again is in vogue among the scholars and analysts on international security affairs. Most of the conflicts in international relations that is occurring now in the post-Cold War years can be explained more effectively with geopolitical concepts. The post - Cold War international relations among East Asian countries are especially better explained with geopolitical concepts. Unlike Europe, where peaceful development took place after the Cold War, China, Japan, Korea, the United States, Taiwan and Vietnam are feeling more insecure in the post-Cold War years. Most of the East Asian nations' economies have burgeoned during the Cold War years under the protection of the international security structure provided by the two superpowers. However, after the Cold War years, the international security structure has not been stable in East Asia and thus most of the East Asian nations began to build up stronger military forces of their own. Because most of the East Asian nations' national security and economy depend on the oceans, these nations desire to obtain more powerful navies and try to occupy islands, islets, or even rocks that may seem like a strategic asset for their economy and security. In this regard, the western Pacific Ocean is becoming a place of confrontation among the East Asian nations. As Robert Kaplan, an eminent international analyst, mentioned, East Asia is a Seascape while Europe is a Landscape. The possibility of international conflict on the waters of East Asia is higher than in any other period in East Asia's international history.

A Study on the Analysis of Japan's Basic Ocean Law and Policy of Korea -The Case of Korea, Japan and China on the Administrative System for Ocean- (일본의 해양기본법 제정과 우리의 대응방안 연구 -한중일 해양행정체계 비교를 중심으로-)

  • Park, Seong-Wook;Yang, Hee-Cheol
    • Ocean and Polar Research
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    • v.30 no.1
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    • pp.119-128
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    • 2008
  • Japan's new Basic Ocean Law took effect in 20 July 2007. This law contains that 1) calls for the consolidation of eight government offices that previously worked separately on maritime issues; 2) establishes a basic plan for maritime matters, and; 3) creates a comprehensive maritime policy headquarters, run by the Prime Minister. The result is a structure for the integrated promotion of maritime policy. The Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has been appointed to the newly established position of maritime minister. Japan has been in conflict with Korea and China over EEZ and territory, which has caused the country to turn to ocean. If Japan puts more emphasis on sea, it will be on a collision course with neighboring countries such as Korea, China, Russia, and Taiwan. Japan has been at odds with these countries; with Korea over Dokdo islets, with China over the Senkaku Islands and the East China Sea, where gas fields lie, with Taiwan over fishery rights in the East China Sea, with Russia over the Kuril Islands. Korea's position about the establishment of Japan's new Basic Ocean Law is followed: 1) expression of Korea's position in maritime resourcces of east china sea, 2) understand of strategy for maritime resources development and maritime delimitation in China and Japan, 3) a caution for extention of EEZ and maritime activities, 4)effective and comprehensive policy establishment, and strength in R&D, 5) construction of active and responsive system for maritime issues in neighbor country.

Effect of Garlic Diets on the Changes of Serum Cholesterol Glucose Level and Coagulation Time in Rats (마늘첨가식이(添加食餌)가 흰쥐의 혈청(血淸) 콜레스테롤, 글루코오스의 함량(含量) 및 혈액응고시간(血液凝固時間)에 미치는 영향(影響))

  • Kim, Song-Jen
    • Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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    • v.1 no.1
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    • pp.37-47
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    • 1984
  • Effects of garlic on hypocholesterolemia, anticoagulation and hypoglycemia were studied in the present experiments using male rats. The results were summarized as follows. 1. The supplementation of $2{\sim}4%$ garlic to 2% cholesterol diets did not affect food intake and weight gain in male rats. 2. Rat's groups fed the diets supplemented with $2{\sim}3%$ garlic (C.D.E.F) to 2% cholesterol diet (B) decreased serum total cholesterol levels by $16{\sim}32%$, triglyceride levels by $18.6{\sim}26.8%$ and ${\beta}/{\alpha}-lipoportein$ rations by $42{\sim}58%$, but increased HDL-cholesterol levels by $29{\sim}65%$ as compared to B group, and so the author assumes that garlic supplementation exerts hypocholesterolemic effect on cholesterol - fed rats because of the increase of HDL and HDL - cholesterol levels. 3. Rat's groups fed the diets supplemented with $2{\sim}4%$ garlic (C.D.E.F) to 2% cholesterol plus 0.25% bile salt diet (B) increased whole blood coagulation times, prothrombin times and fibrinolytic activities, but decreased plasma fibrinogen levels as compared to B group, and so the author assumes that garlic supplementation exerts anticoagulative effect because of the inhibition of fibrinogen synthesis in male rat's liver. 4. Rat's groups fed the diets supplemented with $2{\sim}4%$ garlic (B.C.D.E) to standard diet (A) decreased serum glucose levels by $1{\sim}24%$, but increased serum insulin concentrations by $0.5{\sim}3.0$ times as compared to A group, and so the author assumes that garlic supplementation exerts hypoglycemic effect because of the increase of serum insulin levels by stimulation pancreatic secretion of insulin from ${\beta}-cells$ in the islets of Langerhans.

Tidal-Flat Reclamations and Irrigation Systems of the Kyodong Island (강화 교동도의 해안저습지 개간과 수리사업)

  • 최영준;홍금수
    • Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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    • v.38 no.4
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    • pp.535-561
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    • 2003
  • The Kyodong Island on the Yellow Sea has experienced dramatic transformations in the process of massive reclamations of tidal flats. Consisting originally of detached several islets, Kyodong became an integrated island country with the establishment of sea dikes across the salt marshes. The coastal plaines passed through four distinct stages of development. During the nascent period from the Early States to the Koryo Dynasty, strategic considerations led up to the establishment of causeways and garrison farms as well as private land plots. The relocation of regional headquarters of the navy into the island made the reclamation of tidal flats a systematic project during the period of Chosun Korea. The implantation of a large-scale estate by Japanese capitalists was the most characteristic feature of this region's geography during the colonial period. Present-day Kyodong displays various agrarian landscapes of standardized land plots, reinforced sea dikes, and automated agricultural machinery. Throughout the periods irrigation systems have sustained the panoramic transformation of the agricultural geographies of the Kyodong Island. The local people afflicted by a chronic deficiency of water came up with ingenuous irrigation systems such as springs, paddy reservoirs, reservoirs, tanks, artesian wells, and pump stations.

Short-Term High Expression of Interferon-Alpha Modulates Progression of Type 1 Diabetes in NOD Mice

  • Park, Mi-Kyoung;Seo, Su-Yeong;Hong, Sook-Hee;Kim, Hye-Jin;Park, Eun-Jin;Kim, Duk-Kyu;Lee, Hye-Jeong
    • The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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    • v.10 no.1
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    • pp.39-44
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    • 2006
  • Type I diabetes (T1D) is an organ-specific autoimmune disease caused by the T cell-mediated destruction of the insulin-producing ${\beta}$ cells in the pancreatic islets. The onset of T1D is the consequence of a progressive destruction of islet ${\beta}$ cells mediated by an imbalance between effector $CD4^+$ T helper (Th)1 and regulatory $CD4^+$ Th2 cell function. Since interferon-alpha (IFN-${\alpha}$) has been known to modulate immune function and autoimmunity, we investigated whether administration of adenoviralmediated IFN-${\alpha}$ gene would inhibit the diabetic process in NOD mice. The development of diabetes was significantly inhibited by a single injection of adenoviral-mediated IFN-${\alpha}$ gene before 8 weeks of age. Next, we examined the hypothesis that Th2-type cytokines are associated with host protection against autoimmune diabetes, whereas Th1-type cytokines are associated with pathogenesis of T1D. The expression of IFN-${\alpha}$ induced increase of serum IL-4 and IL-6 (Th2 cytokines) levels and decrease of serum IL-12 and IFN-${\gamma}$ (Th1 cytokines) levels. Therefore, overexpression of IFN-${\alpha}$ by adenoviralmediated delivery provides modulation of pathogenic progression and protection of NOD mice from T1D.

Anti-Diabetic Studies of Mass Cultured Mycelia from Ganoderma applanatum in db/db Mice and Human (잔나비걸상버섯(Ganoderma applanatum) 균사체의 db/db Mice 및 인체에서의 항당뇨 효능연구)

  • Kim, Kap-Ho;Son, Dalhoon;Lee, Joon-Seok;Lee, Jeong-Woon;Kim, Hak-Soo;Lee, Jae-Hyen;Lee, Moon-Cheol;Kim, Namsik;Song, Si-Whan
    • The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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    • v.26 no.3
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    • pp.366-374
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    • 2013
  • Anti-diabetic activities of cultured mycelia from Ganoderma applanatum are being evaluated in this study. The OGTT and 4-weeks of repeated oral efficacy tests are conducted in mice at the doses of 0 (vehicle treatment), 25, 75 and 225 mg/kg/day, respectively. In human study, the test article was administered orally every day for 8-week at a dose of 1,500 mg/kg, tid and placebo group. The blood glucose levels (BGL) at 0.5 hour after treatment are significant decreased in all treatment groups of OGTT test. In the 4-week test, BGL of 75 and 225 mg/kg/day group is continuously decreased during all treatment periods and the BGL of 25 mg/kg/day group show decreasing trends at the final week, the pancreas weight of all treatment groups are being increased, and the Langerhans-islet numbers were increased at all treatment groups with a dose-response manner. There are no test article-related abnormal signs and the fasted blood glucose (FBG), postprandial blood glucose (PPG) and HbA1c are decreased significantly after 8-week treatments. These results that the cultured mycelia from Ganoderma applanatum could decrease BGL by protecting the degeneration of Langerhans islets.

Pectinase-Processed Ginseng Radix (GINST) Ameliorates Hyperglycemia and Hyperlipidemia in High Fat Diet-Fed ICR Mice

  • Yuan, Hai-Dan;Kim, Jung-Tae;Chung, Sung-Hyun
    • Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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    • v.20 no.2
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    • pp.220-225
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    • 2012
  • To develop a ginseng product possessing an efficacy for diabetes, ginseng radix ethanol extract was treated with pectinase and obtained the GINST. In the present study, we evaluate the beneficial effect of GINST on high fat diet (HFD)-induced hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia and action mechanism(s) in ICR mice. The mice were randomly divided into five groups: regular diet group (RD), high fat diet group (HFD), HFD plus GINST at 75 mg/kg (GINST75), 150 mg/kg (GINST150), and 300 mg/kg (GINST300). Oral glucose tolerance test reveals that GINST improves the glucose tolerance after glucose challenge. Fasting plasma glucose and insulin levels were decreased by 4.3% and 4.2% in GINST75, 10.9% and 20.0% in GINST150, and 19.6% and 20.9% in GINST300 compared to those in HFD control group. Insulin resistance indices were also markedly decreased by 8.2% in GINST75, 28.7% in GINST150, and 36.4% in GINST300, compared to the HFD control group. Plasma triglyceride, total cholesterol and non-esterified fatty acid levels in the GINST300 group were decreased by 13.5%, 22.7% and 24.1%, respectively, compared to those in HFD control group. Enlarged adipocytes of HFD control group were markedly decreased in GINST-treated groups, and shrunken islets of HFD control mice were brought back to near normal shape in GINST300 group. Furthermore, GINST enhanced phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4). In summary, GINST prevents HFD-induced hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia through reducing insulin resistance via activating AMPK-GLUT4 pathways, and could be a potential therapeutic agent for type 2 diabetes.

YH18968, a Novel 1,2,4-Triazolone G-Protein Coupled Receptor 119 Agonist for the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

  • Han, Taedong;Lee, Byoung Moon;Park, Yoo Hoi;Lee, Dong Hoon;Choi, Hyun Ho;Lee, Taehoon;Kim, Hakwon
    • Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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    • v.26 no.2
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    • pp.201-209
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    • 2018
  • G protein-coupled receptor 119 (GPR119) is expressed in the pancreas and gastrointestinal tract, and its activation promotes insulin secretion in the beta cells of the pancreatic islets as well as the secretion of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) in intestinal L cells, consequently improving glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Due to this dual mechanism of action, the development of small-molecule GPR119 agonists has received significant interest for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. We newly synthesized 1,2,4-triazolone derivatives of GPR119 agonists, which demonstrated excellent outcomes in a cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) assay. Among the synthesized derivatives, YH18968 showed cAMP=2.8 nM; in GLUTag cell, GLP-1secretion=2.3 fold; in the HIT-T15 cell, and insulin secretion=1.9 fold. Single oral administration of YH18968 improved glucose tolerance and combined treatment with a dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitor augmented the glucose lowering effect as well as the plasma level of active GLP-1 in normal mice. Single oral administration of YH18968 improved glucose tolerance in a diet induced obese mice model. This effect was maintained after repeated dosing for 4 weeks. The results indicate that YH18968 combined with a DPP-4 inhibitor may be an effective therapeutic candidate for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.