• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.702-713
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• 2023

Purpose: Depression is a prevalent mental health concern globally including South Korea. Given the growing interest in the relationship between diet and mental health, this study aimed to investigate the association between seafood consumption and depression among Korean adults. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES, 2014-2020). The study included 18,149 participants (7,541 men and 10,608 women) aged 19 years and older who completed the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Seafood intake levels were assessed using a oneday 24-hour dietary recall, and participants were categorized into three tertiles by gender. Depression status was determined using the PHQ-9 scores and the self-report of the doctor's diagnosis and treatment. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the association between seafood consumption and depression in both genders. Results: Participants with a higher seafood intake had a significantly lower nutritional density of total fat, while the nutritional density of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids was significantly higher. The prevalence of depression was significantly lower in the highest tertile of seafood consumption compared to the lowest tertile in both men (p < 0.001) and women (p < 0.001). After adjusting for confounding factors, the highest tertile of seafood consumption demonstrated a decreased risk of depression compared to the lowest tertile in men (odds ratio [OR], 0.71; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.51-0.99; p-trend = 0.020) and women (OR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.59-0.91; p-trend = 0.004). Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that consuming seafood rich in omega-3 fatty acids may potentially reduce the risk of depression in the adult population.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.667-682
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• 2023

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the changes in health behavior, mental health, and nutritional status of Korean adolescents before and after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic outbreak. Methods: A total of 800 adolescents (12~18 years old) who participated in the 2019-2020 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) were included as study subjects and divided into four groups (204 middle school boys, 172 middle school girls, 219 high school boys, and 205 high school girls). The 2019 and 2020 KNHANES data were classified into data collected before and after the COVID-19 outbreak, respectively. Results: After the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, middle school boys showed an increased tendency toward becoming overweight and obese, with significantly increased levels of diastolic blood pressure and insulin. While there was no major change in the subjective health status among adolescents, the high school boys showed a significantly decreased physical activity after COVID-19 outbreak. Moreover, the proportion of middle school students feeling a little stressed significantly increased after the COVID-19 outbreak. The rate of skipping breakfast significantly increased in middle school girls, but the rate of having lunch with companions significantly increased among all adolescents after the COVID-19 outbreak. However, the intake of milk, vegetables, fruits, seaweeds, and pulses significantly decreased, although the intake of sugars, beverages, and seasonings significantly decreased as well, during this period. These changes may lead to an increased proportion of adolescents with insufficient intake of nutrients, including potassium, vitamin C, and riboflavin. Conclusion: These results highlight the impact of COVID-19 on comprehensive changes in physical and mental health status, lifestyle behavior, and nutritional status in adolescents, suggesting the need for targeted prevention and intervention for physical and mental well-being during the pandemic.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.683-701
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• 2023

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to analyze the status of dietary behavior and nutrition intakes according to the gender and the level of physical activity of adolescents. Methods: Data from 659 adolescents aged 13 to 18 years who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2017-2018) were analyzed. Collected data were analyzed using complex sampling data analysis with SPSS v. 27.0. Results: The adolescents were categorized into three groups based on their physical activity as follows: The first group with high physical activity (8.9%), a second group with normal physical activity (29.7%), and a third group without physical activity (61.4%). Boys showed significantly higher physical activity than the girls. Adolescents with high physical activity had a significantly lower body mass index than adolescents without physical activity, but their meal regularity, subjective health status, and recognition of body image were significantly higher. In terms of biochemical factors, adolescents with high physical activity had lower triglycerides and cholesterol than adolescents without physical activity, while hemoglobin and hematocrit were significantly higher. In addition, the intakes of energy, carbohydrates, proteins, fat, vitamin B₁, niacin, calcium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, iron increased significantly as adolescents' physical activity increased. Conclusion: The physical activity of adolescents had a positive effect on dietary behavior, lifestyle, and nutritional factors. Therefore, it is necessary to increase participation in physical classes in schools and develop various programs considering the level of physical activity among adolescents.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.68-81
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• 2006

As one of the on-going projects to investigate the biogeochemical characteristics of tidal flat, we develop seasonal mass balance calculations (or DIP, DIN and DON in Gomso Bay. We have obtained 13-hours time-series data of salinity, tidal current, nutrients, and chlorophyll-a of seawater for spring, dry summer, rainy summer and winter during $1999{\sim}2000$. DIP of $-1.10{\times}10^6g\;P\;day^{-1},\;-4.50{\times}10^5g\;P\;day^{-1}$ was out-fluxed from the bay to the bay proper for spring and dry summer, respectively. Whereas $1.06{\times}10^4g\;P\;day^{-1}$ of net influx of DIP was found during winter and $2.72{\times}10^6g\;P\;day^{-1}$ of net influx was also found during the rainy summer. Therefore we suggest the role of Gomso tidal flat as a source of DIP fur the seasons of spring and summer, but as an opposite role during the rainy summer and winter but much smaller in magnitude. Except winter, the advection process by tidal current is found the most dominant flux among the diverse fluxes of DIP in the bay. Whereas ground water is estimated as the strongest flux of TDN except winter. TDN of $1.38{\times}10^7g\;N\;day^{-1},\;2.45{\times}10^6g\;N\;day^{-1},\;and\;4.65{\times}10^7g\;N\;day^{-1}$ was in-fluxed to the bay from the bay proper far spring, rainy summer and summer, respectively. Only $-1.70{\times}10^7g\;N\;day^{-1}$ of net out-flux was found during the winter. Therefore we suggest the role of Gomso tidal flat as a sink of TDN far the year round except winter.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.158-164
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• 2006

Yongdam Lake is the fifth largest artificial lake in Korea newly formed by the first impounding the Yongdam Multi-purpose Dam on December, 2002. Yongdam Lake, with her total water storage of 820 million M/T, is located at the roof-top region of the streams flowing into the just-constructed new Saemankeum Lake. Seasonal succession of phytoplakton in Yongdam Lake might affect cyanobacterial blooms in Saemankeum Lake by inoculating seasonal dominants. During 2002-2003 when the first impounding after the construction of Yongdam Multi-purpose Dam was still undergoing, summer cyanobacterial blooms by Anabaena, Microcystis, and Aphanizomenon were observed. Among these three, filamentous Anabaena is well known to have its species with $N_2-fixing$ ability and special cells such as heterocysts and akinetes as well as the vegetative cells. We established a clonal culture of Anabaena spiroides v. crasse (KNU-YD0310) from the live water samples collected at the bloom site of Yongdam Lake. The N- and P-nutrient requirement of the KNU-YD0310 was explored by the experimental cultivation of the laboratory strain. Ratio of heterocysts to vegetative cells increased as N-deficiency extended with its maximum at $N_2-fixing$ condition. The strain KNU-YD0310 exhibited considerable growth under N-limiting conditions while its growth was proportional to the initial phosphate-P concentration under P-deficient conditions. Under P-limiting conditions akinete density increased, which could be interpreted as an adaptation strategy to survive severe environment by transforming into resting stage. The above eco-physiological characteristics of Anabaena spiroides v. crassa might be useful as an ecological criterion in controlling cyanobacterial blooms at Shaemankeum Lake in near future.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.200-209
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• 2008

Particle fluxes were measured with a time-series sediment trap from July 2003 to June 2005 at the St. KOMO(KOMO; Korea Deep-Sea Environmental Study Long-Term Monitoring Station, $10^{\circ}30'N,\;131^{\circ}20'W$) in the northeastern Pacific. Total mass fluxes at a depth of 4,960 m showed distinct seasonal variations with high values in the winter(December-February) and spring(March-May) and low values in the summer(June-August) and fall(September-November). Biogenic origin fluxes also displayed distinct seasonal variations similar to total mass fluxes. Particularly, calcium carbonate fluxes in winter and spring were more than two times greater than those in summer and fall. The prominent seasonal variations of total mass and biogenic fluxes were closely related with the seasonal changes of primary production in the surface waters; in winter and spring, primary production increased due to the enhanced supply of nutrients below the surface mixed layer by strong wind and less stratification, whereas it decreased as a result of the less supply of nutrient by reduced wind speed and strong stratification in summer and fall. The seasonal variations of total mass and biogenic fluxes in this study were higher than the differences of total mass and biogenic fluxes caused by the environmental changes such as El $Ni\tilde{n}o$ and La $Ni\tilde{n}a$ events in the previous studies. In order to understand the effects of El $Ni\tilde{n}o$ and La $Ni\tilde{n}a$ on the particle flux, therefore, the seasonal variation of particle flux in the northeastern equatorial Pacific needs to be well defined.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.27-41
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• 2008

Distribution characteristics of phytoplankton community were investigated by HPLC and flow cytometry in Jeju Strait and the Northern East China Sea (NECS) in May 2004, in order to understand the relationship between physical environmental factors and distribution pattern of phytoplankton communities. Based on temperature and salinity data, three distinct water masses were identified; warm and saline Tsushima Warm Current (TWC), which is flowing from northwest of Jeju Island, warm and low saline water at the center of Jeju Strait, which is originated from China Coastal Water (CCW) and relatively cold and high saline water originated from Yellow Sea at the bottom of the Jeju Strait. At Jeju Strait, less saline water (<33 psu) of 15 km width occupied surface layer up to 20 m which located at 20 km offshore and strong thermal front between warm and saline water and cold and less saline water was found in the middle of the Jeju Strait. Vertical transect of temperature and salinity at the NECS also showed that low saline (<33 psu) water occupied the upper 20 m layer and cold and saline water was present at the eastern part. Chl a was measured as $0.06{\sim}3.07\;{\mu}g/L$. Spring bloom of phytoplankton was recognized by the high concentrations of Chl a at the low saline water masses influenced by the CCW and subsurface chlorophyll maximum layer appeared between $20{\sim}30\;m$ depth, which was at thermocline depth or below. Abundances of Synechococcus and picoeukaryote were $0.2{\sim}9.5{\times}10^4\;cells/mL$ and $0.43{\sim}4.3{\times}10^4\;cells/mL$, respectively. Dinoflagellate, diatom and prymnesiophyte were major groups and minor groups were chlorophyte+prasinophyte, chrysophyte, cryptophyte and cyanophyte. Especially high abundance of dinoflagellate was identified by high concentration (>1\;{\mu}g/L$) of peridinin at the bottom of the thermocline, which showed an outbreak of red tide by high density of dinoflagellates. Abundances of picoeukaryote in Jeju Strait were about $5{\sim}10$ times higher than abundance measured in Kuroshio water and showed a good correlation with Chl b (Pras+Viola), which implies the most of population of picoeukaryote was composed of prasinophytes. Prochlorococcus was not detected at all, which suggests that Kuroshio Current did not directly influenced on the study area. Based on the strong negative correlations between biomass of phytoplankton (Chl a) and temperature+salinity, the primary production and biomass of phytoplankton in the study area were controlled by the nutrients supply from CCW.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.147-158
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• 2007

To clarify the bloom pattern and species succession in phytoplankton community, the population dynamics with the determination of physico-chemical factors have been studies in Masan Bay, the south sea of Korea, for the periods November 2003-October 2004. Concentration of $NH_4-N$ was always higher than that of $NO_3-N$, which was similar level as compared to other costal areas. $PO_4-P$ concentration was lower than those in other coastal areas but similar to oligotrophic environments. Thus, phosphate seems the limiting nutrient rather than nitrogen. $SiO_2-Si$ concentration was also low as compared to other costal areas. Si:P ratio was low from autumn to winter, suggesting silicate and/or phosphate limitation during this period. The cell density of phytoplankton was high in winter 2003 and early autumn 2004. The carbon biomass was high in winter 2003 and summer 2004. And chlorophyll-a concentration was high in late autumn 2003 and summer 2004. Among 78 species of phytoplankton found in the bay during the investigated period, dominant species were two diatoms of Cylindrotheca closterium, Skeletonema costatum, and three dinoflagellates of Heterocapsa triquetra, Prorocentrum minimum, P. triestinum, and one raphidophyte of Heterosigma akashiwo. P. minimum dominated from late autumn to winter, but it was replaced by H. triquetra in late winter. P. triestinum dominated from late spring to early summer. Simultaneously, H. akashiwo cell density steadily increased, and it became dominant with C. closterium in late summer. With decreasing of H. akashiwo and C. closterium, S. costatum became the most dominant species in autumn. The canonical analyses showed that total phytoplankton cell density related to diatom cell density and it was affected by temperature, and concentrations of $NO_3-N\;and\;PO_4-P$. The carbon bio-mass and $chlorophyll-{\alpha}$ concentration related to diatom- and dinoflagellate cell densities and these were affected by flagellate cell density, salinity, and concentrations of $SiO_2-Si\;and\;PO_4-P$. Last six years monitoring data in Masan city obtained from Korean Meteorological Agency indicates gradual increase in air temperature. And the precipitation decreased especially in spring season. The winter bloom found in 2003 may be caused by the increase in the temperature and this bloom subsequently induced the nutrients depletion, which continued until next spring probably due to no precipitation. Therefore, the spring bloom, which had been usually observed in the bay, might disappear in 2004.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.305-314
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• 2007

We studied spatial and temporal distributions of the phytoplankton and their relationships to physico-chemical environmental factors in the western Jinhae Bay, Korea from November 2003 to August 2004. In most cases, physico-chemical environmental factors showed homogeneous distribution. The phytoplankton communities were composed of mainly diatoms and dinoflagellates, and their standing crops ranged from $16{\times}10^3\;cells\;l^{-1}\;to\;5,845{\times}10^3\;cells\;l^{-1}$ (with a mean value of $555{\times}10^3\;cells\;l^{-1}$). The bloom of phytoplankton was observed in Gohyun Port in the summer. Seasonal variation of phytoplankton standing crops was higher in winter and summer than in spring and autumn. The dominant species were Skeletonema costatum, Akashiwo sanguinea, Pseudo-nitzschia pungens, Dactyliosolen sp., Leptocylindrus danicus, cryptomonads and etc. Especially, S. costatum was predominant in the summer and A. sanguinea (spring and autumn), Pseudo-nitzschia sp. (summer), Guinardia striata (spring), unidentified flagellates (summer) and cryptomonads (spring) appeared to be an opportunistic species. Concentrations of Chl a ranged from $0.6{\mu}g{\cdot}l^{-1}\;to\;16.7{\mu}g{\cdot}l^{-1}$ (with a mean value of $3.4{\mu}g{\cdot}l^{-1}$). The results of the canonical correspondence analysis implies the study area was grouped into the 2 water masses (inner and outer waters of Gohyun Port) and inner waters had higher abundance and Chl a concentration than outer waters. Also, phytoplankton sanding crops were related with temperature, DO and nutrients ($SiO^2$, TN, TP and etc.) in inner waters. Inner water-mass of Gohyun Port expanded between Gacho Is. and Chilchon Is. during the winter.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2008

Eight comprehensive oceanographic cruises on a squared $30{\times}30\;km$ area have been made to investigate the short and long-term impacts on the water qualities due to the sand mining operations at Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the central Yellow Sea from 2004 to 2007. The area was categorized to 'Sand Mining Zone', 'Potentially Affected Zone', and 'Reference Zone'. The investigation covered suspended solids, nutrients (nitrate, nitrite, ammonium, phosphate), and chlorophyll-a in seawater and several parameters such as water temperature, salinity, pH, and ORP. Additionally, several intensive water collections were made to trace the suspended solids and other parameters along the turbid water by sand mining activities. The comprehensive investigation showed that suspended solids, nitrate, chlorophyll-a and ORP be sensitively responding parameters of seawater by sand mining operations. The intensive collection of seawater near the sand mining operation revealed that each parameter show different distribution pattern: suspended solids showed an oval-shaped distribution of the north-south direction of 8 km wide and the east-west direction of 5 km wide at the surface and bottom layers. On the other hand, phosphate showed so narrow distribution not to traceable. Also ammonium showed a limited distribution, but its boundary was connected to the high nitrate and chlorophyll-a concentrations with high N/P ratios. From the last 4 years of the comprehensive and intensive investigations, we found that suspended solids, ammonium, nitrate, chlorophyll-a, and ORP revealed the sensitive parameters of water quality for tracing the sand mining operations in seawater. Especially suspended solids and ORP would be useful tracers for monitoring the water qualities of remote area like EEZ in Yellow Sea.