• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.391-402
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• 2021

Earthworms play an important role in soil fertilization, interacting continually with microorganisms. This study aims to demonstrate the existence of beneficial microorganisms living in the earthworm's immune system, the coelomic fluid. To achieve this goal, a molecular identification technique was performed, using cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) barcoding to identify abundant endogenic earthworms inhabiting the temperate zone of Rabat, Morocco. Then, 16S rDNA and ITS sequencing techniques were adopted for bacteria and fungi, respectively. Biochemical analysis, showed the ability of bacteria to produce characteristic enzymes and utilize substrates. Qualitative screening of plant growth-promoting traits, including nitrogen fixation, phosphate and potassium solubilization, and indole acetic acid (IAA) production, was also performed. The result of mitochondrial COI barcoding allowed the identification of the earthworm species Aporrectodea molleri. Phenotypic and genotypic studies of the sixteen isolated bacteria and the two isolated fungi showed that they belong to the Pseudomonas, Aeromonas, Bacillus, Buttiauxella, Enterobacter, Pantoea, and Raoultella, and the Penicillium genera, respectively. Most of the isolated bacteria in the coelomic fluid showed the ability to produce β-glucosidase, β-glucosaminidase, Glutamyl-β-naphthylamidase, and aminopeptidase enzymes, utilizing substrates like aliphatic thiol, sorbitol, and fatty acid ester. Furthermore, three bacteria were able to fix nitrogen, solubilize phosphate and potassium, and produce IAA. This initial study demonstrated that despite the immune property of earthworms' coelomic fluid, it harbors beneficial microorganisms. Thus, the presence of resistant microorganisms in the earthworm's immune system highlights a possible selection process at the coelomic fluid level.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.53-65
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• 2020

Here, we describe an efficient and rapid protocol for the micropropagation of Thymus pallidus Cosson ex Batt., a very rare medicinal and aromatic plant in Morocco. After seed germination, we tested the effect of different macronutrients, cytokinins alone or in combination with gibberellic acid (GA₃) or auxins, on T. pallidus plantlet growth. We found that Margara macronutrients (N₃₀K) had the best effect on the in vitro development of the plantlets. The addition of 0.93 μM/L 1,3-diphenylurea (DPU), 0.46 μM/L adenine (Ad), and 0.46 and 0.93 μM/L kinetin (Kin) resulted in the best shoot multiplication and elongation. In addition, the combination of 0.46 μM/L Kin, DPU, or Ad with gibberellic acid, in particular, 0.46 μM/L Ad + 0.58 μM/L GA₃ and 0.46 μM/L Kin + 1.15 μM/L GA₃, led to better bud and shoot multiplication. Moreover, the integration of the combinations of 0.46 μM/L Kin and auxins, namely 0.46 μM/L Kin + 2.85 μM/L indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), 0.46 μM/L Kin + 2.85 or 5.71 μM/L indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), and 0.46 μM/L Kin + 0.3 or 0.57 μM/L 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), in the culture medium led to better root development and optimized aerial growth. Finally, the in vitro plants from the medium containing N₃₀K + 0.46 μM/L Kin + 2.85 μM/L IAA were successfully acclimatized; these plants served as a source for repeating in vitro culture.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.787-799
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• 2018

Accurate and effective mapping is critical step to monitor the spatial distribution and change of flood inundated area in large scale flood event. In this study, we try to suggest methods to use low spatial resolution satellite optical imagery for flood mapping, which has high temporal resolution to cover wide geographical area several times per a day. We selected the Sebou watershed flood in Morocco that was occurred in early 2010, in which several hundred $km^2$ area of the Gharb lowland plain was inundated. MODIS daily surface reflectance product was used to detect the flooded area. The study area showed several distinct spectral patterns within the flooded area, which included pure turbid water and turbid water with vegetation. The flooded area was extracted by thresholding on selected band reflectance and water-related spectral indices. Accuracy of these flooding detection methods were assessed by the reference map obtained from Landsat-5 TM image and qualitative interpretation of the flood map derived. Over 90% of accuracies were obtained for three methods except for the NDWI threshold. Two spectral bands of SWIR and red were essential to detect the flooded area and the simple thresholding on these bands was effective to detect the flooded area. NIR band did not play important role to detect the flooded area while it was useful to separate the water-vegetation mixed flooded classes from the purely water surface.

• Journal of Technology Innovation
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.99-122
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• 2019

ODA (Official Development Assistance) aims for practicing international humanitarianism in developing countries. However, ODA donors also seek to find convincing evidence meeting the national economic & political interests in the international community. In this regards, precise & unbiased estimation of the policy effects of ODA aid on the donors' exports to the recipient countries has recently become one of the primary concerns of the ODA donors, especially developing countries including Korea of which economy structure heavily relies on exports for economic growth. Based on the basic gravity model, this study empirically analyzes the effects of technical cooperation ODA delivering skills, knowledge and technical know-how on Korea's exports to the ODA recipient countries using 10-year panel data from 2007 to 2016. Specifically, by incorporating major variables affecting trade such as GDP, distance, FDI etc, the effect of technical cooperation ODA on Korea's exports to the ODA recipient countries is estimated with various kinds of panel models. As a result, technical cooperation ODA has a statistically significant impact on Korea's exports to ODA recipient countries, especially in the exports of intermediate goods. And the detail process of this black-boxed mechanism is scrutinized through case studies on Uzbekistan, The Philippines, and Morocco.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.357-366
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• 2015

By using the Optical Wide-field Patrol (OWL) network developed by the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI) we generated the right ascension and declination angle data from optical observation of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites. We performed an analysis to verify the optimum number of observations needed per arc for successful estimation of orbit. The currently functioning OWL observatories are located in Daejeon (South Korea), Songino (Mongolia), and Oukaïmeden (Morocco). The Daejeon Observatory is functioning as a test bed. In this study, the observed targets were Gravity Probe B, COSMOS 1455, COSMOS 1726, COSMOS 2428, SEASAT 1, ATV-5, and CryoSat-2 (all in LEO). These satellites were observed from the test bed and the Songino Observatory of the OWL network during 21 nights in 2014 and 2015. After we estimated the orbit from systematically selected sets of observation points (20, 50, 100, and 150) for each pass, we compared the difference between the orbit estimates for each case, and the Two Line Element set (TLE) from the Joint Space Operation Center (JSpOC). Then, we determined the average of the difference and selected the optimal observation points by comparing the average values.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.12
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• pp.1764-1771
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• 2010

Carthamus tinctorius L. (Compositae) is an herb primarily distributed throughout in the world. The species is regarded as ecologically important in the world. Safflower was used for medicines, as well as making red (carthamin) and yellow dyes. We have used the RAPD technique to investigate the phylogenetic relationships and genetic diversity of C. tinctorius. We obtained 123 bands from all the 26 cultivars. The average number of bands was 9.5 per primer. The genetic diversity of safflower is found among cultivars and there is a high among-cultivar differentiation. The OPC18-01 band is the specific marker for Syria cultivar, whereas no products were detected in individuals from other country cultivars. We found seven phenetic bands for determining the specific marker of cultivars with SCAR markers. Though the number of individuals sampled for analysis was small and probably not fully representative of the total available diversity in C. tinctorius, this study demonstrates that the regions (Morocco, Syria, and Turkey) of the Mediterranean Sea were more variable than other regions with the exception of India. In this result, although only simple result of RAPD is difficult to assert the center of species diversity of C. tinctorius, the regions of the Mediterranean Sea may be the most probable candidate for the origin of safflower. India was also the candidate of the center or secondary center of species diversity of C. tinctorius. RAPD markers were effective in classifying cultivar levels of safflower.

• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.127-146
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• 2008

Over the past four decades reproductive behavior has changed slowly in much of the African countries. The average total fertility rate has fallen from six or more to near five today. Between 1960 and 2000 the largest fertility decline occurred in such Northern African countries as Algeria, Libya, and Morocco. The mortality rate has decreased in most African countries. The purpose of this study is to review the pattern of demographic transition in African countries. At first, this study focuses on the fertility transition. In Africa, the total fertility rate has decreased from 6.59 to 4.85 between 1960 and 2000. The mortality rate has also decreased in most of African countries. It is also interesting to find that there is a clear difference among African countries. In terms of infant mortality rate, Libya shows the lowest rate(17), while Mali and Somalia remain still high rate(142 and 133, respectively). This study tests a path model in which infant mortality rate acts as an intermediate variable between three socioeconomic variables and the fertility rate. The findings of this paper substantiate some of our hypotheses on the interrelationships among socioeconomic variables, infant mortality rate, and fertility rate. The result also shows the indirect effects of socioeconomic variables on fertility rate via infant mortality.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.361-372
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• 2019

The purpose of this study is to develop a two-dimensional land surface flood analysis model based on uniform square grid using the governing equations except for the convective acceleration term in the momentum equation. Finite volume method and implicit method were applied to spatial and temporal discretization. In order to reduce the execution time of the model, parallel computation techniques using CPU were applied. To verify the developed model, the model was compared with the analytical solution and the behavior of the model was evaluated through numerical experiments in the virtual domain. In addition, inundation analyzes were performed at different spatial resolutions for the domestic Janghowon area and the Sebou river area in Morocco, and the results were compared with the analysis results using the CAESER-LISFLOOD (CLF) model. In model verification, simulation results were well matched with the analytical solution, and the flow analyses in the virtual domain were also evaluated to be reasonable. The results of inundation simulations in the Janghowon and the Sebou river area by this study and CLF model were similar with each other and for Janghowon area, the simulation result was also similar to the flooding area of flood hazard map. The different parts in the simulation results of this study and the CLF model were compared and evaluated for each case. The results of this study suggest that the model proposed in this study can simulate the flooding well in the floodplain. However, in case of flood analysis using the model presented in this study, the characteristics and limitations of the model by domain composition method, governing equation and numerical method should be fully considered.

• Korean Journal of Cleft Lip And Palate
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.85-92
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• 2006

Korean Cleft Lip and Palate Association (KCLPA) was founded in 1996. The first overseas charity operation was in Karachi, Pakistan, 2002 and our association has visited fourteen times in six countries for the free cleft surgery: Pakistan, Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, Jordan and Vietnam. The cumulated number of operated patients reaches to 280. Before our association, many Korean oral and maxillofacial surgeons have performed charity operations individually since 1964. It was started from Vietnam but the activity is now carried on in Africa, middle-east Asia, south-east Asia, China, and Korea as an official team. LG electronics, a Korean company helped to propagate our team's activity to middle-east Asia to Africa. This paper is a report concerning about the results of our association's charity activities especially in Kenya, east Africa. We provided free cleft surgery for 30 patients in 2004 and 27 patients in 2005, in Nairobi. As the blood test for HIV of the cleft patients was not allowed before and during surgery, our surgeons and nurses were cautious about every movement during the surgeries. Thus the operation time for each patient was longer than any other time. The attitude of the local hospital and the doctors seemed to be accustomed to this situation. They helped us in case of needle injuries. Safety of medical staff and patients is more important than the number of the patients operated in charity operation. This belief should be approached being parallel and multidisciplinary as an international cooperation, focusing on international funding for medical support and continuous education for local doctors who are willing to devote to their people.

• Journal of Intelligence and Information Systems
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.175-196
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• 2022

Information and communication and home appliance industries, which were one of South Korea's main industries, are gradually losing their export share as their export competitiveness is weakening. This study objectively analyzed export competitiveness and suggested export-promising countries in order to help South Korea's information communication and home appliance industries improve exports. In this study, network properties, centrality, and structural hole analysis were performed during network analysis to evaluate export competitiveness. In order to select promising export countries, we proposed a new variable that can take into account the characteristics of an already established International Trade Network (ITN), that is, the Global Value Chain (GVC), in addition to the existing economic factors. The conditional log-odds for individual links derived from the Exponential Random Graph Model (ERGM) in the analysis of the cross-border trade network were assumed as a proxy variable that can indicate the export potential. In consideration of the possibility of ERGM linkage, a parametric approach and a non-parametric approach were used to recommend export-promising countries, respectively. In the parametric method, a regression analysis model was developed to predict the export value of the information and communication and home appliance industries in South Korea by additionally considering the link-specific characteristics of the network derived from the ERGM to the existing economic factors. Also, in the non-parametric approach, an abnormality detection algorithm based on the clustering method was used, and a promising export country was proposed as a method of finding outliers that deviate from two peers. According to the research results, the structural characteristic of the export network of the industry was a network with high transferability. Also, according to the centrality analysis result, South Korea's influence on exports was weak compared to its size, and the structural hole analysis result showed that export efficiency was weak. According to the model for recommending promising exporting countries proposed by this study, in parametric analysis, Iran, Ireland, North Macedonia, Angola, and Pakistan were promising exporting countries, and in nonparametric analysis, Qatar, Luxembourg, Ireland, North Macedonia and Pakistan were analyzed as promising exporting countries. There were differences in some countries in the two models. The results of this study revealed that the export competitiveness of South Korea's information and communication and home appliance industries in GVC was not high compared to the size of exports, and thus showed that exports could be further reduced. In addition, this study is meaningful in that it proposed a method to find promising export countries by considering GVC networks with other countries as a way to increase export competitiveness. This study showed that, from a policy point of view, the international trade network of the information communication and home appliance industries has an important mutual relationship, and although transferability is high, it may not be easily expanded to a three-party relationship. In addition, it was confirmed that South Korea's export competitiveness or status was lower than the export size ranking. This paper suggested that in order to improve the low out-degree centrality, it is necessary to increase exports to Italy or Poland, which had significantly higher in-degrees. In addition, we argued that in order to improve the centrality of out-closeness, it is necessary to increase exports to countries with particularly high in-closeness. In particular, it was analyzed that Morocco, UAE, Argentina, Russia, and Canada should pay attention as export countries. This study also provided practical implications for companies expecting to expand exports. The results of this study argue that companies expecting export expansion need to pay attention to countries with a relatively high potential for export expansion compared to the existing export volume by country. In particular, for companies that export daily necessities, countries that should pay attention to the population are presented, and for companies that export high-end or durable products, countries with high GDP, or purchasing power, relatively low exports are presented. Since the process and results of this study can be easily extended and applied to other industries, it is also expected to develop services that utilize the results of this study in the public sector.