• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.4331-4354
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• 2020

Nepal is a sensitive and disaster-prone country where safety and security risk are of high concern for travelers. Digital technologies can play a vital role in addressing safety and security issues in the country. This research work proposes a Digital tourism security system design for addressing the safety and security issues in tourism industry of Nepal. The study uses Design science research methodology to identify artifacts, interactions, information flow and dependencies between them which are then mapped with existing prevalent technology to provide design solutions. Data is obtained from interview of tourist and experts as a primary source and technical documents/draft, software documentations, surveys as secondary source. Generalized information model, Use cases model, Network architecture model, Layered taxonomy model and Digital tourism technology reference model are the outcomes of the study. The work is very important as it talks specifically about implementation and integration of digital technologies in tourism security governance at federal, provincial, municipal and rural level. The research supplements as a knowledge document for design and implementation of digital tourism security system in practice. As there is very less work on digital systems in tourism security of Nepal, this work is a pioneer and first of its kind.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.239-252
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• 2022

Afrolaophonte koreana sp. nov. is described from the intertidal zone of two sandy beaches on the south coast of Korea. This is the first record of the genus Afrolaophonte Chappuis, 1960 in the Northern Pacific. The new species is most similar to A. aequatorialis Cottarelli and Mura, 1981, described from the Maldives and subsequently also found in Papua New Guinea, but could be distinguished by numerous characters, including the segmentation of the third leg endopod in male, armature formula of the second leg in both sexes, length of caudal rami in both sexes, and length of some setae on the fourth leg in female. Afrolaophonte ensiger Wells and Rao, 1987 from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is established as a junior subjective synonym of A. aequatorialis. To test previous phylogenetic hypotheses based on intuitive methods, a parsimony based cladistic analysis of 13 valid congeners is performed using 15 morphological characters and one outgroup. Only one of three previously proposed species-groups is supported with a synapomorphy, while one was clearly based on symplesiomorphies. Our current knowledge of morphology in this genus is not sufficient for postulating interspecific phylogenies, which also renders previous zoogeographical hypotheses untestable.

• ALGAE
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.185-204
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• 2022

The genus Coolia A. Meunier 1919 has a global distribution and is a common member of epiphytic dinoflagellate assemblages in neritic ecosystems. Coolia monotis is the type species of the genus and was the only known species for 76 years. Over the past few decades, molecular characterization has unveiled two species complexes that group morphologically very similar species, so their limits are often unclear. To provide new knowledge on the biogeography and species composition of the genus Coolia, 16 strains were isolated from Bahía de La Paz, Gulf of California. The species were identified by applying morphological and molecular approaches. The morphometric characteristics of all isolated Coolia species were consistent with the original taxa descriptions. Phylogenetic analyses (large subunit [LSU] rDNA D1 / D2 and internal transcribed spacer [ITS] 1 / 5.8S / ITS2) revealed a species assemblage comprising Coolia malayensis, C. palmyrensis, C. tropicalis, and the C. cf. canariensis lineage. This is the first report of Coolia palmyrensis and C. cf. canariensis in Mexico and C. tropicalis in the Gulf of California. Our results strengthen the biogeographical understanding of these potentially harmful epiphytic dinoflagellate species.

• ALGAE
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.205-211
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• 2022

The trend in naming genera based almost exclusively on molecular data, and not on morphological diagnostic characters, is increasing. In bifurcating phylogenetic trees generic cut-offs are arbitrary, but at the bare minimum nomenclatural changes should be supported by multiple phylogenetic methodologies using appropriate models for all the various gene partitions, strong support with all branch support methods, and should also result in adding to our knowledge of the interrelationships of taxa. We believe that a recent taxonomic treatment of the genus Pyropia (Yang et al. 2020) into several genera is unwarranted. We reanalysed the data presented in the recent article, using additional phylogenetic methods. Our results show that many of the newly established genera are not well supported by all methods, and the new circumscription of the genus Pyropia renders it unsupported. We also tested additional outgroups, which were previously suggested as sister to Pyropia, but this did not substantially change our conclusions. These generic nomenclatural changes of the previously strongly supported genus Pyropia, do not shed light on the evolution of this group and have serious consequences in these commercially important algae, that are also governed by a plethora of regulation and by-laws that now need to be amended. We suggest that the over-splitting of groups based only on poorly produced and modestly supported phylogenies should not be accepted and that the genus Pyropia sensu Sutherland et al. (2011) be restored.

• Mycobiology
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.559-581
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• 2021

The coastal marine ecosystems of Vietnam are one of the global biodiversity hotspots, but the biodiversity of marine fungi is not well known. To fill this major gap of knowledge, we assessed the genetic diversity (ITS sequence) of 75 fungal strains isolated from 11 surface coastal marine and deeper waters in Nha Trang Bay and Van Phong Bay using a culture-dependent approach and 5 OTUs (Operational Taxonomic Units) of fungi in three representative sampling sites using next-generation sequencing. The results from both approaches shared similar fungal taxonomy to the most abundant phylum (Ascomycota), genera (Candida and Aspergillus) and species (Candida blankii) but were different at less common taxa. Culturable fungal strains in this study belong to 3 phyla, 5 subdivisions, 7 classes, 12 orders, 17 families, 22 genera and at least 40 species, of which 29 species have been identified and several species are likely novel. Among identified species, 12 and 28 are new records in global and Vietnamese marine areas, respectively. The analysis of enzyme activity and the checklist of trophic mode and guild assignment provided valuable additional biological information and suggested the ecological function of planktonic fungi in the marine food web. This is the largest dataset of marine fungal biodiversity on morphology, phylogeny and enzyme activity in the tropical coastal ecosystems of Vietnam and Southeast Asia. Biogeographic aspects, ecological factors and human impact may structure mycoplankton communities in such aquatic habitats.

• ALGAE
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.135-147
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• 2022

The red algal genus Chondrus have long been used as raw materials for carrageenan and dietary fiber in health foods. Despite the importance of genetic information in safeguarding natural seaweed resources, knowledge of the population genetics of Chondrus in the northwest Pacific is limited. In this study, genetic diversity and phylogeographic structure of 45 populations (777 specimens) of Chondrus from Korea, China, and Japan were evaluated based on mitochondrial COI-5P gene sequences, and phylogenetic relationships were confirmed based on plastid rbcL gene sequences. Molecular analyses assigned the specimens in this study to three Chondrus species: C. nipponicus, C. ocellatus, and C. giganteus; phenotype-based species classification was impossible owing to their high morphological plasticity. We found moderate intraspecific genetic diversity and a shallow phylogeographic structure in both for C. nipponicus and C. ocellatus, and low intraspecific genetic diversity in C. giganteus. Each of the three species exhibited high-level intraspecific gene flow among regions based on the most common haplotypes (CN1 for C. nipponicus, CO1 for C. ocellatus, and CG1 for C. giganteus). Our comprehensive genetic information provides insights into the phylogeographic patterns and intraspecific diversity of the economically important Chondrus species. It also highlights the need to conserve existing natural Chondrus resources through continuous monitoring of genetic diversity and phylogeographic pattern.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.319-329
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• 2022

In July 2020, wilting symptoms were observed among adzuki bean plants (Vigna angularis var. angularis L.) in the fields in Yeosu, Korea. Infected plants showed yellowing of leaves, browning inside the stems, splitting of stem bark, and wilting. When these plants were uprooted, their roots were found to be brown. The fungal pathogens NC20-737, NC20-738, and NC20-739 were isolated from symptomatic stem and root tissues. These pathogens were identified as a Fusarium fujikuroi species complex based on their morphological characteristics. Molecular identification was performed using the DNA sequence of translation elongation factor 1 alpha and the RNA polymerase II second largest subunit regions. The nucleotide sequences of all three isolates were similar to the F. fujikuroi reference isolates NRRL 13566 and NRRL 5538 of the National Centre for Biotechnology Information GenBank. A pathogenicity test was conducted by the soil inoculation method with cornmeal sand inoculum. Approximately 3 weeks after inoculation, symptoms were observed only in the inoculated adzuki bean seedlings. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of Fusarium root rot caused by F. fujikuroi in adzuki beans, both in Korea and worldwide.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.24-28
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• 2022

Pteris griffithii Hook., one of the rarest fern species on the Indian subcontinent, is reported from Bhutan for the first time. The identity of this species was confirmed through morphological determination at the National Herbarium (THIM) of the National Biodiversity Centre (NBC) of Bhutan. It was found only in one location, in Gyelpozhing in eastern Bhutan, at an elevation of 521 m a.s.l. on 10 January 2016. Given that a very limited study of this species was conducted, the knowledge baseline with regard to its distribution is poor. It is also reported that this species has not been found for several years. The species is also considered to be very rare or critically endangered in some countries; however, there are no assessments on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List for this particular species. This paper attempts to provide baseline information considering its rarity and data deficiency. This species is also reported from the adjacent neighboring Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh as very rare, and also from Myanmar; however, confirmation of its presence in China is not clear at this time. Therefore, considering its data deficient status, we attempt to document it scientifically to create a knowledgebase pertaining to this particular species. Concurrently, this species merits further research to understand its distribution patterns in Bhutan and any related anthropogenic threats.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.170-180
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• 2023

Discoveries and new records of plants specifically provide a basis for empirical data to enable in-depth studies of the ecology, distribution, conservation, applications, and threats to such plants. However, many unexplored regions of Bhutan exist in which several plants have yet to be described and documented. Several species reported elsewhere in the Himalayan region with similar climatic conditions are likely to occur in Bhutan as well, indicating a need to corroborate their presence. To explore this, an opportunistic survey was employed, and we provide nine new records of plant species for Bhutan. Of the nine species, three belonged to the Lauraceae family, with the rest from the Aristolochiaceae, Asparagaceae, Lamiaceae, Phyllanthaceae, Sapindaceae, and Urticaceae families. This paper adds nine additional species of plants to the flora of Bhutan. We also report here ethnobotanical applications of these species, providing insight into how communities interact with environmental resources and have the potential to integrate traditional knowledge into scientific understanding, ultimately to reinforce sustainable biocultural conservation at the local level.

• Journal of Korea Technology Innovation Society
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.563-583
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• 2014

We classified collaboration types of Government-supported Research Institutes (GRIs) in Korea to make a creation knowledge with the openness and the diversity. The openness is described to collaboration dependence and leading intensity, and the diversity is expressed to collaboration diversity and collaboration concentration. We suggest four taxonomy models explained in terms of the openness and the diversity with country level and institute level. This study uses 39,507 papers in SCOUPS DB that include author(s) affiliated to 26 GRIs. It concludes that many GRIs is classified to the type of multilateral collaboration follower in institute level and to the type of global network player in country level from the perspective of openness. In the aspect of diversity, many GRIs is concentrated to the collaboration type of picky eater or monophagous in institute level and to the multinatioal asymmetry type or non-multinational asymmetry type in country level. It is necessary for GRIs to lead collaboration and to transfer inhouse R&D institutes with high performance to be competitive institutes which make high quality knowledge.