bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Coastal hazard vulnerability assessment along the coast of Pranburi – Sam Roi Yot, Yrachuap Khiri Khan province
Authors:   , Kawlomlerd Somruedee
Published: September 2023

Pranburi - Sam Roi Yot coastal area consists of various coastal landforms such as rocky coasts, beaches, mangroves, and estuaries. These include several important places such as natural resources, tourist attractions, and significant economic areas of the province. In addition, there are a broad range of land use in this region, including agriculture, conservation, residence, hotels, and resorts. However, this coastal area is vulnerable to natural disasters, which can damage the local ecosystem and population. The objective of this study is to assess the physical damage from coastal hazards by using the Coastal Hazard Wheel (CHW) approach and also to estimate the coastal vulnerability by using the Coastal Vulnerability Index (CVI) and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). Moreover, land use analysis was also performed to identify the land use type in the high vulnerability zone. The result of the physical damage assessment by CHW method found that most of the study area exhibited a storm surge-flooding hazard at a very high level of 27 km long (73 percent of the total length of the study area). Subsequently, coastal erosion is the second substantial hazard in this area, a distance of 21 km (55 percent of the total area). The result of the coastal vulnerability assessment by CVI method found that a very high level is located at the southern part of the study area, which has a length of 9 km (24 percent of the total area). In terms of CVI combined with AHP approach, it was discovered that the vulnerability class, particularly a very high level, was reduced in distance to 20% of the study area. The parameters that have significant influence include a coastal slope, geomorphology and shoreline change rate. Finally, from the land use analysis, within 1 km from the coastline, agricultural land use occupied the most areas at a very high vulnerability level, 47 percent, followed by urban land use, 24 percent. This urban zone will be the most affected area by natural disasters as it continues to expand, especially in the beach area, a major tourist attraction.
An analysis on trends of research topics in civic education using dynamic topic model
Authors:   , Thongsai Poon
Published: September 2023

The aim of this thesis is to study the trend of civic and citizenship education research from 2000 to 2020 and the influence the regional background of researches has on the research discussion. Relevant data is collected from ERIC and SCOPUS database. This includes abstracts, published year, regional background of researchers, and author h-index. The keywords used are “civic education” or “citizenship education” or “civics”. There are 4917 papers extracted in total. Upon doing further preparation, 4854 articles are prepared for analysis. We apply Structural Topic model (STM) technique to the abstracts with covariates including the published year and the continents the researchers are from. We found that 1) quantitative research in civic education and politically oriented topics are in decline whereas topics concerning skill development and service learning program are on the rise, 2) In terms of regional background global citizenship education, quantitative research, and national consciousness education are amongst the most popular topics across regions. The rising topic like service learning programs however particular is interested by researchers from Eastern Europe, and Western researchers from 2015 onwards. Philosophical discussion is mainly focused on by Latin American and Asian researchers but the difference are non-significant when compared to papers that are published by researchers from different regional background.
Optimal operation schedule of battery energy storage system for supporting variable renewable energy in generation system
Authors:   , Klansupar Chalermjit
Published: September 2023

Variable renewable energy (VRE) generation alters residual demand curves, leading to high operating costs for conventional generators. Additionally, the variable nature of VRE causes a mismatch between electricity demand and generation, resulting in greater expected energy not supplied (EENS) values, which represent a critical component of power generation costs. To alleviate the impact of VRE, utility-scale battery energy storage systems (BESSs) provide ancillary services. The BESSs’ general applications are spinning reserve, regulation, and ramping. This paper proposes a method to determine daily operation schedules for grid-scale BESSs, compensating for the negative impacts of VRE on operating costs, power generation reliability constraints, avoided outage costs, and BESS installation expenses. The optimal BESS application at a specific time of day can also be selected. The method is based on a multiple BESS applications unit commitment problem (MB-UC) solved with mixed-integer programming (MIP). The results demonstrate that each application offers the best value for BESS operations at different times of day, and operating BESS in multiple applications results in more significant benefits.
An improvement in protection coordination and criteria settings for Bhutanese power system
Authors:   , Tshering Cheten
Published: September 2023

Overcurrent and ground fault relay coordination have been studied for a pilot 132/33/11 kV Substation in Bhutan. The calculated settings as well as the existing settings have been simulated and the critical findings and recommendations are made. The methodology of overcurrent and ground fault relay coordination are also proposed.

Similarly, the criteria settings for differential relay have been discussed along with the compensation in respect of CT ratio, vector correction, magnetic inrush and zero sequence filtering. The pickup setting followed by 1st and 2nd slope biasing has been discussed.

Further, the distance relay setting has been analysed whereby the parameters and methodology for phase to phase and phase to ground resistive reach setting are elaborated. The field settings are compared with the calculated settings and simulations have been carried out for verifying the results. The distance relay setting calculations are developed through excel template taking into consideration the MiCOM P44x relays. Accordingly, the flow chart has been made in conformity with the guidelines.
3D building internal structural component segmentation from point cloud data using DBscan and modified ransac with normal deviation conditions
Authors:   , Doougphummet Thanapon
Published: September 2023

Nowadays, the laser scanner plays an important role as a tool to capture building structure in a form of point cloud which can be used to draw a blueprint or a floor plan for reconstruction or renovation of an existing building. The point cloud data represent a shape or an object in three dimensions. This point cloud together with the utilization of Building Information Modeling (BIM) which is a workflow that provides information about the foundation and structure measurement of a building, make a planning and design to construction more convenient and efficient in several aspects than the traditional way. However, using BIM to design or construct the internal structure of an existing building from point cloud manually can be very time consuming and requires a highly skilled engineer. The development of a method that can automatically construct the internal structure of an existing building from point cloud can facilitate the process of model creation. Among the whole process of construction, segmentation is an important process that identifies the main components of a building, which is still a challenging problem for researchers to develop an algorithm that can automatically segment the internal structural components of the building. The objective of this research is to develop a segmentation method that can extract the planar structures of a building from point cloud using the modified Random Sample Consensus (RANSAC) algorithm. The original RANSAC is modified by reducing the computational complexity using localized sampling, and the quality of segmentation is improved by adding normal deviation with connectivity constraints to RANSAC’s score calculation. The original RANSAC and the proposed method were evaluated on the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS) benchmark dataset. The segmentation results of the proposed method were visually compared to the results of the original RANSAC and it can be seen that the extracted components from the proposed method are closer to the actual structure and can also preserve the overall characteristics of the buildings.
Production and biological activities of oligo pectin from early immature fruit of Durio zibethinus L.
Authors:   , Pitaksa Aunchiya
Published: September 2023

Early immature durian (EID) fruits,  30-45 days after anthesis with 6-12 cm in length, are considered agricultural waste from cultivation. It is known that durian rinds of mature fruits contain pectin, but there have been no reports on the pectin content of early immature durian (EID) fruits. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the pectin content in EID fruits. We extracted pectin from EID fruits using distilled water at different temperatures (25°C, 50°C, and 75°C) for 1 h to investigate pectin content. Instrumental analyses, including X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer (FT-IR), confirmed the presence of pectin in the EID extract. To enhance the biological activity, we employed Pectinex Ultra SP-L® exo-Polygalacturonase, and Viscozyme® L, a mixture of carbohydrases, to degrade pectin into pectin-oligosaccharides (POSs). Moreover, Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) were used for the qualification analysis of POSs. The antioxidant activity of the extract was evaluated by measuring its free radical scavenging capacity using DPPH and ABTS assays, as well as the ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. Additionally, both POSs and pectin demonstrated antiglycation activity. The antioxidant and antiglycation activities of POSs were found to be stronger than those of pectin. Moreover, POSs exhibited hair proliferation promotion and provided protective effects against H2O2-induced oxidative stress damage. Consequently, we have successfully developed an extraction method and hydrolysis process to enhance the biological activity of the extract, making it suitable for potential utilization in cosmetic products.
Comparison of volumetric changes at implant connector among three different types of abutment after cyclic loading
Authors:   , Jirayusakamol Piyawan
Published: September 2023

The aim of this study was to compare the volumetric change of  dental implant among three different types of abutments after cyclic loading.Thirty dental implants (4.1x10 mm., Straumann®) were used .All of them were inserted in acrylic resin block with usual surgical protocol to gain primary stability and be able to retrieve for volumetric measurement later. Ten of each dental implant connected with Titanium abutment (Group1: Variobase abutment Straumann®), Gold abutment (Group2: UCLA abutment Straumann®) and Zirconia abutment (Group 3: Care abutment Straumann®) consecutively. Then all specimen was submitted to cyclic loading (1x106 cycles, axial load, 100N, 15 Hz) at 30oangulated. After loading, the volumetric of the dental implants were measured by true density analyzer (Accu Pyc II).The volumetric changes of dental implants among three abutment types were examined by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Bonferroni post-hoc analysis. A P value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results showed the dental implant for group 3( mean ± SD; 17.3302±0.5560) was significantly different from Group 1 ( mean ± SD  9.3982±0.2128) and group 2 (  mean ± SD; 7.6164±1.9165) .In summary, dental implants with zirconia abutments showed the greater of volumetric loss than the other groups.
The impact of government response to COVID-19 on stock return predictability
Authors:   , Dangdej Disayadej
Published: September 2023

Recession is known to cause an increase in stock return predictability. The COVID-19 pandemics had not only resulted in sickness and loss of life but also plunged global economy into recession prompting governments to come up with measures to combat the disease. This paper first confirms that return predictability increased due the spread of COVID-19 using data from 41 countries on variations of popular predictors. Furthermore, it shows that government responses to COVID-19 alleviated the pandemic, the recession and reduced the return predictability with varying impact for different government measures. However, cases and deaths from COVID-19 which should have intensified the recession were found to have an insignificant impact on the return predictability.
Kinetic mechanism of indigo-producing indole monooxygenase from Acinetobacter baumannii
Authors:   , Suksomjaisaman Kanyarat
Published: September 2023

Indole, a bicyclic compound comprising a fused benzene and pyrrole ring, serves as a fundamental component in numerous natural compounds. Additionally, indole holds significant importance in industrial applications, particularly in the production of pharmaceutical drugs and agrochemicals. Flavin-dependent indole monooxygenase is an enzyme responsible for hydroxylation of the indole ring. Indole monooxygenase is a two-components: flavoprotein reductase containing FAD as a cofactor, and monooxygenase. The reductase component utilizes NADH to catalyze flavin reduction and transfers the reduced flavin to the monooxygenase component. The hydroxylation of indole by monooxygenase reduced FAD and oxygen as substrates. In this study, we cloned the indole monooxygenase (IndOx) from the genome of Acinetobacter baumannii and the gene was subcloned into an expression vector with a C-terminal histidine tag. The expression IndOx resulted in a high yield of 0.31 g/L, while reductase (IndR) yield of 0.11 g/L in the culture media. To elucidate the enzyme mechanism, rapid kinetic experiments were conducted using a stopped-flow spectrophotometer. The hydroxylation of indole was found a specific hydroxylation at the C3 position of indole ring, resulting in the production of 3-hydroxyindole. Understanding the enzyme reaction mechanism will be applied for enzyme engineering for production of indigoid compounds for diverse applications in medicines, cosmetics, food industries, and the manufacturing of high-value materials.
Effects of heat and UV-C curing on properties of soy protein film
Authors:   , Akter Tanjina
Published: September 2023

This study aimed to investigate the effects of heat curing and UV-C curing on properties of soy protein film.  Both the heat and UV-C treatments were applied to either film-forming solution or pre-formed film. In the first part, film-forming solution or pre-formed film was cured at 60, 70, or 80°C for 2, 4, or 6 h. Heat curing had no effect on film thickness (p>0.05), but it did improve tensile strength of the films. Pre-formed film cured at 70°C for 4 h exhibited the highest tensile strength (3.49 MPa), which was 1.8 times higher than the control. Increasing Raman intensity in the S-S stretching region confirmed the formation of heat-induced disulfide cross-links. This increasing degree of cross-linking may also account for a decrease in elongation at break of the film samples. An increase in yellowness intensity was observed in heat-cured samples. Heat curing of film-forming solution significantly increased film transparency but posed the opposite effect on pre-formed films. Heated films exhibited a decrease in water solubility and an increase in surface hydrophobicity. Heat curing of film-forming solution produced a film with increasing water vapor permeability. Meanwhile, water vapor permeability of heat-cured pre-formed films was similar to the control (p>0.05). SEM revealed structural inhomogeneity of heat-cured films. In the second part, the effect of UV-C curing of film formerly heat-treated at 70°C for 4 h was investigated. The radiation doses were varied as 4, 8, 12, and 16 J/cm2. UV-curing did not affect film thickness but did cause a significant increase in tensile strength. Heat-treated pre-formed film undergoing UV-curing at 12 J/cm2 possessed the greatest tensile strength (6.37 MPa), 1.8-fold higher than the film heat-treated alone and 3.4-fold higher than the control. UV-induced dityrosine cross-linking was confirmed using fluorescence spectroscopic technique. In spite of that, UV-C treatment minimally affected elongation at break. Similar to heat treatment, UV-curing also induced an increase in yellowness intensity and a slight decrease in transparency. UV-C treatment produced a film with lower water solubility. UV-curing of heat-treated film-forming solution had no effect on water vapor permeability of the resulted film, but the treatment significantly increased water vapor permeability of heat-treated pre-formed film. UV-C curing at lower doses tended to result in a film with lower surface hydrophobicity. At higher UV-C doses, however, surface hydrophobicity became increasing again. SEM micrographs revealed cracks and pinholes in UV-cured heat-treated film matrices. In conclusion, heat curing and combined heat/UV-C curing were demonstrated as effective techniques for enhancing mechanical strength of soy protein film by promoting the formation of covalent cross-links between protein chains.
Comparison of aroma active compounds in fresh Thai holy basil leaves from 2 varieties
Authors:   , Vichienkalayarat Thanatcha
Published: September 2023

Holy Basil is an herb with a high consumption in Thailand domestically and internationally due to its unique odor. A study on the aroma active profile of holy basil would allow for better quality control and food product development. The goal of this study is to identify and compare aroma active compounds in fresh Thai holy basil leaves from 2 varieties (Ocimum tenuiflorum var. Rama and Ocimum tenuiflorum var. Shyama) using sensomics approach. First, olfactory profiling was performed by trained panelists to characterize odor attributes and their intensity. Second, volatile compounds were isolated by solvent extraction, and non-volatile constituents were removed by solvent-assisted flavor evaporation and concentrated using the Vigreux column and microdistillation. Third, extract was injected into the gas chromatography-olfactometry with flame ionization detection (GC-O/FID) to screen for odor quality associated with the retention index (RI).  Potential aroma active compounds were determined through aroma extract dilution analysis (AEDA). Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) enables compound identification by comparing mass spectra with RI and odor quality from GC-O/FID. From olfactory profiling, red holy basil leaves had stronger overall attributes than white holy basil leaves. Red holy basil leaves have stronger minty, green, pungent, and fatty/waxy attributes than white holy basil leaves but have lower citrus-like attribute. Among the potential aroma active compounds with high FD factors, white holy basil leaves consisted of only eugenol (FD ≥ 4096), whereas red holy basil leaves consisted of both eugenol (FD 2048) and methyl eugenol (FD ≥ 4096). In white holy basil leaves, the unique flowery odor might be contributed from 2-hexanol (FD 512) and α-farnesene (FD 1024). Moreover, the distinct eucalyptus-like odor might potentially come from cis-sabinene hydrate (cis-4-thujanol) (FD 2048). In red holy basil leaves, herbal odor was potentially come from 3 high FD factor compounds, including 1-decen-3-ol (FD 1024), naphthalene (FD 2048), and 1-undecen-3-ol (FD 2048), while only 2 compounds with lower FD factor, including trans-4,5-epoxy-(E)-2-heptenal (FD 512) and caryophyllene oxide (FD 1024), were presented in white holy basil leaves.
Microplastics in mangrove sediments at Maeklong river mouth, Samut Songkhram province
Authors:   , Chaisanguansuk Pattraporn
Published: September 2023

Microplastics are omnipresent in our environment. Living organisms were affected by microplastic pollution. This study was investigated microplastic in mangrove environments because there are accumulated various substances from land and sea. Moreover, mangrove is an important ecosystem that is a habitat for marine life and benthic organism. Our study area is the Maeklong River mouth, Samut Songkhram Province, Thailand. Surface sediments from 3 stations were collected from the Maeklong River area and 2 core sediments were collected from the Maeklong River mouth and the Queen Sirikit Park. Sediment samples were analyzed by Loss on ignition (LOI) and grain size distribution. Microplastics were digested and observed their characteristics. Surface sediments from the Maeklong River mouth were found microplastic with average 580 ± 87 item per kilogram. The abundance of microplastic at far away site from river mouth was lower amount than at river mouth site. Previous studies in the Klong Khon tidal canal showed that the number of microplastic from the Klong Khon was higher than the Maeklong River. According to the Maeklong River flow are turbulent that affected on sediment also other particle to accumulate. 142 cm core was found microplastic ranging from 0 – 5,200 items per kilogram that concentration was decreasing with more depth. Location and grain size had an influence in the accumulation of microplastic in sediment. The most common microplastics that found in this study were 0.1 – 1.0 mm in size. The fiber was the abundance shape of microplastic. Polyester is the prevalent type of plastic in this study, the result refers to the source that can generate microplastic into environment such as wastewater from washing process and material from fishing.
Oral health service of older adults in long-term care facilities
Authors:   , Barameepipat Puntawee
Published: September 2023

To assess oral health service in long-term care facilities in Bangkok

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 50 licensed long-term care facilities in Bangkok. Informed consent was obtained from all participants before conducting phone interviews and administering the questionnaire. The questionnaire covered various aspects, including demographics, health services, and oral health services provided within the long-term care facilities.

Results: The study revealed variations in terms of operational years, service capacity, service expense per month, and provision of health services, including oral health services. It was found that the differences in service expenses impacted the provision of denture care for residents within the facility. Furthermore, it was observed that the importance placed on general health services predominated of oral health services, as regular physical health checkups were provided, while oral health checkups were only conducted when specific issues arose. Additionally, it was noted that 76% of the long-term care facilities had an additional service for residents to see a physician, whereas only 34% for visit a dentist.

Conclusions: There are variations in the provision of health services and oral health services among long-term care facilities for the older adults. It is essential to establish regulations or policies as a standard for providing comprehensive health services and oral health care within these facilities. Dentists or dental professionals should play a crucial role in defining guidelines for oral health service for both caregivers and residents within long-term care facilities.
Analysis of fatty acid methyl esters by two-dimensional gas chromatography using cryogen-free modulator
Authors:   , Sacan Adrian
Published: September 2023

A simple and environmentally friendly method in two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and flame ionization detector has been developed for the analysis of fatty acids in commercial milk products. This applies splitter-based non-cryogenic artificial trapping (SNAT) modulator with unique feature imitating the cryogenic modulation process. The method involves chemical derivatization into fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) with methanolic potassium hydroxide, liquid-liquid phase extraction using hexane, and determination of the FAME composition. The GC×GC approach revealed improved separation of FAME using SNAT modulator with better separated peaks, a ten-fold higher total peak capacity and improved compound identification, compared to 1D GC-MS system. SNAT modulator also showed several areas of FAMEs mapped by longitudinally modulated cryogenic system trapped at 10 0C whereas   the gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID) using a cryogenic modulator revealed the absence of separated peaks that were previously seen in the other two GC systems. The method precisions have also been investigated with a known set of standard compounds with relative standard deviation percentages of <10%. The developed approach is considered economical without cryogen consumption.
Lead removal from water by modified activated carbon produced from banana stem
Authors:   , Tampubolon Imelda
Published: September 2023

Banana stem-activated carbon (BSAC) and modified banana stem-activated carbon, containing sulfur, nitrogen, and oxygen-containing groups derived from banana stem, were prepared and studied for Pb(II) ion removal. The materials were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-Ray diffraction, surface area analysis, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. SEM images showed that the materials are porous, and XRD confirmed that the structures are amorphous and resemble the graphitic hexagonal structure of carbon materials. Surface areas of these materials ranged from 517.67 m2/g for the bare banana stem activated carbon to 234.03, 453.74, 252.97, and 22.96 m2/g for sulfur, oxygen, sulfur and oxygen and imino-thiobiuret modified activated carbon. For the adsorption, sulfur-containing functional groups banana stem activated carbon (S-BSAC) was used as the adsorbent for lead removal. The optimized condition were 100 mg/L of lead(II) ions, 2 h of contact time, pH at 6, and 0.8 mg of adsorbent dosage. The analysis was done by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy.  The removal efficiency was as high as 99.78% for Pb(II) at 100 mg/L and could be used for 3 cycles.
Effect of peptide hydrolysates from riceberry on reducing endoplasmic reticulum stress in cells
Authors:   , Jaroenchuensiri Theeranuch
Published: September 2023

Oxidative stress, resulting from an imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidants, contributes to diseases and induces endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Antioxidants can mitigate ER stress. We investigated synthetic peptides from riceberry rice hydrolysates against ER stress. Ten peptides were evaluated for toxicity and antioxidant activity in SH-SY5Y and L929 cell lines. Peptides ID 3  to ID 5 ,and ID 10 showed significant antioxidant activity protecting cells from oxidative stress induced by IAA and H2O2. These peptides alleviated ER stress induced by TM, as observed through fluorescence microscopy analysis using ConA dye. Peptides ID 3 to 5 reduced ConA intensity compared to TM-treated cells, indicating their potential in reducing ER stress. Peptide ID 3 and ID 4 exhibited higher Mag-Fluo4 intensity compared to TM group, signifying its role in controlling calcium ion levels and potentially reducing ER stress. Statistical analysis confirmed significant differences (p<0.05). These findings highlight the antioxidant and ER stress-reducing potential of riceberry peptides, particularly ID 3 and 4. Further investigations are needed to understand their mechanisms and therapeutic applications for managing oxidative- and ER stress-related diseases.
Influence of tidal current on microplastic dynamics in Chao Phraya river estuarine ecosystem
Authors:   , Tang-siri Jiradet
Published: September 2023

Microplastics (MPs) can be found almost everywhere in marine ecosystems. That is one of the issues of concern around the world, including in Thailand. Estuary ecosystems are also among the most disturbed. By the estuary ecosystem affected by both rivers and oceans, such as the mouth of the Chao Phraya River in Thailand. Due to the change in tide, it is necessary to study the effects of tidal currents on the depth of MPs. Water samples were collected at approximately 60 water levels in 24 hours. Samples and three water quality indicators were collected at Pak Nam Chao Phraya. The number, shape and color of the MPs are then counted and analyzed under a microscope. When polymers were counted and analyzed with µ-FTIR for size and type. An average of 4.0±3.8 pieces/L was found in the experimental samples. And from all the samples, it was found that the most shape of MPs was fragment (shape), blue (color), at 16-100 µm (size) from the sample and Polytetrafluoroethylene (type) is the most polymer of MPs. For MPs detected during high and low tide. The average MPs were 3.4±3.3 and 4.0±4.2 pieces/L, respectively. In addition, fragment shape, blue color, 16-100 µm and PTFE polymer were the dominant plastic during high and low tide. It was found that tidal changes directly affect salinity and the effects of microplastic also found that MPs in the Chao Phraya Estuary are very high ecological risk.

Currently, microplastics are found everywhere in the environment. However, research around the world is not known about the deposition rates of MPs in marine and coastal environments. In this study, the Chao Phraya River Estuary was selected as the research area to study the deposition rate and characteristics of microplastics on surface sediments and analyze the tidal current that might affect the accumulation. The results show that the highest deposition rate of microplastics (1,401 pieces/m2/hour) during 6:00-13:00 when the tide changes from the highest to the lowest. While the lowest deposition rate of microplastics was 533 pieces/m2/hour. Which occurs during the rising tide from the lowest-high tide 14:00-17:00. Microplastics, 16-100 µm was dominated throughout the tidal cycle. Fragment and fiber shapes were the most abundant microplastic shapes in all samples. In addition, polyamide (PA) was the main polymer type of microplastics that precipitated in surface sediments. And for 24 hours found 446±108 pieces/m2/hour of MPs at surface sediment. It was found that the most The MPs were 16-100 µm in size, fragment shape, black color, and polyamide (PA) as the main polymer. Monitoring the accumulation rate of microplastics in the aquatic environment and to better understand the factors of tidal currents in controlling the accumulation rate of microplastics.
Wastewater-based epidemiology and quantitative microbial risk assessment associated with wastewater contact of norovirus in Bangkok, Thailand
Authors:   , Sriporatana Nonnarit
Published: September 2023

Norovirus is one of the leading causes of acute gastroenteritis worldwide. Wastewater surveillance offer significant benefits such as enhancing our understanding of the disease occurrence in the population, evaluating the effectiveness of pathogen reduction in the treatment process, and tracking the spread of pathogens in the environment which pose a health risk to humans. Hence, wastewater surveillance is crucial. In this study, the influent and effluent samples were collected bi-monthly from March 2020 to March 2021 from three distinct wastewater treatment plants in Bangkok. Wastewater samples were concentrated and subjected to quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) to assess norovirus concentrations. Additionally, microbial indicators, coliform bacteria and coliphage, were evaluated using cell culture methods. Concentration of E. coli and total coliform in the influent and effluent ranged from 4.04 – 5.03 log CFU/mL and 2.64 – 3.76 log CFU/ml, respectively. Concentration of coliphage in the influent and effluent ranged from 1.76 log PFU/ml and 0.42 log PFU/ml, respectively. Average concentrations of norovirus GI and GII were (1.90 and 1.35 log copies/ml) and (0.91 and 0.37 log copies/ml) in the influent and effluent, respectively. Removal efficiency for microbial indicators was 1.26 – 1.40 log CFU, PFU/ml while the removal of norovirus GI and GII were 0.75 and 0.54 log copies/ml. Seasonal variations were observed, with the highest concentrations of microorganisms during the rainy season and the highest norovirus concentration in winter. An epidemiological comparison between norovirus concentrations from wastewater treatment plants and reported norovirus cases showed similar patterns, suggesting that wastewater could serve as a useful tool for detecting infections within a population, particularly when clinical data are limited. Effluent samples were used to determine the Spearman’s correlation between the microbial indicators and both norovirus strains. Our analysis found that these microbial indicators could not represent norovirus due to low correlation (rs < 0.3). Additionally, the effluent was also used to assess the probability of illness with acute gastroenteritis from exposure to wastewater by quantitative microbial risk assessment from fishing activities and small craft boating. Exposure to effluent from the system, the probability of both activities had a median probability of illness below 0.036. Despite the ability of wastewater treatment plants to reduce the number of microorganisms, the treated wastewater still harbored these microorganisms presenting a potential health risk if discharged into public water sources or used in activities.   Efficient wastewater treatment systems are recommended to be developed, including disinfection methods, to mitigate the risks from waterborne pathogens.
Effects of fingerroot (boesenbergia rotunda) powder on egg performance, and quality, egg yolk malondialdehyde in laying hens
Authors:   , Nurfarid Miftah
Published: September 2023

This study aimed to determine the effect of fingerroot powder supplementation on the performance of laying hens, egg quality, and malondialdehyde in the egg yolk. A total of 192 Hy-Line brown laying hens aged 43 weeks were divided into four treatment groups with 48 hens in each group (8 replicates; 6 birds each). The treatments were the control (basal diet), basal diet supplemented with vitamin E at 250 mg/kg, basal diet plus 20 g fingerroot powder/kg, and basal diet plus 40 g fingerroot powder/kg. Performance parameters were analyzed in the following two experimental period: 1 to 3 week and 4 to 6 week of treatment administration. Egg quality was evaluated twice at 3 and 6 weeks after feeding. The malondialdehyde (MDA) was measured in egg yolk at 0, 7, 14, and 21 days after storage at room temperature. No significant differences were observed in egg weight, laying rate, egg mass, feed intake and feed conversion ratio among the groups during the first experimental period. In the last period 4 to 6 week of experiment, dietary inclusion of 20 g fingerroot powder improved egg weight (P < 0.05) compared with control. The performance showed that during 6 weeks of feeding, the group supplemented with 40 g fingerroot powder had a decreased feed intake, but its feed conversion ratio was improved. The low feed intake in this group did not affect the laying rate, egg weight, and egg mass. There was no significant difference in egg quality for all variables except yolk color at 3 weeks of feeding. The yolk color was significantly lower in the feed supplemented with fingerroot powder at 40 g (P < 0.05). The egg quality at 6 weeks of feeding showed that 20 g fingerroot powder group had higher albumen and shell weight (P < 0.05). The experimental diets did not affect MDA levels in fresh or stored eggs. However, MDA level was affected by storage time and increased at 21 days. In this study, vitamin E  or fingerroot powder did not show their antioxidant activity on the egg yolk. In conclusion, the addition of fingerroot powder has beneficial effects on egg weight, FCR, albumen and shell weights.
Catalytic mechanism and inhibition of Plasmodium sp. serine hydroxymethyltransferase by computational simulations
Authors:   , Mee-udorn Pitchayathida
Published: September 2023

Malaria has spread in many countries with a 12% increase in death cases after the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the Greater Mekong subregion, the clinical efficacy of antimalarial drugs has been reduced due to resistance. Target-based approaches on attractive drug targets, such as Plasmodium serine hydroxymethyltransferases (SHMTs) exhibiting distinct structure and function as well as kinetic mechanisms from the human enzyme homologue, are highly useful methods to be used for bypassing the present resistance in the field. In this study, the catalytic mechanism of Plasmodium SHMT was investigated following the retro-aldol proposed scheme by the combined quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics molecular dynamics (QM/MM MD) simulations. E56 and Y64, residues in the Plasmodium SHMT binding pocket, were suggested as a general base and general acid. The PM6 and AM1/D levels of theory were applied to the QM region. However, the reaction was stopped after the formaldehyde occurred. This result indicated the unfavorable of the level of theory on the QM region. Further study should be performed by another method e.g., QUICK package in AMBER20 for HF and DFT calculations. Additionally, the 500-ns MD simulations were carried out to investigate the mode of action of pyrazolopyran(+)-85 and pyrazolopyran(+)-86 with the most attractive inhibition efficiency in Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax SHMTs. The results suggested that the binding affinity of pyrazolopyran(+)-86 is more favorable than pyrazolopyran(+)-86 (~ 2 kcal/mol). L124, G128, H129, L130, K139, N356, and T357 are essential residues for inhibitor binding. The rational structure-based drug design suggested that the isopropyl moiety on the pyrazolopyran core should be changed to the negatively charged group (e.g., carboxylate group) for interacting with the positively charged residue R371. Alternatively, the phenolic compounds could be substituted with a phenyl or piperidine ring to promote hydrogen bond formation with the surrounding residues. Moreover, to find other inhibitors with a rapid method, drug repurposing was performed. The FDA-approved drugs were screened over seven Plasmodium SHMT structures. The result revealed that only eight potent compounds exhibited the lowest binding energy in all complexes and were then investigated by the enzyme-based assay. The experimental results indicated the lowest IC50 value (106 ± 1µM) was observed on PfSHMT by amphotericin B. The binding affinity of amphotericin B (–11.15 ± 0.09 kcal/mol) was in the same range as pyrazolopyran-based inhibitors. Moreover, Y63, L124, L130, F134, V141, K251, D258, N259, and S263 were the key binding residues to amphotericin B. These findings could provide insights into the mode of inhibition of pyrazolopyran-based inhibitors and introduce a new core structure of inhibitor that differs from the previous SHMT inhibitors which could be a rational idea for novel antimalarial drug design.
Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) 's role in digitalisation for vocational education development : a comparative analysis of Indonesia and Thailand
Authors:   , Sylvia Anastasia
Published: September 2023

This thesis focuses on the role of the SEAMEO (Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization) role in vocational education development in Industry 4.0. Nowadays, there is a demand for the education sector to align with Industry 4.0, known as Education 4.0. In 2018, the SEAMEO, in collaboration with the GIZ, launched a Regional In-Service Training Modules project to support vocational education for Education 4.0. This study compares the impact of the Regional In-Service Training Modules project in two countries with a medium level of education performance in Southeast Asia: Indonesia and Thailand.

This study employs a qualitative method with a case study. Data are collected from depth-interviews with 11 key informants, concept notes, original publications and literature from reliable sources. Data are analysed using a thematic analysis method and Stuffle Beam's CIPP (Context, Input, Process, Product) evaluation model as a conceptual framework.

Overall, this thesis concludes that SEAMEO matters for education development and supporting digitalisation in vocational education for Indonesia and Thailand.

There are three significant findings from this study. Firstly, this study found that SEAMEO has provided access to conduct a project at the regional level and gather participants from 11 countries simultaneously. However, SEAMEO's level of intervention is limited due to their non-binding and non-intervention nature, like ASEAN. Secondly, this study found that digitalisation in vocational education does not mean going fully digital; instead, vocational education shifts towards blended learning by combining online and face-to-face learning. The analysis concludes that practical skills in vocational education are hard to be taught online. Thirdly, the project's different outcomes at the national level are affected by national policy, participants' initiative, funding from GIZ and governments, and the centre for practical training readiness in teaching about Industry 4.0.

Based on the findings and analysis, this study recommends that SEAMEO collaborate with private sectors for their upcoming project to improve their quality. Secondly, vocational education institution in Indonesia and Thailand should strengthen their relationship with Industry to understand the criteria for skilled labour that Industry expects. Last, the Indonesian and Thai governments could learn from each other to improve education policies.
Assessing the contribution of Thailand’s poultry agribusiness towardsmitigating climate change
Authors:   , Phairaksa Tita
Published: September 2023

This research provides an overview of the Thailand agreement on greenhouse gas emissions, specifically focusing on the meat industry, and examines the roles of the government, private companies, and civil society in Thailand. Research indicates that the meat industry has significant environmental impacts, including greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, and biodiversity loss.

Livestock for meat consumption has been a major contributor to environmental issues such as climate change, water pollution, and deforestation. Livestock alone contributes a substantial percentage to global climate change. This issue has become a critical transboundary concern affecting not only one specific country or region.

In response to the environmental impacts and the global challenge of climate change, the Thai government signed and committed to the Paris Agreement in 2015, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Thailand has set a target to decrease greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2030, and the Climate Change Master Plan (2015-2050) envisions achieving sustainable low-carbon growth and climate resilience by 2050. However, the country's environmental policy still lacks clarity and a specific focus on greenhouse gas emissions from the meat industry.

Currently, Thai meat industries do not include information about greenhouse gas emissions in their environmental reports, and they tend to overlook environmental issues related to their operations. Moreover, these industries possess significant influence over the media, controlling information about the environmental impact of the meat industry. As a result, civil society has taken a leading role in raising awareness about this issue, rather than relying on the government or industry itself.

In conclusion, my research findings suggest that the Thai government's lack of a robust environmental policy and management approach has contributed to weak regulation of greenhouse gas emissions in the meat industry. There is a need for more comprehensive and concerted efforts from all stakeholders to address this pressing environmental concern effectively.
Computational approaches for identifying bioactive compounds inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 main protease
Authors:   , Pojtanadithee Piyatida
Published: September 2023

The infectious disease caused by the novel coronavirus 2019 has devastatingly affected the global economy and society. However, the drug discovery process from concept to approval requires a significant investment of time and resources. To address these challenges, we employed structure-based virtual screening techniques, including drug-likeness screening, pharmacophore-based virtual screening, molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulation, and fragment molecular orbital calculation. The protein target of this investigation was the main protease or 3-chymotrypsin-like-protease (3CLpro) of the coronavirus, given its pivotal role in the viral replication process. Using our in-house database of natural products and their derivatives, we aimed to identify potent compounds with the potential for further development as anti-SARS-CoV-2 medications. Notably, the derivatives of sulfonamide chalcone (SWC422, SWC423, and SWC424) and ester derivatives of caffeic acid (4k and 4l) exhibited exceptional binding energy and substantial interactions with the 3CLpro binding pocket compared to peptidomimetic inhibitors (11a, 13b, and N3) and an FDA-approved drug (nirmatrelvir). While our findings show that in-silico strategies have the potential to identify new potent compounds that inhibit the 3CLpro activity of coronavirus, further studies such as enzyme inhibition assay and cell-based assay are necessary to ensure their effectiveness from these virtual screenings.
Classification of bacteria and fungi in peritoneal dialysis fluids of patients with chronic kidney disease based on metagenomic analysis
Authors:   , Visedthorn Suthida
Published: September 2023

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a long-term condition where sustained damage of the renal parenchyma leads to the chronic deterioration of renal function that may gradually progress to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is a type of ESKD treatment that is beneficial to improve a patient's quality of life. However, PD-associated peritonitis is a major complication that contributes cause of death, and the detection of the pathogen provided a high culture-negative rate. This study aims to apply metagenomic approaches for identifying the bacteria and fungi in peritoneal dialysis effluent (PDE) of CKD patients based on the full-length 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) gene and Internal transcribe spacer (ITS) region, respectively. As a result, the five major bacteria species, including Escherichia coli, Phyllobacterium myrsinacearum, Streptococcus gallolyticus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Shewanella algae were observed in PDF samples, whereas the most fungal genera in PDE samples was Wallemia. The results suggested that our metagenomic approach provided a high potential for bacterial and fungal taxonomic identification than the traditional culture method, which would be a practical and alternative culture-independent approach and offers a preventive infectious strategy in CDK patients.