bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predictive survivability model of technological start-ups: a case study of Smart Parking
Authors:   , Singh Akshay
Published: September 2023

The dissertation focuses on analysing pre-existing survivability prediction models that can be applied to new businesses and start-ups. After studying certain popular models and their critical success factors that can be found in successful businesses and are lacking in failed businesses a new prediction model for technological companies will be crafted. Furthermore, a case study of a potential technological start-up company called Smart Parking will be internally and externally analysed with regards to the environment in will be operating in. The analyses of the internal and external environments will help plan and come up with business strategies for Smart Parking. With the complete view of business analyses and planning, a conclusive report on the survivability of such a start-up will be drafted. Finally, after internal and external analyses of Smart Parking, the critical success factors of Smart Parking will be run through the new survivability prediction model to predict the survivability of the technological start-up Smart Parking. The thesis covers previous similar topics covered and the gaps identified thereby providing a thesis statement and an approach to the dissertation methods. It also covers the significance of such a research and its deliverables while keeping in mind the limitations of the research
Machine design improvement for tuna flake filling in cans
Authors:   , Reonwajanawong Phirun
Published: September 2023

This study aims to improve the process of tuna flake filling in cans by developing a minimum viable product (MVP) to test the feasibility of the improvement. It also examines other related prior and subsequent processes to discover possibilities to increase the accuracy and precision of the filling. Experiments have been carried out during the study to determine the most appropriate features of the machine and suitable conditions of incoming material in order to satisfy the filling standard. The result of the study shows that an improvement in the incoming material investigation process is needed to gain more stable size range of tuna flakes which leads to satisfied fill weight accuracy and precision by the canned tuna flake manufacturer. It also suggests that improvement in the incoming material investigation procedure along with volume controlled granular filler can be used to replace the workers involved in the weight correction process which currently requires 6-8 people in the process.
Surface roughness improvement for passenger car hood die manufacturing process
Authors:   , Onngam Worachet
Published: September 2023

Surface roughness of a die is a crucial factor for making a high-quality car hood. This research thesis is made for improving die surface quality in die manufacturing process. If the performance of milling process is not enough, it consumes a lot of time for doing polishing and might result in poor die quality that does not meet customer’s need. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to improve the CNC milling process. Tools used for milling and all relate parameters are studied in order to figure out the most appropriate condition for the finish milling process. Nowadays, a 1-blade cutting tool is used with 5,500-rpm Cutting speed, 4,800-mm/min Feed, 0.1-mm Dept. of cut, and 0.5-mm Pitch for doing the finish milling process.

Parameters in each machining condition designed by the program are inputted into the CNC machine for doing the milling process with a die specimen that is the same as actual of the company. All experiments are designed by the Surface Response Methodology; all parameters are analyzed by the program in order to find out the best parameters for use.

The result from this improvement shows that using a 3-blades tool with 11,670-rpm Cutting speed, 3,563-mm/min Feed, 0.1-mm Dept. of cut, and 0.5-mm Pitch literally provides the best result. This new machining condition significant decreases the surface roughness which brings about the elimination of polishing process, total time reduction, and cost reduction.
The relationship between attitudes toward the Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC) and scores of Thai test takers
Authors:   , Wongsa Danai
Published: September 2023

Attitudes have played a pivotal role affecting not only English language learning but also language test performance. There have been some studies exhibiting that students’ attitudes in English language learning were significantly related to their English test proficiency and their scores. The objectives of this study were to examine Thai test takers’ attitudes toward the Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC) and explored the relationship between Thai test takers’ attitudes toward the TOEIC and their scores. This study used quantitative and qualitative methods to collect and analyze the data under the research framework adapted from the ABC model of Attitudes (Solomon, 2010) and the CAC model (Schiffman and Kanuk, 2004). The participants were 389 Thai TOEIC test takers who were sampled by the purposive sampling technique. Descriptive statistics were used in the analysis of the quantitative part. Ten voluntary participants representing different levels of the English proficiency were interviewed to explore the in-depth information. The qualitative data were analyzed by content analysis. The findings from both qualitative and quantitative data analysis illustrated the Thai test takers’ attitudes toward the Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC) in three aspects that were affective, behavioral, and cognitive components. The overall attitudes of the participants toward the TOEIC test were positive. Moreover, there was a weak significant positive relationship between attitudes and the test takers’ TOEIC scores. Overall, the results of this study will contribute to teaching and learning English, especially for the TOEIC test that will lead test takers to achieve their goal.
Integration of a blended learning and extensive reading instructional model for enhancement of English reading comprehension and learner autonomy of EFL undergraduate students
Authors:   , Chanthap Naruethai
Published: September 2023

To be able to read well as well as to manage one’s own reading is important because it leads to the development of learner autonomy, which is necessary for learners in the 21st century. The present study investigated the effects of integration of a blended learning and extensive reading instructional model on EFL students' English reading comprehension and learner autonomy. This study employed a one-group, pre-test post-test design to collect both quantitative data and qualitative data. The sample consisted of 40 English major students who enrolled in the Reading for Text Interpretation Course in the first semester of the academic year 2017 at Suratthani Rajabhat University, Thailand. The research instruments included the English reading comprehension test, the learner autonomy questionnaire, the learner autonomy interview protocol, the opinion questionnaire, and the opinion interview protocol. The findings revealed that the students' English reading comprehension and learner autonomy increased with statistical significance after the treatment and students were satisfied with the contents, the materials, the online activities, and the usefulness of the course. Based on the findings, it could be concluded that integration of a blended learning and extensive reading instructional model could be effectively implemented to promote English reading comprehension and learner autonomy of EFL students.
Performance-Based Assessment on Dispensing Drugs in English of Thai Pharmacy Students.
Authors:   , Limgomolvilas Sasithorn
Published: September 2023

The objectives of this study were: 1) to create and validate the tasks for measuring English oral proficiency in dispensing drugs of Thai pharmacy students, 2) to create and validate the rubric for measuring English oral proficiency in dispensing drugs of Thai pharmacy students, and 3) to establish the extent of this dispensing task’s test-usefulness. The participants of this study are 2 informant specialists, 6 language instructors, 144 fifth-year pharmaceutical students of a university in Bangkok and 21 pharmacist experts. The research instruments are semi-structure interview with pharmacy students, a questionnaire for pharmacy students and pharmacy experts, and questions for semi-structure interview with raters. Apart from content analysis, one-way ANOVA and post hoc analysis were performed to investigate the agreement among pharmacy students and pharmacy experts, while Many-Facet Rasch Measurement (MFRM) was conducted to explore the criteria and the reliability of the test. Apart from obtaining the tasks, the rubric and the AUA, the study presented some interesting findings on each developing and validating process. In terms of linguistic, pharmacy experts did not view using correct English language and pronunciation correctly as important as the students. Furthermore, the training is needed to ensure that all raters are not different, especially the senior raters. Good training sessions should offer the raters the detail of their rating performance, which can be obtained from MFRM. The results show that 4 criteria need improvement with 2 criteria belonging to content knowledge not assessing the same dimension, which is supported by the interview data. The other 2 criteria that deal with linguistic and communication skills requires adjustment training on the step calibration. This result of this study can be adapted in developing future performance assessment relating to ESP and medical fields, especially pharmacy dispensing practice. It also offers implication on ESP assessment and reliability issue when developing performance assessment.
Selected Appropriate Decision Support Tool For Sustainable Rain-fed Agriculture Referenced To The New Theory Of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great: A Case Study Of Khao Wong District, Kalasin Province Of Thailand
Authors:   , Wannaviroj Anutra
Published: September 2023

Thailand is an agricultural country of which almost 80% of the total agricultural land is rain-fed. An on-farm pond, which is a self-reliant small-scale water source for harvesting the rainwater to be used for the whole year, becomes radical for farmers in this area. These farmers need to select the agricultural water management scheme which uses limited rainwater harvested in the on-farm pond efficiently and productively to fulfill their household needs, which will lead to sustainable rain-fed agriculture. Therefore, the study aimed to select an appropriate decision support tool for sustainable rain-fed agriculture referenced to the New Theory of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great. This research applied mixed methods for collecting data, including desk review, field visit, workshops for the expert judgement, structured interview, and self-administrated questionnaire. The conceptual prototype of the tool was also tested for its usability with the sample group in the unirrigated area of Song Plueai sub-district, Khao Wong district, Kalasin province, which was the study area of this research.

The result of the study was the selected appropriate decision support tool which was purposely designed for farmers in the rain-fed area. Components of the tool, including problem statement, requirements, goal, assessment criteria, and alternative schemes were developed based on their agricultural operational objective as well as the concept of sustainable agriculture and the New Theory in order to make the tool compatible with topographical and sociological conditions of Thai rain-fed agriculture. Alternative schemes were evaluated by assessment criteria through the application of the AHP technique. The preferred scheme was selected and validated. The resulted showed that the preferred scheme was able to balance farm water demands and supply, promote self-reliant agriculture, ensure household self-sufficiency, and enhance sustainable rain-fed agriculture. The result of the field usability testing showed that the overall attributes of the conceptual prototype of the tool was good with the total score 4.26 out of 5 points. Attributes with the highest score included decision support, interest, applicability, and concept presentation. While, attributes with the lowest score were accuracy, ease of use, and learnability. Therefore, these attributes should be improved to enhance the tool functionality and user acceptance in the future.
Rethinking inclusive and sustainable educational development for Moken children
Authors:   , Sanglir Jason
Published: September 2023

Despite numerous education readjustments, efforts for equal opportunity in education, and an increase in present enrollment, many indigenous children in Thailand continue to fall behind in the formal education system. This study focuses on the Moken Chao Lay (sea people) communities in southern Thailand and looks to analyze and understand situations and shortcomings of Moken children’s education and why they are still underperforming in the formal education system. Traditional ways of knowing, especially knowing through nature, are used as a platform to rethink the way we look at indigenous children’s education in Thailand.  Interview data was collected from school teachers, NGOs staff working on children and education, and academics on Moken and other indigenous peoples’ issues as well as from Moken students, community members, and elders in the communities.  In addition, observation of Moken daily activities and Moken children in school/learning centers was made during each field trip.   The results showed a gap between a wider open policy and practices when it came to “inclusiveness” in formal education, and that Moken and other indigenous learners were still being left behind despite educational readjustments with actual opportunities not matching the perceived opportunities.   The review of alternative education movement in Thailand, especially in learning centers in several hill-tribe communities, reveals progressive curriculum and unconventional teaching methods that place a high value on indigenous ecological knowledge.  One Moken learning center and two curriculums found in Moken-only schools under this study encourage hands-on learning style, life skills and livelihood skills.  This study identifies alternate approaches to sustainable and inclusive education for Moken children in the Thai education context. Traditional practices of knowledge transmission are looked at to help bridge the gap between Moken learners and the formal education system in order contextualize and make relevant the curriculum that is taught. While this study only focuses on the Moken, findings and conclusions may be drawn to encompass a larger scope in terms of implications for other indigenous learners in Thailand.
Taxonomy and systematics of earthworm genus Pontodrilus Perrier, 1874 in Thailand
Authors:   , Seesamut Teerapong
Published: September 2023

A taxonomic study of the littoral earthworm genus Pontodrilus Perrier, 1874 was critically conducted based on material collected from marine sandy coasts along the east and west sides of the Thai-Malay Peninsula (Thailand and Malaysia) and selected localities in Japan. Comparative material from other parts of Southeast Asia, including Myanmar, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia, were also collected. Morphological examination identified almost all of the specimens as Pontodrilus litoralis, but as two morphotypes with some character differences in the diverticulum between them. A combined morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses supported one of these morphotypes as a new species, P. longissimus. Statistical inference on morphometric data revealed significantly different size variations in the body length and diameter among the 14 populations of P. litoralis from Southeast Asia and Japan. One-way analysis of variance revealed significant difference in the body length and diameter among specimens from the different geographical sites. However, this distinction was not congruent with the phylogenetic relationship based on mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (mtCOI) gene sequence analysis. In addition, molecular analysis of 136 samples of P. longissimus using the 658 bp DNA fragment of COI revealed that the most frequent haplotype was present in four populations from the Andaman Sea, with a greater degree of genetic variation than in the Gulf of Thailand (GOT) clade. Bayesian inference, maximum likelihood and haplotype network analyses clearly showed that there were two geographically isolated populations of the P. longissimus lineages, one restricted to the GOT and the other to the Andaman Sea. The divergence and distribution of the worms are probably restricted by tidal circulation patterns around the peninsula and vicinities.
Comparative analysis of community solar projects between Thailand and Japan
Authors:   , Yamashita Masataka
Published: September 2023

Community-solar (CS) has appeared as a new solar PV ownership model in the word, in which the business model of CS should vary depending on each country’s context. Various unique factors of each country such as the design of the government’s support, characteristics of the community, and business custom may have an impact on how community members benefit from CS projects. The objective of this research is to compare the implemented CS projects in Thailand and Japan and to provide policy recommendation on CS for both countries based on comparison for contribution to further development of CS. The selected case study in this research was conducted in the CS projects at Chon Buri and Prachuap Khiri Khan in Thailand and Kitakyushu and Awaji in Japan. Here, I performed comparative analysis on business models and financial parameters on the current existing two CS projects each in Thailand and Japan considering own energy situation. Also, interviews with the CS projects relevant people were conducted. The economic indicators of CS projects were evaluated by the System Advisor Model, which can calculate net present value, levelized cost of energy (LCOE) and so on.  From the data collected through the interviews, it is clarified that the investments in Thailand's CS projects are only about one-third of the investments in Japanese CS projects. The main reasons are the difference in the labor cost, the price of the instruments. As the results of analyses, policy recommendations to both Japanese and Thailand government were made. For the Japanese government, the extension of project lifetime is suggested. Regarding Thailand, FiT price and lifetime should be determined carefully.
Water resource efficiency towards sustainable tourism at Patong Municipality, Phuket Province, Thailand
Authors:   , Rattanopas Palida
Published: September 2023

Tourism is one of the main incomes of Thailand that is directly contribute to the national GDP.  Tourism affects not only on economic sector but also on the environment society.  Sustainable tourism (ST) has become more important in conserving and maintaining natural resources for the next generation.  The ST requires an efficient use of natural resources, particularly water resource.  The objective of this research is to study water resource efficiency towards sustainable tourism at Patong Municipality, Kathu district of Phuket.  Water shortage has taken place in Patong municipality for decades.  A set of semi-structure questionnaires was used to in-depth interview respondents selected by using a purposive sampling method.  The total respondents were 44 composing of 4 groups including hotel businesses, local communities, governmental organization, and tourism-related associations.  Data obtained were analyzed using descriptive and content analysis method.  The study found that the Phuket Provincial Waterworks Authority (PPWA) and the Patong Municipality are two major water suppliers in Patong municipality.  50% of respondents used water from the PPWA, while 13.51% of them used water from the Patong municipality.  However, 43.24% of them also obtained water from their shallow well, natural canals, village water supply, groundwater, and purchasing water.  89.18% of respondents faced with water shortage yearly that be solved by collecting rainwater in bigger storage tanks.  Concerning water usage leading to sustainable tourism, water saving, efficient water use and water treated reuse for gardening would be powerful actions.  The environmental awareness would play a vital role on water use for sustainable tourism.  Therefore, a stronger collaboration among stakeholders including governments, state-enterprises, private sectors and all local people would sustainably reduce water shortage in Patong municipality.
Factors associated with attitude towards purchasing intention on inverter air conditioner among Thai consumers
Authors:   , Yasunaga Reika
Published: September 2023

Factors associated with Thai Consumers’ attitude towards purchasing intention on higher efficiency Air conditioner (AC) was investigated in this study. Consumers’ current preference factors on AC purchasing as well as characteristics of consumers who bought AC during the recent 5 years were firstly investigated by descriptive analysis. Relationship between consumers’ purchasing attitude towards higher efficiency AC and their concern on three issues (inverter, information on energy label, and payback period) as well as their knowledge on two issues (inverter and information on energy label) was then analyzed by structural equation modeling (SEM) using data collected from 202 Thai consumers having characteristic difference in gender, age, education level, and income level. The findings indicate that price, size (cooling capacity in BTU/hour), quality, brand, and energy efficiency are top-five priorities that the respondents would consider when buying AC. Up on characteristic comparisons of respondents who bought inverter and non-inverter AC, it was found that higher portion of respondents who bought inverter AC are males and most of which are those having high education with bachelor degree upward. Meanwhile, age, income level, and background on environmental issues appear to exhibit low impact on decision to buy inverter AC. In SEM analysis, positive relationships between the concerns of three issues and the purchasing attitude toward higher efficiency AC were confirmed; while no significant impact of knowledge factors was observed in this study. The results imply that key purchasing factors on higher efficiency household AC in Thailand are consumers’ concern on inverter, information on energy label, and payback period information. However, encouraging consumers to have both concern and knowledge on key related issues would be an effective way to enhance purchasing green products and/or energy efficient products.
Local knowledge framework for sustainable utilization of mangrove forest : a case study of Klong Khone sub-district, Mueang district, Samut Songkhram province, Thailand
Authors:   , Adulcharoen Wipapan
Published: September 2023

A development of local knowledge or local knowledge life cycle for locally appropriate sustainable utilization of mangrove ecosystem services was influenced by factors that were specific to ecological and social-cultural conditions and varied relying a change of the targeted mangrove ecosystem services for utilization. This study aims 1) to identify the factors in the local knowledge life cycle during two phases of mangrove stand initiation and young forest regrowth at Klong Khone sub-district, Samut Songkhram province, Thailand and 2) to propose the local knowledge framework for the sustainable utilization of mangrove ecosystem services and lessons learned through the local knowledge life cycle in the study area. The data was collected by field observation, questionnaires survey totally 160 respondents who were 140 fishermen, and in-depth interview with 20 key stakeholders who had roles and responsibilities involving the local knowledge life cycle during the mangrove forest development. They included former and current village chiefs, local governmental agencies, community enterprises, local philosophers, and mangrove forest conservation groups. Descriptive statistical analysis and event analysis were employed to analyze the collected data. The results showed that the factors in local knowledge life cycle during two phases were ecological, managerial, emotional, and social factors. The ecological factors, especially a reduction of aquatic animals which affected the local people’s income and livelihood motivated the local people’s perception and led them to restore mangrove forest for accruing aquatic animals, solving poverty and sustaining their livelihood. A trust and faith of local people in HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and former village chiefs majorly influenced the local people’s voluntary participation in the local knowledge life cycle during two phases of mangrove forest development. A common property right was a key factor motivating local people’s perception and participation as it indirectly created the local people’s sense of ownership and land tenure and resources security. A mangrove use zoning, and an application of local knowledge and local livelihood also found in a plan validation and monitoring the local people’s utilization of the mangrove ecosystem services. These major factors in the local knowledge life cycle were used to create a local knowledge framework which can be applied for community capacity building to sustain local livelihood under the change of ecological, social, cultural and economic conditions.
Adsorption and chemical cleaning process of anionic and non-ionic surfactants on the membrane surface through the forward osmosis process: application for water reuse
Authors:   , Ruengruehan Kaiwit
Published: September 2023

Forward osmosis (FO) process, an attractive membrane technologies, have been widely studied and applied in many fields to manufacture the clean water. This work, we focused on the fouling behavior and mechanisms of forward osmosis (FO) fouled by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as anionic surfactants and of nonylphenol ethoxylate (NPE, NP-40) as nonionic surfactant, including cleaning process to recover the system. FO process was run under different operating conditions (cross flow velocity, pH of feed solution, surfactant concentration). In addition, deionized-water (DI), 0.1 M NaCl, and alkaline solution (NaOH) were applied as agents for the cleaning process. The results revealed that the diffusion of water molecules increased with cross-flow velocity, feed solution pH, and surfactant increasing in both single surfactant and mixture surfactant. In addition, deposits of negative charge on the membrane surface induced the diffusion of water molecules, whereby increasing FO performance. Contrariwise, the diffusion in salt molecules decreased after adding the surfactant into the feed solution due to the surfactant layer performing as a resistance, resulting in the reduction of salt flux and increasing of reversal salt selectivity. In terms of cleaning process, the findings significantly indicated that the highest performance was increased when the FO system was operated at high pH (pH 11) of feed solution due to negatively charged promoted the increasing in diffusion of water molecules.
TiO2 nanoparticles coated forward osmosis membranes for treatment of industrial textile effluent
Authors:   , Sint Kaung
Published: September 2023

Textile wastewater occur as demanding water bodies to be treated by membrane separation due to the complex composition and presence of reactive constituents such as heavy metals and salts as well as nutrients, e.g. nitrogen, sulphate and phosphate. Numerous combination of osmosis process with photocatalysts has been experimentally conceived for the water and wastewater treatment and reuse of textile wastewater. The present work was devoted to study the operating feasibility using photocatalyst as TiO2 nano-particles were coated onto two commercially available FO membranes, a cellulose triacetate (CTA) membrane and an aquaporin (AqP) membrane through a specially designed 3-(trimethoxysilyl) propyl methacrylate–polymethyl methacrylate–bromide (MEMO–PMMA–Br) monomer chain as an alternative forward osmosis treatment method of conventionally treated wastewater discharged from textile plants. Effects of dye concentration, dissolved ions and TOC and reactive dye removing were studied. An initial water flux (Jw) of 18.38 L m−2 h−1 with a dye rejection of 99.9% has been demonstrated by using 1 M NaCl as the draw solution and synthetic textile wastewater containing reactive textile dyes (black, blue and red) 200, 400, 600, 800 ppm, inorganic salts, varying amounts of PVA and HCOH as interferences in the feed under the FO mode. The water flux of both membranes and the performance of the CTA membrane were greatly enhanced after surface modification. The experiments also show that CTA membrane gives higher water flux than aquaporin membrane for forward osmosis operation of synthetic textile wastewater. The increase in water flux for aquaporin is about 5.13% than CTA.
Study of gas-liquid mass transfer in bubble and spray column adding solid media
Authors:   , Wongwailikhit Kritchart
Published: September 2023

Gas absorption is a separation process that transfers substances from gas phase to liquid phases due to the different concentrations. The operation can be applied in many treatments or purifying processes e.g. CO2 absorption from biogas or volatile organic compounds (VOCs) recovery from petroleum emission air. The conventional unit operation using for the gas absorption process are bubble column and spray column. Although there are several literatures reporting the efficiency of spray columns and bubble columns, those were done separately. Therefore, this research projected to investigate both hydrodynamics and mass transfer in both spray and bubble columns and comparing their specific power consumptions in order to develop the selection a guideline for industrial usages. The results indicated that the bubble column had larger specific interfacial area than the spray column when using at small gas loading rate. At this range of operation, the bubble column yielded higher overall mass transfer coefficient with the same specific power consumption. However, when operating at high gas loading rate, the spray column was the one better than the bubble column since the bubble column consumed larger power consumption as the pressure drop of the bubble column was mostly due to the gas flow.

In addition, this research also studied the effect of solid phase on the hydrodynamics and mass transfer in the bubble column and spray column. By using the colorimetric method of “red bottle" experiment, it was found that the bubble-particles collision diminished the mass transfer of bubbles because the collision slowed down the bubbles especially for the small bubbles due to the fact that the small bubble simply lost their velocities from the collision. However, there was an advantage of introducing the particles since solid particles could obstruct the rising bubble and reduced its rising velocity. Consequently, the contact time between gas and liquid is increased and resulted in higher gas hold up and specific interfacial area. Therefore, with the appropriate conditions for which solid promoted specific interfacial area higher than diminished the mass transfer coefficient, the higher mass transfer rate was achieved. For the experimental setup using in this research, the enhance of mass transfer rate was occurred when the movable ring-shaped particles were introduced into the column that had large orifice sizes of gas sparger.

In addition, this thesis also developed a colorimetric method to determine the overall mass transfer coefficient of oxygen without using other equipment rather than measuring the time which color of the solution changed from colorless to saturated red. This technique is very useful in the aspect of education since it does not require another equipment for measurement rather than visually observation. Nevertheless, the performance of optical fiber probes for hydrodynamics determination of droplets were also investigated.
Roles of sting in a lupus mouse model of Fcgr2b-deficient mice
Authors:   , Thim-uam Arthid
Published: September 2023

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease causing the immunological abnormalities leads to the production of autoantibodies, immune complex deposition and inflammatory cytokines that affect multiple organs. Type I interferon has been shown as one of the most crucial cytokines involving in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases such as SLE. Activation via nucleic acid sensors can induce the production of type I interferon from dendritic cells and promote SLE severity. Stimulator of interferon genes (Sting) is a cytoplasmic DNA sensor that signals downstream to enhance type I interferon production after its activation. Recently, it was shown that a gain mutation in the STING gene resulting in over-activity of the IFN pathway can cause familial inflammatory syndrome with lupus-like manifestations in humans. However, the functional studies of Sting in different autoimmune mouse models suggest the conflicting roles of Sting in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. In order to determine if Sting participates in lupus pathogenesis, the Fcgr2b-deficienct mice (lupus mouse model) were bred with Sting-deficient mice to create the double-deficient mice. All mice were determined the disease phenotypes. The results show that in the absence of Sting, the Fcgr2b-deficient mice do not develop fatal glomerulonephritis and autoantibodies. Sting signaling promoted the dendritic cell maturation and the plasmacytoid dendritic cell differentiation. After Sting activation, Sting was phosphorylated, and Lyn was recruited to interact with Sting. The adoptive transfer of Sting-activated bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDC) into the double-deficient mice restored the lupus phenotypes.The original knowledge from this study is a proof of concept for targeting Sting as a future promising treatment in autoimmune diseases.
Roles and regulation of the AI-2 quorum sensing of vibrio parahaemolyticus in nitrification biofilter of shrimp recirculating system.
Authors:   , Pumkaew Monchai
Published: September 2023

Thailand is the largest shrimp producing and exporter among Southeast Asia. Up-to-Date, Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) have been developed in order to control water quality and enable to conduct intensive cultivation without limitation of land-based cultivation method. Nevertheless, there is concern about pathogenic contamination in Biofilter. Therefore, the role of biofilter in terms of biosecurity is required to study. Recently, shrimp Early Mortality Syndrome (EMS) as known as AHPND/EMS, has spread to shrimp farm in several areas of Thailand. This contributes to severe productivity losses in the shrimp farm industry. It is evident that the causative agent of AHPND disease is bacteria Virbrio parahaemolyticus (VPAHPND), containing specific plasmid for producing bacterial toxins; ToxA and ToxB. however, it is still unclear about the biological mechanism used for toxin production and secretion. Therefore, the objectives of this research are to 1) to study the function of nitrification biological filters and the effects of organic substances on bacteria population in the filters in lab scale 2) to study the role of AI-2 quorum sensing on the toxin secretion related to VPAHPND. The first results found that VPAHPND can grow on biofilm matrix if there was any sufficient organic carbon source. Lack of organic carbon source significant led to elimination of VPAHPND. Moreover, organic substances (glucose) had an effect on changing in the number of bacteria in the biological filters and in the suspended of water. Heterotrophic bacteria were commonly found in Biofilter Unit (over 108 CFU/bead).  Moreover, AI-2 like activity, using bioassay, could be observed in Nitrification Biofilter Unit, this was confirmed that AI-2 signal is ubiquitous in marine biofilter. In the second experiment, based on SDS-PAGE and Western Blotting results, the study found that addition of Cell-free supernatant obtained from the mutant Vibiro Campbellii (BB170) into culture medium (TSB+1.5%NaCl) at 1% 5% and 9% v/v could induce ToxA and ToxB production in VPAHPND. There was a strong correlation between the significant change of the toxin production and AI-2 like activity. In contrast, addition of Furanone C-30, a QS inhibitor, at 1 micromolar and 5 micromolar resulted in the significant toxin secretion (P<0.05). From the results aforementioned, this study can be concluded that AI-2 quorum sensing of VPAHPND plays an important role on the AHPND-toxin production. Although the AI-2 like activity in the biological filter had a lower level compared with the culture medium, the accumulation of AI-2 signal molecule may result in the increasing risk of AHPND infection. Therefore, the control and prevention of AHPND/EMS in shrimp cultivation using RAS should concern not only the contaminated VPAHPND, but also the level of QS signals that account for virulence factor of pathogens in the system.
Information Provision and Economic Approach for Promotion of Plastic Shopping Bag Reduction in Bangkok, Thailand.
Authors:   , Piromrat Nattapat
Published: September 2023

This research aims to study the situations of plastic bag management from stakeholders, current plastic bag use trends, evaluate the effect of information provision and estimate the willingness to pay for plastic bag waste management in Bangkok. Online and field questionnaires had been distributed to collect the data. This study found that the trend of plastic bag use is moderate while most of respondents always reuse their plastic bag. Situations of plastic bag management indicate plastic bags are still distributed for free in the market, but some retailers started not to provide them. The plastic bag production is gradually affected by reduction measures. Descriptive and life cycle thinking based information can reduce plastic bag use intention, expectation for plastic bag as well as an intention of double plastic bag use intention. They can enhance environmental attitude and perception. Willingness to pay for plastic bag waste management was analyzed by using contingent valuation method then estimated by interval regression. Online and filed respondents express WTP 0.030-0.044US$ per bag. Influencing factors are age, use intention and levy support. Recommendations had been generated into 3 topics I) increase environmental awareness, II) integration of managements at all stakeholder levels and III) legislation for plastic bag reduction measure.
Acclimatization and application of biofilters for nitrogen removal in marine recirculating shrimp culture system
Authors:   , Satanwat Penpicha
Published: September 2023

This research involved in the complete nitrogen removal in marine recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) through sequential nitrification and denitrification processes using internal biofilter within a single tank. The study was divided into two experimental parts. The first study was to estimate the effects of salinity (5, 15 and 25 PSU) and stocking density (50 and 100 shrimp m-2) on nitrification and denitrification efficiencies, as well as on microbial diversity in the biofilm. Also, the nitrogen removal efficiencies of fibrous BiocordTM biofilter and Japanese filter mat were compared. Results showed that the nitrification was stimulated in low-salinity (5 PSU) system with intensive (100 shrimp m-2) shrimp cultivation at the maximum ammonia removal rates of 100.42±5.97 mg-N m-2 day-1 for fibrous biofilter and 145.43±1.17 mg-N m-2 day-1 for filter mat, respectively. While the highest denitrification efficiencies were also found in the intensive system as 81.86±4.40 mg-N m-2 day-1 at 25 PSU for fibrous biofilter and 165.80±50.17 mg-N m-2 day-1 at 5 PSU for filter mat, respectively. Results from the next-generation sequencing (NGS) on Illumina MiSeq demonstrated that Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes were the dominant bacterial groups in all experimental systems. For microorganisms in nitrogen cycle, however, the predominant nitrifiers and denitrifiers observed in low-salinity system was different from that under medium- (15 PSU) and high-salinity (25 PSU) conditions. The second study was to evaluate the performance of fibrous biofilter and to monitor the microbial community dynamics during long-term (210 days) operation of marine (25 PSU) RAS at the initial shrimp density of 1 kg-shrimp m-3. Results showed that the complete nitrification was achieved after approximately 2 months of biofilter acclimation in parallel with shrimp cultivation. Throughout the two rounds replication of aerobic nitrification followed by anoxic denitrification, ammonia and nitrite were controlled within the acceptable condition while nitrate was then remove after shrimp harvest under anoxic condition with methanol supplement at COD:Nitrate-N of 5:1. Microbial results demonstrated that the uncultured bacterium clone PI1AB88 and the uncultured bacterium clone SF_NOB_Cd08 were the main players in ammonia and nitrite oxidation, respectively, while Methylophaga and Methylotenera were the predominant denitrifying bacteria in anoxic denitrification.
Effect of operating conditions on color and anions removal from textile industrial effluent using membrane distillation system
Authors:   , Kywe Pyae
Published: September 2023

One of the main pollution from textile wastewater is the dyeing wastewater containing color and organic matters. To develop wastewater treatment systems and to reuse the water are still challenged because of the scarcity of water in the world. Among the treatment methods of textile wastewater, membrane distillation was used as the concept of this research. The focus points of the direct contact membrane distillation system are the membrane characteristics, operating parameters (temperature and flow rate) and treatment efficiency. The synthetic dye wastewater (reactive black-5 and reactive blue-19) and real textile effluent were used as the feed wastewater. In this research, SEM imaging, the contact angle, the zeta potential and the porosity of the membrane were taken to investigate the membrane characteristics and the fouling conditions. The contact angle (greater than 90 degrees) showed that the material still had the hydrophobic properties after treatment and the zeta potential showed also the anions property of the material.

In terms of operating parameters, the feed temperature and flow rate can significantly affect the permeate flux. The increased feed temperature (40 °C,50°C, and 60°C) can also increase the permeate flux up to about 4 times at 60°C, compared to that of 40°C. The increased cross-flow velocity can give the results of increased permeate flux (up to 80% and 50% at 0.15 m/s) more than 0.05 m/s. The flux of real wastewater is about 48% lesser than the synthetic wastewater under the same operating parameters. The color removal efficiency is in the range of 96% to 98%, although the feed color concentrations were changed. Another parameter analysis; pH, conductivity, anions, and TOC were also taken in this study. As with the collected results, the permeate water parameters are lower than the Industrial Effluent Standards B.E. 2560 by the Ministry of Industry. To use in the site and implement, the direct contact membrane distillation system should be considered with the renewable energy, the optimization of membrane preparations (spacers, fouling conditions and the novel membrane material) and the process conditions.
Ecological impacts of fishing gears in Ko Chang, Trat Province, Thailand
Authors:   , Suebpala Wichin
Published: September 2023

Knowledge of ecological impacts of fishing, especially in small-scale sector, is not always readily available, making it difficult to employ an ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management and to achieve sustainability. The topic of this dissertation was formulated with the aim to enhance this knowledge through conducting researches in Mu Ko Chang, Trat Province, the Eastern Gulf of Thailand. This study focuses on two main types of impacts, i.e. bycatch and habitat damages, consisting of three research modules: 1) assessing existing knowledge and analyzing the knowledge gap regarding bycatch and habitat impacts of fishing methods in Thai waters; 2) investigating fishing impacts in terms of bycatch and habitat damages, of some fishing gears in Ko Chang, Trat Province, and; 3) analyzing relative ecological impacts of fishing gears and to rank the levels of severity caused by different fishing gears. According to the literature review and gap analysis, a major gap of knowledge on the ecological impacts of fishing gears in Thailand was found, particularly the data on bycatch (retained and discarded) and habitat damages. The onboard surveys of bycatch for nine small-scale fishing gears in Ko Chang revealed that some of the gears, particularly trammel nets, crab traps, and gillnets, produced the higher number of bycatch in terms of biomass and species richness. A study on the impacts of fish traps on coral reefs revealed various possible impacts including physical damages on corals, impacts from sediment dispersion, ecosystem imbalance due to exploitation of reef fish, and marine debris. A comparative study on macrobenthic community between permanent and six-month closure areas exhibited the impacts of fishing activities (trawlers, push nets, and dredges) in terms of the reduction on macrobenthic abundance. An expert consultation workshop was also convened aiming to rate the impacts of fishing gears including large- and small-scale based on existing knowledge, surveyed data, and personal experience of the expert. It showed that otter-board trawls and pair-trawls were rated with the highest score of bycatch and habitat impacts.  In terms of small-scale fishing gears, bycatch impacts caused by shrimp trammel nets and crab gill nets were mostly concerned. This dissertation enhances understandings of the ecological impacts of fishing gears on marine ecosystems in Thailand that are highly required for ecosystem-based fisheries management.
The Role of Cytokine Response Signatures in the Pathogenesis of Leptospirosis Associated Acute Kidney Injury
Authors:   , Srisawat Nattachai
Published: September 2023

Background:  Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) is one of the most serious complications of leptospirosis, an important zoonosis in the tropics. Host pathogen interaction is one of the potential key factor in development of leptospirosis associated AKI. In this multicenter study, we aimed to study the association of cytokines, leptospiral burden, and anti-leptospira antibody and AKI in leptospirosis. Method: In the first cohort, patients who presented with clinical suspiciousness of leptospirosis were prospectively enrolled in 9 centers from August 2012 to November 2014. In the second cohort, we prospectively recruited patients from 15 centers from February 2016 to July 2017. The first day of enrollment was the first day of clinical suspicious leptospirosis. Blood samples were serially collected on the first day and day 7 after enrollment. We used three standard techniques (microscopic agglutination test, direct culture, and PCR technique) to confirm the diagnosis of leptospirosis. KDIGO criteria were used for AKI diagnosis. Results:  Of the 206 recruited cases, 113 cases were leptospirosis confirmed cases. Thirty seven percent developed AKI. Median MCP-1 and TNF-a on the first day in those developing AKI were significantly higher than in patients not developing AKI [309.3vs138.8 pg/mL, P = 0.003], and [492.3 vs 77.5 ng/ml, P = 0.003], respectively. MCP-1 and TNF-a levels associated with AKI had AUC-ROC of 0.67, and 0.67, respectively. Only low IL-6 showed strong association with AKI by a covariate-adjusted model. High leptospiral burden and high anti-leptospira antibody associated with severe AKI.Conclusion: From this multicenter study, MCP-1, TNF- a appears to be useful markers for detecting AKI in leptospirosis patients. In the adjusted model for severity, only low IL-6 is associated with AKI.  Our data suggest that high leptospiremia and high anti-leptospira antibody correlate with the severity of AKI.