bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Determinants of cross-border mergers and acquisitions of firms in Thailand
Authors:   , Weerakiet Pongpak 
Published: April 2023

In this paper, we evaluate the effects of firm-level and country-level variables on the firms’ probability of having cross-border M&A deals and the size of the deals. Our sample consists of 87 firms from SET100 Index (firms from financial industry are excluded), and the data between 2009 to 2018 is used in this paper. The results indicate that the increase in ownership advantages of the firms, namely, size and profitability raise the chance of the firms having cross-border M&A deals and the size of the deals. For country-level variables, the results agree with the gravity model that an increase in GDP of both the Thai and host country economies leads to an increase in cross-border M&A deal value. However, the increase in the distance between host countries and Thailand reduces the cross-border M&A deals’ size. The rise in average wage of host countries reduces the size of cross-border M&A deals from Thai firms, implying the efficiency motive.
Middle class and democratization under capital and land inequality: a theoretical approach
Authors:   , Mannaitham Wantiwa 
Published: April 2023

The study revisits the relationship between the middle class, transition to democracy and inequality. This paper uses mathematical methodology to represent the role of the middle class on democratization under capital and land inequality based on Acemoglu and Robinson 2006 models. This paper extends social class from two to three class models including the rich, the middle class and the poor. Moreover, the paper also describes how capital and land inequality affect democratization. To test an impact of the middle class on democratizing process under capital and land inequality conditions, this study divides into three cases; (1) capital and land inequality, (2) capital inequality and (3) land inequality. As a result, the richer middle class has more similar preference to the elites which make they have more fear of the future income redistribution under full democracy. Hence, capital intensive society is more likely to be partial democracy. The study finds an income of the middle-class variable has a negative impact on transition to democracy. Because the poorer middle class demand higher land redistribution which is costly to the elites, democratization is not attractive to the elites. Thus, land abundant countries seem to be less democratic. However, the results do show a significant role of the middle class as human capital on democratization. When the middle class become dominant to an economy, this economic structure is called human capital-intensive societies and they are more likely to be democratic.
Generalized factorizability of certain implicit dependence copulas
Authors:   , Panyasakulwong Peerapong 
Published: April 2023

The copula CX,Y of random variables X and Y that are uniformly distributed on [0,1] is called an implicit dependence copula if f(X)=g(Y) almost surely for some Borel functions f and g on [0,1]. Via a generalized Markov product, we give a one-to-one correspondence between the implicit dependence copulas and the parametric classes of subcopulas on a corresponding domain for the cases that f=g=Λθ, the tent function whose top is at (θ,1). We also show in the case f=g=α, a simple measure-preserving function, that implicit dependence copulas are generalized factorizable.
Telomere shortening and cellular senescence induced by oxalate and nephrolithiasis urine in HK-2 cells
Authors:   , Chuenwisad Kamonchanok 
Published: April 2023

Kidney stone disease is a common urologic problem worldwide, especially in the tropics such as Thailand. It is known as a multifactorial condition, and aging increases the risk of stone development. The major type of stones is calcium oxalate (CaOx), and its formation is driven by increased urinary oxalate excretion and calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) crystallization. Both oxalate and COM are known to induce reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and cause oxidative stress. Furthermore, patients with CaOx stone have increased extent of oxidative stress. In this study, we investigated the induction of cellular senescence and telomere shortening through oxidative stress by oxalate, COM and urine obtained from CaOx kidney stone (KS) patients (n=5) in HK-2 cells. Five urine samples from the age- and sex-matched non-stone (NS) subjects were used as urine control. HK-2 cells were treated with H2O2 (representative of ROS), oxalate, COM and urine samples (10% v/v) for 72 h. The result shown that the number of senescent (SA-βgal positive) cells were significantly higher in H2O2-, oxalate-, COM- and KS urine-treated conditions than that of the NS urine-treated and untreated conditions. Oxidative stress, indicated by increased protein carbinyl level and decreased total antioxidant capacity, was significantly increased in cells treated with H2O2, oxalate, COM and KS urine relative to the untreated control and NS urine. The expression of p16 protein was clearly increased in the H2O2-, oxalate-, COM- and KS urine-treated cells compared with the untreated control and NS urine-treated cells. In contrast, relative telomere length was significantly decreased in the H2O2-, oxalate-, COM- and KS urine-treated cells compared with the untreated control and NS urine-treated cells. Expression of TRF1, TRF2 and POT1 mRNAs was significantly lower in cells treated with H2O2, oxalate, COM and KS urine than that of the untreated control and NS urine. In conclusion, this is the first study showing that oxalate, COM and KS urine induce cellular senescence and telomere shortening in renal proximal tubular cells. This senescent induction is mediated through oxidative stress and associated with upregulation of p16 and downregulation of shelterin complex genes. Our findings suggest that oxidative stress-mediated senescence and telomere shortening in renal proximal tubular cells induced by lithogenic factors, particularly oxalate and COM, may contribute to the development of CaOx kidney stone disease.
The labeling of 99mtc-psma-hbed-cc for prostate cancer imaging
Authors:   , Phromphao Benchamat 
Published: April 2023

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most common cancer and the fifth leading cause of death worldwide in 2018 (1). Initially, PCa diagnosis is based on Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test, which is low sensitivity and low specificity, and sonography guided needle biopsy, which is invasive. Therefore, molecular imaging recently enrolls as an important technique in PCa diagnosis using some small molecules which are well developed to bind to overexpressed Prostate Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA). The small molecules, for example PSMA-HBED-CC, PSMA I&T, can be chelated with Ga-68 for diagnostic purpose using positron emission tomography (PET) scan. Even though PET scan provides good contrast and spatial resolution, the related cost is high. Meanwhile, single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging offers more affordable with longer half-life of radiotracer. Therefore, it is difficult for most patients to access to PET scan in limited PET facilities. Herein, we report a new tracer using Tc-99m labeled with PSMA-HBED-CC aim to be alternative option for PCa diagnosis. The purpose of this study was to develop in-house preparation of 99mTc-PSMA-HBED-CC for prostate cancer imaging using SPECT system. 99mTc-pertechnetate 370 MBq was added to mixture solution of PSMA-HBED-CC 10 µg and 4% SnCl2·2H2O in 10 mL sterile vial, then heated to 100 oC 15 minutes and incubated while cool down to room temperature. Labeling parameters were optimized to obtain the maximum radiochemical yield of 99mTc-PSMA-HBED-CC. The completeness chelation was determined by instant thin layer chromatography (iTLC) and pH of 99mTc-PSMA-HBED-CC was measured. 99mTc-PSMA-HBED-CC was successfully chelated using 99mTc-pertechnetate solution in high radiochemical yield (71.49%) and radiochemical purity (98.29%) which is sufficient to administer to patient for SPECT imaging of PCa diagnosis according to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recommendation.
The study of local diagnostic reference levels at unit of vascular and interventional radiology, King Chulalongkorn memorial hospital
Authors:   , Prajamchuea Kornkamol 
Published: April 2023

Interventional Radiology (IR) procedures are minimally invasive surgery using angiographic equipment which the patients and staffs may receive high radiation dose. DRLs, based on 75th percentile of the median dose for a sample of standard sized of patients, are an effective tool for optimization of protection in the medical exposure of patients for diagnostic and interventional procedures (ICRP Publication 135, 2017). The objective of this study is to establish the local DRLs distribution of patient radiation dose and related parameters in interventional radiology procedures in standard-sized of Thai patients.

Local DRLs of radiation dose and related parameters of patients (45-75kg for female, and 50-80kg for male) who underwent 3 Neuro-interventional and 9 body interventional procedures were established by retrieving the patient data from PACS and Radimetrics. The data analysis used descriptive statistics via SPSS version 22. The median value of interventional radiology procedures in this study were compared to National DRLs.

The patient data of 485 cases, neuro-intervention 87 cases and body intervention 398 cases, were reviewed and collected between January 2019 and June 2020. The results show that: the median of KAP value and 75th percentile (DRLs) of Cerebral angiogram were 49 and 61 Gy.cm2, Embolization of intracranial aneurysm were 121 and 144 Gy.cm2, Embolization of brain AVM were 157 and 224 Gy.cm2, CT-guided TACE were 287 and 459 Gy.cm2, CBCT-guided TACE were 238 and 397 Gy.cm2, PICC line were 0.7 and 1 Gy.cm2, Perm cath were 1 and 4 Gy.cm2, PCD were 2 and 4 Gy.cm2, PTBD were 6 and 14 Gy.cm2, Peripheral angiogram were 4 and 18 Gy.cm2, Peripheral angioplasty were 7 and 16 Gy.cm2, CBCT-guided Biopsy were 12 and 17 Gy.cm2, respectively. The thickness of the body part, the complexity index, the angiographic equipment, the angiographic materials, the exposure techniques and the interventional radiologists' skill and decision influence the patient radiation dose.

As the patient radiation doses in the therapeutic procedure are always higher than the diagnostic procedures, the DRLs of interventional radiology procedures should be optimized and reviewed DRLs annually. The exposure techniques to decrease the risk of patient radiation dose and reducing scatter radiation to all staffs should be reviewed. The Local DRLs of interventional radiology procedures is established in 2020 while Thailand DRLs is established in 2021. The Local DRLs report is useful in providing a guidance on National DRLs database.
Guidelines to enhance community participation in community learning centers in the kingdom of Cambodia
Authors:   , Neak Piseth 
Published: April 2023

The study aims to 1) analyze components of community participation in the CLCs in Cambodia; 2) study current states and desirable needs of community participation in enhancing community participation in the CLCs in Cambodia; 3) propose guidelines to enhance community participation in the CLCs in Cambodia. A semi-structured interview with 5 Cambodian experts has been employed, and all the keywords have been coded to analyze community participation components in the CLCs. Moreover, this research utilized a survey with the selected samples of 28 CLC committee members and 197 people using stratified random sampling by analyzing data through Means (x̅), Standard Deviation (S.D.), and Modified Priority Needs (PNImodified) to study current states and desirable need of community people in the CLCs in Cambodia. Lastly, the in-depth interview and Likert-scale questionnaire have been conducted with the experts to clarify and confirm the proposed guidelines' validity and feasibility. The research findings are as follows. 1. The components of community participation in the CLCs in Cambodia consist of utilizing services, resource mobilization, attending programs, diagnosing needs, planning programs, monitoring, and evaluation, and decision making in the CLCs in Cambodia. 2. The current states in enhancing community participation in the CLCs are at the moderate level (x̅=2.64, S.D.=0.67) meaning that there are a few the CLC committee and members participating in the activities of the CLCs while the desirable needs in enhancing community participation in the CLCs are at the high levels (x̅=4.41, S.D.=0.66) meaning that there is a high need of the CLC committee and members a taking part in activities of the CLCs. 3. Guidelines to enhance community participation in the CLCs in Cambodia comprise of vision, goals, and guidelines. The vision is to transform the CLCs to become lifelong learning centers in promoting informal, non-formal, and lifelong learning by 2030. The goals are to enrich human resources, physical infrastructure, finances, and enhance community participation in the CLCs to achieve future sustainability and become lifelong learning centers. The guidelines enhance community participation in diagnosing needs, planning programs, implementing programs, monitoring and evaluation, and decision making in the CLCs in Cambodia. Key terms: Community Participation, Participation, sustainable community learning centers, Community, Guidelines
Intention to stay among nurses in ministry of public health, Thailand: a cross-sectional survey
Authors:   , Srisa-art Rata 
Published: April 2023

A cross-sectional survey designed to investigate intention to stay (ITS) of nurses (RNs) in public hospitals under the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) and to compare the intention to stay among nurses in various hospital types of care delivery of organizational characteristics, nurse characteristics, managerial characteristics, and work characteristics. The multi-stage sampling technique was used to recruit 1,524 nurses from in-patient units of 59 public hospitals under MOPH. Four instruments were used, namely: Nurse Characteristics and Socio-Demographic Data Form; Management Factors Questionnaire; Job Diagnostic Survey; and Intention to Stay Scales. All instruments were examined for content validity and reliability. The alpha Cronbach coefficients were .98, .96, .74 and .87, respectively. Descriptive statistics, CROSSTAB, and one-way ANOVA were used for data analysis.

The finding revealed the followings:

1. Intention to stay in profession (ITSP) was at a moderate level (Mean = 3.38, SD = .68). While, the intention to stay in current workplace (ITSW) was at a highest level (Mean = 3.88, SD = 1.02). When comparing ITS among nurses working in six hospital levels, it was found that the highest percentage of ITSP was at hospital level M1 (61.30%), and the lowest of ITSW at hospital level F2. Moreover, RNs perceived ITSW at a high-level. The highest percentage of ITSW was at hospital level F2 (72.60%) and lowest at hospital level A (61.70%).

2. A comparison of ITSP and ITSW classified by selected variables indicated the following findings:

Nurses perceived ITSP classified by marital status, working experience, job position, income, managerial characteristics, and job characteristics were statistically significantly different, at the .05 level. While, nurses' perceived ITSW regarding work position, income, working unit, hometown location, management characteristics and job characteristics were statistically significantly different, at the .05 level.

Considering ITSP among nurses who perceived different level of managerial characteristics, the post hoc test showed that nurses who perceived moderate and high managerial characteristics had a higher mean of ITSP than nurses who perceived low managerial characteristics. In addition, nurses who perceived high managerial characteristics had a higher mean score of ITSP than nurses who perceived moderate managerial characteristics. On the other hand, the post hoc test revealed that ITSW among nurses who perceived moderate and high managerial characteristics had a higher mean than those who perceived low managerial characteristics, and ITSW among nurses who perceived high managerial characteristics had a higher mean score of ITSW than nurses who perceived moderate managerial characteristics.
The effect of acemannan in implant placement with simultaneous bone graft in esthetic zone : a randomized controlled trial
Authors:   , Deesricharoenkiat Nataporn 
Published: April 2023

Background: Acemannan, a linear polysaccharide produced by Aloe vera has been shown to have important biological functions promoting wound healing and tissue regeneration. Objective: The aim of this randomized clinical trial was to investigate the impact of acemannan in guided bone regeneration (GBR) with simultaneous implant. Materials and methods: Twenty patients were randomly allocated to test- (Deproteinized bovine bone with Acemannan particulate with mean size of 32.45µm) and control groups (Deproteinized bovine bone only). Twenty implants were placed with simultaneous GBR. CBCT radiographic measurements were conducted immediately and at 3- and 6-months post-surgery. Vertical and horizontal dimensions of the buccal bone were measured at implant platform (0) and at points 2, 4, 6, 8 mm apically. Results: Volumetric reduction of vertical and horizontal buccal bone was significantly smaller in the test group at 3-month post-operation (p<0.05) for every position measured (0, 2, 4, 6, 8), but the difference was not statistically significant at 6 months. Conclusion: Acemannan is a safe and predictable biomaterial, which could potentially enhance short term clinical outcomes of GBR in relation to implant placement. Further studies would be required to document long term efficacy and advantages of its use as a supplement in bone regeneration.
Qualification by the European Court of Human Rights of Degrading Treatments in Penitentiary Institutions
Authors: Sergeeva Anzhelika Anatol'evna , Sokolova Elena Valer'evna , Pitulko Kseniya Viktorovna 
Published: April 2023

The authors examines the legal positions formulated by the European Court of Human Rights in relation to the compliance of Russian legislation and the practice of its application with the criteria of inadmissibility of cruel and humiliating treatment of convicts. Despite the termination of Russia's cooperation with European inter-state human rights bodies, the long experience of interaction with them has made it possible to identify certain shortcomings in the national penitentiary system and outline ways to eliminate them. A number of decisions of the European Court of Human Rights have been creatively interpreted in Russian legislation, and this has contributed to improving the legal status of persons sentenced to imprisonment. Based on a critical analysis of the key negative characteristics of the penal enforcement system, the authors identified the main directions of the impact of the decisions of the interstate human rights body on the formation of a new penal enforcement policy that contributes to improving the protection of the rights, freedoms and legitimate interests of citizens serving a sentence of imprisonment. To date, the relevance of this has remained, although the legal positions of the European Court of Human Rights are not and have never been sources of Russian law. The improvement of penitentiary legislation is a significant direction of the criminal policy of the state, therefore, the author's conclusions are of interest for rule-making activities.
Cardiovascular Outcomes and Mortality After Bariatric Surgery in Patients With Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Obesity
Authors: Krishnan Arunkumar , Hadi Yousaf , Alqahtani Saleh A. , Woreta Tinsay A. , Fang Wei , Abunnaja Salim , Szoka Nova , Tabone Lawrence E. , Thakkar Shyam , Singh Shailendra 
Published: April 2023

ImportanceBariatric surgery (BS) is associated with significantly reduced incidence of cardiovascular diseases and mortality in patients with obesity. However, whether BS can decrease major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) remains poorly understood.ObjectiveTo investigate the association of BS with the incidence of adverse cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality in patients with NAFLD and obesity.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis was a large, population-based, retrospective cohort using data from the TriNetX platform. Adult patients with a body mass index (BMI, calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared) of 35 or greater and NAFLD (without cirrhosis) who underwent BS between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2021, were included. Patients in the BS group were matched with patients who did not undergo surgery (non-BS group) according to age, demographics, comorbidities, and medication by using 1:1 propensity matching. Patient follow-up ended on August 31, 2022, and data were analyzed in September 2022.ExposuresBariatric surgery vs nonsurgical care.Main Outcomes and MeasuresThe primary outcomes were defined as the first incidence of new-onset heart failure (HF), composite cardiovascular events (unstable angina, myocardial infarction, or revascularization, including percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass graft), composite cerebrovascular disease (ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, cerebral infarction, transient ischemic attack, carotid intervention, or surgery), and a composite of coronary artery procedures or surgeries (coronary stenting, percutaneous coronary intervention, or coronary artery bypass). Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs).ResultsOf 152 394 eligible adults, 4693 individuals underwent BS; 4687 patients who underwent BS (mean [SD] age, 44.8 [11.6] years; 3822 [81.5%] female) were matched with 4687 individuals (mean [SD] age, 44.7 [13.2] years; 3883 [82.8%] years) who did not undergo BS. The BS group had significantly lower risk of new-onset of HF (HR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.51-0.70), cardiovascular events (HR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.44-0.65), cerebrovascular events (HR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.51-0.69), and coronary artery interventions (HR, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.35-0.63) compared with the non-BS group. Similarly, all-cause mortality was substantially lower in the BS group (HR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.42-0.74). These outcomes were consistent at follow-up duration of 1, 3, 5, and 7 years.Conclusions and RelevanceThese findings suggest that BS was significantly associated with lower risk of major adverse cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality in patients with NAFLD and obesity.