cometadata/datacite-titles-descriptions-related-identifiers huggingface dataset:
DOI: 10.17632/7f2z7mzysh.1
title: Data for: Chat-based instant messaging support combined with brief smoking cessation interventions for Chinese community smokers: study protocol for a pragmatic, cluster-randomized controlled trial

description: Supporting information on the intervention materials in this study.
DOI: 10.17632/8xpgb7c7d2.1
title: Data for: Triazine-dibenzocarbazole based bipolar host materials for highly luminescent green and yellow phosphorescent organic light emitting diodes

description: Figure S1: Solvatochromic shift of TRZ-DBC1 and TRZ-DBC2 in toluene and dichloromethane. Figure S2: Exciton life time measurements of TRZ-DBC1 and TRZ-DBC2 in toluene and dichloromethane. Figure S3: Operational device life time measurements of TRZ-DBC1 and TRZ-DBC2.
DOI: 10.17632/sgksx98z6r.1
title: Data for: Greenhouse gas fluxes under drought and nitrogen addition in a Southern California grassland
DOI: 10.14457/tu.the.2014.346
title: A study of effectiveness of traditional media and new media in retail real estate business in Bangkok

description: The purpose of this research is to study effectiveness of traditional media and new media in retail real estate business in Bangkok. Effectiveness is described by variables: reachability, attraction, credibility, ability to give product and brand information, ability to make target customers recall brand and product and persuasion or ability to impulse prospective customers to contact to sales representatives. Another purpose also is to examine key factors that affect the level of effectiveness of each medium used with the specific scope in retail real estate business. Research was undertaken on both qualitative and quantitative base. Methods of secondary research, observations of customer behavior, market situation and media trends along main roads and mass transit (MRT and BTS sky train lines) in Bangkok area and in-depth interviews were conducted in order to develop a survey questionnaire. The target population of the questionnaire survey is 150 property buyers who have purchased a single house, townhome, or condominium in the Bangkok area in past six months. All survey data were analyzed statistically through SPSS (Frequency Distribution and ANOVA). Data analysis and results of this study were provided in order to help marketers to allocate marketing communication plan and budget as well as increase marketing effectiveness of using appropriate media mix.
DOI: 10.14457/tu.the.2017.965
title: A survey of the needs of English communication skills and communication problems between Thai customer service staff and non-Thai passengers

description: English has an influence in aviation business and if any airline company fails to manage or value the importance of communication effectively will lose customers. The purpose of this study was to find out the English communication problems in using English of the airline customer service staff when servicing non-Thai passengers over the telephone and to explore the needs for improving the staff English communication skills. The participants were 40 Thai customer service staff working for the airline companies in Thailand. A 5-points Likert scale questionnaire was distributed to the airline contact centers then the collect data were analyzed using the SPSS program. The results indicated the three biggest listening problems were the fast-native speaking rate, various English accents, and unknown English words, while the ability to use grammar, words, and technical terms precisely were rated as problems in speaking the participants encountered most. However, the results also showed that they preferred attaining short English course not only speaking and listening skills specifically, but soft and hard skills also.
DOI: 10.14457/tu.the.2017.966
title: A corpus-based study of entirely and totally

description: This study was conducted to investigate the similarities and differences between two adverbs of degree which are similar in meaning as they are claimed to be synonyms. The aims of this study were to study the frequency between using entirely and totally in written and spoken sources and to compare and contrast grammatical patterns, collocations, and formality of the context between using these two adverbs. The research data was collected from the Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA). The findings of the study revealed that there are some similarities and differences in usages between entirely and totally.
DOI: 10.14457/tu.the.2017.967
title: Infinitive and gerund complement constructions with the verbs like and love in corpus-based English

description: This research study investigated the frequencies of like and love in infinitive and gerund to analyze the differences of complement constructions of these words. The data were collected from authentic American English in the Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA). The findings indicate that the verb like is more frequent than love, especially like + V infinitive is the most frequent construction.  Although like and love could both be followed by an infinitive and gerund and the two verbs provide similar meanings as; they refer to the notion of enjoyment, the occurrences of these words are different. The findings, therefore, offer some useful data for teachers to prepare an infinitive or gerund lesson with authentic English and help students become aware of verbs with similar meanings followed by an infinitive and gerund.
DOI: 10.14457/tu.the.2017.968
title: Exploring pronunciation errors through a song: a case study of 3rd year students, Thammasat University

description: The purpose of this study was to explore pronunciation errors on final consonant sounds through the song and song lyrics “A Thousand Years” by Christina Perri. The participants consisted of seven third-year students from Faculty of Innovation, Thammasat University selected by convenience sampling. Through four phrases of investigation: reading aloud the lyrics, participants pin-pointing the errors form first reading while listening to the song, reading aloud the lyrics again and semi-structured interview, the results showed that participants made pronunciation errors on fourteen predicted final consonant sounds. They had the difficulty in pronouncing /θ/, /d/, /l/, /z/, /v/, /nd/, /rt/ and /nt/ sounds and the formation of errors was the substitution of /d/ and /θ/ with /t/, /z/ was substituted with /s/ and /v/ was substituted with /p/, and consonant cluster tended to be omitted one of two sounds or both of them.
DOI: 10.14457/tu.the.2017.969
title: English language needs analysis of Thai nurses at a public hospital in Bangkok

description: The research carried out studied both the needs and ability of a group of Thai nurses working in a public hospital in Bangkok and examined their ability to communicate in English language in their work. The study was primarily to identify the requirements of the nurses, as well as their language skills, the difficulties they face while carrying out their work using target language, in addition to a preferred course design including teaching methods, and the nurses’ beliefs about self-directed learning outside of class. The data was gathered by use of a questionnaire and a sample of 50 nurses took part in the study from ER (Emergency Room) and OR (Operating Room) departments at the participating hospital in Bangkok. The nurse participants were both males and females. The outcome of the study showed conclusively that the nurses were required to speak English fluently whilst they communicate with foreign patients. The nurses had a lower ability in speaking and listening than grammar, reading and writing as well as vocabulary skills. Their reading skill was rated moderate, whilst their speaking, listening and writing were all considered low. The nurses’ needs to improve these four skills were high.
DOI: 10.14457/tu.the.2017.970
title: A study of needs analysis in generating data of English for tourist police course design for Pattaya tourist police

description: This study seeks to gain better understanding of the use of English language at the  work place of Tourist Police Officers in Pattaya through the use of present situation analysis in order to generate information for remedial course design. A four part questionnaire featuring relevant demographic data, perceived importance, perceived difficulties and open ended suggestion box was devised to gain raw data Statistic tools are then used to analyze the information using percentage, frequency, mean and standard deviation
DOI: 10.14457/tu.the.2017.971
title: A corpus-based study of the English synonyms almost, virtually, and practically

description: The English language has a vast amount of synonymy used to alter meaning or make output more colorful.  The slight differences between these words can be difficult to both instruct to students and be comprehended by learners.  This research study analyzes three adverbs: virtually, almost and practically using both dictionaries and a corpus to discern similarities and differences.  The Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (2015) and the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English for Advanced Learners (2014)  was used to extract definitions, collocations and grammar patterns to be contrasted with concordance lines from the Corpus of Contemporary American English.  Additionally the collocation frequency and word type between the three synonyms virtually, almost and practically were analyzed within the corpus findings for differences and similarities.  Grammatical syntax for the synonyms was also analyzed and results from all the concordance lines demonstrated that these adverbs are near synonyms.  Specifically the synonym virtually had higher collocation and syntax frequency when compared to almost and practically, which were used with more freedom of collocation choice.  The research also suggests that the corpus, rather than a dictionary, is ideal for advanced learners in the ESL classroom as a way to study and learn synonyms.
DOI: 10.14457/tu.the.2017.972
title: Immunization coverage and its related factors of under one year old children in Mork District, Xiengkhouang Province, Lao PDR

description: Immunization is recognized as one of the most powerful and cost effective prevention measures against vaccine preventable diseases especially under-one-year. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the immunization coverage of under-one-year children and its related factors in Mork district, Xiengkhuang province, Lao PDR. Total   of 110 caregivers of children aged 12-23 months old was interviewed from April 1 to 30 2018 .Descriptive statistics and multivariate binary logistics regression were applied in this study.The results were that, 53.7% received complete vaccination while 42.7% and 3.6% were partial and never vaccinated respectively. However, validity of complete immunization coverage was only 12.7%.  Caregivers 76.3% and 76.4% were at poor knowledge and good supportive perception on child immunization respectively. Factors significantly associated with immunization coverage were good supportive perception of caregivers on immunization (AOR= 10.3, 95% CI= 17.8-67.90) and child status as at least third offspring of a family (AOR= 1.9, 95% CI= 1.66-34.89), while knowledge of caregivers and accessibility to health immunization services had no association.This study suggests the way to improve immunization coverage among children in this area by emphasizing caregivers’ perception on immunization together with promoting health education on antenatal care and immunization. It is also necessary to strengthen local health services, especially on institutional delivery.
DOI: 10.14457/tu.the.2017.973
title: Antenatal care visit in urban zone of Xaybouathong District, Khammouane Province, Lao P.D.R

description: Maternal and infant mortality in the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) are among the highest in Southeast Asia. Antenatal care (ANC) is a key preventive health service. Prevalence of antenatal care visits in Lao PDR and factors affecting it was identified. A community based, cross-sectional study was conducted in Xaybouathong District, Khammouane Province in April 2018. Samples were 200 mothers aged 15-49 years with children under 12 months old. Data was gathered by face-to-face interview. The Chi-square test was applied at a 5% significance level.Results were that 81% had ANC visits; 20.5% had 5 visits and 49% at least four visits during their most recent pregnancy. Ethnicity, religion, educational attainment of married couples, occupation, average monthly income, level of trust in ANC services, distance to health facility, travel time to District hospital, mode of travelling, access to ANC service, travel cost, and history of pregnancy (total deliveries and stillbirth) were statistically associated with ANC visits (p-values &lt;0.05). To increase accessibility of ANC visit among mothers, and decrease obstacles to ANC service use, women in urban district must be focused. This should have a multiplier effect of improving facility-based deliveries and reducing barriers through mobile ANC service and incentives for pregnant women.
DOI: 10.14457/tu.the.2017.974
title: Retention in viral load testing among people living with HIV/AIDS in Lao PDR

description: Accessibility to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) viral load testing is an urgent public health priority. Proportions of retention in HIV viral load testing were assessed among people living with HIV (PLHIV) who initiated antiretroviral therapy (ART) at least two years and received HIV viral load testing (± 3 months of ART) in the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR). Pretest phase turnaround time (TAT) for HIV viral load testing was investigated. A retrospective cohort study used secondary data from databases of clinical and laboratory data from 2009 to 2014. Total of 2,297 records and 11,034 samples were analyzed by descriptive statistics and chi-square test at a 5% significance level.The uptake of the first HIV viral load test was 71.9%. There was a significant decrease from the second test in the 12th month to the sixth test in the 60th month of care (57.3% to 50.6%). The first and second test had a higher uptake in the latest cohort than in 2009. Gender had no effect on the test coverage. 41.5% had complete retention in HIV viral load testing after ART initiation in the first year of treatment. A reduction of complete retention occurred during long-term care. By the fifth year of care, complete retention was only 6.5%. Service sites in central Lao PDR close to laboratory centers had higher proportions of complete retention than those in the south and north. Median pretest phase TAT was the same day of specimen collection, 2.9% of  long-pretest phase TAT was 1 to 3 months after blood collection from service sites outside centrally located laboratories. Good quality of primary information at enrollment and during annual follow-ups as well as close patient supervision to ensure good uptake and retention of HIV viral load testing are suggested.
DOI: 10.14457/tu.the.2017.975
title: Managerial competencies of primary health care center directors: exploratory study in Oudomxai Province, Lao PDR

description: Nine dimensions of managerial competencies of the director, deputy director and acting director of primary health care center were assessed in Oudomxai Province, northwest Lao people’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR). Managerial competency constitute component relevant to Lao PDR were also examined. Data was gathered by cross-sectional self-administered questionnaire. Reliability of the nine components of competencies were analyzed with coefficient alpha was 0.741 to 0.931. Descriptive statistics were used to describe each dimension of managerial competency as well as testing for association of each dimension of competency and personal characteristics of samples. Exploratory factor analysis to identified managerial competency components relevant to Lao PDR context were employed.  Results: The respondents were more competence in community work than competencies in vision, mission, or health center goal. They were significantly competence in communication and partnership building to inspire community stakeholder’s involvements in implementing health activities. Leadership, communication, and partnership competencies were consistent with those systemic thought and strategic decision making. There was more competence in monitoring to improve staff quality and monitoring staff performance efficiency. Samples- self-rated their proactive competency in building health public policy as proficient and very proficient. Exploratory factor analysis of the initial measures of managerial competencies yielded the valid six managerial competencies included people-centered service, networking management, knowledge management and mentoring, policy driven, financial and risk management and community. These findings suggest that the frontline health workforce requires further financial planning and information management development. To cope with rapid changes in socio-economic development in Lao PDR, health workforce development planning should be an integral part of health system development.
DOI: 10.14457/tu.the.2017.976
title: Indirect speech act comprehension of Thai undergraduate students in ESP context

description: According to the theory of pragmatics (Bach & Harnish, 1979; Grice, 1975),in order to comprehend the full meaning embedded in the speaker‘s intention, weneed to understand how to go beyond literal meaning by making rational inferences.The focuses of this paper were to (1) determine the extent to which Thai ESP learnerscan comprehend indirect speech acts of requests and refusals, and to (2) investigatewhether different levels of L2 (second language) proficiency affect their pragmaticcomprehension. A multiple-choice test was developed to measure the participants‘ability in comprehending implied meaning conveyed by speakers in a conversationexchange. The calculated data were analyzed through a descriptive and inferentialstatistics. The findings revealed that, although the overall pragmatic competence ofThai ESP learners was at a moderate level (17.37 out of 24 (72.36%)), thecomprehension accuracy was affected significantly by different levels of indirectnessand their L2 proficiency. The analysis shed light on how different levels ofindirectness influence pragmatic comprehension skill and also how to draw accurateinferences when dealing with equivocal meaning encoded within indirect speech acts.
DOI: 10.14457/tu.the.2017.977
title: Antibiotic used among population in Khounkham District, Khammuane Province, Lao PDR

description: Irrational antibiotic use causes drug resistance. This study aimed to evaluate the proportion of antibiotic use of family and of population in the Khounkham District, Khammouane Province, Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR). Two-stage cluster sampling with probability proportional to village size was employed to select 12 villages comprised of 126 households and 606 samples. A cross-sectional face-to-face interview was conducted from April 1 to 30, 2018. Descriptive statistics and independent sample t-test were used to compare knowledge of, belief in, and accessibility to antibiotics among samples using and not using antibiotics over the previous three months at a 5% significance level.Results were that 60.3% of households and 20.3% of samples had consumed antibiotics in the last 3 months. Young and the old samples reported more use than those of working age. Ampicillin and Amoxicillin were the antibiotics most commonly used without prescriptions, with 87.9% irrational use. 57.9% of samples, a majority of family representatives reflected a poor level of knowledge about antibiotics and 77.8% expressed belief in the effectiveness of antibiotics. Knowledge of, belief in and accessibility to antibiotics was similar for family who had at least one member used antibiotics over the previous three months and those who had not. To reduce irrational antibiotic use, accurate information about the adverse effect of antibiotic use should be published in different media.Keywords: Antibiotic use, Family, Khounkham District, Lao PDR
DOI: 10.14457/tu.the.2017.978
title: Nutritional status and its associated factors among children aged 24-60 months in municipal area of Longsan District, Xaysomboun Province, Lao PDR

description: This cross-sectional study was conducted to examine the nutritional status, and its associated factors, among children of 24-60 months of age in municipal areas of the Longsan District, Xaysomboun Province in the Laos PDR. The data were collected by means of anthropometric measurements of 234 children and personal, questionnaire-based, caregiver interviews. The systematic random sampling method was used from a list of mother’s names in each village. After excluding 13 children, the final sample was reduced to 221 participants for further analysis. Anthropometric measurements provided information on children’s weight and height. Caregiver’s interviews generated the data on general characteristics of children and caregivers’ knowledge of nutrition, attitude toward nutrition, feeding practices and the households’ environment.   The data analysis was conducted with descriptive statistics and binary logistic regressions.The results showed that the children’s nutritional status was characterized by 47.5% cases of stunting, 21.7% of underweight and 8.6% of wasting. Variables such as sex, ethnicity, religion, caregivers’ occupation and feeding practices were significantly associated with the children’s nutritional status (p &lt; 0.05).The finding of this study suggest that the public health authorities should help, encourage and monitor the caregivers’ nutrition of their young children. Public health interventions to upgrade the nutrition knowledge of health volunteers and caregivers should be a priority to reduce an excessively high number of stunting infants. Children’s regular health checkups, at least once a year, should also be part of a concerted effort to improve an unacceptably low nutritional status found in this study.
DOI: 10.14457/tu.the.2017.979
title: Nutritional status of adolescents attending secondary school in Sisattanak District, Vientiane, Lao PDR

description: Dietary patterns and lifestyle behavior are of crucial importance for adolescents’ physical, psychosocial and cognitive development. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to assess the nutritional status, and factors related to the nutritional status of adolescents attending secondary schools in the Sisattanak District of the Lao PDR.       A total of 300 adolescents, aged 15-19 years, were surveyed by means of a self-administrated questionnaire during the period of April 01-30, 2018. Pearson’s chi-square test, univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were applied in the course of the statistical analysis. Among 300 adolescents, aged 15-19 years, 10.3% were underweight and 23.3% were overweight. A poor eating habit was noted in 67.0% of adolescents, even though 78.0% of them had a good knowledge of nutrition. Factors significantly associated with the nutritional status were low physical activities (AOR=18.5, 95% CI=5.57-61.63), and adolescents living with their parents (AOR=3.8, 95% CI=1.2211.77). The study also found that teachers, acting as a source of health and nutrition information, can prevent the risk of adolescents’ overweight and obesity by 53.1% (AOR=0.47, 95% CI=0.25-0.87).        In order to improve adolescents’ nutritional status, there is a need to include nutrition and physical education programs in school curricula, and to raise the awareness of families and communities about the health benefits of proper dietary behaviors and physically active lifestyles.