cometadata/datacite-titles-descriptions-related-identifiers huggingface dataset:
DOI: 10.14457/cu.the.2011.1163
title: Bioactive compounds produced by endophytic fungi isolated from beach morning glory Ipomoea pes-caprae Linn.

description: 150 endophytic fungi were isolated from leaves, stems, flowers and seeds of Ipomoea pes-caprae Linn. collected from beaches of Thailand. The genera of isolated endophytic fungi comprised of alternaria, aspergillus, collectotrichum, curvularia, eurotium, fusarium, geotrichum, penicillium, phomopsis, stemphylium, trichoderma, xylaria. and mycelia sterilia. All of selected endophytic fungi were tested antimicrobial activity against 5 microorganisms; Bacillus subtilis, staphylococcus aureus, escherichia coli, pseudomonas aeruginosa and candida albicans. Endophytic fungi isolate Cm1 and Ch109 were exhibited high antimicrobial activity against test microorganisms. Thus both fungi were selected for further studies. Based on light microscope identification and DNA sequencing of the ITS region, the fungus isolate Cm1 was identified as stemphylium solani and Ch109 was identified as eurotium amstelodami. Isolation of bioactive compounds from mycelial EtOAc extracted of Cm1 found that combined fraction ME-10 exhibited the best result of antimicrobial activity with 13-25 mm of clear zone width. The antioxidant test of ME-10 showed IC50 44 µg/ml and LC50 of brine shrimp lethality test was 414 µg/ml. The cytotoxicity test of ME-10 with 5 cell lines; BT474, CHAGO, HEP-G2, KATO-3 and SW620, IC50 were 14.05, 10.40, 8.41, 8.91 and 10.23 µg/ml, respectively. Isolation of bioactive compounds from mycelial EtOAc extract of Ch109 by column chromatography gave 4 compounds including tetrahydroauroglaucin, flavoglaucin, physcion and erythroglaucin. Antimicrobial and antioxidant assay of four compounds were tested. IC50 of compound 1 (tetrahydroauroglaucin), compound 2 (flavoglaucin), compound 3 (physcion) and compound 4 (erythroglaucin) were exhibited antioxidant with IC50 of 18, 35.5, 42 and 32 µg/ml, respectively while vitamin E was exhibited antioxidant with IC50 of 19 µg/ml. Antimicrobial activity of compound 1-2 against B. subtilis with MIC of 250 µg/ml and S. aureus with MIC of 250 µg/ml. Compound 3 and 4 showed antimicrobial activity against B. subtilis with the same MIC of 50 µg/ml and against S. aureus with MIC of 80 µg/ml.
DOI: 10.14457/cu.the.2011.1257
title: US resettlement for displaced persons from Myanmar: protection in a protracted refugee situation in Mae La shelter

description: The objectives of international refugee regime are to provide the three durable solutions for refugees in an attempt to end the cycle of displacement: voluntary repatriation, local integration, and third country resettlement. In case the voluntary repatriation and local integration are not viable options for those in exile, the UNHCR in collaboration with NGOs would seek another approach to protect the lives of refugees, and therefore the third country resettlement would be preferred. In case of Thailand, the Burmese refugees have sought asylum in the refugee camps along the border for over two decades. The problem of Burmese refugees is recognized by UNHCR as one of the protracted refugee situations. Put another way, the prolonged existence of Burmese refugees in Thailand is now at the crossroad because Burma remains in the middle of internal conflicts, while Thailand, as country of asylum, finds difficult to cope with the refugee flows. Meanwhile, USA is one of the developed countries that are supporting international programs to alleviate the protracted refugee situations. Hence this thesis examines the United States Refugee Admission Program as the tool to resolve the protracted situation of Burmese displaced persons because the program provides the greater number of refugee admissions. The site selection is in Mae La temporary shelter, the largest shelter in Thailand with the largest number of departures to the third country resettlement. After the US resettlement process has begun in 2005, the program has brought new homes to a number of Burmese refugees from protracted displacement. From this study, it reveals that US resettlement is a suitable durable solution for the time being. But the gap could be found from the selection criteria as security check on individual is time-consuming, the fraud application, and that the unregistered refugees are excluded in the process. Nevertheless, the US resettlement is the first and only durable solution to address the protracted situation of Burmese refugees in Thailand. The cooperative resettlement program would lead to the positive change in long term.
DOI: 10.14457/cu.the.2011.1258
title: Solidarity within the EU under the ESDP: EU’S involvement in Kosovo

description: EU’s Common security as the principle and policy started in the 1950s with European Defence Community (EDC) but it never came into existence. Since then, the development of the EU had focused largely upon economic aspects, while the security aspects were sidelined. Until the 1980s, the term security and defence were not in the treaties until 1992. Both Western European Union (WEU) and Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) were immediately subjected to the test during the Yugoslav War of Dissolution. Unfortunately, the war exposed the lack of solidarity within the EU. Throughout the war, the EU and its members were not able to put an end to ongoing atrocity when the assistance from the US was not available. The war provided the impetus for the EU to enhance its own ability in the realm of security. In 2008, Kosovo, a former Yugoslav territory, decided to unilaterally declare its independence. This action immediately caused the split within the EU on the issue of recognition due to the lack of legitimate UN resolution. Yet, the EU’s members, including countries that disagreed with Kosovo’s unilateral independence, showed its solidarity by adopting EULEX Kosovo, a civilian mission under the pretext of ESDP. Thus, as shown in this study, the solidarity can be best understood through the lens of Rational Choice Institutionalism.
DOI: 10.14457/cu.the.2011.1259
title: The effect of exchange rate volatility on foreign direct investment and portfolio flows to Thailand

description: This paper aims to examine the question of whether exchange rate movements and exchange rate risk impact the overall flows of foreign direct investment (FDI), FDI at sector level, and portfolio flows at firm-specific level to Thailand. To analyze the effect on FDI, this paper conducts a time-series model by regressing the exchange rate movements and exchange rate risk on the overall FDI and FDI at industry level. The result, based on monthly data from 2001 to 2009, suggest that exchange rate movements influence the aggregate FDI, machinery and transportation equipment, chemicals, textiles, finance institutions, and investment sectors. The exchange rate risk is statistically significant for machinery and transportation equipment, chemicals, food and sugar, finance institutions, mining and quarry, petroleum products, and services industries. As expected, FDI responsiveness to exchange rate movements and exchange rate risk varies across industries as different industries expose to exchange rate movements and exchange rate risk differently. For the link between exchange rate movements, exchange rate risk and foreign portfolio flows to Thailand. This study employs panel data analysis in order to estimate the model of foreign portfolio investment at firm-level. Based on the monthly data covering the period 2005 to 2009, the results reveal that appreciation of THB against other currencies in the bundle raises the firm-specific foreign portfolio inflows to Thailand. Regarding the exchange rate risk, the link between exchange rate risk and foreign portfolio investment is negative indicating that high exchange rate risk lowers firm-specific foreign portfolio flows to Thailand.
DOI: 10.14457/cu.the.2011.1260
title: Encapsulation of menthol with PEG6000 by rapid expandsion of supercritical carbon dioxide

description: Methods for producing drug particles in the sub-micrometer or nanometer range are one option for enhancing the therapeutic effectiveness of a drug. The using of polymers as a drug coating material widespread in pharmaceutical production for surface modification because it can help improve the circulation and controlled release of the drug in the blood vessels. However, with drug coating/production by conventional methods, such as spray drying and emulsion techniques, high temperature treating could lead to the degradation of the drug. Supercritical fluid techniques have been developed to produce fine drug particles to overcome the problem. The drug (solute) is first dissolved in the supercritical fluid. Subsequently, the solution is rapidly expanded and depressurized through a nozzle, leading to supersaturation of the solution and the consequent precipitation of solid products with free solvent. This technique could be used with low temperature decomposition substances. In this research, menthol represents the drug and polyethylene glycol with molecular weight 6,000 (PEG6000) was used as the coating material, with the effects of RESS parameters be being investigated. The experimental results revealed that the obtained menthol particles exhibited a nominal size in a range of 0.5 to 60 micron with pressure in a range of 10 - 20 MPa, temperature in a range of 303 - 333 K and ethanol concentration in a range of 0 – 30 wt%. The RESS parameters which were pre-expansion temperature and pre-expansion pressure affected morphology, particle size and particle size distribution. It was also found that ethanol could help control morphology, particle size and particle size distribution.
DOI: 10.14457/cu.the.2011.1261
title: Preparation of colloidal gold nanocluster (Au:PVP) as catalyst for amide synthesis and oxidation reactions

description: In a typical size-controlled synthesis of colloidal gold nanoclusters, monodispersed ultra-small gold clusters stabilized by hydrophilic polymer, poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) (PVP), are prepared in this research by rapid reduction of Au(III) ions of aqueous HAuCl4 with NaBH4 in the presence of PVP at 0 °C under vigorous stir for conventional batch mixing or in a microfluidic reactor to give gold clusters with average diameters of 1.3 and 1.1 nm, respectively. No surface plasmon band was observed at 520 nm in UV/Vis spectrum indicating that there is a negligible population of gold clusters larger than 2 nm. These Au:PVP were first used for N-formylation of amines which were carried out through the oxidation of methanol at reflux temperature or formalin at room temperature (27 °C) with excellent yield of corresponding amides. In the second part, selectivity of α-oxygenation of benzo-fused cyclic amines and dehydrogenation of amines were investigated to furnish corresponding lactams and imines, respectively. The optimized conditions for N-formyaltion of amines and α-oxygenation and also dehydrogenation of cyclic amines were disclosed together with the mechanisms of these reactions. The reaction could not proceed without Au:PVP or base additive or using a large size of gold clusters. In addition, no reaction was observed under anaerobic condition.
DOI: 10.14457/cu.the.2011.1262
title: High temperature glass ceramic sealants from R₂O-RO-AI₂O₃-SiO₂

description: Barium-free glass-ceramic sealants for the planar solid oxide fuel cell form the system R₂O-RO-AI₂O₃-SiO₂ (R=Na, K, Mg, Ca) were developed and their properties were investigated. The experimental procedure was divided into two parts. The first part consisted in the characterization and performance of joining tests between glass-ceramics in the system MgO-CaO-Al₂O₃-SiO₂ with additional amounts of Na₂O and K₂O varying from 0 to10 mol%. The second part was devoted to glass-ceramics in the system MgO-CaO-Al₂O₃-SiO₂ with additional amounts of B₂O₃ varying from 0 to 20 wt.%. Both types of glass compositions were prepared by melting at 1450 ºC and 1500 ºC. Their thermal properties including glass transition temperature, crystallization temperature, dilatometric softening temperature, and coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) were determined. The joins of glass-ceramics and ferritic stainless steel, including AISI430 and Crofer22 APU, were established at 900 ºC, 2 h, thermally treated at 800 ºC for 100 h and observed by SEM/EDX. The stability of the glass-ceramics after long term heat treatment was assessed through the crystallization of the mineral phases and the change in CTE using XRD and dilatometry, respectively. The results in the first part showed that glass-ceramics containing Na₂O and K₂O could be joined with AISI430 stainless steel after thermal treatment at 900 ºC for 2 h. However, they did not tightly bond to YSZ because their CTEs were too high. Long-time exposure at 800 ºC of these glass-ceramics caused a large increase in the CTE, which can be explained by increased formation of nepheline (NaAlSiO₄) and kaliophilite (KAlSiO₄). In the second part, good bonding between glass-ceramics and other components including Crofer 22 APU stainless steel and YSZ was found only in case of glass-ceramics containing at least 5 wt.% B₂O₃. The decrease of CTE is related to the increase of the boron oxide content in glass-ceramics, which leads to an increase in the formation of low-CTE phases diopside and anorthite.
DOI: 10.14457/cu.the.2011.1263
title: Political marketing strategy of Vladimir Putin

description: This research is a qualitative research. The objectives are 1) to study background and personal information of Vladimir Putin 2)to analyze Vladimir Putin’s political marketing strategy and 3) to explore how Vladimir Putin uses his brand personality as a political marketing strategy to succeed in his political position. In this research, there are two main research techniques. The former is media research through the use of the internet. The news contents and photos involving with Putin via his own website (the website of the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation) and Russian official websites were studied and examined. The latter is documentary research, which was used to support and verify the reliability of information. Thereafter, Putin’s brand personalities were analyzed and examined to find out how Vladimir Putin's brand personality has contributed to his political success. The result of the research shows that Putin’s brand personality totally consists of 19 facets: Down-to-Earth, Honest, Friendly, Reliable, Hard working, Intelligent, Technical, Cooperative, Successful, Leadership, Spirited, Cool, Unique, Charming, Smooth, Outdoor, Masculine, Tough and Rugged. The hypothesis of the research turns to be accurate. The study shows that Vladimir Putin used his brand personality as Political Marketing Strategy to create the positive perception of Russian people and optimizes to maintain his popularity.
DOI: 10.14457/cu.the.2011.1264
title: The design and development of geo-spatial services orchestration model and engine

description: The important problem of the integration of cross-organizational geo-spatial services is the various implementations of a service platform. The platforms can be W3C SOAP web service, OGC web services, and REST web service. Services which have different interfaces are the constraint that limits the use of the most popular orchestration technology such as BPEL for assembling those heterogeneous services. In this thesis, the three mandatory models (i.e., the heterogeneous geo-spatial services coordination model, the heterogeneous-payloads manipulation model, and the heterogeneous-exception handling model) for a new language implementation which provide a cross-platform orchestration are identified and addressed. The language interpreter/executor so called orchestration engine is implemented for the testing and demonstration of a language. The three workflow scenarios (i.e., site selection, coordinate transformation, and network analysis) are defined for a language testing. The heterogeneous on geo-spatial services coordination, payloads manipulation, and exception handling are tested. The result of each scenario demonstrated the successful of a cross-platforms orchestration, and proofed the three proposed models are the essential elements of a cross-platforms ability.
DOI: 10.14457/cu.the.2011.1265
title: Sizing of photovoltaic distributed generators in a distribution system with consideration of solar radiation and harmonic distortion

description: This dissertation presents a probabilistic approach to calculate an optimal size of photovoltaic distributed generators (PV-DGs) in a distribution system with consideration of solar radiation and harmonic distortion. Monte Carlo simulation is applied to predict solar radiations, ambient temperatures, substation voltages and load demands. The formulated objective function is to minimize average real power loss, while power quality constraints i.e., node voltage, harmonic current, total harmonic distortion voltage and total demand distortion are kept within the limits complied with IEC and IEEE standards. Existing background harmonics are included in an evaluation of the optimal size of PV-DG. In addition, static voltage stability index analysis is proposed to select a proper location of PV-DG installation in a distribution system. Furthermore, impacts of static load models and power factor control on optimal PV-DG sizing as well as effects of PV inverter modeling and existing DGs in a distribution system are taken into account. The developed method can be applied to actual systems and was tested with a 33-Bus test system and an actual 51-Bus radial distribution system in Thailand.
DOI: 10.14457/cu.the.2011.1266
title: Removal of 2,4-dichlorophenol and triclosan by fenton and electro-fenton processes

description: 2,4-Dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) and triclosan are defined as endocrine disruption organic compounds and toxic pollutants as listed by the U.S. EPA. The advanced oxidation processes in the type of Fenton and electro-Fenton processes were investigated in order to ascertain the process optimization, kinetics of process and the feasibility of intermediate occurring during the process for enhancement of 2,4-DCP and triclosan degradation. The effect of operating parameters such as pH, current density, Fe²⁺ and H2O2 concentration, H₂O₂ to Fe²⁺ (H/F) molar ratio and H₂O₂ feeding mode of operation were investigated to determine the evolution of 2,4-DCP and triclosan which were used to indicate the optimum operating conditions. Additionally, the initial degradation rate was also used as a process optimization indicator. 2,4-DCP and triclosan can be oxidized up to 70-100% under various conditions depends on the effect of operating parameters. The performance of the process when using the H₂O₂ step feed condition was found to be better than that of the conventional initial feed as shown by a better mineralization. The novel kinetic model of the electro-Fenton process was proposed to be employed with 2,4-DCP and triclosan as a chlorinated organic reference to determine the kinetic rate constant of process. The operating parameters; pH, current densities and H₂O₂ concentrations were varied to validate this novel model and intrinsic kinetic rate constant determination. The kinetic rate constant of •OH with 2,4-DCP and triclosan obtained by the novel model from this experiment was 1.437 x 109 M-1s-1 for 2,4-DCP and 5.434 x 109 M-1s-1 for triclosan. As a result, the correlation coefficients demonstrated that the novel model can well describe the kinetics of chlorinated organic compound degradation more suitably and better than pseudo 1st-order model. In the electro-Fenton process, 2-chlorophenol, phenol, hydroquinone, p-benzoquinone, maleic, acetic, oxalic and formic acids were the main oxidation intermediates of 2,4-DCP degradation whereas 2,4-DCP, 4-chlorocatechol, phenol, hydroquinone, p-benzoquinone, maleic, acetic, oxalic and formic acids were the main oxidation intermediates of triclosan degradation. The occurrence of intermediates depended on the H₂O₂ feeding mode of process majority. The degradation pathway for 2,4-DCP and triclosan degradation by electro-Fenton process were proposed on the basis of the intermediate compounds that were detected.
DOI: 10.14457/cu.the.2011.1165
title: Development of Thai silkworm model for screening glucose lowering effect

description: This study was aimed to develop the Thai silkworm model for screening glucose lowering effect. Thai silkworms were fed with 10% glucose or 10% sucrose diet to induce hyperglycemia. Human insulin and some oral hypoglycemic agents used in the clinical setting such as glibenclamide, metformin and acarbose were utilized to lower the glucose level in silkworm hemolymph. Later this hyperglycemic silkworm model was tested with ECa 233. The results showed that 10% glucose or 10% sucrose diet fed for 1 hr can increase sugar level in Thai silkworm hemolymph and sugar level reach the maximum concentrations of 7.37 ± 0.07 and 7.70 ± 0.08 mg/ml at 5 and 4 hr after the diet were taken out, respectively. For toxicity testing, LD50 of glibenclamide, metformin, acarbose and ECa 233 in Thai silkworm were 0.047, 0.041, &gt; 25 and 1.46 mg/g respectively. Human insulin, glibenclamide and acarbose exhibited the hypoglycemic effect in Thai silkworm model with statistical significance comparing with 0.9% NaCl injected group (P&lt; 0.01) and in concentration dependent manner, whereas metformin could not lower sugar level. Using this model to test ECa 233, the results showed that ECa 233 also exhibited hypoglycemic effect as shown by a statistical significance (P&lt; 0.01) decrease of sugar level in Thai silkworm hemolymph in a concentration dependent manner as compared to the 0.9% NaCl injected group. These results suggested that Thai silkworm model can be proposed as an alternative for screening of glucose lowering effect in Thai herbal extract, chemical substances having mechanism of action similar to oral hypoglycemic drugs or insulin used in this study. Furthermore, the use of this hyperglycemic silkworm model can also save time and cost in some extent for drug research and development.
DOI: 10.14457/cu.the.2011.1166
title: Three-dimensional geological modeling of Phnom Penh subsoils

description: In the past, geological and geotechnical data were illustrated only on paper maps and report. Nowadays by the modernization of computer technique, Geographic Information System (GIS) and three-dimensional (3D) modeling are the most common tools applied to store, analyze, and implement those data. In Phnom Penh city, there have been an increasing number of sub-surface investigations for infrastructure construction in recent years. As a result this master thesis presents a methodological approach to organizing and modeling the geotechnical database. Solid models from borehole data are presented via Groundwater Modeling System (GMS) using horizon method. This method is used to build solid model directly from the boreholes by assigning horizon IDs to each of the borehole contact. The solid model is then built by interpolating each of the surfaces defined by the horizons and extruding the surface into a solid. On the other hand, the geotechnical characteristics of the subsoil are now better understood through underground investigation all over Phnom Penh city. A series of subsurface investigations including in-situ and laboratory tests have been carefully planned and carried out for residential and commercial development. Therefore, another part of this master research illustrates a summary of typical geological condition and their geotechnical parameters for each district of Phnom Penh city. In addition, Mekong river sand is one the most typical fill material for embankment and road construction so that the properties of sand should be considered for this research study as well.