• Wind and Structures
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• 제30권6호
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• pp.633-648
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• 2020

The objective of this work was to investigate the interference effects of two-parallel bridge decks on aerodynamic coefficients, vortex-induced vibration, flutter instability and flutter derivatives. The two bridges have significant difference in cross-sections, dynamic properties, and flutter speeds of each isolate bridge. The aerodynamic static tests and aeroelastic tests were performed in TU-AIT boundary layer wind tunnel in Thammasat University (Thailand) with sectional models in a 1:90 scale. Three configuration cases, including the new bridge stand-alone (case 1), the upstream new bridge and downstream existing bridge (case 2), and the downstream new bridge and the upstream existing bridge (case 3), were selected in this study. The covariance-driven stochastic subspace identification technique (SSI-COV) was applied to identify aerodynamic parameters (i.e., natural frequency, structural damping and state space matrix) of the decks. The results showed that, interference effects of two bridges decks on aerodynamic coefficients result in the slightly reduction of the drag coefficient of case 2 and 3 when compared with case 1. The two parallel configurations of the bridge result in vortex-induced vibrations (VIV) and significantly lower the flutter speed compared with the new bridge alone. The huge torsional motion from upstream new bridge (case 2) generated turbulent wakes flow and resulted in vertical aerodynamic damping H1^* of existing bridge becomes zero at wind speed of 72.01 m/s. In this case, the downstream existing bridge was subjected to galloping oscillation induced by the turbulent wake of upstream new bridge. The new bridge also results in significant reduction of the flutter speed of existing bridge from the 128.29 m/s flutter speed of the isolated existing bridge to the 75.35 m/s flutter speed of downstream existing bridge.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제19권5호
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• pp.617-621
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• 2006

Recently the numbers of the Thai swamp buffalo (Bubalus bubalis), a native species of Thailand, have been rapidly declining, leading to a requirement for conservation programs for this breed. Such studies of the genetic diversity of this species are essential for conservation decisions and to assist the rational implementation of breeding programs. In this study, the genetic diversity of 80 Thai swamp buffalo, randomly selected from seven different research stations of the Thai Department of Livestock Development, were studied using ten cattle microsatellite markers. Polymorphic PCR products were observed at all microsatellite loci, with percentages of polymorphic loci ranging from 80.00 to 100.00%. The population from Payao showed the lowest level of polymorphism. The mean number of alleles per locus was 4.7 with the highest number of alleles being eight (ETH152) and the lowest being three (HAUT27 and ILSTS030). The average unbiased heterozygosity for all seven populations was 0.61 and varied between 0.5314 (Samui) and 0.6798 (Surin). The genetic distance according to NEI's (1972) ranged from 0.0722 to 0.4427. The populations from Surin and Burirum are the closest populations, while populations from Samui and Payao are the most divergent. The information generated by this study will greatly aid in the establishment of effective breeding and conservation programs for the Thai swamp buffalo.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제24권8호
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• pp.1026-1033
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• 2014

The fecal microbiotas were investigated in 13 healthy Thai subjects using polymerase chain reaction denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE). Among the 186 DNA bands detected on the polyacrylamide gel, 37 bands were identified as representing 11 species: Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, Bacteroides ovatus, Bacteroides uniformis, Bacteroides vulgatus, Clostridium colicanis, Eubacterium eligenes, E. rectale, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Megamonas funiformis, Prevotella copri, and Roseburia intestinalis, belonging mainly to the groups of Bacteroides, Prevotella, Clostridium, and F. prausnitzii. A dendrogram of the PCR-DGGE divided the subjects; vegetarians and non-vegetarians. The fecal microbiotas were also analyzed using a quantitative real-time PCR focused on Bacteroides, Bifidobacterium, Enterobacteriaceae, Clostrium coccoides-Eubacterium rectale, C. leptum, Lactobacillus, and Prevotella. The nonvegetarian and vegetarian subjects were found to have significant differences in the high abundance of the Bacteroides and Prevotella genera, respectively. No significant differences were found in the counts of Bifidabacterium, Enterobacteriaceae, C. coccoides-E. rectale group, C. leptum group, and Lactobacillus. Therefore, these findings on the microbiota of healthy Thais consuming different diets could provide helpful data for predicting the health of South East Asians with similar diets.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제12권3호
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• pp.481-492
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• 1999

Asian-Australasian region comprises of 82 countries spread over varying agro economic zones, habitats and ecosystems varying from dry hot to humid tropics and cold deserts. The literacy standards vary from very low to almost 100 percent. On the basis of economic development there are 4 countries Japan, Australia, New Zealand and Korea which are developed countries, rest are in varying states of development and growing economically very rapidly. Based on Agro ecosystems and farming practices, we have chosen four countries for indepth study in this paper namely China, Thailand, Indonesia and India. They represent 70% of the bovine and poultry population of the region. This paper makes a comparative study of the grain and roughage production and utilization at present and in 2000 A.D. by examining information on feed rates demand patterns and feed requirements in these four countries keeping in view the size and growth of bovine and poultry population and dietary pattern of the people. It has been observed, there has so far been no country level detailed study on the livestock feed requirements. Apart from conceptual discrepancies, most of the estimates given in various reports brought out by the national governments and international agencies do not have any scientific basis. Hence an inter-country comparison is virtually impossible on the basis of the available information. We have however, attempted to analyse the dietary pattern in the different countries, feedgrains requirements, availability of feed based on the information available from the various published and unpublished reports. We have given an inter-country comparison of feed rate and feed requirements which, however, needs to be tested by carrying out a micro level study in each selected country.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제20권6호
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• pp.939-943
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• 2007

Two experiments were conducted to determine the lysine requirement of straight-run broiler chickens ($Hubbard{\times}Hubbard$) during the period 4-21 (Exp. 1) and 21-40 (Exp. 2) days of age. Experiments were conducted during the summer months (June-August) in open-sided houses, thus exposing chicks to chronic heat stress. Daily min-max temperature averaged $28-40^{\circ}C$ (Exp. 1) and $28-36^{\circ}C$ (Exp. 2). Lysine deficient basal diets were formulated to contain low-nutrient-density, i.e., 2,700 kcal per kg ME, 18.6% CP (Exp. 1), and 2,750 kcal per kg ME, 17.1% CP (Exp. 2), to mimic typical commercial broiler diets used in Pakistan. Diets were supplemented with L-lysine HCl to provide total lysine level ranging from 0.85 to 1.10% (six increments) and 0.72 to 1.02% (six increments), respectively in Exp. 1 and 2. Live performance data were subjected to quadratic analysis and requirement was defined as the level achieving 95% of maximum or minimum values. Lysine requirements were found to be 0.98 and 0.97% total lysine, respectively, for gain and feed efficiency during 4-21 days, and 0.87% total lysine for both gain and feed efficiency during 21-40 days of age. Calculated on a digestible lysine basis, the estimates were 0.85 and 0.84%, respectively, for gain and feed efficiency during 4-21 days of age; and 0.75% for gain and feed efficiency during 21-40 days of age.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권6호
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• pp.2327-2331
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• 2015

Purpose: To determine the accuracy of visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) in detecting high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) in pre- and post-menopausal women with atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US) and low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) Papanicolaou (Pap) smears. Materials and Methods: Two hundred women (150 pre-menopausal and 50 post-menopausal) with ASC-US and LSIL cytology who attended the colposcopy clinic, Thammasat University Hospital, between March 2013 and August 2014 were included. All women underwent VIA testing and colposcopy by gynecologic oncologists. Diagnostic values of VIA testing including sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) for detecting high-grade CIN were determined using the histopathology obtained from colposcopic-directed biopsy as a gold standard. Results: VIA testing was positive in 54/150 (36%) pre-menopausal women and 5/50 (10%) post-menopausal women. Out of 54 pre-menopausal women with positive VIA testing, 15 (27.8%) had high-grade CIN and 39 (72.2%) had either CIN 1 or insignificant pathology. Ten (10.4%), 43 (44.8%) and 43 (44.8%) out of the remaining 96 pre-menopausal women with negative VIA testing had high-grade CIN, CIN 1 and insignificant pathology, respectively. Out of 5 post-menopausal women with positive VIA testing, there were 4 (80%) women with high-grade CIN, and 1 (20%) women with insignificant pathology. Out of 45 VIA-negative post-menopausal women, 42 (93.3%) women had CIN 1 and insignificant pathology, and 3 (6.7%) had high-grade CIN. Sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of the VIA testing were 59.4%, 76.2%, 32.2% and 90.8%, respectively (60%, 68.8%, 27.8% and 89.6% in pre-menopausal women and 57.1%, 97.7%, 80% and 93.3% in post-menopausal women). Conclusions: VIA testing may be used as a screening tool for detecting high-grade CIN in women with minor cervical cytological abnormalities in a low-resource setting in order to lower the rate of colposcopy referral.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권23호
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• pp.10463-10468
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• 2015

Opisthorchis viverrini (Ov) infection is the major etiological factor for cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), especially in northeast Thailand. We have previously reported significant involvement of PI3K/AKT/PTEN and $Wnt/{\beta}$-catenin in human CCA tissues. The present study, therefore, examined the expression and activation of PI3K/AKT/PTEN and $Wnt/{\beta}$-catenin signaling components during Ov-induced cholangiocarcinogenesis in a hamster animal model. Hamsters were divided into two groups; non-treated and Ov plus NDMA treated. The results of immunohistochemical staining showed an upregulation of PI3K/AKT signaling as determined by elevated expression of the $p85{\alpha}$-regulatory and $p110{\alpha}$-catalytic subunits of PI3K as well as increased expression and activation of AKT during cholangiocarcinogenesis. Interestingly, the staining intensity of activated AKT (p-AKT) increased in the apical regions of the bile ducts and strong staining was detected where the liver fluke resides. Moreover, PTEN, a negative regulator of PI3K/AKT, was suppressed by decreased expression and increased phosphorylation during cholangiocarcinogenesis. We also detected upregulation of $Wnt/{\beta}$-catenin signaling as determined by increased positive staining of Wnt3, Wnt3a, Wnt5a, Wnt7b and ${\beta}$-catenin, corresponded with the period of cholangiocarcinogenesis. Furthermore, nuclear staining of ${\beta}$-catenin was observed in CCA tissues. Our results suggest the liver fluke infection causes chronic inflammatory conditions which lead to upregulation of the PI3K/AKT and $Wnt/{\beta}$-catenin signaling pathways which may drive CCA carcinogenesis. These results provide useful information for drug development, prevention and treatment of CCA.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제13권6호
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• pp.2577-2581
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• 2012

Objective: To conduct a meta-analysis to investigate the value of EBV DNA in diagnosis of nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) in Asian populations, and provide important evidence for screening. Methods: Prospective or respective case-control or cohort studies regarding the detection role of EBV DNA for NPC were included in our study. We conducted a comprehensive literature search in PubMed, EMBASE, and the Chinese Biomedical Database (CBM database between January 1980 and March 2012. Results: A total of 18 studies with 1492 NPC cases and 2641 health controls were included. Almost of the included studies were conducted in China, and only one other conducted in Thailand. The overall results demonstrated that the pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood (+LR) and negative likelihood (-LR) were 0.73 (0.71-0.75), 0.89 (0.88-0.90), 8.84 (5.65-13.84) and 0.19(0.11-0.32), respectively. The overall EBV DNA detection showed the largest area of 0.932 under the summary receiver operator curve (SROC). The accuracy of detection by plasma for NPC (0.86) was higher than in serum (0.81), with largest areas under the SROC of 0.97 and 0.91, respectively. Conclusion: Our results demonstrated the EBV DNA detection in plasma or serum has high sensitivity and specificity in diagnosis of NPC, especially in Chinese populations with a high risk of cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권16호
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• pp.6983-6987
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• 2014

Background: Modified toluidine blue staining (MTBs) is a simple, inexpensive and time saving method to detect H. pylori in gastric biopsy specimens. As a metachromatic stain, it simultaneously highlights intestinal metaplasia, a gastric cancer precancerous lesion. The aim of this study was to assess the reliability of MTBs compared with hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) for H. pylori detection using immunoperoxidase staining as the gold standard. This technique would be beneficial for a routine diagnosis and confirmation of H. pylori eradication in developing countries where endoscopic-based approaches are dominant. Materials and Methods: Esophagogastroduodenoscopy with triple site gastric biopsies was undertaken in 207 dyspeptic patients at Thammasat University Hospital, Thailand between 1997 and 1999. H&E, MTBs and immunoperoxidase staining were applied to each specimen. The presence or absence of H. pylori with each stain was interpreted separately and the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of H&E and MTBs were calculated. Results: A total of 282 specimens from 207 patients were evaluated. Using immunoperoxidase staining, organisms were positive in 117 specimens (41%). MTBs proved almost equally sensitive as immunoperoxidase (99%) and significantly more sensitive than H&E (85%). It has comparable specificity (96% vs 96%), PPV (95% vs 94%), and NPV (99% vs 90%) to H&E, using immunoperoxidase staining as gold standard. MTBs compared with immunoperoxidase staining, is cheaper (2 USD vs 12 USD) and faster (20 min vs 16 hrs) compared to immunoperoxidase staining. Conclusions: MTBs is effective, economical and easy to use in daily practice for the detection of H. pylori in gastric biopsy specimens. In addition to saving time in evaluating H. pylori associated gastritis, with a high sensitivity and ability to demonstrate intestinal metaplasia, the technique may have a role in confirmation of H. pylori eradication for gastric cancer prevention in a developing country setting.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권3호
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• pp.1187-1192
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• 2014

Background: To correlate breast cancer subtypes with prognostic factors, microvessel density (MVD), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression and clinical features. Materials and Methods: One hundred cases of primary breast carcinoma were classified using biomarkers on tissue microarray as: luminal A [estrogen receptor (ER)+, HER2-, $Ki-67{\leq}14%$], luminal B [ER+, HER2+ or ER+, HER2-, Ki-67>14%], HER2, triple negative basal-like (TNB) [any basal cytokeratins (CKs, 5, 14, 17) and/or endothelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression], and TN without such markers [TNN, null], and assessed for p53, vimentin, VEGF and CD31 immunoperoxidase. Results: Of the 100 cases (mean age, 51 years; mean tumor size, 3.2cm; 56% with nodal metastasis; 89 invasive ductal carcinomas, not otherwise specified, 4 invasive lobular carcinomas, 3 metaplastic carcinomas, and 4 other types) there were 39 luminal A, 18 luminal B, 18 HER2, 15 TNB and 10 TNN. The positivities of basal-like markers in the basal-like subtype were 78.3% for CK5, 40% for CK14, 20% for CK17, 46.7% for EGFR. There was no significant difference in age distribution, tumor size, degree of tubular formation, pleomorphism, lymphovascular invasion, nodal metastasis, MVD, VEGF expression and survival among subgroups. TNs demonstrated significantly higher tumor grade, mitotic count, Ki-67 index, p53 and vimentin and decreased overall survival compared with nonTN. Conclusions: The distribution of breast cancer subtypes in this study was similar to other Asian countries with a high prevalence of TN. The high grade character of TN was confirmed and CK5 expression was found to be common in our basal-like subtype. No significant elevation of MVD or VEGF expression was apparent.