• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.11
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• pp.1651-1659
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• 2017

Objective: Lao PDR's recent accession to the World Trade Organization necessitates a greater understanding of the patterns and risk of livestock production in order to better align national policy with the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures. This eco-health study was conducted to improve understanding of the interrelations between market chains and zoonotic infection risks at two strategic cross border points between Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam. Methods: Information gained from smallholder farmer/trader interviews was integrated with serological surveys for pig-associated zoonoses-including hepatitis E virus (HEV), Taenia solium (T. solium) and trichinella-to identify potential linkages between disease risk and pig production and slaughter in low input systems common across the country. Results: Trichinella and HEV exposure was high in both humans and pigs in both study areas, significantly associated with pig slaughter and the subsequent consumption and handling of raw pork products. T. solium demonstrated a strong geographical and ethnic association with the northern study area bordering Vietnam. With the right knowledge and accessible, affordable inputs, the majority of smallholder farmers indicated a willingness to invest more in pig production, which could simultaneously improve livelihoods and decrease exposure to HEV, Trichinella, and T. solium through increased access to formal markets and an improved slaughter processes. Conclusion: The linkages identified when assessing disease risk in the context of potential economic and cultural drivers of transmission highlight the importance of a systems-based approach for the detection and control of zoonotic disease, and contributes to an improved understanding of the Lao PDR livestock sector.

• Plant Breeding and Biotechnology
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.321-336
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• 2018

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is an important oilseed crop grown in tropical and subtropical areas. The objective of this study was to investigate the genetic relationships among 129 sesame landraces and cultivars using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. Out of 70 SSRs, 23 were found to be informative and produced 157 alleles. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 3 - 14, whereas polymorphic information content ranged from 0.33 - 0.86. A distance-based phylogenetic analysis revealed two major and six minor clusters. The population structure analysis using a Bayesian model-based program in STRUCTURE 2.3.4 divided 129 sesame accessions into three major populations (K = 3). Based on pairwise comparison estimates, Pop1 was observed to be genetically close to Pop2 with $F_{ST}$ value of 0.15, while Pop2 and Pop3 were genetically closest with $F_{ST}$ value of 0.08. Analysis of molecular variance revealed a high percentage of variability among individuals within populations (85.84%) than among the populations (14.16%). Similarly, a high variance was observed among the individuals within the country of origins (90.45%) than between the countries of origins. The grouping of genotypes in clusters was not related to their geographic origin indicating considerable gene flow among sesame genotypes across the selected geographic regions. The SSR markers used in the present study were able to distinguish closely linked sesame genotypes, thereby showing their usefulness in assessing the potentially important source of genetic variation. These markers can be used for future sesame varietal classification, conservation, and other breeding purposes.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.495-503
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• 1992

The internal and external outputs of the agricultural sub-systems of mixed livestock-crop farms in Pabna Bangladesh were analysed, to clarify the multiple functions of cattle in farm systems. Production systems with grazing areas were relatively more productive than those with no grazing. There was a tremendous variation in farm income, largely because of land area. An increase of one ha in land area was estimated to boost farm income by about 50%. Number of cattle, cattle off-take percentage and milk off-take per average cow related positively to farm income. As land area decreased the relative importance of cattle production increased. Crops were dominant in producing food for home consumption. Cattle contributed only 5-6 per cent to home consumption. Cattle supplied a significant cash income: 45 per cent in the villages with grazing areas and 57 per cent in the other villages. In future, the cash output from cattle will decline and emphasis will shift to the role of cattle in supporting crop production. Any research or development strategy for livestock needs to focus first on the importance of the complex relation between livestock and crops.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.569-573
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• 2017

The present study was performed to reveal the current status and risk factors of Strongyloides stercoralis infections in the villages of Kenethao district, Xayaburi Province, Lao PDR. Fecal specimens were collected and examined for S. stercoralis using Koga-agar plate culture technique. Among 516 individuals, the prevalence of S. stercoralis and hookworm infection was 44.2% and 17.1%, respectively. Co-infection was detected in 13.2% of the cases. The prevalence did not significantly differ between males and females (P=0.193). However, the prevalence of S. stercoralis infection increased significantly with age (P=0.041). Of the risk factors examined, both performing farming activities (P=0.001) and walking barefoot when going outside of the house (P=0.003) showed significant correlations with S. stercoralis infections. Our results suggest that S. stercoralis is highly endemic in this area. The National Helminth Control Program of Lao PDR should take actions to control S. stercoralis infection. In addition, provision of health education about the benefits of wearing shoes would be important for reducing infection in the study area. Moreover, the application of high-sensitivity diagnostic approaches is needed to obtain the true impact of S. stercoralis infections in all rural communities in order to provide surveillance activities in Lao PDR.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.19 no.5 s.66
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• pp.50-57
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• 2005

This study has been conducted to investigate corrosivity of carbon steel, Cu, Zn and Al for one year from Sept. 2003 to Aug. 2004. A model of ISO 9223-ISO 9226 that represents the relation between metal corrosions and environmental parameters was used for atmospheric corrosion evaluations. Environmental parameters for these evaluations are time of wetness(TOW), $SO_2$ and Chloride. Corrosion rates for four metals which are exposed indoors and outdoors were measured on five locations in Jeju Island; Gosan, Seogwipo, Seongsan, Chuna hill and Jeju city. The environmental factor of atmospheric corrosion of Jeju Island for $SO_2$ class is P0, a clean area. TOW as T3 and T4 indicates that Jeju has the characteristics of a tropical area. Chlorides class within 3 km from the coast show the features of costal area as S2 and S3 classes. Chuna hill show the features of woodland as a S1 class. In Corrosion classes of each site which was measured outdoors is higher than indoors. Gosan is the highest class as the rank of C5, and indicated that they're ranked as C3 or C4.

• Proceedings of the KSRS Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.319-321
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• 2003

It is our goal to obtain a better scientific understanding of how to define the nature and role of remotely sensed land surface parameters and energy fluxes in the heat island phenomena, and local and regional weather and climate. By using the TRMM (Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission) visible and thermal imagery data and analyzing the surface energy flux images associated with the change of the landcover and land use in the study area, we present how significant is the magnitude of the heat island heat effect and its relation with the surface parameters and the energy fluxes in the Taichung area of Taiwan. We used the energy budget components such as net radiation, soil heat flux, sensible heat flux, and latent heat flux in the study area of interest derived form remotely sensed data to understand the island heat effect in Taichung. The results show that water is the most important component to decrease the temperature, and the more the consumed net radiation to latent heat, the lower the urban surface temperature.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.96-99
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• 2019

The species diversity of Orchidaceae is believed to be extremely high in Myanmar. Like in other plant groups, little basic inventory work has been done thus far. During floristic surveys conducted in Popa Mountain Park (Mandalay Region), Natma Taung National Park (Chin State), and in the Ywangan area (southwestern Shan State), we encountered two interesting orchid species which were determined to be new generic records in the flora of Myanmar. Thuniopsis cleistogama was previously considered endemic to Yunnan Province (China) and was only known from the type locality. However, here the species is newly reported from two localities in central and western Myanmar. Disperis neilgherrensis is known from several widely scattered localities in tropical and subtropical Asia. This tiny orchid species was discovered in the Ywangan area in the southwestern area of the Shan State of Myanmar. These two species will be valuable additions to the updated checklist of the orchids of Myanmar.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.24-39
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• 2021

Background: To address the lack of evidence supporting invasion by three invasive plant species (Imperata cylindrica, Lantana camara, and Chromolaena odorata) in tropical ecosystems, we compared the ecophysiological and leaf anatomical traits of these three invasive alien species with those of species native to Sempu Island, Indonesia. Data on four plant traits were obtained from the TRY Plant Trait Database, and leaf anatomical traits were measured using transverse leaf sections. Results: Two ecophysiological traits including specific leaf area (SLA) and seed dry weight showed significant association with plant invasion in the Sempu Island Nature Reserve. Invasive species showed higher SLA and lower seed dry weight than non-invasive species. Moreover, invasive species showed superior leaf anatomical traits including sclerenchymatous tissue thickness, vascular bundle area, chlorophyll content, and bundle sheath area. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that leaf anatomical traits strongly influenced with cumulative variances (100% in grass and 88.92% in shrubs), where I. cylindrica and C. odorata outperformed non-invasive species in these traits. Conclusions: These data suggest that the traits studied are important for plant invasiveness since ecophysiological traits influence of light capture, plant growth, and reproduction while leaf anatomical traits affect herbivory, photosynthetic assimilate transport, and photosynthetic activity.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.65-72
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• 2023

The endangered species of Cyathea spinulosa (tree ferns) are among the least concerned ferns of Nepal that bring threats to them and their habitat. A way to reduce such threats is by maintaining a database of species' whereabouts and generating a scientific understanding the habitat preferences. This will eventually help in the formulation of conservation plans for the species. This research aimed to characterize the suitable habitat of C. spinulosa by enumerating the location of species in the Panchase Forests of central Nepal. The statistical index method was applied to relate the occurrence locations of species with various environmental factors for the development of indices. The suitable habitat of C. spinulosa (more and most suitable categories) covered 119 km² and accounted for 43% of the total area studied. 74.4% of occurrence locations of C. spinulosa were recorded from these habitats. The habitat characteristics suitable for C. spinulosa were: proximity to streams (high moisture), land covered by forested area (shady area), mid-elevations of hills about 1,000 m to 2,000 m (sub-tropical climate), slope gradient of 20° to 40° (steep slopes), and northern to eastern aspects. These habitat characteristics could be considered for in-situ protection of tree ferns and designating the conservation plots.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.193-206
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• 1993

A total of 111 independently oriented core samples were drilled at 12 sites in fue Kimpo area ($37.70^{\circ}N$, $126.55^{\circ}E$) of the Taedong Supergroup. The Taedong strata are composed of sandstone, conglomeratic sandstone, shale and thin coal seams. The age of the strata is known to be Late Triassic-Early Jurassic according to freshwater Esfuerites and plant fossil (Dictyophyllum-Clathropteris flora) contents. Through AF and thermal demagnetization, an area-mean ChRM direction of $D=48.3^{\circ}\;I=40.3^{\circ}\;{\alpha}_{95}=7.9^{\circ}\;k=59.5$, n=7 was obtained. It passed fold and reversal test in the formation-mean level. Fold test was not significant in the area-mean level. The palaeomagnetic north pole calculated from the area-mean lies at $46.3^{\circ}N$, $222.0^{\circ}E$ with dp=5.7, $dm=9.5^{\circ}$. This pole position is very similar to those of the South China Block (SCB) in Triassic times. Palaeolatitude of the Kimpo area in the Taedong times was $23.0^{\circ}N$, again very similar to the palaeolatitude of the South China Block in the Late Triassic. This low latitude of the study area at the time of deposition explains the tropical-subtropical nature of fossil contents of the Taedong Supergroup.