• Journal of Information Processing Systems
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.1195-1214
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• 2018

Typical search engines may not be the most efficient means of returning images in accordance with user requirements. With the help of semantic web technology, it is possible to search through images more precisely in any required domain, because the images are annotated according to a custom-built ontology. With appropriate annotations, a search can then, return images according to the context. This paper reports on the design of a tourism ontology relevant to touristic images. In particular, the image features and the meaning of the images are described using various properties, along with other types of information relevant to tourist attractions using the OWL language. The methodology used is described, commencing with building an image and tourism corpus, creating the ontology, and developing the search engine. The system was tested through a case study involving the western region of Thailand. The user can search specifying the specific class of image or they can use text-based searches. The results are ranked using weighted scores based on kinds of properties. The precision and recall of the prototype system was measured to show its efficiency. User satisfaction was also evaluated, was also performed and was found to be high.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.677-681
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• 2013

Paragonimiasis is an important food-borne parasitic zoonosis caused by infection with lung flukes of the genus Paragonimus. Of the 7 members of the genus known in Thailand until recently, only P. heterotremus has been confirmed as causing human disease. An 8th species, P. pseudoheterotremus, has recently been proposed from Thailand, and has been found in humans. Molecular data place this species as a sister species to P. heterotremus, and it is likely that P. pseudoheterotremus is not specifically distinct from P. heterotremus. In this study, we collected metacercariae of both nominal species (identification based on metacercarial morphology) from freshwater crabs from Phetchabun Province in northern Thailand, Saraburi Province in central Thailand, and Surat Thani Province in southern Thailand. In addition, we purchased freshwater crabs imported from Myanmar at Myawaddy Province, western Thailand, close to the Myanmar-Thailand border. The DNAs extracted from excysted metacercariae were PCR-amplified and sequenced for ITS2 and cox1 genes. The ITS2 sequences were nearly identical among all samples (99-100%). Phylogenies inferred from all available partial cox1 sequences contained several clusters. Sequences from Indian P. heterotremus formed a sister group to sequences from P. pseudoheterotremus-type metacercariae. Sequences of P. heterotremus from Thailand, Vietnam, and China formed a separate distinct clade. One metacercaria from Phitsanulok Province was distinct from all others. There is clearly considerable genetic variation in the P. heterotremus complex in Thailand and the form referred to as P. pseudoheterotremus is widely distributed in Thailand and the Thai-Myanmar border region.

• Journal of Contemporary Eastern Asia
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.68-89
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• 2019

When comparing media freedom in Malaysia, Myanmar, and Thailand, so-called "fake news" appears as threats to a deliberative (online) public sphere in these three diverse contexts. However, "racist propaganda", "information operations" and "negative campaigning" might be more accurate terms that explain these forms of systematic manipulative political communication. The three cases show forms of disinformation in under-researched contexts and thereby expand the often Western focused discourses on hate speech and fake news. Additionally, the analysis shows that harmful disinformation disseminated online originates from differing contextual trajectories and is not an "online phenomenon". Drawing on an analysis of connotative context factors, this explorative comparative study enables an understanding of different forms of harmful disinformation in Malaysia, Myanmar, and Thailand. The connotative context factors were inductively inferred from 32 expert interviews providing explanations for the formation of political communication (control) mechanisms.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.465-472
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• 2017

Recent trends of malaria in Thailand illustrate an increasing proportion of Plasmodium vivax, indicating the importance of P. vivax as a major causative agent of malaria. P. vivax malaria is usually considered a benign disease so the knowledge of this parasite has been limited, especially the genetic diversity and genetic structure of isolates from different endemic areas. The aim of this study was to examine the population genetics and structure of P. vivax isolates from 4 provinces with different malaria endemic settings in Thailand using 6 microsatellite markers. Total 234 blood samples from P. vivax mono-infected patients were collected. Strong genetic diversity was observed across all study sites; the expected heterozygosity values ranged from 0.5871 to 0.9033. Genetic variability in this study divided P. vivax population into 3 clusters; first was P. vivax isolates from Mae Hong Son and Kanchanaburi Provinces located on the western part of Thailand; second, Yala isolates from the south; and third, Chanthaburi isolates from the east. P. vivax isolates from patients having parasite clearance time (PCT) longer than 24 hr after the first dose of chloroquine treatment had higher diversity when compared with those having PCT within 24 hr. This study revealed a clear evidence of different population structure of P. vivax from different malaria endemic areas of Thailand. The findings provide beneficial information to malaria control programme as it is a useful tool to track the source of infections and current malaria control efforts.

• Proceedings of the KSRS Conference
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• v.2
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• pp.535-538
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• 2006

The coastline of the Choa Phraya Rivermouth in the Upper Gulf of Thailand has been changed drastically. The western side especially at Ban Laem Sing was eroded for 400 meter in 26 years or with the rate of 15 meter per year on the average. The Metropolitan Electricity Authority has granted five years research project to us to study the efficiency of the electric pole fence as a mean to reduce the wave force and increase sedimentation rate inside for mangrove replantation. If the method works efficiently, it will be used to reclaim the coastal land loss in other areas in Thailand. The project was done since 2005 after the fence was constructed completely in October 2005. The oceanographic surveys were conducted before and after the construction in northeast monsoon season to study the impact of physical oceanographic forces on the coastline change. The sedimentation rates were measured each month. It is rather low about 2 cm/month. The subsiding rate from the load of deltaic sediment and groundwater withdraw using boring data is about 30 mm/year. The cumulative sinking rate is 55.8 cm from 1978 to 1995. We have tried to design the method of mangrove plantation in this area. The remote sensing data such as LANDSAT and aerial photos from 1987 to 2002 for 15 years were used to compute the rate of coastline change at each 50 m section along the western side of the rivermouth.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.60 no.2
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• pp.109-116
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• 2022

Drug resistance is an important problem hindering malaria elimination in tropical areas. Point mutations in Plasmodium falciparum dihydrofolate reductase (Pfdhfr) and dihydropteroate synthase (Pfdhps) genes confer resistance to antifolate drug, sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) while P. falciparum chloroquine-resistant transporter (Pfcrt) genes caused resistance to chloroquine (CQ). Decline in Pfdhfr/Pfdhps and Pfcrt mutations after withdrawal of SP and CQ has been reported. The aim of present study was to investigate the prevalence of Pfdhfr, Pfdhps, and Pfcrt mutation from 2 endemic areas of Thailand. All of 200 blood samples collected from western area (Thai-Myanmar) and southern area (Thai-Malaysian) contained multiple mutations in Pfdhfr and Pfdhps genes. The most prevalent haplotypes for Pfdhfr and Pfdhps were quadruple and double mutations, respectively. The quadruple and triple mutations of Pfdhfr and Pfdhps were common in western samples, whereas low frequency of triple and double mutations was found in southern samples, respectively. The Pfcrt 76T mutation was present in all samples examined. Malaria isolated from 2 different endemic regions of Thailand had high mutation rates in the Pfdhfr, Pfdhps, and Pfcrt genes. These findings highlighted the fixation of mutant alleles causing resistance of SP and CQ in this area. It is necessary to monitor the re-emergence of SP and CQ sensitive parasites in this area.

• Asian Journal for Public Opinion Research
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.38-50
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• 2016

Introduction: Geriatric depression is one of the significant mental health issues for older people. This descriptive study aimed to investigate the correlation between selected factors and depression among older people, living in homes for the aged in the western part of Thailand. Methods: 107 older people, living in two homes for the aged of the western part of Thailand were recruited to the study, using cluster sampling. Three questionnaires, including the Barthel Index Activity of Daily living (BADL), the Thai Geriatric Depression Scale (TGDS), and personal characteristics, perceived health status, chronic diseases, family relationship, and recent grief and loss experience were used. The quality of all questionnaires, especially the reliability of BADL, TGDS, and selected factors (e.g., health factors) were 0.95, 0.93, and 0.72 respectively. After finishing data collection, percentages, medians, and Spearman's rank correlation and Mann-Whitney U were used to analyze the data. Results and discussion: The results revealed that nearly half (41.1%) of older people suffered from depression. Furthermore, income, perceived health status, and Barthel ADL index were significantly negatively associated with depression at p<0.01; whereas, the number of chronic diseases was significantly positively associated with depression at p<0.05. Conclusion: results on the correlation may guide the practice in the future. For example, the officers or health care providers in homes for the aged should encourage older people to be independent, improve their perceived health status, increase health promoting behaviors to prevent or delay chronic illnesses, or increase older people incomes by promoting the appropriate occupation.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.57 no.5
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• pp.469-479
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• 2019

Plasmodium vivax is usually considered morbidity in endemic areas of Asia, Central and South America, and some part of Africa. In Thailand, previous studies indicated the genetic diversity of P. vivax in malaria-endemic regions such as the western part of Thailand bordering with Myanmar. The objective of the study is to investigate the genetic diversity of P. vivax circulating in Southern Thailand by using 3 antigenic markers and 8 microsatellite markers. Dried blood spots were collected from Chumphon, Phang Nga, Ranong and, Surat Thani provinces of Thailand. By PCR, 3 distinct sizes of $PvMSP3{\alpha}$, 2 sizes of $PvMSP3{\beta}$ and 2 sizes of PvMSP1 F2 were detected based on the length of PCR products, respectively. PCR/RFLP analyses of these antigen genes revealed high levels of genetic diversity. The genotyping of 8 microsatellite loci showed high genetic diversity as indicated by high alleles per locus and high expected heterozygosity ($H_E$). The genotyping markers also showed multiple-clones of infection. Mixed genotypes were detected in 4.8% of $PvMSP3{\alpha}$, 29.1% in $PvMSP3{\beta}$ and 55.3% of microsatellite markers. These results showed that there was high genetic diversity of P. vivax isolated from Southern Thailand, indicating that the genetic diversity of P. vivax in this region was comparable to those observed other areas of Thailand.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.63 no.12
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• pp.491-498
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• 2020

Background: Renal size is an important indicator in the diagnosis of renal diseases and urinary tract infections in children. Purpose: The purpose of this study is twofold. First, it aimed to measure the renal length and calculate the renal volume of normal Thai children using 2-dimensional ultrasonography (2D-US) and study their correlations with somatic parameters. Second, it aimed to compare the age-specific renal size of normal Thai children with the published data of their Western and Chinese counterparts. Methods: A total of 321 children (150 boys, 171 girls; age, 6-15 years) with a normal renal profile were prospectively recruited. All subjects underwent 2D-US by an experienced pediatric radiologist and the renal length, width, and depth were measured. Renal volume was calculated using the ellipsoid formula as recommended. The data were compared between the left and right kidneys, the sexes, and various somatic parameters. The age-specific renal lengths were compared using a nomogram derived from a Western cohort that is currently referred by many Thailand hospitals, while the renal volumes were compared with the published data of a Chinese cohort. Results: No statistically significant difference (P<0.05) was found between sexes or the right and left kidneys. The renal sizes had strong correlations with height, weight, body surface area, and age but not with body mass index. The renal length of the Thai children was moderately correlated (r=0.59) with that of the Western cohort, while the age-specific renal volume was significantly smaller (P<0.05) than that of the Chinese children. Conclusion: Therefore, we concluded that the age-specific renal length and volume obtained by 2D-US would vary between children in different regions and may not be suitably used as an international standard for diagnosis, although further studies may be needed to confirm our findings.

• Journal of architectural history
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• v.5 no.2 s.10
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• pp.53-68
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• 1996

This study is on the early historical background and the process of development of modern architecture in Thai, during the period from 1782(King Rama 1) to 1934(King Rama 7). Thai started tn form a connection with western nations from the late 18C, founded the Bangkok Dynasty. Since then, Thai was increasingly influenced by western civilization and this trend included an increasing influence of western architecture. In this paper, the centeral objective is to observe the architectural change during the period from King Rama 1(1782-1809) to King Rama 7(1925-1934). This can be divided into three period. During the first period, from King Rama 1 to King Rama 3(1824-1851), Thai architecture showed a tendency to follow the preceding traditional example and to imitate Chinese architecture. The second period is from King Rama 4(1851-1868) to King Rama 5(1868-1910). During this period, Thai architectural design was increasingly influenced by western concepts, specially European Neo-classicism Style. During the third period, from King Rama 6(1910-1925) to King Rama 7(1925-1934), Thu had been enjoying extensive commerce with western nations. The great developments in the field of architecture during this reign were apparent in the construction of public utilities and facilities. These buildings were designed by western architects. At this time, modern architectural concept of western was introduced.