Kasetsart University Research Articles

Molecular and Morphological Analyses of Leucocytozoon Parasites (Haemosporida: Leucocytozoidae) in Raptors From Thailand.

Leucocytozoon spp. causes a vector-borne disease that is nonpathogenic in domestic and wild birds. To date, there was no report of leucocytozoonosis in raptors from Thailand. This study was carried out to perform morphological and molecular analyses of Leucocytozoon in 400 raptors at a rehabilitation center at Kasetsart University, Thailand during a 7-year period. The nested PCR was used to amplify the cytochrome b gene of Leucocytozoon with primers HaemNF1 and HaemNR3 as the primary reaction. The light microscopic examination revealed Leucocytozoon gametocytes in five raptors; three diurnal raptors [two Crested Goshawks (CGs, Accipiter trivirgatus) and one Eastern Imperial Eagle (EIE, Aquila heliaca)], and two nocturnal raptors (one Oriental Scops-Owl (OSO, Otus sunia,) and one Short-eared Owl, Asio flammeus) and two species were identified: Leucocytozoon danilewskyi in both owl species and L. californicus in two CGs. The PCR method revealed more infection rate (2.0%, 8/400) than the light microscopic method including one Barred Eagle-Owl (BEO, Bubo sumatranus), one Brown Hawk Owl (BHO, Ninox scutulata) and one OSO. A phylogeny revealed that sequences from one SEO and one OSO were clustered with L. danilewskyi and the three Leucocytozoon sequences from diurnal raptors were clustered with L. californicus. The other three sequences from a BHO, a BEO and an OSO were ambiguous. This study combined morphological, morphometric and molecular phylogenetic analyses to identify L. danilewskyi in two species of owls, L. californicus in three diurnal raptors, and unknown species in three other owls, representing the first records of leucocytozoon infection in raptors from Thailand.

The Development of “Friend from Heart” Application based on LINE System to Promote Well-Being of Undergraduate Students of Faculty of Education, Kasetsart University

Depression and suicide rates among youths tended to increase. From reviews, many applications and online counseling could reduce depression and anxiety to promote well-being of youths and university students effectively. This study was conducted to develop "Friend from heart" application based on LINE system to promote well-being for undergraduate students of faculty of education, Kasetsart University. The research method included the survey of basic data for developing the application and evaluation of the application by specialists. A total of 72 voluntary students were invited to join an online survey. It was found that most of the students (81.94%) wanted applications that provide physical health information such as exercise, eating healthy food, and health care. However, about 16.66% of students needed an application that can speak or listen problems with video calls. Then, researchers took the services that students were interested more than 50% to develop the applications. It worked through the application, consisting of chatbot, physical health, mental health, and appointment with counselor. The index of item-objective congruence was 0.66-1.00 with additional specialists commenting that the application had an interesting design with good structure to help students. For ethical approval, it was obtained from the Kasetsart University Research Ethics Committee.

The Investigation of Critical Thinking Disposition among Kasetsart University Students

This research study aims to investigate university student’s critical thinking disposition (CTD). The sample includes 633 undergraduate students at different levels from Kasetsart University, Thailand. The analysis was based on convenience random sampling. The CTD instrument comprises 24 Likert scale. The subscales consisted of seven crucial dimensions: truth-seeking, open-mindedness, analyticity, systematicity, critical thinking self-confidence, inquisitiveness, and cognitive maturity. The cumulative percent of variance was 61.84%. Cronbrach’s alpha for the overall instrument, the disposition toward critical thinking was .78. The findings revealed that critical thinking disposition has no distinctive correlation to significant difference towards gender and the different levels of university students significantly, particularly at the level of p<.05.

Floresorchestia kongsemae sp. n. a new species (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Talitridae) from Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand.

BackgroundThe genus Floresorchestia Bousfield, 1984 is widely distributed in terrestrial and marine coastal habitats. It has been found from coastal South Africa through to the Indo-Pacific region and the Caribbean Sea in Central America. Two species of Floresorchestia have been reported in Thailand, Floresorchestia boonyanusithii Wongkamhaeng et al. 2016 and Floresorchestia buraphana Wongkamhaeng et al. 2016. This work reports on a new species of Floresorchestia found at Kasetsart University in a man-made pond and neighbouring areas.New informationClassification of the new species was achieved by considering the left mandible 5-dentate; gnathopod 2 posterior margin merus carpus and propodus of gnathopod 2 covered in palmate setae, palm reaching about 33% along posterior margin; uropod 3 peduncle with three robust setae; telson dorsal mid-line half the length of its breadth and four robust setae per lobe.

Investigating University Characteristics on Personality Traits

Objective - This study aims to extend the brand personality concept by applying this concept to the organization, i.e., the university. Methodology/Technique – A questionnaire was designed based on Aaker (1997)’s 5 dimensions of brand personality scale to collect the data. 400 Thai undergraduate students of Kasetsart University Chalermphrakiat Sakon Nakhon Province Campus participated in this study. Participants were first informed of the study description and instructed to think of a university as if it were a person and to rate on a five-point scale (1 = not at all descriptive, 5 = extremely descriptive). In the data analysis, descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) were used. Finding – The results from the exploratory factor analysis (EFA) with a varimax rotation showed 5 factors of university personality. Factor 1 represents competence dimension having 10 items (successful, leader, technical, corporate, cool, hardworking, secure, spirited, confident and reliable). Factor 2 represents sophistication dimension which had 4 items (glamorous, good looking, smooth and upper class). Factor 3 represents ruggedness dimension which had 5 items (western, tough, masculine, rugged and outdoorsy). Factor 4 represents sincerity dimension which had 2 items (honest and sincere). The last factor was excitement dimension which had only 1 item, imaginative. Furthermore, according to student perspective, the majority of university personality dimensions of Kasetsart University Chalermphrakiat Sakon Nakhon Province Campus was ruggedness dimension. Novelty – Research examining the dimensions of organization personality is still scant. To fill the gap, the current study was conducted to demonstrate how the brand personality concept was applicable when the organization was viewed as a brand. Therefore, it is a preliminary step toward such direction to extend and apply the brand personality concept to a new different area. Type of Paper: Empirical. JEL Classification: M10, M19. Keywords: University Personality; University Characteristics; Personality Traits; Brand Personality Concept. Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Sripongpun, K; Saksamrit, N; Intarawong, W; Ayudhya, P.S.N. (2021). Investigating University Characteristics on Personality Traits, GATR Global J. Bus. Soc. Sci. Review, 9(1): 58 – 64. https://doi.org/10.35609/gjbssr.2021.9.1(7)

Preface

In this current data-revolution era, we should be aware that the role of mathematics, statistics, and data science significant in almost all fields of science and business. Thespeed of the development of those sciences is fast, and it is essential to have an event for exchanging information and sharing knowledge among people around the world.The International Conference on Mathematics, Statistics, and Data Science 2020 (ICMSDS 2020) was held to accommodate that demand.The ICMSDS 2020 took the theme of “Optimal Data Utilization to Reach Brighter Future” and was organized on November 11 – 12, 2020, through the collaboration between theDepartment of Statistics and the Department of Mathematics, IPB University. We humbly thank some associations which supported a lot this event, i.e Ikatan Statistisi Indonesia(ISI), Forum Penyelenggaraan Pendidikan Statistika Indonesia (FORSTAT), Indonesian Mathematical Society (IndoMS), and Indonesia Operations Research Association (IORA).On behalf of the committee would like to share our appreciation to the invited speakers that shared their knowledge and expertise in this very significant conference:1. Prof. Eric Schoen - KU Leuven, Belgium2. Prof. Hisyam Lee - Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Malaysia3. Prof. Ken Seng Tan - Nanyang Technology University, Singapore4. Prof Peerayuth - Kasetsart University, Thailand5. Prof. Ray Chambers - University of Wollongong, Australia6. Prof. Wataru Sakamoto - Okayama University, Japan7. Prof. Toni Bakhtiar - IPB University, Indonesia8. Dr. Chuen Seng Tan - National University of Singapore, Singapore9. Dr. Utami Dyah Syafitri - IPB University, IndonesiaThe appreciation also goes to all contributing speakers and participants. During the conference, there were as many as 128 presenters from 37 universities and institutionsfrom 6 countries, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Iran, and Japan.We also want to express our deepest gratitude to the Rector IPB University; Dean of Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, IPB University; Head of the Department ofStatistics, and Department of Mathematics, IPB University; the steering committee; and the organizing committee for their support and assistance in preparation for conductingthis conference.We hope that this event can strengthen cooperation and networking betweenresearchers, participants, and institutions in developing statistics, mathematics, and datascience.EditorsFarit Mochamad AfendiAgus Mohamad SolehDonny Citra LesmanaInternational Conference on Mathematics, Statistics, and Data Science 2020, Steering Committee, Organizing Committee, Scientific Commitees and this titles are available in this pdf.

Language Learning Strategies Used in English Writing by Thai Undergraduate Students

This research investigated language learning strategies used in English writing by 100 Thai undergraduate students. It analyzed differences in the use of language learning strategies in English writing in the second semester of the 2019 academic year at Kasetsart University in Chonburi, Thailand. The research instrument was a 50-item questionnaire adapted from Oxford’s strategy inventory for language learning (SILL). Data on language learning strategies used in English writing were examined using descriptive statistics (mean, frequency, percentage and standard deviation). Differences in the use of language learning strategies in English writing were analyzed by t-test and F-test. The results indicated that primarily, students used social strategies, followed by memory strategies, compensatory strategies, metacognitive strategies, cognitive strategies and affective strategies in English writing, respectively. Significant differences in the use of language learning strategies in English writing were found on students’ field of study, year of study and writing frequency, except gender, age and English point.

The effects of various doses of probiotics on growth and survival rates of white shrimp larva (Litopenaeus vannamei)

The purposes of this research is to know the effective dose of probiotics that can optimize the growth of postlarva (PL15) white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). This research was conducted in January 2020 in Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand for seven days using completely randomized design (CRD) research method with 4 treatments and 6 replications. Commercial probiotic powder application with Bacillus content (108 CFU / g) is given consisting of treatments are C (0 mg/L), P1 (1 mg/L), P2 (3 mg/L) and P3 (5 mg/L). A one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied to compare the control and treated groups at a significanc elevel of P<0.05. Duncan’s New Multiple Range Test (DMRT) was used to identify significant differences of growth, survival, and feed efficiency parameters. The results show that the highest SGR, DGR, absolute weight growth, absolute length growth, SR, FCR, and efficiency of feed utilization average respectively 22.76%, 4.32 mg/day, 11.20 mg, 7,68 mm, 77%, 1.78, 0.56. However, all parameters of shrimp growth, survival, and feed efficiency are not significantly different.

Microencapsulated fish oil powder by spray drying using combination of wall materials in Kasetsart University, Bangkok

Oil is a source of saturated fatty acids commonly referred as omega-3, in particular EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and has been recognized major health component, being used in many key ways as body supplements and heart organs in particular. The omega-3 content of fish oil is highly oxidizing due to exposure to oxygen. One way to be treated is to do microcapsule storage using a spray dryer. Applications of materials coated-based fish oil for the microcosulation are generally varied. The purpose of this internship is to figure out the microencapsulated of fish oil by spray dry using combination of wall materials. This internship was held in Department of Fishery Product, Faculty of Fisheries, Kasetsart University, on January 1th until January 30th, 2020. The process is done through of three stages of pretreatmend, spray dry, and testing. Pretreatmend process includes to making fish oil emulsion with gum arabic, maltodextrin, and whey proteins. Spray dry includes microencapsulated preparation using spray dryer machine. The testing process is done by some parameters like yield, color, water content, oil content, and water activity.

Cashew nut shell liquid potentially mitigates methane emission from the feces of Thai native ruminant livestock by modifying fecal microbiota.

The methane-mitigating potency of cashew nutshell liquid (CNSL) was evaluated by investigating gas production from batch cultures using feces from Thai native ruminants that had been incubated for different periods. Feces was obtained from four Thai native cattle and four swamp buffaloes reared under practical feeding conditions at the Kasetsart University farm, Thailand. Fecal slurry from the same farm was also included in the analysis. CNSL addition successfully suppressed the methane production potential of feces from both ruminants by shifting short chain fatty acid profiles towards propionate production. Methane mitigation continued for almost 150 days, although the degree of mitigation was more apparent from Day 0 to Day 30. Bacterial and archaeal community shifts with CNSL addition were observed in feces from both ruminants; specifically, Bacteroides increased, whereas Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae decreased in feces to which CNSL was added. Fecal slurry did not show marked changes in gas production with CNSL addition. The findings showed that the addition of CNSL to the feces of ruminants native to the Southeast Asian region can suppress methane emission. Because CNSL can be easily obtained as a byproduct of the local cashew industry in this region, its on-site application might be ideal.

Energy Audit and Evaluation of Specific Energy Consumption of Lighting Systems in a New Building: A Kasetsart University Case Study

Energy Audit and Evaluation of Specific Energy Consumption of Lighting Systems in a New Building: A Kasetsart University Case Study

Young Stroke Prevention Program for University Lecturers with Risk Factors via Smartphone Application

The major risk factors for young stroke patients were hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, waist circumference, and body mass index. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a young stroke prevention program for university lecturers via using a smartphone application. Research design was a quasi-experimental research one-group pretest-posttest design with using multistage random sampling. The study population were Kasetsart university lecturers (n = 21) with risk factors for stroke, age between 20 - 45 years old. The 13 weeks program involved sending each subject weekly via a smart phone application information on stroke education, nutrition management and basic knowledge of exercise. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the general characteristics, Inferential statistics to analyze the average scores pre-test and post-test, with stroke knowledge, weight, waist, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure level, attitude, and risk behavior were determined using a paired t-test statistic. The post-test results from the 21 respondents who participated indicated their knowledge level of stroke education was significantly higher than the pre-exposure, with mean pre-exposure and post-exposure scores of 7.81 and 9.10, respectively. Furthermore, body weight, waist size, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and body mass index, were significantly lower by the end of the program. However, no significant differences were found for attitude nor for the subject behavior regarding risk factors of a stroke. This program can act as the guideline to reduce the incidence of young stroke by reducing risk factors and managing stroke prevention for university lecturers with risk factors of stroke.

A Needs Analysis of Thai Massage Employees’ (Thai Massage Therapists, Receptionists, and Managers) English Communication Skills in the city of Pattaya, Chonburi

English communication has gained its importance for Thai massage employees who are required to interact and provide massage services to foreign customers due to the popularity of Thai massage among foreigners. This study attempts to explore and analyze the needs and problems of Thai massage employees towards English communication in their workplaces located in Pattaya City, Thailand. This is a mixedmethodology research collecting data from 132 Thai massage employees through an online questionnaire and semi-structured interviews with five Thai massage employees to obtain insight data and further information. The key findings show that speaking and listening skills are the most needed skills including English vocabulary knowledge. In terms of themost problematic skills, speaking, listening, and writing respectively were rated as high while reading skill reported as moderate. According to the interview, the results reveal that English competency may not greatly affect the quality of Thai massage service; however, being able to use English properly increases customers’ satisfaction and reduces time for the employees to communicate with foreign customers. The findings also indicate that the Thai massage therapists use their body languages, pictures, and memorized English patterns and sample phrases to communicate with foreign customers as their solutions for Englishcommunication problems. This research which was conducted under a fund of the Faculty of Management Sciences, Kasetsart University reports the needs and problems of these groups of people in order to design an English for Spa course based on English for Specific Purposes (ESP) principles to foster English communication skills for the Thai massage employees as well as for business students who are interested in ESP courses.

Developing the Organizational Strategy: A study of University Personality

Nowadays, the competition can occur in various fields even in the educational institution (Judson et al., 2009). Many universities have adjusted and prepared their organizational image to encounter the radical change. (Lee et al, 2008). In order to differentiate themselves from the competitors, they decided to spend a budget to improve and develop their organizational image (Palacio, Meneses and Perez, 2002). Brand personality concept, one of the important dimension of brand image (Plummer, 1985), is an useful element which universities can apply it to make their brand distinctive (Watkins and Gonzenbach, 2013). Although brand personality concept has received increasing attention among researchers (SHYLE and HYSI, 2013), the research that examine how the brand personality concept can be applicable when the organization is used as a brand is insufficient. To fill this gap, Kasetsart University Chalermphrakiat Sakonnakhon Province Campus, Thailand (the fourth campus of Kasetsart University, Thailand and it was established to response government's policy in distribute education opportunities into the Northeast of Thailand) was selected to uncover how Aaker (1997)'s five dimensions of brand personality are applicable for an organization as a brand. Keywords: University Personality; Organizational Strategy; Personality

Effects of Visual Communication on Memory Enhancement of Thai Undergraduate Students, Kasetsart University

Memory is important in a learning process. The more students can memorize or retain information from a learning process, the greater possibility students can perform better in their learning. Therefore, this research aimed to explore visual communication in terms of its effectiveness and effects on memory enhancement with 19 Thai undergraduate students by using a communication skills online course with visual communication, an evaluation questionnaire of the selected course, an effectiveness questionnaire of visual communication, and a memory test on the selected course. Mean, standard deviation, content analysis and a t-test for dependent samples were used to analyze data collected from all research instruments. The research findings indicated that using visual communication produced positive results in enhancing student memory and thus generating greater student learning, which can be concluded that visual communication has high potential to be implemented in class as an effective tool for teaching courses to enhance student memory and thus create better learning performance.

Batracobdelloides bangkhenensis sp. n. (Hirudinea: Rhynchobdellida), a new leech species parasite on freshwater snails from Thailand.

A new snail-eating leech, Batracobdelloides bangkhenensis sp. n., was discovered at Kasetsart University, Bangkhen Campus, Bangkok, Thailand. This species is found free living in the benthic zone of ponds; feeds on freshwater snails, including Bithynia siamensis siamensis, Indoplanorbis exustus, Radix rubiginosa, Physella acuta, and Pomacea canaliculata; and uses a shell as a shelter during the parental care period, with a colony of 7-15 juvenile individuals held on the venter inside the shell of host. Batracobdelloides bangkhenensis displays distinct morphological characters, including a rice-shaped body showing transparency, cephalization, two eye pairs merged on somite III, an anterior sucker twice as large as the cephalic region, a central mouth in the anterior sucker, seven light brown transverse rows in the neck region, absent dorsal papillae, rich green pigments on the dorsum, a male gonopore on XIIa2/XIIa3 (27-28), a female gonopore on XIIIa1/XIIIa2 (29-30), and diffuse aggregations of minute, spherical salivary glands in the neck region. Comparisons of the COI and COI-ND1 genes showed a monophyletic clade for Batracobdelloides, and the phylogenetic tree of the COI gene also indicated that B. bangkhenensis is distinct from other species in the genus, with strong support values.

Preface

It is our great pleasure to welcome all of you to 2020 2nd International Conference on Resources and Environment Sciences (ICRES 2020), June 5-7, 2020 in Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand. ICRES 2020 is dedicated to issues related to Resources and Environment Sciences. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the conference committees made a decision to hold an online conference instead to ensure every participant’s personal safety.ICRES 2020 has received 50 submissions (full papers and abstracts) and only 20 full papers and 2 abstracts were accepted based on the anonymously reviewed results from the technical committee members. Only the outstanding submissions were chosen to be presented during the conference.This volume of the proceedings presents a selection of papers submitted to the conference. They are organized in 6 chapters under the topics of: Solid Waste Management and Scientific Research, Biodiversity and Pollution Ecology, Wastewater Treatment Technology, Natural Resources Development and Management, Building Environment, Environmental Chemistry and Disaster Management. All papers were subjected to peer-review by conference committee members and international reviewers. The papers were selected based on the criteria of high quality and relevance to the conference theme.We express our sincere appreciation to the organizing committee and the volunteers who had spent their time, effort and help on planning, promoting, and organizing the conference.Prof. Natalia BakhtadzeV.A. Trapeznikov Institute of Control Sciences, Moscow, Russia2020-07-06

Tears for a crocodile

Tears for a crocodile

Evaluation of Loofah Lines for Resistance to Tomato Leaf Curl New Delhi Virus and Downy Mildew, as well as Key Horticultural Traits

Two loofah (Luffa) species, the ridge gourd (Luffa acutangula (L.) Roxb.) and the sponge gourd (L. cylindrica (L.) M. Roem.; syn. L. aegyptiaca), are cultivated widely in Asia by smallholder famers. Both species have significant economic and nutritional importance. However, Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV) and downy mildew (DM) caused by Pseudoperonospora cubensis are important biotic constraints to loofah production throughout Asia. Loofah landrace-derived breeding lines, developed at the World Vegetable Center (WorldVeg), were evaluated at the WorldVeg East and Southeast Asia Research and Training Station, Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen, Thailand—where natural epidemics of ToLCNDV and DM regularly occur. The lines were also evaluated for other commercially important horticultural traits such as days to 50% staminate and pistillate flowering, fruit color, fruit bitterness, and market segment classification. Thirteen and 59 lines of ridge gourd and sponge gourd, respectively, were determined to be resistant to both ToLCNDV and DM. These lines covered all market segments of loofah and exhibited variability for all of the evaluated horticultural traits. The results of these evaluations and their implications on loofah breeding are discussed.

An Investigation of a Modified Formula of Daylight Glare and Limiting Daylight Glare Indices in the Thai Elderly

Discomfort glare is perceived differently by the young and the elderly. However, the existing daylight glare formulae do not take the effects of age into account and the current limiting glare index was obtained from non-elderly subjects. To create lighting suitable for the Thai elderly, especially in terms of glare, two objectives were addressed. The first explored a modified formula of daylight glare for the Thai elderly, while the second investigated the limiting daylight glare index for the Thai elderly in particular areas of residential and public buildings. Both laboratory and field studies were undertaken. The former investigated a daylight glare formula modified for the effect of age of the Thai elderly. Experiments were carried out in a controlled chamber at Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand. The latter explored the limiting daylight glare index for particular areas of residential and public buildings for the Thai elderly with studies conducted in the real environment. A modified formula was proposed to predict daylight glare for the Thai elderly. Limiting daylight glare indices for particular areas of both residential and public buildings for the Thai elderly were also proposed, and the recorded values were found to be higher than the existing limiting daylight glare indices.