Nong Khai Research Articles

A new population and habitat for Neotricula aperta in the Mekong river of northeastern Thailand: a DNA sequence-based phylogenetic assessment confirms identifications and interpopulation relationships.

Neotricula aperta (Gastropoda: Pomatiopsidae), the snail intermediate host of Schistosoma mekongi, is found in Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand. We update information on the distribution of this species in the Mekong River and its tributary, the Mun River, in Thailand. DNA sequences of a portion of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 were obtained from N. aperta collected from different locations and used to confirm species and strain identities. Specimens of the β-strain were found in the Mun River, whereas specimens of the γ-strain were found in the Mekong River. The γ-strain (with molecular confirmation of identity) is newly reported from Nong Khai Province, where it occurred in a habitat novel for this species: under paving slabs instead of under natural bed rocks, where agal aufwuchs is extensively located on the islet in the middle of the Mekong River. The new location is approximate 400 km upstream from the nearest previously known site for this species.

Local Community Participation in the Conservation of the Naga Fireball Festival

This study aims to investigate problems with local community participation in the Naga Fireball Festival in Phon Phisai District, Nong Khai province, and guidelines to promote local community participation in the conservation of the Naga Fireball Festival in Phon Phisai District. A mix method was applied. The results showed that overall, local community participation in the Naga Fireball Festival was at the high level (mean = 3.57, S.D. = 0.15). Guidelines to promote local community participation in the conservation of the Naga Fireball Festival in Phon Phisai District, Nong Khai province were proposed which included: 1) designing an official website to promote the Naga Fireball Festival, 2) establishing a learning center about the Naga in Phon Phisai District, 3) promoting homestay for a firsthand experience along the Mekong River, 4) expanding the role of young people in the community in festival planning, and 5) providing tourists’ activities based on the Legend of Naga. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n23p372

SWOT Analysis of Religious Tourism in Nong Khai Province, Thailand Proposed Guidelines to Incorporate Temple Stay Program

The aim of this paper is to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of religious tourism in Nong Khai province, Thailand to incorporate Temple Stay Program, which is a valuable form of religious tourism. Temple Stay Program is a successful Buddhist tourism program in Korea which creatively attracts many tourists throughout the Korean Buddhist culture. A semi-structured interview was applied to collect data from key informants. The results show that religious tourism in Nong Khai province has the potential to incorporate a Temple Stay Program as a core religious tourism product to introduce Thai Buddhist culture. In order to improve the potential for religious tourism in Nong Khai province to establish a Temple Stay Program, the necessary things that should be focused on are 1) diversity of religious activities for tourists 2) improving human resources in tourism 3) arranging public service vehicles to go to temples 4) extensive public relations 5) collaboration by stakeholders. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n23p696

Developing Cultural Tourism through Local Festivals a Case Study of the Naga Fireball Festival, Nong Khai Province, Thailand

This article aims to study international tourists’ opinions and the international tourists’ demand for the Naga Fireball Festival and guidelines to promote the value of the Naga Fireball Festival in Nong Khai province, Thailand. The researchers used the Mix Method. For the quantitative method, 400 questionnaires were collected and the data was analyzed using mean, standard deviation and Chi square tests. For the qualitative data, we used a focus group discussion with academics, tourism entrepreneurs, representatives of involved public organizations and local philosophers to discuss about promoting the value of the Naga Fireball Festival in Nong Khai province, Thailand. The results show that most tourists would like to see the Naga Fireball Festival because it is based on the local culture regarding the Naga serpents. In reference to the demand of international tourists, positive attitudes of local residents towards tourists (S.D. = 0.51), experience in telling stories about the Naga Legend (S.D. = 0.56), awareness of the local life style and culture along the Mekong River (S.D. = 0.50), day trips to sacred sites dealing with the Legend of Naga (S.D. = 0.52), landscape arrangements (S.D. = 0.49), safety and security for tourists (S.D. = 0.50), and reliable sources of information about the Naga Fireball Festival (S.D. = 0.56) were at the highest level. The following guidelines which are proposed to increase the value and worth of the Naga Fireball Festival for international tourists include six goals: 1) setting up routes to sacred sites involved with the legend of Naga 2) improving the quality the landscapes at cultural destinations 3) opening a museum dedicated to the legend of Naga 4) publish pocket books with pictures and descriptions of the legend of Naga 5) establishing Homestay along the Mekong River 6) increasing the role of the local community’s participation in the Naga Fireball Festival. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n23p734

Designing a Temple Stay Program Based on the One in Nong Khai Province, Thailand

The aims of this research are to study 1) tourists’ opinions and demands for Temple Stay Program (TSP) based on the one in Nong Khai province, Thailand and 2) guidelines to design TSP based on the one in Nong Khai province, Thailand. The Mix method was applied and for the quantitative method, 400 questionnaires were collected and the data was analyzed using mean, standard deviation and Chi-square tests. For the qualitative data, a focus group discussion was organized. The participants included monks, academics, tourism entrepreneurs, involved public organizations and local philosophers who proposed guidelines to design TSP based on the one in Nong Khai province, Thailand. The results showed that most of the tourists approved of the TSP in Nong Khai province, which has religious activities in tourism to enhance awareness of Thai religious values. Tourists’ demands for TSP similar to the one in Nong Khai province, Thailand are at a high level. Guidelines to design TSP based on the one in Nong Khai province, Thailand include 1) establishing an official center of information for TSP in Nong Khai province 2) planning diversity for TSP packages 3) creating diverse and meaningful activities for TSP 4) establishing a training course on local handicrafts or local food for tourists, and 5) expanding roles of monks as guides in Buddhist cultural and local tradition activities.

Lateral Inflow Approximation for Flood Forecasting in Mekong River

The Lower Mekong River overflows regularly in rainy season which benefits the area in terms of agriculture and fishery. A critical extreme flood, however, can occur once in a while which can be catastrophic. Therefore, the ability to accurately predict extreme events using a simple but accurate flood forecasting method is crucial. The Muskingum flood routing method with average lateral inflow was used for the Lower Mekong River at Chiang Khan as monitoring site and Nong Khai as target site. Five historic flood hydrographs were used for lateral inflow evaluation. Another 4 were used for forecast testing. The results are very encouraging.

Analysis of Passenger Transportation Demand: Case Study of the Customs House, the Thai-Laos Friendship Bridge, Nong Khai Province

This study analyses the factors influencing passenger transportation demand at the Thai-Laos Friendship Bridge in Nong Khai Province, Thailand. Secondary data was collected from July 2007 to June 2010. The passenger transportation demand model estimation via a unit root test prior to the ordinary least square (OLS) technique found that the passenger number has a long-term, positive equilibrium relationship with the price. On the other hand, gross domestic product (GDP) and the frequency of services provided, have a negative relationship with the exchange rate. The empirical results of a short term analysis based on the error correction mechanism (ECM) estimation revealed that the adjustment speed that affects the number of passengers deviates from the equilibrium point to the long-term equilibrium point by 46.3 percent in each time period. Proposed policy recommendations are as follows: entrepreneurs should increase the frequency and number of services; wider variety of vehicles should be provided; each vehicle should run at full capacity; overall improvement in speed, safety and efficiency of the services is also necessary.

Analysis of Market Structure and Passenger Transportation Performance: Case Study of Nong Khai Custom House, Thai-Loas Friendship Bridge, Nong Khai Province

This study aimed to examine the situation, general management and performance of the international private transportation services of passengers between Thailand and the Laos PDR at the Thai-Laos Friendship Bridge. Other objectives were to analyze the market structure, competition behavior and the results of passenger transportation industry’s performance. This study also aimed to propose policy recommendations in order to enhance efficiency and performance development. Both primary and secondary data were obtained by interviewing two entrepreneurs chosen by purposive sampling and analyzing monthly data obtained from related public and private organizations over the period July 2007 to June 2010. Entrepreneurs provided international bus services from cities within Thailand (Khon Kaen and Udon Thani) and the Lao PDR, regular shuttle buses at the bridge, and private hire vans and buses. The results showed two companies operating in an oligopolistic market structure. The performance of both companies is nearly the same. The efficiency index measurement utilized for both companies were the same; however the results were slightly different. The levels of technology application within both organizations were also similar. Policy recommendations for efficiency and performance development are as follows. Entrepreneurs should increase the frequency of services as well as the number and variety of vehicles available to passengers and each vehicle should run at full capacity. Improving the services to be more convenient in terms of the speed, safety and efficiency is also necessary.

Mathematical Equations for Reducing Water Pollution Problems among Poultry Production Clusters in Nong Khai Province, Thailand

Poultry production clusters (PPC) in Nong Khai raise layer chickens in the poultry houses constructed over fish ponds. Layer farmers use chicken manure to feed their fish. However, unbalance between chicken raising and the size of fish pond or number of fish results in low water quality, which affects fish production and the community’s public water resource. In this field study, data was collected from layer farms in three poultry production clusters in Nong Khai province in the northeast of Thailand (a total of 90 farms) between April and August 2013. Data collected consisted of observations of dissolved oxygen (DO) values of water in the fish ponds, the number of egg-laying chickens raised above the fish ponds, the number of fish and size of the fish ponds. When all of these four observations were analyzed, mathematical equations for calculating the number of chickens raised, the number of fish per one rai (1600 m2), and the size of pond suitable for the number of chickens and fish were obtained as follows: 1) number of fish/rai = 5796 + 1097(size of pond) (R2 = 0.71), 2) number of chicken/rai = 513 + 223(size of pond) (R2 = 0.48) and 3) size of pond =-0.328474 + 0.000262(Fish) + 0.00117(Chicken) (R2 = 0.40). When pond = desired pond size, fish = number of fish to be raised and chicken = number of chickens to be raised.

The length-weight relationships, condition factors and gut contents of Syncrossus helodes (Sauvage, 1876) and Yasuhikotakia modesta (Bleeker, 1864) from the Mekong River, Muang District, Nong Khai Province, Northeastern Thailand

The length-weight relationships (LWR), condition factors (K) and gut contents of Syncrossus helodes (Sauvage, 1876) and Yasuhikotakia modesta (Bleeker, 1864) from the Mekong River, Muang District, Nong Khai Province, Northeastern Thailand were investigated in the dry-hot and dry-cool season 2010. The LWR results indicated that S. helodes exhibited negative allometric growth in both seasons, whereas Y. modesta exhibited positive and negative allometric growth in the dry-hot and the dry-cool season, respectively. The K values for S. helodes in the dry-hot season and Y. modesta in both seasons were greater than one, showing that they were in above good condition, whereas the K for S. helodes in the dry-cool season was lower than one, which indicated that the fish was in poor condition. The percentage of point method (%P) results indicated that S. helodes fed on the same 7 categories of food items in both seasons, which were dipteran larvae (64.48%), trichopteran larvae (17.82%), ephemeropteran larvae (6.73%), Hemiptera (2.95%), terrestrial dipteran adults (2.31%), green algae and zooplankton (1.10% each). Y. modesta also fed on the same 7 categories of food items in both season, corresponding to dipteran larvae (59.78%), trichopteran larvae (16.37%), zooplankton (12.87%), molluscs (5.51%), terrestrial dipteran adults (3.30%), plant materials (1.18%) and green algae (0.59%). Plant parts and filamentous algae were also found in the analyzed gut contents; these materials may have been accidentally ingested along with the principal food item, Chironomid larvae. The %P of the food items depended on both the season and the fish species (chi-squared test, p<0.05). From the present study, it was concluded that S. helodes and Y. modesta are carnivores. Key words: Length-weight relationships, condition factors, gut contents, S. helodes, Y. modesta, the Mekong River.

Changes in the sediment load of the Lancang-Mekong River over the period 1965–2003

Changes in the sediment load of a river can have important impacts on river channel evolution, nutrient fluxes, aquatic ecology and delta erosion and sedimentation, and the possibility of changes in the sediment load of the Lancang-Mekong River has attracted increasing concern in recent years. Existing studies present conflicting findings regarding the nature and magnitude of recent changes in the sediment load of the Lancang-Meking River and the authors have attempted to assemble the most reliable data on annual sediment loads for the period 1965–2003, to assess recent trends in the sediment load of the river. The changes in annual sediment load at 7 stations on the river are analyzed. Important sediment contributing areas are found in the reaches between Gajiu and Yunjinghong, Chiang Saen and Luang Prabang and downstream of Nong Khai. The sediment load increased at Gajiu, Yunjinghong and Chiang Saen over the period 1985–1992 because of serious soil erosion caused by the expansion of cultivation, the replacement of natural forest by plantations and land disturbance associated with hydropower dam construction. A marked reduction in sediment load occurred at Gajiu after the impoundment of the Manwan Hydropower dam on the Lancang River, but this reduction was not evident downstream at Yunjinghong and the stations further downstream. Significant increases in sediment load appeared at Mukdahan and Khong Chiam. These contrasting patterns of change reflect the influence of sediment contributions from the intervening catchment areas and channel systems as well as storage and remobilization of sediment from the channel system and the impact of hydraulic works such as irrigation systems. The long term mean annual sediment load of the Mekong River at its mouth is estimated to be ca. 145×106 t a−1, which is lower than previously reported values and it seems likely that this will be reduced in the foreseeable future.

Factors Effecting to The Conflict Management of Sub-district Health Promoting Hospital in Nong Khai Province

Factors Effecting to The Conflict Management of Sub-district Health Promoting Hospital in Nong Khai Province

Genetic variation of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici isolated from tomatoes in Thailand using pathogenicity and AFLP markers

Genetic variation among 25 isolates of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici causing tomato wilt was determined using pathogenicity test and Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms (AFLP) markers. The isolates were collected from 8 provinces in Thailand. Based on the pathogenecity result, all isolates were divided into two groups as pathogenic and non-pathogenic isolates. Cluster analysis based on AFLP also grouped the pathogenic isolates into 3 subgroups as low, moderate and high virulence. A dendrogram resulting from a cluster analysis showed two main distinct groups: group 1, non-pathogenic isolates; and group 2, pathogenic isolates rooting from outgroup. Eighty one polymorphic bands were analyzed using computer software. The results showed that genetic differentiation occurred among populations (Gst = 0.5898). However, the populations in the same geographical areas, Khonkaen and Nong khai, Tak and Phechaboon were more closely related genetically than another populations based on Nei’s genetic distance, indicating the movement of the fungal conidia between these areas. This work provided new information on the formae speciales of F. oxysproum f splycopersici NKSC01 and NKSC02, of high virulent which could be classified as race 2 causing wilt of tomato var. Cheery. Key words: Fragment length polymorphisms (AFLP) marker, tomato, pathogenecity,Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Lycopersici.

Antibacterial Activity of Bauhinia sirindhorniae Extract Against Aeromonas hydrophila Isolated from Hybrid catfish

The studies on antibacterial activity of Bauhinia sirindhorniae extract, an indigenous plant of Nong Khai province, against Aeromonas hydrophila isolated hybrid catfish were assayed. Root, stem, leaves and flowers of B. sirindhorniae were extracted by acetone, ethanol 50 %, ethanol 95 % and methanol. In antibacterial screening performed by disc method was conducted. The results revealed that the highest activity against A. hydrophila , found in roots extract using acetone with an inhibition zone, was 20.33 ± 0.58 mm. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for B. sirindhorniae extracts were also determined by the broth dilution method. The lowest MIC value with high efficacy against A. hydrophila was 97.66 ppm which could be obtained from the root extract of B. sirindhorniae from acetone. The minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC) of B. sirindhorniae extracts were also determined. The determination of MBC was not observed in any concentration of B. sirindhorniae extracts.

The Effectiveness Of ThailandLaos Border Trade Strategic Management

The objective of this study is to study the management strategy applied to the ThailandLaos border trade. This study was conducted in the years 2010 and 2011. The areas under study were Nong Khai, Nakhon Phanom, and Mukdahan provinces in the northeast of Thailand with the application of a mixed-methods research methodology including both quantitative and qualitative methods. Using the quantitative method, we provided 352 questionnaires to entrepreneurs who conducted cross-border trade through the customhouses in these provinces. We analyzed this data using means, percentages, factor analysis, and regression analysis. Using the qualitative method, we conducted a focus group of 16 key participants, such as entrepreneurs, customs officers, directors, and officers of the Office of Provincial Commerce, as well as the management team of the Provincial Chamber of Commerce. We analyzed this data using content analysis and descriptive analysis. On the basis of our analysis, we determined guidelines for the strategic management of cross-border trade between Thailand and Laos. The first strategy we suggest is that both Thailand and Laos should solve any border-trade problems together. The second is that border trade management should have only one unit and/or department with management authority. Currently many units and departments are involved in managing cross-border trade. Moreover, before opening a new port of entry, both governments should prepare all facilities and train officers and entrepreneurs to gain more knowledge about relevant laws, as well as providing resources for new officers in order to avoid problems of insufficient status and lag in crossing. One-stop service points should be created at customhouses to avoid long customs lines. Equipment such as X-ray trucks should be provided to support one-stop service to increase convenience and effectiveness as a way to avoid a situation where traders circumvent the law by not declaring goods at customs.

A Discovery of Nucleolar Organizer Regions (NORs) Polymorphism and Karyological Analysis of Smith's Barb, &lt;i&gt;Puntioplites proctozysron&lt;/i&gt; (Cypriniformes, Cyprinidae) in Thailand

A discovery of nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) polymorphism and karyological analysis in the Smith's barb, Puntioplites proctozysron (Bleeker, 1865) from Nong Khai province, in the northeast of Thailand, were studied. Blood samples were taken from 4 male and 4 female fish. After standard whole blood lymphocytes had been cultured at 27°C for 96 hours in the presence of colchicine, metaphase spreads were performed on microscopic slides and air-dried. Conventional and Ag-NOR staining techniques were applied to stain the chromosome. The results showed that the diploid chromosomes number of P. proctozysron was 2n=50 and the fundamental numbers (NF) of both sexes were 82. The types of autosomes were 4 large metacentric, 8 large submetacentric, 2 large acrocentric, 2 large telocentric, 2 medium metacentric, 6 medium submetacentric, 10 medium acrocentric, 14 medium telocentric and 2 small telocentric chromosomes. No strange size chromosomes related to sex were observed. In addition, the short arm near telomere of chromosome pair 4 showed clearly observable nucleolar organizer regions (NORs). This is the first report on polymorphism of NORs in P. proctozysron. The result showed that a heteromorphism in 1 female had a different size of NORs of chromosome pair 4 (4a4b), while 3 females and 4 males had an equal size of both chromosome pair 4 with a homomorphism (4a4a). The karyotype formula for P. proctozysron is as follows:2n (diploid) 50=L4m+L8sm+L2a+L2t+M2m+M6sm+M10a+M14t+S2t

Designing Framework of the Learning Environments Enhancing the Learners' Critical Thinking and Responsibility Model in Thailand

Abstract The purpose of this research is to synthesize theoretical framework and designing framework of the learning environments which enhance the learners’ critical thinking and responsibility. The target group consisted of 8 experts, 3 designers and 90 students studying during the second semester of academic year 2011 at Thanakornsongkhor School, in the Nong Khai Provincial Primary Education Office Area 1. The developmental research: Phase I: Model development (Richey and Klein, 2007) was employed in this study. Several methods used were document analysis and survey. The procedures are as follows: 1) Examining and analyzing principles and theories 2) Synthesizing the theoretical framework of the learning environments enhancing learners’ critical thinking and responsibility model 3) Synthesizing the designing framework of the learning environments enhancing learners’ critical thinking and responsibility model. The results revealed that this model consisted of nine elements as follows: (1) Problem base (2) Resources Center (3) Collaborative Center (4) Scaffolding Center (5) Cognitive tools Center (6) Coaching (7) Responsibility Center (8) Critical Thinking Center (9) Related Case.

Sediment load estimates and variations in the Lower Mekong River

AbstractAlthough sediment issues have critical implications for aquatic ecology, agriculture, water supply and river navigation, studies regarding the sediment production, deposition and transportation in the Lower Mekong River are relatively sparse. With the construction and operation of dams in the Upper Mekong River, this issue has attracted more attention in recent years. The estimation of sediment loads has been hindered by the serious lack of sediment measurements in the Lower Mekong River. This study aimed to investigate the possibility of estimating the sediment loads for the years without good quality SSC measurements in the Lower Mekong River. To make this estimate, this study classified the rating curves on the basis of the synchronous nature of the suspended sediment concentration (SSC) and the water discharge among the adjacent stations (e.g. Chiang Saen, Luang Prabang, Nong Khai, Mukdahan and Khong Chiam). Together with other methods, it was possible to estimate the yearly sediment loads for the period of 1962–2003 at the five mainstream Lower Mekong River stations. Consequently, the spatial and temporal variations in the sediment loads and water discharge in the Lower Mekong River were examined. In addition, the possible impacts of Chinese dams as well as the annual sediment load of the Mekong River into the sea were also investigated. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.

Risk Factors Associated with Club Drugs Users among Adolescents in Nong Khai and Udon Thani Provinces, Thailand

Risk Factors Associated with Club Drugs Users among Adolescents in Nong Khai and Udon Thani Provinces, Thailand

Community-based wetland management at Goot Ting marshes, northeast Thailand: implications for policy and practice

Wetlands cover around 36,616 km 2 or 7.5% of Thailand’s land area. The majority of the 42,000 wetland sites have no formalised, legal protection. This paper reports on a new wetland management approach for communities to manage a seasonally inundated wetland, Goot Ting marshes, in Nong Khai Province, northeastern Thailand. Activities undertaken under this initiative comprised participatory research on the natural resources to identify the biodiversity values and users within the wetland. The boundary and two recognised zones of the community-managed wetland were demarcated. Each zone had specific rules drawn up. Two new institutional bodies for community wetland management – at provincial and wetland level – were established for the management of Goot Ting marshes. This grass-roots initiative provides strong impetus towards a new community-based, conservation agenda for wetland management. Thailand should adopt suitable community wetland legislation and formulate community wetland policy, recognising cust...