Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province Research Articles

Saccharopolyspora ipomoeae sp. nov., an Actinomycete Isolated from Sweet Potato Field Soils.

During the course of the isolation of actinobacteria from sweet potato field soils collected from Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province of Thailand, strain TS4A08T was isolated and subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic approach. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis of strain TS4A08T revealed that it is closely related to the type strains of Saccharopolyspora aridisoli, and Saccharopolyspora endophytica with 98.7%, and 98.6% similarity, respectively. However, phylogenetic analyses using 16S rRNA gene and genome sequences indicated that strain TS4A08T clustered with Saccharopolyspora flava AS4.1520T (98.2% similarity), well-supported by bootstrap values, and formed distinct line from the two closest strains. The average nucleotide identity (ANI) values and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values between the genome sequences of strain TS4A08T and the closest type strains of S. aridisoli, S. endophytica, and S. flava, were 86.1-93.2% and 33.1-49.6%, respectively, which were less than the threshold for the species delineation. The genome size and the DNA G + C content of strain TS4A08T were 6.6 Mbp and 70.5%, respectively. The strain grew well at 25-37°C, pH range of 7-9, and NaCl concentration of 0-5% (w/v). Whole-cell hydrolysates contained meso-diaminopimelic acid. The major fatty acids were iso-C16:0, anteiso-C17:0, and iso-C15:0. Strain TS4A08T exhibited phosphatidylcholine in its polar lipid profile, with MK-9(H4) being the predominant isoprenologue. The strain exhibits typical chemotaxonomic properties of the genus Saccharopolyspora, including arabinose, galactose, and ribose as whole-cell sugars. Strain TS4A08T represents a novel species within the genus Saccharopolyspora, for which the name Saccharopolyspora ipomoeae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is TS4A08T (= TBRC 17271T = NBRC 115967T).

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for Studying the Prevalence of Overweight among School Children in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province, Thailand

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for Studying the Prevalence of Overweight among School Children in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province, Thailand

The Application of Neoprene Diving Boots in Reduction of Feet Injuries in the Sowing Process Among the Rice Farmers in Thailand

ABSTRACT Foot injuries have been a problem among Thai farmers for a long time. The sowing process is one of the high-risk processes because farmers have to walk in the field to spray rice seed without footwear. Literature review showed that cuts from stepping on sharp material or snail shells were major sources of injury. Traditional footwear such as Ninja shoes or cloth socks have raised the questions regarding their ability in protection from such injuries. This study investigates using Neoprene diving boots to protect from foot injuries during the rice sowing process. The sample from this study were farmers from Sena District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province, Thailand. 29 farmer wearing Neoprene diving boots, 7 farmers wearing traditional Ninja shoes, and 19 farmers wearing cloth socks were asked to work in the sowing process and interviewed about any foot injuries that may have occurred. The statistical test showed there were no significant differences in characteristics among each group of farmers, except for work experience. The results show that there were no foot injuries in farmers wearing Neoprene diving boots, whereas 73% of farmers wearing Ninja shoes, and 14% of farmers wearing cloth socks still had foot injuries. Most injuries were alaceration that were caused by the golden apple snail. The satisfaction survey showed that farmers were satisfied and strongly satisfied with all of the aesthetics, utilization, and functionality factors. This study suggested that the Neoprene diving boots can be recommended for farmers to use as safeguarding against foot injuries in the rice sowing process.

Effect of Co-Fertilizer Application and Dolomite Amendments on Yield and Grain Quality of Rice Grown on Post-Active Acid Sulfate Soil

Improving the grain yield of rice and increasing the availability of nutrients in cultivated soils are important goals of sustainable agriculture. This study was aimed to determine the effects of different fertilizer applications and dolomite amendments on rice yield, quality, and soil fertility after plantation in post-active acid sulfate soil in the Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province, Thailand. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) with six treatments and three replications was employed, i.e. T1 (no fertilizer); T2 (fertilizer at the rate of the farmers’ practice, CFFMP); T3 (fertilizer at the rate of site-specific nutrient management, SSNM); T4 (SSNM+organic fertilizer, OF); T5 (SSNM+dolomite, DM); and T6 (SSNM+OF0.5+DM0.5). Our results indicated that the treatment of SSNM+DM provided the highest grain yield (6,171 kg/ha). For the quality of rice grain, the highest protein level was found in the treatment of CFFMP (80.2 g/kg). Application of fertilizer according to the SSNM+OF treatment resulted in higher soil organic matter, available phosphorus, and exchangeable potassium in the soil after rice cultivation than in other treatments. The results suggested that the application of SSNM+DM and SSNM +OF0.5+DM0.5 was the best options for improving rice yield in this area.

Industrial Area Business Continuity Management Exercise: An Experimental Validation for Flood in Thailand

In the event of a crisis, companies in industrial complexes and surrounding regional organizations that share production bases and operating resources need to manage business continuity through coordinated mutual cooperation in public and private sectors, in addition to their individual business continuity plans (BCPs). This framework of collaboration is called area business continuity management (Area BCM). This note proposes and validates a participatory exercise which contributes to formulate Industrial Area BCM based on a series of studies conducted in the project called Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development (SATREPS) targeting industrial complexes in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province, Thailand. The proposed exercise for enhancing the effectiveness of individual company BCPs through Industrial Area BCM has the following three functions: 1) provision of reliable and objective information to support rational decision-making by individual companies, 2) identification of factors affecting the decision-making and response of stakeholders that prevent the BCPs of individual companies from planned operations, and 3) development of complementary indicators consists of coordination and collaboration with regional stakeholders to improve the effectiveness of individual BCP.

Effect of Low Birth Weight on Child Stunting among Adolescent Mothers

Introduction: Child stunting and low birth weight are the global public health problems. The current study aimed to determine the prevalence of child stunting and its association with low birth weight among adolescent mothers. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province. Using multi-stage stratified sampling method, 250 participants were recruited. Data were collected using structured interview questionnaires from August 2016 to March 2017. Descriptive and analytic statistics were used to analyze data. Results: 16.4% of children were stunted. Univariable logistic regression disclosed factors significantly associated with stunting included age at delivery, educational level, family members, weight gain during pregnancy, birth weight, complete immunization, recent illness history, breast feeding and complementary feeding (p-value Conclusion: Efforts to reduce child stunting should include surveillance systems of stunting and associated factors which should be conducted accompanied by providing perspectives on maternal and child health care, implementing health literacy regarding breastfeeding among adolescent mothers and prevention programs to reduce and prevent child stunting.

Linking Tourism Routes by using a Logistics management system in Chawang District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province

The objectives of this research are 1) to study the needs of tourists towards tourism models in Chawang district, Nakhon Si Thammarat, and 2) to manage the linkage of tourism routes by using a logistics management system in Chawang District, Nakhon Si Thammarat. The research tools used for collecting were questionnaires collected from four hundred tourists who traveled in Chawang district and qualitative research, interviews were used with the government and private sectors, people in communities, and entrepreneurs in Chawang district, Nakhon Si Thammarat. There were fifteen samples The statistics used in the data analysis were frequency, percentages, mean and standard deviation (S.D.). The results of this research found that 1. Most tourists prefer to travel to natural tourist attractions with two hundred and thirteen people followed by cultural tourism sites with one hundred and fifty-two people and agricultural tourism with thirty-five people. 2. The results from the study of the tourists’ demand level for logistics services in the tourism aspect, Chawang district, Nakhon Si Thammarat, consisted of physical flow, information flow, and financial flow.  It showed that the tourists had a high level of needs in all three aspects. The most demanding aspect was the financial flow with the demand for goods/services, payment via credit/debit, or pay for goods/services via QR Code with mobile applications, followed by the information flow, the tourists want to get the map’s leaflet that gives the information about the direction, location of the places, and the physical flow, the tourists want to travel and stay in the safe accommodations and the safe communities, respectively. Reference Branford, M., and Lee, E. (2004). Tourism and Cultural Heritage in Southeast Asia. Bangkok: SEAMEO – SPAFA. Buranawimonwan, N. and Sukphet, K. (2018). “Tourism Logistics Context: Physical Flow on the Tak route - Mae Sot,” Journal of Dusit Thani College, 12(2), 80-96. Chaichan, T. (2012). Logistics Management for Tourism in Wang Nam Khiao District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, Suranaree Journal of Science and Technology, 6(2), 17-33. Chantani,M. and Plangklang, L. (2017). Personnel Potential Development in the Community for Tourism Management Community Sustainability, Lat Chado Subdistrict, Phak Hai District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province, Phetchabun Rajabhat Journal. 19(2), 45-55. Chittangwattana, B. (2005). Thailand's Timeless Business Tourism Industry, Bangkok: CP Book Standard. Chomborisut, B. (2020). Linking tourism resources and activities of Chon Daen District to promote tourism at Sustainability of Phetchabun Province, Master of Science, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok. DeeSiltham, K. (2005). Logistics Management. Bangkok: Manager. Division of Tourism and Sports Economics. (2018). Tourism situation, December Bangkok: Ministry of Tourism and Sports. European Parliament, Luxembourg. (2002). European Union Action in the Tourism Sector – improving support measures for sustainable tourism. searched on November 22, 2019, retrieved from https://www.pik-potsdam.de/avec/peyresq2003/talks/0917/sillence/ background_literature/stoa103sum_en.pdf Goossens, (2000). Tourism Information and Pleasure Motivation. Annals of Tourism Research. 27(2):301-321. Jaroonsrirotikamjorn, W. (2017). The efficiency of Logistics Management of Tourist Attractions in Kamphaeng Phet Province, Journal of Modern Management Science. 10(2), 213 – 229. Mancini, M. (2005). Access introduction to travel and tourism. Australia: Thomson/Delmar Ministry of Tourism and Sports. (2011). The Ministry of Tourism and Sports Strategy No. 4 (2017-2021), searched on October 20, Retrieved from Morgan, N and Prichard, A (2000). Advertising in tourism and leisure. Oxford: Butterworth- Muller, H. (2001). Tourism and hospitality into the 21st Century. In A.lockwood & S.Medlik (Eds). Tourism and hospitality in the 21st Century. Oxford: Butterworth- Heinemann. Silcharu, T. (2009). Research and statistical analysis with SPSS. 10th edition. Bangkok: Business R&D. Sorat, T. (2009). Warehouse and Distribution Management Manual. Bangkok: V-Serve Logistics. Textor, R. B. (1980). A Handbook on ethnographic futures research. 3rd Cultural and Educational Futures Research Project, School of Education and Department of            Anthropology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA. Thongwilai, B. (2016). Survey Component Analysis of Pranburi Tourist Route Prachuap Khiri Khan Province For Thai tourists, Master of Arts: Bangkok. Uttayan, C. (2018). Tourist behavior, searched on October 25, 2019, retrieved from          http://Touristbehaviour.wordpress.com. Wanichbancha, K. (2006). Statistics for Research, 2nd Edition. Bangkok: Chulalongkorn University Book Center. Wongcharoenchaikul, S. (2018). A Study of Cultural Tourism Development Guidelines, Muang District, Uthai Thani Province, Master of Business Administration, Silpakorn University: Bangkok.

Risk factors associated with hand tractor related injuries among rice farmers in Thailand

Hand tractors are important machines used in the soil preparation process before sowing rice in the paddy’s of Thailand. Previous research on injuries in rice farming indicated that working with a hand tractor may be one of main causes of injuries. This study investigated the prevalence of hand tractor-related injuries, their association risk factors and characteristic of injuries. The data were collected by face-to-face interview to 377 farmers from nearly all districts in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province. Among these rice farmers, the prevalence of injury was 41%. The most common type of injury was cuts (43.9%) and the most common source of injuries was stepping on a golden apple snail shell (33.1%). The bivariate Poisson regression models showed that self-reported normal working conditions that were associated with the risk of injury included sleeping problems (RR = 1.39), “Hustle Work (working quickly to complete plowing)” (RR = 1.48), feeling fatigue before work (RR = 1.60), and normal use of a leveler as attached plow equipment (RR = 1.41). However, a multivariate model showed only normal use of a leveler as attached equipment was associated with an increased use of injuries (RR = 1.47) after controlling for the other factors that were significant in the bivariate models. These results suggest that job stress protection should be recommended or redesign of the leveler attachment developed for hand tractors used in rice paddy fields.

Association between Breastfeeding and Child Stunting among Adolescent Mothers

Introduction: Child stunting is one of the global public health problems and breastfeeding is one of the modifiable maternal factors protecting against child stunting. The current study aims to determine the prevalence of breastfeeding and its association with child stunting among adolescent mothers. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province. Using multi-stage stratified sampling method, 250 participants were recruited. Data were collected using structured interview questionnaires in 6 districts from August 2016 to March 2017. Descriptive and analytic statistics were used to analyze data. Results: 16.4% of children were stunted and 22.4% were breastfed for ≥6 months. Univariable logistic regression disclosed significantly associated factors of stunting included age at delivery, educational level, family members, weight gain during pregnancy, birth weight, complete immunization, recent illness, breast feeding and complementary feeding (p-value < 0.05). After adjusting multivariable logistic regression analysis for potential confounders, babies breastfed <4 months were 1.83 times at risk compared with those breastfed ≥6 months (OR=1.83, 95%CI=0.41-8.30) but without significance. Conclusion: Efforts to reduce child stunting should include surveillance systems of stunting which should be conducted accompanied by providing perspectives on maternal and child health care, implementing health literacy regarding breastfeeding among adolescent mothers and prevention programs to reduce and prevent child stunting.

A Model of Flooding Surveillance in Sena District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province, Thailand

This research aimed to establish a surveillance model to prevent flooding in Sena District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province. A quantitative method was adopted involving Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The sample size was 210 people in the Sena District. Three factors were focused on: disaster leadership, participation of citizens, as well as disaster surveillance system. The results show that the model of flooding surveillance in Sena District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province, was consistent with the empirical evidence. The regression weight of the model indicated that disaster leadership was highly related to the participation of citizens, while the disaster surveillance system variable was negatively related. Ultimately, citizens’ participation had a strong effect on the disaster surveillance system. Overall, the model of flooding surveillance in Sena District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province, should adopt collaborative approaches between local government leaders and people within an area, in order to create a flood disaster plan collaboratively. Keywords: Collaboration, Disaster Leadership, Disaster Surveillance System, Participation of Citizens

Influential Factors on Aerosol Change During COVID-19 in Ayutthaya, Thailand

Various interventions were made by the Thai government to prevent the COVID-19 spread by controlling socioeconomic activities, but the effectiveness of these interventions and other factors have not yet been fully clarified. Thus, this study aims to provide further scientific evidence on those potential factors which affect the socioeconomic activities changes during the pandemic, by using spatial analysis on atmospheric composition. By taking Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province, Thailand as the case area. Results of the government's COVID-19 measures and statuses of industries were compared with changes in aerosols, including PM 2.5 which was analyzed by Google Earth Engine with nine open datasets including meteorological and hydrological factors. The analysis revealed that the aerosol index in ueban area of the province decreased at 28.03% in 2020 compared in 2019. Besides, PM 2.5 drastically decreased from March 2020, even without the influence of wind speed which as the highest causal relationship, and kept low level compared with previous years. The reason of the tendency would be explained that other than government interventions including national-level state of the emergency decree, reduction of factories' activities at Rojana Industrial Park and reduction of the number of tourists had significant influence to reduce the mean value of PM 2.5.

Integration of Buddhist Doctrines to Promote and Develop Core Values of Third Grade Primary School Students of Wat Sukantharam School in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province, Thailand

Integration of Buddhist Doctrines to Promote and Develop Core Values of Third Grade Primary School Students of Wat Sukantharam School in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province, Thailand

Driving Mechanisms for the Agricultural Tourism Network Sector in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province

This research aims to study the driving mechanism for the agricultural tourism network sector in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province with the use of combined approaches. The 2 research processes comprised 1) to study of documents and related research with associate agricultural tourism network in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province and 2) to study of mechanisms to drive agricultural tourism with Delphi techniques from relevant sector, both public, private, public and academic. Results indicated that the driving mechanism for the agricultural tourism network sector in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province comprises the following elements 1. Man refers to a group of people or organization who join the network including 1) Government sector; 2) Private sector; 3) Public sector and 4) Academic sectors including educational institutes and related organization; .2. Resources refers to the tool used to promote the development of an area or a government network to support the development of the area, infrastructure to allocate budget to develop tourist attractions, private sector network to promote / support activities in the tourist area, public sector network to perform tourism resource management planning and academic sector network to support knowledge in development coordinating with relevant sector in the area for development and 3. Management System (System) refers to the establishment of a common agricultural tourism management model of network partners with the processes as follows: 1) Defining the needs to be a network; 2) Seeking partners to share information; 3) Forming a network to work 4) Setting goals, objectives, strategies that are common opinions; 5)Establishing working structure and share-decision making process; 6) Designing work plans and activities; 7) Developing network capacity; 8) Creating communication system; 9) Exchanging of knowledge and lesson summary development and 10) Monitoring and evaluation..

Tourists’ Behavior and Factors Affecting their Decision for Visiting Ayothaya Floating Market, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province

The objectives of this research were 1) to study tourists’ behavior and service marketing factors affecting their decision to visit Ayothaya Floating Market in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province during the crisis, and 2) to validate the model of tourists’ behavior and service marketing factors affecting their decision to visit Ayothaya Floating Market in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province during the crisis. This research was a mixed methods research through quantitative and qualitative methods. For the quantitative research, 17 observable variables were explored and collected from 340 tourists visiting Ayothaya Floating Market. For the qualitative research, data were collected from 9 experts related to the floating market service business, obtained based on a purposive sampling. Research instruments were a questionnaire and semi-structured interview. Data were analyzed with LISREL program, Structural Equation Model (SEM). The results of this research indicated as follows: tourists’ behavior and service marketing factors affecting their decision to visit Ayothaya Floating Market in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province during the crisis were consistent and harmonious with the empirical data. The results of calculating index of consistency (IOC) were as follows:  χ2  = 199.78, df = 109, χ2 / df = 1.83, CFI = 0.97, GFI = 0.94, SRMR = 0.051, RMSEA = 0.050. 2. Factors affecting tourists’ decision to visit Ayothaya Floating Market included tourist’s behavior and  service marketing factors, respectively.

New Product Development from Radish of Ban Phayom Community, Wang Noi district, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province, Thailand

This research paper aims to develop new products from the radish, Ban Phayom community, Wang Noi District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province which is operated using a Qualitative Research process and Participatory action research (PAR). The operating was (1) In-depth interviews and data collection from 50 citizens and stakeholders in the Phayom community, (2) A group meeting to brainstorm and analyze a SWOT from Participatory action research (PAR), which uses a process of involvement by the community and associated networks. The research was found that: (1) the community market survey found that there is a need to transform radish products, which want to modernize packaging design, be able to sell products to different groups of customers, and develop distribution channels to be able to sell products in multiple channels. (2) the community opinions, brainstorming, and analyzing SWOT in order to create a plan for developing new products to truly meet the needs of all groups of customers. (3) the producing a prototype product, it was found that the community has tried to transform radish products to be up to date with the current era and to improve their ingredients and materials to meet the needs of new target customers who have developed new products. was the Korean pickled radish. (4) Market testing, it was found that the community had put the product on sale at the community flea market before improving the product to be sold. (5) the sales were found that the community has developed Korean pickled radish products to be sold both offline and online, which are sold at stores in the Phayom community and on the Facebook page of Phayom Community Products.

Impact on Temple Missions and Roles in the COVID-19 Situation: A Case Study of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province

The purpose of this research article was to study impacts on missions and the roles of temples in the COVID-19 situation of the Sangha, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province. Mixed methods research was designed. Quantitative research using survey research method was conducted. Data were collected by using online questionnaires through google form tool from monks of 450 temples in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province. For qualitative research, in-depth interview and online participatory observation were collected during April - May 2020. Results indicated that impacts on the mission of the Sangha in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province were shown (1) in respect of ceremonies and rituals temples cannot perform monastic religious and ceremonies under the anti-COVID-19 social distancing policy such as chanting, praying, receive food offerings. For related religion ceremonies such as ordination, weddings, death and general merit making that aiming for the spiritual support of Buddhists, cannot be carried out. (2) For impact on the administration of monastic affairs, online meeting was used for the administration and management. (3) Roles of the measure in the COVID-19 situation, the temple and the supreme rulers of the Sangha have implemented a policy to help society through setting up a restaurant during difficult times, distribute items, consumer goods, food, water and subsistence. At the national level, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province Sangha distributed items to facilitate people. (4) Missionary mission by communicating patience, beliefs and principles for self-tolerance via online system which consisted of Facebook, YouTube, Zoom to stay at home to prevent COVID-19 with government agencies for achieving holistic results in managing COVID-19 prevention.

Isolation, identification and potential probiotic characterization of lactic acid bacteria from Thai traditional fermented food.

The probiotic potential of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from Thai traditional fermented food was investigated. Forty-two samples were collected from four markets in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province. Out of 50 isolated LAB, 6 (a3, f4, f8, K1, K4 and K9) obtained from pla-ra and bamboo shoot pickle samples showed high tolerance to gastrointestinal tract conditions. These isolates were selected to identify and characterize their probiotic properties. Isolate a3 was identified as Weissella thailandensis, isolates f4 and f8 were identified as belonging to Enterococcus thailandicus and isolates K1, K4 and K9 were determined as Limosilactobacillus fermentum. All six LAB exhibited high autoaggregation ability (93.40–95.01%), while W. thailandensis isolate a3 showed potential for coaggregation in almost all the pathogenic bacteria tested. Cell-free supernatant (CFS) obtained from all isolates did not inhibit Staphylococcus aureus. CFS derived from L. fermentum isolate K4 showed the most efficient antimicrobial activity, in particular against Gram-negative bacteria, while L. fermentum isolate K4 presented high surface hydrophobicity in the presence of xylene and n-hexane. All LAB isolates were found to be resistant to clindamycin and nalidixic acid, whereas E. thailandicus isolate f8 exhibited resistance to most of the antibiotics tested. L. fermentum isolate K4 showed promise as a suitable probiotic candidate for future applications in the food industry due to tolerance to gastrointestinal tract conditions with high surface hydrophobicity and inhibited most of the pathogens tested.

Chronology of Gonadal Development in the Malayan Snail-eating Turtle Malayemys macrocephala.

The snail-eating turtle, Malayemys macrocephala, is a common freshwater turtle that can be used as an animal model for developmental biology. However, a thorough investigation of its development is needed before this species can be used as a model. Thus, this study aimed to examine the gonadal development of M. macrocephala. Turtle eggs were collected from rice fields in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province, Thailand, and transported to the laboratory. Eggs were incubated in microprocessor-controlled incubators and randomly dissected on a weekly basis to reveal the developing embryos, then their developmental stage was identified according to Yntema (1968). Primordial germ cells and gonad structure were processed through the paraffin method. Moreover, the dynamics of germ cell proliferation and apoptosis were examined by immunohistochemical detection of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL), respectively. Examination of the gonad revealed four main stages of gonadal development: (i) germ cell migration, (ii) genital ridge appearance, (iii) testicular formation, and (iv) ovarian formation. In the male turtle (incubated at 26°C), gonad developed into the testis with medullary sex cords starting at Yntema stage 17. In the female turtle (incubated at 32°C), these sex cords then degenerated, followed by cortical development into an ovarian structure starting at Yntema stage 19. Subsequently, testicular and ovarian development occurred independently, and distinct sex organs were apparent at Yntema stage 25. In addition, the presumptive testis showed germ cell proliferation in the medulla at Yntema stages 17, 19, and 25 and germ cell apoptosis in the cortex at Yntema stages 19 and 25. The presumptive ovary showed germ cell proliferation in the cortex at Yntema stages 19 and 25, and germ cell apoptosis in the medulla at Yntema stages 19 and 25.

Recalibrating the New Thai Vernacular Architecture

The emergence of the new types of vernacular houses shows the evidence of change leaping fromthe popular image of the traditional Thai houses. The change is impacted from many factors includingcontemporary cultural needs. New vernaculars, which are found in the central Thailand, are the transformingThai houses and the reproduction Thai houses. These two occurrences began since the 1960s (forthe first type) and the 1990s (for the second type). The vernacular houses were surveyed in Pak Kranvillage and Bang Pahun area in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province during the 2000s. These new vernacularhouses have developed from the traditional Thai house among other modern housing developments.However, there is lacking of awareness and understanding of the change. Most of the policies from Thaigovernment, study courses and research topics have focused only on the image in the past. Accordingly,contemporary vernaculars tend to be disregarded. For recalibrating the new vernaculars in this paper, thereare three main subjects: 1. the viewpoints on vernacular architectures both from local and internationalscholars; 2. the definitions and previous studies relating to vernaculars; and 3. the establishment of the newvernacular architectures, which closely relate to the traditional Thai house. This paper involves developingan understanding of vernaculars as well as providing ways to expand the scope of vernacular studies.

Heavy Metal Contamination Near Industrial Estate Areas in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province, Thailand and Human Health Risk Assessment

Industrial activity is one of the significant sources of environmental contamination with heavy metals, especially in developing countries. Flood can also lead to the distribution of toxic substances into the environment, regarding the Thailand flood in 2011 as some industrial estates are affected, leading to concern about heavy metals from industrial wastewater contamination. We aimed to measure the levels of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Mn, Pb, and Zn in river and stream water, sediment, and fish collected from the area around the industrial estates in Uthai District and Bangpa-in District of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province, following the floods of 2011. The results revealed that heavy metal levels in water did not exceed Thailand surface water quality standards, except for Mn levels at one sampling site. Metal levels in sediment and fish samples also did not exceed published standards. The hazard quotient for fish consumption was highest for Ni (0.2178) in Trichopodus trichopterus collected from the area near the industrial estate in Bangpa-in District, while the hazard index from Cd, Cr, and Cu exposure were 0.86966, which was lower than 1, indicating that the health risks for these seven metals were within acceptable ranges.