Historical and contemporary manifestations of ‘Global Britain’::A case study of Thailand

After the European referendum in 2016, the UK government promoted the concept of ‘Global Britain’ to represent British foreign policy ambitions throughout the Brexit and post-Brexit periods. However, there has been much debate over what 'Global Britain' means for the UK's post-Brexit position in the world, and how the UK government would establish or preserve relationships with the EU and other countries in the Brexit and post-Brexit periods.This study aims to explore historical and contemporary foreign policy relations between the UK and Thailand. A case study approach has been applied to analyse if and how foreign policy relations between the UK and Thailand have changed as the UK departs the EU within the ‘Global Britain’ narrative. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with thirty-four participants representing Thai elites and experts with specialised knowledge and expertise in Thai and UK relations, examining their perspectives and experiences related to the ‘Global Britain’ narrative and how the post-Brexit ‘Global Britain’ concept has influenced the relationship between the UK and Thailand. These narratives are then analysed with respect to historically located and realised in contemporary manifestations of concepts of informal empire. It demonstrates that the ‘Global Britain’ narrative in Thailand means cementing elite networks that have developed over the last four-hundred years as mutually beneficial relationships. These perspectives have dominated the ‘Global Britain’ concept, which focus on the legacy of British imperialism being both historically rooted and currently relevant in Thailand. The result of these partnerships is described by Evans (1979) as ‘dependent development’ within neo-colonialism. These dynamics were characteristic of semi-peripheral nations that still had relations with dominant countries and were able to pursue and accomplish intensive industrial development through local elites. The research findings illustrate that the ‘Global Britain’ concept is failing. It is inconsistent with the British government’s ambition for a radical shift in relations with Thailand and other countries in the Asia-Pacific region. It appears to be just a continuation of the concept of an ‘informal empire’, which is arguably the same approach the UK government has always wanted to adopt but could not achieve inside the EU. Therefore, the ‘Global Britain’ concept is shaped by informal imperial thinking. However, there is nothing new going on in Thai-UK relations beyond trade agreements. The findings suggest that the ‘Global Britain’ concept can be used in Thailand to strengthen Thai and British relations through cultural and social development but with little economic and political influence. This study contributed to knowledge and practice by demonstrating the legacy of the informal imperial approach as a model for Anglo-Thai foreign policy relationships. The incorporation of informal imperial legacy and dependent development into the post-Brexit concept of ‘Global Britain’ will help Thai and British policymakers and stakeholders, as well as those from other developing nations, in their study and understanding of contemporary and modern British policy

Estimating Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration in Rice Paddies as Influenced by Climate Change under Scenario A2 and B2 of an i-EPIC model of Thailand

Carbon sequestration in soils constitutes an important option that can be used to reduce CO2 emissions to the atmosphere and reduce environmental impacts. Soil organic carbon (SOC) is both a source of carbon release and a sink for carbon sequestration. Our objectives in this study were to validate the interactive Environmental Policy Impact Calculator (i-EPIC) model version 0509, as well as to estimate SOC sequestration under climate change scenarios A2 and B2 SRES emission scenarios in Thailand. The SOC estimated by i-EPIC was compared with data from the Office of Soil Resources Survey and Research, Land Development Department. The results indicated that performance testing of i-EPIC is able to estimate SOC. Validation of SOC proved to be satisfactory with a resulting root mean square error (RMSE %) value of 34.60. The SOC content showed a decreasing trend under B2 and A2 climate scenarios (average 0.87% and 0.85%, respectively) compared to the reference from 2007 (average 0.92%). Stepwise regression analysis also revealed that carbon from residue decomposition, biomass pool carbon, and the total change of the carbon pool were directly correlated with the SOC (R2= 0.99, p< 0.01). Furthermore, the change from rain supplied water to irrigation also resulted in an increase of carbon inputs but a decrease in the SOC sequestered during the 2007-2017 period. Regression analyses indicated that soil carbon sequestration responds linearly to carbon input. Significant changes in carbon input as well as decreases in SOC levels were observed as temperature and precipitation increased. Based on the testing and analysis, we concluded that i-EPIC is capable of reliably simulating effects of climate change on SOC sequestration. Based on the results, this knowledge and information can increase effectiveness in the promotion of integrated rice management for rice production in Thailand

Pre-clinical evaluation of extracts and essential oils from betel-like scent Piper species identified potential cancer treatment

Background: Nine Piper species with betel-like scents are sources of industrial and medicinal aromatic chemicals, but there is lack of information on cytotoxicity and genotoxicity for human safety, including how these plants impact human cervical cancer cell line.Methods: Plant leaves were extracted with hexane and hydro-distilled for essential oils. The extracts and oils were preclinically studied based on cyto - and genotoxicity using microculture tetrazolium (MTT) and comet assays.Results: The crude extracts showed an IC50 in leukocytes and HeLa cells of 58.59 -97.31 mg/ml and 34.91-101.79 mg/ml, the LD50 is higher than 5000 mg/kg. With lower values than the crude extracts, the essential oils showed an IC50 in leukocytes and HeLa cells of 0.023-0.059 μg/ml and 0.025-0.043 μg/ml, the LD50 is less than 50 mg/kg. IC50 values showed that the essential oils were highly toxic than the crude extracts. At the level of human genetic materials, the crude extracts of two species, including P. betloides and P. crocatum, showed a significant toxicity (p &lt; 0.05) in leukocytes. The other samples were non-toxic. The crude extracts of all samples showed significant genotoxicity in HeLa cells. The essential oils of all studied Piper species showed insignificant toxicity in leukocytes. For HeLa cells, the eight-studied species showed significant toxicity in HeLa cells, whereas only P. submultinerve showed insignificant toxicity.Conclusion: The crude extracts and essential oils should be tested as putative cervical cancer treatments due to less toxicity in human normal cells.Keywords: betel-like scent Piper species; essential oil; crude extracts; cytotoxicity; genotoxicit

Bystander T cells in human immune responses to dengue antigens

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Previous studies of T cell activation in dengue infection have focused on restriction of specific T cell receptors (TCRs) and classical MHC molecules. However, bystander T cell activation, which is TCR independent, occurs via cytokines in other viral infections, both in vitro and in vivo, and enables T cells to bypass certain control checkpoints. Moreover, clinical and pathological evidence has pointed to cytokines as the mediators of dengue disease severity. Therefore, we investigated bystander T cell induction by dengue viral antigen.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Whole blood samples from 55 Thai schoolchildren aged 13-14 years were assayed for in vitro interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) induction in response to inactivated dengue serotype 2 antigen (Den2). The contribution of TCR-dependent and independent pathways was tested by treatment with cyclosporin A (CsA), which inhibits TCR-dependent activation of T cells. ELISA results revealed that approximately 72% of IFN-γ production occurred via the TCR-dependent pathway. The major IFN-γ sources were natural killer (NK) (mean ± SE = 55.2 ± 3.3), CD4⁺T (24.5 ± 3.3) and CD8⁺T cells (17.9 ± 1.5), respectively, as demonstrated by four-color flow cytometry. Interestingly, in addition to these cells, we found CsA-resistant IFN-γ producing T cells (CD4⁺T = 26.9 ± 3.6% and CD8⁺T = 20.3 ± 2.1%) implying the existence of activated bystander T cells in response to dengue antigen in vitro. These bystander CD4⁺and CD8⁺T cells had similar kinetics to NK cells, appeared after 12 h and were inhibited by anti-IL-12 neutralization indicating cytokine involvement.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study described immune cell profiles and highlighted bystander T cell activation in response to dengue viral antigens of healthy people in an endemic area. Further studies on bystander T cell activation in dengue viral infection may reveal the immune mechanisms that protect or enhance pathogenesis of secondary dengue infection.</p

Genetic analysis for identification, genomic template stability in hybrids and barcodes of the Vanda species (Orchidaceae) of Thailand

Molecular data supporting morphological characters for identification and specific markers for ornamental Vanda species in Thailand can be achieved for economic means. The ten native Thai species that have been explored and identified are Vanda bensonii, Vanda brunnea, Vanda coerulea, Vanda coerulescens, Vanda denisoniana, Vanda pumila, Vanda lilacina, Vanda liouvillei, Vanda testacea and Vanda tessellata. Three unidentified species (Vanda sp. 1, Vanda sp. 2 and Vanda sp. 3) have been discovered. In addition, three hybrids, hybrid 1 (maternal A × Vanda tessellata), hybrid 2 (Vanda denisoniana × Vanda bensonii), and hybrid 3 (maternal B × paternal C), and two transferred species, Holcoglossum kimballianum (previously Vanda kimballiana) and Papilionanthe teres (previously Vanda teres) were included in genetic analysis by dendrogram constructed from random amplified polymorphic deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) (RAPD) markers. The results indicate that identical species showed monophyletic group and genetic distances (D) that were between 0.15 to 0.17 which lead to the identification of Vanda, sp. 1 as Vanda bensonii and Vanda sp. 2 as Vanda brunnea because different species give D as higher as 0.20 to 0.40 with divided ancestors. Genomic template stability (GTS) test of hybrids were calculated indicating the percentage of descendant characteristics from parents. The GTS values of hybrid 2 compared with maternal and paternal were 32.88 and 36.62, respectively. Regarding hybrid 1 and 3 for which maternal and / or paternal are unclear, the GTS values when compared to other identified species ranged from 20.34 to 36.84 and 23.19 to 45.98, respectively. Finally, the barcodes of all wild studied species were done by two core barcodes and the tag sequences were tested for nucleotide variations of 0.005 to 0.076 in matK and 0.007 to 0.040 in rbcL regions. The sequences were deposited in GenBank database with accession numbers.Key words: Genetic analysis, genomic template stability, matK, rbcL, Orchidaceae, Vand,

Population genetic analysis of oceanic paddle crab (Varuna litterata) in Thailand

Population genetic structure of Varuna litterata living along the coast of Thailand were examined in this study. The samples were collected from 3 coastal regions: The Andaman sea (Satun, Trang, Phang Nga), the lower Gulf of Thailand (Pattani, Songkhla, Nakhon Si Thammarat) and the upper Gulf of Thailand (Petchburi, Samut Songkram, Rayong, Trat). Intraspecific variation was determined based on partial sequences of the cytochrome oxidase subunits I gene. A total of 182 samples were collected but only 32 haplotypes were obtained from these samples. An excess of rare haplotypes indicated that the female effective population size of V. litterata living along the coast of Thailand is large. Estimated values of haplotype diversity and nucleotide diversity were 0.790 and 0.003, respectively. The AMOVA (analysis of molecular variance) and phylogenetic analysis results showed that based on genetic variation, the population of this organism was found to have 2 genetically different populations: The Andaman sea population and the Gulf of Thailand population. Genetic exchange of V. litterata among populations inhabiting along the coast of Thailand could be described by the stepping stone model. The results of neutrality tests, both Tajima’s D and Fu’s Fs statistics, yielded negative values (-1.992 and -26.877, respectively) and statistically significant deviation from the neutrality, indicating that the V. litterata living along the Thailand coast had experienced population expansion. Mismatch distribution analysis indicated that a possible expansion occurred 211,428 years ago during the Pleistocene glaciations period

Assessment of the Potential Climate Change on Rice Yield in Lower Ayeyarwady Delta of Myanmar Using EPIC Model

Climate change has been occurring and its consequences are a threat to rice production and hence food security. In this study, the effect of climate change on rice yield has been assessed by using the Environmental Policy Integrated Climate model under climate change scenarios RCP4.5 (medium emissions) and RCP8.5 (high emissions) and to propose alternative adaptive measures for farmers’ livelihoods in the lower Ayeyarwady Delta. The results show that the average yield increase of early rice are 11.84% and 7.56% and the average yield reduction of late rice are 37.37% and 50.89% under both scenarios. The study found that rice yield reduction will be significantly higher under the RCP8.5 than that of RCP4.5 for both rice. Yield reductions are attributed to increases in mean maximum and minimum temperatures and variation in rainfall pattern. The model result suggests that changing the sowing date is a good option for compensating the future rice yield reduction. The other adaptations that offset the rice yield response to climate change include providing farming machines, irrigation facilities, improving infrastructure, improvement in cultivars that resist disease, pest and drought, better weather forecast and extension systems

PRE-CLINICAL EVALUATION OF EXTRACTS AND ESSENTIAL OILS FROM BETEL-LIKE SCENT PIPER SPECIES IDENTIFIED POTENTIAL CANCER TREATMENT

Background: Nine Piper species with betel-like scents are sources of industrial and medicinal aromatic chemicals, but there is lack of information on cytotoxicity and genotoxicity for human safety, including how these plants impact human cervical cancer cell line. Methods: Plant leaves were extracted with hexane and hydro-distilled for essential oils. The extracts and oils were preclinically studied based on cyto - and genotoxicity using microculture tetrazolium (MTT) and comet assays. Results: The crude extracts showed an IC50 in leukocytes and HeLa cells of 58.59 -97.31 mg/ml and 34.91-101.79 mg/ml, the LD50 is higher than 5000 mg/kg. With lower values than the crude extracts, the essential oils showed an IC50 in leukocytes and HeLa cells of 0.023-0.059 μg/ml and 0.025-0.043 μg/ml, the LD50 is less than 50 mg/kg. IC50 values showed that the essential oils were highly toxic than the crude extracts. At the level of human genetic materials, the crude extracts of two species, including P. betloides and P. crocatum, showed a significant toxicity (p < 0.05) in leukocytes. The other samples were non-toxic. The crude extracts of all samples showed significant genotoxicity in HeLa cells. The essential oils of all studied Piper species showed insignificant toxicity in leukocytes. For HeLa cells, the eight-studied species showed significant toxicity in HeLa cells, whereas only P. submultinerve showed insignificant toxicity. Conclusion: The crude extracts and essential oils should be tested as putative cervical cancer treatments due to less toxicity in human normal cells