A Missing Piece of RSS Technology

In the Information Age, people use RSS (Really Simple Syndication) Technology to help them to easily get the latest contents from websites by accessing only a single website as well as by using mobile devices. Several companies have started to use RSS for distributing their information to customers. However, most contents published via RSS technology are public and not confidential such as credit card information, financial business information etc. Since the RSS technology does not have a mechanism to ensure that the incoming information is really secure, in this paper we have proposed a Secure Information Notifying System with RSS Technology (SInfoNS). We have applied the RSS technology together with the cryptography to make any RSS document become secure before disseminating it to relevant users. The SInfoNS also uses XSL to apply to private information retrieval and XML schema and SchemaPath definitions have been created for validation. The results displayed on a user's mobile device provide users with the latest information. The results of this study confirm that our system will aggregate RSS documents and disseminate information to each user. The SInfoNS enables RSS technology for the use of private information that can be securely distributed.Cryptography, Really Simple Syndication, RSS, XML Schema, XSL

Non-invasive aesthetic medical tourism in Bangkok: a qualitative analysis of stakeholder risk

Medical tourism is a niche market. Non-invasive aesthetic medical tourism is a type of cosmetic medical tourism with no surgery involved. This type of global interconnection is a relatively new phenomenon within the context of the current sphere of internationalism, thus explaining why few have explored the economic and health factors in a deeper context than simply a cost/ benefit analysis. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to investigate how risk of stakeholders may act as a barrier to the development of aesthetic medical tourism, and to establish how competitive advantage may be sustained in Bangkok. Semi-structured interviews with 15 non-invasive aesthetic clinic owners, 25 English-speaking international tourist-patients, and five government representatives have been conducted in Bangkok. The findings from fieldwork were coded and analysed thematically using a framework derived from the literature review. This research identified six factors related to Thailand's competitiveness and six barriers to the development of this industry. The research made a significant original contribution to academic and practitioner knowledge in that it examined and evaluated risk perception in a new tourism context and with a new group of tourists. This research has established a classification of six types of risk in relation to non-invasive aesthetic medical tourism: functional, physical, financial, time, psychological and social risk. It also demonstrated how interpretivist qualitative approach can make a contribution to aesthetic medical tourism research practice. A framework of risks in relation to the development and management of aesthetic medical tourism in Bangkok was also established for both consumers and service providers in order to realise related risks and develop risk reduction strategies appropriately

Slippage between the ideological and formal domains :

According to Goodlad, slippage is likely to occur when an idea from the ideological domain is put into practice. Some of its elements may be modified through the sociopolitical and personal interpretative processes involved.The study used the Goodlad Conceptual System as a guide to trace slippage between the ideological and formal domains. These domains are among the five domains of a curriculum that are identified by the Conceptual System. The ideological domain contains the ideas of an educational planning group while the formal domain contains the written curriculum.Three minor questions needed to be answered before the study could answer the major question. The first one concerned the development of a framework for analysis. The second and third ones concerned the analysis of the two domains of each sample program.A descriptive procedure was employed in the study. The design permitted the analysis of slippage between egalitarian and elitist positions embraced in the two domains of each sample program.The sample consisted of the eighteen programs from the Educational Research Service, 1979, and additional information from their school districts and state guidelines.This study attempted to provide a better perspective for understanding slippage that might occur in the implementation of the idea of "equality of educational opportunity" in the selected gifted programs.The inferential value position(s) underlying the ideological domain was revealed by an analysis of the statements of philosophy of the program. The inferential value position(s) underlying the formal domain was revealed by an analysis of its definition of giftedness and the identification and selection methods used. Slippage between the two domains, if any, was revealed by an assessment of the inconsistencies between these inferential value positions.The study provided two main conclusions. First, the study found a way to analyze slippage between the two domains of a gifted program regarding the concept of equality of educational opportunity. Second, some slippage was found, thus making more credible Goodlad's conception of curriculum domains.The major question was: What are the patterns of slippage between the value positions of equality of educational opportunity underlying the two domains of the sample programs

Building a learning organization: case study of a private higher education institution

The objective of this research is to study the characteristics of the learning organization and to determine influencing factors which would allow a private higher education institution to achieve such status, in order to formulate the organization development plan.The study considered five aspects of the organization’s subsystems in accordance with Michael J. Marquardt’s theory, namely, learning, organization, people, knowledge, and technology.It was found that the institution studied had high degree of learning organization, in compliance with the five aspects framework.Thirteen influencing factors were identified as well as six weak points which would obstruct the developmen

Reproductive performance of fairy shrimp Branchinecta orientalis (G. O. Sars 1901) (Crustacea: Anostraca), fed with effluent of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum 1792) ponds

Aquaculture production is predicted to increase sharply. In this regard, live feed plays a crucial role in the larval phase of many aquaculture organisms. Hence, a persistent concern in aquaculture is to find low-cost and eco-friendly feed sources to culture live feed organisms. Branchinecta orientalis (G. O. Sars 1901), a fresh/brackish water fairy shrimp, was reared using effluent from rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum 1792) ponds, either fresh but supplemented with two species of microalgae, Scenedesmus sp. and Haematococcus sp., or non-supplemented but after “ageing” of the culture medium. The feeding experiment was designed at a density of 100 individuals L−1 in 2-L vessels. The results indicated that differences between final length, survival and most reproductive parameters of the treatment with aged medium and the treatment using fresh medium supplemented with Scenedesmus sp. were non-significant (p > .05). Better results were obtained for a number of reproductive parameters in the treatment supplemented with Haematococcus sp. Thus, for intensive resting egg production of B. orientalis, microalgae can be replaced by aged non-supplemented effluent from trout ponds as a nutrient-rich feed source. This consequently can reduce drainage of nutrients into the environment and thus decrease aquatic pollution

Vulnerability to Climate Change: Adaptation Strategies and Layers of Resilience – Quantifying Vulnerability to Climate Change in Thailand

This report was prepared as part of the ADB funded project “Vulnerability to Climate Change: Adaptation Strategies and Layers of Resilience”. The study tried to address the perception of farmers on changes in climate variables, trends in village level institutions and other socio-economic variables such as cropping pattern, natural resources, constraints in effective adaptation. Purposive stratified sampling techniques were adopted in selecting the study area and the households. Four villages from northeast region of Thailand (two villages from Chok Chai district and 2 villages from Chatturat district) were selected for this study. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected through farmer surveys, group discussions and key informant interviews. The villagers perceived a reduction in rainfall and increase in variability including onset of major rainy season. The villages have been experiencing increased incidence of drought resulting in yield loss, non- availability of water for irrigation, increased pest and diseases attack, and migration. Farmers perceived a minor increase in agriculture over the years; however, there is still a trend of diversification of livelihood among farmers from traditional agriculture to high-value crops and other non-agricultural sectors. Over the years, there have been slow but steady improvements in the human development indicators, village infrastructure and collective initiatives in all the study villages. Increased diversification in cropping pattern, improvement in market access, etc, are seen in these villages. The rural community in the study villages tries to cope with these changes by reducing expenses on food, working as agricultural or non-farm labor, leasing crop land, making changes in cropping pattern and in crop management strategies. The higher degree of impact of these climate-related risks is comparatively on landless and smallholder farmers than on medium and large farmers. They have identified a list of constraints that prevents them from succeeding in efficient adaptation such as lack of sufficient information on climate change and potential adaptation technologies, sufficient support programs, market and other livelihood options

การนำไปใช้ทางชีวภาพของสาหร่ายพวงองุ่นในทางเดินอาหารจำลองของมนุษย์Bioaccessibility of Sea Grape (Caulerpa lentillifera) in Simulated Human Digestive System in vitro digestion model

การศึกษาครั้งนี้มีวัตถุประสงค์เพื่อประเมินการนำไปใช้ทางชีวภาพของสาหร่ายพวงองุ่นในแบบจำลองกระบวนการย่อยในทางเดินอาหารของมนุษย์ แบบจำลองระบบทางเดินอาหารในหลอดทดลองเป็นการทดสอบเสถียรภาพของสารประกอบฟีนอลทั้งหมดและสารต้านออกซิเดชันในสาหร่ายพวงองุ่นเมื่อผ่านกระบวนย่อย โดยศึกษาองค์ประกอบทางเคมี ปริมาณฟีนอลทั้งหมด ฤทธิ์การต้านออกซิเดชันของสาหร่ายพวงองุ่นสดและแห้ง และศึกษาการนำไปใช้ทางชีวภาพในสาหร่ายพวงองุ่นสดจากปริมาณฟีนอลทั้งหมด และฤทธิ์การต้านออกซิเดชัน ผลการทดลองพบว่า สาหร่ายพวงองุ่นสดมีปริมาณความชื้น โปรตีน ไขมัน เถ้า เท่ากับ 82.63%, 3.89%, 1.27% และ 12.21% ตามลำดับ และสาหร่ายพวงองุ่นอบแห้งมีค่าเท่ากับ 2.29%, 19.76%, 0.63% และ 31.48% ตามลำดับ ปริมาณสารประกอบฟีนอลทั้งหมดของสาหร่ายสดและสาหร่ายที่ผ่านการอบแห้ง มีค่าเท่ากับ 38.10 ± 3.00 mg GAE/g sample และ 3.50 ± 0.51 mg GAE/g sample ตามลำดับ เมื่อวิเคราะห์ฤทธิ์การต้านออกซิเดชันของสาหร่ายพวงองุ่นสดโดยวิธี DPPH และ ABTS เท่ากับ 5.90 ± 0.82% และ 13.82 ± 0.22% ตามลำดับ ขณะที่สาหร่ายพวงองุ่นแห้งมีค่าเท่ากับ 1.93 ± 0.31% และ 2.11 ± 0.13% ตามลำดับ การประเมินการนำไปใช้ทางชีวภาพของสาหร่ายพวงองุ่นสดในทางเดินอาหารจำลองของมนุษย์ แสดงให้เห็นว่า เสถียรภาพของสารประกอบฟีนอลทั้งหมดและฤทธิ์การต้านออกซิเดชันมีค่าลดลงอย่างมีนัยสำคัญทางสถิติ (p < 0.05) เมื่อปริมาณตัวอย่างเพิ่มขึ้นในระดับ 2 – 8 กรัมThe objective of this study was to determine the bioaccessibility of C. lentillifera (sea grapes) in vitro digestion model. In vitro simulated digestion model was examined for the stability of total phenolic contents and antioxidant activity after C. lentillifera digestion. The proximate analysis, total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of fresh- and dried sea grapes were considered in this study. The bioaccessibility of fresh sea grapes was evaluated from total phenolic content and antioxidant activities. The results showed that the moisture, crude protein, fat and ash were about 82.63, 3.89, 1.27 and 12.21%, respectively. The dried sea grape was reported by 2.29% of moisture, 19.76% of crude protein, 0.63% of fat, and 31.48% of ash. The total phenolic contents of fresh and dried sea grapes were indicated about 38.10 ± 3.00 mg GAE/g sample and 3.50 ± 0.51 mg GAE/g sample, respectively. The antioxidant activity of fresh sea grapes was about 5.90 ± 0.82% by DPPH method and 13.82 ± 0.22% of ABTS method. The antioxidant values by DPPH and ABTS methods were shown at 1.93 ± 0.31% and 2.11 ± 0.13%, respectively. The evaluation of bioaccessibility of C. lentillifera in Simulated Human Digestive System in vitro digestion model revealed that the stability of total phenolic contents and antioxidant activities decreased significantly (p < 0.05) in relation to the increase of C. lentillifera contents in the range of 2–8 g

Efficiency of coconut water immersion inhibiting browning incidence on cut-surface of fresh-cut ‘Gala’ apples during storage

The purpose of the work was to investigate the efficiency of coconut water preventing browning incidence of fresh-cut product using ‘Gala’ apple as the fruit model. The fresh-cut apples were dipped in coconut water at the concentration of 0, 50 and 100% for 2 min and then kept at 4 ± 1 °C for 7 days. Browning-related parameters such as browning index (BI), browning score (BS), lightness (L*), whiteness index (WI), total colour difference (ΔE*), total phenols (TP), and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity were determined. The result showed that visual appearance of the fresh-cut apple was maintained by coconut water dip. Coconut water dip apparently lowered BI, BS and ΔE* increases and maintained L* and WI throughout the storage. The increases in TP and PPO activity of the fresh-cut apples were inhibited by coconut water dips. No significant difference in browning prevention efficiency of the both 50 and 100% coconut water dips was found. Thus 50% coconut water dip is an effectively natural alternative preventing browning incidence of fresh-cut products