AN INTERNATIONAL STUDENT-INDUCED VFR TRAVEL IN THAILAND – A PERSPECTIVE OF HOST

The visiting friends and relatives (VFR) market is one of the largest and most rapidly growing global tourism markets nowadays (Sho, Hayato, & Tomoyuki, 2018). Influenced by globalization in the beginning of the 21st century, Southeast Asia has experienced a remarkable development of student mobility (Do & Pham, 2016). The purpose of this research is to explore the impacts on hosts caused by VFR travel and the further opportunities of tourism in Thailand linked with international student-induced VFR travel. The researcher try to identify the multiple roles of the international students and the tourists’ travel behavior based on VFR travel through this investigation from the perspective of host. This study adopted qualitative research methods to gather amounts of detailed information rely on eight respondents. Semi-structured, in-depth interview approach was conducted to collect data in Bangkok from September 19th to November 14th in 2018. The selection of sample was concentrated at Assumption University in Bangkok and it covers the international students as many as possible across different countries and genders. The researcher find that the international students take on multiple roles before and during the period when their friends and relatives come and visit them. The tourist behavior in Thailand identified by this study are similar. And for impacts on the host of VFR travel, the majority of the hosts’ feeling are happy, but a little disturbed sometimes. And some of the respondents have learned something form their hosting experience. The traffic problem and language barrier are identified as the negative comments that Thailand related sector should pay attention

Vibration control of rotating piezo-composite blade beam with CUS configuration based on optimal LQG controller

Vibration control of rotating composite blade beam with piezoelectric patch embedded is investigated. Stall flutter of piezo-composite blade driven by nonlinear aerodynamic forces is analyzed based on anisotropic circumferentially uniform stiffness (CUS) configuration. The blade is modeled as single-cell thin-walled beam structure, exhibiting the couplings among three displacements of vertical bending, lateral bending and transverse shear deformation, with structural tailoring implemented. The transversely piezoelectric actuating element is embedded in a manner such that its surface is parallel to the mid-surface of the blade beam. Piezoelectric damping ratios of rotating piezo-composite blade are described, with influences of different ply angles and rotating speeds illustrated. The flutter suppression for stall aeroelastic behavior based on an optimal LQG controller (OLC) with a dynamic regulator is highlighted with obvious effects demonstrated. In contrast with conventional LQG controller, the superiority of OLC controller is apparently demonstrated by time response and piezoelectric feedback voltage. Analytical proof of the structural modeling and feasibility analysis of the physical realization of the OLC algorithm are also investigated by comparisons of different modeling theories, and demonstrated by experimental platform

The Influence of Emotional State on Mobile Phone Addiction Tendency in College Students: The Mediation Role of Regulatory Emotion Self-efficacy

In order to explore the situation of college students’ emotional state, regulatory emotion self-efficacy and mobile phone addiction tendency as well as their relationships, a total of 350 college students were assessed with Mobile Phone Addiction Tendency Scale (MPATS), Positive Affect and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS) and the Scale of Regulatory Emotional Self-efficacy (SRESE). The result showed that: (1) 40.86% of college students had the tendency of cell phone addiction, which was serious; 72.0% of college students were in a positive emotional state, 22% were in a negative emotional state; college students' regulatory emotion self-efficacy was in the middle level; (2) there was no gender, grade, major type, household registration type (rural and urban) and whether only child difference in mobile phone addiction tendency; (3) the positive emotions of college students were negatively correlated with the tendency of mobile phone addiction, while the negative emotions were positively correlated with the tendency of mobile phone addiction, and the positive emotion was positively correlated with regulatory emotional self-efficacy；(4) the regulatory emotion self-efficacy had a partial mediating effect between the positive emotions and mobile phone addiction tendency and had no mediating effect between the negative emotions and mobile phone addiction tendency.

Genome assembly and visualization of aggressive wheat blast strain 16MoT01

Wheat blast, a highly destructive fungal disease caused by pathotype Magnaporthe oryzae Triticum, can cause up to 100% yield loss in wheat fields under optimal pathogen conditions. Until 2016, the disease had been confined to South America, but recent outbreaks of the disease in Asia and Africa threaten the global wheat supply. This study aims to characterize the genome structure of strain 16MoT01, which has proven to be particularly aggressive even towards wheat genotypes that have previously been resistant to blast. Genomic DNA from 16MoT01 was sequenced using Oxford Nanopore long read sequencing, assembled with Canu, and polished using Illumina reads, resulting in a finished chromosome-level assembly consisting of seven core-chromosomes, a mini-chromosome, and a mitochondrial genome. When compared to the reference genome of strain B71, the core-chromosomes show high similarity and the mini-chromosome shows a high level of divergence. The presence of mini-chromosomes will be confirmed through contour-clamped electric field (CHEF) gel electrophoresis. The CHEF protocol was developed using genomic DNA from a rice blast fungus. This assembly provides another reference genome and potential insights into what makes this strain so aggressive

Comprehensive identification of ecologically important areas in Zhengzhou, China

Ecosystem services include the direct and indirect contributions of ecosystems to human well-being and survival, which are important factors that maintain and influence the ecological environment of humans, animals, and plants. Identification of ecological source areas is the first step for mapping high-quality ecological networks, ensuring urban ecological security, and improving the ecosystem service functions. Zhengzhou City is located in the central region of China, and is the core transportation hub of the country. In recent decades, Zhengzhou has accumulated a series of ecological problems in the dramatic urbanization development, such as the destruction of natural resources, environmental pollution, and biological species reduction. Ecological conservation is an urgent need for Zhengzhou. Based on the ecosystem services theory, we selected biodiversity maintenance function, habitat quality, water conservation, and soil conservation as key ecological impact factors to comprehensively evaluate the ecosystem service functions of the study area. By using GIS spatial analysis tool, the InVEST habitat quality model, and spatial connectivity analysis, we can implement the integrated identification of ecological source areas on a large scale. After superimposing the evaluation of ecological factors, the results show that the most important source areas are primarily distributed in the southwest of Zhengzhou. The proportion of ecological sources in Zhengzhou is relatively small, with an area of about 711.16km2, accounting for only 9.3% of Zhengzhou. Most of them have already been protected as forest parks or nature reserve by the government, while some sources like sections of Yellow River which are close to main urban area are facing development pressure. The ecological corridors in the urban area mostly are based on water system like Jinshui river, Xiliu Lake, and Longzi Lake that can connect green open space in the main urban area and natural green space outside

Isolation and identification of a distinct strain of Culex Flavivirus from mosquitoes collected in Mainland China

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Culexflavivirus (CxFV) is an insect specific virus that has been isolated from <it>Culexpipiens, Culexquinquefasciatus, Culextritaeniorhynchus </it>and other <it>Culex </it>mosquitoes. It is a novel flavivirus isolated in Asia, North America, Central America and Africa. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that, based on the envelope gene (E gene) sequence, the worldwide CxFV strains can be divided into two genotypes.</p> <p>Result</p> <p>A virus (SDDM06-11) was isolated from <it>Culexpipiens </it>collected in Shandong Province, China in 2006. The strain caused cytopathic effect (CPE) in <it>Aedesalbopictus </it>(C6/36) cells by 3 days post-infection and immunofluorescence assay (IFA) showed a reaction with Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) polyclonal antibodies. Phylogenetic analysis of the E gene sequence showed CxFV formed two genotypes with the SDDM06-11 strain assigned to genotype 1. Analysis of the E gene nucleotide homology showed the virus possessed characteristic amino acids at specific sites. The nucleotide homology of the open reading frame (ORF) was 94.8%-95.1% between SDDM06-11 and isolates from Japan, Iowa and Texas, and 90.2%-90.5% between SDDM06-11 and isolates from Uganda and Mexico.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In this paper we report the first isolation and identification of an isolate of CxFV in mainland China. Phylogenetic analysis indicates the isolate belongs to genotype 1. Our findings provide insight into the occurrence of CxFV in <it>Culex </it>mosquito populations and its distribution on a global scale.</p

Climatic and Soil Factors Shape the Demographical History and Genetic Diversity of a Deciduous Oak (Quercus liaotungensis) in Northern China

Past and current climatic changes have affected the demography, patterns of genetic diversity, and genetic structure of extant species. The study of these processes provides valuable information to forecast evolutionary changes and to identify conservation priorities. Here, we sequenced two functional nuclear genes and four chloroplast DNA regions for 105 samples from 21 populations of Quercus liaotungensis across its distribution range. Coalescent-based Bayesian analysis, approximate Bayesian computation (ABC), and ecological niche modeling (ENM) were integrated to investigate the genetic patterns and demographical history of this species. Association estimates including Mantel tests and multiple linear regressions were used to infer the effects of geographical and ecological factors on temporal genetic variation and diversity of this oak species. Based on multiple loci, Q. liaotungensis populations clustered into two phylogenetic groups; this grouping pattern could be the result of adaptation to habitats with different temperature and precipitation seasonality conditions. Demographical reconstructions and ENMs suggest an expansion decline trend of this species during the Quaternary climatic oscillations. Association analyses based on nuclear data indicated that intraspecific genetic differentiation of Q. liaotungensis was clearly correlated with ecological distance; specifically, the genetic diversity of this species was significantly correlated with temperature seasonality and soil pH, but negatively correlated with precipitation. Our study highlights the impact of Pleistocene climate oscillations on the demographic history of a tree species in Northern China, and suggests that climatic and soil conditions are the major factors shaping the genetic diversity and population structure of Q. liaotungensis

The complete chloroplast genome of common walnut (Juglans regia)

Common walnut (Juglans regia L.) is cultivated in temperate regions worldwide for its wood and nuts. The complete chloroplast genome of J. regia was sequenced using the Illumina MiSeq platform. This is the first complete chloroplast sequence for the Juglandaceae, a family that includes numerous species of economic importance. The chloroplast genome of J. regia was 160 367 bp in length, with 36.11% GC content. It contains a pair of inverted repeats (26 035 bp) which were separated by a large single copy (89 872 bp) and a small single copy region (18 425 bp). A total of 137 genes were annotated, which included 86 protein-coding genes, three pseudogenes (two ycf15 and one infA), 40 tRNA genes and eight rRNA genes. The neighbour-joining phylogenetic analysis with the reported chloroplast genomes showed that common walnut chloroplasts are most closely related to those of the Fagaceae family

Large Subcapsular Splenic Hematoma with a Large Pancreatic Pseudocyst Was Successfully Treated with Splenic Arterial Embolization and Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Drainage of Pancreatic Pseudocyst

Subcapsular splenic hematoma is a rare complication of pancreatitis. The management for subcapsular splenic hematoma remains controversial. We herein report a case of a large subcapsular splenic hematoma with a large pancreatic pseudocyst, which was successfully treated with splenic arterial embolization and ultrasound- (US-) guided percutaneous drainage of pancreatic pseudocyst, for the first time. A 44-year-old male suffered from recurrent abdominal pain for more than two years. He had previous 3 episodes of pancreatitis. A subcapsular splenic hematoma (16.0 × 16.0 × 7.6 cm) with pancreatic pseudocyst (13.5 × 10.0 × 8.0 cm) was shown on abdominal computed tomography (CT). He underwent splenic arterial embolization to decrease the blood supply of the spleen and then ultrasound-guided percutaneous drainage of the large pancreatic pseudocyst. After 2 weeks, the repeated CT-Abdomen showed the disappearance of pancreatic pseudocyst and multiple areas of infarction on the spleen, while the splenic subcapsular hematoma had also significantly reduced. The patient was discharged after almost a month of his hospital admission with the drainage tube attached, and about 2 weeks later the drainage tube was removed upon CT scan confirmation of decrease in the volume of the subcapsular hematoma. Patient had no abdominal symptoms at the 1.5-year follow-up

Effects of Spine Motion on Foot Slip in Quadruped Bounding

Translation and bend of the spine in the sagittal plane during high-speed quadruped running were investigated. The effect of the two spine motions on slip between the foot and the ground was also explored. First, three simplified sagittal plane models of quadruped mammals were studied in symmetric bounding. The first model’s trunk allowed no relative motion, the second model allowed only trunk bend, and the third model allowed both bend and translation. Next, torque was introduced to equivalently replace spine motion and the possibility of foot slip of the three models was analyzed theoretically. The results indicate that the third model has the least possibility of slip. This conclusion was further confirmed by simulation experiments. Finally, the conclusion was verified by the reductive model crawling robot