อิทธิพลของคุณสมบัติเชิงชลศาสตร์ในดินถมและวัสดุระบายน้ำใยสังเคราะห์ต่อการระบายน้ำในกำแพงกันดินเสริมกำลัง

This research aims to investigate the effect of water retention characteristic of the soil and drainage material (geocomposite) on seepage responses in mechanical stabilized earth walls by using geocomposite as drainage system. A set of experiments on physical models was conducted such that the data set obtained from the tests were used to calibrate the numerical models. The well calibrated numerical models were then used to perform parametric study. The studied parameters were van Genuchten parameters (ga, gn, Sres, Ssat) and coefficient of permeability (k) of the relevant materials. Results from the parametric study show that the water retention characteristic of the soil outside the reinforced zone plays no role to the hydraulic response of the soil inside the reinforced zone. However, the coefficient of permeability of the soil outside the reinforced zone plays important role to the level of the phreatic surface inside the reinforced zone. Hence, the coefficient of permeability of the soil outside the reinforced zone must be taken into account when designing drainage system

Variation in Number and Formation of Repeat Sequences in the rDNA ITS2 Region of Five Sibling Species in the Anopheles barbirostris Complex in Thailand

Repeat sequences of approximately 100 base pairs in length were found in the rDNA ITS2 region of Anopheles barbirostris van der Wulp (Diptera: Culicidae) species A1, A2, A3, A4, and An. campestris-like in the An. barbirostris complex. Variation in the number of repeats was observed among the five sibling species. Specifically, 10 repeats were observed in A1, eight in A2, A4, and campestris-like, and three in A3. Based on similarities in the sequences of the repeats, related repeats were classified into nine groups. Although A2, A4, and the campestris-like species had the same number of repeats, the ITS2 region of the three species contained different groups of repeats. Excluding the repeat sequences facilitated good alignment of the ITS2 region in the five sibling species. Phylogenetic analyses of the 95 isolines were compared with results obtained from mitochondrial genes (COI and COII). The results revealed marked differences among the five sibling species, particularly regarding the ITS2 region of A3, which was more distinct from the other four species than COI and COIL Repeat sequences in the ITS2 region of other Anopheles species retrieved from GenBank also were analyzed. New repeat sequences were found in An. beklemishevi Stegnii and Kabanova, An. crucians Wiedemann and An. funestus Giles, suggesting that the occurrence of repeat sequences in the ITS2 region are not rare in anopheline mosquitoes

The dominant Anopheles vectors of human malaria in the Asia-Pacific region: occurrence data, distribution maps and bionomic précis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The final article in a series of three publications examining the global distribution of 41 dominant vector species (DVS) of malaria is presented here. The first publication examined the DVS from the Americas, with the second covering those species present in Africa, Europe and the Middle East. Here we discuss the 19 DVS of the Asian-Pacific region. This region experiences a high diversity of vector species, many occurring sympatrically, which, combined with the occurrence of a high number of species complexes and suspected species complexes, and behavioural plasticity of many of these major vectors, adds a level of entomological complexity not comparable elsewhere globally. To try and untangle the intricacy of the vectors of this region and to increase the effectiveness of vector control interventions, an understanding of the contemporary distribution of each species, combined with a synthesis of the current knowledge of their behaviour and ecology is needed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Expert opinion (EO) range maps, created with the most up-to-date expert knowledge of each DVS distribution, were combined with a contemporary database of occurrence data and a suite of open access, environmental and climatic variables. Using the Boosted Regression Tree (BRT) modelling method, distribution maps of each DVS were produced. The occurrence data were abstracted from the formal, published literature, plus other relevant sources, resulting in the collation of DVS occurrence at 10116 locations across 31 countries, of which 8853 were successfully geo-referenced and 7430 were resolved to spatial areas that could be included in the BRT model. A detailed summary of the information on the bionomics of each species and species complex is also presented.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This article concludes a project aimed to establish the contemporary global distribution of the DVS of malaria. The three articles produced are intended as a detailed reference for scientists continuing research into the aspects of taxonomy, biology and ecology relevant to species-specific vector control. This research is particularly relevant to help unravel the complicated taxonomic status, ecology and epidemiology of the vectors of the Asia-Pacific region. All the occurrence data, predictive maps and EO-shape files generated during the production of these publications will be made available in the public domain. We hope that this will encourage data sharing to improve future iterations of the distribution maps.</p

Factors Related to Depression among Older People Living in Homes for the Aged of the Western Part of Thailand

Introduction:Geriatric depression is one of the significant mental health issues for older people. This descriptive study aimed to investigate the correlation between selected factors and depression among older people, living in homes for the aged in the western part of Thailand.Methods:107 older people, living in two homes for the aged of the western part of Thailand were recruited to the study, using cluster sampling. Three questionnaires, including the Barthel Index Activity of Daily living (BADL), the Thai Geriatric Depression Scale (TGDS), and personal characteristics, perceived health status, chronic diseases, family relationship, and recent grief and loss experience were used. The quality of all questionnaires, especially the reliability of BADL, TGDS, and selected factors (e.g., health factors) were 0.95, 0.93, and 0.72 respectively. After finishing data collection, percentages, medians, and Spearman’s rank correlation and Mann-Whitney U were used to analyze the data.Results and discussion:The results revealed that nearly half (41.1%) of older people suffered from depression. Furthermore, income, perceived health status, and Barthel ADL index were significantly negatively associated with depression at p<0.01; whereas, the number of chronic diseases was significantly positively associated with depression at p<0.05.Conclusion:results on the correlation may guide the practice in the future. For example, the officers or health care providers in homes for the aged should encourage older people to be independent, improve their perceived health status, increase health promoting behaviors to prevent or delay chronic illnesses, or increase older people incomes by promoting the appropriate occupation