Effectiveness of protected area management in Thailand

The main objectives of this study are to identify the nature of threats to protected areas and assess the effectiveness of protected area systems and management in Thailand, and to evaluate the use of conservation biology concepts in protected area management. The results from a survey of the heads of Thai national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, interviews and discussions with experts and the staff of the Thai Royal Forest Department (RFD), site visits, and a review of in-house documents of the RFD suggest that overall threats to protected areas throughout the country are illegal hunting, illegal logging, land encroachment, extraction of non-timber forest products, and pressure from people living around the protected units. Similar patterns of threats were also found when data were evaluated by region and by protected category. Overall level of impact from the threats are high in all protected areas, whereas spatial and temporal scales of impacts are low, resistance of protected areas to threats is high, and resilience of areas is low. Overall effectiveness of protected areas is rated at a moderate level; effectiveness of the system is high but effectiveness of management is moderate. The study also revealed gaps in the evaluation of effectiveness of the systems and management, related to reserve design, selection, prioritization, evaluation, policy, management, and public involvement. Recommendations to improve protected area system and management in Thailand are provided. Guidelines to apply conservation biology concepts in protected area management are also suggested. Research direction should focus on conflict resolution, building the capacity of protected area systems and management, restoration in deforested ecosystem, and more efficient use of timber and non-timber forest products

An Investigation Shear Surface on Semi-Piercing with Finite Element Method

AbstractThe Semi-piercing process is a sheet metal forming process and popular in fine blanking process with high precisionrequirement and smooth shear surface without crack. The Semi-pierce parts can be completed without the secondary operations, and then cost and time are reduced. Many parameter such as, Experiments including specimens were made of low carbon steelaccording to JIS.SPHC standard, ring shape, thickness of 6 mm., diameter of 12 mm., clearance 0.5 percent of specimen thickness, cutting edge-radius of punch and die was determined as 0.0, 1.0, and 2.0 mm. respectively. As the results, the smaller of punch-die cutting edges radius percent of smooth shear surface was lease than the larger of punch-die cutting edge radius. Meanwhile, as the larger of punch-die cutting edge radius was increase, results to increasing of the percent of width and depth of die roll. In addition, its effect to the amount of strain on shear zone, as the larger of strain, results to increased of the die-roll anddecreasing of smooth shear surface

The evolution of (inter-organizational) projects to (micro-) ecosystem : an ecosystem emergence

This thesis is an exploratory case study on how projects evolve to ecosystems. The research study is demonstrated by two empirical cases provided by Telenor in a context of smart city; namely water infrastructure and air quality projects. In order for the inductive observations to be analysed and discussed, existing theories on the ecosystem concept are critically reviewed and employed to construct a temporary working definition, as well as ecosystem emergence and inter-organizational theories are presented. Project managers and senior managers within the projects are targeted as interview samples as they can provide valuable information. Firstly, the two study cases are analysed according to the working definition and the absence of interdependency and loosely coupled relationship characteristic is identified. We then discovered the two important elements, trust and relationship, in the project setting, which also have implications on the project transformation to ecosystem. We argued that personal trust is strongly presented in the current inter-organizational project setting. However, it is necessary for this personal trust to evolve into impersonal, or system trust for a project to expand, and eventually reach a critical number of participants. The second element we would like to highlight is relationships. We found that the existing relationship serves as the foundation of the project emergence. In this thesis, relationships are also discussed in respect to interactions among project participants. We argued that the interactions are influenced by the resources each actor brings into the project. This also implies the interdependency displayed in the project. It can be observed that, in the setting where asymmetric dependency is presented, the player, who is least dependent on other players, may take a keystone position in the project. However, it can also be the case that the keystone position is assigned to an actor, who possesses the relationship, which is also a valuable resource. In addition, we also touched upon the possible tensions that may cause the negative outcomes in this relationship setting if it is not well managed.nhhma

Hesperidin Prevents Nitric Oxide Deficiency-Induced Cardiovascular Remodeling in Rats via Suppressing TGF-β1 and MMPs Protein Expression

Hesperidin is a major flavonoid isolated from citrus fruits that exhibits several biological activities. This study aims to evaluate the effect of hesperidin on cardiovascular remodeling induced by n-nitro l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME) in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with l-NAME (40 mg/kg), l-NAME plus hesperidin (15 mg/kg), hesperidin (30 mg/kg), or captopril (2.5 mg/kg) for five weeks (n = 8/group). Hesperidin or captopril significantly prevented the development of hypertension in l-NAME rats. l-NAME-induced cardiac remodeling, i.e., increases in wall thickness, cross-sectional area (CSA), and fibrosis in the left ventricular and vascular remodeling, i.e., increases in wall thickness, CSA, vascular smooth muscle cells, and collagen deposition in the aorta were attenuated by hesperidin or captopril. These were associated with reduced oxidative stress markers, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1), and enhancing plasma nitric oxide metabolite (NOx) in l-NAME treated groups. Furthermore, up-regulation of tumor necrosis factor receptor type 1 (TNF-R1) and TGF- β1 protein expression and the overexpression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) was suppressed in l-NAME rats treated with hesperidin or captopril. These data suggested that hesperidin had cardioprotective effects in l-NAME hypertensive rats. The possible mechanism may involve antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects

Additional file1

Energy densities in the food pellets of standard chow diet and high carbohydrate high fat (HCHF) die

The evolution of (inter-organizational) projects to (micro-) ecosystem : an ecosystem emergence

This thesis is an exploratory case study on how projects evolve to ecosystems. The research study is demonstrated by two empirical cases provided by Telenor in a context of smart city; namely water infrastructure and air quality projects. In order for the inductive observations to be analysed and discussed, existing theories on the ecosystem concept are critically reviewed and employed to construct a temporary working definition, as well as ecosystem emergence and inter-organizational theories are presented. Project managers and senior managers within the projects are targeted as interview samples as they can provide valuable information. Firstly, the two study cases are analysed according to the working definition and the absence of interdependency and loosely coupled relationship characteristic is identified. We then discovered the two important elements, trust and relationship, in the project setting, which also have implications on the project transformation to ecosystem. We argued that personal trust is strongly presented in the current inter-organizational project setting. However, it is necessary for this personal trust to evolve into impersonal, or system trust for a project to expand, and eventually reach a critical number of participants. The second element we would like to highlight is relationships. We found that the existing relationship serves as the foundation of the project emergence. In this thesis, relationships are also discussed in respect to interactions among project participants. We argued that the interactions are influenced by the resources each actor brings into the project. This also implies the interdependency displayed in the project. It can be observed that, in the setting where asymmetric dependency is presented, the player, who is least dependent on other players, may take a keystone position in the project. However, it can also be the case that the keystone position is assigned to an actor, who possesses the relationship, which is also a valuable resource. In addition, we also touched upon the possible tensions that may cause the negative outcomes in this relationship setting if it is not well managed

Syzygium gratum Extract Alleviates Vascular Alterations in Hypertensive Rats

Background and Objectives: Syzygium gratum (SG) is a local vegetable and widely consumed in Thailand. Previously, a strong antioxidative effect of SG extract has been reported. The effects of SG extract on hypertension have remained unknown. The effect of SG aqueous extract on blood pressure and vascular changes were examined in L-NAME-induced hypertensive rats (LHR), and its potential active constituents were also explored. Materials and Methods: Male Sprague Dawley rats were allocated to control, L-NAME (40 mg/kg/day), L-NAME + SG (100, 300, 500 mg/kg/day), or captopril (5 mg/kg/day) groups. The components of SG extract were analyzed. Results: The analysis of aqueous SG extract was carried out using HPLC-Mass spectroscopy, and phenolic compounds could be identified as predominant components which might be responsible for its antihypertensive effects observed in the LHR model (p < 0.05). Additionally, SG extract also improved vascular responses to acetylcholine and decreased vascular remodeling in LHR (p < 0.05). Enhancements of eNOS expression and plasma nitric oxide metabolite levels, and attenuation of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activity and plasma angiotensin II levels were observed in the LHR group treated with SG. Moreover, SG exhibited strong antioxidant activities by reducing vascular superoxide generation and systemic malondialdehyde in LHRs. Captopril suppressed high blood pressure and alleviated vascular changes and ACE activity in LHRs, similar to those of the SG extract (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Our results suggest that the SG extract exhibited antihypertensive effects, which is relevant to alleviation of vascular dysfunction and vascular remodeling of LHRs. These effects might be mediated by phenolic compounds to inhibit ACE activity and scavenge reactive oxygen species in LHR

Comparison of cardiovascular magnetic resonance of late gadolinium enhancement and diastolic wall thickness to predict recovery of left ventricular function after coronary artery bypass surgery

Abstract Background The objective was to compare the value of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) and end-diastolic wall thickness (EDWT) assessed by cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) in predicting recovery of left ventricular function after coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG). Methods We enrolled patients with coronary artery disease and left ventricular ejection fraction Results We studied 46 men and 4 women with an average age of 61 years. Baseline left ventricular ejection fraction was 37 ± 13%. A total of 2,020 myocardial segments were analyzed. Abnormal wall motion and the LGE area were detected in 1,446 segments (71.6%) and 1,196 segments (59.2%) respectively. Wall motion improvement was demonstrated in 481 of 1,227 segments (39.2%) that initially had wall motion abnormalities at baseline. Logistic regression analysis showed that the LGE area, EDWT and resting wall motion grade predicted wall motion improvement. Comparison of Receiver-Operator-Characteristic (ROC) curves demonstrated that the LGE area was the most important predictor (p Conclusion LGE and EDWT are independent predictors for functional recovery after revascularization. However, LGE appears to be a more important factor and independent of EDWT.</p