Anatomical Adaptation of Schumannianthus dichotomus (Roxb.) Gagnep.: Marantaceae in Dry and Wet Conditions

บทคัดย่อ คล้าน้ำ (Schumannianthus dichotomus (Roxb.) Gagnep.) เป็นพืชใบเลี้ยงเดี่ยวจัดอยู่ในวงศ์ Marantaceae ในธรรมชาติคล้าสามารถเจริญได้ทั้งในน้ำและที่แห้งแล้ง จึงได้ทำการศึกษาวิเคราะห์ลักษณะทางกายวิภาคศาสตร์และการปรับตัวให้เจริญเติบโตได้ในทั้งสองสภาพดังกล่าว โดยเก็บตัวอย่างราก ลำต้นใต้ดิน ลำต้นเหนือดิน และใบมาผลิตเป็นสไลด์ถาวรตามกรรมวิธีพาราฟฟิน การแช่ยุ่ยเนื้อเยื่อ และการฟอกใสตัวอย่าง จากการศึกษาพบกายวิภาคศาสตร์ของคล้าน้ำมีลักษณะที่ผสมผสานกันระหว่างพืชน้ำคือรากมีช่องอากาศใหญ่ ลำต้นใต้ดินมีชั้นเอนโดเดอร์มิส ลำต้นเหนือดินมีเนื้อเยื่อแอเรงคิมาจำนวนมาก ผิวใบมีชั้นคิวติเคิลบาง และลักษณะของพืชแล้งคือลำต้นเหนือดินมีคิวติเคิลหนา มีเซลล์ไฟเบอร์มาก ในใบมีเนื้อเยื่อไฮโปเดอร์มิสที่ทำหน้าที่เก็บน้ำ จากการที่มีลักษณะดังกล่าวจึงทำให้คล้าน้ำสามารถเจริญได้ทั้งในน้ำและบนบก ABSTRACT Schumannianthus dichotomus (Roxb.) Gagnep.is a monocotyledonous plant in the family Marantaceae.  According to the species can naturally grows in both wet and dry conditions, the anatomical character was investigated and analysed. Roots, rhizomes, aerial stems and leaves were prepared into permanent slides using a paraffin method, tissue maceration and tissue clearing techniques. The results revealed that the anatomical character of Schumannianthus dichotomusconsists of both hydrophytic and xerophytic characters. The hydrophytic characters are the presence of large lacunae in root, endodermis in rhizome, aerenchyma in aerial stem, and thin layer of cuticle on the leaf surface. The xerophytic characters are thick cuticular layer, abundant fiber cells in aerial stem, and the presence of hypodermis, a water storage tissue in leaf. Consequently, Schumannianthus dichotomus can normally grow in wet and dry conditions

An Evaluation E-Commerce Performance in Hotel Businesses Using Balanced Scorecard

In the modern business world, the IT advances accelerate the world’s commercial development with the help of Internet technology in supporting variety of activities. As a result, e-commerce play a significant role in almost every industry. Hotel industry is one of those which are fully beneficial from the e-commerce, which fulfills the customer’s needs. This research is conducted to study the character of the hotel e-commerce and the measurement of performance of the hotel e-commerce in Thailand in all perspectives of Balanced Scorecard. In the research, the researcher uses the reasoning approach to describe the relationship between the variables of causes and effects whose directions are precisely specified. The samples of the research are the hotels in the Bangkok metropolitans and vicinity areas. The researcher uses questionnaires to measure the customer satisfaction of business operations according to the Balanced Scorecard. Then, the initial collective information is analyzed to categorize those samples in percentage. Next, the result of the satisfaction based on Balanced Scorecard measurement is tested for the relationship of all variables by using the statistic of interrelation and chi-square values. The result of the research provides us the character of operating of the hotel industries and the sufficiency of operating e-commerce of hotel industries in Thailand. In addition, it can be used as a guideline in hotel business development which enhances the capabilities of performance and competition

A Quality Evaluation of Internet Banking in Thailand

The sampling groups in this research are customer who use the banking service via Internet system and the customer of D-Computer Co., Ltd. who usually use Internet Banking services such as inquiry about outstanding balance, fund transfer between accounts, and transfer payment for public utility. The sampling group specification of this research are must use Internet Banking services at least once a month. The research tools are questionnaires in the Web page form. Questionnaires are adapted from the tools that are used to evaluate the service quality called “The dimension of quality by David A. Garvin” by evaluating the quality of eight dimensional services: Performance, Features, Reliability, Conformance, Durability, Aesthetics, Serviceability and Perceived quality. During the sampling survey, we received 300 questionnaires that being answered completely. For information analysis, we use the fundamental statistics to analyze the characteristics of sampling group and test the relative variable factor by means of Chi-square and obtain the result to build a variance factor linear prototype. The results were as follows: 1. The quality level of internet banking service of commercial banks in Thailand in the perspective of performance was different in each bank. 2. By weighting the important of criteria that used to evaluate the Internet Banking service quality in Thailand, the most important was the dimension of reliability, serviceability and durability. The less important was in dimension of perceived quality

The Conceptual Design and Implementing Web Services Security Framework for Ministry of Information and Communication Technology in Thailand

This research aims to present a Web Services Security Framework for Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT) in Thailand as referred to international standard BS7799 on information security management. With a pilot development of web services which based on e-government, the researcher used Ministry of Information and Communication Technology as a case study. In order to understand the developmental pilot, it’s crucial to realize particularly in web services security and to determine proposed or existing system. Finally, it can be as standard guideline for Thai public organization for developing web services security framework

Brine-Processed <i>Caulerpa lentillifera</i> Macroalgal Stability: Physicochemical, Nutritional and Microbiological Properties

Caulerpa lentillifera is a type of green macroalga that is commonly consumed as fresh seaweed, particularly in Southeast Asia. The effects of different salt types and concentrations on C. lentillifera during brine processing were investigated using table, sea and flower salt at 10–30% levels. The colour and texture of C. lentillifera varied across different treatments. After storage in brine for 12 weeks, lightness (L*) decreased, greenness (a*) decreased and yellowness (b*) increased while firmness increased in all treatments compared to fresh algae. The nutritional composition did not change significantly over time. To ensure the safety and quality of seaweed for consumption, the optimal salt level for brine processing should not exceed 30% table salt. The morphology and elements contained in different types of salt were also observed, and the microbiological safety of seaweed was evaluated. The popularity of Caulerpa macroalgae is rapidly increasing among consumers, leading to a growing demand for ready-to-eat Caulerpa products. However, food safety and security standards must be maintained

Simulation of Neutron/Self-Emitted Gamma Attenuation and Effects of Silane Surface Treatment on Mechanical and Wear Resistance Properties of Sm2O3/UHMWPE Composites

This work reports on the simulated neutron and self-emitted gamma attenuation of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) composites containing varying Sm2O3 contents in the range 0–50 wt.%, using a simulation code, namely MCNP-PHITS. The neutron energy investigated was 0.025 eV (thermal neutrons), and the gamma energies were 0.334, 0.712, and 0.737 MeV. The results indicated that the abilities to attenuate thermal neutrons and gamma rays were noticeably enhanced with the addition of Sm2O3, as seen by the increases in µm and µ, and the decrease in HVL. By comparing the simulated neutron-shielding results from this work with those from a commercial 5%-borated PE, the recommended Sm2O3 content that attenuated thermal neutrons with equal efficiency to the commercial product was 11–13 wt.%. Furthermore, to practically improve surface compatibility between Sm2O3 and the UHMWPE matrix and, subsequently, the overall wear/mechanical properties of the composites, a silane coupling agent (KBE903) was used to treat the surfaces of Sm2O3 particles prior to the preparation of the Sm2O3/UHMWPE composites. The experimental results showed that the treatment of Sm2O3 particles with 5–10 pph KBE903 led to greater enhancements in the wear resistance and mechanical properties of the 25 wt.% Sm2O3/UHMWPE composites, evidenced by lower specific wear rates and lower coefficients of friction, as well as higher tensile strength, elongation at break, and surface hardness, compared to those without surface treatment and those treated with 20 pph KBE903. In conclusion, the overall results suggested that the addition of Sm2O3 in the UHMWPE composites enhanced abilities to attenuate not only thermal neutrons but also gamma rays emitted after the neutron absorption by Sm, while the silane surface treatment of Sm2O3, using KBE903, considerably improved the processability, wear resistance, and strength of the composites

Preparation and Characterization of Novel Green Seaweed Films from <i>Ulva rigida</i>

Ulva rigida green seaweed is an abundant biomass consisting of polysaccharides and protein mixtures and a potential bioresource for bioplastic food packaging. This research prepared and characterized novel biodegradable films from Ulva rigida extracts. The water-soluble fraction of Ulva rigida was extracted and prepared into bioplastic films. 1H nuclear magnetic resonance indicated the presence of rhamnose, glucuronic and sulfate polysaccharides, while major amino acid components determined via high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were aspartic acid, glutamic acid, alanine and glycine. Seaweed extracts were formulated with glycerol and triethyl citrate (20% and 30%) and prepared into films. Ulva rigida films showed non-homogeneous microstructures, as determined via scanning electron microscopy, due to immiscible crystalline component mixtures. X-ray diffraction also indicated modified crystalline morphology due to different plasticizers, while infrared spectra suggested interaction between plasticizers and Ulva rigida polymers via hydrogen bonding. The addition of glycerol decreased the glass transition temperature of the films from −36 °C for control films to −62 °C for films with 30% glycerol, indicating better plasticization. Water vapor and oxygen permeability were retained at up to 20% plasticizer content, and further addition of plasticizers increased the water permeability up to 6.5 g·mm/m2·day·KPa, while oxygen permeability decreased below 20 mL·mm/m2·day·atm when blending plasticizers at 30%. Adding glycerol efficiently improved tensile stress and strain by up to 4- and 3-fold, respectively. Glycerol-plasticized Ulva rigida extract films were produced as novel bio-based materials that supported sustainable food packaging

Utilization of hemp stalk as a potential resource for bioenergy

Recent concerns regarding climate change and rising energy costs have dramatically increased interest in using alternative energies, especially biomass energy which is carbon neutral. Hemp is among the fastest-growing plants with unique fiber characteristics. The objective of this study was to investigate the physical and chemical properties of hemp stalks of seven different clones and to assess their feasibility as a sustainable bioenergy resource. Seven clones (KU03, KU18, KU27, KU45, KU49, RPF1, and RPF2) of four-month-old hemp (Cannabis sativa) were used in this work. Physical properties, volatile content, fixed carbon, ash content, calorific value, chemical composition, ash composition, and metal element of the samples were investigated. The results revealed that hemp stalk had desirable fuel characteristics with high volatile substance, high heating value, low ash content, very low nitrogen content, and non-detectable sulfur. Selecting well-adapted clones and appropriate technology which can convert the hemp stalks to suitable bioenergy forms are important aspects of bioresource management. Based on our findings, some selected hemp clone biomass possessed excellent characteristics and great potential to be used as raw material for bioenergy production