Tracing Post-Dvaravati Culture from Space: Applying Remote Sensing Technique in West-Central Thailand

This article presents the results of recent research on the historical period of west-central Thailand between the eleventh and thirteenth centuries. At this time Dvaravati was in a stage of decline while the prominent rivals of Pagan and Angkor began to prosper. The construction of stone sanctuaries in the Bayon style in west-central Thailand has caused serious debate regarding the influence of Jayavarman VII over that part of Thailand. However, the main point of the present study is that the successors of Dvaravati can be considered to have played a significant part in the socio-economy of that period. This research explores the landscape of the study region using remote sensing techniques as well as carrying out conventional methods of fieldwork. New discoveries and current evidence are discussed, along with some issues concerning the archaeology of the post-Dvaravati, pre-Sukhothai transitional period (c. a.d. 1100–1300). West-central Thailand is believed to have been an economically desirable land with rich resources throughout its history. It is hoped that this work will contribute to the understanding of the social changes after the Dvaravati period when the economic power shifted to other parts of Mainland Southeast Asia

Mapping the stray domestic cat (Felis catus) population in New Zealand: Species distribution modelling with a climate change scenario and implications for protected areas

Species distribution models of stray cats were developed using two types of occurrence data: (i) a combined dataset of stray cats and cat colonies in Auckland and projected to the wider New Zealand area; and (ii) population density as an analogue for country-wide stray cat occurrence. These occurrence data, together with sets of environmental variables were used as input to the Maxent modelling tool to produce maps of suitability for the species. Environmental variables used in the models consist of current bioclimatic conditions, and a future climate scenario (RCP8.5 for year 2070 CCSM model). Commonly occurring bias in the modelling process due to latitude, the area for selecting background points in model evaluation, inherent spatial autocorrelation of occurrence points, and correlated bioclimatic variables were explicitly addressed. Results show that the North Island consistently provide more suitable areas for stray cats with increased suitability in a high emission climate change condition. Key protected areas at risk from the increased suitability to stray cats are also presented

Uterine adenocarcinoma with feline leukemia virus infection

Feline endometrial adenocarcinomas are uncommon malignant neoplasms that have been poorly characterized to date. In this study, we describe a uterine adenocarcinoma in a Persian cat with feline leukemia virus infection. At the time of presentation, the cat, a female Persian chinchilla, was 2 years old. The cat underwent surgical ovariohystectomy. A cross-section of the uterine wall revealed a thickened uterine horn. The cat tested positive for feline leukemia virus as detected by polymerase chain reaction. Histopathological examination revealed uterine adenocarcinoma that had metastasized to the omentum, resulting in thickening and the formation of inflammatory lesions. Based on the histopathological findings, this case was diagnosed as a uterine adenocarcinoma with abdominal metastasis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a uterine adenocarcinoma with feline leukemia virus infection

Spatial and seasonal variation in the prevalence of Anaplasma marginale among beef cattle in previously flooded regions of Thailand

International audienceAnaplasma marginale is the primary etiologic agent of bovine anaplasmosis, an important vector-borne disease among livestock worldwide including Thailand. The objective of this study was to measure the seasonal effect on A. marginale distribution among cattle in northern (Nan), central (Nakhon Sawan) and southern (Ayutthaya) parts of the Chao Phraya river basin in Thailand, which was devastated by flooding in 2011. Bovine blood samples were randomly collected during dry (November-December 2012; n=241) and rainy (May-June 2013; n=328) seasons. Both microscopy and molecular assays were employed to identify infected samples. Generalized Linear Mixed Models (GLMMs) were used to test putative risk factors for association of A. marginale infection with sampling location, herd size, age, sex and season. The overall prevalence of A. marginale was 14.9% ± 5% (36/241) during the dry season and 23.2% ± 5% (76/328) during the rainy season. Nakhon Sawan had a high and stable prevalence (approximately 30%), while Nan and Ayutthaya had increased prevalence in the rainy season (20 and 23.2%, respectively) compared with the dry season (2.9 and 7.8%, respectively). Prevalence of 25.7 to 29.8% was observed among 80% of large herds sampled, while 20 (dry season) to 63% (rainy season) of the animals were infected among 23% of the small herds. The GLMM analysis revealed the importance of sampling location, herd size, season and the interaction between sampling location and season, which have key roles in A. marginale infection of cattle