Evolution of Dark Energy Perturbations for Slotheon Field and Power Spectrum

Within the framework of modified gravity model namely Slotheon model, inspired by the theory of extra dimensions, we explore the behaviour of Dark Energy and the perturbations thereof. The Dark Energy and matter perturbations equations are then derived and solved numerically by defining certain dimensionless variables and properly chosen initial conditions. The results are compared with those for standard quintessence model and $\Lambda$CDM model. The matter power spectrum is obtained and also compared with that for $\Lambda$CDM model. It appears that Dark Energy in Slotheon model is more akin to that for $\Lambda$CDM model than the standard quintessence model.Comment: 20 pages LaTeX, 6 figure

Adaptive Vehicle Routing under Dynamic Uncertain Network Conditions

Routing problems, such as traveling salesman problem, vehicle routing problem, and their variants, have been extensively studied in operations research because of their wide application in transportation and logistics. In this thesis, we consider routing problems in a road network of which the traveling conditions change over time and sometimes are uncertain. Such problems can arise in humanitarian logistics, resident evacuation, and emergency resource delivery after severe weather events and natural disasters. We provide a methodology to support routing decisions including route planning with limited information of the network conditions and route updating as new information becomes available. The dynamic network condition is modeled by defining a time-varying speed reduction factor. We update the estimation of this speed reduction factor by integrating prior estimation with the latest travel data from the vehicles in a Bayesian inference framework. The Ant Colony Optimization method is used to find the optimal routes in the planning phase and updating phases. Two case studies show the effectiveness of the proposed methodology for both the single route and multiple route problems and the necessity to consider dynamic uncertain network conditions

Assessment of Parent’s Anxiety within Safety of Children: Primary schools in the upper southern part of Thailand

The objectives of this paper are to investigate the parental anxiety within the safety of children travel to school and examine the student's self-help abilities. The 1,105 questionnaires were sent to caretakers through pupils. The results indicated that their worries at the high level mainly about the school setting, traffic volume, weather, security management, and facilities. Additionally, these worries are different from socio-economics, family’s characteristic and physical environment. Furthermore, the gender, family incomes and grade of students cause a greater level of safety concern. Finally, the needs to improve the school are (1) Traffic management, (2) Safety Zone and (3) Facilities.Keywords: Anxiety; Safety; Parent; Children; Kindergarten.ISSN: 2398-4287© 2017. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia

Environmental Graphic Design and the Travelers’ Perception on the Exit Patterns of Subway Stations in Bangkok

The purpose of this study was to investigate the design of the exit of MRT Subway, Chalerm Ratchamongkol route. The physical analysis indicated that the station could be grouped the physical design into four categories of total 18 stations. Which have evidence many differences in physical characteristics and may cause problem and confusion in gestalt theory routing for passengers. These finding showed that the graphic design and elements which will lead to the displaying of directional information to guide the path for travelers to decide to the exit of each side.Keywords: Environmental Graphic Design; Signage; Way-finding; Mass transit station.ISSN: 2398-4287© 2017. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia

Improving Pedestrian Environment and Traffic Sign System with the Participatory Design at Anuban Ranong School

The objective of this study is to design and improve the pedestrian environment and traffic signs with the participatory design at Ranong Kindergarten School. The result of this study was brought to identify the promotion of pedestrian safety zone. In the participatory process, the four groups were started up for collaboration including teacher and student group, local community group, academics group, and private organization group. The important finding was the “Brave Walk Unit,” the volunteer students who are the driven mechanism to promote other students who live near the school to walk or ride the bicycle to school on their own.Keywords: Participatory Design; Pedestrian Environment; Traffic Signs System, School zoneISSN: 2398-4287© 2017. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia

Understanding Corporate Identity in the Office of Automotive Business in Bangkok through Building Users and Design Professionals

The objective of this research is to investigate and understand the difference in physical factors that contribute to cooperate identity which can influence the perception of building users inside five automotive business offices in Bangkok in order to compare the perception level between groups of office building users and design professionals with some evaluations on the physical factors within the offices. The conclusion showed different approaches to interior design that can shape corporate identity and affect the actual building users.Keywords: Corporate Identity, Perception, Physical factorISSN: 2398-4287© 2017. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia

Understanding Corporate Identity in the Office of Automotive Business in Bangkok through Building Users and Design Professionals

The objective of this research is to investigate and understand the difference in physical factors that contribute to cooperate identity which can influence the perception of building users inside five automotive business offices in Bangkok in order to compare the perception level between groups of office building users and design professionals with some evaluations on the physical factors within the offices. The conclusion showed different approaches to interior design that can shape corporate identity and affect the actual building users.Keywords: Corporate Identity, Perception, Physical factorISSN: 2398-4287© 2017. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia

Impacts of Adaptive Reuse of Heritage Buildings to Small Hotel Buildings in Bangkok

Adaptive reuse (AR) is the process of reusing building to new purposes. In Bangkok, the popularity of AR turned to small hotels (AR-hotel) is increasing. There are more criteria for substantial renovation, business investment and valuing of heritage buildings but no concern to the community surrounding. This study was aimed to investigate community impacts occurred from AR-hotel projects. The key variables focused on four main issues - physical, economic, value and social issues. The results indicated that there were better physical improvements, livable area, more public social interaction whereas there was a little disturbance, and not much socialization of privacy.  Keywords: adaptive reuse; hotel; heritage building; community impacts;ISSN: 2398-4287© 2017. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia

Methylation of the Vitamin D Receptor (VDR) Gene, Together with Genetic Variation, Race, and Environment Influence the Signaling Efficacy of the Toll-Like Receptor 2/1-VDR Pathway

BackgroundThe disparity in prevalence of infectious diseases across the globe is common knowledge. Vitamin D receptor (VDR)-mediated toll-like receptor (TLR) 2/1 signaling produces antimicrobial peptides, which is critical as a first line of defense in innate immunity. Numerous studies disclosed the independent role of genetic polymorphisms in this pathway, vitamin D status or season and more recently epigenetics, as factors contributing to infectious disease predisposition. Few studies address the interaction between environment, genetics, and epigenetics. Here, we hypothesized that VDR-mediated TLR2/1 signaling is influenced by a combination of environment, epigenetics and genetics, collectively influencing differential innate immunity.MethodsHealthy Black and White South Africans (n = 100) donated blood, while ultraviolet index (UVI) was recorded for the duration of the study. LC-MS/MS supported 25(OH)D3 quantification. Monocyte/macrophage cultures, supplemented with/without 1,25(OH)2D3, were activated with the TLR2/1 elicitor, Pam3CSK4. VDR, cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide, hCAP-18, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D3-24-hydroxylase expression were quantified by RT-qPCR or flow cytometry. Pyrosequencing facilitated VDR methylation analysis and single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping in regions pinpointed through a bioinformatics workflow.ResultsSeason interacted with race showing 25(OH)D3 deficiency in Blacks. UVI correlated with 25(OH)D3 and VDR methylation, likely influencing race differences in the latter. Regarding the TLR2/1 pathway, race differences in SNP genotype distribution were confirmed and functional analysis of VDR-mediated signaling showed interaction between race, season, and 25(OH)D3 status. Multivariate OPLS-DA mirrored several interactions between UVI, 25(OH)D3 status, DNA sequence, and methylation variants. Methylation of the third cytosine-phosphate-guanine dinucleotide (CpG) in the promoter CpG island (CGI) 1062, CGI 1062 CpG 3, significantly discriminated a 5.7-fold above average mean in VDR protein level upon TLR2/1 elicitation, the variation of which was further influenced by 25(OH)D3 status and the VDR SNP TaqI.ConclusionRegulation of VDR-mediated TLR2/1 signaling is multifactorial, involving interaction between environment [UVI and consequent 25(OH)D3 status], epigenetics (VDR methylation at key regulatory sites), and genetics (TLR1, TIRAP, and VDR SNPs)