Ramkhamhaeng International Journal of Science and Technology

Effects of Climate Variability on Diversity of Barrel Sponge (Xestospongia testudinaria) Associated Fungi in Coral Community from Underwater Pinnacle, Rayong Province

2025-08-07T12:18:02+07:00

Climate change and coastal development in Rayong Province, Thailand, have led to rising sea temperatures, impacting marine ecosystems. This study investigated the effect of seasonal temperature variation on the diversity of marine fungi associated with the barrel sponge (Xestospongia testudinaria) at depths of 10, 15, and 20 meters around the Hin Phloeng underwater pinnacle. Samples were collected during three seasons: summer (April 2023), rainy season (September 2023), and winter (February 2024). A total of 848 fungal isolates were obtained and identified through morphological and molecular analysis. Eight fungal taxa were recorded, with the dominant species being Aspergillus flavus and Penicillium spp. The abundance of these species decreased with lower seawater temperatures, while Emericella spp. and Cladosporium sp. increased in cooler conditions. These results suggest that specific marine fungal taxa associated with X. testudinaria may serve as potential bioindicators of seawater temperature changes. This study provides a valuable baseline for marine fungal diversity in Thai coral ecosystems and supports the use of sponge-associated fungi in environmental monitoring.

On The Epidemic Spread Using Spline Tie-Decay Network Model

2025-08-05T14:31:28+07:00

Standard epidemic compartmental models often overlook the evolving nature of inter-personal contact by assuming static interactions. To address this, we propose a deterministic SIR model driven by a spline tie-decay network, in which nodes represent individuals whose interactions (edge weights) gradually increase upon the arrivals of contact events under a cubic spline polynomial, followed by an exponential decay. This mechanism allows a flexible and realistic delay in how tie strength develops and fades over time. Here, the infection rate is dynamically computed as the sum of edge weights over the number of individuals squared, reflecting the state of the system without aggregating events into large time windows. In particular, this work highlights the importance of fine-grained temporal modeling in understanding and predicting disease spread dynamics.

Consumer Awareness of Green Aviation and Its Influence on Airline Choice Behavior

2025-08-18T09:10:30+07:00

This study examines the correlation between consumer awareness of green aviation initiatives and airline selection behavior, utilizing the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) as the theoretical framework. This research employs a quantitative survey of 250 air travelers in Bangkok to investigate awareness of sustainable aviation fuels, carbon offset programs, and environmental certifications, as well as attitudes toward eco-friendly airlines and purchasing intentions. The findings indicate moderate to high consumer awareness (M = 3.51), elevated positive attitudes (M = 4.11), and moderately high purchasing intentions (M = 3.90). Correlation analysis reveals significant positive associations between awareness and attitude (r = .62, p < .01), attitude and intention (r = .68, p < .01), and awareness and intention (r = .58, p < .01). Mediation analysis indicates that attitude partially mediates the relationship between awareness and intention. The results corroborate the Theory of Planned Behavior model within the realm of green aviation, emphasizing that both cognitive (awareness) and affective (attitude) elements influence pro-environmental airline choice. The research provides theoretical insights into sustainable tourism and practical recommendations for airlines, advocating for transparent and emotionally resonant communication strategies to promote consumer acceptance of eco-friendly services.

The Development of ground pork patty substitutes from mycelium of Pleurotus pulmonarius

2025-07-01T11:03:22+07:00

As environmental sustainability continues to be emphasized globally, alternative food sources like meat substitutes have surged as an effective environmental remedy. While meat production accounts for more than 15% of total greenhouse gas emissions, the production of meat substitutes can be adopted to enhance efficacious environmental sustainability. Pleurotus pulmonarius, commonly known as oyster mushroom, is well recognized for its nutritional value and protein content. This study aims to develop meat substitutes derived from P. pulmonarius. Initially, P. pulmonarius was cultivated in brown rice solution by extracting brown rice in boiled distilled water. The mycelium of P. pulmonarius was dried in the oven at 60°C for 5 hours. The development of meat substitutes formulation consists of 34.4% dried P. pulmonariusmycelium, 34 % water, 31.2% wheat flour, 0.32% carrageenan, and 0.08% salt. The physical properties which were compression, pH, and color of meat substitute formulation were tested. The results revealed that on day 0 and day 9, compared to ground pork patties the color, pH and the strength of meat substitute was not significantly different statistically (p>0.05). Biological tests of meat substitutes were conducted to investigate protein content using Lowry’s method, the result showed that meat substitutes contain significantly higher protein content thanground pork patties (p≤0.05) .In addition, meat substitutes were analyzed for Escherichia coli presence in our meat substitutes on day 0 and day 9 using EMB agar, the result showed that there was no presence of E. coli in both days of investigation. Furthermore, according to sensory evaluation among 10 untrained consumers using a 9-point hedonic scale, the evaluation revealed no significant differences between our meat substitutes and ground pork patties (p>0.05).

The Factor Analysis of Elderly Women as Micro-influencers in the Era of Digital Marketing

2025-08-01T18:05:05+07:00

This study aims to identify the key factors that influence elderly women’s participation as Micro-Influencers in the era of digital marketing. In the context of Thailand’s aging society, elderly women are increasingly engaging with social media platforms to express identity, share knowledge, and generate income. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research involved qualitative interviews and quantitative data collection from 388 elderly women active online. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) revealed four core dimensions: (1) Social Media Behavior, (2) Family Responsibilities and Time Management, (3) Attitude and Self-Development, and (4) Opportunities, Rights, and Quality of Life. These factors reflect the interplay between media exposure, family structure, and attitudes that shape the digital engagement of elderly women. The findings offer practicalinsights for policymakers, digital training programs, and grassroots innovation, supporting the empowerment of elderly women as sustainable contributors in the digital economy and aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Effects of Pulsed Light Spectra on Cannabinoid Accumulation in Thai Cannabis sativa L. ‘Hang Kra Rog Phu Phan ST1’

2025-08-19T08:34:57+07:00

Light is a very important component in indoor closed systems for medical cannabis production. In this research, we study a pulsed light spectral system that was established to stimulate the accumulation of the medically important compounds THC and CBD of Thai cannabis plants ‘Hang Kra Rog Phu Phan ST1’. The cannabis callus used for the experiment was induced from cannabis saplings using 5 mg/L of 2,4-D MS agar medium, which was grown in a pulsed light incubator in a sterile condition. The developed pulsed light system consisted of a wavelength spectrum of 380 nm to 750 nm, and the amount of average photon flux density (PFD_avg) in the range of 350 –880 nm was between 112.4 μmol·m^-2·s^-1 and 604.8 μmol·m^-2·s^-1which falls within the range of light intensities essential for stimulating THC and CBD production. The results have indicated that pulse frequencies of 50 Hz, 150 Hz, 400 Hz and continuous frequencies can stimulate accumulation of THC 1.66, 3.02, 3.80 and 11.11 ng/g callus and CBD 3.34, 3.37, 5.00 and 7.10 ng/g callus, respectively. In addition, pulsed light of 150 Hz at its duty cycle of 25%, 50% and 75% stimulated THC accumulation of 3.15, 3.02 and 5.55 ng/g callus and CBD 3.78, 3.37 and 4.06 ng/g callus, respectively. These results indicate that this pulsed light system can stimulate the accumulation of the medically important metabolites THC and CBD in cannabis calluses. The proposed research would offer the greatest benefits in medical cannabis production and pulsed light spectrum innovation.

Citizen Science-Based Coral Reef Monitoring in Trat Province, Eastern Gulf of Thailand

2025-08-22T10:37:54+07:00

Coral reefs in Trat Province, eastern Gulf of Thailand,

are ecologically and economically important but increasinglythreatened by climate change, pollution, and human activities. This study employed a citizen science-based approach to assess reef condition, benthic invertebrates, and reef fish assemblages across seven sites around Koh Chang, Koh Mak, and Koh Kut. A total of 140 photographs and 7 underwater videos were collected by citizen scientists and verified by researchers. Results showed clear spatial variability: live coral cover was highest at Koh Phi (73.44%) and lowest at Koh Rayang Nok (10.12%). Macrobenthic invertebrate density peaked at Hin Luk Baht (6.96 ind./m²), dominated by Junceella sp. and Diadema setosum, while other sites supported lower densities. Reef fish density was highest at Hin Ao Salad, Koh Rad, and Hin Luk Baht (>1,600 ind./100 m²). Despite lower densities, Koh Kham maintained high species diversity. These findings demonstrate the value of citizen science in producing accurate and cost-effective datasets while enhancing community participation. Integrating public contributions with scientific verification provides a practicalmechanism for monitoring, conservation, and adaptive management of coral reefs. This study highlights how citizen science can strengthen ecological knowledge, raise awareness, and promote sustainable marine resource management in regions with limited research capacity.

Assessment of Coral Recruitment on Shallow Reef Flats at Mu Ko Surin, Phang Nga Province, Thailand

2025-08-22T10:42:07+07:00

Shallow reef flats serve as ecologically significant habitats within coral reef ecosystems, supporting a high diversity of scleractinian corals that contribute to reef accretion, structural complexity, and the provision of habitats for associated marine organisms. These areas are typically characterized by dynamic environmental conditions, including fluctuations in temperature, salinity, light penetration, and sedimentation. Such variability makes reef flats important indicators for assessing coral reef health and resilience, particularly in the face of climate change and local anthropogenic stressors. This study examines the community structure of scleractinian corals on shallow reef flats within Mu Ko Surin National Park, Phang Nga Province. The results demonstrate substantial spatial variability in coral community metrics. Live coral cover ranged from 11.79% at Ao Phakkat—a site subjected to higher sedimentation and tourism pressure—to 38.27% at Ao Mai Ngam, a relatively sheltered and well-preserved location. Across all sites, Porites lutea emerged as the most dominant species, reflecting its stress tolerance and widespread distribution in nearshore reef environments. Other prominent taxa included Porites rus, Diploastrea heliopora, Leptoria phrygia, and Cyphastrea microphthalma. The Shannon-Wiener diversity index values ranged from 1.28 (at Ao Maeyai and Ko Stork) to 2.88 (at Ao Chak), indicating differences in coral assemblage complexity that may be associated with varying degrees of wave exposure, substrate availability, and anthropogenic influences. These findings provide important ecological baselines for reef flat habitats in Mu Ko Surin and contribute to broader regional efforts to monitor coral reef health under changing environmental conditions. The results underscore the need for localized conservation interventions, including the implementation of site-specific management plans, sedimentation control, regulated ecotourism, and long-term ecological monitoring. Such actions are essential for enhancing the adaptive capacity and long-term resilience of shallow coral reef systems in the Andaman Sea and other tropical marine regions.

PM2.5 Air Pollution: Molecular Pathogenesis and Global Disease Burden in Cancer and Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases

2025-08-18T09:15:22+07:00

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) air pollution significantly increases illness and death, especially among vulnerable groups like children and the elderly in low- and middle-income countries. Epidemiological data strongly associates PM2.5 exposure with higher rates of morbidity and mortality across a range of health issues, including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, metabolic and neurological disorders, as well as different types of cancer. This review synthesizes current research on the health impacts of PM2.5, including its association with respiratory diseases, cardiovascular conditions, and various cancers. The review also presents the global disease burden linked to PM2.5, incorporating various epidemiological studies. It also highlights the critical need for regulations, innovative technology, and public health strategies to reduce exposure and protect human health. Despite significant progress, important gaps persist in understanding the specific molecular mechanisms of PM2.5 toxicity across organ systems and the relative contributions of distinct PM components. Future research is essential to better understand the molecular mechanisms of PM2.5 and to develop effective strategies to protect public health. Coordinated efforts across various sectors are necessary to combat the health risks posed by PM2.5