Ramkhamhaeng International Journal of Science and Technology

Annual variations in diversity, distribution and abundance of the benthic macrofauna in the two most recreational sandy beaches on Sichang Island, Chonburi Province, in the Eastern Gulf of Thailand

Sirusa Kritsanapuntu, Sakol poepetch, Suwat Jutapruet, Piyarat Nakawiroj — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0700

Field study was conducted from January to December in 2022 to examine the diversity, distribution, and species richness of benthic macrofauna in the two famous recreation sandy beaches, Sichang Island, Chonburi Province in the Eastern Gulf of Thailand. At each location, two study stations were selected representing the areas with high tourism activities and low tourism activities. Each study station consisted of three sampling stations allocated at the upper zone, the middle zone and the lower zone. Results showed that there was a significant difference in the diversity index of benthic macrofauna between the two sandy beaches but not for the two study stations or three sampling stations. In conclusion, the results showed no decreasing benthic biodiversity, densities or a change occurring in the community in year-round at the two study stations and sampling stations at Tham Phang Bay and Tha Wang Bay, Sichang Island. As well, the authors suggest the use of Donax sp. as a bio-indicator for human impacts and environmental changes on the sandy beach as they could serve as potentially simple and economical tools for long-term monitoring of irreversible loss in biodiversity.

Bioplastic packaging containing Ceasalpinia sappan heartwood extract to inhibit Escherichia coli causing spoilage of pork jerky

Orawan Piyaboon, Siridon Rangsihiranrat, Nantapat Pittayavonganont — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0700

Pork jerky, a processed pork product, is susceptible to spoilage caused by contamination with Escherichia coli. Moreover, the plastic packaging used for these pork sticks contributes to environmental pollution. In response to these concerns, this project aims to develop a bio-based packaging solution by incorporating Caesalpinia sappan heartwood extract derived from a medicinal plant known for its antibacterial properties against gram-negative bacteria, specifically E. coli, which is responsible for spoilage in pork jerky. The inhibitory activity of the crude extracts from C. sappan heartwood against E. coli was evaluated using disc diffusion method. The results demonstrated that the crude extracts effectively inhibit the growth of E. coli, with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 1,875 ppm and a minimum bactericidal concentration of 7,500 ppm. Accordingly, a bioplastic formulation was developed using 7,500 ppm of C. sappan heartwood extract and then tested the physical property of the bioplastics. The tests revealed no significant differences in thickness and water absorption between the bioplastic containing the extract and the bioplastic containing 0.1% dimethyl sulfoxide. The inhibitory activity was further assessed, demonstrating that the bioplastic incorporating C. sappan heartwood extract effectively inhibits the growth of E. coli on nutrient agar. Based on these promising findings, it can be concluded that the bio-based plastic, mixed with 7,500 ppm of C. sappan heartwood extract, has the potential to serve as an effective packaging solution for pork jerky. This innovative approach not only hinders the growth of E. coli but also offers the advantage of being environmentally friendly.

An 1H-NMR-based Metabolomics approach for understanding the influence of geographical origin differentiation on the major diarylheptanoid phytoestrogens in Curcuma comosa rhizome

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0700

Curcuma comosa has been widely used for gynecological herbal or traditional medicinal purposes. It has been reported that this turmeric plant offers several biological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-lipidemic, and estrogen-like effects. Authentication of C. comosa is crucial to ensure its authenticity and prevent adulteration. Plants from different origins will have distinct metabolite compositions due to the influence of soil nutrition, climate, temperature, and humidity. We used ¹H-NMR spectroscopy in combination with chemometrics (Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Orthogonal Partial Least Squares-Discriminant Analysis (OPLS-DA)) analysis to unveil metabolic differences among C. comosa samples from six different provinces of Thailand (Kalasin, Nakhon Phanom, Samut Sakhon, Nakhon Pathom, Phetchabun, and Chiang Mai). The ¹H-NMR analysis revealed the presence of twelve metabolites, including DA1-DA5, sucrose, α-glucose, β-glucose, formate, fatty acids, and two DA-OAc, which were identified as potential metabolites for differentiating geographical origins. Additionally, a higher normalized abundance of DA1-DA5 was observed in C. comosa from Nakhon Pathom, Phetchabun, Samut Sakhon, and Nakhon Phanom compared to Chiang Mai and Kalasin. Both the optimal PCA and OPLS-DA models demonstrated a good fit (R² > 0.8) and strong predictivity (Q² > 0.5). The optimal OPLS-DA model was validated through permutation tests, yielding high values for the original R² and Q². In conclusion, metabolite fingerprinting using ¹H-NMR spectroscopy and chemometrics provides a powerful tool for authenticating C. comosa rhizomes.

Survival and growth rate of coral micro-fragments for coral reef restoration in Chonburi Province, the Upper Gulf of Thailand

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0700

Coral reefs provide very important ecosystem services, especially nursery grounds for economically important species, tourism sites and coastal defense. Coral micro-fragmentation is a new technology that allows coral fragments to have a high growth rate. This study aims to compare the survival and growth rates of coral micro-fragments among four species, i.e, Porites lutea, Favites abdita, Galaxea fascicularis and Leptastrea purpurea in a coral nursery plot at Ko Khang Khao, Chonburi Province, the Upper Gulf of Thailand. The results showed that all micro-fragment with initial sizes between 1 and 3 cm had survival rates exceeding 90%. The mean survival rate of F. abdita was the highest (97.29%), followed by L. purpurea (96.89%), G. fascicularis (96.14%), and P. lutea (94.60%). The highest growth rate was observed in the coral micro-fragments with an initial size of 1 cm, which were then followed by 2 and 3 cm (One-way ANOVA, p < 0.05). This study highlights the importance of active coral reef restoration using micro-fragmentation technique as a newly developed technology to elevate the efficiency and effectiveness of coral restoration projects as well as enhancing community based eco-tourism and carbon neutral tourism or net zero tourism.

Macroinfauna communities from coral reefs and an underwater pinnacle in Trat and Rayong Provinces, the Eastern Gulf of Thailand

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0700

Macroinfauna plays an important role in food webs in the benthic communities and a good bioindicator for assessing biodiversity status. Coral reefs and underwater pinnacles in tropical countries provide important marine habitats. However, macroinfauna research in these ecosystems is still limited. This study aimed to investigate the composition and abundance of macroinfauna in coral reefs and an underwater pinnacle in Trat and Rayong Province, the Eastern Gulf of Thailand. The sediment samples were collected by a new modified grab. The dominant groups of macroinfauna were Bivalvia, Amphipoda, and Polychaeta. The most abundant macroinfauna was recorded in Rhinoclavis sordidula (848.15 individuals/cm²), followed by Capitella sp. (166.67 individuals/cm²). Sabellidae, Sigalionidae, and Syllidae were present in underwater pinnacles while Capitella sp. was specifically associated with coral reef habitats. A cluster dendrogram from Bray-Curtis Similarity provided similarity of macroinfauna community among the study sites, showing three groups: Group 1: Ko Raet and Ko Pee, Trat Province, having high live coral cover; Group 2: Hin Phloeng an underwater pinnacle in Rayong Province; and Group 3: Ko Saket and Ko Man Nok, Rayong Province and Ko Maisi, Trat Province, having high dead coral cover. These study shows the importance of macroinfauna in coral reefs and underwater pinnacles. Our findings imply high potential of macroinfauna for predicting global changes, being a juvenile aquaculture feed in the aquaculture business, and providing a source of bioactive substances for medical and cosmetic purposes.

Innovations for promoting Thailand's soft power

Wutipong Janmuangthai, Anaphat Nongkhoo, Ekgnarong Vorasiha — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0700

Currently, soft power is considered a crucial approach for countries around the world, serving as a tool to add value to products to stimulate and expand the economy of a country. For Thailand, soft power is given importance through government policy implementation, including driving the One Family One Soft Power (OFOS) initiative. One key factor for successful soft power policy implementation is the use of digital innovations and technologies to facilitate business operations, such as product and service development, customer service automation, new virtual world business ventures, or data analytics for customized service design. Digital innovation in Thailand represents a blend of digital innovation and technology to facilitate businesses and the soft power industry, utilizing "creativity and technological innovations" like Artificial Intelligence (AI), which aids in accessing Big Data for market trend analysis, developing movie or video recommendation systems, etc. The Metaverse creates virtual worlds for interaction, activities, and living through immersive technology, and Web 3.0, which is still under development, focuses on enabling customer participation in various activities as desired. However, for soft power to grow and be sustainable, the public sector should collaborate with the private sector in developing innovations ready for production or market entry, including creating a sandbox for testing and further developing research into products and services.