Stirling engine is the external heated engine that heat is sup-plied externally to the heater part of the engine. Thus, Stirling cycle engine can be employed with various sources of renewable energy such as biomass, biofuel, solar energy, geothermal energy, recovery heat, and waste. The integration of gasifier, burner, and heat engine as a power system offers more fuel choices of each local area with potential resources resulting independent from shortage and cost fluctuation of fossil fuel. This research aims to investigate the integration of the Stirling engine with a wood pellet gasifier for electric power generation. Biomass can be controlled to have continuously combustion with ultra-low toxic emission. Stirling engine, therefore, is a promising alternative in small-scale-electricity production. Even though many biomass-powered Stirling engines were successfully constructed and marketed but these engines and the use of biomass resources as fuel for power generation are quite new concepts in some developing countries. Especially, the capital cost of this engine is high and unaffordable for installation compared to other power systems. Therefore, this research aims to the study attractive and feasibility of the compact Stirling engine with green energy.
เนื่องจากความต้องการพลังงานที่มีมากขึ้น แต่เชื้อเพลิงฟอสซิลซึ่งเป็นแหล่งพลังงานหลักมีอยู่อย่างจำกัดและเป็นสาเหตุหนึ่งของมลพิษและภาวะโลกร้อน ดังนั้นพลังงานทางเลือกจึงเป็นกุญแจสำคัญเพื่อความยั่งยืนด้านพลังงาน ประเทศไทยมีศักยภาพของพลังงานชีวมวลจากเกษตรกรรม ดังนั้นการพัฒนาระบบผลิตไฟฟ้าที่มลพิษต่ำและสามารถใช้ได้กับแหล่งพลังงานทดแทนจึงจำเป็นอย่างยิ่ง โดยเฉพาะเครื่องยนต์สเตอร์ลิงซึ่งมีโครงสร้างชิ้นส่วนไม่ซับซ้อน ปราศจากการสันดาปภายในเครื่องยนต์จึงเป็นเครื่องยนต์ที่มีศักยภาพผลิตไฟฟ้าด้วยพลังงานสะอาดและเป็นมิตรกับสิ่งแวดล้อมและความสำเร็จของโรงไฟฟ้าเครื่องยนต์สเตอร์ลิง ในประเทศไทย เพื่อคนไทย
คณะวิทยาศาสตร์
Cancer remains a major global health challenge as the second-leading cause of human death worldwide. The traditional treatments for cancer beyond surgical resection include radiation and chemotherapy; however, these therapies can cause serious adverse side effects due to their high killing potency but low tumor selectivity. The FDA approved monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that target TIGIT/PVR (T-cell immunoglobulin and ITIM domain/poliovirus receptor) which is an emerging immune checkpoint molecules has been developed; however, the clinical translation of immune checkpoint inhibitors based on antibodies is hampered due to immunogenicity, immunological-related side effects, and high costs, even though these mAbs show promising therapeutic efficacy in clinical trials. To overcome these bottlenecks, small-molecule inhibitors may offer advantages such as better oral bioavailability and tumor penetration compared to mAbs due to their smaller size. Here, we performed structure-based virtual screening of FDA-approved drug repertoires. The 100 screened candidates were further narrowed down to 10 compounds using molecular docking, with binding affinities ranging from -9.152 to -7.643 kcal/mol. These compounds were subsequently evaluated for their pharmacokinetic properties using ADMET (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion, and Toxicity) analysis, which demonstrated favorable drug-like characteristics. The lead compounds will be further analyzed for conformational changes and binding stability against TIGIT through molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to ensure that no significant conformational changes occur in the protein structure. Collectively, this study represents the potential of computational methods and drug repurposing as effective strategies for drug discovery, facilitating the accelerated development of novel cancer treatments.
คณะสถาปัตยกรรม ศิลปะและการออกแบบ
This research focuses on the design of a Metaverse Prototype Thai Film Archive (Public Organization) to study immersive experiences. The aims were to: 1) examine design concepts and technologies for digital immersion, 2) create and showcase these designs in the Metaverse cinema, and 3) evaluate the results and formulate knowledge for virtual exhibition design using qualitative research methods, including prototype testing with participant interviews to assess satisfaction. The design principles consisted of architectural, exhibition, and user experience concepts, leading to a virtual world creation process involving 3D structural modeling, interactive functionalities, and exhibition layout before prototype testing. The evaluation included tests by ten participants and group discussions on overall experience, cinema content value, Metaverse design, and educational enhancement in museums. The design evaluation indicated a 70% positive overall experience, with half of the users finding stable usability. However, significant viewing barriers were identified, with a high need for operational instructions and navigational aids. Content understanding and Metaverse interaction were perceived positively, and the educational aspect was highly valued. The study concludes that while the overall experience was good, technology limitations (as of 2023) and interaction challenges require ongoing refinement to improve stability and usability, although the educational value was affirmed as strong.
คณะเทคโนโลยีการเกษตร
This study investigated the effects of seed priming with Chaetomorpha sp. seaweed extract on seed germination and seedling growth of chili pepper. The objective was to examine the influence of seaweed extract concentrations on seed germination and seedling development. Seeds were primed in different concentrations of Chaetomorpha sp. extract, compared with a control treatment. The experiment was conducted using a completely randomized design with four replications. Results showed that seed priming with seaweed extract enhanced seed germination characteristics. Primed seeds exhibited improved germination percentage, germination index, and germination rate compared to the control. Additionally, seedlings from primed seeds showed enhanced root and shoot development. This study demonstrates the potential of Chaetomorpha sp. extract as a promising seed priming agent for improving chili pepper seed quality, which can be applied in the production of high-quality chili pepper seedlings.