Tag: Chulalongkorn University

Chula geology professor and team of surveyors discovered foreign materials, suspected to be “terracotta”, in the center of Khao Phanom Rung (Phanom Rung Mountain) forest, Buriram Province. The discovery provides significant evidence indicating that Prasat Hin Phanom Rung is not the only ancient building hidden on Khao Phanom Rung.

The discovery was made when Prof. Dr. Santi Pailoplee, lecturer at the Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, and his team of surveyors, interested in using remote sensing and geographic information systems to explore archaeology, were exploring the Khao Phanom Rung area.  Earlier, they had discovered traces of structures on Khao Phanom Rung, which is one of Thailand’s historical parks dated back thousands of years.

Prof. Dr. Santi explained that in geological terms, Khao Phanom Rung is a Quaternary volcano generated by lava eruption about one million years ago. By surveying the type of rocks in the area, geologists discovered that Khao Phanom Rung was formed by the accumulation of lava from mafic magma.  After the lava cooled down, there should only be basaltic rocks on the mountain.

However, during the latest survey at Khao Phanom Rung forest, Prof. Dr. Santi and his research team found, in addition to plenty of basalt rocks, non-basalt materials that resembled weathered cement and were foreign to the area. Ms. Nopphamat Ritthanont, a student from Chulalongkorn University’s Department of Geology, took samples for laboratory evaluation, and used an X-ray Diffractometer (XRD), the team was able to analyze the structural properties of the materials collected without destroying the samples.  Lab results showed the materials were composed of quartz or sand deposits, and the majority of what was discovered was clay mineral, namely kaolin clay, which is commonly used today to produce ceramics.

Furthermore, Prof. Dr. Santi and the survey team investigated the plains surrounding Khao Phanom Rung and discovered a newly excavated villager’s well that illustrated the area’s rock hierarchy. The excavated well showed red siltstone at the bottom, white kaolin clay in the middle, and piled at the top was black soil from the breakdown of basalt rocks on Khao Phanom Rung, which later accumulated and covered the entire area. This was significant proof that “the kaolin clay used to build several buildings on Khao Phanom Rung was easily found in the area.”

Prof. Dr. Santi stated that scanning the material in high resolution with a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), which clearly showed features of the external structure or surface of the sample in 3D, enormous quartz crystals surrounded by kaolin clay with an uneven surface were found. In comparison to previous studies that showed a difference in kaolin texture in relation to the measured temperature, it may be deduced that the kaolin soil or foreign material discovered on Khao Phanom Rung was calcined at a temperature of around 700 – 800 degrees Celsius. After a thorough study in the laboratory using cutting-edge scientific instruments, it was inferred that the substance is most
likely “terracotta”.

“When we revisited the survey area, we discovered key evidence as the lumps of fresh material had both decayed and non-decayed qualities. The portion that rotted out was white, while the portion that did not had an earthy orange color similar to modern bricks. The clay or brick lumps also contained traces of tiny fibers and holes. The conclusion was, to create such materials, straw and grass clippings were added into the mixture. This evidently supports the assumption that Prasat Hin Phanom
Rung is not the only ancient structure concealed in the center of Khao Phanom Rung forest”, said Prof. Dr. Santi.

Survey Team: Santi Pailoplee, Nopphamat Ritthanont, Kangvol Khatshima, Sombat Mangmeesuksiri, U-tain Wongsathit, Panya Nakauthok, Chakkrit Udonphim, Tamsak Wongmuneevorn, and Sitthichoke Towiriyakul

For the full release and more images, please visit: https://www.chula.ac.th/en/news/110337/

The latest results of the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023 have been announced and
Chulalongkorn University is ranked the first Thai university, as it did last year.  In the broad subject area category this year Chula ranks first among Thai universities and is also first in Thailand for 30 sub-subjects, an increase by 4 sub-subjects from last year as follows:

Art & Humanities

in six subjects

1. Architecture / Built Environment
2. English Language & Literature
3. History
4. Linguistics
5. Modern Languages
6. Performing Arts

Engineering & Technology 

in seven subjects

1. Computer Science
2. Engineering – Chemical
3. Engineering – Civil & Structural
4. Engineering – Electrical & Electronic
5. Engineering – Mechanical
6. Engineering – Mineral & Mining
7. Engineering – Petroleum

Natural Sciences 

in five subjects

1. Chemistry
2. Environmental Sciences
3. Geography
4. Materials Science
5. Physics & Astronomy

Social Sciences & Management 

in eleven subjects

1. Accounting & Finance
2. Anthropology
3. Business & Management Studies
4. Development Studies
5. Economics & Econometrics
6. Education
7. Law
8. Politics & International Studies
9. Social Policy & Administration
10. Sociology
11. Sports-related Subjects

Life Sciences & Medicine 

in one subject

1. Dentistry

For the full release and more images, please visit: https://www.chula.ac.th/en/news/109824/

At present, Thailand’s cocoa market is on the rise and there is a substantial need for cacao beans in the country. However, there are problems in the sale of dried cacao beans produced by local farmers as the beans are below the standards of the market. This forces most entrepreneurs and factories to import dried cacao beans from overseas.

Faculty and researchers from Chulalongkorn University’s School of Agricultural Resources have recently conducted a Development Project of Midstream Business in Cocoa Business Ecosystem in Nan Province, with the aim to increase the potential of local entrepreneurs by equipping them with knowledge about cacao processing to meet the standards required by the market and to improve the overall standards of dried cacao bean production. This research project provides an important opportunity to boost the dried cacao bean business in Nan, which will increase the competitiveness of local entrepreneurs. The goal is for at least two local entrepreneurs in Nan to produce cacao beans that meet the requirements of the buyers. The project also aims to make Nan a pilot area for developing a model for cacao processing, where knowledge is imparted to and exchanged among other local entrepreneurs in the province, as well as increase the potential of local entrepreneurs in finance, marketing, and product development.

Currently, the project is in the phase of creating knowledge on preliminary cacao bean processing for the context of the intended local entrepreneurs and sharing such knowledge to improve the dried cacao bean quality of scent, taste, and safety, as well as connecting the producers to the buyers. The buyers are private organizations that give suggestions on the techniques of processing and the assessment of the quality of cacao beans.

Assist. Prof. Dr. Pimpinan Somsong from the School of Agricultural Resources, Chulalongkorn University, talked about the origin of the project explaining that although Thailand has been growing cacao for a long time, it is still being done in limited areas. Moreover, most farmers do not know how to properly manage cacao, including the market. Therefore, a research plan has been devised to elevate the cocoa supply chain in Nan, which includes sub-projects on market and business development, management of coca plantations, and midstream business development, involving the inclusion of farmers in the development of preliminary processing, e.g., fermentation and drying of cacao beans.

“More entrepreneurs are now involved in the downstream business of turning dried cacao beans into chocolate, but not many in the midstream business or the preliminary processing of fresh cacao into dried cacao beans. As for the upstream business or cocoa farmers, there are quite a large number,” explained Assist. Prof. Dr. Pimpinan.

By informing local farmers in Nan about cocoa processing, Thailand’s cocoa market will increase its supply of dried cocoa. The School of Agricultural Resources, Chulalongkorn University, has both faculty members and students in Nan, allowing them to make on-site visits to share the techniques of processing cacao with local farmers. Processing not only makes it easier to store cocoa, but also allows it to be made into other products, such as chocolate.

According to Assist. Prof. Dr. Pimpinan, “This research project is an integration between researchers, the community, and entrepreneurs to apply knowledge gained from research and innovation to the problems of local entrepreneurs. This will result in the development of the agricultural sector and better distribution of income.”

The School of Agricultural Resources, Chulalongkorn University, has organized a workshop on creating craft chocolate or making chocolate from cacao beans to both Thai and foreign interested individuals. The goal is to increase knowledge as well as to promote the production and export of cocoa. The private sector, which is the buyer of dried cocoa and a knowledgeable party of the needs of the market, serves as a significant mechanism to improve cocoa, both in terms of quantity and quality. Regarding future research plans, Assist. Prof. Dr. Pimpinan added that it is necessary to regulate the quality of cocoa fermentation and drying in each batch to build confidence in the buyers, as well as the evaluation of quality of fresh cacao beans and dried cacao beans. In the future, the research will then be expanded to other provinces besides Nan.

For the full release and more images, please visit: https://www.chula.ac.th/en/news/109701/

Chula’s Institute of Thai Studies and the Faculty of Engineering have worked together to create “The CU Memorial Hall’s VR Program” pioneering the learning of history in three-dimensional virtual reality, rendering modernity to the past and instilling a sense of fun in the new generation.

Technology is an enabling factor today that helps to make learning an entertaining endeavor. Many of us may have thought that history is a boring subject requiring memorization but that is no longer the case today since it is through “experience” that one learns with the help of technology that helps to enliven the subject by making it more vivid.

Many interested persons have experimented with a virtual trip into the past at Chulalongkorn University’s Central Library through the use of “The CU Memorial Hall’s VR Program.”  Each person is given a VR headset and with that, they can enter the CU Memorial Hall without having to leave their seats.

“The moment I donned those VR glasses I felt like I was suddenly transported to the area at the entrance of the Memorial Hall with all the trees and greenery.  I felt like I was standing at that very place.”  One person who had experimented with the CU Memorial Hall’s VR program related that particular experience.

“The moment our fingers touch the controller the image changes creating the feeling that we are walking into the museum. Our fingers take us to any spot we wish to be in.  Everything is so real even the mirrors have a reflection in them.  The objects on display also appear in three dimensions and we can reach out and touch the object.  If you wish to hear the narration of the history of the museum and the objects all you have to do is press the button on the screen.”

The CU Memorial Hall’s VR (Virtual Reality) Program is a part of the
research project entitled “The creation of virtual reality maps in the CU Memorial Hall that present its history in a 3D format via a 5G platform and above.”  It marks the collaboration between the Institute of Thai Studies and the Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University.  The project aims to develop the presentation of data, objects, and stories in the CU Memorial Hall to make it more interesting.  The program is also a part of the “Creation of an eco-system and 5G network for Chulalongkorn University’s industrial, educational, and medical research.”

The CU Memorial Hall VR Program:  A Modern Way to Present History

VR is a type of media that is used to create virtual experiences through various forms of three-dimensional techniques that have yet to be used very much for educational purposes.  The research team and program developers have therefore employed modern technology as a tool to entice the new generation to appreciate what is of historical value.

“The youth of today are less interested in history.  Working with these students enables us to understand their nature.  We can therefore try to design educational media that is more attuned to their interests and needs.” Dr. Ratchaneekorn Ratchatakorntrakoon a researcher at the Institute of Thai Studies explained.

“We want people to understand that VR isn’t a game but a form of Edutainment (Education + Entertainment) that provides a wide range of opportunities to study any place and any time.”

Three of the concepts at the heart of the development and design of the CU Memorial Hall VR Program are:

1. Easy to understand

• the technique and content should be interesting and accessible to people of all ages.

2. Easily accessible

• the CU Memorial Hall can be accessed simply with an internet connection and VR gear.

3. Learning through experience

• the use of one’s basic senses – seeing, hearing, and touching are important factors that lead to effective learning and remembering.

“VR enables us to see images widely and clearly.  We also hear the sounds clearly through the use of stereo equipment.  Most importantly we can touch the objects which isn’t allowed in real museums.” Dr.  Ratchaneekorn enumerated the advantages of a museum visit via VR programs.

The creation of the experience and the interaction between a virtual museum and the VR program user is at the heart of an entertaining learning experience.

“The CU Memorial Hall VR Program was designed as an interactive game between the program user and the museum itself. When the user reaches out to touch an object they will learn about its significance from the sights and sounds providing them with information making it easy to understand and remember.  Each episode usually begins with a question that leads into the content for example “How was the construction of the equestrian statue of His Majesty King Chulalongkorn relevant in the founding of Siam’s first university?”

“Aside from the difference in terms of media and method of interaction between the VR and the actual exhibition, there are also differences in terms of content since the Memorial Hall periodically alters its exhibitions.  The evolution of Chula student uniforms found in the VR, for example, isn’t found at the CU Memorial Hall in the Chakrabongse Building.”

CU Memorial Hall and the learning of a significant part of Thai history

The CU Memorial Hall’s VR program has been designed not only to show Chula students the historical significance of this
educational institute.

Dr. Ratchaneekorn pointed out that “As Thailand’s first university, the data we have regarding Chulalongkorn University serves the purpose not only as a record of Chula’s history but is also historically significant to Thailand as a nation.”

The CU Memorial Hall’s VR program is now open to the general public who can visit counter 1 of Chulalongkorn University’s Central Library to borrow the necessary equipment.  Free downloading will also be possible soon.  Any agency interested in this program can contact Dr. Ratchaneekorn by emailing her at [email protected].

For the full release of this article and more images, please visit: https://www.chula.ac.th/en/highlight/107778/

Artificial intelligence gives people the opportunity to turn “words” into “pictures” and create their art easily and quickly. But will this form of AI reduce and replace human craftsmanship, imagination, and careers? A Chula Engineering professor and an architecture professor share their views.

Presently, Artificial intelligence (AI) allows humans to live more comfortable lives and unlock the potential that constrains many people, such as drawing and creating art, the area in which many consider themselves unskilled and ungifted.

But now, simply by entering words and text, the AI drawing program will convert those words into images as we imagine. It’s easy, convenient, and fast, and you don’t have to be an artist or studied art to create a beautiful piece of work. This type of AI program is widely used both for work and hobbies for fun and relaxation. On the other hand, many questions arise — Will this technology replace artists? How will it affect their work and income? Will human imagination and craftsmanship in the creation of art still be needed? What is the value of art?

In response to this, Assistant Professor Dr. Sukree Sinthupinyo, Chula Engineering lecturer, sees that “AI does not replace human beings, but helps to fulfill them and makes their work faster and do what they want to do (like drawing) better.”

This is in line with Assistant Professor Supawat Hiranathanavivat from the Faculty of Architecture, Chulalongkorn University, who says, “AI helps to transform the image in our head into a clearer image. It is another tool to make the artwork more convenient.”

How does AI draw?

AI creates works by combining raw materials from existing archives, which is similar to the work of the human brain that creates works by building on information in memory and complementing it with imagination.

Asst. Prof. Dr. Sukree explains the work of AI drawing by citing an example of the popular website Midjourney – a program that creates images from text. “All we do is enter words, text, or text prompt that we want to draw in the image. The AI will then process the results from the existing
data warehouse to create the work that we want.”

Today, both images and word archives in the world are enormous, allowing AI to extract data and use it to create a wide range of different images. Even if we enter the same words and texts, the chances of AI reproducing the same images are very slim.

Meeting every need with AI

According to Asst. Prof. Dr. Sukree, this format of AI focuses on creating images, videos, and animations such as removing the background, make up, converting photos into the cartoon, etc. to help make more appealing and unique pieces of work in the fields of architecture, educational media, marketing, etc.

Nowadays, AI drawing is widely used as a hobby, such as the design of book covers, posters, storyboards for advertising pitches, and create animation features, etc.

Complementing or diminishing the human imagination?

Because AI drawing programs are easy to use, quick to create, and convenient for the general public, many people question whether imagination and artistic skills are still necessary for humans.

“AI does not undermine the imagination. On the contrary, it helps to extend our imagination,” said Professor Supawat. “For example, if we want to draw a low-key image with a small light at night, we may enter the word “twilight”. The AI may create an image with purple light for us to see if we like it without even having to draw the image, and saving us time, while letting us experiment with ideas, and visualizations before we start working.”

Asst. Prof. Supawat added, “AI has no imagination. It works with archives of information.  But humans are endowed with imagination and feelings to create something new. Most importantly, humans are still the ones who have to continue thinking about what to draw or how to do it.”

Replacing or fulfilling human beings?

Many types of work that AI is now doing used to be done by professional artists. So, what will happen to these artists now?

“Technology helps in many ways, like the creation of logos, and posters.  Some people working in this area may feel some impact, but AI won’t be able to replace artists. Art collectors still want the work of artists and not the AI. Though the AI can create wonderful pieces of work, if you ask the owners if they feel possessive of those pieces, or whether they have value for them, I think not.”

From the perspective of an artist like Asst. Prof. Supawat, the value of art is not only in its beauty, but also in the story, creation process, and identity of the creator.

“Unique works of art are mainly derived from the identity, feelings, and inspiration that make up the work, as well as the process of creating it.”

The work of art comes from the power of human beings that Asst. Prof. Dr. Sukree calls the “human touch”, which cannot be found in the work done by AI.

“We have to distinguish between “tools”, and “craftsmanship”, both Asst. Prof. Dr. Sukree and Asst. Prof. Supawat concluded.

“In the art circle, technology is no substitute for human beings. Artists create their work to communicate with society and sell their work for a living. If fewer people buy art, it is not because of AI, but because of economic factors. Those who savor, buy, and collect artists’ work are those who have money and see the value of art to speculate,” said Asst. Prof. Supawat.

The development of artificial intelligence technology continues today. More AI with various potentials and capabilities will help facilitate human beings, said Asst. Prof. Sukree.

“Technology is a tool for self improvement. It creates a career for developers. Now many people are involved in this field, and it’s beneficial for people to start new careers. It’s beneficial for us as a whole.”

Asst. Prof. Supawat added that no matter what role the technology will play, “Life will still belong to human beings. Let us enjoy the technology that brings about changes in life.”

For the full release and more images, please visit: https://www.chula.ac.th/en/highlight/97995/

 

Farmers in Thailand still largely use chemical herbicides, especially paraquat and atrazine, to control weeds on their farms. According to research by the Office of Agricultural Economics, in 2019, Thailand imported almost 10 million kilograms of paraquat and close to 3.5 million kilograms of atrazine. The residues of these herbicides cause harm to the environment, living creatures, and our health.

As head of the research project on pesticide residues in water test kit for sustainable and safe agriculture, Associate Professor Dr. Thanyalak Chaisuwan, Deputy Dean for Research, The Petroleum and Petrochemical College, Chulalongkorn University, has collaborated with Assistant Professor Dr. Luxsana Dubas, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, in developing a test kit to measure pesticide contaminants in water.

The kit employs synthesized porous nano carbon materials together with color analysis techniques to achieve accuracy and reduce problems from herbicide residues. The research is conducted by Ph.D. students of the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, forming a dual field research to solve the problems of pesticide contamination in water, which is hard to detect.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Thanyalak explained that Thailand is an agricultural country, resulting in heavy use of pesticides and chemicals in the production of agricultural products. In 2021, Thailand ranked 7 in the world for the number of pesticides and chemicals used in agriculture, amounting to 0.65 kilograms of such substances per rai. Research has shown that chemicals like paraquat and atrazine can lead to Parkinson’s disease and cancer if accumulated in the body. This has led to the development of a pesticide contaminant in water test kits, which uses absorbent materials and compares colors that are sensitive to paraquat and atrazine in small amounts.

The materials used are made from synthetic polymer, achieved by burning organic chemistry materials in inert air until they become coal-like. The result is light-weight porous carbon with holes too small for the naked eye and the diameter of which is measured in nanometers. The research yielded satisfactory results. In the future, the research will be furthered by applying the materials to detect other substances.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Thanyalak added that Thailand has over 150 million rai of farmland, with revenue from agriculture accounting for 10% of the country’s GDP. The government’s push to reduce the income gap and low income per capita, as well as their support of Smart Farming, requires technology. The development of a test kit for pesticide contaminants in water will be truly beneficial for sustainable and safe agriculture.

As of now, this test kit is a prototype which can be tested in actual conditions.

For the full release and more images, please visit: https://www.chula.ac.th/en/highlight/106656/

“The poor play the lottery, the rich play the stock market.” This comical statement seems to hide both hope and the bitter truth. An economics professor at Chulalongkorn University invites us to understand why many Thais put their hopes into lotteries and analyzes how their popularity relates to social inequality, upward mobility and corruption.

The 1st and the 16th of every month seem to be the day of hope for millions of Thai people, especially in low and middle-income groups. Even though the chances of winning a big prize such as the 1st prize are only 1 in a million or 0.0001 percent, and the probability of winning a particular prize is only 1.41%, many Thais continue to buy lottery tickets no matter what the economic situation is like.  With the hope that “this time, luck may be on our side” and “I will get to move up the ladder and become a millionaire myself like all the others.”

Many people may view such beliefs as false hopes of risk-takers who do not rely on their abilities and efforts. But if we look at this with understanding, Assistant Professor Dr. Thanee Chaiwat, Director of the Chulalongkorn Experimental Economics Center (CEEC), says that we will find a complex and bitter truth — the failure to address the income and economic disparities of the country that cause the majority of the country’s population to approach lotteries, Ponzi schemes, and other gray businesses to have a chance to advance socially, have a better social status and quality of life.

Lottery, hope, and social inequality

Lotteries are available in all countries, but people’s expectations from the lottery in each country may vary, said Asst. Prof. Dr. Thanee observes.

In many countries, lottery buyers may only hope for some fun in winning, more than getting rich. But in Thailand, gambling with numbers is serious. It can be seen from the live broadcast of every lottery draw, the news coverage of the lucky lottery winners or the lottery, and many other news media that hints at potential winning numbers that could make some people rich.

Does this lottery popularity picture reflect a hopeful or hopeless society? Why do so many Thais love to buy lottery tickets despite the fact that there is only a small glimmer of hope?

“We often hear people say that buying a lottery ticket is buying hope, but more deeply, most people hope to win a lottery ticket because they have almost no hope in their lives to become wealthy. We live in a society where the chance of social mobility for the poor is practically nil.”

The lower their socioeconomic status, the more difficult it is to move up to the middle class and even more so to become rich.  So, placing high hopes in winning a lottery is a clear reflection of social inequality.

“If I work hard and can get rich in this country, I may be less interested in the lottery.  But we will see that more poor people who work harder and are more exhausted than I am, but there is almost no hope of a better position in life,” said Asst. Prof. Dr. Thanee.

Lotteries are therefore “the Hope” that many see as a risk worth risking!

Economic Monopoly in the Modern World

Economic monopolies in the modern world have an ingenious form and often leave most people feeling satisfied even though they may be exploited or their wages oppressed. Asst. Prof. Dr. Thanee explains.

“Let’s say I monopolize the ownership of convenience stores that are abundant in the country, i.e., 90 percent. I tend to monopolize the market, meaning I don’t have to keep the wages low. I can pay at a normal rate or quite well, but I make higher profits from selling products at a higher price.  Since there is no competition, I can sell products that are my house brand directly with more profit, and get richer.”

Asst. Prof. Dr. Thanee continues “To whom do these convenience stores sell little tubes of toothpaste, cream sachets, and various retail items? They are sold to low-income workers because these people cannot afford to stock up. It is a complex exploitation compared to the exploitation of old that normally took the form of wage oppression.  This new form of exploitation comes with convenience and consumer satisfaction. It is unconscious extortion that yields higher profits without competition. This is a difficulty in the modern business world. Therefore, there must be regulations with the competition law, which Thailand has not yet mastered.”

Two policies that drive “hope” in society

To address economic inequality, Asst. Prof. Dr. Thanee proposes that the government set two main policies: one, earnestly create measures that promote trade competition; and two, enact policies that promote opportunities for ordinary people to become prosperous entrepreneurs. For example, access to loans that enable small businesses to grow, industries promotion that is tailored to the ability of individuals, fund and opportunity distribution for artisan work, design, crafts, etc.

If the ties between capital groups and the government can be properly reduced, the lower classes of society will have access to capital and opportunities to compete more fairly, so that they can enjoy “the hope of a good life and a fair chance of social mobility”.  Only then that we may see fewer people paying for false hopes by buying lottery tickets, or placing their future on high-risk investments.

This article is abridged.

For the full release and more images, please visit: https://www.chula.ac.th/en/highlight/106356/

On Thursday, February 16, 2023, Asst. Prof. Dr. Chaiyaporn Puprasert, Vice President for Student Affairs, Chulalongkorn University, and Aw Tuan Kee, Deputy Principal and CEO, Temasek Polytechnic, Singapore, presided over the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing ceremony between Chulalongkorn University and Temasek Polytechnic, Singapore.

The agreement was made to enhance collaboration between the two institutions in the areas of student exchange, field studies, and training in various fields, such as arts and culture, sports, volunteering, medical, and leadership. The two institutes will also cooperate on the exchange of professors, staff, and academic information, including events, projects and student internships abroad.

Congratulations to all Chulalongkorn University researchers for receiving awards from international stages.

The National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT), Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation (MHESI), hosted an official recognition event for Thai innovators and researchers on December 14, 2022. Prof. Sirirurg Songsivilai, M.D., Ph.D., the Permanent Secretary for MHESI, presided over the ceremony and presented outstanding recognition certificates to Thai inventors and researchers who received international awards.

On this occasion, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pannee Cheewinsiriwat, Assistant Vice President for Research Affairs, Chulalongkorn University, presented flower bouquets to Chulalongkorn University professors and researchers who have conducted exceptional research and enhanced the university’s reputation at the international level through competitions in foreign countries, including three inventions recognized at the Seoul International Invention Fair 2022 (SIIF 2022), which was held in Seoul, Republic of Korea:

• “Peta Gold Whitening Serum”, Gold prize, created by Prof. Dr. Nongnuj Muangsin and members of the Faculty of Science.

• “Truly Noninvasive Sweat Glucose Sensor for Diabetic Prone Person”, Silver award, invented by Dr. Nadnudda Rodthongkham and members of the Metallurgy and Materials Science Research Institute, Chulalongkorn University.

• “CoModule: Assembling the Toy Structures to Inspire Preschool Children”, Silver award, created by Asst. Prof. Pornthep Lerttevasiri and his team from the Faculty of Education. The team has also received a Gold Medal for this project from Kaohsiung International Invention & Design EXPO (KIDE 2022).

For the full release and more images, please visit: https://www.chula.ac.th/en/news/106389/

Each year, many people suffer from stroke, die, or become disabled and helpless. Although this disease is a sudden occurrence, it is not impossible to assess the risk in advance to prevent it.

The research team from the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University have worked together to invent a tool to help assess the chance of developing a stroke caused by various causes, starting with a tool to assess stroke risk caused by heart disease called “AICute”. It is hoped that the innovation will support the care given to patients in community hospitals and small hospitals in remote areas where there is often a lack of tools and cardiologists.

Higher occurrences of stroke

Thailand has approximately 250,000 patients suffering from stroke every year. In other words, every 2 minutes, one person is likely to suffer from the disease! Of these, 30 percent may die, 30 percent are severely disabled, unable to move their limbs and their mouths appear crooked, and 40 percent of patients have a chance to completely recover or have only a few remaining symptoms.

Although most patients who suffered from a stroke are in their 50s-60s, today, the age range is increasingly younger as a result of lack of physical activity and rest, smoking, substance abuse, an imbalanced diet, and chronic diseases such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, snoring/sleep apnea, and heart disease.

Stroke caused by heart disease is preventable if detected early

Although stroke is life-threatening if the cause of the disease is known and treated quickly, the likelihood of recovery from the disease is high and the recurrence of the disease can be reduced.

“Determining the cause of the disease is important to provide accurate and effective treatment. If the cause is not determined, there is a chance that the disease will reoccur. And when it is repeated for the second time, the third time, the chance of being disabled is increased, causing the dependency and cost increase to be borne by the caregiver,” said Wasan Akarathanawat, M.D., the Chulalongkorn Stroke Center of Excellence.

Stroke can be caused by many reasons (read more in the information box).  Each case has a different treatment approach. Currently, 18% of stroke is caused by heart disease. “Patients in this group often suffer from atrial fibrillation and valve dysfunction or cardiac hypertrophy, which leads to a risk of thrombosis inside the heart, and the clot could drift and cause blockage in the brain, resulting in a stroke.”

Inspiration in the Development of AICute   

Dr. Wasan explained that to determine the cause of stroke caused by heart disease, a thorough cardiac examination by a skilled cardiologist, echocardiography and cardiac monitoring device are needed — a factor that is still scarce in community hospitals and small hospitals in remote areas.

“Such a hospital would not be able to refer patients for detailed checkups due to the relatively high cost. Also, sending patients to large hospitals, cardiology centers or medical schools would cause congestion in hospitals. This is why the research team has chosen first to develop innovations to assess the stroke caused by the heart.” Dr. Wasan, one of AICute’s research and development team members, further explains the meaning of the AICute name “AICute spoken quickly sounds similar to the word acute, which refers to the sudden appearance of a stroke that requires immediate treatment.”

Apart from Chulalongkorn Stroke Center of Excellence, the Faculty of Medicine of Chulalongkorn University, AICute innovation is achieved through collaboration with the Faculty of Engineering of Chulalongkorn University and a group of Chula students under the auspices of Chulalongkorn University Technology Center (Chula UTC).

AICute – an easy, quick, and accurate patient assessment tool

AICute is a web application with artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze and evaluate patients for the risk of stroke from heart disease. It enables doctors in the community and small hospitals to make decisions and send patients to heart examinations more rapidly, making the treatment of stroke more effective.

Dr. Wasan explains the use of AICute “doctors who use the device simply log in through the web application and fill in 2 sets of data: patient’s symptoms and their partial history, together with 30-32 brain scans. Most of the small hospitals are already equipped with brain scan machines. The application then processes the data in about 30-32 minutes and then summarizes it into a report on the likelihood of stroke caused by heart disease.  Afterward, the practicing physician will read the results and decide if the patent should be referred to a cardiologist for further diagnosis.”

According to Dr. Wasan, AICute’s accuracy is at 92-94 percent according to the database of 40,000 high-resolution X-ray images. Moving ahead with AI development to identify the cause of stroke and save Thai people’s lives . Dr. Wasan reveals that AICute is still in the research phase and has been tested at Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital with satisfactory results. “The research team plans to continue the research in a large group of real patients and collect data outside of Chula Hospital to improve the AI. It also develops an easy and beautiful interface that is expected to be completed around the middle of this year (2023) and open to other interested hospitals to use and develop the application together. In the long run, it will be released as paid commercial software.”   In the future, the research team also plans to develop AI to detect strokes from other causes, which may require additional databases of x-ray images and angiography.

Hospitals interested in AICute can contact Chulalongkorn Stroke Center of Excellence, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bhumisiri Building, 7th Floor, Zone C, or call +662 256 4000 Ext. 80724-5 .

Continue reading at https://www.chula.ac.th/en/highlight/106014/