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Tag: Thailand

Thammasat University invents UVC sterilizer pole to kill coronavirus

Posted on by Thammasat University

Thammasat  University has invented a new innovation “UVC Sterilizer Pole” that can kill the COVID-19 virus within 20 minutes. It is suitable for large area usage such as open markets and shopping malls.

Thammasat School of Engineering (TSE) by Associate Professor Dr Thira Jiasiripongkul, Dean of TSE and Assoc.Prof.Dr.Sirima Mongkolsomlit, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs  at Faculty of Public Health, Thammasat University (TU) says, “UVC Sterilizer Pole is a 1.2-meter height pillar with lightbulbs on 4 sides that can destroy the outer layer of COVID-19 virus. The lightbulbs are installed at an angle of 20 degree so that it can radiate onto the floor or road surface.

“TSE UVC Sterilizer” is developed and created by Assistant Professor Dr Pradya Prempaneerach from the department of Mechanical Engineering, Thammasat School of Engineering (TSE). He has also developed “Tham – UV Clean”, a UVC chamber for face mask sterilizing to support healthcare worker’s work during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic.

Assistant Professor Dr Pradya Prempaneerach reveals, “This UVC sterilizer can completely inactivate COVID-19 virus in an open area. UVC is most effective at killing germs but it can also be dangerous to humans as it can irritate skins and affect your eyesight when you look at it even briefly.”

“We design it with the countdown timer. When the machine is turned on, it will start working after 5-10 minutes later so that the user can step back in time. After that, the machine will work autonomically for 20 minutes to sterilize the surface and the radiation length is about 2 meters away from the installation area.”, said Dr Pradya.

“The benefit of using UVC light to sterilize is that virus will be inactivated whenever the virus is exposed to the light. Unlike wiping with alcohol, it requires less human labor. However, the inactivation of the virus on surfaces may not be effective because of the blocking of light in some areas such as behind the surface area. The production cost of this UVC sterilizer is around 3,000-4,000 baht.”, said Dr Thira.

Associate Professor Dr Gasinee Witoonchart, TU’s Rector, states, “As a university for people that has centers around the country’s main strategic areas, TU always focuses on the improvement of quality of life along with academic services. Especially in the new wave of COVID-19 pandemic, Pathum Thani province was affected so badly that the market and the area were shut down and heavily controlled. Therefore, it is Thammasat’s mission to help relieve this problem.”

TU professors have collaboratively invented and produced 4 UVC sterilizer pole. Recently, the university gave them to Emergency Operation Center COVID-19, Pornpat market, to sterilize risk areas in the market.

“Professors and TSE staff offered their prompt support and only spent 2-3 days to produce the machine after coordinating with the Office of Disease Prevention and Control, Region 4. As a Rector, I would like to reassure that TU will continue to diligently support all sectors to fight against COVID-19. We believe that Thailand will overcome this disease outbreak for sure.”, said Associate Professor Gasinee Witoonchart.

‘Space Walker’, an award winning innovation from Thammasat University

Posted on by Thammasat University

Space Walker is an innovation that has won an international gold medal prize and is based on a thesis from the Master of Engineering department of Thammasat University on the design of a gait-assisted machine with partial weight support.

The innovation is funded by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation or MHESI from Technology and Innovation-Based Enterprise Development Fund TED Fund. The fund strives to drive and support the young generation to do business by using technology and innovation and transform them into economic value.

Mr Warath Sitlaothaworn, Co-developer of Space Walker, reveals that the creation of physical therapy equipment for patients with ASL, postoperative patients, or elderly patients came from thesis research work. We get the idea from “ZeroG” equipment that we saw overseas. It is dynamic overhead support that assists patients to walk on the track. However, the product has a limitation as it can only be used in hospitals or specific places only.

Moreover, Thailand has not yet developed a gait-assisted machine with partial weight support. The only gait-assisted products are crutch and walker which may cause the patients to fall down. Therefore, the development of Space Walker with partial weight support to assist the patients in physical training after the operation is important. It is a new machine that never existed before in Thailand.

Warath also says, “Postoperative patients will have problem with muscle and need to do muscle training using a gait-assisted machine with partial weight support. The machine will prevent the patients from falling down and assist them to practice walking.”

“After the prototype of this machine is created, we have joined national and international innovation competition in order to make it well-known to make it easier to do business.

“In the meantime, the prize money that we received is used as our capital to further develop the machine. For example, we won the prize money from “GSB the Best SMEs Startup” for 1 million baht competition.”

“Furthermore, we also get support from Technology and Innovation-Based Enterprise Development Fund (TED Fund) to elaborate it to practical use and commercial production. Recently, we strive to build our brand named WOKA, under the Creative Engineering and Development (CED2), Thammasat University,” he adds.

“Our team has developed Space Walker to acquire quality equivalent to the imported ones. The price of similar products is about 5 million baht. However, it is not affordable and suitable for Thai’s people needs, while our product can be made within the budget of 50,000-60,000 baht only.  Currently, more than 200 Space Walkers were produced and sold by 60 healthcare institutions nationwide,” he continues.

“Our determination is to allow Thai people to access quality and affordable product. However, it is undeniable that doing business might not serve the needs of all target groups. Therefore, if the government sector encourages the use of this equipment in local healthcare organizations around the country, it will increase their opportunity to access the product. The government will encourage the use of the product in government organizations first but will not launch it to the international market in order to retain revenue to the company. After that, the firm will use that sum of money to further develop the product. As a result, when the company can do mass production, the product’s price will be cheaper,” Warath explains.

“We will work on the product’s standardization and expand it to the domestic market before launching to the international market in 2022.”

“In the future, we plan to expand its working functions to meet the needs of all groups of people such as people who cannot stand or walk. It is expected that the product’s prototype will be launched within next month. Moreover, we will develop the product to support patients with Cerebral Palsy and Orthopedic patients,” he adds.

“In the long run, we aim to develop the product that provides more solutions for more target groups such as people with arm and leg problem.

“The further development will be in collaboration with the Thammasat research centre. All in all, 70% of user groups will be the general public while 30% of them will be hospitals.”

“Currently, we are working to get listed on Thailand Innovation List. If the process is completed, it is expected that customer proportion will be different as 90% of the medical equipment customer group is the government sector,” he concludes.

Thammasat Library’s pride

Posted on by Thammasat University

Assistant Professor Akekarin Yolrabil, Director at Thammasat University Library, has received the “2020 Recognition Award for Library Benefactor”, presented by Thai Library Association under the patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, for initiating, for establishing and developing the library or educational institution in Library and Information Science to meet the quality standards of the Thai Library Association and regularly monitoring and maintaining it for at least 5 years.

Assistant Professor Akekarin Yolrabil has served as Director of Thammasat University Library for the 1st term from July 1, 2016, until June 30, 2019, and continued the 2nd term from July 1, 2019, until June 30, 2022.

The most outstanding work is to bring the organizational operations to meet the international standards (ISO). The library has been certified for the quality management system according to ISO 9001: 2015 since November 17, 2017, and the renewal of the certification was completed on October 31, 2020, and the environmental management system has been certified according to ISO 14001: 2015 since December 22, 2019.

The scope of the “quality and environmental management system” covers all operational segments which consist of front-end and back-end user services. It is the first library of higher education institutions in Thailand having 2 ISO standards certified contemporarily.

The operation under the scope of work covering all roles and responsibilities of the library in compliance with ISO standards for quality and environmental management system has increased the effectiveness of the library services i.e., operational planning, monitoring, investigation and quality control have been done completely and accurately according to the requirements, as well as continuous improvement.

This results in library user satisfaction rate at 91.70 per cent in 2020, which is higher than the target, which is at 85 per cent.

The communication strategy has been adopted in the organization’s branding and strategic positioning in order to build loyalty and relationship between the organization and service users, consists of students, teachers and staff of Thammasat University including external people and staff of the TU Library.

There are currently 97,444 persons who have contacted us via “Thammasat University Library” Facebook Page (as of November 25, 2020). This is considered the most-followed Facebook page of the higher education institution’s libraries in Thailand.

Additionally,  the policies for TU Library service have been set for improvement and development that enables users to access services provided by TU Library anywhere, anytime and on any devices.

These services include registration from the self-registration system, borrowing-returning and resource request from TU Library and other libraries in the network through Book delivery and Interlibrary Loan service, library fine payment through an auto payment system, access to information technology from inside and outside Thammasat University network via OpenAthens system, application development to respond to the needs of users who prefer convenience and speed, such as study room booking system via QueQ, bookshelf guide with TAMMA system, library access with QR code via Virtual card, Institutional repository: IR named “Thammasat University Digital Collections” or TUDC system for storing electronic information resources used in promoting teaching and learning during the COVID-19 situation.

Chulalongkorn University develop an embalming fluid to preserve animal cadavers

Posted on by Chulalongkorn University

Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Veterinary Science (CUVET) has found formulas to preserve animal cadavers to be studied by students in place of carcinogenic formalin and are able to keep the cadavers soft for years.

The CUVET faculty members have spent over 4 years developing this embalming fluid to preserve the animal cadavers, aka “the headmasters”, for students to study.  This is to replace the foul-smelling and carcinogenic formalin, which can have seriously noxious health effects on par with cigarettes and asbestos, and has also been shown to be toxic to the environment.

Asst. Prof. Dr. Siripong Kiatkittikul, Head of the Department of Surgery and Director of the Animal Hospital revealed that this technology was developed in collaboration with the Departments of Physiology, Surgery, and Anatomy of CUVET.

 

“We have expanded on the technology that Chula Faculty of Medicine has used to preserve human cadavers and adapted it to be used with animal cadavers. At present, we have successfully created two formulas: the “formalin–free headmaster“ formula, which is used in anatomy classes that require relatively hard and dry bodies to study musculoskeletal structures.  The “soft headmaster“ formula is used on cadavers for students to practice surgery.  These cadavers need to be soft with pliable organs, joints and muscles just like those of real animals. “

 

“First, we experimented with chunks of meat, then the animal organs. Currently, the formulas are applied to the “headmasters” like dogs and cats, rabbits, pigs, sheep.  The exceptions are for horses and cows that we only embalm just parts of the animals.”

Asst. Prof. Dr. Sirakarnt added that the formulas can preserve the cadavers for up to 2-3 years in the freezer, and 3-4 months after they are removed from the freezer to be studied.  The formulas are also being developed to kill fungi and bacteria in the cadavers soon.

Thammasat Business School receives international award from AMBA & BGA

Posted on by Thammasat University

Thammasat Business School has received the “Best Lifelong Learning Initiative Award 2021” presented by the Association of MBAs (AMBA), a global accreditation body in MBA programmes, and Business Graduates Association (BGA), a global accreditation body in business school from the UK for introducing “Thammasat Model”. Thammasat University was the one and the only institution in Thailand and ASEAN to be ranked in the top 6 finalists.

Thammasat Model is one of the courses in the Integrated Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree Program (IBMP or 5-years Program). The third-year students with business and accounting skills will be sent to the community having the professors as the project advisors.

This initiative helps to promote the necessary lifelong learning skills for the community in order to enhance the career and quality of life. The three pillars of the  “Thammasat Model” are students, communities, and industry.

Professor Dr Ruth Banomyong, the Dean of Thammasat Business School, explained, “Thammasat Business School has encouraged students and graduates to apply the knowledge for improvement and development in each business sector, including the enhancement of community-based livelihood in order to create an impact thoroughly and sustainably on the global society. Hence, we have joined the Government Savings Bank and the Community Partnership Association (Puenchumchon) from Rayong Province to initiate “Thammasat Model” project as the prototype and guide to enhance the community enterprises.”

“The core principle of this model is to learn throughout life and sustainably. Students have been sent to over 170 community projects until now.”

“I feel so proud that Thammasat Business School is the first and only school in Thailand and ASEAN who has been nominated and won the Silver Award for “Best Lifelong Learning Initiative 2021” from Association of MBAs (AMBA), a global accreditation body in MBA program, and Business Graduates Association, a global accreditation body in business school from the UK. It has shown the new innovation of teaching extends its effectiveness not only to the level of students but also faculty, organization and external community,” said the Dean.