PKRU SciTech Journal

Effects of Mangosteen Peel Extract on the Vigor of Low-Quality Tomato Seeds

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0700

This research aimed to investigate the effect of antioxidant-rich mangosteen peel extract (Garcinia mangostana L.) on the invigoration of low-quality tomato seeds (Solanum lycopersicum L., cv. ARQ 2023). The study applied an osmopriming technique, in which tomato seeds with an initial germination rate of 60% were soaked in mangosteen peel extract solutions at concentrations of 1, 2, and 3% for 48 hours at 25 °C. The quality of the treated seeds was evaluated under both laboratory and greenhouse conditions. The results revealed that all concentrations of mangosteen peel extract significantly improved germination percentage and germination index compared with the control. Seeds primed with 3% extract showed the highest germination percentage (88.33%) and germination index (15.04 plants/day), while 2% extract resulted in the greatest root length (5.14 cm) and shoot length under greenhouse conditions (8.32 cm). The pericarp of mangosteen has been reported to contain various phytochemical compounds associated with antioxidant activity, which may be related to the reduction of cellular damage caused by free radicals. However, further evaluation of antioxidant activity is required to substantiate this hypothesis. Priming with 2–3% mangosteen peel extract is therefore a promising natural biopriming strategy for enhancing the vigor and quality of low-quality tomato seeds.

QR Ordering System for Small Scale Eateries

Anuwat Intarat, Attapon Pillai — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0700

This research and development study presents the development and evaluation of Krua Khang Baan, a free-to-use in-store ordering web application targeted at small scale food entrepreneurs to address the challenges of cost and complexity in existing point of sale (POS) systems. The system was developed using a serverless architecture on the Google Firebase platform, utilizing core services such as Firebase Hosting, Firebase Authentication, and Cloud Firestore for the real time database. The customer side application allows users to scan a table specific QR code to view the menu, select food items with options, and submit orders directly to the kitchen. Meanwhile, the vendor side application enables entrepreneurs to manage restaurant information, menus, and monitor incoming orders in real-time via a Kanban style kitchen display system. A satisfaction evaluation, conducted as a pilot study with sample groups of entrepreneurs (n=3) and customers (n=19) using a 5-point Likert scale, revealed a very high level of satisfaction. Overall mean scores exceeded 4.80 out of 5 across all aspects (S.D. < 0.58). The development results indicate that the system successfully reduces order-taking steps, minimizes communication errors, and improves order queue management without imposing additional costs on the entrepreneurs, fulfilling the project's objective of creating an accessible digital tool for small food businesses.

Seasonal Variation of Microplastic Contamination in Surface Waters of Phuket Province

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0700

This study aimed to investigate the contamination and seasonal variation of microplastics in surface waters in Phuket Province, Thailand. Surface water samples were collected from Khlong Bang Yai and Khlong Pak Bang at a total of 11 sampling stations during the dry season (April) and the rainy season (July) in 2024. The samples were analyzed in the laboratory using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) technique. The results showed that microplastic contamination was detected at all sampling stations in urban areas. The abundance of microplastics in the rainy season was significantly higher than that in the dry season (P<0.05), approximately 1.3–4.7 times. More than 50% of the detected microplastics were small particles ranging from 30 to 100 µm in size. The highest concentrations were observed downstream of the effluent discharge point from a wastewater treatment plant during the dry season 20.4 items/L and in urban community areas during the rainy season 40.2 items/L. Fiber-shaped microplastics were the most dominant form detected. The major polymer types identified were rayon, polystyrene, polyethylene, and polypropylene, which are closely associated with human activities such as laundry processes and the use of plastic packaging. The findings highlight the importance of analyzing small-sized microplastics, which account for a relatively high proportion of contamination in surface water, as particle size is a key factor influencing environmental impacts, toxicity, and potential risks to aquatic ecosystems and human health.

Design and Development of a Surgical Instrument Detection System using Faster R-CNN

Po Sinchoo, Chalairat Arthichoonhawong, Suwanan Buarod, Yutthana Pititheeraphab — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0700

This study aims to design and develop an AI-based tool for detecting and counting surgical instruments to reduce human counting errors and improve accuracy in medical workflows. The target instruments include surgical scissors, scalpel handles, and forceps, and the proposed system uses a Faster R-CNN object detection model implemented in MATLAB as the core method. The research process includes preparing an image dataset, labeling the instruments, splitting the data into training and testing sets, and training the Faster R-CNN model so that the system can automatically localize, classify, and count instruments. The system is then evaluated under different conditions, including varying the number and positions of instruments in each image and changing background characteristics, to assess performance as the environment becomes more complex. Experimental results show that the system can effectively detect and classify surgical instruments, particularly with a white background, which yields a high accuracy rate of 95%. However, performance tends to decrease when more instruments are present in the image or when the background is changed to green, especially in terms of detection completeness and counting accuracy, reflecting the model’s limitations under more challenging visual conditions. Overall, the developed system demonstrates potential for practical use in controlled environments and provides a foundation for the future development of intelligent medical systems.

Comparative Degradation Efficiency of Methylene Blue Using Zinc Oxide, Hydroxyapatite, and ZnO/Hydroxyapatite Photocatalysts

Pornpanit Kekina, Akhniya Mayida, Netnapid Ongsuwan, Saowapa Chotisuwan — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0700

This research investigated the synthesis of hydroxyapatite from Lates calcarifer bone biomass. Additionally, zinc oxide nanoparticles and zinc oxide supported on hydroxyapatite (15% wt) were synthesized using the sol-gel method, with cassava starch serving as a stabilizer. X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy-dispersive X-ray microscopy were employed to characterize the morphology and chemical composition of the synthesized hydroxyapatite, zinc oxide nanoparticles, and zinc oxide supported on hydroxyapatite samples. The hydroxyapatite crystal had a hexagonal morphology, incorporating hydroxyl and phosphate functional groups, with a calcium-to-phosphorus molar ratio of 1.64. The photocatalytic process using UV-C light (4 Watt) was conducted to investigate the methylene blue degradation efficiencies of hydroxyapatite, zinc oxide nanoparticles, and zinc oxide supported on hydroxyapatite. The results showed that after 180 minutes of photocatalysis, hydroxyapatite demonstrated greater degradation efficiency of methylene blue compared to zinc oxide nanoparticles and zinc oxide supported on hydroxyapatite. At concentrations of 5 and 20 ppm, the degradation of methylene blue by hydroxyapatite was 43.74 ± 0.13% and 44.13 ± 0.59%, respectively.

Development of Pelletized Bioformulation from Bacillus subtilis Using Agricultural Waste Materials and Evaluation of Its Effects on Lettuce Growth

Husna Teemung; Anyarin Phumeesuk, Suhaimin Chehmalee, Narissara Darakai — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0700

Currently, large amounts of chemical fertilizers are used to increase agricultural productivity, resulting in the accumulation of chemical residues in the environment and the deterioration of soil quality. Therefore, environmentally friendly bioformulations have been developed as alternative agricultural inputs. This research aimed to develop a pelletized bioformulation from Bacillus subtilis by immobilizing the bacteria on carrier materials derived from agricultural wastes, including rubberwood sawdust and finely ground corncobs. The study also investigated the properties of the bioformulation and evaluated its practical efficiency in plant cultivation using a factorial experiment in a completely randomized design (CRD). The results showed that the bacterial survival rate was 6.3 × 10⁶ cfu/g, and the optimal coating ratio of corncob-derived hydrogel was 1:1. No toxic chemical residues from any of the seven chemical groups were detected, and the cell survival rate was 46.44 ± 2.78%. In addition, the bioformulation exhibited suitable physical properties and essential nutrient contents. The bioformulation was tested on three types of lettuce, namely green leaf lettuce, romaine lettuce, and red leaf lettuce, by comparing the use of organic fertilizer alone with organic fertilizer supplemented with the bioformulation. The results demonstrated that the bioformulation significantly promoted plant growth. MANOVA and one-way ANOVA analyses revealed that plant type, fertilizer formulation, and the interaction between these two factors significantly affected shoot length and plant weight.

Enhancing Oyster Mushroom Greenhouses Using IoT Technology: A Case Study of Ban Suan Mae Tha Mushroom Cultivation and Processing Community Enterprise

Waraporn Tumchat, Suphawut Paka, Prasong Norkaew, Warakhom Wongchai — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0700

The primary aim of this research was to design and develop an automated temperature and humidity control system for a prototype mushroom greenhouse at the Ban Suan Mae Tha Community Enterprise in Lampang Province. Structural modifications to the load-bearing beams were implemented, increasing the greenhouse capacity by 4,150 blocks. The control system integrates IoT technology, using DHT22 sensors and an ESP8266 microcontroller to regulate misting pumps and ventilation fans via relays, while presenting data through the Blynk application. The lighting system was enhanced to promote mushroom fruiting. Performance evaluations conducted from October to December demonstrated that the system maintained temperature within the range of 12–32°C and relative humidity within the range of 70–87%. The results indicated that the prototype achieved a 20.7% increase in average yield per 1,000 blocks relative to conventional greenhouses, a finding that was statistically significant (p < 0.011). An economic analysis of 10,000 blocks indicated additional income of 83,950 THB over two months. The system had a payback period of 1.63 years, based on a four-month annual production cycle.