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Plants' ecological niches are important to study, particularly for applying the knowledge to restoration programs. This study clarified the relationships of tree species composition and spatial distribution to environmental factors in a mountain ecosystem. A 3 ha permanent plot was established across the forest ecotone at Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. The spatial distributions of the 20 dominant tree species were analyzed using a generalized linear model (GLM) combined with geographic information system (GIS) techniques. High species diversity was found, including 165 species representing 118 genera and 59 families. Elevation strongly influenced tree distribution, which could be divided into three groups: low-altitude species in deciduous dipterocarp forest (DDF), highaltitude species in lower montane forest (LMF) and coexisting DDF and LMF species. The GLM analysis revealed that soil texture, which ranged from sandy to clayey, influenced tree distribution. The results suggest that restoration programs should select suitable species based on their niches.

Introduction: Wound infection is the one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide and antibiotics resistant bacteria are the great part of complications on treatment of the infection.Objectives: The present study was conducted to isolate and identify the etiological agents of wound infection and assess the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of the isolates. Methods:The study was carried out on wound infection suspected patients visiting B and B Hospital for six months duration. The collected pus specimen were first observed macroscopically then streaked on MacConkey agar and blood agar, incubated at 37 0 C for 24 hours. The isolated bacteria were identified by macroscopic and microscopic observations and biochemical reactions. Antibiotic susceptibility pattern of the isolates was assessed by Modified Kirby Baur disc diffusion technique.Results: A total of 503 pus samples were collected; of which 43.7% showed bacterial growth. Out of a total 220 bacterial isolates; 158 (71.82%) were Gram negative and 62 (28.18%) were Gram positive bacteria. Pseudomonas spp. (34.55%) was most common followed by Staphylococcus aureus (21.36%), Escherichia coli (11.82%), Acinetobacter baumannii (11.36%), Enterobacter aerogens (8.18%), Coagulase negative Staphylococci (CoNS) (5.45%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (4.55%), Citrobacter freundii (1.36%), Streptococcus spp. (0.91%) and Enterococcus spp. (0.46%). Most of Gram negative bacteria (63.9%) and Gram positive bacteria (93.5%) were susceptible to amikacin and chloramphenicol respectively. Among 220 isolates, 138 (62.73%) were found to be multi drug resistant (MDR). All the isolates of A. baumannii were isolated from in-patients and almost 96.4% (24/25) were MDR. Conclusion:In this study, significant number of MDR strains was found as the causative agent of wound infection. So, routine microbiological analysis of the wound specimen and their antibiotic susceptibility testing are recommended that will guide medical practitioners for empirical treatment of wound infection, so as to reduce the spread of resistant bacteria.

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Problem statement: Contract Farming (CF) concept is an agreement between buyers and producers, where by producers agree to produce and supply agriculture products according to the agreed quantity, quality, variety, grade, type of packaging and time of delivery. The two parties will mutually agree on the pricing of product, either on a contract price or a market price. Therefore, CF is seen as a tool for fostering smallholder participation in new high-value product markets and improving quality standards, thus increasing and stabilizing smallholder incomes. In Malaysia, CF has been identified as a system capable of stimulating agricultural production and was given a central role in the latest strategy by government to improve the vegetable and fruit production. Approach: The overall objective of this study was to examine CF as the new marketing practice among selected vegetable and fruit suppliers. The specific objectives of the study were: (1) to examine the respondents perception towards CF; (2) to identify respondents practices toward the CF and (3) to suggest a policy to ensure the sustainability of CF. Results: Out of 208 of the total respondents selected in the study, 41 suppliers were involved in CF. The data were analyzed using SPSS to describe the respondents profile and current supply chain practices. At present, the suppliers have a contract agreement with Federal Agriculture Marketing Authority (FAMA) and FAMA has a contract agreement with Hypermarkets. It is presumed that there is a new supply chain network but the contract was not according to the FAO definition. The production and marketing contracts exist in non-formal or mainly verbal agreement. The production contract respondents also did not follow the criteria of CF. Conclusion: Because of this, all the non-formal production contracts in this survey are categorized into marketing contracts. This study concludes with the absence of proper farming contract between farmers and hypermarkets