Interplay of xenobiotic-degrading and antibiotic-resistant microorganisms among the microbiome found in the air, handrail, and floor of the subway station.

Investigating the quality of the subway environment, especially regarding antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and xenobiotics, conveys ecological and health impacts. In this study, compositions and relations of microorganisms harboring ARGs and xenobiotic degradation and metabolism genes (XDGs) in the Sukhumvit subway station (MRT-SKV) in Bangkok was assessed by analyzing the taxonomic and genetic diversity of the microbiome in the air and on the surfaces of floor and handrail. The major bacteria in the MRT-SKV (including Moraxella, which was abundant in the bioaerosol and handrail samples, and Staphylococcus, which was abundant in the bioaerosol samples) were found to contain both ARGs and XDGs. The co-abundance correlation network revealed notable relationships among bacteria harboring antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and xenobiotic degradation genes (XDGs). Significant associations were observed between ARGs linked to glycopeptide and fluoroquinolone resistance and genes associated with benzoate, styrene, and atrazine degradation pathways, as well as between ARGs related to cephamycin, cephalosporin, and MLS resistance and XDGs associated with the cytochrome P450-dependent drug metabolism pathway. These correlations suggested that selective pressure exerted by certain xenobiotics and antibiotics can simultaneously affect both ARGs and XDGs in the environment and should favor correlations and co-survival among ARG- and XDG-containing bacteria in the environments. The correlations may occur via shared mechanisms of resistance to both xenobiotics and antibiotics. Finally, different correlation pairs were seen in different niches (air, handrail, floor) of the subway environment or different geolocations. Thus, the relationship between ARG and XDG pairs most likely depends on the unique characteristics of the niches and on the prominent types of xenobiotics and antibiotics in the subway environment. The results indicated that interactions and connections between microbial communities can impact how they function. These microorganisms can have profound effects on accumulation of xenobiotics and ARGs in the MRT-SKV.

Identifying the determinants of tourism receipts of Thailand and relevant determinant-determinant interactions.

The study examined the determinants that affect tourism receipts in Thailand. To this end, quarterly data from eight main provinces of Thailand from the period 2015-2019 were used and constituted a repeated measures design. Accordingly, a generalized linear mixed model was applied for developing two different random intercept models by treating 1) province, and 2) a combination of province and calendar quarter as cluster-specific effects. It was found that determinants that increased tourism receipts were the number of visitors, the average cost per day, the length of stay of visitors, the presence of low-cost airlines, and a relatively low offence rate. Moreover, an increase in the number of visitors in the fourth quarter produced a higher amount of additional receipts as compared to a similar increase in the first quarter. Specifically, for Thailand attracting high-spending tourists and extending tourist visas for more than 30 days is recommended. Beyond Thailand, uncovering interaction effects as described above may help tourism agencies to focus their limited resources on the determinants that matter.