Quantum fluctuations in radiation dominated anisotropic cosmology

Using the metric conformal transformation and simple path integral, Feynman propagator method, for computing its quantum fluctuations, we analyse the radiation dominated anisotropic Bianchi Type I cosmology. We proceed to show that the quantum conformal fluctuations diverge at the classical spacetime singularity, suggesting that a singularity free solution can exist in anisotropic cosmology in the quantum regime

Non-conformal fluctuations in radiation dominated Anisotropic cosmology

Using simple path integral, Feynman propagator method and the relation between conformal time η and scale factor τ, we investigate the non-conformal quantum fluctuations (of expansion and shear) and axisymmetric singularity case in radiation dominated anisotropic cosmology. We show that near the classical singularity the quantum fluctuations tend to diverge

Revolutionizing basic education: challenges of federal education in Myanmar

Myanmar’s education system lags far behind in the world. Myanmar today has unqualified teachers, very few resources, and aging materials especially a centralized education system with inadequate infrastructure and unqualified teachers (Lwin, T., 2007). This affects accessibility for marginalized children such as children with disability and children living in conflict areas. The contents of school textbooks are also not culturally acceptable for ethnic minorities. The education system could not fulfill the wants and needs of society, especially the skills that are needed for work. The education reform was initiated under the NLD government from 2015 to 2020 and following the coup that happened on 1st February 2021, along with the political revolution and transition demanding federal democracy, the education sector reform that is relevant to federal democracy principles is accompanying. This research aimed to explore challenges in this process of implementation to formulate and state education policies that could reflect the needs and challenges faced by the implementers during federal education reform during and post-revolution in Myanmar. The methodology was qualitative by using focus group discussions with the (15) implementers (teachers) across states and regions of Myanmar and key informant interviews with (1) policymaker who are working in the education sector, (2) ethnic groups’ education policy makers and (1) basic education expert. The implementers and policymakers highlighted the challenges mainly on the budget and infrastructure support, curriculum, language (ethnic mother languages among diverse communities), human resources, and quality assurance while reforming the education sector in the federal democratic government

Quasilocal energy for rotating charged black hole solutions in general relativity and string theory

We explore the (non)-universality of Martinez's conjecture, originally proposed for Kerr black holes, within and beyond general relativity. The conjecture states that the Brown-York quasilocal energy at the outer horizon of such a black hole reduces to twice its irreducible mass, or equivalently, to \sqrt{A} /(2\sqrt{pi}), where `A' is its area. We first consider the charged Kerr black hole. For such a spacetime, we calculate the quasilocal energy within a two-surface of constant Boyer-Lindquist radius embedded in a constant stationary-time slice. Keeping with Martinez's conjecture, at the outer horizon this energy equals the irreducible mass. The energy is positive and monotonically decreases to the ADM mass as the boundary-surface radius diverges. Next we perform an analogous calculation for the quasilocal energy for the Kerr-Sen spacetime, which corresponds to four-dimensional rotating charged black hole solutions in heterotic string theory. The behavior of this energy as a function of the boundary-surface radius is similar to the charged Kerr case. However, we show that in this case it does not approach the expression conjectured by Martinez at the horizon.Comment: 15 page

A Rare Concurrence of Leiomyomatosis Peritonealis Disseminata, Leiomyosarcoma of the Pelvis and Leiomyomatous Nodule of the Liver

Leiomyomatosis peritonealis disseminata (LPD) is a rare entity that is characterized by the presence of multiple subperitoneal or peritoneal smooth muscle nodules throughout the peritoneal surface mimicking a malignant process. LPD follows a benign course in general, and it is often found incidentally during abdominal surgery. There have been reported cases of LPD with malignant degeneration although the association is uncertain. Concurrent finding of LPD and leiomyosarcoma of the pelvis is very rare that could be coincidental, malignant transformation of LPD to leiomyosarcoma, or progression of undetected primary leiomyosarcoma. There are only a few previously reported cases in the literature. Herein, we report a case of 56-year-old woman with a history of leiomyoma of uterus who presented with progressive abdominal swelling secondary to mass lesions in the pelvis. The patient underwent exploratory laparotomy and debulking of the tumors, and the histologic examination of the tumors revealed coexistence of LPD and leiomyosarcoma. After recovery from the operation, core needle biopsy of the superficial, residual liver mass was obtained to investigate potential liver metastasis, and the histopathologic findings are consistent with leiomyoma which represents the first simultaneous occurrence of LPD, leiomyosarcoma, and leiomyomatous nodule of the liver

Asymptomatic and sub-microscopic malaria infection in Kayah State, eastern Myanmar

Myanmar has the heaviest burden of malaria in the Greater Mekong Sub-region. Asymptomatic Plasmodium spp. infections are common in this region and may represent an important reservoir of transmission that must be targeted for malaria elimination.; A mass blood survey was conducted among 485 individuals from six villages in Kayah State, an area of endemic but low transmission malaria in eastern Myanmar. Malaria infection was screened by rapid diagnostic test (RDT), light microscopy and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and its association with demographic factors was explored.; The prevalence of asymptomatic Plasmodium spp. infection was 2.3% (11/485) by real-time PCR. Plasmodium vivax accounted for 72.7% (8/11) and Plasmodium falciparum for 27.3% (3/11) of infections. Men were at greater risk of infection by Plasmodium spp. than women. Individuals who worked as farmers or wood and bamboo cutters had an increased risk of infection.; A combination of RDT, light microscopy and PCR diagnostics were used to identify asymptomatic malaria infection, providing additional information on asymptomatic cases in addition to the routine statistics on symptomatic cases, so as to determine the true burden of disease in the area. Such information and risk factors can improve malaria risk stratification and guide decision-makers towards better design and delivery of targeted interventions in small villages, representative of Kayah State

Collaborative Survey and Collection of Brassica Vegetable Genetic Resources in Myanmar in 2018 and 2019

Exploration and collection surveys were conducted from October 25 to November 9, 2018 and from February 10 to 26, 2019, under the collaboration between Tokyo University of Agriculture (TUA), Japan, and the Department of Agriculture Research, Myanmar. The 2018 survey was conducted at Shan State, Mandalay Region, and in a part of the Sagaing Region. In 2019, genetic resources were collected from the Eastern Shan State. Genetic resources were collected from farmlands, farmers’ houses, local markets, and areas surrounding administrative offices of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Irrigation. In all, 110 accessions, including 82 of Brassica juncea, 11 of Brassica oleracea L. Alboglabra Group, one of Brassica oleracea L. Capitata Group, and 16 of Raphanus sativus L, were collected. The collected genetic resources were divided between the Myanmar Seed Bank and TUA for the Plant Genetic Resources in Asia Project, and half of the collected resources was imported to Japan and introduced there as per the Standard Material Transfer Agreement. Imported seeds will be multiplied and evaluated in Japan and will become available from the National Agriculture and Food Research Organization Genebank, Japan, for research, breeding, and educational purposes.ミャンマー連邦共和国において，“Mohn Nyin” と呼ばれるカラシナを中心としたアブラナ野菜の遺伝資源探索収集を行った．2018 年 10 月 25 日から 11 月 9 日までシャン州カロー周辺，マンダレー管区およびザガイン管区の一部で収集を行った．また，2019 年 2 月 10 日から 26 日は東部シャン州において収集を行った．その結果，Brassica juncea 82 点，B. oleracea L. Alboglabra Group 11 点，B. oleracea L. Capitata Group 1 点，Raphanus sativus L. 16 点の計 110 点が収集された．調査はミャンマー農業畜産潅漑省農業研究局および東京農業大学の共同で行われた．収集品は 2 分し，一方はミャンマーシードバンクで，他方は SMTA に基づき日本に導入された後，農業研究，育種，教育目的で配布可能な遺伝資源として，農業・食品産業技術総合研究機構遺伝資源センターにて保存される

SARS Coronavirus-2 microneutralisation and commercial serological assays correlated closely for some but not all enzyme immunoassays

Serological testing for SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies provides important research and diagnostic information relating to COVID-19 prevalence, incidence and host immune response. A greater understanding of the relationship between functionally neutralising antibodies detected using microneutralisation assays and binding antibodies detected using scalable enzyme immunoassays (EIA) is needed in order to address protective immunity post-infection or vaccination, and assess EIA suitability as a surrogate test for screening of convalescent plasma donors. We assessed whether neutralising antibody titres correlated with signal cut-off ratios in five commercially available EIAs, and one in-house assay based on expressed spike protein targets. Sera from recovered patients or convalescent plasma donors who reported laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection (n = 200), and negative control sera collected prior to the COVID-19 pandemic (n = 100), were assessed in parallel. Performance was assessed by calculating EIA sensitivity and specificity with reference to microneutralisation. Neutralising antibodies were detected in 166 (83%) samples. Compared with this, the most sensitive EIAs were the Cobas Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 (98%) and Vitros Immunodiagnostic Anti-SARS-CoV-2 (100%), which detect total antibody targeting the N and S1 antigens, respectively. The assay with the best quantitative relationship with microneutralisation was the Euroimmun IgG. These results suggest the marker used (total Ab vs. IgG vs. IgA) and the target antigen are important determinants of assay performance. The strong correlation between microneutralisation and some commercially available assays demonstrates their potential for clinical and research use in assessing protection following infection or vaccination, and use as a surrogate test to assess donor suitability for convalescent plasma donation

Effects of antiplatelet therapy on stroke risk by brain imaging features of intracerebral haemorrhage and cerebral small vessel diseases: subgroup analyses of the RESTART randomised, open-label trial

Background Findings from the RESTART trial suggest that starting antiplatelet therapy might reduce the risk of recurrent symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhage compared with avoiding antiplatelet therapy. Brain imaging features of intracerebral haemorrhage and cerebral small vessel diseases (such as cerebral microbleeds) are associated with greater risks of recurrent intracerebral haemorrhage. We did subgroup analyses of the RESTART trial to explore whether these brain imaging features modify the effects of antiplatelet therapy