Statistical Machine Translation between Myanmar Sign Language and Myanmar Written Text

This paper contributes the first evaluation of the quality of automatic translation between Myanmar sign language (MSL) and Myanmar written text, in both directions. Our developing MSL-Myanmar parallel corpus was used for translations and the experiments were carried out using three different statistical machine translation (SMT) approaches: phrase-based, hierarchical phrase-based, and the operation sequence model. In addition, three different segmentation schemes were studies, these were syllable segmentation, word segmentation and sign unit based word segmentation. The results show that the highest quality machine translation was attained with syllable segmentations for both MSL and Myanmar written text

Development of Natural Language Processing based Communication and Educational Assisted Systems for the People with Hearing Disability in Myanmar

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) provide people with disabilities to better integrate socially and economically into their communities by supporting access to information and knowledge, learning and teaching situations, personal communication and interaction. Our research purpose is to develop systems that will provide communication and educational assistance to persons with hearing disability using Natural Language Processing (NLP). In this paper, we present corpus building for Myanmar sign language (MSL), Machine Translation (MT) between MSL, Myanmar written text (MWT) and Myanmar SignWriting (MSW) and two Fingerspelling keyboard layouts for Myanmar SignWriting. We believe that the outcome of this research is useful for educational contents and communication between hearing disability and general people

Study on Processing of Rare Earth Oxide from Monazite, Mongmit Myitsone Region

The present study investigates to support the production of rare earth oxide, which has been used for next research work of individual rare earth elements purification process from monazite, Mongmit Myitsone Region. The processing of rare earth oxide in this study involves four main parts, digestion of monazite concentrate, selective precipitation of rare earth hydroxide, precipitation of rare earth oxalate and calcination of rare earth oxide. The chemicals used in this study were commercial grade from local market. The products from each processing process were characterized by XRD and XRF. The final product contained (> 95 %) of total rare earth oxide and fulfilled to apply next purification process. This paper review the cheaper and easily way to extract rare earth oxide from Myanmar monazite

Study on the Treatment of Liquid Waste from Rare Earth Processing by Chemical Precipitation

This paper describes treatment of liquid waste from rare earth processing by chemical precipitation. Monazite ore from Moemeik Myitsone area was used as raw material for rare earth processing. Large amount of solid and liquid wastes were generated after rare earth oxide processing. Solid waste was stored in the storage tanks and liquid waste needed further treatment before discharges to the environment. Research process serves the purpose of reducing the volume of the waste as much as possible to protect men and the environment from any undesirable effects for the present and future generation. Treatment methods are selected based on the composition, quantity and form of the waste materials. The used method is chemical precipitation method. For liquid waste treatment, the most coagulation treatment used is the Fe +++ co-precipitation followed by settling, decantation and filtration of the supernatant liquid. The efficiency of the process can be improved by careful control of the pH and the settling the decantation procedure. The sludge was filtered, dried in oven and collected in plastic bags and temporary stored in 100 liters plastic drums.   Finally all of the decontaminated effluents are safety discharged to the environment. All of the experiments were analyzed by the X- ray Fluorescence Spectrometer (XRF). Before treatment, thorium and uranium contained <2000 ppm,  < 300 ppm and this is in the low level waste. After treatment result in decant water gives uranium (< 1 ppm) and thorium (< 10 ppm).According to the threshold limits for the UK radioactive classification system,   liquid waste from rare earth processing was less than (0.4 Bq/g) and this range is in exempt waste and can be discharge to drain and to the environment safety. The safety regime was in place and improved simultaneously by survey monitoring by using Alert Monitor 4 meter Scale in USV/H

Investigation of Japanese Encephalitis Virus Infection in Bogalay Township, Myanmar in 1999

An investigation was in Nyi-naung-wa village, Bogalay township for Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus infection and the possibility of a JE outbreak. JE virus antibody was determined among the pigs and the people living near the pig farms in that village and at an adjacent village as a control. The known JE virus vector Culex mosquito species were also identified in both villages. Haemagglutination inhibition (HAI) methods were used for the detectioon of JE and dengue antibodies. Homotypic or monotypic JE antibodies were detected in 33% of the pigs tested. No homotypic nor monotypic JE antibodis was detected among the villagers. Although there was no JE virus infection among the people, because of the presence of JE virus infection among the pigs and the presence of Culex mosquito vector in that area, the possibility of a JE outbreak in humans in that area, if the number of pig breeding per household increase and the mosquito density become higher is discussed

Prevalence, antimicrobial resistance and genomic comparison of non-typhoidal salmonella isolated from pig farms with different levels of intensification in Yangon Region, Myanmar

In Myanmar, where backyard, semi-intensive, and intensive pig (Sus scrofa domesticus) farming coexist, there is limited understanding of the zoonotic risks and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) associated with these farming practices. This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence, AMR and genomic features of Salmonella in pig farms in the Yangon region and the impact of farm intensification to provide evidence to support risk-based future management approaches. Twenty-three farms with different production scales were sampled for two periods with three sampling-visit each. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests and whole-genome sequencing were performed on the isolates. The prevalence of Salmonella was 44.5% in samples collected from backyard farms, followed by intensive (39.5%) and semi-intensive farms (19.5%). The prevalence of multi-drug resistant isolates from intensive farms (45/84, 53.6%) was higher than those from backyard (32/171, 18.7%) and semi-intensive farms (25/161, 15.5%). Among 28 different serovars identified, S. Weltevreden (40; 14.5%), S. Kentucky (38; 13.8%), S. Stanley (35, 12.7%), S. Typhimurium (22; 8.0%) and S. Brancaster (20; 7.3%) were the most prevalent serovars and accounted for 56.3% of the genome sequenced strains. The diversity of Salmonella serovars was highest in semi-intensive and backyard farms (21 and 19 different serovars, respectively). The high prevalence of globally emerging S. Kentucky ST198 was detected on backyard farms. The invasive-infection linked typhoid-toxin gene (cdtB) was found in the backyard farm isolated S. Typhimurium, relatively enriched in virulence and AMR genes, presented an important target for future surveillance. While intensification, in terms of semi-intensive versus backyard production, maybe a mitigator for zoonotic risk through a lower prevalence of Salmonella, intensive production appears to enhance AMR-associated risks. Therefore, it remains crucial to closely monitor the AMR and virulence potential of this pathogen at all scales of production. The results underscored the complex relationship between intensification of animal production and the prevalence, diversity and AMR of Salmonella from pig farms in Myanmar

Prevalence and seroprevalence of Plasmodium infection in Myanmar reveals highly heterogeneous transmission and a large hidden reservoir of infection.

Malaria incidence in Myanmar has significantly reduced over recent years, however, completeness and timeliness of incidence data remain a challenge. The first ever nationwide malaria infection and seroprevalence survey was conducted in Myanmar in 2015 to better understand malaria epidemiology and highlight gaps in Annual Parasite Index (API) data. The survey was a cross-sectional two-stage stratified cluster-randomised household survey conducted from July-October 2015. Blood samples were collected from household members for ultra-sensitive PCR and serology testing for P. falciparum and P. vivax. Data was gathered on demography and a priori risk factors of participants. Data was analysed nationally and within each of four domains defined by API data. Prevalence and seroprevalence of malaria were 0.74% and 16.01% nationwide, respectively. Prevalent infection was primarily asymptomatic P. vivax, while P. falciparum was predominant in serology. There was large heterogeneity between villages and by domain. At the township level, API showed moderate correlation with P. falciparum seroprevalence. Risk factors for infection included socioeconomic status, domain, and household ownership of nets. Three K13 P. falciparum mutants were found in highly prevalent villages. There results highlight high heterogeneity of both P. falciparum and P. vivax transmission between villages, accentuated by a large hidden reservoir of asymptomatic P. vivax infection not captured by incidence data, and representing challenges for malaria elimination. Village-level surveillance and stratification to guide interventions to suit local context and targeting of transmission foci with evidence of drug resistance would aid elimination efforts

Impact of the Urban Building on Air Temperature Variations along the 35th Street, Mandalay City

Urban heat is very important for human health and local climate change. Urban heat varies from place to place due to spatial variations of urban land use, urban landscape, total population and etc. Mandalay City lies in Central Myanmar. Its urbanization is quickly developed with increasing population and urban morphology changes. This paper analyse the impact of the urban buildings on the air temperature variations along the 35th street which crossed the Mandalay urban area. The method of vehicle traverses (direct measurement) is used to measure the air temperature for the specific points along the 35th street. And the relationship between the housing density and temperature variations is analyzed by the method of Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation Coefficient. The air temperature of the middle points was higher than the air temperature of the ends point of the street. The temperature difference between the downtown area and the urban fringes is 2.42º C which is very high. The correlation coefficient between the air temperature and the housing density along the 35th street is very high with the coefficient of determination (0.64). 64% of the variability in air temperature was determined by the housing density variable. Other factors that are influencing on air temperature have to be taken into account for the remaining 36 %. This paper argues that the air temperature is increasing to the urban center from the urban fringes. It is a very important fact and it can affect local people's health and local weather. In addition, its correlation with distribution of the housing is more significant than the other factor

Experiencing Domestic Violence and Help Seeking Behaviors in Myanmar

At the present time domestic violence is a problem of great magnitude around the world. The prevalence of domestic violence directly and indirectly affects health, livelihoods and opportunities of women in worldwide. The vast majority of violence against women is committed not only by a stranger but also by an intimate partner. One of the most pervasive forms of violence against women is intimate partner violence which is committed by a current or former intimate partner or husband, whether cohabitating or not. Since violence against women occurs in all societies, within the home or in the wider community and it affects women and girls disproportionately. This study endeavors to fill the gap by comprehensively analyzing how socioeconomic and demographic characteristics shape three aspects of domestic violence: experiencing physical, emotional and sexual violence. The study also highlights the relationship between the domestic violence and help seeking behaviors of women who are experienced the domestic violence. Data for ever women age (15-49) from the 2015-2016 Myanmar Demographic and Health Survey (MDHS) are analyzed using logistic regression analysis. This study shows that emotional and physical violence are associated with women’s education, wealth quintile, having children, States/Regions, husband’s education, and woman afraid of husband. Women’s experience sexual violence is related to States/Regions, residence, age difference and woman afraid of husband. Helping seeking behavior is correlated with types of violence, women’s age, wealth quintile, education, States/Regions, and residence. The results of this study could contribute to the government’s efforts to mainstream the gender dimension into the country’s development policies and programs