Late Eocene-Oligocene granulite facies garnet-sillimanite migmatites from the Mogok Metamorphic belt, Myanmar, and implications for timing of slip along the Sagaing Fault

MPS is grateful to the Oxford-Burma Aung San Suu Kyi trust for funding research and field visits to Mogok. U-Th-Pb geochronology was funded by UCSB and NSF grants EAR-1348003 and EAR-1551054 to BH.The Mogok Metamorphic Belt (MMB) in Myanmar is a polymetamorphic, mainly Paleogene granulite-uppermost amphibolite facies terrane consisting mainly of marbles and calc-silicates hosting spinel, ruby and sapphire. Jurassic charnockite-syenite intrusions, as well as Eocene-Miocene leucogranite intrusions are also present. Pelitic rocks are uncommon, and where present, have sillimanite, both as primary inclusions in garnet and as secondary Bt + Sil coronas around garnet. Core samples from the Kyi-Tauk-Pauk gold mine at Thabeikkiyin, north of Mandalay, are mostly Grt + Bt + Sill gneisses and migmatites with uncommon interbanded Opx + Grt + Bt gneisses. Pseudosection modelling suggests prograde garnet growth occurred by biotite-dehydration melting that reached peak P–T conditions of 870–970 °C and ~ 0.9 GPa, and was followed by garnet breakdown forming coarse retrograde Bt + Sil coronas. U[sbnd]Pb monazite data show an early high-grade granulite event at 43–32 Ma, and a later upper amphibolite sillimanite-grade event peaking at 23–20 Ma, with a change in monazite chemistry after c. 22 Ma that is consistent with fluid/(melt) interaction and garnet breakdown. Elevated Th/U ratios from ~35 to 22 Ma, and at ~18 Ma are compatible with melt influx at that time, timing that is similar to the age of the regional Kabaing leucogranite in the Mogok valley area. Our data show that peak granulite facies metamorphism along the Mogok Metamorphic belt was mainly Middle Eocene-Early Oligocene, with upper amphibolite facies metamorphism extending to earliest Miocene. The MMB is cut abruptly by the Sagaing fault, a large-scale dextral fault that extends from the Andaman Sea north to the East Himalayan syntaxis. Our new U[sbnd]Pb monazite data constrain the oldest age of initiation of the eastern branch of the cross-cutting Sagaing dextral strike-slip fault atPostprintPeer reviewe

Does \Sigma -\Sigma -\alpha Form a Quasi-Bound State?

We have investigated the possible existence of a quasi-bound state for the \Sigma -\Sigma -\alpha system in the framework of Faddeev calculations. We are particularly interested in the state of total iso-spin T=2, since for an inert \alpha particle there is no strong conversion to \Xi -N-\alpha or \Lambda -\Lambda -\alpha possible. A \Sigma -\alpha optical potential based on Nijmegen model D and original \Sigma -\Sigma interactions of the series of Nijmegen potentials NSC97 as well a simulated Gaussian type versions thereof are used. Our investigation of the \Sigma -\Sigma -\alpha system leads to a quasi bound state where, depending on the potential parameters, the energy ranges between -1.4 and -2.4 MeV and the level width is about 0.2MeV.Comment: 13 pages, 4 figures, 5 table

Detection of a novel locus involved in non-seed-shattering behaviour of Japonica rice cultivar, Oryzasativa ‘Nipponbare’

Asian cultivated rice, Oryzasativa, was domesticated from its wild ancestor, O.rufipogon. Loss of seed shattering is one of the most recognisable traits selected during rice domestication. Three quantitative trait loci (QTLs), qSH1, qSH3, and sh4, were previously reported to be involved in the loss of seed shattering of Japonica cultivated rice, O.sativa ‘Nipponbare’. However, the introgression line (IL) carrying ‘Nipponbare’ alleles at these three loci in the genetic background of wild rice, O.rufipogon W630, showed a lower value for detaching a grain from the pedicel than ‘Nipponbare’. Here, we investigated abscission layer formation in the IL and found a partially formed abscission layer in the central region between the epidermis and vascular bundles. Based on QTL-seq analysis using the F2 population obtained from a cross between ‘Nipponbare’ and the IL, we detected two novel loci qCSS3 and qCSS9 (QTL for the Control of Seed Shattering in rice on chromosomes 3 and 9), which were found to be involved in the difference in seed-shattering degree between ‘Nipponbare’ and W630. Then, we further focused on qCSS3 in order to understand its potential role on the loss of seed shattering. The candidate region of qCSS3 was found to be located within a 526-kb region using substitution mapping analysis. Interestingly, the qCSS3 candidate region partially overlaps the selective sweep detected for Japonica but not for Indica rice cultivars, suggesting that this region harbours the mutation at a novel seed-shattering locus specifically selected for non-seed-shattering behaviour in Japonica cultivars

Distribution of pigeon pea cyst nematode and root-knot nematodes in major sesame growing areas in Myanmar

© 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).The pigeon pea cyst nematode, Heterodera cajani, is an economically important plant-parasitic nematode in sesame production. The objective of the study was to investigate distribution of H. cajani in the major sesame producing areas in Myanmar. Before cultivation, soil samples were collected in 96 local farmer’s fields: (19 fields in Magway, 20 fields in Mandalay, 14 fields in Sagaing and 43 in Nay Pyi Taw), and nematode density was quantified by real-time PCR. The cyst nematode was detected in 63.2% of the fields in Magway and the mean density was 22.6 eggs equivalent (20 g soil)−1. In Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw, the cyst nematode was detected in 40.0% and 18.6% of the fields with the mean densities of 9.9 and 21.0 eggs equivalent (20 g soil)−1, respectively. By contrast, the cyst nematode was not detected in Sagaing fields, in which sesame is rotated with paddy rice. Infestation of root-knot nematodes (RKN, Meloidogyne spp.) was also evaluated, because sesame is generally rotated with rice and pulses, which are attacked by RKN. The results showed 25.6% infestation of RKN with a mean density of 34.3 eggs equivalent (20 g soil)−1 only in Nay Pyi Taw, while there was no infestation in Magway, Mandalay, and Sagaing. The relationships between the nematode infestation level and the cropping patterns in each sesame growing area in Myanmar were discussedPeer reviewedFinal Published versio

Propagation management methods have altered the genetic variability of two traditional mango varieties in Myanmar, as revealed by SSR

Mango (Mangifera indica L.) is an important fruit crop with a long cultivation history in Myanmar. This study evaluated the genetic variation within two economically important traditional varieties, ‘Yin Kwe’ and ‘Sein Ta Lone’, and the relationship between genetic variation and propagation practices. Genetic variation was estimated by genotyping 94 individuals with 12 single sequence repeat markers. ‘Yin Kwe’ (n = 53) showed higher levels of observed heterozygosity (Ho = 0.59) and average genetic distance among individuals (Da = 0.29) than did ‘Sein Ta Lone’ (n = 41; Ho = 0.45; Da = 0.09). The differences between the two varieties at the DNA level were significant (Fst = 0.44). The broader genetic background in ‘Yin Kwe’ compared with ‘Sein Ta Lone’ was also demonstrated by neighbour-joining and principal coordinates analyses. Differences in variety uses and propagation practices were determined by interviewing local specialists in Lower Myanmar (southern Myanmar). ‘Yin Kwe’ was often used as a rootstock for ‘Sein Ta Lone’. Clonal propagation by grafting was observed frequently for ‘Sein Ta Lone’ but never for ‘Yin Kwe’. The differences in genetic variation between these two varieties might have been caused by the propagation practices for each variety, which result from their respective uses

The spectrum of health conditions in community-based cross-sectional surveys in Southeast Asia 2010-21: a scoping review

Background: Southeast Asia is undergoing an epidemiological transition with non-communicable illnesses becoming increasingly important, yet infectious diseases (tuberculosis, HIV, hepatitis B, malaria) remain widely prevalent in some populations, while emerging and zoonotic diseases threaten. There are also limited population-level estimates of many important heath conditions. This restricts evidence-based decision-making for disease control and prevention priorities. Cross-sectional surveys can be efficient epidemiological tools to measure the prevalence of a wide range of diseases, but no systematic assessment of their coverage of different health conditions has been produced for the region. Methods: We conducted a systematic search in Medline, Embase, Global Health, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science Core Collection, and Global Index Medicus, and additionally Google Scholar. Our inclusion criteria were cross-sectional surveys conducted with community-based recruitment, in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand, published between January 1, 2010 and January 27, 2021, and reporting the prevalence of any health condition. Results: 542 publications from 337 surveys were included. Non-communicable conditions (n = 205) were reported by more surveys than infectious conditions (n = 124). Disability (n = 49), self-report history of any disease or symptoms (n = 35), and self-perceived health status (n = 34), which reflect a holistic picture of health, were studied by many fewer surveys. In addition, 45 surveys studied symptomatic conditions which overlap between non-communicable and infectious conditions. The most surveyed conditions were undernutrition, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, intestinal parasites, malaria, anemia, diarrhea, fever, and acute respiratory infections. These conditions overlap with the most important causes of death and disability in the Global Burden of Disease study. However, other high-burden conditions (e.g. hearing loss, headache disorder, low back pain, chronic liver and kidney diseases, and cancers) were rarely studied. Conclusion: There were relatively few recent surveys from which to estimate representative prevalences and trends of health conditions beyond those known to be high burden. Expanding the spectrum of health conditions in cross-sectional surveys could improve understanding of evolving disease patterns in the region

Linear Lattice and Trajectory Reconstruction and Correction at FAST Linear Accelerator

The low energy part of the FAST linear accelerator based on 1.3 GHz superconducting RF cavities was successfully commissioned. During commissioning, beam based model dependent methods were used to correct linear lattice and trajectory. Lattice correction algorithm is based on analysis of beam shape from profile monitors and trajectory responses to dipole correctors. Trajectory responses to field gradient variations in quadrupoles and phase variations in superconducting RF cavities were used to correct bunch offsets in quadrupoles and accelerating cavities relative to their magnetic axes. Details of used methods and experimental results are presented.Comment: 3 p

Cross-sectional study of nutritional intake among patients undergoing tuberculosis treatment along the Myanmar-Thailand border

OBJECTIVE: This study summarises nutritional intake among patients with tuberculosis (TB) along the Myanmar-Thailand border according to the local diet. SETTING: TB clinic along the Myanmar-Thailand border. PARTICIPANTS: Cross-sectional surveys of 24-hour food recall were conducted with participants receiving anti-TB treatment. Participants were purposively selected to reflect proportion of age, sex and HIV co-infection based on historical patient records. Out of a total of 28 participants, 20 (71.4%) were men and 5 (17.9%) were co-infected with HIV. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome compared actual recorded intake to recommended intake. Secondary outcomes compared weight gain and body mass index (BMI) from diagnosis to time of survey. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in macronutrient or micronutrient intake by sex or for patients supplementing their rations. Mean treatment length at time of survey was 20.7 weeks (95% CI: 16.5 to 24.8). A significantly higher proportion of women (8/8, 100%) met caloric requirements compared with men (9/20, 45.0%, p=0.010), but few participants met other macronutrient or micronutrient requirements, with no significant differences by sex or for patients supplementing their rations. From diagnosis to the time of the survey, participants averaged significant weight gain of 6.48 kg (95% CI: 3.87 to 9.10) and increased BMI of 2.47 kg/m(2) (95% CI: 1.45 to 3.49; p=0.0001 for both). However, 50% (14/28) still had mild or more severe forms of malnutrition. CONCLUSIONS: This cross-sectional survey of nutritional intake in patients undergoing TB treatment in a sanatorium setting demonstrates the difficulty in sufficiently meeting nutritional demands, even when providing nutritional support

Evaluation of 3 rapid diagnostic tests (CareStart) Malaria 3 line pl.DH (Pan, Pf), OptiMAL-IT pl.DH (Pan, Pf) and CareStart 0 2 line.pl.DH (Pan) for the diagnosis of malaria in Myanmar

Presented at the conference of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 200

Neutrons from multiplicity-selected La-La and Nb-Nb collisions at 400A MeV and La-La collisions at 250A MeV

Triple-differential cross sections for neutrons from high-multiplicity La-La collisions at 250 and 400 MeV per nucleon and Nb-Nb collisions at 400 MeV per nucleon were measured at several polar angles as a function of the azimuthal angle with respect to the reaction plane of the collision. The reaction plane was determined by a transverse-velocity method with the capability of identifying charged-particles with Z=1, Z=2, and Z > 2. The flow of neutrons was extracted from the slope at mid-rapidity of the curve of the average in-plane momentum vs the center-of-mass rapidity. The squeeze-out of the participant neutrons was observed in a direction normal to the reaction plane in the normalized momentum coordinates in the center-of-mass system. Experimental results of the neutron squeeze-out were compared with BUU calculations. The polar-angle dependence of the maximum azimuthal anisotropy ratio $r(\theta)$ was found to be insensitive to the mass of the colliding nuclei and the beam energy. Comparison of the observed polar-angle dependence of the maximum azimuthal anisotropy ratio $r(\theta)$ with BUU calculations for free neutrons revealed that $r(\theta)$ is insensitive also to the incompressibility modulus in the nuclear equation of state.Comment: ReVTeX, 16 pages, 17 figures. To be published in Physical Review