Combination of Multiple Acoustic Models with Multi-scale Features for Myanmar Speech Recognition

We proposed an approach to build a robust automatic speech recognizer using deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs). Deep CNNs have achieved a great success in acoustic modelling for automatic speech recognition due to its ability of reducing spectral variations and modelling spectral correlations in the input features. In most of the acoustic modelling using CNN, a fixed windowed feature patch corresponding to a target label (e.g., senone or phone) was used as input to the CNN. Considering different target labels may correspond to different time scales, multiple acoustic models were trained with different acoustic feature scales. Due to auxiliary information learned from different temporal scales could help in classification, multi-CNN acoustic models were combined based on a Recognizer Output Voting Error Reduction (ROVER) algorithm for final speech recognition experiments. The experiments were conducted on a Myanmar large vocabulary continuous speech recognition (LVCSR) task. Our results showed that integration of temporal multi-scale features in model training achieved a 4.32% relative word error rate (WER) reduction over the best individual system on one temporal scale feature

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

Fluctuations in Serum magnesium and Systemic Arterial Blood Pressures during the Menstrual Cycle in young reproductive women

Introduction: The menstrual cycle involves a sequence of structural, functional, and hormonal changes in the reproductive system. This is linked and controlled by cyclical fluctuations in the levels of FSH, LH, estrogen, and progesterone. Because of these cyclical fluctuations, there might also be associated cyclical changes of magnesium and systemic arterial blood pressures during the menstrual cycle. Purpose: To assess the changes in serum magnesium level and systemic arterial blood pressures during the menstrual cycle in young reproductive women. Methodology: the sample population is 40 apparently healthy young reproductive-aged 18- 25years female students from the University of Medicine, Magway participated in this study. Systemic arterial blood pressures were measured by indirect method. The serum magnesium level was measured by spectrophotometry. These measurements were done in the early follicular phase (EF), the peri-ovulatory phase (PO), and the midluteal phase (ML) of the menstrual cycle. The serum magnesium levels were significantly (p <0.001) lower, and the systolic blood pressures were significantly higher (p <0.05) in the PO than the EF and the ML. In the EF, there was a significant negative correlation between serum magnesium level and diastolic blood pressure (r= - 0.374, p <0.05) and mean arterial pressure (r = -0.354, p < 0.05) but no significant correlation with systolic blood pressure. In the PO, there was no significant correlation between serum magnesium level and systemic arterial blood pressures. In the ML, there was significant negative correlation between serum magnesium level and systolic blood pressure (r = -0.651, p <0.001), diastolic blood pressure (r = -0.607, p <0.001), and mean arterial pressure (r = -0.661, p <0.001). Conclusion: The study concludes that serum magnesium level has a negative effect on blood pressure changes and the blood pressure-lowering effect of magnesium. These changes are related to the fluctuation of estrogen levels during the menstrual cycle. KEYWORDS: Serum magnesium, systemic arterial blood pressures, menstrual cycle reproductive syste

Combination of Multiple Acoustic Models with Multi-scale Features for Myanmar Speech Recognition

We proposed an approach to build a robust automatic speech recognizer using deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs). Deep CNNs have achieved a great success in acoustic modelling for automatic speech recognition due to its ability of reducing spectral variations and modelling spectral correlations in the input features. In most of the acoustic modelling using CNN, a fixed windowed feature patch corresponding to a target label (e.g., senone or phone) was used as input to the CNN. Considering different target labels may correspond to different time scales, multiple acoustic models were trained with different acoustic feature scales. Due to auxiliary information learned from different temporal scales could help in classification, multi-CNN acoustic models were combined based on a Recognizer Output Voting Error Reduction (ROVER) algorithm for final speech recognition experiments. The experiments were conducted on a Myanmar large vocabulary continuous speech recognition (LVCSR) task. Our results showed that integration of temporal multi-scale features in model training achieved a 4.32% relative word error rate (WER) reduction over the best individual system on one temporal scale feature.</p

Detection of Schistosoma Antibodies and exploration of associated factors among local residents around Inlay Lake, Southern Shan State, Myanmar

Abstract Background: Schistosomiasis is a chronic parasitic disease caused by blood flukes (trematode worms) of the genus Schistosoma. Its transmission has been reported in 78 countries affecting at least 258 million people world-wide. It was documented that S. japonicum species was prevalent in Shan State, Myanmar, but the serological study was not conducted yet. General objective of the present study was to detect schistosoma antibodies and explore associated factors among local residents living around Inlay Lake, Nyaung Shwe Township, and Southern Shan State, Myanmar. Methods: An exploratory and cross-sectional analytic study was conducted among local residents (n = 315) in selected rural health center (RHC) areas from December 2012 through June 2013. The participants were interviewed with pretested semi-structured questionnaires and their blood samples (serum) were tested using Schistosomiasis Serology Microwell ELISA test kits (sensitivity 100% and specificity 85%) which detected IgG antibodies but could not distinguish between a new and past infection. Data collected were analysed by SPSS software 16.0 and associations of variables were determined by Chi-squared test with a significant level set at 0.05. Results: Schistosoma seroprevalence (IgG) in study area was found to be 23.8% (95% CI: 18.8&ndash;28.8%). The present study is the first and foremost study producing serological evidence of schistosoma infection&mdash;one of the neglected tropical diseases&mdash;in local people of Myanmar. The factors significantly associated with seropositivity were being male [OR = 2.6 (95% CI: 1.5&ndash;4.49), P &lt; 0.001], residence [OR = 3.41 (95% CI: 1.6-7.3), P &lt; 0.05 for Khaung Daing vs. Min Chaung] and education levels [OR = 4.5 (95% CI: 1.18&ndash;17.16), P &lt; 0.05 for illiterate/3Rs level vs. high/graduate and OR = 3.16 (95% CI: 1.26&ndash;7.93), P &lt; 0.05 for primary/middle level vs. high/graduate] all factors classically associated with risk of schistosoma infection. None of the behavioural factors tested were significantly associated with seropositivity. Conclusion: Schistosoma infection serologically detected was most probably present at some time in this location of Myanmar, and this should be further confirmed parasitologically and kept under surveillance. Proper trainings on diagnosis, treatment, prevention and control of schistosomiasis should be provided to the healthcare providers. Trial registration: ISRCTN ISRCTN73824458. Registered 28 September 2014, retrospectively registered.</p

Health Services Utilization and Self-Reported Acute Illnesses among Urban Families Inthanlyin Township, Yangon Region, Myanmar

Health services utilization is multidimensional. The decision to engage with a particular medical channel is influenced by socio-economic status, cultural contexts, and differentials in perception of vulnerability within communities, and quality of service provided by health centre. Aim of this study was to determine health services utilization and self-reported acute illnesses among urban families in Thanlyin Township, Yangon Region.</p

Household ownership and utilization of insecticide-treated nets under the Regional Artemisinin Resistance Initiative in Myanmar

Abstract Background Malaria is a major public health problem in Myanmar with reported artemisinin resistance. Myanmar promotes the use of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) through the free delivery of long-lasting insecticide nets (LLINs) with target coverage of at least 80% in moderate and high-risk areas by 2014. Migrant people are at greater risk of malaria. They have significant barriers to health care services for febrile illness and malaria. Thus, a community-based survey was conducted among the migrant population to assess the ownership and utilization of bed nets (ITN/LLINs) for malaria. Methods The study analyzed secondary data from a community-based malaria survey conducted in 2014 among migrant population in 30 randomly selected townships out of 52 Regional Artemisinin Resistance Initiative (RAI) townships. In each township, five migrant sites were randomly selected (total of 150 migrant sites). A total of 3933 households (approximately 125 households from each township) were selected. Results Of 3923 households assessed, 97% had access to at least one bed net (any type), but only half had access to ITN/LLINs. Only 24% of households had adequate ITN/LLIN access (at least one ITN/LLIN per two persons). In terms of household utilization, 94.3% slept under a bed net (any type) the previous night. Only 43.4% slept under an ITN/LLIN. ITN/LLIN utilization in children under 5 years and pregnant women (high-malaria risk groups) was 45.3 and 46.6%, respectively. Of all nets, 31.3% had holes or had already undergone repairs. In terms of insecticide treatment status, 52.9% of bed nets were untreated and 35.9% of ITNs had not been treated with insecticide for more than a year. Conclusion This study highlights poor access and high utilization of ITN/LLINs among migrant population, particularly among children and pregnant women. It highlights the need for improving bed net coverage and access to ITN/LLINs through bed net distributions and/or social marketing with the focus on migrant population and targeting of households with children and pregnant women

Contribution of focal haemorrhage and microvascular fibrin deposition to fatal envenoming by Russell's viper (Vipera russelli siamensis) in Burma.

In Burma, clinicopathological studies were carried out in three young farmers who died 15, 52 and 36 h after being bitten by Russell's vipers. Clinical features included local swelling, spontaneous systemic bleeding, defibrination, shock, cardiac arrhythmia, hypoglycaemia, coma and oliguria. On admission to hospital, 15, 48 and 21 h after the bites, serum venom antigen concentrations ranged from 50 to 130 ng/ml. Autopsies revealed widespread congestion and bleeding in the lungs, gastrointestinal and renal tracts, adrenals, heart, brain and anterior pituitary. There was histopathological evidence of focal haemorrhage and fibrin deposition at the site of the bite and in the pituitary, lungs and kidneys and acute tubular necrosis. Deposition of fibrin microthrombi results from the action of venom procoagulants. Shock was attributed to increased capillary permeability, revealed clinically by conjunctival oedema. Acute pituitary/adrenal failure in one case was explained by fibrin deposition and haemorrhage in the anterior pituitary--resembling Sheehan's syndrome. Acute tubular necrosis resulted from ischaemia caused by fibrin deposition and to prerenal factors. An intractable cardiac tachyarrhythmia may have been caused by subendocardial and myocardial haemorrhages

Photovoltaic Properties of Co-doped ZnO Thin Film on Glass Substrate

Cobalt (Co) 0.4 mol doped zinc oxide ( ZnO) fine powder was prepared by solid state mixed oxide route. Phase formation and crystal structure of Co-doped ZnO (CZO) powder were examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was used to observe the micro structure of Co doped ZnO powder. Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescent (EDXRF) technique gave the elemental content of cobalt and zinc. Co-doped ZnO film was formed on glass substrate by spin coating technique. Photovoltaic properties of CZO/glass cell were measured

Synthesis of Nanoparticle-based Binary Oxide Electrode TiO2-ZrO2 with Carrot-derived Natural Dye Extract for Dye Sensitized Solar Cell (DSSC) Application

Dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) is the third generation of thin film solar cell. In this work, carrot fruit dye has been prepared and used in the DSSC as sensitizer. TiO2–ZrO2 fine binary oxide was mechanochemically prepared and made paste. Then, TiO2–ZrO2 paste (colloidal) was deposited onto FTO/glass in two ways as single and double coatings by rolling method. It was immersed in the carrot solution to get dyed cell. The dyed TiO2-ZrO2-FTO/glass cell was offset with the FTO/glass cell coated with adhesive carbon paste. Photovoltaic properties of prepared TiO2–ZrO2 DSSC cell were measured. The results showed the efficiency of double coating cell was found to be larger than that of the single coating cell. According to the fill factor from experiments, both DSSC cells were acceptable for industrial requirement. It can be concluded that the results obtained were quite acceptable in use of cost-effective and Eco-favorable dye-sensitized solar cell