Network Reconfiguration for Loss Reduction and Voltage Profile Improvement of 110-Bus Radial Distribution System Using Exhaustive Search Techniques

Nowadays, the electricity demand is increasing day by day and hence it is very important not only to extract electrical energy from all possible new power resources but also to reduce power losses to an acceptable minimum level in the existing distribution networks where a large amount of power dissipation occurred. In Myanmar, a lot of power is remarkably dissipated in distribution system.  Among methods in reducing power losses, network reconfiguration method is employed for loss minimization and exhaustive technique is also applied to achieve the minimal loss switching scheme. Network reconfiguration in distribution systems is performed by opening sectionalizing switches and closing tie switches of the network for loss reduction and voltage profile improvement. The distribution network for existing and reconfiguration conditions are modelled and simulated by Electrical Transient Analyzer Program (ETAP) 7.5 version software. The inputs are given based on the real time data collected from 33/11kV substations under Yangon Electricity Supply Board (YESB). The proposed method is tested on 110-Bus, overhead AC radial distribution network of Dagon Seikkan Township since it is long-length, overloaded lines and high level of power dissipation is occurred in this system. According to simulation results of load flow analysis, voltage profile enhancement and power loss reduction for proposed system are revealed in this paper

Improving the Performance of Low-resourced Speaker Identification with Data Preprocessing

Automatic speaker identification is done to tackle daily security problems. Speech data collection is an essential but very challenging task for under-resourced languages like Burmese. The speech quality is crucial to accurately recognize the speaker’s identity. This work attempted to find the optimal speech quality appropriate for Burmese tone to enhance identification compared with other more richy resourced languages on Mel-frequency cepstral coefficients (MFCCs). A Burmese speech dataset was created as part of our work because no appropriate dataset available for use. In order to achieve better performance, we preprocessed the foremost recording quality proper for not only Burmese tone but also for nine other Asian languages to achieve multilingual speaker identification. The performance of the preprocessed data was evaluated by comparing with the original data, using a time delay neural network (TDNN) together with a subsampling technique that can reduce time complexity in model training. The experiments were investigated and analyzed on speech datasets of ten Asian languages to reveal the effectiveness of the data preprocessing. The dataset outperformed the original dataset with improvements in terms of  equal error rate (EER). The evaluation pointed out that the performance of the system with the preprocessed dataset improved that of the original dataset

Factors associated with psychological distress among Myanmar residents during COVID-19 pandemic crises

Background: COVID-19 pandemic reached a public health emergency status of international concern. The impacts and events associated with this were associated with adverse psychological impacts among the general public globally. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of psychological distress and to identify predictors associated with psychological distress due to the COVID-19 pandemic among the population in Myanmar. Design and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from March to April 2020 among adults, 18 years old and above, who reside in Myanmar through a structured questionnaire distributed in social media platforms. Univariate and Bivariate analyses were used to estimate the prevalence of COVID-19 Peritraumatic Distress Index (CPDI) symptoms and to test the associations between CPDI and the exposure variables. Logistic Regression Analysis was done to identify significant predictors of distress. Results: There were 530 participants in this study.37.4% of them did not have psychological distress,55.6% experienced mild to moderate psychological distress, and 7% experienced severe psychological distress due to COVID-19 pandemic. Simple and Multiple Logistic Regression Analyses were performed to determine the factors associated with psychological distress due to COVID-19. Conclusions: It was shown that the self-employed group and age group older than 45 years old had more psychological distress than others. However, Buddhists and people from the capital city had less distress than other religions and districts. This study recommends the government to develop better strategies for self-employed groups, elders, and the poor for a support, relief, and resettlement of their ruined status

Effect of semen collection methods on the quality of pre- and post-thawed Bali cattle (Bos javanicus) spermatozoa.

This study was conducted to evaluate the response of Bali bulls (Bos javanicus) to different semen collection methods and their effects on fresh and post-thawed semen quality. The collection methods employed were electro-ejaculation (EE), transrectal massage (RM) and RM followed by EE (RM + EE). A total of 25 untrained Bali bulls (age between 2 and 4 years old) were subjected to the different semen collection methods. Fresh semen samples from all the 25 bulls were evaluated for volume, pH, general motility, live/dead ratio and abnormality using the conventional method. For fresh and frozen samples collected by EE and RM from 10 bulls, computer-assisted semen analysis system was used for precise quantitative measurement of motility, velocity and forward progression. Accucell photometer was used to measure sperm concentration in all samples, regardless fresh and frozen. Semen samples were obtained 100% of the attempts using EE, 84% using RM and 96% using RM + EE. There were no differences among the collection methods for fresh semen quality characteristics, including motility, morphology and viability, but pH and volume were higher for EE than RM and RM + EE. Higher sperm concentration was observed in semen collected by RM than the other two methods. Different age groups (2–3 and >3–4 years old) of the bulls did not show significant differences in volume, pH, sperm concentration, percentages in motility, live/dead ratio and normal sperm morphology. The quality of semen for general and progressive motility, VAP, VSL and VCL and acrosomal integrity after thawing was higher for RM than EE. In conclusion, Bali bulls appeared to respond best to EE and the combination of RM + EE than RM, as a method of semen collection, with a shorter time of stimulation required. Differences in age of the Bali bulls did not affect the semen quality

Development of superovulation program and heterologous in vitro fertilization test assessment in hamsters

Superovulation has become a common assisted reproductive technology in the field of animal reproduction. In addition, zona-free hamster oocytes have been used in heterologous in vitro fertilization research to evaluate sperm function. A study was conducted to compare eight different superovulation protocols for golden hamsters using two concentrations of human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) given at two time intervals post-pregnant mare’s serum gonadotrophin (PMSG) injection and two time intervals of oocyte harvesting. Fifty-six female golden hamsters were randomly and equally assigned into eight superovulation groups. Hamsters were superovulated initially with PMSG followed by human Chorionic Gonadotrophin (hCG). All the groups received 40 IU PMSG, either 40 or 45 IU hCG given at either 48-50 or 55-57 h post PMSG injection and the oocytes recovered at either 12-15 or 16-18 h after hCG injection. Higher number of recovered oocytes (51.57±0.83) and maturation rates (94.20%) (p<0.05) were detected in hamsters which received 45 IU hCG at 55-57 h after PMSG injection when the oocytes were recovered later at 16-18 h compared with hamsters in the other groups. Mean fertilization rate of hamsters given 45 IU hCG at 55-57 h post PMSG injection ranged from 77.89-78.84% and were significantly higher (p<0.05) than those that received hCG at 48-50 h post PMSG injection. In conclusion administration of 40 IU PMSG followed by 45 IU hCG injection at 55 and 57 h post PMSG injection followed by oocyte recovery after 16-18 h gave the highest response in oocyte recovery and maturation in golden hamsters

Effect of seminal plasma removal, washing solutions, and centrifugation regimes on boer goat semen cryopreservation

Three experiments were carried out to improve semen quality during cryopreservation process. Total motility, forward motility, acrosome integrity, live spermatozoa, and normal spermatozoa were measured as semen quality. In Experiment 1, the effects of seminal plasma removal were analyzed by using two different extenders (GE and FE). The removal of seminal plasma gave higher and significant (P<0.05) effect in the total motility, forward motility, and live spermatozoa after cryopreservation. For two different extenders, however, the differences were not observed on the semen quality. In Experiment 2, three different washing solutions (namely, phosphate buffered saline, normal saline and Tris-based extender) were tested to evaluate the effects of semen quality after cryopreservation. Tris-based extender (TCG) conferred the highest (P<.05) sperm quality values in the total motility, forward motility, and live spermatozoa after cryopreservation. In Experiment 3, the effects of different centrifugation regimes (3000 × g for 3 min, 1600 × g for 10 min, 800 × g for 15 min) were evaluated on Boer semen quality. Semen quality parameters (namely, total motility, forward motility, acrosome integrity, and live spermatozoa) were significantly (P<.05) higher for cryopreserved spermatozoa centrifuged with 3000 × g for 3 min than the others. In conclusion, the removal of seminal plasma, washing solution TCG, and the use short-term centrifugation with a relative high g-force could contribute to the increased Boer semen quality after cryopreservation

Effect of sugars on characteristics of Boer goat semen after cryopreservation

In order to improve Boer goat semen quality during cryopreservation process, the influence of sugar supplementation on semen characteristics of sperm were investigated. Three experiments were carried out to investigate the effect of (a) addition of two monosaccharides (fructose and glucose) and two disaccharides sugars (trehalose and sucrose) (b) sugar combination (fructose and trehalose, sucrose and trehalose, glucose and trehalose), and control (glucose without trehalose) (c) different concentrations of trehalose on cryopreservation using Tris based extender. The total motility, forward motility, viability, normal spermatozoa, acrosome integrity and membrane integrity were assessed subjectively. Differences were not detected among monosaccharides, but glucose increased (P 0.05) among disaccharide sugar supplementation. Combination of glucose and trehalose significantly improved the characteristics of Boer spermatozoa after cryopreservation (P < 0.05). Supplementation of trehalose (198.24 mM) into the glucose extender significantly increased total motility, forward motility, live spermatozoa, acrosome integrity and membrane integrity following cryopreservation (P < 0.05). In conclusion, glucose had the better ability to support Boer sperm motility and movement patterns. Combination of monosaccharide (glucose) and disaccharide (trehalose) improved semen quality following cryopreservation. Trehalose supplementation at the concentration of 198.24 mM to the glucose extender conferred the greater improvement of semen quality for Boer semen cryopreservation

Geographical distribution of Burkholderia pseudomallei in soil in Myanmar.

BACKGROUND: Burkholderia pseudomallei is a Gram-negative bacterium found in soil and water in many tropical countries. It causes melioidosis, a potentially fatal infection first described in 1911 in Myanmar. Melioidosis is a common cause of sepsis and death in South and South-east Asia, but it is rarely diagnosed in Myanmar. We conducted a nationwide soil study to identify areas where B. pseudomallei is present. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We collected soil samples from 387 locations in all 15 states and regions of Myanmar between September 2017 and June 2019. At each site, three samples were taken at each of three different depths (30, 60 and 90 cm) and were cultured for B. pseudomallei separately, along with a pooled sample from each site (i.e. 10 cultures per site). We used a negative binomial regression model to assess associations between isolation of B. pseudomallei and environmental factors (season, soil depth, soil type, land use and climate zones). B. pseudomallei was isolated in 7 of 15 states and regions. Of the 387 sites, 31 (8%) had one or more positive samples and of the 3,870 samples cultured, 103 (2.7%) tested positive for B. pseudomallei. B. pseudomallei was isolated more frequently during the monsoon season [RR-2.28 (95% CI: 0.70-7.38)] and less in the hot dry season [RR-0.70 (95% CI: 0.19-2.56)] compared to the cool dry season, and in the tropical monsoon climate zone [RR-2.26; 95% CI (0.21-6.21)] compared to the tropical dry winter climate zone. However, these associations were not statistically significant. B. pseudomallei was detected at all three depths and from various soil types (clay, silt and sand). Isolation was higher in agricultural land (2.2%), pasture land (8.5%) and disused land (5.8%) than in residential land (0.4%), but these differences were also not significant. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: This study confirms a widespread distribution of B. pseudomallei in Myanmar. Clinical studies should follow to obtain a better picture of the burden of melioidosis in Myanmar

Confirmation of Skywalker Hoolock Gibbon (Hoolock tianxing) in Myanmar extends known geographic range of an endangered primate

Characterizing genetically distinct populations of primates is important for protecting biodiversity and effectively allocating conservation resources. Skywalker gibbons (Hoolock tianxing) were first described in 2017, with the only confirmed population consisting of 150 individuals in Mt. Gaoligong, Yunnan Province, China. Based on river geography, the distribution of the skywalker gibbon has been hypothesized to extend into Myanmar between the N’Mai Kha and Ayeyarwaddy Rivers to the west, and the Salween River (named the Thanlwin River in Myanmar and Nujiang River in China) to the east. We conducted acoustic point-count sampling surveys, collected noninvasive samples for molecular mitochondrial cytochrome b gene identification, and took photographs for morphological identification at six sites in Kachin State and three sites in Shan State to determine the presence of skywalker gibbons in predicted suitable forest areas in Myanmar. We also conducted 50 semistructured interviews with members of communities surrounding gibbon range forests to understand potential threats. In Kachin State, we audio-recorded 23 gibbon groups with group densities ranging between 0.57 and 3.6 group/km2. In Shan State, we audio-recorded 21 gibbon groups with group densities ranging between 0.134 and 1.0 group/km2. Based on genetic data obtained from skin and saliva samples, the gibbons were identified as skywalker gibbons (99.54–100% identity). Although these findings increase the species’ known population size and confirmed distribution, skywalker gibbons in Myanmar are threatened by local habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation. Most of the skywalker gibbon population in Myanmar exists outside protected areas. Therefore, the IUCN Red List status of the skywalker gibbon should remain as Endangered