Novel disease severity factors in systemic lupus erythematosus: A profile of mannose binding lectin gene polymorphisms, nephrin autoantibodies and brain-reactive autoantibodies

Ph.DDOCTOR OF PHILOSOPH

XRD and SEM Analysis, and Semiconductor Type Determination of TiO2 for Dye-sensitized Solar Cell

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is a wide band-gap n-type semiconductor. Anatase TiO2 is the most common structure used in high performance dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). Nanoporous TiO2 serves double-duty as an electron acceptor and a scaffold to hold large numbers of dye molecules in DSSC. The porosity of TiO2 is a key feature as it has roughly a thousand times greater a surface area than the equivalent flat area. In this work, TiO2 crystallite size (43.55 nm) has been calculated by using XRD data, and the morphology and the grain-size of TiO2 (average grain size of 0.2 mm ~ 0.3 mm) with different solvents have been also studied by SEM

The potential of task shifting selected maternal interventions to auxiliary midwives in Myanmar: a mixed-method study

Background: An estimated 282 women die for every 100,000 live births in Myanmar, most due to preventable causes. Auxiliary Midwives (AMWs) in Myanmar are responsible for providing a package of care during pregnancy and childbirth to women in rural hard to reach areas where skilled birth attendants (Midwives) are not accessible. This study aims to examine the role of AMWs in Myanmar and to assess the current practices of three proposed essential maternal interventions (oral supplement distribution to pregnant women; administration of misoprostol to prevent postpartum haemorrhage; management of puerperal sepsis with oral antibiotics) in order to facilitate a formal integration of these tasks to AMWs in Myanmar. Methods: A mixed methods study was conducted in Magwe Region, Myanmar involving a survey of 262 AMWs, complemented by 15 focus group discussions with midwives (MWs), AMWs, mothers and community members, and 10 key informant interviews with health care providers at different levels within the health care system. Results: According to current government policy, AMWs are responsible for identifying pregnant women, screening for danger signs and facilitating early referral, provision of counselling on nutrition and birth preparedness for women in hard-to-reach areas. AMWs also assist at normal deliveries and help MWs provide immunization services. In practice, they also provide oral supplements to pregnant women (84%), provide antibiotics to mothers during the puerperium (43%), and provide misoprostol to prevent postpartum haemorrhage (41%). The current practices of AMWs demonstrate the potential for task shifting on selected essential maternal interventions. However, to integrate these interventions into formal practice they must be complemented with appropriate training, clear guidelines on drug use, systematic recording and reporting, supportive monitoring and supervision and a clear political commitment towards task shifting. Conclusion: With the current national government’s commitment towards one AMW in one village, this study highlights the potential for shifting specific maternal lifesaving tasks to AMWs

ミャンマー国における雑穀および特用作物遺伝資源の探索収集のための現地事前調査

Collaborative preliminary survey between Japan and Myanmar for exploration and collection of small grain and industrial crop germplasm was carried out in the northern part of Mandalay Division and northern areas of Shan state in Myanmar, from March 28 to April 11, 2000 (Table 1, Fig. 1). The cultivation information of small grain and industrial crop germplasm was obtained. Furthermore, seeds of 9 crops, i. e. buckwheat, Job\u27s tears, foxtail millet, sesame, perilla, rapeseed, niger, mustard, Chinese kale and tuber of elephant foot were collected (Table 2). Successfully, we were able to find the native varieties of common buckwheat and Job\u27s tears which were cultivated by the minority race, for instance Kachin and Palaung peoples in northern areas of Shan State. However, the Japanese buckwheat cv. \u27Kitawase-soba\u27 was introduced as a substitute crop for opium poppy in this region from last year (Fig. 2). We think that it is necessary to carry out further exploration and collection of native varieties without delay

In Vitro Regeneration of Selected Rice Genotypes (Oryza sativa L.) through Anther Culture

Rice is one of the most important cereal crops in the world. Anther culture, one of the double hap-loid techniques, is simple and efficient for rice breeding. The present study was carried out to evaluate callus induction ability of the selected rice genotypes on the media supplemented with two different car-bon sources and to investigate suitable Benzylaminopurine (BAP) concentrations on plant regeneration of anther-derived calli. The selected 19 rice genotypes (14 indica and 5 tropical japonica) were used in the experiment. Anthers of each genotype were cultured on Chu (N6) medium supplemented with two types of carbon sources (4% maltose and 4% sucrose), 2mg.L-1 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 0.5 mg.L-1 kinetin for callus induction. Anther-derived calli were transferred to Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with (0, 0.5, 1) mg.L-1 BAP, 1 mg.L-1 1-Naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and 1 mg.L-1 l kinetin for regeneration. The seventeen out of 19 rice genotypes produced callus on media supplemented with maltose while only 13 genotypes produced callus on media supplemented with sucrose due to genotype dependency. Tropical japonica had more callus induction from anther than indica among the tested genotypes. Callus induction varied from 0 to 19.22%. Paw San Taung Pyan Hmwe (tropical japonica) had the highest callus induction (19.22%) among the tested all. Yebaw Sein depicted the highest callus induction (6.78%) among the tested indica rice genotypes. Plant regeneration from callus varied from 0 to 25.15%. In tropical japonica genotypes, Bay Kyar Taung Pyan gave the highest value (25.15%) in green plants regeneration, while Hnan Kar gave the highest value (13.33%) among indica genotypes. In this experiment, both MS media supplemented with 0.5mg.L-1 BAP and 1mg.L-1 BAP showed maximum green plant regeneration although maximum green spot formation oc-curred only on media supplemented with 1mg.L-1 BAP

Reliable mortality statistics in Myanmar: a qualitative assessment of challenges in two townships

Abstract Background The vital registration system is universally recognized as the main source of mortality data which is essential for policy formulation, proper interventions and resource allocation to address priority health challenges. To improve availability and quality of mortality statistics by strengthening the vital registration system, understanding the current vital registration system is essential. This study identified challenges in generating reliable mortality statistics in the vital registration system of Myanmar. Methods Qualitative methods were used to collect data in two selected townships of Mandalay Region. Grey literature related to the management of mortality registration was reviewed; in-depth interviews of sixteen key informants and fourteen focus group discussions were conducted with those involved in death registration at the local level, such as healthcare providers, local administrators and knowledgeable adults in households where deaths occurred during the past three years. Thematic analysis was performed to identify system barriers in the death registration process. Results Weaknesses in the death registration system are classified in three areas: a) administrative which includes the lack of enforcement of mandatory death registration, limited issuance of death certificates and no formal mandatory notification of death events by households and; b) technical which includes absence of proper and regular on-the-job trainings, ineffective cause-of-death certification practice for deaths in the communities and the absence of routine data plausibility checks at the local level; and c) societal which includes poor community awareness and inadequate participation in death registration. Conclusion The study highlighted challenges in the death registration system at the operational level, which undermines the achievement of a satisfactory level of completeness and accuracy of mortality data. We recommend establishing a strong legal framework, improving technical capacities and raising public awareness and cooperation to strengthen the system that can generate reliable mortality statistics

Underweight Prevalence Among Young Adults from Rural Areas, Salin Township, Magwe Region

Maintaining a normal body mass index (BMI) throught the life-span of a person may reduce occurence as well as the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), in terms of years lived with disability and premature death. Lifestyle and socioeconomic factors like physical activity and availability of healthy or unhealthy food may contribute to both extremes of BMI, namely under-weight and overweight/ obesity