Transition from subbarrier to deep subbarrier regimes in heavy-ion fusion reactions

We analyze the recent experimental data of heavy-ion fusion cross sections available up to deep subbarrier energies in order to discuss the threshold incident energy for a deep subbarrier fusion hindrance phenomenon. To this end, we employ a one-dimensional potential model with a Woods-Saxon internuclear potential. Fitting the experimental data in two different energy regions with different Woods-Saxon potentials, we define the threshold energy as an intersect of the two fusion excitation functions. We show that the threshold energies so extracted are in good agreement with the empirical systematics as well as with the values of the Krappe-Nix-Sierk (KNS) potential at the touching point. We also discuss the asymptotic energy shift of fusion cross sections with respect to the potential model calculations, and show that it decreases with decreasing energies in the deep subbarrier region although it takes a constant value at subbarrier energies.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Opportunities and Inplementation (A Case Study: Economic Development of Kyaukta Village, Sagaing Township)

The study on economic opportunities is a crucial one not only for economic development but also for all round development of the respective area. In this study, economic opportunities of a village are assessed by means of qualitative method. Due to good location and the given economic opportunities of the study area, people in Kyaukta village know well about different economic opportunities in addition to their traditional farming. By taking an interview to the local residents, the past, present and future economic development pattern could be portrayed systematically. Due to the great efforts of local people in their implementation processes, the different types of economic activities were found within one family. The results show that the economic activities for the individual household could be extracted from the minimum of one in one economic activity to the maximum of five in one household. This situation highlights the greater potentiality of the study area to be developed during the time frame of near future

Factors Influencing Contraceptive Use Among Myanmar Migrant Women In Bangkok, Thailand: A Community-based Survey

Objectives: Nowadays, more people are moving residence permanently or temporarily, and international migration is one of the dominant issues globally. During migration, the individuals may experience poverty and unavailability of health care services -- especially for women – and that leads to unmet need for reproductive health and inadequate access to contraception which increases risk of unplanned pregnancy and unsafe abortion. This study explored the level of contraceptive use and associated factors among Myanmar migrant women in Bangkok.Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted during March to April, 2018, 314 women were selected by snowball sampling and interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used for data analysis.Results: The prevalence of contraceptive use among women who were living with their husband/partner was 77.1%; oral pills and injection were the most common methods. The sample’s median age was 30 years (QD = 4.5 years), half of the respondents were ethnic Burmese (51.9%), and were covered by health insurance (47.5%). Only one-fourth of the women (25.5%) could communicate well in Thai. Predictors of contraceptive use include being younger than 25 years (AOR=9.6; 95% CI=3.07–31.59), having more than one child (AOR=8.5; 95% CI=2.72-26.37), having a supportive husband and friends, neighbors (AOR=4.9; 95% CI=2.43-10.26, AOR=4.2; 95% CI=1.96-8.89) having easy access to contraception (AOR=3.2; 95% CI=1.50–6.780) and being able to access contraception at local health outlets (AOR=12.9; 95% CI=4.01-41.93).Conclusion: The study suggests that provision of community and workplace education, health care services and initiation of help-lines in the Burmese language may increase visibility of reproductive health services and bridge the gap between the foreign migrants and the Thai public health system. Active male involvement in their partner’s reproductive health is an important source of support

Myanmar Dengue Outbreak Associated with Displacement of Serotypes 2, 3, and 4 by Dengue 1

In 2001, Myanmar (Burma) had its largest outbreak of dengue—15,361 reported cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever/dengue shock syndrome (DHF/DSS), including 192 deaths. That year, 95% of dengue viruses isolated from patients were serotype 1 viruses belonging to two lineages that had diverged from an earlier, now extinct, lineage sometime before 1998. The ratio of DHF to DSS cases in 2001 was not significantly different from that in 2000, when 1,816 cases of DHF/DSS were reported and dengue 1 also was the most frequently isolated serotype. However, the 2001 ratio was significantly higher than that in 1998 (also an outbreak year) and in 1999, when all four serotypes were detected and serotypes 1, 2, and 3 were recovered in similar numbers. The large number of clinical cases in 2001 may have been due, in part, to a preponderance of infections with dengue 1 viruses

Successful elimination of falciparum malaria following the introduction of community-based health workers in Eastern Myanmar: a retrospective analysis

Background: Myanmar has a large majority of all malaria in the Greater Mekong Subregion. In the past decade, substantial progress was made in malaria control. The residual burden of malaria is in remote areas where currently recommended malaria elimination approaches are generally not feasible. In such hard-to-reach communities in Mon state, East Myanmar, Medical Action Myanmar introduced community health workers (CHWs) to deliver early diagnosis and treatment for malaria. We conducted a retrospective analysis to assess the impact of this intervention. Methods and findings: This retrospective analysis involved data collected routinely from a CHW programme in Mon state conducted between 2011 and 2018. A network of 172 CHWs serving a population of 236,340 was deployed. These CHWs carried out 260,201 malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) to investigate patients with acute febrile illness. The median blood examination rate was 1.33%; interquartile range (IQR) (0.38 to 3.48%); 95% CI [1.28%, 1.36%] per month. The changes in malaria incidence and prevalence in patients presenting with fever were assessed using negative binomial regression mixed effects models fitted to the observed data. The incidence of Plasmodium falciparum malaria (including mixed infections) declined by 70%; 95% CI [65%, 75%]; p < 0.001 for each year of CHW operation. The incidence of P. vivax malaria declined by 56%; 95% CI [50%, 62%]; p < 0.001 per year. Malaria RDT positivity rates for P. falciparum and P. vivax declined by 69%; 95% CI [62%, 75%]; p < 0.001 and 53%; 95% CI [47%, 59%]; p < 0.001 per year, respectively. Between 2017 and 2018, only 1 imported P. falciparum case was detected in 54,961 RDTs. The main limitations of the study are use of retrospective data with possible unidentified confounders and uncharacterised population movement. Conclusions: The introduction of CHWs providing community-based malaria diagnosis and treatment and basic health care services in remote communities in Mon state was associated with a substantial reduction in malaria. Within 6 years, P. falciparum was eliminated and the incidence of P. vivax fell markedly

Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever in Infants: Research Opportunities Ignored

The age distribution of cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome (DHF/DSS) in infants under the age of 1 year are reported from Bangkok, Thailand, and for the first time for Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; Yangon, Myanmar; and Surabaya, Indonesia. The four dengue viruses were isolated from Thai infants, all of whom were having a primary dengue infection. Progress studying the immunologically distinct infant DHF/DSS has been limited; most contemporary research has centered on DHF/DSS accompanying secondary dengue infections. In designing research results obtained in studies on a congruent animal model, feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV) infections of kittens born to FIPV-immune queens should be considered. Research challenges presented by infant DHF/DSS are discussed

Political transition and emergent forest-conservation issues in Myanmar.

Political and economic transitions have had substantial impacts on forest conservation. Where transitions are underway or anticipated, historical precedent and methods for systematically assessing future trends should be used to anticipate likely threats to forest conservation and design appropriate and prescient policy measures to counteract them. Myanmar is transitioning from an authoritarian, centralized state with a highly regulated economy to a more decentralized and economically liberal democracy and is working to end a long-running civil war. With these transitions in mind, we used a horizon-scanning approach to assess the 40 emerging issues most affecting Myanmar's forests, including internal conflict, land-tenure insecurity, large-scale agricultural development, demise of state timber enterprises, shortfalls in government revenue and capacity, and opening of new deforestation frontiers with new roads, mines, and hydroelectric dams. Averting these threats will require, for example, overhauling governance models, building capacity, improving infrastructure- and energy-project planning, and reforming land-tenure and environmental-protection laws. Although challenges to conservation in Myanmar are daunting, the political transition offers an opportunity for conservationists and researchers to help shape a future that enhances Myanmar's social, economic, and environmental potential while learning and applying lessons from other countries. Our approach and results are relevant to other countries undergoing similar transitions