An investigation into the potential use of PC based simulator tools in the MET programs of a developing country

The improvement of operational capabilities of the individual mariner can be enhanced by the use of PC based simulator tools. This research attempts to examine the current and future development of PC based simulator products and investigate how such tools can be used effectively in MET institutions. The basic structure of a PC based simulator is first discussed. An introduction to fundamentals of PC based simulation and the elements that contribute to the operation of the modem PC based simulator is provided. The benefits of PC based simulation as an open learning tool are highlighted. A brief evaluation of potentially useful PC based simulators in the light of new international standards is conducted. Considerations for software approaches and current PC based simulator software products are also discussed. The impact of the revised STCW Convention on MET programs with reference to the use of new technology is considered. The staff training and role of instructors are taken into account. The qualifications of instructors and assessors are discussed. This paper also investigates the selected simulation training methodology in MET establishments. A brief description of other types of simulation is made.This paper makes recommendations for the introduction of PC based technology into the Myanmar MET system and that of developing countries

アジア域の開放型ゴミ処分場の土壌および環境試料中マイクロプラスチックとプラスチック添加剤による汚染と発生源および暴露に関する研究

熊本大

Identification of Seismic Vulnerability Zones based on Land Use Condition

Due to urbanization, the vulnerability is increased in cities and the scale of disaster from earthquake is increased in major cities. Therefore, developing seismic vulnerability map for urbanized cities is very important. Mandalay city is not only one of the most earthquake-prone regions but also the most urbanized and dense population in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. This study examines the seismic vulnerability assessment of Mandalay city based on the land use conditions by utilizing analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and Geographic Information System (GIS). The land use data was collected by doing field survey and classified into 20 types of study area regarding to the Myanmar National Building Code (MNBC) and field condition. The importance of each criterion (land use types) are determined by using subjective opinion made by authorized persons from Mandalay City Development Committee (MCDC) because the seismic vulnerability levels may be different based on land use conditions. The consistency ratios (CR) are also checked for reliability of weighted criteria. The final seismic vulnerability map is developed by overlapping the weighted land use map with building density and population density map by using aggregation method in GIS. It will be very useful for making a national emergency plan for earthquakes to mitigate the seismic risk due to the future earthquakes

A descriptive study of stroke types, risk factors, clinical features, and outcomes in a tertiary hospital in Myanmar

BACKGROUND: Stroke is a leading cause of death in the world, and the burden of stroke is higher in low- and middle-income countries. Understanding the risk factors, complications, and outcomes of stroke are useful for healthcare planning and resource allocation. Little information on stroke is available for many low- and middle-income Asian countries; including Myanmar, which is the focus of this study. METHODS: A review was conducted of medical records for stroke admissions during 2017 in a tertiary hospital in Myanmar. The final diagnoses, risk factors, clinical features, complications, and outcomes were systematically collected from computer- and paper-based medical records. RESULTS: Of 908 cases analysed, haemorrhagic stroke was the most common type (49%), followed by ischaemic stroke (43%). Unimproved cases were 32%. Identified risk factors of unimproved cases were 'haemorrhagic stroke' [adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 1.73], 'having fever during hospitalization' [aOR: 2.49], 'Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) at the admission between 9 and 14' [aOR: 4.33], and GCS less than 9 [aOR: 42.86]. CONCLUSION: This study is based on hospital medical records to assess stroke types, risk factors, clinical features, and outcomes in a tertiary hospital, in Nay Pyi Daw, Myanmar. The findings indicated that early case admission, improved hospital care management, and increased awareness of the modifiable risk factors within populations are crucial for preventing stroke incidents

Preoperative localisation for parathyroid surgery in primary hyperparathyroidism: a study to evaluate the clinical utility of different imaging modalities

Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is caused by a solitary benign adenoma in 80‐85% of cases, but may also be due to multi‐gland or ectopic disease, hyperplasia, and rarely parathyroid carcinoma. Preoperative localisation studies are important to identify patients suitable for minimally invasive parathyroid surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of ultrasound (US), parathyroid scintigraphy (MIBI) and computed tomography (CT) utilised in the preoperative setting in a district general hospital, with limited access to single photon‐emission computed tomography (SPECT)

Effectiveness of the SA 14-14-2 Live-Attenuated Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine in Myanmar

Myanmar is an endemic country for the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), and the SA-14-14-2 live-attenuated JEV vaccine was first introduced as a catch-up vaccination campaign in 2017. To determine the effectiveness of vaccination by means of neutralizing antibody titers against JEV, a cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among five to 15-year-old monastic school children in Mandalay, Myanmar. A total of 198 students who had received vaccines were recruited, and single-time investigation of anti-JEV IgG and neutralizing antibodies against wild-type JEV were determined using anti-JEV IgG ELISA and plaque reduction neutralization tests (PRNT50). All students 100% (198/198) showed positive results on the anti-JEV IgG ELISA, and 87% (172/198) of the students had neutralizing antibodies against JEV six months after immunization. The geometric mean titers of both IgG antibodies and neutralizing antibodies increased with the participants’ age groups, and statistically significant differences in anti-JEV IgG titers were noted across age groups. In this study, we could not investigate the persistence of neutralizing antibodies as only single-time blood collection was done. This study, which is the first report of JEV vaccination among children in Myanmar, showed similar neutralizing antibody production rates among vaccinated individuals as did studies in other countries

A prototype compact accelerator-based neutron source (CANS) for Canada

Canada\u27s access to neutron beams for neutron scattering was significantly curtailed in 2018 with the closure of the National Research Universal (NRU) reactor in Chalk River, Ontario, Canada. New sources are needed for the long-term; otherwise, access will only become harder as the global supply shrinks. Compact Accelerator-based Neutron Sources (CANS) offer the possibility of an intense source of neutrons with a capital cost significantly lower than spallation sources. In this paper, we propose a CANS for Canada. The proposal is staged with the first stage offering a medium neutron flux, linear accelerator-based approach for neutron scattering that is also coupled with a boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) station and a positron emission tomography (PET) isotope production station. The first stage will serve as a prototype for a second stage: a higher brightness, higher cost facility that could be viewed as a national centre for neutron applications

Molecular Epidemiology of Dengue Viruses Co-circulating in Upper Myanmar in 2006

To understand the molecular epidemiology of circulating dengue viruses (DENV) in Upper Myanmar, DENV isolation was attempted by inoculating the sera of a panel of 110 serum samples onto a C6/36 mosquito cell line. The samples were collected from dengue (DEN) patients admitted at Mandalay Children’s Hospital in 2006. Infected culture fluids were subjected to a RT-PCR to detect the DENV genome. Three DENV strains were isolated. This was the first DENV isolation performed either in Mandalay or in Upper Myanmar. One strain belonged to DENV serotype-3 (DENV-3), and two other strains belonged to DENV serotype-4 (DEN-4). The sequence data for the envelope gene of these strains were used in a phylogenetic comparison of DENV-3 and DENV-4 from various countries. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that this DENV-3 strain was clustered within genotype II, and the two DENV-4 strains were clustered within genotype I in each serotype. The Myanmar strains were closely related to strains from the neighboring countries of Thailand and Bangladesh. These results are important for elucidating the trends of recent and future DEN outbreaks in Myanmar

Detection of East/Central/South African Genotype of Chikungunya Virus in Myanmar, 2010

In 2010, chikungunya virus of the East Central South African genotype was isolated from 4 children in Myanmyar who had dengue-like symptoms. Phylogenetic analysis of the E1 gene revealed that the isolates were closely related to isolates from China, Thailand, and Malaysia that harbor the A226V mutation in this gene