CHINESE MEDIATION SMOOTHING THE SITUATION IN NORTHERN MYANMAR

Over a month has passed since the Three Brotherhood Alliance-an alliance between the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army(MNDAA),the Ta’ang National Liberation Army(TNLA),and the Arakan Army(AA)-launched an offensive against Myanmar government forces in the Shan State of northern Myanmar on October 27,2023(Operation 1027).Recently,the Myanmar government held talks with representatives of the three ethnic minority armed groups involved in the conflict through mediation by China.

Opportunities, Challenges, and Countermeasures of China Myanmar Economic and Trade Cooperation under the Background of RCEP

China and Myanmar are geographically adjacent and have close economic and trade cooperation. China has been Myanmar’s largest trading partner and largest source of investment for many consecutive years. With the official entry into force of RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership) for Myanmar on May 1, 2022, the reduction of trade tariffs on goods and flexible rules of origin between China and Myanmar will undoubtedly bring more practical results to China Myanmar economic and trade cooperation. However, the implementation of RCEP in Myanmar may face a series of challenges such as poor business environment, weak human resource management, and outdated infrastructure construction. Finally, the article provides countermeasures for China Myanmar economic and trade cooperation from three aspects: optimizing the business environment to attract Chinese investment, increasing investment in education and training to improve labor quality, strengthening infrastructure construction to enhance economic support.

Patterns of floristic inventory and plant collections in Myanmar

Myanmar is one of the most biodiverse countries in the Asia-Pacific region due to a wide range of climatic and environmental heterogeneity.Floristic diversity in Myanmar is largely unknown,resulting in a lack of comprehensive conservation plans.We developed a database of higher plants in Myanmar derived from herbarium specimens and literature sources,and analyzed patterns of diversity inventories and collection inconsistencies,aiming to provide a baseline floristic data of Myanmar and act as a guide for future research efforts.We collected 1,329,354 records of 16,218 taxa.Results show that the collection densities at the township level was variable,with 5% of townships having no floristic collections.No ecoregion had an average collection density of greater than 1 specimen/km2and the lowest collection density was found in the Kayah-Karen Montane Rainforests,which covered 8% of Myanmar’s total area.The highest sampling densities were found in Mandalay Region,Chin State,and Yangon Region.Despite floristic collections over the past three centuries,knowledge of the distribution of the vast majority of plant taxa remained limited,particularly for gymnosperms,pteridophytes,and bryophytes.More botanical surveys and further analyses are needed to better describe Myanmar’s floristic diversity.An important strategy to promote knowledge of the biodiversity patterns in Myanmar is to improve the collection and digitalization of specimens and to strengthen cooperation among countries.

Epipelagic mesozooplankton communities in the northeastern Indian Ocean off Myanmar during the winter monsoon

The northern Andaman Sea off Myanmar is one of the relatively high productive regions in the Indian Ocean.The abundance,biomass and species composition of mesozooplankton and their relationships with environmental variables in the epipelagic zone(~200 m)were studied for the first time during the Sino-Myanmar joint cruise(February 2020).The mean abundance and biomass of mesozooplankton were(1916.7±1192.9)ind./m3and(17.8±7.9)mg/m3,respectively.A total of 213 species(taxa)were identified from all samples.The omnivorous Cyclopoida Oncaea venusta and Oithona spp.were the top two dominant taxa.Three mesozooplankton communities were determined via cluster analysis:the open ocean in the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal(Group A),the transition zone across the Preparis Channel(Group B),and nearshore water off the Ayeyarwady Delta and along the Tanintharyi Coast(Group C).Variation partitioning analysis revealed that the interaction of physical and biological factors explained 98.8%of mesozooplankton community spatial variation,and redundancy analysis revealed that column mean chlorophyll a concentration(CMCHLA)was the most important explanatory variable(43.1%).The abundance and biomass were significantly higher in Group C,the same as CMCHLA and column mean temperature(CMT)and in contrast to salinity,and CMT was the dominant factor.Significant taxon spatial variations were controlled by CMCHLA,salinity and temperature.This study suggested that mesozooplankton spatial variation was mainly regulated by physical processes through their effects on CMCHLA.The physical processes were simultaneously affected by heat loss differences,freshwater influx,eddies and depth.

Cassiterite U-Pb age in the Bawapin tin deposit, Tanintharyi Region, southern Myanmar

1.Objective Southeast Asia has a 3500 km tin metallogenic belt in the world,extending from southern Yunnan Province to Bangka,Indonesia.This region is also the world’s largest one regarding tin production,which accounts for 85%of historical tin production globally(Lehmann B,2021).Myanmar is one of the main tin producers within this region(33000 t in 2020)and has become the key supplier after China and Indonesia.Research on tin mineralization in Myanmar mostly focused on ore-related granites,for zircon geochronology,magma evolution,and tectonic settings(Mao W et al.,2020).

RETURNING CROSS-BORDER LOGISTICS TO NORMAL The reopening of Ruili,a city on the border of China and Myanmar,signals that cross-border trade between the two countries is poised to recover

After closing for 1,012 days due to the COVID-19 pandemic,the Jiegao border gate in Ruili City,south China’s Yunnan Province,reopened on January 8,2023.On January 14,traffic between Ruili and Muse in Myanmar resumed at the Ruili-Kyalgaung border crossing and the Sino-Myanmar Friendship Street crossing.Still,the Border Gate crossing remains closed.

Ant Pupae from Myanmar Amber Reveal the Evolutionary Process of Cocoon-Spinning Behavior in Formicidae

Many extant species spin cocoons before their pupal stage,which can protect them from predators,pathogens,and fluctuant environmental factors in nests.However,owing to the scarcity of ant cocoon fossils,little is known about the origin and evolution of this behavior in Formicidae.Here,we describe two ant pupae specimens from Myanmar amber.The presence of cocoons in these Mesozoic fossils suggests the ancestral origin of spinning cocoon behavior;based on our phylogenetic analysis and ancestral state reconstruction,this behavior was secondarily lost at least six times in Formicidae,which could be ascribed to the transition of nesting and feeding habits,as well as the development of eusociality.Moreover,the first specimen preserved worker ants with empty cocoons simultaneously,indicating garbage removal or brood care behavior,which improves our understanding of their eusociality in the Cretaceous.

Kalaymyo Peridotite Massif in the Indo-Myanmar Ranges(Western Myanmar): Its Mineralogy and Petrology

Mesozoic ophiolites crop out discontinuously in the Indo-Myanmar Ranges in NE India and Myanmar,and represent the remnants of the Neotethyan oceanic lithosphere(Sengupta et al.,1990;Mitchell,1993).These ophiolites in the Indo-Myanmar Ranges are the southern continuation of the Neotethyan ophiolites occurring along the Yarlung Zangbo Suture Zone(YZSZ)in southern Tibet farther northwest(Mitchell,1993;Fareeduddin and Dilek,2015),as indicated by their coeval crystallization ages and geochemical compositions(Yang et al.,2012;Liu et al.,2016).The Kalaymyo ophiolite is located in the central part of the eastern Indo-Myanmar Ranges(Fig.1).composition of these ophiolites from the central Tibetan Plateau(CTP)is dominated by MORBs and minor OIBs and a distinct lack of IATs and BONs,which is inconsistent with most ophiolites worldwide(Robinson and Zhou,2008;Zhang et al.,2008).But the generation and tectonic nature of these ophiolites are still controversial.*The Kalaymyo peridotites consist mainly of harzburgites,which show typical porphyroclastic or coarse-grained equigranular textures.They are composed ofolivine(Fo=89.8–90.5),orthopyroxene(En86-91Wo1-4Fs8-10;Mg#=89.6–91.9),clinopyroxene(En46-49Wo47-50Fs3-5;Mg#=90.9–93.6)and spinel(Mg#=67.1–78.9;Cr#=13.5–31.5),and have relatively homogeneous whole-rock compositions with Mg#s of90.1–90.8 and Si O2(41.5–43.65 wt.%),Al2O3(1.66–2.66wt.%)and Ca O(1.45–2.67 wt.%)contents.TheydisplayLightRareEarthElement(LREE)-depleted chondrite-normalized REE patterns with(La/Yb)CN=0.04–0.21 and(Gd/Yb)CN=0.40–0.84,and show a slight enrichment from Pr to La with(La/Pr)CN in the range of 0.98–2.36.The Kalaymyo peridotites are characterized by Pd-enriched chondrite-normalized PGE patterns with superchondritic(Pd/Ir)CN ratios(1.15–2.36).Their calculated oxygen fugacities range between QFM–0.57 and QFM+0.90.These mineralogical and geochemical features collectively suggest that the Kalaymyo peridotites represent residual upper mantle rocks after low to moderate degrees(5–15%)of partial melting at a mid-ocean-ridge(MOR)environment.The observed enrichment in LREE and Pd was a result of their reactions with enriched MORB-like melts,percolating through these already depleted,residual peridotites.The Kalaymyo and other ophiolites in the Indo-Myanmar Ranges hence represent mid-ocean ridge(MOR)–type Tethyan oceanic lithosphere derived from a downgoing plate and accreted into a westward migrating subduction–accretion system along the eastern margin of India.

第八届国际农业展览会暨东南亚植保高峰论坛（缅甸）Agro Myanmar 2016在缅甸仰光成功召开

由中国农药工业协会和中国化工信息中心共同主办的＂第八届国际农业展览会暨东南亚植保高峰论坛（缅甸）＂（Agro Myanmar 2016）在缅甸农业、畜牧业及灌溉部的大力支持下,于6月8日在缅甸会展中心MCC展馆隆重开幕。Agro Myanmar作为缅甸唯一专注于农用化学品、农用机械和农业配套设备等产品的专业展览会,

Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection and atrophic gastritis in patients with dyspeptic symptoms in Myanmar

AIM: To survey the detailed analyses for Helicobacter pylori(H. pylori) infection and gastric mucosal status in Myanmar.METHODS: A total of 252 volunteers with dyspeptic symptoms(155 female and 97 male; mean age of 43.6 ± 14.2 years) was participated in Yangon and Mandalay. The status of H. pylori infection was determined based on 5 different tests including rapid urease test, culture, histology, immunohistochemistry and serology. Histological scores were evaluated according to the update Sydney system and the Operative Link for Gastritis Assessment system. Pepsinogen(PG)Ⅰand PG Ⅱ were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.RESULTS: The overall prevalence of H. pylori infectionwas 48.0%. There was no relationship between age and infection rate. Even in young group(less than 29 years old), the H. pylori infection rate was relatively high(41.9%). The prevalence of H. pylori infection was significantly higher in Yangon than that of Mandalay. H. pylori infection was significantly associated with the presence of gastric mucosal atrophy. All 7 subjects with peptic ulcer were infected with H. pylori. Although H. pylori-positive subjects showed stronger gastritis than H. pylori-negative subjects, most cases had mild gastritis.CONCLUSION: We revealed the prevalence of H. pylori infection in patients with dyspeptic symptoms in Myanmar. The H. pylori infection was a risk factor for peptic ulcer and stronger gastritis.

New contributions to the flora of Myanmar I

In this study, we describe several new taxa belonging to the flora of Myanmar. One new family, Polyosmaceae (Polyosma wallichii Benn.) is recorded. Over ten new genera are recorded for the first time, including Amentotaxus Pilger (Taxaceae), Hydrobryopsis Engler (Podostemaceae), Cyrtosia Blume and Biermannia King & Pantling (Orchidaceae), Eleutharrhena Forman and Haematocarpus Miers (Menispermaceae), Craigia W.W. Smith & W.E. Evans (Malvaceae), Amblyanthopsis Mez (Primulaceae), Huodendron Rehder and Rehderodendron Hu (Styracaceae), Platea Blume (Metteniusaceae), Achyrospermum Blume (Lamiaceae), Christisonia Gardner (Orobanchaceae). In addition, five new species are described and illustrated: Tupistra natmataungensis Y.H. Tan & H.B. Ding, Biermannia burmanica Y.H. Tan & Bin Yang, Impatiens megacalyx Y.H. Tan & H.B. Ding, Amblyanthopsis burmanica Y.H. Tan & H.B. Ding, Platea kachinensis Y.H. Tan & H.B. Ding. The distribution, ecology, phenology, and conservation status of these new species are also described.

Population and conservation status of a transboundary group of black snub-nosed monkeys(Rhinopithecus strykeri)between China and Myanmar

DEAR EDITOR,We examined the distribution,population,and conservation status of the critically endangered Myanmar or black snub-nosed monkey(Rhinopithecus strykeri)via field surveys over 26 months(2019-2021)in the Pianma region of the China-Myanmar border.Contrary to previous reports,we only identified one group in the region,which was a cross-border group occupying a multi-year home range of 51.50-57.02 km^(2).The current group size was much larger(155-160 individuals)than that in 2012-2014(ca 100 individuals),and the group appeared to be growing.However,confirmed poaching,mining,and transboundary forest fires on the Myanmar side of the border threaten their survival.

A new species of Amolops(Anura:Ranidae)from northern Myanmar

DEAR EDITOR,A new species of the genus Amolops,Amolops putaoensis sp.nov.,is described from northern Myanmar.The new species can be distinguished from its congeners by the following characters:(1)dorsolateral fold distinct;(2)upper-lip stripe white;(3)male body size 37.6-40.2 mm;(4)ground color of dorsal surface brown,flank green,small warts on dorsum.

Co-seismic deformation and gravity changes of the 2011 India-Nepal and Myanmar earthquakes

Co-seismic deformation and gravity field changes caused by the 2011 Mw6. 8 Myanmar and Mw6. 9 India-Nepal earthquakes are calculated with a finite-element model and an average-slip model, respectively, based on the multi-layered elastic half-space dislocation theory. The calculated maximum horizontal displace- ment of the Myanmar earthquake is 36 era, which is larger than the value of 9. 5 cm for the India-Nepal earth- quake. This difference is attributed to their different focal depths and our use of different models. Except cer- tain differences in the near field, both models give similar deformation and gravity results for the Myanmar event.

The Road to Universal Health Coverage in Myanmar Runs through Non-Communicable Disease Risk Factors: Supporting Evidence from WHO in 2009 and 2014 and the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016

Background: The recent surge in economic development in Myanmar will also contribute to accelerating the health burden shift from acute infectious to chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) across the country. With just 11 years to achieve its goal of universal health coverage by the year 2030, significant efforts will be needed to quantify the scale of the burden facing decision-makers about health system strengthening and redevelopment. Convergence of the health systems will be an additional challenge in Myanmar. Methods: Results from a WHO study in 2009 and 2014, combined with data from the 2016 Global Burden of Disease Study, were compiled and analysed for Myanmar to assess the levels and trends of selected NCDs and NCD risk factors. Results: The prevalence of major NCDs in Myanmar are in general higher than global and regional averages, with a significant increase in diabetes mellitus and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases in the last 25 years. Major NCD risk factors in Myanmar include smoking, use of smokeless tobacco, alcohol consumption among men, low level of fruit and vegetable consumption, hypertension, and emerging of overweight and obesity, especially among women. Tobacco use increased in both sexes between 2009 and 2014, but only significantly in men. Rates of hypertension increased for both men and women, including those currently on medications—suggesting a need for better treatment regimens. Overweight and obesity rates increased in both men and women, although the increase in obesity for men was not significant. Alcohol consumption results were mixed—with lower levels of high level drinking in men, but generally increased consumption by women. Intake of fruit and vegetables increased slightly between 2009 and 2014 and rates of high levels of physical activity also increased. Diabetes prevalence rates increased significantly in women (X2 = 11.3;p = 0.01) and men (X2 = 9.6;p = 0.02) between 2009 and 2014. Conclusions: Improved awareness of risk factors, coupled with early diagnosis and effective treatment of conditions and risks, is paramount to keeping the population healthy and economically active, and maintaining health care costs. Proven cost-effective interventions to prevent and control NCD-related risk factors, notably increasing tobacco taxes, should be endorsed and implemented in the population. Inaction could hamper the country’s effort to achieve universal health coverage by the year 2030.

Climate change and groundwater resources in Myanmar

Myanmar is located in Southeast Asia within the Mekong River Basin. The estimated annual surface and groundwater potentials are 1 081 km^3 and 494 km^3, respectively. Based on geological conditions, 11 different types of aquifers have been classified in Myanmar. The recent alluvial formation, Irrawaddy formation, Upper Pegu Group and Plateau limestone formation are the major water-bearing geologic formations of the country. In Myanmar, 89% of the groundwater is used for agriculture, approximately 8% is used for domestic consumption, and 3% is used for industrial purposes. Climate change projections for Myanmar from 2001 to 2100 predict general increases in temperature, clear-sky days, rainfall variability and flooding risks and a greater occurrence and intensity of extreme weather events across the country. Additional technology and investments are required to achieve groundwater resource security in response to climate changes. In addition, methods of ensuring the sustainability of groundwater resources must be implemented via collaborations with other countries and international sources.

Relationship between Modified Mercalli Intensity and peak ground acceleration in Myanmar

In this study, the previously reported isoseismal maps are compiled and used to carefully investigate the macroseismic intensity in terms of the Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) scale, based on the engineering ground-motion parameter, as the peak ground acceleration (PGA), inferred from the ground-motion attenuation characteristic of Myanmar. The preliminary relationship between the MMI and PGA is reported to be a function of log10(PGA) = 0.2526MMI – 3.1006. The strongly correlated MMI-PGA relationship obtained in this study, if confirmed, will be particularly useful in real-time applications for damage prediction or engineering parameter determination when an earthquake occurs in or nearby to Myanmar. Compared with the previously proposed MMI-PGA relationships for other regions, the standard of building construction in Myanmar is not high enough to withstand the hazards from earthquakes, particularly at higher levels of ground motion. Therefore, the standard building code for Myanmar should be modified in order to reduce future hazards arising from earthquakes.

Genetic diversity of the msp-1,msp-2,and glurp genes of Plasmodium falciparum isolates along the Thai-Myanmar borders

Objective:To study the genetic diversity at the msp—1,msp—2,and glurp genes of Plasmodium falciparum(P.falciparum) isolates from 3 endemic areas in Thailand:Tak.Kanchanaburi and Ranong provinces.Methods:A total of 144 P.falciparum isolates collected prior to Irealmenl during January.2012 to June,2013 were genotyped.DNA was extracted:allele frequency and diversity of msp-1.msp-2,and glurp genes were investigated by nested polymerase chain reaction.Results:P.falciparum isolates in this study had high rate of multiple genotypes infection(96.5%)with an overall mean multiplicity of infection of 3.21.The distribution of allelic families of msp-1was significantly different among isolales from Tak.kanchanahnri.and Ranong but not for the msp-2.K1 and MAD20 were the predominant allelic families at the msp-1 gene,whereas alleles belonging to 3D7 were more frequent at the msp-2 gene.The glurp gene had the least diverse alleles.Population structure of P.falciparum isolates from Tak and Ranong was quite similar as revealed by the presence of similar proportions of MAD20 and K1 alleles at msp-1 loci.3D7 and FC27 alleles at msp-2 loci as well as comparable mean MOI.Isolates from Kanchanaburi had different structures;the most prevalent alleles were K1 and RO33.Conclusions:The present study shows that P.falciparum isolates from Tak and Ranong provinces had similar allelic pattern of msp—1 and msp—2 and diversity but different from Kanchanaburi isolates.These allelic variant profiles are valuable baseline data for future epidemiological study of malaria transmission and for continued monitoring of polymorphisms associated with antimalarial drug resistance in these areas.

Participation of private general practitioners in disease management of malaria in Myanmar

Objective:Myanmar has been trying to improve the disease management of malaria through public health services. The involvement of private general practitioners(GPs) is recognized as one of the key contributory issues in malaria control,but no one has yet made an attempt to study the efficiency of their role.This study aimed to assess the participation of GPs in improvement of disease management.Methods:The study was conducted with all 32 GPs practicing at three randomly selected townships with high malaria load situated in Upper Myanmar from June 2006 to March 2007 using a pretest-posttest design to assess their knowledge of the disease management prior to and after intervention.The intervention package consisted of a one-day workshop on diagnosis and treatment of malaria and the supply of facilities for microscopy.Questionnaires filled in before and after tests were compared to assess the change of knowledge after the intervention.Diagnosis and treatment practice during the study period was analysed by review of registers kept by GPs,together with a follow-up survey of their patients for the reliability of data.Results:An overall improvement of knowledge was observed and significant changes were apparent for three variables:the criteria for referral of severe malaria,the effect of incomplete treatment and recommended treatment of Plasmodium vivax.Pre-test results showed that only 65.6%of GPs perceived microscopy or Rapid Diagnostic Test kits(RDTs) for confirmation of malaria necessary,while only 15.6%and 40.6%of the GPs knew the recommended treatments of falciparum and vivax malaria,respectively. However,after intervention 92%of the patients were diagnosed as malaria by RDTs and 3%by microscopy throughout the study.The GPs prescribed artemisinin-based combination therapy(ACTs) to 95%of confirmed falciparum cases and treated 82.4%of RDT confirmed falciparum negatives with chloroquine and primaquine.Concurrent with our study,an international NGO,Population Service International,supplied GPs with RDTs and ACTs at subsidized rate which was helpful.Conclusion:The study suggests that participation of GPs may help improve the disease management of malaria and thus assist in the country’s effort to control ma- laria.

Hepatitis C virus genotypes in Myanmar

Myanmar is adjacent to India, Bangladesh, Thailand, Laos and China. In Myanmar, the prevalence of hepatitis C virus(HCV) infection is 2%, and HCV infection accounts for 25% of hepatocellular carcinoma. In this study, we reviewed the prevalence of HCV genotypes in Myanmar. HCV genotypes 1, 3 and 6 were observed in volunteer blood donors in and around the Myanmar city of Yangon. Although there are several reports of HCV genotype 6 and its variants in Myanmar, the distribution of the HCV genotypes has not been well documented in areas other than Yangon. Previous studies showed that treatment with peginterferon and a weight-based dose of ribavirin for 24 or 48 wk could lead to an 80%-100% sustained virological response(SVR) rates in Myanmar. Current interferon-free treatments could lead to higher SVR rates(90%-95%) in patients infected with almost all HCV genotypes other than HCV genotype 3. In an era of heavy reliance on direct-acting antivirals against HCV, there is an increasing need to measure HCV genotypes, and this need will also increase specifically in Myanmar. Current available information of HCV genotypes were mostly from Yangon and other countries than Myanmar. The prevalence of HCV genotypes in Myanmar should be determined.