bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Special Issue on SATREPS Myanmar Project Part 2: Development of a Comprehensive Disaster Resilience System and Collaboration Platform in Myanmar
Authors: Meguro Kimiro , Honma Yudai
Published: March 2020

This special issue summarizes the main results of the latter half of a five-year project called SATREPS (Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development) supported by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST). The project title is “Development of a Comprehensive Disaster Resilience System and Collaboration Platform in Myanmar” and it is the first SATREPS project adopted in Myanmar. Yangon Technological University (YTU) is a major counterpart organization and both national and local governmental organizations are working together as strategic partners.

In the first half of the project, a database was constructed, composed of important data for assessing urban safety and disaster risk, such as the ground properties, and distribution of buildings, people, and traffic. Using the database, city development model and evaluation models for flood and earthquake risks were developed.

In the latter half of the project, combining these two evaluation models, a system was developed for discussing future damage differences due to different urban plans and countermeasures. Furthermore, regarding flood, near-real-time flood inundation simulation system was developed. Related to earthquake disaster, a support system was developed for implementation of efficient countermeasures for both pre- and post-disaster. For infrastructure maintenance, performance monitoring and maintenance methods were proposed. Finally, in order to continue research activities and promote a continuous utilization of project results, a consortium scheme in which industry, government, and academia can work together has been created.

We hope that our SATREPS project activities can contribute to proper urban development and improvement of disaster management issues not only in Myanmar but also in other Asian countries.
Development of Flood Damage Estimation Model for Agriculture – Case Study in the Bago Floodplain, Myanmar
Authors: Win Shelly , Zin Win Win , Kawasaki Akiyuki ,   Department of Civil Engineering, Yangon Technological University Gyogone, Insein Road, Yangon 11011, Myanmar,   Department of Civil Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
Published: March 2020

This paper introduces an integrated model that combines the Rainfall Runoff Inundation (RRI) and spatially distributed flood damage estimation models. There are three steps for fulfilling this purpose. The first step is the accomplishment of RRI model for the floodplain region. The second step is a questionnaire survey to analyze the economic damage to affected population and properties caused by the past flooding events; this step aims to estimate the different levels of agricultural damage cost. Finally, the economic flood damage estimation model was developed for the agricultural areas by using the stage-damage function models which were established by the multiple regression analysis of questionnaire survey data. The model results were expressed through spatially distributed flood damage maps for extreme flood events, such as those in 2014, 2015, and 2018. The results were validated by collecting damage cost data from the Department of Agricultural Lands Management and Statistics (DALMS). The final findings included comparative scenarios for reducing damage cost in the most effective and realistic way. The output product was the agricultural damage estimation model. For further research, the model was recommended for application in other study areas with different flood scales.
Estimation of Run-of-River Hydropower Potential in the Myitnge River Basin
Authors: Thin Kyu Kyu , Zin Win Win , San Zin Mar Lar Tin , Kawasaki Akiyuki , Moiz Abdul , Bhagabati Seemanta Sharma ,   Department of Civil Engineering, Yangon Technological University Gyogone, Insein Road, Yangon 11011, Myanmar,   Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
Published: March 2020

The need for electricity is rapidly increasing, especially in developing countries. There is vast hydropower potential existing globally that has not yet been explored. This could be the only solution to solve future global power shortage. Hydropower is a clean and renewable source of energy because it does not exploit the use of water. However, using the conventional approach to harness hydropower results in several challenges. It is difficult to identify suitable sites and assess site potential during the planning stage of hydropower projects. In this study, run-of-river hydropower potential for the Myitnge River Basin was estimated by intergrating a Geographic Information System (GIS) and Soil & Water Assessement Tool (SWAT) model. A GIS based tool was developed using Python to spot the potential locations of the hydropower plants. The hydrological model (SWAT) was designed in order to obtain the values of monthly discharge for all potential hydropwer sites. The flow duration curves at potential locations were developed and the design discharge for hydropower was identified. Forty-four run-of-river (ROR) type potential hydropower sites were identified by considering only the topographic factors. After simulation with SWAT model, twenty potential sites with a hydropower generation potential of 292 MW were identified. Currently, only one 790 MW Yeywa Hydropower Plant, which is the largest plant in Myanmar, exists in the Myitnge River Basin. The amount of estimated power generated from ROR may increase the existing power system of Myitnge Basin by 36%. This study will assist stakeholders in the energy sector to optimize the available resources to select appropiate sites for small hydropower plants with high power potential.
Developing Flood Inundation Map Using RRI and SOBEK Models: A Case Study of the Bago River Basin, Myanmar
Authors: San Zin Mar Lar Tin , Zin Win Win , Kawasaki Akiyuki , Acierto Ralph Allen , Oo Tin Zar ,   Department of Civil Engineering, Yangon Technological University Gyogone, Insein Road, Yangon 11011, Myanmar,   Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan,   Institute of Industrial Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
Published: March 2020

The Bago River Basin in Myanmar is highly flood-prone. To develop a flood forecasting system, an inundation map of the Bago River Basin is required. This study applied the Rainfall-Runoff-Inundation (RRI) model and SOBEK model to simulate flood discharges and inundation to determine the model most suitable for analysis of the study basin in terms of user friendliness, cost, type of output, and correlation between simulated and observed data. In this study, five flood events were selected to calibrate and validate the models, using discharge data measured at Bago station. The Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (ENS) and coefficient of determination (R2) were used to evaluate the performance of the models. The simulated flood inundation area was validated with satellite images. According to the comparison, the SOBEK model is more accurate than the RRI model, and the simulated and observed discharges are closely related. However, when the calculation time and cost are included in the consideration, the RRI model is preferable, as it is faster and freely available. For the Bago River Basin, the RRI model is efficient in predicting the potential flood duration and areas of inundation in near-real time, whereas the SOBEK model is useful for floodplain management. This study shows that the RRI and SOBEK models are applicable to any basin in Myanmar that is similar to the Bago River Basin.
Impact of Bias-Correction Methods in Assessing the Potential Flood Frequency Change in the Bago River
Authors: Acierto Ralph Allen E. , Kawasaki Akiyuki , Zin Win Win ,   The University of Tokyo 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan,   Yangon Technological University, Yangon, Myanmar
Published: March 2020

The increasing flood risks in the Bago River due to rapid urbanization and climate change have great implications on the local development and quality of life in the basin. Therefore, the current flood hazard and potential future changes in flooding due to climate change must be assessed. This study investigates the potential flood frequency change in the Bago River and its sensitivity to the bias-correction method used in climate projections from the downscaled Global Climate Model (GCM) output. A pseudo-global warming method using MIROC5 RCP 8.5 was employed to produce 12-km 30-y historical and future climate projections. Empirical quantile mapping (EQM), gamma quantile mapping (GQM), and the multiplicative scaling method (SCM) were used for bias-correcting the rainfall input of the water-energy budget distributed hydrological model (WEB-DHM). The impacts of bias-correction methods used in reproducing the annual maximum series in the frequency analysis are sensitive to the trend of potential future changes in flood discharge frequency estimation. All methods exhibited decreases in the flood peak discharge for 50-yr and 100-yr flood predictions, which may primarily be due to the MIROC5 GCM used. However, the variation in the magnitude of the change is wide. This demonstrates the uncertainty of the frequency analysis for flood magnitude due to the employed bias-correction method. This uncertainty has significant implications on risk quantification conducted using downscaled climate projections. The effect of the uncertainty of the bias-correction method on the annual maximum rainfall time series should be communicated properly when conducting risk and hazard assessment studies.
Multivariate Flood Loss Estimation of the 2018 Bago Flood in Myanmar
Authors: Zin Win Win , Kawasaki Akiyuki , Hörmann Georg , Acierto Ralph Allen , San Zin Mar Lar Tin , Thu Aye Myat ,   Department of Civil Engineering, Yangon Technological University Gyogone, Insein Road, Yangon 11011, Myanmar,   Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan,   Department of Hydrology and Water Resources Management, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany,   Institute of Industrial Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
Published: March 2020

Flood loss models are essential tools for assessing flood risk. Flood damage assessment provides decision makers with critical information to manage flood hazards. This paper presents a multivariable flood damage assessment based on data from residential building and content damage from the Bago flood event of July 2018. This study aims to identify the influences on building and content losses. We developed a regression-based flood loss estimation model, which incorporates factors such as water depth, flood duration, building material, building age, building condition, number of stories, and floor level. Regression approaches, such as stepwise and best subset regression, were used to create the flood damage model. The selection was based on Akaike’s information criterion (AIC). We found that water depth, flood duration, and building material were the most significant factors determining flood damage in the residential sector.
User Stories-Based Requirement Elicitation for Data Visualization to Support Decision Making in Water Resource Management at Bago River Basin
Authors: Kodaka Akira , Kawasaki Akiyuki , Shirai Naruhiko , Acierto Ralph Allen , Zin Win Win , Kohtake Naohiko ,   Graduate School of System Design and Management, Keio University Collaboration Complex, 4-1-1 Hiyoshi, Kohoku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 223-8526, Japan,   Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan,   Yangon Technological University, Yangon, Myanmar
Published: March 2020

Understanding of system requirements that satisfy end users’ needs is fundamental of system development, yet challenging when end users are unable to address their needs explicitly. Although a number of scholars have been designing and applying requirement elicitation techniques, there is a research gap in Spatial Decision Support System (SDSS) with Web-based Geographical Information System (Web-GIS) in water resource management for disaster risk reduction. The gap addresses especially design elicitation techniques and their performances 1) to understand data types used for decision making, 2) set timing for sharing the data to accomplish end users’ tasks, and 3) compile the data to be represented so as to facilitate end users’ decision making. This study therefore designed a requirement elicitation technique by advancing User Story Mapping (USM) and validated through a workshop using mock-up system interface with potential end users who are in charge of water resource management in Myanmar’s Bago River Basin. Through the research it could be validated that the user stories-based approach enabled end users to decompose their operation activities into tasks. It also allowed them to link to necessary data with visual image for facilitating their task accomplishments and decision making for water resource management. It was revealed that the benefits of using the designed approach are not only just to summarize necessary data and information for end users’ decision making but also to encourage them to proactively consider data utilization into their operations. For further development of the requirement elicitation to understand end users needs, insights and recommendations for the proposed technique designing and conducting of the workshop were obtained.
Projecting the Impact of Climate Change on Temperature, Precipitation, and Discharge in the Bago River Basin
Authors: Myo Hnin Thiri , Zin Win Win , Shwe Kyi Pyar , San Zin Mar Lar Tin , Kawasaki Akiyuki , Acierto Ralph Allen ,   Department of Civil Engineering, Yangon Technological University Gyogone, Insein Road, Yangon 11011, Myanmar,   Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan,   Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
Published: March 2020

Climate change affects both the temperature and precipitation, leading to changes in river runoff. The Bago River basin is one of the most important agricultural regions in the Ayeyarwady Delta of Myanmar, and this paper aims to evaluate the impact of climate change on it. Linear scaling was used as the bias-correction method for ten general circulation models (GCMs) participating in the fifth phase of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project. Future climate scenarios are predicted for three 27-year periods: the near future (2020–2046), middle future (2047–2073), and far future (2074–2100) with a baseline period of (1981–2005) under two Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) scenarios: RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 of the IPCC Assessment Report 5 (AR5). The Hydrologic Engineering Center-Hydrologic Modeling System model is used to predict future discharge changes for the Bago River considering future average precipitation for all three future periods. Among the GCMs used to simulate meteorological data in the Ayeyarwady Delta zone, the Model for Interdisciplinary Research on Climate-Earth System is the most suitable. It predicts that average monthly precipitation will fluctuate and that average annual precipitation will increase. Both average monthly and annual temperatures are expected to increase at the end of the 21st century under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios. The simulation shows that the Bago River discharge will increase for all three future periods under both scenarios.
Improving River Bathymetry and Topography Representation of a Low-Lying Flat River Basin by Integrating Multiple Sourced Datasets
Authors: Bhagabati Seemanta Sharma , Kawasaki Akiyuki , Takeuchi Wataru , Zin Win Win ,   Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Tokyo 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan,   Industrial Institute of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan,   Yangon Technological University, Yangon, Myanmar
Published: March 2020

Topography represented in the form of Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) has profound applications in hydrological modeling. DEMs can be generated from several sources including satellite products, contours, survey data, and LiDAR, each with their own merits and demerits. Where high resolution, accuracy, and spatial extent are concerned, it is often found that a DEM from one source alone is not able to represent the topography of the target area with full accuracy. Upon comparing different DEMs, it was found that most were able to successfully represent mountainous regions but failed to represent flat deltaic regions. Therefore, in this research with Bago River basin, Myanmar as a study area, a new methodology to combine multiple sources of data with different data types is developed. The inputs are: (a) a 10 m DEM, developed using contour data, point elevation data, and UTM topographic maps; (b) a 5 m Digital Surface Model (DSM) acquired by the Advanced Land Observation Satellite (ALOS); and (c) 168 sets of multiple-point elevation data representing a cross-sectional survey along the Bago River and the Bago-Sittaung canal. The output is a 10 m resolution Enhanced DEM (EnDEM) which is able to preserve the merits of all the input data, i.e., upper mountainous region, lower flat deltaic basin, and the river bathymetry. This paper provides a novel approach to DEM integration and burning of the river cross-section onto the DEM.
Application and Flood Discharge Analysis with Hydrological Model (WEB-DHM) in Bago River Basin
Authors: Maung Sann Win , San Zin Mar Lar Tin , Zin Win Win , Kawasaki Akiyuki , Thin Kyu Kyu ,   Department of Civil Engineering, Yangon Technological University Gyogone, Insein Road, Yangon 11011, Myanmar,   Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
Published: March 2020

Flooding has always been one of the major hazards in Myanmar, accounting for 11% of all disasters. The Bago River Basin is a floodprone area in Myanmar, where, during the last decade, many severe floods occurred during the monsoon season, usually in July and August. Most of these floods are caused by storm rainfall. The 2011 and 2018 floods form part of the historical record of Bago. The main objective of this research paper is to develop a new hydrological model (WEB-DHM) for the Bago River Basin using observed station data to represent floods in the study area. The Water and Energy Budget-based Distributed Hydrological Model (WEB-DHM) was used for hydrological modeling as determined for the discharge of floods. The HydroSHEDS digital elevation model is used for the discharge estimation and analysis of the WEB-DHM. The Japanese 55-year Reanalysis JRA-55 data, from the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), were used for the preparation of meteorological data for this model. The results of flood discharge from the hydrological modeling and the observed data of the past three years (2014, 2015 and 2016) are provided in this study.
Analysis of Seismic Performance of Suspension Bridge in Myanmar
Authors: Jiradilok Punyawut , Nagai Kohei , Matsumoto Koji , Yoshida Takeshi , Goda Tetsuro , Iwasaki Eiji ,   Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo 4-6-1 Komaba, Meguro, Tokyo 153-8505, Japan,   Hokkaido University, Hokkaido, Japan,   Nippon Koei Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan,   Nagaoka University of Technology, Niigata, Japan
Published: March 2020

After the collapse of Myaungmya Bridge in April 2018, the safety of infrastructure became an urgent task and attracted increased public interest in Republic of the Union of Myanmar. After the incident, monitoring systems were installed in several suspension bridges, of the same structure type as Myaungmya Bridge, recording unwanted bridge movements. The observations indicate that a large deformation occurred, rendering the current bridge condition different from its original design, though the safety of the current condition is unclear. Therefore, in this study, numerical models are simulated utilizing the data from detailed observations made by the monitoring system, to confirm the safety of the bridge. Twantay Bridge was chosen as the bridge analysis target. Linear time history analyses were performed on Twantay Bridge, in which the seismic performance was evaluated by comparing the stresses generated in the main members with the allowable stresses. Moreover, by comparing the analysis results obtained from two models – a design drawing model of the Twantay Bridge, and a model that reproduced the present condition of the bridge – the current bridge performance was confirmed. The information obtained from this analysis is useful in the field of maintenance and will allow Myanmar officials to effectively plan and take corrective action for the requisite maintenance of the damaged bridge.
Evaluating Expectations for Training Transfer: Exploratory Study on a Capacity Development Project for Road and Bridge Technology in Myanmar
Authors: Henry Michael , Nagai Kohei , Matsumoto Koji , Yokota Hiroshi ,   Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University Kita 13 Nishi 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-8628, Japan,   Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
Published: March 2020

To ensure the long-term performance of bridges in Myanmar, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) initiated a capacity development project to enhance the quality control capabilities of engineers in the Myanmar government. Such expertise will be transferred to a group of “core trainers,” who will be responsible for sharing their acquired skills and knowledge with other engineers in Myanmar. The effective transfer of Japanese expertise is thus crucial for realizing the project’s goal of improving the quality of bridges and structures managed by the government of Myanmar. This research aims to explore the perspectives and expectations of the core trainers’ for training transfer after the project using the results of a survey questionnaire and to evaluate the effect of various factors on their expectations for transfer using partial least squares path modeling. It was found that the core trainers had positive expectations regarding the benefits of training transfer as well as generally positive perspectives on the factors affecting such transfer. The results of statistical modeling, however, failed to reveal any significant relationships between the modeled factors and the expectations for training transfer. This may be attributable to the sample size, which is limited by the scope of the capacity development project; a mixed method approach is therefore proposed as a more appropriate method in this context. Nonetheless, the results generally suggest that the work environment is fundamental in facilitating effective training transfer, and further research is necessary.
Acquisition of Ground Information in Downtown Yangon for Bosai Operation Support System
Authors: Naing Tun , Thinzar Su , Numada Muneyoshi , Yu Khin Than , Meguro Kimiro ,   Department of Engineering Geology, Yangon Technological University Gyoegone, Insein, Yangon 11011, Myanmar,   Department of Petroleum Engineering (Engineering Geology Section), Technological University (Mandalay), Mandalay, Myanmar,   Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan,   Department of Civil Engineering, Yangon Technological University, Yangon, Myanmar
Published: March 2020

Yangon is one of the most populated and socio-economically important cities in Myanmar. Unfortunately, it is located in a moderately active-seismic area, and significant damage and loss will be incurred if an earthquake occurs there in the future. The seismogenic Sagaing Fault passes 40 km to the E of Yangon, which has experienced several destructive earthquakes in the past. The urban area studied here, Kyauktada, Pazundaung, and Botahtaung townships, are located mostly on a soft alluvial plain, which is mainly composed of sand, silt, and clay, which are sediments prone to amplify seismic waves. The Yangon Bosai Operation Support System (BOSS), designed to establish a proper disaster management system based on the potential damage that a future earthquake might cause, is under development. BOSS has two components damage prediction and damage response – which are based on predicted damage and current response capability and practices in Myanmar. For damage prediction, major inputs include information on the underlying soils, building construction and associated fragility functions, based on different building types. Microtremor survey is a useful tool for reviewing underlying soil layer information, as this can significantly affect vulnerability assessments and the identification of potential damages. Microtremor surveys and analyses were therefore conducted at 88 sites throughout the studied urban areas to acquire key ground information for BOSS. Our analyses showed that the fundamental frequency of horizontal to vertical spectral ratio (H/V ratio) of microtremors generally ranged 0.6–2.4 Hz, while the peak amplitude was between 1.3 and 4.0. Soil thickness ranged 60–210 m, and the average shear wave velocity over the ground’s upper 30 m, Vs30, was in the range 180–560 ms-1. All outcomes from this research will become key input parameters for BOSS development in Yangon.
Seismic Fragility Analysis of Poorly Built Timber Buildings in Yangon Slum Areas
Authors: Kyaw Khin Myat , Gadagamma Chaitanya Krishna , Kyaw Kyaw , Gokon Hideomi , Murao Osamu , Meguro Kimiro ,   Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo 4-6-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8505, Japan,   Civil Engineering Department, Yangon Technological University, Yangon, Myanmar,   Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Ishikawa, Japan,   International Research Institute of Disaster Science, Tohoku University, Miyagi, Japan
Published: March 2020

In Yangon and the suburbs of Myanmar, timber-framed buildings are the popular choice of construction for residential purposes. Nearly 8% of the total population in Yangon live in the slums and slum-like areas where the dwellings are predominantly made of non-durable materials. Wood, jungle wood, and bamboo are used as the framework and corrugated galvanized iron sheets as walling and sheathing material. The seismic-resistance capacity of timber buildings in slum areas has never been approved based on experimental evidence. Therefore, this study aims to conduct a seismic fragility analysis for poorly built timber buildings by providing a suitable method through numerical and experimental approaches. Pull-over loading tests were conducted on selected buildings to assess their loading-displacement capacity. Further, numerical modeling was done using the Wallstat simulation tool, which is based on the discrete element method. The pushover curve was validated with the curve from the pull-over load test. Once the numerical model was confirmed, dynamic analysis was conducted for different peak ground acceleration (PGA) (g) values until the complete numerical collapse of the building. Three building configurations with three ranges of variable material properties were considered in this study. A primary damage state started at the low PGA value of 0.05 g, and it can be confirmed that the timber buildings that were studied, are vulnerable to earthquakes. The results based on qualitative analysis were accumulated to obtain the damage state matrix, which was then used to obtain the fragility curves.
Analysis of Bus Operation at Peak Hours Using Bus GPS Data: A Case Study of YBS-36
Authors: Aung Thet Htun , Kyaing  , Lwin Ko Ko , Sekimoto Yoshihide ,   Department of Civil Engineering, Yangon Technological University Insein, Yangon 11011, Myanmar,   Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
Published: March 2020

The use of public buses constitutes the primary daily transportation mode for commuters inside the city of Yangon. The efficiency of the public bus transportation service is important to the local government in terms of public safety and energy saving. The main objective of this study is to understand the current public bus transportation problems in Yangon and to propose a new improved method for the allocation of bus stops. In this study, an on-board survey was conducted to collect bus-passenger counts. Moreover, a check-point survey was carried out to determine the passenger volume at each bus stop and to decide whether the bus stop should be relocated. Finally, a geographic information systems (GIS) model was developed to determine the optimized bus-stop locations based on the passenger volume and on various public-facility locations (such as offices and shopping centers). This study aims to support the Yangon Bus Service (YBS), a major bus transportation service in Yangon city – Myanmar, to optimize its bus network.
Analysis of Trip Distributions of Human Mobility Patterns and Their Transit Behaviors Using Mobile Call Detail Records
Authors: Kyaing  , Lwin Ko Ko , Sekimoto Yoshihide ,   Department of Civil Engineering, Yangon Technological University (YTU) Insein Road, Gyogone, Insein, Yangon 11011, Myanmar,   Institute of Industrial Science (IIS), The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
Published: March 2020

Rapid urbanization and modernization are increasing worldwide, including in Myanmar. Mobile call detail records (CDRs) provide new opportunities for measuring transport demands and problems in transportation planning. This research aims to analyze trip distributions and transit behaviors of mobile phone users based on their call activities. Origin-Destination (O-D) pairs were computed for the entire city, and the trip distributions help understand human mobility. It was found that zone-to-zone flow has the highest flow in commercial and industrial areas. Moreover, the logical assumptions were specified to extract the transit behaviors of users. The results indicate the degree of mode-to-mode transfer behaviors of users. Among the four categories of transit usage, only rail users do not transfer to other modes, having the lowest proportion, with other mode-to-other mode transfers having the highest proportion. The results were validated with the Person Trip Survey for Comprehensive Urban Transport Plan of the Greater Yangon. This study contributes significantly to the expansion of current and potential future transit systems, which can provide a new and improved transport system for Yangon City to meet its demands. This information is helpful in conducting disaster management and emergency preparedness in terms of trip distributions of human mobility patterns changing over space and time and the transit behaviors of the transferring mode in daily trips.
Traffic Conditions and Route Choice of Road Users Between Two Roundabouts
Authors: Win Lin Zarni , Kyaing  , Lwin Ko Ko , Sekimoto Yoshihide ,   Department of Civil Engineering, Yangon Technological University Insein Road, Gyogone, Insein, Yangon 11011, Myanmar,   Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
Published: March 2020

This study aims to present the traffic conditions of one of the most congested areas in Yangon as well as the route choice behaviors of the road users in that area. It analyzes drivers’ route choice behaviors and traffic congestion according to road segments. Manual traffic counting and roadside interview methods were used in this survey. The data gathered were used in finding routes alternative to the U Htaung Bo road, which is extremely congested almost all the time. With regard to the report, it will be helpful to identify the scale of the problem that is caused by traffic congestion and to increase awareness of this issue, including amongst the government, policy makers, traffic engineers, and road users.
Measuring Traffic Congestion Based on the Taxi Operations of Traditional and On-Demand Taxis in Yangon
Authors: Mo Moe Myint , Kyaing  , Lwin Ko Ko , Sekimoto Yoshihide ,   Yangon Technological University Insein Road, Gyogone, Insein, Yangon 11011, Myanmar,   Institute of Industrial Science (IIS), The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
Published: March 2020

The current urbanization and motorization have caused a gradual negative impact on the existing transport infrastructure in Yangon City. Currently, the road network throughout Yangon operates at or above its desired capacity during the peak periods. At present, there are over 62,886 registered taxis operating in Yangon City. These taxis provide two different services to passengers: non-metered taxi (traditionally hailed on the street) service and metered taxi (on demand) service. Private cars and taxis constitute 70% of the modes of transport in Yangon City; this may lead to traffic congestion. However, there is lack of relevant data and taxi trip pattern information on how taxi service is related to traffic congestion. Therefore, studies on taxi surveying using Global Positioning Systems (GPS) need to be conducted, and investigations on the effect of taxi services on traffic congestion from these GPS data need to be performed. This study explores the comparison between hourly and daily trips’ frequencies as well as spatial and temporal variations of taxi trips between the two services. Field survey data collected through the GPS and Geographic Information System (GIS) were used to estimate the different taxi travel times that can be applied in predicting the occupied and vacant times in the study area. The specific objective of this research is to examine vacant taxi movement and stationary time (parking time and congestion time) of the two services to quantify the impact of taxi travel time on traffic congestion in Yangon. Moreover, by knowing how the two services vary in terms of operation, the main solution for reducing the congestion in Yangon City can be established. Further, the taxi stationary duration information is useful for knowing the taxi trip hotspot points in each township in Yangon. This may lead to support in defining proposed taxi stands in Yangon City.
The Effect of Prophylactic Central Neck Dissection During Hemithyroidectomy on Locoregional Recurrence in Patients With Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Ahn Soon-Hyun , Kim Won Sik
Published: April 2020

Objectives. Hemithyroidectomy is commonly performed in patients with low- to intermediate-risk papillary thyroid carcinoma. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the effect of prophylactic central neck dissection on locoregional recurrence in patients undergoing hemithyroidectomy.Methods. A meta-analysis was performed of full-text publications published in English retrieved from the Embase database.Results. The rate of regional recurrence in the central compartment after hemithyroidectomy, with or without prophylactic central neck dissection, was 0.17% and 1.78%, respectively. This difference was statistically significant. Recurrence in the lateral compartment or contralateral thyroid was not affected by prophylactic central neck dissection; the overall rate of recurrence was 1.3% and 5.4%, respectively.Conclusion. Prophylactic central neck dissection significantly reduced the risk of recurrence in the central compartment in patients undergoing hemithyroidectomy.
Analysis and Development of Customer Billing Telephony System
Authors: Et al. Raziera
Published: March 2020

The telecommunications industry has gone through series of development efforts to provide quality services to their consumers. Generally, telecommunication industry provides two main services such as telephony and internet which involved customer registration, billing and payment. However, the challenge confronting telecommunications industry is to meet the customer satisfaction in the billing system such as accuracy, easy to understand and unambiguous billing issue. In order to develop Customer Billing Telephony System,a user experience study is conducted to gather the user requirements. Hence, the CBTS was developed that takes into consideration user’s value experience that provides a support for managing and monitoring billing process. Then the CBTS was evaluated by the users using User Experience Questionnaire (UEQ) to prove the efficiency and correctness in billing process. The result shown that the users give the positive feedback of the CBTS.
Trypan Blue Exclusion Assay Verifies in Vitro Cytotoxicity of New Cis-Platinum (II) Complex in Human Cells
Authors: Et al. Hussein
Published: March 2020

Various assays are used to determine the toxic effects of drugs at cellular levels in vitro.  One of these methods is the dye exclusion assay, which measures membrane integrity in the presence of Trypan blue. Trypan blue the dye which was used in this study to investigate cytotoxic effect of a new Cis –dichloroplatinum (II) complex [(Qu)2PtCl2] on the viability of polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs). Three concentrations of platinum complex were prepared (70, 35and 17.5 µg/ ml) and the results revealed that the percentage of cell viability decreased as the platinum complex concentration increased in comparison with control. The platinum complex exhibited low cytotoxic effects towards healthy cells at the concentrations of 17.5 µg/ ml and 35 µg/ ml, in which the percentage of cell viability was (77.01 ± 6.3) and (72.3± 0.50)respectively, with no significant differences as compared with the control(90.66 ±0.577). The viability was significantly decreased (67.59 ± 3.16) when the cells were treated with the concentration of 70 µg/ ml in comparison with control. These results indicated that the percentage of living cells decreased when treated with high concentrations of [(Qu)2PtCl2], which causes cells death, while low concentrations of the compound show low toxicity. This data indicates that this compound, at these concentrations may be suitable for use as a cancer treatment because it has low toxic effects on the healthy cells.
Evaluation of Physical Chemical and Biological Characteristics of Underground Wells in Badra City, Iraq
Authors: Al-Araji Kadhim Hashim Yaseen
Published: March 2020

The quality of groundwater should be improved by keeping safe water sources from contaminants in protective way by doing regular measuring and checkup before it supplied for usage. Private Wells do not receive the same services that wells supplying the public do. Well owners are responsible for protecting their drinking water. This work was carried out in Badra city, Iraq from December 2017 to May 2018, six wells water were investigated to determine the general characteristics of wells as well as studying the effect of environmental factors on the quality of water. The average of six wells were eleven parameters that is out of permissible limits were EC, Sal., Alk., TH, TDS, Na, Ca, Cl, SO4, Fe, Zn (4402-5183 /cm, 2.76-3.9 ppt, 302-366mg/L, 3164-4248 mg/L, 604-675 mg/L, 375-524 mg/L, 635-871 mg/L, 631-1107 mg/L, 2430-4570 g/L, 114-392 g/L). Respectively, microbiological investigations involved the total coliform, total plate count, as well as the detection for the presence of E. coli, Salmonella and Cholera.  Results shows that there is a significant relation between the increasing of the TDS and Turbidity, TDS gives an indication for the significant increasing of chemical ions. Wells number 3, 4 and 5 showed gave positive results for E.coli growth which as a source of microbial pollution. Detection for the presence of chemical and microbial contaminate is an important alarm since this water has a direct effect on the human and animal's health. Advance method of rapid detection for the well water quality is highly recommended to avoid any health issue and prevent the outbreak of health risk and ecological contaminants.
Historia de Mayta: el narrador comprometido
Authors: Del Castillo Saldaña Luis Ángel
Published: March 2020

A través de sus primeras novelas, Vargas Llosa proponía, desde una perspectiva socialista, el poder de la literatura para contribuir al cambio social, pero con Historia de Mayta ya no mantiene el aura colectivista de antaño, de cambiar de a pocos o indirectamente la vida de las personas en pro de una vida más justa y equitativa; sino que ahora es más individual. Desde esta perspectiva, el narrador-investigador de la novela es un reflejo explícito y panfletario del cambio ideológico de Vargas Llosa, de su praxis novelística y su nueva concepción de la literatura, que serán una orientación acorde y en sintonía con su nueva postura liberal.
La participación de José de la Riva Agüero y Sánchez Boquete en el proceso de la independencia del Perú vista a través de sus memorias
Authors: San Martín Vásquez Juan Alberto
Published: March 2020

En sus memorias, escritas cuando ya estaba fuera del Perú y retirado de la actividad pública, José de la Riva Agüero y Sánchez Boquete utiliza el seudónimo de Pruvonena y analiza su participación política en el proceso de la independencia peruana, en la que asume una postura de enfrentamiento contra el Congreso, luego de ser reconocido como presidente del Perú por el Poder Legislativo. Acusó a sus miembros de demagogos y de otorgar el poder absoluto a Simón Bolívar y las tropas de la Gran Colombia para acabar con las fuerzas realistas, lo cual consideró una afrenta hacia el ejército nacional, pues ello implicaba la postergación de la oficialidad peruana. La actitud temperamental de Riva Agüero, reflejada en su actuación política, en la que cometió diversos errores que lo llevaron a su destitución como presidente, y justificada en sus memorias, permiten comprender la anarquía y la debilidad del naciente Estado peruano en los primeros años de nuestra vida republicana.
Entre lo policial y lo bélico: las transformaciones de las dimensiones de las fuerzas policiales de Lima (1827-1838)
Authors: Ríos Rodríguez Carlos Jesús
Published: March 2020

El objetivo principal de este artículo es examinar la formación del Estado peruano a través del análisis de las cambiantes dimensiones cuantitativas de las fuerzas policiales del Ejército destinadas al departamento de Lima durante los primeros años de la era republicana. Se plantea que dichas fuerzas policiales eran debilitadas o suprimidas en contextos bélicos para incorporar sus efectivos a las tropas de los caudillos que se alistaban a marchar a los campos de batalla, lo que demuestra que en el Perú las guerras debilitaban la capacidad coercitiva estatal vinculada a la seguridad pública durante la temprana república.
Las mujeres obreras en la industria textil, Lima Metropolitana: 1968-1975
Authors: Salazar Marín Liz Magaly
Published: March 2020

La investigación analiza la relación entre la participación laboral y política de las obreras en la industria textil en Lima Metropolitana durante el periodo 1968-1975. Este artículo tiene como objetivo contribuir a la reconstrucción histórica del mundo laboral de las obreras textiles en tiempos de las reformas que Velasco autodenominó como «revolucionarias». La participación laboral de las obreras textiles permitió crear un valor agregado al producto textil y, por ende, garantizó el abastecimiento de textiles al mercado interno, cuya retribución económica generó la obtención de sus propios ingresos económicos como trabajadoras y resultó de importancia económica para el ámbito industrial y estatal. Por último, en el escenario político la presencia y participación de las obreras textiles se registró en los sindicatos y en las comunidades industriales, como espacios para dinamizar sus propuestas y demandas.
Aprendizaje e innovación: retos en las organizaciones del siglo XXI
Authors: Colina Ysea Félix , Albites Sanabria José L.
Published: March 2020

Con las transformaciones generadas por la globalización —el mundo posmoderno, la era tecnológica, la incertidumbre, el caos—, las organizaciones han originado cambios transcendentales desde su visión paradigmática, como eje medular para afrontar las distintas realidades contextuales. Desde esta visión, el aprender a aprender en las organizaciones representa un bastión importante y estrategia de mejora continua en su talento humano, que debe instaurarse en toda la estructura organizativa de la empresa. Por lo tanto, el presente artículo de revisión tiene como objetivo general analizar la nueva concepción de las organizaciones basado en el aprender a aprender. Urgen cambios fundamentales en las organizaciones desde su talento humano, comprendiendo que los procesos de aprendizaje se logran desde las distintas experiencias vividas.
Progressive Vortex Pump: A New Artificial Lift Pumped Method
Authors: Fraga Ricardo S. , Castellões Octavio G. S. , Assmann Benno W. , Estevam Valdir , de Moura Greco T. , Schröer Ismael N. , do Amaral Luiz G.
Published: March 2020

This paper reports the first experience on applying progressive vortex pumping (PVP) as an artificial lift solution in the oil industry. From a conceptual point of view, progressive vortex pumps are rotodynamic devices that elevate fluid mixtures by converting kinetic energy to potential energy, which is a result of an inducing vortex within each pumping stage. The solution proposed in this paper was inspired by pumps used in the automotive industry (Lochman and Bryce 1980; Yu 1995) and adapted for pumping multiphase mixtures from oil-producing reservoirs. The pilot installation of this technology occurred in an onshore field, located northeast of Brazil. There is a brief description about some specificities of the progressive vortex pump (including features of the production scenario, surface and subsurface installations, and the results observed during the first 4 months of operation), which was installed in an unprecedented way in an oil production well. This paper also addresses some relative advantages of PVP over other artificial lift pumping methods, such as electric submersible pumping (ESP). However, overall efficiency needs to be improved when compared to competing methods such as ESP.
Nonlinear Finite Volume Method for 3D Discrete Fracture-Matrix Simulations
Authors: Zhang Wenjuan , Al Kobaisi Mohammed
Published: March 2020

We present a lower dimensional discrete fracture-matrix (DFM) model for general nonorthogonal meshes populated by anisotropic permeability tensors in 3D spatial dimension. The discrete fractures are represented as 2D planes embedded in a 3D matrix domain and serve as internal boundaries for conforming meshing of the entire computational domain. The nonlinear finite volume method (FVM) is used to derive flux for both matrix-matrix connections and fracture-fracture connections to account for permeability anisotropy in the matrix and inside the fracture planes, whereas the linear two-point flux approximation (TPFA) is used to couple the matrix and fracture together. The nonlinear method proceeds by first constructing two one-sided fluxes for a connection, and then a unique flux is obtained by a convex combination of the two one-sided fluxes. Construction of one-sided fluxes requires introducing the so-called harmonic averaging points as auxiliary points. While the nonlinear FVM can be applied to derive the flux for matrix-matrix connections in a straightforward way, difficulties arise for fracture-fracture connections because of the presence of fracture intersections. Therefore, to construct the one-sided fluxes for fracture-fracture connections, we first present a novel generalization of the concept of harmonic averaging point so that auxiliary points can be calculated at fracture intersections. Unique nonlinear fluxes are then derived for fracture-fracture connections and fracture intersections. Results of the numerical examples demonstrate that the linear TPFA coupling of matrix and fracture seems to be adequate even for relatively strong anisotropy on a non-K-orthogonal grid, and the new DFM model can accurately capture the permeability anisotropy effect inside the fracture planes as well as the permeability anisotropy in the matrix domain compared with the equidimensional models in which the fractures are gridded explicitly. Finally, the DFM model is applied successfully to deal with complex fracture networks embedded in a heterogeneous matrix domain or fracture network with challenging geometric features.
Metabolic responses of Carlina acaulis L. to chronic and acute cadmium stress: insights into chelation mechanisms, non-enzymatic antioxidants, and specialized metabolism
Authors: Dresler Sławomir , Strzemski Maciej , Kováčik Jozef , Sawicki Jan , Staniak Michał , Wójciak Magdalena , Sowa Ireneusz , Hawrylak-Nowak Barbara
Published: March 2020

The authors have withdrawn this preprint from Research Square