93 research outputs found
Service Quality and Customer Satisfaction Towards Services of Call Center at First National Insurance General Co.,Ltd ( May July Aung, 2025)
Get PDFThis study analyzes the effect of service quality on customer satisfaction within
the call center operations of First National Insurance General Co., Ltd. (FNIG). Data
were collected from 195 customers using a simple random sampling method, who
interacted with the FNIG call center between November and December 2024. A
quantitative research method was applied in this study. Among the service quality
dimensions, customer perception of empathy achieved the highest mean value, while
other variables remained within the agree level of customer perception. The overall
customer satisfaction mean score also fell within the agree level. According to the
regression analysis, all the variables such as tangibility, responsiveness, assurance, and
empathy had a statistically significant impact on customer satisfaction, except for
reliability. Among these, assurance had the most substantial and statistically significant
positive effect. Based on the findings, it is recommended to train staff to consistently
fulfill promises, establish a robust follow-up process, and implement performance
metrics to monitor service delivery. Introducing a ticketing system can further improve
service consistency and accountability, ultimately strengthening customer satisfaction
and service quality. This study contributes to a broader understanding of how service
quality influences customer satisfaction on FNIG and offers implications for improving
service operations and ensuring long-term customer retention
Theoretical and Textual Approaches to Contemporary Humanitarian Narrative: The Cases of Roberto Saviano’s Gomorra, Aung San Suu Kyi’s Letters from Burma, Jerry Piasecki’s Marie in the Shadow of the Lion and Nadine Gordimer’s The Ultimate Safari
No full textThe purpose of this thesis is to describe how some forms of fictional and non-fictional texts can be configured as and within the framework of humanitarian practices. In exploring the definitions and features of humanitarianism and humanitarian literature, the thesis attempts to answer the question of what purpose these texts try to serve. In examining the works Marie in the Shadow of the Lion (2000) by Jerry Piasecki, The Ultimate Safari (1989) by Nadine Gordimer, Gomorra (2006) by Roberto Saviano and Letters from Burma (1996) by Aung San Suu Kyi, we will argue that the scope of these books can be located by analogy to social and political humanitarian practices. Beyond their differences in genre, style and subject matter, these texts share a common feature: they are performative, namely they strive to do things with words. The humanitarian texts discussed in this thesis can be shown to act in the world in order to implement the values proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
General Aung San – the Father of Burma’s Independence
No full textThe author presents General Aung San (1915-1947) as a dedicated fighter for independence and through his complicated biography outlines the crucial period of Burma’s history: the end of the British colonial rule. The paper also presents the cultural differences that complicated Burmese-British relations.
It appears that Aung San’s nationalist spirit had been already shaped in his childhood. He became famous as a student leader during his education at Rangoon University in the 1930’s. In 1938 he had been elected the Secretary General of the most significant nationalist force: the Association We-Burmese (Do-Bama Asi-Ayone). On the one hand he was involved in lawful political activity, on the other he tried to acquire weapons by all possible means to start an armed struggle for independence. He created numerous political organizations of different political orientation (including the Communist Party of Burma). Eventually he arrived in Japan, where he received military training. In 1941, with the help of Japanese agents, he was able to create the Burma Independence Army in Thailand, which entered Burma together with the Japanese troops in 1942.
His co-operation with the Japanese forces was tortuous and painful, but he served as the Minister of War in their puppet Burmese Government. When it became obvious that the Allies will win, he established contacts with them and in August 1944 founded the Anti-Fascist Organisation. On March 27, 1945 he started an anti-Japanese uprising to help the British forces entering the country. At the end of the war his relations with the British authorities were very complex: the civil administration wanted to arrest him and bring him to justice as a war criminal, but the military commanders appreciated his help and wanted to collaborate with him and his Burmese forces. The second approach prevailed and in 1946 he headed the Burmese colonial government under the British Governor. In January 1947 he successfully negotiated Burma’s independence in London. The famous Panglong Agreement reached with the leaders of national minorities in February constituted another success of his. In April his party won the majority in the elections to the Constitutional Assembly and Aung San started his work on the constitution. In July, during feverish preparations for independence, he was assassinated together with six other members of the government. U Nu, his old friend and political successor completed his task of building up the independent state. The present military junta constitutes the first Burmese government, which does not respect General Aung San much owing to the prodemocratic activities of Aung San Suu Kyi, his daughter
Role of AIP1 during Drosophila oogenesis.
No full textEpithelial cells line the surfaces of organs and tissues in a continuous and tightly packed manner, thereby functioning as a protective barrier between the tissue and the external environment known as the epithelium. During development, the epithelium undergoes a series of morphogenetic events which alters the shape and size of epithelial cells, enabling them to perform tissue specific functions in mature tissue. During morphogenesis, cells sense the mechanical forces and establish polarity through cell proliferation and rearrangement according to morphogenetic signalling pathways. This manoeuvre is achieved by the underlying actin cytoskeleton network which enables cells to resist the tension and stresses of morphogenesis via alteration of filament dynamics and network architecture.
In vivo, numerous actin-regulatory proteins generate various polymerized forms of straight, branched, or contractile actin-myosin filaments, regulating dynamic actin filament turnover. The robust actin cytoskeleton provides the cell with protrusive and contractile forces that enable cells to migrate, maintain, and change its shape and form during morphogenetic events. Actin filament depolymerization is accomplished by ADF/cofilin (Drosophila homolog twinstar) binding to actin monomers (G-actin) and actin filaments. However, ADF/cofilin alone is not very efficient in promoting disassembly of actin monomers, especially in subcellular regions where ADF/cofilin is highly concentrated. AIP1 (Drosophila homolog flare) then enhances actin depolymerization via preferential binding to ADF/Cofilin rich regions in vitro.
The aim of my thesis was to study the localization and roles of AIP1 and cofilin in follicular epithelium during Drosophila oogenesis.
My results showed that Actin-Interacting-Protein-1 (AIP1) was expressed throughout oogenesis. AIP1 expression was increased in cell type-specific manner and AIP1 showed spatiotemporal localization in follicular epithelium during oogenesis. Silencing of AIP1 led to accumulation of ectopic F-actin aggregates, localization of which may reflect the cellular sites of dynamic actin reorganization in the follicular epithelium. My results also indicate that AIP1 may be indirectly responsible for maintaining epithelial integrity as its silencing resulted in formation of epithelial gaps throughout follicular epithelium. Also delays in border cell migration were observed.
Considering the above, understanding how AIP1 functions in Drosophila morphogenetic events would therefore pave the way for a greater understanding of how this protein works in other organisms. The knowledge gained may also be used to extend the current understanding of the role of actin binding proteins in diseased states
Liphistius pinlaung Aung, Xu, Lwin, Sang, Yu, Liu, Liu & Li 2019
No full textLiphistius pinlaung Aung, Xu, Lwin, Sang, Yu, Liu, Liu & Li, 2019 Figs 1, 3C, 15, 16 A-J Liphistius pinlaung Aung, Xu, Lwin, Sang, Yu, Liu, Liu & Li, 2019: 34-37, figs 4-5 (description of males and females). Types: CBEE; male holotype (XUX-2018-164), 1 male and 5 female paratypes (XUX-2018-162, 167, 169, 169A, 169B, 169J); Myanmar, Shan State, Pinlaung Township, about 14 km to Pinlaung from Pekon, 20.02°N, 96.79°E, 1410 m; 19.VII. 2018; leg. D. Li, F.X. Liu, X. Xu and L. Yu. New material: MHNG, BRCM (sample MT-14/31); 10 males (matured 20.VI., 21.VI., 28.VI., 20.VIII., 17.IX., 23.IX.2014, 23.XI., 2x end of XII.2014, 4.VII.2015) and 10 females; Myanmar, Shan State, 1.5 km W of Pinlaung, near Wingabar Taung and Tong Htiwaw (= Taung Hti Bwar) Temple, 20°04’29”N, 96°46’13”E, 1470 m; 16.VI.2014; leg. P. Schwendinger & S. Huber. Diagnosis: Medium-sized species with uniformly dark body in both sexes. Copulatory organs quite similar to those of L. birmanicus. Palpal organ distinguished by having a fairly circular outline in distal view (Fig. 15A; in L. birmanicus oval and relatively wider, Fig. 13A) and a relatively longer and narrower pigmented area with a more steeply inclined distal margin at base of membranous embolus part (Fig. 15C; in L. birmanicus much wider, its distal margin horizontal or only slightly inclined, Fig. 13D). Vulval plates usually, but not in all cases, with a relatively wider poreplate than in L. birmanicus and with an axe-blade-shaped or widely elliptical posterior stalk with a widely arched posterior margin (Fig. 16; posterior stalk angular, mostly with a straight posterior margin in L. birmanicus, Fig. 14). Additions to description of male: Tarsal scopulae: I - thin, covering 3/4 of ventral side, distinct in distal half, more or less distinct in proximal half; II - thin but slightly denser than on tarsus I, covering distal 5/6 of ventral side; III-IV - denser than on tarsi I-II, covering 5/6 of ventral side. Male palps with tibial apophysis quite distinctly set back from distal margin of tibia (more so than in the L. birmanicus males examined; but see Xu et al., 2021: fig. 8A-B), triangular in ventral view, depth/length ratio ~ 1.9 (see Aung et al., 2019: fig. 4D-E); paracymbium quite short, its distal surface indistinctly conical, its retrolateral surface flat, with a moderately developed, widely rounded retrolateralproximal heel (Fig. 15G); very strong bristles on low cumulus overlapping strong bristles on ventral side of palpal tarsus (Fig. 15G); contrategulum with quite large, distad-directed proventral process (Fig. 15A, C-E; very similar to that of L. birmanicus, Fig. 13A, D-F), with a pronounced proximal ledge on retrodorsal side (Fig. 15A), and with a moderately wide distal edge with a few weak ridges and a narrowly rounded dorsal apex (Fig. 15 A-B); tegulum large, with finely dentate and bent proximal edge (Fig. 15D, F), distal margin not elevated [in some specimens a fairly long ridge is present just below the distal margin (in addition to a long median ridge) which can be misinterpreted as an elevated edge, Fig. 15F]; para-embolic plate short, about as long as retroventral edge of embolus complex and separated from it by a shallow invagination (Fig. 15D); embolus proper narrowly divided, its sclerotised part strengthened by 4-5 longitudinal ribs reaching apex and carrying denticles distally; area at base of membranous embolus part quite long and narrow, distinctly pigmented, with numerous longitudinal wrinkles, its distal margin widely truncate and steeply inclined (this area is much wider in L. birmanicus, its distal margin is not or only slightly inclined, Fig. 13D). Taxonomic remarks: As can be seen from the relatively light body colouration and from the partly collapsed paracymbium, the male holotype was obviously killed and preserved very soon after its final moult. Metatarsus and tarsus of both its legs IV were very pale when still alive, and additionally deformed (due to a weak sclerotisation of the new cuticle) in the preserved specimen (Aung et al., 2019: figs 2D, 4B). These leg articles obviously got stuck in the exuvia during the final moult, and were not able to become fully pigmented and sclerotised before the spider was killed. Therefore the light-coloured left metatarsus and tarsus IV of the holotype are an artefact caused by a moulting accident, and they are not a diagnostic character of the species as incorrectly stated by Yu et al. (2021: 37, incorrectly spelled “ L. pinglaung ”). The fact that the proventral process of the contrategulum is distad-directed, which is characteristic for L. pinlaung as well as L. birmanicus, is not mentioned in the original description or visible in the corresponding illustrations (Aung et al., 2019: 36, fig. 4). Variation: For carapace measurements and prefoveal setae counts see Table 1. In all specimens the AME are distinctly developed. In all males examined the extent of the tarsal scopulae is essentially the same, but in some specimens the proximal borders of the scopulae are less distinctly outlined than in others. Variation in details of the male palp is given in Fig. 15. The number of very strong bristles on the cumulus ranges 4-7: in most males examined (apart from one) they overlap strong bristles on the ventral side of the palpal tarsus (Fig. 15G). In five males examined there is a more or less distinct ridge below the distal margin of the tegulum of both palps (and in one male on only one palp; Fig. 15F), which can be misinterpreted as an elevated distal edge. A real elevated distal tegular edge is present in L. platnicki sp. nov. (Fig. 23 I-M), in L. nabang (Yu et al., 2021: fig. 3A-B, D-E) and in males of other species groups. Small females have distinctly annulated legs, in large females the annulations have become indistinct. Variation in the shape of the vulval plate is considerable, especially in shape and size of the anterior lobes and the distance between them, and in the shape of the posterior stalk (Fig. 16 A-J; Aung et al., 2019: fig. 5). The posterior margin of the posterior stalk is mostly straight in all three female paratypes illustrated in Aung et al. (2019: fig. 5), much like in females of L. birmanicus (Fig. 14), whereas in the females examined by us it ranges from straight (Fig. 16 D-E), to widely rounded (Fig. 16 I-J) and very widely V-shaped (Fig. 16C). The poreplate of the smallest female examined has an exceptionally small receptacular cluster and relatively large pores (some much larger than the CDO; Fig. 16 I-J). This appears to be a general feature of young (immature?) females rather than a case of individual variation in this species. The same female also has a single hair between the poreplate and the posterior stalk, which is unusual for species of the birmanicus -group (but see vulval plates of some species in Peninsular Malaysia, Schwendinger, 2017: figs 7, 9, 13, 14I-J). Relationships: Despite pronounced differences in body colouration of females and juveniles, similarities in male (especially in the distad-directed proventral contrategular process) and female copulatory organs indicate a close relationship between L. pinlaung and L. birmanicus. Liphistius hpruso may also be very closely related, but that needs to be confirmed by the discovery of its male or by genetic analysis. Distribution: Liphistius pinlaung is known from two localities near Pinlaung Village in the western part of the Shan State (Fig. 1). Biology: The specimens examined were collected from earth banks on the sides of a road and of rice fields. All burrows were simple and unbranched, closed by a single trapdoor. The largest trapdoor in females was 2.0 cm long and 2.5 cm wide, those of penultimate males 1.2- 1.7 cm long and 1.7-2.4 cm wide. Burrow entrances had 6-8 signal lines attached, the longest measuring 5 cm. The first three males matured within two weeks after being captured, a fourth one over three months later; maturation in November of the following year and of July of the year after that are presumably due to conditions in captivity. Most females moulted twice per year, in June to July and again in October to December; old females moulted only once per year.Published as part of Schwendinger, Peter J., Huber, Siegfried, Lehmann-Graber, Christina, Ono, Hirotsugu, Aung, Mu Mu & Hongpadharakiree, Komsan, 2022, A taxonomic revision of the Liphistius birmanicus-group (Araneae: Liphistiidae) with the description of five new species, pp. 375-424 in Revue suisse de Zoologie 129 (2) on pages 402-404, DOI: 10.35929/RSZ.0083, http://zenodo.org/record/776148
Financing Small and Medium Enterprises in Myanmar
Get PDFSmall and medium enterprises (SMEs) share the biggest part in Myanmar economy in terms of number, contribution to employment, output, and investment. Myanmar economic growth is thus totally dependent on the development of SMEs in the private sector. Today, the role of SMEs has become more vital in strengthening national competitive advantage and the speedy economic integration into the ASEAN region. However, studies show that SMEs have to deal with a number of constraints that hinder their development potential, such as the shortage in power supply, unavailability of long-term credit from external sources and many others. Among them, the financing problem of SMEs is one of the biggest constraints. Such is deeply rooted in demand and supply issues, macroeconomic fundamentals, and lending infrastructure of the country. The government’s policy towards SMEs could also lead to insufficient support for the SMEs. Thus, focusing on SMEs and private sector development as a viable strategy for industrialization and economic development of the country is a fundamental requirement for SME development. This paper recommends policies for stabilizing macro economic fundamentals, improving lending infrastructures of the country and improving demand- and supply-side conditions from the SMEs financing perspective in order to provide a more accessible financing for SMEs and to contribute in the overall development of SMEs in Myanmar thereby to sharpen national competitive advantage in the age of speedy economic integration.Small and medium enterprise (SME), Small and medium-scale enterprises, Financing, Competitiveness, Myanmar, Japan, ASEAN, Southeast Asia, Finance
Specialization Slicing
Get PDFThis paper defines a new variant of program slicing, called specialization slicing, and presents an algorithm for the specialization-slicing problem that creates an optimal output slice. An algorithm for specialization slicing is polyvariant: for a given procedure p, the algorithm may create multiple specialized copies of p. In creating specialized procedures, the algorithm must decide for which patterns of formal parameters a given procedure should be specialized, and which program elements should be included in each specialized procedure. We formalize the specialization-slicing problem as a partitioning problem on the elements of the possibly-infinite unrolled program. To manipulate possibly-infinite sets of program elements, the algorithm makes use of automata-theoretic techniques originally developed in the model-checking community. The algorithm returns a finite answer that is optimal. In particular, (i) each element replicated by the specialization-slicing algorithm provides information about specialized patterns of program behavior that are intrinsic to the program, and (ii) the answer is of minimal size (i.e., among all possible answers with property (i), there is no smaller one). The specialization-slicing algorithm provides a new way to create executable slices. Moreover, by combining specialization slicing with forward slicing, we obtain a method for removing unwanted features from a program. While it was previously known how to solve the feature-removal problem for single-procedure programs, it was not known how to solve it for programs with procedure calls
2007 International Women's Conference: Education, Employment and Everything... theTriple Layers of a Woman's Life
No full textThis study argues that many women from all parts of the
globe have, for far too long, been oppressed and had their
human rights denied, regardless of education, social status,
ethnicity or wealth. This significant assertion will be
supported by the case study of Aung San Suu Kyi and her
ongoing struggle for political freedom in Burma. It is
argued that her unfortunate position illustrates the situation of women world-wide, as she strives against oppression by traditional male authority, such as a military regime. Aung San Suu Kyi is one of the most controversial female world figures, attracting international attention and endless media speculation. As the leader of the pro-democracy movement in Burma, the National League for Democracy, Suu Kyi is engaged in a fierce, protracted struggle for recognition from the country’s military leaders who consider her efforts
treasonous. In May 1990, her political party won 80% on
the vote at the parliamentary elections. Suu Kyi had been
placed under house arrest in July 1989 and for most of the
time since then has been under detention. This paper
addresses the ‘struggle for democracy’ undertaken by Aung
San Suu Kyi, her political oppression, detention and human
rights issues. This analysis focuses on her position as it
applies to women attempting to break through the “marble
ceiling” in their fight for equality
Democratic dawn? : Civil society and elections in Myanmar 2010 – 2012
No full textWhile the general elections in Myanmar in November 2010 were widely condemned, both national and international actors approached the by-elections of April 2012 as a political rite-de-passage to improve relations between the government and the opposition inside, and between the former pariah state and the international community outside the country. An undercurrent to the government-led transition process from an authoritarian to a formally more democratic regime was the development of a politically oriented civil society that found ways to engage in the electoral process. This article describes the emerging spaces of election-related civil society activism in the forms of civic and voter education, national election observation, and election-related agency in the media. Noting that, in particular, election observation offers connections for civil society to regional and international debates, the paper draws preliminary conclusions about further developments ahead of the general elections in Myanmar expected for 2015
The clinical utility of the urine-based lateral flow lipoarabinomannan assay in HIV-infected adults in Myanmar: an observational study
Get PDFBackground: The use of the point-of-care lateral flow lipoarabinomannan (LF-LAM) test may expedite tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis in HIV-positive patients. However, the test's clinical utility is poorly defined outside sub-Saharan Africa. Methods: The study enrolled consecutive HIV-positive adults at a tertiary referral hospital in Yangon, Myanmar. On enrolment, patients had a LF-LAM test performed according to the manufacturer's instructions. Clinicians managing the patients were unaware of the LF-LAM result, which was correlated with the patient's clinical course over the ensuing 6 months. Results: The study enrolled 54 inpatients and 463 outpatients between July 1 and December 31, 2015. On enrolment, the patients' median (interquartile range) CD4 T-cell count was 270 (128-443) cells/mm3. The baseline LF-LAM test was positive in 201/517 (39%). TB was confirmed microbiologically during follow-up in 54/517 (10%), with rifampicin resistance present in 8/54 (15%). In the study's resource-limited setting, extrapulmonary testing for TB was not possible, but after 6 months, 97/201 (48%) with a positive LF-LAM test on enrolment had neither died, required hospitalisation, received a TB diagnosis or received empirical anti-TB therapy, suggesting a high rate of false-positive results. Of the 97 false-positive tests, 89 (92%) were grade 1 positive, suggesting poor test specificity using this cut-off. Only 21/517 (4%) patients were inpatients with TB symptoms and a CD4 T-cell count of < 100 cells/mm3. Five (24%) of these 21 died, three of whom had a positive LF-LAM test on enrolment. However, all three received anti-TB therapy before death - two after diagnosis with Xpert MTB/RIF testing, while the other received empirical treatment. It is unlikely that knowledge of the baseline LF-LAM result would have averted any of the study's other 11 deaths; eight had a negative test, and of the three patients with a positive test, two received anti-TB therapy before death, while one died from laboratory-confirmed cryptococcal meningitis. The test was no better than a simple, clinical history excluding TB during follow-up (negative predictive value (95% confidence interval): 94% (91-97) vs. 94% (91-96)). Conclusions: The LF-LAM test had limited clinical utility in the management of HIV-positive patients in this Asian referral hospital setting.Swe Swe Thit, Ne Myo Aung, Zaw Win Htet, Mark A. Boyd, Htin Aung Saw, Nicholas M. Anstey, Tint Tint Kyi, David A. Cooper, Mar Mar Kyi and Josh Hanso
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