Undergraduate Special Problem
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Item Relationship of moderate to heavy Trichuris trichiura infection with the packed red cell volume and mental ability of elementary schoolchildren in Miag-ao, IloiloCalibjo, Hartzell M.; Calvo, May Lyn A.; Dizon, Lourdes Anne A.; Garay, Cyrus Q.; Gonzales, Lorenz Alfred B.; Gibraltar, Felli Claire G.; Peralta, Lou Gillyn B.; Spitzer, Mark Manfred B.; Taburaza, Larimee S. (Division of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Visayas, 2005-04)Trichuris trichiura commonly known as whipworm is a nematode that infects human particularly primary school-aged children. Studies show that moderate to heavy Trichuris infection may adversely affect the cognitive functions of schoolchildren (Nokes, 1991) and may cause anemia overtime (Politt, 1982). However, this has not been established in the local setting. This led the researchers to locally conduct a study that would primarily determine the relationship of the moderate to heavy intensity of trichuriasis with the mental ability of schoolchildren and with the Packed Red Cell Volume. It also aims to determine if there is a significant difference between the mental ability test scores and the Packed Red Cell Volume of moderate to heavy Trichuris infected group and the non-infected group. Three coastal elementary schools in Miag-ao, Iloilo was chosen as the study sites. These were Miag-ao West Central Elementary School, Igtuba-Guibongan Elementary School, and Bacauan-Mambatad Elementary School. Five hundred twenty five (525) elementary pupils aged 8—14 years had their stool samples examined using Modified Kato Katz to determine the intensity of Trichuris infection. Thirty (30) moderate to heavy Trichuris infected students and another 30 non-infected students were randomly selected as the study sample. Capillary blood samples were collected from the 60-study sample. The packed red cell volume was determined using the Microhematocrit Method and was categorized as normal and below normal. Mental ability of the study sample was measured using the standardized Culture Fair Intelligence Test (CFIT). The test instrument was administered and interpreted by the Psychometricians. The results of the tests consisted of verbal interpretation and was categorized as below average, average and above average. The results showed no significant difference between the moderate to heavy infected group and the non-infected group based on mental ability test verbal interpretation (p= 0.770). The non-infected group even obtained a higher proportion of study samples that were below average CFIT test scores compared with the moderate to heavy infected group. The results of packed red cell volume revealed that all study samples (100%) in the non-infected group had normal Packed Cell Volume (PCV). On the other hand, only 90% of the study samples in the moderate to heavy infected group had normal Packed Cell volume (PCV) while the remaining 10% had below normal PCV. Statistically however, the difference was not significant (p= 0.164). Finally, Linear Regression Analysis showed no linear relationship between mental ability test Deviation Intelligence Quotient and Packed Red Cell Volume among the study samples. The scatter plot diagram showed dispersed distribution of study samples which means weak relationship between the two variables. The insignificant results in this study could be attributed to various confounding variables that were not controlled strictly all throughout the study, as well as the insensitivity of the test instruments used. Thus, the study recommends controlling carefully the various extraneous variables such as socioeconomic conditions, nutritional status of the study sample. The study also recommends the use of more sensitive and specific instruments for measuring the blood level and cognitive functions.Item Community structure, biomass and carbon stock assessment of mangrove forest in Poblacion, Batan, Batan Bay, Aklan, PhilippinesCagalawan, Donna Novei C. (Division of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Visayas, 2013-04)The continued loss of mangroves in Batan Bay, Aklan and elsewhere in the Philippines warrants urgent attention. Appropriate management schemes can only be drawn after a scientific assessment of the remaining mangroves in a given area. This study aimed to 1.) assess the community structure, of mangroves in Poblacion, Batan, Aklan using accepted ecological indicators such as a.) determine the physical and chemical factors such as salinity, temperature of water and soil, pH as well as substrate characterization; b.) identify and classify true mangrove species present in the area; c.) Stand Basal Area, d.) stems per hectare, e.) relative density, f.) relative frequency, g.) relative dominance, h.) importance value, i.) Shannon Index of Dominance and; 2.) determine biomass and carbon density in the above ground pools of mangroves. A total of nineteen (19) true mangrove species represented by six families were identified in Poblacion, Batan, Aklan. The true mangrove species were Aegiceras corniculatum, Avicennia alba, Avicennia marina, Avicennia officinalis, Avicennia rumphiana, Bruguiera cylindrica, Camptostemon philippenensis, Ceriops decandra, Excoecaria agallocha, Lumnitzera littorea, Nypa fruticans, Osbornia octodanta, Rhizophora apiculata, Rhizophora mucronata, Rhizophora stylosa, Scyphiphora hydrophyllacea, Sonneratia alba, Xylocarpus granatum and Xylocarpus moluccencis. Camptostemon philippenensis had the highest basal area with 103.14 m2/ha and the highest relative dominance with the value of 39.26%. Avicennia marina has the highest stems per hectare in the area with the value of 32, 400. It also recorded the highest average density at 167 trees/ha and was present in all plots with relative frequency of 44.15%. Avicennia marina was the most important species with value of 300.21. Camptostemon philippinensis had the highest seedling density of 586 seedlings per hectare, whereas Avicennia marina had the highest sapling density of 20 saplings per hectare. In terms of biomass, Avicennia marina recorded the greatest biomass at 79.42 tons/ ha and the highest carbon stock of 36.7 tons/ha. A total of 203.87 tons/ha biomass and 91.728 tons/ha carbon stock was determined. Based on the leaf litter fall, Transect 1 has the highest leaf fall at 664.9g.m2. Litter production was highest during November 5, 2012-November 19, 2012 and lowest in December 17, 2012- December 31, 2012 in all three transects.Item Microbiological assessment and detection of potentially pathogenic bacteria on three areas along the Iloilo RiverCaballo, John Carlo P. (Division of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Visayas, 2011-04)The Iloilo River, which traverses the whole length of Iloilo City, serves as a water source for different human activities hence, subjecting it to a variety of pollutants. Microbial and physico-chemical parameters of the three areas along the Iloilo River (Carpenter’s Bridge, IBRD Bridge, and Dungon Creek) were assessed to in order to provide a quantifiable evaluation of the river’s water quality. The presence of Salmonella spp., Eschericia coli, Streptococcus spp. and Vibrio spp., was also determined. HPC counts indicate very-high to extremely-high levels of bacterial loading (5.31 x 105-l .60 x 106 CFU/lOOmL) among the three sampling areas. Total coliform levels indicated contamination of the river from outside sources, potentially from domestic sewage discharges and run-offs from nearby establishments. The FC: FS ratio suggests contamination mostly came from mixed origins, with the noted exception of Carpenter’s Bridge, which is dominated by human fecal contamination. Minimal variations in physico-chemical parameters were observed for all areas. Significant correlations were found among salinity (p=0.002) and temperature (p=0.042) with TC; between FS with dissolved oxygen (p=0.00), and between FC and temperature (p=0.005). Contamination of the river by organic and fecal matter from animal and human sources provided a suitable habitat for pathogenic bacteria. A considerable quantity of potentially pathogenic bacteria such as; E.coli, Salmonella spp., Streptococcus spp. and Vibrio spp., were isolated from each sampling area. Exposure to these pathogens in drinking and recreational waters poses health risks to local inhabitants and to any individual who would consume water from the riverItem Identification of intertidal fungi from mangroves in Iloilo RiverBonifacio, Jo F. (Division of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Visayas, 2002-04)This study aims to describe, identify and classify intertidal fungi through direct examination of the collected mangrove wood samples in Iloilo River, Iloilo City, Philippines. This will provide additional information about the occurrence of fungi in estuarine environments. One hundred samples of decayed but attached roots and stems of unidentified mangroves were collected in each of the intertidal zone of the three study sites (Study Site I: Sooc, Oton, Iloilo; Study Site II: Dulonan, Arevalo, Iloilo City; Study Site III: Diversion River, near Marina Restaurant) in Iloilo River. In Study Site 1, The total number of species collected was 11, 4 of which belong to Phylum Ascomycota, 2 belong to Phylum Deuteromycota and 5 belong to Phylum Basidiomycota. In Study Site II, there were 10, 6 belong to Phylum Ascomycota, 3 to Phylum Deuteromycota and 1 to Phylum Basidiomycota and in Study Site III, total number of species was 14, 7 belong to Phylum Ascomycota, 4 to Phylum Deuteromycota and 3 to Phylum Basidiomycota. The total number of species of fungi collected in the three study sites were 20 (8 ascomycetes, 7 basidiomycetes, and 5 deuteromycetes). The frequently occurring fungi (10-29 % fiequency of occurrence) are Eutypa sp. (15.3%), followed by Periconia prolifica (13 %) and Verruculina enalia (10.3%). The remaining 17 species were collected infrequently (<10 % fiequency of occurrence). The ascomycetes were the most dominant group of fungi collected in this study.Item Toxicity of Chemically Enhanced Water-Accommodated Fraction (CEWAF) of Petron bunker C oil on Asian Sea bass Lates calcarifer (Bloch) fingerlings at different salinity levelsBondoc, Christian Earvin D. (Division of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Visayas, 2011-03)Asian sea bass Lates calcarifer fingerlings were exposed to three CEWAF concentrations (0.3, 0.5 and 1.0%) at 28, 32 and 36%o and the mortality rate among the different treatments were compared. Dunnett t-test (a=0.05) showed that mortality in the CEWAF-exposed treatments differed significantly from that in the control, indicating that the toxicity of CEWAF caused the death of the fingerlings. The general trend of mortality was increasing with increased salinity although the results of Two-Way ANOVA (a=0.05) reveal that salinity did not influence the toxicity of CEWAF significantly. Further analysis with Fisher’s LSD test (a=0.05) showed that mortality only differed significantly between the 28%o and 36%o salinity groups. The differences between the salinity levels used in this experiment were too narrow to cause a significant difference in the interaction between CEWAF concentration and salinity. Sublethal effects of exposure to CEWAF observed in this study included aberrant swimming behavior, arching of the back, loss of buoyancy and loss of pigmentation.Item Abundance, distribution, and composition of macrobenthos in Banate Bay, Iloilo, PhilippinesBernasol, Mylin M. (Division of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Visayas, 2015-06)In order to characterize the macrobenthic community in Banate Bay, quarterly sampling was done from December 2012 to December 2013 in nine (9) stations of the study area. Samples were collected using a hand-held mud corer measuring 0.15m in diameter. Samples were sieved in the field using a 0.5mm mesh, preserving all retained organisms in a plastic container containing 10% buffered formalin with Rose Bengal dye. Two (2) replicate samples per station in June and September 2013 were processed in the laboratory. A total of 38 taxa were sorted and identified with overall mean density of 821 ind/m2. Cluster Analysis using the program COMM grouped species according to their abundances and stations based on their relative location from the shore. T-test for 2 sample means showed that densities in June and September did not differ significantly (p=0.42). ANOVA showed that densities per station did differ significantly (p=0.05). Correlations identified salinity, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, and organic matter content to have negative effects on macrobenthos density in the Bay. In spite of low density, diversity particularly of polychaetes appeared to be relatively high. This can be attributed to the intensity and fluctuations of the harsh environment in the Bay still being within limits.Item Abundance, composition and distribution of phytoplankton in Mindoro StraitBayona, Riena Rose M. (Division of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Visayas, 2008-04)Phytoplankton in Mindoro Strait, north of Palawan, were investigated from the samples taken last April-May 2007. Twenty stations were selected from over 40 stations surveyed. Samples were collected by filtering 50L of surface waters through 20 micrometer mesh plankton net using a 10L bucket. Phytoplankton assemblage was grouped into four major taxa. Diatoms dominated the area. It recorded the highest mean density of 314.9indivL-1. It was followed by blue green algae that noted a mean density of 165.69indivL-1. The next most abundant was dinoflagellates that recorded a mean density of 51.59indivL-1 and then the group of silicoflagellates. It recoded 35.69indivL-1 mean density. The top three species were Trichodesmium, Thalasiothrix and Isthmia. Protoperidinium represented the dinoflagellates among the top genera while Eutintinnus recorded the highest silicoflagellate. Higher concentrations were found in the midst of the oceanic region where water currents mainly pass. Overall abundance is lower than other nearby waters. This is maybe due to the effect of water currents.Item Bacteriological survey and detection of Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Streptococcus spp., and Vibrio spp. in bottom sediments from two sites in Iloilo RiverBarrera, Christopher (Division of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Visayas, 2010-04)Bacterial contamination in the Iloilo river occurs because of various human activities. The assessment of the river was done using microbiological parameters (HPC, TC, FC, and FS) for 7 months in Sooc Bridge and Carpenter’s Bridge using bottom sediments for samples. Sediment was used because bacteria accumulate over time in the sediment due to high amounts of organic and inorganic matter in the substrate and this leads to better survivability of bacteria. The values obtained from microbiological parameters investigated are generally higher in Sooc Bridge. HPC results show that the higher mean value was in Sooc Bridge(7.43 x 108 CFU/lOOg). The levels of TC on both sampling sites ranged from 9.5 x 102to 2.40 x 104 CFU/100g. For TC, Sooc has the higher mean (1.76 x 104 CFU/lOOg) for 7 months. FC values ranged from 3.0 x 101 to 2.4 x 104 CFU/lOOg. Sooc bridge has the higher mean(1.17 x 104 CFU/lOOg) between the 2 sites. Lastly, the FS value range from 2.9 x 103 to 2.4 x 104 CFU/lOOg. Also, Sooc Bridge has the higher mean value (1.58 x 104 CFU/lOOg). There are no significant differences on the microbiological parameters used in each site. The FC/FS ratio revealed that mixed fecal materials contaminate the river. Among the four pathogenic bacteria detected, Salmonella spp. was the most abundant for 7 months (63-65%) and E. coli was the least abundant(>l%). Based on the criteria on sediment quality evaluation, there is little to moderate loading of organic and inorganic matter.Item Zooplankton composition, abundance and diversity in selected Municipalities of Negros Occidental and AklanAusan, Aisa Marie U. (Division of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Visayas, 2015-06)Zooplankton samples were collected last May and June 2014 from 20 stations in the vicinity of Kalibo, Aklan and Pontevedra, San Enrique, and Valladolid, Negros Occidental. Three hundred fifty-three (353) liters of water were filtered per station thru a 5m vertical haul of plankton net with a diameter of 30cm and a mesh size of 20μm. Overall zooplankton densities were higher in Negros Occidental, specifically in Valladolid (D=1915.3 cells/L), than in Kalibo, Aklan (D=7.2 cells/L). On the other hand, zooplankton community was most diverse in Kalibo (H’ = 2.6) compared to Valladolid (H’=1.3), San Enrique (H’=2.1) and Pontevedra (H’=1.8). Jaccard’s similarity index was highest between Pontevedra and San Enrique while lowest between Valladolid and Kalibo. In Kalibo there were four major groups of zooplankton. Most dense of these were the tintinnids (3.9 cells/L) followed by copepods (2.5 cells/L), molluscs (7xlOE-lcells/L) and polychaetes (IxlOE-lcell/L). Among the copepods Subeucalanus was the most abundant zooplankton genus. In Pontevedra and San Enrique, Negros Occidental, copepods were the most abundant group with a mean density of 205.3 cells/L and 312.1 cells/L, respectively. The relative abundance ofAcartia (36.5%) and Longipedia (22.6%) made them the dominant zooplankton genera in Pontevedra and San Enrique, respectively. Like in Kalibo, the tintinnids were also the most abundant group in Valladolid (1879.2 cells/L). Copepods followed with a mean density of 35.7 cells/L, while Polychaetes comprised only 4xlOE-l cells/L. Epiplocylis was the most abundant tintinnid in Valladolid while Xystonella in Kalibo. Varying sampling time within months and day is the possible cause of the differences in zooplankton abundance, composition, and diversity since some zooplankton species undergo diel vertical migration.Item Sagip COUGHamilya: Improving prevention, and case management & care seeking in Sitio Durog, Barangay Palaca, MiagaoAsorio, Leslie S.; Clarito, Thea Joy A.; Dolorosa, Rex Victor V.; Marecap, Mitzi N.; Napulan, Andrea Marie N.; Recabar, James Mathew V.; Rodriguez, Sael D.; Velasco, Princess Monic Q. (Division of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Visayas, 2019-06)According to the 2018 Morbidity Diseases Reports of Miag-ao’s Rural Health Unit (RHU), Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) is the main cause of morbidity among the children in the municipality. Upon further review, the community that was found to have the greatest number of ARI cases is that of Barangay Palaca. To contribute with the reduction of ARI cases in the said community, Project Sagip COUGHamilya was implemented in Sitio Durog. This project aims to reduce the number of current ARI cases among children aging 2 months to 11 years old by at least 50% after the 6-week project implementation. In order to accomplish such goal, the team utilized strategic components such as: (1) establishment of a core group called FamiLEADERS, (2) honing the ARI case management knowledge and skills of the barangay health workers (BHWs) through FamiLINANG sessions for BHWs, (3) improving the mothers’ & guardians’ knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) towards care seeking and case management for ARI through FamiLINANG sessions for mothers, and (4) raising the children’s awareness on cough etiquette, proper handwashing, and other key health practices through LINIStorya sessions. Upon implementation, the project’s outputs include the 80% increase in the ARI case management knowledge and skills of BHWs, 44.47% increase in the KAP of the mothers & guardians towards care seeking and case management for ARI, and 12.5% increase in the children’s awareness towards cough etiquette, proper handwashing, and other key health practices. All these results were statistically found to be significant improvements. In conclusion, the strategies done by the group significantly improved the care seeking, case management, and key health practices for ARI in Sitio Durog, Barangay Palaca. As a result, Projesct Sagip COUGHamilya contributed to the reduction of ARI cases by 80%, far exceeding the goal of the project and deeming it to be very effective and successful.