UPV External Publications
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Item Centering social reproduction during crisis: Women’s experiences of food insecurity in Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, and the Philippines during the COVID-19 pandemicDavies, Sara E.; Eslick, Belinda; Calsado, Darlene Joy D.; Juanico, Claire Samantha; Oo, Zin Mar; Roberts, Robin E.; Yadanar; Woyengu, Naomi (Taylor and Francis Group, 2024)Studies examining the gendered impacts of COVID-19 have shown that women have been disproportionately impacted by the socio-economic effects of the pandemic across multiple areas, including economic and food security. We sought to understand how the impacts of the pandemic on women’s food security in the Indo-Pacific region were influenced by women’s roles in performing the bulk of unpaid work and care involved in social reproduction. We interviewed 183 female farmers and vendors (market stallholders) in Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, and the Philippines. We found that across all three countries examined, women described an impact on their food security as well as their labour, processes of reproduction, and private household dynamics. Women’s household food security was impacted because of decreased income, increased business costs, rising food costs, and additional household costs. Further, our findings show that because it was typically women’s responsibility to manage household food security, women were anticipating food shortages and engaging in risks to mitigate against food insecurity. These findings demonstrate the urgent need to introduce national and international crisis response measures that differentiate the gendered social and economic impacts of crises that centers, rather than marginalizes, social reproduction in analyses.Item Unveiling novel Neocosmospora species from Thai mangroves as potent biocontrol agents against Colletotrichum speciesKlomchit, Anthikan; Calabon, Mark S; Worabandit, Sompradtana; Weaver, Jack A; Karima, Elfina M; Alberti, Fabrizio; Greco, Claudio; Mahanil, Siraprapa (Oxford University Press, 2024)Aims: Neocosmospora species are saprobes, endophytes, and pathogens belonging to the family Nectriaceae. This study aims to investigate the taxonomy, biosynthetic potential, and application of three newly isolated Neocosmospora species from mangrove habitats in the southern part of Thailand using phylogeny, bioactivity screening, genome sequencing, and bioinformatics analysis. Methods and results: Detailed descriptions, illustrations, and a multi-locus phylogenetic tree with large subunit ribosomal DNA (LSU), internal transcribed spacer (ITS), translation elongation factor 1-alpha (ef1-α), and RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (RPB2) regions showing the placement of three fungal strains, MFLUCC 17-0253, MFLUCC 17-0257, and MFLUCC 17-0259 clustered within the Neocosmospora clade with strong statistical support. Fungal crude extracts of the new species N. mangrovei MFLUCC 17-0253 exhibited strong antifungal activity to control Colletotrichum truncatum CG-0064, while N. ferruginea MFLUCC 17-0259 exhibited only moderate antifungal activity toward C. acutatum CC-0036. Thus, N. mangrovei MFLUCC 17-0253 was sequenced by Oxford nanopore technology. The bioinformatics analysis revealed that 49.17 Mb genome of this fungus harbors 41 potential biosynthetic gene clusters. Conclusion: Two fungal isolates of Neocosmospora and a new species of N. mangrovei were reported in this study. These fungal strains showed activity against pathogenic fungi causing anthracnose in chili. In addition, full genome sequencing and bioinformatics analysis of N. mangrovei MFLUCC 17-0253 were obtained. © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Applied Microbiology International.Item Zein nanoencapsulation enhances the antifungal activity of thymol for postharvest decay control in bananasPunelas–Villanueva, Dana C.; Almeda, Ronaniel A.; Chua, Mari Sherlin S.; Tabor, Rico F.; Vidallon, Mark Louis P.; Rodriguez, Evelyn B. (Springer, 2024)The current work describes a nanoparticle system-based approach to enhance the antifungal activity of thymol, a ubiquitous natural antifungal phenolic compound, in postharvest control against banana anthracnose. Thymol was encapsulated within the amphiphilic protein zein by high-shear emulsification, yielding highly dispersible thymol-loaded zein nanoparticles with a high encapsulation efficiency (70%). These particles have an average diameter of 300 nm with spherical morphology, smooth interface, and matrix-type internal structure, as supported by comprehensive structural characterization (dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy). Based on a 40-d storage stability test, thymol was effectively retained within the nanoparticles at 4 °C and ambient room temperature (99% and 97% retention, respectively), despite thymol’s instability and volatility. Antifungal activity assessment against Colletotrichum musae, one of the predominant pathogens that cause banana anthracnose, showed a 200- to 300-fold improvement in the in vitro antifungal activity of thymol. Moreover, the application of thymol-loaded zein nanoparticles as a spray component for banana postharvest treatment demonstrated the efficacy of thymol-loaded zein nanoparticles in preventing and delaying the formation of initial symptoms of banana anthracnose. This appears to arise from the thymol-loaded zein nanoparticles depositing as a film on the banana epidermis, as revealed by atomic force microscopy. Overall, this nanoparticle system offers a new avenue for the design of effective antifungal materials with potential applications in combatting postharvest diseases. Graphical abstract: (Figure presented.)Item Development of Crop Reflectance Sensor for Precision Agriculture †Bulan, Jejomar; Cadondon, Jumar; Lesidan, James Roy; Galvez, Maria Cecilia; Vallar, Edgar; Shiina, Tatsuo (Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 2024)Precision agriculture is one of the emerging technologies that is promising to solve the problem of food insecurity worldwide. These focus on collecting, analyzing, and taking actions based on data available from the crop and its environment. Building low-cost and reliable plant health-related sensors is critical and helpful in the agriculture industry. This study builds a leaf reflectance sensor comprising a white LED source and an S1133 photodiode detector. The angle between the source and detector varied from 30°, 45°, 60°, and 90° to determine the angle at which it would have an optimal reflectance value. The white LED source was connected to a 3-volt and 0.3-ampere power supply, while the S1133 photodiode detector was connected to an oscilloscope to measure the response voltage. Different green intensities were used using an RGB color scheme that imitates the color of the leaf that characterizes its health status. Reflectance intensities were calibrated using white standard reflectance. The result shows that the 45° angle between the source and detector gives the highest R-squared value (R2 = 0.958). This study provides an overview of the effects of varying detection angles for crop reflectance sensors that can be used to assess plant health status and help improve crop yield in the agricultural sector. © 2024 by the authors.Item Dominant bacterial pathogens in a river receiving swine farm effluentMalaya, Michaela Marie D.; Gito, Mary Ann G.; De la Cruz, Kyla Kris A.; Caipang, Christopher Marlowe A. (Parnam Publication Co., 2024)Swine production dominates the livestock sector in the Philippines, providing 60% of the nation’s meat supply. Some of the swine industry’s challenges include waste management, resulting in environmental issues such as air pollution, water contamination, and the spread of pathogens that can affect human health. Severe impacts of swine waste on water bodies can lead to eutrophication and render water systems unproductive. This study aimed to isolate and characterize the dominant bacterial pathogens in swine waste effluent in a municipality in southern Iloilo, Philippines. Water samples from the receiving river were collected and cultured to isolate bacteria, followed by genetic identification and phylogenetic analysis to understand the microbial contamination in rivers impacted by the swine farm. Four dominant bacterial strains were isolated and identified using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. All strains, confirmed as Gram-negative, belong to the Enterobacteriaceae family, specifically Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterobacter cloacae. K. pneumoniae, highly resistant and associated with significant health risks, is found in diverse environments and causes severe infections. E. cloacae, an opportunistic pathogen, contributes to water contamination and antibiotic resistance. The study underscores the environmental and public health concerns linked to these bacteria, emphasizing the need for stringent waste management and infection control strategies. © 2024, Parnam Publication Co.. All rights reserved.Item Experimental detection of marine plastic litter in surface waters by 405 nm LD-based fluorescence lidarCadondon, Jumar; Vallar, Edgar; Shiina, Tatsuo; Galvez, Maria Cecilia (Elsevier, 2024)Plastic pollution has become a global challenge, affecting water quality and health. Plastics including polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and high-density polyethylene (HDPE), are significant contributors to environmental pollution. With the growing need for investigation and detection of plastics found in natural waters, we propose the use of a portable laser diode (LD)-based fluorescence lidar system for in-situ detection of plastic litters in surface waters based on excitation-emission fluorescence spectroscopic data. The experiments were carried out in a controlled environment using a fluorescence lidar system with 405 nm excitation wavelength to determine the fluorescence signals of several plastics at 470 nm emission wavelength. Simultaneous detection of PET plastic and Chlorella vulgaris were also observed to determine the fluorescence influence of chlorophyll in surface waters. Attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy was employed to study the chemical composition of the plastics used before and after being submerged in the water. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and high-resolution camera microscopy were used to analyze the morphology of the submerged PET samples. This study provides a basis for a new in-situ technique using a fluorescence lidar system for submerged or transparent plastics in surface waters.Item Teachers’ Experiences and Self-Assessment in Teaching Biology in Senior High School in the PhilippinesPinuela, Myla Fe G. (Richtmann Publishing, 2024)In support of the various studies for the ongoing Philippine Senior High School(SHS) curriculum, Analysis phase of the analysis, design, development, implementation, evaluation (ADDIE) model of instructional design is presented in this study. The main objective is to evaluate biology teachers’ experiences and self-assessment in teaching Biology II in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) Track of the K12 Basic Education Program during its first two years of implementation 2016-2017 and 2017-2018(face to face)in Iloilo Province, Philippines. A descriptive survey using a questionnaire from the K12 Science Curriculum composed of two parts: biology II complex topics, and biology teachers’ self-assessments. Five Biology experts from Western Visayas, Philippines, were asked to evaluate the researcher made survey instruments. Mean and standard deviation were employed to interpret the collected data using SPSS version 21. The results showed that the four primary areas of complex knowledge were Systematic Based on Evolutionary Relationships, Evolution and Origin of Biodiversity, Organismal Biology, and Genetics. According to rank, the most challenging topic was “Systematic Based on Evolutionary Relationship,” and the easiest was “Genetics.” On the self-assessment of Biology teachers, all topics were in “Moderate Mastery,” and Genetics was “High Mastery.” Also, a significant relationship between the content topic difficulty and Biology teachers’ mastery level. The findings show no relationship between self-assessed knowledge and self-assessed skills of Biology Teachers. Proper training and encouraging teachers for professional development is a must. Teachers must be trained to teach Biology II, become effective and efficient through professional development. Also, the national government should assess the implementation of the new curriculum based on the experts' recommendations. Thus, this study recommends encouraging SHS teachers to take graduate studies aligned with their undergraduate program to master the area of specialization. The national government must support scholarship programs in STEM for biology educators.. © 2024 Myla Fe G. Pinuela.Item The impact of ocean warming on selected commercial fisheries in New ZealandMediodia, Hanny John; Noy, Ilan; Kahui, Viktoria (Wiley, 2024)Warming oceans affect the growth, reproduction and location of fish species. Using a bioeconomic framework, we estimate the relationship between sea surface temperature (SST) and the catch of de facto open-access commercial fisheries of flatfish, trevally and jack mackerel in New Zealand. Assuming either a logarithmic or quadratic relationship between the SST and the carrying capacity of the fish stock, we consider three fishing methods (bottom trawl, set net and midwater trawl) and two measures of effort (count and duration). We show that ocean warming results in an increase in catch for all species if we assume a logarithmic relationship, with the highest marginal product of SST ((Formula presented.)) for jack mackerel caught using midwater trawl. The highest marginal revenue product (computed by the MPSST, current price and fished area) is found for flatfish caught by set net. However, when assuming a quadratic relationship, there is a threshold above which catch starts to decrease, with the maximum catch of species ranging between 10 and 12.2°C. These results also vary spatially, with higher values of MPSST observed in areas closer to the South Pole. Our findings are relevant for any review of fisheries management systems in response to ocean warming.Item Interfacing learning methods for anomaly detection in multi-country financial stress indicatorsGu, Xing; Mamon, Rogemar; Duprey, Thibaut (Elsevier, 2024)This paper presents a novel ensemble supervised learning classification model designed for the early detection of financial stability anomalies. In particular, we utilise the time series of Financial Stress Indices (FSI) across multiple countries in developing an early-warning system. The innovation of this model lies in its unique integration of stochastic process modelling, hidden Markov models (HMM), random forest (RF), and XGBoost algorithms. This results to a comprehensive approach that can capture the dynamics of FSIs and forecast potential crisis episodes. The model's strength arises from the synthesis of the Ornstein–Uhlenbeck (OU) processes and HMM online recursive filters, forming a robust framework. Additionally, a feature selection module based on RF and a final classifier using XGBoost enhance the out-of-sample predictive performance. Our comparative analyses with five alternative models underscore the strong predictive power of the proposed model. A tailored feature-importance analysis highlights the substantial impact of the HMM features, emphasising their crucial role in the model's effectiveness. Furthermore, the inclusion of two projected anomaly-warning signals enhances the model's ability to predict extreme events, benefitting financial stability and public policy research. © 2024 The Author(s)Item Overview of the Sigatoka leaf spot complex in banana and its current managementEsguera, Julienne G.; Balendres, Mark Angelo; Paguntalan, Diana P. (Maximum Academic Press, 2024)Banana (Musa spp.) holds immense significance on both global and local scales as a source of nutrition, economic stability, environmental stability, and cultural significance. However, plant diseases have greatly impacted the overall production and yield of banana plantations, specifically, diseases caused by fungi. This paper explores the Sigatoka leaf spot complex, its associated fungi, factors that influence disease incidence and spread, and management measures of the disease. The Black Sigatoka is identified as the greatest threat due to its wide-ranging impact on banana cultivars. Further endangering banana production is disease dissemination through wind, rain, and ascospores. Here we emphasizee the significance of in-depth comprehension of disease characteristics and progression stages, crucial for devising effective management strategies and safeguarding sustainable banana farming. This paper presents knowledge gaps and challenges in the control and management of the Sigatoka complex. This includes emerging fungicide resistance, sustainable disease management, integrated disease management, monitoring and early detection, international collaboration, climate change impacts, and education and extension services. To fill knowledge gaps and overcome challenges, collaboration among researchers, industry players, government bodies, and international organizations is essential, prioritizing research and outreach to advance sustainable disease management for the global banana industry, mindful of ecological and economic consequences. © 2024 by the author(s).