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The Biosorption Of Lead From Aqueous Solutions By A Wood-Immobilized Fungal Biosorbent, Zomesh A N Maini, Niña Therese B. Flores, Enrico P. Muñoz Dec 2019

The Biosorption Of Lead From Aqueous Solutions By A Wood-Immobilized Fungal Biosorbent, Zomesh A N Maini, Niña Therese B. Flores, Enrico P. Muñoz

Biology Faculty Publications

Lead [Pb(II)] biosorption capacities of immobilized Talaromyces macrosporus on Moringa oleifera L. wood were compared against pure fungal and pure M. oleifera biomass. A Pb(II) contact test of 1000 ug/mL show similar Pb(II) removal of non-immobilized fungal biomass (F) and powdered wood colonized with fungi (WP+F), with WP+F producing more biomass. Powdered sorbents had higher Pb(II) uptake compared to whole sorbents analyzed through ICP-AES, possibly due to increased surface area for Pb(II) binding. FTIR analysis of the F, WP, and WP+F identified hydroxyl, amino, carbonyl, and sulfhydryl functional groups which constitute probable Pb(II)-affinitive binding sites. The biosorbents tested in a …


Assessment Of Cytotoxic Activity Of Five Common Philippine Medicinal Plants Using Brine Shrimp Lethality Assay, Lloyd O. Balinado, Merab A. Chan Dec 2019

Assessment Of Cytotoxic Activity Of Five Common Philippine Medicinal Plants Using Brine Shrimp Lethality Assay, Lloyd O. Balinado, Merab A. Chan

Biology Faculty Publications

A wide variety of plants in the Philippines are used to address several medical ailments; however, many of which have not yet undergone thorough pharmacological studies. The problem on the possible side effects caused by these medicinal preparations has, therefore, increased the interest in validating their safety for human use. The present study was conducted to determine the cytotoxicity of five common local medicinal plants. Annona muricata L., Cymbopogon citratus DC., Graptophyllum pictum (L.) Griff, Jatropha curcas L., and Piper betle L. were selected and subjected to crude aqueous leaf extraction. Extracts were then investigated for cytotoxicity potential using brine …


Fish Performance, Nutrient Digestibilities, And Hepatic And Intestinal Morphologies In Grouper Epinephelus Fuscoguttatus Fed Fermented Copra Meal, Roger Edward P. Mamauag, Janice A. Ragaza, Trisha J. Nacionales Jun 2019

Fish Performance, Nutrient Digestibilities, And Hepatic And Intestinal Morphologies In Grouper Epinephelus Fuscoguttatus Fed Fermented Copra Meal, Roger Edward P. Mamauag, Janice A. Ragaza, Trisha J. Nacionales

Biology Faculty Publications

Protein enhanced copra meal (PECM®) is an alternative, cheap, and sustainable source of plant protein for the aquafeed industry, albeit its use on carnivorous fish species has been very limited. A 70-day feeding trial using grouper Epinephelus fuscoguttatus (initial mean body weight of 1.86 ± 0.19 g) tested fermented copra meal as feed ingredient. Six isonitrogenous (crude protein of 45%) and iso-lipidic (crude fat of 11%) diets consisted of PECM®: a control diet at 0% soybean meal replacement (C); four diets replacing soybean meal at 25% (FC25), 50% (FC50), 75% (FC75), 100% (FC100) – all with methionine and lysine supplementation; …


Fragile X- Associated Neuropsychiatric Disorders: A Case Report, Maria Melinda Tan, Jeanne Barbara Dy, Maria Jimena Salcedo-Arellano, Flora Tassone, Randi J. Hagerman May 2019

Fragile X- Associated Neuropsychiatric Disorders: A Case Report, Maria Melinda Tan, Jeanne Barbara Dy, Maria Jimena Salcedo-Arellano, Flora Tassone, Randi J. Hagerman

Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health Publications

Mutations in the Fragile X Mental Retardation 1 (FMR1) gene create a spectrum of developmental disorders in children in addition to neurodegenerative problems in older populations. Two types of mutations are recognized in the FMR1 gene. The full mutation (>200 CGG repeats) in the FMR1 gene leads to Fragile X Syndrome which is the most common inherited cause of intellectual disability and autism, while the premutation (55 to 200 CGG repeats) identified among carriers leads to a range of problems linked to elevated levels of the FMR1 mRNA leading to mRNA toxicity and occasionally mildly deficient FMRP …


New Targeted Treatments For Fragile X Syndrome, Dragana Protic, Maria J. Salcedo-Arellano, Jeanne Barbara Dy, Laura A. Potter, Randi J. Hagerman May 2019

New Targeted Treatments For Fragile X Syndrome, Dragana Protic, Maria J. Salcedo-Arellano, Jeanne Barbara Dy, Laura A. Potter, Randi J. Hagerman

Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health Publications

Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) is the most common cause of inherited intellectual disability with prevalence rates estimated to be 1:5,000 in males and 1:8,000 in females. The increase of >200 Cytosine Guanine Guanine (CGG) repeats in the 5' untranslated region of the Fragile X Mental Retardation 1 (FMR1) gene results in transcriptional silencing on the FMR1 gene with a subsequent reduction or absence of fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP), an RNA binding protein involved in the maturation and elimination of synapses. In addition to intellectual disability, common features of FXS are behavioral problems, autism, language deficits and atypical physical …


Translating Antimicrobial Resistance: A Case Study Of Context And Consequences Of Antibiotic-Related Communication In Three Northern Thai Villages, Nutcha Charoenboon, Marco J. Haenssgen, Penporn Warapikuptanun, Thipphaphone Xayavong, Yuzana Khine Zaw Feb 2019

Translating Antimicrobial Resistance: A Case Study Of Context And Consequences Of Antibiotic-Related Communication In Three Northern Thai Villages, Nutcha Charoenboon, Marco J. Haenssgen, Penporn Warapikuptanun, Thipphaphone Xayavong, Yuzana Khine Zaw

Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) threatens to cause ten million deaths annually by 2050, making it a top item on the global health agenda. The current global policy response is multi-faceted, wherein behavioural dimensions like people’s medicine use are being predominantly addressed with education and communication campaigns. The social sciences literature suggests that cross-contextual translation of medical knowledge in global awareness campaigns can create misunderstandings and adverse behavioural responses. However, the consequences of AMR communication in low-income and middle-income contexts remain largely undocumented. In response to the empirical knowledge gap, this study presents the case study of educational activity in three northern …


A Rapid And Accurate Minion-Based Workflow For Tracking Species Biodiversity In The Field, Hendrik Freitag, Simone Maestri, Emanuela Cosentino, Marta Paterno, Jhoana M. Garces, Luca Marcolungo, Massimiliano Alfano, Iva Njunjić, Menno Schilthuizen, Ferry Slik, Michele Menegon, Marzia Rossato, Massimo Delledonne Jan 2019

A Rapid And Accurate Minion-Based Workflow For Tracking Species Biodiversity In The Field, Hendrik Freitag, Simone Maestri, Emanuela Cosentino, Marta Paterno, Jhoana M. Garces, Luca Marcolungo, Massimiliano Alfano, Iva Njunjić, Menno Schilthuizen, Ferry Slik, Michele Menegon, Marzia Rossato, Massimo Delledonne

Biology Faculty Publications

Genetic markers (DNA barcodes) are often used to support and confirm species identification. Barcode sequences can be generated in the field using portable systems based on the Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) MinION sequencer. However, to achieve a broader application, current proof-of-principle workflows for on-site barcoding analysis must be standardized to ensure a reliable and robust performance under suboptimal field conditions without increasing costs. Here, we demonstrate the implementation of a new on-site workflow for DNA extraction, PCR-based barcoding, and the generation of consensus sequences. The portable laboratory features inexpensive instruments that can be carried as hand luggage and uses standard …


Assessment Of Quantity And Quality Of Microplastics In The Sediments, Waters, Oysters, And Selected Fish Species In Key Sites Along The Bombong Estuary And The Coastal Waters Of Ticalan In San Juan, Batangas, Emilyn Q. Espiritu, Sophia Angeli Sn Dayrit, Annabel Soledad O. Coronel, Natasha Sophia C. Paz, Pilar Isabel L. Ronquillo, Virgil Christian G. Castillo, Erwin P. Enriquez Jan 2019

Assessment Of Quantity And Quality Of Microplastics In The Sediments, Waters, Oysters, And Selected Fish Species In Key Sites Along The Bombong Estuary And The Coastal Waters Of Ticalan In San Juan, Batangas, Emilyn Q. Espiritu, Sophia Angeli Sn Dayrit, Annabel Soledad O. Coronel, Natasha Sophia C. Paz, Pilar Isabel L. Ronquillo, Virgil Christian G. Castillo, Erwin P. Enriquez

Chemistry Faculty Publications

Microplastics (or MPs; < 5 mm in size) pollution is largely unstudied in the Philippines. From an environmental sustainability standpoint, it is important to understand the characteristics, abundance, and environmental fate of plastic debris of various sizes, and these include microplastics that are not more easily and readily detected. In this study, we assessed the extent of microplastics contamination in the sediments, waters, oysters, and selected fishes found in the rivers and coastal areas of Ticalan, Batangas, which were identified from water quality parameters as Class C and CS, respectively. The microplastics were extracted from these samples by chemical digestion of the matrix, series of filtration, and separation by flotation through a density gradient to finally isolate the microplastics which were not dissolved by chemical digestion. The isolated samples were imaged by optical microscopy and characterized based on their descriptive attributes. The results showed the presence of microplastics in all the samples tested, which were found mostly in the form of filaments, fragments, films, and pellets – with most showing weathered, degraded, or angular and irregular surfaces. Identification was done through spectral matching of the Fourier transform infrared spectra of isolated fragments with that of known plastics, although identification in some cases is made uncertain by possibility of degradation of the plastics in the environment. The majority of the isolates showed signature absorption bands of the C-H stretching vibrations of polyethylene-based plastics.


Establishing Rates Of Carbon Sequestration In Mangroves From An Earthquake Uplift Event, Severino G. Salmo Iii, Vanessa Malapit, Maria Carmela A. Garcia, Homer M. Pagkalinawan Jan 2019

Establishing Rates Of Carbon Sequestration In Mangroves From An Earthquake Uplift Event, Severino G. Salmo Iii, Vanessa Malapit, Maria Carmela A. Garcia, Homer M. Pagkalinawan

Environmental Science Faculty Publications

We assessed the carbon stocks (CS) in mangroves that developed after a magnitude 7.1 earthquake in Silonay, Oriental Mindoro, south Luzon, The Philippines in November 1994. The earthquake resulted in a 50 cm uplift of sediment that provided new habitat within the upper intertidal zone which mangroves colonized (from less than 2 ha pre-earthquake to the current 45 ha, 23 years post-earthquake). The site provided an opportunity for a novel assessment of the rate of carbon sequestration in recently established mangroves. The carbon stock was measured in above-ground, below- ground and sediment compartments over a seaward to landward transect. Results …


Recolonization Of Mollusc Assemblages In Mangrove Plantations Damaged By Typhoon Chan-Hom In The Philippines, Severino G. Salmo Iii, Ian R. Tibbetts, Norman C. Duke Jan 2019

Recolonization Of Mollusc Assemblages In Mangrove Plantations Damaged By Typhoon Chan-Hom In The Philippines, Severino G. Salmo Iii, Ian R. Tibbetts, Norman C. Duke

Environmental Science Faculty Publications

We investigated the effects of a catastrophic typhoon on mollusc assemblages of damaged mangrove plantations of different ages. Molluscs were sampled from infaunal, epifaunal and arboreal assemblages of mangrove stands in Lingayen Gulf, northwest Philippines, and compared with assemblages of un-impacted areas. Prior to the occurrence of the typhoon, there were clear shifts in the species diversity (H’) and composition of mollusc assemblages with stand age of mangrove forests. This was observed in species composition through the succession in dominance from pioneer to seral or putative climax species, and assemblage type (as arboreal, epifaunal and infaunal). However, severe damage to …


Some Current Trends And Challenges In Philippine Aquaculture, With An Emphasis On Synergies With Biodiversity Initiatives, Ronald Allan L. Cruz, Vikas Kumar, Janice A. Ragaza Jan 2019

Some Current Trends And Challenges In Philippine Aquaculture, With An Emphasis On Synergies With Biodiversity Initiatives, Ronald Allan L. Cruz, Vikas Kumar, Janice A. Ragaza

Biology Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.