Melona C. Deguma

Bio: Melona C. Deguma is an academic researcher from Cebu Technological University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Public health & Sustainability. The author has an hindex of 4, co-authored 10 publications receiving 44 citations.

Where is the Church in the Time of COVID-19 Pandemic: Preferring the Poor via G. Gutierrez’ “Liberation” and the Catholic Church’s Social Teaching in the Philippine Setting

Abstract: In a world where everything seems to be measured in reference to money and economic progress, the problem of poverty becomes an increasingly urgent concern. The experience of poverty is even becoming problematic when the world seemed to be unprepared for times of pandemic. COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the suffering of the poor more than just a health risk, especially in the Philippine setting. In such a situation, people wonder, where is the church? Most critics of the Catholic Church in the Philippines utilized the social media platform in crying out their denunciation to Catholic Church leaders. It is in this context that the paper explores the ‘Liberation Theology’ of Gustavo Gutierrez in relation to the Catholic Church’s Social Teaching, whether the experience of poverty and crisis is part of the socio-spiritual responsibility of the church. To do this, the paper utilized the exploratory method of textual analysis. Through examining the text of extant literature on Gustavo Gutierrez’s Liberation Theology and the Social Teachings of the Catholic Church, the paper constructed a holistic understanding of “Preferential Option for the Poor.” The arguments presented in this paper could serve as the basis for current praxis of the different catholic congregations in the Philippines in mitigating the experience of crisis among Filipino poor amid COVID-19 pandemic.

An Analogical Investigation of the Pythagorean Triangle: From a Mathematical Figure to an Ethical Praxis

Abstract: This paper exposes an alternative and juxtaposed interdisciplinary view of the Pythagorean Triangle, from a mathematical point of view to ethical applicability. Pythagorean Theorem is understood as a mathematical principle (a2+b2=c2), where the sum of the square of the shorter legs, a and b, is equal to the square of the most extended leg, the hypotenuse, c, resulted in the equation of the right triangle (Pythagorean Triangle). As an antediluvian mathematical figure, the Pythagorean Triangle's beauty and intricacy still amazed and provoked present-day thoughts. It is indubitable that the Theorem intrigues humanity's curiosity to provide proofs of the hypothesis, as well as its application. From such a viewpoint, this paper looks into the interdisciplinary applicability of the mathematical figure of the right triangle (Pythagorean Triangle). Utilizing analogical investigation, as the prime method of this research, the paper argues that the concept of the 'right triangle' could be an analogy for 'right living.' The logic behind the Pythagorean Triangle posits inherent beauty and a transcendent possibility beyond mathematics to other disciplines like ethics. The paper offers an analogical investigation of an alternative insight for the ethical problem of 'right living.' By reflecting on the presence of the existing similar feature, the right triangle (Pythagorean Triangle) could be analogically applied to 'right living.' From extant literature, the paper concludes that uprightness and balance are two essential concepts that could propose alternative ethical views by analogy to understanding what it means for 'right living.' Received: 12 October 2020 / Accepted: 12 December 2020 / Published: 17 January 2021

The possible threat of faking Covid-19 diagnostic tests and vaccination certifications: a call to an immediate action.

Abstract: The pandemic's recessive effect on the global economy created a 'de-globalized' process that detrimentally causes financial turmoil to countries whose economy depends on tourism, urban passenger transport services and civil aviation, among others. The need to help the most vulnerable industries non-resilient to the pandemic reopen to aid economic recovery amid the pandemic's threat is a very urgent concern. With the move to start the vaccination program against the threat of Covid-19, faking Covid-19 diagnostic testing certification pose a severe problem to matters of ethics and economics. If not taken seriously, falsifying documents that certify a person who has undergone Covid-19 vaccination could also happen. This paper argues that everyone's collective effort could be the real embodiment of hope toward a new normal world immune from the virus and malpractices.

Redefining public health and sustainable economy: Covid-19 from pandemic to endemic.

Abstract: With the recent claim that the maintenance of population immunity will not depend on continued vaccinations but on the endemic presence of the virus, the proper understanding of the value of public health allows us to configure human living conditions as it thrives in a world where the novel Corona Virus Disease in 2019 (Covid-19) becomes endemic. World leaders and economic managers need to redefine public health not just as a means that enables economic productivity but as a substantially primordial goal-an end that every functional society must achieve via living an economically sustainable lifestyle. This paper argues that economic and societal sustainability thus must be framed and delimited within the human ecological boundary-a crucial viewpoint that could sustain public health amid a Covid-19 endemic world while preventing another viral pandemic from occurring.

Analyzing Heart Disease Mortality of Filipino: From Statistical Modeling to Health and Lifestyle Education Implications

Abstract: This paper contributes an interdisciplinary cross-over in studying heart disease mortality of Filipino. First, it validates previous studies on heart diseases via ascertaining statistical models of analyses that estimate heart disease mortality predictability in the Philippines. It then proceeds to understand the implications of the issue through promoting health and lifestyle education. To do this, first, the report from the Epidemiology Bureau of the Department of Health (EBDOH) on mortality cases of diseases of the heart in the Philippines. Based on the statistical analyses, time series analysis suggested that the growth of heart disease mortality in the Philippines followed a quadratic trend. Moreover, symbolic regression (SR) analysis revealed that heredity has more significant influence over lifestyle between the identified factors. Based on the proposed models, this paper implies furthering community-oriented health and wellness programs as practical means to avoid untimely deaths brought by the said diseases. Received: 4 March 2021 / Accepted: 6 May 2021 / Published: 8 July 2021

Clinical course and risk factors for mortality of adult inpatients with COVID-19 in Wuhan, China: a retrospective cohort study

Abstract: Summary Background Since December, 2019, Wuhan, China, has experienced an outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients with COVID-19 have been reported but risk factors for mortality and a detailed clinical course of illness, including viral shedding, have not been well described. Methods In this retrospective, multicentre cohort study, we included all adult inpatients (≥18 years old) with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 from Jinyintan Hospital and Wuhan Pulmonary Hospital (Wuhan, China) who had been discharged or had died by Jan 31, 2020. Demographic, clinical, treatment, and laboratory data, including serial samples for viral RNA detection, were extracted from electronic medical records and compared between survivors and non-survivors. We used univariable and multivariable logistic regression methods to explore the risk factors associated with in-hospital death. Findings 191 patients (135 from Jinyintan Hospital and 56 from Wuhan Pulmonary Hospital) were included in this study, of whom 137 were discharged and 54 died in hospital. 91 (48%) patients had a comorbidity, with hypertension being the most common (58 [30%] patients), followed by diabetes (36 [19%] patients) and coronary heart disease (15 [8%] patients). Multivariable regression showed increasing odds of in-hospital death associated with older age (odds ratio 1·10, 95% CI 1·03–1·17, per year increase; p=0·0043), higher Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score (5·65, 2·61–12·23; p Interpretation The potential risk factors of older age, high SOFA score, and d-dimer greater than 1 μg/mL could help clinicians to identify patients with poor prognosis at an early stage. Prolonged viral shedding provides the rationale for a strategy of isolation of infected patients and optimal antiviral interventions in the future. Funding Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences; National Science Grant for Distinguished Young Scholars; National Key Research and Development Program of China; The Beijing Science and Technology Project; and Major Projects of National Science and Technology on New Drug Creation and Development.

Preventing Chronic Diseases: A Vital Investment

Abstract: Let's read! We will often find out this sentence everywhere. When still being a kid, mom used to order us to always read, so did the teacher. Some books are fully read in a week and we need the obligation to support reading. What about now? Do you still love reading? Is reading only for you who have obligation? Absolutely not! We here offer you a new book enPDFd preventing chronic diseases a vital investment to read.

세계화(globalization)와 안보 연구

Abstract: 세계화가 과연 하나의 독립변수로 사용하기에 충분할 정도로 그 의미가 명확하게 규명된 과학적 개념인가의 여부는 학계의 지속적인 의문으로 남아 있다. 특히 최근에는 현저하게 드러나고 있는 각종 반세계화 현상을 바탕으로 세계화에 대한 반론이 거세지고 있으며 일부 세계화론 주창자들조차 ‘현실’로서 세계화 현상에 대한 회의적 시각을 표출하고 있어 그 의문은 더욱 커지고 있다. 이에 따라 세계화를 설명 변수로 삼는 모든 연구 영역에서 세계화의 의미와 세계화와 관련된 연구 성과를 반추해 볼 필요성도 커지고 있다. 본 연구의 목적은 세계화의 의미 분석을 바탕으로 세계화를 안보환경 변화의 독립변수로 삼는 연구의 동향을 분석하고 연구의 방향을 제시하는데 있다. 세계화는 그 설명적 가치와 규범적 판단을 둘러싸고 논란이 계속되고 있는 개념이다. 세계화는 세계화론자를 중심으로 발전되어 온 개념이지만 이들 사이에서도 개념에 대한 합의는 존재하지 않는다. 세계화는 가장 단순하게는 하나의 현상 혹은 사건으로 간주되기도 하지만, 세계화의 본질을 규명하려는 입장에서는 세계화의 원인과 영향에 대한 인과관계는 물론 사회관계 본질이나 권력관계 변화를 적시하는 개념으로 취급하여 왔다. 그러나 세계화를 개념화하려는 노력은 수많은 하부 현상을 단일 요소로 설명해야 하며, 역으로 개념 속에 혼재되어 있는 세계화의 원인, 결과, 설명 및 규범적 판단 요소를 단순화해야 한다는 과제를 안고 있다. 특히 원인과 결과가 혼재되어 있는 세계화 개념은 현상 분석을 위한 설명체제 구성에 가장 큰 장애요인이 되고 있다. 세계화와 안보와의 관계를 다루는 연구는 대체로 세계화에 관한 중도론적 입장에서 안보에 관한 낙관론을 피하고 새로운 위협을 제시하는데 초점을 맞추는데, 이러한 경향은 안보연구에서 세계화를 가장 단순한 수준에서 정의하는 데에서 비롯된다. 그러나 지나치게 단순한 세계화 개념을 적용하는 안보연구는 질적으로 새로운 현상인 세계화를 여전히 국가중심적 시각에서 다루고 모든 안보위협을 테러리즘의 문제로 축소하려는 환원주의의 문제를 야기한다. 이러한 문제를 극복하기 위해서는 세계화 개념의 불완전성을 염두에 둔 세계화 개념에 대한 접근과 일관된 세계화 개념 적용이 요구된다. 또한 세계화 현상으로부터 직접적인 안보 사안을 도출하는 노력에서 한 차원 더 나아가 안보연구의 새로운 방향을 제시해 줄 수 있는 안보환경 변화의 전체적 특성을 분석하는 포괄적 연구가 요구된다.

BOOK AND FILM REVIEWS: Positivism in Ancient and Modern Science: To Save the Phenomena, An Essay on the Idea of Physical Theory from Plato to Galileo

Abstract: Duhem's 1908 essay questions the relation between physical theory and metaphysics and, more specifically, between astronomy and physics an issue still of importance today. He critiques the answers given by Greek thought, Arabic science, medieval Christian scholasticism, and, finally, the astronomers of the Renaissance.\