University of the Philippines

About: University of the Philippines is a education organization based out in Quezon City, Philippines. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Health care. The organization has 4589 authors who have published 4437 publications receiving 114846 citations. The organization is also known as: UP.

DNA barcoding of fishes of Laguna de Bay, Philippines

Abstract: Laguna de Bay, the largest lake in the Philippines, is an important part of the country's fisheries industry. It is also home to a number of endemic fishes including Gobiopterus lacustris (Herre 1927) of family Gobiidae, Leiopotherapon plumbeus (Kner 1864) of family Terapontidae, Zenarchopterus philippinus (Peters 1868) of family Hemiramphidae and Arius manillensis Valenciennes 1840 of family Ariidae. Over the years, a steady decline has been observed in the abundance and diversity of native fishes in the lake due to anthropogenic disturbances. In this study, a total of 71 specimens of 18 different species belonging to 18 genera, 16 families, and seven orders were DNA barcoded using the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene. All of the fish species were discriminated by their COI sequences and one endemic species G. lacustris, showing deep genetic divergence, was highlighted for further taxonomic investigation. Average Kimura 2-parameter genetic distances within species, family, and orde...

Investigation of the application of Acadian Marine Plant Extract Powder (AMPEP) to enhance the growth, phenolic content, free radical scavenging, and iron chelating activities of Kappaphycus Doty (Solieriaceae, Gigartinales, Rhodophyta)

Abstract: An optimization study on concentration (viz. 0.01, 0.1, and 1.0 g L−1) and dipping time (i.e., 30 and 60 min) was conducted on three different color morphotypes (i.e., reddish brown, yellowish brown and purple) of the commercial carrageenophyte Kappaphycus alvarezii (Doty) Doty. The study tested the efficacy of Acadian Marine Plant Extract Powder (AMPEP) on the growth rate and occurrence of macro-epiphytes from August to November, representing the wet season of the Philippines. The optimum concentration and dipping time were obtained at 0.1 g L−1 and 30 min, respectively. These optimum parameters were then further verified in a commercial nursery using the yellowish brown morphotype. In another experiment, K. alvarezii (tambalang purple morphotype) and Kappaphycus striatum (Schmitz) Doty (sacol green morphotype) with, and without, AMPEP dippings were tested for their total phenolic content, free radical scavenging and iron chelating activities. Seaweed dipped in AMPEP demonstrated higher growth rates than the control. Lower concentrations (i.e., 0.01-0.1 g L−1) and shorter dipping time (e.g., 30 min) produced higher growth rates than the highest concentration (1.0 g L−1) and longer (60 min) dipping time. The presence of macro-epiphytes such as filamentous Ulva did not adversely affect the robust growth of the three color morphotypes of K. alvarezii. The lowest and highest growth rates obtained in a commercial seaweed nursery using the optimum concentration and dipping time of AMPEP were observed in July and January with 0.8% and 6.7% day−1, respectively. The antioxidant content of K. alvarezii (tambalang purple) and K. striatum (sacol green) responded differently to AMPEP dipping. The changes in total antioxidant activity followed almost the same trend as in phenolic content, in both K. alvarezii (tambalang purple) and K. striatum (sacol green), whereas, the iron chelating ability of both seaweeds with and without AMPEP dipping varied monthly. The results obtained for the use of AMPEP dips for commercial Kappaphycus cultivation demonstrated an effective management tool for improved farming protocols.

Well-differentiated epithelial thyroid cancer management in the Asia Pacific region: A report and clinical practice guideline

Abstract: Context: Thyroid cancer is among the 10 most common malignancies in populations in the Asia Pacific region, where access to various relevant health care resources varies widely. Objective: An expert consensus conference was held to define regional patterns of practice and guidelines for optimal management of well-differentiated epithelial thyroid carcinomas. Results: Practice patterns vary from country to country, as would be anticipated form their variety of ethnic and racial populations, health care systems, economies, and cultures. Thyroid cancer care is provided by a number of medical and surgical specialists, usually including endocrinologists. The thyroid surgical skills, experience, and outcomes vary widely in the region. Radioiodine is available, to a greater or lesser extent, is almost all countries. Laboratory services for thyroid function monitoring are universally accessible; thyroglobulin assays are available in most countries. Recombinant thyrotropin is approved for use in only two countries...

Cross-Cultural Dimensions of Meaning in the Evaluation of Events in World History?: Perceptions of Historical Calamities and Progress in Cross-Cultural Data From Thirty Societies

Abstract: The universality versus culture specificity of quantitative evaluations (negative-positive) of 40 events in world history was addressed using World History Survey data collected from 5,800 university students in 30 countries/societies. Multidimensional scaling using generalized procrustean analysis indicated poor fit of data from the 30 countries to an overall mean configuration, indicating lack of universal agreement as to the associational meaning of events in world history. Hierarchical cluster analysis identified one Western and two non-Western country clusters for which adequate multidimensional fit was obtained after item deletions. A two-dimensional solution for the three country clusters was identified, where the primary dimension was historical calamities versus progress and a weak second dimension was modernity versus resistance to modernity. Factor analysis further reduced the item inventory to identify a single concept with structural equivalence across cultures, Historical Calamities, which included man-made and natural, intentional and unintentional, predominantly violent but also nonviolent calamities. Less robust factors were tentatively named as Historical Progress and Historical Resistance to Oppression. Historical Calamities and Historical Progress were at the individual level both significant and independent predictors of willingness to fight for one’s country in a hierarchical linear model that also identified significant country-level variation in these relationships. Consensus around calamity but disagreement as to what constitutes historical progress is discussed in relation to the political culture of nations and lay perceptions of history as catastrophe.

Comparison of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium utilization efficiency in maize/mungbean intercropping

Abstract: Effects of rhizobial inoculation and applied nitrogen on the utilization efficiency of N, P and K were studied in relation to the yield advantage in additive maize/mungbean intercrops at Los Banos, Philippines in 1988. Inoculation increased grain yield of both maize (Zea mays L.) and mungbean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek). Yield of maize increased by 60% in the sole crop and 71% in the intercrop as the N application rate was increased from 0 to 90 kg/ha, with a corresponding decrease of 29–35% in the yield of the associated mungbean. Intercropping reduced mungbean yield by 35–57%; maize was less affected. Inoculation also improved the land equivalent ratio (LER). The highest LER (1·49) was obtained at 30 kg N/ha with inoculation.Nutrient absorption by both maize and mungbean was reduced due to intercropping, mungbean being more affected than maize. The reductions in the N absorption efficiency of maize ranged from 4 to 37% and those of mungbean from 37 to 58%. Increases in N rate increased N absorption of maize but caused greater reductions in N absorption of mungbean. Reductions in P absorption by intercropped maize declined with increases in applied N and with inoculation. Inoculation, however, had a lesser effect on K absorption efficiency.Land equivalent ratio analysis in terms of N, P and K utilization efficiency showed that the increase in LER over unity was due largely to a higher total uptake of nutrients by the component crops in the mixture than by the sole crops. The greater efficiency of intercrops than of the sole crops in converting absorbed nutrients to grains also contributed to the yield advantage.