University of the Philippines Manila

About: University of the Philippines Manila is a education organization based out in Manila, Philippines. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Medicine. The organization has 2218 authors who have published 2357 publications receiving 88781 citations. The organization is also known as: UPM.

Barriers and facilitators of productivity while working from home during pandemic.

Abstract: OBJECTIVES: This study aims to characterize the working environment, stress levels, and psychological detachment of employees working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines and investigate their relationship to productivity and musculoskeletal symptoms. METHODS: Structural equation modeling was used to examine the direct effect of workstation characteristics, stress, and musculoskeletal symptoms to productivity and the indirect effect of psychological detachment to productivity. Data were gathered from a survey of employees working from home during the pandemic from different industries (n = 352). Multigroup analysis was also conducted to determine the effect of age, having a spouse, and having children less than 18 years old, to the model. RESULTS: Ergonomic suitability of the workstation (WES) has a significant effect on musculoskeletal symptoms (MSS) (s = -0.31, SE = 0.06; p < .001). Both workstation suitability (s = -0.24, SE = 0.03; p < .001) and workstation ergonomic suitability (s = -0.18, SE = 0.01; p < .01) inversely affect STR. Psychological detachment has a significant inverse effect on stress (s = -0.31, SE = 0.07; p < .001) and stress has a significant negative effect on productivity (s = -0.13, SE = 0.09; p = .03). Multigroup analyses showed that stress significantly affected the productivity of those without spouses and young employees. CONCLUSION: Workstation suitability helps improve the productivity of people working from home while stress negatively affects it. Workstation ergonomic suitability and musculoskeletal symptoms have no significant effect.

Mesozoic rock suites along western Philippines: Exposed proto-South China Sea fragments?

Abstract: An ancient oceanic crustal leading edge east of mainland Asia, the proto-South China Sea crust, must have existed during the Mesozoic based on tectonic reconstructions that accounted for the presence of subducted slabs in the lower mantle and the exposed oceanic lithospheric fragments strewn in the Philippine and Bornean regions. Along the western seaboard of the Philippine archipelago, numerous Mesozoic ophiolites and associated lithologies do not appear to be genetically associated with the younger Paleogene-Neogene ocean basins that currently surround the islands. New sedimentological, paleomagnetic, paleontological, and isotopic age data that we generated are presented here, in combination with our previous results and those of others, to reassess the geological make-up of the western Philippine island arc system. We believe that the oceanic lithospheric fragments, associated melanges, and sedimentary rocks in this region are exhumed slivers of the proto-South China Sea ocean plate.

A New Scale for Assessing the Severity of Uncomplicated Diaper Dermatitis in Infants: Development and Validation.

Abstract: Background One methodologic challenge in conducting research relating to diaper dermatitis (DD) is the absence of a reliable, objective, validated scale for assessing severity. The aim of this study was to develop and validate such a scale. Methods Scale development was based on experience of DD assessment and clinical and photographic data collected during the early stages of a randomized controlled trial of two DD treatments. The severity score is the sum of scores of four domains: severity of erythema and irritation, area with any DD, papules or pustules, and open skin. Possible scores range from 0 (clear skin) to 6 (extensive DD including intense erythema, papules or pustules, and open skin with damage to the dermis). Assessors used the scale to attribute severity scores using high-definition photographs of infants and babies with DD. Interrater reliability (IRR), internal consistency, and test–retest reliability were considered using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), Cronbach's α, and Cohen κ statistics. Results IRR was very good between assessors familiar with the scale (ICC = 0.949, p < 0.001) and between assessors unfamiliar with the scale (ICC = 0.850, p < 0.001). Test–retest reliability at 2 weeks was good (κ = 0.603, p < 0.001). Cronbach's α for internal consistency was 0.702. Collation of photographs according to severity score revealed a visible continuum of DD severity, suggesting good construct validity. Conclusion The newly developed scale appears to be easy to use, reliable, and effective in detecting increasing or lessening DD severity.

Water Buffalo as Sentinel Animals for Schistosomiasis Surveillance

Abstract: Introduction About 75% of human pathogens are zoonotic, meaning that they are communicated from animals to humans. (1) Schistosomiasis is a zoonotic disease with a complex transmission cycle involving aquatic snails and least 40 species of mammals, which serve as reservoir hosts. Worldwide, more than 700 million people are at risk of schistosomiasis and over 240 million people are infected with the parasite. (2) Schistosomiasis has been eliminated in Japan and the coastal plains of China by a combination of medical treatment, health education, improved water quality and sanitation and snail control through environmental modification, molluscicide and new farming methods. The World Health Organization (WHO) targets elimination of schistosomiasis in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Caribbean, Indonesia and the Mekong river basin by 2015, and in the Western Pacific, the Americas and selected African countries by 2020. (3) Here we argue that elimination guidelines for schistosomiasis should include surveillance of the animal reservoir. Transmission patterns Mapping of the transmission patterns in humans and animals can lead to a better understanding of transmission of schistosomiasis between different host species. Parts of China, Indonesia and the Philippines are endemic for schistosomiasis caused by Schistosoma japonicum. Cattle, water buffalo, goats, dogs, pigs and rats are potentially important reservoir hosts for this parasite because of their contact with humans. Other animals including cats and horses are not significant contributors because of their limited contact with contaminated water. (4) Grazing ruminants including goats, cattle and water buffalo are exposed to the parasite in transmission sites such as rice paddies. However, goats do not contribute much to transmission as they are uncommon in areas where schistosomiasis is endemic. Cattle and water buffalo are the major animal reservoirs contributing to human transmission of S. japonicum. (4-7) In China, bovine defecation is thought to be the main cause of environmental contamination. (6) Molecular studies have also suggested that transmission is through bovines rather than other domesticated animals. Cattle are less capable of recovering from infection than water buffalo. (8) Despite the fact that buffalo are capable of clearing the parasite, they are a major reservoir host because they are repeatedly exposed to the parasite when pulling ploughs in rice paddies. (9) In rice-growing regions, water buffalo are a good choice of sentinel animal. In Anhui and Sichuan provinces of China, re-emergence of schistosomiasis in humans was attributed to the high prevalence of schistosome infection among cows and water buffalo. (10,11) These human infections could be avoided by setting up a sensitive animal surveillance system to detect infection in animals and, by treating them promptly, preventing further contamination of the environment. Diagnostic tests Microscopic examination of stool samples is a standard test for several parasitic diseases, including schistosomiasis. However, microscopy has low sensitivity in diagnosing schistosomiasis among water buffalo due to the large volume of bovine excreta. Therefore, a more sensitive and specific diagnostic test is needed to identify schistosomiasis-free areas and prevent re-emergence of the disease. In previous studies, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (12) and recombinant antigen-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (13) have been found to be useful in identifying S. japonicum in stool samples. Surveillance can also be carried out in abattoirs where cattle and buffalo are slaughtered. Documentation of the original source of livestock then allows schistosome-infested sites to be located. Medical and veterinary approaches The complexity of zoonotic schistosomiasis transmission has been a major hindrance to elimination of the disease. …