Menandro N. Acda
Department of Forest Products and Paper Science
College of Forestry and Natural Resources
UP Los Baños
Termite Resistance and Physico-Mechanical Properties of Particleboard Using Waste Tobacco Stalk and Wood Particles. International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation, 85: 354-358, November 2013.
Tobacco (Nicotiana spp.) is one of the most valuable agricultural products in the world.After the leaves are harvested, the stalks are incorporated in the soil or burned in the field.However, significant volume and presence of nicotine in waste tobacco stalks pose increasing solid waste disposal and pollution problems in many countries.Studies have been conducted to determine potential uses of waste tobacco stalks including adsorbents of heavy metals, fertilizer, pesticide, fiber source for pulp and paper, animal feed, industrial chemicals and energy source. Waste tobacco stalks can also be used to produce particleboard. Particleboards are alternative building materials developed to replace plywood in such applications as paneling, table tops, cabinets, door skin, furniture components,etc.The present study investigated the termite resistance, physical and mechanical properties of particleboard made from waste tobacco stalk and P.falcataria wood particles. Boards containing at least 25% tobacco stalk exhibited excellent termite resistance in both laboratory and field tests. Termite resistance of particleboard containing tobacco stalk is most likely due to the presence of residual nicotine in the samples. Addition of P. falcataria wood particles in all proportions used in this study resulted in boards with internal bond, stiffness and strength properties above the minimum required for general use particleboard (EN 312-2). Results of the study showed that tobacco stalk can be used as an alternative material either alone or in combination with wood particles for the manufacture of particleboard with direct positive impact on disposal problem and efficient utilization of this waste biomass.
Link to the article: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/09648305/85/supp/C
2012 Impact Factor: 2.059
Vachel Gay V. Paller
Animal Biology Division
Institute of Biological Sciences
College of Arts and Sciences
UP Los Baños
Soil Contamination by Parasite Eggs in a Rural Village in the Philippines. Tropical Biomedicine, 30 (3): 495-503, 2013.
Although studies in the Philippines have revealed that 67-88% of school children and adolescents were infected with intestinal parasites, mainly soil-transmitted helminths (STH) (Belizario et al., 2005), the extent of soil contamination by parasite eggs has never been examined in the country. Fecal examination is an effective and reliable method for evaluating the prevalence or distribution of parasites However, the risk of STH infection among local residents could not be fully assessed by fecal examinations alone. The survival and development of parasite eggs, particularly STH depends largely on the environment, particularly in soil. Hence, conducting soil surveys to determine parasite egg contamination allows direct observation of STH eggs, making it an effective method of assessing the risk of STH infection among local residents.Hence, this study used a three-fold survey to assess comprehensively the risk of STH infection among residents in a village in the Philippines. These were soil samples, fecal samples, and questionnaire surveys regarding hygiene practices among local residents and schoolchildren.
Link to the article: http://www.msptm.org/files/495_-_503_Saori_Horiuchi.pdf
Impact Factor: 0.073
Glenn L. Sia Su and Maria Lilibeth L. Sia Su*
Department of Biology
College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology*
College of Medicine
UP Manila
Bioaccumulation and Histopathological Alteration of Total Lead in Selected Fishes of Manila Bay, Philippines. Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences, 20 (4): 353-355, October 2013.
This study aims to assess the bioaccumulation of total lead and the effect of heavy metal on the muscle of fish obtained in the coastal lagoon of Manila Bay. Fish species muscles were assessed for lead concentrations and were examined for histological alterations. Results showed that lead bioaccumulated in the muscle, and a degree of disintegration on the muscle fibers in all fish examined was found.
Link to the article: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3824143/
Impact Factor: Not yet available
Lilian A. de las Llagas, Arlene G. Bertuso and Myra S. Mistica
Department of Parasitology
College of Public Health
UP Manila
Field Evaluation of Ovitraps with Piper nigrum to Assess Its Larvicidal and Ovipositional Effects on Dengue Mosquito Vectors. Philippine Entomologist, 26 (2): 156-175, October 2012.
Effects of ovitrap (a black-painted can containing 370ml water and 6X1 in. Lawanit board) incorporated with 20% crude extract of black pepper, Piper nigrum (hereafter referred to as Piper), on larvae and adult oviposition (egg deposition) of the dengue mosquito vectors were investigated in Barangays Batong Malake and San Antonio, Los Baños, Laguna (September 2010-March 2011). Larvicidal effect of Piper was compared with a commercially available larvicide, Pyriproxyfen (Sumilarv®0.5 mg). Ovitraps were placed inside and outside the 100 houses/barangay selected randomly within 50–300m radius of the house of a dengue patient. Setting up of ovitraps was done in three phases, i.e., (1) pre-intervention and (2) post intervention which refer to the periods when ovitraps were installed in each house without any larvicide and (3) intervention phase which refers to the period when larvicides were placed inside the ovitrap. Mosquito eggs, larvae and pupae in ovitraps were collected weekly, counted and the data was used in the computation of ovitrap index (%OI) and adult productivity index (%API), respectively. These indices provide a relative measure of the number of mosquitoes in the area and they indicate when the mosquito control is warranted. Both Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus were found breeding in ovitraps. Piper attracts the egg deposition of mosquitoes in the ovitraps. Result indicated that Piper can reduce the %OI (27-42%) during the intervention period, indicating its larvicidal action. Piper can prevent also the generation of adult mosquitoes as indicated by 0%API in both sites. Results demonstrated that Piper is a very promising larvicide that can effectively reduce the generation of adult mosquitoes.
Link to the article:
Impact Factor: Not yet available
Christopher O. Mendoza, Elsie C. Jimenez*, Rhodora V. Azanza and Lourdes J. Cruz
Marine Science Institute
Department of Physical Sciences*
College of Science
UP Diliman
UP Baguio*
Detection of ciguatera fish poisoning in the Philippines. Journal of Environmental Science and Management, Special Issue 1: 50-55, 2013.
Ciguatera fish poisoning (CFP) is an illness caused by eating fish contaminated with toxins called ciguatoxins (CTX) produced by dinoflagellates, particularly the Gambierdiscus species. CFP victims suffer from severe gastrointestinal and cardiac symptoms, and in some cases, chronic neurologic symptoms. Clinical symptoms observed on the victims were variable in terms of severity of intoxication and may not be sufficient to diagnose CFP from other fish poisoning. At present, Cigua-Check Kit has been used as a detection kit for CTX in suspected CTX-contaminated fish but recently it has been shown to have unreliability with its results. This study was able to use a much more reliable and sensitive technique to detect CTX in biological samples extracted from CFP victims. A mass spectrometric technique analysis was done in biological samples of CFP victims involving 22 individuals from 2 households in Iloilo province in central Philippines. We have confirmed the presence of CTX in blood samples of some of the affected individuals by using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), which showed masses corresponding to those of CTX-1 and CTX-3B/3C. These results strengthened the clinical diagnosisas well as the result of Cigua-Check. A validated mass spectrometric technique as a method for CTX detection will be useful for more effective management.
Link to the article: http://journals.uplb.edu.ph/index.php/JESAM/article/view/929
Impact Factor: 0.18
