Animo Repository - De La Salle University Research
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Preliminary investigation on culturable gut bacteria and their relationship with bowel movement frequency using plate count agar
No full textThe human gut microbiota plays a vital role in digestion, intestinal motility, and microbial homeostasis. This study aimed to explore the relationship between bowel movement frequency and the growth of culturable gut bacteria, particularly facultative anaerobes, using a culture-based approach. Stool samples were collected from 50 adult participants and plated on Plate Count Agar (PCA) using the pour plate method. Colony counts were recorded from plates within the accepted 30–300 range and verified using ImageJ software. Bowel movement frequency was assessed using a validated 7-day recall questionnaire, supported by the Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS) and gastrointestinal symptom scores. Participants were classified as either Normal or Constipated based on these tools. While no statistical analyses were performed, descriptive observations revealed that participants with regular bowel movements generally exhibited higher colony counts compared to those classified as constipated. These findings suggest that increased bowel frequency may support the growth of viable facultative anaerobes, potentially due to improved gut transit, consistent nutrient turnover, and reduced microbial stagnation. Culture-based enumeration provided functional insights into viable bacterial populations and highlighted the value of non-molecular methods in microbiota research. This preliminary investigation offers foundational evidence for the link between gut motility and culturable microbial viability, paving the way for future studies incorporating molecular techniques, triplicate sampling, and longitudinal tracking.
Keywords: Gut microbiota, facultative anaerobes, bowel movement frequency, stool consistency, constipation, culture-based enumeration, ImageJ, Plate Count Agar (PCA
Talinghaga at/ng Pakikibaka: Pagsusuri sa mga Pahayag ng All UP Academic Employees Union - Los Baños, 2019-2020
No full textMahalaga sa anomang organisasyong panlipunan ang mabisang pakikipag-ugnayan sa mga pinagsisilbihan nito. Sa kaso ng mga unyon, tungkulin nito ang regular na pakikipagkomunikasyon sa mga miyembro at hindi miyembro nito hinggil sa iba’t ibang usaping may kaugnayan sa sariling kagalingan at kagalingan ng mga kapwa manggagawa. Isa na sa mga paraang ito ang paglalabas ng mga pahayag o statement. Nagagamit din ang pahayag bilang isang kasangkapan sa paglalatag ng tindig at paniniwala ng mga kasapi nito sa isang partikular na isyu. Para sa papel na ito, sinuri ng mga mananaliksik ang dalawampu’t anim (26) na pahayag o statement ng All UP Academic Employees Union - Los Baños (AUPAEU-LB) mula sa mga taong 2019 hanggang 2020. Sa gabay ng proseso ng pagsusuri ng talinghaga ni Richard D. Johnson Sheehan (1999), tinangka ng saliksik na ito na tuklasin ang mga pananalinghaga at ang mga kahulugan nito sa likod ng mga pahayag na nailathala sa Facebook page ng AUPAEU-LB. Maihahanay ang mga pahayag sa tatlong pangunahing tema: (1) akademikong kalayaan at karapatang pantao, (2) akademikong polisiya at gawaing pang-unibersidad, at (3) usaping batayang serbisyo at pangkomunidad. Sa pagsusuri naman ng mga talinghaga, bagaman masasabing karaniwan na ang mga ginagamit dahil sa pagkakatulad sa mga talinhagang ginagamit ng ibang organisasyong pangmasa, sinasalamin pa rin naman ng mga ito ang realidad ng sektor ng kaguruan at REPS (Research, Extension, and Professional Staff) at gayundin ang pakikipagkaisa ng AUPAEU-LB sa iba pang mga institusyon at organisasyon sa labas ng UP. Samakatwid, isang esensyal na sangkap ang pananalinghaga sa pagpapaunawa at pagpaparanas sa mambabasa ng mga usaping kinahaharap ng mga manggagawang akademiko
Quitting but not quite: Antecedents and outcome of quiet quitting behavior among selected Filipino Gen Z BPO employees
No full textQuiet quitting behavior has become more prominent in the corporate setting as a response to difficult working conditions (Serenko, 2023). Although it helps as a coping mechanism, the practice not only affects employee performance and career growth, but also the company\u27s overall success due to potential losses and decreased competitiveness (Mahand & Caldwell, 2023). The issues mentioned are essential as BPO encounters a high attrition rate while Gen Z workers continuously advocate for fair work expectations. The study then examined quiet quitting behavior among selected Filipino Gen Z BPO employees based in Metro Manila. The research, through the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) Model, established the effects of compensation and work-life balance on quiet quitting behavior. Moreover, the research indicated the relationship between quiet quitting behavior and employee well-being via correlation. Out of 329 valid online survey responses, the respondents reported moderate levels of quiet quitting behavior, level of compensation, and quality of work-life balance, and a high state of employee well-being. Level of compensation and quality of work-life balance had a significant, weak effect on level of quiet quitting behavior, and there was a significant, negative relationship between level of quiet quitting behavior and state of employee well-being. The results emphasize that although investing in employee compensation and work-life balance are ways to diminish quiet quitting behavior, which in turn can enhance overall employee well-being, quiet quitting behavior is driven by factors outside of compensation and work-life balance
A first-principles study of quantum capacitance in Ti₂C MXene decorated with Li, Na and K
No full textThis study investigates the quantum capacitance enhancement of Ti₂C MXene through alkali metal (Li, Na, K) surface decoration using density functional theory calculations. Pristine Ti₂C was confirmed as a non-magnetic metal with a lattice constant of 3.05 Å and quantum capacitance ranging from ~125 to ~780 μF/cm² dominated by Ti 3d orbitals. Bader charge analysis revealed electron transfer of 1.17 e⁻ (Li), 0.61 e⁻ (Na), and 0.62 e⁻ (K) to the substrate, with donated electrons populating Ti 3d conduction states and enhancing the density of states near the Fermi level. Quantum capacitance calculations revealed pronounced peaks at negative potentials for all decorated systems: Li-Ti₂C (~760 μF/cm² at -0.5 V), Na-Ti₂C (~750 μF/cm² at -0.35 V), and K-Ti₂C achieving exceptional peak performance of ~1400 μF/cm² at -0.4 V. Surface charge density analysis confirmed anode character for all decorated systems, with K-Ti₂C exhibiting the highest absolute negative charge storage capacity (-480 μC/cm²). These results establish alkali metal decoration as an effective strategy for engineering Ti 3d orbital occupancy to enhance MXene quantum capacitance for asymmetric supercapacitor applications
Lived experiences of recently ordained Indian catholic priests and the impact of stress on their mental health: An interpretative phenomenological analysis
No full textThis study explores the lived experience of stress and its impact on the mental health of recently ordained Indian Catholic priests using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Despite growing global attention to clergy mental health, little is known about how priests in India navigate stress amid personal and ministerial transitions. Seventeen in-depth interviews were conducted with young diocesan, religious, and semi-religious priests in Goa, India, all ordained within the past decade. Findings were interpreted through a novel, cross-inspired framework that integrates the Transactional Theory of Stress and Coping (Lazarus & Folkman) with priests’ theological views on vocation and suffering. Priests reported stressors including ministerial overload, hierarchical tensions, emotional isolation, and sociopolitical pressures, often intensified by generational gaps and digital demands. Narratives revealed a developmental arc of turbulence in the first three to five years after ordination, followed by greater vocational integration for some. Coping strategies included prayer, hobbies, peer support, and family ties, although prayer was sometimes compromised and mental health services underused due to stigma and theological suspicion. Central to the framework is the “Zebedee Drive,” a psychologically and spiritually charged urgency to prove oneself early in ministry, which fuels passionate service but risks overextension if not integrated reflectively. While theological reframing offered resilience, the study cautions against spiritual bypassing without practical self-care and systemic support. The findings highlight both vulnerabilities and strengths among young priests and call for formation that promotes mental health literacy, emotional regulation, and resilience, integrating theological meaning-making while addressing stigma and institutional neglect of clergy well-being
Exploring Societal Development: The Impact of Social Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship - A Critical Review
No full textIn recent years, the emergence of social innovations and social entrepreneurship has dramatically influenced societal development. This paper explores the impact of synergizing social innovations and social entrepreneurship on various aspects of society, from economic policy to community resilience and societal development. Through a multidisciplinary lens, the research seeks an extensive review of social innovation and provides new solutions to entrenched social issues, whereas social entrepreneurship transforms these innovations into scalable initiatives that create meaningful change in society. While keeping traditional factors in mind, we explore the role of technology in developing new ways of working, the importance of collaboration across sectors, and the potential of institutional frameworks to support and stimulate these changes. This study explores the efficacy of highlighting these interrelationships by comprehensively reviewing them using a “resource-based view.” Bringing together, the study critically examines societal development opportunities, culminating in a discussion of integrating social entrepreneurship and innovation to drive societal development. The review’s output provides a comprehensive foundation for further research on scaling social enterprises, focusing on the role of innovation to achieve better societal development