Animo Repository - De La Salle University Research
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Assessing elderly needs in Indang, Cavite: Recommendations for a community-based mental health program
No full textThe elderly population faces a unique set of challenges that impact their overall well-being. As such, a needs analysis was conducted on an elderly community in Indang, Cavite using a focus group discussion to gather the data. The analysis revealed three primary themes: (1) social challenges, (2) psychological challenges, and (3) somatic challenges. Social challenges centered on transgenerational parenting, whereas participants experienced multiple roles such as caregiving for their grandchildren and performing household chores for the family. Psychological challenges on the other hand included persistent worry about familial problems with participants expressing concerns about their health and the support their families need as well as unexplored mental health concerns. Lastly, somatic challenges were also evident in which physical health issues and sleep disturbances further complicate their ability to manage their daily responsibilities. The findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to address these multifaceted challenges in rural communities
A complementary disease surveillance framework for meningococcal disease in the Philippines
No full textLaboratory-based disease surveillance is a fundamental component of public health surveillance (PHS), essential for estimating disease incidence and preventing transmission. However, its effectiveness is often hindered by reporting delays and its scope is limited to only tested individuals. To overcome these, PHS is often complemented by syndromic surveillance (SS) systems, which leverage on pre-diagnostic data to enable more timely monitoring by using aberration detection thresholds signaling when disease incidence exceeds expected baselines. Currently, the Philippines lacks dedicated meningococcal disease outbreak thresholds that can supplement meningococcal disease monitoring. This thesis proposes a framework for developing and evaluating model-based outbreak detection thresholds for meningococcal disease in the Philippines. The methodology is centered on simulating realistic time series data using an epidemic-endemic model developed by Held et al. (2005). Using these simulations, this study will construct and compare forecasting models from three distinct classes: (1) traditional statistical models (ARIMA, EARS, INAR, ZINAR), (2) machine learning algorithms (kNN and XGBoost), and (3) deep learning architectures (LSTM). This comparative approach assesses the trade-offs between the well-understood probabilistic properties of statistical models and the flexibility of machine learning models, which can capture complex data patterns without strong distributional assumptions. We obtained results from 100 simulations of a 259-week time series using a 52-week moving window. Performances of different models were evaluated using sensitivity, false positive rate (FPR), probability of detection, and timeliness. The results indicate that the framework developed thresholds with sensitivity, probability of detection, and timeliness values on par or, at times, even better than those of all variations of the widely used Early Aberration Reporting System, at the expense of higher false positive rates. However, these FPRs may be minimized by using higher quantiles for threshold construction or ensemble models. While there is no singular model or ensemble model that clearly outperformed all others, the ensemble model of kNN (k = 5) and mean could be singled out due to its relatively low FPR, quick timeliness, competitive probability of detection, and relative simplicity
Physicochemical analysis and characterization of oryza sativa lipoxygenase 3 (OsLOX3) CRISPR-knockout rice
No full textRice is a vital staple that sustains more than half of the world\u27s population. However, one of the persistent challenges is in its short shelf life brought about by rancidity. In particular, oxidative rancidity, characterized by the peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids to unstable lipid hydroperoxides, leads to the formation of aldehydes, ketones, and alcohol products that contribute to the characteristic stale, off-flavor, and smell of rancid rice. Lipoxygenase 3 (LOX3) is one of the genes that contribute highly to lipid oxidation; thus, a possible solution to rancidity is its removal or knock-out using gene editing technology. Despite various reports showing the effects of LOX3 knockout, no studies have comprehensively characterized the physicochemical properties of lox3 mutants. Hence, this study analyzed and assessed the physicochemical properties of a CRISPR/Cas9 gene knockout rice sample, focusing on its thermal properties and compositional characteristics. For thermal properties, Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) was used to analyze the enthalpies (gelatinization and amylose-lipid complex) of rice, and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) was used to assess the thermal stability and decomposition of the rice. Meanwhile, for compositional analysis, attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC- MS) were employed. DSC showed that OsLOX3 knockout lines exhibited higher gelatinization enthalpy than controls, with the difference significant in IRRI154 but not in Samba Mahsuri. In contrast, the amylose-lipid complex enthalpies were lower in both lines, but the differences were not significant. TGA thermograms showed almost identical results between the control and OsLOX3 knockout lines, as did FTIR, which revealed spectra nearly identical to those of the control, suggesting no major changes in overall thermal stability or bulk functional group composition. However, second-derivative spectra in principal component analysis (PCA) showed clustering in IRRI154 between the control and knockout lines, while lacking separation in Samba Mahsuri. By contrast, LC-MS revealed substantial differences in levels of key metabolites associated with oxylipin and other metabolic pathways, as well as higher levels of fatty acids, including oleic acid (18:1). The overall results provide insight into how the absence of OsLOX3 contributes to the reduction in rancidity and may potentially improve the shelf life of rice
Stigma and coping experience of adolescents of imprisoned parents in India: An exploratory multiple case study
No full textStigma is one of the most difficult challenges of parental imprisonment that has detrimental psychological outcomes on adolescents of imprisoned parents. The studies among the imprisoned and their families have mostly focused on the impact of imprisonment. However, there are hardly any studies exploring the actual experiences of stigma and adolescents’ coping with stigma-related stressors in general and experiences based on the sex of the adolescent and the sex of the imprisoned parent, especially in the collectivist cultural context of India. The researcher explored this phenomenon using a qualitative exploratory multiple-case study design. Labeling and discriminatory treatments like social exclusion and domestic violence emerged as major stigma experiences across groups of participants. While peer rejection and bullying were dominant factors for male participants, trust issues were more prominent for female adolescents. Adolescents with imprisoned mothers seemed to receive more sympathy; however, adolescents perceive it as a stigmatizing experience. The adolescents employed resilience, seeking anonymity, distraction, and avoidant strategies in varying ways to cope with the adverse experiences of stigma. The study provides insights into the stigma and coping experiences of adolescents of imprisoned parents within a collectivist culture, highlighting the need for culturally informed mental health interventions to support this vulnerable group. The relevance and implications of the study are discussed.
Keywords: stigma of adolescents of imprisoned parents, collectivist culture, labeling, discriminatory treatment, seeking anonymity, and coping with stigma-related stressor
Ecolinguistic Analysis of Princess Mononoke: Boosting Environmental Literacy
No full textThe Anthropocene is a term some scientists use for the current geological age, during which human activities profoundly and often negatively impact Earth’s systems, including environmental change. Despite widespread recognition of this global crisis, a gap persists between awareness and meaningful action, underscoring a critical deficit in environmental literacy. This study aims to address this gap by conducting an ecolinguistic analysis of Hayao Miyazaki’s (1997) film, Princess Mononoke. Stibbe’s (2020) Stories We Live By, particularly the story of ideology, was used to analyze the film and its five principal human characters, examining their attitudes and behavior, and connecting them to the situation of modern humans. The analysis reveals a spectrum of ecological ideologies—from extreme anthropocentrism to radical ecocentrism—and discusses how the film’s narrative complexity models the ideological conflicts that characterize modern environmental debates. The results suggest that while Princess Mononoke and its ecolinguistic analysis afford valuable opportunities for classroom critical discussion on competing worldviews about nature, full interventions to promote ecological awareness and pro-environmental behavior require careful pedagogical design and empirical validation. The study calls for future empirical evidence from film-based ecolinguistic analysis that not only serves as a medium for enhancing environmental literacy but also stimulates critical engagement with the stories that shape humans’ relationship with the more-than-human world
Living Through Adversity: Understanding Discrimination, Resilience, and Psychological Well-being Among Filipino Transgender Youth
No full textTransgender youth continue to face systemic discrimination and social marginalization. These barriers can hinder their development and negatively affect their psychological well-being. However, little is known about the specific ways Filipino transgender youth experience discrimination and develop resilience. To address this gap, this study sought to understand the lived experiences of Filipino transgender youth, focusing on the discrimination they face and the resilience factors that contribute to their psychological well-being. This study employed a descriptive phenomenological approach, utilizing online in-depth interviews with nine transgender youth aged 17 to 23 from Metro Manila, comprising five female-to-male and four male-to-female individuals, who were selected through purposive and snowball sampling. Data were analyzed using a modified Colaizzi’s (1978) descriptive phenomenological method. Findings revealed that discrimination often occurred in academic settings and manifested through microaggressions and social exclusion. These experiences contributed to feelings of stress, anxiety, and low self-esteem, among others, yet the impact of discrimination was mitigated by strong coping strategies, activism and emotional regulation, and social support from peers, family members, and affirming communities. A strong sense of identity pride also helped participants maintain self-worth, protecting them against gender-based discrimination. The study highlights the need for inclusive policies and supportive environments in educational institutions. Future research could explore how these resilience factors evolve, particularly concerning long-term access to gender-affirming environments
“Blessings or Burdens”: Perceived Values and Disvalues of Children Among Married Filipino Millennials
No full textChildren are perceived to carry meanings that either enrich or burden the lives of their parents, but limited studies have examined the perceived values and disvalues of children in the contemporary Filipino context. To address this gap, a survey was conducted among a hundred married Filipino millennials recruited through various social media platforms. The study investigated whether there were significant differences in child-related values and disvalues based on marital role (husbands or wives), parental status (with or without children), and parenting efficacy (moderate or high). Hotelling’s T2 results revealed no significant differences between husbands and wives in their combined scores across the six value dimensions, suggesting increasingly egalitarian attitudes toward parenting roles. However, traditional gendered perceptions persisted where sons were associated with financial responsibility, protection, and lineage, while daughters were linked to moral guidance, emotional nurturance, and family cohesion. Significant differences emerged by parental status, with pairwise comparisons indicating parents valued happiness, love, and companionship; identity and fulfillment; and benefits to the family unit more highly. While no significant differences in disvalues were observed across marital role and parental status, a significant difference was found in the combined disvalues across levels of parenting efficacy. However, follow-up pairwise comparisons showed no significant difference in any individual disvalues. Overall, the findings reflect a collective awareness among married Filipino millennials of both the rewards and demands of raising children. However, even as an increasingly more egalitarian view of parenting and parental roles is evident, traditional gendered views of sons and daughters still persist
Overcoming mass promotion and functional illiteracy: A symbolic analysis of selected public school teachers’ experiences in handling secondary students in Metro Manila
No full textThe growing number of functionally illiterate Filipino graduates motivated the researchers to investigate the current educational landscape in the Philippines. This study explored the experiences of public secondary school teachers within Metro Manila involving the issues of mass promotion and functional illiteracy. Through a case study analysis, the researchers conducted an in-depth exploration of the experiences of public school teachers in navigating systemic challenges and institutional policies, grounded by a symbolic interactionist framework. Data were derived from semi-structured interviews involving six (6) participants. The researchers conducted thematic analysis to draw themes and patterns from the data. Findings revealed that students who were classified as functionally illiterate shared common characteristics including having subpar skills and abilities, which greatly challenged teachers. Functional illiteracy emerged as an outcome of implicit mass promotion within school systems that was perpetuated by institutional mechanisms. It further studied how public secondary school teachers constructed their roles and derived meanings out of their experiences in navigating systemic educational challenges