Animo Repository - De La Salle University Research
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The resistome, bacterial composition, and mobilome of hospital wastewaters in Metro Manila: A shotgun metagenomics approach
No full textAntimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the most pressing global health threats. In 2019, an estimated 1.27 million deaths were directly attributed to bacterial AMR and 4.9 million deaths associated with it. Hospital wastewater (HWW) harbors antibiotic resistance genes (ARG) and a diversity of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB), which contribute to the AMR problem. This study profiled the ARGs, ARBs, and mobile genetic elements (MGE) of untreated hospital wastewater from three tertiary hospitals in Metro Manila using shotgun metagenomic sequencing. Results revealed high abundances of ARGs conferring resistance to sulfonamides (sul1, sul2), aminoglycosides (aadS), and macrolides/streptogramins (msrE, mphE). Notably, antiseptic and disinfectant resistance genes (qacEΔ1, qacL) were detected for the first time in Philippine HWWs. A significantly higher diversity (Shannon) of ARGs was seen in HWW B and HWW C against HWW A (p \u3c 0.01). The bacterial community was dominated by Pseudomonadota, with prevalent genera including Stenotrophomonas, Pseudomonas, and Rhodococcus. There was no significant difference in biodiversity (Shannon index) of the genera found across the hospitals (p \u3e 0.05). A wide diversity of MGEs associated with resistance to multiple drug classes, including antiseptics and disinfectants, was observed. These included insertion sequences (IS1071, ISPasp1, IS1247, ISVsa3, ISAba1, ISStma11), Class 1 integrons, and plasmid replicons (IncQ2, IncP6, repUS43, Col440II, Col(pHAD28), and ColRNAI). Overall, these findings highlight key ARGs, bacterial pathogens, and MGEs that may contribute to the persistence and transmission of AMR within healthcare settings, underscoring the value of integrating genotypic surveillance of HWW into existing AMR surveillance to guide wastewater management and strengthen infection control measures
Discourse, Power, and Pedagogy in AI and Human-Designed EFL Lesson Plans: A CLIL and Systemic Functional Linguistic Perspective
No full textThe integration of generative artificial intelligence (GAI) into English language teaching (ELT) raises important questions about how AI-generated lesson plans shape pedagogy, interaction, and ideology compared to human-designed materials. This study examines how ChatGPT-generated lesson plans converge with or diverge from those published by the British Council, with particular attention to teacher and learner roles, classroom power dynamics, and pedagogical scaffolding. A triadic framework combining systemic functional linguistics (SFL), critical discourse analysis (CDA), and content and language integrated learning (CLIL) was applied to three British Council lesson plans and three thematically matched ChatGPT outputs. Findings reveal that both sets of plans emphasize material processes to promote task-based engagement, but the British Council lessons integrate verbal and mental processes more consistently, supporting dialogic interaction and reflective thinking. By contrast, ChatGPT outputs display a narrower range of processes and predominantly teacher-centered roles, offering procedural clarity but fewer opportunities for learner autonomy and content–language integration. CLIL-based analysis further shows that the British Council lessons align more robustly with higher-order thinking, authentic communication, and cultural engagement, whereas ChatGPT-generated lessons provide only partial alignment. The study concludes that although AI can efficiently generate structured EFL lessons, its pedagogical value emerges most fully through teacher mediation. Combining insights from SFL, CDA, and CLIL, the research highlights how educators can critically evaluate and refine AI-generated plans to ensure they support dialogic, equitable, and learner-centered instruction. These findings have implications for teacher agency, critical AI adoption, and the design of best practices for responsible integration of GAI into ELT
‘Pearls in pressure’: How social control shapes women’s reproductive agency and life’s turning points
No full textThis study examines how the varying forms of social control influence women’s reproductive agency and decision-making, in the Philippine context where cultural conservatism and moral expectations remain significantly and deeply entrenched to the identity and culture, subsequently making reproductive decision-making and agency a highly contested topic. Utilizing a qualitative descriptive research design, the researchers collected data through semi-structured interviews, interviewing 8 women aged 21 to 25 residing in Metro Manila. Applying the method of thematic analysis, the results revealed that reproductive decisions are shaped by the intersecting influences and facets of religious standards, familial expectations and peer interactions that collectively define what is considered acceptable and moral. Despite these forms of control, the participants pursued to exhibit their agency through their own ways of navigation, by practicing informed decision-making and portraying subtle resistance to the traditional reproductive norms. The findings emphasize that the facets identified, namely familial and cultural expectations, religious beliefs or religion-based morals, life trajectories and legal policies, and general access to information, are significant considerations in reproductive decision-making, acknowledging that it is a continuous process in which women actively negotiate between control and autonomy. It highlights the ways in which self-determination, reflection, and social awareness intertwine to shape their experiences across reproductive turning points
Exploring Filipino blue-collar parental perception of intergenerational social mobility and their role in facilitating their children\u27s upward mobility through higher education
No full textThe study explored how Filipino blue-collar worker (BCW) parents perceive their facilitation of their children’s intergenerational social mobility (ISM), particularly upward mobility through achieving higher education. While existing literature on ISM in the Philippines often emphasizes economic inequality and low socioeconomic status (SES), few studies explore how parents navigate these challenges to support their children’s mobility. Using a qualitative research design, the study conducted twelve (12) semi-structured interviews with BCW parents in urban communities within Luzon who currently or previously held blue-collar jobs, and had at least one child enrolled in or graduated from college. The analysis highlights dimensions such as parents’ socioeconomic background, parental agency, psychosocial attitudes, and children’s perceived upward mobility. Findings revealed that despite limited educational attainment and blue-collar work, BCW parents showed strong aspirations for their children to pursue higher education. Through strategies such as financial management, shared decision-making, and consistent emotional and educational support, BCW parents fostered their children’s educational success and upward mobility as seen in improved lifestyle conditions, higher educational progression, and expanded career prospects. Overall, the study demonstrated that the intentional efforts of BCW parents contribute to interrupting the cycle of intergenerational transmission of poverty, reaffirming the critical role of education for upward mobility in the Philippine context
Influence of host BMI and socioeconomic status on the effectiveness of mass deworming interventions for controlling soil-transmitted helminth infections in children
No full textSoil-transmitted helminth (STH) infection remains to be a public health problem for school-aged children, especially in endemic regions. Although mass deworming programs have been implemented, control of reinfection has been challenging in the long term. This study looks at the impact of school-age children\u27s body mass index (BMI) and socioeconomic status (SES) on STH infection in relation to the effectiveness of mass deworming. Based on the odds ratio analysis, the probability of getting infected by Ascaris spp. was significantly higher (OR = 3.2), whereas the odds ratio for Trichuris spp. was lower (OR = 0.235). On the other hand, stunted and underweight children had lower odds (OR = 0.46 and 0.51, respectively), nutritional indicators like BMI-for-age (BAZ) and Height-for-age (HAZ) were not significantly correlated with infection. When using a combined SES score, no significant correlation was found, but logistic regression revealed that SES was a complex variable: children in the lowest income bracket had lower odds of infection (OR = 0.18; p = 0.0339). The importance of behavioral and infrastructure factors was highlighted by the lack of significant associations found for environmental factors, such as access to clean water and sanitation. Based on the results, mass deworming alone is insufficient to effectively lower the prevalence of STH in urban areas where it is endemic. Deworming must be used alongside better sanitation, hygiene education, and nutrition interventions in a broader approach. In order to more accurately represent re-infection patterns and improve intervention strategies, future studies should use longitudinal monitoring and larger, multi-site samples.
Keywords: Soil-transmitted helminths (STH), mass deworming, Body Mass Index (BMI), Socioeconomic status (SES), school-aged children, BAZ, HA
Detection of ectoparasites in fermented tilapia (Oreochromis spp.)
No full textParasitic infections in tilapia, specifically genus Oreochromis, pose significant health risks in aquaculture and food safety. Burong Isda is a traditional Filipino dish that ferments freshwater fish with salt and rice through lactic acid fermentation or lacto-fermentation. While lacto-fermentation was used to preserve food and prevent bacterial spoilage, its effectiveness against parasites in raw fish preparations remains understudied. This experimental study aims to assess the efficacy of lactic acid fermentation by comparing the number of parasites present in both fermented and non-fermented fish. The research conducted a controlled experimental design examining lowering of parasites in filleted tilapia over a 20-day fermentation period. Parasitological examinations were conducted on samples obtained from the gills, tails, and skin at three-time intervals (Days 0, 12, and 20) to assess parasite prevalence during the fermentation process. Analysis revealed that fresh fish samples (Day 0) exhibited a parasite count of 3 out of 36 samples found in the skin and gills, while subsequent examination on Day 12 showed a complete absence of parasites. However, a suspected Oribatid mite was found on the tail on Day 20. These findings demonstrate a decrease in parasite occurrence, potentially attributed to the inhibitory effects of the acidic fermentation environment on parasite viability. However, the discrepancy found on Day 20 suggests that further investigation is necessary to fully understand the reason behind the lowering of the number of parasites after fermentation. This study contributes to understanding traditional food preservation methods’ safety implications, though further research is warranted to optimize fermentation parameters and investigate potential bioactive compounds that may enhance antiparasitic effects
Service-learning and SDG 17: A qualitative analysis of community partnerships at DLSU Laguna
No full textService-learning is a teaching method that requires linking community service to academic application to create a procedural way through which students relate the theoretical aspects of learning in the classroom with actual applications and to meet the identified specific needs of the local communities while Sustainable Development Goals 17 (SDG 17) emphasizes partnerships for the cooperation of people and organizations to mobilize resources, knowledge, skills, and resources to advance sustainable development goals. Both programs have a common goal: to develop sustainable development for the community. This qualitative research utilized thematic and content analysis together with qualitative document analysis (QDA) to assess the role of the Senior High School Service Learning Program (SHSSLP) of De La Salle University Laguna (DLSU Laguna) in promoting sustainable communities. Documents that were examined include syllabi of courses and guidelines of the program, descriptions of the projects, partnership agreements, journals of the students, and evaluation forms of the community partners. These documents provided an overall picture of the SHSSLP on how it approached engaging with the communities, the collaborative experiences of stakeholders, and the program\u27s alignment with SDG 17 principles, which entails strengthening partnerships for implementation, innovative technological support, and resource mobilization. The progress reports and post-implementation evaluations provided additional information on achieving the program\u27s outcomes and assessing its effectiveness after the implementation. The results and findings show that the DLSU Laguna’s SHSSLP helps in enabling effective community engagement, sharing knowledge and mutual learning, promoting effective resolution of organizational and community challenges, promoting capacity building and resilience in communities, and supporting the achievement of SDG 17, with its implications that the community partners describe the organization as an indispensable foundation for fostering service-learning with the DLSU Laguna SHSSLP. Through service-learning as a component of the academic program, the community partners could access institutional resources while the students and faculty learned from local perspectives. This qualitative document analysis of the SHSSLP at DLSU Laguna provides valuable insights into the university\u27s efforts to foster sustainable community partnerships aligned with SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Goals
