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Research-internship at the CEAT Biomaterials and environmentak engineering laboratory with a special problem on: inverstigation of the biohydrogen production potential of an encapsulated Rhodobacter sp. local isolate, May 2
No full textThe energy crisis that the world is currently facing calls for drastic measures as the pace at which fuels are consumed has now risen to an alarming rate. With this, the objective of the research internship is to learn basic laboratory skills and apply these in a mini-problem regarding alternative energy production. In collaboration with College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technologies Biomaterials and Environmental Engineering Laboratory (BEEL), the researchers did some work immersion to familiarize themselves with the different equipment and techniques they’ll use and form a mini-investigative study to address these current issues. In this mini study, the researchers aimed to produce hydrogen via sustainable means by implementing immobilization through encapsulation of Rhodobacter sp. local isolate MAY2. The immobilization of local isolate MAY2 was carried out using the different encapsulation matrices: sodium alginate (SA), agar, and sodium alginate-polyvinyl alcohol SA-PVA). Different concentrations of these materials were tested for transparency and firmness; and 1.5% SA, 0.75% SA 5% PVA, and 1.875 g/250 mL agar were identified to be ideal for use in the capsulation of the strain. The potential of the encapsulated inoculum to produce hydrogen was investigated using the following parameters: optical density at 660 nm, volume of hydrogen produced, and pH. Out of these, agar-encapsulated PNSB was found to produce the highest amount (27.326%) of accumulated hydrogen which was followed by SA (15.3805%). SA-PVA was found to be ineffective as it gave the smallest (1.353%) cumulative of H2. All of the encapsulated setups were found to have a possible matrix rupture because they were found to have OD values similar to the control., especially with the culture broth of agar encapsulated MAY2 as its OD has a difference of 0.500
Impact of the online class setup on the academic self-efficacy of UPRHS Senior High School Students
No full textSelf-efficacy is a crucial part of a student\u27s academic performance. Several studies such as Moneva and Tribunalo’s (2020), and Sahibzada and Akbari’s (2020) show that self-efficacy affects academic performance. A study by Abun, Julian, and De La Gente in 2022 mentioned that “the higher the online learning self-efficacy is, the higher the academic motivation becomes”. This study aimed to find the impact of the fully online class setup on the self-efficacy of students. Forty-four (44) Senior High School UPRHS students, 16 grade 11, and 28 grade 12 students, were asked to answer a questionnaire developed and studied by Dullas in 2018. The data was then analyzed using a parametric two-tailed Wilcoxon test. Results showed that more than half (24) of the senior high school students prefer face-to-face (F2F) over online learning (OLC). According to the respondents, the top three factors that affected their self-efficacy during the online learning setup were: overloaded lesson activities, followed by mental health problems and conflict with home responsibilities. However, the results from the analysis showed that the difference of self-efficacy in academics between OLC and F2F is not significant. Senior high school student respondents preferred F2F, but there is little to no difference in self-efficacy in academics between OLC and F2F. This could mean that the preference of F2F is hinged on other factors, not self-efficacy
The art in emotions: the characterization of coping mechanisms throught visual art of the UPRHS samahan ng mga pintr members of S.Y. 201-2020
No full textEven today, mental health is a stigmatized topic, leading to unhealthy coping mechanisms. The goal of this research is to characterize art as an effective coping mechanism for times of high stress, as well as to observe the possible themes within the created artworks. The population of the study is the set of UPRHS students who were members of USAPintor. There were a total of 24 participants wherein seven were interviewed. This research makes use of both qualitative and quantitative analysis methods, using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test to analyze the data of the Perceived Stress Scale in the surveys and thematic analysis to interpret common themes in the interviewees’ answers. As it turns out, the positive effect of art was proven insignificant and the qualitative data did not reflect any notable changes in the participants’ mood before and after the creation of art. The quantitative data shows that a few participants did indeed feel better after they made art. Based on the results of the study, art only has a minimal positive effect and does little to relieve stress
Factors affecting consumer purchase decisions in buying cell phones of UP Rural High School students
No full textThere are only a few studies that have taken up the kind of factors affecting consumer purchase decisions, and most of those studies that pop up when searching for it will mostly be related to other demographics. Those demographics that appear are people from a much older age group or from a population that lives in a different country. Thus, little is known about what affects the purchasing decision of an adolescent when it comes to buying a cell phone. The study then aimed to analyze factors affecting consumer purchase decisions on cell phones with the teenage demographic as its focus. In order to fulfill the objectives, a quantitative approach was used to collect and analyze the data. Google Forms was utilized in order to conduct the survey. Through this method, trends within the population were revealed and became available for analysis. With everything that was gathered, the researchers came to the conclusion that socio-demographics, cell phone utility, personal considerations, and external influences were significant factors that affect the cell phone purchase decisions of UPRHS students. It was also found that despite differences in ages, as long as they are part of the teenage group, there is no significant difference in the respondents’ preferences and cell phone usage. Meanwhile, a person’s sex seems to influence their cell phone usage and specification preferences. Additionally, regardless of household income, the respondents tend to consider the price of the cell phone. Lastly, out of all the possible external influences, the students’ parents seemed to be the most influential in their decision-making regarding cell phones
UPRHS teachers\u27 teaching experiences during the remote learning setup
No full textThis paper recognizes the overall experiences of teachers during the implementation of online learning in the midst of Covid-19. It has been known that students are one of the most affected groups of people in the new system of education. They struggle with how to adjust to a challenging and confusing program. But the perspective of teachers is not brought to light just as much, hence the need to conduct a study regarding the experiences of educators during online learning. In conducting this research, we hope to provide a clear understanding of teachers\u27 experiences in lesson planning, lesson delivery and evaluation at the peak of the pandemic. To gather the necessary information, we used the survey research method and provided a questionnaire containing both close-ended questions and open-ended questions to University of the Philippines Rural High School teachers. The results showed that most UPRHS teachers find it neither easy nor difficult to come up with lesson plans and think that the process became more time-consuming compared to regular programming before, most of the respondents agree that there are complications in the flow of modules and lesson delivery to their students and that the remote learning setup has caused teachers to become more compassionate toward their students\u27 academic performance. And there was no specific pattern that has been found that can conclude that there is a certain type of teacher or a specific category of educators that can predetermine their overall opinion on online learning. This paper also discusses the most challenging aspects of online teaching mentioned by our respondents. Based on our data, the central themes are creating activities and instructional materials, content, and time management (lesson planning); student engagement, environment and resources, and internet connectivity (lesson delivery); and measurement of academic integrity, dealing with late submissions, and giving out authentic assessments (evaluation). Although difficulties and confusion have been brought to teachers, it is still up to them how they are able to manage and balance their careers
Optimal Allocation of Covid-19 Vaccines using Mathematical Modeling
No full textThe COVID-19 pandemic that emerged in 2019 is regarded as one of the most disruptive events of the century impacting the global economic, health, agricultural, educational, and financial systems. To combat this disease, vaccines against COVID-19 have been developed, and have been in limited supply when these first became available in late 2020. Although COVID-19 vaccines have become more available worldwide today, there is an imbalance in resources among nations in the world putting underdeveloped nations at a disadvantage. Literature points out that unequal distribution of vaccines among wealthier and poorer countries continue to lead to a gap in vaccination rates that becomes alarming to low-income countries because of resource constraints.
Hence, within low-income countries such as the Philippines, optimal allocation of COVID-19 vaccines especially for resource-constrained communities is vital. Optimal allocation of vaccines would allow resources to be apportioned for other equally important aspects of pandemic response, and would create an equitable opportunity for citizens to access COVID-19 vaccines to achieve herd immunity that will eventually help in curbing the pandemic.
Using constrained optimization, this research developed a mathematical model for the optimal allocation of COVID-19 vaccines considering various constraints in supply and demand such as prioritization framework, available doses of vaccine brands, demand for vaccine in each locality, and the financial requirements for vaccination. The model was applied in Abulug, Cagayan where data was available using local data collected from their Rural Health Unit. Secondary data came from the Municipal Planning Office of Abulug, Cagayan, Department of Health, and Philippine Statistics Authority.
Results show that allocating vaccines using the model yield additional COVID-19 deaths of 14. Compared to other approaches of vaccine allocation, allocating vaccines proportionally with respect to the demand of priority groups, then distributing the vaccines proportionally with respect to the demand of localities will result to additional COVID-19 deaths of 15. On the hand, if vaccines are allocated proportionally to priority groups then distributed equally among localities, the projected additional COVID-19 deaths is 27.
It is, therefore, recommended for the Rural Health Unit to utilize the developed model in allocating vaccines per priority group per locality as it yields the least number of projected deaths as compared to other known approaches of vaccine allocation. It has to be noted, however, that the results from the model will not remain the same through time. It has to be recalibrated when there are changes in parameters such as demand, supply, budget, vaccine-related costs, COVID-19 data (e.g., fatality rate), and demographics. The model, likewise, has to be adjusted to fit the requirements of the community (or country) to which it will be applied. Nonetheless, as demonstrated in this research, the model can be used for its purpose to determine the optimal allocation of vaccines to minimize the projected number of additional COVID-19 deaths especially for resource-constrained communities.
Research directions that merit investigation include exploring other parameters to be included in the modeling process such as vaccine expiration, effect of population density, and dynamic system models. Further, it is strongly encouraged for the government to advance its interests in processes and technologies that will allow systematic, organized, and complete data collection that can be made publicly available to support research and academic undertakings in the country
Impact of Technological Advancement on Unemployment in ASEAN Countries
No full textTechnological unemployment is a widely studied phenomenon, especially in industrialized countries where its effects can fully be observed. The impact of Industry 4.0 on the rapid technological advancement of countries on a global scale enables technological unemployment to be observed in non-industrialized countries and regions such as the ASEAN. This study explored the relationship between technological advancement and unemployment in ASEAN countries in the context of Industry 4.0.
The study analyzed the behavior of technological advancement and unemployment in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Philippines throughout the years 1996-2019. While the unemployment rate of the countries behaved erratically and dissimilarly, clear distinctions can be made from the behavior of technological advancement in the region. Specifically, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia lead the region in terms of technological advancement with Vietnam and Philippines catching up. Econometric analyses, through First difference OLS, were also conducted to empirically study the impact of technological advancement on unemployment.
The results indicate that technological advancement generally leads to employment and job creation in the region. However, further analysis revealed that for Singapore specifically, technological advancement leads to unemployment and job destruction. Therefore, this study recommends promoting technological advancement in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Philippines, to create jobs and increase their income. On the contrary, a reevaluation of the level of technological advancement is recommended for Singapore to avoid technological unemployment in the country
The Nexus of Demographic Dividends and Labor Productivity in ASEAN Countries
No full textPopulation dynamics play an important role in explaining the successful growth of developed Asian countries. With the ASEAN – 6 region currently experiencing a window of opportunity to prosper development through an occurring demographic dividend, this study provides an analysis of the linkage between demographic and economic variables affecting labor productivity growth. This study examined the behavior of different economic and population indicators of the ASEAN – 6 countries which include Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam across 49 years from 1971 – 2019.
Utilizing a Feasible Generalized Least Squares Panel Regression allowed for studying the effects of different growth and demographic variables on labor productivity growth. The results indicate that the ASEAN – 6 countries can optimally reap the benefits of demographic dividends and increase labor productivity growth through investing in the middle (30 – 49 years old) and old working-age population (50 – 64 years old). Furthermore, capital deepening is revealed to be a significant driver of labor productivity growth. While openness to trade, gross fixed capital formation, and fertility rates are found to be detrimental to the labor productivity growth of the selected countries. Given the findings, it is suggested that policymakers consider capital investments, revisit trade terms and agreements, and formulate fertility-controlling policies
The Effect of COVID-19 pandemic on the Philippine International Remittances from Selected Host Countries
No full textThe important role of remittances in the economy of many countries has encouraged many organizations and researchers to study this subject in different aspects. Despite this, there are few studies tackling the impact of macroeconomic shocks like the recent COVID- 19 pandemic on remittances, especially in the case of the Philippines which is a known remittance-dependent country. Following the framework of the cyclicality of remittances, this study documented how the COVID-19 pandemic affects the Philippine international remittances from the USA and Singapore. Real GDP growth, exchange rate, inflation rate, and interest rate have also been used in the analysis to know the macroeconomic determinants of remittances.
The results from the Johansen cointegration test and Vector error correction model revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic has a significant positive effect on remittance levels from the U.S.A and Singapore. Adverse economic conditions brought about by macroeconomic shocks like the pandemic increase remittance inflows to the Philippines from the two countries. This proves the countercyclicality behavior of Philippine remittances. Macroeconomic variables like home and host real GDP growth rate, bank lending interest rate, exchange rate, and inflation rate are also seen to be significantly related to international remittances both in the short and long run. Based on these findings, this study recommends guaranteeing the remittance inflows through different channels. Moreover, it is vital to safeguard the welfare of overseas workers who have been the main sources of international remittances
Analyzing the Factors that Affect the Affordability of Fruits and Vegetables Among Households in Calauan, Laguna
No full textThis study primarily aimed to identify whether households in Calauan are able to afford fruits and vegetables in the said area. Specifically, it utilized the Cost of Recommended Diet (CoRD) as an affordability index. The needed data for the study were gathered through survey questionnaires to determine the households¶ expenditure on fruits and vegetables.
According to the household heads, they consume at least two to four servings of fruits and vegetables on a weekly basis. Based on the estimated CoRD, 86.08% of the households do not have the capacity to purchase the adequate amount of fruits and vegetables. However, when the household\u27s consumption pattern was taken into account, 67.53% were able to afford the said food items.
From the performed regression, it was discovered that two among four explanatory variables were found significant namely: household size and household income. Household size was negatively related with affordability of fruits and vegetables indicating that as there are more family members, the household\u27s capacity to afford it decreases. On the other hand, as the household income increases, the affordability of the mentioned food items also increases, signifying a positive relationship.
The study concluded that most households in Calauan spend less than the amount of the recommended diet as per the dietary guides. This can be attributed to financial constraints, the food preferences of the household, or to their access to other sources of fruits and vegetables prompting them to purchase less commodities from nearby markets