Central Mindanao University

Over the last few decades, the productivity of sows has improved tremendously, especially in terms of litter size. Colostral immunoglobulins (Igs) are essential for the early protection of piglets against pathogens. We hypothesized that with the increase in sows’ productivity, the Ig content of colostrum has declined. The research results reviewed confirmed a negative trend in the case of IgG and IgA. The sows’ blood IgG and IgM concentrations decreased from late gestational levels, confirming the transfer from serum (with most of them not synthesized in the mammary gland). This connection was also confirmed by our correlation analyses. Colostrum Ig levels correlate well with the piglets’ blood Ig concentrations, proving the importance of colostral Ig intake. The most effective feed supplements are antioxidants and arginine to improve the Ig content of the blood (about 30 to 70%) and colostrum (about 10 to 70%). Pre- and probiotics and other feed supplements express only a modest (about +10 to 20%) but positive effect.

Effective communication requires a strong command of syntax. However, many Senior High School students struggle with applying syntactic conventions in their writing which leads to frequent errors. This study aimed to analyze and categorize syntactic deviations in Grade 11 students' essays. Using a sample of 75 participants, essays were collected and analyzed based on Dulay et al.’s (1982) Surface Strategy Taxonomy, which classifies errors into omission, addition, misordering, and misformation. Results showed that students committed all five types of syntactic deviations, with omission being the most frequent. Findings suggest that students struggle with writing due to limited awareness of syntactic rules and conventions. The study recommends targeted syntax instruction and intervention programs to improve students' writing skills.

A new Philippine foliicolous species, Porina dolichoepiphylla, was discovered from the central part of Mindanao Island, and is described and illustrated here. This new species is characterized by conspicuously longer ascospores, a feature shared only with P. virescens within the Porina epiphylla subgroup but can be distinguished from the latter by its hairless surface, as well as rough thalli with primordia of perithecia. Porina dolichoepiphylla sp. nov. is known only from the type locality on Mt Kitanglad, growing along the frond of Asplenium vittaeforme in a shady lower montane forest. An updated checklist of Porina species in the Philippines with a taxonomic key to the foliicolous species of the Porina epiphylla subgroup is also provided. The discovery of the new lichen species highlights the importance of continued exploration and documentation efforts within the Philippine archipelago.

Aim Grass‐yellow butterflies ( Eurema ) are a group of pantropical Pieridae distributed throughout Asia, Australasia, Africa and the New World. However, little is known about their diversification, including the biogeographic mechanism(s) explaining their circumglobal distribution. We present the first densely sampled, time‐calibrated phylogeny and biogeographic reconstruction of grass‐yellows to confirm the monophyly of the genera, re‐evaluate their taxonomy and infer the biogeographic events contributing to their worldwide distribution. Location Global tropics and subtropics. Taxon The butterfly tribe Euremini (Pieridae: Coliadinae). Methods We analysed up to 391 genetic loci from 126 samples of 66 ingroup species. Divergence dating was accomplished in a Bayesian phylogenetic framework using secondary calibration points, and maximum likelihood models of various biogeographic models were fitted to the data using the R package BioGeoBEARS. We used the best fitting model to estimate relative dispersal events with biogeographical stochastic mapping. Finally, we estimated branch‐specific speciation and extinction rates to assess the diversification history of the group. Results Different phylogenomic analyses converged on similar topologies with robust support. Grass‐yellows emerged ca . 26 Mya in the New World, and a single extant lineage dispersed to Asia in the early Miocene, where they diversified and dispersed to Africa and Australasia. The fastest rates of diversification occurred in the Old World tropics during the late Miocene. Many of the grass‐yellow genera were either paraphyletic or polyphyletic as traditionally circumscribed. To maintain nomenclatural stability, we place all grass‐yellows in Eurema sensu lato and recognise two subgenera: Eurema ( Abaeis ) and Eurema ( Eurema ). Main Conclusions Grass‐yellow butterflies originated in the Americas and attained their global distributional patterns via dispersal. The Indo‐Australian and Caribbean archipelagoes seem to have accelerated the diversification of the group, and movement in and out of these island regions was frequent. Although the traditional view of founder‐event speciation envisions migrants from large landmasses (‘mainland’) colonising smaller landmasses (‘islands’), we find that island to mainland dispersal and differentiation were equally or more common.

The decline in bee population poses a significant threat to agricultural productivity and biodiversity, highlighting the need for advanced monitoring techniques. While deep learning techniques have shown remarkable potential for object detection tasks, their comparative performance have not been fully examined for the specific application of detecting and counting bees, especially in challenging environments where occlusion and small objects are common. This paper aims to conduct a performance analysis of deep learning-based object detection models for bee detection and counting to monitor hive conditions in Philippine bee farm. The study collected 3050 video clips, resulting in 58,000 frames, from which 5000 images with 11,775 annotations were pre-processed into the BukBee dataset. This dataset serves as the foundation for training and evaluating five advanced object detection models: SSD, Faster R-CNN, YOLOv4, EfficientDet, and CenterNet. The experimental results show that Yolov4 achieved the highest mAP score of 97.9 while SSD, Faster RCNN, EfficientDet, and CenterNet exhibited mAP scores of 82.3, 82.2, 73.3, and 79.7 respectively. The experiments reveal that the best performing model, Yolov4, demonstrated superior capabilities for bee detection and counting, even in challenging scenarios like occlusion and presence of small objects. The performance analysis presented in this study can be integrated into an IoT framework for real-time monitoring of bee hives, thereby promoting sustainable practices in bee farming.

Biochar is a carbon-rich material produced through the pyrolysis of various feedstocks. It can be further modified to enhance its properties and is referred to as modified biochar (MB). The research interest in MB application in soil has been on the surge over the past decade. However, the potential benefits of MB are considerable, and its efficiency can be subject to various influencing factors. For instance, unknown physicochemical characteristics, outdated analytical techniques, and a limited understanding of soil factors that could impact its effectiveness after application. This paper reviewed the recent literature pertaining to MB and its evolved physicochemical characteristics to provide a comprehensive understanding beyond synthesis techniques. These include surface area, porosity, alkalinity, pH, elemental composition, and functional groups. Furthermore, it explored innovative analytical methods for characterizing these properties and evaluating their effectiveness in soil applications. In addition to exploring the potential benefits and limitations of utilizing MB as a soil amendment, this article delved into the soil factors that influence its efficacy, along with the latest research findings and advancements in MB technology. Overall, this study will facilitate the synthesis of current knowledge and the identification of gaps in our understanding of MB. Graphical Abstract

Aralia elata is closely related to Panax ginseng and contains high levels of saponins and other medicinal compounds. Successful A. elata micropropagation is commercially significant; however, the genomic stability of tissue culture-derived regenerants is unclear. In this study, callus-derived regenerated A. elata plants were obtained, and their cytogenomic constitutions were assessed. Using RepeatExplorer, pre-labeled oligonucleotide probes (PLOPs) were developed with newly mined tandem repeats from < 1× NGS whole-genome short reads, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was performed using six repeat probes, including three universal PLOPs, and genomic DNA content was estimated using flow cytometry. Regenerated A. elata plants (50) exhibited consistent ploidy, repeat distribution, and genome sizes compared with those exhibited by the mother plant. Six repeat probes were detected using FISH. Tandem repeat AeTR49 was identified as an excellent cytogenetic marker for homologous chromosomes, and AeTR161 and AeTR178 were localized in the centromeric and telomeric sections, respectively. Genomic DNA content (2C) was estimated at 2.46 ± 0.04 pg in the mother plant and 2.41 ± 0.05 pg in regenerated plants, with no significant variations in genome size or chromosome length. These results demonstrate that cytogenomics can be used to effectively evaluate chromosome-level genomic stability in regenerated A. elata plants. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-024-75004-0.

Lead is a pervasive environmental contaminant with significant health risks, particularly to children. It is known for its neurotoxic and immunotoxic effects, causing developmental, cognitive, and behavioral impairments. Despite extensive research, the mechanisms of lead toxicity remain unclear. Cytokines, which are critical in immune response and inflammation, have emerged as potential biomarkers for lead toxicity. The recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) update to the blood lead reference value (BLRV) to 3.5 µg/dL emphasizes the need to explore novel biomarkers and mechanisms. The study involved 100 healthy children aged 1 to 5 years, divided into two groups based on BLRV: elevated (≥ 3.5 µg/dL) and low (< 3.5 µg/dL). The research consisted of two phases: discovery and validation. Plasma samples were analyzed using RayBio® Human Cytokine Antibody Arrays and Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for cytokine levels. Ethical approval was obtained, and statistical analyses included t-tests, chi-squared tests, pearson correlations, and multivariate logistic regression. Protein-protein interaction (PPI), Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses were conducted to explore the roles of significant differentially expressed proteins (DEPs). No significant differences in age, gender, or BMI between the two groups, but BLRV levels were significantly higher in the elevated BLRV group compared to the low BLRV group. In the discovery phase, significant changes in cytokine expression were identified, including increased levels of IL-6, IL-8, and IL-17, and decreased levels of BDNF, BMP-4, IGF-1, IL-7, IL-10, and Leptin. These findings were validated in the second phase using ELISA. Significant positive correlations were found between BLRV and IL-6, IL-8, and IL-17. Negative correlations were observed with BDNF, BMP-4, IGF-1, IL-7, IL-10, and Leptin. Multivariate regression confirmed that BLRV significantly affects these cytokine levels. PPI networks revealed that DEPs had strong interactions with multiple proteins, indicating their central role in lead toxicity. GO and KEGG analyses highlighted pathways related to neurotoxicity and inflammatory responses, including “negative regulation of myotube differentiation,” “neurotrophin signaling pathway,” and “alcoholism.” This study provides insights into the role of cytokines as biomarkers for lead toxicity and offers a comprehensive analysis of the mechanisms involved. The findings underscore the importance of early detection and intervention based on updated BLRV thresholds. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-024-81215-2.

Ferns belong to species-rich group of land plants, encompassing more than 11,000 extant species, and are crucial for reflecting terrestrial ecosystem changes. However, our understanding of their biodiversity hotspots, particularly in Southeast Asia, remains limited due to scarce genetic data. Despite harboring around one-third of the world’s fern species, less than 6% of Southeast Asian ferns have been DNA-sequenced. In this study, we addressed this gap by sequencing 1,496 voucher-referenced and expert-identified fern samples from (sub)tropical Asia, spanning Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam, to retrieve their rbcL and trnL-F sequences. This DNA barcode collection of Asian ferns encompasses 956 species across 152 genera and 34 families, filling major gaps in fern biodiversity understanding and advancing research in systematics, phylogenetics, ecology and conservation. This dataset significantly expands the Fern Tree of Life to over 6,000 species, serving as a pivotal and global reference for worldwide barcoding identification of ferns.

In rice paddies, which exhibit higher ammonia (NH₃) emission factors than upland soils, identifying key drivers of NH₃ flux intensity is crucial. Contrary to the commonly held view that NH₃ flux is primarily governed by soil ammonium (NH₄⁺) concentrations, we found no significant relationship between NH₃ flux and NH₄⁺ levels in the soil during rice cultivation. To pinpoint a primary factor influencing NH₃ flux intensity under conventional rice cropping practices, we conducted a 2-year field study applying four nitrogen (N) fertilization rates (0, 45, 90, and 180 kg N ha⁻¹) using urea [(NH₂)₂CO], the most common N fertilizer. NH₃ emissions were tracked using the ventilation method. Following N application, NH₃ flux sharply increased but rapidly returned to baseline. Half of the N applied as a basal fertilizer was incorporated within the soil, contributing only 10% of total NH₃ emissions. In contrast, top-dressed applications—20% of total N at the tillering stage and 30% at panicle initiation—accounted for approximately 90% of NH₃ loss. Seasonal NH₃ flux increased quadratically with rising N application rates, correlating strongly with NH₄⁺ concentrations in floodwater rather than soil. Grain yield responded quadratically to N levels, peaking at 120 kg N ha⁻¹ with a 37% increase over control yields. NH₃ flux intensity, defined as seasonal NH₃ flux per unit of grain yield, showed a quadratic response to N fertilization, decreasing with initial fertilizer additions (up to 38 kg N ha⁻¹) but then sharply increased with further N fertilization increase. Hence, reducing NH₄⁺ concentrations in floodwater through moderated N application and deeper fertilizer placement could be essential for minimizing NH₃ volatilization in rice systems.

A new species of Pothos is described and illustrated. This species is very similar to Pothos philippinensis (sheathing and leaf morphology) but differs by the inflorescence and flowers. It is closely related also to P. kingii by the deep purple inflorescence, but differs in having longer peduncle, broadly ovate-concave to cucullate spathe (which is deep wine-red when fresh to purplish-black when senescing), and the spadix that is 7/10th the entire length of the spathe.

Iron (Fe) fertilization of the ocean mitigates global warming by sequestering carbon dioxide (CO2) in phytoplankton, but the effect of Fe fertilization on carbon (C) sequestration in arable soils remains unknown. Iron is often added to rice paddies as blast furnace slag (BFS), a byproduct of steel manufacturing used as a silicon (Si) fertilizer to improve productivity. However, BFS also contains large amounts of Fe oxides, which might promote C sequestration by forming complexes with organic matter. To investigate this, we first analyzed data from a national survey of soils from South Korea to estimate the effect of continuous Fe addition via BFS on soil organic C (SOC) stocks. This revealed a strong positive correlation between SOC and extractable Fe and available Si concentrations, indicating that periodic silicate fertilizer application contributed to an increase in SOC stock. Second, to isolate the effect of Fe addition on SOC stocks, we conducted an incubation test with BFS enriched with Fe oxides (0–5%, wt wt⁻¹). Soil respiration was significantly reduced by silicate fertilizer application, and this effect was strengthened with the Fe-enriched fertilizer. Finally, to verify the effect of Fe addition on SOC stock changes in the field, we added three different Fe-enriched silicate fertilizers to rice paddies and quantified SOC stock changes by net ecosystem C budget (NECB) estimation. Silicate fertilizer significantly increased net primary production (NPP) by 18–20% over the control, and this effect was strengthened with increasing Fe addition. Silicate fertilizer application decreased soil respiration by 15–30% over the control, and this effect was strengthened further by Fe enrichment. As a result, silicate fertilizer application during rice cultivation increased the SOC stock by 0.65–0.68 Mg C ha⁻¹ over the control and by 0.90–0.96 Mg C ha⁻¹ for Fe-enriched fertilizer. In conclusion, the positive effect of BFS addition on SOC stock is related in part to the role of Fe oxides, primarily through the suppression of soil respiration. Fe-enriched silicate fertilizer therefore provides a management strategy to increase SOC stocks and crop productivity in rice paddies.

COVID – 19 infection is still widespread. State colleges and universities were gradually opened. This study was designed to assess nursing student's knowledge, attitudes, and practices about COVID-19. A correlational research design was used in this study. From July 1 to August 31, 2021, a snowball sample of 76 student nurses in North Cotabato was surveyed using an online survey tool with a Cronbach's alpha results: 0.772 for knowledge, 0.774 for attitude, and 0.898 for practices. Results revealed that majority of the respondents were second year female nursing students ages 21–23 who resides in rural areas of north Cotabato with a monthly family income of Php 15,000 and below. Primary source of information was through social media followed by school lectures, Internet/website, and television. They have excellent knowledge and very high attitude and practices on COVID-19. In addition, there was a significant relationship between the respondent’s attitude and practices (p-value = .000) but has no significant relationship between knowledge and practices (p-value = .543). Moreover, there was no significant correlation between the respondent’s socio-demographic profile and practices. It is concluded that regardless of the respondent’s demographics, respondents can still have good knowledge. Good attitude and practices on the other hand were prominent to female second year nursing students with the aid of social media, school lectures and internet/website as source of information. The findings established a baseline for the current state of nursing students' knowledge, attitudes, and practices in North Cotabato. Furthermore, with the assistance of health agencies, areas on sources of information must be considered to ensure the reliability and validity of the information being acquired by everyone. This could help in structuring policies and procedures of each institution that enables the safe application of face-to-face system.

Background and Aim: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection formerly and predominantly occurred in rural areas. However, it has recently been spread to urban and peri-urban areas. This study aimed to estimate the seroprevalence of HEV in pigs collected from urban and rural areas in Bali. The potential of the pig farmers’ risk level for being exposed to HEV and the virus transmitted to them in association with their pig-rearing practices was also assessed. Materials and Methods: A total of 183 pigs from 68 herds were sampled in this study, with 91 pigs collected from Denpasar as the representative samples of urban areas and 92 pigs from Karangasem Regency as the representative samples from rural areas. Sera from the sampled pigs were collected and immunoglobulin G antibodies against HEV were detected using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. A questionnaire was prepared for interviewing the farmers. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the putative factors associated with seropositivity. Meanwhile, the potential risk-incurring practices of the farmers for HEV being transmitted to them from their pig-rearing practices were assessed by scoring their responses from the interview. Results: Overall, 23.5% (43/183) (95% confidence interval [CI]: 17.6–30.3) pig sera tested were detected to have the antibodies against HEV. Among 68 pig herds, 36.8% (25) (95% CI: 25.4–49.3) of them had antibodies in at least one pig sampled from each herd. Pigs sampled from Karangasem were 5 times (Odds ratio [OR] 5.34, 95% CI: 2.27–13.54, p < 0.001) more likely to be seropositive than pigs collected from Denpasar. However, no difference was found in the seropositivity to HEV in pig herds between Denpasar and Karangasem (p = 0.05). In assessing the pig rearing management factors, pig farmers from Denpasar were 3 times (OR 3.0, 95% CI: 1.07–8.52, p = 0.05) more likely to rear pigs for economic investment compared to the farmers from Karangasem. Regarding anticipating pig diseases that can be transmitted to humans, farmers from Denpasar were 6 times (OR 5.72, 95% CI: 1.48–26.7, p = 0.0074) more likely to anticipate zoonotic diseases compared to the farmers from Karangasem. Similarly, pig farmers from Denpasar were 3 times (OR 3.29, 95% CI: 1.08–10.23, p = 0.035) more likely to anticipate pig diseases that could be transmitted to humans than the farmers from Karangasem. Pig farmers from Denpasar had 4 times the odds (OR 4.49, 95% CI: 1.11–18.19, p = 0.03) of washing their hands after going to the pigpens compared to the farmers from Karangasem. All the participants were categorized as being at high risk of HEV exposure and transmission. Conclusion: IgG antibodies against HEV were detected among pigs reared in rural areas of Karangasem and those reared in urban areas of Denpasar. This suggests that the risk of HEV exposure and transmission in these areas is not negligible. To minimize the risk, public education on zoonotic diseases, including HEV infection, transmission, and prevention, needs to be implemented and particularly targeted to local pig farmers. Keywords: Bali, hepatitis E virus, pigs, risk factors, seroprevalence.

By monitoring and studying changes in vegetation coverage, we can assess the stability and biodiversity of ecosystems, and promptly identify changes and issues in the ecological environment. This study was based on Landsat data and selects data from 2003 to 2023, including 2003, 2007, 2011, 120, 152, 2019, and 2023.The pixel binary model was used to calculate the vegetation coverage of Jinzhai County for the past 20 years and 6 periods. Combining trend analysis to study the temporal-spatio changes characteristics of vegetation cover in Jinzhai County. Combining DEM data and distribution index methods to explore the relationship between vegetation coverage and terrain factors. Results showed that: (1) The vegetation cover in Jinzhai County showed an overall increasing trend, mainly with MH-FVC and H-FVC. (2) The vegetation coverage was closely related to terrain factors. With the continuous increase of elevation and slope, the vegetation coverage in Jinzhai County continues to increase.

Manure application is a recommended method to improve soil quality and mitigate global warming via soil carbon (C) sequestration. However, such application can significantly increase ammonia (NH3) volatilization loss and cause secondary environmental problems, such as acidification, eutrophication, and particulate matter formation. To investigate the potential of reducing NH3 emissions in flooded rice paddies, three types of stabilized swine manure amendments (fresh, composted, and biochar) were applied at a rate of 12 Mg ha⁻¹ (dry weight) under standard fertilization (N–P2O5–K2O = 90–45–57 kg ha⁻¹), and NH3 emission was characterized using the static chamber method. Regardless of manure management practices, NH3 fluxes increased significantly immediately after application of an inorganic nitrogen (N) fertilizer (urea). The manure was applied completely as the basal fertilizer before rice transplanting, but the NH3 emission rates increased more dramatically following urea application in the manure treatments. Fresh and composted manure applications significantly increased seasonal NH3 volatilization losses compared to the control but the biochar did not. Compost manure significantly increased rice grain productivity owing to the higher N content, while fresh and biochar manures did not increase rice productivity because of fewer panicles per hill and fewer grains per panicle. Consequently, biochar application resulted in lower NH3 flux intensity and seasonal NH3 flux per grain yield, whereas fresh and compost manures substantially increased this intensity. Therefore, biochar manure may be a more reasonable organic amendment than fresh and composted manures for reducing NH3 emission impacts on rice paddies.

The immune system plays an essential role in aging. Polygala fallax Hemsl. (PFH) enhances the immune response and promotes immune function. The study aimed to investigate whether PFH had a positive effect on the immune function of aging mice to delay aging. Kunming mice were selected to establish an aging mouse model by intraperitoneal injection of D-galactose at 500 mg/kg/day for 6 weeks. Astragalus membranaceus, which has been used as one of the positive control groups. After modeling, A. membranaceus low, medium, and high doses of PFH were administered by gavage for 4 weeks, Serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were evaluated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Flow cytometry was used to determine T-cell subsets and the expression of CD38, CD95, and PD-1 in peripheral blood. Prism 9.5.1 statistical software for classification analysis was used with all data expressed in (¯x ± s). One way ANOVA was further used to detect statistically significant differences between group. Results revealed that serum SOD activity was decreased and MDA content was elevated in the MODEL group compared with those in the CONTROL group. A. membranaceus and PFH increased SOD activity and decreased MDA content. Furthermore, the expression of CD38, CD95, and PD-1 in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells was increased in the MODEL group compared with those in the CONTROL group. CD38, CD95, and PD-1 expression decreasing trend after the administration of A. membranaceus and PFH. Among them, CD38, CD95, and PD-1 were the most significantly reduced in PFH-L group. It is therefore concluded that PFH had a positive effect on CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell function in aging mice, which could delay aging to a certain extent.

Climate change challenges plant breeding, requiring a reassessment of methods. This review explores obstacles due to shifting climates, impacting crop predictability and productivity. Breeders must focus on robust, adaptable plants to address these issues, emphasizing genetic diversity, adaptive traits, and global food security. Priorities need a shift toward traits that resist climate-related stressors, like drought and heat. Advanced technologies, such as genomics and gene editing, hold promise for climate-resilient crops. However, ethical, regulatory, and socioeconomic concerns must be addressed. Collaboration, ethics, and holistic planning are crucial for sustainable, climate-resilient crops and global food security.