Proposed Action Plan of Community-Based Ecotourism in Brgy. Alas-As, San Nicolas, Batangas, Philippines

Rodriguez,Camille Ann M,Bayron,Jasmin Francesca J. Gomeri,Ira Nicole A. Tabuyo,Jimford U 한국문화관광학회 2021 문화관광연구 Vol.23 No.2

The research is about the Action Plan of Community-Based Ecotourism in Brgy. Alas-As in San Nicolas, Batangas. The study aimed to provide possible recommendations and solutions to build more opportunities for the improvement of community-based ecotourism in Brgy. Alas-As in San Nicolas, Batangas. The Brgy. Alas-As in San Nicolas, Batangas is the leading community that embodies community-based ecotourism. The researchers used ASEAN Community-Based Tourism (CBT) Standard as framework for the study. The research was to apply the ASEAN Community-Based Tourism (CBT) in assessing the effectiveness of community-based ecotourism that also lack in a study conducted by Pookhao in 2014 entitled “Community-based Ecotourism: Transformation of the Local Community.” Quantitative descriptive research and purposive sampling was used with a sample size of 225 respondents through survey questionnaires that were personally distributed by the researchers. Percentage Frequency Distribution, T-Test and Analysis of Variance or ANOVA were used in analyzing the data. Based on the findings gathered, the respondents are mostly 26 to 35 years old, mostly males who are employed and have 10 years and above of residency. The objective of the study was to assess the effectiveness of community-based ecotourism in Brgy. Alas-As in San Nicolas, Batangas and to improve their quality of services, meet visitor s expectations and ensure the protection of the community and their natural and cultural heritage resources with an action plan.

Optimization of Tannase Production by Aspergillus niger in Solid-State Packed-Bed Bioreactor

( Rodriguez Duran Luis ),( Juan C. Contreras Esquivel ),( Raul Rodriguez ),( L. Arely Prado Barragan ),( Cristobal N. Aguilar ) 한국미생물 · 생명공학회 2011 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.21 No.9

Tannin acyl hydrolase, also known as tannase, is an enzyme with important applications in the food, feed, pharmaceutical, and chemical industries. However, despite a growing interest in the catalytic properties of tannase, its practical use is very limited owing to high production costs. Several studies have already demonstrated the advantages of solid-state fermentation (SSF) for the production of fungal tannase, yet the optimal conditions for enzyme production strongly depend on the microbial strain utilized. Therefore, the aim of this study was to improve the tannase production by a locally isolated A. niger strain in an SSF system. The SSF was carried out in packed-bed bioreactors using polyurethane foam as an inert support impregnated with defined culture media. The process parameters influencing the enzyme production were identified using a Plackett-Burman design, where the substrate concentration, initial pH, and incubation temperature were determined as the most significant. These parameters were then further optimized using a Box-Behnken design. The maximum tannase production was obtained with a high tannic acid concentration (50 g/l), relatively low incubation temperature (30oC), and unique low initial pH (4.0). The statistical strategy aided in increasing the enzyme activity nearly 1.97-fold, from 4,030 to 7,955 U/l. Consequently, these findings can lead to the development of a fermentation system that is able to produce large amounts of tannase in economical, compact, and scalable reactors.

Bovine Dialyzable Leukocyte Extract Modulates the Nitric Oxide and Pro-Inflammatory Cytokine Production in Lipopolysaccharide-Stimulated Murine Peritoneal Macrophages In Vitro

Cristina Rodriguez-Padilla,Moises A. Franco-Molina,Edgar Mendoza-Gamboa,Leonardo Castillo-Le?,Reyes S. Tamez-Guerra,Cristina Rodriguez-Padilla 한국식품영양과학회 2005 Journal of medicinal food Vol.8 No.1

Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) released from Gram-negative bacteria after infection initiate an exagerated responsethat leads to a cascade of pathophysiological events termed sepsis. Monocytes or macrophages produce many of the media-tors found in septic patients. Targeting of these mediators, especially tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-. and nitric oxide (NO),has been pursued as a mean of reducing mortality in sepsis. Bovine dialyzable leukocyte extract (bDLE) is a dialysate of aheterogeneous mixture of low-molecular-weight substances released from disintegrated leukocytes of the blood or tissue lym-phoid. In this study, to determine whether bDLE modulates NO and pro-inflammatory cytokine production, murine peritonealmacrophages were treated with bDLE (0.05 or 0.5 U/mL) before LPS (20 mg/mL) stimulation, and also LPS-stimulated murineperitoneal macrophages were treated with bDLE (0.05 or 0.5 U/mL) at 0, 4, 8, 12, and 24 hours. The bDLE significantly de-creased NO production, and also decreased TNF-. and interleukin (IL)-6 but increased IL-10 production in LPS-stimulatedmurine peritoneal macrophages. Our results demonstrate that bDLE plays an important role in modulating TNF-., IL-6, andNO production through IL-10, and this may offer therapeutic potential in clinical endotoxic shock.

Poster Session:PS 0198 ; Endocrinology : Giant Cystic Prolactinoma in a Woman: Do Not Forget the Hook Effect

( Rene Rodriguez Gutierrez ),( Karla V Rodriguez Velver ),( Maria Azucena Zapata Rivera ),( Roberto Monreal Robles ),( Fernando J Lavalle Gonzalez ),( Jose G Gonzalez Gonzalezz ),( Jesus Zacarias Vill 대한내과학회 2014 대한내과학회 추계학술대회 Vol.2014 No.1

Background and Case Presentation: Cystic prolactinomas correspond to = 1% of all prolactinomas and its association with a giant pituitary macroadenoma in a woman has been seldom reported. A 43-year old woman was evaluated for a suprasellar tumor. She had absence of menses since 2 years. Three months before she started to have progressive headache. She also referred asthenia, adynamia, fatigue, dry hairiness, decreased libido, vaginal atrophy, and chronic constipation. Hair in armpits and pubic area was insignificant and osteotendinous reflex relaxation phase was slow. Galactorrhea was absent and presented bitemporal hemianopsia. Diagnostic and Therapeutic Approach: MRI scan revealed a 5 x 3.5 cm suprasellar mass and a 8.1 x 3.6 cm cystic component (Figures 1-3). Cortisol level 2.2 mg/dl, FSH and LH were low, estradiol < 0.05 pg/mL, IGF-1 normal and a serum prolactin of 125 ng/mL. Serial dilutions 1:10 and 1:100 were made. Diluted prolactine was 12,500 ng/mL (hook effect). Treatment with cabergoline, prednisone and levothyroxine were initiated. At two months follow-up prolactin serum levels decreased to 32.1 ng/mL. Discussion and Conclusion: A systemic research on PubMed, Medline, Embase and MedConsult with the search criteria: “Giant Cystic Prolactinoma”, “prolactin”, “prolactioma and “hook effect” was made. Due to the clinical signs of hypogonadism, the image in the MRI and the low/moderate high serum prolactin levels serial dilutions of prolactin were made. Serum prolactin assays can greatly underestimate extremely high levels of hormone, the so called “hook effect”. In present case, a high level of suspicion along with low/moderate prolactin levels and the MRI image consistent with a pituitary adenoma made us ask for diluted prolactin samples. If missed, this would have delayed the diagnosis and consequently would have changed the treatment plan and prognosis of the patient.

Poster Session:PS 0197 ; Endocrinology : Severe Hypercalcemia: Chronic Tophaceous Gout the Responsible Cause?

( Rene Rodriguez Gutierrez ),( Roberto Monreal Robles ),( Maria Azucena Zapata Rivera ),( Karla V Rodriguez Velver ),( Fernando Jj Lavallegonzalez ),( Jose Gerardo Gonzalez Gonzalez ),( Jesus Zacarias 대한내과학회 2014 대한내과학회 추계학술대회 Vol.2014 No.1

Background and Description: The association of chronic tophaceous gout with severe hypercalcemia is extremely rare and has been usually associated with calcitriol secretion. PTHrP has never been described as the responsible cause. A 42-year old man with a long stand history of chronic gout initiated a week before admission with polyuria, polypsia and progressive altered mental status. Neurological examination revealed only lethargy. Characteristic, multiple, non-tender tophi were obvious at inspection (Figures 1-3). Initial laboratory work up revealed a uric acid of 14.0 mg/dl, calcium of 14.5 mg/dl, phosphorous of 6.3 mg/dl, creatinine of 5.4 mg/dl, blood nitrogen urea of 56, a MDRD GFR of 16 ml/min. Diagnostic and Therapeutic Approach: PTH was suppressed (< 3.0 pg/ml), 25-dihydroxyvitamin D was normal, PTHrP was elevated 45.0 pg/ml, and calcitriol normal (19.6 pg/ml). Radiographs revealed bone erosions (Figure 1-3). Bone scan and a PET-CT were negative for metastasis and malignancy. Treatment was initiated with calcitonin, hydration and prednisone. PTH, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D, PTHrP, and calcitriol returned to normal values. At 6 months follow-up he referred no pain, tophi had improved and calcium levels were within normal range. Discussion and Conclusion: A systemic research on PubMed, Medline, Embase and MedConsult with the search criteria: “Tophaceous gout”, hypercalcemia”, “calcitriol”, “PTHrP”, was made. The proposed mechanism has being an enhanced 1a-hydroxylation of vitamin D in a proliferative chronic synovitis. In this case calcitriol levels were normal. PTHrP had never been, until now, described as the responsible cause of hypercalcemia in gout. In our case baseline PTHrP and calcium values were elevated and after medical treatment both returned to normal values. Immobilization is another well-known cause of mild calcium elevations. It is likely that in this case this was an exacerbating rather than the primary factor.

Perinatal/Postnatal Study of D-003, a Mixture of Long-Chain Fatty Acids, in Rats

M.D. Rodriguez,J.E. Gonzalez,E.F. Leon,A. Gutierrez,G. Marrero,R. Gamez,H Garcia,,E Goicochea,Y. Rodriguez,A. Gomez 한국식품영양과학회 2006 Journal of medicinal food Vol.9 No.2

D-003 is a mixture of long-chain fatty acids isolated and purified from sugar cane wax with cholesterol-low-ering and antiplatelet effects. In order to further characterize the developmental toxicity during the treatment period from lategestation up to weaning of the offspring, pregnant females received 0 (control), 500, and 1,000 mg/kg/day D-003 daily byoral gavage beginning at day 15 of pregnancy and through gestation until day 21 postpartum. Maternal clinical signs, bodyweight, and food intake were measured at regular intervals during gestation and lactation. Live pups were weighed, sexed,and examined for developmental signs. One female and male of each litter were randomly selected to evaluate the reproduc-tive potential. There were no spontaneous or dose-related maternal deaths during the course of this study. The general healthand behavioral condition of offspring was good in all groups. No significant differences among groups were found in com-parisons of litter size, survival through the weaning period, sex ratio, and male and female weights. This peri- and postnatalstudy conducted with D-003 in rats indicated that treatment of the dam during late gestation and lactation did not show ad-versely effects on reproductive performance or fetal development over two generations.

Bioanode of Polyurethane/Graphite/Polypyrrole Composite in Microbial Fuel Cells

Pedro Perez-Rodriguez,Víctor M. Ovando-Medina,Silvia Y. Martinez-Amador,Jose A. Rodriguez-de la Garza 한국생물공학회 2016 Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering Vol.21 No.2

Polyurethane (PU) foams were coated with graphite, and pyrrole monomer was subsequently polymerized onto its surface by chemical oxidization to obtain nanostructured polyurethane/graphite/polypyrrole (PU/Graph/PPy) composites, which were used for anaerobic microorganisms grown and tested as anodes in microbial fuel cells (MFC) using municipal wastewater as fuel. The effects of oxidizing agent type (ammonium persulfate and FeCl3) used in pyrrole polymerization on the performance of electrodes in MFC were studied. Composites were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and by the four-point probes to determine conductivity. It was observed from SEM analysis that globular nanostructures of PPy were formed onto PU surface with average diameters between 120 and 450 nm, which are typical of aqueous polymerization of pyrrole monomer. The highest output power density observed in MFCs was 305.5 mW/m3 for the composite synthesized using FeCl3 as the oxidant, and 128.6 mW/m3 using the composite obtained with ammonium persulfate as oxidizing; the corresponding chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal were 48.2 and 45.5%, respectively. The calculated coulombic efficiency for PU/Graph/PPy composite obtained with FeCl3 as oxidant was of 9.4%. Internal resistance of MFC using the composite obtained with FeCl3 as oxidant was determined by linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) and the variable resistance (VR) methods, giving 4.8 and 2.9 kΩ, respectively, with average maximum power density of 237.5 mW/m3.

Human Papilloma Virus Detection by INNOLiPA HPV in Prostate Tissue from Men of Northeast Mexico

Rodriguez, Martha I Davila,Morales, Cesar V Ignacio,Tovar, Anel R Aragon,Jimenez, Delia Olache,Maldonado, Edmundo Castelan,Miranda, Sandra Lara,Gutierrez, Elva I Cortes Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2016 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.17 No.11

Background: Prostatic adenocarcinoma by Prosate cancer (PCa) is the most prevalent cancer and the second cause of cancer-related death among men in the Western world. Human papilloma virus (HPV) may be considered as a preventable risk factor. In this study, we assessed the frequencies of HPV infection in prostatic adenocarcinoma and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) cases in Northeast Mexico. Materials and Methods: A total of 87 paraffin-embedded blocks (from 25 and 62 patients with definite diagnoses of BPH and adenocarcinoma, respectively) were selected and subjected to INNOLiPA HPV Genotyping to detect 28 high- and low-risk HPV types. The rates of infection were compared in the two studied groups. Results: INNOLiPA HPV demonstrated great sensitivity for HPV detection on paraffin-embedded tissue. Global prevalence was 14.9% (13/87). HPV infection was positive in 19.4% (12/62) of patients with adenocarcinoma and 4.0% (1/25) of patients with BPH. HPV-11, which is considered to be low risk, was more prevalent. Interestingly, one patient with BPH and six with prostate cancer showed examples considered to be high risk (HPV-18, -51, -52, and -66). Conclusion: A higher rate of HPV infection among Mexican patients with prostatic carcinoma than among those with BPH was observed. HPV infections may thus contribute to the risk of prostate cancer. Further studies are required to elucidate any roles of HPV infection in prostate disease in Mexico and the effect of prevention and treatment of HPV infection on prostatic adenocarcinoma.

Family Education as a Solution for the Problems of the Young

Rodriguez, Ramon 慶熙大學校 밝은社會問題硏究所 1999 밝은社會硏究 Vol.20 No.1

SHM by DOFS in civil engineering: a review

Rodriguez, Gerardo,Casas, Joan R.,Villalba, Sergi Techno-Press 2015 Structural monitoring and maintenance Vol.2 No.4

This paper provides an overview of the use of different Distributed Optical Fiber Sensor systems (DOFSs) to perform Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) in the specific case of civil engineering structures. Nowadays, there are several methods available for extracting distributed measurements from optical fiber, and their use have to be according with the aims of the SHM performance. The continuous-in-space data is the common advantage of the different DOFSs over other conventional health monitoring systems and, depending on the particular characteristics of each DOFS, a global and/or local health structural evaluation is possible with different accuracy. Firstly, the fundamentals of different DOFSs and their principal advantages and disadvantages are presented. Then, laboratory and field tests using different DOFSs systems to measure strain in structural elements and civil structures are presented and discussed. Finally, based on the current applications, conclusions and future trends of DOFSs in SHM in civil structures are proposed.