Design, synthesis and biological activity of selective hCAs inhibitors based on 2-(benzylsulfinyl)benzoic acid scaffold

A large library of derivatives based on the scaffold of 2-(benzylsulfinyl)benzoic acid were synthesised and tested as atypical inhibitors against four different isoforms of human carbonic anhydrase (hCA I, II, IX and XII, EC 4.2.1.1). The exploration of the chemical space around the main functional groups led to the discovery of selective hCA IX inhibitors in the micromolar/nanomolar range, thus establishing robust structure-activity relationships within this versatile scaffold. HPLC separation of some selected chiral compounds and biological evaluation of the corresponding enantiomers was performed along with molecular modelling studies on the most active derivatives

Protected Areas’ Latent Functions and Social Consequences: A Case from Mount Hamiguitan, Philippines

While protected areas (PAs) are established primarily for biological diversity conservation and provision of ecological services, social dimensions comes into play. This paper extends the discourse on PAs’ impact to local communities by focusing on the latent functions and social consequences utilizing Robert Merton’s Functional Analysis. Based on in-depth interviews among community leaders and elders, and forest custodians around Mount Hamiguitan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is revealed that establishment of PAs entails varied consequences beyond what are being intended and manifested. While communities availed of some latent benefits from the declaration of the PA, they also have responses that limit the success of conservation initiatives. Hence, forest protection is a complex social and political process that demands more integrative response on community’s social, cultural, and political structures and dynamics

Physical, chemical and biological variability in the Dr. C. Gelsi reservoir(NW Argentine) : a temporal and spatial approach

With the purpose of understanding the phytoplankton dynamics in two vertical profiles of the Dr. C. Gelsi reservoir (Tucumán, Argentina, monthly samplings were conducted from October 1997 to March 1999 in the limnetic zone and at the intersection of the Salí and Tapia tributary. The reservoir was characterized as warm monomictic, with bicarbonate, chloride, sodium, calcium and/or magnesium waters. In both sites total nitrogen concentration was higher than 1 mg/l, whereas that of orthophosphate reached 0.2 mg/l. Out of the eleven organochlorine pesticides analyzed, the presence mainly of lindane and methoxychlor, with higher concentrations in the warm months was confirmed. Bacterial load values were compatible with water quality standards, and variations in the number of actinomycetes colonies in the sediments were correlated, among other parameters, with dissolved oxygen. In the two zones studied a total of 57 phytoplankton taxa, 49 % green algae, 37 % diatoms, 9 % Cyanobacteria and 5 % dinoflagelates, were identified. Central diatoms (Aulacoseira granulata and Cyclotella meneghiniana) prevailed in the phytoplankton and, in a lesser degree, the other groups, low values of specific diversity being obtained. A principal components analysis based on the absolute abundance of species and on some physico-chemical parameters ordinated the samples of the various levels, this abundance being more evident in the limnetic zone. There was also a tendency to the separation of stratifications from the two consecutive years and homogeneity in the samples from the mixing period was noticed. On the basis of the saprobic index, water quality was from β − α-mesosaprobic to α-mesosaprobic.Con el objeto de interpretar la dinámica del fitoplancton en dos perfiles verticales del embalse Dr. C. Gelsi (Tucumán, Argentina), se realizaron muestreos mensuales desde octubre de 1997 a marzo de 1999, en la zona limnética y en la intersección de los tributarios, ríos Salí y Tapia. El embalse fue caracterizado como monomíctico cálido, con aguas bicarbonatadas, cloruradas, sódicas, cálcicas y/o magnésicas. En ambos sitios, la concentración media de nitrógeno total fue superior a 1 mg/l, mientras que la de ortofosfato llegó a 0.2 mg/l. De los once plaguicidas organoclorados analizados se comprobó, principalmente, la presencia de lindano y metoxicloro, con concentraciones más elevadas en los meses cálidos. Los valores de carga bacteriana fueron compatibles con las normas de calidad de agua y las variaciones del número de colonias de actinomycetes en los sedimentos estuvieron correlacionadas entre otros parámetros con el oxígeno disuelto. En las dos zonas estudiadas se identificaron un total de 57 taxones: 49 % algas verdes, 37 % diatomeas, 9 % Cyanobacteria y 5 % dinoflagelados. Las diatomeas centrales (Aulacoseira granulata y Cyclotella meneghiniana) predominaron en el fitoplancton y en menor orden, los otros grupos, obteniéndose bajos valores de diversidad específica. Los análisis de componentes principales basados en la abundancia absoluta de las especies y en algunos parámetros fisicoquímicos, ordenaron las muestras de los distintos niveles, siendo ésta más evidente en la zona limnética. Asimismo, hubo una tendencia a la separación de las estratificaciones de los dos años consecutivos y se observó homogeneidad en las muestras provenientes del período de mezcla. Sobre la base del índice sapróbico, la calidad del agua fue β − α-mesosapróbicas a α-mesosapróbicas

Philautus (Bush Frogs) Species from Montane Forest of Marilog District, Davao City, Southern Mindanao, Philippines

Despite herpetological surveys conducted in Mindanao, scanty data are known about the Philautus species in montane forests as well as its account in southern Mindanao. Species accounts of Philautus sampled from the montane forest of Marilog District in Southern Mindanao with notes on it microhabitats were provided. Belt-transect sampling and microhabitat searches were employed in three different sites. A total of 124 individuals representing four species of Philautus were accounted, three of which are currently known only from forested areas of Mindanao. Philautus acutirostris is the most encountered species. Thirty-four genera of plants associated with microhabitats of Philautus species were accounted. Although the majority of the frog individuals appear to use the plants for perching, other notable activities were also noticed. Further observations may reveal data that will unravel other significant roles of these associated plants in microhabitats of Philautus species

Ethnobotanical Study and Conservation Status of Plants Used by the Tigwa-hanon-Manobo in Mt. Malimumu, San Fernando, Bukidnon, Philippines

Central Mindanao, Philippines, is a center of the cultural wealth of knowledge and botanical resources in the southern archipelago. However, traditional plant re-sources remain unexplored, and most of the tribal communities remain undocu-mented. Manobo tribeis one of the most populated and diverse tribal communities in the country, including the secluded Tigwahanon-Manobo community in Mt. Malimumu, San Fernando, Bukidnon, Philippines. Hence, this study provides eth-nobotanical information and conservation status of plants along a 1-km transect walk in Mt. Malimumu used by the Tigwahanon-Manobo. A guided field walk with the tribal chieftains and tribal healer documented a total of 23 species in 22 genera belonging to 20 families, of which four species, namely Dillenia philip-pinensisRolfe, Nepenthes cornutaMarwinski, Coritico, Wistuba, Micheler, Gronem., Gieray & V.B.Amoroso, Nepenthes truncataMacfarl., and Pandanus mindanaensisMartelli, are Philippine endemics. Three families, namely Nepen-thaceae, Melastomataceae, and Rubiaceae, are the most represented with two spe-cies each. Based on the combined international (IUCN 2021) and national (DENR DAO 2017-11) listing of conservation status, one species was assessed as Criti-cally Endangered (Aquilaria malaccensisLam.) and another one as Endangered (N. truncata). Two species were assessed as Vulnerable (Agathis philippinensisWarb. and N. cornuta) and one species as Near Threatened (D. philippinensis). Six species were identified as Least Concern while the rest of the species were not yet evaluated. This participatory research provides the first ethnobotanical study and conservation status of traditional plants used by Tigwahanon-Manobo for food and medicine, as well as economic and ecological uses needing conservation and protection of their natural resources

Richness and distribution of reptiles and amphibians in the tropical lowland habitats of Mt. Agad-Agad, Iligan City, Southern Philippines

Knowledge of Philippine herpetofauna is progressively increasing. However, there are still areas in the country that are poorly understood and remain unexplored, particularly in the southern Philippines. Mt. Agad-Agad in Iligan City (Lanao del Norte Province) is a secondary lowland evergreen tropical rainforest in the southern portion of the northern Mindanao region, popular with the general public and a biologically important mountain ecosystem. Herein, we present the species richness and distribution of herpetofauna using standardized sampling methods. We documented 37 species of amphibians and reptiles, recording 20 Philippine-endemic species, three exotic anurans, two threatened reptiles, and one unidentified species of lizard. Species richness was higher in a mixed agricultural area (18 species, n = 108 individuals) compared to secondary growth forest (17 species, n = 86 individuals). This research provides baseline information on the herpetofauna from Mt. Agad-Agad, and additional herpetological knowledge on the distribution and ecology of amphibians and reptiles from the northern Mindanao region