Eucheuma and Kappaphycus : taxonomy and cultivation

The Genera Eucheuma, Kappaphycus and Hypnea are three important genera of carrageenophytes which are abundant in the Philippines and in the tropical Asia and Western Pacific. The most useful species for the source of kappa carageenan is K. alvarezii called E. "cottonii" of commerce. E. denticulatum called E. "spinosum" of commerce is also the most useful species for the sources of iota carrageenan. The different methods of Eucheuma cultivation were tried in the past from very simple bottom culture to the more sophisticated types using some form of a support system, such as the raft method, the fixed off-bottom- (net) method, tubular net method and the fixed off bottom monoline method. Recently the floating method of culture are used in area where water current is weak. At present Encheuma and kappaphycus are exported in four form, as dried raw seaweeds, as alkali-treated chip or as a semi-processed powder and as pure carrageenan

Diversity Climate of Respect and the Impact on Faculty Extra Role Behaviors

The aim of this study is to examine how faculty perceptions of the diversity climate affect faculty extra role behaviors and subsequently students’ satisfaction with their academic performance. The results indicate that the diversity climate of respect among faculty is positively related to their extra effort and going above and beyond for students. As well, that the effects of both student perceptions of the diversity climate of respect and student perceptions of faculty extra role behaviors on their satisfaction with academic performance are not only significant but connected. We also investigate the moderating effect of student race on that relationship. This study finds that student race and ethnicity play a role on how the diversity climate of respect affects their satisfaction with their academic performance

The Development of Ergonomically Designed Automatic Fishing Net to Reduce WMSDs Risk among the Small and Medium Scale Fishermen

The main objective of the study is to improve the work condition of the small and medium scale fishermen. Specifically, the study seeks to: (1) provide a tool that can help the fishermen avoid lifting, too much exertion of force and reduction of back and arm pain due to repetitive throwing and pulling of net, and (2) reduce the 0.84cumulative trauma disorder level of WMSDs among the Fishermen. The study took place in Muzon II, Rosario Cavite, Philippines. The study involves qualitative and quantitative concept of research using survey-interviews, ergonomics assessments to quantify ergonomics risk such as McCauley Bush Fuzzy, Rapid Upper Limb Assessments, Visual Analogue Scale and job demand analysis, and Time and Motion Study. The respondents of the study were 70 fishermen; 48 are small-scale fishermen, 70 are medium scale and 5 of them has no own boat. The data were treated using weighted mean and paired t-test. The researcher patterned the design of the product with fishermen work demand. The results showed cumulative trauma disorder was reduced to 64.05%. RULA posture score, weight and process time were also reduced by 43.08%, 66.67%, and 21.14%, respectively. Number of activities were still the  same, but the time and task is lessened. Furthermore, the researchers recommend continuing study in other external and internal factors that contribute risk in WorkMusculoskeletal Disorder such as boat layout and equipment, the type of material and power source. Keywords: Automatic fishing net, ergonomics, work-related musculoskeletal disorde

Latino Entrepreneurs and Technology Usage: Ethnic Identity, Resistance, Self-Efficacy

Firm performance has been linked to information technology adoption. However, limited research exists related to minority entrepreneurs’ technology usage due to inequalities of ownership, cultural ethnicity impact, and inconsistent comparative usage, specifically among Latino users. This study investigates Latino and non-Latino entrepreneurs: 116 subjects with 61% Latinos; the relationships of ethnic identity, resistance to technology use, and self-efficacy; differences between business process and social media technologies; contexts of financial management and linguistic communication for business processes; business owner’s self-efficacy and technology adoption. Latinos results: higher technology resistance, social technology usage; and, lower self-efficacy, use of linguistic communication technology context

Community-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Lacking PVL, as a Cause of Severe Invasive Infection Treated with Linezolid

Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) is an emerging public health problem worldwide. Severe invasive infections have been described, mostly associated with the presence of Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL). In Portugal limited information exists regarding CA-MRSA infections. In this study we describe the case of a previously healthy 12-year-old female, sport athlete, who presented to the hospital with acetabulofemoral septic arthritis, myositis, fasciitis, acetabulum osteomyelitis, and pneumonia.The MRSA isolated from blood and synovial fluid was PVL negative and staphylococcal enterotoxin type P (SEP) and type L (SEL) positive, with a vancomycin MIC of 1.0mg/L and resistant to clindamycin and ciprofloxacin. The patient was submitted to multiple surgical drainages and started on vancomycin, rifampicin, and gentamycin. Due to persistence of fever and no microbiological clearance, linezolid was started with improvement. This is one of the few reported cases of severe invasive infection caused by CA-MRSA in Portugal,which was successfully treated with linezolid. In spite of the severity of infection, the MRSA isolate did not produce PVL

Diazotroph Activity in Surface Narragansett Bay Sediments in Summer is Stimulated by Hypoxia and Organic Matter Delivery

Bacteria that carry out many processes of the nitrogen cycle inhabit estuarine sediments. Denitrification is known to be a dominant process causing estuarine sediments to behave as net nitrogen sinks. However, measurements of nitrogen fluxes in the sediments of Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, USA, have at times revealed high rates of net nitrogen (N2) fixation. Whereas changes in primary production, in magnitude and phenology, within Narragansett Bay have been identified as possible causes for these changes in nitrogen cycling within the benthos, a factor that has not been examined thus far is seasonal hypoxia. Since anaerobic diazotrophs figure so prominently within the sediments of Narragansett Bay, we hypothesized that dissolved oxygen concentrations in the bottom waters affect their activity. In order to explore this relationship, we measured the activity of diazotrophs in the surface sediments of 3 study areas during the summers of 2013 and 2014 using the acetylene reduction assay. We explored the effects of several water quality parameters on nitrogenase activity including, among others, dissolved oxygen and chlorophyll concentrations. Our measurements of nitrogenase activity were generally low, ranging between 2 and 5 nmol ethylene g-1 d-1 but spiked to 16 nmol ethylene g-1 d-1 at an area experiencing severe hypoxia in July 2013. Our data suggest that diazotrophy in estuarine sediments is enhanced when the benthos experiences very low dissolved oxygen in conjunction with recent influxes of autochthonous organic matter. Experiments with sediment core incubations conducted in the laboratory support our hypothesis that low dissolved oxygen and organic matter additions promote N2 fixation

Rice Straw Geotextile As Ground Cover ForSoil Erosion Mitigation

Generally, the study aimed to mitigate soil erosion using rice straw geotextile as ground cover. Specifically, it attempted to: evaluate the effect of RSM and RSN as ground cover in mitigating soil erosion at varying slope gradients and different rainfall intensities, and; determine the relationship of slope gradient versus sediment concentration, sediment yield and quantity of soil loss at different levels of rainfall intensity. Results revealed that RSGT as ground cover greatly affected soil erosion. Under rainfall intensities of 75, 100 and 125 mm/hr, RSM had significantly lower soil loss as compared to RSN, CCN And NGC. However, RSN and CCN were comparable with each other but differ significantly with NGC.  Sediment concentration, sediment yield and soil erosion exhibited a nonlinear relationship with slope gradient. At any given level of rainfall intensity, the three indicators increased correspondingly as the slope was increased from 10 to 35o and then  declined when  the slope was further  increased from 35 to 60o. Sediment concentration best fitted (R2 = 0.977) in a quadratic model in the form of a second-degree polynomial equation: SC = 0.551 + 0.626S - 0.008S2 Likewise, observed sediment yield best fitted (R2 = 0.954) a second degree polynomial equation as expressed by a quadratic model: SY = 356.0 + 61.70S – 0.972S2 Moreover, the observed soil erosion was best modeled with R2 = 97.1% confidence by a second degree polynomial equation. The regression model is quadratic in form and is given by the equation: SE = 68.92 + 11.11S - 0.174S2. Keywords: rice straw, geotextile, ground cover, soil erosion, mitigation, rainfall simulatio

Entrepreneurial Education and Latina Business Owner Preferences: Do Gender and Race Matter?

The objective of this study is to contribute to the understanding of the Latina entrepreneur and the role that training plays in their personal knowledge, skills, and attitude development. We propose to assess the types of training selected by Latina entrepreneurs in order to begin to identify potential explanations for entrepreneurial performance. Thus, in this paper, we explore the role that gender and minority ethnicity might play on the nature of entrepreneurial training sought and engaged in by business owners of entrepreneurial ventures. Specifically, we compare Latino business owners to non-Latino entrepreneurs and Latina to Latino male entrepreneurs in order to examine whether or not there is an influence of the race/ethnicity of business owners on their selection of business training category. Further, we explore the impact of gender on the choice of business training category. We differentiate training preference as affective (relational) and cognitive (operational). Our findings suggest that there are may be ethnic and gender differences in the type of training preference