Traumatic brain injury related hospitalization and mortality in California.

ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to describe the traumatic brain injury (TBI) population and causes and identify factors associated with TBI hospitalizations and mortality in California.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional study of 61,188 patients with TBI from the California Hospital Discharge Data 2001 to 2009. We used descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate analyses in SAS version 9.3.ResultsTBI-related hospitalizations decreased by 14% and mortality increased by 19% from 2001 to 2009. The highest percentages of TBI hospitalizations were due to other causes (38.4%), falls (31.2%), being of age ≥75 years old (37.2%), being a males (58.9%), and being of Medicare patients (44%). TBIs due to falls were found in those age ≤4 years old (53.5%), ≥75 years old (44.0%), and females (37.2%). TBIs due to assaults were more frequent in Blacks (29.0%). TBIs due to motor vehicle accidents were more frequent in 15-19 and 20-24 age groups (48.7% and 48.6%, resp.) and among Hispanics (27.8%). Higher odds of mortality were found among motor vehicle accident category (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 1.27, 95% CI: 1.14-1.41); males (AOR: 1.36, 95% CI: 1.27-1.46); and the ≥75-year-old group (AOR: 6.4, 95% CI: 4.9-8.4).ConclusionsOur findings suggest a decrease in TBI-related hospitalizations but an increase in TBI-related mortality during the study period. The majority of TBI-related hospitalizations was due to other causes and falls and was more frequent in the older, male, and Medicare populations. The higher likelihood of TBI-related mortalities was found among elderly male ≥75 years old who had motor vehicle accidents. Our data can inform practitioners, prevention planners, educators, service sectors, and policy makers who aim to reduce the burden of TBI in the community. Implications for interventions are discussed

THE THEORETICAL UNDERPINNINGS OF THE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES: A PROPOSED BLUEPRINT TOWARDS GOVERNMENT ACTION

This research paper theoretically underpins the solid waste management practices in the Pacific Area of Southern Leyte as basis for a proposed blueprint towards government action that will serve as an addendum of the existing programs in accordance with the mandate under R.A. 9003 for an enhanced and intensified initiative of the local government unit(s) to address waste problems in cooperation with other concerned stakeholders (private sectors and non-government organizations) of the society

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK FOR THE YOUTH: THE AUTONOMYSUPPORTIVE CONTEXT

This paper presents with the goal of determining the performance of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) in Southern Leyte. Two hundred forty who were SK officials were chosen through purposive sampling as respondents of the study and the elected officials assessed and evaluated the performance of the SK members along the legislative agenda. The researcher-made questionnaire was used in gathering the data. This research study utilized the descriptive-correlational design. As to the findings of their profile mostly were seventeen years of age; majority were high school level; more than ten trainings attended and mostly have two years experience as SK members. The performance was very good as evaluated by the community elected council. There was no relationship between the social conditions and performance of the SK members, geared towards the formulation of proposed enhancement

THE THEORETICAL UNDERPINNINGS OF THE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES: A PROPOSED BLUEPRINT TOWARDS GOVERNMENT ACTION

This research paper theoretically underpins the solid waste management practices in the Pacific Area of Southern Leyte as basis for a proposed blueprint towards government action that will serve as an addendum of the existing programs in accordance with the mandate under R.A. 9003 for an enhanced and intensified initiative of the local government unit(s) to address waste problems in cooperation with other concerned stakeholders (private sectors and non-government organizations) of the society

Correlation and Fishers’ Perception in Selected Sites in Laguna de Bay, Luzon Island, Philippines

White goby (Glossogobius giuris Hamilton 1822) is an omnivorous, native fish species which can be found in Laguna de Bay and its tributaries, and in other bodies of water in the Philippines. Deteriorating water quality, unsustainable fishing practices, aquaculture and predation by introduced invasive species are threatening the population of white goby and other native fish species in Laguna de Bay. This study was conducted to correlate select physico-chemical parameters of lake water and zooplankton abundance, and to assess white goby population based on fishers’ perception. Water samples were collected in three sites in June, September and December 2014. Twenty one zooplankton species belonging to 12 families were identified. The most abundant and frequently encountered zooplankton species is Eurytemora affinis Poppe 1880. Zooplanktons were most abundant in June and lowest in September. Key informant interviews with local fishers revealed that white goby population was abundant in April to August while catch report showed that fish catch is abundant in June and least during December. The fish abundance in April to June could be attributed to high productivity especially in summer season. The fishers perceived that the population of white goby was declining mainly due to water pollution, aquaculture, and predation by invasive alien species. A multi-stakeholder sustainable watershed management should be adapted to improve the water quality and extinction of native fish species in Laguna de Bay

Traumatic Brain Injury Related Hospitalization and Mortality in California

Objective. The aim of this study is to describe the traumatic brain injury (TBI) population and causes and identify factors associated with TBI hospitalizations and mortality in California. Methods. This is a cross-sectional study of 61,188 patients with TBI from the California Hospital Discharge Data 2001 to 2009. We used descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate analyses in SAS version 9.3. Results. TBI-related hospitalizations decreased by 14% and mortality increased by 19% from 2001 to 2009. The highest percentages of TBI hospitalizations were due to other causes (38.4%), falls (31.2%), being of age ≥75 years old (37.2%), being a males (58.9%), and being of Medicare patients (44%). TBIs due to falls were found in those age ≤4 years old (53.5%), ≥75 years old (44.0%), and females (37.2%). TBIs due to assaults were more frequent in Blacks (29.0%). TBIs due to motor vehicle accidents were more frequent in 15–19 and 20–24 age groups (48.7% and 48.6%, resp.) and among Hispanics (27.8%). Higher odds of mortality were found among motor vehicle accident category (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 1.27, 95% CI: 1.14–1.41); males (AOR: 1.36, 95% CI: 1.27–1.46); and the ≥75-year-old group (AOR: 6.4, 95% CI: 4.9–8.4). Conclusions. Our findings suggest a decrease in TBI-related hospitalizations but an increase in TBI-related mortality during the study period. The majority of TBI-related hospitalizations was due to other causes and falls and was more frequent in the older, male, and Medicare populations. The higher likelihood of TBI-related mortalities was found among elderly male ≥75 years old who had motor vehicle accidents. Our data can inform practitioners, prevention planners, educators, service sectors, and policy makers who aim to reduce the burden of TBI in the community. Implications for interventions are discussed

Comparative Study between Computer Simulated and Hands-on Physics11 (Electricity and Magnetism) Experiments

A major research domain in physics education is focused on studying the effects of various types of teaching interventions aiming to help student's alternative conception transformation. The purpose of this study was to compare the changes of conceptual understanding of Physics 11 (electricity and magnetism) laboratory in Computer simulated laboratory application (CSL) and Hands-on laboratory application (HLE) in the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (USTP), formerly Mindanao University of Science and Technology (MUST). In this study, a total of 194 students were randomly selected. Two parameters were set for this study: (1) gender of the respondent; and (2) college the respondents were enrolled. The result presented that CSL with 54% was the most preferred applications as alternative instructional tool in understanding the concepts of physics. Sparingly, about 46% of the surveyed respondents favored HLE. However, no apparent differences appeared with respect to the questions on the conceptual understanding learning objectives. Overall, there was no significant difference between CSL and HLE regardless of the gender ( p=0.81, p=0.90, and p=0.90)

Social valuation of regulating and cultural ecosystem services of Arroceros Forest Park: A man-made forest in the city of Manila, Philippines

Investment in urban green spaces such as street trees and forest park may be viewed as both sustainable adaptation and mitigation strategies in responding to a variety of climate change issues and urban environmental problems in densely urbanized areas. Urban green landscapes can be important sources of ecosystem services (ES) having substantial contribution to the sustainability of urban areas and cities of developing countries in particular. In the highly urbanized City of Manila in the Philippines, Arroceros Forest Park (AFP) is a significant source of regulating and cultural ES. In this study the perceived level of importance of 6 urban forest ES, attitude to the forest park non-use values, and the factors influencing willingness to pay (WTP) for forest park preservation were explored through a survey conducted on January 2018 to the college students (17–28 years, n=684) from 4 universities in the City of Manila. Survey showed that air quality regulation (mean=3.73) and climate and temperature regulation (mean=3.71) were the two most important urban forest ES. Binary logistic regression showed significant relationship of WTP with natural log allowance (p=0.000), air quality regulation ES and residence (p=0.007), and option value (p=0.008). The protest response was mainly influenced by economic reason and reliance to the government. The natural log of the positive WTP was weakly but highly significantly correlated with the natural log of students’ allowance (r=0.193, p=0.000). Male students had higher WTP than female despite the lower allowance of male students. This study provided evidence that pro-environment decision was significantly influenced by attitude and socio-economic factors. The high importance value of air quality regulation, climate and temperature regulation, bequest value, and ecological value may be viewed as the students’ demand for these urban green ES. Keywords: Social valuation, Ecosystem services, College students, Forest park, Willingness to pay highly urbanized cit