Economic Valuation of Tourism Services of Lake Holon, South Cotabato

The tourism potential of the municipality of T’boli, South Cotabato, is highlighted by the presence of Lake Holon. The study aims to measure the economic value of tourism services of the lake. Since no market exist for a natural resource, this study used a surrogate market based method which is the zonal travel cost method (ZTCM) in quantifying its value. ZTCM uses the number of visitors to the site coming from different places which were then grouped into zones. The visitation rate from each zone can then be estimated as a function of its corresponding travel cost. The demand function that will be generated is used to extract the economic value of tourism services of the lake. Data were obtained from 224 respondents of which 80% were from South Cotabato and the rest were from other regions of the Philippines. Information on respondents’ place of origin, travel expenses, travel time, visit duration, and income were collected. The place of origins were categorized into four zones based on their distance from the lake. The findings reveal that the economic value of tourism services of Lake Holon is estimated to be around PhP 224 million annually. This information will aid the local government planners and policy makers in drawing up a tourism development plans and related legislations around the lake

Cross-Talk between Protein Kinase A and Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases Signalling in the Adaptive Changes Observed during Morphine Withdrawal in the Heart

ABSTRACT Our previous studies have shown that morphine withdrawal induced an increase in the expression of protein kinase (PK) A and mitogen-activated extracellular kinase (MAPK) pathways in the heart during morphine withdrawal. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the interaction between PKA and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathways mediating the cardiac adaptive changes observed after naloxone administration to morphine-dependent rats. Dependence on morphine was induced by a 7-day subcutaneous implantation of morphine pellets. Morphine withdrawal was precipitated on day 8 by an injection of naloxone (2 mg/kg). ERK1/2 and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) phosphorylation was determined by quantitative blot immunolabeling using phosphorylation statespecific antibodies. Naloxone-induced morphine withdrawal activates ERK1/2 and phosphorylates TH at Ser31 in the right and left ventricle, with an increase in the mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate. When N-(2-guanidinoethyl)-5-isoquinolinesulfonamide (HA-1004), a PKA inhibitor, was infused, concomitantly with morphine, it diminished the expression of ERK1/2. In contrast, the infusion of calphostin C (a PKC inhibitor) did not modify the morphine withdrawal-induced activation of ERK1/2. The ability of morphine withdrawal to activate ERK that phosphorylates TH at Ser31 was reduced by HA-1004. The present findings demonstrate that the enhancement of ERK1/2 expression and the phosphorylation state of TH at Ser31 during morphine withdrawal are dependent on PKA and suggest cross-talk between PKA and ERK1/2 transduction pathway mediating morphine withdrawal-induced activation (phosphorylation) of TH

The Effects of Soil Erosion on Rice Productivity and Its Impact on Household Welfare Levels

Soil erosion is one of the major problems of agriculture, especially in rice production. With the critical role of irrigated rice production in the country’s supply of rice and the negative effects of soil erosion on rice farming, there is a need to measure the effect of soil erosion on the productivity as well as its impact on household welfare levels. We compared farm productivity, household income and expenditure levels, and children’s food and nutritional intakes of irrigated rice farming in areas with no and slight erosion in General Santos City. Utilizing the Bureau of Agricultural Research geo-coordinates of Mindanao’s soil erosion areas, we used the geographic information system to identify irrigated rice areas with varying erosion levels. The results of the Cobb-Douglas production estimates show that the presence of slight erosion in irrigated rice farms has no statistically significant effect on farm productivity relative to the farms in no erosion areas. Comparison of yield, income, expenditure, and food and nutritional intakes of children showed no statistical difference as well. Thus, the presence of slight erosion is not a threat to the household rice production, income, and consumption relative to no erosion irrigated rice farms. However, in this context, varying erosion levels (i.e., high erosion versus no erosion) must be investigated further in order to provide more comprehensive information regarding the effect of soil erosion on productivity, expenditure, and food and nutritional intakes in irrigated rice farming

The Effect of Soil Erosion to Calorie Intakes of Children among Corn-Producing Households in Davao Region, Philippines: Structural Equation Modelling

Soil erosion is a constant challenge to farm productivity and profitability. However, extending the effect to food expenditure and children’s nutrition is yet to be explored. In this research, we attempted to establish the path linking soil erosion to children’s calorie intake levels. Using the geo-coordinates of Mindanao soil erosion areas from the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR), we used geographic information system to identify the research sites for corn producing households in Davao Region. A total of 125 samples were analyzed. A 24-hour food-frequency recall survey was conducted, and conversion of food consumption to calorie equivalent was performed using the USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference. An analysis of variance was used to compare the mean difference of varying degrees of soil erosion in terms of productivity, food expenditure, and calorie intake. To perform the path analysis, structural equation modelling was used. The results indicate that corn farms in severe and moderately eroded areas have lower yield relative to no apparent/low erosion level. The results also suggest direct and indirect negative effect of soil erosion to farm productivity, food expenditure, and children’s calorie intake. Finally, the effect of soil erosion can be mitigated through adoption of soil conservation practices, providing opportunity for nonfarm livelihood, and empowering women head of household to improve access to nutritious food

Systemic Effects Induced by Hyperoxia in a Preclinical Model of Intra-abdominal Sepsis

Supplemental oxygen is a supportive treatment in patients with sepsis to balance tissue oxygen delivery and demand in the tissues. However, hyperoxia may induce some pathological effects. We sought to assess organ damage associated with hyperoxia and its correlation with the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in a preclinical model of intra-abdominal sepsis. For this purpose, sepsis was induced in male, Sprague-Dawley rats by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). We randomly assigned experimental animals to three groups: control (healthy animals), septic (CLP), and sham-septic (surgical intervention without CLP). At 18 h after CLP, septic (n = 39), sham-septic (n = 16), and healthy (n = 24) animals were placed within a sealed Plexiglas cage and randomly distributed into four groups for continuous treatment with 21%, 40%, 60%, or 100% oxygen for 24 h. At the end of the experimental period, we evaluated serum levels of cytokines, organ damage biomarkers, histological examination of brain and lung tissue, and ROS production in each surviving animal. We found that high oxygen concentrations increased IL-6 and biomarkers of organ damage levels in septic animals, although no relevant histopathological lung or brain damage was observed. Healthy rats had an increase in IL-6 and aspartate aminotransferase at high oxygen concentration. IL-6 levels, but not ROS levels, are correlated with markers of organ damage. In our study, the use of high oxygen concentrations in a clinically relevant model of intra-abdominal sepsis was associated with enhanced inflammation and organ damage. These findings were unrelated to ROS release into circulation. Hyperoxia could exacerbate sepsis-induced inflammation, and it could be by itself detrimental. Our study highlights the need of developing safer thresholds for oxygen therapy

Antimicrobial residue assessment in 5, 357 commercialized meat samples from the Spain-France cross-border area: A new approach for effective monitoring

Although antimicrobials are valuable allies in animal production, their extended use has led to unexpected threats associated with the emergence and propagation of antimicrobial resistance. Moreover, when withdrawal periods in food-producing animals are not observed, antimicrobial residues can access the food chain, causing direct toxicity, allergies, and/or intestinal microbiota dysbiosis in consumers. Given that Spain and France are the largest meat producers in the EU and also count among the top consumers of meat, our study''s aim was to investigate the presence of antimicrobials in commercialized meat purchased in the Spain-France cross-border area (POCTEFA region). 5, 357 meat samples were collected from different animal species and a variety of different retailer types in Spain (Zaragoza, Bilbao, and Logroño) as well as in France (Toulouse and Perpignan). Meat samples were analysed by a screening method (Explorer®+QuinoScan®), yielding 194 positive samples, which were further evaluated by UPLC-QTOF (Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography-Quadrupole Time of Flight) for confirmation. Chromatographic analyses found antimicrobial residues in 30 samples, although only 5 of them (0.093% of initial samples) were non-compliant according to the current legislation. Further studies suggested that this mismatch between screening and confirmatory analyses might be due to the presence of biologically active metabolites derived from degradation of antimicrobials that were not identified by the targeted UPLC-QTOF method, but which might play a decisive role in the inhibition of the biological Explorer® test. Although chromatographic techniques detect the marker compounds determined by European and national regulations, and although they are the methods selected for official control of antimicrobials in food, certain unknown metabolites might escape their monitoring. This thus suggests that biological tests are the most adequate ones in terms of ideal consumer health protection

Functional Analysis of Ficolin-3 Mediated Complement Activation

The recognition molecules of the lectin complement pathway are mannose-binding lectin and Ficolin -1, -2 and -3. Recently deficiency of Ficolin-3 was found to be associated with life threatening infections. Thus, we aimed to develop a functional method based on the ELISA platform for evaluating Ficolin-3 mediated complement activation that could be applicable for research and clinical use. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) was acetylated (acBSA) and chosen as a solid phase ligand for Ficolins in microtiter wells. Binding of Ficolins on acBSA was evaluated, as was functional complement activation assessed by C4, C3 and terminal complement complex (TCC) deposition. Serum Ficolin-3 bound to acBSA in a calcium dependent manner, while only minimal binding of Ficolin-2 and no binding of Ficolin-1 were observed. No binding to normal BSA was seen for any of the Ficolins. Serum C4, C3 and TCC deposition on acBSA were dependent only on Ficolin-3 in appropriate serum dilutions. Deposition of down stream complement components correlated highly significantly with the serum concentration of Ficolin-3 but not with Ficolin-2 in healthy donors. To make the assay robust for clinical use a chemical compound was applied to the samples that inhibited interference from the classical pathway due to the presence of anti-BSA antibodies in some sera. We describe a novel functional method for measuring complement activation mediated by Ficolin-3 in human serum up to the formation of TCC. The assay provides the possibility to diagnose functional and genetic defects of Ficolin-3 and down stream components in the lectin complement pathway

Mannose-binding lectin-deficient genotypes as a risk factor of pneumococcal meningitis in infants

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to evaluate to evaluate the role of mannose-binding-lectin deficient genotypes in pneumococcal meningitis (PM) in children. METHODS: We performed a 16-year retrospective study (January 2001 to March 2016) including patients ≤ 18 years with PM. Variables including attack rate of pneumococcal serotype (high or low invasive capacity) and MBL2 genotypes associated with low serum MBL levels were recorded. RESULTS: Forty-eight patients were included in the study. Median age was 18.5 months and 17/48 episodes (35.4%) occurred in children ≤ 12 months old. Serotypes with high-invasive disease potential were identified in 15/48 episodes (31.2%). MBL2 deficient genotypes accounted for 18.8% (9/48). Children ≤ 12 months old had a 7-fold risk (95% CI: 1.6-29.9; p 12 months old. A sub-analysis of patients by age group revealed significant proportions of carriers of MBL2 deficient genotypes among those ≤ 12 months old with PM caused by opportunistic serotypes (54.5%), admitted to the PICU (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit) (46.7%) and of White ethnicity (35.7%). These proportions were significantly higher than in older children (all p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that differences in MBL2 genotype in children ≤12 months old affects susceptibility to PM, and it may have an important role in the episodes caused by non-high invasive disease potential serotypes