Formula for the nnth kk-Generalized Fibonacci-like Number

In this paper we provided a formula for the $n$th term of the $k$-generalized Fibonacci-like sequence, a generalization of the well-known Fibonacci sequence, having $k$ arbitrary initial terms, where the succeeding terms are obtained by adding its previous $k$ terms. The formula for the $n$th term of the $k$-generalized Fibonacci-like sequence was obtained by observing patterns in the derived formula for the nth term of the Fibonacci-like, Tribonacci-like, and Tetrabonacci-like sequence. The formula for the $k$-generalized Fibonacci sequence was also derived and was used in the process of proving the main result of this paper

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

Species Composition and Assessment of Sphingidae in Mt. Agad-Agad, Iligan City, Philippines

Sphingidae (Hawkmoth or Sphinxmoth) is a known bioindicator that is naturally af-fected by environmental issues such as deforestation and pollution. Members of this family are widely distributed in Southeast Asia and play vital roles as indicators of habitat quality and biomass degradation. This study highlights the diversity and as-sessment of hawkmoths of Mt. Agad-Agad (Sitio Langinlanon, Barangay Puga-an) on Iligan City. Two sampling stations were established, the upper and lower Mt. Agad-Agad. Light trap sampling using 2 ×3 m2white silk cloth and 500 watts light bulb was established in selected points of the sampling stations. Six species belong-ing to four genera were recorded of which two species, Acosmeryx socratesand Pol-yptychus trilineatusphilippinensis, were found very rare in the area. Station 2 (lower Mt. Agad-Agad) had the highest number of species recorded compared to Station 1 (upper Mt. Agad-Agad). However, there is no significant difference between the two (t=0.59, critical t=2.2281, p=0.56) sampling stations in terms of species composi-tion. Moreover, two species from the genus Ambulyxare the endemic species ob-served, viz, A. bakeriand A. wilemani

The amphibians and reptiles of Mindanao Island, southern Philippines, II: the herpetofauna of northeast Mindanao and adjacent islands

We summarize all available amphibian and reptile species distribution data from the northeast Mindanao faunal region, including small islands associated with this subcenter of endemic vertebrate biodiversity. Together with all publicly available historical information from biodiversity repositories, we present new data from several major herpetological surveys, including recently conducted inventories on four major mountains of northeast Mindanao, and adjacent islands of Camiguin Sur, Dinagat, and Siargao. We present species accounts for all taxa, comment on unresolved taxonomic problems, and provide revisions to outdated IUCN conservation status assessments in cases where our new data significantly alter earlier classification status summaries. Together, our comprehensive analysis of this fauna suggests that the greater Mindanao faunal region possesses distinct subcenters of amphibian and reptile species diversity, and that until this area is revisited and its fauna and actually studied, with on-the-ground field work including targeted surveys of species distributions coupled to the study their natural history, our understanding of the diversity and conservation status of southern Philippine herpetological fauna will remain incomplete. Nevertheless, the northeast Mindanao geographical area (Caraga Region) appears to have the highest herpetological species diversity (at least 126 species) of any comparably-sized Philippine faunal subregion

The genealogy of Yun Ling’s ressentiment in Tan Twan Eng’s The Garden of Evening Mists

This reading of Tan Twan Eng’s Garden of Evening Mists (2012) intends to examine the concept of Nietzschean ressentiment contained within the consciousness of the novel’s main character Yun Ling, a war survivor who directs her subdued loathing, against her Japanese former oppressors and towards a Japanese gardener who has lived in Malaysia after the war. Grounding the paper’s analysis on Nietzsche’s On the Genealogy of Morals (GM), this paper aims to represent Yun Ling’s narrative as an interpretation on the evolution of ressentiment as an internalised hatred — tracing the origins of its conception towards its eventual dissipation. Specifically, it explores Nietzschean concepts pertinent to Yun Ling’s narrative such as: 1.) justice as an invention of the powerless; 2.) forgetting as a positive form of repression; 3.) memory as a painful continuation of a promise; and 4.) the body as the site of history. Moreover, these aphoristic ideas from Nietzsche are contextualised to explicate aspects relevant to Yun Ling’s character such as her Malaysian Chinese identity, the Japanese occupation of Malaya, and healing through Japanese aesthetics

Evolution of genital asymmetry, exaggerated eye stalks, and extreme palpal elongation in <i>Panjange</i> spiders (Araneae: Pholcidae)

We describe several new species of the previously monotypic Panjange lanthana species group from the Philippines and document their extraordinary morphology. Some species show strong male genital asymmetry, a phenomenon that seems to be exceedingly rare in spiders. Males of most species have eye stalks, and in two species these eye stalks are among the longest ever recorded in spiders. Some species show a tendency for male genital (pedipalp) elongation, and one species has the longest and thinnest palps ever recorded in Pholcidae. A cladistic analysis is performed including all described and several undescribed species of Panjange (except for one “problem species”), supporting the lanthana group and its close relationship with members of the possibly paraphyletic cavicola group. The following eight new species are described: Panjange malagos Huber sp. nov.; Pa. casaroro Huber sp. nov.; Pa. camiguin Huber sp. nov.; Pa. hamiguitan Huber sp. nov.; Pa. isarog Huber sp. nov.; Pa. dinagat Huber sp. nov.; Pa. marilog Huber sp. nov.; Pa. bukidnon Huber sp. nov.</p

A Praxis of Gayatri Spivak’s “Aesthetic Education” Using Arundhati Roy’s “The God of Small Things” as a Reading in Philippine Schools

Presented as a “speculative manual on pedagogy,” this article seeks to provide praxis to Spivak’s Aesthetic Education in the Era of Globalization (2012) using Arundhati Roy’s The God of Small Things (1997) as a reading in Philippine schools. Its aim is to envision pedagogical ways in which a foreign literary text is introduced into a culturally distant setting, thereby prompting educators – the “supposed trainers of the mind” – to resolve: (1) How does one educate aesthetically? (2) How do we imagine the performance of aesthetic education in local classrooms? In demonstrating a theory and its form, the paper first explores Spivak’s conception of aesthetic education and then adapts it in a specific case: in Philippine classrooms where learners are confronted by a literary work of the Other – particularly, Arundhati Roy’s The God of Small Things. Aesthetic education, as a theoretic idea, is visualized and imaginatively performed through its capacity to realize an “epistemic revolution” happening in local classrooms worldwide

Species Diversity and Distribution of Odonata in Selected River Systems of North Cotabato, Philippines

Odonata has long been studied as an insect order that plays an important role in the balance of aquatic environment. The order represents one set of insects that is potential in indicating environmental quality. In this study, the species diversity and distribution of Odonata in selected river systems of North Cotabato, Mindanao, Philippines was assessed. Four rivers were sampled in the study: Mirasol River in Alamada and Nicaan River in Libungan which are relatively disturbed and Raradangan River in Alamada and Kimarayag River in Pigcawayan which are relatively undisturbed. Opportunistic sampling was employed through sweep netting in visual encounter surveys. The association of environmental factors to species distribution was evaluated using Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA).Geographic Information System (GIS) was used to create a distribution map of Odonata species in the sampling sites. Fifteen species belonging to five families were recorded of which four (26.67%) species are Philippine endemic. High species diversity (H’=2.13) was recorded in Raradangan River (Site 1). Kimarayag River (Site 4) is considered high in diversity (H’=2.02) next to site 1. Moreover, Sites 2, Mirasol River (H’=1.62) and site 3, Nicaan River exhibited moderate diversity (H’=1.53) inspite of the human disturbances. The Oriental species, Pseudagrion p. pilidorsum (Brauer) is the most abundant distributed in all sampling sites. The values for all the parameters (water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen and relative humidity) in all sampling sites are within the Philippine standard of water quality. Eight species were identified to be affected by high dissolved oxygen, three species were positively affected by relative humidity, and four species were found to have tolerance to change in water temperature. GIS mapping clearly showed spatial aggregation of species within the surrounding habitat. Results indicate that Odonata appears to be associated with habitat variables.Keywords: Endemicity, Environmental factors, Habitat assessment, Oriental specie

Significant records of birds in Agusan Marsh, Philippines with notes on the conservation importance of the area

Agusan marsh is one of the most ecologically significant wetland ecosystems in the Philippines. Sago, terminalia, mixed swamp, and peat swamp forests in Agusan Marsh were surveyed from August 2005 to January 2006 using a combination of mist netting (3,337 net days) and transect walk methods to determine the distribution, endemicity, and conservation of birds in Agusan marsh. One hundred twenty-four species of birds were identified with low endemism of 25%. The mixed swamp forest had the highest species richness (S = 92) while sago forest had the least (S = 70). Peat swamp forest had the highest number of migratory birds (S = 26). Highest endemicity was recorded in the terminalia forest (21%). Migratory birds were recorded at the start of sampling in August and considerably increased thereafter reaching its peak in November. A sudden decline in the number of endemic species was observed in November. Forty-six species of birds which include six migratory species were reported to be of socio-economic importance. Changes in the structural and floristic composition brought about by forest degradation such as conversion of forest into agriculture, timber poaching and hunting were seen as threats to the birds in Agusan marsh. Conservation of the different habitats in the marsh is necessary for the retention of the broadest avifaunal diversity