Abundance and Composition of Zooplankton (Copepoda, Cladocera, Rotifera) in Lake Taal: Potential Impact of Intensive Size-Selective Predation by the Freshwater Sardine, Sardinella tawilis (Herre 1927)

Zooplankton are considered to be important members of the lake ecosystem. The abundance and composition of which are due to several factors, for example, the impact of intensive size-selective predation by planktivorous fishes residing in the lake. In this study, the abundance and composition of zooplankton found in the vicinity of Isla Napayun - a known fishing ground of the freshwater sardine, Sardinella tawilis (Herre 1927) was analyzed using samples taken from vertical plankton tows from the 10 and 20 m depths in 2 sampling sites from the said area. These were then compared with the stomach contents of S. tawilis taken during the same period. Results show that there were 4 genera of Copepoda, 4 genera of Cladocera and 2 genera of Rotifera found in the plankton tows that were analyzed. Of these, the nauplius larvae of the copepods were noted to be the most abundant followed by the rotifer Brachionus spp. Analysis of the stomach contents of the collected S. tawilis samples revealed a zooplankton diet that was composed of 90% Copepoda with the remaining 10% being made up of the Cladocera and Rotifera. These results indicate that small-bodied organisms dominate the lake. This is indicative of intensive size-selective predation by the S. tawilis on the zooplankton population of the area. This is further validated by the high preference of S. tawilis for Copepoda, which is the largest of the 3 groups (in terms of size) in the samples that were analyzed in spite of the fact that small-bodied zooplankton dominate the zooplankton community during the entire sampling period. The zooplankton found in this particular area of Lake Taal has been observed to be highly influenced by intensive size selective preference of planktivores such as the S. tawilis for bigger zooplankton

Abundance and Composition of Zooplankton (Copepoda, Cladocera, Rotifera) in Lake Taal: Potential Impact of Intensive Size-Selective Predation by the Freshwater Sardine, Sardinella tawilis (Herre 1927)

Zooplankton are considered to be important members of the lake ecosystem. The abundance and composition of which are due to several factors, for example, the impact of intensive size-selective predation by planktivorous fishes residing in the lake. In this study, the abundance and composition of zooplankton found in the vicinity of Isla Napayun - a known fishing ground of the freshwater sardine, Sardinella tawilis (Herre 1927) was analyzed using samples taken from vertical plankton tows from the 10 and 20 m depths in 2 sampling sites from the said area. These were then compared with the stomach contents of S. tawilis taken during the same period. Results show that there were 4 genera of Copepoda, 4 genera of Cladocera and 2 genera of Rotifera found in the plankton tows that were analyzed. Of these, the nauplius larvae of the copepods were noted to be the most abundant followed by the rotifer Brachionus spp. Analysis of the stomach contents of the collected S. tawilis samples revealed a zooplankton diet that was composed of 90% Copepoda with the remaining 10% being made up of the Cladocera and Rotifera. These results indicate that small-bodied organisms dominate the lake. This is indicative of intensive size-selective predation by the S. tawilis on the zooplankton population of the area. This is further validated by the high preference of S. tawilis for Copepoda, which is the largest of the 3 groups (in terms of size) in the samples that were analyzed in spite of the fact that small-bodied zooplankton dominate the zooplankton community during the entire sampling period. The zooplankton found in this particular area of Lake Taal has been observed to be highly influenced by intensive size selective preference of planktivores such as the S. tawilis for bigger zooplankton

Inferring player experiences using facial expressions analysis

© 2014 ACM. Understanding player experiences is central to game design. Video captures of players is a common practice for obtaining rich reviewable data for analysing these experiences. However, not enough has been done in investigating ways of preprocessing the video for a more efficient analysis process. This paper consolidates and extends prior work on validating the feasibility of using automated facial expressions analysis as a natural quantitative method for evaluating player experiences. A study was performed on participants playing a first-person puzzle shooter game (Portal 2) and a social drawing trivia game (Draw My Thing), and results were shown to exhibit rich details for inferring player experiences from facial expressions. Significant correlations were also observed between facial expression intensities and self reports from the Game Experience Questionnaire. In particular, the challenge dimension consistently showed positive correlations with anger and joy. This paper eventually presents a case for increasing the application of computer vision in video analyses of gameplay

Integrating RTI case management within LGU Health Centers: An intervention study

In 1994, the Philippines’ Department of Health began assessing the feasibility of syndromic management—utilizing flowcharts and algorithms—for reproductive tract infections (RTIs) in the country’s public health facilities. This intervention, in seven primary health care clinics, trained service providers on RTI case management, improved clinical facilities and laboratories, provided supportive supervision and TA, along with developing training materials. Clinical case management was observed for a six month period. The project also included a cost analysis

The value of economic and cultural capital to college readiness among Filipino senior high school graduates

Guided by the lens of Bourdieu, this study examined the relationship of the students' economic capital (parents' monthly income and students' weekly allowance) and cultural capital (parents' highest educational attainment and students' community involvement) to their college readiness. The study utilized a descriptive-correlational design, and data were collected from 6,626 K-12 graduates enrolled in one state-university in Cagayan Valley Region, Philippines. The results reveal that the respondents have parents who have income below the Philippine poverty threshold level and have obtained a secondary level of education. They, too, are college-unready, implying that the competencies they obtained from their basic education need further enhancement. Moreover, economic and cultural capital becomes significant resources that are valuable in explaining the college readiness of Filipino Senior High School (SHS) graduates. Those who come from families with higher economic and cultural capital tend to have higher college readiness. Remarkably, the low economic and cultural capital of the students possibly explains their lack of college readiness. As they have less economic and cultural capital, they tend to have fewer competencies to capacitate them in hurdling tertiary education. Hence, these disadvantaged students generally struggle to achieve more and to be successful in life

Academic Profile and College Preparedness of K-12 Graduates: The Case of the Indigenous Peoples (IPs) in the Northern Philippines

The indigenous peoples (IPs) are recognized as one of the disadvantaged social groups constituting Philippine minorities. While there have been several studies seeking to explain issues relating to IPs’ participation in education, these have not adequately provided baseline data on the their academic profile and college preparedness, which are essential in understanding their effective transition from basic to tertiary education. Using descriptive-correlational design, this study investigated the association of academic profile and college preparedness of 1,860 IPs enrolled in a public university in the northern Philippines. The results revealed that the majority of respondents were college unprepared. Moreover, the level of preparedness differed significantly in terms of the type of senior high school (SHS) where they graduated, as well as the SHS track and strand they had taken. Kendall's tau-b statistic results showed that IPs who had higher SHS grade point average (GPA), more academic and nonacademic awards, greater participation in organizations and more involvement in cocurricular activities tended to be more college prepared. In regard to educational practice, improving college preparedness with due consideration of the academic profile facilitates an increased ability for IPs to be admitted to college and to succeed without remediation in college foundation courses

Online-Merge-Offline Jamboard Application as an Innovation in Teaching Word Problems among Grade 4 Learners

This study assessed the effectiveness of an online – merge – offline Jamboard application as an innovation in teaching word problems to Grade 4 learners was evaluated in this study. The research evaluates a learner's level of mathematical word problem skills in terms of understanding, devising a plan, solving a problem, and interpreting, as well as improving learners' knowledge of the online – merge – offline Jamboard application as an invention. The study employed a one-group pretest-posttest research design to test the viability of the online-merge-offline Jamboard application as an innovation in teaching word problem solving that will be utilized to Grade 4 learners for their improvement in mathematical skills. The adoption of a Table of Specification (TOS) was required by the Curriculum Guide provided by the Department of Education to ensure its reliability and validity. The findings revealed that the learners showed outstanding as exposed to online – merge – offline Jamboard application had a positive effect on teaching word problems. The significantly higher mean in the post-test than in the pretest shows that the online – merge – offline classroom strategy had a positive effect on teaching word problems among Grade 4 learners. The pretest and posttest scores of learners who were exposed to the online-merge-offline Jamboard application as an innovation in teaching word problem-solving were significantly different. Additionally, the findings of this study will benefit Math teachers by providing information on the effectiveness of using the Jamboard application as an innovation in teaching word problems to Grade 4 learners

High Prevalence of Chronic Pituitary and Target-Organ Hormone Abnormalities after Blast-Related Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Studies of traumatic brain injury from all causes have found evidence of chronic hypopituitarism, defined by deficient production of one or more pituitary hormones at least 1 year after injury, in 25–50% of cases. Most studies found the occurrence of posttraumatic hypopituitarism (PTHP) to be unrelated to injury severity. Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) and hypogonadism were reported most frequently. Hypopituitarism, and in particular adult GHD, is associated with symptoms that resemble those of PTSD, including fatigue, anxiety, depression, irritability, insomnia, sexual dysfunction, cognitive deficiencies, and decreased quality of life. However, the prevalence of PTHP after blast-related mild TBI (mTBI), an extremely common injury in modern military operations, has not been characterized. We measured concentrations of 12 pituitary and target-organ hormones in two groups of male US Veterans of combat in Iraq or Afghanistan. One group consisted of participants with blast-related mTBI whose last blast exposure was at least 1 year prior to the study. The other consisted of Veterans with similar military deployment histories but without blast exposure. Eleven of 26, or 42% of participants with blast concussions were found to have abnormal hormone levels in one or more pituitary axes, a prevalence similar to that found in other forms of TBI. Five members of the mTBI group were found with markedly low age-adjusted insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) levels indicative of probable GHD, and three had testosterone and gonadotropin concentrations consistent with hypogonadism. If symptoms characteristic of both PTHP and PTSD can be linked to pituitary dysfunction, they may be amenable to treatment with hormone replacement. Routine screening for chronic hypopituitarism after blast concussion shows promise for appropriately directing diagnostic and therapeutic decisions that otherwise may remain unconsidered and for markedly facilitating recovery and rehabilitation