2008

#1

Analysis of the Geometry of Drilled Holes in Demolition ABSTRACT

Paul Vincent M. Abanador, Hykinel Bon D. Guarte, David Nathaniel P. Tan

Implosion is a last-ditch demolition method, used when no other method will work for the situation, in terms of safety and cost. Implosions are more expensive and take complex calculations in order to proceed properly. This research aims to find the most effective arrangement of drilled holes that provides the most destructive force in a given foundation. The effect of a non-explosive demolition agent on a given foundation using different geometric arrangements should vary. The most effective arrangement was determined by measuring the degree of cracking. Number of cracks and crack lengths were used for comparison purposes. The concrete slabs used were 37.5 centimeters wide, 37.5 centimeters long and 2.5 centimeters thick. The drilled holes were 10 millimeters in diameter and the non-explosive demolition agent used was Bentonamit-R. There are a total of 9 concrete slabs used for the experiment. Treatments consisting of three different geometric designs of drilled holes were used: square, triangle, and hexagon. Three replicates were provided for each treatment. NEDA was prepared using 620 milliliters of water and 1 kilogram of Bentonamit-R. The solution was poured into each hole and the slabs were left to settle after two days. Only the slabs with the hexagon arrangement showed cracks after the first day of observation while the other six slabs did not incur cracks even after the second day. This trial provides enough evidence to verify the negative support provided by the hexagon configuration. The project utilized small concrete slabs whereas NEDA is formulated for destroying large infrastructures and quarrying. The project could be improved by providing more accurate simulation of the effects of NEDA and geometric arrangement of holes using larger concrete slabs or other similar materials. #2

Design and Constructionof a Methane Collector ABSTRACT

Anna Carmina S. Abarquez, Maria Lourdes M. De Castro, Maria Angela S. Dealino

A methane collector was designed and constructed to collect methane from gas seepages and slurry. The collection of methane would help reduce the amount

of methane gas, a potent greenhouse gas, released into the atmosphere and provide an alternative energy source. Concepts from existing biodigesters were incorporated into the design. The collector consisted of a main body for gas collection, a bladder made of tarpaulin for the separation of water from the gas through condensation, and piping for connection to a stove as and alternative fuel source. The testing of the condensation feature and the collection capacity of the contraption have been done using steam and methane from slurry. The methane collector constructed is easy-to-use and portable; and the materials used cost only about 500 pesos. It can act as a biodigester, a device used for collecting biogas from waste, or as a collector for gas seepages. The bladder may also be used as a pump or as a gas compressor. Testing yielded positive results or gas collection, but negative for gas condensation. Collecting methane from gas seepages and slurry will help reduce the amount of methane released into the atmosphere while reducing the health risks involved in the current methods used for the collection of methane. It would also help improve the lives of people, especially from rural areas where animal wastes are abundant and may be a source of alternative fuel. #3

Anti-bacterial effect of Caffeine on Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Bacillus Subtillis (B. subtilis)
Neil Adrian B. Abendan, Lawrence James F. Fajardo, Michael Adrian B. Non

ABSTRACT
Public health and medicine today are two major factors that contribute to the development of a society and community. Almost everyday, researchers and scientist discover new ways on improving these factors. They find new components that can be adopted for medicinal use. Caffeine has properties that can inhibit the growth and reproduction of bacterial cells. It can stop the cells from entering the quiescent (Go) phase, thus preventing their proliferation. E. coli and B. subtilis are Gram negative and Gram positive bacterial strains, respectively. They are both common bacteria and are usually tested on by researchers. This project aimed to prove if caffeine does have anti-bacterial effects on pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria. In this study, E. coli and B. subtilis were grown cultured in Petri plates. Each one is treated with a positive control (alcohol), a negative control, 2% caffeine solution and 0.5% caffeine solution. They are applied with the use of the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion. The results show that caffeine does have anti-bacterial effects on these bacteria, although it has significantly less effects compared to alcohol.

#4

Production of Cellulose-Chitin Films Using LiCl/DMAc Solvent System

Maria Kim Feliz N. Abog, Ana Gabriela T. Gatchalian, Maria Sylvia C. Nachura

ABSTRACT
Due to the general availability of plastics, people assume that it is cheaper to manufacture more of it than to reuse it. Unfortunately, this practice contributes to the buildup of non-biodegradable wastes in landfills. The solvent system LiCl/N,N-dimethylacetamide (LiCl/DMAc) has been known to dissolve both chitin and cellulose. It has been used in the formation of chitin and cellulose films. In this study, the ability of LiCl/DMAc solvent system to produce an aggregate film composed of chitin and cellulose was determined. Chitin was first extracted from squid pen, according to the methodology of Le Gal and Ulber (2005). An amount of 0.12 g of extracted chitin and 0.12 g of commercially available cellulose were dissolved in 5% LiCl/DMAc to test if films can be formed through this method. The mixture formed a gel-like substance with a definite shape. The substance was then flattened out to form the film. The biodegradability of the film was tested against a negative control of commercially available plastic wrap using the soil burial test. The test, conducted at room temperature, using soil compost of with a pH of 7, lasted for two weeks. It showed that barely 10% of the original weight of the films was left, which means that the films produced are indeed biodegradable. The negative control, on the other hand, showed no weight loss at all. It was concluded that the LiCl/DMAc solvent system can produce biodegradable chitincellulose aggregate films, but the flimsiness of the said films made them unsuitable as a commercial plastic substitute. Further processing of the films to increase their tensile strength and additional research on cheaper solvents that could substitute for more expensive LiCl/DMAc solvent system are recommended. #5

An All-Organic solution for hydroponics ABSTRACT

Anna Lynn C Alcaraz, Trisha Mae S Perez, Aldrin Raphael G Mariano

An all-organic solution made up of coconut water, rice wash (hugas bigas), extracts from fermented garlic, fish entrails and banana stalks was formulated as a cheaper and more environment-friendly substitute for synthetic solutions in hydroponics. Garlic was fermented in gin to extract protective enzymes needed by plants, while banana stalks and fish entrails were separately fermented in brown sugar. The extracts from banana stalks and fish entrails served as sources of

potassium and calcium respectively. The extracts from fermented garlic, banana stalks and fish entrails were mixed together with coconut water and rice wash. Coconut water served as a source of growth enzymes while the rice wash served as a source of nitrogen. Tomato seedlings were then transplanted into the hydroponics set-up using perlite as a growing medium. The plants were divided into two groups, with one group being treated with the all-organic solution and the other group treated with a commercially available synthetic solution. The tomato plants were observed everyday. No conclusions could be drawn from the experiments because all the plants died on both set-ups. The tomato cultivated variety used may not have been strong enough for hydroponic growing. It is recommended that another tomato cultivar, or another plant, be used. #6

PRODUCTION, CHARACTERIZATION, AND UTILIZATION OF GABI (Colocasia esculenta L.) STARCH

Sophia Q. Alfonso, Jalea L. Coralde, Mark Xavier V. Tarcelo

ABSTRACT
This research was conducted to establish and determine specific properties of starch from Colocasia esculenta, more commonly known as gabi. An analysis of its amylose content, a component of starch, would show if it would be classified as resistant starch, starch which is beneficial in terms of digestion. Starch extraction was performed manually by having the root undergo pulping. Amylose content was then measured in a series of three trials. Other than the measuring of its amylose content, Colocasia esculenta starch was also analyzed with emphasis on its characteristics, namely mesh quality, dry appearance, cleanliness, pulp, viscosity, and ash. From the results obtained in the measuring of amylose content, it did not match the hypothesized amount. The samples yielded amylose percentages of 18.09, 20.80, and 19.58 percent per trial. For Colocasia esculenta to be qualified to have enough amylose content and consequently have additional health benefits in digestion, a significantly high percentage, such as 50-60 percent, is required. Dry appearance, cleanliness, and viscosity were determined to be Grade A, of the highest quality and similar to commercially available products. Mesh, ash, and pulp were found to be of Grade B. Colocasia esculenta starch, while not exhibiting an amylose content enough to provide a significant health benefit in terms of digestion and fiber, proved to be a possible alternative to commercially produced starch in the Philippines.

#7

Comparative analysis of the effectivity in increasing activity of energy drinks in mice

Aldrine O Almanzor, Kathrin B Bartilad

ABSTRACT
Energy drinks are popular today, being used to supplement and provide a boost of energy which allows people to keep up with todays fast-paced world. Its popularity makes it a profitable business creating different kinds of energy drinks with variations in the ratio of its main ingredients. Consumers of such products find it hard to choose between those energy drinks currently present in the market. Moreover, it is impractical to select among these product with little knowledge on their effects and effectiveness. As a solution, the ability of Red Bull and lipovitan to increase activity and locomotion in mice was compared. This was done by force feeding the mice with the energy drinks. The mice were then subjected to an open field test 30 minutes after feeding. Each mouses activity was captured on video for 5 minutes and observed to determine its path. The path of the mice is a measurement of its level of activity and its state of simulation. The data is inconclusive as to reveal which energy drinks is more efficient in stimulating activity. #8

Comparison of Coral Growth on CalciumCarbonate Surface against Plexiglass and Fiber Cement Substrates
Victor Emanuel I. Almazar, Jose Alejandro M. Reyes, Jon Patrick M. Tolentino

ABSTRACT
Every day corals are destroyed in various ways leading to a decrease in their population. The rate at which they are destroyed is much greater than their recovery rate which eventually leads to their extinction. Our project hastened the growth of corals and made them more resistant to natural illnesses by growing them on calcium carbonate surfaces. A large coral was procured from Lingayen Bay and sliced into ninety coral fragments. Thirty coral fragments were each placed on thirty different mussel shells. Thirty coral fragments were also placed on thirty plexiglass tiles and the remaining thirty were placed on thirty fiber cement tiles, keeping all factors, like temperature and water supply, constant. They were randomly placed in nine different bins and observed for a period of over two months. Our results have shown that mussel shells not only provided the largest average percentage growth of 69.684%, but also provided them with the most resistance to disease, as none of the corals attached to mussel shells, as opposed to those on fiber cement and plexiglass which have experienced bleaching. The

experiment has shown that mussel shells are better growth substrates compared to the commonly used plexiglass and fiber cement. It is recommended that succeeding projects about coral growth should have a longer time period for observations and should experiment in the corals natural habitat, the sea. #9

Construction of a Mechanical Prototype of a Microtremor Recorder Based on Electromagnetic Induction

Marvin Paolo G. Ambrosio, Rachel Ruth Y. Cahilig, Adrian T. Patacsil

ABSTRACT
Ambient vibration, the movement of the ground caused by transient objects such as the wind, sounds and human activities, is one major site effect evaluation method presently used. The respective predominant frequencies of a site and the structures above it obtained using this method serve as reference to the renovation and/or construction of structures. Predominant frequencies of the landmass and the structures above it should be non-identical to avoid prolonged shaking with the occurrence of an extensive movement of the ground as dictated by resonance effect. Since electronic ambient vibration or microtremor recorders, specifically their sensors, are expensive and inaccessible, a mechanical prototype of such device was designed and constructed. The proposed design of the mechanical ambient vibration recorder (mAVR) was mainly based on the IRIS Seismograph which makes use of the principle of electromagnetic induction. The relationship between ground motion and the movement of the prototype lever, which is a direct proportion, was the concept highlighted by the prototypes mechanism. After the design of the mAVR prototype was finalized, its assembly, which consisted of the calibration of the solenoid and the inertial mass, was performed. The calibration of the solenoid was based on its voltage output based on the number of turns, while the inertial mass was determined based on the equilibrium level of the prototype lever. Having proven the mAVRs capacity to function by simulating stimulus, the testing of its accuracy was done with two setups: recording of (1) natural and (2) induced ambient vibration. This tested the prototypes accuracy relative to values obtained using the commercial recorder. The natural ambient vibration of a control site was simultaneously obtained using the mechanical prototype and the commercial recorder, which were situated next to each other during the actual recording. Moreover, both sensors were used to record a control stimulus for a constant amount of time. The data obtained from these subparts were processed using WinWaveShot which quantified and presented ambient vibration as waves. The deviations of the maximum and minimum amplitudes, mode and median values of these waves, as graphed by DADiSP2002, was performed to verify the accuracy or reliability of the prototype. These graphs were converted to their DFT graphs and histograms, with accompanying converted wave properties which characterized the predominant

frequency. Based on the results, the recordings obtained from the mAVR are proportional from the ones obtained from the eAVR. Therefore, the mechanical prototype is capable of recording the predominant frequency of a site. The prototype, when improved, is a potential alternative to commercial sensors since it is able to record actual movements and its scale is proportional to the scale of the eAVR. Moreover, it will provide a more common usage of ambient vibration as a site effect evaluation method since the prototype can be created from readily available and cheap materials. To verify the reliability of the prototype, the ambient vibration of other sites must be obtained and compared to eAVR recordings. #10

The Feasibility of Leaf Extract From Sugar Apple (Annona Squamosa) as an Inhibitor of Blood Glucose
Patricia V.Angulo, Agnetha Y. Ayson, Arianne Antonette O. Libed

ABSTRACT
Diabetes is one of the leading causes of death in the world today. This disease is characterized by high glucose concentrations in the blood caused by the production of little or no insulin in the body. This abnormality occurs when the beta cells, which are responsible for insulin production, are destroyed by free radicals. Free radicals can be neutralized by antioxidants. The leaves of Annona squamosa are found to have these antioxidants. Our project aimed to test the feasibility and effectiveness of the aqueous extract from the leaves of Annona squamosa as a blood glucose inhibitor. The leaves of Annona squamosa were subjected to Soxhlet extraction after air-drying. The solvent was evaporated through simple distillation. The extract was filtered and liquid-liquid extraction was used to separate the aqueous and organic layers. The aqueous extract was purified using rotary evaporation. The semi-purified extract was used to treat diabetic mice. Their blood glucose concentrations were measured and compared with the results from mice treated with a commercially-available drug. The results prove that the extract is effective in reducing blood glucose levels in diabetic mice. Further research extending this project can find the correct dosage of the extract for maximum effectiveness. Further research can also calculate for the costeffectiveness of the extract and other methods of extraction.

#11

Feasibility of Callus Induction Using a Makeshift Hood for the Micropropagation of Yakal (Shorea astylosa)
Jhunel Arian S. Arroyo, Stephanie G. Lanuza, Janella Mae R. Salamania

ABSTRACT
Today, Shorea astylosa, a species endemic to the Philippines is now critically endangered due to logging and kaingin. This project aimed to successfully establish a technique for micropropagating Shorea astylosa through the process of callus induction using a makeshift hood. For the micropropagation of Shorea astylosa, shoot explants were first immersed in a disinfecting solution containing 20% (v/v) commercial bleach (Zonrox) and 0.05% (v/v) Tween-20 or teepol detergent, incubated and then rinsed. They were then cultured to induce calluses on a Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with antibacterial and antifungal mixtures and the following concentration ratios of Indole-3-acetic Acid (IAA) to 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BA) (M): 20 to 0; 15 to 5; 10 to 10; 5 to 15; 0 to 20; and 0 to 0. Four days after placing the explants in the culture media, contaminations were found in the form of bacterial and fungal colonies. The ineffective disinfecting technique for the Shorea astylosa explants may be accounted for these contaminations because the aseptic techniques used (e.g. flaming the mouths of the bottles) as well as the makeshift hood proved to be effective when no contaminations were found four days after the culture medium was prepared for each setup. It is recommended that more research be done for other more effective disinfecting methods for the said explants. #12

Effectivity of a Wastewater Filter composed of Moringa oleifera seeds, Citrus aurantium fibers and Nata de Coco
Emmanuel Kenneth F. Artillera, Jasper S. Baliong, David Robin M. Maalac

ABSTRACT
Wastewater contains undesirable and even dangerous substances, and is capable of polluting an already limited water supply. Although commercially available wastewater filters are capable of handling this problem, an alternative filter is needed, due to the high cost and inaccessibility of current filters for poor communities. This project tested the combination of malunggay (Moringa oleifera), nata de coco and dalandan (Citrus aurantium) peels as a potent wastewater filter that can simultaneously filter out metal ions and bacteria. For this experiment, a filter setup with the three components was prepared. Its effectivity was tested using a 1L copper sulfate solution for filtration of metal ions and a test tube of Escherichia coli, diluted to 50mL, for filtration of bacteria.

Bacterial colony counts were done before and after filtration. The bacterial concentrations had three replicates and were measured using the colony counting method. The colony counts of each replicate before the filtration process were compared with the colony counts taken after the filtration process. The copper concentrations in both the filtered and unfiltered water were set to be measured using an Atomic Adsorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). However, the particle size of the filtered water samples exceeded the maximum size the AAS can tolerate. Thus, the results for the copper concentration for both filtered and unfiltered samples were not obtained. In conclusion, the wastewater filter was capable of filtering out significant amounts of E. coli. It is recommended that the setup of wastewater filter be modified so as to apply positive pressure during filtration. #13

Effectivity of Methyl Sulfonyl Methane (MSM) from Capsicum annuum (Chili pepper) Extracts as hair Growth Enhancer
Alexis John R. Avilla, Aerold Louise M. Firmeza, Adrian M. Tolentino

ABSTRACT
Many hair products claiming to increase hair growth are often times expensive or untested, and, therefore, unsafe or ineffective. The study aims to determine the effectivity of MSM from Chili peppers on increasing the rate of hair growth compared to other available hair loss treatments. Six set-ups were used, three for each gender: chili pepper set-up, Aloe Vera set-up (positive control), and control (none applied) set-up. Approximately 1cm x 1cm of the test subjects (Mus musculus) posterior region was plucked on which the extracts were applied for 9 days. Measurements were obtained by measuring the lengths of hair samples every three days. Results showed a significant difference among all treatments by using single variance ANOVA with a significance level of 0.05. T-test for two independent variables showed that the chili pepper set-up had a significantly greater result than both the control set-up and the Aloe Vera set-up. The project could provide a better alternative to hair loss treatments available in the market. Its low-cost and easy production can also gain high appreciation from manufacturers in the hair care products industry.

#14

Extraction and Stability of Pigment from Dioscorea alata L. (Ube) Peels

Lourdes Teresa P. Baking, Sarah Christina W. Estacio, A. Mittsu G. Sarmago

ABSTRACT
There is a growing demand for food additives derived from natural sources, and this includes colors obtained from plants (Paredes-Lopez et al., 2003). In this study, peels of purple yam or ube (Dioscorea alata L.) were evaluated as a potential source for natural colorants. Anthocyanins from ube peels were extracted with the introduction of ethanol to the samples (Metivier, R.P et al. 1996). The residue from the filtered material was re-extracted with ethanol (1:2 vol/vol ratio). All ube samples showed similar pigment color ranges. Anthocyanin was separated from the solvent to produce usable natural colorant. Liquid extract was obtained from the experiment. Anthocyanin stability was determined by pH tests, temperature and UV exposure tests. Extract samples were subjected to pH levels, 3, 7 and 10, representing acidic, neutral, and basic environments respectively. Samples were also exposed to temperatures ranging from 0C to 100C. Exposure to sunlight showed no significant color changes. Native ube tubers may be good potential sources of food colorants. #15

Banana and Papaya Fruit Peelings Extract as an Alternative Culture Medium for Fungi
Charice Valerie M. Barcelona and John Bart Lovern C. Dumalag,

ABSTRACT
Banana, mango and papaya are one of the top export fruits of the country. With the enormous amount of these fruits produced and consumed annually, huge amount of their fruit peels are thrown away as well. Since these fruit peels comprise about one-third of the fruits, alternative ways to maximize their potential must be sought. This group aimed to test the feasibility of extract from banana and papaya fruit peelings as an alternative culture media for A. niger and T. harzianum. Fungal growth on the experimental culture media prepared was tested against Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) and Coconut Water Agar (CWA). Qualitative analysis of the fungis growth was noted down one week after inoculation. Two hundred grams of chopped fruit peels were boiled for thirty minutes with five hundred mL of distilled water. The extract was strained using cheesecloth then the amount gathered was measured. One clear gulaman bar was

added to every five hundred mL extract and the mixture was boiled again for thirty minutes. The mixture was strained again before one hundred fifty mL was dispensed into each lapad bottle. PDA and CWA were also prepared as these served as the studys control set-ups. Three replicates per treatment were prepared. All bottles were autoclaved for one hour then slanted. From this study, it can be concluded that Papaya Peelings Extract Culture Media was the most effective culture media among the treatments for A. niger. However, no conclusion can be drawn from the results seen from the T. harzianum treatments since there seems to be a problem with the groups stock culture. It is then recommended that studies on alternative sources of culture medium for fungi from other fruits would be pursued. Research on the viability of banana and papaya peels as culture media for T. harzianum is also recommended to establish a basis of results for future researchers. #16

Comparative Analysis of Primary and Adventitious Roots Using Fractals to Determine Effectiveness in Preventing Soil Erosion
Patricia T. Baricaua, Jessica Ann A. Caras, Philip Erwin T. Reyes

ABSTRACT
It is not known whether primary or adventitious root growth is more effective in holding the soil together. This study was conducted to analyze and compare the root growth of the primary and the adventitious roots of calamansi using fractals. Fractals can explain root growth better than simple geometry such as lines and curves, since fractals are used to measure biological growth with indefinite shapes. Six seeds for primary roots and six stem cuttings for adventitious roots were planted and were left to grow for 33 days. Images of the roots were then taken with a digital camera and were analyzed using Fractal Analysis System software by Hiroyuki Sasaki, and using the program, the fractal dimensions of the roots were obtained. The resulting fractal dimensions for primary roots range from 1.3735 to 1.4865, and has a mean of 1.445. The resulting fractal dimensions for adventitious roots range from 1.5326 to 1.6099, and has a mean of 1.56352. Based on theory, roots with higher fractal dimensions, in this case the adventitious root growth, have a higher perceived rate of growth, and a larger occupied space. This means that the root system will be able to hold more soil particles, and will be able to absorb more minerals from it. Root growth is not definite, adventitious roots may have higher fractal dimensions but it is also possible that later on the primary roots will have higher fractal dimensions. The findings of this study may help in preventing soil erosion and may lead to the better propagation of calamansi plants. This study could also

pave the way for improving the agriculture of other plants if it is found to be applicable to other plants. It is recommended that other types of plants should be tested to see if the results are similar to that of calamansis. #17

Feasibility of Gallus gallus (Chicken) Feathers as a Lead(II) Absorbent

Charles Matthew L. Batay, Manzanilla, Charles Andrew T. Francia, Paulo Miguel G.

ABSTRACT
The study aimed to determine if chicken feathers can be used as an absorbent of lead(II) ions, a kind of heavy metal ion pollutant that is present in the environment in large amounts. The chicken feathers would have to be able to store lead(II) ions within their volume. They would also have to confine the absorbed lead(II) ions so that they would not simply diffuse out of the absorbent. If ever chicken feathers were to be used to clean up volumes of wastewater, they would need to make sure that the waste does not simply diffuse out. The feathers were made to absorb a solution of lead(II) nitrate. The absorbed volume of water was removed from the feathers, and the feathers were rinsed to make sure that the lead(II) ions were not simply sticking to the surface. Numerous drops of a compound known as potassium iodide, which produces a yellow precipitate with lead, were added to distilled water, and the feathers were added. There was no precipitate produced; only when the compound was applied to the feathers was the precipitate produced. It could then be concluded that feathers are able to store lead(II) ions in their structure. #18

Determination of the Optimal Concentration of Carica papaya Seed Extract for Inducing Reversible Paralytic Effects on the Skeletal Muscle of Bufo sp.
David Alexander F. Bautista, Crystle T. Cotingting, Llenel G. de Castro

ABSTRACT
Muscle spasms are involuntary over shortening of any single muscle or group of muscles. Provided that there are no neurological or neurodegenerative causes, extra calcium is usually the solution for muscle spasms. However, there are currently no means of detecting calcium levels in the body (Pakhare, 2007). Carica papaya seed extract, which has been found to exhibit paralytic effects on muscles, as well as reversibility of these effects, is a potential alternative to muscle spasm medications (Shiu, 2002).

In this study, papaya seeds were dried and ground prior to Soxhlet extraction using a 95% ethanol as solvent. The extract was then dissolved in Amphibian Ringers solution. Three seed extract solutions, 5%, 10% and 20%, were prepared. The seed extract solutions were applied to the gastrocnemius muscle collected from freshly dissected toads to determine the optimal concentration of the seed extracts in paralyzing muscles. These muscles bathed in seed extract were electrically stimulated every second for 90 seconds. A Power Lab Physiology machine connected to the muscle recorded the muscle force every 0.1 second. After bathing with the experimental solution, the muscle was washed with Ringers solution and tested over 90 seconds again to determine reversibility rates. Results from these set-ups were compared with the control set-up, in which the gastrocnemius muscle was bathed in Amphibian Ringers solution only. Analysis of the average of all bathing set-ups in the study indicates that there is no significant difference between the percent changes between the mean muscle force and the initial muscle force. This indicates that the extract had no significant effect in paralyzing the gastrocnemius muscle of Bufo sp., in any of the utilized concentrations within the given parameters. Therefore, an optimal concentration of C. papaya seed extract for inducing reversible paralytic effects cannot be determined from the results of the study. Further study of the effects of higher concentrations of papaya seed extract, or on different muscles, is recommended.

#19 Polyvinyl Chloride and Polycarbonate wastes as Concrete Aggregates

Jaime Paolo M. Berba, Maria Caterina A. Leonardo, Laarni Janel C. Limkin

ABSTRACT
The accumulation of hard to recycle plastics like Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) and Polycarbonate (PC) has been a growing problem, precisely because they are hard to recycle. Thus they end up accumulating in landfills where the presence of so many chemicals can cause the PVCs and PCs to leach their own harmful chemicals into the ground. This project sought to use these waste PVC and PC as a partial concrete aggregate substitute for two reasons. The first reason was to find a practical alternative use for these wastes, and the second was to find a possibly cheaper method of concrete construction. Waste PVC and PC were first gathered and mechanically broken down using scissors, coping saws, and minihacksaws and similar implements. After the PVC and PC had been broken down to size ranging from 0.5 centimeters to 3.0 centimeters, a 6 kilogram concrete mixture was prepared. The mixture consisted of gravel, sand, and cement in a ratio of 3:2:1 respectively. PVC and PC with masses of 2%, 3%, and 4% of the

concrete mix were added to separate samples. Each concrete mix with its percentage of PVC and PC waste were placed in a concrete mixer to which water was added during mixing. Each sample was then poured into a cylindrical mould and allowed to dry for 28 days. After 28 days, the concretes strength was tested and compared with the standard strength that is acceptable for regular concrete. The comparison yielded negative results as the concrete containing PVC and PC proved to be weaker than regular concrete. #20

Comparative Analysis of Kidney Stone Formation Inhibition Using Blumea balsamifera, Crataeva religiosa,and Cyperus

rotundus

Noel L. Bernardo, Jay S. Fidelino, Joseph P. Talampas

ABSTRACT
Kidney stones are hard crystals that form in the urinary system. Sambong (Blumea balsamifera), salingbobog (Crataeva religiosa), and mutha (Cyperus rotundus) are plants containing lithotriptic, or stone dissolving, substances. This study was done to compare the lithotriptic capabilities of B. balsamifera, C. religiosa, and C. rotundus extracts in dissolving calcium oxalate crystals, the major components of most kidney stones (Altermed Corp., 2002; Rummel, 2005; Varalakshmi, 1990). Eight (8) human urine samples from male subjects were collected and divided into five treatments: pure urine, induced urine, induced urine with B. balsamifera extract, induced urine with C. religiosa extract, and induced urine with C. rotundus extract. Sodium oxalate (0.1M) was added to the last four treatments to induce calcium oxalate crystallization. Treatments were then sent for urinalysis. Qualitative observations were made on the amount of calcium oxalate crystals formed. Statistical analysis using Friedmans test showed that treatments containing B. balsamifera, C. religiosa, and C. rotundus extract significantly reduced the number of calcium oxalate crystals. Also, there was no significant difference in the amount of calcium oxalate crystals between treatments containing the plant extracts. Blumea balsamifera, Crataeva religiosa, and Cyperus rotundus inhibit calcium oxalate crystal formation, which lead to kidney stones, in vitro. It is recommended that the plant extracts be applied on actual kidney stones, in vivo, in order to consider the body's internal environment.

#21

Gabriel R. Borlongan

Development of a Kinematics Simulator and Problem Solver using Java

ABSTRACT
Kinematics, the study of motion, is one of the first topics physics students delve in. Without a good foundation, they cannot go on to reach the different areas of one of the hardest sciences, physics. Teachers may also have a hard time in relaying the lessons because of their students different aptitudes in science. With technology today, people find one of the best ways to overcome challenges and solve problems. Java, a multi-platform programming language, is usually used to write programs that simplify tasks. A successful program, the kinematics simulator and solver, using Java and source code processor JCreator 4.0, was developed to overcome this hurdle in the lives of many students, and teachers as well. The solver can find the value of any kinematics variable with any input for any one-dimensional (1D) kinematic problem 100% accurately and precisely in less than a second. Testing was made continuously in one computer without program debugging. The simulator can graph the motion of a projectile given the users input of velocity and angle of firing from the ground. Because of expertise and time constraint, the proponent included only 1D motion for the solver. However, work on the 2D part has been started already so future developers can work more on other aspects like the graphical user interface. The project needs a few more modifications to be a perfect kinematics study tool but the present successful stand-alone program is already a foundation for future developers. #22

Celery seed Extract as active ingredient in tanning lotions

Christian John Immanuel S Boydon, Dennis C David, Gerard Paul T Dela Cruz

ABSTRACT
A tanning lotion with celery seed extract as active ingredient was concocted in order to find out if it could be an effective but less expensive substitute to commercial tanning lotions. Celery seeds were bought from AMSA Seed company and extract was obtained using soxhlet extraction technique. Sesame oil, coconut oil, an emulsifier and the celery seed extract were then mixed together, before adding distilled water and lanolin. The lotion was initially tested on the upper arm area to check for any allergic reaction or irritation on the skin. The comparative testing for color change included using no tanning lotion, using the celery seed extract tanning lotion, and

using the commercial tanning lotion on three human test subjects of different phototypes. All three test subjects were directly exposed to sunlight from 3:00 PM to 4:00 daily for 15 days. The initial testing did not show any allergic reaction or skin irritation for any of the three test subjects. Quantitative results of the comparative testing were obtained by taking twenty random pixels from each digital picture and assessing their value using the CIE L*a*b. The commercial tanning lotion had the most change in color for all of the three subjects, while the celery seed tanning lotion had the darkest color change for all three subjects. The experiment showed that celery seed extract may be used an active ingredient in tanning lotions which may serve as a cheaper and safer alternative to commercial tanning lotions. #23

Pluronic Lecithin Organogel as an Electrophoretic Medium for Gel Electrophoresis ABSTRACT

Albert John C. Bromeo, Mariel Ann D.G. Lepaa, Lorenz Rhuel P. Ragasa

Gel electrophoresis is a technique used to separate DNA, RNA, or proteins through a gelatinous matrix into which an electric field is applied. This process is used in numerous fields of science, particularly in molecular biology, genetics, and forensics. Although widely needed, the use of gel electrophoresis is very limited, and one of the limiting factors is the gel itself. Lecithin share many properties with agarose, the common electrophoretic gel used nowadays, and organogels, lipids made into gels, show promising results in the field of gel electrophoresis. This study aimed to determine if pluronic lecithin organogel was a feasible alternative for agarose gel in gel electrophoresis. Lecithin was procured from two sources: commercially-available soy lecithin, and extracted egg lecithin. Through a series of gel-forming tests, it was determined that the best method for lecithin gelation was through the aid of a substance called Pluronic F127, hence Pluronic lecithin organogel. Three gels were made: bought soy lecithin organogel, extracted egg lecithin organogel, and agarose gel. The gels were run in vertical capillary tube gel electrophoresis with coloring dyes as the sample being run. The distances moved by the dyes through the organogels was measured and was then statistically compared to the distances moved by that of agarose. The t-tests yielded positive results as it was determined that there was no significant difference between the distances moved by the dyes in agarose gel and in the two organogels, making Pluronic lecithin organogel a viable electrophoretic medium.

#24

Different Concentrations Of Coconut Meal Decoction as a Component of Culture Media for Cultivating Trichoderma harzianum
Mark Daniel S. Broozo, Erick John C. Carlos, Raymond S. Mejia

ABSTRACT
Coconut meal, also known as sapal, is the coconut meat from which milk and water have been extracted. It contains organic matters like oils, proteins, and sugars. It also contains inorganic nutrients like potassium, magnesium, calcium, and nitrogen. Coconut meal is usually just thrown away since it has no known uses. Trichoderma harzianum is a fungus that degrades the cell walls of pathogenic fungi. It can also speed up decomposition of organic materials. Farmers may utilize Trichoderma harzianum to speed up the decay of organic matter for making their own fertilizers. This in turn will make agricultural products cheaper. The aim of the study was to device a cheap alternative culture medium for cultivating Trichoderma harzianum using coconut meal decoction as a component of agar and to find the best ratio between sucrose and coconut meal decoction. The study was composed of six setups, five setups with different ratios of coconut meal decoction and sucrose while the other setup is the control setup. The control setup is composed of Czapek Agar. Data was gathered by terms of biomass gained. The samples were weighed before and after the experiment. Data was then analyzed. The results showed that coconut meal decoction was more effective than commercial Czapek Agar. #25

Terpene Extract from Pittosporum resiniferum (Hanga) as an Alternative Paint Thinner

Christiane Bernice A. Carrillo, Kimberly Vielle J. Santiago, Hannah Camille D. Velasco

ABSTRACT
Petroleum nut is abundantly present in areas whose elevation ranges from 6002,400 m. These include Benguet, Mountain Province, etc. It can also be found in the Bicol Provinces, Palawan, Mindoro, Nueva Ecija, and Laguna Provinces. Turpentine can be extracted from various coniferous trees. In the plant Pittosporum resiniferum or hanga, it comprises up to 50% of its essential oil.

The project aimed to develop alternative uses of the hanga plants parts. In this case, the research aimed to provide a less irritating and more cost effective thinner made from the essential oil of hanga. The essential oil was obtained from the fruits extracts. Specifically, the project intended to isolate turpentine from the other components of the essential oil. The group then compared the effects of turpentine from petroleum nut and that of commercial paint thinners. The null hypothesis stated that applying terpene extracted from hanga has no significant effect in removing wood paint. In the alternative hypothesis, terpene extract, upon application to paint, removes the painted surface in a short period of time. Based on the groups observations, extract from Pittosporum resiniferum or hanga was effective in removing paint. However, the composition of the extracts had not been analyzed. Thus, the amount of terpene, specifically myrcene and pinene, cannot be determined.

#26 Design and Construction of a Prototype for an Alternative Robotics Kit

Jason Frank R. Catiis, Rhinebert Kyle A. Mina

ABSTRACT
Robotics is a potentially useful technology. But learning robotics can be costly and its availability is limited to select schools. This project developed and constructed a prototype of a cheap robotics kit that is effective in teaching the basics of robotics to high school students. The robot was designed to be able to move using motors in different directions and varying speeds, input peripherals for data gathering, and LEDs as a display output. A more comprehensive programming language was also developed for the user interface. The circuitry for the light sensor, stepper motors, and other components were constructed tested, and debugged. The programming interface was devised that allowed the robot to run the motors, receive input, and do simple operations. Finally, the hardware and software were tested as a whole system, and errors were fixed. The 2 motors tested were capable of moving in different directions and different speeds. The light sensors were able to pickup different light values at different light intensities. The prototype was capable of moving and gathering inputs. The total cost of the project is under Php2000, and the kit is a working robotic system, therefore the goal of a cheap alternative robotics kit was attained. The kit is limited to using only two motors, and accommodating more would be a good improvement. Sensors such as for temperature and pressure could also be implemented into the system. Based on these additions, a new instruction set could be developed.

#27

Feasibility of Solanum melongena Peelings Extract as a pH Indicator

Joseph Angelo S. Chu, Kevin Thomas B. Go, Emmanuel Johann G. Pea III

ABSTRACT
This project aimed to develop a working pH indicator using the anthocyanin-containing extract from the peels of Solanum melongena, more commonly known as eggplant. The study dealt with extracting the anthocyanin of the eggplant peels by boiling it in distilled water. The extract was then tested on certain test chemicals, corresponding to certain pH levels (4, 7, and 10). During the tests the extract was observed to exhibit a color change in each test solution chemicals. Aside from the initially colored pH buffer solutions, other colorless solutions like acetic acid (vinegar) and liquid detergent, which yielded different color changes, were used to show that the extract did not just mix its color with the test chemical. Success in this study will greatly help instruction involving pH because of the simple procedure and accessibility and availability of eggplants. #28

Mussel Shells as an Alternative Aggregate to Sand In Concrete Making ABSTRACT

Fatima R. Cipriano, Jestine A. Mariano, Pierre Emanuelle N. Santos

This project is about the replacement of sand as fine aggregate in class A concrete mix. It aimed to find uses for waste mussel shells, and to provide a cheap way for fishermen to build their houses. Specifically, it tested the effect of the addition of the mussel shells to sand and cement mixture in class A concrete mix. The water, cement, and gravel (coarse aggregate) weight ratio were kept constant with the standard mix. Only the sand component was changed to pure crushed mussel shells procured from a wet market. First, the mussel shells were pounded using mortar and pestle. The small shells were placed in the Wiley Mill for further grinding. The cement to fine aggregate to coarse aggregate ratio was then set to 1:2:3. A kilogram of cement, four kilograms (4kg) of mussel shells, and six kilograms (6 kg) were brought to the lab and were mixed in a half-bag mixer in order to yield three (3) samples. However, the theoretical yield wasnt achieved because some of the concrete mix was stuck in the mixer. Two samples were made from the ingredients. After 28 days, the samples were tested for their compressive strength and unit weight. Their unit weights were near standard which is 2400 kg/ cm3.

Therefore, it is advised that the concrete mix produced by the group may only be used as fillers of hollow blocks which do not carry any load. #29

Prolonging the Lifespan of Edible Oil Using Activated Carbon

Angelica Marie A. Corcuera, Regina Isabel L. Estrada, Patricia Anne L. Palma

ABSTRACT
Reusing oil in cooking food in fast food chains is a common practice nowadays. This causes oil to degrade. Oil rancidity degrades the quality of the food being cooked as indicated by its odor and taste, and gives rise to various diseases. The research focused on the effect of activated carbon and filtration on the rancidity of oil. A means of exterminating the rancidity of the oil is by subjecting it under the presence of activated carbon during a particular filtration process. Activated carbon is a very porous organic substance that has good adhesive qualities. It was used as a detacher of the free radicals produced in the oxidation of the rancid oil through the original oil molecule. A test for the peroxide value in oil determines whether it is oxidized or not. Sodium thiosulfate titration was used for this purpose. The independent variable was the presence of activated carbon while the dependent variable was the peroxide value of the oil. The oil was titrated using potassium iodide and sodium thiosulfate before and after the filtration process in order to detect the effect of activated carbon on its rancidity. Activated carbon reduced the peroxide value in the oil. The results of this study, which will be further explained in the paper, have increased our knowledge on the effect of activated carbon on oil rancidity. #30

Development of an Optical Method for Determiningthe Size of Structural Fractures Using Image Pixels
Arra Jeuneze Corpuz

ABSTRACT
In order to identify repair procedures for structural fractures, engineers have to evaluate the extent of cracking first. Engineers record the location and size of cracks by noting the dimensions on a sketch of the crack. However, this procedure cannot be applied to distant fractures and it also takes a long time to finish the sketching of the crack. This work proposes the use of optics of a camera in obtaining the image of the crack and then, measuring the dimensions of the crack through image pixels. Three image shots of a stimulated crack from three distances (5m, 10m, 20m) were obtained. The image dimensions (in meters) of

the height and width of the area bounded by the crack and the width of the crack were obtained through evaluation of their pixel size. The pixel size was then converted into meters. The experimental dimensions were converted from image dimensions with the focal length at 0.2354.meters and then, compared to the real dimensions of the stimulated crack. The results show that the percent errors were ranging from 0.1% to 1.22%. For future improvement of the study, the method may be tested using different angles of the image shot so that the method could be applied to cracks with higher or lower altitude. A distance-measuring laser may also be used to obtain the cameras distance from the crack, as well as the depth of the crack. #31

Production of Kropeck from Malunggay (Moringa oleifera) and Squash (Cucurbita maxima)
Victor Louis E. Crisostomo

ABSTRACT
This research aimed to incorporate vegetable extracts from malunggay (Moringa oleifera) and squash (Cucurbita sp.) into a recipe for kropeck, and aside from testing its palatability and acceptability to the general public, to produce a nutritious snack to take the place of chicharon and other foodstuffs that are not nutritious. A formulation of kropeck, made from cassava flour and shrimp, and mixed with osterized vegetable juice, is made and adjusted to match the quality of commercially available brands. Samples of the finished product were taken and presented to a panel of people for sensory evaluation testing, and the products were compared against a locally available market brand. Test results showed a higher acceptability rate for the market brand than for the home-made brand, an occurrence that is likely to be attributed to the method of production and quality checking done at the manufacturing factory and other similar places. Due to time constraints, some factors such as nutrition content were not analyzed.

#32

The Feasibility of Sigarilyas (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus) as a High-Protein Additive to Pasta

Audric Zuriel C. Cruz, Myra Ruth D. Picart

ABSTRACT
The heavy consumption of meat for protein nowadays has given rise to numerous health problems, such as cardiovascular diseases. Vegetable substitutes have been available, but lack of appeal has made consumption of these substitutes drop. Psophocarpus tetragonolobus is a protein-rich vegetable that is easily grown. This project determined the feasibility of using it to enhance the protein content of pasta and to make a comparable source of vegetable protein. The sigarilyas was osterized to obtain fine slurry which was combined with pasta dough to form 25% and 50% mixtures, by weight. Control pasta was also prepared. Pasta samples were cooked and sampled by 20 PSHS students determined through random sampling, and the results were analyzed using Friedmans test at =5%. Protein contents were determined using the Kjeldahl method. It was found that the sigarilyas pasta is not significantly different from ordinary pasta in terms of odor and texture but different in terms of taste, appearance and appeal. The protein test revealed an anomalous result in the 50% pasta, but nevertheless it was proven that the 25% pasta at least increased the protein content of the sigarilyas pasta. It is recommended that the protein test be repeated to determine if the 50% pasta has an effect on the protein content of the pasta. Further experiments may also be done to enhance its taste and appearance. The pasta may be used for reducing meat consumption, but may not be a complete substitute. #33

Design and construction of an improved chalkboard eraser cleaner

Rhey Joseph Daway, Serl Remorque, Aldrin James Torre

ABSTRACT
This project aimed to develop an improved design for a chalkboard eraser cleaner, based on the apparatus developed by Bermas et al. (2001). This device is meant to lessen asthma triggers, and potential irritants by efficiency removing and collecting the chalk dust from a standard felt eraser, thus preventing chalk dust scattering into the air. It should be easy to use, and relatively inexpensive. Three versions were made. The first version (A) was an attempt to duplicate the 2001 design by Bermas et al., PSHS. The second (B) used a more powerful fan, and the third version (C) used a bag instead of a piece of cloth for

the filter. Each design also considered the following qualities: portability, brush effectiveness and filter effectiveness. It was observed that (1) the felt of the eraser was visibly blacker,(2) the chalk dust would settle in different areas inside the apparatus, not necessarily in the filter, and (3) chalk dust dispersion was low. Members of the PSHS faculty were randomly chosen to do a preliminary evaluation of the three models. The results were analyzed using the Friedmanns test. Initial results were ambivalent, probably due to flaws in the evaluation procedure. The evaluation procedure was revised and the eraser cleaners were evaluated again. The second evaluation results show that all of the respondents found the first improved model (B) useful and the Friedmanns Test showed that there is a significant difference between cleaning the eraser manually and using the devices. It was also helpful in reducing the dispersing of chalk dust. #34

Testing the Memory Enhancing Properties of Commercial Powdered Milk Drinks

Jules Hedwig S. Dayrit, James Kevin R. de Jesus, John Matthew V. Cajudo

ABSTRACT
Nowadays, commercially-available powdered milk products are becoming more and more widespread. Many avail of these said products as promises of positive health effects are mentioned in advertisements. One of the most controversial properties brought about by these milk products is that concerning memory, particularly, the enhancement of it. Though many claim that these products really do improve memory, nonetheless, they still lack sufficient scientific backing. The aim of this research was to prove the memory-enhancing properties of a specific milk drink. Basic preparations made for the project included a maze and lab mice to traverse it. The mice were kept in a controlled environment and were well fed. At the start of every training session, the mice were selected randomly and were made to finish the maze; the time it took for them to do so was recorded. They were then divided into two groups, one of which was made to drink the milk product, while the other was set as the control, with no product treatment. After the initial training and treatment, they were made to finish the maze again. A detailed documentation of all training processes was made and also, the time it took for the mice to finish the maze after the rerun were recorded. The conclusion formed by the group at the end of the study was that the tested milk product, which was Enervon Prime, had a significant effect on the

memory of Mus musculus. This conclusion was formed through the use of the ttest statistical test. #35

Feasibility of Raphanus sativus L. seeds as a Fungal Growth Inhibitor

Raphael Christian C. Dela Cruz, Gabriel Dominik E. Sison

ABSTRACT
The research project is about the antifungal properties of the proteins found in the seeds of the R. sativus (radish) plant. These antifungal proteins are called Rs-AFP 1&2. The proteins are believed to be growth inhibitors for specific filamentous fungi. The project aimed to test the effectiveness of the ground radish seeds as a bread mold growth inhibitor. This will lead to its possible use as an additive to bread to prolong its shelf life. The project consisted of two set ups, each with three replicates. The first setup was a control set up, left untreated with the seeds. The second set up was the treatment group, which is bread embedded with radish seeds. Visual observation is performed every three days. Factors such as humidity, light exposure, and temperature were controlled. With the projects success, it would further the possibility of using radish seeds as additives to bread. Further studies will still be needed whether their distinctive smell and taste will have a desirable effect on bread consumption. In addition, testing may also be done whether the seeds can be useful in other ways, such as soil treatment among others. #36

Development of a Motion-Tracking System for Eye Movement via Image and Video Processing using a Web Cam
Karen Grace P. Delantar, Maria Aina Iica D. Marfil, Tobit James C. Narciso

ABSTRACT
Eye motion allows for different medical and technical purposes such as data gathering for neurological and psychological patterns associated with eye movement. The application area for eye motion tracking is relatively large compared to the small number of techniques developed for observation and tracking of eye movement. This project developed a program for tracking the motion of the human eye through image and video processing with the use of a web cam. An algorithm was developed to determine the motion of the eye by locating the center of the iris as it changes its position in a certain period of time. The

algorithm involves filtering the pixels according to color and then determining three points on the circumference of the iris. The three points were then used to calculate and obtain the coordinates of the center of the iris. The algorithm was programmed in Java. Two tests, in color and in grayscale, were conducted. The output of the program is the coordinates of the iris and a graph illustrating its motion. The calculated coordinates of the program from the two tests were then compared to the actual coordinates. The mean difference in distance from the grayscale was about half that of the colored. Therefore, the program ran better when the video was in grayscale. There were certain failed tests in both runs which were caused by either not having a change, an out-of-range position of the iris from the camera view, or a miscalculation. The differences between the calculated and actual points usually differ by a either a small amount of about 20 pixels or a large amount (about 90 pixels). The algorithm used in this eye tracking program can be further optimized and improved to be able to use the webcam as a mouse substitute. #37

Falcarindiol Spray From Carrot Peels As Shelf Life Lengthener For Fresh Produce
Joseph Ronil T. De Leon Jr., Mark Lester C. Dumlao, Lady Christine C. Cruz

ABSTRACT
Food spoilage occurs when fungi and other microorganisms grow on the interior and exterior of the food product. Some of the techniques used to inhibit the growth of microorganisms such as refrigeration and irradiation are costly. The project formulated a spray composed of falcarindiol extract from carrot peels as a shelf life lengthener for fresh produce. A total of 173.5 grams of carrot peelings were obtained from carrots. These peelings were osterized and paper-filtered. The resulting liquid was centrifuged at 6000 rpm, 4o C for 10 minutes and was decanted. The liquid part obtained from decantation was centrifuged at 13000 rpm, 4o C for 20 minutes and was again decanted. The resulting liquid was then microfiltered using 0.22-m pore size microfilters and was stored in sterilized 50-mL falcon tubes. Ten apples were obtained and were divided into two treatment groups with five replicates each. The microfiltered extract was then applied to the treatment group with extract. All of the treatment groups were exposed in an open environment for seven days. After the time period, pictures of the treatment groups were taken and 30 people were asked to rate the treatment groups on a scale of one to three, with one being the least rotten group and three being the most rotten group. Results of the sensory tests show that falcarindiol can inhibit the growth of microorganisms on the surface of the fresh produce, making it a potential shelflife lengthener of the aforesaid products.

#38

Chemical Waste Disposal through Amalgamation with Lahar

Rebyanne Giselle C. Diaz, Ian Miguel C. Landrito, Jameley Ann M. Puno

ABSTRACT
Heavy metal wastes are used substances and compounds left over from chemical processes in laboratory experiments and industries. In Philippine Science High School (PSHS) laboratories, heavy metal wastes are disposed off by throwing them directly in laboratory sinks that discharge into the school's drainage system. These wastes, especially those containing heavy metals, may later pose a hazardous threat to our ecosystems. This study provides a safe and environmentally acceptable alternative to the chemical waste disposal system practiced in PSHS. The proposed method specifically deals with treatment of wastes containing heavy metals (zinc, manganese, and copper) through amalgamation with lahar. The project tested for the optimum concentration of the chemical waste that will be amalgamated with lahar and binder. To simulate the chemical waste, a mixture composed of 1 M each of CuCl3, MnSO4 and ZnCl2 was prepared. To test the efficiency of lahar as a sequestering agent for heavy metal wastes, three samples of blocks were created with three replicates each. A constant mass of 70 g lahar and 20 g cement binder were used for each block. The volume of heavy metal wastes and water were varied for each treatment: 30 ml heavy metal wastes and no water, 20 ml heavy metal wastes and 10 ml water, 10 ml chemical waste and 20 ml water. The zinc, copper and manganese content of each wash water was then determined through water analysis. It was concluded through ANOVA at 5% level of significance that the optimum concentration of chemical waste to be amalgamated with lahar is undiluted chemical waste. For further studies, it is recommended that a method of forming lahar blocks without the use of commercial binders be developed. It is also recommended to observe the effect of time on the concentration of heavy metals that will leach out of the blocks. #39

Chelation of lead ions using cilantro leaf Tincture, Enterobactin (Escherichia coli) and bacillibactin (bacillus subtilis)
Ian Limuel Elquiro Dimaandal, Van Mintello Encina Galman, Marie Giecel Valentin Dela Cruz

ABSTRACT
Industries and factories release massive amounts of waste materials to bodies of water. These wastes contain heavy metal ions and substances that are

easily dissolved in water, affect aquatic organisms and produce leachates that seeps into our groundwater reserves. These induce diseases and poisoning which can directly affect the physiological and reproductive development of marine and terrestrial organisms. This research aimed to determine the efficacy of cilantro leaf tincture and siderophores to chelate lead ions, a poisonous heavy metal contained in industrial wastes. The treatments would allow complexion of lead ions that would be easier to remove to insure usable water. Thirteen setups with equal moralities of lead ions were produced. The first two setups are the negative control, consisting of the synthesized wastewater, and the positive control, consisting of Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and wastewater. The ratios of the bacteria present were varied to determine the optimum ratio in which the most lead ion complexes will be produced. The presence of the tincture was also varied to observes its effect in the chelation process. The treatment was left for a day and then subjected to atomic absorption spectrophotometry for quantitative analysis. The results showed a significant difference between the negative control and the setups with bacterial treatment and cilantro tincture. However, cilantro manifested adverse effects when placed together with the bacterial samples. The results established the possibility of using the bacteria and cilantro tincture as chelators of lead ions. #40

Kiwi Fruit Extract as an Alternative Cell Lysis Agent ABSTRACT

Reinier Simon M. Dimaunahan, Christian Paul C. Maliksi, Christian Paolo A. Racadio

Cell lysis agents, which are used in a number of biomedical researches and procedures, are expensive because of their components. The project determined if kiwi (Actinidia deliciosa) extract could be used as a cheaper cell lysis agent. First, the kiwi flesh was juiced using an osterizer available at the STR unit. It was then centrifuged to eliminate solid particles and other microbes. The first centrifugation removed the seeds and other solid particles. The next two centrifugations ensured that the sample was free of any microbes. The extract was then filtered using a 0.22 mm microfilter and was stored in a sterile Falcon tube. This extract was added into E. coli pellets mixed with 0.4 ml of TE buffer. Isopropyl and ethyl alcohol was then used to clean the E. coli pellets. The sample was then viewed under the microscope. Unfortunately, the cell was destroyed, the cell lysis failed. This project may help cut down the costs for research so that various experiments may still be performed even with a low budget. The group recommends the use of other DNA extraction procedures. An animal cell without cell wall or a plant cell with cell wall may be used as substitute for E.coli to determine effectiveness of kiwi extracts on these cell types. The shelf life of kiwi

extract may also be determined in order to maximize the extract in that given time. #41

Efficacy of Garlic (Allium sativum) Extract as a Metal Antioxidant

Givette Kristine Y. Esguerra, Clarisse Angelica B. Ong, Christian Benedict G. Roaquin

ABSTRACT
Machinery used in industries loses their efficiency when they rust and this is costly for manufacturing firms because they must waste money to maintain or replace them. Antioxidants are substances that retard or inhibit oxidation, a process that can lead to rusting. The project aimed to use the antioxidant property of locally available garlic to slow down the oxidation of galvanized iron sheets and to see what concentration is the most effective. Garlic was minced, sliced and further mashed using a blender, then filtered repeatedly. The filtered extract was concentrated with variants of 0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100%. A galvanized iron sheet was purchased locally and cut into 24.5 cm by 5 cm strips. Set-ups consisted of four replicates; and each set-up was exposed to the PSHS Quadrangle for two weeks. An 85% phosphoric acid was used to remove the rust formation; then the strips were weighed once more. The Analysis of Variance test was used and the results showed that there was a significant difference between treatments including the negative control. The ANOVA test was also done for the comparison between treatments and it showed that varying concentrations did not affect the rate of oxidation. It was therefore concluded that garlic extract can inhibit a significant amount of oxidation and the inhibition is independent of the concentration. The group suggests the use of smaller concentrations to determine the best percentage of garlic to use, as well as a different application of the treatments for future projects.

#42 Screening of fluorescent proteins from select echinoderms in the Philippines

Jasper Powell S Esguerra, Zimri C Tan, Patricia A Nacianceno

ABSTRACT
Fluorescent proteins revolutionized cell biotechnology as they enables the monitoring of sub-cellular process. They have the ability to fuse to other proteins, acting as probes to monitor processes such as tumor development. The

applications are many and various, but these proteins are costly and difficult to procure. Sources from nature are still needed to provide a model for future synthesis of fluorescent proteins with specific characteristics. This research thus aimed to screen fluorescent proteins from locallyavailable marine animals. Bioluminescent echinoderms, purple heart urchin (astropyga radiata), fire urchin (Asthenosoma varium) and feather star species (Comanthina schlegelii), were collected from Mabini, Batangas, and were screened for fluorescence. Upon exposure to UV light from a Woods Lamps, only Comanthina schegelii emitted green fluorescence, characteristically distributed in its feather tips. Crude protein extraction as done for all three, but only the C schlegelii extracts were analyzed under the fluorescence microscope. Three filters (DAPI, FITC, and Texas Red) were used to screen for blue, green, and red emissions). Comanthina schlegelii extracts proved positive for the wavelengths blue, green and red. However, results also showed colors such as magenta, purple, and yellow in the composite view. With setup specifications permitting only blue, green, and red emissions, colors from other wavelengths are deduced as overlaps probably resulting from either the unverified capability of the fluorescent proteins contained in the extracts to be excited at a very wide rang of wavelength, or from the overlap of two or more fluorescent proteins. #43

Production of Nutrient-Boosted Granola Bars Using Locally Available Ingredients

Neil Anthony A. Esguerra, Marcgene Gregandy P. Servito, Kim Arvin S. Silvoza

ABSTRACT
The project aimed to produce nutrient-boosted granola bars using local ingredients to come up with a cheap and nutritious alternative to the commercial granola bars. The initial granola bar recipe was a combination of malunggay, yacon, gelatin and sticky rice. This initial set-up resulted into a liquid granola instead of the normal solid form of granola bars. Further modification of the recipe succeeded in making a compact and more comparable granola bar by adding carrots, removing gelatin and replacing sticky rice with oats. Both the produced bars and commercial bars were subjected to sensory evaluation tests which include appearance, smell and taste tests. Sign test is used to analyze statistically the result of the evaluation tests. The shelf life and nutrient content of the produced granola bar are being measured as well but are still being conducted. In conclusion, it is feasible to produce a homemade granola bar which is a lot cheaper than the commercially-available bars based on computation of costs of each ingredient used. However, the statistical analysis done in November 21, 2007 showed that there is still a significant difference between the produced granola bar and the commercially-available bars in terms of smell, taste and appearance.

The population preferred more the commercial bar in all three sensory evaluation tests. The recipe can still be further modified to finally compete with the commercial bars both in taste and nutrition. #44

Utilization of Charcoal Binder from Hibiscus rosasinensis (Gumamela) Leaves

Lea Bernadette H. Espinosa, Dannielle Nichole T. Mario

ABSTRACT
Charcoal fines are fine powdered charcoal produced from barks, twigs, and leaves. Charcoal fines can be made useful once these fines are briquetted. Briquetting is a process in which charcoal fines are combined with other materials and formed into uniform chunks. The problem with charcoal briquettes is that the usual binder used for these briquettes is usually expensive. This study aimed to utilize charcoal binder from Hibiscus rosa-sinensis leaves as reported on this paper. The leaves were boiled using different ratios of water to see which would be effective. The extract from the boiled leaves is now the binder. Pounded charcoal scraps were then added to the binder. The mixture was molded then oven dried for a whole day. The briquette was tested for its ability to form ember. The research did not show any promising results. The charcoal briquette had the characteristics of commercial charcoal, but the results showed that commercial charcoal was still better to use. The group recommends testing different parts of gumamela and trying starch binder as a control variable. #45

Microbial Assay of Carica Papaya Leaves ABSTRACT

Ryan Russell A. Esponilla, Thomas James A. Mendoza, Jomo Vitto C. Simbul

The various parts of the papaya tree has many uses. The fruit is used as a good antibiotic because of the chemicals that are inside it. The roots can be used as an analgesic. The leaves however have no significant use and is usually discarded. Thus we decided to test if we can make a use out of discarded papaya leaves by testing if it had antimicrobial properties. We performed a Kirby-Bauer assay using papaya leaves extracts using water as a solvent, water, and a known antibioticfor control. We tested then using two different bacteria which are E. coli and S. aureus. The results that we gathered showed that there is a viable zone of inhibition that can be compared to

the one made by the antibiotic.We have not identified the chemical that causes this effect. These results show that the once discarded papaya leaves can now be used to create a substance that can be helpful to our society. #46

Use of Abaca as Primary Material for Bulletproof Vest

Jan Michael Lim Fajardo, Rafael Feleciano Yu Ibaez, Mark Arthur Federico Lancion

ABSTRACT
There is growing demand for cheaper body protection that other countries had been finding alternatives for Kevlar, the main and most expensive component of bulletproof vests. Abaca fibers (Musa textilis) were evaluated as a cheaper local alternative for Kevlar in producing bulletproof vests. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of abaca as a component in making bullet proof vests. Unprocessed abaca fibers were bought from a local dealer. The fibers were made sure to be of the same grade to control the quality. The fibers were then passed on a local commercial weaver to be weaved into sheets. The abaca sheets produced followed a tight spider web like pattern. The sheets were then joined together and enclosed in a nylon casing to produce 32 layered sample vests to imitate the layering of original Kevlar vests. The sample vests showed negative results all bullets penetrated each setup when tested under the gun range using 20 cal, 9mm, and 45 cal handguns. The penetration of the bullet with the vests was measured and compared to no protection in the back stop. Each abaca setup showed significant decrease in penetration of bullets compared to no protection at all. Abaca may be a potential material for bulletproofing. #47

The Feasibility of Adelfa Extract as Pesticide ABSTRACT

Vivencio C. Fuentes Jr., Razelle Angela B. Camitan, Honey Jane T. Dela Cruz

The project aims to test the feasibility of extracts from the adelfa plant as pesticide. The leaves were cut from the stem and then subjected to steam bath. Soxhlet apparatus was used for extraction; methanol was used as solvent. The extract was then distilled, and diluted into 4 containers to obtain concentrations of 100%, 75%, 50% and 25%. There were 6 set-ups, each with 10 cockroaches, one positive control set-up, in which the group used commercial pesticide, one negative control set-up, containing water, and one each for the different concentrations of the extract.

The experimental results provided evidence for a conclusion that the extract with the higher concentration killed more cockroaches. There is a significant difference between the percentage of cockroaches killed before and after the application of the adelfa extract. The adelfa extract has a significant effect on the percentage of killed cockroaches. #48

Analysis of the Effectiveness of Basil (Oscimum basilicum) Extract as an Antioxidant for Lipid Preservation
Gamaliel Lysander B. Cabria

ABSTRACT

Antioxidants are commonly used as a preservative in the food industry. Processed food, most often, contains synthetic antioxidants that protect the food from spoilage. This synthetic antioxidants are believed to have side effects in the liver and kidney. As a solution, scientists try to find natural antioxidant that are more effective and efficient than the synthetic ones. One of the potential source is basil. Basil leaf extract, especially the ethanolic extracts was proven to have high antioxidant activity but the extent of the activity is not yet determined. The research aimed to measure the effectiveness of basil leaf extract as antioxidant by testing it into meat samples and comparing the amount of oxidation products produced into the negative set-up. This research also verified the antioxidant activity in the basil ethanolic extracts. In doing the research, the leaves were dried for 96 hours at constant temperature of 38oC. It was then extracted, in ethanol, using soxhlet apparatus with 1:10 mass sample to volume solvent ratio. The extract was applied to ground pork and kept at 4oC until analysis on the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th day. The same procedures was carried out for the replicates. Samples were analyzed using peroxide value(PV) test. The peroxide value was determined using Titration method. The negative samples had larger amount of produced peroxides compared to the basil samples. On the third day, the difference in the produced peroxides between the negative sample and the basil sample is large but as time passed by the difference decreases. The t-test for the two independent samples shows that the peroxide value in the negative sample is not very significant as compared to the peroxide value in basil sample. This meant that the basil leaves ethanolic extracts cannot fully preserve a lipid from oxidation and degradation.

#49

The production of a bioplastic using plant starch ABSTRACT

Claridge J Gamboa, Don David P Agudo, Maneka Kristia B Alemania

Two types of bioplastics using starch from potato and sweet potato, respectively as base materials were produced to test its feasibility as a substitute for Expanded Polystyrene. Expanded Polystyrene, also known as Styrofoam, is a type of plastic created to be durable enough to perform many uses, but its complete degradation into simpler compounds takes a hundred years. Past researchers prove that some starch contain amylopectin that could be used to create a material that could degrade in a shorter time. To make the bioplastics, starch was blended with carrageenan, glycerol and water. Each type of bioplastic had three starchcarrageenan-glycerol-water ratios applied: 52:28:10:10, 40:40:10:10 and 28:52:10:10:. The mixtures were extruded then cut into small pellets before undergoing thermal compaction at the DOSTITDI, materials Science Division in Taguig. The resulting samples showed more properties of HDPE that that of polystyrene. The average density of the samples in 30.8g/mL, which is greater than the density of styrofoam. The two samples which contained sweet potato starch and have more amount of carrageenan were completely destroyed in water after 24 hours. All the samples did not completely degrade after 4 weeks of being buried in soil, but some of the samples did break up into smaller pieces. The sample which has the greatest amount of potato starch has the least density and showed the least amount of changes in size and shape after being soaked in water. This project was done to create a possible alternative for styrofoam food packages which largely contribute to the mounting up of styrofoam on land-fills. #50

Feasibility of Producing Ethanol from Zea mais leaves using Trichoderma reesei, Trichoderma harzianum and Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Juan Gabriel B. Gamboa, Paolo Raphael D. Legaspi, Miguel B. Tangangco

ABSTRACT
Rising oil prices and increasing environmental concern have resulted in greater demand for ethanol, a fuel additive that lessens the amount of pollution released by engines. Ethanol can be fermented from glucose, which can be obtained from the break down of glycosidic bonds in cellulose. Commercial production of ethanol uses corn kernels, corn cobs and sugar cane, which are rich sources of glucose. The leaves of these plants are thrown away or burned. This

project aimed to develop a process of using corn leaves for the production of ethanol. Corn leaves were biodegraded with the fungi Trichoderma reesei and Trichoderma harzianum. After two weeks, the resulting solution was tested for simple sugars using Benedicts solution. Saccharomyces cerevisiae was added to the solution to ferment the glucose into ethanol. The solution was distilled after one week to separate the ethanol. The solution tested negative for simple sugars after a week of biodegradation. The amount of simple sugars increased as the days passed and after two and a half weeks, the solution turned rich green when tested. After distillation, the density of the substance was measured to be 0.75g/mL, the same as the density of ethanol. However, when the substance was burned, it did not catch fire as ethanol should. Although the project succeeded in converting cellulose into simple sugars as shown by the positive Benedicts solution result, the substance obtained after distillation could be another substance with the same density or ethanol that needed further purification. This, however, needs further testing. #51

Isolation and Identification of Cadmium Tolerant Bacteria from the Philippine Science High School Creek
Maria Angelica T. Gamo, Jarelle Anne Carisse P. Gonzales, Sophia Jobien M. Limlingan

ABSTRACT
Bioremediation, the method by which bacteria and fungi degrade pollutants from contaminated water and land, is one of the major methods currently used to treat polluted waters. The bacteria convert pollutants such as heavy metals dissolved in the water into non-polar compounds which precipitate at the bottom, lessening the incidence of the heavy metals being absorbed from the water. It has been of great concern to find more efficient organisms that can be used for bioremediation. Other methods of treating waste water are expensive and inefficient, while organisms currently used for bioremediation are not readily available in the Philippines. Therefore, a species of cadmium-tolerant bacteria was isolated from the Philippine Science High School creek, purified, and sent for identification. Three different concentrations of a common heavy metal pollutant, cadmium as cadmium sulfate, were prepared, sterilized and placed in Petri plates. Bacterial isolates from the PSHS creek were inoculated onto CdSO4 plates, sealed and incubated at room temperature (37C). Isolated colonies that formed after 24 hours were then transferred to nutrient broth in test tubes. A random test tube was chosen and was sent to the University of the Philippines Los Banos Microbiology Laboratory for identification.

The bacteria that were sent were identified as Proteus mirabilis. This species is pathogenic and causes Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), but if it is proven useful for bioremediation, genetic engineering may be used such that the bacterias cadmium degradation capabilities may be employed without harming other living things. Further improvements on the project could be done by testing the species cadmium-degrading capabilities, and by determining its maximum tolerance to cadmium and other heavy metals. Other cadmium-reducing species might also be living in the creek. Future researches regarding the topic may determine the other capabilities of the bacteria. #52

Viability of Bamboo (Bmabusa bambos) as Cost-Effective Water Filter

Matthew Ma. Leandro S. Gana, Ma. Eda Reyes Roselle M. Manatad, Tami Yvette L.

ABSTRACT
Bamboo (Bambusa bambos) was selected as the primary material in the construction of a cost-effective water filter because of its availability in the Philippines, its natural antibacterial properties and immunity from mould and mildew. The project was conducted by filtering different concentrations of contaminated water through two different filtration models (screen-type and modified mesh-type). The contaminant was landscaping silt, in concentrations of 0.25 grams, 0.5 grams and 1 gram per 100 mL of distilled water. The filtering process was repeated with fresh concentrations twice for repeatability. The waxy outer layer of the bamboo was stripped before cutting the bamboo. It was prepared two ways: 6 by 0.25 strips for the screen-type model, and shredded pieces for the mesh-type model. Approximately 100 grams of shredded bamboo were compressed and utilized per mesh-type filter. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) test was utilized to compare the remaining concentrations of silt with initial concentrations. The filtered water was evaporated to leave the remaining silt for weighing (concentration test). With both set-ups, the results were negative towards declaring the filtration models usable. The project was a failure. The research done to facilitate its construction however produced information that bamboo fiber is conducive to the design of filters. The natural anti-mould/bacterial properties of bamboo indicate it could be a suitable filter material, if the technology or materials (bamboo cloth) were available in the Philippines. This project will hopefully serve as a stepping stone for future projects aiming to utilize these materials in more technologically conducive times.

#53

The Production of a Nutrient enriched cookie through the incorporation of kalabasa (cucurbita maxima) and malunggay (moringa oleifera L)
Edineille Magaru Geronimo, Aldea Mae Narida Contreras

ABSTRACT
The research started with the objective of providing a more nutritious diet for children through the incorporation of vegetables in a more familiar food product for children. Squash (cucurbita maxima) and malunggay (moringa oleifera L) both have high nutritional content. Chocolate cookies were chosen because it would be sweet enough to mask the taste of kalabasa and malunggay, and chocolate was very popular flavour among children. The scope of the research concentrated mainly on the quality and nutritional effects of varying amounts of squash and malunggay added =, while being limited only in using these two vegetables. The panel of judges is also limited since they all came from PSHS community. Chocolate cookies were made by mixing flour milk, eggs, and flavouring in certain proportions and baked in an oven. The squash and the malunggay leaves were ground fine enough to be mixed with the whole cookie. Two samples were cooked, one without vegetable content and the other containing vegetables. The success of this research depended on the acceptance rate of people who were able to taste test the product. The treated cookies were compared with cookies with no vegetables added and with the commerciallyavailable cookies, which were assigned as the positive control. Results show that the treated cookies were comparable with the commercial-grade cookies in terms of taste and texture but were not nearly as good when it comes to appearance. Therefore the research was only partially successful and the cookies may not yet be accepted by the public. It was recommended to incorporate vegetables of a higher nutritional value and with a taste that will blend well with the other ingredients. #54

Fly Ash as an Alternative Source of Material in the Production of Glass

Geneve D. Gutierrez, Joy Cristine A. Tolentino

ABSTRACT
Glass is a widely used material and is costly due to its components. Fly ash is a byproduct of coal combustion and one of the major sources of pollution. Glass is composed mainly of silica which is the major component of sand and fly ash.

The project tested the feasibility of fly ash as a substitute for sand in the production of glass. This was done by using the major components in the formation of glass excluding sand which was replaced by fly ash. The project was conducted to help lessen air pollution by making use of the fly ash from burnt coal. This will add to the awareness of people about the uses of fly ash. Also, with this project, used glass can be recycled further. From the results, it can be concluded that fly ash can be a main component of the batch used to make glass. The glass produced was dark in color because of the fly ash, but it has shown negative results for chemical reactivity and porosity. Its hardness matched what is set for glass by the Mohs hardness scale because it was not scratched by an iron knife. The project showed that fly ash is a possible substitute for sand in the production of glass. Fly ash successfully substituted sand in the production of glass with the help of some components which lowered its melting point. Other use for fly ash was also discovered, not only for cement but for glass production as well. #55

Development of fortified instant noodles oleifera and Ipomoea batatasenriched noodles

Hani Herbert L. Ho, Beila B. Angeles, Noelyn Joyce R. Morales

usingMoringa

ABSTRACT
Malunggay and kamote leaf puree were used as additives to provide instant noodles with additional amount of vitamins and nutrients. Despite the fact that instant noodles contain certain nutrients, people have come to depend on it for their everyday meals, which may lead to vitamin and mineral deficiencies. The leaves were first blanched to remove bacteria before being pureed. Each type of instant noodles was prepared by mixing flour, egg, kansui, salt, water and the puree. The mixture was kneaded, cut, steamed, and fried. The noodles were kept at ambient temperature for 10 weeks and were observed weekly for any changes. Sensory evaluation was done to determine the consumer acceptability of the product and proximate analysis to determine the nutritional content of the product. The shelf-life test showed that the noodles lasted for 12 weeks without losing their edibility, texture, smell and taste. Only the crispiness of the noodles declined. Proximate analysis showed that the fortified instant noodles contained more fat than the commercial product, but had slightly more nutrients. It can be concluded that the fortified instant noodles indeed have more nutrients and minerals. However, it does not qualify for commercial production because of its lack of appeal, and therefore cannot be used as an alternative for commercially available instant noodles.

#56

Analysis of the Beam Splitting Capabilities of Acrylic ABSTRACT

Angel E. Jaurigue Jr., Kyla Marie G. Salamanca, Karina Terese D. Santos

Silicone beam splitters were fabricated in recent studies but although they yielded a mean ratio of 1:109 of the split beams, the amorphous structure of silicone caused considerable light scattering and partial absorption of incident light. In this study, crystalline acrylic beam splitters were fabricated instead of silicone. These plate beam splitters were profiled for transmittance, reflectance and absorption using a spectrophotometer. The results were relative to the plastic Perspex which has known optical properties. The transmittance, reflectance and absorption obtained were 87.5%, 6.25% and 6.25% respectively. The beam splitters were then tested for their beam splitting capabilities using a HeNe laser and photodetectors to measure the intensity in terms of voltage. The obtained results showed that the cubic beam splitters cause total internal reflection at normal incidence. It transmitted 56.54% and reflected 19.23% of the incident light when oriented at an optimum angle. For the plate beam splitters, the results were 88.3% transmission, and 5.19% and 4.79% for the first and second reflected beams respectively. The study showed that acrylic can be used as a material for beam splitters because it reflected light and allowed it to transmit with minimal scattering but it did not achieve the 50/50 configuration of the beam splitters so procedures on its fabrication must be refined. Moreover, a semi-reflective coating should be applied to increase the reflectivity, and an anti-reflective material must be coated to the acrylic to eliminate double reflections making acrylic ideal for beam splitting. #57

Efficiency of Various Trichoderma Species in the Production of Ethanol from Rice Hulls
Aya Karlota C. Joson, Juan Mariano C. Magdaraog, Gilian Y. Uy

ABSTRACT
The rice industry in the Philippines generates a lot of waste material in the form of rice hulls, and many different approaches have been taken towards the disposal or possible use of this residue. Trichoderma is a highly prolific genus of fungi used in the production of certain enzymes for industrial use. This study investigated the capability of Trichoderma viride, Trichoderma reesei and Trichoderma harzianum, in degrading rice hulls and producing cellulose which was then fermented into ethanol by yeast. These three species were used in varying

amounts and combinations to determine which could degrade rice hulls most efficiently. The hulls were ground using a Wiley mill in order to increase the surface area and help accelerate the process of degradation. The ground hulls were then exposed to different combinations of the three Trichoderma species. Weight changes were used to determine the combination that is most efficient in degrading cellulose. Setup W, with 100% water, lost the greatest amount of weight after ten days. All of the setups lost approximately the same amount of weight after one month, the amounts being less than or equal to the amount of water in each of the setups. It seems that the weight change in each of the setups was due to the evaporation of water. Thus, no conclusion can be made. Future researchers could improve this project by doing any of the following: starting earlier, using a weighing scale with more significant figures, using nonporous covers for the setups, increasing the amount of Trichoderma per part water, or testing Trichoderma lignarium as another candidate for the degradation of rice hulls. #58

Design and fabrication of photovoltaic cells/storage devies using Na-pTS Doped Polypyrrole and recycled materials
Alexis Marie Criselda l Katigbak, Alessandra L Felix, Chiara Rosario Julia V Lanuza

ABSTRACT
Polymer-based photovoltaic cells were designed and constructed as an alternative to silicon-based solar cells to reduce their cost and to address the worlds energy crisis. A photovoltaic storage device, which is breakthrough device with an open-circuit voltage as high as 1.128V, was also invented. The photovoltaic cells and storage devices were made using p-type sodium paratoluenesulfonate-doped (na-pTS) polypyrrole (PpY) and with either n-Si, Au, stainless steel, recycle Al, paper/Al and glass/Al in a sandwich configuration. Synthesis and characterization of the polymer was done prior to construction. The initial Ppy/n-Si cells produced a maximum open circuit voltage of 2mV. A dry sandwich configuration of ITO/Ppy/nSi/Al yielded a solar cell with a maximum open circuit voltage of 181mV when exposed to late afternoon sunlight to 705mV in an hour when exposed to light from a incandescent bulb. The photovoltaic storage device was created in a capacitor-configuration with the ITO/Ppy as the photoelectrode and a metal (Al, Au or stainless steel) as counterelectrode with a dielectric (paper, glass, varnish of recycled Al) sandwich in between. An ITO.Ppy/ varnish/ Al device soaked in an ionic solution produced a maximum voltage of 534mV. Soaking the ITO/Ppy in ionic solution prior to creating an ITO/Ppy/paper/Al sandwich produced a device with an initial voltage of 834mV that steadily increased to 940mV when exposed to light from a halogen flashlight.

Using the same methodology, an ITO/Ppy/glass/Al produced an initial voltage of 0.642V and steadily increased to 1.128 volts when exposed to light. Further studies may be made studying its mechanism, testing different ionic solutions/ solid compounds for packaging and its use as a biosensor. #59

Effects of Aloe Vera Gel on the Release of White Blood Cells in Mus musculus
Crisron Rudolf G. Lucas, Mark Jason B. Quintana

ABSTRACT
The study was to observe the effects of Aloe Gel on the release of white blood cells. Aloe Vera, which is popular for having lots of healing characteristics, is proven to have immunologic effects on an organism. A certain ability of which is that it can stimulate an immune response to an antigen. The project was conducted to test the effects of Aloe Vera Gel, a pure extract from Aloe Vera plant, in the release of leukocytes/white blood cells. First, the experiment has five different experimental setups: the first setup being the control group, an experimental group treated every 6 hrs, and three other groups treated every 12, 18 and 24 hours respectively. Each setup was treated with a dosage of Aloe Gel which is standardized to 0.2mL. There were 3 replicates of mice per setup except for the control group which was limited to only two mice. The experiment was done within 48 hours. Initially, a blood test was conducted for the baseline data. Blood samples collected from each mouse were analyzed to determine the white blood cell count and differential count. Results of the experiment showed high increase for most of the mice setups. Also, a decrease in neutrophils and increase in lymphocytes and monocytes were observed. The change in the WBC of the mice setups were attributed to Aloe Vera though a possible contamination of the mice setups may be attributed to the rapid increase of the WBC. It was concluded that Aloe Vera could possibly increase the release of WBC although it is not different with other setups as shown by the Analysis of Variance. We recommend that this research be further revised and replicated. #60

Rosmarinus officinalis Leaf Extract as an Aid in Memory

Enhancement ABSTRACT
Rosmarinus officinalis, commonly known as rosemary, is known to have an effect on memory since it has a high amount of ursolic acid which inhibits the
Molave Nemesio C. Macapagal, Jean Glorisse Q. Perez, Catherine A. Sanchez

production of acetylcholinesterase, an enzyme known to degrade the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is important for effective cognition and reasoning. It also plays a crucial role in preventing memory loss. In line with this fact, the project aimed to prove that rosemary extract can help enhance memory by using the Morris Water Maze as the test. Rosemary leaves were extracted using Soxhlet extraction. Various amounts (0.05 mL, 0.1 mL and 0.15 mL) of the said extract were then force fed to three treatments of mice, each with three replicates. There were also two other treatments for the positive (0.1 mL of Memo Plus!) and negative (0.1 mL of 5% ethanol) control. The mice were exposed to a water maze twice before and twice after the force feeding. The rate of which the mice spent on the water maze were recorded and were compared with each other. Based on Analysis of Variance at 5% level of significance, there were no significant differences between the rates of the mice from different treatments. Moreover, the t-test for two correlated groups also showed that there are no significant differences between the rates of the mice before and after the force feeding except for the rates of the positive control mice. Because the statistical analysis yielded negative results, there might have been something wrong done in the experiment. To prove that the rosemary extract is still effective, the solvent for the extraction should be changed and the mice should be exposed more to the water maze.

#61 Production of Tiesa (Lucuma nervosa) Instant Noodles

Kathy Madlambayan, Dan Neil Ramos, Lorenzo Valentino

ABSTRACT
The study was conducted to determine the feasibility of tiesa as an ingredient and possible flavor additive for homemade instant noodles. Samples of tiesa fruit flesh were dried and powdered to produce flour that can be used for noodle production. The fruit flesh was observed to contain a consistent moisture content of approximately 60%. Different amounts of flour were then mixed with commercial flour to create three treatments. T1 is composed of 25% tiesa Flour and 75% commercial flour by volume. T2 is composed of 50% Tiesa and commercial flour by volume and T3 is composed of 75% tiesa flour and 25% commercial flour by volume. The final product was then tested using Hedonic Testing for its Taste, Texture, Odor, Appearance and General Acceptability. The results suggested that T1 was the best preferred product with respect to taste, texture and appearance. Statistical analysis confirms that there was a significant difference between the scores which confirms that T1 was best preferred among the three. There were no significant differences between the scores for odor in all treatments. It can then be concluded that the amount of

tiesa greatly affects the final products taste, texture, appearance and general acceptability but not its odor. #62

Utilization of Water Hyacinth (Eichornia crassipes) Leaf Protein Concentrate as a Component of Fish Feed
Jesselyn Rochelle R. Malimata, Nicole D. Sacayan, Alyssa Jessica P. Torre

ABSTRACT
Water hyacinth (Eichornia crassipes) is an aquatic, floating weed which reproduces so abundantly that it obstructs irrigation channels, and disrupts many freshwater ecosystems. Thus, a great amount of money is spent to control the growth of water hyacinth. This research aims to find an alternative use for water hyacinth by extracting its leaf protein concentrate, and comparing the effect of LPC-containing fish feeds on the weight of the test samples with that of non-LPCcontaining fish feeds. The extraction of leaf protein concentrate from water hyacinth had an average percent yield of 0.51%. The fish feeds were produced using the same recipe and ingredients, while only varying the amount of LPC to 0g, 1.3g, and 2.6g per 200g of fish feeds. Fifteen fishes were fed with the produced fish feeds for 30 days. Their weights before and after the experimentation period were observed and compared. There was an increase or decrease in weight for some fishes, and death for others, which could be due to the competition for food inside the aquariums. The ANOVA test showed that there is no significant difference in the mean change in weights of the control and experimental fishes. The research showed that water hyacinth could be incorporated into fish feeds; however, it shows no significant effect on changes in weight of the experimental fish. #63

Crown-of-thorns starfish (acanthaser planci) venom as an alternative cell lysing agent in DNA extraction
Gerald Perry E Marin, Lawrence B Medina, Krizelle Mae M Alcantara

ABSTRACT
The feasibility of venom from the crown-of thorns starfish as a cell lysing agent was determined to provide a cheaper substitute to proteinase K, an expensive conventional lysing agent. Crown-of-thorns starfish, a global marine pest, has been proven to contain phospholipases A and B and proteases, substances which are known to be able to burst the cell membranes to release the DNA inside the cell. Three set-ups- pure venom, venom with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), and proteinase K with SDS- were tested. Agarose gel

electrophoresis (AGE0 was used to determine the presence and quality of the DNA extracted. The UV trans-illuminator was used to view the results of AGE processing. No DNA had been extracted using only pure venom, but the setups which used the pure venom with SDS yielded positive results. The setup using Proteinase K showed the best quality and quantity of DNA extracted, but was found to be degraded as well. Although the results seemed to be negative for pure venom while showing that there is a possibility that the venom may used as an alternative cell lysing agent with the aid of the substance SDS, further enhancements to the procedures could still be made to verify the results. Aside from ensuring that the starfish are still alive when extraction is done, other methods of processing the spines will also be applied. A set-up using pure SDS will be included in the testing as another control. #64

Phenolic Extract from Coconut Mesocarp As Biofilm Inhibitor

Richard F. Martin, Mark Lendl A. Payabyab

ABSTRACT
Biofilms protect pathogenic microorganisms from antibiotic agents and supply them with nutrients for proliferation. Even though agents against biofilms are already commercially available, they are either expensive or harmful to nature. The project tested whether phenolic acid from coconut mesocarp can inhibit biofilm formation of pathogens Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus. Phenolic acid was obtained from coconut measocarp through alkaline hydrolysis. The extract was sterilized by autoclaving. The extract was added to agar with a 1:1 ratio and compared with agar which has no extract. Assay for flagella was done by measuring the movement of stained bacteria on semi-liquid nutrient agar with the phenolic extract. t-test at =0.05 have shown that the extract significantly inhibited biofilm formation of the 3 microorganisms. Microtiter plate assay yielded inaccurate results. It was done by comparing different concentrations (2:1, 1:1, 1:2, and 0:1 ratio) of the extract and nutrient broth with the bacteria. It can be concluded that treating problems concerning biofilms can consider coconut mesocarp extract as an alternative solution. To improve the research, a series of extraction must be done to ensure that only pure phenolic acid will be obtained in order to remove other factors that may affect the biofilms growth. Improvement of equipment for Image analysis must be done. Conducting the experiment in vivo and further analysis on how the phenolic acid inhibits the biofilm may also be done.

#65

Effectivity of Euphorbia Production in Mice ABSTRACT

hirta Extract onBlood Platelet

Kristine Antonette T. Mortega, Vergelle A. Parrocha

Euphorbia hirta extract was found in rural areas in the Philippines to aid in curing dengue, but there is no scientific basis to prove its effect. Since dengue is curable only through its symptoms, a significant increase in the platelets will show that the extract has a positive effect on the activity against dengue. This research aimed to confirm the effect of the extract of Euphorbia hirta as herbal medicine. The null hypothesis, that there is no significant difference between the means of the platelet count of the different treatments of E. hirta extract was tested statistically. The specific action of the extract, or the specific compounds found in the extract, on the blood marrow or any organ or part of the organism being tested was not determined. The study was conducted with three replicates for each set-up for one trial only. To simulate dengue, platelet production was lowered. Emthexate tablets were dissolved to obtain 2.5 mg/ml solution. Three tenths was given to each mouse to inhibit bone marrow activity. Blood was extracted using microhematocrit tubes. Platelet was then examined to be within the range of 207-385x109/L. 19.4 g of E. hirta was extracted using 300 g of water. 100% and 50% by volume concentration were prepared and given to two treatment groups. The third treatment group was given water only. Platelet count was again examined, and results were within 269-361x109/L. Statistical tests show that 50% E. hirta has significant difference on the platelet count after Emthexate intake. However, that 100% E. hirta has no significant difference on the platelet count after Emthexate intake was not rejected. Additional replicates might still be needed.
#66

Comparative Analysis of Bleaching Solutions Made From Averrhoa bilimbi and Avarrhoa carambola Extracts as Feasible Substitutes for Sodium Hypochlorite in Chlorine Bleaches
Crisostomo A. Navarro, Jacob Ephraim D. Salud, Isabelle Erika G. Martinez

ABSTRACT
Extracts of Averrhoa bilimbi (kamias) and Averrhoa carambola (balimbing), noted to contain the most oxalic acid among fruits, were tested on stains to see if they can be used as substitutes for commercial bleaching agents. Oxalic acid has

bleaching properties and can be used as an alternative to the commercially used chlorine bleaches. Extracts from the fruits were obtained through the use of a Soxhlet Apparatus and a rotary evaporator. For each fruit extract, two concentrations of solutions (50% and 100%) that were tested on numbered pieces of white cotton cloth that were stained with either chocolate or soy sauce. All solutions were also tested for shelf life. A separate group of stained cloths were also tested with commercial bleach for comparison. Colors of the cloth stains were noted before and after the bleaching. Results show that kamias bleach is more effective on soy sauce stains and chocolate stains than the balimbing bleach, though both were not able to fully remove the stains like the commercial bleach did, possibly due to low concentrations of oxalic acid. The fruit extracts were also observed to have left green marks on the pieces of cloth used, which could possibly have been caused by the presence of unknown substances. The extracts were also observed to degrade within a weeks time of exposure to air. The use of extracts form Kamias and Balimbing as a feasible alternative to commercial bleaches is still feasible, but an improved extraction process or isolation of the oxalic acid in the extracts may be done to ascertain that the green marks did not come from the oxalic acid, and to prolong the shelf life of the bleach extracts. #67

Heavy metal analysis of Manganese and zinc in virgin coconut oil through flame atomic absorption spectroscopy
Precious Ann L Nepomuceno, Marianne Therese Amelia P Padilla, Abbi D Santos

ABSTRACT
Virgin coconut oil (VCO) is produced from fresh coconut meat. Unlike regular coconut oil, it does not undergo chemical refining processes. Because of its many uses, it is economically significant. However, VCO can also be prone to oxidation. The presence of heavy metals in the oil may affect its oxidative ability. Manganese in VCO mat decrease oxidative stability and shelf life, while zinc, an antioxidant, does otherwise. The study deals with the verification and quantification of the presence of the heavy metals manganese and zinc in commercially produced virgin coconut oil. The results of this project can be used as a basis for setting up standards for the concentrations of manganese and zinc for commercial brands of VCO. It also provides data for the possible expansion of the Philippine National Standard for VCO, which currently only includes arsenic, lead, copper and iron in its of heavy metals in VCO. Analysis was done using Flame Atomic absorption spectroscopy (FAAS). A calibration curve was generated using standard solutions of Mn and Zn. Four

brands of commercial VCO were used for the study: theraHerb, Oleum, ProSource and Abs. The ProSource sample was spiked with Mn and Zn in order to compute the percent recovery and confirm the validity of the results. It was shown that the VCO samples contain zinc, and that the concentration of zinc varied from one brand too another. The presence of manganese was also detected in the sample; but it was too low to measure accurately. This suggests that FAAS is not an ideal method for quantifying Mn in VCO. #68

Effects of exposure to rock and classical music on the behavior of Mus musculus
Juan Gabriel S Oblepias, April Charlotte E Andal, Hasmin Lisa H Corpuz

ABSTRACT
Previous researchers have shown that exposure to music can have either beneficial or adverse effects to different organisms. Mus musculus, or more commonly known as albino mice, are the most widely used test subjects in laboratory experiments. Effects of the stressors present in the surroundings of the mice are known to influence the results of the tests conducted on the mice. To determine if exposure to rock and classical music will have a significant effect on the behavior, eating patterns and weight of albino mice, mice were made to listen to either rock or classical music for three hours for five consecutive days. There were three setups, namely rock, classical, and control. Four replicates with equal number of male and female mice were assigned to each setup. The mices behavior, weight change, and amount of food eaten were observed and recorded during the experimental period. There was a control setup to serve as the basis for data comparisons. The chi square test was conducted to determine if there was a significant difference in the change of behavior of the mice exposed to rock and classical music, behavior being classified as categorical data. According to the test , there was no significant difference among the different treatments. ANOVA was used to determine if theres a significant difference on the food intake and weight change of the mice. ANOVA tests yielded no significant difference among the different treatments. It is recommended that the mice be exposed to longer periods of music for the effects to be more pronounced, and that more replicates should be used. Also, it is also recommended that further research must be done on the natural behaviors of the mice so that an optimal listening time and period can be determined and used.

#69

Determination of a more effective method of fertilizer application for aryza sativa

Stephanie Anne A Oliveros, Maricris B Palmares, Shiny Cathlynne S Yu

ABSTRACT
Root zone and broadcast methods of fertilizer application for oryza sativa were done in order to establish a mathematical correlation of plant growth rate with the amount and depth of fertilizer application, with a view to optimizing the use of fertilizers for maximum yield of rice plants. Thirty-six (36) rice plots were prepared with each plot receiving either 0.5 gram, 1.0 gram or 1.5 grams of urea that are applied through broadcast, 2-cm, 4 c-cm, or 6-cm root zone application. The growth of the rice plants, the NitrogenPhosphorous-Potassium (NPK) content, pH level, and temperature of the soil in each plot were checked every week. Results show that, on the average, rice plants receiving the root zone application treatment have grown more than those receiving broadcast distribution. Nonlinear regression analysis and multiple regression analysis correlating the final yield of the rice plants to the various soil conditions and method of fertilizer application showed that the depth and amount of fertilizer application should be around 4.0 cm and 0.50 grams per 20x27cm2, respectively, in order to yield the optimum amount of harvested rice. Other factors such as the NPK content, pH level, and temperature of the soil did not yield sufficient results to be included in the mathematical analysis. The project was able to establish that root zone application is a more efficient way of applying fertilizer in order to achieve the maximum yield at a minimal amount of fertilizer per a unit area. The equations can be used for the programming a future device that will help farmers in the distribution of fertilizer at an optimal level. #70

The effectiveness of pandanus mabango) as an analgesic ABSTRACT

Odoratissimus(pandan

Bab E Pangan, Ralaine Princess R Bulatao, Reinavelle Jeunesse D Mateo

This project was conducted to verify folk medicine repots that Pandanus odoratissimus has analgesic properties. The effectiveness of pandan leaf extract in relieving pain was determined using Mus musculus as the animal model, and the most effective dosage of the extract was estimated.

Fifteen male mice were divided into five groups of three. Pandan leaves were procured and identified as P odoratissimus. Solid methanolic extract was prepared and dissolved in normal saline solution for oral administration to the mice through intubation. The following doses were used: 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg. The positive control was given 10 mg/kg paracetamol. The negative control was left untreated. The mice were then subjected to the hot plate test at 0, 30 and 60 minutes after the treatment was administered. The number of seconds it took before the mice reacted to pain was recorded as the latency. The results showed that there was no significant difference between the 50 mg/kg pandan and the negative control. There was a significant difference between the negative control and following doses: 100 and 200 mg/kg pandan, and 10 mg/kg paracetamol. The dose 200 mg/kg showed the longest mean latency, but further studies are recommended to establish the most effective dosage. The project provides scientific basis to support the folkloric reputation of Pandanus odoratissimus as an analgesic. This could encourage the development of alternative pain relieves. #71

Production of ampalaya (Momordica charantia) candy

John Bryan C Payongayong, Anthony V Quitay, Steven E Reyes

ABSTRACT
The group wanted to make that is both delicious and nutritious. This was tried by incorporating nutrients from vegetables, specifically bittermelon. The group followed a method for producing regular candy by added some processed bittermelon, producing ampalaya candy. The group decided to work on the project to improve the acceptability of vegetables so that more enjoy their benefits. Bittermelon is one of the least enjoyed vegetables, especially by children, mainly because of its bitter taste. unknown to many, it contain peptides like charantin and polypeptide-p. Charantin is an insulin-like peptide that increase the glucose tolerance of humans, thus preventing diabetes. Polypeptide-p has hypoglycemic activity which lowers blood sugar levels. Other peptides present act as antibiotics. Candy, on the other hand, is one of the foods most enjoyed by children due to its sweet taste. Candies do not contain any nutrients that support the body and are therefore considered junk food. Based on the results of the actual study, the group is not about the nutrient content of the sample because the nutrient content test was not done because the test is costly and the appeal in the people is not high.

#72

Evaluation of different oils with different antioxidants

Bryan Derek D Pinkihan

ABSTRACT
Two experiments were conducted to determine the responses of different oils with different antioxidants when exposed to heat. In the first experiment, ethoxyquin, BHT/BHA combination with chelating agents and vitamin E were added to coconut oil, palm and soybean oil. Initial analysis showed that coconut oil had the lowest iodine value and soybean oil had the highest iodine value. After heating the different oils with different antioxidants at 40C for 2 hours and regardless of antioxidants used, coconut oil had the lowest peroxide values and soybean oil had highest peroxide values at 7, 14 and 21 days. The oils with antioxidants had lower peroxide values than oils without antioxidants at 7, 14 and 21 days. No differences were observed on the peroxide values among antioxidants used. The second experiment was conducted with the same kinds of oils with the addition of different kinds of antioxidants. However, these treatments were subjected to higher temperature of 170C for 120 minutes. Results showed that the oils without antioxidants had a significant increase in peroxide value which ids 15 to 40 times higher than in the first experiment. Such high temperature resulting to deterioration of oils producing a lot of free radicals cannot be controlled by these antioxidants. Among the three oils, the coconut oil had the lowest amount of peroxide values with different antioxidants than palm oil and soybean oil had the highest peroxide values. Oils with BHT/BHA with chelating agents had lower peroxide formed than oils with ethoxyquin or vitamin E higher deterioration of oils and more free radicals are formed as the oils are heated at higher temperature. #73

Feasibility of Janitor Fish Meat As a Component of Organic Fertilizer

Michael Alexis D. Ragudo, Aaron J. Ramos, Jon Jepta D. San Diego

ABSTRACT
The feasibility of the janitor fish meat as the major component of an organic fertilizer was tested on basil plants to see if janitor fish meat can be used as fertilizer. Because of the overpopulation and infestation of janitor fish on Marikina River and Laguna de Bay, many are looking for uses of janitor fish to convert this pest to a useful organism.

One and a half kilograms of janitor fish meat was mixed in a Styrofoam container with 500 grams each of gathered dry leaves and sugar and added with small amount of water to provide moisture. The mixture was stirred every other day for 2 weeks, then three liters of water. Stirring was continued daily for another week. Soil was obtained from the PSHS grounds and placed in 18 pots in equal amounts. Varying concentrations (25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%) of the emulsion in water were then prepared in equal volumes, and then added to the soil setups, with three pots receiving the same concentration of the emulsion. Three soil samples had no treatment and another three were applied with commercial fertilizer. Nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus content were taken before and after the treatment of fertilizers. Twenty seeds of basil were planted in each pot. The number of plants that grew and their height were measured each week. Results showed a change in soil nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus content, from medium to high after the application of fertilizer in the setups applied with solutions of 50%, 75%, and 100% concentration. The growth of plants in the soil with 75% solution had the best growth, and was comparable with those treated with commercial fertilizer. The Janitor fish emulsion is almost as efficient as commercial fertilizer and is cheaper. It gives a use for janitor fish and helps in controlling their population. Further studies could be made for the commercialization of janitor fish meat as a major component of fertilizer. #74

Microbiological Assay of Extracts from Langka (Artocarpus heterophylus) Leaves

Lara Anjela P. Ramos, Clariza Joy L. Soriano, Rose Ann S. Villanueva

ABSTRACT
Langka or Jackfruit is an abundant plant in the Philippines. Its fruits are used to feed livestock. The latex is employed as a household cement for mending broken chinaware. The wood is termite-proof and it is resistant to bacterial decay. Leaves are the least used part of the tree, though it is sometimes used in agriculture and in wrapping foods. It is commonly used in the Philippines to treat wounds but there is no scientific proof for this. This project was conducted to test the antimicrobial activity and explore other possible applications of Langka leaves. Two types of extracts were used in this experiment: extract in ethanol and extract in n-hexane. E. coli and B. subtilis were used as test organisms. Five and two-thirds grams of nutrient agar powder was added to 200 mL of distilled water to produce the nutrient agar. The nutrient agar was autoclaved in petri dishes for 1 hour. The test organisms were then inoculated using the spread method and streak method. The Paper Disk Diffusion Method was conducted to measure the

zones of inhibition of the extracts. Disks, 20 mm in diameter, were placed on the petri dishes. No zones of inhibition were observed from the set-ups. The use of different concentrations of extract or different extraction method is recommended. #75

A Comparative Study of the Effects of Crude Cassava Leaf Extract and Vincristine on Normal White Blood Cells
Juan Miguel F. Romero, Paula Katarina S. Tayo

ABSTRACT
The project aimed to study and compare the effects of crude cassava leaf extract and Vincristine, a conventionally-used chemotherapeutic drug, on normal white blood cells. Cassava leaf extract has already been proven to have a significant degree of cytotoxic effect on cells, but in addition to this it is suspected to have a component that may provide it with a cancer-cell-specific property. Crude cassava leaf extract was acquired by soaking cassava leaves in ethanol overnight. The mixture was then filtered, subjected to a rotary evaporator to remove excess ethanol, and centrifuged to remove remaining plant particles. A small sample of the crude extract was mixed with ferric chloride to verify the presence of cyanide. The confirmatory test indicated a positive result through the formation of prussian blue. Normal blood samples were obtained from a normal subject. The lymphocytes were isolated for treatment using the histopaque technique. These white blood cells were then cultured and divided into their respective set-ups. Two treatments had the cells exposed to varying extract concentrations, 10% and 100%, while another two set-ups was tested on a full dosage of Vincristine and on pure distilled water respectively. Three replicates were made per treatment to validate the data. Based on the results and on the statistical test done, the study shows that the means of white blood cell deaths that occurred per treatment did not vary by any significant degree. Thus, this concludes that neither the 10% nor 100% crude cassava leaf extract showed the cancer-specific property that they were expected to have.

#76

The Feasibility of Using a Makeshift Hood and its Compatibility with Aseptic Techniques for the Micropropagation of Dipterocarpus gracilis
Niel Gabriel E. Saplagio, Angelica Mae A. Acierto, Elyssa Marie S. San Gabriel

ABSTRACT
Dipterocarp forests are rapidly declining due to deforestation. Dipterocarps produce seeds only once every four years. Because of this, animals that depend on them are, in turn, in danger themselves. Micropropagation is the cultivation of a part of plant under optimal condition to produce plants with the same genetic information. This relatively new method makes mass-producing commercial plants and endangered plants more convenient. However, it requires aseptic conditions in order to work successfully. Instruments needed for the proper implementation of aseptic techniques in tissue culture include laminar flow hood, which is expensive. This research tested the compatibility of a makeshift hood, constructed from transparent glass and sealed with plastic, with the aseptic techniques found in a callus induction protocol. The MS medium for callus induction, which was distributed into 6 setups, has been stored in the makeshift incubator for a day without any contamination. However, contamination was observed in all bottles a day after the explants, axillary buds of Dipterocarpus gracilis, have been introduced. The bacteria could have come from the tissues of the bud. It is also possible that the concentration of the disinfecting solution is not sufficient for effective disinfection. In conclusion, a makeshift hood could perform the task of storing the medium without any contamination. However, its performance during the latter parts of callus induction is still unknown. #77

Design of an Image File Compression Program Using Different Fractal Formulas

Nikkei Pfeiffer M. Tadili

ABSTRACT
File compression is a very important tool in the technology field because it aims to reduce file size while still retaining the file quality. The resulting Fractal File Compression (FFC) algorithm was created using JCreator and contains two parts, the IFS algorithm and the Huffman Tree generator. The finished program was tested on an image with 2542 x 1944 pixels dimensions. The image was compressed using JPEG, BMP, PNG and FFC formats. For each format, the image

was compressed at three different resolution settings; low, medium and high. All the compressed images were then viewed under 500% zoom using Adobe Photoshop CS2. In a 40 by 40 pixel-area, the number of distinct boxes, which served as a measurement of image quality, was determined. Compressed images for JPEG, BMP, and PNG for both the low and medium settings have low image qualities, while the fractally-compressed images have a high image quality. For the high resolution setting, both JPG and fractally-compressed images have high qualities while BMP and PNG still have low qualities. Based on the measurements obtained from the box-counting method and the file sizes, the absolute image quality for each compressed image was calculated an then compared. Coupled with large file size and few pixels per area, the conventional methods have lower absolute image quality than the images compressed using the FFC method. This was true for the low and medium settings, however, JPG compression has a higher absolute image quality than the fractally-compressed images. This meant that JPG compression is more efficient than fractal compression when an image has a high resolution. To make the program more suitable for high resolution images, the FFC algorithm may be modified. Most of the changes in the FFC algorithm should be done in the IFS generator. High resolution images can be compressed fully if the pattern that was used for compression is more representative, but even shorter. A more representative bit pattern would create a high quality, high resolution image with a smaller file size. #78

Phylogenetic analysis of mammalian -defensin as an Innate Immune response against mycobacterium tuberculosis
Steffanie Charlyne A Tamayo, Pauline Nicole O Dela Pea, MA Angelica Feliz C Cruz

ABSTRACT
Pulmonary tuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is still an important health concern. Beta-defensins, which are antimicrobial proteins, have been found to play a role in the early immune responses against M tuberculosis. It has been suspected that human susceptibility to M tuberculosis may be a results of defective -defensins. Analyzing the amino acid sequences and studying the evolution of mammalian -defensin-1 may contribute to a better understanding of its role in the protective immune response against the pathogen. This bioinformatics research was conducted in a dry laboratory with data and software from the internet. The amino acid sequences were procured from the ExPASy Proteomics Server using the Swissprot entries, and multiple sequence alignment was facilitated through the ClustalW program.

The alignment results show that primate -defensins are highly conserved. Humans and orangutans have the same amino acid sequence but it should be noted that humans are more susceptible than orangutans to M tuberculosis. The multiple sequence alignment file was used as input to the Phylip program to construct a phylogram. The highly-parsimonious phylogram implies that -defensins of primates, particularly, those in the Family Hominidae, are coded by homologous genes and are derived from a common ancestor. However, additional knowledge on the natural history of -defensins and analysis of statistical methods are needed to make sure that the phylogram is evolutionary sound. #79

Activity of Honey Against Bacterial Strains Isolated from Acne Vulgaris Wounds
Ramon Gabriel S. Tenefrancia, Arriane Chiara R. Bernardo, Rafaela Lara B. Cion #80

Use of Garcilaria spp. in the bioremediation of eutrophic aquatic ecosystems

Joel Mari C Villa Jr., Jestin C Bernardo, John Paul A Lappay

ABSTRACT
Gracilaria verricosa, a species of red algae (Rhodophyta) was used in the bioremediation of eutrophic aquatic ecosystems. This research was conducted to curb the growing problem of, eutrophication, a result of the increasing amount of nutrients in the aquatic ecosystem. Before experimentation, coliform testing was conducted for four consecutive weeks on the PSHS pond to ascertain that eutrophication was actually occurring. Three equal amounts of samples were then placed in separate containers and equal amounts of Gracilaria verrucosa bought from a local market were then soaked in each container. One set-up was placed completely under sunlight, another under a shady area, and the last was completely covered to prevent sunlight from entering. After seven days, the water samples were subjected to coliform testing. Initial testing on the water source showed that coliform count increased, confirming that the water source was eutrophic. After the treatment with Gracilaria verrucosa, however, the coliform count and heterotrophic plate count did not decrease for all set-ups. The effectiveness of Gracilaria spp. in bioremediating eutrophic aquatic ecosystems could not be determined due to the use of fresh water samples, which may have caused the saltwater species, G verrucosa to die.