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Scientificus Vol4 No1 - Emilio Aguinaldo College

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<strong>Scientificus</strong><br />

October 2009 - March 2010 Vol. 4 No. 1<br />

EMILIO AGUINALDO COLLEGE<br />

SCHOOL OF SCIENCE<br />

ISSN 1656-9857


SCIENTIFICUS<br />

EDITORIAL BOARD<br />

Eduardo T. Senajon, Ph.D.<br />

Editor-in-Chief<br />

Maria Fe G. Caldea<br />

Associate Editor-in-Chief<br />

Richard Lemence, Ph.D.<br />

Reviewer-UP Diliman<br />

Soledad L. Bautista, Ph.D.<br />

Professor Ileana R.F. Cruz<br />

Consultants<br />

CONTRIBUTORS<br />

Cesar M. Mendoza Jr. M.BioEd. Supachai A. Basit, Ph.D.<br />

Alvin A. Ayque Gerardo David<br />

Napoleon R. Caballero Dr. Macario A. Fadrigalan IV<br />

STUDENT CONTRIBUTORS<br />

Kristine Marie Lozada, Aizel Marasigan, Liezel Morales,<br />

Ronald Ramos, Jessica Sarreal, Clement Joseph Agias, Grenelyn Bravo,<br />

Sarita Mando, Michelle Christina Mulawin, Deanna Stephaine<br />

Mendoza, Dexter Tenorio, Rolando Montano, Milbert A. Bicol, Jerwin<br />

P. Embolode, Danica Anna C. Velasco and Miguel Atom G. Kobayashi<br />

Michelle C. Carpio / Mark Joseph S. Oblena<br />

Lay Out Design<br />

Mary Ann V. dela Peña<br />

Circulation<br />

SCIENTIFICUS is the official research journal of the<br />

School of Science, <strong>Emilio</strong> <strong>Aguinaldo</strong> <strong>College</strong>, Manila, Philippines<br />

Published: Annually


Acknowledgement<br />

To those who made this work posssible:<br />

The Schools at EAC – Manila, who supported and willingly<br />

contributed to the making of this journal by recommending<br />

researches done by students and Faculty, in particular, the<br />

Graduate School of Criminology,<br />

School of Medical Technology, School of Dentistry,<br />

School of Pharmacy and the School of PT/OT/RT.<br />

The Marketing Communication Group of EAC –Manila, for their<br />

essential help in the scanning of pictures, lay out design and<br />

documentation and Mr. Sonny Villafania at the EAC- Cavite<br />

Printing Press, who offered and made the last minute<br />

adjustment and willingly accommodated our request with a<br />

generous heart. Finally, a profound gratitude to the EAC<br />

President Dr. Jose Paulo E. Campos for his continued assistance<br />

& support to faculty & students’ programs.<br />

i<br />

Thank You.


TABLE OF CONTENTS<br />

______________________________________________________________<br />

1. ARTICLES<br />

1.1 School of Medical Technology<br />

“ONDOY”: Towards understanding disaster, public<br />

health, and issues governing politics economy,<br />

environment and culture. 1<br />

The Two-hour Post-Prandial Effect of Commercial<br />

Malunggay (Moringa oleifera) Tea on Human Blood<br />

Glucose Level 14<br />

1.2 School of Pharmacy<br />

Evaluation of the Allelopathic Activity of Talahib<br />

(Saccharum spontaneum) against Cruciferous plants<br />

Raddish (Raphanus sativus) and Pechay<br />

(Brassica rapa) 25<br />

1.3 School of Dentistry<br />

The Effectiveness of Pumice with Liquid Detergent<br />

in Polishing Heat-Cured Acrylic 42<br />

1.4 School of Science<br />

In-Vitro Sensitivity of Sarcoptes Scabiei to Moringa<br />

Oleifera (Malungay) Extracts and Virgin Coconut<br />

Oil 62<br />

ii


TABLE OF CONTENTS<br />

______________________________________________________________<br />

2. EXTENDED ABSTRACT<br />

2.2 School of Criminology<br />

Protective Security Operations of the Police Security<br />

and Protection Group: Implications to the Security<br />

and Safety of the VIP. 72<br />

The Level of Awareness of the Philippine National<br />

Police-Integrated Transformation Program<br />

(PNP-ITP) in Muntinlupa City: An Assessment. 79<br />

3. ABSTRACT<br />

3.1 School of Physical, Occupational and Respiratory Therapy<br />

An Evaluation of EAC Classroom Chairs:<br />

Implications to Users. 84<br />

iii


ARTICLES 1<br />

______________________________________________________________<br />

“ONDOY”: TOWARDS UNDERSTANDING DISASTER,<br />

PUBLIC HEALTH, AND ISSUES GOVERNING POLITICS,<br />

ECONOMY, ENVIRONMENT AND CULTURE<br />

(An Integrative Essay)<br />

Cesar M. Mendoza, Jr., RMT, M. Bio. Ed.<br />

“Where were you when it happened?”<br />

Tropical storm “Ondoy” with the international name:<br />

“Ketsana” was a typhoon that they thought was weak. Nobody<br />

predicted the rattling havoc it will bring. Not until that fateful day<br />

of 26th of September when 90% of the entire Mega Manila and its<br />

proximal provinces were totally immersed on flood water in just an<br />

instance. It practically battered Luzon, leaving Metro Manila and 25<br />

other provinces in state of calamitous condition. The extensive and<br />

massive flooding in the metropolis that forced thousands of people out<br />

of their homes and practically turning many areas into virtual lake drew<br />

semblance and comparison with hurricane “Katrina” that devastated<br />

New Orleans, a southern United States city on August, 2005 (Laude,<br />

2009). An imminent disaster again clearly devastated the Philippines.<br />

In the land of hope and prayers – what else could topple the Filipinos<br />

resiliency on matters related to natural disasters and human-


ARTICLES 2<br />

______________________________________________________________<br />

induced catastrophe? But seeing and hearing the people in agony and<br />

pain all over the print, television, radio and news over the demise of<br />

a family member, loss of property, and the sad plights of children,<br />

elderly, and helpless individuals who had to storm the floods for food,<br />

shelter and most importantly valued lives were a sad plea to sight and<br />

behold.<br />

Figure 1. Waist-deep flood in residential<br />

area in San Juan City.<br />

A local network’s footage that showed a dramatic but real video<br />

of a number of people perched on tattered roofs and fallen debris from<br />

an uprooted shanty being swept away by strong current of Marikina<br />

river and hit hardly the pillars of a bridge that caused them to drift<br />

from each other was a sight that is most heartbreaking.


ARTICLES 3<br />

______________________________________________________________<br />

Many true-to-life stories still are unheard of and remain untold<br />

but the pressing issues on disasters and management necessitate an<br />

immediate response. How do we address the critical issue on natural<br />

disasters and its immense impact on human lives? What elicited the<br />

catastrophic impact of “Ondoy” in a nation that seem to never learn<br />

from the deluge of the past? Or have we become too lax and insensitive<br />

of our nature that it has decided for a pay back?<br />

Figure 2 Heavy Traffic created by “Ondoy”<br />

Historically, the first cycles of globalization began in the premise of<br />

people trading goods, services, various products, technology and<br />

migration across borders of geography. Recently however, it has<br />

ballooned to sustain peoples’ living standards improvement


ARTICLES 4<br />

______________________________________________________________<br />

of the changing societies (Burkle, F., 2006). Disaster is an intricate<br />

scenario associated with issues on globalization, sustainable<br />

development, politics, environment, and health. In the Philippines,<br />

we would see malls and condominium units patterned in American<br />

and European architecture in almost every single space available.<br />

Furthermore, we are all witness on the how illegal logs cut from the<br />

mountain would reach the shores after a strong rain. More so, urban-<br />

based subdivisions, skyscrapers, and buildings that have encroached<br />

the critical areas previously used as watershed and draining areas are<br />

now more seemingly apparent than ever. The use of plastics and non-<br />

biodegradable materials that were originally thought of to be useful in<br />

daily living now becomes a major problem in terms of disposal. The<br />

floods that almost totally immersed Manila could also be attributed to<br />

the sprawling and construction of human abode in almost every single<br />

lot available in the urban areas.<br />

As if these were not enough, the environmental issues and endless<br />

debates on forest conservation, reforestation, and restoration would<br />

cropped up only when this deluge like “Ondoy” throw havoc on the<br />

already befallen Filipinos as if the sight of the people grappling for a<br />

firm grip of help and rescue falls on deaf ears.


ARTICLES 5<br />

______________________________________________________________<br />

Some people in the know also contested that sustainable<br />

development and efforts to keep these infrastructure development<br />

coming somehow is indirectly connected with what is happening.<br />

Apparently, these infrastructure and structural built-in is a metric gauge<br />

of how the economy has fared in the race to development. Economy is<br />

often given priority in policies and undertakings while environment is<br />

viewed as a secondary factor to consider. They are interconnected with<br />

the economy dependent on society and environment while human<br />

existence and society are dependent on and within the environment<br />

(Giddings, et. al., 2001).<br />

As we managed to unravel the degree of losses we suffered from<br />

“Ondoy”, public health became an apparent challenge to all of us.<br />

The term no longer confined itself on medical care alone but has now<br />

embraced issues anent to public safety, governance, communication<br />

and transportation, technology and other domains in an effort to<br />

protect the people from harm, diseases, and infection and maintain<br />

health in general. We saw how people immersed themselves in flooded


ARTICLES 6<br />

______________________________________________________________<br />

Figure 3. A resident of San Juan City cleaning the debris in his<br />

house from typhoon “Ondoy”<br />

water for food, shelter, and relief goods even if it meant exposing<br />

themselves to various microscopic creatures that may adversely<br />

affect their health. It was indeed a survival of the fittest.<br />

As of press time, thousands of people were reported to have<br />

been afflicted and around 170 died of “leptospirosis”, the outbreak<br />

that hit the heavily-flooded areas of Rizal, Metro Manila, and other<br />

provinces of Luzon. It is a fatal infection that may cause complications<br />

involving organs and brain damage and is usually acquired after<br />

wading or immersing in contaminated water with the urine of infected<br />

animals like rats. Threats of contagious infections were also identified<br />

among the elderly, children, and immune compromised individuals<br />

who were forced to live along with rest in the different evacuation


ARTICLES 7<br />

______________________________________________________________<br />

sites and resettlement areas. Consequently, the immense destruction of<br />

their houses forced them to take temporary refuge despite of exposing<br />

themselves to various health conditions such as diarrhea, pneumonia,<br />

measles, and tuberculosis common in substandard evacuation centers.<br />

Definitely, the inherent destruction of sanitary conditions for basic<br />

necessities in life like shelter and food, purity of water, and inaccessibility<br />

for health care among the affected areas provide an opportunity for<br />

catastrophic public health concern in an aftermath of a disaster.<br />

The aids and support coming from various international<br />

organizations and network of countries from United Nation in the<br />

form of cash donations, foods, and in kind including medications and<br />

medical experts were sent here to help in post-Ondoy health–related<br />

problems like “leptospirosis”. It is a clear indication that public health<br />

in disaster knows no boundary and it transcends national sovereignty<br />

and geography. It also promotes exchange of scientific researches,<br />

close monitoring of outbreak and epidemic cases, and surveillance<br />

of probable infectious spread of disease. The government however,<br />

specifically the Department of Health and its’ affiliates should<br />

also be vigilant in ensuring that public health remains a top most


ARTICLES 8<br />

______________________________________________________________<br />

agenda and successfully minimize the effects<br />

of “Ondoy” in terms of health-related scenarios.<br />

Urban population and influx of people in the city has also<br />

changed drastically the demographics of the urban setting with<br />

the poor practically inhabiting the areas intended for flood control<br />

and drainage. While the bridges and the “esteros” have now<br />

become a dwelling place of the people, human waste and garbage<br />

from these areas has made the problem on flood imminent and<br />

insurmountable. The culture that Manila is a haven for better life<br />

and endless possibilities for greener pastures have made people stay<br />

in their shanties despite of non-capacity to maintain a decent life.<br />

But thinking aloud, why did the government allowed large and<br />

spacious vacant lots allegedly owned by rich individuals and their<br />

families to remain futile when a lot of our impoverished people are<br />

living like animals housed in nearby creeks and “esteros”. So when<br />

these natural and man-made calamities like “Ondoy” strike, these<br />

urban poor and marginalized people suffer the most consequences.<br />

Inequality in social class and lack of moral integrity<br />

coupled with issues on corruption among government officials<br />

certainty has played a vital role on the havoc that we just had


ARTICLES 9<br />

______________________________________________________________<br />

and it’s a pity that we have to contend with this until<br />

the government learns the values of integrity, honesty<br />

and accountability and real essence of the public service.<br />

Lastly, for every disaster that we experienced in the last few<br />

decades, we have global warming and climate change to equate it with.<br />

But is it really climate change that has brought upon what “Ondoy”<br />

did to us? This question will remain unanswered until we come up<br />

with better disaster mitigation protocol that will provide us with a<br />

more comprehensive and in-depth discussion for the development of<br />

disaster-related infrastructure and social policies that will address the<br />

challenges of nature in the future. According to Oshikawa et. al., social<br />

disaster management infrastructures, disaster reduction among the<br />

people, societal facilities and tools and resistance of nature to disaster are<br />

four factors that can increase resistance to disaster based on experience.<br />

As the country hosted environmental meetings on<br />

climate change that resulted to Manila Declaration attended by<br />

participants all over the world, it showed that disasters related<br />

to climate change cross the boundaries of race and social class.<br />

Ironically, the highly industrialized and modern societies of the


ARTICLES 10<br />

______________________________________________________________<br />

First World caused much of the global warning, depletion of the<br />

ozone layer, and climate change but obviously it is the Third World<br />

that reaps the most nightmares from its consequences. Needless to say,<br />

these environmental stand offs are further aggravated by the culture of<br />

corruption and politics that reign supreme in a society that never learn<br />

from the catastrophic issues of the past.<br />

Conclusion:<br />

With the country still reeling from the onslaught of the destructive<br />

typhoons, “Ondoy” and “Pepeng” that tremendously ravaged the<br />

country, we should now realize that something has to be done and<br />

that we are faced with a dilemma on either to keep what we have been<br />

doing and suffer the wrath of future “Ondoys” or take another path<br />

and ensure that better plans be made and mitigation on disasters be<br />

done.<br />

Likewise, it is now imperative that we involve ourselves in issues<br />

on climate change and global warming and the plans to include it with<br />

other salient issues on environment in elementary and high school<br />

curricula is a bold step towards inculcating in the youth that the future<br />

of the nations greatly depends not only on economic matters but also of<br />

environment.


ARTICLES 11<br />

______________________________________________________________<br />

Looking back, we also realized that there are different domains<br />

that are critical in addressing these aftermaths of disasters to which we<br />

can gain a lesson or two and stop counting on the cost of losses but add<br />

in blessing in disguises instead.<br />

In these modern times, we must realize that “the nature” is not<br />

natural anymore and is not the same with the nature of the yester years<br />

but “the nature affected by human beings” since we have considerably<br />

altered its natural state. Taking this into account, disasters prevention<br />

and control must not deal with the nature alone but the society to fully<br />

perform its responsibility (Ishii, 2009). Otherwise, we will peril along<br />

with the trees and the nature that supported human life from time and<br />

immemorial.<br />

Acknowledgement:<br />

The author wishes to express gratitude and appreciation to the<br />

following:<br />

Dr. Julian Abuso, Chair, Division of Curriculum and<br />

Instruction, <strong>College</strong> of Education, University of the Philippines,<br />

Diliman for the opportunity to do field immersion research in<br />

Loob Bunga, Botolan, Zambales and to do integrative essay<br />

on “Ondoy” and the interconnectedness of politics, education,


ARTICLES 12<br />

______________________________________________________________<br />

economy, and environment. And the entire class of EDFD 331 for<br />

support and guidance.<br />

Note: All still photos were originally taken by the author.<br />

About the author: Cesar M. Mendoza, Jr. is a full-time faculty of the School<br />

of Medical Technology-<strong>Emilio</strong> <strong>Aguinaldo</strong> <strong>College</strong>. A registered medical<br />

technologist, a regular member of the Philippine Association of Medical<br />

Technologist and Public Health (PAMET) and a life member of the Philippine<br />

Society of Microbiologist (PSM). He is currently taking his Ph. D. in Science<br />

Education major in Biology at the University of the Philippines, Diliman.<br />

REFERENCES:<br />

Burkle, F.(2006, April 1). Globalization and Disasters: Issues of Public<br />

Health, State Capacity and Political Action. Journal of International<br />

Affairs. Retrieved Oct 24, 2009, from<br />

http://www.allbusiness.com/government/3493457-1.html<br />

Giddings,B., B. Hopwood, and G. O’Brien. (2001). Environment,<br />

Economy and Society: Fitting them together into Sustainable<br />

Development. Journal on Sustainable Development. 10 (4). Abstract<br />

retrieved Oct 24, 2009 from Wiley InnterScience database.


ARTICLES 13<br />

______________________________________________________________<br />

Ishii, Y.(2009). Infrastructure’s Role Against Climate Change. Journal of<br />

Disaster Research. 4(1) 24-31.<br />

Laude, J. (2009, September 27). ‘Ondoy’ Like ‘Katrina’.<br />

The Philippine Star. Retrieved October 21, 2009, from<br />

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=509022<br />

Oshikawa, H., K. Asai, K. Tsukahara, and T. Komatsu (2009). “Disaster<br />

Imunity” – A New Concept for Disaster Reduction in Adaptation to<br />

Disaster Hazard Intensification. Journal Disaster Reseach. 4 (1): 7-11.


ARTICLES 14<br />

______________________________________________________________<br />

THE TWO-HOUR POST-PRANDIAL EFFECT OF<br />

COMMERCIAL MALUNGGAY<br />

(Moringa oleifera) Tea on Human Blood Glucose Level<br />

Supachai A. Basit, RMT, PhD, Kristine Marie Lozada,<br />

Aizel Marasigan, Liezel Morales, Ronald Ramos and Jessica Sarreal<br />

INTRODUCTION<br />

ABSTRACT<br />

Over the past years, the Philippine government through<br />

the concerted efforts of the agencies likes the Department of<br />

Health and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) had been<br />

aggressive in the promotion of indigenous herbal medicines due<br />

to the increasing cost of medicines manufactured pharmaceutical<br />

companies. In fact, the PIA had released information campaigns<br />

as regards to the benefits of medicinal plants like the Moringga<br />

oleifera (MO) or locally known as the malunggay (PIA, 2007). The


ARTICLES 15<br />

______________________________________________________________<br />

said plant is a member of the Morigaceae family and was first introduced<br />

in the Philippine soil way back from the pre-historic era (Guevarra et<br />

al, 1999).<br />

Quisumbing (1978) had included the said plant as having a<br />

significant role in the folklore medicine and various studies have<br />

been made to validate the ethno-botanical practices of indigenous<br />

people. Among the various medicinal properties of (MO) plants are<br />

its antitumor properties (Guevarra, et al., 2009) and its ability to reduce<br />

blood level of lipids (Mehta, et al., 2003 and Chumark, et al., 2003).<br />

MO was also found to have more vitamin C as compared to oranges<br />

thereby can reduce phlegm, scurvy and catarrhal condition (Donovan,<br />

2007). Moreover, the extract from its leaves and bark was found to have<br />

antimicrobial properties particularly against Staphylococcus aureus<br />

(Mehta, et al., 2003) and against cutaneous mycoses (Chuang, et al.,<br />

2003). MO was also found to be beneficial in controlling disorders of<br />

the endocrine system. Tahiliani and Kar (1999) had also reported the<br />

ability of the MO tea to regulate thyroid hormone. Finally, the said<br />

plant was also reported to significantly reduce blood glucose level<br />

(Anwar, et al., 2007 and Ho & Ples, 2009).


ARTICLES 16<br />

______________________________________________________________<br />

Among the aforementioned benefits of MO, this study had<br />

focused on its hyperglycemic activity since there are 1,807, 270 afflicted<br />

with diabetes in the Philippines, based on the 2004 US Census Bureau<br />

International Database from a total population of more than 86 million<br />

at that time the study was made. Hence, it could be surmised from<br />

that figures that one of five Filipinos is a potential diabetic. In fact,<br />

the National Diabetes Statistics (2007) had also reported that there are<br />

approximately 3.8 million reported cases and the numbers have grown<br />

since then. Of the reported number, 25% were diagnosed, and of those<br />

diagnosed only 23% are treated. The control of diabetes in the treated<br />

group is average to poor leading, ergo, leading to a reduced quality of<br />

life and high mortality incidence. Diabetes had inadvertently grown<br />

into one of the most costly diseases on a global basis in both human and<br />

economic terms (National Diabetes Statistics, 2007).<br />

With these precepts, the main objective of the study is to determine<br />

the 2-hour post-prandial affect of malunggay tea extract on blood<br />

glucose. We had also determined the baseline blood sugar level prior<br />

to the intervention and the post intervention blood sugar level both in<br />

the control and experimental groups.


ARTICLES 17<br />

______________________________________________________________<br />

MATERIALS AND METHODS<br />

Research Design. The authors had utilized experimental method of<br />

research design in which the relationship between the experimental<br />

and control groups were being established.<br />

Locale and Study Population. The study was conducted at the<br />

laboratory of the School of Medical Technology in <strong>Emilio</strong> <strong>Aguinaldo</strong><br />

<strong>College</strong>. The study participants were a mixture of male and female and<br />

have an age range between 19-23 years of age. An informed consent<br />

was also given to the participants at the start of the study. They were<br />

also asked to fast for eight hours prior to the extraction of blood. On<br />

the day of the test, a 5-ml venous blood sample was extracted from the<br />

participants. Study population was asked to drink a cup of hot MO<br />

tea extract and warm distilled water for the experimental and control<br />

groups, respectively. The venous blood sample was also extracted<br />

from the same study population two hours after the consumption of<br />

MO tea and warm water.


ARTICLES 18<br />

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Glucose Oxidase Determination. The serum sample was collected from<br />

the venous blood after it has been allowed to stand and centrifuged<br />

for 5 minutes at 3,500 rpm. The blood glucose was determined using<br />

the photometric glucose oxidase method wherein the absorbance of the<br />

serum sample and standard were read against reagent blank at 500 nm.<br />

Data Analysis. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were utilized<br />

to analyze the data in this study. The t test for paired samples was<br />

also used to compare means of the blood glucose level before and after<br />

the interventions was given. All date were generated using the SPSS<br />

version 13.


ARTICLES 19<br />

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RESULTS AND DISCUSSION<br />

Blood Glucose Level of the Study Population. Shown in Figure 1 is the<br />

baseline blood glucose level of the two groups prior to the intervention.<br />

It could be surmised that the mean blood glucose level of the control<br />

group (97.22 mg/dL) is higher as compared to the experimental group<br />

(82.62 mg/dL). However, the mean blood glucose level of the two<br />

groups is still within the normal range (70-110 mg/dL). Both groups<br />

had a reduction of the mean blood glucose level after the intervention<br />

was given.<br />

The two-hour post prandial effects. The two hour post prandial effects<br />

of the malunggay tea in comparison with that of the control group was<br />

shown in Table 1. The mean difference of the pre and post interventions<br />

were compared and analyzed using the t test for paired samples


ARTICLES 20<br />

______________________________________________________________<br />

Table 1. Two-hour post prandial difference of the experimental and<br />

control groups<br />

Test<br />

Before-<br />

After<br />

Control<br />

Before-<br />

After<br />

Mean SD<br />

Standard<br />

Error<br />

Mean<br />

t df p Value Interpretation<br />

7.24 31.13 6.96 2.476 19 0.023 Significant<br />

15.32 36.32 7.57 2.023 22 0.055<br />

Not<br />

Significant<br />

It could be gleaned from Table 1 that there was indeed a significant<br />

difference in the mean difference of the blood glucose level (pre and post<br />

interventions) from the experimental group, t = 0.023(19), p = 0.023. On<br />

the other hand, there was no significant difference in the blood glucose<br />

level in the control group, t = 2.023 (22), after they were allowed to drink<br />

warm distilled water only. This also implies that the administration<br />

of the MO tea could help in the metabolism of carbohydrates as seen<br />

in the results of the post-prandial test. The results of our study was<br />

consistent with that of Ho and Ples (2009) wherein they were able to<br />

report a significant drop in blood glucose level after the hyperglycemic<br />

participants were given the commercial MO tea.


ARTICLES 21<br />

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Ndong et al (2007) had also reported the effects of the oral administration<br />

of MO tea on glucose tolerance among Goto-Kakizaki and Wistar rats<br />

in which they have also reported significant reduction in blood glucose<br />

level after the administration of glucose load. Thus, they were able<br />

to surmise that indeed, MO has an ameliorating effect for glucose<br />

intolerance, and the effect might be mediated by quercetin-3-glucoside<br />

and fiber contents found in the MO leaf powder. Moreover, Jaiwal et al<br />

(2009) had also found the same hypoglycemic potentials of the aqueous<br />

leaf extract when tested among hyperglycemic rats.<br />

CONCLUSION AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS<br />

Our study had concentrated on the comparison of the two-<br />

hour post prandial effects of the MO tea and warm distilled water on<br />

experimental and control groups, respectively. The results had indeed<br />

clearly indicated a significant reduction in the blood glucose level after<br />

the administration of the MO tea. Although there was also a reduction<br />

in the mean of the blood glucose level for the control group, the mean<br />

difference of the pre and post interventions was not statistically<br />

significant.


ARTICLES 22<br />

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With these tenets, it could be concluded that the MO plant has a potential<br />

usage as food supplement for hyperglycemic and diagnosed diabetic<br />

patients. Further researches should also be done in the inclusion of<br />

the MO leaf extract as part of the management of diabetes. It is also<br />

recommended that standardization of the MO tea consumption<br />

must be made in future studies. Other parameters for carbohydrates<br />

metabolism such as the oral glucose tolerance test, urine glucose, assays<br />

for ketone bodies and glycosylated hemoglobin must be included in<br />

future researches.<br />

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT<br />

The authors wished to acknowledge our beloved dean, Dr. Soledad<br />

Bautista; Ms. Catherine Lim, the research methodology lecturer; Mr.<br />

Cesar Mendoza, our Clinical Chemistry laboratory professor; the<br />

members of the oral defense panel, namely, Mr. Antonio Laude, Mr.<br />

Jason Mirasol, Mr. Paul Aldrin Hung and Ms. Jacqueline Hung; Ms.<br />

Ferryvic Mercado, the laboratory technician and the volunteers who<br />

participated in our study.


ARTICLES 23<br />

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BIBLIOGRAPHY<br />

Anwar, F. S Latif. M. Ashraf. AH Guillani. (2007). Moringa oleifera:<br />

a food plant with multiple medicinal uses. Phytotherapy Res.<br />

21(1): 17-25<br />

Baltazar, JC. CA Ancheta, IB Aban, RE Fernando and MM Bacilod<br />

(2004). Prevalence and correlates of diabetes mellitus and impaired<br />

glucose tolerance among adults in Luzon, Philippines. Diabetes<br />

Res Clin Pract. 64(2): 107-15<br />

Chuang, PH, CW Lee, JY Chou, M Murugan, BJ Shieh and HM Chen.<br />

(2007). Anti-fungal activity of crude extracts and essential oil of<br />

Moringa oleifera Lam. Biosource Technology. 98: 232-236<br />

Chumark, P., P Khunawat, Y Sanvarinda, S Phornchirasilp, NP<br />

Morales, L Phivthong-ngam, P Ratachamnong, S Srisawat and KS<br />

Pongrapeeporm. (2008). The in vitro and in vivo antioxidant<br />

properties, hypolipademic and antiatherosclerotic activities of<br />

water extract of Moringa oleifera Lam. leaves. J Ethno-phamacology.<br />

116: 439-446<br />

Guevara, AP., C Vargas, H Sakurai, Y Fujiwara, K Hashimoto, T Maoka,<br />

M Kozuka, Y Ito, H Tokuda and H Nishino. (1999). An antitumor<br />

promoter from Moringa oleifera Lam. Mutational Research. 440:<br />

181-188<br />

Jaiswal, D., PK Rai, S Mehta and G Watai. (2009). Effect of Moringa<br />

oleifera leave aqueous extract on hyperglycemic rats. Journal of<br />

Ethnopharmacology. DOI. 10.1016/J.Jeo.2009.03.036


ARTICLES 24<br />

______________________________________________________________<br />

Ndong, M., M Uehara, S Katsumata, K Suzuki. (2007). Effects of oral<br />

administration of Moringa oleifera Lam on glucose tolerance test<br />

in Goto-Kakizaki and Wistar rats. Journal of Clinical Biochemistry.<br />

40(3): 229-233<br />

Mehta, LK., R Balaraman, AH Amin, PA Bafna and OD Gulati. (2003).<br />

Effect of fruits of Moringa oleifera on lipid profile of normal and<br />

hypercholesterolaemic rabbits. J Ethno-pharmacology. 86: 191195<br />

Philippine Information Agency. (2007). Feature: Malunggay a musthave<br />

veggie. PIA Press Release. August 11, 2007<br />

Quisumbing, E. (1978). Medicinal Plants of the Philippines. Philippines:<br />

Katha Publishing. 346-349


ARTICLES 25<br />

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EVALUATION OF THE ALLELOPATHIC ACTIVITY OF<br />

TALAHIB (SACCHARUM SPONTANEUM) AGAINST<br />

CRUCIFEROUS PLANTS RADDISH (RAPHANUS SATIVUS)<br />

AND PECHAY (BRASSICA RAPA)<br />

Roland M. Montano<br />

ABSTRACT<br />

Agricultural sustainability depends greatly on the development<br />

of strategies that reduce both the need for costly internal inputs and<br />

the environmental impact often associated with the excessive use of<br />

these inputs. Allelopathy is discussed in the interdisciplinary context<br />

of sustainability as a means of approaching such problems. Example is<br />

the reduction of both crops specie through the action of a specific weed.<br />

Phytochemical screening of the existing chemical constituents is also<br />

presented. The importance of these practices for reducing inputs and for<br />

reducing adverse environmental impacts are discussed in the context of<br />

long-term agroecosystem sustainability. Necessary research plans and<br />

directions are proposed.<br />

INTRODUCTION<br />

Grasses, exemplified by talahib (Saccharum spontaneum Linn. Subsp.<br />

indicum Hack) are found almost everywhere: abundantly in waste<br />

places or vacant lots and areas where other species of plants may be<br />

found. Often, grasses are found at low and medium altitudes, ascending<br />

to 1,500 meters, and often living


ARTICLES 26<br />

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competitively with other plants and crops (Barnes, J. P., 1986).<br />

Talahib also occurs in India to southern China and through Malaya<br />

to Polynesia. It is a course, erect, perennial, usually more or less tufted<br />

or gregarious grass, attaining a height o 1 to 3.5 meters, and rising from<br />

stout underground rootstock. The leaves are linear, harsh and measures<br />

0.5 to 1 meter long, 6 to 15 millimeters wide. The panicles (a pyramidal<br />

loosely branched flower cluster) are white, erect, 15 to 30 centimeters<br />

long. Its branches are slender, whorled, fragile, and joints covered with<br />

long, sot white hairs. The spikelets (the primary inflorescence of grasses)<br />

are about 3.5 millimeters long, very much shorter than the copious,<br />

long, white hairs at the base (Brown, B. J. et al., 1987). A decoction of the<br />

roots is used in the Philippines as a diuretic. The warm pulp of the stem<br />

is used as a poultice and applied to painful parts of the legs in cases of<br />

suffering from beriberi (Quisumbing 1978). In Bengal the roots are used<br />

as a galactogogue (a substance which is used to increase the production<br />

of milk in humans and other animals) and diuretic (Quisumbing 1978)


ARTICLES 27<br />

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It has been observed that talahib was growing competitively affecting<br />

the growth of other species. This gave the researcher the idea that<br />

talahib might be containing “something”, thus this particular species<br />

of grass may exhibit allelopathic activity, which can open new studies<br />

on herbicides and weed management for production of good crops in<br />

agriculture.<br />

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE<br />

Fig 1. Talahib in its natural habitat<br />

Allelopathy refers to the beneficial or harmful effects of<br />

one plant on another plant, both crop and weed species, by the<br />

release of chemicals from plant parts through leaching, root<br />

exudation, volatilization, residue decomposition and other


ARTICLES 28<br />

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processes in both natural and agricultural systems. It is also defined<br />

as the direct influence from a chemical released of one plant on the<br />

development and growth of another (Kim, K.U. & Shin, D.H. 1998).<br />

The importance of chemical interference, including allelopathy, mostly<br />

in crop competition has often been discussed in a number of literature<br />

(Rice, 1995 and Wu, et al., 1999). The possibilities of genetically<br />

improving crops with allelopathic potential can play an important<br />

role in future weed management. Allelopathic substances, if present in<br />

crop varieties, may reduce the need for weed management particularly<br />

the use of herbicides though may not be a perfect weed management<br />

technology.<br />

It is extremely difficult to demonstrate allelopathy in nature<br />

because of the complexity of plant interference, which includes<br />

positive, negative and neutral effects on each other (Christensen,<br />

1993). Interference is a combination of the processes of competition for<br />

resources and production of allelopathic compounds, which suppress<br />

competitors (Duke, et al. 2001). Thus, allelopathy differs from resource<br />

competition. First widely studied in forestry systems, allelopathy can<br />

affect many aspects of plant ecology including occurrence, growth,<br />

and plant succession, the structure of plant communities, dominance,


ARTICLES 29<br />

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diversity, and plant productivity. Initially, many of the forestry<br />

species evaluated had negative allelopathic effects on food and fodder<br />

crops, but in the 1980s research was begun to identify forestry species<br />

that had beneficial, neutral, or selective effects on companion crop<br />

plants. Early research grew out of observations of poor regeneration<br />

of forest species, crop damage, yield reductions, replant problems<br />

for tree crops, occurrence of weed-free zones, and other related<br />

changes in patterns of vegetation. Our purpose here is to introduce<br />

the concept of allelopathy, cite specific examples, and to mention<br />

potential applications as an alternative weed management strategy.<br />

Commonly cited effects of allelopathy include reduced seed germination<br />

and seedling growth. Like synthetic herbicides, there is no common<br />

mode of action or physiological target site for all allelochemicals.<br />

However, known sites of action for some allelochemicals include cell<br />

division, pollen germination, nutrient uptake, photosynthesis, and<br />

specific enzyme function. Allelopathic inhibition is complex and can<br />

involve the interaction of different classes of chemicals like phenolic<br />

compounds, flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids, steroids, carbohydrates,<br />

and amino acids, with mixtures of different compounds sometimes<br />

having a greater allelopahtic effect than individual compounds


ARTICLES 30<br />

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alone. Furthermore, physiological and environmental stresses,<br />

pests and diseases, solar radiation, herbicides, and less than optimal<br />

nutrient, moisture, and temperature levels can also affect allelopathic<br />

weed suppression. Different plant parts, including flowers, leaves,<br />

leaf litter and leaf mulch, stems, bark, roots, soil and soil leachates<br />

and their derived compounds, can have allelopathic activity that<br />

varies over a growing season. Allelopathic chemicals can also persist<br />

in soil, affecting both neighboring plants as well as those planted in<br />

succession. Although derived from plants, allelochemicals may be more<br />

biodegradable than traditional herbicides but may also have undesirable<br />

effects on non-target species, necessitating ecological studies before<br />

widespread use (Kruse and Strandberg 2000 and Quisumbing 1978).<br />

METHODOLOGY<br />

Talahib leaves were extracted using three organic<br />

solvents (petroleum ether, chloroform, and ethanol).


ARTICLES 31<br />

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Phytochemical screenings were done to find the constituents that made<br />

up the extracts. Extracts were then treated to test plants (raddish and<br />

pechay) to evaluate for allelopathic activity of inhibition and toxicity.<br />

Collection and Identification<br />

Talabib leaves were collected at Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, Metro Manila.<br />

For identification purposes, samples were sent to the Deaprtment of<br />

Botany of the National Museum.<br />

Preparation of Plant Material for Extraction<br />

Carefully selected fresh talahib were washed and cut into smaller<br />

pieces with the use of blender. The blended grass was weighed and<br />

soaked in petroleum ether for 2 days. Extract was filtered and residue<br />

is dried until no more scent of the solvent was observed. The same<br />

procedure was used to get the extracts using the other solvents<br />

(chloroform and ethanol).<br />

Phytochemical screening of the plant (Cantoria, 1994)<br />

A. Screening for Alkaloids<br />

Procedure:<br />

Seventy milliliters of the 80% ethanolic extract was<br />

evaporated to dryness on a steam bath and the residue was


ARTICLES 32<br />

______________________________________________________________<br />

dissolved in 7mL of 1% hydrochloric acid, aided by warming on<br />

the steam bath for 1 or 2 min. The residue was cooled, filtered and<br />

the volume of filtrate was adjusted to seven milliliters by washing<br />

the residue on the filter paper with a sufficient quantity of one<br />

percent hydrochloric acid. Few grains of powdered sodium chloride<br />

were added to the filtrate before shaking and then refiltered.<br />

One milliliter of the filtrate was placed into each of four small test<br />

tubes. Three drops of modified Mayer’s reagent (mercury potassium<br />

iodide TS), Valser’s reagent (mercury iodide TS), Wagner’s reagent<br />

(iodine and potassium Iodide TS), Bouchardat’s reagent (2% iodine in a<br />

4% solution of potassium iodide) were added to each of the four small<br />

test tubes.<br />

B. Screening for Unsaturated Sterols and Triterpenes<br />

Procedure:<br />

Thirty milliliters of the 80% ethanolic extract were evaporated<br />

to dryness in a water bath. The residue was cooled to room<br />

temperature and 15mL of light petroleum ether was added<br />

(30-60ºC) and then it was mixed well and filtered. Additional<br />

volumes of petroleum ether can be repeated if needed until the


ARTICLES 33<br />

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last volume of petroleum ether is colorless. Ethereal filtrates were<br />

combined and the defatted residue was set aside for screening of<br />

flavonoids and leucoanthocyanins. The combined ethereal filtrates<br />

were evaporated to dryness and the residue was dissolved to fifteen<br />

milliliters of chloroform. Chloroformic solution was dried over<br />

anhydrous sodium sulfate, filtered, and the filtrate is divided equally<br />

into three dry test tubes, which were tested using the following tests: (1)<br />

Liebermann-Burchard Test, (2) Salkowski Test and (3) Color Control.<br />

C. Screening for Flavonoids and Leucoanthocyanins<br />

Procedure:<br />

Defatted residue was dissolved in 30 mL of 50% ethanol, filtered,<br />

and placed 1-2 of the filtrate in each of three semi micro test tube. 0.5 mL<br />

of concentrated hydrochloric acid was added to the first test tube and<br />

warm in a steam bath for about five minutes to observe color changes.<br />

The development of a red-violet color is indicative of the presence of<br />

leucoanthocyanins. The test solution was allowed to stand at room<br />

temperature for 1 hour before recording the result as negative because<br />

production of color was slow.


ARTICLES 34<br />

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The same amount of concentrated hydrochloric acid with 3-4<br />

magnesium turnings was added to the second test tube. It was carefully<br />

observed within 10 min for color change (to green, red, etc.) to indicate<br />

the presence of flavonoids. Test tube number 3 served as a control.<br />

D. Screening for Saponins<br />

Procedure:<br />

Thirty milliliters of the 80% ethanolic plant extract was evaporated<br />

on a steam bath. 30 mL of hot saline solution was added to the residue,<br />

stirred to mix well, and continued to heat on a steam bath for 1-2<br />

min. 2g of magnesium oxide was added, mixed by stirring for 5 min.<br />

The mixture was filtered, fresh saline solution was added so that the<br />

final filtrate measured 20 mL. The filtrate was divided into two equal<br />

portions.<br />

Two to three drops of the saline extractive was dropped on top<br />

of one area of a blood agar plate. To another area of the same plate, all<br />

an equal volume of saline solution as control. Formulation of a clear<br />

zone around the area of the test solution and that of the control saline<br />

solution is observed at the end of 3, 10, 15, 30 min to ensure positive<br />

hemolysis.


ARTICLES 35<br />

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Ten milliliters of the saline extractive was quantitatively transferred to<br />

a 20 ml test tube was quantitatively transfer, stoppered, and shaken<br />

vigorously. Foam height was measured after letting it stand for 3 min<br />

using a metric ruler. At the end of 30 min, foam height is once more<br />

measured.<br />

E. Screening for Anthraquinone Heterosides<br />

Procedure:<br />

1. Borntrager Test – 5 ml of the 80% ethanolic extract<br />

was transferred to an evaporating dish and dried<br />

over a steam bath. The residue in the evaporating<br />

dish was defatted with 5-10 ml of petroleum ether.<br />

Fifty milliliters of distilled water is added to the<br />

defatted residue, mixed well, and the two phases<br />

were allowed to separate. The aqueous layer (bottom<br />

layer) was drained and mixed well and was observed<br />

for color changes.<br />

2. Modified Borntrager Test – 0.3g of the plant<br />

powder with 10 ml of 0.5 N potassium hydroxide<br />

and 1 ml of diluted hydrogen


ARTICLES 36<br />

______________________________________________________________<br />

peroxide for 10 min was heated on a steam bath.<br />

5 ml of the solution was cooled, filtered and acidified<br />

by adding approximately 10 drops of glacial acetic<br />

acid. The pH of the solution was checked by<br />

pHydrion indicator paper and the acidified solution<br />

was transferred to a small separatory funnel and<br />

partitioned with 10 ml of benzene. Filter the benzene<br />

phase was filtered and 5 ml was transferred to a test<br />

tube containing 2.5 ml of ammonia TS. Benzene<br />

phase is mix well and observed for color changes.<br />

G. Screening for Tannins and Phenolic Compounds<br />

Procedure:<br />

One hundred milliliters of the 80% ethanolic extract (from<br />

section A) was evaporated to dryness on a steam bath. After drying,<br />

the evaporating dish was removed from the steam bath and 25 of hot<br />

distilled water is added to the residue. The residue is mixed well with<br />

a stirring rod and allowed to cool to room temperature simultaneously.<br />

The coolest extract was centrifugated for several minutes and the upper<br />

half is decanted and transferred from each tube used. Three to four drops<br />

of 10% sodium chloride solution is added to the decanted supernatant &


ARTICLES 37<br />

______________________________________________________________<br />

and 3 ml of the filtrate was transferred to three semi-micro test tubes.<br />

Two to three drops of a 1% gelatin is added to the first test tube,<br />

same amount of gelatin-salt(1% gelatin and 10% sodium chloride) is<br />

added on the second test tube and same amount of ferric chloride is<br />

also added to the third test tube.<br />

Evaluation of Allelochemic Property<br />

Three talahib extracts will be evaluated: petroleum ether,<br />

chloroform, and ethanol. Fifty (50) viable seeds of raddish and pechay<br />

will be placed on eight petri dishes laid in a moisture tissue paper.<br />

The tissue paper from six of the eight petri dishes will be moisten<br />

with petroleum ether extract of talahib and this will serve as the three<br />

replicates. Two of them will be used as a control and will be moisten only<br />

with water. The treated seeds of raddish and pechay with petroleum<br />

ether extract will be observed for seed germination and parameters<br />

for growth and development will be determined as compared to the<br />

untreated control. This process will be repeated using chloroform and<br />

ethanol extracts of the plant.


ARTICLES 38<br />

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Presentation, Analysis and Interpretation of Data<br />

These are the only test that shows positive result after<br />

phytochemical screening was done on the three extract.<br />

Table 1. Summary of Phytochemical Screening result<br />

TEST PERFORMED IDEAL RESULT PETROLEUM<br />

ACTUAL RESULT<br />

CHLOROFORM ETHANOL<br />

ETHER ETRACT EXTRACT<br />

EXTRACT<br />

Screening for Alkaloids Formation of precipitate (-) precipitate (-) precipitate (-) precipitate<br />

Screening for Unsaturated<br />

Sterols and Triterpene<br />

(+) change in color (-) change in color (-) change in color (-) change in color<br />

Screening for Saponins (+) hemolysis<br />

(+) froth<br />

Screening for Flavonoids and<br />

Leukoanthocyanin<br />

Screening for<br />

Anthraquinone Heterosides<br />

Screening for Phenolic<br />

Compounds<br />

(+) hemolysis<br />

(-) froth<br />

(+) hemolysis<br />

(-) froth<br />

(+) hemolysis<br />

(-) froth<br />

(+) change in color (+) change in color (+) change in color (+) change in color<br />

(+) change in color (+) change in color (+) change in color (+) change in color<br />

(+) change in color (+) change in color<br />

Table 1 shows positive results in flavonoids, saponins, phenolic<br />

compounds (ethanol extract only) indicating the presence of these<br />

compounds in the extracts while negative results in alkaloid,<br />

unsaturated sterols and triterpene, flavonoids and leukoanthocyanin,<br />

and anthraquinone heterosides indicating the absence of these<br />

compounds.


ARTICLES 39<br />

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Table 2. Summary of Evaluation of Allelochemic Activity result<br />

Type of<br />

Extract<br />

Petroleum<br />

ether<br />

• Day 1<br />

• Day 5<br />

• Day 7<br />

Chloroform<br />

• Day 1<br />

• Day 5<br />

• Day 7<br />

Ethanol<br />

• Day 1<br />

• Day 5<br />

• Day 7<br />

Type of<br />

Extract<br />

Petroleum<br />

ether<br />

• Day 1<br />

• Day 5<br />

• Day 7<br />

Chloroform<br />

• Day 1<br />

• Day 5<br />

• Day 7<br />

Ethanol<br />

• Day 1<br />

• Day 5<br />

• Day 7<br />

Control<br />

(+)<br />

(+++)<br />

(+++)<br />

(-)<br />

(+++)<br />

(+++)<br />

(-)<br />

(+++)<br />

(+++)<br />

Control<br />

(+)<br />

(+++)<br />

(+++)<br />

(-)<br />

(-)<br />

(-)<br />

(-)<br />

(-)<br />

(-)<br />

Replicate<br />

1<br />

(+)<br />

(++)<br />

(++)<br />

(-)<br />

(-)<br />

(-)<br />

(-)<br />

(-)<br />

(-)<br />

Replicate<br />

1<br />

(+)<br />

(++)<br />

(++)<br />

(-)<br />

(-)<br />

(-)<br />

(-)<br />

(-)<br />

(-)<br />

Radish<br />

Pechay<br />

Replicate<br />

2<br />

(+)<br />

(++)<br />

(++)<br />

(-)<br />

(-)<br />

(-)<br />

(-)<br />

(-)<br />

(-)<br />

Replicate<br />

2<br />

(+)<br />

(++)<br />

(++)<br />

(-)<br />

(-)<br />

(-)<br />

Replicate<br />

3<br />

(+)<br />

(++)<br />

(++)<br />

(-)<br />

(-)<br />

(-)<br />

(-)<br />

(-)<br />

(-)<br />

Replicate<br />

3<br />

(+)<br />

(++)<br />

(++)<br />

Legend:<br />

(-) = no seeds germinate<br />

(+) = seeds germinate<br />

(++) = seeds germinate but not same as the control<br />

(+++) = seeds germinate same as the control (leaves developed and stems elongated)<br />

Based on the data, only petroleum ether extracts show inhibition of<br />

growth while chloroform and ethanol extracts show toxicity effect.<br />

(-)<br />

(-)<br />

(-)<br />

(-)<br />

(-)<br />

(-)<br />

(-)<br />

(-)<br />

(-)


ARTICLES 40<br />

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Conclusion, and Recommendations<br />

In all evaluation described above, Talahib does exhibit allelopathic<br />

and toxicity activity and can play a potential role in the management of<br />

unwanted weeds in the agroecosystem. There is enough evidence in the<br />

literature supporting its effectiveness to expand the use of allelopathy<br />

for the benefit of weed inhibition and crop production. The replacement<br />

of costly and damaging synthetic agrichemicals is certainly a goal of a<br />

sustainable agriculture. But it is doubtful that strict replacement will<br />

provide the incentive or the means by which allelopathy will find<br />

its greatest use in agroecosystem management. A follow up study is<br />

recommended to focus on the chemical constituents that cause growth<br />

inhibition and toxicity to tested crops.<br />

BIBLIOGRAPHY<br />

Barnes, J. P., Putnam, A. R, & Burke, B. A. 1986. Allelopathic<br />

activity of Rye (Secale cereal L.). “The Science of Allelopathy”. Wiley<br />

Interscience, New York. pp. 271-278<br />

Brown, B. J.; Hanson, M. H.; Liverman, D. M.; Merideth, R. W.<br />

Jr. 1987. Global Sustainability: Towards Definition. Environmental<br />

Management. pp. 713-719


ARTICLES 41<br />

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Gliessman, S. R. 1983. Allelopathic Interactions in Crop-weed<br />

Mixtures: Applications for Weed Management. J. Chem. Ecol., 9, 991-999<br />

Cantoria, M. C. 1994. Selected Topics in Pharmacognosy, National<br />

Academy of Science and Technology, Metro Manila, xxi, 484<br />

Quisumbing, E., Medicinal Plants of the Philippines, 1978, Katha<br />

Publishing Co., Inc., Quezon City, iv, 1262p.


ARTICLES 42<br />

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THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PUMICE WITH LIQUID DETERGENT<br />

IN POLISHING HEAT-CURED ACRYLIC RESINS<br />

Danica Ana C. Velasco and Miguel Atom G. Kobayashi<br />

THESIS ADVISOR: DR. MACARIO A. FADRIGALAN IV<br />

ABSTRACT<br />

Since the pumice will not adhere between the surface of the acrylic<br />

and the lathe machine, a matrix is needed while polishing. Liquid<br />

detergent is used as a matrix to hold the pumice in longer contact while<br />

polishing compared to water. The use of liquid detergent mixed with<br />

pumice was tested and evaluated through SEM to view closely the<br />

surface of the acrylic after polishing with the said slurry to check its<br />

effectiveness.<br />

Results showed a significant difference on the surface of the heat-cured<br />

acrylic resin polished with pumice and liquid detergent as compared with<br />

that of the one polished with water and pumice. Photographically, the image<br />

obtained from the SEM revealed shallower serrations on the former and deeper<br />

serrations on the latter. This was further supported by statistical analysis<br />

using one-way ANOVA to prove the effectiveness of the use of liquid detergent<br />

and pumice in polishing heat-cured acrylic resins.<br />

INTRODUCTION<br />

Acrylic resin in Dentistry is one of the materials used to<br />

construct complete dentures and removable partial dentures.<br />

It serves as the denture bases of these prostheses where the<br />

artificial teeth are embedded. It consists of a powder and liquid,


ARTICLES 43<br />

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which when mixed, will produce a doughy material that is placed in<br />

a mold to create the shape of the base of the dentures. There are three<br />

kinds of acrylic resin based on the induction or the initiation period,<br />

or the manner of how it sets: (1) self-cured or the chemically activated;<br />

(2) heat-cured or the heat activated; and (3) the light activated resin.<br />

The main difference of these three is in the hardening process. In<br />

the self-curing or the chemically activated acrylic resin, it hardens by<br />

means of chemical setting. This is usually used as temporary denture<br />

bases, trial denture bases, and fabricating individual trays. The heat-<br />

cured acrylic resin on the other hand, needs to be placed in boiling<br />

water in order for the material to harden. This is usually used in<br />

final denture bases because it is more temperature stable and more<br />

durable than the self cured resin. The light activated resin uses visible<br />

light for it to harden, usually used in fabricating individual trays.<br />

Heat-cured resin is somewhat superior to the self-cured<br />

when used as denture bases. Microscopically, the heat-cured<br />

resin is less porous than that of the self-cured. These porosities<br />

can trap bacteria and food debris that can cause staining of the


ARTICLES 44<br />

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denture base with accompanying unpleasant taste and odor. Because<br />

of this, color stability of the heat-cured is better than self-cured resin.<br />

Also, heat-cured resin exhibits less distortion, less monomer content,<br />

and it is much stronger than the self-cured, making it the material of<br />

choice for final denture bases.<br />

Regardless of how the acrylic resin sets, it usually has rough and<br />

dull surfaces. Polishing these surfaces is necessary to prevent oral<br />

tissue irritation and bacterial growth on the surfaces of the dentures<br />

rendering it unhygienic for the patient to use.<br />

The conventional way of polishing acrylics according to<br />

Nallaswamy (2003) is with the use of pumice (powder) mixed with<br />

water. This process produces “slurry”, which will be applied on the<br />

surface of the acrylic that will be polished. A motor with rag rotating<br />

at a low speed will contact the acrylic and will polish the surface. There<br />

are different ways on how acrylic resins can be polished. Other authors<br />

would suggest the use of different pumice, stones, and rags to obtain a<br />

well-polished surface.<br />

In EAC School of Dentistry, student clinicians are<br />

accustomed with the use of liquid detergent mixed with pumice<br />

powder to polish their acrylic denture bases. The said practice<br />

was passed on from the upper clinicians to lower clinicians,


ARTICLES 45<br />

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will render the surface of the acrylic smoother. This prompted the<br />

researchers to conduct the present study.<br />

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM<br />

This study determined the effectiveness of liquid detergent mixed<br />

with pumice in polishing heat-cured acrylic resin. Specifically, it sought<br />

answers to the following:<br />

1) Is there a significant difference between the use of liquid<br />

detergent or water mixed with pumice in polishing heat-<br />

cured acrylic resin?<br />

2) Which of the two slurries will give a smoother surface on<br />

heat-cured acrylic resins?<br />

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY<br />

The findings of this study may be helpful and advantageous to the<br />

following:<br />

1) To the clinicians since polishing of the acrylic resin will be easier<br />

to do and will take less time, thus the slurry that will be used becomes<br />

effective in giving surface smoothness to the acrylic resin. Likewise, it is<br />

cost saving since they will no longer seek the help of dental laboratories<br />

to achieve an ideal smoothness to the surface of their dentures.


ARTICLES 46<br />

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2) To the patients since having a denture with a well-polished<br />

surface will be to their advantage because lesser bacteria<br />

will adhere to the surface of their dentures. The dentures<br />

will be more hygienic to use and cleaning the dentures will<br />

be easier. Tissue irritation will also be prevented since they<br />

are wearing a denture with a surface that is smooth and<br />

friendly to their oral cavity.<br />

3) To the dental technology students since results from this<br />

study will serve as additional knowledge particularly in<br />

techniques of polishing heat-cured acrylic resins.<br />

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK<br />

Fine grain pumice is used as an abrasive for acrylic resins to smoothen<br />

its surface. But pumice alone will not adhere to the surface of the acrylic<br />

during polishing with the lathe machine. A matrix is needed to keep the<br />

pumice in longer contact between the rotating rag and the surface of the<br />

acrylic. The use of liquid detergent serves as a matrix that will hold the<br />

pumice in place for a longer time while polishing, compared to water.<br />

The effectiveness of the liquid detergent as a matrix will be tested and<br />

evaluated through the use of a scanning electron microscope to view<br />

closely the surface rendered after polishing with the said slurry.


ARTICLES 47<br />

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Figure 1. Conceptual Paradigm<br />

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE<br />

Polymers, more commonly termed as plastics, are used in prosthetic<br />

dentistry. The acrylic resin, whether chemically cured or heat cured<br />

represent 95% of the plastics used in prosthetics, finding their way as<br />

a complete or partial denture base to support artificial teeth . One of<br />

the major problems experienced with acrylic resin denture is porosity<br />

brought about by manufacturing processes (www.encyclopedia.com).<br />

Prostheses to be seated on the oral cavity should present smooth and<br />

polished surfaces; retain less organic debris; offer less risk of microbial<br />

imbalance, appearance of caries, periodontal disease,


ARTICLES 48<br />

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oral sensitivity, or stomatitis; and favor oral<br />

hygiene, the article added.<br />

Manapilil (2001) states that abrasive materials and instruments<br />

are designed according to their grits and bonding. Bonded abrasives<br />

consists of abraded particles that are incorporated through a binder to<br />

form grinding tools such as points, wheels and separating disk and other<br />

shapes. The type of bonding method employed for the abrasive greatly<br />

affects the grinding behavior of the tool on the substrate. Bonded abrasives<br />

that tend to disintegrate rapidly against a substrate are too weak.<br />

An ideal binder holds the abrasive particles in the tool sufficiently<br />

long enough to cut, grind, or polish the substrate; yet release the<br />

particle before its cutting efficiency is lost. Binders for abrasives are<br />

specifically designed to prevent particle loss rather to degrade at<br />

certain point and release the particles. Other forms of abrasives are<br />

coated; they are fabricated by securing particles to a flexible backing<br />

material (plastic or heavy duty paper) with a suitable adhesive.<br />

Natural abrasives used in Dentistry include Arkansas<br />

stone, chalk, corundum, diamond, emery, garnet, pumice,<br />

quartz, sand, Tripoli and zirconium silicate. Pumice is a light-<br />

gray, highly siliceous material produced from volcanic activity.


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Flour of pumice is an extremely fine grained volcanic rock<br />

derivative from Italy and is used polishing tooth enamel,<br />

gold foil, dental amalgam and acrylic resin. It is very<br />

fragile and breaks apart quiet easily into small particles.<br />

In a research study conducted by Ulyusoy, et al. (1996), it<br />

found that the best surface finish is obtained when abrasive stones;<br />

coarse, medium, and fine abrasive disks; rotating felt cone with<br />

pumice slurry; and rotating soft brush with chalk powder are used<br />

progressively. If one of the step is neglected, undesirable<br />

sequelae of roughness is produced on the acrylic resin surfaces<br />

Various studies have also been conducted to determine the surface<br />

roughness of acrylic resin material (Sofou and Owall, 1996). The study<br />

evaluated three methods of polishing on acrylic denture base materials.<br />

Specimens of three commercial heat-cured acrylic resin materials<br />

were finished using burs, sandpaper discs and rubber wheels, and<br />

polished with polishing soap, paste or by application of a UV-light-<br />

activated resin sealant. The resulting surface roughness was examined<br />

by scanning electron microscopy and measured by means of a stylus<br />

profile Perthometer. It was concluded further that polishing paste<br />

and UV-light activated resin sealant were more and equally effective


ARTICLES 50<br />

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in reducing surface roughness compared to polishing soap.<br />

In the study conducted by Maalhagh-Fard, et al (2003), which<br />

evaluated the effects of two finishing techniques and pumice polishing<br />

on the surface roughness of eight different provisional materials,<br />

both PMMA based and composite based. Results from this study<br />

revealed that pumice application did not smooth the surface finish<br />

for all materials. It was further concluded that the different types of<br />

provisional materials required finishing techniques to produce the<br />

smoothest finishes.<br />

Other study conducted by Samson (1990) concluded that there<br />

was no significant difference in terms of porosities produced in heat-<br />

cured acrylic resin using two different curing techniques. In this study,<br />

the researcher compared curing acrylic resin through a rapid curing<br />

technique and the use of a pressure cooker. It has been proven that<br />

whether the resin was cured in a short time using a pressure cooker or<br />

the conventional way using rapid cure technique, porosities found on<br />

the outer and inner part of the sample were the same. To gather data<br />

for this study, the researcher used magnifying glass to examine the<br />

porosities produced in the acrylic resin blocks after it has been cured.<br />

Studies done in the Philippines about surface roughness<br />

were not found, especially those that concentrate on the use of


ARTICLES 51<br />

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different types of slurry for polishing the surface of an acrylic resin.<br />

METHODOLOGY<br />

This study made use of an experimental design. Fifteen samples<br />

of processed acrylic blocks were used, five of which served as control<br />

samples, which were unpolished with the prepared slurry. The<br />

remaining ten samples (the experimental group) were divided into<br />

two and subjected to two different slurries, water and pumice and the<br />

combination of water, pumice and dishwashing liquid for polishing<br />

purposes.<br />

Processing/Polishing of Acrylic Blocks<br />

The acrylic blocks were first trimmed to remove any excess using<br />

a micromotor and bullet-shaped carbide acrylic trimmer bur. Green<br />

stone bur was also used to trim and smoothen the surface a little. The<br />

samples were further trimmed and manually finished using sandpapers<br />

with three different grits; grit 600 was used for seven minutes, grit<br />

1200 for five minutes, and grit 2500 for four minutes, respectively.<br />

The use of sandpaper was timed to assure all the acrylic blocks were<br />

finished in the same manner. The direction of the movements of


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the sand paper was random so that the surface analyzed will simulate<br />

the real conditions in denture base fabrication. Only one surface was<br />

trimmed and smoothened. Using a disc-shaped bur, each block was<br />

sectioned into three to make one-inch by one-inch block until thirty<br />

(30) samples were produced. These thirty samples were randomly<br />

divided into three groups, which are the control group, group A,<br />

and group B. Five specimens per group were utilized in this study.<br />

Likewise, ten (10) wax molds of 1” height x 3” length x<br />

2ply thickness were prepared and placed in flasks. Petroleum jelly was<br />

applied on the inside surface of the flask. A mixture of plaster of Paris<br />

and water was poured in the flask and the wax mold for the acrylic<br />

block pushing it enough to submerge a part of it in the plaster of Paris.<br />

The plaster of Paris is allowed to set before another coat of separating<br />

medium was applied. The flask was covered and pressed using the<br />

presser with enough pressure to ensure that the plaster of Paris flowed<br />

evenly. Wax elimination followed after the plaster of Paris had set.<br />

The first pressed of flask had cellophane in between<br />

and pressed using hydraulic presser under 1,500-2,500 psi, until<br />

the excess ceased to exit. The upper and lower member of the<br />

flask was removed and excess resin was trimmed using a sharp


ARTICLES 53<br />

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instrument. The flask was again covered and subjected to the same<br />

amount of pressure with the hydraulic presser. The flask was then<br />

placed in a pan with tap water and allowed to boil within thirty<br />

minutes and added another twenty to thirty minutes after boiling<br />

point to allow curing of the acrylic resin. The flask was removed from<br />

the pan and bench cooled in room temperature for deflasking. When<br />

the flask was cool enough, the acrylic blocks were carefully removed.<br />

The first slurry was prepared by mixing water and fine<br />

dental pumice on a ratio of 10 grams of pumice is to 7 ml of water.<br />

Each specimen was polished on a wet rotating rag for three (3) minutes<br />

with intermittent contact to prevent abrasion of the surface of the<br />

acrylic and placement of the slurry on the surface from time to time<br />

to prevent friction and heat build up between the rag and the acrylic.<br />

This was done for the entire specimen included in group A.<br />

On a separate bowl, the second slurry was prepared<br />

by mixing 6 ml of liquid detergent and 10 grams of pumice.<br />

The same procedure was done for Group B. Three minutes of<br />

intermittent contact with the wet rotating rag, and placement<br />

of the slurry to the surface of the acrylic from time to time.


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The specimens were thoroughly washed under running water to<br />

remove any debris from the slurry and were dried completely using<br />

paper towel. The specimens were then covered with plastic wrap to<br />

prevent external damage that may bias the data.<br />

Testing the Surface Roughness of the Acrylic Blocks<br />

A piece of each samples were cut and placed on the<br />

sample holder and were sputtered with Gold in a JEOL JFC-1200 Fine<br />

Coater for 45 seconds and read with JEOL JSM-5310 Scanning Electron<br />

Microscope. The coated samples were placed inside the Scanning<br />

Electron Microscope and were tilted to 60 degrees. Image captured<br />

was under 3,500 magnification and were transferred to a computer<br />

for measurement. Number and depth of serrations for each viewed<br />

samples were identified recorded.<br />

Statistical Treatment of Data<br />

After pertinent data were gathered, organized, and<br />

tabulated, they were subjected to statistical analysis. Analysis<br />

of Variance (ANOVA) was used to determine the significant<br />

difference between the use of water and liquid detergent mixed<br />

with pumice, Interclass Correlation (rtt) to determine the


ARTICLES 55<br />

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reliability of the experiment based on the number of samples, and<br />

Arithmetic Mean, Standard Deviation, and 95% Confidence Interval<br />

to determine which of the two polishing technique is more effective.<br />

PRESENTATION, INTERPRETATION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA<br />

Analysis of the data shows that there is a significant difference<br />

between the use of water and liquid detergent mixed with pumice to<br />

the surface of the acrylic resin, as revealed by the computed F-value<br />

of 61.68 (Table 1), which exceeds the critical value of 3.05 at the 0.05<br />

level of significance of 2 and 172 degrees of freedom (df). This implies<br />

that water and liquid detergent mixed with pumice have considerable<br />

diverse effect to the surface roughness of each of the acrylic resin blocks.<br />

Table 1. Analysis of Variance between Control Group and<br />

Experimental Groups<br />

Source of<br />

Variation<br />

Treatment<br />

(Between<br />

Groups)<br />

Error<br />

(Within<br />

Groups)<br />

Sum of<br />

Squares<br />

df<br />

Mean<br />

Square<br />

Tabular<br />

Value<br />

29.95 2 14.98 3.05 61.68<br />

41.76 172 0.2428<br />

Total 71.71 174<br />

F-ratio Decision<br />

P


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Table 2 shows the reliability of the experiment and the standard<br />

of error of measurement of the two polishing techniques using<br />

water and liquid detergent mixed with pumice. Analysis of the<br />

data shows that both polishing techniques had a high reliability<br />

as revealed by the computed reliability, rtt and standard of error<br />

of measurement of 0.95 and 0.12, respectively. This implies that<br />

the smaller the stand ard of error of measurement the more<br />

reliable the test. In its simplest form, reliability means consistency.<br />

Table 2. Reliability of Polishing Techniques between Control<br />

and Experimental Groups<br />

Source of<br />

Variation<br />

Treatment<br />

(Between<br />

Groups)<br />

Error<br />

(Within<br />

Groups)<br />

Sum of<br />

Squares<br />

Df<br />

Mean<br />

Square<br />

Tabular<br />

Value<br />

29.95 2 14.98 3.05<br />

41.76 172 0.2428<br />

Total 71.71 174<br />

Decision Decision<br />

Highly<br />

Reliable<br />

The comparative analysis of arithmetic mean, standard deviation<br />

and other variables of the surface roughness of the heat-cured acrylic resin<br />

blocks polished between water and liquid detergent mixed with pumice<br />

on unpolished acrylic resin blocks is shown in Table 3 below. Among the<br />

three groups, detergents mixed with pumice had the lowest degree of<br />

0.12


ARTICLES 57<br />

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roughness as revealed by highest and lowest depth of scratches to<br />

the exterior of acrylic resin of 1.25 µm and 0.250 µm respectively.<br />

This is further supported by the computed 95% confidence interval<br />

for mean of 0.4939 µm thru 0.7185 µm and the computed median of<br />

0.588 µm. However, the standard deviation (0.338 µm) and arithmetic<br />

mean (0.829 µm) of water mixed with pumice are slightly higher than<br />

detergent mixed with pumice of 0.178 µm and 0.606 µm respectively.<br />

This implies that detergent mixed with pumice is more effective in<br />

reducing the surface coarseness to the acrylic resin than water mixed<br />

with pumice. This could be attributed to the following reasons:<br />

1. The highest and the lowest depth of scratches<br />

are very minimal as compared to water mixed with<br />

pumice.<br />

2. The 95% confidence interval for mean is slightly<br />

lower than water mixed with pumice which implies<br />

that the depth of scratches on the surface of the<br />

acrylic resin must not be smaller than 0.4939 µm but<br />

not larger than 0.7185 µm.<br />

3. The median, which is the midpoint of a distribution,<br />

is small.


ARTICLES 58<br />

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4. Detergent mixed with pumice do not exhibit variability.<br />

Table 3. Analysis of the surface roughness between Control and<br />

Experimental Groups<br />

Variables Control Group Pumice+Water Pumice+Detergent<br />

Highest Depth 5.01 µm 1.82 µm 1.25 µm<br />

Lowest Depth 0.593 µm 0.340 µm 0.250 µm<br />

95% Confidence 1.433µm thru 0.6859µm thru 0.4939µm thru<br />

Interval<br />

1.697µm<br />

0.9727µm<br />

0.7185µm<br />

Median 1.39 µm 0.753 µm 0.588 µm<br />

Mean 1.57 µm 0.829 µm 0.606 µm<br />

Standard<br />

Deviation<br />

0.804 µm 0.338 µm 0.178 µm<br />

SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS<br />

After the gathered data were subjected to statistical analysis, the<br />

researchers came up with the following findings:<br />

1. The highest depth of serration for the control group is<br />

5.01μm. The blocks polished with water and pumice<br />

yielded a higher value of 1.82μm compared to that of the<br />

blocks polished with pumice and liquid detergent which is<br />

1.25μm.<br />

2. The lowest depth of serration for the control group is<br />

0.593μm. The blocks polished with water and pumice<br />

yielded a higher value of 0.340μm compared to that of the<br />

blocks polished with pumice and liquid detergent, which is<br />

0.250μm.


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3. The two polishing techniques yielded significant different<br />

values for the mean depth of serrations. The mean depth of<br />

serration for the blocks polished with water and pumice is<br />

higher which is 0.829μm while that of the blocks polished<br />

with pumice and liquid detergent is 0.606μm. There is a<br />

two-fold decrease compared to that of the control group,<br />

which exhibited showed mean depth of 1.57μm.<br />

4. At 95% confidence interval for mean, the specimens<br />

polished with pumice and water had serrations not<br />

shallower than 0.6859μm but not deeper than 0.9727μm.<br />

The specimens polished with pumice and liquid detergent<br />

revealed serrations of the following interval from 0.4949μm<br />

to 0.7185μm.<br />

5. Fischer’s test showed a value of 61.68, which exceeded the<br />

critical value of 3.05 rendering the diverse effect of the<br />

two polishing techniques to the surface of the heat-cured<br />

acrylic resin significant.<br />

6. Reliability test showed a high value of 0.95 with standard<br />

error of measurement of 0.12 indicating that the experiment<br />

is consistent.


ARTICLES 60<br />

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7. In addition, scanning electron microscopy images revealed<br />

Conclusion<br />

decreased depth of roughness from the control group to<br />

the specimens polished with water and pumice and to the<br />

group of specimens polished with water and liquid<br />

detergent.<br />

Within the limitations of this research study, based on the present<br />

methodology and statistical analysis the following conclusions were<br />

drawn:<br />

1. There is a significant decrease in the depth of serrations<br />

thus on the surface roughness of the heat-cured acrylic<br />

resin blocks when polished with water and pumice and<br />

liquid detergent and pumice. The coarse serrations have<br />

been obliterated and replaced by finer serrations.<br />

2. Among the two polishing method, polishing with liquid<br />

detergent and pumice gave a smoother finish to the polished<br />

surface of the heat-cured acrylic resin blocks.


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Recommendations<br />

The present recommends the following:<br />

1. An evaluative study using different ratios and<br />

proportions of pumice and liquid detergent to give<br />

a smoother finish to the acrylic denture surface.<br />

2. Utilization of other brands of soaps or liquid<br />

detergents, which could act as a matrix for the<br />

pumice.<br />

3. Grain size of the pumice used can also be modified.<br />

B I B L I O G R A P H Y<br />

Alves, Patricia Valeria Milanezi, et al. 2007. Surface Roughness of<br />

Acrylic Resins after Different Curing and Polishing Techniques.<br />

Angle Orthodontist.; 77: 528-531<br />

I.M. Watt. 1985. The Principles and Practice of Electron Microscopy.<br />

Cambridge University Press<br />

Hilgenberg, Segio Paulo, et al. 2008. Evaluation of Surface Physical<br />

Properties of Acrylic Resins for Provisional Prosthesis. Materials<br />

Research ; 11: 1516-1 439<br />

Maalhagh-Fard et al. 2003. Evaluation of Surface Finish and Polish of<br />

Eight Provisional Materials Using Acrylic Bur and Abrasive Disk<br />

With or Without Pumice<br />

Sofou, Emmanouil, Peutzfeldt and Owall. 2001. The Effect of Differing<br />

Polishing Techniques on the Surface Roughness of Acrylic Resin<br />

Materials.<br />

www.wikipedia.com


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IN-VITRO SENSITIVITY OF SARCOPTES SCABIEI TO<br />

MORINGA OLEIFERA (MALUNGAY) EXTRACTS<br />

AND VIRGIN COCONUT OIL<br />

(Research Proposal)<br />

INTRODUCTION<br />

Alvin A. Ayque, DVM<br />

Gerardo C. David, MS<br />

With the emphasis on organic drug therapies, there has been<br />

an increase in the number of products in the market today claiming<br />

to have therapeutic properties. In most of these products very little<br />

experimental data is available to support these claims.<br />

Scabies is a common problem in low income households where<br />

there is close contact among family members and their pet dogs. The<br />

practice of sharing towels, bed sheets and other personal belongings<br />

are also quite rampant.<br />

Scabies is an intensely pruritic disorder induced by the immune<br />

allergic response to infestation of the skin by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei.<br />

The drug of choice is oral Ivermectin and 5% Permethrin.


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STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM<br />

Limited effective treatment, coupled with recent observations of<br />

emerging drug resisitance to oral Ivermectin and 5% Permethrin, raise<br />

concerns regarding the future control of scabies, especially in severe<br />

cases and in endemic areas where repeated community treatment<br />

programs are in place. There is consequently an urgent need to develop<br />

and assess alternative therapeutic options, such as virgin coconut oil and<br />

Moringa olefeira. Active concentration levels will also be determined<br />

to ensure maximum utilization of resources.<br />

OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY<br />

This study will attempt to:<br />

1. Assess the in vitro acaricidal activity of virgin coconut oil<br />

and Moringa olefeira on the itch mite Sarcoptes scabiei<br />

2. Assess the in vitro synergistic acaricidal activity of virgin<br />

coconut oil and Moringa olefeira


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REVIEW OF LITERATURE<br />

Scabies or better known as “galis-aso” is caused by Sarcoptes<br />

scabiei. It is a contagious type of ectoparasitic skin diseases that caused<br />

intense itchiness or pruritus. (Belizario, V.Y. et al 2004). It is one of the<br />

common problems in many developing countries, like the Philippines,<br />

which is related also to poverty and over population. Most of the<br />

varieties of S. scabies that causes sarcoptic mites are found in dogs that<br />

also may have contact with humans that lead to burrowing in human<br />

skin. Current treatment for ordinary scabies consists of primarily of<br />

various topical creams as well as oral intake of ivermectin. The skin<br />

disease is very common among city dwellers especially along the<br />

crowded shanties where access to health care is inaccessible or very<br />

limited.<br />

At present most scabies are found among children who<br />

normally play with their common household pet dogs. Treatments<br />

as well as preventions are not provided especially to indigenous poor<br />

families, whose everyday spending are on meager food. Treatment for<br />

scabies is expensive.<br />

The DOH has launched many government health<br />

programs, and among them is the promotion on the use of


ARTICLES 65<br />

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traditional medicine, that would cater to the needs of the less<br />

fortunate families. The traditional use of medicinal plant to cure<br />

common ailment has been proven effective. Most of these are use<br />

as dietary supplement for everyday meals and among the most<br />

promising among them, is a lowly vegetable known as malungay.<br />

Moringa olefiera or commonly known as malungay, has<br />

been used mainly in the third world countries like the Philippines,<br />

to combat malnutrition especially among breast feeding mothers.<br />

A large volumes of this reports are found on both the scientific and<br />

the popular literature. (Funglie, L.J. 1999) and (Price, M.L. 1985).<br />

The most important benefit that can be derived from<br />

the use of Moringa is for the treatment or prevention of diseases<br />

or infection along with either as dietary supplement or topical<br />

administration of Moringa preparations like extract, decoctions,<br />

poultices, creams, oil, emollients, salves, powders, and porridges.<br />

(Palada, M.C. 1996). A number of this studies are countless, one<br />

such review is found in the article entitled “Moringa oleifera : A<br />

Review of the Medical Evidence for its Nutritional, Therapeutic


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and Propylactic properties. Part 1” authored by Jed W. Fahey<br />

of Johns Hopkins University. (Fahey, J.W. 2005). The author<br />

has provided the most comprehensive review of various<br />

studies on literature dealing with medicinal use of moringa.<br />

Among the scientific literature cited in the article is the<br />

use of morienga preparations of having an antibiotic properties,<br />

antimicrobial, anticancer, antitrypanosomal, antihypotensive,<br />

antispasmodic, antiulcer, anti-inflammatory, hypocholesterolemic and<br />

hypoglycemic activities and for considerable used in water purification<br />

by flocculation, sedimentation, antibiosis and even for reduction of<br />

Schistosome cercariae titer. However a lot of these studies have not been<br />

supported by clinical trials. In addition to the supported document on<br />

the medicinal use of moringa, there are claims, on the prescribed use of<br />

moringa on purgative and antiscabies properties, however, such claims<br />

has not been supported by scientific research. It is for this purpose<br />

that we endeavor to pursue research on such claim by traditions.


ARTICLES 67<br />

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EXPECTED OUTPUT<br />

This study will provide new insights on Moringa olefeira<br />

extract and virgin coconut oil for the treatment of scabies. Monitoring<br />

the scabies mite sensitivities will allow a more rational use of these<br />

compounds singly or in combination to minimize the development of<br />

drug resistance. The study will also provide a tool for the assessment of<br />

these novel compounds’ effective acaricidal concentrations.<br />

METHODOLOGY<br />

Research Design<br />

I. Preparation of Test Products<br />

1. At the Biology laboratory of the School of Science,<br />

<strong>Emilio</strong> <strong>Aguinaldo</strong> <strong>College</strong>, sample materials (leaves)<br />

of Moringa olefeira will be cut, dried, and weighed<br />

at 100 g and then extracted with ethanol, filtered,<br />

evaporated, and prepared for bioassay at<br />

concentrations of 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25%. Water<br />

extraction will also be done to compare it with the<br />

ethanol method.


ARTICLES 68<br />

______________________________________________________________<br />

2. Virgin coconut oil at concentrations of 5, 10, 15, 20,<br />

and 25% will also be prepared in the usual manner.<br />

3. Equal volumes of Moringa olefeira extract and<br />

virgin coconut oil will be combined and<br />

concentrations of 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25% will likewise<br />

be prepared.<br />

4. The common acaricides Ivermectin (100ug/g) and<br />

II. Data Collection Tool<br />

Permethrin (5%) will also be tested.<br />

1. Using #10 surgical blades, skin scrapings will be<br />

taken from dogs of different ages and sexes suffering<br />

from crusted scabies from various clinics, kennels,<br />

and dog pounds in Metro Manila.<br />

2. Skin scrapings will be placed in slides with a drop of<br />

distilled water and placed in protective containers<br />

for transport to the Biology laboratory, School of<br />

Science, <strong>Emilio</strong> <strong>Aguinaldo</strong> <strong>College</strong>.


ARTICLES 69<br />

______________________________________________________________<br />

Equipment<br />

4. The slides will be examined under 100-250 X<br />

magnification for the presence of larval nymphal<br />

instars and adult mites and the number of adult<br />

mites will be recorded.<br />

5. Ten to fifteen mites per slide will be used per test<br />

product and per concentration.<br />

6. Within three hours of collection, scabies mites<br />

will be placed in continuous direct contact with the<br />

virgin coconut oil, moringa ethanol extract, moringa<br />

water extract, control (distilled water), and acaricides<br />

and will be observed at regular intervals.<br />

1. Scissors<br />

2. Mortar and pestle<br />

3. Clean sand<br />

4. Filter paper, funnel and ring stand<br />

5. Screw cap bottles<br />

6. Medicine droppers<br />

7. Beakers<br />

8. Microscopes<br />

9. Glass slides<br />

10. #10 surgical


ARTICLES 70<br />

______________________________________________________________<br />

Statistical Tool<br />

Percentage of mites dead at regular intervals between 5<br />

minutes and 24 hours during continuous exposure to virgin coconut<br />

oil, moringa ethanol extract, moringa water extract, control, and test<br />

acaricides, will be measured.<br />

Results will be analyzed as interval survival data using Graph Pad<br />

Prism software using the log-rank test to examine the null hypothesis<br />

that the survival curves are identical.<br />

SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES (12 months)<br />

Activity Schedule<br />

1. Extraction & Preparation of<br />

Test Products<br />

June to July 2009<br />

2. Collection of Specimens,<br />

Testing & Observation<br />

August to November 2009<br />

3. Analysis & Interpretation December 2009 to February<br />

2010<br />

4. Writing of Research Paper March 2010<br />

5. Refinement of Research<br />

Paper<br />

April 2010<br />

6. Submission of Research<br />

Paper<br />

May 2010


ARTICLES 71<br />

______________________________________________________________<br />

BUDGETARY REQUIREMENT<br />

1. Research (3 units each teaching load equivalent 79,776<br />

1.1 Dr. Alvin A. Ayque (334/hr)<br />

334 x 3 = 1,002 x 4 = 4,008 x 12 48,096<br />

1.2 Gerardo C. David (220/hr)<br />

220 x 3 = 660 x 4 = 2,640 x 12 31,680<br />

2. Supplies 2,200<br />

2.1. Bond paper (2 reams) 600<br />

2.2. Photocopying of data/files 600<br />

2.3. Printing (ink 1,000<br />

3. Equipment/chemicals/plant products 2,425<br />

3.1 Glass slides (100 pcs.) 600<br />

3.2 Permethrin (4 oz.) 225<br />

3.3. Ivermectin (20 cc.) 300<br />

3.4. Ethanol (1 liter) 850<br />

3.5 Virgin coconut oil (250 ml. 150<br />

3.6. Malungay leaves (1 kg.) 300<br />

4. Transportation 500<br />

4.1 Public transport 500<br />

TOTAL 84,901<br />

BIBLIOGRAPHY<br />

1. Fefi, B. 2004. The Coconut Oil Miracle, 4th Ed., Avery,<br />

Penguin Group (USA) Inc., New York, N. Y., USA.<br />

2. Holt, DC. 2008. Scabies: Molecular Perspective and<br />

therapeutic Implications. Future Microbiology, 3(1): 57-76.<br />

3. Fahey, JW. 2005. Moringa Olefeira: A Review of the Medical<br />

Evidence for Its Nutritional, Therapeutic, and Prophylactic<br />

Properties. Part 1. Tree for Life Journal, 1:5.


EXTENDED ABSTRACT 72<br />

______________________________________________________________<br />

PROTECTIVE SECURITY OPERATIONS OF THE POLICE<br />

SECURITY AND PROTECTION GROUP: IMPLICATIONS TO<br />

THE SECURITY AND SAFETY OF THE VIP<br />

Jerwin P. Embolode<br />

(Graduate Thesis: M. Sc. in Criminology major in Police<br />

Administration)<br />

Thesis Advisor: Oscar G. Soriano, Ph.D.<br />

ABSTRACT<br />

This study was anchored on the vision, mission, and functions of the<br />

Police Security and Protection Group (PSPG), a National Operational<br />

Support Unit (NOSU) of the PNP tasked with the primary mission of<br />

providing protective security to authorized government officials, private<br />

individuals and visiting foreign dignitaries, physical security to key<br />

government vital installations and assists the Presidential Security Group<br />

(PSG) in securing the President and the members of the First Family.<br />

The Protection and Escort Unit (PEU), which is the focus of the study,<br />

is one of the operating units of the PSPG with the mission of providing<br />

protective security to authorized government officials, private individuals.


EXTENDED ABSTRACT 73<br />

______________________________________________________________<br />

Results of the study show:<br />

1. Demographic-profile of police personnel assigned at the Protection<br />

and Escort Unit, Police Security and Protection Group in terms of: 1.1) age<br />

– the highest was 31 to 35 years of age with 296 or 34.58% while the lowest<br />

was 21 to 25 years of age with 25 or 2.92%; 1.2) sex – 818 or 95.56% are<br />

male while 38 or 4.44% are female; 1.3) civil status – the highest was married<br />

with 724 or 84.58% while the lowest was widower with 13 or 1.52%; 1.4)<br />

rank – the highest was Police Officer III with 328 or 38.32% while the lowest<br />

was Police Inspector with 3 or 0.35%; 1.5) years in service – the highest<br />

was 11 to 15 years in the service with 420 or 49.07% while the lowest was<br />

1 to 5 years in the service with or 29 or 3.39%; 1.6) in-service training – the<br />

highest was junior leadership course with 382 or 44.63% while the lowest was<br />

officers advance course with 2 or 0.23%; and 1.7) specialized training – the<br />

highest was VIP Security and Protection Course with 573 or 67.28% while the<br />

lowest was Modified VIP Security and Protection Course with 16 or 1.87%.<br />

2. Extent of the effectiveness of the protective security<br />

operations of the Protection and Escort Unit, Police Security and<br />

Protection Group in terms of: 2.1) close-in security – the over-<br />

all weighted mean was 3.53 and over-all verbal description of very<br />

effective; 2.2) convoy security – the over-all weighted mean was 3.39


EXTENDED ABSTRACT 74<br />

______________________________________________________________<br />

and over-all verbal description of effective; 2.3) area security – the over-all<br />

weighted mean was 3.32 and over-all verbal description of effective; 2.4)<br />

residence/billet security – the over-all weighted mean was 3.24 and over-all verbal<br />

description of effective; and 2.5) protective intelligence and threat assessment –<br />

the over-all weighted mean was 3.32 and over-all verbal description of effective.<br />

3. Degree of the problems met in the protective security operations<br />

of the Protection and Escort Unit, Police Security and Protection Group in<br />

terms of: 3.1) personnel resources – the over-all weighted mean was 2.45 and<br />

over-all verbal description of moderately serious; 3.2) logistical requirements<br />

– the over-all weighted mean was 2.50 and over-all verbal description of<br />

moderately serious; 3.3) inter-agency snipping – the over-all weighted<br />

mean was 2.38 and over-all verbal description of moderately serious; 3.4)<br />

VIP’s cooperation – the over-all weighted mean was 2.41 and over-all verbal<br />

description of moderately serious; and 3.5) lateral coordination – the over-all<br />

weighted mean was 2.39 and over-all verbal description of moderately serious.<br />

4. Significant relationship between the degree of the problems<br />

met and the extent of the effectiveness of the protective security<br />

operations of the Protection and Escort Unit, Police Security and<br />

Protection Group show a chi-square or X2 value of 75.80, which was<br />

lower than the critical-value of 79.08, thus not significant at 0.05 level.


EXTENDED ABSTRACT 75<br />

______________________________________________________________<br />

drawn:<br />

Based on the above findings the following conclusions were<br />

1. The mean of the age of police personnel assigned at the PEU,<br />

PSPG was 30.5 years old, majority were male, married, with the rank of Police<br />

Officer III, the mean of years in service was 16 years, completed the mandatory<br />

career course commensurate to their rank, and all have attended different<br />

specialized training in relation to the performance of its powers and functions.<br />

2. The protective security operations conducted by the<br />

personnel of the PEU, PSPG is very effective with regards to close-in-<br />

security and effective in terms of the following: convoy security, area<br />

security, residence/billet security, protective intelligence and threat<br />

assessment. These are all pre-requisites in the fulfillment of the vision,<br />

mission and of the said national operational support unit of the PNP.<br />

3. The protective security operations conducted by the<br />

personnel of the PEU, PSPG had met moderately serious problems in<br />

terms of the following: personnel resources, logistical requirements,<br />

inter-agency snipping, VIP’s cooperation, and lateral coordination. The<br />

existence of these problems affects the performance of the mandated<br />

powers and functions of the said national operational support unit of<br />

the PNP but not to the extent affecting its efficiency and capability in


EXTENDED ABSTRACT 76<br />

______________________________________________________________<br />

providing the VIP with a well-rounded protective security operation.<br />

4. Based on the assessments of the different groups of respondents,<br />

the hypothesis of no significant relationship between the degree of<br />

the problems met and the extent of the effectiveness of the protective<br />

security operations of the PEU, PSPG was accepted, this means that the<br />

moderately serious problems was not relevant to the effectiveness and<br />

efficiency of the said national operational support unit of the PNP.<br />

5. The extent of the effectiveness of the protective security<br />

operations of the PEU, PSPG despite of the moderately serious problems<br />

met were having favorable implications to the security and safety of the VIP<br />

and the said national operational support unit of the PNP was able to ensure<br />

the security and safety of the persons authorized by law to given protection.<br />

In the light of the above findings and conclusions, the following<br />

recommendations were made:<br />

1. Require police personnel assigned at the PEU,<br />

PSPG to undergo other specialized training such as comprehensive<br />

intelligence and investigation course, foreign schooling and the likes,<br />

which are considered as very relevant in enhancing individual and<br />

collective performance of human resources, not only for upward


EXTENDED ABSTRACT 77<br />

______________________________________________________________<br />

mobility but also for more effective and efficient protective security operation<br />

activities of the unit.<br />

2. Conduct of continuous and honest to goodness assessment<br />

and evaluation of individual and/or unit performance with the purpose of<br />

identifying threats and weaknesses on the part of the PEU, PSPG affecting the<br />

protective security operations being undertaken by the unit and transforming<br />

these into opportunities and strengths.<br />

3. Periodic and regular consultations/conferences with the different<br />

stakeholders and end-users of the services provided by the PEU, PSPG to<br />

discuss problems met in the performance of mandated powers and functions<br />

and to encouraging their cooperation in the mitigation of the problem and<br />

eventually draw possible solutions coupled with the proper representation<br />

addressed to the NHQ, PNP. Likewise, acquisition of the needed state-of-the-<br />

art communication equipments and the activation of Tactical Operation Center<br />

(TOC) at the Office of the Operations and Management Division are highly<br />

recommended to monitor the movements of the deployed protective security<br />

personnel.


EXTENDED ABSTRACT 78<br />

______________________________________________________________<br />

4. Establishing linkage and liaison programs with different<br />

government offices, other law enforcement agencies, tri-media,<br />

and other sectors of the society who may play an important role in<br />

enhancing the protective security operations to harness and elevate the<br />

performance of the mandated powers and functions of the PEU, PSPG.<br />

5. Similar study be conducted in another time and setting<br />

which will focused on the extent of the effectiveness and degree of the<br />

problems met in the protective security operations and its implication<br />

to the security and safety of the VIP, purposely to confirm or negate the<br />

findings and conclusions derived in the conduct of the present study.


EXTENDED ABSTRACT 79<br />

______________________________________________________________<br />

THE LEVEL OF AWARENESS OF THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL<br />

POLICE-INTEGRATED TRANSFORMATION PROGRAM (PNP-<br />

ITP) IN MUNTINLUPA CITY: AN ASSESSMENT<br />

Milbert A. Bicol<br />

(Graduate Thesis: M. Sc. in Criminal Justice major in Criminology)<br />

Thesis Advisor: Oscar G. Soriano, Ph.D.<br />

ABSTRACT<br />

This study was anchored on the PNP-ITP ten (10) key result<br />

areas (KRAs) as the roadmap for lasting reforms. The PNP-ITP is now being<br />

implemented in order to (1) resolve organizational failure; (2) perform the<br />

mandated powers and functions; (3) improve the quality of police services;<br />

(4) strengthen law enforcement capabilities; and (5) enhance the welfare and<br />

benefits of police personnel and dependents. It attempted to find the level of<br />

awareness on the Philippine National Police-Integrated Transformation<br />

Program (PNP-ITP).<br />

The respondents of the study were seventy (70) police personnel<br />

assigned at Muntinlupa City Police Station, Muntinlupa City. The descriptive<br />

method of research was employed through normative survey utilizing the<br />

questionnaires, checklist, personal interviews, and actual observations in the<br />

research locale of the study. The study was conducted for a period of one (1)<br />

academic year from June 2009 to March 2010 and was limited only to the items<br />

and specific problems in the questionnaire with emphasis on the following:<br />

demographic-profile of respondents, level of the awareness of the PNP-ITP,<br />

and constraint met in the awareness of the PNP-ITP.


EXTENDED ABSTRACT 80<br />

______________________________________________________________<br />

For purposes of simplifying the conduct of the study, only two<br />

(2) questions had been formulated in each of the KRAs of the PNP-ITP, and<br />

relatively with the above stated problem being studied. The said questions<br />

were designed to help the researcher made first-hand information as regards<br />

implementation of the PNP-ITP vis-à-vis with the reforms in the police service.<br />

The following findings were obtained: (1) the highest educational<br />

attainment of the respondents was college graduate with 65 or 91.42%, while<br />

the lowest were those with masters units and masters graduate with 3 or<br />

4.29%, respectively; (2) 40 or 57.14% of the respondents were PNP Entrance<br />

Examination Eligible while the rest were Police Inspector Examination<br />

Eligible and Police Superintendent Examination Eligible with 1 or 1.43%,<br />

respectively; (3) the functional assignment of the respondents was highest in<br />

the Patrol Section with 24 or 34.28%, while lowest in the VIP Security with 2<br />

or 2.86%; (4) 26 or 37.14% have 1-5 years in service experience while only 1<br />

or 1.43% have 26 to 30 years; (5) career courses completed was highest in the<br />

Public Safety Basic Recruit Course (PSBRC) with 61 or 87.14% while lowest<br />

in the Public Safety Officers Senior Executive Course (PSOSEC) with 1 or<br />

1.43%; (5) the weighted mean level of awareness on the PNP-ITP was 2.90<br />

with overall.


EXTENDED ABSTRACT 81<br />

______________________________________________________________<br />

verbal description of implemented; (6) the constraint met in the awareness of the<br />

PNP-ITP was classified as serious having an overall weighted mean of 2.79; (7)<br />

a significant relationship between the constraints met and the level of awareness<br />

on the PNP-ITP was found to exist - a chi-square or X2 value of 80.97, which was<br />

higher than the critical-value of 79.08 at 0.05 level; and (8) a favorable impact<br />

towards reforms in the police service despite the seriousness of the constraint<br />

met by the concerned police station in the implementation of the said program.<br />

Based on the above findings the following conclusions were drawn:<br />

majority of respondents were college graduates, all of them were with appropriate<br />

eligibility, most were assigned at Patrol Section, majority were in the early years<br />

in the police service, and all have completed the required career courses required<br />

for career and professional advancement; the PNP-ITP was internalized by the<br />

concerned police station at their own level despite some of the shortcoming<br />

towards the full awareness of the KRAs as embodied in the said programs geared<br />

towards the long lasting reform in the PNP; the awareness on the PNP-ITP in<br />

the research locale of the study was meeting serious constraints serving as an<br />

obstacle towards the full awareness of the said program, thus jeopardizing the<br />

accomplishment of its purpose and objectives; the hypothesis of no significant<br />

relationship between the constraint met and the level of awareness on the<br />

PNP-ITP, based on the assessment of respondents was rejected, the constraints


EXTENDED ABSTRACT 82<br />

______________________________________________________________<br />

met is serving as a significant factor in the present status of the awareness on<br />

the PNP-ITP; and the results of the study were having favorable impact toward<br />

reforms in the police service, this is owing to the fact that the awareness on the<br />

PNP-ITP would be able to bring about changes in the delivery of policing<br />

activities, more particularly with the active support of the community-members.<br />

In the light of the above findings and conclusions, it is<br />

recommended to conduct periodic seminars on (1) leadership and management<br />

strictly adhering on the prescribed police-to-population ratio and (2) polices<br />

on employment and deployment, and career management program of the PNP<br />

including effective direction and control of human and material resources. A<br />

study to initiate information drives as regards different KRAs of the PNP-<br />

ITP purposely to develop clear understanding, appreciation and participation<br />

of the officers and members of the PNP towards the full implementation<br />

of the said program at the police station level is also recommended.<br />

Observance of seminar-workshops and consultations<br />

in looking for the solutions of the serious constraint met in the full<br />

awareness of the PNP-ITP, the local police executives taking the lead, in<br />

close coordination with other stakeholders and local government units<br />

must also be conducted. Moreover, a study in the formulation of action<br />

plan for subsequent implementation at the said police station taking


EXTENDED ABSTRACT 83<br />

______________________________________________________________<br />

into consideration some modifications in the programs, projects and activities<br />

of the different key result areas of the PNP-ITP, and which is best fitted in the<br />

present scenario at the particular locality. Finally, a similar study be conducted<br />

in another time and setting which will focus on level of the awareness of the<br />

different KRAs of the PNP-ITP, more specifically at the provincial, city and<br />

municipal levels purposely to confirm or negate the findings of the present<br />

study.


ABSTRACT 84<br />

______________________________________________________________<br />

AN EVALUATION OF EAC CLASSROOM CHAIRS:<br />

IMPLICATIONS TO USERS<br />

Clement Joseph Agias, Grenelyn Bravo, Sarita Mando,<br />

Michelle Christina Mulawin, Deanna Stephaine Mendoza<br />

and Dexter Tenorio<br />

(School of Physical. Occupational & Respiratory Therapy)<br />

Thesis Advisor: Napoleon R. Caballero<br />

ABSTRACT<br />

The purpose of the present study was two-fold: (1) to evaluate<br />

the classroom chairs of students at <strong>Emilio</strong> <strong>Aguinaldo</strong> <strong>College</strong> using Chair-<br />

User Pain Questionnaire (CUPQ) and (2) to determine its implications to<br />

the students. Multiple-staged or cluster sampling was used in selecting the<br />

40 samples equally distributed among male and female students. Of these, 20<br />

students were chosen in classrooms with red/green chairs, AVR chairs and<br />

brown chairs; 10 students in classroom with monobloc chairs; and 10 students<br />

were randomly selected in each type of chair. Demographic profiles show the<br />

mean age of the samples as 20.40 years ± 2.20 (range 17-26 years old); mean<br />

height of 165.90 cm ± 8.41 (range 149-180 cm); and mean weight of 135.7 lbs<br />

± 26.5 lbs (range 88-188 lbs). For comparison, the study made use of BIFMA<br />

Guidelines as chair dimension standard.


ABSTRACT 85<br />

______________________________________________________________<br />

The study found that the AVR and monobloc chairs have the greatest<br />

number of deviations when compared to BIFMA guidelines. Majority of the<br />

AVR users (90%) and the monobloc users (80%) claimed to have experienced<br />

occasional dull aching pain (mean aching pain was 4/10) on low back and<br />

buttocks area with onset of pain beyond 45 minutes during lecture class hours.<br />

Brown chairs, however, have the least number of deviations though 60% of the<br />

samples complained of static dull aching pain during a 3-hour lecture with<br />

pain onset during the first 15-30 minutes. 40% of the student samples were<br />

found to experience an occasional throbbing pain (pain scale was 6/10) during<br />

the 3-hour lecture period with pain onset during 30-45 minutes. Findings also<br />

show that height and weight affect comfort in the use of chairs.<br />

Based on the findings, the researchers concluded that AVR<br />

and monobloc chairs offer least comfort to students. It is suggested that<br />

chairs of this type must be replaced with the other types particularly the<br />

red/green chairs. The study recommends future researchers to conduct a<br />

follow up research correlating height and weight and the type of chairs.


CONTRIBUTORS<br />

Alvin A. Ayque, DVM Supachai A. Basit, Ph.D<br />

Gerardo C. David, MS.<br />

Cesar M. Mendoza Jr

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