Economic and Environmental Costs and Benefits of Paper Mulberry: A Case Study of Islamabad-Pakistan

Plants and trees make our cities more attractive and provide many ecosystem services but some of these also cost society in the form pollen allergy. According to an estimates 60-70 percent of the trees in Islamabad are of Paper mulberry. Thirty Percent people are effected each year from pollen allergy in Islamabad. This study evaluated age and gender wise effects of Pollen Allergy on health followed by proposing options for the alternatives of Paper Mulberry. The economic and environmental costs and benefits of Paper mulberry and its alternative plants were also quantified. The annual benefits and costs of Paper Mulberry and its alternative plants were estimated through “The National Tree Benefits Calculator”. Descriptive statistics along with expert opinion method was used for the analysis of the data. The pollen allergy affect children more as compared to other age groups and females more as compared to male. Urban respondents were effected more by pollen allergy as compared to rural respondents. Most of the respondents were found effected in the month of March. The average monthly health expenditures of the respondents from pollen were Rs. 879. Pine Rexburg and Kachnar are viable alternatives for Paper Mulberry from both economic and environmental viewpoints. Based on the findings it is concluded that Pine Rexburg and Kachnar are the best alternative for Paper Mulberry in Islamabad. The Capital Development Authority should replace Pine Rexburg and Kachnar with Paper Mulberry in the city. Besides, Government should arrange awareness program especially in the pollen month (March) and should provide free of cost treatment and preventives for the pollen patients.

Lawel e dad tô de lagad: An Ethnography of the Collective Wisdom of the Blaans on Disaster Management and Environmental Conservation

The Blaan communities in the hinterlands of Sarangani are continually exposed to different forms andtypes of environmental hazards. These hazards are brought about by disasters such as droughts, landslide, soilerosion, flooding and infestation of rats and swarm of locusts on agricultural crops. This paper seeks to providea thick and rich description of the indigenous knowledge of the Blaans on disaster management and environmentalconservation. It discusses and analyzes various environmental hazards identified and experiencedby the Blaans in the mountain ecosystems of Sarangani. Another aim of this study is to analyze thefunction of the social network of the tribe and their coping mechanisms in confronting the effects of naturaldisasters. This study utilizes first-hand information that are gathered through intensive ethnographic field observations in the hinterlands of Sarangani. Participatory Rapid Field Appraisal strategies were used to engage the members of the community as primary participants of the study. Moreover, key informant interviewsamong senior members of Blaan tribes and focus group discussions are used to supplement information generated through participatory research approaches. This study concludes that the Blaans in the mountainous parts of Sarangani have immense collective wisdom on disaster management and environmental conservation,which they have learned from their forefathers. Nonetheless, this vast knowledge system of the Blaans is gradually eroding due to dwindling interest of the younger generations and disappearance of the natural landscape that serves as the social laboratory for the Blaans to learn about the kanfulong de tribu. Read full article here.

A Comparison of Minimal Pharmacokinetic Models for an Anti-diabetic Agent

In diabetes studies, pharmacologists rely on statistical techniques tied with experimental results to describe the plasma concentration of an anti-diabetic agent. However, these sets of statistical information only provide minimal inference to the drug’s kinetics. To understand the effect of an anti-diabetic agent to a glucose-insulin system, it is necessary to predict its movement in the system over a specific time interval. In this study, a set of simple pharmacokinetic models was formulated to describe the dynamics of the plasma concentration of an anti-diabetic agent known as metformin. The models were fitted to empirical data via nonlinear regression analysis and were compared using Akaike information criterion to determine the most reasonable model and parameter estimates. The results reveal that models considering varying absorption rate have a promising fit. These models can be extended to multiple drug dosage cases and can be used to estimate rate constants associated to other anti-diabetic agents. Read full article here.

Kinematic Analysis of Sipa sa Mangis: Exploring the Science of the Art

The purpose of this study is to give a baseline information on the kinematic study of kicking, Sipa sa Mangis, and to determine what muscle activities are involved during that motion. Sipa sa Mangis is one of the traditional sports of Muslim people in Mindanao. Inside kick is the primary skill used in this sport. This study was conducted at Sports Biomechanics Laboratory Facility of Korea Institute of Sports Science, Seoul South Korea. To analyze the motion, Nineteen (19) High definition infrared motion cameras (Qualisys Oqus 701+19) were placed with the Ground Reaction Force Plate at the center of a captured volume of a 3m x 4m x 2m. (Kistler Type 9281B11). The coordination was calibrated using an L-frame and T-wand for 60 seconds at a sampling rate of 120 frames /sec. Each camera was synchronized using data cables while one master camera delivered the data to the main frame via a LAN cable. The data was analyzed and processed through Qualisys Track Manager. To determine the muscle activities while kicking, the surface Electromyography (EMG) fitted electrodes were placed at the 12 motor points of the leg muscles. All the three sets of data were analyzed using RMS and FIR frequency filters. The initial and termination portion of the signals were ignored for analysis to avoid any noise creeping in. The sampling rate is 1500Hz where RMS filter was calibrated at 50ms and FIR filters at 80-250Hz. Result of the study is revealed through EMG analysis; the Right Tibia Anterior and Right Gastrocnemius muscles were highly activated throughout the different phases of kicking motion. Read full article here.

Communications for Peacebuilding: Conflict Resolution Skills and Strategies of Lupon Tagapamayapa in Selected Communities of Sarangani Province

The Lupon Tagapamayapa (LT) of the two barangays in Sarangani Province- Barangay Baliton in Glan and Barangay Upo in Maitum- were studied as to the skills and strategies they employ in resolving petty conflicts as a means of communication towards building peace in the community. Using qualitative-content analysis, multiple sources of data were used namely FGD, KII, Venn Diagram and Observation with video and note taking. It was found out that the LTs of both barangays Baliton (mostly populated by Blaan indigenous people) and Upo (with the Tboli natives)—applied similar processes and procedures in resolving conflicts prescribed by the Local Government Code such as: Greetings and Introduction, Conflict Settlement Proper and The Settlement and Resolution. On language use and communication skills, both LTs demonstrated competence both in verbal and non-verbal communications. In verbal communication, the LT used carefully chosen words, aphorism, rhetorical question and analogy; while in non-verbal communication, the LT regulated the tone and volume of the voice, used appropriate hand gestures and eye contact. Further, the LT employed strategies such as collaboration, compromise, spiritual advice, and active listening. Land conflict is the most common case resolved by the LT. This is followed by debts and assault. Misunderstanding and differences in principles and value judgment are the most common factors that cause conflicts in the community. Aside from these, jealousy, theft, selfishness, vices, and broken relationships were also identified. The study also revealed factors that could hinder or facilitate the conflict resolution, which were differing goals and levels of compromise and frustration. With the personal, interpersonal, cultural, and structural changes among the members of the LT, the study recommends further research on the competence of LT among remote communities and or other indigenous groups in Mindanao for a broader and more enhanced justice system in the barangays. Read full article here.

Ethnomedicinal Resources of the Indigenous People’s (IP) Groups in the SOCSARGEN Region

An ethnomedicinal study was conducted to document the medicinal plants used, the manner of preparation and application in the treatment of ailments and the consensus in the use of medicinal plants to treat various ailments among four (4) indigenous people's groups, the Obo in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato, T'boli in Maitum, Sarangani Province, and Blaan and Tagakaolo in General Santos City. The ethnobotanical interview was conducted using open-ended semi-structured questionnaires among identified traditional healers and elders as well as the household in the community. A total of 136 plants species, mostly herbs (47%), have been recorded with the corresponding conditions or illnesses in which they are believed to exert a therapeutic effect. Plant parts utilized for traditional medicine of the 4 IP groups include leaves (38%), roots (25%) and bark/stem (16%). Decoction (54%) and direct consumption (27%) applied via oral route are the common traditional medicine preparation. The IP communities in the SOCSARGEN Region have a rich pharmacopeia of traditional medicinal plants that persist through time despite the availability and convenience offered by modern medicine. Read full article here.

Community-Based Organizations: Role on Coastal Resource Management in the Sarangani Bay Area

In areas along Sarangani Bay, there is a substantial supply of marine resources. Unfortunately, the demands, at times, exceed the supply so intervention like establishing Coastal Resource Management (CRM) is an important mechanism to sustain resources. This study documented the community-based initiatives of various organizations among municipalities and barangays along Sarangani Bay that support its role in the coastal resource management in the area. Also identified are the factors affecting the aforementioned role. The researcher employed Key Informant Interview (KII) among officers and members of organizations and officials of local government units (LGUs) in the municipalities of Sarangani Province and General Santos City (SARGEN) and also retrieved available documents for content analysis. It is evident that crucial to the success of the community-based organizations is the support and funding coming from local and international agencies in order to initiate putting of marine protected areas, implementing bantay-dagat, promoting clean-up drive and solid waste management, and introducing alternative livelihood projects. There are two success stories that serve as proofs of continuing initiatives of the organizations. Further, there are factors that either facilitate or hinder the success of the community-based organizations. Read full article here.