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Toxoplasmosis, a zoonotic disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii, poses significant health risks, especially to high-risk individuals who are exposed to cats. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to toxoplasmosis and determine its seroprevalence among selected high-risk groups in Cebu, Philippines—specifically veterinary students, veterinary personnel, and cat owners. A total of 416 participants completed a structured questionnaire evaluating their demographics, exposure history, and KAP levels, while 250 underwent further rapid serological testing for T. gondii. Results of the relative proportions revealed that there were more veterinary students who were having high level of knowledge (61%), compared to veterinary personnel (46%) and cat owners (24%). Relative proportions revealed that there were more veterinary students who were having high level of knowledge (61%), compared to veterinary personnel (46%) and cat owners (24%). Similar pattern was observed in the attitude level for veterinary students (54%), veterinary personnel (36%) and cat owners (32%). However, practice level showed that more veterinary personnel (54%) had high level than the veterinary students (35%) and cat owners (35%). The over-all seroprevalence of T. gondii was 29.2%, with the highest relative detection rates among veterinary personnel (43.8%) and cat owners (39%). While statistical analyses revealed no significant differences between the KAP levels of the three groups, significant associations between seropositivity and profile variables, including age, educational attainment, previous medical history, and frequency of cat contact (P ≤ 0.05) were found. These results highlight the need for sustained public education, improved veterinary and public health training, responsible pet ownership, and better access to diagnostic services.

< p >Corruption is a complex abnormality that weaken the democratic institutions and can marginize Good Governance. Combating corruption is one of the most important factors for establishment Good Governance. Actors such as government, private sector and civil society have function in combating corruption but between the mention actors the role of civil societies is very effective and efficient in compare with mentioned actors. This study uses analytical – descriptive approach to analyze the role of special civil society in combating corruption in two countries, I.R. of Iran and Philippines.The findings of this study indicate that in the Philippines, specialized civil societies and nongovernmental organizations such as the "Citizens Concerned for Good Governance Establishment", "Entities for Government Procurement and Procurement", "Accountability and Transparency Network" and The Association of Thousands of Christians in Government are civil and non-governmental organizations active in the fight against corruption in this Southeast Asian country. At present, the fight against corruption in the Islamic Republic of Iran and its decision-making on prevention and combating it is carried out solely through the institutions of government and in parallel, though it has delegated its responsibilities to civil society organizations. But in terms of behavior compared to the Philippines and other countries, such as Singapore, which is much higher than the two countries mentioned above, there is a great gap between the specialized anti-corruption bodies and not only the such institutions have not established.Key words: Specialized Civil Society, Fighting Corruption, Pathology of Corruption Causes

Introduction Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections remain a significant cause of morbidity worldwide. Due to the growing complexity of its transmission dynamics, which involve cross-host infections and persisting environmental contamination, the control strategies against STH continue to face drawbacks. In the Philippines, literature exploring the tripartite arm of the One Health approach remains scant; thus, to strengthen the integration of the One Health framework in the current Philippine One Health agenda, a comprehensive mapping of the local literature supporting this concept is necessary. This scoping review aims to map existing evidence on human–animal cross-host infection of STH and the extent of environmental contamination with STH in the Philippines.Methods and analysis This scoping review will follow the procedures established by the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for scoping reviews and will be reported using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). Eligible literature for review from 2006 to 2026 will be retrieved from PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, ProQuest and Health Research and Development Information Network. Studies must contain cases of cross-host infection STH (ie, human STH infecting animals or animal STH infecting humans) or the prevalence of STH in environmental samples in the Philippines. The final selection of sources for review will begin after two independent reviewers achieve ≥75% agreement and a Cohen’s Kappa score between 0.61 and 1.00 on source selection in a pilot test. Data extraction will be performed by two independent reviewers using a modified data extraction tool adapted from JBI. Extracted data will be summarised descriptively and visually using tables and layered geographic information system maps along with a narrative summary. The search strategy was developed between October and November 2025. Data extraction is scheduled from May to June 2026, with the study anticipated to be completed by August 2026.Ethics and dissemination An ethical approval is not required for this scoping review protocol. As a comprehensive summary of cases of STH at human–animal–environment interfaces, the results of this scoping review will be presented at local and international conferences and published in a peer-reviewed, open-access journal for maximum reach and knowledge translation.Review registration OSF https://osf.io/e9qdk.

English as the medium of teaching in this 21-st century learning demands teachers to be more competent and professional. In the EFL context, the English-integrated skills should be mastered by professional teachers to teach and design learning scenarios based on the skill. However, multifaceted issues and challenges are faced by teachers. This quantitative study with a causal-comparative design aimed at revealing the Philippines and Indonesian Teachers' Pedagogical Beliefs in Teaching English. This study had two research questions: 1). How are The Philippines and Indonesian teachers' pedagogical beliefs on teaching English? and 2) Are there any different findings on pedagogical beliefs between The Philippines and Indonesian teachers'? This study involved 30 EFL teachers from the Philippines (N=15) and Indonesia (N=15). The participants were selected randomly from state and vocational institutions in the Philippines and Indonesia. The data were collected through a close-ended questionnaire, and the descriptive statistic was analyzed using SPSS version 25. The findings revealed that teachers in both countries showed a good pedagogical perspective. However, a finding from the Philippines group showed teachers chose to be neutral in giving additional learning material and media to students. These findings gave the researchers broader input on how teachers in the Philippines and Indonesia showed their professional perspectives on teaching aspects.

This research conducted a citizen scientific field investigation and water quality assessment of nine major rivers using only on-site equipment and a smartphone in the Province of Antique, Philippines. Potential issues concerning water resources management in the province were discussed with local governors and citizens while conducting the water sampling and on-site measurement. The results of water quality assessments revealed that some of the rivers have experienced high turbidity, caused by anthropogenic activities such as embankment, sand mining, and dredging. In highly populated basins, such as the Sibalom and Malandog Rivers, a high biochemical oxygen demand level (>7 mg/L) was confirmed by the water quality analysis using an iPhone. Since high consumption of groundwater has already affected the lives of people in the province, surface water usage shifting from groundwater, involving the construction of a facility treating physical and chemical parameters, is needed. The citizen scientific approach employed in this research can provide more realistic insights into local environmental concerns, which would not be possible through quantitative measurements of water quality. HIGHLIGHTS The water quality of nine major rivers was assessed in the Province of Antique, Philippines.; Citizen scientific field investigation and water quality analysis used only an iPhone and an on-site water quality meter.; Some rivers have experienced siltation caused by anthropogenic activities.; A high biochemical oxygen demand level was confirmed in highly populated basins.; There is a need for a shift from groundwater to surface water usage.;

Changes in land cover can have negative impacts on the hydrological and hydraulic processes in river basins and watersheds such as increase in surface runoff and peak flows, and greater incidence, risk and vulnerability of flooding. In this study, the impacts of land-cover changes to the hydrologic and hydraulic behaviours of the Agusan River Basin (ARB), the third largest river basin in the Philippines, was analysed using an integrated approach involving Remote Sensing (RS), Geographic Information System (GIS), and hydrologic and hydraulic models. Different land-cover classes in the ARB for the years 1995 and 2017 were mapped using Landsat 5 TM and Landsat 8 OLI images. Using a post-classification change detection approach, changes in land-cover were then determined. The impacts of these changes in land-cover to the to the basin discharge were then estimated using a calibrated hydrologic model based on the Hydrologic Engineering Center - Hydrologic Modeling System (HEC-HMS) under different extreme rainfall conditions. The impact of the changes in land-cover to flood depth and extent was also determined using a hydraulic model based on the HEC-RAS (River Analysis System). Land cover classification results revealed that the ARB is 67.7% forest in 1995 but have decreased to 62.8% in 2017. Agricultural areas in the basin were also found to have increased from 12.2% to 15.5% in the same period. Other notable land cover changes detected include the increase in built-up lands and range lands, and decrease in barren lands. HEC HMS and HEC RAS model simulation results showed that there was an increase in discharge, flood depth, and flood extents between 1995 and 2017, implying that that the detected changes in land cover have negative impacts to hydrologic and hydraulic behaviours of the ARB.

We report 35 new amphibian and reptile distribution records for two regions within the southern Sierra Madre Mountain Range, Aurora Province, central Luzon Island, Philippines. Together with results of our previous survey work in Aurora, our new data result in a total of 82 amphibian and reptile species for the area. These results highlight the degree to which the island’s biodiversity continues to be underestimated and poorly understood. We report on observations of rarely encountered species including the skink Sphenomorphus leucospilos, the forest gecko Luperosaurus cf. cumingii, and a sensational new species of monitor lizard, Varanus bitatawa. Our recent collections clarify the conservation status of the “critically endangered” Polillo Island forest frog Platymantis polillensis, now known to be widespread, abundant, and common throughout Camarines Norte, Quezon, and Aurora Provinces on the adjacent mainland of Luzon Island. These results add to our growing understanding of many species’ distributions in the region.

Abstract Premna odorata (family Verbenaceae), known as “Alagaw” in the Philippines, has traditionally been used to treat inflammatory respiratory conditions; however, molecular evidence supporting its pharmacological effects remains limited. Given that NOD-like receptor pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome-driven IL-1β secretion plays a central role in inflammatory respiratory conditions, we investigated whether P. odorata extract (POE) modulates NLRP3 inflammasome activation. In LPS-primed J774A.1 and THP-1 macrophages, POE reduced IL-1β secretion induced by ATP or nigericin without affecting NLRC4 or AIM2 inflammasome activation, indicating NLRP3 selectivity. POE treatment inhibited adaptor apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing CARD (ASC) oligomerization and speck formation without affecting cell viability or intracellular ROS levels, indicating suppression of inflammasome assembly. In vivo, POE attenuated inflammatory cell infiltration in an LPS-induced zebrafish model. Together, these findings indicate that POE suppresses NLRP3 inflammasome–mediated inflammatory responses, providing a molecular basis for its traditional use in managing inflammatory conditions and offering a promising natural scaffold for the development of NLRP3-targeted therapeutics.

Background The Monitoring drug Efficacy through Multi-Omics Research Initiative in Alzheimer's Disease (MEMORI-AD) study aims to characterize drug response to donepezil and memantine in a Filipino cohort with late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD). To enhance enrollment, community-based dementia screening and recruitment were conducted across barangays in Manila. Objective This study describes the experiences and challenges in community-based recruitment for multi-omics research in vulnerable populations. Methods After coordinating with local officials for approval, recruitment targeted residents aged 65 years and above. A public health lecture on dementia was held, followed by rapid screening using the “10 Warning Signs of Dementia” questionnaire by the Alzheimer's Disease Association of the Philippines and the AD-8 Dementia Screening Interview. Eligible participants were invited for clinical screening, including laboratory work, neuropsychological tests, and neuroimaging. Reasons for non-consent and withdrawal were recorded. Results Of 301 eligible participants, 42 (14.0%) were suspected of dementia and eligible for work-up. Among them, 14 (33.3%) did not consent, 15 (53.6%) initially consented but withdrew, and 13 (46.4%) completed the assessment. Only 2 patients were enrolled. The main cause for non-consent was disinterest (n = 8, 57.1%), followed by unavailability of a legally authorized representative (LAR) (n = 3, 21.4%), which was also the primary reason for withdrawal (n = 9, 60%).​ Conclusions Recruitment of vulnerable Filipinos in multi-omics research within a lower-middle income country faced significant barriers, encompassing economic, psychosocial, and health constraints, largely due to disinterest and unavailability of LAR. Further studies on family dynamics, socioeconomic, and cultural factors could offer insights to overcome these recruitment barriers. Trial Registration Number Philippine Health Research Registry ID PHRR230220-0054116; ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT05801380.

This study explored Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) in cross-cultural biology teaching through collaborative lesson studies involving educators from the USA and the Philippines. We employed grounded theory and examined iterative feedback processes during lesson development to refine learning exemplars. Learning exemplars validation affirmed their alignment with both NGSS and the Philippine science education frameworks, ensuring cultural relevance and educational rigor. Five key themes were identified as pivotal: retrieval of prior knowledge, fostering meaningful learning experiences, enhancing memory and retention, fostering active engagement, and cultivating critical thinking skills—integral for developing culturally responsive curricula. Moreover, students became independent learners, responsible for their learning, reflective and critical thinkers, problem solvers, inquiry-oriented, creative, collaborative communicators, modelers, data analysts, persistent, adaptable, and self-directed. Implications include enhancing educational policies to support cultural diversity and integrating cross-cultural learning exemplars to enhance global teaching practices. This study underscored the transformative potential of cross-cultural collaboration in advancing science education, fostering engaging learning environments, and preparing students for global citizenship.

IntroductionThe ubiquity of online classes during the COVID-19 pandemic induced the widespread use of videoconferencing applications. However, the prolonged use of these applications can lead to videoconferencing fatigue. Drawing from an online survey sample of 215 senior high school students from a selected private university in Manila, Philippines, this mixed methods study examines videoconferencing fatigue and its relationship with online student engagement (OSE) during the COVID-19 pandemic.Materials and methodsThis study utilized a convergent triangulation research design. The quantitative strand was cross-sectional in nature. The constructs were measured using the Zoom Exhaustion and Fatigue Scale and Online Student Engagement Scale. Bivariate and multivariate statistical tests were used to determine the significance of the relationships between variables. The qualitative strand utilized a descriptive design. Narrative data were collected through an open-ended survey question and analyzed using content analysis.ResultsQuantitative results indicate moderate to high levels of videoconferencing fatigue among student respondents. Moreover, higher levels of OSE were observed among those who endured higher visual fatigue and attended videoconferences more days a week. Qualitative findings demonstrate various manifestations of videoconferencing fatigue among students and relate it with decreased energy to perform academic tasks and learning absorption. However, the qualitative analysis also reveals students’ perceived need for videoconferencing to learn online.DiscussionThe nuanced insights from both strands highlight that despite their perceived negative impacts of videoconferencing, students had to tolerate visual videoconferencing fatigue in order to engage meaningfully in online classes.

Việc nghiên cứu mức độ hội nhập và sự kết nối giữa các quốc gia trong cùng khu vực là một trong những đề tài nghiên cứu rất được quan tâm của các nhà kinh tế. Bài viết này được thực hiện nhằm xác định mức độ và chiều hướng kết nối giữa các thị trường chứng khoán trong khối ASEAN-6 bao gồm Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thái Lan và Việt Nam. Phương pháp Diebold and Yilmaz (2012) để tính chỉ số lan truyền được áp dụng kết hợp với kỹ thuật cửa sổ cuộn dựa trên dữ liệu về tỷ suất sinh lợi hàng ngày trong giai đoạn từ 2012 đến 2019. Kết quả phân tích chỉ số lan truyền tĩnh và động đều cho thấy mức độ kết nối trong khu vực ASEAN-6 khá cao, lên đến gần 27%. Tuy nhiên, chỉ có 4 trong số 6 quốc gia này thực sự có kết nối chặt chẽ gồm Indonesia, Malaysia, Thái Lan và Singapore. Việt Nam và Philippines có mức độ kết nối với thị trường ASEAN-6 khá yếu. Ngược lại, Malaysia và Singapore là hai quốc gia đóng vai trò chủ động trong khu vực.

The ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor is a major global threat to the Western honeybee Apis mellifera. This mite was originally a parasite of A. cerana in Asia but managed to spill over into colonies of A. mellifera which had been introduced to this continent for honey production. To date, only two almost clonal types of V. destructor from Korea and Japan have been detected in A. mellifera colonies. However, since both A. mellifera and A. cerana colonies are kept in close proximity throughout Asia, not only new spill overs but also spill backs of highly virulent types may be possible, with unpredictable consequences for both honeybee species. We studied the dispersal and hybridisation potential of Varroa from sympatric colonies of the two hosts in Northern Vietnam and the Philippines using mitochondrial and microsatellite DNA markers. We found a very distinct mtDNA haplotype equally invading both A. mellifera and A. cerana in the Philippines. In contrast, we observed a complete reproductive isolation of various Vietnamese Varroa populations in A. mellifera and A. cerana colonies even if kept in the same apiaries. In light of this variance in host specificity, the adaptation of the mite to its hosts seems to have generated much more genetic diversity than previously recognised and the Varroa species complex may include substantial cryptic speciation.

There is an increasing interest in investigating phytochemicals as inhibitors of HMG-CoA reductase (HMGR) and α-amylase enzymes. Inhibition of these enzymes helps manage hypercholesterolemia and diabetes by reducing cholesterol synthesis and blood sugar levels, respectively. In this study, computational techniques via molecular docking and ADMET prediction were used to determine the potential of five Ginkgo biloba biflavonoids (amentoflavone, bilobetin, ginkgetin, isoginkgetin and sciadopitysin) as dual inhibitors of HMGR and α-amylase. Amentoflavone (–42.26 kJ/mol) and bilobetin (–41.00 kJ/mol) exhibited stronger binding affinities to HMGR compared to the reference drug atorvastatin (–38.91 kJ/mol). For α-amylase, amentoflavone (–48.12 kJ/mol), bilobetin (–47.28 kJ/mol) and ginkgetin (–46.44 kJ/mol) exhibited stronger binding affinities compared to the reference drug acarbose (–43.93 kJ/mol). These docking results indicate that amentoflavone and bilobetin have the potential to act as dual inhibitors of these two enzymes. ADMET analysis showed that bilobetin demonstrated favorable oral bioavailability and druglikeness, adhering to Lipinski’s rule of five. Despite exhibiting low gastrointestinal absorption, it was predicted to be neither mutagenic nor hepatotoxic. Therefore, bilobetin is a promising candidate for dual antidiabetic and antihypercholesterolemic applications. Further in vitro and in vivo studies are recommended to confirm these promising results.

The long-term roles of live plant roots in mitigating acid sulfate soil stresses remain poorly understood. Three studies, each lasting twelve months, were conducted using Melaleuca armillaris and Phragmites australis. In the first study, alkaline sandy loam soil was mixed into the sulfuric soil to increase the pH to 6.7, and Melaleuca seedlings were planted. In the second and third studies, M. armillaris and P. australis were planted in sulfuric and sulfidic soils and maintained at 75% water-holding capacity and flooded soil conditions. All the studies were set using 300 mm stormwater tubes with sealed bottom ends. The treatments were replicated four times, set up under a glasshouse in a completely randomized design, and harvested after 12 months. The pH and root biomass were measured from the surface, middle, and deep profiles. Results showed that the neutralization obtained by mixing alkaline sandy loam soil with sulfuric soil was stable but deteriorated due to plant root penetration. In the sulfuric soil material (pH 4), more roots were produced in the deeper soils. In the sulfuric and sulfidic soil materials, P. australis produced more roots at the surface than at the deep under pH >4 and aerobic conditions. Under anaerobic conditions with a pH >4, root distribution was even. Our findings suggest that common terrestrial and aquatic plants maintain a characteristic distribution of roots to mitigate the stresses of acid sulfate soils.

Global crop losses of 20–40% continue because traditional plant assessment methods are either invasive, damaging plant tissues, or reactive, detecting stress only after visible symptoms. Recent developments have remained fragmented, focusing on single modalities, individual organs, or limited frequency ranges. This study developed a unified bioelectrical sensor system capable of non-invasive, multimodal, multiscale, and integrative assessment by integrating capabilities that existing methods address only separately. The system combines spectroscopy and tomography within a single platform, enabling simultaneous evaluation of multiple organs. Unlike approaches confined to narrow frequencies, it captures complete physiological responses across scales. Validation on strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa ‘Sweet Charlie’) demonstrated comprehensive multi-organ assessment: 98.3% accuracy for fruit categorization, 95.8% for leaf water status, and 88.2% for stem productivity. Tomographic performance reached 2.6–2.8 mm resolution for 3D root mapping and 2.8–3.0 mm for 2D postharvest fruit sorting. Correlations with reference metrics were used exclusively for validation, confirming that the extracted features reflect genuine physiological variations. Importantly, the system detects stress before visible symptoms, enabling intervention within the reversible window. By unifying spectroscopy and tomography with complete frequency coverage and multi-organ capability, this platform overcomes existing fragmentation and establishes a foundation for proactive, comprehensive plant monitoring essential for sustainable agriculture.

The use of washing machines to wash textiles gradually breaks down synthetic fibers like polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polyester (PES) in diverse clothing materials, a process that is growing in notoriety because it generates microplastics (MPs). In this study, we investigated the emission of microfibers, including both microplastic fibers (MPFs) and natural fibers (MFs), from top-loading washing machines. Our investigation focused on four popular textiles with prevalent weave structures (plain, satin, and twill): (i) PES, (ii) tetron cotton (TC), (iii) chief value cotton (CVC), and (iv) cotton (CO) fabrics. This study also examined the effects of textile weight and detergent dosage on MF emissions. After washing, MFs were collected through filtration, and their concentrations were determined using micro-Fourier Transform Interferometry (μFTIR). The results showed varying concentrations of MFs in the washing effluent depending on the type of textile. Specifically, CVC exhibited the highest emission at 4022 particles/L, followed by TC, PES, and CO at 2844 particles/L, 2382 particles/L, and 2279 particles/L, respectively. The hydrophobic nature of PES makes this type of textile prone to rapid degradation in detergent-rich environments, leading to high MF emissions. Additionally, the mechanical properties of textiles, such as tensile and bending strengths, may play a crucial role in the generation of MFs in washing machines. Textiles made of CO with twill weaves demonstrated superior strength and correlated with lower emissions of MFs. In comparison, textiles made of CVC and satin weave exhibited lower mechanical properties, which could explain their high emissions of MFs. Finally, the MF emissions of textiles composed of PES and TC, which are plain weaved, could be attributed to their intermediate mechanical properties compared with those of CVC and CO.