Central Luzon State University

This study examined the factors affecting the academic performance of Bachelor of Science (BS) Chemistry students at Central Luzon State University. Specifically, it investigated the relationships between students’ socio-demographic characteristics, parental learning support, peer influence, attitudes toward chemistry, learning styles and strategies, and teachers’ characteristics with academic performance in chemistry courses. A survey research design was employed using a structured questionnaire administered to seventy-two (72) BS Chemistry students enrolled during the academic year 2014–2015. Descriptive statistics and Pearson’s correlation analysis were used to analyse the data. However, only twenty-three (23) students who had completed all chemistry courses were included in the correlational analysis. Results indicated that most students had parents with secondary-level education and blue-collar occupations, received parental learning support, and demonstrated positive attitudes toward chemistry. Kinesthetic learning style and effort regulation were the most commonly reported learning approaches. Classroom management, teaching effectiveness, and teacher commitment were positively evaluated by students. Significant predictors of academic performance included age, father’s occupation, parental learning support, attitude toward chemistry, kinesthetic and visual learning styles, metacognitive and environmental regulation strategies, peer influence, and selected teacher characteristics. Peer influence showed a negative association with academic performance. The findings highlight the importance of family support, learner characteristics, and instructional quality in shaping academic achievement in chemistry. However, the small sample used in correlational analysis limits generalizability.

This study explores the complex negotiations between queer identity and familial obligations among Filipino migrant families, foregrounding the influence of kinship dynamics and cultural expectations. It focuses specifically on queer Filipino migrant teachers in Bangkok, Thailand, examining how traditional norms connect with their migrant experience and compel them to reconcile their authentic selves with deeply embedded familial roles. Central to the analysis is the tension between the demands of placing family first—such as fulfilling the breadwinner role and upholding collective honor through remittances—and the personal pursuit of queer desires that often run counter to longstanding cultural mandates. The concept of conditional tolerance, manifested through remittance-driven respect, highlights how economic contributions serve as both a lifeline and a barrier to genuine acceptance. The study also interrogates the layered process of queer disclosure, where soft coming out through professional success and cautious confessions reflect strategic identity negotiation, further limited by religious beliefs and selective intimacy. By examining return visits, the research reveals the phenomenon of temporary heteronormativity and the ambivalence of homecoming, marked by both a longing for a more open queer life and the anxiety of returning to a less accepting environment. Ultimately, this study contributes to a broader understanding of how cultural narratives and kinship expectations shape identity construction within transnational spaces, offering insights into the transformative interplay between individual agency and collective cultural practices.

Abstract Marine bivalve mortality events cause substantial economic losses in aquaculture and threaten global food security. While pathogenic Vibrio species are frequently implicated, growing evidence suggests that loss of beneficial microbes can increase host susceptibility to disease. We previously observed that Vibrio mediterranei was consistently isolated from healthy oysters but systematically disappeared prior to mortality events, coinciding with proliferation of pathogenic Vibrio species. Here, we test whether this pattern reflects a protective functional role. Pre-colonization with V. mediterranei strain Vm02 increased Crassostrea virginica oyster larval survival from 10-19% (pathogen-only controls) to 94-97% when challenged with V. harveyi or V. coralliilyticus , representing near-complete protection from pathogen-induced mortality. Protection was maintained at both ambient (28°C) and thermal stress (32°C) temperatures where pathogen virulence is enhanced, rapid (effective from co-inoculation), and durable (maintained for >96 hours). Fluorescence microscopy confirmed stable colonization of larval digestive tissues by fluorescently-tagged Vm02. Larval colonization by eleven V. mediterranei strains revealed three distinct phenotypes – protective, pathogenic, and intermediate – corresponding to monophyletic clades with 97.1-97.8% average nucleotide identity between protective and pathogenic lineages. Pangenome analysis identified 230 protective-specific versus 80 pathogenic-specific orthogroups. Protective strains encode unique regulatory systems, stress tolerance mechanisms, and metabolic versatility while lacking Type I and Type VI secretion system variants associated with pathogenicity. Together, these findings demonstrate that beneficial versus pathogenic phenotypes are phylogenetically constrained within distinct V. mediterranei lineages. This supports reports that V. mediterranei acts as both a pathogen and potential symbiont in marine hosts and reveals a clade that provides robust protection against oyster pathogens. Importance Aquaculture disease management has traditionally emphasized either prophylactic treatment using antibiotics to avoid disease and dysbiosis or has focused entirely on pathogen detection. Both of these approaches have overlooked the potential contributions of beneficial microbes to host defense and grow-out performance. Developing beneficial probiotic tools for disease prevention represents an emerging opportunity for sustainable aquaculture management. This study demonstrates that specific lineages of Vibrio mediterranei function as protective symbionts capable of rescuing oyster larvae from near-complete pathogen-induced mortality. By integrating field observations of microbial succession during mortality events with experimental validation and comparative genomics, we show that protective versus pathogenic phenotypes are phylogenetically constrained within V. mediterranei clades separated by 97.1-97.8% average nucleotide identity. This resolution of strain-level functional variation provides fundamental insights into how host-microbe mutualisms evolve within species complexes that also harbor pathogens. The unique genomic markers identified here enable reliable screening for protective symbionts, while the temperature-stable and durable protection demonstrated in this study highlights the potential for biological control strategies in shellfish hatcheries increasingly affected by warming oceans and Vibrio -driven mortality events.

Abaca (Musa textilis Née) is a natural fiber-producing plant that is endemic to the Philippines. It is primarily grown for its fibers in textile and industrial applications. Currently, five locally described Abaca cultivars are grown in Aklan: Tabukanon, Bisaya, Agbayanon, Negro, and Totoo. Limited information exists, and no in-depth research has been conducted on the yield of these Abaca cultivars. The study investigated the fiber yield performance of Abaca cultivars in Aklan using a linear mixed-effects model (LMM) and Tukey’s HSD method at a 5% level to determine differences between cultivars. Findings highlighted highly significant differences among cultivars in terms of tuxy weight, extracted fiber weight, dry weight, moisture content, fiber length, and fiber count. Findings revealed that significant differences were observed in the inner layers of tuxy, extracted fibers, moisture content, and fiber length, while in the outer layers, significant differences were observed only in dry weight and fiber count. Moreover, no significant differences were observed in the tuxy weight, extracted fiber, moisture content, and fiber length for the outer layers, whereas extracted fiber and dry weight were significantly different for the inner layers. The study highlighted that Bisaya and Tabukanon exhibited high inner fiber yield and tuxy weight but have shorter fiber lengths and potential for commercial production. In contrast, the Totoo cultivar produced a high fiber count; however, it had lower tensile strength, shorter length, and lower dry weight. Among all cultivars, Negro exhibited significantly longer fibers (both layers), and Agbayanon had moderate fiber characteristics, which are desirable for industrial applications.

Injury to the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) is a well-recognized complication of esophagectomy and is associated with significant postoperative morbidity, including dysphonia, aspiration, and pulmonary complications. The risk is particularly relevant during transhiatal esophagectomy, where limited mediastinal visualization increases the likelihood of traction-related nerve injury. We report a case of a 68-year-old male with distal esophageal carcinoma who underwent transhiatal esophagectomy following neoadjuvant therapy, in whom a targeted cervical dissection strategy was employed to achieve early identification and preservation of the left RLN. Key technical elements included lateralization of the thyroid lobe, selective ligation of small collateral vessels, traction-free cervical mobilization of the esophagus, and coordinated bidirectional cervical-abdominal dissection to minimize mediastinal strain. The gastric conduit was delivered through the posterior mediastinum, and a hand-sewn cervical esophagogastric anastomosis was completed without intraoperative complications. Postoperative laryngoscopic evaluation confirmed normal vocal cord mobility, and the patient experienced no dysphonia, aspiration, or respiratory events during recovery. This case highlights a potentially reproducible, anatomy-based cervical approach for RLN preservation during transhiatal esophagectomy that can be applied in resource-limited settings to reduce functional morbidity.

This study investigated the changes in rumen fermentation characteristics, blood parameters, and rumen microbial communities of Holstein dairy cows in the early lactation stage during heat stress conditions and subsequent recovery. This study aimed to fill the significant knowledge gaps regarding the recovery of dairy cattle from heat stress during the early stages of lactation. Metataxonomic analysis was used to identify potential biomarkers and metabolites associated with metabolic disease prediction. The temperature-humidity index was recorded on a dairy farm to define the heat stress and recovery periods. Using the Bray-Curtis dissimilarity index, principal coordinate analysis revealed that both the heat stress and recovery periods affected the overall composition of the rumen bacterial community. The first three principal coordinates explained 33.10%, 19.10%, and 12.30% of the total variation, indicating the significant (p < 0.01) influence of temperature changes on the dominance of rumen microbes and the rumen environment. However, alpha diversity measurements were unaffected in both periods. Metataxonomic analysis (average relative abundance 2%) of cows in both periods revealed ten predominant genera: Prevotella, Ruminococcus, Selenomonas, Gilliamella, Duncaniella, Succiniclasticum, Paraprevotella, Bacteriodes, Lentimicrobium, and Treponema. During heat stress, significant alterations were observed in the levels of three organic acids, six fatty acids, and thirteen amino acids. Furthermore, heat stress caused a significant increase in blood serum HSP27 and HSP70 levels (both p < 0.01), whereas blood serum glucose (p = 0.001) and blood urea nitrogen (p < 0.001) decreased. Heat stress significantly increased blood serum ketone concentrations (p = 0.005), tended to decrease cholesterol levels (p = 0.053), reduced blood urea nitrogen concentrations (p < 0.001), and affected total protein (p = 0.002), aspartate aminotransferase (p = 0.049), and total bilirubin concentrations (p = 0.010). The levels of blood serum minerals, such as calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium, as well as ruminal pH, ammonia-N, acetate, and butyrate, were not affected during either period. Heat stress influenced propionate (p = 0.006) and total volatile fatty acids (p = 0.030). Overall, heat stress during early lactation resulted in significant shifts within the rumen bacterial community structure, accompanied by corresponding changes in blood metabolite profiles.

As educational practices increasingly rely on technology, teacher education programs are under pressure to integrate digital tools, especially for Indonesian pre-service EFL teachers. Despite this growing emphasis, comprehensive studies addressing how these prospective teachers interpret and evaluate the use of digital applications for instructional media design are still scarce. Accordingly, the present study was designed to explore these perceptions through an analysis of attitudes, instructional implementation, and fundamental belief systems. This research adopted a survey-based quantitative design involving 44 sixth-semester students who had completed micro-teaching as part of their academic requirements. Conducted in December 2024 at the English Education Study Program of UIN Sulthan Thaha Saifuddin Jambi, the study collected data through a Google Forms instrument with 23 items organized into three thematic dimensions. Analysis of the responses produced an overall mean of 4.1, suggesting very favorable perceptions toward educational applications, notably for their contribution to active student participation, interactive learning processes, and effective teacher–student interaction. The study suggests that continuous professional training is necessary to equip future educators with the competencies required for effective integration of digital tools. These findings support the inclusion of structured digital literacy components in teacher education curricula.

Greenhouse gas emissions are projected to increase by 50% by 2050, primarily due to reliance on non-environmentally friendly energy sources. The transition toward clean and renewable energy is therefore widely regarded as a key strategy for mitigating this trend. West Nusa Tenggara possesses substantial potential for renewable energy development, particularly through solar power plants, owing to its abundant sunlight. In West Sumbawa, PT Medco Energi, via its subsidiary PT MPSoS, has implemented solar technology by installing panels on a 27-hectare site, capable of generating 26.8 MWp of energy. To further optimize land-use efficiency, PT MPSoS introduced an agrovoltaic approach that integrates solar energy generation with agricultural activities on the same land area. In collaboration with academic partners, PT MPSoS cultivated seedless watermelons beneath the solar panel structures. This study aimed to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of agrovoltaic systems in enhancing land-use efficiency through the integration of solar energy production and agricultural activity. A field experiment was conducted in which seedless watermelons were grown beneath solar panels across 11 panel arrays, comprising three small plots (21 m x 6 m each) and eight large plots (31 m x 6 m each). Overall crop performance was assessed qualitatively based on plant growth success. Preliminary results indicate a crop establishment success rate exceeding 80%, underscoring the potential of agrovoltaic systems to contribute simultaneously to energy generation and food sustainability.

This research aims to produce valid and practical AI-assisted Educational Statistics teaching materials for disabilities students in higher education. The research method used was Research and Development (R&amp;D) with the ADDIE model approach (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation). This study involved 6 disabilities students from UIN Sulthan Thaha Saifuddin Jambi as trial subjects. Data analysis techniques were carried out quantitatively to measure product validity and practicality through expert validation sheets and student response questionnaires. The results showed that the Canva AI-assisted teaching materials developed obtained a very high validity level with an average percentage of 92.75% from media expert validation (96%), material (92%), language (93%), and questionnaire (90%). The Practicality testing yielded a score of 4.06, classified as "practical" based on student responses. The materials integrate text-to-speech features, AI chatbot, statistics calculator, and accessible design enabling independent learning. These findings demonstrate that AI-assisted teaching materials are feasible and effective for facilitating accessible and independent learning in Educational Statistics for students with disabilities in higher education. This research contributes practical AI technology-based inclusive learning solutions and theoretical frameworks for developing adaptive teaching materials in Indonesian higher education.

One of the topics discussed in Grade 8 MAPEH (Music, Arts, Physical Education, and Health) introduces Japanese culture through music and arts. This study aims to understand high school students' awareness and appreciation of Japanese culture, which strongly influences Philippine pop culture. A descriptive correlation from a survey showed high awareness and appreciation of Japanese culture, particularly in their interest in and support for Japanese art and music, which are anchored in cultural expressions. Japanese products, such as clothing, crafts, and landscapes, were found to incur less awareness and appreciation. Meanwhile, sex is found to have no relationship to awareness and appreciation for Japanese culture. Findings implied that Filipino high school students were exposed to Japanese culture through effective teaching strategies and activities in MAPEH, particularly through discussions of music and the arts. To improve awareness and appreciation of Japanese crafts, clothing, and landscapes, it is suggested that this be included as part of the performances and/or in the discussion of Japanese arts.