2 U.P. Newsletter
january 2012
Research progress reports presented at symposium The Office of the Vice-President for Academic Affairs (OVPAA) held a research symposium last December 5 that featured the progress reports of four projects funded by the UP Emerging S&T Fields Grant. Dr. Raul Destura, director of the National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (NIMBB), National Institutes of Health, UP Manila (UPM) presented the status report of their study on the “Production of Immunotherapeutics, Diagnostics and Immuno-Nutraceuticals Derived from Avian Immunoglobulin Y (IgY) Technology.” Destura heads this collaborative project between the NIMBB and the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the UPM College of Medicine. Prof. Dulce Flores of the UP Mindanao College of Science and Mathematics then gave an update on her team’s research on “Angiotensin-1-Converting Enzyme (ACE1) Inhibitors.” University researcher Medino Gedeun Yebron Jr., representing the director of the Animal and Dairy Sciences Cluster, Prof. Cesar Sevilla, delivered the progress report on UP Los Baños’ (UPLB) “Optimizing Rumen Ecology of Indigenous Ruminants for Efficient Production.” Finally, Dr. Philip Ian Padilla of the UP Visayas (UPV) NIMBB and College of Arts and Sciences presented the status of the “Establishment of the Marine Microorganism and Tissue Culture Bank (MMTCB) in UPV-NIMBB.” Destura’s team continues to study IgY from yolks of chicken eggs in hopes that it will lead to the development of an oral rehydration immunonutrition solution (The ORinS Juice Project) for diarrhea caused by rotavirus as well as specificity and sensitivity assays and diagnostic kits for thyroid stimulating hormone, hepatitis B virus, and acute typhoid fever caused by Salmonella typhi bacteria. He added that an offshoot of the UP-funded project is a collaborative study with Michigan State University on “Improved Detection of Mycobacteria tuberculosis in Respiratory Specimen using IgY-primed Magnetic Nanogold Particle.” Flores heads the study exploring food sources of ACE-1 inhibitors, which are used to control the blood pressure levels of hypertensive individuals. The objectives of the study include the development of a screening assay for ACE-inhibiting activity, characterization of the ACE-inhibiting
activity of local food items and production of a cultured/fermented milk drink as an antihypertensive. She said that they are also screening local vegetables for another ACEinhibitor, nicotianamine. The UPLB study’s main goal is to improve ruminant production by studying rumen ecology of indigenous cattle, carabao and goats—characterizing and identifying dominant rumen bacteria and protozoa; determining the changes in rumen microbial ecology, optimizing fermentation rates and metabolizable protein flow due to nutritional interventions; and determining changes in rumen ecology between cattle and carabao with cross-inoculated rumen contents. Yebron said that by taking a close look at rumen ecology, they are able to discover alternative, cheaper sources of additives/enzymes that will deliver the same or better results as expensive feed additives. This will lead to a decrease of feed cost for farmers. In addition, their study also explores the possibility of lower methane emission due to these alternative feed additives. Padilla explained the significance of the MMTCB establishment at the UPVNIMBB. It will boost research capabilities because stored specimens “will be used for studies on cell toxicity, microbial sensitivity, viral plaque assays, microbial ecology surveys, taxonomic and phylogenetic relationships.” This supply will also be accessed for the “development of drugs and vaccines against the different pathogens that are isolated” and “screened for active biomolecules that may be scientifically and commercially exploited to benefit the university financially.” It can lead to increased field application, especially on the “control of fish, algal and other aquaculture pathogens.” The Emerging S&T Fields Grant was established in 2006 to “strengthen UP’s position as the leading research and development university in the country and in the region” and to fortify S&T programs in all UP campuses. According to the OVPAA, initiatives under the grant “are meant to improve the quality, productivity and impact of scientific research for the generation of new knowledge expected of a National University in the 21st century.” The OVPAA research symposium is the first of a series of fora that aims to disseminate information about UP’s research projects.
Andre Encarnacion Photo by Jun Madrid
Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo
OVPAA organizes first Scientific Writing Workshop in UP
Dr. Diana Aga from the State University of New York at Buffalo advises workshop participants on the basics of publishing internationally.
“Be ready for heartbreaking reviews.” This advice by Prof. Diana Aga of the State University of New York at Buffalo during UP’s first Scientific Writing Workshop was one of many lessons learned by participants in publishing in international peer-reviewed journals. The workshop, organized by the Office of the Vice-President for Academic Affairs (OVPAA), was held at the University Hotel, UP Diliman last November 24 and 25 and involved 15 participants across the UP System. The participants were taught the basics of how to write a credible research paper for international publication and briefed on the various pressures and frustrations a scholar may face along the way. They were also made to participate in hands-on writing exercises, which were then subjected to mock reviews in order to enhance their research skills and experience. Aside from Aga who instr ucted participants on the ins and outs of writing for international publications, the workshop also had Prof. Gil Jacinto of the Marine Science Institute who advised them on the use of bibliographic databases such as Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar Scholar. Marian Ramos from the UP Library also oriented the participants on how to get the best out of their research endeavors by using the library’s vast resources. Other mentors were Prof. Zubaida Basiao of the Institute of Biology, Prof. Jose Maria Balmaceda from the Institute of Mathematics and Prof. Cynthia Hedreyda of the UPD National Institute of Molecular
Biology and Biotechnology. In a printed guide written with Prof. Eduardo Padlan titled On Writing a Scientific Paper, VP Gisela P. Concepcion advised the Paper participants as to why they should publish: “Wanting to share our knowledge with the rest of the world is rooted in the most basic reason for doing science: we do science to help improve our world. We don’t work in a vacuum; we avail of the knowledge gained by others before us and we try to add to that knowledge. This is the most noble reason for publishing--and the most altruistic.” The workshop saw the participants being taught the basics of publication including why one should publish, choosing where to publish, how to handle rejection and tips to aid the general writing process including writing a novelty statement of less than 100-words which aims to “convince the editors and reviewers why they would consider publishing your paper in their journal,” and in choosing the right journal to submit to, among others. Aga stressed the importance of doing research with international relevance. “If you’re trying to publish your papers in international journals… kailangan nyong ma-convince yung editor na kahit nasa Philippine setting siya, it can be applicable internationally.” The participants in the workshop included five from the School of Environmental Science and Management, Institute of Biological Sciences, and BIOTECH of UP Los Baños; two from the Department of Biology of UP Baguio; one from the Math (Continue on page 11)
UP Press launches second batch of books, e-books Filipino: Balangkasan by Resty Mendoza and Ricardo Ma. Duran Nolasco; Lagalag ng Paglaya by Rommel Rodriguez; Miss Dulce Extranghera: O ang Paghahanap kay Miss B by Sir Anril Pineda Tiatco; Sawikaan 2010: Mga Salita ng Taon, edited by Robero Anonuevo and Romulo P. Baquiran Jr.; The Rhetorics of Sin by Mary Jannette L. Pinzon; Things Fall Away: Philippine Historical Experience and the Makings of Globalization by Neferti X. M. Tadiar; Welgang Bayan: Empowering Labor Unions against Poverty and Repression by Rosario Torres-Yu. Committed to making Philippine books available around the world, the UP Press also launched its second batch of titles in ebook format. In cooperation with Flipside Digital Content Company, the UP Press has gathered these titles in literature and scholarship. The second batch of e-books are: One Hundred Love Poems, edited by Gemino
Abad and Alfred Yuson; Sunday in Manila by Robert Boyer; Defiant Daughters Dancing by Rina Angeles Corpus; Selected Stories by Jose Y. Dalisay; Forcing the Pace by Ken Fuller; Postcolonialism and Filipino Poetics by J. Neil Garcia; The Sky Over Dimas by Vicente Garcia Groyon; Five Years in a Forgotten Land by Cristina Pantoja Hidalgo; Philippine Studies: Have We Gone Beyond St. Louis? , edited by Priscelina Patajo-Legasto; An Embarrassment of Riches by Charlson Ong; Ten Supernatural Stories edited by April Yap and Lara Saguisag; An Isteytsayd Life by Lorenzo Paran III; Mind Body Communication Technique: An Alternative Way of Learning and Teaching Confidence in Public Speaking by Carmencita Del Villar; Life Before X and Other Stories by Angelo Rodriguez Lacuesta; Sikolohiyang Pilipino: Teorya, Metodo at Gamit Gamit, edited by Rogelia Pe-Pua. Visit amazon.com or flipreads.com to Prof. Taguiwalo presents a copy of her book Babae, download these books. Obrera, Unyonista during the UP Press launch.
Photo by Jun Madrid
The UP Press launched 15 titles last November 25 at the Balay Kalinaw, UP Diliman. The books were by scholars here and abroad and literary work from the country’s writers. The new UP Press books are: A Movement Divided: Philippine Communism, 1957-1986 by Ken Fuller; Almanak ng Isang Aktibista by Rolando B. Tolentino; Babae, Obrera, Unyonista: Ang Kababaihan sa Kilusang Paggawa sa Maynila (1901-1941) by Judy M. Taguiwalo; Balagen: Edukasyong Pangkapayapaan at Panitikang Pambata by Rosario Torres-Yu; Basics of Occupational Health and Safety: A Guidebook For Practitioners and Industries by Jinky Leilanie Del Prado-Lu; Bugtong ng Buwan at Iba Pang Kuwento by Will P. Ortiz; Dead Stars: American and Philippine Literary Perspectives on the American Colonization of the Philippines by Jennifer M. McMahon; From Wilderness to Nation: Interrogating Bayan, edited by Damon L. Woods; Gramatikang