July-December 2012 ISSN 0115‐8724 PHILIPPINE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ABSTRACTS Classified abstracts of the latest Philippine publications in the field of science and technology Published by: Information Resources and Analysis Division SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY INFORMATION INSTITUTE Department of Science and Technology DOST Compound, General Santos Avenue Bicutan, Taguig City, Philippines July - December 2012 TABLE OF CONTENTS AGRICULTURE 0001-0019 ANTHROPOLOGY 0020 BIOLOGY 0021-0034 BOTANY 0035-0055 CHEMISTRY 0056-0067 COMMUNICATIONS 0068 COMPUTER SCIENCE 0069 ECOLOGY 0070-0072 ENGINEERING 0073-0083 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE 0084-0093 FISHERIES 0094-0104 FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 0105-0148 FORESTRY 0149-0151 GEOLOGY 0152-0156 HEALTH AND WELLNESS 0157-0169 HYDROLOGY 0170 INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY 0171-0188 LIVELIHOOD 0189 MARINE SCIENCE 0190-0197 MATHEMATICS 0198 MEDICINE 0199-0346 PHYSICS 0347 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 0348-0350 SOCIAL SCIENCES 0351-0352 VETERINARY MEDICINE 0353-0354 ZOOLOGY 0355-0373 AGRICULTURE 0001 Application of the improved embryo culture protocol for commercial production of makapuno seedlings. Areza-Ubaldo, Maria Buena B., Rillo, Erlinda P., Cueto, Cristeta A.. Philippine Journal of Science, 2005, 132(1):1-11 The improved basal medium for coconut embryo culture was verified for the mass propagation of Makapuno seedlings. Results confirmed earlier findings that coconut zygotic embryos develop satisfactorily in the improved embryo culture medium. This medium consists of Eeuwens (Y3) (1976) and various additives. The entire cycle to produce one embryo cultured makapuno seedling costs P265.45 (as of Feb 2002) compared with the original PCA-Albay Research Center protocol (ARC) (P301.84). This improved embryo culture technology is now adapted to mass produce Makapuno seedlings nationwide. (Author\'s abstract) Coconut embryo culture. Philippine coconut authority (PCA). Albay research center (ARC). Tissue culture. Agriculture. 0002 Bioaccumulation and bioconcentration of Pb in the tissues of Zea mays L.. de Jesus, Benjamin R., Yllano, Orlex B.. Philippine Journal of Science, 2005, 134(1):21-29 The bioaccumulation (BA) and bioconcentration factor (BCF) of lead (Pb) in the root and shoot tissues of corn seeding were investigated in potted field conditions and were analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS). Results indicated significant difference on the BA of Pb in the root and the shoot tissues of corn exposed to various Pb(NO3)2 concentrations. Significant (at PZea mays L. IPB var. 911 may be considered to ameliorate Pb-contaminated soils. In situ identification and characterization of Indigenous and tolerant plant species in heavy metal contaminated areas are necessary for future investigation. (Author\'s abstract) Corn. Heavy metals. Spectrophotometry. Bioremediation. Agriculture. Ecology. 0003 Some biophysical changes in the chloroplasts of a Dracaena radiation-mutant. Palamine, Maria Teresa L., Cureg, Rommel Gavino A., Marbella, Lucia J., Lapade, Avelina G., Domingo, Zenaida B., Deocaris, Custer C.. Philippine Journal of Science, 2005, 134(2):121-126 Chlorophyll mutation is one of the most frequent phenotypes observed during radiation induced mutation breeding of Dracaena sanderiana var. virescens (common name: green cornplant). Spectral analysis of a stable mutant line irradiated at 20 Gy indicated a decreased ration in chlorophylls a/b (0.74 + 0.104) compared with the wild-type mother plant (1.18 + 0.0665). Calorimetry of isolated chloroplast preparations showed a major difference in thermotropic o o o transition in the range of -50 C to 100 C at TP of 64 C and an enthalpy of -9.68 kJ/g in the chlorophyll-mutant. As these results are consistent with the mutation 1 phenotype and the role played by chlorophyll in lamellar organization, our study shows an interesting application of biophysics in horticulture. (Author\'s abstract) Radiation mutants. Dracaena. Liquid crystals. Chlorophyll. Mutation breeding. Cornplant. Biophysics. Horticulture. Agriculture. 0004 Carbonized rice husk (CRH). Vinluan, Jr., Felipe D., Dayrit Gaw, Monette, Almonte, Ponciano B.. Philippine Agricultural Mechanization Bulletin, 2005, 9(2):3-7 Rice husk is one of the most abundant agricultural wastes generated in the Philippines. With the 1.8 million metric tons produced annually only 5 percent is utilized productively mainly as energy source for cooking or as soil additive. The rest is burned or left to rot. A useful product that can be produced from the rice husk is carbonized rice husk (CRH). CRH is produced by partial burning of rice husk in a carbonizer. CRH has high water retention, high air permeability, very light in weight and slightly alkaline. In other countries, the common applications of CRH in agriculture are: (1) To increase water and nutrient retention of sandy soils; (2) To improve aeration of clayey soils; and (3) To neutralize acidic soils. CRH contains good quality carbon which encourages the multiplication of microorganisms necessary for plant growth . The beneficial effects of carbonized aorganic material to plant growth has been recognized in traditional agriculture. Crops grow very well in newly opened \"kaingin\" farms where burnt vegetation (charcoal) is abundant. High yield is attained during the first 2-3 croppings even without using commercial fertilizers, CRH is also used as deodorizer for animal manure in poultry, piggery and feedlots. In industry, CRH is used as heat insulation material for pig iron in blast furnaces, as oil absorber and as component for brick making. The other uses of CRH include waste water treatment and for melting snow during winter. Recognizing the potential of CRH, various organizations have ventured into the design of cost-effective carbonizers; production and sale for local and export markets; and field testing and utilization for agriculture. The ITDI-DOST, a government research institution spearheaded the acquisition of technical information from abroad on the production and utilization of CRH. About ninety (90) percent of CRH produced by AIM-DM amounting to 30 metric tons a month is for the export market mainly Japan. On the average, the company ships out 3 units 40-foot containers every month with each container valued at US$ 1,600. In the local market, agribusiness companies have started using CRH. Utilization technologies developed in other countries are being adopted locally. Among these are the ELRO Commercial and Industrial Corp. (ELRO-CIC) and the Bais MultiFarms, Inc. (BMI) of the Elizalde - Roxas Group. Their CRH requirement is supplied by the AIM-DM plant. ELRO-CIC has also established a fertilizer plant that produces organic fertilizer blends using CRH as an ingredient. (Author\'s abstract) Agriculture. Rice husk. Agricultural waste. 2 0005 Genetic diversity analysis of traditional upland rice cultivars in Kihan, Malapatan, Sarangani Province, Philippines using morphometric markers. Lasalita-Zapico, Florence C., Namocatcat, Jaime A., Cariño-Turner, Josephine L.. Philippine Journal of Science, 2005, 139(2):177-180 In situ characterization was carried out for thirty two traditional upland rice cultivars in Kihan, Malapatan, Sarangani Province using ten morpho-agronomic characters at the reproductive stage, as prelude to genetic diversity analysis of the Province\'s traditional rice gene pool. Cluster analysis revealed four groups, each group representing a distinct set of morpho-agronomic values, while Principal component analysis, which also sorted the cultivars into four clusters showed two principal components accounting for about 82.7% of total variance observed. Comparison of PCA and dendrogram groupings revealed generally similar trends, though slight inconsistencies were observed in terms of cluster composition. Pearson\'s correlation analysis of the morphological traits suggests that these traits are significantly and positively correlated with each other except for the flag leaf angle. Though inconclusive due to susceptibility of the evaluated morphological traits to environmental conditions, this study assessed the overall genetic diversity pattern of traditional upland rice cultivars based on morpho-agronomic variations that can be further subjected to more robust tests involving molecular markers. (Author\'s abstract) Cluster analysis. Morphometric markers. Upland rice. Agriculture. 0006 Integrating fish into seasonally flooded rice fields. Baruah, U.K., Borah, B.C.. NAGA the ICLARM quarterly, 2005, 29(1-2):48-52 In the State of Assam, floodplains cover 2.6 million ha of area that is traditionally rice growing. The ecosystem in the rice-growing areas has undergone major changes as a result of various developmental activities and adoption of modern farming technology. Rice fields were once the major source of fish for the rural farmers. There has been a sharp decline in fish population in rice field leading to a chronic shortage of fish in the State and a deterioration of the rice ecosystem. This paper describes two on-farm experiments for integrating rice cultivation and fish production with the intent of contributing to the understanding of how raising fish can improve rice yields, rice ecosystems and farm incomes. (Author\'s abstract) Agriculture. Rice farming. Fish culture. Rice-fish cultivation. Fish production. Rice farming and fish culture integration. Rural farmers. India. 0007 Intellectual property rights in the agricultural engineering profession. Suministrado, Delfin C.. Philippine Agricultural Mechanization Bulletin,