3layman'sabstracts.pmd Layman’s Abstracts 1 SCIENCE DILIMAN (JULY-DECEMBER 2017) 29:2, 1-3 LAYMAN’S ABSTRACTS A Hybrid CFD-BEM Analysis of the Aerodynamic Performance of a Cut-Out Hollow Pipe Horizontal Axis W ind Turbine Blade Neil Richard P. Tanguil ig and Louis Angelo M. Danao ISSN 0115-7809 Print / ISSN 2012-0818 Online This study investigated the performance of a cut-out hollow-pipe blade prof ile in small horizontal axis wind turbines (HAWT). Although this type of blade was expected to have losses in eff iciency, such blade prof ile can be easily manufactured locally, and could potentially have a lower c o s t c o m p a r e d t o c o n v e n t i o n a l b l a d e s w i t h a e r o f o i l p r o f i l e s . Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) was used to derive the aerodynamic characteristics of the cut-out hollow-pipe sections. The Blade Element Momentum (BEM) method was then used to investigate the performance of the HAWT’s rotor. CFD results show that cut-out hollow-pipe sections have poor aerodynamic characteristics due to their simple geometry and crude design. BEM results demonstrate that rotor with cut-out hollow- pipe blades can still work but only at low tip speed ratios. Other relevant a n a l y s e s s h o w t h a t t h e p e r f o r m a n c e c a n b e i m p r o v e d b y a l t e r i n g t h e pitch of the blades and by adding additional blades to the rotor. Genetic Comparison of Oncomelania hupensis quad rasi (Möllendorf, 1895) (Gastropoda: Pomatiopsidae), the Intermed iate Host of Schistosoma japonicum in the Phil ippines, Based on 16S Ribosomal RNA Sequence James Christopher C. Chua, Ian Kim B. Tabios, Pebbles Grayle P. Tamayo, Lyd ia R. Leonardo, Ian Kendrich C. Fontanilla, Raffy C. Fornillos, Emmanuel Ryan C. De Chavez, Takeshi Agatsuma, Mihoko Kikuchi, Naoko Kato-Hayashi and Yuichi Chigusa Schistosoma japonicum is a parasitic fluke that makes use of humans and other vertebrates as hosts. Its infective stage is the water-borne cercaria that burrows through skin. One of its intermediate hosts that release crecariae is the freshwater snail Oncomelania hupensis. There are many Layman’s Abstracts 2 Morphological Characterization, Evaluation and Selection of Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosasinensis L) Hybrids Elena May N. Cabarrubias, Pabl ito M. Magdal ita, Antonio G. Lalusin and Norma G. Med ina Fifty-seven hibiscus siblings derived from the cross-breeding of different parents were assessed for various characteristics to select plants with g o o d f l owe r co l o r a n d fo r m . O u t of 5 7, 1 4 h y b r i d s we r e s e l ec ted. T h e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f t h e s i b l i n g s w e r e s u b j e c t e d t o p r i n c i p a l c o m p o n e n t analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis. PCA revealed three major PCs with e i g e n v a l u e > 1 c o n t r i b u t i n g 7 8 % o f t h e t o t a l a c c u m u l a t e d d i f f e r e n c e s among the siblings. For instance, in PC-I, the contribution of flower size, leaf size, and style length to variation in flower traits was the highest. U s i n g t h e t h r e e m a j o r P C s , t h e 5 7 s i b l i n g s w e r e g r o u p e d i n t o f i v e different clusters. Cluster-I had 16 yellow-orange and purple members. Cluster-II had 15 white and red-purple members. Cluster-III comprised f ive yellow members. Cluster-IV was composed of 13 yellow and yellow- o r a n g e m e m b e r s . C l u s t e r - V h a d 8 m e m b e r s w i t h r e d a n d r e d - p u r p l e flowers. The mean size of the flowers of all siblings was 130.21 mm. PCA revealed that the siblings with large flowers and longer petioles tend to have wider leaves, which agrees with the dendrogram groupings o f t h e 5 7 h i b i s c u s h y b r i d s . C o r r e l a t i o n b a s e d o n P C A r e v e a l e d a s u b s p e c i e s o f O . h u p e n s i s i n A s i a ; i n t h e P h i l i p p i n e s , t h e s u b s p e c i e s p r e s e n t i s O . h u p e n s i s q u a d r a s i . T h e g e n e t i c d i v e r s i t y o f t h e s n a i l intermediate host may also reflect the genetic diversity of the parasite, which in turn, may have implications on the susceptibility of a snail to the parasite as both may co-evolve with each other. This study aimed to assess the genetic diversity of O. h. quadrasi isolates based on the 16S r R N A g e n e f r o m n i n e p r o v i n c e s k n o w n t o h a v e S . j a p o n i c u m i n t h e Philippines, namely Cagayan Valley, Bohol, Negros Occidental, Leyte, Davao, Davao del Sur, Mindoro Oriental, Samar, and Sorsogon. O. h. hupensis and O. h. nosophora subspecies were also collected from China and Japan, respectively. The results reveal that the Philippine O. h. quadrasi had four distinct sequences, but these were not correlated with their geographical location. Furthermore, the Philippine isolates formed a distinct group from the other subspecies, conf irming its taxonomic designation. Layman’s Abstracts 3 Determination of Cr, Cd, Sn and Pb in Selected Herbal Products Available in Phil ippine Markets Joan S. De Vera, Leni B. Quirit and Irene B. Rodriguez M a n y F i l i p i n o s r e l y o n h e r b a l p r o d u c t s d e s p i t e t h e l a c k o f s t u d i e s validating their safety. One concern in the use of herbal supplements is m e t a l c o n t a m i n a t i o n , w h i c h m a y b e i n t r o d u c e d f r o m t h e e n v i r o n m e n t w h e r e t h e p l a n t s a r e g r o w n , a s w e l l a s d u r i n g m a n u f a c t u r i n g . W h e n ingested, metals, such as lead and cadmium, can accumulate in the body and cause various health problems like liver and kidney damage. Some forms of tin and chromium are also known to be toxic to humans. In light of this, we conducted a study to analyze the amount of these trace metals in selected herbal products with various plant ingredients. Most of the products tested had measurable trace metal concentrations, which w e r e b e l o w t h e s u g g e s t e d m a x i m u m l i m i t s f o r c a d m i u m a n d l e a d i n h e r b a l p r o d u c t s . H o w e v e r, o n e p r o d u c t d e r i v e d f r o m m a n g o s t e e n exceeded the limit for cadmium. The variability of metal concentrations i n h e r b a l p r o d u c t s u n d e r l i n e s t h e f a c t t h a t p l a n t s a r e s u s c e p t i b l e t o contamination, and quality control during processing must be improved t o m i n i m i z e p o s s i b i l i t y o f c o n t a m i n a t i o n . T h e r e s u l t s o f t h i s s t u d y suggest that vigilant monitoring of herbal products is imperative to avoid exposure to trace metal contaminants. Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitory Action of Selected Plants Dionisio Bong B. Singson and Christine L. Chichioco-Hernandez Hypertension is a leading cause of morbidity in the Philippines affecting 2 0 % o f F i l i p i n o a d u l t s . U n t r e a t e d h y p e r t e n s i o n m a y l e a d t o s t r o k e , blindness, heart attack, and kidney and heart failure. One way to lower blood pressure is through the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors like captopril. Howeve r, the use of such drugs is associated with unwanted side effects. Plants are good sources of potential effective anti-hypertensive compounds with minimal side effects. signif icant positive association between flower size and leaf size, and between petiole length and leaf size.