3layman'sabstracts.pmd


Layman’s Abstracts

1

SCIENCE DILIMAN  (JANUARY-JUNE 2018) 30:1, 1-3

LAYMAN’S ABSTRACTS

Low-Complexity Physical Layer Security
Scheme for Heterogeneous Cellular Networks
based on Coord inated Precod ing Design
and Artif icial Noise Generation

Neil Irwin M. Bernardo and Franz de Leon

ISSN 0115-7809 Print / ISSN 2012-0818 Online

Heterogeneous Network (HetNet) deployment is a cellular system design

approach in which multiple low power access nodes are underlaid in a

t r a d i t i o n a l  m a c r o - c e l l u l a r  n e t w o r k .  H e t N e t s  a r e  a b l e  t o  p r o v i d e

s u b s t a n t i a l  i n c r e a s e  i n  ce l l u l a r  c a p a c i t y a n d  e n e r g y e f f i c i e n c y t h u s

making it a viable solution to meet the demands in the next generation

of cellular system, also known as 5G. In this study, we investigated how

security can be incorporated into the downlink transmission (i.e. from

telecommunications network to mobile phones) of HetNets while still

m a i n t a i n i n g  t h e i r  h i g h  ce l l u l a r  c a p a c i t y a n d  h i g h  e n e r g y e f f i c i e n c y

proper ties. Our approach is to integrate information security, user data

r a t e  r e q u i r e m e n t , a n d  p o w e r  co n s u m p t i o n  o f  t h e  H e t N e t ’s  d o w n l i n k

transmission into a computationally-tractable convex optimization model.

F r o m  t h e  f o r m u l a t e d  m o d e l ,  w e  p r o p o s e  a  s e c u r i t y  t e c h n i q u e  w i t h

s u b o p t i m a l  p e r f o r m a n c e  b u t  w i t h  a  c o m p u t a t i o n a l  c o m p l e x i t y  t h a t  i s

feasible for real-time implementation.

Feed ing Habits of Mobula japanica
(Chond richthyes, Mobul idae) in Butuan Bay,
Mindanao Island, Phil ippines

Shirlamaine Irina G. Masangcay, Ephrime B. Metillo,
Ken-Ichi Hayashizaki, Satoru Tamada and Shuhei Nishida

We studied the feeding habits of the Spinetail Devil Ray Mobula japanica,

l o c a l l y k n ow n  a s  Pa n t i h a n , f r o m  B u t u a n  B a y, E a s te r n  B o h o l  S e a  f r o m

January to May 2016 using data on its stomach contents, and carbon

a n d  n i t r o g e n  s t a b l e  i s o t o p e  a n a l y s e s .  S m a l l  s h r i m p - l i k e  k r i l l

Pseudeuphausia latifrons, known locally as Alamang, contributed almost

100% to the devil ray’s ingested food. Stable isotope analysis conf irmed

the specialized feeding and assimilation of the krill food. This study is

the f irst to identify the swarming krill P. latifrons as the major food of

the Spinetail Devil Ray in Butuan Bay.



Layman’s Abstracts

2

Fucoidan Content in Phil ippine
Brown Seaweeds

Joemark T. Narsico, Joyce A. Nieva, Alper James G. Alcaraz,
Elad io G.M. Anino V, Norchel Corcia F. Gomez and

Marco Nemesio E. Montaño

The Philippines is home to hundreds of seaweed species that serve as

sources of high-value natural products, such as fucoidan. Fucoidan is a

s u l f a t e d  p o l y s a c c h a r i d e  t h a t  c a n  b e  e x t r a c t e d  f r o m  t h e  c e l l  w a l l s  o f

brown seaweeds and is reported to have a wide range of bioactivities

for possible medicinal applications. In this study, we assessed Philippine

brown seaweeds as sources of fucoidan by determining which species

or genera among local brown algae has the highest content of partially

p u r i f i e d  f u co i d a n  a n d  w h e r e  t h e s e  s p ec i e s  c a n  b e  f o u n d  w i t h i n  t h e

country. Fucoidan content from different species of brown seaweeds were

determined in f i fty sites across four teen provinces in Nor thern Luzo n

( C a g a y a n ,  I l o c o s ) ,  W e s t  L u z o n  ( P a n g a s i n a n ) ,  t h e  E a s t e r n  s e a b o a r d  o f

L u z o n  ( Q u e z o n  P r o v i n c e ,  C a m a r i n e s ,  S o r s o g o n ) ,  C e n t r a l  a n d  E a s t e r n

Visayas (Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental), and Northern

M i n d a n a o  ( C a m i g u i n ,  L a n a o  d e l  N o r t e ,  M i s a m i s  O r i e n t a l ,  M i s a m i s

Occidental). Sargassum spp. , the most abundant in all sites, and Turbinaria

o r n a t a, fo u n d  o n l y i n  1 1  s i te s , b o t h  h a ve  s i g n i f i c a n t l y h i g h e r  co n te n t

compared to the other samples. Similarly, higher content of semi-pure

f u c o i d a n  w e r e  o b s e r v e d  i n  b r o w n  s e a w e e d s  f r o m  B o h o l ,  C e b u ,

Pangasinan, Quezon Province, Camiguin, and Cagayan.

Staphylococcus aureus and
Methicill in-resistant S. aureus (MRSA)
carriage in Publ ic Computer Service Providers
and Util ity Jeepneys in UP Dil iman

Jann Eldy L. Daquioag, Ricardo Bened ict C. Almirol,
Mary Grace B. Ayala, Ma. Socorro Edden P. Subejano and

Gil M. Penul iar

Staphylococcus aureus is a bacterium that can cause serious infections.

I t  i s  o f t e n  f o u n d  i n  s o l i d  o b j e c t s ,  s u c h  a s  c o m p u t e r  p e r i p h e r a l s  o f

computer service providers (CSPs) and handrails of public utility jeepneys

(PUJs). S. aureus infections are often treated without complications, except



Layman’s Abstracts

3

in cases where a particular strain called methicillin-resistant S. aureus

(MRSA) is involved. In this study, the prevalence of S. aureus and MRSA

in CSPs, computer peripherals, and handrails of PUJs inside UP Diliman,

and associated risk factors for contamination were determined. S. aureus

a n d  M R S A w e r e  i d e n t i f i e d  u s i n g  m o r p h o l o g i c a l , b i o c h e m i c a l , a n d

molecular methods from 162 computer peripherals from 27 CSPs, and

196 PUJ handrails. S. aureus was identif ied in 92.6% of CSPs, 36.4% of

computer peripherals, and 7.1% of PUJs, whereas MRSA was present in

3.1% of CSPs and 2% of PUJs. No signif icant associations between S. aureus/

M R S A  a n d  t h e  a s s e s s ed  r i s k f a c to r s  we r e  o b s e r ved ( p >  0 . 0 5 ) . Re s u l t s

indicate that, while S. aureus prevalence is relatively high, MRSA carriage

is low in CSPs and PUJs in UP Diliman.

Population Structure of the Krill Prey
of the Spinetail Devil Ray Mobula japanica
(Chondrichthyes, Mobul idae) from
Southeastern Bohol Sea, Phil ippines

Shirlamaine Irina G. Masangcay, Ephrime B. Metillo
and Shuhei Nishida

While investigating the feeding habits of the Spinetail Devil Ray Mobula

japonica in Butuan Bay, we found true krill (known locally as Alamang)

a s  t h e  m a i n , oft e n  t h e  o n l y fo o d  i te m  i n  t h e  s to m a c h  o f  t h e  r a y. We

identif ied the krill species as Pseudeuphausia latifrons. Information about

the population of this krill species is very limited, thus this study was

aimed at analyzing the size-composition of individuals collected from

the stomach of the ray from January to May 2016. The total lengths of

intact krill ranged between 4.0–6.9 mm for juveniles and 7.0–10.9 mm

for adults. In general, males were larger than females. Juveniles were

dominant until late March, and adults dominated by April and May. The

largest male and egg-carrying female individuals also appeared during

t h e  w a r m  m o n t h s  of  A p r i l  a n d  M a y, i n d i c a t i n g  s p a w n i n g  d u r i n g  t h e s e

months. This study provides evidence that individuals of the krill P. latifrons

e a t e n  b y  r a y s  g r o w  f r o m  j u v e n i l e s  t o  a d u l t s  f r o m  J a n u a r y  t o  M a y  i n

Butuan Bay.