Modelling and Validation of a 6 MV Compact Linear Accelerator via Monte Carlo Simulation using Geant4 Application for Tomographic Emission (GATE).

To accurately model and validate the 6 MV Elekta Compactlinear accelerator using the Geant4 Application for Tomographic Emission (GATE). In particular, this study focuses on the precise calibration and validation of critical parameters, including jaw collimator positioning, electron source nominal energy, flattening filter geometry, and electron source spot size, which are often not provided in technical documentation. Methods: Simulation of the Elekta Compact6 MV linear accelerator was performed using the Geant4 Application for Tomographic Emission (GATE) v.

One-quarter of freshwater fauna threatened with extinction.

Freshwater ecosystems are highly biodiverse and important for livelihoods and economic development, but are under substantial stress. To date, comprehensive global assessments of extinction risk have not included any speciose groups primarily living in freshwaters. Consequently, data from predominantly terrestrial tetrapods are used to guide environmental policy and conservation prioritization, whereas recent proposals for target setting in freshwaters use abiotic factors.

Proposal for a non-adhesive single-cell culture technology for primary hepatocytes.

Unlabelled: Primary hepatocytes (PHs) are indispensable for studying liver function, drug screening, and regenerative medicine. However, freshly isolated PHs only survive for a few hours in non-adherent suspension culture. This study proposes treatment with PEG-GRGDS, a polymer-peptide conjugate comprising polyethylene glycol (PEG) and the pentapeptide sequence Gly-Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser (GRGDS), to sustain the viability of dispersed single PHs under non-adherent conditions.

Assessment of Chicken Fecal Contamination Using Microbial Source Tracking (MST) and Environmental DNA (eDNA) Profiling in Silway River, Philippines.

The Silway River has historically failed to meet safe fecal coliform levels due to improper waste disposal. The river mouth is located in General Santos City, the tuna capital of the Philippines and a leading producer of hogs, cattle, and poultry. The buildup of contaminants due to direct discharge of waste from chicken farms and existing water quality conditions has led to higher fecal matter in the Silway River.

Recent Range Expansion and Genomic Admixture in a Kleptoparasitic Spider, Argyrodes lanyuensis: A Case of Adaptive Introgression on Small, Isolated Islands of the Taiwan-Philippine Transition Zone?

Adaptive introgression involves the acquisition of advantageous genetic variants through hybridisation, which are subsequently favoured by natural selection due to their association with beneficial traits. Here, we analysed speciation patterns of the kleptoparasitic spider, Argyrodes lanyuensis, through genomic analyses and tested for possible genetic evidence of adaptive introgression at the Taiwan-Philippines transition zone. Our study used highly polymorphic SNPs to demonstrate that speciation occurred when the Hualien (on Taiwan Island + Green Island) and Orchid Island + Philippine lineages separated during the early to mid-Pleistocene.

A new genus and a new species of Cladonotinae (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae) from Mindanao, Philippines.

A new genus and a new species of Cladonotinae (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae) is described from Mount Malindang in Mindanao, Philippines: Fartmanntettix undulatus Tan & Tumbrinck, gen. et sp. nov.

A new species and new records of the subtribe Lebinthina (Grylloidea, Eneopterinae, Lebinthini) from Mindanao, Philippines.

A new species of Falcerminthus is described from Zamboanga del Norte in western Mindanao: Falcerminthus hispidus sp. nov. We also present a new locality record for Falcerminthus parvus (Baroga-Barbecho & Robillard, 2020) in the south of Mindanao, i.

A taxonomic review on the katydids of the genus Anthracites Redtenbacher, 1891 (Tettigoniidae: Conocephalinae: Agraeciini) from Mindanao, Philippines.

Anthracites Redtenbacher, 1891 is a genus of Agraeciini with 13 species, of which 11 are found in the Philippines. In the Philippines, seven species were described from Mindanao, the most among other main islands. Based on recently collected material from different parts of Mindanao, we describe two additional new species: Anthracites alatus Tan, Bahoy & Sabang sp.

A new species of Ducetia (Tettigoniidae, Phaneropterinae) from Mindanao, Philippines based on bioacoustics, stridulatory file morphology and genetic data.

The Ducetia japonica species group consists of 11 species widely distributed in Asia and Australia. It includes a single species from the Philippines: Ducetia adspersa Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1878. Previously synonymized under Ducetia japonica (Thunberg, 1815), this species was resurrected for its unique stridulatory file.

Aquatic microplastics research in the ASEAN region: Analysis of challenges and priorities.

Research on microplastics must be harmonized. Therefore, we thoroughly evaluated in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region, addressing challenges and priorities in protocol harmonization and microplastics research promotion. Of the 615 papers searched by the Web of Science, 164 were used for this systematic review.

Validation of the Elekta Synergy Platform Linac at 6 MV Photon Beam using PRIMO Monte Carlo Software.

Aims: The objective was to validate the initial beam parameters of the Davao Doctors Hospital's 6 MV Elekta Synergy Platform linac, which performs to the specification of the commissioning data per our records using the gamma-index analysis toolkit integrated inside PRIMO software.

Materials And Methods: In PRIMO, a sequence of optimization processes is performed, in which the measured and simulated percent depth dose (PDD) and lateral beam profiles at various depths are compared, using the stringent gamma-index passing rate at 1%/1 mm criteria (GPR11). Using four fields of sizes 3 cm × 3 cm, 4 cm × 4 cm, 5 cm × 5 cm, and 10 cm × 10 cm, the dose is calculated on a water phantom measuring 16.

Unlocking the Luminescent Potential of Fish-Scale-Derived Carbon Nanoparticles for Multicolor Conversion.

This study introduces a novel approach to addressing environmental issues by developing fish-scale carbon nanoparticles (FSCNPs) with a wide range of colors from discarded fish scales. The process involves hydrothermally synthesizing raw tamban (Sardinella) fish scales sourced from Universal Canning, Inc. in Zamboanga City, Philippines.

Insights on the Bonding Mechanism, Electronic and Optical Properties of Diamond Nanothread-Polymer and Cement-Boron Nitride Nanotube Composites.

The success of composite materials is attributed to the nature of bonding at the nanoscale and the resulting structure-related properties. This study reports on the interaction, electronic, and optical properties of diamond nanothread/polymers (cellulose and epoxy) and boron nitride nanotube/calcium silicate hydrate composites using density functional theory modeling. Our findings indicate that the interaction between the nanothread and polymer is due to van der Waals-type bonding.

Designing Alkylammonium Cations for Enhanced Solubility of Anionic Active Materials in Redox Flow Batteries: The Role of Bulk and Chain Length.

Advancing grid-scale energy storage technologies is crucial for realizing a fully renewable energy landscape, with non-aqueous redox flow batteries (NRFBs) presenting a promising solution. One of the current challenges in NRFBs stems from the low energy density of redox active materials, primarily due to their limited solubility in non-aqueous solvents. Herein, this study explores the solubility of vanadium(IV/V) bis-hydroxyiminodiacetate (VBH) crystals in acetonitrile, aiming to use them as anionic catholytes in NRFBs.

New Processes for Ionizing Nonvolatile Compounds in Mass Spectrometry: The Road of Discovery to Current State-of-the-Art.

This covers discovery and mechanistic aspects as well as initial applications of novel ionization processes for use in mass spectrometry that guided us in a series of subsequent discoveries, instrument developments, and commercialization. matrix-assisted ionization on an intermediate pressure matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization source the use of a laser, high voltages, or any other added energy was simply unbelievable, at first. Individually and as a whole, the various discoveries and inventions started to paint, , an exciting new picture and outlook in mass spectrometry from which key developments grew that were at the time unimaginable, and continue to surprise us in its simplistic preeminence.

Religion, culture, and cancer: insights from a qualitative study on coping experiences of Filipino patients.

Introduction: Meaning-making coping is used by people with cancer to help them deal with the stress and emotional turmoil associated with their diagnosis. It is a multifaceted approach that can be influenced by cultural, existential, and personal factors. Research on meaning-making coping among Filipinos diagnosed with cancer is sparse.

Effects of dietary powdered Ficus deltoidea on the growth and health performance of African catfish, Clarias gariepinus production.

Intensive aquaculture causes a decline in the health status of fish, resulting in an increased disease incidence. To counteract this, feed additives have been utilized to improve the growth performance and health of aquaculture species. This work specifically investigates the impact of powdered Ficus deltoidea (FD) on various parameters related to growth, blood parameters, liver and intestine morphology, body proximate analysis, digestive enzymes, antioxidant capacity, and disease resistance to motile Aeromonad Septicemia (MAS) caused by Aeromonas hydrophila infection in African catfish, Clarias gariepinus.

Trade-Off between Degradation Efficiency and Recyclability: Zeolite-Enhanced NiCoS Catalyst for Photocatalytic Degradation of Methylene Blue.

We herein report successful syntheses of both nickel cobalt sulfide (NCS) and its composite with zeolite (NCS@Z) using a solvothermal method. Techniques such as EDX analysis, SEM, and molar ratio determination were used for product characterization. The incorporation of NCS significantly changed the surface roughness and active sites of the zeolite, improving the efficiency of methylene blue degradation and its reusability, especially under UV irradiation.

Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal and ritual plants utilized by the indigenous communities of Benguet province, Philippines.

Background: The Sto. Niño site in Benguet province, Philippines was once a mining area that has now been transformed into an agricultural land. In this area, there has been significant integration of the three indigenous people (IPs) Ibaloi, Kankanaeys and Kalanguyas with the Ilocano community.

Influence of the Gold Nanoparticle Size on the Colorimetric Detection of Histamine.

Histamine is a well-known biogenic amine (BA) that is often associated with allergic reactions and is a significant cause of foodborne illnesses resulting from the consumption of spoiled food. Detecting histamine is essential for maintaining food safety standards and preserving the quality. In this work, we developed a simple, low-cost, and rapid colorimetric method for detecting histamine.

Ice-Ice Disease Prevalence and Intensity in Eucheumatoid Seaweed Farms: Seasonal Variability and Relationship with the Physicochemical and Meteorological Parameters.

Since its initial report in the Philippines in 1981, ice-ice disease (IID) remains a substantial threat to the sustainability of eucheumatoid seaweed production. However, comprehensive investigations into the prevalence, intensity, and potential relationships with physicochemical and meteorological parameters are limited, particularly in open-sea farms. This is the first study to conduct a 12-month monitoring of IID prevalence and intensity in eucheumatoid seaweed farms in Tawi-Tawi, Philippines.