Silliman Journal

Antibacterial Activity of Epidermal Mucus from Scarus Species

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The antibacterial activities of epidermal mucus in crude extract from Scarus dimidiatus, Scarus bleekeri, and Scarus forsteni against three pathogenic bacteria (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus) were tested by determining the zone of inhibition and Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC). Stock cultures of the microorganisms were sub-cultured and inoculated into Mueller Hinton Agar plates with mucus-impregnated filter paper. The diameter of each zone of inhibition was measured after 16-18 hours of incubation. Gram Staining was also performed, and bacterial cultures were diluted into 4-fold steps. A total of 0.2 ml of mucus was inoculated into Mueller-Hinton Broth to determine the MIC. Test for significance of difference demonstrated that S. forsteni exhibited the largest average zones of inhibition, followed by S. dimidiatus and S. bleekeri. P. aeruginosa was the most susceptible to fish mucus, followed by E. coli and S. aureus. Gram staining results suggest that the three bacteria were successfully inhibited, but the bacteria intrinsically present in fish mucus were not. None of the tubes turned clear for the measurement of the MIC. The turbidity observed was most likely due to 1) the presence of other bacteria inherently present, 2) the mucus used was not purified, and 3) the mucus was already turbid. With these findings, it can
be concluded that the epidermal mucus of S. dimidiatus, S. bleekeri, and S. forsteni inhibits the growth of E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and S. aureus and thus plays an important role in fish against invading pathogens.

A Comparison of Muscle Energy Technique (MET), Dynamic Stretching, and a Combination of Both on Cervical Pain and Range of Motion Amongst Residents of Negros Oriental: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Neck pain is one of the most common complaints among individuals, arising from various etiologies. Numerous techniques, such as muscle energy techniques (MET) and Dynamic Stretching (DS), have been utilized to manage neck symptoms. This quasi-experimental study compared MET, DS, and a combination of both in treating non-specific neck pain. Thirty participants from Negros Oriental were divided into three groups (MET, DS, and a combination) based on age and sex. VAS was used to measure
pain, while goniometry was utilized to determine cervical lateral flexion. Results revealed that all three techniques are effective in decreasing pain and increasing lateral flexion ROM in terms of effect size after every session, but the progress every session is not enough to be considered effective according to the Minimal Detectable Change (MDC) and Minimal Clinically Important Difference (MCID). All three groups showed efficacy in treating neck pain and improving neck lateral flexion, except for VAS in the DS group, as shown by improved VAS scores and neck lateral flexion ROM measurements when pre- and post-test scores were compared. No
intervention applied amongst the three groups is superior to the other.

Rhetoric of Violence: A Critical Stylistic Study of Esiaba Irobi's Nwokedi

Hamzah Abdurraheem — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Violence ruptures peaceful co-existence and communal harmony. However, some literary writers advocate violence as a panacea to addressing socio-economic inequality and leadership failure. This paper deployed critical stylistic tools of nominal groups, processes, equivalence, and contrast to explore the depth of violence in Esiaba Irobi’s Nwokedi. Data were drawn from the play, and the analysis was based on Systemic Functional Linguistics. Findings revealed that the choice of material processes bespeaks the violent ideological orientation of the youths, while the mental processes convey the mental agony suffered by the victims of violence. In addition, the use of noun modifications and equivalence provides negative descriptions and invectives that further deepen the macabre tone of violence, which gravitates towards the gruesome murder of the political leaders in the play. In conclusion, the paper explicated the functional significance of the linguistic choices that foreground the playwright's authorial style, thematic focus, and ideological orientations.

Towards an Environment-Friendly Animal Feed Industry: The Role of the Nutritionist

Michaelito A. Naldo — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Feed production is right at the heart of the animal feed supply chain. This supply chain is part of a dynamic global agricultural sector expanding rapidly due to the increasing demand for animal-sourced food, such as meat, dairy products, and eggs. This increasing demand for animal-sourced food results in the increased demand for animal feed, which uses raw materials, i.e., crops, by-products of the food industry, slaughter and processing of livestock, the marine industry, and biofuels, putting greater pressure on natural resources. The animal nutritionist, a major decision-maker in compound feed production systems, takes center stage in selecting and using feed materials, processing, and applying feed products in livestock production systems. This paper identifies the most significant environmental impacts of the feed supply chain and describes the role of the nutritionist
in making decisions that could affect these impacts. Improving feed quality through formulation accuracy, increasing crop and animal by-products with the help of exogenous enzymes, and using alternative raw materials with lower life-cycle emissions and impacts were described as strategies nutritionists should adopt to help achieve a more environmentally friendly animal feed industry.

The Emergence of Hardiness: The Hoodlums and Gangs in Tondo, Manila from 1960 to1980

Ivan Kaye F. Bantigue, Augusto V. de Viana — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The geographical conditions of Tondo and the social network coverage demonstrated by the gangs would understandably influence behavior. Much has been written about the emerging problems accompanying rapid economic growth and the spread of poverty, criminality, financial stability, and the worsening condition of society and humankind; however, there have been relatively few studies about the cause of deviance and the unsavory reputation attached to the Tondoeños. This study examines the intricate interplay among migration patterns, gang proliferation, and the urban development of Tondo. To provide context, the discussion of sub-topics like geography is presented to elucidate the concentration of settlers in Tondo's streets and establish its connection to the emergence of concentrated groups of hoodlums and the formation of gang communities. Moreover, society is a type of association that enables individual members to cooperate to achieve objectives as a collective, which cannot be achieved by independent individual action. In the context of Manila's Tondo district, this theory helps us understand how societal conditions have shaped the development of events, situations, and phenomena, particularly about the survival strategies of its inhabitants vis-à-vis understanding the locale of Tondo as a slum and a marginalized area. This study argues that gangs are integrated into the social fabric of the community, a presence frequently characterized by fear (local term: nakakatakot) stemming from their activities in various parts of Tondo. This social behavior is typically connected to economic activity and the concentration of settlers in the community. The significance of the 1960s, the post-war market, is that social and human activity changed