Biological Sciences

The experiment was performed to study the seed germination and seedling growth in wheat under the influence of different concentrations of copper. The germination %, plumule and radicle length, and number of lateral roots decreased with increase in copper concentration (5, 25, 50 and 100 mgl -1 ).

This paper presents a novel two-dimensional (2-D) planar switched reluctance motor (PSRM) for position control applications. The proposed 2-D planar motor has the advantages of simple mechanical construction, high reliability, and the ability to withstand hostile operating conditions. Due to the unique structure of the planar motor's magnetic circuit, there is very little coupling between the Xand Z-axis, and no decoupling compensation is needed. It is expected that this innovative SR planar motion system will be an ideal replacement for traditional X-Y tables in industrial automation applications.

This study analyzed the lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) concentrations in the water and cultured oysters (Crassostrea iredalei) of Canacao Bay, Philippines and assessed the health risks associated with these heavy metal contaminations. Oyster and water samples from three sampling stations were collected from October 2016 to January 2017 for heavy metal analysis using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Results showed low Pb and Cd concentrations in water and C. iredalei, which were within the maximum limits set by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) and Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI). Pb concentrations in oysters ranged from < 0.1 to 0.4 ± 0.1 mg/kg while Cd ranged from 0.027 ± 0.006 to 0.083 ± 0.006 mg/kg. Pb and Cd bioaccumulated in oyster tissues, but only Pb exhibited seasonal variation in concentration. The Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) and Total Target Hazard Quotient (TTHQ) were used t...

Mount Polis is one of Luzon’s highest mountain peaks within the Central Cordillera Mountain Range and is situated within boundaries of Bayyo, Mountain Province and Ifugao.  Parts of this mossy forest are transformed into agricultural land as a manner of declaring ownership of adjacent communities. This threatens the land snails who hardly escape habitat degradation.  We initiated the assessment of land snail diversity in Mt. Polis from June 2008 to January 2009.  We randomly explored 28 quadrats belonging to four sites using timed search method. Each quadrat measures 20 m2. We had a total collection of 321 samples, belonging to four families and 13 species.  The family Helicarionidae has seven known species (Nanina globulus, N. lucidella, N. azpeitiae, Ryssota otaheitana, Lepidotrichia segitera, Hemitrichiella segitera and Vitrinoconus sinaetensis) and one unknown species. The other unidentified species belongs to family Pupillidae. Family Cyclophoridae has three species (Cyclophorus sp., Leptopoma sp., and Cyclotus sp.).  Cochlostyla carinata is the sole species under family Bradybaenidae. Nanina lucidella (29.45%) and V.  sinaetensis (15.51%) are the only two species that are relatively abundant.  The rest are rare (< 15%).  With an elevation ranging from 1667-2030 masl and temperature of 7-25°C, Mt. Polis harbors diverse land snail fauna with a Shannon diversity index (H’) of 2.251.  An understanding of the status of molluscan populations can therefore be used in future assessment of the ecosystem restoration projects and in measuring the effects of land management activities. 

Keywords: Mount Polis, land snails, species diversity, Helicarionidae, Pupillidae, Cyclophoridae, Bradybaenidae