Newly discovered beetle named after Fr Jett by ADMU biologists
Two new species of small, dark, and hairy beetles – including the Fr Jett beetle – were discovered from Negros by Emmanuel D. Delocado and Hendrik Freitag from the Ateneo Biodiversity Research Laboratory of the Department of Biology. These very recent discovery was published in the international scientific journal ZooKeys in an article entitled “Two new species of Byrrhinus Motschulsky, 1858 (Coleoptera, Limnichidae, Limnichinae) from Negros, Philippines” [ZooKeys 1070: 51–72 (2021)].
Hand Gesture Recognition for Smartphone-Based Augmented Reality Applications
Virtual, Augmented and Mixed Reality (VAMR) can potentially improve educational applications by increasing immersion and user interactivity. In line with the effort to make VAMR more accessible to the public, a hand gesture recognition (HGR) system is developed for iOS devices to improve user interaction on mobile handheld AR systems, bringing these systems’ functionality on par with expensive AR systems with built-in HGR such as Microsoft HoloLens. Usability testing shows that hand- held HGR using our system is comparable in usability to an equally configured Microsoft HoloLens system.
Geometric realizations of abstract regular polyhedra with automorphism group
A geometric polyhedron is typically described as a three-dimensional solid of finite volume bounded by flat regions called its facets. Well known examples of geometric polyhedra include the five Platonic solids, which have been studied since antiquity, and their various truncations and stellations. Because of their mathematical and aesthetic appeal, geometric polyhedra are widely used as models in various fields of science and the arts. In the field of crystallography, they have been used in studying the symmetry and structural formation of crystalline materials, nanotubes, and even viruses.
Development of elastomer- and fluid-based techniques for modulating Bessel beam propagation properties
A “Bessel beam” is a special type of laser output that appears as a bright spot surrounded by concentric rings. This type of beam has found utility in applications such as industrial micromachining, microscopy and optical micro- manipulation. Bessel beams have the distinct properties of not spreading out as they propagate and having the ability to reform themselves after encountering an obstacle. The capability to modify the properties of a Bessel beam as it propagates would increase the flexibility and potential usefulness of these beams. At present, available techniques to change the propagation properties of a Bessel beam require expensive optical devices or complicated experimental procedures.
Phase Space Quantum Mechanics on Groups
The project aims to formulate and compute the important objects of phase space representation of quantum mechanics. These are the Weyl operators, Wigner functions and star- product of phase space functions. The phase spaces we are concerned with are, for the most part, Lie groups and their factor groups. Thus, we want to formulate quantum mechanics on spaces of functions whose parameters are symmetry operations on configuration spaces. Our main tools are the unitary representations of the Lie groups and the harmonic analysis arising from this.
A Comprehensive Analysis of Historical Impacts and Drivers of Illegal Animal Trafficking in the Philippines Toward a Theory of Change for its Mitigation
The Philippines is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, having an astounding number of species of wild plants and animals, many of which are found only in the country. But with this considerable biodiversity comes one of the most significant threats to it: the illegal wildlife trade (IWT). IWT is a multi-million-dollar international industry that threatens animals in the wild by extracting them from their habitats and selling them for various purposes, including food, medicine, and to be kept as pets.
Developing Nickel – Cyclodextrin and MOF Assemblies for Catalysis
This work details scientific investigations of both undergraduate and graduate students on cyclodextrin-containing materials. Cyclodextrins are fused sugar-based molecules housed on a toroidal structure that can house several molecules. This barrel-like feature of this molecule makes it an interesting candidate as host to several pharmaceutical drugs, catalytic materials, and chemically active compounds as guests.
Understanding Adoption of Healthcare Systems in the Philippines: Narratives and Social Network Analysis in Modeling User Engagement
The implementation of the Universal Healthcare Law (RA 11223) describes inclusive healthcare where all Filipino citizens are automatically enrolled in the National Insurance Health Program. eHealth Systems play a vital role in implementing the universality of the law ensuring that there is efficient and accurate flow of health information within a secured environment. This study looked into different aspects of technology adoption of electronic medical records at varying stages of use to better understand how eHealth systems should be designed for seamless interoperability. A total of 18 municipal health facilities from Region VI and Region VII participated in this study represented by the municipal health officer, IT health staff and DOH designated encoder.
Quantifying Museum Visitor Attention Using Bluetooth Proximity Beacons
This work presents a study that analyzes the visitor experience by using location data collected through Bluetooth Low-Energy (BLE) beacons. A visual analysis of the visitors’ behavior and interactions with the artworks at the Ateneo Art Gallery, the first museum of modern art in the Philippines, was conducted.
Development of a Speech-Assistive Device Integrated in an Android Mobile Application for Individuals with Incomplete Locked-In Syndrome
Bridging the communication gap between speech impaired individuals who are also physically-disabled is essential to maintain their social integration in the society. With this, a speech-assistive device integrated in an Android mobile application was developed. An integrated sensor box was designed to interface five sensors capable of detecting physical movements. These movements are then translated into digitals signals and transmitted to the developed Android mobile application using Bluetooth communication.
ARISE – Philippine Groundwater Outlook (GMP-PHIGO)
The increasing demand for freshwater supply in the Philippines forces unsustainable extraction and unintentional contamination of the groundwater reserves. It is thus imperative that the groundwater sources be monitored for water level and quality. The Philippines has groundwater monitoring wells strategically installed in locations identified as critical areas. Accessibility of location and high cost of provisions and logistics prevent proper maintenance and continuous monitoring of these groundwater wells. This project addresses these by deploying a remote real-time groundwater level and quality sensor systems to over 26 sites all over the country.