The University of San Agustin, also referred to by its acronym USA or as San Ag, is a private, Roman Catholic, research, coeducational, non-profit basic and higher education institution run by the Augustinian Province of Santo Niño de Cebu, Philippines of the Order of Saint Augustine in Iloilo City, Philippines. It was founded by the Augustinians in July 1904.The Spanish Augustinians with the help of their American confreres established in 1904 a school for boys. It had initially an enrollment of 40 students. In 1917, it was incorporated and became Colegio de San Agustin de Iloilo. In March 1953, San Agustin attained university status making it as the first university in Western Visayas. San Agustin is likewise the first Augustinian university in the Asia-Pacific region.University of San Agustin now provides academic programs from Basic Education up to post graduate studies in the areas of Law, Business, Education, Computer Studies, Arts and Sciences, Performing Arts, Music, Engineering, Medical Technology, Nursing and Pharmacy. In 2013, the university celebrated its 60th year as an institution of higher learning. The University is a Center of Development in Teacher Education as recognized by the Commission on Higher Education.
The high market value of certain essential oils (EOs), such as lemon essential oil (LEO), makes them particularly susceptible to adulteration. Such adulteration typically involves the intentional addition of low-value EOs. In this study, we mixed LEO and sweet orange essential oil (SOEO), lime essential oil (LiEO), and grapefruit essential oil (GEO) at varying concentrations. We then used Attenuated Total Reflectance - Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), and principal component regression (PCR), partial least squares regression (PLS), and artificial neural network (ANN) chemometrics to quantify adulteration in the samples. The ANN models produce the best accuracy, however it is computationally expensive and not practical. We further demonstrate that PLS using the 2000-1000 cm-1, ATR-FTIR spectral region produces good accuracy in predicting % v/v LEO, SOEO, LiEO, and GEO in the samples.
Concrete is commonly used in construction because of its high compressive strength and durability. However, its brittle nature makes it vulnerable to microcracks that can decrease long-term performance. This study evaluates coconut coir fiber (CCF) as a sustainable additive for self-healing concrete. CCF was incorporated as a partial cement replacement (1%, 3%, and 5% by weight), in both its natural form and as a carrier for a silica-based self-healing material (SHM). Physical and mechanical properties, including density, water absorption, compressive strength, and flexural strength, were examined together with crack-healing efficiency. The results showed that CCF exhibited high tensile strength (similar to 115.5 MPa). Specimens with SHM-CCF at 3% and 5% showed significant reductions in crack width after 28 days (about 75-80%), indicating enhanced self-healing ability. Although water absorption slightly increased with higher fiber content, concrete densities stayed within the normal range (2230-2290 kg m(-3)). The highest flexural strength (similar to 5.15 MPa) was reached at 1% SHM-CCF, while higher amounts caused reduced strength due to fiber agglomeration. Overall, SHM-CCF shows potential as a sustainable cementitious additive that improves crack healing and mechanical performance while utilizing agricultural waste.
The utilization of alternative and sustainable desalination methods geared towards geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas is gaining attention. The Passive Solar Driven Membrane (PSDM) desalination system, which relies on thermal and membrane processes, possesses key advantages to delivering safe water in rural and remote areas of an archipelagic location. This study explores the PSDM system using 1, 2, 4, 7, and 10 stages to determine the productivity, yield and salinity using simulated seawater, providing valuable insights regarding the system’s performance under Philippine atmospheric conditions. Desalination of 3.5% salt solution was conducted on a rooftop setting with PSDM multi-stages. Results show the average productivity of the 1, 2, 4, 7, and 10 stages are 93.84, 328.57, 401.47, 203.701, and 258.15 g/kWh respectively. The number of stages shows no correlation to the final salinity, showing a 94% - 96% reduction in the salinity of the distilled water at all stages. Such quality water can be used for irrigation for crops, livestock, household use, and potable water. Furthermore, membrane characterizations using SEM and WCA showed how the morphology and hydrophobicity of membranes influence the desalination process. The decreasing salt deposits and increasing distance from the heat source correlate with the effectiveness of the membrane design.
This study presents the development and evaluation of an Arduino-based uniaxial shake table and IoT-enabled real-time monitoring for seismic simulation. The system addresses the limited accessibility of conventional shake tables for earthquake engineering education, particularly in resource-constrained environments. Harmonic excitations and scaled earthquake displacement records are reproduced using a stepper motor controlled by an Arduino microcontroller, with real-time monitoring provided through the Blynk IoT platform. Experimental results demonstrate good tracking accuracy, with RMSE values of 0.8836 for (3.3 Hz ± 10 mm) excitation, 1.0254 for (5 Hz ± 20 mm) excitation, and 0.1430 for a (scaled Kobe earthquake) simulation. Repeatability and reliability were further evaluated using the recorded Düzce earthquake displacement under no-load and 25 kg payload conditions, where one-way ANOVA indicated a statistically significant effect of added mass. The system provides a practical and cost-effective solution for earthquake engineering education and small-scale laboratory experimentation. Future work will explore the extension of the system to multi-axis motion and additional validation methods.
This study examined the alignment between the perceived importance and the perceived achievement of the Program Outcomes (POs) of the Bachelor of Elementary Education (BEEd) program at the University of San Agustin, as prescribed by CHED CMO No. 74, s. 2017. Using a descriptive research design, self-report data were gathered from 17 graduating BEEd students at a single institution through a structured questionnaire measuring six POs: understanding of learner diversity, pedagogical content knowledge, utilization of assessment and evaluation tools, communication and higher-order thinking, positive professional attributes, and continuous professional development. Descriptive statistics — frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation — were used to analyze responses. All six POs were rated Highly Important (M = 3.71–3.82) and, in students' self-perception, Highly Achieved (M = 3.47–3.82). PO F (continuous professional development) received the highest perceived-achievement rating, while PO C (assessment and evaluation) received the lowest, with the greatest response variability. Because the data are self-reported perceptions rather than direct or objective measures of competence, the findings should be read as preliminary and context-specific rather than as evidence of actual student performance or program effectiveness. Given the small, single-institution sample, results are not generalizable beyond this context. The study proposes a preliminary, context-specific curriculum (re)design framework informed by these perceptions and recommends that future program reviews triangulate student self-report with performance-based assessment, practicum and cooperating-teacher evaluations, teaching portfolios, licensure examination results, faculty assessment, and stakeholder feedback.
