The first decision made by the Board was to allocate the unused funds raised from Covid fund-raising to the other 8 of 13 projects led by UPCOE faculty. The first five priority projects were funded right from the start in April 2020. However, with the generous donations that exceeded the initial project budgets, the donors entrusted to the Board the decision to appropriate the unused funds.
Engineering Projects Supported by UPERDFI:
PROJECT #1: 3D PRINTING SOLUTIONS FOR OUR FRONTLINERS
Project lead: Prof. Gerald Jo G. Denoga (UPDME)
As of May 5, 2020, the project has fabricated two thousand eight hundred seventy-five face shield frames, assembled two thousand three hundred fourteen by volunteers from Acacia Residence Hall and Ilang-Ilang Residence Hall and distributed one thousand nine hundred forty eight to 39 hospitals and institutions.
PROJECT #2: PROTOTYPE ADULT VENTILATOR
Project lead: Asst. Prof. Paul L. Rogers (DME)
The assembly of solenoids, valves, piping, and a pressure gauge is completed while the casing is presently under fabrication/assembly. Pressure gauge and valves were calibrated and tested for different pressures and deemed to be functional within the operating range. Following the construction of the control and display system, the unit is ready for further tests. If initial tests are satisfactory, testing in the presence of pulmonologist, Dr. Joel Marquez Santiaguel will be scheduled for the following week.
PROJECT #3: TRACKING HIGH RISK INDIVIDUALS and TRACKING OF MEDICAL SUPPLIES
Project lead: Prof. Ariel C. Blanco (UPDGE)
ConTra+, the mobile app for contact tracing and more, is being tested. ConTra+ is a system utilizing satellite positioning systems, bluetooth technology, geographic information system, and citizen science for effective contact tracing, tracking, information sharing, and feedback.
TrAMS, the Tracking for Allocation of Medical Supplies project is part of Project 3. TrAMS is an online system composed of geographic and tracking information of hospitals’ medical supplies. The project has two main components: (1) spatial database development and (2) web interface design and development. Spatial database development constitutes compilation and verification of geographic information from several sources such as existing databases from hospitals, from the academic community and from other parties, and social media posts.
PROJECT #4: DISINFECTION AND DECONTAMINATION THROUGH PLASMA CLEANING
Project lead: Assoc. Prof. Magdaleno R. Vasquez, Jr. (DMMME)
The project is currently refurbishing a larger plasma chamber, and various essential components (e.g. flanges) are being fabricated. When completed, vacuum and plasma testing of the chamber will commence.
PROJECT #5: DISINFECTION OF PPE VIA UV LIGHT
Project lead: Prof. Florencio C. Ballesteros, Jr. (DChE) and Assoc. Prof. Eligia D. Clemente (DMMME)
The first two prototypes, P1 and P2, have been completed. These are closet types meant to disinfect lab gowns (4 to 6 pcs) and masks (8 to 12). These were initially sent to IB-CS and UPCM-PGH for validation and were found to be 100% efficient in eradicating bacteria after 40 minutes exposure. These early prototypes have been delivered to UP PGH and East Avenue Medical Center.
The following projects will also be supported:
PROJECT #6: ChlorGen: ON-SITE HYPOCHLORITE DISINFECTANT GENERATION VIA BRINE WATER ELECTROLYSIS
Project lead: Assoc. Prof. Joey D. Ocon (DChE)
The ChlorGen team has already assembled the electrochemical chamber using a set of special electrodes that lasts longer than typical metal (e.g. steel) electrodes. Different components and parts of the chamber are being purchased while performing optimization runs of the process and quantitative analysis are in progress.
PROJECT #7: DESIGN AND PROTOTYPING OF A POWERED AIR-PURIFYING RESPIRATOR
The Powered Air-Purifying Respirator is a ventilation device that provides positive air pressure within the mask and with air filtered through an N95 inline filter. In this project, two teams (7A and 7B) are involved in producing separate designs and associated prototype models.
Project lead (7A): Prof. Paul Rodgers (DME)
A mechanical air fan takes ambient air and courses it through the medical ventilation tubing, the inline N95 filter, then to the CPAP mask. An additional N95 filter may be fitted at the intake side of the air fan to assure that the intake air is thoroughly clean. This device will provide filtered air to the user at positive pressure, reducing the chances of inhaling virus-contaminated air.
Project lead (7B): Prof. Gerald Jo C. Denoga (DME)
The filter is expected to exceed the efficiency and effectivity of N95 masks. The respirator prototype has been completed and awaiting assessment feedback from the UP College of Medicine.
PROJECT #8: REVITALIZATION OF NON-FUNCTIONING UP-PGH VENTILATOR SYSTEMS
Project lead: Asst. Prof. Samiel Louie Arrojado (DME)
Nine (9) non-functioning ventilators were brought to the UP Department of Mechanical Engineering for assessment. The project team has finished their assessments and concluded that UP shops are limited in their capability to conduct repairs. The team provided recommendations on the appropriate repair service providers and parts suppliers to the UP-PGH for their further action.
PROJECT #9: IDENTIFICATION OF POTENTIAL DRUG CANDIDATES FOR THE SARS-COV-2 USING STRUCTURE BASED DRUG DISCOVERY
Project lead: Assoc. Prof. Arthur A. Gonzales III (DChE)
Twenty five (25) ns molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have been run using the top ten compounds from the docking results. Protein-ligand complex stability and interactions have been determined quantitatively (see results for Compound #10 below). Results indicate a good fit between the top candidates and protease. Individual visual inspection of the simulation results is the next task at hand. This will be followed by adsorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity evaluation using open source servers. Then a final recommendation based on the initial 1200 compounds can be made. The machine learning model is now being developed using the docking results. This could lead to the accelerated screening of 100,000 compounds in the future.
PROJECT #10: TOOL KIT FOR QUICK ESTIMATION OF COVID-19 INFECTIVES
Project lead: Assoc. Prof. Vena Pearl A. Bongolan (DCS)
On April 20, 2020, the project proposed two new models: the (i) Age-Stratified Q-SEIR, which was immediately used to update the advisory for Quezon City regarding preparedness; and (ii) the Non-Linear Infection model, which shows the benefits of quarantine even beyond its lifting, as influenced by different factors such as people behavior and quality of testing procedures. Currently, the team is writing scientific reports on the new models. A coordination meeting was held last May 11, 2020 with the Quezon City Mayor’s Office on the possible implementation of this tool kit project.
PROJECT#11: PROTOTYPE ADULT VENTILATOR
Project lead: Engr. Ramon Publico (DME Alumnus)
Project team member: Dr. Joselito Chavez (UPCM)
Another design of adult ventilator prototype is being created by this team. This ventilator system is also quick to produce and are cost-effective alternatives to commercially-available ones.
PROJECT#12: ieHEALS (INTEGRATED EMERGENCY HEALTHCARE SYSTEM)
Project Leads: Assoc. Prof. Mili-Ann M. Tamayao-Kieke (DIEOR), Prof. Aura C. Matias(DIEOR) and Prof. Lowell L. Lorenzo (DIEOR)
ieHEALS is an integrated personnel, material, and information system for managing critical hospital operations in an emergency setting. It was developed and deployed to the UP Philippine General Hospital (UP PGH) and Cagayan Valley Medical Center (CVMC).
Currently, ieHEALS is providing UP PGH with a donation and inventory information system with two components – Internal MIS and public dashboard for donations tracking.
PROJECT# 13: UP SUPPLY CHAIN COVID-19 RESPONSE TASK FORCE
Project Leads: Prof. Adeline A. Pacia (DIEOR) and Dr. Aura C. Matias (DIEOR)
Several members of the DIEOR faculty have also been involved as members of the UPD Supply Chain Covid-19 Response Task Force, a committee constituted by UP Diliman through Administrative Order No. FRN-20-030 dated April 20, 2020. The UP Diliman Supply Chain Covid-19 Response Task Force was constituted to address the supply chain issues of food and essential goods brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Board plans to work with or help UPCOE in commercializing a couple “ripe-for-market” projects.
