Total Factor Productivity of Philippine Manufacturing Industries

As suggested by vast literature, the Philippine economy has performed poorly over the last three decades due to deterioration in productivity. This paper provides an updated productivity estimates for the manufacturing industries over the period 1956-1992. This paper decomposes this industry productivity growth into technical progress and technical efficiency. It also analyzes the patterns of industry productivity through results of regression method.total factor productivity, manufacturing sector, technical efficiency, output growth

Dysregulated GPCR Signaling and Therapeutic Options in Uveal Melanoma.

Uveal melanoma is the most common primary intraocular malignant tumor in adults and arises from the transformation of melanocytes in the uveal tract. Even after treatment of the primary tumor, up to 50% of patients succumb to metastatic disease. The liver is the predominant organ of metastasis. There is an important need to provide effective treatment options for advanced stage uveal melanoma. To provide the preclinical basis for new treatments, it is important to understand the molecular underpinnings of the disease. Recent genomic studies have shown that mutations within components of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling are early events associated with approximately 98% of uveal melanomas

Composition of Rambutan Seeds

The seeds of three rambutan clones (R4, R 7 and R169) were analysed. Proximate analysis of the seeds showed that they contained 11.9-14.1% protein, 37.1-38.9% crude fat (peroleum ether extract), 2.8-6.6% crude fibre and 2.6-2.9% ash on a dry weight basis. The seeds contained 34.1-34.6% moisture. The amino acid profile of the seed protein showed that the protein was of good quality. The major fatty acids in rambutan seed fat were C16:0 (4.36-4.86%); C18:0 (5.93-7.49%); C18:1 (37.91-40.15%); C20:0 (36.14-36.77%) and C20:1 (6.92-7.27%)

The importance of transformational leadership behaviors in team mental model similarity, team efficacy, and intra-team conflict

Using data from 36 combat teams, we examined how transformational leadership is connected with team mental model (TMM) similarity. In addition, we investigated the mediating role of TMM similarity and team efficacy in the link between transformational leadership and intra-team conflict. Data analysis revealed that well-defined transformational leadership behaviors were positively associated with TMM similarity, whereas TMM similarity was positively connected with team efficacy. Results also indicated that higher levels of team efficacy were associated with lower levels of intra-team conflict (task, relationship, and process). In addition, both TMM similarity and team efficacy mediated the link between transformational leadership and intra-team conflict. Implications of findings are discussed

Computation of rotor aerodynamic loads in forward flight using a full-span free wake analysis

The development of an advanced computational analysis of unsteady aerodynamic loads on isolated helicopter rotors in forward flight is described. The primary technical focus of the development was the implementation of a freely distorting filamentary wake model composed of curved vortex elements laid out along contours of constant vortex sheet strength in the wake. This model captures the wake generated by the full span of each rotor blade and makes possible a unified treatment of the shed and trailed vorticity in the wake. This wake model was coupled to a modal analysis of the rotor blade dynamics and a vortex lattice treatment of the aerodynamic loads to produce a comprehensive model for rotor performance and air loads in forward flight dubbed RotorCRAFT (Computation of Rotor Aerodynamics in Forward Flight). The technical background on the major components of this analysis are discussed and the correlation of predictions of performance, trim, and unsteady air loads with experimental data from several representative rotor configurations is examined. The primary conclusions of this study are that the RotorCRAFT analysis correlates well with measured loads on a variety of configurations and that application of the full span free wake model is required to capture several important features of the vibratory loading on rotor blades in forward flight

Rocking the Boat: Critical Reflexivity in Social Studies Teachers

This qualitative study examines how critical reflexivity is manifested in and enacted by seven Social Studies teachers, in the Singaporean context of ethnic diversity, increased affluence and socio-political constraints. The cases show that critically reflexive teachers are strongly influenced by their lived experiences to develop good self-understanding and a deep sensitivity to systemic inequalities around them. Critical reflexivity presents as a continuum, with most teachers working towards improving their students’ critical thinking and awareness to inequity through their teaching, while some undertake personally transformative journeys that also effect change in their immediate communities. Findings provide insights on the motivations behind critically reflexive attitudes, and also point to factors that hinder a greater development of critical reflexivity. We suggest that critical reflexivity attitudes can be developed in teachers via programs such as currere, for enhanced teaching practice. Findings also highlight the nuances in the nature of citizenship values in the Asian context, suggesting that critical reflexivity involves small and subtle actions of change and agency in teacher-practitioners.This study was funded by the Education Research Funding Programme, National Institute of Education (NIE), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore, project no. OER 10/14 JS

Control of Multi-level Voltage States in a Hysteretic SQUID Ring-Resonator System

In this paper we study numerical solutions to the quasi-classical equations of motion for a SQUID ring-radio frequency (rf) resonator system in the regime where the ring is highly hysteretic. In line with experiment, we show that for a suitable choice of of ring circuit parameters the solutions to these equations of motion comprise sets of levels in the rf voltage-current dynamics of the coupled system. We further demonstrate that transitions, both up and down, between these levels can be controlled by voltage pulses applied to the system, thus opening up the possibility of high order (e.g. 10 state), multi-level logic and memory.Comment: 8 pages, 9 figure

Evidence for Factorization in Three-body B --> D(*) K- K0 Decays

Motivated by recent experimental results, we use a factorization approach to study the three-body B --> D(*) K- K0 decay modes. Two mechanisms are proposed for kaon pair production: current-produced (from vacuum) and transition (from B meson). The Bbar0 --> D(*)+ K- K0 decay is governed solely by the current-produced mechanism. As the kaon pair can be produced only by the vector current, the matrix element can be extracted from e+ e- --> K Kbar processes via isospin relations. The decay rates obtained this way are in good agreement with experiment. Both current-produced and transition processes contribute to B- --> D(*)0 K- K0 decays. By using QCD counting rules and the measured B- --> D(*)0 K- K0 decay rates, the measured decay spectra can be understood.Comment: 17 pages, 6 figure