Maize in the Philippines: Production Systems, Constraints, and Research Priorities

Crop Production/Industries,

Nitrogen fertilizer management effects on grain yield and stalk quality attributes of corn hybrids

Field experiments in 1986, 1987, and 1988 were conducted at three sites in Iowa to determine the performance of the corn hybrids, selected for variation of relative maturity ratings, at varying rates of fertilizer N in the presence or absence of N-Serve. Sites 1 and 2 were under a continuous corn cropping while Site 3 was a corn-soybean rotation. The response of 4 corn hybrids to level and form of N was studied in a factorial of 3N x 2N-Serve x 2 methods of N application at Site 1. All pre-plant N was compared to the split application of N, with the second half of the N and N-Serve rates incorporated during V9-V12 stage.;At Site 1, 5 corn hybrids were used in a factorial of 3K x 3N x 2N-Serve at 3 plant populations in 1986 and 2 plant populations in 1987. In 1986, half of the N from (NH[subscript]4)[subscript]2SO[subscript]4 was applied just before anthesis (81DAP) with wheel point injector fertilizer applicator (PIFA) with or without N-Serve. In 1987, 77 kg N ha[superscript]-1 from urea was broadcast over the entire field before planting. Additional rates of N from UAN was applied 56 DAP using PIFA, with or without N-Serve.;At Site 3a, 3 corn hybrids were used in a factorial of 6N x 3 methods of N application. For Site 3b, the response of P3471 was evaluated in a factorial of 3K x 3N x 2N-Serve x 2 methods of N application. At Site 3c, 2 corn hybrids were evaluated using 3 sources of N, namely: UAN, NP, and P. Urea ammonium nitrate and NP were applied with or without N-Serve using PIFA.;Of all the hybrids used in this experiment, the commercial corn hybrid P3377 and experimental corn line XC754 were found to have good potential to produce higher yield with most of the treatment or the factors used. At Site 1, where N and N-Serve were applied early, N-Serve increased grain yield and decreased stalk lodging. In 1986, at Site 2, where N was applied at anthesis, N-Serve decreased grain yield and stalk lodging increased, probably because of immobilization of the N. At Sites 3a and 3b, the insignificant response to the added fertilizer N and N-Serve may have been due to the large amount of fixed N by soybean crop residue which was returned to the soil

Compendium of Climate-Resilient Agriculture Technologies and Approaches in the Philippines

The CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), together with the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD), and the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), developed the Compendium of Climate-Resilient Agriculture Technologies and Approaches in the Philippines. CCAFS SEA worked with various agricultural experts in the Philippines to list climate-resilient agriculture (CRA) options that Filipino farmers can adopt on their farms. The CRA options discussed in this Compendium are grouped based on their suitability for the different agro-ecological landscapes in the Philippines. The CRA options not only improve the agricultural productivity of farmers; they also enhance the farmers’ adaptive capacity against climate change impacts and reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from their farming activities. The Compendium mentions different activities that can promote and disseminate these CRA options in the Philippines. Alongside the activities, it identifies various strategies to help the country overcome the challenges in applying and scaling these options

A Preliminary Study on the Chiral Vector Approach in Determining the Optimum Structure of Carbon Nanotubes and its Correlation to the Chemical Potential Energy Using Avogadro

In this study, the following quantitative properties of carbon nanotubes were explored: the chiral vectors, which are numbers that describe the carbon nanotubes’ structure, and properties such as chemical potential energy. The objective of this study is to simulate various carbon nanotube structures with chiral vectors that range from (0-3) and find a relation between these chiral vectors and the chemical potential energy. Using the software Avogadro, 12 carbon nanotubes with different chiral vectors (n, m) were simulated. These carbon nanotubes were of different lengths to keep the number of atoms in the molecules as close to 100 as possible. Avogadro was also used to calculate the theoretical chemical potential energy of these molecules. Using multiple correlation to analyze the simulations’ data, an R2 value of 0.632 was obtained, which indicates a small positive linear association between them

Hybrid Multistarting GA-Tabu Search Method for the Placement of BtB Converters for Korean Metropolitan Ring Grid

This paper presents a method to determine the optimal locations for installing back-to-back (BtB) converters in a power grid as a countermeasure to reduce fault current levels. The installation of BtB converters can be regarded as network reconfiguration. For the purpose, a hybrid multistarting GA-tabu search method was used to determine the best locations from a preselected list of candidate locations. The constraints used in determining the best locations include circuit breaker fault current limits, proximity of proposed locations, and capability of the solution to reach power flow convergence. A simple power injection model after applying line-opening on selected branches was used as a means for power flows with BtB converters. Kron reduction was also applied as a method for network reduction for fast evaluation of fault currents with a given topology. Simulations of the search method were performed on the Korean power system, particularly the Seoul metropolitan area

Archipelago on Lockdown: An Assessment of the Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Philippines’ Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Across the Food Value Chain

The paper examined the effects of COVID-19 pandemic on the Philippines’ MSMEs across the food value chain and the strategies that food-based MSMEs employed to cope with disruptions. A food value chain framework was used toanalyze the food-based MSMEs, focusing on the input and service provision, production/farming, processing, transport and storage, retailing, and consumption. Results revealed the following: (1) different quarantine protocols across provincial and local boundaries contributed to the complexity of transporting inputs and products; (2) limited mobility of manpower contributed to the challenges of continuing business operations; (3) there was an observed increase in new financing programs and training efforts both from government and private institutions to support MSMEs; and (4) limited mobility spurred the demand for e-commerce and the use of digital technology to address supply chain constraints. Strategies that could improve system-wide adaptiveness and viability during disruptions across the food value chain were also recommended

Lived experiences of private duty nurses in caring for terminally III geriatric patients

Full text availableThis study explores the lived experiences of private duty nurses caring for terminally ill geriatric patients. The aim is to understand the nurses' experiences in greater depth, including the challenges and rewards they face. Additionally, the researchers want to identify factors that influence the quality of care provided. The population of older adults is growing, and there is a corresponding increase in the demand for geriatric nursing care. Private duty nurses play a vital role in providing care for terminally ill elderly patients in their homes. However, little research has been done to explore the experiences of these nurses. The research employed a qualitative approach, using in-depth interviews with private duty nurses. Participants were female registered nurses (RNs) between the ages of 25-60 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree and at least two years of experience caring for terminally ill geriatric patients who were conscious and bedridden. Thematic analysis was used to identify emerging themes from the interview data. Thematic analysis revealed three main themes. Challenges of caring for terminally ill geriatric patients: Nurses described emotional challenges, such as dealing with the patients' and families' grief, as well as physical challenges, such as providing hands-on care for immobile patients. Rewards of caring for terminally ill geriatric patients: Nurses also reported feeling a sense of accomplishment from providing comfort and support to patients and their families at the end of life. Factors influencing the quality of care: Nurses identified factors such as strong communication skills, collaboration with other healthcare providers, and access to adequate resources as essential for providing quality care. This study contributes to a better understanding of the lived experiences of private duty nurses caring for terminally ill geriatric patients. The findings can inform the development of educational programs and support systems to better equip nurses for this role and improve the quality of care provided to terminally ill elderly patient.Includes bibliographical referencesBachelor of Science in Nursin

Atorvastatin induces associated reductions in platelet P-selectin, oxidized low-density lipoprotein, and interleukin-6 in patients with coronary artery diseases.

The development and progression of atherosclerosis comprises various processes, such as endothelial dysfunction, chronic inflammation, thrombus formation, and lipid profile modification. Statins are 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors that have pleiotropic effects in addition to cholesterol-lowering properties. However, the mechanisms of these effects are not completely understood. Here, we investigated whether atorvastatin affects the levels of malondialdehyde-modified low-density lipoprotein (MDALDL), an oxidized LDL, the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6), or platelet P-selectin, a marker of platelet activation, relative to that of LDL cholesterol (LDL-C). Forty-eight patients with coronary artery disease and hyperlipidemia were separated into two groups that were administered with (atorvastatin group) or without (control group) atorvastatin. The baseline MDA-LDL level in all participants significantly correlated with LDL-C (r = 0.71, P < 0.01) and apolipoprotein B levels (r = 0.66, P < 0.01). Atorvastatin (10 mg/day) significantly reduced the LDL-C level within 4 weeks and persisted for a further 8 weeks of administration. Atorvastatin also reduced the MDA-LDL level within 4 weeks and further reduced it over the next 8 weeks. Platelet P-selectin expression did not change until 4 weeks of administration and then significantly decreased at 12 weeks, whereas the IL-6 level was gradually, but not significantly, reduced at 12 weeks. In contrast, none of these parameters significantly changed in the control group within these time frames. The reduction (%) in IL-6 between 4 and 12 weeks after atorvastatin administration significantly correlated with that of MDALDL and of platelet P-selectin (r = 0.65, P < 0.05 and r = 0.70, P < 0.05, respectively). These results suggested that the positive effects of atorvastatin on the LDL-C oxidation, platelet activation and inflammation that are involved in atherosclerotic processes are exerted in concert after lowering LDL-C