Measuring Fiscal Decentralization in the Philippines

This paper focuses on the fiscal decentralization in the Philippines after the 1991 Local Government Code. It first examines the intergovernmental fiscal relationship between central and local governments by using fiscal decentralization indicators, and then investigates its impact on local finance. After fiscal decentralization, the local expenditure responsibility is expanded while the local fiscal capacity is not strengthened in the Philippines. Local governments consequently comes to depend heavily on fiscal transfers from the central government, internal revenue allotments (IRAs), which has a substantial influence on local finance. The heavy dependence on IRAs makes local finance unpredictable and unstable. The distribution of IRAs also affects the horizontal balance between provincial governments.Fiscal Decentralization, Fiscal Decentralization Indicators, Horizontal Balance, The Philippines, Philippines, Decentralization, Local Finance

Back-Calculated p-y Relation of Liquefied Soils from Large Shaking Table Tests

Time histories of the p-y behavior during soil liquefaction, defined as the relation between subgrade reaction and relative displacement between pile and soil, are back-calculated based on shaking table tests using a large-scale laminar box. The results show that, if the pile pushes the soil, the subgrade reaction is correlated with the relative displacement between pile and soil. In contrast, if the soil liquefies and pushes the pile, the subgrade reaction becomes correlated with the relative velocity between pile and soil. The p-y curve of loose sand shows stress-softening behavior after liquefaction, while the p-y curve of medium dense to dense sand shows stress hardening behavior. The stress-hardening behavior tends to diminish with cyclic loading after liquefaction if the sand is not sufficiently dense or the input acceleration is high. The coefficient of subgrade reaction is affected by such factors as the pore pressure ratio, relative displacement, and soil density

Effects of Soil-Structure Interaction on Stress Distribution within a Pile Group under Multi-Dimensional Loading

To investigate inertial and kinematic effects on stress distributions within a pile group, physical model tests were conducted at EDefense, one of the largest shaking table facilities in the world. A 3x3 steel pile group supporting a foundation with a superstructure was set in a dry sand deposit prepared in a cylindrical laminar box with a height of 6.5 m and a diameter of 8.0 m. Natural periods of superstructures were variable in the tests. The tests were conducted under one-, two- or three-dimensional shaking. The test results have shown that pile stresses were mainly controlled by the inertial force when the natural period of superstructure was shorter than or close to that of the ground. In this case, the pile group effects were remarkable, in which pile stresses were the largest in the leading pile and the smallest in the following pile. In contrast, the pile stresses were mainly controlled by the ground displacement when the natural period of superstructure was longer than that of the ground. In this case, the pile group effects were insignificant in such a way that the pile stresses were almost the same within the pile group

Measuring Fiscal Decentralization in the Philippines

This paper focuses on the fiscal decentralization in the Philippines after the 1991Local Government Code. It first examines the intergovernmental fiscal relationshipbetween central and local governments by using fiscal decentralization indicators,and then investigates its impact on local finance. After fiscal decentralization, thelocal expenditure responsibility is expanded while the local fiscal capacity is notstrengthened in the Philippines. Local governments consequently comes to dependheavily on fiscal transfers from the central government, internal revenue allotments(IRAs), which has a substantial influence on local finance. The heavy dependence onIRAs makes local finance unpredictable and unstable. The distribution of IRAs alsoaffects the horizontal balance between provincial governments

The Development of a Conceptual Understanding of a Sustainable Society in Home Economics Education

To promote a concept-based curriculum in home economics aimed at fostering versatile skills, we clarifi ed the subject-specific perspectives that home economics addresses and the qualities and abilities required in home economics. The research method involved obtaining suggestions on how home economics can be involved in realizing well-being in a sustainable society. Next, we organized the qualities and abilities required in home economics based on a conceptual understanding. Finally, we identified paths for a home economics curriculum to formulate a conceptual understanding. We identified the following four directions to introduce a concept-based curriculum in home economics: (1) Design a curriculum with the pursuit of well-being as the subject axis. (2) Develop a curriculum that takes the family and home as its starting point and expands the idea of transferability to a sustainable society. (3) Consider the learning content and difficulty level of questions according to each student’s developmental stage. (4) Inquiry-based learning that draws out students’ interests and concerns should be actively incorporated. The promotion of a conceptual curriculum allows for the development of curriculum management with competency-based, cross-curricular learning.本研究は，文部科学省科学研究費助成事業（基盤研究(C) 課題番号22K02524，代表者 竹下浩子）の研究助成を受けて行った

Green Process of Three-Component Prostaglandin Synthesis and Rapid ¹¹C Labelings for Short-Lived PET Tracers: Highly Polished C-Couplings Revolutionizing Advances in Bio- and Medical Sciences

General synthesis of prostaglandins (PGs) has been accomplished based on a one-pot three-component coupling using a combination of organocopper or organozincate conjugate addition to 4-hydroxy-2-cyclopentenone followed by trapping of resulting enolate with an organic halide. Based on the use of this synthetic methodology, biologically significant PG derivatives including ent-Δ7-PGA1, 15SAPNIC ([3H]APNIC), and 15R–TIC have also been synthesized. Ultimately, organozincate conjugate addition combined with the enolate trapping by an organic triflate results in practical green three-component coupling comprising the use of stoichiometric amounts of three components (enone, α- and ω-side chains in a nearly 1:1:1 ratio) without using HMPA and heavy metals. General methodology for introducing short-lived 11C and 18F radionuclides into carbon frameworks has been established by developing rapid C-[11C]methylation and C-[18F]fluoromethylation using Pd0-mediated rapid cross-coupling between [11C]methyl iodide and an organotributylstannane or organoboronate; or [18F]fluoromethyl bromide and organoboronate, respectively, allowing the synthesis of a wide variety of biologically significant and disease-oriented PET probes such as 15R-[11C]TIC. Moreover, PdII-mediated rapid C-[11C]carbonylation using [11C]CO and organoboronate at ambient temperature under atmospheric pressure using conventional helium carrier gas has been explored. Further, C-[11C]carboxylation has been promoted using [11C]CO2 and organoboronate with RhI catalyst under atmospheric pressure