Jobs Value Chain Analysis for Selected Highland Vegetables in Northern Mindanao, Philippines

Poverty incidence in Bukidnon, the major vegetable-producing province in Northern Mindanao, is high. It is estimated that poverty incidence in Talakag, Lantapan, and Impasug-ong, which are key vegetable-producing municipalities, ranged from 49% to 62% of the population. Aimed toward improving the sustainability of the livelihood of smallholder vegetable farmers and their job creation potential, this study examined selected highland vegetable value chains originating from seven barangays (villages) surrounding the Mt. Kitangland Range in Bukidnon up to the Bulua Vegetable Landing Area in Cagayan de Oro City. Using results from focus group discussions, face-to-face interviews, observation visits, and secondary data collection, the study described the various value chain players, and their geographical context and operations; quantified the number of jobs generated within the value chain; analyzed key constraints that hinder its job creation potential; and recommended actionable measures. Job generation in selected vegetable value chains is high but currently limited by production and market-related constraints. It is estimated, for example, that tomato, carrot, cabbage, and cauliflower production generates about 1.66, 1.11, 1.09, and 2.92 jobs (full-time equivalent) per hectare. Key constraints to job creation include unpredictable market price fluctuations, high postharvest losses, high production and postharvest expenditures, limited farmer knowledge and network, and inadequate support services. To improve the sustainability of these value chains, it is necessary to coordinate the provision of support infrastructures and services, ranging from farmer decision support tools, alternative markets, more responsive and accessible research and extension services, government credit programs, to strengthening farmers’ organizations

Localization of manufacturing industries and specialization in Mexican states: 1993–2013

We document how the localization of production in Mexico’s range of manufacturing subsectors and the specialization of its states have evolved as a result of the process of trade opening. We use the global estimate methodology to calculate the extent to which all industries are localized or all regions specialized. The results show that: i) since 1993, there has been an increase in global localization and specialization in manufacturing production; (ii) transportation equipment, chemicals, and food products account for the greatest share of the overall increase in localization during this period; (iii) those states closest to the US contributed most to the overall increase in specialization

Electrochemical study of H3PMo12 retention on Vulcan carbon grafted with NH2 and OH groups

In this work, we show a comparative study based on the effects of specific chemical functional groups (–OH, –NH2), grafted on Vulcan carbon (VC) with the incorporation of a specific polyoxometalate (POM), PMo12 (H3PMo12O40), to improve electrochemical performance. We observed a decrease in the specific surface area of the grafted matrices (VC-OH and VC-NH2) [1], and the same trend was observed for PMo12 (POM) incorporation. Our electrochemical studies showed low concentrations of POM in unmodified VCs and higher POM concentrations for grafted matrices (VC-OH and VC-NH2) after 500 voltammetric cycles, especially for the VC grafted with –OH groups (VC-OH-POM). Mechanisms have been proposed for POM interaction with the grafted groups in carbon, emphasizing the role of aqueous medium and redox activity of POM. Cyclic voltammograms suggested the POM anchoring through –OH groups with a strong interaction as a covalent bond, resulting in a surface coverage of 1.66 × 10−11 mol cm−2. Surface modifications could be extrapolated to other carbons, and the materials could be employed for different potential applications such as photocatalysis, amperometric sensors, fuel cells, and supercapacitors.Fil: Cuentas Gallegos, Ana Karina. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; México. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: López Cortina, S.. Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon; MéxicoFil: Brousse, T.. Université de Nantes. Institut Des Materiaux Jean Rouxel; FranciaFil: Pacheco Catalán, D.. Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán; MéxicoFil: Fuentes Quezada, Eduardo. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo Tecnológico en Electroquímica; México. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; México. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Mosqueda, H.. Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon; MéxicoFil: Orozco Gamboa, G.. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo Tecnológico en Electroquímica; Méxic

Potential of Dehydrated Vegetable Production in Strengthening the Sustainability of Smallholder Vegetable Supply Chains in Northern Mindanao, Philippines

High postharvest losses and unpredictable price fluctuations continue to challenge the Northern Mindanao vegetable industry. This project proposed dehydration of selected vegetables as a means of minimizing these losses and providing farmers an alternative market for their fresh produce, particularly during peak production periods. It involved the development and evaluation of a prototype heat pump drying system, assessment of the physico-chemical characteristics of dehydrated vegetables, and development and evaluation of dehydrated vegetable-supplemented food products. In-depth interviews with selected food manufacturers were conducted to assess the market potential of dehydrated vegetables while consumer tests and focus group discussions were done to assess the acceptability of selected dehydrated vegetable-supplemented food products. Preliminary results demonstrated the feasibility of developing a vegetable drying system using locally available resources and indicated a potential market for dehydrated vegetables. Dehydrated cabbage, carrot, and squash, for example, can be used in noodle production as raw materials or as condiments. These dehydrated vegetables, however, need to be further tested to meet industry requirements. Dehydrated vegetable-supplemented food products, such as soups, cookies, bread, and instant noodles, were developed. Although further product enhancements need to be done, some of these products were evaluated as acceptable by selected institutional users and consumers

Caracterización del desempeño comunicativo-cognitivo de personas en situación de postración para la creación de un programa de estimulación

88 p.La presente investigación se basa en la evaluación del desempeño comunicativo- cognitivo de personas adultas mayores en situación de postración o discapacidad severa en la cuidad de Talca para la posterior creación de un programa de estimulación. La finalidad es otorgar estrategias para facilitar la comunicación de estas personas con su entorno. Se evaluó una muestra de 20 sujetos postrados, de los cuales 4 corresponden al sexo masculino y 16 al sexo femenino, con edades entre 63 y 99 años. Se midieron las variables del nivel de dependencia de las personas en situación de postración en las AVD y el rendimiento de las personas en situación de postración en las evaluaciones realizadas. De acuerdo a los datos obtenidos en la investigación, se realizó un estudio de tipo descriptivo, con un diseño de investigación no experimental. Los resultados se muestran mediante las tablas de contingencias, entre los resultados obtenidos del Índice de Barthel y el rendimiento de los sujetos en los 4 ítems que contempla el cuestionario BETA FACT. Palabras clave: postración,adultos mayores, funcionalidad./ABSTRACT: This research is based on the assessment of cognitive - communicative performance of older persons in situation of prostration, or severe disabilities in Talca’s city, to the subsequent creation of a stimulation program. The purpose is to provide strategies to facilitate communication of these people and their environment. A sample of 20 subjects prostrate, of which 4 are males and 16 females, aged between 63 and 99 years were evaluated. The variables “level of dependency of people in situation of prostration in ADL” and “performance of people in a situation of prostration in evaluations performed” were measured. According to the data obtained in the investigation, a descriptive study was conducted with a non-experimental research design. The results are shown by the tables of contingencies, including the results of the Barthel Index, and the performance of the subjects in the 4 items questionnaire that includes the BETA FACT. Keywords: prostration, elderly, functionalit

Engaging Undergraduates in Science Research: Not Just About Faculty Willingness.

Despite the many benefits of involving undergraduates in research and the growing number of undergraduate research programs, few scholars have investigated the factors that affect faculty members' decisions to involve undergraduates in their research projects. We investigated the individual factors and institutional contexts that predict faculty members' likelihood of engaging undergraduates in their research project(s). Using data from the Higher Education Research Institute's 2007-2008 Faculty Survey, we employ hierarchical generalized linear modeling to analyze data from 4,832 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) faculty across 194 institutions to examine how organizational citizenship behavior theory and social exchange theory relate to mentoring students in research. Key findings show that faculty who work in the life sciences and those who receive government funding for their research are more likely to involve undergraduates in their research project(s). In addition, faculty at liberal arts or historically Black colleges are significantly more likely to involve undergraduate students in research. Implications for advancing undergraduate research opportunities are discussed

Orthokeratinized Odontogenic Cyst of the Mandible with Heterotopic Cartilage

Cartilaginous metaplasia is a rare but well-documented phenomenon occurring in the wall of odontogenic keratocyst. The mural cartilage not associated with odontogenic keratocyst has been reported only once in a maxillary teratoid cyst of congenital origin to our knowledge. A case presented is a 38-year-old man with intraosseous keratinizing epidermoid cyst in the mandible, the wall of which contained a nodule of mature hyaline cartilage. The present lesion likely represents a previously undescribed, histologic hybrid consisting of orthokeratinized odontogenic cyst and cartilaginous heterotopia

New tumour entities in the 4th edition of the World Health Organization Classification of Head and Neck tumours: odontogenic and maxillofacial bone tumours.

The latest (4th) edition of the World Health Organization Classification of Head and Neck tumours has recently been published with a number of significant changes across all tumour sites. In particular, there has been a major attempt to simplify classifications and to use defining criteria which can be used globally in all situations, avoiding wherever possible the use of complex molecular techniques which may not be affordable or widely available. This review summarises the changes in Chapter 8: Odontogenic and maxillofacial bone lesions. The most significant change is the re-introduction of the classification of the odontogenic cysts, restoring this books status as the only text which classifies and defines the full range of lesions of the odontogenic tissues. The consensus group considered carefully the terminology of lesions and were concerned to ensure that the names used properly reflected the best evidence regarding the true nature of specific entities. For this reason, this new edition restores the odontogenic keratocyst and calcifying odontogenic cyst to the classification of odontogenic cysts and rejects the previous terminology (keratocystic odontogenic tumour and calcifying cystic odontogenic tumour) which were intended to suggest that they are true neoplasms. New entities which have been introduced include the sclerosing odontogenic carcinoma and primordial odontogenic tumour. In addition, some previously poorly defined lesions have been removed, including the ameloblastic fibrodentinoma, ameloblastic fibro-odontoma, which are probably developing odontomas, and the odontoameloblastoma, which is not regarded as an entity. Finally, the terminology "cemento" has been restored to cemento-ossifying fibroma and cemento-osseous dysplasias, to properly reflect that they are of odontogenic origin and are found in the tooth-bearing areas of the jaws

PAH mineralization and bacterial organotolerance in surface sediments of the Charleston Harbor estuary

Semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) in estuarine waters can adversely affect biota but watershed sources can be difficult to identify because these compounds are transient. Natural bacterial assemblages may respond to chronic, episodic exposure to SVOCs through selection of more organotolerant bacterial communities. We measured bacterial production, organotolerance and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) mineralization in Charleston Harbor and compared surface sediment from stations near a known, permitted SVOC outfall (pulp mill effluent) to that from more pristine stations. Naphthalene additions inhibited an average of 77% of bacterial metabolism in sediments from the more pristine site (Wando River). Production in sediments nearest the outfall was only inhibited an average of 9% and in some cases, was actually stimulated. In general, the stations with the highest rates of bacterial production also were among those with the highest rates of PAH mineralization. This suggests that the capacity to mineralize PAH carbon is a common feature amongst the bacterial assemblage in these estuarine sediments and could account for an average of 5.6% of bacterial carbon demand (in terms of production) in the summer, 3.3% in the spring (April) and only 1.2% in winter (December)

Odontogenic tumors and giant cell lesions of jaws - a nine year study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Objectives</p> <p>A definite geographic variation has been observed in the frequency of odontogenic tumors and giant cell lesions of the jaws reported from different parts of the world. However, there are a few studies on these lesions, especially giant cell lesions, reported from India. Hence, this study was designed to provide a demographic data on the odontogenic tumors and giant cell lesions reported from our institute located in the city of Hyderabad. Hyderabad is the capital city of the southern state of Andhra Pradesh in India. A retrospective analysis of odontogenic tumors and giant cell lesions of jaws reported in our institute between the years 2000 and 2009 was done and this data was compared with previous reports from different parts of the world and India.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Biopsies of the lesions received between the years 2000 and 2009 were reviewed and patient's history, clinical, radiological and histopathological characteristics were analyzed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 77 biopsies were received during the nine year study period. These lesions were more frequently seen in the males, in a younger age group and showed a predilection for the mandible. Most of them presented as radiolucent, slow growing and painless lesions. Ameloblastomas (71.4%) constituted the majority of odontogenic tumors while central giant cell granulomas (7.8%) constituted the majority of giant cell lesions.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These lesions showed a definite geographic variation with ameloblastomas being the most common odontogenic tumors and odontomas being relatively rarer lesions in our region.</p