Around 2,000 cases of animal bites are reported every year in animal bite centers in Maramag, Bukidnon. The study aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with dog bite victims in selected barangays of Maramag, Bukidnon, Philippines. A… More

Around 2,000 cases of animal bites are reported every year in animal bite centers in Maramag, Bukidnon. The study aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with dog bite victims in selected barangays of Maramag, Bukidnon, Philippines. A face-to-face interview was carried out using a pre-tested questionnaire among 402 residents in Maramag, Bukidnon, to determine the prevalence and risk factors of dog bite victims of the municipality. Ten barangays were grouped into the rural and urban type of community. The results showed that the apparent prevalence of dog bite victims among residents of Maramag, Bukidnon was 23.6% (95/402). The urban barangays had a prevalence of 26.2% compared to rural barangays with 21%. The gender of victims, civil status, educational attainment, and dogownership are the risk factors that are statistically significant in dog bites. The study revealed that dog bite victims of Maramag, Bukidnon are prevalent with 23.6%, and this result does not depend on the type of community. Furthermore, the study shows that being male, single, have low educational attainment, and dog-ownership increases the risks of being bitten by dogs. Less

Due to the emergence of multidrug resistant bacteria, researchers are on search for a new source of antimicrobial agents such as plants. This study reports the antibacterial activities of the leaves and rhizomes of E. philippinensis and E. elatior against… More

Due to the emergence of multidrug resistant bacteria, researchers are on search for a new source of antimicrobial agents such as plants. This study reports the antibacterial activities of the leaves and rhizomes of E. philippinensis and E. elatior against Gram-positive (M. luteus, S. aureus and S. marcescens) and Gram-negative bacteria (E. coli and P. aeruginosa, B. cereus). Disc diffusion method was employed in determining the antibacterial activity of the plant ethanolic extracts with concentrations of 3000 ppm and 10000 ppm. Highest antibacterial activity was exhibited by the leaves and rhizomes of the Philippine endemic E. philippinensis (10000 ppm) against M. luteus (12.00 ± 0.56) and P. aeruginosa (11.50 ± 0.45), respectively. Of all extracts, only the leaves E. elatior (10,000 ppm) showed antibacterial activity against S. marcescens which is 6.57 ± 0.49. Less

In this paper, the quantum mechanical dynamics of a particle subjected to a damped coupled harmonic oscillator potential was investigated by solving its quantum propagator using the Hida-Streit formulation—also known as the White-Noise analysis. A coordinate transformation to decouple the… More

In this paper, the quantum mechanical dynamics of a particle subjected to a damped coupled harmonic oscillator potential was investigated by solving its quantum propagator using the Hida-Streit formulation—also known as the White-Noise analysis. A coordinate transformation to decouple the system was also performed. After the decoupling process, the authors obtained a separate expression of the Lagrangian for a one-dimensional damped harmonic oscillator. Then, the obtained Lagrangian was cast to the classical action and evaluated their propagator using the white noise path integration. The full form of the propagator was solved by taking the product of the individual propagator, and from that, the wave function, particularly the ground state wave function was extracted by symmetrization and setting the quantum number n1 = n2 = 0. The result agrees with the propagator of a coupled harmonic oscillator without damping (Pabalay et.al, 2007) as the damping factor ? is turned off. Less

Paragis is a common grass which is abundant and can be seen everywhere but is regarded as having no economic value. To add value to this grass, the study generally aimed to formulate cookies with powdered paragis leaves and mashed… More

Paragis is a common grass which is abundant and can be seen everywhere but is regarded as having no economic value. To add value to this grass, the study generally aimed to formulate cookies with powdered paragis leaves and mashed bananas; and specifically, it aimed to evaluate the sensory quality of the product. A 3 x 3 factorial design was used, with three levels for both powdered paragis leaves (0, 5, 10 % w/w) and mashed bananas (0, 15, 20 % w/w). Sensory evaluation was done to determine the product’s acceptability in terms of color, taste, aroma, texture, and flavor using a sensory panel. Acceptability ratings were subjected to response surface regression analysis using STATISTICA software. Results revealed that the combination of powdered paragis leaves and mashed bananas showed a significant effect on the color, aroma, texture, taste, flavor, and general acceptability of the product. The optimum combination was 8.8 % and 1.3 to 1.8% of mashed bananas and powdered paragis leaves, respectively, based on the volume of flour. It can be concluded that paragis leaves could be utilized in cookie production, providing potential value to this unwanted commodity using the optimum combination. Less

Synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles on their antimicrobial activity utilizing banana peelings could be a potential candidate to develop nano-formulated natural products as an alternative, efficient, inexpensive, and environmentally safe method with specified properties. The study aimed to investigate the… More

Synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles on their antimicrobial activity utilizing banana peelings could be a potential candidate to develop nano-formulated natural products as an alternative, efficient, inexpensive, and environmentally safe method with specified properties. The study aimed to investigate the biological synthesis, characterization, and antimicrobial study of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONps) against clinical pathogens Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus using Musa acuminata × balbisiana peelings. Data revealed that varying concentration, temperature, and pH level can significantly influence the antimicrobial activity and plays crucial steps in the preparation of ZnONps. Research on nanoparticles as antibacterial agents can have an essential application in the food industry as antibacterial agents in food packaging and towards foodborne pathogens. Since this study deals with the preliminary investigation on banana peelings locally grown in the Philippines as capping and reducing agent through green chemistry, it can promote potential application in the Philippine food industry. By proper incorporation of nanoparticles into packaging materials it may inhibit or cause foodborne pathogens bacterial death. Less

Cogon grass, a weed occasionally used as livestock feed has a limited nutritive value. Improving the utilization of low quality roughages could be by treatment with nitrogen sources, chemical and physical treatment .Thus an experiment was conducted to assess the… More

Cogon grass, a weed occasionally used as livestock feed has a limited nutritive value. Improving the utilization of low quality roughages could be by treatment with nitrogen sources, chemical and physical treatment .Thus an experiment was conducted to assess the voluntary intake and digestibility in vivo of cogon silage and urea-treated corn stover as affected by varying ratios of concentrate: Ipil-Ipil leaf meal (ILM) supplementation in goats. The experiment was setup in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four (4) blocks based on sex-period combination with a 2x3 factorial treatment design: factor A with two types of base forage (cogon silage, urea-treated corn stover), and factor B with three (3) ratios of concentrate: ILM as supplement (1.25:0; 0.75:0.50 and 0.50: 0.75 %BW, DM basis). Results revealed a comparable voluntary intake and in vivo digestibility of cogon grass silage and urea-treated corn stover across three types of supplements, and among supplements across types of basal diet. Interaction between kind of basal diet and type of supplement was not significant. It is, therefore advantageous to mix ILM with concentrate at 0.75%:0.50% BW or 0.50:0.75% BW ratio, DM basis, as supplement to either cogon silage or urea treated corn stover rather than given an all-concentrate supplement at 1.25% BW, DM basis, to save on feed cost. Less

Food security has long been a major development priority of all countries and will remain to be in the future. This has become all the more important in this time of COVID19 pandemic. It is achieved when there is the… More

Food security has long been a major development priority of all countries and will remain to be in the future. This has become all the more important in this time of COVID19 pandemic. It is achieved when there is the availability of and adequate access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food at all times for individuals to maintain a healthy and active life. The United Nations has identified four pillars of food security: food availability, food access, food utilization and food stability. Through the years, all our efforts are expected to contribute to the pillars of food security, and a country’s ability to consolidate its resources towards defining and achieving their aspired food security targets across relevant scales has become a major hallmark of development success. Less

Good water quality is a key component of sustainable aquaculture production. The present study reports the water physico-chemical properties of selected fish ponds in Central Mindanao University, Bukidnon, Philippines. The values of the parameters ranged from pH 8.36-8.64, 26.73-27.61 °C… More

Good water quality is a key component of sustainable aquaculture production. The present study reports the water physico-chemical properties of selected fish ponds in Central Mindanao University, Bukidnon, Philippines. The values of the parameters ranged from pH 8.36-8.64, 26.73-27.61 °C temperature, 203-211 ?S/cm electrical conductivity, 98-128 NTU turbidity, 13.04-13.78 mg/L dissolved oxygen, 0.095-0.104 g/L total dissolved solids, 73.2-81.9 mg CaCO3/L total alkalinity, 91.0-101.9 mg CaCO3/L total hardness, 11.18-27.86 mg/L sulfate, 0.44-1.08 mg/L chloride, 24.61-50.52 mg/L phosphate, <0.001 mg/L cadmium, <0.01 mg/L lead, and <0.001 mg/L mercury. These findings conformed to the water quality guidelines for aquaculture production except for turbidity and phosphate content. Chloride concentrations were also remarkably low. It is recommended to conduct regular monitoring of the physico-chemical parameters of the pond water, and undertake corrective measures to reduce turbidity and phosphate to an acceptable level and increase the chloride to a level specifically suitable for catfish production. Less

Mount Apo Natural Park (MANP) is an important forest reserve in most part of Region XI and XII because of its watershed importance. However, the MANP may also threatened by habitat modification that may alter most of its water resource.… More

Mount Apo Natural Park (MANP) is an important forest reserve in most part of Region XI and XII because of its watershed importance. However, the MANP may also threatened by habitat modification that may alter most of its water resource. Thus, this study was conducted to assess the abundance of freshwater fish and analyze the physico-chemical properties like water temperature, pH, turbidity, dissolved oxygen (DO), total dissolved solids (TDS), electric conductivity (EC), oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) of the two major rivers of MANP. A total of six freshwater fishes consisting of four native and two introduced species were collected and identified in the two sampling stations. The native Barbodes binotatus (Valenciennes 1842) was found to be the most abundant in all the years the survey was conducted. The data on physico-chemical properties showed fluctuations in all year (2012-13 and 2015). High turbidity rate in Marbel River and high water temperature recorded in upper station of Matingao River could have influenced the collection and abundance of freshwater fishes. Shannon diversity index in Marbel River and Matingao River are very low with values of 0.69 (2012-2013); 0.68 (2015) and 0.70 (2012-2013); 0.70 (2015) for the two rivers, respectively. This could be attributed to anthropogenic activities, characteristics and physico-chemical properties of the river. Less

The study was conducted to evaluate the growth and profitability of broilers in the different levels of vermi (Eisenia fetida) meal ration under two management systems. 120 day old chicks were tested in Randomized Complete Block Design with 4 treatments:… More

The study was conducted to evaluate the growth and profitability of broilers in the different levels of vermi (Eisenia fetida) meal ration under two management systems. 120 day old chicks were tested in Randomized Complete Block Design with 4 treatments: commercial feeds, 2% vermi meal (vm)+local ingredients(li), 3% vm+li, 5% vm+li in three replications. Result revealed that total confinement (TC) had higher body weight (bw) and weight gain (wg) with a difference of 35.60 grams and 36.90 grams respectively compared to that of free-range (FR) that had lesser feed consumption (fc) with a difference of 81.10 grams and high in net income and ROI. Infeed ration, fc increased when given a higher percentage of vm, and it was significantly different from the commercial feeds (cf). In 3 different levels of vm, though they did not have a significant difference to each other, the 2% level of vm was comparable to cf and showed a difference in terms of bw 296.70 grams in TC; 326.00 grams in FR. In wg 296.67 grams in TC and 370.97 grams in FR in both management systems. Consequently, 2% level vm had an optimum result in final body weight, wg, and high in feed conversion. Less

Ultrasound is aided with acoustic gel to provide an accurate medical diagnosis; however, this product is costly and, thus, may hinder the diagnostic value of the procedure. This research is focused on the evaluation of radiographic image quality parameters of… More

Ultrasound is aided with acoustic gel to provide an accurate medical diagnosis; however, this product is costly and, thus, may hinder the diagnostic value of the procedure. This research is focused on the evaluation of radiographic image quality parameters of sonograms scanned using Saluyot leaves and commercial acoustic gels. Twelve participants were purposively chosen and subjected to an Ultrasound scan using the acoustic gels. Recorded sonograms were evaluated using the standard radiographic image quality parameters. Results revealed that sonograms obtained using Saluyot leaves were more acceptable, more visible, more detailed, and less distorted compared to commercial acoustic gel. Statistical analysis showed that there is no significant difference in the level of acceptability and distortion of the sonograms obtained using the Saluyot leaves and commercial acoustic gels. However, there is a significant difference in the visibility and amount of recorded detail of the sonograms using the two gels. Less

In radiation therapy, Monte Carlo method was a standard procedure for absorbed dose calculations; yet it was often frustrating due to long computation requirements and complex programming. Monte Carlo method was soon revitalized since the introduction of Geant4 framework purely… More

In radiation therapy, Monte Carlo method was a standard procedure for absorbed dose calculations; yet it was often frustrating due to long computation requirements and complex programming. Monte Carlo method was soon revitalized since the introduction of Geant4 framework purely written in C++ object-oriented language. This study utilized opensource Geant4 codes for modeling and simulation purposes. These codes were executed to simulate the performance of an Elekta Compact linear accelerator based on available manufacturer’s specifications. A 6-MV photon beam spectrum was modeled by transporting 2 billion 6-MeV primary electrons to hit a tungsten target from a 0.5 mm gun filament radius with spatial energy of 0.127 MeV and angular distribution of ±30o. Depth-doses were computed at 1.04 to 30 cm along the central axis of a voxelized water phantom. Validity of simulated data was verified by comparison with experimental measurement. There was close agreement between simulated and measured beam data. Normalization errors were equal to 4.6% for 10 x 10 cm2; and 3.9% for 15 x 15 cm2 field sizes. Computing efficiency has improved when using condensed-history technique. Therefore, the Geant4 framework can create model and simulate complex geometries of a linear accelerator facility with improved reliability, accuracy, and efficiency. Less

With the advancement in diagnostic imaging, providing shielding against X-rays has become a significant concern. While Lead has been extensively used as the shielding material, it is costly and toxic to humans and the surrounding environment. This study aims to… More

With the advancement in diagnostic imaging, providing shielding against X-rays has become a significant concern. While Lead has been extensively used as the shielding material, it is costly and toxic to humans and the surrounding environment. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of eggshells as alternative shielding material against diagnostic X-rays. To this end, the eggshells were collected, ground, sieved and mixed with cement and water with an increasing amount. Radiographic analysis was utilized to measure the performance of the shields. The results showed that increasing the number of eggshells increased its shielding performance; however, more shielding is required at higher X-ray energies. Nevertheless, the performance of the standard Lead shield and the shield with the highest number of eggshells yielded a comparable result. The eggshells can be used as alternative shielding material against diagnostic X-rays. Less

Human activities, such as product manufacturing, mining, and ore extraction, chemical and metallurgical processing, road and building construction, municipal and household activities, and agriculture among others, have relocated and accumulated metal and material resources from geological origins to the technosphere.… More

Human activities, such as product manufacturing, mining, and ore extraction, chemical and metallurgical processing, road and building construction, municipal and household activities, and agriculture among others, have relocated and accumulated metal and material resources from geological origins to the technosphere. The technosphere is defined broadly as a material stockpile that has been established by human activities and technological processes (Johansson et al., 2013). Iron, for example, is mined and extracted from iron oxide ores from the Earth’s crust, by high temperature metallurgical processes and is used to produce steel, other metal alloys, and chemical products. Iron is now present in many things we use everyday, i.e., buildings, bridges, cutting tools, bicycle, and a multitude of other materials and equipment. These materials containing iron, either active or inactive stocks, are part of the technosphere and are considered technospheric stocks or secondary sources of iron. Less

About 32% of the Philippine land area is devoted for agriculture. Given this, the agriculture sector is expected to increasingly generate significant emissions of non-carbon dioxide (CO2) greenhouse gases (GHG) and their precursors such as methane (CH4), carbon monoxide (CO),… More

About 32% of the Philippine land area is devoted for agriculture. Given this, the agriculture sector is expected to increasingly generate significant emissions of non-carbon dioxide (CO2) greenhouse gases (GHG) and their precursors such as methane (CH4), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrous oxide (N2O) and nitrogen oxide (NOX) from open burning of biomass residues from rice, corn and sugarcane farming. This study was undertaken to generate an updated yet specific inventory of contributions of provinces and regions to the total emissions of such radiative gases. Biomass residues from rice, corn and sugarcane were purposively sampled from the field and subjected to laboratory analyses to determine carbon fraction as well as carbonnitrogen ratio values. Secondary data on annual crop production were obtained from the PSA while default values of emission factors were secured from the IPCC. Inventory of such non-CO2 GHwG emissions covering all provinces of the Philippines were undertaken using the IPCC Tier 1 approach. Thematic maps were then generated through simple geographic information system. The study showed an average annual total emissions of 21 Gg, 550 Gg, 0.4 Gg and 15 Gg, respectively for CH4, CO, N2O and NOx from 1990 to 2015 with CO constituting 94% of the emissions. Western Visayas was the top “hotspot” region with about ? of the total emissions. Other “hotspot” regions include Central Luzon, Northern Mindanao and Cagayan Valley. Apart from providing technical and financial support to entice farmers to recycle crop residues, heightened monitoring and implementation of applicable environmental regulations must also be pursued to deter farmers from burning crop residues. Tax and non-tax incentives may be offered likewise to attract investors to put up processing plants utilizing crop residues primarily for power generation. Less

Forest litter is an important aspect for healthy forest ecosystems. Hence, this study monitored the litterfall production and turnover in the established two-hectare permanent plots in the three Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) Sites in Mindanao, viz., Mt. Apo, Mt.… More

Forest litter is an important aspect for healthy forest ecosystems. Hence, this study monitored the litterfall production and turnover in the established two-hectare permanent plots in the three Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) Sites in Mindanao, viz., Mt. Apo, Mt. Hamiguitan and Mt. Musuan. Litter samples were collected from 2w0 installed traps at each site and consequently sorted to components, processed and oven-dried. Data revealed that the estimated annual litter production was highest in Mt. Musuan with 11211.5 kg ha-1, followed by Mt. Apo with 6648.0 kg ha-1 and Mt. Hamiguitan with 4919.5 kg ha-1. Agathis philippinensis contributed the highest litterfall production in Mt. Apo, whereas Barringtonia racemosa and Artocarpus blancoi in Mt. Hamiguitan and Mt. Musuan, respectively. Highest litter turnover was observed in Mt. Musuan (5.35%/day). Litterfall production showed to have a positive correlation with temperature for Mt. Hamiguitan and Mt. Musuan. Among the studied sites, Mt. Musuan had the highest forest primary production. Results of this study support previous reports that lowland forests have high forest productivity. Further, there is a need to plant Philippine endemic and threatened trees, such as A. philippinensis since these prove to have high productivity as in the case of Mt. Apo and Mt. Hamiguitan. Less

There are thousands of species in the plant kingdom but less than 200 are recognized as major crops. There is even less when it comes to food crops hence food and nutritional insecurity are major concerns in either developed or… More

There are thousands of species in the plant kingdom but less than 200 are recognized as major crops. There is even less when it comes to food crops hence food and nutritional insecurity are major concerns in either developed or developing countries. Unfortunately, manyspecies fall under the neglected and underutilized species (NUS) category. Senna tora (L.) Roxb. is largely utilized in some countries especially as part of their traditional medicine but is generally known as a weed in the Philippines and henceforth technically, one of the NUS. This paper reports of findings of a series of investigations from December 2009 to November 2017 of S. tora in Bukidnon that documented its uses as a food, feed, and medicinal crop; in situ and ex situ ecotypic diversity in the province based on its phenotypes; and potential resilience to abiotic stresses at early vegetative stage. Use of leaves, seeds and roots as food, feed and medicine were documented in 9 of 22 barangays. Percent crude protein (PCP) of seeds and leaves ranged from 12.50% to 20.48% and 16.94-39.02%, respectively. PCP of seeds (H’=0.93) and leaves (H’=0.79 and 0.81) were highly diverse based on Standardized Shannon-Weaver Diversity Index. Plant height was estimated with moderate (H’=0.67) to high (H’=0.88 and 0.93) diversity. However, all ecotypes were non-nodulating (H’=0.00). Finally, most ecotypes were more sensitive to waterlogging than to drought for 16 days at seedling stage. Three of 10 ecotypes were sensitive only to waterlogging whereas, another three ecotypes were not sensitive to both stresses. Less

Identification and subsequent isolation of anti-dengue active compounds in medicinal plants are potentially useful for developing antiviral chemical analogues. This study investigated the potential use of aqueous, methanolic, and ethanolic extracts of Syzygium sp. “O-on” against bacterial co-infection of Staphylococcus… More

Identification and subsequent isolation of anti-dengue active compounds in medicinal plants are potentially useful for developing antiviral chemical analogues. This study investigated the potential use of aqueous, methanolic, and ethanolic extracts of Syzygium sp. “O-on” against bacterial co-infection of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in dengue. Taxonomic identification of Syzygium sp. “O-on” collected from Mindanao signifies possible new species through their distribution, ecology and conservation status. Phytochemical analysis showed that crude aqueous and organic solvent extracts contain medicinally important bioactive compound. Highest antimicrobial potentials were observed for the methanolic extracts of Syzygium sp. which inhibited 62.5 and 51.16% of the tested microorganisms, respectively, with higher activity against antibiotic-resistant bacteria (83.3%). We suggest that the Syzygium sp. could be potentially exploited to control the behaviors of this pathogen as well as for its utilization as a lead compound in screening for anti-dengue agents based on new antimicrobial targets. Less

The main and interaction effects on the total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC) and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical seavenging activity of two edible ferns in various food processing methods were investigated. Factors include fern species (Diplazium eculentum and Stenochlaena… More

The main and interaction effects on the total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC) and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical seavenging activity of two edible ferns in various food processing methods were investigated. Factors include fern species (Diplazium eculentum and Stenochlaena palustris), and type of processing methods at various levels (blanching at 80?C for 1, 2 and 3 minutes, boiling at 4, 5 and 6 minutes; freezing at 1, 2 and 3 weeks; microwave at 30, 60 and 90 seconds; oven dry at 70?C for 1, 3 and 5 hours; steaming at 8, 9 and 10 minutes; vacuum packaging at 1, 2 and 3 weeks and fresh as control) were studied. Main effects were based on fern species, process and levels while, interaction effects comprise the combinations of the main effects. Results revealed that the main and interaction effects to all parameters used were significantly different. D. esculentum has a higher TPC and TFC than S. palustris. However, S. palustris attained higher DPPH radical scavenging activity than D. esculentum. Among the processing methods, oven drying attained high TPC and TFC while steaming increased the DPPH radical scavenging activity. Both of these processes were best at low levels. Less

Knowing the pest species first is necessary for the formulation of pest control method. In this study an assessment of termite infestation in the academic buildings was conducted. All wooden materials both furniture and structural member were inspected for signs… More

Knowing the pest species first is necessary for the formulation of pest control method. In this study an assessment of termite infestation in the academic buildings was conducted. All wooden materials both furniture and structural member were inspected for signs of termite infestation. Soldiers of termites found infesting wooden structures were collected for identification. The data gathered during actual inspections include moisture content of infested wood, coatings (painted or not), type of wood in service (furniture or structural member) and materials used (lumber or plywood). A regression analysis was run to determine if the mentioned factors or combination thereof can best explain the rate of infestation. A total of 28 buildings were inspected. All of the buildings showed signs of termite infestation. Pieces of furniture were mostly infested with drywood termites while structural member were infested mostly by subterranean termite. However, most of the buildings have empty tunnels with no active termite population. There were only 3 species of subterranean termites collected and identified viz., Macrotermes gilvus Hagen, Coptotermes gestroi Wasmann and Microcerotermes losbañosensis Oshima. Regression analysis showed that none of the factors or combinations thereof can explain the variation in the extent of damage caused by termites. Keywords: edible ferns, phenolics, flavonoids, antioxidant activity. Less

Seriales fruit is an underutilized wild fruit in the Philippines with promising food production potential, however the usual drawback of processing is the change in the composition or properties of the crop or product. Hence, the study aimed to determine… More

Seriales fruit is an underutilized wild fruit in the Philippines with promising food production potential, however the usual drawback of processing is the change in the composition or properties of the crop or product. Hence, the study aimed to determine and compare the proximate composition of raw and heattreated seriales fruits. Heat-treatment involves blanching, steaming, boiling and microwave-cooking, which were analyzed for its moisture content, ash content, crude fat, crude fiber and crude protein following standard methods. Results revealed that heat-treatment employed cause a significant difference (p<0.05) on proximate composition of the fruit except for ash and crude fat. High moisture content was identified to boiled and steamed fruits, and the lowest was observed in microwave-cooked seriales. Crude protein and fiber were revealed as having increased values in comparison with the raw seriales fruit. Less

This paper presents the production of quality hydroxyapatite (HAp) powders from tilapia bones using thermal treatment. Hydroxyapatite was successfully synthesized by calcination of 0.5M HCl pre-treated tilapia bones. Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed the nano-crystalline hexagonal structure of HAp powders.… More

This paper presents the production of quality hydroxyapatite (HAp) powders from tilapia bones using thermal treatment. Hydroxyapatite was successfully synthesized by calcination of 0.5M HCl pre-treated tilapia bones. Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed the nano-crystalline hexagonal structure of HAp powders. Peaks associated with impurities such as hydrates and carbonates decreased and van- ished along with the coalescence of particles as calcination temperature increased. XRD results also showed better crystal formation at 800 and 900oC. The synthesized HAp powder in this study con- formed well to the properties of biological apatites. Less

Local isolates of rhizobacteria associated with rice rhizosphere were evaluated against Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) both in vitro and in vivo conditions. Twenty-three rhizobacteria were isolated from the rice-growing provinces of Caraga Region, Philippines, and their antagonistic activity were… More

Local isolates of rhizobacteria associated with rice rhizosphere were evaluated against Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) both in vitro and in vivo conditions. Twenty-three rhizobacteria were isolated from the rice-growing provinces of Caraga Region, Philippines, and their antagonistic activity were evaluated against Xoo causing bacterial leaf blight (BLB) on rice using well diffusion assay method. Among the isolates evaluated, three (FVP 08, FVP 09, and FVP 22) were found highly antagonistic against the test pathogen with a clear and strong degree of the zone of inhibition. The three rhizobacterial antagonists were further evaluated for biological control against Xoo under greenhouse condition. The application of these rhizobacterial antagonists on inoculated rice plants showed shorter lesion length, effectively suppressed the bacterial leaf blight and managed to reduce the severity of BLB. Less

The purpose of this study is twofold: to address the proper utilization and disposal of a locally avail- able industrial waste known as sugar mill lime sludge, and to determine whether it could improve the subgrade performance of an expansive… More

The purpose of this study is twofold: to address the proper utilization and disposal of a locally avail- able industrial waste known as sugar mill lime sludge, and to determine whether it could improve the subgrade performance of an expansive clay by evaluating its California Bearing Ratio (CBR) and Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS). The expansive soil known as Adtuyon clay from Stockfarm, Dalwangan was treated with lime sludge contents of 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, and 30% (all by dry weight of soil); the specimens from each of these mixing conditions were cured at 0, 7, 14, and 28 days. Results show that the treated soil with 10% lime sludge and curing period of 28 days dem- onstrated a higher CBR and UCS. On the other hand, treated soils with lime sludge contents above and below 10% regardless of curing periods have indicated lower CBR and UCS values, thus yielding inferior engineering properties. Therefore, the expansive clay in Bukidnon can be stabilized using the locally available sugar mill lime sludge at an optimum lime sludge content of 10% cured at a minimum curing period of 28 days. Less

Disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) has become a national and global concern due to the impacts of climate change that increase exposure to disaster risks. The Philippines anchored its DRRM actions on RA 10121 enacted in 2010. This study… More

Disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) has become a national and global concern due to the impacts of climate change that increase exposure to disaster risks. The Philippines anchored its DRRM actions on RA 10121 enacted in 2010. This study looks into the capacities, needs, and constraints of local DRRM Councils (DRRMC) in Bukidnon, with priority to four municipalities, one city and eleven barangays with high vulnerability to climate change impacts. The data were then evaluated in terms of compliance with Hyogo and Sendai frameworks of action. Findings of this study revealed that DRRMCs have “moderate” to “high” need for institutional capacity for DRRM; “moderate” for IEC/ advocacy capacity and “moderate” to “low” for financial capacity. DRRMCs have effective and func- tional resources and programs for DRRM. However, barangay DRRMC has no or lacking emergency/ rescue equipment and facilities and less access to basic services. Compliance with Hyogo and Sendai frameworks are constrained due to budget, technical capacity, tasks of DRRMC members and political support. The findings of this study are crucial entry points and inputs to extension programs of agencies and scientific/technical communities needed to build resilience to disaster risks. Less

This study aimed to determine the flexural response of ferrocement I-Beam to third-point loading. Three replicates for each test specimen were made. They were cast using the fabricated C- shaped formwork reinforced with 16, 18, 20, and 22 layers of… More

This study aimed to determine the flexural response of ferrocement I-Beam to third-point loading. Three replicates for each test specimen were made. They were cast using the fabricated C- shaped formwork reinforced with 16, 18, 20, and 22 layers of wire mesh reinforcement then installed back-to-back and connected with A-325 bolts to form I-shaped beams. The said beams were subjected to third-point load test using the Universal Testing Machine. An empirical equation for the determination of flexural strength of the form fr (x) =732.19 + 131.18 x was developed. There was a positive response to the num- ber of layers of wire mesh to the ferrocement I-Beam. By converting the number of layers to the volume fraction of reinforcement from the results of Acma (2014) and Acma et al. (2015), a correlation of the studies was made resulting to an empirical equation. The cracking behavior at failure show perceptible, multiple cracks at each of the three replicates but the time-load curve diagram shows a proportional slope implying that the ferrocement I-beam has exhibited the ductile behavior required; the increase in the number of layers of wire mesh reinforcement also made a positive response to the flexural strength of the ferrocement I-beam. Less

Irrigation water delivered to the rice fields decreases during dry season causing crop damage due to water shortage. The study aimed to estimate the irrigation water requirement of a one hundred hectare rice fields in Maramag, Bukidnon during the dry… More

Irrigation water delivered to the rice fields decreases during dry season causing crop damage due to water shortage. The study aimed to estimate the irrigation water requirement of a one hundred hectare rice fields in Maramag, Bukidnon during the dry season. Parameters of water requirement were col- lected which include soil properties, weather data, and farming practices. Water discharge at National Irrigation Administration canal and Kibalagon creek that served the area was measured. Water saving technique using alternate wetting and drying was implemented during the dry season cropping and wa- ter used was measured using the observation well. The farm delivery requirement is 6.16 lps/ha, thrice the value used in planning irrigation operation activities. AWD saved 39% of the water used compared to conventional irrigation. The result suggests that irrigation water delivered to the area cannot sustain the water requirements, especially during dry season. Less

The radiation reaching the earth’s surface can be represented in a number of different ways and one of the ways is through GHI determination. This study determined the Global Horizontal Irradiance (GHI) in the Province of Bukidnon. GHI is the… More

The radiation reaching the earth’s surface can be represented in a number of different ways and one of the ways is through GHI determination. This study determined the Global Horizontal Irradiance (GHI) in the Province of Bukidnon. GHI is the maximum concurrency of solar radiation at specific time and location on the surface of the earth. It was determined monthly from January to December 2014 using the R.sun model that runs in an open source Grass Geographical Information System (GIS) software which can compute direct (beam), diffuse and reflected solar irradiation raster maps for a given day, latitude, surface and atmospheric conditions. Inputs such as topography, location, Linke Turbidity and ground albedo, slope and aspect and sun’s declination were also taken into account in the calculation. The results suggest that the values of GHI in a clear sky condition differ by almost 90% greater than the real sky condition. The highest GHI values were recorded in the month of January and May for clear and real sky, respectively. Thus, the output of this study recognized and may utilize further to assess the solar energy potential of the Province in terms of GHIs. Less

Flood modeling studies for the purpose of forecasting, early warning, and disaster management of the local government and other disaster agencies have been done in many countries nowadays. With a similar rationale, this study aims to assess the precipitation-runoff capacity… More

Flood modeling studies for the purpose of forecasting, early warning, and disaster management of the local government and other disaster agencies have been done in many countries nowadays. With a similar rationale, this study aims to assess the precipitation-runoff capacity of the Alubijid River Basin which can put a significant number of 41,936 populations at risk to flooding. Using the 10-meter resolution SAR-DEM, the drainage system of the river basin was delineated in ArcMap 10.1 with the aid of HEC-GeoHMS. Data were collected last November 26-27, 2014 during the “Typhoon Queenie” which contributes to water level rise of 1.04 meter MSL of 86.7 mm accumulated rainfall with a peak discharge of 18.7 m3/s. The hydrologic data and generated basin model were inputted in HEC-HMS for calibration. After series of manual adjusting the river basin’s parameters, the hydrologic modeling revealed that the river basin was accepted based on the conducted model validation and performance rating. The overall statistical measures conducted obtained very good and satisfactory ratings. As a result, the basin model is accepted for water level monitoring and forecasting as it gives lead time for the preparation of evacuation of the vulnerable community to the safe sites identified by the local government unit. Less

Flood modeling is one of the recognized effective means of assessing the flood risk to people and property. In this study, the concept of flood modeling is applied in Musimusi river at Balingasag, Misamis Oriental. Using the Hydrologic Modeling System… More

Flood modeling is one of the recognized effective means of assessing the flood risk to people and property. In this study, the concept of flood modeling is applied in Musimusi river at Balingasag, Misamis Oriental. Using the Hydrologic Modeling System (HMS) and River Analysis System (RAS) of the Hydrologic Engineering Center (HEC), hydrologic and hydraulic models were developed to conduct simulations on the rainfall-runoff and flood inundation processes. Data from the Typhoon Seniang event was used as main input for the calibration of basin model and consequently validated using quantitative statistics. Further simulations on specific return periods using historical data from PAG-ASA were conducted using the calibrated model. River flow hydraulics was performed through unsteady flow analysis reconstructing the Typhoon Seniang event and constructing the 5-year, 25-year and 100-year return period scenarios, spatially illustrating flood inundations on the floodplain of Musimusi. Results of this research revealed successful simulation of flood scenarios indicating applicability of both developed HEC-HMS and HEC-RAS models. Moreover, with the integration of high resolution Digital Elevation Model (DEM), modeling is significant towards consequent development of highly precise and detailed flood hazard maps helpful especially to local governing units for the total improvement of disaster risk reduction strategies. Less

Biomass resources from forests and agriculture residues are underutilized and lost mostly in the provinces in Mindanao and other less developed areas in the country. This article focuses on the estimation of biomass available and energy potential of corn residue… More

Biomass resources from forests and agriculture residues are underutilized and lost mostly in the provinces in Mindanao and other less developed areas in the country. This article focuses on the estimation of biomass available and energy potential of corn residue in Bukidnon. The study was carried out using survey questionnaires and government agriculture reports to investigate the potential biomass resources and the existing domestic and commercial uses of biomass in the province. Integration and analysis was done using ArcGIS platform and in mapping out geographic distribution and concentration of biomass resources. It is established that the annual biomass theoretical potential for Bukidnon is about 502,343.38 metric tonnes, which corresponds to an annual energy production potential of 2,252,016,879.08 MJ. Concentration of biomass theoretical potential is highest in District 2 and District 3 and consequently the energy potential of 144,220,522.03 kWH and 298,793,184.33 kWh, respectively. The outcomes of the present study indicate that for studies to develop site suitability analysis for power plant development may need to consider including other leading agronomic crops in the province. Less

Flooding is one of the most devastating natural disasters in the Philippines, especially in Mindanao. This study aimed to generate datasets of flooding along the Gingoog River based on Geographic Information System (GIS). The method employed simulation and mapping of… More

Flooding is one of the most devastating natural disasters in the Philippines, especially in Mindanao. This study aimed to generate datasets of flooding along the Gingoog River based on Geographic Information System (GIS). The method employed simulation and mapping of flood hazards using the Hydrologic Engineering Center’s Hydrologic Modeling System (HEC-HMS) and the HEC-River Analysis System (HEC-RAS) within the GIS environment. Rainfall data on December 15, 2015, with a total amount of 20.8 mm and peak discharge of 43.49 m3s-1, were used to simulate flood hazards. The model was calibrated, and its accuracy was tested, and after which, its overall evaluation showed a satisfactory performance, implying applicability to simulate floods during extreme rainfall events. Using Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data, flood maps of the three return periods were generated within HEC-RAS. Results showed that flooding extended up to 2.965 km2, 4.165 km2, and 5.040 km2 with maximum flood depths of 7.77 m, 8.12 m, and 8.49 m for 5-year, 25-year, and 100-year return periods, respectively. The model, together with the hydrologic behavior of the watershed such as the extent of flooding, is very helpful for the development and enhancement of early warning systems in the affected areas. Less

Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) processed through the combined application of Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technologies were the most critical datasets to the success of surface hydrologic modelling applications. This study aims to extract the hydrologic features… More

Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) processed through the combined application of Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technologies were the most critical datasets to the success of surface hydrologic modelling applications. This study aims to extract the hydrologic features like drainage line, inland wetlands and irrigations of Cabulig watershed using available LiDAR datasets. WhiteboxGAT and QuantumGIS were used to extract wetlands and irrigation while ArcGIS software was used for streams. The extracted features were validated using ancillary maps and google earth while features that are not clear were assigned as Point of interest (POI) and were subjected for ground validation. Aside from POI, random sampling tool was used to generate points subject for field validation. The results showed that the extracted features havehigher average accuracy in comparison to the data obtained from the field regardless of specific type of hydrologic features. The extracted streams network using ArcGIS showed the highest accuracy while the extracted wetland features using the combined applications of WhiteboxGAT and QuantumGIS showed relatively lower accuracy. Therefore, this study was able to extract the hydrologic features of Cabulig watershed using LiDAR-derived DTMs with higher levels of accuracy compared to lower resolution DEMs. Less

Forest wildfires in the Philippines are all human-caused. Resource managers are dependent on accurate estimates and spatially accurate forest structure information to govern this kind of phenomena.This study presents methods of using airborne laser scanning data to acquire forest and… More

Forest wildfires in the Philippines are all human-caused. Resource managers are dependent on accurate estimates and spatially accurate forest structure information to govern this kind of phenomena.This study presents methods of using airborne laser scanning data to acquire forest and tree parameters that are critical in modelling forest fire behavior. The study aimed on assessing fuel models of a tree plantation through LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) point cloud data. The tree plantation under this study is located in the Municipality of Malitbog, Bukidnon that is managed by Bukidnon Forest Incorporated (BFI). Canopy fuel of Caribbean pine (Pinus caribaea) was determined through calculation of canopy bulk density (CBD), canopy base height (CBH), canopy fuel weight (CFW) and canopy height (CH), which are essential in mapping the spatial distribution and modelling fire behavior. The Canopy Fuel Estimator (CFE) software, developed by researchers from USDA Forest Service, was used in this study. The plantation’s mean value of canopy fuel was extracted from available LiDAR data, which was also compared to the field data. Findings show that Caribbean pine plantation has high CBH (11.8 m), CH (31.5 m), and CBD (1.5 kg/m2). This indicates higher risk of forest fire in the area. Furthermore, field data for canopy fuel (CBH = 17.9 m, CH = 27.9 m, CFW = 2.9 kg/ha, CBD = 0.6 kg/m2) was observed to be close to LiDAR data (CBH = 11.8 m, CH = 31.5, CFW = 1.5 kg/ha, CBD = 1.5 kg/m2). Therefore, this study indicates the reliability of LiDAR data in modeling canopy fuel in a homogenous tree plantation through CFE. The maps produced can be used in fire behavior prediction, fuel reduction treatment prioritization and during active fire elimination. Less

Microflora from selected ukay-ukay clothing in Valencia City, Bukidnon were isolated and identified, and the effectiveness of commonly used antimicrobial agents against the microbial isolates was assessed through a standard antimicrobial disc diffusion assay. The effectiveness of conventional hand washing… More

Microflora from selected ukay-ukay clothing in Valencia City, Bukidnon were isolated and identified, and the effectiveness of commonly used antimicrobial agents against the microbial isolates was assessed through a standard antimicrobial disc diffusion assay. The effectiveness of conventional hand washing and sun drying in eradicating the microbes from ukay-ukay clothing was also assessed. Nine bacteria namely; Micrococcus luteus, Staphylococcus sp., Enterobacter agglomerans, E. aerogenes, E. hafniae, Citrobacter freundii, Salmonella arizonae, Serratia sp., Edwardsiella sp., and seven fungi namely; Aspergillus fumigatus, A. niger, A. nidulans, Penicillium glabrum, Rhizopus nigricans, Fusarium sp., Monilia sp. were recovered and identified. One fungal species remained unidentified. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests showed that majority of the bacte-ria were susceptible to doxocycline, tetracycline, and norfloxacin. However, majority of the isolates were re-sistant to penicillin. Tioconazole was the most effective among the antifungal agents tested. Majority of the fungal isolates were resistant to sulfur+ZnO+salicylic acid, clotrimazole, benzoic acid+salicylic acid, ketocona-zole+clobetasol propionate and terbinafine hydrochloride. Reduction in colony counts after hand washing and sun drying reached 92.40% and 96.86% for bacteria and fungi, respectively. This study shows that ukay-ukay clothing harbor microbial pathogens with varying resistance/ susceptibility to popular antimicrobial agents. Less

Spawn production is an essential aspect in mushroom cultivation. This involves the induction of mushroom mycelial development in growing medium under controlled conditions. This study aimed to investigate the performance and economic profitability of Reishi Mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum [Fr.] Karst)… More

Spawn production is an essential aspect in mushroom cultivation. This involves the induction of mushroom mycelial development in growing medium under controlled conditions. This study aimed to investigate the performance and economic profitability of Reishi Mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum [Fr.] Karst) cultivation in response to different spawn substrates. The study was laid out in Completely Randomized Design with six spawn grain substrates as treatments. Results revealed that the shortest time to full mycelial colonization among the different spawn grains at 50, 75 and 100% mycelial spawn run was in corn kernels. However, fruiting bags seeded with sorghum spawn grains significantly showed the earliest time (28.33 days) to full colonization and also produced the highest number of fruiting bodies. Moreover, fruiting bags seeded with sorghum grains produced the highest mushroom yield and consequently recorded the highest profit and return of investment. As per findings, sorghum grains as spawn substrate can be used for rapid mycelial growth, high yield and low cost of reishi mushroom spawn production. When not available, corn kernels or adlay grains may be used as substitute substrates for mushroom spawn production. Less

Goat always has a place in most of the farming systems in the country. It may play a minor role, but their importance in the rural life had long been recognized so that the condition in which they are raised… More

Goat always has a place in most of the farming systems in the country. It may play a minor role, but their importance in the rural life had long been recognized so that the condition in which they are raised must be assessed. A study was conducted to evaluate the performance of backyard and commercial farms in Region 10. Provinces included were Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, and Misamis Occidental. Site identification was based on goat population. The following were gathered from 34 backyard and five commercial farms: average doe per farm, kidding index, kidding size, kidding interval, type of birth, the sex ratio of kids, birth status of kids, average daily gain and mortality. The average number of doe per farm for the backyard is seven (7) and 34 for commercial. There are a lower kidding index and kid size as against the national average both for backyard and commercial. Kidding intervals in the backyard are shorter than the national average, but the commercial is longer by 13.63 days than the national. Birth type for backyard is dominated by single tone followed by twins and triplets. The commercial has a similar trend on birth types. The backyard had a higher percentage of kids born alive (99%) than commercial (96.55%) Kids in the Region have better growth performance than the national average both in backyard and commercial. Mortality among kids in the backyard below one month is higher while in the commercial highest mortality was in kids 1-3 months old. Results of the evaluation of goat farm performance showed that the major problems in goat raising in the region are poor kid performance, poor dam performance, and high mortality. However, a lot of technological options which are products of previous researches are already available and can be delivered to goat raisers. Less

Optimizing plant density per area and fertilization application are basic ways to practice scientific agriculture. These are essential for cost-effective and profitable crop production. This study was conducted at Central Mindanao University to determine the effects of varying planting densities… More

Optimizing plant density per area and fertilization application are basic ways to practice scientific agriculture. These are essential for cost-effective and profitable crop production. This study was conducted at Central Mindanao University to determine the effects of varying planting densities and nutrient rates on the growth and fruit set of ‘Solo’ papaya. Planting densities (plants per ha or pph) served as Factor A. Nutrient rates in reference to a recommended rate (RR) as Factor B. The experiment was arranged in a 3 x 3 factorial in RCBD with three replications. Plants in 3,333 pph with 50% nutrient RR were the tallest amongst treatment combinations at 8 MAT and 10 MAT. Those in 2,500 pph with 100% nutrient RR had widest stems at flowering stage. Plants in 3,333 pph formed longest flowers and fruits with 150% nutrient RR. Highest fruit count per plant was recorded in 2,000 pph at 8 MAT. As per hectare basis, highest planting density produced the most number of developed fruits (117,217) at 6 MAT. However, fruit count per hectare was comparable for all planting densities and nutrient rates at 8 MAT. Less

Loaf bread is widely consumed, and its sensory acceptability is essential for consumers’ quality assurance. Current trends in sensory techniques for costeffective methods in food product development are the use of screening designs. This study investigated to identify the variables… More

Loaf bread is widely consumed, and its sensory acceptability is essential for consumers’ quality assurance. Current trends in sensory techniques for costeffective methods in food product development are the use of screening designs. This study investigated to identify the variables that affect significantly on the sensory acceptability of loaf bread processing. The design was composed of seven variables (refined sugar, fresh milk, salt, yam flour, oil, margarine, and yeast) with eight treatments using the combination of low and high levels of the variables following the Plackett-Burman 7x8 screening design pattern. Color, taste, aroma, texture and general acceptability of the loaf bread were evaluated using a 9.00 point Hedonic scale through 20 semi-trained panelists. SPSS 11.5 and Statistica 6.0 were used to analyze the data. Results revealed that lower levels of yam flour and margarine but with high levels of oil is preferred by most panelists pertaining to taste, aroma, texture, and general acceptability except the color of the loaf bread. Lowering the levels of yam flour and margarine but with high levels of oil improved the sensory attributes of the loaf bread. It is recommended that these levels of variables be used for loaf bread optimization designs. Less

Sustaining the increase in crop production is the basic cornerstone of meeting the rising demands from population growth, changing dietary preferences and expanding biofuels use. The earlier strategy was simply to expand the area devoted to crop production. However, expanding… More

Sustaining the increase in crop production is the basic cornerstone of meeting the rising demands from population growth, changing dietary preferences and expanding biofuels use. The earlier strategy was simply to expand the area devoted to crop production. However, expanding the area for crop production is now limited and often associated with environmental concerns since it always involves the clearing of natural ecosystems, forests, and other fragile ecosystems. This has shifted to strategy such as the intensification of the crop yields of existing agricultural lands. Less

Activities and rainfall events at Kibalagon Creek catchment basin contribute to flooding problems at CMU. The study characterized the physical characteristics of the basin to serve as input in policy formulation of campus flooding problems. One year data collection included… More

Activities and rainfall events at Kibalagon Creek catchment basin contribute to flooding problems at CMU. The study characterized the physical characteristics of the basin to serve as input in policy formulation of campus flooding problems. One year data collection included profile leveling, water flow measurements, soil and water sampling, and rainfall data collection. The basin is 464.3 hectares with 9.91-kilometer perimeter and thematic maps on a slope, elevation and soil were made. Kibalagon Creek has a total length of 8.61 kilometers with 12 streams and drainage density of 18.55 m/ha. Total suspended solid did not meet the minimum for agricultural purpose while pH and Total dissolved solid qualified. Less

Digital divide is a global social issue that deals with the inequality of availability, access, and utilization of Information and Communications Technology (ICT). This study investigated the incidence of the digital divide and its factors among the residents in a… More

Digital divide is a global social issue that deals with the inequality of availability, access, and utilization of Information and Communications Technology (ICT). This study investigated the incidence of the digital divide and its factors among the residents in a rural community in the Philippines. A survey based on the concepts of measurement of Digital Divide on a micro level was conducted to identify factors based on ICT Development Index (IDI), Digital Access Index (DAI), and Digital Opportunity Index (DOI). It was found that majority of the respondents were “non-users” of ICT due to lack of knowledge, access, and comfort in doing so. Therefore, a digital divide exists and the factors that cause the gap are age, employment status, educational attainment, and household income. Less

One of the tools to measure the environmental impacts of the utilization of natural resources is determining ecological footprint (EF). The study assessed how one’s lifestyle could have impacts on the condition of our natural resources. EF study was conducted… More

One of the tools to measure the environmental impacts of the utilization of natural resources is determining ecological footprint (EF). The study assessed how one’s lifestyle could have impacts on the condition of our natural resources. EF study was conducted among households within the premises of Central Mindanao University, Bukidnon, Philippines. One hundred (100) households were interviewed using a pre-constructed questionnaire based on the data needed for the downloadable EF spreadsheet program. EF of the respondents was analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression. The results revealed a higher per capita EF among the respondents (3.81 global hectares) compared to the national as well as the global EF averages. Based on the findings, there is a negative relationship between household size and EF and a positive relationship between income and EF. Less

Siltation at Pulangui Reservoir in Maramag, Bukidnon is a big problem for the hydroelectric power plant. This study explores the potential of Pulangui alluvial sediments from five different locations for compressed stabilized earth block (CSEB) production based on the soil… More

Siltation at Pulangui Reservoir in Maramag, Bukidnon is a big problem for the hydroelectric power plant. This study explores the potential of Pulangui alluvial sediments from five different locations for compressed stabilized earth block (CSEB) production based on the soil consistency and textural properties of sediments and compressive strength of the blocks. The effect of coal fly ash as partial replacement to ordinary portland cement as binder was also examined. The results showed that the soil consistency and textural properties of alluvial sediments failed to pass the suitability criteria for CSEB. Additional sand was added in 1:2 ratio (soil to sand). The replacement of cement with coal fly ash tends to increase its compressive strength up to 20% replacement of cement. The highest compressive strength was observed from the alluvial soils of Panadtalan with 4.32 a . CSEB is viewed to have certain potentials that have the comparative advantage over other materials like hollow blocks but needs a promotional campaign to encourage its usage. The comparative cost analysis revealed that the CSEB with coal fly ash is only 4.30% cheaper compared to the conventional method. Overall, the alluvial deposits of Pulangui reservoir and coal fly ash could be utilized for CSEB production. Less

Philippines is one of the biodiversity hotspots of the world, being home to most of the endangered species. It is important to give utmost attention to these plant taxa considered threatened, endemic, and economically important. The primary concern of this… More

Philippines is one of the biodiversity hotspots of the world, being home to most of the endangered species. It is important to give utmost attention to these plant taxa considered threatened, endemic, and economically important. The primary concern of this study to provide data on the occurrence and distribution of the threatened seed plants in Mindanao. Determination of these seed plants was based mainly on existing literature. Likewise, field observations were done in selected mountains in Mindanao to validate the occurrence and conservation status of these plants listed in the Philippine database. A total of 190 species of threatened seed plants were reported from Mindanao comprising 180 angiosperm species and ten gymnosperm species. More than half (133 species) of these threatened plants are endemic to the Philippines; 46 are placed in the critically endangered category, 69 endangered and 67 vulnerable. The families Orchidaceae and Dipterocarpaceae contained the highest number of threatened species. The family Melastomataceae is distinctly noted to have species which are all endangered and endemic to the country. The highest occurrence of threatened seed plants was observed in Mt. Malindang, Misamis Occidental. It is concluded that Mindanao houses some threatened, endemic, and economic seed plants. Less

Ferrocement is usually made from a mortar of Portland cement, sand and fine gravel applied to steel reinforcement which is provided in small aperture wire mesh and/ or closely spaced small diameter bars or wires. This study aimed to determine… More

Ferrocement is usually made from a mortar of Portland cement, sand and fine gravel applied to steel reinforcement which is provided in small aperture wire mesh and/ or closely spaced small diameter bars or wires. This study aimed to determine the third-point load effect on bending moment of slotted ferrocement beams. It was conducted using a single-factor experiment with six levels of factors being employed. The experiments used five treatments with six replications. Results show that the provision of two or more layers of wire mesh reinforcement will lead to an increase in the flexural strength of the section and increase the number of layers of wire mesh reinforcement could allow the beam to exhibit ductile behavior. The number of cracks in the beam will increase, and the distance of such spacing will decrease. This behavior of cracking can effectively delay the occurrence of a failure in the specimen. Less