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An Empirical Study on the Retail Price Threshold of Pork in the Chinese Market
Get PDFThis study aimed to identify warning thresholds that can guide sellers in achieving reasonable profits while reducing buyer payment costs. Monthly price data from January 2009 to June 2023 and the two-regime threshold regression model were used for an empirical analysis of the asymmetric effects of the changes in household consumption under different pork price fluctuation levels to verify that the changes in household consumption have significant pork price fluctuation thresholds and threshold effects. It was found that as the fluctuation of pork prices approached the threshold, the temporary price-intervention policy (e.g., reference price) effect of adjusting prices diminished. An empirical analysis was conducted from the perspective of asymmetric effects of the upstream (feed and piglets), midstream (live pigs), and downstream (pork) of price transmission. The impacts of the products in the upstream and midstream of the industry chain on pork prices declined gradually, and among the products, the impact of the prices of feeds for fattening pigs on pork prices was found to be the weakest. Thus, the price intervention policy (e.g., reference price) based on the pork price threshold suggests that strengthening the supervision of the price fluctuations of midstream products (e.g., controlling the profit margin) when the pork price fluctuation is near the threshold (8.24%) would have more significant effects on all sides
Effect of Stocking Density on Growth, Biochemical Composition, and Blood Parameters in the Pacific Shortfin Eel (Anguilla bicolor pacifica) Elvers
Get PDFThis study examined the effect of stocking density on growth, biochemical composition, and blood parameters of the Pacific shortfin eel Anguilla bicolor pacifica. Elvers (1.95 ± 0.14 g body weight) were randomly stocked in indoor tanks and reared over 186 d at three stocking densities (0.3, 0.6, and 0.9 kg m-3) set up in triplicates. Except for survival and biometric indices, elvers maintained at 0.3 and 0.6 kg m-3 densities exhibited higher growth and feed utilization than those held at 0.9 kg m-3. Yield increased with stocking density, which were significantly higher at 0.6 and 0.9 kg m-3. RNA/DNA ratio did not reflect growth rate, but trends in survival and RNA/DNA ratio with stocking density were positively related. In contrast to body proximate composition, increasing stocking density resulted in significantly higher erucic acid (22:1n-9) and total saturated fatty acid levels at 0.6 and 0.9 kg m-3 densities, respectively. Serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase activity was significantly elevated at 0.6 kg m-3, while total protein, glucose, and triglycerides slightly decreased with increasing stocking density. Results suggest that Pacific shortfin eel elvers can be reared in indoor tanks at a stocking density of 0.3 – 0.6 kg m-3 to achieve acceptable growth, feed performance, and health condition
Informational media consumption on marine oil spills and environmental engagement of coastal residents in Pola, Oriental Mindoro
No full textThis study explored informational media consumption on marine oil spills and the environmental engagement of coastal residents in Pola, Oriental Mindoro. Guided by the Orientation-Stimuli-Reasoning-Outcome (O-S-R-O-R) communication mediation model, this study employed a descriptive quantitative research design to determine and analyze the relationship between informational media consumption and environmental discussions, environmental discussions and environmental efficacy, and environmental efficacy and environmental participation. Self-administered survey questionnaires were used to gather data among 256 randomly selected coastal residents of Brgy. Batuhan, one of the areas with the most residents affected by the MT Princess Empress oil spill incident in Pola, Oriental Mindoro. Findings through linear regression analysis revealed that there is a positive relationship between: informational media consumption and offline environmental discussions; informational media consumption and online environmental discussions; offline environmental discussions and environmental efficacy; and the environmental efficacy and environmental participation. There is a negative relationship between online environmental discussion and environmental efficacy. The coastal residents have high levels of online media consumption, offline environmental discussions, environmental efficacy, and environmental participation; however, they have low levels of engagement in traditional media consumption and online environmental discussions. This suggests that further promotion of traditional media accessibility and online communications among coastal residents needs to be established within the community of Brgy. Batuhan to further encourage informational media consumption and environmental engagement
Epidemic Modeling of African Swine Fever Virus (ASFv) in the Philippines
No full textBackground: Salmonellosis is the most common food-borne disease in humans worldwide, with Salmonella Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) identified to be the main causative agent. The increase in antibiotic resistance against poultry pathogens causes significant economic losses and devastating public health concerns. Despite the increasing interest in the therapeutic properties of stingless bee propolis, the biological activity of the Philippine stingless propolis remains poorly understood and sparingly investigated. Herein, we have investigated the effect of ethanolic extract of Philippine stingless propolis on the expression of Th-1 related cytokines in S. Typhimurium stimulated chicken embryonic fibroblasts (CEFs). Methods: CEFs, isolated from 9-day-old embryos, were assigned into four experimental groups namely: PBS-treated mock-stimulated group (NC), S. Typhimurium-stimulated control group (ST), EEP-treated group (EEP), and S. Typhimurium-stimulated and EEP-treated group (ST+EEP). The highest concentration of EEP that did not produce more than 20% growth inhibition of CEFs was initially determined using trypan blue exclusion assay. After which, cells were incubated with different treatments for 24 hours and then subjected to quantitative reverse-transcription (qRT) PCR to determine the gene expression levels of Thl-related cytokines. Results: Cell viability assay showed that 100 g/ml corresponded to the optimum concentration of EEP that preserve the viability as well as the cellular integrity of CEFs. qRT PCR analysis of Thl-related cytokines unveiled that mRNA transcript levels of IN-y were significantly upregulated in the ST+EEP group whereas the expression levels of IL-2 and IL-8 were consistently and highly significantly increased in the ST alone group as compared to the corresponding NC control group. In addition, gene expression levels of IFN-y were observed to be significantly upregulated in the ST+EEP group with respect to the ST alone group. Conversely, the expression levels of both IL-2 and IL-8 were considerably downregulated in the former group as opposed to the latter group. Finally, as contrasted to the EEP alone group, the gene expression levels of both IL-2 and IL-8 were significantly increased in the ST alone group. Conclusion: Altogether, the results of this study suggest that the Philippine stingless bee propolis specifically modulates the gene transcription of Thl-related cytokines in response to S. Typhimurium infection in vitro
Effects of Philippine Stingless Bee (Tetragonula biroi FRIESE) Propolis on Gene Expression pf TH1-Related Cytokines in Salmonella Typhimurium-Stimulated Philippines Banaba Native Chicken Embryonic Fibroblasts
No full textBackground: Salmonellosis is the most common food-borne disease in humans worldwide, with Salmonella Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) identified to be the main causative agent. The increase in antibiotic resistance against poultry pathogens causes significant economic losses and devastating public health concerns. Despite the increasing interest in the therapeutic properties of stingless bee propolis, the biological activity of the Philippine stingless propolis remains poorly understood and sparingly investigated. Herein, we have investigated the effect of ethanolic extract of Philippine stingless propolis on the expression of Th-1 related cytokines in S. Typhimurium stimulated chicken embryonic fibroblasts (CEFs). Methods: CEFs, isolated from 9-day-old embryos, were assigned into four experimental groups namely: PBS-treated mock-stimulated group (NC), S. Typhimurium-stimulated control group (ST), EEP-treated group (EEP), and S. Typhimurium-stimulated and EEP-treated group (ST+EEP). The highest concentration of EEP that did not produce more than 20% growth inhibition of CEFs was initially determined using trypan blue exclusion assay. After which, cells were incubated with different treatments for 24 hours and then subjected to quantitative reverse-transcription (qRT) PCR to determine the gene expression levels of Thl-related cytokines. Results: Cell viability assay showed that 100 g/ml corresponded to the optimum concentration of EEP that preserve the viability as well as the cellular integrity of CEFs. qRT PCR analysis of Thl-related cytokines unveiled that mRNA transcript levels of IN-y were significantly upregulated in the ST+EEP group whereas the expression levels of IL-2 and IL-8 were consistently and highly significantly increased in the ST alone group as compared to the corresponding NC control group. In addition, gene expression levels of IFN-y were observed to be significantly upregulated in the ST+EEP group with respect to the ST alone group. Conversely, the expression levels of both IL-2 and IL-8 were considerably downregulated in the former group as opposed to the latter group. Finally, as contrasted to the EEP alone group, the gene expression levels of both IL-2 and IL-8 were significantly increased in the ST alone group. Conclusion: Altogether, the results of this study suggest that the Philippine stingless bee propolis specifically modulates the gene transcription of Thl-related cytokines in response to S. Typhimurium infection in vitro
Did Stalinism pave the way for the rise of the Marcos dictatorship? a review of Joseph Scalice’s the drama of dictatorship
No full textJoseph Scalice’s The Drama of Dictatorship: Martial Law and the Communist Parties of the Philippines (2023) offers arguably one of the most definitive Trotskyist critiques of the historical legacy of the Philippine communist movement. Through extensive archival research, Scalice interprets the split between the Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas (PKP) and the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) as a local expression of the Sino-Soviet split, arguing that both parties acted as class collaborators by aligning with rival factions of the Filipino elite. This review article critically engages with Scalice’s historical claims from an anti-imperialist, Marxist, and non-sectarian perspective. While his Trotskyist approach offers a significant challenge to official state and insurgent narratives, it also skews his historiography, reducing the complex and contested history of revolutionary movements in the Philippines to a narrative centered overwhelmingly on Stalinism
RNA-seq data derived microsatellite markers for polymorphism detection and profiling of abaca (Musa textilis NEE) and selected relatives
No full textTo facilitate abaca (Musa textilisNee) genotype screening, microsatellite markers developed from RNA-seq data of M. textilis cv. ‘Abuab’, M. balbisiana cv. ‘Pacol’, and ‘Abuab × Pacol’ backcross progenies were utilized. Through a modified bioinformatics pipeline for in silico SSR mining, an average of 4,611 non- redundant SSRs (94.95%) were retrieved. Trinucleotide SSRs (38.5%) were the most abundant, followed by dinucleotides (32.47%). A total of 15,305 primer pairs were designed from this study. Twenty-four polymorphic SSRs from a random set of 50 SSR markers selected for validation were successfully cross- amplified in different abaca genotypes. The average number of alleles per locus, observed heterozygosity, Shannon’s information index, and polymorphic information content were 6.11, 0.449, 1.448, and 0.738, respectively. Analysis of banding patterns and hierarchical clustering revealed distinct grouping of Pacol and backcross progenies from Abuab and other abaca genotypes. The 70.83% of the identified polymorphic SSR markers showed significant alignment with M. acuminata subsp. malaccensis transcripts, including expansin, a fiber-quality gene. More than twelve percent of the identified polymorphic SSR markers targeted unique sequences when compared to published sequences in NCBI. The identified SSR markers were also capable of discriminating between Abuab accessions and are therefore recommended for future abaca screening work
Farmer\u27s Awareness and Practices Towards Green super Rice (NSIC Rc480) in Calauan, Laguna
No full textThe effects of climate change are affecting every crop produced in different parts of the world, including the Philippines. Rice, Being one of the leading and staple crops of the Filipinos\u27, is getting more demands from the market. But due to external factors, the production of rice and even the seeds for it is becoming a problem.
In addition, despite the growing demand and innovation towards rice seeds for a better approach towards their qualities resistance to external factors, the price is also increasing due to inflation, which affects the current situation of the market price from entry point to exit point.
Developing a range of rice seeds than can survive harsh conditions and even provide high-quality seeds for both production and consumption is one of the key remedies recommended by the Philippine Rice Research Institute. NSIC Rc 480, often referred to as the Green Super Rice, was one of these types. which, in their opinion, has great yielding properties, is extremely drought-tolerant, and can boost productivity by more than 80%.
Given the brief explanation, this study provides a comprehensive understanding of the farmers\u27 knowledge, perception, behavior, and attitude towards GSR and analyzes the current input market for the variety in the Municipality of Calauan, Laguna.
As an overview, based on the results of the study, it shows that the dependent variable, farmers\u27 income is generally affected by the independent variables\u27 farm size and educational attainment. Given that land is a matter of question regarding rice seed production, most of the farmers of Calauan, who are respondent of this study, show that most of them own more than or equal to three (3) hectares but less than five (5) hectares. But given the high-yielding quality of NSIC Rc 480, even small farms smaller than three (3) hectares could potentially harvest up to their maximum land potential through the right farming practices. Additionally, those who have enrolled in a vocational course offered by TESDA accredited sites for high-quality inbred rice seed production have far better income than those who have not enrolled.
This study reveals that most of the farmers are aware of GSR and its basic benefits, such as high yielding qualities, drought resistance, and pest resistance. Assuming that these attributes are commonly linked to Rc 480, Calauan farmers are making use of them in the summer to enhance their positive attributes and augment the quantity of their produce.
The study also discovered that, as a result of the dearth of reliable information sources and government action, users of GSR typically lack understanding of the development and marketing of high-quality rice seeds. Considering that the local government unit lacks the initiative to provide trainings and seminars for a deeper comprehension of rice seed production. Therefore, the farmers may generally raise the number of tillers and boost their crop after learning about the existence of a kind of rice known to them as Green Super Rice, or Rc480. To find out if it works and can be applied in their next rice farming cycle, the majority of them are usually eager to test it out on their field.
The farmer\u27s attitudes toward utilizing the Rc 480 were also investigated in the study, and it turns out that they are rather favorable about it. They believe that the major purpose of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) developed GSR was to allow farmers to optimize their income and maximize their productivity through the farming, production, and marketing of GSR.
Based on the further findings of this study, several recommendations were made to address the issue of the input market for rice seeds, such as Green Super Rice. These recommendations include financial subsidies (for growing, planting, harvesting, research, and development), a basic marketing principle seminar, price regulation and quality standard assurance through seed grading, and an intrinsic overview of the production per farmer. In addition, the recommendation also emphasizes the importance of knowing the downsides of planting certain rice seeds, such as the Green Supper Rice, to maximize its full potential to enhance its quality, engage with skeptical farmers, and showcase its good attributes and advantages to ensure its further commercialization in other parts of the Philippines that truly need it.
Implementing these recommendations, stakeholders, involved in producing the Green Super Rice can increase farmers\u27 acceptance of it, increase their purchase intent, and establish a strong position for producing GSR during the summer season to maximize its characteristics and advantages. The study\u27s insights would provide valuable guidance for government institutions and other policymakers to address the issue of rice seed production
A Decomposition Analysis of the Gender Wage Gap in the Philippines
No full textThe gender wage gap continues to exist as an issue related to the Philippines’ attempt in achieving an overall gender parity. Despite improvements to women’s average wages over time, which eventually overcame those of men since 2009, a seven-percent wage gap persists. Similar literatures often suggest that a gender wage gap occurs due to a discriminating wage structure against female wages, as a large percentage of the gap is being associated to an unexplained portion. This study, on the other hand, aimed to review on the other possible reasons to the presence of a gender wage gap in the Philippines aside from wage discrimination, given that the study also found that the unexplained portion has contributed the most to the gap. The study utilized the three-fold Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition in analyzing the differences between the wages for men and women, which encompasses three components: endowments, coefficients, and interaction effects. The decomposition revealed that endowments effect doubles the wage gap in favor of females (237% of the gap), which is primarily due to women’s better personal attributes compared to men – specifically in terms of education and occupation; 39% is attributed to the interaction effect; and 298% to the unexplained factor arising from the coefficients effect, showing that it contributed the most to the existence of a seven-percent wage gap. Aside from the wage discriminating labor market, the study highlighted gendered characterization of certain occupations and sectors, stagnant labor force participation rates among women, and gender stereotypes of household roles as the other possible underlying factors associated with the gender wage gap