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UPLB Dormitories SD-G? Assessing Selected Dormitories in Terms of Contribution to SDG 11
No full textSustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11 promotes inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable human settlements. Most empirical studies focus on large-scale urban systems and overlook micro-scale environments like university dormitories. To address this gap, this study examines how campus dorms contribute to SDG 11, with an emphasis on inclusivity, safety, resilience, and sustainability. A mixed-methods approach was used. Case studies of UPLB dormitories involved interviews with dormitory management and surveys of residents (n = 20) from the Men’s and Women’s Residence Halls. Qualitative data were analyzed thematically to identify practices, challenges, and perceptions. Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively to assess satisfaction across the four dimensions of SDG 11. Findings show residents reported neutral satisfaction with safety and sustainability, satisfaction with inclusivity, and dissatisfaction with resiliency. Thematic results highlight positive aspects, such as equitable admissions, basic safety mechanisms, and sustainability initiatives, as well as persistent challenges, including limited disaster preparedness, insufficient accessible infrastructure for persons with disabilities, and financial constraints that hinder long-term improvements. Overall, this study underscores the potential of university dormitories as micro-scale models for SDG 11 and the need for targeted interventions in infrastructure, safety, and sustainability to bolster inclusive, resilient, and sustainable campus living environments
Economic viability of a biofactory for controlling the root spittlebug in a sugar and ethanol plant.
No full textThe sugarcane root spittlebug, Mahanarva fimbriolata, has become a serious problem in some regions of the state of São Paulo, such as Ribeirão Preto, SP, where most sugarcane is already harvested mechanically, without burning. Without burning the straw, this material accumulates in the soil, increasing humidity and thus facilitating the growth and spread of the sugarcane root spittlebug. Considering that the new environmental legislation in São Paulo will prohibit sugarcane burning, a significant increase in the M. fimbriolata population is expected, causing serious losses for mills and suppliers, in addition to increased costs for controlling this pest. Therefore, this study aimed to conduct a cost analysis for the implementation of a Metarizium anisopliae biofactory in a sugar and ethanol mill for a feasibility study, using the cash flow analysis method and indicators such as NPV, IRR, and Payback. The financial indicators were an NPV of R$ 66,404.28, an IRR of 15.49%, and a payback period of 4.21 years. However, when analyzing the project's sensitivities, we find that in the short term, the project is unfeasible
The U.S. and Mexican Dry Bean Sectors
No full textLiberalization of U.S.-Mexico dry bean trade, as part of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), has enabled U.S. dry bean producers to provide a steadier and larger portion of Mexican supply. Long-term prospects for the newly integrated market are shaped by various factors. On the supply side, the future structure of Mexico’s dry bean sector will be comprised of a smaller number of producers who work larger plots of land for higher yields. U.S. dry bean production is already characterized by large-scale farms, and recent yields exhibit a modest upward trend. On the demand side, per capita disappearance of dry beans in Mexico is declining over the long term as consumers shift away from traditional staple foods. U.S. per capita consumption is relatively stable but only at about a fourth of Mexico’s average level, even though dry beans are a low-fat source of important nutrients
The Cacao industry of Ecuador
No full textContents: Summary --- Introduction --- Area and Geographic Setting of Survey --- Climate and Soils --- Cacao-Growing Regions --- Plantations --- Types and Characteristics of Cacao Grown --- Yields --- Cultivation --- Shade --- Drainage --- Irrigation --- Diseases and Pests --- Cacao Selections --- Harvesting and Marketing Preparations --- Direction of Movement of Cacao --- Cacao Production Statistics --- Consumption --- Classification and Grading --- Price --- Hacienda Operations --- Health, Sanitation, and Recreation --- Equipment on the Plantation --- Animal Industry --- Other Crops Cultivated --- Encumbrances --- Suggestions Received for Cacao Improvement --- Outlook --- Conclusions
Human talent in the food and agricultural industries 2025-2030: Where we are going and what it means
No full textEffects of Different Seasons on Cutting Propagation of Five Citrus Rootstocks
No full text[Objectives] To explore the cutting propagation mode of citrus rootstock, improve the survival rooting rate of citrus rootstock, and provide theoretical guidance and technical reference for the rooting research of difficult-to-root plants such as citrus. [Methods] Five citrus rootstocks Citrus tangerina Tanaka ‘Hongju’, Citrus haniana Hort ‘Suanju’, Citrus limonia Osbeck ‘Hongningmeng’, Citrus sinensis×Poncirus trifoliata ‘Zhicheng’ and Poncirus trifoliate (L) Raf. ‘Zhike’ were used as experimental materials to select the suitable cutting substrate for citrus rootstocks by measuring the physical properties of the substrate. Cutting was carried out in spring, summer, autumn and winter respectively. After cutting, the morphological changes of cuttings were observed regularly, and the callus rate, germination rate and rooting rate of cuttings were recorded. [Results] The best substrate for citrus rootstock cutting was peat soil, vermiculite and fine river sand (2：1：1). The callus of citrus rootstock in different cutting seasons began to appear in 10-22 d, and the callus rate reached 55%-100%. In terms of budding, the budding time was the earliest in summer and autumn, and slightly later in spring and winter; the germination rate of C. limonia Osbeck ‘Hongningmeng’ was the highest, and the germination rate of C. sinensis×P. trifoliata ‘Zhicheng’ and P. trifoliate (L) Raf. ‘Zhike’ was lower; in terms of rooting, C. limonia Osbeck ‘Hongningmeng’ had the earliest rooting time and the highest rooting rate and could reach 100% in all seasons; the rooting rate of C. tangerina Tanaka ‘Hongju’ was 50%-80%; the rooting rate of C. haniana Hort ‘Suanju’ was 60%-80%; C. sinensis×P. trifoliata ‘Zhicheng’ and P. trifoliate (L) Raf. ‘Zhike’ showed the earliest rooting time and the highest rooting rate in summer, and the latest rooting time and the lowest rooting rate in winter, which were only 14.5%. Therefore, different citrus rootstock varieties should choose the appropriate cutting time according to their own characteristics. [Conclusions] The results of this study can provide a scientific basis for a large number of cutting propagation of different citrus rootstocks, and have practical guiding significance for large-scale planting
Growth and Diet Utilization Efficiencies of Overwinter Juvenile Mud Crabs Fed with Different Diets
No full text[Objectives] To study the utilization efficiency of different diets for juvenile Scylla paramamosain. [Methods] Low-value fish, shrimp, clam and clamworm were fed to overwintering young mud crabs, and the performance of the feed was evaluated by growth, feed utilization and energy allocation. [Results] Shrimp-fed mud crabs showed the best growth performance, while fish-fed mud crabs showed the worst growth performance and converted the least protein and energy for growth. Shrimp-fed mud crabs molted more frequently, and the dry matter mass and energy of Exuviation were significantly higher than those of fish-fed mud crabs. The shrimp-fed crabs also had significantly higher food intake than those fish-fed crabs. The order of feed conversion efficiency (FCE) of fish-fed mud crabs was Polychaete>clam>shrimp>fish, while the order of FCE calculated with FCE-P and FCE-E was Polychaete>clam>shrimp>fish. Fish-fed mud crabs had the least energy intake and the least energy for growth, molting, excretion, metabolism, and feces. Among the four treatments, the mud crabs fed on Polychaete had the largest proportion of energy used for growth, while the mud crabs fed on fish had the largest proportion of energy used for molting. The proportion of energy consumed by mud crabs fed on Polychaete was the smallest, which may be the main reason for the higher FCE-P and FCE-E of mud crabs fed on Polychaete. [Conclusions] The results of this experiment showed that the utilization of low-value fish by mud crabs was the worst, suggesting that fish should not be used as control or reference food when studying the formula feed of mud crabs
Establishment and Evaluation of Quality Control Chart of DHA in Milk Powder
No full text[Objectives] To establish a quality control chart of DHA in milk powder and determine whether the detection process and results are in control state. [Methods] The content of DHA in milk powder control samples was determined by gas chromatography, and the quality control chart of DHA was established to analyze the controlled state. [Results] the median of the quality control chart was 23.85 mg/100 g, and the standard deviation was 1.00 mg/100g. In the evaluation and analysis of the new quality control points, it can be seen that the point beyond the warning limit was 1, and the outlier value was not beyond the action line, and the mean value did not change, indicating that the detection is in the statistical control state, and the detection process, method and results are controlled. [Conclusions] The establishment and review of the control chart in this study are expected to provide a reference for other subsequent quality controls
Economic viability of building affordable housing in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul
No full textThe housing deficit is an index that measures the need for replacement or construction of new housing in a given location. In Brazil, until 2008, there was a huge housing shortage. To reduce this number, the Federal Government launched the "Minha Casa, Minha Vida" (My House, My Life) Program in 2009, which aimed to produce new homes for low-income families. The program's second phase began in 2011 and aimed to build an additional 2.75 million homes by the end of 2014, with a budget of R$ 125.7 billion. Through the calculation of Net Present Value (NPV) and Internal Rate of Return (IRR), the economic viability of constructing two low-cost houses for sale through the National Urban Housing Program was analyzed in scenarios of varying production costs, price, and sales time. Positive results were obtained in all scenarios, and it was concluded that this investment should be made