Mountain Journal of Science and Interdisciplinary Research (formerly Benguet State University Research Journal)

Fungal Contaminants and Cup Quality of Stored Roasted Arabica Coffee

Von Y. Amado — 2024-06-28

To ensure safe and quality Arabica coffee products for consumption, prevention of microbial contamination during processing has to be guaranteed including appropriate storage practices and determining the ideal storage duration. However, there is a dearth of local information on the quality of roasted Arabica coffee and fungal contaminations as a result of storage. This study analyzed the effect of storage durations on the occurrence of fungal contaminants and its influence on the cup quality of roasted Arabica coffee beans. Wet processed green coffee beans of the Bourbon Red variety were roasted at medium level, packed at 250g in a vacuum metalized polyethylene terephthalate (VMPET) coffee pouches fitted with a one-way valve then stored for 24 months. Results show that after roasting, the coffee beans were free of fungal contaminants but these were detected after 3 months of storage. This implies that contamination could have occurred during the packaging of roasted coffee beans. Five fungal genera were isolated dominated by Penicillium sp., and Cladosporium sp. while fungal genera identified at the species level were Cladosporium cladosporioides and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Meanwhile, the desirable attributes of the roasted coffee lasted for 5 months of storage. The aroma was the earliest to fade while flavor exhibited slow but gradual waning. Based on these results, it is recommended that roasted Arabica coffee beans be stored using VMPET packaging material for 5 months. Also, processors should conform to Good Manufacturing Practices, specifically hygienic practices during handling and packing of roasted coffee to prevent fungal contamination. Finally, the best-before date or date of roasting should be indicated on the packaging labels of roasted coffee products.

Verification on Energy Digestibility in Ground Yellow Corn, Rice Bran, and Copra Expeller Fed to 10kg to 15kg Benguet Native Pigs

Mineralito F. Simon — 2024-06-28

Digestible and metabolizable energy contents of feed ingredients are important in swine nutrition as they directly influence feed utilization efficiency and growth performance. By accurately measuring these parameters, producers can formulate diets tailored to pigs' energy needs at various growth stages, leading to improved feed efficiency, reduced costs, and minimized environmental impacts. In this study, a digestibility trial was carried out to determine the digestible energy (DE) and metabolizable energy (ME) in ground yellow corn, rice bran, and copra expeller fed to Benguet native pigs with body weights ranging from 10kg to 15kg (102 to 127 days old) to confirm digestibility values obtained from a previous study. The total fecal collection method following the marker-to-marker approach was employed using chromic oxide as a marker to indicate the start and end of fecal collection. Ground yellow corn had 3,669 DE and 3,522 ME kcal/kg with an apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of 90.17%, whereas, rice bran had 4,364 DE and 4,189 ME kcal/kg with an ATTD of 84.14%. Copra expeller had 4,921 DE and 4,724 ME kcal/kg with an ATTD of 80.78%. The DE and ME values for ground yellow corn and rice bran are close to the values obtained in the previous study verified; however, values for copra expeller are different. These results are important in the establishment of feeding standards for Benguet native pigs weighing 10kg to 15kg.

Biomass, Carbon Stock, and Economic Value Assessment of Daclan Communal Forest Parcel IV in Tublay, Benguet

Roshel B. Bagangan — 2024-06-28

Carbon stock assessment quantifies carbon stored in ecosystems, which is vital for understanding their role in sequestering carbon dioxide, informing sustainable land management crucial for human activities and climate change mitigation. Employing purposive sampling to evaluate the biomass, carbon (C) stock, and carbon dioxide (CO2) sequestered in Daclan Communal Forest, using non-destructive methods, it informs climate change monitoring, mitigation, and adaptation strategies while promoting proper forest management and sustainable development. Additionally, it underscores the potential economic value derived from the forest's carbon pools. The methodologies used include measuring trees at diameter breast height (DBH) and sampling herbaceous vegetation, litter, and soil for C content determination, using eight (8) 30m by 30m plots to gather the data and samples. The Communal Forest boasted substantial biomass totaling approximately 262 Mg ha-1, comprising 182.17 Mg ha-1 of carbon and sequestering 671.26 Mg ha-1 of CO2. This abundance holds a significant economic value estimated at Php3,038,237.09. The figures highlight the considerable role of the Communal Forest in sequestering atmospheric carbon, indicating its potential for carbon crediting and trading. Therefore, collaborative efforts from Local Government Units (LGUs), community residents, and relevant organizations are imperative for the enhancement, sustainability, and conservation of these forests.

Alumni’s Retrospective Evaluation of Their Undergraduate Secondary Teacher Education Training

Apler J. Bansiong — 2024-06-28

Alumni feedback has emerged as one of the central pillars of the quality process due to the valuable insights from the alumni in evaluating the academic programs and services of higher education institutions. This study determined the Bachelor of Secondary Education (BSED) alumni’s retrospective evaluation of their undergraduate teacher training as to the adequacy and relevance of acquired 21st-century skills. It also sought their satisfaction and recommendations for curricular and service improvements. A survey procedure was used to collect data from 602 BSED graduates from a Philippine State University from 2013 to 2017. Results indicate that overall, the traced BSED alumni were highly satisfied with the pre-service training – both in terms of curriculum and services offered. The 21st century skills they acquired were claimed to be highly relevant to their current jobs. They, however, call for greater exposure with authentic pedagogical preparations and research, and for improved facilities. Moreover, they recommended a regular curriculum review to check on the courses’ relevance, arrangement, and “balance”. Meanwhile, variety, relevance, and practicality were among the discipline-specific recommendations forwarded. In conclusion, the satisfaction of the alumni with their undergraduate training was evident, but there are areas of improvement that the institution must consider.

Pagsusuring Retorikal at Pananaw Tungo sa Pagbubuo ng Tagline ng mga Bayan

Fely Rose B. Manaois — 2024-06-28

The study was conducted to know the strategies for creating the tagline in the different municipalities of La Union. The rhetorical aspects were analyzed based on style, lexicon, and semantics. The ideas of four groups of respondents—tourism administrators, teachers, students, and citizens, were taken by using an aide memoire. Many styles, lexicons, and meanings of the tagline of the municipalities reflect their culture and were validated by the responses of the interviewees. The styles used were powerful verbs, acronyms, translation, code-mixing, rhyming, and logo. The Iloco Code, history, and characteristics of the municipality and its populace are the lexicon. The four groups of respondents clarified that the objectives and influence of their tagline resulted in the creation of suggested strategies for formulating taglines that may be used in teaching language at the tertiary level.

Isinagawa ang pag-aaral sa layuning malaman ang mga pamamaraan sa pagbubuo ng mga tagline sa mga bayan ng La Union. Sinuri ang mga retorikal na pamantayan batay sa estilo, leksikon at semantika. Kasabay nito ang pagkuha ng pananaw sa apat na pangkat na kinapanayam sa pamamagitan ng paggamit ng aide memoir. Marami ang estilo, pinagmulan at kahulugan ng mga tagline ng bawat bayan na sumasalamin sa kultura ng bawat isa na napagtibay sa pamamagitan din ng mga pananaw ng ibang mga pangkat na kinapanayam. Ang mga estilong lumabas ay paggamit ng pandiwang makapangyarihan, akronim, pagsasalin, code mixing, paggamit ng logo at pagtutugma. Iloco Code, kasaysayan at katangian ng bayan, at mamamayan ang pinaghanguan ng tagline. Mahalaga ang ambag na kaisipan ng mga apat na pangkat na kinapanayam dahil nagbigay ito ng linaw sa tunguhin at impluwensiya ng kanilang tagline. Daan ang mga ito upang makabuo ng mungkahing pamamaraan sa pagbubuo ng tagline na maaaring magamit sa pagtuturo ng wika bilang kongklusyon Nabuo ang mga sumusunod na rekomendasyon: magsagawa ng karagdagang pag-aaral pa tungkol sa mga tagline para makita pa ang mga pagbabagong ginagamit sa pagbuo ng mga ito; mainam din na gawing lunsaran ang mga tagline sa mga usaping panlipunan.

Users’ Satisfaction on the Online Services of Benguet State University - University Library and Information Services During the Pandemic

Diana Faith F. Dalilis — 2024-06-28

The online services of academic libraries have made the library a one-stop center for the university's teaching, learning, and research activities during the pandemic. A library is functional if it can satisfy its users' information needs. This descriptive-survey study aimed to assess users' level of satisfaction on the online library services of Benguet State University during the Pandemic. The study focused on the undergraduate students of Benguet State University, La Trinidad, Benguet. Mean, rank, and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to treat data. Results showed that the Benguet State University-University Library and Information Services online services, which are: online reference, electronic document delivery, information dissemination through Facebook, YouTube, WordPress, Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC), and online resources met the needs and expectations of its users during the Pandemic. When grouped in terms of college, significant differences were identified between the Online Reference Service and OPAC, with a particularly high significant difference noted for the Electronic Document Delivery Service.

Ethnomathematics on the Rice Cultivation Practices in Sablan, Benguet

Jessica A. Yeban — 2024-06-28

This descriptive-interpretive design documented Ethnomathematics pertaining to rice cultivation practices in Sablan, Benguet. Interviews were conducted among the identified key informants of the indigenous people of Sablan, Benguet, identified through purposive sampling. Results showed that accounting for rice harvest involved simple counting while ciphering included posting purong in rice fields. Estimation in measuring their rice harvest was documented as a common practice. Sequential steps in cultivation include seedling preparation, land preparation, transplanting, pest control, harvesting, and drying. Harvests were categorized by variety and harvest time. Additionally, beliefs related to rice cultivation were also observed by the people of Sablan. They predict the weather based on the arrival of specific birds and the color of rice grains. Further, their planting method exhibited mathematical patterns and the sidewalls of their alang or rice granary displayed modeling patterns. Their rice cultivation practices showed the rich culture of the people which is worth documenting. Other indigenous practices may be documented to preserve the local practices. The identified ethnomathematics on rice cultivation practices may be incorporated into teaching math concepts. The community was also encouraged to participate in teaching the practices to the younger generations for cultural preservation and promotion.

Self-Care Practices of Miners in Sitio Midas, Itogon, Benguet

Joel A. Capulong — 2024-06-28

In the mountainous enclave of Sitio Midas, Itogon, Benguet, small-scale gold mining has sustained the community for decades, serving as the primary livelihood despite inherent health and safety risks. This qualitative research delves into the miners' perspectives on the potential hazards associated with their activities and the self-care practices they employ. Through semi-structured interviews and open-ended questions, the study actively engages miners and their families, drawing insights into their self-care strategies. Major findings underscore a heightened awareness of health risks, particularly chemical exposure, prompting the adoption of safety measures such as protective gear. Cultural influences deeply rooted in tradition significantly shape the miners' approach to self-care, with the study noting a gradual shift influenced by Christianity, supplanting long-standing customs. The miners express a dual reliance on government support, acknowledging the importance of seminars while advocating for alternative livelihood options. Despite the inherent limitations of the research, the results underscore the critical role of self-care practices in mitigating health risks within the unique context of small-scale gold mining in Sitio Midas. The conclusion highlights the resilience of miners facing environmental and health challenges and points to the need for comprehensive support systems beyond their existing efforts, indicating the broader implications for policy and intervention strategies in similar mining communities.

Life in the Dumps: Experiences of Garbage Collectors at Irisan Dumpsite, Baguio City

Thalia Marie T. Estonanto — 2024-06-28

This qualitative case study delves into the daily routines, health hazards, and safety precautions of garbage collectors at Irisan Dumpsite to fully understand their experiences. Using a case study research design and qualitative approach, the study fills existing gaps in the literature about blue-collar workers' perspectives, particularly in the context of trash management. The daily routines of waste collectors at Irisan Dumpsite were revealed, depicting a difficult and frequently dangerous situation. The study examines the health risks linked with their profession, emphasizing the absence of insurance coverage, insufficient protective equipment, and exposure to harmful materials. Garbage collectors use safety precautions such as jackets, raincoats, facemasks, safety gloves, boots, headlamps, and personal hygiene routines to reduce dangers and protect their well-being. The case study methodology offers a contextual and in-depth insight into six garbage collectors' lives, providing light on the obstacles they face daily, their job performance, and their impact on their families. The paper recommends legislative measures to improve garbage collectors' working conditions and shift cultural perspectives, including full insurance coverage, equitable distribution of safety equipment, and public awareness initiatives. This study adds greatly to understanding the oftenoverlooked lives of garbage collectors in the waste management system by providing practical and context-specific information.

Design, Fabrication, and Performance Evaluation of a Small-Scale Compost-Turning Machine

Joshua T. Velasco — 2024-06-28

A small-scale compost turning machine was designed, fabricated, and evaluated to speed up the decomposition rate of compost piles by giving optimum aeration through frequent turning, resulting in faster compost production. The designed compost turning machine mainly consists of thrower blades, a power transmission system, and prime mover, a side cover, a scraper, wheels, and a frame. The machine's design was created in AutoCAD software and fabricated in the metalwork shop. The performance evaluation of the machine at three different peripheral speeds [1090 rev∙min^-1, 1276 rev∙min^-1, and 1386 rev∙min^-1] of the thrower blade was carried out in terms of turning capacity, turning efficiency, pulverizing efficiency, and fuel consumption. The compost turning machine operated at 1276 rev∙min^-1 optimally, and has a turning capacity of 77.35 kg∙min^-1, a turning efficiency of 99.79%, a pulverizing efficiency of 97.21%, and fuel consumption of 2.16 L∙hr^-1. Simple cost analysis revealed that at a custom rate of 0.17 Php∙kg^-1 of compost turned, the payback period of the investment is 172 days of turning operation. The break-even point is 33,923 kg∙ yr^-1 with revenue of 75,741.12 Php∙yr^-1 compared to manual operation with a recorded capacity of 46.67 kg∙min^-1 having only revenue of Php 44,315.17 Php∙year^-1.