Social Media Usage Behavior: An Application of a Modified Technology Acceptance Model

Spending on social media marketing has become increasingly important in today’s competitive and dynamic business environment. The use of social media (SM) has enhanced brand visibility and facilitated social engagement opportunities for various industries, such as agriculture and education. In the Philippines, however, research on SM usage has been generally descriptive, wherein inter-relationship between determinants of SM use are under-examined. This study recognizes this important gap and applies a modified technology acceptance model (TAM) to investigate the effects of perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, subjective norm, and perceived playfulness on users’ intention to use SM. Since these motivation variables are perceived to be endogenous in the literature and are significantly correlated based on initial statistical tests, we used principal component analysis (PCA) and structural equation modeling (SEM) to control for endogeneity. Findings from a survey of 500 millennials reveal that all hypothesized determinants have significant influence on intention to use, with perceived ease of use as the strongest factor. These results provide significant insights to social media marketers and developers on how to maximize the potentials of SM as an effective marketing tool. A natural progression of this work is to analyze the usage of SM in agri-based industries. Possible areas of application include the use of SM platforms to establish a community of agri-entrepreneurs and other stakeholders from the agriculture industry, wherein they can share best practices, collaborate with (potential) farmer-entrepreneurs, and interact with diverse consumers

Mapping the Sweet Path

The Western Visayas region is the Philippines’ top muscovado sugar–producing region, with a 32.5% contribution to the total commodity output. Muscovado is a type of unrefined brown sugar with a strong molasses flavor, low calorie count, and high nutritional content comparable to pure bees’ honey. Given the commodity’s strong potential as high-value product both at the local and international markets and the need to increase the level of competitiveness of the industry in the region, a study of the muscovado sugar value chain was conducted. The documentation of the regional muscovado sugar value chain will serve as basis in determining the future interventions that will strengthen the industry. Primary data was gathered from numerous focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and expert opinions, as well as secondary data from published government reports, industry updates, and academic journals. Results show that the strategic productivity of the muscovado sugar value chain varies across the differentprovinces in the region: (1) a highly fragmented muscovado sugar industry in Antique characterized by low product differentiation and loose integrations, and (2) the relatively rationalized industry in the provinces of Capiz, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental distinguished by product differentiation and a higher level of horizontal and vertical integrations. Based on the result of the study, the following are recommended: the crafting of provincespecific strategies that will address the peculiarities in the area, market expansion to serve the high-end market, improvement in operational efficiency particularly at the production and processing levels, as well as investment in human capital for sustained level of competitiveness

Institutional Dynamics of the Native Chicken Industry in Western Visayas, Philippines

The native chicken industry is an important component of the Philippine economy, particularly in Western Visayas. Dominated largely by small farm households, it continuously faces issues concerning supply availability and sustainability attributed to high mortality and low productivity. This paper examined the governance of the native chicken industry in Western Visayas. It describes the scales of operation of native chicken industry in the region; the different stakeholders involved and their roles; their manner of interactions, as well as the legal framework that shaped the native chicken industry of the country in general and the region in particular. This study uses data collected from secondary sources such as reports of various agencies as well as primary data from focus group discussions conducted in the five provinces of the region. The results indicate that the native chicken industry in Western Visayas has two scales of operation: the multitude backyard native chicken raisers and few organized commercial raisers. The industry is apparently fragmented. There are several policies, laws, and legal provisions promoting the development and sustainability of the native chicken industry. Spearheaded by the Department of Agriculture with the cooperation of other national government agencies, local government units, and civil society organizations, numerous programs and projects have been initiated and implemented to cater to the native chicken industry. The main challenge is the overlapping and duplication of services due to lack of coordination among agencies. The paper suggests that there is a need for institutional strengthening and harmonization of interventions. A seamless institutional dynamic redounds a favorable environment for the native chicken industry to flourish

Profitability Analysis of the Muscovado Sugar Farms

Given the escalating hype for organic-based food, the growing adherence to health-conscious lifestyles, and the increasing consumer preference for natural and healthy products, the market demand for muscovado sugar both at domestic and global markets is rising. The Western Visayas Region (Region VI) is the Philippines’ top producer supplying 32.5% of the country’s total commodity output. Production systems for muscovado farming in the region is divided into two: (1) the highly fragmented, backyard level, and privately owned and managed farms exemplified by farms in Antique, and (2) the vertically integrated, centrally managed, and champion-led farms in Capiz, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental. With the growing competition from the other muscovado-producing provinces, it is imperative to increase the level of competitiveness. Producer-respondents were drawn from the list provided by their respective Provincial Agriculture Offices. Data was gathered by purposive sampling using a structured questionnaire and documentation matrix. The experts in a forum that was attended by industry participants validated the result. Results show that profitability is higher among vertically integrated, centrally managed, and champion-led farms. Minimal variability in farm profitability was noted between adaptors of organic and conventional farming technologies. In addition, consolidation of farms is justified based on its ability to increase profitability, especially for farms that are highly fragmented. Results further imply that big land holdings are deemed competitive be it run by big individual or corporate players. Moreover, consolidation results to efficiency in the delivery of technical services, compliance to meeting market requirements, as well as standardized products, among the many other benefits

Assessing Accountability of Local Governance Practices in Environmental Protection in the Municipality of Concepcion, Iloilo, Central Philippines

This paper presents the results of a study that examined accountability in local governance operations in environmental protection in the municipality of Concepcion, Iloilo. As a marine protected area, Concepcion stands to benefit from the results as it provides empirical basis for potential reforms in environmental governance. Results also contribute to the literature on accountability in public administration and local environmental governance. The assessment covered clear responsibilities and mandate, transparency, political oversight, citizen control, and checks and balances. Data generated from key informant interviews and focused group discussions reveal the availability of national legislations and local ordinances that provide the appropriate policy mandates on environmental protection and spell out responsibilities of actors involved in local environmental protection; transparency mechanisms in the multisectoral consultations; the political oversight of the mayor through the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office; citizen control exercised through the active participation of civil society organizations in the management of local environmental programs; and the collaboration of multisectoral and multilevel organizations, including those from the island barangays acting as check and balance in environmental governance. However, problems and issues in accountability of environmental governance include the lack of adequate budget to sustain programs and projects, limited project monitoring mechanisms, and the under representation of the Coastal Resource Management Office in comprehensive land use planning and development, among others. The study recommends for a strategic approach in the local governance operations for environmental protection and greater exercise of political oversight in collaboration with civil society and private sector organizations

Increased HSF1 expression predicts shorter disease-specific survival of prostate cancer patients following radical prostatectomy

Bjork, Johanna K Ahonen, Ilmari Mirtti, Tuomas Erickson, Andrew Rannikko, Antti Butzow, Anna Nordling, Stig Lundin, Johan Lundin, Mikael Sistonen, Lea Nees, Matthias Akerfelt, Malin eng Oncotarget. 2018 Jul 27;9(58):31200-31213. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.25756. eCollection 2018 Jul 27.Prostate cancer is a highly heterogeneous disease and the clinical outcome is varying. While current prognostic tools are regarded insufficient, there is a critical need for markers that would aid prognostication and patient risk-stratification. Heat shock transcription factor 1 (HSF1) is crucial for cellular homeostasis, but also a driver of oncogenesis. The clinical relevance of HSF1 in prostate cancer is, however, unknown. Here, we identified HSF1 as a potential biomarker in mRNA expression datasets on prostate cancer. Clinical validation was performed on tissue microarrays from independent cohorts: one constructed from radical prostatectomies from 478 patients with long term follow-up, and another comprising of regionally advanced to distant metastatic samples. Associations with clinical variables and disease outcomes were investigated. Increased nuclear HSF1 expression correlated with disease advancement and aggressiveness and was, independently from established clinicopathological variables, predictive of both early initiation of secondary therapy and poor disease-specific survival. In a joint model with the clinical Cancer of the Prostate Risk Assessment post-Surgical (CAPRA-S) score, nuclear HSF1 remained a predictive factor of shortened disease-specific survival. The results suggest that nuclear HSF1 expression could serve as a novel prognostic marker for patient risk-stratification on disease progression and survival after radical prostatectomy.Peer reviewe