Development Gaps in the ASEAN:

Anna Floresca F. Firmalinoa,Jefferson A. Arapocb The International Academy of Global Business and T 2016 The International Academy of Global Business and T Vol.12 No.2

With full integration still not realized beyond the December 2015 deadline for the broad implementation of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Economic Community (AEC), this study provides an analysis of the factors that affect intra-ASEAN trade, particularly comparing the ASEAN6 (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand) and the newer CLMV (Cambodia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, and Vietnam) member nations. Comparative analysis of the trends in imports, exports, and total trade among the ASEAN member states, coupled with the use of augmented gravity models of trade, show that there are disparities between the two blocs in terms of output, population, real exchange rates, non-tariff barriers, and trade flows. In addition, alongside the usual trade attractors and barriers, trading times and requirements as well as CLMV membership significantly affect changes in trade values. These results imply possible policy directions in line with closing development gaps between the two blocs considering AEC key strategic areas of action.

The Impact of Energy Saving Practices: An Estimation of Residential Electricity Consumption in the Philippines

Anna Floresca F,Firmalino 한국무역연구원 2020 The International Academy of Global Business and T Vol.16 No.1

Purpose – Recognizing the rise in household electricity consumption and the share of the residential sector in electricity consumption in the Philippines, this paper develops a household electricity model to analyze household electricity consumption and the factors that significantly affect related behavior among Philippine households, with an emphasis on the impact of energy-saving practices as promoted by the government and industry. Design/Methodology/Approach – The demand for electricity in the Philippines is examined via an Ordinary Least Squares Regression of several functional forms of a residential electricity consumption model, using data from the Household Energy Consumption Surveys of 2004 and 2011. Findings – Results show that electricity consumption is price inelastic and reacts as a normal good to income changes, with income effects stronger at lower incomes. Charcoal was found to be a complement, while fuelwood, kerosene, and liquefied petroleum gas were substitutes to electricity. Results also showed that household size, urbanity, and the capital stock of appliances directly relate to household electricity consumption. Research Implications – From the perspective of energy policy, there seems to be a need to rethink information campaigns relating to energy-saving and reducing practices and alternatives. As the backfire phenomenon (the extreme case of the rebound effect) seems to manifest among the survey households, there seem to be misconceptions regarding the appropriate use and purpose of energy efficient electrical devices, which should be clarified to preclude greater electricity consumption and promote energy savings. If public information and awareness campaigns can be redesigned to prevent the backfire phenomenon, there is a potential to reduce the residential use of electricity.

Health Impacts of The Business Process Outsourcing Industry : Condom Use in Call Centers

Erickson T. Felicilda,Anna Floresca F. Firmalino 한국무역연구원 2012 The International Academy of Global Business and T Vol.8 No.2

The business process outsourcing industry is viewed as a major contributor in the Philippine economy although concerns have been raised regarding the health impacts, particularly the sexual behavior of its workers and the increasing number of Human Immunodeficiency Virus and/or Acute Immune Deficiency Syndrome cases, engendered by the culture of these firms. Using a multinomial logistic regression model on data gathered from a survey of call center agents in Metro Manila, this study provides an analysis of the factors that affect condom use in call centers. Results of this study show that risk awareness and social influence positively and significantly affect the choice to use condoms, although condom use among these workers is still at a level that can contribute to increased incidence of infections. Risky sexual behavior is prevalent among call center agents despite high awareness of the associated risks and the social acceptability of condom use.

In situ studies on the shrinkage and expansion of graphene nanopores under electron beam irradiation at temperatures in the range of 400-1200^ooC

Lu, N.,Wang, J.,Floresca, H.C.,Kim, M.J. Pergamon Press ; Elsevier Science Ltd 2012 Carbon Vol.50 No.8

We report in situ studies on the shrinkage and expansion of graphene nanopores under electron beam irradiation at temperatures of 400-1200<SUP>o</SUP>C using a thermal specimen holder in a transmission electron microscope. The shrinkage of nanopores of various sizes is observed. At all temperatures studied in the present work, nanopores with relatively small diameters could be fully closed. And at the low end of our temperature range, 400<SUP>o</SUP>C, larger nanopores (those with a diameter of 10nm) could also be closed completely. The nanopore shrinking process can be stopped by blocking the electron beam. We demonstrate an approach for tailoring the size of the graphene nanopore through a combination of electron beam irradiation and controlled heat.

The Determinants of The Real Exchange Rate in The Philippines

Christine Abigael M. Dictado,Anna Floresca F. Abrina 한국무역연구원 2012 The International Academy of Global Business and T Vol.8 No.1

Using time series data from 1985 to 2006, the factors that significantly affected the short and long run behaviors of the real exchange rate in the Philippines were analyzed. Through ordinary least squares multiple regression, the expected directional effects of the money supply and of openness to trade on the real exchange rate were estimated, validating that the projected outcomes of the relative Purchasing Power Parity Theory and the Interest Parity Theory apply in the Philippine setting. On the other hand, through cointegration analysis, the expected directional effects of government spending and of relative productivity differentials on the real exchange rate were observed; that is, the Balassa-Samuelson effect holds in the long run. Overall, the results support the notion that the money supply and trade policies can affect the real exchange rate in the short-run but relative productivities of the tradable and non-tradable sectors of the economy have to be considered to regulate long-run real exchange rate behavior.

Room-temperature quantum confinement effects in transport properties of ultrathin Si nanowire field-effect transistors.

Yi, Kyung Soo,Trivedi, Krutarth,Floresca, Herman C,Yuk, Hyungsang,Hu, Walter,Kim, Moon J American Chemical Society 2011 Nano letters Vol.11 No.12

<P>Quantum confinement of carriers has a substantial impact on nanoscale device operations. We present electrical transport analysis for lithographically fabricated sub-5 nm thick Si nanowire field-effect transistors and show that confinement-induced quantum oscillations prevail at 300 K. Our results discern the basis of recent observations of performance enhancement in ultrathin Si nanowire field-effect transistors and provide direct experimental evidence for theoretical predictions of enhanced carrier mobility in strongly confined nanowire devices.</P>

Atomic Layer Deposition of Dielectrics on Graphene Using Reversibly Physisorbed Ozone

Jandhyala, Srikar,Mordi, Greg,Lee, Bongki,Lee, Geunsik,Floresca, Carlo,Cha, Pil-Ryung,Ahn, Jinho,Wallace, Robert M.,Chabal, Yves J.,Kim, Moon J.,Colombo, Luigi,Cho, Kyeongjae,Kim, Jiyoung American Chemical Society 2012 ACS NANO Vol.6 No.3

<P>Integration of graphene field-effect transistors (GFETs) requires the ability to grow or deposit high-quality, ultrathin dielectric insulators on graphene to modulate the channel potential. Here, we study a novel and facile approach based on atomic layer deposition through ozone functionalization to deposit high-κ dielectrics (such as Al<SUB>2</SUB>O<SUB>3</SUB>) without breaking vacuum. The underlying mechanisms of functionalization have been studied theoretically using <I>ab initio</I> calculations and experimentally using <I>in situ</I> monitoring of transport properties. It is found that ozone molecules are physisorbed on the surface of graphene, which act as nucleation sites for dielectric deposition. The physisorbed ozone molecules eventually react with the metal precursor, trimethylaluminum to form Al<SUB>2</SUB>O<SUB>3</SUB>. Additionally, we successfully demonstrate the performance of dual-gated GFETs with Al<SUB>2</SUB>O<SUB>3</SUB> of sub-5 nm physical thickness as a gate dielectric. Back-gated GFETs with mobilities of ∼19 000 cm<SUP>2</SUP>/(V·s) are also achieved <I>after</I> Al<SUB>2</SUB>O<SUB>3</SUB> deposition. These results indicate that ozone functionalization is a promising pathway to achieve scaled gate dielectrics on graphene without leaving a residual nucleation layer.</P><P><B>Graphic Abstract</B> <IMG SRC='http://pubs.acs.org/appl/literatum/publisher/achs/journals/content/ancac3/2012/ancac3.2012.6.issue-3/nn300167t/production/images/medium/nn-2012-00167t_0007.gif'></P><P><A href='http://pubs.acs.org/doi/suppl/10.1021/nn300167t'>ACS Electronic Supporting Info</A></P>