Mindanao Journal of Science and Technology

🌍🏗️ Faster Soil Testing for Better Infrastructure!

Determining a soil’s plastic limit is an important step in designing roads, buildings, and other infrastructure—but traditional testing can be time-consuming and require multiple samples. This study developed a one-point testing method that estimates the plastic limit using just a single pe*******on measurement with a modified fall cone device.

🔍 Key findings:
✅ Produced results comparable to conventional multi-test methods
✅ Reduced testing time by 65%
✅ Reduced sample requirements by 48%
✅ Maintained accuracy for evaluating soil strength, settlement, liquefaction potential, and engineering classifications

💡 Why it matters:
This simplified method can help engineers and laboratories save time, reduce costs, and speed up geotechnical investigations without sacrificing accuracy—making soil testing more efficient for construction and infrastructure projects.

Access the full paper here: https://mjst.ustp.edu.ph/index.php/mjst/article/view/2545

🌍💧 Clean Drinking Water from Local Materials!

Access to safe drinking water remains a challenge in many remote communities. This study developed a portable ceramic water filter made from locally sourced clay and rice husk ash (RHA), offering an affordable and sustainable solution for household water treatment. 🏺🌾

🔍 Key findings:
✅ Removed 95.6% of dissolved solids from water
✅ Maintained water pH within safe drinking standards
✅ Produced a practical flow rate for household use
✅ Rated “Very Acceptable” by experts

💡 Why it matters:
Using locally available materials, this low-cost filter could help improve access to cleaner water in underserved communities, supporting public health and sustainable development. While microbiological testing is still needed, the results show strong potential for community-based water filtration systems.

Access the full paper here: https://mjst.ustp.edu.ph/index.php/mjst/article/view/2544

🧬⚛️ A Smarter Way to Target Cancer Cells?

Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) is an emerging cancer treatment that aims to destroy cancer cells while minimizing damage to healthy tissue. One of its biggest challenges is delivering enough boron-10 directly to tumors.

This study explored a novel solution: a carborane-monoclonal antibody conjugate (CMAC) designed to carry boron specifically to cancer cells. Using advanced computer simulations, researchers found that the approach could generate high-energy particles capable of damaging tumor cells at very short distances—precisely where treatment is needed. 🎯

🔬 Why it matters:
The findings suggest that CMAC could be a promising boron-delivery agent for BNCT, bringing researchers one step closer to more targeted and effective cancer therapies with fewer side effects.

Access the full paper here: https://mjst.ustp.edu.ph/index.php/mjst/article/view/2542/398

♻️🪰 AI-Powered Food Waste Sorting for Sustainable Farming!

Food waste is a growing global problem, and this study explored a smart solution using Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL) technology. Researchers developed a low-cost AI vision system using a Raspberry Pi and a convolutional neural network (CNN) to automatically sort food waste based on moisture levels. 📷🤖

🔍 What can it do?
✅ Classifies waste as dry, optimal, or wet
✅ Automatically directs waste using a motorized system
✅ Achieved up to 98% training accuracy and real-time sorting at ~85% accuracy
✅ Reduced manual labor by nearly 89%

💡 Why it matters:
This affordable system (under USD 150) can help small-scale BSFL farms process food waste more efficiently, supporting sustainable waste management and circular economy practices aligned with SDG 12.3. 🌍

Access the paper here: https://mjst.ustp.edu.ph/index.php/mjst/article/view/2537/395

🐟☀️ Smart Fish Drying with IoT Technology!

Traditional fish drying can be slow and inconsistent, especially with changing weather. This study developed an IoT-based fish dryer in Northern Samar that uses sensors and an ESP32 microcontroller to monitor temperature, humidity, and fish weight in real time through LCD and web-based systems. 📱🌡️

🔍 Key findings:
✅ Reduced fish moisture to safe levels in just 180–200 minutes
✅ Maintained stable drying conditions automatically
✅ Achieved strong energy efficiency and effective moisture control
✅ Economically viable with a 24.89% return on investment

💡 Why it matters:
This smart drying system can help small-scale fish processors improve product quality, reduce spoilage, save energy, and increase income through more reliable fish processing.

Access the paper here: https://mjst.ustp.edu.ph/index.php/mjst/article/view/2535

📡🚶‍♂️ Detecting People Through Walls with Radar Technology!

This study improved the ability of Ultra-Wideband Impulse Radar (UWB-IR) to detect and locate people behind walls using advanced signal-processing techniques. 🧠📊 Tests were conducted using plywood and concrete walls across 15 scenarios.

🔍 Key findings:
✅ Achieved over 92% average accuracy in detecting and counting people
✅ More accurate distance estimation through plywood walls
✅ Can identify multiple people hidden behind barriers

💡 Why it matters:
This technology could support search-and-rescue operations, disaster response, security, and emergency monitoring by detecting human presence even when visibility is blocked.

Access the paper here: https://mjst.ustp.edu.ph/index.php/mjst/article/view/2536/394

🚗📹 AI for Smarter Traffic Monitoring!
Managing traffic starts with knowing how crowded the roads are. This study used AI object detection to estimate traffic density on Elias Angeles St., Naga City, analyzing CCTV footage and identifying vehicles like cars, jeepneys, trucks, motorcycles, and tricycles.

🔍 Key findings:
✅ Faster R-CNN performed best with 92.54% accuracy
✅ Traffic density was estimated by considering vehicle size (using cars as a standard)
✅ AI can reliably track and classify multiple vehicle types in real time

💡 Why it matters:
This approach can help cities improve traffic management, planning, and congestion control using smart, data-driven systems.

Access the full paper here: https://mjst.ustp.edu.ph/index.php/mjst/article/view/2522

🛣️🏗️ Stronger Roads Start from the Ground Up!
Weak clay soils can cause roads to crack and fail over time. This study tested how geotextiles (special reinforcing fabrics) can improve the strength of clay subgrade soil in Adtuyon.

🔍 Key findings:
✅ Adding geotextiles increased soil strength (CBR values)
✅ Best results when placed deeper (at 3/4 depth)
✅ Improved load support and reduced settlement

💡 Why it matters:
Using geotextiles can help build more durable roads, reduce maintenance costs, and improve infrastructure reliability—especially in areas with weak soils.

Access the full paper here: https://mjst.ustp.edu.ph/index.php/mjst/article/view/2521