ISSN 2756-326X
Research Article
Eggshell crack detection by acoustic impulse response and support vector machine
Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2381-3911 Vol. 4 (9), pp. 001-009, September, 2018. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Eggshell crack detection by acoustic impulse response and support vector machine
Xiaoyan Deng1, Qiaohua Wang2*, Lanlan Wu2, Hong Gao1, Youxian Wen2 and Shucai Wang2
1College of Basic Science, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, P.R. China.
2College of Engineering and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, P.R. China.
Accepted 09 January, 2018
Abstract
This paper investigates the effect of support vector machine (SVM) for the classification of intact and cracked eggs. The four frequency features of the sound impulse resonance of an egg excited with a light mechanical impact on the equator of the eggshell are extracted, including the normali-zation average of the frequency domain, the first dominant frequency, and the average x - and y – coordinates of the centroid for the frequency domain. These features and also the various combina-tions of them are used to construct SVM classifiers. It is shown that the SVM-PFXY classifier based on all the four frequency features gives the best classification effect with 98% testing accuracy, 98.18% crack detection and 2.11% false reject, and that the SVM -P, SVM-PF and SVM -PFY are res-pectively the best single-feature, binary -feature and three-feature SVM classifiers. It is also revealed that the SVM classifier associated with more features generally gives a better classification effect. For evaluating the effects of SVM classifiers for actual crack detection, this paper proposes a detec-tion scheme of eggshell cracks based on four measurements, and the experimental example achieves the highest crack detection of 98.77% and the smallest false reject of 1.87%.
Key words: Eggshell crack, detection, acoustic impulse response, frequency feature, support vector machine.
Xiaoyan Deng, Youxian Wen and Shucai Wang, Hong Gao, Lanlan Wu, Qiaohua Wang*
https://doi.org/10.46882/AAAS/1067Research Article
Land ownership security in Malawi
Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2381-3911 Vol. 4 (9), pp. 001-013, September, 2018. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Land ownership security in Malawi
Greenwell Matchaya
Leeds University Business School, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK. Leeds University Business School, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK. E-mail: greenwellmatchaya@yahoo.com. Tel: +44(0)7810202942.
Accepted 23 March, 2018
Abstract
This study examines factors that determine land ownership security among households in the rural areas (customary tenure sector) in Malawi. A framework for understanding land ownership security in the customary sector is proposed and using empirical data from different parts of Malawi, logistic regression analysis shows that the developed framework helps to explain land ownership security in practice. Though land ownership insecurity is almost negligible in the studied areas, this study has found that households that are categorized by the framework as non- indigenous (the weakest category of the four) are associated with a higher likelihood of feeling land tenure insecurity than the other categories (indigenous, weakly indigenous, absolutely indigenous). The modes of land acquisition, years that one resides in a community and gender of the household head also do determine land tenure security and women are found to be relatively land tenure secure than men. This study argues that outcomes from studies seeking to examine the link between land tenure security and land use efficiency in Malawi may become clearer if the developed framework or its variants are used to model the influence of customary land access systems on land ownership security because titling/no titling dummy variables do not say much about land ownership security in areas where customary systems dominate. Since women have a higher probability of feeling land tenure secure in matrilineal systems, development projects should endeavour to empower them as well so that they may equally participate in household level decision making as this would help them effectively use their land even in cases where their husbands feel land tenure insecure and hence withdraw their expertise from production. Again, the traditional system of land transfer is found to be resilient and this leads to questions about whether land titling could be an urgent need for people in the studied areas.
Key words: Customary systems, Land tenure, matrilineal systems, Malawi, land ownership security.
Greenwell Matchaya
https://doi.org/10.46882/AAAS/1066Research Article
Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2381-3911 Vol. 4 (8), pp. 001-010, August, 2018. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Assessing the sweetpotato virus disease and its associated vectors in northwestern Tanzania and central Uganda
Joseph Ndunguru1*, Regina Kapinga2, Peter Sseruwagi3, Bulili Sayi4, Robert Mwanga3, Silver Tumwegamire2 and Celestine Rugutu5
1Mikocheni Agricultural Research Institute (MARI), P. O. Box 6226, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
2International Potato Center (CIP), P. O Box 22274, Kampala, Uganda.
3Namulonge Crops Resources Research Institute (NaCCRI), P. O. Box 7084, Kampala, Uganda.
4Maruku Agricultural Research Institute, P. O. Box 127, Bukoba, Kagera, Tanzania.
5Ukiriguru Agricultural Research and Development Institute, P. O. Box 1433, Mwanza, Tanzania.
Accepted 13 March, 2018
Abstract
A study was conducted in sweetpotato farmers’ fields in Tanzania and Uganda to determine the status of sweetpotato virus disease (SPVD) incidence and its vectors. SPVD incidence was high (66 to 100%) in Tanzania but low (10 - 40%) in Uganda. SPVD symptom expression and severity were highly variable both within and between countries. Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) but not aphids were observed in all the fields and their abundance varied remarkably between locations. In Tanzania, sweetpotato chlorotic stunt virus (SPCSV) was serologically detected in 50% of the samples and sweetpotato feathery mottle (SPFMV) in 45% often in dual infection. Sweetpotato mild mottle virus (SPMMV), sweetpotato mild speckling virus (SPMSV), sweetpotato chlorotic fleck virus (SPCFV) and sweetpotato virus G (SPVG) occurred in low frequency. However, SPCSV was detected in (100%) of the samples collected from Uganda followed by SPFMV (67%). The nature of SPVD incidence, symptom severity, whitefly, and aphid abundance observed in this study suggest the complex nature of SPVD in East Africa. Immediate prospects for controlling SPVD will depend on an enhanced understanding of disease variables and their ecological relationships.
Key words: Sweetpotato, incidence, severity, whitefly, aphids.
Robert Mwanga, Bulili Sayi, Peter Sseruwagi, Regina Kapinga, Silver Tumwegamire and Celestine Rugutu, Joseph Ndunguru*
https://doi.org/10.46882/AAAS/1065Research Article
Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2381-3911 Vol. 4 (8), pp. 001-011, August, 2018. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Assessment of livelihood assets and strategies among tobacco and non tobacco growing households in south Nyanza region, Kenya
J. K. Kibwage*, A. J. Odondo and G. M. Momanyi
1Maseno University, School of Environment and Earth Sciences, Tobacco-to-Bamboo Research Project Office, P.O. Box 333, Maseno, Kenya.
Accepted 09 March, 2018
Abstract
This study assessed household assets and livelihood strategies among tobacco-growing households in comparison to non-tobacco-growing households in the south Nyanza region, Kenya. It was meant to provide basic information that could be used to advice on local enforcement of Article 17 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) through crop and livelihood diversification as an alternative strategy to tobacco farming. A multi-stage and stratified random sampling procedure was used to select and survey 440 households (i.e. 210 tobacco and 230 non-tobacco) from the study area. The survey was carried out using a standard questionnaire with both structured and non-structured questions which was supplemented by four Focussed Group Discussions. The study established that an annual net income of a non-tobacco farmer is higher than that of a tobacco farmer with an average annual difference of $ 198 which is a significant margin in rural areas. Moreover, a tobacco farming household spends more income ( $ 35) per year on healthcare services than a non-tobacco household, an indication that the latter group is prone to illnesses. In terms of social life, tobacco farming is labour intensive and evidently encourages polygamy though to a large extent, it is also a common cultural practice in the area. It was also noted that majority of the non-tobacco farming households have better housing quality and educational levels, and higher enterprise diversity than their counterparts. In conclusion, although households engage in tobacco farming to improve their living standards, tobacco farming is basically responsible for poor and un-sustainable livelihoods in the region. Hence, there is need to provide other alternative livelihood strategies to tobacco-growing households.
Key words: Tobacco, livelihood assets, livelihood strategies, Kenya.
J. K. Kibwage*, A. J. Odondo and G. M. Momanyi
https://doi.org/10.46882/AAAS/1064Research Article
Energy usage and benefit-cost analysis of cotton production in Turkey
Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2381-3911 Vol. 4 (7), pp. 001-006, July, 2018. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Energy usage and benefit-cost analysis of cotton production in Turkey
Erdal Dagistan1*, Handan Akcaoz2, Bekir Demirtas1 and Yalcin Yilmaz3
1University of Mustafa Kemal, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Economics, Hatay, Turkey.
2University of Akdeniz, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Economics, Antalya, Turkey.
3Vice-gavernor of Hatay Province, Hatay, Turkey.
Accepted 04 March, 2018
Abstract
The aim of this research is to determine the energy input and output involved in cotton production in the Hatay province of Turkey. The average energy consumption of the farms investigated in this study is 19 558 MJha-1. Of the total energy, 2.87% is direct and 71.13% is indirect. Renewable energy accounts for 12.30% and energy usage efficiency is found to be 2.36. The total energy input into the production of one kilogram of average Turkish cotton is estimated to be 4.99 MJ. The dominant contribution to input is energy in the form of nitrogen fertiliser (40.28%), followed by water for irrigation (22.37%) and diesel-oil (17.04%). The cost of cotton production per hectare is found to be 2 246 $ha-1 in the region, with 79.87% of this being variable costs. It can be concluded that intensive cotton farms are being operated in the area since the variable cost ratio is quite high. As a result of benefit-cost ratio (1.24) analysis, cotton production is found to be economically efficient.
Key words: Cotton, input-output analysis, energy analysis, production economics, Turkey.
Handan Akcaoz, Erdal Dagistan*, Bekir Demirtas and Yalcin Yilmaz
https://doi.org/10.46882/AAAS/1063Research Article
Flavonoids from mulberry leaves by microwave-assisted extract and anti-fatigue activity
Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2381-3911 Vol. 4 (7), pp. 001-005, July, 2018. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Flavonoids from mulberry leaves by microwave-assisted extract and anti-fatigue activity
Wei Li1*, Tao Li2 and Keji Tang1
1Dezhou University, Dezhou, Shandong Province, 253023, People’s Republic of China.
2China West Normal University, Nanchong, Sichuan Province, 637002, People’s Republic of China.
Accepted 03 March, 2018
Abstract
Flavonoids from mulberry leaves (FML) were extracted using microwave-assisted extraction method (MAE). Several correlation factors were studied to optimise conditions at laboratory scale. The research results indicated that the optimal extraction parameters are as follows: ethanol concentration is 60%, material/solvent ratio is 1:15, microwave irradiation power is 560 W and irradiation time is 5 min. FML were tested in mice weight-loaded swimming model. Both high-dose and middle- dose of FML could obviously prolong the swimming endurance time, and had active effects on the serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN), hepatic glycogen and blood lactic acid levels in mice. The above results suggest that appropriate dose of FML possessed an anti-fatigue activity in mice.
Key words: Flavonoids, mulberry leaves, microwave-assisted extract, anti-fatigue.
Tao Li and Keji Tang, Wei Li*
https://doi.org/10.46882/AAAS/1062