American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences (ASRJETS)
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Pyroligneous Acid Controls Aphis craccivora (Hemiptera: Aphididae) and Increases Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L., Walp)] Productivity
Get PDFThe aphid Aphis craccivora Koch (Hemiptera: Aphididae) is a major pest of cowpea crops [Vigna unguiculata (L., Walp.)]. Adults and nymphs feed on leaves, stems, flowers, and pods, leading to a reduction in plant productivity. Botanical insecticides can be an alternative for the control of A. craccivora, but studies under field conditions are necessary to evaluate these substances. We assessed the mortality of A. craccivora in cowpea crops for two seasons (dry and wet) using pyroligneous acid in three concentrations (2, 4 and 6 mL/L). Water was used as the control. Crop productivity was also evaluated. We performed the experiment using a completely randomized block design with four replications. Pyroligneous acid at 4 and 6 mL/L caused higher mortalities (p < 0.0001) and productivity was higher in plots sprayed with pyroligneous acid at these concentrations in both experimental seasons (p < 0.0001). In summary, pyroligneous acid controls A. craccivora and increases cowpea productivity
Determining the Optimal Sowing Frequency and Sowing Norm of Cereal Crops
Get PDFAnyone interested in growing crops ¬ knows that all crops need favorable conditions to get a good crop. In particular, the yield of cereal crops depends on many random factors, the complex consideration of which is associated with great difficulties.
Optimal plant distribution and grain crop nutrition conditions can only be achieved during sowing. The main calculation values ??of sowing of cereal crops are the determination of the optimal sowing frequency and the sowing norm per hectare. Through the nomogram given in the paper it is possible to determine the required number of plants in the open sowing trail depending on the distance between the given rows and the optimal plant frequency. There is also a nomogram defining the sowing norm, through which it is possible to determine the sowing norm of the desired crop by considering the absolute mass of the grain and its ability to emerge
Adaptive Image Watermarking based on K-NN Clustering
Get PDFThe key challenge faced by researchers is the rise in the use of social media communication to prove ownership rights to multimedia material such as video, audio, text, graphics, etc. Watermarking is the method of multimedia concealment of digital content that can be used later to prove ownership credentials. The researchers in this field contribute a lot of work, but there is still a need for more robust methods. In this paper, we use the KNN clustering method to find the features in the image, which are then used to embed the content of the watermark. Later, the KNN clustering approach is again used for watermark extraction to classify the characteristics where the watermark is embedded and extraction is performed from those characteristics
Effect of Incorporating Orange Flesh Sweet Potato Flour, Starch and Non-starch Residue Flour to Wheat on the Quality Characteristics of Cookies.
Get PDFCookies was produced from wheat (Trititum spp) orange flesh sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) flour, starch and non-starch residue blends. The orange-fleshed sweet potatoes were washed, peeled, sliced, dried and milled to flour. The starch and non-starch residue were also produced from the orange-fleshed sweet potatoes. Different proportions of wheat and flour, wheat and starch and wheat and non-starch residue of orange-fleshed sweet potato with increasing level of orange-fleshed sweet potato at 10, 20, 30 and 40 % addition in wheat were prepared. Control samples were 100 % wheat flour (A0), 100 % orange-fleshed sweet potato flour (A1), 100 % orange-fleshed sweet potato starch (B1) and 100 % orange-fleshed sweet potato non-starch residue (C1). Cookies from these different proportions were formulated. The proximate, mineral, vitamin, physical properties and sensory attributes of the cookies samples and their composites were determined. The GENSTAT Statistical Software (version 17.0) was used for data analyses. The Proximate compositions of the cookies ranged as follows; moisture 9.96-12.00 %, protein 3.48-10.27 %, fat 19.21-23.11 % fibre 4.01-6.42 % ash 1.10-1.90 % and carbohydrates 50.58-58.79 %. Data for mineral composition and vitamin contents of the cookies samples ranged as follows; calcium 22.56-39.16, zinc 1.22-10.65, magnesium 2.64-33.64, phosphorus 43.00-310.00 and potassium 76.70-398.80 mg/100g), vitamin B1 0.13-0.90, vitamin B2 0.13-1.25, vitamin B6 0.12-3.37, vitamin B12 0.19-2.35, vitamin C 0.16-12.05 mg/100g and vitamin A 0.00-12496µg/100g. The physical properties of the cookies ranged from 6.22-10.18 g, 9.00-14.00 mm, 33.00-43.33 mm and 2.61-4.13 for weight, thickness, diameter and spread ratio, respectively. The sensory evaluation results indicated that, up to 40 % substitution of starch and non-starch residue flour was acceptable in cookies formulation, while 20 % substitution was acceptable for orange-fleshed sweet potato flour
UV Spectrophotometric Determination of Luliconazole Semisolid Dosage Form
Get PDFLuliconazole mostly prescribed drug for the management of superficial problems, the very simple, Fast, accurate and economical methods have been proposed for the determination of Luliconazole cream. Luliconazole was measured by using Uv spectroscopy method with the solution of mrthanol and purified water the linearity was found to be 0.9987 and the accuracy showed mean % RSD of 0.921776 and with total meam % RSD 1.10130 in intermediate precision, robustness %RSD 0.543539 all the paranmeters values were within standard limit thus Analytical method was validated according to ICH guideline for the determination of Luliconazole cream. The method was found to be precise and validated as per ICH guidelines
Prediction Models of Skin Temperatures and Heat Loss by Evaporation for Thermal Comfort in Buildings in Hot and Humid Climates in Cameroon
Get PDFThe aim of this study is to propose models for predicting skin temperatures and heat loss by evaporation for the inclusion in the calculations of thermal comfort indicators in hot and humid areas, more particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. This will make it possible to complete the thermal comfort data for this climatic region, which for lack of it still uses the standard based on Fanger models, established mainly for the temperate zone (ISO 7730). The experiments were carried out on a representative sample of 24 people (men and women) in experimental buildings, located in the Douala-Cameroon region, representative of the hot and humid zone, as considered by numerous thermal balance references encountered in the litterature. The measurements of the ambient parameters and of the physiological parameters were carried out according to the recommended standards. 1008 skin temperature measurement points were performed on 3 levels of metabolic activity, in order to provide 72 individual average skin temperature values. Analyzes, statistical validation tests and comparisons were performed. We are able to present the most suitable prediction models, other than those of Fanger, for thermal comfort conditions in air-conditioned buildings in hot and humid areas of sub-Saharan Africa. It appears that the skin of people living in these regions has a higher thermal inertia, less water loss by diffusion or a higher skin barrier than that of people in temperate regions
Behavioral Study of Shear and Flexural Strength of Reinforced Concrete Beams with Interfaces of Concrete Casted Under Cyclic Loading
Get PDFReinforced concrete beams are designed primarily for resisting the shear and flexural stresses that are exhibits on the beam sections. These two parameters are influenced by different factors. Delay of concrete casting forms an interface between harden and fresh concretes. Interface is a surface between two sections of concrete that are not placing monolithically. This interface may affect the structural capacity of reinforced concrete members. Especially shear strength of the members at the shear plane is highly influenced by this interface. Many researches were conducted on different factors that affect the shear and flexural capacity of reinforced concrete beams varying different parameters. In this research paper, an experimental study was executed to investigate the effect of interfaces on the behavior of the shear and flexural capacity of reinforced concrete beams. Eleven beam specimens were examined through experiment. Main variables in the research were interface location (Half, one third, quarter, and one fifth) and interface configuration (vertical and inclined) for both shear and flexural beams. The test results indicate that considerable reduction in the shear capacity and relatively small reduction in flexural capacity of reinforced concrete beams due to the interfaces weakness at the joint
Genes to Monitor Ecophysiological Parameters for Plants Under Abiotic Stress Conditions
Get PDFIn plants, different mechanisms are activated by gene expression in response to abiotic stresses. The great challenge is to study the physiological patterns and the genes involved in each pathway to evaluate the mechanisms used by plant the overcame de stressfully conditions. To mitigate the negative impact of adverse environmental conditions, the particle films technique has become a potential crop management tool for plants to overcome the adverse environmental conditions. The mean goal of this work is to identify genes expressed and involved in different ecophysiological pathways responding to abiotic stresses. GeneMANIA and Cytoscape software were fundamental in the establishment of gene networks. In addition, a graphical representation encompassed other closely linked genes with similar functions. From the perspective of particle film technology, the genes involved in each ecophysiological parameter may, in the future, elucidate new plant response mechanisms, and therefore, a more adaptive molecular response to adverse environmental conditions
Satellite Remote Sensing and GIS based Watershed Analysis: Implications for Soil and Water Conservation Practices in the Denkyira Watershed, Ghana
Get PDFLand degradation, deforestation and accelerated soil erosion through anthropogenic actions have restricted numerous watersheds and river basins to contribute to agricultural productivity, food security and economic growth. The study examined morphometric characteristics and land use change and their implications for soil and water conservation practices in Denkyira Watershed, Ghana. The Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) data and Landsat images of Multi-Spectral Scanner (MSS) and Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) were used in generating morphometric and land use data. ERDAS imagine (10.1) and ArcGIS (10.6) software were employed to analyze Landsat and ASTER data. Results revealed that Denkyira Watershed exhibited dendritic drainage pattern, elongated in shape and with high number of first-order streams, an indication of homogenous soil and rock formation, low infiltration rate and high surface runoff. Morphometric analysis further indicated that the Watershed has higher values of drainage density (12.82 km/km2), drainage texture (5.15), infiltration number (5.13) and ruggedness number (5.16) exposing the Watershed to peak discharge and flash flood risks. Between 1986 and 2015, natural forest, secondary forest and water bodies decreased by 26.08 %, 13.67 % and 237.50 % respectively while degraded lands increased by 91.33 %. Land use and land cover changes in the watershed have triggered mechanical soil erosion and altered hydraulic stream characteristics. Installation of check dams, creation of earth bunds, construction of water absorbing terraces and trenches and valley bottom cropping are the most recommended restoration measures for the watershed. The study concludes that investment in soil and water conservation practices in the watersheds will help to reduce the erosive velocity of surface runoff, mitigate seasonal flooding risks and reclaim degraded farmlands while ensuring agricultural productivity and environmental sustainability
Visualization and Clustering of Text Retrieval
Get PDFIn a fast transforming world where all objects will be generating data, dealing with large data collections has been a major concern for data scientists. Major challenges faced by those scientists are among others the difficulty to represent these data in a better way and therefore to communicate hidden information from these data to the users. Accordingly, many data analysis and data visualization techniques have been proposed. Moreover, depending on the nature of data to visualize and the type of information to communicate, a certain number of data processing techniques should be considered. In this work, we analyze and visualize a sample data of TREC-6 from the TREC (Text Retrieval Conference) collections. TREC document collections comprise full text from newspapers articles and US government records. They are primarily dedicated to researchers in Information Retrieval (IR) systems and Natural Language Processing for the development of their works. First, documents are parsed and words extracted to build a corpus in a form of a matrix. Then, Principal Component Analysis is applied to the corpus matrix to reduce the dimension from to 2. Eventually, the unsupervised K-means algorithm is used to discriminate data into clusters that are interactively visualized thanks to the popular visualization tools such as Pie Chart, Stacked Bar Chart and Scatter Chart. The diversity of the nature of information contained in TREC-6 can be observed thanks to the most frequent words of each cluster that appear on the Bar Chart upon clicking on the Pie Chart of the corresponding cluster