675 research outputs found
Social safety net programs and food sufficiency during COVID-19 pandemic in the USA
No full textPurpose The COVID-19 pandemic has caused many households to experience income shocks because of the unprecedented job loss, resulting in the demand for public and private food assistance programs and a surge in unemployment insurance filing in the USA. This study aims to investigate the association between social safety programs (e.g. supplementary nutritional assistance programs (SNAP), unemployment insurance and charitable food assistance) and household food sufficiency during the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. Design/methodology/approach The authors used the Household Pulse Surveys (HPS) conducted by the US Census Bureau from August 2020 to March 2021. And, the authors used an ordered probit model for the empirical analysis because the indicator of food sufficiency constructed from the HPS is an ordinal variable with four categories. The indicator identifies four groups of households: severe food insufficiency, moderate food insufficiency, mild food sufficiency and food sufficiency. Findings The results show that food sufficiency is significantly higher among the SNAP, unemployment insurance and charitable food assistance recipients than non-recipients. Furthermore, the results indicate that food sufficiency is significantly lower among black, Asian, Hispanic and other races than white households. Concerning the intersectional effect of social safety net programs and race/ethnicity on household food sufficiency, the authors find that the household food sufficiency is significantly higher among white, black and Asian households who benefited from SNAP, compared with non-beneficiary households. On the other hand, the authors find no evidence that participation in SNAP increases food sufficiency significantly among Hispanics and other races. In addition, the likelihood of food sufficiency increases significantly among white, black, Asian, Hispanic and other races that received unemployment insurance and charitable food assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic compared with those who did not benefit from the programs. Practical implications These results underscore the critical role collective America’s social safety net programs played in increasing food sufficiency among Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, the results suggest that families' basic needs (food sufficiency) would have been at risk if these safety net programs were not available to households during the pandemic. This, therefore, highlights the important role that government- and non-government-supported food emergency assistance programs can play in preventing people from facing food insufficiency problems in a tough time or during a crisis in the USA. Originality/value This study highlights the dynamic relationship between Americans’ social safety net programs and household food sufficiency during the COVID-19 pandemic
Joseph KI-ZERBO, 1922-2006Le Grand Iroko s’en est allé
No full textLe Conseil pour le développement de la recherche en sciences sociales en Afrique (CODESRIA) a le regret de vous annoncer le décès, à Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, le 4 décembre 2006, d’un des plus illustres intellectuels-citoyens d’Afrique, l’incomparable Joseph Ki-Zerbo. Historien émérite, panafricain par instinct et par choix, infatigable croisé du changement et de la justice sociale, militant de l’autosuffisance collective, professeur d’au moins trois générations de chercheurs africains en sc..
Joseph KI-ZERBO, 1922-2006Le Grand Iroko s’en est allé
No full textLe Conseil pour le développement de la recherche en sciences sociales en Afrique (CODESRIA) a le regret de vous annoncer le décès, à Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, le 4 décembre 2006, d’un des plus illustres intellectuels-citoyens d’Afrique, l’incomparable Joseph Ki-Zerbo. Historien émérite, panafricain par instinct et par choix, infatigable croisé du changement et de la justice sociale, militant de l’autosuffisance collective, professeur d’au moins trois générations de chercheurs africains en sc..
An Occlusion and Pose Sensitive Image Dataset for Black Ear Recognition
No full textRESEARCH APPROACH
The research approach adopted for the study consists of seven phases which includes as shown in Figure 1:
Pre-acquisition
data pre-processing
Raw images collection
Image pre-processing
Naming of images
Dataset Repository
Performance Evaluation
The different phases in the study are discussed in the sections below.
PRE-ACQUISITION
The volunteers are given brief orientation on how their data will be managed and used for research purposes only. After the volunteers agrees, a consent form is given to be read and signed. The sample of the consent form filled by the volunteers is shown in Figure 1.
The capturing of images was started with the setup of the imaging device. The camera is set up on a tripod stand in stationary position at the height 90 from the floor and distance 20cm from the subject.
EAR IMAGE ACQUISITION
Image acquisition is an action of retrieving image from an external source for further processing. The image acquisition is purely a hardware dependent process by capturing unprocessed images of the volunteers using a professional camera. This was acquired through a subject posing in front of the camera. It is also a process through which digital representation of a scene can be obtained. This representation is known as an image and its elements are called pixels (picture elements). The imaging sensor/camera used in this study is a Canon E0S 60D professional camera which is placed at a distance of 3 feet form the subject and 20m from the ground.
This is the first step in this project to achieve the project’s aim of developing an occlusion and pose sensitive image dataset for black ear recognition. (OPIB ear dataset). To achieve the objectives of this study, a set of black ear images were collected mostly from undergraduate students at a public University in Nigeria.
The image dataset required is captured in two scenarios:
1. uncontrolled environment with a surveillance camera
The image dataset captured is purely black ear with partial occlusion in a constrained and unconstrained environment.
2. controlled environment with professional cameras
The ear images captured were from black subjects in controlled environment. To make the OPIB dataset pose invariant, the volunteers stand on a marked positions on the floor indicating the angles at which the imaging sensor was captured the volunteers’ ear. The capturing of the images in this category requires that the subject stand and rotates in the following angles 60o, 30o and 0o towards their right side to capture the left ear and then towards the left to capture the right ear (Fernando et al., 2017) as shown in Figure 4. Six (6) images were captured per subject at angles 60o, 30o and 0o for the left and right ears of 152 volunteers making a total of 907 images (five volunteers had 5 images instead of 6, hence folders 34, 22, 51, 99 and 102 contain 5 images).
To make the OPIB dataset occlusion and pose sensitive, partial occlusion of the subject’s ears were simulated using rings, hearing aid, scarf, earphone/ear pods, etc. before the images are captured.
CONSENT FORM
This form was designed to obtain participant’s consent on the project titled: An Occlusion and Pose Sensitive Image Dataset for Black Ear Recognition (OPIB). The information is purely needed for academic research purposes and the ear images collected will curated anonymously and the identity of the volunteers will not be shared with anyone. The images will be uploaded on online repository to aid research in ear biometrics.
The participation is voluntary, and the participant can withdraw from the project any time before the final dataset is curated and warehoused.
Kindly sign the form to signify your consent.
I consent to my image being recorded in form of still images or video surveillance as part of the OPIB ear images project.
Tick as appropriate:
GENDER Male Female
AGE (18-25) (26-35) (36-50)
………………………………..
SIGNED
Figure 1: Sample of Subject’s Consent Form for the OPIB ear dataset
RAW IMAGE COLLECTION
The ear images were captured using a digital camera which was set to JPEG because if the camera format is set to raw, no processing will be applied, hence the stored file will contain more tonal and colour data. However, if set to JPEG, the image data will be processed, compressed and stored in the appropriate folders.
IMAGE PRE-PROCESSING
The aim of pre-processing is to improve the quality of the images with regards to contrast, brightness and other metrics. It also includes operations such as: cropping, resizing, rescaling, etc. which are important aspect of image analysis aimed at dimensionality reduction. The images are downloaded on a laptop for processing using MATLAB.
Image Cropping
The first step in image pre-processing is image cropping. Some irrelevant parts of the image can be removed, and the image Region of Interest (ROI) is focused. This tool provides a user with the size information of the cropped image. MATLAB function for image cropping realizes this operation interactively by waiting for a user to specify the crop rectangle with the mouse and operate on the current axes. The output images of the cropping process are of the same class as the input image.
Naming of OPIB Ear Images
The OPIB ear images were labelled based on the naming convention formulated from this study as shown in Figure 5. The images are given unique names that specifies the subject, the side of the ear (left or right) and the angle of capture. The first and second letters (SU) in the image names is block letter simply representing subject for subject 1-to-n in the dataset, while the left and right ears is distinguished using L1, L2, L3 and R1, R2, R3 for angles 600, 300 and 00, respectively as shown in Table 1.
Table 1: Naming Convention for OPIB ear images
NAMING CONVENTION
Label
Degrees 600 300 00
No of the degree 1 2 3
Subject 1 indicates (first image in dataset) SU1
Subject n indicates (last image in dataset) SUn
Left Image 1 L 1
Left image n L n
Right Image 1 R 1
Right Image n R n
SU1L1 SU1RI
SU1L2 SU1R2
SU1L3 SU1R3
OPIB EAR DATASET EVALUATION
The prominent challenges with the current evaluation practices in the field of ear biometrics are the use of different databases, different evaluation matrices, different classifiers that mask the feature extraction performance and the time spent developing framework (Abaza et al., 2013; Emeršič et al., 2017).
The toolbox provides environment in which the evaluation of methods for person recognition based on ear biometric data is simplified. It executes all the dataset reads and classification based on ear descriptors.
DESCRIPTION OF OPIB EAR DATASET
OPIB ear dataset was organised into a structure with each folder containing 6 images of the same person. The images were captured with both left and right ear at angle 0, 30 and 60 degrees. The images were occluded with earing, scarves and headphone etc. The collection of the dataset was done both indoor and outdoor. The dataset was gathered through the student at a public university in Nigeria. The percentage of female (40.35%) while Male (59.65%). The ear dataset was captured through a profession camera Nikon D 350. It was set-up with a camera stand where an individual captured in a process order. A total number of 907 images was gathered.
The challenges encountered in term of gathering students for capturing, processing of the images and annotations. The volunteers were given a brief orientation on what their ear could be used for before, it was captured, for processing. It was a great task in arranging the ear (dataset) into folders and naming accordingly.
Table 2: Overview of the OPIB Ear Dataset
Location
Both Indoor and outdoor environment
Information about Volunteers
Students
Gender
Female (40.35%) and male (59.65%)
Head Side Left and Right
Side Left and Right
Total number of volunteers
152
Per Subject images
3 images of left ear and 3 images of right ear
Total Images
907
Age group
18 to 35 years
Colour Representation
RGB
Image Resolution
224x22
Leading the African agenda or following the African consensus? South Africa's implementation of the African agenda in the United Nations Security Council
No full textIntra-Household Redistribution of Income and Calorie Consumption in South-Western Nigeria
No full textThis study investigates how per capita calorie intake in low income households of rural southwestern Nigeria responds to changes in total household income and women's share of household income. The study addresses two major questions. First, is calorie-income elasticity large enough to justify the use of income increases as a food/nutrition policy strategy for increasing calorie intake among low income households? Second, what is the potential effect of intra-household redistribution of income from men to women on per capita calorie consumption? My results show that calorie-income elasticity is small and close to zero, implying that income policies may not be the most effective way to achieve substantial improvements in calorie consumption. I also find that increases in women's share of household income are likely to result in marginal declines in per capita food calorie intake, suggesting that income redistribution from men to women would not increase per capita food energy intake in these households.Nigeria, Intra-Household Redistribution of Income, Women's Income Share Elasticity, Income Elasticity, Calorie Consumption.
STRATEGIES FOR THE PRESERVATION OF ELECTRONIC RECORDS IN UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES IN NIGERIA
No full textPage 1. 5th of October, 2018 ICERI2018 Local Organising Committee ABSTRACT ACCEPTANCE LETTER This is a confirmation that the abstract entitled: “STRATEGIES FOR THE PRESERVATION OF ELECTRONIC RECORDS IN UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES IN NIGERIA” Author(s): Promise Ilo, Michael Fagbohun, Jerome Idiegbeyan-Ose, Ugwunwa Esse, Nwanne Nwokeoma, Ifeakachuku Osinulu, Olajumoke Olawoyin, Oyeronke Adebayo has been accepted as ORAL presentation at ICERI2018. Name of event: ICERI2018 (11th annual International Conference of Education, Research and Innovation) Dates: 12th-14th of November, 2018 Place: Seville (Spain) Organising entity: IATED IATED Academy. email: [email protected] – Tel.: (+34) 96 344 62 37 – Fax: (+34) 96 206 59 18 iated.or
A marketing framework for improved competitive advantage of professional football clubs in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
No full textSubmitted in fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Management Sciences (Marketing) in the Faculty of Management Sciences at the Durban University of Technology, 2020.Strategic marketing has become a necessary part of any football club that desires
success and competitive advantage over others. Therefore, to draw spectators’ and
supporters’ attention, a football club needs to incorporate the correct mix of marketing
into their football business. It has become clear that football club operations and
marketing activities are inseparable and need to be consistent with each other.
Supporters become attracted to a brand in the same way that people become
committed to watching matches. This study examined whether the principles of
marketing were incorporated into the business operations and services of potentially
professional football clubs (PPFCs) in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. It
examined how fundamental values of marketing and football clubs are interrelated and
interconnected to offer business values for profitability purposes. The study also
explored the way marketers make use of the marketing mix in their day to day activities
with Manchester United as a leading example of this practice. This study explored how
football clubs can apply the service marketing mix of the 7Ps to achieve profitability
i.e. product (players), promotion (matches and club products), place (delivery), price
(exchange), people (football staff’s involvement in service delivery), process (the
service delivery instrument), and physical environment (the services delivery settings).
A football business marketing theoretical framework derived from profit marketing is
presented which is designed to influence football organisations’ behaviour and
improve their business operations. This study was conducted in New Germany, Kloof,
Riverside, Richards Bay, and Durban communities located in KwaZulu-Natal, South
Africa. The sample size of this survey and the number of units required in gathering
data was based on a questionnaire, interviews, and focus groups with professionals
in the football business. Five hundred questionnaires were sent to the respondents
and 428 were retrieved. Ten interviews were conducted with officials in five PPFCs
while five focus group discussions consisting of 12 participants each were conducted
among the selected football clubs’ members.
The study used a mixed-method approach, using both quantitative and qualitative
methods of data collection. The findings reveal that the PPFCs’ efforts aimed at gaining competitive advantage are surrounded by several processes. Therefore, the
use of a marketing strategy is essential for these clubs to achieve their goals and
objectives, more importantly, their profit intentions. It was established that marketing
strategies can be employed to empower a football club’s business operations and
establish proper conduct among competitors. Arising from the findings are
recommendations that PPFCs need to have a better understanding of the marketing
mix and plan strategically to achieve the objectives and goals of their football
operations. Thus, the study suggests that the 7Ps can assist in reinforcing football club
plans strategically and can enhance club success.
Ha-Joon Chang to give Annual Adedeji Lecture 2016
No full textThe 2016 Annual Adedeji Lecture will be delivered by renowned Development Economist Ha-Joon Chang and author of widely discussed policy books, most notably Kicking Away the Ladder and 23 Things They Don't Tell You About Capitalism, and Economics. Chang’s new book Smart Industrial Policy for Africa in the 21st century will be launched alongside the 2016 Economic Report on Africa on 3rd April during the ECA-AU Africa Development Week. ECA launched the Adebayo Adedeji lecture series in March 2014 to honour and recognize the intellectual contribution to development, service to Africa and humanity of Professor Adebayo Adedeji ECA Executive Secretary from 1975-1978 and UN Under-Secretary General from 1978-1991
Reclaiming setbacks and open spaces for greening and sustainable landscape development in state capital cities: A case study of Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria.
No full textDoctoral degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.The rapid rate of urbanization in developing countries generates various socio-economic and environmental challenges. In Nigerian urban centres, high rate of rural-urban drift aggravates population growth rate, and increasing space demand for land use and human activities put pressure on land resources. In Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State capital, the study area, land is continuously fragmented, resulting to densely populated areas and inequitable use. This syndrome culminates in vegetal depletion, urban sprawl, environmental degradation and increasing poverty levels. Uncontrolled development, excessive hard landscaping and informal sector activities along transportation corridors, water bodies, utility lines, and the inner core areas deprive the city of adequate greenery. The research examines the city‘s spatial structure, socio-economic attributes of residents, setbacks and open space characteristics, pattern of encroachment, and the efficacy of development control legislations. The challenges posed by the inadequacy of greenery and excessive hard landscaping, government‘s effort in reclaiming lost spaces to create inclusive green areas for sustainable urban landscape were evaluated. The research methodology utilise relevant data from secondary sources to build literature and compliment socio-economic baseline data collected from primary sources by multi-stage technique across three morphological zones. Research findings expose devegetation, hardening, gross inadequacy and abuse of setbacks and air spaces, lack of organised open spaces and green areas. There is a disconnection between relatively high literacy level and contravention of development regulation laws. Informal development, mostly commercial, is rampant and driven by high poverty level and people‘s instinct to sustain their socio-economic needs. Ignorance of good quality environment, desire for economic benefits, and ineffective governmental control are other factors responsible for the disruption of public spaces. The study argued that the people engage in space contestation to survive, while the uncontrolled informal sector is neglected by government. Recommendations are hinged on the Strategic Urban Greening Intervention Model developed to encapsulate key systematic elements in the negative aspects, and how intervention strategies, tools and methods are deployed for positive transformation. Based on the Model, the proposed Ado-Ekiti Urban Greening Master Plan was prepared as policy directives and programmes for stakeholders‘ synergy to establish, monitor and maintain inclusive green areas in the city. Informal sector integration to strengthen livelihood strategy, inclusiveness and green economy is germane to
successful greening programme, failing which the people will return to the streets and continue to aggravate carbon footprints. Socio-economically, the research is guaranteed to diversify local economy, boost investment generation, and enhance living standards. Physical impacts include improved environmental quality, global warming abatement and climate change mitigation in the city. The Model developed out of this research and contribution promotes landscape sustainability in Ado-Ekiti and can be replicated in Africa cities
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