Analysis Of Technical Efficiency Research Articles

ANALYSIS OF CANNY EDGE DETECTION METHOD FOR FACIAL RECOGNITION IN DIGITAL IMAGE PROCESSING

The document explores the application of the Canny Edge Detection method in facial recognition systems, specifically for identifying edge patterns in digital images. In the context of technological advancements, the focus is on enhancing data processing through efficient image analysis techniques. The research addresses how different edge detection methods, including Roberts, Prewitt, Sobel, and Canny, function, with the latter being highlighted for its superior ability to minimize error and deliver accurate edge detection results. The study outlines the development of a system designed to identify optimal edge detection parameters using the Canny method, focusing on facial images captured from the front. The system is limited to edge identification in such images, and performance is measured using a correlation coefficient. The process involves several technical steps, such as pre-processing the image (grayscale conversion and noise reduction) and using Gaussian filters and hysteresis thresholding to refine the detection. The research's ultimate aim is to optimize Canny's performance for identifying edges, contributing to advancements in facial recognition technology.

Analysis of Technical Efficiency on Orange Fleshed Sweet Potatoes Production Among the Smallholder Farmers in Migori County Kenya

Sweet potatoes (<i>Ipomea batatas </i>L.), particularly the orange fleshed variety, have become increasingly popular due to their ability to thrive in various environmental conditions with minimal inputs. Orange fleshed sweet potatoes (OFSPs) show potential for productivity, yet smallholder farmers in Kenya still struggle to maximize their yields. The factors influencing OFSP production efficiency among these farmers in Western Kenya have not been thoroughly examined. This study evaluated the technical efficiency of OFSP production among smallholder farmers in Migori County. Using a descriptive research design, a sample of 225 OFSP farmers was randomly selected by a cluster sampling technique. Data was collected through a structured questionnaire on inputs and selected socio-economic factors. The data was analyzed using the frontier stochastic model in STATA. Smallholder farmers estimated mean technical efficiency was 77.82% significant variables were; size of the land, availability of planting vines, access to hired labour, gender of the household decision maker, farming experience, household size, land ownership status, participation in training programs and extension services, and proximity to markets, indicating a need to improve OFSP production by 22.18%. These findings suggest that to reduce inefficiencies among smallholder OFSP farmers, targeted training programs are needed to enhance farmers' agronomic knowledge specific to OFSP production. Further, policy interventions should prioritize the provision of extension services to support and improve the performance of OFSP smallholder farmers.

Image Analysis in Histopathology and Cytopathology: From Early Days to Current Perspectives.

Both pathology and cytopathology still rely on recognizing microscopical morphologic features, and image analysis plays a crucial role, enabling the identification, categorization, and characterization of different tissue types, cell populations, and disease states within microscopic images. Historically, manual methods have been the primary approach, relying on expert knowledge and experience of pathologists to interpret microscopic tissue samples. Early image analysis methods were often constrained by computational power and the complexity of biological samples. The advent of computers and digital imaging technologies challenged the exclusivity of human eye vision and brain computational skills, transforming the diagnostic process in these fields. The increasing digitization of pathological images has led to the application of more objective and efficient computer-aided analysis techniques. Significant advancements were brought about by the integration of digital pathology, machine learning, and advanced imaging technologies. The continuous progress in machine learning and the increasing availability of digital pathology data offer exciting opportunities for the future. Furthermore, artificial intelligence has revolutionized this field, enabling predictive models that assist in diagnostic decision making. The future of pathology and cytopathology is predicted to be marked by advancements in computer-aided image analysis. The future of image analysis is promising, and the increasing availability of digital pathology data will invariably lead to enhanced diagnostic accuracy and improved prognostic predictions that shape personalized treatment strategies, ultimately leading to better patient outcomes.

Technical efficiency analysis of advanced medical centers in Burkina Faso

IntroductionBurkina Faso faces many challenges in the health domain, with no real opportunity for an increase in public health expenditures. In Burkina Faso, as in all low-income countries, health spending efficiency is crucial. The objective of this paper is to assess the efficiency of Advanced Medical Centers (AMCs)—which correspond to district hospitals—in Burkina Faso over the 2017–2020 period and identify the factors that promote—or, on the contrary, limit—the efficiency of these health structures.MethodWe first assessed the efficiency level of the 45 AMCs running in the country between 2017 and 2020 using a bootstrap Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) methodology. Inputs include the number of doctors, nurses, other medical staff, non-medical staff, and beds, while output variables correspond to the number of inpatients, surgeries, outpatients, and inpatient days. In a second step, determinants of AMC’s efficiency levels were explored using a double-bootstrap procedure. The roles of AMCs’ internal and environmental factors were both considered.ResultsWe found a mean efficiency score of 0.51 over the study period, indicating that AMCs could have almost doubled their healthcare production without needing additional resources. The size, education level, and health status of the covered population and the density of the healthcare supply in the district appeared to be the driving factors of AMCs’ efficiency.ConclusionOur results indicate that improving the efficiency of AMCs should be a high-level priority for the Burkinabe health policy. Resources could be reallocated across AMCs to increase the overall efficiency of the health system.

Seismic reliability analysis using Subset Simulation enhanced with an explorative adaptive conditional sampling algorithm

Reliability analysis of structures under earthquake loading represents a significant engineering challenge. This is due to the required and rather numerically involving non-linear dynamic analysis, the large computational burden when targeting small failure probabilities, and the synthetic earthquake model representation that may contain thousands of random variables. Subset Simulation is an efficient reliability analysis technique that can handle the challenge of a high-dimensional space with a reduced number of structural analysis calls compared to crude Monte Carlo Simulation. In this contribution, firstly, we investigate the conditions for which Subset Simulation performs efficiently. Thereafter we propose an enhancement to the existing Subset Simulation schemes that shows significant potentials for enhancing the strategy for the starting of the Markov Chain Monte Carlo simulations whenever a new level is reached in the Subset Simulation. Finally, the information gathered from the simulations is investigated to verify that Subset Simulation provides meaningful results from a physical point of view.

Can Rice Farming through the National Strategy Food Estate Increase Regional Production?

Food estate is a large-scale food development program that is carried out in an integrated manner. This includes agriculture, plantations and livestock within an area. This research aims to (1) analyze the production factors of lowland rice farming as an effort to increase rice production in the national food estate strategy program in Central Kalimantan; (2) analyze the technical efficiency of lowland rice farming in an effort to increase rice production in the national food estate strategy program in Central Kalimantan. This research was carried out at the Siam Village Food Estate (COE). The sampling method used a random sampling method with a total sample of 89 people. The analysis method uses Cobb-Douglas production function analysis and Frontier Stochastic technical efficiency analysis. Research results: (1) land (X1), seeds (X2), lime (X3), and fertilizer (X4) have a significant effect (α<0.05) on lowland rice production results in the Balanti Siam village food estate, while pesticides (X5), labor (X6), machinery (X7), planting system dummy (D1), and planting pattern dummy (D2) do not have a significant effect on lowland rice production results on food aesthetic land in Balanti Siam village; (2) Farmers in Balanti Siam village are classified as technically efficient with an average technical efficiency of 96.5% (cut-off > 0.70), while individually there are 88 farmers who are classified as technically efficient. The production factors used in rice farming play an important role in production results. By using production factors efficiently, this can increase maximum rice production yields.

Technical efficiency analysis in Italian sheep and goat farms using FADN dataset

The sheep and goat farms are one of the main breeding in many Italian regions located in mountainous and disadvantaged rural areas. One of the main Italian Protected Designation Origin cheese as Pecorino Romano is made by sheep milk from many regions. The main purpose of this research was to asses by a quantitative approach the technical efficiency in sheep and goat farms part of the Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) in all Italian regions since 2008 to 2020. By the Multi-direction Efficiency Analysis (MEA) it has been possible to overcome one of the main bottlenecks of the technical efficiency estimation analysing which is the excess in each input able to impact to the technical efficiency. Main results have pointed out that the Italian sheep and goat farms have a higher technical efficiency compared to other studies carried out in other European countries. Land capital, labour and assets have been the main inputs able to impact to the technical efficiency. Furthermore, an important role of subsidies to the sheep and goat Italian farms exists.

EFFECTS OF POLICY FACTORS ON TECHNICAL EFFICIENCY OF IRRIGATED RICE PRODUCTION UNDER DIFFERENT LAND ADMINISTRATION INSTITUTIONS DADIN KOWA IRRIGATION SCHEME, NIGERIA

The study was conducted to determine the effects of policy factors of land administration on the technical efficiency of irrigated rice production in the Dadin Kowa Irrigation Scheme (DKIS) area. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Three hundred and twenty irrigated rice farmers were selected using multi-stage sampling technique drawn from five land administration institutions in the DKIS area. Descriptive statistics, stochastic frontier, and multiple regression models were used to analyze the data. The technical efficiency (TE) analysis revealed that for the sample, farm size (P<0.01), fertilizers (P<0.05), herbicides (P<0.05), and pesticides (P<0.01) were all significant and negative while labour was positive (P<0.01). The inefficiency model for TE revealed that for the sample, four variables education, household size, access to improved seeds, and distance to market were each statistically significant at 5% probability level and negative (except for education which was positive). The effects of five policy factors of land administration (land governance, partnership in land use, socio-economic factors, gender and inclusiveness, institutional and environmental factors) on TE revealed that for the aggregate sample, only land governance (P<0.01) and socio-economic factors (P<0.05) were significant. The study recommended that the five policy factors of land administration should be accorded priority in strategic policy planning and implementation of programme for improving the productivity of irrigated agriculture and the livelihoods of people in the study area.

Optimized Spectral Clustering Methods For Potentially Divergent Biological Sequences

Various recent researches in bioinformatics demonstrated that clustering is a very efficient technique for sequence analysis. Spectral clustering is particularly efficient for highly divergent sequences and GMMs (Gaussian Mixture Models) are often able to cluster overlapping groups if given an adequately designed embedding. The current study used spectral embedding and Mixture Models for clustering potentially divergent biological sequences. The research approach resulted in a pipeline consisting of the following four steps. The first step consists of aligning the biological sequences. The pairwise affinity of the sequences is computed in the second step. Then the Laplacian Eigenmap embedding of the data is performed in the third step. Finally, the last step consists of a GMM-based clustering. Improving the quality of the generated clustering and the performance of this approach is directly related to the enhancement of each one of these four steps. The main contribution is proposing four GMM-based algorithms for automatically selecting the optimal number of clusters and optimizing the clustering quality. A clustering quality assessment method, based on phylogenetic trees, is also proposed. Moreover, a performance study and analysis have been conducted while testing different clustering methods and GMM implementations. Experimental results demonstrated the superiority of using the BIC (Bayesian Information Criterion) for selecting the optimal GMM configuration. Significant processing speed improvements were also recorded for the implementation of the proposed algorithms.

Spatial analysis of technical efficiency in the provision of local public goods: The case of Chilean mining municipalities

Spatial analysis of technical efficiency in the provision of local public goods: The case of Chilean mining municipalities

Analysis of Technical Efficiency of Fertilizer Subsidy Program in Coffee Farming, A Case study of Kenya

Fertilizer subsidy program is used to boost productivity by availing fertilizer to farmers at a cheaper price than the market price. This research sought to determine the technical efficiency of fertilizer subsidy program on coffee farming in Kenya. Coffee is a major cash crop of small-scale farmers, which has been experiencing declining productivity. The study adopted non-experimental cross-section research design. The study was carried out in Mukurwe-ini Sub-County, in Nyeri country, Kenya. Structured questionnaire were used to collect primary data from coffee farmers. Stochastic frontier production function (SFA) was used to evaluate the technical efficiency of coffee farming by analysing the relationship between coffee inputs and outputs. The SFA results revealed that fertilizer subsidy has a significant effect on technical efficiency. The technical efficiency for the individual farmers was found to range between 10.44% and 95.15% with a mean of 77.87%. The results revealed that about 76% of the coffee farmers were operating above 70 percent or more technical efficiency levels. Additionally, about 94% of the coffee farmers were operating at a technical efficiency level of above 50%. The coffee cooperative societies had variance in their technical efficiency - Rumukia at 80.65%, Ruthaka at 76.12%, Rugi at 79.97% and Gikaru at 79.24%. Technical inefficiency was found to be significantly influenced by age of the farmers and cooperative societies’ management. The study recommends development of inclusive policies that address income disparities among coffee farmers, improvement of cooperative societies’ management, and enhancing farmers’ trainings

Application of data envelopment for technical efficiency analysis of the electrohydraulic forming process using the aluminum alloy sheets for automotive panels

Application of data envelopment for technical efficiency analysis of the electrohydraulic forming process using the aluminum alloy sheets for automotive panels

Transitioning towards sustainable agriculture: analysing the factors and impact of adopting multiple sustainable inputs by paddy farmers in India

IntroductionThere is a global priority to ensure food security, environmental conservation and sustainability. The adoption of inputs such as organic manures, biofertilisers, and biopesticides has been widely promoted as a way to enhance agricultural sustainability, yet their adoption rates remain notably low. The study examines the determinants and impact of the adoption of multiple sustainable inputs by paddy farmers in India. The study also examines the drivers behind the intensity of their adoption and their technical efficiency.MethodsThe study utilises the survey dataset on paddy farmers from “Situation Assessment of Agricultural Households and Land and Livestock Holdings of Households in Rural India” of the 77th National Sample Survey (NSSO) round. The reference period for data collection was the agricultural year from July 2018 to June 2019. The analytical methods employed include the Multivariate Probit and Ordered Probit models, Seemingly Unrelated Regression, Regression Adjustment model, and Stochastic Frontier method.ResultsThe empirical findings reveal that the adoption and intensity of sustainable inputs depend significantly on factors such as the household head’s age and education, household size, and access to extension services. Adopting sustainable inputs has significant benefits, such as increased harvest value. However, the currently available technical advisory services are limited in effectively promoting the expenditure on sustainable inputs. Technical efficiency analysis underscores the potential for improvement and the importance of utilising optimal input levels. The research findings provide strong evidence in favour of advocating for the use of sustainable inputs in paddy farming.

An efficient sentiment analysis technique based on fine-tuned EdBERT for virtual learning environments

An efficient sentiment analysis technique based on fine-tuned EdBERT for virtual learning environments

Performance analysis of hospitals in Australia and its peers: a systematic and critical review

Along with the development of productivity and efficiency analysis techniques, extensive research on the performance of hospitals has been conducted in the last few decades. In this article, we conduct a systematic review supported by a series of bibliometric analyses to obtain a panoramic perspective of the research about the productivity and efficiency of hospitals—a cornerstone of the healthcare system—with a focus on Australia and its peers, i.e., the UK, Canada, New Zealand, and Hong Kong. We focus on the bibliometric data in Scopus from 1970 to 2023 and provide a qualitative and critical analysis of major methods and findings in selected published journal articles.

Trade openness, governance quality, and economic growth in Latin America and the Caribbean

The existing literature on the relationship between trade openness and economic growth is extensive, but there is a dearth of research that examines whether this relationship is contingent on the quality of governance institutions in a country. In this study, we address this gap by investigating the moderating effects of governance quality on the trade openness-economic growth nexus in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) during the 2000–2021 period. We utilize six indicators of governance quality from the World Bank's world governance indicators and employ correlation and the dynamic panel System Generalized Method of Moments technique for robust and efficient analysis, which yields more accurate results when the number of cross-sections exceeds the time dimension of the dataset. Our findings indicate that governance effectiveness, rule of law, control of corruption, and regulatory quality have a significantly positive impact on the positive relationship between trade openness and economic growth. In contrast, the moderating effects of voice and accountability and political stability on the trade openness-economic growth relationship are negative and statistically significant. Based on these results, we conclude that each governance dimension has distinct effects on the trade openness-economic growth nexus. In term of policy recommendation, policymakers need to harness the benefits of international trade for promoting economic growth; therefore, LAC countries should focus on investing in institutional quality and designing policies that would enhance the overall quality and effectiveness of governance.

ANALYSIS OF PRODUCTION EFFICIENCY IN HYBRID CORN SEED FARMING IN RANDUBLATUNG DISTRICT BLORA REGENCY

Efficiency is important to know to see the success of a farming business. Farming activities in producing a product cannot be separated from the use of production factors. Using production factors appropriately and efficiently will provide benefits for farmers, namely maximum productivity. This research aims to analyze the factors that influence hybrid corn seed production, as well as analyzing technical, allocative and economic efficiency. The research location is Randublatung District, Blora Regency, Central Java. The research method used was a case study of seed breeder farmers in Randublatung District using saturated sampling with a total sample of 53 farmers. The analytical method used is quantitative descriptive analysis which includes influence analysis, technical, allocative and economic efficiency analysis using Stochastic Frontier. The results of the research show that there is a simultaneous influence between land variables, seeds, urea fertilizer, phonska fertilizer, pesticides and labor on hybrid corn production results. The variables of land area, seeds and urea fertilizer partially have a significant effect on production results, while the variables of phonska fertilizer, pesticides and labor partially have no effect on production results. The technical efficiency results of hybrid corn farming in Randublatung District are quite technically efficient with an average technical efficiency value of 0.878. The results of the analysis of allocative and economic efficiency show that it is not yet efficient with average values of 0.337 and 0.293 respectively. Opportunities to increase the efficiency of hybrid corn seed farming in Randublatung District include farmers better allocating inputs according to their needs so that input costs are not large, providing more intensive counseling and assistance to farmers regarding hybrid corn seed cultivation techniques, especially in the use of inputs so that they are more proportional in accordance with recommendations from relevant agencies.

Forensic Analysis of WhatsApp: A Review of Techniques, Challenges, and Future Directions

WhatsApp, a widely used instant messaging application, has become a valuable source of digital evidence in forensic investigations. This review article explores the forensic analysis techniques, challenges, and future directions associated with WhatsApp. It covers the extraction and analysis of data from various sources, including mobile devices, cloud backups, and network traffic. The article discusses the challenges faced by forensic examiners, such as encryption, data volatility, and the need for proper validation of tools. It also highlights the importance of keeping up with the latest updates and changes in WhatsApp’s features and security measures. The future directions for WhatsApp forensics are explored, focusing on the development of more advanced and efficient analysis techniques, the need for standardization, and the importance of international cooperation in addressing cross-border investigations. This review provides insights for forensic examiners, researchers, and legal professionals involved in cases requiring WhatsApp evidence.

Determination of tetrodotoxin in human plasma and urine using online MCX SPE column cleanup coupled with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

An efficient technique for quantitative analysis of tetrodotoxin (TTX) in human plasma and urine has been developed, which combines liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) with online MCX solid phase extraction (SPE) cleanup. Sample preparation, including extraction with acetonitrile containing 0.5 % acetate acid, centrifugation, and filtration, was followed by online SPE cleanup. The whole run-time was less than 15 min, including online cleanup, chromatographic separation, and re-equilibration of the online SPE − LC-MS/MS system. The parameters of sample extraction, purification, separation, and detection were optimized. The matrix-matched internal standard calibration standard curves with linear regression coefficients larger than 0.9990 were established for quantification. The LOD and LOQ for this approach were determined to be 0.1 ng/mL and 0.3 ng/mL, respectively. The recoveries for varied concentrations of TTX in human plasma and urine were 84.9–104.2 % and 89.2–109.6 %, respectively. The matrix effects of TTX in human plasma and urine matrices were 85.5 % and 74.3 %, respectively, and both the inter- and intra-day precision values were less than 9.5 %. This analytical method was successfully employed for detecting TTX in biological samples from a poisoned patient who accidentally ingested the nassarius glans.

Determinants of Production and Technical Efficiency of Tilapia Farming in the Philippines

The Philippines' economy depends heavily on the profitability of the tilapia aquaculture industry. The country's tilapia aquaculture still has a significant amount of untapped biophysical growth potential; therefore, more rapid expansion is needed to keep up with the increasing demand for fish. The study examined the variables affecting the technical efficiency of tilapia production in the Philippines. The face-to-face interview method was used to survey randomly selected tilapia farms. The efficiency of the Philippines' tilapia aquaculture was estimated in this study. Overall, the findings of the technical efficiency analysis indicated that all fish producers within the examined regions were functioning below the production frontier. Therefore, to boost productivity and efficiency, it is necessary to thoroughly study the origins of inefficiencies in socioeconomic variables and farm features. The mean technical efficiency, as determined by the maximum likelihood estimation of the stochastic production frontier, is 0.44. The model's outcome showed that area and stocking rate significantly impact tilapia output in a few selected Philippine locales. It was discovered that factors such as the utilization of aeration, adoption of advanced culture method, and access to government support are significant predictors of technical efficiency in tilapia farming. The policy implication is that there are still more opportunities to raise the current level of technical efficiency of tilapia production in the Philippines.