Horticulture is highly affected by climate variability. Various measures including climate-smart horticulture (CSH) practices are applied by farmers to curb the severity of climate change. Some farmers use mobile phones to access information and enhance their knowledge and skills related to CSH. However, the empirical effect of mobile phone usage on productivity of CSH farmers remains unclear. To address this, the study analyzed primary data from 403 farmers in Taita-Taveta County. Data envelopment analysis (DEA) technique was used to assess technical efficiency (TE), while a two-stage model incorporating partial factor productivity and a Tobit model was employed to examine the effect of mobile phone use on CSH productivity. Results showed that farmers' TE scores were 24.9 %, 34.3 % and 54.3 % for green grams, tomatoes and both crops, respectively. Productivity levels obtained for green grams, tomatoes and both crops were 143.3 kg/acre, 4817.1 kg/acre and 2716 kg/acre, respectively. Mobile phone usage in CSH has the potential to enhance both TE and productivity. These findings demonstrate the need for horticulture stakeholders to develop an effective information management policy to enable delivery of credible, timely and simple CSH information to farmers.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e36917 | DOI Listing |
JMIR Form Res
January 2025
Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Center of Research on Psychological Disorders and Somatic Diseases (CoRPS), Tilburg University, Tilburg, the Netherlands, 31 134662142.
Background: Health-related data from technological devices are increasingly obtained through smartphone apps and wearable devices. These data could enable physicians and other care providers to monitor patients outside the clinic or assist individuals in improving lifestyle factors. However, the use of health technology data might be hampered by the reluctance of patients to share personal health technology data because of the privacy sensitivity of this information.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJMIR Form Res
January 2025
Centre for Patient Reported Outcomes Research, Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a significant public health issue and a leading cause of death and disability globally. Advances in clinical care have improved survival rates, leading to a growing population living with long-term effects of TBI, which can impact physical, cognitive, and emotional health. These effects often require continuous management and individualized care.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNutrients
January 2025
Department of Community Medicine, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
Background/objectives: This study aimed to investigate the lifestyle and the behavioral factors that influence the nutritional status of adolescents from Transylvania, Romania.
Methods: The Global School-Based Student Health Survey (GSHS) was used to collect data from 900 adolescents between 11 and 18 years old from the Transylvania region, Romania. This study assessed nutritional status by calculating BMI indicators adjusted to Z-Score, cut-off points according to the World Health Organization (WHO), using self-reported weight and height; perceived health status; food vulnerability; physical activity; addictive behaviors (cigarette, alcohol and drug consumption); number of hours spent in front of the computer/phone; hand and oral hygiene; sitting time/day; and sleep.
Polymers (Basel)
January 2025
State Key Laboratory of Precision Manufacturing for Extreme Service Performance, College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China.
Vibration sensors are integral to a multitude of engineering applications, yet the development of low-cost, easily assembled devices remains a formidable challenge. This study presents a highly sensitive flexible vibration sensor, based on the piezoresistive effect, tailored for the detection of high-dynamic-range vibrations and accelerations. The sensor's design incorporates a polylactic acid (PLA) housing with cavities and spherical recesses, a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membrane, and electrodes that are positioned above.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSensors (Basel)
January 2025
Department of Computer Engineering, Dongseo University, Busan 47011, Republic of Korea.
Choosing nutritious foods is essential for daily health, but finding recipes that match available ingredients and dietary preferences can be challenging. Traditional recommendation methods often lack personalization and accurate ingredient recognition. Personalized systems address this by integrating user preferences, dietary needs, and ingredient availability.
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