Internet of Things security with machine learning techniques:a systematic literature review

Abstract. The Internet of Things (IoT) technologies are beneficial for both private and businesses. The growth of the technology and its rapid introduction to target fast-growing markets faces security challenges. Machine learning techniques have been recently used in research studies as a solution in securing IoT devices. These machine learning techniques have been implemented successfully in other fields. The objective of this thesis is to identify and analyze existing scientific literature published recently regarding the use of machine learning techniques in securing IoT devices. In this thesis, a systematic literature review was conducted to explore the previous research on the use of machine learning in IoT security. The review was conducted by following a procedure developed in the review protocol. The data for the study was collected from three databases i.e. IEEE Xplore, Scopus and Web of Science. From a total of 855 identified papers, 20 relevant primary studies were selected to answer the research question. The study identified 7 machine learning techniques used in IoT security, additionally, several attack models were identified and classified into 5 categories. The results show that the use of machine learning techniques in IoT security is a promising solution to the challenges facing security. Supervised machine learning techniques have better performance in comparison to unsupervised and reinforced learning. The findings also identified that data types and the learning method affects the performance of machine learning techniques. Furthermore, the results show that machine learning approach is mostly used in securing the network

Representation of Global Terrorism in Nuruddin’s Imperfect Trilogy of Hiding, Knots, Links and Cross

The increasing number of foreigners to the Shabab numbers mirrors a global dilemma in the fight against terrorism. Radicalization is no longer a preserve for the Islam or the Somalis alone in the 21st Century. Overtly, it is apparent that the process of radicalization has a taken new twists and turns because of the new and surprising numbers of Britons and Americans that have Joined Shabab fighters. Nuruddin in his imperfect trilogy of Knots, Cross, Links and Hiding portray succinctly the nature of global terrorism. The postcolonial theory as envisioned in Said's Orientalism is an intentional and bold investigation on the colonized cultures. However, the theory does not just analyze the culture of the orient but also the power contestation that exists between the Oriental and the Occident world. The global market marked with a skewed economic contestation has created a distinct gap between the rich and the poor. We posit that the current global dimension of terrorism is a reaction to marginalization and oppression of a section of the community and that Nurrudin in Knots, Cross, Links and Hiding creates a platform for a literary interrogation of global terrorism

Antimicrobial properties of hugonia casteneifolia and its potential use for the control of opportunistic infections

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Determinants of Stevia (stevia rebaudiana) Adoption by Small Scale Farmers in Kericho District, Kenya

The aim of this study was to determine the socio-economic and institutional factors influencing Stevia adoption in Kericho District Kenya. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from farmers both adopters and non adopters of Stevia through face to face interviews where purposive sampling methods were employed respectively and 150 respondents were contacted in total. Heckman two-step regression analysis was used to determine factors affecting Stevia adoption as well as the extent of adoption. The results showed that group membership, gender, education extension services and individual land ownership significantly and positively affected the adoption of Stevia while age was significant with negative effect.  Household size, farm size, revenue from Stevia and access to extension services significantly and positively influenced the extent of adoption. In conclusion, there is need for more effort in terms of extension service so as to encourage farmers to adopt improved crop varieties through demonstrations on farmers' fields, field days, farm visits and agricultural shows and also development of institutional strategies to support farmers. Therefore policy interventions is recommended to enhance access to credit, reduce illiteracy levels among farmers through training and extension services. Keywords: Stevia, adoption, socioeconomic factor

Factors Influencing Commercialization of Horticultural Crops Among Smallholder Farmers in Juba, South Sudan

This paper aims at analyzing socio-economic and institutional factors influencing the commercialization of horticultural crops among smallholder farm households in Juba, South Sudan. The study adopted a multi-stage sampling technique to select a sample of 151 respondents. The survey was conducted using semi-structured questionnaires to collect primary data. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a Tobit regression model by STATA analytical software. The results from descriptive statistics indicated that 77.48% of the farmers are female, 36.65% have access to land, 37.09% have access to education at the primary level, 96.69% have no access to market information, 74.17% do not have group membership and only 54.97% have access to irrigation facilities. The findings further revealed that the mean household commercialization index (HCI) was 74.81% and the specific HCI for the selected vegetable crops; tomato, okra and cowpeas were 74.92%, 72.96%, and 74.84% respectively. The results from the Tobit regression model revealed that commercialization of horticultural crops is influenced by the age of the farmer, farming experience, type of land acquisition, the quantity of crop produced, group membership, total variable costs, total farm revenue, and access to irrigation facilities. The finding revealed that the age of a farmer, types of crop produced, type of land acquisition, and group membership are negatively significant whereas, farming experience, total variable costs, total farm revenue, and access to irrigation facilities are positively significant. The study suggests that further evaluation of the factors influencing the commercialization of indigenous and exotic vegetables would be required in rural and peri-urban settings of South Sudan. This study provides an insight for policymakers to formulate appropriate policies that can promote domestic production and accelerate the transition of smallholder farmers from subsistence to the market-oriented production system. Keywords: Commercialization, Horticultural crops, Peri-urban areas, smallholder, Tobit regression model DOI: 10.7176/JESD/12-14-05 Publication date:July 31st 202

Evaluation of Technical Efficiency of Sweet Corn Production among Smallholder Farmers in Njoro district, Kenya

The National Agriculture Policy stresses the involvement of all stakeholders in decision making as one of the major strategies for eradicating poverty and increased productivity. Therefore, in recognition to the economic importance of horticulture to Kenya, technical efficiency of sweet corn production was evaluated to substantiate the paradox behind persistent reduction in productivity that impedes the development of the vibrant industry. A semi-structured and pre-tested questionnaire was used to collect data from smallholder producers through face-to-face interview. The census and purposive sampling methods were employed to obtain 76 respondents who were subjected to a stochastic production frontier model to estimate technical efficiency of sweet corn production. The results showed a mean efficiency score of 74% indicating that there was a 26% allowance for improvement. Land tenure with title (p≤0.05), hired labour (p≤0.05) and off-farm activities (p≤0.1) with positive effects while age (p≤0.05) and gender of the household head (p≤0.1) with negative effects on technical inefficiency. Therefore, there exists opportunity to improve efficiency in production given existing farm technologies more so if they embrace the use of family labour effectively and deterministic lawful land ownership. Besides, off-farm activities would reduce the overreliance on farming and promote higher returns by boosting on efficient resources use. Keywords: Technical, Efficiency, Farm technologies, Sweet corn, Stochastic frontie

Socioeconomic Factors that Influence Smallholder Farmers’ Membership in a Dairy Cooperative Society in Embu County, Kenya

Smallholder dairy farmers produce the bulk of total marketed milk in Kenya. Dairy cooperatives are one of the avenues for these smallholder farmers to harness markets for their milk. The paper sought to find out the socioeconomic factors that would influence these farmers to join dairy cooperatives in Embu County, Kenya. Systematic random sampling and simple random sampling were used to select a total of 236 smallholder farmers. The data was analysed using descriptive statistics and the binomial logit model. The results show that age, gender, household size, herd size, distance to the nearest market, access to credit and milk sold influenced the decision to join cooperative societies. The study recommends further study whether cooperatives are improving the incomes of smallholder farmers. Keywords:Dairy cooperative society, smallholder farmers, Binomial logit mode

Socio-Economic Factors Influencing Farmers’ Participation in Grain Warehouse Receipt System and the Extent of Participation in Nakuru District, Kenya

Post harvest losses in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding South Africa) are generally high, arising from handling, transportation, storage, processing and packaging and marketing. In Kenya, it is estimated that 21.1% of total annual maize production is lost through poor post harvest handling techniques. As an effort to mitigate post-harvest losses, the Government together with development partners introduced the Grain Warehousing Receipt System (GWRS). Under this system, farmers store their marketable surplus in parastatal storage capacity or private grain handling service providers. The farmers are charged for storage service. As certification of their deposition, farmers are issued with receipts from the warehouses. The receipts can be used to access credit facilities from cooperating financial institutions up to 80% of the prevailing maize market prices. After waiting for prices to rise over the storage season, the farmers market the produce and payment made through respective financial institutions. Methods: The study was carried out in Nakuru District, Kenya. Double Hurdle model was used to estimate factors influencing farmers’ participation in GWRS and the extent of participation. The sample size was 178 farmers using multistage sampling technique where two divisions, Mauche and Gilgil were chosen to represent zones where maize farming is commercialized.  Each of these divisions had 89 farmers randomly selected.The determination of sample size was through the approach based on the precision rate and confidence level. Results: Six explanatory variables were found to significantly influence participation in GWRS.  Gender and distance to warehouse negatively influenced participation in GWRS while gender land size under maize production, off farm income, group membership positively influenced participation in GWRS. On the extent of participation in GWRS, five dependent variables were found to significantly influence participation in GWRS. Gender, household size and distance to warehouse negatively influenced while land size under maize production, group membership positively influenced the extent of participation. From the study the following recommendations are made; Strengthening of farmer owned organizations is highly recommended. This is achievable through capacity building and training on organizational development. Empowering women in agricultural activities is desirable. Offline diversification should be promoted to enhance household income. Grain driers and collection points should be made available at distance which farmers access them with ease to counter quality and transport challenges experienced by farmers. Storage costs charged by warehouses, interest on loan and loan arrangement fees should be brought down through research for farmers to optimize profit. This can be achieved by approving more warehouses, involving more cooperating financial institutions, warehouses diversifying to offer farm inputs and financial services and offer contract farming. Keywords: Socio-economic characteristics, Participation, Marginal effect

Determinants of Market Participation among Small-Scale Pineapple Farmers in Kericho County, Kenya

Pineapple (Ananas comosus) is one of the major cash crops grown in Kericho County, Kenya specifically Bureti district. In the study area, pineapples have been perceived to have high market value, resulting in tradeoffs with staple food. Despite pineapples market value, its market participation has not been studied and quantified. Therefore, this paper aims to determine the factors influencing market participation and its extent. A simple random sampling approach was used to select a sample of 150 small-scale pineapple farmers and primary data was collected using a semi-structured questionnaires. The data was analyzed using the descriptive statistics and Heckman two-stage model. The results showed that age, gender, education level and pineapple yields significantly influenced the decision to participate in pineapple marketing. Further, gender, price information, group marketing, marketing experience, vehicle ownership and marketing under contract significantly influenced the extent of market participation. Based on the findings policy implication was drawn for improving the household income in the study area. Key words: Heckman two-stage model, market participation, small-scale pineapple farmers

Determinants of Employee retirement Intentions Decisions In Private Sector In Kenya: A Survey Of Employees Of Finlay (K) Limited.

Retirement refers to the time when an employee reaches the end of his working life. Retirement is regarded as important stage in human development all over the world. Retirement is an inevitable activity in the lives of workers. Factors influencing employee retirement decision studied individual predictors of early retirement are age, financial status and health. For example among older people, those in more favorable financial situation and those in ill health were found to aim for early retirement. Specific objectives; To identify work factors that influence employee’s decision to retire early, To find out work factors that influence employees to postpone retirement and To find out stage in their employment life that such intentions develop. Financial issues- retirement brings many changes to both income and expenditure to the employer. The researcher was use case study research design as it gives a clear representation of the variable under study, The target population was be subdivided into three status  namely:  top management, departmental heads and employees. The data used in the study was obtained from questionnaires that were distributed to the respondents from a sample selected randomly. The purpose of the research study was to assess factors influencing employees’ retirement decision, a case study of James Finlay (K) Ltd. From the findings of the study, it shows that there is a great importance of recognizing the various stages in the employment life so as to motivate employees so that they can perform and improve on the organization productivity. This study has an advanced knowledge by accessing factors influencing retirement decision deeply. In most instances, the research study gained support and courage from prior researches conducted across different organizations in different countries of the world, and therefore, generalizability is not so much of a surprising fact, or similarity in ways of framing it, but this is a unique product. Key Words: Retirement intensions, Factors, workforce, Decision