Journal of the Austrian Society of Agricultural Economics (JASAE)

Abstract : The significant components of heat load in buildings are due to external wall that receives direct solar radiation and transfers the heat through conduction. The absorbed radiation elevates the outside surface temperature to a higher value than the outside air temperature which gradually shifts to lower indoor wall surfaces, increasing energy consumption. The physical characteristics of the wall, color, the material of the exterior surface, and the intensity of the sun radiation perpendicular to it, all affect the external surface temperature. Vertical greening is an emerging concept that comes in between the wall and direct solar radiation to block the direct solar radiation and reduce conductive heat transfer through the facade using vegetation. This paper elaborates on different vertical greening systems and their efficiency to keep away the direct solar radiation striking the building fabric..
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Abstract : The discourse on gender-based discrimination and imbalances is gaining tractions among policy and development experts because gender equality is central to achieving the vision of zero hunger for all. Despite the important roles of women in the food systems, they face systemic disadvantage in accessing productive resources, services and information. Therefore, this study examined the effect of gender inequality on the arable crop farmers’ food security status in Osun State, Nigeria. Cross-sectional data were elicited from a sample of 252 arable crop farmers selected through multistage sampling processes. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics to describe the farmers’ socio-economic characteristics; while principal component analysis and composite score technique were used to generate the women empowerment index, and categorize the farmers into levels of empowerment, respectively. Cross-tabulation technique was applied to achieve gender disaggregation of the empowerment status, and food security categories, while the World Food Programme approach was applied to estimate and categorize the farmers into the different continuums of food security status. Ordered logistic regression was also used to examine the effect of gender inequality on the farmers’ food security status. The results also indicated that both male and female farmers are disproportionately lacking in the empowerment indicators, while majority of the farmers were in the chronic food insecurity category. The ordered logistic regression estimates indicated that gender of the farmers, years of formal education, number of employed household members, primary occupation, years of farming experience, institutional engagements, and importantly, women empowerment status were significant factors influencing the probability of arable farmers falling into each of the food security categories. The study concluded that most of the farmers were in the chronic food insecurity category. Therefore, the study recommended integration of gender-just policy in the national food security strategies and policy framework by the government. Equally, the study advocated for revitalization of agricultural extension service delivery system in Osun state, Nigeria..
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Abstract : The production of fishery products in the city of Sorong, was recorded at 44,710 tons in 2017, one of which was smoked skipjack tuna. The smoking of fish is done through the process of salting, and providing smoke. The purpose of smoking is to prevent damage to fish due to the process of decreasing water content. The unique characteristics of smoked fish are caused by the presence of volatile compounds that are easily vaporized and trapped in the fish flesh. The smoking process in fish affects the physical, chemical, microbiological and organoleptic properties of the product. The objective of this study was to determine the microbiological quality of smoked fish and to identify bacteria molecularly in smoked skipjack tuna in the market. The method used in this study is a descriptive method to describe the total plate count of microbes, examination of E. coli and Salmonella, as well as molecular identification of bacteria found in smoked skipjack tuna in market. The results showed that all samples indicated the presence of microbial TPC, examination results of E. coli and Salmonella were declared not to exceed the maximum limit according to Indonesian national standards. As for molecular identification, it was found that sample Ca.1 was identified as Bacillus thuringiensis BD17-E12, sample Ca.2 was identified as Bacillus cereus MD152, and sample Ca.3 was identified as Bacillus thuringiensis ucsc27..
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Abstract : In spite of the huge nutritional benefits of Corchorus olitorius leaves, documented knowledge and information on the food value, viscosity, nutritional and anti-nutritional contents of its fruits are scarce in the literature. Fresh and tender fruits of five Corchorus olitorius accessions were analysed for their minerals, proximate composition, viscosity and antinutrients in order to unravel their nutritional and anti-nutritional compositions thereby creating awareness about their dietary potentials. Results showed that the proximate, minerals, viscosity and antinutrients in the fruits were significantly (p<0.05) affected by accessions. The potassium was in the range of 485.0-647.5 mg/100 g, iron 4.62-7.22 mg/100 g, calcium 738.2-1187.5 mg/100 g, zinc 4.06-4.14 mg/100 g, copper 0.20-0.23 mg/100 g, magnesium 105.75-113.85 mg/100 g, manganese 1.74-4.48 mg/100 g and phosphorus 46.25-73.60 mg/100 g. The fresh Corchorus fruits were comparably lower in antinutrients than what has been found in most of the commonly consumed vegetables. Pearson’s correlations among proximate qualities and minerals showed that crude protein showed a positive and significant (p<0.01) correlation with zinc (0.92**). Dry matter had a very strong significant and positive correlations with carbohydrate (0.95***) and manganese (0.79*). Calcium showed significantly positive correlations with zinc (0.68*), iron (0.76*) and potassium (0.62*). Magnesium showed a very strong and significantly positive correlations with zinc (0.77***) and phosphorus (0.93***). Results revealed fresh Corchorus olitorious fruits are more nutrient-dense than the leaves and seeds. The results have revealed Corchorus olitorius fruits are low in fat, calories and antinutrients are nutrient-dense and could help in combating malnutrition, especially micronutrient deficiencies..
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Abstract : Doping graphene with foreign elements is an effective way to tune its physicochemical properties, thus paving a new way to enhance its practical application. Nitrogen (N) and Boron (B) are one of the most frequently used dopants, especially in water purification, desalination, and electrocatalysis. Despite its importance, the interaction between N and B-doped graphene and alkaline metals (Na and K) and their ions (Na+ and K+) that must be captured to purify the water remains ambiguously. In this work, we use the density functional theory with the dispersion correction to systematically study the interaction of graphene doped with the graphitic N and B-structures with Na, K, Na+ and K+. Alkali metals and ions interact repulsively with the N site; whereas they interact attractively with the B site. Energetically, Na and K tend to desorb on N-doped graphene while B-doped graphene further strengthens the Na and K adsorption. Electronic structure analysis implies that the adsorbates tend to donate an electron to the graphene substrate. The origin leading to the different adsorption behavior upon N and B doping is attributed to the fact that a lower perturbation of the π-electrons of graphene strengthens the alkali metals-graphene interaction. B doping or p-typed doping has great implications for doped graphene’s electronic properties and the enhanced alkaline capture ability, thus would be helpful in desalination for water purification..
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