Modification of Cramer’s rule

No AbstractKeywords: Cramer’s rule; determinant; system of linear equatio

Strength Parameters of Packaged Roma Tomatoes at Bioyield under Compressive Loading

Compression test was conducted on packaged Roma tomatoes to study the effects of stage of ripeness, level of vibration and container type on load, deformation and stress at bioyield point of the fruit. Tomatoes harvested at three stages of ripeness: unripe (5.6 Brix %), half-ripe (3.9 Brix %), and full-ripe (3.2 Brix %), were packed in plastic crate and raffia basket and were subjected to three levels of vibration: non-vibrated, low vibration (frequency 3.7 hz) and high-vibration (frequency 6.7 hz). The tomatoes were then compressed at a loading rate of 2.50 mm/min-1 in a Testometric Universal Testing Machine. Data obtained directly from computer printout were statistical analyzed using the SPSS 110 software package. Load and stress at bioyield decreased significantly (P=0.05) with advances in ripeness stage of the fruit. of increasing vibration significantly (P=0.05) increased deformation at yield and also reduced load and stress at bioyield. Keywords: Roma tomato, Packaging, Mechanical damage, Strength parameter, Bioyield, Ripeness, Vibration, Universal Testing Machin

TEMPERATURE FLUCTUATION INSIDE INERT ATMOSPHERE SILOS

This research was conducted to study temperature fluctuation inside the inert atmosphere silos loaded with wheat, compare the temperature fluctuation across the top, middle and bottom part of the silo in relation to the ambient temperature. Temperature readings of the ambient and at the top, middle and bottom part of the two silos for twenty-eight (28) months of storage were recorded in order to monitor temperature fluctuation at different sections inside the inert atmosphere silos loaded with two varieties of wheat namely LACRIWHT-2 (Cettia) and LACRIWHT-4 (Atilla-Gan-Atilla) from Lake Chad Research Institute, Maiduguri, Nigeria. Statistical Analysis System (SAS) software was used to run analysis of variance and t-Test on the data. The findings revealed that there is significant difference in the mean temperature at different position or sections of the silos and as well between the two silos. The mean temperatures at the top, middle and the bottom of the inert atmosphere silos were approximately 29.35 oC, 28.19 oC and 26.51 oC respectively. Temperatures decreases from the top of grain bulk towards the floor of the inert atmosphere silos. http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/njt.v35i3.2

Hourglass Matrix: Its Quadrant Interlocking Factorization Using Modified Cramer’s Rule And Its Mixed Graph

Hourglass matrix has been synonymously referring t

Narrative analysis of college students' inconsistecies in representing duality of infinity

Interpreting students? views of infinity posits a challenge for researchers due to the dynamic nature of the conception. There is diversity and variation among the students? process-object perceptions. The fluctuations between students? views however reveal an undeveloped duality conception. This paper seeks to examine college students? conception of duality in understanding and representing infinity with the intent to elucidate strategy that could guide researchers in categorizing students? views of infinity into different levels. Data for the study were collected from N=69 college pre-calculus students at one of the southwestern universities in the U.S. using self-report questionnaire and interviews. Data was triangulated using multiple measures analyzed by three independent experts using self-designed coding sheet to assess students? externalization of the duality conception of infinity.223-23

Controlled atmosphere storage of brown cowpea under nitrogen

Laboratory studies were conducted to investigate the efficacy of the long-term controlled atmosphere storage of brown cowpeas under nitrogen in Kano, Nigeria, where hot dry weather prevails, typical for a semi-arid zone. The 30-month storage trial consisted of the application of nitrogen in an experimental 0.65 m3 mini-silo containing half a tonne of the commodity. The storage in nitrogen completely suppressed insect infestation, and grain quality was maintained during the period. There was a significant difference (P < 0.05) in the population of insects in the cowpea stored under nitrogen, and the control. The initial insect population of 15 adults of C. maculatus, and one adult of T. castenium per kg of cowpea died after 12 months of storage under nitrogen. They however, increased in the control to 1288, and 54 adults per kg respectively before their eventual death. Free fatty acid contents increased from 2.60% to 6.51% under nitrogen, but increased rapidly to 58.60% in the control cowpea. This was attributed to the action of insect activities, mould infection and water activities in the control cowpeas. Viability dropped slightly from 89.75% to 72.84% in nitrogen, but dropped rapidly to 0.00% in the control. The palatability of cowpea did not change adversely in nitrogen, whereas it became very poor in the air-stored commodity. The germinability of cowpea seeds stored in the inert atmosphere silos was maintained above 85% after 12 months of storage, which shows that the technology is effective for seeds storage

Examining College students' conceptual metaphors of infinity across Calculus coursework sequence

This study examined College students? conceptual metaphors of duality in understanding and representing infinity. Data was collected using two openended tasks from N=188 students enrolled in one of the southwestern universities in the U.S. Data was analyzed by three independent experts using Fleiss?s Kappa for inter-rater reliability (=.7165). Results reveal that students? experiences in traditional Calculus sequence are not supportive of the development of duality conception. On the contrary, it significantly strengthens the singularity perspective confirmed by Chi-square statistic (2 =9.686, p(.05). Findings could serve as a facilitating instrument to further analyze cognitive obstacles in College students? understanding of the infinity concept

Influence of monsoon regime and microclimate on soil respiration in the tropical forests

The consequence of precipitation and how environmental factors influence soil respiration remain poorly understood in the tropical forest ecosystems under a monsoon climate in Malaysia. This study was conducted in a recovering tropical lowland Dipterocarpus forest in Peninsular Malaysia, and its monthly variations were examined in association with changing precipitation. Soil respiration was measured using a continuous open flow chamber system connected to a multi gas-handling unit and an infrared gas analyser. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of the monsoon period and microclimate of the tropical region on soil respiration. The average monthly soil respiration rates were 152.79 to 528.67, 120.97 to 500.73, 106.77 to 472.89, 122.89 to 453.89 and 120.33 to 434.89 mg m⁻² h⁻¹ in the respective months from September to January. The emission rate varied across the days and months, with the highest value recorded between September and October, and then gradually decreasing from November to January. Soil temperature explained more than 90% of the soil respiration rate whereas precipitation had a major effect during the monsoon regime. Soil organic carbon (SOC), total organic carbon (TOC), soil organic carbon stock (SOCstock), forest biomass, carbon to nitrogen ratio (C/N) and soil pH were found to vary in considerable amounts, provide nutrients and the environment favourable for microorganism activities, leading to emission of soil CO₂. The low values of soil respiration rate between November and January were due not only on the amount of soil moisture and water potential but also on the intensity and frequency of precipitation. Therefore, these results indicate that the monsoon regime can significantly alter the emission of soil CO₂ and influence the microclimatic conditions and other environmental factors

Design and test of a gripper prototype for horticulture products

This paper describes the design of a gripper for horticulture product grasping. The design solution has been achieved by means of a systematic approach by evaluating all the possible architecture. The proposed structure is optimized and numerically simulated. Then, a prototype has been built and tested in laboratory. The design process and test results are discussed to show the efficiency of the built prototype with lab test

Prevalence of newly detected diabetes in pregnancy in Qatar, using universal screening.

Diabetes first detected during pregnancy is currently divided into gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and diabetes mellitus (DM)- most of which are type 2 DM (T2DM). This study aims to define the prevalence and outcomes of diabetes first detected in pregnancy based on 75-gram oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT)using the recent WHO/IADPSG guidelines in a high-risk population. This is a retrospective study that included all patients who underwent a 75 g (OGTT) between Jan 2016 and Apr 2016 and excluded patients with known pre-conception diabetes. The overall prevalence of newly detected diabetes in pregnancy among the 2000 patients who fulfilled the inclusion/exclusion criteria was 24.0% (95% CI 22.1-25.9) of which T2DM was 2.5% (95% CI 1.9-3.3), and GDM was 21.5% (95% CI 19.7-23.3). The prevalence of newly detected diabetes in pregnancy was similar among the different ethnic groups. The T2DM group was older (mean age in years was 34 ±5.7 vs 31.7±5.7 vs 29.7 ±5.7, p<0.001); and has a higher mean BMI (32.4±6.4 kg/m2 vs 31.7±6.2 kg/m2 vs 29.7± 6.2 kg/m2, p< 0.01) than the GDM and the non-DM groups, respectively. The frequency of pre-eclampsia, pre-term delivery, Caesarean-section, macrosomia, LGA and neonatal ICU admissions were significantly higher in the T2DM group compared to GDM and non-DM groups. Diabetes first detected in pregnancy is equally prevalent among the various ethnic groups residing in Qatar. Newly detected T2DM carries a higher risk of poor pregnancy outcomes; stressing the importance of proper classification of cases of newly detected diabetes in pregnancy.The authors received no specific funding for this wor