Evaluation on effectiveness of learning linear algebra using gamification

This study evaluate effectiveness of learning Linear Algebra using gamification strategy. In this study, gamification with storytelling strategy is used as teaching tools to attract student to learn Linear Algebra. This study using Polytechnic Malaysia syllabus with focus group of Diploma students for semester three (Mechanical Engineering) and semester four (Electrical Engineering) for two topics; Matrix and Numerical Method. They are five methods of calculation simultaneous linear equations which is „Inverse‟, „Cramer's Rule‟, „Gauss Elimination‟, „Lower Upper Doolittle‟ and „Lower Upper Crout‟. They are three main phases to develop this gamification; Pedagogy Phase, Design Phase and Evaluation Phase. Mixed methods approach combining quantitative (survey) and qualitative (Electroencephalogram) is used to evaluate students learning process using Linear Algebra gamification application. The findings of the five items surveyed showed that the acceptance of the prototype of the Linear Algebra Gamification Application was very encouraging from a total of 104 students. This is because all 38 questions for the five items earn a median of four and this indicates the majority of students choose “Agree” and “Strongly Agree”. The findings also show the percent “Agree” and “Strongly Agree” for all questions having a high percentage of between 61.5 and 94.2. This shows more than half satisfied and likes to use the Linear Algebra Gamification Application prototype. With the development of the Linear Algebra Gamification Application prototype, it is hoped that the use of learning based can be extended to a variety of subjects as well as topics to make the learning process more interesting and fun as well as helping to motivate students to learn

Development of bilirubin jaundice (BiliDice) device for neonates

In Malaysia, generally the blood samples are taken and various laboratory experiments are performed to determine the exact jaundice level for newborn. As the process is repetitive, it causes trauma to infants and also requires experts to perform the test. In this paper, the bilirubin jaundice so-called BiliDice device is proposed. The device consists of three main components: RGB colour sensor, microcontroller, and LCD display. The advantage of this prototype is affordable and portable. This device is simple, easy to handle, fast and accurate readings for the bilirubin level of the newborn

Bulk soil electrical conductivity as an estimator of nutrients in the maize cultivated land

Methods of assessing soil nutrients under field condition are being developed worldwide. The concept of rapid assessment of soil nutrients is set to be used for precision farming in order to overcome the problems of delay in laboratory soil analysis and soil remedial action. The VerisEC 3100 sensor was introduced to rapidly measure bulk electrical conductivity (ECa) with the exact location using a Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS). This ECa relates to soil texture and other factors including salinity, which in turn affects nutrient use and mobility, and crop yield. This paper presents results on the use of ECa sensor in soil nutrient estimation and maize (Zea mays) yield production. The study was conducted at maize experimental plot of about 0.54 ha, sloping at about 7% from the highest point in the south to the lowest in the north. The sensor was pulled by a 85 HP tractor across the field with a swath of about 15 m. The ECa data were then transferred to ArcGIS for kriging map generation. Samples were collected at 3 points in the south, 3 points in the middle and 3 points in the north. The samples were analyzed for their chemical properties and physical properties. Maize yield and biomass were collected in 1x1 m grid for every soil sampling points. The data for those 9 sampling points were recorded. The lowest elevation has higher ECa values as compared to the highest elevation. It showed that available P, exchangeable K, clay, sand and maize dry weight at a maize cultivated land can be estimated by rapid soil ECa sensor. The ECas within the study area was mainly contributed by exchangeable K while, the ECad was contributed by available P, exchangeable K, clay and Mg. Biomass dry weight was contributed by available P, while maize dry weight was contributed by ECad

Nitrogen loss pathways in anaerobic soils and mitigation approaches through inhibitors - a review

Nitrogen (N) is the largest yield limiting nutrient in rice cropping. Therefore, efficient N fertilizer management is critical for rice production. Nevertheless, the complex nature of N transformation in soils, has led to low N use efficiency. The lower N use efficiency of fertilizers is a result of multiple loss mechanisms such as volatilization and denitrification and it is a major problem in rice system. Low efficiency of N is not only responsible higher cost of crop production, but also a major threat to environmental quality. The use specially formulated form of fertilizer by supplemented with inhibitors have a great prospect to reduce N losses, improve fertilizer N efficiency and produce positive impact to the environment. This review discusses the N losses pathway in anaerobic rice soil, the effectiveness and mechanism of urease inhibitors as well as nitrification inhibitors to minimize the N loss

Improving the Infant-Wrap (InfaWrap) device for neonates using MyI-Wrap mobile application

Nowadays, a biomedical instrument holds a prominent position in medicine. The increased processing and integration capacity of electronic devices and the progress of wireless communications have enabled medical devices to be developed. InfaWrap device is a non-invasive method developed to measure the oxygen saturation, body temperature, and heart rate of a person. InfaWrap is designed to assist doctors and parents in tracking the baby’s heart rate and oxygen level by using advanced wireless network sensors. The inability to detect any discomforts that the babies doing the initial stage of life may lead to permanent disabilities and even death due to Critical Congenital Heart Disease (CCHD). In this paper, we focused on improving the Infant-Wrap (InfaWrap) for neonates using MyI-Wrap Mobile Application. A Bluetooth virtual serial port protocol is used to send test results to the smartphone from the oximeter sensor and from the temperature sensor. Two sensors were used; the MAX30100 heart rate sensor with the pulse oximeter and the LM35 with a synchronized Arduino platform with a mobile application. As a result, the device’s sensitivity reaches 96% for oxygen, 81.03 bpm for heart rate, and 35 ℃ for body temperature. The performance value for 2 h begins to shift in minutes 100 but still below the maximum limit

Infant-Wrap (InfaWrap) device as pediatric technology tool: The heart rate and SpO2 monitoring for neonates

Today, advances in science and technology may contribute to the resolution of medical devices for pediatric. This research focused on the development of the InfaWrap device; a tool to monitor neonate’s heart rate and SpO2. InfaWrap is designed to help the clinicians and parents to observe the baby’s heart rate and oxygen saturation. The InfaWrap device uses a pro mini Arduino as a microcontroller, a MAX30100 oximeter sensor to measure SpO2 and heart rate, and an LM35 to measure body temperature. Besides, we focus on the design and convenience wear criteria, including design characteristics, and structures to ensure the device is lightweight and more comfortable. The proposed InfaWrap device embedded an advanced wireless network sensor system. The data will be appeared in the mobile application installed on the doctor’s or parent’s mobile phone via Bluetooth module. Overall, based on three different babies as a subject in this study, we obtained that he InfaWrap device accuracy results reach the average of 96% for SpO2, 81 bpm for baby heart rate, and 36.4 °C for baby body temperatur

Analysis of SSR markers linked with brown planthopper resistance genes (Bph) using high-resolution melting (HRM) in rice

Developing rice cultivars with host-plant resistance is widely considered the best strategy for the long-term control of the brown planthopper (BPH). The use of molecular markers in many aspects of rice ('Oryza sativa' L.) studies, such as the genetic analysis of insect and disease resistance, is increasing. In the present study, 110 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers that are associated with Bph resistance genes were selected from the Gramene database and used to develop SSR marker-based strategies for the reliable selection of BPH-resistant genotypes. Fifty-seven of the best polymorphic markers were used to identify the segregation ratio in 176 individual F2 rice progeny from a MR276 (susceptible) x Rathu Heenati (resistant) interspecific cross. Thirty-five SSR markers, including RM544, RM547, and RM8213, showed a good fit to the expected segregation ratio (1:2:1) for the single gene model (d.f. = 1.0, p <= 0.05) in chi-square (x2) analyses. The remaining markers did not fit the expected Mendelian segregation ratios. The genetic information generated in this research will be useful in rice breeding programmes to provide varieties with durable resistance to BPH. Additionally, this research showed that high-resolution melting analysis (HRM) is powerful and applicable for accurately and quickly genotyping many samples

Agro-morphological characterization and assessment of variability, heritability, genetic advance and divergence in bacterial blight resistant rice genotypes

Genetic based knowledge of different growth traits including morphological, physiological and developmental plays fundamental role in the improvement of rice. Genetic divergence allows superior recombinants which are essential in any crop development project. Forty-one rice genotypes including bacterial blight (BB) resistant and susceptible checks were assessed for 13 morphological traits. Among the genotypes, almost all the traits exhibited highly significant variation. The higher extent of genotypic (GCV) as well as phenotypic coefficients of variation (PCV) were noticed for number of tillers hill− 1, total number of spikelets panicle− 1, number of filled grains panicle− 1, and yield hill− 1. High heritability together with high genetic advance was observed for total number of spikelets panicle− 1, number of filled grains panicle− 1, and yield hill− 1 indicating dominant role of additive gene action in the expression of these traits. Number of filled grains panicle− 1 exhibited positive correlation with most of the traits. Yield hill− 1 showed a good number of highly significant positive correlations with number of filled grain panicle− 1, total number of spikelets panicle− 1, 1000 grain weight hill− 1, number of panicle hill− 1, and panicle length. The UPGMA dendrogram divided all the genotypes in to six major clusters. The PCA showed 13 morphological traits generated about 71% of total variation among all the genotypes under this study. On the basis of 13 morphological traits, genotypes such as IRBB2, IRBB4, IRBB13, IRBB21, and MR263 could be hybridized with genotypes MR84, MR159, MRQ50, MRQ74, PH9 and IR8 in order to develop suitable BB resistant rice genotypes

Genetic diversity and variability among pigmented rice germplasm using molecular marker and morphological traits

Exploring the genetic aspects of germplasm using genotypic and phenotypic analysis is more reliable for the development of rice varieties that could lead to the attainment of food security. This is because genetic variations provide a space for recombinants, which is an important factor in new varietal development. This study was conducted to evaluate genetic variability and diversity among 32 coloured rice accessions using agro-morphological characteristics and simple sequence repeats (SSR) markers. Quantitative traits (morphological, grain quality and antioxidant properties) and 34 SSR molecular markers were used as tools for determining cultivar identities and genetic diversity. Most of the quantitative traits showed significant differences (p ≤ 0.01) among all rice accessions. Clustering analysis from quantitative traits categorised the accessions into four groups. Similarly, the 32 accessions were grouped into 4 cluster groups based on the analysis of 34 SSR markers. The accessions YTM15, Pulut Merah 3, Padi Randau, Ringan Bawang, DNJ128 and DV 107 can be potentially selected for development of new varieties for local cultivation. Finally, these accessions can be used as parents in further breeding programmes

Prediction of maximum spreading time of water droplet during impact onto hot surface beyond the Leidenfrost temperature

When a water droplet impacts on a heated surface in the film boiling regime, it will spread, recede, and finally bounce off from the heated surface. These unique liquid-solid interactions only occur at high surface temperatures. Our main objective in this research is to measure the maximum spreading and residence time of the droplet and the findings were compared to theory. We focused our study in the film boiling regime. Brass material was selected as the test surface and was polished until it became a mirror polished surface. The temperature range for this experimental work was between 100 ◦C up to 420 ◦C. Degassed and distilled water was used as the test liquid. The high speed video camera recorded the images at the rate of 10,000 frames per second (fps). As a result, it was found that the experimental value of maximum spreading and esidence time agreed closely with the theoretical calculation. A new empirical formula that can be used to predict the maximum spreading time in the film boiling regime is also proposed