Sensorial and physicochemical characteristics of herbal noodle enriched with centella asiatica

Centella asiatica is one of the traditional herbs found commonly in Malaysia. It has been used as an important ingredient in many traditional medicine practices due to its antioxidant and pharmacological properties. This study was done by adding three different percentages of C. asiatica extracts (20%, 40% and 60%) in noodles. Sensory evaluation involving appearance, colour, taste and aroma (affective test), physicochemical properties (texture, pH and colour), antioxidant activity (DPPH, FRAP, TPC and TFC assays) and nutritional composition on control noodle and herbal noodles enriched with C. asiatica were conducted. For sensory test, control noodle is the most favorable followed by 60% herbal noodle. There was a reduction in the firmness of cooked 20% and 60% herbal noodles. The pH value of herbal noodles also decreased as the concentration of herbal noodles increased due to the addition of C. asiatica. Colour analysis showed that the L* values of all the samples were increased, a* values decreased which indicated strong green colour among the herbal noodles while b* values showed the highest value for control noodle. Antioxidant tests such as DPPH showed that 60% herbal noodle exhibited higher free radical scavenging with a value of 49.200% as compared to control noodle (16.027%). The same finding was observed for FRAP assay where 60% herbal noodle displayed higher value (111.335 μg/mL) than control noodle (71.233 μg/mL). TFC of 60% herbal noodle also showed the highest value as compared to other noodles. However, TPC of 40% herbal noodles had greater value as compared to 60% herbal noodle. A decrease in the nutritional value of herbal noodle compared to control noodle was also observed. In conclusion, herbal noodles enriched with C. asiatica showed promising antioxidant potential which can be used in functional food applications

Review of Manufacturing Process of Natural Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites

Lately, natural fibers have been gaining consideration in development of composites due to its biodegradability, availability and low-cost compared to synthetic fibers. Natural fibers are renewable sources, biodegradable, environmentally friendly and effortless in machinery. In this paper, the manufacturing of production for natural fiber reinforced polymer composite (NFRC) will be reviewed. These including injection molding, resin transfer molding (RTM), pultrusion, sheet molding compound (SMC) and compression molding processing technique. Injection molding and compression molding are mostly used in the industry. This is due to the machines give a good finishing surface of the products and low cos

Thermal Analysis of Ventilated Disc Brake Rotor for UTeM Formula Varsity Race Car

A new design of disc brake using ventilated rotor was developed for the UTeM Formula Varsity racing car. Compacted graphite cast iron (CGI) was proposed as the material for the disc brake rotor. Thermal analysis was performed in this project to assess the component performance using ABAQUS/CAE v6.7-1 finite element analysis software both in transient condition. Results from the analysis show that the maximum temperature generated on the disc brake surface at the end of the braking procedure for transient condition was within the allowable service temperature of the ventilated rotor material. Thus, the new disc brake rotor is safe for operation and is expected to perform successfully as per design requirement

Systematic Review of Potential Health Risks Posed by Pharmaceutical, Occupational and Consumer Exposures to Metallic and Nanoscale Aluminum, Aluminum Oxides, Aluminum Hydroxide and Its Soluble Salts

Aluminum (Al) is a ubiquitous substance encountered both naturally (as the third most abundant element) and intentionally (used in water, foods, pharmaceuticals, and vaccines); it is also present in ambient and occupational airborne particulates. Existing data underscore the importance of Al physical and chemical forms in relation to its uptake, accumulation, and systemic bioavailability. The present review represents a systematic examination of the peer-reviewed literature on the adverse health effects of Al materials published since a previous critical evaluation compiled by Krewski et al. (2007). Challenges encountered in carrying out the present review reflected the experimental use of different physical and chemical Al forms, different routes of administration, and different target organs in relation to the magnitude, frequency, and duration of exposure. Wide variations in diet can result in Al intakes that are often higher than the World Health Organization provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI), which is based on studies with Al citrate. Comparing daily dietary Al exposures on the basis of “total Al”assumes that gastrointestinal bioavailability for all dietary Al forms is equivalent to that for Al citrate, an approach that requires validation. Current occupational exposure limits (OELs) for identical Al substances vary as much as 15-fold. The toxicity of different Al forms depends in large measure on their physical behavior and relative solubility in water. The toxicity of soluble Al forms depends upon the delivered dose of Al+ 3 to target tissues. Trivalent Al reacts with water to produce bidentate superoxide coordination spheres [Al(O2)(H2O4)+ 2 and Al(H2O)6 + 3] that after complexation with O2•−, generate Al superoxides [Al(O2•)](H2O5)]+ 2. Semireduced AlO2• radicals deplete mitochondrial Fe and promote generation of H2O2, O2 • − and OH•. Thus, it is the Al+ 3-induced formation of oxygen radicals that accounts for the oxidative damage that leads to intrinsic apoptosis. In contrast, the toxicity of the insoluble Al oxides depends primarily on their behavior as particulates. Aluminum has been held responsible for human morbidity and mortality, but there is no consistent and convincing evidence to associate the Al found in food and drinking water at the doses and chemical forms presently consumed by people living in North America and Western Europe with increased risk for Alzheimer\u27s disease (AD). Neither is there clear evidence to show use of Al-containing underarm antiperspirants or cosmetics increases the risk of AD or breast cancer. Metallic Al, its oxides, and common Al salts have not been shown to be either genotoxic or carcinogenic. Aluminum exposures during neonatal and pediatric parenteral nutrition (PN) can impair bone mineralization and delay neurological development. Adverse effects to vaccines with Al adjuvants have occurred; however, recent controlled trials found that the immunologic response to certain vaccines with Al adjuvants was no greater, and in some cases less than, that after identical vaccination without Al adjuvants. The scientific literature on the adverse health effects of Al is extensive. Health risk assessments for Al must take into account individual co-factors (e.g., age, renal function, diet, gastric pH). Conclusions from the current review point to the need for refinement of the PTWI, reduction of Al contamination in PN solutions, justification for routine addition of Al to vaccines, and harmonization of OELs for Al substances

The Virtual Lab (physics & chemistry) for Malaysia’s Secondary School

Virtual reality (VR) technology opens a vast opportunity to be applied in the field of education. This paper is based on a research that has been carried out upon the problems faced by students and teachers in the conventional science education. The “Virtual Physics Lab” and the “Virtual Chemistry Lab” propose a new method of assisting present teaching aids. The cost, materials, energy, and time issues are among the elements taken into consideration in this research. Elementary research methodologies, gathering information, prototype design and development and testing, information analysis and documentaries are the steps engaged to accomplishing the main research objectives. A 3D Game Engine is used as the tool to develop the prototype system

The Virtual Physics Lab - Virtual Reality as a teaching tool

Virtual reality (VR) technology the third era in the Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) opens a vast opportunity to be applied in the field of education and at the same time support the theory of constructivism. Virtual Reality (VR) system is able to project an entire virtual environment in the computer displaying 3 dimensional elements of sight, hearing and sense of touch (haptic). This paper presents a VR technique to tackle the challenges faced by secondary school Physics’ teachers. The `Virtual Physics Lab’ is developed and applied as an alternative to assist the current teaching processes. It is foreseen when VR is introduced into Malaysia’s educational system, this research will be one of the valuable resources to assist the growth of government’s `Smart School’ project. Elementary research methodologies, gathering information, prototype design and development and testing, information analysis and documentaries are the steps engaged to accomplish the main research objectives. A 3D Game Engine is used as the tool to develop the prototype system

Realiti Maya Sebagai Alat Bantuan Pendidikan Konstruktif (Virtual Reality as a Tool to Assist Constructive Learning)

The `constructivism’ pedagogical philosophy states that it is much easier for students to master, remember and innovate new knowledge and ideas whenever they are actively participating in a `learning-by-doing’ situation. Virtual Reality (VR) technology opens a vast window of opportunity to be applied in the field of education. VR can assist the method of study towards matters that regularly require assumption or hypothesis by giving opportunity to the student to immerse in phenomena that cannot be explained visually, auditorily or contact (Fällman, 1998). This study is based on the problem faced by students and teachers in the conventional science education system for Malaysia’s secondary schools. The primary objective of this research is to study the capabilities of VR as an alternative means to assist in the teaching and learning of Science. The outcome of this research is a ‘Virtual Science Lab’ for Physics and Chemistry. Methodologies used are preliminary study, information gathering, prototype design, prototype development, prototype testing, information analysis and documentation

Virtual reality: a review of its implementation in the virtual physics lab

Virtual Reality (VR), being the third era in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), has opened up opportunities in education. At the same time, VR supports the theory of constructivism. The mode of learning geared towards a student-centric or self directed learning model, is embedded in the constructivism learning philosophy. The VR system is able to display a virtual environment that entirely exists in the computer. It can display three-dimensional (3D) elements of sight, hearing and the sense of touch (haptic). This paper reviews the existing implementation of this promising technology in Physics throughout the world and proposes a solution to tackle the challenges faced by secondary school Physics teachers in Malaysia. The 'Virtual Physics Lab' is developed and applied to assist current teaching practices. It is foreseen that when VR is introduced into the Malaysian educational system, the results from this research will be one of the valuable resources to assist the growth of the government's 'Smart School' project. Elementary research methodologies, information gathering, prototype design, development and testing, information analysis and documentation are the steps taken to accomplish the research objectives

Change point detection of EEG signals based on particle swarm optimization

This paper proposes a change point detection for electroencephalograms (EEG) signal application based on Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO). As EEG signal is well known consider as non-stationary in nature, we model the signal by using the sinusoidal-Heaviside function, which are capable to represent the change of the behavior of the signal. The parameter of the model with the change point location can be tuned by finding the minimum value of sum squared error. It was showed that the minimum value of sum squared error in the parameter tuning give the exact location of change point. The proposed method is applied to the human EEG during an eye moving task