Development of Kaya Slice (coconut jam slice): evaluation of physicochemical, sensory evaluation and macronutrients composition when cooperated with gelatin

Kaya Slice is a nutritious traditional breakfast-on-the-go that was innovated from the traditional kaya. In this study, the traditional kaya was transformed into square shape gelatin to make it a more convenient and ready-to-eat breakfast. A total of six formulations were developed by using commercial and fresh coconut milk together with different percentages of gelatin (2%, 4%, and 6%). This insight was investigated by sensory evaluation using a 9-point hedonic and scoring test in descriptive data set. The best formulation obtained from the evaluation of 35 panellists was then characterized in terms of physicochemical properties (Texture Profile Analysis (firmness), Brix, Protein, Fat, Fiber, and Calories). From the descriptive data, all formulations were accepted by the panellist. Nevertheless, ANOVA analysis indicated that C2 (commercial coconut milk + 4% of gelatin) is the best formulation. In macronutrient analysis, Kaya Slice was found to have good dietary fibre content (0.11 g/100 g), high-fat content (0.49 g/100 g), protein content (0.32 g/100 g) compare to the commercial kaya (0.00 g/100 g), (1.00 g/100 g), and (0.00 g/100 g) respectively. Low-calorie content in Kaya Slice with 45 % of °Brix value is the minimal degree of Brix and the texture was softer (hardness) (significantly different (p<0.05)) to commercially processed cheese slice as standard. Overall, Kaya Slice has a great potential in becoming new emergent of traditional nutritious breakfast on the go

Synthesised Schiff Bases As A Potential Corrosion Inhibitor Of Aluminium.

The use of inhibitors for the protection against corrosion in acidic media such as nitric acid, sulfuric acid and hydrochloric acid is widely reported. Schiff bases, a group of compounds containing nitrogen atoms were found to be efficient inhibitors for corrosion in acidic media. Some research work revealed that the inhibition efficiency of Schiff bases was found to be greater than their precursor, amines and aldehydes

Rheological behaviour and thermal conductivity of polyvinyl ether lubricant modified with sio2-tio2 nanoparticles for refrigeration system

Before any nanolubricant is being applied in a refrigeration system, its thermo-physical properties shall be investigated. In this paper, hybrid nanolubricant is prepared by dispersing SiO2-TiO2 nanoparticles at 50:50 composition ratio into the polyvinyl ether (PVE) compressor lubricant using a two-step method. The investi�gation was done for volume concentrations from 0.01 to 0.10% under temperature range of 303 to 353 K. The Newtonian behaviour of the nanolubricant was obtained, and relative thermo-physical enhancement was determined by comparing its performance to the pure lubricant. It was observed that the maximum increment viscosity does not exceed 3% from the base fluid, while thermal conductivity for 0.1% concentration increases up to 1.6%. Overall observation also reveals that both rheological and thermal properties increase by increasing concentrations, but the same properties decrease with temperature. An interesting finding is the nanolubricant had viscosity decrement than the pure lubricant specifically at 303 K. New regression models were suggested for thermo-physical properties with high accuracy R-squared values of 0.9989 and 0.9920 for viscosity and thermal conductivity, respectively. As a conclusion, SiO2-TiO2/PVE nanolubricant is recommended in refrigeration sys�tems with a volume concentration of less than 0.10%

Dual-functional single stranded deoxyribonucleic acid for graphene

This study reports a one-step process to produce single-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (ssDNA) functionalized reduced graphene oxide (ssDNA/rGO). The ssDNA acts as a reducing agent for the reduction of GO into rGO and simultaneously performs functionalization onto rGO, which is confirmed by spectroscopic and microscopic analyses. Such reduction capability is not being observed in double-stranded DNA (dsDNA). The high charge density of ssDNA on rGO is investigated for its application in electrochemical supercapacitor, and it is revealed that the ssDNA/rGO exhibits a specific capacitance of 129 F g−1 with high stability (92%) up to 10,000 cycles. The findings open the gateway to develop a biomolecule-based energy storage system

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) gps jamming test by using software defined radio (SDR) platform

Overhang property issue has sustained over the past ten years in Malaysia. Major overhang property issue was contributed from the unsold residential property. Though the government announced to build a data system and provide the housing data to prevent a mismatch of supply-demand in the property market, there are still not many relevant studies or research on predicting residential property prices. Hence, it is essential to understand the factors that influence the price of residential properties. The study aims to predict the price of a residential property by using a machine learning algorithm. Three algorithms were selected, namely Decision Tree, Linear Regression, and Random Forest, tested against the training and testing datasets obtained from the Malaysian Valuation and Property Services Department. Results show that the Random Forest model produced high accuracy with lower r_squared (R2), RMSE, and MAE values. Significantly, the study has contributed a new insight into essential property features that primarily influence the property price, which will be useful for property developers and buyers who wish to invest in the property market

Enzymatic pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass: An overview

Lignocellulosic biomass is nature's most abundant alternative source of biofuels replacing traditional fossil fuels. Globally, more than 70% of renewable energy depends on biomass and contributes 14% of the total energy supply. The pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass is to remove lignin, modify the lignin structure, reduce the cellulose crystallinity and increase the porosity and surface area of lignocellulosic material. The pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass is one of the most expensive steps for biomass conversion and consumes about 40% of total costs. Traditionally physical and chemical methods have been used for the pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass. However, these methods are unsustainable and have a huge negative impact on the environment. Pretreatment by the lignocellulosic laccase enzyme can overcome these problems. So the pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass has been studied, presenting special attention to the enzymatic pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass

LPS induces IL-10 production by human alveolar macrophages via MAPKinases- and Sp1-dependent mechanisms

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>IL-10 is a cytokine mainly produced by macrophages that plays key roles in tolerance to inhaled antigens and in lung homeostasis. Its regulation in alveolar macrophages (HAM), the resident lung phagocytes, remains however unknown.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The present study investigated the role of intracellular signalling and transcription factors controlling the production of IL-10 in LPS-activated HAM from normal nonsmoking volunteers.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>LPS (1–1000 pg/ml) induced <it>in vitro </it>IL-10 production by HAM, both at mRNA and protein levels. LPS also activated the phosphorylation of ERK, p38 and JNK MAPkinases (immunoblots) and Sp-1 nuclear activity (EMSA). Selective inhibitors of MAPKinases (respectively PD98059, SB203580 and SP600125) and of Sp-1 signaling (mithramycin) decreased IL-10 expression in HAM. In addition, whilst not affecting IL-10 mRNA degradation, the three MAPKinase inhibitors completely abolished Sp-1 activation by LPS in HAM.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These results demonstrate for the first time that expression of IL-10 in lung macrophages stimulated by LPS depends on the concomitant activation of ERK, p38 and JNK MAPKinases, which control downstream signalling to Sp-1 transcription factor. This study further points to Sp-1 as a key signalling pathway for IL-10 expression in the lung.</p

Culex pipiens, an Experimental Efficient Vector of West Nile and Rift Valley Fever Viruses in the Maghreb Region

West Nile fever (WNF) and Rift Valley fever (RVF) are emerging diseases causing epidemics outside their natural range of distribution. West Nile virus (WNV) circulates widely and harmlessly in the old world among birds as amplifying hosts, and horses and humans as accidental dead-end hosts. Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) re-emerges periodically in Africa causing massive outbreaks. In the Maghreb, eco-climatic and entomologic conditions are favourable for WNV and RVFV emergence. Both viruses are transmitted by mosquitoes belonging to the Culex pipiens complex. We evaluated the ability of different populations of Cx. pipiens from North Africa to transmit WNV and the avirulent RVFV Clone 13 strain. Mosquitoes collected in Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia during the summer 2010 were experimentally infected with WNV and RVFV Clone 13 strain at titers of 107.8 and 108.5 plaque forming units/mL, respectively. Disseminated infection and transmission rates were estimated 14–21 days following the exposure to the infectious blood-meal. We show that 14 days after exposure to WNV, all mosquito st developed a high disseminated infection and were able to excrete infectious saliva. However, only 69.2% of mosquito strains developed a disseminated infection with RVFV Clone 13 strain, and among them, 77.8% were able to deliver virus through saliva. Thus, Cx. pipiens from the Maghreb are efficient experimental vectors to transmit WNV and to a lesser extent, RVFV Clone 13 strain. The epidemiologic importance of our findings should be considered in the light of other parameters related to mosquito ecology and biology