Characteristics of Malaysian, Sulawesian and Brazilian Cocoa Butters, Their Blends and Chocolate

This study was conducted with three fold objectives, (i) to determine the physico-chemical and sensory characteristics of cocoa butter commercially produced by grinders in Malaysia with Sulawesian and Brazilian cocoa butter were used as a comparison, (ii) to determine the physico-chemical characteristics of blended cocoa butter and (iii) to determine the compatibility and acceptability of the chocolate quality made therefrom. Static crystallization for Malaysian and Sulawesian cocoa butter was found not to be significantly different (P>0.05); however they were significantly different (P<0.05) from that of the Brazilian cocoa butter. The same observation was made on the melting behaviour and the percent of solid fat content.Iodine values (I.V) of all Malaysian and Sulawesian cocoa butter (34.75-36.15) were not significantly different (P>0.05) but they were significantly lower (P<0.05) than that of Brazilian cocoa butter (40.31). The free fatty acids (FFAs) for all samples were in the standard range «l.75%) except for the sample from Brazil and two samples from Malaysia . All cocoa butter samples had saponification value (S.V) in the standard range (188 -198); however S.V for the Brazilian cocoa butter samples (193.57) was significantly higher (P<0.05) than other samples. All samples have unsaponifiable matter (USM) within the standard range «0.35%) except for the Brazilian cocoa butter sample. Only Malaysian II sample had the Peroxide Value (p.V) within the standrad range «4.0). The study found that there was no significant difference (P>0.05) in the refractive index (R.I) among all samples. All the values were within the standard range. The fatty acid compositions (FAC) of Malaysian and Sulawesian cocoa butter samples were not significantly different (P>0.05); however, both were significantly different (P<0.05) from the Brazilian sample There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in triglyceride composition for all Malaysian cocoa butter samples. There was a significant difference (P<0.05) in the content of PliO, PLiP, POP and SOA between Malaysian and Sulawesian cocoa butter. The triglyceride composition of the Brazilian cocoa butter sample was significantly different (P<0.05) from the two samples. All the samples contained many flavour descriptives which were objectionable to the panelist. The Malaysian, Sulawesian and their blended cocoa butter showed the same melting profile and hardness. The melting behaviour and hardness of Brazilian cocoa butter, and its mixture with either Malaysian or Sulawesian cocoa butter were affected more by the amount of Brazilian cocoa butter in the blend. Increasing the Brazilian cocoa butter by 20% has significantly (P<0.05) decreased the melting point, enthalphy and the hardness values. Based on the physico-chemical characteristics, 40% of Brazilian cocoa butter was the minimum level accepted to be incorporated in a good quality blended cocoa butter. Good quality chocolates were obtained from a blend containing 60% of Malaysian cocoa butter and 40% of Brazilian cocoa butter. This findings were based on the chocolate resistance to bloom, glossiness, hardness and sensory evaluation

Dynamic Relationship Between Inflation, Exchange Rate, FDI and GDP: Evidence from Pakistan

Pakistan is highly influence with the crises of low exchange rate and inflation. The purpose of this study is to check the effect of foreign direct investment and real exchange rate on the growth rate of Pakistan. The data is composed for this study has time duration of 1980 to 2016 from world development indicator. The current study includes the unit root test for checking the stationaity of the data and then ARDL regression is applied. This study includes the causality which shows the bidirectional and unidirectional relationship among the variables. The results show that both log run and short run relationship. In short run relationship the GDP is positively influences with the dependent variables. The REF and FDI stimulates the growth rate of the country while in short run there is a weak relationship between GDP, Real exchange rate and inflation . This paper also check the constancy of the model and the model is stable at 5% significance level

Impact of Population, GDP and Energy Consumption on Carbon Emissions: Evidence from Pakistan Using an Analytic Tool IPAT

This study examines the relationship between CO2 emission, economic growth, population and energy consumption in Pakistan during period of 1975-2016. The study evaluates IPAT (Impact of CO2 x Population x Affluence x Technology) hypothesis where CO2 emission is influence by high population growth, economic growth, and technology. The study use ARDL bounds testing approach to estimate short and long run elasticities. The results confirm that population growth and energy demand both increase the CO2 emission, while the relationship between GDP and CO2 emissions is negative in Long-run, because the development of new low-carbon technologies enables a country to reach the same production level but at lower CO2 emissions, that improve the air quality indicator in a country. The results conclude that IPAT hypothesis is verified in Pakistan economy. Where population growth influenced the environmental quality, the government should have to control high mass population growth by increasing family planning expenditure in a country. The renewable energy resources are further policy implication that is desirable to reduced energy associated emission in a country

Analyzing the Savings-Investment Trend in a Panel of G-7 Countries

This study examined the relationship between savings and investment in the G-7 countries for the period of 1970 to 2015. The stationary analysis of the data has been done by adopting the panel Levin, Lin &amp; Chu, Breitung, Pesaran &amp; Shin, ADF-Fisher &amp; PP-Fisher criteria while the long run relationship has been tested by employing the Pedroni residual test of co-integration. The results neglected the existence of a long run correlation between saving and investment in G-7 countries. Further, joint causality between the savings and investment has also been tested using the fixed effect VAR model. Wald test explains that the two consecutive lags i.e. S (-1) and S (-2) of savings is jointly causing savings in the current year in the G7 countries. While the same two lags of investment i.e. I (-1) and I (-2) does not jointly granger cause savings in the G7 economies. The results are in line with Feldstein and Horioka (1980) that there is a stable and significant association between the increasing rates of savings and investment in the short run while this relationship weaken in the long run

STUDY OF DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF PAKISTANI STANDARD ENGLISH

The current research has adopted a qualitative approach to investigate the linguistic differences of Pakistani Standard English in contrast to British Standard English. We studied morphological, lexical, and hybrid characteristics of Pakistani Standard English. Besides, we investigated the linguistic features to prove the fact that cultural context determines the use of a language. Moreover, the findings of this research also support the fact that a language keeps evolving in different contexts leading to the development of different varieties of the language. However, the researchers have studied comparatively many varieties of Englishes, but this research investigates the distinguishing features of Pakistani Standard English employing secondary data from Dawn e-newspaper. Additionally, the researchers have also qualitatively codified the data into broader themes. The findings of this research will help readers in understanding the role of a cultural context in developing a new variety of a language. Consequently, they will be able to carry out further research in the field of World Englishes. Hence, this research is a systematic investigation of Pakistani Standard English and its differentiating features.

Can clinical staging of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis be of any therapeutic benefit

Naegleria fowleri, is a free-living amoeba (FLA) known to infect humans and cause a fatal disease called primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). All of the patients are commonly admitted to the emergency room (ER). Often, treatment in the ER is delayed due to the rarity of disease leading to a delay in the diagnosis and late arrival of patients to the ER. The attempts to reduce raised intracranial pressure and subsequent herniation of the brain stem are challenging and become the cause of death in the affected patients during their stay in ER. Use of drugs like mannitol to reduce raised intra-cerebral pressure (ICP) could prove dangerous in the presence of cerebral haemorrhage and this fact could be overlooked during the management of patients with PAM. No precise therapy is followed for PAM, and most often a course of broad spectrum anti-protozoal drugs is employed. A CDC recommended drug miltefosine has show success in early diagnosed cases. So far, there is no clinical staging of PAM, and patients are managed for the complications that develop while their stay in the ER. Given the health scare associated with N. fowleri in countries with tropical climates, and its potential ability to cause severe meningoencephalitis that often progresses to lethal outcomes, we believe it is imperative to stage PAM into clear progressive stages to help its management in the ER and debate its therapeutic gains. Such a clinical staging could aid in efforts to diagnose and treat PAM. Furthermore, it will help in raising public awareness, in educating healthcare and allied personne

Morphological Features of Thymus laevigatus Vahl a Medicinal Plant in Yemen

Thymus laevigatus Vahl (Lamiaceae) is an endemic subshrub plant with a herbaceous shape that grows wild in higher mountainous regions in the Northern part of Yemen. Its aerial parts are used locally as an appetizer and in folk medicine. It is used to treat cough and pharyngitis. The identity, conservation, usage and geographical distribution of this species, unlike most other species in the Thymus genus, has not received extensive studies. This study aimed to determine detailed morphological features of T. laevigatus grown in Yemen, to facilitate differentiation and identification of its medicinal raw parts. Fresh specimens from five different natural populations grown in five different locations were morphologically studied. Fresh specimens of the whole plant, stem, leaf, inflorescence and flower parts were compared. Results showed that T. laevigatus is a perennial and subshrub with a herbaceous shape. The stem is repent, monopodial plagiotropic growth and pubescence on all four faces. The leaf is simple with an entire margin. Blade shape differs clearly between specimens collected from different locations. It was observed to be either oblanceolate or oblance-ovate. The inflorescence is capitate type. Bracts are similar to upper leaves in shape, but smaller in size. However, the bracts are distinguished by the presence of tall multicellular trichomes in the lower two-thirds of their blade's edges. The calyx is tubular-campanulate, while the corolla is a campanula-tubular with hairy tube. Corolla's color is either white or pale pink. The results obtained can be used for the development of herbal medicinal plants' regulatory documents in Yemen