Differences in Total Yield and Physicochemical Attributes of Virgin Coconut Oil from Coconut Milk Demulsification using Direct Heating and Microwave Heating

The objective of the present study is to determine the total yield and physicochemical properties of virgin coconut oil (VCO) extracted from coconut milk using controlled direct heating and microwave heating. The heating temperature for the controlled direct heating method was 90 ̊C for the first hour of heating and maintained at 60 ̊C once the oil began to separate from the coconut protein until the demulsification was over. In the microwave heating method, coconut milk was heated at medium microwave power level (500W) for 30 minutes at 5 minutes intervals. The heating process for both methods was stopped before the proteinaceous latik turned brown. The recovered oils were subjected to four standard analyses for accessing the quality of VCO, which are moisture content (MC), iodine value (IV), peroxide value (PV) and acid value (%FFA). The percentage of oil yield and time taken during heating process for the controlled direct heating and microwave heating methods showed significant differences where the highest oil recovery (23.83%) with the shortest time taken (15.33 minutes) was given by the microwave heating method. There were no significant differences in the physicochemical properties of VCO extracted from both heating methods. By comparing the quality of the experimental VCOs to a commercial VCO, the VCO extracted from the controlled direct heating and microwave heating methods had no significant differences (p >0.05) than the commercial VCO. The present obtained results would be useful for micro and small-scale enterprises to correctly apply the heating methods in producing a high quality VCO commercially. Keywords: Virgin coconut oil, coconut milk, demulsification, direct heating, microwave heatin

Exploring the Influence of a Principal’s Internalized Moral Perspective towards Teacher Commitment in Malaysian Secondary Schools

Authentic leadership principals are an alternative to leadership styles within an organisation intended to create more effective administration in maintaining the trust of subordinates, meeting job expectations, and being able to implement change despite facing challenges. However, authentic leadership capabilities of school-style leadership adaptations are still relatively new and unfamiliar. This study aimed to identify the authentic leadership practices applied by school principals and their relationship to the commitment of national secondary school teachers in the district of Pendang in a northern state of Peninsular Malaysia. The research method used was a quantitative survey using a standardised questionnaire. The study respondents consisted of 254 teachers randomly selected from ten national secondary schools under the leadership of principals. The instrument used was adapted from the Authentic Leadership Questionnaire (ALQ -version 1) to measure the dimensions of authentic leadership. Furthermore, the questionaire of organizational commitment was used to measure the level of teachers’ commitment to the organisation. Data processing was performed using SEM-PLS 3.0. Results showed that the internalised moral perspective dimension of authentic leadership significantly influenced teacher commitment. The leaders with these attributes should combine their principles and behaviours in keeping with internal moral standards. This approach should affect the attitudes of teachers and create a changing environment

Method development and validation using UV spectrophotometry for Nigella sativa oil microparticles quantification

Nigella sativa oil (NSO) has been exploited for medical purposes for many generations. The fabrication of microparticles containing NSO intended for sustained release was done to be used in treating osteomyelitis. Method in quantifying NSO using UV-spectroscopy was developed and validated. Linearity shown a good correlation coefficient with the values higher than 0.995, both for actual and different analysts. The LOD and LOQ values were recorded to be 2.89 μg/mL and 8.75 μg/mL respectively. In addition, the highest %RSD values for the intermediate and repeatability studies were 0.970% and 0.445% which suggested the method was precise. The percentage recovery for 4 known concentrations gave the range between 98.16% to 99.39%, indicating the high accuracy of the method. The parameters analyzed in this study were in accordance with ICH Q2 (R1) guidelines

Fabrication and characterization of fish-derived collagen scaffold loaded with metronidazole nanoparticle for periodontal bone regeneration

Periodontal disease poses a significant challenge to oral health, affecting the tissue and bone supporting the teeth. Tissue engineering emerges as a promising approach for restoring periodontal tissue and preventing bone loss using scaffolds. However, concern arises when using collagen sourced from mammals like porcine and bovine in scaffolds regarding halal status and disease transmission. Additionally, conventional treatment involves systemic antibiotics to control infection, leading to adverse side effects. This study aims to develop a scaffold using fish-derived collagen incorporated with metronidazole nanoparticles (MNP) and analyze scaffold properties while indirectly addressing safety and halal concerns. The scaffold was fabricated by physically cross-linking collagen derived from the tilapia fish (Tilapia mossambica) and chitosan, with metronidazole nanoparticles (MNP) incorporated into the blend. The scaffold underwent analysis of its physical characteristics, morphology, and pore size using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), swelling, and biodegradability in phosphate buffer solutions (pH 7.4, 37°C). The fish-derived collagen-chitosan exhibited a consistent three-dimensional (3D) physical structure and optimal pore sizes (>100 μm). Scaffolds with MNP concentrations ranging from 0 to 40 w/t% displayed excellent swelling ability and biodegradability, exceeding 80%. As the concentration of MNP increased, the scaffold’s biodegradation rate slowed, suggesting potential as a controlled drug release vehicle aligned with the rates of new bone formation in vivo. In conclusion, the 3D porous scaffold with metronidazole nanoparticles met important criteria for physical structure, pore size, swelling ability, and biodegradability. These halal-compliant scaffolds hold promising potential for applications in tissue engineering and drug delivery and are subject to further in vivo and in vitro studies

Compton scrattering study using ludlum configuration for tissue-equivalent phantom material made from soy-lignin bonded Rhizophora spp. particleboard

Rhizophora spp. particleboards were prepared at approximately (20.0 × 20.0 × 1.0) cm3 and at 1.0 g·cm-3 target density. The mass attenuation coefficient of the soy-lignin bonded Rhizophora spp. particleboard was measured by Compton scattering using Ludlum configuration utilizing the Cesium-137 (137Cs). Monte Carlo (MC) GATE code was employed to simulate the scattering by using the same set-up. Compton scattering results from both experimental and simulation methods were compared with XCOM value of water. Half value layer (HVL) and mean free path (MFP) were calculated and analyzed. For Compton scattering method in comparison to XCOM value of water, both non-coated and coated samples showed a statistically non-significant value with p-value more than 0.05. The overall results suggested that the mass attenuation coefficient, HVL and MFP of soy-lignin bonded Rhizophora spp. particleboard based on Compton scattering study is within close agreement with XCOM value for water, exhibiting its potential as phantom materials

Effect of incorporating different concentrations of palm oil as adjuvant in fish vaccine

Adjuvants play important role in vaccine efficacy due to the slow release that leads to prolong immune response. This study determines the advantage of palm oil as adjuvant in the newly developed feed-based killed vaccine against streptococcosis. One thousand two hundred red tilapia of approximately 100g bodyweight were divided into 3 major groups. Group 1 consisted of 500 fish and was further divided into 5 sub-groups with replicate. Group 2 consisted of 600 fish and was further divided into 6 sub-groups while Group 3 with 100 fish in replicate. Fish of Group 1 were vaccinated with the feed-based killed vaccine containing 0%, 3%, 5% and 7% Freund’s incomplete adjuvant (FIA) at weeks 0, 2 and 6. Group 2 was similarly vaccinated with the vaccine containing palm oil adjuvant (POA) at concentrations of 0%, 3%, 5%, 7% & 10%. Group 3 was control without vaccination. On week 10, all fish were challenged intraperitoneally with 2.6 x 109 cfu/ ml of live Streptococcus agalactiae. Serum samples were collected at weekly intervals from all replicates and were subjected to ELISA to determine the systemic antibody responses. Immunization by both POA and FIA resulted in significant (p0.05). The 10% palm oil adjuvant (POA) stimulated the best systemic immune responses resulting in 70% survival rate after challenge

Yeasts as the Novel Attractant of Pomacea canaliculata

Pomacea canaliculata (golden apple snail, GAS) has become a major pest, which threatens rice cultivation especially in Asia. To control this pest, many farmers use extensively synthetic molluscicides that are not only expensive but of broad spectrum, therefore affecting non-target organisms including human beings. This study aimed to explore new biological attractant that could be used to attract the snails as an essential aspect of integrated pest control. The novel potential of isolated yeasts, identified as Candida ethanolica and Pichia kudriavzevii based on the 18S rRNA identification, as microbial-based bait for attraction of GAS was elucidated. Both the male and female GAS showed the highest moving rates towards C. ethanolica strain M2 activated in 5% molasses. This is the first report on the potential of yeasts as bait or lure for GAS which can used in integrated pest management

Evaluation of PCR-based approach for serotype determination of Streptococcus pneumoniae

Determination of Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes is essential for epidemiological surveillance. Therefore accurate, reliable and cost effective serotyping method is crucial. In this study, we determined the serotypes of 41 pneumococcal isolates recovered from human anterior nares by multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) utilizing published primers. The data was then compared with conventional serology using latex agglutination (LA) and the Quellung reaction. Based on the PCR-approach, 8 different serogroups/serotypes were detected with one isolate classified as non-typeable (cpsA- negative). In reference to the serology-based data, the results were in agreement except for one isolate. For the latter isolate, the LA and Quellung tests failed to show a reaction but the PCR-approach and sequencing identified the isolate as serogroup 15B/C. Based on this experimental setting, we found that the PCR-approach for pneumococcal serotypes determination is reliable to serve as the alternative for determining the pneumococcal serotyping

Extraction and characterization of natural cellulosic fiber from Pandanus Amaryllifolius leaves

Pandanus amaryllifolius is a member of Pandanaceae family and is abundant in south-east Asian countries including Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and India. In this study, Pandanus amaryllifolius fibres were extracted via a water retting extraction process and were investigated as potential fibre reinforcement in polymer composite. Several tests were carried out to investigate the characterization of Pandanus amaryllifolius fibre such as chemical composition analysis which revealed Pandanus amaryllifolius fibre’s cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin content of 48.79%, 19.95% and 18.64% respectively. Material functional groups were analysed by using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis confirming the presence of cellulose and amorphous substances in the fibre. The morphology of extracted Pandanus amaryllifolius fibre was studied using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Further mechanical behaviour of fibre was investigated using a single fibre test with 5 kN cell load and tensile strength was found to be 45.61 ± 16.09 MPa for an average fibre diameter of 368.57 ± 50.47 µm. Meanwhile, moisture content analysis indicated a 6.00% moisture absorption rate of Pandanus amaryllifolius fibre. The thermogravimetric analysis justified the thermal stability of Pandanus amaryllifolius fibre up to 210◦C, which is within polymerization process temperature conditions. Overall, the finding shows that Pandanus amaryllifolius fibre may be used as alternative reinforcement particularly for a bio-based polymer matrix