Collagen in food and beverage industries

This paper reviews the structure, function and applications of collagens in food industry. Collagen is the most abundant protein in animal origin. It helps maintaining the structure of various tissues and organs. It is a modern foodstuff and widely used in food and beverage industries to improve the elasticity, consistency and stability of products. Furthermore, it also enhances the quality, nutritional and health value of the products. Collagen has been applied as protein dietary supplements, carriers, food additive, edible film and coatings. Therefore, this paper will review the functions and applications of collagen in the food and beverage industries. The structure and composition of collagen are also included

Biochemical properties of red tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) protein hydrolysates

The amino-acid composition, 2, 2-Diphenyl-1-picryhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging activity, and peptide patterns of tilapia protein hydrolysates produced by the enzymatic hydrolysis of Alcalase (AH), Flavourzyme (FH) and Protamex (PH) for 5h using pH-stat method were studied. The ratio of essential amino acids to non-essential amino acids increased after hydrolysis in all samples; however, no significant differences among them were observed. AH had a highest (P < 0.05) DPPH radical-scavenging activity, but no significant difference in the DPPH between FH and PH was observed. SDS-PAGE patterns for all the hydrolysates showed significant (P < 0.05) reduction in the number and the intensity of the bands with increasing time of hydrolysis. Flavourzyme showed the lowest rate of hydrolytic activity towards the tilapia mince

Knowledge, Attitude and Self-Efficacy Towards Blood Donation Among University Students : An Online Intervention Study

Background: Long-term shortages in the blood supply perpetuate increased morbidity and mortality from treatable diseases. However, how much people are motivated to donate blood was less studied, especially among university students. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of online intervention for knowledge, attitude, and self-efficacy towards blood donation among undergraduate university students. Methods: A pre-and post-test study was conducted among undergraduate students. Four hundred students were invited for the study. Knowledge, positive and negative attitudes, and self-efficacy towards blood donation were measured using a structured questionnaire. Two digital infographics of blood donation information and one 10-minute video were used as intervention materials. Following the intervention, statistical and practical significance was reported. Multivariate analysis of variance was done to determine the differences in invention effect across age, gender, and study discipline. Results: Following the intervention, there was 29.11% and 5.11% increased knowledge and self-efficacy from the base, respectively. The positive attitude towards blood donation increased by 2.81%, while the negative attitude decreased by 2.14%. Multivariate analysis of variance showed that online health education on blood donation is effective irrespective of age, gender, and discipline of study. Conclusion and recommendation: Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the intervention was integrated into a remote health intervention model based on the Internet or mobile communication network. This study has provided a scientific conclusion on whether the intervention could facilitate motivating people to donate blood

Estimation of uncertainty from method validation data: application to a reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography method for the determination of amino acids in gelatin using 6-aminoquinolyl-N-hydroxysuccinimidyl carbamate reagent

A detailed procedure for estimating uncertainty according to the Laboratory of Government Chemists/Valid Analytical Measurement (LGC/VAM) protocol for determination of 18 amino acids in gelatin is proposed. The expanded uncertainty was estimated using mainly the method validation data (precision and trueness). Other sources of uncertainties were contributed by components in standard preparation measurements. The method scope covered a single matrix (gelatin) under a wide range of analyte concentrations. The uncertainty of method precision, μ(P) was 0.0237–0.1128 pmol μl−1 in which hydroxyproline and histidine represented the lowest and highest values of uncertainties, respectively. Proline and phenylalanine represented the lowest and highest uncertainties value for method recovery, μ(R) that was estimated within 0.0064–0.0995 pmol μl−1. The uncertainties from other sources, μ(Std) were 0.0325, 0.0428 and 0.0413 pmol μl−1 that were contributed by hydroxyproline, other amino acids and cystine, respectively. Hydroxyproline and phenylalanine represented the lowest and highest values of expanded uncertainty, U(y) that were determined at 0.0949 and 0.2473 pmol μl−1, respectively. The data were accurately defined and fulfill the technical requirements of ISO 17025:2005

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder: reviews of studies in Malaysia, measures used, and validation of the daily record of severity of problems

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) is the most severe form of Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS). It impacts the lives and productivity of women worldwide. The literature review found eight studies conducted on PMS and menstruation in Malaysia. However, none of these studies focused on PMDD and reported the utilization of psychometrically valid and reliable tools in assessing it. One of the common measures used to assess PMDD is Daily Record of Severity of Problems (DRSP). Items in DRSP are based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth edition. Currently, there are two published studies on the validation of DRSP and its psychometric properties which will be discussed in this paper. The review shows that an ongoing adaptation and validation study of DRSP among Malaysian is being conducted. This will contribute to the body of knowledge regarding PMDD in local settings

Spray-drying optimization for red pitaya peel (Hylocereus polyrhizus)

Optimization for the spray-drying of pitaya peel (Hylocereus polyrhizus) was carried out using the central composite design (CCD) of the response surface methodology to study the effect of inlet air temperature (155–175 °C), outlet air temperature (75–85 °C), and maltodextrin DE10 concentration (8–22% w/w) on the pitaya peel powder characteristics. Spray-dried pitaya peel powders had high betacyanin retention and low water activity and had desirable color, solubility, and hygroscopicity properties. Significant (p  0.85) ranging from 0.896 to 0.979 fitted for the experimental data were obtained. The linear term of maltodextrin concentration was found to be the most significant (p < 0.05) variable influencing the powder characteristics, and the outlet temperature had the least effect. The overall optimum region for the spray-drying of the desirable pitaya peel powder was predicted at a combined parameter of inlet air temperature at 165 °C, outlet air temperature at 80 °C, and maltodextrin DE10 at 15% (w/w)

Physico-chemical properties of spray-dried red pitaya (Hylocereus polyrhizus) peel powder during storage

The physico-chemical properties of spray-dried pitaya peel powders kept at accelerated (45 ± 2°C) and room temperature (28 ± 2°C) for 14 weeks and 6 months, respectively were evaluated. Changes in physico-chemical properties of the peel powder were used as indicators of stability, while changes of the betacyanin pigment retention was used to calculate the shelf-life of the powder. Storage temperatures significantly (p < 0.05) affected all the studied parameters and Hunter a value had the most significant change. The pigment retention of peel powder was approximately 87% at 45°C and 89% at room temperature storage. Degradation of betacyanin pigment in the powder followed the first order reaction kinetics with the half-life (t1/2) of approximately 76 weeks at 45°C and 38 months at 28°C. The spray-dried pitaya peel powder had a solubility of 87 to 92% and low in powder hygroscopicity. The final Aw of the powder did not exceed 0.6 for both storage temperatures

Komunikasi visual dalam infografik khidmat masyarakat Covid-19 di media sosial

Kajian ini dilakukan bertujuan mengenal pasti simbol visual semiotik yang digunakan dalam infografik pesanan khidmat masyarakat dan menganalisis makna sebenar yang ingin disampaikan berdasarkan pendekatan pragmatik. Data kajian menggunakan bahan infografik khidmat masyarakat mengenai isu Covid-19 “Kitalah Barisan Hadapan” yang dikongsi oleh Kementerian Pengajian Tinggi di laman rasmi Twitter pada 2 September 2020. Metode penelitian analisis ialah kualitatif dengan mengaplikasikan kerangka teori Semiotik Peirce (1839-1914) dan Teori Relevan oleh Sperber dan Wilson (1986). Dapatan kajian menunjukkan simbol visual dalam bahan kajian menepati tiga elemen yang digariskan dalam teori semiotik, iaitu bentuk, warna, dan tulisan & mesej; menginterpretasikan usaha mengajak masyarakat supaya bersama-sama membantu kerajaan sepanjang pendemik Covid-19 dengan menjaga keselamatan diri sendiri serta ahli keluarga. Ketiga-tiga elemen semiotik visual yang dikenal pasti turut memperlihatkan hubungan makna sebenar melalui penggunaan maklumat konteks dan andaian kognitif yang terdapat dalam teori Relevan. Dapatan turut meperlihatkan simbol-simbol visual dalam data kajian bersifat jelas, tidak taksa serta dapat difahami dengan mudah dan tepat oleh khalayak sekali gus menepati ciri kesan kognitif yang tinggi dan kos memproses yang rendah. Situasi ini membuktikan penggunaan kedua-dua teori dalam kajia ini telah dapat membantu memperjelas maksud simbol visual yang hendak disampaikan oleh pihak kerajaan kepada khalayak sekali gus mencapai matlamat komunikasi visual yang dikehendaki

Predicting the habitat suitability of Melaleuca cajuputi based on the MaxEnt species distribution model

Gelam tree or Melaleuca cajuputi (M. cajuputi) is an important species for the local economy as well as coastal ecosystem protection in Terengganu, Malaysia. This study aimed at producing a current habitat suitability map and predicting future potential habitat distribution for M. cajuputi in Terengganu based on Species distribution modeling (SDM) using the Maximum Entropy principle. Our modeling results show that for the current potential distribution of M. cajuputi species, only 10.82% (1346.5 km2) of Terengganu area is suitable habitat, which 0.96% of the areas are under high, 2.44% moderate and 7.42% poor habitat suitability. The model prediction for future projection shows that the habitat suitability for M. cajuputi would decrease significantly in the year 2050 under RCP 4.5 where the largest contraction from suitable to unsuitable habitat area is about 442.1 km2 and under RCP 2.6 is the highest expansion from unsuitable to suitable habitat area (267.5 km2). From the future habitat suitability projection, we found that the habitat suitability in Marang would degrade significantly under all climate scenarios, while in Setiu the habitat suitability for M. cajuputi remains stable throughout the climate change scenarios. The modeling prediction shows a significant influence on the soil properties, temperature, and precipitation during monsoon months. These results could benefit conservationist and policymakers for decision making. The present model could also give a perception into potential habitat suitability of M. cajuputi in the future and to improve our understanding of the species’ response under the changing climate