Effect of storage on beta-carotene content in Mango var. Chokanan puree

This study was aimed to determine the effect of storage on the content of â-carotene in mango puree. Mango (Mangifera indica L.) from Chokanan variety was selected for this study. The â-carotene content at 0, 3, 6 and 24 days of storage were 4.74 ± 0.29 mg/100 g puree, 3.78 ± 0.21 mg/100 g puree, 3.42 ± 0.11 mg/100 g puree and 2.84 ± 0.55 mg/100 g puree respectively. â-Carotene content of mango puree was significantly different (P < 0.05) at different storage times. However, post-hoc test showed that the â-carotene content was significantly different (P < 0.05) between day 0 and day 24 of storage times. Storage at 5 C for more than 3 days reduced 20% of â-carotene content in mango puree. Prolong storage time of the puree for more than 24 days had reduced about 40% of â-carotene content in mango puree. The study indicated that â-carotene content in mango puree was significantly lost after 24 days of storage

Institutions and foreign direct investment (FDI) in Malaysia: empirical evidence using ARDL model

Since 1990’s, institution factors have been regarded as playing important roles in stimulating foreign direct investments (FDI). However, empirical studies on their importance in affecting FDI are still lacking especially for small open economies. This paper attempts to investigate the role of institutions upon the inflow of foreign direct investment (FDI) in a small open economy of Malaysia. Using bounds testing approach (ARDL model), the empirical findings reveal that there exists a long run relationship among FDI and the institution variables. Specifically, several institution variables namely government stability, bureaucracy, and corruption are found to play prominent roles in influencing the inflow of FDI. Thus, in attracting foreign investors, implementing FDI-friendly policies by providing and maintaining the quality of domestic institutions would be beneficial to Malaysian economic growth.Institutions; Foreign Direct Investment (FDI); ARDL

The preparation, delivery and outcome of COVID-19 pandemic training program among the Emergency Healthcare Frontliners (EHFs): the Malaysian teaching hospital experience

One of the strategies in strengthening the healthcare providers in mitigating the impact of COVID-19 pandemic is through training. Safety and disease unfamiliarity with COVID-19 was the main reason for developing this dedicated specialized training modules in order to address the issue. The training modules were developed based on three strategies that are learning from experience, design suitable dedicated module and identify weakness and vulnerability. The training modules created were donning-doffing of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), airway management and cardiopulmonary resuscitation of suspected COVID-19 patients which were delivered through immersive life simulation technique. A total of 178 Emergency Healthcare Frontliners (EHFs) were trained. Each module was guided with a checklist that the participants found to be very useful. None of the participants reported developing symptoms of infection after undergoing the face-to-face simulation training even after two weeks of post-training periods. Seven important steps were found to be crucial that contributed to these findings which included room space, participants number per group, COVID-19 screening, taking of temperature, hand sanitization, PPE, and equipment sanitization before and after training. Hands-on training with guided-checklist was found to be very useful to the EHFs in managing an unfamiliar situation of COVID-19. In time-constraint-resource-limited conditions, training modules should be focused on addressing the pressing problem at hand. In conducting a face-to-face training, precautionary safety measures should be strictly adhered to prevent the spread of the disease

CFD Modelling of pump as turbine with various number of blade for microhydro system

Pump as Turbine is an electromechanically component that is largely used in microhydro system. The main advantages of pump as turbine compared to commercially available turbines are lower cost, easier to maintain and readily available. These key features make them appealing to conditions in many developing countries. However, pump as turbine has poor hydraulic performance and low efficiency thus modifications were applied to improve the performance. The aim of this paper is to study the effect of impeller blade number to the pump as turbine performance. The investigation was carried out by using commercial Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) software, ANSYS CFX. A centrifugal pump with a specific speed of 70 with an impeller diameter of 214.0 mm was used to generate the CAD model. The original number of the blade was at 6 and varied to 5, 7 and 8 while other geometric dimensions were kept unchanged. The simulation results reveal that the highest efficiency was attained at 7 blade number with the efficiency recorded at 76.24%. The corresponding pressure was at 20.83 meters. It was found that with increase of blade number, the efficiency and corresponding pressure of the pump as turbine also increases. However, the additional blade number reduce the cross-area flow path, consequently increase the blockage effect thus decrease the net power generated by the rotating impeller

Properties of Torrefied Palm Kernel Shell via Microwave Irradiation

This study describes the characteristic and thermal properties of torrefied palm kernel shell (PKS) by microwave irradiation pretreatment. The microwave power level (200, 300, 450, and 600 W) and processing time (4, 8, and 12 min) were used in this study. The pretreated samples were analyzed for mass and energy yield, calorific value, proximate and elemental composition, and thermal decomposition. Results showed that the characteristic of pretreated PKS was enhanced by increasing the microwave power level and processing the time. The oxygen content and O/C ratio of torrefied PKS were reduced by increasing the microwave power level. The carbon content of pretreated PKS, which was closed to the untreated MB coal properties with comparable calorific value, was obtained. The microwave power level of 450 W and processing time of 8 min were suitable to upgrade the PKS to a respectable quality feedstock. Thus, it can be concluded that the alteration in physical, chemical, and thermal properties of torrefied PKS discovered the potential of this feedstock to be applied in subsequent thermochemical conversion such as pyrolysis and gasification

Between Homestay and Wetland Mangroves: A Partnership Lesson in Eco-tourism

Abstract Kampung Perepat Timbul runs a homestay industry near Tanjung Piai Mangrove National Park, one of the largest mangrove habitats at the southernmost tip of Asian mainland. It is located in the midst of agriculture and fishing villages that can offer eco-tourism and environmental education for the visitors. It is a unique situation where the wetland mangroves are preserved and provide eco-tourism opportunities and homestay programs that could support the local economy. Efforts by the locals and the government to support local economy by proposing homestay programs initially look promising during the early establishment of the wetland mangroves However, factors such as lack of coordination, poor partnership arrangement and lack of marketing strategies have resulted in a less than successful return for eco-tourism. This paper will assess the existing partnership between these villages and the protected natural area by proposing a partnership strategy that will help to rejuvenate the eco-tourism potentials

Integrating drainage, ecology and recreation in a campus river: a case study of International Islamic University

ABSTRACT This paper describes the planning, design and contruction of multiuse drainage facilities of Sungai Anak Pusu which runs across the central campus if the International Islamic University of Malaysia in Gombak. The Master Drainage Plan provides for the best management practices (BMPs) that provide retention ponds, detention facilities for surface runoff, open space, recreational greenway corridors and riparian habitat. This campus is one of the first local institutionof higher learning to implement a comprehensive plan for quality enhancement of the drainage system for a campus river. Under the plan, all surface water is routed through specially designed extended detention basins prior discharge into the receiving river. Selected stabilization measures are used along the river to preserve their natural character, ecological aspects and to provide recreational facilities

Dasar fiskal terhadap perbelanjaan swasta: analisis SVAR di Malaysia

Bermula dengan episod belanjawan defisit yang berpanjangan sejak tahun 1998 di NSM, menunjukkan kutipan hasil cukai kerajaan tidak berupaya untuk menampung perbelanjaan yang menyebabkan kerajaan perlu memikirkan sumber pembiayaan alternatif seperti melalui terbitan bon. Mengikut teori dana boleh pinjam, terbitan bon kerajaan menyebabkan penurunan harga bon dan seterusnya cenderung meningkatkan kadar bunga pasaran. Kenaikan kadar bunga pasaran menyebabkan kos dana meningkat yang menyebabkan firma cenderung mengecilkan saiz pelaburan. Ini menyebabkan peningkatan perbelanjaan kerajaan yang dibiayai melalui terbitan bon tidak dapat memberikan kesan sepenuhnya kepada peningkatan pendapatan negara malahan mewujudkan kesan asakan keluar ke atas pelaburan swasta. Kertas ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji keberkesanan dasar fiskal iaitu kejutan positif perbelanjaan kerajaan dan hasil kerajaan (cukai) terhadap pelaburan swasta di Malaysia. Kajian ini menggunakan model SVAR (Structural Vector Autoregressive) dalam ekonomi terbuka bersaiz kecil untuk mengenal pasti tindak balas dinamik kejutan dasar fiskal terhadap pelaburan swasta. Data kajian adalah data siri masa sukuan bagi tempoh 1991:1-2016:3. Analisis fungsi tindak balas impulse dan penguraian varian telah digunakan untuk mengupas keberkesanan dasar fiskal terhadap perbelanjaan swasta. Hasil kajian menunjukkan kesan kejutan perbelanjaan kerajaan mewujudkan kesan asakan keluar terhadap pelaburan swasta manakala bagi penggunaan swasta mengalami kesan positif. Bagi kesan kejutan hasil cukai kerajaan menunjukkan keputusan yang sama iaitu pelaburan swasta mengalami kesan negatif manakala penggunaan swasta mengalami kesan positif