Development of bambangan (Mangifera pajang) carbonated drink

Mangifera pajang Kostermans or bambangan is a popular fruit among Sabahan due to its health and economic values. However, the fruit is not fully commercialized since it is usually been used as traditional cuisine by local people. Thus, development of bambangan fruit into carbonated drink was conducted to produce new product concept. The objectives of this study were to conceptualize, formulate, evaluate consumer acceptance, and determine physicochemical properties and nutritional composition of the accepted product. Method used in conceptualising the product was based on questionnaire. The consumer acceptance was evaluated based on descriptive and affective tests with four product formulations tested. The physicochemical properties on carbon dioxide volume, colour, pH, total acidity, total soluble solid (TSS) and viscosity were highlighted, meanwhile nutritional composition on fat, protein, carbohydrates and energy content were determined. About 77% respondents gave positive feedback, and 69% respondents decided this product is within their budget. The formulation of 5% bambangan pulp, 70% water, 25% sugar and 0.2% citric acid was highly accepted in descriptive and affective tests with 4.4 and 6.39 mean scores, respectively. The physicochemical properties and nutritional composition of the acceptance product were in optimum value except for colour, total acidity and TSS. Overall, this study showed that the product has high potential to be commercialized as new product concept, and heritage of indigenous people can be preserved when this fruit is known regionally

Peningkatan Aktivitas Pembelajaran Matematika Menggunakan Pendekatan Realistik di Kelas IV SD

The problem in this research is an attempt to improve the learners\u27 learning activities by using realistic approach in mathematic subjects at the fourth grade students in the Elementary School 14 Siantan. This research method is descriptive, in classroom action research, and the nature of this research is qualitative research, the research subjects are teacher and learners elementary school fourth grade students in the Elementary School 14 Siantan which consisted of 21 people in whole. The techniques used in this research were the technique of direct observation, documentary technique, and data collection tool were used as observation guidelines. The result based on observation by using realistic approach had improved learners learning activities. This shows that the hypothesis that stated the application of realistic approach in mathematic lessons at the fourth grade in the Elementary School 14 Siantan can improve learners\u27 learning activities, accepted

Understanding media literacy in relation to adolescent soft drink consumption behavior

This paper examines relationship between media literacy and the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) variables focusing on consumption of soft drink among adolescents in Klang Valley, Malaysia. In addition, this paper also determines soft drink consumption, level of media literacy and the influences of the TPB variables on the intention of soft drink consumption. A cluster sampling method was used in collecting data within the Klang Valley area. The sample consisted of 436 adolescents from secondary school, aged between 13 to 18 years old. Two main scales utilized were Media Literacy (ML) scale and TPB scale. The descriptive, multiple linear regression and Pearson product-moment correlation analyses were carried out to answer the research objectives. Results revealed that 36% of respondents drank a minimum of 1 can, bottle or glass of soft drink for the past seven days and possess good level of media literacy (35%).Meanwhile, 14% of variance in adolescents’ intention of soft drink consumption is explained by TPB variables. Additionally, the total media literacy score towards soft drink advertisement was significantly positively correlated with attitude (r = 0.250, p<.05) and subjective norms (r = 0.174, p<.05). Conversely, total media literacy was significant negatively correlated with intention to consume soft drink (r = -0.19, p<.05) and indicated that media literacy could lower the intention to consume soft drink, thus can reduce soft drink consumption among adolescents. The importance of this study is to help the authorities, soft drink marketers and producers in Malaysia to better understand media literacy and adolescent soft drink consumption behavior

Optical properties of diamond like carbon films prepared by DC-PECVD

Diamond-like carbon (DLC) thin films were deposited at different substrate temperatures using methane and hydrogen gas in DC-PECVD at 2x10-1Torr. From the light transmission using UV-VIS spectroscopy it was found that the optical transition had changed from allowed indirect transition to allowed direct transition as the substrate temperature increased. The Optical gap increased with temperature, highest of 3.034 eV was observed at 573 K, beyond which it dropped. Colour of the film changed from light brownish to a colourless transparent film in the higher temperature. The Urbach energy decreased from 1.25 eV to 0.75 eV with increasing substrate temperature till 573 K and a slight increase after it. This trend is attributed to change in sp3/sp2 ratio or change in structure. The cluster size decreases with temperature, resulting in larger band gap and the structure more ordered. Similar pattern is also witnessed in the emission spectrum of the photoluminescence

Validation of Multicultural Counselling Competencies Scale among Malaysian Counsellor Trainees: A Confirmatory Factor Analysis

The competency of multicultural counselling is an aspect which needs to be mastered by a counsellor in order to provide good counselling services to clients especially when dealing with clients of different culture. The purpose of this research is to examine the validity and reliability of the Multicultural Counselling Competencies Scale which was developed based on the local culture by using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). A total of 290 final year students participating in the first-degree counselling program from six public universities were selected randomly. The results of the analysis showed that the fit value for the comparative fit index (CFI), Tucker Lewis index (TLI), and normed fit index (NFI) respectively had fulfilled the fit value of 0.90 and above as suggested by the literature. The analysis also showed the average variance extracted (AVE) values for all three constructs were 0.669 (awareness), 0.764 (skills) and 0.642 (knowledge) respectively, indicating the validity convergent and discriminant reliability were achieved. CFA analysis has removed 7 out of 26 original items due to low loading factor. Overall, CFA analysis has successfully proven that competencies of multicultural counselling questionnaire as a multidimensional construct as it has been theorized and is appropriate for measuring the competencies of multicultural counselling in Malaysia

Comparative study on the accelerated thermal aging behavior between palm and rapeseed natural ester oils

The suitability of natural ester oils as an insulating medium in power transformers is discussed in this paper. Owing to environmental concerns, natural ester oils have great potential as mineral oil substitutes in power transformers. In this paper, the aging behaviors of palm and rapeseed natural ester oils were compared with that for mineral oil. The performance of these natural ester oils was assessed based on their properties (moisture content, acidity, and relative content of dissolved decay products) after accelerated thermal aging. The results showed that the palm oil has better performance compared to the rapeseed oil after accelerated thermal aging for 1500 h because of its lower acidity. This was further supported by the presence of sludge in the rapeseed oil after 1500 h of aging

Implementation of Outcome Based Education in the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Pahang: An Experience

This paper was discussed about an experience of Outcome Based Education (OBE) implementation in the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering (FKM), Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) since 2006. The faculty had derived and formulated its own strategy on OBE as well as teaching and learning to aid the implementation. The process of implementation involved of training the representative, planning the implementation process and formulating the outcomes. The teaching approaches which is teacher centered were modified to mix with student centered ensure that graduates attain our planned outcomes