Comparison of the frying performance of refined, bleached and deodorized palm olein and coconut oil

The frying performance of refined, bleached and deodorized palm olein (RBDPO) and refined, bleached and deodorized coconut oil (RBDCO) was compared in this study. The oils were studied during intermittent frying of potato chips at 180C for 5 h/day for 5 consecutive days. The indices used for assessment of frying performance of the oils were fatty acid composition (FAC), peroxide value (PV), anisidine value (AnV), % free fatty acid (FFA), iodine value (IV), % polar component, polymer content, color, viscosity, smoke point and foaming tendency. The results showed that RBDPO was superior to RBDCO in frying performance in terms of % FFA, iodine value, foaming tendency and smoke point. However, RBDCO performed better than RBDPO with respect to % polar component, polymer content, resistance to oxidation, color and viscosity. Flavor evaluation showed that potato chips fried in RBDPO were preferred by the panelists

Isoprene hotspots at the Western Coast of Antarctic Peninsula during MASEC′16

Isoprene (C5H8) plays an important role in the formation of surface ozone (O3) and the secondary organic aerosol (SOA) which contributed to the climate change. This study aims to determine hourly distribution of tropospheric isoprene over the Western Coast of Antarctic Peninsula (WCAP) during the Malaysian Antarctic Scientific Expedition Cruise 2016 (MASEC′16). In-situ measurements of isoprene were taken using a custom-built gas chromatography with photoionization detector, known as iDirac. Biological parameters such as chlorophyll a (chl-a) and particulate organic carbon (POC) were compared to the in-situ isoprene measurements. Significant positive correlation was observed between isoprene and POC concentrations (r2 = 0.67, p < 0.001), but not between isoprene and chl-a. The hotspots of isoprene over maritime Antarctic were then were investigated using NAME dispersion model reanalysis. Measurements showed that isoprene mixing ratio were the highest over region of King George Island, Deception Island and Booth Island with values of ∼5.0, ∼0.9 and ∼5.2 ppb, respectively. Backward trajectory analysis showed that air masses may have lifted the isoprene emitted by marine algae. We believe our findings provide valuable data set of isoprene estimation over the under sampled WCAP

The role of dysprosium ions on the physical and optical properties of lithium-borosulfophosphate glasses

Achieving outstanding physical and optical properties of borosulfophosphate glasses via controlled doping of rare earth ions is the key issue in the fabrication of new and highly-efficient glass material for diverse optical applications. Thus, the effect of replacing P2O5 by Dy2O3 on the physical and optical properties of Dy3+-doped lithium-borosulfophosphate glasses with chemical composition of 15Li2O-30B2O3-15SO3-(40 - x)P2O5-xDy2O3 (where 0.0 mol.% ≤ x ≪ 1.0 mol.%) has been investigated. The glass samples were synthesized from high-purity raw materials via convectional melt-quenching technique and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX), density and UV-vis-NIR absorption measurements. The amorphous nature of the prepared glass samples was confirmed by XRD patterns whereas the EDX spectrum depicts elemental traces of O, C, B, S, P and Dy. The physical parameters such as density, refractive index, molar volume, polaron radius and field strength were found to vary nonlinearly with increasing Dy2O3 concentration. UV-vis-NIR absorption spectra revealed seven absorption bands with most dominant peak at 1269 nm (6H15/2 →6F11/2 +6H9/2). From the optical absorption spectra, the optical bandgap and Urbach's energy have been determined and are related with the structural changes occurring in these glasses with increase in Dy2O3 content. Meanwhile, the bonding parameters (δ) evaluated from the optical absorption spectra were found to be ionic in nature. The superior features exhibited by the current glasses nominate them as potential candidate for nonlinear optical applications

Educational aspirations of Malay youths from low-income families in Singapore

10.1080/02185385.2012.739473Asia Pacific Journal of Social Work and Development224253-26