Abd Karim Alias

Mechanical, Barrier, Physicochemical, and Heat Seal Properties of Starch Films Filled with Nanoparticles

The effects of nanoparticles (nanoclay and nanosilicon dioxide) on heat sealability, physicochemical, barrier, and mechanical properties of starch films were investigated. Starch films were prepared by casting method with addition of nanoparticles and plasticizers. All film properties were measured under standard conditions. Mechanical properties of all types of films were increased by incorporation of nanoparticles. Mungbean starch films showed 100% increment in tensile strength by incorporation of nanoclay. Moisture content, water solubility, and WVP of all starch films decreased whereas decomposition temperature of the films was increased by incorporation of nanoparticles. All films were heat sealable, but nanoparticles-incorporated films exhibited better heat sealability than did control films. In summary, the type of starch governed the heat sealability but nanoparticles have potential to improve seal strength of starch films as well as other functional properties.

Fabrication and characterization of novel semolina-based antimicrobial films derived from the combination of ZnO nanorods and nanokaolin

This study aimed to provide novel biopolymer-based antimicrobial films as food packaging that may assist in reducing environmental pollution caused by the accumulation of synthetic food packaging. The blend of ZnO nanorods (ZnO-nr) and nanokaolin in different ratios (1:4, 2:3, 3:2 and 4:1) was incorporated into semolina, and nanocomposite films were prepared using solvent casting. The resulting films were characterized through field-emission scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The mechanical, optical, physical, and antimicrobial properties of the films were also analyzed. The water vapor permeability of the films decreased with increasing ZnO-nr percentage, but their tensile strength and modulus of elasticity increased with increasing nanokaolin percentage. The UV transmittance of the semolina films were greatly influenced by an increase in the amount of ZnO-nr. The addition of ZnO-nr: nanokaolin at all ratios (except 1:4) into semolina reduced UV transmission to almost 0%. Furthermore, the ZnO-nr/nanokaolin/semolina films exhibited a strong antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. These properties suggest that the combination of ZnO-nr and nanokaolin are potential fillers in semolina-based films to be used as active packaging for food and pharmaceuticals.

Nutritional and therapeutic potentials of rambutan fruit ( Nephelium lappaceum L.) and the by-products: a review

The progressive development of functional foods and herbal medicine has enthused many researchers to explore novel plant sources. In this regard, the rambutan fruit (Nephelium lappaceum L.) appears to be a promising candidate primarily due to its nutritional and bioactive compositions. With that, this particular review presents a systematic depiction of chemical composition and bioactivities of the rambutan fruit peel, pulp, and seed. Numerous reports do not provide sufficient data pertaining to cultivar, stage of maturity or the environment of fruit, yet the summarized data suggest a myriad of therapeutic potentials derived from the rambutan fruit. In fact, the rambutan fruit has been proven to possess phytochemicals that demonstrate anticancer, anti-allergic, anti-obesity, antidiabetic, anti-HIV, antimicrobial, anti-dengue, anti-hypercholesterolemic, and antihyperglycemic effects in varied in-vitro and in-vivo models. Nonetheless, advance studies are indispensable to further highlight the therapeutic mechanisms involved. In addition, a phytochemical analysis would further establish the rambutan fruit as a sustainable candidate in developing functional foods and pharmaceuticals.

Physico-mechanical and microstructural properties of semolina flour films as influenced by different sorbitol/glycerol concentrations

ABSTRACT This study aimed at investigating the physico-mechanical and microstructural properties of a novel edible film based on plasticized semolina flour with different plasticizer (sorbitol/glycerol, 3:1) contents (30, 40, and 50%, w/w). As plasticizer content increased, water vapor and oxygen permeability, tensile strength, and the elastic modulus of the semolina films decreased, while their water solubility, moisture content, and elongation-at-break increased significantly (p < 0.05). Semolina-based films exhibited excellent absorption of ultraviolet light, and the addition of plasticizers improved the optical properties of the resultant films. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy showed no significant effect on the structure of the protein. Thermogravimetric analysis also revealed that increasing plasticizer concentration has no remarkable influence on the magnitude of weight loss. Atomic force microscopy images showed that the surface roughness of the films was influenced by plasticizer concentrations. This study demonstrated that semolina flour protein has the potential to prepare edible films.

A Study of Students’ Interaction in Edmodo Social Learning Platform

This article reports on the study undertaken to investigate the interaction that took place in the forum board embedded within the Edmodo social learning platform that was used in the delivery of IMK 209-Physical Properties of Food course offered by the School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia. The samples of the study were 42 students enrolled in the course. Four parameters being investigated, namely, the number of postings by individual student, types of interactions, types of exchanges and distribution of exchanges across the types of interactions. Among the 42 students, the highest posting recorded was 118 postings and the minimum posting was 1 posting. The total postings by all students were 1201 postings with the average posting of 28.6 postings/student. The dominant type of posting was expository with 325 postings (27.1 %). The higher order interactions (explanatory and cognitive) recorded 35.5 % of all the postings. The dominant type of exchanges was student to group/class (S-G/C) with 40.3 % of all the postings. The types of exchanges were mostly students dominated where student to group/class (S-G/C), student to student (S-S) and student to lecturer (S-L) type of exchanges constituted to 87.9 % of all the postings. The distribution of the types of exchanges across the types of dimensions revealed that all types of exchanges followed the same overall pattern of distribution. In student to group/class type of exchange, the expository interaction was found to be a dominant one. The impacts of the findings in terms of the role played by the lecturer in the interaction in order to stimulate a deeper level of understanding of the course contents will be discussed.

MOOC at Universiti Sains Malaysia: Factors Impacting the Teaching and Learning Outcomes of TITAS Course

A study has been conducted to investigate the factors that impacted the outcomes of teaching and learning of Tamadun Islam dan Tamadun Asia (TITAS) course among first year undergraduate students of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). This is part of a larger study that looks at the impact of Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) initiative of Ministry of Education Malaysia of four pilot courses offered during the first semester of 2014/2015 academic session. A total of 158 students enrolled in TITAS course responded to the 37 items-questionnaire. The respondents consist of male (15.1 %) and female (84.8 %) and majority of them (86.7 %) are competent in ICT. A factorial analysis was conducted to give patterns and structures to the data and provide a meaningful interpretation to the variables influencing the outcomes of the teaching and learning. The analysis revealed three components that explained a total of 56.80 % of the variance. The first factor is the design of the learning activities (39.80 % of the variance) followed by the access to the learning materials (11.78 % of the variance) and the third factor can be attributed to curriculum compliance of learning course (5.21 % of the variance). The significant of the study is that it revealed of the importance of the design of learning activities for the successful implementation and delivery of MOOC. Equally important is the seamless access to the learning materials. Detailed discussion on these two factors will be put forward and as well as the appropriate interventions within the whole MOOC implementation framework.