Development of low-cost, sustainable and environmentally friendly biodiesel is a key focus in the energy industry worldwide. It is known that selecting suitable raw feedstock materials and optimising an efcient transesterifcation process are crucial in biodiesel production. Efective and realistic strategies are imperative in order to boost the quantity and quality of biodiesel production. In fact, scientists and researchers have put great efort to improve the market value of their biodiesel products. In recent years, the feasibilities of several raw materials as feedstocks to produce biodiesel have been assessed by researchers.These materials were reported able to produce biodiesel that met international standards, namely  the American Society for Test and Materials D6751 and European Standard 14214. Although these biodiesel products have met the quality criteria, their fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) contents difer. This review focuses on optimum conditions (methanol/oil molar ratio, .....

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Teacher’s education is significant in producing a competent teacher to teach effectively. Thus the design of the curriculum structure is important to prepare prospective teachers to be equipped with the relevant subject matter knowledge and pedagogical skills. This article aims to provide a review and comparison analyses of two teaching Chinese as a second language (TCSL) pre-service teacher education programs. The study identifies the differences and similarities between two TCSL programs namely the Bachelor Degree in Education (Chinese Language Education for Primary School-PISMP-SK) conducted in IPGM (Institute of Teacher Education Malaysia) and Bachelor Degree in Teaching Chinese as a Second Language (TCSLB) which is conducted in Beijing Foreign Studies University, China (BFSU). Documentary study is adopted to identify thesimilarities and differences in the curriculum structure of PISMP-SK and TCSLB Chinese language programs. Analysis show that both programs consist of core course.....

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In this study, gelatin-chitosan (Gel-Cs) blend films were prepared at three volume per volume ratios (Gel:Cs) namely 75:25, 50:50 and 25:75. The gelatin-chitosan blend films were applied for the first time to preserve cherry tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) and grapes (Vitis vinifera) in a 14- day preservation study. The addition of chitosan has improved the transparency value, tensile strength, percentage elongation at break, water vapour, oxygen permeability and antimicrobial properties of gelatin film. Of blended films studied, 25Gel:75Cs film exhibited the best functional and mechanical properties. The tensile strength and elongation at break values of 25Gel:75Cs film showed a significant increased by 26% and 63%, respectively. The presence of chitosan has enhanced the ability of gelatin film to inhibit two common food pathogenic microorganisms, namely Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Results from preservation study suggest that the gelatinchitosan b.....

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Tujuan  kajian  ini  adalah  untuk  menentukan  kesan  modul  eksperimen  prauniversiti berbantukan telefon pintar terhadap pencapaian pelajar dalam topik daya graviti dan berat. Modul  ini telah dibangun menggunakan model ADDIE dan modul ini telah disahkan oleh enam orang pakar.  Kajian ini menggunakan reka bentuk kuasi eksperimen pra dan pasca- ujian bagi menguji keberkesanan  modul yang dibangunkan. Sampel kajian terdiri daripada 31 orang pelajar kumpulan rawatan dan 34  orang pelajar kumpulan kawalan yang telah dipilih secara rawak mudah kelompok daripada populasi  seramai 196 orang pelajar yang mengambil kursus Fizik Asas I di salah sebuah universiti awam.  Instrumen kajian terdiri daripada ujian pencapaian dan soal selidik. Ujian digunakan untuk menguji  keberkesanan modul  manakala  soal  selidik  digunakan  untuk  mengukur  persepsi  pelajar   kumpulan rawatan terhadap kebolehgunaan modul. Soal selidik telah dibina berdasarkan Technology  Ac.....

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In the present study, gelatin–carboxymethyl cellulose blend film was synthesized, characterized and applied for the first time to preserve cherry tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme) and grapes (Vitis vinifera). Gelatin (Gel) film forming solution was incorporated with carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) at three volume per volume (Gel:CMC) ratios, namely 75:25, 50:50 and 25:75. CMC treatment has improved the transparency, tensile strength (TS), elongation at break (EAB), water vapor permeability and oxygen permeability of gelatin films. A pronounced effect was obtained for 25Gel:75CMC film. The TS and EAB values were increased from 25.98 MPa and 2.34% (100Gel:0CMC) to 37.54 MPa and 4.41% (25Gel:75CMC), respectively. A significant improvement in antimicrobial property of gelatin films against two food pathogens, namely Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) was obtained in the presence of CMC. The effectiveness of gelatin–CMC blend films to extend th.....

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This study investigates the potential of N-octyl chitosan derivatives, namely N-octyl-O-sulfate chitosan (NOOSC), N-octyl-N-succinyl chitosan (NONSC) and N-octyl-O-glycol chitosan (NOOGC) as amphiphilic carrier agents for atrazine in water-insoluble herbicide formulations. The N-octyl chitosan derivatives were characterised using several analytical instruments such as Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectrometer, CHNS-O Elemental Analyser (CHNS-O), Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), Thermogravimetric Analyser (TGA), Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC) and Fluorescence Spectrometer. The encapsulation of atrazine by N-octyl chitosan derivatives was studied using a High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The FTIR spectra of N-octyl chitosan derivatives confirmed the presence of hydrophobic and hydrophilic groups on chitosan backbone. TEM images revealed that N-octyl chitosan derivatives have formed self-aggregates with a spherical shape. The CMC values for N-octyl chitos.....

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Kajian ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji pengaruh organisasi pembelajaran terhadap kepuasan kerja guru sekolah menengah kebangsaan harian (SMKh) Negeri Perak. Pendekatan kuantitatif dengan kaedah tinjauan rentas yang menggunakan soal selidik telah digunakan dalam kajian ini. Sampel terdiri daripada 374 orang guru dari 50 buah SMKh. Data dianalisis menggunakan kolerasi Pearson product-moment dan regresi pelbagai stepwise. Analisis kolerasi Pearson menunjukkan terdapat hubungan yang signifikan antara tahap amalan organisasi pembelajaran dan kepuasan kerja kerja keseluruhan (r = 0.41, p = 0.00). Dapatan kajian turut menunjukkan bahawa pemboleh ubah organisasi pembelajaran iaitu pembelajaran berkumpulan (β = .298, p = 0.00) merupakan pengaruh utama terhadap kepuasan kerja guru diikuti visi bersama (β = .210, p = 0.00). Sejumlah 20.3 peratus variasi di dalam kepuasan kerja keseluruhan diterangkan oleh pemboleh ubah bebas. Kesimpulannya, organisasi pembelajaran mempengaruhi kepuasan kerja guru-.....

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This  study  aimed  to  determine  the  composition,  source  apportionment  and  health  risk  assessment  (HRA)  of  indoor  particulate  matter  (PM2.5)  in  selected  Malaysia  training  institutes. PM2.5 samples were collected from lecture halls, laboratories and lecturer offices in  Institut Latihan Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia Sungai Buloh (SB) and Institut Latihan Kementerian   Kesihatan  Malaysia  Sultan  Azlan  Shah  (SAS).  Sampling  were  conducted over a period of eight  hours sampling for five consecutive days with a total number of 30 samples. The samples were  collected on 47 mm micro fiber glass filter paper (0.2 µm pore size,  Whatman)  using  low  volume   air  sampler  (LVS)  at  5  L  min?¹  flow  rate.  The composition  of  PM2.5   for  water-soluble   ionic  species  (WSIS)  and  trace  metals  were determined   using   ion   chromatography   (IC)    and   inductively   cou.....

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Nowadays advertising has become a lifeline for business and endorsement of a females in advertising has become an unavoidable fact. Over a few decades, a wide range of researches have been carried out on female role portrayal in advertisements however, the role of demographic factors to moderate the relationship between consumer attitudes and responses towards female endorsement in print advertisement is yet to examine. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine the role of demographic factors as a moderator to influence the response towards female endorsement in print advertisements. A survey was administered on 296 respondents from urban cities of Pakistan through questionnaires. The major findings of this study are that gender, income, education and geographic location do not moderate the relationship between attitude and response towards female endorsement in print advertisement. It was also found that male consumers as compared to females perceive that the presence of a.....

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This  study  aimed  to  investigate  the  implementation  of  the  task-based  learning approach   (TBL)  in  improving  ESL  students’  speaking  skills  in  a  primary  Dual Language  Programme   (DLP)  Science  classroom.  This  study also  intended  to  obtain the  DLP  Science  teacher’s   views  regarding  the  implementation  of  the  task-based learning approach for teaching Science  in the English language. The mixed-methods approach combining the quasi-experimental design and  semi-structured interview was used. 65 Year Three students from two schools in Kuala Lumpur were  chosen using the purposive sampling method. 35 participants from one school were chosen as the  experimental  group,  and  30  participants  from  another  school  were  chosen  as  the control  group. Two Science teachers and two English teachers teaching in the DLP programmes  in  the  two   schools  also  participated  in  t.....

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