Journal of Science and Technology Mahasarakham University

Development of Japanese rice cracker mixed with macadamia (Macadamia integrifolia) nut crumb

2025-01-28T15:06:22+07:00

This research develops a Japanese rice cracker (JRC) mixed with macadamia nut crumb (MNC). The results of drying
temperatures at 50°C, 60°C, and 70°C, as well as proportions of MNC at 20%, 30%, and 40%, that affect the physical,
chemical, sensory quality, and nutritional values of the product show that an increase in drying temperature decreases the lightness (L*) and increases the redness (a*) and yellowness (b*) significantly (p≤0.05). Additionally, water activity (aw) and moisture decrease as the drying temperature increases (p≤0.05). Regarding physical properties, drying temperature does not significantly affect the hardness or fracturability of the products (p>0.05), but the increase in MNC proportion slightly tends to increase product hardness. The 9-point hedonic scale sensory test indicates that the amount of MNC significantly affects the color, odor, and taste of the product (p≤0.05), while the drying temperature significantly affects the taste and appearance of the product (p≤0.05). The JRC with 40% MNC and a drying temperature of 70°C has the highest scores for color, odour, taste, and overall quality, but this is not significantly different from the version with 40% MNC and a drying temperature of 60°C (p>0.05), which also scores as good-to-normal and is more preferable for commercial production due to lower energy usage. The nutritional value of 100 grams of the product provides 475 kilocalories.

Optimization of conditions for producing extruded cricket powder using response surface methodology and improving its properties with organic acids

2024-11-22T10:12:55+07:00

Crickets, a high-quality alternative protein source, can be value-added through processing into high-protein cricket
powder. The extrusion process is a simple and efficient food processing method that offers high yields with minimal
waste. It also enables customization of formulations, shapes, textures, colors, flavors, and nutritional values as desired. Moreover, the addition of hydrocolloids, maltodextrin, and organic acids with the extrusion process can enhance the properties of extruded cricket powder. This research aimed to determine the optimal conditions for producing cricket powder with the extrusion process to achieve the highest property using the Response Surface Methodology (RSM). It also investigated the effects of organic acid pretreatments on improving the properties of extruded cricket powder. The optimization of ECP production focused on three factors: the ratio of cricket powder (CP) to maltodextrin (MD) (x₁), the content of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) (x₂), and the water content (x₃). These factors were studied to maximize the response values, including protein content, solubility, and whiteness index. The experimental design followed a Central Composite Design (CCD) with a total of 20 experiments. The regression analysis using RSM showed that the optimal conditions for producing extruded cricket powder were a CP:MD ratio of 83:17, 1.6% CMC, and 41% water content by weight of cricket powder, respectively. These conditions resulted in the highest values for protein content (63.0%), solubility (74.9%), and whiteness index (46.7%). The verification of the model revealed that the experimental values and the predicted values had a deviation of less than 5%, indicating that the model was reliable for predicting response values. Additionally, the pretreatments of ECP with organic acids, including citric acid, fumaric acid, and ascorbic acid, were applied at concentrations of 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, and 1.0% by weight of cricket powder. This study found that as the concentrations of all three organic acids increased, the solubility, whiteness index, and antimicrobial activity of the extruded cricket powder were significantly improved. The addition of fumaric acid at a concentration of 1% in the extrusion process resulted in the highest property of ECP. The results of this study confirmed that RSM was an effective method for determining the optimal conditions for producing extruded cricket powder. The addition of organic acids in extruded products enhances the properties of the product. This is considered an effective way to add value to crickets by utilizing them as a raw material in high-protein food products.

Efficacy of Bacillus tequilensis S3.1 to control fungal Trichoderma atroviride and Trichoderma longibrachiatum caused green mold disease in phoenix oyster mushroom (Pleurotus pulmonarius)

2025-02-23T09:30:47+07:00

Trichoderma spp. are important causative agents of green mold disease in the production of phoenix oyster mushroom. Disease control using antagonistic bacteria is one of the biological control methods that is safe for humans and environmentally friendly. This research aimed to screen antagonistic bacteria against Trichoderma spp. and investigate the efficiency of these bacteria in controlling Trichoderma spp. in the greenhouse. The three fungal isolates were isolated from infected cultivating bag samples. Based on morphological characteristics and sequence analysis of the ITS region, the results showed that they were identified as Trichoderma atroviride BM1.2, Trichoderma longibrachiatum GM3, and Trichoderma longibrachiatum GM4. Twenty isolates of Bacillus spp. were isolated and screened for their ability to control the pathogenic fungi. In dual culture testing, Bacillus sp. S3.1 exhibited the highest efficacy to inhibit the growth of Trichoderma atroviride BM1.2, Trichoderma longibrachiatum GM3, and Trichoderma longibrachiatum GM4 by 63.01%, 55.99%, and 53.96, respectively. The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) production analysis of Bacillus sp. S3.1 showed the inhibition of the growth and sporulation of the tested fungi. Based on 16S rDNA gene analysis, isolate S3.1 was identified as Bacillus tequilensis. In vivo experiments, the spawning and cropping stages, all antagonist treatments reduced the disease incidence compared to the single pathogen treatments. In addition, the mushroom yields of antagonist treatments were not significantly different from those of uninfected treatments. This
antagonist isolate could reduce the incidence of green mold disease and decrease the loss of fresh mushroom production. This study suggests Bacillus tequilensis S3.1 is a promising biocontrol agent and could be developed as
a biological fungicide for oyster mushroom production.

Effects of BA and IAA on callus induction from leaves and embryogenesis of Tacca leontopetaloides (L.) Kuntze In Vitro conditio

2025-01-28T11:09:00+07:00

Tacca leontopetaloides (L.) Kuntze, a tuberous plant species, holds significant potential in nutrition, medicine, and industrial applications. Its importance in the food and pharmaceutical industries necessitates the development of effective propagation methods, particularly tissue culture under sterile conditions, for the extraction of bioactive compounds and production of various products. This study investigated the effects of different concentrations of benzyladenine (BA) and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) on callus induction and embryogenesis development. Leaf segments
were cultured on MS medium supplemented with BA at concentrations of 0, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 mg/L, combined with IAA at concentrations of 0, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 mg/L. The experiment followed a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications, and the differences in means were analyzed at a 95% confidence level. After four weeks of culture, callus formation was observed in the leaf segments, with the callus exhibiting a compact green appearance.
The highest callus induction rate (100%) was achieved on MS medium containing 1.0 mg/L BA and 1.0 mg/L IAA, which was significantly different from other treatments. For callus development into plantlets, MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/L BA and 1.0 mg/L IAA produced the highest number of shoots (5.67 ± 0.72 shoots) and the greatest
average number of roots (3.07 ± 0.80 roots) after four weeks of culture. The results demonstrate that the combination of BA and IAA at optimal concentrations is effective in promoting callus induction and subsequent shoot and root
development in Tacca leontopetaloides (L.) Kuntze.

First cytogenetic report of Malayan dark-side frog (Sylvirana malayana)

2025-01-14T13:24:17+07:00

The first report of karyotype and idiogram of Malayan dark-side frog (Sylvirana malayana), samples collected from Hala-Bala forest, Yala Province. Chromosomes were prepared directly from bone marrow. Use the direct method with colchicine solution. Conventional chromosome staining with 20% Giemsa was dyed to study the number, type, and size of chromosomes. The results of the study revealed that the Sylvirana malayana has a diploid chromosome number (2n) = 26, with a basic chromosome number (NF) = 52, consisting of 2 large metacentric chromosomes and a submetacentric chromosome. There were 6 large, 2 medium metacentric,10 small metacentric, 4 small submetacentric and 2 small acrocentric chromosomes. No sex chromosomes could be identified. The karyotype formula for a Sylvirana malayana can be written as follows: 2n (26) = L^m₂+L^sm₆+M^m₂+S^m₁₀+S^sm₄+S^a₂.

Colorimetric determination of ethanol percentage by volume in alcohol spray using the color comparison test

2024-09-26T14:04:21+07:00

Determining the ethanol content in alcohol sprays was essential for evaluating the quality of disinfectant products. However, current methods require expensive scientific instruments and must be conducted in a laboratory. The objective of this research was to develop a simple method for determining the type and percentage by volume of
ethanol in alcohol sprays that can be used in the field. The method relies on comparing with a standard color strip without the need for scientific instruments. The study method has utilized the oxidation reaction of ethanol with potassium dichromate in sulfuric acid, examining the optimal temperature and reaction time. Interferences from
methanol and isopropanol were also investigated. A standard color strip was created based on the L*, a*, and b* color values of ethanol solutions. The results were compared with gas chromatography and color spectrophotometry. The experimental results revealed that the reaction at room temperature and 20 minutes resulted in a yellow-green or green solution in alcohol that met the quality standards with ethanol concentrations exceeding 70% by volume. In contrast, low-quality alcohol produced an orange or orange-yellow solution. There was no interference from methanol, but interference occurred from isopropanol. Ethanol concentrations could be visually distinguished at six levels 50%,
60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, and 99.7% by volume. B* values differed significantly at almost all concentrations (p<0.05). The findings were consistent with standard methods. The study results present a low-cost method, costing only 3 baht per sample. This approach is convenient, fast, and suitable for field applications, making it a viable alternative for
self-assessment of disinfectant product quality.

Effect of Passiflora foetida Linn. extract on antioxidant, tyrosinase inhibition, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity

2025-01-29T15:41:35+07:00

Passiflora foetida Linn. is a medicinal plant found throughout regions of Thailand that possesses various biological properties, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial. This study investigated the phytochemical composition and biological activities of extracts from different plant parts (leaves, flowers, and seeds) using ultrasonic extraction with 70% ethanol. Preliminary phytochemical screening, total phenolic and flavonoid content determination, and biological activity assessments revealed the presence of flavonoids, coumarins, saponins, tannins, and terpenoids, with leaf extracts demonstrating the highest total phenolic content and total flavonoid content. (47.06 mg GAE/g extract and 50.87 mg QE/g extract, respectively). Furthermore, the leaf extract demonstrated the most potent antioxidant activities, tyrosinase inhibition, and anti-inflammatory activities. (IC₅₀ 612.25 µg/mL, 202.39 µg/mL, and 15.26 µg/mL, respectively.) The antimicrobial efficacy test conclusively showed that the crude leaf extract of Passiflora foetida Linn. significantly outperformed flower and seed extracts in inhibiting the growth of four microbial species (p < 0.05). The findings indicate that Passiflora foetida Linn. leaf extract possesses the most potent bioactive properties compared to flower and seed extracts. These results suggest its potential use as an ingredient for developing antioxidant, tyrosinase inhibitory, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory products.

Analysis and prediction of undergraduate student dropouts using machine learning

2024-12-12T20:16:42+07:00

This study presents an analysis and comparison of the performance of eight machine learning models, namely
Decision Tree, Random Forest, Logistic Regression, K-Nearest Neighbors, AdaBoost, Hist Gradient Boosting, XGBoost, and Light Gradient Boosting, in identifying at-risk undergraduate students in Thailand. This study focuses on analyzing academic data from university students to understand the factors influencing academic success or failure, and developing predictive models to help instructors and administrators identify learning trends and implement effective teaching strategies. The dataset consists of records from 2,104 undergraduate students in science and technology from 2020 to 2024 in Thailand, with 36 data features. During data preparation, missing values were imputed using the k-nearest neighbors (k=5) method, and class imbalance was corrected using the synthetic minority sampling technique (SMOTE). Recursive feature elimination (RFE) was used to identify important features. The model performance was evaluated using cross-validation using four main metrics: accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 score. The results indicate that the Random Forest model performs the best. It achieved an accuracy of 84.32%, a precision of 0.85, a recall of 0.84, and an F1 score of 0.85. The findings suggest the significant potential of this model in the educational system, particularly in providing targeted interventions for at-risk students to reduce dropout rates and increase academic success. Future research should explore additional influencing factors and investigate other machine learning models that may provide improved performance, as well as compare the results across diverse student populations to ensure reliability and broader applicability.

Effects of fouling formation in the cooling system of a central processing unit using Titanium Dioxide nanofluid

2025-01-13T14:48:12+07:00

This research investigates the effects of fouling formation in the Cooling System of a CPU, divided into two main parts
to enhance the cooling efficiency of central processing units (CPU). The first part focuses on identifying the optimal
concentration of TiO2/water nanofluids (0.02 Vol.%, 0.05 Vol.%, 0.1 Vol.%, and 0.15 Vol.%) for reducing CPU
temperatures compared to water-based cooling and heat sink systems. The results indicate that a 0.05 Vol.%
concentration provides the best performance, reducing CPU temperatures by an average of 0.9 °C compared to
water and 15.9 °C compared to heat sinks. In the second part, the optimal concentration (0.05 Vol.%) was tested over
12 months to evaluate the effect of fouling on the system. The findings reveal that the cooling system maintains high
efficiency during the first five months but starts to degrade thereafter. CPU temperatures increased by an average of
1.1 °C due to fouling acting as a thermal insulator. This study highlights that TiO2/water nanofluids at a 0.05 Vol.%
concentration can significantly enhance cooling performance, with fluid replacement recommended every five months to sustain efficiency.

Effect of infused herbal teas on alpha-glucosidase inhibitory

2025-03-04T12:35:43+07:00

This research aims to investigate the inhibitory effects of herbal teas on alpha-glucosidase enzyme activity. Ten types
of commercially available herbal teas were evaluated, including Gymnanthemum extensum, Momordica charantia, Moringa oleifera, Mitragyna speciosa, Pluchea indica, Solanum torvum, Plukenetia volubilis, and a mixed herbal formula consisting of Gynostemma pentaphyllum, Pandanus amaryllifolius, and Hibiscus sabdariffa. The results revealed that several selected herbal teas exhibited significantly higher alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity than the standard drug, acarbose, at a concentration of 5 mg/mL; notably G. extensum, M. charantia, and M. oleifera. Furthermore, increasing the steeping time significantly enhanced the inhibitory activity (p<0.05). These findings demonstrate the potential benefits of herbal teas for health promotion and diabetes prevention. Additionally, this study provides scientific evidence regarding the optimal steeping duration to maximize the therapeutic benefits of herbal tea consumption.

Phylogroups and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of Escherichia coli Isolated from urine of female patients with urinary tract infections in a tertiary hospital in Bangkok

2025-02-17T15:51:16+07:00

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by Escherichia coli are a global health concern, particularly among females. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate and analyze the relationship between phylogroups and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of E. coli isolates from female UTI patients. We analyzed 174 non-duplicate E. coli isolates obtained from urine samples of female UTI patients admitted to a tertiary hospital in Bangkok, Thailand, between November 2023 and January 2024. Antimicrobial susceptibilities of E.coli were performed using the disk diffusion method, and their phylogroups were determined using quadruplex PCR. Antimicrobial susceptibility test revealed that the resistance rate of E. coli to ampicillin, ciprofloxacin, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole were 88.5, 63.8, and 51.1% respectively. Additionally, 36.8% of isolates were extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producers, and 61.3% were multidrug-resistant bacteria (MDR). The most prevalent phylogroup was B2 (61.5%), followed by D (9.2%), C (7.5%), B1 (7.5%), A (5.2%), F (4.0%), E (3.4%), and unknown (1.7%). Notably, phylogroup C exhibited significantly higher resistance rates to ceftazidime, ciprofloxacin, and gentamicin (p<0.05) and was the only phylogroup exhibiting carbapenem resistance. In contrast, phylogroup E showed a significantly higher prevalence of MDR. This study demonstrated that E. coli isolates from female UTI patients exhibited high antimicrobial resistance rates, reflecting the need for surveillance and control measures to prevent the spread of these drug-resistant strains.

Determinants influencing students motorcycle travel among universitys and colleges : A hierarchical multiple regression analysis integrating MRBQ and T-LOC

2025-02-20T16:04:38+07:00

Road accidents are influenced by multiple factors, including human behavior, vehicles, and environmental conditions.
Notably, human factors contribute to approximately 95% of all cases, with motorcycles being the most frequently
involved vehicle type. This study aimed to determine the factors influencing motorcycle travel behavior among students. The sample consisted of 650 student volunteers from universities and colleges in Kalasin Province, all of whom were capable of riding a motorcycle. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire incorporating the Motorcycle Rider Behavior Questionnaire (MRBQ), the Traffic Locus of Control Scale (T-LOC), and additional variables such as Mobile Phone use, Alcohol Consumption, use of Drowsiness-Inducing Medications, Motorcycle License Ownership, History of Traffic Violations, and Past Accident Involvement. Hierarchical Multiple Regression analysis was used to examine the relationships between these factors and Riding Behaviors. The results revealed that 75.7% of the students did not possess a motorcycle license, and all participants reported having violated traffic laws at least once. Further analysis showed that Mobile Phone use for Texting, Alcohol Consumption, and the Internal T-LOC factor (“Self”) significantly influenced the MRBQ. These included increases in “Traffic Errors”, “Speed Violations”, “Control Errors”, and “Stunts”, as well as a decrease in the use of “Safety Equipment”. These findings have significant implications for road safety policy and practice. Recommendations include stricter enforcement of motorcycle licensing requirements, banning mobile phone use while riding, promoting “don’t drink and ride” initiatives, and implementing expert-led road safety education programs. Educational institutions can integrate these findings into their strategic safety plans to
improve motorcycle safety among students.