TS

Down-regulating genes is one way to generate transgenic plants in genetic engineering. Knocking out a gene by antisense technology has been applied to modify the oil palm fatty acid biosynthesis pathway, but it is not the most effi cient approach. Recently, the discovery in plants of RNA interference (RNAi) mediated by sequence-specifi c degradation of … Read more

Cytogenetics is a branch of genetics involved in the study of chromosomes and cell division. Fluorescent and nonfluorescent dyes can be used to visualize chromosomes by simultaneously using various banding and molecular cytogenetic techniques. For an organism to grow and reproduce, its cells must divide. Mitosis and meiosis are both the processes of cell division, with … Read more

Cracked heels are a common foot problem often referred to as heel fi ssure (Figure 1). Currently, there is no known method to evaluate the performance of anti-cracked heel products. However, a new anti-cracked heel effi cacy test allows products to be evaluated for their performance. With the emergence of skin bioengineering instruments, the hydration … Read more

Arsenic contamination of palm oil is of great concern due to its carcinogenic effects. Most soils contain some arsenic, generally at low levels of 1 to 50 mg kg-1. However, industrial wastes and pesticides may contain more, and their disposal/application will contaminate the environment. Unpublished data obtained from a laboratory in the European Union (EU) … Read more

Rheology is the science of flow and deformation of materials under stress and strain. The study of rheological properties is an important area in food product development. Viscoelasticity is one of the rheological properties of materials. A viscoelastic sample behaves like an elastic solid or a viscous liquid under different conditions. Rheological testing is a … Read more

Lubricity is defined as the ability of a liquid to provide hydrodynamic and/ or boundary lubrication to prevent wear between moving parts; or the ability to reduce friction between solid surfaces in relative motion. Thus, diesel fuel with poor lubricity will contribute to wear and tear in the fuel system of diesel engines. Various international … Read more

In the typical biological treatment of effluent in a palm oil mill, sludge is produced as the by-product. This is dead microbial material, which accumulates at the bottom of anaerobic lagoons and is rich in plant nutrients and organic matter. Periodically, it has to be removed so that the lagoon does not get ‘silted up’. … Read more

Concern about the possible health effects of formaldehyde emitted from wood based panel products manufactured with urea-formaldehyde (UF) and melamine-formaldehyde (MF) binding resins has led to the development and increasing use of low emission products. The potential formaldehyde emission by wood-based panels is determined by a standard test ISO WD 12460 – TC 89/WG 5 … Read more

The Biomass Technology Centre (BTC) is a one-stop centre for R&D in biocomposites from oil palm biomass, especially medium density fi breboard (MDF). The MDF pilot plant has quality control and testing laboratories and also facilities for processing wood-based biocomposites. BTC has the expertise and facilities to provide assistance and strategic technical support to producers … Read more

Malaysia produces 15.9 million tonnes of palm oil, of which 90% is fully refi ned. Palm oil is refi ned by a physical process in three stages – degumming, bleaching and deodorization. There are a variety of clays suitable for bleaching, with montmorillonites the most commonly used. Palm oil, as other vegetable oils, contains many minor … Read more