Improving physicomechanical properties of arrowroot starch films incorporated with kappa-carrageenan: Sweet cherry coating application.

Arrowroot starch (AS)-based films potential is influenced by its low-cost processing and high transparency packaging material but low tensile strength; hence, AS was blended with kappa-carrageenan (KC) to improve mechanical properties of AS-based films and enhance its potential use in food packaging or coating applications. AS-KC-based films were characterized based on structural, physicomechanical, thermal, pasting properties, and coating application in sweet cherry. The films demonstrated high tensile strength from 3.2 to 29.4 MPa and low elongation properties from 160.3 % to 1.9 %. Moreover, AS/KC films exhibited peak viscosities of 18.7 to 34.8 RVU, and thermal analysis depicted lower weight losses (59-45 %) compared to AS-based films (62 %). In addition, sweet cherry samples coated with AS/KC films and stored at 20 °C for 15 days depicted lower weight losses (26.6 %) compared to non-coated samples (>41 %), which indicated the potential use of the film's coating application in extending the shelf life and quality of fresh fruits.

Improving small-scale fishermen's subjective well-being in Indonesia: Does the internet use play a role?

The expansion of Internet access from urban to rural and coastal areas has changed all aspects of life, including lifestyles and work practices. Although several studies have shown that Internet use is essential in the fisheries sector, more information about the link between Internet usage and subjective well-being among small-scale fishermen is needed. This study is the first attempt to investigate the effect of Internet use on subjective well-being, particularly for small-scale fishers. This study used cross-sectional data from 220 respondents in East Java, Indonesia. Two-stage predictor substitution (2SPS) approaches were used to address the endogeneity issue in the estimation. The results revealed that fishing tools, access to credit, and region positively and significantly influenced small-scale fishers' determination to use the Internet. Savings and off-farm employment significantly and negatively affect adoption decisions. The main findings suggest that Internet use significantly increases small-scale fishermen's subjective well-being (proxied by happiness and life satisfaction). This suggests that improving the Internet infrastructure in coastal areas is needed to support economic activities in the fisheries sector and boost the well-being of small-scale fishers.

Characterization of Biodegradable Films Made from Taro Peel (Colocasia esculenta) Starch.

Studies of renewable polymers have highlighted starch's role to replace petroleum-based components to produce biodegradable films with plastic-like qualities. In this study, the novelty of taro peel starch (TPS) to produce such films using the casting technique is reported for the first time. A response surface method (RSM) approach was employed to optimize different concentrations of TPS (2.5−3.5%, w/w) and glycerol (25−35%, w/w) and investigate their effects on the physico-mechanical and water barrier properties of TPS films. TPS films showed a positive linear effect (p < 0.05) for thickness (0.058−0.088 mm), opacity (1.95−2.67), water vapor permeability (0.06−0.09 g∙m/m2∙kPa∙h), and cubic effect (p < 0.05) for moisture content (0.58−1.57%), which were linked to high starch concentrations when plasticized with glycerol. X-ray diffraction analysis of TPS films depicted "amorphous"-type crystalline structure peaks at 19.88°, while the thermogravimetric analysis of the film samples exhibited 75−80% of the weight loss of TPS film in the second phase between temperatures of 300 °C to 400 °C. All films exhibited homogenous, transparent surfaces with flexibility, and completely degraded in 5 days in simulated river water and composting soil environments, which confirmed TPS as a promising film polymer in food packaging.

A Comprehensive Characterization of Biodegradable Edible Films Based on Potato Peel Starch Plasticized with Glycerol.

Potatoes are a source of starch, which is an eco-friendly alternative to petrochemicals in plastic production. Increasing potato production also creates agricultural waste that could be converted to potato peel starch (PPS) and developed as films. A response surface method approach was employed to optimize the bioconversion of PPS (2, 4, and 6% w/v) and compared with carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)-based films. The microstructure analysis of PPSF showed increased thickness, decreased swelling power, water solubility, and vapor permeability, which were linked to increased molecular interactions as a function of PPS increments. However, low-starch PPSF exhibited high transparency, good mechanical properties, and thermal stability (high melting temperature), pliability, and accelerated seawater and soil biodegradation (~90%: 20 and 50 days, respectively). All films exhibited thermal stability at >100 °C and retained similar amorphous characteristics, evidenced by their flexibility, which confirmed the potential use for PPS in packaging perishable and cooled foods.

Development of halochromic indicator film based on arrowroot starch/iota-carrageenan using Kyoho skin extract to monitor shrimp freshness.

Increasing trends in food safety awareness drive consumer demands for fresher healthier diets and has led to the development of low-cost pH-sensitive indicator films to evaluate deterioration levels in fresh foods. Arrowroot starch/iota-carrageenan-based films were combined with 10, 30, 50% Kyoho skin extract (KSE) to produce indicator films with halochromic abilities. The KSE indicator films were characterized based on their physico-mechanical, functional, and crystallinity properties; thermal stability; and their pH-dependent color changes in in situ anthocyanin-based monitoring of shrimp freshness. All KSE indicator films displayed compact structure under scanning electron microscope analysis and increased tensile strength, exhibited UV-vis barrier ability, and presented low water wettability. Moreover, FTIR signaled strong hydrogen bond interactions among polymers and KSE that strengthened peak crystallinity in XRD analysis and lowered weight loss at melting temperature, which indicated thermal stability of the indicator films. Furthermore, pH-sensitivity of the indicator films integrated with natural KSE anthocyanin demonstrated color changes from purple to red under acidic conditions, purple to green in an ammonium environment, and yellow appeared in high alkaline conditions. Finally, this study demonstrated the food packaging and halochromic capacity of biopolymer-based pH-sensitivity of the KSE indicator films in real-time monitoring of shrimp at room storage temperatures.

Characterization of a natural biodegradable edible film obtained from arrowroot starch and iota-carrageenan and application in food packaging.

Future food packaging trends are shifting to natural and eco-friendly materials developed from biopolymers such as starch and other hydrocolloids, to reduce pollution from synthetic polymers. Arrowroot starch (AS) (3.5, 3, 2.5, and 2%) and iota-carrageenan (IC) (0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2%) were blended to develop biodegradable edible films (AS/IC-BEF), which were compared against AS-BEF (4%, control). All films were characterized based on their physico-mechanical and barrier properties, functional group properties, crystallinity properties, thermal properties, and soil and seawater biodegradation. AS-BEF exhibited smooth surface, high transparency, and completed composting soil biodegradation in 7 days whereas AS/IC-BEF samples exhibited higher tensile strength, water solubility, swelling properties, and barrier properties, but completed biodegradation after 30 days. XRD analysis indicated IC fractions contributed to increase in degree of crystallinity (28.35°) and FTIR signaled strong hydrogen bond interactions between polymers. AS/IC-BEF samples demonstrated melting temperatures between 158 and 190 °C while glass transition temperatures ranged from 153 to 176 °C, which resulted in maximum weight loss around 50-55% at melting temperatures. Finally, AS/IC-BEF samples successfully inhibited weight loss of cherry tomatoes at room temperature and extended their shelf life to 10 days, which indicated that the AS/IC composite material produced a BEF with potential food and industrial applications.