Makara Journal of Science
Not a member yet
423 research outputs found
Sort by
Population Status and Habitat Preferences of Critically Endangered Dipterocarpus littoralis in West Nusakambangan, Indonesia
No full textThe conservation of the endemic tree species Dipterocarpus littoralis (Bl.) Kurz. is hampered by the paucity of information on its population biology and ecology. Consequently, a targeted survey was carried out in the West Nusakambangan Nature Reserve to assess its population size and structure as well as habitat preferences. In total, 676 individuals of D. littoralis were located at 52 locations, with an extent of occurrence of 3.66 km2 and an area of occupancy of 1.71 km2. The population had an inverse-J-shaped distribution of diameter at breast height (DBH), with 63% of individuals in the 0-5 cm class and another 21% in the 5-10 cm class; only 11 (1.6%) mature individuals (DBH≥30) were found. D. littoralis was associated with steep, low, southwest-facing sites and sites that had high litter cover and thickness. Illegal logging and fuel-wood chopping were the main threats to D. littoralis and its habitat. In addition, an invasive shrub, Langkap (Arenga obtusifolia, Arecaceae), was a potential competitor with the seedlings throughout the reserve. In view of its endemism, narrow range and localized distribution, small population, environmental preferences, and the severe threats from anthropogenic activities and invasive species, D. littoralis appears to more than justify its conservation status of Critically Endangered
Induction of Callose Deposition in Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) by Bacterial Lipopolysaccharide Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci and Pseudomonas syringae pv. glycinea
No full textLipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a major component of outer-membrane gram-negative bacteria, and it can act as a Pathogen-Associated Molecular Pattern (PAMP) for perception of pathogens by plants. LPS can be recognized by plants, triggering certain plant defense-related responses, including callose deposition. This study investigated induction of callose deposition by bacterial LPS in tobacco. Tobacco leaves were infiltrated with 400 μg/mL and 800 μg/mL LPS extracted from Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci (Pta) and Pseudomonas syringae pv. glycinea (Pgl) and incubated for 24 h or 48 h. To detect callose deposition, tobacco leaves were cleared in lactophenol solution, stained with aniline blue, and visualized by fluorescence microscopy. Results showed that LPS from Pgl induced more callose deposition in tobacco leaves than did that from Pta. In addition, a Pearson correlation test revealed that incubation period was the most significant factor in callose deposition, followed by the type of LPS bacteria. However, LPS concentration was not significantly corelated to callose deposition in tobacco leaves
Production of Adipic Acid from Mixtures of Cyclohexanol-Cyclohexanone using Polyoxometalate Catalysts
No full textAdipic acid production through catalytic conversion of cyclohexanol-cyclohexanone using polyoxometalate H5[a-BW12O40] and H4[a-SiW12O40] as catalysts was carried out systematically. Polyoxometalates H5[a-BW12O40] and H4[a-SiW12O40] were synthesized using an inorganic synthesis method and were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Adipic acid was formed from conversion of cyclohexanol-cyclohexanone and was characterized by using melting point measurement, identification of functional group using FTIR spectrophotometer, analysis of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and 1H and 13C NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) spectrophotometer. This research investigated the influence of reaction time and temperature on the conversion. The results showed that adipic acid was formed successfully with a yield of 68% by using H5[a-BW12O40] as the catalyst with a melting point of 150-152 °C after optimization. In contrast, using H4[a-SiW12O40] as the catalyst, the formation was only 3.7%. Investigation of time and temperature showed 9 h as the optimum reaction time and 90 °C as the optimum temperature for conversion of up to 68%. Identification using FTIR, 1H, and 13C NMR showed that the adipic acid from conversion of cyclohexanol-cyclohexanone was in agreement with the standard adipic acid data in the literatures. GC-MS analysis indicated that several by-products were formed in conversion of cyclohexanol-cyclohexanone using H5[a-BW12O40] and H4[a-SiW12O40] as the catalysts. 
Synthesis of Polyclonal Antibodies against Aflatoxin B1
No full textPolyclonal antibodies of aflatoxin B1 were successfully produced from New Zealand White female rabbits after immunization by the hapten of aflatoxin B1-carboxymethyl hydroxylamine hemihydrochloride (AFB1-CMO) conjugated with bovine serum albumin (BSA) as the antigen. The hapten was synthesized using the carbodiimide method with CMO as a linker. Absorption peaks at 362, 264, and 218 nm were observed as a result of characterization with UV-Vis spectroscopy, while IR spectroscopy showed peaks at 3448 cm-1 and 1642 cm-1 attributable to the hydroxyl and nitrile groups, respectively. Furthermore, mass spectrometry showed fragmentation at the m/z of 386, 368.2, and 310, which confirms that the hapten of AFB1-CMO was successfully synthesized. The hapten was then conjugated with BSA to serve as an antigen of AFB1 when it was injected into the rabbits. The specificity of the antigen towards its antibody and the confirmation of hapten-BSA conjugation were characterized using the dot blot immunoassay, which showed a BSA concentration of 1.74 mg/mL. Two weeks after the primary immunization by its antigen, agar gel precipitation testing showed that the rabbit blood serum had positive results for polyclonal antibodiest against AFB1 with the highest concentration of antibodiest of 2.19 mg/mL
Isolation of Asphaltene-Degrading Bacteria from Sludge Oil
No full textSludge oil contains 30%–50% hydrocarbon fractions that comprise saturated fractions, aromatics, resins, and asphaltene. Asphaltene fraction is the most persistent fraction. In this research, the indigenous bacteria that can degrade asphaltene fractions from a sludge oil sample from Balikpapan that was isolated using BHMS medium (Bushnell-Hass Mineral Salt) with 0.01% (w/v) yeast extract, 2% (w/v) asphaltene extract, and 2% (w/v) sludge oil. The ability of the four isolates to degrade asphaltene fractions was conducted by the biodegradation asphaltene fractions test using liquid cultures in a BHMS medium with 0.01% (w/v) yeast extract and 2% (w/v) asphaltene extract as a carbon source. The parameters measured during the process of biodegradation of asphaltene fractions include the quantification of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (g), log total number of bacteria (CFU/ml), and pH. There are four bacteria (isolates 1, 2, 3, and 4) that have been characterized to degrade asphaltic fraction and have been identified as Bacillus sp. Lysinibacillus fusiformes, Acinetobacter sp., and Mycobacterium sp., respectively. The results showed that the highest ability to degrade asphaltene fractions is that of Bacillus sp. (isolate 1) and Lysinibacillus fusiformes (Isolate 2), with biodegradation percentages of asphaltene fractions being 50% and 55%, respectively, and growth rate at the exponential phase is 7.17x107 CFU/mL.days and 4.21x107 CFU/mL.days, respectively
Application of Equivalent Circuit Models to Monitor the Degradation of Organic Photovoltaic Cells
No full textOrganic photovoltaic (OPV) devices have lower efficiency, shorter lifetimes, faster degradation, and poorer stability than inorganic photovoltaics (IPV) in ambient conditions. In this paper, the equivalent electrical circuit of a two-diode model effectively extracts the model-fit electrical photovoltaic (PV) parameters from degraded OPV devices, especially the series (Rs) and shunt (Rsh) resistances. The result shows a better correlation between the resistances of the devices and performance of the devices over the degradation process where the devices are deliberately exposed to ambient conditions under constant illumination. The degradation of the devices is mostly caused by the degradation of the aluminum (Al) electrode from water and oxygen, which correlates to the Rs. However, it is possible that the degradation of the bulk active layer can also occur due to the constant illumination on the device, which causes a reduction of photocurrent
Discrete Energies of a Weakly Outcoupled Atom Laser Beam Outside the Bose–Einstein Condensate Region
No full textWe consider the possibility of a discrete set of energies of a weakly outcoupled atom laser beam to the homogeneous Schrödinger equation with anisotropic harmonic trap in Cartesian coordinates outside the Bose–Einstein condensate region. This treatment is used because working in the cylindrical coordinates is not really possible, even though we implement the cigar-shaped trap case. The Schrödinger equation appears to replace a set of two-coupled Gross– Pitaevskii equations by enabling the weak-coupling assumption. This atom laser can be produced in a simple way that only involves extracting the atoms in a condensate from by using the radio frequency field. We initially present the relation between condensates as sources and atom laser as an output by exploring the previous work of Riou et al. in the case of theoretical work for the propagation of atom laser beams. We also show that even though the discrete energies are obtained by means of an approaching harmonic oscillator, degeneracy is only available in two states because of the anisotropic external potentia
Intergenus Protoplast Fusion between Pichia manshurica and Rhodosporidium paludigenum to Increase the Production of Inulinase
No full textThe purposes of this study was to identify the optimum concentration of the lytic enzyme Glucanex for protoplast isolation and to conduct fusion for the purpose of increasing inulinase production. The study performs the protoplast fusion technique using Pichia manshurica and Rhodosporidium paludigenum. Protoplast fusion consists of a series of stages: protoplast isolation, protoplast fusion, protoplast regeneration, and analysis of hybrid fusion results. Protoplast isolation and fusion success rate are determined by various factors, including age of the culture, media type, and type of lytic enzymes used. Hybrid results were analyzed using a fungicide as a marker and measuring specific growth rate (μ) of the hybrid compared with parental growth rates. Results demonstrated that a concentration of 4 mg/mL of Glucanex produces the greatest number of protoplasts, 7.2 x 1010 (cell/mL) for P. manshurica and 8.8 x 1010 (cell/mL) for Rh. paludigenum. The results of analysis of hybrid fusions indicate that the study has identified a new fusant, called fusant F4. Fusant F4 is capable of producing the highest inulinase, 0.6892 IU, compared with parentals P. manshurica, 0557 IU, and Rh. paludigenum, 0.3263 IU. Fusant F4 has specific growth rate (μ) of 0.3360/h and generation time (g) of 2.0629 h
Genetic Diversity of Indonesian Bacterial Leaf Blight Isolate (Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae) Core Collection based on the VNTR and avrXa7 Molecular Markers
No full textBacterial leaf blight (BLB) is one of the major diseases in rice caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae. This study aimed to identify and analyze the genetic diversity of 18 BLB isolates that consist of 7 races and 11 haplotypes from various locations in Indonesia. The genetic diversity analysis was conducted on the basis of the VNTR (Variable Number of Tandem Repeat) markers and the avrxa7 gene marker. The banding pattern of the amplification product was made into binary data as input for the construction of a dendogram. Based on the dendogram, three X. oryzae pv. oryzae genotype groups with different virulence levels were formed. The VII (IXO80_021) race of X. oryzae pv. oryzae genotype group I and the VIII-A (IXO 80_024) race of genotype group II were avirulent, whereas the races and haplotypes of genotype group III were virulent
Comparison of Immobilized Metal Affinity Chromatography Ni-NTA and Co-TALON for the Purification of Recombinant Human Erythropoietin
No full textThe purification of recombinant proteins is an important stage in biopharmaceutical research. A commonly used technique is immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC). One of the main advantages of this type of chromatography is that the column can easily be regenerated for subsequent purification work. The mechanism of IMAC is based on bonding between metal ions immobilized on a matrix with a specific amino acid. Because of the strong interactions of the electron donor group on the imidazole ring, histidine is often used in the IMAC purification system. Two types of commercial IMAC resin use a nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) matrix: a nickel-based (Ni-NTA) and cobalt-based (Co-NTA), better known as TALON. This study was aim to investigate the effect of the metal ions Ni2+ and Co2+ to purify recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) expressed in yeast system Pichia pastoris. The results indicated that both Ni-NTA and Co-TALON gave almost the same level of protein purity; however, Ni-NTA has a higher binding affinity than Co-TALON might be due to the higher stability complex of Ni+. The average amount of protein bound by Ni-NTA and Co-TALON was 183.5 and 38.7 µg/mL, respectively.