PERILAKU HOMOSEKSUAL: MENCARI AKAR PADA FAKTOR GENETIK

The study based on literatures on this article presents data that is critical discourses of homosexuality and genetics. This article does not disclose the direction of Islam in terms of homosexuality because it is so obvious expressed in the Koran and explained by the righteous mufassir, muslim clerics and scholars. There is no strong data linking specific genetic factors with the emergence of homosexual behavior. Research conducted by the proponents of homosexual showed no single gene that govern human behavior which is a very complex phenomena. In other words, the genes do not determine behavior of homosexuality in particular. Expressed genes responsible for the nature of homosexuality is also interpreted as genes responsible for other mental problems. The experts further revealed that homosexual orientation is strongly affected by the events and stimuli experienced by either of the environment with a growing degree of openness to homosexual behavior as well as due to the availability of information, especially in cyberspace. Some chemicals are suspected of causing physical changes and influence on sexual orientation. Efforts of healing through action or medical intervention are not  impossible. Some researches suggest that homosexual behavior is more aggressive than men hetersexual both in individual and family scale. The author sees the belief that genetic factors are the reason for accepting homosexual behavior has no strong scientific roots. Behavior of homosexuality thus can actually be, or should be, repaired and healed.The study based on literatures on this article presents data that is critical discourses of homosexuality and genetics. This article does not disclose the direction of Islam in terms of homosexuality because it is so obvious expressed in the Koran and explained by the righteous mufassir, muslim clerics and scholars. There is no strong data linking specific genetic factors with the emergence of homosexual behavior. Research conducted by the proponents of homosexual showed no single gene that govern human behavior which is a very complex phenomena. In other words, the genes do not determine behavior of homosexuality in particular. Expressed genes responsible for the nature of homosexuality is also interpreted as genes responsible for other mental problems. The experts further revealed that homosexual orientation is strongly affected by the events and stimuli experienced by either of the environment with a growing degree of openness to homosexual behavior as well as due to the availability of information, especially in cyberspace. Some chemicals are suspected of causing physical changes and influence on sexual orientation. Efforts of healing through action or medical intervention are not  impossible. Some researches suggest that homosexual behavior is more aggressive than men hetersexual both in individual and family scale. The author sees the belief that genetic factors are the reason for accepting homosexual behavior has no strong scientific roots. Behavior of homosexuality thus can actually be, or should be, repaired and healed

A response surface methodology for the use of MIL‐101 as a catalyst for the one‐step synthesis of lactide

Lactide is a vital monomer for producing high molecular weight polylactic acid (PLA) through ring‐opening polymerization. This study synthesized crude lactide from L‐lactic acid with MIL‐101 as the catalyst. MIL‐101 is a metal‐based catalyst with organic ligands (MOF) that was prepared by reacting Cr(NO3)3.9H2O with terephthalic acid (BDC). The formation of MIL‐101 was confirmed from Fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR) analysis. The role of MIL‐101 and the effect of temperature, time, and MIL‐101 loading, as well as their interactions in the conversion of lactic acid to crude lactide, were then investigated using the response surface method (RSM). Crude lactide was analyzed using 1H‐nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to confirm the presence of lactide. The RSM results indicated that the highest conversion of 22.84% can be obtained using a temperature of 175 °C, 1.5% w/w MIL‐101 loading, and a reaction time of 5 h. The RSM model showed that the interaction of MIL‐101 loading and reaction time strongly affected the conversion of lactic acid to lactide, with a P‐value of 0.0021 and an F‐value of 50.45. In contrast, the interaction of catalyst loading and temperature did not significantly affect the conversion of lactic acid to lactide, with a P‐value of 0.2565 and an F‐value of 1.75

Pengaruh Jenis Sumber Nitrogen Pada Pembuatan Olyhydroxybutyrate Dari Glukosa Menggunakan Bakteri Bacillus Cereus

Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) adalah salah satu bahan baku plastik biodegradabel. Bakteri memproduksi PHB di dalam selnya, sebagai cadangan sumber carbon dan energi untuk pertumbuhannya, pada saat pasokan nutrisi tidak seimbang. Sifat PHB mirip dengan sifat polypropylene (PP) yang merupakan bahan baku plastik berbasis petrokimia. Selain itu PHB juga bersifat renewable, ramah lingkungan dan biokompatibel. Salah satu nutrisi untuk pertumbuhan bakteri adalah Nitrogen. Penelitian ini dilakukan untuk mengetahui pengaruh jenis sumber Nitrogen terhadap pertumbuhan sel bakteri dan kadar PHB yang diperoleh.Pembuatan PHB dilakukan secara proses fermentasi. Mula-mula glukosa sebagai sumber karbon dan larutan Mineral Salt Medium (MSM), ditambah dengan sejumlah sumber nitrogen (Tripton, Pepton, Ammonium Sulfat, Ammonium Chlorida). Larutan selanjutnya disterilisasi menggunakan autocalve. Setelah medium dingin ditambahkan sejumlah 10% vol bakteri Bacillus cereus. Selanjutnya medium dilakukan proses fermentasi selama 96 jam. Setelah fermentasi selesai dilakukan pemanenan untuk pemisahan sel biomass dari filtratnya dengan cara centrifugasi. Filtrat yang diperoleh dianalisa kandungan gula reduksi, sedangkan sel biomass dianalisa kadar PHB. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan fermentasi oleh bakteri Bacillus cereus menggunakan sumber nitrogen Tripton, menghasilkan berat sel kering yang banyak, yaitu 5,391 g/L, dan produksi PHB sedikit, yaitu 11,2%. Sedangkan pada fermentasi menggunakan sumber nitrogen Pepton, menghasilkan berat sel kering sedikit (3,031g/L), tetapi produksi PHB banyak (19,6%)

Extraction and Antioxidant Activity Test of Black Sumatran Incense

Benzoin absolute essential oil is a high-value oleoresin derived from the dried sap of the Styrax benzoin tree. One type of Styrax benzoin traded in Indonesia is black Sumatran incense. Reflux extraction method with ethanol is used to gain the benzoin absolute essential oil. The purpose of this study is to investigate the antioxidant activity of benzoin absolute essential oil produced using ethanol reflux extraction. Antioxidant test showed that black Sumatran Incense has active antioxidant properties with IC50 value is 90.03; the antioxidant activity shows potential alternative utilization of this essential oil industry, especially those derived from incense resin and its derivatives

MICROENCAPSULATION OPTIMIZATION OF PROPOLIS ETHANOLIC EXTRACT FROM TETRAGONULA SPP USING RESPONSE SURFACE METHODOLOGY

Objective: This research aimed to encapsulate the propolis through spray drying to overcome problematic handling properties of propolis and to optimize the microencapsulation by using response surface methodology (RSM). Methods: The propolis ethanolic extract (PEE) was microencapsulated by spray drying with maltodextrin and gum arabic. RSM was applied for the optimization of microencapsulation efficiency, yield, moisture content, solubility in water, total phenolic content (TPC), and antioxidant activity of spray-dried propolis (SDP) microcapsules. Results: The highest process efficiency reached a microencapsulation yield of 75.35%. The highest solubility of SDP in water was 91.47%, with a moisture content of 0.96%. SDP exhibiting the highest TPC of 307.325 mg GAE/g, with a microencapsulation efficiency of 81.48%. Ferric reducing antioxidant power analysis showed its highest antioxidant activity with a low EC50 19.12 ug/ml with DPPH analysis, and a high reducing power capacity of 314.64 mg GAE/g. Conclusion: Microencapsulation optimization of propolis ethanolic extract from Tetragonula spp. using RSM indicated that SDP with 1:2 ratios of the microwall to core (propolis), inlet temperature at 115 °C, and flow rate 20% represented the optimum conditions. Microencapsulation has successes improved physical appearance and the solubility index and protected and enhanced bioactive compounds and antioxidant properties of propolis in optimum condition by using spray drying

Pengaruh Kecepatan Agitasi pada Media Sintesis untuk Produksi α-Amilase dari Bacillus amyloliquefaciens T1

Enzim yang berasal dari mikroorganisme merupakan enzim yang paling banyak digunakan dalam dunia industri karena ekonomis dan lebih stabil dibandingkan dengan enzim yang berasal dari tanaman dan hewan. Pasar global industri enzim bernilai 3,1 milyar USD pada tahun 2009 dan mencapai 3,6 milyar USD pada 2010. Produksi enzim pada fermentor skala besar perlu dilakukan optimasi pada skala bench karena sulitnya mengendalikan faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi kinerja proses fermentasi. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mendapatkan kondisi optimal komposisi media dan kecepatan agitasi untuk produksi α-amilase dengan menggunakan Bacillus amyloliquefaciens T1 pada skala bench. Pada penelitian ini dilakukan produksi enzim α-amilase pada skala 50 ml menggunakan media molase dan media sintesis untuk mengidentifikasi pengaruh penggunaan media pada aktivitas enzim. Media molase menghasilkan aktivitas α-amilase 154,0 U/ml sedangkan pada penggunaan media sintesis dihasilkan aktivitas α-amilase 108,6 U/ml. Optimasi agitasi dilakukan dengan variasi agitasi 100 rpm, 150 rpm, dan 200 rpm pada media sintesis di fermentor 10 l. Kecepatan agitasi optimum pada penelitian ini adalah 150 rpm dengan aktivitas enzim maksimum adalah 38,96 U/ml pada 37°C

Production of polyhydroxybutyrate from oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) hydrolysates by Bacillus cereus suaeda B-001

Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) is a biodegradable polymer accumulated in intracellular granules by numerousbacteria. Its physical and chemical characteristics are like those of petrochemical plastics. PHB is producedmainly by gram-negative bacteria such asRalstonia eutropha, which have lipopolysaccharides that co-purify withthe PHB and cause immunogenic reactions, limiting their use for biomedical applications. PHB produced fromgram-positive bacteria such asBacillus spp.do not have lipopolysaccharides, which makes it suitable for bio-medical application. The aim of this work was to evaluate the ability ofBacillus cereus suaedaB-001 to accu-mulate PHB using oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) hydrolysate as the sole carbon source, comparing it tocommercial glucose as the control. OPEFB was chemically pre-treated using an acid-hydrolysed process bysulphuric acid and neutralized by a NaOH solution to obtain reducing sugars. PHB biopolyester accumulated to43.1% of cell dry weight with glucose at 15 g/L as the sole carbon source, and PHB accumulated to 55.4% of celldry weight using OPEFB hydrolysates at 20 g/L. The conversion of OPEFB acid hydrolysates to PHB using thegram-positive bacteriaBacillus cereus suaedaB-001 has not been reported

Determination of LC50 value of Nicotiana tabacum L. extract against Tenebrio molitor and Zophobas morio larvae

Tobacco has lots of active compounds that can be used as raw material for making natural insecticides. Tenebrio molitor and Zophobas morio are examples of agricultural pests. The purpose of this study was to determine LC50 values of tobacco extract on Tenebrio molitor and Zophobas morio. Previous research showed that tobacco extract had neurotoxin activity and nicotine was the highest content contained in the tobacco leaves. Tobacco extract was obtained by the Extended Heat Reflux Extraction method with ethanol solvent. LC50 values of tobacco extract for Tenebrio molitor and Zophobas morio were 21.1 mg/ml and 71.1 mg/ml, respectively

Determination of LC50 value of Nicotiana tabacum L. extract against Gryllus bimaculatus imago and Galleria mellonella larvae

Replacement of synthetic pesticide with natural pesticide is highly demanding because it is more environmentally friendly. Tobacco is majorly exploited for cigarettes production. Therefore, it needs to be developed for other alternative products, one of which is insecticide due to nicotine content and other toxic compounds. This research aimed to determine the effectiveness of tobacco as an insecticide for Galleria mellonella and Gryllus bimaculatus. The raw material used in this study was the leaf extract of Nicotiana tabacum L., var. Virginia that was obtained by Ethanolic Heat Reflux Extraction (EHRE) technique. After testing on the insects, LC50 values were 36.6 mg/ml for Galleria mellonella and 38.5 mg/ml for Gryllus bimaculatus