Peran Mahkamah Konstitusi Mencegah Gejala Autocratic Legalism di Indonesia

The phenomenon of autocratic legalism has become a serious problem that threatens democracy. As the guardian of constitution, the Constitutional Court should be present to stop the spread of this phenomenon. This research has two objectives, first, to understand the autocratic legalism phenomenon and the spread of it. Second, to formulate what kind of role the Constitutional Court can play to stop the escalation of it. The research methods used are doctrinal. The results showed, firstly, autocratic legalism refers to the actions of a person who uses the law to legitimize his desire for power. This can be seen in several policies issued in Indonesia. Second, the way the Constitutional Court can stop the escalation of it by adopting the doctrine of unconstitutional constitutional amendment and judicial activism in the exercise of judicial review

Activating Unconstitutional Norms in Law: An Analysis of the Principle of Checks and Balances: Menghidupkan Norma Inkonstitusional dalam Undang-Undang: Suatu Analisis Prinsip Checks and Balances

The existence of norms in the law that have been declared unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court, but re-included in the process of forming laws, can cause harm to the rights of citizens that have been guaranteed by the 1945 Constitution, especially if they are placed in the concept of checks and balances. This study has two objectives, namely, first, to analyze the concept of checks and balances and examples of norms that were canceled by the Constitutional Court but revived. Second, the implications of bringing unconstitutional norms to life. This research was conducted using normative juridical research. The results showed that the principle of checks and balances requires that legislative, executive, and judicial powers control each other. Some unconstitutional norms, but re-enacted, are spread through some statutes. The consequences if an unconstitutional article is reinserted into the law, it will threaten the system of checks and balances that have been agreed upon and affirmed in the 1945 NRI Constitution. In order to apply the principle of checks and balances, reviving an unconstitutional clause that has been overturned by the Constitutional Court must be rejected

Membrane surface-enhanced raman spectroscopy for cholesterol-modified lipid systems: Effect of gold nanoparticle size

A gold nanoparticle (AuNP) has a localized surface plasmon resonance peak depending on its size, which is often utilized for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). To obtain information on the cholesterol (Chol)-incorporated lipid membranes by SERS, AuNPs (5, 100 nm) were first functionalized by 1-octanethiol and then modified by lipids (AuNP@lipid). In membrane surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (MSERS), both signals from 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC) and Chol molecules were enhanced, depending on preparation conditions (size of AuNPs and lipid/AuNP ratio). The enhancement factors (EFs) were calculated to estimate the efficiency of AuNPs on Raman enhancement. The size of AuNP100nm@lipid was 152.0 ± 12.8 nm, which showed an surface enhancement Raman spectrum with an EF2850 value of 111 ± 9. The size of AuNP5nm@lipid prepared with a lipid/AuNP ratio of 1.38 × 104 (lipid molecule/particle) was 275.3 ± 20.2 nm, which showed the highest enhancement with an EF2850 value of 131 ± 21. On the basis of fluorescent probe analyses, the membrane fluidity and polarity of AuNP@lipid were almost similar to DOPC/Chol liposome, indicating an intact membrane of DOPC/Chol after modification with AuNPs. Finally, the membrane properties of AuNP@lipid systems were also discussed on the basis of the obtained MSERS signals

A Green Approach for the Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Ultrasonic Radiation’s Times in Sodium Alginate Media: Characterization and Antibacterial Evaluation

The synthesis of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) was achieved by a simple green chemistry procedure using sodium alginate (Na-Alg) under ultrasonic radiation as a stabilizer and physical reducing agent. The effect of radiation time on the synthesis of Ag-NPs was carried out at room temperature until 720 min. The successful formation of Ag-NPs has been confirmed by UV-Vis, XRD, TEM, FESEM-EDX, zeta potential, and FT-IR analyses. The surface plasmon resonance band appeared at the range of 452–465 nm that is an evidence of formation of Ag-NPs. The XRD study showed that the particles are crystalline structure in nature, with a face-centered cubic (fcc) structure. The TEM study showed the Ag-NPs have average diameters of around 20.16–22.38 nm with spherical shape. The FESEM-EDX analysis confirmed the spherical shape of Ag-NPs on the surface of Alg and the element of Ag with the high purity. The zeta potential showed high stability of Alg/Ag-NPs especially after 720 min irradiation with value of −67.56 mV. The FT-IR spectrum confirmed that the Ag-NPs have been capped by the Alg with van der Waals interaction. The Alg/Ag-NPs showed the antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. These suggest that Ag-NPs can be employed as an effective bacteria inhibitor and can be applied in medical field

Jejak Pragmatisme dalam Politik di Indonesia (Era 2009 – 2017)

This paper will analyze pragmatism in the political world in Indonesia. Pragmatism is a modern philosophical movement, it was initiated in United States, by C.S. Pierce who was inspired by Immanuel Kant. Pragmatism developed through the thoughts of some figures such as John Locke, Gorge Berkley, David Hume, William James and John Dewey. Pragmatism assumes that truth, meaning and the value of an idea must be based on practical aspects. Based on this assumption, the author has a hypothesis that what happens in the political world in Indonesia is full of pragmatism. At least this condition can be found in several important aspects such as; the attitude of those politicians that looks massively toward the elections, the party coalitions, while serving in government and the culture of political dynasties. This phenomenon describe that politics in Indonesia is in degradation of ethical values, even from the state of  ideology (Pancasila), norms of life and especially from the religious side. This pragmatic attitude is allegedly close to hedonism. The paper was completed with a literature review, by referring to the news about politics in Indonesia since 2009 until 2017. After reviewing an authoritative reference, the authors conclud that pragmatism was ingrained in the practice of political life in Indonesia. Indeed the practice of pragmatic politics is not hesitant to do by who has an interest in politics. Surely this will damage the order of life, and certainly also in the contrary to the values of religiosity, especially Islam as the teachings adopted by the majority of pragmatic political actors.