Judul: Antibacterial Activity of Meranti Bark Ethanol Extract Againts Staphylococcus aureus
Abstrak: Ekstrak kulit kayu meranti diketahui memiliki aktivitas antibakteri. Dalam penelitian ini, berbagai konsentrasi etanol, 50% (E50), 75% (E75), dan 100% (E100) digunakan sebagai pelarut untuk mengekstraksi kulit kayu menggunakan metode ekstraksi soxhlet. Hasil ekstrak ditentukan dan kemudian dilakukan uji aktivitas antibakteri terhadap S. aureus menggunakan metode difusi cakram. Kandungan fitokimia ditentukan secara kualitatif mengacu pada metode Harborne. Komposisi kimia ekstrak dengan aktivitas antibakteri tertinggi dianalisis dengan LC-MS dan dikonfirmasi dengan spektroskopi FTIR. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa rendemen ekstrak tertinggi diperoleh pada E75 (8,39%), diikuti oleh E50 (7,86%), dan E100 (6,58%). Ekstrak tersebut dapat menghambat pertumbuhan S. aureus pada kisaran sedang sampai kuat. Analisis fitokimia dan spektrum FTIR mengkonfirmasi adanya kandungan flavonoid, fenolhidrokuinon, tanin, saponin, dan triterpenoid dalam ekstrak. Analisis LC-MS menunjukkan adanya (+)-Nootkatone, aurantimide acetate, Vitisin C, Kievitone yang diduga berperan dalam aktivitas antibakteri terhadap S. aureus., Meranti bark extract has been known posses the antibacterial activity. In this study, various concentrations of ethanol, 50% (E50), 75% (E75), and 100% (E100) was used as solvent to extract the bark using soxhlet extraction method. The extract yields were determined and then subjected to the antibacterial activity assay against S. aureus using disc diffusion method. The phytochemicals content was determined qualitatively reffered to Harborne method. The chemical composition of the extract with the highest antibacterial activity was analyzed by LC-MS and confirmed by FTIR spectroscopy. The study showed that the highest extract yield was obtained in E75 (8.39%), followed by E50 (7.86%), and E100 (6.58%). The extract can inhibited the growth of S. aureus in the range of moderate to strong. The phytochemical analysis and FTIR spectrum confirmed flavonoid, phenolhydroquinone, tannin, saponin, and triterpenoid in the extract. LC-MS analysis showed the presence of (+)-Nootkatone, aurantimide acetate, Vitisin C, Kievitone that suggested have a role in the antibacterial activity against S. aureus
Keyword: antibakteri, konsentrasi pelarut, etanol, meranti, rendemen, sokhlet, antibacterial, ethanol solvent concentration, meranti, soxhlet, yield

Judul: Antioxidant Activity of Merbau Wood Extracted  from Various Concentrations of Ethanol
Abstrak: Kayu merbau merupakan salah satu bahan yang mengandung antioksidan alami. Antioksidan merupakan senyawa yang dapat menghambat reaksi radikal bebas. Penelitian ini bertujuan menentukan rendemen hasil ekstraksi kayu merbau (Intsia bijuga) dari berbagai konsentrasi etanol, menguji aktivitas antioksidan, dan mengidentifikasi fitokimia ekstrak prospektif. Serbuk kayu merbau bagian teras diekstraksi menggunakan metode maserasi dengan pelarut etanol pada konsentrasi etanol 100% (E100), 75% (E75), 50% (E50), 25% (E25), dan air (E0). Ekstrak kemudian diuji aktivitas antioksidannya secara in vitro terhadap radikal bebas 2,2-difenil-1-pikrilhidrazil (DPPH). Ekstrak prospektif ditentukan berdasarkan aktivitas antioksidan serta rendemennya, kemudian dianalisis fitokimianya dengan Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS). Hasil penelitian menunjukkan rendemen ekstraksi kayu merbau dipengaruhi konsentrasi etanol. Rendemen tertinggi dihasilkan dari ekstraksi dengan E50 (17,79%) dan yang terendah adalah E0 (11,11%). Aktivitas antioksidan kelima ekstrak tergolong kuat (IC50 5,68–9,37 ppm) dibandingkan dengan troloks (IC50 9,78 ppm). Aktivitas antioksidan tertinggi adalah ekstrak terlarut E50 dengan nilai IC50 5,68 µg/mL. Hasil analisis LC-MS menunjukkan bahwa ekstrak terlarut E50 mengandung senyawa utama seperti robidanol (46,3%), robinetin (31,5%), dan katekin (7,2%).
Keyword: antioksidan, kayu merbau, DPPH, ekstrak etanol

Judul: Thermal Characteristics and Dynamics of Tropical Cyclone over Western North Pacific Ocean: A Case Study of Typhoon Songda (Chedeng) 2011
Abstrak: The frequent occasion of Tropical Cyclone (TC) over Western North Pacific (WNP) Ocean lies from 10˚N to 26˚N and 121˚E to 170˚E. Sources of TC development come from warm ocean temperature where latent heat is released during condensation processes and subsequently concentrated in the boundary layer. Relative humidity at 850-700 hPa is responsible to produce the most intense storm. Meanwhile, weak vertical wind shear between 850-200 hPa is one of the dynamical factors that lead to the development of TC. Pressure level of 850-200 hPa is chosen to minimize the thermodynamic effect in the lower troposphere. Typhoon Songda (Chedeng in the Philippines) or TSC lasted from May 18th to 30th, 2011 and strengthened into powerful Super Typhoon stage between May 24th and 27th. Long curving track and the exhibition of all sequences of TC life cycle, TSC is then considered as an ideal case of TC. The objective of the study with case of TSC is to investigate the role of thermal characteristics and dynamics on TC intensity. The research is carried out by using Advanced Research of Weather Research and Forecasting model (WRF ARW model) version 3.3. Two domains are employed in the model. The first domain situate from 02˚N to 40˚N and 118˚E to 149˚E and cover spatial resolution () of 33.1 km. The second domain situate from 09˚N to 27˚N and 119˚E to 132˚E with of 11 km. Timestep of the model () is 120 seconds. The model is supported by the following physical parameterization, i.e., Yonsei University Scheme (YSU) in the boundary layer, Kain-Fritsch scheme (KF) in the cumulus, and WRF Single-Moment 3-class scheme in the microphysics. Initial meteorological condition prior to the formation of the cyclone is generated using WRF ARW standard-release model. Sensitivity of the model output is obtained from a selected single-parameter change scenarios, namely, 10 % to 20 % decrease and increase of wind shear initial data at 850-200 hPa, and by 10 % to 20 % decrease of relative humidity initial data at 850-700 hPa. The result showed that the negative correlations between wind shear and intensity are found in wind shear scenarios. Wind shears of 10 ms-1 which lead to strengthening of the wind intensity in the early period of Typhoon development are found in wind shear scenarios. The effect of wind shear changes on wind intensity is statistically significant in the 20 % wind shear scenarios. During mature stage, weak wind intensity occurred when wind shear increase as given in the WRF standard-release and the 20 % decreasing scenario. Different situation is found in the 20 % increasing scenario where wind shear tend to weak and lead to strong wind intensity at this stage. Meanwhile, the reduction of moisture supply at 850-700 hPa resulting from 20 % decreasing relative humidity play a major role in the weakening of wind intensity and reduces mechanical energy of the cycle process as much as 300 J kg-1.
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