Judul: Study of Community Perceptions and Preferences Regarding the Comfort Level of Merdeka Metro Park as a Social Interaction Space
Abstrak: Pandemi Covid-19 mengakibatkan perubahan perilaku/aktivitas dan ruang gerak sosial masyarakat sehingga memicu perubahan tingkat kenyamanan pengunjung di area taman. Selain itu, kenyamanan termal juga ikut memengaruhi kenyamanan pengunjung dalam beraktivitas sosial di dalam taman. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengidentifikasi dan menganalisis tingkat kenyamanan Taman Merdeka sebagai ruang interaksi sosial berdasarkan persepsi dan preferensi; mengetahui hubungan antara kenyamanan termal dengan kenyamanan taman sebagai ruang interaksi sosial; dan membuat rekomendasi desain Taman Merdeka berdasarkan hasil analisis persepsi dan preferensi masyarakat. Analisis yang digunakan berupa analisis spasial dan analisis deskriptif dengan menggunakan metode berupa uji validitas, uji reliabilitas, skala Likert, skoring, dan perhitungan Temperature Humidity Index (THI) dan daya dukung. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian, terdapat kenaikan nilai THI dari sebesar 2,4 dan penurunan tingkat kenyamanan pengunjung sebesar 0,09 (indeks nilai) sejak sebelum pandemi ke masa pandemi. Terdapat juga perubahan kebutuhan ruang di masa pandemi Covid-19 sebesar dua kali dari daya dukung semula untuk tiap orang per hari. Sehingga rekomendasi yang diberikan di dalam penelitian ini adalah berupa penataan ruang dan tanaman agar tingkat kenyamanan pengunjung taman meningkat., The Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in changes in people's behavior/ social activities space, thus triggering changes in the comfort level of visitors in the park area. In addition, thermal comfort also affects the comfort of visitors in social activities in the park. This study aims to identify and analyze the comfort level of Merdeka Park as a social interaction space based on perceptions and preferences; knowing the relationship between thermal comfort and park comfort as a space for social interaction, and make recommendations for the design of Merdeka Park based on the results of the analysis of people's perceptions and preferences. The analysis was used in the form of spatial analysis and descriptive analysis using methods such as validity test, reliability test, Likert scale, scoring, and calculation of Temperature Humidity Index (THI), and carrying capacity. Based on the results of the study, there was an increase in the THI value from 2.4 and a decrease in the comfort level of visitors by 0.09 (value index) from before the pandemic to the pandemic period. There is also a change in space requirements during the Covid-19 pandemic, which is twice the original carrying capacity for each person per day. So the recommendations given in this study are in the form of spatial planning and plants so that the comfort level of park visitors increases.
Keyword: interaksi sosial, kenyamanan, persepsi masyarakat, preferensi masyarakat, pandemi Covid-19, social interaction, comfort, society perception, society preference, Covid-19 pandemic

Judul: Evaluation of Thermal Comfort and Aesthetic of Three Parks in Depok City in the New Normal Era.
Abstrak: Kondisi Taman Kota Depok menjadi kurang terawat sejak terjadi pandemi covid-19 akibat pembatasan jumlah pengunjung. Di sisi lain, taman yang nyaman dapat meningkatkan kesehatan. Penelitian ini bertujuan mengidentifikasi kondisi eksisting, menganalisis kenyamanan termal dan estetika di Taman Lembah Gurame, Taman Lembah Mawar, dan Taman Merdeka berdasarkan persepsi dan preferensi. Evaluasi kenyamanan termal dilakukan melalui analisis Thermal Humidity Index (THI), sedangkan evaluasi estetika taman dilakukan dengan metode Scenic Beauty Estimation (SBE). Adapun analisis persepsi dan preferensi responden dilakukan dengan metode analisis statistik deskriptif. Hasil analisis THI ketiga taman termasuk tidak nyaman hingga sangat tidak nyaman. Hasil penilaian estetika Taman Lembah Gurame dan Taman Lembah Mawar termasuk kategori tinggi, namun Taman Merdeka termasuk kategori rendah. Hasil persepsi yang dipengaruhi oleh penataan vegetasi dan jenis aktivitas membuat pengunjung lebih toleran terhadap kondisi taman. Rekomendasi perbaikan fasilitas, penambahan tanaman berbunga dan pepohonan rindang agar lebih nyaman, indah, dan adaptif di era new normal., The condition of Depok City Park has become unmaintained since the covid-19 pandemic due to restrictions on the number of visitors. On the other hand, a comfortable park can improve health. This study aims to identify existing conditions and analyze thermal comfort and aesthetics in Taman Lembah Gurame, Taman Lembah Mawar, and Taman Merdeka based on perceptions and preferences. Evaluation of thermal comfort using Thermal Humidity Index (THI) analysis, while evaluation of landscape aesthetic using the Scenic Beauty Estimation (SBE) method. The perception and preference of respondents using descriptive statistical analysis methods. The THI analysis result showed that the thermal comfort of three city parks was classified as uncomfortable to very uncomfortable. The aesthetic assessment in Taman Lembah Gurame and Taman Lembah Mawar were categorized as highly aesthetic, while Taman Merdeka was categorized as lowly aesthetic. The differences in visitor perception analysis results are caused by planting design, layout, and activities in the park, making them more tolerant of city park conditions. Improving facilities and adding flowering plants and shady trees to make city parks more comfortable, beautiful, also adaptive in the new normal era.
Keyword: aesthetic, city park, microclimate, new normal era, vegetation function

Judul: Heterologous Expression Of Endo-Β-Xylanase From Bacillus Pumilus Strain Bcrs-01 In Escherichia Coli.
Abstrak: Xylanases are glycoside hydrolase family 11 which depolymerise xylan in the plant cell wall, the most excessive form of hemicellulose. Endo-β-xylanases (EC 3.2.1.8) are most important to breakdown β-1,4-glicoside bond of xylan to produce disaccaride xyloolygosaccaride (XOs) and xylose (monomer). Bovine rumen fluids have potential to obtain endo-β-xylanase produced of bacteria. The objectives of this study were to obtain xylanase producing bacteria and to express xynA gene encoding endo-β-xylanase from bacterium in Escherichia coli. Twenty nine isolate bacteria have been succesfully isolated from bovine rumen fluid in agar medium containing birchwood xylan. Isolate BCRS-01 bacterium was previously screened for the high production of xylanase. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, BCRS-01 showed high similarity (99%) to Bacillus pumilus (accession number NR043241). The crude xylanase had optimal activity at 55oC, pH 7.0. Furthermore, the crude xylanase exhibited broad pH stability from 4.0 to 10.0 and remained more than 60% and 40% of its activity after incubation at pH 4.0 until 10.0, respectively for 60 min. It also showed a stability at temperature 25-50oC since it retained 80% and 50% of its activity when incubated at 50oC or 30 and 60 min, respectively. The xylanase activity was strongly inhibited by Ca2+ and Cu2+ at concentration 10 mM, and as little as 1 mM for Mn2+. Therefore, this xylanase has potentially used as additive feeds in animal feed industry. The DNA sequence xynA gene encoded endo-β-xylanase was amplified and cloned into the expression vector pET-15by under the control of T7 promoter. The recombinant protein had succesfully expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) pLysS. A protein recombinant of approximately, 26.7 kDa was observed on the SDS-PAGE analysis. Crude extract of recombinant endo-β-xylanase demonstrated activity of enzyme at 56 U mL-1 using birchwood xylan as a substrate at 55oC for 10 min.
Keyword: Bacillus pumilus, bovine rumen fluid, endo-β-xylanase, heterologous expression.