Judul: Fleksibilitas Nilai Tukar dan Penyesuaian Transaksi Berjalan di Indonesia: Analisis Threshold VAR
Abstrak: Estimation study about the relationship between exchange rate flexibility and current account adjustment has been conducted through three stages, the first stage was analysis of correlation among exchange rates variability (proxied by REER and NEER) and exchange rate regimes classification. The second step was estimating the relationship that the former was mentioned with VAR as benchmark model. The third step was applying the nonlinear estimation using Threshold VAR with two different threshold variables. Namely REER and RR Classification which formed by Reinhart and Rogoff . The results of analysis showed that exchange rate regime classification may capture actual exchange rate variability, which of 0.71 correlation value. Flexibility exchange rate can accelerate current account adjustment in Indonesia if 1) the changes of Indonesia exchange rate less than 27.7059 whereas in high regime exchange rate is persistently increasing so that the system between exchange rate and current account becomes unstable. 2) Indonesia is applying exchange rate regime with code 3 – 6 from RR classification or exchange rate classification that categorized in intermediate regime or flexible regime. Bank Indonesia as monetary authorities must keep the changes of exchange rate less than 27.7059, due to exchange rate can affect current account adjustment, so can anticipate if there is current account deficit in Indonesia economy.
Keyword: Exchange Rate Flexibility, Current Account Adjustment, Exchange Rate Regime Classification, Threshold VAR

Judul: Analisis keterkaitan dinamis perbedaan tingkat suku bunga riil, nilai tukar riil dan neraca pembayaran di Indonesia
Abstrak: Perekonomian Indonesia sejak era 1980-an mulai menganut sistem perekonomian terbuka. Hal tersebut menjadi alasan perlunya mengamati keadaan fundamental yang penting bagi perekonomian Indonesia. Besaran yang sangat penting untuk dilihat dengan semakin terbukanya perekonomian Indonesia adalah nilai tukar. Nilai tukar ini menunjukkan bagaimana perbandingan mata uang Indonesia dan luar negeri. Selain itu yang hangat dibahas saat ini pada negara yang menganut sistem perekonomian terbuka adalah perkembangan tingkat suku bunga riil. Pentingnya suku bunga riil secara lebih lanjut akan lebih representatif apabila dilihat dalam perbedaan tingkat suku bunga yang merupakan gambaran kegiatan perekonomian terbuka. Pergerakan selisih suku bunga riil ini juga memberi pengaruh yang penting dalam mempengaruhi nilai tukar. Menurut teori Mundell-Fleming-Dornbusch ketika tingkat perbedaan suku bunga riil antara domestik dan luar negeri naik maka akan terjadi apresiasi nilai tukar riil (Jin, 2003). Pembahasan mengenai nilai tukar tidak lepas hubungannya dengan cadangan devisa. Cadangan devisa memiliki dampak yang penting bagi posisi nilai tukar suatu negara. Kenaikan cadangan devisa dalam neraca pembayaran (balance of payment) memberi stimulus untuk membuat mata uang rupiah mengalami apresiasi (Jin, 2003). Penelitian ini memiliki beberapa tujuan yaitu pertama menganalisis hubungan dinamis antara variabel nilai tukar riil, perbedaan tingkat suku bunga riil, dan cadangan devisa. Kemudian tujuan kedua adalah mengetahui bagaimana hubungan interaksi antara nilai tukar riil, perbedaan tingkat suku bunga riil dan cadangan devisa dalam jangka pendek serta melihat apakah terdapat hubungan dalam jangka panjang. Adapun model yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini bersumber dari penelitian yang dilakukan oleh Zhongxia Jin (2003) dengan menggunakan metode Vector Autoregression (VAR). Hubungan dinamis antara variabel perbedaan tingkat suku bunga riil, nilai tukar riil dan cadangan devisa menggunakan analisis Impulse Response Function (IRF) dengan menggunakan data time series dari Januari 2000 hingga Oktober 2008. ...
Keyword: Vector Autoregression (VAR), Interest rate differential, Riil exchange rates, Balance of payment, Bogor Agricultural University, Institut Pertanian Bogor, IPB

Judul: Synthesis of Apatite - Chitosan Composite Using Duck Eggshell and Chitosan with Temperature and pH Control
Abstrak: Composite of apatite-chitosan was prepared by using chitosan as polymer matrix. Calcium phosphate was prepared from CaO and (NH4)2HPO4, which the ratio Ca : P had to be 1.67. Chitosan is produced by deacetilase from biopolymer chitin. Duck eggshell (95% CaCO3) as starting material was converted to be calcium oxide (CaO) through calcinations with temperature 1000oC for 5 hours. In-situ and ex-situ methods were prepared from apatite and chitosan (dissolved with acetate acid 2%). Calcium phosphate prepared for bone implantation, but it is too fragile and brittle to be implant into the body. So addition of chitosan can decrease crystalinity and increase mechanic characteristic (tougher). Composite apatite-chitosan was resulted by fast precipitation. Fast precipitation was held in a breaker glass with nitrogen atmosphere, under controlled temperature at 37oC and pH 7, in order to increase amount of hydroxyapatite. Precipitation with CaO which was dropped by (NH4)2HPO4. Hydroxyapatite and chitosan were appearing at samples with in-situ and ex-situ methods which indicating by peak matching of XRD (closed lattice parameter, crystal size), overlapping at FTIR spectra and supporting by SEM picture (homogenous and agglomerated particle). However, it still needs further research to examine biocompatibility osteoconductive degree of sample by in-vivo and in-vitro test.
Keyword: