Judul: The design of empowerment of rural communities in agroindustry cluster of essential oils (case study: patchouli oil)
Abstrak: Patchouli oil is an essential oil commodity in Indonesia. A research on design of empowerment on rural communities in agroindustry cluster of essential oils has been conducted using system approach which aim was to establish its Decision Support System (DSS). The research produced DSS model of comprehensive essential oil agroindustry from farming and small refinement industry that harmoniously accommodate the needs of stakeholders and should be effectively used by the decision makers facing dynamic changes and information updating. Analytical tools such as cost analysis, Fibonacci technique, OPTSYS programme, IPMS (Integrated Performance Measurement System), FGD (Focus Group Discussion), AHP (Analytical Hierarchy Process), pairwise comparison and ISM (Interpretive Modelling System) were applied. The DSS software called PAP-Klaster that consist of several modules, namely the feasibility analysis of farming and post harvesting with a result of being feasible (Farming IRR= 14.6%, B/C ratio= 1.35; Small refinement industry IRR= 47.99%, B/C ratio= 1.69), selling price equilibrium of patchouli and patchouli oil which provide a proportionate profit margin (selling price equilibrium of patchouli: Rp 1 483/kg, selling price equilibrium of patchouli oil: Rp 396 770/kg ), performance measurement of farming and post harvesting in agroindustry cluster system resulting to the identification of 16 Key Performance Indicator (KPI) from 56 Performance Indicator (PI). Conceptual model of agroindustry cluster of essential oils that end result could arrange institutional engineering and found key elements such as sector of society, needs, constraints, goals, possible changes, benchmarks, activities needed for action planning and institution involved. Institutional engineering resulting Jejaring Usaha PAP-Klaster and Forum Lintas Pelaku Klaster Agroindustri Minyak Atsiri. This model was verified through case study on patchouli oil agroindustry in Kuningan and Brebes regency. Empowerment of rural communities in essential oil agroindustry not only improves the welfare of agroindustry entrepreneurs but also will improve the welfare of patchouli plant growers.
Keyword: rural communities, patchouli oil, selling price equilibrium, institutional engineering, Rural Communities, Agroindustry Cluster, Essential Oils

Judul: Improving Business Environment to Strengthen the Competitiveness of Patchouli Oil Industry in Aceh Jaya Regency
Abstrak: Historically, Aceh was formerly a major patchouli oil-producing area in Indonesia. Lamentably, this time the market migration has shifted to Sulawesi, which is the central producing island, and only slightly material originating from Aceh. Though the pattern is unfavorable, many buyers have sought Aceh patchouli, scientifically proven that it can produce quality oil with low acid content and high patchouli alcohol. Aceh has its innate characteristic that is suitable for patchouli plants, so that almost all areas in Aceh have the potential to cultivate patchouli. The selection of Aceh Jaya as the research location was due to Aceh Jaya representing a very strategic district and quite affordable for various parties. At present, the interest of farmers to cultivate patchouli in Aceh Jaya has considerably decreased, even though the market demand for patchouli oil is quite high. Massive market demand is not enough to make farmers eager to cultivate patchouli. In the current cycle, farmers rely more on the patchouli oil price. The uncertain oil price affects the amount of patchouli oil produced. The limited capital resource represents the major problem that makes the oil produced thin out. Hence, interviews with experts using Porter Diamond Model were conducted to determine the major factors inhibiting the current condition. The results reveal the total values that most influencing current conditions are human resource (4), capital resource (4), unstable selling prices (4), patchouli distiller (3), similar industries with large and complete capacities (3.6), develop a roadmap for patchouli development in Aceh Jaya (3.4), and business climate (3). Then, the selected factors are elaborated into 25 conditions using a SWOT analysis. From the analysis, the weaknesses of current patchouli oil production are determined by experts, namely, poor accessibility (0.17), lack of farmers (0.61), limited capital (0.61), the use of simple technology (0.49), and no partnership with suppliers (0.18). In the further step, using the SWOT matrix, strategies were identified in the W-T strategy or defensive strategy. Elements include financial institution accessibility, technology advancement, partnerships, and counseling, training, and mentoring. Finally, the survival strategy is elaborate using AHP with a priority element: financial institution accessibility (0.3111). Then, the high priority of the actors involved is producers (0.3690). Lastly, the factor that indicates the increase in the business environment is the capital resource (0.3742).
Keyword: Business Environment, Competitiveness, Patchouli Oil Industry

Judul: Karakteristik Anatomi Skelet Kepala Buaya senyulong (Tomistoma schlegelii).
Abstrak: Buaya sepit atau senyulong (Tomistoma schlegelii) merupakan jenis buaya asli Indonesia yang berhabitat di sungai-sungai Sumatera, Kalimantan, dan juga pedalaman Sulawesi. Salah satu ciri khas buaya senyulong adalah bentuk moncong yang runcing dan sempit, namun hingga saat ini informasi mengenai struktur skelet kepala buaya senyulong sangat terbatas. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mempelajari karakteristik anatomi skelet kepala buaya senyulong yang dikatikan dengan fungsi dan perilakunya. Penelitian dilakukan secara eksploratif dengan melakukan pengamatan, pencatatan, dan pengambilan gambar dari skelet kepala buaya senyulong. Skelet kepala berukuran panjang 70 cm, lebar 29 cm, dan tingggi 17 cm dengan permukaan kasar pada os nasale, os frontale, os maxilla, os mandibula, os lacrimale, os jugale. Jumlah gigi pada buaya ini sebanyak 78 buah, terdiri dari 4 buah gigi premaxila, 16 buah gigi maxila, dan 19 buah gigi mandibula. Pada regio orbitalis ditemukan dua pasang fenestrae temporales yang berkembang baik. Fenestra supratemporale merupakan lubang oval yang membentang di sepanjang os parietale. Fenestra infratemporale berbentuk segitiga dan dibatasi oleh os squamosum, os postorbitale, os jugulare, dan os quadratum. Os mandibula hewan ini mempunyai symphysis mandibularis yang panjang yaitu garis yang melintang di corpus mandibulae. Secara fungsional ukuran symphysis mandibularis berkaitan dengan adaptasi hewan terhadap diet makan.
Keyword: kepala, moncong, Tomistoma schlegelii