Judul: Aplikasi Nanofiber Selulosa Tandan Kosong Kelapa Sawit (TKKS) sebagai Reinforcement Agent pada Komposit Thermoplastic Starch-Polivinil Alkohol (TPS-PVA).
Abstrak: Pati merupakan bahan baku termoplastik yang dapat terdegradasi secara alami sehingga aman bagi lingkungan. Penambahan polivinil alkohol, gliserol serta nanofiber selulosa sebagai reinforcement agent menghasilkan film komposit dengan sifat fisik dan mekanis yang baik. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah membuat nanofiber selulosa dari TKKS serta mengetahui karakteristik komposit TPS-PVA yang dihasilkan. Pembuatan film komposit dilakukan dengan casting method. Film komposit yang dibuat terdiri dari larutan pati dan PVA (4:1), nanofiber selulosa TKKS (0, 1%, 3% dan 5%) dan gliserol (0 dan 25%). Karakterisasi film komposit yang dianalisa meliputi sifat fisik, kristalinitas, transmisi cahaya dan laju transmisi uap air. Nanofiber selulosa yang dihasilkan berdiameter ± 3 nm. Penambahan nanofiber selulosa meningkatkan kuat tarik dan kristalinitas film, namun menurunkan elongasi, transmisi cahaya dan laju transmisi uap air pada film. Penambahan gliserol meningkatkan elongasi, transmisi cahaya dan laju transmisi uap air pada film, namun menurunkan kuat tarik film.
Keyword: film komposit, pati termoplastik, tandan kosong kelapa sawit (TKKS), polivinil alkohol (PVA)

Judul: Sifat Biodegradasi Nanokomposit TPS-PVA dengan Nanofiber Selulosa Tandan Kosong Kelapa Sawit sebagai Nanofiller
Abstrak: Thermoplastic Starch (TPS) adalah biofilm dengan bahan dasar pati. Keunggulan thermoplastic starch adalah sifatnya yang mudah terdegradasi. Kekurangan TPS yaitu mempunyai afinitas air yang tinggi dan sifat mekanik yang rendah. Penambahan polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) dapat memperbaiki kekurangan TPS terhadap tingginya afinitas air dan meningkatkan sifat mekanik. Sifat mekanik TPS-PVA dapat lebih ditingkatkan dengan memodifikasinya menjadi nanokomposit dengan filler nanoselulosa TKKS. Isolasi selulosa TKKS berhasil dilakukan dengan delignifikasi menggunakan NaOH 10% selama 1 jam dan dilanjutkan dengan bleaching menggunakan H2O2 30% selama 4 jam. Sementara itu, isolasi nanofiber selulosa berhasil dilakukan dengan perlakuan mekanik menggunakan kombinasi ultrafine-grinder dan ultrasonikasi. Analisa Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) menunjukkan ukuran serat 112 nm. Pengaruh penambahan nanofiber selulosa terhadap sifat biodegradasi film nanokomposit TPS-PVA dianalisis susut bobot dengan Bacillus subtilis. Data susut bobot setelah hari keenam menunjukkan bahwa dengan penambahan jumlah nanofiber selulosa sebesar 0, 2, 4 dan 6% adalah berturut-turut sebesar 54,44%, 55,47%, 64,97%, dan 69,05%. Data ini sesuai dengan uji fehling yang menunjukkan hasil positif seiring dengan penambahan nanofiber selulosa.
Keyword: Bacillus subtilis, biodegradasi, nanokomposit, nanoselulosa, thermoplastic starch, PVA

Judul: Biology and ecology of the buffalo fly, haematobia exigua de meijere (diptera:muscidae)
Abstrak: The life history of the buffalo fly was observed at room temperature of 27°-29.5°C and at a relative humidity of 48-68 percent. The eggs hatched after 17-22 hours, with an average of 18 hours. First instar larvae measured 1.25 + 0.16 mm long and 0.27 + 0.037 mm wide. reach the second larval stage. It took 6-12 hours to the second instar larvae measured 2.676 +0.187 mm long and 0.353 +0.028 mm wide. The second instar took about 12-24 hours to reach the third larval stage. The third instar measured 6.833 + 0.189 mm long and 0.919 + 0.051 mm wide. It took about 2-3 days for the third instar to become pupae. Duration of the pupal stage was about 5-7 days before the adults emerged. Under laboratory condition, the buffalo fly completed its life cycle in 9.5 to 10.5 days, whereas under field condition it took 9-14 days with an average of 10.5 days. The growth ratio which was based on the measurements of the cephalo-pharyngeal skeleton of each instar was 1.797. The preoviposition period was 8-12 days and mating usually occurred on the 6th or 7th day. The longevity of the male was 29 days, whereas it was 32 days in the female. The range of egg production under laboratory condition was between 20-139 per female fly. The belly and hind legs of the carabao were the most preferred habitat either during cloudy and cool dry or shiny and warm day. When the weather was clear and the carabao was in the shade, the flies tended to be more distributed particularly on the shoulder, dewlap, back and horns. The carabaos had relatively fewer Musca sp. and Stomoxys calcitrans than cattle; never the less carabaos had a higher infestation of buffalo fly than cattle. Oviposition occured either during the day or night but the buffalo flies were more active during the night than in the day time. The effect of various lengths of exposure time of manure in relation to the oviposition was profound. observed, the maximum number of the buffalo flies was occurred when the dung was exposed for 30 minutes. With increasing time of exposure the number and variety of insects also increase. It was evident that Sepsidae and psychodidae were the most dominant insects emerging from the dung. The number of buffalo flies also increased with increasing
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