Judul: A Sustainable Supply Chain Model of Palm Kernel Shell as Renewable Energy Source for Industries in Cikarang Area
Abstrak: Depleting stockpile of fossil fuels and rising global temperature due to the greenhouse effect are probably the two most threatening factors to civilization sustainability. Converting biomass into a readily available energy source would help reduce dependency on fossil fuels, whilst at the same time moderating greenhouse gas emission due to its carbon neutrality. Among various wastes from palm oil processing, palm kernel shell (PKS) is an oil palm biomass with high potential to be applied as a source of renewable energy for industries, given its high caloric value and distinctive physical properties. This source of renewable energy can be utilized by industries with thermal conversion processes. The current poor performance of palm kernel shell supply chain may hamper the realization of this renewable energy potential, it is therefore necessary to build a more effective, efficient, and sustainable supply chain model. Biomass like PKS can be utilized for industrial purposes after it is proven to be technically, environmentally and economically feasible. In this study, a combination of literature study and field observation was conducted to determine the feasibility of palm kernel shell in the case study of ceramic powder spray drying. From technical aspects, relevant thermophysical properties, suitable heat conversion technologies, and applicable quality parameters were identified. The drying performance and thermal efficiency were selected as key indicators to prove the feasibility of palm kernel shell. In terms of the environmental feasibility, the life-cycle assessment method was deployed to determine greenhouse gas emissions from the usage of palm kernel shell in comparison with natural gas and coal under a similar industrial application. To determine the economic feasibility, discounted cash flow analyses were carried out across three alternative fuels. Palm kernel shell has some distinctive supply and demand characteristics that need to be well understood prior to build a robust, effective, efficient, and sustainable supply chain model for industrial applications. This study attempted to investigate those characteristics along with regulatory aspects that may influence supply, demand, and supply chain of palm kernel shells. Various factors, impacting supply quantity, cost, lead-time, and quality uncertainties, were identified through a series of in-depth interviews, questionnaires, and field observations, involving the chain actors. The potential demand of palm kernel shell for industries in Cikarang area was estimated based on questionnaires and industries scanning. Whilst demand criteria for the fuel selection among palm kernel shell, natural gas, and coal were determined by deploying the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process method. As with other biomass, the supply chain of palm kernel shell involves collection processes, storage facilities, and a transportation network, which is dynamic and optimizable. Soft systems dynamics methodology (SSDM) was implemented in this study, by which its key feature of system dynamics has been recognized as one of the most ideal modeling techniques for studying complex and multivariate systems. The study demonstrated how to apply system dynamics in combination with discrete event simulations in analyzing and designing a sustainable supply system of palm kernel shell through mathematical modeling and simulations, which captured the long-term effect of and the interactions among supply chain design variables and parameters. This research proved
Keyword: palm kernel shell, push and pull supply chains, renewable energy, soft system dynamics, supply chain modeling

Judul: Analysis of Competitiveness and Export Market Potential of Indonesian Palm Kernel Shell
Abstrak: Palm kernel shell merupakan biomassa dari limbah industri minyak kelapa sawit yang diperdagangkan di pasar internasional. Indonesia merupakan eksportir palm kernel shell terbesar di dunia, tetapi lebih dari 80% ekspor terkonsentrasi ke negara-negara tujuan ekspor utama. Perlu dilakukan pengembangan pasar ekspor yang memerhatikan kinerja ekspor sebelumnya serta mempertimbangkan negara yang memiliki potensi. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis daya saing palm kernel shell Indonesia dan pasar yang potensial sebagai negara tujuan ekspornya. Daya saing dianalisis dengan revealed comparative advantage (RCA) serta export product dynamic (EPD). Potensi pasar ekspor dianalisis dengan x-model potential export products (X-Model). Hasil analisis menunjukkan bahwa prioritas pasar tujuan ekspor berada di pasar Thailand, Selandia Baru, Pakistan, China, Afrika Selatan, Vietnam, Jepang, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Korea Selatan, India, Singapura, Jerman, Australia, Inggris, dan Belgia. Sedangkan Perancis dan Amerika Serikat merupakan pasar yang kurang potensial. Pemerintah perlu menyepakati perjanjian perdagangan bebas dengan Afrika Selatan dan Pakistan agar dapat mengurangi hambatan ekspor bagi komoditas palm kernel shell Indonesia., Palm kernel shell is biomass from palm oil industrial waste, which is traded in the international market. Indonesia is the largest palm kernel shell exporter globally, but more than 80% of exports are concentrated in the main export destination countries. It is necessary to expand the export market considering the previous export performance and considering countries that have potential. This study aims to analyze the competitiveness of Indonesia's palm kernel shell and its potential market as an export destination. Competitiveness is analyzed with revealed comparative advantage (RCA) and export product dynamic (EPD). The export market potential is analyzed by using the x-model of potential export products (X-Model). The results of the analysis show that the priority markets for Indonesia's palm kernel shell export are in the markets of Thailand, New Zealand, Pakistan, China, South Africa, Vietnam, Japan, Malaysia, Hong Kong, South Korea, India, Singapore, Germany, Australia, England, and Belgium. Meanwhile, France and the United States are fewer potential markets. The government needs to make diplomatic efforts to the countries of South Africa and Pakistan so that a free trade agreement can be reached to reduce export barriers for Indonesia's palm kernel shell.
Keyword: EPD, export development, palm kernel shell, RCA, X-Model

Judul: Balantidiosis disentri dalam zoonosis
Abstrak: Balantiosis merupakan suatu penyakit pada manusia dan ababi yang disebabkan oleh Balantidium coli. Penyakit ini pertama kali diamati oleh Kalmsten pada tahun 1857 pada pasien yang mendrita diare, sedang balantidiosis pada babi pertama kali dilaporkan oleh Leukart pada tahun 1862. Parasit ini merupakan protozoa terbesar yang berada pada usus manusia dan babi dan salah satu Giliata yang patogen.
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