Judul: Synthesis and Application of Cellulose-g-Polyacrylamide from Sago Waste Fiber as Column Chromatography Stationary Phase.
Abstrak: Serabut ampas sagu merupakan salah satu bahan yang mengandung lignoselulosa. Selulosa dapat dimodifikasi untuk memperbaiki sifat-sifatnya, salah satunya dengan teknik pencangkokan-taut-silang. Produk modifikasi akan memiliki struktur makromolekular yang dapat diaplikasikan untuk teknologi pemisahan. Tahapan penelitian yang dilakukan terdiri atas isolasi selulosa, sintesis selulosa-g-poliakrilamida, dan aplikasi produk sebagai fase diam dalam kromatografi kolom. Isolasi selulosa menghasilkan isolat dengan kadar lignin 0.37%. Sintesis fase diam selulosa-g-poliakrilamida diaplikasikan dengan ragam jumlah penaut-silang 0.1, 0.5, dan 1.0 g. Pencirian menggunakan FTIR membuktikan telah terjadi pencangkokan akrilamida ke selulosa. Ketiga diaplikasikan pada kromatografi kolom untuk memisahkan xantorizol dari ekstrak kasar temu lawak. Berdasarkan profil kromatografi lapis tipis, xantorizol berada pada fraksi heksana pertama dan dibuktikan pula dengan kromatografi cair kinerja tinggi. Kolom terbaik untuk pemisahan xantorizol ialah selulosa-g-poliakrilamida dengan penaut-silang sebanyak 0.5 g.
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Judul: Modifikasi Sintesis dan Pencirian Fase Diam Kromatografi Kolom Selulosa Berbasis Serabut Ampas Sagu.
Abstrak: Grafting copolymerization of acrylamide (AAm) on cellulose derived from sago fibers (α-cellulose 78.61%) has been performed by using N,N'-methylene-bis-acrylamide (MBA) as cross-linker and ammonium peroxydisulfate as initiator. The cellulose-g-polyacrylamide copolymer products were characterized by their water absorption capacity, grafting ratio, and grafting efficiency as the initial characterizations. Further characterizations was carried out by using infrared spectroscopy, electron microscopy imaging, and X-ray diffraction techniques. The characterization results showed that the copolymers has been formed. Synthesis modification by sequential addition of AAm and MBA, and increased concentration of MBA reduced the water absorption capacity, whereas the grafting ratio and efficiency were increased. Copolymer products could be applied as a stationary phase for normal-phase column chromatography, based on the porous surface morphology as well as good resistance against n-hexane, n-pentane, and cyclohexane solvents.
Keyword: sago fibers, grafting, copolymerization, cellulose, acrylamide

Judul: The Effects of Hypothyroidism in the Fertility of Male Rats
Abstrak: Thyroid hormones are involved in the development and maintenance of virtually all tissues. The purpose of the study is to understand effects of the neonatal hypothyroidism in the fertility of male rats. Recent studies with juvenile rats indicate that changes in thyroid function early in life have a major impact on the endocrine and/or paracrine factors regulating testicular growth and function. However, one should keep in mind that hypothyroidism is a complex hormonal dysfunction rather than a single hormonal defect. Hypothyroidism has been also shown to reduce the secretion of GnRH (gonadotropins releasing hormone), LH (Luteinizing Hormone), FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone), GH (Growth Hormone) and testicular testosterone in rats. Therefore, many of the testicular changes observed in prolonged hypothyroidism could result in some degree of diminished levels of the aforementioned hormones. The transient neonatal hypothyroidism model results in the unnatural testicular development and in sperm production in neonates hence resulting in decreased fertility upon puberty.
Keyword: Hypothyroidism, Neonates, Testicular Growth, Fertility