Judul: Fungsi Ekologis Lahan Pasca Erupsi Gunung Merapi
Abstrak: Kawasan hutan Gunung Merapi telah ditetapkan sebagai Taman Nasional Gunung Merapi (TNGM) sejak tahun 2004. Keberadaan ekosistem hutan di TNGM ialah sebagai resapan air bagi kabupaten yang berada di sekitarnya. Citra satelit menunjukkan terdapat 3 tingkat kerusakan ekosistem hutan di TNGM, yaitu kerusakan ringan, sedang, dan berat. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui kemajuan fungsi lanskap pada beberapa wilayah yang mengalami kerusakan ekosistem hutan akibat erupsi Gunung Merapi. Metode penelitian ini terdiri atas: (1) Penentuan lokasi penelitian, (2) Pengukuran mikroklimat, (3) Pengukuran karakteristik tanah, dan (4) Analisis fungsi lanskap: karakterisasi organisasi lanskap dan penilaian permukaan tanah. Nilai stabilitas lahan pada zona kerusakan ringan, sedang, dan berat secara berturut-turut ialah: 48.0, 52.9, dan 45.5%. Nilai infiltrasi air pada zona kerusakan ringan, sedang, dan berat secara berturut-turut ialah: 26.5, 28.4, dan 29.7%. Nilai siklus nutrisi lahan pada zona kerusakan ringan, sedang, dan berat secara berturut-turut ialah: 20.8, 23.6, dan 16.3%. Kemajuan fungsi ekologis lahan zona kerusakan sedang lebih baik pada stablitas lahan dan siklus nutrisi lahan, sedangkan infiltrasi air lebih baik pada zona kerusakan berat.
Keyword: analisis fungsi lanskap, Gunung Merapi, restorasi, penilaian permukaan tanah, suksesi

Judul: Keanekaragaman Tumbuhan Bawah Pasca Erupsi Merapi di Taman Nasional Gunung Merapi, Yogyakarta
Abstrak: The eruption of Merapi Volcano in 2010 caused a great damage to the surrounding ecosystem. The recovery of surrounding ecosystem was done through succesional process. Organisms occur during early succesional stage are understory plants, thus they could be used as indicator of early stage succesion of damaged vegetation in Mount Merapi. The objective of this research was to describe and compare the diversity of understory plants after the eruption of Merapi Volcano in 2010 in Mount Merapi National Park, Sleman Region, Yogyakarta in two locations namely Gandok and Kaliurang Recreational Park. Gandok was categorized as high damaged location, while Kaliurang Recreational Park represented low damaged location. Vegetation was analyzed using quadratic method. Plants sample was identified in laboratory. Vegetation analysis generated the value of Significant Value Index (SVI), Diversity Index (H’), and Similarity Index (IS). Results showed that understory plant diversity of Gandok consist of 74 species and 63 genera, while Kaliurang Recreational Park consist of 49 species and 44 genera. The highest SVI was obtained by Digitaria nuda in Gandok and Brachiaria reptans in Kaliurang Recrational Park. Gandok and Kaliurang Recreational Park have a low similarity of understory community. Both location were categorized in medium diversity level.
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Judul: Optimization of Alginate-Chitosan Microcapsules Formation for Leydig Cells Encapsulation
Abstrak: Hypogonadism is a clinical condition characterized by low concentrations of testosterone. It is caused by malfunction of Leydig cells in producing testosterone. Encapsulation method will protect the transplanted cells from the immune system rejection. The aims of this study was to optimize the formation of microcapsules for Leydig cells encapsulation. The microcapsules were made of alginate and chitosan as the first and the second coating agents, respectively. The result showed that the minimum concentration of alginate was 1.5% (w/v) with a viscosity of 33.8 cPs, resulted spherical microcapsules with diameters of 230-270 µm. The optimum concentration of chitosan as the second coating agent was 0.5% (w/v), resulted spherical microcapsule with mechanical stability in 4 hours. Leydig cells can be trapped inside the capsule with a density that proportional with concentration of cells used in the encapsulation.
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