bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Acute Aerobic Exercise Versus Acute Zolpidem Intake on Sleep in Individuals with Chronic Insomnia
Authors: Rozales Ariella Rodrigues Cordeiro , Santana Marcos Gonçalves , Youngstedt Shawn D. , Han SeungYong , Assis Daniela Elias de , Assis Bernardo Pessoa de , Passos Giselle Soares
Published: June 2024

Introduction Sleeping pills are assumed to be the most efficacious means of treating acute insomnia, but their use has associated risks. Exercise could provide a healthy alternative treatment for insomnia, particularly if it could be shown to have comparable efficacy to sleeping pills.

Objective The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of acute exercise versus zolpidem on chronic insomnia.

Methods Seventeen participants with chronic insomnia (recruited from advertisements) participated in a parallel randomized controlled trial (exercise, n = 9; zolpidem, n = 8). Participants in the exercise treatment performed treadmill exercise for 50 minutes, at 50% of heart rate reserve, between 11 am and 2 pm. Participants in the zolpidem treatment received a 10 mg dose of zolpidem immediately before bedtime. Following baseline and following the treatment, sleep measures included sleep diary, polysomnography, and actigraphy. Treatments were compared with non-inferiority analysis, ANOVA, and effect sizes.

Results Non-inferiority of exercise relative to zolpidem was observed for polysomnographic measurement of sleep latency. For all other comparisons, the non-inferiority was inconclusive. Significant treatment-by-time interactions were observed for N3 sleep (p = 0.04) and REM sleep (p = 0.03). No other significant treatment-by-time effects were observed. Subjective sleep duration and sleep efficiency, and polysomnographic measurement of sleep efficiency were significantly increased after zolpidem and exercise. The effect size between groups was small for these variables.

Conclusion Exercise impacted sleep in a similar way to zolpidem in participants with chronic insomnia. Considering the far superior health benefits of exercise, further research addressing this question is warranted.
Dermal Steal Technique: A Single-Surgeon Retrospective Evaluation of Aesthetic Outcomes of Beveled versus Conventional Perpendicular Skin Incisions.
Authors: Khanna Manoj , Chakraborty Sourabh Shankar
Published: June 2024

Background Beveled skin incision was proposed 30 years back to improve scar outcome. But we could not find any existing literature that studied the outcomes of beveled excision in a non-hair-bearing skin objectively.

Methods Twenty-eight patients undergoing skin excision during various aesthetic procedures were divided equally into two groups. In group I patients, both the apposing edges of skin had beveled incisions, while in group II conventional 90-degree incisions were given. The scar outcomes were measured using Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale v 2.0/EN (POSAS 2.0).

Results The means of the total score of the patient scale of POSAS had a statistically significant difference (p = 0.012) between the two groups, so had the means of the observer scale (p = 0.048). The difference in scores between overall patient opinion in the two groups was statistically significant (p = 0.0119); however, it was not significant in the overall observer opinion (p = 0.405).

Conclusion The beveled incision group had a better scar outcome than the perpendicular incision group.
Continuous and explosive synchronization transition in turbulent combustors
Authors: Singh Samarjeet , Roy Amitesh , Dhadphale Jayesh M. , Chaudhuri Swetaprovo , Sujith R. I.
Published: June 2024

Thermoacoustic instabilities in turbulent combustors have disastrous consequences and present notorious challenges in their modeling, prediction, and control. Such instabilities are characterized by self-excited periodic oscillations, arising from a positive feedback between the acoustic pressure and heat release rate fluctuations. We present a mean-field approach to model thermoacoustic transitions. The nonlinear flame response is modeled using an ensemble of phase oscillators constrained to collectively evolve at the rhythm of acoustic fluctuations. Starting from the acoustic wave equation coupled with the phase oscillators, we derive the evolution equations for the amplitude and phase for acoustic oscillations. The model captures abrupt and continuous transitions to thermoacoustic instability observed in disparate combustors. We also discover that continuous and abrupt transitions happen through paradigmatic continuous and explosive synchronization, respectively. Importantly, our approach explains spatiotemporal synchronization and pattern formation underlying the transition to thermoacoustic instability. The versatility of the model in capturing different types of transitions suggests promising prospects for its extension to encompass a wide range of fluid dynamics phenomena.
Innate acting memory Th1 cells modulate heterologous diseases
Authors: Rakebrandt Nikolas , Yassini Nima , Kolz Anna , Schorer Michelle , Lambert Katharina , Goljat Eva , Estrada Brull Anna , Rauld Celine , Balazs Zsolt , Krauthammer Michael , Carballido José M. , Peters Anneli , Joller Nicole
Published: June 2024

Through immune memory, infections have a lasting effect on the host. While memory cells enable accelerated and enhanced responses upon rechallenge with the same pathogen, their impact on susceptibility to unrelated diseases is unclear. We identify a subset of memory T helper 1 (Th1) cells termed innate acting memory T (T
IA
) cells that originate from a viral infection and produce IFN-γ with innate kinetics upon heterologous challenge in vivo. Activation of memory T
IA
cells is induced in response to IL-12 in combination with IL-18 or IL-33 but is TCR independent. Rapid IFN-γ production by memory T
IA
cells is protective in subsequent heterologous challenge with the bacterial pathogen
Legionella pneumophila
. In contrast, antigen-independent reactivation of CD4
+
memory T
IA
cells accelerates disease onset in an autoimmune model of multiple sclerosis. Our findings demonstrate that memory Th1 cells can acquire additional TCR-independent functionality to mount rapid, innate-like responses that modulate susceptibility to heterologous challenges.
Different ER–plasma membrane tethers play opposing roles in autophagy of the cortical ER
Authors: Liu Dongmei , Yuan Hua , Chen Shuliang , Ferro-Novick Susan , Novick Peter
Published: June 2024

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) undergoes degradation by selective macroautophagy (ER-phagy) in response to starvation or the accumulation of misfolded proteins within its lumen. In yeast, actin assembly at sites of contact between the cortical ER (cER) and endocytic pits acts to displace elements of the ER from their association with the plasma membrane (PM) so they can interact with the autophagosome assembly machinery near the vacuole. A collection of proteins tether the cER to the PM. Of these, Scs2/22 and Ist2 are required for cER-phagy, most likely through their roles in lipid transport, while deletion of the tricalbins,
TCB1
/
2
/3, bypasses those requirements. An artificial ER–PM tether blocks cER-phagy in both the wild type (WT) and a strain lacking endogenous tethers, supporting the importance of cER displacement from the PM. Scs2 and Ist2 can be cross-linked to the selective cER-phagy receptor, Atg40. The COPII cargo adaptor subunit, Lst1, associates with Atg40 and is required for cER-phagy. This requirement is also bypassed by deletion of the ER–PM tethers, suggesting a role for Lst1 prior to the displacement of the cER from the PM during cER-phagy. Although pexophagy and mitophagy also require actin assembly, deletion of ER–PM tethers does not bypass those requirements. We propose that within the context of rapamycin-induced cER-phagy, Scs2/22, Ist2, and Lst1 promote the local displacement of an element of the cER from the cortex, while Tcb1/2/3 act in opposition, anchoring the cER to the plasma membrane.
Monte Carlo modelling of cyclotron and radioisotope center (CYRIC) at Tohoku University: a radiation protection study
Authors: Watabe Hiroshi , Yu Peter K N , Tse Gary , Krstic Dragana , Nikezic Dragoslav , Rafiqul Islam M , Wei Zhanbing , Wei Yuezhou , Shahmohammadi Beni Mehrdad
Published: June 2024

Protection against ionizing radiations is important in laboratories with radioactive materials and high energy cyclotron beams. The Cyclotron and Radioisotope Center (CYRIC) located in Tohoku University in Miyagi prefecture, Japan and is a well-known nuclear science laboratory with cyclotron beams and substantial number of high activity radioactive materials. Considering this, it is important to perform complete radiation transport computations to ensure the safety of non-occupational and occupational workers. In the present work, we have developed a complete 3-dimensional model of the main cyclotron building and radiation labs using Monte Carlo method. We have found that the dispersed photons and neutrons inside and in the surrounding of the CYRIC building pose no significant risk to occupational and non-occupational workers. The present work and the developed models would be useful in the field of radiation protection.
A multi-modal joint attention network for vibro-acoustic fusion diagnosis of engines
Authors: Zhu Xiaolong , Zhang Junhong , Wang Xinwei , Wang Hui , Lin Jiewei
Published: June 2024

Deep learning has proven to be effective in diagnosing faults in power machinery and its diagnosis performance relies on a sufficient data set. In practice, a well-labeled data set with sufficient samples is very rare, especially for those machinery running in varying loading cases. The situation is particularly pronounced for multi-cylinder internal combustion engines, where the excitations from cylinders interact with significant background noise, and different data distributions are complicated. To tackle these issues, we propose a novelty multi-modal joint attention network (MJA-Net) for fusing the vibration and acoustic signals for diagnosing multiple faults. In MJA-Net, feature maps from both modalities are input separately into the convolutional module to learn independent features, and joint attention module (JAM) is utilized to enhance the vibro-acoustic information interaction and distribution consistency across modalities. The analysis of multiple loads vibro-acoustic experimental data shows that MJA-Net has a superior classification performance in limited sample tasks, compared to the single-modal methods. Furthermore, MJA-Net outperforms other fusion methods on average accuracy at 97.65%, as well as feature representativeness, and vibro-acoustic feature consistency across loads. JAM has superior diagnosis performance to other alternative modules. The class activation maps (CAM) generated by the Layer CAM highlight the key impact components related to the engine working mechanisms, providing valuable insight into MJA-Net’s interpretation for multi-fault recognition.
Facile synthesis and characterization of PbS thin films doped with various aluminum concentrations for photovoltaic applications
Authors: Reddy T Srinivasa , Vijaya Krishna S , Vinaya Kumar A , Ramanjaneyulu M , Raja Sekhar N , Santhosh Kumar M C
Published: June 2024

In this study, aluminum doped lead sulfide (PbS:Al) thin films were deposited on soda lime glass substrates using chemical bath deposition (CBD) technique. The structural, morphological, optical and electrical properties of as-deposited PbS thin films were studied as a function of Al concentration (0, 2, 4, 6, 8 at. %). The deposited films can be analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), x-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy and Hall measurement. From SEM, it was evident that the thickness of the films decreased from 750 nm (0 at. %) to 280 nm (8 at. %) with increased Al concentration. XRD analysis revealed that the prepared films exhibited face centered cubic structure without any other binary phases. The average crystallite size of the films decreased from 33.71 to 20.45 nm. The direct optical band gap values were increased from 0.90 to 1.29 eV. The optical parameters such as refractive index (n), extinction coefficient (k), real (ɛ
1) and imaginary (ɛ
2) parts of the dielectric constant were 1.51–2.04, 0.0035–0.0075, 2.50–6.20 and 0.005–0.16 respectively. The absorption coefficient (α) of all the deposited films was in the range of ≈105 cm−1. The electrical resistivity of the deposited films was found in the range of 102–103 Ω·cm. The overall analysis indicate that the deposited PbS:Al thin film shows promise as an absorbing layer for heterojunction solar cell devices.
Finding origins of CMB anomalies in the inflationary quantum fluctuations
Authors: Gaztañaga Enrique , Sravan Kumar K.
Published: June 2024

In this paper, we present compelling evidence for the parity asymmetry (a discrete
symmetry separate from isotropy) in the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) map, measured through
two-point temperature correlations. Any asymmetry associated with discrete symmetries, such as
parity, challenges our understanding of quantum physics associated with primordial physics rather
than LCDM (Λ Cold-Dark-Matter) itself. We commence by conducting a comprehensive analysis
of the Planck CMB, focusing on the distribution of power in low-multipoles and temperature
anticorrelations at parity conjugate points in position space. We find tension with the near
scale-invariant power-law power spectrum of Standard Inflation (SI), with p-values of the order
 𝒪(10-4 - 10-3). Alternatively, we explore the framework of
direct-sum inflation (DSI), where a quantum fluctuation arises as a direct sum of two components
evolving forward and backward in time at parity conjugate points in physical space. This mechanism
results in a parity-asymmetric scale-dependent power spectrum, particularly prominent at
low-multipoles, without any additional free model parameters. Our findings indicate that DSI is
consistent with data on parity asymmetry, the absence of power at θ > 60°, and power
suppression at low-even-multipoles which are major data anomalies in the SI model. Furthermore,
we discover that the parameters characterizing the hemispherical power asymmetry anomaly become
statistically insignificant when the large SI quadrupole amplitude is reduced to align with the
data. DSI explains this low quadrupole with a p-value of 3.5%, 39 times higher than SI. Combining
statistics from parameters measuring parity and low-ℓ angular power spectrum, we find that
DSI is 50-650 times more probable than SI. In summary, our investigation suggests that while CMB temperature fluctuations exhibit homogeneity and isotropy, they also display parity-asymmetric
behavior consistent with predictions of DSI. This observation provides a tantalizing evidence for
the quantum mechanical nature of gravity.
Requiem to “proof of inflation” or sourced fluctuations in a non-singular bounce
Authors: Ben-Dayan Ido , Thattarampilly Udaykrishna
Published: June 2024

Popular wisdom suggests that measuring the tensor to scalar ratio r on CMB scales is a
“proof of inflation” since one generic prediction is a scale-invariant tensor spectrum while
alternatives predict r that is many orders of magnitude below the sensitivity of future
experiments. A bouncing Universe with sourced fluctuations allows for nearly scale-invariant
spectra of both scalar and tensor perturbations challenging this point of view. Past works have
analyzed the model until the bounce, under the assumption that the bounce will not change the
final predictions. In this work, we discard this assumption. We explicitly follow the evolution of
the Universe and fluctuations across the bounce until reheating. The evolution is stable, and the
existence of the sourced fluctuations does not destroy the bounce. The bounce enhances the scalar
spectrum while leaving the tensor spectrum unchanged. The enhancement depends on the duration of
the bounce — a shorter bounce implies a larger enhancement. The model matches current observations
and predicts any viable tensor-to-scalar ratio r ≲ 10-2, which may be observed in
upcoming CMB experiments. Hence, a measurement of r will no longer be a “proof of inflation”,
and a Sourced Bounce is a viable paradigm with distinct predictions.
Near- and sub-solar-mass naked singularities and black holes from transmutation of white dwarfs
Authors: Chakraborty Chandrachur , Bhattacharyya Sudip
Published: June 2024

Recent gravitational wave events have suggested the existence of near-solar-mass black holes which cannot be formed via stellar evolution.
This has opened up a tantalizing possibility of future detections of both black holes and naked singularities in this mass range. Existence of naked singularities is a topical and fundamental physics issue, but their formation mechanism is not yet clear. Here, we show that some white dwarfs can realistically transmute into black holes and naked singularities with a wide range of near- and sub-solar-mass values by capturing
asymmetric or non-self-annihilating primordial dark matter (PDM) particles. We argue that, while a type Ia supernova due to the accumulation of dark matter at the core of a white dwarf could also be a possibility, the transmutation of a white dwarf into a black hole or a naked singularity is a viable consequence of the capture of non-self-annihilating PDM particles.
These white dwarf transmutations can have a significant role in probing the physics of dark matter and compact objects, and could be tested using the rates and locations of mergers over the cosmological time scale.
Higgs boson decays h→MZ in the TNMSSM*
Authors: Hu 胡 Huai-Cong 怀聪 , Zhang 张 Zhao-Yang 兆阳 , Zhu 朱 Ning-Yu 宁宇 , Chen 陈 Hai-Xiang 海翔
Published: June 2024

We study the SM-like Higgs boson decays

in the triplet extended NMSSM (TNMSSM), where M is a vector meson

. Compared to the minimal supersymmetric standard model (MSSM), the TNMSSM includes two new

(2) triplets with hypercharge ±1 and an SM gauge singlet, which are coupled to each other. The indirect contributions to the

decays are produced from the effective

vertex, and they are more important than the direct contributions. The results of this work could encourage a detection on

at the future high energy colliders for exploring new physics beyond the SM.
Enhancing predictive capabilities in fusion burning plasmas through surrogate-based optimization in core transport solvers
Authors: Rodriguez-Fernandez P. , Howard N.T. , Saltzman A. , Kantamneni S. , Candy J. , Holland C. , Balandat M. , Ament S. , White A.E.
Published: June 2024

This work presents the PORTALS framework (Rodriguez-Fernandez et al 2022 Nucl. Fusion
62 076036), which leverages surrogate modeling and optimization techniques to enable the prediction of core plasma profiles and performance with nonlinear gyrokinetic simulations at significantly reduced cost, with no loss of accuracy. The efficiency of PORTALS is benchmarked against standard methods, and its full potential is demonstrated on a unique, simultaneous 5-channel (electron temperature, ion temperature, electron density, impurity density and angular rotation) prediction of steady-state profiles in a DIII-D ITER Similar Shape plasma with GPU-accelerated, nonlinear CGYRO (Candy et al 2016 J. Comput. Phys.
324 73–93). This paper also provides general guidelines for accurate performance predictions in burning plasmas and the impact of transport modeling in fusion pilot plants studies.
Carboxymethyl chitosan-methacrylic acid gelatin hydrogel for wound healing and vascular regeneration
Authors: Yu Jingrong , Gao Zhengkun , Han Qingyue , Wang Zi , Zhang Wenjie , Zhao Jie , Qiao Shan , Zou Xinxin , Huang Fengjie
Published: June 2024

At present, wound dressings in clinical applications are primarily used for superficial skin wounds. However, these dressings have significant limitations, including poor biocompatibility and limited ability to promote wound healing. To address the issue, this study used aldehyde polyethylene glycol as the cross-linking agent to design a carboxymethyl chitosan-methacrylic acid gelatin hydrogel with enhanced biocompatibility, which can promote wound healing and angiogenesis. The CSDG hydrogel exhibits acid sensitivity, with a swelling ratio of up to 300%. Additionally, it exhibited excellent resistance to external stress, withstanding pressures of up to 160 kPa and self-deformation of 80%. Compared to commercially available chitosan wound gels, the CSDG hydrogel demonstrates excellent biocompatibility, antibacterial properties, and hemostatic ability. Both in vitro and in vivo results showed that the CSDG hydrogel accelerated blood vessel regeneration by upregulating the expression of CD31, IL-6, FGF, and VEGF, thereby promoting rapid healing of wounds. In conclusion, this study successfully prepared the CSDG hydrogel wound dressings, providing a new approach and method for the development of hydrogel dressings based on natural macromolecules.
Production, characterization, and potential phenol content of various grades liquid smoke made from coconut shell waste (Cocos nucifera L.)
Authors: Masfria  , Syahputra H , Wahyuni H S , Zebua N F , Rahmansyah W
Published: June 2024

Liquid smoke contains various compounds that can be grouped into groups of phenolic compounds, acids, and groups of carbonyl compounds. These compound groups act as antimicrobials, antioxidants, flavoring, and coloring agents. Because liquid smoke can act as an antimicrobial and antioxidant, liquid smoke can be used as a preservative. Liquid smoke is classified as grade 3, 2, and 1 according to its properties and applications. The results of this research are phytochemical analysis for all variations of liquid smoke, showing the content of phenols, flavonoids, tannins, glycosides, and steroids/triterpenoids. The characterization results of various grades liquid smoke (3; 2; 1) respectively are yield (9.75% w/w; 60%v/v; 50.9%v/v), pH value (2.68; 2.46; 2.42), total acid (13.44%; 14.34%; 17.36%), specific gravity of (1.0499; 1.0435; 1.0421 g/mL), total phenol content (23.0186; 12.3135; 7.8879), Pb and Cd levels of 0.218; 0.207; 0.202 mg/L and 0.019; 0.010; 0.008mg/L. Identification using UV-Vis and FTIR spectrophotometry. Isolation using thin-layer chromatography showed that it contained flavonoids with an Rf value of 0.31, 0.31, 0.29. The conclusion was that various grades liquid smoke can be produced with appropriate characteristics and have high total phenol potential.
Effect of methanol purity on biodiesel production from lauric acid using esterification reaction
Authors: Burmana A D , Alexander V , Tambun R , Haryanto B , Sarah M
Published: June 2024

Indonesia is a leading country in agriculture, thus opening up great opportunities for the development of biodiesel. However, the main challenge is ensuring the sustainable acquisition of feedstock, including using methanol as a reactant to manufacture biodiesel. Making biodiesel using lower-purity methanol is possible. This study aims to compare the effect of methanol purity on biodiesel manufacturing. This research uses esterification reactions to manufacture biodiesel from lauric acid and methanol. The catalyst used is an amberlyst catalyst. A design was applied using catalyst amounts of 5% to 20% and variations in the purity of methanol from 95% to 99%. The best esterification reaction conditions are obtained at 99% methanol purity and 20% catalyst amount, which is 98.9%. In contrast, there is no significant difference in results for the flash point obtained, and the results obtained have met the standards of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM).
Physical properties of pectin edible film with kepok banana blossom filler as food packaging
Authors: Al Fath M T , Sarah M , Hasibuan G C R , Alifia K , Siagian A , Natasya T
Published: June 2024

Kepok banana blossom is a part of banana plants that provide high antioxidant content. An antioxidant is defined as a component that can reduce the microbial activity of edible film. This research aims to determine the effect of kepok banana blossom on the physical properties of edible film. The material used in this research is kepok banana blossom which is obtained from a local market in Medan, Sumatera Utara. Pectin edible film was made by using the casting solution method which includes 0 wt%, 1.wt%, 3 wt%, 5wt%, 7wt%, and 9 wt% of kepok banana blossom as fillers. The physical properties of the edible film are observed by using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR), density test, and water vapor transmission rate (WVTR). FTIR resulting from edible film indicates the decreased functional group along with the additional filler concentrations of 5%. The SEM result of the edible film shows the form of fibers and the fibers cover the cavity. To conclude kepok banana blossom as a filler has an influence on the value of the antimicrobial index on the edible film.
Characterization of a bioplastic spoon based on kepok banana (Musa acuminata balbisiana C.) starch with the addition of areca nut shells (Areca catechu L.) and glycerol
Authors: Dalimunthe N F , Ambarita E D , Barus L E , Hanief S
Published: June 2024

Bioplastic spoon is one of the complementary packaging for food products, especially instant food, its massive use makes plastic spoon waste contribute to reduce the plastic waste that is dumped into the environment. This study aims to produce and characterize bioplastic spoons made from kepok banana peel starch with areca nut shells as fillers and glycerol as plasticizer which is environmentally friendly. This study consisted of four stages, such as the stage of making Kepok Banana Peel starch, the stage of extracting cellulose rind of Areca Nut, the stage of making bioplastic spoons and the stage of testing parameters. Various concentration of the cellulose (0%; 5%; 15%; and 20% w/w) and glycerol (0 mL; 2 mL; 3 mL and 5 mL) was added to the mixture that contain 8 g of kepok banana peel starch and 150 mL of aquadest. Then, the mixture was moulded to spoon mold that made from flexi glass material and dried in an oven at a temperature of 60 0C for 5 hours and stored in the desiccator. The results showed that the properties of the bioplastic spoon such as tensile strength were decreased while more concentration of the areca nut shells and Glycerol was added. For the elongation of the bioplastic spoon, the addition of areca nut shells and glycerol can increased the elongation of bioplastic spoon. The SEM results show that the bioplastic spoon have a rough or unsmooth surface due to undissolved starch and cellulose fibers. Meanwhile for the biodegradation of the bioplastic spoon, the addition of areca nut shells and glycerol can increased the biodegradation of bioplastic spoon. In conclusion, these results indicate that the addition of areca nut shells and glycerol affects the properties of bioplastic spoon.
Analysis of the role of local government in the prevention of environmental damage of Lake Toba, North Sumatra, Indonesia
Authors: Eriza F , Ginting R , Marpaung N
Published: June 2024

This study aims to investigate the evaluation of the Lake Toba Priority Tourism Master Plan (LTPTMP) for the year 2022. Employing a qualitative research design, the research utilizes a thematic approach. Data collection involves interviews, observations, focus group discussions (FGDs), and document studies. The selection of informants is done through purposive sampling. Thematic analysis is employed for data analysis. Findings indicate that key stakeholders, such as local governments and ministries, exhibit a good understanding and implementation of the LTPTMP. However, the community and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the Lake Toba region lack awareness and knowledge regarding the LTPTMP. Challenges in implementing the plan include issues like lake water pollution, deforestation, the presence of waste, especially in tourist-frequented areas, low public understanding and awareness of resource conservation, and inadequate management by the Regional Government. Furthermore, the incomplete infrastructure network hampers visitors’ ability to explore various sites.
Styrax sumatranus J.J.Sm endophytes fungi and its potential as phosphate solubilizing and cellulose decomposition
Authors: Elfiati D , Susilowati A , Manalu M F , Mukrimin  , Hidayat A
Published: June 2024

Styrax sumatranus J.J.Sm is a plant from North Sumatra, which is widely used by community for religious rituals, medicines and it has economic value. Endophytic fungi are fungi that harbour inside the plant tissue without causing any negative effects to their host plant. Endophytic fungi isolated from the leaves and bark of Styrax sumatranus J.J.Sm. The aim of this research was to obtain endophytic fungi that have potential as phosphate solubilizing and cellulose decomposition. The bark and leaves of Styrax sumatranus J.J.Sm as a source of endophytic fungi were taken from Pandumaan village, Pollung District, Humbang Hasundutan Regency, North Sumatra. Test the potential of endophytic fungal as phosphate solubilizers using selective Pikovskaya media and as cellulose decomposition using carboxyl methyl cellulose (CMC) media plus congo red 0.1%. Then calculate the phosphate solubility index and cellulolytic index. The result show that, of 20 isolates tested, there were 12 isolates that had potential as phosphate solubilizers and 12 isolates had potential as cellulose decomposition. Phosphate solubility index dan cellulolytic index obtained range from 2.10-2.44 and 0.22-0.55 respectively.
The effect of heavy metal lead (Pb) removal by Hydrilla verticillata, Hygrophila polysperma, and Rotala rotundifolia plants on the height and dry weight of plants
Authors: Lase S R , Elimasni  , Munir E , Ziliwu D
Published: June 2024

Heavy metal lead is widely used in the industrial world, such as in the manufacture of batteries and cable coatings. Behind its benefits, heavy metal lead has become a pollutant waste that is dangerous for the survival of organisms because it is accumulative and difficult to degrade. This study aims to analyze the effect of aquascape plants removing lead heavy metal concentrations on plant height and dry weight. The experimental design used in this study was a factorial complete randomized design with two factors. The results showed that the plants in all types of treatment had a bioconcentration factor (BCF) value > 1 so the three aquascape plants were categorized as accumulators. This study’s removal of lead and heavy metals influenced aquascape plants’ height and dry weight. The highest increase in height occurred in Hygrophila polysperma (A2B0), while the smallest increase in height occurred in Rotala rotundifolia (A3B0). Measurement of plant dry weight at the end of the study showed that Hydrilla verticillata had the highest dry weight of 1.26 g while the lowest dry weight was owned by Rotala rotundifolia plants at 0.34 g.
Innovative sustainable business model: A case study of eco-tourism in Bukit Lawang
Authors: Ridho H , Harahap K , Loppies Y , Subarna D
Published: June 2024

Sustainable development has become a crucial issue and a moral obligation for all nations. However, the implementation of sustainable business practices in Indonesia, especially in the field of the tourism industry, including the Bukit Lawang tourist destination, is still weak. This encourages tourism managers to change their business model as a step towards making Bukit Lawang an international tourist destination. This can be achieved through competency development sustainable business management model. This article attempts to apply the design thinking model to creating innovative sustainable business model in tourism in the Bukit Lawang area, using qualitative research methods and design thinking procedures. The population of this study includes tourism managers and visitors in Bukit Lawang area. Sampling techniques such as stratified sampling and purposive sampling, and both primary and secondary data were collected. This article presents a framework for sustainable tourism businesses model in Bukit Lawang, which is built based on three dimensions: facilities, services and systems. This dimension serves as a key differentiator of sustainable value propositions in tourism businesses related to the three pillars of sustainability: economic, social and environmental. The focus of this framework is creating value sustainable tourism business regarding impact reduction, risk mitigation and compliance.
Potency of papaya leaf as green catalyst in biodiesel synthesis for transesterification of coconut oil
Authors: Taslim  , Iriany  , Sukeksi L , Bani O , Ikhsan M , Yuliantika Y
Published: June 2024

Papaya leaf is a promising biomass to be developed into a green catalyst for biodiesel synthesis. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of papaya leaves by calcination at 700°C for 3 hours, and to assess the created papaya leaf ash as a catalyst in biodiesel transesterification. Characterization of papaya leaf ash was carried out using SEM-EDX and FTIR. The results confirmed that papaya leaf ash contains metal oxides such as K2O, MgO and CaO which function as active components that catalyse the reaction. Transesterification of coconut oil was carried out at fixed molar ratio of oil to methanol (OTM) of 1:12, reaction temperature of 55-65°C, and catalyst load of 2-4wt.%. The highest yield of biodiesel was 97.36% with a purity of 99.39%. It was obtained at reaction temperature of 60°C, 3% catalyst load, and 150 min reaction time. The quality of biodiesel obtained was correspondent to European standards (EU 14214). The results confirm that papaya leaf ash may be used as a heterogeneous catalyst in the manufacture of biodiesel.
Replanting Eucalyptus as a sustainable solution for pulp industry: A review
Authors: Sembiring N , Herlim C , Febrilliandika B
Published: June 2024

Eucalyptus has emerged as a prominent raw material in the paper industry, with Eucalyptus globulus and Eucalyptus grandis being the most commonly used varieties. Its versatility has led to its widespread use in various paper products, including cigarette paper, napkins, white paperboard, and more. However, different eucalyptus species grown under varied conditions can influence morphology, chemical composition, pulping conditions, and paper quality. Hence, selecting the right species is crucial based on various indices, such as fibre diameter, holocellulose, lignin, and ash content. Replanting has been recognized as a natural approach to enhance freshwater availability and mitigate climate change, making it an essential strategy for sustainable eucalyptus production. This review examines 21 recent publications from diverse geographic locations, exploring the impact of replanting eucalyptus on pulp industries. The study highlights the significance of replanting eucalyptus as a sustainable solution for the pulp industry and discusses the ecological benefits, environmental considerations, and challenges associated with eucalyptus plantations. Through a comprehensive evaluation of previous research, this study aims to shed light on the optimal practices for replanting eucalyptus and its potential contributions to the thriving pulp industry.
Heavy metal remediation in copper (Cu) contaminated soil of Andosol and Latosol using spinach (Amaranthus sp.) as bioaccumulator
Authors: Rahmi E , Satriawan H , Ernawita  , Muliana
Published: June 2024

Concentration of heavy metal copper (Cu) which often present as pollutant in the environment can be minimized by one of remediation techniques called phytoremediation. It is a relatively inexpensive, simple, effective technique and showed minimal effect to the environment. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of spinach (Amaranthus sp.) in reducing Cu concentration in Andosol and Latosol soils. Three (3) different types of planting media namely Andosol, Latosol, and sandy soils with control treatment (without Cu) and Cu treatment (as CuSO4.5H2O) at a dose of 100 mg/kg or (1.5 gr per 5 kg of soil) were used in this study. The results showed that spinach was able to accumulate heavy metals both in the roots and leaves. However, heavy metal absorption was found to be higher in root tissue compared to other organs observed. The treatment of Latosol soil + compost with spinach plant showed the highest accumulation of Cu compared to other treatments. While in Andosol soils, Cu metal commonly found in the form of residues. Thus, it can be concluded that phytoremediation of Cu using spinach in Andosol and Latosol soil showed promising results.
Physical and mechanical properties of belangke (Gigantochloa pruriens) bamboo laminated boards modified with citric acid
Authors: Hartono R , Akbar M F , Sutiawan J , Diba F , Amirta R
Published: June 2024

Belangke bamboo can be used to produce laminated boards due to its good mechanical properties. This study investigates the physical and mechanical properties of laminated boards from belangke bamboo at various immersion times of citric acid. Bamboo lamina is arranged into laminated boards (3 layers of bamboo lamina) with dimensions of 30 x 15 x 1.5 cm (Length x Width x Thickness). Laminated boards were glued using isocyanate adhesive with glue spread level of 280 g/m2. Testing of this laminated board includes physical and mechanical properties. Testing of physical properties, including weight percent gain (WPG), density, moisture content (MC), and delamination. Meanwhile, mechanical properties include modulus of elasticity (MOE), modulus of rupture (MOR), and shear strength. The physical and mechanical properties of belangke bamboo laminated in this study resulted in WPG values ranging from 7.00-10.00%, density with a range of 0.79–0.86 g/cm3, moisture content with a range of 11.86-12.67%, delamination ranged from 0.00-7.77%, MOE ranged from 113686-127378 kg/cm2, MOR ranged from 516.97–578.95 kg/cm2, and shear strength ranged from 20.53–27.73 kg/cm2. The best of the physical and mechanical properties of citric acid-modified belangke laminated boards in this study were laminated boards with 24-hour immersion time
Effectiveness of waste management site reduce, reuse, recycle program in improving ecological citizenship
Authors: Dalimunthe M A , Suhendar A , Ritonga A R , Nasution F A , Nasution L N , Batubara P E O
Published: June 2024

Waste Management Site Reuse, Reduce, dan Recycle (3R) aims to process organic and inorganic waste into something that can be reused. The processed results of organic waste are fertilizers that can be used as a medium for fertilizing plants, while the processed results of inorganic waste can be in the form of shopping bags, wall hangings, flower pots, and other handicrafts. In addition to aiming to process organic and inorganic waste into something useful, another goal of Waste Management Site Reuse, Reduce, dan Recycle (3R) is also to help employ the surrounding community members of the beneficiary community. The main purpose of the Waste Management Site Reuse, Reduce, dan Recycle (3R) program is to improve the ecological citizenship of the community. This research uses qualitative methods to obtain the required data. This study’s results indicate that the Waste Management Site Reuse, Reduce, dan Recycle (3R) program could have been more effective. There are still many obstacles encountered in the implementation of the program.
The protein model of somatic embryogenesis genes of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) using Phyre2 and Swiss-model
Authors: Astari R P , Basyuni M , Siregar L A M , Damanik R I M , Arifiyanto D , Syahputra I
Published: June 2024

Somatic embryogenesis (SEs) is the capacity of plant-generated embryo structures to form a somatic cell. SEs in oil palm is one of the techniques used to produce clones with superior characteristics. It can maximize the oil palm crop’s productivity, whose demand increases every year. The identification of the structure of proteins can optimize the efficiency of the selection of the embryogenic culture. The somatic embryogenesis genes were collected from GeneBank at the NCBI. This study successfully describes the protein modeling of tree somatic embryogenesis genes in oil palms by Phyre2 and the Swiss model software. The ENOD93, HOX1 and RIk-OPff with the varied protein prediction the protein model of ENOD93 was detected with confidence of 81.5% by Phyre2, sequence identity of 76.6% with a range of 3-96 amino acids, and sequence similarity of 0.63 by Swiss-model. The sequence similarity of HOX1 was detected at 100% with a confidence level of 99.7% by the Swiss model. The protein model of RIk-OPff was predicted with 100% confidence in the range of 30–536 amino acids, and only in these genes were the trans-membrane helices.
Distribution of density and zoning patterns of mangrove forest in eastern coastal Sumatera, Indonesia
Authors: Samsuri  , Abdillah M R , Zaitunah A A , Utomo B , Sulistioadi J B
Published: June 2024

Indonesia has the largest mangrove forest in the world, touching 3.2 million hectares or the equivalent of 22.6% of the total mangrove forests, and the results of the updated national mangrove map in 2021 cover an area of 3,364,080 hectares. One of the mangrove ecosystems located in Wonosari Village, Panai Hilir District, Labuhanbatu Regency, focuses on analyzing each zone’s density distribution and formation. This study aims to analyze the density distribution of mangrove vegetation in 2002 and 2022 and the formation of mangrove vegetation. The method used in this research is NDVI analysis and IVI analysis by conducting vegetation analysis. The results obtained are the density of vegetation in 2002 and 2022, the highest density class value, namely density with an NDVI value range of 0.3 – 0.4 with an area of 415.61 ha in 2002 and 2022 with an area of 495.53 ha. The vegetation density class in 2002 and 2022, which experienced the greatest increase, was the vegetation density class covering an area of 79,92 ha, and the very dense vegetation density decreased by 111.80 ha. The mangrove vegetation formation is divided into three zones: the open zone found Rhizophora mucronata, Bruguiera parviflora, and Avicennia alba. In the middle zone found the species of Rhizophora mucronata and Bruguiera parviflora, and in the back zone, which is on the mainland, found the species of Xylocarpus granatum, Acrostichum aureum, Excoecaria agallocha.
Implementation of geographic information system in relation to land cover changes in the Leuser National Park area from 1990 to 2020
Authors: Rahmawaty  , Arif R , Zahrah M , Ismail M H
Published: June 2024

In recent years, there have been pressing issues that need immediate attention regarding land cover change in Leuser National Park, particularly in BPTN Region III Stabat, Indonesia. The objective of this study is to analyze the land cover changes that have occurred between the years 1990 and 2020 in BPTN Region III Stabat, Leuser National Park, Indonesia. The methodology employed includes temporal and spatial analysis, with data processing carried out using ArcMap 10.4 software. The land cover categories considered in the analysis include primary dryland forest, secondary dryland forest, shrubland, plantation, open land, water body, dryland agriculture, and mixed dryland agriculture. The findings of this study indicate that the largest land cover area was recorded in 1990, with primary dryland forest covering approximately 192,188.92 hectares, while the smallest land cover area was open land, covering around 3.31 hectares. Over the entire period from 1990 to 2020, the largest decrease in land cover area was observed in secondary dryland forest, amounting to approximately 5,546.23 hectares, whereas the largest increase in land cover area was observed in dryland agriculture, totaling around 4,201.75 hectares.
Nature interpretation in green space of Universitas Sumatera Utara
Authors: Harahap M M , Ahmad A G , Ulfa M , Wirabuana P Y A P
Published: June 2024

Universitas Sumatera Utara competes with various other campuses to win the title of the best Green Campus through the UI Green Metric ranking. Tree vegetation at USU is also an added value for the campus. The campus is a favorite location for people to visit and enjoy the environmental services. The interest of visitors who come is certainly an opportunity as well as a challenge for USU to continue maintaining and developing tree vegetation which is a provider of environmental services for the surrounding. Therefore, research on the potential nature interpretation activities in green space at USU needs to be done and studied further. This study used field observation techniques by visiting various locations. Field findings data are described descriptively and tabulatively. The green space of USU has various potential locations for nature interpretation and environmental education, such as; bird watching, rare vegetation species, fruit spots, sports, photography, wildlife behavior, and flowering periods of vegetation. The results are expected to be useful in the learning process about the environment for the academic community and visitors who come, efforts to maintain a microclimate, develop further research, and support efforts to mitigate global warming.
Utilization of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Technology to Identify Land Cover in Kedai Damar Village, Serdang Bedagai, North Sumatera
Authors: Arinah H , Purba M A , Affifah N
Published: June 2024

Remote sensing has been widely used in various fields, one of which is to provide information related to land cover classification Kedai Damar Village is one of 13 villages in the Tebing Tinggi sub-district, Serdang Bedagai Regency. The settlement of Kedai Damar is the one that is most remote from the headquarters of the high cliffs sub-district. This settlement is situated in the center of the PT.Perkebunan Nusantara-IV plantation region in Pabatu North Sumatera. As a result, several rural towns have opened shops providing food and other essentials to farmers and farmworkers in order to rely on PT. Perkebunan Nusantara-IV plantation. This research was conducted in the Kedai Damar Village administrative center area using unmanned aircraft technology and then visually interpretation of aerial photos and mapping administrative area land cover in the Kedai Damar Village administrative center area using processed data in the form of orthophoto from agisoft metashape software. Based on the results of the study, the Kedai Damar Village area has 5 types of land cover classifications that can be identified visually based on 9 elements of interpretation (hue, color, shape, size, texture, pattern, shadow, site and association) as well as ground checks or data collection and observations. In the field. there are 5 types of land cover that can be visually identified, including non-oil Palm, open land, factory Area, settlement, oil palm plantations.
Analysis of land cover changes on the Sumatran Orangutan (Pongo abelii) habitat due to forest fires in Gunung Leuser National Park
Authors: Thoha A S , Saraswita N , Wiranata D , Sirait S M K , Inaldi R , Charloq
Published: June 2024

Gunung Leuser National Park (GLNP) is home to Indonesia’s native species, the Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii). The GLNP in some of its areas has experienced forest degradation, one of which is by land clearing activities by burning. The purpose of this study is to analyze land cover changes due to forest fires in the habitat of Sumatran orangutans in GLNP, Langkat Regency, North Sumatera Province. This study used temporal and spatial analysis of fire hotspot data with land cover. Temporal analysis of land cover changes was conducted between before and after forest and land fires in the study area. There are at least 6,783 ha of forest fires, of which 1,541 ha were habitat distribution areas for Sumatran orangutans. From 2000-2019, 158 hotspots were detected, of which 36 hotspots were in the distribution area of Sumatran orangutan habitat. Land cover in the study area has mostly changed from primary dryland forest to plantations. The primary dryland forest that remained in the study area only 483.51 Ha in 2019 after converting since 2000. Communities around GLNP need to be assisted in the process of ecosystem restoration through a conservation partnership pattern to restore the function of the area, one of which is as a habitat for Sumatran orangutans.