Thermoplastic starch-polyvinyl alcohol composite films were prepared by casting method with cellulose nanofibers as reinforcement agent and glycerol as plasticizer. The obtained cellulose nanofibers with a diameter of 27.23 ± 8.21 nm were isolated from oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFBs) by mechanical treatment. The addition of cellulose nanofibers until 3 wt% increased tensile strength and crystallinity of the composite films. In contrast, it decreased their elongation at break and water vapor transmission rate. Meanwhile, the addition of glycerol increased elongation at break and water vapor transmission rate of film matrix but lowers tensile strength of composite films.

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Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is among the many complications of diabetes and it takes a very long period of time to heal. It can lead to the amputation of the lower limb, thereby resulting to death or in most cases, a bad quality of life. The aim and objective of this study is to assess the effect of bitter melon leaves extracts on serum TNF-α levels and improvement of diabetic foot ulcers. The study technique used here is the randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial. Thirty patients suffering from DFU participated in the trial and according to PEDIS scores were divided into two groups, of which 15 patients were in the treatment group and administered with bitter melon leaves extract at a dose of 6 g/day and the remaining 15 patients were in the control group and were given placebo. This intervention was done for 4 weeks and the examination of serum TNF-α levels was carried out at baseline and at the end of treatment. The readings of the healing process for diabetic foot ulcers with PEDIS scores were also taken at baseline, weeks 2, 3 and 4. Data were analyzed using the paired t-test and the independent t test. After 4 weeks of treatment, there was a decrease in baseline serum TNF-α levels in the treatment and control groups (29.5 ± 8.6 pg/ml, P = 0.0001 and 202.5 ± 610.2 pg/ml, P = 0.001). There was no effect on serum TNF-α levels (P = 0.28). There was a decrease in PEDIS degrees from baseline, week 2, 3 and 4 in the treatment and control groups (2.7±0.5; 2.7±0.5; 2.7±0.6; 1.9±0.6 and 2.6±0.5; 2.6±0.5; 2.5±0.6; 2.2±0.8). However there was no effect on diabetic foot ulcer improvement both groups in week 2 (P = 0.46), week 3 (P = 0.57) and week 4 (P = 0.29). Bitter melon leaves extracts is proven to have no effect on the serum TNF-α levels and improvement of diabetic foot ulcers.

Abstrak: Lingkungan kampus yang kondusif dapat mempengaruhi prestasi belajar mahasiswa sedangkan lingkungan kampus yang tidak sehat akan membuat siswa merasa stres, menurunnya motivasi belajar mahasiswa yang pada akhirnya mempengaruhi prestasi belajarnya.Tujuan dari penelitian ini untuk menemukan variable-variabel lingkungan kampus berdasarkan preferensi mahasiswa yang mempengaruhi prestasi belajar mereka. 166 mahasiswa Business School diminta memberikan unsure-unsur variable lingkungan kampus yang nyaman berdasarkan preferensi mereka. Berdasarkan jawaban dari responden, terdapat Sembilan variabel lingkungan kampus yang sesuai dengan teori yaitu ukuran ruang kelas, tata letak ruang kelas, kebersihan kampus, fasilitas internet, fasilitas perpustakaan, suhu udara di ruang kelas, tingkat kebisingan, hubungan antara mahasiswa, hubungan mahasiswa dengan dosen. Sembilan variable tersebut kemudian dimasukkan dalam kuesioner penelitian untuk mencari urutan preferensi tertinggi dan terendah. 157 mahasiswa (84 perempuan dan 73 laki-laki) diminta untuk menjawab kuesioner. Sembilan mahasiswa diambil sebagi pengujian validitas dan reliabilitas kuesioner. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa variabel lingkungan kampus yang dapat mempengaruhi prestasi belajar mereka dan yang mendapat peringkat tertinggi adalah hubungan antara dosen dan mahasiswa, urutan berikutnya adalah kebersihan kampus. Variabel yang mendapat urutan terendah adalah fasilitas internet.Kata kunci: Lingkungan kampus, preferensi mahasiswa, prestasi belajar. PENDAHULUANLingkungan kampus yang kondusif dapat meningkatkan motivasi belajar mahasiswa dalam rangka meningkatkan prestasi belajar mereka. Lingkungan kampus yang kondusif yang meliputi hubungan yang baik antara sesama mahasiswa serta hubungan antara mahasiswa dengan dosen, lingkungan fisik seperti ukuran kelas, suhu udara di dalam ruang kelas, pengendalian kebisingan, kebersihan kampus. Lingkungan kampus yang kondusif dapat mempengaruhi prestasi belajar mahasiswa. Lingkungan yang tidak sehat akan membuat siswa merasa stres dan pada akhirnya menurunkan motivasi belajar mahasiswa yang pada akhirnya mempengaruhi prestasi belajarnya.Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menemukan apakah terdapat pengaruh lingkungan kampus terhadap motivasi belajar mahasiswa sehingga dosen dan semua pihak yang terlibat di dalam pengelolaan universitas dapat menggunakannya untuk meningkatkan motivasi belajar mahasiswa. TEORI DAN PENELITIAN TERDAHULULingkungan kampus adalah lingkungan dimana mahasiswa menjalani proses belajar dan melakukan aktivitas. Pengertian lingkungan kerja dapat memberikan kesamaan defenisi dari pengertian lingkugan kampus.Sihombing (2004) menyatakan bahwa: "lingkungan kerja adalah faktor-faktor di luar manusia baik fisik maupun non fisik dalam suatu organisasi. Faktor fisik mencakup peralatan kerja, suhu di tempat kerja, kesesakan dan kepadatan, kebisingan, luas ruang kerja sedangkan non fisik mencakup hubungan kerja yang terbentuk di perusahaan antara atasan dan bawahan serta antara sesama karyawan".Lingkungan kerja...

Anopheles mosquitoes may be incriminated as malaria vectors by observing sporozoites in their salivary glands and by testing heads or thoraces by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect Plasmodium species-specific circumsporozoite proteins (CSP). This study tested Anopheles collected in Sungai Nyamuk Village for the presence of both Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax CSP. The Anopheles spp. were collected by human landing collection indoors and outdoors and by indoor and outdoor resting catches in Sungai Nyamuk Village, Nunukan District, North Kalimantan Province from August 2010 to January 2012. Overall, 5,100 Anopheles spp. comprising 11 species were collected and 2,259 adult parous females were tested by ELISA. Of these, only one Anopheles peditaeniatus Leicester (3.8%, n = 26) and one Anopheles sundaicus sensu lato (0.6%, n = 157) that originated from outdoor biting catches tested positive for P. falciparum CSP. The remaining females from indoor biting, outdoor resting, and indoor resting catches were negative for P. falciparum and P. vivax proteins. Confirmation of these vectors biting outdoors indicated that P. falciparum transmission may be occurring outside of houses by An. peditaeniatus and An. sundaicus.