Sebelas Maret University

About: Sebelas Maret University is a education organization based out in Surakarta, Indonesia. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Public health. The organization has 10901 authors who have published 10832 publications receiving 33057 citations. The organization is also known as: Universitas Negeri Surakarta & Universitas Sebelas Maret.

Accelerated Weathering and Water Absorption Behavior of Kenaf Fiber Reinforced Acrylic Based Polyester Composites

Abstract: Nonwoven kenaf (KF) mat reinforced acrylic-based polyester bio-resin composites that were prepared by an impregnation process followed by compression molding. They were exposed to the durability test of accelerated weathering and water absorption. Accelerated weathering test through UV irradiation caused modification in chemical, mechanical, surface appearance and color change of the composites. Two competing reactions occurred throughout the exposure period, i.e. post crosslinking and photo-oxidation process. FTIR analysis revealed that the former occurred at the early stage of exposure while the latter towards the end of the exposure, exhibited by an accentuated increase in carbonyl and vinyl index. The post-crosslinking process contributes to the improvement in flexural properties and thermal stability of the composites, whereas the oxidation process does not. SEM observation showed that the degradation by photo-oxidation resulted in the formation of voids and blisters on composite’s sample. Water uptake of all composites was found to follow Fickian behavior. Good recoveries (exceeding 79 %) of flexural properties were obtained upon re-drying. However, a significant reduction in flexural strength and modulus was obtained in the wet state condition. SEM observation revealed that full recovery was not possible because of the impairment of the -matrix interfacial region. Relatively higher flexural properties were exhibited by alkali-treated KF composites even after the durability test due to the improved strength and –matrix adhesion following the treatment.

Pembuatan Pupuk Organik dari Kotoran Ternak untuk Meningkatkan Produksi Pertanian

Abstract: Tujuan pengabdian ini adalah memberikan pelatihan dan praktek pembuatan pupuk organik dari kotoran ternak di Desa Kaliboto, Kecamatan Mojogedang, Kabupaten Karanganyar. Kompos merupakan pupuk organik yang berasal dari sisa tanaman dan kotoran hewan yang telah mengalami proses dekomposisi atau pelapukan. Bahan pembuatan pupuk kompos pada umumnya menggunakan kotoran sapi. Keunggulan dari pupuk kompos ini adalah ramah lingkungan, dapat menambah pendapatan peternak dan dapat meningkatkan kesuburan tanah dengan memperbaiki kerusakan fisik tanah akibat pemakaian pupuk anorganik secara berlebihan. Kelompok Tani Desa Kaliboto merupakan kelompok tani yang beternak sapi potong jenis sekaligus melakukan penanaman padi di sawah. Limbah kotoran ternak yang dihasilkan dari kelompok tani tersebut belum diolah secara maksimal untuk digunakan sebagai pupuk organik pada lahan pertanian. Selama ini, petani masih mengandalkan pupuk kimia sebagai sumber utama pupuk. Penggunaan pupuk kimia secara berkepanjangan dapat menyebabkan kerusakan fisik pada tanah, selain itu biaya pembelian pupuk juga relative mahal. Oleh karena itu pelaksanaan program pengabdian kepada masyarakat ini dengan memberikan paket teknologi pembuatan pupuk organik dengan bahan dasar kotoran sapi. Kegiatan penyuluhan dan praktek pembuatan pupuk organik sudah dilaksanakan di kelompok tani tersebut. Hasil pupuk organik yang diperoleh diharapkan dapat diaplikasikan pada lahan pertanian untuk mengurangi penggunaan pupuk kimia.

The Effectiveness of Guided Inquiry and INSTAD towards Students’ Critical Thinking Skills on Circulatory System Materials

Abstract: Critical Thinking Skills (CTSs) are fundamental skills possessed by students to adapt to the external challenges of 21st-century. To empower students’ CTSs, Guided Inquiry and INSTAD may work effectively. This research aimed to see the effectiveness of guided inquiry and INSTAD toward students’ critical thinking skills. This research was a quasi-experimental. The instrument to get the CTSs data was a valid essay test according to Facione. The sampling technique employed was the intact group sampling method. The number of participants involved was 188 XI grade science program students of SMAN 7 Surakarta; a middle-quality school. The total number of research sample was 64; 32 students in the Guided Inquiry class and the other 32 students in the INSTAD class. Hypothetical test using ANCOVA resulted in a 5% of significance level. The results indicated that there were significant differences of CTSs on circulatory system topic between the INSTAD and Guided Inquiry class. The students who experience the INSTAD class has higher CTSs than those joined the Guided-Inquiry class.

Student Achievement Based on the Use of Scientific Method in the Natural Science Subject in Elementary School

Abstract: This research aims at investigating elementary school student achievement based on the use ofscientific method in teaching science from the test item types, as reflected by the item difficulty indexusing the classical test theory (CTT) and modern test theory (IRT). The first stage in developing the test was preparing the learning continuum of scientific method aspects by referring to the learning continuum of science process skill as developed by the previous existing research. In this research, the learning continuum was validated by expert judgment. As the tests were administered/carried out at the same time, four sets of tests were developed and administered to students of Grade 1 to 6 in Yogyakarta and Sleman Regency in the 2016-2017 school year. Samples were taken from three Technical Management Units (TMUs). Three TMUs were determined by observing the distribution of school locations from the center to the suburbs. The items were analyzed using CTT and IRT.The results of the research show that the student achievement reflected by item difficulty index based on CTT and IRT indicates the same level of category except for several sub-aspects. Those items from certain testsindicate higher difficulty level for Grade 4 to 6 students than for Grade 1 to 3 students. This case is not relevant to the expected learning outcomes.

The direct exploitation in the mangrove ecosystem in Central Java and the land use in its surrounding; degradation and its restoration effort

Abstract: The aims of the research were to find out (i) the direct exploitation in the mangrove ecosystem, (ii) the land use in its surrounding, and (iii) the restoration activities in the mangrove ecosystem in northern coast and southern coast of Central Java Province. This was descriptive research that was done qualitatively, in July until December 2003, at 20 sites of mangrove habitat. The data was collected in field surveys, in-depth interview to local people and/or local government, and examination of topographic maps of Java (1963-1965) and digital satellite image of Landsat 7 TM (July-September 2001). The result indicated that the direct exploitation in the mangrove ecosystem included fishery, forestry, food stuff, cattle woof, medicinal stuff, industrial material, and also tourism and education. The land use around mangrove ecosystem included fishery/embankment, agriculture, and the area of developing and building. The anthropogenic activities had been degraded mangrove ecosystem, it was called for restoration. The mangrove restoration had been done success in Pasar Banggi, but it failed in Cakrayasan and Lukulo.© 2006 Jurusan Biologi FMIPA UNS SurakartaKey words: direct use, land use, mangrove ecosystem, degradation, restoration, Central Java Province.