Communicative Action to Level the Playing Field in Forest Plantations in Indonesia

The government of Indonesia allocated state land to private companies to establish forest plantations. However, ownership of this land was contested by some Sumatran communities. The plantation company, endorsed by the government, quickly developed a partnership to resolve the conflict, but this was unclear and inequitable. Action research was carried out to facilitate communication among stakeholders. This communicative action changed some perceptions and shared values began to emerge. A forum was established, which contributed to equitability producing a better partnership. This research is a model for empowering local communities in climate change, bioenergy, and food security negotiations.     

Calcitriol Treatment Attenuates Uric Acid-Induced Kidney Injury via Super Oxide Dismutase-1 (SOD-1) Upregulation and Fibrosis Reduction

Background:Hyperuricemia induces nephropathy through the mediation of oxidative stress, tubular injury, inflammation, and fibrosis. The high uric acid level is associated with the reduction of vitamin D levels. However, the reno-protective effects of this vitamin in hyperuricemia condition remain unknown. This study aimed to elucidate calcitriol treatment in a uric acid-induced hyperuricemia mice model. Methods:Uric acid (125 mg/kg BW) was administered intraperitoneally for 7 (UA7) and 14 (UA14) days. Calcitriol (0.5 g/kg BW) was intraperitoneally injected for the following seven days, after 14 days of uric acid induction (UA14VD7 group). The control group received NaCl 0.9%, by the same route. Serum creatinine was measured using calorimetric method, and uric acid levels were assessed using enzymatic calorimetric assay. Tubular injury and fibrosis were assessed using PAS and Sirius red staining. RT-PCR and qRT-PCR were carried out for the analyses of SOD-1, Collagen-1, and TGF-1 mRNA expression in the kidney. Immunostaining of SOD-1 was performed to detect its expression in the kidney. Results:Uric acid and creatinine levels markedly increased in UA14 groups, followed by an exacerbation of tubular injury. RT-PCR revealed the upregulation of Collagen-1 and TGF-1, along with the downregulation of SOD-1. Calcitriol treatment attenuated the injury with reducing uric acid and creatinine levels, as well as tubular injury. This was associated with lower Collagen-1 and TGF-1 mRNA expression compared to the UA7 and UA14 groups. SOD-1 was upregulated in epithelial cells in the UA14VD7 group. Conclusion:Calcitriol treatment after uric acid induction may attenuate kidney injury through upregulation of SOD-1 and downregulation of Collagen-1 and TGF-1 gene expression. Key Words: Fibrosis, Hyperuricemia, Kidney injury, Superoxide dismutase-1, Vitamin D     

Molecular characterization of Trichoderma strains from West Sumatera,Indonesia and their beneficial effects on rice seedling growth

Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology - This study aims to elucidate the molecular characterization of Trichoderma strains isolated from rice soil rhizosphere from paddy cultivation in West...     

Correction to: Molecular characterization of Trichoderma strains from West Sumatera,Indonesia and their benefcial efects on rice seedling growth

Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology - A correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12892-021-00097-2     

Characterization of major,unused, and unvalued Indonesian wood species I. Dependencies of mechanical properties in transverse direction on the changes of moisture content and/or temperature

Mechanical property changes due to the moisture content (MC) and/or temperature changes were examined for 15 Indonesian wood species. A static bending test was carried out at 20°C, 65% relative humidity (air-dry), and water-saturated at 20°C (wet-20) and 80°C (wet-80). For individual test conditions, modulus of elasticity (MOE) and modulus of rupture (MOR) increased linearly with specific gravity regardless of wood species; however, maximum deflection did not correlate with specific gravity for any MC or temperature conditions. The relative values of MOE and MOR measured in wet-20 to air-dry conditions were variously affected from slightly to strongly depending on the wood species. However, the relative values always decreased markedly when saturated in water at 80°C, regardless of wood species. The relative MOE, MOR, and maximum deflection values due to the change in MC or MC and temperature combined were independent of specific gravity but may be dependent on wood type: softwood or hardwood.     

Method for measuring viscoelastic properties of wood under high temperature and high pressure steam conditions

A method for measuring the viscoelastic properties of wood under high temperature and high pressure steam was developed using a testing machine with a built-in autoclave. A newly developed load cell capable of resisting a steam pressure of 16kgf/cm² and a temperature of 200°C was installed in the autoclave. This load cell could be used to determine precisely the loads while steaming at temperatures from 100°C to 200°C. In addition to load-detection problems, it was necessary to avoid the nonuniform thermal degradation of wood during the measurement process under steaming at high temperatures. This nonuniform degradation could be minimized by shortening the time required for the wood to attain thermal equilibrium using specimens conditioned to the fiber saturation point. According to this method, a stress relaxation curve for sugi (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) wood being compressed while steaming at 180°C was obtained. The stress was seen to decrease rapidly with time, reaching almost zero at 3000s.     

Effect of dietary essential fatty acids on level of oestradiol‐17β and vitellogenin,reproductive performance and larval quality of striped catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) in out‐of‐spawning season

A study was conducted to determine the effect of essential fatty acid in striped catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) broodstock diets on a level of oestradiol‐17β and vitellogenin, reproductive performance and larval quality in out‐of‐spawning season. Five female and five male broodstock were stocked into a net cage (3 × 5 × 1.5 m³) and fed with pelleted diets containing 1.5% fish oil and different amounts of corn oil (CO) in diet formulation, that is 0%, 1%, 2% and 3% respectively. Gonadal development, oestradiol‐17ß and vitellogenin concentrations were examined every 2 weeks. Oestradiol‐17ß and vitellogenin concentrations showed an increase during the maturation process. The significantly highest percentage of female mature, fecundity, hatching rate, larval production and larval survival rate were obtained from fish fed with 2% corn oil in the diet. This result revealed that the administration of 2% corn oil in the diet as a source of n‐6 (linoleic acid) and 1.5% fish oil as a source of n‐3 (linolenic acid) can improve the reproductive performance of striped catfish broodstock in out‐of‐spawning season.     

On-farm selection for quality and resistance to pest/diseases of cocoa in Sulawesi: (ii) quality and performance of selections against Phytophthora pod rot and vascular-streak dieback

The cocoa industry in Sulawesi, the main region of cocoa production in Indonesia, is threatened by destructive diseases, including vascular-streak dieback (VSD) caused by the basidiomycete Oncobasidium theobromae and stem canker and Phytophthora pod rot (PPR) or black pod, caused by Phytophthora palmivora. Using the considerable genetic diversity of cocoa on farms, host resistance was identified and tested with the participation of farmers. Forty-nine local and international cocoa selections with promising resistance characteristics (as well as susceptible controls) were side-grafted onto mature cocoa in a replicated trial with single-tree plots. Developing grafts were assessed in the dry season for severity of VSD infection, scored from 0 (no infection) to 4 (graft death). All of the 49 clones in the trial became infected with VSD in at least some replicates. Average severity varied from 0.2 to 1.6. Potential VSD-resistance was found in eight clones, including DRC 15, KA2 106 and a local Sulawesi selection, VSD2Ldg. Some of the most susceptible clones were local Sulawesi selections from areas with a history of little or no VSD. Thirty-four pod-bearing clones were evaluated over a 2-year period for yield, quality and resistance to natural infections of PPR. Cumulative PPR incidence for all clones was 22% but varied from 8.6 to 43% among clones. Clones with less than 15% PPR incidence were designated as resistant, including DRC 16 and local Sulawesi selections, Aryadi 1, Aryadi 3 and VSD1Ldg. Scavina 12 was moderately resistant in the trial with a PPR incidence of 23%. Cumulative incidences of the mirid, Helopeltis spp., determined in the same evaluation period, indicated that DRC16 was the most susceptible clone with an incidence of 52% in ripe pods and 23% in immature pods. In comparison, KKM4 showed evidence of resistance to Helopeltis spp., with incidences of 34 and 0.8% in ripe and immature pods, respectively. The impact of diseases and pests (including cocoa pod borer) on bean losses and bean quality varied between clones but generally the bean size (or bean count) was affected more than the fat content or shell content.     

Properties of oriented strand board made from Betung bamboo (Dendrocalamus asper (Schultes.f) Backer ex Heyne)

Bamboo has gained increasing attention as an alternative raw material for use in the manufacture of composite boards. Three-layer OSBs were made using Betung bamboo (Dendrocalamus asper (Schultes.f) Backer ex Heyne) strands to evaluate the effects of strand length and pre-treatment techniques on the physical, mechanical, and durability properties. Three different strand lengths, namely 50, 60, and 70?mm, were prepared. Prior to the manufacture into OSB, the strands were immersed in cold water for 24?h and in 6% acetic anhydrides solution for 48?h. The OSBs were fabricated using 5% MDI resin based on the strand dry weight. The results indicated that MOR and MOE values in perpendicular to the grain direction were much influenced by strand length. The dimensional stability of OSB was slightly improved by immersing the strands in acetic anhydride solution. Immersing strands in cold water and acetic anhydride solution improved the resistance of OSB against subterranean termite (Macrotermes gylvus) attack under the adopted experimental condition. All OSB parameters manufactured in this experiment were better than the minimum requirement of CSA 0437.0 (Grade O–2) standard.