Basil leaves are known as sprinkling spice that has a distinctive aroma and provides a unique taste. Basil also contains active substances that have the potential to be developed into an antihypertensive drug.

Rising blood pressure is often accompanied by various conditions such as severe headaches, impaired consciousness, and nausea and vomiting. These symptoms can also be suspected as symptoms of hypertensive encephalopathy, a complication of hypertension in the brain.

It is estimated that 3% of Indonesia’s population suffers from hypertension in 2015. Several hypertension drugs have also been circulated, such as ACE inhibitors and vasodilator drugs to lower blood pressure. However, these drugs cannot provide a neuroprotective effect that can reduce nerve damage to the central nervous system.

After knowing the potential of basil leaves as an anti-hypertensive drug, five UGM students, members of the UGM Exact Research Student Creativity Program (PKM) team consisting of Zahrandika Putra (Medicine 2019), Cici Yulian (Medicine 2019), Martinus Yayan (Medicine 2019), Medicine 2020), Talitha Tara (Kimia 2018), and Afif Akmal (Kimia 2018) conducted a 3-month study to develop and investigate antihypertensives found in basil leaves.

“Hypertension is a disease that many people suffer from in Indonesia. If not treated immediately, it can lead to stroke, kidney failure, and hypertension encephalopathy. This prompted us to research the content and test the potential of extracted basil leaves for antihypertensive drugs and neuroprotective agents,” said Zahrandika in a release on Friday (27/8).

Zahrandika explained that the active substance in basil leaves, linalool, is useful as a neuroprotective and antihypertensive agent that inhibits the movement of calcium in calcium channels, which can lower blood pressure. In addition to linalool, eugenol is contained in basil leaves which causes dilation of the aortic blood vessels so that it can also reduce blood pressure in people with hypertension.

“We process the basil leaves into thick extracts by immersing them in ethanol for three days. Next, we evaporate the result of the immersion to get the thick extract,” explained Talitha.

Basil leaf extract was tested for its content using the GC-MS instrument and tested on a rat animal model.

“There are five groups of rats, three, four, and five groups of hypertensive rat models were given basil leaf extract at different doses. The result showed a significant decrease in blood pressure compared to the rat model group that received no extract,” added Cici.

This research should be further developed and used as an alternative drug for hypertension encephalopathy.

Source: https://www.ugm.ac.id/id/berita/21604-mahasiswa-ugm-gali-potensi-ekstrak-daun-selasih-sebagai-obat-anti-hipertensi

The UGM Faculty of Agricultural Technology (FTP) collaborates with four partners to support the implementation of Tridarma of Higher Education, marked by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and Cooperation Agreement (PKS) online on Friday (27/8).

The MoU and PKS were signed by the Dean of UGM FTP, Prof. Harmayani with representatives from four partners, the Lumbung Pangan Indonesia Foundation, Hadji Kalla Foundation, PT Bawa Indonesia Global, and BMKG DIY.

“We appreciate all partners who sincerely support universities in producing future leaders from FTP for the country’s progress,” explained the Dean of FTP.

Cooperation with partners, she explained, is carried out to create harmonious synergies between academia, industry, humanitarian organizations, business people, and government agencies.

FTP and Hadji Kalla Foundation collaborate to improve welfare through developing local natural potential in the provinces of South Sulawesi, West Sulawesi, Central Sulawesi, and Southeast Sulawesi.

“The purpose is to assist the government in improving the welfare of the community through agriculture, both upstream and downstream,” said the Executive Director of the Hadji Kalla Foundation, Mohammad Zuhair.

Meanwhile, the collaboration with PT Bawa Indonesia Global is in the form of educational cooperation and entrepreneurship assistance to produce new entrepreneurs from the UGM FTP’s younger generation so they can contribute to improving welfare.

“There are many things to do, the focus of which is the freedom to learn and freedom to work. If you only study without working, the impact is less pronounced,” said Commissioner of PT Bawa Indonesia Global, Eka Sari Lorena.

The Lumbung Pangan Indonesia Foundation and UGM FTP work together to develop the independent village program through campaigns and community education programs, mentoring and empowering women, and research activities.

Hendro Utomo, the founder of the Lumbung Pangan Indonesia Foundation, said that this collaboration happens because UGM FTP can support the foundation’s goal of contributing to the food sector.

“We believe that UGM FTP has the same direction. With cooperation, it will be easier to achieve,” he said.

In addition, UGM FTP is also collaborating with BMKG DIY regarding the Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka program at the Climatology Station of Class IV, Sleman in the form of off-campus learning activities.

“We hope that all stakeholders can produce innovators who bring accurate and precise observational data to realize the safety of Indonesians from the threat of potential natural disasters,” explained Reni Kraningtyas, Head of Climatology Station of Class IV, Sleman.

Source: https://www.ugm.ac.id/id/berita/21600-ftp-ugm-tandatangani-perjanjian-kerja-sama-dengan-empat-mitra

Latex gloves are personal protective equipment (PPE) commonly used when working in the laboratory. However, since the Covid-19 pandemic, latex gloves are not only used by people who work in laboratories but also by medical personnel and the general public. The use of latex gloves aims to protect the hands from the contamination of this dangerous virus. However, without us realizing it, latex glove waste has had a huge impact on all aspects of life during the pandemic, one of which is the environmental aspect. Even though latex gloves are needed during the pandemic, it has become a new problem for the environment.

As part of the Student Creativity Program-Exact Research (PKM-RE) UGM FMIPA, Mandrea Nora (2019), Aditya Yuan Pramudyansyah (2018), Rangga Indra Riwansyah (2019), and Nanda Tasqia Amaranti (2019) managed to process latex gloves waste into diesel fuel under the supervision of a Chemistry Lecturer at the UGM Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences Mokhammad Fajar Pradipta .

According to Mandrea Nora, this innovation began when several members of the team discussed medical waste problems due to the Covid-19 pandemic. After discussion and reading some literature, they finally submitted the idea as a PKM RE proposal. “We found that latex gloves have the main chemical composition Polyisoprene polymer. When pyrolyzed, it will produce a hydrocarbon compound in Limonene form. Limonene is a hydrocarbon compound with a C10 fraction that has a high potential to be used as diesel fuel,” he explained in a release sent Monday (23/8).

The process of processing latex gloves waste into fuel uses the pyrolysis method. Pyrolysis of latex gloves was carried out at a temperature of 350 degrees Celsius for 3 hours to obtain the pyrolysis oil. “Furthermore, the pyrolysis oil is purified through the Hydrocracking process to obtain the diesel fuel,” he said.

To determine whether the fuel produced belongs to the diesel fuel fraction, they identified compounds using the Gas Chromatography – Gas Spectroscopy method and did physicochemical tests on the fuel. “The test results were then compared with those on diesel fuel on the market,” he explained.

Source: https://www.ugm.ac.id/id/berita/21574-tim-mahasiswa-ugm-ubah-limbah-sarung-tangan-lateks-jadi-bahan-bakar-diesel

The PKM-PI team of UGM Vocational School students Catur Wardana, Robertus Tirta Kuncoroadi, Arvieka Gusta Pramudya, Santi Rahayu, and Arya Amanda Putra created a batik dryer integrated with an automatic control system.

Under the supervision of Harjono, the team developed a tool that could solve problems for one of the batik centers from Kulon Progo, the Sinar Abadi Batik SME.

When the team visited partners, Sinar Abadi Batik SME revealed the problems experienced by partners in maintaining the stability of batik cloth production.

“So far, the production of our batik cloth often experiences ups and downs. The results are uncertain. Some days we can produce a maximum of 60 clothes a day, but other days only 30 clothes. This is due to unpredictable weather, which affects the drying process of batik cloth,” said Subi as the partner in charge on Tuesday (24/8).

Partners also explained that if the weather is predictable, you must still be careful in the drying process because the nature of drying batik cloth should not be exposed to direct sunlight and wind. Problems related to production are most severe during the rainy season because production can drop by up to 50%. Decreased production will also have an impact on declining turnover.

Based on these problems, the PKM-PI student team provided creative innovations by making a batik dryer that uses water heat for a heater.

Catur Wardana, team leader, explained that the heat from the water is processed through the system into hot air, which will be distributed to the drying room until the average drying room temperature is 42 °C so that the batik cloth dries quickly. The system is centrally integrated and can be controlled automatically.

“With the realization of this PKM-PI, it is hoped that it will facilitate and assist partners in the drying process of batik cloth so as to shorten the drying time and work efficiently, which has an impact on the stability of production results without worrying about facing uncertain weather changes but still maintaining the quality of the batik cloth itself. We also hope that many of these tools are made in other batik SMEs so that not only Sinar Abadi Batik SMEs can benefit from this tool,” said Catur.

Source: https://www.ugm.ac.id/id/berita/21575-tim-pkm-pi-ugm-ciptakan-alat-pengering-kain-batik-saat-cuaca-tak-menentu

Future Skills Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FSF Fisipol UGM) held a Future Skills Festival on Saturday (21/8) to welcome 11,000 FSF lecture participants.

The activity was carried out online as the opening of a series of FSF Fisipol UGM lecture programs. FSF is a lecture program organized by UGM Fisipol and is open to all Indonesians. The courses offered are diverse, ranging from the social entrepreneurship sector, leadership, and environment, to creative industries.

FSF Executive Director, Ageng Sajiwo, said that this August, FSF Fisipol UGM entered Batch 4 with a total of 11,000 enrolled students in 420 cities and 613 universities and took 44 multinational organizations as collaborating partners. FSF Fisipol UGM held a Future Skills Festival to open a series of lecture programs.

“The event is held online and is the first event in Indonesia hosted by a presenter using an Artificial Intelligence (AI) system,” he explained.

FSF activities have the concept of Talks, Entertainment, and Charity. Each concept has a different segment of performers and activities. The Talks were filled by 44 multinational companies who were collaborators of the UGM FSF Fisipol. Entertainment was enlivened by music artist and comedian Yuliono Singsoot, with the theme Stand up ComEDU.

The Charity concept is focused on a social campaign for selling donated t-shirts which will be held on August 8-21, 2021. The sale of t-shirts aims to help convections that have experienced a decline in income since the pandemic. T-shirt buyers can also pay more money to donate.

The donation will be distributed to residents undergoing self-isolation, MSMEs, and children who have lost their parents due to Covid-19.

Ageng said that the FSF Fisipol UGM would continue to be implemented continuously. That way, students and the general public who have not had time to register for Batch 4 Future can still take part in the next batches. Complete information about FSF Fisipol UGM can be accessed through the website www.futureskills.id or Instagram @futureskills.id.

“Through this activity, students and the general public are expected to have a broad view of the future of the younger generation through various issues and aspects. Thus, in the future social problems can be overcome by optimizing all existing resources,” he explained.

Source: https://www.ugm.ac.id/id/berita/21569-fisipol-ugm-gelar-future-skills-festival-sambut-11-ribu-peserta-kuliah

The Ministry of Communication and Information of the Republic of Indonesia (Kominfo RI), the National Digital Literacy Movement SIBERKREASI, and the Center for Digital Society (CfDS) Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada officially launched a series of Digital Intelligence Courses 2021.

The purpose of holding the courses included in the Merdeka Belajar, Kampus Merdeka (Independent Campus, Freedom to Learn; MBKM) of the Ministry of Education and Culture is to encourage the development of digital skills of the participants, especially digital literacy and digital mindset.

The Director General of Informatics Applications of the Ministry of Communication and Information, Semuel Abrijani Pangerapan attended the first lecture session, which was followed by a Digital Intelligence Discussion with Iqbaal Ramadhan as a representative of Indonesia’s digital talent.

“In developing digital intelligence, we must also pay attention to ethics to what extent technology should be developed,” said Semuel when explaining the urgency of digital intelligence in his inaugural lecture Friday (20/8).

He also added that the Digital Intelligence course aims to provide the basis for ethical philosophy in technology development, especially digital intelligence.

The Digital Intelligence course with more than 9,600 participants consists of 2 classes, Basic Digital Intelligence and Advanced Digital Intelligence. In Basic Digital Intelligence, participants will learn about the digital mindset, design thinking, and the introduction of basic coding (HTML, CSS, SQL). In the Advanced Digital Intelligence Class, there are three main streams:

1. Cybersecurity for All with the support of lecturers from Universitas Gadjah Mada and DRC Campus Fryslân the University of Groningen
2. Data Science for Social Goods supported by teachers from AINO Indonesia
3. AI with a cause supported by experts and teachers from Huawei Indonesia.

“All innovations and program collaborations are expected to build Indonesia’s Digital HR,” added Samuel.

Hopefully, this course can provide new learning experiences and improve digital literacy and knowledge so that later it can be implemented in various scientific fields that can solve various problems in Indonesia.

Source: https://www.ugm.ac.id/id/berita/21568-ugm-luncurkan-mata-kuliah-kecerdasan-digital

UGM Vocational School (SV) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with SUN Energy to increase applied student competition at UGM SV. SUN Energy is a company that develops solar power system projects in Indonesia.

The signing of the SV MoU with SUN Energy was carried out virtually on Wednesday (18/8). The Dean of UGM SV, Agus Maryono, President Director of PT. Surya Utama Nuansa (SUN Energy), Roy Wijaya, and the Director of PT. Surya Utama Nuansa (SUN Energy), Garry Perdana attended this event. This event was also witnessed by the Director General of Vocational Education Ministry of Education and Culture Republic of Indonesia, Wikan Sakarinto, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (KESDM) RI, Chairman of the Indonesian Solar Energy Association (AESI), Fabby Tumiwa, as well as academics and renewable energy activists.

The Dean of UGM SV, Agus Maryono, said that with this collaboration, students would have the opportunity to do internships while studying at SUN Energy for approximately one year. The internship experience can be used as a final project with supervisors from UGM SV and PT. Surya Utama Nuansa (SUN Energy).

Agus Maryono hopes that this form of collaboration can produce high-quality scientific works of applied science, where there is a combination of knowledge between theory on campus and direct experience in the field.

“Hopefully, the targets of this collaboration can be realized soon,” said Agus.

Director of SUN Energy, Garry Perdana, said he was proud of the collaboration between SV UGM and SUN Energy. Garry said that SUN Energy is committed to supporting and implementing the Tridharma of higher education, namely education, research, and community service.

“We hope that this collaboration will motivate other education actors in Indonesia to contribute with the government and other stakeholders in supporting the achievement of (renewable) energy targets,” said Garry.

Through the collaboration between SV UGM and SUN Energy, there will be several forms of activities within the next three years. These include constructing rooftop PLTS (Solar Power Plant) and a mini simulation of PLTS laboratory, providing a team of experts from SUN Energy to become practicing lecturers and supervisors for UGM undergraduate students, and internship opportunities for UGM undergraduate students.

Source: https://www.ugm.ac.id/id/berita/21552-sv-ugm-tandatangani-mou-dengan-sun-energy

The Si Wolly Nyaman Program, a program to control Dengue Fever (DHF) by applying Wolbachia-infused mosquito technology, was re-opened on August 9, 2021. This program was implemented by the Sleman Regency Government in collaboration with World Mosquito Program (WMP) Yogyakarta, UGM, and the Tahija Foundation.

The Si Wolly Nyaman program was temporarily postponed throughout July 2021 to support the implementation of Emergency PPKM in Sleman. Based on the pandemic situation and the PPKM level 4 policy, and after going through a series of coordination and evaluation meetings, the Sleman District Health Office and WMP Yogyakarta agreed to restart the care of Wolbachia-infused mosquito eggs in stages with strict health protocols.

Task Executor Head of the Sleman Health Office, Cahya Purnama, said that Si Wolly Nyaman’s operational activities will begin with coordination and communication with related parties on 2 August. It will continue with bucket care at foster parents’ homes and public facilities on 9 August gradually in each zone.

The Executive Manager of WMP Yogyakarta, M. Ridwan Ansari, explained that due to the temporary delay in replacing Wolbachia-infected mosquito eggs for approximately one month during July 2021, it is possible that the percentage of Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes in the area is still low.

“The mosquito egg care at foster parents’ homes and public facilities, which started on 9 August, was the first release. So the bucket care will take place from August 2021 to January 2022,” he explained on Wednesday (18/8).

Cahya added that the procedure for implementing the Si Wolly Nyaman program would still be carried out in accordance with the health protocol for preventing the transmission of Covid-19. First, WMP Yogyakarta cadres and staff still adhere to the health protocols, including wearing masks, washing hands with soap and running water, maintaining distance, staying away from crowds, and limiting mobilization and interaction when doing bucket care.

Second, they try to minimize the number of people and the duration of time, especially during the briefing process for the preparation of bucket storage. Third, the process of keeping the bucket and replacing eggs is done without contact with the foster parents, so that they can communicate with each other via WhatsApp or SMS before storing the eggs.

Fourth, foster parents, cadres, and WMP Yogyakarta staff who are in close contact or have been exposed to Covid-19 are requested to inform openly to prevent local transmission. Fifth, providing food or drink on-site to WMP cadres/staff on duty is not allowed.

“Because the percentage of Wolbachia is still low, it does not completely protect the community from dengue infection. Sleman residents need to be more alert to dengue by carrying out Mosquito Nest Eradication (PSN) including 4M Plus and practicing a Clean and Healthy Lifestyle (PHBS),” explained Cahya.

Source: https://www.ugm.ac.id/id/berita/21551-kegiatan-operasional-program-si-wolly-nyaman-di-kabupaten-sleman-kembali-dimulai

Natural sciences and social sciences have different roles in society. Professor Wening Udasmoro, Dean of the UGM Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB), sees the task of social science and humanities throughout history to criticize the hegemony of technology during the inaugural lecture webinar for the 2021/2022 academic year. The webinar discussed ‘From Humanities to Social Engineering: A Critical Review of the Crisis of the Humanities in the Digital Age’ on Monday (16/8).

Prof. Wening explained that technology has many advantages beneficial for humans. But on the other hand, it causes problems as well.

The role of social sciences and humanities has been around since the 19th century, especially in the industrial revolution and capitalism. The technology we know was developing at that time, technology 1.0 (mechanization and steam engines), provided convenience. However, it also created social problems due to the establishment of factories: high rates of poverty, depression in the workforce, and suicide.

“There were issues of well-being, welfare, and happiness, fought for by social scientists and humanities at that time,” explained Wening.

Criticism of technological hegemony continued into the 20th century. In the 20th century, the social sciences and humanities reacted against the phenomenon of war and the presence of high-level war technology. Many social scientists and humanities have questioned “human existence” during these wars.

“Human prowess in creating war technology has been criticized for destroying humans themselves,” said Wening.

In the 21st century, human civilization enters the digital era. Wening said that in today’s digital era, it is necessary to realize that society is not homogeneous. There are groups that lack knowledge of technology. Wening explained that social science and humanities have a major contribution to defending these marginalized groups.

“People who lack knowledge on technology also need to be given space in economic policies so that they can survive poverty, although they don’t use a smart phone,” concluded Wening.

Source: https://www.ugm.ac.id/id/berita/21546-peran-ilmu-sosial-dan-humaniora