ITB Research Bulletin Issue 3 2023

July – September 2023

Issue 3

FOCUS

COVER STORY

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT

Innovations Based on Robust Research

Hints of 'Life' on Titan

Anti-infective Properties of The Golden Spice Curcumin

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Innovations Based on Robust Research R. Sugeng Joko Sarwono, Ph.D. | Head of Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development

6-7 COVER STORY

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Hints of 'Life' on Titan

REVIEW ARTICLES

8-12 RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT

 A freeze-thaw PVA hydrogel loaded with guava leaf extract: physical and antibacterial properties  Microplastic distribution in surface water and sediment river around slum and industrial area (case study: Ciwalengke River, Majalaya District, Indonesia)  Organic matter mineralization in modern and ancient ferruginous sediments  PCM-based passive air conditioner in urban houses for the tropical climates: An experimental analysis on the stratum air circulation  Competitive adsorption of multicomponent volatile organic compounds on biochar  Using PS-InSAR to detect surface deformation in

geothermal areas of West Java in Indonesia  Applying knowledge, social concern and perceived risk in planned behavior theory for tourism in the COVID-19 pandemic  Evaluating the potency of Sulawesi propolis compounds as ACE-2 inhibitors through molecular docking for COVID19 drug discovery preliminary study  Structural, spectroscopic and optical gain of Nd3+ doped fluorophosphate glasses for solid state laser application  Microplastic Contamination in the Human Gastrointestinal Tract and Daily Consumables Associated with an Indonesian Farming Community

16 PROFILE AND AWARDS

18-19 EXPOSURE

The Future of Metallurgical Green Technology

- International Research Activities

Prof. Dr.Ing. Zulfiadi Zulhan

 Plant-derived exosomelike nanoparticles: A concise review on its extraction methods, content, bioactivities, and potential as functional food ingredient  Routes for energy and biosilica production from rice husk: A comprehensive review and emerging prospect  A Disquisition on the Active Sites of Heterogeneous Catalysts for Electrochemical Reduction of CO2 to Value-Added Chemicals and Fuel  Review on tannins: Extraction processes, applications and possibilities  Anti-infective Properties of the Golden Spice Curcumin  Reactive Oxygen Species and Antioxidants in Postharvest Vegetables and Fruits

o Advisory Board: Prof. Ir. N. R. Reini Djuhraeni Wirahadikusumah, MSCE, Ph.D, Vice Rector for Research Innovation: Prof. Ir. I Gede Wenten, M.Sc., Ph.D, Chair of Institute for Research and Community Services: Dr. Ir. Yuli Setyo Indartono, The Head of the Communication and Public Relations Bureau: Dr. Naomi Haswanto, M.Sn. o Editor-in-chief: Dr.rer.nat. Rino Rakhmata Mukti, S.Si., M.Sc. o Associate Editors: Deny Willy Junaidy, S.Sn. , M.T., Ph.D., Mohammad Farid, S.T, M.T, Ph.D. o Editorial Support Staff: Noviyanti A.Md., S.M., Dian Sumardiana S.Kom, Adnan Insan Kamil S. S.T, Selvie Amriani S.Si., M.T., Ferdyansyah Poernama, A.Md.

FOCUS

Innovations Based on Robust Research R. Sugeng Joko Sarwono, Ph.D. Head of Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development

HE development of innovations at ITB is an integral part of a series of robust research activities. This process requires innovation to have a solid basse to related research activities. In our terminology, an innovator is a researcher, and this cannot be separated from one another. So that the innovations produced are based on strong research concept, and more over build on superior scientific culture.

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Scientific culture that we build means work ethic, that every innovative activity in ITB is the processed and produced from strong and intact solid research ethic. The superior scientific culture has been established in every aspect of research, with the process following certain standards. Scientists work on a scientific basis, they conduct research continuously, and when it comes to the innovation stage, of course they don’t work alone, they collaborate with other researchers.

When it comes to technological products, it’s definitely multidisciplinary. For example, if someone makes a bicycle, there must be a designer, electrical engineering, ergonomic designer, so it’s multidisciplinary.

At the research stage, one of the parameters is publication in a paper which then gets cited or referred to by many people, then it means that it triggers other research activities obtained from funding. Then at the technology product stage, products made according to the market must have an impact, and at the same time must have the posibility of being developed continuously, and must be able to be developed continuously so that it brings out an invention,

which is then followed by an impact in the form of commercialization, because it means that there is a need from society and industry.

One example that is being managed and has been completed is Katalis Merah-Putih. Initially, of course, from basic research conducted in the laboratory, then it became a product that was tested starting from a laboratory prototype by scientists in Chemical Engineering.

After succeeding at this stage, it was tried on a small scale and is now applied on an industrial scale with a technology readiness level above 7.

At this stage, innovation has reached the stage of being able to solve problems at the industrial level.

Good research that can be commercialized does have two

Student

Student

Faculties and Schools at ITB

Government

Chai

Chairman and Deputy

dichotomies, when we want to make a patent in a technology product, it is usually protected by intellectual property rights, it can be in the form of copyright, industry, patents, which in the process cannot be published openly, because once it has been published to become a patent it cannot be finished. Researchers sometimes have to choose whether to focus on papers whose publication has a strong impact on science or focus on products that have a big impact on society.

In this dichotomy, we try to create a balance. Focusing on the publication side that is strong gives an impact on being ‘globally respected’ from a scientific perspective. On this side, innovation focuses on method development. From the development of innovation, the strengths at ITB include the field of material sciences, both publications and papers.

Other leading fields are energy, transportation, pharmaceuticals, and art. In developing further innovation, the approach taken is to strengthen the multidisciplinary approach, a combination of science, engineering and art that should be impactful.

Start-up development at ITB is currently more picking up the ball, we don’t play on a competitive base but we look at a pin

point base, curating which researchers are ready to be pushed towards technology products that lead to downstream and commercialization. We invite these innovators to support us in terms of financing or facilitators to become a product that is ready to become a partner before being released to the public. We believe any innovations that build on strong scientific culture would make greater impact, for science and technology development, and for society to reach our sustainibility goals.*** Jumlah Number of Lisensi KI (kumulatif) Impressions 17 (Cumulative)

24

6 2

2 2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

518

Patents 451 386 310 193

108

135

Integrated Data Base 37

22

2016

2017

33 50

2018

74

2019

101

2020

114

2 2021

2022

Number of Partners Number of Partners

68

66

68

30

19

20 16

2021 2019

2022

2020

2018 2017 2016

rman of LPK

Industrial and business incubator

495

536 2022

2021

Entrepreneurship

Industry Cooperation (Accumulative)

358 2020

262 2019

144 93

IPR and Law

Divisions in LPIK

56 12

2018

2017

2016

5

2015

JULY – SEPT 2023 ISSUE 3

COVER STORY

Hints of ‘Life’ on Titan Paper abstract

E. Lellouch, M. A. Gurwell, R. Moreno, S. Vinatier, D. F. Strobel, A. Moullet, B. Butler, L. Lara, T. Hidayat, and E. Villard An intense thermospheric jet on Titan, Nature Astronomy Volume 3, Issue 7, Pages 614 – 619, 1 July 20192019 TIMES CITED

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The presence of winds in Titan’s lower and middle atmosphere has been determined by a variety of techniques, including direct measurements from the Huygens Probe over 0–150 km; Doppler shifts of molecular spectral lines in the optical, thermal infrared and millimetre ranges, which together have probed the ~100–450 km altitude range; inferences from the thermal field over 10–0.001 mbar (that is, ~100–500 km); and inferences from central flashes in stellar occultation curves. These measurements predominantly indicated strong prograde winds, reaching maximum speeds of ~150–200 m s−1 in the upper stratosphere, with important latitudinal and seasonal variations. However, these observations provided incomplete atmospheric sounding; in particular, the wind regime in Titan’s upper mesosphere and thermosphere (500–1,200 km) has remained unconstrained so far. Here we report direct wind measurements based on Doppler shifts of six molecular species observed with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA). We show that contrary to expectations, strong prograde winds extend up to the thermosphere, with the circulation progressively turning into an equatorial jet regime as the altitude increases, reaching ~340 m s−1 at 1,000 km. We suggest that these winds may represent the dynamical response of forcing by waves launched at upper stratospheric/mesospheric levels and/or of magnetospheric–ionospheric interaction.

We also demonstrate that the distribution of the hydrogen isocyanide (HNC) molecule is restricted to Titan’s thermosphere above ~870 km altitude.

On one of the Saturn planet’s satellites, Titan, there is an important finding about the existence of a thermospheric jet at the top, with an altitude of more than 900km. This phenomenon is like a high-speed wind. This finding was not found by the Cassini mission, a spacecraft that has been making serial observations since 2005 until 2017. “Our team got it because of the ALMA radio telescope built by the global consortium,” said Prof.

Dr. Taufiq Hidajat.

ALMA is the most advanced radio telescope in the world, and with the radio telescope, this is the second finding related to observations of Titan. “The first finding was before Cassini came to find the mesospheric wind, where the planet is rotating a lot faster than wind, it is called the superotation, the higher-than-wind rotation speed, which is so fast that we call it a jet,” he continued.

The importance of this finding, the first is that the Cassini mission did not detect this, even the Cassini mission has been 13 years in the Saturn system to pass through the thermosphere with a flight frequency of up to 70 fly-by. “From the ground base, the team can detect it because of the sophistication of the radio telescope used, the vision of utilizing spectrum lines to detect wind speed,” said Prof. Dr. Taufiq.

This thermospherci jet was discovered 1 year later by a team of scientists from the US. But its condition is unstable and changes rapidly, thus, adding to the complexity of Titan’s atmosphere. “So when our group in 2005 noticed mesospheric winds, before Cassini came to directly measure the wind density in Titan’s atmosphere,” Titan is a satellite larger than the moon with a thick

Prof. Dr. Taufiq Hidajat

atmosphere, and many organic molecules. This is related to its associated life, is there life there?”

Prof. Dr. Taufiq explained that unique energy molecules are created at the top and then brought down. “One relatively small satellite has more complexity than the earth’s atmosphere, the analogy is like a chemical factory and descends into rain on its surface. A satellite that has a liquid environment, like lakes, methane and ethane lakes, so it can be considered like a natural chemical factory,” he explained.

Earth’s primitive atmosphere This is an important finding, as it is the first time a satellite has been found to have a thick, complex atmosphere that is rich in chemicals. With some similarities to the atmosphere of primitive Earth, studying the atmosphere of the Titan can help us understand what our early history was like before life existed. For example, the Jupiter planet, which has four moons, including the largest, Ganimade Callisto, none of which have an atmosphere. “This means that by studying it, we get direct and indirect knowledge of the atmosphere of primitive earth,” he explained.

Prof. Dr. Taufiq explained that he was in a group of scientists who were very active in searching for organic molecules since 1992 when he completed his doctoral program. “This research has started since the 87s with the existence of the radio telescope unit. “In 2012, the inferometer radio telescope was combined with many radio telescopes as a large radio telescope. Image and distribution in the atmosphere, which becomes one opportunity without sending complex and expensive spacecraft. The analysis is of course complementary and fill between the ground base and the probe.

The method used is radio telescope observation at very short radio wavelengths. “Celestial bodies emit various radio wavelengths, At high frequencies we can detect the emission of organic molecules. When there are molecules between stars. “Carbon monoxide, for example, can emit radio waves

at certain wavelengths, and its abundance can be calculated, so that it can be used as information for radio wave observations,” explained Prof. Dr. Taufiq.

Prof. Dr. Taufiq admits that the search for the ‘molecules of life’ is one of his greatest interests. “From the beginning, I liked looking for organic molecules, so I went deep into the radio telescope. In the planets, one that stands out is Titan, after going through searches on Neptune and Jupiter. We are now expanding our search with ALMA to galactic sources, star-forming interstellar molecules. In the regions where stars are being born, it is expected that there will be planets with very rich sources of organic molecules. It’s a matter of time, how long it will take to find life elsewhere,” he said.

The simple organic molecules monitored include methane (CH4), CO2, CH3CN, HCN, which from these organic molecules can react in such a way as to become complex molecules. “Detecting amino acids, protein formation, life formation. Complex organic molecules. Glycine, the 20 amino acids that form life on Earth, is the simplest, and we are trying to detect glycine in interstellar material, while amino acids have been proven to exist in meteorites in Murchison, Australia. Fossilized meteors when the solar system formed, rocks didn’t process further, fell to earth, examples of very old rock samples. Nothing is native to the earth, organic molecules are where they are, when the solar system has not formed, there are in the interstellar cloud,” he explained.

Titan is a very interesting object because it is so rich, besides comets which are also very rich as a celestial object material which is thought to be quite rich in interstellar clouds.***

7 JULY – SEPT 2023 ISSUE 3

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS g HYDROGELS

A freeze-thaw PVA hydrogel loaded with guava leaf extract: physical and antibacterial properties A polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel loaded with guava leaf extract (GLE) has potential applications as a wound dressing with good antibacterial activity. This study succeeded in fabricating a PVA hydrogel containing GLE using the freezethaw (FT) method. By varying the GLE concentration, we can adjust the physical properties of the hydrogel. The addition of GLE results in a decrease in cross-linking during gelation and an increase in the pore size of the hydrogels.

TIMES CITED

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JOURNAL IMPACT FACTOR

3.9

Prof. Dr. Eng. Khairurrijal M.Si.

Waresindo, WX; Luthfianti, HR; Edikresnha, D; Suciati, T; Noor, FA; Khairurrijal, K RSC Advances, Volume 11, Issue 48, Pages 30156 - 301719 September 2021

The increase of the pore size made the swelling increase and the mechanical strength decrease. The weight loss of the hydrogel also increases because the phosphate buffer saline (PBS) dissolves the GLE. Increasing the GLE concentration caused the Fouriertransform infrared (FTIR) absorbance peaks to widen due to hydrogen bonds formed during the FT process. The crystalline phase was transformed into an amorphous phase in the PVA/GLE hydrogel based on the X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectra.

The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) characterization showed a significant decrease in the hydrogel weight over temperatures of 30-150 °C due to the evaporation of water from the hydrogel matrix. The zone of inhibition of the PVA/GLE hydrogel increased with antibacterial activity againstStaphylococcus aureusof 17.93% per gram and 15.79% per gram againstPseudomonas aeruginosa.*

g MICROPLASTIC

Microplastic distribution in surface water and sediment river around slum and industrial area Microplastic research in urban and industrial areas, including remote areas, have been conducted recently. However, there is still a lack of research about microplastic abundances in slum area. Ciwalengke River is located in Majalaya, Indonesia, which is dominated by slum and industrial areas that probably generate microplastics.

This research was conducted to investigate the distribution of microplastic around the slum area for the first time. Surface water and sediment samples of the river were obtained at ten locations and grouped into six segments location based on different land use at the riverbank. Microplastic particles were identified using binocular microscope and categorized by shape and size.

Prof. Emenda Sembiring, Ph.D.

TIMES CITED

216

JOURNAL IMPACT FACTOR

8.943

Firdha Cahya Alam, Emenda Sembiring, Barti Setiani Muntalif, and Veinardi Suendo Chemosphere Volume 224, Pages 637 – 645, June 2019

8 JULY – SEPT 2023 ISSUE 3

The average microplastic concentration were 5.85 ± 3.28 particles per liter of surface water and 3.03 ± 1.59 microplastic particles per 100 g of dry sediments. Microplastic concentration in the sediment samples were found to have significant differences in location segment (Kruskal Wallis test, p-value = 0.01165 < 0.05), but no significant differences were found in the water samples (Kruskal Wallis test; p-value = 0.654 > 0.05). In addition, microplastic distribution was dominated by fiber particle. More fiber shape might be derived from the direct clothing of residents in the river and fabric washing process in the textile industries.

This was also revealed by Raman spectroscopy test of several microplastic particles indicating that the type of microplastic were polyester and nylon.*

g BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLE

Organic matter mineralization in modern and ancient ferruginous sediments Deposition of ferruginous sediment was widespread during the Archaean and Proterozoic Eons, playing an important role in global biogeochemical cycling.

Knowledge of organic matter mineralization in such sediment, however, remains mostly conceptual, as modern ferruginous analogs are largely unstudied. Here we show that in sediment of ferruginous Lake Towuti, Indonesia, methanogenesis dominates organic matter mineralization despite highly abundant reactive ferric iron phases like goethite that persist throughout the sediment.

Ferric iron can thus be buried over geologic timescales even in the presence of labile organic carbon. Coexistence of ferric iron with millimolar concentrations of methane further demonstrates lack of iron-dependent methane oxidation. With negligible methane oxidation, methane diffuses from the sediment into overlying waters where it can be oxidized with oxygen or escape to the atmosphere. In low-oxygen ferruginous Archaean and Proterozoic oceans, therefore, sedimentary methane production was likely favored with strong potential to influence Earth’s early climate.*

TIMES CITED

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16.6

Prof. Dr. Satria Bijaksana Friese, A; Bauer, K; Glombitza, C; Ordonez, L; Ariztegui, D; Heuer, VB; Vuillemin, A; Henny, C; Nomosatryo, S; Simister, R; Wagner, D; Bijaksana, S; Vogel, H; Melles, M; Russell, JM; Crowe, SA; Kallmeyer, J Nature Communications, Volume 12, Issue 11 December 2021 Article number 2216

g INTERNAL THERMAL MASS

PCM-based passive air conditioner in urban houses for the tropical climates: An experimental analysis on the stratum air circulation Conventional room air conditioners consume a significant amount of energy, and thereby negatively affect the environment. In this perspective, passive air conditioning systems using phase change material (PCM) are very promising and widely investigated recently. In this study, influence of a PCM-based passive air conditioner on temperature distribution was experimentally studied in a test room under the local tropical climatic conditions.

Coconut oil and water were used for latent heat storage and sensible heat storage, respectively. A storage panel was constructed with two openings—an outlet for conditioned air and an inlet for indoor air, then filled with coconut oil or water to create an additional internal thermal mass (ITM) in the room. The storage material was discharged at night in the indoor or outdoor, and stratum air circulation was utilized to provide the conditioned air into the room during diurnal period. Temperature measurements were conducted at five vertical and five horizontal points.

The gained results showed that employing ITM heat storage panel in the room reduced peak temperatures and enhanced the thermal environment. Coconut oil ITM provided 0.5 °C lower peak temperature in the occupant zone while greater temperature reductions were observed in the upper zone compared to the reference case. In addition, ITM panel significantly decreased the observed temperature fluctuations throughout a day. This study revealed that ITM-based stratum air circulation can be a profound solution to the existing high energy consumption problem of conventional air conditioners used in the small urban houses under tropical climate.*

Prof. Dr. Ir. Surjamanto W. M.T.

TIMES CITED

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JOURNAL IMPACT FACTOR

7.093

Wonorahardjo, S; Sutjahja, IM; Tuncbilek, E; Achsani, RA; Arici, M; Rahmah, N Building and Environment Volume 192 April 2021 Article number 107632

9 JULY – SEPT 2023 ISSUE 3

g MULTI-COMPONENT SORPTION

Competitive adsorption of multicomponent volatile organic compounds on biochar Crude oil contaminated lands are recognised to have significant contributions to airborne volatile organic compounds (VOCs) with adverse effects on human health and tropospheric ozone. Soil capping systems for controlling harmful emissions are critical engineering solutions. Studies on the adsorption of single VOC species in biochar have shown promising results as a potential capping material; however, current understanding of mixed gas system and multi-component adsorption of VOCs on biochar is very limited.

Prof. Dr. Ir. Tirto Prakoso S.T, M.Eng. TIMES CITED

31

JOURNAL IMPACT FACTOR

8.943

Rajabi, H; Mosleh, MH; Prakoso, T; Ghaemi, N; Mandal, P; Lea-Langton, A; Sedighi, M Chemosphere Volume 283, November 2021, Article number 131288

We present, for the first time, the results of a study on competitive adsorption of mixed VOCs, including aromatic and non-aromatic VOCs commonly emitted from crude oil contaminated sites on two types of biochar pyrolysed at 500°C from wheat straw and bagasse as feedstock. The kinetics of sorption of multicomponent VOCs including acetone, hexane, toluene and p-xylene in biochar are studied based on the results of an extensive experimental investigation using a bespoke laboratory setup. Both biochar types used in this study presented a high sorption capacity for VOC compounds when tested individually (51–110 mg/g).

For the multicomponent mixture, the competition for occupying sorption sites on biochar surface resulted in a lower absolute sorption capacity for each species, however, the overall sorption capacity of biochar remained more or less similar to that observed in the single gas experiments (50–109 mg/g). The chemical interactions via hydrogen bonds, electrostatic attraction, and pore-filling were found to be the main mechanisms of adsorption of VOC in the biochar studied. The efficiency of biochar regeneration was assessed through five cycles of adsorption-desorption tests and was found to be between 88% and 96%. The incomplete desorption observed confirm the formation of likely permanent bonds and heel build-ups during the sorption process.*

g GEOTHERMAL

Using PS-InSAR to detect surface deformation in geothermal areas of West Java in Indonesia In this paper, the Persistent Scatterer InSAR (PS-InSAR) technique is applied in order to investigate the ground deformation in and around two geothermal areas in West Java, Indonesia. Two time-series of ALOS PALSAR and Sentinel-1A acquisitions, covering the period from 2007 to 2009 and 2015–2016, are analysed. The first case study examines the Wayang Windu geothermal zone where the PS-InSAR analysis provides an overview of the surface deformation around a geothermal reservoir. Uplift is observed around the injection wells in the area.

TIMES CITED

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JOURNAL IMPACT FACTOR

7.672

Dr. Eng. Asep Saepuloh S.T, M.Eng. Maghsoudi, Y; van der Meer, F; Hecker, C; Perissin, D; Saepuloh, A International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation Volume 64, Pages 386 - 396 2018

10 JULY – SEPT 2023 ISSUE 3

The second example involves the use of the PS-InSAR technique over a more recent geothermal system in Patuha field. Again, a pattern of uplift was observed around the only available injection well in the area. Due to the dense vegetation coverage of the geothermal areas in West Java, the longer wavelength ALOS PALSAR data is provides better results by identifying a larger number of PS points. Additionally, experiments have been carried out to compare the resulting deformation with another example of the fluid migration process i.e. water extraction in Bandung basin. The potential of sentinel-1A and ALOS PALSR data are compared in all the experiments.*

g THEORY OF PLANNED BEHAVIOR

Applying knowledge, social concern and perceived risk in planned behavior theory for tourism in the COVID-19 pandemic The paper aims to examine the effect of physical distancing control on the intention to travel during the pandemic and to assess the influence of knowledge, social concern and perceived risk on the theory of planned behavior (TPB). A total of 1,068 Indonesian respondents through a purposive sampling approach, filled out online questionnaires during the pandemic. The collected data were analyzed using partial least squares-structural equation modeling.

The results indicated that subjective norm as the external factor of the TPB has a stronger effect than the internal factors; attitude and behavioral control. It appears that in a collectivist society, prohibition enforced by family and friends, as well as the government’s sanctions have a stronger influence on one’s decision to travel. The findings also suggested that knowledge, perceived risks and social concern effect tourists’ behavior. Uncertainty and inadequate knowledge will decrease the level of perceived risk, which leads to lower control in practicing physical distancing and increasing intention to travel during the pandemic.

This paper offers useful insights for tourism planners in the government and private destination management levels. It is crucial for a destination management organization to understand the relationship between knowledge, perception and social concern with tourists’ behavior while traveling during pandemics.*

Dr. Ir. Heru Purboyo Hidayat Putro D.E.A.

TIMES CITED

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7.689

F. Rahmafitria, K. Suryadi, H. Oktadiana, H. P. H. Putro, and A. Rosyidie Tourism Review Volume 76, Issue 4, Pages 809 – 8282021

g MOLECULAR DOCKING

Evaluating the potency of Sulawesi propolis compounds as ACE-2 inhibitors through molecular docking for COVID-19 drug Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a global pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus2 (SARS-CoV-2). Up to date, there has been no specific cure to treat the disease. Indonesia is one of the countries that is still fighting to control virus transmission. Yet, at the same time, Indonesia has a rich biodiversity of natural medicinal products that potentially become an alternative cure. Thus, this study examined the potency of a natural medicinal product, Sulawesi propolis compounds produced by Tetragonula sapiens, inhibiting angiotensin-converting activity enzyme-2 (ACE-2), a receptor of SARS-CoV-2 in the human body. In this study, molecular docking was done to analyze the docking scores as the representation of binding affinity and the interaction profiles of propolis compounds toward ACE-2.

The results illustrated that by considering the docking score and the presence of interaction with targeted sites, five compounds, namely glyasperin A, broussoflavonol F, sulabiroins A, (2S)-5,7-dihydroxy-4-methoxy-8-prenylflavanone and isorhamnetin are potential to inhibit the binding of ACE-2 and SARS-CoV-2, with the docking score of −10.8, −9.9, −9.5, −9.3 and −9.2 kcal/mol respectively. The docking scores are considered to be more favorable compared to MLN-4760 as a potent inhibitor.*

Dr. Reza Aditama S.Si., M.Si. TIMES CITED

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3.829

Khayrani, AC; Irdiani, R; Aditama, R; Pratami, DK; Lischer, K; Ansari, MJ; Chinnathambi, A; Alharbi, SA; Almoallim, HS; Sahlan, M Journal of King Saud University Science, Volume 33, Issue 2March 2021 Article number 101297

11 JULY – SEPT 2023 ISSUE 3

g MATERIAL SCIENCE

Structural, spectroscopic and optical gain of Nd3+ doped fluorophosphate glasses for solid state laser application Nd3+ doped fluorophosphate glasses (PANCaFN) with chemical composition of (50-x) P2O5–12Na2O–8Al2O3– 10CaO–10KF–10CaF2-xNd2O3 (where x = 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 mol%) have been successfully prepared by meltquenching method and characterized by several techniques. The optical absorption measurements exhibited signature of Nd3+ absorption bands in fluorophosphate glasses showed.

Prof. Dr. Ing. Mitra Djamal TIMES CITED

71

JOURNAL IMPACT FACTOR

4.171

Rajagukguk, J; Situmorang, R; Fitrilawati; Djamal, M; Rajaramakrishna, R; Kaewkhao, J; Minh, PH Journal of Luminescence, Volume 216 December 2019 Article number 116738

The spectroscopic analysis have been carried out using Judd-Ofelt parameters and oscillator strength to determine radiative properties such as radiative transition probability (AR), branching ratio (βr), lifetime (τ), emission cross-section (σe) and quantum efficiency (η). The highest emission intensity was found at 1060 nm for transition 4F3/2 → 4I13/2 under excitation wavelength of 582 nm for PANCaFN2. The emission cross section, branching ratio and lifetime were evaluated and showed 4.92 × 10−20 cm2, 0.7 and 200 μs, respectively. More importantly, the outstanding quantum efficiency of PANCaFN2 could reach to 98.92%. The addition of Nd3+ ion into fluorophosphate glass could enhance the spectroscopic properties which could play as a potential candidate for solid state applications. Theoretical optical gain evaluation and experimental calculation confirmed that PANCaFN2 had the higher gain than other samples.*

g WASTE MANAGEMENT

Microplastic Contamination in the Human Gastrointestinal Tract and Daily Consumables Despite having the fourth largest population and being the fourth largest plastic waste producer in the world and second largest plastic polluter in the ocean, there are currently no data with respect to microplastic exposure for the Indonesian population. Several studies have reported on microplastic contamination in seafood and freshwater organisms from Indonesia, and it is likely that microplastics have contaminated the gastrointestinal tracts of Indonesians.

Husna Nugrahapraja S.Si., M.Si., Ph.D. TIMES CITED

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3.889

Wibowo, AT; Nugrahapraja, H; Wahyuono, RA; Islami, I; Haekal, MH; Fardiansyah, Y; Sugiyo, PWW; Putro, YK; Fauzia, FN; Santoso, H; Gotz, F; Tangahu, BV; Luqman, A Sustainability, Volume 13, Issue 22 November-2 2021 Article number 12840

12 JULY – SEPT 2023 ISSUE 3

Using Raman spectroscopy, we detected microplastic contamination in 7 out of 11 analyzed stool samples collected from a farming community in the highland village of Pacet, East Java, Indonesia. Polypropylene (PP) was the most abundant and prevalent type of microplastic observed, and it was found in four of the positive samples with an average concentration of 10.19 microgram per gram of feces (µg/g).

Microplastics were also detected at high concentrations in tempeh (soybean cake, a staple protein source for Indonesians), table salts, and toothpaste, which were regularly consumed and used by the study participants. PP was particularly high in table salts (2.6 µg/g) and toothpaste (15.42 µg/g), suggesting that these products might contribute to the gastrointestinal contamination in the studied population. This pilot study indicated microplastic contamination in the rural Indonesian population and in their daily consumables, demonstrating the far-reaching extent of microplastic pollution beyond urban areas.*

g BIOACTIVE COMPOUND

REVIEW ARTICLES

Plant-derived exosome-like nanoparticles: A concise review on as functional food ingredient Plant-derived exosome-like nanoparticles (PDENs) are small vesicles released by multivesicular bodies mainly to communicate between cells and regulate immunity against pathogen attack. Current studies have reported that PDENs could modulate gene expression in a cross-kingdom fashion.

Therefore, PDENs could be a potential future functional food ingredient as their cross-kingdom communication abilities were reported to exert multiple health benefits. Macrophage and other cells have been reported to absorb PDENs in a manner regulated by the membrane lipid and protein profile and the intactness of the PDENs lipid bilayer. PDENs could be extracted from plant materials by various techniques, though each method has its pros and cons. PDENs mainly contain lipid, protein, and genetic materials, mainly micro RNAs, which could exert multiple health benefits and functionalities when consumed in sufficient amounts.

However, most studies on the health functionalities of PDENs were conducted through in-vitro and in-vivo studies, and its potency to be used as a functional ingredient remains a question as PDENs are sensitive to storage and processing condition and requires costly extraction method. This concise review features various exosome extraction methods, contents of PDENs and their roles, the health functionalities of PDENs, and its potency as a functional food ingredient.*

TIMES CITED

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JOURNAL IMPACT FACTOR

3.693

Prof. Dr. Anggraini Barlian S. Suharta, A. Barlian, A. C. Hidajah, H. B. Notobroto, I. D. Ana, S. Indariani, T. D. K. Wungu, and C. H. Wijaya Journal of Food Science, Volume 86, Issue 7, Pages 2838 - 2850, July 2021

g BIOMASS UTILIZATION

Routes for energy and bio-silica production from rice husk: A comprehensive review and emerging prospect The high energy and silica contents of rice husks make them attractive for use in renewable energy and green chemical strategies. This review comprehensively discussed the potential route of rice husk utilization to energy and bio-silica simultaneously which is still lacking to investigate. About 1 tonne/h of rice husk combustion could produce about 600–700 kWh of averaged net electricity so that it can be employed to support a small and simple power plant.

Rice husk combustion in a suspension combustor seems to be appropriate to maintain the low combustion temperature at 700 °C in order to prevent the crystalline silica formation in the rice husk ash. The combustion efficiency is very high with 0.8% of unburnt carbon content in the ash as well as CO and NOx emissions are below 250 ppm. This review reveals that the industrial-scale for energy and amorphous bio-silica production from rice husk through a suspension combustor with optimized operating parameters emerges as a future prospect. It can lead to sustainability and self-reliance on chemicals and energy sectors.*

TIMES CITED

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JOURNAL IMPACT FACTOR

17.42

Prof. Yazid Bindar, Ph.D. S. Steven, E. Restiawaty, and Y. Bindar Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Volume 149, October 2021 Article number 111329

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g CATALYST

A Disquisition on the Active Sites of Heterogeneous Catalysts for Electrochemical Reduction of CO2 Renewable-electricity-powered electrocatalytic CO2 reduction reactions (CO2RR) have been identified as an emerging technology to address the issue of rising CO2 emissions. While the CO2RR has been demonstrated to be technically feasible, further improvements in catalyst performance through active sites engineering are a prerequisite to accelerate its commercial feasibility for utilization in large CO2-emitting industrial sources.

Wibawa Hendra Saputera, Ph.D. TIMES CITED

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R. Daiyan, W. H. Saputera, H. Masood, J. Leverett, X. Y. Lu, and R. Amal Advanced Energy Materials Volume 10, Issue 111 March 2020 Article number 1902106

The improved understanding of the interaction of CO2 with the active sites has allowed superior catalyst design and subsequent attainment of prominent CO2RR activity in literature. This review tracks the evolution of the understanding of CO2RR active sites on different electrocatalysts such as metals, metal-oxides, single atoms, metal-carbon, and subsequently metal-free carbon-based catalysts. Despite the tremendous research efforts, many scientific questions on the role of various active sites in governing CO2RR activity, selectivity, stability, and pathways are still unanswered.

These gaps in knowledge are highlighted and a discussion is set forth on the merits of utilizing advanced in-situ and operando characterization techniques and machine learning (ML). Using this technique, the underlying mechanisms can be discerned, and as a result new strategies for designing active sites may be uncovered. Finally, this review advocates an interdisciplinary approach to discover and design CO2RR active sites (rather than focusing merely on catalyst activity) in a bid to stimulate practical research for industrial application.*

g BIOMOLECULE

Review on tannins: Extraction processes, applications and possibilities Tannins are found in most of the species throughout the plant kingdom, where their functions are to protect the plant against predation and might help in regulating the plant growth. There are two major groups of tannins, i.e., hydrolyzable and condensed tannins. The tannins are being used as important and effective chemicals for the tanning of animal hides in the leather processing industry since the beginning of the industry. Additionally, the tannins have been using as mineral absorption and protein precipitation purposes since 1960s.

These are also used for iron gall ink production, adhesive production in wood-based industry, anti-corrosive chemical production, uranium recovering chemical from seawater, and removal of mercury and methylmercury from solution. Presently, tannins are considering as bioactive compound in nutrition science. It has also been considered for advanced applications, i.e., 3D printing and biomedical devices.

Dr. Rudi Dungani TIMES CITED

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JOURNAL IMPACT FACTOR

3.111

A. K. Das, M. N. Islam, M. O. Faruk, M. Ashaduzzaman, and R. Dungani South African Journal of Botany, Volume 135, Pages 58 - 70 December 2020

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The application of tannins as medicine is another new dimension in medical science.

This paper outlines the general information about tannins followed by their extraction process. The utilization of tannins has also been presented in a broader scale.

Depending on all these information, the article also describes the impending utilization of tannins for ensuring high-sustainability and better environmental performance.*

g NATURAL PRODUCTS

Anti-infective Properties of the Golden Spice Curcumin The search for novel anti-infectives is one of the most important challenges in natural product research, as diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, and fungi are influencing the human society all over the world.

Natural compounds are a continuing source of novel anti-infectives.

Accordingly, curcumin, has been used for centuries in Asian traditional medicine to treat various disorders. Numerous studies have shown that curcumin possesses a wide spectrum of biological and pharmacological properties, acting, for example, as anti-inflammatory, anti-angiogenic and anti-neoplastic, while no toxicity is associated with the compound.

Recently, curcumin’s antiviral and antibacterial activity was investigated, and it was shown to act against various important human pathogens like the influenza virus, hepatitis C virus, HIV and strains of Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, and Pseudomonas. Despite the potency, curcumin has not yet been approved as a therapeutic antiviral agent. This review summarizes the current knowledge and future perspectives of the antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal effects of curcumin.*

TIMES CITED

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JOURNAL IMPACT FACTOR

6.064

Prof. Dr. Heni Rachmawati D. Praditya, L. Kirchhoff, J. Bruning, H. Rachmawati, J. Steinmann, and E. Steinmann Frontiers in Microbiology, Volume 10, Issue May 2019 Article number 912

g NATURAL PRODUCTS

Reactive Oxygen Species and Antioxidants in Postharvest Vegetables and Fruits Reducing oxidative species to non- or less-reactive matter is the principal function of an antioxidant.

Plant-based food is the main external source of antioxidants that helps protect our cells from oxidative damage. During postharvest storage and distribution, fruits and vegetables often increase ROS production that is quenched by depleting their antioxidant pools to protect their cells, which may leave none for humans.

ROS are molecules produced from oxygen metabolism; some of the most widely analyzed ROS in plants are singlet oxygen, superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, and hydroxyl radicals. ROS concentration and lifetime are determined by the availability and composition of the antioxidant system that includes enzymatic components such as SOD, CAT, and APX and nonenzymatic components such as vitamins, polyphenols, and carotenoid. Depending on its concentration in the cell, ROS can either be harmful or beneficial.

At high concentrations, ROS can damage various kinds of biomolecules such as lipids, proteins, DNA, and RNA, whereas at low or moderate concentrations, ROS can act as second messengers in the intracellular signaling cascade that mediates various plant responses. Novel postharvest methods are sought to maintain fruit and vegetable quality, including minimizing ROS while preserving their antioxidant content.*

TIMES CITED

63

JOURNAL IMPACT FACTOR

0.562

Karlia Meitha, Ph.D. Karlia Meitha, Y. Pramesti, and S. Suhandono International Journal of Food Science, Volume 2020, Issue Dec 2020 Article number 8817778

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PROFILE AND AWARDS Prof. Dr.-Ing. Zulfiadi Zulhan, S.T., M.T.

The Future of Metallurgical Green Technology In the Pyrometallurgy laboratory in the building area of the Faculty of Mining and Petroleum Engineering ITB, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Zulfiadi Zulhan has successfully developed a Hydrogen Plasma Reactor that is able to convert tailings from laterite nickel ore processing into a piece of metal within 15 seconds. The reactor has also been tested with hematite iron ore, where metallic iron can be produced in less than 2 minutes. This reactor is a relatively new invention, compared to a similar reactor made in Germany in 2021 with a process time of more than 10 minutes for the same result. For comparison, the conventional blast furnace needs 6 – 8 hours to convert iron ore into hot metal (liquid pig iron). Furthermore, in the pyrometallurgy lab, a number of excellent tools and research towards metallurgical green processing technologies are being developed.

Upon returning from completing his doctoral program at the Institute for Ferrous Metallurgy (IEHK, Institut fuer Eisenhuettenkunde), RWTH Aachen University, and working for about 3 years at SIEMENS VAI Metals Technologies GmbH, Germany, in 2009 he was assigned to develop metallurgical laboratory in pyrometallurgy, a high-temperature metallurgical process. When he returned to the pyrometallurgy lab, there were only two furnaces available that were not functioning well. Since then, together with other lecturers, he has completed the necessary equipment, partly by setting aside personal funds or securing donations from partnering industries.

While completing the equipment in the period 2009 to 2013, research was functionally carried out through collaboration with the industry, involving students in specific projects that emphasized the calculations and simulations for industrial needs.

Starting in 2013, the laboratory began to be filled, and there was a collaboration with a German company. Students were actively engaged, and the outcomes were implemented in one of steel plant in China in 2014. The plant operation met expectations by applying the model developed in the laboratory.

“Cooperation with industry in Indonesia is increasing day by day. Most of the research conducted is needed by the industry because there are many industrial problems in Indonesia,” said Prof. Zulfiadi.

In line with various research conducted in the laboratory, international publications began to be released in a number of prestigious journals in 2018. This includes work on the iron extraction from iron sand concentrate using a muffle furnace.

“There is a lot of iron sand in Indonesia. In fact, it can be further developed into a pilot plant, but it

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requires a multidisciplinary team from various fields, involving mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, instrumentation and control specialists, civil engineers, and others,” he explained.

Subsequently, a number of papers have started to be published in Q1 journals, including those on the production of magnesium metal from ferronickel slag and dolomite. The magnesium metal production marks the first successful laboratory-scale research in Indonesia. “We have abundant dolomite raw materials in Indonesia, which hold great potential for further processing into magnesium metal. Dependency on the reducing agent from other countries, in the form of ferrosilicon, poses its own challenge,” continued Prof. Zulfiadi.

The position of research based on laboratory trials, according to Prof. Zulfiadi, is very important for industry. Various metal industries, such as iron and steel, tin, nickel, and others, require research for both optimizing existing processes and for development. So far, laboratory experiments have yielded excellent results, and some of them can be developed into a pilot plant.

Green Process In his laboratory, Prof. Zulfiadi and his colleagues are currently focusing on green metals processing technology, among other things, by using hydrogen as a reducing agent to substitute coal in order to decarbonize the metals industries. The experiment to simulate rotary kiln-electric furnace (RKEF) technologies using hydrogen gas was carried out in 2022, and the results were published in 2023. In line with the hydrogen, the using of methane gas as reducing agent was also explored.

Apart from hydrogen, municipal solid waste (MSW) was investigated to substitute coal as a reducing agent. The nickel ore was mixed with the treated MSW and heated up to 1400°C. The result showed that ferronickel can be produced. Detailed research is in progress, and the industrial trial is planned. In addition to that, a trial was also conducted to produce tin metal from tin ore using treated municipal solid waste as a reducing agent.

Another green-reducing agent used in metal processing is biomass. ‘We have tried palm kernel shells and coconut shell charcoal as a reducing agent to extract metals from ores. If we use green carbon sources, carbon-neutral metal processing can be realized,’ he explained.

The development of green process technology is a future challenge due to environmental issues and climate change triggering restrictions on carbon emissions. These include measures such as carbon taxes and the threat of stricter regulations on ‘dirty metals’ exports. There is a growing reluctance

to accept processing methods that use coal because of the associated CO2 emissions.

From here, research into the development of the Hydrogen Plasma Reactor was carried out, yielding encouraging results. “The technology is very new; even at the conference in Korea, as soon as I stepped off the stage, the participants were immediately interested and surprised that we have developed this technology. Germany already has a similar technology, but the method is different. The proven process using a blast furnace can take up to 6-8 hours, and the reduction process alone can take 1-2 hours. In contrast, our reactor can complete the process in less than 2 minutes,” said Prof. Zulfiadi.

In conducting research and innovation, Prof. Zulfiadi stated that research should indeed lead to industry. “We always do what is needed by the industry; the relationship between industry and universities needs to be very close. We must be involved with the industry, and we must support the industry. Our industry will not advance if it is not supported; all developed countries have research that supports industry. In Indonesia, there is still a lot of potential, and we are still far behind,” he said.

In facing the future of the industry, in addition to the development of hydrogen plasma, Prof. Zulfiadi explained that his research will focus on several developments, including reconsidering the carbonyl process to produce metallic nickel powder and metallic iron powder with a purity higher than 99 percent. “After that, perhaps moving on to titanium. The challenge is that it requires not just one expert but several experts from various disciplines to complete the process,” he said, concluding the discussion.***

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Collaborative Research with The University of Tokyo

The main purpose of Dr.Eng. Firman Bagja Juangsa’s trip is to conduct collaborative research with The University of Tokyo scientist Muhammad Aziz on “Hydrodynamics Analysis on Three-Reactors Chemical Looping for Biomass-Based Hydrogen Production Process”. This research project is also carried out to support research collaboration between Japan and Indonesia as part of the Science and

Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development (SATREPS) program. The SATREPS program is the multiyear research collaboration program for 5 years involving several research institutions and universities, including RIKEN Research Institute of Japan, The University of Tokyo Japan, Padjajaran University (UNPAD), National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Gadjah Mada University (UGM), and Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB).

In addition to focusing on research, the trip is also to discuss opportunities for deeper cooperation, such as guest

lectures, cross-country research at the Tokyo Institute of Technology. The next visit to Teikyo University will provide opportunities for student exchange cooperation for FMAE students and for further collaboration in the development of hydrogen combustion technology.

During the last visit to Toshiba Energy System, I explored the potential for collaborative research on “Flexible Coal Power Plant” as an energy buffer with the aim of utilizing renewable energy sources.

This visit also provided important direction to establish cooperation with power plants in Indonesia to obtain actual operational data.*

International Research for Protection Against Fraud in Food Industry of chicken, cow, duck, and goat fat; determining the pig content in chicken, cow, duck, and goat fat contamination.

The concerns in this international research are the classification of chicken, cow, duck, goat, and pork fat using Raman spectroscopy; determining the principal component factor and its effect on fat; classification of various lard contaminations

The purpose of Dr. Mati Horprathum (Thailand's National Electronics and Computer Technology Center/NECTEC) and Prof. Dr.Ing. Mitra Djamal (ITB) study is to analyze the measurement data using the principal component analysis (PCA) method, the oil gauge method, and the curve-fitting method on lard, beef, and chicken fat with a silicon substrate. The fat extraction process uses an oven with

purification using n-hexane.

The benefits obtained from the research include consumer protection against fraud in the food industry, avoiding material and spiritual losses for certain communities such as Jews and Muslims, encouraging developments in food product authentication research to be more varied in order to achieve higher accuracy, and providing affordable and inexpensive halal and non-halal product categorization services.*

Research Collaboration with The Mesoscale Material Chemistry Tsukuba Dr.Eng. Muhammad Iqbal seek to continue research collaboration with the Mesoscale Materials to continue research collaboration with the Mesoscale Materials Chemistry laboratory under the leadership of Prof. Yusuke Yamauchi at the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), Tsukuba, Japan. On this trip, visits to laboratories, research activities, and discussions on topics of research collaboration between the Advanced Functional Materials

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Laboratory FTI ITB and the Mesoscale Materials Chemistry Laboratory were conducted. The research activities carried out were the synthesis and characterization of mesoporous PdM (M = Cu, Co, Ni) based electrocatalysts as catalysts in direct alcohol fuel cells. The agreed research collaboration topics include the development of electrocatalysts based on nanoporous structured materials, plasmonic materials for environmental remediation, and biosensors. The trip was held on June 12 to July 10, 2023.*

Explosive Trace Detection with Ion Mobility Spectrometry In Indonesia, one of the most common acts of terrorism is bombing. The most widely used analytical method is Ion Mobility Spectrometry (IMS) on Explosive Trace Detection (ETD) devices. This device is commonly used due to its small detection limit and fast detection.

The objectives of this international research

by Dr. Mati Horprathum (National Electronics and Computer Technology Center/NECTEC) and Dr. Nina Siti Aminah (ITB) are to be able to make a low-cost substrate for detecting explosives, test the ability of the substrate made to detect explosives to be tested, measure the concentration limit of explosives that can be detected using SERS substrates, and test the ability of the substrate when reused (reusability test).

The explosives used were Trinitrotoluene (TNT) (2,4,6-trinitrotoluene),Tetril (2,4,6-trinitrophenylN-methylnitramine), Research Department eXplosive (RDX) (1,3,5-trinitroperhydro- 1,3,5triazine), Penta Erythritol Tetra Nitrate (PETN) ([3-nitrooxy-2,2-bis (nitrooxymethyl) propyl] nitrate). With the concentration of explosives used being 0, 1M, 0, 01M, and 0.001 M. The explosives used were solid phase explosives dissolved in acetone. Preparation of the samples to be tested on the substrate was done by the drop-and-dry method.

The raman spectrometer used was the MacroRAM Horiba Raman Spectrometer, with a laser excitation of 785 nm, with a laser power of 10% (4.5 mW). The substrate reusability test was carried out by cleaning the substrate that had been used using the analyte solvent (acetone).*

Strengthening Topic of Monitoring Vital Signs with Leading Universities During in the UK May 18, 2023 - June 27, 2023, Nur Ahmadi, Ph.D. was a visiting researcher at two universities namely, Strangeways Research Laboratory, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom hosted by Dr. Peter H. Charlton, and Center for Bio-inspired Technology, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Imperial College London, United Kingdom, hosted by Prof. Timothy G. Constandinou.

He also attended a regular meeting of Prof. Timothy Consandinou’s research group at the Next Generation Neural Interfaces Lab, Imperial College London in South Kensington.

Then I had a discussion with Dr. Peter H. Charlton at Stangeways Research Laboratory, University of Cambridge. The topic of our paper was about monitoring vital signs, namely heart rate and respiratory rate, using contact-based (wearable device) or noncontact (camera) sensor devices.

The paper was accepted at the 15th 2023 Asia Pacific Signal and Information Processing Association Annual Summit and Conference (APSIPA ASC 2023). While in the UK, Nur Ahmadi, Ph.D. also attended a seminar on “Remote Healthcare for Ageing Society Using Wearable Technologies” organized by the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Brunel University London, in collaboration with IEEE.

In that trip, Nur Ahmadi Ph.D. also visited Dr. Firman Mangasa Simanjuntak, a lecturer at the Sustainable Electronic Technologies Research Group at the University of Southampton. Both discussed the development of AI chips and the initiation of a research collaboration between the University of Southampton and ITB. Another potential partner was Dr. Shlomi Haar, from the Department of Brain Sciences and UK Dementia Research Institute Care Research & Technology Centre, Imperial College London. In addition, Nur Ahmadi Ph.D. also had the opportunity to be invited to give a presentation on his research at Nokia Bell Labs, Cambridge.*

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