IO, Malang- Universitas Brawijaya (UB) has added two new professors, the 242nd and 243rd, respectively, to its academic staff. The new appointments are for the Faculties of Math and Science (FMIPA). First was Prof. Dr. Ing. Setyawan Purnomo Sakti, M.Eng as a Professor in the Field of Instrumentation and Sensor, with his research in “Quartz Crystal Microbalance with its Instrumentation System for Chemical Sensors and Biosensor Technology”. Second was Prof. Dr. Ir. Moch. Sasmito Djati, M.S., as a Professor in the Field of Molecular Reproductive Biology, with his research in “Reproductive Herbalism, Complex Synergetic Mechanism Based Approach Method in Building the Immune System and Reproduction Health”.
According to Prof. Setyawan, sensors are the starting point in transforming facts or conditions into data. Temperature sensors change body, room and environment temperature into data. From various kinds of sensors being developed, those which are based on mechanical changes occurring during chemical reactions or intermolecular bonds are Quartz Crystal Microbalance or QCM sensors: those which can detect a change in mass, characteristics of a layer that touches its surface, or characteristics of a liquid which touches its surface.
“In the future, the QCM sensor will be used for health diagnoses by detecting the levels of antibodies and antigens, know the quality of material in food and drink, see the level of fruit ripeness and others,” he said.
Prof. Sasmito conducted linearization and downstreaming of the sciences with a research roadmap determined by the Biology Department. The research was on the use of Indonesia’s biodiverse-rich nature. He researched the use of herbal medicine for pregnant and breastfeeding women. The main ingredients used were the leaves of katuk (S. Androgynous) and Elephantopus scaber.
According to the professor, the two ingredients are immunomodulators which can modulate the immune system or shape of antibodies in pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, and also help with anemia. His research found that every plant had a chance of containing poison and could not be used uniformly for all races. Katuk leaves turned out to be dangerous for the lungs of Asiatics but safe for Malayan Asiatics. There were also many cases of kidney failure as a result of the poison in herbal plants.
“As a result, the consumption of herbal medicine cannot be standardized. Everyone is different. There needs to systematic research by examining the heart, kidney and observing dosage of herbal consumption so that their function as a detox does not turn into a toxin,” he said (UB Public Relations)