Microbial biofilms causing elevated resistance to both most anti-microbial drugs and the host defense systems, which often results in persistent and difficult-to-treat infections. The discovery of... Show moreMicrobial biofilms causing elevated resistance to both most anti-microbial drugs and the host defense systems, which often results in persistent and difficult-to-treat infections. The discovery of anti-infective agents which are active against planktonic and biofilm microorganisms are therefore urgently required to deal with these biofilm-mediated infections. Plants are a rich source of new molecules with pharmacological properties for the development of new drugs. Indonesia is one of the countries which has a very diverse flora and a rich tradition in the use of medicinal plants. Since several Indonesian medicinal plants contain anti-microbial compounds it was considered conceivable that they might also be a source of new anti-biofilm compounds. The research present in this thesis has been focused on the screening and identification of Indonesian medicinal plant extracts and essential oils for their anti-microbial and anti-biofilm activity towards P. aeruginosa PAO1, Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I, and Candida albicans ATCC 10231. Preparative thin layer chromatography along with GC-MS and 1H-NMR elucidation were used to isolate and identify the active compound, and the result revealed that massoia lactone, the active compound of massoia oil, displayed potent activity against microbial biofilms in vitro and therefore has potential therapeutic implication for biofilm-associated microbial infections. Show less
There has been a global increase in prevalence of allergic diseases. This is particularly so in developed and in urban centres of developing countries. At the same time, in rural areas of... Show moreThere has been a global increase in prevalence of allergic diseases. This is particularly so in developed and in urban centres of developing countries. At the same time, in rural areas of developing countries helminth infections are still highly prevalent. The immune response against helminths and allergens is generally characterized by high levels of IgE and increased numbers of Th2 cells, eosinophils, and mast cells, yet the clinical outcome with respect to immediate hypersensitivity and inflammation is clearly not the same. High levels of IgE are seen to allergens during helminth infections; however, these IgE responses do not translate into allergy symptoms. The role of socio-economic status (SES) which can be intertwined with presence or absence of helminth infections, has been examined in relation to development of allergic disorders in several studies. This thesis summarizes the evidence of the association between helminth infections and allergic disorders. It discusses how helminth infection can lead to IgE cross-reactivity with allergens and how this IgE has poor biological activity. The studies presented in this thesis shed light on the relationship between helminth infection, SES and atopic disorders in a developing country (Indonesia) where large differences in life-style, environmental exposure and SES are seen. Show less
This book presents the results of a research about the Islamic courts of Cianjur in West Java, and Bulukumba in South Sulawesi and the role they play in local divorce practices. It addresses... Show moreThis book presents the results of a research about the Islamic courts of Cianjur in West Java, and Bulukumba in South Sulawesi and the role they play in local divorce practices. It addresses questions which not only enhance our understanding of how Islamic courts in Indonesia work, but also of how Islamic courts through their everyday adjudication processes have the potential to transform societal norms based in national family law, Islamic law and customary law. What is the history of the Islamic courts in both districts and what are its consequences for their position in the local community? What role do the Islamic courts play in protecting women’s divorce rights? How do they perform with regard to spousal support, child support and marital property and why? How do the Islamic courts treat women’s and men’s claims? How has Indonesian family law for Muslims developed and what is the role of the Islamic courts in this development? How are Islamic courts positioned in Indonesia’s nation-building project? This book attempts to provide answers to those questions by exploring the Islamic courts’ institutional history in both districts, the development of the substantive law they apply, and the socio-cultural and economic aspects of divorce. Show less
This dissertation tests the universal suitability of the records continuum model by using two cases from the decolonization of Southeast Asia. The continuum model is a new model of records... Show moreThis dissertation tests the universal suitability of the records continuum model by using two cases from the decolonization of Southeast Asia. The continuum model is a new model of records visualization invented in the 1990s that sees records as free to move throughout four ‘dimensions’ rather than in a linear direction. The first case study is the Djogdja Documenten, which are documents seized from Indonesia by the Dutch military during Indonesia's struggle for independence. The second case is the Migrated Archives. This is a group of records created by the British colonial government and sent to London, where the records were hidden for fifty years. I attempt to place each case on the continuum model, mapping each action to a corresponding dimension. In the case of the Migrated Archives, the glaring omission from the continuum model of places in between dimensions where records can get trapped or lost is seen. I rectify this through the creation of the shadow continuum. In the shadow continuum records proceed, unseen, through the dimensions of the continuum model. Whether a record is in the shadow continuum or not is based on the existence of 'traces' of its existence in the already publically accessible archive. Show less
