A hydrometeorology disaster is a disaster caused by meteorological parameters such as temperature, precipitation, wind speed, and humidity that have the potential to trigger landslides, flooding, and waterspout disasters, among others. Last year Indonesia observed an increase in the number of hydrometeorology disasters up to eight times from 2005, suggesting a significant increase in hydrometeorology disasters in Indonesia.

Many factors take a role in the increasing number of hydrometeorology disasters, such as climate change and environmental damage that exacerbate the hydrometeorology disasters.

“Landslides and floods are hydrometeorology disasters. It is often occurring especially due to the human activities such as loggings, unperceptive land management of the hillsides and above normal rainfall intensity like we are experiencing now,” Prof. Chatarina explained.

The environmental damage that worsens hydrometeorological disasters could be observed from the increased intensity of flooding in Indonesia. The increasing precipitation combined with the lack of plants absorbing water in the upstream areas turned rainwater into surface water that inundated the downstream areas.

Prof. Chatarina asked the community to be more aware of their surrounding environment by not causing damage and exploiting the natural resources over their capacity. If the community and government are committed to protecting the environment, hydrometeorology disasters could be prevented.

“With the decrease in forests and unstable lands on the hillsides, the potential of landslides increases. The low absorbing ability of lands on the upstream area makes most of the rainwater become surface water and causes floods in the downstream area. It is a natural law, the upstream has landslides, and the downstream has floods. If human does not care about their environment, that is what will happen,” the Professor in Geography Education UNS explained.

People in disaster-prone areas are expected to be ready and follow the government’s instruction through the Board of Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics on the information of disaster potential. The government is also expected to provide more extensive socialization on hydrometeorology disaster awareness and mitigation. Humas UNS

Reporter: Ida Fitriyah
Editor: Dwi Hastuti

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Mount Semeru erupted in its 2^nd danger level (Waspada), while the Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation (PVMBG) reported that there are three other volcanoes with higher danger status in the Indonesia region, Mount Merapi, Mount Sinabung, and Mount Ili Lewotolok, all with danger level III (Siaga). These mountains also showed increasing volcanic activities following the Mount Semeru eruption.

The Chief of Disaster Study Center (PSB) LPPM Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta, Prof. Dr. Chatarina Muryani, M.Si., stated that it is a common phenomenon that one volcano eruption triggers the increase of other mountains activities around it.

“Usually, if there are volcanic activities, those surrounding it or in one line with it also show an increase in activity,” Prof. Chatarina stated.

According to her, it is strongly correlated with Indonesia’s position on the active tectonic plates. The collision between these plates could trigger volcanic activities. Thus, explaining the large numbers of volcanoes in Indonesia and its ‘Ring of Fire’ title. Volcanoes in the same tectonic plate have a high probability of affecting one another. Thus, explaining the ‘trigger’ of Mount Semeru’s eruption on the surrounding mountains. This phenomenon demands close attention from the community, considering that the Mount Semeru eruption came without warning signs.

“There are many theories on the sudden eruption of Semeru. It could be caused by high precipitation that causes the collapse of the lava dome and eruption. However, Semeru eruption can be categorized as small because the volcanic materials ejected were in a small volume. However, all regions with volcanoes should be aware of this,” Prof. Chatarina added.

Further, the professor in Geography Education Program UNS suggested that all districts will volcano devise a contingency plan and have the preparedness to evacuate their people if a sudden eruption occurs. Local government is also suggested to provide more socialization on disaster mitigation for eruption, including what people must do during the eruption event, the evacuation sites, and other things, continuously to local people. Local government and related institutions are also demanded to socialize and apply the disaster Early Warning System (EWS).

PSB UNS is conducting a study on Mount Semeru eruption using satellite imagining, mapping areas covered by volcanic mudflow, and developing disaster-prone areas after the eruption. The results of this study will be delivered to the government as a suggestion. Humas UNS

Reporter: Ida Fitriyah
Editor: Dwi Hastuti

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The news about 41 years-old designer’s death was announced by his family through the @virgilabloh private Instagram account on Sunday (28/11/2021) local time. The family announced that the Off-White label founder was died due to the rare and aggressive cancer, angiosarcoma, or cardiac sarcoma that Abloh suffered from since 2019 and made him go through a series of medical treatments.

“We are saddened to announce the death of our beloved Virgil Abloh, a very devoted father, husband, son, brother, and friend. He left his beloved wife, Shannon Abloh, his children Lowe Abloh and Gray Abloh, his sister Edwina Abloh, his parents Nee and Eunice Abloh, and many dear friends and colleagues,” Virgil Abloh’s family wrote in Instagram.

The news was unexpected for many people, including sneakerhead, who praised his works. Besides, he died at a relatively young age due to his illness. The news also captured the attention of Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta Hospital Cardiologist, Habibie Arifianto, dr.,SpJP (K)., M.Kes., because Virgil Abloh’s condition is caused by a rare and malignant cancer that could affect anybody.

dr. Habibie explained that sarcoma is a malignant tumor in connective tissue or muscle, including angiosarcoma, a malignant tumor in blood vessels. Cardiac angiosarcoma/cardiac sarcoma, he added, is a malignant tumor in the heart caused by a primary tumor. “The tumor,” he explained, “comes from cardiac muscles, but is very rare, or from blood vessels around the heart that invade the tissue,” dr. Habibie explained to uns.ac.id on Monday (29/11/2021).

He added that there are several symptoms of cardiac sarcoma, including cardiac arrest that occurs when muscle tissue is replaced by tumor tissue, which then causes heart rhythm disturbances. These disturbances come from blood vessels and reduce blood flow that could lead to thromboembolism or blood clots in the heart that can break off and block into other blood vessels.

“Cancer often attacks people older than 40 years old. But because of unhealthy lifestyle at a young age, malignant illness could appear in young people,” dr. Habibie explained.

Considering its probability to attack basically everybody, it is crucial to understand the cause of cardiac sarcoma. As explained by dr. Habibie, cardiac sarcoma is similar to other malignant cancers; it could be caused by genetic factors triggered by free radicals, pollutions, cigarette smokes, or other dangerous vapors such as fumes from fertilizers, insecticides, and other radiation agents, to unhealthy food.

“The malignant characteristic of this cancer is due to its invasive and destructive activities toward healthy tissue, and smaller parts of it could be detached and spread to other body parts through the blood vessels or metastasis,” dr. Habibie explained.

On its probable treatment, dr. Habibie explained that patients could undergo surgical resection or surgical removal of the tumor when possible. But there is no definitive treatment, although patients could opt for chemotherapy or radiotherapy, even though the success rate is not quite satisfactory. Cardiac sarcoma could be diagnosed through echocardiography or ultrasound of the heart, which is a visible mass in the chambers of the heart. dr. Habibie also stated that CT scan for heart and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) also could be used in the diagnosis.

“The goal is to see the blood vessels that supply blood to the tumor and the spread of the sarcoma to surrounding organs,” he added.

dr. Habibie suggested that people go through screening if they experience any discomfort regarding their heart function to see if they have sarcoma or not. He also suggested that people diagnosed with sarcoma undergo all necessary treatments until they recover and to not waste too much time looking for consideration.

“Because this illness is very progressive, with early detection and medication, The prognosis of the disease will be better than if we are late in diagnosis and treat it,” he concluded. Humas UNS

Reporter: Y.C.A Sanjaya
Editor: Dwi Hastuti

The post UNS Hospital Cardiologist: What is Cardiac Sarcoma that Killed Off-White Founder appeared first on Universitas Sebelas Maret.

Responding to the plan, the Constitutional Law Expert (HTN) of the Faculty of Law (FH) Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta Dr. Agus Riewanto, stated that KPU needs to be prepared for all risks of collective election 2024. His particular concern is the increase in the number of casualties from Voting Organizers (KPPS) caused by fatigue that occurred in 2019.

“Because there is no revision on Law No. 7 of 2017, I am worried that the issue in the 2019 election will re-occur in the 2024 election. So, if we want to predict the 2024 election, we could observe from the 2019 election,” Dr. Agus Riewanto stated in Nge-HIK “The Efforts to Manage Complexity of General Election and 2024 Election” on Thursday (11/11/2021).

In the event held by KPU Surakarta through the Zoom Cloud Meeting, Dr. Agus Riewanto also shared his evaluation of the 2019 election, including the absence of revision on Law No. 7 of 2017 regarding General Election, PKPU creativity in designing general election technical matters, proportional results based on majority rule, and expensive costs that will be incurred.

“In preparing the technical parts of the general election, PKPU could add aspects that are not appropriate in 2019 and improve it in 2024. Usually, there is a revision on General Election Law nearing the election, but today, we did not have it,” he explained.

Dr. Agus Riewanto suggested that national and local government elections should be held separately with an interlude of 2.5 years so that the populace will not be focused only on President and Vice-President election but also observe the election for DPR, DPD, and DPRD members. He also considers that five ballots and five ballot boxes for 2024 will be challenging for constituents and for the managing committee. “Thus, it needs to be simplified,” he added.

He emphasized the open proportional system adopted by Indonesia as the best approach because it allows political parties to develop, benefitting Indonesia as a democratic country. Besides considering the diversity of the Indonesian population.

“Generally, in countries with multiple religions, ethnics, and races, creates a proportional system shaped from all interests aspirations, so that there is no party that holds a single control (over the government), but parties have room to gain access in legislative institutions,” he concluded. Humas UNS

Reporter: Y.C.A. Sanjaya
Editor: Dwi Hastuti

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