The Relationship Between Worm Infection and Nutritional Status of Elementary School Students in the Working Area of the Nulle Public Health Center

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Background: Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections remain a neglected public health problem in tropical regions, particularly in areas with poor sanitation and hygiene. These infections predominantly affect school-aged children and may contribute to impaired nutritional status. The working area of the Nulle Public Health Center is located in South Central Timor Regency, an area known to have a high prevalence of chronic malnutrition, highlighting the need to evaluate factors associated with nutritional problems.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of worm infection, nutritional status, and the association between worm infection and nutritional status among elementary school students in the working area of the Nulle Public Health Center.

Methods: This study employed a descriptive-analytic design with a cross-sectional approach. A total of 263 elementary school students were selected using cluster random sampling. Data collection included a risk-factor questionnaire, microscopic stool examination using 1% Lugol solution and eosin, and anthropometric assessment for nutritional status. Data were analyzed using univariate and bivariate methods. Fisher’s exact test was applied with a significance level of p<0.05.

Results: The prevalence of worm infection was 4.6% (12 out of 263 students). The most common helminth species identified was Ascaris lumbricoides (83.3%), followed by Trichuris trichiura and mixed infections (8.3% each). Nutritional status was predominantly normal (61.6%), followed by undernutrition (21.3%), severe malnutrition (13.3%), and overnutrition (3.8%). Among students with positive worm infection, the majority were classified as severely malnourished. Statistical analysis demonstrated a significant association between worm infection and nutritional status (p<0.05).

Conclusion: There is a significant relationship between worm infection and nutritional status among elementary school students in the working area of the Nulle Public Health Center.

Effect of Black Garlic Extract on Aspirin-Induced Gastric Mucosal Injury in Wistar Rats (Rattus norvegicus)

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Background: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including aspirin, are widely used but are associated with gastric mucosal injury through inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis and oxidative stress mechanisms. Black garlic, a processed form of Allium sativum, has been reported to possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that may provide gastroprotective effects. Objective: To evaluate the effect of black garlic extract on aspirin-induced gastric mucosal injury in Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus). Methods: This experimental laboratory study used a posttest-only control group design. Male Wistar rats were allocated into a negative control group, a positive control group receiving aspirin, and three treatment groups administered black garlic extract at doses of 50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, and 200 mg/kg body weight. Aspirin was administered orally at 104 mg/kg body weight for seven days to induce gastric mucosal injury, followed by seven days of black garlic extract administration in the treatment groups. Gastric tissues were collected for histopathological examination, and epithelial injury was assessed using the Barthel Manja scoring system. Data were analyzed using non-parametric statistical tests.

Results: Histopathological evaluation demonstrated gastric mucosal epithelial injury in the positive control group, predominantly in the form of desquamation and erosion. Administration of black garlic extract was associated with reduced severity of mucosal injury, with progressive improvement observed at higher doses. The group receiving 200 mg/kg body weight showed no detectable gastric mucosal lesions. A significant difference in gastric mucosal injury was observed among groups (p<0.001).

Conclusion: Black garlic extract exhibited a protective effect against aspirin-induced gastric mucosal injury in Wistar rats, with the highest dose demonstrating the most favorable histopathological outcome.

Study on the Utilization of Nickel (Ni) on the Growth and Yield of Mutant Sugarcane

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Enhancing national sugar productivity through the development of mutant sugarcane varieties necessitates precise nutrient management, particularly regarding the efficiency of nitrogen metabolism. Nickel (Ni) plays a vital role as an essential cofactor for the urease enzyme in hydrolyzing urea; however, its requirement thresholds in mutant genotypes require in-depth investigation to mitigate phytotoxicity risks. This study aims to evaluate the interactive effects of Nickel micronutrient on growth parameters, physiological responses, and yield components in the Bululawang sugarcane genotype and its mutant clones. The research employed a factorial Randomized Block Design (RBD), testing four sugarcane genotypes (M1: Bululawang, M2, M3, and M4) against four Nickel concentration levels (0 ppm, 0.25 ppm, 0.5 ppm, and 1 ppm). Observed parameters included vegetative growth, total tissue nitrogen, and yield components such as pol, sugar recovery rateand cane yield. Results indicated that Nickel application at 0.25 ppm elicited the most optimal response across nearly all parameters. Physiologically, this concentration stimulated urease activity, ensuring nitrogen availability for chlorophyll biosynthesis and vegetative growth. The M2 genotype treated with 0.25 ppm Nickel recorded superior production performance, yielding a cane weight of 117.64 tons/ha. Conversely, increasing the concentration to 1 ppm triggered oxidative stress mechanisms and impaired nutrient assimilation, leading to a drastic decline in all agronomic parameters. It is concluded that low-dose Nickel supplementation (0.25 ppm) effectively enhances mutant sugarcane productivity via the optimization of nitrogen metabolism, whereas excessive doses prove destructive to the plant.

The Effect of Moringa Leaf Soup (Moringa oleifera) on Total Cholesterol Levels among Overweight Employees at Nusa Cendana University

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Background: Overweight and obesity remain major global health problems and are closely associated with metabolic disorders, including hypercholesterolemia. Elevated total cholesterol levels contribute significantly to the development of atherosclerosis and increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases. In Indonesia, particularly in East Nusa Tenggara, the prevalence of overweight and obesity is relatively high among employees. Moringa oleifera, a locally available plant widely consumed as food, contains dietary fiber and bioactive compounds with antioxidant properties that may influence lipid metabolism.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of moringa leaf soup consumption on changes in total cholesterol levels among overweight employees at Nusa Cendana University.

Methods: A pre-experimental study with a one-group pre-test–post-test design was conducted among 27 employees selected using purposive sampling. Participants received moringa leaf soup as an intervention for seven consecutive days. Total cholesterol levels were measured before and after the intervention using capillary blood samples analyzed with a point-of-care testing device. Data were analyzed using a paired sample t-test.

Results: The mean total cholesterol level before the intervention was 190.18 mg/dL, which decreased to 179.22 mg/dL after the intervention. The mean reduction in total cholesterol level was 10.96 mg/dL. Statistical analysis demonstrated a significant decrease in total cholesterol levels following seven days of moringa leaf soup consumption (p = 0.012).

Conclusion: Consumption of moringa leaf soup was associated with a significant reduction in total cholesterol levels among overweight employees at Nusa Cendana University.

Sentiment Analysis Based on Questionnaires: A Case Study on the Use of Induction Stove

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Indonesia’s reliance on subsidized Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) for household cooking places a significant burden on the national energy subsidy budget and increases dependence on imported fossil fuels. As part of the clean energy transition strategy, the Indonesian government has promoted the conversion from LPG stoves to electric induction stoves. However, public acceptance and actual post-use experiences at the household level remain diverse and insufficiently examined empirically. This study aims to analyze public sentiment toward induction stove use based on post-adoption user reviews to identify factors that encourage interest and reveal existing adoption barriers.

This study employs a machine learning–based sentiment analysis approach using primary data collected through open-ended questionnaires distributed to induction stove users. A total of 265 valid textual responses were analyzed. Text preprocessing was conducted using Python with the NLTK and Sastrawi libraries, including data cleaning, case folding, tokenization, stopword removal, stemming, and duplicate removal. Sentiment classification was performed using the Term Frequency–Inverse Document Frequency (TF-IDF) method and the Naive Bayes algorithm, while WordCloud visualization was applied to identify dominant keywords.

The results indicate a relatively balanced sentiment distribution, with positive sentiment accounting for 33.6%, neutral sentiment 32.5%, and negative sentiment 34.0%. Positive sentiment is mainly associated with energy efficiency, safety, and ease of use, whereas negative sentiment is driven by concerns regarding initial costs and electricity dependence. Neutral sentiment reflects an evaluative phase among users. These findings provide empirical insights to support user-oriented policies and strategies for accelerating the sustainable adoption of induction stove technology in Indonesia’s clean energy transition.

Enablers and Barriers in Indonesia’s Household Energy Transition to Induction Cookstove: A Sustainability Perspective

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The transition from LPG stoves to induction cookstove is an important part of efforts to decarbonize the household sector and achieve sustainable development in Indonesia. Although induction cookers offer potential environmental, social, and economic benefits, their adoption rate is still relatively limited. This study aims to identify and analyze the enablers and barriers to transitioning to induction cookers from a sustainability perspective, considering environmental, social, and economic dimensions. This study is based on a structured synthesis of empirical and conceptual findings from previous studies discussing the transition to electric cooking technology and clean cooking, with a focus on countries that have implemented this technology. The analysis was conducted to group and interpret the main enablers and barriers within the sustainability framework. The results of the study show that the main enablers of transition include energy efficiency and technological performance, perceived benefits of use, awareness of health and environmental risks, reliability of electrical infrastructure, and government policy and program support. Conversely, the dominant barriers include the high initial cost of the devices, the perceived high cost of electricity, limited household electricity capacity and reliability, cultural cooking habits and preferences, and strong dependence on LPG subsidies. This study concludes that the transition to induction cookers in Indonesia is still at a partial readiness stage and requires an integrated, inclusive, and sustainability-oriented policy approach to ensure fair and sustainable transition.

Nutrient Budgeting: An Enigma

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Nutrient budgeting seeks to quantify nutrient flows, evaluate the efficiency of current nutrient management practices, and provide recommendations to enhance sustainability and productivity. While fertilizer use is increasing, it’s often imbalanced, with a greater emphasis on nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) than potassium (K). The recommended NPK ratio (6.96:2.79:1 in 2019-20) differs significantly from the average crop uptake ratio (1.0:0.3:1.3). In the year 2000-2001, inorganic fertilizer was the dominant source contributing 64% of N and 78% of P inputs in Indian agriculture, whereas K input through inorganic fertilizer was 26%. The intrinsic complexity and diversity of nutrient dynamics across spatial and temporal dimensions, however, continue to make it an enigma. Numerous factors contribute to the difficulties in nutrient budgeting, such as uneven measuring techniques, variations in crop and soil properties, shifting weather patterns, and a lack of reliable field data. Furthermore, assumptions and models used to estimate nutrient flows—such as biological nitrogen fixation, leaching, gaseous losses, and crop uptake—frequently fail to account for site-specific reality. This complexity is further increased by human elements like inconsistent record-keeping and a variety of management techniques. However, by integrating field data, existing models, and literature-based nutrient coefficients, the studies in this field contributes to a deeper understanding of nutrient use efficiency and the potential for improving soil fertility management.

Performance Management Systems and Service Delivery in Nigeria’s Public Sector: A Study of Federal Civil Service Commission, Abuja, Nigeria

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This study examined the relationship between Performance Management Systems (PMS) and service delivery in Nigeria’s public sector, focusing on the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), Abuja. The research was guided by three objectives: to assess the extent of PMS implementation, to determine the relationship between performance appraisal practices and employee productivity, and to examine the influence of PMS on the quality and efficiency of service delivery. The study adopted a descriptive survey design anchored on the New Public Management (NPM) Theory (Hood, 1991), which emphasizes performance-based accountability and result-oriented public administration. The population comprised 456 officers across six functional departments, including Recruitment and Appointment, Promotion, Discipline, and Records (Federal Civil Service Commission, 2025). Using Cochran’s formula for small populations, a sample of 210 respondents (46%) was selected. Data were analyzed using SPSS and STATA, employing descriptive statistics (means, frequencies, and percentages) to summarize responses on implementation, productivity, and service delivery indicators, while inferential statistics (Pearson correlation and regression analysis) tested the hypothesized relationships. Findings revealed that PMS implementation was moderate (𝑥̄ = 3.73, SD = 1.05) but significantly correlated with organizational effectiveness (r = 0.586, p < 0.01). Performance appraisal practices showed a strong positive relationship with employee productivity (r = 0.642, p < 0.01), while PMS had a significant influence on service delivery efficiency (r = 0.671, β = 0.685, p < 0.01). The study concludes that strengthening PMS through digital monitoring, transparent appraisals, and capacity development will improve accountability, employee motivation, and service delivery outcomes in the Nigerian public sector.

Best Practice on English for Specific Purpose (ESP): Design, Delivery and Assessment

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This study explores the best practices in designing, delivering, and assessing English for Specific Purposes (ESP) courses. Through a comprehensive review of pedagogical strategies and practical implementations, the research highlights components that contribute to effective ESP instruction.

The findings emphasize the importance of conducting detailed needs analyses to customize course content for diverse professional and academic contexts. Incorporating authentic materials, task-based learning, and collaborative activities are identified as critical elements for fostering real-world language application and learner engagement.

Flexibility and adaptability in course structure, supported by ongoing feedback and assessments, emerge as essential factors in addressing evolving learner needs and improving outcomes. The study also underscores the necessity of staying updated with industry trends and integrating technology to enhance personalization and accessibility. Collaborative efforts, including peer interactions and partnerships with industry professionals, further enrich the learning experience and align it with workplace expectations.

This study employed qualitative research by employing lecturers of the English Study Program, Christian University Indonesia Toraja, as respondents.

By synthesizing these insights, the research provides a framework for educators and institutions to develop ESP courses that effectively meet the demands of modern professional environments. This study contributes to the broader discourse on specialized language instruction and offers actionable recommendations for enhancing the relevance, efficiency, and impact of ESP programs.

Transparency, Trust, and Teacher Quality: Rethinking Educational Management Through a Governance Lens

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Teacher quality in contemporary education systems is often addressed through technical reforms emphasizing standards, performance measurement, and administrative accountability. However, such approaches tend to overlook the governance conditions under which professional quality is formed and sustained. This article rethinks educational management through a governance lens by examining the interrelationship between transparency, institutional trust, and teacher quality. Drawing on a critical review of literature in educational governance, organizational trust, and professional management, the study argues that the relationship between transparency and teacher quality is not direct but mediated by institutional trust. Transparency that is perceived as fair, consistent, and substantively accountable contributes to the formation of trust, enabling teachers to interpret policies as supportive of professionalism rather than as instruments of control. In trust-based governance environments, teacher quality emerges not merely as individual competence, but as a systemic capacity encompassing professional autonomy, reflective practice, contextual adaptability, and sustained commitment. Conceptually, this article contributes an integrated governance framework that positions transparency, trust, and teacher quality as mutually reinforcing dimensions of educational management. The analysis further highlights the potential role of digital governance innovations, including blockchain-based financial transparency, as institutional enablers strengthen accountability while fostering trust. By emphasizing the balance between accountability and trust, the article offers a governance-oriented perspective for developing more legitimate, sustainable, and systemically grounded strategies to enhance teacher quality.