Comparative Economic Burden of Tuberculosis Patients with and Without Diabetes Mellitus in Kupang City, Indonesia: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study

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Background: Tuberculosis and diabetes mellitus are major public health problems with a well-recognized bidirectional relationship. Diabetes mellitus increases the risk of active tuberculosis, while tuberculosis may worsen glycemic control. This comorbidity may also increase household economic burden through higher non-medical expenses, productivity loss, and catastrophic health expenditure. Evidence comparing the economic burden of tuberculosis patients with and without diabetes mellitus in Kupang City remains limited.

Objective: To compare the economic burden between tuberculosis patients without diabetes mellitus and tuberculosis patients with diabetes mellitus in Kupang City, Indonesia, in 2025.

Methods: This comparative cross-sectional study included 86 respondents, consisting of 43 tuberculosis patients without diabetes mellitus and 43 tuberculosis patients with diabetes mellitus who were receiving outpatient treatment at 10 primary health centers in Kupang City.

Results: A significant difference in economic burden was observed between the two groups. The median total cost among tuberculosis patients without diabetes mellitus was IDR 255,000, whereas the median total cost among tuberculosis patients with diabetes mellitus was IDR 850,000. Direct non-medical costs and indirect costs were also higher in the tuberculosis-diabetes mellitus group. Catastrophic costs were significantly more frequent in the TB-DM group than in the TB non-DM group (44.2% vs. 20.9%; p = 0.021).

Conclusion: Diabetes mellitus significantly increases the economic burden among tuberculosis patients. Compared with tuberculosis patients without diabetes mellitus, those with tuberculosis and diabetes mellitus incur higher total costs, greater non-medical expenditures, and higher indirect costs. These findings support the need for integrated tuberculosis-diabetes services and stronger financial protection strategies for vulnerable patients.

Application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Learning among Pre-service Teachers at Thu Dau Mot University: Current Status, Opportunities, and Challenges in the Context of Digital Transformation

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In the context of digital transformation in higher education, artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being utilized by pre-service teachers to support their learning. This study aims to analyze the current status, opportunities, and challenges of AI application at Thu Dau Mot University. A mixed-methods approach was employed, including a survey of 412 students and semi-structured interviews with 3 lecturers, 2 administrators, and 5 students.

The findings indicate that AI is widely used for information retrieval, learning support, and content generation, thereby enhancing learning effectiveness, fostering self-directed learning, and enabling personalized learning processes. However, several challenges remain, including over-reliance on technology, insufficient information evaluation skills, and risks related to academic integrity.

Based on these findings, the study proposes several recommendations to improve the effective integration of AI in teacher education, contributing to meeting the demands of digital transformation in higher education.

Multi-Tiered Scaffolding and Scaffold Fading in Teaching Chinese as a Second Language: Effects on Oral Proficiency and Pragmatic Adaptability

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While instructional scaffolding is widely recognized in Second Language Acquisition (SLA), its synchronous integration and the subsequent effects of scaffold fading in Teaching Chinese as a Second Language (TCSL) remain underexplored. This study proposes and empirically validates a multi-tiered scaffolding model—comprising linguistic, practice, and experiential scaffolds—tailored for TCSL oral instruction. A quasi-experimental, mixed-methods design was employed over a 15-week semester with 60 Vietnamese L1 learners. Quantitative data from pre- and post-tests, alongside pragmatic role-plays across three time points, demonstrated that the intervention significantly enhanced oral proficiency, yielding a massive effect size (Cohen’s d = 2.15) and effectively mitigating L1 tonal interference. Repeated Measures ANOVA confirmed the accelerated proceduralization of communicative competence (partial η² = .52). Furthermore, linear regression analysis of post-intervention survey data revealed that systematic scaffold fading is a significant predictor of sustained pragmatic adaptability and learner autonomy (R² = .41, p < .001). These findings advance Vygotskian Constructivism by providing a cohesive empirical evaluation framework, underscoring the necessity of intentional pedagogical withdrawal to cultivate an autonomy-driven learning ecosystem in global language education.​

The Role of Potassium Silicate in Quorum Quenching Against the Virulence of Ralstonia solanacearum, the Causal Agent of Bacterial Wilt in Tomato

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Bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum remains one of the most destructive constraints in tomato production worldwide. The pathogen’s virulence is tightly regulated by quorum sensing (QS), which controls exopolysaccharide (EPS) biosynthesis, extracellular enzyme secretion, and biofilm formation. Targeting QS through quorum quenching (QQ) represents a promising anti-virulence strategy without imposing the selective pressure associated with conventional bactericides. This study investigated the dual role of potassium silicate as (i) a QS-interfering agent that modulates bacterial virulence traits and (ii) an inducer of host systemic resistance. Potassium silicate at 1 mM significantly reduced EPS production and biofilm formation, whereas 2 mM enhanced peroxidase activity in tomato plants. Disease severity was reduced during the early stages of infection in silica-treated plants. These findings indicate that potassium silicate attenuates bacterial wilt development through the integrated modulation of pathogen virulence and host defense responses. This study provides mechanistic insight into silicon-mediated plant protection and highlights potassium silicate as a sustainable strategy for bacterial wilt management.

Factors Affecting Customer Satisfaction Towards Lоgistics Service Quality in Ba Ria – Vung Tau, Vietnam

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This study investigates the factors influencing customer satisfaction with logistics service quality in Ba Ria – Vung Tau, Vietnam using the SERVPERF model. Data were collected from 250 enterprises and analyzed using Cronbach’s Alpha, Exploratory Factor Analysis, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression. The results confirm that responsiveness, assurance, and tangibles have significant positive effects on customer satisfaction, with responsiveness showing the strongest impact. In contrast, empathy and reliability were not found to have significant effects in the final model. The findings also indicate that satisfaction varies across business sectors but shows no significant differences based on firm size or years of operation. These results suggest that logistics service providers should prioritize improving service responsiveness, staff competence, and physical facilities to enhance customer satisfaction.

Preg-Robbing in Refractory Gold Ores: A Critical Review of Mineralogical Controls, Pretreatment Strategies and Flowsheet Selection

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Preg-robbing remains a major constraint in the processing of refractory gold ores, particularly those containing carbonaceous matter, fine clays, and iron-bearing phases capable of adsorbing dissolved gold during leaching. This review critically evaluates advances reported between 2020 and 2025, focusing on the mineralogical controls of preg-robbing, its interaction with gold dissolution chemistry, and the effectiveness of current mitigation strategies. Gold adsorption is governed by carbon structure, surface functional groups, sulfide associations, and textural features that control accessibility, determining whether adsorption is reversible or irreversible and, consequently, whether conventional recovery routes remain viable. Pretreatment options, including roasting, pressure oxidation, bio-oxidation, chemical passivation, and selective removal of reactive phases, are assessed in terms of metallurgical performance, operational complexity, energy demand, and environmental impact. The review also examines alternative lixiviants such as thiosulfate, glycine, and ammonia-based systems, highlighting their potential to reduce sensitivity to carbonaceous matter while emphasizing their dependence on mineralogy and process control. Rather than proposing a universal solution, the analysis defines decision-oriented criteria for flowsheet selection based on mineralogical and operational constraints, identifying the conditions under which specific approaches are technically robust and economically justified. Key research gaps are highlighted, particularly in the quantitative characterization of adsorption capacity and kinetics, and in the integration of mineralogical data into predictive process design frameworks.

Relationship Between Knowledge Level About Scabies and Scabies Symptoms Among Students Living in a Sports School Dormitory in Kupang, Indonesia: A Cross-Sectional Study

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Background: Scabies is a neglected tropical disease with high transmission risk in crowded living environments such as dormitories. Knowledge is often assumed to play a protective role, but empirical findings remain inconsistent.

Objective: To examine the association between the level of knowledge about scabies and the presence of scabies symptoms among students living in a sports school dormitory in Kupang, Indonesia.

Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in July 2025 among 59 students selected using simple random sampling. Knowledge level was assessed using a structured questionnaire, while scabies symptoms were identified through physical examination based on cardinal signs. Data were analyzed using the Chi-square test.

Results: Most respondents demonstrated a high level of knowledge about scabies (79.7%). Scabies symptoms were identified in 25.4% of participants. Statistical analysis showed no significant association between knowledge level and scabies symptoms (p = 0.148).

Conclusion: High knowledge levels were not significantly associated with the absence of scabies symptoms. Environmental factors and intensive physical contact related to athletic activities may play a more substantial role in scabies transmission in dormitory settings.

The Predictive Role of Language Proficiency and Non-Cognitive Skills on Mathematical Competence among Maritime Students

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Mathematical competence is a fundamental requirement in the maritime industry, as it supports essential functions such as navigation, vessel operations, safety management, and data-driven decision-making among maritime professionals. This study examined the predictive role of language proficiency and non-cognitive skills on the mathematical competence of maritime students at Capitol University in Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines. Using a causal research design, data were collected from 88 third-year maritime students using stratified random sampling and adapted research instruments. Data were collected through face-to-face administration, and prior to conducting the linear regression analysis, several critical assumptions were carefully examined. Descriptive statistics revealed that students demonstrated high levels of language proficiency, non-cognitive skills, with reading comprehension and social skills obtaining the highest mean scores. Also, mathematical competence was generally rated as high with applied maritime mathematical skills obtaining the highest mean score. However, only non-cognitive skills significantly predicted mathematical competence with academic behavior emerging as the only significant dimension. The findings highlight the critical role of behavioral and attitudinal factors in strengthening mathematical performance in maritime education and suggest that enhancing students’ study habits, engagement, and responsibility may be more impactful than focusing solely on language proficiency.

The Research Design on the Management of Students’ English Learning Assessment Activities at High Schools in Tien Giang Province, Vietnam

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This paper investigates the research design on the management of students’ English learning assessment activities at high schools in the approach of PDCA (Plan, Do, Check, Art). It employed Kumar’s (2011) eight-step format in designing the research process and manipulated Taro’s (1973) formula to calculate its sample size. The sampling for two groups of administrators, teachers of English and students was randomly taken from 10 out of 38 high schools in Tien Giang province, Vietnam. As a result, there were 418 educators and 1829 students chosen, which was much higher than its required sample sizes of 213 administrators, teachers and 397 learners in two groups. Besides, the study exploited a mixed research method to effectively collect quantitative data through questionnaires and qualitative ones through in-depth interviews. Additionally, the study applied SPSS 27.0 software for calculating exploratory factor analysis (EFA), total variance explained and Cronbach’s alpha, and then compared them with three accepted values of 0.3, 50.0% and 0.7, accordingly, for confirming their connection and reliability within each group. The findings indicate that all items in questionnaires met the requirements in this research.

Scrub Typhus in Sri Lanka: Assessing the Burden and Spatial Distribution Using National Surveillance Data, 2020–2024

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Background and aim: Scrub typhus is an acute zoonotic infection caused by Orientis tsutsugamushi and transmitted through the bite of infected chigger mites. It is increasingly recognized as a major cause of acute undifferentiated febrile illness across the Asia–Pacific region. In Sri Lanka, scrub typhus has re-emerged as an important public health concern, yet comprehensive national-level analyses describing its epidemiological trends and distribution remain limited. This study aims to assess the burden, geographical distribution, and temporal trends of scrub typhus in Sri Lanka over a five-year period from 2020 to 2024.

Method: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted using secondary surveillance data obtained from the Weekly Return of Communicable Diseases (WRCD) published by the Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka. Reported scrub typhus cases from January 2020 to December 2024 were extracted and analyzed. Data were summarized using frequencies and percentages to describe annual trends and district-wise distribution of cases.

Results: A total of 5,947 scrub typhus cases were reported nationally during the five-year study period. The annual trend demonstrated fluctuations, with a temporary decline in reported cases in 2021, likely influenced by disruptions to healthcare services and disease surveillance during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, case numbers increased again in the subsequent years, indicating a persistent endemic presence. The geographical distribution of cases showed marked heterogeneity, with the northern district of Jaffna accounting for more than 53% of the total national burden. Other districts reported relatively lower case numbers, suggesting possible variations in ecological exposure, diagnostic capacity, and clinical awareness.

Conclusion: Scrub typhus remains an important public health concern in Sri Lanka with a sustained burden and notable geographical clustering. Strengthening laboratory diagnostic capacity, enhancing clinician awareness, improving surveillance systems, and implementing targeted preventive measures for high-risk occupational groups are essential to improve early detection and reduce the disease burden. Geographically stratified surveillance and focused interventions in high-risk districts are recommended to strengthen control efforts.