Improvement of the Supply Chain Through Engineering and the PRP Heuristic Algorithm: Models and Case Studies

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This study presents a comprehensive literature review and technical analysis of the Production Routing Problem (PRP), focusing on integrated supply chain optimization. The research evaluates various mathematical approaches, including distributionally robust models for perishable goods and multi-scale production facilities. A core component of this work is the assessment of heuristic and matheuristic tools, such as Adaptive Large Neighborhood Search (ALNS), Genetic Algorithms (GA), and Variable Neighborhood Search (VNS), which are identified as highly efficient for solving large-scale industrial problems. Additionally, the study provides a detailed implementation roadmap, including an estimated budget ranging from $23,000 to $48,000 and a timeline of 4 to 8 months for full supply chain integration. Statistical validation through a Cost ANOVA confirms significant cost variations across different implementation phases ($p < 0.05$), highlighting the importance of strategic planning in staff training and software consultancy. The findings suggest that the integration of production, inventory, and distribution not only reduces total operational costs but also supports sustainable decision-making by balancing economic performance with environmental impact.

The Role of Soft Skills in Women’s Access to Managerial Positions in Engineering within STEM Fields

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The persistent underrepresentation of women in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) constitutes a phenomenon that extends beyond the educational sphere and becomes more pronounced at decision-making levels within engineering. Far from being merely a numerical gap, this situation is rooted in structural frameworks that include organizational bias, a lack of mentorship, and the limited recognition of socio-emotional competencies in industrial environments. Within this context, the present article aims to examine the strategic role of soft skills as catalysts for women’s access to managerial positions in engineering.

To support this analysis, a mixed-methods methodological approach is adopted. On the one hand, a systematic review of the state of the art is conducted using the SALSA framework (Search, Appraisal, Synthesis, and Analysis), which enabled the integration and comparison of findings from 25 international studies published between 2016 and 2026. Complementarily, an experimental pilot study was implemented in a manufacturing company in the furniture sector located in the state of Hidalgo, Mexico, employing convenience sampling with the participation of 20 female engineers working in process engineering and sustainable design.

Based on this dual approach, significant regularities between global and local contexts are identified. In particular, the strengthening of skills such as inclusive leadership, effective communication, emotional intelligence, resilience, and adaptability is associated with substantial increases in professional confidence, job retention, and promotion opportunities, with improvements ranging between 20% and 30%. At the same time, the results of the pilot study reveal favorable impacts on organizational efficiency and innovation in productive processes.

Consequently, the findings confirm that the systematic incorporation of soft skills not only contributes to mitigating gender inequalities in engineering but also emerges as an essential component for fostering sustainable, inclusive, and competitive development in STEM sectors.

Challenges of Intestinal Parasitic Infections in Children in Coastal Areas: A Literature Review on Prevalence and Risk Factors

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Background: Intestinal Parasitic Infections (IPIs), particularly soil-transmitted helminths (STHs), remain a significant burden for children in low-and middle-income countries. Coastal ecosystems that characterized by sandy soil, high water tables, and tidal flooding, present unique ecological determinants that create transmission pathways distinct from inland settings.

Methods: This review synthesizes data from over 50 studies (2000–2025), specifically focusing on coastal settlements, fishermen villages, and tidal flood-prone areas across Indonesia and Southeast Asia.

Results: Findings indicate that coastal children face elevated risks, with STH prevalence in Indonesian hotspots reaching 30%–70%. While Trichuris trichiura and Ascaris lumbricoides dominate due to humidity, sandy terrains specifically favor the persistence of hookworms and Strongyloides. Crucially, high water tables and tidal inundation render conventional sanitation (pit latrines/septic tanks) ineffective, causing direct fecal contamination of the environment.

Conclusion: Standard terrestrial sanitation is maladapted to coastal hydrological contexts. Mitigation requires the deployment of amphibious infrastructure, such as the Tripikon-S system and elevated latrines, combined with targeted behavioral change communication to disrupt littoral transmission cycles.

Pseudo Students’ Thinking Process in Solving Function Composition Inverse Problems Based on Piaget’s Theory

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The purpose of this study was to describe the pseudo-thinking process of students in solving inverse function composition problems based on Piaget’s theory. This study was descriptive qualitative research. Subjects were selected using purposive sampling, with two 11th-grade students from MAN 3 Banyuwangi participating in the study. The instruments used were mathematics tests and interview guidelines. Data collection techniques included test sheets with think-aloud, followed by interviews, which were then analyzed and described. Data analysis techniques employed the Miles and Huberman procedure, which consisted of data condensation, data presentation, and conclusion drawing. The data validity technique used triangulation methods. The test used in this study consisted of two questions. The results showed that students who think pseudo-correctly or pseudo-incorrectly tend to experience many assimilation processes in Piaget’s stages. Students who think pseudo-correctly continue to experience assimilation, so they will only be in a state of disequilibrium. Students who think pseudo-incorrectly initially experience many assimilation processes, followed by disequilibrium, but can reach a state of equilibrium. Individuals with pseudo-wrong thinking have a more effective accommodation process than those with pseudo-right thinking. Thus, students with pseudo-right thinking tend to go through two Piaget stages in solving inverse function composition problems, while students with pseudo-wrong thinking go through all four Piaget stages.

Building First-Line Leadership in Contract Research Organizations: Senior Leaders’ Perspectives on Critical Transition Competencies

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Transitioning from Individual Contributor (IC) to First-Line Manager (FLM) is a pivotal career shift in Contract Research Organizations (CROs), where technical excellence alone does not guarantee leadership effectiveness. In the high-stakes, highly regulated clinical research environment, failure to navigate this transition leads to significant organizational costs and risks to trial integrity. This study examines the behavioral and strategic competencies senior leaders regard as critical for successful FLM transitions and for sustaining performance in clinical research. Utilizing reflexive thematic analysis, the study draws on semi-structured interviews with 10 senior leaders across diverse CRO functions to identify patterned meanings in the accounts of effective versus struggling new managers. Six interlocking themes emerged: (1) Emotional Intelligence and Self-Management, (2) Team Building and People Management, (3) Communication and Interpersonal Skills, (4) Leadership and Strategic Skills, (5) Coaching, Mentoring, and Support Systems, and (6) Technical and Analytical Skills. Across these domains, behavioural and strategic capabilities were viewed as decisive differentiators, with technical expertise necessary but insufficient for success. The findings position the IC‑to‑FLM transition as a fundamental identity shift toward relational and strategic leadership. The study offers implications for leadership theory in high‑risk knowledge‑intensive settings and provides actionable guidance for CROs, including strengthening promotion criteria, designing structured onboarding and mentoring, and integrating behavioural assessments into talent identification to reinforce the leadership pipeline.

The Using Animation Tutors based on Phase One Picture Exchange Communication System to Improve Vocabulary Skills with Autism Spectrum Disorder

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This study evaluates the web-based Animated Tutor PECS (AT-PECS) using the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) method as a means to increase the ability to initiate communication independently in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The objects of this study were children under 5 years of age who had ASD with limited communication skills before being treated using the AT-PECS application. Methods:This study designed an alternating treatment to examine the use of AT-PECS as the primary technique for improving students’ abilities with PECS and increasing students’ independent communication initiatives. Results: The results obtained from this study indicate that students can accept the use of the PECS method for learning and show an increase in communication initiative skills independently, but the speed in improving vocabulary looks faster when using the AT-PECS application. Conclussion: The study indicate that using the PECS intervention method with the help of ATA can improve the communication skills of ASD children and improve verbal abilities to a certain extent.​

Transforming the Accounting Profession in the Era of Artificial Intelligence: A Comprehensive Analysis of Challenges, Opportunities, and Competency Roadmaps for Indonesian Accounting Graduates

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Objective: This study aims to analyze the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) integration on the accounting profession in Indonesia, with a focus on identifying adaptation challenges, emerging career opportunities, and developing competency recommendations for preparing accounting graduates.

Method: This study uses a systematic literature review with a descriptive-analytical approach. Primary data sources consist of 15 research articles, institutional publications (such as the Indonesian Institute of Accountants), and current media analysis (2024-2025) discussing accounting, AI, and the future of work [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6].

Key Findings: The analysis shows that AI automates routine accounting tasks [4], but paradoxically opens up new strategic roles such as financial data analysts, cyber auditors, and sustainability consultants [2, 3]. The main challenge lies in the digital competency gap [5]. This study identifies a critical need for a hybrid curriculum that combines traditional accounting skills, data literacy (such as the use of Power BI, basic Python), and soft skills such as critical thinking and ethics [1, 6, 7, 8].

Conclusion: The future of the accounting profession is not replacement by machines, but rather an evolution towards human-AI collaboration [9]. The success of accounting graduates is determined by adaptability, continuous learning, and mastery of a unique combination of technical, digital, and strategic competencies [10, 14].

Development of a Low-Cost Dermoscope with Cross Polarization for Visual Inspection and Digital Imaging

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This paper describes the development of a digital dermoscope with cross polarization as an auxiliary instrument to help dermatologists diagnose pigmented skin lesions, allowing the visualization of skin pigmentation structures in the epidermis and dermis. The device consists of a low-cost digital microscope with a modified optical system, in which linear polarizers and a rotation system have been added to cross the transmission axes of the polarizers. As a result, this device obtains images of the skin in situ, greatly eliminates the specular reflection of the skin’s surface layer, making it possible to visualize deeper layers such as capillary blood vessels and internal pigments.

Development of Learning Tools with Didactic Situation Design to Improve Student Learning Outcomes

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This study aims to develop learning tools consisting of teaching modules, student worksheets (LKPD), and learning outcome tests using a problem-based learning model with valid, practical, and effective didactic situations. This study is a development study using Thiagarajan’s 4D development model. Data collection techniques used include observation of the implementation of learning tools, student observation, student test results, and student response questionnaires. The research subjects consisted of 31 students in the trial class, 31 students in the experimental class, and 31 students in the control class. The findings from this study are that the learning tools developed are valid, practical, and effective. Validity was obtained from the validity coefficients of the teaching modules, student worksheets, and numeracy test questions, which were 4.66, 4.50, and 4.29, respectively. The practicality criteria were obtained from the results of a practicality analysis based on observations of the implementation of the learning tools, student observations, and student response questionnaires, which were 91.1% in the very good category, 89% in the good category, and 90.04% in the very positive category, respectively. The effectiveness criteria were based on the results of the learning outcome test analysis, which obtained 83.87% with an average N-Gain score increase of 0.73 in the very high category. Another finding from this study is that the learning tools developed had a significant effect on improving student learning outcomes, as shown by the average N-Gain score of the experimental class of 0.77 in the high category and the average N-Gain score of the control class of 0.65 in the moderate category. Based on statistical tests in both classes, it was found that the N-Gain scores of the experimental class and the control class obtained Sig. (2-tailed) = 0.01 (𝑠𝑖𝑔 <0.05) and the pretest and posttest scores of the experimental class and the control class based on statistical tests obtained Sig. (2-tailed) = 0.016 (𝑠𝑖𝑔 <0.05). This indicates that the application of the problem-based learning model with didactic situations to improve student learning outcomes has a significant effect.

Relationship between Principals’ Transformational Leadership Style and Teachers’ Job Commitment in Public Secondary Schools in Kitui County, Kenya

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This study explored the relationship between principals’ transformational leadership style and teachers’ job commitment in public secondary schools in Kitui County, Kenya. Anchored on Transformational Leadership Theory, the study employed a convergent parallel mixed-methods design integrating descriptive and phenomenological approaches. The target population included 410 schools, 410 principals, 410 deputy principals, and 2,417 teachers. A sample of 243 schools and 343 teachers was obtained using Taro Yamane’s formula. Data collection utilised questionnaires and interview guides, with quantitative data analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, and qualitative data analysed thematically. Findings revealed that transformational leadership significantly predicted teachers’ affective and continuance commitment, but not normative commitment. The study recommends strengthening principal leadership training and enhancing inclusive leadership practices.