The Effect of Moringa (Moringa oleifera) Leaf Decoction on Random Blood Glucose Levels in Elderly Residents at the Kupang Social Welfare Institution (UPTD) for the Elderly

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Background: Diabetes mellitus is a degenerative disease commonly affecting the elderly as a result of physiological aging and reduced metabolic function. Moringa leaves (Moringa oleifera) contain bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, saponins, and polyphenols, which have been reported to possess antihyperglycemic effects.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the effect of moringa leaf decoction on random blood glucose levels among elderly individuals at the UPTD Social Welfare Institution for the Elderly in Kupang.

Methods: This pre-experimental study employed a one-group pretest–posttest design involving 40 elderly participants selected based on inclusion criteria. The intervention consisted of administering 150 mL of moringa leaf decoction, prepared by boiling 0.3 g of moringa leaves in 450 mL of water at 80°C for 6 minutes, once daily in the morning before meals for seven consecutive days. Random blood glucose levels were measured before and after the intervention using a glucometer. Data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test.

Results: The mean random blood glucose level decreased from 140.2 mg/dL before the intervention to 120.7 mg/dL after the intervention. Statistical analysis showed a significant reduction in blood glucose levels (p = 0.002).

Conclusion: Moringa leaf decoction significantly reduced random blood glucose levels among elderly individuals at the UPTD Social Welfare Institution for the Elderly in Kupang.

The Effect of The PBL Model Using Eco Fraction Media on Numeric Literacy and Problem Solving Skills in Fraction Material of Grade IV Students

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This research seeks to examine the significant impact of applying the Problem Based Learning (PBL) model supported by Eco Fraction media on elementary school students’ numeracy literacy and problem-solving abilities in fraction topics. This research engaged 56 fourth-grade students from classes IV A and IV B at SDN Citrodiwangsan 02. The sample was selected through cluster random sampling, and the study adopted a quantitative quasi experimental approach using a non equivalent control group design. Data were collected using validated instruments measuring numeracy literacy and mathematical problem-solving abilities. The results of the independent samples t-test showed a significance level below 0.001 (p < 0.05), demonstrating a statistically meaningful difference between the experimental and control groups. The results indicate that students in the experimental group attained superior average posttest scores in numeracy literacy, with a mean of 75.36, compared to 60.54 in the control group. Likewise, the experimental group showed higher achievement in mathematical problem-solving skills, obtaining an average score of 78.07, whereas the control group recorded a mean score of 62.96. These results demonstrate that integrating the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) approach with concrete instructional media derived from recycled materials, such as Eco Fraction, effectively supports students in transforming abstract mathematical concepts into meaningful understanding, while enhancing critical thinking, mathematical reasoning, and contextual problem-solving skills in alignment with the cognitive development level of elementary school learners.

Unidimensionality Analysis and Differential Item Functioning in the Applied Mathematics Final Examination Test of Politeknik Negeri Bali Students Using the Rasch Model

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The objectives of this research are (1) to analyze the fulfillment of unidimensionality assumptions on Applied Mathematics FSE instruments by the Rasch Model, (2) to identify and analyze the existence of items that have differential item functioning (DIF) among study programs in the polytechnic, and (3) to interpret as well as recommend improvements to instruments based on results from analysis about unidimensionality and DIF. This survey is quantitative research with a cross-sectional design. The sample consists of 206 students coming from three study programs: the Mechanical Engineering, the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineering, and the Utility Engineering Technology, Politeknik Negeri Bali (PNB), selected by the total sampling method. The research instrument comprises five questions constructed according to an outcome-based education (OBE) curriculum where content validity was checked through Aiken’s V method, giving a value equal to 0.91. Data were analyzed using Winsteps 5.9 software based on the Rasch model. Results of the analysis indicated that the test has outstanding reliability and separation indices both on respondents and items. Most items fall within the fitting criteria of the Rasch Model. The unidimensionality test proved that it can consistently measure a single construct in applied mathematics competency. Based on DIF analysis, most items work well across different learning categories, but a few items have large and significant DIFs. These imply that this instrument is suitable to be used as an assessment tool for learning outcomes where several parts still need improvement to enhance fairness in measuring. It raises awareness about conducting comprehensive evaluations on assessment tools within the OBE context in vocational education.

Forging a Competitive Edge: A Policy Paper on Mandating Certification for Industrial Management Consulting Services in Indonesia

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Indonesia’s industrial sector stands as the cornerstone of the national economy, yet it faces escalating challenges from intense global competition. To sustain growth and competitiveness, there is an urgent need for a strategic enhancement of the sector’s internal support systems. This policy paper identifies a critical structural weakness within this ecosystem: the absence of a standardized quality assurance mechanism for Industrial Management Consulting Services (JKMI). The current lack of regulation creates significant market uncertainty, hinders effective decision-making for industrial clients, and places a ceiling on the nation’s industrial potential.

To address this gap, this paper proposes a decisive regulatory intervention: the issuance of a Minister of Industry Regulation mandating business entity certification for all JKMI providers. The validity of this proposal is underpinned by a comprehensive Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) and a detailed Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA). These evaluations rigorously compared the proposed regulatory framework against the status quo. The findings are unequivocal, demonstrating that the regulation offers substantial net benefits. It promises to provide industries with reliable and competent partners, incentivize consulting entities to invest in quality standards, and equip the government with superior tools for policy development.

Translating these findings into action, the paper concludes with four strategic recommendations. First, it urges the immediate finalization of the regulation to establish legal certainty. Second, it calls for a robust implementation framework for certification and classification. Third, a managed transition plan is recommended to accommodate existing entities. Finally, the paper advises executing strategic socialization and inter-agency coordination to ensure widespread adoption, thereby securing the long-term reliability of Indonesia’s industrial support infrastructure.

Assessing Performance and Equity of Grade Separators in Heterogeneous Traffic: An Ex-Post Evaluation

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This paper presents an ex-post-performance evaluation of four grade separators (flyovers) in Nagpur, India, focusing on equity and efficiency in heterogeneous traffic. Using the moving observer method and six performance indices, the study compares access- controlled (above-grade) and residual (at-grade) link performance during peak hours.

The analysis reveals that while flyovers benefit faster motorized traffic, they significantly increase delays and unreliability for at-grade users (including NMTs) by reducing effective carriageway width. The study concludes that flyovers are non-equitable interventions that marginalize slower modes. These results highlight the need for decision-makers in developing economies to rethink urban interventions to ensure benefits are distributed across all transport modes.

Pulmonary Hernia Following Blunt Chest Trauma

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Defined as a protrusion of the lung parenchyma through the chest wall, traumatic lung hernias constitute a rarely described condition occurring more from penetrating rather than blunt trauma. We report the case of a 17-year-old patient with no prior medical history who was admitted to the emergency department following a motorcycle accident with a protruding thoracic mass. Clinical examination found a soft, reducible bulge on the left anterior 4th intercostal space. A CT scan of the chest demonstrated rib fractures with no lung or muscle laceration. Surgical correction of the defect allowed total disappearance of the bulge, as well as significant pain management, and postoperative recovery was satisfactory. Post-traumatic intercostal lung herniation is a poorly described, challenging entity for which minimally invasive surgical correction of the chest wall defect and reduction of the hernia should be considered whenever feasible.

The Effect of Financial Performance and Ownership Structure on Financial Distress with Good Corporate Governance as a Moderating Variable in Non-Regional Government Conventional Banks

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This study aims to analyze the effect of financial performance and ownership structure on financial distress, with Good Corporate Governance (GCG) as a moderating variable in non-regional government conventional banks in Indonesia during the 2019-2024 period. Employing a quantitative approach with panel data regression analysis on 17 banks listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange, the results indicate that financial performance has a significant effect on financial distress, while ownership structure does not have a significant effect. Furthermore, GCG is proven to moderate the relationship between financial performance and financial distress; however, it does not moderate the effect of ownership structure on financial distress. These findings emphasize the importance of implementing GCG principles in strengthening financial performance and mitigating the risk of financial distress in the conventional banking sector.

Analysis of Risk Factors and Mapping of Helminth Infection Incidence in the Working Area of Nulle Public Health Center, South Central Timor Regency

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Background: Soil-Transmitted Helminth (STH) infections remain a public health concern in tropical regions, particularly among school-aged children, while local data and risk mapping in the service area of Nulle Primary Health Center are limited.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of STH infection, identify water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH)–related risk factors, and spatially map infection clusters among primary schoolchildren in South Central Timor, Indonesia.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in seven primary schools from 10–16 June 2025, involving 263 students. Data on WASH-related behaviors and environmental conditions were collected using structured questionnaires. Stool samples were examined using the direct smear method with 2% eosin and 2% lugol’s iodine. Bivariate analysis was performed using Fisher’s exact test with α = 0.05. Geographic household coordinates of STH-positive cases were mapped using ArcGIS to identify spatial clusters.

Results: The prevalence of helminth infection was 4.6% (12/263). The most common species identified was Ascaris lumbricoides (83.3%), followed by Trichuris trichiura and mixed infections (each 8.3%). Handwashing habits, nail trimming, consumption of raw food, use of footwear, latrine ownership, and household water source were significantly associated with infection (p<0.05). GIS mapping revealed high-risk areas in Nulle, Tublopo, and Benlutu villages, characterized by high soil humidity, suitable temperature and soil type, as well as poor sanitation conditions.

Conclusion: STH infection in the Nulle area remains a concern, influenced by hygiene behaviors and environmental conditions. Location-based promotive and preventive efforts are essential to reduce infection rates.

Understanding the Social Media Rollercoaster: How Resilience and Vulnerability Shape Teen Mental Health

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Background: Social media is a central part of adolescent life, yet its impact on mental health is highly variable.

Objective: To present a synthesized, three-layer framework explaining how individual traits, social environments, and digital behaviors interact to buffer or exacerbate the relationship between social media use and adolescent mental health.
Methods: We analyzed key findings from recent studies (2020-2025) identified via a systematic PubMed search, focusing on moderators such as personality, coping styles, social support, and digital literacy.

Results: An adolescent’s experience is shaped by three key layers: The Inner Self (personal traits and coping), the Social Environment (interpersonal support), and Digital Engagement (online skills and use patterns). Low self-esteem, maladaptive coping, lack of social support, low digital literacy, and younger age are key factors that increase vulnerability to negative outcomes from social media use.

Conclusion: The impact of social media is not uniform but conditional. Effective support requires targeted interventions that build self-esteem and coping skills, foster supportive communication, and teach critical digital literacy. This multi-layered approach can help teens navigate the digital world with greater resilience.

Does Work–Life Balance Matter? Examining the Effects of Flexible Work Arrangements and Work Overload on Employee Performance at the Regional Office of the Directorate General of Taxes, Special Region of Yogyakarta

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Employee performance in the public sector is increasingly influenced by the adoption of flexible work policies and rising job demands. However, empirical evidence explaining how flexible work arrangements and work overload jointly affect performance, particularly through psychological mechanisms, remains limited in highly regulated public institutions. This study examines the effects of flexible work arrangements and work overload on employee performance, with work–life balance serving as a mediating variable among civil servants at the Regional Office of the Directorate General of Taxes, Special Region of Yogyakarta. A quantitative research design was employed using a census survey of 139 civil servants. Data were collected through structured Likert-scale questionnaires and analyzed using Partial Least Squares–Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The results show that flexible work arrangements have a positive and significant effect on both employee performance and work–life balance. Work–life balance also positively and significantly influences employee performance. In contrast, work overload does not have a significant direct effect on employee performance but demonstrates a positive and significant relationship with work–life balance. Mediation analysis indicates that work–life balance partially mediates the relationship between flexible work arrangements and employee performance and fully mediates the relationship between work overload and employee performance. These findings suggest that within a highly regulated public sector environment, employee performance is shaped less by workload intensity and more by employees’ ability to maintain a balanced integration of work and personal life. This study contributes to the public sector human resource management literature by clarifying the mediating role of work–life balance in linking flexible work policies and workload conditions to performance outcomes.