State University of Malang

State scientific agencies occupy an ambiguous position in environmental governance: formally mandated to deliver impartial expertise, they are simultaneously embedded in political-economic systems that press technical judgments toward developmental ends. This paper examines how that tension shaped Indonesia’s Geological Agency (GA) in its governance of karst resources at the Watuputih Groundwater Basin, North Kendeng Mountains, a case in which the Agency moved from a conservation-oriented stance to one that authorised continued limestone extraction. Drawing on multi-sited ethnography (29 semi-structured interviews, observation of a public scientific examination, and documentary analysis) and deploying Svarstad, Benjaminsen and Overå’s (2018) pluralistic power framework, we trace the mechanisms through which this institutional shift was produced. The GA’s repositioning was not reducible to leadership change or procedural irregularity. Three interlocking mechanisms were at work: the discursive reclassification of spring typology, which narrowed the definition of hydrological risk and sidelined competing academic assessments; the structural realignment of the Agency’s mandate within Indonesia’s infrastructure-led development apparatus; and actor-level networks connecting GA personnel to cement industry interests, which constrained the institutional space for precautionary judgment. The contribution is theoretical: it extends capture theory in political ecology by showing industry alignment produced without capture, through networks and ministry structures that already blur public and private interest. The analysis points to the need for institutionalised independence, mandatory conflict-of-interest disclosure, and community-accessible audit mechanisms in state bodies whose technical assessments determine the fate of ecologically sensitive territories.

Digital communication has become an important component of school public relations because it allows faster information exchange and more direct interaction with parents and community stakeholders. This study examined public relations management at three public senior high schools in Kendari, Indonesia, with particular attention to the digital communication practices that emerged across the sites and their contribution to educational quality. A qualitative multi-site case study approach was employed. Data were obtained through in-depth interviews, non-participant observation, and document review and were analyzed within and across the three sites. WhatsApp was the main digital channel for daily school-parent communication, particularly through homeroom teachers. SMA Negeri 6 Kendari showed the most structured and collaborative communication practices, while SMA Negeri 2 Kendari depended more on individual initiatives and SMA Negeri 8 Kendari used a more situational approach. Digital communication supported information transparency, parent-school coordination, student guidance, participation, and public trust. However, access to technology alone did not ensure effective public relations. Inconsistent communication standards, short-notice messages, unequal parent responses, limited documentation, and weak follow-up reduced its effectiveness. Effective digital communication therefore depended on its integration with planning, stakeholder participation, evaluation, and continuous follow-up.

Background Students new to flipped classrooms frequently encounter challenges with motivation and comprehension when engaging with pre-class materials independently, particularly outside scheduled class hours. Aims This study examined a scaffolded flipped-learning approach that helped students move step by step from a Faux Flipped Classroom (FFC) to a Regular Flipped Classroom (RFC), and then to a Gamified Flipped Classroom (GFC) over one semester. The goal was to support students in adapting to flipped learning, managing their mental workload, and improving their learning performance. Method Mixed methods were employed in the data collection. For quantitative data, learning achievement was assessed with tests and self-rating scales measured cognitive load, while qualitative interviews provided more detailed feedback. Results The results revealed that students in the experimental group who learned through the scaffolding strategy performed better than their counterparts in the control group. Meanwhile, both groups demonstrated a small drop in intrinsic cognitive load, likely because they became more familiar with the tasks rather than because the material got easier. However, the scaffolded group showed a larger drop in unnecessary cognitive load and a larger increase in germane cognitive effort, suggesting the intervention helped students focus more on learning and less on confusion or figuring out what to do. Intrinsic and germane cognitive load should be interpreted cautiously because they are closely related. Conclusion This study contributes to Cognitive Load Theory and scaffolding research by showing that flipped classroom success depends not only on design but also on how students are gradually prepared to use it.

Nanocellulose has emerged as a versatile, bio-based, and eco-friendly material due to its high transparency, excellent mechanical properties, and biodegradability, positioning it as a promising alternative for sustainable packaging. In this study, we present a mild, acid-free extraction method to obtain high-crystallinity nanocellulose from underutilized Walikukun fiber (WF) using sequential alkali treatment, bleaching, and mechanical sonication. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirm the effective removal of lignin and hemicellulose, resulting in a crystallinity index of up to 91.61% and the formation of densely packed cellulose fibrils. Thermogravimetric analysis reveals enhanced thermal stability, partly attributed to oxidation and structural modifications induced by sonication. Overall, WF-derived nanocellulose demonstrates potential as a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based polymers, offering improved barrier properties, thermal stability, and optical clarity for eco-friendly packaging. This work highlights the environmental benefits of using renewable natural fibers, thereby contributing to circular economy objectives and reducing dependence on nonrenewable resources.

Peptic ulcer disease remains clinically important despite effective Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication and acid-suppressive therapy. Gastric injury reflects an imbalance between aggressive factors, including acid-pepsin activity, H. pylori, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), ethanol, oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and microvascular disturbance and protective mechanisms such as mucus-bicarbonate secretion, prostaglandin signaling, nitric oxide-regulated blood flow, epithelial restitution, and endogenous antioxidant defenses. Bixa orellana L. (annatto or achiote) is a tropical medicinal plant whose seed arils are rich in the apocarotenoids bixin and norbixin, whereas its leaves contain variable phenolics, flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, alkaloids, and other constituents depending on geography, maturity, and extraction method. This critical narrative review uses a structured search and qualitative evidence-appraisal framework to evaluate extract-specific phytochemistry, direct gastric evidence, indirectly relevant gastrointestinal and vascular evidence, mechanistic plausibility, safety, quality control, and translational readiness. The available literature supports B. orellana as a biologically plausible preclinical mucosal-protective candidate, particularly for prevention of acute chemical injury; however, it does not establish clinical efficacy or chronic ulcer-healing activity. Confidence is limited by the small number of direct gastric studies, incomplete chemical characterization, inconsistent separation of leaf and seed evidence, limited dose-response testing, narrow model selection, and insufficient mechanistic and histological endpoints. Future studies should use authenticated plant material, voucher specimens, chromatographic fingerprints, quantitative markers, complementary prevention and healing models, acute and repeated-dose toxicology, mucus and prostaglandin measurements, oxidative and inflammatory biomarkers, and blinded histological scoring before human investigation is justified.