Plastic waste remains one of the most pressing environmental challenges due to its persistence and the lack of effective recycling solutions. This study explores the use of recycled low-density polyethylene (LDPE) plastic waste as a binder substitute for cement in the production of eco-friendly paving blocks. The aim is to evaluate compressive strength, water absorption, density, and thermal resistance, as well as to determine the optimal mix composition that meets the Indonesian National Standard (SNI 03-0691-1996). A quantitative experimental approach was employed, using six variations of LDPE-to-sand ratios and standard laboratory testing procedures. The results showed that the paving block made from a 40
This paper investigates the use of large language models (LLMs) as evaluators in multidimensional machine translation (MT) assessment, focusing on the English–Indonesian language pair. Building on established evaluation frameworks, we adopt an MQM-aligned rubric that assesses translation quality along morphosyntactic, semantic, and pragmatic dimensions. Three LLM-based translation systems (Qwen 3 (0.6B), LLaMA 3.2 (3B), and Gemma 3 (1B)) are evaluated using both expert human judgments and an LLM-based evaluator (GPT–5), allowing for a detailed comparison of alignment, bias, and consistency between human and AI-based assessments. In addition, a classroom calibration study is conducted to examine how rubric-guided evaluation supports alignment among novice evaluators. The results indicate that GPT–5 exhibits strong agreement with human evaluators in terms of relative quality ranking, while systematic differences in absolute scoring highlight calibration challenges. Overall, this study provides insights into the role of LLMs as reference-free evaluators for MT and illustrates how multidimensional rubrics can support both research-oriented evaluation and pedagogical applications in a mid-resource language setting.
A conducive investment climate is essential for attracting both domestic and foreign investors. In Indonesia, legal certainty remains one of the most critical yet problematic elements, primarily due to normative inconsistencies across multiple layers of legislation. This article examines the impact of such inconsistencies on investment licensing procedures and legal certainty. The study employs a normative juridical method with statutory, conceptual, and comparative approaches. Findings reveal that overlapping regulations — particularly between the Investment Law, the Job Creation Law, and sectoral regulations — generate procedural uncertainty, excessive bureaucratic discretion, and high transaction costs for investors. Comparative analysis with Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, South Korea, India, Brazil, and South Africa demonstrates that regulatory harmonization and centralized licensing authority are key to reducing legal risks and improving investor confidence. This article argues that Indonesia must urgently pursue regulatory harmonization, strengthen the Online Single Submission — Risk-Based Approach (OSS-RBA) system, and ensure consistency in the application of conflict-of-law principles to foster a reliable and competitive investment climate.
This study examines the influence of competence on employee performance by exploring the mediating roles of organizational commitment and work motivation, aiming to identify whether competence affects performance directly or indirectly through these variables. Conducted at the Public Works and Spatial Planning Office of Kampar Regency using a quantitative approach, the research employed a census method with 93 respondents and analyzed data via Structural Equation Modeling with the Partial Least Squares technique in SmartPLS 4. The results reveal that competence lacks a direct effect on employee performance but significantly impacts it indirectly by enhancing organizational commitment and work motivation, with work motivation proving the most influential factor, followed by organizational commitment. This study offers original insights into the indirect mechanisms of competence in boosting performance, emphasizing the need to integrate psychological and emotional aspects into human resource management strategies beyond mere technical skill development.
Background: The rising income of smallholder oil palm farmers in Rokan Hilir Regency, Riau Province, Indonesia, has paradoxically fuelled consumptive spending patterns that prioritise symbolic goods over productive investment. Drawing on Jean Baudrillard's theory of consumer society and sign value, this study investigates how Fear of Missing Out (FOMO), conformity, celebrity endorsement, and self-esteem collectively drive consumptive behaviour among oil palm farmers, and how these dynamics are mediated through an Islamic economic lens. Method: This study adopts a qualitative case-study design with an interpretive paradigm. Data were gathered through in-depth interviews with ten smallholder oil palm farmers in Rokan Hilir, supplemented by interviews with seven key informants comprising village heads, local government officials, and banking representatives. Long-term observational fieldwork and documentary analysis were also employed to triangulate findings. Thematic and interpretive analysis guided data interpretation. Results: Four key findings emerge: (1) FOMO functions as a primary psychological trigger that transforms social anxiety into impulsive purchasing; (2) conformity operates as a social mechanism reinforcing status-oriented consumption; (3) celebrity endorsement through social media accelerates aspirational spending by constructing a hyperreal vision of prosperity; and (4) low self-esteem causes farmers to compensate through conspicuous goods. The study reveals that oil palm farmers consume not merely to meet needs but to perform social identity and simulate economic success, consistent with Baudrillard's simulacra framework. Conclusion: Consumptive behaviour among oil palm farmers is a structurally embedded social practice shaped by symbolic competition, income volatility, and digital media penetration. From an Islamic economic perspective, this pattern violates the principles of israf (wastefulness) and infaq fi sabilillah (purposeful spending). Interventions through financial literacy, Sharia-based financial planning, and community-level moral economy education are recommended to redirect agrarian income toward long-term productive investment.
