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The Role of E-government in Improving Efficiency and Transparency in Public Services in Indonesia
No full textThe role of e-government has great potential in improving administrative efficiency and government transparency. The implementation of e-government in sectors such as population administration, taxation, and healthcare has proven to reduce public service costs, accelerate administrative processes, and enhance service quality. For example, the e-KTP system simplifies the management of identity documents, while e-filing and e-billing in the taxation sector increase taxpayer compliance and reduce administrative costs. However, the implementation of e-government in Indonesia still faces significant challenges. Inadequate technological infrastructure in some areas, especially in rural and remote regions, and cultural and institutional resistance to the shift from manual to digital systems are major obstacles. Additionally, the limited availability of skilled human resources in information and communication technology hampers effective implementation. Nevertheless, with appropriate policy support, investment in infrastructure development, and capacity building of human resources, e-government has great potential to improve governance and enhance public welfare. Effective and sustainable implementation of e-government will help Indonesia face global challenges and achieve more efficient, transparent, and accountable governance
Digital Government Reform: Analysis and Trends Through Systematic Literature from 2004-2024
No full textTurbulent globalization has driven transformation across multiple sectors, including shifts in government systems toward digital governance. This research aims to explore how government systems are transitioning to digital platforms in various countries, with a particular focus on the Asian region for a more in-depth and holistic review. The study employs a systematic literature review of digital government reforms in Asian countries over the past twenty years (2004–2024), using the Scopus database with the keywords “Digital,” “Government,” and “Reform.” It also employs bibliometric analysis using VOSviewer software. The findings reveal that several Asian countries, including Vietnam, China, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia, have initiated the implementation of digital government systems with varying degrees of success. These countries have leveraged technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), big data, and artificial intelligent (AI) to foster innovation and improve governmental performance. However, significant challenges remain, including regional digital disparities and the need for more adaptive and responsive policies to keep pace with technological change. The study concludes that although notable progress has been made, further research is needed to identify the key factors influencing the successful implementation of digital government systems in Asia
The Effect of Work-life Balance on the Psychological Wellbeing Among Female Civil Servants Occupying Structural Positions in the Makassar Municipal Administration
No full textIn today’s fast-paced world, all employees face the same challenge of finding ways to balance their work and personal lives. Due to the numerous changes in gender roles, families, work, and careers over the past 50 years, research on work-life balance has gained popularity. Work-life balance is now one of the psychosocial workplace variables that influence how well-off a person is psychologically. The purpose of this study is to identify the connection between work-life balance and the psychological wellbeing of Makassar City’s female civil servants in structural positions. A quantitative approach is used with the number of respondents consisting of 95 female civil servants on Makassar SKPD in the form of Bagian, Badan, dan Instansi. This research implemented the purposive sample method, focusing on women who hold leadership roles in Makassar City’s structural positions. The work-life balance scale and the psychological well-being scale, which are adapted based on the theory utilized, are the scales used in this study. Results showed that psychological well-being was positively and significantly impacted by work-life balance. The work-life balance variable’s R squared coefficient for the psychological well-being variable is 0.120. The findings show that work-life balance affects 12% of the variable psychological well-being and that other factors affect the remaining 80%
Management of Pandang Tak Jemu Mangrove Ecotourism: A Cultural Approach in Conservation and Sustainable Tourism Development
No full textEcotourism Mangrove Pandang Tak Jemu is an eco-friendly tourist destination located on the shores of Batam City, Riau Islands, and has been listed among the top 50 in the Anugerah Desa Wisata Indonesia (ADWI) 2022. This destination offers specialized tourism packages that emphasize the values of conservation of nature, environmental protection, social community engagement, and education. The success of this location in attracting both local and international tourists, as well as achieving recognition as a tourism village, is largely attributed to the leadership of the chairman of the tourismaware group (pokdarwis), who effectively utilized various resources and approaches to develop tourism in the area. This study employs a qualitative case study method, using observation, interviews, and document analysis. The results indicate that a cultural approach is a key factor in the success of leadership in tourism management. Through this approach, the pokdarwis chairman successfully accommodated the needs of tourists, collaborated with the local community, and fostered a culture of tourism
Impact of platelet-rich plasma at different concentrations on genes of apoptotic pathway and differentiation of stem cells in cyclophosphamide-induced ovarian failure in a mouse model: An experimental study
No full textBackground: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), a new therapeutic technique, has the potential to regenerate failing ovarian tissue and alleviate symptoms in patients with premature ovarian failure (POF).
Objective: This study examined the effect of different platelet concentrations on ovarian function, investigated the apoptosis genes B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL-2) and Bcl-2-associated X protein, and the differentiation gene octamer-binding transcription factor 4.
Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 30 female Syrian mice (8–10 wk, 25–30 gr) were randomly divided into 5 groups (n = 6/each): 1) normal control, 2) POF + phosphate buffered saline, 3) POF + PRP 0.25 ml/kg, 4) POF + PRP 0.5 ml/kg, and 5) POF + PRP 1 ml/kg. The cyclophosphamide was used to create a mouse model of POF. After 2 wk from injection of PRP and phosphate buffered saline, ovaries were removed for histological and molecular analysis.
Results: The distribution of different follicle types in the POF + PRP group was the same as that of the control group, according to a morphometric study. Bcl-2-associated X protein gene expression was significantly reduced in the groups that received PRP (p < 0.001). BCL-2 and octamer-binding transcription factor 4 gene expression was also increased in the PRP groups (p < 0.05), but the gene expression was different in different platelet concentrations.
Conclusion: The results showed that PRP can be effective in POF, but different dosages of PRP can have different effects on the recovery of ovarian
Prenatal exposure to a single dose of testosterone adversely affects the oocyte and embryo quality in rats during adulthood: An experimental study
No full textBackground: Prenatal exposure to excess androgen can adversely affect the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis in the developing fetus, potentially leading to long-term reproductive system dysfunction in later life.
Objective: We aimed to investigate whether prenatal exposure to a single dose of testosterone can affect the reproductive system, especially oocyte and embryo quality, and the ovarian expression of growth differentiation factor-9 (GDF-9) gene in rats during adulthood.
Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, pregnant Wistar rats (12–13 wk, 185 ± 10 gr) in the experimental group (n = 5) subcutaneously received free testosterone (5 mg) on the 20th day of pregnancy, whereas controls received only solvent (n = 5). The offspring were evaluated for oocyte and embryo quality (zona pellucida thickness, number of normal fertilization, number of 2-cell embryos, and embryo arrest rate) and ovarian expression of GDF-9 gene during adulthood.
Results: A significant increase was observed in the zona pellucida thickness (p = 0.02) in prenatally-androgenized (PNA) rats compared to controls. However, reductions in the number of normal fertilization and 2-cell embryos (p = 0.007, p = 0.01, respectively) in PNA rats compared to controls were observed. Furthermore, embryo arrest rate in PNA rats was significantly higher than in controls (p = 0.004). No significant difference was observed in the ovarian expression of GDF-9 gene in PNA rats compared to controls.
Conclusion: Prenatal exposure to a single dose of testosterone during a critical window of fetal development significantly impairs oocyte and embryo quality in adult rats. Further studies are needed to validate these findings and to elucidate the underlying molecular and physiological mechanisms
Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty Versus Penetrating Keratoplasty in Keratoconus: A Retrospective Study Using Coarsened Exact Matching
No full textPurpose: To compare the graft survival rates and visual outcomes in patients with keratoconus (KCN) undergoing deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) versus penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) and identify possible risk factors.
Methods: This retrospective longitudinal study enrolled patients with KCN who underwent corneal transplantation at Labbafinejad Medical Center (Tehran, Iran) between 2006 and 2016. We utilized a one-to-one coarsened exact matching (CEM) approach. Matching considered the recipient’s sex, donor age, and the presence and extent of corneal neovascularization in the recipient.
Results: A total of 213 patients with KCN who underwent PKP (49.8%; n = 106) or DALK (50.2%; n = 107) were enrolled. After CEM was performed, 67 patients in the PKP group were wellmatched with 67 patients in the DALK group. There was no significant difference in terms of baseline characteristics between the two groups. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the percentage of patients free of graft rejection in a one- and three-year follow-up was 78.7% and 74.5% in the PKP group, and 95.3% and 95.3% in the DALK group, respectively. On univariate analysis, the strongest risk factor predictive of graft rejection was corneal vascularization in both the PKP and DALK groups, followed by recipient age only in the PKP group and dry eye disease only in the DALK group. In a multivariate Cox regression analysis, PKP was identified as an independent predictor of graft rejection, but not of graft failure. The DALK and PKP groups were comparable in terms of postoperative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA; P = 0.48) and suture complications (P = 0.87).
Conclusion: In patients with KCN, DALK demonstrated comparable outcomes to PKP in terms of BCVA, but showed superiority in graft rejection-free survival. Corneal vascularization was the major recipient risk factor for graft rejection and failure
Characterization of the Pre-lens Tear Film in Hydrogel and Silicone Hydrogel Contact Lens Wear
No full textPurpose: Different contact lens (CL) materials have been associated with different behaviors of pre-lens tear film components in the short term. The purpose of this randomized crossover and double-masked study was to compare the effect of wearing hydrogel and silicone hydrogel CLs on pre-lens tear film status.
Methods: Soft CL wearers were recruited and randomly fitted with a hydrogel (omafilcon A) and a silicone hydrogel (stenfilcon A) CL. Tear evaporation rate, non-invasive tear break-up time (NIBUT), tear film lipid layer thickness, and partial blink rate were measured without CLs and 30 minutes after the insertion of CLs. The outcomes were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance or the Friedman test.
Results: Twenty-four CL wearers (6 men and 18 women) aged 23.3 ± 3.9 years were included. Tear evaporation rate was higher with the hydrogel CL (98.6 ± 59.4 g/m2/h; P = 0.043) and the silicone hydrogel CL (99.7 ± 60.6 g/m2/h; P = 0.037) compared to no CL wear (69.9 ± 41.3 g/m2/h). NIBUT was lower (P = 0.019) with the silicone hydrogel CL (12.7 ± 6.2 s) than with no CL wear (18.5 ± 9.8 s). Lipid layer thickness was lower with the hydrogel CL (64.9 ± 15.5) than with the silicone hydrogel CL (75.8 ± 14.0; P < 0.001) and no CL wear (75.9 ± 14.2; P = 0.001). No statistically significant differences were found in the partial blink rate.
Conclusion: This study demonstrated that both hydrogel and silicone hydrogel CLs disrupt the tear film by increasing tear evaporation and causing tear film instability. However, CL materials affect the pre-lens tear film status differently. Further studies with longer wearing times are required
The Implementation of the North American Clinical Training Model in UAE Pharmacy Schools: The Gap Between Standards
No full textThis article discusses changes to clinical training in UAE pharmacy schools in response to policy changes by the government that required pharmacy schools to obtain accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) in the United States. It shows how pharmacy schools have reformed their curriculum to meet international standards. A critical comparative case study approach was employed using three data resources: government legislations and laws, pharmacy schools’ websites, and semi-structured interviews with stakeholders. The main findings were that the ACPE accreditation helped improve the quality of pharmacy programs. However, students, when conducting their clinical training, are mostly observing and not providing direct patient care due to legislation restrictions, and the number of hours for clinical training is still behind. Therefore, the researcher argues that the clinical training model in pharmacy schools still needs development in multiple areas compared to the North American model, despite the pharmacy schools having the ACPE accreditation. Specifically, further support from the state concerning professional legislation and laws is needed to help advance and develop the professional competencies of pharmacists
The Impact of CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) Level Adjustments on Student Engagement in Emirates School Establishments
No full textWhen students learning English as an additional language face cognitive challenges, curriculum adjustments to reduce cognitive load can often improve their engagement and understanding. This action research study explores the impact of adjusting the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) level on student engagement within a United Arab Emirates (UAE) public school setting. It examines how refining the English curriculum content from B1 to A1 CEFR level affects the overall classroom environment and student engagement among Grade 9 General Stream students at the Emirates School Establishment in the UAE. Observational data, teacher journaling, formative assessments, and Exit Tickets were used to gauge student motivation and engagement. Results indicated that reducing the CEFR level increased student engagement, lowered classroom noise, and enhanced perceived lesson enjoyment. This suggests that aligning the curriculum level with students’ language proficiency fosters a conducive learning environment, supporting cognitive load theory principles. Furthermore, students’ collectivist learning preferences were found to influence engagement patterns. These findings highlight the value of setting achievable language standards that support students’ learning journey, fostering an environment where they are equipped to build confidence, engage actively, and progress steadily without unnecessary cognitive strain