Salud, Ciencia y Tecnología (Journal)
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From Leaf to Relief: Basella alba Ethanolic Extract Alleviates Psoriasis-Like Skin Inflammation in BALB/c Mice
Full text linkIntroduction: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder that can be challenging to manage due to adverse effects linked to long-term treatment. As a result, alternative therapeutic options are being investigated. Basella alba exhibits anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, indicating its potential as a therapeutic agent for the management of psoriasis.Objectives: To investigate the antipsoriatic effect of Basella alba as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant targeting the serum level of Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-α, Malondealdehyde (MDA) and also the severity of psoriasis. Materials and Methods: Psoriasis-like lesions were induced in thirty-six male BALB/c mice using 5% imiquimod (IMQ) cream. The Balb/c mice were assigned to six groups: G1 (normal control), G2 (psoriasis control, IMQ only), G3 (IMQ + methotrexate 1 mg/kgBW/day), G4 (IMQ + Basella alba extract [BAE] 250 mg/kgBW/day), G5 (IMQ + BAE 500 mg/kgBW/day), and G6 (IMQ + BAE 250 mg/kgBW/day plus methotrexate). Serum TNF-α, MDA, and modified PASI scores were measured at baseline and after 14 days of treatment.Results: IMQ application increased TNF-α, MDA, and PASI scores. Treatment with Basella alba reduced these markers. The most prominent effects were observed in the combination therapy group, followed by the high-dose extract group. Serum TNF-α levels decreased by 55.8% in the G6 group and by 51.8% in the G5 group. Serum MDA levels declined by 85.4% in the G6 group and by 78.7% in the G5 group.Conclusion: Basella alba extract demonstrated significant anti-psoriatic activity by reducing inflammation and oxidative stress. These findings support its potential use as a monotherapy at 500 mg/kg BW/day or as an adjunct to methotrexate in a lower dose
A Systematic Review of Tiktok-Based Gamification for Civic Education Among Generation Z
Full text linkThis research presents a systematic review of empirical studies addressing the integration of TikTok-based gamification in civic education aimed at Generation Z. As digital natives, Gen Z has distinctive learning patterns and is heavily influenced by mobile technology and social media. TikTok, with its participatory and algorithmic features, offers unique potential to enhance political literacy, learning motivation, and civic engagement when combined with gamification strategies. This review was conducted based on the PRISMA 2020 guidelines by searching the literature in three databases: Scopus, ScienceDirect, and ERIC. Of the 616 identified articles, a screening and selection process based on inclusion criteria using the PICOS framework yielded 19 empirical articles eligible for thematic analysis. The selected articles were peer-reviewed publications published between 2021 and 2025. The analysis shows that TikTok-based gamification positively impacts Gen Z\u27s political awareness, learning motivation, and engagement in democratic processes. Effective strategies include the use of AR filters, short videos, storylines, reward systems, and integration into digital learning platforms. However, challenges were also identified, such as algorithmic bias, low critical digital literacy, and institutional resistance to the use of social media in formal education. This study provides conceptual contributions in mapping theoretical foundations and implementation models, as well as practical contributions to the development of contextual, inclusive, and adaptive citizenship learning strategies for the characteristics of the digital generation
Nursing care in critical care units: perception of family members.
Full text linkIntroduction: the family experience is conditioned by the quality of care, humane treatment, and communication, factors that directly affect their satisfaction and trust in the healthcare system.Method: a qualitative approach with a phenomenological hermeneutic design was used, guided by COREQ criteria. The sample consisted of 12 family members (spouses, parents, and adult children), selected through convenience and saturation sampling. Semi-structured interviews were conducted virtually, lasting an average of 40 minutes, and were analyzed using the Colaizzi method with an EMIC-ETIC approach to identify categories and subcategories.Results: the results revealed four main categories: 1) attitudes and care provided by nursing staff, highlighting both negative behaviors such as lack of empathy, impersonal treatment, and poor communication, and positive behaviors such as respect and emotional support; 2) therapeutic limitations in critical services, associated with shortages of medical supplies, a lack of human resources, and excessive workloads; 3) comprehensive care and nursing professionalism, where dignified treatment, patience, and empathy towards patients and families were recognized; and 4) interpersonal relationships and communication, with divergent perceptions between a lack of information and the willingness of some professionals to provide cordial and continuous support.Conclusions: nursing care in the ICU has strengths and weaknesses. Lack of resources, work overload, and poor communication limit the quality of care; however, empathy, commitment, and willingness on the part of staff are key to humanized care that includes the family as an essential part of the process
Ethics, generative artificial intelligence, and educational assessment: An analysis of university students’ perceptions
Full text linkIntroduction: The ethical use of generative artificial intelligence (GAI) in Education, particularly in learning assessment, is an issue of growing importance in higher Education due to its impact on values and academic integrity. Objective: This research aimed to examine university students’ perceptions regarding the ethical use of GAI in evaluative practices, based on five pre-established ethical dimensions. Method: A quantitative, non-experimental and cross-sectional study was conducted. A questionnaire of 16 closed-ended Likert- scale items was administered to 2684 students from ten degrees at Santa Elena Peninsula State University, Ecuador. The processing and analysis followed this sequence: item-level descriptive analysis, dimensional scales using measures of central tendency and dispersion, correlations based on Spearman´ Rho to identify relationships, and finally, principal components analysis (PCA) to identify structure and latent factors. Results: The results revealed a strong consensus on regulations, ethical principles and academic honesty, but also differences in trust, responsibility and formative impact. Two main factors emerged: one highly consistent factor combining norms, responsibility and impact, and another reflecting differences in honesty and trust. Conclusions: It is concluded that, while ethics in the use of GAI is generally accepted, it’s insufficiently understood and applied in assessment practice, revealing discrepancies and diverse positions evident, indicating that this is an area of critical analysis and further educational work.
Effect of Generative Artificial Intelligence Use on Diagnostic Learning in Medical Students: A Quasi-Experimental Study
Full text linkGenerative artificial intelligence (GenAI) has emerged as a transformative tool in medical education, particularly in the development of diagnostic learning and clinical reasoning skills. This study aimed to examine the effect of GenAI use on diagnostic learning among medical students through a quasi-experimental pretest–posttest design. A total of 62 students participated, assigned to an experimental group that used GenAI to solve clinical cases and a control group that relied on traditional study methods. Findings showed a markedly greater improvement in the experimental group, which achieved higher gains in diagnostic accuracy, quality of reasoning and reduced case-resolution time. Students\u27 perceptions were highly positive, emphasising the usefulness, clarity and cognitive support offered by GenAI. Although moderate risks of error were identified, they did not significantly affect the overall evaluation of the tool. The study concludes that generative AI significantly enhances diagnostic learning and strengthens essential clinical competencies, provided its implementation occurs within an appropriate ethical and pedagogical framework. These results open new avenues for research regarding curriculum integration, impact on more complex clinical scenarios and its potential as an intelligent tutoring resource in contemporary medical education
Hybrid CNN-Capsule Network Architecture for Automated Diabetic Retinopathy Classification: A Rigorous Statistical Validation on Clinical Data
Full text linkIntroduction: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) remains the leading cause of preventable blindness worldwide, necessitating the development of automated screening solutions to address the global shortage of ophthalmological expertise. Many existing deep learning approaches lack rigorous statistical validation and fail to address the severe class imbalance characteristic of clinical DR populations.Objective: A hybrid convolutional neural network-capsule network architecture for automated DR severity grading, emphasizing statistical rigor and clinical applicability over benchmark optimization.Method: A novel ensemble architecture combining ResNet-50 and MobileNet-V2 feature extractors with capsule network classifiers was developed and rigorously validated using 5-fold stratified cross-validation on the Messidor dataset (n=1,200) with strict patient-level data splitting. The framework addresses severe class imbalance through systematic multi-level mitigation strategies including SMOTE-ENN augmentation, focal loss optimization (α=0,25, γ=2,0), and dynamic class weighting. Statistical robustness was ensured through bootstrap confidence intervals (n=1,000 iterations), McNemar\u27s paired comparison tests, and comprehensive ablation studies.Results: The hybrid architecture achieved 88,67 % ± 2,43 % overall accuracy (95 % CI: 86,24 %-91,10 %), with an area under the curve of 90,85 % ± 2,15 % (95 % CI: 88,70 %-93,00 %). Critically, sensitivity for sight-threatening cases reached 84,0 % for severe NPDR and 80,6 % for proliferative DR, while maintaining 91,8 % specificity for non-referrable cases. The systematic class imbalance mitigation strategy improved the F1-scores of the minority class by 19,3 % relative to the standard CNN baseline (p < 0,001, McNemar\u27s χ² = 15,67). Cross-validation consistency (coefficient of variation: 2,74 %) demonstrated model stability essential for clinical deployment.Conclusion: The hybrid CNN-capsule architecture provides clinically relevant DR classification with transparent statistical validation. The demonstrated sensitivity for sight-threatening cases and conservative classification patterns support potential screening application, though prospective clinical validation remains necessary
Beyond Voluntary And Enforced Compliance: Digital Transformation As A Path To Sustainable Tax Harmony
Full text linkIntroduction: In the context of modern tax reform, understanding how psychological factors such as mental accounting interact with digital tax transformation is becoming increasingly important. This is particularly relevant for developing countries such as Indonesia, where the digitisation of the tax system is still in the consolidation stage and efforts to improve taxpayer compliance are a top priority.Objective: This study aims to analyse the relationship between mental accounting—that is, the cognitive grouping of tax obligations—and tax compliance behaviour, emphasising the mediating role of digital tax transformation. This study also develops the Concept of Sustainable Tax Balance, which views compliance as the result of a sustainable partnership between taxpayers and tax authorities, rather than simply a choice between voluntary compliance or enforced compliance.Method: A quantitative approach was used with cross-sectional survey data from 1,075 individual taxpayers in Indonesia. Analysis was performed using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) to test the direct and mediating relationships between the main variables, thereby ensuring the empirical validity of the proposed conceptual framework.Results: The results show that mental accounting has a significant effect on digital tax transformation, which in turn mediates the relationship with three dimensions of tax compliance: voluntary compliance, enforced compliance, and sustainability of tax harmony. Digital transformation was found to increase voluntary compliance by strengthening taxpayer trust and comfort, while reducing reliance on enforcement mechanisms such as audits, fines, and administrative sanctions.Conclusion: Theoretically, this study expands the tax compliance literature by introducing the perspective of Sustainable Tax Balance, which emphasises the synergy between psychological factors and fiscal digitalisation. Practically, tax authorities are advised to prioritise digital facilitation and technology-based service innovation over coercive strategies to build a participatory, sustainable, and non-confrontational tax ecosystem.
Problem-Based Learning and Higher-Order Thinking Skills: A Scopus-Based Bibliometric Analysis of Trends, Sources, and Collaboration Networks
Full text linkIntroduction: this study systematically mapped research developments on Problem-Based Learning and Higher-Order Thinking Skills in higher education using a bibliometric approach.Method: data were collected from the Scopus database using keyword combinations, yielding 41 documents published between 1997 and 2025. Formal analysis included publication trend charting, co-occurrence mapping (VOSviewer), and citation analysis to examine the structural and intellectual landscape.Results: publications peaked in 2020 (13 documents) and were dominated by Conference Papers. The research was highly concentrated in Physics and Astronomy (35.6%) and was overwhelmingly led by Indonesia, with Universitas Sebelas Maret being the most productive institution. The analysis confirmed the seminal work by Hmelo and Ferrari (1997) as the theoretical foundation, while contemporary efforts focused on quantitative validation and technological integration (e.g., e-modules).Conclusions: the field experienced a rapid growth phase driven by global educational shifts. The strong regional dominance establishes a need for comparative studies to enhance the external validity of the successful Problem-Based Learning models developed in the region. Future research should prioritize systematic literature reviews to consolidate the empirical evidence base
The Impact of Visualization Integration and Mason\u27s Theory in Real Analysis Learning on Students\u27 Mathematical Proof Abilitie
No full textIntroduction: mathematical proof abilities are crucial for mathematics students because mathematics is full of theories and concepts that must be proven. Mathematical proof is the core of the Real Analysis course. However, most students struggle with this course because the topic consists of abstract concepts and proofs. Providing visualizations of abstract concepts and Mason\u27s framework of thought is expected to be a solution to help students conduct proofs.Methods: this research is a descriptive qualitative study. The research instruments were a mathematical proof test in the form of an essay and a structured interview guide. The research subjects were: one class of 35 students of the Mathematics Education study program, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Padang State University (Indonesia). For the interview, 3 people were taken from the lower group and 3 people from the upper group. Data analysis was carried out using descriptive analysis.Results: the results of the mathematical proof test showed that there was an increase in students\u27 mathematical proofs before and after learning that integrated visualization and Mason\u27s framework of thinking. From the interview results, it was found that: for students in the lower group, the use of visualization could improve their understanding of abstract concepts but they were not yet able to write proofs well. Meanwhile, students in the upper group, the use of visualization could improve their understanding of abstract concepts and write proofs and describe them in the good and very good categoriesConclusions: use Mason\u27s visualization and conceptual framework in learning can improve students\u27 mathematical proofs. Although the improvement is not significant, lower-level students saw improvements at the cognitive level of understanding, while higher-level students saw improvements at the application and analysis levels
Phenomenological Study: Perception of Angkola Batak Customary Figures On Exclusive Breastfeeding for Infants Aged 0-6 Months in Padangsidimpuan City
Full text linkIntroduction: exclusive breastfeeding is the provision of only breast milk (ASI) to newborns up to 6 months of age without any additional food except vitamins and medicines. The purpose of this study was to explore in depth the perceptions of traditional leaders of the Batak Angkola tribe regarding exclusive breastfeeding for infants aged 0-6 months in Padangsidimpuan City.
Method: the research design was phenomenological. The data collection method was carried out through in-depth interviews. A purposive sampling method was used to select participants who met the criteria as participants. The participants in this study were 12 people consisting of Hatobangon, Mora, Kahanggi, Anak Boru, Husbands and Health Workers in Padangsidimpuan City. The transcribed interview results were analyzed using content analysis.
Results: the results of this study found 4 themes that reflect the phenomenon studied. These themes are the views of traditional leaders on exclusive breastfeeding, husband\u27s support in providing exclusive breastfeeding, the role of health workers in the success of exclusive breastfeeding and cultural influences on exclusive breastfeeding.
Conclusion: we live in an area that still upholds culture, customs, and habits that are still frequently practiced. It is not uncommon for these traditional activities to intentionally or unintentionally cancel the provision of exclusive breastfeeding, such as giving honey/sugar/salt to babies before the baby is 6 months old. Attending traditional events is not a problem as long as it does not interfere with exclusive breastfeeding, but it will be a problem if all babies will have their exclusive breastfeeding canceled if they participate in these traditional activities. It is recommended that the local government can embrace traditional leaders in Padangsidimpuan City to be able to make the provision of exclusive breastfeeding for babies aged 0-6 months a success