Sam Ratulangi University

Accountable and transparent village fund management is a primary pillar of good village governance; however, its practice is often hindered by weak supervision systems and limited access to public information. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the Internal Control System (ICS), transparency, and accountability in managing Village Funds in Pulutan Utara Village. Employing a descriptive qualitative method with a case study approach, data were collected through in-depth interviews and observations involving village officials and the community. The results indicate that the ICS has operated effectively structurally and administratively based on the five elements of the Government Internal Control System; yet, its function as social control remains suboptimal due to a lack of community involvement. Fund management accountability has performed well vertically towards the local government, but horizontal accountability to the community is still highly limited. Similarly, transparency functions adequately in a formal sense through village deliberations, but sustainable information accessibility remains weak due to the minimal use of written and digital media. This study implies that the fulfillment of administrative (vertical) obligations must be balanced with innovations in public information disclosure to realize substantive community participation in preventing potential deviations.

Taman Hutan Raya (TAHURA) Gunung Tumpa memiliki peran vital sebagai kawasan konservasi dan satu-satunya area tangkapan air yang tersisa di Kota Manado. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis perubahan tutupan lahan di kawasan TAHURA Gunung Tumpa dalam kurun waktu 2016 hingga 2025 menggunakan Sistem Informasi Geografis (SIG). Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah survei yang menggabungkan analisis spasial data sekunder citra satelit Sentinel-2 dan validasi lapangan menggunakan GPS. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan adanya dinamika perubahan pada tujuh kelas tutupan lahan. Selama periode 2016–2025, terjadi peningkatan signifikan pada luas hutan sekunder sebesar 11,00 ha (dari 88,12% menjadi 93,39%). Sebaliknya, terjadi penurunan luas pada kelas semak belukar sebesar 9,52 ha dan hilangnya kelas lahan terbuka seluas 3,28 ha. Selain itu, teridentifikasi munculnya kelas tutupan baru pada tahun 2025 berupa ladang (0,08 ha) dan padang rumput (0,21 ha). Secara keseluruhan, perubahan tutupan lahan di TAHURA Gunung Tumpa menunjukkan tren positif yang mengindikasikan terjadinya pemulihan vegetasi alami dan efektivitas fungsi kawasan konservasi.

Abstract: Female inmates in correctional institutions are vulnerable to psychological distress, including depression, anxiety, and stress. High levels of distress are associated with an increased incidence of early-onset dementia (EOD), which refers to dementia occurring before the age of 65. This study aimed to determine the correlation between distress levels and EOD among female inmates. This was an analytical observational study with a cross-sectional design, conducted at the Manado Class IIB Women’s Correctional Institution from August to November 2025. Sampling was carried out using the stratified random sampling technique, with DASS-21 and MoCA-Ina questionnaires as research instruments. The results obtained a total of 59 female inmates participated in this study. Most inmates had normal distress levels, including normal depression (59,3%), anxiety (49,2%), and stress (59,3%). Based on EOD assessment, the majority (62.7%) showed cognitive impairment. The Spearman’s correlation test indicated a significant relationship between distress levels and early-onset dementia (p=0.000). In conclusion, there is a significant correlation between distress levels and early-onset dementia among female inmates at the Manado Class IIB Women’s Correctional Institution. Keywords: distress levels; early-onset dementia Abstrak: Narapidana perempuan di lembaga pemasyarakatan rentan mengalami distres, seperti depresi, kecemasan, maupun stres. Tingginya tingkat distres berdampak pada angka kejadian early-onset dementia (EOD), yang merujuk pada demensia di rentang usia <65 tahun. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui korelasi antara tingkat distres dengan EOD pada narapidana LPP Kelas IIB Manado. Jenis penelitian ialah observasional analitik dengan desain potong lintang. Penelitian ini dilakukan di LPP Kelas IIB Manado selama bulan Agustus-November 2025, dengan teknik pengambilan sampel menggunakan stratified random sampling. Instrumen penelitian menggunakan lembar kuesioner DASS-21 dan MoCA-Ina. Jumlah sampel penelitian ini sebanyak 59 narapidana perempuan. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa mayoritas narapidana perempuan berada pada tingkat distres normal, dengan sebaran tingkat depresi normal (59,3%), tingkat kecemasan normal (49,2%), dan tingkat stres normal (59,3%). Berdasarkan penilaian EOD, mayoritas narapidana perempuan mengalami gangguan kognitif (62,7%). Hasil uji korelasi Spearman mendapatkan nilai signifikansi p<0,01 (p=0,000) yang menunjukkan terdapat korelasi bermakna antara tingkat distres dengan EOD. Simpulan penelitian ini ialah terdapat korelasi bermakna antara tingkat distres dengan early-onset dementia pada narapidana LPP Kelas IIB Manado. Kata kunci: tingkat distres; early-onset dementia

Centromeres ensure accurate chromosome segregation, yet their DNA evolves rapidly across eukaryotes leaving the origins of new centromere architectures unclear1-4. The brewer's yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae exemplifies this long-standing puzzle. Its centromeres shifted ancestrally from large, repeat-rich, epigenetically specified forms to the compact, genetically defined 'point' centromeres1,5. How this transition occurred has remained unresolved6. Here we identify evolutionarily related 'proto-point' centromeres that provide a resolution to the evolutionary origins of point centromeres. Proto-point centromeres contain a single centromeric nucleosome positioned over an AT-rich core, accompanied by relaxed organization and sequence variability of flanking cis-elements. In two species, these proto-point centromeres lie within retrotransposon-derived repeat clusters, linking ancestral repeat-rich centromeres to genetically encoded ones. Comparative and phylogenetic analyses indicate that proto-point and point centromeres evolved in an ancestor with retrotransposon-rich centromeres. These results identify long-terminal-repeat retrotransposons, specifically Ty5 sequences, as the genetic substrate for point-centromere evolution and provide a mechanistic route by which an epigenetic centromere can become genetically specified. More broadly, they show how selfish elements can be co-opted to perform essential chromosomal functions.

Conservation-based landscape planning is an increasingly important strategic approach in addressing the challenges of ecosystem degradation and species extinction due to land use change, habitat fragmentation, and climate change. This article aims to analyze how landscape planning can effectively support the conservation of target species and target ecosystems within the framework of sustainable biodiversity management. Through a systematic literature review of 30 articles of reputable international journals (2005–2025), this study identifies the main principles, planning methods, and indicators of success in integrating conservation into landscape spatial planning. The results show that ecosystem-based approaches, connectivity planning, and multi-stakeholder participation are the main foundations in conservation landscape planning. Indicator species and umbrella species are often used as proxies to identify priority areas, while target ecosystems are selected based on their level of uniqueness, threat, and ecological function. The integration of GIS-based spatial data and habitat modeling allows for effective identification of ecological corridors and conservation core areas. Studies also found that long-term success relies heavily on supportive policies, institutional capacity, and local community involvement. This article concludes that holistic and adaptive landscape planning is key to achieving conservation goals while supporting sustainable development. Policy recommendations include strengthening cross-sectoral landscape governance and building technical capacity in evidence-based planning.

This study examines Indonesia’s export performance in an agribusiness product at the HS 6-digit level (HS 1511) over 2015-2023 by combining revealed competitiveness indicators and structural gravity estimation. First, we compute the Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA) index to assess Indonesia’s export specialization relative to world trade. Second, we estimate a Poisson pseudo-maximum likelihood (PPML) gravity model with year fixed effects to identify the roles of destination market size, trade costs, and trade agreement coverage. Bilateral exports are constructed from UN Comtrade, macroeconomic controls are drawn from the World Development Indicators, bilateral distance and dyadic controls are obtained from CEPII, and trade agreement status is coded from DESTA at the dyad–year level using an in-force rule. Results indicate that Indonesia retains a strong revealed comparative advantage (RCA > 1 in all years), although the average RCA declines between early and late sub-periods. Gravity estimates show that destination market size (particularly population) positively predicts exports, while distance reduces expected export values. Importantly, in-force regional trade agreements are associated with significantly higher bilateral exports, approximately 48% larger export values, ceteris paribus, highlighting the relevance of policy-enabled market access alongside traditional gravity fundamentals. These findings emphasize the joint importance of competitiveness, trade-cost reduction, and effective utilization of trade agreements for sustaining and expanding Indonesia’s agribusiness exports. Keywords: comparative advantage, gravity model, Indonesia, PPML, trade agreements

Innovation in organic-based rice cultivation technology is needed to overcome the food crisis. One method is the SALIBU (single planting, multiple harvests) system, which requires precise control of rice stem cutting height. This study aims to examine the growth and production of lowland rice in response to rice stem cutting height using the SALIBU method. Field research was conducted for six months (April-October 2024) in Taratara Dua Village, Tomohon City. The materials used included Inpari 32 rice seeds, straw compost, liquid organic fertiliser, and Phonska NPK fertiliser. This study used a Randomised Block Design (RBD) with four stem cutting time treatments: 0, 3, 6, and 9 days after harvest, each with three replications. Observed variables included plant height, number of productive tillers, number of full and empty grains per panicle, and harvest yield. The results showed that stem cutting time significantly affected plant height, number of productive tillers, number of full grains, and harvested dry grain yield (GKP). However, there was no significant effect on the number of empty grains. The most effective time for cutting stems is 0 days after harvest (at harvest time).

The Totok and Makalo River estuaries in North Sulawesi, Indonesia, serve as vital habitats teeming with fish biodiversity, supporting coastal ecosystems and local fisheries. This study aimed to identify fish species and elucidate their genetic relationships through DNA barcoding of the Cytochrome Oxidase I (COI) gene. Fish samples were collected from both estuaries using nets and traps, followed by molecular analysis involving polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and Sanger sequencing. The results confirmed the presence of 11 fish species, including Osteomugil engeli, Polydactylus plebeius, and Gazza minuta, with high identification accuracy (over 98% sequence similarity to reference databases). Notably, Paracentropogon rubripinnis and Nematalosa come were recorded for the first time in North Sulawesi waters, expanding the known distribution of these species. Significant genetic variation was detected in P. rubripinnis, potentially indicating cryptic speciation or local adaptation to environmental gradients. Phylogenetic analysis revealed close genetic affinities between certain species and populations from Taiwan and Bangladesh, suggesting historical migration patterns or shared ancestry, possibly facilitated by ocean currents. These findings underscore the rich genetic diversity in these estuaries, which are influenced by factors like salinity, temperature, and anthropogenic pressures. The study emphasizes the urgency of conservation strategies, including habitat protection and sustainable fishing practices, to preserve biodiversity and maintain ecosystem services. By providing baseline data on species composition and genetic connectivity, this research contributes to broader efforts in marine biodiversity monitoring and informs policy for coastal management in Indonesia's biodiversity hotspots.