Gondang Mandudu: The Ritual of Rejecting Disasters During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Samosir Regency

This study explores the Gondang Mandudu ceremony, a sacred ancestral ritual in the Batak Toba community, specifically practiced to ward off the threat of COVID-19. Conducted by the Ruma Parsaktian Ompung Raja Isumbaon Community, this ceremony features the unique phenomenon of playing gondang sabangunan for approximately one hour, which is believed to invoke spiritual protection. This research aims to provide a descriptive account of the ceremony and understand its objectives in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Primary data was gathered through direct field research using a qualitative descriptive method, and secondary data from academic books and articles was added to the primary data. This triangulation-validated data ensured that the secondary sources and field observations were consistent. The findings highlight the significance of the ritual in the cultural and spiritual context of the community, showcasing its role in invoking protection from misfortune. This study contributes to the understanding of indigenous responses to global health challenges. It offers insights into the cultural significance of traditional rituals in modern times

Pemanfaatan Teknologi Digital dalam Mendukung Kesehatan Mental Lansia: Tinjauan Sistematis

Peningkatan jumlah lansia di Indonesia menimbulkan berbagai tantangan dalam pembangunan kesejahteraan, terutama terkait dengan kesehatan mental. Teknologi digital memiliki potensi besar untuk mendukung kesehatan psikologis lansia melalui penguatan koneksi sosial, akses informasi, serta layanan konseling daring. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengidentifikasi jenis teknologi digital yang digunakan dalam intervensi atau aktivitas terkait kesehatan mental lansia dan menganalisis bentuk penggunaannya. Studi ini menggunakan metode tinjauan sistematis terhadap 20 artikel ilmiah yang relevan, berdasarkan pedoman PRISMA. Hasil tinjauan menunjukkan bahwa lansia memanfaatkan teknologi seperti media sosial, layanan telehealth, aplikasi komunitas daring, serta teknologi perbankan digital. Penggunaan teknologi terbukti mampu mengurangi kesepian, meningkatkan rasa percaya diri, partisipasi sosial, dan keberdayaan lansia. Namun, masih terdapat hambatan signifikan, seperti keterbatasan fisik dan kognitif, rendahnya literasi digital, dan minimnya dukungan sosial. Oleh karena itu, strategi intervensi berbasis teknologi perlu dirancang secara inklusif, empatik, dan sesuai kebutuhan lansia agar mampu mendorong kesejahteraan psikologis secara berkelanjutan

Explanatory Models of Local Demarinen Illness in Tegal, Central Java

Demarinan is a local illness resulting from the reconstruction of Javanese culture. The people of Ketanggungan village refer to Demarinen as an illness resulting from an energy imbalance between pregnant women and children. This paper explores Demarinen using Arthur Kleinman’s explanatory model, which helps analyze how people explain the causes, symptoms, changes in body functions, impacts, and treatments chosen to treat Demarinan. The research was conducted using a qualitative and descriptive approach. The results showed that Demarinen is an illness that affects children under or at zero to two years, with the characteristic of children becoming cranky. Although there is a hereditary pathway in diagnosing the illness, Demarinen is not an illness resulting from genetic predisposition but rather a result of social, cultural, and local beliefs by a community group. By understanding how the community interprets the disease through explanatory models, more effective, culturally-based, and accessible health strategies can be developed to improve the community’s overall health

Women's Self-Concept after Becoming a Single Parent in Jambi City

This article discusses the self-concept of women after becoming single parents through four aspects of self-concept according to Berzonsky: physical, social, moral, and psychological. The phenomenon of divorce or the death of a husband often impacts the family's psychology, particularly the wife left behind. This study aims to analyze the self-concept of women after becoming single parents in the city of Jambi, using a qualitative method with a phenomenological approach and a snowball method for selecting informants. The informants are women who became single parents due to divorce or the death of their husbands. Data was collected through in-depth interviews, observations, and documentation, with triangulation techniques to ensure the validity of the data. The study results show that the self-concept of women after becoming single parents tends to be positive. The informants remain confident in their appearance, although they feel the need to maintain their behavior to avoid being misunderstood by others. Their relationship with their children tends to become closer, despite some initial adaptation problems. Spiritually, the informants feel the need to be closer to God and believe that they are strong and capable of supporting their children. Psychologically, most informants feel stressed and sad after separating from their husbands

Vegetation Composition of the Succession Forest of Sumatran Orangutan (Pongo abelii) Habitat in Tropical Lowland Forest, Gunung Leuser National Park

The Gunung Leuser National Park (GLNP) area, among others, consist of tropical lowland-forest ecosystems that becomes the habitat of Sumatran orangutans (Pongo abelii). The GLNP is located at Aceh dan North Sumatra Provinces and lies on 830,268,95 hectares of land. To date, the area is not free from the pressure of forest degradation, such as encroachment and land conversion to plantations. This is a perturbing condition, especially concerning the biodiversity in its lowland-forest ecosystem. The vegetation composition that renders the succession of Sumatran orangutans in the GLNP lowland-forest was obtained by conducting vegetation analysis on the restoration sites in the forest. The analysis method adopted on this research was the grid-path method. Two transect lines, 1,000 metres each, were made for this purpose. Each line consisted of 10 plots with a distance of 100 metres between plots. The measurements were made on the growth rate of seedling, sapling, pole, and tree. The data were then processed to determine the Important Value Index (IVI), Diversity Index, Richness Index of vegetation, and Dominance Index of the research area. The results showed that the vegetation composition that rendered the succession of lowland-forests of GLNP consisted of 58 species and 26 families. Ficus fistulosa had the highest IVI at the growth-stages of seedling and sapling. And Macaranga tanarius had the highest IVI at the growth-stages of pole and tree. The species Diversity Index (Shannon-Wiener index) of the vegetation on the restoration site in lowland forests of GLNP showed moderate values at the growth-stage of seedling and pole, and high values at the growth-stages of sapling and tree. The Richness Index of vegetation showed moderate values at the growth-stages of seedling and pole. As for at the stages of sapling and tree, it showed high values. The Dominance Index of the restoration site in lowland forests of GLNP showed high values at all growth-stages

Architectural Regionality in the Formation of Regional Identity in Medan City

The development of the times and socio-cultural changes have had a significant impact on architecture, often eroding regional identity and cultural heritage that have been formed over centuries. This is evident in the revitalization of heritage areas, where regional design elements are less integrated, especially in contemporary practices. This study proposes a policy to implement regional architectural design and organize outdoor spaces in cultural heritage revitalization projects. Using architectural design methods, this study aims to create a "right" approach that combines historical monumentalism with contemporary aesthetics. Conceptual strategies such as contextual juxtaposition are used to enhance the design and character of the environment, with a focus on aesthetics and functionality. This approach aims to revitalize underutilized historic buildings by integrating new structures and materials, regenerating a sense of identity and value. This study provides a foundation for cultural and architectural policies in urban development, encompassing physical, economic, and social aspects while encouraging community involvement and ownership.   Keywords: regional architecture, heritage revitalization, conceptual design, contextual juxtaposition, local identity

The Relationship between SLC22A16 Gene Polymorphism and Hematological Toxicity in Breast Cancer Patients Receiving Doxorubicin-Based Chemotherapy

ABSTRACT Background Drug transporter polymorphisms are widely associated with the risk of toxicity in many chemotherapy drugs in cancer. This paper aims to assess the relationship of polymorphisms of this transporter, namely SLC22A16, which are associated with side effects of Doxorubicin-based chemotherapy drugs, namely hematological toxicity (anemia, neutropenia, leukopenia and thrombocytopenia) in breast cancer patients. Method This cross-sectional study will be conducted by testing polymorphism using the ARMS PCR method, which will assess the distribution of AA, AG, and GG genotypes. Result  Most patient ages are under 50 years (55%), with overweight BMI (41,7%) and Batak ethnicity (43,3%). There is no relationship between SLC22A16 Gene Polymorphism and Hematological Toxicity in Breast Cancer Patients Receiving Doxorubicin-Based Chemotherap

Development of a GFCF diet pocketbook for social work vocational high school students

Students of the Social Work Vocational Program at SMK Bhakti Luhur face challenges in understanding and applying Gluten-Free Casein-Free (GFCF) diet interventions for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This lack of understanding affects their readiness as future social workers to provide dietary-based services for children with special needs. To address this issue, a community service activity was conducted through training and the development of a GFCF diet pocketbook tailored to the characteristics of vocational students. The pocketbook contains educational material on the principles of the GFCF diet, lists of recommended and prohibited foods, cooking tips, and practical guidelines for daily application. The activity adopted a project-based learning approach, starting with material delivery followed by hands-on practice in preparing GFCF menus. Evaluation was conducted using pre-test and post-test assessments on 125 students, showing a 43.6% increase in understanding. The Wilcoxon test indicated a significant improvement (Z = -7.560, p < 0.05), and the average N-Gain score was 0.301, classified as moderate. The pocketbook served not only as a training tool but also as a self-learning resource. This initiative is expected to enhance students' capacity to support community-based nutritional interventions for children with ASD

Theoretical Approach to the Management of Epidural Hematoma (EDH): Optimal Timing for Surgical Intervention

Introduction: Epidural hematoma (EDH) is a life-threatening condition that requires timely surgical intervention to prevent irreversible neurological damage, with early decompression within the "golden hour" being critical for better outcomes. Case Description: Two cases were discussed: Case 1, an 81-year-old female who underwent surgery within 12 hours with significant recovery, and Case 2, a 73-year-old male who showed deterioration after delayed intervention but improved following decompression within 12 hours. Discussion: Early surgical intervention prevents brain herniation and secondary brain injury. The "golden hour" concept emphasizes decompression within hours of symptom onset. Access to timely care in rural settings can delay intervention, worsening outcomes. The timing of surgery must consider individual patient factors, such as comorbidities and hematoma size. Conclusion: Optimal surgical timing, especially within the "golden hour," is critical in EDH management to prevent irreversible neurological damage. Individualized treatment plans should account for access to care and patient-specific factors for the best outcomes

The Relationship Between The Habits Of Using Personal Protective Equipment And Personal Hygiene And The Incidence Of Intestine Parasite Infections In Waste Workers At TPA Terjun Medan

Background: Intestinal parasitic infections are quite a big problem and are still often found in society. Intestinal parasitic infections are caused by infections of intestinal protozoa and intestinal nematodes. Intestinal parasitic infections can result in a decline in an individual's health, nutrition, intelligence and productivity. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and good personal hygiene have an important role in reducing the transmission of parasites from soil to humans, both through eggs, larvae and adult parasites, especially for waste workers who have direct contact with infectious environments. In the city of Medan, the final disposal site used is TPA Terjun. Every day, TPA Terjun receives waste from various areas in the city of Medan. Workers are at high risk of being infected by intestinal parasites that spread through the soil. Objective: The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between the habit of using PPE and personal hygiene with the incidence of intestinal parasite infections in waste workers at TPA Terjun Medan. Methods: This study included 121 subjects from TPA Terjun, Medan. This research used cross-sectional approach. Result: This study found that there was no correlation between the use of gloves, masks, protective clothing and protective shoes on the incidence of intestinal infections in waste workers at TPA Terjun Medan, also between personal hygiene and the incidence of intestinal parasite infections in waste workers at TPA Terjun Medan. Conclusion: The use of PPE is important to prevent the transmission of intestinal parasitic infections to workers at TPA Terjun, Medan