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UPI Research Team Explores Cognitive Processes of Critical Thinking Skills through Neurolinguistics

Posted on by Berita UPI

A research team from the University of Pendidikan Indonesia (UPI) is currently delving into the cognitive processes behind critical thinking skills through a neuroscience lens. The team, led by Dadang Sudana, M.A., Ph.D., includes senior members Wawan Gunawan, M.A., Ph.D., and Dr. Jatmika Nurhadi, M.Hum. Additionally, four students—Hazim Mujahid, Aulia Shabrina, Nur Cipta Mustikasari, and Syifa Nuraini—have actively contributed to the research.

One of their notable publications, titled “Superior Frontal Gyrus and Higher Order Thinking Skills: A sLORETA Study of Brain Activity during Speaking,” reveals how the Superior Frontal Gyrus (SFG) plays an integral role in supporting Higher-Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) when an individual speaks.

Utilizing the standardized Low-Resolution Brain Electromagnetic Tomography (sLORETA) technique, the researchers gauged participants’ neural activity, pinpointing the highest peak values achieved during tasks involving HOTS operational verbs. Results indicated that activity within the SFG peaked when participants articulated tasks such as Comparing, Detailing, and Clarifying.

“With advancements in technology, like brain scanning, researchers can now observe processes occurring in the mind, paving the way for understanding how to optimize critical thinking skills based on brain functions,” shared Dadang Sudana.

This research not only sheds light on the realm of education and training but also aspires to formulate a model to cultivate critical thinking skills. As a next step, the research team plans on developing an Android/iOS application aimed at honing these critical thinking skills.

Let’s defend our friends: Moral movement against sexual violence in higher education institutions in Indonesia

Posted on by Fotarisman Zaluchu

Sexual violence in higher education institutions in Indonesia still happens very often. The perpetrators are lecturers and students themselves, and this is very much related to power relation imbalance and gender inequality. As a result, the female students, as the parties with the most inferior position so far in the patrilineal culture-oriented community, can only be silent and do nothing. This situation really puts them in a vulnerable position as the victims of sexual violence.

The existing data reveal that the number of reports filed to the Task Force of PPKS (Prevention and Handling of Sexual Violence) is very few. This means, the victims feel reluctant to report the incidents they have experienced.

So far what has become the problem is that many victims of sexual violence have experienced bad incidents without any precaution from their surrounding environment, despite the fact that sexual violence is an incident that can be prevented. Every student on campus will have friends or classmates having interaction with one another in many activities. Therefore, instead of waiting for the sexual violence victims to appear, early prevention or precaution must be carried out by those present in the area of incidents.

The Tim Fortune (Fortune Team) from the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, the Department of Social Anthropology, with the funding assistance from the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Research, and the support of Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) has made an important breakthrough. The Tim Fortune has designed a training for student volunteers to play a role as the “interceptors” of sexual violence incidents. The students will be trained to be active and take initiatives when someone is experiencing sexual violence.

To ease the implementation of the prevention principles, Tim Fortune consisting of David Dodi Lumbantobing, Paula Hutriany Sigiro, Novi Fitriani Br Nazara, and Cecilia Angela Sitanggang has created a pictured comic. The comic entitled “Ayo Bela Teman Kita” (Let’s Defend Our Friends) uses the figures of themselves, also as students, who seem to have conversations to encourage other students to participate in preventing sexual violence occurring in higher education institutions.

The advisor of Tim Fortune, Dr. Fotarisman Zaluchu, stated that Tim Fortune has created amazing works of art. “The comic has been tried out in classes, and students become very interested in it. Every time the comic is tried out, students become willing to be volunteers and have stated their willingness by signing a form of commitment.”

Tim Fortune has asked students to accompany their friends or classmates that are requested to have discussion by someone including by their own lecturer. Besides that, students have to be courageous to reprimand someone who says something indecent and looks inappropriately at a girl who is their friend or classmate. Moreover, the most important thing is that students are asked to fight someone who would like to do actions having the tendency toward sexual violence. This program will be continued to train more and more students in a wider range.

UNAIR, UTM collaboration improves Ecotourism in Sungai Melayu, Malaysia

Posted on by Universitas Airlangga News

Universitas Airlangga has once again shown its commitment to becoming a higher education institution with contribution and impact on society. This commitment is displayed not only in Indonesia but also to the world. This time, UNAIR collaborated with Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) to hold a community service activity in Kampong Sungai Melayu, Johor, Malaysia, on Saturday, August 26, 2023.

International community service pioneer

UNAIR initiated the establishment of the World University Association for Community Development ( WUACD ) in 2018 to strengthen collaboration between higher education institutions to improve the quality of community service activities, both in Indonesia and other countries. This time, WUACD UNAIR designed a collaborative community service program with UTM targeting communities along Sungai Melayu, in Johor, Malaysia.

This activity involved 21 experts from UNAIR who visited Kampong Sungai Melayu and shared innovative ideas for developing sustainable ecotourism in Sungai Melayu. The activity was coordinated by Edi Dwi Riyanto, PhD from the Faculty of Humanities, and attended by the Vice Rector for Research, Innovation, and Community Empowerment, Prof. Dr. Ni Nyoman Tri Puspaningsih.

Encouraging collaboration of cognate countries

YB Datuk Pandak bin Ahmad, one of the representatives of the Kampong Sungai Melayu community, welcomed UNAIR delegates warmly. He is an Iskandar City People’s Representative Council member and an alumnus of UTM.

“We are very proud to welcome guests from Universitas Airlangga, because Indonesia and Malaysia are cognate countries. We should work together and collaborate,” he said during the opening speech.

Prof. Nyoman delivered her remarks as a representative from UNAIR. She said UNAIR academics are ready to devote their expertise for mutual benefit, not only for the people of Indonesia but also for the global community, which in this case are the residents of Kampong Sungai Melayu in Malaysia.

“UNAIR is committed to becoming a university that contributes and gives an impact to the world,” said Prof. Nyoman.

Supporting Sustainable Development Goals

In addition to achieving the 17th goal of SDGs, Partnership for the Goals, this community service activity also supports achieving two other goals: the 11th goal, Sustainable Cities and Communities and the 14th goal about Life Below Water. In the knowledge-sharing session,  Dr. Veryl Hasan SPi MP strengthened the achievement of the 14th goal of SDGs. He is one of UNAIR experts in Fisheries and Marine Sciences. Then, it continued with a discussion between representatives of UNAIR, UTM, and the people of Kampong Sungai Melayu. (*)

Anargya ITS Successfully Secures Champion Title at FSAE Japan 2023

Posted on by ITS Global Engagement

The Formula Society of Automotive Engineers (FSAE) Japan is an annual international electric car competition that challenges students to design and produce a single-passenger car resembling a formula racing car. This year’s FSAE Japan competition featured 62 teams from various world-class universities in China, Taiwan, Bangladesh, Thailand, Indonesia, and the host country, Japan. For this year, Anargya ITS was the only team representing Indonesia.

The General Manager of Team Anargya ITS, Rafif Herdian Noor, revealed that there were two categories in this international competition: Static Event and Dynamic Event. Anargya ITS Team achieved 3rd place in the Business Plan Presentation and also received the 3rd place award for the View Drawing category. ” We put in tremendous effort to visualize every aspect of the business plan and the view drawing for the latest version of the Anargya car,” he said.

In response to their victory, Rafif, a third-year Industrial Mechanical Engineering student at ITS, acknowledged that their success was driven by innovation. Anargya Team ITS made several improvements from the previous electric car, one of which was changing the material of the car body to carbon fiber. “This material change can reduce the car’s mass by up to 38 percent,” Rafif explained. Furthermore, innovation was also achieved by incorporating components made by the Anargya team themselves, including batteries assembled according to international regulations. These batteries have fire-resistant capabilities, making them safer in emergency situations. The team also equipped the car with an air-cooling system that flows through the side pods, thus increasing battery efficiency and durability. Additionally, the battery capacity was increased to 7.46 kilowatt-hours.

Rafif expressed his gratitude to ITS for its significant contributions to Anargya Team, enabling them to continue making an impact with this support. The material and moral assistance from ITS played a vital role in Anargya’s success during the past year of preparation. “In the future, Anargya will continue to strive to give its best for ITS,” he said optimistically.

Bengawan Formula Student Team from UNS Wins Champion at FSAE Japan 2023

Posted on by Editorial Team

The Bengawan Formula Student Team, representing Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS), recently secured 3rd place in the Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) Award category at the annual FSAE Japan 2023 event. The competition, a spotlight for electric car enthusiasts and innovators, took place between 28 August and 2 September 2023. Organized by the Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan, Inc., the event saw participation from 77 teams across six nations: Japan, Thailand, Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, and Taiwan.

FSAE Japan challenges participating teams to design and manufacture a formula race car. Tegar Aryoseno, the team leader and a student of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering, clarified the competition’s structure. According to him, the event was divided into static and dynamic segments. The static section focuses on business plans, cost and manufacturing reports, design presentations, and technical inspections. On the other hand, the dynamic events test the vehicles through acceleration, skid pad, autocross, endurance, and efficiency challenges.

An additional layer to this competition is the special award categories, with the CAE Awards being particularly notable. Designed to acknowledge teams that excel in using CAE technology for innovative and efficient designs, the CAE Awards stand as a testament to modern engineering’s prowess.

Aryoseno expressed profound joy and gratitude for the team’s victory, especially noting that the team had taken a three-year hiatus. “It’s a significant achievement for us. Even though we had a break for three years, we managed to stand out amongst 76 other teams from diverse universities and nations. The journey was demanding, yet, with unwavering support from UNS, our sponsors, and all associated parties, we emerged victorious,” he remarked.

Aryoseno further recognized the immense dedication and tireless effort of his team, which had been preparing for this competition throughout the past year. The team benefited from the expertise of their mentors: Professor Ubaidillah, Professor Agung Tri Wijayanta, and Professor Syamsul Hadi from the Faculty of Engineering.

The victory of the Bengawan Formula Student Team from UNS at the FSAE Japan 2023 reiterates the potential and brilliance of young engineers and offers a glimpse into the future of automotive innovation.

ITS Students Gain International Recognition Through Internship in a Japanese Company

Posted on by ITS Global Engagement

Six students from Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS Surabaya) are currently working as young engineers at the renowned shipyard company, Oshima Shipbuilding, one of Japan’s prestigious shipyard companies. The six ITS students are Jemima Audrey Natasha, Putra Nanda Kusuma, and Hans Dimitri from the Department of Naval Architecture, Hamzah Nur Azzam from the Department of Electrical Engineering, Galang Adi Saputro from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, and Agung Tuani Hartono Sihotang from the Department of Marine Engineering.

The head of the Department of Naval Architecture at ITS, Ir. Wasis Dwi Aryawan, M.Sc., Ph.D., explained that this internship program is a collaboration between the Department of Naval Architecture at ITS and the international company. Furthermore, Dr. Wasis mentioned that this program also offers opportunities to students from other departments. “This is in line with Oshima Shipbuilding’s request,” he stated. Therefore, a series of internal selections were conducted to identify the best-qualified students for this opportunity, led by Erzad Iskandar Putra, S.T., M.T., of the Student Advisory Team in the Department of Naval Architecture at ITS. Students from various departments competed for this opportunity through a selection process that included document screening and interviews with industry representatives, as Erzad explained.

Through this selection process, Erzad continued, six ITS students were ultimately chosen to participate in a one-month internship program in Japan. They departed on August 19, and by now, these six students have gained valuable knowledge and received positive evaluations from the company. “In fact, we have received news that they will be permanently employed there,” he exclaimed. During this internship program, the students have also received a salary and living allowances in Japan. Although they had to complete the internship for one month, they were also given the opportunity to attend their graduation ceremony at ITS in mid and late September.

In this regard, Dr. Wasis expressed his pride. According to him, this opportunity is proof that ITS graduates have internationally recognized competencies. Not only that, through this internship program, it is hoped that knowledge exchange can contribute to advancing the shipbuilding industry in Indonesia. In conclusion, Dr. Wasis hopes that this program will continue in the future. He believes that, in addition to the benefits mentioned above, this program can also enhance the branding of ITS and demonstrate that its graduates possess skills equivalent to those in other developed countries. Dr. Wasis also hopes that this program will not only focus on the shipbuilding industry but also extend to other industries.

Fusion Sensor Innovation Technology as In Situ Early Screening of Breast Cancer by Exhalation

Posted on by Editorial Team

Breast cancer, also known as Carsinoma mammae, is a type of cancer that can affect both men and women. It originates in the milk glands, fatty tissue, and connective tissues. The 2020 report by Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN) records over 600,000 deaths and 2 million new cases, proving that this cancer remains potentially lethal, particularly for women. In Indonesia, it has been recognized as the leading cancer case and second to lung cancer in terms of cancer-related deaths, with 65,000 new cases being detected in the same year. It is estimated to increase to 200,000 within the past five years. Early detection is, therefore, crucial to anticipate new cases, allow proper treatment, and minimize mortality.

Early breast cancer detection methods include mammography, breast ultrasound, MRI, PET scan, and biopsy. However, many sufferers express discomfort and embarrassment about these methods, in addition to their substantial cost, leaving room for improvements in terms of simplicity, practicality, effectiveness, and accuracy. Enter “Breath Analyzer Kits”: a breath analyzer with a Fusion Sensor system that integrates several smell detection tools intended to detect, identify, and analyze both simple and complex smells in addition to volatile organic compounds (VOC).

Cancer cells influence the abundance of VOC compounds in a patient’s breath. Considering that chemical analysis of a patient’s breath has been a known method to detect various types of cancer, a team of researchers from the Universitas Sumatera Utara, led by Dr. Zikri Noer S.Si, M.Si, along with members Oki Gunawan Harahap, A.Md., Awwa Chaga Qambara Taqwa, Dhuha Annisa Haque, Disty Ratna Marisya, David Kevin Handel Hutabarat, Misuki Awanda, and Ikhwanuddin, S.Si, M.Si, developed this innovative Fusion Sensor technology for real-time early detection of breast cancer by measuring the concentration of formaldehyde in exhaled breath.

The standard amount of formaldehyde (H2CO) in a healthy person’s breath ranges from 0.3 – 0.6 ppm, compared to a breast cancer patient’s 0.45 – 1.2 ppm. The Fusion Sensor picks up the formaldehyde compound using the iontophoresis in situ method, which analyzes the accumulated VOC in exhaled breath. The gas blown into the Sensor is ionized, causing changes in resistivity and generating distinct potential patterns from the TGS813, TGS822, TGS2600, and TGS2602 sensors. By using Arduino, the electrical signal generated from the potential difference in the pattern is then transformed into digital data. With its practicality, effective, and accurate early detection features, the Breath Analyzer Kit with Fusion Sensor system is innovative as a portable medical check-up technology.[vc_single_image image=”37129″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”]

Living in Harmony with Disaster: Oral Tradition as Psychological Well-Being Media for Volcanic Eruption Survivors

Posted on by Editorial Team

Mount Sinabung in the Karo Regency, North Sumatra Province, is one of Indonesia’s more active volcanoes, with numerous eruptions recorded since 2010. An eruption in 2013 was recorded as one of the most intense, displacing thousands of people in the mountain’s vicinity. In 2023, MAGMA (Multiplatform Application for Geohazard Mitigation and Assessment) Indonesia issued a level II alert warning for Mount Sinabung since the month of May, prompting the Indonesian government to evacuate villagers around Sinabung for safety, among them being villagers from Gurukinayan Village.

Suri Mutia Siregar, M.Psi., a lecturer at the Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), Medan, Indonesia, supervised a team consisting of students from the Faculty of Psychology and the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Sumatera Utara, to research the psychological well-being of the survivors and refugees from Gurukinayan Village. The team found that, despite the tragic loss of their family members or relatives and the significant damage to property and livelihood, the villagers live in relative harmony while in close vicinity of the volcano. They have an excellent awareness of natural disasters and are vigilant to sudden activities and eruptions from Sinabung.

Nini Galoh Oral Tradition Ritual

The research team conducted qualitative research using 12 ethnographic steps: 1) identify informants, 2) informants interview, 3) ethnographic recording, 4) descriptive questions interview, 5) interview analysis, 6) domain analysis, 7) structured interview, 8) taxonomy analysis, 9) contrasting questions interview, 10) formulation of components of analysis, 11) identify cultural themes, and 12) ethnographical write-up. Through the procedure, the team found that the villagers’ resilience and harmonious coexistence towards disasters are founded on heritage wisdom called the Nini Galoh oral tradition.

The Nini Galoh tradition involves a ceremonial ritual to revere the ancestors of Gurukinayan Village. The villagers, alongside the village elders, conduct a series of communal rites that they believe maintain their connection to their ancestors. The ceremony becomes a means through which all generations are reminded of the messages of wisdom they inherited, such as: 1) the Gurukinayan Village lies on blessed land, safe from the ravages of volcanic materials such as lava; 2) the villagers trust each other on their bond of kinship, everyone helps each other in need readily during trying times; 3) the villagers are intimate with the layout of their land, allowing quick response and navigation during disaster evacuations, and; 4) the villagers are highly adaptable to change in livelihood as situation calls.

Focus Group Discussion on the Influence of Nini Galoh Oral Tradition to Mt. Sinabung Eruption Survivors

With funding from the Directorate of Learning and Student Affairs from the Indonesian Ministry of Education and Culture, the USU team believes that the core philosophy and positive messaging of the Nini Galoh oral tradition contribute significantly to the development of psychological well-being of Mount Sinabung survivors, namely in aspects of self-acceptance, positive relations with others, autonomy, environmental mastery, and personal growth. The team recommends that the local and central government and responsible bodies allow volcanic eruption survivors and refugees in Indonesia to embrace their local wisdom, potentially reducing psychological burdens and encouraging acceptance and harmonious living with natural disasters. Considering that Indonesia lies on the Ring of Fire volcanic belt, and there are vulnerable communities and settlements living close to each of the hundreds of active volcanoes across the archipelago, this recommendation might contribute to the literature on psychological well-being for better disaster response nationwide.

ITS sweeps two medals in IRC 2023

Posted on by ITS Global Engagement

Barunastra team from the Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) has once again emerged as champions at the 2023 International Roboboat Competition (IRC), March 22-28, 2023, in Sarasota, Florida. With their cutting-edge vessel named Nala Proteus, the team outperformed 24 universities from across the globe, including the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), to claim the top spot for the fifth consecutive year.

IRC is an esteemed competition that evaluates two key aspects of the Roboboat’s design and function, the design documentation and the autonomous category. In the design documentation category, teams must pass through a series of rigorous steps, including design reports, team videos, and offline presentations before local judges. In contrast, the autonomous category involves a more complex evaluation process that comprises three rounds: qualification, semifinals, and finals. Contestants must complete eight missions and pass at least three to qualify for the next round.

Rayyan, the General Manager of ITS’ Barunastra, expressed his pride in the team’s remarkable achievement, which involved conquering formidable obstacles and demonstrating exceptional expertise in autonomous technology. In addition to winning the Grand Champion title, Barunastra also claimed the Runner-Up award in the Design Documentation category.

Moving forward, Rayyan hopes that the ITS Barunastra Team will continue to push the boundaries of innovation and pursue even higher levels of excellence, such as competing in the RobotX Competition. He also extended his heartfelt appreciation to everyone who supported and believed in the team’s vision, dedication, and unwavering commitment to excellence.

Geliat Airlangga, international partners evaluate Triple Elimination Program

Posted on by Universitas Airlangga News

Geliat Airlangga, in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), and the World Health Organization (WHO) conducted monitoring and evaluation of the Triple Elimination Program in three health centers (Puskesmas) in Surabaya. The event was conducted in Puskesmas Sememi, Puskesmas Kedungdoro, and Mahameru Foundation on July 21, 2023.

Collaboration

The visit is a collaborative attempt to eliminate three infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS, syphilis, and hepatitis B. The representatives from Geliat Airlangga, UNICEF, UNAIDS, and WHO visited the health centers to monitor and evaluate the program.

The representatives are Prof Dr Nyoman Anita Damayanti Drg MS from Geliat Airlangga, Joel Renstrom from UNAIDS, Dr Armunanto from UNICEF, and Dr Kemmy Ampera Purnamawati from WHO. They visited Puskesmas Sememi for the first stop, where they saw medical staff and health workers who have worked hard to prevent, detect, and treat HIV/AIDS. The HIV/AIDS prevention program has played a crucial role in reducing the rate of new infections and improving access to treatment services for HIV patients.

“We are committed to continuing our collaboration with the government and organizations. The Triple Elimination Program is an attempt to achieve our shared goals in improving public health,” Dr Kemmy said.

Their next stop was Puskesmas Kedungdoro which also conducted the triple elimination program. The statistics were presented to see the general conditions of the community regarding the program.

Lastly, they visited the Mahameru Foundation Surabaya, a non-governmental organization that focuses in supporting people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). They discussed the challenges and progress in HIV treatment with the PLWHA and the health workers. The foundation’s role in providing social support and timely treatment has helped many patients in their healing process and in preventing the spread of the disease.

“Prevention is the key to addressing HIV. We support the attempts to raise public awareness about the transmission and prevention of HIV. Our goal is to achieve zero new infections, zero discrimination, and zero AIDS-related deaths,” Joel Renstrom said.

Appreciation

Geliat Airlangga, UNICEF, UNAIDS, and WHO highly appreciate the hard work and dedication of all parties for the Triple Elimination program. This cross-agency collaboration serves as a real example of joint efforts to achieve significant outcomes in eliminating infectious diseases and improving public health.

The representatives are pledged to provide support and necessary resources to strengthen the Triple Elimination program in Surabaya and East Java. Their goal is to further enhance the effectiveness of the program and make a significant impact in combatting infectious diseases in the region.