External Aspect Research Articles

Validating a scale to measure self-regulated learning strategies for independent listening beyond the EFL classroom

The present study aimed to validate a self-report questionnaire created and used in Yabukoshi (2023) to assess learners’ perceived use of self-regulated learning (SRL) strategies for practicing listening skills to improve the TOEIC® listening scores outside the classroom in an English as a foreign language (EFL) context. The instrument comprised 14 items on metacognitive SRL strategies used for out-of-class listening practice, which were divided into three subscales: strategies used in the forethought, performance, and self-reflection phases, drawing on Zimmerman's SRL model. The questionnaire was administered to 135 EFL undergraduates in Japan and subjected to a psychometric evaluation to determine its structural aspect of validity through reliability tests and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), as well as to assess its convergent and discriminant validity and its external aspect of validity (i.e., predictive validity). The instrument had sufficient internal consistency based on reliability tests (Cronbach's alpha). The CFA results indicated a relatively good and reasonable model fit, and the convergent validity was found to be adequate. The discriminant validity was not satisfactory, which was discussed based on SRL theory and previous empirical evidence. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the three strategy factors as a whole were a strong predictor of learners’ listening proficiency. The empirical evidence provides preliminary support for the application of SRL theory to the field of EFL listening. The results of this study contribute to the limited research on the assessment of SRL strategy use for listening practice outside EFL classrooms.

Statistical 3D morphology characterization of vaterite microspheres produced by engineered Escherichia coli

Hollow vaterite microspheres are important materials for biomedical applications such as drug delivery and regenerative medicine owing to their biocompatibility, high specific surface area, and ability to encapsulate a large number of bioactive molecules and compounds. We demonstrated that hollow vaterite microspheres are produced by an Escherichia coli strain engineered with a urease gene cluster from the ureolytic bacteria Sporosarcina pasteurii in the presence of bovine serum albumin. We characterized the 3D nanoscale morphology of five biogenic hollow vaterite microspheres using 3D high-angle annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM) tomography. Using automated high-throughput HAADF-STEM imaging across several sample tilt orientations, we show that the microspheres evolved from a smaller more ellipsoidal shape to a larger more spherical shape while the internal hollow core increased in size and remained relatively spherical, indicating that the microspheres produced by this engineered strain likely do not contain the bacteria. The statistical 3D morphology information demonstrates the potential for using biogenic calcium carbonate mineralization to produce hollow vaterite microspheres with controlled morphologies. Statement of significanceThe nanoscale 3D structures of biomaterials determine their physical, chemical, and biological properties, however significant efforts are required to obtain a statistical understanding of the internal 3D morphology of materials without damaging the structures. In this study, we developed a non-destructive, automated technique that allows us to understand the nanoscale 3D morphology of many unique hollow vaterite microspheres beyond the spectroscopy methods that lack local information and microscopy methods that cannot interrogate the full 3D structure. The method allowed us to quantitatively correlate the external diameters and aspect ratios of vaterite microspheres with their hollow internal structures at the nanoscale. This work demonstrates the opportunity to use automated transmission electron microscopy to characterize nanoscale 3D morphologies of many biomaterials and validate the chemical and biological functionality of these materials.

Towards green banking

The purpose of the study is to present, using the method of critical analysis of the literature, the selected issues accompanying the phenomenon of so-called "green banking". Green banking includes two main aspects. Internally, it manifests itself as an effort to make the operation of banks environmentally neutral. In the external aspect, i.e. the scope of banks' operation in the market, the idea of green banking is used in the selection of assets in which banks financially engage. As a result, banking institutions are becoming an important instrument for transmitting environmental policy impulses to the economy, particularly by excluding the financing of some traditional industries such as the fossil fuel industry. While the goal of climate protection itself is understandable, the manner and pace of pursuing it is no longer necessarily so. On the one hand, banks succumbing to political and social pressure are imposing pro-environmental missions on themselves, including a rapid shift away from financing the fossil fuel industry. On the other hand, such an approach results in a feedback mechanism through which the likelihood of the creation of so-called stranded assets in the financial system increases, i.e. the loss of value of bank assets previously involved in and linked to environmentally damaging industries. The magnitude of the impact of this phenomenon on the stability of the financial system is difficult to estimate, as its negative effects will not only directly affect the funds involved in certain industries but will also cause the price of commodities and thus of derivatives based on them or related to them to become unstable.

Feasibility Study of Handheld Laser Welding Technology for Small Thickness Aluminium Alloys

Handheld laser welding with filler material is an interesting alternative for TIG and MIG/MAG welding in aesthetic parts of small thicknesses, due to its high versatility, speed of application, low deformability and aesthetic finish. The novelty of this study lies in the analysis of the feasibility of this process for welding aluminium alloys of low thickness (2mm), commonly welded by GTAW or GMAW processes. Due to its high sensitivity to heat, laser welding of aluminium alloys is always accompanied by defects such as porosity and cracks. In this work aluminium-magnesium alloy sheets (5754 H111) were joined using fillet weld, butt weld and cornice weld configurations. The appearance, microstructure, porosity and mechanical properties were analyzed through non-destructive and destructive tests. The results of the external aspect of the samples showed a very low distortion and deformation of the material; however, the macrographic analysis showed abundant internal porosity. In the case of the fillet and cornice welding this porosity was within the applicable standard, and in the case of the butt-welded samples, tensile tests results proved the validity of the process.

Nanostructured Coordination Polymers for Solid State Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Dye-sensitized solar cells have the potential to provide a viable source of renewable energy to help decarbonize our economy and power wearable devices. With their exceptional performance in diffused light under indoor conditions, DSCs remain competitive for powering the next digital revolution forming the internet of things.[1] Conventional DSCs use a liquid electrolyte; however, a lot of research is going into replacing it with a solid hole transporter material to make the technology better suited for scale-up and commercialization. We work with an emerging class of materials called nanostructured coordination polymers (CP) and explore their application as a hole transport material aimed at creating high performing monolithic solid-state DSCs.Nanostructured CPs possess the highly ordered structure of inorganic materials combined with the chemically tailorable properties and low cost of organics.[2] Thanks to their high external surface area, aspect ratios, nanoscopic dimensions and novel electronic and optical properties, CPs have been found to outperform their precursors in a wide range of applications and are ideal for evaluation as solid-state hole transport materials in DSCs. CPs facilitate the formation of extended polymeric structure of metal ions and the coordinating atoms of the organic ligands. The systems are designed by taking the following conditions into consideration- the energy overlap of the orbitals of the metal ions and the coordinating atoms and their relative electronegativities. Incorporating redox-active metal centres into conducting polymer substrates thus creates highly efficient redox conductivity. Metal centres can provide efficient sites for redox conductivity but can also act as thermodynamic sinks that trap/localize charges due to their low-lying energetic states.[3] Based on these design criteriae, we explore Copper benzenetetrathiol (Cu-BTT) as an ideal candidate for hole transporting roles in solid state dye sensitized solar cells.We show that Cu-BTT is formed by alternating Cu2+ and C6H2S4 2- units with pairs of chelating S atoms from the ligand coordinating around the metal centre. Formation of 1D chain-type nanowires is a good strategy for through bond charge transport. The as-prepared pristine Cu-BTT coordination polymers were found to exhibit a conductivity of the order 10-6 S cm-1. Upon altering the technique used for thin film preparation, the conductivity was found to increase by up to an order of a magnitude. Layer by layer assembly of the coordination polymer was found to be the best performing, giving a fairly uniform epitaxial growth of Cu-BTT over large areas and showing conductivities of the order 10-3 S cm-1 without additives. Using AFM imaging studies, we show that this morphology creates the formation of highly interconnected networks of CuBTT nanowires which improves the conductivity. We also demonstrate that epitaxially grown Cu-BTT also shows better performance as a hole transport material in the DSSC devices as compared to Cu-BTT films prepared using drop casting or spin-coating technique. This is because during epitaxial growth the precursors get a better chance to infiltrate the pores in the mesoporous layer and the polymeric HTM forms direct contact with the dye molecules. This is corroborated by photoinduced absorption spectroscopy (PIA) measurements where we observe that the ground state bleach and absorption peaks of the dye (Y123) disappear upon introduction of the epitaxially grown CuBTT HTM. This demonstrates an efficient and complete reduction of the oxidized dye molecules therefore proving that CuBTT nanowire type 1D coordination polymers can be utilized successfully as hole transport layers in solid state dye sensitised solar cells. This work shows that 1D coordination polymers hold significant potential as solid-state hole transport materials to create monolithic solid state DSSCs with improved performance. REFERENCES [1] M. Freitag et al., “Dye-sensitized solar cells for efficient power generation under ambient lighting,” Nat. Photonics, vol. 11, no. 6, pp. 372–378, 2017, doi: 10.1038/nphoton.2017.60.[2] K. Sasitharan et al., “Metal‐Organic Framework Nanosheets as Templates to Enhance Performance in Semi‐Crystalline Organic Photovoltaic Cells,” Adv. Sci., vol. 2200366, p. 2200366, 2022, doi: 10.1002/advs.202200366.[3] A. J. Clough et al., “Room Temperature Metallic Conductivity in a Metal − Organic Framework Induced by Oxidation,” 2019, doi: 10.1021/jacs.9b06898. Figure 1

Konstruksi Pendidikan Pembebasan dalam Al-Madrasatul Diniyah Lil Banat (Diniyah Putri) oleh Syekhah Hajjah Rangkayo Rahmah El-Yunusiyyah

This research is a type of qualitative research. The approach to this study uses a character study approach by considering the character's integrity, depth of knowledge, and the success of the field the character is in. While the data collection method uses the documentation method, while the analysis uses content analysis while the technical data analysis uses hermeneutic techniques, which depart from language analysis and then move on to context analysis. The results of the study show (1) Awareness in the context of education for the liberation of Rahmah el-Yunusiyah which is divided into two aspects, internal and external. In the internal aspect, equipping students with various religious knowledge, languages, and various skills to develop the potential of each student can be empowered according to the field of interest. Awareness in the external aspect is proven by Rahmah with the real role of the daughter's daughter in the independence of the Indonesian nation (2) Rahmah El-Yunusiyyah uses the classical education method with a measurable grade system. He also applies a dormitory model so that his students can focus and be comfortable studying and avoid the prying eyes of married men

Revitalizing Indonesia's Print Media Competitive Strategy in the Digital Disruption Era:

The implementation of the Accurate, Solid, Speed, Smart, Innovative, Commitment ASSSIC (ASSSIC) management policy as an innovation of Jawa Pos Radar Jember (JPRJ) is a response to the occurrence of digital disruption; thus, JPRJ needs to create an adaptive management policy by strengthening the internal and external aspects of the company. The internal management policy is implemented through the application of ASSSICRJ as the Company's Management Information System (MIS), while the external aspect is addressed through ASSSIC Product by digitizing its media products. The purpose of this research is to analyze the competitive strategies employed by JPRJ in the era of digital disruption. The research method used is qualitative research with a case study approach on the implementation of ASSSIC, elaborated with Porter's Five Forces Analysis theory. The research findings conclude that the competitive strategies employed by JPRJ in the era of digital disruption are carried out through the ASSSIC management policy, which relies on the internal and external strengthening of JPRJ. The internal management policy, implemented through the application of ASSSICRJ as a vital MIS for JPRJ, enables the collection, management, analysis, and integration of data and information required for effective decision-making. On the other hand, the external management policy is implemented through the application of ASSSIC Product as JPRJ's convergence with the strengthening of digitalization in its media products, which is currently highly demanded by the majority of readers. This field finding has the potential to enhance Porter's Five Forces Analysis theory, which currently focuses only on external strengthening.

Menilai Kinerja Penyelenggara Pemilu

This article found that the performance of the KPU as an election organ in Indonesia is greatly influenced by the complexity of internal and external situations. The KPU is faced with demands to work optimally according to the parameters of the law in implementing decisions to hold general elections. What the KPU does must comply with constitutional standards and election regulations, or not tolerate even the slightest malpractice in the administration. Through the participant method, it was found that the internal aspects of the KPU are very dependent on the capacity of human resources with regard to electoral techniques. While the external aspect is a form of supervision from the outside that functions as a supervisory institution for upholding the principles of accountability, transparency, and integrity in order to prevent potential malpractice in the administration of elections.

Neurofibromatosis type 1-associated plexiform neurofibromas of the neck: topography of lesions and surgical treatment data of 69 patients

PurposePlexiform neurofibromas (PNF) are rare tumors arising from peripheral nerve sheath cells. PNF are a hallmark in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), a tumor predisposition syndrome. PNF often grow invasively and destructively, what may complicate surgical treatment. Data on frequency, location, and surgical procedures of patients with NF1-associated FPNF are scarce. This study provides treatment data of NF1 patients.MethodsLocalization and treatment data of 69 NF1 patients with neck PNF were analyzed. Frequency of lesions was recorded in coded colors on schematic neck drawings.ResultsThe tumors showed no side preference, were located in the entire area under investigation, and did not respect anatomical units/dermatomes. However, the sternocleidomastoid region was particularly frequently affected. The mean number of surgical measures per patient was 1.33. Complications were extensive swelling, hematoma, and bleeding. Histological assessment usually confirmed the clinical assessment of neoplasm. However, histologic differentiation of PNST reveals differences in between tumors that have been unified in clinical assessment as PNF.ConclusionThe color-coded, schematic overview of the frequency distribution of surgical neck interventions in NF1 patients with PNF proved a useful tool to gain assessment of preferred treatment needs. The imaging procedure may be suitable for controlling the external aspect of natural tumor development (growth, effects of aging) in the same way as the documentation of the post-surgical course. Treatment plans for patients with these tumors should consider that repeated interventions may be necessary to achieve a longer-term stable result.

تہذیب و ثقافت: تصور،مفہوم ،اختلاف و اتصال کا ایک مطالعہ

The concept of civilization is one of the oldest concepts of human society which evolved with human history. Civilization is a very important structural characteristic of an individual being a member of a society. Civilization improves the mental and moral powers of a person and encourages a person to lead a purposeful and civilized life. Culture also travels along with civilization. Culture has been defined as the highest manifestation of a material, civilized lifestyle, and concept of life. Language is the mirror of culture; Culture is the thing which is always moving for one era to other one with the passage of time while its roots remain same. There are also some differences in the meaning of civilization and culture which are found in different ways by different authors. According to whom culture is the name of the external aspect of our life while our inner thoughts and feelings reflect our culture. Civilization is a term based on thoughts and understanding because of which what comes into existence in practice is called culture.

DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY OF BAMBOO CRAFT HOME-SCALE INDUSTRIES USING DIAMOND PORTER MODELING AT MALUMBI VILAGE, KAMBERA DISTRICT, EASTERN OF SUMBA REGENCY

The existence of Malumbi Vilage as bamboo craft production area predicted has a chance to be developed. The aim of this study was treated the SWOT analysis against the bamboo craft business using SWOT matrix and Diamond Porter Modeling to determine the suitable strategy developing priority of the business. The results of scoring from internal aspect (IFE) showed that the bamboo craft business has strength from the skills of the craftsmans with score 0,36 and the weakness showed from the age of craftsmans, marketing targets and information acquisition with each scores showed 0,12.The total score of overall internal aspect (IFE) showed 2,79 higher than standard 2,5 mean that the bamboo craft business from Malumbi already success maintenancing the strength to handling the weakness side. While the scoring results from external aspects (EFE) of the bamboo craft has the prime opportunity from the continuity availiability of the raw materialswith score 0,46 while the main threats were the existence of competitors and the unstable of economical conditions with the score of each showed 0,35. score of overall external aspect (EFE) showed 2,88 higher than standard 2,5 mean that the bamboo craft business able to advantaging the opportunities to covering the threats. Based on total score of IFE 2,79 and EFE 2,88 then matching the scores using SWOT matrix and Diamond Porter Modeling then concluded that this bomboo craft business stay in middle level of external and internal conditions then in this condition the suitable strategies to applied was “Grow and Develop” strategy.

Effects of Animal Fat Replacement by Emulsified Melon and Pumpkin Seed Oils in Deer Burgers

Meat products such as burgers contain large amounts of saturated fat and are considered unhealthy foods by a society that is increasingly aware of the impact of food on their health, as there is a widespread idea that the consumption of large amounts of saturated fats is related to cardiovascular diseases, some types of cancer and obesity. The main goal of this study was to reformulate deer burgers by replacing the saturated fat from its composition with emulsions of oil extracted from melon and pumpkin seeds. Three emulsions were made with these oils (guar gum and inulin, sodium alginate and maltodextrin) to obtain a solid texture. Then, burgers were elaborated, using the vegetable oil emulsions to replace partially (50%) or totally (100%) the animal fat usually used in their elaboration. Physical parameters such as color and texture, consumer evaluation, proximate analysis and the fatty acid composition obtained by gas chromatography were analyzed. The burgers made with emulsified oils showed a higher weight loss, but with a minor loss of caliber and hardness (p < 0.05). From the sensory point of view, the reformulated burgers were positively valued by consumer judges when external aspect, odor, flavor and texture were evaluated. Furthermore, the addition of oil emulsions results in a lower fat content and in an increment of the proportion of unsaturated fatty acids, especially linoleic acid (p < 0.05). The inclusion of emulsified melon and pumpkin oil in deer burgers leads to an increase in the content of polyunsaturated fatty acids in burgers that, although they showed small differences in texture attributes (especially hardness and cohesiveness), were well valued by consumer judges in all sensory attributes evaluated.

PDT Light Fluence Phantom Modeling of the Human Pleural Cavity: A Proof-of-Concept Pre-Clinical Study.

We have developed a novel scanning protocol for a life-sized human phantom model using handheld three-dimensional (3D) surface acquisition devices. This technology will be utilized to develop light fluence modeling of the internal pleural cavity space during Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) of malignant mesothelioma. The external aspect of the chest cavity phantom was prefabricated of a hardened synthetic polymer resembling ordinary human anatomy (pleural cavity space) and the internal aspect remained hollow without any characterizations. Both surfaces were layered with non-reflective adhesive paper to create non-uniformed surface topographies. These surface characteristics were established in randomized X-Y-Z coordinates ranging in dimensions from 1-15mm. This protocol utilized the handheld Occipital Scanner and the MEDIT i700. The Occipital device required a minimum scanner-to-surface distance of 24cm and the MEDIT device 1cm respectively. The external and internal aspects of the phantom model were successfully scanned acquiring digital measurements in actual value and converted into a digital image file. The initial surface rendering was acquired by the Occipital device and applied with proprietary software to guide the MEDIT device to fill voided areas. This protocol is accompanied by a visualization tool that allows for real-time inspection of surface acquisition in 2D and 3D. This scanning protocol can be utilized to scan the pleural cavity for real-time guidance for light fluence modeling during PDT, which will be expanded to ongoing clinical trials.

Postharvest Application of Potato Starch Edible Coatings with Sodium Benzoate to Reduce Sour Rot and Preserve Mandarin Fruit Quality

Starch is a biodegradable polymeric carbohydrate that can easily form films and coatings and can readily be obtained from some food industry by-products and wastes, which may contribute to the circular bioeconomy. In this work, we studied the potential of two edible coating emulsions based on pregelatinized potato starch (PPS) and glyceryl monostearate (GMS) alone (F6 and F10) or formulated with the food additive sodium benzoate (SB, 2%) (F6/SB and F10/SB) to control sour rot, an important citrus postharvest disease caused by the fungus Geotrichum citri-aurantii, and maintain postharvest quality of cold-stored ‘Orri’ mandarins. The PPS-GMS coating application was compared to dipping in water (uncoated controls) and dipping in a 2% SB (w/v) aqueous solution. The results showed that the coating F10/SB was the most promising treatment to control sour rot on mandarins, with reductions in disease incidence with respect to the uncoated control samples of 94, 69, and 55% after 2, 4, and 6 weeks of storage at 5 °C, respectively. Coatings formulated without SB were ineffective. Regarding fruit quality, the coating F10 was the most effective to reduce weight loss, maintain firmness, and provide gloss on mandarins stored at 5 °C for up to 6 weeks followed by a shelf-life period of 1 week at 20 °C. The addition of SB to the PPS-GMS coatings adversely affected these coating properties, but the coating F10/SB still reduced weight loss compared to uncoated controls without negatively affecting the fruit physicochemical (juice titratable acidity, soluble solids content, and volatiles content) and sensory quality (overall flavor, off-flavors, external aspect). Overall, the coating F10/SB showed the greatest potential for commercial use as an efficient and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional fungicides and waxes for sour rot control and quality preservation of cold-stored mandarins.

The Experience of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on Menopausal Symptoms, Sleep Disturbance, and Body Image among Patients with Breast Cancer-A Qualitative Study.

The objective was to decrease patient menopausal symptoms, sleep disturbance, and body image using a nonpharmacological therapy for cultivating key healthy lifestyle habits in patients with breast cancer. The participants were 26 women with breast cancer who had recently received structured mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) training in a clinical trial. Focus groups and interviews were conducted, during which the participants were asked semistructured, open-ended questions regarding the experiences of MBSR. The participants indicated that MBSR helped them to alleviate hot flashes and night sweats, and improve sleep quality and be more at ease with the external aspect of their body. On the other hand, during MBSR intervention in a group manner, the participants felt more psychological support and an outlet for sharing negative emotional experiences. This study identified the short-term benefits associated with group-based MBSR for women with breast cancer. In addition, our research identified the difficulties of intervention measures and coping methods. The study described the benefits of MBSR for patients with breast cancer. The findings of this study will help nursing staff identify the main coping menopausal symptoms and control negative mental health.

Phaeohyphomycotic cyst.

Phaeohyphomycosis is a term used for a rare opportunistic infection caused by a group of dematiaceous fungi which contains melanin in their cell walls. In 1974, the term phaeohyphomycosis was first coined by Ajello for an entity caused by pigmented fungi.1 Four clinical forms of phaeohyphomycosis exist: i) cutaneous, ii) subcutaneous, iii) systemic, and iv) cerebral. Among these, the subcutaneous form (phaeohyphomycotic cyst) is the most common subtype which usually presents as nodular swelling mainly over the distal extremities, which may be misdiagnosed as epidermal inclusion cyst, ganglion or lipoma. These fungi are present in the soil, where they infect mostly farmers and persons working in fields and farms. It was also highlighted that these infections are seen mostly in immunocompromised individuals and are byproducts of antimicrobial, steroid, and immunosuppressive therapy for various illnesses, including cancer, autoimmune diseases, and transplant cases.1 The pigment giving the characteristic brownish-black appearance to the fungi is melanin, which prevents phagocytosis and hence acts as a virulence factor.2 This group has more than 120 species and 70 genera.3 They have a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations, including superficial and deep fungal infections, sinus involvement, and disseminated forms, including lung and brain abscesses. The incidence ranges from 1-3.1 per 100,000 patients.4 The gold standard method for diagnosis is histopathological examination and culture. Fontana-Masson stain is of immense help in identifying these dematiaceous fungi in tissue as it highlights the melanin pigment in the cell walls. Figure 1 refers to a 59-year-old farmer man who presented with nodular swelling over the dorsum of the left hand for the last 9 months. Initially, the swelling was of peanut size, which gradually progressed to the present size of 5x3x2cm. The lesion was painless, well-defined, and freely mobile. The joint was not affected. He is on medication for type II diabetes mellitus and hypertension. He underwent Whipple's surgery for periampullary carcinoma. He was treated for proximal sensory-motor axonal neuropathy and tuberculosis three years back. Because of isoniazid-induced hepatitis, the patient received a modified anti-tuberculous regime for 9 months, after which he developed gastric ulceration with hematemesis and melena. On endoscopic biopsy, he was found to have chronic active gastritis with Helicobacter pylori infection. In addition, the patient had severe iron deficiency and hypoalbuminemia due to malabsorption. After treatment, he completely recovered at the time of hospital discharge. Figure 1 Phaeohyphomycotic cyst. A - A well-encapsulated and unilocular cyst measuring 4.5x2.2x1.8cm in size (scale bar = 2.5cm); The cyst lumen contains homogenous and translucent gelatinous soft material; B - Multinucleated giant cells showing fungal profile with septate, branching and globose swelling (H&E; x200); C - Periodic Acid-Schiff stain showing bright magenta positivity (PAS stain; x200); D - Fontana Masson stain giving brownish black color due to melanin in the fungal cell walls (x200).: Thus, the nodular swelling was wholly excised and sent for histopathological examination. Grossly, a well-encapsulated mass measuring 4.5x2.2x1.8 cm was submitted for histological analysis (Figure 1A). The external aspect appeared intact, yellowish-white, and congested. A unilocular cyst was identified on serial slicing with a capsular thickness of 0.1-0.2cm. The cut surface was soft in consistency with homogenous and gelatinous translucent material within the lumen. On light microscopy, an outer thick fibrous capsule layer was identified. Just beneath this capsular layer was the vascularized granulation tissue, proliferating fibroblasts, numerous multinucleated foreign and Langhan’s giant cells, and variable lymphoplasmacytic cell infiltrate. Also, abundant basophilic mucoid material with a background of many degenerated cells. These giant cells engulfed pigmented fungal profiles that depicted branching, septate and globose swelling (Figure 1B). Periodic Schiff-Acid stain gave bright magenta color to these fungi (Figure 1C), whereas Fontana Masson stain gave brownish black color due to melanin in the fungal cell walls (Figure 1D). Given the morphology, a diagnosis of a phaeohyphomycotic cyst was rendered. On follow-up, the patient is doing well, and has not received any antifungal agent. The leading treatment choice in non-invasive subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis is local excision.

Politika istraživanja i inovacija u Evropskoj Uniji i integracija Republike Srbije u reformisani evropski istraživački prostor

This paper addresses the subject of the EU research and innovation policy in the context of the European Research Area reform, with special focus on its external aspect. The first goal of this paper is to describe the leading developments in research and innovation which have taken place in the last decade, with emphasis on their significance for the EU integration process. Starting from Leuffen et al's concept of external differentiation, in this paper the ERA is considered a policy regime which expands beyond the EU borders. Consequently, the second goal of the paper is to present the Serbian research and innovation policy with respect to the ERA integration after the chapter on science and research was provisionally closed. Through thematic analysis of research and innovation strategies, this paper will discern if Serbian R&amp;I policy converges with the priorities and guidelines of the new ERA, thus rendering it a part of the broader European research landscape.

Influence of work-related stress factors on leadership practices at National Construction Authority, Kenya

Lack of a conducive working environment results to stress andchallenges in the practice of leadership. Work related stress factors makes leadership to be a cumbersome undertaking and this hinder productivity of an organization. Thefour objectiveswere; to establish the influence of job demandson practice of leadership, to evaluateinfluence of work life balance onpractice of leadership, to assessinfluence of role ambiguity on practice of leadership and to examineinfluence of organizational stressorson practice of leadership. The study used descriptive research design. The target population was 423 employees. The study adoptedsimple random sampling technique in selecting206 respondents from the entire population. The findings revealed that there is a strong positive relationship between work-related stress factors and practice of leadership,job demands had a positive relationship with leadership practice and undefined organization roles in job description jeopardizes a leader’s ability to execute tasks. Balancing personaland professional objectivesfulfilsa leader’s ability to practice leadership. The recommendations are;job descriptions should be clearly defined, mandatedand stated well withinthe organization,Leaders to delegate certain tasksfor themto focus on key tasks. Organizations to have well-articulated set of guidelines for them to reach a specific goal that is sustainable, measurable, attainable, reachable and time bound ensuringthat leaders understand the external and internal aspect of how the organization workby providing a pleasant working environment to reduceexperiences that lead to organizational stress, while at the same time create a thriving environment for leaders to continuously improve their performance and leadership skills

Креолизованность как жанрообразующий признак текстов естественной письменной речи (на материале жанра девичьего альбома)

The paper aims at studying the external (technical) aspect of natural written speech text as a characteristic contributing to the materialization of the text as a sign and, at the same time, to its genre identification. The analysis of a girl’s diary genre reveals the heuristic possibilities of creolization as a genre-relevant property of the formal organization of the text, with its texture synthesized by various semiotic systems. Given the relationship between the graphematic means and the codes of other semiotic systems, two types of texts are identified. These are (1) partially creolized texts with autosemantic relations between the verbal and visual components based on the autonomy of structural elements of the text and (2) completely creolized texts with synsemantic relations between the graphematic means and the elements of other semiotic systems. The functions of a girl’s diary as a creolized text are determined: presentational function, contributing to the author’s self-expression; axiological function, aimed at representing the value dominants of a teenage girl; and gaming, determined by the phatic and dialogical components of the text. The combinations of elements of various semiotic systems contributing to the creation of substantial metagraphemics of the text are investigated. Graphematic means are seen to synthesize with various elements of supragraphemics, making it possible to transform the text contents (variation of font, intensity of graphemes); topographemics, associated with the planar variation of the text (paper constructions that change the spatial design of the text); and chromographemics, associated with the color design of the text.

Konstytucyjność wyłączenia jawności posiedzeń sądowych w postępowaniu cywilnym – przyczynek do dyskusji

This article is a contribution to the discussion on the constitutionality of examining civil cases in camera. The remarks presented in the article are based on the assumption that the essence of in camera sessions is not compliant with the constitutional right to an open examination of the case, which – being a component of the right to a properly shaped court procedure, co-creates the content of the right to a court. These sessions are the most far-reaching form of limiting, or rather excluding, openness of court sessions – both in its external and internal aspect. Therefore, the article attempts to assess the use of in camera sessions considering acceptable exceptions to the public nature of court sessions. Finally, reference was made to a party’s right to consideration of a case without undue delay, which also co-creates the right to a court.