External Elements Research Articles

Identidades. Un acercamiento desde la semiótica de la cultura

The text examines the concept of identity from the semiotics of culture. Identity is not an immutable set of traits but is formed through constantly evolving semiotic processes. The territory and the geographical environment influence the configuration of the identity of individuals and communities. The temporal dimension is addressed through the idea of «explosion» in Lotman’s semiotic theory, which represents ruptures in the historical flow and unpredictability of history. The role of emotions that are culturally conditioned is highlighted. Cultural differences affect their expression. Individual and collective identities are interconnected. Individual consciousness is formed through external elements that we assume as our own. Finally, a «citizen identity» is advocated that transcends national and ethnic borders in a globalized world and that promotes integration and diversity in an interdependent global context.

Study on the Mechanism of Emotional Labor and Intellectual Thinking in Burnout

Research on the interaction mechanism of cognitive evaluation, intellectual thinking, and burnout syndrome generally refers to academic fields related to individual psychology and burnout, such as individual cognitive appraisal, intellectual thinking, emotional labor, and burnout. It is a general term for psychology and mental health, with an interdisciplinary and applied nature. Unlike a single discipline, it presents complex attributes. During the research, it is not easy to conduct in-depth research by quantifying or applying traditional psychological models, and the diversity of research methods is somewhat limited. With the emergence of big data and artificial intelligence, the academic community has been paying more and more attention to psychology research methods. In recent years, scientists have begun to pay attention to the combination of innovation and interdisciplinarity, and the construction and application of big data and artificial intelligence technologies in psychology is a typical example. Considering the complexity of the research objects and the problems involved, how to effectively integrate big data, artificial intelligence technology, and psychology has become a problem that needs to be solved urgently in academic circles. This study analyzes applying the above theories to practice to provide theoretical foundations and practical references for promoting the interface of internal and external elements and innovation in this field.

Risk and Profitability Synergy: Evaluating Igara Tea Factory Ltd’s Financial Performance in Uganda

Financial performance serves as a vital measure of organizational success, particularly within the agricultural sector, where various external elements can influence profitability. This research focused on risk assessment strategies at Igara Tea Factory Ltd in Uganda and examined how these strategies impact financial performance. The study was grounded in Risk Management Theory and employed a quantitative research approach, utilizing a correlational research design. The population consisted of 58 individuals, and a sample size of 50 respondents was determined using Slovin’s formula. Sampling methods included purposive, stratified, and simple random sampling to select participants. Data collection was done through structured, self-administered questionnaires, with questions framed on a Likert scale ranging from 1 to 5. A pilot test, conducted with 5 respondents, was used to assess the validity and reliability of the questionnaire items. Descriptive and inferential statistics were applied during data analysis, which involved computing simple linear regression and Pearson correlation using SPSS Version 25. Results showed an insignificant positive relationship between risk assessment and financial performance (t=1.869, p=.063, p>0.05). The findings indicated that while risk assessment is positively linked to financial performance in tea firms, the relationship is not statistically significant (t=2.091, p=0.063>0.05), implying that risk assessment alone may not strongly predict financial success. The recommendation is for tea firms to incorporate additional strategic elements such as market analysis and operational efficiency improvements alongside risk assessment to boost financial performance. The relevance of this study to policymakers is the realization that, while risk assessment contributes positively to financial outcomes, it may not be sufficient by itself to achieve substantial financial success, underscoring the need for policies that include complementary strategies.

Sindrom sagorijevanja zdravstvenih radnika zaposlenih u jedinicama intenzivnog liječenja - iskustva u tri jedinice intenzivnog lečenja iz tri velika zdravstvena centra sa Jugoistočnog Balkana - sindrom sagorijevanja zdravstvenih radnika jedinica intenzivnog liječenja Jugoistočnog Balkana

Summary Introduction: Burnout syndrome at work is a response to chronic emotional and interpersonal stressors associated with the workplace, and occurs in workers without previous psychopathological illnesses or organic diseases. Aim: The aim of the research was to examine the prevalence of stress and burnout syndrome, among physicians and nurses working in the intensive care units (MICU) of 3 regional centers (Banja Luka, Novi Sad and Ljubljana), and to determine the differences between the centers and the causes of these differences. Methods: It is a cross-sectional study conducted during August and September 2020 (at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic) by surveying healthcare workers (doctors and nurses/technicians) from three intensive care units of the former Yugoslavia. The participantsfulfilled the Questionnaire for self-assessment of stress levels and the Maslach burnout inventory, which were supplemented with sociodemographic parameters. The obtained data were statistically processed using the SPSS 21 program. Results: 91 participantsfrom all 3 regional centers were included in th study. A statistically significant difference was found in terms of age, degree of professional education, length of service, gender, marital and parental status, where respondents from Ljubljana show the greatest deviations comparedto subjects from the other two centers. The sociodemographic characteristics of the respondents only showed that gender had a statistically significant influence on the degree of personal achievement. Conclusion: The attributes of healthcare professionals who work in MICUs with the same level of life support (level III) may be influenced by the development level and length of tradition of intensive care units. Additionally, factors such as legislation and other external and internal elements unique to each organizational unit can also play a role.

Analyzing the tourism efficiency and its influencing factors of China's coastal provinces.

Tourism efficiency has become an important role in promoting tourism competitiveness and driving sustainable development. It is particularly important to identify and agnalyze the factors and mechanisms that affect efficiency. This paper firstly evaluates the tourism efficiency of 11 coastal provinces regions in China from 2010 to 2020 by using the DEA-BBC model that includes undesirable outputs. After that, it investigates the internal driving mechanism of the efficiency change through the Malmquist index and its decomposition. Finally, it analyzes the external influencing elements of tourist efficiency by the Tobit model. The results show that: (1) Although the average value of the tourism efficiency was changed from 0.727 to 0.707, it does not achieve the target. Its trend shows fluctuating from 2010-2020, which indicates that the tourism efficiency of most provincial regions is not optimal. The main factor that restricts tourism efficiency is scale efficiency. (2) By analyzing the dynamic trend, it is found that the average increase of technical efficiency is 14.0%, the average increase of technical change is 9.5%, and the average increase of MI index is 25.4%. It indicates that the overall tourism efficiency of 11 coastal provinces region in China is on the rise. (3) The spatial difference of tourism efficiency is significant, but there is no obvious spatial correlation. (4) The influencing factors of tourism efficiency are consumer demand, industrial structure, labor force and urbanization.

Comparative Technological Assessment of the Quality Formation of Local and Introduced Varieties of Virginia Flue-cured and Burley Tobaccos

The production of “marketable” tobacco is decisive in the pReferences of local farmers towards certain varieties of Virginia and Burley tobaccos. The aim of the study was to complete a comparative technological evaluation of the quality potential of introduced and local varieties of Virginia flue-cured and Burley air-cured tobaccos in Bulgaria. The investigation was conducted with tobaccos from 2018 crop year and included 4 varieties of Virginia flue-cured and 2 varieties of Burley tobacco (local and introduced), grown in different regions of Southern and Northern Bulgaria. The complex assessment of tobacco quality was based on leaf and smoke chemical indicators, external leaf quality elements and smoking performance of the studied tobaccos. The final rating was achieved by referring to the value of the calculated “quality indices”. Two of the local varieties, V 0454 from region Parvomay and PVH 19 from Central Northern Bulgaria were rated the best in the complex evaluation of the FCV tobaccos. A better complex expression of quality was found in the introduced (trial) variety Burley N compared to the local Burley 1317 in Southern Bulgaria region.

EXPERIMENTAL AND NUMERICAL STUDY ON EFFECTS OF NEW-GENERATION FINNED HEAT EXCHANGER ON THERMAL PERFORMANCE OF THERMOELECTRIC COOLING SYSTEMS

In this study, an attempt has been made to increase the efficiency of the thermoelectric refrigerator by designinig a new-generation finned heat exchanger. Surface extension, which is one of the most applied passive heat transfer enhancement techniques, was applied for this finned heat exchanger. In this application, the heat absorbed from the cooling room is transferred to the external environment more effectively. In addition, by using an external thermoelectric element (which is installed with the secondary heat exchanger), the heat exchanger cools down faster and the heat is transferred to the environment more quickly. The manufactured cooling system was tested experimentally under different working conditions, including natural and forced convection. The effects of air velocity and applied voltage to the external TE module on thermal performance were examined. Additionally, the external finned heat exchanger has been simulated and heat transfer characteristics have been evaluated using computational fluid dynamics. The lowest and highest COP values have been obtained as 0.003 and 0.011, respectively, when the external TE module has been passive. By providing 12 V for the external TE module, the lowest and highest COP values have been observed as 0.0031 and 0.0042, respectively. In addition, the importance of surface extension applications for the efficient operation of thermoelectric elements has been emphasized.

Предложение за палеографски анализ на средновековната южнославянска кирилица

This article presents a descriptive model for the palaeographic analysis of South Slavonic manuscripts written in the Cyrillic alphabet. Starting with some general remarks on the status of Slavic palaeography as a discipline and the terminological problems affecting it, the three-part analysis is introduced and explained. The first part deals with the general aspect of the handwriting, with considerations of the weight and shape of the script, its proportions, and measurements relating to the angle of writing and the angle of inclination. The second phase consists of a detailed study of a selection of characteristic letters, considering their strokes and describing them with uniform terminology. The last part of the model concerns the grouping and counting of both external and internal elements that characterise the handwriting. Once the description process has been completed, the data obtained will be useful for accurately describing the copyist’s handwriting and, above all, for a subsequent more general comparison, leading to a much-desired scientific classification of South Slavonic Cyrillic scripts.

Сучасні тенденції розвитку франчайзингу як бізнес-стратегії

The article is devoted to the study of features of franchising as a strategy of business development, which allows to form resource, technological, innovative, partner competitive advantages and take a stable competitive position in the market and, as the experience of developed countries shows, is a real mechanism for successful development of small business in the long term. The economic essence of the classical model of franchising and the socioeconomic conditions that determined its evolution are disclosed: changes in consumer behavior; strengthening customization and individualization trends; change in franchisee’s expectations of entrepreneurial initiative; rapid development of information and communication technologies; increase in franchisors’ costs for franchisee support; the economic crisis, which contributes to the growing popularity of budget conceptions; growing uncertainty of the external environment. Based on the systematization of the parameters of differences (the fact of brand transfer, features of the regulation of key processes, the possibility of registration of joint ownership of the franchise, standardization of external elements and assortment, as well as the specifics of the process of innovation transfer) alternative models of franchising are characterized: customized franchising of the business format, quasi-franchising and branchising. Knowledge of modern trends in the organization of entrepreneurial activity on the basis of franchising will allow entrepreneurs to choose for business the direction that is in demand at a particular point in time in a certain territory for a specific segment of consumers.

Influence of potassium doping on the structural, conduction mechanism, and dielectric properties of CaFe2O4.

The frequency and temperature-related dielectric relaxation and electrical conduction mechanisms in potassium-doped CaFe2O4 oxide ceramic were investigated in this study throughout a temperature range of 313-673 K. The synthesis of the KCaFe2O4 compound was accomplished through a solid-state reaction route. The X-ray diffraction pattern at room temperature confirmed that the ceramic KCaFe2O4 crystallizes in the orthorhombic system with the Pbnm space group. The EDX analysis proved the absence of external elements. The surface morphology of the samples was examined using scanning electron microscopy. The conduction mechanism, validated as CBH conduction, was examined using the temperature-dependent variation of Jonscher's power law exponent. Using Nyquist plots, we have effectively constructed a relevant equivalent circuit that encompasses the influences originating from both the grains and the grain boundaries. Furthermore, in KCaFe2O4, the induced dielectric relaxation from the non-Debye to Debye type model is demonstrated by the thermal analysis of M'' (ω) and -Z'' (ω) as a function of frequency.

Employee performance: The role of competence, organizational culture, and motivation

Purpose-A company's internal and external elements might affect employee performance. This study focuses on how motivation, organizational culture, and competence influence employee performance. Design/Methodology/Approach- The study population consisted of all employees at PT. Telkon Indonesia Regional VII. Data for this study was collected through questionnaires and 54 respondents were collected. The data analysis of this study was processed using the SPSS 25 statistical tool. Findings-The findings showed that PT. Telkom Indonesia Regional VII employees' performance is positively impacted by competency and organizational culture. However, motivation shows the opposite effect on PT. Telkom Indonesia Regional VII employees' performance. These findings suggest that encouraging a positive company culture and increasing staff competency can both enhance employee performance. However, motivation had an insignificant effect on increasing employee performance in this study. Research limitations/implications-For every company, it should be necessary to improve or optimize competence, work culture, and motivation in order to encourage morale which ultimately affects employee performance. This finding shows that improving employee performance can be done in various ways including internal and external aspects of the company. Originality/value-Study of employee performance in service business, especially PT. Telkom Indonesia Regional VII is still quite limited. Previous research similar to this study in measuring employee performance using different indicators and different objects.

CONCEPTUAL PREMISES FOR SKETCHING A RATIONALE FOR THE INSTITUTION OF PRESCRIPTION

The author observes that the concerns of substantiating the institution of prescription belong to the theory of civil law and that the presentations of the civil model are made separately for the two forms of prescription (extinctive and acquisitive). This, in a context where criminal jurisprudence faces one of the most intense debates on how to apply the criminal rules regarding the prescription of criminal liability, a debate which, however, omits the idea of substantiating the institution. The thesis is updated according to which time - movement in sequence of events, external and unavoidable natural element of subjective rights - is presented as a modality of obligations, a concept that can be used both in the scope of civil and criminal norms. Time with the stated legal meaning can be accepted as the basis of prescription. The model offers a consistent methodological potential for the hypotheses in which the legal norm - whatever its origin - finds its meaning with difficulty. Hence the consequence: the subjective rights - interests with high legal protection of the subjects in the relationship - placed in time, can be understood in a unitary way and applied to all branches of law.

An Investigation of the Speech Skills of Children Living in Rural and Urban Areas

Communication is vital for children’s development, especially in differentiating rural and urban speech skills. The aim of this study is to investigate the speech skills of children living in rural and urban areas. The speech skills of 72 students attending the 8th grade in rural and urban areas of Iskenderun in the 2020-2021 academic year were examined. In the study designed with the screening model, the data were collected with a structured observation form. The video recordings of the speeches made by the students on the topic of “human and nature” according to their levels were taken and evaluated according to the “Speech Evaluation Form”. The results of the present research revealed that the highest average scores of the students belonged to the sub-dimensions of applying the external structural elements of the language, applying the internal structural elements of the language and the psychological state of the speaker. In addition, it was determined that the students’ speech skills were at a moderate level, whereas their ability to briefly introduce the parts of the speech, to start the topic with interesting expressions, to use appropriate tools such as pictures, graphs and photographs that can make the speech interesting, to use proverbs, idioms and aphorisms suitable for the topic, to benefit from literary devices suitable for the topic and to summarize the speech were very low. Urban students demonstrated comparatively stronger speech skills, highlighting the value of targeted improvements in communication education.

Effect of Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) and Strategic Deviation on Firm Risk: Evidence from Manufacturing Sector in Emerging Market Asia

The notion of sustainable development has gained widespread acceptance in the realm of social development. As a result, firms and their stakeholders are increasingly focusing on external elements such as environment, society, and governance (ESG). This study investigates the impact of ESG on firm risk measured by cash flow volatility. This study further examines whether strategic deviation moderates the relationship between ESG and firm risk. This research considers a sample of 139 manufacturing firms available in Refinitiv between 2018 and 2022 and applies the fixed-effect model. This study is a valuable contribution to the field of research on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors and their impact on strategic management. Specifically, it examines how ESG considerations and strategic deviation affect the level of risk faced by manufacturing firms. The result shows that ESG significantly reduces cash flow volatility but strategic deviation is insignificant in both affecting cash flow volatility and moderating the relationship of ESG and cash flow volatility. This study will serve as a valuable resource for managers in manufacturing organizations, providing them with insights into the importance of considering environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues. The findings of this study highlight the impact of ESG and strategic considerations on cash flow volatility.

The Impact of High-Sugar Intake on Early Childhood Development

In contemporary society, the prevalence of obesity and other diet-related health complications in children and adolescents is increasingly high, becoming a health epidemic on its own. Such diet-related health complications can be sourced through an unhealthy diet and/or genetics. However, numerous external elements too act as dietary influences, making it exceptionally feasible to become overweight or obese at a young age. Unfortunately, the consequences of suffering from diet-related diseases negatively impact a child extensively. Further, recent studies highlight the significance of such health complications on leaving life-long effects on a child’s future growth. Raising awareness of the importance of maintaining healthy dietary patterns, particularly meal structure restricting high-sugar intake, and providing children with adequate nutrition and nourishment can inhibit the development of serious health conditions and cultivate optimal child development. This paper synthesizes the latest research on the aforementioned topics as well as the effects of sugar on a child’s body and mind and other serious consequences of a high-sugar diet on young children.

Xanthomas in A Warehouse Worker: A Case Report

Background: Xanthomas are visible external lump that appears on the body. Xanthomas are not tumors, instead, they are collections of foam cells that develop within the skin’s connective tissue, tendons and layers beneath the skin. These formations are significant indicators of disorders in lipid metabolism and are frequently seen in individuals with hypercholesterolemia. This case report describes the case of a male patient who worked in a warehouse with xanthomas and analyzes the relationship between his disease and work.Case Presentation: A 38-year-old man presented at a referral hospital in August 2023 with multiple yellowish elevated masses over the palm of the hands, sole and over the dorsum of the foot. The size of the masses varied between 0.5×0.5×0.5 cm (over the palm of the hands and sole), 1,5x1,5x0,5 cm and 2x1,5x1 cm(over dorsum of the foot) (Figure 1). The patient is accustomed to consuming fatty foods, coffee and alcohol. The patient presented with an elevated level of cholesterol and triglycerides. The patient had symptoms of discomfort and pain,which were due to the large size of the masses.The patient worked in a warehouse and encountered numerous potential hazards. Upon further examination, the patient was diagnosed with xanthomas. Excisional biopsy were performed to remove the massive xanthomas from the palm, sole and dorsum of the foot.Discussion: The process of confirming an occupational illness necessitates following a seven-step method, which considers factors such as clinical diagnosis, individual, and other exposures outside of work. However, in this instance, no work-related, personal, or external environmental elements linked to xanthomas were identified.Conclusion: There is no substantial evidence that occupational exposures as a warehouse worker cause or exacerbate the patient’s diagnosis of xanthomas. Very high cholesterol and triglycerides remain the main contributing factors to the diagnosis.

New/Old Idea of Man in Urban Religious Communities of a New Type

The purpose of the article is to establish the specificities of the formation of ideas about a person within the framework of the activities of the new urban religious communities of the Kama region, namely the Intercession Monastery and the Family of God. These communities combine features of folk religiosity, new religious movements, and the so-called historical sects. Such eclecticism makes it impossible to apply to the communities the established research apparatus for new religious movements (NRMs), formed by Western (B. Wilson, D. Stone, A. Barker) and Russian (L. N. Mitrokhin, E. A. Balagushkin, I. Kanterov and others) researchers and substantiates the need for this study conducted from both a different perspective and involving new research methodology. Both communities act as a closed community, which is expressed in the territorial and communication isolation of the residents of the communal estate, the practice of internal labor duties, and the idea of the group as a family. The study is based on interviews and correspondence with former members of both communities, analysis of materials from a closed group on a social network, and recordings of classes conducted by one of the group leaders. The theoretical basis of the work was K. Dobellard’s concept of the so-called patchwork religiosity, characteristic of an individual’s attitude towards religion in modern culture. The image of a person in both communities is constructed at two levels: through making changes to the traditional Christian idea of a person and at the level of religious and near-religious activities. It has been shown that innovations related to faith include the idea of a special status of community members compared to other people, as well as provisions about their special role in the struggle to save the world. The religious activities of the groups involve conducting adjusted Christian rituals (baptism, wedding), elements of mystical experience (mental struggle with evil and enemies in the Intercession Monastery), training seminars and sermons justifying the special role of followers of the teaching in society. Social interaction within communities is built on a strict selection of monks, leader control over the behavior of group members, a system of specific penalties, including ignoring offenders, public repentance, burial alive and expulsion from the brotherhood. The study concludes that the so-called new religious movements are in reality examples of traditional religious sects observed in Russia over the centuries. Their values, behavior, and the image of the person are archaic, however they also include additional external elements of secular culture.

Parental Contribution to Early Childhood Development in the Digital Era

The role of parents in early childhood development is a crucial factor in the process of child growth and development. In the context of limited face-to-face learning, this research will discuss the extent of parents' responsibilities in accompanying children to learn, as well as the urgency of parents' role in children's development from a developmental psychology perspective. The research method used is qualitative with analysis referring to trusted literature such as journals, books and other references. The research results show that parental responsibility and the strategies implemented by them are the main keys in dealing with psychological aspects of child development. Parental involvement during the learning period has a significant impact on child development. The factors that influence it involve internal and external elements in the child's environment.

Immunomodulatory Activity Analyses of Cell-Free Supernatant of Lactobacillus plantarum LP299v Strain in RAW 264.7 Macrophage Cells

The human immune system is essential for defending the body against harmful internal and external elements; immunity includes innate and acquired immunity. Macrophages, the innate immune system's key components, are crucial for the clearance of dead cells and tumor cells, as well as foreign substances by triggering phagocytosis. They also play a role in the adaptive response with the cytokines and mediator molecules they secrete. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB), an important probiotics class, have a strong potential to improve host health and can be used as a functional food. There have been reports of certain LAB strains having immunostimulating effects. However, the effects of cell-free supernatants (CFS) gathered from some LAB strains on macrophage activation have become an important research area in recent years. This study's main objective was to characterize the immunostimulatory activities of Lactobacillus plantarum LP299v in the RAW 264.7 macrophage cell line. For this purpose, the immunomodulatory activity of CFS of the related strain was evaluated by MTT, neutral red assay, and Griess reaction respectively, in terms of proliferation, phagocytosis ability, and nitric oxide (NO) production parameters using the macrophage cell line. Studies have shown that this strain significantly increased proliferation, phagocytosis, and NO levels in RAW264.7 macrophage cells. When considered, these results suggest that the cell-free supernatant, obtained from Lactobacillus plantarum LP299v selected in this study, may be helpful for candidate compounds with immunostimulatory activity.

The Digital Walls of the University: Translating New Metrics of Labour, Education, and Mobility in the COVID-19 Crisis

The COVID-19 crisis has drastically accelerated the reconfiguration of the borders between the university and the outside world. In this scenario, the walls of the university, whose function is the discrimination of the university’s external and internal elements, are satisfied via units of artificial measure (metrics) that organise the social division of labour and continuously retrace the boundary between the “foreign” and the “internal.” If earlier reforms in higher education aimed at widening access and improving academic success, on the one hand, and adapting to the demand of the labour market for a more “flexible” workforce, on the other, the exponential use of digital platforms in education strongly focuses on establishing a real-time translatability among different demands within a single tool of governance. While educational institutions exponentially rely on indexes, which are intended to both measure the fluctuations and the demands of the labour market in real time, it is urgent to rethink how we translate technology across social, economic, and cultural fields and to formulate teaching and learning machines capable of responding to the complexities and the challenges of the present.