Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Compensatory Strategies and Iranian Intermediate EFL Learners’ Speaking Fluency: Focusing on Self-Repetition and Comprehension Check Strategies

This study aimed to seek the effects of self-repetition and comprehension check strategies on Iranian EFL learners' speaking fluency. To this end, the researcher gave the OQPT to 140 Iranian students to determine their level of English proficiency. The researcher selected 90 intermediate students and divided them non-randomly into two experimental groups; Self-Repetition group (n=30) and Comprehension Check group (n=30). Then, both groups were pretested. After that, the researcher put the participants of both groups in two Compensatory Strategies. Each experimental classroom was taught through a specific compensatory strategy. On the other hand, the control group received traditional activities in learning speaking fluency. This procedure continued till the last session. At the end of the study, a posttest was conducted. The results of one-way ANOVA revealed that both experimental groups had better performance on their post-test compared to their pre-test. The results showed that there was not a significant difference between the performances of the experimental groups on the post-test.
Cranial morphology and dietary habits of rodents

Rodents are important components of nearly every terrestrial ecosystem and display considerable ecological diversity. Nevertheless, a lack of data on the ecomorphology of rodents has led to them being largely overlooked in palaeoecological reconstructions. Here, geometric and linear morphometrics are used to examine how cranial and dental shapes reflect the diets of living rodent species. Although most rodents are omnivores or generalist herbivores, some species have evolved highly specialized carnivorous, insectivorous, and herbivorous diets. Results show that living rodents with similar diets display convergent morphology, despite their independent evolutionary histories. Carnivores have relatively elongate incisors, elongate and narrow incisor blades, orthodont incisor angles, reduced cheek tooth areas, and enlarged temporal fossae. Insectivores display relatively degenerate dentition, elongate rostra, narrow and thin zygomatic arches, and smaller temporal fossae. Herbivores are characterized by relatively broader incisor blades, longer molar tooth rows, larger cheek tooth areas, wider skull and rostrum, thicker and broader zygomatic arches, and larger temporal fossae. These results suggest that cranial and dental morphology can be used to accurately infer extinct rodent diets regardless of ancestry. Application to extinct beavers suggests that most had highly specialized herbivorous diets.
Peer Feedback in Learner‑Learner Interaction Practices. Mixed
 Methods Study on an xMOOC

Although xMOOCs have shown benefits due to their accessibility to expert knowledge, the quality of their pedagogical proposal remains contested. It has not yet been proven that online education’s learner‑learner interaction practices in xMOOCs generate an improvement in the quality of learning and academic achievement. Peer feedback is a practice that can enhance learning in an environment with diverse student profiles and limited instructor participation. The present mixed methods study was devoted to identifying the perceptions of xMOOC participants regarding learner‑learner interaction and feedback practices. In the Energy Saving course on MexicoX platform, 1,176 participants answered an initial survey, 486 participants answered a final survey and 14 participants were interviewed after completing the course. Results show that most of the participants are willing to interact with their peers and participate in peer feedback activities. Although, in practice its value for summative assessment is an important factor that may predict involvement. It is found that diversity of expertise level is not an obstacle for participants to interact. Rather, participants consider that they may benefit from diversity by assessing their peer assignments and learning different alternatives and strategies in which a problem can be solved. Further, it is identified that peer assessment activities are more adequate for providing feedback than discussion forums, since the first promotes an environment in which participants can observe the performance of their peers showed in a more complex assignment. The findings of this study allow us to analyse inherent and external factors that configure learner‑learner interaction and that affect peer feedback in xMOOCs. It is concluded that more research is needed in order to understand the effect of some factors that may affect peer interaction and peer feedback in xMOOCs and to propose better strategies to improve peer feedback effectiveness.
Quantitative genetics research in Zebra Finches: where we are and where to go

Abstract The ease with which Zebra Finches can be kept and bred in captivity makes them a suitable model for avian quantitative genetic studies. After a brief introduction to some quantitative genetic concepts, we here provide an up-to-date overview of quantitative genetic studies in Zebra Finches. We discuss what these studies can teach us about the evolutionary and behavioural ecology of Zebra Finches and song birds in general, and make suggestions for future research. Throughout this article we plead for a greater appreciation of the advantages offered by working on captive birds, but also discuss their limitations. Although quantitative genetic analyses in natural populations are becoming increasingly powerful, these studies lack the control possible in captivity. However, obtaining meaningful estimates of the type and strength of selection acting on phenotypic variation is more difficult in captivity. Hence, quantitative genetic studies in the wild and captivity each have their strengths and weaknesses and should be considered complementary rather than opposing. However, whereas quantitative genetic studies in the wild have boomed, the unique advantages offered by captive Zebra Finches have remained underexploited. Here we make a first attempt at changing this by highlighting what we believe may be fruitful lines for future research.
NEUROMARKETING APPROACH: AN OVERVIEW AND FUTURE RESEARCH DIRECTIONS

Neuromarketing is the embryonic field of marketing science. Despite being controversial, it remains the most promising field to study genuine consumers’ responses in front of the marketing stimuli such as sound, brand and so forth. Therefore, neuromarketing aims to study the relevant part in the human termed as 'brain' which is swayed by marketing stimuli. Undoubtedly, the researchers and academia can record and measured the brain activity through using the state-of-the-art neuroimaging techniques such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), the electroencephalography (EEG), and other neuromarketing methods. Therefore, the academia and industry are relied on neuromarketing due to the widely acknowledged fact that the majority of our emotions and thinking takes place beyond the level of our awareness, thereby, the consumer purchase decisions are made in the subconscious mind which impact on their daily deliberations. This study reviews and discusses the most important techniques of neuromarketing (e.g., fMRI and EEG) to understand the consumer’s brain responses. The findings of this study refer to that neuromarketing is pregnant with valuable information toward consumer decision-making.
Effects of supplemental lauric acid‐rich oils in high‐grain diet on in vitro rumen fermentation

A series of in vitro studies were performed to evaluate the effects of lauric acid (LA)-rich oils on rumen fermentation with a high-grain diet. Soy oil (SO) and palm oil (PO) as long-chain fatty acid triglycerides, palm kernel oil (PKO), coconut oil (CO), powdered coconut oil (pCO) and coconut oil calcium salt (COCa) as medium-chain LA-rich oils were used as tested additives. Rumen fluid from steers fed high-grain diet was incubated with ground corn with or without oil supplementation (2.0 g/L) for 6 h at 39°C to monitor rumen products. Methane production decreased, while hydrogen production increased on LA-rich oils except COCa. All the LA-rich oils increased total volatile fatty acids (VFA) production and molar proportion of propionate. Also, amylase activity in culture was higher when these oils were added. The most potent additives, pCO and free LA, were further tested to determine dose–response of rumen fermentation. Powdered coconut oil and LA altered rumen fermentation toward more propionate production by supplementation at 1.2 and 0.3 g/L, respectively. These results suggest that some LA-rich oils and free LA could be used for improving rumen fermentation under high-grain diet feeding conditions.
Husbandry and reproduction practices of cattle in Mursi and Bodi pastoral communities in Southwest Ethiopia

This study was conducted with the objectives of documenting the husbandry and breeding practices of Mursi and Bodi communities who keep Mursi cattle breed in the pastoral production system of southwest Ethiopia. The pastoral communities raise more number of cattle (54.27 heads) compared to goat (6.47) and sheep (1.24). Sale of cattle is the main income source, while sale of honey and goat ranked second and third. The main purpose of keeping cattle is for milk production and blood as source of food, sources of income and social functions. The number of milking cows was higher (P<0.001) in Mursi (10.22) than Bodi (6.02 heads) community herds. The proportion of milking cows on average was 45.02% of the total breeding females. The ratio of breeding male to female was 1:9.8. This ratio was bigger (P<0.05) in the Mursi (1:11.28) than Bodi (1:7.73) community. The pastoralists select breeding animals based on their trait preferences. The traits preferred were milk yield, adaptive ability, coat color and ability to survive and produce on low quantity and quality feeds. Breeding males were selected based on coat color, body size and fertility by both pastoral communities; whereas, female animals were selected on the bases of milk yield, coat color, fertility and udder size. Male cattle are castrated at the age of 4.17 years, which is different (P<0.01) between Bodi (3.58) and Mursi (4.59) communities. Indigenous husbandry and breeding practices would be used as a basis for designing and implementation of appropriate breed improvement programs.
Evaluation of corn hybrids for tolerance to corn rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte) larval feeding

The western corn rootworm ( Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte (WCR)) is a major pest of corn in USA. The pest arrived in Croatia in 1995, and today over 250.000 ha are infested. Insecticides are regularly used to control WCR, but the cost is high, can pose environmental risks, and may become ineffective due to resistance. Growing corn that is resistant to corn rootworms would be a valuable alternative to insecticides. Nine Croatian (Institute of Agriculture, Osijek) and two Pioneer Hi-Bred Int. Inc. (Johnston, Iowa, USA) commercial corn hybrids were evaluated for WCR resistance at two locations using complete randomized block design with four replications. One location was in east Croatia (Osijek) and one was in the USA (Iowa). The hybrids’ tolerance to larval feeding was rated using root injury, root regrowth and root size. Root injury was rated using the Node-Injury Scale 0–3 and evaluation of root size and root regrowth were done by scale 1–6. In an analysis of variance combined across locations, .
Does low fecundity reflect kin recognition and inbreeding avoidance in the mandarin vole (Microtus mandarinus)

Nous avons etudie les effets que peut avoir le fait de reconnaitre les individus apparentes sur l'oestrus et la reproduction chez le campagnol mandarin (Microtus mandarinus) en laboratoire au moyen d'une methode d'adoption croisee. Les campagnols de familles differentes eleves separement produisent significativement plus de portees que les animaux de meme famille eleves ou non ensemble. Ces resultats corroborent l'hypothese selon laquelle la familiarite due aux associations avant le sevrage influence fortement la reconnaissance des individus apparentes. D'autre part, les individus de familles differentes eleves separement produisent significativement plus de portees que les individus de meme famille eleves separement. En outre, il n'y a pas de difference significative entre les campagnols de meme famille eleves separement ou ensemble. Ces observations demontrent que les mecanismes de comparaison des phenotypes impliques dans la reconnaissance des individus apparentes peuvent se conjuguer a la familiarite pour faciliter la reconnaissance des animaux apparentes chez les campagnols de cette espece. L'examen de la cytologie vaginale des femelles de cette espece accouplees a des mâles differents dans diverses conditions d'elevage a permis de constater que les femelles accouplees a des mâles familiers (associees avant le sevrage) produisent significativement moins de decharges oestrales que les femelles accouplees a des mâles inconnus (eleves par des parents differents avant le sevrage), quel que soit le lien de parente. Donc, la cytologie vaginale utilisee comme indicateur de l'oestrus demontre que la familiarite acquise par association avant le sevrage peut retarder ou inhiber le premier oestrus chez les femelles du campagnol mandarin.
The role of dust in supplying nitrogen and phosphorus to the Southeast Mediterranean

This study assesses the role of the atmospheric dry fallout as a source of new nitrogen and phosphorus to the surface Levantine seawater. Leaching experiments of inorganic nitrogen (LINO3−, LINH4+) and phosphorus (LIPO4), using SE Mediterranean surface seawater, were performed on 41 aerosol (hereafter dust) samples collected on Whatman 41 filters between April 1996 and January 1999 at Tel Shikmona, Israel and on four desert‐event dust powder samples. A geometric mean of 2.8 and 3.2 mmol NO3− and NH4+ per gram of dust was leached by seawater from normal (background) dry deposition captured by the filters. Significantly lower amounts of IN with lower NH4+:NO3− ratios were leached from both the 1 2 filters and the dust powder sampled during dust events (mean of 0.18 and 0.02 mmol NO3− and NH4+ per gram of dust). Similarly, relatively lower values of LIPO4 were measured in desert type events, attributed to systematic decrease in IP solubility with increased rock/soil component. The calculated LINO3− and LINH4+ fluxes were 34 and 20 mmol m−2 yr−1 from normal dry deposition, 2.5 higher than the wet IN deposition, and twice the riverine input (23 mmol m−2 yr−1, Guerzoni et al.). This high ratio is due to the semiarid climate in this basin. The estimated flux of total dry IP was 1 mmol P m−2 yr−1, approximately 3 times higher than the input of wet IP and somewhat lower than the estimated riverine input (1.4 mmol m−2 yr−1, Guerzoni et al. 1999). The similarity of atmospheric and burial fluxes of P in the Levantine basin reinforces the hypothesis that the atmosphere is the dominant source of P to the sediments in the deeper parts of the basin. It was estimated that the leachable fluxes of IP and IN (dry 1 wet) can support between ~15 or ~70% (1–4 g C m−2 yr−1) of the new production in the SE Mediterranean, effective mainly during dust events and stratification. This input may contribute significantly to the relatively high N: P ratios in Levantine deep water (~27).
Immunocompetence and condition-dependent sexual advertisement in male house sparrows (Passer domesticus)

Summary1. We tested the condition-dependent hypothesis of sexual advertisement in housesparrows (Passer domesticus). Male house sparrows have a bib of black featherswhich serves as both a badge of social status and as a cue for female choice. Wemanipulated environmental conditions during the premoult period of juvenilehouse sparrows kept in outdoor aviaries. Birds were assigned to two treatments dif-fering in the amount of dietary proteins, which are known to a•ect the expressionof immune response in birds. We tested whether birds in the protein-rich grouphad better immune responses and developed larger bibs than birds reared on a pro-tein-poor diet. We also checked whether immune response was a predictor of survi-val and parasite resistance.2. Individuals with higher cellular immune response at capture had greater prob-ability to survive during the 3months of the experiment, and they had a higherprobability to recover from infection with Haemoproteus sp. (a blood parasite). Conversely, birds with high immunoglobulin concentrations at capture had ahigher probability of mortality.3. Birds on the protein-rich diet had a higher cellular immune response comparedto birds in the protein-poor treatment. Humoral immune response showed theopposite pattern, being higher for birds in the protein-poor treatment. We did notﬁnd any e•ect of food quality on the development of the badge, assessed as the sizeof the trait and its colour properties.4. In conclusion, our results support the view that immune defences are importantfor survival and parasite resistance in natural populations, and that they might becostly to produce. On the other hand, we did not ﬁnd support for the condition-dependent hypothesis of sexual advertisement, suggesting that the badge may notbe a costly trait to produce. However, badge size could reﬂect other aspects of con-dition. The kind of pigments involved in colour signals may be the key factor deter-mining the production costs of such traits.Key-words: immune response, immunoglobulins, parasite resistance, sexual signals,survival, T-cell response.Journal of Animal Ecology (1999) 68, 1225–1234Introduction
Distributions of key exposure factors controlling the uptake of xenobiotic chemicals in an estuarine food web

A critical evaluation of literature on the behavior, physiology, and ecology of common estuarine organisms was conducted in an attempt to develop probabilistic distributions for those variables that influence the uptake of xenobiotic chemicals from sediments, water, and food sources. The ranges, central tendencies, and distributions of several key parameter values were identified for dominant organisms from various trophic levels, including the polychaete Nereis virens, mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus), blue crab (Callinectes sapidus), and striped bass (Morone saxatilis). The exposure factors of interest included ingestion rate for various food sources, growth rate, respiration rate, excretion rate, body weight, wet/dry weight ratio, lipid content, chemical assimilation efficiency, and food assimilation efficiency. These exposure factors are critical to the execution of mechanistic food web models, which, when properly calibrated, can be used to estimate tissue concentrations of nonionic chemicals in aquatic organisms based on knowledge of the bioenergetics and feeding interactions within a food web and the sediment and water concentrations of chemicals. In this article we describe the use of distributions for various exposure factors in the context of a mechanistic bioaccumulation model that is amenable to probabilistic analyses for multiple organisms within a food web. A case study is provided which compares the estimated versus measured concentrations of five polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners in a representative food web from the tidal portion of the Passaic River, New Jersey, USA. The results suggest that the model is accurate within an order of magnitude or less in estimating the bioaccumulation of PCBs in this food web without calibration. The results of a model sensitivity analysis suggest that the input parameters which most influence the output of the model are both chemical and organism specific.
Refactoring from 9 to 5? What and When Employees and Volunteers Contribute to OSS

In this paper we characterize the contributions made by employees (developers that work for GitHub, the company) and volunteers (developers that use GitHub, the platform) to OSS projects maintained by GitHub (the company) on GitHub (the platform). By mining activities performed in five well-known company-owned OSS projects, we investigate what they do and when they do it. We found that the majority of the volunteers' contributions are related to reengineering (e.g., refactoring), while employees focus more on management (e.g., documentation). When it comes to the working hours, we found that contributions are made mostly from 9am-5pm, even for the volunteers.
Rapidly increasing population and to maintain living standard in society leads into vast growth in the market of motor vehicles over the last two decades in India. The public transport in both districts namely Dehradun and Haridwar in Uttarakhand comprises

In the present scenario, Road traffic accidents (RTAs) become an alarming problem over the globe as they leads to approx. 2.6% total loss of country’s gross domestic product (GDP). It is considered as one of the leading cause of mortalities, disabilities and morbidities due to road accidents in developing countries like India. To enable governments to take policy decisions on road safety, it is necessary that good research is undertaken to estimate the cost of accidents. This study will help government to take decisions while planning investment on road safety, facilities on roads, awareness signs and board etc. Meanwhile, estimation and evaluation of economic loss due to RTAs will help governments to frame policy and take important decisions within limited economic resources. Apart from humanitarian losses, there is increase in economic loss due to RTAs because most of the victims involved in accidents are from productive age groups of a society. The main objective of this study is to estimate the cost components of road accidents in two major districts namely Haridwar and Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India. The methodologies for such studies generally vary according to traffic pattern, number of accidents, black spots, population etc. This study makes use of an empirical approach as Cost benefit Analysis consist of Human Capital Approach for cost estimation which provides a vast understanding of the problem for hilly scenario. Secondary data were taken from Transport Research Wing, Government of Uttarakhand for all road accidents from 2016 to 2018 and primary data were collected from randomly selected victims through structured questionnaire and informed consent.
The fine structure of the pollen of Eupomatiaceae

Pollen of Eupomatia laurina R. Br. and of Eupomatia bennertii F. Muell. are described. The pollen of both species is subspheroidal with a zonizonasulculus (a band-like, encircling aperture at the equator). E. laurina has a less dense and more vacuolated pollen containing lipids. E. bennettii has a dense pollen with many starch granules. Differences occur in their wall layers, especially in the aperture, but basically both species have an atectate, psilate pollen of medium size.
The Measurement of University Students' Intention to Use Blended Learning System through Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) at Developed and Developing Regions: Lessons Learned from Taiwan and Indonesia

The present research exhibits the measurement of university students’ behavioural intention in using blended learning system. Two representative cases from a developed region and a developing region were assessed in the present measurement. Two well-known models, namely the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), were used as the measurement tools. The total of six hypotheses were tested. The result revealed the suitability of TAM-TPB model in interpreting the sample students behavioural intentions’ for both regions. The result also showed that for the Taiwanese data, five out of six hypotheses were accepted. For the Indonesian data, only four out of six hypotheses were exhibiting acceptable statistical measurement. Several recommendations, such as creating a more social-oriented blended learning system for developed countries was recommended. Utilising the favourable feeling shown by developing countries students to create a better blended learning system, was also highly suggested to be considered for improvement.