Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
in L2 learners' academic writing : a case study of master's theses by Czech students compared to L1 students' writings

Writer-reader interaction is considered a crucial component of a well-written academic text, largely achieved through the use of metadiscourse resources. This paper investigates the frequency and range of ‘attitude markers’, i.e. one of the five sub-categories of interactional metadiscourse resources (Hyland and Tse 2004) in two learner corpora composed of Czech (L2) and native speaker (L1) university students’ academic texts. The survey has shown that re-search-oriented attitude markers are preferred over topic-oriented ones in both corpora, with the former being used mainly to evaluate the writer’s own research and its findings. Attitudinal adjectives were identified as the most frequent and most varied category in both corpora, followed by attitudinal nouns, adverbs, and verbs in their respective order. The results also in - dicate some interesting differences, for example, that Czech students, unlike L1 students, tend to overuse attitudinal adverbs in the sentence initial position. By highlighting the similarities and differences in the use of attitude markers in L2 and L1 student writing, the study may be of value to both students and their tutors and help to raise students’ awareness of the dialogic and interactional character of academic texts.
Phanerozoic magma underplating and crustal growth beneath the North China Craton

Evidence for post‐Archaean crustal growth via magma underplating is largely based on U–Pb dating of zircons from granulite‐facies xenoliths. However, whether the young zircons from such xenoliths are genetically related to magma underplating or to anatexis remains controversial. The lower‐crustal xenoliths carried by igneous rocks in the Chifeng and Ningcheng (North China Craton) have low SiO2 and high MgO, indicating that parental melts of their protoliths were of unambiguous mantle origin. The xenoliths contain abundant magmatic zircons with late‐Palaeozoic ages, and have more radiogenic zircon Hf‐isotope compositions and hence younger model ages than ancient crustal magmas and the “reworking array” of the basement rocks. Our data suggest that the granulites represent episodic magmatic underplating to the lower crust of this craton in Phanerozoic time. Considering the observation that regional lowermost crust (~5 km) is mafic and characterized by Phanerozoic zircons, this work reports an example of post‐Archaean crustal growth via magma underplating.
Laser-Induced Intracellular Delivery: Exploiting Gold-Coated Spiky Polymeric Nanoparticles and Gold Nanorods under Near-Infrared Pulses for Single-Cell Nano-Photon-Poration

This study explores the potential of laser-induced nano-photon-poration as a non-invasive technique for the intracellular delivery of micro/macromolecules at the single-cell level. This research proposes the utilization of gold-coated spiky polymeric nanoparticles (Au-PNPs) and gold nanorods (GNRs) to achieve efficient intracellular micro/macromolecule delivery at the single-cell level. By shifting the operating wavelength towards the near-infrared (NIR) range, the intracellular delivery efficiency and viability of Au-PNP-mediated photon-poration are compared to those using GNR-mediated intracellular delivery. Employing Au-PNPs as mediators in conjunction with nanosecond-pulsed lasers, a highly efficient intracellular delivery, while preserving high cell viability, is demonstrated. Laser pulses directed at Au-PNPs generate over a hundred hot spots per particle through plasmon resonance, facilitating the formation of photothermal vapor nanobubbles (PVNBs). These PVNBs create transient pores, enabling the gentle transfer of cargo from the extracellular to the intracellular milieu, without inducing deleterious effects in the cells. The optimization of wavelengths in the NIR region, coupled with low laser fluence (27 mJ/cm2) and nanoparticle concentrations (34 µg/mL), achieves outstanding delivery efficiencies (96%) and maintains high cell viability (up to 99%) across the various cell types, including cancer and neuronal cells. Importantly, sustained high cell viability (90–95%) is observed even 48 h post laser exposure. This innovative development holds considerable promise for diverse applications, encompassing drug delivery, gene therapy, and regenerative medicine. This study underscores the efficiency and versatility of the proposed technique, positioning it as a valuable tool for advancing intracellular delivery strategies in biomedical applications.
Trends in HIV and AIDS Prevalence in Botswana: Results from Botswana AIDS Impact Survey 2013 (BAIS IV)

This paper used the results of the three Botswana AIDS Impact Studies (2004, 2008 and 2013) to illustrate the rural-urban and age patterns in HIV and AIDS prevalence in Botswana. The results show higher HIV prevalence in the rural (23.7%) than urban (18.5%) areas and very strong correlation (r = 0.99) in the rural-urban attitudes to HIV testing, circumcision and general attitude towards people living with HIV and AIDS. Furthermore, the results show that there has been a downward trend in HIV prevalence from the 2004 BAIS II, 2008 BAIS III and 2013 BAIS IV for Gaborone, Orapa, Jwaneng and Sowa districts and consistent upward trend in Borolong, Central Mahalapye, Kgalagadi North, Central Boteti, Kweneng East and Kgatleng districts. The effect of HIV and AIDS-related deaths and new infections was more prevalent between 2013 BAIS IV and 2004 BAIS II periods and least between 2008 BAIS III and 2004 BAIS II. The effect among locations is also highest (0.64) between 2013 and 2004, and lowest between 2013 and 2008 BAIS periods. Attitude of the population towards people living with HIV and AIDS is positive. The paper advocates for intensified interventions in the younger age groups as consistent reduction in HIV prevalence in these younger age groups would mean an overall reduction in prevalence over the years .
Propagation of Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) Using Cross-Cuttings under a Controlled Environment

Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is a valuable geophyte plant and one of the most expensive spices in the world. Recently, the demand for saffron spice has increased in worldwide markets owing to its enormous application and value. However, the production of saffron is limited by the vegetative propagation technique and the limited number of high-quality corms planted. Furthermore, climatic changes, notably increasing temperatures, negatively influence saffron multiplication and growth. Thus, it is important to develop alternative cultivation and propagation techniques for saffron under a controlled environment, which could ensure an increase in saffron yield and avoid the negative impact of climatic changes. The present study aimed to develop an alternative method for vegetative propagation of Crocus sativus under controlled conditions. The effect of different cross-cuttings, including basal cuttings (BCs) and top-to-bottom cuttings (CTBs), was evaluated on shoot, leaf, flower, and daughter corm production. All the growth parameters examined were influenced by the cutting treatment applied. The results showed that the highest number of shoots formed was obtained by BCs and CTBs, with an average of 6.68 and 5.47 shoots per corm, respectively, compared to the control with an average of 2.70 shoots per corm. The cutting treatment positively affected the formation of daughter corms in which, the high mean number of corms recorded was obtained by the BC treatment. Meanwhile, the lower size of the daughter corms was obtained after the cross-cutting treatment. This is the first report that provides an alternative propagation for saffron using a controlled environment, which could help to improve the production of saffron.
Productivity of the Great Egret (Ardea alba) and Grey Heron (A. cinerea) in mixed heronries in Poland and behavioral response of fledglings to a drone

Productivity of avian populations provides important demographic information helpful in understanding population dynamics and processes involved during species expansions. We tested the hypothesis that the productivity of the two species of ecologically similar herons that breed together in mixed heronries is related to their expansion status. We expected the expansive species, colonizing the new area and increasing in numbers, to outperform the native species, whose abundance is stable. We studied the breeding success of two herons in mixed colonies in eastern Poland in 2018: Great Egret (Ardea alba) (an expansive species, increasing breeding range and population size), and the Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) (a native species, stable breeding population). Mean productivity (number of young per nest) was similar for Great Egret and Grey Heron and appeared correlated to each other in mixed heronries. Productivity of both species was unrelated to the colony size, but Grey Heron tended to have higher productivity as the proportion of Great Egret nests in the colony increased. Similar productivity of both species can be explained by the sufficient food resources coupled with the low level of competition. The two species differed significantly in their response of young to the approaching drone: the mean probability of a young Great Egret adopting an upright display was 0.47 compared to only 0.18 in a young Grey Heron (P=0.025). This was unlikely an age-related difference as the fledglings of both species were at a similar stage of development, but may represent some kind of a species-specific trait. Our research once again shows that UAVs allow a quick and non-invasive study of the size of the breeding populations and reproductive performance of herons, egrets and other wading birds.
Effect of Triazole and Strobilurin Fungicide Against Alternaria Leaf and Pod Blight (Alternaria raphani) in Radish (Raphanus sativus var. Mino Early)

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of Triazole and Strobilurin fungicides on Alternaria leaf and pod blight (Alternaria raphani) of radish (Raphanus sativus var. Mino Early). The experiment lasted from November 2021 to March 2022 following a completely randomized block design (RCBD) with three replications. Seven treatments were evaluated, including T1 (Propiconazole 25% EC), T2 (Tebuconazole 25% WDG), T3 (Azoxystrobin 23% SC), T4 (Propiconazole 13.9% + Difenoconazole 13.9% EC), T5 (Azoxystrobin 11% + Tebuconazole 18.3% SC), T6 (Tebuconazole 50% + Trifloxystrobin 25% WP), and T7 (control). Analysis of the data showed that T4 had the lowest disease severity in radish leaves with a mean value of 22.67±1.76. T1 followed closely with a mean disease severity of 27.11±1.16, while T3 had a mean severity of 29.67±1.73. Regarding pod infection, T4 also showed the most effective control with a mean infection level of 17.56±1.76. This was followed by T1 with a mean infection level of 19.78±1.16 and T3 with a mean infection level of 21.33±1.73. Overall, the results indicate that the application of T4 (Propiconazole 13.9% + Difenoconazole 13.9% EC) significantly reduced disease severity in both radish leaves and pods, demonstrating its efficacy in managing Alternaria leaf and pod blight. These results suggest that T4 may be a suitable fungicide treatment option for the control of Alternaria blight in radish crops. Further research and field trials are required to validate these results and to investigate the long-term effects of treatments on radish growth, yield, and quality.
Effects of Planting Modes on Yam (Dioscorea Rotundata, Poir and Dioscorea Alata L) Vine Cuttings for Mini Tubers Production

This study was designed to evaluate the effects of planting modes on mini tubers formation from vine cuttings obtained from white yam (D. rotundata) and the greater yam (D. alata ). Four-month old vine cuttings obtained from two local cultivars (krenglA¨ and kponan) of D.rotundata and two improved varieties (C18 and 140) of D.alata were planted following three planting modes in planting holes containing carbonized rice husk and arranged in ridges. The three planting modes were: 2nH (2-node cutting planted horizontally with the 2 nodes buried), 2nV (2-node cutting planted vertically with 1-node buried) and 3nH (3-node cutting planted horizontally with 2 nodes buried). The vine cuttings were sampled for survival percentage 14 DAP (days after planting), for number of new stems (%), for number and weight (g) of mini tubers 150 DAP. There were significant (P < 0, 05) differences in number and weight of tubers produced on vine cuttings of krenglA¨, kponan, 140 and C18. The number and weight of tubers obtained from vine cuttings planted out according to mode 3nH were significantly different (P < 0.05) from others planting modes.
Effect of different salinity levels on some physiological parameters of the blood of juvenile common carp fish Cyprinus carpio L.

The current study was designed to evaluate the effect of different salinity levels on the juveniles of the common carp (Cyprinus carpio L). the fishes were acclimatized and fed on commercial fish diet for one week before starting the experiment which lasted for 75 days. Four salinity levels were used as 5 NaCl, 10 NaCl and 15 NaCl PSU in treatment 1, 2 and 3 while the salinity level of control was 2.5 NaCl PSU. Each treatment was replicated thrice with 8 fishes. Other parameters such as sodium ions were significantly higher and the potassium were significantly lower in 5 NaCl, 10 NaCl and 15 NaCl PSU compared to the control Group. While the highest value for total protein and globulin was in salinity 2.5 PSU and the highest value for albumin in salinity (15) PSU, while cholesterol and glucose concentrations were the highest values at salinity 2.5 with regard to enzymes ALT and AST, the highest value were in salinity 15 PSU.
Root hemiparasites suppress invasive alien clonal plants: evidence from a cultivation experiment

Alien invasive plants threaten biodiversity by rapid spread and competitive exclusion of native plant species. Especially, tall clonal invasives can rapidly attain strong dominance in vegetation. Root-hemiparasitic plants are known to suppress the growth of clonal plants by the uptake of resources from their below-ground organs and reduce their abundance. However, root-hemiparasites’ ability to interact with alien clonal plants has not yet been tested. We explored the interactions between native root-hemiparasitic species, Melampyrum arvense and Rhinanthus alectorolophus and invasive aliens, Solidago gigantea and Symphyotrichum lanceolatum . We investigated the haustorial connections and conducted a pot experiment. We used seeds from wild hemipa-rasite populations and those cultivated in monostands of the invasive plants to identify a possible selection of lineages with increased compatibility with these alien hosts. The hemiparasitic species significantly suppressed the growth of the invasive plants. Melampyrum inflicted the most substantial growth reduction on Solidago (78%), followed by Rhinanthus (49%). Both hemiparasitic
East African Journal of Arts and Social Sciences

The institutionalisation of children has been seen to increase the risk for emotional, developmental, cognitive and attachment disorders later in life. Transitioning out of institutionalised care and integrating into the outside world has been found to be a difficult experience for many care leavers. Some of them are not prepared to face the outside world, feel neglected and lack a support system. Some may experience socio-emotional distress owing to a lack of necessary social skills in life outside the institutions. The study purposed to assess the psychological wellbeing of adults who were raised in children’s homes and other institutional care in Kenya and had since transitioned out. The descriptive survey design was employed to undertake the quantitative data with a census approach used to sample 294 (F =154, M = 140) respondents. Ryff’s scale of psychological wellbeing was the adapted research
INDIVIDUALS’ PERCEPTUAL RETUNING PREDICTS ARTICULATORY ACCOMMODATION: IMPLICATIONS FOR SOUND CHANGE

Individuals differ from each other, as speakers and listeners, in the extent to which they adapt to unfamiliar speech patterns. The hypothesis that listener-specific perceptual adjustments for an unfamiliar pattern are reflected in the listener-turned-speaker’s imitation of the pattern was tested for raising of English /æ/ before /ɡ/ (e.g., [beɪɡ] bag but [bæk] back ). For 37 American English participants, perceptual learning and spontaneous imitation of raised /æ(ɡ)/ were assessed using eye-tracking and ultrasound imaging, respectively. Results support the hypothesis that perceptual retuning predicts, in part, articulatory accommodation: the more an individual perceptually adapted to raised /æ(ɡ)/ (e.g., used [beɪɡ] to rapidly disambiguate back - bag trials), the more that individual imitated raised /æ(ɡ)/. These findings are viewed as relevant to the spread of (coarticulatorily motivated) change in that community members who attend particularly closely to innovative interlocutors’ novel forms may be especially likely to converge towards those forms in their subsequent productions.
KADA KISEONIK PRESTAJE DA BUDE LEK? WHEN DOES THE OXYGEN CEASE TO BE A REMEDY?

Oxygen has been considered a potentially life-saving drug in life-threatening situations for decades. It is crucial in the perioperative period, where it is used daily by millions of surgical patients of all ages. Iatrogenic hyperoxia is as damaging as hypoxia, especially in young children and neonates. There is a growing awareness about this problem. Significant discoveries about the effect of oxygen on oxidative stress and cellular damage due to oxygen intoxication must contribute to developing hyperoxia monitoring, oxygen dosing guidelines, and revising the safe limits of hyperoxia. The consequences of hyperoxia can be irreversible damage to the vulnerable organs (lungs and brain), which mainly affects developing organisms.
Determination of spatial distribution of ammonia levels in broiler houses.

Ammonia concentration plays a significant role in broiler performance. High concentration of ammonia impairs the immune system and increases cases of respiratory disease in birds. Ammonia concentration can be reduced using various chemical additives such as zeolite. In the present study, spatial variability of ammonia concentration was investigated and analysed in two broiler houses. In House 1 (H1) sawdust only was used as litter material whilst sawdust used together with zeolite was used in House 2 (H2). Ammonia concentration measurements were taken from 21 points in each of the broiler houses. The readings were recorded at on a weekly basis using birds' height as height measurement bases. In order to create spatial distribution maps, Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW) and Radial Basis Functions (RBF) methods were used and analysed. The performances of these techniques were assessed by using validation test methods (root mean square error (RMSE) and mean absolute error (MAE)) with the best performing method (lowest RMSE and MAE) being selected for creating ammonia spatial distribution maps. The results indicated that spatial ammonia distribution is more uniform in H2 compared to H1. It was also observed that ammonia levels were lower in H2 than H1. The presence of zeolite as a litter addition can be attributed to study findings positively affected the broiler performance. It was considered that using zeolite with sawdust as litter material significantly reduced ammonia concentration. In H1, higher ammonia concentrations of greater than 25 ppm were recorded near ventilation fans and at the centre of the house. Because of this it is recommended to install additional fans at middle of the house for remove harmful ammonia.
NON-NATIVE TONE PERCEPTION – WHEN MUSIC OUTWEIGHS LANGUAGE EXPERIENCE

This study examined how language (e.g., bilingualism, L2) and music (e.g., years of practising) experiences improve lexical tone perception. A substantial number of 532 participants from L1 Mandarin, L1 non-tone, bilingual L1 non-tone & L2 non-tone, and bilingual L1 non-tone & L2 tone backgrounds were tested on their discrimination of Mandarin tones. Results revealed that neither bilingual nor second (tone or non-tone) language experience affects novel tone perception. However, listeners’ years of music training predicted perception outcomes regardless of listeners’ language backgrounds. These results indicate 1) learning a tone language as L2 does not guarantee perceptual advantage of non-native tones, even after years of learning; 2) a myth of “bilingual advantage” in tone perception, challenging the bilingual enhanced acoustic sensitivity hypothesis in the perceptual domain; and 3) learning a musical instrument helps with tone perception across language groups, exhibiting a cross-domain effect in the processing of linguistic and musical pitch.
Attributing icing precipitations trend (1951-2098) in the context of climate change in Europe

Freezing rain and wet snow, both mentioned as “icing precipitation” in this study, are wintertime climatic events that can lead severe damages for environment and societies. At the European scale, only few studies focused on these climatic events, in comparison with North America. The objectives of this study is (i) to apprehend the actual and future spatio-temporal variability of the “high-impact Icing Precipitation favourable Days” (IPDs), and (ii) to explore the dominating climate variable controlling the IPD trends between the temperature (thermal conditions) and the precipitation (vulnerability conditions), because of the uncertainties of the future projections. Daily minimum, maximum near surface temperatures and accumulated precipitations from the E-OBS (historical period; 1951-2018) and from the Euro-Cordex initiative (future simulations; 2026-2098) are used to apprehend the IPDs. For the historical period, no clear trend emerges, either for the IPDs evolution and for the influential climate variable. For both the near- and long-term horizons, models simulate a decrease in the frequencies of IPDs that should affect almost all of Europe, except for the Scandinavia region. In addition, there would be a strong contribution of the temperature, climatic variable well simulated by regional models, as the most influential climatic conditions in the future variability of the IPDs.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF CANONICAL PROPORTION CONTINUES PAST TODDLERHOOD

A key aspect of the development of speech production, the emergence of vocalizations that combine consonants and vowels, is captured by a measure called canonical proportion (CP). Yet this measure has mainly been studied among children under 12 months old learning English. We study CP in naturalistic speech in a cross-linguistic sample of 129 children aged 1 to 72 months. We show that children’s CP continues to grow well after 12 months, and that CP development may vary cross-linguistically/culturally. This study has implications for how we conceptualize and monitor the development of speech production and showcases how coarse, semi-automated approaches can be used to study cross-cultural speech development from natural production data.