Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Verb bias and semantic persistence effects in L2 ambiguity resolution

To pinpoint difficulties in the second language (L2) processing of temporarily ambiguous sentences, this study investigates first language (L1) effects and effects of verb bias, i.e. frequency information about preferential verb complements, on semantic persistence effects in L2 sentence comprehension. We tested 32 L1 German and 32 L1 Turkish intermediate-to-advanced learners of L2 English as well as 17 English natives in eye-tracking during reading and off-line comprehension. In off-line comprehension, neither natives nor L2 learners show verb bias effects, suggesting that semantic persistence of initial misinterpretations arises independently of lexical preferences. In contrast, reading times show that all groups are immediately sensitive to verb bias on-line, with L1 differences in how strongly verb bias affects garden-pathing. Unlike natives, however, L2 learners do not use verb bias to overcome semantic persistence to complete reanalysis in later segments of the sentence. We argue that, in spite of their initial sensitivity to verb bias in modulating garden paths, L2 readers suffer from processing limitations that constrain their ability to retrieve and integrate multiple sources of information for reanalysis. Our study confirms that reanalysis constitutes a key area of native versus non-native differences in L2 sentence processing.
Segmentation of active international sport tourists by destination loyalty

ABSTRACT Destination loyalty has become a crucial concept in both academia and practice. Numerous studies have revealed the antecedents of destination loyalty to discriminate from other rival destinations. Although increasing destination loyalty is anticipated as the key milestone to achieve from both practical and academic purposes, previous research lacks understanding of the characteristics and profile of loyal travellers. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to segment the profile of active international sport tourists by their perceived destination loyalty and to reveal the differences among three segments of their destination loyalty: low, high, and extremely high. Using a paper–pencil questionnaire, data were collected from international tourists who visited the Niseko ski resort in Japan (N = 298). The results of the confirmatory factor analysis, chi-square test using residual analysis, and ANOVA with post hoc analysis implies that there were significant differences among the three segments. The more loyal tourists feel toward the destination, the more involved with and familiar with a sport they perceive themselves to be, and the more they have visited the destination previously. These results of this study contribute to destination marketing organizations, in particular for snow resorts, to understand their loyal customers, which will be the fundamental material to build their management strategy.
Visible emission spectra of thermographic phosphors under x-ray excitation

Thermographic phosphors have been employed for temperature sensing in challenging environments, such as on surfaces or within solid samples exposed to dynamic heating, because of the high temporal and spatial resolution that can be achieved using this approach. Typically, UV light sources are employed to induce temperature-sensitive spectral responses from the phosphors. However, it would be beneficial to explore x-rays as an alternate excitation source to facilitate simultaneous x-ray imaging of material deformation and temperature of heated samples and to reduce UV absorption within solid samples being investigated. The phosphors BaMgAl10O17:Eu (BAM), Y2SiO5:Ce, YAG:Dy, La2O2S:Eu, ZnGa2O4:Mn, Mg3F2GeO4:Mn, Gd2O2S:Tb, and ZnO were excited in this study using incident synchrotron x-ray radiation. These materials were chosen to include conventional thermographic phosphors as well as x-ray scintillators (with crossover between these two categories). X-ray-induced thermographic behavior was explored through the measurement of visible spectral response with varying temperature. The incident x-rays were observed to excite the same electronic energy level transitions in these phosphors as UV excitation. Similar shifts in the spectral response of BAM, Y2SiO5:Ce, YAG:Dy, La2O2S:Eu, ZnGa2O4:Mn, Mg3F2GeO4:Mn, and Gd2O2S:Tb were observed when compared to their response to UV excitation found in literature. Some phosphors were observed to thermally quench in the temperature ranges tested here, while the response from others did not rise above background noise levels. This may be attributed to the increased probability of non-radiative energy release from these phosphors due to the high energy of the incident x-rays. These results indicate that x-rays can serve as a viable excitation source for phosphor thermometry.
Did Negative News Regarding the Oxford AstraZeneca Vaccine end in Vaccine Hesitancy? A Repeated Cross-Section Event Study from the UK

Vaccine hesitancy is influenced by perceived risk and benefits. On March 15th 2021 various countries suspended use of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine against Covid-19 following deaths arising from blood clots. The story became headline news and online search querying vaccine safety increased. What happened to Covid-19 vaccine intentions? We were collecting relevant data at the time. Our survey asked UK adults if they intended to get the vaccine and measured their attitudes towards it. Data collection from respondents before coverage of the story reached its peak (March 12th-15th; n = 241) was compared with responses after the peak (March 17th; n = 305). Our data show no reductions in intentions or attitudes. Our study is uniquely positioned to analyse real-world responses and indicates that media coverage of this story did not reduce intention to take up the vaccine in the UK.
Rotation and Fertilization Effects on Soil Quality and Yields in a Long Term Field Experiment

Understanding the complex relationships among soil quality, crop productivity, and management practices would help to develop more sustainable agricultural production systems. In this study, we investigated the combined effects of crop rotations and fertilization treatments on soil quality and crop yield in a long term (about 50 years) field experiment. Crop rotations included continuous corn (Zea mays L.), a 2 year corn-wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) rotation, and a 9 year corn-wheat-corn-wheat-corn-wheat-alfalfa-alfalfa-alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) rotation. Fertilization treatments included control, mineral fertilization with urea and triple superphosphate, and amendment with cattle manure. Crop rotations and fertilization treatments were combined in a factorial experimental design with two replications for each rotation and six replications for each fertilization treatment. The continuous corn and the corn-wheat rotations had negative effects on the main soil quality indicators considered (carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) pools, microbial biomass and activity). On the contrary, the 9 year rotation had positive effects on soil organic carbon (+24%) and total nitrogen (+23%) but resulted in impoverished available P (−5%). Positive effects on soil microbial biomass (+37% of microbial biomass C and +23% of microbial biomass N) and activity (+19%) were also observed. Soil amendment with manure built up soil organic carbon (+13%), increased nutrient content (+31% of extractable C and +19% of extractable N), including that of available P (+47%), and stimulated microbial growth (+34%) and activity (+8%). As compared to manure, mineral fertilization increased the soil nutrient content to a lesser extent. This study showed that the combined use of rotations, including legume forage crops, and soil amendment with manure may help preserve soil quality and crop productivity in the long term.
COVID-19 Pneumonia, Diabetes and Alteration of the Biochemical Values of Blood: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Sf. Ioan Cel Nou” Emergency Hospital, Suceava, Romania. Department of Radiology, “Elena Doamna” Obstetrics and Gynecology University Hospital, Iasi, Romania. 3 Institute of Legal Medicine, Iasi, Romania. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Cuza Voda” Obstetrics and Gynecology University Hospital, Iasi, Romania. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Elena Doamna” Obstetrics and Gynecology University Hospital, Iasi, Romania.
Thermal Analysis and Kinetic Study of Indian Almond Leaf by Model-Free Methods

ABSTRACT Thermogravimetric analysis of Indian almond leaf was carried out at four different heating rates such as 5°C/min, 10°C/min, 15°C/min and 20°C/min. The kinetic study was performed using model free methods and the kinetic parameters were calculated by Kissinger, Friedman, KAS and FWO models. Thermogravimetric analysis resulted that the Indian almond leaf showed four stages of decomposition. Most of the mass loss occurred at stage II (188–460°C) owing to the simultaneous decomposition of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. The shifting of pyrolysis curve occurred with increase of heating rate due to the limitation of heat transfer. The rate of mass loss decreased while increasing the heating rate due to the presence of more inert content i.e. ash and less volatile matters. The mean activation energy calculated by Kissinger, Friedman, KAS, and FWO showed as 52.67, 45.53, 73.73, and 72.28 kJ/mole. The mean activation energy of different leaves reported by earlier researcher was compared with the activation energy of Indian almond leaf and concluded that it stick to the range of activation energy of reported leaves.
Production Constraints and Improvement Strategies of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) Genotypes for Drought Tolerance

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp. L) is an important leguminous crop largely grown by smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa for food security and animal feed. The objective of this study was to review the production constraints and improvement strategies of cowpea genotypes for drought tolerance. Data were analysed through use of literature review from various sources. In sub-Saharan Africa, cowpeas are produced mainly from West Africa, which accounts for 60% of worldwide production. A lot of pests and diseases affect cowpeas, and this often results in total crop loss. Through continuous improvement, many new cultivars are continually being identified and genetically characterised, and it is thus necessary to evaluate these new lines under different environments. There is a need for multidisciplinary collaborations among breeders and other relevant stakeholders such as farmer and extension workers because the improved cultivars must be according to the farmers preferred traits. Due to declining rainfall pattern in sub-Saharan Africa, there is an urgent requirement for cowpea breeding programmes that focus on developing varieties with short maturity, drought, pest, and disease tolerance. The present review discusses the constraints and improvement strategies of cowpea varieties for drought tolerance.
An Efficient Approach Based on Tuned Nanoionics to Maximize Memory Characteristics in Ag‐Based Devices

This study demonstrates a systematic approach to modulate the oxygen vacancy concentration within a Ag/HfO2/Pt based resistive switching device and control the volatile and nonvolatile switching through tuned nanoionics. A synergistic effect of oxygen vacancy formation and metal ion migration generates several shades of storage behavior in the same matrices. An optimized vacancy engineering methodology is investigated to control the anatomy of the filament formation after pre‐forming process from 100 pA to 10 µA. More specifically, the impact of pre‐forming driven oxygen vacancy path is identified, which successfully produces volatile threshold switching and nonvolatile memory switching at the same compliance. The nature of the filamentary switching is modeled through physical analysis and density function theory calculations. Pre‐forming driven oxygen vacancy concentration modulation is guiding the formation of Ag‐based hybrid filament and conducts the switching process. As a result, the device shows highly stable memory switching with tunable operating conditions, multiple storage levels and successfully overcome the endurance/retention dilemma with high endurance of >108 and >1‐day retention at 150 °C. This work establishes the possibility to design highly efficient metal‐filament based devices through proper tuning of nanoionics, which can fulfil the need of futuristic devices.
Time Since Rewetting Defines Vegetation Composition and Carbon Dioxide Fluxes on Former Milled Peatlands - Comparison With Undisturbed Bogs

Rewetting is the most common restoration approach for milled peatlands in Europe, with the aim of creating suitable conditions for the development of peatland specific plant cover and carbon accumulation. Therefore, it is important to determine if time since rewetting is pivotal for milled peatlands to become functionally and structurally similar to their undisturbed counterparts. We investigate the temporal succession in rewetted peatlands in Estonia by a chronosequence of 4, 15, and 35 years before the measurements. Plant functional type (PFT) cover and biomass, bryophyte production and CO2 fluxes were measured on two milled peatlands, as well as undisturbed bogs adjacent to milled peatlands. Differences in vegetation composition and CO2 fluxes between the sites were greater for rewetted than undisturbed sites. The most recently rewetted site was mainly covered in bare peat and Eriophorum vaginatum and was a CO2 source. On the rewetted site of 15 years, Sphagnum was present in addition to ombrotrophic sedges, and in the rewetted site of 35 years, lawn-hollow microtopography is starting to develop with various PFTs. Both of these sites were CO2 sinks. Lawn Sphagnum was abundant on the two older rewetted sites, and was connected with CO2 sink functioning in the rewetted sites. Still, hummock Sphagnum species, which were present in undisturbed bogs, were absent from all of the rewetted sites. With time, CO2 fluxes, microtopography and vegetation develop after rewetting in the direction of undisturbed bogs, while vegetation composition still differs from the reference sites even 35 years after rewetting.
Green Biosynthesized Selenium Nanoparticles by Cinnamon Extract and Their Antimicrobial Activity and Application as Edible Coatings with Nano-Chitosan

Bioactive nanocomposites were constructed, containing chitosan (Cht), extracted from shrimps’ wastes, and transformed into nanoparticles (NPs) using ionic-gelation. Selenium NPs (Se-NPs) were phytosynthesized using cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) bark extract (CIE), characterized and evaluated with Cht-NPs as antimicrobial composites against bacterial food-borne pathogens “Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria monocytogenes” and as potential edible coating (EC) basements. The CIE-phytosynthesized Se-NPs had well-distributed and spherical shapes with 23.2 nm mean diameter. The CIE, CIE/Se-NPs, and innovative CIE/Se/Cht-NP composites exhibited distinguished antibacterial actions toward the entire screened pathogens; CIE/Se/Cht-NP composite was significantly the most potent. The formulated ECs from CIE/Se/Cht-NP nanocomposites had matching antibacterial manner, which was strengthened with CIE/Se-NP percentage increments. Scanning micrographs indicated the attachment of CIE/Se-NPs to bacterial cells to cause their complete lysis and death after 10 h of exposure. CIE/Se/Cht-NP composites are proposed as effectual control agents toward food-borne pathogens using efficient biological carriers and eco-friendly phytosynthesis protocol.
Polycrystalline and Single Crystalline NCM Cathode Materials—Quantifying Particle Cracking, Active Surface Area, and Lithium Diffusion

Representatives of the LixNi1−y−zCoyMnzO2 (NCM) family of cathode active materials (CAMs) with high nickel content are becoming the CAM of choice for high performance lithium‐ion batteries. In addition to high specific capacities, these layered oxides offer high specific energy, power, and long cycle life. Recently, the development of single crystalline particles of NCM has enabled even longer lifetimes due to achieving higher Coulomb efficiencies. In this work, the performance of NCM materials with different particle size and morphology is explored in terms of key parameters such as the charge‐transfer resistance and the chemical diffusion coefficient of lithium. Cracking of secondary particles leads to liquid electrolyte infiltration in the CAM, lowering the charge‐transfer resistance and increasing the apparent diffusion coefficient by more than one order of magnitude. In contrast, these effects are not observed with single‐crystalline NCM, which is mostly free of cracks after cycling. Consequently, severe kinetic limitations are observed when cycling large “uncracked” secondary particles at low potential and capacity. These results demonstrate that cracking of polycrystalline particles of NCM is not solely detrimental but helps to achieve high reversible capacities and rate capability. Thus, optimization of CAMs size and morphology is decisive to achieve good rate capability with high‐nickel NCMs.
Creative industries project financing through crowdfunding: the roles of fund target & backers

Abstract Many SME entrepreneurs in the creative industries have difficulty funding creative projects because of limited access to banks or venture capital. Crowdfunding can be an alternative for financing creative projects such as art, cultural events, books, and film projects. This research explores crowdfunding as an alternative funding for entrepreneurs with a focus on fundraising targets and the role of backers. Multiple regression and probit methods are used to test the empirical significance of fundraising through crowdfunding gradually. The results showed that the value raised in the first week and supporters significantly correlated positively in determining the success of financing creative projects through crowdfunding. The number of fundraising targets has a significant negative effect on crowdfunding success. Proponents of creative projects play a significant positive role in driving success in the funding phase by 25%–75% in raising funds through crowdfunding. But project supporters are no longer important if the project has reached 100% or more of the fundraising target. The backer role is very significant at the level of fund collection when it reaches 25%, 50% and 75% of the fundraising target. Creative entrepreneurs also must be careful in setting targeted funds because it impacts the overall fundraising success.
On the Instantaneous Angular Jerk Estimation in the Time-Frequency Domain

In this letter, a novel angular jerk estimator (AJE) in the time-frequency (TF) domain is proposed. For this purpose, the properties of the short-time Fourier transform (STFT) are taken into consideration, which allows for computation of the instantaneous angular jerk for each time and frequency $\boldsymbol{(t,\omega)}$ coordinate. Additionally, apart from the introduced AJE, two novel forms of the instantaneous chirp rate (CR) and the instantaneous frequency (IF) estimators are provided, which is an improvement on the capabilities of these tools when compared to approaches existing in the literature. The proposed estimators are presented in analytic form, tested from the perspective of their precision, and compared to the Cramer-Rao Lower Bound (CRLB) as well as validated under numerical experiments.
Acaricidal activity of Mentha suaveolens subsp. timija, Chenopodium ambrosioides, and Laurus nobilis essential oils, and their synergistic combinations against the ectoparasitic bee mite, Varroa destructor (Acari: Varroidae)

The main objective of the present study was to evaluate under laboratory conditions the toxicity of essential oils (EOs) extracted from Mentha suaveolens L. subsp. timija (Briq.) Harley, Chenopodium ambrosioides L. and Laurus nobilis L. against Varroa destructor adult mites. Also, various combinations were prepared by mixing equal concentrations of any two and all three studied EOs and used to evaluate the combinational acaricidal effects of mixtures against adult Varroa mites. The GC/MS analysis indicated that the main chemical compounds of M. suaveolens subsp. timija EO were menthone (40.42%) and pulegone (19.22%), whereas C. ambrosioides EO is rich in α-terpinene (34.08%), isoascaridol (13.6%), p-cymene (10.95%), thymol (10.26%), ascaridole (10.25%) and carvacrol (7.75%). L. nobilis EO is mainly composed with 1,8-cineol (37.5%) and linalool (14.09%). The fumigation bioassays showed that the three tested EOs showed varroacidal toxicity, whereas no mortality has been observed on honey bees that were exposed to their higher concentrations. The highest acaricidal potency was observed with M. suaveolens subsp. timija (LD50 = 3.360 µl/Lair and LD90 = 7.300 µl/Lair). According to the combination index (CI) calculated by CompuSyn software, the ternary blend combination exhibited high synergistic effectiveness with a CI value of 0.343. All combinations have shown favorable dose reduction with DRI indexes greater than one. Our findings suggest that EO combinations tested could present a promising solution to reduce the effective doses of EOs and constitute a promising alternative to synthetic acaricides.
Bridge displacement estimation by fusing accelerometer and strain gauge measurements

For large‐span bridge monitoring, displacement measurement is essential. However, it remains challenging to accurately estimate bridge displacement. When displacement is calculated by the double integration of acceleration, a low‐frequency drift appears in the estimated displacement. Displacement can also be estimated from strains based on the Euler–Bernoulli beam theory. However, prior knowledge of the mode shapes and the neutral axis location of the target bridge are required for strain–displacement transformation. In this study, we propose a finite impulse response filter‐based displacement estimation technique by fusing strain and acceleration measurements. First, the relationship between displacement and strain is established, and the parameter associated with this strain–displacement transformation is estimated from strain and acceleration measurements using a recursive least squares algorithm. Next, the low‐frequency displacement estimated from the strain measurements and the high‐frequency displacement obtained from an acceleration measurement are combined for high‐fidelity displacement estimation. The feasibility of the proposed technique was examined via a series of numerical simulations, a lab‐scale experiment, and a field test. The uniqueness of this study lies in the fact that the displacement and the unknown parameter in strain–displacement transformation are estimated simultaneously and the accuracy of displacement estimation is improved in comparison with those of previous data fusion techniques.