Academic authors employ various language means in order to construct and disseminate knowledge, to sound persuasive, to undergird their arguments, but also to seek agreement within the academic community. The aim of this paper is to analyse a selected group of rhetorical strategies used by Anglophone and Czech authors of Linguistics research articles (RAs) and research theses (RTs). These strategies are assumed to vary in both academic genres since the position of their writers within the academic community differs. Even though authors of RAs have to meet reviewers’ requirements in order for their article to be published, so their relative position may be lower than that of the reviewers’, authors of RAs may have the same “absolute status” as the reviewers may be just as expert in that particular field. By contrast, the status of research students is lower than that of their evaluators both in relative and absolute terms. Even though students may gain some learned authority in presenting an original contribution, their assessors command both learned and institutional authority, hence are endowed with a higher status. Apart from comparing rhetorical strategies used in RAs and RTs, the paper focuses on cross-cultural differences between Anglophone and Czechacademic writing traditions.

Metadiscourse has been extensively studied in various genres, e.g. newspaper discourse, casual conversation, textbooks, advertisements, and research articles. Studies focusing on metadiscourse in research articles often omit analysing abstracts and traditionally investigate research articles only according to the IMRAD structure. This paper explores metadiscoursive elements in Czech and English research article abstracts in philosophy and medicine at two levels of analysis, interlingual and interdisciplinary. The aim is to investigate whether scientific writers of research article abstracts identify more with their cultural identity or whether their identity is rather discipline-specific. The theoretical framework adopted in this study is a tax-onomy of metadiscourse markers proposed by Dafouz-Milne (2008) since it takes into account a functional differentiation of metadiscourse elements. The interlingual analysis reveals no major cultural distinctions, the interdisciplinary analysis proves that metadiscourse is more prevalent in humanities. Thus, we can conclude that academic writers of RA abstracts identify more with their disciplinary culture.

Participants in a conversational exchange may express their viewpoints in a number of ways, or put more precisely, they use various ways of expressing their viewpoints. When employing phrases such as It is likely that ..., perhaps ..., actually ..., it is possible that..., and I think that ..., etc., speakers modify the meaning, or the illocutionary force, of the utterances they make. This feature, which has been called ‘modality’, is present, among others, in the genre of political interview and serves various functions. The present contribution offers an inquiry into the linguistic means that politicians utilize to modify their involvement in, or their detachment from, the proposition and in this way they alter the meaning of their statements.

The ground source of drinking water for the village of Skalice nad Svitavou is located 35 km North of Brno (Czech Republic). An evaluation of developments in selected indicators of water quality in this groundwater source in the period 2013–2017 was the essence of this work. The data was provided by Vodárenská akciová společnost, a.s., i.e. the operator. At the same time, annual monitoring of water quality in the Úmoří stream, which flows through the catchment area and can affect the quality of groundwater, was carried out. Water samples were collected in 2017–2018 from 6 profiles on the Úmoří stream and its two tributaries. Raw water from the groundwater source does not meet the requirements for drinking water in some indicators and needs to be treated. Monitoring of surface water shows that the most problematic indicator is total phosphorus, the concentration of which exceeded limit values on all sampling profiles. The highest values were found in the tributaries, where total phosphorus concentrations exceeded 10 mg∙dm–3. There are 12 municipalities in the area of interest, only two of which have their own sewage treatment plant. It is clear from the results that wastewater in some municipalities is discharged directly into the recipient and is the cause of above-limit concentrations of both phosphorus and nitrogen. Intensively used agricultural land is another major source of pollution. Based on an analysis of sources of pollution, corrective measures have been proposed to improve the quality of surface and groundwater in the area.

Trueness and precision of a method for determining the water content (%) of food and chemical products based on infrared radiation with a wavelength in the range (2.70÷7.21 μm) was evaluated. The most accurate measurements for food products were obtained when the heat source was a radiant heater with a radiation wavelength of 7.21 μm, a trueness deviation of 0.01%. When heated with radiation with wavelengths (from 3.32 μm to 7.21 μm), the trueness of the measurement ranged (0.03% ÷0.13%) for chemical products. The shortest analysis time for food products was found when the analysis was carried out using an IR source with a wavelength of 7.21 μm, while for chemical products, a heat source with a wavelength of 2.70÷7.21 μm was optimal. According to the results of the analysis, the use of IR radiation with a wavelength range of 3.32÷7.21 μm is an alternative for accurate measurements.

Abstract Chromosome numbers for 13 species of Hieracium L. s.str. from Bulgaria, Macedonia, Poland and Romania are given and their metaphase plates are illustrated. Chromosome numbers are published for the first time for H. djimilense s.lat. 2n=3x=27, H. fiekii R. Uechtr. 2n=3x=27, H. glabrescens (F. W. Schultz) Murr 2n=3x=27, H. juranomorphum Zahn 2n=3x=27, H. sparsiflorum subsp. sparsiceps Zahn 2n=3x=27 and H. sparsum subsp. naegelianiforme Behr & Zahn 2n=3x=27.

Abstract Chromosome numbers for 12 Hieracium s.str. species from Bulgaria, Macedonia, Montenegro, Poland, Romania and Serbia are given and their metaphase plates are illustrated. Chromosome numbers are published for the first time for H. albinum Fries 2n=4x=36, H. bukovicae Rohlena & Zahn; 2n=3x=27, H. retyezatense subsp. subatratiforme Neičeff & Zahn 2n=4x=36, H. velenovskyi Freyn 2n=3x=27, as well as two undescribed species belonging to the H. bohatschianum agg. 2n=4x=36 and H. nigrescens agg. 2n=4x=36 and a hybrid between H. naegelianum Pančić and H. bifidum s.lat. 2n=4x=36.

Chromosome numbers for 15 taxa of Hieracium L. s.str. from Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia, Poland, Romania

and Slovakia are given and their metaphase plates are illustrated. Chromosome numbers are published for the

first time for H. vagneri Pax s.str. (2n = 4x = 36), H. wiesbaurianum subsp. herculanum Zahn (2n = 4x = 36),

H. wiesbaurianum subsp. kelainephes Nyár. & Zahn (2n = 3x = 27), as well as for two undescribed species

of hybrid origin between H. umbellatum L. and H. wiesbaurianum s.lat. (2n = 3x = 27), and between H. sparsum

Friv. and H. schmidtii s.lat. (2n = 3x = 27), and for three undescribed species of the H. djimilense agg.

(2n = 3x = 27), H. heldreichii agg. (2n = 3x = 27), and H. sparsum agg. (2n = 3x = 27). Furthermore, the chromosome

numbers of two undescribed species of hybrid origin between H. umbellatum L. and H. wiesbaurianum

s.lat. (2n = 3x = 27), and between H. sparsum Friv. and H. schmidtii s.lat. (2n = 3x = 27) are given. A new,

tetraploid chromosome number is given for H. barbatum Tausch from the northernmost locality of the species

in Europe.

The article discusses "Rules for using the point rating scales for assessing the technical condition and usability of road engineering objects – second edition", which were introduced by the General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways (GDDKiA) Regulation No. 1/2019. The main objective of "Rules..." was to standardize the method of point rating assessment of technical condition and usability, and in the second edition, to take into account the latest construction and material solutions. Because the results of inspections are analyzed and compared not only at the regional but also at the national level, it is very important for all inspectors in the country to evaluate the technical condition and usability in an analogous manner. While developing the 2nd edition, the authors maintained the assumptions of continuity of inspection system, including adaptation to the inspection manuals, algorithms, and software supporting the management of bridges.

The study presents the results of research on the development of composite zones in castings based on the intermetallic phase of Ni3Al. Composite zones were obtained by placing packets with substrates for the reaction of titanium carbide in a foundry mould. To provide a variable carbides content in the composite zone, two compositions of the packets were prepared. The first packet contained only substrates for the reaction of TiC synthesis; the second one also contained a filler. The resulting composite zones in castings were examined for the filler effect on changes in the volume fraction, size and morphology of carbides in the zone. In addition, the effect of filler on the mechanical properties of the zone was verified, observing changes of Vickers hardness in this area. It was found that the presence of filler in the composition of the packet for synthesis reduced the content of carbides, as well as their size and morphology. Lower surface content of carbides reduced hardness of the zone, which enabled smooth control of the mechanical properties. At the same time, the use of the selected filler did not disturb the course of the TiC carbide synthesis.

This work presents a method for measuring the magnetic susceptibility of soil samples based on interactions of magnetic particles contained in a tested sample with a weighed permanent magnet placed in the balance mechanical design. The MYA 2.4Y microbalance manufactured by Radwag Wagi Elektroniczne, Poland, was used to perform mass measurements. The weighing system was adjusted for mass indication using a certified mass standard, and for magnetic susceptibility indication using a certified magnetic susceptibility standard. The volume of each analysed soil sample was 3.93 cm ³ and was similar to the volume and the size of the magnetic susceptibility standard. The research was carried out for 10 soil samples with a magnetic susceptibility range varying from 20 to 1600x10 ^-8 m ³ kg ^-1. The soil samples contained technogenic magnetic particles and particles of natural magnetite of geogenic origin. The study was performed for a field of 2 mT.

The aim of this study was to investigate the level of posttraumatic growth of cancer patients post-treatment in the context of selected sociodemographic characteristics, clinical markers, and psychological variables (positive and negative emotions, anxiety and depressive symptoms, gratitude, forgiveness, hope, importance of the spiritual aspect of life and the practice of religious faith). The study sample consisted of 110 patients post-treatment aged 22-79 years and with an average time since the completion of the last treatment ranging from 5 to 396 months. The Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, screening methods to measure anxiety (General Anxiety Dis- order-7) and depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), and questionnaires to measure dispositional gratitude (Gratitude Questionnaire GQ-6), dispositional hope (Adult Dispositional Hope Scale), and forgiveness (Heartland Forgiveness Scale) were used to measure the psychological variables. There were no differences in the level of posttraumatic growth in terms of sociodemographic characteristics and clinical markers. Partner status, employment status, presence of recurrence, and comorbidities did not differentiate its level either. The rate of posttraumatic growth was related to the experience of positive emotions, gratitude, the importance of the spiritual aspect of life, and the practice of religious faith. In the regression model that explained 21.90% of the variance in posttraumatic growth, only the level of positive emotions was a significant predictor. The results of the present research point suggest that the level of posttraumatic growth is associated with several areas of emotional experience and cognitive adjustment of cancer patients post-treatment.

This article reviews chosen topics related to the development of Information Quantum Technologies in the major areas of measurements, communications, and computing. These fields start to build their ecosystems which in the future will probably coalesce into a homogeneous quantum information layer consisting of such interconnected components as quantum internet, full size quantum computers with efficient error corrections and ultrasensitive quantum metrology nodes stationary and mobile. Today, however, the skepticism expressing many doubts about the realizability of this optimistic view fights with a cheap optimism pouring out of some popular press releases. Where is the truth? Financing of the IQT by key players in research, development and markets substantially strengthens the optimistic side. Keeping the bright side with some reservations, we concentrate on showing the FAST pace of IQT developments in such areas as biological sciences, quantum evolutionary computations, quantum internet and some of its components.

Cell wall components, especially arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) and pectins as the source of signaling molecules active in cell-to-cell communication, are involved in many biological processes, including plant growth and development. Understanding the mechanisms of intercellular communication is particularly important in the context of reprogramming cell fate and transition from somatic to germline identity. The present study focuses on immunodetection of some pectic epitopes and AGPs in young ovules of selected Hieracium, Pilosella and Taraxacum species. The purpose of this research was to answer the questions: (1) whether the distribution of pectins and AGPs is related to the mode of reproduction and (2) whether their spatial and temporal distribution in young ovules may herald a later differentiation of the nutrient tissue present in the integument of mature ovules. We analyzed the localization of low and highly methyl-esterified pectins and AGP epitopes using monoclonal antibodies, i.e., LM19, LM20, JIM13, respectively. Our research found no significant differences in the localization of pectins and AGPs in young ovules of sexual and apomictic species, and the initial distribution pattern of these compounds did not appear to be related to the subsequent differentiation of the periendothelial nutrient zone. The presented findings may confirm the existence of a general developmental trend in the spatial and temporal distribution of pectins and AGPs during the maturation of ovules in angiosperms.

The article deals with a widely used method of measuring the overall efficiency of equipment (OEE), which in combination with technologies and software tools is gaining in importance. The overall efficiency of OEE equipment is a key performance metric for machines and equipment to identify hidden capacities and increase production productivity. The intensification of Industry 4.0 in traditional manufacturing companies supports and creates the conditions for their transformation into a smart factory. The integration of intelligent machines and devices with complex human-machine communication network systems requires a new direction in measuring and increasing OEE. Mass customization, resp. personalization of production raises a high need to monitor, improve and further maintain productivity. The aim of the article is to create a simulation model of the production process and test the energy consumption of selected equipment using TX Plant Simulation software with a proposal of measures to increase the OEE of the company.

The issue of assessing socio-economic impacts represent a key element of the decisionmaking process on the implementation of major public investment projects. The correctness of the decision depends both on the chosen principle of the socio-economic analysis and the input data. The presented article focuses on updating selected input values for the socio-economic assessment of railway infrastructure projects. Specifically, the simplified values of the estimated rail accidents costs. Accident costs are used for considering the change in the safety. At present, these values, which are also stated in the national methodological resources, are based on statistical data of the entire European Union and thus do not reflect the possible national specifics of projects implemented in the territory of individual Member States. The principle of updating values is from a methodological point of view based on the original calculation principles, however, involves a set of information items on the occurrences that emerged in the past in a specific area. The output of the article is a set of methodological steps considering national conditions when determining the average accident costs, subsequently verified on a case study of the railway network in the Czech Republic. The outputs of the presented article directly build on the results of the research project in which the team of article authors has been involved. The research results refer to different values of accident costs uniformly determined for the entire European Union territory and those determined individually for the conditions of the railway infrastructure in the Czech Republic.

The study investigated the effect of the fill factor, lattice constant, and the shape and type of meta-atom material on the reduction of mechanical wave transmission in quasi-two-dimensional phononic structures. A finite difference algorithm in the time domain was used for the analysis, and the obtained time series were converted into the frequency domain using the discrete Fourier transform. The use of materials with large differences in acoustic impedance allowed to determine the influence of the meta-atom material on the propagation of the mechanical wave.

Large floors of industrial enterprises, warehouses, stores, and shopping centres are quite heavily loaded with production technologies, transport mechanisms, stored material or shelf stackers. Regarding simple reinforcement and construction, industrial floors have been used in recent decades mainly reinforced with fibres from so-called fibre-reinforced concrete. Most slab failures are caused by extreme loads on the unbearable subsoil, a small amount of fibres, or by the shrinkage of concrete due to insufficient structural design of sliding, shrinking and expansion joints. Recently, however, in several constructions, structural failures have occurred caused by a volume-unstable subsoil in the form of a mixture of slag or metallurgical debris. The article deals with some failures of fibre concrete floors in practice, their methods of diagnostics and laboratory analysis of samples. The results are supplemented by practical examples of floor failures with respect to their origin.

The study analyzed the influence of materials and different types of damping on the dynamic stability of the Bernoulli-Euler beam. Using the mode summation method and applying an orthogonal condition of eigenfunctions and describing the analyzed system with the Mathieu equation, the problem of dynamic stability was solved. By examining the influence of internal and external damping and damping in the beam supports, their influence on the regions of stability and instability of the solution to the Mathieu equation was determined.