Picking up the principles: An applied linguistic analysis of the legal problem genre

Legal study requires not only the learning of new content, but also the learning of a new academic discourse with its own lexico-semantic, syntactic, and discoursal features. This thesis explores the answering of legal problem questions as an important and distinct new genre that undergraduates studying law units need to achieve competence in. In order to delineate the general features of this genre, systemic functional linguistic (SFL) analyses were performed on a series of texts (a tutorial question, an assignment question, and an examination question) written by lecturers in the introductory Commerce course Principles of Commercial Law as exemplars of the answering of legal problem questions. SFL analyses were also conducted on a series of student texts (both native and non-native English speaking students\u27 answers to the examination question) which showed that considerable difficulties exist not only with the content, but also with the linguistic demands of writing in this particular genre. It follows that students may require specific training in picking up the principles . The pedagogical implications for both content and language staff teaching in this area are explored with particular reference to tertiary ESL/EFL students

Global Navigation Satellite Systems disciplined oscillator synchronisation of multistatic radar

A fundamental challenge in the practical implementation of multistatic radar systems (MSRS) is the requirement for precise time and frequency synchronisation between the spatially separated radar nodes. The authors evaluate the performance of different classes of commercially available Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) timing receivers, Local Oscillators (LO) and GNSS Disciplined Oscillators (GNSSDOs) to determine the limitations of using one‐way GNSS Time and Frequency Transfer (TFT) in this application. From evaluating the performance of three pairs of GNSSDOs, it is concluded that one‐way GNSS TFT will likely be suitable only for the synchronisation of fully spatially coherent MSRS with carrier frequencies up to 100 MHz and waveform bandwidths up to 20 MHz. Whereas, in the case of short‐term spatially coherent MSRS, synchronisation of systems with carrier frequencies up to a few GHz and waveform bandwidths of over 100 MHz will likely be possible. The performance of the different classes of GNSSDOs during GNSS denial (holdover) are evaluated, where it is concluded that frequency offsets between LOs at the point of GNSS denial will often significantly contribute, or even dominate, the holdover performance. Analysis of two practical multistatic radar measurements verifies the function of using the GNSSDOs for wireless synchronisation of the ARESTOR MSRS

Reflective Diary for Professional Development of Novice Teachers

Many starting teachers of computer science have great professional skill but often lack pedagogical training. Since providing expert mentorship directly during their lessons would be quite costly, institutions usually offer separate teacher training sessions for novice instructors. However, the reflection on teaching performed with a significant delay after the taught lesson limits the possible impact on teachers. To bridge this gap, we introduced a weekly semi-structured reflective practice to supplement the teacher training sessions at our faculty. We created a paper diary that guides the starting teachers through the process of reflection. Over the course of the semester, the diary poses questions of increasing complexity while also functioning as a reference to the topics covered in teacher training. Piloting the diary on a group of 25 novice teaching assistants resulted in overwhelmingly positive responses and provided the teacher training sessions with valuable input for discussion. The diary also turned out to be applicable in a broader context: it was appreciated and used by several experienced university teachers from multiple faculties and even some high-school teachers. The diary is freely available online, including source and print versions

Beasley

ABSTRACT -This paper records for the first time the presence of Corbicula fluminea (Philipi, 1844) in the Brazilian Amazon Basin. This exotic bivalve was found in localities on the Amazonas, Pará and Tocantins rivers. Density and population size structure were measured in some localities. Mean density is between 6.66 and 7.3 individuals m -2 . Population size structure and the dates of the first records suggest that the introductions may have occurred between 1997 and 1998. The introductions may have been mediated by ocean-going vessels visiting the ports of Manaus and Belém. The potential impact of the invasion on native freshwater bivalves is discussed along with the need for monitoring and prevention of further introductions of non-indigenous bivalves in Brazil

Detection of mitochondrial DNA heteroplasmy suggests a doubly uniparental inheritance pattern in the mussel Mytella charruana

The unusual type of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) transmission in which females pass on their mtDNA F to both sons and daughters, and males pass on their mtDNA M to their sons, is termed Doubly Uniparental Inheritance (DUI) and has been observed in several bivalve mollusk families, including the Mytilidae. The present study found mitochondrial heteroplasmy in Mytella charruana, a tropical estuarine mytilid, which is most likely due to the occurrence of DUI. Cytochrome oxidase c subunit I (COI) sequences provide evidence for the presence of mtDNA M in the gonad and adductor muscle of male M. charruana. Intraspecific COI mtDNA F and mtDNA M mitotype divergence (p-distances) in M. charruana ranged from 20.5% to 20.8%. COI phylogenetic trees suggest that mtDNA M arose before M. charruana, Perna perna and Mytella guyanensis split, though independently of the DUI event that occurred in the genera Mytilus and Brachidontes. The comparison of COI gene products of mtDNA M among M. charruana and other bivalves, including mytilids, has shown that they all have important differences, suggesting independent evolutionary changes in their male COI lineages.(Detecção de heteroplasmia no DNA mitocondrial sugere um padrão de herança dupla uniparental em mexilhões Mytella charruana). Um tipo de transmissão não usual de herança do DNA mitocondrial (mtDNA), na qual as fêmeas passam os seus mtDNA F aos filhos e às filhas e os machos passam os seus mtDNA M para os seus filhos machos, é conhecido por herança dupla-uniparental e tem sido observada em várias famílias de moluscos bivalves, incluindo a Mytilidae. O presente estudo mostrou a ocorrência de heteroplasmia mitocondrial em Mytella charruana, um mitilídeo estuarino tropical, provavelmente devido a herança dupla uniparental. Sequências da citocromo oxidase c subunidade I (COI) mostraram que o mtDNA M está presente nas gônadas e nos músculos adutores dos machos de M. charruana. As divergências intraespecíficas (distância-p) entre as sequências de COI dos mitótipos mitocondriais mtDNA F e mtDNA M em M. charruana variaram de 20.5% a 20.8%. As árvores filogenéticas baseadas em COI sugerem que o mtDNA M surgiu antes da separação das espécies M. charruana, Perna perna e Mytella guyanensis, independentemente do evento DUI que ocorreu nos gêneros Mytilus e Brachidontes. A comparação dos produtos do gene mtDNA M de M. charruana e de outros bivalves, incluindo mitilídeos, mostrou que eles têm importantes diferenças, sugerindo mudanças evolucionárias independentes em suas linhagens masculinas de COI

Molecular identification, phylogeny and geographic distribution of Brazilian mangrove oysters (Crassostrea)

Oysters (Ostreidae) manifest a high degree of phenotypic plasticity, whereby morphology is of limited value for species identification and taxonomy. By using molecular data, the aim was to genetically characterize the species of Crassostrea occurring along the Brazilian coast, and phylogenetically relate these to other Crassostrea from different parts of the world. Sequencing of the partial cytochrome oxidase c subunit I gene (COI), revealed a total of three species of Crassostrea at 16 locations along the Brazilian coast. C. gasar was found from Curuçá (Pará state) to Santos (São Paulo state), and C. rhizophorae from Fortim (Ceará state) to Florianópolis (Santa Catarina state), although small individuals of the latter species were also found at Ajuruteua beach (municipality of Bragança, Pará state). An unidentified Crassostrea species was found only on Canela Island, Bragança. Crassostrea gasar and C. rhizophorae grouped with C. virginica, thereby forming a monophyletic Atlantic group, whereas Crassostrea sp. from Canela Island was shown to be more similar to Indo-Pacific oysters, and either arrived in the Atlantic Ocean before the convergence of the Isthmus of Panama or was accidentally brought to Brazil by ship

Space VLBI 2020: Science and Technology Futures Conference Summary

The "Space VLBI 2020: Science and Technology Futures" meeting was the second in The Future of High-Resolution Radio Interferometry in Space series. The first meeting (2018 September 5--6; Noordwijk, the Netherlands) focused on the full range of science applications possible for very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) with space-based antennas. Accordingly, the observing frequencies (wavelengths) considered ranged from below 1~MHz (> 300 m) to above 300~GHz (< 1 mm). For this second meeting, the focus was narrowed to mission concepts and the supporting technologies to enable the highest angular resolution observations at frequencies of 30~GHz and higher (< 1 cm). This narrowing of focus was driven by both scientific and technical considerations. First, results from the RadioAstron mission and the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) have generated considerable excitement for studying the inner portions of black hole (BH) accretion disks and jets and testing elements of the General Theory of Relativity (GR). Second, the technologies and requirements involved in space-based VLBI differ considerably between 100~MHz and 100~GHz; a related consideration is that there are a number of existing instruments or mission concepts for frequencies of approximately 100~MHz and below, while it has been some time since attention has been devoted to space VLBI at frequencies above 10~GHz. This conference summary attempts to capture elements of presentations and discussions that occurred

Space VLBI 2020: Science and Technology Futures Conference Summary

The "Space VLBI 2020: Science and Technology Futures" meeting was the second in The Future of High-Resolution Radio Interferometry in Space series. The first meeting (2018 September 5--6; Noordwijk, the Netherlands) focused on the full range of science applications possible for very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) with space-based antennas. Accordingly, the observing frequencies (wavelengths) considered ranged from below 1~MHz (> 300 m) to above 300~GHz (< 1 mm). For this second meeting, the focus was narrowed to mission concepts and the supporting technologies to enable the highest angular resolution observations at frequencies of 30~GHz and higher (< 1 cm). This narrowing of focus was driven by both scientific and technical considerations. First, results from the RadioAstron mission and the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) have generated considerable excitement for studying the inner portions of black hole (BH) accretion disks and jets and testing elements of the General Theory of Relativity (GR). Second, the technologies and requirements involved in space-based VLBI differ considerably between 100~MHz and 100~GHz; a related consideration is that there are a number of existing instruments or mission concepts for frequencies of approximately 100~MHz and below, while it has been some time since attention has been devoted to space VLBI at frequencies above 10~GHz. This conference summary attempts to capture elements of presentations and discussions that occurred.Comment: Nine pages + references and conference schedule appendix; conference Web site http://www.cvent.com/events/space-vlbi-2020/event-summary-c7b30de0068e454591a66e5639f86668.asp