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A qualitative synthesis of research into the use of exemplars in the English for Academic Purposes context to develop student feedback literacy
No full textIn recent years, feedback has been characterised by a student-centred paradigm with the learner playing a more active role. Arguably, this requires student feedback literacy (SFL), referring to a learner’s attitude towards and capability of understanding and using feedback to improve their work. Exemplar use has also been increasing and is viewed as a potential enabling activity for the enhancement of SFL. Research in these areas is flourishing within higher education but generally without demarcation between English for academic purposes (EAP) and content-focused courses. EAP classrooms could be considered unique domains, subject to specific learning outcomes and language or socio-cultural considerations. This systematic qualitative synthesis of 13 studies in an EAP context seeks to explore how exemplars are conceived and implemented, along with resultant affordances, limitations, and factors contributing to their usefulness. Findings indicate that as with higher education in general, exemplars are implemented with the aim of developing SFL. However, in the EAP context, a second application aimed at learners noticing interesting or useful features for the purposes of increasing linguistic resources or improving language or task-specific outcomes is identified. Exemplar use is also found to be impacted by language limitations and other factors which influence levels of engagement
Drifting past policy coherence? Rhetoric and realities of the Mexican Sembrando Vida program’s sustainability goals
No full textGlobal and interconnected sustainability challenges require systems thinking and policy coherence to support bold and coordinated action. To chart a course for action, the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a suite of targets across international and national levels. Here, we explore intentions and contributions over time of the Mexican multifaceted rural-development program Sembrando Vida (SV) to the SDGs, to assess its policy coherence for sustainable development, especially in relation to climate change. We reviewed online documents and newspaper articles, interviewed key SV staff and analyzed the Mexican President’s morning conference speeches. We show that multiplicity and adaptation of stated intentions suggest opportunistic forms of policy drift with limited policy coherence. The potential of the SV program remains promising, but it requires clearer objectives, coherent strategy, expert knowledge, community support and evaluation. These results demonstrate how political context can cause policy drift and negatively impact intended policy coherence for sustainable development
Truth of War:Immersive Fiction Reading and Public Modes of Remembrance in an English Literary Society
No full textLaw as a catalyst and remedy for civic violence in early Rome:two examples from Dionysius of Halicarnassus
No full textThis paper analyses the historical account of Dionysius of Halicarnassus concerning the passing of two plebeian laws, the lex Publilia Voleronis in 471 BC (D.H. A.R. 9.37-49) and the lex Icilia de Aventino publicando in 456 BC (D.H. A.R. 10.31-32). In particular, the analysis focuses on the narrative strategies adopted by Dionysius to present the eruption and resolution of violence resulting from the internal strife caused by these bill proposals. Among such strategies Dionysius privileges the characterization of the plebeian tribunes and of their opponents, the moderation of the early Romans, as well as the insertion of ideas from Greek political thought into the speeches of his characters. By adopting these strategies, Dionysius draws an idealized picture of the political development of early Rome, where moderation and the reliance on debates is contrasted with the extreme violence of the late Republic
A seawater oxygen oscillation recorded by iron formations prior to the Great Oxidation Event
No full textEarth’s atmosphere underwent permanent oxidation during the Great Oxidation Event approximately 2.45–2.22 billion years ago (Ga) due to excess oxygen (O2) generated by marine cyanobacteria. However, understanding the timing and tempo of seawater oxygenation before the Great Oxidation Event has been hindered by the absence of sensitive tracers. Nitrogen (N) isotopes can be an indicator of marine oxygenation. Here we present an ~200 Myr nitrogen isotope oscillation recorded by Neoarchaean and Palaeoproterozoic banded iron formations from the Hamersley Basin, Western Australia, that were deposited in relatively deep marine shelf environments. Paired with the Jeerinah Formation shale record, our data from the Marra Mamba Iron Formation suggest that oxic conditions expanded to banded iron formation depositional environments from ~2.63 to 2.60 Ga. Subsequently, a positive δ15N excursion occurred in the ~2.48 Ga Dale Gorge Member, marking a decline in seawater O2 and enhanced denitrification. This O2 deficit was followed by a second phase of increasing O2 levels as indicated by a gradual return to moderately positive δ15N values in the ~2.46 Ga Joffre Member and 2.45 Ga Weeli Wolli Iron Formation. These variations underscore a nonlinear history of marine oxygenation and reveal a previously unrecognized oscillation in seawater O2 levels preceding the Great Oxidation Event
An efficient method for magnetic field extrapolation based on a family of analytical three-dimensional magnetohydrostatic equilibria
No full textWith current observational methods it is not possible to directly measure the magnetic field in the solar corona with sufficient accuracy. Therefore, coronal magnetic field models have to rely on extrapolation methods using photospheric magnetograms as boundary conditions. In recent years, due to the increased resolution of observations and the need to resolve non-force-free lower regions of the solar atmosphere, there have been increased efforts to use magnetohydrostatic (MHS) field models instead of force-free extrapolation methods. Although numerical methods to calculate MHS solutions can deal with non-linear problems and hence provide more accurate models, analytical three-dimensional MHS equilibria can also be used as a numerically relatively “cheap” complementary method. In this paper, we present an extrapolation method based on a family of analytical MHS equilibria that allows for a transition from a non-force-free region to a force-free region. We demonstrate how asymptotic forms of the solutions can help to increase the numerical efficiency of the method. Through both artificial boundary condition testing and a first application to observational data, we validate the method’s effectiveness and practical utility
Low-temperature fabrication of plasmonic titanium nitride thin films by electron beam evaporation
No full textTitanium nitride (TiN) is a refractory metal nitride compound with the potential to function as an alternative plasmonic material to gold, especially for high-power linear and nonlinear applications such as materials processing, telecommunications, and laser systems. This paper presents a simple, electron beam evaporation based deposition process to fabricate sub-100 nm TiN thin films at low temperatures. The dependence of optical properties and film thickness on deposition temperature was explored and it was observed that low-temperature annealing during deposition further enhances the plasmonic properties of the films. These results are essential for promoting the utilisation of highly metallic TiN thin films in plasmonic and photonic applications
Integrating cultural dimensions in sperm whale (<i>Physeter macrocephalus</i>) conservation:threats, challenges and solutions
No full textCulture—socially transmitted behaviours shared within a community—can influence animal populations' structure, vulnerability and resilience. Clans of sperm whales in the Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP) exemplify the profound influence of culture on these dynamics and highlight the challenges of accounting for culture in conservation efforts. Globally, sperm whales are classified as vulnerable, and the ETP sperm whale population has struggled to reach a positive growth rate. This stagnation is partly due to cumulative anthropogenic threats in the region, including fishing conflicts, vessel traffic, pollution, deep sea mining, oil and gas exploration, and anthropogenic climate change. The United Nations Convention on Migratory Species adopted a Concerted Action for ETP sperm whales in 2017, proposing collaborative efforts to address cultural dimensions in conservation. However, knowledge gaps and real-world implementation challenges persist. Here, we review the role of social transmission in shaping sperm whale behaviour and populations, outline current anthropogenic threats and environmental stressors they face in the ETP, and discuss the ongoing challenges of incorporating cultural dimensions into large-scale international conservation efforts. Strengthening transnational collaboration and capitalizing on new technologies for efficient analysis can help bridge these knowledge gaps and enhance future research on this iconic species.This article is part of the theme issue ‘Animal culture: conservation in a changing world’
