Enquiring into writing development across research degrees: a new generative model

This paper reports a UK Higher Education Academy funded study aimed at exploring research students’ perceptions of what helps them develop their academic writing. Recent graduates and students from across disciplines were asked questions around four themes: (a) supervisors’ feedback; (b) training; (c) cohort experiences; and (d) personal strategies for writing development. This paper builds on the interim results discussed at BERA 2012 and presents a new generative model of research students’ academic writing development. The model includes the factors influencing this development and captures the dynamic processes that affect higher level thinking. The model may be used as a discussion tool to build a shared student-staff understanding of effective feedback for academic writing across research degree providers globally

At-vessel fishing mortality for six species of sharks caught in the northwest Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico

From 1994-2005 the Commercial Shark Fishery Observer Program (CSFOP) placed fishery observers aboard US bottom longline vessels engaged in directed fishing for sharks in the region from New Jersey to Louisiana, USA. Observers routinely recorded species specific at-vessel mortality as related to enduring the stress oflongline capture. Data for 5 species of sharks (sandbar Carcharhinus plumbeus, blacktip Carcharhinus limbatus, dusky Carcharhinus obscurus, tiger Galeocerdo cuvier, scalloped hammerhead Sphyrna lewini, and great hammerhead Sphyrna mokilrran) were analyzed in this study. Multiple stepwise linear regressions indicate that age group, soak time and bottom water temperature can be used as predictors of at-vessel mortality and that size restrictions, size selective gear, restricting the soak time and time/area closures may be beneficial to fisheries targeting large coastal sharks

Unemployment Dynamics, Duration and Equilibrium: Evidence from Britain

This paper challenges the consensus on the nature of unemployment dynamics in Britain. We show that the argument that changes in unemployment arise mostly from changes in the duration of unemployment (rather than in the chance of becoming unemployed) is flawed. In fact, while shocks to the outflow do have a part to play up to the late 1970s, the huge changes in unemployment over the last two decades have been mostly driven by inflow shocks. Our model also provides a new explanation of aggregate unemployment persistence based on externalities at a market level rather than individual-level persistence.Unemployment dynamics, unemployment duration, unemployment flows, nonlinear dynamics, persistence

Advanced Fenton processing of aqueous phenol solutions:a continuous system study including sonication effects

Our previous report based on a batch reactor system for the Advanced Fenton Process (AFP) showed that pH, hydrogen peroxide and the organic substances treated are among the most important factors affecting the oxidation efficiency. As an extended study towards its commercialisation, this paper reports the effects of the main process parameters including those relating to a new AFP flow-through system. In order to systemise and correlate the results, the Taguchi experimental design method was used. Total organic carbon (TOC) removal was utilised as the measure of the oxidation efficiency and it was found that the removal of phenol from aqueous solution at pH 2.0 and 2.5 was very similar but hydrogen peroxide supply significantly affected the TOC removal with the change of flow rate from 14.4 mL/hr to 60 mL/hr. Also, the initial concentration of phenol was a highly significant factor, with higher concentrations resulting in a lower TOC removal rate. The temperature effects in the range of 14 °C to 42 °C were investigated and it was found that there was accelerated oxidation of phenol in the early stages but after 90 minutes there was no significant difference between the results. Sonication with a bath type sonicator resulted in relatively small enhancements of TOC removal but further studies with cup-horn and probe type sonicators showed that TOC removal increased with higher intensity of sonication on additional input of hydrogen peroxide

The chemistry of ultrasonic degradation of organic compounds

The destruction of toxic organic molecules using advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) is a potent tool for pollution control and environmental protection. Ultrasound is a convenient and effective method of generating hydroxyl radicals which is the key oxidant in AOPs. This review describes the use of ultrasound and associated chemical reactions, with and without additives, as a powerful means of remediating water contaminated with organic pollutants. After a brief introduction to ultrasound and sonochemistry, their application for the oxidation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, phenol and substituted phenols is considered. Next is the decomposition of chlorinated phenols, and other chlorinated organics, then removal of recalcitrant smaller organic molecules. A discussion follows of recent work that has investigated the effects of initial concentration of substrates; the use of different ultrasonic frequencies; the inclusion of oxidising species, inorganic particles, or salts and their contribution to enhanced degradation. Finally, brief comments are made on the status of ultrasound as an AOP treatment

Admission of Liability

There is a great amount of resistance to the admission of liability when the slightest defense is available. Many defendants\u27 attorneys would prefer to take the long chance of hoping for an unexpected verdict rather than admit fault and leave only the issue of damages to the jury. Surprisingly, there have actually been cases in which liability was admitted and the jury returned a verdict of no cause of action. Generally speaking, though, an admission of liability will tend to keep the damage award reasonable, but it will take away the slight possibility of an unexpected defendant\u27s verdict

Lung Cancer Liability of Cigarette Manufacturers

The medical evidence is quite strong as to tobacco causation of lung cancer. However, this leaves several legal questions to be answered before a plaintiff can recover from a cigarette manufacturer. The primary question at hand is: Do cigarette manufacturers impliedly warrant that their product is not dangerous to health; or, if not, do they have a duty to warn the public or the consumers in some direct way of the probable dangers to health in smoking. To phrase it differently, recovery will most likely lie in either implied warranty or in negligence, until statutory provisions are made to help with the problem

Lung Cancer Liability of Cigarette Manufacturers

The medical evidence is quite strong as to tobacco causation of lung cancer. However, this leaves several legal questions to be answered before a plaintiff can recover from a cigarette manufacturer. The primary question at hand is: Do cigarette manufacturers impliedly warrant that their product is not dangerous to health; or, if not, do they have a duty to warn the public or the consumers in some direct way of the probable dangers to health in smoking. To phrase it differently, recovery will most likely lie in either implied warranty or in negligence, until statutory provisions are made to help with the problem