Internationalising Australian secondary education

This thesis presents the findings of a case study of international students who enrol in Australian secondary schools. Specifically, it focuses on the ways that staff in three schools and two international colleges position Eastern Asian international students through discourses of cultural difference. It draws together the Discourse Historical Approach to Critical Discourse Analysis with the work of Basil Bernstein and Pierre Bourdieu. The study finds that groups of students are positioned positively or negatively depending on their relationship to the dominant discourses of the Australian school. Australian students, while rarely mentioned, were positioned positively. By contrast, the Eastern Asian international students were positioned negatively in relation to the privileged discourses of Australian schooling. These discourses reflected the cultural capital that was valued in the schools. In particular, the cultural capital of active and willing engagement in competitive sports and being rough, rugged and an ‘ocker’ were privileged at the schools. International students from Papua New Guinea, and a few Eastern Asian students who behaved as ockers, were positioned positively because they realised cultural capital that was valued at the schools. By contrast, the students who were unable to be positioned through these discourses, because they did not realise cultural capital that was valued, were not viewed favourably. As a result, the data showed that there was a hierarchy of positions at the schools that were constructed in staff accounts. The analysis of data suggests that only some students are positioned favourably in Australian schools. The students who were already able to construct privileged Australian school discourses were positioned positively. The data suggest that the majority of the Eastern Asian students were represented through negative discourses because they did not realise cultural capital that was valued at the schools. Findings of this study may assist schools to identify international students who may experience their Australian school education negatively. The findings may also contribute to assisting staff to better engage with international students.

Two novel mastreviruses from chickpea (Cicer arietinum) in Australia

Two novel mastreviruses (genus Mastrevirus; family Geminiviridae), with proposed names chickpea chlorosis virus (CpCV) and chickpea redleaf virus, are described from chickpea (Cicer arietinum) from eastern Australia. The viruses have genomes of 2,582 and 2,605 nucleotides, respectively, and share similar features and organisation with typical dicot-infecting mastreviruses. Two distinct strains of CpCV were suggested by phylogenetic analysis. Additionally, a partial mastrevirus Rep sequence from turnip weed (Rapistrum rugosum) indicated the presence of a distinct strain of Tobacco yellow dwarf virus (TYDV). In phylogenetic analyses, isolates of Bean yellow dwarf virus, Chickpea chlorotic dwarf Pakistan virus and Chickpea chlorotic dwarf Sudan virus from southern and northern Africa and south-central and western Asia clustered separately from these three viruses from Australia. An Australian, eastern Asian, or south-eastern Asian origin for the novel mastreviruses and TYDV is discussed.

鳞毛蕨科、叉蕨科和藤蕨科的分子系统学研究

利用叶绿体rbcL和atpB基因对鳞毛蕨科、叉蕨科和藤蕨科进行了系统发育重建。对鳞毛蕨科的范畴和科下划分进行了重点研究，同时基于叶绿体rps4-trnS和trnL-F序列对该科三个东亚特有属（玉龙蕨属、柳叶蕨属和鞭叶蕨属）的分类等级进行了研究，基于rbcL、atpB和accD基因重新讨论了拟贯众属的系统位置。主要内容包括： 1.鳞毛蕨科的界定及三个东亚特有属的系统位置 利用rbcL和atpB基因，探讨了鳞毛蕨类及其近缘类群的系统发育关系。取样包括了鳞毛蕨类所有主要的分类群，尤其是增加了中国和东亚地区的类群代表。两个基因片段的联合分析较好地解决了鳞毛蕨类及其近缘类群的系统发育关系。研究结果显示广义鳞毛蕨科是个多系类群，传统上置于鳞毛蕨科中的蹄盖蕨类athyrioid、球子蕨类onocleoid和叉蕨类植物tectarioid均应该从鳞毛蕨科分出而独立成科。我们的研究结果支持Smith et al.（2006）对鳞毛蕨科的重新界定，但被作者暂时置于鳞毛蕨科的三个属：大膜盖蕨属Leucostegia、肿足蕨属Hypodematium和Didymochlaena应该从鳞毛蕨科分立出去;红腺蕨属Diacalpe、毛枝蕨属Leptorumohra和黔蕨属Phanerophlebiopsis应该作为鳞毛蕨科的成员，同时被Smith et al.（2006）保留在叉蕨科的黄腺羽蕨属Pleocnemia也应该作为鳞毛蕨科成员。鳞毛蕨科下分为四个主要的分支：鳞毛蕨支dryopteroids、耳蕨支polystichoids、肋毛蕨支ctenitoids和舌蕨支elaphoglossoids。鳞毛蕨支和耳蕨支互为姐妹群，舌蕨支是其他三个分支的姐妹群。 玉龙蕨属Sorolepidium、柳叶蕨属Cyrtogonellum和鞭叶蕨属Cyrtomidictyum是鳞毛蕨科中的三个东亚特有属，这三个特有属的分类等级和系统位置在不同的分类系统中存在争议。本文对rbcL基因进行分析并结合孢子扫描电镜观察，不支持玉龙蕨属成为一个独立的属，而应该作为耳蕨属的异名。利用rbcL、atpB、trnL-F和rps4-trnS四个DNA片段对柳叶蕨属和鞭叶蕨属进行的系统学分析，支持鞭叶蕨属作为一个独立的属，并且位于整个耳蕨类植物的基部位置。柳叶蕨属同耳蕨属近缘，尤其是同耳蕨属的细裂耳蕨组Sphaenopolystichum、半开羽耳蕨组Haplopolystichum和戟叶耳蕨组Crucifilix关系较近。但是柳叶蕨属的分类等级以及与耳蕨属的属间界限尚需要进一步研究。 2.叉蕨科的分子系统学研究 对rbcL和atpB两个基因片段的单独和联合分析均表明，秦仁昌定义的叉蕨科Tectariaceae不是一个自然的单系类群。在系统发育树上，肋毛蕨属Ctenitis、轴鳞蕨属Dryopsis、节毛蕨属Lastreopsis和黄腺羽蕨属Pleocnemia与鳞毛蕨科聚在一起构成一个强支持的分支。当把上述四个属排除以后，叉蕨属Tectaria、轴鳞蕨属Ctenitopsis、地耳蕨属Quercifilix、牙蕨属Pteridrys和沙皮蕨属Hemigramma形成一个单系类群，并得到很好的支持，该单系类群同条蕨科、骨碎补科和水龙骨科形成姐妹群关系。该单系类群同目前Smith et al.（2006）对叉蕨科的定义一致。在rbcL基因单独分析中，爬树蕨属Arthropteris同叉蕨属－沙皮蕨属聚在一起，但支持率较低。 3.藤蕨科的分子系统学研究及拟贯众属的系统位置 根据对薄囊蕨类114个分类群的rbcL基因和30个代表类群的rbcL、atpB和accD基因的系统发育分析，发现传统的藤蕨科Lomariopsidaceae不是单系类群，除了藤蕨属和Thysanosoria仍然为藤蕨科成员外，藤蕨科的主要成员（实蕨属Bolbitis、网藤蕨属Lomagramma、舌蕨属Elaphoglossum和Teratophyllum）同鳞毛蕨科植物聚在一起，因此应该被归并到鳞毛蕨科。根据Smith et al.（2006）对藤蕨科的最新定义，藤蕨科包括藤蕨属Lomariopsis、肾蕨属Nephrolepis等在内的4个属。但是本文的研究不支持把肾蕨属作为藤蕨科成员，而应该作为一个独立的分类单元，即成立肾蕨科更为合适。根据我们的分析，拟贯众属Cyclopeltis既不是鳞毛蕨科也不是叉蕨科成员，而与藤蕨属Lomariopsis聚成一个强支持的姐妹群。叶片奇数一回羽状、侧生羽片以关节着生于叶轴，叶脉游离等形态特征支持两者的近缘关系。

Mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequence diversity in the Korean hare, Lepus coreanus Thomas (Mammalia, Lagomorpha)

Partial sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene of the Korean hare (Lepus coreanus) were analyzed to determine the degree of genetic diversity. Nine haPlotyes were observed, and the maximum Tamura-Nei nucleotide distance among them was 2.8%, indicating that genetic diversity of L. coreanus is moderate. In order to clarify the Korean hare's taxonomic status and relationship with the Manchurian hare (L. mandshuricus) and the Chinese hare (L. sinensis), these nine haplotypes of the Korean hare were compared with 13 haplotypes from five other species of eastern Asian Lepus including L. mandshwicus and L. sinensis. The Korean hare was distinct in its cytochrome b gene, and it is confirmed that L. coreanus is a valid species, as noted by Jones and Johnson (1965, Univ. Kansas Publ. (Mus. Nat. Hist.) 16:357). Further analyses of mtDNA cytochrome b gene with additional specimens of L. coreanus from North Korea and other species of Lepus from eastern Asia are needed to clarify the taxonomic status of the divergent mtDNA clades of L. mandshuricus and L. sinensis.

Revision of the labeonine genus Sinocrossocheilus (Teleostei : Cyprinidae) from South China

Sinocrossocheilus was recently diagnosed by Su et al. (2003) as consisting of nine species, i.e. S. bamaensis, S. guizhouensis, S. liuchengensis, S. longibullus, S. tridentis, S. microstomatus, S. nigrovittatus, S. labiatus, and S. papillolabrus. It is actually a catch-all genus that is composed of some species misidentified from Pseudocrossocheilus and Hongshuia. Sinocrossocheilus is here redefined based mainly on the details of the lower lip morphology; it is easily separated from all other Asian Labeonini genera in possessing a lower lip with its median lobe modified into a densely papillated, greatly protruded, crescentic fold and a papillose, slightly protruded, triangular fleshy pad which is posteriorly continuous with the mental region. Two species are recognized in this genus: S. guizhouensis and S. labiatus. Detailed redescriptions are given for the two species. All remaining species do not fit with the new definition of Sinocrossocheilus; six species, i.e. S. papillolabrus, S. nigrovittatus, S. bamaensis, S. longibullus, S. liuchengensis, and S. tridentis, should be moved to Pseudocrossocheilus and S. microstomatus to Hongshuia.

Plano de gestão e conservação de Azorina vidalii (Wats.) Feer

Dissertação de Mestrado, Gestão e Conservação da Natureza, 15 de Maio de 2015, Universidade dos Açores.

Arte-experimento: o bailado narrativo de Cara-de-Bronze

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

A feigned liberalisation: Russia is restricting Gazprom's monopoly on exports. OSW Commentary No. 121, 26.11.2013

An act restricting Gazprom’s monopoly in Russian gas exports came into effect on 1 December 2013. Previously Gazprom had had a legal guarantee to its monopoly position. The changes are an effect of consultations between various ministries that had been conducted for many months and were affected by lobbying from Novatek and Rosneft (Gazprom’s competitors on the domestic gas market); they need not, though, be seen as system changes. The ‘liberalisation’ they appear to bring in is feigned. Proof of this are found for example in both the limited material scope of the new law (it concerns only exports of liquefied natural gas, LNG) and the small number of the beneficiaries of the new regulations (the new solutions will be beneficial for Novatek and Rosneft). Contrary to initial announcements, the right to export LNG has not been restricted to South-Eastern Asian markets, which means that Russian liquefied natural gas is also likely to be sold to Europe in the coming years. Although these changes have been motivated above all by the individual interests of Gazprom’s competitors, they are also to a certain extent a response to the processes taking place on regional gas markets. They may, therefore, turn out to be beneficial for the state (increasing Russia’s share on the global LNG market and attracting foreign investors to gas extraction projects being implemented in Russia). The new regulations are probably the first step down the long road to breaking Gazprom’s monopoly in gas exports via the pipeline system.

Fossil biotas from the Okanagan Highlands, southern British Columbia and northeastern Washington State: climates and ecosystems across an Eocene landscape

The late Early to early Middle Eocene Okanagan Highlands fossil sites, spanning -1000 km north-south (northeastern Washington State, southern British Columbia) provide an opportunity to reconstruct biotic communities across a broad upland landscape during the warmest part of the Cenozoic. Plant taxa from these fossil sites are characteristic of the modern eastern North American deciduous forest zone, principally the mixed mesophytic forest, but also include extinct taxa, taxa known only from eastern Asian mesothermal forests, and a small number of taxa restricted to the present-day North American west coast coniferous biome. In this preliminary report, paleoclimates and forest types are reconstructed using collections from Republic in Washington State, USA., and Princeton, Quilchena, Falkland, McAbee, Hat Creek, Horsefly, and Driftwood Canyon in British Columbia, Canada. Both leaf margin analysis (LMA) and quantitative bioclimatic analysis of identified nearest living relatives of megaflora indicated upper microthermal to lower mesothermal moist environments (MAT -10-15 degrees C, CMMT > 0 degrees C, MAP > 100 cm/year). Some taxa common to most sites suggest cool conditions (e.g., Abies, other Pinaceae; Alnus, other Betulaceae). However, all floras contain a substantive broadleaf deciduous element (e.g., Fagaceae, Juglandaceae) and conifers (e.g., Metasequoia) with the bioclimatic analysis yielding slightly higher MAT than LMA. Thermophilic (principally mesothermal) taxa include various insects, the aquatic fern Azolla, palms, the banana relative Ensete, taxodiaceous conifers, Eucommia and Gordonia, taxa which may have occurred near their climatic limits. The mixture of thermophilic and temperate insect and plant taxa indicates low-temperature seasonality (i.e., highly equable climate).

Molecular phylogeny and historical zoogeography of four genera of Eastern Atlantic skates (Rajiformes, Rajidae)

The aim of this study was to reconstruct a solid phylogeny of four genera of the Rajidae family (Chondrichthyans: Batoidea) using a concatenated alignment of mtDNA genes. Then use the resultant tree to estimate divergence time between taxa based on molecular clock and fossil calibration and conduct biogeographic analysis. The intent was to prove that the actual distribution of species of Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean skates is due to a series of vicariant events. The species considered belongs to two different tribe: Rajini (Raja and Dipturus) and Amblyrajini (Leucoraja and Rajella). The choice of this genera is due to their high presence in the area of interest and to the richness of endemic species. The results show that despite the ancient origin of Rajidae (97 MYA), the Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean faunas originated more recently, during Middle Miocene-Late Pliocene, after the closure of connection between these areas and the Indo-Pacific ocean (15 MYA). The endemic species of the Mediterranean (Raja asterias, R. radula, R. polystigma and Leucoraja melitensis) originated after the Messinian salinity crisis (7-5 MYA), when the recolonization of the basin occurred, and are still maintained in allopatric distribution by the presence of biogeographic barriers. Moreover from 4 to 2.6 MYA we can observe the formation of sister species for Raja, Leucoraja and Rajella, one of which has a Northern distribution, and the other has a Southern distribution (R. clavata vs R. straeleni, L. wallacei vs L. naevus, R. fyllae vs R. caudaspinosa and R. kukujevi vs R. leopardus + R. barnardi). The Quaternary and present oceanographic discontinuities that occur along the western African continental shelf (e.g., Cape Blanc and the Angola–Benguela Front) might contribute to the maintenance of low or null levels of gene flow between these closely related siblings species. Also sympatric speciation must be invoked to explain the evolution of skates, for example for the division between R. leopardus and R. barnardi. The speciation processes followed a south-to-north pathways for Dipturus and a north-to-south pathways for Raja, Leucoraja and Rajella underling that the evolution of the genera occurred independently. In the end, it is conceivable that the evolutionary pathways of the tribes followed the costal line during the gondwana fragmentation. The results demonstrate that the evolution of this family is characterized by a series of parallel and independent speciation events, strictly correlated to the tectonic movement of continental masses and paleogeographic and paleoclimatic events and so can be explained by a panbiogeographical (vicariance) model.

Micromorphology and anatomy of leaves of Syzygium floribundum (Myrtaceae: Syzygieae), a rainforest tree endemic to eastern Australia

Although species of Syzygium are abundant components of the rainforests in Queensland and New South Wales, little is known about the anatomy of the Australian taxa. Here we describe the foliar anatomy and micromorphology of Syzygium floribundum (syn: Waterhousea floribunda) using standard protocols for scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and light microscopy. Syzygium floribundum possesses dorsiventral leaves with cyclo-staurocytic stomata, single epidermis, internal phloem, rhombus-shaped calcium oxalate crystals and complex-open midrib. In general, leaf anatomical and micromorphological characters are common with some species of the tribe Syzygieae. However, this particular combination of leaf characters has not been reported in a species of the genus. The anatomy of the species is typical of mesophytic taxa.

Molecular phylogeny of Hemidactylus geckos (Squamata: Gekkonidae) of the Indian subcontinent reveals a unique Indian radiation and an Indian origin of Asian house geckos

Represented by approximately 85 species, Hemidactylus is one of the most diverse and widely distributed genera of reptiles in the world. In the Indian subcontinent, this genus is represented by 28 species out of which at least 13 are endemic to this region. Here, we report the phylogeny of the Indian Hemidactylus geckos based on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA markers sequenced from multiple individuals of widely distributed as well as endemic congeners of India. Results indicate that a majority of the species distributed in India form a distinct clade whose members are largely confined to the Indian subcontinent thus representing a unique Indian radiation. The remaining Hemidactylus geckos of India belong to two other geographical clades representing the Southeast Asian and West-Asian arid zone species. Additionally, the three widely distributed, commensal species (H. brookii, H. frenatus and H. flaviviridis) are nested within the Indian radiation suggesting their Indian origin. Dispersal-vicariance analysis also supports their Indian origin and subsequent dispersal out-of-India into West-Asian arid zone and Southeast Asia. Thus, Indian subcontinent has served as an important arena for diversification amongst the Hemidactylus geckos and in the evolution and spread of its commensal geckos. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Phylogeny of the Asian Eutropis (Squamata: Scincidae) reveals an `into India' endemic Indian radiation

Recent generic rearrangement of the circumtropical distributed skink genus `Mabuya' has raised a lot of debate. According to this molecular phylogeny based rearrangement, the tropical Asian members of this genus have been assigned to Eutropis. However, in these studies the Asian members of `Mabuya' were largely sampled from Southeast (SE) Asia with very few species from Indian subcontinent. To test the validity of this assignment and to determine the evolutionary origin of Indian members of this group we sequenced one nuclear and two mitochondrial genes from most of the species from the Indian subregion. The nuclear and mitochondrial trees generated from these sequences confirmed the monophyly of the tropical Asian Eutropis. Furthermore, in the tree based on the combined mitochondrial and nuclear dataset an endemic Indian radiation was revealed that was nested within a larger Asian clade. Results of dispersal-vicariance analysis and molecular dating suggested an initial dispersal of Eutropis from SE Asia into India around 5.5-17 million years ago, giving rise to the extant members of the endemic Indian radiation. This initial dispersal was followed by two back dispersals from India into SE Asia. We also discuss the relationships within the endemic Indian radiation and its taxonomic implications. (c) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.