title: Theoretical study of electronic absorption spectra and photodissociation dynamics of atmospherically relevant molecules

authors: Farahani, Sara

subjects: spectra simulation

abstract: The absorption of solar radiation by atmospheric species and the corresponding photoinduced processes, define the chemistry of a planet's atmosphere. While many of these photoinduced processes and their effects are well- known, even in Earth's atmosphere there are gaps in our understanding. The focus of this thesis is the theoretical study of the absorption of sunlight by some important atmospheric species where no or minimal experimental results are available. We simulate electronic absorption spectra of atmospherically relevant sulfur-containing molecules, including sulfuric acid, which is present in Earths' atmosphere and OSSO, which was recently identified in the atmosphere of Venus. We also simulate electronic absorption spectra for a series of N₂O complexes thought to be present in Earth's atmosphere, namely Ar-N₂O, N₂O-N₂, O₂-N₂O and H₂O-N₂O. We consider how complexation affects the absorption cross section of N₂O monomer in these complexes and also undertake photodissociation dynamics simulations for the H₂O-N₂O complex. Where possible, we compare and validate our theoretical results with experiment, and in the absence of experimental data, we suggest that our results may be of use to the atmospheric modeling community.

text: Theoretical study of electronic absorption spectra and photodissociation dynamics of atmospherically relevant molecules The absorption of solar radiation by atmospheric species and the corresponding photoinduced processes, define the chemistry of a planet's atmosphere. While many of these photoinduced processes and their effects are well- known, even in Earth's atmosphere there are gaps in our understanding. The focus of this thesis is the theoretical study of the absorption of sunlight by some important atmospheric species where no or minimal experimental results are available. We simulate electronic absorption spectra of atmospherically relevant sulfur-containing molecules, including sulfuric acid, which is present in Earths' atmosphere and OSSO, which was recently identified in the atmosphere of Venus. We also simulate electronic absorption spectra for a series of N₂O complexes thought to be present in Earth's atmosphere, namely Ar-N₂O, N₂O-N₂, O₂-N₂O and H₂O-N₂O. We consider how complexation affects the absorption cross section of N₂O monomer in these complexes and also undertake photodissociation dynamics simulations for the H₂O-N₂O complex. Where possible, we compare and validate our theoretical results with experiment, and in the absence of experimental data, we suggest that our results may be of use to the atmospheric modeling community.

year: 2019

title: Assessment digital smarts: Using short text assignment formats for enhancing student learning

authors: Earl Rinehart, (Suzanne) Kerry

subjects: assessment

abstract: Lecturers and course designers need to be smart about assignment design. This is particularly so when time constraints of lecturer workload and students’ other commitments impact on teaching and learning coverage of objectives in tertiary courses, By reconsidering assignment formats with a focus on assessment as another opportunity for learning, course designers and lecturers may be able to take advantage of affordances of technology and maximise student engagement with assignments for learning. This study describes some short text assignment types and reports on a case study using a survey of student perceptions of these formats in a third year fully online degree course. Students expressed approval of the variety and opportunities for creativity in these assignments and found them useful for their own learning and for future application in their contexts.

text: Assessment digital smarts: Using short text assignment formats for enhancing student learning Lecturers and course designers need to be smart about assignment design. This is particularly so when time constraints of lecturer workload and students’ other commitments impact on teaching and learning coverage of objectives in tertiary courses, By reconsidering assignment formats with a focus on assessment as another opportunity for learning, course designers and lecturers may be able to take advantage of affordances of technology and maximise student engagement with assignments for learning. This study describes some short text assignment types and reports on a case study using a survey of student perceptions of these formats in a third year fully online degree course. Students expressed approval of the variety and opportunities for creativity in these assignments and found them useful for their own learning and for future application in their contexts.

year: 2015

title: Katoa: A descriptive, comparative and historical analysis

authors: Wessels, Kanauhea Janion

subjects: discontinuous quantification

abstract: Katoa, approximately translated as ‘all, every’, functions as the universal quantifier in te reo Māori (the Māori language), inherited from Proto Polynesian *katoa. Less well known is its occurrence as a postnominal modifier in singular noun phrases, contributing the meaning of ‘whole’, and as a nominal head meaning ‘all (of them), the whole (of it)’. As a postverbal modifier, katoa can quantify a subject noun phrase with the same meanings of ‘all, every’ and ‘whole’, and it can modify situations expressed by the verb, meaning ‘wholly, completely’. In this paper, we examine the behaviour of katoa in te reo Māori, comparing some properties of katoa with the behaviour of quantifiers in related Polynesian languages. This, in turn, informs our understanding of the prehistory of quantification in Polynesian, where we observe evidence of both retention and replacement of quantifier forms.

text: Katoa: A descriptive, comparative and historical analysis Katoa, approximately translated as ‘all, every’, functions as the universal quantifier in te reo Māori (the Māori language), inherited from Proto Polynesian *katoa. Less well known is its occurrence as a postnominal modifier in singular noun phrases, contributing the meaning of ‘whole’, and as a nominal head meaning ‘all (of them), the whole (of it)’. As a postverbal modifier, katoa can quantify a subject noun phrase with the same meanings of ‘all, every’ and ‘whole’, and it can modify situations expressed by the verb, meaning ‘wholly, completely’. In this paper, we examine the behaviour of katoa in te reo Māori, comparing some properties of katoa with the behaviour of quantifiers in related Polynesian languages. This, in turn, informs our understanding of the prehistory of quantification in Polynesian, where we observe evidence of both retention and replacement of quantifier forms.

year: 2024