English Writing Through Content and Language Integrated Learning for Korean University Students

The purpose of this project was to discover how to adapt Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) classes to serve the learning needs of Korean university students who want to learn content and English communication skills, particularly writing. The project outlines a goal focused curriculum unit. The curriculum unit includes a content portion focused on discussing current news events, and a portion for teaching writing using those same readings as authentic examples. The writing portion includes strategies to teach basic writing organization such as topic introduction paragraphs, body paragraphs, topic sentences, through process writing, as well as strategies to teach writing styles that fit certain genres. The project includes both detailed lesson plans for teachers as well as handouts for students. The author concludes that while the project is largely a success, in the future the writing portion could be expanded upon

Rhodococcus opacus PD630 Genetic Tool Development to Enable the Conversion of Biomass

The discovery of fossil fuels facilitated a new era in human history and allowed many firsts, such as the mass production of goods, the ability to travel and communicate long distances, the formation of population dense cities, and unprecedented improvements in quality of life. Alternative sources of energy and chemicals are needed, however, as hydrocarbon reserves continue to deplete and the effects of burning fossils on the planet become better understood. Lignocellulosic biomass is the most abundant raw material in the world and a viable alternative to petroleum-derived products. The pre-treatment of lignocellulose (e.g., thermocatalytic depolymerization, enzymatic hydrolysis, pyrolysis, etc.) generates a range of products, including readily available sugars for microbial fermentation. One of the typically unused fractions of biomass is the structural component, referred to as lignin, that makes up 15 to 30% of the material and when depolymerized generates a heterogeneous mixture of toxic aromatic compounds. Generally, lignin is separated from the carbohydrate fraction and burned, but its utilization has been identified as a key factor in biorefinery profitability. One possible option for lignin valorization is to find a microbe that not only ferments lignocellulose-derived sugars into a valuable commodity, but also the lignin-derived aromatics.Rhodococcus opacus PD630 (hereafter R. opacus) is a non-model, gram-positive bacterium that possesses desirable traits for biomass conversion, including consumption capabilities for both lignocellulose-derived sugars and aromatic compounds, significant accumulation of the biodiesel precursor triacylglycerol, a relatively rapid growth rate, and genetic tractability. Few genetic elements and molecular biology techniques, however, have been directly characterized in R. opacus, limiting its application for lignocellulose bioconversion. The goal of this dissertation is to greatly expand the genetic toolbox available in R. opacus in order to provide insight into its aromatic catabolism and to promote its use as a microbial chassis for the conversion of biomass-derived products into biofuels or other value-added products. The contributions developed as part of this dissertation include 1) the development of strong constitutive promoters for the overexpression of heterologous genes, 2) the development of chemical and metabolite sensors for tunable gene expression, 3) the characterization of native and endogenous plasmid backbones and resistance markers, 4) a heterologous T7 RNA polymerase expression platform for gene expression, 5) the demonstration of genetic logic circuits for programable gene expression, 6) a recombinase-based recombineering platform for gene knockouts and insertions, 7) a CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) platform for targeted gene repression, 8) the identification of stable reference genes for RT-qPCR applications, 9) insight into aromatic degradation through the β-ketoadipate pathway via gene knockouts, and 10) insight into the role of aromatic transporters via gene knockouts. Taken together, this work greatly advances the ability to engineer R. opacus for any desired application, in addition to providing understanding into its catabolism of aromatic compounds

A BIO-ECONOMIC DYNAMIC PROGRAMMING ANALYSIS OF THE SEASONAL SUPPLY RESPONSE BY FLORIDA DAIRY PRODUCERS

Seasonal price premiums have been proposed as a means of dampening the highly seasonal patterns of milk production in Florida. A Markov decision bio-economic model of the breeding and replacement decisions was solved via stochastic dynamic programming and used to analyze the potential supply response to seasonal price premiums. The results of the analysis suggest that the seasonal milk supply in Florida is highly price inelastic.Demand and Price Analysis,

THE EFFECTS OF ALTERNATE COW FRESHENING DISTRIBUTIONS ON MILK PRODUCTION AND IMPORTS IN FLORIDA

Seasonal swings in milk production in Florida result in a need to import milk on a seasonal basis. A linear programming analysis is used to analyze alternate freshening-date distributions and project the cost savings to Florida dairy farmers from reduced milk imports.Farm Management,

GREEN, EQUITABLE AND LIVABLE TRANSFORMING THE CORE OF MASON SQUARE IN SPRINGFIELD, MA

GREEN, EQUITABLE AND LIVABLE - TRANSFORMING THE CORE OF MASON SQUARE takes a focused look at the Mason Square Planning District in Springfield, Ma and provides strategies for urban design and landscape architecture to support a community’s vision for the future. The students engaged through various community meetings for the larger Mason Square district in the spring of 2023 and enthusiastically supported the ideas and thoughts that were expressed. brownfield at Wilbraham Avenue. The larger goal is to shape a district for everybody to create safe and beautiful streets, provide better connectivity to public urban green, enhance arts, culture and dining, and catalyze equitable housing and business opportunities. Core Recommendations: Ben Swan Way is a space that should be used more for temporary community events. More usable for people as a small-scale neighborhood hub for curbside dining, cultural events, markets, performances. Measures range from complete closing down for regular traffic to modest alteration of parking layout and introduction of pedestrian-friendly surfaces to slow down traffic. Reduction of traffic speed along State Street and Wilbraham Road through reduction of lane widths and/or number of lanes, elevated pedestrian crossings, planting of big street trees, establishment of bike lanes and on-street parking. Implementation through phasing and testing. Safe ways to walk back and forth from residential areas to the Rebecca Johnson and the DeBerry Swan School. Primary street corridors need more pedestrian-scale lighting, benches, and covered bus stops. Former MCDI area should be developed with a diverse strategy that encompasses opportunities for small businesses and manufacturing including work/live/art, adult education, mix of affordable and market rate housing, hospitality industry and community services as a hub for the Mason Square community. Food is an topic in the district that needs to be addressed at multiple scales and levels. Offering spaces for community gardens on vacant or underutilized lots can be a great opportunity to educate about food and create community. Local markets should cater to diverse income levels to provide food security. Food should be part of the local economy and display the ethnic diversity. The neighborhood needs more and various restaurants and places to eat. Inclusion of art and activities that acknowledge black culture and the diversity of today. Embrace the racial history of the project area through expansion of community-building art events such as Fresh Paint, and commemoration of Nelson Stevens and AfriCOBRA (the African Commune of Bad Relevant Artists). Stronger pedestrian and bicycle connections from east to west. Underutilized land along the former railroad corridor should be used as a green spine for the community. The proposed trail “McKnight Rail Trail” should be implemented in phases to regain traction and credibility of the more than 30-year old planning proposals The area of Springfield Water and Sewer Commission should be repurposed for recreation and housing to glue the neighborhoods together. Illumination, color scheme, friendly appearance of storefronts is necessary that people feel safe 24/7. Plantings with big trees can minimize heat island effects in the core area of Mason Square. Green roofs for new buildings, green facades and stormwater swales are recommended. Editor: Chandana Palika Copy Editor: Frank Sleeger

The ocean sampling day consortium.

Ocean Sampling Day was initiated by the EU-funded Micro B3 (Marine Microbial Biodiversity, Bioinformatics, Biotechnology) project to obtain a snapshot of the marine microbial biodiversity and function of the world's oceans. It is a simultaneous global mega-sequencing campaign aiming to generate the largest standardized microbial data set in a single day. This will be achievable only through the coordinated efforts of an Ocean Sampling Day Consortium, supportive partnerships and networks between sites. This commentary outlines the establishment, function and aims of the Consortium and describes our vision for a sustainable study of marine microbial communities and their embedded functional traits

The ocean sampling day consortium

Ocean Sampling Day was initiated by the EU-funded Micro B3 (Marine Microbial Biodiversity, Bioinformatics, Biotechnology) project to obtain a snapshot of the marine microbial biodiversity and function of the world’s oceans. It is a simultaneous global mega-sequencing campaign aiming to generate the largest standardized microbial data set in a single day. This will be achievable only through the coordinated efforts of an Ocean Sampling Day Consortium, supportive partnerships and networks between sites. This commentary outlines the establishment, function and aims of the Consortium and describes our vision for a sustainable study of marine microbial communities and their embedded functional traits

The Ocean Sampling Day Consortium

Ocean Sampling Day was initiated by the EU-funded Micro B3 (Marine Microbial Biodiversity, Bioinformatics, Biotechnology) project to obtain a snapshot of the marine microbial biodiversity and function of the world’s oceans. It is a simultaneous global mega-sequencing campaign aiming to generate the largest standardized microbial data set in a single day. This will be achievable only through the coordinated efforts of an Ocean Sampling Day Consortium, supportive partnerships and networks between sites. This commentary outlines the establishment, function and aims of the Consortium and describes our vision for a sustainable study of marine microbial communities and their embedded functional traits

Effects of Burkholderia thailandensis rhamnolipids on the unicellular algae Dunaliella tertiolecta

The effects of rhamnolipids (RLs) produced and further purified from Burkholderia thailandensis, on the unicellular microalgae Dunaliella tertiolecta were investigated, in terms of RLs ability to affect algal growth, photosynthetic apparatus structure and energy flux, round and through photosystems II and I. Specifically, 24–48 h RLs-treated algae (RLs at concentrations ranged from 5 to 50 mg L−1) showed significantly decreased levels of growth rate, while increased levels of Chl a and b were obtained only in 72–96 h RLs-treated algae. Similarly, although no changes were obtained in the Chl a/b ratio and almost all chlorophyll fluorescence parameters over time, yields of electron transport (ϕR0, ϕE0) and respective performance index (PItotal) were negatively affected at 72 and 96 h. Based on those findings, it seems that the inhibitory effect of RLs on the algae growth rate after 24 and 48 h and the gradual attenuation of the phenomenon (after 72 h of exposure), may indicate the initial response of the organism, as well as algae ability to overcome, since RLs showed no effects on algae photosynthetic ability. Those findings reveal for the first time that RLs from Burkholderia thailandensis are not harmful for Dunaliella tertiolecta. However, further studies with the use of more aquatic species could be essential for assessing the RLs-mediated effects on aquatic biota