Identifying a New Gene Required for microRNA-mediated Gene Silencing in \u3cem\u3eDrosophila melanogaster\u3c/em\u3e

Mature microRNAs (miRNA) are ~22 nucleotide long single-stranded ribonucleic acids essential for gene silencing. Silencing occurs when miRNAs are processed via endonucleolytic cleavage and subsequently associate with the miRNA-induced silencing complex (miRISC). miRISC binds via complementary base pairing to target mRNAs, and target mRNAs are silenced by either mRNA degradation, translational block, or both. Knowledge of all genes required for silencing is incomplete. We aim to determine the molecular mechanism of silencing by identifying and characterizing genes required for silencing. A forward genetic screen was performed using EMS mutagenesis of Drosophila melanogaster to generate mutant lines with disrupted gene silencing as visualized by a GFP-based fluorescent reporter of silencing. Locations of EMS-induced mutations are being mapped by determination of recombination frequencies between these mutations and molecularly defined P-element insertions. Preliminary recombination mapping reveals that our mutation of interest (I1-5) is found within a discrete region of the genome on chromosome 3R. A new fly line has also been generated to assist with this preliminary recombination mapping. Future deficiency mapping and complementation tests combining the mutation and alleles of candidate genes will reveal the location of our mutation, and lead us to identify a gene required for micro-RNA mediated gene silencing

Evaluation of Utility Relocation Costs and Best Management Practices

In recent years, the SCDOT has experienced a significant variation in estimated costs for the relocation of utilities on many projects. This has led to cost overruns and caused concerns for the district engineers responsible for the projects. Through meetings with SCDOT personnel and utility company representatives it was determined that a standardized cost estimate form combined with improved change order management and cost management strategies was needed. Recently submitted estimates were analyzed and rated by a panel on multiple criteria to generate a list of \u27poor\u27, \u27good\u27, and \u27excellent\u27 estimates. The \u27excellent\u27 estimates provided insight into the development of a standard estimate form and the deficiencies noted in all of the estimates were addressed in the standard form. The standardized cost estimate form should be simple, easy to use, and flexible for use on all types of utility relocation projects. An Excel spreadsheet was developed with line items for material, labor, and overhead costs. It is recommended that all utility companies on all utility relocation cost estimates submitted to the SCDOT use this format. This report presents five separate standardized estimate forms for power, communication, gas, water, and sanitary sewer utilities. This report also makes recommendations for improvements to the SCDOT\u27s cost management database while utilizing cost management best practices. The main suggestion to improve the overall cost management process is to transition to a professional project management software such as Primavera P6 that can work seamlessly with the standardized estimate forms presented in this report, manage planned versus actual costs, search and sort data by any field, and generate useful cost and schedule reports

Supporting Young Immigrants in Their Transition From School to Work? A Staff Perspective on Challenges of Vocational Integration Classes

Context: The implementation of successful measures to support immigrants' integration in cultural, social, and economic life can be considered as one of today's greatest challenges for many societies. This is especially true for adolescent immigrants who have not yet been able to finish education or gain qualifications relevant to joining the labour market. That is why many receiving countries have developed and implemented special programmes that aim at supporting immigrants' integration by facilitating their employability. Unfortunately, not much is known about the process of implementing these programmes or about how education systems, schools, and teachers are dealing with the new situation and target group. In this contribution, the implementation, development, and challenges of German Vocational Integration Classes (VIC), as an example of comparable programmes in the EU, are investigated to address this research gap. The paper considers the following exploratory research questions: (a) What challenges have been experienced by teachers and social workers in the implementation of VIC as well as in the integration of immigrants into the labour market in recent years? (b) How can these challenges be met in the long run and how should VIC be developed to better achieve its aims? Methods: To answer these questions, a sequential qualitative study containing questionnaire and interview elements was conducted. First, teachers and social workers involved in VIC filled in a questionnaire about their experiences and experienced challenges in implementing VIC (N = 46). Then, supplementing interviews were conducted with participants from the first sample in order to generate further insights and to contextualise the findings from the first study part (N = 14). Findings: From the respondents' answers, it appears that the VIC programme is well implemented. The results show, however, that central challenges continue to exist. This concerns, for example, legal regulations or the development of adequate curricula, but also the scope and quality of language education. In addition, problems have also been identified with regard to students' culture-specific education and their individual attitudes. These prevailing problems seem to affect schooling and educational processes. In addition, respondents report feeling left alone to deal with problems and that their experiences from their daily work in VIC and with immigrants are not sufficiently taken into account in policy and school-related decisions. Conclusions: Although VIC seems well implemented, key challenges remain in the view of the participants. It was found that teachers cannot solve many of the identified problems themselves, as they require action at the level of policy or school organisation. For staff, this can be accompanied by increased stress and demotivation. For the young immigrants, the existing challenges can have a long-term impact on school success and transition to vocational education and training. The study thus highlights the importance of targeted and holistic strategies to support immigrant integration through education

PANGAEA information system for glaciological data management

Specific parameters determined on cores from continental ice sheets or glaciers can be used to reconstruct former climate. To use this scientific resource effectively an information system is needed which guarantees consistent longtime storage of data and provides easy access for the scientific community.An information system to archive any data of paleoclimatic relevance, together with the related metadata, raw data and evaluated paleoclimatic data, is presented. The system, based on a relational database, provides standardized import and export routines, easy access with uniform retrieval functions, and tools for the visualization of the data. The network is designed as a client/server system providing access through the Internet with proprietary client software including a high functionality or read-only access on published data via the World Wide Web

A Framework for Understanding Poverty By Ruby K. Payne

In the summer of 1997, I met Sarah and Jessica Anderson in a very small parking lot serving eight units of transitional housing in Southern Indiana. Sarah was 33 going on 34, had lost all of her teeth, and had been employed for over a year at a local dry cleaner. Jessica, her 14-year-old daughter, was four months pregnant and already starting to show. I met them because of an argument not that dissimilar from any argument a parent might have with a teenager, though the stakes were significantly higher. Sarah and Jessica had been previously living in a homeless shelter for close to a year and the transitional housing was a significant step up in their lives. If the argument continued to escalate and if the police were called, each might lose the stability for which they had been working so hard

The sublethal effects of ecdysone agonists on the attractiveness, responsiveness, fertility and fecundity of oriental fruit moth, a comparative examination with codling moth on larval feeding damage

The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file.Title from title screen of research.pdf file viewed on (June 26, 2007)Includes bibliographical references.Thesis (M.S.) University of Missouri-Columbia 2006.Dissertations, Academic -- University of Missouri--Columbia -- Entomology.The ecdysone agonists methoxyfenozide and tebufenozide are designed to affect the larval stage of Lepidopteran pests. Recent studies have reported sublethal effects on the adults of several tortricid apple tree pests exposed to these insect growth regulators. These effects include changes in mean fecundity and fertility and reduced mate-finding abilities. Here we report sublethal effects of these insect growth regulators on the oriental fruit moth, Grapholita molesta (Busck). Wind tunnel assays showed a reduction in mate finding capabilities of the moths when exposed to methoxyfenozide. Mating assays showed a reduction in mean fecundity but, generally, not mean percent fertility when females were exposed to either tebufenozide or methoxyfenozide. Median female longevity was also reduced. In another study presented here the feeding patterns of the oriental fruit moth were compared to that of codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.). Differences in sites of entry as well as visible tunneling and frass were observed. Differences were also detected in the internal fruit damage between the two moth species