An Analysis of Fiscal Equity Provided by the JLARC System for Financing Public Schools: Commonwealth of Virginia 1987-88 to 1997-98

At the request of the Virginia Education Association (VEA), a 1990 study of the Virginia System of Public School Finance, Closing the Gap, contrasted the level of fiscal equity achieved by the Commonwealth for school year, 1988-89, with prior year, 1987-88

Metabolite Profiling of the Coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi To Examine Links Between Calcification and Central Metabolism

Coccolithophores are single-celled marine phytoplankton, which produce intricate calcium carbonate platelets or ‘coccoliths’. Emiliania huxleyi is the most abundant and widespread coccolithophore, and is one of the most productive calcifying species on earth, playing a key role in global carbon, carbonate and sulphur cycles. Despite much research into coccolithophore biology, the underlying function of their coccoliths is still unknown. The main aim of the research reported in this thesis was to examine the impact of calcification on metabolism in coccolithophores. Calcification is a significant global process, so it is important to discover what effect it has on the metabolism of cells. The major metabolites each have different costs and benefits to the cell, which will vary depending on the habitat and environmental conditions the cell is in. By comparing the metabolite profiles of different strains, including calcifying, non-calcifying, haploid and diploid cells, differences in metabolite composition and potential patterns related to cell type were investigated. Low molecular weight (LMW) metabolites were characterised using a combination of metabolomic techniques. In agreement with previous research, dimethylsulphoniopropionate (DMSP) was the most abundant compound, followed by mannitol and glycine betaine (GBT). Less abundant sugars, polyols and amino acids were also identified. Environmental factors were manipulated to investigate how the principal metabolites were affected by salinity, different light intensities and nutrient (phosphate and nitrate) limitation. The data revealed a striking difference between haploid and diploid cells of the same strain, with the haploid containing lower concentrations of most of the major metabolites. Thus it is proposed that haploid cells have a different osmoregulatory strategy from the diploid cells. A negative correlation was found between DMSP and mannitol, suggesting that mannitol has a dual function, not only as a major storage compound but also as a principal compatible solute. Untargeted metabolite profiling is becoming a popular tool to investigate phenotypes and varying environmental conditions. LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS analyses of a wide range of metabolites showed that it is an effective method to identify differences and similarities between E. huxleyi strains grown in different conditions. Strain and growth phase appear to be the more important factors in differentiating metabolite profiles. Surprisingly there were no obvious metabolite profiling differences between calcifying and non-calcifying cells. Untargeted analysis can, however, be used to identify the compounds that did display differences, and which may be important biomarkers, so warrant further investigation. A range of metabolite profiling techniques highlighted important differences between strains, which will hopefully lead onto further research into the metabolome of E. huxleyi, and the unravelling of important metabolic pathways. There has been little research into the LMW metabolites of E. huxleyi, and especially comparisons between strains. Thus the use of metabolomics is a novel way to investigate the difference between cell types and the possible functions of calcification.NERC & Marine Biological Association, Plymout

Developing an employer led assessment strategy to increase employability: Presentation at APT 2018: An uncertain future: Adapting academic practice for an evolving digital world

Students are increasingly aware of the investment they are making in their education and looking for value for money (pay back) and the relevance of their learning to the job market. This was the impetus for re-evaluating the assessment strategy for the MSc in Environmental Conservation, aligning it more closely with ‘Competency Framework’ used by the professional body, the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Conservation, to assess career progression towards chartered status. This presentation will describe how standard assignments, such as exams, have been replaced with industry relevant ones that students can use to demonstrate competency to potential employers

Designing Assessments as Preparation for Real World Practice

We provide feedback on all assessment, but the question remains as to firstly what students do in response to this and secondly whether the way in which it is given is an effective way of facilitating improvement and – importantly – whether we are preparing them for the type of constructive criticism that they will receive in their professional roles. In this session we will explore these questions with reference to research carried out with both recent graduates and employers and will be seeking responses from the participants in developing strategies for providing more effective feedbac

Assessment strategies and employability in the environmental and engineering sectors

This presentation reports the results of research working with alumni and recent entrants to the professions on the extent to which the assessments they experienced at University prepared them for the reality of the workplace. This will be combined with research into the competencies employers expect when recruiting graduates to ensure authentic assessment strategies to enhance graduate outcomes and employability. This is particularly relevant in the increasingly competitive market place with potential students seeking evidence of value for their investment in career development and employers become the ‘client’ choosing where to send their apprentices for their off the job training

Transcriptional reprogramming underpins enhanced plant growth promotion by the biocontrol fungus Trichoderma hamatum GD12 during antagonistic interactions with Sclerotinia sclerotiorumin soil

The free-living soil fungus Trichoderma hamatum strain GD12 is notable amongst Trichoderma strains in both controlling plant diseases and in stimulating plant growth, a property enhanced during its antagonistic interactions with pathogens in soil. These attributes, alongside its markedly expanded genome and proteome compared to other biocontrol and plant growth promoting Trichoderma strains, imply a rich potential for sustainable alternatives to synthetic pesticides and fertilisers for controlling plant disease and increasing yields. The purpose of this study was to investigate the transcriptional responses of GD12 underpinning its biocontrol and plant growth promotion capabilities during antagonistic interactions with the pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in soil. Using an extensive mRNA-seq study capturing different time points during the pathogen-antagonist interaction in soil, we show that dynamic and biphasic signatures in the GD12 transcriptome underpin its biocontrol and plant (lettuce) growth promotional activities. Functional predictions of differentially expressed genes demonstrate the enrichment of transcripts encoding proteins involved in transportation and oxidation-reduction reactions during both processes and an over-representation of siderophores. We identify a biphasic response during biocontrol characterised by a significant induction of transcripts encoding small-secreted cysteine rich proteins, secondary metabolite producing gene clusters and genes unique to GD12. These data support the hypothesis that Sclerotinia biocontrol is mediated by the synthesis and secretion of antifungal compounds and that GD12's unique reservoir of uncharacterised genes is actively recruited during effective biological control of a plurivorous plant pathogen. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

Cinematographa

Conceived by artist and filmmaker Margaret Salmon, this publication is a tribute to a group of innovative sister cinematographas and to the analogue motion picture camera. The book pairs an enquiry into women’s filmmaking practice with a comprehensive survey of experimental analogue technique across generations. Nine filmmakers – Peggy Ahwesh, Betzy Bromberg, Rose Lowder, Babette Mangolte, Rhea Storr, Deborah Stratman, Alia Syed, Malena Szlam and Salmon herself, speak about the ways they use and think about their cameras, sharing technical knowledge and reflections on camera work to reveal their creative philosophies and intentions

An Extracellular Polysaccharide-Rich Organic Layer Contributes to Organization of the Coccosphere in Coccolithophores

This is the final version. Available from Frontiers Media via the DOI in this record.Coccolithophores are globally abundant marine microalgae characterized by their ability to form calcite platelets (coccoliths). The coccoliths are produced internally in a Golgi-derived vesicle. Mature coccoliths are extruded from the cell to form a protective covering on the cell surface, known as the coccosphere. Current evidence indicates that calcite precipitation in the coccolith vesicle (CV) is modulated by coccolith-associated polysaccharides (CAPs). Whilst previous research into CAPs has focussed on their roles in calcite precipitation within the CV, little is known of their extracellular roles. Using fluorescent lectins, we visualize the extracellular polysaccharide-rich organic layer associated with external coccoliths and demonstrate that it differs between species in structure and composition. Biochemical analysis of polysaccharide extracted from coccoliths indicated substantial differences between species in monosaccharide composition and uronic acid content. In Coccolithus braarudii our studies indicate that polysaccharide-rich material is extruded with the coccoliths, where it plays a role in the adhesion of the coccoliths to the cell surface and contributes to the overall organization of the coccosphere. Together, these results highlight the important extracellular roles of CAPs and their contribution to the dynamic nature of the coccosphere.The authors acknowledge funding from NERC SPITFIRE DTP studentship to CW. GW and CB acknowledge support from NERC (NE/N011708/1) and the European Research Council (ERC-ADG 670390). CW was additionally supported by the Gillings Graduate Exchange Programme (University of Southampton/University of North Carolina Wilmington). AT acknowledges NSF support (NSFGEO-NERC-1638838)