Career Services and Placement are major Components to connect students Lab Report

Career Services and Placement are major Components to connect students between the academic program and the workplace - Lab Report Example One of the key factors is knowing how to market the students. For example, Liberal Arts is such an encompassing major that personnel learned to explain to prospective employers that the students would be highly trained in "communication, teamwork, and critical thinking skills" (189). According to Nell, studies showed that students who mastered these three attributes retained their jobs longer, and were promoted more quickly. This was a salient point for prospective employers. Also, a class was created called Transitions from College to Work, and made mandatory for all upcoming Liberal Arts graduates. The university was pleased with its results, and Nell quoted one official as saying, "We believe that we have illustrated a model for any institution to use, regardless of size, organizational structure, or resources" (192). Most placement departments intend to stay competitive, and use a variety of means to do so. In "Jump-Starting the Job Search," Tricia Bisoux writes that many departments dedicate at least one person "solely to corporate relations" (24). She added that good departments also "increase their travel time and visit companies throughout the year to stay in contact" (24). In "B In "Business Unusual," V. Scott Koerwer and Cherie A. Scricca interviewed employees of Robert H. Smith School of Business. The school was losing ranking in placement of graduates because "our connections were still not deep enough to satisfy our graduates' job expectations" (24). The Smith School decided to join forces with a job search firm to increase placement rates. In "Year Up's Success," Anne Lewis chronicles the help given to students attending Cambridge College. Her take is simple: "A career service manager helps students with job placement, career development, and higher education applications" (7). The program, Year Up, is meeting placement and wage markers since it began in 2000. How Successful Do Placement Programs Have to Be It might bear asking if college students should need so much help securing employment. The general consensus, though, is that students do need the extra attention paid to their post-collegiate success. In "The Flogging of For-Profit Colleges," Richard P. Hassler discusses proprietary institutions, and how the students are seen as customers to be served. Therefore, career services must take on the dual role of serving the customer, as well as employers. Hassler writes, "These departments not only assist graduates and attending students with job placement, but also help current and prospective employers understand the benefit of hiring students from that school," (72). Andreas Walmskey, Rhodri Thomas, and Stephanie Jameson agree. In "Surprise and Sense Making: Undergraduate Placement Experience in SMEs," they write, "Focusing on placement impacts on future career choices," (361) meaning that students are more likely to choose majors that show success in employment. In "Get a Job," Joh n Savarese writes that the most important instructors are the "counselors at the campus's Career Services center" (66). Since it is

Methane Dry Reforming Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Methane Dry Reforming - Research Paper Example The active use of methane and carbon dioxide is also helpful because these gases are not environmentally friendly and their conversion to feedstock will enable better environmental regulation. During the conversion process, one of the major problems is catalyst deactivation resulting from coke deposition. The deposition of coke produces poor catalyst selectivity, activity and longevity. The aim of this project is to investigate the effects of forced periodic cycling between a carbon-gasifying agent (such as carbon dioxide) and methane dry reforming in order to increase the yield of syngases and to improve catalyst longevity. This study will also bolster innovation by developing the traditional Ni-CO catalyst using cerium oxide as a promoter. This approach has been shown to favour synthesis gas formation along with resistance to coking in various studies on the matter. The achievement of these goals may lead to significant improvements in hydrocarbon reforming in context of catalyst d eactivation and would also lead to an improved catalytic reforming system. These improvements would in turn provide substantial economic and environmental benefits through a positive reduction in greenhouse gases. 1. Literature Review 1.1. Introduction Both large scale and small scale industrial technology has depended on hydrocarbon reforming to produce hydrogen [Seo et al., 2009; Rakib et al., 2010]. One of the largest uses for hydrogen is the production of ammonia (NH3) through a reaction with nitrogen using the Haber process [Li et al., 2007]. Steam reforming is also a preferred method to produce hydrogen at high purity and product yields for small energy technologies like fuel cells [Lora et al.; Heinzel et al., 2002]. Overall, the major processes involved in the conversion of hydrocarbons to synthesis gas include dry reforming, steam reforming and partial oxidation or a combination of partial oxidation and steam reforming better known as oxidative steam reforming [Aasbe rg-Petersen et al., 2001; Sarmiento et al., 2007; Rostrup-Nielsen, 2009]. Each of these processes tend to have their own pros and cons based on criteria such as product composition, availability of reactants (CO2, H2O, O2), purity as well as production scale and cost [Pena et al., 1996]. As far as refining and petrochemical processes are concerned steam reforming is the preferred method [AvcI et al., 2004]. However, the industrial production of synthesis gas using hydrocarbon steam reforming tends to leave behind unwanted coke deposits on the catalyst making it not so favourable. Coke deposition has distinct disadvantages including lowered catalyst activity, longevity, selectivity and reduced reactor performance that requires constant maintenance. Within industrial processes, carbon is removed using an excess carbon to steam ratio (generally greater than 3) in order to decrease the chances of coke deposition on the catalyst. Though this method is effective, it requires greater energy investment as more steam is required than normal steam reforming necessitates. On the other hand, dry reforming is seen as an auspicious technology for synthesis gas production as it offers certain distinct advantages such as: i. Depletion of unwanted greenhouses gases (carbon dioxide and methane); ii. Gas separation is not required thereby reducing cost and allowing

Corrupt Societies Essay Example for Free

Corrupt Societies Essay In todays society I find that a lot of people have become materialistic. Its a new coach purse, the brand new cell phone from Verizon or a plasma screen TV that is the hype and everyone wants. Either way a person is to look at it, society is based on who has what. There is an emphasis on a persons status in their society and it is very important. I always hear my boss saying its all about the Benjamins! and hes right. Not a day goes by that a person doesnt think about what they want to buy next. Does this make us bad people? Have we all succumbed to an unconscious norm that is all materialistic? What is it to be materialistic? The Webster definition is that a person is concerned with material wealth and possessions at the expense of spiritual or intellectual values. I see it as a person that wants something so much that they would stop at nothing to have it whether it is by means of purchasing, stealing or cheating someone else out of it. Its about judging a book by its cover and not looking at the big picture of life and the world around us. When my mom was younger, things that were sought after were high diplomas and bachelors degree. Now as I grow up its a masters degree and the BMW that I may drive that gives me a status in society. There are so many times when things are taken for granted and some people find nothing wrong with this. How can a person go on in life only wondering about if they can have that brand new car or cell phone? Do the things we have define who we are as a person? I feel that every society is corrupt in its own way. Its the people, the government, our morals, values and our adaptive way of life. This is not just in fantasy books but in our real world as well. When I see how things have changed from when I was little I wonder how it all could have happened. I remember the first computer I ever got in my life and when I compare it to my laptop, its almost one eighth of what my whole computer used to be. But its not just the technology that has changed. Our perception of the world, the role we play in it and how that role has changed. Attitudes have changed and there is a difference between how people relate to each other.

Putative S-Adenosyl Methionine Dependent Ironâ€Sulfur

Putative S-Adenosyl Methionine Dependent Iron–Sulfur Identification and Characterization of a Putative S-Adenosyl Methionine dependent Iron–Sulfur containing protein from  Methanococcus Jannaschii Qi Liu Research Proposal Dr. MishtuDey Dr. M. Lei Geng Dr. Leonard R. MacGillivray Dr. Amnon Kohen Dr. Daniel Quinn Introduction Biological methane formation is a microbial process that is catalyzed by microbes called methanogens, which belong to the third kingdom of life, the Archaea. Methane is formed at the final catalytic step by methyl-coenzyme M reductase (MCR), in which coenzyme B (CoBSH, N-7-mercaptoheptanoylthreonine) donates two electrons to reduce methyl-coenzyme M. MCR is a 300kDa enzyme, which is composed of three different subunits in an ÃŽ ±2ÃŽ ²2ÃŽ ³2 arrangement and contains 2 mol of the nickel tetrapyrrole coenzyme F430, which are buried deeply within the protein complex[1]. There are five modified amino acids were found out on the ÃŽ ±-subunit and near the active site of MCR from methanothermobacter marburgensis based on the X-ray crystallographic studies. They are 1-N-methylhistitine (HisÃŽ ±400), 5-(S)-methylarginine (ArgÃŽ ±271), 2-(S)-methylglutamine (GluÃŽ ±400), S-methylcysteine (CysÃŽ ±452), where the side chains are methylated and one thioglycine (GlyÃŽ ±445) forming a thiopeptide bo nd (Figure 1). Since the DNA sequence of the encoding MCR gene shows no unsusal condons or unusual codon usages at the positions in which the five modified amino acids were found, the modifications are introduced after translation [1]. According to vivo labeling experiments with L-(methyl-D3)-methionine, people found that the methyl groups from the modified amino acids are introduced biosynthetically from the methyl group of methionine by specific S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) dependent Figure1. Post Translational Modifications in MCR  enzymes. These methyl translational modifications are catalyzed by protein methylases that specifically recognize the amino acid sequences up and downstream of amino acid to be methylated. The genome of methanogens has many open reading frame predicted to be putative methyltransferases, which also agrees with the proposal that there are four different SAM-dependent protein methylases are involved in the post translation modification. A search of six kn own methanogenic genomes led to the identification of conserved open reading frame around the MCR gene cluster. Some methangenic archaea contain two MCR isoenzymes, designated MCR1 and MCR2. This conserved hypothetical protein is found around MCR1 in Methanococcus jannaschii and Methanobacterium thermobacter. The open reading frame from Methanococcus jannaschii, MJ0841 is annotated as a conserved hypothetical protein, which is found to be related to the radical SAM enzyme superfamily. The signature motif of SAM radical enzymes is three cysteine motif â€Å"CX3CX2C† (Figure 2), multiple sequence alignment of the putative gene from methanogens show the conserved CXGFCXXC, which is known to coordinate to [4Fe-4S] cluster. (Figure 3) Figure 2. Multiple Sequence Alignment of MJ0841 Homologues from Different Methanogens Figure 3. [4Fe–4S] cluster coordinated by three-cysteine motif CxxxCxxC. The fourth iron of the cluster interacts with a bound SAM. Specific Aims It is interesting and important to determine the function of this hypothetical protein. We speculate that this hypothetical protein, MJ0841, could be a possible candidate responsible for the post-translation modification of the methylated amino acids, or, is involved in the formation of the thioglycine in MCR. Research Plan, Results and Discussion Expression and Purification of MJ0841 MJ0841, a 1248bp gene, was cloned into pET28a vector. The resulting plasmid was transformed in E.coli BL21(DE3) cells for gene expression. In order to increase the iron content, MJ0841 was also co-expressed with PDB1282. Overnight cell culture grown at 37oC in Luria-Bertani (LB) medium containing both kanamycin (50ug/ml) and ampicillin (100ug/ml) was inoculated, in a 100-fold dilution, into Terrific Broth (TB) media aerobically at 37oC. FeCl3 was also added to a final concentration of 100uM to be as the iron content for iron-sulfur cluster during the growth when OD600 was around 0.3. Protein expression was then induced at OD600 of 0.6 to 0.7 with addition of Isopropyl ÃŽ ²-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) to final concentration of 0.5mM. After overnight incubation at 37oC around 18hours, the cells were harvested by centrifugation at 5000rpm for 30mins at 4oC, and stored at -80oC. The following procedures were all carried out in oxygen free environment at 20oC. Purification was conducted anaerobically at oxygen level always below 2.0ppm in anaerobic chamber. 23g Cell were moved into anaerobic chamber and resuspended in 120mL lysis buffer (50mM tris-HCl, 300mM NaCl, 5% glycerol pH 7.5), and Phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride (PMSF) 1mM final concentration, 3 tablets of protease inhibitor, 2-mercaptomethanol 10mM) for 15mins. The cells were lysed by sonication for 15mins followed by centrifugation at 30,000 rpm for 40mins at 4oC to remove the cell debris. The supernatant was applied to a packed 15mL Ni-NTA resin column equilibrated with lysis buffer. The column was then washed with 5 column volume of wash buffer (50mM tris-HCl, 300mM NaCl, 10mM IMD, 5% glycerol, pH 7.5). The brownish protein was eluted by gradient elution with 5 column volume of wash buffer and 5 column volume elution buffer (50mM tris-HCl, 300mM NaCl, 200mM IMD, 5% glycerol, pH 7.5). SDS-PAGE was applied to analyze the desired clean protein fractions, which were then combined an d set for overnight dialysis with dialysis buffer (50mM tris-HCl, pH 7.5, 5% glycerol) with slow stirring. The pooled fractions were concentrated using an Amicon centrifugal filter with a 30kDa molecular weight cut off (MWCO). The collected protein was further purified with 20mL packed Q-sepharose column equilibrated with lysis buffer (50mM tris-HCl, 5% glycerol, pH 7.5). The column was then washed with 5 column volume of wash buffer (50mM tris-HCl, 200mM NaCl, 5% glycerol, pH 7.5). The brownish protein was eluted by gradient elution with 5 column volume of wash buffer and 5 column volume elution buffer (50mM tris-HCl, 700mM NaCl, 5% glycerol, pH 7.5). SDS-PAGE was applied to analyze the desired clean protein fractions, which were then combined for reconstitution (Figure 4). Figure 4. SDS-PAGE gel electrophoresis analysis of MJ0841 purification fractions Reconstitution of the [4Fe-4S] Cluster of MJ0841 in Vitro The above apo-protein (16uM, 40ml) was incubated with final concentration of 5mM DTT for 1h with slow stirring at room temperature. Then, cystein was added into the above solution by dropwise to reach 10 molar folds excess of protein. After 30mins incubation, 10 molar excess of Fe(NH4)2(SO4)2 was added slowly to provide enough iron content for iron sulfur cluster and incubated for 30mins. The resulting solution was incubated with 10 molar excess of Na2S finally, and the brownish protein solution changed to dark brown after adding Na2S. The above final protein solution was kept in 4oC overnight around 14 hours for building up enough [4Fe-4S] clusters. In order to remove the unbounded iron and sulfur, the overnight reconstituted protein was concentrated to 2.5 – 3ml of final volume and loaded onto a 5mL PT10 column equilibrated with lysis buffer (50mM tris-HCl, 5% glycerol, pH 7.5), and the final pure protein was combined. Reduction of [4Fe-4S] Cluster UV-vis spectroscopy was applied here for detecting the reduction of [4Fe-4S] cluster. A characteristic peak for [4Fe-4S] cluster was shown up near 412nm before reducing. Sodium Dithionite was used as the reducing agent and the stock solution was prepared freshly right before adding into the protein. 100 equivalents of sodium dithionite were mixed with concentrated protein, and the peak at 412nm was reduced (Figure 5). According to the results from UV-vis, the 4Fe-4S cluster was built up by reconstitution, also the [4Fe-4S]2+ was reduced to [4Fe-4S]+ by the reduction of sodium dithionite. Figure 5. UV-vis spectra of purified reconsituted MJ0841 Figure 6. EPR spectrum of as-isolated MJ0841 (blue trace) and purified reconstituted MJ0841 originating from a [3Fe-4S]+ cluster. reduced with 100 equiv sodium dithionite (red trace) EPR samples preparation and spectral collection EPR spectrums of as-isolated, oxidized and reduced form of MJ0841 are detected at 10K. All samples are prepared anaerobically. As-isolated protein was prepared with the protein without reconstitution, and exhibits a strong isotropic EPR signal, which is centered at g=2.01 same as the g=2.01 signal of the [3Fe-4S]+ cluster form (Figure 6). The oxidized form protein containing [4Fe-4S]2+ was prepared by injecting 200ul concentrated protein purified through PD10 column into EPR tube, and it normally shows silent EPR signal (Figure 7). Reduced form of as-isolated protein was performed by mixing with 100 equivalents of sodium dithionite with 200ul concentrated protein, which gives the reduction form of [4Fe-4S]+ cluster and shows the characteristic EPR signal with g factors of g=2.03 and g=1.92 (Figure 8). Figure 7. EPR spectrum of oxidized form of MJ0841. Figure 8. EPR spectrum of reduced form of MJ0841. SAM cleavage activity of MJ0841 The characteristic reaction for detecting radical SAM enzymes is reductive cleavage of SAM into S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) and 5’-deoxyadenosyl radical (5’dAdo). Assays were conducted under strict anaerobic conditions. The reaction assay contains the following: 50mM Tris-HCl, 5mM DTT, 5Mm sodium dithionite, 0.5mM SAM. Reactions were initiated by addition of SAM and carried out at 20oC for 20 hours. The control reaction was run under the same conditions as the above assay, but without presence of protein. Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) (final concentration 5% v/v) was added to quench the reactions, which then were identified by HPLC analysis. HPLC analysis of SAM cleavage assay products After quenching by TFA, the reaction mixture was centrifuged and the supernatant was applied into HPLC analysis. 10ul of assay mixture was injected into C18 column, which had been pre-equilibrated with equilibrium buffer (40mM ammonium acetate, pH=6.2). Then the column was washed with a linear gradient from 0-50% acetonitrile for 30mins at room temperature to detect SAH and 5’dAdo. The UV-detector was set at wavelength 258nm, and the standard samples, SAM, SAH, and 5’dAdo, were run with the same condition as SAM cleavage reaction products. According to the retention time comparison between standard samples and products, formation of SAH and 5’dAdo were all detected via HPLC analysis when enzyme was present. In the absence of enzyme MJ0841, SAM was not consumed at all and there were no any products peak formed, which confirmed the SAM was cleaved by enzyme. The dark blue, red, light blue traces show the relative intensities of 5’dAdo, SAH, and SAM standards. The green trace shows the assay with the use of reconstituted MJ0841, and the SAH and 5’dAdo were both observed. The purple trace shows the control assay without MJ0841, and there was not any of 5’dAdo formed (Figure 9). Figure 9. HPLC analysis of the SAM cleavage assays Conclusions Future Work Initial results seem to show the [4Fe-4S] cluster and the enzyme activity. Since SAM was cleaved enzymatically, the products will be detected by mass spectroscopy to confirm the formation SAH and 5’dAdo. Furthermore, probable substrates of MJ0841 will be prepared, which should contain the amino acids that would be modified. The activity assays with substrates will be examined to detect the desired methylation reaction on substrates.

Metaphors Throughout The Scarlet Letter :: essays research papers

Hawthorne manages to create many metaphors within his novel The Scarlet Letter. The rose bush outside the prison door, the black man, and the scaffold are three metaphors. Perhaps the most important metaphor would be the scaffold, which plays a great role throughout the entire story. The three scaffold scenes which Hawthorne incorporated into The Scarlet Letter contain a great deal of significance and importance the plot. Each scene brings a different aspect of the main characters, the crowd or more minor characters, and what truth or punishment is being brought forth. The first scaffold scene takes place at the very beginning of the story. In this particular scene, Hester has moments before walked from the prison door carrying her baby and donning the scarlet letter, which stands for adultery. She must make this procession in front of the entire town. After the march, Hester is forced to stand alone on the scaffold until an hour past noon. It seems as if Hawthorne wrote this scene for the purposes of exhibiting the harshness of Puritan society, and to allow the reader some insight into Hester's thoughts. Hawthorne places the focus onto Hester at this moment. The reader observes her before the full effect of the scarlet letter has had a chance to take hold of her. The reader is also able to see the cruel and judgmental behavior of the crowd through their language, such as when they call her a hussy. "This women has brought shame upon us all, and ought to die. Is there not law for it?" In this scene, the reader is able to see inside Hester's head. One is able to observe the utter contempt she holds for the Puritan ways. She exhibits he love and respect for the father of her child, when she refuses to relinquish his name to the committee. The reader can see her defiant spirit due to these actions. The second scaffold scene is momentous, but seemingly less important in comparison with the other two. This scene, in general, is quite different from the other two scaffold scenes. The first and third take place during the day, in front of large crowds. However, the second scene takes place at night, in which only five citizens pass before the scaffold, or glance out their windows at it. At the beginning of this scene, the reader finds Dimmesdale by himself on the scaffold.

Crime in America Essay -- essays research papers

Parole (early release from prison) is often referred to as the back door to the US corrections system. The concept of parole dates back to the establishment of the Elmira Reformatory. The goal of the Elmira Reformatory was to rehabilitate and reform the criminal instead of following the traditional method of silence, obedience, and labor. Parole was originally set up to encourage prisoners to do well, keep their noses clean, and become model prisoners. Once a prisoner had shown rehabilitation and reform they were released prior to the execution of their full sentence. Before a prisoner can be released on parole he/she must meet before a parole board. Each prison with a parole system is set up with one of two types of parole services. Service one is the independent model. Like its name says it is independent, independent from any other state agency. Meaning that it’s parole officers do not work for the corrections system. This enables them to be more bias and fair with their decisions. Service two is the consolidated model. This model is ran by the corrections system and is under the direction of the commissioner of corrections. The consolidated model does not give its members the ability to be bias. They have to bite their tongues in some instances as to not ruffle the feathers of those appointed over them. No matter which model is in place if not used correctly it is a failure. In most states the members of the parole board are appointed by the governor and serve a term of...

The student body of your University

I would be grateful if offered the opportunity to be a member of the student body of your University. I am currently undertaking my studies at Grossmont College and I would wish to transfer to your University in order to study Business Administration.Grossmont College does not offer undergraduate programs and I wish to further my studies to the highest level I can achieve in an institution which encourages both personal and collective academic advancement. I am specifically enthusiastic about your University due to the high levels of integrity and quality education being offered besides providing for students a good environment for studies.The visions and goals of your University as an academic institution are in line with my personal goals for I desire to positively change the human society through knowledge that I wish to gain from your institution when given the chance.I believe that University of San Diego is the place where the foundation of my career stand to be shaped as its v alues has the capacity to further build my worth as a moral and intellectual being. My objectives are to work in the business world as a manager and I believe my studies at your esteemed institution will adequately equip me for such an eventuality.I completely understand my responsibility as a student and I am only requesting for the opportunity to join your student body and the entire community of University of San Diego. I will abide by all the rules and focus on achieving my academic and intellectual goals while at the same time making positive contribution towards my fellow students and the entire community of the University of San Diego.I am looking forward to a positive response and an opportunity to join your academic institution. Thank you in advance.