[R-sig-ME] How to estimate the scale parameter in R

[ts p]

I use SAS PROC GLIMMIX to estimate generalized linear mixed model. The 
procedure can estimate the scale parameter and R-side random effects of 
GLMM. I wonder if I want to estimate the scale parameter and R-side random 
effects in R. I wonder which function in R I should use to do that.

Thanks!