Invertase signal and mature sequence substitutions that delay intercompartmental transport of active enzyme

The role of structural signals in intercompartmental transport has been addressed by the isolation of yeast invertase (SUC2) mutations that cause intracellular accumulation of active enzyme. Two mutations that delay transport of core-glycosylated invertase, but not acid phosphatase, have been mapped in the 5' coding region of SUC2. Both mutations reduce specifically the transport of invertase to a compartment, presumably in the Golgi body, where outer chain carbohydrate is added. Subsequent transport to the cell surface is not similarly delayed. One mutation (SUC2-s1) converts an ala codon to val at position -1 in the signal peptide; the other (SUC2-s2) changes a thr to an ile at position +64 in the mature protein. Mutation s1 results in about a 50-fold reduced rate of invertase transport to the Golgi body which is attributable to defective signal peptide cleavage. While peptide cleavage normally occurs at an ala-ser bond, the s1 mutant form is processed slowly at the adjacent ser-met position giving rise to mature invertase with an N-terminal met residue. s2 mutant invertase is transported about sevenfold more slowly than normal, with no delay in signal peptide cleavage, and no detectable abnormal physical property of the enzyme. This substitution may interfere with the interaction of invertase and a receptor that facilitates transport to the Golgi body

Focal Treatment of Prostate Cancer with Vascular-Targeted Photodynamic Therapy

Epidemiologic and pathologic features of prostate cancer have given rise to an interest in focal treatment for carefully selected patients. Prostate cancer remains highly prevalent, particularly in the U.S. and Europe. As screening programs have become more aggressive and widespread, a substantial proportion of men diagnosed with localized prostate cancer have disease characteristics associated with a low risk of progression. Treatments such as radical prostatectomy and radiation therapy can lead to durable recurrence-free survival in most patients, but carry variable risks of bowel, urinary, and sexual side effects. Few men and few urologists are comfortable leaving a potentially curable prostate cancer untreated. Focal therapy offers an attractive alternative for the patient faced with a choice between aggressive local intervention (radiation or surgery) and watchful waiting. Contemporary diagnostic biopsy strategies and imaging tools, and the development of predictive statistical models (nomograms), have led to improvements in tumor characterization and risk stratification, making focal therapy a viable treatment option for specific men. This article reviews the rationale and indications for focal therapy and highlights vascular-targeted photodynamic therapy (PDT) as one of many promising focal therapy techniques

Non-integrable aspects of the multi-frequency Sine-Gordon model

We consider the two-dimensional quantum field theory of a scalar field self-interacting via two periodic terms of frequencies $\alpha$ and $\beta$. Looking at the theory as a perturbed Sine-Gordon model, we use Form Factor Perturbation Theory to analyse the evolution of the spectrum of particle excitations. We show how, within this formalism, the non-locality of the perturbation with respect to the solitons is responsible for their confinement in the perturbed theory. The effects of the frequency ratio $\alpha/\beta$ being a rational or irrational number and the occurrence of massless flows from the gaussian to the Ising fixed point are also discussed. A generalisation of the Ashkin-Teller model and the massive Schwinger model are presented as examples of application of the formalism.Comment: 39 pages, latex, 10 figure

Velocity and Vertigo: Gender Trends in Consumer Research: In Conversation with Fernando Desouches, Linda Ong, and Linda Scott

In this panel conversation, industry leaders examine trends related to gender, such as those shaped by generational differences, technologies, and the urgent consequences of the pandemic. Indeed, millennial and Generation Z consumers display greater acceptance of various expressions of gender and family than older generations. These more racially and ethnically diverse digital natives, who were looking hopefully ahead to the opportunities of a growing economy, are now among the most vulnerable to the uncertain future amid the fallout of a global pandemic (e.g., Pew Research Social and Demographic Trends: https://www.pewsocialtrends.org/essay/on-the-cusp-of-adulthood-and-facing-an-uncertain-future-what-we-know-about-gen-z-so-far). The pandemic further highlights the disproportionately negative economic vulnerabilities of women, LGBTQ+ communities, and disenfranchised groups around the world. The panelists discuss the mutually intensifying confluence of these events. Amid the velocity of change, creating a sense of vertigo described by panelists, Mr. Desouches, Ms. Ong, and Dr. Scott find that there is hope for a more sustainable balance that overcomes toxic expressions of genders and allows for more authentic expressions of identities, and they discuss the role of organizations in brands in realizing these possibilities. The panelists additionally point to the ambiguities of digital and social media, including ways in which they have given consumers more control over narratives of consumption in consumer-brand relationships but create the echo chambers that may isolate consumers. The panelists discuss best practices for professionals to responsibly navigate the politics of gender through marketing

UAS for Public Safety Operations: A Comparison of UAS Point Clouds to Terrestrial LIDAR Point Cloud Data using a FARO Scanner

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) can be useful tools for public safety agencies during crime or vehicle accident scene investigations if it can provide value to the resource-constrained agency. The speed of data collection, while minimizing first responder risk, while sustaining an acceptable level of accuracy and precision compared to other tools is where the agency may find value. During a recent homicide investigation in Florida, a UAS provided saved 81% in law enforcement labor hours with an acceptable level of accuracy compared to traditional methods. The purpose of this research was to compare UAS to determine if there were differences in accuracy and precision compared to a FARO terrestrial laser scanner in a crime scene reconstruction scenario. UAS registered point clouds were generated in Pix4Dmapper from a DJI Mavic Pro, Mavic 2 Enterprise Dual, Inspire 1, Inspire 2, Phantom 4 Professional, Parrot Anafi, and Bebop 2 at flying heights of 82, 100, 150, 200, and 250 feet respectively in a grid, double grid, circle, and double grid + circle flight pattern and compared to a FARO terrestrial laser scanner. The UAS point cloud accuracy (M = 33.2mm, SD = 6.4mm), compared to the FARO point cloud t(139) = 56.5, p = 0.00 was determined to be not as accurate as the 2.6mm-accurate FARO scanner point cloud; however, may still have an acceptable level of accuracy for investigators. An analysis of variance showed a flying height of 100 feet AGL yielded the most precision and accuracy combined when compared to other flying heights. The double grid + circle flight pattern had smaller RMS errors compared to the other flight patterns. There was also a significant difference by the UAS aircraft model used. The P4P had a smaller RMS error compared to the six other aircraft examined

Design of a Device for Hands-Free Tree Climbing

The URI senior capstone design Team 17 was tasked by Dr. Bahram Nassersharif to design and build a tree climbing device. It was required that said tree climbing device be: easy to operate, safe for both the operator and the tree, have hands free climbing capabilities, climb branch free trees with varying diameters between 12 and 24 inches up to 20 feet in height, have a carrying capacity up to 350 pounds, and cost less than 500 dollars to build. Team 17 began the design process to meet these requirements by first undertaking background research into the current tree climbing devices on the market today, including patent searches and viewing found solutions from around the world. This allowed Team 17 to move forward and generate 120 design concepts, finding many potential solutions using varying power sources and mounting methodologies. From these potential solutions the team evaluated each design on the design parameters set forth. The chosen design was a human powered device with a pneumatic assistance system. This design was chosen for its ease of use, low cost to manufacture and maintain, and potential loading capabilities. With a design chosen the team moved forward designing and redesign the device to meet the design specifications. Through testing of the various iterations of the design, engineering analysis, knowledge learned through research, the final design was built, meeting the required design specifications. This build was capable of holding 350 pounds and ascend branch less trees with varying diameter trees from 12 to 43 inches up to 20 feet. The design consists of two frame assemblies, connected through the pneumatic assistance system. A final engineering analysis was completed on this design, yielding a factor of safety of 1.5. The build cost a total of 463.95 dollars. Additional considerations were made including manufacturability, ease of use, environmental impacts, safety, operating environments, and reasonable servicing schedules; since use in remote locations is to be expected. The design is for any individual intending to climb a tree; including but not limited to hunters, arborists, and photographers

Unpacking self-care: The connection between mindfulness, self-compassion, and self-care for counselors

With an escalating need for provision of mental health services to clients with serious and complex mental health concerns, it is vital that professional counselors find ways to prevent and address the adverse effects of working in stressful, emotionally demanding environments (Craig & Sprang, 2010). While self-care has been shown to mitigate compassion fatigue, self-care activities can be vague and difficult to prioritize. In this article, the authors present a review of the literature on mindfulness in mitigating compassion fatigue in counselors and propose a conceptualization of mindfulness as a gateway to self-care through self-compassion. Implications for research, counselor training, and professional development are discussed

Statistical Approach to Raman Analysis of Graphene-Related Materials: Implications for Quality Control

A statistical method to determine the number of measurements required from nanomaterials to ensure reliable and robust analysis is described. Commercial products utilizing graphene are in their infancy and recent investigations of commercial graphene manufacture have attributed this to the lack of robust metrology and standards by which graphene and related carbon materials can be measured and compared. Raman spectroscopy is known to be a useful tool in carbon nanomaterial characterization, but to provide meaningful information, in particular for quality control or management, multiple spectra are needed. Herein we present a statistical method to quantify the number of different spectra or other microscale measurements that should be taken to reliably characterize a graphene material. We have recorded a large number of Raman measurements and studied the statistical convergence of these data sets. We use a graphical approach to monitor the change in summary statistics and a Monte Carlo based bootstrapping method of data analysis to computationally resample the data demonstrating the effects of underanalyzing a material; for example, graphene nanoplatelets may require over 500 spectra before information about the exfoliation efficiency, particle size, layer number, and chemical functionalization is accurately obtained