Regulation of Katanin Activity on Microtubules

The cytoskeleton is a dynamic network of microtubules constantly being reorganized to meet the spatiotemporal demands of the cell. Microtubules are organized into subcellular highways to control cell processes such as cell division, cargo transport, and neuronal development and maintenance. Reorganization of this intricate network is tightly regulated by various stabilizing and destabilizing microtubule-associated proteins that decorate the network. Katanin p60 is a microtubule destabilizing enzyme from the ATPases Associated with various Activities (AAA+) family. It can both sever and depolymerize microtubules. In order to sever microtubules, katanin recognizes the tubulin carboxy-terminal tails (CTTs) and hydrolyzes ATP. Using super-resolution microscopy and image analysis, we find that the tubulin CTTs are not required for katanin to depolymerize microtubules. We also characterize the regulation of microtubule severing and depolymerization by katanin in various nucleotide states. A better understanding of how CTTs and nucleotides regulate microtubule severing and depolymerization by katanin will help future research aimed to correct katanin activity when these processes goes awry as in improper chromosome segregation during mitosis or loss of microtubule integrity in neuronal diseases

Enhancing Dental Aligners with Direct 3D Printing Manufacturing

Replacement of thermoforming with direct 3d printed aligners, molding appliances for dental and alveolar movement. Currently the process involved requires 3d printing models and plastic thermoforming, trimming and polishing to fabricate the end product. If possible a product that could be 3d printed that had stress retention, crack resistance, and stain resistance properties delivered in thickness between .030 and .040 inches

Reducing Same Day Missed Appointments

Radiology Associates (RA) is a diagnostic imaging center that offers high-quality, digital medical imaging and interventional radiology services for patients, physicians and healthcare organizations across the Central Coast. They are an ongoing problem that involves a considerable portion of their patients not showing up for their appointments Our project aims to reduce same day missed appointments at Radiology Associates. Radiology Associates currently has a no-show rate of 13.48%. They lose approximately $240 for every same day missed appointment. Our goal was to find new ways to reduce their no-show rate to 8$39,285.35 by reducing the no-show percentage by 5.5%. We researched literature on causes of no-shows and alternative scheduling methods. We then mapped out the scheduling process and analyzed data on no-shows. After discovering some potential causes for the high no-show rate, we constructed solutions and created standard operating procedures

Garbage Disposal

The purpose of this report is to outline a new design for a sink garbage disposal system. The goal of this design is to develop a garbage disposal that could be made for less money, which would turn into a cost savings for the consumer and would lead to an increase in the amount of garbage disposal systems being used throughout the world. This allows the garbage disposal system to be marketed to different parts of the world that currently can’t afford the systems available on the market. The increased use of garbage disposals, help reduce the amount of organic material in landfills. This will reduce the amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere, which would just be another step in the direction of helping preserve the planet. This design utilizes a stack up of seven blades that spin on a shaft ran by a small, but high powered motor. The motor is attached on the side of the food chamber, to help protect it from the water and food that passes through the system. All of the parts would be injection molded if the design is taken to production, with the exception of the motor, seals, and fasteners. This design attaches to sinks different than the current models on the market. Rather than having the garbage disposal installed directly to the sink, it installs directly into the drainage pipes. This allows installation to be easier than the current market garbage disposals. Overall, this report outlines a design for a garbage disposal system to be installed into the drain pipes, specifically under a sink. The design is compact and light, but still powerful. This allows the design to be a cost reduction for the manufacturing process, which will allow it to be marketed to consumers for less money

Additive Manufacturing Powder Removal

Metal powder-bed fusion is an additive manufacturing process which enables the creation of unique shapes in metal parts that would otherwise be difficult, expensive, or impossible to machine. Metallic powder is melted and fused together by either a laser or electron beam to produce parts quickly. The excess powder covers newly printed parts and can be difficult to remove from small internal features. The scope of this project is to design a device that effectively removes the powder from newly printed parts safely, while reclaiming as much powder as possible for reuse. The solution for this project must be able to remove powder safely, accommodate the properties of different parts, and reclaim most of the powder removed. The chosen design solution is a device that would suspend and vibrate the part to remove powder. There are two axes of rotation of this system, allowing the part to be rotated to any optimal orientation to remove powder from the internal cavities of the part. A vibration motor housed in the device will shake the part, loosening the powder and sifting it down to the drain holes and ultimately out of the part. This design is called the Vibration Induced Powder Evacuator and Reclaimer(VIPER).Since the system has been constructed, tests have started to be done to determine the effectiveness of the removal method and the orientation method.As of June 2018, the bulk of testing still needs to be performed to quantify the effectiveness of vibration as a primary removal technique. This document captures the results of the design process, including background research and benchmarking, the project’s scope, requirements, comparative analysis of potential designs, the iterative design solutions, cost analysis, potential risks with the design solution, manufacturing/assembly plans, completed design verification, future testing plans,lessons learned, and the recommended next steps for the project

Effects of Workplace Environment on Recruitment and Retention

Recruitment and retention are affected by numerous factors, including the environment present at a workplace, as well as by the tangible and intangible benefits offered by a company. This research seeks to define numerous discrete elements that can sway a recent college graduate whether to ultimately accept a position offered to them. Identified were three key areas of improvement at the target client, the J.M. Smucker Company, including customizable desk spaces, differentiated departmental designs, and a full-scope health and wellness program. These areas were further recommended within the context of the client\u27s workspace to enhance their recruiting and retention efforts

Similarities in fan preferences for minor-league baseball across the American southeast

Three Minor League Baseball leagues across the Southeastern United States are studied in order to determine what drives fan attendance. Individual game attendance and game characteristics are examined for three leagues located in the American southeast, the Florida State League, the Southern League, and the South Atlantic League. Despite the three leagues encompassing different levels of play (from A to AA), the determinants of attendance are similar across leagues. Factors affecting attendance such as winning percentage, weather conditions, local income and population, and individual game promotions, such as fireworks, are explored

Closing Rikers Island: A Roadmap for Reducing Jail in New York City

New York City's promise to shutter its notorious Rikers Island jail complex hinges on reducing the number of people in city jails. This new report from the Independent Commission that called for Rikers' closure in 2017 and the Center for Court Innovation lays out a series of concrete, data-driven strategies to produce sizable jail reductions while prioritizing public safety.The annual cost of detaining someone on Rikers has soared to $447,000. As the report emphasizes, that is money that could be more productively used on a range of interventions to foster safer neighborhoods. Increasingly, research is finding stays in jail increase the likelihood of future criminal activity once someone is released, making us all less, not more, safe.The report recommends numerous policy changes, covering everything from improving case processing times—85 percent of the population on Rikers is presumed innocent and waiting, generally for months, for their day in court—to ensuring people's ability to pay bail is properly assessed, as is required by law. In combination, these changes can lastingly remake New York City's approach to incarceration

Katanin catalyzes microtubule depolymerization independently of tubulin C-terminal tails

Microtubule network remodeling is an essential process for cell development, maintenance, cell division, and motility. Microtubule‐severing enzymes are key players in the remodeling of the microtubule network; however, there are still open questions about their fundamental biochemical and biophysical mechanisms. Here, we explored the ability of the microtubule‐severing enzyme katanin to depolymerize stabilized microtubules. Interestingly, we found that the tubulin C‐terminal tail (CTT), which is required for severing, is not required for katanin‐catalyzed depolymerization. We also found that the depolymerization of microtubules lacking the CTT does not require ATP or katanin\u27s ATPase activity, although the ATP turnover enhanced depolymerization. We also observed that the depolymerization rate depended on the katanin concentration and was best described by a hyperbolic function. Finally, we demonstrate that katanin can bind to filaments that lack the CTT, contrary to previous reports. The results of our work indicate that microtubule depolymerization likely involves a mechanism in which binding, but not enzymatic activity, is required for tubulin dimer removal from the filament ends