miRNA-mediated control of exogenous OCT4 during mesenchymal-epithelial transition increases measles vector reprogramming efficiency.

OCT4 is a key mediator of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) reprogramming, but the mechanistic insights into the role of exogenous OCT4 and timelines that initiate pluripotency remain to be resolved. Here, using measles reprogramming vectors, we present microRNA (miRNA) targeting of exogenous OCT4 to shut down its expression during the mesenchymal to the epithelial transition phase of reprogramming. We showed that exogenous OCT4 is required only for the initiation of reprogramming and is dispensable for the maturation stage. However, the continuous expression of SOX2, KLF4, and c-MYC is necessary for the maturation stage of the iPSC. Additionally, we demonstrate a novel application of miRNA targeting in a viral vector to contextually control the vector/transgene, ultimately leading to an improved reprogramming efficiency. This novel approach could be applied to other systems for improving the efficiency of vector-induced processes.

Water-soluble adhesive for stable long-term ambulatory EEG recordings.

OBJECTIVE: Conventional methods used to adhere EEG electrodes are often uncomfortable. Here, we present a polymer-based water-soluble EEG adhesive that can be maintained for up to 6 days. The primary outcome measure of this study is the median electrode impedance at day 6. METHODS: Impedance measurements for 841 EEG recordings using a 21 channel 10-20 configuration were remotely logged daily for 6 days after connection. A novel electrode adhesive was used to attach EEG electrodes. Patients were instructed to maintain their electrodes on day 4. RESULTS: Median electrode impedances were significantly below 10kOhms for each day of recording, with a median value on day 6 of 4.18kOhms. Impedance values were significantly lower on day 5 than on day 4, demonstrating that the maintenance process can reduce impedance. Except for day 4-5, the median impedance increased each day. No significant difference was found on the first or final day between clinics or residences from areas of different geographic remoteness. CONCLUSIONS: EEG is able to be recorded in patients homes for 6 days with acceptable impedance and no significant effect of regionality or patients age. SIGNIFICANCE: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report in the literature of impedance data from long-term ambulatory EEG studies.

Protocol for the Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Efficacy Trial of text4FATHER for Improving Underserved Fathers' Involvement in Infant Care.

While father engagement in infant care is widely advocated and research demonstrates that it contributes to improved outcomes, few approaches engage fathers, especially racial/ethnic minority underserved fathers, during maternity care. This study protocol describes the text4FATHER's feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy trial from mid-pregnancy through two months postnatal age.

EyeSim--an ophthalmic response simulator.

This paper pertains to the design, construction and development of an ophthalmic response simulator, intended to augment current neurological examination teaching practices in medical schools. Neurological examination of the eyes informs a practitioner of the functional state of certain cranial nerves (II, III, IV and VI) through the assessment of visual acuity, visual fields, ocular movements, external and internal eye structures and ophthalmoscopic examination. For the medical student, the interpretation of these indicators may be difficult, compounded by the infrequence with which such patients may be presented. As such, the need was identified for a simulator capable of replicating the ophthalmic response of patients with typical and a range of atypical neurologies. Such a simulator could be used as a stand-alone device or developed toward inclusion in pre-existing, life-size, hi-fidelity mannequins. Specifically, EyeSim will be able to track the movements of a pen-torch and vary the apparent dilation of an iris in response to changing levels of illumination. These responses can then be modulated to reflect certain deficits that neural pathologies may cause. At present the simulator comprises the electrical, electronic and mechanical components that replicate the pupillary response of the iris and the motility of the ocular muscles, a computer for the reception and analysis of a video signal and the micro-controller components, which determine the action of the physical components based on an array of inputs.

Complying with Executive Order 13148 using the Enterprise Environmental Safety And Occupational Health Management Information System.

All U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) facilities are required under Executive Order (EO) 13148, "Greening the Government through Leadership in Environmental Management," to establish quality-based environmental management systems (EMSs) that support environmental decision-making and verification of continuous environmental improvement by December 31, 2005. Compliance with EO 13148 as well as other federal, state, and local environmental regulations places a significant information management burden on DoD facilities. Cost-effective management of environmental data compels DoD facilities to establish robust database systems that not only address the complex and multifaceted environmental monitoring, record-keeping, and reporting requirements demanded by these rules but enable environmental management decision-makers to gauge improvements in environmental performance. The Enterprise Environmental Safety and Occupational Health Management Information System (EESOH-MIS) is a new electronic database developed by the U.S. Air Force to manage both the data needs associated with regulatory compliance programs across its facilities as well as the non-regulatory environmental information that supports installation business practices. The U.S. Air Force, which has adopted the Plan-Do-Check-Act methodology as the EMS standard that it will employ to address EO 13148 requirements.

Maintaining high-volume, low-pressure surface-coating regulatory compliance using the U.s. Environmental Protection Agency's data quality objectives process.

To effectively reduce the environmental compliance costs associated with meeting specific requirements under the Aerospace Manufacturing and Rework Facility's National Emission Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants rule, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Data Quality Objective (DQO) process has been proposed as a suitable framework for developing a scientifically defensible surface compliance monitoring program. By estimating the variability associated with the air cap pressure of high- volume, low-pressure (HVLP) surface-coating spray equipment, the number of monitoring samples necessary for an affected facility to claim compliance with a desired statistical confidence level was established. Using data taken from the pilot test facility, the DQO process indicated that the mean of at least 21 HVLP air cap pressure samples taken over the compliance period must be < or = 10 pounds per square inch (psig) gauge for the facility to claim regulatory compliance with 99.99% statistical confidence. Fewer compliance samples could be taken, but that decision would lead to a commensurate reduction in the compliance confidence level. Implementation of the DQO-based compliance sampling plan eliminates the need for an affected facility to sample all regulated HVLP surface-coating processes while still maintaining a high level of compliance assurance.

Development of a hazardous air pollutants monitoring program using the Data Quality Objectives process.

To effectively reduce the environmental compliance costs associated with meeting hazardous air pollutant emission requirements, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Data Quality Objective (DQO) process has been proposed as a suitable framework for establishing a defensible monitoring program. Through the use of a hazardous materials pilot study, the variability in the composite vapor pressure for regulated handwipe cleaning solvents was established. These results served as inputs to the DQO process, which identified that for facility decision-makers to claim with a 99% confidence level that the facility is in compliance with the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP), a minimum of 12 handwipe cleaning solvent compliance samples (taken at random every 6 months) must have a composite vapor pressure equal to or below the regulatory limit of 45 mmHg at 20 degrees C. Implementation of the DQO-based compliance-sampling plan eliminates the need for an affected facility to sample all regulated handwipe cleaning solvents while still maintaining a reasonably high level of confidence in the compliance status of its regulated sources. The approach described for designing a defensible compliance sampling plan can be extended to other aspects of the aerospace NESHAP rule, including compliance sampling for surface coating, chemical depainting, and hazardous waste disposal.

A new biofidelic sagittal plane surrogate neck for head-first impacts.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a prototype sagittal plane surrogate neck model designed to provide a biofidelic response to head-first impacts with a straightened cervical posture. METHODS: Published biomechanical studies were used in the design to define the range of motion (ROM) and stiffness in both flexion-extension rotation and axial compression. The neck was tested in a series of head-first impacts on a drop tower to investigate the temporal aspects of the kinetic axial force response for the head and neck. A separate series of flexion-extension tests was conducted in a spinal motion simulator to assess its ROM and bending stiffness. RESULTS: In impacts with a 104 N axial preload, the surrogate head and neck displayed a bimodal response to force development in agreement with published studies of cadaveric head-first impacts. In bending without an axial preload, the neck had an ROM and bending stiffness representative of cadaveric human spines and it included a large neutral zone, but with the incremental addition of axial preload these metrics were somewhat reduced. CONCLUSIONS: The model appears suitable for studying the scenario of sagittal plane, aligned column impacts. Further design refinements are required to provide biofidelity in both sagittal bending and head-first impacts using a single level of axial preload. This would be necessary to study impact scenarios where considerable sagittal plane neck rotation occurs at impact. The model has identified some key concepts that must be considered for continued design and improvement of a dedicated dummy neck for head-first impacts.