Carry-Free Radix-2 Subtractive Division Algorithm and Implementation of the Divider

[[abstract]]A carry-free subtractive division algorithm is proposed in this paper. In the conventional subtractive divider, adders are used to find both quotient bit and partial remainder. Carries are usually generated in the addition operation, and it may take time to finish the operation, therefore, the carry propagation delay usually is a bottleneck of the conventional subtractive divider. In this paper, a carry-free scheme is proposed by using signed bit representation to represent both quotient and partial remainder. During the arithmetic operation, a special technique is used to decide the quotient bit, and the new partial remainder can be found further by a table lookup-like method. The signed bit format of the quotient can be converted by on-the-fly conversion to the binary representation. Based on this algorithm a 32-b/32-b divider is designed and implemented, and the simulation shows that the divider works well.[[notice]]補正完畢[[incitationindex]]E

Radix-8 New Svobota-Tung Divider with Carry Free Characteristic for Precsaling

[[abstract]]In recent years, computer applications have increased in the computational complexity. The speed requirement forces designers of general-purpose microprocessors to pay particular attention to implement the floating point unit (FPU). Anew floating-point division architecture that complies with the IEEE 754-1985 standard is proposed in this paper. This architecture is based on the New Svoboda-Tung (NST) division algorithm and radix-8MROR (maximally redundant optimally recoded) signed digit number system. In NST division, the dividend and divisor must be prescaled. For the divider implementation, a signed digit adder with carry free characteristic is proposed for addition and subtraction, and this adder can improve the cycle time significantly. A radix-8 MROR divider by TSMC 0.25 m technology is thus designed and simulated. The simulation results show that the performance, hardware cost, and power consumption of the proposed divider is competitive to the conventional SRT divider.[[notice]]補正完畢[[incitationindex]]E

Down-regulation of the tumor suppressor miR-34a contributes to head and neck cancer by up-regulating the MET oncogene and modulating tumor immune evasion

BACKGROUND: MicroRNAs (miRs) have been shown to play an important role in tumorigenesis, including in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The miR-34 family is thought to play a role in tumor suppression, but the exact mechanism of their action in HNSCC is not well understood. Moreover, the impact of chromosomal changes and mutation status on miR-34a expression remains unknown. METHODS: Differential expression of miR-34a, MET, and genomic alterations were assessed in the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) datasets as well as in primary HNSCC and adjacent normal tissue. The biological functions of miR-34a in HNSCC were investigated in samples derived from primary human tumors and HNSCC cell lines. The expression of MET was evaluated using immunohistochemistry, and the molecular interaction of miR-34a and MET were demonstrated by RNA pulldown, RNA immunoprecipitation, luciferase reporter assay, and rescue experiments. Lastly, locked nucleic acid (LNA) miRs in mouse xenograft models were used to evaluate the clinical relevance of miR-34a in HNSCC tumor growth and modulation of the tumor microenvironment in vivo. RESULTS: Chromosome arm 1p loss and P53 mutations are both associated with lower levels of miR-34a. In HNSCC, miR-34a acts as a tumor suppressor and physically interacts with and functionally targets the proto-oncogene MET. Our studies found that miR-34a suppresses HNSCC carcinogenesis, at least in part, by downregulating MET, consequently inhibiting HNSCC proliferation. Consistent with these findings, administration of LNA-miR-34a in an in vivo model of HNSCC leads to diminished HNSCC cell proliferation and tumor burden in vitro and in vivo, represses expression of genes involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and negates the oncogenic effect of MET in mouse tumors. Consistently, LNA-miR-34a induced a decreased number of immunosuppressive PDL1-expressing tumor-associated macrophages in the tumor microenvironment. In HNSCC patient samples, higher levels of miR-34a are significantly associated with a higher frequency of Th1 cells and CD8 naive T cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that miR-34a directly targets MET and maintains anti-tumor immune activity. We propose miR-34a as a potential new therapeutic approach for HNSCC

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Agricultural Research Division 122nd Annual Report July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2008

Our Mission ..... 4 Foreword..... 5 Faculty Awards and Recognitions.... 6 Graduate Student Awards and Recognitions...10 Undergraduate Honors Student Research Program...14 Variety and Germplasm Releases....15 Patents.....17 Administration..... 18 Administrative Personnel.... 18 Organizational Chart....19 Administrative Units....20 IANR Research Facilities.... 21 Faculty..... 22 Agricultural/Natural Resources Units... 23 Education and Human Sciences Departments...33 Off-Campus Research Centers....34 Interdisciplinary Activities....35 Visiting Scientists/Research Associates....36 Research Projects..... 43 Agricultural/Natural Resources Units... 43 Education and Human Sciences Departments...48 Off-Campus Research Centers....49 Interdisciplinary Activities ....50 Publications.....51 Agricultural/Natural Resources Units... 57 Education and Human Sciences Departments...77 Off-Campus Research Centers....80 Research Expenditures....8

Electrophysiological profile and monosynaptic circuitry of efferent vestibular nucleus neurons

As with other sensory modalities, the vestibular system recruits efferent circuitry to transport information from the central nervous system (CNS) to the sensory periphery. This efferent vestibular system (EVS) originates in the brainstem and terminates on vestibular hair cells and afferent fibres in the semicircular canals and otolith organs. Understanding how this central component outputs to the vestibular organs, and mediates motor and vestibular coordination, could potentially impact clinical treatment of vestibular disorders. Previous EVS work has primarily focused on the anatomy, pharmacology, synaptic mechanisms, and peripheral effects of efferent vestibular nucleus (EVN) activation. Although this work is fundamental to understanding this system and its mechanism of action, the behavioural function of the EVS is yet to be ascribed. For this, we need to appreciate the physiology of EVN neurons, and their context of activation within the CNS. In this thesis, I characterise the electrophysiological profile of EVN neurons, and trace their direct monosynaptic circuitry. My methodology includes whole-cell current- and voltage- clamp electrophysiology, and glycoproteindeficient rabies virus tracing techniques. Using these, I enrich understanding of EVN action, and hint at potential functional roles from their CNS partners. The data presented in this thesis provides novel insights into the EVS. EVN neurons are characterised with a homogeneous output, but a heterogeneous synaptic input profile. Inputs to the EVN originate from diverse areas in the brainstem and cortex. These findings suggest that the EVN modulates vestibular end organs in multiple different behavioural contexts. This work forms the basis of subsequent EVS behavioural investigations such as loss of function experiments targeting input regions via optogentic means and subsequent EVS recordings, or silencing of EVN activity and subsequent behavioural testing. Collectively, my results, these future directions, and the existing body of EVS literature, brings us closer than ever to understanding and ascribing a functional role for the EVS

Recent Developments: The Uniform Arbitration Act

Arbitration as a forum for dispute resolution has been a part of the American common law heritage for at least the past one hundred fifty years. However, until recently, state law was almost uniformly biased against arbitration.2 The theory at common law was that either party to an agreement to arbitrate future disputes could void the agreement at any time.3 This legal environment rendered the institution of arbitration impotent in any situation in which one of the parties decided that their interests would be better served if the dispute was resolved in a more traditional court settin

Development of optical fibre distributed sensing for the structural health monitoring of bridges and large scale structures

Tesi per compendi de publicacionsPremi extraordinari doctorat UPC curs 2017-2018. Àmbit d’Enginyeria Civil i AmbientalIn this doctoral thesis it is proposed to research and assess the performance of the use of distributed optical fiber sensors (DOFS), more specifically the case of the optical backscattered reflectometry (OBR) based system, to the structural health monitoring (SHM) of bridges and large scale structures. This is a relatively recent technology that has demonstrated great promise for monitoring applications in a wide range of fields but due to its novelty, still presents several uncertainties which prevent its use in a more systematic and efficient way in civil engineering infrastructures. This is even more evident and relevant in the case of the application of this sensing technique to concrete structures. In this way, this thesis pretends to continue and further analyse this topic following the initial applications using the OBR system as a possible alternative/complementary monitoring tool in concrete structures. Therefore, in the present thesis, after an initial and thorough literature review on the use of DOFS in civil engineering applications, a set of experiments and analysis is planned and carried out. Firstly, different laboratory experimental campaigns are devised where multiple aspects of the instrumentation of DOFS technology in civil engineering applications are assessed and scrutinized. Consequently, the study of new implementation methods, comparison and performance analysis of different bonding adhesives and spatial resolution is performed through the conduction of load tests in reinforced concrete beam elements instrumented with OBR DOFS technology. Moreover, the long-term reliability of this sensing typology is also assessed through the conduction of a fatigue load test on two additional reinforced concrete beams. Afterwards, the use of the OBR system technology is assessed for the application in two real world structures in Barcelona, Spain. The first application corresponds to a previous monitoring work conducted in a historical masonry building and UNESCO World Heritage Site, which was subjected to rehabilitation works and where the collected data was analysed and interpreted in this thesis. The second real world structure application is an urban prestressed concrete viaduct that was exposed to major renovation actions, which included the widening of its deck and the introduction of new steel elements on the improved pedestrian sidewalks. This second application was conducted through a relatively extended period of time, which spanned from early summer to deep winter and therefore causing subsequent important thermal variations effects implications on the performance of the instrumented OBR system leading to the necessity of its compensation. Finally, taking into account the previous points, several conclusions are obtained related with the proficiency and limitations on the use of this particular type of optical sensing system in concrete structures. The advantages and disadvantages on the use of different types of bonding adhesives, implementation methodologies and spatial resolutions are described. Additionally, the performance of this technology in real world conditions is studied and characterized.En aquesta tesi doctoral es proposa investigar i avaluar la possibilitat d´aplicació de sensors de fibra òptica distribuïda (DOFS), més concretament un sistema del tipus OBR (Optical Backscattered Reflectometry), a la monitorització de la salut estructural (SHM) de ponts i estructures de grans dimensions. Es tracta d'una tecnologia relativament recent que ha demostrat una gran versatilitat i validesa en diferents aplicacions en un ampli ventall de camps, però que, a causa de la seva novetat, encara presenta diverses incerteses que impedeixen el seu ús d'una manera més sistemàtica i eficient en el cas de les infraestructures d'enginyeria civil. Sent això especialment cert i rellevant en el cas de l'aplicació d'aquesta tipologia de detecció en estructures de formigó. D'aquesta manera, aquesta tesi pretén continuar i analitzar aquest tema seguint les aplicacions inicials utilitzant el sistema OBR com una possible eina i de control alternatiu o complementari en estructures de formigó. Per tant, en aquesta tesi, després d'una revisió inicial i exhaustiva de la literatura sobre l'ús de DOFS en aplicacions d'enginyeria civil, es planifiquen i executen un conjunt d'assaigs experimentals i el seu posterior anàlisi. En primer lloc, es desenvolupen diferents campanyes experimentals de laboratori on s'avaluen i examinen múltiples aspectes de la tecnologia DOFS en aplicacions d'enginyeria civil. Com a conseqüència, s´estudien nous mètodes d'implementació, de comparació i anàlisi de rendiment de diferents adhesius de connexió i de resolució espaial mitjançant la realització de proves experimentals en elements a flexió a de formigó armat equipats amb tecnologia OBR DOFS. A més, la fiabilitat a llarg termini d'aquesta tipologia de sensors també s'avalua mitjançant la realització d'un assaig de fatiga en dos bigues de formigó armat addicionals. Posteriorment, l'ús de la tecnologia del sistema OBR s'avalua de cara a la seva aplicació en dues estructures reals a Barcelona, Espanya. La primera aplicació correspon a un treball de seguiment previ dut a terme en un edifici històric de maçoneria i que és Patrimoni de la Humanitat de la UNESCO (l´hospital de Sant Pau), que es va sotmetre a obres de rehabilitació i on es van analitzar i interpretar les dades recollides durant l´execució de les obres. La segona aplicació és un pont de formigó pretensat urbà que va estar exposat a una important intervenció de renovació, que va incloure l'ampliació de la coberta i la introducció de nous elements d'acer a les voreres de vianants. Aquesta segona aplicació es va dur a terme a través d'un període de temps relativament estès, que va des del començament de l'estiu fins a ben entrat l'hivern i, per tant, va provocar variacions tèrmiques importants tant als materials com als propis sensors, que van tenir conseqüències sobre el rendiment del sistema OBR instrumentat i que va comportar la necessitat de la seva compensació. Finalment, tenint en compte els punts anteriors, s'obtenen diverses conclusions relacionades amb la competència i les limitacions sobre l'ús d'aquest tipus particular de sistema de detecció òptica en estructures de formigó. Es descriuen els avantatges i desavantatges sobre l'ús de diferents tipus d'adhesius de connexió, metodologies d'implementació i resolucions espaials. Addicionalment, s'estudia i caracteritza l'acompliment d'aquesta tecnologia en condicions reals i no de laboratori.Award-winningPostprint (published version

Family rivalry in the testis: Retinoblastoma protein and E2F transcription factors in testicular development and adult spermatogenesis

Disorders of male reproductive health are becoming increasingly prevalent globally. These defects, ranging from decreasing sperm counts to an increasing rate of infertility and testicular cancer, have a common origin in the early phases of testicular development, but the exact mechanisms that cause them remain unknown. Testicular development and adult spermatogenesis are complex processes in which different cell types undergo mitosis, meiosis, differentiation and apoptosis. The retinoblastoma protein family and its associated E2F transcription factors are key regulators of these cellular events. In the present study, the functions of these factors in postnatal testicular development and adult spermatogenesis were explored using different animal models. In addition, a new application of flow cytometry to study testicular cell dynamics was developed. An ablation of retinoblastoma protein in mouse Sertoli cells resulted in their cell cycle re-entry in adult testes, dedifferentiation and a severe spermatogenic defect. We showed that deregulated E2F3 contributed to these changes. Our results indicated that the E2F1 transcription factor is critical for the control of apoptosis in the developing postnatal testis. In the adult testis, E2F1 controls the maintenance of the spermatogonial stem cell pool, in addition to inhibiting apoptosis of spermatocytes. In summary, this study elucidated the complex interdependencies of the RB and E2F transcription factor families in the control of postnatal testicular development and adult spermatogenesis. Furthermore, this study provided a new methodology for the analysis of testicular cells.Siirretty Doriast