Selected Journal Papers and Book Chapters
2023
56. Jaideep Sahni, Mehwish Arshad, Morgan A. Schake, Justin R. Brooks, Ruiguo Yang, Peter D. Weinberg, Ryan M. Pedrigi, Characterizing eNOS Expression and Nuclear Morphology in Vascular Endothelial Cells Subjected to a Continuous Range of Wall Shear Stress Magnitudes and Directionality, Journal of The Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials. (2023), 137:105545.
2022
55. Jordan Rosenbohm, Grayson Minnick, Bahareh Tajvidi Safa, Amir M. Esfahani, Xiaowei Jin, Haiwei Zhai, Nickolay V. Lavrik, Ruiguo Yang. A Multi-Material Platform for Imaging of Single Cell-Cell Junctions under Tensile Load Fabricated with Two-Photon Polymerization, Biomedical Microdevices (2022), 24(4):33.
54. Grayson Minnick, Bahareh Tajvidi Safa, Jordan Rosenbohm, Nickolay V. Lavrik, Justin Brooks, Amir M. Esfahani, Fanben Meng, Benjamin Richter, Wei Gao, Ruiguo Yang, Two-Photon Polymerized Shape Memory Microfibers: A New Mechanical Characterization Method in Liquid, Advanced Functional Materials (2022), 10.1002/adfm.202206739.
53. Haiwei Zhai, Xiaowei Jin, Grayson Minnick, Jordan Rosenbohm, Ruiguo Yang, Fanben Meng. Spatially Guided Construction of Multilayered Epidermal Models Recapturing Structural Hierarchy and Cell-Cell Junctions, Small Science (2022), 10.1002 /smsc.202200051.
52. Bouzid, Tasneem, Amir Monemian Esfahani, Bahareh Tajvidi Safa, Eunju Kim, Viswanathan Saraswathi, Jason K. Kim, Ruiguo Yang, and Jung Yul Lim. Rho/ROCK mechanosensor in adipocyte stiffness and traction force generation. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Comm. (2022). PMID: 35339750.
51. Justin Brooks, Iklaas Mungloo, Siamek Mirfendereski, Jacob Quint, Dominic Paul, Arian Jaberi, Jae Sung Park, Ruiguo Yang, An Equivalent Circuit Model for Localized Electroporation on Porous Substrates. Biosensors and Bioelectronics (2022). PMCID: PMC8741749.
50. Hang X., He S., Dong Z., Li Y., Huang Z., Zhang Y., Sun H., Lin L., Li H., Wang Y., Liu B., Wu N., Ren T., Fan Y., Lou J., Yang, R., Jiang L., Chang L. (2022), High-Throughput DNA Tensioner Platform for Interrogating Mechanical Heterogeneity of Single Living Cell, Small, 10.1002/smll.202106196.
49. Esfahani, A.M., Minnick, G., Rosenbohm, J., Zhai, H., Jin, X., Tajvidi Safa, B., Brooks, J., and Yang, R. Microfabricated platforms to investigate cell mechanical properties. Medicine in Novel Technology and Devices (2022) 13:100107.
48. Brooks, J.R., Mungloo, I., Mirfendereski, S., Quint, J.P., Paul, D., Jaberi, A., Park, J.S., and Yang, R. An equivalent circuit model for localized electroporation on porous substrates. Biosensors and Bioelectronics (2022) 199:113862.
2021
47. Hang, Xinxin, Shiqi He, Zaizai Dong, Grayson Minnick, Jordan Rosenbohm, Zhou Chen, Ruiguo Yang, and Lingqian Chang. Nanosensors for Single Cell Mechanical Interrogation. Biosensors and Bioelectronics (2021): 113086.
46. Esfahani, Amir Monemian, Jordan Rosenbohm, Bahareh Tajvidi Safa, Nickolay V. Lavrik, Grayson Minnick, Quan Zhou, Fang Kong, Xiaowei Jin, Eunju Kim, Ying Liu, Yongfeng Lu, Jung Yul Lim, James K Wahl, Ming Dao, Changjin Huang, Ruiguo Yang. Characterization of the strain-rate–dependent mechanical response of single cell–cell junctions. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) 118, no. 7 (2021).
45. Jin, X., Rosenbohm, J., Kim, E., Monemian Esfahani, E., Seiffert, K., Wahl, J., Lim, J., Sinha, AA., and Yang, R., 2020. Modulation of Mechanical Stress Mitigates Anti-Dsg3 Antibody-Induced Dissociation of Cell–Cell Adhesion. Advanced Biology, 202000159.
2020
44. Brooks, J., Minnick, G., Mukherjee, P., Jaberi, A., Chang, L., Espinosa, H.D. and Yang, R., 2020. High Throughput and Highly Controllable Methods for In Vitro Intracellular Delivery. Small, p.2004917.
43. Jaberi, A., Monemian Esfahani, A., Aghabaglou, F., Park, J.S., Ndao, S., Tamayol, A. and Yang, R., 2020. Microfluidic Systems with Embedded Cell Culture Chambers for High-Throughput Biological Assays. ACS Applied Bio Materials, 3(10), pp.6661-6671.
42. Perez‐Toralla, K., Olivera‐Torres, A., Rose, M.A., Esfahani, A.M., Reddy, K., Yang, R. and Morin, S.A., 2020. Facile Production of Large‐Area Cell Arrays Using Surface‐Assembled Microdroplets. Advanced Science, 7(15), p.2000769.
41. Derakhshandeh, H., Aghabaglou, F., McCarthy, A., Mostafavi, A., Wiseman, C., Bonick, Z., Rosenbohm, J., Yang, R., Mostafalu, P., Orgill, D, Tamayol, A., (2020). A Wirelessly Controlled Smart Bandage with 3D‐Printed Miniaturized Needle Arrays. Advanced Functional Materials, 1905544.
40. Fang, Y., Gong, H., Yang, R., Lai, K. (2020), An Active Biomechanical Model of Cell Adhesion Actuated by Intracellular Tension, Biophysical Journal, doi.org/10.1016/j.bpj.2020.04.016
39. Riehl, B. D., Kim, E., Lee, J. S., Duan, B., Yang, R., Donahue, H. J., & Lim, J. Y. (2020). The Role of Fluid Shear and Metastatic Potential in Breast Cancer Cell Migration. Journal of Biomechanical Engineering, 142(10).
2019
38. Bouzid, T., Kim, E., Riehl, B. D., Esfahani, A. M., Rosenbohm, J., Yang, R., ... & Lim, J. Y. (2019). The LINC complex, mechanotransduction, and mesenchymal stem cell function and fate. Journal of Biological Engineering 13(1), 1-12.
37. Shradhanjali, A., Riehl, B. D., Duan, B., Yang, R., & Lim, J. Y. (2019). Spatiotemporal characterizations of Spontaneously Beating cardiomyocytes with Adaptive Reference Digital image correlation. Scientific Reports 9(1), 1-10.
36. Sun, Z., Cheng, Y., Xi, N., Yang, R., Yang, Y., Chen, L., & Song, B. (2019). Characterizing AFM tip lateral positioning variability through non-vector space control-based nanometrology. IEEE Trans. on Nannotechnology, 19, 56-60
35. Monemian Esfahani, A., Rosenbohm, J., Reddy, K., Jin, X., Bouzid, T., Riehl, B., ... & Yang, R. (2019). Tissue Regeneration from Mechanical Stretching of Cell–Cell Adhesion. Tissue Engineering, Part C, 25(11), 631-640.
34. Chang, Lingqian, Yu-Chieh Wang, Faheem Ershad, Ruiguo Yang, Cunjiang Yu, and Yubo Fan. Wearable Devices for Single-Cell Sensing and Transfection. Trends in Biotechnology (2019).
33. Yang, Y., Zeng, B., Sun, Z., Esfahani, A. M., Hou, J., Jiao, N. D., ... & Yang, R. (2019). Optimization of Protein–Protein Interaction Measurements for Drug Discovery Using AFM Force Spectroscopy. IEEE Transactions on Nanotechnology, 18, 509-517.
32. J. Cai, R. Yang, X. Wang, and J. Feng. Effect of Initial Imperfections of Struts on the Mechanical Behavior of Tensegrity Structures. Composite Structures, 2019.
2018
31. W. Bai, T. Kuang, C. Chitrakar, R. Yang, S. Li, D. Zhu, and L. Chang. Patchable Micro/Nanodevices Interacting with Skin. Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 2018.
30. A. Monemian Esfahani, W. Zhao, J. Y. Chen, C. Huang, N. Xi, J. Xi, & R. Yang. On the Measurement of Energy Dissipation of Adhered Cells with the Quartz Microbalance with Dissipation Monitoring. Analytical Chemistry, 2018. (Cover Article of Analytical Chemistry)
29. X. Wang, J. Cai, R. Yang, J. Feng, Form-finding of deployable mesh reflectors using dynamic relaxation method. Acta Astronautica. 2018 Jun 15.
28. B. Song, Z. Sun, N. Xi, R. Yang, Y. Cheng, L. Chen, L. Dong, Enhanced Non-Vector Space Approach for Nanoscale Motion Control, IEEE Trans. on Nanotechnology, 2018.
27. Y. Yang, J. Yu, A. Monemian Esfahani, K. Seiffert-Sinha, N. Xi, I. Lee, A.A Sinha, L. Chen, Z. Sun, R. Yang and L. Dong , Single-Cell Membrane Drug Delivery using Porous Pen Nanodeposition, Nanoscale, 2018.
26. R. Yang, J. A. Broussard*, K J. Green, and H D. Espinosa, Techniques to stimulate and interrogate cell-cell adhesion mechanics, Extreme Mechanics Letters, Volume 20, 2018, 125-139. (Cover Article of Extreme Mechanics Letters)
25. R. Yang, V. Lemaitre, C. Huang, A. Haddadi, R. McNaughton and H D. Espinosa, The Monoclonal cell line generation and CRISPR/Cas9 manipulation via single cell electroporation, Small,14, 702495, 2018.
2017
24. J. A. Broussard*, R. Yang*, C. Huang*, S. S. P. Nathamgari, A. M. Beese, L. M. Godsel, S. Lee, F. Zhou, N. J. Sniadecki, K J. Green, and H D. Espinosa, The desmoplakin/intermediate filament linkage regulates cell mechanics, Molecular Biology of the Cell, 10.1091/mbc.E16-07-0520, 2017.(*Equal Contribution)
23. Z. Sun, L. Hao, B. Song, R. Yang, Y. Cheng, N. Xi, Asymmetric Hysteresis Modeling and Compensation Approach for Nanorobotic System Motion Control considering Working-range Effect, IEEE Trans. on Industrial Electronics, 99, Mar. 2017, 10.1109/TIE.2017.2677300.
22. R. Yang*, A. Zaheri*, W. Gao*, C. Hayashi and H D. Espinosa, AFM Identification of Beetle’s Exocuticle – Bouligand Structure and Nanofiber Anisotropic Elastic Properties, Advanced Functional Materials, 10.1002/adfm.201603993, 2017(*Equal Contribution) (Cover Article of Advanced Function Materials)
2016
21. Z. Sun, L. Hao, B. Song, R. Yang and Y. Cheng, Periodic reference tracking control approach for smart material actuators with complex hysteretic characteristics, Smart Materials and Structures, 10(25), 105029:1-16, 2016.
2015
20. R. Yang, B. Song, K. Lai, C. Fung, K. Patterson, C. Qu, H. Chen, K. Seiffert-Sinha, A. A. Sinha and N. Xi, Cellular level robotic surgery: nanodissection of intermediate filaments in live keratinocytes, Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology, and Medicine, 11(1):137-45, 2015.
2014
19. K. Seiffert-Sinha*, R. Yang*, C. Fung, K. Lai, K. Patterson, A. S. Payne, A. A. Sinha and N. Xi, Nanorobotic investigation identifies novel visual, structural and functional correlates of autoimmune pathology in a blistering skin disease model, PLOS One, 9(9): e106895, 2014. (*Equal Contribution)
18. B. Song, J. Zhao, N. Xi, H. Chen, K. Lai, R. Yang, and L. Chen, Compressive feedback based motion control for nanomanipulation-theory and application, IEEE Trans. on Robotics, 30(1): 103-114, 2014.
2013
17. R. Yang, N. Xi, K. Lai, K. Patterson, C. Qu, B. Zhong and D. H. Wang, Cellular biophysical dynamics and ion channel activities detected by AFM-based nanorobotic manipulator in insulinoma beta-cells, Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology, and Medicine, 9(5):636-645, 2013.
16. K. Patterson*, R. Yang*, B. Zeng, S. Wang, N. Xi and M. D. Basson, Measurement of cationic and intracellular modulation of integrin binding affinity by AFM-based nanorobot, Biophysical Journal, 105:1-8, 2013. (*Equal Contribution)
15. N. Xi, R. Yang, C. Fung, K. Lai, B. Song, K. Seiffert-Sinha and A. A. Sinha, Modeling and experimental verifications of cell tensegrity, Modeling and Simulation of Micro/Nano Devices and Systems, N. Xi; M. Zhang; G. Li (Eds.), Taylor and Francis, 87-102, 2013. (Book Chapter)
14. N. Xi, R. Yang, B. Song, K. Lai, H. Chen, J. Y. Chen, L. Penn and J. Xi, Developing dynamics model for epidermal growth factor (EGF) induced cellular signaling events, Modeling and Simulation of Micro/Nano Devices and Systems, N. Xi; M. Zhang; G. Li (Eds.), Taylor and Francis, 69-85, 2013. (Book Chapter)
2012
13. N. Xi, B. Song, R. Yang, K. Lai, H. Chen, C. Qu, and L. Chen, Video rate atomic force microscopy, IEEE Nanotechnology Magazine, 7(1):4-8, 2012.
12. Song, R. Yang, N. Xi, K. Patterson, C. Qu and K. Lai, Cellular-Level surgery using nanorobots, J. Laboratory Automation, 17(6):425-434, 2012.
11. R. Yang, J. Y. Chen, N. Xi, K. Lai, C. Qu, C. Fung, L. S. Penn and J. Xi, Characterization of mechanical behavior of an epithelial monolayer in response to epidermal growth factor stimulation, Exp. Cell Research, 318: 521-526, 2012.
10. B. Gao, J. Xu, J. Zhao, N. Xi, Y. Shen and R. Yang, A humanoid neck system featuring low motion-noise, J. of Intelligent and Robotic Systems, 67(2):101-116, 2012.
9. J. Xi, L. S. Penn, N. Xi, J. Y. Chen and R. Yang, Dynamic mechanical response of epithelial cells to epidermal growth factor, Viscoelasticity -from theory to biological applications, Juan de Vicente (Ed.), InTech, 171-186, 2012. (Book Chapter)
2011
8. R. Yang, N. Xi, K. Lai, B. Zhong, C. Fung, C. Qu and D. H. Wang, Nanomechanical analysis of insulinoma cells by atomic force microscopy after glucose and capsaicin stimulation, Acta Pharmacologica Sinica, 32(6):853-860, 2011.
7. M. Tan*, Yun Li*, R. Yang, N. Xi and Y. Sun, Inactivation of SAG E3 ubiquitin ligase blocks embryonic stem cell differentiation and sensitizes leukemia cells to retinoid acid, PLOS One, 6(11) e27726:1-9, 2011. (*Equal Contribution)
6. C. Fung, N. Xi, R. Yang, K. Seiffert-Sinha, K. Lai and A. A. Sinha, Quantitative analysis of human keratinocyte cell elasticity using atomic force microscopy, IEEE Trans. on Nanobioscience, 10(1):9-15, 2011.
5. N. Xi, B. Song, R. Yang and K. Lai, Augmented reality for nanomanipulation, Handbook of Augmented Reality Technologies and Applications, Borko Furht (Ed.), Springer, Part 2, 435-447, 2011. (Book Chapter)
4. N. Xi, C. Fung, R. Yang, K. Lai, D. H. Wang, K. Seiffert-Sinha, A. A. Sinha, G. Li and L. Liu, Atomic force microscopy as nanorobot, Atomic Force Microscopy in Biomedical Research Methods and Protocols, 1st Ed., P.C.Braga, D. Ricci Ed., Springer, 736:485-503, 2011. (Book Chapter)
3. N. Xi, R. Yang, K. Lai, B. Song, B. Gao, J. Shi and C. Su, Motion controller for Atomic Force Microscopy base nanobiomanipulation, Control Technologies for Emerging Micro and Nanoscale Systems, 1st Ed., Vol. 413, Eleftheriou, Evangelos; Moheimani, S.O. Reza (Eds.), Zurich: SpringerVerlag, 153-168, 2011. (Book Chapter)
2010
2. N. Xi, C. Fung, R. Yang, K. Seiffert-Sinha, K. Lai and A. A. Sinha, Bionanomanipulation using Atomic Force Microscopy, IEEE Nano Magazine, 4(1):9-12, 2010.
2009
1. C. Fung, K. Seiffert-Sinha, K. Lai, R. Yang, D. Panyard, J. Zhang, N. Xi and A. A. Sinha, Investigation of human keratinocyte cell adhesion using atomic force microscopy, Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology, and Medicine, 6(1):191-200, 2009.
Selected Conference Proceedings
2016
H.D. Espinosa, R. McNaughton and R. Yang, Cell-selective electroporation for novel single-cell applications, International Congress of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, Montreal, Canada, August, 2016.
2015
Z. Sun, B. Song, N. Xi, R. Yang, L. Hao, and L. Chen, Compensating asymmetric hysteresis for nanorobot motion control. IEEE Int. Conf. on Robotics and Automation (ICRA), pp. 3501-3506, 2015.
B. Song, N. Xi, Z. Sun, R. Yang, L. Chen, Z. Zhou, ... & Xi, J. (2015, July). Kinetics of enzymatic hydrolysis revealed by video rate AFM single molecule analysis. In Nanotechnology (IEEE-NANO), 2015 IEEE 15th International Conference on (pp. 1288-1291). IEEE.
2014
L. Chen, Z. Zhou, N. Xi, R. Yang, B. Song, Z. Sun, and C. Su,. Super resolution infrared camera using single carbon nanotube photodetector. IEEE Sensors, pp. 1038-1041. Dec 2014.
R. Yang, B. Song, Z. Sun, L. Chen, M. P. Garcia and J. Xi, Dynamics Modeling Signaling Pathway Regulating EGF-Induced Cell Adhesion, IFAC World Congress, Cape Town, South Africa, Aug., 2014.
B. Song, N. Xi, Z. Sun, R. Yang, L. Chen and H. Chen, Controllable Electrical Breakdown of Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes, IEEE Int. Conf. on Nanotechnology, Toronto, CA, Aug., 2014.
B. Song, N. Xi, R. Yang, Z. Sun and L. Chen, In situ visualization of dynamic interactions of cellulase and cellulose molecules, IEEE Int. Conf. on Nanotechnology, Toronto, CA, Aug., 2014.
Z. Sun, R. Yang, P. Kovalenko, B. Song, L. Chen, M. Wash, L. Hao, M. Basson, and N. Xi, In vivo tumor interstitial fluid pressure measurement using static micro force sensor and mechanical tumor model, IEEE/ASME Int. Conf. on Advanced Intelligent Mechatronics, Besancon, France, July, 2014.
B. Song, Z. Sun, N. Xi, R. Yang and L. Chen, High precision positioning control for SPM based nanomanipulation: a robust adaptive model reference control approach, IEEE/ASME Int. Conf. on Advanced Intelligent Mechatronics, Besancon, France, July, 2014.
Z. Sun, B. Song, N. Xi, R. Yang, L. Hao and L. Chen, Scan range adaptive hysteresis/creep hybrid compensator for AFM based nanomanipulations, American Control Conference, Portland, OR, June 2014.
2012
C. Qu, B. Song, N. Xi, K. Lai, R. Yang and H. Chen, Bio-inspired scanning for video-imaging using an atomic force microscope, IEEE Int. Conf. on Nanotechnology, Birmingham, UK, Aug. 2012.
B. Song, J. Zhao, N. Xi, K. Lai, R. Yang, H. Chen and C. Qu, Non-vector space control for nanomanipulations based on compressive feedbacks, IEEE Int. Conf. on Robotics and Automation (ICRA), St. Paul, MN, May 2012.
2011
R. Yang, N. Xi, C. Qu, C. Fung, M. Tan and Y. Sun, Investigations of bio markers for stem cell differentiations using an atomic force microscope, IEEE Int. Conf. on Nanotechnology, Portland, OR, Aug. 2011.
B. Song, N. Xi, R. Yang, K. Lai and C. Qu, Video rate atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging using compressive sensing, IEEE Int. Conf. on Nanotechnology, Portland, OR, Aug. 2011.
2010
R. Yang, K. Lai, B. Song, N. Xi, C. Su and J. Shi, Design and implementation of motion controllers for atomic force microscopy based nanomanipulation systems, 2010 IFAC Symposium on Mechatronic Systems and 2010 ASME Dynamic Systems and Control Conference, Cambridge, MA, Sep. 2010.
R. Yang, N. Xi, C. Fung, C. Qu and J. Xi, Comparative studies of Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation (QCM-D) for real-time identification of signaling pathway, IEEE Int. Conf. on Nanotechnology, Seoul, Korea, Sep. 2010.
N. Xi, R. Yang, C. Fung, K. Lai , B. Song and C. Qu, Atomic Force Microscopy based Nanorobotic Operations for Biomedical Investigations, IEEE Int. Conf. on Nanotechnology, Seoul, Korea, Sep. 2010.
R. Yang, N. Xi, C. Fung, K. Lai, K. Seiffert-Sinha, A. A. Sinha and W. Zhang, Investigations of bio markers for human lymphoblastoid cells using atomic force microscopy, IEEE Int. Conf. on Nano/Micro Engineered and Molecular Systems, Xiamen, China, Jan. 2010.
C. Fung, R. Yang, N. Xi, K. Lai, K. Seiffert-Sinha and A. A. Sinha, Micro fixture enabled in-situ imaging and manipulation of cell membrane protein, IEEE Int. Conf. on Nano/Micro Engineered and Molecular Systems, Xiamen, China, Jan. 2010. ( Best paper award)
R. Yang, N. Xi, C. Fung, K. Seiffert-Sinha, K. Lai, B. Song and A. A. Sinha, Cellular tensegrity modeling with Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) experimentation, IEEE Int. Conf. on Nanotech. Materials and Devices, Monterey, CA, Oct.
2010.
K. Lai, A. Gaitas, R. Yang, C. Fung and N. Xi, Ultra-compliant thermal AFM probes for studying of cellular properties, IEEE Int. Conf. on Nanotechnology, Seoul, Korea, Aug. 2010.
B. Song, N. Xi, R. Yang, K. Lai and C. Qu, On-line sensing and visual feedback for atomic force microscopy (AFM) based nano-manipulations, IEEE Int. Conf. on Nanotech. Materials and Devices, Monterey, CA, Oct. 2010.
B. Gao, N. Xi, Y. Shen, J. Zhao and R. Yang, Development of a low motion-noise humanoid neck: Statics analysis and experimental validation, IEEE Int. Conf. on Robotics and Automation (ICRA), Anchorage, AK, May 2010.
2009
R. Yang, N. Xi, K. Lai, B. Gao, H. Chen, J. Shi and C. Su, Motion controller for the Atomic Force Microscopy based nanomanipulation system, IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent RObots and Systems (IROS), St. Louis, MO, Oct. 2009.
J. Zhao, R. Yang, N. Xi, B. Gao and X. Fan, Development of a miniature self-stabilization jumping robot, IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent RObots and Systems (IROS), St. Louis, MO, Oct. 2009.
R. Yang, N. Xi, C. Fung, K. Lai, K. Seiffert-Sinha and A. A. Sinha, Analysis of keratinocytes stiffness after desmosome disruption using Atomic Force Microscopy based nanomanipulation, IEEE Int. Conf. on Nanotechnology, Genoa, Italy, Jul. 2009.
C. Fung, R. Yang, K. Seiffert-Sinha, K. Lai, A. A. Sinha and N. Xi, Development of cell fixture for in-situ imaging and manipulation of membrane protein structure, IEEE Int. Conf. on Nanotechnology, Genoa, Italy, Jul. 2009.
2008
Y. Liu, Y. Shen, N. Xi, R. Yang, X. Li, G. Zhang and T. A. Fuhlbrigge, Rapid robot/workcell calibration using line-based approach, IEEE Conf. on Automation Sci. and Eng., Washington D.C., Aug. 2008.