113 research outputs found
3D printed muscle-powered bio-bots
No full textSubmission published under a 24 month embargo labeled 'Closed Access', the embargo will last until 2018-12-01Complex biological systems sense, process, and respond to a range of environmental signals in real-time. The ability of such systems to adapt their functional response to dynamic external signals motivates the use of biological materials in other engineering applications. Recent advances in 3D printing have enabled the manufacture of complex structures from biological materials. We have developed a projection stereolithographic 3D printing apparatus capable of patterning cells and biocompatible polymers at physiologically relevant length scales, on the order of single cells. This enables reverse engineering in vitro model systems that recreate the structure and function of native tissue for applications ranging from high-throughput drug testing to regenerative medicine.
While reverse engineering native tissues and organs has important implications in biomedical engineering, the ability to “build with biology” presents the next generation of engineers with both a unique design challenge and opportunity. Specifically, we now have the ability to forward engineer bio-hybrid machines and robots (bio-bots) that harness the adaptive functionalities of biological materials to achieve more complex functional behaviors than machines composed of synthetic materials alone. Perhaps the most intuitive demonstration of a “living machine” is a system that can generate force and produce motion. To that end, we have designed and 3D printed locomotive bio-bots, powered by external electrical and optical stimuli. In addition to being the first demonstrations of untethered locomotion in skeletal musclepowered soft robots, these bio-hybrid machines have served as meso-scale models for studying tissue self-assembly, maturation, damage, remodeling, and healing in vitro.
Bio-hybrid machines that can dynamically sense and adaptively respond to a range of environmental signals have broad applicability in healthcare applications such as dynamic implants or targeted drug delivery. Advanced research in exoskeletons and hyper-natural functionality could even extend the useful application of such machines to national defense and environmental cleanup. We have developed a modular skeletal muscle bioactuator that can serve as a fundamental building block for such machines, setting the stage for future generations of bio-hybrid machines that can self-assemble, self-heal, and perhaps even self-replicate to target grand engineering challenges. Furthermore, we present a robust optimized protocol for manufacturing 3D printed muscle-powered biological machines, and a mechanism to incorporate biological “building blocks” into the toolbox of the next generation of engineers and scientists.The student, Ritu Raman, accepted the attached license on 2016-11-03 at 08:49.The student, Ritu Raman, submitted this Dissertation for approval on 2016-11-03 at 08:56.This Dissertation was approved for publication on 2016-11-04 at 16:03.DSpace SAF Submission Ingestion Package generated from Vireo submission #10217 on 2018-08-14 at 15:59:50Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-14T21:37:10Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 9
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Previous issue date: 2016-11-04Embargo set by: Seth Robbins for item 106495
Lift date: 2020-08-14T21:37:20Z
Reason: Author requested closed access (OA after 2yrs) in Vireo ETD systemLimited Restriction Lifted for Item 106495 on 2020-08-15T09:15:30Z
Correction: MLKL promotes cellular differentiation in myeloid leukemia by facilitating the release of G-CSF (Cell Death & Differentiation, (2021), 10.1038/s41418-021-00811-1).
No full textThe original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake in an author name. Dr. Ritu Mishra was misspelled as “Misra”. The authors apologize for the mistake. The original article has been corrected
The maturation of offshore sourcing of information technology work
No full textOffshore sourcing of information technology (IT) work – whether to an inhouse offshore facility or a third-party located in another country – is increasing for a variety of reasons, including lower costs as compared with domestic outsourcing and an ample supply of qualified labor. Today, U.S. firms are at varying stages of offshore maturity. In our field work, we identified four stages of maturation: Offshore Bystanders are Stage 1 companies that do not outsource offshore at all, but may have a few advocates pushing the idea. Stage 2 companies, Offshore Experimenters, are pilot testing sourcing non-core IT processes offshore. Stage 3 companies take a Proactive Cost Focus and seek broad, corporate-wide leverage of cost efficiencies through offshore work. Stage 4 companies take a Proactive Strategic Focus and view offshore sourcing as a strategic imperative. This paper describes these four stages and the managerial tactics associated with each one. It also examines the dynamics of the global IT labor market, and recommends how to move up the maturity curve
Resilient Logistics & Distribution System: A Conceptual framework for ABC
No full textToday, Oil and gas industry is fulfilling the world’s energy need, but while doing so, it is also facing challenges due to volatile crude oil price and global warming concerns. This puts emphasis on cost optimization to increase the profit margin and avoid any cost leakages. The logistics and distribution domain always remained important for managers interested to reduce cost and add value to its product and services. Many a times, due to imbalance between the production capacity and inventory storage capacity, the logistics supervisors are compelled to rent 3rd party offsite warehouse which puts extra financial burden on the company. Hence, there is a need to align the production, inventory and distribution operations to maximize the profitability of the manufacturing facility. In this work, a conceptual framework has been prepared to bring resilience in the transport planning of ABC Refinery and PP Polymer Plant. The main research question in this research is as follows: “How to design a conceptual model for logistics and distribution system to make it more resilient against real time disturbances?”. To answer this, System design methodology has been adopted. In this approach, functional analysis has been performed to developed alternative solutions to bring resilience in the transport planning which would align the production capacity and inventory, thereby offsetting the impact of any external disturbance. In this work, unstructured interviews, desk research followed by survey among truck drivers has been conducted to identify the factors affecting the ABC transportation. Later, Bayesian network has been used to analyze the present operations and to predict the performance in worst case of road congestion. To answer the main research question, literature review has been performed to design a Decision support system for dynamic slot allocation of Truck loading in ABC. The result of this work shows that the Multi Agents based Decision support system can improvise the Logistics and Distribution system of ABC by bringing more resilience in the Transport planning against any unforeseen events. Descriptive evaluation has been performed to assess the performance of this solution strategy over attributes identified in the system analysis. In the end, this work provides recommendation of using Operations research in the slot definition and slot allocation process for new shipment order
Inflation, external debt, and financial sector reform : a quantitative approach to consistent fiscal policy
No full textThe paper presents and applies an integrated framework to assess the consistency between fiscal deficits and other macroeconomic targets, in particular output growth and the rate of inflation. The model centers around the government budget constraint and can be used to either derive the financeable deficit given inflation targets, or to derive an equilibrium inflation rate for which no fiscal ajdustment would be necessary. The model is used to analyze the relationship between inflation, external debt and financial sector reform in Turkey. The model can also be used to see what happens if the required fiscal adjustment is postponed. The authors explore two scenarios : one in which fiscal adjustment takes place eventually, and one in which the inflation tax is used eventually to close any financing gap.Public Sector Economics&Finance,Economic Theory&Research,Economic Stabilization,Environmental Economics&Policies,Banks&Banking Reform
Erratum
No full textWe regret that Ritu Birla, the author of Stages of Capital: Law, Culture and Market Governance in Late Colonial India (Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 2009), was misidentified as “Rutu Birla” in the review of that book published in the Journal of British Studies 49, no. 1 (January 2010): 208–9.</jats:p
Catalyzing alignment and systems transformation through cross-sector partnerships: Findings from the California Accountable Communities for Health Initiative.
No full textOBJECTIVES: To describe the impact of Accountable Communities of Health (ACHs) on organizational and community partnerships and explore how ACHs contribute to systems change.
DATA SOURCES AND STUDY SETTING: The California Accountable Communities of Health Initiative (CACHI) was a 5-year, $17 M investment in community health transformation in 13 ACH sites. Data sources include two surveys, key informant interviews, small group conversations, and ACH meeting observations and document review.
STUDY DESIGN: This was a mixed-methods, observational study. Surveys conducted in 2021 and 2022 focused on ACH progress in building organizational and community partnerships and ACH impact on partners and systems, respectively. Interviews and small group conversations were conducted toward the end of the CACHI grant period and designed to complement the surveys.
DATA COLLECTION: Survey respondents included ACH backbone agency staff and partner organization representatives (n = 141 in 2021 and 88 in 2022). Semistructured individual interviews and group conversations were conducted with 40 ACH backbone staff and partners. Documents were collected via grant reporting and directly from ACH staff. Data were analyzed descriptively and thematically.
PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: ACHs appear to have supported organizational partnerships and collaboration. Seventy-six percent of survey respondents reported that their ACH had strengthened organizations\u27 ability to work together and 65% reported developing new or deepened connections. While ACH participants reported a better understanding of community needs and priorities, progress on community relationships, and greater attention to equity and racial justice, many saw room for improvement on meaningful community engagement. Systems changes and precursors of systems change observed across ACH sites included strengthened partnerships, enhanced knowledge, increased capacity, more collaborative ways of working, and new funding streams.
CONCLUSIONS: The ACH model is effective at strengthening organizational partnerships and catalyzing other systems changes and precursors including enhanced knowledge, increased capacity, more collaborative ways of working, and new funding
Higher education and migration
No full textThis dissertation takes an in-depth look at the pathways to higher education in the U.S., focusing on two key facets: college choice behavior of high school graduates, and internal migration patterns of young educated adults in the U.S. (high school graduates and college graduates). This dissertation should be of great interest to higher education and migration scholars since it contributes to the literature on the determinants of mobility, especially at the top of the distribution of skills. In addition, this dissertation helps identify the factors that are amenable to policy influence by state legislators and university officials in order to target their desired student population. In Chapter 2, I empirically examine the role of academic ability and other factors in influencing a high school graduate’s decision to attend college in-state or out-of-state. I find that higher academic ability students as well as high school graduates who plan to major in engineering/computer science are more likely to leave their home states to attend out-of-state colleges. Thus, states which are net exporters of high school graduates for college are likely to pay a price down the road in terms of a smaller engineering and computer science labor force. Further, these states are experiencing a brain-drain since they tend to lose their best and brightest homegrown college-bound students to other states. I also find that an increase in state financial aid, especially need-based grant aid, and a reduction in the price of attending an in-state public college are policy levers available to state legislators for successfully recruiting high school graduates to attend college in their home states. In Chapter 3, I examine the impact of out-of-state college attendance in the U.S. and immigrant status on the probability of out-migrating from the college state after graduation. I find that out-of-state college attendance is positively associated with out-migration after graduation. Also, contrary to popular belief, foreign-born graduates are not more likely to move out of their college state after graduation, as compared to the U.S. born. A detailed analysis reveals that graduate school attendance is the main cause for the ‘sticky’ behavior of foreign-born graduates. In Chapter 4, I examine differences in selectivity of college attended by family income, and determine how these gaps vary across the student ability distribution and over time. I find that family income has a significant positive impact on the selectivity of college attended. However, conditioning on factors like ability (measured by standardized test scores), the positive income effect is diminished. A look across the joint income-ability distribution reveals that while low ability students are mainly constrained along the extensive margin, high ability-low income students are constrained on the quality margin. Further, I find that, for high ability students, the effect of family income has declined over time.Ph.D.Includes bibliographical referencesby Ritu Sapr
Revised estimates and projections of international migration : 1980-2000
No full textThis report reviews the World Bank's latest international migration statistics for every country in the world for each five year period from 1980 - 2000. The estimates and projections of net international migration during this period will be used as input statistics for the forthcoming edition of the World Population Projections. In the early 1980s, net international migration to all receiving countries totaled more than 1.2 million persons a year. The author assumes this figure to gradually decrease to fewer than 900,000 persons a year in the period 1995 - 2000. The current male dominance of international migration flows is also expected to decrease. He also assumes that the importance of the United States as a prime destination of immigrants will increase substantially in the 1990s. Mexico is by far the largest net exporter of international migrants.Human Migrations&Resettlements,Voluntary and Involuntary Resettlement,Health Monitoring&Evaluation,International Migration,Gender and Social Development
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