114 research outputs found
Amrita Vir Interview
No full textAmrita Vir (Class of 2012) was interviewed by Princess Igwe-Icho via the Zoom internet-based video conferencing software on October 18, 2022. Ms. Vir was born in Staten Island, New York, in 1990 to an Indian father and an American mother. Her family moved to Houston when she was young. Her father was an entrepreneur who spoke frankly with her about his business, and her extended family was involved in India's freedom movement, which influenced the direction of her career. Ms. Vir graduated from SMU with a degree in finance and minors in Chinese, economics, and international studies. She discussed feeling as though she needed to minimize her differences in order to fit in while at SMU. She found community through the Indian Students Association, the President's Scholars program, and the COX BBA Scholars program. She talked about her job as a radio DJ at KPNI, which directly influenced the creation of her finance podcast, The Green Room, during the COVID-19 pandemic. After graduating from SMU, she obtained her master's in public policy and her MBA from Harvard University, where she met her husband. She currently lives in Singapore and has worked for several start-up companies, including Grab. Her current work involves helping low-income factory workers in Southeast Asia acquire affordable access to financial services. She is passionate about microfinance and financial inclusion
Cover Story piece on the author and his wife, Amrita, who recently and unsucce
No full textCover Story piece on the author and his wife, Amrita, who recently and unsuccessfully auditioned with Dee Cooke, a modeling agent from Belgrade
Sexuality Beyond Consent: Risk, Race, Traumatophilia: A Conversation Among Artemis Christinaki, Amrita Narayanan, and Avgi Saketopoulou
No full textThis transcribed conversation of an online dialogue between Artemis Christinaki, Amrita Narayanan, and Avgi Saketopoulou introduces readers to Saketopoulou’s recently published book, Sexuality Beyond Consent: Risk, Race, Traumatophilia. With astute questions and through a series of probing observations, Christinaki and Narayanan engage the author, opening up crucial dimensions of psychoanalysis, gender and sexuality studies, and politics. The exchange tracks the three main signifiers of the book, risk, race, and traumatophilia, and articulates Saketopoulou’s critical concern with the traumatophobic logics rippling through the field. What emerges is a rich discussion of how Saketopoulou’s three terms work within psychoanalysis and the risks, opportunities, and challenges they unfurl in the clinic and in the broader field of psychosocial and psychoanalytic studies.<br/
Dynamic Super Round Based Distributed Task Scheduling for UAV Networks
Get PDFNetworks of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are emerging in many application domains, e.g., military surveillance. To perform collaborative tasks, the involved UAVs exchange several types of information, e.g., sensor data and commands. The major question here is how to schedule the tasks under dynamic traffic flows to provide network services. Existing solutions use the Round-Robin Strategy (RRS), where the tasks are scheduled statistically by dividing the time into fixed-length rounds. However, the RRS wastes significant network and device resources due to task scheduling in each round. This paper proposes DROVE – a novel clustering approach that allows the UAVs for dynamic task scheduling. However, determining the task scheduling is crucial, as it significantly affects several network parameters, e.g., throughput. Therefore, we devise the problem of distributed task scheduling under dynamic traffic flow scenarios to optimize the throughput. We propose a clustering task scheduling algorithm to serve dynamic traffic flows. Particularly, we integrate the dynamic traffic flows into the Lyapunov drift analysis framework, and determine the throughput optimality of our proposed scheduling algorithm. We perform extensive simulations to validate the effectiveness of DROVE. The results show that DROVE outperforms the state-of-the-art solutions in terms of energy consumption, clustering overhead, throughput, end-to-end delay, flow success rate and packet drop rate. </p
Amrita Nandy. Motherhood and Choice: Uncommon Mothers, Childfree Women
Get PDFIn Motherhood and Choice: Uncommon Mothers, Childless Women the author wishes to shed light on gender roles and gendered structures in ideas and practices of motherhood and (non-) mothering in (North) India across “institutions, experience and agency” through a feminist post-structuralist perspective. Struck by her own uncertainty about motherhood despite the apparent ubiquity and compulsions of pro-natalism and the naturalization of women as mothers, Amrita Nandy selected the theme for her d..
Reliable unicast and geocast protocols in underwater inter-vehicle communications
No full textUnderwater networks are envisioned to enable several applications for oceanographic data collection, environmental monitoring, navigation and tactical surveillance. Many applications make use of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) equipped with underwater sensors. Underwater communication links are based on acoustic wireless technology, which poses challenges due to the unique underwater environment such as high propagation delays, high bit error rates, and temporary losses of connectivity caused by multipath and fading phenomena. For data collection and monitoring tasks, underwater vehicles can either periodically send the measured data to the surface station (sink) or the sink can initiate a query to the sensors asking for the information of interest. The former case is reduced to unicasting, where the data is sent periodically by nodes to a specific destination, i.e., the surface station. In the later case, query dissemination can involve either broadcasting or geocasting technique, depending on whether the query is sent to all the nodes, or a subset of nodes based on location respectively. As broadcasting can be viewed as a special case of geocasting, geocast protocols provide a general routing scheme for query dissemination. In either of the cases, reliability is a crucial factor for underwater communications.
Reliability, especially in a mobile environment, is a major concern due to network dynamics. Due to the high propagation delays involved in underwater communications, we do not consider transport solutions for reliable communications. Rather, we consider the lower layers for ensuring reliability. In this work, three versions of unicasting and geocasting protocols have been proposed, which integrate Medium Access Control (MAC) and routing functionalities and leverage different levels of neighbor knowledge for making optimum routing decisions. Performance evaluation has been done for unicast protocols in terms of different end-to-end metrics for static and mobile scenarios with an aim of finding an optimal level of neighbor knowledge required in either of these scenarios. It is observed that based on different end-to-end metrics considered, one version of unicast protocol outperforms the other. Thus, based on the application requirements and scenarios considered, an optimum level of neighbor knowledge can be utilized for periodic data delivery from nodes to the surface station.M.S.Includes bibliographical references (p. 60-62)
Fabrication and osmosis-mediated dynamics of a plant-inspired, fluid-filled, soft actuator
Get PDFNon-vascular plant tissues constitute a special class of poroelastic solids where closed cells encapsulate the fluid. The fluid can diffuse through the semi-permeable cell walls, thereby changing the cell volume, stretching the cell wall, and consequently changing the hydrostatic pressure in the cells. The presence of this hydrostatic pressure, also known as the turgor pressure, imparts structural stiffness to the plant tissue while a systematic control of the turgor pressure drives the macroscale motion. Some examples of macroscale motion in plants are the snap closing of a Venus flytrap, the circadian opening and closing of flower petals, and the movement of plants towards sunlight or water. These osmosis-mediated motions are very energetically dense and efficient, hence provide excellent natural models for engineering inspiration.
Leveraging this deformation-inducing mechanism for practical applications requires an understanding of the parameters governing the constitutive response of these materials. While classical poroelasticity theory can capture the composite response, its assumptions of an interconnected porous network and immiscible fluid-solid phases miss the underlying physics in plant tissues. Therefore, to provide a model system and therein to elucidate enhancements in performance associated with controlled variations in concentration, wall mechanical response, or mesostructure of closed-cell, fluid-filled, osmolyte-driven active materials, I fabricate and characterize synthetic plant tissue analogs (PTAs).
I create these analogs by encapsulating micron-sized saltwater droplets within thin Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) walls at concentrations of over 80% water by volume. The semipermeability of PDMS permits the diffusion of water while retaining the salt. In a water bath, PTAs can swell to reach a state of equilibrium governed by the initial salt concentration and cell wall mechanical response. In particular, equilibrium swelling is governed by the limiting stretch of the PDMS walls. Because of their closed-cell structure and ability to sustain high internal pressures, PTAs maintain or increase their stiffness upon swelling. This behavior is in direct contrast to similar high water-content, osmotic-pressure-driven actuating materials, like hydrogels. As a proof of concept, I demonstrate that PTAs exhibit an actuation force at least 10 times higher than typical hydrogels. Therefore, PTAs hold the potential to be used as soft actuators in biomedical applications which demand high force and structural support.Submission published under a 24 month embargo labeled 'Closed Access', the embargo will last until 2023-08-01The student, Amrita Kataruka, accepted the attached license on 2021-07-06 at 17:07.The student, Amrita Kataruka, submitted this Dissertation for approval on 2021-07-06 at 17:42.This Dissertation was approved for publication on 2021-07-09 at 13:30.DSpace SAF Submission Ingestion Package generated from Vireo submission #16773 on 2022-01-12 at 13:03:58Made available in DSpace on 2022-01-12T22:54:10Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2
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Books piece on a reading by Jeffrey Lent, author of Lost Nation, that will b
No full textBooks piece on a reading by Jeffrey Lent, author of Lost Nation, that will be presented at the Portland Public Library July 31
The Change in Status of African Americans During Post-Civil War Reconstruction
Get PDFThe period of Reconstruction after the American Civil War introduced arguably more discrimination against African Americans, than prior to the civil war. The end of the American Civil War was supposed to solidify the death of slavery in America, however, slavery essentially continued in the South. New systems of labour, such as sharecropping, gave the impression of freedom, but kept African Americans economically disenfranchised. African Americans were denied judicial, economic, and political agency, despite being guaranteed these rights by the American Constitution. New racist groups, such as the Ku Klux Klan formed in the South, and violently terrorized newly freed African Americans. Discrimination was rampant in the North as well. Ultimately, the perception of African Americans as a threat to the livelihood of white Americans lead to even more discrimination against them after the Civil War.Peer reviewedstudent peer-reviewed journal articlefinal article publishe
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No full textNa atualidade, uma das causas importantes de lesão encefálica em neonatos é a anóxia neonatal. Este é um problema grave nos serviços de perinatologia dos hospitais em todo o mundo sendo ainda pior em países subdesenvolvidos, devido à carência de precauções e cuidados requeridos. Modelos animais de anóxia vêm sendo empregados para avaliar seus efeitos, tanto em nível neurológico, como em nível comportamental. A anóxia neonatal tem sido estudada pelo laboratório de Neurociências do Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas da Universidade de São Paulo, com modelos de estudo já desenvolvidos, adaptados e validados. Para investigar se a anóxia neonatal afeta o desenvolvimento motor somático e sensorial, ratos foram submetidos a um modelo não invasivo de anóxia global (Takada et. al., 2011). Ratos Wistar com 30 h de idade (6-8 gramas), machos e fêmeas, foram expostos por 25 minutos a gás nitrogênio 100% num fluxo de 3L/min, pressão 101.7 kPa e temperatura de 37ºC em câmara semi-hermética de policarbonato. O grupo controle foi submetido às mesmas condições porem com o ar ambiente normal. Os animais foram avaliados durante o período de aleitamento (P2 a P21) quanto a parâmetros do desenvolvimento somático; desenvolvimento ontogenético e quanto a reflexos sensório motores. Os resultados indicaram que o grupo Anoxia macho(AM) apresentou aumento no peso corporal {AM(42.25±3.62);CM(38.76±5.60);AF(40.64±5.08);CF(41.33±5.45)}e diminuição do eixo longitudinal do corpo {AM(10.15±0.27);CM(10.39±0.50);AF(9.82±0.44);CF(10.82±0.46)} em relação ao grupo Controle macho(CM) e Anoxia fêmea(AF), AF foi menor em relacao ao Controle fêmea (CF). AM apresentou maior eixo látero-lateral do crânio em relação CM e AF {AM (3.18 ±0.10); CM (3.17 ±0.13); AF(3.06 ±0.16); CF(3.00 ±0.15)} No desenvolvimento ontogenético houve retardo na abertura do canal auditivo {AM (13.79± 0.58); CM (13.75±0.83); AF(14.21±1.01); CF(13.36±0.50)} e abertura dos olhos {AM (14.00± 0.88); CM (14.64±1.28); AF(15.14±0.86); CF(13.79±0.42)} no grupo AF em relação a CF e AM, mas no grupo AM não houve diferença significante. Na erupção dos incisivos superiores {AM (10.79± 0.43); CM(11.71±1.68); AF(11.43±0.65); CF(10.07±0.27)} o grupo AM adiantou enquanto o AF atrasou em relação ao grupo controle. A avaliação dos reflexos sensóriais mostrou que a anoxia adiantou a colocação pelas vibrissas {AM (8.80± 1.21); CM (9.50±1.56); AF (9.93±1.14); CF(10.14±1.28) no AF e AM. Apenas o AM adiantou {AM (10.93± 2.09); CM(13.43±0.94); AF(10.50±0.85); CF(9.57±0.76)} no reflexo de aversão ao precipício. Nos relfexos de geotaxia negativa {AM (14.87± 1.30); CM (13.57±2.34); AF(14.57±1.40);CF (12.00±2.11)} e sobressalto ao susto {AM (14.00±0.53); CM (13.21±1.31); AF (13.29±0.61); CF (11.93±0.27)} e preensão palmar {AM (6.60±0.83); CM (4.71±0.47); AF(10.14±0.83); CF(4.71±0.47)} a anóxia provocou atraso tanto em macho quanto em fêmeas motores. Houve atraso na ontogênese da maioria dos testes de reflexos dos filhotes do grupo Anóxia. Os resultados deste estudo demonstraram que a anóxia causa danos persistentes na maioria dos parâmetros avaliados em relação aos grupos controle, e diminuição no número de neurônios do córtex sensóriomotor {M2: AM (46.84±1.72); CM (52±1.66); AF (45.55±1.80); CF (52±1.55)M1: AM (23.70±1.33); CM (41.89±1.49); AF (25.69±0.83); CF (43.88±1.46) S1HL: AM (27.93±2.69); CM (30.19±1.31); AF(23.42±2.38); CF (38.88±1.48) S1FL: AM (31.85±1.09); CM (33.88±0.48); AF(27.66±1.36); CF(32.28±1.70)}, com diferença de gênero o que evidencia a importância de que estratégias e procedimentos para minimizar os efeitos desse estímulos sejam consideradas em relação ao gêneroAt present, one of the important causes of brain injury is the neonatal anoxia. This is a serious problem in the perinatology services of hospitals around the world being even worse in underdeveloped countries because of the lack of precautions and care required. Animal models of anoxia have been employed to assess their effects, both at the neurological level and at the behavioral level. Neonatal anoxia has been studied by the Neuroscience Laboratory of the Biomedical Sciences Institute of the University of São Paulo, with animal models already developed, adapted and validated. To investigate whether neonatal anoxia affects somatic and sensory motor development, rats were subjected to a non-invasive model of global anoxia (Takada et al., 2011). Male and female 30-h old (6-8 grams) Wistar rats were exposed for 25 minutes to 100% nitrogen gas in a flow of 3 L/min, pressure 101.7 kPa and temperature of 37ºC in a semi-hermetic chamber of polycarbonate. The control group was subjected to the same conditions but with normal ambient air. The animals were evaluated during the lactation period (P2 to P21) for parameters of somatic development; Ontogenetic development and for sensorimotor reflexes. The results indicated that the male Anoxia (AM) group presented increase in body weight (AM (42.25 ± 3.62), CM (38.76 ± 5.60), FA (40.64 ± 5.08), CF (41.33 ± 5.45)) and decrease in the longitudinal (10.82 ± 0.46), in relation to the male control group (CM) and the female Anoxia (AF), AF was lower in relation to the control group (AM) (10.15 ± 0.27), CM (10.39 ± 0.50), AF (9.82 ± 0.44) Female control (CF). AM increase in the cranio-lateral axis in relation to CM and AF (AM (3.18 ± 0.10); CM (3.17 ± 0.13); AF (3.06 ± 0.16); CF (3.00 ± 0.15). Concerning the ontogenetic development there was delay in opening the (13.79 ± 0.58), and the eyes {AM (14.00 ± 0.88); CM (14.64 ± 1.28), AF (15.14 ± 0.86), CF (13.79 ± 0.42)} in the AF group in relation to CF and AM, but in the AM group there was no significant difference. In the eruption of maxillary incisors (AM (10.79 ± 0.43), CM (11.71 ± 1.68), AF (11.43 ± 0.65), CF (10.07 ± 0.27), the AM group advanced while the AF delayed in control ration. The evaluation of the sensory reflexes showed that anoxia improved the placement of vibrissae (AM (8.80 ± 1.21), CM (9.50 ± 1.56), AF (9.93 ± 1.14), CF (10.14 ± 1.28) in AF and AM. Only AM advanced (AM (10.93 ± 2.09), CM (13.43 ± 0.94), AF (10.50 ± 0.85), CF (9.57 ± 0.76) in the reflex of aversion to the precipice. In negative geotaxia relays (AM (14.87 ± 1.30); CM (13.57 ± 2.34), AF (14.57 ± 1.40), CF (12.00 ± 2.11)} and startle reflex {AM (14.00 ± 0.53); CM (13.21 ± 1.31); AF (13.29 ± 0.61); CF (11.93 ± 0.27) and palmar grip (AM (6.60 ± 0.83); CM (4.71 ± 0.47), AF (10.14 ± 0.83), CF (4.71 ± 0.47)), anoxia caused delay in both male and female groups. There was a delay in the ontogenesis of most of the reflex tests of the puppies of the anoxia group. The results of this study demonstrated that anoxia causes persistent damage in most of the parameters evaluated in relation to the control groups, and a decrease in the number of sensory motor cortex neurons (M2: AM (46.84 ± 1.72), CM (52 ± 1.66), AF 1.80), CF (52 ± 1.55) M1: AM (23.70 ± 1.33), CM (41.89 ± 1.49), AF (25.69 ± 0.83), CF (43.88 ± 1.46) S1HL: AM (27.93 ± 2.69), CM (30.19 (31.88 ± 1.48), FA (27.66 ± 1.36), CF (32.28 ± 1.70), , which shows that strategies and procedures to minimize the effects of such stimuli should be considered in relation to gende
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