In cells, membrane tubes are extracted by molecular motors. Although individual motors cannot provide enough force to pull a tube, clusters of such motors can. Here, we investigate, using a minimal in vitro model system, how the tube pulling process depends on fundamental properties of the motor species involved. Previously, it has been shown that processive motors can pull tubes by dynamic ass...

A dynamic systems approach is proposed to investigate challenges of implementing production leve and associated costs. A model of a lean cell is developed using system dynamics. The model capt various lean tools influencing production levelling. Comparative cost analysis between various leve implementation policies for stochastic demand with multiple products is conducted. Results showed determ...

Elastomeric dielectric material has recently become a new alternative for actuator technology. The characteristics of dielectric elastomers placed between two electrodes to withstand large strain when electrodes are charged has attracted the attention of many researcher to study this material for actuator technology. Thus, in the past few years Danfoss Ventures A/S has established their own die...

Partial cross ownership (PCO) in a dyad supply chain refers to a situation where each firm holds a portion of its partner’s shares. We study this topic in push and pull supply chains, and prove that neither the supply chain’s nor any member’s profit changes with the percentage of the leader’s shares the follower holds. However, while the profits of the chain and the leader increase with the per...

Despite the consumers' increasing demand of technology-based innovations for making stores more appealing and the huge availability of advanced technologies, there is still a lack of research on the retailers' and employees' points of views towards the introduction of these systems. In fact, an efficient innovation should take care of both the final users/consumers' and the retailers/employees'...

Vol. 34 No. 5 • May 2009 • P&T® 243 (see the April issue of P&T, page 175). Ms. Levine sued and received a settlement from the clinic where the drug was administered. She also named Wyeth as a defendant, claiming that the drug’s label should have more clearly instructed clinicians against using an IV push injection. The label, which the FDA had approved, warned about inadvertent intra-arterial ...

We study the performance of a flexible manufacturing line producing multiple products under different material control strategies. Specifically, we compare the throughput versus average inventory characteristics when the line operates under pure pull and pure push strategies. Using simulation we show that the pure push strategy has a higher throughput for a given level of inventory than the pur...